20 research outputs found
Аntimicrobial and anticancer activity of new poly(propyleneamine) metallodendrimers
No full textThe synthesis, EPR characterisation and biological
evaluation of two new metallodendrimers, i.e. a
poly(propyleneamine) dendrimer functionalized at the external
surface with 4-bromo-1,8-naphthalimide and conjugated
with Cu(II) and Zn(II), was performed with the aimto evaluate
their antimicrobial and anticancer activity. The antimicrobial
activity was investigated in meat-peptone broth against bacteria
B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa, and the yeast C. lipolytica.
The results showed that the compounds inhibited effectively
the tested pathogens even after their deposition on a textile
fabric. Anticancer activity was investigated against three human
permanent cell lines from non-small cell lung cancer
(A549), triple negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) and
carcinoma of the uterine cervix (HeLa) in the c = 0.01–
30 μM concentration range. The results suggest that these
compounds are promising for application in biomedicine as
anticancer drugs in the design of new effective preparations.
The antimicrobial and anticancer activity may be related to the
peculiar structural and dynamical properties revealed for the
Cu(II) complexes, by a computer aided analysis of the electron
paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra. This analysis indicated
the formation, at the lowest Cu(II) concentrations, of a
flexible rhombic Cu-N4 coordination with the internal amino
groups of the dendrimer, which transformed into a Cu2-N4
coordination already at 0.25 equiv. of Cu(II)
Gender effects on risk‐taking of entrepreneurs: evidence from Bulgaria
No full textPurposeThe research objective of the study is to investigate the gender effects on risk propensity, risk perception, and risk behaviour of entrepreneurs distinguishing between direct and indirect gender effects. The study seeks to address the gap in the knowledge of the link between risk taking, risk propensity, and risk perception in the context of women and risk (Brindley).Design/methodology/approachBased on Sitkin and Pablo's model of risk behaviour and the literature on cognitive factors as determinants of risk perception, the paper provides hypotheses about the link between gender, risk perception, risk propensity, and risk behaviour. The proposed hypotheses are tested on a sample of 382 Bulgarian entrepreneurs.FindingsAlthough female and male entrepreneurs have similar risk perceptions, female entrepreneurs are likely to have a lower risk propensity than male entrepreneurs. Risk propensity mediates completely the effect of gender on risk behaviour. The effect of gender on risk propensity is mediated partially by risk preference, outcome history, and age. Gender has an indirect effect on risk perception via overconfidence and risk propensity.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper's ability to draw causal inferences is limited by the cross‐sectional nature of the study. The results may not be applicable to other countries and occupations.Practical implicationsThe findings help to clarify the reasons for gender differences in risk behaviour and risk propensity of entrepreneurs and to design behavioural interventions.Originality/valueThis paper is an attempt to create a better understanding of the factors that account for gender differences in risk taking.</jats:sec
Diagnostics of autistic disorder before five years. Factors of influence
No full textЦЕЛИ, ЗАДАЧИ, ХИПОТЕЗИ
Основни ЦЕЛИ:
• Идентифициране на клиничните и психосоциални фактори, които спомагат за ранното диагностициране.
• Оценяване на възможностите за прилагане на актуалните класификационни системи, включително DC:0-5.
ЗАДАЧИ:
• Определяне на факторите, които спомагат за ранно търсене на детскопсихиатрична оценка – влияние на социо – демографски показатели, наличие на атипично развитие при сиблинги, неблагоприятни фактори като недоносеност, преждевременно раждане, ниско тегло при раждане, асфиксия, фамилна обремененост, соматична коморбидност.
• Определяне на фактори, които способстват за ранното надеждно диагностициране на аутистично разстройство – фактори, свързани със семейството и здравната система.
• Оценяване на възможностите за прилагане на DC:0-5 при извадка от деца със съмнение за аутистично разстройство. Оценка на практическите и теоретични ползи.
• Идентифициране на проблемните „полета“ за ранното диагностициране.
ХИПОТЕЗИ:
Н1: Значими фактори на обкръжението повлияват ранното търсене на детски психиатър.
Н2: В България ранната диагноза е свързана основно с инициатива на родителите.
Н3: Съществува голяма „загуба на време“, т.е. периодът между началните симптоми и началото на интервенциите.
Н4: Класификацията DC: 0-5 притежава много по-голяма чувствителност и специфичност към ранните прояви на психопатология в сравнение с останалите, използвани към момента диагностични класификации.
ОБЕКТ на изследване и изследвани лица: Обект на изследване са факторите - социо-демографски, клинични, медико-биологични (пре-, пери-, постнатални, фамилна обремененост, коморбидност), фактори, свързани с нагласите и капацитета на семейството и такива, зависещи от здравната система (роля на личния лекар, здравни експерти). Целева група: всички деца до 60м.в., постъпили в КДП „Св.Никола“ със съмнение за аутистично разстройство в периода януари 2022 - януари 2023г.
