bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PRODUCTION OF ANTI-LACTOFERRIN ANTIBODIES AND THEIR APPLICATION IN ANALYSIS OF THE TEAR FLUID IN HEALTH AND CORNEAL INJURIES
Authors:   Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tykhomyrov A.
Published: January 2023

Lactoferrin is a ubiquitous and multifunctional protein, which has antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. Lactoferrin plays an important role in the maintenance of ocular health. The aim of the study was to produce polyclonal antibodies against human lactoferrin in order to apply them in evaluation of lactoferrin levels in tear fluid collected from healthy eye and after corneal injury. Materials and methods. Affine chromatography on Protein A-sepharose was applied in order to isolate immunoglobulin G (IgG) fraction from the blood serum of lactoferrin-immunized rabbits. Each step of protein purification was monitored by denaturing gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Target antigen recognition by produced antibodies was established by western blot analysis with the use of diluted IgG fraction. Lactoferrin levels in the tear fluids collected from healthy individuals (n = 4) and patients with non-penetrating corneal injures (n = 6) were determined immunochemically with the use of purified antibodies. The results of western blot of lactoferrin levels in the tear fluids of healthy individuals and patients with corneal wounds were analysed using Mann-Whitney U-test. The difference between group mean values was considered significant at P<0.05. Results. Using affine chromatography on Protein A-sepharose, antibodies against human lactoferrin were purified as IgG fraction from blood serum of lactoferrin-immunized rabbits. Western blot analysis showed that obtained antibodies recognize the antigen as a 75-kDa band, which corresponds to the intact human lactoferrin polypeptide. The same major polypeptide band was visualized by western blot with enhanced chemiluminescence detection in the tear fluid samples. Densitometry analysis of 75-kDa lactoferrin band showed 3.2-fold decrease in lactoferrin level in the tear fluid samples obtained from patients with non-penetrating corneal traumas as compared with samples collected from healthy persons (P<0.05). Besides, tear fluid of patients with injured corneas contained large amounts of truncated lactoferrin immunoreactive polypeptides as well as high molecular weight bands, which could correspond to lactoferrin complexes with other proteins occurring during inflammation. Conclusions. According to our data, obtained anti-lactoferrin antibodies can be used as a valuable tool for development of advanced tests and procedures for diagnostics of eye diseases associated with the corneal lesions. Reduced lactoferrin concentration might represent a potential prognostic biomarker for diagnosis of ocular diseases including non-penetrating corneal injuries in a simple and non-invasive way.
El sujeto complejo y la voluntad: re-ligajes ecosóficos
Authors: Rodriguez Milagros Elena
Published: January 2023

En ésta investigación transmetódica cumplimos con el objetivo complejo: analizar al sujeto complejo y la voluntad como necesidades ecosóficas urgentes. Se trata de una investigación transparadigmática compleja, en las líneas de investigación: transepistemologías de los conocimientos-saberes y transmetodologías transcomplejas, y decolonialidad planetaria-complejidad en re-ligaje. Se trata de una antigenealogía de las indagaciones modernistas-postmodernistas-coloniales con el transmétodo: la hermenéutica comprensiva, ecosófica y diatópica entramada rizomáticamente en los momentos analíticos, empíricos y propositivos. Las Sagradas Escrituras y el legado de cristianos como Raimón Panikkar hacen escena en los momentos analíticos – empíricos; entre otros como su prosélito complejo Edgar Morín.
Barreiras psicossociais para a paz no cidadão comum de Pereira – Colômbia
Authors: Andrade Salazar José Alonso , Arango Aria Yeraldi Marcela , Caicedo Salverry Yamith Yurani , Pineda Pineda Ingrid Silvana
Published: January 2023

Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa do tipo exploratória, de abordagem hermenêutica, abordada sob o método da análise crítica do discurso. O estudo visa compreender as barreiras psicossociais, ou seja, os sentidos e significados concorrentes nas narrativas sobre o conflito, os processos de paz e o plebiscito em 10 pessoas comuns, ou "cidadãos comuns" residentes na cidade de Pereira - Colômbia. Para isso, foi realizada uma entrevista em profundidade e nela constatou-se que as barreiras ou impedimentos se configuram por meio de opiniões, legados, crenças, sentidos e emoções cujo substrato é político e educacional, razão pela qual estão presentes nos discursos transmitida de forma geracional. O anterior determina a tomada de decisões e as orientações políticas, ao mesmo tempo que constitui o aporte de legados educativos com os quais se compreende a guerra, a violência, a paz e a possibilidade de superação do conflito. Da mesma forma, persistem pensamentos ambivalentes resultantes da manipulação da informação mediática, da permanente ideologização, da polarização e da apatia face à guerra, às suas sequelas e à linearidade. As emoções envolvidas refletem o cansaço e a desilusão com a governação e as instituições do Estado, mas também a necessidade de transformar os sistemas políticos e sociais em prol do bem-estar coletivo e da superação da guerra e da barbárie, aspeto que exige uma urgente renovação pedagógica e social.
Associations of binge gaming (5 or more consecutive hours played) with gaming disorder and mental health in young men
Authors: Marmet Simon , Wicki Matthias , Dupuis Marc , Baggio Stéphanie , Dufour Magali , Gatineau Catherine , Gmel Gerhard , Studer Joseph
Published: January 2023

Background

Video gaming is a popular activity among young people. Time spent with gaming was found to be only moderately associated with gaming disorder. However, patterns of binge gaming (playing more than 5 h consecutively) were rarely considered in research on gaming. This study explores how binge gaming frequency is related with gaming disorder and mental health.

