International Research Field Research Articles

Positive Transfer of Third Language Acquisition in English and French Sentence Patterns

Language takes sentences as the basic unit and sentence structures in different languages have their own characteristics. At present, with the in-depth development of economic globalization and the rapid enhancement of the demand for cross language communication, there are more and more trilingual users. Therefore, third language acquisition, as an emerging field of international and domestic research in recent years, has attracted extensive attention. As is known to all, the two languages, English and French, are closely related but different. Hence, in the process of learning French as a second foreign language, the positive and negative transfer of English to French is inevitable. Under the framework of third language acquisition and based on language transfer theory, this paper analyzes the positive transfer of sentence structure in the process of third language acquisition through the comparative analysis of four special sentence patterns in English and French, which is helpful for English majors to learn French as a second foreign language more concisely and efficiently.

Геоинформационное моделирование рельефа для выявления перспективных участков археологических исследований на примере памятников Саратовской области

This article provides an overview of modern remote sensing techniques in archaeology and their practical applications. The widespread use of GIS technologies and remote sensing methods such as photogrammetry and laser scanning is a distinguishing characteristic of contemporary archaeology. Remote sensing data is employed not only for the analysis of 3D archaeological objects and territories but also in the digital terrain models (DTMs) analysis to search for and identify potential archaeological excavation sites. The introduction of remote sensing methods in archaeology has brought about a change in the approach to conducting archaeological studies. In the field of international research, a distinct stage known as predictive archaeology, which involves preliminary reconnaissance of an area before excavation, has emerged. The study is focused on the archaeological sites of Stantsiya Krasavka and Akhmatskoe Gorodishche, located in the Atkarsky and Krasnoarmeysky municipal districts of the Saratov region. The selected study areas applied the DTM analysis, specifically using the “Hillshade” technique (analytical shading relief), which allows for the detection of previously overlooked terrain features. Based on the results, the potential of this technology for identifying individual archaeological objects using contemporary open DTMs and field geodetic survey data was analyzed. Experimental determination of the optimal DTM resolution for the identification and analysis of objects was conducted in areas previously subject to archaeological research. The experiments and comparative analysis of various laser scanning technologies led to the identification of optimal methods and filtering parameters to “exclude” vegetation and generate DTMs.

Chapitre 2. L’autonomisation des comités nationaux d’éthique de la recherche en Afrique : perspective historique et enjeux actuels

Since the 60s, and particularly after various scandals in the 90s, national research ethics committees in Africa have established themselves as key players in the field of international clinical research. Notably based on the principle of double ethical review, their existence has historically been aimed at preventing a form of ethical dumping, a temptation that still exists today on the part of some research promoters. While the international framework of “soft” law has favored their emergence and legitimacy, a legal and regulatory framework of “hard” law is also necessary at local level for each national research ethics committee, to ensure its proper functioning and the optimal fulfillment of its missions. The aim of this article is to analyze the similarities and differences between three national ethics committees in Africa, specifically the CNERS of Guinea, the CNERS of Benin and the CNESVS of Côte d’Ivoire, in terms of status, missions, legal or regulatory ground and, more generally, autonomy. This analysis will enable us, on the one hand, to take account of common logistical difficulties and, on the other, to go beyond differences in legal status and missions to define what enables this type of committee to fully exercise its role(s). Finally, this article proposes to model the various elements that contribute to the autonomy and resilience of a national research ethics committee, around a notion proposed on this occasion: the “circles of autonomy”.

Medical education as a research field in Norway – a bibliometric study

Medical education is a growing international field of research. However, no overview exists of Norwegian researchers' contribution to the field. This study aimed to identify and describe medical education research originating from Norwegian research institutions. We performed targeted searches in Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest Education and Cristin, and identified published research within the field from Norwegian institutions. Using bibliometric analyses, we mapped patterns in research output over time, research communities that have published their work, and which publication channels were used. We also categorized the research articles according to methodology, empirical origin, educational level and topic. We found 423 published research articles linked to Norwegian research institutions and an increase in the number of publications in the last decade. The studies were published in 141 different scientific journals. Of these, the Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association had 94 articles (22%). A total of 122 (29%) articles were published in key medical education journals. Altogether 249 (59%) of the studies were quantitative and 262 (62%) were based on empirical data from Norway. A little more than half, 237 (56%), focused on undergraduate medical education. Researchers affiliated to the University of Oslo were involved in 173 (43%) articles. The most frequently researched topics were curricula, teaching and learning technology, retention and career choices. Research activity within the field of medical education is increasing in Norway, but few Norwegian researchers publish in the specialised medical education journals.

