Functional Cinematic Elements in Works of Alberts Bels: Allusions, Themes and Clichés

Alberts Bels is a Latvian author whose literary works contain the most notable cinematic elements in Latvian literature. He is also one of those authors who uses a lot of functional cinematic elements alongside with structural ones. Both of these cinematic elements frame the intertextual depth of a text and also make characters dynamic, understandable and ironically toned for a reader

THE IMPACT OF PEDAGOGICAL SUPPORT PROGRAM ON COPING STRATEGIES, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND STRESS LEVEL IN ADOLESCENCE

The article analyses development of coping strategies and coping resources using in adolescence. Adolescents are often not able to cope with stressful situations because their coping strategies still forming, that leads to academic performance reduction. Therefore, a pedagogical support program for developing coping strategies in adolescents is crucial, and it was elaborated and approved as a formative experiment method. Results revealed that after the implementation of pedagogical support program in the experimental group there were identified effective coping strategies. Also, it was observed that the academic achievement level increased and the stress level decreased in the experimental group

IZAICINĀJUMI ATKRITUMU APSAIMNIEKOŠANAS SEKTORĀ: RESURSU ATGŪŠANAS POTENCIĀLS VESELĪBAS APRŪPES IESTĀDĒS

Aprites ekonomika virza mūsu šībrīža ierasto lineārās ekonomiskās izaugsmes sistēmu jaunā virzienā – atkritumu novēršanā un no atkritumiem atgūto materiālu izmantošanā jaunu produktu ražošanai. Ierasti atkritumu atgūšanas potenciāls tiek saistīts ar cieto sadzīves atkritumu klasi, ko raksturo vairāki aspekti: • regulārs, samērā viegli prognozējams atkritumu plūsmas daudzums; • samērā viegli prognozējams atkritumu plūsmas sastāvs, t. sk. zemāks risks bīstamu atkritumu iekļūšanai atkritumu plūsmā; • pieejama infrastruktūra savāktās atkritumu plūsmas pāršķirošanai. Līdz šim nav detalizēti pētīts veselības aprūpes iestādēs radīto atkritumu atgūšanas potenciāls. Tajās līdz pat 85% no kopējās atkritumu plūsmas veido nebīstamie atkritumi (šķirojamie atkritumi (papīrs, plastmasa, stikls, pārtikas atlikumi) un jauktie sadzīves nebīstamie atkritumi), bet atlikušo daļu veido bīstamie veselības aprūpes atkritumi. Saskaņā ar Pasaules Veselības organizācijas definēto klasifikāciju medicīnas atkritumi ir atkritumi, kas rodas cilvēku un dzīvnieku izmeklēšanas, aprūpes un imunizācijas procesos. Savukārt veselības aprūpes atkritumu termins ir plašāks – atkritumi, kas veidojas veselības aprūpes procesā un kas var būt bioloģiski, ķīmiski vai fizikāli bīstami. Par galvenajām bīstamības īpašībām veselības aprūpes atkritumu gadījumā tiek uzskatītas: • infekciozitāte – atkritumi, kas satur dzīvotspējīgus mikroorganismus vai to toksīnus, par kuriem ir zināms vai domājams, ka tie var izraisīt cilvēku vai citu dzīvu organismu saslimšanu“; • toksiskums – atkritumi, kas pēc vienreizējas vai atkārtotas iedarbības var būt toksiski noteiktiem mērķa orgāniem vai kas izraisa akūtu toksisku iedarbību pēc ieelpošanas; • kancerogenitāte – atkritumi, kas izraisa vēzi vai palielina tā rašanās iespējamību. Latvijā daudzprofila slimnīcā katru dienu rodas no 1,1 līdz 1,4 kg atkritumu uz vienu gultas vietu. Līdzšinējā apsaimniekošanas prakse ietver bīstamo infekciozo atkritumu apstrādi, pēc kura atkritumi tiek uzskatīti par nebīstamiem un tiek transportēti uz sadzīves atkritumu poligoniem. Ņemot vērā, ka līdz pat 80% no apstrādātajiem atkritumiem veido plastmasa un tekstils, būtu lietderīgi apsvērt šo materiālu atgūšanas iespējas. Novērtējumā ir izmantota kombinētā pieeja, t. i., statistisko datu un multikritēriju analīze. Tas ļauj ne vien veikt kvantitatīvo un kvalitatīvo analīzi, bet arī piedāvā lēmumpieņēmējiem algoritmu dažādu veselības aprūpes atkritumu apsaimniekošanas attīstības scenāriju izvērtēšanai. Par pētījuma objektiem ir izvēlētas divas reģionālās daudzprofila slimnīcas – viena Latgalē un viena Kurzemē. Pētījums tapis Valsts pētījumu programmā „LATENERGI“

