bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling biogas technology adoption in Pakistan: A way forward for sustainable research of energy
Authors: Ali Shahid , Yan Qingyou , Elavarasan Rajvikram Madurai , Irfan Muhammad , Abbasi Kashif Raza , Işik Cem
Published: October 2021

The extensive need for energy has become a global issue due to the enormous population growth and demand for electricity-based products. Energy crises are rapidly increasing, which have destructive impacts on the industry in Pakistan. Biogas technology adoption is a challenge in a developing country like Pakistan. The government sector has taken initial steps to eliminate the energy crisis and promoted biogas plants. The primary objective of this study is to explore the satisfied and unsatisfied ratio of farmers who have adopted biogas plants in the country. The sample size was identified through the snowball sampling method. A total of 51 biogas adopters participated in this study. The structured questionnaires were used to collect data through online interviews. The results indicate that 34% of biogas plant respondents were satisfied with their plant feedback. The partially satisfied respondents were 24%, whereas 42% showed unsatisfaction. More than half (58%) of the respondents expressed that biogas plants are in good working conditions; however, 42% of biogas users were unrestrained for several causes. The findings of this study indicate that major maintenance and day-to-day operations of biogas plants are expensive due to lack of skilled operators, untrained or partially trained owners, and unavailability of technicians. The results suggest that the government needs to plan a clear policy, technical support with skilled technicians to biogas plant owners, all through an integrated and coherent way.
A Case-based Lesson: John R. R. Tolkien “The Hobbit, or There and Back Again”
Authors:   International University MITSO, Yuliya N. Pasiutsina
Published: October 2021

The article investigates the case-technology as a means of increasing students’ motivation for reading, the significance of innovative method used in Literature Courses and the importance of the personality of the teacher are determined. The author analyzes this method, its structure, the terms of application, the necessary stages, considers those skills and abilities that are actualized with its help in the process of studying the teaching material, emphasizes that they are universal, thus, should be applied in all spheres of life, including professional. For solving these tasks an attempt is made to create a series of cases on the topic “The Life and Works of J. R. R. Tolkien. “The Hobbit, or There and Back Again”. The proposed cases include different types and forms of work in the classroom: the preparation of a presentation, the public speech, a route, an excursion, a project, a review of a given problem, etc. The objective of this work is to interest students, to reveal their creative potential, to teach them to think, to reason, to draw conclusions, to compare information, and, what is a priority, to involve them in reading fiction. The class based on the case study method is of interest to school teachers and university lecturers. The material can be used not only directly in the classroom in literature classes, but also at extracurricular activities, that will help to diversify the educational process and achieve the necessary educational results. Keywords: reading, case-technology, case, methodology, J. R. R. Tolkien, fairy-story, fantasy
Preparation of Teachers for Ecological Education of Preschoolers Taking Into Account the Natural and Sociocultural Environment of the Kindergarten
Authors:   Transbaikal State University of Russia, Nina G. Lavrentyeva
Published: October 2021

A teacher is a key figure in ecological education of preschoolers for their safe and happy future life. Intensiveness of preschooler’s development, dependence of his life from grown-ups, direction of development to future life requires to raise social ecological responsibility of teachers before the future generation. The purpose of the article is to show the specific character of teachers’ training as the organizational and pedagogical condition of ecological education of preschoolers in the conditions of natural and sociocultural environment of a kindergarten. Analysis of theoretical sources and teaching practice allows you to identify the most valuable content lines and technological mechanisms of professional training of preschool students and practicing teachers for environmental education of children. The research methods are the analysis of the theory and practice of environmental education of preschoolers, professional training of teachers, generalization, and correlation of the analysis results with the goals of sustainable development, comparison, systematization, questioning of teachers of preschool educational organizations. Achieving the goals of sustainable development of society makes it necessary to focus the content and technologies of organizing environmental education for children on the knowledge of the consistency of the structure and functioning of the natural and sociocultural world, the allocation of ecosystems of different levels in it. In this case, the semantic needs of the future will be reflected in the pedagogical design of the present. Determination of the system-forming role of environmental education will optimize professional training and comprehend the unity of natural science and humanitarian knowledge. Strengthening the personal orientation of education by taking into account the level of training, individual interests, preferred styles of information processing, increases cognitive activity and creative self-realization of each student. The use of project activities and interactive forms and methods of designing environmental education for children create conditions for improving the professional qualities of teachers, increase the value of training. Thus, the directed specificity of the content of vocational education of kindergarten teachers from the perspective of the future increases their social and environmental responsibility to future generations and the effectiveness of the results of environmental education of preschoolers in the process of professional implementation. Keywords: professional training, ecological education of preschoolers, natural and sociocultural environment, system-forming role of ecological education, social ecological responsibility
Benefication of the Older Preschool Children’s Ideas About the Professions of their Future
Authors:   Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, Rimma I. Yafizova , Lidia K. Nichiporenko ,   Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia
Published: October 2021

