Teacher and Student Freedom and Responsibility when Working in Small Groups

In modern school, when learning a foreign language, an approach which is used more and more often is students work in small groups. If we estimate the efforts which students put in working in a group in order to achieve a common result, then all the students’ motivation is considerably higher. Working in small groups during Russian language classes creates a very good opportunity for communication, enables the development of students’ speaking ability which is very important in learning foreign language. Working in small groups develops students’ communication skills, creates their personal qualities, helps them realize their social role in society. The teacher’s role changes, too. The teacher only directs the work, partly helps, corrects and supports the creative searching.

Parental Role Changes in Romanian Transnational Families: Consequences of Migration

Even if there are consistent studies on the issue of transnational families, research is still needed to address the parental role changes in these families. The aim of this article was to identify the main changes in the parental roles of Romanian transnational families as a result of the parents’ labor migration. We used interviewing as the research method and directed content analysis to analyze the data. Purposive sampling was conducted in order to identify the interviewees. The results captured important role changes regarding the income provider role of the parent, but especially the role of emotional support provider that the parent should take on for the children. These findings highlight the need to develop specific measures to address the possible negative effects that affect these transnational families.

Upregulation of P2Y12 Inhibits Chondrocyte Apoptosis in Lumbar Osteoarthritis Through PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

Lumbar facet osteoarthritis (FJOA) is one of the major causes of severe low back pain and disability worldwide. However, the underlying mechanism of cartilage degeneration in FJOA remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of P2Y12 in FJOA and its possible role. Changes of chondrocytes in rat facet joints with degenerative changes were observed by HE and ferro red solid green staining. The expression changes of P2Y12, MMP13 and COL2 in FJOA were observed by immunohistochemistry. In vitro, human SW1353 chondrosarcoma cells were stimulated with IL-β to establish chondrocyte apoptosis model. Western blot analysis showed that P2Y12 and cleaved caspase-3 were significantly expressed in SW1353 cells. Co-localization of P2Y12-cleaved Caspase-3 in apoptosis model was detected by double-standard immunofluorescence staining. We demonstrated that P2Y12 may have an anti-apoptotic effect in FJOA chondrocytes apoptosis by inhibiting the expression of P2Y12 by siRNA. In addition, flow cytometry showed that P2Y12 gene knockout enhanced apoptosis induced by P2Y12. Our data suggest that P2Y12 has a chondroprotective effect on FJOA.

The Impact of COVID-19: Perspectives of Recreational Therapists Working with Older Adults

This study explored the perspectives of recreational therapists (RT) from Pennsylvania and Michigan and how COVID-19 has impacted older adults and their roles in various settings. COVID-19 safety restrictions limiting social interaction with both peers and families had the potential for negatively impacting the social and emotional well-being of older adults (Van Orden et al., 2020) and the roles of therapists who work with them. Because peer socialization and physical activity programs prevent falls (Cameron et al., 2018) and improve depressive symptoms (Harvey et al., 2015), a better understanding of COVID-19 impact is significant. From a qualitative viewpoint, 14 RTs from various levels of care were interviewed to better understand their perspective on the impacts of COVID on older adults and their own practice. Hour long interviews conducted via zoom focused on organizational changes, role changes, and impact on older adults. After recordings were transcribed, multiple researchers classified, summarized, and tabulated the data. A consensus method determined common themes. From the RT’s perspective, older adults have not only been negatively impacted in the social domain. While many older adults showed resilience, others were impacted physically, emotionally, and cognitively. Moreover, an increased importance on meaningful engagement, recreation, and leisure emerged. Technology became an essential tool in interpersonal connection. Teamwork, personal self-care, and coping were integral to providing effective care. Post pandemic, RTs are concerned about the challenge of reengaging older adults in groups but are certain that technology will continue to be used in a more expansive way in programs.

Proppant and Fracture Height Measurement from Forgotten Vertical Well Diagnostics

This paper reviews the diagnostic data from vertical wells where operators targeted Burkett, Hamilton and Marcellus Shales and other deeper unconventional shale or tight gas reservoirs with vertical wells between the years 2006-2013. The learnings are then translated for their applicability in horizontal development wells. Its purpose is to deliver a better perception of fracture geometry and interactions between payzones that are separated by potential fracture barriers. Multiple vertical wells employed the use of diagnostics in the form of proppant tracer, production logging and post-fracture temperature surveys to provide an improved understanding of hydraulic fracture and propped fracture height and the formations that serve as hydraulic fracture barriers. Completions variables such as treating rates, proppant volumes, perforation designs and frac fluid systems are examined to determine how they relate to propped fracture height growth. In the majority of the logs reviewed, the proppant was contained to the perforated interval or just above and below. Some wells did have extensive proppant height growth. However, in most of those cases, the propped fracture height was the result of poor cement bonding, multiple fractured intervals growing towards one another and frac plug failures. As expected, hydraulic fracture height is typically significantly higher than the proppant height. Few vertical wells showed evidence of proppant connecting the Marcellus and Burkett zones. Formations acting as fracture barriers did not respond to many of the completions variables. Large treatment volumes, up to 500,000 lbs or more of proppant in a single stage, are often contained to propped fracture heights of less than 50 ft. Few vertical unconventional wells are currently drilled now that most economic Marcellus fairways are well into their development phase. Vertical wells and their learnings are often forgotten with the many personnel and role changes, acquisitions, mergers and other fast paced changes in the industry over the last decade. The purpose of this paper is to reintroduce the valuable and still relevant vital information from these forgotten vertical wells.

