Russian entrepreneurship in the context of the economic crisis: tendencies, problems and prospects

The objective of the article is to analyze the main trends of entrepreneurship in Russia and identify areas of its activation to support sustainable economic growth and economic security. The article presents the authors’ approach to the definition of entrepreneurial activit

Oxidation-resistant nano-reinforced PC-refractories of modified phenol formaldehyde resin. Part 3. Formation mechanism of organic-inorganic complexes during low-temperature synthesis of nanoparticles of additional antioxidants and their effectiveness

SiC nanoparticles that could be used as an antioxidant for periclase-carbon (PC) refractories were synthesized from the organic—inorganic complex (‒СН₃)‒(SiO₂)n that formed during heating of silicon alkoxide and thermal destruction of its gels. Use of phenolformaldehyde resins modified with silicon alkoxide and its sols was proposed and enabled the formation of an organic—inorganic complex (-СН₃)‒(SiO₂)n‒С with a high C content. This increased the yield of SiC synthesized in the carbon binder. The addition of Ni precursors (additional antioxidant) formed an even more complicated organic—inorganic complex. Use of the complex (‒СН₃)‒(SiO₂)n‒Ni(NiO)‒С together with Al improved the operating characteristics of the PC refractories. It was found that their resistance to oxidation was increased after the complex antioxidant Al + SiC + Ni(NiO) formed

Sicilian byzantine icons through the use of non-invasive imaging techniques and optical spectroscopy: The case of the madonna dell’elemosina

The iconographic heritage is one of the treasures of Byzantine art that have enriched the south of Italy, and Sicily in particular, since the early 16th century. In this work, the investigations of a Sicilian Icon of Greek-Byzantine origin, the Madonna dell’Elemosina, is reported for the first time. The study was carried out using mainly non-invasive imaging techniques (photography in reflectance and grazing visible light, UV fluorescence, infrared reflectography, radiography, and computed tomography) and spectroscopic techniques (X-ray fluorescence and infrared spectroscopy). The identification of the constituent materials provides a decisive contribution to the correct historical and artistic placement of the Icon, a treasure of the Eastern European historical community in Sicily. Some hidden details have also been highlighted. Most importantly, the information obtained enables us to define its conservation state, the presence of foreign materials, and to direct its protection and restoration

The Neisseria gonorrhoeae Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase (MsrA/B) Is a Surface Exposed, Immunogenic, Vaccine Candidate

Control of the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea is a major public health challenge, due to the recent emergence of multidrug resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and there is an urgent need for novel therapies or a vaccine to prevent gonococcal disease. In this study, we evaluated the methionine sulfoxide reductase (MsrA/B) of N. gonorrhoeae as a potential vaccine candidate, in terms of its expression, sequence conservation, localization, immunogenicity, and the functional activity of antibodies raised to it. Gonococcal MsrA/B has previously been shown to reduce methionine sulfoxide [Met(O)] to methionine (Met) in oxidized proteins and protect against oxidative stress. Here we have shown that the gene encoding MsrA/B is present, highly conserved, and expressed in all N. gonorrhoeae strains investigated, and we determined that MsrA/B is surface is exposed on N. gonorrhoeae. Recombinant MsrA/B is immunogenic, and mice immunized with MsrA/B and either aluminum hydroxide gel adjuvant or Freund's adjuvant generated a humoral immune response, with predominantly IgG1 antibodies. Higher titers of IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3 were detected in mice immunized with MsrA/B-Freund's adjuvant compared to MsrA/B-aluminum hydroxide adjuvant, while IgM titers were similar for both adjuvants. Antibodies generated by MsrA/B-Freund's in mice mediated bacterial killing via both serum bactericidal activity and opsonophagocytic activity. Anti-MsrA/B was also able to functionally block the activity of MsrA/B by inhibiting binding to its substrate, Met(O). We propose that recombinant MsrA/B is a promising vaccine antigen for N. gonorrhoeae

