bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Indoor Radon and Thoron Concentration and the Associated Effective Dose Rate Determination in Dwellings of Suq Alshouk, Thiqar (Iraq)
Authors: Abood Hussam Najem , Mohamed Ahmed Abbas
Published: December 2021

Indoor radon/thoron concentration has been determined in some dwellings of Suq Alshouk district in Thiqar Governorate southern of Iraq, using LR-115 type II and CR-39 (SSNTDs). In this work the indoor radon/thoron concentration varies from (8-73) Bq m-3 for radon with an average 35±2Bq m-3, and ranges (1- 47) Bq m-3 for thoron with an average16±2Bq m-3. The average annual effective dose due to radon and thoron varies from 0.43-3.38m Sv y-1 with average value 1.43±0.11 mSv y-1.
Brain Tissues Affection After Oral Tramadol: An Experiment Study
Authors: Mhmood Emad Hazim
Published: December 2021

Tramadol may lead to the accumulation of toxic components in the body. This study aims to detect the toxic effect of tramadol on brain tissues. The clinical experiment was carried out at the Department of Neurosurgery, Ibn Sina Hospital. Ten rats of both sex weighing (180-300 g) were selected from the veterinary house. Brain tissues were immediately removed and put into 10% neutral buffer formalin for fixation, then stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin stain. A significant decrease in the brain weight in rats when given the tramadol in dose 50 mg/ kg. Changes included a mild degree of tissue injury in the cerebral cortex, increase in vacuolar degeneration, with atrophy and degeneration of neurons. There are toxic effects when tramadol describes for a long time on the brain tissues.
Analisis Pengendalian Persediaan Obat-Obatan Instalasi Farmasi RSUD Tugurejo Semarang Selama Pandemi COVID-19
Authors: Wibowo Susilo Wibowo , Suryawati Chriswardani , Sugiarto J
Published: December 2021

Jaminan ketersediaan sangat diperlukan agar pengobatan dapat efektif serta para petugas kesehatan memiliki motivasi dan modal yang kuat untuk memerangi COVID-19. Untuk mengantisipasi perkembangan penemuan obat-obatan dan vaksin baru atau penggunaan evidence based untuk penggunaan obat-obat penatalaksanaan COVID-19. Terdapat beberapa dampak pandemi COVID-19 terhadap pelayanan kefarmasian di RSUD Tugurejo, yaitu turunnya jumlah pasien dengan angka yang signifikan sehingga harus dilakukan pengendalian obat, risiko penularan Covid-19 yang sangat tinggi, stok obat untuk rawat inap menjadi banyak, sedangkan permintaan obat untuk pasien COVID-19 semakain tinggi.Hasil penelitian ini adalah: 1) Pengelolaan obat di instalasi farmasi RSUD Tugurejo Semarang dipengaruhi oleh berbagai faktor seperti ketersediaan formularium RS yang disusun oleh KFT (Komite Farmasi Terapan) RS, kesediaan dokter dalam menuliskan resep obat sesuai dengan formularium RS, alokasi anggaran untuk belanja obat, proses perencanaan obat yang dilakukan berdasarkan metode konsumsi dengan melihat pola penyakit yang ada serta berdasarkan pencatatan stok yang masih dilakukan manual, proses pengadaan obat yang dilakukan oleh tim pengadaan menggunakan metode e-purchasing dan e-catalogue yang dilakukan, hingga distribusi obat berdasarkan pelayanan yang diberikan oleh instalasi farmasi dan 2) Faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi sistem pengendalian persediaan obat di Instalasi Farmasi RSUD Tugurejo Semarang selama pandemi COVID-19 yaitu: perencanaan, pengadaan, penerimaan penyimpanan dan pendistribusian.Kata kunci: Pengendalian Persediaaan Obat-Obatan, Rumah sakit, COVID-19
Aspek Manajemen Dalam Kegiatan Surveilans Epidemiologi Covid-19 Di Puskesmas Dharmarini Kabupaten Temanggung
Authors: Sakina Annisa Nida , Suryawati Chriswardani , Fatmasari Eka Yunila
Published: December 2021

Dharmarini Public Health Center has a high number of COVID-19 cases and there are COVID-19 epidemiological surveillance activities that are not in accordance with those stated in the guidelines, specifically in health monitoring and in terms of Community-Based Surveillance that vulnerable populations have not been recorded and reported. Based on a preliminary study, Dharmarini Public Health Center only has a surveillance officer and experienced obstacle in cross-sectoral coordination. This study aims to analyze the management aspects of COVID-19 epidemiological surveillance at Dharmarini Public Health Center include planning, organizing, actuating, and controlling. This is a qualitative research with analytical descriptive approach. Primary data collection was done by in-depth interviews and research subjects were selected by purposive sampling. The result shows that management aspects in COVID-19 epidemiological surveillance activities at Dharmarini Public Health Center have been carried out from planning, organizing, actuating, to controlling, but there are still shortcomings including in actuating that not all officers involved have received training, there is obstacle in cross-sectoral coordination, the implementation of health monitoring can still be improved, there are refusals in tracing, Community Based Surveillance has not been fully implemented, supervision has only been held once, and in controlling aspect that the evaluation carried out is still not comprehensive. Dharmarini Public Health Center is suggested to optimize the actuating and controlling aspects in COVID-19 epidemiological surveillance.
Factors Influencing Depression among Indonesians during the COVID-19 Outbreak
Authors: Sarfika Rika , Malini Hema , Putri Dewi Eka , Buanasari Andi , Abdullah Khatijah Lim , Freska Windy
Published: December 2021

