Роль и место иностранного языка в профессиональной компетентности преподавателей технических специальностей

Раскрывается состав профессиональной компетентности преподавателей неязыковых вузов для выявления особенностей типологии ключевых компетенций, определяющих содержание иноязычного компонента. Автор предлагает рассматривать иноязычную профессионально-коммуникативную компетенцию как эффективное средство реализации иноязычной переподготовки преподавателей неязыковых вузов

До питання партійної діяльності М.І. Міхновського на початку ХХ ст.

Необхідність створення українських політичних партій на початку ХХ ст. відчувалася дуже гостро. Поставала потреба формування нової політичної партії, яка б стояла на самостійницьких засадах. З ініціативи М.І.Міхновського виникає Українська Народна Партія. Головним завданням політичної організації М.І.Міхновський вбачав в об’єднанні усіх, «кого визискують і кривдять». До цих верств політичний діяч відносив робітників, селян, ремісників, представників інтелігентних фахів, хліборобів

Dioxins do not only bind to AHR but also team up with EGFR at the cell-surface: a novel mode of action of toxicological relevance?

Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) are highly toxic organic pollutants whose production and use are prohibited by international law. Despite this, these biopersistent and lipophilic chemicals are prevalent in the environment and accumulate in the food chain, posing significant health risks to consumers even at low exposure levels. Acute dioxin intoxication can cause chloracne, while chronic exposure has been associated with a wide range of adverse health effects, including carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental disorders, immunotoxicity, and endocrine disruption. In the mid-1970s, scientists identified a transcription factor known as the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), which becomes activated upon binding of dioxins. AHR orchestrates numerous adaptive and maladaptive stress responses and is believed to mediate most, if not all, of the toxic effects triggered by dioxins and DLCs. Recent studies have provided mounting evidence that dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls can inhibit growth factor-induced activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by directly binding to its extracellular domain. This interaction prevents the activation of EGFR by polypeptide growth factors and downstream signal transduction. In this article, we explain this newly identified mechanism of action for dioxins and DLCs in detail and discuss its potential toxicological relevance by using two examples, i.e. breast cancer development and placental toxicity. Finally, we briefly refer to other environmental chemicals of global concern that, based on first published data, may act via the same mode of action. See also the graphical abstract(Fig. 1)

Balancing intestinal and systemic inflammation through cell type-specific expression of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor

As a sensor of polyaromatic chemicals the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) exerts an important role in immune regulation besides its requirement for xenobiotic metabolism. Transcriptional activation of AhR target genes is counterregulated by the AhR repressor (AhRR) but the exact function of the AhRR in vivo is currently unknown. We here show that the AhRR is predominantly expressed in immune cells of the skin and intestine, different from other AhR target genes. Whereas AhRR antagonizes the anti-inflammatory function of the AhR in the context of systemic endotoxin shock, AhR and AhRR act in concert to dampen intestinal inflammation. Specifically, AhRR contributes to the maintenance of colonic intraepithelial lymphocytes and prevents excessive IL- 1β production and Th17/Tc17 differentiation. In contrast, the AhRR enhances IFN-γ-production by effector T cells in the inflamed gut. Our findings highlight the physiologic importance of cell-type specific balancing of AhR/AhRR expression in response to microbial, nutritional and other environmental stimuli

Current challenges of research on filamentous fungi in relation to human welfare and a sustainable bio-economy: a white paper.

The EUROFUNG network is a virtual centre of multidisciplinary expertise in the field of fungal biotechnology. The first academic-industry Think Tank was hosted by EUROFUNG to summarise the state of the art and future challenges in fungal biology and biotechnology in the coming decade. Currently, fungal cell factories are important for bulk manufacturing of organic acids, proteins, enzymes, secondary metabolites and active pharmaceutical ingredients in white and red biotechnology. In contrast, fungal pathogens of humans kill more people than malaria or tuberculosis. Fungi are significantly impacting on global food security, damaging global crop production, causing disease in domesticated animals, and spoiling an estimated 10 % of harvested crops. A number of challenges now need to be addressed to improve our strategies to control fungal pathogenicity and to optimise the use of fungi as sources for novel compounds and as cell factories for large scale manufacture of bio-based products. This white paper reports on the discussions of the Think Tank meeting and the suggestions made for moving fungal bio(techno)logy forward

Patients' subjective concepts about primary healthcare utilisation: the study protocol of a quality comparative study between Norway and Germany

Background In Germany, utilisation of ambulatory healthcare services is high compared with other countries: While a study based on the process data of German statutory health insurances showed an average of 17.1 physician-patient-contacts per year, the comparable figure for Norway is about five. The usual models of healthcare utilisation, such as Rosenstock's Health Belief Model and Andersen's Behavioural Model, cannot explain these differences adequately. Organisational factors of the healthcare system, such as gatekeeping, do not explain the magnitude of the differences. Our hypothesis is that patients’ subjective concepts about primary healthcare utilisation play a major role in explaining different healthcare utilisation behaviour in different countries. Hence, the aim of this study is to explore these subjective concepts comparatively, between Germany and Norway. Methods/design With that aim in mind, we chose a comparative qualitative study design. In Norway and Germany, we are going to interview 20 patients each with qualitative episodic interviews. In addition, we are going to conduct participant observation in four German and four Norwegian primary care practices. The data will be analysed by thematic coding. Using selected categories, we are going to conduct comparative case and group analyses. Ethics and dissemination The study adheres to the Declaration of Helsinki. All interviewees will sign informed consent forms and all patients will be observed during consultation. Strict rules for data security will apply. Developed theory and policy implications are going to be disseminated by a workshop, presentations for experts and laypersons and publications.publishedVersio

Methods for identifying lipoxygenase producing microorganisms on agar plates

Plate assays for lipoxygenase producing microorganisms on agar plates have been developed. Both potassium iodide-starch and indamine dye formation methods were effective for detecting soybean lipoxygenase activity on agar plates. A positive result was also achieved using the β-carotene bleaching method, but the sensitivity of this method was lower than the other two methods. The potassium iodide-starch and indamine dye formation methods were also applied for detecting lipoxygenase production by Trichoderma reesei and Pichia pastoris transformants expressing the lipoxygenase gene of the fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis. In both cases lipoxygenase production in the transformants could be identified. For detection of the G. graminis lipoxygenase produced by Aspergillus nidulans the potassium iodide-starch method was successful. When Escherichia coli was grown on agar and soybean lipoxygenase was applied on the culture lipoxygenase activity could clearly be detected by the indamine dye formation method. This suggests that the method has potential for screening of metagenomic libraries in E. coli for lipoxygenase activity