bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
СПЕЦИФИКА ПРЕПОДАВАНИЯ ФРАНЦУЗСКОГО ЯЗЫКА В УКРАИНЕ
Authors: Пантелеева Е. Я.
Published: January 2021

В статье рассматриваются особенности преподавания иностранных языков в Украине и факторы, оказывающие влияние на выбор методики преподавания иностранных языков, среди которых следует назвать, прежде всего, факторы социальные, экономические, политические, методологические и индивидуальные. Кроме того, подчеркивается социокультурный контекст изучения иностранных языков, включающий такие категории, как сходство или различия между культурами, страной изучаемого языка и собственной страной, отдаленность или близость страны изучаемого языка к стране, где этот язык изучается. Не вызывает сомнений, что изменения, происходящие в мире, и особенно в конкретной стране, оказывают глубокое влияние на систему и методы преподавания иностранных языков. История методики преподавания иностранных языков в первой трети ХХ века – это эпоха становления важных методологических основ, а также тенденций развития обучения языкам.

Украина – страна, прошедшая через многочисленные политические, социокультурные и экономические изменения в течение последнего времени, и часть преподавателей, таким образом, принимают популярные методики из Европы, в то время, как другие защищают преимущества «советской» системы. Говоря о методологии советской школы, речь идет не только об официальной методологии в области преподавания французского языка в стране, а скорее о теоретических идеях прогрессивных представителей советской школы.

В Украине, в целом, существуют две группы преподавателей французского языка: защитники отечественной системы, (с сильной грамматической базой) и адепты европейской системы (сфокусированной на коммуникации). Некоторые преподаватели, в действительности, являются ложными западофилами, т.е., заявляя себя приверженцами коммуникативного метода, в результате используют, скорее, именно метод грамматико-переводной.
HISTORICAL ASPECTS OF ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION AND CULTURE DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Чистякова Л. А. , Доможирський Є. В.
Published: January 2021

The main stages of development of ecological education in Ukraine are considered in the article. It is noted that the formation of a responsible attitude to the environment in humans should be a priority for continuing education of all higher education institutions that train professionals in various specialties, not just environmentalists. Ecological consciousness and culture must develop in a person from an early age and at last become a part of the general culture.

Determinants in the modern conditions of human life are the values and level of culture, which form new forms of thinking and behavior aimed at preserving the environment and sustainable development. The social development of society and its economic growth should occur with an awareness of the value of the environment, its protection and preservation, with increasing levels of socio-cultural sphere. It is necessary to form the need for people to live in accordance with the laws of nature, awareness of certain requirements and prohibitions provided by these laws. All it will be possible, when a new type of ecological culture is formed.

Modern environmental education has been formed over a long period of time and has gone through several stages: natural-historical, naturalistic, and nature-transforming. Today, society is focused on sustainable development, where the environmental education is crucial, has several concepts and develops in accordance with the goals, objectives and models of practical implementation.

In practical world, there are different approaches to the implementation of environmental education, the main of which is the greening of existing subjects, in accordance with the specifics of their content and the introduction into the curriculum of a special subject of environmental content. Such approaches are still interconnected and complementary. The implementation of the tasks of environmental education, which is focused on universal values, ideas of humanism, harmonization of human relations with nature, improvement of the inner world of man by himself, requires the training of specialists in pedagogical educational institutions. Therefore, the improvement and development of the ecological culture of the future pedagogical worker is an urgent problem of research of modern scientists.
ПІДГОТОВКА МАЙБУТНІХ ФАХІВЦІВ ІЗ ТУРИЗМУ ТА ГОТЕЛЬНО-РЕСТОРАННОЇ СПРАВИ ДО РОЗРОБЛЕННЯ АНІМАЦІЙНИХ ПРОГРАМ
Authors: Віндюк А. В.
Published: January 2021

У статті автором проаналізовано теоретичні засади професійної підготовки майбутніх фахівців із туризму та готельно-ресторанної справи до розроблення анімаційних програм. Висвітлено нормативно-правову базу професійної підготовки зазначених фахівців та теоретичне підґрунтя дослідження. Визначено, що долучення анімаційних програм культурно-пізнавального, спортивно-оздоровчого, розважального характеру у складі туристських маршрутів, подорожей та готельного дозвілля сприяє підвищенню їх престижності та підвищує попит на ринку туристичних послуг. Наголошено, що готовність до розроблення анімаційних програм надає можливість фахівцям із туризму та готельно-ресторанної справи реалізувати свій творчій, особистісний та професійний потенціал у майбутній професійній діяльності. Враховуючи це, сучасна підготовка фахівця нового типу вимагає створення та оптимізації умов, необхідних для ефективного формування певного рівня професійних й особистісних компетенцій студентів у процесі вивчення фахових дисциплін. Встановлено, що процес підготовки майбутніх фахівців із туризму та готельно-ресторанної справи до розроблення анімаційних програм необхідно постійно оновлювати. Зазначено, що актуальним є створення банку типових сценаріїв та циклів рекреаційних занять для розроблення та реалізації анімаційних програм туристського відпочинку на підприємствах туристичного профілю з урахуванням регіональних особливостей, типових планів обслуговування турів та організаційно-технічних заходів для їх обслуговування.
ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT AND PHD-STUDENTS’ ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCIES
Authors: Гарапко В. І.
Published: January 2021

