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For the purpose of controlling industrial robots attached to various types of technological equipment the configuration structures and unification principles were investigated and the unified controlling systems of positional and cyclic type developed.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze how the audiovisual teaching aids are applied in the modern educational environment and to assess their application efficiency in the context of the secondary-level vocational education establishments.

A pedagogical experiment was conducted to confirm this hypothesis. At the preparatory stage, the authors have analyzed the teaching and learning process, as well as students learning at the secondary-level vocational education establishment. Statistical sample was 300 people.

Based on the research results, main mistakes made while applying the audiovisual teaching aids were identified, formulated and investigated. These mistakes were related to the insufficient methodological preparation. As these mistakes were eliminated, student achievements and learning skills have increased by 15–20 percent (experiment data). The average marks, obtained by students before and after eliminating the methodological mistakes, were taken in points (from 2 to 5) as achievement and learning skill criteria. Research conclusion is that audiovisual aids application quality can be improved only through the research on students’ educational and creative potential, their perception of various learning materials, and their preferences in the information structure, composition, types and forms.

Applying audiovisual teaching aids in the learning process is a challenge. This paper is driven by the need of new unique methods for applying audiovisual aids related to identifying the optimal temporal lesson structure, as well as the composition and the amount of auxiliary teaching materials, interactive communication level and ways to stimulate the emotional and creative activity of students.

The purpose of this paper is to explain the current role of foreign foundations in the cross-border mobility of Russian elite scientists.

The methodology is based on a combination of a quantitative survey (December 2004-February 2005) of former Russian Humboldtians and qualitative research (expert interviews in 2005 and in 2012, respectively) of Russian alumni of the Alexander von Humboldt foundation (Germany).

For Russian elite researchers participating in academic mobility, in 2000s it is rather cross-border mobility’ brain circulation’ rather than “brain drain” a dominant form of academic mobility typical. Even in 2000s, western foundations still played a significant while twofold role – promoting emigration of for a small part of Russian elite researchers, on the one hand, while and getting access to top-level labs, etc. and to international academic chains of excellence for the majority of them, on the other. Coming back to the home country, affiliation with foreign foundations reduces the dependence of Russian elite researchers on hierarchical structures within the national state science system and promotes project teams and network forms of interaction their career. However, Russian scientists dependence on foreign funding affect both the scope of research and their academic status (mostly – second-level positions within research projects, etc.). Among the reasons to for leave leaving Russia it is primarily the desire to remain have closer access to their academic community and the equipment to do on the top level in research. The paper formulates some measures to foster incentives to stay in Russia and respectively to support re-emigration of elite researchers, in form of world class research labs and strengthening the motivation of senior researchers to work in the home country.

Research limitations consist in using of only one of the alumni networks of several western foundations database.

The paper is unique as regards the empirical results; its value consists in their organizational, social and political implications.

The purpose of this paper is to deploy the concept of the “glass slipper” to unpack the construction of systematic patterns of inclusion and exclusion along the lines of gender, age and class in the emerging, female-dominated profession of psychological counselling in Russia.

The study draws on an analysis of 26 in-depth qualitative interviews with practising counsellors in Russia.

Drawing on the glass slipper concept, the article demonstrates how seemingly neutral discursive “rules” of professional conduct articulated by counsellors create an association between a collective professional identity and the social identities of typical practitioners, making this profession appear most suitable for middle-aged, middle-class women. The findings also show how certain embodied identities – in this case masculinity – may be able to “fit” into a slipper that was not made for them.

The paper extends the understanding of the dynamics of inequality patterns in a feminized profession in the Russian context by unveiling previously underexplored patterns of marginalization along the lines of class and age. It also strengthens the collective-associative view of occupational identity and extends the glass slipper concept by exposing the mechanisms of body-work association in this profession and demonstrating that certain identity characteristics may be more universally privileged in the construction of professional identities.

Small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries, particularly in the Sub-Saharan African region, find it hard to innovate due to severe resource constraints and high institutional voids. Given this, the paper examines three international strategic responses that small and medium-sized enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa adopt to implement innovations in the face of weak institutional environments.

Using comprehensive data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey, the study applies the Instrumental Variable Probit approach to analyse a sample of 8,466 SMEs from eleven countries in the Sub-Saharan African region.

The empirical results show that foreign ownership negatively affects product and process innovation. Additionally, the results reveal that small and medium-sized enterprises that leverage exporting and international quality certifications are likely to implement innovations.