A Critical Exploration of Mathematics Learning Trajectories Research in the Korean Context: A Systematic Literature Review

This paper conducts a systematic literature review of research on mathematics learning trajectories within the Korean context and suggests directions for future learning trajectory research. Specifically, the aim of this review is to illuminate the trends of existing and emerging research on learning trajectories in the Korean context, ultimately guiding future research directions in the international research and practice field. This review critically examines 32 articles published in Korea Citation Index journals and reports on national research projects, focusing on the necessities, purposes, and types of research categorized by mathematical content area, as well as the theoretical frameworks used. The results reveal that the types of learning trajectory research conducted in Korea are diverse, encompassing exploration, development, and application of learning trajectories. We suggest that the learning trajectories research warrants further investigation, including discussion on different perspectives in the international contexts. We also posit that these types of research have the potential to create synergy when conducted in a connected series, rather than as disconnected studies.

Developing a model of technological innovation for export development in developing countries

It is crucial for companies to develop a competitive advantage in today's competitive business environment. Technological innovation is one of the most effective ways for companies to achieve this advantage and enhance their competitiveness. Therefore, identifying the most important dimensions of technological innovation is key for managers and decision-makers in order to achieve organizational goals, which in fact, reveals its high importance. In this paper, we develop a model of how technological innovation impacts export development in developing countries. At present, the process of globalization, especially the development of exports, has a special place. In this paper, based on the rigorous literature review, eleven main dimensions of technological innovation were obtained. The relationships between system elements were determined using the Interpretive Structural Model (ISM) technique, and the final model with four levels was extracted. The factors in the last level are the most effective, and the factors in the first level are the most influential. These factors are considered the basis of the model. According to research findings, knowledge management has the most impact, and manufacturing capability, service Innovation, marketing, and learning process are the most impressionable. Finally, based on the Mick Mac technique, the factors are classified based on the degree of dependence and influence. Since this method is under the opinions of experts, the opinions of 28 industry experts and university professors have been used. We have contributed to the understanding of the complex relationships among different factors and variables through our research by providing a structured and systematic approach. Policymakers and other stakeholders can use our model to propose ways to promote economic growth and development through technological innovation and exports. We believe that our findings have important implications for the field of innovation and international business research.

Editor’s Note

Editor’s Note

CiteSpace knowledge map of gut microbiota research involving traditional Chinese medicine in recent twenty years

We employed bibliometrics to comprehensively study the hotspots and frontiers of gut microbiota research involving traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), aiming to provide new ideas for the subsequent research in this field. The studies of gut microbiota with TCM published from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2021 were retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and Web of Science(WoS). After data screening and cleaning, CiteSpace 5.8.R3 was used to visualize and analyze the authors, journals, and keywords. A total of 1 119 Chinese articles and 815 English articles were included in the study. The period of 2019-2021 witnessed the surge in the number of articles published in this field, being the peak research period. TAN Zhou-jin and DUAN Jin-ao were the authors publishing the most articles in Chinese and English, respectively. The two authors ranked top in both Chinese and English articles, playing a central role in this research field. The top five Chinese and English journals in this field had a large influence in the international research field. High-frequency keywords and keyword clustering showed that the research hotspots in this field were concentrated in four areas: trial and clinical research on the regulation of gut microbiota in disease treatment by TCM, metabolic transformation of Chinese medicines by gut microbiota, and the effect of TCM added to feed on the gut microbiota and growth performance of animals. The study of gut microbiota structure in patients with different TCM syndromes, as well as that of TCM combined with probiotics/flora transplantation in the treatment of diseases, can provide new ideas for clinical diagnosis and traditional drug treatment of diseases and has great research space and research value in the future.

How to Conduct International Geriatric Rehabilitation Research?