The article discusses the key approaches to the study of the phenomenon of benefication of the older preschoolers’ ideas about modern professions. The analysis of domestic and foreign classical studies characterizing the methodology of acquaintance of older preschool children with adult labour and professions is presented. The idea of the need to concretize children’s knowledge and enrichment of ideas about various modern professions of adults: labour actions, tools and materials, the results of labor and its value is proved. The article reveals the need for the formation of ideas in children about the interconnections of professions among themselves; expanding the game and speech experience of older preschoolers in the framework of the professional activities of adults; fostering a positive attitude towards adult work. Characterized by the personality traits necessary for children in the future, when choosing any profession: communication, cooperation, creativity. The development of a multi-stage variant of studying the ideas of children about professions, including the value attitude towards them, is presented. The results of qualitative and quantitative analysis are demonstrated; survey data, which made it possible to concretize and generalize children’s ideas about a certain profession, which in turn helped to understand the direction of educational work in this area and to select professions to expand the ideas of older preschoolers about the professions of their future.It has been established which professions are in the sphere of children’s interests. The specificity of the ideas of children about the professional employment of their parents and their attitude to the work of adults is characterized. The potential of organizing event projects and educational situations as a means of enriching children’s ideas about modern professions is substantiated; the logic and principles of their organization are concretized. Keywords: benefication of ideas, ideas about professions, work of adults, play activity, event educational project, educational situations
Prospects for the Nomadic Education Development in Russia
Authors:   Federal Institute of Native Languages of the Peoples of the Russian Federation, Natalya V. Sitnikova
Published: October 2021

The subjects of the Russian Federation located in the regions of the North, Siberia and the Far East are characterized by attention to the issues of preserving the traditional way of life of nomads-reindeer herders, hunters and fishermen. At the same time, it remains relevant to study the issues of organizing the education of children traveling with their parents in the tundra and taiga. The purpose and objectives of the study are related to the hypothesis of the transformation of educational activities and the creation of new models of education in the nomadic region. Within the framework of the study, the level of education of parents from among representatives of indigenous small numbered peoples engaged in reindeer husbandry, the possibility of expanding the family form of education and increasing the availability of all levels of education in remote form was monitored. The monitoring was attended by representatives of the Amur, Arkhangelsk, Magadan regions, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Khanty-Mansiysk, Yamalo-Nenets, Chukotka Autonomous district, Taimyr Dolgan-Nenets Municipal District of the Krasnoyarsk Territory of the Russian Federation. In addition, cases of pilot family nomadic preschool and school groups have been collected and analyzed. As a result, the need for providing affordable secondary general education, secondary professional pedagogical education in correspondence form, using distance technologies has been identified. Strategies for the further development of nomadic education are proposed. Based on the analysis of empirical material obtained during field research in 2019–2020 and interregional round tables on the topic of nomadic education (March, April 2021), prospect models for organizing the education of the nomadic population in the conditions of digitalization have been developed. The article will be useful for the organizers of indigenous peoples’ education in order to improve the system of nomadic education in Russia. Keywords: transformation of education, nomadic education, indigenous peoples, digitalization, prospect organizational models
Potential of Educational Events as a Resource Psychological Well-Being of the Teacher
Authors:   Irkutsk State University, Anna Yu. Kachimskaya , Larisa V. Skorova ,   Irkutsk State University
Published: October 2021

One of the components of a teacher’s psychological health is the psychological well-being of his personality. The relevance of this study is due to the need to find such professional methods of the teacher’s work that would serve as a resource for his psychological well-being. The article discusses approaches to understanding an educational event as a condition for creating situations of psychological well-being in educational interaction. Psychological well-being can be a consequence of the design and implementation of a series of educational events focused on gaining experience of activity, the formation of a model of behavior, experience of behavior, skill of activity and change of oneself. Empirical research methods were: a diagnostic method to identify psychological wellbeing and satisfaction with professional activity; mathematical method using the Wilcoxon T-criterion for assessing the shift in indicators of psychological well-being before and after the creation (development and implementation) of educational events by teachers. The results of an empirical study conducted in schools of the Irkutsk region and Buryatia suggest that the participation of teachers in the development and implementation of educational events in their professional activities becomes a resource for increasing their psychological well-being. In conclusion, the author argues the idea that an educational event as an element of a teacher’s professional training can serve as a tool for optimizing a teacher’s own mental health. Such an approach to the psychological well-being of the teacher’s personality will make it possible to purposefully manage not only the effectiveness of the teacher’s professional activity, but also his psychological well-being. It seems promising to teach teachers the techniques of designing educational events and their implementation in the educational process, not only to manage the well-being of the teacher himself, but also to create conditions for the psychological well-being of other participants in educational relations, first of all, the psychological comfort of students. Keywords: psychological well-being, educational event, teacher’s activity, teacher’s psychological health, eventfulness, satisfaction with activity
On the Application of Foresight in Education for Sustainable Development
Authors:   Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Dmitry S. Ermakov , Aleksander S. Ermakov ,   Lomonosov Moscow State University, Ekaterina V. Kolesova ,   Moscow City Administration of Natural Territories
Published: October 2021

