Forecasting Research and Technoscience: Contemporary Status, Specifics and Prospects

The article emphasizes the role of the advancement of modern science and new technologies in forecasting research as a key factor for making prognoses for the future. It presents the concept of technoscience, developed by the author, as a blend and symbiosis of modern science and technologies, converging on the basis of similar purposes, objects of treatment and outcomes, as well as of the rising engagement with social interests and attitudes. Furthermore, the main kinds of forecasting research with their specifics, advantages and limitations are outlined, pointing out the special role of building foresight scenarios for the future as a prognosis and policy instrument. The tendencies in this field of research are identified, revealing the challenges related to modern technoscience, and the possible solutions.

Assessing Alexithymia: Psychometric Properties of the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire in a Spanish-Speaking Sample

Alexithymia is a trait composed of difficulties identifying feelings (DIF), difficulties describing feelings (DDF), and externally orientated thinking (EOT). It is an important transdiagnostic risk factor for psychosomatic disorders and other types of emotion-based psychopathologies, and can reduce the efficacy of some treatment approaches. Alexithymia assessments are therefore important in psychiatric and research settings. The Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ) was recently developed to enable more comprehensive alexithymia assessments, however, its psychometric properties need further examination and it is so far only available in English. In this study, we sought to address this by translating the PAQ into Spanish and testing its psychometric properties in an adult sample from Chile (N = 370). Confirmatory factor analyses found the PAQ to have a theoretically congruent factor structure, supporting the contemporary status of alexithymia as a multifaceted construct and the PAQ's capacity to assess the DIF, DDF, and EOT facets of alexithymia across negative and positive emotions. All subscale and composite scores had high internal consistency reliability, and demonstrated good concurrent and discriminant validity. The PAQ therefore appears to provide a robust and detailed alexithymia profile. This Spanish version should help to enable more comprehensive cross-cultural research into alexithymia and its role in and psychological disorders.

Contemporary Status of Archaeological Research on Silk Road in Central Asia and Korea and A.N. Bernshtam’s Researches

This paper proposes three measures for a new archaeological study on the Silk Road. First, a systematic understanding is required for the archaeological achievements on the Silk Road made during the Soviet Era before the 1990s. Nowadays, many scholars in East Asia, including South Korea, rely on literature written mainly in English to study and understand the Silk Road. However, the Silk Road’s archaeological excavations were mostly made before the 1990s, that is, they were not well known in South Korea and the West. Therefore, a systematic understanding of those achievements can be the basis of new international research. Bernshtam’s achievements representing the studies until the 1960s are good examples. They have recently led to the joint publication of an art catalog on South Korea and Kazakhstan’s gold culture. Second, we should move away from the narrow nationalism advocated by nowindependent countries and pursue the research at the international level. The real value of the Silk Road should lie in finding common ground beyond borders and ideology. Thus, it is necessary to understand the research trends in individual countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. The Asian Archaeology conference held annually by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage of South Korea is one of excellent examples of such an effort. Finally, archaeological research on the Silk Road should move forward not just as an academic pursuit but also as a means of global cultural cooperation. In this regard, active collaboration with international organizations, such as UNESCO, is crucial. As such, if these three aspects are considered together, the international archaeological research on the Silk Road led by South Korea in the new phase of the 21st century will contribute to the Silk Road research in the new era.

Kazakh culture and Literature in the American Higher Education Curriculum

I am an American educator and researcher working in the Department of Russian and Slavic Studies at the University of Arizona, a large public university in the Southwestern region of the United States. As a longtime student of the Kazakh language and literature, as well as a researcher of the cross-cultural links between Kazakhstan and its neighbor countries, I often encounter a surprised reaction by both Kazakhstanis and my fellow Americans when I describe my topic of research. Both Americans and Kazakhstanis have asked me: Why would an American study Kazakhstan? What use is the Kazakh language to an American? What can American students hope to learn from Kazakhstan? The ultimate purpose of this article is to provide some answers to these questions. I have found the study of Kazakhstan to be enriching in many ways, both for myself and for the students I work with at the University of Arizona. In this article, I will provide an overview of the contemporary status of Kazakhstan as a subject of study in American institutions of higher education, and I will also share some of my personal experiences as both a student and a teacher. I will discuss not only specialized courses on the Kazakh language and culture, but also courses in the humanities and social sciences that incorporate Kazakhstan into broader interdisciplinary topics, such as global studies. Finally I will discuss international connections between American and Kazakhstani institutions of higher education.

Chrysin: Perspectives on Contemporary Status and Future Possibilities as Pro-Health Agent

Chrysin belongs to the group of natural polyphenols. It can be found, among others, in honey, propolis and fruits and has a wide range of biological activities, including the prevention of oxidative stress, inflammation, neurodegeneration and carcinogenesis. Being a part of the human diet, chrysin is considered to be a promising compound to be used in the prevention of many diseases, including cancers, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. Nevertheless, due to the low solubility of chrysin in water and under physiological conditions, its bioavailability is low. For this reason, attempts at its functionalization have been undertaken, aiming to increase its absorption and thus augment its in vivo therapeutic efficacy. The aim of this review is to summarize the most recent research on chrysin, including its sources, metabolism, pro-health effects and the effects of its functionalization on biological activity and pharmacological efficacy, evaluated both in vitro and in vivo.

A Review on the Contemporary Status of Mutating Coronavirus and Comparative Literature Study of Current COVID-19 Vaccines

The Novel corona virus was first reported in Wuhan province of China in the late 2019. It outspread rapidly which led to a new health crisis throughout the world by the beginning of March 2020 and was considered as a global epidemic. Several deteriorating health symptoms, morbidity and mortality were reported globally by WHO, with more than 34 lakh deaths being reported by 26 May 2021. Presently 16 vaccines are approved under emergency use in different countries and more than 33 vaccines are under phase 3 clinical trials and nearly 130 vaccines are in development phase. By the end of 2020 several new variants in U.K, South Africa, Brazil and India were reported which caused the second wave of COVID-19, for which new trials of vaccine are running to evaluate the efficacy and safety. Several technical problems are associated regarding the production, storing and supplying of these vaccines. For controlling the epidemic, the major challenge is to produce billions of vaccines and to make it available to the underdeveloped and poorer nations. This extensive review provides the details of the different variants of corona viruses reported in the different regions of the world, current vaccines approved under emergency use which are being administered throughout the globe, on-going and listed clinical trials on different vaccines under study for possible use in Covid-19 virus and future challenges associated with Covid-19 scenario.

The historical and contemporary status of the sea otter Enhydra lutris population on Urup Island, southern Kuril Islands

We describe the population of the Еndangered sea otter Enhydra lutris on Urup Island, one of the main wildlife refuges in the southern Kuril Islands of Russia. We reviewed historical and local reports of the sea otter, identified its habitat around the island, and surveyed the coastal waters of the island in 2019. Sea otters were numerous on Urup Island in the past but were hunted excessively and almost exterminated by the 1950s. Since then, sea otter populations have increased, and as the island is almost uninhabited we expected otters to be numerous. This was not the case, and we estimated the total population to be 363 ± SE 126 individuals. Our observation of two skinned carcasses on the shore suggests the low numbers are a result of poaching for the illegal fur trade. The case of Urup Island demonstrates that sea otters require active conservation, as even on a remote island they remain threatened. Establishment of protected areas would be an effective conservation measure for this species, although the suppression of demand for sea otter fur is of the greatest importance.