Methods

The sample came from the Cohort study on substance use risk factors (C-SURF) and comprised 5,358 young men aged 28.26 years (SD = 1.27). ANCOVA was conducted to estimate the association between binge gaming frequency (gaming at least 5 h consecutively) and gaming disorder (measured with the Game Addiction Scale) as well as indicators of mental health.

Results

A total of 33.3% of the sample engaged in binge gaming at least once in the previous year, and 6.1% at least weekly. Frequency of binge gaming was associated with gaming disorder score in a linear dose-response relationship (linear trend = 2.30 [2.14, 2.46]) even if adjusted for time spent gaming (linear trend = 1.24 [1.03, 1.45). More frequent binge gaming was associated with lower life satisfaction and sleep quality, and with more major depression and social anxiety disorder symptoms.

Conclusions

Binge gaming patterns, especially daily or almost daily binge gaming, are important to consider with regard to gaming disorder and mental health. Asking about binge gaming may be a promising screening question for gaming related problems. Encouraging regular breaks from gaming may be a valuable prevention strategy to reduce negative outcomes of gaming.
Assessment of intracellular zinc levels in infants with food protein–induced allergic proctocolitis
Authors: Cigerci Gunaydin Nursen , Celikkol Aliye , Nalbantoglu Aysin
Published: January 2023

Background: Food protein–induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP) is characterized by bloody stools in well-appearing infants. Zinc is a micronutrient that plays a crucial role in immune modulation and is essential for cellular function during immune response. Although there are studies on the assessment of intracellular zinc levels in allergic diseases, no data is available on erythrocyte zinc levels of patients with FPIAP.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the erythrocyte zinc levels of children with allergic proctocolitis and compare zinc levels with clinical and demographic characteristics.
Methods: This was a case–control study that prospectively compared 50 patients with FPIAP and 50 healthy children without malnutrition. The erythrocyte zinc levels of children were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
Results: Fifty patients with FPIAP, including 28 (51%) girls, with median age of 7.1 ± 2.9 (3–14) months and 50 healthy children, including 26 (53.1%) girls, with median age of 7.7 ± 2.8 (3–13) months were included in the study. Seventy percent (n = 35) of the patients with FPIAP started to have symptoms while they were exclusively breastfeeding. Offending allergen foods were cow’s milk (78%), egg (40%), sesame (10%), hazelnut (8%), almond (6%), beef (6%), and peanuts (6%, n = 3). Intracellular (erythrocyte) zinc levels in patients with FPIAP were lower than in the healthy control group (495.5 ± 134 µg/dL, 567.3 ± 154.4 µg/dL, respectively, P = 0.01). Patients with FPIAP aged younger than 6 months had lower intracellular zinc levels compared with those aged above 6 months (457 ± 137 µg/dL; 548 ± 112 µg/dL, respectively, P = 0.01). There was no relationship between zinc levels and time of symptom onset, presence of concomitant disease, being allergic to multiple foods, and family history of atopy (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: FPIAP is a food allergy with limited information on its pathogenesis. Considering the beneficial effects on gastrointestinal system epithelia, zinc may be involved in the pathogenesis of FPIAP. Future comprehensive prospective research on this subject is of importance.
Correlation between B-cell lymphoma 6 with the balance of T helper-1/2 and severity of allergic rhinitis
Authors: Wu Jiali , Chen Shumei , Li Xiaoyan
Published: January 2023

Objective: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a prevailing immune disorder affecting the nasal mucosa. B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) imposes essential roles in immunity. This study probed into the serum expression of BCL6 and its effect on AR diagnosis and patients’ quality of life (QOL).
Methods: A total of 113 patients with AR including 38 cases with mild AR (MAR) and 75 cases with moderate-severe AR (MSAR) were enrolled, with 101 healthy people enrolled as control. Serum expression of BCL6 was detected by RT-qPCR and the diagnostic efficacy of BCL6 for AR was analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic curve. The proportion of T helper-1/2 (Th1/Th2) cells in CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was detected using flow cytometry. The correlation between BCL6 and Th1/Th2 cells and the effects of BCL6 expression on patients’ QOL were assessed by Pearson analysis and Mini-RQLQ questionnaire.
Results: BCL6 was downregulated in patients with AR, serum BCL6 level < 0.8450 had certain auxiliary diagnostic values for AR, and serum BCL6 level < 0.5400 could assist the diagnosis of AR severity. Th1 cell proportion in CD4+ T cells was decreased, whereas Th2 cell proportion was increased with AR severity. BCL6 was positively-linked with Th1 cells but inversely-correlated with Th2 cells in patients with AR. Patients with AR with low BCL6 expression had a poorer QOL compared with high BCL6 expression. The domains most affected by BCL6 expression were practical problems, nasal symptoms, and lacrimation.
Conclusion: Serum BCL6 is downregulated and low BCL6 expression greatly deteriorates QOL in patients with AR.
Inter-correlation of lncRNA THRIL with microRNA-34a and microRNA-125b and their relationship with childhood asthma risk, severity, and inflammation
Authors: Wang Xiaoxue , Li Weina , Sun Shixin , An Hong
Published: January 2023

