Application of Information Technology in Institutions and Challenges of Human Resources-Case Study: Administration of the Municipality of Ferizaj

This study aims to investigate how information technology is applied in the administration of the municipality of Ferizaj and what are the challenges with human resources, the work was carried out through a case study in the municipality. This paper highlights that the use of information technology provides higher efficiency for the performance of daily work in the municipality, thus also the provision of better services to citizens. However, the level of use of information technology in the Municipality of Ferizaj leaves much to be desired in terms of efficiency because a significant number of employees have not attended adequate training for the effective and efficient use of various IT applications and have not are still adapted to the digital environment in the municipality. Therefore, the recommendation derived from this paper is that the information technology environment in the municipality of Ferizaj needs to be improved by providing staff with adequate qualifications, while for those who are currently engaged in the municipality and who do not have adequate qualifications, training should be provided in a way that all users of IT applications are fully integrated into the digitized environment in order to be effective and efficient in providing services to citizens. This simultaneously gives the municipal staff job security and motivation for better services for citizens. Also, information technology enables a better control over the activity of the municipality because every action is recorded as data which can then be used to analyze the performance of the municipality.

Bulgarian Intellectuals and Students and Their Notion of the Age of Socialism

In the years of the Bulgarian transition from Soviet-style state socialism to parliamentary democracy and market economy,the notions of the recent past experience profound changes.This process is predetermined by the new political imperative—the need to reorient the country from the Eastern bloc to the Western world.Changing the attitude of the Bulgarian society towards the socialist past is accomplished first through the change of curricula and textbooks,but also with the help of the media,which give floor to critics of socialism.Over time,however,especially since the neo-liberal economic transformations that took place under the so-called Washington Consensus led to deindustrialisation and high unemployment,a change in social attitude towards socialism began.In the 21st century,the attitude towards socialism changed.The total denial that prevailed in the 1990s gave way to a more nuanced picture—alongside the shortcomings and crimes,there are also talks about positive features of socialism such as social security and stability.This is evident both in the positions of the Bulgarian intellectuals and in the views of Bulgarian students about the socialist past.

Solving Systems of Transcendental Equations Involving the Heun Functions

The Heun functions have wide application in modern physics and are expected to succeed the hypergeometrical functions in the physical problems of the 21st century. The numerical work with those functions, however, is complicated and requires filling the gaps in the theory of the Heun functions and also, creating new algorithms able to work with them efficiently. We propose a new algorithm for solving a system of two nonlinear transcendental equations with two complex variables based on the Müller algorithm. The new algorithm is particularly useful in systems featuring the Heun functions and for them, the new algorithm gives distinctly better results than Newton’s and Broyden’s methods. As an example for its application in physics, the new algorithm was used to find the quasi-normal modes (QNM) of Schwarzschild black hole described by the Regge-Wheeler equation. The numerical results obtained by our method are compared with the already published QNM frequencies and are found to coincide to a great extent with them. Also discussed are the QNM of the Kerr black hole, described by the Teukolsky Master equation.

A New Protocol for Controlled Ovarian Stimulation Monitoring by Self-Determination of Estrone-3-Glucuronide and Single Ultrasound (COSSESU)

Background: Answering the question of what is the optimal protocol for monitoring controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) still remains a challenge. The rapid introduction of new diagnostic methods and various components of telemedicine makes it possible to reduce the number of patient visits during ovarian stimulation, which will reduce the loss of time, costs, and risk for the patient from COVID-like situations. Methods: The different COS monitoring protocols are examined, thus proposing a new approach consisting of two successive phases. Results: In the first phase, E3G in urine samples is being examined, which is performed by the patient themselves with a small portable analyzer. Based on the results, the specialist prescribes the doses for stimulation. The second phase involves one single determination of the size and number of follicles at the end of stimulation, using TVUS, as well as the dynamics of serum levels of P4 and E2. This proves to be in many cases sufficient. Conclusions: It is of our opinion that on the basis of new diagnostic tests such as E3G in urine and telemedicine, patients are able to independently and actively participate in the treatment process. This new approach to COS monitoring can be successfully implemented in different protocols for ovarian stimulation.