The high level of personal involvement required by the foreign language learning process is even more difficult for our universities, where the demands of the academic environment are so high that not all graduate students acquire the necessary competencies to meet these requirements. The purpose of the article is to explore the background for acquiring foreign language competence in the academic environment and to obtain the necessary information necessary for further research. The research methodology is based mainly on theoretical methods, such as analysis of scientific papers and publications to identify the main problems of the article. The classification method is used to classify the main points of view on the selected problem. The broader goal of language education is independent communication in a foreign language, which is based on the premise that language skills learned in classrooms are easy to transfer to real situations, and that graduate students will gain the necessary experience at the end of the language program. But this is not the case, and the practical results of the acquired skills of communication in a foreign language almost always do not meet the language expectations of the applicants. The current state of educational services indicates a significant increase in the need for high-quality post-graduate education, which will provide the applicant with relevant competencies relevant to the academic environment. Today the aim of post-graduate education is not only the growth of usage of lexical and grammar materials in the training of a competent specialist. In theory, post-graduate education established the imperative of the competence-based approach, while practically communicative competencies aren't directed to the process of inclusion of PhD students in professional culture are underestimated and incomplete extent implemented by them in the academic educational environment.
КОМУНІКАТИВНИЙ АСПЕКТ КОРПОРАТИВНОЇ КУЛЬТУРИ
Authors: Єрьоменко І. В
Published: January 2021

Стаття присвячена виявленню комунікативних маркерів корпоративної культури. В статті розглянуто становлення корпоративної культури та надано поняття корпоративної культури, яке нам більше підходить в комунікативному аспекті. Розглянуто 10 основних критеріїв, що характеризують організаційну культуру, серед них: особиста ініціатива, ступінь ризику, направленість та узгодженість дій, керувальна підтримка, контроль, ідентичність, система винагородження, конфліктність та моделі взаємодії. За такими критеріями можна оцінити або скласти уяву про будь-яку організацію.

Проведено аналіз робочого дня робітника компанії, який показав, що 90% робочого часу витрачається на комунікацію або спілкування. Розглянуто поняття комунікації та установлено поняття корпоративної комунікації. Виявлено три основних види корпоративної комунікації: індивідуальний, груповий і масовий. Визначені поняття формальної і неформальної комунікації. Освітлено правила будування стратегії і тактики мовної поведінки, на основі яких виокремлено комунікативні маркери корпоративної культури: накази і директиви; консультації робітників; співбесіди з новими співробітниками; оцінка роботи персоналу (похвала, зауваження, погроза); підвищення мотивації співробітників; аналіз проблем і вирішення конфліктів; створення робочих груп і керування ними; демократичний стиль спілкування; маніпуляція; мовні особливості на неділових зустрічах.

Виявлено основні комунікативні маркери корпоративної культури комерційних компаній та військових організаціяй України: демократичний стиль спілкування; реакція на похвалу; зауваження; погроза; маніпуляція; мовні особливості на неділових зустрічах. З’ясовано, що гендерні маркери також використовуються для оптимізації втілення комунікативно-прагматичних інтенцій.

Проведено аналіз спілкування в комерційній компанії та військовій організації. З’ясовано, що у військовій організації не існує неформальної комунікації, в той час як в комерційній організації навпаки більше використовується неформальна комунікація. Майже кожна організація має свою власну мову спілкування.
ТЕНДЕНЦІЇ РЕФОРМУВАННЯ ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ ПІДГОТОВКИ ФАХІВЦІВ У ЗАКЛАДАХ ВИЩОЇ АГРАРНОЇ ОСВІТИ АГРАРНОГО ПРОФІЛЮ УКРАЇНИ
Authors: Кобаль В. І. , Лакатош М. О.
Published: January 2021

У статті проаналізовано ключові тенденції реформування вищої аграрної освіти в Україні. На основі узагальнення психолого-педагогічних праць з проблеми дослідження виявлено особливості професійної підготовки майбутніх фахівців аграрної освіти на етапі реформування та модернізації аграрної освіти; констатовано, що удосконалення професійної підготовки фахівців в аграрних закладах вищої освіти носить комплексний характер і потребує вдосконалення за інституціональним, організаційним і дидактичним компонентами.

Авторами проаналізовано низку наукових праць, монографій, дисертацій, присвячених ключовим питанням розвитку і вдосконалення професійної підготовки фахівців вищої аграрної освіти в Україні. Визначено головні причини, які безпосередньо впливають на розвиток аграрної освіти, аспекти реформування вищої аграрної освіти. Закцентовано увагу на ідеї екологічної підготовки майбутніх спеціалістів, на проблемі розвитку культури професійного спілкування майбутніх фахівців-аграріїв, вивчення іноземних мов.