Background: Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) THRIL targets microRNA (miR)-34a and miR-125b to modify immunity, inflammation, and respiratory injury. The current study aimed to determine the inter-correlation of lncRNA THRIL with miR-34a and miR-125b and their relationship with childhood asthma risk, severity, and inflammation.
Methods: Exacerbated asthma children (N=65), remissive asthma children (N=65), and healthy controls (N=65) were enrolled in this case-control study. LncRNA THRIL, miR-34a, and miR-125b in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, as well as inflammatory cytokines in serum, were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.
Results: LncRNA THRIL was highest in exacerbated asthma children, then in remissive asthma children, and lowest in healthy controls (P<0.001); reversely, miR-34a (P<0.001) and miR-125b (P=0.004) exhibited the opposite treads. LncRNA THRIL (area under curve (AUC)=0.686) and miR-34a (AUC=0.614) could predict exacerbation risk of asthma, while miR-125b failed. Interestingly, lncRNA THRIL was negatively related to miR-34a and miR-125b in exacerbated asthma children and remissive asthma children (all P<0.05) but not in healthy controls (both P>0.05). Specifically, in exacerbated asthma children: lncRNA THRIL is related to increased eosinophil count (P=0.013), immunoglobulin E (P=0.020), tumor necrosis factor-α (P=0.002), interleukin-1β (P=0.004), interleukin-6 (P=0.012), interleukin-17 (P=0.004) and exacerbated severity (P=0.030); Meanwhile, miR-34a and miR-125b linked with decreased levels of most of the above indexes (most P<0.05).
Conclusion: LncRNA THRIL negatively relates to miR-34a and miR-125b, correlate with inflammatory cytokines, and exacerbated the risk and severity of childhood asthma, indicating their potential as biomarkers for childhood asthma management.
TRIM52 aggravated inflammation and pyroptosis in dextran sulfate sodium-induced inflammatory bowel disease through activation of the TLR4/NF-κBs pathway
Authors: Ma Jin-ping , Yao Cheng-zi , Jia Zhi-qiang , Wang A-mei , Miao Xiang-xia , Gao Xiang-xiang , Su Li-ping
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which mainly leads to diarrhea, fatigue, stool blood, abdominal pain, and cramping, is threatening public health. Tripartite motif-containing 52 (TRIM52) has been reported to play an important role in inflammatory responses via activating the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. However, the causes of IBD need to be elucidated, and the function of TRIM52 in IBD remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that TRIM52 aggravated inflammation and pyroptosis in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced IBD by activating TLR4/NF-κBs pathway.
Methods: The colitis model was established on mice through DSS induction. For the TRIM52 knockdown, the mice were infected with a recombinant adenoviral vector expressing sgRNAs targeting TRIM52. RT-qPCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry were performed to verify TRIM52 expression in DSS-induced IBD. The body weight, disease activity index, colon length, and H&E staining were used to assess the IBD symptoms in mice with TRIM52 knockdown. The inflammatory responses were examined by RT-qPCR and ELISA measuring tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), inter-leukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 1β (IL-1β). Furthermore, the pyroptosis in colon tissue was detected by western blot. Finally, the TLR4/NF-κBs pathway activity was also examined by western blot.
Results: TRIM52 expression was up-regulated in DSS-induced IBD, and knockdown of TRIM52 could alleviate the symptoms of IBD. TRIM52 knockdown retarded DSS-induced inflammatory response and inhibited DSS-induced pyroptosis in colon tissue. In addition, TRIM52 played a role in activating TLR4/NF-κBs pathway.
Conclusion: Knockdown of TRIM52 alleviated inflammation and pyroptosis in IBD by regulating TLR4/NF-κBs pathway. TRIM52 is expected to be a novel diagnostic indicator for IBD and a target of therapeutic treatment.
NLRX1 increases human retinal pigment epithelial autophagy and reduces H2O2-induced oxidative stress and inflammation by suppressing FUNDC1 phosphorylation and NLRP3 activation
Authors: Qian Wang  , He Fengying , Liping Wu
Published: January 2023

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of impaired vision as well as some earlier effects, such as reading and face recognition. Oxidative damage and inflammation of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are major causes of AMD. Additionally, autophagy in RPE cells can lead to cellular homeostasis under oxidative stress. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor X1 (NLRX1) is a mysterious modulator of the immune system function which inhibits inflammatory response, attenuates reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and regulates autophagy. This study attempted to explore the role of NLRX1 in oxidative stress, inflammation, and autophagy in AMD.
Methods: An in vitro model of AMD was built in human retinal pigment epithelial cell line 19 (ARPE-19) treated with H2O2. The cell viability, NLRX1 expressions, levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GHS), and ROS, concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), expressions of NLRX1, p62, LC3-II/LC3-I, FUNDC1, and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome were expounded by cell counting kit-8, colorimetric, enzyme-linked immunosorbent serologic assay (ELISA), and Western blot assay.
Results: H2O2 treatment notably reduced the relative protein expression of NLRX1. Meanwhile, H2O2 incubation decreased cell viability, diminished SOD and GSH concentrations, accompanied with the increased level of ROS, enhanced IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1 concentrations, and aggrandized the relative protein expression of p62 with reduced LC3-II/LC3-I ratio. Moreover, these results were further promoted with knockdown of NLRX1 and reversed with overexpression. Mechanically, silencing of NLRX1 further observably enhanced the relative levels of phosphorylated FUNDC1/FUNDC1, and NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins, while overex-pression of NLRX1 exhibited inverse results in the H2O2-induced ARPE-19 cells.
Conclusion: NLRX1 suppressed H2O2-induced oxidative stress and inflammation, and facilitated autophagy by suppressing FUNDC1 phosphorylation and NLRP3 activation in ARPE-19 cells.
Allergologia et Immunopathologia: The only way to move ahead is to grow
Authors: García Marcos Luis
Published: January 2023

The year 2023 marks the beginning of the third year of the joint venture between the Spanish Society of Paediatric Clinical Immunology, Allergy, and Asthma (SEICAP) and Codon Publications. Hence, it is a good time to reflect upon how things have gone, and what must be the future direction of Allergologia et Immunopathologia.
Wogonoside improves high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia and aortic injury in ApoE -/- mice by upregulating SIRT1 expression
Authors: Lin Shaoyi , Zhu Yunyun , Chen Ruoyu , Hu Tingting , Wang Kaihan
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Wogonoside (Wog), a flavonoid monomer, on hyperlipidemia and explore its possible mechanisms. APOE -/- mice were used to establish the animal model of hyperlipidemia by feeding the high-fat diet (HFD). The serum level of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and inflammatory cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), oil red O staining, and real-time PCR assay. The oxidative stress was measured by ELISA assay. Immunoblot assay and ELISA assay were used to detect the mechanism of Wogonoside on hyperlipidemia. We found that Wogonoside ameliorated lipid metabolism disorders in ApoE -/- mice induced by HFD (P<0.01). Wogonoside also ameliorated HFD-induced inflammation in ApoE -/- mice (P<0.01). Wogonoside ameliorated oxidative stress in HFD-induced ApoE -/- mice (P<0.01). Further study showed that Wogonoside improved HFD-induced hyperlipidemia and inflammation by upregulating SIRT1 expression (P<0.01). These results suggested that Wogonoside has the potential to be used as a promising approach for the intervention of hyperlipidemia.
Reimagining Georgia: Images of Georgia Held by the Collective West, Russian, and Georgian Political Elites from 1991 to 2020
Authors:   ,   Linnaeus University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Political Science, Gamkrelidze Natia
Published: January 2023

This compilation thesis examines the United States (U.S.), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union (EU), Russian, and Georgian political elites’ images of Georgia from the regaining of Georgia’s independence in 1991 up to 2020. This topic shows the significance of studying the role of the agency of individual leaders and including them as a level of analysis when analyzing different geopolitical setups. The empirical data come from the author’s 102 original interviews with political elites from Georgia, the U.S., NATO and the EU, including presidents, prime ministers, ministers, secretaries, secretaries-general, and Russian foreign policy experts. This dissertation comprises four articles, each using the same research design. The findings of this dissertation show that over time, external and internal political elites hold somewhat varying images of Georgia. These diverging images that mainly emerged after the Rose Revolution of 2003 have a geopolitical character and are crucial for understanding Georgia’s strained geopolitical context. In particular, they reflect a rift between the U.S., NATO, the EU, Georgia, and Russia with regard to the perception of the threat to and cultural status of Georgia. This has chiefly influenced the type of imagery of Georgia that the actors hold and has contributed to the changing geopolitical conditions. Overall, changes in internal and external political elites’ perceptions and attention to image variation help explain policy variation over time.
Clinical Characteristics of a Patient with Mucopolysaccharidosis Type IVA (Morquio Syndrome)
Authors: Vashakmadze Nato D. , Zhurkova Natalia V. , Mikhaylova Ludmila K. , Smirnova Volha Ya. , Revunenkov Grigorii V.
Published: January 2023

