Institutional Repository of Klaipėda University
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The COVID-19 pandemic and resilience of SMEs in Lithuania /
No full textThe article focuses on a relevant scientific and practical problem of the present, i.e., the resilience of organisations in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim is, upon analysing the response of organisations to the threats related to the COVID-19-caused restrictions on economic activity, to identify the predominant behaviour of organisations that predetermines their resilience. The theoretical part discusses the leadership aspect of the heads of organisations and the ability of organisations to survive in the conditions of uncertainty. The findings of the research in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of Klaipėda Region are presented. The research methods chosen to deal with a scientific problem in the theoretical part include an analysis of literature sources, systematisation, synthesis, generalisation, and comparison. In the empirical research, quantitative research, i.e., a questionnaire survey and data processing methods, was applied. Due to the specificity of the region, the majority of the surveyed business entities (71.3%) are from the services sector, while the rest of the surveyed companies belong to the manufacturing (15%) and trade (13.7%) sectors. The research established that most of the organisations surveyed benefited from the government support. On assessing the survey data and summarising the response and efforts of organisations to deal with uncertainties, a conclusion was drawn that SMEs' response to uncertainties was mainly focused on the protection against threats and avoidance of risk, however, the organisations lacked preparedness and consistency when dealing with unforeseen circumstances
National colorectal cancer screening program in Lithuania: description of the 5-year performance on population level /
No full textWe aimed to report the results of the implementation of the National Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening Program covering all the country. The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) reimburses the institutions for performing each service; each procedure within the program has its own administrative code. Information about services provided within the program was retrieved from the database of NHIF starting from the 1 January 2014 to the 31 December 2018. Exact date and type of all provided services, test results, date and results of biopsy and histopathological examination were extracted together with the vital status at the end of follow-up, date of death and date of emigration when applicable for all men and women born between 1935 and 1968. Results were compared with the guidelines of the European Union for quality assurance in CRC screening and diagnosis. The screening uptake was 49.5% (754,061 patients) during study period. Participation rate varied from 16% to 18.1% per year and was higher among women than among men. Proportion of test-positive and test-negative results was similar during all the study period—8.7% and 91.3% annually. Between 9.2% and 13.5% of test-positive patients received a biopsy of which 52.3–61.8% were positive for colorectal adenoma and 4.6–7.3% for colorectal carcinoma. CRC detection rate among test-positive individuals varied between 0.93% and 1.28%. The colorectal cancer screening program in Lithuania coverage must be improved. A screening database is needed to systematically evaluate the impact and performance of the national CRC screening program and quality assurance within the program
Living on the edge: benthic communities near retreating glaciers /
No full textThe melting and retreat of Arctic glaciers are prime consequences of climate change in the European Arctic, Spitsbergen. The coastal seascapes are freeing from glacials at a rate of 500 m per year, whereas the duration of coastal ice has decreased from 7–9 to 2–3 months in the late winter. Deglaciation of Spitsbergen causes the formation of new habitats not previously accessible. There were observed changes in increased biomass and biodiversity, as well as sublittoral communities moving towards shallower waters, where ice scouring was a limiting factor. Yet, enhanced melting and retreat of the glaciers cause intensive sedimentation of mineral matter and freshwater inflow into the fjords. As a result, macrophyte expansion lowers as a euphotic zone decreases and larger sedimentation rates favor suspension-feeding over depositfeeding organisms. The aim of this study was to compare the structure of benthic communities of upper sublittoral near the retreating glaciers with ice-free areas. An underwater video survey was carried out during 2018–2019 summer months in four bays: Adriabuka and Burgerbukta in Hornsund, and Gipsvika and Borebukta in Isfjorden. In total, 2.8 h of video material were collected using a remotely operated vehicle and a “drop-down” video camera from the polar yacht Magnus Zaremba and RV Oceania. Video footage was transformed into 148 video mosaics that were used for visual analysis. Overall, 43 biological features were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. The results showed that benthic communities near the glacial mainly consist of mobile fauna and tube dwellers with relatively low diversity, whereas in ice-free areas communities are more diverse and consist of mobile, sessile, and burrowing benthos. Underwater imagery proved to be a reliable method for the characterization of benthic communities in the upper sublittoral, where access for large research vessels is limited due to floating ice and steep slopes
Benthic metabolism in fluvial sediments with larvae of Lampetra sp /
