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Sweat for success
No full textPurpose - The aim of this study is to conceptualise and test the role of physical exercise and entrepreneurial grit as a critical personal resource in maintaining entrepreneurs\u27 well-being and firm performance.
Design/methodology/approach - This study uses data from multiple sources collected at different points in time. It combines self-reported data collected from a sample of 203 entrepreneurs with lagged objective financial performance data of their firms over 4 years. Using structural equation modelling the authors describe the effects of grit and different types of physical exercise on entrepreneurs\u27 well-being and firm performance.
Findings - The study finds that grit mediates the relationship between moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise and the entrepreneur\u27s well-being. The authors also demonstrate a non-linear effect between exercise and subjective well-being, suggesting diminishing returns of exercise at very high levels. Finally, the study finds that the entrepreneur\u27s well-being has a significant impact on organisational performance over time.
Originality/value - This study\u27s theorising and empirical testing integrates disparate strands of literature on entrepreneurial well-being and firm performance by clarifying the micro-processes at the entrepreneur level that influence firm performance in the long term
Dynamic pricing and solvency of peer-to-peer insurance
No full textThis paper explores various peer-to-peer (P2P) insurance models with a focus on dynamic pricing and solvency. To address individual peers’ solvency risks, it assumes that premiums or contributions are paid ex-ante. The study examines three P2P models: full risk transfer, partial risk transfer with aggregate stop-loss arrange- ments, and full risk retention within the community. The analysis introduces an extended risk-sharing model incorporating aggregate stop-loss arrangements, evalu- ating how varying excess points affect the coverage ratio, a critical measure of a scheme’s solvency. The paper evaluates solvency criteria for P2P schemes and high- lights the scalability and flexibility of P2P arrangements in mitigating insolvency risks. The paper further proposes dynamic pricing models for P2P insurance, lever- aging credibility theory to enhance transparency. These models enable participants to benefit from direct and indirect cash-back while allowing the scheme to achieve desired solvency levels
Sensing envelopes
No full textThe paper examines the phenomenon of urban envelopes, a conceptual parallel to building
envelopes, which is considered an emerging theme in studies of the built environment. The
term ‘envelope’ refers to various physical and non-physical occurrences in the built environ-
ment that delimit, enclose, or demarcate spatial configurations. In the first part of the paper,
six distinct types of urban envelopes are identified: physical, programmatic, technological,
ecological, environmental, and representational. These are defined based on a systematic
literature review to clarify their form, role, and meaning in the context of contemporary
cities. All six urban envelope types are formalised using ontology-building methods in Pro-
tégé and visualised through WebVOWL, producing domain-agnostic RDF/OWL models
that support semantic interoperability. The results provide a concise definition of urban
envelopes, which are becoming increasingly relevant in their non-physical representations,
such as spaces of control (surveillance of public urban spaces), dynamic environmental and
ecological phenomena (pollution, heat islands, and more), temporal or dynamic definitions
of space use, and many others in the context of contemporary smart city development. The
analysis of possible alignment with existing smart city-related ontologies is presented. By
providing the methodology for linking urbanistic principles with data-driven smart city
frameworks, the paper provides a unified methodological foundation for incorporating
such emerging spatial phenomena into formal urban models
Matrix Fejér-Riesz type theorem for a union of an interval and a point
No full textThe matrix Fejér-Riesz theorem characterizes positive semidefinite matrix polynomials on the real line. In our previous work this was extended to the characterization on arbitrary closed semialgebraic sets by using matrix quadratic modules from real algebraic geometry. In the compact case there is a denominator-free characterization, while in the non-compact case denominators are needed except when is the whole line, an unbounded interval, a union of two unbounded intervals, and according to our conjecture also when is a union of an unbounded interval and a point or a union of two unbounded intervals and a point. In this paper, we confirm this conjecture by solving the truncated matrix-valued moment problem on a union of a bounded interval and a point. The presented technique for solving the corresponding moment problem can potentially be used to determine degree bounds in the positivity certificates for matrix polynomials on compact sets
