CBU International Conference on Innovations in Science and Education
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APPLICATION OF SECTOR ROTATION IN ACTIVE PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT FOR US AND EU STOCK MARKETS
No full textThe paper deals with active portfolio management through sector rotation. Focusing on European and American markets, it introduces the reader to the intricacies of sector rotation in active investing using a carefully selected investment strategy. We aim to propose and validate an investment approach that combines monetary policy changes with momentum. We construct our investment portfolios by constructing sector-specific exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for the European and U.S. markets. We analyze monthly data from March 2003 to March 2023 to evaluate performance. Our investigation covers several critical aspects, such as market efficiency, active vs. passive investing, a comparison between active and passive investment approaches and Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down approaches. We explore the merits of these contrasting strategies in active investing. To guide our investment decisions, we closely monitor interest rate changes. Specifically, we track adjustments made by the European Central Bank (ECB) for European markets and the Federal Reserve (FED) for U.S. markets. These serve as monetary easing and tightening indicators, respectively, reflecting expansionary and restrictive policies. Our sector ETFs are strategically selected based on these interest rate changes, either cyclically or defensively. Subsequently, we evaluate the performance of our portfolios using momentum strategies. Notably, our proposed strategy effectively reduces market risk in the E.U. and U.S. markets. Our portfolios surpass the benchmark STOXX600 across all metrics in the European markets. However, in the U.S. markets, the benchmark S&P500 exceeds the performance of all our portfolios
Front Matter: Volume 4
No full textThis PDF file contains the front matter of the Proceedings of CBU in Proceedings of CBU in Social Sciences Volume 4, including the Title Page, Copyright information, Table of Contents, Introduction, and Conference Committee listing
MEASURING ADVANCED COGNITIVE SKILLS IN YOUNG ADULTS: DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOMETRIC VALIDATION OF THE POST-FORMAL THINKING SCALE FOR EMERGING ADULTS
No full textThe Post-Formal Thinking Scale for Emerging Adults (PFTSEA) is a novel self-report instrument developed to measure advanced cognitive skills associated with post-formal thought in individuals aged 18-26/29 years. The scale was created through a rigorous multi-stage process in accordance with established guidelines for psychological test construction and was adapted for the emerging adult population in Romania.
An initial item pool was generated based on theory and empirical research on post-formal thinking as conceptualized by Sinnott & Johnson (1997). This framework posits that cognitive capacities continue developing beyond Piaget's stage of formal operations to include skills like dialectical reasoning, multidimensional perspective taking, and systems thinking. Focus groups with emerging adults provided qualitative feedback to refine item wording and content.
A panel of five experts in scale development and post-formal thinking then evaluated items for relevance, clarity, and representativeness to establish content validity. Their feedback resulted in revisions to optimize the scale's content domain coverage.
The PFTSEA was then administered to a sample of 420 emerging adults in Romania along with validation measures. Exploratory factor analysis supported the retention of 16 items loading onto 4 interpretable factors representing key aspects of post-formal thought: Dialectical Thinking, Multidimensional Perspective Taking, Complexity, and Contextual Reasoning. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the robustness of this theoretical factor structure.
Reliability and validity analyses demonstrated strong psychometric properties. The internal consistency values for the subscales ranged from 0.82 to 0.87, while the overall scale demonstrated a high internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.91. Moderate to strong correlations with related constructs provided evidence for convergent validity, while weaker correlations with unrelated variables supported discriminant validity.
In summary, the PFTSEA was developed through rigorous methodology to provide researchers and practitioners with a reliable and valid measure of advanced cognitive skills specific to emerging adulthood. Its strong psychometric properties support the potential for meaningful applications in assessing post-formal thought capacities
Front Matter: Volume 4
No full textThis PDF file contains the front matter of the Proceedings of CBU in Proceedings of CBU in Medicine and Pharmacy Volume 4, including the Title Page, Copyright information, Table of Contents, Introduction, and Conference Committee listing. 
Front Matter: Volume 4
No full textThis PDF file contains the front matter of the Proceedings of CBU in Proceedings of CBU in Economics and Business Volume 4, including the Title Page, Copyright information, Table of Contents, Introduction, and Conference Committee listing
THE MEDIATING ROLE OF ATTACHMENT IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAREGIVER EMPATHY AND RESILIENCE IN YOUNG ADULTHOOD
No full textEmpathy plays an important mediating role between quality relationships and resilient development. This study examined the relationships between perceived empathy from caregivers/parents, quality of attachment relationships, and resilience in young adults. An online survey was administered to 240 university students measuring their perceptions of caregiver empathy during childhood, attachment styles, and current resilience. Results indicated that secure attachment partially mediated the association between caregiver empathy and resilience.
A cross-sectional online survey design was used. Participants were 240 university students (mean age 21 years, 60% female). Measures included the s-EMBU (Arrindell, 1999) to assess perceptions of caregiver empathy during upbringing, the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale-Short Form (ECR-S; Wei et al., 2007) to measure attachment anxiety and avoidance styles, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC; Connor & Davidson, 2003) to evaluate resilience. Descriptive statistics and correlational analyses were conducted using SPSS. Mediation analysis using the PROCESS macro (Hayes, 2018) examined whether attachment mediated the association between caregiver empathy and resilience.
Higher s-EMBU scores were associated with lower attachment anxiety (r=-0.53) and avoidance (r = -.14, p < .001) and higher CD-RISC scores (r = .33, p = .001). Attachment anxiety and avoidance partially mediated the relationship between s-EMBU and CD-RISC (indirect effects for anxiety=.07, anxiety=.12). The secure attachment, characterized by low anxiety and avoidance accounted for a total effect was of .49.
