Creative Potential of Memes in Foreign Language Training

Internet-memes, new unique cultural units, have been attracting scientists’ attention for a long time. The memes are of interest for linguists, culture researchers, and sociologists. Teachers also recognize massive opportunities that the use of memes offers for foreign language training. The present study proposes the effect of nonverbal component of a traditional (visual) Internet-meme on foreign language training. It is the nonverbal component (image, special form of gradation, visual opposition or other representation) that sets a broad context, which can be creatively used by a teacher. There are some practices that allow using the creation of the new culture for training as well as allowing students to rethink the training process in a creative way on their own

Minimising investment risks through optimising public-private partnership: the case of the Kaliningrad region

This study undertakes a contextual analysis of economic and legal risks associated with investment in the Kaliningrad region. The authors emphasise the importance of public-private partnership (PPP) in minimising such risks in order to enhance the region's attractiveness and to solve development problems. PPP has never been studied as a means to minimise regional investment risks in current conditions. This accounts for the scientific novelty of examining investment risks minimisation through proving the essentiality of developing PPP mechanisms on a unique Russian territory - the Kaliningrad region. The article analyses current investment risks, conditions, barriers, and avenues to enhance the investment climate in the Kaliningrad region. The authors utilise data on current investment in the region and consider the principles of the region's investment policy. The study stresses the need to develop the regional economy's "points of growth" within PPP schemes. It is proposed that the region and its municipalities should participate in partner projects in a manner that, firstly, is transparent to national and international investors and concordant with best practices and, secondly, enables the executive authorities and businesses to collaborate in developing the most efficient legal framework for partnership. The article identifies the role of PPP in solving the problem of regional development and gives recommendations on overcoming barriers and implementing PPP projects in the region

Transforming the Productivity of People in the Built Environment: Emergence of a Digital Competency Management Ecosystem

This chapter explores how we create and support a digitally enabled, agile, competent, and ultimately, productive workforce and determines the key research questions that need to be addressed if Digital Built Britain (DBB) is to provide return on investment and succeed as the catalyst for evolving the manner in which we conceive, plan, design, construct, operate, and interact with the built environment. The proposed vision is a digital competency management ecosystem where interdependent stakeholders are incentivised to work together in coopetition to create, capture, infer, interpret, specify, integrate, accredit, apply, use, monitor, and evolve competence as a working (data) asset. This needs to be in a consistent, objective, explicit, and scalable manner, with end2end transparency and traceability for all stakeholders that overcome the challenges of competency management. Moreover, a core element must be an ecosystem organised around digital infrastructure of competency frameworks and other knowledge sources of competence, so that competency frameworks are in digital operation and dynamic context

Endogenous amyloidogenesis in long-term rat hippocampal cell cultures

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Long-term primary neuronal cultures are a useful tool for the investigation of biochemical processes associated with neuronal senescence. Improvements in available technology make it possible to observe maturation of neural cells isolated from different regions of the rodent brain over a prolonged period <it>in vitro</it>. Existing experimental evidence suggests that cellular aging occurs in mature, long-term, primary neuronal cell cultures. However, detailed studies of neuronal development <it>in vitro </it>are needed to demonstrate the validity of long-term cell culture-based models for investigation of the biochemical mechanisms of <it>in vitro </it>neuronal development and senescence.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the current study, neuron-enriched hippocampal cell cultures were used to analyze the differentiation and degeneration of hippocampal neurons over a two month time period. The expression of different neuronal and astroglial biomarkers was used to determine the cytochemical characteristics of hippocampal cells in long-term cultures of varying ages. It was observed that the expression of the intermediate filament nestin was absent from cultures older than 21 days in vitro (DIV), and the expression of neuronal or astrocytic markers appeared to replace nestin. Additionally, morphological evaluations of neuronal integrity and Hoescht staining were used to assess the cellular conditions in the process of hippocampal culture development and aging. It was found that there was an increase in endogenous production of Aβ_1-42and an increase in the accumulation of Congo Red-binding amyloidal aggregates associated with the aging of neurons in primary culture. <it>In vitro </it>changes in the morphology of co-existing astrocytes and cell culture age-dependent degeneration of neurodendritic network resemble features of <it>in vivo </it>brain aging at the cellular level.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In conclusion, this study suggests that long-term primary CNS culture is a viable model for the study of basic mechanisms and effective methods to decelerate the process of neuronal senescence.</p

NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORKS: CONCEPTUAL AND METHODOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES IN THE CONTEXT OF UNRESOLVED ISSUES

