Phenomenological analysis of professional identity crisis experience by teachers

The topicality of the problem under research is predetermined by the need of psychology and pedagogy for the study of the process of professional identity crisis experience by teachers and development of a system of measures for support of teachers’ pedagogical activity and professional development. The objective of the study is to describe the content of the process of professional identity crisis experience by teachers. The principal method of study of this problem is the phenomenological method, which provides for exploration of the main aspects of the experience process. The results of phenomenological method application for the analysis of professional crisis experience make it possible to state that the professional crisis issue is a specific life situation for labourer where in the alteration of the teacher’s general view of life occurs. The experience of professional identity crisis manifests itself in the polarization of evaluations of the main parameters of the professional and the Self-image (the external activity evaluation, interest in the activity, the control over professional activity and professional situations, professional prospects). Transformation of the notional field of a teacher’s consciousness and reflection (the content of the activity, relation and the proper behaviour in general) are distinguished as the mechanisms of professional crisis experience. The materials of the article may be useful for teachers, psychologists, and heads of educational institutions in the process of planning and implementation of activities on educational process psychological support. © 2016 Sadovnikova et al

RNA-inspired intramolecular transesterification accelerates the hydrolysis of polyethylene-like polyphosphoesters

To synthesize new (bio)degradable alternatives to commodity polymers, adapting natural motives can be a promising approach. We present the synthesis and characterization of degradable polyethylene (PE)-like polyphosphoesters, which exhibit increased degradation rates due to an intra-molecular transesterification similar to RNA. An α,ω-diene monomer was synthesized in three steps starting from readily available compounds. By acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization, PE-like polymers with molecular weights up to 38 400 g mol(−1) were obtained. Post-polymerization functionalization gave fully saturated and semicrystalline polymers with a precise spacing of 20 CH(2) groups between each phosphate group carrying an ethoxy hydroxyl side chain. This side chain was capable of intramolecular transesterification with the main-chain similar to RNA-hydrolysis, mimicking the 2′-OH group of ribose. Thermal properties were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC (T(m)ca. 85 °C)) and the crystal structure was investigated by wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). Polymer films immersed in aqueous solutions at different pH values proved an accelerated degradation compared to structurally similar polyphosphoesters without pendant ethoxy hydroxyl groups. Polymer degradation proceeded also in artificial seawater (pH = 8), while the polymer was stable at physiological pH of 7.4. The degradation mechanism followed the intra-molecular “RNA-inspired” transesterification which was detected by NMR spectroscopy as well as by monitoring the hydrolysis of a polymer blend of a polyphosphoester without pendant OH-group and the RNA-inspired polymer, proving selective hydrolysis of the latter. This mechanism has been further supported by the DFT calculations. The “RNA-inspired” degradation of polymers could play an important part in accelerating the hydrolysis of polymers and plastics in natural environments, e.g. seawater

Experience of polyart education of children of different categories

The research is relevant due to the necessity to provide a high level of children and youth aesthetic education, continuous comprehensive artistic education can be one of the tools of aesthetic education. This article aims to uncover the polyart education efficiency for children of different categories. The leading approach of the research is the system approach that results in the analysis of the existed scientific works and educational programs oriented to the comprehensive aesthetic education of children of different categories, experience generalization, and problem identification with the aim to design and provide complete continuous polyart educational process. Scientific arguments for the pedagogical efficiency of polyart education of different children including children with special educational needs are given in this article; the arguments are based on the analysis of the existent works on the topic of the research, experience and the author's alternative variant of the continuous artistic development, during which the project-based learning is preferably used. Research materials can be useful for teachers who teach art at preschool educational institutions, general education and special schools, cultural institutions. © 2016, Gokkusagi LTD. STI. All rights reserved

Polymer defect engineering-conductive 2D organic platelets from precise thiophene-doped polyethylene