The paper contributes to the literature by suggesting that small and medium-sized enterprises must exploit strategic alternatives to improve their innovation efforts when operating in a weak institutional environment. Thus, by exploring international strategic responses to institutional difficulties when implementing innovations, this paper goes beyond the prevailing research approach in developing countries that mainly emphasises the barriers to innovations.

Leading developers and providers in the modern space launch market note a splash in the development of ultralight launch vehicle (LV), driven by the growing demand for small satellites for large constellations in low Earth orbits. One of the promising ways to solve the problem of the quick launch of such satellites is to use a new type of ultralight launch vehicle with a plastic body. The project of such a launch vehicle was proposed by Oles Honchar Dnipro National University (Ukraine). Along with that, there is a need for appropriate research studies on the thermal resistance of the plastic shell, as the physical, mechanical and thermophysical characteristics of polymers significantly differ from traditional aerospace materials. The purpose of this study is to validate the design and ballistic parameters of such a launch vehicle in terms of providing an acceptable thermal environment at the atmospheric phase of the trajectory.

The workability of a new type of propulsion system is being investigated experimentally in bench conditions. To study the process of aerodynamic heating of a plastic shell, numerical modeling based on the integration of the flight dynamics and heat transfer equations is used.

Brief information about the design of a new type of ultra-light autophage launch vehicle with a plastic body is presented. A mathematical model for the movement of the launch vehicle at the atmospheric phase of the trajectory, and for the heating of the polyethylene body of the launch vehicle, taking into account the dynamic change in the atmospheric parameters is proposed. The influence of the motion trajectory on the thermal environment of the rocket body is investigated, rational motion trajectories and corresponding permissible g-loads are determined.

The fundamental possibility of using plastic (polyethylene) as a structural material and fuel for bodies of a new type of ultralight launch vehicles has been substantiated. It is shown that to ensure acceptable thermal conditions of a plastic body, it is necessary to use thermal insulation. It is proposed to use a polymeric Teflon coating as such thermal insulation. The results are important for the development of technologies for launching small satellites into orbit, as the use of plastic as the main structural material of the rocket body will significantly reduce the launch cost.

The purpose of this paper is to present a comparative analysis of institutions and institutional voids in Russia, Brazil, and Poland over the decades of the 1980s through to 2015. The paper asserts that Russia and Brazil could learn much from Poland regarding formal institution building and formal institutional voids that cause problems like corruption and limit economic growth.

A comparative case study approach is utilized to assess the relative success of the three emerging market countries in transitioning to a market economy, viewed through the lens of institutional theory.

Poland’s experience in building successful formal institutions and mitigating major institutional voids can be instructive for Russia and Brazil which have shown far less success, and correspondingly less sustained economic growth.

This paper demonstrates the value of applying institutional theory to analyze the progress of emerging economies in transitioning to a market economy.

This country comparison can prove valuable to other emerging economies seeking a successful transition to a market economy.

Since institutions are the fabric of any society, the emphasis on institutions in this paper can have positive implications for society in emerging markets.

This paper is an original comparison of two BRIC countries with a smaller emerging economy, utilizing institutional theory. Factors contributing to Poland’s success are compared to Russia and Brazil to assess how those countries might be positively informed by Poland’s experience in building and strengthening sustainable formal institutions as well as avoiding institutional voids and their associated problems.

Green Sukuk (GS) is a recent innovation that has the potential to serve humankind in sustainable development. However, its potential can only be achieved if the proceeds of GS are used for the priority areas needed. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to find out, using selected GS issued to determine whether the proceeds of GS are actually given to the needed areas.

This is qualitative research utilizing case studies where the “priorities given” areas are observed through information collected from the library that consists of primary and secondary sources, such as statutes, books, articles and internet sources, while “priorities needed to issue GS” areas are determined through information collected from Al-Quran and Hadiths to derive conclusions.

The outcome of this study reveals some untouched areas that needed immediate attention where GS can be implemented. This study recommends implementing GS for the plant, agriculture, forests, road, water, animal and others. One example in this regard is to create “forest sukuk,” which is a tool for financing forest preservation.

It is anticipated that, via the outcome of this research, GS issuance frameworks can be enhanced, especially in revising the areas in which Sukuk proceeds can be used, and it will provide guidance to the potential GS issuers to choose financing projects.