Institutional Repository of Klaipėda University
Not a member yet
3196 research outputs found
Sort by
Distribution of charophyte oospores in the Curonian Lagoon and their relationship to environmental forcing /
No full textLack of knowledge about distribution of charophyte fructifications and importance of environmental conditions in the Baltic Sea coastal waters fostered us to assess the spatial-temporal patterns of oospore bank in relationship with environmental factors in the Curonian Lagoon (Lithuanian part). We mapped the distribution of oospores in 2017–2019. The importance of environmental factors was determined by the cluster analysis and boosted regression trees. Four oospores species were recorded up to 4 m depth. The highest mean densities (58,000 ind·m−2 ) of viable fructifications were found along the eastern shore, where the densest charophyte stands were recorded. Viable fructifications showed a clear pattern of filling the oospore bank after the vegetation season and a depletion during the summer as they germinated. The distance from charophyte stands, salinity, bottom slope aspect, and wave exposure were the most important environmental variables. Full fructifications mostly occurred within 1.5 salinity
Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps: age and disease severity differences in the levels of inflammatory markers /
No full textBackground and objectives: The aim of our study was to analyze the concentrations of inflammatory markers in the nasal tissue of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNPs) and controls of different age groups, as well as to find associations between age, inflammation development, and NPs. Materials and methods: Patients were divided into two groups—patients with CRSwNPs and control subjects who had nasal surgery for another reason beside CRS. Our analysis was performed across three different age groups (18–30 years, 31–50 years, and 51 years and more). Tissue biopsies from the sinus cavity for all study participants were taken and frozen at −80 °C, until use. The concentrations of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, IL-13, IL-21, and IL-22, were quantified using a magnetic bead-based multiplex assay. Results: In the group aged 18–30 years, the levels of inflammatory markers IL-1, IL-2, IL-5, and IL-22 were significantly higher in patients with CRSwNPs than the control subjects. Among patients aged 31–50 years, significantly higher concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-22 were recorded in patients with CRSwNPs, as compared to the control subjects. In the oldest group (aged 51 years and more), patients with CRSwNPs had significantly higher concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, and IL-22, as compared to the control group. In the CRSwNP group, only the concentration of IL-21 was significantly higher among patients aged 31–50 years, as compared with those aged 51 years and older (p = 0.013). Conclusions: IL-2 and IL-22 levels were significantly higher in patients with CRSwNP than the control, across all age groups. Only the concentration of IL-21 was higher among patients with CRSwNP in the middle age group, as compared to the oldest group. IL-2, IL-4, and IL-22 levels correlated with the severity of CRSwNPs. Elevated concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, and IL-22 were determined in patients’ groups with higher sinonasal outcome test (SNOT-22) scores, pointing to more severe clinical symptoms
Impact of preoperative education on ostomy patients quality of life.
No full textHuman well-being is directly related to his health. Preoperative training of patients and selection of the optimal stoma location are probably the most important factors influencing the postoperative quality of life of stoma patients. Study aim - to determine the impact of preoperative training on the quality of life of stoma patients. Study methods. The analysis of the scientific literature and quantitative research was used for the survey, which was carried out by a written questionnaire. The patients interviewed were both inpatient and patients arriving for outpatient consultation. The survey was conducted in JuneNovember, 2020, with the oral consent of the respondents. 150 questionnaires were distributed, 144 questionnaires were returned, but 6 of them were incomplete. Return of questionnaires - 92 percent. Results. The study found that patients, with whom the optimal bowel stoma location was not discussed before surgery, were significantly more likely to have poor quality of life, it also turned out that as many as one-fifth of patients did not receive any information about the stoma and were not acquainted with the peculiarities of intestinal stoma care, and almost half of the respondents received this information after the stoma operation. Conclusions. Preoperative patient training and collaboration are directly related to patients’ quality of life after bowel stoma formation surgery
Remote sensing of turbidity plumes in glaciated and ice-free fjords of Svalbard (Arctic) /
No full textCombined approaches to predict microplastic emissions within an urbanized estuary (Warnow, Southwestern Baltic Sea) /
No full textMicroplastic river emissions are known to be one of the major sources for marine microplastic pollution. Especially urbanized estuaries localized at the land-sea interface and subjected to microplastic emissions from various sources exhibit a high microplastic discharge potential to adjacent coasts. To adapt effective measures against microplastic emissions a more detailed knowledge on the importance of various microplastic sources is necessary. As field data is scarce we combined different approaches to assess microplastic emissions into the Warnow estuary, southwestern Baltic Sea. Resulting microplastic emission estimates are based on in-situ measurements for the catchment emissions, whereas for the remaining microplastic sources within the estuary literature data on microplastic abundances, and various parameters were used (e.g. demographical, hydrological, geographical). The evaluation of the different emission scenarios revealed that the majority of microplastic is likely discharged by the Warnow river catchment (49.4%) and the separated city stormwater system (43.1%) into the estuary, followed by combined sewer discharges (6.1%). Wastewater treatment plant emissions exhibit the lowest percentage (1.4%). Our approach to estimate anti-fouling paint particles emissions from leisure and commercial shipping activities was associated with highest uncertainties. However, our results indicate the importance of this source highlighting the necessity for future research on the topic. Based on our assumptions for microplastic retention within the estuary, we estimate a potential annual emission of 152–291 billion microplastics (majority within the size class 10–100 µm) to the Baltic Sea. Considering all uncertainties of the different applied approaches, we could assess the importance of various microplastic sources which can be used by authorities to prioritize and establish emission reduction measures. Additionally, the study provides parameters for microplastic emission estimates that can be transferred from our model system to other urbanized Baltic estuaries
