Varna Medical University Press: Journals
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Innovative startups in tourism – the way they influence travel
Get PDFThe focus of the publication is set on startups and their influence on travel and tourism industry. As innovation in technology and business is considered to be the leading accelerator in organisation’s development, the author is attempting to analyze the effects of startups’ use and their implementation in tourism. The research goal is: by making a theoretical review of the term startup, to examine its nature and describe the business process, to reveal some good practices and emphasize on innovative examples. The contribution of the publication results in providing qualitative analysis and evaluation of their overall importance to the travel sector, travel professionals and customers as well
Gamification - expected and unexpected effects
Get PDFA significant trend in the digitalization age is the mixture of casual activities in professional context. Both practical and scientific research has been conducted in the field of gamification. This methodology describes the ways of applying game design principles in non-gaming environments to motivate, guide, tutor and award participants.The focus of this study is the expected and unexpected effects of implementing gamification for the developers and the users of IT systems. A meta-analysis on the state of gamification research is presented and a survey among university students is discussed. As a result, parallels are drawn between user behaviors and traditional technical risks of using gamification in software applications
Advantages and disadvantages of OTAs in the distribution system of seaside holiday hotels
Get PDFThe aim of this article is to analyse the advantages and disadvantages of OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) in the distribution system of a seaside holiday hotels. Based on the literature review and direct observations of the author on the activities of seaside holiday hotels on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, the author aims to indicates the features of the seaside holiday hotel and defines its distribution system. The article points out the problems of a seaside holiday hotels when using different OTAs and reveals some benefits for both hotels and travellers
Sergey I. Pokrovski and his contribution to bulgarian archaeology
No full textThe author focuses on Sergei I. Pokrovsky, one representative of the white Russian emigration, who settled in Bulgaria after 1920 and in Varna – after 1937.Sergei I. Pokrovski has a special education and training in archeology, which he dedicates to the study of Bulgarian antiquities.Pokrovski’s work includes the articles, plans and drawings for many sites studied in first half of 20 century
A survey on the media information flow to contribute Bulgaria’s destination image and perception
Get PDFTravel and tourism business has proved to be powerful accelerator and contributor to the global economy. As a flexible and highly adaptive to many disruptive events industry, it has been handling crises of various nature, origin and background. The current publication is focused on the role the media information flow exerts on to the image and perception of destination Bulgaria. The survey aims to perform a quality analysis of the news published and announced by leading media broadcasts and to evaluate their influence when making a decision to undertake travel. The study period is limited to the 2023 summer season. For the purposes of the survey, Web service tool for semantic analysis is implemented. In the course of the research, it is revealed that negative news related to tourism prevails and this could have a negative impact on the destination
Methodology for digitization of companies in hospitality and tourism
Get PDFThe key to reaching and successfully courting and attracting the consumer, the tourist, is digitization. It is the means not only to find the potential customer, a tourist, but also to grab his attention, win him over and keep him as our loyal guest, a tourist over time. For this purpose, organizations in the field of tourism and hospitality need to be flexible and innovative regarding the information content they provide. In this sense, it is unacceptable for the hotel to have, for example, a static website or not to have possible ways of presenting information through the use of digital technologies, for example a virtual walk, which gives an initial idea and influences the tourists’ perceptions by creating certain expectations.This paper is aimed to present a methodology for digitization of the organization in the field of tourism and hospitality
Trends in average daily consumption of basic foods among children in Bulgaria
Get PDFThe expression of biological potential in humans is impacted by various factors, with nutrition being a primary determinant.Objective: The objective is to ascertain the average daily intake of basic foods among children aged 1–19 years in Bulgaria within the framework of a comprehensive nutritional survey.Methods: A cross-sectional and retrospective study was carried out in 2020 involving a nationally representative sample of 984 children aged 1–19 years. Detailed information about children aged 10 years and younger was gathered through direct interviews with their parent. The children participating in the study were randomly chosen from the lists of individuals surveyed by the Ministry of Education and Science. The nutrition of all children was assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall method, focusing on their food intake from the preceding day (24-h recall). The dietary intake of children was evaluated over two non-consecutive days during the week: a weekday and a weekend day. The information collected from the children was compared to the data obtained in the 2014 survey.Results: The analysis of average daily consumption in children aged 1–19 years revealed a significant preference for lean meat, a limited intake of milk, fish and eggs and a high consumption of non-alcoholic carbonated drinks containing sugar among children over 7 years of age.Conclusion: The evidence gathered on the nutrition among children aged 1–19 years draws attention to both the beneficial and detrimental aspects of basic food consumption. It underscores the necessity for focused initiatives aimed at fostering positive changes in children's nutrition that will have a long-lasting effect not only during childhood but also in later life
Eyelash extensions—the hidden threat