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) type IVA (Morquio syndrome) is a hereditary lysosomal storage disease caused by deficiency of N-acetylglucosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase. This enzyme deficiency leads to specific glycosaminoglycans (keratan sulfate and chondroitin-6sulfate) accumulation mainly in the bone and cartilage tissues, as well as in the cardiovascular, respiratory systems, and visual systems. Patients with MPS IVA look healthy at birth, however, they develop typical spine deformities (kyphoscoliosis), pectus carinatum, wrists hypermobility with decreased muscle strength and loss of fine motor skills, valgus deformation of lower limbs during the first years of life. Pathological changes in cardiovascular and respiratory systems, visual and acoustic analyzers can be revealed. Early diagnosis of the disease is crucial for timely initiation of enzyme replacement therapy. Thus, low incidence of the disease and its heterogeneous clinical picture complicates diagnosis. Consequently, patients with MAS IVA often become severely disabled as early as adolescence. Patients with severe form and without treatment die before the age of 30 due to complications of respiratory system diseases, valvular heart apparatus involvement, and cervical myelopathy.
Economic justification of industrial production of a resource-saving unit for strip tillage
Authors: Vorotnikov I. L. , Kolotyrin K. P. , Bogatyrev S. А. , Savon D. Yu.
Published: January 2023

It is a well-known fact that the existing methods of continuous plow tillage are associated with high consumption of anthropogenic energy for plowing and with probability of occurrence of degradation in it. The alternative to the continuous plowing is non-inversion tillage systems related to resource-saving agriculture. At present, combined tillage implements are widely used. They are equipped with devices for applying fertilizers to plowed strips, and in spring the seeds of a certain row crop (sunflower or corn, for example) are sown there exactly in line with the upgraded seeder equipped with an agronavigator for precision farming. The task of the study is to make the preliminary economic justification of the expediency of using various implements for soil-loosening by strip conservation plowing and the need for industrial production of a combined unit for simultaneous application of fertilizers and strip plowing. The issues of implementation of modern foreign tillage technology and devices should primarily consider environmental and resource conditions for row crops cultivation in individual Russian regions. This is especially true for the strip tillage technology and the devices for its implementation. Therefore, further studies should be devoted to the economic component considering the terrain, landscape cover, climatic features, composition and type of soil, land reclamation condition. Due to the current situation, it is essential to gradually replace the imported tillage equipment by domestic developments that are not inferior in quality, reliability, performance and safety to foreign analogues. The authors mean the replacement and repair of expensive foreign produced combined units for strip plowing. To this end, it is suggested to use less expensive domestic technologically new products developed with the consideration of natural and climatic peculiarity of an individual region. The authors apply original methodology of the so-called simplified express analysis of key economic indicators. The methodology provides the opportunity to conduct accurate evaluation of the economic expediency of improving technical characteristics of the upgraded device at the beginning of the design before its production by means of a limited number of available parametric data of the machine sample under study. This eventually influences making a correct decision about the expediency of industrial production of a combined tillage device.
Theoretical and applied approaches to assessing the level of progressiveness and innovativeness of electric grid construction projects
Authors: Politi V. V.
Published: January 2023

The article presents the study of conceptual directions of modernization of electric grids and innovative developments in the energy sector including evolutionary and breakthrough innovation. The author analyses the state of Russia’s market of the electric power industry and studies the experience and efficiency of research and development activities of the largest energy company PJSC ROSSETI. The priorities of innovative development in achieving energy efficiency are identified. The author of the article justifies the necessity of introduction of variant design during the implementation of investment projects of electric grid construction. Complex economic and technical assessment of the level of innovativeness and progressiveness of the project solutions which takes into account the scale of the manifestation of the economic effect should become the basis for this approach. The optimality of the engineering, technological and design solutions about the facility or building depends on both the level of qualification and experience of the designers and the quality of the software products used. Moreover, variant or exploratory design causes the need for the formation of innovative thinking among both developers and customers. The result of inventive creativity requires further assessment of the level of progressiveness and commercial feasibility of the created product. The author suggests principal and sectoral groups of criteria which allow recognizing new products or technologies resulting from R&D as progressive and/or innovative. The article also contains the analysis of the group of criteria characterizing the level of technical equipment of the developer company. On the other hand, both exploratory design of technological systems and variant construction design result in the prolongation of the term of performance of contractual works. In return, prolongation of the terms results in increasing the cost of implementing design solutions. The situation may be solved by creating an open library of uniform projects with innovative characteristics and implementation practice.
Trends and prospects of the market of rare earth metals and materials for electric power storage systems
Authors: Filutich I. S. , Dobrokhotova M. V. , Kuroshev I. S. , Ukhina Yu. V.
Published: January 2023

