Image analysis is a valuable approach in a wide array of environmental applications. Mapping land cover categories depicted from satellite images enables the monitoring of landscape dynamics. Such a technique plays a key role for land management and predictive ecosystem modelling. Satellite-based mapping of environmental dynamics enables us to define factors that trigger these processes and are crucial for our understanding of Earth system processes. In this study, a reclassification scheme of image analysis was developed for mapping the adjusted categorisation of land cover types using multispectral remote sensing datasets and Geographic Resources Analysis Support System (GRASS) Geographic Information System (GIS) software. The data included four Landsat 8–9 satellite images on 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023. The sequence of time series was used to determine land cover dynamics. The classification scheme consisting of 17 initial land cover classes was employed by logical workflow to extract 10 key land cover types of the coastal areas of Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, southern Red Sea. Special attention is placed to identify changes in the land categories regarding the thermal saline lake, Lake Assal, with fluctuating salinity and water levels. The methodology included the use of machine learning (ML) image analysis GRASS GIS modules ‘r.reclass’ for the reclassification of a raster map based on category values. Other modules included ‘r.random’, ‘r.learn.train’ and ‘r.learn.predict’ for gradient boosting ML classifier and ‘i.cluster’ and ‘i.maxlik’ for clustering and maximum-likelihood discriminant analysis. To reveal changes in the land cover categories around the Lake of Assal, this study uses ML and reclassification methods for image analysis. Auxiliary modules included ‘i.group’, ‘r.import’ and other GRASS GIS scripting techniques applied to Landsat image processing and for the identification of land cover variables. The results of image processing demonstrated annual fluctuations in the landscapes around the saline lake and changes in semi-arid and desert land cover types over Djibouti. The increase in the extent of semi-desert areas and the decrease in natural vegetation proved the processes of desertification of the arid environment in Djibouti caused by climate effects. The developed land cover maps provided information for assessing spatial–temporal changes in Djibouti. The proposed ML-based methodology using GRASS GIS can be employed for integrating techniques of image analysis for land management in other arid regions of Africa.
Photography, Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics
Bastián Rivera, Bastián Rivera, Octavio Orellana-Serradell
et al.
Ion channels are integral membrane proteins mediating ion flow in response to changes in their environment. Among the different types of ion channels reported to date, the super-family of TRP channels stands out since its members have been linked to many pathophysiological processes. The family comprises 6 subfamilies and 28 members in mammals, which are widely distributed throughout most tissues and organs and have an important role in several aspects of cellular physiology. It has been evidenced that abnormal expression, post-translational modifications, and channel trafficking are associated with several pathologies, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and brain disorders, among others. In this review, we present an updated summary of the mechanisms involved in the subcellular trafficking of TRP channels, with a special emphasis on whether different post-translational modifications and naturally occurring mutagenesis affect both expression and trafficking. Additionally, we describe how such changes have been associated with the development and progress of diverse pathologies associated with the gain or loss of functional phenotypes. The study of these processes will not only contribute to a better understanding the role of TRP channels in the different tissues but will also present novel possible therapeutic targets in diseases where their activity is dysregulated.
Objective: to identify theoretical and legal problems associated with the steadily increasing spread of digital and biotechnologies’ development products; to assess the risks associated with this process that can change the position of a human in the society of the future; to develop and substantiate proposals to minimize risks and eliminate the identified problems through legal regulation.Methods: the research is based on the methods of generalization of scientific and technical information and theoretical analysis used while studying the source materials; axiological and systematic approaches; the formal legal method and, in addition, methods of legal forecasting, primarily extrapolation, which made it possible to highlight the prospects for reforming law due to technological expansion.Results: include a description of the dynamics of digital and bio-technologies’ development; a description of the changing social landscape with the emerging new types of entities that can affect the actual status of a human; a classification of risks threatening people due to the digital and biotechnologies development; a list of tasks whose solution based on law will help to eliminate, postpone or, at least, significantly reduce the severity of problems by increasing the time limit allotted to humanity to comprehend a number of conceptual points. The author presents arguments substantiating the need to develop special legal regulation in relation to new types of entities, the appearance of which becomes an inevitable result of the mentioned technologies’ development.Scientific novelty: consists, first, in a comprehensive study of the development of interconnected groups of digital and biotechnologies, taking into account their increasing convergence; and, second, in the formulation of legal problems that need to be resolved due to the potential emergence of new types of entities with cognitive functions and capable of having a targeted intellectual impact on the environment and legal entities.Practical significance: it is present in the answers given to the formulated legal questions, which contain suggestions and recommendations on the necessary adjustment of legal regulation and focus the attention of legal scholars on the problems arising from the pace and vectors of scienceconsuming technologies’ development.