Get PDFIntroduction:The application of eyelash extensions for aesthetic reasons is a popular procedure. The method involves attaching synthetic fibers to natural eyelashes using a binding substance (glue). This procedure, however, can cause various eye disorders, most commonly keratoconjunctivitis and allergic blepharitis.Aim:The purpose of the study is to collect information about the use of eyelash extensions for aesthetic purposes on the territory of Bulgaria and determine the characteristics of the methods of application, the period of replacement, as well as the related potential risks to eye health.Materials and Methods:The survey was conducted through an online platform. Detailed anonymous questionnaires about the use of eyelash extensions and the health problems associated with this manipulation were distributed with the help of social media among women of different ages.Results:Оne hundred and forty-five questionnaires were received, of which 140 were correctly filled out and included in the survey. All the participants were women and from different parts of Bulgaria. Of them, 37.9% were aged 20 to 25, 32.9% between 26–30, 10.7% under 20 years of age, and none of the participants exceeded 60 years of age. It was not surprising that the majority of respondents (53.6%) indicated that the replacement period was between 2 and 3 weeks. What was interesting, however, was the observation regarding the adhesives that the participants used to attach the false eyelashes—as many as 78.6% reported that they did not know what glue was applied to their eyelashes. Regarding the type of extensions, the fact that 63.6% indicated the use of eyelashes with natural hair was of particular interest, although a market analysis shows that products of this type are rare within the borders of Bulgaria. Over half of the participants reported that they experienced irritation and burning during the application of the eyelashes, and 60% reported discomfort related to the already applied eyelashes. Eighteen percent reported experiencing an allergic reaction and/or pruritus associated with the eyelash application, and 15% experienced eye inflammation (conjunctivitis, blepharitis) after the eyelash application. Nearly 65% reported seeing thinning and discoloration of their natural lashes after removing the false ones. It was interesting to observe that 15% resorted a visit to an eye doctor because of a problem related to the applied eyelashes, the reasons being mainly related to local irritation, allergy and/or inflammation. The most common subjective complaints included redness, irritation, dryness, tearing, swelling, inflammatory discharge, and even acute pain. However, 62.5% of those who completed the survey would continue to use false eyelashes.Conclusion:Due to the growing popularity of cosmetic procedures related to the placement of false eyelashes, it is important to educate the public and medical professionals about the potential risks, complications, and adverse effects that they entail
Expression of apoptosis and necroptosis markers caspase-3 and receptor-interacting protein kinase-3 in malignant neoplasms
Get PDFAlthough there is a lot of evidence about different types of cell death, apoptosis and necroptosis continue to be the subject of extensive scientific research. Both forms of cell death are programmed, and there is evidence that supports their role in the onset and progression of a number of diseases of different etiologies, including neoplasms. Analysis of the complex signaling pathways through which tumor cells manage to avoid and suppress both forms of cell death is essential for the development of new antitumor drugs. Apoptosis is activated by extrinsic and intrinsic signaling pathways and occurs through the activation of cysteine proteases, also known as caspases. Caspase 3 plays a central role in apoptotic necrotic death. Necroptosis, which combines the morphological features of necrosis with some of the molecular regulatory mechanisms of apoptosis, is mediated by receptor-interacting protein kinases (RIP), with RIP3 having a major role in the formation of the complex called the necrosome, where the permeability of the cell membrane is affected by conformational changes and cascade phosphorylation. Modern therapeutic strategies are based on drug-influencing molecules involved in the signaling pathways of both processes and, accordingly, on the subsequent cascade reactions. Malignant tumors have developed mechanisms by which they do not respond to apoptotic stimuli, which causes their uncontrolled growth. The expression of both markers in patients with malignant neoplasms and the accumulation of sufficient scientific data on the ability of neoplastic cells to avoid programmed cell death are relevant for the discovery of new therapeutic approaches and opportunities based on the stimulation of necroptosis. In these cases, however, some of the tumors have evolutionarily developed protective mechanisms against necroptosis as well, which is an even greater challenge for a detailed study of both processes and the expression of the indicated markers
Chromosomal and molecular abnormalities in the evolution of multiple myeloma
Get PDFMultiple myeloma (MM) is a disease characterized by various clinical, biochemical, and molecular disorders in its evolution. The use of modern methods such as fluorescence in situ hybridization, next-generation sequencing for mutational analysis of genes, single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping, gene-expression profiling, and epigenetic profiling has identified significant chromosomal abnormalities in MM that have greatly enriched our knowledge of the pathogenesis of the disease. In the stage of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, hyperdiploid chromosomal abnormalities and translocations of chromosome 14 activating various oncogenes are characteristic. Later in the evolution of the pathological process, mutations that disrupt the coordinated and precise gene expression programs that govern cell growth and differentiation appear. In 20% of patients, the disease progresses with aggressive clinical and biochemical characteristics. The high risk cannot be defined by a single pathogenetic mechanism but by the interaction of several genetic lesions leading to high levels of proliferation, apoptosis evasion, and therapeutic resistance. This is achieved in part by strong dysregulation of the G1/S phase of the cell cycle, further proliferation signaling through the myc, RAS-ERK, and NFκB pathways, aberrant signaling in the bone marrow niche, and loss or mutation of the tumor suppressor genes RB1 and TP53. In-depth knowledge of these complex processes could lead to the development of new target drugs and an individualized approach to the treatment of MM patients