Background: The 2019 Coronavirus pneumonia disease (COVID-19) has gained intense attention globally, including in Indonesia. The rapid transmission and clinical effects of the virus can cause depression in Indonesian society. However, information on risk factors for depression during COVID-19 in this country is not known. Purpose: This study aimed to determine the level of depression and identify factors influencing depression in Indonesian society during the COVID-19 outbreak.Methods: An online-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Indonesian society aged ≥12 years old in April 2020. A total of 1,622 participants from 34 provinces in Indonesia were involved in this study and completed the online questionnaires on demographics, social media exposure, self-rated health, and depression levels with the WHO-Five Well-being Index (WHO-5). Ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with depression levels.Results: Of the total sample analyzed, the overall prevalence of depression levels was 28.5% mild depression, 18.4% moderate depression, and 24.8% severe depression. Social media exposure (SME), age, gender, occupation, and self-rated health (SRH) were significantly influencing depression (p<0.05). The factor that most influenced the level of depression was self-rated health (p=0.0001; OR=2.72).Conclusion: This study highlights depression in Indonesian society during the COVID-19 pandemic and provides an understanding of the effects of demographics, social media exposure, and self-rated health. The study suggests the importance of implementing a multi-disciplinary approach (e.g., a collaboration between mental health nursing and community nursing) to deal with depression.
Nursing Students’ Experiences on Clinical Competency Assessment in Ghana
Authors: Anim-Boamah Oboshie , Christmals Christmal Dela , Armstrong Susan Jennifer
Published: December 2021

Background: More countries are establishing licensing examination systems for nursing education, including clinical competency assessment. In Ghana, clinical competency assessment forms part of the nursing licensing examination and is perceived as the benchmark for nursing licensing examination in the sub-region. The nationalised assessment system is established with some ad hoc changes over the last decade which requires continual evaluation. It is essential to find out how students experience this assessment system. Purpose: This study aimed to explore nursing students’ experiences of the clinical competency assessment in Ghana. Methods: An exploratory descriptive qualitative design was used in this study. Eight focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 68 final year students purposively selected from eight nursing education programs. The FGDs lasted between 90 to 120 minutes. Content analysis was used to analyze the data.Results: Although the pre-examination conference between students and examiners helped lessen students’ anxiety, limited resources, incongruence in teaching, practice and assessment, inherent biases due to the unstandardised assessment system, and a financial burden compromised the quality of the assessment.Conclusion:Clinical competency assessment is central to nursing licensing examinations; hence the ability of the system to discriminate competent and incompetent nurses otherwise cannot be overemphasised. Standardisation, training of the examiners and continuous evaluation of the assessment system are imperative for quality improvement in clinical competency assessment.
The Democratization of Luxury Products with Influencer Marketing
Authors: Kalender Gulcin Ipek
Published: December 2021

Female influencers, who are enthusiastic about disclosing their lifestyles to the masses on social media on topics ranging from giving personal skin care to themselves at their homes to matching different outfits and creating combinations for date nights as the latest fashionistas, to preparing diet and healthy meals for having a fit body shape, or showing how to exercise to have a balanced work-out, try to change the lifestyle habits and the conversation topics in the lives of many young people by presenting themselves as opinion leaders, view affecters or digital penetrators (Deniz, 2021, p. 49). Lifestyle influencers who prepare make-up tutorials in which they set the new trends by also adding parts from their own lives such as going shopping and purchasing different outfits, and going for a meeting with a group of friends at a restaurant with a luxurious product such as a bag, not only help the dissemination of brand awareness, but also motivate young people to try new masstige products by inciting them to hedonic shopping. Many lifestyle influencers are fond of luxury products and they prepare vlogs in which they open a special luxury product such as a bag and this can be named as a transformation of luxury products because these special goods that address to the elite become visibly available to the masses through social media, which is a populous tool. This research aims to show what influencer marketing is in fact about and how influencer marketing creates brand awareness of luxury products by showing these products as a part of influencers’ lifestyle. The results show that influencers’ introduction of luxury products on social media helps the democratization process of luxury products.
Male teachers in preschool teaching levels – a feminist Viewpoint
Authors: Alharahsheh Husam , Pius Abraham , Guenane Imad
Published: December 2021

Abstract:

