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Investigation of dynamics and power needs for container unloading from ship process /
No full textThe operational problem of container unloading from the ship is analyzed in this paper. Dynamic “crane-cargo-ship” system was investigated, and a mathematical model was created. In the model, the gap between the container and the ship’s cargo hold, the mass of the cargo, the container’s center of the mass, and the frictional forces that may occur during lifting from the cargo hold were estimated. Numerical analysis of the system was performed. Results of numerical analysis were compared with experimental measurements of containers unloading process in port. Requirement of lifting power was modelled depending on mass of cargo. Additional power needs in case of contact forces between container and wall of the ship’s cargo hold were calculated. Rational lifting conditions could be deduced using a created mathematical model and the reliability of the container and cargo during lifting could be deduced
Expression of behavior and attitudes toward sustainable tourism in the youth population: a search for statistical types /
No full textYouth attitudes and behavior in tourism activities are crucial for sustainable tourism development. This study aims to identify the statistical types of youth according to their expressed behavior in sustainability and attitudes toward sustainable tourism development. Survey data were collected from 1085 respondents representing different Baltic Sea countries—Latvia, Lithuania, and Russia. A unique research instrument, constructed by the authors, was developed for the empirical research, responding to the latest theoretical insights and models and was empirically validated by statistical methods (the factor validity of the scales was tested with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, etc.). Attitudes towards sustainable tourism development were measured with the SUS-TAS scale. The factor clustering method used in the study identified the statistical types of the youth included, according to the expression of sustainable behavior and the attitudes toward sustainable tourism development. The results indicated that the majority of youth belong to the “oriented toward sustainable behavior” type (50.6%), while the analysis of youth attitudes showed that 71.5% belong to the socioeconomic type, indicating that young people prioritize the long-term socioeconomic wellbeing of the region, which can be achieved through efficient management, tourism planning, and active public participation in the implementation of tourism policies
The problem of euthanasia and its ethical evaluation.
No full textThe relevance of this topic is evident in many jurisdictions whose citizens are increasingly in favour of legalising euthanasia. The relevance is also evident in countries where the practice is already in place, where the number of people who have used the alternative of euthanasia is increasing. As biomedical technology expands, society‘s attention on moral norms and values is becoming less and less focused on, leading to a culture of death in which euthanasia is gaining public support. In today‘s society attidudes towards human life and its value are constantly changing which is why the importance of life is often underestimated. The thesis asks whether euthanasia is compatible with the Western societies‘ ethical values prevailing in the 21st century. The aim of this thesis is to analyze the main arguments of classical ethical theories in relation euthanasia in order to understand the problem of euthanasia in contemporary Western societies, by presenting the problematic context of the formation and the development of the concept of euthanasia, and by analyzing the phenomenon of euthanasia as a problem of bioethics, where the issue of the value of life in bioethics and the relationship of the natural rights of the human being with euthanasia are revealed. The thesis provides an overview of classical ethical theories in relation to the ethics of euthanasia. An analysis of the scientific literature reveals that the strongest arguments against euthanasia have been put forward by Christian ethics. The thesis consists of an introduction, which discusses the relevance of the topic, the problem, the thesis, the aim, the objectives and research methods. The thesis consists of 3 chapters: 1. The problematic context of the formation and development of the concept of euthanasia; 2. Euthanasia as a bioethical problem; 3. The position of classical ethical theories in relation to euthanasia. Conclusions and list of references. Key words: euthanasia, bioethics, life, palliative care, human dignity, classical ethical theories
Improving of pyrolysis oil from macroalgae Cladophora glomerata with HDPE pyrolysis oil /
No full textThe slow pyrolysis of macroalgae at moderate temperatures in the reactor used resulted in an oil with a slightly better calorific value than that of the literature, but the other properties were not convincing. Therefore, co-pyrolysis with HDPE offers a way out in this study. However, this did not improve the property profile as a fuel, as the co-pyrolysate was incombustible due to its high water content. Only a mixture of the pyrolysis oil from algae and of the HDPE wax from the initial pyrolysis of HDPE resulted in a diesel-like product: the density was from 807 kg m−3, the viscosity 3.39 mm2 s−1, the calorific value was 46 MJ kg−1, and the oxidation stability was 68 min. The isoparaffin index indicates only a low branching of the paraffins, and therefore a low research octane number of 80. The blend did not need any further stabilizing additives
Decomposition behavior of biodegradable and single-use tableware items in the Warnow Estuary (Baltic Sea) /
