bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Where got ghost movie?: The boundaries of Singapore horror
Authors: Knee Adam
Published: April 2020

While acknowledging that the horror film is generally not considered a major part of the ‘Singapore new wave’, this article makes the case that Singapore horror films nevertheless merit closer critical evaluation not only because of their sustained output in a very small industry, but also because of their articulation of a range of issues germane to Singapore nationhood and identity – issues which obtain in other Singapore films as well. The discussion surveys the entirety of the Singapore horror output from the 1990s onwards and draws out a number of key distinctive themes and trends, such as the referencing of Chinese supernatural beliefs and regional Southeast Asian spirits, and also the distinctive preponderance of horror narratives involving military or police. The films are then read in relation to broad tropes of gender, geography and regulation.
Singapore Cinema: New Perspectives, Liew Khai Khiun and Stephen Teo (eds) (2017)
Authors: Bernards Brian
Published: April 2020

Review of: Singapore Cinema: New Perspectives, Liew Khai Khiun and Stephen Teo (eds) (2017)

Abingdon: Routledge, 194 pp.

ISBN 978-1-13859-569-9, p/bk, US$57.95
Boo Junfeng on funding, festivals and Chinese privilege
Authors: Ng How Wee
Published: April 2020

The interview was motivated by an interest in exploring how Singapore film directors perceive the three major Chinese cinema awards, mainly the Golden Horse Awards (GHA), Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA) and Golden Rooster Awards (GRA), and what they might signify for Singapore cinema, especially for a nation that is predominantly ethnic Chinese. Amongst the directors interviewed, Boo Junfeng went beyond to share his views on film education, funding and the implications of racial politics and ethnic privilege underlying the nomination for international film awards.
K. Rajagopal on making films for and on the ethnic minority in Singapore
Authors: NG How Wee
Published: April 2020

This interview was motivated by an interest in exploring how Singapore film directors perceive the three major Chinese cinema awards, mainly the Golden Horse Awards (GHA), Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA) and Golden Rooster Awards (GRA), and what they might signify for Singapore cinema, especially for a nation that is predominantly ethnic Chinese. Compared to the number of Singapore Chinese-language films produced in the last two decades, there have been considerably less Indian-language productions. K. Rajagopal’s A Yellow Bird (2016) alongside two other Tamil films, namely Eric Khoo’s My Magic (2008) and T. T. Dhavamanni’s Gurushetram: 24 Hours of Anger (2010) offer critical takes on the vicissitudes of Singapore Indians struggling with issues such as socioeconomic inequality and racial prejudice in a booming Chinese-majority city-state.
Bauhaus: To turn away from normality
Authors: Sturgis Daniel
Published: April 2020

This article revisits the history and legacy of the Bauhaus from the vantage point of contemporary art education. It explains how the design school was never a unified project, but rather a collection of disparate voices and opinions, and shows how ideas of community and subjectivity were at its centre. The author asks if these ideas, born out of early nineteenth-century educational reform, and pressurized by the political turbulence of 1920s and 1930s Germany may be the most useful influences for the Bauhaus impacting on Art and Design education today. The article was prepared for the opening of the conference Bauhaus Utopia in Crisis, 24 October 2019, University of the Arts London, Camberwell College of Arts. The conference was part of the week-long OurHaus festival at the University that ran between 21 and 25 October 2019. The festival included the exhibition Utopia in Crisis, curated by Daniel Sturgis at Camberwell Space Gallery (16 September–9 November 2019) touring to Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (2020).
The world court lawsuits by the Republic of Iraq against the United States and the United Kingdom
Authors: Boyle Francis A.
Published: April 2020

The article explores the author’s experience of crafting legal actions meant to bring a case against the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom for the genocidal conditions that arose from their actions against the people of Iraq from 1991 to 2003. Based on a similar effort, successfully brought to the International Court of Justice on behalf of the people and Republic of Bosnia in 1993, the strong potential for a legal and peaceful remedy to bring an end to Iraqi civilian suffering – as well as the potential to avert a future war – existed and drove the author to implore Iraqi legal action before the ICJ. Iraqi state officials, from the President’s Office to that of Deputy PM Tariq Aziz, through Iraqi diplomats in New York, were canvassed and engaged in an effort for the author to receive their support to act on Iraq’s behalf at the ICJ. Published here is the author’s recollection of this effort to prosecute international crimes against the Iraqi people as well as an overview of the ICJ case that while never brought forward, could have prevented the 2003 invasion and its aftermath.
Baghdad during the Second World War years
Authors: Karim Ghazi
Published: April 2020