The aim of this brief paper is to explore and demonstrate the importance of teacher’s gender at the preschool levels of education and would be focussing on men as professional teachers at the preschool level of education or nursery level of education, and how the participation of male teachers has contributed to the feminist view within teaching. The paper is primarily supported by secondary research through inclusion and consideration of different peer reviewed academic papers relating to the subject. The paper highlights key considerations and reasons derived from different countries in relation to the underrepresentation of males within this level of education including low salaries, dominance of female’s numbers in the profession, the negative stigma associated with men working within this level of education, and social fears. However, male presence in this level of education is supported due to various reasons including diversification of students’ experience within preschool levels of education and consideration of equality matters.
Retaining Teachers: Intentional Invitational Action and Social Justice Leadership as Driving Forces
Authors: Martin Barbara N , McDowell William
Published: December 2021

Social justice challenges and teacher retention challenges create crises in urban school districts across the United States. Moreover, despite literature linking principal leadership with school ethos known is little as to how the use of an invitational leadership style with a social justice orientation has a connection to the retention of teachers in urban settings. This study used a qualitative case study survey design conducted at two urban school district settings, one in the Western United States and the other in the Midwest. The analysis found a connection between the principal using an invitational leadership style, and the presence of a strong social orientation that helped to retain teachers. These findings present implications for scholars and practitioners.
Poetyka pojemników i prefiksów odczasownikowych
Authors: Muskat-Tabakowska Elżbieta
Published: December 2021

Artykuł jest ilustracją tezy – wysuwanej w ostatnich latach przez wielu językoznawców i badaczy literatury – że ściślejsze powiązanie językoznawstwa i teorii literatury może się okazać pożyteczne i inspirujące dla obu stron. Ilustrację celowości takich inter-, czy też raczej transdyscyplinarnych badań wiążących poetykę z językoznawstwem, zwłaszcza w jego współczesnym kognitywistycznym wydaniu, stanowi analiza wiersza Juliana Tuwima Życie, wzbogacona o przekładoznawczą interpretację jego tłumaczenia na język angielski. Analiza przeprowadzona z pozycji językoznawstwa kognitywnego pokazuje, że „poetyka gramatyki” realizuje się w omawianym wierszu za pomocą trzech środków: prefiksów czasownikowych, aspektu czasownika oraz ikoniczności ilościowej i sekwencyjnej. Przytaczane w dalszych partiach tekstu (intuicyjne, impresjonistyczne) interpretacje Życia okazują się w pełni zgodne z interpretacją gramatyczną. Omawiany w części końcowej anglojęzyczny przekład wiersza jest nieadekwatny, nie z braku kompetencji dwójki tłumaczy, lecz z powodu systemowych rozbieżności gramatycznych. Jest to zatem dodatkowy argument na poparcie tezy, że istotna część znaczenia analizowanego wiersza zawiera się w jego strukturze gramatycznej. Intuicja poety – oraz jego czytelników – potwierdza wyniki analizy językoznawczej, a językoznawcze analizy uprawomocniają interpretacje teoretycznoliterackie.
„Jeśli rzeczy mają potoczyć się dalej…” – potencjalność i entropia we wczesnej prozie Magdaleny Tulli
Authors: Kaniewska Bogumiła , Skibski Krzysztof
Published: December 2021

Artykuł dotyczy specyfiki języka wczesnych utworów prozatorskich Magdaleny Tulli. Zjawiska z obszaru gramatyki literackiej – specyficznego operowania nadmiarem w narracji, osobliwym typem składni aranżującej, a także twórczym wykorzystaniem potoczności – pozwalają przyjrzeć się tej prozie jako opowieści entropicznej. Przede wszystkim ze względu na charakterystyczne rozproszenie energii narracyjnej, jak również kontrastujące z czytelniczymi oczekiwaniami nieuporządkowanie. Dzięki przytoczonym przykładom i odniesieniom do wybranych koncepcji badawczych z obszaru językoznawstwa uruchomić można kolejną perspektywę namysłu nad cechami tekstów autorki „Skazy”, a dzięki temu – zadać nowe pytania o wyjątkowość opowieści zawartych w tej oryginalnie poetyckiej prozie.
Lubię wrony – słowo poety a skrypty kulturowe
Authors: Wysocka Aneta
Published: December 2021

Artykuł dotyczy sposobów przejawiania się w tekście artystycznym utrwalonych w języku i kulturze intersubiektywnych wyobrażeń o przyrodzie. Bazę materiałową stanowi piosenka Wojciecha Młynarskiego pt. Lubię wrony oraz dwa inne utwory poetyckie wchodzące z nią w relacje o charakterze intertekstualnym: List do KIG z Łodzi W. Młynarskiego i Wierszyk o wronach K.I. Gałczyńskiego. Podstawą metodologiczną opracowania jest teoria skryptów kulturowych, w połączeniu z kognitywnymi koncepcjami obrazowania oraz amalgamatu konceptualnego. Analizy pokazują, w jaki sposób wspólna wiedza kulturowa zostaje przez Młynarskiego poddana artystycznej reinterpretacji w celu wyrażenia własnego patriotyzmu w formie odbiegającej od skonwencjonalizowanych sposobów ekspresji takiej postawy.
Okno McLuhana. Mem internetowy
Authors: Hendrykowski Marek
Published: December 2021