Education is the most important mechanism for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One of the methodological difficulties in the implementation of education for sustainable development (ESD) is associated with its proactive, predictive nature. In this regard, when designing ESD, it seems appropriate to use technologies of futurology, particularly, the technology of foresight. The article considers the main features of foresight and examples of its application in Russian education. The results of the foresight session on the design of ESD as an innovative pedagogical system and the development of a “roadmap” for the implementation of ESD in the Russian Federation for the period until 2030 are presented. 14 experts took part in this work (21 % are with D. Sc. degree, 50 % are with Ph. D. degree; average teaching experience is 17,4 years, including 12,6 years in the field of ESD). During the STEEPV analysis, we identified the main social, technological, economic, environmental, political, and value-based factors that will affect both the education system in general and ESD in particular. The SWOT analysis allowed us to determine the characteristic features of ESD, regarding its strengths and weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. In the brainstorming mode, the main elements of the ESD roadmap for the next 10 years (trends, technologies, formats / social practices, and “jokers” / bifurcation points) were identified. In general, obtained results are consistent with the key directions of the development of Russian education to achieve the SDGs, and are also aimed at solving the main problems in the field of ESD. This research will be continued. Keywords: sustainable development, education for sustainable development, futurology, foresight, design
Co-Evolutionary Paradigm of Ecological Education for Sustainable Development: Methodological Basis
Authors:   Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University named after K. Minin, Natalia F Vinokurova
Published: October 2021

Throughout the history of its development, environmental education has been viewed as a priority area in the modernization of all educational systems in the face of aggravated environmental problems. A comparative analysis of the change in environmental education paradigms made it possible to conclude that they evolved in accordance with the change in cognitive models and value-target guidelines: environmental education, environmental education and environmental education for sustainable development. On the basis of a generalization of philosophical, scientific, psychological and pedagogical research, the statement is substantiated that in the modern conditions of the global environmental crisis, the relevance and importance of developing the methodological foundations of environmental education based on a co-evolutionary strategy, which ensures the transition of mankind to the path of sustainable development, is obvious. The article reveals the methodological foundations of the co-evolutionary strategy of environmental education for sustainable development, which reflects the cognitive model, value co-evolutionary relations and the constructive coherent-creative orientation of nature-friendly activity. The co-evolutionary paradigm of environmental education for sustainable development, based on the ideas of synergy, reflects the picture of the world of a post-industrial society. The essence of co-evolutionary subject-activity, transdisciplinary, integrative and integrative-situational, cultural-ecological coherent-creative approaches is revealed. The conclusion is made about the semantic and value-worldview conjugation of these approaches, which ensures the integrity of the methodological foundations of the co-evolutionary paradigm of environmental education for sustainable development. The experience of the Nizhny Novgorod scientific school of environmental education in the implementation of the considered methodological approaches in environmental education for sustainable development is presented. The promising directions of research on this problem are formulated, related to the determination of the functional completeness of the methodological foundations and the development of methods for their implementation in educational practice. Keywords: co-evolutionary paradigm, environmental education for sustainable development, methodology
Photoblastism and Ecophysiology of Seed Germination in Weedy Rice
Authors: Chung Nam-Jin , Paek Nam-Chon
Published: October 2021

The germination of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seed has been known to be unaffected by light or darkness, but a photoblastic rice (PBR) whose germination was favored by light was discovered in weedy rice. The effects of light, temperature, and soil burial depth on the seed dormancy and germination of PBR were examined. At 30°C, the seeds germinated 100% under white or red (R) light and below 1% in darkness. They showed 67 and 20% of germination under continuous and a brief pulse of far‐red (FR) light, respectively, and photoreversible germination under alternating irradiation of R and FR light, indicating that the induction of germination occurs through very‐low‐fluence response and low‐fluence response of phytochromes. The prompt and delayed induction of germination by a pulse of R and FR light, respectively, following dark imbibition suggests that phytochrome B exists in dormant seeds and phytochrome A is synthesized during dark imbibition. Dark imbibition for longer than 3 d induced secondary dormancy. In darkness, the germination frequency was about 28% at 15 to 20°C and below 1% at 25 to 40°C. At 12 h‐diurnal fluctuations of 20 and 10°C and 25 and 15°C in darkness, the germination frequencies were 77 and 27%, respectively. When the seeds were sown in the soil, emergence frequency decreased as burial depth increased, and 12‐h diurnal fluctuation of 20 and 10°C induced more seedling emergence than constant 15°C. Conclusively, PBR seeds are capable of germinating by sensing light or proximity to the soil surface during seasonal fluctuations in diurnal temperatures.
Seeding Date Effect on Rice Grain Yields in Arkansas and Louisiana
Authors: Slaton Nathan A. , Linscombe Steve D. , Norman Richard J. , Gbur Edward E.
Published: October 2021

