bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ICT as a factor of destination competitiveness: The case of the republics of former Yugoslavia
Authors: Milićević Snežana , Petrović Jelena , Đorđević Nataša 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of the Information and communication technology (ICT) on the competitiveness of the republics of former Yugoslavia (Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia) as tourism destinations. This paper relies on the correlation analysis and panel regression method. Regression analysis has examined the impact of the ICT on the competitiveness of the republics of Former Yugoslavia (Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia) as tourism destinations. The destination competitiveness is measured by international tourist arrivals and international tourism receipts, while the ICT is measured by the ICT Development Index (IDI). The results indicate that the IDI use has a significant impact on the number of international tourist arrivals and an indirect positive impact on the international tourism receipts. The originality of the research lies in the fact there are no previous studies about the impact of ICT on the competitiveness of the republics of former Yugoslavia as tourism destinations. This study contributes to a better understanding of the impact of ICT on the competitiveness of a tourism destination by linking the IDI with tourist arrivals and tourism revenues.
Will they repay their debt? Identification of borrowers likely to be charged off
Authors: Caplescu Raluca Dana , Panaite Ana-Maria , Pele Daniel Traian , Strat Vasile Alecsandru 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Recent increase in peer-to-peer lending prompted for development of models to separate good and bad clients to mitigate risks both for lenders and for the platforms. The rapidly increasing body of literature provides several comparisons between various models. Among the most frequently employed ones are logistic regression, Support Vector Machines, neural networks and decision tree-based models. Among them, logistic regression has proved to be a strong candidate both because its good performance and due to its high explainability. The present paper aims to compare four pairs of models (for imbalanced and under-sampled data) meant to predict charged off clients by optimizing F1 score. We found that, if the data is balanced, Logistic Regression, both simple and with Stochastic Gradient Descent, outperforms LightGBM and K-Nearest Neighbors in optimizing F1 score. We chose this metric as it provides balance between the interests of the lenders and those of the platform. Loan term, debt-to-income ratio and number of accounts were found to be important positively related predictors of risk of charge off. At the other end of the spectrum, by far the strongest impact on charge off probability is that of the FICO score. The final number of features retained by the two models differs very much, because, although both models use Lasso for feature selection, Stochastic Gradient Descent Logistic Regression uses a stronger regularization. The analysis was performed using Python (numpy, pandas, sklearn and imblearn).
Central Europe between the West and East: Independent Region, the Bridge, Buffer Zone or ‘eternal’ Semi-Periphery?
Authors: Cabada Ladislav 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The development of new East-Central European (ECE) democracies after 1989 might be separated into two different parts regarding the external, but in many ways also the internal evaluation. While the first fifteen years, crowned the ‘big bang’ EU-enlargement in 2004, might be evaluated generally as a successful story of socialisation into the Western structures, i.e. democratisation and Europeanisation, the next fifteen years are often evaluated as the period of getting sober. Paradoxically, instead of a continuation of the Europeanisation of values, memory and identity in many ECE nations we can observe the strengthening of anti-EU and anti-European attitudes. As Ágh stressed in his latest works, as early as the 2008 financial crisis outbreak we have had to deal with the polycrisis situation accompanied with de-Europeanisation, failure in the catching up process, the strengthening of the Core-Periphery divide in the EU/ Europe and the decline of democracy in East-Central Europe. Even the migration crisis in 2015 and beyond strengthened the mental gaps between so-called ‘old’ and ‘new’ Europe. In the article I focus on reasons for the semi-peripheral position of ECE, long durée processes in the creation of European macro-regions, and specific features of ECE nations’ identity. I reject the black-and-white division of Europe into two regions, stressing the positive examples from ECE as well as many problems of democratic governance the EU – including the ‘West’ – faces.
Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Results of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in North Macedonia
Authors: Jovanovska Aleksandra , Trakova-Antevska Zorica , Kocheva Svetlana , Stankovikj Svetlana , Panovska-Stavridis Irina , Dimovski Aleksandar , Martinova Kata 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood cancer. This study was designed to determine the clinical, biological features and outcomes among children with ALL treated at the only pediatric hematology-oncology center in North Macedonia.

Patients and methods: Seventy four consecutive children age 1 to 14 years, diagnosed with ALL between January 1, 2010 and October 31, 2017 and treated according to ALL IC BFM 2002 protocol were retrospectively evaluated.

Results: The median age at diagnosis was 5 years and males were predominant (60.8%). Precursor B-cell ALL was diagnosed in 81.1% of patients, while 18.9% had T cell ALL. CNS involvement at the time of diagnoses was present in 6.8% of patients. Complete remission was achieved in 93.2% of patients. The induction death rate was 5.4%. The rate of death during first complete remission was 4.1%. Relapse occurred in 13.5% of patients. After a median observation time of 44 months, the 5-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) rates (± standard error) were 79.4% ± 5.2% and 74% ± 5.7%, respectively. The 5-year EFS rate for patients categorized as standard risk by NCI criteria was significantly higher than for high risk patients (83.3% versus 46.7%; P<0.001). Patients with precursor B-cell ALL and negative minimal residual disease (MRD) status at the end of induction had the best prognoses.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that the treatment results of childhood ALL in North Macedonia are comparable to those obtained in the ALL IC BFM 2002 trial.
Different Approaches to Developing Writing Skills
Authors: Dragomir Isabela Anda , Niculescu Brânduşa-Oana 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Writing has traditionally been a neglected area of foreign language teaching, and most probably the least popular skill to acquire among students. However, it has lately emerged as an important element of the communication dyad, which also involves speaking, i.e. the oral manifestation of social interaction and exchange of information. When explaining writing in practical terms, the focus falls on showing that there should be a link between real-life needs and instruction, both from the perspective of the language and from that of the task. Understanding writing systematically not only guarantees successful writing outcomes, but also leads to the acquisition of a secondary set of language-related abilities: an informed selection of grammar and lexical structures; a logical pattern of organization in the development of ideas; an appropriate choice of register and style; an overall better approach to writing tasks and contextualizations. This article aims to discuss writing as a productive skill while proposing six different approaches that successfully marry both the linguistic dimension and the task-related awareness students need to acquire in order to successfully express themselves in written forms.
Completely resected stage III melanoma controversy - 15 years of national tertiary centre experience
Authors: Peric Barbara , Milicevic Sara , Perhavec Andraz , Hocevar Marko , Zgajnar Janez 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Background
Two prospective randomized studies analysing cutaneous melanoma (CM) patients with sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases and rapid development of systemic adjuvant therapy have changed our approach to stage III CM treatment. The aim of this study was to compare results of retrospective survival analysis of stage III CM patients’ treatment from Slovenian national CM register to leading international clinical guidelines.

Patients and methods
Since 2000, all Slovenian CM patients with primary tumour ≥ TIb are treated at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana and data are prospectively collected into a national CM registry. A retrospective analysis of 2426 sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsies and 789 lymphadenectomies performed until 2015 was conducted using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank tests.

Results
Positive SLN was found in 519/2426 (21.4%) of patients and completion dissection (CLND) was performed in 455 patients. The 5-year overall survival (OS) of CLND group was 58% vs. 47% of metachronous metastases group (MLNM) (p = 0.003). The 5-year OS of patients with lymph node (LN) metastases and unknown primary site (UPM) was 45% vs. 21% of patients with synchronous LN metastasis. Patients with SLN tumour burden < 0.3 mm had 5-year OS similar to SLN negative patients (86% vs. 85%; p = 0.926). The 5-year OS of patients with burden > 1.0 mm was similar to the MLNM group (49% vs. 47%; p = 0.280).

Conclusions
Stage III melanoma patients is a heterogeneous group with significant OS differences. CLND after positive SLNB might still remain a method of treatment for selected patients with stage III.
Identifying major policy challenges and policy interventions via expert methods
Authors: Dokupilová Dušana , Baláž Vladimír , Kurincová Vladimíra Čavojová , Mikušková Eva Ballová , Gombitová Dagmar 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
This paper presents the application of expert decision methods for the formulation and prioritization of the long-term economic, social and environmental policies in the Slovak Republic. The Partnership Agreement for the Slovak Republic (PA) is an underlying strategy for investments from the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) in the period 2021-2027. Policies implemented under the PA will allocate €13.4b on four policy objectives. This paper concentrates on the policy objective 4 ‘Social development’. The authors co-operated with the Deputy Prime Minister Office and assembled panels of top Slovak experts on social and economic issues. The Delphi and Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) methods were combined for analyzing major development challenges and eliciting policy priorities. The methods combined the bottom-up and top-down approaches to policy making. Nine potential policy measures in three policy areas emerged from the Delphi exercise. The AHP exercise applied three criteria (relevance, urgency and feasibility) to rank the abovementioned measures within three policy areas. As for the Policy Area 1 (Labour market, employment, training and institutions) the measure 4.1.1 ‘Improving access to employment and modernizing institutions and services on labour market’ clearly dominated over the measure 4.1.2 ‘Supporting a better work-life balance’. The measure 4.2.2 ‘Equal access to quality and inclusive education’ emerged substantially more important than measures 4.2.1 ‘Improving the quality and effectiveness of education and training systems’ and 4.2.3 ‘Support to life-long learning’ in the Policy Area 2 ‘Education and skills’. Finally, measures 4.3.2 ‘Supporting social and economic integration of marginalized Roma communities’ and 4.3.3 ‘Ensuring equal access to healthcare including primary care’ received the highest ranks in the Policy Area 3 ‘Health and social services’.
Sorption Properties of Thermal Insulation Composed of Flax or Hemp Fibers
Authors: Hellová Katarína E. , Unčík Stanislav , Cabanová Terézia 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
This paper deals with the sorption characteristics of thermal insulation materials based on flax and hemp. The added value of these materials is a positive impact on healthy and sustainable housing. Flax and hemp, which are classified as organic, have a high sorption capacity. Changes in the properties of these materials at a relative air humidity of 20% – 95% allow us to determine their advantages and disadvantages as well as whether the insulation is suitable for incorporation into a building structure. The article describes an experiment during which hygroscopic and thermal-technical properties were monitored. The most important indicators were the change in the coefficient of thermal conductivity and the change in the equilibrium moisture content.
Effects of Sulfur Amino Acids on Cardiodynamic Parameters of Isolated Rat Heart
Authors: Sobot Nikola , Sobot Tanja , Radonjic Katarina , Turnic Tamara Nikolic , Petkovic Anica , Jeremic Jovana , Ponorac Nenad , Lazarevic Tatjana , Bolevich Sergey , Jakovljevic Vladimir , Djuric Dragan 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Sulfur-containing amino acids are integral part of molecular mechanisms which underlie many aspects of cellular function and homeostasis, facilitated by reversible changes in oxidation states of sulfur atoms. Dysregulation of these pathways is associated with diverse pathologies, notably of the cardiovascular system, which are typically characterized by inappropriate plasma levels of sulfur-containing amino acids. The aim of this study was to assess the acute, direct effects of sulfur-containing amino acids and inorganic NaHS, as H2S donor, on cardiodynamic parameters in homocysteine treated rats. Moderate hyperhomocysteinemia did not cause significant decrease in myocardial contractility, but our findings suggest that NaHS and L-methionine cause negative effects on cardiac function in hearts of the rats treated with homocysteine, even in a single administration. Further investigations need to be carried out with purpose of better understanding and highlightening the impact of Hcy and sulphur amino acids on cardiac function.
On Intensive Endophoric Devices in English
Authors: Krivochen Diego 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis paper deals with the syntactic and semantic properties of a specific kind of anaphoric device (AD) in English, instantiated by Prn+SELF lexical items (himself/herself/itself…; ‘SELF’ henceforth), which do not behave like anaphors in the sense of Binding Theory either syntactically or semantically. These devices have received the name ofintensivesin the grammatical literature (Leskosky 1972; Siemund 2000, among many others). We will look at the syntactic behaviour of so-calledintensivesin different syntactic contexts, and refine the classification of these ADs taking into consideration (a) how each type of intensive is derived, (b) the kinds of syntactic rules that can affect them, and (c) their meaning.
Neuroimaging patterns of chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency with evaluation of cerebral perfusion depending on the level of cognitive disorders
Authors: Chukhontseva E. S. , Morozova T. G. , Borsukov A. V. 
Published: October 2020