A remembrance of the experience of Baghdad during the Second World War, is presented mainly from the vantage of the book sellers’ market of Suq Al Sarai, located in the centre of Baghdad near Al-Sarai and Al-Mutanabbi streets. The Suq, long the locale of cultural exchange and a foundry for Iraqi intellectual life, experienced the war in a unique way, with shortages of paper and accessibility to foreign books, journals and voices at the fore, rather than the absence of foodstuffs and other necessities of everyday life made short due to the war. The author notes how the violence and the attendant dislocation brought to this home of ideas and comity was to see itself repeated with even much greater bloodshed in a further violent clash during 2007.
50 Years in the World of Oil – Memoirs and Autobiography
Authors: Jiyad Ahmed Mousa
Published: April 2020

Review of: 50 Years in the World of Oil – Memoirs and Autobiography

عاما في عالم النفط – سيرة وذكريات 50

Issam Al-Chalabi (2019)

Beirut/Lebanon: Arab Establishment for Studies and Publications, 820 pp.,

ISBN 978-6-14419-945, h/bk
Economic policy, innovation and growth
Authors: D’Autume Antoine
Published: April 2020

Economic policy, innovation and growth
Identification of monetary policy shocks: a graphical causal approach
Authors: Moneta Alessio
Published: April 2020

This paper develops a structural VAR methodology based on graphical models to identify the monetary policy shocks and to measure their macroeconomic effects. The advantage of this procedure is to work with testable overidentifying models, whose restrictions are derived by the partial correlations among residuals plus some institutional knowledge. This permits to test some restrictions on the reserve market used in several approaches existing in the literature. The main findings are that neither VAR innovations to federal funds rate nor innovations to nonborrowed reserves are good indicators of monetary policy shocks.
The choice of a growth path under a linear quadratic approximation
Authors: Gomes Orlando
Published: April 2020

There is a recent strand of literature which suggests that second order approximations of linear quadratic objective functions in the steady state vicinity, namely when assuming stochastic scenarios, lead to very interesting and useful results. For example, applications in monetary policy resort to such technique. In this paper we find that, for a specific optimal control problem under a purely deterministic setup, a second-order approximation of the objective function may lead to inaccurate results, particularly when one considers exogenous variables as arguments of the objective function. These results are related to the stability conditions, which in the present case can be written as constraints to a discount rate associated with future outcomes. We designate the proposed model as an ‘optimal growth control’ model, from which we compute general conditions about stability and analyse the application of such a framework to a fertility - human capital problem.
Ganhos em saúde em doentes com cataratas
Authors: E Ferreira Lara De Noronha , Ferreira Pedro Lopes , Gonçalves Maria Suzete
Published: April 2020

Nos últimos anos, têm sido desenvolvidos instrumentos de medição do estado de saúde e da qualidade de vida obtida pela aplicação de programas de saúde, baseados na Teoria da Utilidade.O objectivo deste estudo é a avaliação dos ganhos obtidos com a aplicação de um programa de redução de listas de espera. Foi utilizada uma amostra de 70 doentes e foram aplicados, antes e 3 a 5 meses após a operação, dois instrumentos genéricos (EuroQol e SF-12) e um específico para cataratas (Catquest).Os resultados obtidos evidenciam uma melhoria significativa no estado de saúde específico da maioria dos doentes submetidos à cirurgia. É possível concluir que as percepções do estado de saúde físico e mental dos doentes, a incapacidade visual, a satisfação com a sua visão, a valorização actual da sua saúde e o tipo de cirurgia efectuada são variáveis explicativas da utilidade dos estados de saúde.
Saturation in autoregressive models
Authors: Santos Carlos , Hendry David
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we extend the impulse saturation algorithm to a class of dynamic models. We show that the procedure is still correctly sized for stationary AR(1) processes, independently of the number of splits used for sample partitions. We derive theoretical power when there is an additive outlier in the data, and present simulation evidence showing good empirical rejection frequencies against such an alternative. Extensive Monte Carlo evidence is presented to document that the procedure has good power against a level shift in the last rT% of the sample observations. This result does not depend on the level of serial correlation of the data and does not require the use of a (mis-specified) location-scale model, thus opening the door to an automatic class of break tests that could outperform those of the Bai-Perron type.
What type of firm forges closer innovation linkages with Portuguese Universities?
Authors: Teixeira Aurora A. C. , Costa Joana
Published: April 2020

Using large-scale survey data for firms located in Portugal, we analyze which firm characteristics are conducive to establishing contacts with universities. Although almost half of the firms surveyed stated they had established some contacts with universities in the period 2001-2003, only a few (22%) consider universities an important source of knowledge and information for their innovation activities. Our analysis indicates that the firms’ propensity to draw on each of the Portuguese universities is explained by the characteristics of the different firms and their regional and industrial patterns. An unambiguous and statistically robust finding is that proximity matters highly in firms-universities linkages – our estimations reveal that firms are more likely to contacts universities located nearby.
The evolutionary model of entrepreneurial firms' dependence on networks: going beyond the start-up stage
Authors: Li Dan , Ferreira Manuel Portugal
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we propose a dynamic model of entrepreneurial firms’ dependence on networks. First we argue that five characteristics of entrepreneurial firms result in their high dependence on networks; these five characteristics include entrepreneurial orientation, central role of the entrepreneur, resource constraints, pursuit of flexibility, and niche market focus. We then examine how entrepreneurial firms’ growth is accompanied by the evolution of these five characteristics leading to a shift in the mode through which entrepreneurial firms construct and deploy their networks. In particular, we examine the composition and the stability of entrepreneurial firms’ networks. This paper contributes to building a more integrative theory of entrepreneurship.
A equidade na utilização de cuidados de saúde em Portugal: uma avaliação baseada em modelos de contagem
Authors: Lourenço Óscar , Quintal Carlota , Ferreira Pedro L. , Barros Pedro P.
Published: April 2020

