bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Caracterización de cultivares de duraznero [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.] por resistencia a heladas
Authors: Chaar Javier Emilio
Published: July 2015

Las heladas primaverales son una de las principales limitantes de la producción de frutales de clima tem-plado. Dentro de una misma especie existe variabilidad en resistencia frente al daño en órganos florales ocasionado por temperaturas bajo cero durante la salida del reposo invernal. En cinco cultivares de du-raznero [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.] y uno de nectarino se evaluó el daño ocasionado por heladas y se determinaron la fecha de plena floración y la densidad de floración. Adicionalmente se determinó la tem-peratura letal media (TL50) de las yemas florales en el estado de flor abierta, mediante descensos térmicos controlados en laboratorio. Los cultivares (cv) de duraznero Maria Bianca y Summer Pearl presentaron las mayores densidades de flores sanas por cm de ramo, luego de la ocurrencia de temperaturas bajo cero en campo. La resistencia a heladas en campo se relacionó principalmente con la elevada densidad de flora-ción, en combinación, en algunos casos, con floración tardía. La floración tardía por sí sola no resultó una característica de resistencia; por tanto, para la elección de cultivares de duraznero con menor riesgo de daño por temperaturas bajo cero es importante tener en cuenta más de una variable relacionada con los órganos reproductivos.
 

 

 

 
Design of SkSP-R Variables Sampling Plans
Authors: Aslam Muhammad , Balamurali Saminathan , Jun Chi-Hyuck , Hussain Batool
Published: July 2015

In this paper, we present the designing of the skip-lot sampling plan including the re-inspection  called SkSP-R. The plan parameters of the proposed plan are determined through a  nonlinear optimization problem by minimizing the average sample number satisfying both the producer's risk and the consumer's risks. The proposed plan is shown to perform better than the existing sampling plans in terms of the average sample number. The application of the proposed plan is explained with the help of illustrative examples.
Bayesian Analysis of the 3-Component Mixture of Exponential Distribution Assuming the Non-Informative Priors
Authors: Tahir Muhammad , Aslam Muhammad
Published: July 2015

Bayesian analysis of the 3-component mixture of an Exponential distribution under type-I right censoring scheme is considered in this paper. The Bayes estimators and posterior risks for the unknown parameters are derived under squared error loss function, precautionary loss function and DeGroot loss function assuming the non-informative (uniform and Jeffreys') priors. The Bayes estimators and posterior risks are viewed as a function of the test termination time. A simulation study is given to highlight and compare the properties of the Bayes estimates.
First record of Ophrydium versatile (Müller, 1786) Ehrenberg, 1838 (Protista: Peritrichida: Ophrydiidae) from the High Paraná River influence area (Misiones province, Argentina)
Authors: Peso Juana G. , Meichtry de Zaburlín Norma R. , Vogler Roberto E. , Molina María J.
Published: July 2015

Ophrydium versatile, a green protozoon that form sessile colonies is reported for the first time for the Misiones province, Argentina from shallow waters of a recently formed pond in the Garupá stream floodplain, at about 900 m away from the confluence with the High Paraná River. To our knowledge this constitutes the second and northernmost record of the species for Argentina and the first for a subtropical environment in the country.
Nothoaspis reddelli Keirans & Clifford, 1975 (Acari, Ixodida, Argasidae): distribution extension
Authors: Venzal José M. , Hernández Ligia V , Labruna Marcelo B. , Nava Santiago
Published: July 2015

The first record of Nothoaspis reddelli (nymph) in Nicaragua is presented. The morphological characters used for the determination were dorsum with a false shield or nothoaspis, presence of an anteriorly projecting hood covering half of the capitulum, medial extension of palpal article I (flaps), presence of two large setae on internal margins of flaps, leg coxae with numerous long setae, and hypostome long and pointed with apical dentition 4/4. The 16S rDNA sequence of N. reddelli from Nicaragua was identical to the 16S sequence of N. reddelli from Mexico.
Heat transport across a gold nanowire/water interface enhanced by the solution ionic strength
Authors: Baral Susil , Green Andrew J. , Richardson Hugh H.
Published: July 2015

Lithographically fabricated gold nanowires are optically excited with 532nm CW laser and the local temperature change is measured in air, pure water and various concentration aqueous solutions of ionic solutes NaCl, Na2SO4 and MgSO4 using the thermal sensor film of Al0.94Ga0.06N embedded with Er3+ ions. The interface thermal resistance for heat transfer from the excited nanowires into the surrounding liquid is determined from the slopes of the temperature change versus laser intensity plots obtained for the nanowire excitation under various solutions. Addition of ionic solute molecules into the solution decreases the interface thermal resistance and hence leads to increased heat dissipation into the surrounding liquid. Interface thermal resistance decreases exponentially with the ionic strength of solution and saturates around zero for solution ionic strength of 0.3M and higher.
Thermal Shock Induced Phases Transformation and Microstructural Changes in a Novel Hydrogen Transport Membrane
Authors: Zhang Lily, Yongjun , Bandopadhyay Sukumar , Balachandran U. (Balu) , Nag Nagendra
Published: July 2015