WASTE MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS AND EXAMPLES OF GOOD PRACTICE IN THE WORLD, LATVIA

The article contains information on waste management problems in Rezekne and Latvia. Examples of solving similar problems in Italy and Belgium are described. Data on waste management in the EU are mentioned

THE QUALITY OF WELL WATER IN THE SPRUZEVA VILLAGE

The article contains information on the water quality of Spruzeva village wells, which was determined by chemical and microbiological indicators. Methods of detection have been described. The analysis of the obtained chemical and microbiological research results and comparison with the drinking water quality targets were carried out. Since microbiological and chemical contamination has been detected in the studied wells, proposals have been made to improve water quality

THE COMPARISON OF CORPORATE INCOME TAX IN LATVIA AND LITHUANIA

Corporate income tax is one of the important taxes that provide revenues to the state budget. Article contains a comparison between Latvian and Lithuanian existing legislation relating to corporate income tax, studied differences between the tax rates, tax base, tax period and taxpayers. Were described differences that are related to the advance payment calculation, as well as created an example that shows how advance payments are calculated in Latvian and Lithuanian companies. As a result, it was found that there are several common features in the Latvian and Lithuanian legislation, with regard to corporate income tax, for example, the tax payers, taxation period, tax rate, the taxable amount. But there are several differences, such as the nuances of rates for non-residents, depending on the type of revenue, advance payment deadlines and other particularities of the calculation of the advance payments. Also differ corporate income tax payment deadlines. It was concluded that making advance payments in Lithuanian enterprises is more profitable, because it was calculated that at the same conditions, the amount of advances in Lithuania is lower than in Latvia

LEADERSHIP STYLE AND LEADER-MEMBER EXCHANGE RELATIONSHIP

Leader is the one who uses collaboration which is based upon mutual relationship and enhances further mutual communication and cooperation in the organisation. This research is aimed at addressing whether there is a relationship between the leadership style and LMX (LMX - Leader-Member Exchange) on the basis of „Rīgas siltums” company in order to develop recommendations to the studied company’s management and also to management of other companies on the matters of relationship quality improvement. The main tasks are to distinguish the features of various leadership styles within the company, as well as to realise the meaning of the concept of LMX and find out how LMX is evaluated within the company; on the grounds of collected data elaborate conclusions and perspectives for the future studies. Applying the Managerial grid and LMX scale instruments the questionnaire for the employees and the managers was created. It was found that in the company there is a rather high relationship quality among the leaders and subordinates. It was also proven that there is a relationship between the Leadership style oriented to personality and the Leader – member exchange