Desde a criação do Serviço Nacional de Saúde, a promoção da equidade no acesso aos cuidados médicos tem sido parte integrante dos objectivos da política de saúde. O objectivo do presente artigo é o de avaliar a existência ou não de equidade na utilização de cuidados médicos. Recorrendo à técnica de regressão especificaram-se dois modelos de contagem: o modelo binomial negativo e o de classes latentes. Os dados provêm do Inquérito Nacional de Saúde, 1998/99. Para medir a utilização de cuidados usamos o número de consultas efectuadas num período de três meses. Concluímos que para o caso da população global persistem factores não relacionados com o estado de saúde inibidores do acesso. No entanto, o modelo de classes latentes revela dois cenários distintos: na classe latente dos utilizadores ocasionais conclui-se pela ausência de equidade, enquanto que na classe dos utilizadores recorrentes não se pode rejeitar a hipótese de equidade.
When leisure becomes excessive: a bifurcation result in endogenous growth theory
Authors: Gomes Orlando
Published: April 2020

The traditional assumption concerning endogenous labor supply in models of economic growth is that utility increases with leisure, independently of the specific time allocation of the representative agent observed at a given moment. In this note, we explore the consequences, over dynamic stability, of assuming that the agent dislikes having free time in excess, i.e., of considering that the marginal utility of leisure is not necessarily positive for every value of the leisure share (in particular, for high values of this share). By including this assumption in a typical AK endogenous growth model, we find that the system will rest, independently of parameter values, on a bifurcation line.
La Nuberu Bagu y el nuevo Japón
Authors: Santos Antonio
Published: April 2020

En 1956 se estrenaron en Japón tres largometrajes basados en novelas de Shintaro Ishihara. Su éxito originará una serie de películas, antesala de la Nuberu Bagu: un joven cine encaminado a la transformación radical del séptimo arte y de la sociedad japonesa, cuyos representantes se muestran muy críticos con su tiempo. Los trabajos innovadores que realizaron estos jóvenes cineastas autorizaron a algunos críticos a reconocer en ellos la vanguardia de una Nueva Ola. El ejemplo más distinguido de esta desviación hacia posiciones radicales lo proporcionó Nagisa Oshima con sus Historias crueles de juventud (1960).

Comparten estos jóvenes cineastas parecido interés por la exploración formal, encaminado a la renovación del lenguaje; un movimiento radical y revolucionario, orientado a practicar una nueva lectura.
Entre China y Estados Unidos
Authors: Delage Fernando
Published: April 2020

La transformación del orden asiático es la principal causa del giro producido en la política exterior de Japón desde finales de la primera década del siglo XXI. Bajo el liderazgo de Shinzo Abe, el Gobierno japonés ha dado forma a una diplomacia proactiva, orientada a la adquisición de una autonomía estratégica que le permita ampliar sus opciones frente a la reconfiguración en curso del equilibrio regional de poder. El rápido ascenso de China y la erosión del liderazgo de su principal aliado, Estados Unidos, sitúan al país ante un horizonte desconocido que le obliga a recalibrar sus relaciones con ambas grandes potencias.
Territorios del Norte - Islas Kuriles
Authors: Tirado Robles Carmen
Published: April 2020

Los denominados “Territorios del Norte”, más conocidos en la escena internacional como “Islas Kuriles”, son un conjunto de cuatro islas situadas al norte de Hokkaido sobre las que pesa un contencioso territorial entre Japón y Rusia que data ya de mediados del siglo XX, conflicto que no solo implica a los Estados, sino también a los individuos habitantes de estas islas, que han tenido que sufrir la expulsión de sus hogares y el consecuente desarraigo. En este trabajo pretendemos analizar el contexto histórico de este conflicto —elemento esencial para su solución—, sus causas y las posibles vías de solución que ofrece el derecho internacional. Esta solución, como veremos, dependerá en todo caso del necesario acuerdo entre las partes implicadas que, actuando de buena fe, podrían verse mutuamente beneficiadas por las posibilidades de cooperación que ofrecen estos territorios.
Information Policy of the Enterprise as a Factor of Ensuring Competitiveness
Authors: AKHMETSHIN Elvir M. , TOLMACHEV Alexey V. , NIKOLAEVA Tatiana E. , ANDRYUSHCHENKO Iryna Ye.
Published: April 2020

