Surface relief grating recording in azobenzene epoxy films

This work has been supported by National research program IMIS2. I would like to thank Larisa Grigorjeva and Aleksejs Zolotarjovs from Institute of Solid state physics, University of Latvia for FTIR measurements.In this work the direct one step formation of surface relief gratings (SRG) in azo-epoxy polymer films during holographic recording was studied. In this material azo-compound is covalently attached to epoxy forming polymer. The main advantages of azo-epoxy polymers are simple and cheap synthesis, low polymerization degree, thus the photo-induced mass transport process has been facilitated. The dependence of SRG formation efficiency in AAB:BADGE films on sample preparation conditions, film content, recording parameters and possibility of reversible recording and SRG self-enhancement process was studied.National research program IMIS2; Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART

CONCEPTUALIZING THE UNDERSTANDING OF PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY IN TEACHER’S CAREER

The article deals with the research designed as the Grounded Theoryto explore and conceptualize the practising teachers’ perception of their professional identity. The practising teachers – master students of the professional master study programme „Teacher” study module “Education for Well-being and Cohesion” taking the course „Educator’s Professional Identity and Pedagogic Mastery” were chosen to help to formulate the theory. Analogies (metaphors) and narrative essays have been used as the techniques for identifying concepts. Making associations, brainstorming, coding, making concepts, conceptual sorting in categories, memoing and outlining theories was the procedure how teachers conceptualized the various elements used to construct professional identity.Word frequency list and keyword- in-context list techniques were used to carry out computer-aided content analysis and represented by the help of Wordle.net – the tool for generating “word clouds” from text that is provided. The outcome of this research is the content of teachers’ professional identity discussed and analysed in the light of various theories and in close link with the concepts of “professional career”, “personality development”, “career” and “self-concept”. Based on the keywords provided by teachers, the teacher’s professional identity structure consisting of 4 components: professional “self-concept”, harmony of professional identity, successful self-determination and creative professional activity was elaborated by adding criteria notions, as well as the content analyses of teachers’ narratives was used to identify professional identity development statuses

Enhancement of photosensitivity in azo-epoxy resists for direct holographic recording

Financial support provided by Scientific Research Project for Students and Young Researchers Nr. SJZ/2017/7 realized at the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia is greatly acknowledged”Azo-epoxy resist is promising material for direct holographic recording due to good photosensitivity and possibility to modify structure of molecule during synthesis – obtained polymer polymerization index easily can be changed by varying curing temperature and curing time. Produced photoresist had properties similar to low-weight molecular glasses. In this work 4-Aminoazobenze, Disperse Orange 2 and epoxy resin bisphenol A diglycidyl ether were used. Surface relief grating formation by direct holographic method was performed in obtained resi sts. Surface relief grating post-recording self-enhancement process was investigated. It allows to increase a depth of surface relief grating after holographic recording, using physical method – uniform light illumination. It decreases time and required exposure for recording, making holographic recording more effective because grating formation is less affected by vibrations and noises.ISSP UL Scientific Research Project for Students and Young Researchers No. SJZ/2017/7; Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART

Architectural competitions as an instrument for heritage protection: the dynamics of competition taxonomy

Various concepts of preserving the cultural and historical environment of the Historical centre of Riga have been documented within the last century period, including the international status as item No. 852 on the UNESCO World heritage list. The Riga Historical Centre Preservation and Protection Law was created as one of the mechanisms for the preservation of the status, which, among other notions, makes the procedure of architectural competitions mandatory. The territory, being part of the list, contains listings that it should consider in terms of value. Under such context the competition not only determines the competition for the best and serves as formal instrument for hindering hasty or inappropriate development, but also is public interpretation of the contemporary architectural values in contra dictionary aspects. The purpose is to analyse the structure of competition procedure instrument and relation to the specifics of the heritage and contemporary challenges. The study uses 75 competitions briefs and jury protocols proceeding in period 2004–2014, in the territory of urban heritage. The results demonstrate taxonomy1 of systemic listings of architectural properties followed by expert voting form as the main mechanism for results