The aim of the current research was to design the competency model related to ambidextrous leadership in social systems; It should be noted that the current research is applied in terms of its purpose, the qualitative research approach and the research method are meta synthesis. To conduct this research, the seven stages of Sandelovski and Barso (2007), which have the necessary comprehensiveness, were used. In order to ensure and validate the search process and achieve the research findings, the expert team consisting of four educational management specialists formed the members of the research meta synthesis team. The sources of research data collection were the existing articles and texts about ambidextrous leadership from 2010 to 2023.The findings of this research showed that the model of ambidextrous leadership competencies includes 32 basic themes in 9 organizing themes with the titles: 1. "Individual competencies"; 2. "Communication skills"; 3. "Professional-management skills"; 4. "participatory management skills"; 5. "Planning skill and strategic thinking"; 6. "Ability to lead change"; 7. "Inclination to increase knowledge"; 8. "The ability to respond to the environment while paying attention to internal coherence"; 9. "The ability to apply contingency management". It should be noted that the output of this research can be provided to the managers and planners of organizational development in order to consciously develop the capabilities and skills of managers at different organizational levels, knowing the factors that influence ambidextrous leadership competencies.
Extended abstract
Introduction
In the last century, various organizations have experienced amazing changes in their processes and areas of activity. The key mission of organizations, which until the 1960s was to expand the scale of production and focus on the quantity of organizational output, turned to increasing the quality of products and services as well as reducing costs. In this era, the managers of the organization tried to make maximum use of the internal resources and assets of the organization and always improve the productivity and efficiency of their organization. But in the 1990s, with the expansion of the competitive environment between organizations, it became clear to the managers of the organization that in a competitive world, only focusing on productivity and efficiency is not enough to maintain the competitive advantage and also the survival of the organization in the long term; Rather, the flexibility and ability to respond to changes and environmental expectations, as well as paying attention to components such as agility, the capacity to change strategic focus and quick and timely response to the evolving and changing environment, as basic axioms for survival and improving the performance of organizations. They play a key role. Accordingly, in the current world, the ability to discover new and innovative ways to create value has become one of the main axes of the strategic thinking of organization leaders (Gastaldi, Lessanibahri, Tedaldi & Miragliotta, 2022). On the other hand, organizations today are facing the fourth industrial revolution, which the complexity of physical and digital realities has created and expanded a complex and unique competitive environment for organizational activity. (Culot, Nassimbeni, Orzes & Sartor, 2022). In this situation, organizations are under pressure to be efficient in the short term and have a competitive performance, but also to be flexible in the long term and operate with an innovative approach; In other words, organizations must be ambidextrous (Derbyshire, 2014). According to March (March, 1991), duality includes exploitation (managing the current position and resources of the organization) and exploration (adapting to environmental changes and continuous innovation); Ambivalence is the ability of an organization in two dimensions of exploration and exploitation in order to increase its competitive power in complex and changing environments, which requires durability and survival, flexibility, development and maintenance of competitive advantage and exploration of potential opportunities in the environment. (Mom, Chang, Cholakova & Jansen, 2019). In fact, expectations and environmental developments are the factors of pressure on organizations in the direction of moving towards bilateral development; In addition to being completely superior in their current operations and improving their functional areas both in terms of quantity and quality, they also strive to innovate and discover new opportunities (Herzallah, Gutierrez-Gutierrez & Rosas, 2017). Therefore, the existence of ambidextrous leaders who can improve the two basic aspects of improving the organization's performance in the current world, i.e. exploitation and exploration, with competence and acquiring the necessary skills, is considered a competitive advantage and a key factor for success in organizations; By considering the environmental dynamics as well as the internal requirements of the organization, ambidextrous leaders establish a smart balance between the two dimensions of exploitation and exploration; Because they believe that the relationship between leadership behavior and the performance of the organization is not a linear and formulated relationship that works in every situation, but the conscious movement of the organization between construction and innovation, guarantees adaptation to the environment and as a result, improves the performance of the organization (Rosing, Frese & Bausch, 2011). Therefore, knowing the characteristics and competences of ambidextrous leaders is considered a vital necessity to guide the organization in dynamic and changing interactive environments. Therefore, in the present study, an attempt was made to study the available sources and texts about the competencies of ambidextrous leaders, the components related to Ambivalent leadership should be identified and investigated. The output of this work can provide useful information to managers and organizational development planners in order to improve the leadership skills of managers according to organizational and environmental requirements.
Theoretical framework
Organizational ambidexterity refers to the ability of an organization to simultaneously pay attention to exploration and exploitation; The exploitation aspect means that an organization is cultivating the potentials and capacities that it currently and from the past; However, the exploration aspect deals with the creation of innovation, knowledge and the discovery and use of new resources and capabilities (Stokes, Moore, Moss, Mathews, Smith & Liu, 2015). In the new approaches, it is suggested that the ability to simultaneously pursue the exploitation and exploration and cultivation of these two dimensions in employees is the best way to promote innovation and increase the performance of today's organizations. This argument led to the emergence of ambidextrous structure and ambidextrous leadership (Zarb, De La Robertie & Zouaoui, 2017). Ambivalent leadership is considered a new theory in leadership that was proposed by Rasing, Fars and Bush (2011); In their research, these researchers came to the conclusion that ambidextrous leadership can best stimulate and guide innovation; Because he is able to simultaneously use the exploratory skills and the exploitative skills required for the innovation process. In this style of leadership, the leader's open behaviors support exploratory activities and against the closed behaviors of the leader, they support exploitative activities. Finally, Rasing et al. (2011) have defined ambidextrous leadership by combining the aforementioned behaviors as follows: "The ability to cultivate both exploratory and exploitative behaviors in followers by increasing or decreasing variability in their behavior and being flexible. in changing between these two types of behavior".