In this research, we determined that the development of objects of entrepreneurial activity can take place only on condition of equal access to external and internal resources of development. Access to resources, as well as increasing work competitiveness, is defined as the possibility of forming an enterprise environment and its independent actions. The basis of such an environment is the formation of an information-type policy that allows fully determining the opportunities for attracting development resources, as well as improving the financial stability of the enterprise in the external market. The subject of the study is the process of the information policy of the enterprise formation, as well as the factors of its formation as a separate formative value for determining whether the enterprise is competitive. The novelty of the research is the process of formation and presentation in the various information and social and economic processes of the enterprise’s information policy. The direction of further research is the integrative functions of ensuring the development of accounting and transformation of information policy into the enterprise’s capital.
Confessional and Migration Factors of Economic Development of the East Siberian Region
Authors: ARZUMANOV Igor A. , KAMEDINA Lyudmila V. , LICHICHAN Oleg P.
Published: April 2020

The research examines the issues related to the influence of confessional and migration factors on the processes of the integrated territorial development in the Russian Federation. The analysis of the documents of strategic planning of socio-economic and demographic territorial development employed the methods of cultural and religious studies as well as socio-cultural, comparative legal and formal legal methods in the framework of the dialectic approach. The research reveals a correlation between the destruction of socio-economic development processes and the demographic stagnation factor. An analysis of potential threats to sociopolitical stability as a result of the intensification of migration processes and the activities of religious institutions in the East Siberian region is given. It is concluded that the confessional factor potentially plays a destabilizing role in the implementation of federal targeted programs aimed at the integration of Russian society.
Concepts and Signs of Risk in Entrepreneurship
Authors: BODNAR Tatyana V. , RІEZNIKOVA Viktoriia V. , KRAVETS Iryna M.
Published: April 2020

The article is devoted to the study of the concept and features of risks in entrepreneurship. The points of view of scientists concerning the concept of risks are analyzed, two main concepts of risk are outlined: classical and neoclassical. The focus is on several risk concepts in the context of the doctrine of objective liability for damages: integral risk theory, theory of spheres, risk-benefit theory. The article systemizes the existing approaches to the essence and content of such a phenomenon as a risk in entrepreneurship: (1) risk is interpreted as uncertainty, indeterminacy, attribute of decision-making in a situation of uncertainty; (2) the risk is defined as the probability of deviation of the actual result from the expected; (3) the risk arises as an activity; (4) the risk is treated as the threat (danger) of deviation of the results of specific decisions or actions from the expected; (5) risk is interpreted as a system (complex) of individual components and elements (integrated approach). Different points of view of researchers concerning the signs of entrepreneurial risks are considered, author's signs of risk in entrepreneurship are singled out. Two ways of further development of the economic legislation in the part of legal support of freedom of entrepreneurship, as well as risk inherent in it, business risk management, etc. are proposed.
Regulating Control and Dynamics of the Migrant Population: International Practice
Authors: DANKO Tamara Petrovna , ZAROVA Elena Viktorovna , KISELEV Vladimir Mihailovich , RAUSKIENE Ona , SEIFULLAEVA Maisa Emirovna , ZHURAVLEV Pavel Viktorovich , GOROKHOVA Anna Evgenyevna
Published: April 2020

The research is an attempt to carry out marketing diagnostics of the development of migration flows in five rather developed countries of the world (Russia, the USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina), and to make an analysis of their dependence on innovativeness. The migration of population is the resettlement of people from one region (state, country) to another, in some cases by large groups and over long distances. In her works O.D. Vorobyova, the Russian researcher, writes that the migration of population is ‘any territorial movement of the population associated with crossing both external and internal borders of administrative-territorial entities in order to change their permanent residence or temporary stay in the territory for study or work, regardless of the factors that have the prevailing impact – attracting or revolting’.
Inheritance of a Share in a Limited Liability Company under Ukrainian Law
Authors: DIKOVSKA Iryna A. , PRYTYKA Iurii D.
Published: April 2020

The research focuses on one of the consequences of the death of the participant of a limited liability company under Ukrainian law: the emergence of a right to inherit his or her assets in the company. It analyses one of the most controversial issues of Ukrainian succession law: what types of assets the heirs inherit: the share in the authorized capital of the company or also the right to participate in it. As long as, on June 17, 2018, the Law of Ukraine ‘On Limited Liability and Additional Liability Companies’ has come into force, the research compares the approaches of previous legislation and the new Law. It has been concluded that the new Law makes the rule, under which the share in the authorized capital transfers to the heirs of the deceased participant, mandatory. It provides the automatic transfer of the right to participate in the company to the heirs. The new Law protects the interests of the heirs and does not take into account the interests of the other participants.
Sustainable Urban Development: Russian Experience
Authors: MURZIN Anton
Published: April 2020