The binding force of the case law of the court of justice of the European Union

The article is dedicated to determine de iure and de facto binding force of the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (hereinafter the ECJ) and its place in the system of legal sources in Latvia. The author concludes that the case law of the ECJ consists of legally important statements, which are included in judgements of the ECJ, namely, of an interpretation of legal norms, made by the ECJ, and of judge-made law norms, which the ECJ has found in legal system by use of a further law-making. Therefore, it follows from the above that the case law of the ECJ is regarded as binding independent addition legal source in Latvia. This publication concerns not only Latvia, but also other European Union (hereinafter the EU) member states of the continental Europe or Romano-Germanic legal system.Nuo Deklaracijos dėl Europos Sąjungos teisės aktų aukščiausios galios, kuri yra įtraukta į Lisabonos sutartį priėmusios tarpvalstybinės konferencijos užbaigimo aktą, 2009 m. gruodžio 1 d. įsigaliojimo momento EST judikatūros bendroji privalomoji galia yra pripažinta ES pagrindinio teisės aktų leidėjo – dalyvių šalių – politinės valios išraiška. Toks statusas Deklaracija yra suteiktas (faktiškai – akceptuotas) EST sprendimų bendriuosius teisės principus pripažįstant privalomosiomis teisės normomis, t. y. nurodant, kad šių principų laikomasi nepriklausomai nuo to, ar jie yra, ar nėra įrašyti kuriame nors ES norminiame teisės akte ar sudarymo sutartyse. ES teisės yra tokios, kokias savo nutarimuose paskelbia EST, interpretacijos būdu apibrėždamas ES rašytinių teisės normų turinį. Vėliau kuriamos naujos teisės normos ir pripažįstami negaliojančiais ES įstaigų ar darinių teisės aktai. ES teisių darną ir konsekvenciją galima garantuoti tiktai tada, jeigu EST judikatūra kaip privalomas teisės šaltinis taikomas ne tik konkrečioje byloje, kurioje keliamas prejudicinis klausimas, bet visose dalyvių šalyse, kiekvienoje su teisės taikymu susijusioje byloje. Privalomasis teisės šaltinis yra visi, ne tik į EST judikatūrą įtraukti prejudiciniai nutarimai, nes nėra prasmės kelti prejudicinį klausimą dėl teisės normų interpretacijos, jeigu tai jau pateikta kitos procedūros metu priimtame nutarime. EST kaip ES teisių vienybės ir konsekvencijos garantas nenumato išskirtinės normos interpretacijos tik todėl, kad ši norma taikoma kitoje procedūroje priimtame nutarime. Teisiškai svarbios išvados arba teisėjų veiklos normos atitinka visus tris teisės normas apibūdinančius požymius. Reiškia, EST teisėjų veiklos teisinės normos yra bendrinės, kaip ir įtrauktosios į ES norminius aktus. Rašytinės teisinės normos interpretacija (jos rezultatas) nėra nauja teisės norma, bet yra visuotinai privaloma atitinkamos normos turinio išraiška, nes ES teisės norma ir EST atliktas jos vertimas yra nedalomas vienetas. Vadinasi, EST judikatūra yra privalomas teisės šaltinis. Latvija, kaip ir kitos kontinentinės, arba romanų-germanų tiesinės sistemos, šalys, priklauso vadinamosioms rašytinių teisių šalims, kuriose nuolatiniais pagrindiniais šaltiniais pripažįstami tiktai norminiai teisės aktai. Vadinasi, EST judikatūra yra bendrinis nuolatinis papildomas arba subsidiarus teisės šaltinis Latvijos teisės sistemoje. EST nutarimai nėra privalomi precedentai (precedentų teisės) dalyvių šalių teismams, jiems yra privalomos EST teisiškai svarbios išvados

