Phase formation processes and synthesis of solid solutions in Ca-R-Nb-M-O systems

During the study of the phase formation process in Ca-R-Nb-M-O systems (R=La, Bi, M=Mo, W), an attempt was made to obtain single-phase compounds of CaRNbMO8 composition by the standard ceramic technique. In addition, samples based on LaNbO4, CaWO4, BiNbO4 were also synthesized by the standard ceramic technique. The phase composition of the samples was studied by XRD analysis. The electrical conductivity of the obtained solid solutions and potential composite materials was investigated by impedance spectroscopy

Educational Migration Bridge: From Metaphor to Project

The purpose of the article is to analyze the topical problem of educational migration and ways to solve it. The article identifies factors preventing from successful adaptation and socialization of foreign students in recipient country as legal, pedagogical, psychological, lingvo-communicative are identified. Minimization of negative factors actualized the integrated strategy of educational migration «bridge construction» development aimed at solving tasks of migrants’ integration in Russian labour market, providing them with all-round support in getting education, improving professional qualification, adaptation and socialization. The term «bridge» is metaphorically used as an artificial, virtual «construction» functioning as a means for educational migration support of citizens.The experience of the Orenburg State University in development and realization of the longterm integrated strategy of educational migration «bridge construction» presented within the Strategic Academic Leadership Program «Priority 2030» is studied. Regarding the potential of the University and Orenburg region the ways of educational migration «bridge construction» are determined: introduction of educational migration interactions into mission and policy of the university; development of open university migration interactions network structures; implementation of educational migration interaction based on norms, values and ideals of person’s lingvo-communicative culture. The practical steps for the strategy realization within the project «Educational migration bridge» are described: formation of the united scientific, educational and cultural environment based on mutual activity in international scientific and educational community; arrangement of universities regional consortium for informing applicants from Asian countries, for training and living in universities campuses; establishment of the Faculty of foreign students’ education and digital educational platform ensuring logistics and student educational improvement management; development and realization of module network programs for foreign students; realization of additional educational programs in OSU Linguistic center. The authors analyze the main indicators of the project effectiveness: quantitative and qualitative results of the Faculty of foreign students’ education activity in training Russian and culture; establishment of the Orenburg branch of Foreign Students Association, students’ involvement in various interaction forms and special career guidance events; scientific and methodological support for teachers. Realization of the strategy implies creation in OSU in the nearest future a specific environment including social infrastructure for foreigners

Biodigital publics: personal genomes as digital media artifacts

The recent proliferation of personal genomics and direct-to-consumer (DTC) genomics has attracted much attention and publicity. Concern around these developments has mainly focused on issues of biomedical regulation and hinged on questions of how people understand genomic information as biomedical and what meaning they make of it. However, this publicity amplifies genome sequences which are also made as internet texts and, as such, they generate new reading publics. The practices around the generation, circulation and reading of genome scans do not just raise questions about biomedical regulation, they also provide the focus for an exploration of how contemporary public participation in genomics works. These issues around the public features of DTC genomic testing can be pursued through a close examination of the modes of one of the best known providers—23andMe. In fact, genome sequences circulate as digital artefacts and, hence, people are addressed by them. They are read as texts, annotated and written about in browsers, blogs and wikis. This activity also yields content for media coverage which addresses an indefinite public in line with Michael Warner’s conceptualisation of publics. Digital genomic texts promise empowerment, personalisation and community, but this promise may obscure the compliance and proscription associated with these forms. The kinds of interaction here can be compared to those analysed by Andrew Barry. Direct-to-consumer genetics companies are part of a network providing an infrastructure for genomic reading publics and this network can be mapped and examined to demonstrate the ways in which this formation both exacerbates inequalities and offers possibilities for participation in biodigital culture

Structure and content of e-learning information environment based on geo-information technologies

© 2017 Authors. The urgency of the paper is determined by the continuous information development of all spheres of education: integration of new knowledge, accessibility of information technologies and computer facility aids, professionalization and computerization of educational activities. The purpose of the research is to develop the structure and content of learning information environment in a higher education institute on the basis of geo-information technologies. The authors show the possibilities of using geo-information technologies in teaching outside the scope of their typical application (geographic, geodetic, geological education). The principles of designing the information environment for training on the basis of geo-information technologies are developed, which is built into the general information environment of higher education institute. The peculiarities of using geo-information technologies in non-core training are revealed, and the structure of learning environment modules based on geo-information technologies is developed and their content is described. The authors adapted the system of criteria evaluating the the effectiveness of training information environment, carried out an empirical study of the quality of education information environment in a higher education institute on the basis of geo-information technologies. The paper is intended for teachers, specialists in the field of information as means of education

Cognitive simulation as integrated innovative technology in teaching of social and humanitarian disciplines

© 2017 Authors. Currently, teachers are searching for innovative educational technologies that enhance the effectiveness of educational activities. The purpose of the paper is the development and approbation of cognitive simulation technology in teaching of social and humanitarian disciplines. Based on the integration of sources of innovation, the authors developed the technology of cognitive simulation aimed at the formation of a structured system of knowledge for social and humanitarian disciplines' subject area. Various forms of cognitive map methods used in the learning process (analysis, synthesis, projection, and simulation) allow developing the analytical and predictive abilities of students, and strengthening their educational motivation. The technology use is proposed for the first time for all socio-humanitarian disciplines in the process of vocational training, which contributes to the formation of inter-subject communications , spatial understanding of events, and transformations of reality. The empirical study carried out by the authors on the implementation of this technology in the educational process (the students of 3 universities, totaling 315 people participated in the study) confirmed the productivity of the technology and the possibility of its adaptation to various disciplines of social and humanitarian sphere

Sceptical Employees as CSR Ambassadors in Times of Financial Uncertainty

This chapter offers new insights into the understanding of internal (employee) perceptions of organizational corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies and strategies. This study explores the significance of employees’ involvement and scepticism upon CSR initiatives and focuses on the effects it may have upon word of mouth (WOM) and the development of employee–organisation relationships. Desk research introduces the research questions. Data for the research questions were gathered through a self-completion questionnaire distributed in a hardcopy form to the sample. An individual’s level of scepticism and involvement appears to affect the development of a positive effect on employees’ WOM. Involvement with the domain of the investment may be a central factor affecting relationship building within the organization, and upon generation of positive WOM. The chapter offers a conceptual framework to public relations (PR) and corporate communications practitioners, which may enrich their views and understanding of the use and value of CSR for communication strategies and practices. For-profit organisations are major institutions in today’s society. CSR is proffered as presenting advantages for (at macro level) society and (micro level) the organization and its employees. Concepts, such as involvement and scepticism, which have not been rigorously examined in PR and corporate communication literature, are addressed. By examining employee perceptions, managers and academic researchers gain insights into the acceptance, appreciation and effectiveness of CSR policies and activities upon the employee stakeholder group. This will affect current and future CSR communication strategies. The knowledge acquired from this chapter may be transferable outside the for-profit sector

Improving the information system of university management

© 2015, Canadian Center of Science and Education. All rights reserved. University management is currently supported by information system providing storage and data structuring of information required. Managing the development and improvement of the educational process quality requires creation of a monitoring system covering all of its objects and various measurement tools, which monitors the set of all features. The paper presents the components of pedagogical management, considers indicators of pedagogical processes and methods of evaluation, which define the basis for monitoring the educational processes at the University. Also the structure of a software module is shown, that works on the principle of the expert system and identifies problem characteristics of the educational activity. The results of the experimental work show the effectiveness of the presented software, that supports management decision-making of university departments’ leadership and faculty

A process approach to management of an educational organization

© 2015, Review of European Studies. All right reserved. Directions for an educational organization development meet the requirements of society to the effectiveness and quality of educational activities in high dynamics of external and internal environment. The article examines the potential of the process approach, which considers management as a continuous performance of certain interrelated activities complex and general management functions when developing a quality management system of an educational organization. In the submitted article the components of the educational activities process are defined, which are based on the quality standard of the final product. This article is intended for educators, researchers, heads of educational institutions, employers, customers of educational services, education management organizations employees

The intrinsic dimensionality of spectro-polarimetric data

The amount of information available in spectro-polarimetric data is estimated. To this end, the intrinsic dimensionality of the data is inferred with the aid of a recently derived estimator based on nearest-neighbor considerations and obtained applying the principle of maximum likelihood. We show in detail that the estimator correctly captures the intrinsic dimension of artificial datasets with known dimension. The effect of noise in the estimated dimension is analyzed thoroughly and we conclude that it introduces a positive bias that needs to be accounted for. Real simultaneous spectro-polarimetric observations in the visible 630 nm and the near-infrared 1.5 microns spectral regions are also investigated in detail, showing that the near-infrared dataset provides more information of the physical conditions in the solar atmosphere than the visible dataset. Finally, we demonstrate that the amount of information present in an observed dataset is a monotonically increasing function of the number of available spectral lines.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa