Search

The paper discusses the history of the development of different logical formalisms, explicitly modelling situations in which disagreement is present. It is structured as follows: (§1) sketches the distinction between two main traditions in logic, that have different relation to disagreement; (§2) presents Jaskowski's discussive logic and its shortcomings; (§3) develops the doctrinal paradox in social choice theory. Then we come to (§4) the probabilistic model of Lehrer-Wagner; (§5) the bounded confidence model of Hegselmann and Krause and (§6) the agent-based model of Douven and Riegler. The aim of the paper is to show that the development of these formalisms raises many questions that are yet not solved in adequate manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of Industry 4.0 and globalization have brought both opportunities and challenges to enterprises around the world, requiring companies to become more aware of their everchanging environment and the needs and tastes of their customers in order to stay competitive in the digital age. This research focuses on the use of IT (information technology) as it relates to marketing and supply chain management. The goal of this paper is to examine the several ways that information technology (IT) is used to improve marketing strategies, streamline supply chain operations, and promote collaboration between supply chain management and marketing. After outlining the types and forms of information technology used, as well as the benefits and drawbacks in supply chain management and marketing separately, the paper looks at how technology facilitates integration between the two. The report concludes that while information integration between supply chain management and marketing activities is challenging, including difficulties ranging from technological and financial constraints, needing skilled personnel, to legal constraints, however it also creates the opportunity to create sustainable competitive advantage based on more effective, customer-friendly, and environmentally aware management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper proposes the competition paper for university students from the regional round of the International mathematical competition “European Kаngarоо” in 2015. Methodological solutions of the problems are considered and an analysis of the results is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A list of selected papers on the constructivism in education is presented. The sources are published in 2012 and 2013. It is expected this thematic bibliography to help the reader to understand the meaning and use of this new educational paradigm that seems to be hard to introduce in the Bulgarian school practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some recommendations on English transliterations of Bulgarian geographic names were given which can be usable in preparing scientific papers. Examples of the following types of names were presented: I. names well known in English; II. transliterated Bulgarian names: complex names, names of mountains and mountains consisted only by a single massif. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The requirements of the maritime profession to the physical and mental health of the sailing personnel are numerous. Subjected to a number of extreme conditions meteorological, climatic, sociopsychological seafarers need to be physically and mentally healthy, on this depends the success of sailing as well as their personal safety. It has been proven by numerous studies that the causes of major maritime accidents are caused by human error, which again draws the focus on the seafarer's personality, his physical and mental endurance. For the first time, a Scientific Research Vessel with a military crew performed a mission to secure the Bulgarian base at Linvingston Island, Antarctica. The voyage is long, mentally and physically taxing, so determining the current health and psychological status of each of the crew prior to departure and upon return from the voyage is of great importance. This allows at an individual and group level to track the changes that have occurred in each individual's body and psyche. This paper presents a mechanism to assess the health status of ship's crew participating in transoceanic voyages. Biological, anthropometric and psychological studies are conducted to provide a real and complete assessment of the physiological and psychological state of each crew member. The examinations are carried out before and after sailing in order to follow the changes (physiological, anthropometric and psychological) occurred in the seafarers under the influence of the extreme conditions of life and activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol harms to others is a growing public health concern. The current paper investigates the prevalence and types of alcohol harms to others experienced by a representative sample of Bulgarians (n=3182, aged 20-65+). Data from the National Survey on Risk Factors for Populatio’s Health, conducted in 2020, reveals that 25% of respondents reported being negatively affected by someone else’s alcohol consumption in the past year. Additionally, 12.5% lived with someone who had experienced alcohol problems. Sleep disturbance emerged as the most commonly reported harm. These findings highlight the significant impact of alcohol harms to others in Bulgaria and underscore the need for further research to understand its scope and consequences. Developing policies targeted at specific harms to others is crucial for public health protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses a possible way of justifying the existence of a multiplicity of cryptomorphic axiomatic theories. It is argued that what renders this multiplicity inevitable are the applications of the theory. They give rise to difficulties whose solution necessitates the application of different conceptual tools. The paper is organized as follows: (§1) introduces the concept of cryptomorphism and the canonic example for the phenomenon: matroid theory; (§2) discusses five cryptomorphic approaches to the definition of rationality in the framework of decision theory: through utility functions, weak orders, choice operators, layered permutations, and pop-stack sortability; (§3) shows that each of these different approaches can serve as a basis for the introduction of a different modification of the original theory. This establishes the heuristic value of cryptomorphic approaches in the domain of decision theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of the crises in public health includes a significant communication component in the form of warnings, risk notifications, information on evacuation, recommendations for personal protective behavior, etc. A crisis-related communication is based on both the scientific and technical knowledge of a specific risk factor and the cultural and social beliefs in relation to risk. It aims to transform the perception of risk in a protective behavior through persuasion. The aim of the present paper is to present an analysis of the perception of risk of ionizing radiation and a practical experience in communication during crises. The analysis used data for communication messages during the accident in Fukushima, 2011, and documents prepared in connection with the crisis in Ukraine in 2022. The perception of risk was assessed performing nationally representative surveys in 2019 and 2022, including 1003 and 1009 respondents, respectively. The present paper shows the results on the attitudes and perception of risks in the society. Based on the performed analysis the following important conclusions were delineated: 1) crisis-related communication and daily provision of information to public providing it in an understandable manner is an important component of the radiation protection in emergency situations; 2) the preliminary preparation of materials on health risk due to radiation and safety measures is an important part from communication with the media, and references to the sites of leading international organizations facilitates the increase of awareness and indirectly elevates trust; 3) a purposeful information campaign outside the period of crisis is required for the formation of a stable behavior within the society as the campaign must include social media and a direct communication in electronic media (questions–answers); 4) inclusion of general practitioners, whom people trust, will increase awareness and stimulate adequate protection behavior. The performed analysis will be applied for the development of crisis-related communication in emergency situations with ionizing radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Bulgaria, a National Health Information System was launched, which started e-health care. The process covered all participants and main flows of information in the sector: - Electronic Health Record (patient file); - Electronic recipes (e-recipes); - Electronic directions (e-directions); This paper presents the results of a pilot study to create safety of obstetric care in e-health conditions. The aim of the study is to examine the opinion of working professionals providing obstetric care in conditions of e-health, increasing the safety of the processes. Methods and methodology: a survey was conducted among 106 medical specialists directly engaged in the activities of the hospital wards of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Varna for the period January-March 2023. The results are processed and presented graphically. Results and discussion: more than half of the respondents (53.13% of medics and 51.35% of healthcare pro)fessionals) have difficulty working with a database. More than 60% believe that the work process is facilitated with the introduced amendments regarding the work with electronic file, compared to paper media. Aggravating factors for the workflows are the frequent change of requirements in the regulatory framework and the lack of clear regulations for content and requisites of the electronic file. In conclusion, with the rapid development of electronic forms of communication and information technologies are the basis of the most successful economic, administrative, health activities that support the processes of diag)nosis, treatment in hospital structures. They save time, resources, ensure patient safety and improve the quality of service when providing electronic peripheral sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to examine the existentialist elements in Carl Schmitt’s political philosophy. Such an analytical perspective is necessary so that we can fully understand the ideas of the German thinker. This article concentrates on three of Schmitt’s most serious areas of research: decisionism as a fundamental part of the political, constitutional theory and the concept of the political as a fundamental distinction between friends and enemies. Each of these three moments is deeply existential. Thus, it is that which enables Schmitt to develop an authentic counterargument to 20th century’s main political ideas. This existential perspective illuminates the essence of Carl Schmitt’s philosophy and provides it with intellectual clarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzes the benefits and opportunities for the successful integration of Problem-Based Learning (PrBL) during the mathematics classes in the first secondary school stage in order to form and develop key competences as well as skills for life and work in the 21st century in the context of the Strategic Framework for the Development of Education, Training and Learning in the Republic of Bulgaria (2021 – 2030). PrBL is discussed in the context of the competency-based approach that stimulates learners’ interest, challenging them to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during mathematics education in real-life scenarios. Based on an analysis of the widely used World Economic Forum competency framework, a competency framework for PrBL is developed as a tool for clearly defining learning objectives and applying effective assessment methods. An example of a successfully adopted practice of the project method at the American College of Sofia is also presented. The conclusions indicate that by embedding competency models, stimulating active learning and forming problem-solving skills in addition to conventional methods, PrBL could be used as an appropriate tool to achieve the goals defined in the Strategic Framework of the Ministry of Education; active actions have been taken by the Ministry of Education both to train specialists in the field of education and to adapt the mathematics curricula for the successful implementation of the competency approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on the results of published authorial research on the relationship between the sound composition of language and emotion, leading to the conclusions and generalizations drawn here. In order to uncover deeper relationships between language and emotion, a methodology and corresponding automated system was developed that allowed the application of statistical methods over the phonemic composition of large volumes of textual data. So far, the English data and the results of the applied statistical methods confirm the existence of dependencies between phoneme composition expressed as vowel-consonant pairs and emotional valence (positive-negative emotion) for news texts from the Internet. The presented research necessitated the development of an automated system. The system was implemented with the participation of computer science students, within the framework of full-time courses. Our experience suggests that incorporating research topics into the undergraduate curriculum helps to understand both the role of information technology for research and the limitations of systems used as “artificial intelligence”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The realm of software engineering continually seeks methodologies to refine project estimations and resource allocations. This paper introduces an ingenious adaptation of the PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) for software development, proposing a three-point strategy to estimate software development efforts. By incorporating best case, most likely, and worst case forecasts, the model transcends traditional singlepoint estimates, offering a probabilistic approach that embraces the inherent uncertainty of software tasks. The methodology dissects projects into manageable components, consults with experts for informed predictions, and utilises a beta distribution-based formula for a balanced approximation of outcomes. The resultant labour productivity coefficient, a ratio reflecting actual versus expected task duration, serves as a strategic gauge for developers' productivity. This study illuminates the potential of the PERT-based three-point evaluation to revolutionise productivity metrics, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and strategic foresight in software project management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This text discusses the main methodological requirements for the preparation of a preliminary plan of the guided tour. The aim of this paper is to derive and interpret the theoretical dimensions of the methodological plan of the guided tour in its three-level structural composition: introductory part (exordium), main part (narration) and concluding part (perroratio). The observance of the structural parts in the preparation of the talk is also related to the way of its practical realization (course). The presentation of the talk reveals the topic as a whole. The main thematic content needs to be presented at an accessible level for the listeners, in a logical sequence and clearly separating the meaning and thematic emphases [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is based on the analysis and conclusions in a preceding paper by the author. Major interpretations of epigenetics are considered - social-ecological, biomedical and bioethical, - as well as their impact on social sciences and humanities, policies and opportunities for human development. The following important conclusions are formulated: firstly, epigenetics can be a stimulus to reform social sciences, as well as for policies aiming at purer environment, less poverty and social inequality, more freedom and less violence; (2) one-sided and implicit biomedical interpretation of epigenetics not only does not solve but intensifies existing problems relating to health and wellbeing of people in contemporary societies; (3) this however does not mean rejecting the biomedical approach but finding it's appropriate and balanced place in the context of functioning ecological and social policies; (4) practices and behavioural models that epigenetics determines as sensitive presuppose respective responsibilities on the part of various subjects - organisations, institutions and pdrticular individuals. A critical evaluation is necessary of attempts to reject responsibilities as well as of their imballanced distribution among various subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is focused on an ontological account of three concepts in their constitutive interrelation: consciousness, object and signification. I would like in this way to set and answer to some extent to the question "What is the object?" The article doesn't have a historicphilosophical character but in the same time it is often referring to exemplary conceptual statements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of regional inequalities and disproportions in the development of the regions in the Republic of Bulgaria outlines the problems and identifies the potential for their improvement. This makes it possible to set strategic goals and implement measures to improve the well-being of the regions. The present paper is a theoretical and applied study. The aim is to provide an empirical study of the demographic state of the statistical regions in Bulgaria for the period 2001-2021 through discriminant analysis. It enables the prediction of the membership of units in one or more groups by constructing a discriminant function. The objects of observation are the events related to the natural movement of the population and the resource provision of the health system covering nine main indicators: birth rate (‰), death rate (‰), infant mortality rate (‰), natural population increase (‰), total fertility rate (average number of children), availability of hospital care (‰0), availability of physicians (‰0), dentists (‰0) and healthcare professionals (‰0). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic non-communicable diseases are a major risk factor for mortality and disability worldwide. The growing number of NCDs and their impact on the labour market and the productivity calls for the development of strategies and policies that include chronically ill people in the labour market. The paper discusses Bulgaria’s social policy on safety and health in the working environment, main principles and regulations as well as recommendations for recruiting and retaining people with chronic diseases as a human resource with knowledge and experience, and workplace loyalty and work ethics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge and skills a student needs in order to perform well on mathematics competitions are usually more and at a higher level compared to school mathematics. But school mathematics, and particularly perfecting the main properties, theorems, lemmas and postulates from the school curriculum, as well as when and how to apply them, can significantly impact the students’ performance on mathematics competitions. This paper discusses a specific example of a problem given on a team selection test for selecting a national team for a regional competition, and the mistakes from the school mathematics which the tested students made, without looking for reasons or explanations of these mistakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Тhe paper includes problems from the team selection tests for the national team for JBMO 2023, as well as model solutions and short comments on the performance of the contestants. The materials included can be useful for the groups for preparation for junior high school math contests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper dives deep into exploring the significance of interpersonal compatibility and its impact on teamwork, subsequently affecting overall employee performance. Interpersonal compatibility is a critical element that influences how individuals in a group interact, cater to each other's needs and thus foster an environment of trust, respect and mutual understanding. Effective communication forms the crux for one to achieve such compatibility when collaborating with others in a team setup. We highlight how coworker harmony can positively contribute toward driving team effectiveness. Members build trust through seamless communication leading toward better cooperation protocols. These enhanced patterns then lead to better worker satisfaction while simultaneously contributing towards increased productivity as efficiency gets boosted through effective operations management. Furthermore, the relationship between employee performance and interpersonal compatibility is examined, detailing its impact on various aspects of decision-making processes that rely heavily on efficient information sharing amongst team members. However, measuring coworker compatibilities are no easy undertaking given the varied methods available with different strengths as well as limitations involved. Nonetheless, research indicates high levels of compatibility contribute substantially towards increasing engagement levels amongst workers culminating in higher retention rates amongst team members over time. Assessing individual perceptions of compatibility through self-reported measures provides valuable insights into subjective experiences, while observational measures allow for systematic observation of real-time dynamics and behaviours during team interactions. Peer evaluations garner feedback from team members about their impressions of compatibility within the group setting. Employing a combination of these methods provides a comprehensive understanding of interpersonal compatibility crucial to promoting its growth within organisations. Leadership development programs that focus on effective communication, active listening, and conflict resolution are necessary to form a supportive work environment that helps employees operate at optimal levels. The paper delves into different techniques for measuring and assessing performance, emphasizing the pivotal part that leadership plays in cultivating a positive working atmosphere. By understanding the significance of interpersonal compatibility and implementing best practices, organizations can cultivate effective teamwork, improve employee performance, and achieve organizational success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given increasing enrollments in the online teaching of accounting, accounting educators must become aware of the things that work and the things that don’t work, when delivering courses over the internet. This paper is aiming to review and promote a few teaching methods after performing some critical analysis of their usefulness and application in the accounting domain. The relevant literature is revised to introduce some of the recent accomplishments in mastering the online teaching of accounting disciplines at universities. Moreover, it looks at optimal ways to integrate state-of-the-art technology into an online teaching model and explores ways to increase the effectiveness of online delivery as compared to traditional courses. In particular, the paper addresses the good and bad aspects of teaching accounting online. In addition, it examined teaching accounting courses online at Prof. dr Assen Zlatarov University, Burgas. Our research identifies features in the course that led to its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been proven that digital games, in addition to some negative sides that are often discussed in various media and on the Internet, do also have quite a few positive ones. In particular, they can be of great help in developing various skills in adolescents such as critical thinking, communication, and technical skills. The purpose of the present study is to scrutinize the results of approximately one dozen recently published research studies and publications in the area and to provide an evaluation of the achieved results. This evaluation will be of use to developers of online learning who may be hesitating about the benefits of the use of digital games in education. Do games have a positive impact on learner motivation and engagement, and if so, to what extent? Which elements in learning using games have a more tangible effect and which ones have a more negligible one? What are the bottom line results and to what extent do digital games have a positive effect on learner success? These are the questions that, in the era of distance learning, increasingly concern both the scientific community, teachers and school administration, as well as adolescents and their parents. In this paper we try to answer these questions by reviewing key research from the recent past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Play theory has been consistently regarded as a cornerstone of 20th century theoretical discourse in areas as diverse as philosophy, psychology, ethology and cultural studies. On the other hand, the rise of digital technology and the spread of video games on a broad cultural level have raised the necessity to reevaluate historical approaches to the multifarious phenomenon of play. Along with Johan Huizinga, another scholar of Dutch origin – the biologist and animal psychologist Frederik J. J. Buytendijk – developed a novel theory of play in the 1930s. Buytendijk’s attempt at theorising human and animal play has been variously defined as biological, psychological and psycho-dynamic due to this scholar’s background in the study of animal behaviour and his reliance on biological models to explain the mechanisms of play. However, Buytendijk’s ideas were shaped in a theoretical setting shared by German philosophical anthropology and he also borrowed heavily from prominent philosophers and phenomenologists such as Hungarian-born Melchior Palágyi, German neurologist and psychiatrist Erwin Straus and Catholic theologian Romano Guardini. This paper tries to provide an overview of Buytendijk’s conception of vital play by examining its original yet synthetic nature. Further emphasis is placed on the aesthetical and anthropological implications of Buytendijk’s contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper includes the contest paper of JBMO 2022 together