Financing schemes for residential, grid-connected PV solar systems in BCS, Mexico

This article presents two proposals to spur the extensive adoption of grid-connected, residential, solar photovoltaic systems in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. To this aim, electricity generation costs and subsidies were estimated first, together with time-of-generation avoided costs that could result from the implementation of such solar systems. An overview of financing mechanisms for solar and other renewable energies around the world is also presented followed by current mechanisms available in Mexico. The first proposal is centered around the operation of a solar energy service company that would receive the avoided cost of generation as compensation in return for sourcing, installing, and maintaining solar PV systems on residential users’ roofs. This would free up the residential user from any future electricity payments. The second proposal consists in the implementation of a feed-in tariff (FiT), currently unavailable in Mexico for residential users. The FiT could be funded from the avoided generation cost in conventional plants plus the corresponding savings from self-generation of electricity. Alternatively, the option of funding the FiT from small increases in electricity prices to all customers was also explored. Present value analyses suggest that both proposals are worthwhile pursuing in Baja California Sur

The Photovoice method – essence and application in public health

Introduction: Strengthening community participation is a key area in health promotion. At the core is the process of empowering people and communities to achieve control over individual and public health. Although community participation in decision-making concerning people's health is recognized, some individuals, groups and communities are often excluded from the process and even feel powerless to influence those who decide the problems related to their own health and lives. Scientific publications show that the Photovoice method is a practical and accessible tool for people to identify their problems and priorities, which can be brought to the attention of policy makers and thus stimulate beneficial changes for them. The aim of this publication is to examine the nature and application of Photovoice as a research method in public health. Methods: Information from scientific publications searched in Google scholar and PubMed was used. The essence and application of the method are presented. Conclusions: The Photovoice method has been widely used in community-based participatory action research. Its simplicity, accessibility, effectiveness and applicability to a variety of health problems, among almost all age groups and in different communities make it a preferred tool in scientific research

Finance for Climate Action: Postcovid-19 Recovery Challenges

Finanzas para la Acción Climática: desafíos de la recuperación postcovid-19 Este articulo está orientado a explorar los nuevos desarrollos en el financiamiento de la acción climática en el marco de la Transición Justa. Este discurso está vinculado a la recuperación post COVID-19 y la agenda de finanzas sostenibles. El estudio se realiza a través de una extensa revisión de la literatura, combinando aspectos de las pautas PRISMA y el enfoque analítico de Abstracción de Contenido Recursivo (RCA). Tras presentar el marco de Transición Justa, analizamos las disposiciones sobre financiación del Acuerdo de París. A continuación, se identifican las brechas de financiamiento con el impacto de COVID -19. Prestamos especial atención al servicio de la deuda, a las dificultades de los países en desarrollo en este contexto, así como a los retos para los gobiernos subnacionales. Luego analizamos la teoría del mercado eficiente y su distorsión en la época de la crisis del COVID-19. Con base en los temas discutidos, al final el estudio presenta algunas consideraciones finales.This paper is oriented to explore the new developments in climate action financing within the framework of Just Transition. This discourse is linked to the post COVID-19 recovery and the sustainable finance agenda.  The study is done through extensive literature review, combining aspects PRISMA guidelines and the Recursive Content Abstraction (RCA) analytical approach. After presenting the Just Transition framework, we analyze the provisions on financing of the Paris Agreement. Next, the financing gaps are identified with the COVID -19 impact. We pay a special attention on the debt service, the related developing countries difficulties, and the challenges for sub-national governments. Then we analyze the efficient market theory and its distortion in the time of COVID-19 crisis. Based on the topics discussed, at the end the paper presents some final remarks

SOCIAL COMPETENCE IN 18-YEARS-OLD STUDENTS WHO HAD PERFORMED AN AGGRESSIVE ACT AT SCHOOL

The social competence as a general concept, consist of social, emotional, cognitive and behavioral skills. It is regarded as a basic quality of effectiveness at social interactions associated with successful behavioral patterns.Social competence is related with variation in the ability to react in different situation, learn from past experiences, and apply the past experience to the changes in social interactions. The present writing is aimed to define the relation between the level of forming a social competence and aggressive behavior at school of 18-years-old students.The relation social competence and aggressive behavior is analysed by the Giessen Test (GT). The methodology is suitable for studying crucial social qualities and reacts. The subjects of the research were two groups of students - a group of students with aggressive behavior and a referential group. The results show a tendency of increased self-esteem, own social popularity and attractiveness all of them combined with insufficient self-understanding and insufficient self-control in the students with aggressive behaviorThe data lead to conclusion that the analysed students who had performed aggressive acts at school do not have considerable deviations of the average values according to the scales of the GT. Their behavior is a result of not well formed aggressive impulse and lacks of mature self-assessment

Using the Agglomerative Method of Hierarchical Clustering as a Data Mining Tool in Capital Market