Interdscyplinarne studium analityczne poświęcone kluczowym zagadnieniom poetyki memu internetowego, jednego z najpopularniejszych gatunków współczesnej ikonosfery i audiosfery.
Wychowanie dziecka w polskiej kulturze w warunkach emigracji na przykładzie polskich szkół sobotnich w Londynie
Authors: Zamecka-Zalas Olga
Published: December 2021

The aim of the article is to present the problem of raising a child in emigration, in Polish culture and national tradition, on the example of Polish Saturday schools in London. To implement the research problem, a monographic method was used, as well as a critique of documents and previous literature in this field. The result of the research is to present the role and merits of Polish schools of native subjects in the upbringing of children in emigration, based on the example of institutions operating in London. The article presents various forms of cooperation between Saturday schools and parents in the process of national education of their children. The patriotic upbringing of several generations of young Poles who are aware of their roots and are proud of their origins, is a great merit of the Polish schools of native subjects in London.
„Blind football” i (nie)widoczna integracja (nie)widocznych piłkarzy
Authors: Kasprzak Tomasz
Published: December 2021

“Blind football” was initiated in the last century. What has significantly contributed to its development are newly established organizations, the primary goal of which was to manage various forms of activating people with visual impairment. Popularisation of “blind football” is a long-term, complicated process, in which a plethora of factors are involved. The aim of this article is to reflect on “blind football”, especially on the problems with spreading it. Most of all, the article is an attempt to define the mechanism of the functioning of “blind football” in the sphere of meanings of contemporary culture.
Edukacja a sytuacja zawodowa młodzieży w Maroku. Zagrożenia i szanse?
Authors: Johnsson Ewa
Published: December 2021

The aim of this article is to present the threats and opportunities in the fields of education and the professional situation of Moroccans, especially young people who both try to find their place on the local labor market and emigrate mainly to Western European countries, largely to France, Spain and Italy, seeking stabilization. The recent reforms and unilateral or multilateral initiatives of international consortia, governments, agencies, and non-governmental organizations operating globally and locally are a chance to create a most stable labor market for young people. Often these are micro-scale activities, but the activation and professional support on a micro scale may translate into the effects of improving quality on a macro scale, throughout the country. This article was prepared on the basis of international reports of OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development), UNESCO, EU national studies, articles and press reports as well as information on the home pages of institutions and organizations such as USAID (United States Agency for International Development) or NED (The National Endowment for Democracy)
Recenzja książki: Agnieszka Cybal-Michalska, Małgorzata Orłowska, Magdalena Piorunek (red.), Młodzież – meandry życia ku dorosłości, Wydawnictwo Naukowe Akademii WSB, Dąbrowa Górnicza 2020, s. 215
Authors: Myszka-Strychalska Lucyna , Bury Przemysław
Published: December 2021

Book review: Agnieszka Cybal-Michalska, Małgorzata Orłowska, Magdalena Piorunek (red.), Młodzież – meandry życia ku dorosłości, Wydawnictwo Naukowe Akademii WSB, Dąbrowa Górnicza 2020, s. 215.
SPRAWOZDANIE Z XXXIV LETNIEJ SZKOŁY MŁODYCH PEDAGOGÓW IM. MARII DUDZIKOWEJ: Pedagogika w Uniwersytecie. Konteksty – Koncepcje – Praktyki, Poznań–Obrzycko, 13–17 września 2021 roku
Authors: Kanclerz Bożena
Published: December 2021

Report: SPRAWOZDANIE Z XXXIV LETNIEJ SZKOŁY MŁODYCH PEDAGOGÓW IM. MARII DUDZIKOWEJ: Pedagogika w Uniwersytecie. Konteksty – Koncepcje – Praktyki, Poznań–Obrzycko, 13–17 września 2021 roku.
SYNCHRONOUS COMPUTER-SUPPORTED COLLABORATIVE WRITING OF THE PROPOSAL DURING THE PANDEMIC
Authors: Asotska-Wierzba Yuliya
Published: December 2021

Modern technology has already changed the way we live, but the COVID-19 pandemic has provided us educators with an unprecedented situation in which we are faced with the enormous challenge of teaching online for a long period of time. It is therefore important to analyse various techniques for getting the most out of distance teaching, especially in a synchronous mode. The aim of the study discussed in this article was to analyse students’ attitudes towards collaborative online work undertaken in synchronous mode during the pandemic. Thirty-three first-year BA students studying English Philology participated in this study. Respondents reflected on the process of online, synchronous collaboration via MS Teams by answering an online survey. The results of the study revealed that collaborative learning allows participants to actively participate in an online lesson, interact with others, co-construct a writing task, apply the new language introduced in lessons in a practical task and receive almost instant feedback. Consequently, any sense of isolation the students may feel is reduced and a sense of community is developed. In addition to this, a collaborative task enhances students’ use of academic skills and the development of key competences that can lay the foundation for lifelong learning.
PÉDAGOGIE UNIVERSITAIRE RÉNOVÉE À L’ÉPOQUE DE LA PANDÉMIE : COMMENT PASSER DE L’AUTRE CÔTÉ DE L’ÉCRAN ?
Authors: Sujecka-Zając Jolanta
Published: December 2021

The 2020/2021 pandemic year has been difficult for teachers at all levels of education including higher education. There was a need to switch quickly to another type of education that would achieve the same objectives as before. How did the university teachers face this challenge? What consequences have been drawn for university teaching in general? We propose to take a global perspective of the state of current university pedagogy to highlight the need to renovate its approaches and to put the learner at the center of the process so to provide pedagogical support in his learning. We will analyze the results of three surveys concerning remote teaching and learning in Poland and in Europe. Finally, we will show what tools can be used to better monitor students` learning in virtual classes.
WYKORZYSTANIE NARZĘDZI INFORMATYCZNYCH W PRACY Z LEKTURAMI NA POZIOMIE A1/A2, CZYLI JAK MOŻNA KSZTAŁTOWAĆ SPRAWNOŚĆ CZYTANIA ZE ZROZUMIENIEM W NAUCZANIU ZDALNYM
Authors: Gierzyńska Marta
Published: December 2021

Refining reading comprehension skills is one of the basic tasks that students of foreign languages and their teachers face. Some of the texts offered in students’ books do not make pupils interested in the topic, motivated or encouraged enough to develop their reading comprehension ability. The reason is that these texts are compulsory students have to read them which thus makes the readings less interesting. Learning foreign languages essentially should be focused on their posterior use in extracurricular, personal and then occupational conditions. Since reading is necessary, then choosing simple books in a foreign language would be worth considering. Such texts may be perceived by the students differently from the compulsory readings in class. What is more, reading didactically adapted, longer literary texts and their proper reception will certainly be satisfying for the student. This article provides the reader with the examples of using simplified readings in the global and detailed text processing which, in turn, takes into account techniques such as pre-reading, while-reading and post-reading. Furthermore, the article presents the ideas of including Information and Communication Technologies in teaching which influences students’ engagement and allows the teacher to monitor their work.
History Repeats Itself. The Issue of Terrorism and Afghanistan on the Twentieth Anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks
Authors: Wojciechowski Sebastian
Published: December 2021

From the editor
International Order and the Access Problem of the Defeated Hegemon: the Case of Russia in the Post-Cold War Era
Authors: Sümer Gülteki̇n
Published: December 2021

It has been evident that Russia as the heir of Soviet foreign policy, could neither achieve to integrate herself into the international order, nor could the international order achieve to find a solution to Russian foreign policy identity quest. As long as Russia cannot find a stable and permanent status for herself in the world politics, her foreign policy will signify a permanent instability on the behalf of the international order. The current hegemonic international order is far from residing technical capabilities in terms of satisfying Russia’s foreign policy expectations, because it is unprecedentedly rigid in terms of allowing or refusing the incorporation of hegemonic power like Russia. While it cannot return to multipolarity, it could not set a community based international order either. Since the current international order was founded upon liberal anti-Soviet values, it entered into a lightness of exposing Russia to make clear-cut choices in her foreign policy. As much as the current international order was founded upon liberal anti-Soviet values, its demands from the new members would much higher that especially Russia would not easily adapt herself to.
Biopolitical Reflection on Human Safety: Ukrainian and Belarus Experience
Authors: Kravets Anastasia
Published: December 2021

Biopolitical reflection is seen as a way of understanding the specifics of being “bios politicos.” It’s means as the understanding the transformational processes in bios and involve the appropriate political reaction, and internal changes “bios politicos,” its self-realization as a subject and object of policy, able to initiate profound transformations of politics and power in biopolitics and biopower. The concept of “bios politicos,” his life, freedom and safety are in the focus of scientific analysis. The key question: сan “bios politicos” exist and function effectively in conditions of danger, in conditions where every word, every action that is unacceptable to the disciplinary authorities can lead to punishment or even death? The aim is to prove that politics and power in the 21st century in Europe cannot and should not exist in a disciplinary form. Their transformation is possible due to the activity of a person as a conscious subject of social and political activity. The complex nature of the scientific problem involves the use of appropriate methods that combine different types of systems analyses: system-structural analysis, system-functional, system-historical analysis, as well as the method of rational reconstruction and prognostic method. The key hypothesis is that today Ukraine is very close (or seeks to get closer) to the implementation of the concepts of biopolitics and biopower. 2014 is certainly an illustration of the “bios politicos” resistance to disciplinary action, despite disciplinary techniques, including the threat of death. Belarusian society, after the 2020 presidential election, has shown such a high level of consolidation and awareness, non-acceptance of disciplinary techniques in the form of threats, violence, and punishment, that we can assume the beginning of transformational change. It is biopolitics and biopower today that is the response of the conscious subject – “bios politicos” to the crisis of disciplinary power, its techniques of domination, control, and violence. Biopolitics and biopower allow “bios politicos” to exist and develop freely in their country, to realize their knowledge and aspirations, to be realized in all spheres of life knowing that the main task of the state is to protect his life and freedom.
Debt Security of CEE Countries: Actual Approaches and Methods of Evaluation
Authors: Chentukov Yurii , Marena Tetyana , Zakharova Olha
Published: December 2021