Bulk samples of a novel cermet (ceramic/metal composite) hydrogen transport membrane (HTM) were subjected to thermal cycling in the temperature range between 25-850°C to study phase transformations and microstructural changes under thermal shock. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to characterize the microstructural and chemical changes in the membrane upon thermal cycling. SEM & EPMA analyses indicated that the temperature gradient during thermal cycling produced more micro-cracks inside the HTM disc, whereas, the chemical reaction between Pd and oxygen to form PdO disturbed the continuity of the metal palladium (Pd) - Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) dual phases interconnection system from surface down. The agglomerates of un-crystallized YSZ grains found to be the inherent in the cracks of the as-received HTM. A combination of trans-granular and inter-granular crack propagation results around the YSZ grains and the new precipitates. Based on the electron fractography analyses by both SEM and EPMA, the micro voids coalescence develops ahead of the crack tips in the cross-section of the HTM after 500 thermal cycles.
Tips for Teaching
Authors: Deckman Melissa
Published: July 2015

For one assignment, students in my Religion and Politics course attend a religious service of their choosing and write about the experience, comparing their time in the church (or synagogue or mosque) with the scholarly literature on the impact of churches on politics and the presence of politics within houses of worship. This experience represents a wonderful learning opportunity, particularly for Millennials, many of whom are religiously unaffiliated. Their reflective essays also form the basis for a dynamic, rich class discussion.
Roundtable on Eastern Traditions
Authors: Tite Philip
Published: July 2015

The following is a roundtable discussion, where contributors to the panel on "eastern religious traditions" respond to each others work.
Religious Proximity and Cultural Distance
Authors: Tite Philip
Published: July 2015

Editor's introduction to this issue of the Bulletin for the Study of Religion. Explores the East/West dichotomy in religious studies, situating the discussion within the framework of cultural and human geography (specifically processes of proximity and distance). Also introduces a two pieces related to the Bulletin's affiliation with NAASR (an interview with the new president, Russell McCutcheon, and the NAASR Notes).
Conceptual foundations of governance – a critical review
Authors: Zawicki Marcin
Published: July 2015

This article presents the sources, nature and areas of criticism of governance. We will critically ref lect on both its theoretical-normative and its pragmatic dimension. The conclusions we will arrive at will serve to highlight the main issues around which the study of the deficits of governance is focused. Finally, we will see four hypothetical scenarios for the evolution of the public governance paradigm emerge on the basis of the critical ref lection and the resulting conclusions.
Estudo sobre pessoas idosas vítimas de violência em Portugal: sociografia da ocorrência
Authors: Gil Ana Paula , Santos Ana João , Kislaya Irina , Santos César , Mascoli Luísa , Ferreira Alexandra Inácio , Vieira Duarte Nuno
Published: July 2015

O presente artigo apresenta dados sobre violência contra pessoas com 60 e mais anos residentes em Portugal há mais de 12 meses. O estudo transversal e descritivo recolheu dados por meio de um questionário aplicado presencialmente a vítimas que recorreram a três entidades governamentais e a uma instituição não-governamental de apoio a vítimas. A amostra não probabilística foi constituída por 510 vítimas de violência em contexto familiar. A violência física e a psicológica foram os tipos mais reportados, afetando 87,8% e 69,6% das pessoas estudadas, seguindo-se a violência financeira (47,5%), sexual (7,5%) e a negligência (6,5%). A maioria (74,1%) dos respondentes indicou mais de um tipo de violência. As vítimas, na maioria mulheres, tinham uma média de idade de 70,7 anos. A maioria dos agressores pertencia à família nuclear, nomeadamente, cônjuges ou companheiros, filhos/enteados e filhas/enteadas. Contudo, observaram-se diferenças no agressor consoante o gênero da vítima. Os resultados indicam que a violência não é um fenômeno uniforme, apresentando-se sob diferentes configurações.
Surgical Treatment of Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws with the Use of Buccal Fat Pad: Case Report
Authors: Duarte Luiz Fernando Mathias , Alonso Kleber , Basso Elaine Cristina , Dib Luciano Lauria
Published: July 2015

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BROJ) has been described since 2003 as an adverse effect of bisphosphonate medications. These drugs act on the vasculature and bone remodeling, mainly on osteoclastic activity and can cause areas of necrotic bone exposure. Treatment for the BROJ is not yet defined, but surgical treatment is one of the forms proposed, which may cause oral deformities like sinus communication in some cases. In situations like this the buccal fat pad is an important alternative for coating nasal-oral communications, due its large blood supply, elasticity, absence of restriction by age and safety. This paper presents the case of a 58-year-old woman with BROJ in the left maxilla caused by the use of zoledronic acid for metastatic breast cancer. The extensive necrotic bone area was surgically removed resulting in oral sinus communication. A buccal fat pad was used to cover the defect. More studies should be performed regarding the treatment of BROJ but, if necessary, a buccal fat pad flap could be an alternative to solve nasal-oral communications related to BROJ.
Contextual determinants of decentralization of epidemiological surveillance for the family health team
Authors: Santos Silvone Santa Barbara da Silva , Melo Cristina Maria Meira de , Dallaire Clemence , Perreault Michel , Araujo Edna Maria , Carvalho Evanilda Souza de Santana , Santos Luciano Marques dos
Published: July 2015

This study examines the contextual determinants of implementing decentralization of epidemiological surveillance for the family health team, in a municipality in the state of Bahia, Brazil. This was an evaluative study using the political model of implementation analysis. Data were obtained through document analysis and semi-structured interviews with managers and healthcare workers. Five themes emerged: planning; training of human resources; organization of the work process; linkage within institutions; and organization of family healthcare units. The results revealed that there are difficulties such as poor infrastructure of healthcare units, creation of flexibility in labor relations and healthcare worker turnover. The study shows that there is a need for stakeholder participation in the process of implementing the policy of decentralization of epidemiological surveillance for the micro-area of intervention that comprises the family health program.
Portfólios crítico-reflexivos: uma proposta pedagógica centrada nas competências cognitivas e metacognitivas
Authors: Cotta Rosângela Minardi Mitre , Costa Glauce Dias da , Mendonça Erica Toledo de
Published: July 2015

Objetivo avaliar o portfólio como método de ensino, aprendizagem e avaliação no âmbito da formação centrada em competências cognitivas e metacognitivas, almejando um aprendizado em que os estudantes atuem de maneira autônoma, responsável, crítica e criativa. Métodos pesquisa qualitativa; a coleta de dados se deu por meio das técnicas de análise documental (26 portfólios) e grupo focal. As competências desenvolvidas pelos estudantes durante a elaboração dos portfólios foram classificadas com base nos processos cognitivos e metacognitivos. Resultados a construção dos portfólios possibilitou o desenvolvimento dos pensamentos compreensivo, crítico e criativo nos estudantes, viabilizando um processo educativo dinâmico, crítico e reflexivo. Conclusões o portfólio configurou-se como um método de ensino, aprendizagem e avaliação inovador e potencializador de competências cognitivas e metacognitivas.
Determinação da maturidade fisiológica de sementes de pimenta dedo de moça Capsicum baccatum var. pendulum
Authors: Justino Elaine V , Boiteux Leonardo S , Fonseca Maria EN , Silva Filho José G , Nascimento Warley M
Published: July 2015

Um aspecto ainda pouco estudado, mas de grande relevância no processo produtivo de sementes de pimenta do tipo dedo de moça (Capsicum baccatum var. pendulum) é a determinação tanto da maturidade fisiológica quanto do momento mais adequado para a colheita. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de pimenta da espécie C. baccatum var. pendulum obtidas de frutos em diferentes estádios de maturação. O experimento foi realizado nas instalações do campo experimental e laboratórios de sementes e de pós-colheita da Embrapa Hortaliças, Brasília-DF. Para a determinação da maturidade fisiológica foi utilizada a cultivar BRS Mari. As sementes foram obtidas de frutos colhidos em diferentes estádios de maturação (20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 e 80 dias após antese). Foram determinados a coloração dos frutos, comprimento longitudinal, teor de clorofila e de capsaicina. Nas sementes, foram determinados o teor de água, a massa de 100 sementes, a germinação, a emergência de plântulas em casa de vegetação e o vigor, estimado pela primeira contagem de germinação e teste de envelhecimento acelerado. Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado. A maturidade fisiológica das sementes ocorreu aos 70 dias após a antese, onde os frutos apresentavam coloração vermelha, teores mínimos de clorofila e maiores picos de capsaicina. Neste estádio, as sementes apresentam valores máximos de germinação, vigor e matéria seca e teor de água de 39%.
Analytical method for the lateral displacements of steel-reinforced soil walls on stiff foundations with incremental panel facings
Authors: LIU H. , YANG G.
Published: July 2015