Opportunities and challenges of organizing and implementing distance pre-school education: teachers’ opinions /
No full textThe Council of the European Union (2020) points out that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on education and teaching systems and has fundamentally changed the way we learn, teach, communicate and collaborate within and between our education and teaching communities. The aim of this study is to explore the opinion of pre-school teachers on the opportunities and challenges faced by them in organizing and conducting pre-school education at a distance. The strategy of qualitative research was chosen for the study, Klaipėda city pre-school education teachers were interviewed. The study revealed that teachers did not change the content of education programs, sought to maintain the continuity of education and develop all the competencies of preschool children. Various digital and technical tools for distance education were used. Participants of the educational process experienced a variety of emotions and disturbances. Teachers missed for more decisive action of the institution’s administration. The opinion of educators discovered during the research helped to highlight advantages and disadvantages of distance pre-school education
Administration and modernization of apartment buildings: the case of Klaipeda city municipality.
No full textAfter regaining independence, the residents of the Lithuanian apartment building became the co-owners of the building, they were given the opportunity to choose for themselves, which form of ownership they would apply when maintaining and administering the apartment building. Today, however, it is observed that the collective provision of a service and its regulation is not entirely effective. After the privatization of public housing, many residents faced a legal system that had to take care of not only housing administration but also maintenance and repair work, but such a legal system was not properly developed, so today the country faces housing policy problem related to lack of apartment modernization. In Lithuania, the modernization processes of apartment buildings are slow; therefore the aim of this work is to investigate the implementation of apartment house administration and modernization in Lithuania. In order to find out this, it is necessary to review the legal and theoretical aspects of apartment house administration, to examine the problems of apartment house modernization and legal regulation in Lithuania. The case of administration and modernization of Klaipeda city municipality apartment buildings was also selected for the research. The theoretical analysis aims to review the legal and theoretical aspects of apartment house administration. Attention is drawn to the fact that the main task of multi-apartment managers is to perform their activities in a transparent and high-quality manner and to implement the mandatory requirements established in the legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania related to the maintenance and administration of multiapartment buildings. Analyzing the problems of modernization of multi-apartment houses and legal regulation in Lithuania, it is noticed that modernization (renovation) of multi-apartment houses means that old houses are being rebuilt and their heating energy is being improved. The qualitative research revealed that the administrators of Klaipeda City Municipality apartment buildings administration and modernization face several problems. First of all, there is resistance from the residents, the residents of the apartment building do not want modernization because they do not trust the contractor and contractors, there is a lack of information about the modernization of the apartment building. Other issues highlighted are frequently changing legislation and sometimes problems with contractors
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the world economy through the prism of the tourism industry.
No full textThe Covid-19 pandemic that was announced by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 30 March 2020 has caused blockages in all economic sectors, but tourism is the most affected. It is difficult to estimate the real impact of the pandemic on international tourism. Travel restrictions imposed to stop the spread of the virus have had a devastating impact on the tourism industry around the world. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, tourism is a vital part of the infrastructure of the world economy, generating 10% of total gross domestic product (GDP), and accounting for one out of ten of all jobs. The tourism sector is very dynamic, requiring a rapid response to a changing environment and market; but it is also most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Modern tourism requires urgent research, and the analysis of internal and external resources. The perception of changes in the market is a key factor enabling companies to stay in business. Challenges are also posed by technological advances, driven by both the technological advances themselves and safety aspects during the pandemic. This article presents the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the tourism sector globally, which includes the cruise ship and airline industries, and also accommodation. The difficulties are successfully overcome by companies that proactively monitor and evaluate key performance indicators: if the indicators are unsatisfactory, they take all possible measures to improve performance. A smooth and timely restructuring process allows companies in temporary difficulty to reshape their operations by changing their strategy, abandoning unprofitable forms of activity, and focusing on the most efficient ones