Methodology
The upcoming research is applied in terms of purpose, qualitative research approach and meta-composite research method. The purpose of the present synthesis is to discover the basic findings of various studies in the form of concepts; Therefore, to conduct this research, the seven stages of Sandelovski and Barso (2007), which have the necessary comprehensiveness, were used. The validity of the research data was taken into consideration by using the techniques of reliability and transferability through the self-review of the researchers and the alignment of the data and reliability in the process of collecting information as well as the transparent report of the process of obtaining the research data (Lincoln & Guba, 1985).
Research findings
What are the components of the competency model related to strong leadership?
The ambidextrous leadership competency theme network (subordinate) shows that the ambidextrous leadership competency model consists of an overarching theme, 9 organizing themes, and 32 basic themes.
Conclusion
In today's complex world where continuous and fast-paced changes occur, organizations are faced with turbulent environments that do not allow managers, like in the distant past, with a closed approach to the interactive environment and only by focusing on the components and processes within the organization to continue their effective activity. In fact, every change and transformation, however small in the interactive environment, has a direct or indirect reflection on the performance of organizations. Therefore, in order to survive and be effective in today's world, organizations need leaders who, in addition to being skilled in managing the processes and internal affairs of the organization, by looking at the components of the interactive environment, also discover the opportunities in the environment and use this opportunity for the benefit of the organization. and with knowledge and awareness of existing threats and dangers, use weapons such as innovation, creativity, flexibility and all-round readiness for change in different dimensions and levels to confront and protect against these threats. equip in the shortest possible time; In the world of management, such leaders are known as ambidextrous leaders, and in this regard, in this research, an effort was made to discover and identify the dimensions of competence of ambidextrous leaders through a deep study of reliable and relevant scientific sources. The result of the study and investigation in related sources showed that ambidextrous leaders benefit from 9 categories of competence or special ability.
In general, it can be said that maintaining the survival and efficiency of organizations in today's complex world, whose distinctive feature is the emergence of new changes, implies the existence of competent leaders who, by maintaining a balance between open behaviors, means creating a platform for the emergence of creativity, freedom of action and ideation. among employees and closed behaviors in the sense of standardizing activities to monitor the good performance of employees, institutionalize the two important dimensions of exploration and exploitation in the atmosphere of the organization; Such ambidextrous leaders with a correct understanding of the actual capabilities of the organization and awareness of potential environmental opportunities as well as intelligent prediction of the future developments of the surrounding world, while they have the ability to challenge the current situation of the organization and the desired situation and idea draw the future of the organization, improve the self-confidence and intellectual power of the subordinates in order to take risks and express themselves in ideation and independent implementation of ideas in order to shorten the path of the existing and desirable state of the organization; And this is while the control and monitoring of the quality of the current processes of the organization does not remain far from the prudent eyes of the two-handed leaders.
Anna Khablenko, Svetlana Danylenko, Olena Yalovenko
et al.
The article is devoted to the latest achievements in the field of research, development, and implementation of various types of medicinal products based on recombinant probiotics. The benefits of probiotics, their modern use in medicine along with the most frequently used genera and species of probiotic microorganisms were highlighted. The medicinal and therapeutic activities of the studied probiotics were indicated. The review suggests various methods of creating recombinant probiotic microorganisms, including standard genetic engineering methods, as well as systems biology approaches and new methods of using the CRISPR-Cas system. The range of potential therapeutic applications of drugs based on recombinant probiotics was proposed. Special attention was paid to modern research on the creation of new, more effective recombinant probiotics that can be used for various therapeutic purposes. Considering the vast diversity of therapeutic applications of recombinant probiotics and ambiguous functions, their use for the potential treatment of various common human diseases (non-infectious and infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, metabolic disorders, and allergic conditions) was investigated. The prospects for creating different types of vaccines based on recombinant probiotics together with the prospects for their implementation into medicine were considered. The possibilities of using recombinant probiotics in veterinary medicine, particularly for the prevention of domestic animal diseases, were reviewed. The prospects for the implementation of recombinant probiotics as vaccines and diagnostic tools for testing certain diseases as well as modeling the work of the human digestive system were highlighted. The risks of creation, application, including the issues related to the regulatory sphere regarding the use of new recombinant microorganisms, which can potentially enter the environment and cause unforeseen circumstances, were outlined.