Society has been studying city phenomenon since its origin. However, main factors of its sustainable development, which is top priority of strategic management and an indicator of management efficiency, has not been fully investigated. The present research purpose is to study factors and issues of stable development, generalization of Russian trends in city management in various socio-economic conditions. Development level of Russian cities was analyzed on the basis of integral indicator – sustainable development index, comprising structured complex of statistic rates, characterizing sustainable development along three sections: economic, ecological, and social. The author assesses effectiveness of strategic planning of large city development, points out drawbacks and targeted directions of management decisions, focused on city development with a number of result-oriented indicators. General tendencies of Russian agglomerations were supported by the results of assessing development sustainability of Russian cities. Perspective lines and criteria of strategic sustainable development have been identified, such as ‘smart’ services and technologies of city life.
Financial Inclusion and Bank Efficiency in Indonesia
Authors: MUTHIA Fida , RANEO Agung Putra , ANDAIYANI Sri
Published: April 2020

The aim of this study is to find out the effect of financial inclusion on bank efficiency in Indonesia. Data from 26 banks for the period of 2011 to 2016 is used to measure bank efficiency using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). While the data from the World Bank is used to calculate the ratio of outstanding loans of small and medium enterprises to total outstanding loans in banks to measure financial inclusion index. Panel data regression is done to analyze the effect and the result shows that financial inclusion has a positive and significant effect on bank efficiency where an increase in financial inclusion could improve bank efficiency. The result implies that the government must present a conducive financial environment for the implementation of the SNKI program that can improve financial inclusion and bank efficiency.
Innovative Development of the Food Industry in the Conditions of Sanctions and Import Substitution on the Basis of Public-Private Partnership
Authors: ROMANOVA Julia Alexandrovna , BARKOVA Natalya Yurievna , BORODINA Olga Alexandrovna , SOLOVEVA Marina Viktorovna , USTINOVA Olga Evgenievna
Published: April 2020

The research presents an attempt to elaborate an economic and organizational mechanism for innovative development of the food industry in the current conditions of sanctions and import substitution. The objective of this study is to provide a coherent methodology for developing an economic and organizational mechanism for innovative development of the food industry. In term of methods, the article is based on a system approach to assessing the current condition and identifying the issues related to innovative development of food industry enterprises, as well as a comparative analysis of management principles in the Russian food industry. The article provides an algorithm for effective cooperation between government and business – food industry enterprises – based on a wide range of methods of dialectical logic, binning, comparative and abstract-logical analysis. The results of this article can be used both in theory and practice regarding the development of tools for innovative development of food industry enterprises. Moreover, they can be used to advance scientific methods for improving competitiveness, investment attractiveness and economic resilience of food processing enterprises in the environment of increased innovative activity. Food industry enterprises show an increasing interest in innovative development of domestic agrarian producers as the main source of domestic primary products for own sustainable development. The proposed economic and organizational mechanism for the establishment and development of food industry enterprises in the framework of structural transformation management in the industry enables restructuring of the socio-economic situation in the food industry. The developed algorithm of a public-private partnership to attract investments to innovative development of Russian food processing enterprises aims to support and encourage export of food, enabling the government and regional authorities to promote rational use of investment potential of Russian regions, mitigation of investment risks and strengthening of food security in the country.
Analyzing Foundations of Imposing a Monetary Penalty on Parties to a Criminal Proceeding
Authors: SAKHARBAY Arman , KALIYEV Askar Kadyrovich , BAIKOMUROVA Moldir Saparbekkyzy
Published: April 2020

The research analyzes the possible application and effectiveness of a monetary penalty as one of the most useful sanctions to maintain the established order of criminal justice, as well as develops constructive proposals to improve the criminal procedure legislation based on the conducted survey. To this end, the authors of the article have studied the criminal procedure legislation of Kazakhstan and legislation on administrative offenses, considered scientific opinions presented in numerous publications on relevant topics and conducted a comparative analysis of regulatory systems in Kazakhstan, Germany, Austria, the USA and the UK. As a result, the authors have established that one of the main reasons hindering the adequate implementation of criminal justice is the violation of obligations to participate in criminal proceedings by persons named in the Criminal Procedure Code of Kazakhstan. To maintain procedural discipline, the court is provided with ample opportunities in the form of coercive measures, including a monetary penalty. The authors have investigated the legal nature of a monetary penalty and compared it with administrative fines. The authors have considered grounds and application procedures for this sanction in the criminal procedure legislation of Kazakhstan and some foreign legal systems. The authors have determined the problems of its implementation caused by the slovenly legislation of a monetary penalty that impedes law enforcement activity. A comprehensive analysis allows developing proposals for improving the use of monetary penalties as measures of coercion for criminal cases heard in the court. If these proposals are enshrined in the existing regulatory framework and put into practice, they will strengthen the discipline of parties to criminal proceedings, ensure the strict observance of criminal proceedings and increase their general effectiveness. Due to its conclusions and proposals, the article demonstrates the novelty of the conducted research, the authors' original approach to the analysis of information and innovative ways to improve the existing legislative framework.
Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Protects Cerebral Cortical Neurons from Soluble Aβ-Induced Synaptic Damage
Authors: Diaz Ariel , Merino Paola , Guo Ji-Dong , Yepes Manuel A. , McCann Patrick , Katta Tapasya , Tong Elise M. , Torre Enrique , Rangaraju Srikant , Yepes Manuel
Published: April 2020