We developed a simple way to create 2D conductive nanostructures with dielectric cores and conductive surfaces based on polyethylene with in-chain thiophene groups. Generally, thiophene-based polymers show great conductive properties, but exhibit a poor processability. Here, we use the crystallization of a polyethylene chain with precisely distributed thiophene groups as the platform for a self-organization of a lamellar structure. During crystallization, thiophene groups are expelled to the crystal surface. Subsequent copolymerization with 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) molecules finally yields 2D platelets with a conductive surface. The electric properties of the surface are demonstrated by conductivity measurements. Given the molecular structure of the polymer, it can be assumed that the conductive layer consists of only one monoatomic layer of polymerized thiophene. We thus show a new way to create an ultra-thin, conductive surface on a polymer surface in just a few steps. Hence, the method presented here opens up a wide range of possibilities to produce complex, nanoscale electronic structures for microelectronic applications

Defect engineering of polyethylene-like polyphosphoesters: Solid-state NMR characterization and surface chemistry of anisotropic polymer nanoplatelets

Anisotropic materials with very high aspect ratios, such as nanoplatelets, are an exciting class of materials due to their unique properties based on their unilamellar geometry. Controlling their size and surface-functionality is challenging and has only be achieved in some cases for synthetic polymers. We present a general approach to prepare polymer-nanoplatelets with control over the lateral size and basal functionality, by simple polycondensation of precisely spaced and functional phosphate groups in polyethylene-like polymers. Because of the relatively large size of the phosphate groups, they are expelled from the bulk crystal to the basal surface. This allows to control the chain-folding during crystallization, which we analyzed via solid-state NMR and TEM. Furthermore, we present chemistry “on the surface” of the platelets: the pendant ester group at the phosphate offers the possibility to introduce functional groups accessible for further chemical modification on the crystal surface. This is shown by introducing a 2-acetylthioethyl ester group and subsequently cleaving this 2-acetylthioethyl ester group to the free P–OH. Together, these results render polyethylene-like polyphosphoesters a versatile platform for soft-matter nanoplatelets as functional colloids

Human capital in the innovative conditions

The relevance of the questions dealing with the human capital formation and functioning peculiarities in the innovative development conditions is provided by the fact that highly developed post-industrial economy, manufacturing and service sector cannot do without highly educated and skilled workers, that makes dependable the efficiency and competitiveness at the company level and the whole national economy. The goal of the article lies in certain development within specific provisions in the economic science, which explain the human capital functioning and enhancing its role in the innovative development conditions. The leading approach to study this problem is the structure-functional analysis of the human role in advanced manufacturing and the innovation development when the human capacity to work transformed into capital, increasing the level of education and the formation on this new production relations basis in a modern knowledge economy. Results: the article puts forward the theoretical and methodological concepts dealing with the decisive role of human capital in modern knowledge economy, which is defined the qualitatively new productive forces composition, the science and education transformation in the main factors of efficiency, growth, intelligence, innovation production and management. The article can be useful in a problem-solving process one of the priority tasks in the Russian society – the human capital preservation and development and our country competitiveness in the innovative development conditions. © 2016 Forrester et al

Prerequisites for setting up management system in municipal retail trade

The relevance of the problem is determined by the number of complex problems that exist in present Samara municipal retail trade system, which is manifested in the lack of regulation, a glut of sales area, poorly developed infrastructure. The purpose of this article is to form a quantitative base for determining the municipal needs in the floor space. Leading method to study this problem is the method of empirical observations and mathematical modeling. The study results: the article contains the analysis of sales area availability on the example in the urban district and presents a quantitative method to determine predictive values for retail trade turnover. Practical significance: the paper is aimed to develop managerial decisions in the sphere of municipal trade regulation. © 2016 Suraeva et al

Organizational model of the congress and exhibition cluster in the field of business travel

The relevance of the analyzed issue is caused by the growth of the international trade in the intensity of business travel services, including in the field of the congress and exhibition business, which necessitates the formation of the effective management model of business travel services at the destination level. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the formation algorithm of the cluster development strategy of tourism and the development of organizational functioning models of the congress and exhibition cluster in the destination. The leading approach to the study of this issue is the method of modeling, which allowed considering the practice of clusters functioning as a sequence of stages of its formation and development, taking into account the resource potential of destinations. Results: the article presents a stepwise algorithm for creating the congress and exhibition cluster in the destination and proves the fundamental organizational model for its functioning in the business tourism market; isolates and systematized criteria and indicators for assessing the contribution of participants of the tourism cluster in the destination development. The contents of this article may be useful for researchers, interested in the use of the cluster approach in the services sector, as well as to regional authorities, responsible for the development of tourism. © 2016 Karpova et al