Rare earth metals and materials for electric power storage systems are one of strategically important categories of products whose availability will have key influence on sustainability of the functioning of electric power and transport systems in the world and support the process of “the fourth energy transfer” which involves decarbonization, decentralization and digitalization of the energy sector. The basic types of raw materials influencing the long-term prospects for the development of electric transport, distributed energy and renewable energy sources include cobalt, nickel, lithium, graphite, manganese, molybdenum, as well as rare earth metals. High rates of development of the global industry of electric power storage systems for energy and transport purposes, geographical heterogeneity of distribution and consumption of these materials and their strategical significance for the functioning of innovative areas of economics and ensuring technological sovereignty determine the high importance of this industry for the Russian economy. The article deals with the key trends of development of the world market of rare earth metals and materials for electric power storage systems. The authors identify the long-term trends of development of the sector, analyse the main quantitative indicators of development of the sector in Russia, point out the factors influencing the long-term prospects for development of production of the above mentioned materials in the country. The article presents the analysis of the major market opportunities and perspective projects on increasing the production of materials for electric power storage systems. The authors formulate the key risks and threats for production of materials in terms of sanctions restrictions, establish suggestions on mitigation of these risks for the domestic economy in the medium term perspective including diversification of the foreign economic activity and increasing investments in this market niche.
Conditions and factors of dynamic development of the towns and cities of Russia: empirical analysis
Authors: Manaeva I V.
Published: January 2023

The present system of towns of Russia is of hierarchical structure: millionaire cities, big cities, cities, towns and small towns. The living standards and quality of life in the towns of different sizes have significant differences, the most critical of which are the accessibility of education, high healthcare technology and employment of the population. The study of the conditions and factors of the industrial development of the cities encourages making more efficient managerial decisions, which determines the topicality and the novelty of the work. The methodological basis of the study is presented by the author’s economic and statistics model where the resulting indicator is the volume of shipped products per capita in the city as the main criterion of the economic growth. The analyzed factor indicators include the volume of the investment in the main capital per capita, the average number of employees of organizations, income of local budget per capita, the proportion of illuminated parts of city streets. The method has been tested on the towns and cities of the Central Federal District within the period of 2001–2020. The empirical results obtained in the modelling process lead to the conclusion that the main factors of towns’ industrial development are the volume of the investment in the main capital (one per cent increase will facilitate the growth of the volume of shipped products by 0.5%) and the income into the local budget (one per cent increase will facilitate the growth of the volume of shipped products by 1.2%). Dynamic development of a town or a city is ensured by a system of interrelated conditions and factors as well as by favorable natural and geographical conditions: good climate and resource base determining the economic vector of the area. In case of lack of natural potential it is essential to create conditions for the implementation of social-oriented programs, modernization of the infrastructure, support of middle and small businesses, etc. Such conditions will ensure attractive climate for investment, which will act as a driver for migration of well qualified experts and further economic growth. Practical significance of the work lies in the possibility of use of the results by the researchers who deal with the issues of town and regional development as well as by the regional and municipal authorities.
Comprehensive Evaluation of Three Important Herbs for Kombucha Fermentation
Authors: Tefon Öztürk Burcu Emine , Eroğlu Berfin , Delik Eda , Çiçek Mustafa , Çiçek Esra
Published: January 2023

Research background. Kombucha is consumed worldwide for its beneficial health effects. Kombucha teas fermented with various herbal infusions have become very important nowadays. Although black tea is used for kombucha fermentation, kombucha teas fermented with different herbal infusions have gained great importance. In this study, three different traditional medicinal plants, namely hop (Humulus lupulus L.), madimak (Polygonum cognatum) and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) were used for the fermentation of kombucha beverages, and the bioactivity of these beverages was investigated extensively. Experimental approach. The microbiological profile, bacterial cellulose formation, antibacterial, antiproliferative and antioxidant activities, sensory properties, total phenolic content and flavonoid content of kombucha beverages were investigated. Liquid chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry analysis was used to identify and quantify specific polyphenolic compounds in the samples. Results and conclusions. According to the results, the hawthorn-flavoured kombucha, which has lower free radical scavenging activity than the other samples, came into prominence in terms of sensory properties. All examined kombucha beverages showed a strong cytotoxic effect on Mahlavu and HCT116 cell lines, but only the madimak-flavoured kombucha sample, which had a higher total phenolic/flavonoid content, had antibacterial activity against all microorganisms used in the study. Novelty and scientific contribution. Considering the results of this study, madimak could be an effective herb for the development of new kombucha beverages, although its sensory properties still need to be improved. This study contributes to science in terms of producing new fermented beverages with improved beneficial health effects.
Construcción de la escala de satisfacción con la educación virtual sincrónica-ESEVI en estudiantes de 12 a 17 años, Juliaca, 2022
Authors: Carrión Patatingo Sonia , Capia Chambilla Luz
Published: January 2023