The study is aimed at analyzing methods of country’s debt security evaluation, developing methodic approach towards estimating the level of debt security based on the calculation of the integral index, and assessing the level of debt security of CEE countries on the basis of the proposed approach. A method of calculating the integral debt security index of the country is developed, taking into account generally accepted thresholds of indebtedness and solvency indicators and the trend of countries’ increasing dependence on external borrowing.

The proposed approach is practically tested in assessing the level of debt security of CEE countries. It is determined that the group of CEE countries is differentiated by the state of indebtedness and solvency. The highest level of debt security is demonstrated by Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Estonia, the worst situation with the debt security is formed in Slovakia and Slovenia. Based on the analysis of the dynamics of integral debt security indices for 2007–2019, the grouping of CEE countries by the level and zones of debt security, the trends of deterioration of the region’s debt security in 2010–2015 and its improvement in 2016–2019 has been found out. The proposed approach is universal one; it can be used to calculate debt security indices and to provide comparative studies of the debt sector of any country or region. It can also help to identify weaknesses in country’s debt security that is critically important for reasoning the public policy measures to ensure a proper level of debt security.
Russian Strategic Culture: Why the Past Matters
Authors: Doroshko Mykola , Tsyrfa Iuliia
Published: December 2021

Today, strategic culture becomes an essential element of the national security policy of the Russian Federation. While absorbing some modern aspects, its strategic culture reflects historical lessons learnt by the Russian Empire and the USSR. Russia still cannot refuse from the idea to restore its superpower status and to fight for new territories. Thus, we can define a number of essential elements of the Russian strategic culture formed in relation to the historical and contemporary development of this state. Throughout the history, the Russians have legitimized the decisions and activities of the ruling elites. As the Russian leadership has long built up powerful associations which had taken root in the minds of people while remembering patriotism and love for their Motherland, the Russians believe in the importance of maintaining and enhancing patriotic feelings. While cultivating its civilizational and cultural detachment, Russia continues developing its own messianic idea which envisages the views of the special historical kismet of Russia. In order to fulfill its global tasks, Russia uses the policy of military interventions and violates state sovereignty of other countries, since the ‘militant’ political culture of its leaders has always militarized the strategic culture of the RF.

So, the strategic culture of Russia emanates from the unique position and history of this state which manages to adapt it to the new realities. However, Russia’s aspirations to reclaim its status as a global superpower at any cost do not allow its strategic culture to be changed or even to be altered.
POCT errors can lead to false potassium results
Authors: Buño Antonio , Oliver Paloma
Published: December 2021

Point-of-care-testing (POCT) facilitates rapid availability of results that allows prompt clinical decision making. These results must be reliable and the whole process must not compromise its quality. Blood gas analyzers are one of the most used methods for POCT tests in Emergency Departments (ED) and in critical patients. Whole blood is the preferred sample, and we must be aware that hemolysis can occur. These devices cannot detect the presence of hemolysis in the sample, and because of the characteristics of the sample, we cannot visually detect it either. Hemolysis can alter the result of different parameters, including potassium with abnormal high results or masking low levels (hypokalemia) when reporting normal concentrations. Severe hyperkalemia is associated with the risk of potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmia and demands emergency clinical intervention. Hemolysis can be considered the most frequent cause of pseudohyperkalemia (spurious hyperkalemia) or pseudonormokalemia and can be accompanied by a wrong diagnosis and an ensuing inappropriate clinical decision making. A complete review of the potential causes of falsely elevated potassium concentrations in blood is presented in this article. POCT programs properly led and organized by the clinical laboratory can help to prevent errors and their impact on patient care.
IgE multiple myeloma: detection and follow-up
Authors: Nafría Jiménez Beatriz , Oliveros Conejero Raquel
Published: December 2021

Objectives

We report a new case of immunoglobulin E multiple myeloma (IgE), a very rare isotype that accounts for <0.1% of cases of this monoclonal gammopathy. To ensure the adequate detection, quantification and identification of the monoclonal component, it is crucial that protein assays are performed. We provide some clues related to clinical laboratory results, which will facilitate an adequate management of the disease.

Case presentation

A 45-year-old patient with a five-week history of pain at the level of the elbow, who was diagnosed with IgE-Kappa multiple myeloma based on laboratory, radiological, and bone marrow findings. The patient received induction chemotherapy prior to hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation and is currently on follow-up.

