Development of higher education in the regions of Russia: pedagogical staff number

This research aimed to assess the indicators that characterize the number of teaching staff at universities and other higher education institutions (HEIs) in the regions of Russia. These indicators were: (1) the number of teachers per thousand working-age residents of each of the regions, (2) the average number of teachers per HEI in the region, (3) the proportion of teachers who have a Doctor of Science (DSc) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in the number of teachers working in HEIs in the region, and (4) the number of students per teacher working in HEIs. We used official statistical information of 82 regions of Russia. We found that, on average, there are slightly more than two teachers working in HIEs per thousand working-age residents. The average number of teachers per HIE in Russia is 158. In universities, the average number of students per teacher is more than 20. The proposed methodological approach and the obtained results are a scientific novelty, since the assessment of regional characteristics of the number of teaching staff in the regions of Russia has not been carried out before.

STUDY OF THE ATTITUDE TO HEALTH AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE OF RAILWAY WORKERS

The aim of the study is to identify risk factors that increase the likelihood of chronic non-communicable diseases in railway workers, as well as the state of conditions for employees to lead a healthy lifestyle. Materials and methods: The research was carried out by the method of online questionnaire of employees. A quota sample was used to select respondents. The total volume of online survey is 13,595 people or 1.5% of the staff of Russian Railways. Also interviewed were 1,531 employees of FPK JSC or 2.8% of the staff number of employees. The questionnaire contained a general part, passport part and questions on the main components of a healthy lifestyle, compiled on the basis of the STEPS toolkit. The results of the study: 29% to 71% of respondents adhere to the principles of rational nutrition. The absence of hypodynamy depending on the profession was revealed in no more than half of the respondents. Never smoked from 25% to 65% of workers. An excellent level of commitment to healthy lifestyle was noted in 25%...52% respondents. The largest number of employees who comply with the principles of healthy life is shown among electromechanics, economists, technologists and train crew workers.

Władysław Szafer as a palaeobotanist

Władysław Szafer (1886–1970) was one of the notable Polish botanists of the first half of the 20th c., palaeobotany being one of his main fields of interest, cultivated for over 60 years. Initially, he studied Quaternary floras and later on he expanded his interests to the Tertiary (Neogene) floras at the end of the 1930s. He published at least 80 different books and papers on palaeobotany, many of which still having scientific, not only historical, value. His organizational, teaching and editing activities in the field of palaeobotany were also remarkable, and influenced strongly the science in Poland. He contributed to the fast development of this field of knowledge in Poland, both in terms of research and in terms of staff number. 50 years after his death, we summarize the results of Władysław Szafer’s activity in palaeobotany.

Job commitment and its impact on job performance: An applied study on the branch of Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance in Asir region: الالتزام الوظيفي وأثره على الأداء الوظيفي - دراسة تطبيقية على فرع وزارة الشؤون الإسلامية والدعوة والإرشاد في منطقة عسير-

This study aims to identify the concept and importance of job commitment and job performance with a particular focus on the common job commitment level in Asser. It also figures out the relationship between job commitment and job performance in the Asser. The study uses the analytical descriptive approach as a methodology and reached some results as follows; the indicators of job commitment including days of attendance, days of absence, number of staff, number of appointed staff, number of transferred employees, turnover rate of transferred staff and turnover rate of new hire on job performance represented in the number of training programs for the staff of the division of Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dinah and Guidance in Asser. The impact percentage reached 98% while the other 2% goes to other factors and indicators not mentioned in this study. The results also show that there is an impact to the statistically significant indicators of job commitment to the number of training programs. For example, days of attendance comes in the first rank follows by the turnover rate of transferred staff in the second rank. The number of transferred staff comes in the third rank follows by the turnover rate of new hire in the fourth rank. The number of appointed staff comes in the fifth rank followed by the number of employees and days of absence respectively. The study suggested some recommendations including the necessity to link the concept of job commitment to measurements and practices to be well designed and to be well integrated with the system of incentives, censorship and employment. It also recommended that administrative leadership should improve the job commitment of their staff through providing a regulatory environment that allows job creativity.

Parameters for evaluating the main indicators of coloproctological care in the adult population in the subjects of the far Eastern Federal District in 2016–2018

Aim. To work out the unified model for description of coloproctological service at the level of federal district.Material and methods. The study is the summary analysis of data from the annual statistical observation “The Report of the Chief Coloproctologist of the Russian Federal District” in 2016–2018. The analysis included the following stages: the estimation of staff situation; the assessment of the main parameters of out- and inpatient coloproctological care in 2018 in the Far Eastern Federal District (FEFD) and in its federal subjects.Results. Staff number of doctors in federal subjects of the FEFD did not change significantly in 2016-2018, it was 0.7 per 100 thousand population. An extremely low availability of outpatient consultation of coloproctologist in all federal subjects of FEFD was found (550.2 per 100 thousand population vs 3000 per 100 thousand population in Russian Federation). The incidence of colonoscopy is the lowest among all Federal Districts of Russia as well – 5.5%. A mean number of endoscopists is above 7.0 per 100 thousand population, which can be considered as the minimal threshold parameter. The total average staffing of endoscopists in the far Eastern Federal district was 86.0% in 2016, 87.3% – in 2017, 85.8% – in 2018. The staffing situation improved in Khabarovsk Territory and in Sakhalin Region while other federal subjects showed negative trend.Conclusion. The analyzed parameters can be considered as an objective tool for the assessment of coloproctological care efficacy. In the FEFD it needs further development.

Ambulation of hospitalized patients: Knowledge, values, and barriers of direct care providers

The desire to ambulate hospitalized patients is tempered by their risk of falling. Research articulates the health-related benefits of ambulation, yet routinely providing this intervention is challenging. This descriptive survey-design study obtained data from consented licensed and unlicensed direct-care providers, which assessed their knowledge, values, and perceived barriers associated with routine ambulation of patients receiving care in a hospital setting. Analyses of these data conclude that the subjects were knowledgeable about and value ambulating patients. The most frequently cited barrier to routine ambulation was an inadequate staff number, followed closely by an unexpected rise in volume and patient acuity. Interventions aimed at improving the ambulation of patients should include the results of this study.

Optimization of the staff number of veterinary specialists of the State Veterinary Service of the subjects of the Russian Federation

The staff number of veterinary institutions of the State Veterinary Service of the RSFSR was organised in 1963. It changed and improved many times. In the Russian Federation, it has been significantly reduced, the most significant losses in the number of staff veterinary specialists of the State Veterinary Service of the Russian Federation suffered in 2004, and in the subsequent years, it was partially restored. Despite the measures taken, it does not meet modern requirements for ensuring the veterinary welfare of livestock and other industries. The authors attempt to develop an optimal organizational structure and the staff number of the State Veterinary Service of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The available number of veterinarians and paramedics in this Republic is 66.7 % of the science-based requirement. To organise an optimal structure of the State Veterinary Service of the region, it is necessary to employ an additional 475 veterinary doctors and 232 veterinary paramedics.

Start of Employment Contract

Determining the moment when an employment contract comes into force has a pronounced practical value as it marks the beginning of mutual rights and obligations. It allows the employer to record an individual as an employee when calculating the average staff number, calculating work experience, granting a paid leave, etc. In the text of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation there is no definition of the notion of “start of employment contract”. However, it is possible to deduce a single rule for all cases: the employment contract takes effect from the moment of the labor relationship that arises between the employee and the employer when an employee begins work with the knowledge of the employer. For the labor contract to come into force, impartial actions of the parties are necessary that are aimed at the implementation of the employment contract. The conclusion of the contract may coincide in time with the abovementioned actions or may be separated in time. In the second case, in the absence of the fact that the employee began performing the labor function defined in the contract in the conditions when he or she was admitted to work by the employer or his authorized representative, the labor contract remains unfulfilled.

Will the laser cutting machines save Russian libraries?

The author analyzes the new concept of “truly modern libraries” being developed by Vadim Stepanov who suggests to review the library functions and to re-orient the libraries toward providing socio-cultural and leisure services. The author analyzes these methodological and practical recommendations within the concept while demonstrating the practical “misery” of the concept itself and the recommendations which, to one degree or another, have been being developed in the national library studies. Thus, the open access to library collections is a common place since 1930s; every large library has got special room for public events, etc. The author discusses the experience of Helsinki city library (“Oodi”) that has switched to sociocultural and leisure services. Today, “Oodi” – is a cultural and entertaining center, comprising the library oriented toward leisure activities; in fact, it franchises the title of a library. The author demonstrates that accommodating libraries within cultural, leisure and entertaining complexes has been the common practice since the Soviet period. He emphasizes that changes in the national librarianship are of the multifactor character, while automation and computerization of library processes and online access lead to decreasing the library staff number and the volume of library collections. Thus, these changes may not be regarded as the manifestation of a crisis. The author suggests the projects must be being developed more responsibly.