Results indicated that higher perceived empathy from caregivers was associated with more secure attachment relationships and higher resilience.
In summary, this study found that secure attachment partially mediated the association between perceived empathy from caregivers and resilience in young adults. Empathy in caregiving relationships was linked to forming secure bonds, which then supported resilient development. The findings highlight empathy as a key factor fostering quality relationships and resilience from childhood through emerging adulthood. These results suggest that empathy in caregiving relationships may foster secure attachment bonds which in turn support resilient development. Cultivating empathetic parenting could help strengthen relationships and build resilience
THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, DIGITALISATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL DECISIONS THROUGH THE EYES OF STUDENTS
No full textThe present of higher education is highly dynamic, and its future is contingent upon numerous factors. It is crucial to recognize that today's students with their perspectives, expectations, and demands, are significantly shaping the future of higher education. They are the future educators and creators of new scientific knowledge. This article aims to identify the essential components for constructing a vision for the future of universities through an analysis of current students attitudes and behaviors. A literature review was conducted on the evolving dynamics of higher education. Based on these dynamics a tailored questionnaire was prepared to study student's opinions, expectations, and recommendations for technological development and their decisions. Over one hundred students, nearly all of them undergraduates, were surveyed. This empirical study assesses students' satisfaction with the educational process, the university environment, interactions with business, and their future aspirations. The survey data was utilized to construct a vision for the future of higher education. The results confirm students' positive attitudes towards technological advancements, but also highlight concerns regarding their impact on the labor market structure. Notably, students envision a future where universities maintain in-person education, emphasizing the need for enhanced social interactions. Despite improved student-university interactions, there remains a strong desire for greater attention to be paid to their opinions and for closer collaboration with business and industry experts and practitioners
STRUCTURALISM IN THE WORK OF NIKOLAI TRUBETSKOY AND PETER SAVICKY
No full textThe Prague Linguistic Circle became one of the most significant centers of intellectual activity in the first half of the 20th century. It included prominent researchers in exile, such as Peter Savitsky and Nikolai Trubetskoy, whose concepts significantly impacted the development of linguistic and cultural studies. The article analyses the key aspects of structuralism in the work of these scholars and highlights the main ideas and concepts they developed in the context of the Prague Linguistic Circle. Their writings, methods, and influence on the modern understanding of language, culture, and society are analyzed and their legacy in contemporary scientific research
LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES SEPTICEMIA IN A NEUTROPENIC PATIENT: A CASE REPORT
No full textIntroduction: Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive facultative intracellular bacterium, commonly transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food. In immunocompetent individuals, it typically results in self-limiting gastroenteritis, whereas in immunocompromised patients, it can lead to more severe manifestations, including septicemia, meningitis, and encephalitis. Clinically, listeriosis may present with altered mental status, and seizures occur in approximately 25% of cases. Despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy, the mortality rate for listeriosis remains around 30%.
Case presentation: We report the case of a 60-year-old female with a 5-day history of high-grade fever (up to 40°C), headache, nausea, watery diarrhea, fatigue, and myalgia, who presented to the Infectious Diseases Emergency Department at UHC “Mother Teresa” in January 2024. The patient had a known history of diffuse infiltrative carcinoma of the gastric fundus and was undergoing chemotherapy. Laboratory investigations revealed severe leukopenia with a white blood cell (WBC) count of 1.0 K/μL. Despite the initiation of empirical antimicrobial therapy with ciprofloxacin and metronidazole, the treatment regimen was adjusted to target Listeria after blood cultures confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. On the fourth day of hospitalization, the patient developed 3-4 episodes of generalized tonic-clonic seizures, characterized by eye fixation and limb rigidity. Neurological evaluation, including a head computed tomography (CT) scan and lumbar puncture (LP), showed no abnormalities in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. The patient was subsequently transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) and intubated. However, despite aggressive treatment, her clinical condition continued to deteriorate, with a further decline in WBC count to 0.2 K/μL. Unfortunately, on the seventh day of hospitalization, the patient succumbed to the infection, resulting in Exitus Letalis.
Conclusion: Chemotherapy-induced intestinal paralysis, malnutrition, and myeloablation significantly increase the risk of bacterial translocation and sepsis, exacerbating the severity and worsening the prognosis of listeriosis. These factors must be carefully considered when selecting empirical anti-listerial antibiotic therapy for patients undergoing cytotoxic treatment. Although Listeria monocytogenes infections are rare, they represent a substantial threat to immunocompromised patients, often leading to severe and fatal outcomes, as demonstrated in this case
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE EU CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN PLANT SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY IN PLOVDIV, BULGARIA
No full textThe Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB) is the first Bulgarian Center of Excellence (CoE), funded under the Horizon 2020 program, operating in Plovdiv. This article presents a case study that analyses the development of CPSBB over six years. Content analysis was used as the primary research method, focusing on financial indicators, publication and project activity, and human resources development of CPSBB for the 2017-2023 period. The study examines three critical dimensions of sustainability: management, internal and external factors affecting the Center's operation. The analysis supports the hypothesis that organisations such as CPSBB hold a prominent position in Bulgaria's and Europe's scientific ecosystem because of their operational agility and high productivity. The article outlines the execution of CPSBB's development strategy and highlights plans for enhancing the Center's administrative efficiency and long-term sustainability