BACKGROUNDSoil is a precious resource for human survival and social development. The quality of the soil environment is impacted by a variety of issues due to the social economy’s rapid expansion, and the issue of heavy metal contamination in farmed land has garnered great attention globally. Heavy metals in soil pose a severe risk to the security of agricultural products and public health due to their persistence, latency, and ease of entry into the food chain. In recent years, many scholars have carried out research on soil heavy metal pollution and ecological risk assessment under different conditions such as natural conditions, industrial and mining industries and developed transportation in different regions. Zhou et al.[11] found that Xiong’an New Area was affected by the production activities of surrounding enterprises. The contents of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in some root soil samples exceeded the screening value standard for soil pollution risk of agricultural land (GB 15618—2018), and the exceeding ratios were 23.33%, 96.67%, 33.33%, 33.33% and 10.00%, respectively. Song et al.[12] evaluated the characteristics of heavy metal pollution in the surface soil of Fuping County, Hebei Province, and found that As and Cd exceeded the acceptable carcinogenic risk level (As is 10−5, Cd is 10−6). Kumar et al.[10] collected data on heavy metal-contaminated soils in India from 1991 to 2018. The average Cd content of all soil types exceeded the limit values, and the potential ecological risk values of Cd were greater than 320, reflecting a higher ecological risk. For the heavily polluted soil, according to the different pollution situation in our country, the remediation measures are taken according to local conditions. However, due to the wide area of contaminated soil and the complex composition of pollution sources, the current soil remediation work still faces huge problems.OBJECTIVESTo study the vertical distribution characteristics of heavy metals in soil, the relationship between soil heavy metals and soil nutrient elements, as well as the degree of pollution and potential ecological risks.METHODSThe contents of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn were measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS); As content was determined by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS); P and K2O contents were determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF); N content was determined by oxidation combustion gas chromatography (GC); Hg content was determined by cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CV-AFS); Organic carbon content was determined by high-frequency combustion infrared absorption method (IR); potentiometric method (POT) was used to measure soil pH value. Statistical analysis and calculation of soil heavy metal content, pollution index, and ecological risk index were conducted using Excel 2016. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted using SPSS 26, and the degree of soil heavy metal pollution was evaluated using the geoaccumulation index (Igeo). Potential ecological risk index (RI) values were selected to evaluate potential ecological risks.RESULTSThe average contents of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the soil of YS plot were 20.8mg/kg, 0.35mg/kg, 26.38mg/kg, 0.121mg/kg, 33.29mg/kg, 42.37mg/kg, and 94.47mg/kg, respectively; The average contents of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the soil of PS plot were 7.21mg/kg, 0.32mg/kg, 28.32mg/kg, 0.028mg/kg, 47.34mg/kg, 33.29mg/kg, and 116.45mg/kg, respectively; The average contents of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the soil of GS plot were 5.42mg/kg, 0.16mg/kg, 22.38mg/kg, 0.08mg/kg, 31.8mg/kg, 30mg/kg, and 75.03mg/kg, respectively. The concentrations of As, Cd, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn were higher than the national and Sichuan soil background values, indicating that these metals were relatively enriched in the soil of Muchuan County. The relationship between seven heavy metals at different soil depths was evaluated through Pearson correlation analysis (seen in Table 4). There was a significant positive correlation between heavy metals, indicating their widespread homology. In the PS profile, the correlation between Cd, Hg and organic carbon was very high, with correlation coefficients of 0.934 and 0.955, respectively (Fig.5); As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Zn showed a highly significant negative correlation with pH, and the correlation between Cd, Hg content and soil pH was shown in Fig.5, with correlation coefficients of −0.964 and −0.944, respectively. The content of heavy metals in soil was closely related to organic carbon and pH value, which should be attributed to the adsorption of organic matter and the fact that pH not only affected the electrostatic adsorption of heavy metals by soil particles, but also damaged the inert part of the parent material. Soil organic matter and pH value are important factors affecting the migration of heavy metals in soil. The surface soil had a high content of organic matter, multiple adsorption sites, and a high soil pH value, which reduced the solubility of heavy metals and thus the metal migration rate. Soil pollution assessment results. The Igeo values of Cu and Zn in all soil profiles were less than 0, indicating that the soil in the study area was not contaminated by these heavy metals. The Igeo value of Cd at four depths was significantly reduced. Except that the Igeo value at GS point was less than 1, YS and PS were greater than 1, indicating that the Cd pollution degree of corn land (YS, PS) was more serious than that of tea garden land (GS). This may be due to the difference of tillage conditions, and the Igeo value of surface soil at YS point was between 2 and 3, showing moderate-strong pollution. The Igeo values of As, Hg, Ni and Pb at four depths were all less than 1 and close to 0, indicating that the soil pollution was slight, which may be caused by human input or natural changes. In general, conventional agricultural practices lead to the enrichment of heavy metals in soils due to excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, wastewater irrigation and atmospheric deposition. Zhao et al.