Переваги застосування системи управління ідеями на основі веб-технологій

Purpose: Research web-based idea management system (IMS) application benefits and their relations with different IMS types and how it is all related to the IMS results – idea quality, idea quantity and involvement. Design/Method/Approach: On the basis of a commercially available web-based IMS study and the analysis of cases of the IMS use, the main benefits of IMS were identified. The survey verified the most typical benefits for the IMS use. On the basis of a thematic analysis of the benefits, they were grouped together in advance in the thematic groups that were addressed. Data collection: the survey of 400 enterprises with web-based IMS experience was carried out. Data analysis: descriptive statistics and MANOVA analysis were utilized. Findings: The potential benefits of IMS in 4 main groups: the benefits of an idea management (IM) process, the benefits of innovation management, the benefits of cooperation, and the benefits of general management were determined.  According to MANOVA, all groups of benefits have strong connections with all types of a web-based IMS. Originality/Value: This study fills the previously identified need to clarify the types of IMS and their impact on the results and benefits of IMS application. Academic contribution to the study is (1) it is the broadest survey-based study of the web-based IMS benefits; (2) it applies two classifications of IMS; (3) it explores relations among the results, benefits and IMS types. Practical contribution is the outcomes of the study will help companies to understand what results can be achieved using different types of IMS. Research Limitations/Future Research: This research opens avenues for the future research on the web-based IMS application in organizations exploring each of the benefit relations with the web-based IMS types.   Paper type: Empirical.Цель работы: Изучить преимущества применения веб-системы управления идеями (IMS) и их взаимосвязь с различными типами IMS, а также то, как все это связано с результатами IMS - качеством идеи, количеством идей и вовлеченностью. Дизайн/Метод/Подход исследования: На основе коммерчески доступного веб-исследования IMS и анализа случаев использования IMS были определены основные преимущества IMS. Опрос подтвердил наиболее типичные преимущества использования IMS. На основе тематического анализа преимуществ они были заранее сгруппированы в тематические группы, которые рассматривались. Сбор данных: был проведен опрос 400 предприятий, имеющих опыт использования IMS в Интернете. Анализ данных: использовали описательную статистику и анализ MANOVA. Результаты исследования: Были определены потенциальные преимущества IMS в 4 основных группах: преимущества процесса управления идеями (IM), преимущества управления инновациями, преимущества сотрудничества и преимущества общего управления. Согласно MANOVA, все группы преимуществ тесно связаны со всеми типами IMS на базе Интернета. Оригинальность/Ценность исследования: Это исследование удовлетворяет ранее выявленную потребность в уточнении типов IMS и их влияния на результаты и преимущества применения IMS. Академический вклад в исследование заключается в том, что (1) это наиболее широкое исследование преимуществ IMS в Интернете; (2) он применяет две классификации IMS; (3) исследуются взаимосвязи между результатами, преимуществами и типами IMS. Практический вклад результатов исследования поможет компаниям понять, каких результатов можно достичь с помощью различных типов IMS. Ограничения исследования/Дальнейшие исследования: Это исследование открывает возможности для будущих исследований веб-приложений IMS в организациях, изучающих каждое из выгодных отношений с веб-типами IMS.   Тип статьи: ЭмпирическийМета роботи: Вивчити переваги застосування веб-системи управління ідеями (IMS) та їх взаємозв'язок з різними типами IMS, а також те, як все це пов'язано з результатами IMS - якістю ідеї, кількістю ідей і залученістю. Дизайн / Метод / Підхід дослідження: На основі комерційно доступного веб-дослідження IMS і аналізу випадків використання IMS були визначені основні переваги IMS. Опитування підтвердило найбільш типові переваги використання IMS. На основі тематичного аналізу переваг вони були заздалегідь згруповані в тематичні групи, які розглядалися. Збір даних: було проведено опитування 400 підприємств, що мають досвід використання IMS в Інтернеті. Аналіз даних: використовували описову статистику і аналіз MANOVA. Результати дослідження: Були визначені потенційні переваги IMS в 4 основних групах: переваги процесу управління ідеями (IM), переваги управління інноваціями, переваги співпраці і переваги загального управління. Згідно MANOVA, все групи переваг тісно пов'язані з усіма типами IMS на базі Інтернету. Оригінальність / Цінність дослідження: Це дослідження задовольняє раніше виявлену потребу в уточненні типів IMS і їх впливу на результати і переваги застосування IMS. Академічний внесок в дослідження полягає в тому, що (1) це найбільш широке дослідження переваг IMS в Інтернеті; (2) він застосовує дві класифікації IMS; (3) досліджуються взаємозв'язки між результатами, перевагами і типами IMS. Практичний внесок результатів дослідження допоможе компаніям зрозуміти, яких результатів можна досягти за допомогою різних типів IMS. Обмеження дослідження / Подальші дослідження: Це дослідження відкриває можливості для майбутніх досліджень веб-додатків IMS в організаціях, які вивчають кожне з вигідних відносин з веб-типами IMS.   Тип статті: Емпірични

Digital Healthcare Innovations and Idea Management

The aim of the paper is to analyse the global demand development and funding of digital healthcare innovations and also characterise idea management trends in the digital healthcare context. Web-based idea management systems (IMS) fall in line with the growing importance of information communication technologies, the spread of open innovation and co-innovation, etc. Especially systems, which are based on the Internet during COVID-19 have become important tools in all sectors. Plus, over the last few years the changes related to digital healthcare have taken place and now in this context the questions have been raised. How could they be linked with a web-based IMS? What are digital healthcare innovation demands and funding trends? The changes in search habits for health information over the last three years have become statistically significant. The growth of funding volumes has followed these changes because both digital health care and digital therapeutics have increased much faster during pandemic times than before. The growth in 2020 compared to 2019 reached 53.9%, but in 2021 compared to 2020 it even accounted 74.7%. The Asian region and Europe have also seen a sharp increase in the leverage over the past two years, but pre-pandemic levels were significantly lower than in the United States. Average annual volumes of investments in digital health have increased by about 4.2 Bn$per year in the USA, by about 1.2 Bn$ per year in Asia, by about 0.83 Bn$per year in Europe and by about 0.15 Bn$ per year in other regions. Such demand and funding could boost new innovations in healthcare with web-based idea management systems by internal, external, and mixed approaches in organisations with active and passive IMS. Plus, IMS could become a tool to create innovations in product or organisational innovation

Breeding For Organic Farming : Obtaining And Evaluation Of Flax Somaclonal Families

Plant calli culture could be used as a source of genetic changes (somaclonal variation). There are known several flax varieties, bred on the basis of somaclonal variation, with improved resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, plant height, seed yield and other traits. This method is useful for obtaining the new initial material for flax breeding, including for intensification of breeding for organic farming. Goal of the study was to obtain plants-regenerants from the calli culture of the fibre flax variety ‘Vega 2’ and to evaluate their agronomical traits and resistance to powdery mildew. For obtaining plants-regenerants was used early elaborated protocol of somatic calli cultivation. Agronomically important traits, such as total and technical plant height, number of seed vessels, number of seeds in a seed vessel, and resistance to diseases were evaluated. Most of somaclonal families had higher total and technical plant height in comparison with the initial variety ‘Vega 2’. In the opposite, number of seed vessels and number of seeds in a seed vessel had a tendency to decrease. It was concluded that even changes in not desirable direction may be recognised as an indirect indicator of the rather high level of induced somaclonal variation, which can occurred also in traits, which were not evaluated during this experiment, therefore there is a potential to exploit flax somaclonal variation in applied breeding programs as an additional source of variability

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMPETENCY MANAGEMENT IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR IN LATVIA

Digital transformation is penetrating financial sector. Financial sector is challenged by new start-up companies who combine finance and technology, thereby creating disruptive innovations. The authors perform a study on information technology impact on competency management in the financial sector of Latvia based on the technology management competency model.The authors have executed extensive academic literature review and interviews with leading fintech industry experts. The research team performed mixed research combining qualitative and qualitative methods. The process of the quantitative research was designed as a collection of publicly available financial statement data from lursoft.lv (enterprise database) for selected fintech companies and the analysis of financial data by comparing different fintech companies. The process of the qualitative research was designed as face-to-face expert interviews and the definition of central interview questions for the research based on the literature review and related sub-questions. The authors use the one-way analysis of variance technique and prove that competency management differs among fintech companies by comparing average turnover per employee of platform and credit companies. The finding persuades the authors to propose a fundamental fintech competency model to ensure competitiveness and sustainability of fintech companies.The objective of the research is to define a fundamental set of competencies linked with information technology management for financial sector companies to maintain competitiveness. Results prove that current set of competencies employed by fintech companies represents sufficient technical competencies. The conclusions demonstrate that fintech companies tend to have different competency management models. The research team concludes that soft skills development, data analytics using advanced data analytic tools, technology awareness, the ability and experience to use open source technology tools to develop technology solutions without deep technology competency, the ability to see the big picture, and interconnections between processes are competencies of the future.

DISCUSSION ON THE TERMS OF IDEA MANAGAMENT AND IDEA MANAGAMENT SYSTEMS

Although idea management (IM) and idea management systems (IMS) and related topics have been researched since 1982 and IM itself is as old as the first ideas, authors in previous research specified 18 research gaps in literature about IM and one of the most important that there is no united view on the terms IM and IMS and there are no specialized researches about these terms, as well, in the literature of IM they are not board discussed. Purpose of the research is to discuss and create definitions of terms IM and IMS using the reviewed literature. Research object: literature on IM and IMS. Research subject: terms of IM and IMS. Main research method – literature review. Data collected from 70 sources, including scientific publications, conference proceedings, books, white papers etc. published over the last 33 years, i.e., from January 1982 to February 2015, in all research fields. The research highlights that in the literature there are wide variety of the definitions of terms IM and IMS. The results of the research revealed that definitions of IM have not fundamentally changed over the time, but the definitions of IMS have transformed from “passive” to “active” IMS in millennium. The object of these definitions more often are described as systematic and manageable. Results probe that IM could be defined as – systematic, manageable process of idea generation, evaluation and development, but the IMS as a tool, tool kit or complex system which provides systematic, manageable process of idea generation, evaluation and development. The intensity of IM and IMS researches varies by region, but there are no major regional differences in defying the terms.KEYWORDS: Idea management, Idea management systems, Discussion, Literature review.JEL CODE: M190; M150; M11