Competitiveness Improvement Program Research Articles

Creative Economy Competitiveness Improvement Program for MSMEs in Pangkalpinang City

Deshanda Craft is one of the craft businesses in East Kace Village which has been established since 2018. So researchers want to carry out research with the aim of analyzing the value of the creative economy of craft crafts at Deshanda Craft. The results of the study show that the value contained in Deshanda Craft begins with the creation stage where at this creation stage seeks innovative ideas from the internet and then modifies it to make craft patterns, then the production stage where this production stage manages input or materials in the form of nipa palm sticks as raw materials and into flower vases, baskets, tissue holders for the distribution stage in this Deshanda Craft marketed through online media to factories in the form of wholesalers, and this commercialization stage is through providing information to consumers about the products being marketed.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ УПРАВЛІННЯ КОНКУРЕНТОСПРОМОЖНІСТЮ ПІДПРИЄМСТВА НА РИНКУ РЕСТОРАННИХ ПОСЛУГ

The article defines the peculiarities of managing the competitiveness of the enterprise in the field of restaurant services. It was determined that the modern economy of Ukraine determines specific requirements for increasing the level of competitiveness of these enterprises. The peculiarities of competition in the field of restaurant business are defined in detail, taking into account its rapid development dynamics. All specific factors affecting the field of hospitality have been analyzed. The essence and significance of increasing competitiveness, programs for its improvement, as well as managing the competitiveness of a restaurant enterprise are determined. The principles underlying the management of the competitiveness of restaurant business establishments are analyzed and characterized. A program for increasing competitiveness in restaurants has been schematically developed, which includes price and non-price methods of struggle. The method of evaluating the marketing potential of competitors by enterprises of the restaurant business is given. The stages of development of the restaurant competitiveness improvement program are defined in detail and schematically shown. It has been established that the restaurant business has a fairly high level of dependence on all changes in environmental factors, as well as on the conditions for the development of consumers' culture, their level of income and the formation of habits. That is why it is necessary to constantly make changes to the implemented strategy under the influence of factors of the external and internal environment. According to the results of the research, it was determined that the state of competition in the restaurant market is characterized mainly by the development of price competition between individual restaurants of the same price niche. The reason for this is the relatively low level of income of the majority of Ukrainians, as well as the undemanding quality of restaurant service. Therefore, it was determined that modern business conditions are related to the high dynamism of the external environment of restaurant business enterprises, the complexity of information technologies, the globalization of business, which actualize the issue of managing the competitiveness of the enterprise.

Enhancing global competitiveness and developing industry engagement practices

A question that often arises in expert discussions on how to combine the aspirations of universities for international competitiveness, and the development of partnerships with enterprises that need specific employees and developments.The hypothesis of our research is that there are options for strategies which can lead to achievement both of the above goals. The research is devoted to the practices of two universities (Ural Federal University named after the First President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin (UrFU) and the National Research Technological University "MISiS"), participants of the "5-100" project, in which, as the four stages of the Competitiveness Improvement Program are implemented (hereinafter PPK), there was a strengthening of global positions, as well as the development of cooperation with industry. This development is reflected in the texts of the roadmaps (hereinafter referred to as the DC), the dynamics of absolute and specific indicators, and the variety of forms of such interaction, including marketing strategies and strategic initiatives.To study this issue, a historical comparative content analysis of the changes in the DC of two universities was carried out, with an emphasis on the dynamics of changes in target models, especially the nature of reference groups and the practice of interacting with enterprises. Given the possibility of comparison, four elements of the university’s target model were selected for analysis: reference groups, missions, marketing strategies in key markets, changes in the composition of key initiatives.

Methodological Aspects of a New Method for Determining the Mass of Oil per Unit Area of Bottom Sediments of Water Bodies

A method is proposed for determining the mass of oil pollution per unit area of bottom sediments of water bodies, which makes it possible to associate pollution not only with the concentration of pollutants, but also with the area of the reservoir. The article uses the results obtained during the implementation of the project (No. 8.2.13.2020), within the framework of the Competitiveness Improvement Program of Tomsk State University.

Metal‐Ceramic Composites for Photocatalytic Oxidation of Diclofenac in Aqueous Solution

AbstractPhotocatalytic activity of metal‐ceramic composites synthesized by self‐propagating high‐temperature synthesis (SHS) is investigated in the processes of degradation of diclofenac (DCF). Optical properties of the composites were studied, and the band gaps of ceramic matrix semiconducting components were calculated from the absorbance spectra. The effect of the phase composition, UV irradiation duration, the nature and quantity of the activator (H2C2O4 and H2O2) on the degree of oxidation destruction was investigated. The best catalytic performance (98–99 % DCF degradation) was achieved with the combination of heterogeneous boron nitride and SiAlON based composites and a homogeneous photo‐Fenton system. However, DCF decomposition with a minimum number of intermediates was achieved using boron nitride‐based composites.

Usage of integrated indicators in the implementation of programs to improve competitiveness in the context of developing cooperation with the industry and improving the economic sustainability of universities

The usage of integrated indicators is an essential characteristic for development program implementation of Russian higher education, including the competitiveness improvement program. The competitiveness improvement program is a project of the Government of theRussian Federationaimed at significantly increasing the competitive position of leading Russian universities in the global market for educational services and research programs (Project 5-100). Different groups of program participants face different positive and negative aspects of this management tool. One of the risks bound up with focusing on indicators is often called the mismatch of the indicator system focused on the international model of universities, and the role of universities as drivers for the regions’ development and sectors of the Russian economy. This risk requires a systematic assessment.The purpose of this study was to systematize the events of changing and using the indicator system in the program at various levels of management, taking into account the general context in which the program is implemented, to compare them with the indicators of individual universities and create an information basis for further comparison with university practices. Two universities of the 5-100 program, which have a strong tradition of working with both basic and high-tech industries, were selected as reference universities for a preliminary analysis.An important part of this study apparatus was the historical comparison method of changes in the indicator system in dynamics.

Electronic and spin structure of the wide-band-gap topological insulator: Nearly stoichiometricBi2Te2S

We acknowledge partial support from the Saint Petersburg State University (Grant No. 15.61.202.2015), Tomsk State University competitiveness improvement program (Project No. 8.1.01.2017), and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Grant No. FIS2016-75862-P). This study was partially supported by the Russian Science Foundation (Projects No. 17-12-01047, for the electrophysical properties, and No. 18-12-00169, for the theoretical calculations) and by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Project No. 17-08-00955, for the crystal growth and structural characterization). S.V.E. acknowledges support by the Fundamental Research Program of the State Academies of Sciences for 2013–2020. I.P.R. acknowledges support by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation within the framework of the governmental program Megagrants (state task No. 3.8895.2017/P220). A.K. was financially supported by KAKENHI Grants No. 26247064 and No. 17H06138.

Regularities of the quantum spin Hall phase formation in three-dimensional tetradymite-like topological insulator thin films

This paper is supported by Tomsk State University competitiveness improvement programme (Project No. 8.1.01.2017), the Saint Petersburg State University Project No. 15.61.202.2015, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation within the framework of the governmental program Megagrants (State Task No. 3.8716.2017/220 or 3.8716.2017/9.10), the University of the Basque Country (Grants No. GIC07IT36607 and No. IT-756-13), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Grants No. FIS2013-48286-C02-02-P, No. FIS2013-48286-C02-01-P, and No. FIS2016-75862-P).

P156: Detection adducts DNA in human blood and lung cancer tissue by a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometer

Background Identification of DNA-based biomarkers of cancer cells is highly promising and rapidly developing direction that can advance early detection and therapy of malignancies. DNA adducts are felicitous markers of cancer, because their chemical structure is significantly different from that of mutated or methylated DNA, that allows to determine them with high precision using mass spectrometry. The aim of this work is to develop the methodology of sample preparation and its mass spectrometric analysis. Samples were prepared from the blood plasma and from the tumor tissue from lung cancer patients and from blood of healthy individuals. Materials and methods DNA was isolated from the blood plasma and tissue by using column method (BioSilica, Russia) The final yield from 1 ml of blood was 100 ng. DNA samples were subjected to acid hydrolysis (1 M HCl) at 70 °C. After 3 h, the hydrolysis was stopped by cooling on ice for 5 min and later on adding an equivalent amount of an alkali and a phosphate buffer solution (pH 7). To assess the extent of hydrolysis of the samples they were analysed by electrophoresis on a 1.2% agarose gel in Tris-acetate buffer. The samples were extracted at cartridge HF Bond Elut-C18 100 mg, 1 ml (Agilent Technologies, USA) and eluted in several fractions with a gradual increase of methanol in the eluent. Stream of nitrogen was applied to dry the extract. The samples were subjected to mass spectrometric analysis after pre-separation by UHLC Ultimate 3000 RS (Dionex, USA) in a column Dionex Acclaim RSLC 120 C18 (2.1 × 50 mm 120 A, 0.2 μm) flow rate of 0.5 ml/min using as eluents 0.1% solution of formic acid in water (A) and 0.1% solution of formic acid in atsetontrile (B). Elution was carried out in gradient mode: (%B): 0–3min (5%), 3–28min (5–95%), 28–30 min (95%), 30–31 min (95–5%), 31–35 min (5%). Mass spectrometry was carried out on ESI-qTOF ultrahigh resolution Maxis 4G (Bruker, Germany) in the positive ion detection mode range 50–1000 m/z, 2 Hz with the following settings electrospray ion source: CV 3800 V, Nebulizer gas 1 bar, Dry Gas 8 l/min, Dry Temp: 200 °C. Results It was found that the DNA which was cleaved with acid hydrolysis in the result contained single DNA bases. The samples were stable at 4 °C for at least 7 days. The optimal eluent for solid phase extraction of DNA is 80% solution of methanol in water. The number of DNA adducts was evaluated by the integrated value of the mass spectrometric response detector. It was shown that most amount of adducts 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1- butanone and N3-(2-carbamoyl-2-hydroxyethyl)adenine was found in DNA samples derived from tumor tissue. The adduct N7-(2-carbamoyl-2-hydroxyethyl)guanine was found in tumor tissue samples and DNA derived from plasma, as well as in all samples of healthy tissue. Conclusion The established protocol of DNA sample preparation followed by analysis using a mass spectrometer high resolution allows to detect the content of the DNA adducts in small DNA probes (100 ng). We found, that acid hydrolysis is cheaper and more practical in comparison to enzymatic digestion in order to generated samples containing single DNA bases without damaging the structure of adducts. This research was supported by Federal Targeted Programme for Research and Development in Priority Areas of Development of the Russian Scientific and Technological Complex for 2014–2020, “Development of molecular signatures for early detection of lung cancer” (No. 14.575.21.0064 from 05.08.2014, RFMEFI57514X0064) and supported by Tomsk State University, Competitiveness Improvement Program”. Work was conducted with the application of the Tomsk regional common use center technical equipment acquired thanks to a grant of the Russian Ministry of the Agreement No.14.594.21.0001 (RFMEFI59414X0001).

P68: Novel monoclonal antibodies to C-terminal end of transmembrane prostate androgen-induced protein (TMEPAI) for evaluation of its role in gastric cancer prognosis

Background Transmembrane prostate androgen-induced protein 1 (TMEPAI) is a membrane protein that has attracted significant attention of many researchers its involvement in TGF- β signaling pathway which involved in malignant transformation and metastatic tumor progression. We investigated the TMEPAI expression level in gastric adenocarcinomas in comparison to non-tumor mucosa samples and determined its potential prognostic significance. Materials and methods Fresh and paraffin-embedded gastric adenocarcinoma samples and paired adjacent normal tissues were collected from gastric cancer patients. Evaluation of the PMEPA 1 gene expression was carried out using RT-PCR. For evaluation of TMEPAI protein expression, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were developed by using hybridoma techniques. Specificity of prepared monoclonal antibodies against recombinant TMEPAI and evaluation of its expression in the clinical samples using selected mAbs were performed using immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Results We have identified more than two-fold increase in gene expression of PMEPA1 in tumor tissue in 44% of patients. The monoclonal antibodies have shown the capacity to specifically recognize the recombinant TMEPAI in HEK293T cell lysates. We also evaluate the ability of the selected antibodies to recognize the target protein in fixed cells by immunocytochemistry. The evaluation of TMEPAI in adenocarcinoma samples collected from gastric cancer patients revealed decreased protein expression. We have observed pronounced expression of TMEPAI in normal gastric epithelial cells, while tumor cells from gastric adenomas and adenocarcinomas samples were mostly negative for target protein expression. We found that gastric epithelium cells lose the TMEPAI expression concurrent with severe dysplasia. Conclusion Apparently, the TMEPAI may be a potential biomarker of malignant transformation risk of the stomach epithelium. The presented study was financially supported by Grants from the Russian Fund for Basic Research ( 14-04-31500 ) and Tomsk State University Competitiveness Improvement Program.

T15: Circulating tumor cells and bone marrow progenitor cells in the blood of breast cancer patients in the dynamics of neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Background Despite the abundance of theoretical evidences displaying the considerable role of the “soil” in metastasis progression, the majority of cancer research and cancer therapy pathogenetic methods focused mainly on the tumor cells. There is still no clear clinical data showing the role of “soil” in the metastasis. Identification of factors and mechanisms driving the conditions promoting tumor dissemination may lead to therapeutic strategy to detect and prevent metastases at the earliest step. It has been established that bone marrow-derived hematopoietic progenitor cells home to pre-metastatic sites before tumor cells infiltrate in these sites. These hematopoietic progenitor cells form regulatory cell cluster of stromal microenvironment (premetastatic niche) to promote secondary tumor growth. In this context, the aim of our study was to evaluate the level of different pools of circulating tumor cells and bone marrow progenitor cells in the blood of patients with breast cancer in the dynamics of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Materials and methods Patients (prospective study) with newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer in the age range 18–50 years and tumor volume of 2.0(> or =) cm, referred at the Tomsk Cancer Research Institute for treatment were included into the study. Eligibility criteria were as follows: the patient’s informed consent to participate in research; morphologically verified diagnosis of invasive carcinoma of non-specific type; luminal B-1, -2, triple negative (basal-like subtype included), HER2 positive breast cancer; T2-4N0-3M0; preserved menstrual function; satisfactory performance status (on a scale ( Results The study showed that each succeeding course of NACHT increased blood levels of circulating tumor cells, and bone marrow progenitor cells with a phenotype characteristic of EPC (endothelial progenitor cells) (CD34 + CD45–VEGFR + CD133 + CD202 +) and MSC (mesenchymal progenitor stem cells fibroblasts) (CD34–CD90 + VEGFR1–CD45–CD202–). Influence of the NACHT on hematopoietic stem cells HSC (VEGFR1 + CD34 + CD45lowSD202–) and progenitor cells HPC – CD34 + CD45 + CD90–VEGFR1 + CD133 – was ambiguous. Conclusion Neoadjuvant chemotherapy increases blood levels of circulating tumor cells, endothelial progenitor cells and mesenchymal stem cells progenitor fibroblasts, thus promoting the formation of premetastatic niche. The study was conducted with financial support from the Council for Grants of the President of the Russian Federation (Russia) for the state support of young philosophy doctors, agreements of SC 114.120.14.168-MD Russian Scientific Foundation (Russia), Grant No. 14-15-00318 (sample collection) and Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Russia), Grant No. 15-34-20864 . We acknowledge support of this work by the Tomsk State University Competitiveness Improvement Program (Russia).

P97: Bioresorbable composites based on hydroxyapatite dispersed in poly-L-lactide matrix

Orthopedic oncologic prostheses are essential in postoperative therapy and improvement of life quality of oncological patients. However, construction and composition of implants has to be improved for better biocompatibility and reduction of inflammatory responses. The materials based on polylactic acid (PLA) and hydroxyapatite (HA) have been suggested as promising solution for implant coating in order to improve reconstruction of bone defects, to reduce risk of inflammation and implant rejection. Objective To obtain the bioresorbable composites using biocompatible poly-L-lactide (PLA) with HA and to evaluate its effect on bone remodeling rate. Materials and methods After dissolution of PLA∗ in chloroform the powder-like HA (d = 20–40 nm) was added under vigorous stirring (PLA: HA = 75:25). The PLA/HA suspension was sonicated (40 kHz) and precipitated in ethanol. Fine fibers (d = 0.1– 0.5 μm, of more than 2 mm length) were formed. The PLA/HA composite fibers were air-dried; they consisted of HA nanoparticles homogeneously distributed in the PLA matrix. The composites ability to participate in bone remodeling was estimated by determination of the polymer matrix dissolution rate and by formation of the CPL on the surface of the composites. Results The degradation rate of the polymer matrix was calculated by measuring concentration of lactic acid (by HPLC method), being released from PLA macromolecules as the result of the hydrolysis in the physiologic solution (pH 7, ω(NaCl) = 0.9%). The PLA degradation rate during the first 4 days of soaking of the substrates (d = 10 mm, S = 190 mm2, m = 0.20 ± 0.01 g) in the solution is rather high (Clactic acid = 10 wt%), while on day 5 it decreases and stays constant during the rest of the time. The HA content increase in the composite results in the enhanced hydrolysis of PLA, caused both by the partial acid-base interaction between PLA and HA, and due to presence of the phase boundaries. Interesting to note that pure PLA (without HA) is hardly hydrolyzed in the physiologic solution even on the 30-th day of the experiment. Formation of calcium phosphate layer (CPL) was done in the SBF media, simulating the mineral constituents of the blood plasma at 37 °C, over 28 days period. The total concentration of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions in the SBF-solution was determined by daily trilonometry in the ammonia buffer with eriochrome black T as indicator. This investigation clearly shows that the substrates both of HA and PLA/HA promote the CLP formation on their surfaces. On day 14 of the substrates soaking in the SBF solution the increment of Ca2+, Mg2+ ions adsorbed on the HA substrate rose to the value of m (Ca2+ + Mg2+)/VSBF = 0.11 mg/l, while the same value on the composite PLA/HA substrate was 0.06 mg/l. Thus the rate of adsorption of Ca2+ ions on the surface of HA is higher than that on the surface of the PLA/HA substrates. It is the result of the high HA content in the material. Pure PLA does not promote adsorption of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions from the SBF media. Thus the HA particles incorporated in the PLA matrix may cause fast the CLP formation improving the ossification in the bone reconstruction processes. Biocompatibility and anti-inflammatory activity of PLA, HA and PLA/HA composite was studied in a pilot experiment in the cell-mediated immune response of individual donors in vitro using CD14+ human monocytes. Insignificant pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion of the M1 type (TNFα) is observed in the presence of PLA, while HA and PLA/HA composites don’t contribute to their release. The PLA promotes the release of M2 cytokine CCL18 on day 6 of macrophage culturing suggesting potential anti-inflammatory properties of the material. Conclusion The composite PLA/HA supports active bone-like layer formation on its surface improving ossification in the bone reconstruction process. The pilot experiment suggested that PLA/HA does not cause inflammatory reactions, while PLA can potentially regulate the balance between M1/M2 reaction to suppress unnecessary inflammation. ∗Mol. mass ca 60 kDa, prepared in the Laboratory of Catalytic Research of Tomsk State University. This Research is supported by Tomsk State University Competitiveness Improvement Program . The work was partially supported by the project Russian Foundation for Basic Research RFBR # 15-08-05496_a and EU IMMODGEL project, Grant No. (602694). Work was conducted with the application of the Tomsk regional common use center technical equipment acquired thanks to a grant of the Russian Ministry of the Agreement No. 14.594.21.0001 (RFMEFI59414X0001).

Electrophysical Characteristics of Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor Structures Comprising CdHgTe-Based Quantum Wells

Description of theoretical model for energy-band spectrum calculation for the heteroepitaxial CdHgTe (MCT) structures grown by molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) method with the single quantum wells (QW) is presented in this work. This computation model allows to calculate different electro-physical properties of this structures and allows to explain features of their C-V and G-V characteristics in the wide temperature range, i.e. from “helium” till room temperatures. This scientific work was carried out in the network of Tomsk State University Competitiveness Improvement Program.

Graphic Plc receives the "Crystal Globe" the ghly respected award from the West of England Aerospace Forum (WEAF), in the category of Competitiveness Improvement Programme (CIP)

Graphic Plc receives the "Crystal Globe" the ghly respected award from the West of England Aerospace Forum (WEAF), in the category of Competitiveness Improvement Programme (CIP)