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ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STATE SUPPORT MEASURES: PERCEPTIONS FROM A PILOT REGIONAL SURVEY
Full text linkThe relevance of the research topic is associated with increasing the efficiency of business development in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The purpose of the study is to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of measures of state support for the development of small and medium-sized businesses in a competitive environment. The object of research is small and medium-sized businesses. To achieve this goal, the method of a sociological survey conducted remotely using an interactive standardized questionnaire was used. A specialized computer program SPSS was used to process the survey results. During the study, an assessment was made of the level of awareness of business entities about state support measures implemented in the regions of Kazakhstan. Particular attention is paid to determining the level of respondents\u27 satisfaction with the possibilities and conditions for obtaining state support measures. In conclusion, the findings indicate a need to improve the existing state support tools. The practical significance of the study is determined by the recommendations developed for regional governments based on the results of the survey, aimed at improving the efficiency of small and medium-sized businesses
BARRIERS AND ENABLERS OF AGILITY DEVELOPMENT IN INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES
Full text linkIn today\u27s volatile business environment, an agile approach to business management is a key aspect of sustainable competitiveness. Knowing how to build agility in the enterprise is an essential skill for managers. The aim of this paper is to analyse the barriers and enablers of the enterprise agility development and their perception by managers of Slovak industrial enterprises. To achieve the stated objective, secondary research was conducted in order to summarize the findings and create a unified interpretation, as well as a primary survey in Slovak industrial enterprises by means of a questionnaire. The result and contribution of this study is the unification of the conceptual apparatus in the field of barriers and enablers of agility and empirical knowledge from the environment of Slovak entrepreneurs
INTEGRATING SOCIAL ROBOTICS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN PSYCHOLOGICAL WORK – EXPECTATIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Full text linkThe present work explores the perceptions and potential applications of social robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) within the field of psychological work. The study collected data via a survey exploring expectations and future directions, with participants comprising undergraduate students in Psychology and Pedagogy from one of Bulgaria\u27s leading universities. The findings suggest that AI is expected to play an increasingly influential role in psychological services, with social robots likely to assist in areas such as diagnostics and therapy. Nevertheless, maintaining the human element and emotional connection remains a significant challenge. The results indicate that AI will become integrated into the field of psychology, with social robots becoming common tools in psychological practice. Universities will have to adjust their curricula to equip future professionals with the competencies needed to collaborate with AI and robotic technologies. Ultimately, the study emphasizes the importance of adopting a balanced approach that leverages the benefits of AI and automation while safeguarding emotional intelligence and human interaction in professional settings
THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THEATER AND THE ARTS AGAINST WAR
Full text linkThe 5th-century dramatic poet Aristophanes turns against Athenian Democracy, striving to bring about profound upheavals in the political life of a country trapped in the nightmare of war. Exhausted by the shameless political machinations of his time, he composes a trilogy—"The Acharnians”, “Peace”, and “Lysistrata”—aiming to introduce a different way of thinking to the people. Through examples, he highlights the incompetence of the men in power, afflicted by the syndrome of hybris [1], as the true culprits behind the suffering brought by war. Centuries later, Giraudoux, in his play “The Trojan War Will Not Take Place”, appears to endorse Aristophanes\u27 views, crafting a work aimed at convincing his people that the best defense against tragedy is to refuse to believe in its inevitability. He introduces the technique of reverse thinking, bringing contemporary tragedy to the stage, much like Edward Bond and Howard Barker [2]. The internal didascalies of both works, enhanced by interartiality, seem to resonate with the soul of the composer Leonard Cohen, awakening his hidden self and the painful childhood he endured during the German occupation, inspiring him to compose “Dance Me to the End of Love.” Similarly, they act as an all-seeing eye, a sun, inspiring the painter Yves Tang to stage-design the brutality of war through his work “Multiplication of the Arcs” (1954). Playwrights and artists alike seek to demonstrate that the antidote to egocentrism, which undermines peaceful coexistence, is the strengthening of love within society—one that transcends borders and prejudices
FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION: JAPANESE LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION IN NONNATIVE ENVIRONMENTS WITH A FOCUS ON GRAMMATICAL COMPETENCE AND LANGUAGE PRODUCTION SKILLS
Full text linkThis study examines the effects of two instructional approaches applied to two student groups. The first group followed instruction methods, which included explicit grammar instruction focused on introducing specific morphosyntactic structures supplemented by practice focused on situational accuracy and meaning and output practice. The second group followed modified instruction approach, which placed greater emphasis on implicit methods of instruction with greater prominence on output practice and lesser prominence on explicit grammar instructions. The students were observed over the course of one academic year. To evaluate the impact of changes in instruction method, scores from tests aligned with the expected language proficiency level of the participants were compared and analyzed. The assessment focused on three key areas: formal accuracy, referring to the correct production and use of grammatical forms in controlled setting; contextual accuracy, or the ability to apply grammar and vocabulary based on context; and output, or the ability to produce language in real -world tasks, like writing and conversation
MICROENCAPSULATION OF ORIGANUM MAJORANA L. ESSENTIAL OIL FOR ANTIBACTERIAL APPLICATIONS IN DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS
Full text linkMicroencapsulation is an advanced technique used to protect active ingredients by encapsulating them within a protective shell, enabling controlled release in various fields, including pharmaceuticals, food, agriculture, cosmetics, and chemistry. This study aims to synthesize and characterize the microencapsulation of Origanum majorana L. essential oil to impart antibacterial properties for potential applications in drug delivery systems. Origanum majorana L., a plant native to the Mediterranean region and widely cultivated in Turkey, is recognized for its antimicrobial activity against various microorganisms. The microencapsulation process was carried out using the coacervation method, and the effect of ultrasonication time on the structure of the nano/microcapsules was evaluated. The resulting nano/microcapsules were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Additionally, the surface oil and total oil content of the nano/microcapsules were determined, and their encapsulation efficiency were calculated. The results revealed that ultrasonication time significantly influenced the morphology, structural interactions, and thermal behavior of the microcapsules. Shorter sonication durations yielded more compact and thermally resistant polymeric structures, while intermediate durations provided a favorable balance between stability and porosity. These findings highlight the potential of Origanum majorana L. essential oil-loaded microcapsules as promising candidates for antimicrobial delivery systems with enhanced structural integrity and thermal performance
A STUDY ON THE MAPPING OF THE SHOPPING ENVIRONMENT IN AN ESTONIAN RETAIL COMPANY
Full text linkIntensifying economic and global competition in the retail sector in Estonia, coupled with technological advancements, is driving the growth of e-commerce, thereby posing significant challenges for traditional retail businesses. Many retailers are closing stores, reducing staff, and liquidating inventories, forcing them to decide how to survive, compete, and thrive in this dynamic environment. A critical prerequisite for success is obtaining a detailed understanding of customers\u27 needs and their shopping experiences. Insight into the experiences and expectations of informed customers enables retailers to develop a proactive customer experience management strategy, ensuring that every interaction consistently meets or exceeds customer expectations. This turbulent environment necessitates investment in improving the shopping environment with a strong focus on customer experience. To address this need, a customer experience mapping study was conducted within an Estonian retail enterprise. The study examined loyal customers’ evaluations and shopping experiences (n=2267) across various store formats and key focus areas, including the overall shopping environment, in-store layout, customer service, promotional campaigns, and five product categories. The highest ratings were assigned to customer service, while promotional campaigns received the lowest evaluations. Furthermore, the study determined the company’s Net Promoter Score (NPS), which was calculated as 48. While this score is below the global retail industry average (NPS = 64, according to the 2024 NPS Benchmark), it is relatively high compared to Estonian competitors
EFFECT OF THE BORIDING SURFACE-HARDENING PROCESS OF AISI 304L ON THE VIABILITY OF HFOB CELLS
Full text linkAISI 304L stainless steel is an austenitic steel with general uses. However, its chemical composition and mechanical properties are relatively similar to those of AISI 316L. The main difference between the two steels is probably the molybdenum content in AISI 316L, which makes it more apt to face corrosion. This study evaluates the possibility of offering AISI 304L as an alternative to the demand for materials resistant to corrosion in biomedical applications by improving its chemical and mechanical surface properties. First, samples of AISI 304L were thermochemically treated with a thermochemical hardening process known as boriding to generate a hard surface layer of iron borides, the FeB/Fe2B type, on the steel samples. The boriding process has been demonstrated to be effective in protecting the surface of treated materials against wear and corrosion, even in chloride-rich environments. The thermochemical powder-pack boriding process was performed at a constant temperature of 950 °C for 2, 4, and 6h. The effect of the hard layers on the cellular viability of human fetal osteoblast (HFOb) cells was evaluated using a resazurin reduction (CellTiter Blue) assay. After 2, 4, and 6h of exposure to the treatments, layers of FeB/Fe2B with 12.30, 23.60, and 30.65 µm thicknesses were obtained, respectively. The hardness of the layers ranged from 1992.40 to 2397.54 HV (at least ten times higher than that of the non-treated steel). The viability results suggest that the samples exposed to boriding exhibited better cellular proliferation than the non-treated AISI 304L steel. These results open the possibility of generating materials with better capability to face corrosion and wear conditions in biological environments
RHAGOLETIS BATAVA HERING (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE) PROBLEM IN SEA BUCKTHORN PLANTATIONS IN LITHUANIA
Full text linkData from the Association of Sea buckthorn Growers in Lithuania shows that approximately 2,500 hectares in the country are currently covered with sea buckthorn. It was previously a common belief that sea buckthorn was the only plant suitable for organic farming, as it was thought to be free from pest attacks. However, this is no longer the case. The sea buckthorn fly (Rhagoletis batava, Hering) has now become widespread in sea buckthorn plantations. Since 2015, studies on the abundance, biology, harmfulness, and control methods of the sea buckthorn fly were conducted in plantations located in the southern and northern Lithuania. The results showed that the activity of the sea buckthorn fly in the southern plantation began during last decade of July, peaked on beginning of August, and the last pests were detected during the end of August and beginning of September. The plant protection product of the biological origin used for sea buckthorn fly pupae control was ineffective
NITRATES IN DRINKING WATER IN VARNA DISTRICT
Full text linkThe study determined drinking water state in Varna district, Bulgaria, with regard to presence of nitrates in it. Water supply sources of the district are studied. Nitrates presence in drinking water is investigated for period 2018-2022 in 17 critical areas and trends are determined. The highest nitrate pollution levels are found in Dobrogled (2018 – 256 mg/dm3 ), Sadovo (2021 – 204 mg/dm3 ) and Zdravets (2021 – 165 mg/dm3 ). Drinking water in Dobrogled area is in the worst condition. Reported values are more than five times the norm. In 2018 the highest amount (256 mg/dm3 ) is recorded for studied period, and lowest (206 mg/dm3 ) is measured in 2021, which is more than four times exceeding the established norm (50 mg/dm3 ). Measures and activities implemented by RHI-Varna and WSS - Varna are studied