Dielectric properties of silicon nitride ceramics produced by free sintering

The silicon nitride ceramics with a beneficial combination of low dielectric losses and improved physical properties was fabricated by cold isostatic pressing and pressureless sintering. The fine grain microstructure, three-phase composition based on the β-SiAlON, the small amount of the glass phase and relatively small porosity promote a unique combination of a low thermal conductivity 14.51 W m¯¹ K¯¹ and low dielectric loss 1.4·10¯¯³. A novel method is proposed to overcome the main drawbacks of the commercial and high-cost technologie

Meaning making in communication processes: the role of a human agency

Social theorists often neglect the fact that human beings are not only recipients but also producers of cultural meanings. Peirce's theory of semiosis highlights the active character of human agency. Introducing the notion of interpretant into semiotics, Pierce consideres the process of interpretation or interpretive thought to be a condition of signification, which necessarily involves an interpreting agent, a meaning-making human being. This paper offers a comparative analysis of Peirce's and Eco's theories of semiosis and examines the role of an interpreting agent involved in the semiotic process which is only possible in communication

Internet of things as a symbolic resource of power

The resources of power are usually understood as the entirety of means of influencing the object of power in accordance with the subject's aims. This paper investigates the phenomenon of Internet of Things (IoT, or Cloud of Things, or CoT) as an emerging resource used in the formation of the symbolic capital of power. As well as evaluating the potential of IoT already used in this capacity, the authors are also interested in clarifying and evaluating specific characteristics involved in its usage

Fast food and the semiotics of gastronomy

Nourishment stands apart from other physiological events: whilst we normally exercise discretion in relation to bodily functions, food consumption takes place in public. We dine, snack and nibble in front of others, and the imagery associated with food takes on the manifold of meanings—religious, cultural, historic and so forth. Gastronomic practices unite or divide people, and as such are a powerful communication tool. As the twenty-first century confrontational stance between fast food and family meal traditions intensifies, we investigate fast food’s visual imagery and its ability to attract consumers

UK universities: choosing the right partner

This paper offers an overview of British universities from the perspective of a prospective international student or educational manager looking for international collaboration. The authors explain criteria used to rank UK universities in University League Table 2015. They give an overview of specific terminology and jargon associated with British higher education explaining terms such as Oxbridge, Russell Group universities, Red brick universities, Scottish MA etc

Microstructure and phase composition of cold Isostatically pressed and pressureless sintered silicon nitride

The microstructure and physical properties of new Y₂O₃ and Al₂O₃ oxide-doped silicon nitride ceramics fabricated by cold isostatic pressing and free sintering were investigated. The phase composition of produced material was also studied by X-ray diffraction at room and elevated temperature. The fabricated ceramics featured a microstructure of Si₅AlON₇ grains with a fine-grained α-Si₃N₄ with a small amount of Y₂SiAlON₅. Described ceramics is attractive for many high-temperature structural applications due to beneficial combination of fine-grained structure with improved mechanical properties and small weight los

Career construction: inclusive education from school to college and university

This article presents the obstacles that Russian schoolchildren with special needs face when considering vocational and professional education. Using the analysis of official reports, applied research methods and sociological methods, the researchers identified the following obstacles: lack of specific career guidance at school; disabled students’ fear that they lack physical strength to study and the negative attitude of others

Improvement of forms and methods of teaching in higher education

Розглянуто поняття форм і методів навчання у вищому навчальному закладі як складових компонентів авторських педагогічних систем та розглянуто їх характеристику. Виділено організаційні форми навчання, які одночасно є способами безперервного управління пізнавальною діяльністю студентів. До них відносять: лекції, семінарські заняття, лабораторні роботи, практикуми, самостійну роботу, науково-дослідну роботу студентів, різного виду практику тощо. Показано, що ефективність навчання безпосередньо залежить від форм і методів, які викладач буде використовувати в навчально-виховному процесі. Вміле їх поєднання дозволить активізувати студента і викликати в ньому інтерес до процесу навчання.The concepts of forms and methods of teaching in higher education as constituent components of the author's pedagogical systems were considered and their characteristics were considered too. Organizational forms of education were given. They are method of continuous management of cognitive activity of the students. These include: lectures, seminars, laboratory works, self-work, research work of students, various types of practice, etc. It is shown that the effectiveness of teaching depends directly on the forms and methods that the teacher will use in the educational process. Skillful combination of them will allow activating the student and arouse interest in him in the learning process