Mathematical descriptions of heat-mass-exchange processes in construction industry at control automation

The paper covers matters arising in building mathematical model of processes at thermal treatment of construction materials. On the basis of analysis of heat energy and moisture flows in intermittent steam chamber and continuous tunnel drying chamber, analytic and structure models of heat-mass-exchange processes in processing vessels are drawn. The structural model of heat-mass-exchange processes allowed to evaluate the relationship of heat energy and moisture flows at heat treatment processes for gypsum and reinforced-concrete articles. The resulting system of interrelated differential equations is based on a structural model. Analytical studies showed that the considering heat treatment units are characterized by non-stationary, non-linear, stochastic and distributed technological parameters. An experimental study of technological devices has shown that in a limited time range, the processes of heat-mass-exchange can be characterized by a system of linear differential equations with constant coefficients with sufficient accuracy for practice. Acceptable allowances and simplifying assumptions at analytical description of heat-mass-exchange processes in processing vessels are considered. As a result of performed research, various mathematical forms (differential equation system, matrix and operator forms) of mathematical models of processing vessels are obtained. The built mathematical models may be applied for constructing the processing vessels with preset dynamic properties, as well for control-system designing by those vessels

Digital transformation in assessments and perceptions of university teachers

This paper is based on the findings of the research work “Modern methodology for analyzing the process and effectiveness of distance education”, conducted by the team of the Field Research Center of the Institute for Social Analysis and Forecasting (RANEPA) in 2021. Since the beginning of the pandemic, our colleagues at the Field Research Center have conducted three waves of survey among university teachers dedicated to the urgent transition to distance learning and the ongoing digital transformation of universities. The results of the last third wave (April-May 2021) are presented in this paper. The hypotheses proposed at the start of the project have been confirmed: the respondents’ attitude to distance learning gets back to normal over time, and “hybrid” or mixed form of education begins to be perceived as a norm. However, these processes continue to take place in contrast to the stagnant problems in higher education. The overlapping of problems that have arisen due to the complexity of the higher education administration reform at its different stages creates a diversity of risks and opportunities in the process of digital transformation. The authors of this work would like not only to describe the current situation and the objective difficulties accompanying any changes, but present a map of the “bottlenecks” of modern distance learning, the “anxious moods” of certain social groups within the teaching community. The attention focused on these groups can relieve the stress of the transition to distance learning