A self-employed taxpayer experimental study on trust,power,and tax compliance in eleven countries

The slippery slope framework explains tax compliance along two main dimensions,trust in authorities and power of authorities,which influence taxpayers’compliance attitudes.Through frequentist and Bayesian analyses,we investigated the framework’s assumptions on a sample of 2786 self-employed taxpayers from eleven post-communist and non-post-communist countries doing business in five economic branches.After using scenarios that experimentally manipulated trust and power,our results confirmed the framework’s assumptions regarding the attitudes of the self-employed taxpayers;trust and power fostered intended tax compliance and diminished tax evasion,trust boosted voluntary tax compliance,whereas power increased enforced tax compliance.Additionally,self-employed taxpayers from post-communist countries reported higher intended tax compliance and lower tax evasion than those from non-post-communist countries.Our results offer tax authorities insights into how trust and power may contribute to obtaining and maintaining high tax compliance levels amid global economic challenges,downturns,and increasing tax compliance costs.

Microcystins-LR,-YR and-RR in Six Bulgarian Water Bodies of Health and Conservational Importance(2012-2014)

This study presented the results of HPLC-DAD microcystin and nodularin analyses from five Bulgarian water bodies (reservoirs Stoudena, Pchelina and Bistritsa, and lakes Dourankoulak and Vaya) carried out in 2012-2014, as a continuation of our work from 2004 to 2005 and in 2011, and first data on microcystins in the lake Momin Brod were detected in the period 2012-2014. The total concentration of microcystins in water samples ranged from 0.1 to 1.8 μg/l and their amount in the concentrated biomasses from net samples ranged from 1.35 to 296 μg/g (d.w.). The presence of the most toxic microcystin-LR was recorded in all studied lakes and reservoirs, where also microcystins RR and YR were detected, but no microcystin-LA and nodularin were found.

New Records of Microcystins in Some Bulgarian Water Bodies of Health and Conservational Importance

Microcystins cause acute hepatotoxicity and chronic liver tumor promotion. This study presents the results of HPLC DAD analyses and their LC-MS confirmation of samples from five Bulgarian water bodies (reservoirs Stoudena, Pchelina, Bistritsa and lakes Dourankoulak, Vaya). The total concentration of microcystins in water samples ranged from 0.1 to 26.5 μg/l. The amount of microcystins in the biomasses ranged from 11.4 to 49.6 μg/g (d.w.). The high percent of positive samples in which the most toxic microcystin-LR is recorded, can serve as a strong alarm for the necessity of a serious study and relevant discussion of the problem with responsible authorities at national level.

Mucosal COVID-19 vaccines:Risks,benefits and control of the pandemic

Based on mucosal immunization to promote both mucosal and systemic immune responses,next-generation coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)vaccines would be administered intranasally or orally.The goal of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)vaccines is to provide adequate immune protection and avoid severe disease and death.Mucosal vaccine candidates for COVID-19 including vector vaccines,recombinant subunit vaccines and live attenuated vaccines are under development.Furthermore,subunit protein vaccines and virus-vectored vaccines have made substantial progress in preclinical and clinical settings,resulting in SARS-CoV-2 intranasal vaccines based on the previously successfully used nasal vaccines.Additional to their ability to trigger stable,protective immune responses at the sites of pathogenic infection,the development of‘specific’mucosal vaccines targeting coronavirus antigens could be an excellent option for preventing future pandemics.However,their efficacy and safety should be confirmed.