The lateral facing displacement of a reinforced soil wall is one of the serviceability issues that must be checked during its design stage. However, estimating the lateral facing displacement is difficult because of the influences of many contributing factors. In this study, an analytical method is proposed to estimate the lateral facing displacement of a steel-reinforced soil wall founded on stiff foundation soil and having an incremental panel facing. The method takes into account the displacement at the back of the reinforced soil, which has been neglected in existing analytical methods. It also incorporates a logical approach to consider the effects of soil compaction and construction sequence. Reinforcement extension and soil–reinforcement slippage are considered in the analytical method through two sets of straightforward formulae. The method makes conservative assumptions on the lateral earth pressure at the back of the reinforced soil, the influence of facing elements, and the reinforcement slippage in the reinforced soil mass, but the method is not overly conservative. The method was validated against available results of numerical simulations, model experiments and full-scale tests.
Accelerated curing regimes for polymer-modified cement
Authors: Hoe Kwan Wai , Ramli Mahyuddin , Ban Cheah Chee
Published: July 2015

Polymer-modified materials provide numerable enhancements to cementitious composites. However, the curing/hardening conditions for cementitious and polymeric materials differ significantly, although they are mixed to form a single entity. Cement requires a moist environment for the hydration process to occur, while polymers require a hot and dry environment. Consequently, the polymer-modified composite exhibits lower compressive strength than the ordinary cementitious product. The objective of the present study was to resolve this issue by using accelerated curing regimens, following the fundamental concept that the dominant contribution to the toughness of the composite matrix is from the cement system, while polymer films refine the microstructure. Hygrothermal treatment for plain mortar was first developed in order to achieve 100% of the 28-day strength after treatment is completed. The hot + dry treatment required for the formation of polymer film was studied in the second phase of this study, together with an investigation of the microstructure using scanning electron microscopy. The results show that, after being subjected to the hygrothermal and hot + dry treatment, polymer-modified mortar can achieve low intrinsic permeability without compromising the compressive strength. A 15% polymer loading in styrene–butadiene rubber- and epoxy-modified mortar led to 46% and 18% higher compressive strengths, and 660% and 460% lower intrinsic permeabilities, compared with unmodified mortar, respectively.
Experience of Private Schools for Development of Advanced Learning Practices
Authors: Rogozina Tatyana , Shchur Tatyana
Published: July 2015

An analysis of social orders that determined strategic development of gymnasium “Alma Mater” in Saint Petersburg throughout twenty years has allowed us to point out the most important changes that the gymnasium has gone through. The first social order the school responded to was teaching different children. In the 1990s, parents often sent their kids to private schools not in the search of elite education but because they didn’t have a possibility to send them in a public school. Children with learning and behavior problems made the best part of private school students. To respond to the demand for teaching different children, the gymnasium introduced subject-specific learning from the very first year at primary school in 1991. Another tangible change, introducing individual studies in 1994, was prompted by the impossibility for students to make same-level achievements at the same rate in compliance with the learning program. The gymnasium has been offering part-time and distance learning since 2003. For this purpose, the  school structure has been provided with an externship department, with more teachers, and with ICT-based workplaces. We regard introducing subject-specific learning in  primary school and individual studies at all stages of general education in the gymn asium as an embodiment of the idea of “adaptive school” engrained today in federal state educational standards. We believe that problems in private school education that arise due to changes in social orders, parental expectations and the student body forecast  similar problems in the public school to appear in the nearest future. Bearing in mind consistent transformations in Russian education, it makes sense to consider the existing  experience of private schools when designing and implementing public school development programs.
Expectations of Social Mobility in Different Types of MBA Students
Authors: Migunova Dina
Published: July 2015

The empirical basis of the study is a 2010 survey among MBA students of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. Managers and entrepreneurs studying in the business school impose different requirements to content of educational programs and to organization of teaching process, depending on what changes they expect after graduating with MBA degrees. Based on these expectations, MBA students may be classified into three categories: stable, horizontally mobile, and vertically mobile. The stable type (40%) believes that business education will give them more self-confidence and help them secure their social status and current position in the company. Horizontally mobile  students (34%) expect to change their job or field of activity after graduating from the business school. Vertically-mobile students (26%) envisage a career progress, a pay rise, an improvement of social status, or getting a job in a top corporation or in an international company. The conclusion is,  usiness education can perform different functions for different categories of students, so maximum efficiency of MBA programs may be achieved through student segmentation and educational program differentiation (more detailed elaboration of educational content to adjust it to students’  emands; diversification of the set of subjects, etc.). Modern Russian business schools are rather unwilling to initiate research to study demands of both prospective students (including their status specifics, expectations, needs, and motivation for MBA studies) and employers (e. g. their  equirements to successful candidates for specific positions), which blunts effectiveness of the business education system significantly.
University and Two Meanings of Responsibility: Objectification of Social Effects of Educational Institutions (by the example of a survey among graduates of an Orthodox university)
Authors: Zabayev Ivan , Pavlyutkin Ivan
Published: July 2015

