Проблемы обучения студентов на английском языке (EMI) в университетах Казахстана

Introduction. Fascination with English medium instruction (EMI) is fast growing in higher education institutions in non-native English-speaking countries, including Kazakhstan. The Kazakhstani government adopted a trilingual education policy in 2007 and the Bologna Process in 2010. Both these initiatives motivated universities to offer academic programmes in the English language. As a result, EMI programmes are offered in over 70 higher education institutions across Kazakhstan. In addition, there are four major Kazakhstani universities which offer academic programmes in English only. Despite the increase in the number of EMI programmes, there is a lack of empirical evidence about the difficulties and challenges faced by students in the EMI programmes. Aim. The present study aimed to investigate the nature, forms, and levels of challenges graduate students face in academic reading and writing in English and the way they cope with these challenges. The study was conducted with graduate students and faculty in 10 selected Kazakhstani universities, which offer academic programmes in EMI. Research methodology and methods. The study is based on a mixed-method design, involving an online survey and semi-structured interviews. The closed-ended questions have been analysed using SPSS software (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). The grounded theory analysis was utilised to scrutinise open-ended questions and interview transcripts. Results and scientific novelty. The study’s results indicated two major challenges faced by graduate students in academic reading and writing: the personal-psychological challenge and sociological challenge. The first challenge includes students’ previous academic backgrounds, exposure, and learning experiences. The second challenge is related to English academic culture and students’ worldviews, concepts, and values about English as a language and medium of instruction. As a result, graduate students experienced a lack of vocabulary, inadequate academic literacy skills, unfamiliarity with academic writing styles in English, and lack of skills to synthesise reading materials. Practical significance. Hence, this study recommends systematising English language programmes across secondary and higher education institutions to help students acquire advanced English language proficiency. Also, the study results suggest that local faculty members should be trained according to international standards in terms of their English language skills and innovative teaching methods.Введение. Интерес к обучению на английском языке (English Medium Instruction – EMI) быстро растет в высших учебных заведениях стран, для которых английский язык не является родным, включая Казахстан. Правительство страны приняло политику трехъязычного образования в 2007 году и Болонский процесс в 2010 году. Обе эти инициативы побудили университеты предлагать академические программы на английском языке. В результате они появились в 70 вузах Казахстана. Более того, на данный момент есть четыре крупных университета с академическими программами исключительно на английском языке. Несмотря на увеличение количества программ EMI, отсутствуют эмпирические данные о трудностях и проблемах, с которыми в них сталкиваются студенты. Цель. Данное исследование изучает природу, формы и уровни проблем, с которыми сталкиваются магистранты и докторанты при академическом чтении и письме на английском языке, а также то, как они справляются с этими проблемами. Исследование проводилось среди студентов магистратуры и докторантуры, а также преподавателей из 10 выбранных казахстанских вузов, предлагающих академические программы с EMI. Методология и методы исследования. Исследование использует дизайн комбинированных методов, включающий онлайн-опрос и полуструктурированные интервью. Закрытые вопросы были проанализированы с помощью статистического пакета (SPSS). Метод обоснованной теории был использован для подробного анализа открытых вопросов и транскриптов интервью. Результаты и научная новизна. Результаты исследования выявили две основные проблемы, с которыми сталкиваются студенты при академическом чтении и письме: личностно-психологическая и социологическая. Первая проблема включает в себя предыдущий академический опыт студентов, а также опыт обучения. Вторая проблема связана с английской академической культурой и мировоззрением, концепциями и ценностями студентов в отношении английского языка как языка и средства обучения. В результате студенты столкнулись со следующими трудностями: нехватка словарного запаса, недостаточные навыки академической грамотности, незнание стилей академического письма на английском языке и отсутствие навыков синтезирования прочитанного. Практическая значимость. Таким образом, данное исследование рекомендует систематизировать программы изучения английского языка в средних и высших учебных заведениях, чтобы помочь учащимся овладеть английским языком на продвинутом уровне. Кроме того, результаты исследования показывают, что местные преподаватели должны быть обучены в соответствии с международными стандартами, включая навыки английского языка и инновационные методы обучения.The research study is funded by Nazarbayev University under Collaborative Research Programme Grant № 021220CRP1322.Исследование финансируется Назарбаев Университетом в рамках гранта Программы совместных исследований № 021220CRP1322

Analysis of K-ras codon 12 and TP53 mutations in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma

Background. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common types of cancer, affecting 3 - 5% of the global population. K-ras protooncogene and TP53 tumour suppressor gene mutations are among the most common genetic alterations detected in advanced colorectaltumours.Objective. To investigate the role of K-ras codon 12 and TP53 exons 5 - 9 mutations in late-stage CRC patients.Methods. Blood samples were collected from 249 CRC patients, of whom 147 presented with advanced carcinoma. K-ras codon 12 mutations were analysed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, while direct sequencing was used in screening for TP53 exons 5 - 9 mutations.Results. No significant changes were observed in TP53 exons 5 - 9, except for two cases in which nucleotide replacements were observed in the non-coding regions in intron 4 (c.376-19C>T) and intron 9 (c.993+12T>C). Heterozygous mutations in K-ras codon 12 were observed in 79 individuals suffering from advanced CRC (53.7%). Colon and rectal tumours were equally distributed among the heterozygotes, but colon tumours were mostly present in wild-type homozygotes (84.6%). There was also a predominance of Caucasians among heterozygotes and a predominance of Asians among the wild-type homozygotes.Conclusion. Analysis of peripheral blood samples of CRC patients suffering from advanced carcinoma has prognostic value only for K-ras codon 12 mutations, and not for TP53 mutations

Segmentation of Aerospace Images by A Non-standard Approach Using Informative Textural Features

The article presents an analysis of a non-standard approach to the segmentation of textural areas in aerospace images. The question of the applicability of sets of textural features for the analysis of experimental data is being investigated to identify characteristic areas on aerospace images that in the future it will be possible to identify types of crops, weeds, diseases, and pests. The selection of suitable algorithms was carried out and appropriate software tools were created on Matlab 2021a and in the software package for statistical analysis Statistica 12. The main way to extract information is to decrypt images, which are the main carrier of information about the underlying surface. The main tasks of texture area analysis include selection and formation of features describing textural differences; selection and segmentation of textural areas; classification of textural areas; identification of an object by texture. To solve the tasks, spectral brightness coefficient (SBC), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), textural features of various crops and weeds. Much attention will be paid to the development of software tools that allow the selection of features describing textural differences for the segmentation of textural areas into subdomains. That is the question of the applicability of sets of textural features and other parameters for the analysis of experimental data to identify types of soils and soils, vegetation types, humidity, crop damage in aerospace images will be resolved. This approach is universal and has great potential for identifying objects using image clustering. To identify the boundaries of areas with different properties of the image under study, images of the same surface area taken at different times are considered

Trace element biomonitoring in hair and blood of occupationally unexposed population residing in polluted areas of East Kazakhstan and Pavlodar regions

Introduction: Eastern and North-Eastern regions of Kazakhstan are considered to be environmentally disadvantaged due to industrial pollution and activity of the former Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site. Ferrous metallurgy is represented by the world's largest ferroalloy plant located in Aksu. In addition to a ferroalloy plant, Aksu is the home for the largest thermal power plant in Kazakhstan. Objective: Biomonitoring of 31 hair and blood trace elements (Ag, Ba, Be, Bi, Cs, Co, Ce, Cr, Cu, Eu, Gd, Hf, In, La, Li, Mn, Mo, Nb, Nd, Pb, Sc, Sn, Tl, Th, U, V, W, Y, Yb, Zn, and Zr) in non-occupationally exposed population residing in polluted areas of East Kazakhstan and Pavlodar regions. Methods: Five case groups, residing in the vicinity to the former Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site (Akzhar, Borodulikha, and Karaul) or in proximity to industrial plants (Aksu and Ust-Kamenogorsk) have been assessed vs. controls from a rural settlement in Kurchum. In total, 204 hair and blood samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results: The observed blood concentrations of trace elements were in agreement with earlier studies on residents of industrially polluted areas. Elevated levels of blood Ba, Mn, Pb, V, and Zn were detected in residents of Aksu and Ust-Kamenogorsk. The elemental composition of head hair was characterized by greater stability between the study sites. Conclusion: Residency near the former Semipalatinsk Test Site could be considered as safe, while the environmental status of industrial settlements appears to be rather adverse. © 2019 Elsevier Gmb