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Relevance.The search for new methods of effective therapy for traumatic brain injury is one of the important tasks of modern biomedicine. One promising approach for treating traumatic brain injury is cell therapy. The aim of the work is to study the therapeutic effect of glial progenitor cells derived from induced pluripotent stromal cells in an experimental model of traumatic brain injury.Materials and Methods.Modeling of traumatic brain injury was carried out on mature male Wistar rats. The therapeutic group was administered asingle dose of 750*103cells/ml glial progenitor cells with avolume of 1 ml, and the control group — 1 ml of phosphate-­buffered saline. Administration was carried out intra-­arterially 24 hours after injury. To analyze the therapeutic effectiveness, an MRI study was performed on the 14th day, as well as alimb-placing test on the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 14th days. Histological examination was carried out on days 1, 3 and 7 after administration to assess the migration and distribution of stained cells (concentration 750*103cells/ml) by lipophilic dye PKH26 (Sigma, USA) at the rat’s brain tissues after traumatic brain injury. Measurements of injury volume and counts of PKH26-stained cells were performed using ImageJ software (Wayne Rasband, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA). The statistical analysis was carried out using GraphPad Prism 8.2.0 program (GraphPad Software, Inc., USA).Results and Discussion.Administration of GPCs led to decreasing the damage volume. Significant decrease in sensorimotor deficit was observed on days 3, 7 and 14 after injury compared with the control group. Intra-arterial administration resulted in successful delivery of glial progenitor cells to brain tissue. Cells were detected in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and striatum on day 1, and were not observed on days 3 and 7 after administration.Conclusion.Intra-arterial administration of GPCs leads to efficient migration of cells into brain tissue. Glial progenitor cells therapy promotes neurorecovery processes after traumatic brain injury. This therapy is apromising treatment for traumatic brain injury.

As survey research in second language acquisition grows in popularity, the adherence to best practices associated with questionnaire quality is critical for a better understanding of factors that influence second language (L2) development. To ensure that a self-report scale targets the construct of interest and does it consistently and accurately, authors of primary research should demonstrate that their instrument possesses acceptable evidence of validity and reliability. To this end, this methodological synthesis focused on the state of scale quality in L2 anxiety and willingness to communicate (WTC) research by examining key methodological issues of quantitative survey research and offering empirically grounded suggestions for future studies. A close examination of 232 peer-reviewed articles that used 385 L2 anxiety and WTC scales demonstrated, among other findings, the lack of evidence for scale content and construct validity. The implications of this study contribute to concurrent attempts at methodological reform in applied linguistics.

Relevance. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious medical problem and one of the leading causes of disability and mortality among military personnel and civilians. It is known that about 1.5 million people in the world die from TBI every year, while about 2.5–3 million lose work capacity. In Russia, one million people are diagnosed with TBI every year, among which one in five gets group I or II disability. Despite significant efforts in research, effective TBI treatment methods are still limited, as TBI leads to a wide range of pathological changes in brain tissues. Primary brain damage is an acute and irreversible mechanical damage to the parenchyma of the nervous tissue. Among subsequent secondary processes are excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, axon degeneration, and neuroinflammation. These processes are often long and can take from several days to several years. Recent advances in cell therapy are opening up new perspectives for the treatment of this condition. The current review examines the main cellular mechanisms of TBI acute and chronic phases, as well as the treatment prospects for the use of stem cells for. Analysis of recent studies on the use of cell therapy in TBI is presented. Various types of stem cells such as neural stem cells, mesenchymal stromal cells and others are considered in the context of their potential to repair damaged brain tissues. Special attention is paid to the cells action mechanisms in the regeneration process, including their effect on inflammation, neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity. The issue of using paracrine factors secreted by stem cells as a potential drug for traumatic brain injuries treatment is addressed. Conclusion. Сell therapy, as well as the use of products secreted by cells, is one of the new and promising ways of treating TBI.

As a personality trait, second language (L2) grit--a combination of perseverance and passion for L2 learning--has recently been proposed as a meaningful predictor of learners' motivational behavior and L2 achievement. The results of a growing body of empirical studies carried out in various L2 contexts have substantiated the power of L2 grit in predicting L2 success. In this paper, we contend that grit and its potential effects on L2 outcomes should be conceptualized and measured in a domain-specific fashion. We argue that a domain-specific measure of grit enhances its predictive and construct validity and better captures its differential effects in various domains and across languages. We then briefly review the findings of existing grit research in L2 contexts with respect to their domain-general versus domain-specific conceptualization of grit. Finally, we conclude the paper by discussing several issues raised against domain-general grit and discuss their potential relevance to domain-specific grit research in the context of L2 learning.