We approach higher education as a source of not only private good but also public one. An analysis of oeuvres was aimed at differentiating between formal and substantive meanings of the term “university responsibility”. Substantive meaning of responsibility appeals to criteria beyond knowledge, appreciates the crucial importance of education effects in various aspects of life, and derives from the very fact of interdependence between the university and the society. We believe that importance of university as an institution forming the society may specifically be put into question in Russia, where the high level of education coexists weirdly with the high level of social hardship. An online questionnaire was completed by more than one third of graduates of a Russian confessional (Orthodox) university residing in more than 100 localities of Russia, former Soviet Republics, and other foreign countries. The data on graduates’ shared values and attitudes obtained in the survey was compared to results of national and international surveys on family issues, civic engagement, values, employment, social capital, and consumption practices. Based on this comparison, we suggest that philosophies and attitudes of Orthodox university graduates have many common points that set them aside from the other population of Russia: they are committed to family and civic values, have a strong attitude of service, and participate in social activities to help people in need. Standardized indices of social capital in the sample of Orthodox university graduates are three times higher than those in the national sample of all higher education graduates. We propose to raise a critical discussion of the role of religion in higher education and to dwell specifically on issues of validity of theology as a scientific discipline, effects of bringing religion to high school, and the problem of confessional universities.
For the Sake of the Future, not the Past. An interview with NRU HSE prorector Maria Yudkevich about the HSE Generations books
Authors: Pleshkov Aleksey
Published: July 2015

Mariya Yudkevich, Ph.D. in Economics, prorector at the National Research University — Higher School of Economics, Director of the Center for Institutional Studies at the NRU HSE, tells in the interview about the conception and the history of creating the Pokoleniya VShE (HSE Generations) books published to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the university. The book Uchitelya ob uchitelyakh (Teachers about Teachers) contains reflections of famous scientists on the academic environments they made their first steps in. In Ucheniki ob uchitelyakh (Students about Teachers), young HSE researchers tell about the teachers who helped them get their idea of the university and of their academic ways. At first, the  essays that gave birth to these books had been a special supplement to the Okna rosta news bulletin and had won the readers’ love. In the end, nearly one hundred NRU HSE employees contributed to the books. The Pokoleniya VShE books make it clear that formation of the university became possible due to a combination of various traditions which coexist today within the same institution through openness, academic honesty, professionalism and without a backward glance at disciplinary, institutional or national boundaries.
The First Assessment of Adult Competencies in Russia
Authors: Podolskiy Oleg , Popov Dmitry
Published: July 2015

This paper opens a series of publications based on the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) data. Among the many tasks PIAAC is aimed on the identification and measurement of differences between citizens and countries in the area of key competencies, evaluation of the impact of skills on individual economic and social achievement, the effectiveness of various national educational and training systems in providing necessary skills as well as the creation of the conditions for lifelong learning. PIAAC draws the first “profile” and pathbreaking results of Russian adults’ key competencies on literacy, numeracy and problem solving in technology-rich environment. The central part of the paper is dedicated to a general analysis of the role of competencies and competence-based approach, a description of the research method, sampling and tools used (including test samples) in the PIAAC, and particularly in Russian Federation. Finally, the paper deals with the first results of the adult competencies research in  Russian Federation. The results on identified key competencies are presented in accordance with various age groups, and include gender and qualification level differences.  IAAC is a long-term research project. Russia participated in the programme in 2009–2013. Over 5000 adults aged between 16 and 25 from 25 regions and 94 localities participated in the programme in Russia. The total sample included 3800 respondents; it is representative for the whole country except Moscow and Moscow Oblast. The average points Russia obtained in reading and mathematical literacy are comparable to those obtained in OECD countries. Nearly half of working-age adults in Russia either don’t have any computer experience or are incompetent users. As compared to OECD citizens, computer skills of Russian adults are more often restricted to doing only simple tasks (like logging in and out of their email boxes). As the level of education grows, so does the level of competencies of adult population in Russia. Similarly, competencies seem to accumulate with ageing, until the peak age of 45–49 years is reached. The discussion of the first PIAAC results and brief statement of research questions for future studies are presented.
Key Features of International University Networks
Authors: Melikyan Alisa
Published: July 2015