With an ageing global population and an increasing focus on aging in place, the number of people in need of geriatric rehabilitation (GR) is rapidly increasing. As current GR practice is very heterogenous, cross-country comparisons could allow us to learn from each other and optimise the effectiveness of GR. However, international GR research comes with many challenges. This article summarises the facilitators and barriers relating to the recruitment of rehabilitation centres, the inclusion of patients, and data collection, as experienced by experts in the field of international GR research. The three most important methodological recommendations for conducting cross-national collaborative research in the field of GR are (1) make use of existing (inter)national networks and social media to aid recruitment of GR centres; (2) clearly define the GR treatment, setting, and patient characteristics in the inclusion criteria; and (3) use a hierarchical study structure to communicate transparently and regularly with both national and local coordinators. International GR research would greatly benefit from the implementation of a core dataset in regular GR care. Therefore, future studies should focus on developing an international consensus regarding the outcomes and corresponding cross-culturally validated measurement instruments to be used during GR.

What can geographers do for shrinking geographies?

For parts of the sparsely populated areas, the trends of globalisation, urbanisation and deindustrialisation constitute difficult circumstances. Population decline, escalating dependency ratios, lack of human and financial resources, and diminishing commercial and public services form part of lived experience in many of these areas. This paper discusses what geographers can do for these territories. The paper suggests that geographers can aid in understanding and demonstrating (a) how resources have been distributed in space over time and (b) why patterns of resource distribution take the shape they do. Geographers can also illuminate (c) what it means to live, work, and operate in shrinking, rural territories. Geographers could also (d) make implicit geographical imaginations explicit, (e) elucidate how shrinkage is dealt with by various policy actors, and (f) point to alternative policy directions. The paper also suggests that geographers in the Nordic countries could enrich an international research field of studies of shrinkage by (g) providing case studies or comparative studies from a Nordic context.

Measuring economic diplomacy using event study method: the case of EU-China summit talks and Airbus stock price changes

Economic diplomacy receives growing interest in the field of international relations research ever since the end of the cold war. Despite the vast number of literature on economic diplomacy, there are not many studies measuring the effect of economic diplomacy quantitatively. The purpose of this paper is to propose a method to measure economic diplomacy using the event study method that observes the influence of specific events on stock prices. In this study, the summit talks between the EU and China are selected as specific events that are considered as a form of economic diplomacy, and Airbus stock price, the proxy of the reaction to the economic diplomacy, was observed to verify the influence of it. The study categorized the summit talks by the type of participants whether the top politicians were included or not. The result shows that, among all summit talks, the summit talks between top politicians between the EU and China influence the stock price of Airbus positively, and it is statistically significant.

Understanding Chinese international students in the U.S. in Times of the COVID-19 crisis: from a Chinese discourse studies perspective

ABSTRACT Using the Chinese Discourse Studies (CNDS) as a theoretical framework, this study seeks to challenge the cultural essentialism and uncritical roots of existing literature, with an aim to expose long-standing patterns of Western totalizing discourse in the field of international education research. This exploratory article explores how Chinese international students as cultural agents respond to the global pandemic and pandemic-related stereotypes. Through a critical analysis of 21 Chinese students’ narratives, this article identifies three culturally specific characteristics that pervade Chinese normative dialogues: (1) Chinese dialectics, (2) Chinese harmony, and (3) Chinese self-criticism. They are often employed to emphasize Chinese optimistic attitudes in times of crisis, avoidance of confrontation for harmonious communication, and moral character of self-introspection to conform to the social norm. This article offers new empirical evidence for the reconstruction of the Chinese paradigm of discourse studies and reveals the inappropriateness of Western scholarship for understanding non-Western linguistic and communicative events and practices. In sum, this article demonstrates that Chinese discourse studies can be a potential decolonial option to depart from deep-seated scholarship in Western intellectual supremacy and a visionary framework to advance multicultural discourses about international education against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions and anti-Asian racism.

A high-efficiency PEG-Ca2+-mediated transient transformation system for broccoli protoplasts.