A Large-Scale Identification of Sediment-Associated Risks of Contamination with Heavy Metals and Organics: Indicators and Algorithms

As mediators in key biotransformation processes, the complex enzyme activities (measured as a total of extracellular and intracellular activity on sub-organism, organism and supra-organism level) have a high potential to be used as reliable indicators for risk identification in co-contaminated sediments with organics and heavy metals. Two enzyme activities—dehydrogenase activity (TTC-DHA) and phosphatase activity index (PAI) were measured by use of methods with tetrazolium chloride and p-nitrophenyl phosphate in polluted sediments of Middle Iskar River part, Bulgaria. The environmental state of river sector has been strongly influenced by the organics, nutrients, xenobiotics pollutants and by the intensive hydrotechnical activity for construction of 9 micro-hydro power plants. The change of hydrological regime was a factor for intensive sediment accumulation and concentration of pollutants in the area of the cascade. Data for total activities of dehydrogenases and phosphatases in sediments were compared with total count of culturable sediment bacteria and pollutants concentrations. The results showed that the enzyme activities correlated positively with bacterial abundance in sediments and organics content in sediments and negatively with concentrations of xenobiotic pollutants (heavy metals). This approves a high potential of enzyme indicators for regulation of ecosystem self-purification capacity and for early assessment of sediment-associated risks of co-contamination. The correlative relations allow dividing the mathematical algorithms for control and management of processes in technologically influenced hydroecosystem.

On the Iterative Solution to H_∞Control Problems

This paper addresses the problem for solving a Continuous-time Riccati equation with an indefinite sign of the quadratic term. Such an equation is closely related to the so called full information H∞ control of linear time-invariant system with external disturbance. Recently, a simultaneous policy update algorithm (SPUA) for solving H∞ control problems is proposed by Wu and Luo (Simultaneous policy update algorithms for learning the solution of linear continuous-time H∞ state feedback control, Information Sciences, 222, 472-485, 2013). However, the crucial point of their method is to find an initial point, which ensuring the convergence of the method. We will show one example where Wu and Luo’s method is not effective and it converges to an indefinite solution. Three effective methods for computing the stabilizing solution to the considered equation are investigated. Computer realizations of the presented methods are numerically compared on the computational platforms MATLAB and SCILAB.

Effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with diabetes as a factor for vaccine hesitancy

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common comorbid conditions encountered in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection accompanied by significantly increased mortality,prolonged hospital stay,and requirement of invasive mechanical ventilation.This review aims to present the effectiveness and safety profile of available coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)vaccines in people with diabetes as a potential cause of hesitancy for vaccination.Data from published research proves a robust immune response following immunization for COVID-19 in diabetic patients with substantial production of virus-neutralizing antibodies;however,the observed immune response was unequivocally weaker than that in individuals without diabetes.This observation was further enhanced by the findings that worse glycemic control was associated with more suppressed antibody production.In contrast,individuals with optimal glycemic control performed similarly to healthy controls.In addition to the need for strict glucose monitoring and adequate diabetes treatment,those findings reinforce the concept of diabetes-induced secondary immune deficiency and necessitate the application of booster doses to diabetic patients with priority.Nevertheless,after vaccination,reported adverse events were not different from those in the general population.No increase in severe adverse events was documented.While single case reports detected transient increases in blood glucose post-vaccination,more extensive trials could not replicate such a relationship.

Humanitarian Intervention and International Law

During the last decade of the 20th century, there were nine humanitarian interventions: in Northern Iraq, Bosnia, Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti, Albania, Kosovo, East Timor, and Sierra Leone. Of the cases cited, the consent of the home government was obtained in five cases and two others had explicit Security Council authorization. However, two cases were carried out without consent of the government or authorization by the UN Security Council: Northern Iraq and Kosovo1. NATO bombing of FR Yugoslavia in 1999 received a particular attention and condemnation. Without UN Security Council’s resolution for that “air campaign”, there was justification that the action was about prevention of humanitarian catastrophe. This paper will attempt at identifying legal position of humanitarian intervention in international law;whether or not, and in what circumstances, it is safe to claim that there exists the right to humanitarian intervention. At the beginning of the 21st century, there has been extensive consideration of the “responsibility to protect” as a composite concept comprising the responsibilities to prevent humanitarian catastrophe, to react immediately when they do occur and to rebuild afterwards.2 Such an approach may be seen as an effort to redefine the principle of humanitarian intervention in a way that seeks to minimize the motives of the intervening powers. The paper also deals with the relation and differences between humanitarian intervention and “responsibility to protect” concept.