Currently, stem cells technology is an effective tool in regenerative medicine. Cell therapy is based on the use of stem/progenitor cells to repair or replace damaged tissues or organs. This approach can be used to treat various diseases, such as cardiovascular, neurological diseases, and injuries of various origins. The mechanisms of cell therapy therapeutic action are based on the integration of the graft into the damaged tissue (replacement effect) and the ability of cells to secrete biologically active molecules such as cytokines, growth factors and other signaling molecules that promote regeneration (paracrine effect). However, cell transplantation has a number of limitations due to cell transportation complexity and immune rejection. A potentially more effective therapy is using only paracrine factors released by stem cells. Secreted factors can positively affect the damaged tissue: promote forming new blood vessels, stimulate cell proliferation, and reduce inflammation and apoptosis. In this work, we have studied the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of proteins with a molecular weight below 100 kDa secreted by glial progenitor cells obtained from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Proteins secreted by glial progenitor cells exerted anti-inflammatory effects in a primary glial culture model of LPS-induced inflammation by reducing nitric oxide (NO) production through inhibition of inducible NO synthase (iNOS). At the same time, added secreted proteins neutralized the effect of glutamate, increasing the number of viable neurons to control values. This effect is a result of decreased level of intracellular calcium, which, at elevated concentrations, triggers apoptotic death of neurons. In addition, secreted proteins reduce mitochondrial depolarization caused by glutamate excitotoxicity and help maintain higher NADH levels. This therapy can be successfully introduced into clinical practice after additional preclinical studies, increasing the effectiveness of rehabilitation of patients with neurological diseases.

Language learning can be very emotional, as anyone who has ever tried to learn or use another language (L2) will attest. The range of emotions varies widely in both type and intensity, from the thrill of successfully articulating yourself, for example, to the anxiety of navigating a high-stakes encounter in an L2. It is not surprising, therefore, that there is a longstanding tradition of research on emotion in the context of L2 learning (e.g., Horwitz et al., 1986). In fact, more than 40 years ago, Scovel (1978) reviewed the accumulated evidence on the role of just one emotion: Anxiety.

APOBEC/AID cytidine deaminases play an important role in innate immunity and antiviral defenses and were shown to suppress hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication by deaminating and destroying the major form of HBV genome, covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), without toxicity to the infected cells. However, developing anti-HBV therapeutics based on APOBEC/AID is complicated by the lack of tools for activating and controlling their expression. Here, we developed a CRISPR-activation-based approach (CRISPRa) to induce APOBEC/AID transient overexpression (>4–800,000-fold increase in mRNA levels). Using this new strategy, we were able to control APOBEC/AID expression and monitor their effects on HBV replication, mutation, and cellular toxicity. CRISPRa prominently reduced HBV replication (∼90%–99% decline of viral intermediates), deaminated and destroyed cccDNA, but induced mutagenesis in cancer-related genes. By coupling CRISPRa with attenuated sgRNA technology, we demonstrate that APOBEC/AID activation can be precisely controlled, eliminating off-site mutagenesis in virus-containing cells while preserving prominent antiviral activity. This study untangles the differences in the effects of physiologically expressed APOBEC/AID on HBV replication and cellular genome, provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of HBV cccDNA mutagenesis, repair, and degradation, and, finally, presents a strategy for a tunable control of APOBEC/AID expression and for suppressing HBV replication without toxicity.

CRISPR-Cas9 systems can directly target the hepatitis B virus (HBV) major genomic form, covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), for decay and demonstrate remarkable anti-HBV activity. Here, we demonstrate that CRISPR-Cas9-mediated inactivation of HBV cccDNA, frequently regarded as the “holy grail” of viral persistence, is not sufficient for curing infection. Instead, HBV replication rapidly rebounds because of de novo formation of HBV cccDNA from its precursor, HBV relaxed circular DNA (rcDNA). However, depleting HBV rcDNA before CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) delivery prevents viral rebound and promotes resolution of HBV infection. These findings provide the groundwork for developing approaches for a virological cure of HBV infection by a single dose of short-lived CRISPR-Cas9 RNPs. Blocking cccDNA replenishment and re-establishment from rcDNA conversion is critical for completely clearing the virus from infected cells by site-specific nucleases. The latter can be achieved by widely used reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Research on anxiety and motivation in second language (L2) learning is proliferating. However, these two individual differences are commonly measured by self-report questionnaires, the psychometric properties of which have been questioned. Building on previous works on study quality, this methodological synthesis systematically describes and evaluates the state of study and scale quality in L2 anxiety and motivation research. A total of 104 peer-reviewed articles (113 independent samples) that used 340 L2 anxiety and motivation scales were coded for 84 features targeting: study, survey, and scale designs; participant demographics; scale validity and reliability; and reporting practices associated with transparency. The results show a number of strengths but also reveal multiple areas in need of methodological enhancement. The article concludes by highlighting areas that merit further investigation in the domain of L2 survey research and making recommendations for future studies.