[42] found that use of fertilizers and manure increased the content of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) by approximately 3% per year. The order of heavy metal pollution degree from high to low is Cd>Hg>As>Pb>Ni. Potential ecological risk assessment. According to the description of risk level, the YS plot had the highest potential risk index for Cd and Hg, and there was a significant ecological risk of Cd and Hg at depths of 0-140cm (80≤Ei<160), among which the surface soil Cd had a strong ecological risk (160≤Ei<320). It indicates that Cd pollution sources in the region may be affected by past agricultural activities, including fertilizers and pesticides. The soil Cd of PS plot exhibited strong ecological hazards (160≤Ei<320) at the depth of 0-30cm while exhibiting strong ecological hazards (80≤Ei<160) at 60-110cm. The Cd and Hg in surface soil at the GS plot site had moderate ecological risks (40≤Ei<80). The value of RI showed a strong ecological risk (300≤RI<600) at 0-10cm of the YS plot, and a moderate ecological risk (150≤RI<300) at 30-140cm. Moderate ecological hazards (150≤RI<300) were present in the PS plot, while mild ecological hazards (RI<150) were present at 60-110cm. The ecological hazards of GS plot at 0-130cm were relatively weak. The Ei values of heavy metals in soil decreased with the increase of depth, which was consistent with the evaluation results of Igeo pollution. The Ei values of Cd in the three profiles were relatively high, indicating that special attention should be paid to the control of heavy metal pollution.CONCLUSIONSAccording to the results of soil vertical profile data, it can be concluded that heavy metal content tends to accumulate in the surface soil, and its content decreases with increasing depth. The Igeo value and Ei value also decrease with the increase of formation depth. The geoaccumulation index and potential ecological risk analysis indicate that Cd poses significant ecological risks to the local soil, and appropriate measures should be taken to strengthen pollution prevention and control in the area to avoid harm to human health. The content of heavy metals is closely related to soil nutrients and physicochemical properties, positively correlated with organic carbon content, and negatively correlated with pH value. According to the research results, it is suggested to carry out further research on the accumulation of heavy metals in soil, rationally assess its ecological harm, and ensure the safe use of land.
Introduction. The article deals with the memorialization of victims of deportations and contemporary commemoration practices witnessed in Siberian recipient society. Goals. The study attempts an insight into the deportation-related memories of recipient communities, memorialization means and trends, commemoration forms in the region’s society and cultural environment. The hypothesis is that the memorialization processes were actually (and largely) ignited among the deported peoples (and their local autonomies) by Russian government policy of the 1990s. It was the rehabilitation of Soviet ethnic deportees that triggered the memorialization movement and the emergence of related commemorations. The publication presents results of the long term research into memories of rural Siberians conducted through the methods of oral history and ethnology. Materials and methods. The study focuses on eyewitness accounts and interviews with individuals representing the once recipient communities, commemoration sites that include not only monuments to deported victims installed in the Altai but also some traces of deportations evident from folk toponymy, rural housing stock, burials across local cemeteries, and other types of ‘memory solidification’. Results and conclusions. The paper seeks to supplement the published history and historiography of deportations — largely based of the deportees’ memories and experiences — with insights into perceptions of recipient communities and Siberian cultural landscapes. Special attention is paid to certain distinguishing features of the memorialization processes and ways in places of actual residence and death of the deportees and related commemoration forms. The work also strives to reveal an actual correlation between the ‘downward’ (from government agencies) and ‘upward’ (from the public) initiatives, and specifically the contribution of rural Siberian population to the memorialization of deportations in the 1990s–2020s.
History (General), Oriental languages and literatures
Problem and goal. A priority aspect of learning Chinese as a foreign language is the use of electronic educational complexes and materials. However, in the context of the complex digitalization of society, special factors appear that should be taken into account when developing and implementing appropriate electronic educational tools. The purpose is to explore the features and potential of e-resources for teaching Chinese as a foreign language in secondary school. Methodology. Theoretical analysis and generalization of the literature are used to describe the conditions for effective teaching of the Chinese language, and the problems of improving the quality of students' educational results. The experiment involved 52 students from the Vyatka Humanitarian Gymnasium. Learning Chinese as a foreign language is supported by StudyChinese.ru, Chinese Boost, Shibushi.ru services. Fisher's criterion was used for statistical data processing. Results. In the experimental group, primary school students used e-resources for comprehensive informatization at all stages of learning Chinese as a foreign language (speaking, listening, reading, writing, intercultural communication and collaboration). An assessment of learning outcomes was made and statistically significant differences in the qualitative changes that occurred in the pedagogical system were revealed. The features of using e-resources for integrated informatization in the study of Chinese as a second foreign language in secondary school are described. Conclusion. The types of activities and interactive exercises in the information environment are formulated, which most effectively work to improve the quality of teaching Chinese as a second foreign language.