Conclusions

Protein assays performed in the clinical laboratory, including protein electrophoresis and immunofixation, allowed for the detection of an IgE-Kappa monoclonal component prior to the appearance of the typical CRAB symptoms (hypercalcemia, renal involvement, anemia, and bone pain) of multiple myeloma (MM). The detection of IgE-Kappa facilitated early diagnosis and management.
Bacteremia caused by Helicobacter cinaedi: a case report
Authors: Sidak Kateryna , Pérez-Tanoira Ramón , Gomez-Herruz Peña
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Helicobacter cinaedi is a Gram-negative, spiral-shaped bacterium that primarily affects immunosuppressed patients.

Case presentation

A 49-year-old patient with ulcerative colitis diagnosed in 1992, who presented to the ED of our hospital with fever and testicular complaints. The patient was discharged with a diagnosis of left-sided acute epididymitis, which was probably sexually transmitted. At the ED, he was administered intravenous Ceftriaxone and discharged with a prescription of doxycycline for 10 days, with a good progress. Aerobic cultures were positive at three days from collection. Gram staining showed Gram-negative, corkscrew-shaped bacteria. The analysis of the blood culture bottles, and the colonies grown in Campylosel agar incubated in microaerophilic conditions at 42 °C were identified as H. cinaedi on the Maldi-TOF Biotyper 3.0 system (Bruker Diagnostics Inc.).

Conclusions

Direct analysis of the blood culture bottle on the Maldi-TOF system allowed for the identification of the etiology of the bacteremia since H. cinaedi could not have been grown in standard culture conditions. The treatment of this infection is a matter of debate; however, the combination of ceftriaxone with doxycycline can be ineffective for bacteremia caused by H. cinaedi infection since it occurs by the translocation of the bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract. This type of bacteremia is associated with intestinal mucosal damage secondary to ulcerative colitis, and it primarily affects immunosuppressed patients.
Method comparison of three serum free light chain assays on the Roche Cobas 6000 c501 chemistry analyzer
Authors: Augustijn Dieuwertje , Jacobs Joannes F.M. , Russcher Henk
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Free light chains (FLC) are important in the diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of therapy response of patients with monoclonal gammopathies. In this study, we performed a method comparison of three FLC assays on the Cobas 6000 c501 chemistry analyzer of Roche Diagnostics.

Methods

Samples of 119 patients with various monoclonal gammopathies and 26 control patients were measured with the Freelite (The Binding Site), Diazyme (Diazyme Laboratories) and KLoneus (Trimero Diagnostics) FLC assays. A method comparison was performed and reference intervals of the three assays were validated.

Results

The analysis of the Bland-Altman agreement showed bias between the three FLC assays, ranging from −62.7 to 5.1% for κFLC and between −29.2 to 80.5% for λFLC. The Freelite and Diazyme assays have the highest agreement. The concordance of the FLC-ratio ranges from 41 to 75%, with the highest concordance between the Freelite and KLoneus assays. The FLC-ratio in 25 sera from healthy controls were within the reference ranges of the Freelite and KLoneus assays. The FLC-ratio was elevated in all 25 samples tested with the Diazyme assay.

Conclusions

The agreement for the free light chains is highest between the Freelite and the Diazyme assay and fair for the KLoneus assay. However, concordance of the FLC-ratio is highest when the Freelite and KLoneus assays were compared. Our data suggest that concordance for the Diazyme assay could be improved by recalibration. Because of absolute differences between the three methods in individual patients, none of the three FLC assays can be used interchangeably.
Determinants of birth-intervals in Algeria: a semi-Markov model analysis
Authors: Chellai Fatih
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Analyzing the dynamics and patterns of birth intervals in the Algerian population is an important issue in developing an effective population policy. In this study, we attempted to estimate the effects of socioeconomic and demographic factors on the birth spacing process.

Methods

Semi-Markov models were used, based on data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), where the birth histories of 13,453 infants nested within a sample of 6,958 married women were analyzed.

Results

The findings stated that the birth intervals depend on: (i) mothers’ educational level, whereas wider intervals have been found for highly educated women, (ii) the wealth index, as women from poor families have short birth intervals, and (iii) there was no clear difference between rural and urban areas.

Conclusions

Policymakers can act through these axes to develop more efficient strategies for family planning.
Head-shield brooches of the Roman Iron Age from the Tarand cemeteries of the eastern Baltic
Authors: Lillak Maarja , Roxburgh Marcus A.
Published: December 2021

This study is dedicated to the head-shield brooches from the tarand cemetery area in Estonia, Latvia
and lands west of the Izhora plateau. Its aim is to better understand their development through
a combined typological, compositional and chronological analysis and explore their social role
in the identity politics of the people wearing them. The compositional evaluation was supported
with portable X-ray florescence spectrometry (XRF), to improve our understanding of the metal
choices made by their ancient craftsmen.
The typological study suggests that one of the earliest brooches found in the tarand cemetery area
belongs to the Almgren 100 brooches, most of which have a semi-circular shield on the front part
of the bow, a multiple-piece spring, and a triangular foot. The evidence suggests that they emerged
in the 2nd century. Subsequently, a local form developed in the northeast part of the tarand cemetery
area towards the end of the century. This local type has a squared-off foot, a multiple-piece
spring construction, and a short semi-circular head-shield. Many were also tinned, meaning their
colour was deliberately changed to a shiny silvery-white. During the 3rd century, a further group
of locally produced head-shield brooches also emerged. They have a hinged mechanism, a knob,
and a decorative rib at the end of the foot.
These local brooches likely represented a regional style and aesthetic. They could have played a
visual role in connecting the wearer to their affiliated group, or played a part in a differing social
role within the society from which they came.
The Final Palaeolithic in the coastal part of Lithuania with the technological emphasis on Aukštumala Stone Age sites
Authors: Rimkus Tomas , Girininkas Algirdas
Published: December 2021