Grit--"perseverance and passion for long-term goals" (Duckworth, Peterson, Matthews, & Kelly, 2007, p. 1087)--has attracted the attention of researchers in fields ranging from psychology to business to education (e.g., Robertson-Kraft & Duckworth, 2014; Robins, 2019). Continuing the line of research that explores the domain specificity of grit (e.g., F. T. C. Schmidt, Fleckenstein, Retelsdorf, Eskreis-Winkler, & Möller, 2017), this study introduces the L2-Teacher Grit Scale (L2TGS) developed to measure grit specifically among English language teachers (N = 202). The results demonstrated, first, that the L2TGS possessed sufficient internal-consistency reliability ([omega] = 0.77). A subsequent principal components analysis revealed a two-component structure (POV = 50.87%), thus yielding evidence in favor of construct validity. A one-tailed Pearson's test for positive correlation between Duckworth and Quinn's (2009) domain-general Grit--S and L2TGS scores established concurrent validity of the new measure (r[subscript c] = 0.84). Lastly, the L2TGS exhibited a stronger predictive validity, explaining approximately 21% of the variance in L2-teacher retention-related scores compared to the Grit--S, which was a statistically nonsignificant predictor accounting for 4% of the total variance. Of note, female teachers had higher levels of grit than male teachers. In sum, our findings indicate support for an occupation-specific approach to grit.

'Grit' has been identified as an important predictor of success in a number of academic and non-academic domains (Duckworth, A. L., C. Peterson, M. D. Matthews, and D. R. Kelly. 2007. "Grit: Perseverance and Passion for Long-Term Goals." "Journal of Personality and Social Psychology" 92: 1087-1101. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1087). The present study responds to calls to examine language-specific (L2) grit. We investigated the factor structure of the L2-Grit Scale (Teimouri, Y., L. Plonsky, and F. Tabandeh. in press. "L2 Grit: Passion and Perseverance for Second-Language Learning." "Language Teaching Research," 1-26. doi:10.1177/1362168820921895) and examined the predictive validity of grit and three other individual differences in relation to English proficiency among second and foreign language learners from different countries. Factor analysis revealed a two-dimensional structure of the L2-Grit Scale. However, the correlation between the factors was stronger in the EFL than in the ESL sample. Moreover, the L2 grit subscales had differential predictive validity: Perseverance of Effort was a significant positive predictor of proficiency in the EFL context, while Consistency of Interest was a significant negative predictor in the ESL context. This study represents one of the first inquiries into L2 grit and how it relates to the learning context in particular.

ABSTRACT Current serological tests for the emerging tick-borne pathogen Borrelia miyamotoi lack diagnostic accuracy. To improve serodiagnosis, we investigated a protein array simultaneously screening for IgM and IgG reactivity against multiple recombinant B. miyamotoi antigens. The array included six B. miyamotoi antigens: glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase (GlpQ), multiple variable major proteins (Vmps), and flagellin. Sera included samples from cases of PCR-proven Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD), multiple potentially cross-reactive control groups (including patients with culture-proven Lyme borreliosis, confirmed Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, or other spirochetal infections), and several healthy control groups from regions where Ixodes is endemic and regions where it is nonendemic. Based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, the cutoff for reactivity per antigen was set at 5 μg/mL for IgM and IgG. The individual antigens demonstrated high sensitivity but relatively low specificity for both IgM and IgG. The best-performing single antigen (GlpQ) showed a sensitivity of 88.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78.9 to 93.5) and a specificity of 94.2% (95% CI, 92.7 to 95.6) for IgM/IgG. Applying the previous published diagnostic algorithm—defining seroreactivity as reactivity against GlpQ and any Vmp—revealed a significantly higher specificity of 98.5% (95% CI, 97.6 to 99.2) but a significantly lower sensitivity of 79.5% (95% CI, 69.3 to 87.0) for IgM/IgG compared to GlpQ alone. Therefore, we propose to define seroreactivity as reactivity against GlpQ and any Vmp or flagellin which resulted in a comparable sensitivity of 84.3% (95% CI, 74.7 to 90.8) and a significantly higher specificity of 97.9% (95% CI, 96.9 to 98.7) for IgM/IgG compared to GlpQ alone. In conclusion, we have developed and validated a novel serological tool to diagnose BMD that could be implemented in clinical practice and epidemiological studies. IMPORTANCE This paper describes the protein array as a novel serological test for the diagnosis of Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD), by reporting the methodology, the development of a diagnostic algorithm, and its extensive validation. With rising numbers of ticks and tick bites, tick-borne diseases, such as BMD, urgently deserve further societal and medical attention. B. miyamotoi is prevalent in Ixodes ticks across the northern hemisphere. Humans are exposed to, and infected by, B. miyamotoi and develop BMD in Asia, in North America, and to a lesser extent in Europe. However, the burden of infection and disease remains largely unknown, due to the noncharacteristic clinical presentation, together with the lack of awareness and availability of diagnostic tools. With this paper, we offer a novel diagnostic tool which will assist in assessing the burden of disease and could be implemented in clinical care.