Визначено чинники, які впливають на професійну підготовку майбутніх фахівців-аграріїв: оновлення змісту вищої аграрної освіти на основі використання ідей інтеграції загальноосвітньої та спеціальної підготовки; посилення поєднання теоретичної та практичної підготовки з одночасним розширенням та осучасненням навчально-матеріальної бази та науково-методичного забезпечення освітнього процесу; визначення науково обумовленої номенклатури професій і спеціальностей; стимулювання розвитку системи приватних закладів вищої освіти і залучення приватного капіталу; розширення та поглиблення міжнародної співпраці у сфері професійної підготовки; активізація допрофесійної підготовки.
Incidente de coletivização do Processo do Trabalho
Authors: Lorena de Mello Rezende Colnago
Published: January 2021

O Processo do Trabalho, em especial, o dissídio coletivo foi a primeira ação coletiva prevista no ordenamento jurídico brasileiro, antes mesmo da ação popular. A Constituição Federal aperfeiçoou o sistema de acesso coletivo à Justiça, que atualmente tem na Lei da Ação Civil Pública e no Código de Defesa do Consumidor suas principais fontes normativas. O incidente de coletivização das ações individuais previsto no projeto do Código de Processo Civil de 2015 não logrou êxito. Em 2017, com o art. 611-A, §5º da Consolidação das Leis do Trabalho há o ressurgimento do incidente de coletivização, trazendo efeitos distintos para essa coisa julgada.
Features of growth and development of grain sorghum plants in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine
Authors: Pravdyva L.
Published: January 2021

Grain sorghum is one of the most highly productive multipurpose grain crops for food, feeding and technical purposes. Considering this, the research of the elements of the technology of grain sorghum growing is expedient and high-potential. The article presents the research results of the influence of the sowing time and the depth of planting seeds on the phenological observations, field germination of seeds, biometric indicators of sorghum plants of the grain varieties Dniprovskyi 39 and Vinets in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The aim of the research is to establish the optimal sowing time and the depth of planting seeds of the grain sorghum varieties, to substantiate their influence on the characteristics of plant growth and development in the conditions of the RightBank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The research was conducted during 2016–2020 in the conditions of the Bilotserkivska RAS of the Institute of Bioenergy Crops and Sugar Beet of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. It is proved that the sowing time and the depth of seeding have a significant impact on the growth and development of the grain sorghum plants. It is established that at the 1st decade of May and to the planting depth of 4–6 cm the grain sorghum seeds vegetative season reduces and equates 108 for the Dniprovskyi variety, and 105 days for the Vinets variety. Sowing seeds at the 3rd decade of April and the 2nd decade of May, as well as decreasing the planting depth to 2 cm and increasing to 8 cm, lengthens the grain sorghum vegetative season of the researched varieties. Field germination reached its maximum in grain sorghum seeds sowing at the 1st decade of May and to the planting depth of 4–6 cm and equals to 84.2–86.8 % for the Dniprovskyi 39 variety and 83.1–85.4 % for the Vinets variety. Biometric indicators that affect the formation of crop productivity, namely, plant height, bushiness, stem diameter, were maximum in the same variant of the experiment.
Key words: grain sorghum, varieties, sowing time, seeding depth, phenological observations, biometric indicators.
Nutritional regime of gray forest soil аt different anthropogenic loads
Authors: Borys N. , Krasjuk L.
Published: January 2021

The aim of the research is to establish the peculiarities of the formation of the nutrient regime of gray forest soil with different systems of basic cultivation, fertilization and sealing of by-products of crops in short-rotation 4-field grain crop rotation – winter wheat–corn for grain–barley–soybean. Evaluate the quantitative inflow of biomass, participation in the formation of the nutrient regime of gray forest soil, especially the differentiation of 0–40 cm of soil layer depending on the distribution of nutrients in different tillage soil systems. The studies were carried out in a long-term stationary experiment of the department of soil cultivation and weed control of the NSC «Institute of Agriculture of the NAAS», founded in 1969. The fertilization system consisted of the application of mineral fertilizers N65Р58К68 kg acting things per 1 ha of crop rotation area. As an organic fertilizer, we used by-products of crop rotation, where during 2009–2013 received an average of 5,17–5,50 t/ha, and 2014–2017 – 6,65–7,76 t/ha of crop rotation. The existing yield of the main product significantly influenced the volume of the non-commodity part, with the growth of the main product, the growth of by-products also took place in direct proportion. Nitrogen removal averaged 105 kg/ha, and with biomass it returned on average 55,4 kg/ ha, nitrogen with a full mineralization cycle, in general, this corresponds to 45–47 % of the share of costs. In general, the return of phosphorus from by-products for the rotation of 5 received an average of 12,0–16,7 kg/ha and 4-field crop 26 rotation 19,5–22,0 kg/ha, which was 35–40 % of the total removal harvest. The soil received many times more potassium from the biomass of agricultural crops than part of the cost of the main product, due to the attraction of the maize leaf mass, from which an average of 177–253 kg/ha enters the soil, and for crop rotation – 61,4–95,4 kg/ha per hectare of sown area.
Key words: gray forest soil, soil nutrient regime, recycling of nutrients, main and by-products of crops.
Cluster analysis in soybean varieties classification by economic characteristics
Authors: Bilyavska L. , Rybalchenko A.
Published: January 2021