Introduction. The deficiency of highly skilled professionals meeting the requirements of the modern labour market has become the reason for search of new, more effective regulation mechanisms of vocational training and personnel certification for post-industrial knowledge-based economy. As international practice demonstrates, such mechanisms could be the National Qualifications Systems (NQS), National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and Professional Standards (PS) that are comparable with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), designed for lifelong education implementation. Aim. Having analysed the international experience, the aims of the article are to discuss the issues of NQF and PS implementation and to consider the possibility of adaptation of the best models of foreign practice for the Russian realities. Methodology and research methods. The methods of collecting empirical information, comparative and conceptual-terminological analysis were applied in the course of studying methodological and methodical aspects of construction and functioning of NQS; the methods of generalization, interpretation and modeling were applied. The results and scientific novelty. The complex of the systemic problems which restrict the process of NQS formation launched in Russia is noted. The revealed reasons are explained by the developed psychological, organizational and methodical stereotypes; the ways of overcoming the current problems are outlined. According to the authors, the key problem is the dichotomy between professional and educational qualifications which does not exist in the international discourse, but is deeply rooted in consciousness of the Russians. Such a distinction involves irrational duplication of procedures for the qualifications assessment and generates a number of other difficulties interfering effective development of NQS and obtaining the maximum benefits from its use. In order to resolve the revealed contradictions and shortcomings, the authors analysed the experience of other countries where national systems of qualifications are implemented. Based on the international practice invariant systemically important parameters and variable characteristics of NQS and NQF are singled out and described. The typology of the qualifications framework and the principles of their design are proved. Practical significance. The research materials and findings, recommendations and suggestions for integrated improvement of mechanisms of Federal State Educational Standards, introduced PS and the system of independent assessment of qualifications can be useful for professional development of the experts and methodologists participating in design and modernization of NQF, development of professional and educational standards along with the main and additional programs of vocational training.Введение. Ощущающийся во многих государствах дефицит высококвалифицированных специалистов, отвечающих требованиям современного рынка труда, стал причиной поиска новых, более эффективных механизмов регулирования профессиональной подготовки и аттестации кадров для постиндустриальной экономики знаний. Такими механизмами, как показывает мировая практика, могут стать национальные системы квалификации (НСК), национальные рамки квалификаций (НРК), сопоставимые с Европейской рамкой квалификаций, созданной для воплощения концепции обучения в течение всей жизни, и разрабатываемые синхронно с ними профессиональные стандарты (ПС). Цель публикации – обсуждение на основе обобщения международного опыта сущностных вопросов использования НРК и ПС для изыскания возможностей адаптации к российским реалиям лучших образцов зарубежной практики в данной области.Методология и методы. В ходе изучения методологических и методических аспектов построения и функционирования НСК применялись методы сбора эмпирической информации, сравнительного и понятийно-терминологического анализа; обобщение, интерпретация и моделирование. Результаты и научная новизна. Обозначен комплекс системных проблем, тормозящих запущенный в России процесс становления НСК. Вскрыты их причины, которые во многом объясняются сложившимися психологическими, организационными и методическими стереотипами, и намечены пути преодоления имеющихся проблем. Ключевой среди них, по мнению авторов статьи, является отсутствующее в международном дискурсе, но укоренившееся в сознании россиян противопоставление профессиональных и образовательных квалификаций. Подобное разграничение влечет за собой нерациональное дублирование процедур их оценки и порождает ряд других сложностей, препятствующих эффективному развитию НСК и получению максимальных выгод от ее использования. Для устранения выявленных противоречий и недостатков проанализирован опыт других стран, в которых существуют национальные системы квалификаций. С опорой на международную практику выделены и описаны инвариантные системообразующие параметры и вариативные характеристики НСК и НРК. Обоснована типология рамок квалификаций и принципы их проектирования. Практическая значимость. Материалы исследования и сформулированные его авторами рекомендации и предложения по совершенствованию механизмов сопряжения ФГОС, внедряемых ПС и системы независимой оценки квалификаций могут быть полезны для повышения квалификации экспертов и методистов, участвующих в проектировании и модернизации НРК, разработке профессиональных и образовательных стандартов, а также основных и дополнительных программ профессиональной подготовки

Water uptake and transport properties of La1-xCaxScO3-α proton-conducting oxides

In this study, oxide materials La1-xCaxScO3-α (x = 0.03, 0.05 and 0.10) were synthesized by the citric-nitrate combustion method. Single-phase solid solutions were obtained in the case of calcium content x=0.03 and 0.05,whereas a calcium-enriched impurity phasewas found at x=0.10. Water uptake and release were studied by means of thermogravimetric analysis, thermodesorption spectroscopy and dilatometry. It was shown that lower calcium content in the main phase leads to a decrease in the water uptake. Conductivity wasmeasured by four-probe direct current (DC) and two-probe ascension current (AC)methods at different temperatures, pO2 and pH2O. The effects of phase composition,microstructure and defect structure on electrical conductivity, as well as correlation between conductivity and water uptake experiments, were discussed. The contribution of ionic conductivity of La1-xCaxScO3-α rises with decreasing temperature and increasing humidity. The domination of proton conductivity at temperatures below 500 °C under oxidizing and reducing atmospheres is exhibited. Water uptake and release as well as transport properties of La1-xCaxScO3-α are compared with the properties of similar proton electrolytes, La1-xSrxScO3-α, and the possible reasons for their differences were discussed. © 2019 by the authors.Russian Science Foundation, RSF: 16-13-00053Government Council on Grants, Russian FederationMinistry of Education and Science of the Republic of KazakhstanFunding: The research was partially supported by the Russian Science Foundation (Grant №16-13-00053) and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Project No. AP05130148). The education activity of Ph.D. and students involved into this work is supported by Act 211 of Government of the Russian Federation, agreement No. 02.A03.21.0006