The linguacultural concept of family remains understudied in radio advertising. Advertising is a complex sociocultural phenomenon. Radio advertising lacks visual images: information is provided to the listeners only at the verbal level. The present research featured 800 commercial radio spots with words family, parents, father, mother, child, children, grandparents, and home. The conceptual analysis made it possible to identify the main and additional semantic components, to reveal the value components of the concept, and to consider advertising strategies and tactics. The lexeme of house proved to be the core of the concept; the subfields of family and coziness were the central components. The interpretation field was represented by such lexemes as furniture, gifts / toys, holidays, entertainment, recreation, sports, and car. In radio advertising, the concept discourse appeared to generate new meanings that go beyond its dictionary definitions. The value picture of the world of native Russian speakers highlights the most significant cultural meanings of value dominants, which are represented by the explication of physical, social, and spiritual values.

The present study was performed for the ecotoxicity assessment of the bismuth (Bi) effect on the biological indicators of soil condition: total number of soil bacteria, catalase activity, dehydrogenases activity and germination of Radish seeds and length of the Radish roots. Three soil types with significantly different resistance ability to heavy metal pollution were studied: Haplic Chernozems Calcic, Haplic Arenosols Eutric and Haplic Cambisols Eutric.Soil contamination of Bi was simulated in the lab (3, 30 and 300 mg kg-1 dry weight). Changes in the biological parameters of the soil were assessed at 10 day treatment. The data obtained showed that the soils contaminated with Bi in South Russia generally characterized by oppression of the biological properties. The total number of bacteria and enzymatic activity (catalase and dehydrogenases) decreased over the Bi contamination. The indicators of phytotoxicity (germination of radish seeds) increase when bismuth 3 and 30 mg kg-1 is added to the soil. The degree of deterioration in biological properties depends on the concentration of Bi in the soil and the period of time after the onset of pollution. Resistance of soil types to Bi pollution can be described by the following decreasing series: Haplic Chernozem Calcic > Haplic Arenosols Eutric > Haplic Cambisols Eutric. The following regional maximum permissible concentrations (rMPC) of Bi have been proposed: Haplic Chernozem Calcic – 8.5 mg kg-1, Haplic Arenosols Eutric – 2.2 mg kg-1 and Haplic Cambisols Eutric – 1.8 mg kg-1.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by mitochondria dysfunction, accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques, and hyperphosphorylated tau tangles in the brain leading to memory loss and cognitive deficits. There is currently no cure for this condition, but the potential of stem cells for the therapy of neurodegenerative pathologies is actively being researched. This review discusses preclinical and clinical studies that have used mouse models and human patients to investigate the use of novel types of stem cell treatment approaches. The findings provide valuable insights into the applications of stem cell-based therapies and include the use of neural, glial, mesenchymal, embryonic, and induced pluripotent stem cells. We cover current studies on stem cell replacement therapy where cells can functionally integrate into neural networks, replace damaged neurons, and strengthen impaired synaptic circuits in the brain. We address the paracrine action of stem cells acting via secreted factors to induce neuroregeneration and modify inflammatory responses. We focus on the neuroprotective functions of exosomes as well as their neurogenic and synaptogenic effects. We look into the shuttling of mitochondria through tunneling nanotubes that enables the transfer of healthy mitochondria by restoring the normal functioning of damaged cells, improving their metabolism, and reducing the level of apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. To assess the resistance of soils in the south of Russia to silver pollution using biological indicators.Methods. The contamination of soils in southern Russia (ordinary chernozem, grey sandy and brown forest soils) was simulated with silver under laboratory conditions. Soils were contaminated with water‐soluble silver nitrate in order to reveal the maximum ecotoxicity of silver. Soil stability was assessed according to the most sensitive and informative biological parameters in dynamics of 10, 30 and 90 days after pollution. Results. Silver contamination inhibits the activity of oxidoreductases (catalase and dehydrogenases), reduces the total number of bacteria and the growth and development of radish. For all soils, a direct relationship was noted between silver concentration and the degree of deterioration of soil properties. The toxic effect of silver was most pronounced on the 30th day after contamination. According to their resistance to silver pollution, the soils investigated form the following sequence: ordinary chernozem> grey sandy soil ≥ brown forest soil. Conclusion. The light granulometric composition of grey sandy soils and the acidic reaction of the environment of brown forest soils, as well as the low organic matter content, contribute to the high mobility and high ecotoxicity of silver in these soils. Regional maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) of silver content in ordinary chernozems, grey sandy and brown forest soils have been determined as ‐ 4.4, 0.9 and 0.8 mg/kg, respectively.

