Russian-Speaking Groups in Germany: Motivation for Migration

Introduction. The article considers motivation for migration of Russian-speaking groups who came to Germany from the territory of the former USSR countries. The article focuses on the analysis of ethnically privileged migrant groups – late migrants (Russian Germans) and quota refugees (Russian Jews) who came to Germany in the period of the late 1980s to mid-2000s. The aim of the research is to reveal the main reasons for and motives of the Russian-speaking group migration from the post-Soviet republics. The authors focus on the migration motives which have not been fully described, shown or analyzed in foreign research works, thus, enabling the readers to broaden their view on the migration of Russian-speaking groups to Germany. Methods. The research is based on qualitative methodology using the method of thematically-centered interview. The selection was done by the “snowball” method. Analysis. The authors carried out a comparative analysis of several research works with the results of the project conducted with Russian-speaking groups in Munich in 2005–2006 and 2011. The analyzed basis makes 43 interviews. The paper discusses the most questionable aspects regarding the ascertainment of the motivations of Russian Germans and Russian Jews for moving to Germany; it also compares the groups and reveals common features of migratory background characteristics to both of them. The paper gives special attention to ethnic motivations of migration which turn to be both pushing and pulling factors for both Russian-speaking groups. It also compares interpretations of significance of ethnicity and ethnic discrimination being the reasons for migration of Russian Germans and Russian Jews in the research works analyzed here. Results. The hypothesis is that after the USSR split ethnic discrimination of both groups may be considered on the basis of “wrong” ethnicity in the countries of exodus. The conclusion is drawn that discrimination on ethnic basis cannot be the main reason for migration of Russian Germans and Russian Jews to Germany. It is more probable that in the case of Russian-speaking groups we deal with “drifting” ethnicity which may be suggested to or imposed on individuals. The data presented in the article may be of great interest for improving the state policy of this country towards compatriots from abroad and working out migratory regulations

New approaches to modernization of spatial and sectorial development of Russian and Greek regional economy

The purpose of the article is to develop new highly-effective organizational and managerial approaches to conduct of modernization of spatial and sectorial development of regional economy of Russia and Greece. During conduct of the research, the authors use such scientific methods as systemic structural and comparative analysis. The authors determine the level of differentiation of the level and structure of economic development of regions of Russia and Greece in 2012 through consideration of indicators of GRP per capita of regions and GDP, as well as gross added value for regions and sectors of production. During the research, the authors come to the conclusion that modern Russia and Greece are peculiar for presence of serious disproportions in the level of economic development of regions, which is a reason for unbalanced development of economic systems of these countries, slowdown of rates of national economic growth, and crisis. This situation is caused by orientation at the use of geographical approach. As alternative, the authors offer three new approaches to modernization of spatial and sectorial development of regional economy of Russia and Greece: cluster, client-oriented, and anti-crisis and substantiate expediency of transition to their application. These approaches allow overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks and ensure well-balanced development of regional economy in the long-term, as well as its high sustainability and quick overcoming of economic crises. For provision of high effectiveness of the process of selecting the optimal approach to modernization of spatial and sectorial development of regional economy by territorial authorities, it is offered to use the corresponding proprietary algorithm of modernization of spatial and sectorial development of regional economy.peer-reviewe

Portfolio as an educational technology in the educational process of a university

The current stage in the development of  society and science as well as technological progress pose new challenges for higher education institutions. Modern requirements concerning highly efficient specialists training have indicated the need to use innovative technologies in the competent graduate formation. The purpose of the article is to review the experience of implementing portfolio as an educational technology in the higher school educational environment. The article reveals the capabilities of the portfolio, its types and functions. The main ideas of portfolio technology in vocational education are identified. The research was based on the study of the motivational, epistemological, activity components formation before the portfolio technology introduction and after its implementation. The results obtained allow us to talk about the importance and effectiveness of the portfolio in the formation of a highly educated and competitive specialist. The data of the study can be used in the preparation of higher educational institutions students

Phylodynamic characteristics of the LMP-1 gene of the Epstein–Barr virus isolated in the Nizhny Novgorod region

Introduction. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is one of the most common herpesviruses and has a pronounced genetic polymorphism. The study of the phylodynamic characteristics of the virus is an important aspect of the study of evolutionary changes in the LMP-1 gene and their consequences. The aim of the work was a philodynamic analysis of EBV isolates from Nizhny Novgorod region based on the C-terminal fragment of the LMP-1 gene. Materials and methods. The study included 158 EBV isolates obtained from blood leukocytes and saliva of children aged 1–17 years with a diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis caused by EBV (n = 68) and apparently healthy children of comparable sex and age (n = 29). LMP-1 genovariants were obtained using the Sanger sequencing method. Comparative analysis of amino acid sequences was performed using the MEGA X program. Philodynamic analysis of the obtained nucleotide sequences and isolates deposited in GenBank was carried out using the BEAST v. 1.10.4 software package. Recombination analysis was performed using the Simplot program. Results. 158 nucleotide sequences of the C-terminal fragment of the LMP-1 gene from Nizhny Novgorod region EBV isolates were obtained and deposited in the GenBank database. The circulation time of the nearest common ancestor for the modified B95-8 genovariants with G212S + E328Q + S366T and NC mutations with the D250N substitution has been established dating back to 1994 and 1923. The rate of evolution of these genovariants was the highest and amounted to 1.298 × 10–4 and 7.868 × 10–4 nucleotide substitutions/site/year. Recombinations were detected in the Nizhny Novgorod region sequences Med-, B95-8, China 1 with mutations G212S, G212S, E214Q, respectively. Conclusion. For the first time, a phylodynamic characterization of Nizhny Novgorod region isolates and LMP-1 EBV genovariants isolated in various regions of the world is given. The data obtained expand the existing understanding of the circulation of EBV LMP-1 genovariants in the territory of the European part of Russia

LANGUAGE CONSCIOUSNESS CHANGE OF RUSSIAN-SPEAKING MIGRANTS. ANALYSIS OF SOME WORDS-STIMULI

The article presents the results of the analysis of words-stimuli “home”, “Motherland”, “Russia”, “Russian”, “language”, undertaken with consideration of the data obtained in a pilot associative experiment with Russian-speaking groups of migrants (ethnic Jewish and Germans), living in Munich (Germany). A comparative analysis of experimental data and the data given in associative dictionaries was performed with the aim to reveal the influence of respondents’ ethnic background on transformation of associative fields, which is connected with changes in cultural environment. The authors draw a conclusion that in the fields with the words-stimuli “Russia”, “Russian language” the respondents’ quantitative reactions demonstrate a low level of change, coinciding with the ones, stipulated in the dictionaries. This type of words-stimuli is labeled as “migratory stable” and is opposed to “migratory unstable” in the contents of associative fields with the words-stimuli “home”, “Motherland”. Some noticeable changes and trends of considerable transformations under the influence of the foreign culture environment are discovered. The respondents’ quantitative reactions deviate from those registered in the dictionaries. The article gives reasons for transformations and/or preserving the contents of associative fields of the words-stimuli under study. The ethnic characteristics of the groups under experiments are stated having little influence on transformation of the associative fields, whereas the cultural background, the worldview was formed at, demonstrates some considerable effect on their consciousness