基於近年對恆毅力（grit）理論架構與其運用領域具高度爭議性，本研究主要目的是建構與驗證我國軍校生恆毅力概念內涵，並且編製「軍校生恆毅力量表」（Military Cadets’ Grit Scale,MCGS）。研究共區分四項子研究：研究一採問卷調查法，邀請442名軍校生填寫Grit-S量表（恆毅力短量表）（Duckworth & Quinn, 2009），發現量表結構不適配；研究二採用深度訪談法，訪談高恆毅力者及低恆毅力者計四名，分析結果發現我國軍校生恆毅力內涵與Duckworth等人
（2007）所提出的二階雙因子概念有所不同；研究三使用概念構圖法，邀請20名軍校生建構軍校生恆毅力內涵，經多元度量法與集群分析將結果區分成五個子概念；研究四則依前述結果編製「軍校生恆毅力量表」，邀請3,520位軍校生接受紙筆自陳式問卷調查。經各項分析檢驗後，本研究發現：一、軍校生恆毅力量表為「目標認同」、「人際支持」、「自我效能」、「成長思維」、「正向因應」等五個子因素所組成的二階因素結構。二、軍校生恆毅力量表整體模型檢定合理適配，且具有良好的信度與效度。三、軍校生恆毅力量表具備良好的外在效標關聯效度。四、軍校生恆毅力現況研究分析發現男性恆毅力高於女性；學生年級與軍校生恆毅力程度愈正比。最後，本研究提出相關建議供未來研究與教育方案擬訂參考。
The concept of grit was first proposed by Duckworth et al. (2007) and categorized into two types: “Consistency of Interest” (Grit-CI) and “Perseverance of Effort” (Grit-PE). These authors developed the Grit Scale (Duckworth et al., 2007), which was later adapted into the Short Grit Scale (Grit-S) (Duckworth & Quinn, 2009). Grit can improve students’ academic performance and predict future behavior (Cosgrove et al., 2018; Eskreis-Winkler et al., 2014; Park et al., 2018).
Some military studies have reported that grit is significantly related to soldier performance. Eskreis-Winkler et al. (2014) determined that grit, intelligence, years of education, and physical performance could predict the training pass rate of United States Army Special Forces soldiers, with grit exhibiting the strongest predictive ability. The United States Military Academy undertook a series of studies and concluded that the most critical factor affecting the successful completion of cadet basic training was grit (Maddi et al., 2012).
Most researchers maintain that grit is a real concept; however, some dispute the accuracy of available scales. The correlation between Grit-CI and Grit-PE is low, and they cannot be combined into a high-level factor. Grit is also problematic because of its domain-related and cultural limitations (Credé et al., 2017). Therefore, before we can apply the concept of grit, we must identify its role and validate means for measuring it. Few studies have investigated grit in Taiwan, and even fewer have done so in the context of military education. Our research was divided into four substudies, namely the verification of the Grit-S, interviewing of military cadets, the application of
the concept mapping method for exploring and conceptualizing grit, and the development of the Military Cadets’ Grit Scale (MCGS).
The research objectives were as follows:
1. Conduct a comprehensive examination of the concept of grit, as defined by Duckworth et al.
(2007), to determine its applicability to military cadets.
2. Identify the structure of military cadets’ grit.
3. Develop and validate the MCGS.
Study 1
In Study 1,422 cadets completed the Grit-S, which was used to determine whether the definition of perseverance proposed by Duckworth et al. (2007) could be applied to military cadets.
The results revealed either negative or close-to-zero correlations between Grit-CI and Grit-PE items. Although a two-factor correlation model had a good fit, the correlation coefficient between
Grit-CI and Grit-PE was nonsignificant; thus, Grit-S could not extract higher-level factors. Study 1 demonstrated that the second-order and two-factor concepts of grit proposed by Duckworth et al.
(2007) could not be applied to our military cadets. This result was consistent with that obtained by Datu et al. (2016), who reported that, in non-Western cultures, Grit-CI and Grit-PE cannot be merged
into a single second-order factor. This result addressed our first research objective, indicating that grit as a concept requires further analysis.
Study 2
Four cadets with either high or low grit were interviewed (recommended by their captains). The interview topics were school life, family profile, personality, and future military plans. All the
participants were senior male cadets. The military cadets with high grit possessed a strong interpersonal support system, approached
their work with a positive attitude, identified strongly with the military school ethos, regarded difficulties as challenges, and adopted positive response strategies. Furthermore, the key factors
affecting their performance were psychological. The results demonstrated that perseverance preceded passion for these cadets, which is consistent with the structure of grit in collectivist cultures
(Datu, 2017). For the cadets, accomplishing tasks was considered more critical than exhibiting passion for long-term engagement. Even without passion, they could rely on their reserves of perseverance to complete their tasks. However, perseverance alone cannot explain grit in its entirety (Duckworth, 2016); therefore, Study 3 was conducted to broaden our research.
Study 3
In Study 3, we invited 20 military cadets to use concept mapping, multidimensional scaling, and cluster analysis to construct the concept of grit. The results indicated that military cadets’ grit comprised five dimensions, namely goal commitment, interpersonal support, self-efficacy, growth mindset, and positive response. The cadets exhibited a high degree of commitment to their goals and expressed the belief that the military school could assist them in professional development. The cadets with high grit had a strong
interpersonal support system, and this result is consistent with that of Study 2. They also had a high degree of self-efficacy and perceived themselves as having sufficient ability to engage in military-related activities. The high-grit military cadets exhibited positive cognition (a growth mindset) and action (positive response) as well as a greater passion for life, flexibility, and positivity in daily life than did the low-grit cadets. With these results, the second objective of this research was achieved.
Study 4
According to the findings of the first three studies, in Study 4, we developed the first draft of the MCGS, which comprised 100 items pertaining to the aforementioned five dimensions. The
development of the MCGS was divided into two stages. In the first stage, 1,282 military cadets were recruited for a pilot study, and the collected data were analyzed through Exploratory Factor Analysis,
Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and internal consistency, resulting in a final 23-item version.