Seeding date has a substantial influence on rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain yield. Previous studies, across the Midsouth rice producing area in the USA, have shown that rice grain yields decrease as the date of seeding is delayed. However, information quantifying the rate of yield decline has not been developed. The primary objective of this research was to determine the influence of seeding date on rice grain yield for two geographical areas in the USA. Yield data from Stuttgart, AR, and Crowley, LA, were compared for studies conducted in the 1990s with modern cultivars and from the 1960s and 1970s with older cultivars. Modern rice cultivars produced maximum grain yields when seeded from 16 February through 28 March at Crowley, LA, and 29 March through 26 April at Stuttgart, AR. Older cultivars grown in the 1960s and early 1970s showed similar, but slightly later optimum seeding dates. Quadratic equations best described the relationship between seeding date and relative grain yield by location and era. The rate of yield decline was the same in both Arkansas and Louisiana and for each era evaluated. The average daily high and low air temperatures for the predicted optimum seeding dates are 20 and 8°C at Crowley, LA, and 24 and 11°C at Stuttgart, AR. Rice seeded during the optimum period has a longer vegetative growth phase than later seeded rice. The relationship between seeding date and rice grain yield will aid growers in making crop planting decisions based on expected grain yields and commodity prices.
Model Concepts to Express Genetic Differences in Maize Yield Components
Authors: Ritchie Joe T. , Alagarswamy Gopal
Published: October 2021

Maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield is closely related to kernel number per unit area. The quantification of genetic differences among maize cultivars to kernel number plant−1 (KNP) is critical for accurate yield simulation but remains one of the less accurate components of yield modeling. Our objective was to document the recently published KNP data and revise CERES Maize model (V3.5). The duration of a critical window for KNP simulation was 327°C days (227°C days before and 100°C days after silking—base temperature 8°C) when ears actively grew. The KNP was curvilinearly related to cumulative intercepted photosynthetically active radiation plant−1 (CIPAR) during the critical window. Potential kernel ear−1 and kernel produced per unit CIPAR were the genetic coefficients needed to simulate KNP. Apical ears produced maximum KNP at a plateau CIPAR of 64 MJ, and prolific hybrids produced secondary ears when CIPAR exceeded 64 MJ. The genetic differences in prolificacy in low plant density were expressed by another coefficient. Below a threshold CIPAR of 11 MJ, all plants were barren, and a barrenness coefficient expressed genetic differences among old and modern hybrids to produce KNP in high plant density. Sensitivity analysis with limited testing indicated that the revised model simulated yield reasonably well [root mean square error (RMSE) = 0.63 Mg ha−1] compared with the original model (RMSE = 1.25 Mg ha−1) across a wide range of plant densities. However, rigorous testing of the model will be required to gain greater confidence in the proposed concepts.
Phenolic profile, antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activity of the ethyl acetate, methanol and water extracts of Capparis spinosa L.
Authors: KİRKAN Bulent , CEYLAN Olcay , SARIKÜRKCÜ Cengiz , TEPE Bektas
Published: October 2021

In this study, it was aimed to determine the phytochemical compositions and biological activities of ethyl acetate (EtOAc), methanol (MeOH) and water extracts obtained from the aerial parts of Capparis spinosa L. As a result of spectrophotometric analyzes, MeOH extract was found to be richer in terms of both phenolics and flavonoids compared to other extracts [81.45 mg GAEs (gallic acid equivalent)/g and 36.57 mg RE (rutin equivalent)s/g, respectively], while chromatographic analyzes showed that the extract in question contains a significant amount of hepseridin (72927.48 µg/g), quercetin (1335.88 µg/g), hyperoside (1227.73 µg/g), and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (924.08 µg/g). Phosphomolybdenum, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging, Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Power (CUPRAC) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) reducing and ferrous ion chelating activity tests resulted in superiority of MeOH extract [371.0, 44.93, 56.46, 91.77, 52.61 mg TEs (trolox equivalent)/g and 14.85 mg EDTAEs/g, respectively]. On the other hand, EtOAc extract exhibited higher activity than other extracts in acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity tests [3.29, 2.12 mg GALAEs (galanthamine equivalent)/g, 541.01 and 1584.20 mg ACEs (acarbose equivalent)/g, respectively]. The tyrosinase inhibitory activity test resulted in the superiority of MeOH extract [41.90 mg KAEs (kojic acid equivalent)/g]. A strong correlation was determined between the phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extracts and their antioxidant activities.
Downfolding the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model
Authors: Schobert Arne , Berges Jan , Wehling Tim , van Loon Erik
Published: October 2021

