Forming graduate students’ vision regarding pedagogical activity of a classical university professor

In the introduction it is stated that forming graduate students’ readiness for pedagogical activity is based on the methodology of the post-non-classical science, which allows to use qualitative research methods aimed at interpreting opinions, standpoints, values of the actors as legitimate “data” and to define understanding of pedagogical activity’s specifics and the key trends in the development of higher education. Theoretical analysisis dedicated to understanding the purpose and meaning of pedagogical activity of a university professor from the standpoint of holistic approach. The article analyses valuable, theoretical and technological components of activity. It is pointed out that pedagogical activity can be logically analysed as a type of activity aimed at certain pedagogical problems. Empirical analysis is built around describing research results within the framework of solving academic pedagogical tasks by graduate students of Saratov State National Research University within the framework of the course named “University-level Pedagogics”. The article presents the results of academic tasks performed by graduate students. Conclusion Graduate students working as teaching assistants and instructors showed greater psychological readiness to carry out teaching activities at university. On the one hand, a significant fraction of graduate students has virtually no experience in teaching and, due to this, has certain expectations of teaching practice; on the other hand, the empirical study results indicate that it is this category that is interested in working under conditions of changes in the digital environment and mastering new educational technologies

Positive and Negative Affects and Cultural Attitudes among Representatives of the Host Population and Second-Generation Migrants in Russia and Kazakhstan

The experience of experiencing a new culture for first-generation migrants is usually quite an intense occurrence, one that has become the subject of numerous studies. However, the question of what happens later, at the level of the second and subsequent generations, is still under-investigated. The purpose of this study was to analyze the predictors of positive and negative affect of the second generation of migrants and representatives of the host (indigenous) population in Kazakhstan and Russia. The study involved 300 people selected on the basis of the principle of proportionality (quota selection). Survey methods and mathematical methods of data processing, including SEM (structural equation modeling), were used. The research model included comparative analysis of averages, regression analysis, and path analysis. The results testified in favor of the similarity of positive and negative affect indicators and their ratios in representatives of the host community and the second generation of migrants. Cultural attitudes of the host community representatives were characterized by higher certainty and rigidity than those of the representatives of the second generation of migrants. As a result of structural modeling, it was found that 20% of the positive affect dispersion in the representatives of the host community and 17% in the representatives of the second generation of migrants were conditioned by values, identity, and cultural attitudes. Positive affect in the representatives of the host community was associated with the values of self-overcoming, ethno-nihilism-based identity, and participation in cultural life of other peoples. Positive affect in representatives of the second generation of migrants was associated with the values of openness, attitude towards changing one’s ethnic identity, positive attitude towards cultural borrowings, and a tendency to observe the traditions of one’s ethnic group. Proposals have been formulated that contribute to reducing the cultural disunity of second-generation migrants and the host population

Positive and Negative Affects and Cultural Attitudes among Representatives of the Host Population and Second-Generation Migrants in Russia and Kazakhstan

The experience of experiencing a new culture for first-generation migrants is usually quite an intense occurrence, one that has become the subject of numerous studies. However, the question of what happens later, at the level of the second and subsequent generations, is still under-investigated. The purpose of this study was to analyze the predictors of positive and negative affect of the second generation of migrants and representatives of the host (indigenous) population in Kazakhstan and Russia. The study involved 300 people selected on the basis of the principle of proportionality (quota selection). Survey methods and mathematical methods of data processing, including SEM (structural equation modeling), were used. The research model included comparative analysis of averages, regression analysis, and path analysis. The results testified in favor of the similarity of positive and negative affect indicators and their ratios in representatives of the host community and the second generation of migrants. Cultural attitudes of the host community representatives were characterized by higher certainty and rigidity than those of the representatives of the second generation of migrants. As a result of structural modeling, it was found that 20% of the positive affect dispersion in the representatives of the host community and 17% in the representatives of the second generation of migrants were conditioned by values, identity, and cultural attitudes. Positive affect in the representatives of the host community was associated with the values of self-overcoming, ethno-nihilism-based identity, and participation in cultural life of other peoples. Positive affect in representatives of the second generation of migrants was associated with the values of openness, attitude towards changing one’s ethnic identity, positive attitude towards cultural borrowings, and a tendency to observe the traditions of one’s ethnic group. Proposals have been formulated that contribute to reducing the cultural disunity of second-generation migrants and the host population

Devising Techniques for Reinforcing Glued Sausage Casings by Using Different Physical Methods

This paper has substantiated the development and rationalization of techniques to manufacture sausage casings from natural raw materials with predefined functional and technological properties. It is noted that the issue related to the rational utilization of intestinal raw materials and the improvement of the production economic profitability could be resolved by implementing effective technologies of glued intestinal sausage casings. The strength has been investigated of the reinforcing seam between the layers of intestinal membranes obtained by such techniques as the local tanning, local thermal coagulation resulting from passing an electric current through wet raw materials, local thermal coagulation due to the arc discharge through dried raw materials. The rational concentration of tannin in tanning solution has been determined, at which it is recommended to make a reinforcing seam on glued intestinal casings by means of local tanning. A value of the breaking load for the reinforcing seam made by using local electric currents has been derived, which is 14 N/m. A 4.7-time increase in the breaking load has been established to occur, compared to the control sample. A value of the breaking load for the reinforcing seam obtained by applying an arc discharge has been found, which is 18 N/m. It was noted that the breaking load had increased compared to the control sample. Working bodies for an installation were designed aimed at reinforcing glued sausage casings by such techniques as local tanning; local thermal coagulation resulting from passing an electric current through wet raw materials; local thermal coagulation as a result of arc discharge through dried raw materials. It is noted that the advantages of techniques for the reinforcement of glued sausage casings are the high breaking load and the effective utilization of raw material

Fullerenols Prevent Neuron Death and Reduce Oxidative Stress in <i>Drosophila</i> Huntington’s Disease Model

Huntington’s disease (HD) is one of the human neurodegenerative diseases for which there is no effective treatment. Therefore, there is a strong demand for a novel neuroprotective agent that can alleviate its course. Fullerene derivatives are considered to be such agents; however, they need to be comprehensively investigated in model organisms. In this work, neuroprotective activity of C60(OH)30 and C120O(OH)44 fullerenols was analyzed for the first time in a Drosophila transgenic model of HD. Lifespan, behavior, oxidative stress level and age-related neurodegeneration were assessed in flies with the pathogenic Huntingtin protein expression in nerve cells. Feed supplementation with hydroxylated C60 fullerene and C120O dimer oxide molecules was shown to diminish the oxidative stress level and neurodegenerative processes in the flies’ brains. Thus, fullerenes displayed neuroprotective activity in this model

Cardiac myosin activation with omecamtiv mecarbil in systolic heart failure

BACKGROUND The selective cardiac myosin activator omecamtiv mecarbil has been shown to improve cardiac function in patients with heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction. Its effect on cardiovascular outcomes is unknown. METHODS We randomly assigned 8256 patients (inpatients and outpatients) with symptomatic chronic heart failure and an ejection fraction of 35% or less to receive omecamtiv mecarbil (using pharmacokinetic-guided doses of 25 mg, 37.5 mg, or 50 mg twice daily) or placebo, in addition to standard heart-failure therapy. The primary outcome was a composite of a first heart-failure event (hospitalization or urgent visit for heart failure) or death from cardiovascular causes. RESULTS During a median of 21.8 months, a primary-outcome event occurred in 1523 of 4120 patients (37.0%) in the omecamtiv mecarbil group and in 1607 of 4112 patients (39.1%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86 to 0.99; P = 0.03). A total of 808 patients (19.6%) and 798 patients (19.4%), respectively, died from cardiovascular causes (hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.92 to 1.11). There was no significant difference between groups in the change from baseline on the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire total symptom score. At week 24, the change from baseline for the median N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level was 10% lower in the omecamtiv mecarbil group than in the placebo group; the median cardiac troponin I level was 4 ng per liter higher. The frequency of cardiac ischemic and ventricular arrhythmia events was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Among patients with heart failure and a reduced ejection, those who received omecamtiv mecarbil had a lower incidence of a composite of a heart-failure event or death from cardiovascular causes than those who received placebo. (Funded by Amgen and others; GALACTIC-HF ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02929329; EudraCT number, 2016 -002299-28.)