The aim of the study was to improve the method of soybean collection material assessment with the purpose of choosing pairs for hybridization using cluster analysis, to cluster samples according to the duration of growing period, plant height, the height of lower pod attachment, stem thickness in the lower part, the number of branches and productive joints on a plant, the number of pods and seeds per plant, the number of seeds in a pod, seed weight per plant, yield (g/m2 ), and the resistance to lodging and bean cracking. Based on the conducted cluster analysis of one hundred and forty-five soybean collection samples concerning the determined signs, it has been established that the collection material was distributed within five clusters. Soybean genotypes have been singled out as carriers of a high level of quantitative characteristics, especially the signs of yield potential which can be used as a promising selection material. The samples having analogous set of signs in the cluster and reliable distinction from others have been united in a separate cluster. The samples of the first cluster in the collection are characterized by average and close to average values of all the studied characteristics. The samples of the second cluster are characterized by high values as to the number of branches and productive joints on a plant and also the number of beans per plant. The third cluster consisted of samples having high values of the number of seeds in a bean. However, as to other signs, the samples of this group have low values. The samples of the fourth cluster are later-maturing, than those in the first three groups. They are characterized by larger plant height and the height of lower bean attachment. The fifth sample cluster is distinguished by the longest growing period and high values of the majority of signs except the number of seeds in a bean and also resistance to lodging and bean splitting. The parent forms were in four clusters out of five ones. The cluster analysis helped to conduct the choosing of parent pairs for hybridization and creation of soybean new initial material. The advantage of cluster analysis consists in being able to identify collection samples in balance according to the complex of valuable economic characteristics, rather than single out genotypes according to separate quantitative signs.
Key words: soybean, selection, collection, sample, cluster, cluster analysis, initial material.
Organic products condition and production in Ukraine. Growing buckwheat with the use of biopreparations
Authors: Malinka L. , Shyshkina K. , Didur I. , Ezerkovska L. , Karaulna V. , Karpuk L. , Pavlichenko A. , Kozak L.
Published: January 2021

Recently, irrational land use and farming that that does not take into account the need to restore soil cover has led to soil degradation and reduced fertility, changes in water, physical and agrochemical properties as well as in biological activity of the soil. Introducing organic farming is the way to solve environmental problems. The concept of sustainable development of agricultural production provides a combination of environmental protection, economic growth and social development and organic production is a practical solution that allows to obtain high quality food as an important component of food security. The purpose of research is to study the state of organic production in the world, its development in Ukraine, to identify constraints on the development of organic production, to identify its problem issues. The study was conducted in 2018–2019 in the research field of the Training Production Center (TPC) of Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University (BNAU). The introduction of organic production has a number of advantages over the traditional one, including environmental, economic and social aspects. Economic advantages imply increased profits and competitiveness. Environmental benefits contribute to the preservation of the environment. Social benefits are based on providing the market with high-quality useful safe products. Applying the technology with the use of auxiliary products in organic production indicates an increase in buckwheat yield by 1.88 t/ha compared to the control plots.
Key words: organic production, directions of certification, production volumes, environmental pollution, organic products, buckwheat, auxiliary products.
The 2019 General Election and the Transparency Question in Nigeria: Political Party Financing As the Bane of Youth Participation
Authors: O Babayo Sule  , Usman Sambo  , Yoserizal Saragih
Published: January 2021

Election is perceived as the most peaceful means of power transfer in a democratic setting. It enables for competitive struggles to secure power in a prescribed rule of the game constitutionally. Nigeria is a democratic state currently undergoing its longest democratic transition unprecedented in the history of the country where six consecutive uninterrupted General Elections were conducted. However, the major issue of concern with Nigeria’s democratisation is youth participation and exclusion from politics. A major factor behind the marginalisation of youth is linked to the transparency question in terms of party financing and money politics. This study examined critically how the process of party financing excluded Nigeria’s youth from participating in the 2019 General Election. The study used a qualitative case study method. Data were gathered from primary and secondary sources. The primary sources included an in-depth interview with relevant stakeholders in the field, direct participant observation and consultation of government’s primary documents. The secondary sources were books, journals, newspapers, reports from organisations and agencies and internet sources. The data collected were discussed and interpreted using statistical techniques of tables, charts and a model. The work discovered that youth were barred from participating in Nigeria’s 2019 General Election in terms of contesting and winning of elective seats emanating from heavy use of money in party financing and campaign expenditure. The study thus, recommends that the viable alternative for youth to participate in Nigerian politics actively is to establish parties and lower the cost of obtaining party nomination and contest.
The Implementation of Inclusive Curriculum in Al Azhaar Islamic Elementary School and Noble National Academy Elementary School in Creating Children-Friendly School
Authors: Eka Erfiana Nita Agustina Nurlaila , Fuadi Imam , Fitri Agus Zaenul , Naim Ngainun
Published: January 2021

The aim of this study is to explain the implementation of aspects in the inclusive education curriculum and character building that leads to the development of character values in primary education. Education is held as a part of fulfilling the rights of every child to develop their academic potential and non-academic potential. In order to reach the goal, every child has a right to get a good education, including children with special needed. This study is a descriptive qualitative study. The data was obtained from the learning description in the design development of inclusive curriculum and characters that are integrated in the curriculum. The techniques used to collect the data are literature review and interview with the teacher of schools that uses inclusive curriculum program in Kurikulum Tingkat Satuan Pendidikan (KTSP). The discussion is obtained from the study result of the character development implementation in the inclusive curriculum description at school, especially in Al Azhaar Islamic Elementary School and Noble National Academy Elementary School.
A Study of Political Economy in the Age of Austerity: How Incumbent Partisanship Affects Anti-Government Movements
Authors: Suzuki Junpei
Published: January 2021

In this paper, I argue that austerity, when adopted by left-dominant governments, adds a “premium” to public grievances because, as the classic partisan theory posits (Hibbs 1977; Alesina 1987; Garrett and Lange 1989), citizens’ prior beliefs about policy consequences are asymmetrical such that they have fewer expectations of austerity when the left-wing parties are in power. Accordingly, I hypothesize that austerity led by the leftist governments results in a higher likelihood of anti-government movements than that led by the right-dominant government. I support this hypothesis by analyzing panel data covering up to 37 developed countries between 1973 and 2015.
Class, Social Mobility, and Voting: Evidence from Historical Voting Records
Authors: Dewan Torun , Kam Christopher , Meriläinen Jaakko , Tukiainen Janne
Published: January 2021

We explore the connection between social class, social mobility, and voting behavior in nineteenth-century England. To avoid pitfalls associated with survey or aggregate data on voting behavior, we use administrative longitudinal records preceding secret ballot on voters’ choices and occupation. These data reveal that the landed gentry, farm workers, non-skilled workers and white-collar workers voted, on average, more for the Conservatives, and petty bourgeoisie and skilled workers for the Liberals. The changes in voting behavior within individuals due to social mobility are immediate and mainly consistent with the same cleavage. Our interpretation is that voting was influenced by economic incentives.
Short-Term Seismic Precursor Anomalies of Hydrogen Concentration in Luojishan Hot Spring Bubbling Gas, Eastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Zhou Xiaocheng , Yan Yucong , Fang Wenya , Wang Wanli , Shi Hongyu , Li Pengfei
Published: January 2021

The gas compositions (He, H2, CO2, CH4, Ar and N2) and isotope ratios (3He/4He and δ13C) were yearly investigated from April 2010 to April 2019 at the Luojishan spring located in the proximity of the Zemuhe Fault, eastern Tibetan Plateau. The continuous automatic monitoring of hydrogen concentrations in Luojishan hot spring bubbling gas for the purpose of earthquake prediction requires the discrimination of seismic precursor anomalies. Helium isotope ratios (3He/4He) in the bubbling gas of hot springs varied from 0.05 to 0.18 Ra (Ra = 3He/4He = 1.39 × 10−6 in the air), with a maximum mantle-derived He up to 2.2% of the total He measured in the Luojishan hot spring (assuming R/Ra = 8.0 for mantle). This suggests that Zemuhe Fault might act as a conduit for crustal-derived fluid. N2 concentrations in the majority of the hot spring was ≥80 vol%, and δ13CCO2 values varied from −13.2 to −9.3‰ (vs.PDB). Hydrogen concentration time series display a complex temporal pattern reflecting a wide range of different physical processes. There were short-term (5–60 h) seismic precursor anomalies of hydrogen concentration before natural earthquake. The anthropogenically-induced earthquakes provoke only post-earthquake responses. The concentration of hydrogen in bubbling gas of the Luojishan hot spring is sensitive to increase of stress in the Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system. Monitoring the hydrogen concentrations with automatic gas stations may be promising tool for unraveling earthquake mechanisms and for predicting earthquakes.
Do Preschoolers Align Their Preferences With Those of a Powerful Individual?
Authors: Charafeddine Rawan , Triniol Benoit , Ogier Mathilde , Foncelle Alexandre , Epinat Justine , Van der Henst Jean-Baptiste
Published: January 2021

Very early on, children understand the hierarchical dimension of the social environment and use a variety of cues to guess who has more power in an interaction. A crucial aspect of power perception lies in the evaluation of high-power and low-power individuals. The current study examined the evaluation of power by preschoolers through social influence. Past research has shown that preschoolers take social category information into account when expressing their preferences. In particular, they tend align their preferences with those of same-gender and same-age individuals. In the current study, 4- and 5-year-old children were presented with a power interaction between two children through body postures and were asked whether they would prefer the same items as those preferred by the high-power child or those preferred by the low-power child. Overall, the participants did not choose the items preferred by the high-power child significantly more often than those preferred by the low-power child. However, unexpected gender effects were found and indicated that the power asymmetry influenced more male than female participants. Indeed, when they saw a power interaction between two boys (Experiments 1 and 2), male participants aligned their choices with those of the high-power boy more than with those of the low-power boy. However, when male participants saw an interaction between two girls (Experiment 3), an opposite pattern was observed: they aligned their choices with those of the low-power girl more than with those of the high-power girl. In contrast, in the three experiments, there were approximately as many girls who aligned their preferences with those of the high-power child as there were girls who aligned their preferences with those of the low-power child. The current study reveals the importance of taking gender into account, both at the level of participants and stimuli, in the evaluation of power by preschoolers.
Water Uptake from Different Soil Depths for Desert Plants in Saline Lands of Dunhuang, NW China
Authors: Cui Yong-Qin , Niu Li-Qin , Xiang Jin-Li , Sun Jia-Huan , Xiao Jian-Hua , Ma Jian-Ying
Published: January 2021

Salinization is a major threat to the sustainability of land and water resources, especially in arid and semiarid regions. Understanding the water uptake from different soil depths for desert plants is useful for exploring salinity-tolerance mechanism in desert plants in extremely-arid and salinity-affected area. To understand water uptake from different soil depths for desert plants in Dunhuang, NW China, we used oxygen isotope composition in plant xylem water and soil water to determine the water sources in three different saline sites differing in their degree of soil electrical conductance (site 2 < site 1 < site 3). The co-existing desert plants in each saline site extracted different depth of soil water respectively: K. foliatum mainly used shallow soil water (0–20 cm); H. caspica and N. tangutorum mainly used deep soil water (40–200 cm); A. sparsifolia used water from the 120–200 cm soil layers, while T. ramosissima and E. angustifolia mainly extracted deeper soil water (>200 cm). Compared to that in saline site 2, Tamarix ramosissima and Alhagi sparsifolia can switch their water sources to deeper soil water when enduring more salt stress. Also, a significant and positive correlation between soil EC and soil water δ18O values was observed, indicating the evaporation would cause increase in salt concentration and isotopic enrichment in the upper soil profile. Overall, our results suggest that plants may explore deeper soil water to adapt to salt stress under severe salinity. This work may contribute to selecting salt-tolerant plants species which is vital to saline soil rehabilitation and utilization.
KCNQ5 and C9orf50 Methylation in Stool DNA for Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Cao Yaping , Zhao Guodong , Yuan Mufa , Liu Xiaoyu , Ma Yong , Cao Yang , Miao Bei , Zhao Shuyan , Li Danning , Xiong Shangmin , Zheng Minxue , Fei Sujuan
Published: January 2021

Background

Aberrant DNA methylation has emerged as a class of promising biomarkers for early colorectal cancer (CRC) detection, but the performance of methylated C9orf50 and methylated KCNQ5 in stool DNA has never been evaluated.

Methods

Methylation specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays for methylated C9orf50 and methylated KCNQ5 were developed. The methylation levels of C9orf50 and KCNQ5 in 198 CRC patients, 20 advanced adenoma (AA) patients, 101 small polyp (SP) patients, and 141 no evidence of disease (NED) subjects were analyzed.

Results

The methylation levels of both KCNQ5 and C9orf50 genes were significantly higher in CRC and AA groups than those in SP and NED groups, but showed no significant difference among different stages of CRC. The sensitivities of methylated KCNQ5 and methylated C9orf50 for CRC detection were 77.3% (95% CI: 70.7–82.8%) and 85.9% (95% CI: 80.0–90.2%) with specificities of 91.5% (95% CI: 85.3–95.3%) and 95.0% (95% CI: 89.7–97.8%), respectively. When C9orf50 and methylated KCNQ5 were combined, the clinical performance for CRC detection was similar to that of methylated C9orf50 alone.

Conclusions

Stool DNA based methylated C9orf50 test has the potential to become an alternative approach for CRC screening and prevention.
Therapeutic Agents for the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders: Progress and Perspective
Authors: Wu Mengjie , Cai Jingyi , Yu Yeke , Hu Sihui , Wang Yingnan , Wu Mengrui
Published: January 2021

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) are a common health condition caused by the structural or functional disorders of masticatory muscles and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Abnormal mandibular movement in TMD patients may cause pain, chronic inflammation, and other discomfort, which could be relieved by a variety of drugs through various delivery systems. In this study, we summarized commonly used therapeutic agents in the management of TMD as well as novel bioactive molecules in preclinical stage and clinical trials. The emerging therapy strategies such as novel intra-TMJ delivery systems and implants based on tissue engineering are also discussed. This comprehensive review will strengthen our understanding of pharmacological approaches for TMD therapy.
A Randomized Phase 1 Pharmacokinetic Study Comparing the Potential Biosimilar LRG201902 With Liraglutide (Victoza®) in Healthy Male Subjects
Authors: Mai Gang , Fan Lianlian , Li Mupeng , Zhang Peiwen , Gan Chunyan , Huang Qian , Shentu Jianzhong
Published: January 2021

Objective: Pharmacokinetic (PK) similarity between biosimilar candidate LRG201902 and European Union-sourced liraglutide reference product (Victoza®) was evaluated. Safety and immunogenicity were also assessed.