with variants of the solutions of the problems, plus comments on them and on the results of the team. The materials included can be useful to the groups for preparation for junior high school math contests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern maritime security issues have a great importance for Bulgaria. However, in view of the fact that the Law of the sea is governed mainly by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea adopted in 1982, there is a leading international law approach. In this regard, one of the purposes of this paper is to consider the content of the concept of "maritime security". It is required to identify and analyze the components of maritime security as well as to synchronize legislation between countries in the field of both maritime and criminal law. The marine environment predisposes to the commission of a large number and different types of crimes. Most common threats are: transportation of illegal immigrants by sea, theft and fraud of goods, smuggling of drugs, illegal transportation and trading weapons and chemicals, armed robbery and piracy, terrorist acts, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as crimes against the environment. In order to identify mechanism to overcome the abovementioned threats, we need to pay attention to the role of international organizations in ensuring maritime security, namely: NATO, the UN, the International Maritime Organization and the European Maritime Safety Agency. Considering the fact that in general there is a lack of adequate measures ensuring High seas security, we shall overview the processes revealing the necessity of sanctioning mechanisms and strategies for overcoming the addressed at the current paper, problem. Important aspects of the maritime security are: Satellite System INMARSAT, legal acts adopted by the above stated international organizations. The legal acts must be systematized especially considering the dynamic changes in the conditions for the functioning of international security. In this line of thinking, it is necessary to follow current trends in order to build a well-functioning system of institutions at international level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North Atlantic Alliance's cooperation with Ukraine allows the Treaty to redefine the basic principles on which it exists and operates. This paper traces the dynamics of NATO's relations with the former Soviet republic, covering the relations since their emergence after the collapse of the USSR. The main method used is content analysis, reviewing numerous documents that address both the original objectives that were set with NATO's founding as well as the organization's transition and its adaptation to contemporary challenges. This paper highlights the importance of Ukraine in the expansion of NATO as a community of values – a community that continues to grow and encompasses not only Eastern Europe. Since Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, the Pact has been deepening its cooperation with Ukraine while at the same time expanding to include the northern European states of Sweden and Finland, the message of the Alliance being that it is precisely due to the cooperation with Ukraine that NATO is ready to develop its potential for expansion including in its borders even the successor states of the Soviet Union. Through its relationship with Ukraine, NATO is also proving to be the most effective and robust link between Europe and North America, which share common interests and values in developing their political and strategic positions. The conclusion drawn is that despite the requests and the increased cooperation, a conservative forecast should be made regarding the possibility of Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Alliance as a full member. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The specificity of training for student midwives requires the application of an objective skills assessment system to ensure safety and eliminate opportunities for errors in practice. The dynamic environment of education now demands the most objective and relevant "measurement" of learning outcomes, and when the focus is on vocationally-oriented learning, the traditional method of assessment usually proves insufficiently reliable and effective. In the methodological structure of practical classes in the training of students of the specialty Midwifery, the place of control and evaluation is significant. Assessment is inextricably linked to the learning process and is actively used as its tool - it serves both to organize the learning process and to determine its outcomes. The paper presents the authors' long-term work with the use of individual clinical cases in midwifery students at the Department of Health Care at the University of Ruse "Angel Kanchev". Emphasis is placed on their use in the ongoing supervision of practical classes to assess the formation of the necessary professional knowledge, skills and competencies of future health care professionals. Clinical casework builds the clinical thinking needed to organize obstetric care. With this method it is possible not only for the trainees to be assessed by the teacher, but also for each student to self-assess and self-monitor. An exemplary Ongoing Control Model using individual clinical cases is proposed. It is concluded that working with Individual Clinical Cases (ICCs) is an appropriate method for checking application, knowledge transfer, and an opportunity for self-assessment by each student. This type of assessment is not only ascertaining but also formative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These days, supply chain disruptions are a popular topic among news sources. The purpose of this paper is to examine the possibility of integrating marketing management into the process of risk mitigation or disruption recovery of the supply chain. The concept of supply chain risk and resilience is first explored. Second, the main strategies for minimizing supply chain risk and restoring normal operations are discussed. Finally, the author identifies potential interfaces between supply chain disruption management and marketing tools. According to the findings of this paper, marketing can play a supporting role in managing supply chain disruptions mainly by carefully monitoring the information that consumers receive and influencing how they perceive brands and products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a granular material is poured on top of a surface, the formation of a cone-like pile is observed. This paper concerns with the factors that affect the size of the angle, that the pile makes with the ground, also known as angle of repose. The field of