Сп. „Химия“, книжка 5/2014

Letters to the Editor

For Reliability of Internet Lessons in Geography [In Bulgarian]

I. Drenovski

Education: Theory & Practice

Gender Issues of Ukrainian Higher Education

Резюме. Due to miscalculations of innovation and educational policies, the higher school and science in Ukraine have been driven out of the government priorities sphere, becoming a low-status and low-income area of professional activity. In such circumstances, there is an active involvement of women in science, which center has moved to a higher education, focused in it the two-thirds of the country’s scientific potential. In formal statistical parity of higher educational scientific and pedagogical personnel, there exists a gender gap in the branch, official and status distribution. The author has revealed the trends in the development of gender asymmetry in the formation of Ukrainian Higher School scientific and pedagogical staff analyzed the features of horizontal display and vertical occupational segregation. The influence of scientific and teaching staff gender asymmetry as a measurement of higher education hidden curriculum on the formation of the student gender culture.
Keywords: gender asymmetry, women in science, scientific and teaching staff of higher school, hidden curriculum, gender culture

H.H. Petruchenia, M.I. Vorovka

New Approaches

Vapor Pressure of Liquids [In Bulgarian]

Резюме. The vapor pressure of a pure liquid is the equilibrium constant in the physicochemical system liquid ⇄ vapor. Therefore, this quantity depends on temperature. By microscopic approach is shown why the vapor pressure increases with increasing temperature, and why the vapor pressures in the flat and curved phase surfaces (at the same temperature) are different.
Keywords: vapor pressure, liquids, plane-parallel and curved phase surfaces

B.V. Toshev

Teaching Efficiency

Higher Education Perspectives for an Exciting Educational Experience – Part IV – An Indian Context

Резюме. India needs a large number of people with a wide range of professional skills. It is essential to equip young Indians with specialist knowledge, practical skills and the right attitudes to take the challenges of real life and enable them to make strong contribution to a forward thinking nation. Educational advancement of people, innovative education practices, sustainable educational development, achieving significant improvement, and passing on knowledge to younger generations is essential in the larger interest of the nation. These require more comprehensive educational reforms to bring about perceptible change in the thought process of people and a positive transformation in the society. This will ensure sustained attention to development of the higher education system in this techno-scientific age. There is an urgent priority to take up large scale reforms in the higher education sector to meet the existing and emerging socio-economic challenges and to reach our goal of inexpensive world-class higher education in an efficient way.

Keywords: inspired education, higher education movement, analytical thinking, learning challenges, Indian context, knowledge base

B.H.S. Thimmappa

Teaching Efficiency

Multivariate Statistical Assessment of DREEM – Bulgaria: Student’s Perceptions of the Learning Environment in the Medical University in Sofia [In Bulgarian]

Резюме. A university educational environment is a crucial factor for its successful development. Students’ relationships with their teachers influence the quality of teaching and determine students’ success rates. Therefore, they need to be monitored, evaluated and regulated. A quality educational environment is a key factor for the development of a student-centred curriculum. For over a decade, the DREEM questionnaire has been used worldwide for the evaluation of students’ perception of the learning environment in medical universities. Its value is irrefutable for determining students’ attitude towards their curriculums; and for comparing the university academic staff’s ideas behind these curriculums with the students’ views on their education. This feedback is the basis of correcting the curriculums. Evaluation of the learning environment is a crucial component of the evaluation of the curriculums. The aim of this research is to evaluate the environment of the Medical University of Sofia through the eyes of the 1st and 3rd-year students, comparing the perceptions of local and international students. The obtained results will contribute to the reliability of DREEM and its establishment as an international method for evaluation of the learning environment in medical schools. For processing the results, the mathematical method of cluster analysis was used. It allows for a quantitative evaluation of the learning environment in medical schools and comparison to the preliminary categories of linkage between the questions involved in DREEM.
Keywords: Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM), DREEM questionnaire, educational environment, evaluation, medical students, perception, cluster analysis

R. Tomova, P. Gateva, R. Hadjiolova, Z. Sabit, M. Slavova, G. Chergarova, V. Simeonov

Teaching Efficiency

Factors, Determining the Improvement of Education Quality of Foreign Students in the Medical University

Резюме. Foreign students’ academic motivation and personal motives play important role for the successful comprehension of relevant Bulgarian and Latin medical terminology, contextually structured with scientific and general Bulgarian lexis. Therefore, the main purpose of our research is to study and identify the motivational incentives of the students, which determine the learning outcomes and success. We conducted a survey with 57 students in compliance with Saaty’s Analytical Hierarchy Process requirements. Major advantage of the latter is that it could compare and prioritize seemingly incomparable alternatives. Another important benefit is that the process allows for inconsistency in the responses, which could be measured, and identify random assessments. Furthermore, the research confirms the ability of the students to analyze the important prerequisites for active learning. The high quality of logically comprehended information relies on an active process related to in-depth processing, semantic and cognitive analysis, increased satisfaction with results, and support for students’ academic objectives achievement. Additionally, the employment of motivational approach in educational activities facilitates students’ adaptation and integration in new academic environments. To summarize, the analysis of the results of the Analytical Hierarchy for Educational Process Optimization study reveals that the respondents indicate preference for the quality of comprehended information and latter’s contextual integrity. Derived priorities could be a valuable contribution for the practitioners’ efforts to increase the educational process effectiveness, tailored according to academic needs and students’ preferences.
Keywords: education, optimization, quality, determining factors, motivation

S.L. Kokova

Experiments

Virtual Experiments in the Laboratory Exercise in the Subject „Physiology of Animals and Humans“ [In Bulgarian]

Резюме. In this paper we advocate for the combination of real experiments with virtual ones in the teaching laboratory of physiology of animals and humans. We describe our experience in this direction with the prospective teachers of natural sciences, trained at the University of Shumen, Bulgaria. The advantage of such teaching practice is presented in detail. Some examples are given. Students’ attitudes to this new for our conditions practice are indicated. Our conclusion is that the introduction of virtual experiments in the subject in question increases the efficacy of the teaching process.
Keywords: physiology of the animals and humans, virtual laboratory, virtual experiments, interactive methods and teaching

M. Radoslavova, M. Boycheva

Advanced Science

Mussel Bioadhesives: A Top Lesson from Nature

Резюме. L-Dopa-containing proteins with adhesive property exist within the mussel feet, commonly called mussel foot proteins (fps). These bioadhesive proteins adhered tightly to all kinds of surfaces and, more interesting, under wet environment. Catechol functionality of Dopa plays crucial role for such adhesion. Mussel-inspired catechol-containing polymers were conceived and their adhesion forces were compared to the commercial glues. Applications in biomedicals, hydrogels, antifoulings, and nanotechnology are claimed. One promising outlook is the surgical suture with such bioadhesive and the engineering of self-healing related materials.
Keywords: adhesive, bioadhesive, catechol, dopa, mussel, polymer

S. Moulay

Science and Society

The Role of Green Pesticides for Sustainable Green Economy

Резюме. Food security and poverty alleviation has remained the primary agenda in the East Africa regional food policies. Prevention of food losses during post-harvest storage is of paramount economic importance. The use of synthetic chemical insecticides is either not permitted or used restrictively because of the residue problem and health risks to consumers. In view of the above, there is a need for plants that may provide potential alternatives to currently used insect control agents as they constitute a rich source of bioactive molecules such as limonoids, alkaloids, phenol and others. Available literature indicates that plants could be source for new insecticides. Therefore, there is a great potential for a plant derived insecticidal compounds. This review paper mainly focuses on green pesticide which is safe, eco-friendly, relatively less expensive, locally available and ensures sustainable food security in sub-Saharan Africa countries. Therefore, in order to increase food safety and develop integrated and sustainable strategies for plant protection, which are safe to the consumer, producer and the environment, the use of green pesticides need to be promoted.
Keywords: food security, green pesticides, synthetic chemicals, harvest

B. Adinew

Science Fiction

With Rocket Grenade to the Moon in the Year 3000 AC. 4 (1929) [In Bulgarian]

B. Burgel

Свързани статии:

Сп. „Химия“, книжка 1/2014 Сп. „Химия“, книжка 2/2014 Сп. „Химия“, книжка 3/2014 Сп. „Химия“, книжка 4/2014