Aim. To evaluate the neuroimaging patterns of chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency with cerebral perfusion assessment depending on the level of cognitive impairment.Materials and methods. The 58 patients aged 50–79 years were examined: 45 patients with a diagnosis of сhronic cerebrovascular insufficiency and 13 conditionally healthy volunteers. Patients with Chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency were ranked into three subgroups depending on the severity of cognitive impartment (CI). T1-, T2, T2*- VI, DWI, FLAIR and non-contrast MR perfusion (ASL) were included in the MR-protocol (Toshiba Vantage Titan, 1.5 T). The analysis of MRM patterns of Chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency was carried out according to STRIVE criteria. The total cerebral blood flow and regional in the frontal and parietal lobes were evaluated by the ASLperfusion.Results. A relationship was found between the degree of leukoaraiosis, the type of expansion of the perivascular spaces of Virchow-Robin and the level of CI. According to ASL, total cerebral blood flow is higher in groups without CI and in patients with severe CI. There is a diffuse decrease of cerebral perfusion in patients with mild CI. This phenomenon is explained by initial impairment of the blood-brain barrier permeability, damage to the microvasculature. Relative hyperperfusion in the cortex of the frontal and parietal lobes of patients with dementia indicates the ineffectiveness of increased cortical blood flow and the resulting shunt blood flow due to the high resistance of the altered small cerebral vessels under high pulsating properties of the main arteries.Conclusion. ASL perfusion is a complementary link to the STRIVE criteria in the diagnosis of chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency. The absence of changes in cerebral perfusion in patients with subjective manifestations of chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency makes it advisable to search for new methods for the diagnosis of preclinical stages of vascular cognitive impairment.
2D Speckle Tracking echocardiography in the prognostication of left ventricle diastolic dysfunction
Authors: Zherko O. M. , Shkrebneva E. I. 
Published: October 2020

The aim of the study: to develop prediction comprehensive criteria for the diastolic dysfunction (DD) of the left ventricle (LV) according to 2D Speckle Tracking echocardiography (STE).Materials and methods. A clinical and instrumental study of 91 patients aged 64.0 was performed [58.0; 70.0] years in the Minsk Scientific and Practical Center of Surgery, Transplantology and Hematology in 2019. Criteria for inclusion: sinus rhythm, essential arterial hypertension, chronic coronary artery disease, previous left myocardial infarction, after which at least six months have passed to stabilize the LV structural and functional parameters, chronic heart failure, patient informed consent. Exclusion criteria: primary mitral regurgitation, mitral stenosis, mitral valve repair or prosthetics, congenital heart defects, acute and chronic diseases of the kidneys, lungs. Transthoracic echocardiography and STE was performed on ultrasound machine Vivid E9 (GE Healthcare, USA).Results. The leading functional anomalies, interconnected in the development of LV DD, are decline of the LV longitudinal diastolic, regional and global systolic strain, LV mechanical dispersion and dyssynergy. Correlations between LV DD type II and the mechanical dispersion index (r = 0.69, p < 0.001), delta of LV time to peak longitudinal deformation (r = 0.66, p < 0.001), LV global post-systolic index (r = 0.58, p < 0.001), GLSAVG (r = 0.63, p < 0.001) were established. LV DD is characterized by early diastolic longitudinal strain E of the LV basal lateral segment > −6.75%, LV basal septal segment > −5.22%, early and late diastolic longitudinal strain ratio E/A of the LV basal lateral segment ≤0.91, basal-septal segment ≤0.69. LV DD type I is characterized by an LV mechanical dispersion index >49.34 ms, LV delta time to peak longitudinal strain >157 ms. Prognostic values for LV DD type II are LV mechanical dispersion index >49.34 ms, delta time to peak longitudinal strain is >136 ms, global post-systolic index >6.24%, mechanical dyssynergy index >4.60%, global LV peak longitudinal displacement ≤9.88 mm, GLSAVG > −18.5% (sensitivity 88.2%, specificity 83.3%).Conclusions. The use of the developed STE prediction value in practical public health will increase the efficiency of diagnosis of LV DD.
PENGARUH KOMPETENSI ETOS KERJA PETUGAS TERHADAP KEPUASAN PASIEN DI KLINIK FISIOTERAPI RSUD DATU BERU TAKENGON KABUPATEN ACEH TENGAH TAHUN 2019
Authors: Sirait Asmarani Yusnita Ida , Fitriani Arifah Devi , Lubis Masnelly 
Published: October 2020

Abstrak

Kesehatan telah menjadi kebutuhan pokok bagi masyarakat. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis pengaruh kompetensi etos kerja petugas terhadap kepuasan pasien. Jenis penelitian yang digunakan adalah Survey Analitik dengan pendekatan Cross Sectional Study. Instrumen yang digunakan adalah lembar kuesioner yang dibagikan kepada 60 responden secara analisis dengan uji regresi logistik berganda. Hasil analisis data menunjukkan ada pengaruh terhadap kepuasan pasien yaitu variabel kedisiplinan petugas, ketelitian petugas dan tanggung jawab petugas dengan nilai p (sig) = < 0,05. Variabel yang paling dominan memiliki pengaruh terhadap kepuasan pasien adalah ketelitian petugas dengan p (sig) 0,002 dan memiliki nilai OR= 13.360. Kesimpulan penelitian terdapat hubungan kompetensi etos kerja petugas ditinjau dari kedisiplinan, kejujuran, ketelitian, tanggung jawab, dan kematangan emosi petugas fisioterapi terhadap kepuasan pasien. Saran meningkatkan kedisiplinan, kejujuran, ketelitian, tanggung jawab, dan kematangan emosi supaya pasien puas dalam menerima pelayanan fisioterapi yang diberikan.
Solar collectors integrated into transparent facades
Authors: Zhelykh Vasyl , Venhryn Iryna , Kozak Khrystyna , Shapoval Stepan 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Due to the fact that the number of natural disasters in the world has increased in recent years, experts note that climate change is the cause. As a consequence of the nature of the needs to improve the fuel and energy complex in the countries in world. This solution could be solar energy and similar energy sources. The paper presents the classification of energy-efficient houses proposed by international standards and its critical analysis. Emphasis is placed on the problem of improving solar collectors integrated into the construction of buildings. The paper presents the temperature characteristics of an experimental solar collector. For the experimental solar collector combined with the translucent facade of the building, thermal characteristics are set, in particular, such as thermal capacity and thermal efficiency.
Efficiency of SSR and PawS markers for evaluation of genetic polymorphism among red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) cultivars
Authors: Klimenko I. A. , Kostenko S. I. , Mavlyutov Yu. M. , Shamustakimova A. O. 
Published: October 2020

Background. Identification of crop varieties is presently one of the most important aspects due a significant annual increase in the number of newly developed cultivars. Application of molecular markers makes it possible to identify cultivars and secure protection of plant breeders’ rights. Marker techniques based on SSR loci and PawS markers were evaluated for their efficiency in revealing the DNA polymorphism in Russian red clover cultivars, and the research results are presented in this publication.Materials and Methods. The total genome DNA was extracted by a modified SDS method from 30 seedlings per each cultivar. Nine simple sequence repeats (SSR) and 4 PawS markers were used for genotyping. The basic genetic diversity parameters were measured and analyzed using the software resources GelAnalyzer 2010а, MStools v.3, and Statistica 7.0.Results and conclusion. The mean level of intervarietal DNA polymorphism in red clover was 38.6%. Cultivar-specific amplicons were obtained for 4 accessions (cvs. ‘Trifon’, ‘Topaz’, ‘Trio’ and ‘Mars’) with SSR loci RCS1307 and RCS3095. These loci were found appropriate for identification and certification of such cultivars. The tested PawS markers (individually and in combinations) proved non-informative for the analysis of intervarietal DNA polymorphism in red clover. The only primer pair PawS5+PawS16 generated reproducible PCR products, but unique amplicons were absent in the DNA profiles. The data obtained in this study may be helpful for further identification and certification of Russian red clover cultivars and promising breeding materials.