Physics, that investigates such phenomena is called solid granular material mechanics. The first part of this paper includes the qualitative explanation of the phenomenon, as well as some of the important reasons why we need to understand it well. The paper goes into the theoretical explanation of the observed physical effect. The effects of the cohesion, which begin to show up when working with finer materials, were also taken into account. In the experimental part of the paper the relevant parameters are divided into two main groups- the ones that affect the size of the angle of repose and the ones that affect the formation of the cone-like pile. All of these parameters, including the formation of avalanches are well examined and fully described. The method for taking measurements and the tools that were used are also described, as well as some additional factors, that can affect the measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The actuality of the topic of the circular economy is dictated by the need to find a solution to contemporary environmental, economic, and social problems. Nowadays, the increased urbanization rate and excessive consumption lead to high levels of pollution, the depletion, and exhaustion of the natural systems and resources, and also affect the world’s economy and the global society. Those are some of the reasons why the current economic linear model is not efficient enough from the economic and environmental perspective and there is an urgent need for a circular transition. The study's main objective is to analyze the circular transition and to provide scientific information on the possible economic effect on European businesses. In order to complete the study’s aim, the researcher has used a deductive approach by collecting primary and secondary data. The paper is divided into three main parts. The first section represents the literature review, where are given the fundamental definitions and characteristics of the concepts of circularity and sustainability. The second part introduces the key economic effects such as increasing profits, developing innovation, creation of new jobs, economic growth, and increasing company competitiveness. The last part examines five case studies in Europe in order to present how the circular model functions in practice. This part is essential because it examines some of the local progress in terms of circular transition and helps to analyze the circular model implementation. In conclusion, the paper outlines general recommendations for the future development of circular economy policies and also for business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite numerous scientific advances and dozens of alternative vaccine strategies, BCG vaccine remains the only vaccine for tuberculosis prevention, and in 2021 we have honored 100 years since its first and successful implementation. Until 2021 it is the most used vaccine in the world, with almost 4 billion doses administered. Bulgaria is one of the pioneers in the manufacture and introduction of BCG vaccine in the world, and this production has been maintained for more than 70 years. Thanks to the dedicated work of generations of specialists, the BCG vaccine gained international recognition, and in 1991, the Bulgarian BCG manufacturer was requalified by WHO as a main supplier for United Nations. The vaccine is exported and used in more than 100 countries around the world. In 2010 it was approved by WHO as an International Reference Standard. In addition to its well-established immunobiological properties, the Bulgarian BCG has also been characterized as genetically stable. Phylogenetically, the Bulgarian vaccine strain belongs to the group of early BCG strains and possesses the genetic features inherent only to the strains closest to Calmette and Guérin‘s original. In this paper we report the assembled circular genome sequence of Mycobacterium bovis BCG-Sofia SL222 and phylogeny analysis with the most closely related BCG substrains. The full circular genome of BCG-Sofia SL222 had a length of 4,370,706 bp with an average GC content of 65.60%. After 50 years of in-vitro evolution in a freeze-dried condition, we identified only four SNP mutations compared to its progenitor BCG-Russia. The availability of the complete reference genome sequence for M. bovis BCG-Sofia SL222 proves the identity of the substrain and its genetic stability, contributes to the manufacturing consistency, and has an important value in standardization and differentiation of sub-strains used in vaccine production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines a learning method in teaching website building technologies to students in a learning environment where a role-playing game from the practice of a software company is simulated. The data collection and evaluation of the results was carried out through the qualitative methods of participant observation, interviewing, content analysis and survey card. The article analyzes the state of the researched problem by reviewing the normative base of web design training at school, the scientific and educational literature on the methods of learning through role play and teamwork. A staging of the implementation of an experiment for web design training is presented, describing the general framework for organizing the learning process, the stages of conducting the research, as well as the plot and scenario of conducting. The final results of the research were analyzed on the basis of a discussion with students and data from survey cards. The training, according to the experiment, is in the form of a simulation game and takes place in six academic hours of 40 minutes in three consecutive weeks, passing through four stages. The work of two teams of students with representative roles was studied: manager, web designer, graphic designer, stylist and web programmer. The final product of the role-playing game is the development of a website, and its final result for the learning process is knowledge and skills acquired during the formal training by the teacher and the informal training between the students during their team work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper a method, through which the inefficient processes within the human resource management frames could be reorganized. The main idea of this concept is possibility of presenting a human resources management activities passes through the organization to specific process. The need for developing and implementation of this approach is revealed. Each method’s essence of functioning and application is explained, as well as their graphic image. The advantages and the shortages of the application of each one of them are derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report examines the relationship between product design, supply chain management, and marketing. Through a review of existing literature, it explores how product design can influence both the supply chain management and marketing processes, and how these processes in turn can impact the product's success. The paper begins by defining product design and discussing its various dimensions and the process of designing a product. It then delves into the ways in which product design can impact the supply chain, such as through changes in production processes, inventory management, risk management and sustainability. Additionally, the role of product design in marketing, including how it can affect brand identity, customer perception, packaging, and value creation is explored. Finally, the report offers some insights regarding the connection between all three explored concepts. Overall an emphasis is placed on the need for businesses to recognize the critical role of product design in shaping the success of their products. By examining how product design influences supply chain management and marketing processes, this article provides a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between these functions. The article also highlights the importance of considering product design as an integral part of organizational strategy and offers insights on how businesses can leverage design to gain a competitive advantage in the challenges that organizations may face in incorporating product design into their supply chain and marketing strategies, and what can be done to overcome them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism is one of the most dynamically developing industries in the modern world. It is a means of increasing the well-being of peoples, of strengthening peace, of universal respect for human rights, regardless of race, sex, language or religion. One of the main and significant alternative types of tourism is cultural tourism. It develops more intensively by increasing the quantity and variety of services offered. Destinations and sites for cultural tourism are established and imposed on the national and international tourist market. Interest in cultural tourism is growing - both from tourists and from businesses, professional unions and associations, municipalities and communities, from government structures and specialists in the tourism industry. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between culture and tourism, and in particular the influence of personal culture on the undertaking of a tourist trip. In conclusion, the social and economic importance of cultural tourism, seen as a symbiosis of culture and tourism, is emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family farms play an important role in the rural areas of the European Union and Bulgaria. They are a key factor for food security and increasing vitality and competitiveness. The South Central Region is the region with the largest number of farms and the most balanced structure of agriculture. Therefore, the study observes the changes in various characteristics of agricultural holdings in this area. The aim of the paper is to outline the changes and trends in family farming in the South Central Region, to highlight challenges and opportunities for development in the new programming period 2023-2027. Based on the analysis, it can be summarized that there is a higher concentration of utilized agricultural area and economic size in large structures, while small family farms disappear and struggle to develop and realize their potential. The South Central Region emerges as a region with a more balanced structure and importance role of intensive crops and livestock. In this regard, it is necessary to prioritize them and preserve your importance. Family farms remain the main source of income in rural areas. Therefore, agricultural policy should consider their vital role and propose measures and financial support for their different needs and development models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some of the liver tests most oftenly used in daily clinical practice, together or separately, are serum AST (aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (alanine aminotransferase), GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase), followed by bilirubin, and ALP (alkaline phosphatase). Often, not quite precisely, they are called “indicators of liver function”, although except for bilirubin, they primarily indicate damage, necrosis of hepatocytes or cholestasis, as a rule, but do not reflect disturbance of liver function. They are an extremely important „first step“, by which the presence of a problem is initially detected (presented with minimal or no symptoms and signs), the circle of clinical hypotheses in the diagnostic process narrows, and in some cases even final diagnosis is established based on them. This makes the knowledge, understanding, clinically tailored use and interpretation of these liver tests particularly important in the daily practice of every physician. In this paper, AST, ALT, GGT and ALP, which point primarily to damage, necrosis of hepatocytes or cholestasis, and also a convenient and quick way to interpret them are briefly presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to examine publicly available vulnerability databases and their systems for assessing the severity of damage that can be caused by malware targeting mobile devices running Android or iOS. The second goal of the study is to evaluate the vulnerability detection capabilities associated with a specific version of a mobile operating system. Methods used: comparative analysis and summary. Based on the results of the application of the comparative analysis, it is established which of the national databases have better capabilities to filter the data and obtain adequate results when searching for vulnerabilities for mobile devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focuss of the presented paper lays on the analysis of Rudolf Skotnický's conceptual work entitled Material for an etymological dictionary, which is most likely the first comprehensive etymological dictionary in the Slovak linguistic environment. However, in his attempt to provide an etymological interpretation of individual words, R. Skotnický does not proceed in accordance with contemporary etymological knowledge, and when clarifying the genesis of words, he often starts from the sound and meaning similarity with words that have a completely different origin. This way of etymological interpretation is called folk etymology. The purpose of our work is to demonstrate folk etymological derivation using examples of specific words from the mentioned