Transient transformation of plant protoplasts is an important method for studying gene function, subcellular localization and plant morphological development. In this study, an efficient transient transformation system was established by optimizing the plasmid concentration, PEG4000 mass concentration and genotype selection, key factors that affect transformation efficiency. Meanwhile, an efficient and universal broccoli protoplast isolation system was established. Using 0.5% (w/v) cellulase R-10 and 0.1% (w/v) pectolyase Y-23 to hydrolyze broccoli cotyledons of three different genotypes for 3h, the yield was more than 5×106/mL/g, and the viability was more than 95%, sufficient to meet the high standards for protoplasts to be used in various experiments. The average transformation efficiency of the two plasmid vectors PHG-eGFP and CP507-YFP in broccoli B1 protoplasts were 61.4% and 41.7%, respectively. Using this system, we successfully performed subcellular localization of the products of three target genes (the clubroot resistance gene CRa and two key genes regulated by glucosinolates, Bol029100 and Bol031350).The results showed that the products of all three genes were localized in the nucleus. The high-efficiency transient transformation system for broccoli protoplasts constructed in this study makes it possible to reliably acquire high-viability protoplasts in high yield. This research provides important technical support for international frontier research fields such as single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, plant somatic hybridization, gene function analysis and subcellular localization.

Dryland Ecological Restoration Research Dynamics: A Bibliometric Analysis Based on Web of Science Data

Previous research on ecological restoration mainly includes three fields: water ecology, soil ecology, and atmospheric ecology, and the most abundant is in the field of soil ecology, among which the most abundant is in dryland ecological restoration. Research on dryland ecological restoration is very important in ensuring national food security, ecological security, and preventing a return to poverty. However, the previous research results do not clearly present the interconnection between the huge number of existing dryland ecological restoration studies and do not provide a three-dimensional understanding of the whole picture of dryland ecological restoration research from a broader perspective. Research on dryland ecological restoration has received wide attention from scholars at home and abroad, revealing the international research trends in the current field, which will provide a reference for the theory and practice of future dryland ecological restoration research. Using the SCI-E and SSCI databases of the “Web of Science Core Collection” as sample data sources and using CiteSpace optical measurement software, the 2254 literature in the field of international dryland ecological restoration research were systematically analyzed to track the situation and impact of research in this field by countries around the world, scientific research institutions and significant authors, and to analyze the interdisciplinary and research hotspots in this field, which is of great significance for the follow-up research of dryland ecological restoration. The research results show that: (1) The number of publications in international dryland ecological restoration has increased significantly with years and has strong development potential. (2) Journals representing the research frontier have an intense concentration with various journals. (3) The study of dryland ecological restoration belongs to a highly interdisciplinary discipline, while the two disciplines of ecology and environmental science are the pivot nodes of multidisciplinary disciplines. (4) China’s posts and total citations are among the best, but the average citation is low. (5) Dryland ecological restoration and protection is a hot research field at present, and special attention is paid to the dynamic changes and key driving factors of dryland ecological restoration and the full use of machine learning and extensive data mining to solve complex social-ecological problems. The study recommends that related disciplines must strengthen cooperation in the field of dryland ecological restoration, especially the two disciplines of ecology and environmental science, in order to promote the progress of dryland ecological restoration research theory and practice. China should continue to strengthen the investment of scientific research forces to improve the international influence of research in the field of dryland ecological restoration.

Analysing culture in language learning materials

This introduction contains three parts: First, a presentation of the timeline, including the selection of target languages. Second, an overview of trends of development in the international research field from the 1960s up until today. Third, a list of categories used in the subsequent table of annotated works.

Slavic Studies in China

Abstract Slavic studies in China have long been conducted under the category of the Soviet Union and Eastern European studies. In the past three decades, the research in China has turned to the attention of various Slavic countries amid the evolving domestic and international situations. With a number of research findings in Slavic language, literature, and area studies, Slavic studies in China have contributed its share to the development of philosophy, social science, and the building of our country as a whole. As an emerging discipline, our research is expected to include studies of every Slavic country, do more comparative research among Slavic nations, optimize the discipline system, and amplify its voice worldwide. We believe that with the joint effort of Chinese researchers our Slavic studies will earn a place in the field of international Slavic research.