We present results of a study of 27 existing international university networks created in different years and comprising 1,119 member organizations from 117 countries. We have analyzed information both posted on their official websites and publicly available online, as well as annual reports on activities of international university networks, their strategic development plans, texts of partnership agreements, interviews with representatives of network partners and coordinators. We have identified and described the key features of international university networks as a form of inter-university partnership: pre-requisites for establishment, geographical location of partners, types of partner organizations, status of partners, entry barriers for new partners, specialization profiles, financing of activities, management of activities, forms of partner cooperation. We have also analyzed engagement of higher education institutions of different countries in the international university networks, particularly membership of the leading Russian universities in such networks and in other international educational associations. It appears that Russian universities are represented insufficiently in the international university networks. Accession is a challenging task that will require universities to apply considerable efforts, both organizational (overcoming entry barriers, negotiating with networks managers and partners, ensuring a certain level of openness in activities of the university, meeting the network requirements, performing the tasks assigned to network members on time) and financial (entry and annual fees, business traveling). Collaboration with foreign universities through network interaction will promote internationalization and quicker innovation of Russian universities, as well as learning of new working techniques and accumulation of resources and knowledge.
Preferences of Professors about Research and Teaching
Authors: Kozmina Yana
Published: July 2015

This paper aims to analyze preferences of academic teaching staff of Russian universities about research and teaching, as well as structure of their working hours, academic research performance, and related differences between universities with or without special status, based on the results of two international studies that embraced Russia: International Academic P rofession (1991–1993) and Changing Academic Profession (2007–2012). In Russia, most professors prefer teaching over academic research, unlike in many other countries, distribution of preferences being the same for teachers at “national research universities” and higher education institutions with no special status. Professors who prefer academic research over teaching acquire research skills as they study and then apply efforts to get  inancing for their research, working more hours weekly than their teaching colleagues (average 42 vs. 38 hours per week respectively). Although faculty staff who prefer research over teaching have a higher workload and solve less routine problems in their work, they suffer much less stress and are much more satisfied with what they are doing. The conclusion thus is that distribution of professor preferences reflects peculiarities of the higher education system in the USSR and the Russian Federation, such as: focus on teaching, dissociation between science and universities, poor financing of universities as such and particularly of their academic research.
Socialization Through Informal Education: Extracurricular Activities of Russian School Students
Authors: Ivaniushina Valeria , Alexandrov Daniil
Published: July 2015

The paper presents results of a large-scale research on the scope of services in extracurricular and extra-school education and on assessment of the potential role of education beyond the classroom and informal education in solving children socialization issues. The research was carried out through questioning students as consumers of education services. A new instrument was developed and tested to allow for a detailed description of various aspects of extracurricular activities and their correlation with studies and social and psychological characteristics of students. An extensive statistic material (over 6,000 questionnaires filled out by students from several regions of Russia) was used to analyze the degree of engagement in out-of-class activities among children of different age; the activities that are more popular for specific age groups; the age range when children are most engaged in such activities; the reasons for non-participation in extracurricular activities; the infrastructure of education beyond the classroom; the relative frequency of structured and non-structured classes; the correlation between out-of-class activities and development of self-esteem, feeling of community, and satisfaction. Age- and gender-related profiles of various classes are described. It appears that structured extracurricular activities, unlike unstructured ones, correlate with higher self-esteem (both overall and academic), stronger sense of belonging, and better satisfaction with school.
Regional Model of Advanced-Level General Education Program Management
Authors: Kogan Efim , Kuteynitsyna Tatyana , Prudnikova Viktoriya
Published: July 2015

A multi-aspect study was conducted to analyze the place and role of general education schools implementing advanced-level programs in the regional education system. The focus on this problem is dictated by the changes introduced by the Federal Law “On Education in the Russian Federation”: the new revision excludes the type of schools, such as lyceums, gymnasiums and schools with advanced study of specific subjects, from the typology of educational institutions. The paper consists of two parts. The first part investigates the actual level of education services offered by advanced-level schools under conditions where this type of learning is not regulated by the normative standards. The second part describes development of a regional model to control advanced-level general education programs designed to motivate students to learn professions that are essential for the region. We analyzed charters, development programs, public reports, curricula and learning programs of advanced-level  educational institutions. Principals of advanced-level schools were interviewed on activities of educational institutions. It appears that when no federal or regional normative standards regulate activities of educational institutions qualifying for the ‘advanced level,’ principals use their own ideas to set goals, to create an above-limit offer of learning programs and curricula, to develop motives for the advanced-level status of educational institutions and criteria of learning program performance assessment. The paper describes the principles for organization of the regional model to implement  dvanced-level general education programs, as well as the general plan for allocation and implementation of advanced-level general education programs, and the system to control formulation and fulfillment of the State objective of advanced-level general education programs implementation.
System of Professional Education in Regions of Pre-Revolutionary Russia (through the Example of Bashkiria)
Authors: Aminov Takhir
Published: July 2015