In the second stage, 1,284 military cadets were enrolled, and their data were collected and analyzed using CFA, measures of reliability, and criterion-related validity. The result validated the five dimensions and second-order structural model of the MCGS. In addition, all participants had moderate to high levels of grit; men’s grit was higher than that of women, especially regarding goal commitment and self-efficacy. Moreover, the level of grit increased with cadet grade.
Discussion and Conclusion
The conceptual structure of grit is domain-specific and contextually adaptable. Although grit as a concept is meaningful in various cultures, a re-examination of its connotations is necessary (Datu
et al., 2018). In collectivist societies, grit has a strong effect on perseverance (Datu et al., 2016) because, unlike individualistic cultures that emphasize the pursuit of personal goals, collectivist
cultures stress the importance of interpersonal harmony (Kwan et al., 1997). Individuals with high grit are sensitive to the social and cultural environment, and to achieve group goals, they tend to pursue personal goals only in certain situations. High-grit military cadets exhibit strong perseverance but are more likely to fulfill the expectations of others when pursuing goals. Military cadets’ grit is composed of five dimensions. If they have a stronger commitment to
goals, their performance is more effective. The higher a cadet’s level of grit is, the more emphasis they place on how to achieve goals in a self-reliant manner. Interpersonal support includes the
cognitive, emotional, and material guidance that individuals receive from their interactions with others; it can considerably improve one’s health and reduce negative thinking (Calvo-Francés &
Alemán-Ruiz, 2017; McLean et al., 2017). Self-efficacy, in this context, refers to the confidence military school students have in their own knowledge and skills. Cadets with high self-efficacy pursue more long-term goals, have a stronger sense of goal commitment, and take greater interest in learning than do those with low self-efficacy. The growth mindset refers to cadets’ positive thinking, flexibility, and belief that the future can be changed; they are particularly capable of facing challenges effectively and viewing them positively. Positive response refers to cadets’ positive behavior. Military cadets often respond to difficulties positively, believing that if they do not
confront setbacks, more time will be spent addressing them later. Therefore, positive thinkin and behavioral response assist military cadets in persisting and adapting to the military environment.
The grit of cadets is a trait that can potentially be cultivated through education and training. Our results demonstrated that grit increased significantly with the cadets’ time in military school. Therefore, assisting first-year cadets in establishing a strong interpersonal support system, strengthening goal commitment, improving self-efficacy, promoting a growth mindset, and enhancing their positive response ability can cultivate cadets’ grit and increase their motivation toward military activities.
Volarić Ana, Svirčev Zorica, Tamindžija Dragana
et al.
Heavy metal pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems, due
to metal ions persistence, bioavailability, and toxicity. There are many
conventional physical and chemical techniques traditionally used for
environmental clean-up. Due to several drawbacks regarding these methods,
the use of living organisms, or bioremediation, is becoming more prevalent.
Biotechnological application of microorganisms is already successfully
implemented and is in constant development, with many microbial strains
successfully removing heavy metals. This paper provides an overview of the
main heavy metal characteristics and describes the interactions with
microorganisms. Key heavy metal resistance mechanisms in microorganisms are
described, as well as the main principles and types of heavy metal
bioremediation methods, with details on successful pilot scale bioreactor
studies. Special attention should be given to indigenous bacteria isolated
from the polluted environments since such species are already adapted to
contamination and possess resistance mechanisms. Utilization of bacterial
biofilms or consortia could be advantageous due to higher resistance and a
combination of several metabolic pathways, and thus, the possibility to
remove several heavy metals simultaneously. Novel technologies covered in
this review, such as nanotechnology, genetic engineering, and metagenomics,
are being introduced to the field of bioremediation in order to improve the
process. To conclude, bioremediation is a potentially powerful solution for
cleaning the environment.
The paper aims to explore the behavior of Russian school-age children who are faced with a new social and psychological phenomenon: threats associated with the digital environment. Our focus was on the ability (psychological as well as technical) of teenagers to stand against cyber threats. At the preliminary stage of the research we analysed both Russian and international studies on how to promote cyber security awareness among school children and, in particular, how to respond to the cyber threats associated with the new social context formed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We used survey research as the main method and designed a special questionnaire that was then offered to a group of 7—11-grade students (N=5,682) from seven Russian regions in the late 2020. The research data was processed using the SPSS and STATISTICA programmes. The data allowed us to assess the degree in which the children were familiar with the methods and means of protecting sensitive personal information, as well as their ability to stand against cyber threats basing on their knowledge and skills. The research also helped us to identify the role of schools in promoting the children’s readiness for the modern digital reality. The typical shortcomings in the digital competences of school-age children are noteworthy here too, first of all, the ones concerning the knowledge of cyber risk types related to the use of social media and internet communication services. We conclude that there is a need for systemic measures on various levels of education that would help reduce the cyber risks for adolescents on the social media and promote the quality of digital competence development in Russian schools.