Methods: This single-dose, randomized, open-label, 2-period crossover study (CTR20192342) was conducted in thirty-eight healthy adult male subjects. Volunteers were randomized 1:1 at the beginning to receive a single 0.6 mg dose of Victoza® or LRG201902 by subcutaneous injection during the first period. Following 8 days washout period, all subjects received the alternate formulation during the second period. Blood samples were collected up to 72 h after administration. The primary pharmacokinetic endpoints were AUC0–t, AUC0–∞, and Cmax. Pharmacokinetic similarity was achieved if 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of the geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of AUC0-t, AUC0–∞, and Cmax were within the range of 80–125%. Other pharmacokinetic parameters including Tmax, t½, and λz were also measured. Safety profile and immunogenicity data were collected from each subject.

Results: Cmax, AUC0–t, and AUC0–∞ were similar between the two groups. GMRs of Cmax, AUC0–t, and AUC0–∞ were 113.50%, 107.21%, and 106.97% between LRG201902 and Victoza® respectively. The 90% CIs for the GMRs of Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0–∞ were all within the PK equivalence criteria. Mean serum concentration-time profiles, secondary pharmacokinetic parameters (Tmax, t½, and λz) were comparable between groups. Treatment-related adverse events were reported by 27.8% and 23.7% subjects in the LRG201902 and Victoza® arms, respectively. All post-dose samples were detected negative for anti-drug antibodies.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates pharmacokinetic similarity of LRG201902 to Victoza® in healthy subjects. The safety and immunogenicity profiles were similar for the two products.
Butylphthalide Inhibits Autophagy and Promotes Multiterritory Perforator Flap Survival
Authors: Li Baolong , Chen Zhengtai , Luo Xiaobin , Zhang Chenxi , Chen Hongyu , Wang Shuxuan , Zhao Mengyao , Ma Haiwei , Liu Junling , Cheng Mengshi , Yang Yanyan , Yan Hede
Published: January 2021

Multiterritory perforator flap is an important plastic surgery technique, yet its efficacy can be limited by partial necrosis at the choke Ⅱ zone. Butylphthalide (NBP) has been used for many diseases but has not been studied in the multiterritory perforator flap. With the effect of NBP, we observed increasing in capillary density, inhibition of autophagy and oxidative stress, and a reduction in apoptosis of cells, all consistent with increased flap survival. However, the protective effect of NBP on multiterritory perforator flap was lost following administration of the autophagy agonist rapamycin (Rap). Through the above results, we assumed that NBP promotes flap survival by inhibiting autophagy. Thus, this study has found a new pharmacological effect of NBP on the multiterritory perforator by inhibiting autophagy to prevent distal postoperative necrosis and exert effects on angiogenesis, oxidative stress, and apoptosis within the flap.
Deconstructing and Historicizing Access to Medicines: The Changing Priority of Pharmaceutical Governance in China
Authors: Li Lantian
Published: January 2021

Securing access to medicines (ATM) is critical for improving public health outcomes. Existing research has long identified and analyzed various barriers that may impede ATM at the global, national, or local levels. However, it tends to adopt a normative perspective to prescribe what infrastructures, resources, and measures should be put in place to improve ATM. Little scholarship has explored how and why countries may prioritize certain dimensions of ATM over others in pharmaceutical governance within specific historical contexts. This article fills that gap by deconstructing and historicizing the concept of ATM. The author aims to make two arguments. First, tensions easily arise between different dimensions of ATM, and prioritizing certain dimensions in pharmaceutical policy may impede improvements in others (e.g., availability vs. affordability). Second, which dimension(s) of ATM might be prioritized in the state’s pharmaceutical policy hinges upon social, economic, and political forces. To substantiate these arguments, the author draws on interview and archival evidence from China. Specifically, the author provides a historical account of how and why the priorities of pharmaceutical governance in China changed over time: 1) 1949—late 1970s: pursuing both drug availability and affordability through socialist planning; 2) early 1980s—2015: priority shifting from availability (before the mid-1990s) to affordability (after the mid-1990s); 3) 2015—present: striving for a rebalance between drug availability and affordability.
The Equilibrium Concept, or…(Mis)concept in Beaches
Authors: Pranzini Enzo , Williams Allan T.
Published: January 2021

Beaches, as deposits of unconsolidated material at the land/water interface, are open systems where input and output items constitute the sediment budget. Beach evolution depends on the difference between the input/output to the system; if positive the beach advances, if negative the beach retreats. Is it possible that this difference is zero and the beach is stable? The various processes responsible for sediment input and output in any beach system are here considered by taking examples from the literature. Results show that this can involve movement of a volume of sediments ranging from few, to over a million cubic meters per year, with figures continuously changing so that the statistical possibility for the budget being equal can be considered zero. This can be attributed to the fact that very few processes are feedback-regulated, which is the only possibility for a natural system to be in equilibrium. Usage of the term “beach equilibrium” must be reconsidered and used with great caution.
Interdependence of Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties of Squalene–Implication for Cardiovascular Health
Authors: Ibrahim Nurul ‘Izzah , Naina Mohamed Isa
Published: January 2021

