Upgrading Russian enterprises from the value chain perspective: the case study of tube & pipe, and furniture sectors

The paper is the first analysis of the competitiveness of Russian enterprises from the perspective of value chains, with a focus on the example of tube & pipe and furniture producers. In both industries, Russian firms enjoy an advantage on the raw material side. Nevertheless, the overall competitiveness level of Russian producers remains modest. Domestic industries primarily owe decreased competitiveness to the inadequate operation of the final links in the value chain: from end-product production to the end-user. In addition, the competitiveness of domestic producers is limited to the ability of key players in the chain to redistribute additional gains in their own favor. Study shows that any non-selective methods of supporting enterprises (such as tax reductions) exert extremely limited influence on the status of players in those chains where one of the links is characterized by serious entry barriers and related opportunities of rent redistribution in favor of a particular player. Paper suggests several policy measures which aim to improve the ability of the producers to reposition themselves along the chain or to modify the chain itself

Double proximity effect in hybrid planar Superconductor-(Normal metal/Ferromagnet)-Superconductor structures

We have investigated the differential resistance of hybrid planar Al-(Cu/Fe)-Al submicron bridges at low temperatures and in weak magnetic fields. The structure consists of Cu/Fe-bilayer forming a bridge between two superconducting Al-electrodes. In superconducting state of Al-electrodes, we have observed a double-peak peculiarity in differential resistance of the S-(N/F)-S structures at a bias voltage corresponding to the minigap. We claim that this effect (the doubling of the minigap) is due to an electron spin polarization in the normal metal which is induced by the ferromagnet. We have demonstrated that the double-peak peculiarity is converted to a single peak at a coercive applied field corresponding to zero magnetization of the Fe-layer

Russian Manufacturing Revisited: Industrial Enterprises at the Start of the Crisis

The paper is based on the findings of a major project by the Higher School of Economics Institute for Industrial and Market Studies (IIMS) to monitor competitiveness of manufacturing enterprises. The study focuses on the drivers and dynamics of business competitiveness, including changes in firms’ behavior during the period before the crisis (2005-2008). The primary issue was to find out what firms and to what extent succeeded in capitalizing on the strong economic growth before the crisis to catch up with their competitors and gain a sustainable competitive position in the market. What was driving output increases and enhanced production efficiency? What were the impediments to this process

The nucleation in oligomer melts

Impulse NMR has been used to study the crystallization conditions of oligoethylene- and oligo-butylene adipates as a function of the melt temperature at constant crystallization temperature. Residual crystal structures have been found in the melts above the melting temperature; these act as nuclei in the subsequent crystallization. The Avrami equation describing the crystallization kinetics from the melt has been modified on the basis of this result; in addition to the classical and homogeneous nucleation there is one in which the crystal nuclei are the residual crystal structures already existing in the melt. © 1978

The “New” strategy in teaching literature in a multiethnic environment (As exemplified by the republic of Tatarstan)

© Author(s).The problem of individualization and differentiation of the learning process is still relevant in the education. The Republic of Tatarstan is a special community where many nationalities live together. In this article the problem of the text interpretation at literature lessons is on the focus of view. Leaning on the provisions, provided by hermeneutic scientists, the authors regard the interpretation as a special dialogue between the reader and the text. The issue is also devoted to the problem of individual learning styles formation based on the psychological characteristics of the reader-student, the types of his representative system (auditory, visual or kinesthetic). Based on the facts found identified according to the experiment authors have developed the idea of forming individual ways for learning literature

Determination of the inertness of the balance of the excitatory and inhibitory type of the nervous system in athletes using the kinematometric method

When training professional athletes, a special place is occupied by the analysis of mental activity, carried out from the standpoint of an individual approach. The present paper discusses ways to control the change of nerve processes such as excitation and inhibition and their predominance in each individual.При подготовке профессиональных спортсменов особое место занимает анализ психической деятельности, осуществляемый с позиций индивидуального подхода. В представленной работе рассматриваются способы контроля за сменой нервных процессов таких как возбуждение и торможение и их преобладание у каждого индивида