Charge-density waves are responsible for symmetry-breaking
displacements of atoms and concomitant changes in the electronic
structure. Linear response theories, in particular density-functional
perturbation theory, provide a way to study the effect of displacements
on both the total energy and the electronic structure based on a single
ab initio calculation. In downfolding approaches, the electronic system
is reduced to a smaller number of bands, allowing for the incorporation
of additional correlation and environmental effects on these bands.
However, the physical contents of this downfolded model and its
potential limitations are not always obvious. Here, we study the
potential-energy landscape and electronic structure of the
Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model, where all relevant quantities can be
evaluated analytically. We compare the exact results at arbitrary
displacement with diagrammatic perturbation theory both in the full
model and in a downfolded effective single-band model, which gives an
instructive insight into the properties of downfolding. An exact
reconstruction of the potential-energy landscape is possible in a
downfolded model, which requires a dynamical electron-biphonon
interaction. The dispersion of the bands upon atomic displacement is
also found correctly, where the downfolded model by construction only
captures spectral weight in the target space. In the SSH model, the
electron-phonon coupling mechanism involves exclusively hybridization
between the low- and high-energy bands and this limits the computational
efficiency gain of downfolded models.
De novo transcriptome sequencing, assembly and characterization of Heliopsis longipes roots vs. leaves to discover putative genes involved in specialized metabolites biosynthesis
Authors: Buitimea-Cantúa Génesis V. , Molina-Torres Jorge
Published: October 2021

Heliopsis longipes is a valuable source of specialized metabolites (or secondary metabolites) with medicinal properties mainly in roots. However, little is known about genes involved in the biosynthesis of these metabolites, primarily due to the lack of genome or transcriptome resources. In this work, the genes of the biosynthetic pathway of the specialized metabolism from H. longipes roots and leaves through de novo RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) using the platform of Illumina paired-end sequencing were studied. After de novo transcriptome assembly using the software Newbler, a total of 172,342 non-redundant transcripts with an N50 value of 816 bp was obtained. Further functional classification and annotation with Gene Ontology (GO), BLAST2GO, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG), and KEGG automatic annotation server (KAAS), revealed that active genes in tissues are predominately involved in the metabolic process and biosynthesis of specialized metabolite pathways. Differential expression analysis of roots vs. leaves using Cuffdiff software (p-value ≤0.05 and log-fold change ratio (log2) ≥1) revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were in an organ-specific manner, such as in leaf, DEGs were significantly enriched in photosynthesis, while in roots, were a higher enriched function of plant hormone signal transduction. A total of 63 transcripts DEGs were related to 9 specialized metabolites pathways, in roots the most abundant was the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and in leaves was the carotenoids biosynthesis. Several regulatory genes including the basic-helix-loop-helix and basic leucine zipper domain, transcriptions factor families involved in the regulation of phenylpropanoids and carotenoid biosynthesis, respectively, were discovered. This study established a global transcriptome dataset for H. longipes. Data shall be useful to study the functional genomics or genetic engineering of this specie. These results will promote the understanding of the genetic mechanism involved in the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites in H. longipes
Root proteome alterations in sugarcane promoted by the regrowth cycle in commercial production
Authors: Maranho Rone Charles , Benez Mariana Mancini , Maranho Gustavo Barizon , Pilau Eduardo Jorge , Mangolin Claudete Aparecida , Machado Maria de Fátima P. S.
Published: October 2021

The decrease in agricultural productivity in successive cutting of sugarcane plants is associated with several extrinsic and intrinsic factors. However, no studies have focused on the physiological potential of sett roots in successive cuts in sugarcane culture. There have been no proteomic studies on sugarcane sett roots at different stages of cutting. In this study, the UPLC-ESI-TOF-MS system and bioinformatics tools were used to identify proteins of sett roots in the first and fifth cuts of sugarcane cultivar RB966928 in the sprouting stage. Differences in the proteome of sett roots of RB966928 in the first and fifth cuts detected in this study supports the hypothesis that the proteome of sett roots may change after successive cuts in sugarcane culture. A reduction in the number of proteins was observed in the roots of the fifth cut, whereas 34% of proteins, identified exclusively in the first cut, were absent in the fifth cut. Proteome analysis of sett roots in the first and fifth cuts showed that the changes after successive cuts were quantitative (number of proteins) and mainly qualitative. In this study, the detailed list of proteins identified in the first cut but absent in the fifth cut is relevant. The findings of this study may aid further research that employ biotic or abiotic elicitors to induce gene expression of essential proteins absent in sett roots of the fifth cut, and thus increasing the agricultural productivity and longevity of cane fields
Prevalence and risk factors of irritable bowel syndrome in Irkutsk
Authors: Tsukanov V. V. , Vasyutin A. V. , Onuchina E. V. , Petrun’ko I. L. , Kasparov E. V. , Tonkikh Ju. L.
Published: October 2021

Introduction. The study of the problem of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in recent years has been very dynamic. In the Rome IV criteria, new criteria for the diagnosis of this pathology were proposed. Along with the existence of ethnic and geographic differ­ences, this has led to an increase in the activity of studies on the prevalence of IBS.

Aim. To study the prevalence and risk factors of irritable bowel syndrome in Irkutsk.