Currently, stem cells technology is an effective tool in regenerative medicine. Cell therapy is based on the use of stem/progenitor cells to repair or replace damaged tissues or organs. This approach can be used to treat various diseases, such as cardiovascular, neurological diseases, and injuries of various origins. The mechanisms of cell therapy therapeutic action are based on the integration of the graft into the damaged tissue (replacement effect) and the ability of cells to secrete biologically active molecules such as cytokines, growth factors and other signaling molecules that promote regeneration (paracrine effect). However, cell transplantation has a number of limitations due to cell transportation complexity and immune rejection. A potentially more effective therapy is using only paracrine factors released by stem cells. Secreted factors can positively affect the damaged tissue: promote forming new blood vessels, stimulate cell proliferation, and reduce inflammation and apoptosis. In this work, we have studied the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of proteins with a molecular weight below 100 kDa secreted by glial progenitor cells obtained from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Proteins secreted by glial progenitor cells exerted anti-inflammatory effects in a primary glial culture model of LPS-induced inflammation by reducing nitric oxide (NO) production through inhibition of inducible NO synthase (iNOS). At the same time, added secreted proteins neutralized the effect of glutamate, increasing the number of viable neurons to control values. This effect is a result of decreased level of intracellular calcium, which, at elevated concentrations, triggers apoptotic death of neurons. In addition, secreted proteins reduce mitochondrial depolarization caused by glutamate excitotoxicity and help maintain higher NADH levels. This therapy can be successfully introduced into clinical practice after additional preclinical studies, increasing the effectiveness of rehabilitation of patients with neurological diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative phosphorylation is carried out by five complexes, which are the sites for electron transport and ATP synthesis. Among those, Complex V (also known as the F1F0 ATP Synthase or ATPase) is responsible for the generation of ATP through phosphorylation of ADP by using electrochemical energy generated by proton gradient across the inner membrane of mitochondria. A multi subunit structure that works like a pump functions along the proton gradient across the membranes which not only results in ATP synthesis and breakdown, but also facilitates electron transport. Since ATP is the major energy currency in all living cells, its synthesis and function have widely been studied over the last few decades uncovering several aspects of ATP synthase. This review intends to summarize the structure, function and inhibition of the ATP synthase.

Conditional value at risk (CVaR) is widely used in risk measure that takes into account losses exceeding the value at risk level. The aim of this research is to compare the performance of the EVT-GJR-vine copula method and EVT-GARCH-vine copula method in estimating CVaR of the portfolio using backtesting. Based on the backtesting results, it was found that the EVT-GJR-vine copula method have better performance when compared to the EVT-GARCH-vine copula method in estimating the CVaR value of the portfolio. This can be seen from the statistical values ??, and of EVT-GJR-vine copula method which is generally smaller than the statistical values , and of the EVT-GARCH-vine copula method.

Objective: to ground the choice of ships’ ballast water decontamination methods with disinfection substance under the title «Biopag-D».Materials and Methods: for study of methods of ballast water decontamination in preliminary experiment in vitro with selected concentration «Biopag-D», in which disinfectant has a the strong antibacterial effect against the test microorganisms.Results: based on the established concentrations the methods of ballast water decontamination are developed (irrigation of empty ballast tanks, adding the working concentration of the disinfectant in complete ballast tanks and the combined method).Conclusion: the offered methods of ship’s ballast water decontamination with disinfection substance are a new disinfection technology and will assist contribute to the implementation of the international quality standard of ballast water in the Russian Federation.

The use of silver in various spheres of life and production leads to an increase in environmental pollution, including soil. At the same time, the environmental consequences of silver pollution of soils have been studied to a much lesser extent than those of other heavy metals. The aim of this study is to estimate silver ecotoxicity using the soil state biological indicators. We studied soils that are significantly different in resistance to heavy metal pollution: ordinary chernozem (Haplic Chernozems, Loamic), sierosands (Haplic Arenosols, Eutric), and brown forest acidic soil (Haplic Cambisols, Eutric). Contamination was simulated in the laboratory. Silver was introduced into the soil in the form of nitrate in doses of 1, 10, and 100 mg/kg. Changes in biological parameters were assessed 10, 30, and 90 days after contamination. Silver pollution of soils in most cases leads to deterioration of their biological properties: the total number of bacteria, the abundance of bacteria of the genus Azotobacter, the activity of enzymes (catalase and dehydrogenases), and the phytotoxicity indicators decrease. The degree of reduction in biological properties depends on the silver concentration in the soil and the period from the contamination moment. In most cases, there is a direct relationship between the silver concentration and the degree of deterioration of the studied soil properties. The silver toxic effect was most pronounced on the 30th day after contamination. In terms of their resistance to silver pollution, the studied soils are in the following order: ordinary chernozem > sierosands ≥ brown forest soil. The light granulometric composition of sierosands and the acidic reaction of the environment of brown forest soils, as well as the low content of organic matter, contribute to high mobility and, consequently, high ecotoxicity of silver in these soils. The regional maximum permissible concentration (rMPC) of silver in ordinary chernozem (Haplic Chernozems, Loamic) is 4.4 mg/kg, in sierosands (Haplic Arenosols, Eutric) 0.9 mg/kg, and in brown forest soils (Haplic Cambisols, Eutric) 0.8 mg/kg.

As survey research in second language acquisition grows in popularity, the adherence to best practices associated with questionnaire quality is critical for a better understanding of factors that influence second language (L2) development. To ensure that a self-report scale targets the construct of interest and does it consistently and accurately, authors of primary research should demonstrate that their instrument possesses acceptable evidence of validity and reliability. To this end, this methodological synthesis focused on the state of scale quality in L2 anxiety and willingness to communicate (WTC) research by examining key methodological issues of quantitative survey research and offering empirically grounded suggestions for future studies. A close examination of 232 peer-reviewed articles that used 385 L2 anxiety and WTC scales demonstrated, among other findings, the lack of evidence for scale content and construct validity. The implications of this study contribute to concurrent attempts at methodological reform in applied linguistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: to develop the methodology for risk-assessment of the potential hazard of the Rostov region’s territory due to anthrax based on the spatial analysis, independent of the administrative division.Materials and Methods: for development the risk-based assessment of potential hazards of territory due to anthrax the registration data of cases for 132 years have been used. The construction of risk cartograms were carried out on the basis of biweight distribution of stationary unfavorable places due to anthrax.Results: the average value of the epizootic index and density of stationary unfavorable places due to anthrax are calculated for 413 administrative units of the Rostov region.Summary: the identification of «risk areas» by using risk-based methodology would provide the more accurate results than the zoning due to administrative territories.

The results of the study of the ecotoxicity of bismuth on ordinary chernozem, brown forest soils and sierosands along the length of radish roots are presented. Small doses of 1.5-3 mg/kg of bismuth stimulated the growth of radish roots on ordinary chernozem. The maximum toxicity of bismuth carbonate and nitrate at a dose of 300 mg / kg was established on sierosands (reduction in the length of radish roots by 43% of the control). Bismuth carbonate 300 mg/kg showed the greatest toxicity when applied to ordinary chernozem and brown forest soil and reduced the length of radish roots by 31 and 44% of control, respectively. The series of toxicity ((on radish’s root length) of chemical forms of bismuth for soils forms the following sequence: bismuth carbonate (84) ≥ bismuth nitrate (86) > bismuth oxide (90). The toxic effect of bismuth depends on the form and concentration of bismuth in the soil,the particle-size composition, the reaction of the soil environment and the content of organic matter in the soil.