The purpose of this paper is to explain the notion of clustering and a concrete clustering method- agglomerative hierarchical clustering algorithm. It shows how a data mining method like clustering can be applied to the analysis of stocks, traded on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange in order to identify similar temporal behavior of the traded stocks. This problem is solved with the aid of a data mining tool that is called XLMiner™ for Microsoft Excel Office

The identification of tumour antigens recognized by patients with Duke’s B (Stage II) reactive colorectal cancers using SEREX

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Creative Arts, Technologies & Science, University of Bedfordshire, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy.Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in both men and women, posing a serious demographic and economic burden worldwide. In the UK, CRC affects one in every twenty people and it is often detected once well-established and after it has spread beyond the bowel (Stage IIA-C and Stage IIIA-C). A diagnosis at such advanced stages is associated with poor treatment response and survival. However, studies have identified two sub-groups of post-treatment CRC patients – those with good outcome (reactive disease) and those with poor outcome (non-reactive disease). Evidence indicates the presence of an effective immune response differentiates between those patients who respond well to treatment and those who do not. To investigate these underlying mechanisms we used the serological analysis of cDNA recombinant libraries (SEREX) technique to determine which antigens are recognised by patients in each group. Immunoscreening a healthy donor testes cDNA library with sera from three patients with Duke’s B reactive disease led to the identification of five antigens. These were (1) the immunoglobulin heavy constant gamma 3 (G3m marker), IGHG3 gene, located on chromosome 14 at 14q32.33, which encodes IgG3, and was recognised by sera from patients CC005 and CC014; (2) the immunoglobulin heavy constant gamma 2, IGHG2 gene, located on chromosome 14 at 14q32.33 and recognised by CC014 sera; while (3) CYB5R3, (4) RPL37A and (5) SLC34A2 were recognised by CC005, CC014 and CC014 sera respectively. CYB5R3 is a NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase 3 protein which has been shown to be upregulated in lung tissue with a RAS mutation in mice. Ribosomal protein L37a (RPL37A) has previously been shown to be upregulated in astrocytomas and to have a general association with lifetime glioblastoma survival and overall glioblastoma survival. Solute carrier family 34 member 2 (SLC34A2) encodes a protein which acts as a pH-sensitive sodium-dependent phosphate transporter. SLC34A2 has been shown to be upregulated in breast and ovarian cancers and it is suggested that SLC34A2 is involved in the process of carcinogenesis, making it an attractive target in therapeutic strategies and also as a diagnostic biomarker. Although other antigens were found, and their sequences identified, all were unknown and not found in the databases. RT-PCR analysis of the Duke’s B colon cancer cell line SW480 showed consistent expression of BCP-20. Although, expression of SSX2, NY-ESO-1, TSP50, HAGE and RAGE were detected, the data was not easily reproductible. Further optimisation of the PCR conditions and primer pairs would be necessary to confirm these findings. We hope in the future we can disern the role of these antigens in the inflammatory immune responses associated with reactive Dukes’ B colon cancer which would help us better understand the mechanisms which underlie effective anti-tumour responses post-surgery. It may also be that RPL37A is a biomarker for patient survival in colorectal cancer and this would be worthy of further investigation