Legal Regulation of Public-Private Partnership in the Republic of Macedonia

This paper deals with a very important issue,which concerns the possibility of establishing a public-private partnership(PPP),through which link is made between the public and the private sector,for the benefit of both sectors,which is a very important opportunity for the realization of different infrastructure projects,and of course tourism facilities can be created in this form.Particular attention is given to the legal regulation of this issue in the Republic of Macedonia.It is mainly expressed through the provisions of the Law on PPP,which makes a clear distinction between the public and the private partner.Public partner is a legal entity that gives an agreement for the establishment of a public private partnership.Private Partner is a domestic or foreign legal entity or natural person or consortium with whom the public partner concludes an agreement for a PPP.

Hypotheses and facts for genetic factors related to severe COVID-19

Genome-wide association analysis allows the identification of potential candidate genes involved in the development of severe coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).Hence,it seems that genetics matters here,as well.Nevertheless,the virus's nature,including its RNA structure,determines the rate of mutations leading to new viral strains with all epidemiological and clinical consequences.Given these observations,we herein comment on the current hypotheses about the possible role of the genes in association with COVID-19 severity.We discuss some of the major candidate genes that have been identified as potential genetic factors associated with the COVID-19 severity and infection susceptibility:HLA,ABO,ACE2,TLR7,ApoE,TYK2,OAS,DPP9,IFNAR2,CCR2,etc.Further study of genes and genetic variants will be of great benefit for the prevention and assessment of the individual risk and disease severity in different populations.These scientific data will serve as a basis for the development of clinically applicable diagnostic and prognostic tests for patients at high risk of COVID-19.

Risk Modelling of Organic Pollution in Lake Sediments

A risk situation of organic pollutants accumulation in the sediments of the dams from Cascade “Middle Iskar” (NW Bulgaria) is simulated in the present study. The aim is risk modelling of organic pollution in lake sediments and on base of the investigated key chemical and enzymological parameters to risk assessment. A model process in lab scale with addition of whey as a source of organic pollutants was simulated. Two situations near to real conditions were studied: 1) at a decreased concentration of organic pollutants (chemical oxygen demand was 0.265 gO2.kg-1) in the case of discharge of sediments downstream of the river (control situation);2) at an accumulation of organic pollutants (chemical oxygen demand was 1.463 gO2.kg-1) in the sediments (risk event). The dynamics of chemical oxygen demand (COD), concentration of proteins and lactose as well as of the key enzymological indicators (phosphatase activity index—PAI, anaerobic dehydrogenase activity, protease and ?-galactosidase activities) were investigated. The data from Risk Assessment showed that there is a hazard from higher protein concentration at the end of the process in comparison with the control situation. The risk about COD and lactose concentration during the risk modelling was acceptable. The obtained results showed that the PAI can be used as an indicator for early warning of the organic pollution with protein nature.

Parasitic Copepods on Common Carp(Cyprinus carpio,L.1758)from Gradche Reservoir(Macedonia)

During the parasitological examinations of the common carp(Cyprinus carpio,L.1758)from the Gradche Reservoir(Macedonia),a total of 126 fish samples were examined,from which parasite infestation was determined in 87 fish(69.05%).In this research,the following parasitic copepods were identified:Ergasilus sieboldi,Ergasilus briani,and Lernaea cyprinacea.Ergasilus sieboldi was found on gills of common carp,with a prevalence of 1.461%,while the mean intensity was 2.357.Ergasilus briani was found on fins of common carp,with a prevalence of 1.879%,while the mean intensity was 38.274.Lernaea cyprinacea was found on the fins of common carp,with a prevalence of 0.552%,while mean intensity was 2,000.Our findings of Ergasilus sieboldi,Ergasilus briani,and Lernaea cyprinacea in common carp are considered as first records for Macedonia.At the same time,common carp is a new host for Ergasilus briani in Macedonian waters.