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have been recognized as the leading cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for 31% of global mortality. Among the risk factors of CVD, hyperlipidemia has been established as the most potent risk factor. Statins, a class of drug that reduces lower-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), are the preferred medical treatment. However, due to the development of statin-associated muscle symptoms, statins are associated with patients’ discontinuation and nonadherence. Other statin-induced side effects, such as hepatotoxicity and gastrointestinal upset, all contribute to patients choosing alternative medicines. Squalene (SQ), an unsaturated hydrocarbon naturally synthesized in plants and animals, could become the alternative treatment or supplementary agent for cardiovascular health. SQ has been shown to exert cardioprotective effect via its antioxidant activity. Oxidative stress and inflammatory responses are closely related to each other, which proposes an interdependence relation between antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Therefore, this review explores the interdependence between the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of SQ implicated on cardiovascular health.
Coagulation Treatment of Wastewater: Kinetics and Natural Coagulant Evaluation
Authors: Precious Sibiya Nomthandazo , Rathilal Sudesh , Kweinor Tetteh Emmanuel
Published: January 2021

In this study, three coagulants (ferromagnetite (F), alum (A), and eggshells (E)) and their hybrids (FA, FE, and FEA) were investigated as possible cost-effective coagulants for the treatment of industrial wastewater. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) was used to characterize the morphological and elemental compositions of the coagulants. The effects of coagulant dosage (10–60 mg/L) and settling time were investigated for the removal of turbidity, color, and total suspended solids. A jar tester (JTL6) operating at conditions of 150 rpm for 2 min (rapid mixing) and 30 rpm for 15 min (slow mixing) was employed. Results from the characterized supernatant showed about 80% removal of the contaminants. The prospects of F were proven to be the most effective as compared to the binary (FA > FE) and the ternary hybridized (FEA) coagulants. At an optimum dosage and settling time of 20 mg/L and 30 min, respectively, the treatability performance of F was clearly proven to be viable for wastewater treatment.
Recent Advances in Scaffolding from Natural-Based Polymers for Volumetric Muscle Injury
Authors: Nuge Tamrin , Liu Ziqian , Liu Xiaoling , Ang Bee Chin , Andriyana Andri , Metselaar Hendrik Simon Cornelis , Hoque Md Enamul
Published: January 2021

Volumetric Muscle Loss (VML) is associated with muscle loss function and often untreated and considered part of the natural sequelae of trauma. Various types of biomaterials with different physical and properties have been developed to treat VML. However, much work remains yet to be done before the scaffolds can pass from the bench to the bedside. The present review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the latest developments in the construction and application of natural polymers-based tissue scaffolding for volumetric muscle injury. Here, the tissue engineering approaches for treating volumetric muscle loss injury are highlighted and recent advances in cell-based therapies using various sources of stem cells are elaborated in detail. An overview of different strategies of tissue scaffolding and their efficacy on skeletal muscle cells regeneration and migration are presented. Furthermore, the present paper discusses a wide range of natural polymers with a special focus on proteins and polysaccharides that are major components of the extracellular matrices. The natural polymers are biologically active and excellently promote cell adhesion and growth. These bio-characteristics justify natural polymers as one of the most attractive options for developing scaffolds for muscle cell regeneration.
Genomics-Driven Activation of Silent Biosynthetic Gene Clusters in Burkholderia gladioli by Screening Recombineering System
Authors: Chen Hanna , Sun Tao , Bai Xianping , Yang Jie , Yan Fu , Yu Lei , Tu Qiang , Li Aiying , Tang Yajie , Zhang Youming , Bian Xiaoying , Zhou Haibo
Published: January 2021

The Burkholderia genus possesses ecological and metabolic diversities. A large number of silent biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in the Burkholderia genome remain uncharacterized and represent a promising resource for new natural product discovery. However, exploitation of the metabolomic potential of Burkholderia is limited by the absence of efficient genetic manipulation tools. Here, we screened a bacteriophage recombinase system Redγ-BAS, which was functional for genome modification in the plant pathogen Burkholderia gladioli ATCC 10248. By using this recombineering tool, the constitutive promoters were precisely inserted in the genome, leading to activation of two silent nonribosomal peptide synthetase gene clusters (bgdd and hgdd) and production of corresponding new classes of lipopeptides, burriogladiodins A–H (1–8) and haereogladiodins A–B (9–10). Structure elucidation revealed an unnatural amino acid Z- dehydrobutyrine (Dhb) in 1–8 and an E-Dhb in 9–10. Notably, compounds 2–4 and 9 feature an unusual threonine tag that is longer than the predicted collinearity assembly lines. The structural diversity of burriogladiodins was derived from the relaxed substrate specificity of the fifth adenylation domain as well as chain termination conducted by water or threonine. The recombinase-mediating genome editing system is not only applicable in B. gladioli, but also possesses great potential for mining meaningful silent gene clusters from other Burkholderia species.