The relationship between field-specific knowledge and language proficiency in speaking test scores

The research question of this thesis was suggested by Prof Lyle Bachman at the AAAL Annual Meeting in Atlanta, during the discussion of conference paper Testing Spoken English Ability in an Agribusiness Context presented by Dan Douglas and the present author. This paper described the developed test of ability to speak English about agriculture -- AGSPEAK, and self-evaluation instruments, theoretical background, analysis of results and considerations for the future development. The analysis of the AGSPEAK and self-assessment results suggested that there is a strong relationship between overall test performance and perceptions of ability to comprehend agriculture lectures and discuss agricultural issues. There is also evidence that learner perceptions of discourse ability is positively related to AGSPEAK comprehensibility, which suggests that AGSPEAK goes beyond measuring just linguistic competence. During the discussion of AGSPEAK and the future study of its validity Prof Bachman suggested a study of the role of field-specific knowledge and language proficiency in determining the AGSPEAK scores

Analyzing the thermal regime of power supply units in portable betatrons by using infrared thermography

Potentials of infrared thermography in analyzing a thermal regime of the 7.5 MeV betatron power supply are discussed. Both the heating rate and thermal inertia of particular electronic components have been evaluated by processing pixel-based temperature histories. The data treatment has been performed by using the original ThermoFit Pro software to illustrate that some advanced processing algorithms, such as the Fourier transform and principle component analysis, are valuable in identifying thermal dynamics of particular power supply parts

Xenobiotic-induced activation of human aryl hydrocarbon receptor target genes in Drosophila is mediated by the epigenetic chromatin modifiers

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is the key transcription factor that controls animal development and various adaptive processes. The AHR\u27s target genes are involved in biodegradation of endogenous and exogenous toxins, regulation of immune response, organogenesis, and neurogenesis. Ligand binding is important for the activation of the AHR signaling pathway. Invertebrate AHR homologs are activated by endogenous ligands whereas vertebrate AHR can be activated by both endogenous and exogenous ligands (xenobiotics). Several studies using mammalian cultured cells have demonstrated that transcription of the AHR target genes can be activated by exogenous AHR ligands, but little is known about the effects of AHR in a living organism. Here, we examined the effects of human AHR and its ligands using transgenic Drosophila lines with an inducible human AhR gene. We found that exogenous AHR ligands can increase as well as decrease the transcription levels of the AHR target genes, including genes that control proliferation, motility, polarization, and programmed cell death. This suggests that AHR activation may affect the expression of gene networks that could be critical for cancer progression and metastasis. Importantly, we found that AHR target genes are also controlled by the enzymes that modify chromatin structure, in particular components of the epigenetic Polycomb Repressive complexes 1 and 2. Since exogenous AHR ligands (alternatively - xenobiotics) and small molecule inhibitors of epigenetic modifiers are often used as pharmaceutical anticancer drugs, our findings may have significant implications in designing new combinations of therapeutic treatments for oncological diseases. © Akishina et al

Expression pattern of dd4, a sole member of the d4 family of transcription factors in Drosophila melanogaster

In vertebrates, three members of the d4 gene family code for proteins, which are believed to function as transcription factors and involved in regulation of various intracellular processes. One member of the family, ubi-d4/requiem is ubiquitously expressed gene and two other, neuro-d4 and cer-d4, are expressed predominantly in the neural tissues (Nucleic Acids Res. 20 (1992) 5579; Biochim. Biophys. Acta 14 (1992) 172; Mamm. Genome 11 (2000) 72; Mamm. Genome 12 (2001) 862). Typically, d4 proteins show distinct domain organisation with domain 2/3 in the N-terminal, Krüppel-type zinc finger in the central and two adjacent PHD-fingers (d4-domain) in the C-terminal part of the molecule. However, alternative splicing, which is responsible for complex expression patterns of both neurospecific members of the family, generates multiple protein isoforms lacking certain domains (Nucleic Acids Res. 20 (1992) 5579; Genomics 36 (1996) 174; Mamm. Genome 11 (2000) 72; Mamm. Genome 12 (2001) 862). Exact function of d4 proteins is unclear but their involvement in regulation of differentiation and apoptotic cell death has been proposed (J. Biol. Chem. 269 (1994) 29515; Mamm. Genome 11 (2000) 72; Mamm. Genome 12 (2001) 862). Here we identified a single gene, dd4, in the genome of Drosophila melanogaster, the protein product of which could be assigned to the d4 family. Expression of dd4 is regulated during Drosophila development, and is most prominent in syncytial embryos and later in the embryonic nervous and reproductive systems. In flies dd4 mRNA is found in most tissues but the highest level of expression is detected in ovaries

GENOTYPE-PHENOTYPE CORRELATIONS OF THE COURSE OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS IN RUSSIAN CHILDREN. THE FIRST DESCRIPTION OF ELEVEN NEW MUTATIONS

Background. Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease that occurs as a result of mutations in the regulator gene of chloride ion transmembrane transport (CFTR). Finding mutations in the CFTR gene is necessary for identification of the clinical features of cystic fibrosis.Objective. Our aim was to identify genotype-phenotype correlations between mutations of the first class of pathogenicity and clinical manifestations of cystic fibrosis based on studying the prevalence and structure of CFTR gene mutations.Methods. The study included children under 18 years with cystic fibrosis admitted to hospital between 2013 and 2017. Biallelic mutations in the CFTR gene were the noninclusion criterion. The CFTR gene variants were analyzed by next-generation sequencing method.Results. In 125 patients with cystic fibrosis, 59 different variants of the CFTR gene were detected, 11 of them not previously described. The most common was the deletion c.1521_1523del found in 98 (39.2%) of the 250 analyzed CFTR gene alleles and the deletion c.1545_1546del found in 22/250 (8.8%) alleles. It has been shown that the mutation c.1545_1546del, p.Y515* was more often found in children of the Chechen nation — odds ratio (OR) 139 (95% confidence interval 15–1,257). It has been established that meconium ileus, pancreatic deficiency and cirrhosis are more common in patients with mutations of the first category of pathogenicity: OR 3.9 (95% CI 1.0–15.0), 4.4 (95% CI 1.8–11.1), and 351 (95% CI 17.5–7,046), respectively. The association of CFTR gene mutations with the development of bronchiectases and polypous pancinusitis has not been found.Conclusion. Correlations between the genotype and clinical manifestations of cystic fibrosis in Russian children with CFTR gene mutations of the first class of pathogenicity have been established

Wild type and mutant antenna and leg in flies in normal conditions and following irradiation.

<p>Simultaneous combination of mutations at both <i>ss</i> and <i>CG5017</i> loci increases sensitivity to even low doses of X-ray radiation (1 and 10 R), which is manifested as an increase in the mutant phenotype (photographs within the red frame).</p

The Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Russian Population Cohort According to Data from the HAPIEE Project

The aim of this study is to investigate the 14-year risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and develop a risk score for T2DM in the Siberian cohort. A random population sample (males/females, 45–69 years old) was examined at baseline in 2003–2005 (Health, Alcohol, and Psychosocial Factors in Eastern Europe (HAPIEE) project, n = 9360, Novosibirsk) and re-examined in 2006–2008 and 2015–2017. After excluding those with baseline T2DM, the final analysis included 7739 participants. The risk of incident T2DM during a 14-year follow-up was analysed using Cox regression. In age-adjusted models, male and female hazard ratios (HR) of incident T2DM were 5.02 (95% CI 3.62; 6.96) and 5.13 (95% CI 3.56; 7.37) for BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2; 4.38 (3.37; 5.69) and 4.70 (0.27; 6.75) for abdominal obesity (AO); 3.31 (2.65; 4.14) and 3.61 (3.06; 4.27) for fasting hyperglycaemia (FHG); 2.34 (1.58; 3.49) and 3.27 (2.50; 4.26) for high triglyceride (TG); 2.25 (1.74; 2.91) and 2.82 (2.27; 3.49) for hypertension (HT); and 1.57 (1.14; 2.16) and 1.69 (1.38; 2.07) for family history of diabetes mellitus (DM). In addition, secondary education, low physical activity (PA), and history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) were also significantly associated with T2DM in females. A simple T2DM risk calculator was generated based on non-laboratory parameters. A scale with the best quality included waist circumference &gt;95 cm, HT history, and family history of T2DM (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.71). The proposed 10-year risk score of T2DM represents a simple, non-invasive, and reliable tool for identifying individuals at a high risk of future T2DM

Wild type and mutant leg and antenna phenotypes.

<p>Micrographs show the normal morphology of the tarsal structures of the wild type <i>Canton S</i>, <i>ss^a40ahm</i> and <i>milkah-1</i> flies. Antennal structures of the <i>milkah-1</i> mutant flies do not show any difference from the wild type. The distal segment of the antenna – the arista - of the <i>ss^a40ahm</i> flies presents a certain thickening of the proximal end. The arista of the <i>ss^a40ahmmilkah-1</i> hybrid flies suffered homeotic transformation into an unsegmented tarsus. The tarsal structures of the <i>ss^a40ahmmilkah-1</i> hybrids show altered segment fusion.</p