Materials and methods. A single-stage observational non-randomized study was performed on the basis of three medical institu­tions in Irkutsk. Interviewing and clinical examination were performed in 1 529 people: 724 men and 805 women, average age 51.0 years. The questionnaire contained questions to determine the presence of alarm symptoms. The diagnosis of IBS was based on the Rome IV criteria. IBS with a predominance of diarrhea, IBS with a predominance of constipation and mixed and undiffer­entiated IBS were distinguished. Taking into account the position of the Rome IV criteria and the recommendations of the American College of Gastroenterology (2021), we used a positive diagnosis of IBS in our study and did not perform an instrumental examination of patients.

Results. The prevalence of IBS was 12.3%. Among the subtypes of IBS, IBS prevailed with a predominance of constipation (preva­lence 5.7%) and IBS of mixed and undifferentiated type (prevalence 4.6%). Risk factors for IBS were female sex (OR = 0.73; CI 0.53-0.99; p = 0.05), age over 50 years (OR = 0.66; CI 0.48-0.90; p = 0.01) and obesity (OR = 0.46; CI 0.31-0.69; p < 0.001). Risk factors for IBS with a predominance of constipation were female sex (OR = 0.46; CI 0.29-0.73; p = 0.001), age over 50 years (OR = 0.46; CI 0.29-0.73; p = 0.001) and obesity (OR = 0.41; CI 0.23-0.72; p = 0.002).

Conclusions. In general, our results are consistent with data from other regions of the world. It should be emphasized that the prevalence of IBS in Irkutsk is quite high, which requires careful attention to this problem.
Efficacy and safety of tofacitinib in moderate and severe ulcerative colitis in real clinical practice: three years of observation
Authors: Knyazev O. V. , Kagramanova A. V. , Lishchinskaya A. A. , Li I. A. , Podolskaya D. V. , Shkurko T. V. , Nanaeva B. A. , Aleksandrov T. L. , Baranova T. A. , Tishaeva I. A. , Zvyaglova M. Yu. , Parfenov A. I.
Published: October 2021

Introduction. Tofacitinib is the first member of a new class of targeted synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). The article presents a three-year Russian experience of tofacitinib use for the treatment of moderate and severe UC.

Aim of the study. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib therapy in real clinical practice in moderate to severe UC patients during three years of follow-up.  

Methods. The study included 56 patients with UC who had moderate (60.7%) and severe (35.8%) states of disease, the total lesion was diagnosed in 67.8%, and extraintestinal manifestations in 57.1% of patients. Early achievement of clinical response, clinical and endoscopic, corticosteroid-free remission, and safety were evaluated.

Results. Early response to tofacitinib therapy was obtained in 47 (83.9%) patients. Clinical remission was achieved in 36 (64.3%) at week 8 of therapy and clinical response was achieved in 13 (23.2%) patients. The majority of patients who achieved clinical remission at weeks 8 and 12 achieved healing of colon mucosa at week 24. Clinical and endoscopic remission rates after 24 weeks – 44 (78.6%) patients, clinical response in 7 (12.5%) patients, 5 (8.9%) did not respond to TFCB therapy. Corticosteroidfree remission was 77.6%. After 2 years of tofacitinib therapy, remission of UC was maintained in 46 (82.1%). After 36 months, remission of UC was maintained in 45 (80.3%) of the 56 patients who had been started on tofacitinib therapy. The cumulative effect of survival in the treatment of tofacitinib in UC was 87.5% after 6 months and persisted for one year, 82.1% after 2 years, and 80.3% after 3 years.

Conclusions. The administration of tofacitinib in UC is effective in achieving rapid clinical response, clinical remission, and mucosal healing in patients who do not respond well to biological therapy.
Clinical and pharmacological approaches to the management of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in chronic pancreatitis
Authors: Drozdov V. N. , Shikh E. V. , Astapovskiy A. A. , Kotlyachkova Yu. V. , Dobrovolskaya L. E. , Starodubtsev A. K. , Komissarenko I. A. , Serebrova S. Y.
Published: October 2021

Chronic pancreatitis is a multifactorial disease in which repeated episodes of inflammation of the pancreas contribute to the development of fibrous tissue, leading to chronic pain, as well as exocrine and endocrine insufficiency. The incidence and prevalence of chronic pancreatitis in the world are growing, as evidenced by current statistics. In addition, the annual costs associated with the treatment of exocrine and endocrine insufficiency are also increasing. In the United States alone, the annual cost of treating these complications is $ 75.1 million. Exocrine insufficiency is one of the most frequent complications, which is characterized by a deficiency of pancreatic enzymes, leading to the development of malabsorption syndrome (impaired absorption of nutrients, vitamins and minerals). Due to the increased incidence and deterioration of the quality of life associated with this condition, the goal of treatment is to compensate for the deficiency of exocrine enzymes with oral pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. The core of this therapy is to deliver activated, unbroken enzymes directly to the small intestine during a meal. Many studies have shown that prescribing enzyme replacement therapy improves symptoms associated with exocrine insufficiency, reduces the progression of osteopenia, and improves survival in such patients. The use of pancreatin contributes to the correction of exocrine insufficiency in patients with chronic pancreatitis. The data presented in the article indicate that the drug is a safe and effective agent, meets all modern standards and requirements, and can be used to correct enzymatic pancreatic insufficiency.
Genetic predictors and pathophysiological features of non-alcoholic fat liver disease
Authors: Smirnova O. V. , Moskalenko O. L. , Kasparov E. V. , Kasparova, I. E.
Published: October 2021