Soluble amyloid β (Aβ)-induced synaptic dysfunction is an early event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that precedes the deposition of insoluble Aβ and correlates with the development of cognitive deficits better than the number of plaques. The mammalian plasminogen activation (PA) system catalyzes the generation of plasmin via two activators: tissue-type (tPA) and urokinase-type (uPA). A dysfunctional tPA-plasmin system causes defective proteolytic degradation of Aβ plaques in advanced stages of AD. In contrast, it is unknown whether uPA and its receptor (uPAR) contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease. Neuronal cadherin (NCAD) plays a pivotal role in the formation of synapses and dendritic branches, and Aβ decreases its expression in cerebral cortical neurons. Here we show that neuronal uPA protects the synapse from the harmful effects of soluble Aβ. However, Aβ-induced inactivation of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2α halts the transcription of uPA mRNA, leaving unopposed the deleterious effects of Aβ on the synapse. In line with these observations, the synaptic abundance of uPA, but not uPAR, is decreased in the frontal cortex of AD patients and 5xFAD mice, and in cerebral cortical neurons incubated with soluble Aβ. We found that uPA treatment increases the synaptic expression of NCAD by a uPAR-mediated plasmin-independent mechanism, and that uPA-induced formation of NCAD dimers protects the synapse from the harmful effects of soluble Aβ oligomers. These data indicate that Aβ-induced decrease in the synaptic abundance of uPA contributes to the development of synaptic damage in the early stages of AD.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTSoluble amyloid β (Aβ)-induced synaptic dysfunction is an early event in the pathogenesis of cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We found that neuronal urokinase-type (uPA) protects the synapse from the deleterious effects of soluble Aβ. However, Aβ-induced inactivation of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2α decreases the synaptic abundance of uPA, leaving unopposed the harmful effects of Aβ on the synapse. In line with these observations, the synaptic expression of uPA is decreased in the frontal cortex of AD brains and 5xFAD mice, and uPA treatment abrogates the deleterious effects of Aβ on the synapse. These results unveil a novel mechanism of Aβ-induced synaptic dysfunction in AD patients, and indicate that recombinant uPA is a potential therapeutic strategy to protect the synapse before the development of irreversible brain damage.
Treatment for Landfill Leachate via Physicochemical Approaches
Authors: Khoo Kuan Shiong , Tan Xuefei , Nguyen T. H. P. , Ho Shih-Hsin , Ling Tau Chuan , Juan Joon Ching , Pal Preeti , Show Pau Loke
Published: April 2020

Leachate waste consists of various mixtures of organic, inorganic, and heavy metal

contaminants, which are responsible for groundwater and surface water contamination.

Landfills apply physical, chemical, and biological processes for the treatment of leachate.

Most studies on leachate treatment by coagulation and flocculation are based on the selection and performance of natural based biopolymers in comparison with various inorganic metal salts and grafted polymers used for the removal of contaminants. In addition, adsorption processes utilizing non-conventional activated carbons as absorbents are the current emerging focus of the researchers in leachate treatment. These adsorbents are low-in-cost, efficient, and renewable compared to conventional adsorbents. The present paper aimed to evaluate and review the technology utilising various greener approaches in coagulation, flocculation, and adsorption as the physicochemical approaches to leachate treatment. The challenges and future work regarding the development of these green products in the commercial markets were comprehensively evaluated.
Total lipid and fatty acid profiles of Coffea arabica endosperm and embryo tissues and their relationship to seed desiccation sensitivity
Authors: Guimarães Cristiane Carvalho , Franco da Rosa Sttela Dellyzete Veiga , de Carvalho Mayara Holanda , Malta Marcelo Ribeiro , Evangelista Oliveira Roseane Maria
Published: April 2020