THE CONCEPT AND APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF INTEGRATION OF TERRITORIAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC SYSTEMS: TO THE FORMULATION OF THE ISSUE

The importance of the development of the Russian economy as a comprehensive and sovereign system is increasing under the influence of external shocks. To this matter, the question of the economy’s spatial nature in regards to the deepening of integration processes between regions becomes particularly important.
 The purpose of the study is to develop theoretical and methodological foundations for analyzing the mechanisms of integrating the economies of the regions of the Siberian Federal District, assessing the integration potential of the Altai Krai. The empirical object of study is the Altai Krai. The subject of the study are the various forms and types of connections between the region and the regions of the Siberian Federal District.
 The paper considers a number of topical issues of interregional integration. A general assessment of the state of scientific research in this area is given. Insufficient empirical knowledge of interregional relations, the absence of comparable methodological approaches to the assessment of integration processes in macroregions are noted.
 The possibility of using methodological developments in the field of international integration research for the analysis of interregional interaction is substantiated and shown. Approaches to assessing the degree of «maturity» of interregional integration are outlined.
 The «mechanism» of integration is revealed as the unity of the driving forces of this process and the factors that determine it, in relation to different types of interregional relations.
 The ambiguity of the consequences of integration for the socio-economic development of regions is shown, depending on the basis on which interregional relations are formed (cooperation or competition).

Sex as self-injury: The appearance of a new diagnostic category in Sweden

“Sex as self-injury” is a well-established concept within Swedish society and is a new label for categorizing sexual risk-taking. The phenomenon has been discussed in Sweden since 2008, and about a decade later the concept appeared for the first time in Swedish scientific literature. “Sex as self-injury” is not yet an idea accepted by the international research field, but it can be assumed that it will eventually reach the international arena: the discourse about “self-destructive sex” has the potential to be established as a new diagnostic category of sexual dysfunction through “concept creep.” In this article, based on an analysis of media material from Sweden, we argue that the burgeoning discourse around “sex as self-injury” leads to a further strengthening of the normative division between “good” and “bad” sexualities, as described in Gayle Rubin’s work on a sex hierarchy.

Financial Literacy and Investment in Health: Points of Intersection

Unwillingness to carry out preventive measures and follow the principles of a healthy lifestyle (and, accordingly, spend money on it) can be considered as an example of irrational behavior not only from a medical point of view, but also from an economic point of view. The economic justification of the effectiveness of investments in health is not only a tool of personal financial planning for a person with a certain level of financial literacy, but also another argument for encouraging the population by the state and the employer to health–saving behavior of individuals. The proposed article is devoted to the relationship of a person's financial literacy with his decision-making about health-saving behavior and the implementation of measures aimed at reducing the risk to life and health. The results of research on financial literacy as a determinant of human health and financial literacy in the context of investing in one's health are studied on the data of the scientometric database Scopus. There has been a sharp increase in interest in this topic in the international research field since 2020. The analyzed works show that financial literacy is not determinant in health-saving behavior, but can be used as a tool for making rational decisions. Based on the theoretical analysis of normative and literary sources (domestic and foreign methodological recommendations, materials of scientific articles presented in the RSCI and Scopus database from 2000 to 2022), the main approaches to assessing the effectiveness of investments in disease prevention for an individual within the framework of personal financial planning as a way of rational decision-making are summarized. Conclusions are drawn about the complexity of independent "rational" calculation of the effectiveness of investments in health, regardless of the level of financial literacy. The assumption is made about the need to use formalized approaches in assessing investments in health as a tool for rational decision-making on the one hand, and a tool for improving health literacy.

Cell-in-Cell: From Cell Biology to Translational Medicine.

Cell-in-cell structures (CICs) refer to cytoplasmic internalization of a cell by another cell, which are found throughout various biological systems and have been a part of scientific dogma for a long time. However, neither the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon nor their possible roles in disease development have resulted in major breakthroughs until recent years. In view of the ubiquity of CICs in inflammatory tissue and tumors, it is tempting to think that these specific structures could be associated with clinical diagnosis and treatment and thus would become a new hotspot for translational medicine. Translational medicine is a new concept in the field of international biomedical research that appeared in the last 20 years, which transforms basic research into clinical application. With the growing interest in this field, this review addresses recent research on CICs and their potential clinical implications in cytomorphological diagnosis and the pathology of human diseases, while discussing as yet unanswered questions. We also put forward future directions to reduce the gap in our knowledge caused by our currently limited understanding of CICs.