In light of climate change and greenhouse gas reduction, countries around the world are doing their part to develop various types of eco-friendly energy. In this context, the Shihwa Tidal Power Plant is an advanced energy generation infrastructure which uses the resources of the sea, a project that pioneers and practices low-carbon, green growth engineering. Not only as an advanced energy generation infrastructure but also it is an eco-friendly infrastructure that resurrected ‘the dead lake’, which had suffered extreme water pollution due to cutoff in seawater circulation after the completion of the tide embankment in 1994. By circulating the water of the lake, new mud flats have appeared in the upstream area, an area once submerged due to the embankment. These new mud flats are providing new shelters for various organisms, thus transforming the lake into an eco-friendly, life-giving one. Most tidal power plants are difficult to construction due to geological features. The Sihwa tidal power plant was developed harmoniously by utilizing the unique geological features and tidal power plant principles on the West coast of the Korean peninsula. Shihwa Tidal Power Plant is a special and differentiated development example of renewable energy production and environmental improvement along with the significant water quality improvement effect of Shihwa Lake due to increased seawater exchange rates. This article therefore presents the review of Shihwa Lake’s environmental issues and eco-friendly energy production process with the aim to identify the good practices, the challenges as well as the lessons learnt from their experience. This development will be another case of a country seeking to develop new marine energy. This is also a good practice of improving the environment of freshwater lakes in coastal areas.
The purpose of this research was to study the modes of heating different types of plant raw materials in model technological environments that imitate the blanching of raw materials under factory conditions. The research aimed at expanding the range of canned products made from fruit and vegetables. To this end, new methods were searched for, in addition to the existing ones, allowing heating various plant raw materials and increasing the energy efficiency of canned fruit and vegetables production. Saturated water steam was selected as the treatment medium. The experimental studies included determining the volume-average temperature of the fruit layer in the container. A pulse method of supplying the heating media has also been investigated. It allows using the inertial properties of raw materials and significantly reducing the expenditure of the heating media. The objects selected for study were various species of pomes and drupes, in particular, apples, plums, cherries, sweet cherries, as well as a vegetable crop of the gourd family, or Cucurbitaceae. The following characteristics have been studied: the dynamics of heating individual fruit and vegetables in the saturated water steam environment at atmospheric pressure; the dependence of the heating and cooling rates of individual fruit and vegetables on the geometric index; the dependence of the heating rate of individual fruit and vegetables on the value of the characteristic dimension; the dependences of changes in the volume-average temperature of the fruit layer on the duration of treatment with saturated water steam. It has been established that the volume-average temperature in the centre of a fruit is also influenced by the shape of the fruit itself. To characterise the anomalous shapes of plant raw materials, the geometric index G has been calculated. This index characterises the elliptical shape of a fruit, and allows determining parameters in two mutually perpendicular planes. Also, to compare fruit of the elliptical and the spherical shapes, a special concept of characteristic dimension was used, which is applicable to fruit of different shapes. The experimental data on the change in the dependences of the heating and cooling rates of individual elliptical fruit have been analysed. The analysis has shown that the size of a fruit significantly affects the volume-average temperature in the fruit layer. It has been suggested to use pulsed heating of the fruit layer with saturated water steam, which will appreciably increase the energy efficiency of production due to a significant reduction in heating media consumption
The paper presents the contents of the international conference “The privilege of the written word: management, conservation and enhancement of personal papers and books”, held at the University of Salerno on April 10- 12th, 2019, coordinated by Giovanni Di Domenico (University of Salerno) and Fiammetta Sabba (University of Bologna). Representatives of library and archive professional and scientific communities confronted (thanks also to other European countries authoritative experts) and discussed about conservation, management and enhancement (more and more in the digital environment) of personal archives and libraries from the late nineteenth and twentieth century, hybrid funds and collections which preserve many types of documents and which testify the intellectual activity of leading figures of culture, professions and arts. At the end of the conference, the Guidelines on the treatment of personal funds, edited by the National Commission of special libraries, personal archives and libraries of the Italian Library Association, were presented and discussed; this was an opportunity to deepen the topics addressed by reports, with the final wish to use the confrontation as a starting point to realize ideas and suggestions.
Bibliography. Library science. Information resources
Irina G. Bakanova, Kate A. Patrikeyeva, Nataliya A. Pyrkina
The article focuses on the forms and contents of an interview for secondary school learners of a foreign language. Special attention is given to the advantages of using an interview for developing learners’ communication skills. A system approach to defining the term "interview" brings us to the conclusion that there is a certain structure of interacting components. The presented classifications of types (organizational forms) of interviews make it possible for teachers to choose a specific type of an interview based both on the educational goals and objectives as well as on the process of conducting an interview. The content of foreign language teaching is based on an integrated approach and a didactic principle of learning in a language environment. The approach is targeted at studying a foreign language for practical purposes in a positive emotional environment. Therefore, an interview enables the trainees to carry out efficient interaction in a specific communicative situation as the learning process becomes a sample communication process. At the same time the article focuses on the fact that efficient interviewing at foreign language lessons in a secondary school depends on the careful preparation both by the teacher and students.
Education (General), Theory and practice of education