Case Method as a Tool for Evaluation and Development of Terminological Competence of Future Teachers

Introduction. Theoretical and practical aspects of applying case methods have been considered for the first time as tools for developing terminological competence of students mastering educational programs in the field of pedagogics. The aim of the study is to determine scientific basis for choosing and applying cases while studying specifics of development of terminological competence in the field of didactics, and assessment of their efficiency at different levels of professional training of a teacher . Materials and methods. The study is based on the analysis of solution of pedagogical cases. The data were processed using mathematical statistics methods. The sample included 860 persons, among them students currently undergoing vocational training and those receiving higher education, teachers of secondary schools and institutions of secondary vocational pedagogical education. Results. The findings of the study indicate that object-cognitive, professional-speech and reflective-evaluation cases provide for efficient use of the case method in evaluation of the level of formedness of terminological competence. Empirical verification of the cases allowed to identify differences in the extent to which terminological competence of future teachers is formed at different stages of professional training, and the significance of object-cognitive component in ensuring that professional terminology is duly mastered. The effectiveness of completion of different case types was evaluated. This study expanded our understanding of principles of selection and structuring of case tasks to evaluate and improve development of future teachers’ terminological competence in the course of learning theoretical basics of modern teaching. The research results provide a better understanding of case methods in pedagogical education. Discussion and conclusion. The case method is an important issue for future research. A further study of the other subject fields in professional pedagogical training with special focus on the level of terminological competence of educators in secondary and vocational schools is suggested. Practical significance of this article lies in the prospect of uncovering potential capabilities of the case method for diagnostic and didactic purposes in universities

Light-Induced Thiol Oxidation of Recoverin Affects Rhodopsin Desensitization

The excessive light illumination of mammalian retina is known to induce oxidative stress and photoreceptor cell death linked to progression of age-related macular degeneration. The photochemical damage of photoreceptors is suggested to occur via two apoptotic pathways that involve either excessive rhodopsin activation or constitutive phototransduction, depending on the light intensity. Both pathways are dramatically activated in the absence of rhodopsin desensitization by GRK1. Previously, we have shown that moderate illumination (halogen lamp, 1,500 lx, 1–5 h) of mammalian eyes provokes disulfide dimerization of recoverin, a calcium-dependent regulator of GRK1. Here, we demonstrate under in vivo conditions that both moderate long-term (metal halide lamp, 2,500 lx, 14 h, rat model) and intense short-term (halogen lamp, 30,000 lx for 3 h, rabbit model) illumination of the mammalian retina are accompanied by accumulation of disulfide dimer of recoverin. Furthermore, in the second case we reveal alternatively oxidized derivatives of the protein, apparently including its monomer with sulfinic group. Histological data indicate that thiol oxidation of recoverin precedes apoptosis of photoreceptors. Both disulfide dimer and oxidized monomer (or oxidation mimicking C39D mutant) of recoverin exhibit lowered α-helical content and thermal stability of their apo-forms, as well as increased Ca2+ affinity. Meanwhile, the oxidized monomer and C39D mutant of recoverin demonstrate impaired ability to bind photoreceptor membranes and regulate GRK1, whereas disulfide dimer exhibits notably improved membrane binding and GRK1 inhibition in absence of Ca2+. The latter effect is expected to slow down rhodopsin desensitization in the light, thereby favoring support of the light-induced oxidative stress, ultimately leading to photoreceptor apoptosis. Overall, the intensity and duration of illumination of the retina affect thiol oxidation of recoverin likely contributing to propagation of the oxidative stress and photoreceptor damage

Психологические детерминанты адаптированности в вузе студентов-первокурсников медицинского факультета в период пандемии COVID-19

Abstract: Introduction. The successful adaptation of university students determines their participation in educational activities, their effectiveness, and a positive attitude toward the chosen profession. The novelty of the research is to study the adaptability of students in the transition to new, often unusual, forms of education (online, distance) against the backdrop of an increase in the general level of anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Such difficulties significantly affected students of medical specialities, the development of which implies the formation of competencies in practical activities. Methods. The study involved students of medical (N = 93) and economic (control group, N = 111) faculties. The following methods were used: “Method of Research of Students Adaptability in the Higher Educational Establishment” by T. D. Dubovitskaya, A. V. Krylova, “The Satisfaction with Life Scale” by E. Diener, “Test of neuropsychic adaptation” by I. N. Gurvich, “Educational strategies” by S. N. Kostromina, T. A. Dvornikova, “Students’ educational motivation diagnostic inventory” by N. C. Badmaeva, “The Big Five Inventory” adapted by D. P. Yanichev, “The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)” adapted by A. P. Bizyuk et al. (Part 2). Results and Discussion. The psychological characteristics of the Faculty of Medicine first-year students, contributing to the adaptability at the university during the COVID-19 pandemic, include a high level of extraversion, willingness to cooperate, the presence of professional motives for learning and motivation to achieve success, a high level of neuropsychic adaptation, orientation to memorizing educational material and a disinclination to planning educational activities. For students of the Faculty of Economics, such predictors were a great life satisfaction, a high level of extraversion, a low level of anxiety, motives for creative self–realization and a desire for planning in training. Students of the Faculty of Medicine with a high level of adaptability, in comparison with highly adapted students of the Faculty of Economics, have more pronounced professional motives and more often resort to the strategy of repeating educational material. Such differences may be due to both the peculiarities of the organization of the educational process and the specifics of the chosen speciality.Введение. Успешная адаптация студентов в университете обуславливает вовлеченность в учебную деятельность, ее эффективность, положительное отношение к выбранной профессии. Новизной исследования является изучение адаптированности студентов в ситуации перехода на новые, зачастую непривычные, формы обучения (онлайн, дистанционная) на фоне повышения общего уровня тревожности в период пандемии COVID-19. Такие трудности особенно затронули студентов медицинских специальностей, освоение которых подразумевает формирование компетенций в практической деятельности. Методы. В исследовании приняли участие студенты медицинского (N = 93) и экономического (контрольная группа, N = 111) факультетов. Были использованы следующие методики: «Адаптированность студентов в вузе» Т. Д. Дубовицкой, А. В. Крыловой, «Удовлетворенность жизнью» Э. Динера, «Тест нервно-психической адаптации» И. Н. Гурвича, «Учебные стратегии» С. Н. Костроминой, Т. А. Дворниковой, «Методика для диагностики учебной мотивации студентов» Н. Ц. Бадмаевой, «Большая пятерка» Д. П. Яничева, «Интегративный тест тревожности» А. П. Бизюка с соавт. (2 часть). Результаты и их обсуждение. К психологическим особенностям студентов первого курса медицинского факультета, способствующим адаптированности в вузе в период пандемии COVID-19, относятся: высокий уровень экстраверсии, готовность к сотрудничеству, наличие профессиональных мотивов учебной деятельности и мотивации достижения успеха, высокий уровень нервно-психической адаптации, ориентация на запоминание учебного материала и несклонность к планированию учебной деятельности. У студентов экономического факультета – это удовлетворенность жизнью, высокий уровень экстраверсии, низкий уровень тревожности, мотивы творческой самореализации и стремление к планированию в обучении. Студенты медицинского факультета с высоким уровнем адаптированности, по сравнению с высоко адаптированными студентами экономического факультета, имеют более выраженные профессиональные мотивы и чаще прибегают к стратегии повторения учебного материала. Такие различия могут быть обусловлены как особенностями организации образовательного процесса, так и спецификой выбранной специальности

Use of Asphaltene Stabilizers for the Production of Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil

Marine fuel oil stability has always been an issue for bunkering companies and ship owners all around the world and the problem has become even more apparent with the introduction of the Global Sulphur Gap by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2020. In this article, the historical background and the technical reasons why marine fuel oils lose their stability, as well as methods for preventing such instability from occurring, are presented. While it is possible to make fuel compositions stable by adjusting their composition in such a way that the components of the fuel are compatible, considering that marine fuel oils are often comprised of the least value-added products, the method of adding special fuel oil stabilizers (also known as “asphaltene dispersants”) is usually preferred. An overview of such stabilizers is presented; their chemical composition, based on the information provided by the manufacturers and/or inventors is studied. In addition, the experimental research of the produced marine fuel oil and its components is carried out. The results of the model composition studies show that adding even as little as 10% of residual asphaltene-rich components can make a composition with a high stability reserve unstable. It was also shown that the content of the asphaltene-rich component in a stable fuel can be increased from 3% to 10% by introducing stabilizers in low amounts (up to 2000 ppm), thus lowering the amount of higher value-added, mostly naphthene-paraffinic-based components. Different methods of fuel stability evaluation were studied and tested, most of them being in correlation with one another. Several types of stability enhancers were tried out on unstable fuel, with stabilizers based on alkylphenol formaldehyde resin showing the best results

Mechanisms and Treatment of Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration-Associated Inflammation: Insights from Biochemical Profiling of the Aqueous Humor

Ocular inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of blind-causing retinal degenerative diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or photic maculopathy. Here, we report on inflammatory mechanisms that are associated with retinal degeneration induced by bright visible light, which were revealed while using a rabbit model. Histologically and electrophysiologically noticeable degeneration of the retina is preceded and accompanied by oxidative stress and inflammation, as evidenced by granulocyte infiltration and edema in this tissue, as well as the upregulation of total protein, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress markers in aqueous humor (AH). Consistently, quantitative lipidomic studies of AH elucidated increase in the concentration of arachidonic (AA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids and lyso-platelet activating factor (lyso-PAF), together with pronounced oxidative and inflammatory alterations in content of lipid mediators oxylipins. These alterations include long-term elevation of prostaglandins, which are synthesized from AA via cyclooxygenase-dependent pathways, as well as a short burst of linoleic acid derivatives that can be produced by both enzymatic and non-enzymatic free radical-dependent mechanisms. The upregulation of all oxylipins is inhibited by the premedication of the eyes while using mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SkQ1, whereas the accumulation of prostaglandins and lyso-PAF can be specifically suppressed by topical treatment with cyclooxygenase inhibitor Nepafenac. Interestingly, the most prominent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits and overall retinal protective effects are achieved by simultaneous administrating of both drugs indicating their synergistic action. Taken together, these findings provide a rationale for using a combination of mitochondria-targeted antioxidant and cyclooxygenase inhibitor for the treatment of inflammatory components of retinal degenerative diseases

Redox Regulation of Signaling Complex between Caveolin-1 and Neuronal Calcium Sensor Recoverin

Caveolin-1 is a cholesterol-binding scaffold protein, which is localized in detergent-resistant membrane (DRM) rafts and interacts with components of signal transduction systems, including visual cascade. Among these components are neuronal calcium sensors (NCSs), some of which are redox-sensitive proteins that respond to calcium signals by modulating the activity of multiple intracellular targets. Here, we report that the formation of the caveolin-1 complex with recoverin, a photoreceptor NCS serving as the membrane-binding regulator of rhodopsin kinase (GRK1), is a redox-dependent process. Biochemical and biophysical in vitro experiments revealed a two-fold decreased affinity of recoverin to caveolin-1 mutant Y14E mimicking its oxidative stress-induced phosphorylation of the scaffold protein. At the same time, wild-type caveolin-1 demonstrated a 5–10-fold increased affinity to disulfide dimer of recoverin (dRec) or its thiol oxidation mimicking the C39D mutant. The formation of dRec in vitro was not affected by caveolin-1 but was significantly potentiated by zinc, the well-known mediator of redox homeostasis. In the MDCK cell model, oxidative stress indeed triggered Y14 phosphorylation of caveolin-1 and disulfide dimerization of recoverin. Notably, oxidative conditions promoted the accumulation of phosphorylated caveolin-1 in the plasma membrane and the recruitment of recoverin to the same sites. Co-localization of these proteins was preserved upon depletion of intracellular calcium, i.e., under conditions reducing membrane affinity of recoverin but favoring its interaction with caveolin-1. Taken together, these data suggest redox regulation of the signaling complex between recoverin and caveolin-1. During oxidative stress, the high-affinity interaction of thiol-oxidized recoverin with caveolin-1/DRMs may disturb the light-induced translocation of the former within photoreceptors and affect rhodopsin desensitization

Abstracts of The Second Eurasian RISK-2020 Conference and Symposium

This abstract book contains abstracts of the various research ideas presented at The Second Eurasian RISK-2020 Conference and Symposium.The RISK-2020 Conference and Symposium served as a perfect venue for practitioners, engineers, researchers, scientists, managers and decision-makers from all over the world to exchange ideas and technology about the latest innovation developments dealing with risk minimization