No full textDue to the increasing demand for alternative and supposedly more sustainable single-use tableware compared to conventional fossil-based plastic items, there now exists a broad variety of innovative new bio-based and biodegradable items. The aim of this research is to conduct a monitoring of the biodegradability of selected tableware items: polylactic acid (PLA), crystallized polylactic acid (CPLA), wood, palm leaf, paper/cellulose and sugar cane bagasse, as well as a common fossil-based plastic polystyrene (PS) as a comparative material in a water column, to determine their possible use as a substitute for single-use plastic flatware. In situ experiments were performed over a one-year period to consider changes in water temperature, salinity gradients, pH values and dis-solved oxygen (DO). The main findings show that tableware items composed of palm leaf, sugar cane bagasse and paper are less resistant to estuary conditions. However, wood, PLA, CPLA and PS items showed a certain resistance during the experimentation period. Furthermore, items placed in the upper incubators degraded relatively faster than those of the same material but placed in the lower incubators. The results indicate that temperature and exposure to natural light could be an important factor in terms of accelerating the degradation of the materials considered
Performance of academic staff during COVID-19 pandemic-induced work transformations: an IPO model for stress management /
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected all spheres of services-related business, including the higher education sector. As a pre-emptive measure, almost all traditional educational institutions have been transformed into virtual organizations. This pandemic-induced work transition has created stress among academic staff and has hampered their performance. The present study aims to examine the impact of leadership behaviors, e-training, and employment security on the stress management process, consequently improving employee performance during and after the pandemic. Based on the IPO (input–process–output) model, this study examines the effect of leadership behavior, e-training, and employment security on teaching staff’s tasks and adaptive and contextual performance, mediated by stress management. To test the conceptual model, data were collected from the teaching staff of Malaysian universities. The structural equation modeling technique was used for data analysis, while bootstrapping with the maximum likelihood estimator was used to confirm the mediational role of stress management. The study revealed that task- and relation-oriented leadership behavior, e-training, and employment security positively influence stress management and employee performance in virtual organizations. Moreover, stress management acts as a full mediator in the relationship between leadership behavior and employee performance, while partial mediation occurs between e-training, employment security, and employee performance. This study offers valuable insights into the literature by proposing leadership behavior, e-training, and employment security as input in the stress management process to attain the performance output of teaching staff. Higher education institutions should come forward to assist their teaching employees in managing their stress levels for better outcomes
Detecting shipping container impacts with vertical cell guides inside container ships during handling operations /
No full textDue to the mechanical nature of container handling operations, as well as natural factors, container and handling infrastructure suffers various types of damage during use, especially within the tight and enclosed environments of a ship’s hull. In this operational environment, it is critical to detect any sort of physical impacts between the vertical cell guides of the ship’s hull and the container. Currently, an inspection of impacts and evaluation of any consequences is performed manually, via visual inspection processes. This process is time-consuming and relies on the technical expertise of the personnel involved. In this paper, we propose a five-step impact-detection methodology (IDM), intended to detect only the most significant impact events based on acceleration data. We conducted real measurements in a container terminal using a sensory device placed on the spreader of the quay crane. The proposed solution identified an average of 12.8 container impacts with the vertical cell guides during common handling operations. In addition, the results indicate that the presented IDM can be used to recognize repeated impacts in the same space of each bay of the ship, and can be used as a decision support tool for predictive maintenance systems
Emotional dysregulation in adults from 10 world societies: an epidemiological latent class analysis of the Adult-Self-Report /
No full textBackground/Objective: Emotional dysregulation (ED) is a dimensional psychological domain, previously operationalized by instruments of the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assess- ment (ASEBA) for children and adolescents; however, its cross-cultural and bottom-up character- istics among adult populations are still unknown. Method: We examined scores obtained on the Adult Self-Report (ASR) by 9,238 18- to 59-year-olds from 10 societies that differed in social, eco- nomic, geographic, and other characteristics. A Latent Class Analysis was performed on the data from each society. Results: In each society, a dysregulated class (DYS) was identified, which was characterized by elevated scores on most ASR syndromes. The mean prevalence of DYS was 9.2%
Christian meditation as a contributing factor to the experience of relationship with God.