КРИТЕРИИ за включване на изследваните лица:
• Деца със заявени особености в развитието.
• Оценка в дневно отделение на клиниката.
• Възраст до 60м., включително.
• Информирано съгласие от родители/ настойници за участие.
КРИТЕРИИ за изключване:
• Невъзможност на семейството за следване на процедурите на проучването (две деца не бяха включени по тази причина).
• Влошаване на соматично състояние на детето, независимо от оценката в клиниката, но съвпадащо с периода на осъществяването й (изключени три деца).
//
Summary
Background: The topic of diagnosis of autism disorder at an early age has aroused increasing scientific interest, especially in the last twenty years. The importance of this issue is largely due to the fact that timely diagnosis of early psychopathology makes it possible to start appropriate interventions that potentiate the favorable development of any child with difficulties in functioning. What are the factors that influence in one direction or another the diagnostic process and why, despite the obvious difficulties in the development of their child, parents, in a large percentage of cases, postpone both consultation and assessment with a child psychiatrist, are questions that are worth studying and discussing. Another important point is medical classifications and diagnostic criteria that are used to make a diagnosis at an early age. It is interesting to find out whether there are differences in diagnosis, observing the criteria of ICD-10, the current classification in Bulgaria, those of ICD-11, DSM-V and the little known to professionals in Bulgaria DC:0-5 (Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood).
Materials and methods: The object of study are аll factors - socio-demographic, clinical, medico-biological (pre-, peri-, post-natal, family history, comorbidity), factors related to attitudes and capacity of the family and those depending on the health system (role of the GP, health experts) that affect the age of diagnosis, are studied. The clinical sample of children consists of 207 children (N=207) aged up to 60 months. Author's developed protocols were used to collect detailed information about the history of child development, socio-demographic characteristics and diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder with a diagnosis of ICD-10, ICD-11, DSM-5, DC: 0-5. The results of the study were introduced and processed through the Statistical Package for Social Science - SPSS for Windows, version 19. 0. The analyses used are: descriptive statistics - variance analysis (quantitative variables)- smallest value, largest value, mean, standard deviation, standard error, median, frequency analysis absolute and relative frequencies - percentage, valid percentage, cumulative percentage, hypothesis verification methods – chi-square test of Pearson, t-test for two independent samples, single-factor variance analysis (ANOVA).
Results: The results showed that factors such as place of residence, ethnicity, single-parent rearing, family history, adversity during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as the presence of sibling with diagnosed developmental difficulties did not affect the age of assessment. Quite the opposite can be said about the education of parents - children of parents with higher education pass to the assessment at an earlier age. Clinical features such as 'lack of eye contact' and 'call-by-name response' considered 'pathognomonic' for autism spectrum disorders are also not a sufficient reason to seek expert opinion earlier. It also turns out that children attending a kindergarten (nursery or kindergarten) reach a child psychiatrist at a higher age compared to children who do not attend a kindergarten. There is also a long time period between the first concerns of parents and the search for a child psychiatric assessment (more than 12 months, most often between 18 and 24 months in the specific study). The reasons for this are not only the stigma and fear, but also the prolonged contact of the child with non-medical specialists (psychologist, speech therapist), which are preferred by parents for primary consultation and subsequent long-term contact. Among the other main conclusions is that the DC:0-5 classification has a much greater sensitivity and specificity to the early manifestations of psychopathology than other currently used diagnostic classifications
MANAGEMENT OF GRADUATE STUDENT’S THESIS WRITING THROUGH A SPECIALIZED SOFTWARE SYSTEM
Full text linkThe inclusion of Learning Management Systems (LMSs) in the Bulgarian academic institutions has augmented students’ learning experience. The paper presents a software system for managing and supporting the interaction between graduate students and their supervisors in the course of theses writing. The system allows to plan, manage and track the progress of students’ theses/graduation projects. The author makes a comprehensive critical examination of the specialized software systems’ impact on the process of teaching and learning. Further studies and practical implications are also discussed
Surface Functionalization of Cotton Fabric with Fluorescent Dendrimers, Spectral Characterization, Cytotoxicity, Antimicrobial and Antitumor Activity
No full textPoly(propylenimine) dendrimers from first and third generations modified with 1,8-naphthalimide units and their Zn(II) complexes have been investigated by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. These dendrimers have been deposited on a cotton cloth by the extraction method, producing yellow-colored textile materials. They have been characterized by defining their color coordinates L*a*b*, XYZ and xy. The antimicrobial activity of dendrimers has been investigated in vitro against model gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and yeasts. Being deposited onto the surface of cotton fabric, the studied dendrimers reduced bacterial growth and prevented the formation of bacterial biofilm. Anticancer and cytotoxicity activities have also been performed against HeLa and Lep-3 human tumor cell lines as model systems
Verbal and musical choral actions in theatrical productions. Methodological and music staging aspects
Full text linkThe text is based on two realized theatre events. „Medea†by Euripidies (producer Desislava Shpatova, Plovdiv, 2020) and „Oedipus The Tiran – choruses) acting studio „Sound, Text, Melos†based on fragments from Sophocles’ tragedy (NBU, The Red House, Sofia, 2017). In the text, the author presents new approaches to the interpretation of traditional choruses in ancient Greek theater. He examines not only his own compositional techniques for creating choral episodes, but also various aspects of the preparatory rehearsal process, as well as describing some of the difficulties that theatre actors and students face in meeting such choral practices. He shares his preparatory and musicalstaging methods for the achievement of theatrical-musical unity and integrity in the choral episodes in the considered productions
Forest vegetation diversity of Slivenska Mountain (eastern Stara planina, Bulgaria)
Full text linkThis study deals with the diversity of forest vegetation in the Slivenska Mountain (Eastern Stara planina) and presents a contemporary classification scheme for the identified syntaxa. A total of 137 relevés were collected and analyzed using specialized software (JUICE 7.0 and PC-ORD Version 4). As a result, forest vegetation is classified into 10 associations, 3 subassociations, 4 variants and 5 communities They belong to 7 alliances, 5 orders and 3 classes: Carpino-Fagetea sylvaticae, Quercetea pubescentis and Alno glutinosae-Populetea albae. The recorded 18 distinguished vegetation groups show a relatively high diversity of forest plant communities of the study area
Equity Ownership Strategy in Greenfield Investments : Influences of Host Country Infrastructure and MNE Resources in Emerging Markets
Full text linkThis chapter addresses equity ownership strategy in greenfield investments by multinational enterprises (MNEs) in the emerging markets (EMs). It is one of the few studies to hypothesize and analyze influences of host EM physical infrastructure in relation to investment decisions of MNEs. We use resource dependence theory (RDT) as a theoretical basis and test the moderating effects of firm resources like size and host country investment experience. Moreover, the current study assumes a more nuanced approach to studying equity ownership by analyzing wholly owned subsidiaries versus joint ventures (JVs) and including majority versus minority JVs in the analysis as well. The empirical results based on greenfield investments undertaken by Nordic (Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish) MNEs in EMs during 1990–2015 reveals the importance of host country physical infrastructure for high equity ownership strategy. Moreover, host country investment experience moderates the effect of physical infrastructure on equity ownership strategy. Finally, the analysis of a sub-sample of greenfield JVs reveals that determinants of equity ownership strategy differ somewhat between greenfield JV or greenfield wholly owned subsidiaries (WOS).© The Author(s) 2019.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed
Factor Productivity of Chosen Bulgarian Agricultural Productions
No full textТhe study focus on the Total Factor Productivity (TFP) for selected agricultural sectors (fruit growing, viticulture and dairy cattle breeding). The methodology used to determine TFP is according to Regulation (EU) 834/2014 laying down monitoring and evaluation framework for CAP 2014-2020. The Laspeyers index was applied to analyze the development of agricultural production and to explore the influence of different factors on the production output during the CAP implementation. The change was reviewed in comparison to a basis period and TFP was estimated as an index coefficient represented as industry output and the driving inputs (including labour, capital, land, variable production costs and subsidies). The study reveals a significant change in TFP indexes over the period after Bulgaria’s accession to the EU. The results show the TFP indexes decrease for fruits and cow’s milk and increase for grapes (due to improved efficiency). There is a drop in production for grapes and cow’s milk but a significant increase in production quantities for fruits. Meanwhile, the TFP index for fruit growing is slumping down, which is explicated by tangible enhancement in investment and capital costs during the covered period, which deems to improve the productivity and efficiency in the coming years. There is a need to increase and target the financial support for viticulture and dairy farming in order to hoist up the productivity and production outputs.This article is published as Toteva, D., Dimitrova, D., Stoychev, V., Factor Productiviy of Chosen Bulgarian Agricultural Prouctions. Agriculture and Foresty, 2022, 68(3);147-159. doi: 10.17707/AgricultForest.68.3.12. Posted with permission. Open Access-policy: This is an open access journal with all the content freely available without charge to the users. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. This is in accordance with the Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI) definition of open access. The only constraint on reproduction and distribution, and the only role for copyright in this domain, should be to give authors control over the integrity of their work and the right to be properly acknowledged and cited.
We accepted Open Access-policy becouse of Higher Citation Impact of open access articles due to their high publicity and availability. It has been demonstrated that open access publications are more frequently cited! <br/
