29 research outputs found
The performance of Bulgarian food markets during reform
Get PDFFood policy often depends on markets and markets depend on institutions. But how good do institutions have to be before reforms can be launched? Relying on well timed surveys of agricultural prices and a joint study by the Government of Bulgaria and the World Bank on agricultural market institutions, this paper presents evidence that performance in food markets improved following significant policy reforms in Bulgaria, although public institutions remained weak. This suggests that even though strong institutions are preferred to weak ones, it can be costly and impractical to delay policy reforms until work on strengthening institutions is finished. Still, measured performance varied by place and by commodity, suggesting that markets developed at different tempos and that the distribution of benefits from improved markets was uneven. This points to the need to address the costs of adjustment as policies change. The paper introduces a new approach to measure market performance based on composite-error techniques.Markets and Market Access,Transport Economics Policy&Planning,Economic Theory&Research,Access to Markets,Agribusiness
Occult Communism: culture, science and spirituality in late socialist Bulgaria
Get PDF"“Occult Communism” explores the unlikely infusion of state-sponsored spiritualism into the materialist ideology of Bulgarian late communism. In the 1970s, Minister of Culture Lyudmila Zhivkova initiated grandiose state programs to inject the “occult” into Bulgaria’s national culture, art, science and even political philosophy. Inspired by her Eastern religious beliefs, she sought to ‘breed’ a nation of “all-round and harmoniously developed individuals,” devoted to spiritual self-perfection, who would ultimately “work, live and create according to the laws of beauty.” My project focuses on how Zhivkova translated her religio-philosophical worldview into state policies. I examine three realms of what I have termed “occult communism:” Zhivkova’s domestic and international cultural initiatives; occult religiosity and the mystical movement known as the White Brotherhood; and occult science as embodied by the Scientific Institute of Suggestology. I contend that as quixotic as Zhivkova’s vision was, her policies contributed to the liberalization of art and culture in a period that has long been associated exclusively with stagnation and decay. In so doing, my work questions the failure of utopianism in late socialism and demonstrates that impulses to attach ""a human face” to the communist project endured even after the Prague Spring of 1968. Occult Communism” demonstrates that late communism was far less monolithic and dull than typically imagined while challenging our understanding of the relationship between communism, spirituality, and science in the global 1970s and 1980s."Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2019-05-01The student, Veneta Ivanova, accepted the attached license on 2017-04-21 at 15:12.The student, Veneta Ivanova, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2017-04-21 at 15:29.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2017-04-25 at 14:03.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #10989 on 2017-08-10 at 14:32:30Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-10T19:52:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3
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CONCEPT “FREUNDSCHAFT” (“FRIENDSHIP”) IN VIRTUAL COMMUNICATION
No full textThe paper focuses on the influence of virtual communication on the German language, exemplified
by linguistic and cultural concept “Freundschaft” (“Friendship”). The research aims to distinguish and systematize
linguistic means that objectify the concepts “Freundschaft” and “Netzfreundschaft” in real and virtual
communication, and to characterize their notional, image and value components. The peculiarities of German-
language virtual communication are presented. It is shown that active use of social networks and messengers has
led to the development of the new concept “Netzfreundschaft” (“Internet friendship”). Its notional component is
explicated through the new meanings of lexical units Freund and Freundschaft. In order to nominate new phenomena,
the lexemes and word-combinations (entfreunden, Überfreundung, Freundschaft kündigen) appear. They were not
previously represented in the lexical and semantic system of the language or have gained new meanings under the
influence of virtual communication. The image component of concept “Netzfreundschaft” is characterized by new
metaphorical models, as compared to concept “Freundschaft”. The author concludes that verbalization of the
processes of emergence, development and termination of friendship, regarded as virtual contact, is established to
differ from concept “Freundschaft”; it is represented in the value component of concept “Netzfreundschaft”. The
phenomenon described in the article is a vivid example of concept sphere evolution under the influence of network
communication
Pedagogical Conditions for Role-Playing Game Development in Senior Preschool Age Children
No full textAbstractThe article presents an approach to role-playing game development in senior preschoolers based on the problem-oriented analysis of a preschool child's playing space. Methods and techniques of plot enrichment and playing skill development have been identified by using interactive technologies and the individual differentiation approach. The key findings of technology implementation are related to positive dynamics in children's playing skill development, their need for peer communication and gratification and their desire for independence
The Ecology of Scale
No full textThis project examines the incentives and constraints faced by micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in adopting environmentally sustainable businesses practices. A mail survey was distributed to a sample of owners and managers of small businesses in the greater Williamsburg, Virginia community to directly assess their opinions about issues of sustainability and the relationship between their businesses and the environment. The author concludes that SMEs differ fundamentally from larger businesses in their ability to meet or exceed environmental regulatory compliance and recommends a general policy approach to address these differences and encourage environmental management (EM) among SMEs
Civil society in Russian Federation: features of development and differences from European countries
No full textThe essay is devoted to the consideration of such a phenomenon as civil society and the specifics of its development in Russia, in comparison with the European countries. Special attention is paid to various problems (both historically rooted and actualised in the modern period of the country's development), which hinder the formation of the democratic state. The author analyses the factors that positively and negatively affect the democratisation of Russia, and also suggests ways of solving problems in the development of civil society and further institutionalisation of the rule of law in the Russian Federation.Эссе посвящено рассмотрению такого феномена, как гражданское общество и специфика его развития в России, в сравнении с европейскими странами. Особое внимание уделяется различным проблемам (как укоренившимся исторически, так и актуализировавшимся
в современный период развития страны), которые препятствуют формированию правового
и демократического государства. Автор анализирует факторы, положительно и отрицательно влияющие на демократизацию России. Также предлагаются пути решения проблем в развитии гражданского общества и дальнейшей институционализации правового государства
в Российской Федерации
ЗА СЕМАНТИКАТА НА НАРЕЧИЕТО DAWNO В ПОЛСКИЯ ЕЗИК И СЪОТВЕТСТВИЯТА МУ В БЪЛГАРСКИЯ ЕЗИК
Get PDFThe article comments on the semantics and the function of the adverb dawno in Polish and its equivalents in Bulgarian. The Polish adverb dawno appears to be composed of two meanings – temporal as well as temporal-progressive (quantitative). The comparative degree form of dawno – dawniej – demonstrates differentiation in meaning and use. In the course of the analysis, the author argues that there exists a link between those meanings and the verb forms connected with them.Artykuł bada semantykę i funkcje przysłówka dawno w języku polskim i jego ekwiwalenty w języku bułgarskim. Polski przysłówek dawno zawiera dwa znaczenia – czasowe i kwantytatywne, natomiast forma porównawcza – dawniej – posiada dodatkowe znaczenia i stosowania. Autor ukazuje powiązania między tymi znaczeniami i związanymi z nimi formami czasownikowymi
Cyana arorai Volynkin, N. Singh, Kirti & Datta 2020, nom. nov.
No full textCyana arorai Volynkin, N. Singh, Kirti & Datta, nom. nov. (Figs 15–19, 168, 169, 241, 242) = Chionaema tripunctata Rothschild, 1936, The Annals and magazine of natural history (10) 17: 487 (Type locality: “ Aberdeen, Andaman Islands”), nec. Reich, 1935. Type material examined. Holotype (by monotypy) (Fig. 17): ♀, handwritten label “ Aberdeen, Andamans” / hand- written label “ Chionaema tripunctata Type Rothsch.” / handwritten label “Nr. bianca, but has 3 spots” / printed label “Rothschild Bequest B.M. 1939–1” / printed round label with a red circle “Type” / printed label with a unique identifier “NHMUK010402088” (Coll. NHMUK). Other material examined. THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS: 1 ♀, Andaman Isles ♀ / Moore Coll. 94–106, slide NHMUK010314603 Volynkin (Coll. NHMUK); 2 ♂, 3 ♀, India, M. Andaman, Karmatang, 1.5 km E, 12,5072°N, 92,5610°E, 17–22.VIII.2001, leg. Jan-Peter Rudloff, coll. Dr. R. Brechlin, slides MWM 33907 (♂), MWM 33908 (♀), MWM 35680 (♀) Volynkin (Coll. MWM / ZSM); 2 ♂, 4 ♀, India, S. Andaman, Port Blair—Mt. Harriet, 11,4321°N, 92,4403°E, 23–24.VIII.2001, leg. Jan-Peter Rudloff, coll. Dr. R. Brechlin, slides MWM 34601 (♂), MWM 34602 (♀) Volynkin (Coll. MWM / ZSM); 1 ♂, 2 ♀, India, Andaman Islands, South Anda- man—Bambooflat (Rainfor.), 11°42’82”N, 092°42’02”E, 27–28.XI.2000, leg. J.P. Rudloff, slide MWM 35681 (♂) Volynkin (Coll. MWM / ZSM); 1 ♂, India, Andaman Isl., South Andaman, Wandoor, Port Blair, 1–2.III.1998, leg. A. Kamenev & V. Siniaev, ex coll. Dr. A. Schintlmeister, slide MWM 34564 (♂) Volynkin (Coll. MWM / ZSM); 1 ♂, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, South Andaman, Chidiyatapu, 29.XII.17, leg. H.S. Datta (Coll. NZCZSI). Etymology. The replacement name is dedicated to G.S. Arora, author of the basic publication on the fauna of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Remark. The taxon tripunctata Reich, 1935 was described under the genus Lyclene. Here we transfer it to the genus Cyana and synonymize with C. detrita (see above). Thus, at present there are two Cyana taxa with the name tripunctata, so tripunctata Rothschild, 1936 becomes a junior secondary homonym