bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome sequences and annotation of two urinary isolates of E. coli
Authors: Price Travis K. , Mehrtash Arya , Kalesinskas Laurynas , Malki Kema , Hilt Evann E. , Putonti Catherine , Wolfe Alan J.
Published: October 2016

The genus Escherichia includes pathogens and commensals. Bladder infections (cystitis) result most often from colonization of the bladder by uropathogenic E. coli strains. In contrast, a poorly defined condition called asymptomatic bacteriuria results from colonization of the bladder with E. coli strains without symptoms. As part of an on-going attempt to identify and characterize the newly discovered female urinary microbiota, we report the genome sequences and annotation of two urinary isolates of E. coli: one (E78) was isolated from a female patient who self-reported cystitis; the other (E75) was isolated from a female patient who reported that she did not have symptoms of cystitis. Whereas strain E75 is most closely related to an avian extraintestinal pathogen, strain E78 is a member of a clade that includes extraintestinal strains often found in the human bladder. Both genomes are uncommonly rich in prophages.
Can Payment Reform Be Social Reform? The Lure and Liabilities of the “Triple Aim”
Authors: Tanenbaum Sandra J.
Published: October 2016

The formulation of the triple aim responds to three problems facing the US health care system: high cost, low quality, and poor health status. The purpose of this article is to analyze the potential of the health care system to achieve the triple aim and, specifically, the attempt to improve population health by rewarding providers who contain costs. The first section of the article will consider the task of improving population health through the health care system. The second section of the article will discuss CMS's efforts to pay providers to achieve the triple aim, that is, to improve health care and population health while containing cost. These include Maryland's Global Revenue Budget model, bundled payments, and ACOs, and they highlight the extent to which this version of integration is underwritten by savings achieved by providers for the Medicare program. The conclusion section of the article will consider the politics of payment reform as social reform. It will address proposals that health care payers and providers lead in addressing the social contributors to ill health and urge payment reformers to appreciate more fully the politics and policies of other sectors and the dynamics of their inclusion in population health improvement.
The Politics of Prevention: Lessons from the Neglected History of US Hiv/Aids Policy
Authors: Padamsee Tasleem J.
Published: October 2016

The history of government action on HIV/AIDS has much to teach us about the dynamics and possibilities of US public health policy, but it has been insufficiently studied by social scientists of the epidemic. This article draws on a large set of original interviews with policy makers, thousands of news articles, and extensive documentation to reconstruct the history of three areas of debate and decision making about HIV prevention since 1990: needle exchange, HIV testing, and sex education for at-risk groups. These histories illuminate three key lessons. First, scientific evidence has less power to drive public health policy in the United States than in the United Kingdom, which is used as a comparison case to contextualize US choices within a broader range of options. Second, moral concerns weigh so heavily in the United States that a publicly articulated moral argument can countermand the dictates of solid scientific evidence, the voices of experts, and practical considerations to push public health policy in entirely oppositional directions. Third, having the ear of the presidential administration is usually a necessary—although not always sufficient—condition for the success of advocates trying to move US policy in the public health-indicated direction.
Directing Discipline: State Medical Board Responsiveness to State Legislatures
Authors: Lillvis Denise F. , McGrath Robert J.
Published: October 2016

State medical boards are increasingly responsible for regulating medical and osteopathic licensure and professional conduct in the United States. Yet, there is great variation in the extent to which such boards take disciplinary action against physicians, indicating that some boards are more zealous regulators than others. We look to the political roots of such variation and seek to answer a simple, yet important, question: are nominally apolitical state medical boards responsive to political preferences? To address this question, we use panel data on disciplinary actions across sixty-four state medical boards from 1993 through 2006 and control for over-time changes in board characteristics (e.g., composition, independence, budgetary status), regulatory structure, and resources. We show that as state legislatures become more liberal [conservative], state boards increasingly [decreasingly] discipline physicians, especially during unified government and in the presence of highly professional legislatures. Our conclusions join others in emphasizing the importance of state medical boards and the contingent nature of political control of state regulation. In addition, we emphasize the roles that oversight capacity and strategy play in offsetting concerns regarding self-regulation of a powerful organized interest.
Caspase-mediated apoptosis induction in zebrafish cerebellar Purkinje neurons
Authors: Weber Thomas , Namikawa Kazuhiko , Winter Barbara , Müller-Brown Karina , Kühn Ralf , Wurst Wolfgang , Köster Reinhard W.
Published: October 2016

The zebrafish is a well-established model organism in which to study in vivo mechanisms of cell communication, differentiation and function. Existing cell ablation methods are either invasive or they rely on the cellular expression of prokaryotic enzymes and the use of antibiotic drugs as cell death-inducing compounds. We have recently established a novel inducible genetic cell ablation system based on tamoxifen-inducible Caspase 8 activity, thereby exploiting mechanisms of cell death intrinsic to most cell types. Here, we prove its suitability in vivo by monitoring the ablation of cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) in transgenic zebrafish that co-express the inducible caspase and a fluorescent reporter. Incubation of larvae in tamoxifen for 8 h activated endogenous Caspase 3 and cell death, whereas incubation for 16 h led to the near-complete loss of PCs by apoptosis. We observed synchronous cell death autonomous to the PC population and phagocytosing microglia in the cerebellum, reminiscent of developmental apoptosis in the forebrain. Thus, induction of apoptosis through targeted activation of caspase by tamoxifen (ATTACTM) further expands the repertoire of genetic tools for conditional interrogation of cellular functions.
Fundos de investimento e desempenho pós-IPO no Brasil
Authors: De Paiva Bastos Ricardo Martins , Figueiredo Pinto Antonio Carlos , Klotzle Marcelo Cabus , Da Gama Silva Paulo Vitor Jordão
Published: October 2016

Fundos de investimento Private Equity e Venture Capital (PE/VC) investem principalmente em empresas de capital fechado (de maior porte e em fase inicial respectivamente). Sua atuação junto as companhias, tem como objetivo proporcionar rápido crescimento e desinvestir com elevada rentabilidade. O objetivo deste trabalho é investigar a relação entre a participação de fundos PE/VC antes da oferta pública inicial (IPO) e o desempenho de longo prazo das ações das companhias pós-IPO. Para tanto, as empresas foram divididas por setor econômico de atuação e duas análises foram realizadas: buy and hold e retorno anormal acumulado (CAR). Foi constatado que empresas com presença prévia de fundos PE/VC tiveram melhor desempenho nos setores de Consumo, Exploração Imobiliária, Saúde e Utilidade Pública. As regressões apontaram que a participação dos fundos influencia o CAR no período de seis meses no pós-IPO. Não foram encontradas evidências significativas desses fundos nos retornos de longo prazo.
A perspectiva sociocêntrica e a reconfiguração das principais políticas sociais após a constituição de 1988
Authors: Oliveira Virgílio Cézar da Silva e , Keinert Tania Margarete Mezzomo
Published: October 2016

O trabalho analisa o novo desenho institucional das políticas públicas de educação, direitos da criança e do adolescente, assistência social e saúde criado a partir da Constituição Federal de 1988, em termos da relação Estado-sociedade, constatando uma reconfiguração no sentido da descentralização e da participação social, superando o modelo hierárquico tradicional. Conselhos participativos, planos de ação e fundos financeiros são importantes instrumentos para a realização da gestão compartilhada com a sociedade civil nos quatro segmentos analisados. Não obstante os avanços que as condições normativas e institucionais criadas pela Constituição de 1988 garantem, há muitos desafios a serem vencidos, como diminuir eventuais déficits de participação e contestação pública nos arranjos institucionais, garantia da efetiva representatividade dos conselheiros, ação limitada do poder público como fonte de fomento e regulação das parcerias que celebra, dentre outros
Tratamiento de un caso de pedofilia desde la Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso (ATC)
Authors: Jiménez Díaz Rafael
Published: October 2016

En este artículo se expone un caso clínico de pedofilia en el que la conducta pedófila (masturbación con contenido mental pedófilo) tenía consecuencias tanto positivas como negativas para el cliente. Debido a este conflicto entre consecuencias, cuando el cliente experimentaba deseos de llevar a cabo conductas pedófilas intentaba controlarlas y/o evitarlas, aunque esto en realidad empeoraba paradójicamente el problema debido a las consecuencias negativas adicionales que el propio acto de control llevaba consigo, como muestra el Análisis Funcional realizado. Como tratamiento se aplicó Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso (ACT) con el objetivo de que el cliente saliera del círculo vicioso de lucha y rendición respecto de la conducta pedófila mediante la aceptación de que tanto llevarla a cabo como no hacerlo tienen consecuencias negativas y mediante el compromiso con una de estas opciones a pesar de sus inconvenientes. Por último, se propone que ACT tiene eficacia terapéutica, ya que produce una disminución del sufrimiento subjetivo experimentado por el cliente y la realización de conductas encaminadas a sus propios valores personales.
Using Analytics to Enhance a Food Retailer’s Shelf-Space Management
Authors: Bianchi-Aguiar Teresa , Silva Elsa , Guimarães Luis , Carravilla Maria Antónia , Oliveira José F. , Amaral João Günther , Liz Jorge , Lapela Sérgio
Published: October 2016

This paper describes the results of our collaboration with the leading Portuguese food retailer to address the shelf-space planning problem of allocating products to shop-floor shelves. Our challenge was to introduce analytical methods into the shelf-space planning process to improve the return on space and automate a process heavily dependent on the experience of the retailer’s space managers. This led to the creation of GAP, a decision support system that the company’s space-management team uses daily. We developed a modular operations research approach that systematically applies mathematical programming models and heuristics to determine the best layout of products on the shelves. GAP combines its analytical strength with an ability to incorporate different types of merchandising rules to balance the tradeoff between optimization and customization.
Betting Your Favorite to Win: Costly Reluctance to Hedge Desired Outcomes
Authors: Morewedge Carey K. , Tang Simone , Larrick Richard P.
Published: October 2016

We examined whether people reduce the impact of negative outcomes through emotional hedging—betting against the occurrence of desired outcomes. We found substantial reluctance to bet against the success of preferred U.S. presidential candidates and Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball, and NCAA hockey teams. This reluctance was not attributable to optimism or a general aversion to hedging. Reluctance to hedge desired outcomes stemmed from identity signaling, a desire to preserve an important aspect of the bettor’s identity. Reluctance to hedge occurred when the diagnostic cost of the negative self-signal that hedging would produce outweighed the pecuniary rewards associated with hedging. Participants readily accepted hedges and pure gambles with no diagnostic costs. They also more readily accepted hedges with diagnostic costs when the pecuniary rewards associated with those hedges were greater. Reluctance to hedge identity-relevant outcomes produced two anomalies in decision making, risk seeking and dominance violations. More than 45% of NCAA fans in Studies 5 and 6, for instance, turned down a “free” real $5 bet against their team. The results elucidate anomalous decisions in which people exhibit disloyalty aversion, forgoing personal rewards that would conflict with their loyalties and commitments to others, beliefs, and ideals.

This paper was accepted by Yuval Rottenstreich, judgment and decision making.
MODERN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS A FACTOR FOR SUCCESS IN THE OPERATION OF TOURISM ENTERPRISES
Authors: Postolov Kiril , Sopova Marija Magdinceva , Ivanovska Lidija Pulevska , Petkova Tanja Angelkova , Josimovski Saso
Published: October 2016

Working without limits, changes in consumer preferences, and contemporary processes of global integration have changed the traditional concept of conduct for business enterprises. The application of the modern concept of entrepreneurship in tourism enterprises provides conditions for increasing efficiency. A focus on innovative approaches for basic activities, and continued allocation of total resources represent the main features of modern entrepreneurship. Modern entrepreneurship is the process through which the entrepreneur and employees are devoted to the opportunities at hand. This changes the concept of what constitutes entrepreneurship. The main objective of this paper is to show how the modern concept of entrepreneurship is a main factor in efficient operation of business enterprises. In this respect, knowledge and intellectual capital represent critical resources in operating and implementing information and communication technology as a necessity in coordinating business processes among tourism enterprises. The applied part of this paper involves practical research to perceive the presence of entrepreneurship. The paper concludes with proposing a modern entrepreneurial model as a main factor for improving business operations. The specific results will be indicated in the sphere of representation of teamwork, introduction of changes, staff training, introduction of innovations, and level of tolerance.
CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR DURING ONLINE GROCERY SHOPPING
Authors: Hanus Gabriela
Published: October 2016

Today consumers can buy almost any product using the Internet. Online nutritional and grocery shopping is becoming increasingly popular. The aim of this paper is to present the conditions of online grocery shopping and consumers’ attitude towards buying food via the Internet based. The assessment is based on secondary information sources. With online grocery supermarkets there are no limitations connected with localization and opening hours, and consumers have access to a large range of stores and products online across the world. The most important advantages of online shopping are convenience and time saving, while the most significant disadvantages for consumers involve the risk of incorrectly valuating some products and apprehension about the selection and handling of perishables, such as vegetables, eggs, and meat products.
DYNAMICS AND EFFICIENCY OF EVENTS TOURISM, FACTORS IN GLOBAL ECONOMIC GROWTH
Authors: Stoian Raluca Georgiana , Muresan Manuela Liliana
Published: October 2016

Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) is an elite segment of tourism linked to business tourism. It has become dynamic worldwide in recent years. The efficiency of tourism events emerges with the connection between the corporate world and world travel organizations. This connection is a dynamic link that is profitable for all parties involved. Currently, about 40% of the activity and profit is due to worldwide business travel and the event industry. This paper aims to highlight the efficient role of tourism events through the dynamic “Convention Bureau”, at both the international and Romanian level, in terms of global economic growth. We found from the study of this activity sector that one of the important directions of innovation and raising the competitiveness of the tourist offer of any country is given the additional service diversification by stimulating tourism dynamics of events. The advantages and benefits that may be mentioned in business events tourism are revenues from services such as accommodation, facilities conference, catering, leisure, transport and entertainment. These revenues are stimulating the growth of the world economy.
OWNERSHIP STABILIZATION OF SAVINGS BANKS BY FOUNDATIONS
Authors: Blisse Holger
Published: October 2016

Foundations have recently played a specific role in the transformation of savings banks to joint stock companies (corporations) in Europe. The current discussion about the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and the growing responsibility of depositors in the event of bankruptcy, shifts the risk from the banking industry to a group that traditionally was never affected. As a support, and also as security for depositors of risk-sensitive and risk-responsible credit institutions, the group of owners becomes even more relevant. Within groups that are possible, a foundation, as owner, can intensify stability and signalize risk awareness and responsibility. This paper analyzes the innovative aspects and positive effects of a savings bank’s foundation as well as the problems of retaining typical features of a savings bank.
USING MULTILEVEL MODELING TECHNIQUES FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC MONITORING
Authors: Dubykivskyi Stanislav , Holub Sergiy
Published: October 2016

This paper studies the experience of applying the existing methods of modeling in the field of economic monitoring. The method of Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH) is suggested as an alternative for economic modeling. The research calculates and builds inductive models describing gross domestic productivity (GDP) using economic indices that are characteristic of the countries with developed information economies. The resulting models are then clustered by similar features. The obtained results are briefly analyzed.
INTELLECTUAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS CAPITALIZATION OF KNOWLEDGE IN INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENTS AND PATTERNS OF ITS EMERGENCE
Authors: Sennikova Irina
Published: October 2016

This paper presents the results of an exploratory study into the phenomenon of intellectual entrepreneurship and the patterns of its emergence as understood through the experience of individuals. The research is of qualitative nature, and the results are based on secondary research and interviews of 16 intellectual entrepreneurs of Latvia. It provides a model of intellectual entrepreneurship, which is defined as capitalization of knowledge in an innovative environment. It also presents four patterns of emergence of intellectual entrepreneurship in Latvia; these include patterns characteristic of a transition period from command to a free market economy and that occurring during times of crises, and ones relevant to a stable economic environment. The paper contributes to the modern theory of entrepreneurship where the concept of intellectual entrepreneurship is used, but with different interpretations, and until recently had not been systematically studied.
BANK CREDIT TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE CRISIS – EVIDENCE FROM CESEE COUNTRIES
Authors: Ademi Rilind
Published: October 2016

The banking sector constitutes nearly the whole financial system in South East Europe and Central East Europe and as such is vital for the placement of loans in the economy.The period before the global financial crisis recorded high growth in loan, averaging 30% per year during 2004 to 2008.The period during and after the crisis recorded significant falls in loan rates, generally from reductions in funding from abroad and which before the crisis were abundant.This paper aims to examine loan rates in both periods, comparing the potential determinants of credit in the private sector. We also attempt to answer whether there was excess lending before the crisis and in addition deficient lending during and after the crisis.
VARIOUS APPROACHES TO SOLVE UNCAPACITATED FIXED-CHARGE FACILITY LOCATION PROBLEM ON POSTAL NETWORK
Authors: Štefunko Jozef , Madleňák Radovan
Published: October 2016

Availability and reliability of mail distribution services depends primarily on a network of postal operators. Choosing the appropriate layout of a network is key to maintaining quality while generating the lowest possible costs. This article focuses on creation of a postal network, based on an allocation model of an uncapacitated fixed-charge facility that considers road networks in the Slovak republic. A basic analysis of infrastructure is followed by incorporating service demands, and building and transport costs, in the chosen allocation model. Both construction and subsequent improvement heuristic algorithms are used to determine the number and location of postal sorting centers. The results are compared to find the lowest cost-generating solution. Even the best solution from available methods could be deemed sub-optimal as one does not know how close or how far the solution is from optimal. By varying the input variables, supported by a thorough analysis and consideration of future development of the transport network, one can improve efficiency in postal network operations.
SHOULD WE INCLUDE TERMS IN READABILITY FORMULAS OF SLAVONIC TEXTS?
Authors: Škorecová Ivana , Teleki Aba , Zelenický Ľubomír
Published: October 2016

In this article we show how readability depends on the number of terms. We compare two different physical-didactical texts. We explain what readability means and how readability of some didactical text can be checked. We will analyze texts of natural science. First, we use an eye tracker for measuring the time to read long terms average sized terms, and words that are not terms. We perform a cloze test. A comparison of results defined a variable of the readability formula of Slavonic physical texts.
A DIDACTIC PERSPECTIVE ON THE FALSE TREATY OF MANIPULATION – WRITTEN BY ANA BLANDIANA
Authors: Dima Florina Irina
Published: October 2016

The present paper aims to underline the important role of introducing contemporary reading of autobiographical texts in high-school literature classes in Romania. It mentions the concepts of Shah Saria, Debra Edwards, and Linda Andersen, and the definitions of autobiography by Philippe Lejeune, Isabel Duran, and Karl Weintraub. For demonstration, it examines the text of the Romanian writer Ana Blandiana (a pseudonym of Otilia Valeria Coman), namely the False Treaty of Manipulation, published in 2013. The didactic generosity of this book is demonstrated with mention of the thematic stratification and uniqueness of the text, and by discussing the textual reference to the Romanian contemporary history, the connections between topics within the book, and how these might serve the interest and preparedness of teenagers for their adult life. The didactic approach of the book content involves extra-, inter-, and across-textual questions, as well as detailed passages, themes, and secondary themes relevant to the study of autobiography.
AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST QUESTIONS USING MATHEMATICA
Authors: Malinova Anna , Rahneva Olga
Published: October 2016

This paper describes a computer algebra-aided generation of two types of English language tests, which further develops our recent work in this domain. The computer algebra system Wolfram Mathematica significantly advances the process of English language testing and assessment. The automatic generation of questions allows us to create a large set of equivalent questions of a certain topic based on a small amount of input values. This reduces authoring time during test creation, avails application of equal criteria and a fair assessment, and decreases the influence of subjective factors. In our previous work, we proposed methods for automatic generation of English language test questions. These were aimed at evaluating the students’ knowledge of lexical and grammatical structures found in the text using test questions that involved matching words and their meaning, matching parts of the whole, and finding synonyms, antonyms, and generalizations or specializations of words. This paper provides new methods for the automatic generation of English language test questions. This includes generating questions for testing the students’ knowledge of adverbs and adjectives, as well as word formation, especially with negative forms of adjectives.
INTERNATIONAL LEGAL COOPERATION IN SPHERES OF CULTURE – IMPORTANT PART OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Authors: Mamajonov Nuriddin
Published: October 2016

This paper assesses the cultural and humanitarian spheres of the Republic of Uzbekistan in regards to International legal cooperation.  The paper examines the influence of cultural and humanitarian spheres in international relations of the states, including Uzbekistan. The paper also contains a discussion of the, increasing role of Uzbekistan in the ‘culture factor’ in international politics. The legal base of the Republic of Uzbekistan, international legal documents, and the research works of domestic and foreign scholars, in areas such as culture, education, science, tourism, and medical science, provide the basis for the research.
VIOLENCE IN PARTNERSHIP AND PERSISTING PROBLEMS OF ASSISTANCE
Authors: Mareková Hermína
Published: October 2016

The article focuses on an attempt to answer questions concerning domestic violence in accordance with the epistemology in contemporary scientific research. The phenomenology of violence is defined with respect to the superficial as well as the essential side of the phenomena. The problems are covered with respect to interdisciplinary relations We endeavor to open a broader view. The underlying research represents an alternative approach, attempting to reach a cumulative view based on the data acquired from various contexts. In social science research, it is important to look at the social reality not only through the numbers of quantitative research, because social reality is constructed in various ways. The issues of elimination of violence against women in Slovakia are entrenched in the program of various institutions. Based on the performed analysis, inconsistencies in the approach to providing assistance are identified as the most important problem. The paper deals with the institutional issues persisting in dealing with situations and identifies the fundamental failures of social intervention that still exist, among other reasons, due to the stereotypical, discriminatory perceptions of the issues by the competent.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CSR IMPLEMENTATION
Authors: Križanová Anna , Gajanová Ľubica
Published: October 2016

The last three decades of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century were marked by the expansion of managerial ethics and social responsibility of business. Business ceased to be perceived in terms of profit being the sole interest of management, and ethical aspects were stressed more so in connection with the company’s management. Specific managerial ethical initiatives and activities leading from outside and inside the organization constitutes the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which comprises many factors. The aim of this paper is to summarize the positive impact of corporate social responsibility for business activities using secondary data from global surveys and then confirm the importance and benefits of corporate social responsibility for enterprises in the Slovak Republic using primary data.
TAXONOMIES OF PHYSICS PROBLEMS IN PHYSICS EDUCATION
Authors: Hanáková Monika , Kluvanec Daniel
Published: October 2016

Taxonomies of physics problems serve as useful tools to define and analyze the requirements of pupils and students in solving physics problems and tasks. The connection between taxonomies of educational objectives is important, and these were considered in selecting taxonomies of physics problems. Different approaches to classification are briefly described in this article, as well as the importance of a balance of physics problems in instruction, according to the selected taxonomy. Two taxonomies of physics problems were chosen according to our criteria and then analyzed and described in detail. A strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat SWOT analysis was performed on the tools as well as an example of the use of the tools on a particular physics problem.
USER ADOPTION OF MANDATORY E-GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS: NOTARIAL SYSTEM IN ALBANIA, AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSE
Authors: Kasaj Agim
Published: October 2016

E-Government has high priority for governments worldwide, with much effort and money being invested into government digital initiatives. For such efforts to be worthy, a high rate of adoption of e-government is needed. Technology adoption is one of the most mature areas in information technology (IT) research and many adoption models have been developed for this purpose. Most studies in this field have been focused on voluntary use of systems and mainly from a business context, with minor emphasize on an e-government. A major distinction between technologies of e-government and other online technologies, is that the use of certain e-government technologies is mandatory, rather than voluntary. This paper provides a short introduction of e-government, followed by a review of the most well-known information technology (IT) adoption models at the individual level. Using previous research results, the study will identify the determinant constructs and their relationship for adoption of the digital notarial system of Albania. Finally, the paper proposes a theoretical framework for private professional adoption of mandatory e-government information systems.
EVALUATING BASIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM FROM A GENDER PERSPECTIVE: ADDRESSING GENDER STEREOTYPES IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS
Authors: Çela Eriada
Published: October 2016

Addressing gender-equality issues in education can foster enormous change in children’s lives. However, most textbooks in Albanian schools include gender stereotypes, which perpetuate gender inequality and unequal roles for men and women, both in public and private spheres. This research aims to identify and evaluate trends of gender stereotypes in textbooks, as well as the need for gender mainstreaming in basic education curriculum. The methodology is based on a desk review of textbooks from a gender perspective. The curriculum evaluation follows the context, input, process, and product (CIPP) model of evaluation, which mainly aims to assess the extent to which a certain education reform has generated positive change in schools.
MARITAL CONFLICTS RESOLUTION STYLES
Authors: Islami Hatixhe
Published: October 2016

Conflict as a social phenomenon has an important role in our lives, which is why it is so important to understand this phenomenon. That involves recognizing the mechanisms of emergence, development, methods of study and their resolution. The practice of social work and previous treatments with spouses shows that the marital relationship as an interpersonal relationship represents the specific basis for the emergence of conflicts. The obtained results are part of a study on the characteristics of marital relations and their influence on the choice of the spouses’ patterns of behavior during conflict situations. The results suggest that the choice of different strategies of behavior in a situation of conflict among our respondents mainly depends on: the degree of insistence in fulfillment of personal interests, and the level of cooperation in addressing the interests of others. As a dominant style in marital conflict resolution our respondents use the avoiding style. During the study, gender differences between spouses, how they perceive, understand, and resolve marriage conflicts were found. Women are more critical toward their abilities to resolve conflict. In such situations they often use negative behavior, compared to men who are more likely to deny or avoid situations of conflict. Marriages where violence in involved are mainly based in destructive patterns of behavior in marital conflict resolution.
A COMPARATIVE VIEW REGARDING THE TERRITORIAL-ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN POLAND AND CZECH REPUBLIC
Authors: Ndreu Aurora
Published: October 2016

The purpose of this article is to file the administrative-territorial reforms, conducted by Poland and Czech Republic, in a comparative point of view. This study has been done conducted on unitary former communist countries such as Poland, Czech Republic and Croatia, which resemble Albania as a result of their past. Looking at the historical evolution of reforms in these countries with different local governance systems, and analysis of the latest developments will give us a deeper knowledge about the topic.This comparison would address reforms of the political bodies of local government (such as those relating to political accountability and decision-making in local government), with regard to administrative structures, because only by looking at both sides of the currency of the local government can we get a complete picture of the changes and improvements to be made.Comparison aims at providing knowledge about the terminology and concepts used in the comparison of countries and characteristics of each country in connection with the territorial administrative reforms carried out, followed by a reformation of the local government.
MEDIA ARCHITECTURE AND INTERACTIVE ART INSTALLATIONS STIMULATING HUMAN INVOLVEMENT AND ACTIVITIES IN PUBLIC SPACES
Authors: Urbanowicz Katarzyna , Nyka Lucyna
Published: October 2016

This paper examines the potential for media architecture and interactive art installations to stimulate human involvement and activities in public spaces. On the basis of theoretical approaches, case studies and interdisciplinary surveys, the paper provides insight into how screens projecting media and interactive installations in city spaces can inspire people to become active on many levels. The research is focused, both on temporary and permanent art installations, that support new technologies to encourage people to interact with art objects and become actors in an urban performance. Media and interactive art can positively contribute to the urban landscape, foster public involvement, increase intensity of public life, and effectively enhance the identity of urban communities. The paper shows that, despite this potential for media architecture and interactive art projects, specific pre-conditions are needed for their success in urban environments. The paper focuses on the convergence of scale between the intervention itself and the assumed urban strategy, as well as on the time allowed for individual perception and active participation of people in the particular urban art scenario. As the research shows, the promotion of art pieces, through guided tours of the city, tends to reduce the perception of the installations themselves and almost excludes social interactions. Thus, while not so spectacular in scale, image, or number of visits, modest interventions that involve locals and allow time for relationship building between people, could be most effective in reaching urban renewal objectives.
HEALTH BEHAVIORS OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS: A COMPARISON OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL FACULTIES
Authors: Rogowska Aleksandra , Wojciechowska-Maszkowska Bożena , Borzucka Dorota
Published: October 2016

INTRODUCTION:A healthy lifestyle is related to healthy practices, such as healthy diet, avoidance of psychoactive stimulants, appropriate level of physical activity, preventive behaviors, coping with stress, positive social relationships, and adjustments. University students do not usually engage in a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, excessive alcohol drinking among students is truly a health problem. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to examine the association between alcohol drinking and healthy behaviors in undergraduate students from a large public technical university in the south of Poland (Europe). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was used with participants of 283 second year undergraduate students, aged 22 years (SD = 2.92), including 88 (31%) students of Physical Education and 195 (69%) students of the Technical Faculty. The study used self-administered questionnaires of the Alcohol Drinking Scale (ADS) and the Health Behavior Inventory (HBI), which includes the following subscales: healthy habits nutrition (HHN), preventive behavior (PB), positive adjustments (PA), and healthy practices (HP). RESULTS: Alcohol drinking was negatively correlated with the total HBI and also with two subscales: HHN and PPB. The female students drank significantly less alcohol than the male students and presented with a higher level of health behavior, both in the total HBI and in the individual HBI subscales, except for PA. Students of Physical Education drank more alcohol, and scored higher in preventive behaviors, than the students of Technical Faculties. CONCLUSION: It seems necessary to conduct general health education as part of prevention programs at the university, especially for male undergraduate students in the Physical Education faculty.
HEALTH PROTECTION OF PRISONERS IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
Authors: Jovanovska Tanja , Kocić Biljana , Proanovska-Stojčevska Viktorija , Rajchanovska Domnika , Filov Izabela , Bogdanova Biljana
Published: October 2016

INTRODUCTION: Prisoners’ health is one of the major challenges of public health systems because of prisoners’ greater care needs due to the poor economic conditions connected to the numerous risks and higher morbidity and mortality related to incarceration. Malnutrition, infectious diseases, overcrowding, strict custodial physical infrastructure, and limited access to basic health services, among other factors, contribute to a worsening of the physical and mental health of prisonersOBJECTIVES: This study aimed to ascertain leading health problems, care needs, and the degree of health protection used in the prison population of the Republic of Macedonia. METHODS: The research is a cross-sectional study of the prison population, composed of 550 prisoners, with 100 situated in Bitola’s prison, 100 in the prison of Prilep, 50 women imprisoned in the women’s section of the correctional institution, Idrizovo, and another 300 prisoners from Idrizovo. RESULTS: The most important reasons for causing illness amount examinees were the conditions in prison (as considered by 73.0% of respondents), drug use (by 50.4% of respondents), stress (by 45.6% of respondents), and improper nutrition (by 43.6% of respondents).CONCLUSION: Findings suggest a poor health status for prisoners due to specific problems and care needs.
THE METHOD OF SPECTRALLY SELECTIVE LASER MUELLER MATRIX POLARIMETRY FOR VERIFICATION OF ACUTE CORONARY INSUFFICIENCY
Authors: Vanchuliak Oleh , Bachinskiy Victor , Ushenko Alexander
Published: October 2016

INTRODUCTION: As the existing methods of evaluation of acute coronary insufficiency currently held is to some extent subjective. However, the specificity of forensic medicine requires objective methods. Thus, there is a necessity for objective methods of diagnosis for acute coronary insufficiency (ACI).OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study isto establish the diagnostic possibilities of the laser method, Muellermatrix polarimetry, on wavelength 450 nm of autofluorescence, with the method of statistical analysis of native heart slices to provide an after-death diagnosis of acute coronary insufficiency.METHODS: In our primary investigation we explored 69 human hearts with ACI, 69 with chronic ischemic heart disease, and 20 from corpses after violent deaths with short agonal period.The samples were studied with a Stokes polarimeter, which was modified to study laser induced autofluorescence.For comparison, histopathological studies were conducted by staining with hematoxylin, basic fuchsine, and picric acid. Data were analyzed statistically.RESULTS: Coordinate and probabilistic distributions of Mueller matrix invariant r14 and r41 laser polarization autofluorescence samples of myocardium were established. A visual determination of ACI, using coordinate distributions or probabilistic distributions, is difficult and hence, we conducted a statistical analysis between pixels of the image. For optically active fluorophores of the myocardium we found a growth (1.5 times) kurtosis of r41 value. Distribution of r41 decreased 1.6 times in the case of ACI.After definition of balanced accuracy, we noted definition of asymmetry and kurtosis of invariant r41with 89 % and 95% accuracy allowed a diagnosis of ACI.CONCLUSION: Using the spectrally selective laser method, Mueller-matrix polarimetry, on wavelength 450 nm of autofluorescence with method of statistical analysis of native heart slices allows for diagnosis of ACI with high accuracy.
POST-MORTEM INTERVAL ESTIMATION BY CEREBRO-SPINAL FLUID FILMS POLARIZATION IMAGES OPTICAL STRUCTURE CHANGING
Authors: Garazdiuk Marta , Bachynskіy Viktor , Wanchuliak Oleg , Garazdiuk Oleksandr , Ushenko Aleksandr
Published: October 2016

INTRODUCTION: Post-mortem interval (PMI) estimation has been and remains one of the main issues of forensic medicine. Complex photometric, polarization, and correlation techniques of biological tissue (BT) structure are crucial in this area.OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to develop and test two-dimensional Stokes-polarimetric mapping of biological layers to evaluate the accuracy of PMI assessments using statistical analysis of post-mortem changes and dynamics of the coordinate distributions for the polarization ellipticity (PE) images of polycrystalline films of liquor (PFL). Coordinate distributions of polarization ellipticity (PE) image values were estimated for each sample of PFL in the optical arrangement of the Stokes polarimeter using the method of two-dimensional distributions of Stokes-parameters.RESULTS: The most sensitive statistics to the post-mortem manifestations in terms of changes to liquor polycrystalline optical networks were those for the 3rd and 4th order. They characterized asymmetry and kurtosis (peak sharpness) of coordinate distributions for polarization ellipticity images of polycrystalline films of liquor. The optimal interval was 32 hours, with accuracy of 60 min, from the method of two-dimensional Stokes-polarimetric mapping used.
INFLUENCE OF AGE AND GENDER ON THE STRENGTH OF BLOOD VESSELS
Authors: Kuzborska Zyta
Published: October 2016

This article examines the effects of cardiovascular diseases that alter the diameter, wall thickness, and length of blood vessels. Depending on form and size of the damage, blood flow velocity, blood pressure, and stresses are affected in areas of diseased blood vessels. Through stimulating the deviations in the geometric shape of a blood-vessel wall, local blood pressure and stresses can arise from flow variation of blood vessels. This rise affects the blood-vessel wall and causes critical stresses likely to produce fissures in the blood vessels. It was found, that blood vessel pathology could cause blood flow velocity to increase up to 2.2 times and local blood pressure up to 3.4 times, and that human aging may have a significant influence on blood-vessel strength.
NEW COMPOUND N1,N1′-(2′′-BROMO-2′′-CHLOROETHENYL)-BIS-(5-FLUOROURACIL) AS THE ACTIVE ANTITUMOR AGENT FOR SARCOMA 180
Authors: Welchinska Elena , Vilchynska Valeriia
Published: October 2016

The problem of how to treat malignant tumors and the search for effective low-toxic anticancer drugs are among the most important in modern medicine and other chemical and biological sciences, including pharmaceutical chemistry. The arsenal of anticancer drugs occupies a prominent position as medications related to heterocyclic systems (cancer of the digestive system and other areas). In this regard, further development towards new derivatives of purine and pyrimidine series are of significant scientific interest and justify the relevance, novelty, and scientific practical significance of this study. Synthesis of 5-fluorouracil bis-derivative was performed with a halogen-containing pharmacophore group to compose a molecule that was studied for its physical, chemical, and biological properties. Synthesis of 5-fluorouracil bis-derivative is a typical example of substitution reactions with a heteroatom of the uracil molecule (N1) as the second component in the reaction involving halothane, a known inhaled anesthetic. The reaction was carried out in a solvent system of benzene-dimethylformamide-diethyl ether, under conditions of phase transfer catalysis with dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB 18C6) complex (alkaline medium), by heating (14 h), followed by purification, and drying of the products. The structure of the synthesized compound was confirmed by elemental analysis, infrared, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. By varying the reaction conditions, a synthesized compound of high purity was obtained with increased practical output of up to 50%. The toxicity and antitumor activity of the synthesized compound were investigated. The new substance, 5-fluorouracil bis-derivative, was found to have high antitumor activity, reducing the Sarcoma 180 tumor by 51.7% (activity criterion > 50%). This suggests the synthesized compound is suitable as a physiologically active treatment and its further study as a potential vehicle for anti-tumor treatment in patients is recommended.
CARBON (II) MONOXIDE AS A SUBJECT FOR POISONS STUDYING OF STUDY ON DISCIPLINE TOXICOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY (CRIMINAL ANALYSIS) AT THE PHARMACEUTICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE NATIONAL MEDICAL UNIVERSITY IN UKRAINE
Authors: Tsekhmister Yaroslav , Welchinska Elena
Published: October 2016

Toxicological Chemistry (or Analytical Toxicology) is a field among other pharmaceutical disciplines that investigates the characteristics of toxic substances and poisons, their actions in the human body and in the cadaver material, and the ways of segregating, qualitatively detecting, and quantitatively defining poisons and their metabolites. The aim of this article is to explain the importance of studying common chemical substances, such as carbon (II) monoxide (or charcoal gas), which is a strong poison, in this chemistry field, i.e., Toxicological Chemistry, throughout the whole educational period at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the National Medical University in Ukraine.
OPEN SOURCE TECHNOLOGY AS AN OPTION FOR AN ALBANIAN UNIVERSITY WITH NO ONLINE PLATFORM: CAN IT BE USED TO IMPROVE LEARNING?
Authors: Sula Gerda
Published: October 2016

Online platforms are a worthy opportunity for extended learning, peer collaboration, and joint efforts outside the university classroom. However, in order to offer such a pedagogical tool, the online environment needs to be designed for teachers and students alike. The University of Tirana does not offer such platforms and hence, this study explores whether other open source platforms could be used to fulfill the aims and objectives of the subjects offered at this university. The results of this research, comparing two groups of students’ performance of the Curriculum Design class, one with no online platform access, and the other with platform access, showed that students’ understanding was heightened significantly in the group with online access. In this paper, the benefits of such opportunities in developing countries with no technological platform are discussed. Furthermore, recommendations for the researcher or teacher are shared regarding the planning and management of resources, such as time, discussion, and conclusions for others interested in embarking on the same path.