dictionary. At the same time, we compare the individual analyzes with contemporary etymological works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper summarizes several years of research on the image of the fair world of the Slavs, which is reflected in a number of written texts of various genres. It deals with the question of traditional human thought, points to its role in the formation of popular Christian thought and the value system of society, and sees itself as a reflection of the development of the Christian tradition of Europe. The symbiosis of Christian and pre-Christian values was applied in man's relationship to the traditional values of family and justice, which are reflected, for example, in Marian veneration. An important source of knowledge about the ideas and thinking of the common man about the organization of the physical world is also the diverse texts of didactic writing, such as lucidaries and collections of texts for entertaining reading, inspired by biblical events, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the relationship and place of the big data modeling process and the construction of predictive models in the analysis of economic and financial information. An effective methodology for creating models in the analysis of financial data to predict the possibility of bankruptcy is presented. The methodology is applied to a public dataset of financial data for Taiwanese companies. The results of the application of the methodology are compared with those obtained in scientific literature from 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper is focused on the genealogy and the relevance of negative aesthetics as a distinct philosophical field and, in particular: 1) to draw a concept of the beautiful as a myth; then 2) to justify the need of a specific genealogy of loss of the beautiful, and, on this basis, 3) to bring out negative aesthetics in its main subject as a mythology of loss of the beautiful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper seeks to deconstruct the image of the monstrousfeminine in video games insofar as it sees in it a fitting entry to the root of the problem of femininity in general. The monstrous is seen as a primary cultural category, marking that which stands on the edge of the hermeneutic circle and thus questioning its contents; the grotesque as a formal-aesthetic hallmark of the concrete personifications of monstrosity; and abjection as their unconscious constitutive motif. Video games, as a medium with an active agent rather than a passive spectator, are analyzed in terms of their extraordinary technical capabilities that make possible the literal and naïve playing out of the battle around the construction of subjectivity (matricide). The conclusions of the text function as a theoretical framework for constructing a typology of the monstrousfeminine and the specific connotative landscapes of its different types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the paradoxical nature of contemporary art, which is a negation of all previous values, criteria and practices. It conceptualizes the problem of cognitive and aesthetic indistinguishability between art and non-art in 21st-century art practices. The result of the lack of criteria for judging and evaluation is the irrelevance of categories and differences. Aesthetic uncertainty is the new canon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes activities for developing the notion of symmetries. The activities were performed by a group of children between the ages of 5 and 9 and a parent of two of them. Through play and active work the group explores symmetries in sports, architecture, biology, language, music and mathematics. The activities were carried out outdoors in nature. Ideas for complementary activities with computers are presented. As a result the children demonstrate the ability to recognize symmetries in areas and situations different from the ones set in the activities they performed. This proves the main thesis of the paper: the nature of mathematics can be captured successfully in an informal environment at any age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advanced (modern) health systems are based on the principles of solidarity, the right to choose and efficiency in spending the resources of the system. They have both social and economic characteristics. The role of public health resources in all developed countries is leading. The present paper examines the status and problems of public finance management. It is based on research realized in 2020. The research was conducted among health managers, university professors of health care management, health experts of Ministry of Health, National Health Insurance Fund, executive directors and managers of hospitals and laboratories, and other experts in the healthcare system. The authors investigate theirs positions about the changes in healthcare financing in Bulgaria. The aim of the study is to identify the main problems in public finance management in healthcare. The study shows that the Ministry of Health have to manage and finance some priority health activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to present Hegel’s specific solution to the problem of beginning’s regression in the perspective of the crucial historical-philosophical inquiries of late 18th and early 19th centuries’ postKantian idealism. This historical background gives the opportunity to enrich the Hegelian doctrine of the circular philosophical system with the thesis of causality’s sublation in the reciprocal interdependence of developmental moments. The mutual justification of the starting point and the result, as well as of every grade in-between, provides a positive resolution of the epistemological skepticism, namely, by introducing it as an integral part of the dialectical progress-regression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper introduces a novel formalism for analysis of practical arguments, called reason-based decision theory. In (§1) I provide an analogy between logic and decision theory, motivated by the role that reasons play in both fields of inquiry. (§2) elaborates on the idea of reason-based choice proposed by Shafir, Simonson, and Tversky (1993). In (§3) I illustrate ho this idea can be applied to the analysis of the famous paradox of Allais. (§4) s etches the logical formalism of reason-based decision theory, hile (§5) presents the different forms of practical argumentation. It is shown that they are sufficient for the solution of any dilemma. Finally, (§6) provides a game-theoretical semantics of the logical formalism and discusses the possibilities for its further elaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]