Construir la Escala de satisfacción con las clases virtuales sincrónicas ESEVI capazde medir el nivel de satisfacción en estudiantes. Metodología: Diseño no experimental de tipoinstrumental, aplicado en adolescentes entre las edades de 12 a 17 años que desarrollan clasesvirtuales sincrónicas. Resultados: La Escala ESEVI cuenta con un índice de validez en el contenidode 97 e índice de confiabilidad es de .944 por el Alfa de Cronbach y según el Omega de McDonaldes de .945, asimismo, fue procesado por el análisis factorial exploratorio (AFE), es así que se logróconcretizar 3 dimensiones (aula virtual, expectativas del estudiante y acompañamiento pedagógico yfamiliar). Conclusión: El instrumento elaborado cumple con niveles óptimos en los índices requeridos.
Importance of atomic physics in verification of experimental results and diagnostics of solar and astrophysical observations
Authors: Anand K Bhatia
Published: January 2023

Accurate results are needed to confirm the experimental results of various atomic processes and analyze the solar and astrophysical observations of intensities of emission lines to infer plasma parameters like electron density, electron temperature and element abundance. A number of theories have been developed over the years to calculate phase shifts when electrons and positrons are scattered from targets. We discuss in this article the recent hybrid theory which has been applied to scattering processes, resonances and photoabsorption process, which is a bound-free transition.
Effects of Rime-Based Analogy Instruction on English Word Recognition Ability of Ethiopian Children
Authors: Agegnehu Abiy Zewdu , Bachore Mebratu Mulatu , Ayele Zeleke Arficho
Published: January 2023

Most children in Ethiopia, especially from economically disadvantaged families, often have no exposure to English before school and learn English in government-sponsored public schools with insufficient resources, semi-qualified or unqualified non-native teachers with poor teaching methods. Assessment results have shown that Ethiopian children's reading performance is below the standards set for each grade level and that they are poorly prepared for the next level of education. The present study aimed to determine whether a systematic and explicit rime-based analogy-phonics intervention could improve English word recognition ability in Ethiopian children. The participants were 3rd grade children (N=67) at two public primary schools in Hawassa, Ethiopia. A randomized pretest-intervention-posttest-control group research design was used, with half the children (N=33) randomly assigned to the experimental group and the other half (N=34) to the control group. The intervention was conducted for 40 minutes a day, 3 days a week for 12 weeks. Pre and posttests were used to measure the word recognition ability of the children and a t-test was employed to analyze the results. After controlling for the initial variables, posttest results showed that systematic and explicit rime-based analogy-phonics instruction led to significant improvements in children's word recognition ability. The study further indicated that such instruction could also be considered as a useful intervention tool to improve English reading performance of Ethiopian primary school children and contributed to the little-known literature on the subject.
The Motivational Orientations of Undergraduate Students to Learn Arabic in a Dubai Private University
Authors: Razem Reem J. , Pandor Jillian
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to provide insight into the expatriate students’ motivations and attitudes toward Arabic Language learning at a private university in Dubai. This is a qualitative case study that utilized a cross-sectional descriptive approach and is underpinned by Gardner and Lambert’s Socio-Educational Model of Second Language Motivation, wherein the motivational orientation is bifurcated into instrumental and integrative orientations. The study sample consisted of 24 undergraduate students enrolled in Arabic language courses. As there is a drastic lack of motivation literature in the field of Arabic Language Learning and adult learning within the context of higher education in the emirate of Dubai, UAE, this research strives to become a substantial addition to this under-researched topic and unique context. This study highlights the motivations of expatriate students by providing a rich description of the learners’ profile and contributes to research on motivation as it concerns the learning of languages other than English (LOTE) and ultimately aims to contribute to social change (transformation) by encouraging an interest in researching the teaching and learning of Arabic in Dubai context. The study revealed that integrative motivations appear to be more pervasive than instrumental ones. This means that universities need to promote the importance of learning Arabic through authentic teaching, immersive experiences, cultural activities, and events, instead of the instrumental ‘end goal’ of the degree program. Research limitations arise from the limited sample size, focus on the learner’s vantage point, and the use of one instrument to collect data (a questionnaire).
Digitizing Cultural Practices: Efforts to Increase Students’ Cultural Knowledge and Reading Interest in Bali
Authors: Netra I Made , Pramartha Cokorda Rai Adi , Eddy I Wayan Tagel
Published: January 2023

The recent digital era has brought a disruptive impact to the conventional cultural practices. This may take the form of printed media-based learning materials that have been widely and recently used by students who are considered the agents of change in the context of cultural preservation. The Balinese cultural preservation, for instance, is carried out in accordance with the vision of the Governor of Bali, namely Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali, which is intended to lead to a new era of Bali by organizing fundamentally and comprehensively the development of Bali which includes such three main aspects as nature, people, and culture. The cultural preservation includes the cultural knowledge and cultural experience, language(s) as well as reading interest. However, data from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), suggest that the reading interest of people in Indonesia is significantly low, around 0.01 percent. This means that, out of 10,000 children in Indonesia, only 1 student is quoted as enjoying reading. Therefore, this study aims to describe the increase of both cultural knowledge and cultural experience and students’ reading interest in Bali through the digitization of Balinese cultural practices. The digitization of Balinese cultural practices, which applies both virtual reality and ethnographic methods, tends to bring an increase of both cultural knowledge and cultural experience. Once the digitization was applied to students in Bali, their reading interest was ultimately and significantly increased.
EFL Students’ Use of E-Books for E-Learning: Applying Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)
Authors: Mizher Rabab A. , Alwreikat Asma A.
Published: January 2023

