Laser Structuring of Glass-Carbon for Improvement of Its Emitting Properties

Laser structuring as a stage of laser micromachining operations for a glass-carbon plate processing is described. The operations of laser scribing, milling, cleaning and marking were used for production of the field-emission multi-beam cathode preform. The operation of structuring was applied for production of micropeaks on the surface of the cathode beams. Two different approaches were tested for laser structuring of the cathode beams - linear scan and overlapping blind holes. The nanopeaks are self-organized in the process of the structuring. As a result we obtained a field-emission cathode with a high density of the current emission and a shorter technological route of its production

Nanoparticles for Applications in Cellular Imaging

In the following review we discuss several types of nanoparticles (such as TiO2, quantum dots, and gold nanoparticles) and their impact on the ability to image biological components in fixed cells. The review also discusses factors influencing nanoparticle imaging and uptake in live cells in vitro. Due to their unique size-dependent properties nanoparticles offer numerous advantages over traditional dyes and proteins. For example, the photostability, narrow emission peak, and ability to rationally modify both the size and surface chemistry of Quantum Dots allow for simultaneous analyses of multiple targets within the same cell. On the other hand, the surface characteristics of nanometer sized TiO2allow efficient conjugation to nucleic acids which enables their retention in specific subcellular compartments. We discuss cellular uptake mechanisms for the internalization of nanoparticles and studies showing the influence of nanoparticle size and charge and the cell type targeted on nanoparticle uptake. The predominant nanoparticle uptake mechanisms include clathrin-dependent mechanisms, macropinocytosis, and phagocytosis

Adventure Playground as an Example of the Child’s Right to Play

We analyze the history of creation, structure and psychological foundations of adventure playgrounds, which appeared and became widespread in Europe during the second half of the XX century. Adventure playground is an example of realization of children’s rights enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, especially in Article 31. Adventure playgrounds are designed by experts, parents, teachers, sharing the ideas of civil society and seeking new ways to support the initiative, independence of children and adolescents. At an adventure playground, modern urban children and adolescents have the opportunity to realize their intentions, and try to explore their capabilities in a joint productive activity with peers. In this article, adventure playgrounds are considered as one of the ways to facilitate public urban space to play and socialize. Adventure playground serves as a social-psychological-pedagogical center and has great potential for all age groups. We provide specific examples of the structure and activity on adventure playgrounds existing in the UK and Germany. Separately we discuss the contribution of professionals working at these sites (playworker)

The Importance of Taking Risks: A Report on the Conference

The paper gives an overview of the 14th interdisciplinary conference The Importance of Taking Risks held by the Welsh branch of the International Play Association. The meeting focused on various aspects of supporting children’s play and on the role of risk in child development. The conference had a clear multidis- ciplinary character and brought together specialists from a variety of fields: psychologists, teachers, social workers, experts in risk assessment, and health care professionals. The paper outlines how risk is understood in modern western theory and practice and distinguishes between risk and danger. A child must be taught to assess situations as safe or dangerous. However, modern developmental environment tends to reduce the possibility of risks for the child, which deprives him/her of the natural means of learning about the world and reduces creativity and independence and holds back the child’s self-regulation, prolonging compelled dependence and making children more infantile. The conference also involved discussions concerning tech- niques for risk assessment and a number of prevention programmes and practices. This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Humanities (project No 15-06-10627 “Psychological and pedagogical analysis of children’s play environment of the modern city”)

Analysis of the linkage between viral, bacterial, and protozoal infections and the level of reproductive losses in dairy herds in the Ural region

The analysis of the linkage between infection of dairy herds in the Ural region with BVDV, BHV-1, C. abortus and N. caninum with indices of reproductive function and reproductive losses was performed. The results of studies of 1453 samples of biological material by Elisa, PCR and Real-Time PCR were taken into account. The level of BVDV infection in animals of various physiological groups in the examined farms ranged from 15.6 to 66.7%, and the seroprevalence of the BHV-1 field strain was 31.8%. The amount of seroprevalent to C. abortus animals in dairy herds was 55.1 %, to N. caninum-43.3%. The lowest rates of fertilization were found in farms with simultaneous circulation of chlamydia and neosporosis pathogens and in mono-chlamydia infection. In these same herds, there was a longer post-partum interval. The highest mean rate of abortions in cows and heifers was in farms with N. caninum circulation, as well as in mixed infections, with increased action of infectious factors. In the analysis of viral infections, it was established that the highest level of perinatal losses was seen in the presence of BVDV

The Children’s Playground in the Context of Cultural-Historical Psychology

The article describes the possible application of the principles of cultural-historical approach and activity theory to the inspection of toys and play environments. A children’s playground is treated as cultural means or artifact created by adults for starting a child’s activity. In terms of cultural and historical psychology, psycho-pedagogical analysis of a playground is based on the identification of the play value level and the compliance with the objectives peculiar to the age. Analysis and design are based on the understanding of the playground as a single space, where each element has the potential for any children’s development activity — games, communication, experimentation, etc. The following criteria of psychological and pedagogical inspection are identified and well-grounded: the principle of orientation to age-related peculiarities, the principle of high play value, the principle of transparency of objects, the principle of supporting acceptable risk, the principle of taking account of visitors’ activity levels, invitation to dialogue — the principle of dialogueness. The use of these principles in the course of designing playgrounds is illustrated by examples. These show that the conceptual apparatus of cultural and historical psychology may be used not only to explain the mechanisms and forms of mental development, but also for the analysis of particular conditions of a child’s mental development and design of play environments

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF QUANTITATIVE DATA OF THE IRISH LANGUAGE FUNCTIONAL POWER IN IRELAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND

The globalization processes put a number of regional languages on the verge of extinction, therefore, they have raised awareness of protecting and maintaining the minority languages among a great number of foreign and Russian scholars. The paper deals with Irish that is under protection of the European Charter for regional and Minority Languages in UK and is an official language of Ireland. The research is aimed at comparing the Irish language position in both regions: Ireland and Northern Ireland. Reviewing the quantitative data in the regions under the study allows us to see clearly the language situation, monitor development, and relying on the achieved results, assess the current state and predict the future of Irish in both regions. The research results are considered to be of practical use for further language planning, improving the efficiency of language policies

MUNICIPAL ASSIGNMENT AS AN EFFECTIVE SERVICE QUALITY CONTROL TOOL

At present, a state (municipal) assignment is a mandatory document that needs to be formed and executed to establish the quality indicators of the activity of an institution. This approach follows from Article 69.2 of the Budget Code of the Russian Federation, according to which, a state (municipal) assignment should contain indicators of the quality of the provision of state (municipal) services. Quality indicators for the provision of services provided by state (municipal) institutions should be developed based on the most important problems that service recipients face and comply with applicable regulations