As seed chemical composition may lead to different responses during drying and other post-harvest operations, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of drying rate (slow and rapid) and the concentration and composition of lipids in the embryo and endosperm tissues of
Coffea arabica seeds on desiccation tolerance/ sensitivity. The total concentration of lipids and the composition of fatty acids were evaluated in isolated embryos and endosperms, and in whole (intact) seeds. Embryos had a higher total lipid concentration (23%) than endosperm tissue
(8%). Linoleic acid was the predominant fatty acid, with concentrations of 48% in the endosperm and 34% in the embryo tissues. Although rapid or slow drying did not change the fatty acid profile in the embryos or endosperms, the palmitic and linoleic acid concentrations varied significantly
between the embryo and endosperm. The predominance of linoleic acid in the endosperm supports the hypothesis that the endosperm tissue may be an important source of damage to the seed and may advance seed deterioration. This indicates that unsaturated fatty acids may have a greater effect
on sensitivity to desiccation than the percentage of total lipids.
Glucocorticoids impair oocyte competence and trigger apoptosis of ovarian cells via activating the TNF-α system
Authors: Yuan Hong-Jie , Li Zhi-Bin , Zhao Xin-Yue , Sun Guang-Yi , Wang Guo-Liang , Zhao Ying-Qi , Zhang Min , Tan Jing-He
Published: April 2020

Mechanisms by which female stress and particularly glucocorticoids impair oocyte competence are largely unclear. Although one study demonstrated that glucocorticoids triggered apoptosis in ovarian cells and oocytes by activating the FasL/Fas system, other studies suggested that they might induce apoptosis through activating other signaling pathways as well. In this study, both in vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that glucocorticoids might trigger apoptosis in oocytes and ovarian cells through activating the TNF-α system. The results showed that cortisol injection of female mice (1.) impaired oocyte developmental potential and mitochondrial membrane potential with increased oxidative stress; (2.) induced apoptosis in mural granulosa cells (MGCs) with increased oxidative stress in the ovary; and (3.) activated the TNF-α system in both ovaries and oocytes. Culture with corticosterone induced apoptosis and activated the TNF-α system in MGCs. Knockdown or knockout of TNF-α significantly ameliorated the pro-apoptotic effects of glucocorticoids on oocytes and MGCs. However, culture with corticosterone downregulated TNF-α expression significantly in oviductal epithelial cells. Together, the results demonstrated that glucocorticoids impaired oocyte competence and triggered apoptosis in ovarian cells through activating the TNF-α system and that the effect of glucocorticoids on TNF-α expression might vary between cell types.
Charitable Work of the Church in the Polish Lands in the XIX Century and its Impact on Education
Authors: Aftyka Leszek , Mazur Piotr
Published: April 2020

The Catholic Church in the Polish lands in the XIX century has had numerous charity works. The charitable activities were seen as the task of God's commandment of love. The purpose of this activity was to support poor people in the form of satisfying basic material needs and achieving adequate personal development. The article discusses the most important forms of assistance provided by religious orders, as well as clerical and lay organizations. The author draws attention to the charity's impact on education and the formation of humanistic values in society. Many priests set up organisations that had such names as: “Star”, “Aurora”, “Fatherland”, “Rock”. Their main objective was to raise up education standards and stimulate patriotism and solidarity among young people. Therefore, cooperation between educational institutions, families, non-governmental organizations, volunteer movements, charitable foundations for the expansion of active charitable activities, and the creation of a humanistic society is required. Nowadays it is extremely important to revive philanthropy and altruism in every country. Currently, there are foundations, organizations aimed at carrying out charitable activities and attracting to the charity all who wish to serve the cause of raising Christian morality, culture, education, art, support of the poor. Thus, this is important to promote it in the educational field as well. After all, many young people are ready to help financially or spiritually those who need it; they seek to invest time, money and talent into a rapidly growing charity. Here we see an important role of the Catholic Church, which influences the development of the spirituality of the individual.
Family as a Source of Forming Axiological System of Youth. Coherence Between Value Systems of Parents and Children
Authors: Wojciechowska Mariola
Published: April 2020

The paper examines the importance of the family as an educational environment for the formation of the value system of the young generation. It is an outcome of cyclical research on the values of the younger and older generation in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship in Poland. The research data refer to the value examination questionnaire "100 Sentences - 100 Opinions" by Mirosław J. Szymański and the Value Scale by Milton Rokeach. The results confirm significant similarity of axiological systems for both respondent groups. The comparison of research results from three study stages (1994, 2003 and 2017) proves that the values systems in both younger and older generation are more constant than variable. Therefore, it can be concluded that in spite of disruptions experienced by a contemporary family, it is still considered the source of principles and values for a younger generation. The author proves that the first positions in the young people's and their parents axiological systems are held by the allocentric and prosocial values. This is also confirmed by the appreciation of the value of "true friendship" and "mature love”. It is beyond doubt that these values make it possible today to establish close and rewarding relationships that are extremely helpful to the sense of security and recognition. Furthermore, the studies prove that the participants in both research groups perceived the civic and material values as least important. The research studies a rather moderate acceptance by the respondents of the views representing family values. Young people in particular, still refer to the family with reluctance, criticising the various areas of the family's life, and they do not hesitate to point out the factors that disorganise the life of this community. They also clearly indicate their expectations of the family and, as can be anticipated, construct their own visions of the family. Although there are some changes in the order of values, they are not clear enough to suggest that the hierarchy of values and reference to family values of younger and older respondents has changed significantly over the years. The results with regard to the meaning of the family as a source of the young generation's values somewhat undermine the common theses about the little impact of family socialisation on the development and upbringing of the young generation and the loss of the family's basic duties.
Formation of the Competences “Initiative And Entrepreneurship” at the Lessons of History of Ukraine (10th Grade)
Authors: Halytska-Didukh Tamara
Published: April 2020

The article examines the components and importance of forming one of the key competences “initiative and entrepreneurship” in the context of reforming modern secondary education; possibilities of its introduction in school historical education are determined on the basis of development of historical competence of students. The components of historical competence by integrating the economic dimension into the content of the tasks are highlighted. The subject “History of Ukraine” is focused on the formation of competence “initiative and entrepreneurship” through integration of inter-curriculum relations at the lesson of History of Ukraine, creative and activity approaches to the educational process. It is important not the accumulation of knowledge, but the ability to identify and analyze problems (including specific economic situations), to seek ways of their rational solution, to be able to think critically and to apply the acquired knowledge, skills and expertise to solve new problems. This is largely facilitated by active teaching methods that encourage students to be initiative, sociable, personally responsible; forms skills and abilities of non-standard problem-solving, independent choice of effective life strategies. The project method, which involves the ability to creatively apply the acquired knowledge in non-standard situations to solve various educational problems, should be noted separately; ability to find the necessary information independently; to work with different sources of information; develop group collaboration skills; ability to argue their own opinion, discuss other topics. An example is the subject of 10th grade projects that shape a given competence. Thus, forming the initiative and entrepreneurship competences at the lessons of History of Ukraine will contribute to the improvement of the students' overall vital competences, form in them the ability to creatively apply the acquired knowledge, skills and expertise to solve social problems, improve their well-being in non-standard life situations and conditions in general.
Psychological and Pedagogical Features of Students' Adaptation to Studying at Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Iliichuk Liubomyra , Vorobets Oleksii
Published: April 2020

The article describes the peculiarities of the process of students' adaptation to studying at a higher education institution, emphasizes the relevance of this problem in the context of the issue of training highly qualified specialists capable of effective work in the specialty at the level of world standards, ready for continuous professional improvement and personal development. The paper emphasized that the period of adaptation is a particularly important stage of studying at a higher education institution. It is particularly relevant when higher education students adapt to the content and nature of the educational process, in the period of adoption of norms and requirements of the new social environment, inclusion in the system of interpersonal relations, formation of a system of personal orientations, values, necessary for professional activity. The relationship between students' academic success and their level of adaptation to studying at a higher education institution has been identified. The results of an experimental study are presented, where the main factors of adaptation of higher education students, affecting their activity and academic success, are identified. Among these factors, the authors singled out magnitude of educational and extracurricular workload, working capacity during the school day and week, health condition, manifestation of various signs of fatigue, self-efficacy, motivation to learning, relationships with classmates and teachers, social frustration. The researchers stressed that the first-year students' adaptation period is different, depending on their individual and psychological characteristics, the level of readiness to study at a higher education institution, the correct choice of the future profession. On the basis of the results of the experimental study, the ways and directions of successful students' adaptation are determined, which foresees, first of all, the reduction of the impact of maladaptation factors on higher education students, increase in their resistance to these factors and strengthening of those factors that are favorable to them.
System Analysis of the Future Educators’ Psychological and Pedagogical Training Experience
Authors: Tytova Nataliya , Katsero Oksana , Kondur Oksana
Published: April 2020

It is established that the integration of the higher education of Ukraine to the European educational space is connected to the problems of vocational education system reformation in order with the international requirements. It was determined that an effective way to implement the requirements to the future specialists' professional qualities is to diversify their professional training as well as to create and provide conditions for a positive synergy with the aim to ensure scientific character, conformity to culture, fundamentals, humanization, consistency, innovation, accessibility, unity and accessibility, continuity and diversity training for applicants. The research work deals with the terminological aspects of future specialists’ psychological and pedagogical training in higher education institutions. The essential analysis of vocational training teachers’ psychological and pedagogical training is based on the unity of pedagogical theory and practice and considers contextual education and upbringing, based on the laws and mechanisms of pedagogical creativity. The analysis of scientific works, published up till now by domestic and foreign researchers, made us come to the conclusions that one of the reasons for the backwardness of the students' psychological and pedagogical training is a low level of pedagogical science development, inflexibility of educational programs, fragmented courses, lack of practical orientation. Development of requirements for the training of vocational teachers, with sectorial and integrated psychological and pedagogical components, is a priority now. The main task of higher vocational education is to prepare teachers who are ready for the organization and implementation of fundamental, technical and vocational training in practice at all levels of vocational education: vocational schools, technical schools, colleges, professional lyceums and gymnasiums, etc. The research work analyzes the terminology and clarifies the concepts “training”, “vocational teacher training”, “general pedagogical training” and “psycho-pedagogical training of future specialists in pedagogical institutions”.