No full textLampreys spend their larval stage within fine sand fluvial sediments, where they burrow and act as filter feeders. Lamprey larvae (ammocoetes) can significantly affect benthic-pelagic coupling and nutrient cycling in rivers, due to high densities. However, their bioturbation, feeding and excretion activities are still poorly explored. These aspects were investigated by means of laboratory incubations of intact sediments added with ammocoetes and of animals alone. Oxygen respiration, nutrient fluxes and excretion rates were determined. Individual ammocoete incubations suggested that biomass-specific oxygen consumption and ammonium, reactive phosphorus and silica excretion were size-dependent, and greater in small compared to large individuals. The comparison of ammocoetes metabolic rates with rates measured in intact sediments revealed that ammocoetes activity decreases significantly when they are burrowed in sediments. Furthermore, results suggest that a major fraction of ammonium excreted by ammocoetes was assimilated by benthic microbes or microalgae to overcome in situ N-limitation. Alternatively, part of the excreted ammonium was oxidized and denitrified within sediments, as nitrate uptake rather increased along with ammocoetes density. Ammocoetes excreted reactive phosphorus and silica but such production was not apparent in bioturbated sediments, likely due to microbial or microalgal uptake or to immobilization in sediments
Application of an ice thermodynamic model to a shallow freshwater lagoon /
No full textIn this study, we apply an ice thermodynamic model to a shallow freshwater lagoon in the south-eastern part of the Baltic Sea — the Curonian Lagoon. The model results were compared with the measurement data from three near‑shore stations during the period of 2004–2017. The simulation data showed the model to be capable of replicating ice thickness dynamics rather well (mean R = 0.92, RMSE = 6 cm). Although the model overestimated the number of ice days (NID) on average by one month (ranging from 3 to 40 days), the overall pattern was very similar to observations (R = 0.95). We further assessed the ice thickness and NID projections in the near (2021–2040) and far (2081–2100) future under two climate change scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). The results showed that the mean (max) ice thickness could decrease by 10–49% (6–34%) in the near and 41–75% (22–55%) in the far future under RCP4.5, and by 2–52% (2–30%) in the near and 75–88% (50–71%) in the far future under RCP8.5 compared to the baseline period of 1986–2005. The NID will shorten by 9–19% (9–22%) in the near and 15–36% (46–57%) in the far future under RCP4.5 (RCP8.5) scenarios, compared with the baseline period
Ikimokyklinio amžiaus specialiųjų ugdymosi poreikių turinčių vaikų kalbinių gebėjimų ugdymas, vykdant įtraukųjį ugdymą.
No full textThis article analyses the opinion of pre-school teachers on the peculiarities of the development of language skills of pre-school children with special educational needs in inclusive education. The conclusions of the qualitative research highlight the opinion of educators that in the course of inclusive education in kindergarten, the oral and written language skills of children with special needs require development during their daily activities. It turns out that in order to develop children’s speaking and listening skills, educators develop children’s fine motor skills, initiate language games, read fairy tales, encourage an interest in folklore, initiate dialogue reading, etc. In order to develop the basics of children’s reading and writing, educators involve children with special educational needs in various creative activities, organise various games, allow children to act using information and communication technologies, etc
Organizational creativity management based on the intellectual capital /
No full textThe aim of this research is the determination of the creativity management level in the organization and directions of its improvement. Methodology: The empirical study was conducted using an integrated research method, i.e., using quantitative and qualitative research. A conceptual link between creativity and intellectual capital phenomena has been identified to underline the importance of comprehensive management of an organization's creativity. Findings: Based on the system approach, a conceptual model of organizational creativity management based on intellectual capital has been developed. This model's core feature is six organizational creativity management areas that interact with intellectual capital components and management functions. The methods allow investigating the specificity of organizational creativity management and evaluating the overall creativity management level, making it possible to identify the guidelines for the improvement of organizational creativity management. Originality/value: In this article, creativity is explored in the context of intellectual capital structure, emphasizing the importance of the comprehensiveness of organizational creativity management in terms of organization management. The integrated empirical research allowed recognizing the importance of organizational creativity management areas, their links, and interactions and assessing the organization's creativity management level
The impact of physical activity for senior fall prevention using northern walking /
No full textFalling is one of the main problems in the lives of older people. Falls experienced affect the further life of seniors and limit their physical activity. Nordic walking can be used as a means of preventing repeated falls and promoting physical activity. Nordic walking in Lithuania is still a new and completely unexplored methodology, the full benefits of walking have not yet been proven, and little research has been done. Aim of the research was to investigate the improvement of physical activity and fall prevention in the elderly using Nordic walking. Methods of the research: Desmond Fall Risk Questionnaire; Berg Balance Scale and balance samples of Schmitz; The quality of life Questionnaire (SF-36). Results: After 7 weeks of exercises, the risk of fall decreased for all subjects. Physical activity increased statistically after doing Nordic walking, the average physical activity of the study group increased. Control groups results also improved. Conclusions: Physical activity improved statistically significantly (p <0.05) The frequency of falls decreased statistically significantly (p<0.05). The static and dynamic balance of the elderly improved statistically significantly (p <0.05). The risk of falling after NW was statistically significantly reduced (p <0.05)