GREATER LONDON POLICE: ORIGINS AND CURRENT STATUS

The article is devoted to the interaction of the police and the elected bodies of Greater London-its Administration and municipal districts (boroughs) - in ensuring law and order. Both the history of the issue and its current state are touched upon. The foreign experience of interaction of the authorities in the maintenance of public security is of interest to the Russian Federation, which continues to search for effective forms of regional and municipal government, its place in the implementation of state functions. The experience of the United Kingdom is of particular interest in this regard, since in this country, the municipal and regional (self) government has historically developed significantly. The article mainly uses political and legal documents as sources of information. The author concludes that historically municipalities and local social forces played a crucial role in ensuring public security. It was typically for a «small state» with a tiny bureaucratic apparatus. Then government bodies played this role. Changes in the organization of the police were associated with the transition from the traditional rural society to modern urbanized. This required the creation of a professional centrally managed police force. The reform lasted for several decades. It’s important stage – Home office secretary R. Peel′s activity. Currently, efforts are being made to entrust the elected regional and municipal authorities with a new mission in ensuring public security – the exercise of democratic control over the activities of the police. In London this control is carried out by the mayor and the city council – Assembly. Municipal districts coordinate the activities of public services, civil, non-profit organization, business and individual citizens to ensure security in their territory.

Prohibit, Protect, Or Adapt? The Changing Role of Volunteers in Palliative and Hospice Care Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic. A Multinational Survey (Covpall)

Background: Volunteers are common within palliative care services, and provide support that enhances care quality. The support they provided, and any role changes, during the COVID-19 pandemic are unknown. The aim of this study is to understand volunteer deployment and activities within palliative care services, and to identify what may affect any changes in volunteer service provision, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Multi-national online survey disseminated via key stakeholders to specialist palliative care services, completed by lead clinicians. Data collected on volunteer roles, deployment, and changes in volunteer engagement. Analysis included descriptive statistics, a multivariable logistic regression, and analysis of free-text comments using a content analysis approach. Results: 458 respondents: 277 UK, 85 rest of Europe, and 95 rest of the world. 68.5% indicated volunteer use pre-COVID-19 across a number of roles (from 458): direct patient facing support (58.7%), indirect support (52.0%), back office (48.5%) and fundraising (45.6%). 11% had volunteers with COVID-19. Of those responding to a question on change in volunteer deployment (328 of 458) most (256/328, 78%) indicated less or much less use of volunteers. Less use of volunteers was associated with being an in-patient hospice, (OR=0.15, 95% CI = 0.07-0.3 p<.001). This reduction in volunteers was felt to protect potentially vulnerable volunteers, with policy changes preventing volunteer support. However, adapting was also seen where new roles were created, or existing roles pivoted to provide virtual support. Conclusion: Volunteers were mostly prevented from supporting many forms of palliative care which may have quality and safety implications given their previously central roles. Volunteer re-deployment plans are needed that take a more considered approach, using volunteers more flexibly to enhance care while ensuring safe working practices. Consideration needs to be given to widening the volunteer base away from those who may be considered to be most vulnerable to COVID-19.

The “Self” under COVID-19: Social role disruptions, self-authenticity and present-focused coping

Social role disruption is a state involving upheaval of social identities, routines and responsibilities. Such disruption is presently occurring at a global scale due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which poses a threat not only to health and security but also to the social roles that underlie people’s daily lives. Our collective response to combat the virus entails, for example, parents homeschooling children, friends socializing online, and employees working from home. While these collective efforts serve the greater good, people’s social roles now lack continuity from what was authentic to the roles before the pandemic began. This, we argue, takes a psychological toll. Individuals feel inauthentic, or alienated and out-of-touch from their “true” selves, to the extent their social roles undergo change. As evidence, we report survey (Studies 1 & 4) and experimental (Studies 2 & 3) evidence that COVID-19-related role changes indeed increase inauthenticity. This effect occurs independent of (a) how positively/negatively people feel about COVID-19 (Study 2) and (b) how positively/negatively people feel about the role change itself (Studies 3 & 4). Moreover, we identify two moderators of this effect. First, this effect occurs when (and ostensibly because) the social roles undergoing change are central to an individual’s sense of self (Study 2). Second, this effect depends on an individual’s temporal perspective. People can safeguard their self-authenticity in the face of changing social roles if they stay focused on the here-and-now (the present and immediate future), rather than focusing on the past (pre-COVID-19) or future (post-COVID-19) (Studies 3 & 4). This advantage for present-focused coping is observed in both the U.S.A. (Study 3) and Hong Kong (Study 4). We suggest that the reason people feel more authentically themselves when they maintain a present focus is because doing so makes the discontinuity of their social roles less salient.