Pre-occupation evaluation of perceived indoor environmental quality with a BIM-integrated single-score assessment
No full textSustainable buildings must achieve high energy efficiency while providing occupants with optimal indoor environmental conditions for living and working. Accomplishing these complex objectives requires that building functionalities are assessed by planners simultaneously across all design phases. This article presents a method for the integral assessment of perceived indoor environmental quality (IEQ), coupled with dynamic modelling, as part of the Building Information Modelling (BIM) process. The study includes: i) models for ranking perceived IEQ scores across five assessment domains, based on responses from test subjects performing cognitive tasks, ii) weighting factors for each domain, determined using an entropy method, along with an algorithm to calculate a integral single-score perceived indoor environmental quality metric, termed ▫▫, iii) integration of ▫▫ algorithm into a BIM tool, implemented as a macro using visual programming, iv) a case study with dynamic modelling, demonstrating the positive correlation between ▫▫, smart building controls, and energy efficiency measures. This approach enables designers to make data-driven decisions that enhance occupant comfort and performance while optimizing energy efficiency throughout the building’s lifecycle
Integrated light and electron microscopy workflow for morphological, molecular and ultrastructural analysis of spheroids
No full textThe dataset presented here supports an integrated light and electron microscopy workflow for comprehensive morphological, molecular, and ultrastructural characterization of three-dimensional (3D) spheroid models. The data accompany a submitted data paper and are discussed in a submitted original research article, with the aim of enabling standardized and reproducible multi-scale imaging of spheroids in research in vitro. The associated research article presents optimized workflows for light and electron microscopy analysis of spheroids derived from the human noncancerous urothelial cell line SV-HUC-1 and the malignant urothelial cancer cell line T24. The study describes protocols for histological staining and immunofluorescence on cryosectioned and paraffin-embedded spheroids, as well as whole-mount immunofluorescence combined with optical clearing and confocal microscopy for three-dimensional protein localization. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy further provide high-resolution insights into spheroid surface morphology and internal ultrastructure. Together, these complementary approaches establish a standardized framework for multi-scale spheroid characterization applicable across diverse in vitro models
First case report of Shewanella indica isolated from a hospitalized patient in Serbia
No full textOver the past decade, Shewanella spp. have been increasingly recognized as opportunistic pathogens, particularly in patients with malignancies, neutropenia, severe heart failure, renal insufficiency, and hepatobiliary diseases. Shewanella indica is a rarely reported species within the Shewanella genus, and its role in human infection remains poorly documented. In this study, we report the first case of S. indica isolated from the stool of a critically ill 72-year-old man in Serbia with multiple pre-existing comorbidities and co-infections. Initial identification using the VITEK 2 system misclassified the strain as Shewanella algae, while species-level identification by the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was inconclusive. However, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) definitively identified the isolate as S. indica and revealed a multidrug-resistant profile together with numerous virulence-associated genes. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined for 32 antibiotics, although interpretation was constrained by the lack of species-specific breakpoints. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges in differentiating Shewanella indica, discusses its possible clinical roles, and underscores the value of genomic tools for accurate identification. It also reinforces the importance of recognizing rare pathogens in complex clinical scenarios
Acceptability of whole grain products among young consumers
No full textPolnozrnata živila (PŽIV) so pomemben vir prehranske vlaknine, vendar mladi pogosto ne dosežejo priporočenega dnevnega vnosa. K temu prispevajo omejeno poznavanje PŽIV, neustrezne prehranske navade, prehranska neofobija ter nejasne definicije PŽIV na ravni EU. Cilj raziskave je bil oceniti prehransko znanje, navade in vpliv prehranske neofobije pri mladih potrošnikih. Uporabljen je bil anonimni vprašalnik z demografskimi podatki, vprašanji o prehranskem znanju, navadah ter neofobiji. Sodelovalo je 88 osnovnošolcev (10–11 let) in 413 srednješolcev (15–19 let). Več kot 90 % anketiranih je že slišalo za PŽIV. Večina (60 % osnovnošolcev, 65 % srednješolcev) ve, da polnozrnati kruh vsebuje celo zrno. Osnovnošolska dekleta so bolje poznala koristi PŽIV kot fantje (p = 0,023), pri srednješolcih razlik ni bilo (p = 0,284). Pri izbiri živil mladi izrazito pogosteje izbirajo rafinirana živila: 73 % osnovnošolcev bi pogosto ali vedno izbralo belo žemljo, 51 % rjavega riža pa nikolipri srednješolcih bi 71 % pogosto ali vedno izbralo bele testenine in 68 % bel riž, medtem ko 41 % rjavega riža in 20 % polnozrnatih testenin ne bi izbralo nikoli. Več kot polovica vseh je bila uvrščena v srednjo stopnjo prehranske neofobije. Višja stopnja neofobije je bila povezana s slabšim učnim uspehom, a je bila povezava zelo šibka (r = –0,101). Zaključujemo, da znanje o PŽIV ostaja pomanjkljivo. Uživanje PŽIV bi lahko povečali z zdravstveno zaveščenostjo, večjo dostopnostjo v šoli in domačem gospodinjstvu ter upoštevanjem socialnih vplivov in senzoričnih preferenc mladih.Whole grain foods (PŽIV) are an important source of dietary fiber, yet young people often do not meet the recommended daily intake. This is influenced by limited knowledge of PŽIV, inadequate dietary habits, food neophobia, and unclear definitions of PŽIV at the EU level. The aim of the study was to assess nutrition knowledge, dietary habits, and the impact of food neophobia among young consumers. An anonymous questionnaire was used, comprising demographic data and questions on nutrition knowledge, dietary habits, and food neophobia. The study included 88 primary school pupils (10–11 years) and 413 secondary school students (15–19 years). More than 90 % of respondents had already heard of PŽIV. The majority (60 % of primary and 65 % of secondary school students) knew that whole grain bread contains the entire grain. Primary school girls demonstrated better knowledge of the benefits of PŽIV compared to boys (p = 0.023), while no gender differences were observed among secondary school students (p = 0.284). Regarding food choices, participants significantly more often selected refined grain foods: 73 % of primary school pupils would often or always choose white rolls, while 51 % would never choose brown riceamong secondary school students, 71 % would often or always choose white pasta and 68 % white rice, while 41 % would never choose brown rice and 20 % would never choose whole grain pasta. More than half of the respondents were classified as having a medium level of food neophobia. Higher neophobia was weakly associated with lower academic performance (r = –0.101). We conclude that knowledge regarding whole grain foods remains deficient. Consumption could be increased through health awareness, greater availability at school and in the home environment, and by considering social influences and sensory preferences of young people
The role of an occupational therapist when working with a display screen
No full textUvod: Zaradi vsakodnevne uporabe slikovnih zaslonov pri delu in prostem času se vse več pojavljajo zdravstvene težave ter razna obolenja. Veliko delavcev, ki na svojem delovnem mestu uporabljajo slikovni zaslon, trpi zaradi bolečin v hrbtenici in vratu, ramenih, komolcih ter zapestjih. Namen: Namen diplomskega dela je bil raziskati vlogo delovne terapije pri delu s slikovnim zaslonom pri ljudeh, ki so delovno aktivni in pri svojem delu več kot polovico delavnika preživijo za zaslonom. Metode dela: Izvedli smo pregled literature. Iskanje ustrezne literature je potekalo s pomočjo digitalne knjižnice Univerze v Ljubljani v naslednjih podatkovnih bazah: CINAHL, ProQuest in Web of Science. Za iskanje člankov smo uporabili kombinacijo različnih ključnih besed v angleškem jeziku: Complaints of the Arm, Neck and/or Shoulder, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment, work with display screens, occupational therapy. Upoštevali smo vključitvene in izključitvene kriterije, članke smo ocenili po relevantnosti. Rezultati: Članki, vključeni v končno analizo, so bili večinoma objavljeni v delovnoterapevtskih revijah, dva članka sta bila doktorski deli, ostali iz drugih revij. Oblikovali smo tri teme, in sicer: intervencije delovne terapije, z delom povezane kostno-mišične težave ter optimizacija delovnega okolja. Razprava in zaključek: Delo delovnega terapevta je ključnega pomena, saj s prilagoditvami delovnega mesta izboljšajo funkcionalnost delovnega prostora, kar pomaga zmanjšati nelagodje v mišicah in sklepih posameznika. Pomembno je, da zaposleni poznajo pravilno držo in položaj, da se izognejo morebitnim težavam. Vključitev delovnih terapevtov v zdravstvene time predstavlja ključen pomen pri obvladovanju tveganj, povezanih z delovnimi obremenitvami. S svojimi specifičnimi znanji s področja ergonomije in prilagoditev delovnega okolja izvajajo ocene delovnih mest ter prepoznavajo skupine zaposlenih z najvišjo stopnjo izpostavljenosti kostno mišičnega sistema in dejavnike tveganja za nastanek kostno-mišičnih obolenj.Introduction: The daily use of display screens at work and during leisure time is increasingly causing health issues and various disorders. Many workers who use display screens at their workplace experience pain in the spine, neck, shoulders, elbows and wrists. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to explore the role of occupational therapy for individuals, who are professionally active and spend more than half of their working hours in front of a screen. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the digital library of the University of Ljubljana and databases, such as CINAHL, ProQuest and Web of Science. Keywords in English included: Complaints of the Arm, Neck and/or Shoulder, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment, work with display screens, occupational therapy. We applied inclusion and exclusion criteria and evaluated the articles based on their relevance. Results: The articles included in the final analysis, were mostly published in occupational therapy journals. Two articles were doctoral dissertations, while the rest were from other journals. We identified three themes: Occupational therapy interventions, work related musculoskeletal system issues, and optimization of the work environment. Discussion and Conclusion: The work o fan occupational therapists plays a key role in improving the functionality of workspaces through their advice. This helps reduce discomfort in muscles and joints. It is crucial for employees to know proper posture and positioning to prevent potential problems. Occupational therapists encourge the adoption of ergonomic practices, especially in office environments. With the increasing use of technology, many employees spend long hours sitting, which poses health risks. Including occupational therapists in healthcare teams plays a key role in managing risks associated with work related strain. With their specific expertise in ergonomics and workplace adaptation, they conduct workplace assessments to identify groups of employees, who are most exposed to musculoskeletal system strain and itꞌs risks
Border studies and ecocriticism – two challenges for central European comparative literature and west Slavic studies
No full textKnjiževnost in kulturo ob mejah imamo lahko za pomembno temo v sodobnem svetu. Za srednjeevropske in slavistične študije je tako danes poseben izziv preučevanje obmejnih območij, kjer je prihajalo in še vedno prihaja do stikov med različnimi slovanskimi etničnimi skupinami kakor tudi do stikov med slovanskim elementom in nemško ali italijansko kulturo (češko-poljska, češko-nemška, šlezijsko-poljska, poljsko-nemška, češko-slovaška, italijansko-slovensko-avstrijska meja). Druga univerzalna tema, ki je interdisciplinarno usmerjena slavistična veda ne more prezreti, je odnos književnosti do okoljske problematike. Ekološke travme se pogosto pojavljajo prav na obmejnih območjih in perifernih predelih. Članek obravnava aktualno raziskovanje na polju ekokritike in raziskav mej na področju zahodnoslovanskih oz. srednjeevropskih književnosti. Hkrati skuša predstaviti, kako se oba pogleda lahko povezujeta na spodbuden način. Pri tem se osredotoči na nekaj primerov predvsem s češko-poljsko-nemškega mejnega območja.Border Studies and ecocriticism can be seen as two challenges for Central European comparative literature and West Slavic studies. As such, it is important for Central European and Slavic studies to investigate the border zones where various Slavic ethnicities have met and still meet, but also the Slavic elements that exist within German or Italian culture, and thus consider the Czech-Polish, Czech-German, Silesian-Polish, Polish-German, Czech-Slovak, and Italian-Slovenian-Austrian borders. Another universal theme that interdisciplinary Slavic research cannot ignore is literature in relation to environmental issues, as environmental traumas often occur in border zones and peripheral areas. The article is a reflection of current research in the field of ecocriticism and border studies in the areas of West Slavic and Central European literatures. At the same time, it tries to show how both perspectives can be combined in an inspiring way, focusing on several examples from the Czech-Polish-German border zone