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of liver disease in highly developed countries. The risk of developing NAFLD and associated complications varies greatly among people of different nationalities and is determined by environmental and genetic factors. Genome-wide studies have revealed strong and reproducible associations between gene variations such as PNPLA3, TM6SF2, MBOAT7, GCKR, HSD17B1, and NAFLD. In this article, we consider the influence of genes and environmental factors on the pathophysiological features of NAFLD. The use of a sufficient population sample with the analysis of SNP arrays and the use of sequencing methods (exome and genome as a whole) will lead to the discovery of additional genetic variants, will inevitably improve the understanding of the pathogenesis of NAFLD, and will allow the development of a technology for personalized risk in assessing the disease in a patient. The aim of our study was to study the genetic predictors of NAFLD based on literature data with the interpretation of the studies. There is now strong evidence that specific variants of genetic risk have a large effect on NAFLD, and their effect is comparable to that of major metabolic risk factors such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. The increased risk extends to the onset and progression of the entire spectrum of NAFLD manifestations, including overall mortality due to liver disease. Currently, individual genetic variants do not allow the creation of a personalized risk profile; therefore, the most expedient approach today is the development of polygenic risk assessments. The number of genetic loci associated with the prevalence and outcome of NAFLD remains limited. The use of a sufficient population sample with the analysis of SNP arrays and the use of sequencing methods (exome and genome as a whole) will lead to the discovery of additional genetic variants and will inevitably improve the understanding of the pathogenesis of NAFLD and will allow the development of a technology for personalized risk in the assessment of the disease.
Conducta prosocial asociada al bienestar en adolescentes
Authors: González-González Alejandro , Betancourt Ocampo Diana
Published: October 2021

Introducción: a partir de la perspectiva del desarrollo positivo, la búsqueda del bienestar adquiere gran relevancia, ya que se sugiere que el ser humano estará en búsqueda constante del bienestar a través de las diferentes etapas de su vida. Este constructo se ha estudiado desde dos aproximaciones: desde la visión del bienestar psicológico y desde la visión del bienestar subjetivo. La literatura sugiere que las tendencias de contribución y ayuda hacia las personas que nos rodean favorecen el estado de bienestar y desarrollo saludable, por lo que algunos autores indican que las conductas prosociales deben favorecerse, en especial en la etapa de la adolescencia, para promover un adecuado desarrollo de los individuos.  
Método: se realizó un estudio no experimental, transversal, con alcance descriptivo y correlacional, cuyo objetivo fue  analizar el impacto que tiene la conducta prosocial en el bienestar, tanto psicológico como subjetivo, en población adolescente de México. Para esto, se contó con una muestra no probabilística por conveniencia de 803 adolescentes, con una media de edad de 14.87 años (49.1 % fueron hombres y 50.9 % mujeres). Se utilizó el Instrumento de Tendencias Prosociales, que consta de tres dimensiones: 1) ayuda emocional; 1) reconocimiento; y 3) altruismo. Además, se empleó la escala de Bienestar Psicológico de González-Fuentes (2013), que se conforma de siete dimensiones: 1) propósito de vida; 2) rechazo personal; 3) control personal; 4) planeación al futuro; 5) autoaceptación; 6) relaciones positivas con otros; y 7) crecimiento personal. También se utilizó la escala adaptada para población mexicana de Satisfacción de vida de Dienner, a fin de valorar el bienestar subjetivo. Todos los instrumentos empleados han sido utilizados previamente en población adolescente en México.
Resultados: se realizaron análisis de correlación de Pearson para determinar la relación entre las dimensiones de la conducta prosocial con las dimensiones del bienestar psicológico, así como con el bienestar subjetivo. Los resultados de estos análisis mostraron relaciones significativas en las tres dimensiones de la conducta prosocial (ayuda emocional, reconocimiento y altruismo) con la mayoría de las dimensiones del bienestar psicológico. Además, se encontraron correlaciones significativas entre la conducta prosocial con el bienestar subjetivo. Para analizar el efecto de la conducta prosocial sobre las dimensiones de bienestar psicológico y subjetivo se realizaron análisis de regresión lineal múltiple, paso por paso, las cuales mostraron que las dimensiones de conducta prosocial fueron variables predictoras tanto del bienestar subjetivo como del psicológico, con porcentajes de varianza del 7 % al 24 %. 
Discusión: se discuten los datos a la luz de la perspectiva del desarrollo positivo, donde se plantea que los adolescentes son fuente de recursos y posibilidades más que de conflictos, por lo que se sugiere promover conductas prosociales en ellos para favorecer su desarrollo.
Removal of metronidazole antibiotic from aqueous solution by ammonia-modified activated carbon: adsorption isotherm and kinetic study
Authors: Ahmadfazeli Ali , Poureshgh Yousef , Rashtbari Yousef , Akbari Hamed , Pourali Peyman , Adibzadeh Amir
Published: October 2021