Development of professional education in pre-revolutionary Bashkiria can be divided into two relatively independent branches: Islamic and national Russian-language education. The former was launched in the 17th century, while the latter began to evolve in the mid-18th century. Specific features of their evolution were determined by geographical, economic, historical, ethnic and religious conditions that had been formed by that time in the territory of Ufa Governorate, which is now Bashkortostan. The paper describes religious, pedagogical, medical, commercial, legal, engineering, artisanal, agricultural, and other professional educational institutions that existed at that time. We provide an analysis of teaching practices applied by professional religious educational institutions, both Islamic and Orthodox, that prepared church ministers and teachers. We argue that diversity of types of teacher education institutions characteristic of the region was a unique henomenon, as the types included: 1) teacher institutes (Orenburg, Ufa); 2) teacher seminaries (Blagoveshchensk, Belebey, Sterlitamak); 3) Russian and non-Russian teacher schools (Ufa, Birsk); 4) teaching courses and classes provided by general education institutions; 5) teaching classes provided by women’s gymnasia and progymnasia; 6) Islamic teacher education institutions; 7) Orthodox teacher education institutions (the rural localities of Nikolo-Beryozovka and Bakaly); 8) teacher training externship; 9) nonconventional forms of teacher training. Among the most significant achievements of pre-revolutionary professional ducation in Bashkiria, we should mention its multi-levelness, diversity, multifaith approach, and the aspiration of its organizers to satisfy interests of various population groups and to consider specifics of different regions. This system developed through creating a uniform educational space. Social initiatives played an important role, so education management was pretty much state and public.
Review of the book: Crawley E. F., Malmqvist J., Östlund S., Brodeur D. R., Edström K. (2014) Rethinking Engineering Education: The CDIO Approach. 2nd ed. New York: Springer.
Authors: Fortin Clément
Published: July 2015

Review of the book: Crawley E. F., Malmqvist J., Östlund S., Brodeur D. R., Edström K. (2014) Rethinking Engineering Education: The CDIO Approach. 2nd ed. New York: Springer.
Unannounced Crisis in Education and Bringing Up Citizens of the World. A review of the book: Nussbaum M. (2014) Not For Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities (translated to Russian). Moscow: Publishing House of the Higher School of Economics.
Authors: Pavlyutkin Ivan
Published: July 2015

The book by the famous American philosopher Martha Nussbaum is part of a series of publications in support of humanities and arts. A lot of experts share the author’s idea of decay in contemporary democratic education. This is manifested in excessive amount of testing and monitoring, in a drop in university places for philosophy students, in reallocation of funds in favor of natural science and engineering higher education institutions. This paper advocates education designed to bring up citizens of the world and distinguishes between education for profit and democratic education. The existing economic growthbased model of social development should be replaced with a new model based on development of human potential. Bringing up citizens of demo cratic states aims to develop critical thinking and enable the citizens to see other people’s viewpoints and to understand them. The paper also unfolds the key principles of the so called Socratic pedagogy, which Nussbaum believes to become the central practice of humanitarian education in Western culture. The practice makes people think independently and argue without falling back on weighty or generally accepted opinions.
Grouping University Students Using Social Network Analysis
Authors: Pronin Alexander , Veretennik Elena , Semyonov Alexander
Published: July 2015

We have developed and tested a way to reorganize student groups using the Social Network Analysis (SNA) methodology. The problem defined by the administrators of the Faculty of Management at the National Research University — Higher School of Economics (Saint Petersburg) consisted in reorganizing four existing groups of second-year Bachelor’s students into three new groups. The fundamental requirement was to keep the friendly and collaborative relationships that had developed between students. Technical requirements included ensuring equal sizes of the new groups (26 students) and equivalent levels of academic performance (measured by the average semester grade). We present a solution algorithm which is based on SNA tools and includes two possible strategies for groups with different interaction patterns: 1) the “weak link” strategy (selecting the most fragmented student group that can be easily divided into loosely connected subgroups, breaking it down and distributing the clusters among the other three groups); and 2) the “melting pot” strategy (reorganizing all the four groups into entirely new clusters based on the degree of student interaction). A comparison of performance ranking scores achieved during the following 18 months revealed a growth of the average grade in groups reorganized with regard to interpersonal assessment and interaction. The suggested grouping method may be used to rearrange student groups or courses in situations where some students get dismissed or transferred, or with a view to create project teams for research classes or scientific labs.
Effects of Investments in Preparation Courses on the USE Scores
Authors: Prakhov Ilya
Published: July 2015