СИСТЕМНЫЙ ПОДХОД В ОРГАНИЗАЦИИ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ПРЕПОДАВАТЕЛЕЙ ВУЗА

The paper identifies the most important factors, which determine the quality of students training at university; they are professors qualification, quality of teaching and learning materials, quality of educational process, students’ motivation to learning educational programs, social and pedagogical aspects, graduates’ being in demand on the labour market. The author supposes, all the factors should be developed in interaction and influence on each other by means of applying system approach. Education should be built and based on the system approach as well. It is necessary to pay attention not only to official side of educational process (educational programs correspondence to the State Educational Standards), but to the methods the professors apply when lecturing and teaching (organization and technologies of educational process). The research carried out reveals peculiarities in interaction between subjects of educational process in double-degree system and divides the concepts “studying” and “training”. The article analyzes possibilities of applying USSR experience of higher education and enhancing studying by means of applying the modern information technologies. The author concentrates on analyzing interactions in education systems, influence of feed-backs on training results, peculiarities of education alignment and harmonization. The author considers, applying of recommended statements allows strengthening integrity of educational process and developing institution efficiency. Nowadays, development of educational process in higher institutions of Russia is implemented by means of legal regulation. A lot of attention is paid to education system as a whole but not to training which demands attention of all managerial levels in university, including strategic and operating level. It requires attention of scientists and practical specialists to the issues considered.К важнейшим факторам, определяющим качество подготовки студентов в университете, относятся уровень качества образовательных программ, квалификация профессорско-преподавательского состава, информационно-методическое обеспечение учебного процесса, качество процесса обучения, мотивация студентов к освоению образовательных программ, социальная и воспитательная составляющая, востребованность выпускников на рынке труда. Все эти факторы в университете должны развиваться во взаимной связи и взаимовлиянии на основе системного подхода, в соответствии с которым в учебном заведении должна быть создана единая система обучения. При этом необходимо уделять внимание не только формальной стороне образовательного процесса (соответствие учебных программ государственным образовательным стандартам), но и методике работы преподавателей при проведении ими аудиторных занятий (организации и технологии учебного процесса). В результате проведенных исследований выявлены особенности взаимодействия субъектов учебного процесса в рамках двухуровневой системы образования, разграничены понятия «учеба» и «обучение». Проанализированы возможности использования опыта высшего образования в СССР и направления совершенствования учебной работы с использованием современных информационных технологий. Особое внимание уделено анализу видов связей в образовательных системах, влиянию обратных связей на результативность обучения, особенностям процедур унификации и гармонизации учебного процесса. Использование предложенных рекомендаций преподавателями вузов позволит усилить интегративность образовательного процесса и улучшить эффективность деятельности вуза. В настоящее время совершенствование образовательного процесса в российских вузах осуществляется в основном посредством правого регулирования. В России сейчас больше обращают внимание на систему образования в целом, но не на обучение как процесс, требующий постоянного внимания всех уровней управления в вузе, включая стратегический и оперативный уровень, что требует внимания ученых и практиков к рассмотренным вопросам

ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ИНДИВИДУАЛЬНОГО ОБУЧЕНИЯ В ДОПОЛНИТЕЛЬНОМ ОБРАЗОВАНИИ

The development of market mechanism in national economy is followed by the further training of specialists. This task requires getting higher education and further training. The introduction of new activities at enterprises (logistics, marketing and project management) requires the further training and the professional development.The individualization of learning process is a complex process that includes some aspects of activity performed by the representatives of educational institution and a learner. The article explores the approaches to the aspects of learning individualization in higher education and further training; the paper analyzes the evolution of learning from individual training to the group training followed by the individualization of new type.The effective educational institution is based on the managerial functions. The educational path of the student and the individualization of learning in further training assumes the elaboration of methods of private teaching, individual students’ abilities when mastering the knowledge. The methods of individual teaching with distant technologies are developed on the basis of private further training institution. These methods include the teacher’s skills in explanation and presentation of the requirements of educational programme; peculiarities of interaction between a teacher and a student when applying distant technologies; individual approach and teacher’s skills in the learning process. The methodology developed by the institutions of further training results in increasing of educational quality and students’ development.Развитие рыночных механизмов в отечественной экономике происходит параллельно с повышением образовательного уровня специалистов предприятий. Наряду с получением высшего образования для решения этой задачи требуется повышение квалификации и переподготовка в дополнительном образовании. При внедрении в работу предприятий новых направлений деятельности (логистика, маркетинг, управление проектами) возникает необходимость в повышении квалификации и переподготовке. Индивидуализация обучения является сложным процессом, включающим в себя отдельные аспекты деятельности как представителей образовательной организации, так и обучаемых. В статье проведен анализ подходов к определению аспектов индивидуализации обучения в высшем и дополнительном образовании, выявлены закономерности эволюционного развития обучения от индивидуального обучения к групповым формам и последующий возврат к индивидуализации на новом качественном уровне. Эффективная деятельность образовательного учреждения возможна на основе использования функций менеджмента. Наряду с планированием образовательной траектории обучаемого индивидуализация обучения в дополнительном образовании предполагает разработку методики индивидуального обучения слушателей с учетом их занятости, индивидуальных способностей при освоении и переработке учебного материала. На примере негосударственного учреждения дополнительного образования разработана методика индивидуального обучения слушателя с учетом использования дистанционных образовательных технологий. Методика обучения включает в себя последовательность действий преподавателя при разъяснении слушателю требований образовательной программы, особенности взаимодействия преподавателя и слушателя при использовании дистанционных образовательных технологий, учет индивидуальных особенностей слушателя и действия преподавателя при наличии затруднений в учебном процессе. Результатом использования разработанной методики учреждениями дополнительного образования является повышение качества обучения и лояльности слушателей

TRY plant trait database - enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits-the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants-determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait-based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits-almost complete coverage for 'plant growth form'. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait-environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives