Environmental sustainability control system of economic entities

The monograph is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the environmental sustainability control system of economic entities, both internal (internal control services) and external (state supervision (control) and audit). Effective control of the environmental sustainability of economic entities carried out by audit organizations and internal control units in cooperation with state supervision (control) and audit of nature users is carried out in order to verify the compliance of the nature of their environmental activities, products and environmental management systems with current legislation, standards, rules, requirements in the field of environmental protection and to confirm the reliability of their reporting. Confirming the reliability of the reporting of economic entities, environmental supervisors are able to conduct an independent assessment of the environmental sustainability and effectiveness of the environmental activities of the audited organizations, issue their proposals and recommendations for making informed decisions by various stakeholders. The interaction of audit organizations with the internal control (audit) services of enterprises and state supervision (control) and audit bodies will contribute to the timely preparation of reliable accounting and consolidated financial statements by enterprises and increase the efficiency of their environmental activities. It is intended for researchers, students, postgraduates and undergraduates, entrepreneurs, managers and anyone interested in the problems of environmental sustainability control of economic entities.

Dynamic endoluminal contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for display of drainages in inflammatory abdominal fluid collections1

AIM: To evaluate the additive clinical value of endoluminal contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) after interventional placement of drainages in abdominal fluid collections. MATERIAL/METHOD: Examination of 30 patients using a 1–6 MHz convex probe (Resona 7, Mindray) to locate the fluid collection in B-Mode. Additionally, dynamic endoluminal CEUS with 1 ml sulphur-hexafluoride microbubbles was performed to measure the extent of the percutaneously drained abscesses. Independent assessment of dynamically stored images in PACS in DICOM format. Correlation to reference imaging using computed tomography (CT). RESULTS: A total of 30 patients were examined (17 m, 19–78 years, mean 56.1 years). Drainages were positioned in the liver in 15 cases, in the pelvis after kidney transplantation in 4 cases, close to the spleen in 1 case and in the abdomen in 10 cases. In all cases abscesses showed marginal hyperaemia with reactive septations in CEUS. The drainage position was assessed by means of B-mode in all cases first and then by CEUS. In 4 cases CEUS showed a fistula to the pleura, in 5 cases to the peritoneum, in 2 cases to the intestine, in 5 cases to the biliary tract, corresponding to the CT. In 2 cases there was a hint of an anastomotic leakage after intestinal anastomosis, which was reliably detected by CT. The drainage was removed in 11 cases within a period of 2 to 5 days after CEUS control, in 9 cases within a period of 5 to 10 days. Another operation was necessary in 3 cases. A new drainage was placed in 2 cases. The required amount of contrast medium is 1 ml endoluminally diluted to 9 ml sodium chloride. CONCLUSION: CEUS facilitates the exact localization and characterization of inflammatory abdominal fluid collections. Furthermore, possible fistulas can be detected that cannot be seen with conventional ultrasound.

Independent assessment of the quality of conditions for implementing educational activities in the region: statistical analysis of the results

Relevance. Currently, the most popular public administration mechanism in the field of education is the assessment of the quality of educational services rendered, an important component of which is an independent assessment of the quality of conditions for implementing educational activities. The use of the ECSI methodology based on structural equation modeling (SEM) can make an important contribution to the development of mechanisms for the independent assessment of the quality of education (IAQE). The research purpose is to study the possibilities of using the method of statistical data analysis for an independent assessment of the quality of conditions for implementing educational activities in the process of clarifying and confirming the results of monitoring studies in education. Materials and methods. Structural equation modeling was used to study data obtained in 1,143 educational institutions of the Sverdlovsk region (Russian Federation) located in 30 municipal districts, 25 cities, 4 closed administrative-territorial entities. The general population of respondents selected for the IAQE was 350,950 people, including parents (legal representatives) – 298,485 people (85%) and students aged over 14 – 52,465 people (15%). Research results. An original methodology for statistical analysis of data from an independent assessment of the quality of education has been developed. The method of structural equation modeling revealed statistically significant links between indicators with integral criteria of structural SEM-models of the IAQE. In particular, the structural SEM-model of the IAQE has a single negative value of the regression coefficient r=-1.32 for the indicator "Availability of information about the organization's teachers on its official website", and the structural SEM-model of the IAQE criterion "Comfort of the conditions in which educational activities are carried out" found the smallest value of the regression coefficient r=0.36 for the indicator "Availability of conditions for organizing the training and education of students with disabilities and disabled people". These results of the statistical analysis of the IAQE allow identifying directions for improving educational and management practices in the region. Conclusion. The developed original methodology can be used to clarify and confirm the results of monitoring studies in the field of independent assessment of the quality of conditions for implementing educational activities in the regions, especially in cases of any questions about the results of the studies conducted and obtaining controversial results.

Independent assessment of the work quality of social organizations: evolution of the legislative and methodological frameworks

The article is focused on one of the public participation technologies within the scope of the state processes management an independent assessment of the work quality regarding institutions providing services in the social sphere. The author examines the process of changing the legislative norms governing the process of conducting an independent assessment. The main purpose of the analysis is to demonstrate how the understanding of the object, subject, methodology and methods are changing. The informational background for writing the article is domestic researchers data, as well as the authors own experience as the chairman of the public council for carrying out the independent assessment concerning the terms of service quality of the organizations referring to the social service (Ministry of Socio-Demographic and Social Policy of Samara Region), as well as the status of a representative of the organization-operator. Analyzing the key components of an independent assessment, the author describes the risks of reducing the data quality, expanding the practices of conducting work in a cost-cutting format by operating organizations, emasculating the contents from an independent assessment, and, as a result, the loss of significance related to public control technology.

Independent assessment of the several digital skills of secondary school students: Approaches and results

The article presents and comprehends the results of an independent assessment of several digital skills of students of general education organizations. The problem of assessing digital skills is relevant the PISA international research on the quality of education, which includes the study of this competence various aspects. Digital literacy is a strategic education system direction of the Russian Federation, the Perm Region, and the city of Perm.The study provides an assessment of the digital skills of eighth graders in terms of the computational thinking and safe behaviorin a digital environment (sample of schoolchildren in the city of Perm).The research is based on a competence-based approach, consideration of digital skills in the context of assessing functional literacy, the use of big data for making management decisions in education, approaches to implementing an independent assessment in education.The most scarce trainees’ skills in the aspects of digital security and computational thinking are highlighted: critical attitude to information on the Internet; selection of Internet sources for a practical task; assessment of the capabilities of digital tools for solving practical problems. The study shows the need to improve the training of students in the use of digital technologies for solving practical problems. The authors formulate recommendations for the training of teachers of general education organizations teaching various subjects, as well as students studying in pedagogical areas of training. The revealed deficient skills of students show the need to improve the methods of teaching informatics.The authors emphasize the need to comprehend the problem of independent assessment of digital skills as an interdisciplinary problem affecting general pedagogy, teaching methods of informatics, pedagogy of vocational education, meta-pedagogy and metamethodology, big data analysis for making management decisions in education.

Determination the influence of road factors on the occurrence of traffic accidents with dead pedestrians on the territory of Belgrade by independent estimates

The world is paying more and more attention to the safety of vulnerable road users, and especially the safety of pedestrians. The reason for that is the large representation of vulnerable participants in the total number of victims in traffic accidents. Belgrade stood out as especially unsafe for pedestrians, because their endangerment is higher than the world average, but also higher than in the rest of Serbia. In order to increase the safety of pedestrians, appropriate management measures are applied, which are, as a rule, based on the recognized influencing factors of the occurrence of these accidents. For that reason, it is extremely important to define the real influencing factors in the right way. One of the best tools for recognizing the impact of road factors is the independent assessment of the impact of the road on accidents, which the road manager, according to the Law, is obliged to conduct in the event of a traffic accident with fatalities. The paper analyzes 59 traffic accidents with dead pedestrians, which occurred in the period from 15.05.2019. to 06/02/2021 years on the territory of the city of Belgrade and for which an independent assessment of the impact of the road was conducted. The results indicate that the road factor had an impact on the occurrence of more than half of the traffic accidents with dead pedestrians. Also, the results indicate the existence of a number of different influencing factors, which indicates the need for further implementation of these analyzes. The paper presents characteristic examples of the most commonly identified influencing factors.

Determination the influence of road factors on the occurrence of traffic accidents with dead pedestrians on the territory of Belgrade by independent estimates

The world is paying more and more attention to the safety of vulnerable road users, and especially the safety of pedestrians. The reason for that is the large representation of vulnerable participants in the total number of victims in traffic accidents. Belgrade stood out as especially unsafe for pedestrians, because their endangerment is higher than the world average, but also higher than in the rest of Serbia. In order to increase the safety of pedestrians, appropriate management measures are applied, which are, as a rule, based on the recognized influencing factors of the occurrence of these accidents. For that reason, it is extremely important to define the real influencing factors in the right way. One of the best tools for recognizing the impact of road factors is the independent assessment of the impact of the road on accidents, which the road manager, according to the Law, is obliged to conduct in the event of a traffic accident with fatalities. The paper analyzes 59 traffic accidents with dead pedestrians, which occurred in the period from 15.05.2019. to 06/02/2021 years on the territory of the city of Belgrade and for which an independent assessment of the impact of the road was conducted. The results indicate that the road factor had an impact on the occurrence of more than half of the traffic accidents with dead pedestrians. Also, the results indicate the existence of a number of different influencing factors, which indicates the need for further implementation of these analyzes. The paper presents characteristic examples of the most commonly identified influencing factors.

CURRENT ISSUES OF INCREASING EF-FICIENCY OF SAINT-PETERSBURG STATE TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE (TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY) STUDENTS’ INVOLVEMENT IN THE INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS

Currently, the government pays more atten-tion to the standards and guidelines for all education systems to ensure that vocational and higher education programmes are coor-dinated with the evolving needs of the labour market. This policy includes development of the National qualifications system and of the independent assessment of qualifications, which could be served for external evalua-tion of the quality of higher education. The paper represents indicators of SPbGTI(TU) students' involvement in the procedures of independent qualifications assessment, re-sults of students' awareness about the Na-tional Qualifications System and about the infrastructure, which carries out this as-sessment, as well as results of the study of students' motives for voluntary participation in the procedures of the independent qualifi-cations assessment. The paper also offers suggestions about improving students’ in-volvement in the independent assessment of qualifications.

Development of competencies according to WorldSkills Russia standards and opening of championship lines

The appearance of the new federal educational standards for secondary vocational education has given rise to two tools: the WorldSkills competitive movement and the independent assessment of qualifications. Today, the state final certification should be conducted in the form of a defense of the final qualification work, in the form of a thesis (diploma project) and a demonstration exam, which requires specialized sites (equipped with modern technological equipment) that allow you to perform tasks that are provided for in the passport of competencies according to the WorldSkills model. This entails financial costs for educational organizations: either for the participation and use of a specialized site on the basis of a third-party organization, or for the creation of new competencies and the development of the material and technical base of their educational institution.The article describes the experience of the teachers of the Tikhoretsk Technical School of Railway Transport in developing competencies according to WorldSkills standards, as well as the problems and ways of developing championship lines in railway specialties. The creation of new competencies, the development of an expert community, the interaction of educational organizations and the holding of competitions according to WorldSkills standards brings changes to the system of secondary vocational education and sets the pace in the development of championship lines.