Despite the introduction of the Unified State Examination (the USE) as a new admission requirement, Russian households keep investing in preparation courses, while students spend their time on tutorials. To assess how time and money investments in preparation courses affect the USE scores, we systematized results of  empirical studies on the issue, analyzed the main forms of preparation courses in Russia and built a model of learning strategies followed by applicants that allows to evaluate return on investment in extra training in terms of the growth of the final USE scores. It was established that in new institutional admission conditions  students use the same conventional forms of preparation to exams as before, although they had been expected to resort less to extra training after unification of the examination system. We conducted a poll among first-year students and their parents, altogether including 1,600 households in the 16 largest cities of Russia.  Estimation of the modified academic performance function revealed a positive relationship between investment of money and time in preparation courses, on the one part, and results of the exam, on the other part, although the return on such investment turned out to be rather low. On the one hand, it means that USE results come from efforts applied by candidates; on the other hand, it means that students who take preparation courses may win in terms of the final results, which may bring about inequality in access to higher education. In a number of cases, the effects of school and of academic performance are more powerful than those of preparation courses. The paper formulates topics for further research: comparison of return on investment to preparation courses for students in localities with essentially different markets and tutorial opportunities (cities and towns, satellite towns, villages), analysis of learning strategies followed by students with  different motivation in their choice of university, i. e. willing to earn the minimum passing score or aspiring to get high scores in order to qualify for a top-ranked university.
Occupational Stress and Job Satisfaction among Professors of Russian Higher Educational Institutions
Authors: Davydova Irina , Kozmina Yana
Published: July 2015

Data of Changing Academic Profession international survey conducted uniformly in 20 countries including Russia was used to analyze factors affecting the level of occupational stress and job satisfaction among Russian professors. Based on the values of both parameters, all participating countries were divided into four groups. Russia belongs to the group with low levels of occupational stress and job satisfaction, these parameters being lower than in any other country participating in the project. We assess the correlation between these parameters and the three sets of factors: requirements to professors, resources provided by higher educational institutions for professional activities, and individual professional qualities of professors, i. e. their sociodemographic characteristics. In Russia, just like in other countries with low levels of occupational stress and job satisfaction, the parameters in question have proved to correlate with satisfaction with resources provided by higher educational institutions. However, unlike in other countries, Russian professors attach special importance to nonmaterial resources: personal role in specific structural subdivisions, involvement in communication, team spirit in decision-making. In Russia, stress and job satisfaction are not correlated with position, salary, or years of experience, while German and Argentinean professors, for instance, are more satisfied with their jobs if they take higher positions.
Reform of Secondary and Primary Education in Russia during the Reign of Nicholas I
Authors: Kalinina Elena
Published: July 2015

The paper investigates into the basic components of the education reform introduced during the reign of Nicholas I: abolishment of continuum in the schooling system, valid education at each stage in school, considerable changes to general school curriculum, enhanced control and supervision. A number of decrees, charters and regulations were issued to establish various types of educational institutions: gymnasia, district colleges, boarding schools, academies for clerks’ children, private primary schools, and village schools. As a result, the network of educational institutions was essentially expanded. Lower educational institutions under the Most Holy Synod, the Ministry of State Property, Department of Mining, and other agencies made primary education accessible to a lot of children in villages of state-owned peasants. The rules of control, management and supervision in the department of education were strictly defined, with much focus placed on the legal and social status of Russian teachers. Teacher retirement insurance became a progressive step in development of labor legislation. Reactionary policy in the reign of Nicholas I was intensified, in particular, through the growth in number of officers performing supervision and control over educational institutions. The system of dual school subordination increased the flow of paperwork and messed up the control system. Seemingly trivial issues could hardly be resolved locally. For instance, approval of the central government bodies was required to appoint gymnasium superintendents, to introduce new curricula, to provide summer vacations for teachers, to ensure incentives for good work, or to develop the examination procedure. The relatively independent university management in subordinate educational districts, which had been adopted in the early 19th century, was gradually fading out to give way to clear arrangement of control and supervision over the schooling system.
Examinations in Universities of the Russian Empire in the First Half of the 19th Century
Authors: Zharova Ekaterina
Published: July 2015

The first half of the 19th century witnessed the evolution of the university system in the Russian Empire, which ended in the reign of Nicholas I. Particularly, rules of organizing entrance, transfer and final examinations were developed. The Decree of 1819 on Awarding Academic Degrees consolidated the correlation between the academic degrees awarded to students and candidates and the grades of the Table of Ranks. (This Decree was also associated with introduction of course-based learning, which was later affirmed by the Decree of 1835.) While examinations had been a mere formality prior to this consolidation, from that moment success or failure in an exam meant earning or losing the degree that provided employment benefits. The system of student performance assessment that had been formed at that point was valid throughout a long period of time with minor changes only. Universities didn’t have any unified assessment system in the very beginning of the 19th century, so each professor would develop their own learning and student performance assessment criteria, giving marks depending on each specific student’s performance instead of boxing performance into a strict pattern of marks. It was then that the five-grade assessment scale was introduced and gained wide practice.