This article was aimed at investigating the removal of metronidazole (MNZ) from aquatic solutions by modified activated carbon (MAC) with amine groups. The effect of various parameters on the adsorption rate such as the initial pH, adsorbent dose and initial concentration of MNZ and contact time were scrutinized. MAC was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller techniques. The obtained results illustrated that under the optimum conditions (pH = 3, contact time = 50 min, initial MNZ concentration = 5 mg/L and MAC dose = 0.5 g/L), the maximum adsorption efficiency was 95%. Furthermore, the kinetic studies indicated the applicability of the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, whereas the adsorption isotherm fitted well with the Freundlich model (0.996), and the maximum adsorption capacity was 66.22 mg/g. The SBET and the total pure volume of MAC were 706.92 m2/g and 0.532 cm3/g, respectively. Also, the regeneration tests demonstrated that MAC had good stability after five cycles (73%). It can be concluded that MAC, as an effective adsorbent, has a high ability to remove MNZ from aqueous solutions.
Detection of methanotrophic microorganisms in sludge and sediment samples from sewage treatment systems
Authors: Siniscalchi L. A. B. , Siqueira J. C. , Batista A. M. M. , Araújo J. C.
Published: October 2021

This study investigated various groups of methanotrophic microorganisms, including the anaerobic methane-oxidizing archaea (ANME) group, aerobic methanotrophic bacteria, and bacteria of the phylum NC10 (Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera). The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was employed with specific primers for the pmoA gene from the aerobic methanotrophic and M. Oxyfera methanotrophic denitrifying (NC10 phylum) and for the anaerobic methanotrophic archaea 16S rRNA gene (ANME-1 and ANME-2). Sludge and sediment samples were analyzed from different sewage treatment systems installed at the Sanitation Research and Training Center (CePTS) at the Arrudas wastewater treatment plant (Arrudas WWTP), in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. ANME was shown to be present in sludges from the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor and activated sludge system, and in sediments from the polishing pond and wetlands. On the other hand, aerobic methanotrophic bacteria were detected only in the polishing pond samples, while no methanotrophic denitrifiers of the M. oxyfera genre were detected at all. Besides investigating and detecting different groups of methanotrophs in the treatment systems, the study provided support for another in which samples from the systems analyzed were selected for use as inoculum for methane anaerobic oxidation potential experiments and methanotrophic microorganism enrichment.
Problems of clinical and morphologic diagnosis of orolabial melanosis in children
Authors: Belysheva T. S. , Vishnevskaya Ya. V. , Kletskaya I. S. , Michenko A. V. , Volkova A. S. , Valiev T. T. , Mikhailova S. N. , Varfolomeeva S. R.
Published: October 2021

Pigmented neoplasms of the skin and mucous membranes are a heterogeneous group of benign and malignant neoplasms, some of which are extremely rare in the practice of pediatric oncologist. Orolabial melanosis refers to a benign pigmented pathology of the skin and mucous membranes, requires differential diagnosis with ephelids, melanoma, and when localized on the tongue – with pigmented fungiform papillae of the tongue.This article presents a clinical case of orolabial melanosis with localization on the tongue in a 9-year-old child that was not previously described in the domestic literature. The clinical, dermatoscopic, immuno-morphological and differential diagnostic features of this pathology are described in detail.
Clinical case of an infant with severe hemophilia A on emicizumab
Authors: Andreeva T. A. , Lavrichenko I. A.
Published: October 2021

Hemophilia A is an X-linked congenital bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency or absence of coagulation factor VIII. In children who are in the first year of life, bleeding into the head accounts for 12.8–17.7 % of cases, and up to 45.5 % of them are intracranial bleeding in contrast to adult patients, in whom joints are the most frequent localization of bleeding. The first 2 years of life are the most dangerous in relation tointracranial bleeding for a child with hemophilia and the provision of full preventive treatment is extremely important for this time.Aim of the study – present the first experience of using emicizumab as primary prophylaxis in a child of the first year of life with hemophilia A. A patient born in 2020 with a severe hemophilia A had two post-traumatic bleeding that required hospitalization and replacement therapy. We decided to start primary prophylaxis with emicizumab at the age of 10 months.There were not spontaneous bleedings during 8 months of emicizumab usage. Post-traumatic bleeding did not require hospitalization and additional therapy.The clinical case demonstrates that emicizumab is effective and safe in infant who have not previously received prophylactic treatment.