of tripunctata Reich, 1935. Hence, we introduce the replacement name arorai nom. nov. for tripunctata Rothschild, 1936. Diagnosis. Forewing length is 12.5–15 mm in males and 17–18 mm in females. Cyana arorai is a polymorphic species, significantly variable in size. Cyana arorai is similar externally to C. carmina (Figs 13, 14), but differs by its arcuate antemedial line (that is oblique in C. carmina) and larger black discal spots. In females of C. arorai a third, posterior black spot may be developed (Figs 16, 17), what is unusual for the C. insularis group. The female genitalia of C. arorai are very similar to those of C. carmina (Figs 239, 240), but differ by the more heavily sclerotized cervix bursae having narrower longitudinal folds, and the lateral band-like signum being more weakly sclerotized subanteriorly with its anterior end strongly broadened. Distribution. Endemic of the Andaman Islands. The records of C. bianca (male) and C. coccinea (female) for the Andaman Islands (Hampson 1900; Draudt 1914; Arora 1983) belong to C. arorai.Published as part of Singh, Navneet, Volynkin, Anton V., Kirti, Jagbir Singh, Datta, Harvinder Singh & Ivanova, Maria S., 2020, A review of the genus Cyana Walker, 1854 from India, with descriptions of five new species and three new subspecies (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), pp. 1-93 in Zootaxa 4738 (1) on page 10, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4738.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/367243
International Epidemiology of Child and Adolescent Psychopathology II: Integration and Applications of Dimensional Findings From 44 Societies
No full textObjective: To build on Achenbach, Rescorla, and Ivanova (2012) by (a) reporting new international findings for parent, teacher, and self-ratings on the Child Behavior Checklist, Youth Self-Report, and Teacher's Report Form; (b) testing the fit of syndrome models to new data from 17 societies, including previously underrepresented regions; (c) testing effects of society gender, and age in 44 societies by integrating new and previous data; (d) testing cross-society correlations between mean item ratings; (e) describing the construction of multisociety norms; (f) illustrating clinical applications. Method: Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) of parent, teacher, and self-ratings, performed separately for each society; tests of societal, gender, and age effects on dimensional syndrome scales, DSM-oriented scales, Internalizing, Externalizing, and Total Problems scales; tests of agreement between low, medium, and high ratings of problem items across societies. Results: CFAs supported the tested syndrome models in all societies according to the primary fit index (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation [RMSEA]), but less consistently according to other indices; effect sizes were small-to-medium for societal differences in scale scores, but very small for gender, age, and interactions with society; items received similarly low, medium, or high ratings in different societies; problem scores from 44 societies fit three sets of multisociety norms. Conclusions: Statistically derived syndrome models fit parent, teacher, and self-ratings when tested individually in all 44 societies according to RMSEAs (but less consistently according to other indices). Small to medium differences in scale scores among societies supported the use of low-, medium-, and high-scoring norms in clinical assessment of individual children. J. Am. Acad. Child Aclolesc. Psychiatry; 2012; 51(12):1273-1283
Bulgarian general population attitude to mandatory COVID-19 vaccination: A nationwide cross-sectional study
No full textBackground: The issue of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination, entwined with citizens' rights and autonomy, impacts vaccine uptake and trust in health authorities. This study centers on Bulgaria, aiming to uncover attitudes towards obligatory COVID-19 vaccination. Methods: Employing an online questionnaire, we conducted a cross-sectional survey involving 1433 adults in Bulgaria between April and May 2022. Analysis of responses from 1200 participants illuminated perspectives on mandatory COVID-19 vaccination. Results: Among respondents, 38.6% supported or were uncertain about mandatory vaccination, while 61.4% opposed it. Binary logistic regression, utilizing demographic predictors, unveiled that younger age groups, particularly those aged 18–25, demonstrated diminished odds of supporting mandatory vaccination. Those with apprehensions about contracting the virus (OR 2.98, 95% CI 1.65–5.39), perceiving minimal vaccine risks (OR 3.86, 95% CI 1.80–8.26), acknowledging vaccine benefits for health protection (OR 3.86, 95% CI 1.80–8.26), and pandemic containment (OR 3.34, 95% CI 1.16–9.60) were more prone to endorse mandatory vaccination. Trust in general practitioners and pharmaceutical companies also emerged as influential factors. Conclusion: The study portrays a diverse sentiment within Bulgaria's population concerning compulsory COVID-19 vaccination. It underscores the importance of conveying accurate, evidence-based information while upholding individual autonomy. National health authorities should harmonize methodical vaccination initiatives with health promotion interventions targeted at the general population and healthcare professionals. Such an approach can facilitate well-informed choices and contribute to public health objectives