Glycation and metabolic syndrome in the skin premature aging

Purpose: In recent years, the role of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in promoting and exacerbating metabolic and skin abnormalities has attracted much attention. In this study, we elucidated the relationship between AGE accumulation and skin characteristics, commonalities, and features in metabolic syndrome (MS) patients and controls. Methods: Caucasian male and female patients (n = 296) living in Riga, Latvia, divided into MS (n = 149) and non-MS (n = 147), were analyzed by skin lesion (epidermoid nigricans, seborrheic keratosis, actinic keratosis, age-related wrinkles, gravitational wrinkles, and facial telangiectasia). MS was diagnosed using IDF criteria. For glycative stress index, skin autofluorescence (SAF) was measured using AGE Reader, and skin AGE accumulation was evaluated. Skin findings were assessed using Dermatoscopy Dermlite for facial teleangiectasia, dermatosis and dyspigmentation. Blood biochemical analysis included oxidative stress indices (glutathione: GSH, selenoprotein: Se, superoxide dismutase: SOD, glutathione peroxidase glutathione peroxidase: GPx, and malondialdehyde: MDA). Results: The MS group showed higher body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.001, Mann-Whitney test), higher triglyceride (TG) (p < 0.001, Mann-Whitney test), lower HDL-C (p < 0.001, Mann-Whitney test), and lower Vitamin D (p = 0.05 compared to the non-MS group. For inflammatory response and oxidative stress, the MS group showed higher C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.007, Mann-Whitney test), higher MDA (p = 0.006, Mann-Whitney test), and significantly equal SOD (p = 0.291). SAF, an index of glycative stress, was significantly equal in the MS group (p = 0.468). Next, we conducted a Spearman rank correlation analysis between SAF and each item. Significant correlations were found for the following items: FPG: r = 0.345 (p = 0.036, n = 37), TC: r = 0.328 (p = 0.023, n = 48), HDL-C: r = −0.399 (p = 0.019, n = 34), CRP: r = 0.372 (p = 0.028, n = 37), and CRP: r = 0.372 (p = 0.028, n = 37). No significant correlations were found with other items. Skin lesions were classified as seborrheic keratosis (n = 109), actinic keratosis (n = 25), acanthosis nigricans (n = 16), aging wrinkles (n = 126), gravity wrinkles (n = 34), facial telangiectasia (n = 242), and lentigo pigmentosa (n = 204). SAF was positively correlated with skin aging parameters of seborrheic keratosis and lentigo pigmentosa (p < 0.05) and associated with the severity of skin aging on the face using the skin aging index (p < 0.05). In skin biopsies, the expression of GLUT-1 was increased, accompanied by a decrease in the number of regulatory T cells. Conclusion: MS was associated with excess ROS and reduced antioxidant capacity. Accumulation of AGEs in the skin was strongly associated with clinical aging-related changes (seborrheic keratosis, telangiectasia, and skin wrinkles). The AGE accumulation was associated with inflammatory processes, indicating that SAF may be closely related to skin health.publishersversionPeer reviewe

THE PERCEPTION OF “THE OTHER” BY THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THE TOLERANCE

The issue of tolerance has been actively discussed in psychology. Psychological science has to solve a number of important methodological problems related to the etiology of this term. Adolescence is the time then one’s identity is being formed. This can be assumed by the authors that the pupils with a positive identity are more tolerant towards "others." The hypothesis of the study: Positive attitude influence the perception of “tolerant” schoolchildren by the “other” to a greater extent. The perception of the “other” by “intolerant” schoolchildren is more subject to negative stereotyping. For the purpose of the study, a methodology for measuring tolerance was developed. It included scales of measuring interpersonal and intergroup tolerance. In addition, expert teachers avaluation of pupils were used. Based on their assessments, two groups of pupils were formed. One of them experts rated as “good” pupils. They received higher marks on the tolerance scale. The second group of pupils, according to the experts’ evaluation, had serious problems with discipline at school. They received low marks on the tolerance scale. This group of pupils was called "hooligans." The results of the study indicate that tolerant students have no significant differences in the perception of “themselves” and “strangers.” The perception of “hooligans” shows a polarization effect: “they” are perceived only positively but "strangers".  

Research Into Biological Characterictics of Dried Sapropel

Microbiological characteristics of dried sapropel of Lake Rušona and Lake Ubagova and concrete containing sapropel and hemp sheaves (Ubagova Lake) have been studied. The antimicrobial activity was studied by thereference test culturesStaphylococcus aureus  ATCC 25923, Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 13076, Enterococcus faecalis  ATCC 29212, Bacillus cereus  ATCC 10876, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Candida albicans ATCC 10231. Antibacterial activity on Staphylococcus aureus reference test cultures is stated in Rušona Lake sample before treatment with UV rays. Antibacterial activity is not stated in Ubagova Lake sapropel sample. 20 minutes’ long UV ray treatment is not long enough to prevent the growth of sapropel materials. Both Rušona Lake and Ubagova Lake samples contain microorganisms that start growing and intensively reproducing in favourable conditions. When in contact with humidity, at the temperature from 18 to 37± 1 0C, mold colonies form on concrete containing sapropel and hemp sheaves, for this reason this material should not get in contact with humidity when used in construction.