No full textToday’s historical, geopolitical, social, socioeconomic, psychological context of human life as well as the challenges provoked by diverse crisis cause tension, insecurity, and fear. In various religions people aspire to experience the unity with the One whom they believe to be superior, who brings them certainty, feelings of peace and security. Meditation is a common practice in all religions. It is a method that helps those who are looking to experience the relationship with God (in Christianity) and those who are trying to reach the merging with the universe (in Buddhism) or with a deity (in Hinduism) to get closer to this experience (in Christianity) or it is at least an attempt to do so (in Buddhism and Hinduism). The unity with God is the key for today’s Christians that teaches how to exist in a terrifying battlefield of the information wars. The phenomenon of meditation is a manifestation of human activity, creativity, therefore as a research object it belongs to human being and can be studied scientifically. In the following study, the phenomenon of Christian meditation is analysed more deeply, it is presented from the perspective of the experience of relationship with God. The work reveals, on a theoretical level, that the origins, the content, and the aim of Christian meditation, i.e. the Christocentric prayer, contain two necessary factors: the pursuit of the personal relationship with God, the Father, and the focus on Jesus Christ. This meditation is the meeting of the Word of God and a human soul: it is a moment when through the meditation a person makes the Word of God his or her own. The preconditions of the experience of relationship with God in the Christian meditation are as presented below. From the Biblical perspective: the fact that a human being is created in the image and likeness of God and that a Christian is ‘a new creation’ in Christ, therefore Christ is an integral inner force of every Christian. The empirical preconditions of the experience of relationship with God in the Christian meditation: spiritual sensations are described by using the notions of physical sensations; spiritual experiences are linked to the changes of neural connections in the human brain. Finally, the study presents guidelines for the experience of personal unity with Jesus Christ in the meditation practices of Carmelite in the Catholic Churches and in the meditation of the Evangelical Churches: the place of the event is human soul, its foundation is the experience of Jesus Christ in one’s interiority, the prayer is a conversation with Him. The keywords of Carmelite meditation are to listen and to love. The main aspects of the meditation in Evangelical Churches are the mind’s renewal by the Word of God, opening in this way one’s heart to the Holy Spirit, and living the reality of the Word of God
Communication in the health sector to COVID-19 pandemic managment.
No full textScientific problem of the topic. The experience of past crises shows that their management in the public sector lacks effective communication. There is a lack of systemic change, lack of resources, lack of skills, lack of mastery of technology, lack of cooperation, lack of flexibility, and inherent problems of closedness, which have highlighted the problems related to internal and external communication in the health sector. The problematic question is how could communication in the health sector have contributed to the management of COVID-19? The aim of the study was to identify the potential of health sector communication in managing the COVID-19 pandemic in the Lithuanian health sector. 1) Analyse the concept of communication. 2) To analyse the health sector's communication tools for managing the COVID-19 pandemic. 3) To analyse the health sector's communication options for managing the COVID-19 pandemic through a case study and present the results. Research methodology. The study was carried out by means of a questionnaire survey. The survey questionnaire was based on the analysis of the scientific literature. The sample consisted of 257 professionals working in the health care system in the positions of manager, head, doctor, senior nursing administrator and nurse. Results and conclusions. The clarity, validity, timeliness, delivery through different communication media and tailoring to the target audience were essential for effective communication during the pandemic. The majority of respondents tended to disagree with the lack of theoretical knowledge about the importance and benefits of communication, lack of specialised training in communication, lack of practical communication skills, and lack of reliability of information when assessing the communication problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the majority of the participants agreed that communication lacked timeliness of information, accuracy/clarity of information, validity of information. The majority of the participants agreed that there was a lot of misinformation in the public space about the organisation and the pandemic. There was also general agreement that the organisation was fair in its presentation of information, adapted information to the nature of the audience, mobilised staff within the organisation to work as a team, and contributed to cooperation with the public and its groups, and with business