The Final Palaeolithic in the Lithuanian coastal zone has so far been represented only by a few
archaeological finds from individual contexts, and a small number of archaeological excavations.
However, their analysis has not revealed much regarding the technological development of hunting
implements and work tools, or the choice and the use of necessary raw materials, and little
data has been provided on the chronological aspects, or the connection between settlement locations
and the changing level of the Baltic Sea. This paper presents the latest archaeological
material from the Final Palaeolithic in the Lithuanian coastal area, based on the three sites at
Aukštumala upland bog, and stray finds found in the area. The article focuses on technological
and typological aspects of lithics related to Swiderian culture. The results of the study show that,
with the shortage of flint raw material, Final Palaeolithic societies at Aukštumala relied on smaller
and narrower blades, and compensated for the lack of flint raw material by using other, locally
available metamorphic rocks.
The lower reaches of the Daugava in the Bronze and the Earliest Iron Age (1800-500 to the 1st century BC)
Authors: Vasks Andrejs
Published: December 2021

The lower reaches of the Daugava in the Mesolithic and Neolithic were sparsely populated until
the second half of the Early Bronze Age (1800–1100 BC). The situation began to change from
the 14th century BC, when the process of Neolithisation was over, and the local communities
switched completely to animal husbandry and agriculture. In terms of social and economic relations,
the area reached its highest level of development in the Late Bronze Age (1100–500 BC),
which continued, albeit with a downward trend, in the Earliest Iron Age (500–1 BC). The article
discusses the conditions that promoted the economic prosperity and social development of societies
in the lower reaches of the Daugava in the direction of differentiation. The most important
condition for this development was the involvement of lower Daugava societies in the long-distance
exchange network between Scandinavia and the Volga-Kama region, where the main object
of exchange was bronze, and the related focus on the processing of it in downstream centres.
These metal products, weapons and jewellery, and their limited availability, were elements in the
demonstration of social prestige. With the spread of local iron metallurgy in Eastern Europe and
Scandinavia, the long-distance exchange of bronze lost its former importance. Consequently, the
main bronze processing centres in the lower reaches of the Daugava also declined, and a collapse
occurred in the existing socio-economic system.
Looking for lost pieces of a puzzle: the Dollkeim-Kovrovo culture cemetery at Perdollen
Authors: Chilińska-Früboes Agata
Published: December 2021

The article is devoted to the archaeological discoveries in the former village of Perdollen. A flat
cemetery of Dollkeim-Kovrovo culture was discovered in this locality, dating back to the Roman
period, and probably also to the Early Migration period. Moreover, there was a cemetery from
modern times with inhumation graves. The Dollkeim-Kovrovo culture cemetery was badly damaged
by agricultural work, and the extraction of gravel and sand. Most of the artefacts discovered
there come from excavations carried out by Carl Engel in the 1930s. Apart from one fibula, probably
a Roman import, all the items are lost. The sources of knowledge about the state of research
are almost exclusively archival materials and some daily newspapers.
The Impact of Eye Closure on Anticipatory α Activity in a Tactile Discrimination Task
Authors: ElShafei Hesham A. , Orlemann Corinne , Haegens Saskia
Published: December 2021

One of the very first observations made regarding α oscillations (8–14 Hz), is that they increase in power over posterior areas when awake participants close their eyes. Recent work, especially in the context of (spatial) attention, suggests that α activity reflects a mechanism of functional inhibition. However, it remains unclear how eye closure impacts anticipatory α modulation observed in attention paradigms, and how this affects subsequent behavioral performance. Here, we recorded magnetoencephalography (MEG) in 33 human participants performing a tactile discrimination task with their eyes open versus closed. We replicated the hallmarks of previous somatosensory spatial attention studies: α lateralization across the somatosensory cortices as well as α increase over posterior (visual) regions. Furthermore, we found that eye closure leads to (1) reduced task performance; (2) widespread increase in α power; and (3) reduced anticipatory visual α modulation (4) with no effect on somatosensory α lateralization. Regardless of whether participants had their eyes open or closed, increased visual α power and somatosensory α lateralization improved their performance. Thus, we provide evidence that eye closure does not alter the impact of anticipatory α modulations on behavioral performance. We propose there is an optimal visual α level for somatosensory task performance, which can be achieved through a combination of eye closure and top-down anticipatory attention.