Health Promotion In The Secondary Bulgarian Schools

Въведение: Училището е ключово място за промоция на здравето. Обединените усилия на цялата училищна общност, насочени към разработване на политики, практики и изграждане на подкрепяща здравето среда, формират устойчиво здравословно поведение на учениците.Цел: Да се проучат условията и дейностите за промоция на здравето в българското средно училище.Материали и методи: Проведено е проучване сред студенти първокурсници от МУ „Проф. д-р П. Стоянов“ – Варна през декември 2017 г. oтносно условията и дейностите за промоция на здравето в средните училища, които са завършили. Информацията е събрана чрез пряка индивидуална анкета, включваща 18 затворени въпроса. Направен е описателен анализ, а проверката на хипотези за връзка между качествени променливи е тествана чрез критерий хи-квадрат. Данните са обработени статистически чрез SPSS v. 23.0, а за изработване на графиките е използван софтуерен пакет Microsoft Office Excel 2007.Резултати и обсъждане: В проучването са обхванати 75 първокурсници, представящи над 20 средни училища, 44% са от големи градове, а 56% от малки градове. Мъжете са 28% от респондентите, 72% са жени. Средната възраст е 21 г. (SD=5.6). Дейности по здравно образование на учениците се провеждат в 62,7% от средните училища, според анкетираните, но липсва системност – 38,4% от студентите не са присъствали на беседи и лекции през последната учебна година в училище. Създадени са условия за здравословен труд и почивка и за физическа активност. Няма добри условия за спазване на лична хигиена. Според респондентите, в 52,6% от училищата липсват възможности за здравословно хранене, а достъпът до нездравословни храни и напитки за учениците е лесен в 77,3% училища. Над 67% от студентите определят информираността си по въпроси за здравето, получена в средното училище като непълна или липсваща.Introduction: The school is a key place to promote the health of adolescents. The combined efforts of the entire school community, aimed at developing policies, practices, and building a health-supportive environment, form a sustainable health behavior in the pupils.Aim: The aim of this article is to study the conditions and activities for health promotion in the Bulgarian secondary school.Materials and Methods: A study was conducted among first-year students from the Medical University of Varna in December 2017 on the conditions and activities for health promotion in the secondary schools, which they had graduated from. Information was gathered through a direct individual survey, including 18 closed-ended questions. A descriptive analysis was conducted and the verification of hypotheses on the link between the qualitative variables was tested by the chi-square criterion. The data were statistically processed through SPSS v. 23.0, and a Microsoft Office Excel 2007 software package was used to draw the graphics. Results and Discussion: The survey covered 75 freshmen presenting over 20 secondary schools, 44% from large cities, and 56% from small towns. Men were 28% of the respondents, 72% were women. The mean age was 21 years (SD = 5.6). Student health education activities were conducted at 62.7% of the secondary schools according to the respondents, but there was a lack of consistence in attendance - 38.4% of the students did not attend discussions and lectures during the last school year. Conditions for healthy work and rest and for physical activity have been created. There were no good conditions for observing personal hygiene. According to the students, 52.6% of the schools lacked possibilities for healthy eating, and access to unhealthy food and drink for the pupils was provided in 77.3% of the schools. Over 67% of the students determined the health awareness they received in the secondary school as incomplete and missing

INFORMATIVITY AND EFFECTIVITY OF VERBAL CONTACT BETWEEN PHYSICIAN AND PATIENT

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Charters For „А New Public Health“

Research attention is focused on charters due to the fact that in the public health sphere, global strategic policies over the past fifty years are looming and developing most often through charters and declarations. The purpose of the article is to examine the unifying and specific features of two of the founding charters in the field of public health: the Ottawа and the Okanagan Charter, the later adopted by the International Network of Universities and Colleges for Health Promotion 2015. А historical comparative analysis of the two documents is performed. The Okanagan Charter endorses and adapts the principles of health promotion to higher education institutions. Understanding and officially adopting it are the first steps needed for joining the global health promoting universities movement

The Stigma "Mental Illness"

Множество научни проучвания по цял свят сочат, че значителна част от хората носят в себе си остаряла, негативна картина за психиатрията и за психичните болести. Все още на психично болния се гледа като на неудачник, който не може да се справя с предизвикателствата на живота; който по наследство е обречен да е такъв. Често се загърбват социалните причини, които правят някои хора неуспяващи и поради това развиващи психично разстройство. Слабо информираните хора поставят под общ знаменател болните. Те не различават психично болен с психоза от този със слабоумение или тежка депресия, да не говорим за множеството болни с функционални, невротични разстройства. Всички психично болни предизвикват страх, затова биват отбягвани. По цял свят всеки би предпочел да е телесно болен, но никой - психично болен.Така набелязаният проблем съществува от векове. За нашата страна той е не по-различен отколкото за много други, дори високоразвити страни. У нас се знае твърде малко за начина на живот и за преживяванията на психично болния. Липсва достатъчно българска, широко популярна и все пак достатъчно научна литература за психичната болест, за нейните разновидности и начини за лечение.Всички тези причини, всяка поотделно и взети заедно, провокират появата на настоящото проучване. Да се видят двете гледни точки върху проблема - тази на психично здравия и на психично болния човек - означава да се покаже още веднъж значимостта на проблема и позицията на специалистите - лекари и психолози.Numerous scientific studies worldwide have shown that a significant number people still hold on to an obsolete and negative image of psychiatry and mental illness. The psychiatric patient is still seen as a failure who can‘t handle life‘s challenges; who is genetically doomed to be such . Social factors, which are often overlooked, are the reason for some people‘s failure, which might lead to a psychiatric disorder. Ignorant people put mentally ill patients under a common denominator. They don‘t differentiate between a patient with psychosis and a patient with retardation or severe depression, let alone the great number of patients with functional, neurotic disorders. All psychiatric patients elicit fear and so they are shunned. Around the world most people would prefer to be physically ill, but almost no one wants to be mentally ill.This issue has existed for centuries. For our coun- try it is no different to many other, more developed countries around the world.In our country very lit- tle is known about the way of life and the turmoils of the mentally ill patient. There is insufficient nation- al, widely available and, yet scientific enough litera- ture on psychiatric disorders, their variety and treat- ment methods.All these reasons, taken separately or as a whole, were the reason to conduct the current study. To see both points of view - that of the mentally healthy and of the mentally ill person - is to highlight once more the importance of the issue and the opinion of specialists - physicians and psychologists