This paper examines trends of using e-books as a learning tool among EFL students of Al-Balqa Applied University (BAU) by applying the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the number of English language courses as an external independent variable. Data is collected by administering a questionnaire to 283 respondents from Humanities and Social Sciences Faculties along with Medical, Engineering, and Science Faculties. Data is analyzed using SPSS and AMOS statistical analysis software. The analysis reveals that perceived ease of use (PEOU) positively affects perceived usefulness (PU) and attitudes towards using e-books, PU has a significant effect on attitudes and intentions to use e-books, and the attitudes have significant intentions to use e-books. On the other hand, attitudes and intentions are not significantly related to the regular use of e-books in comparison to students with limited use of e-books. Finally, the students who studied or are studying three or more English courses have positive attitudes and higher intentions towards using e-books if compared to those who studied less than three. This study is important to get a better understanding of e-book reading intentions among university students. It is believed to be the first study of undergraduates’ intention on using e-book during/after the pandemic in Jordan using TAM.
The Survival of Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis: A Look Under the Hood
Authors: Al-Rickaby Amjed
Published: January 2023

The contrastive analysis hypothesis is one of the theories that has considerably impacted second language acquisition research. Since the 1970s, this theory, which had piqued the interest of both linguists and teachers, has been heavily criticised. It has been described as unrealistic and impractical, and its basic assumptions have been questioned and unjustly debunked. However, re-reading Linguistics across Cultures, the book from which the contrastive analysis hypothesis was derived, in light of recent findings and re-examining the criticism levelled against it, reveals how valuable and insightful the book is and how irrationally it has been misrepresented. This paper attempts to clean this distortion up and demonstrate why this book is worth reading again. It sheds light on the criticism levelled against it and critically examines the alternatives (the moderate and the weak versions) offered to replace it. It also argues that, apart from its utility in comparing languages in terms of their sound systems, grammar, and vocabulary for pedagogical purposes, it can be an effective tool in comparing languages, particularly on bases above the sentence level, to uncover cultural traits. Hence, it can be a powerful means to further our knowledge of cross-cultural (mis)communication and (mis)understanding.
Investigating the Relationship Among Metacognitive Awareness, Self-efficacy, and EFL Learners’ Listening Comprehension Performance
Authors: Payaprom Sudarat
Published: January 2023

Listening comprehension is difficult for foreign language learners, but, in recent years, an increasing number of studies assert that enhancing learners’ awareness of listening metacognition and self-efficacy can help address this issue. Accordingly, this research sought to 1) investigate the level of metacognitive listening awareness in performing listening comprehension and 2) to examine the association between EFL students’ listening performance, self-efficacy, and metacognitive listening awareness. The sample comprised 256 third-year English-major students. Students’ self-efficacy and their metacognitive listening awareness were measured using the English listening self-efficacy scale and Metacognitive Awareness Listening Questionnaire (MALQ), respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient. The findings indicated that the students possessed a modest level of metacognitive listening awareness. A strong positive relationship was observed between MALQ scores and listening comprehension ability. Listening self-efficacy was also discovered to be associated with students' listening proficiency. Additionally, the results of this research indicated a significant association between self-efficacy and students’ awareness of listening metacognition. Overall, the results suggest that teaching EFL listening should place greater emphasis on learners’ metacognitive listening awareness and self-efficacy to improve their listening skills.
Computer-Assisted Interpreting Tools: Status Quo and Future Trends
Authors: Guo Meng , Han Lili , Anacleto Marta Teixeira
Published: January 2023

Computer-assisted interpreting (CAI) tools have the potential to benefit the interpreting profession and to improve its ecosystem considerably. Academic interest in this field has intensified in recent years. However, there have been no thorough analyses of the definitions and classifications of CAI tools or of the empirical studies on the subject. This study overviews CAI tools holistically. It describes advances as well as gaps that remain to be filled. It also provides an in-depth examination of the status quo and suggests potential avenues for improvement. The article begins by distinguishing between CAI tools in the broad sense and CAI tools in the narrow sense. By bridging the conceptual gaps between the two, we propose a unified description and a categorisation that reflects the main features of CAI tools. This comprehensive review analyses 27 empirical studies and examines the manner in which CAI tools affect interpreters’ performance. Since the influencing factors that have been identified in previous experiments vary between interpreters-related (e.g. interpreters’ profiles) and settings-related (e.g. reference information display modes), the contribution of CAI tools to overall interpreter performance can be different. Product-driven, practice-driven, and process-driven studies are identified as future trends in studies of CAI tools.