Income Situation of Agricultural Households in Slovenia after EU Accession: Impacts of Different Direct Payments Policy Options

Paper investigates income effects of different direct payments policy options after the accession of Slovenia to the EU by application of a static deterministic total income model for rural households in Slovenia (TIM). Model is based on actual income data of 120 agricultural households in Slovenia. With respect to pre-accession baseline situation and accession agreement, income situation of analyzed households is likely to improve under all analyzed policy scenarios. Estimated benefits are highest in case of standard direct payments scheme, followed by basic flat-rate area payment option (entirely decoupled). Model results reveal also that policy reform will have redistributive impacts in favour of agricultural households engaged in extensive agricultural production.EU enlargement, CAP reform, total income, income impacts, Slovenia, Farm Management, Q12, Q18,

Effects of a EU Investment Subsidization Scheme on the Hungarian Agri-Food Sector

The change of the political Hungarian regime in 1990 affected deeply the economy of the country. This change made effects in each national branch, thus in the agriculture, as well. A lot of new companies dealing with agricultural production and trading has also been established in these years. Since the early '90s a lot of EU support programmes were available targeting these enterprises and providing them to strengthen their competitiveness. One of these programmes was the PHARE IPP Project for the subsidisation of the agricultural investments (between 1996-1998). The University of Debrecen was involved in the implementation, monitoring and assessment process of this project. Based on the results and suggestions of the university, new supporting elements have been built into the subsidisation programme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the recent years, further enhancing the position of Hungarian farms before joining to the EU.EU subsidisation, agriculture, investment, effectiveness, Hungary, food sector, Agricultural and Food Policy,

„Zielone” miejsca pracy w ujęciu sektorowym gospodarki

W  artykule zidentyfikowano szczególnie istotne sektory gospodarki dla tworzenia „zielonych” miejsc pracy. Są to takie miejsca pracy, któ- re przenoszą na grunt praktyki gospodarczej teoretyczne założenia idei zrównoważonego rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego. Przyczyniają się, więc do przekształcania brązowej gospodarki (obecny stan) w zieloną gospodarkę (docelowa przyszłość). Zidentyfikowane sektory, jako kluczowe dla tworzenia „zielonych” miejsc pracy porównano z obecnie obowiązującą klasyfikacją działalności w Polsce (PKD 2007). W wyniku zestawienia uzyskano sekcje i  działy gospodarki, w  których należy spodziewać się intensywnego tworzenia „zielonych” na obecnym poziomie rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego. Ponadto na podstawie dotychczas przeprowadzanych badań zielonej gospodarki w Polsce zostały zdiagnozowane kluczowe wady oraz zalety ujęcia sektorowego w badaniach ilościowych oraz jakościowych „zielonych” miejsc pracy

Folklore and Literacy: A View from Nova Scotia

This article describes a pilot project in museum based literacy learning that took place in Windsor, Nova Scotia in the autumn of 1999. The author coordinated the project in close consultation with a local literacy practitioner. The Windsor study was part of a national project undertaken by the Canadian Museums Association and funded by a SSHRC Strategic Research Grant Initiative. The project attracted four female participants, although one left before completing her research for personal reasons. The women chose objects as topics for study, and were given assistance with research and documentation techniques. As a discourse involving traditions of expressive behaviour and worldview, folklore plays an important role in literacy education. Specifically, this discussion examines the interactions between the participants, their chosen topics, and the museum environments, and underscores the need for an understanding of value, class, gender and contexts of use in an appreciation of literacy. A review of relevant literature is included, focusing on ethnographic studies of literacy with particular emphasis on recent work in Atlantic Canada. Outcomes of the study and future directions for this kind of community based, qualitative research are also discussed.Cet article décrit un projet-pilote en alphabétisation, basé dans un musée, qui s’est déroulé à Windsor, en Nouvelle-Écosse, durant l’automne 1999. L’auteure a coordonné ce projet en collaboration étroite avec un praticien local de l’alphabétisation. L’étude de Windsor faisait partie d’un projet national entrepris par l’Association des musées canadiens, financé par une bourse d’initiative en recherche stratégique du CRSHC. Le projet a attiré quatre participantes, bien que l’une d’elles l’ait quitté, pour des raisons personnelles, avant d’avoir fini sa recherche. Ces femmes ont choisi des objets comme sujets d’étude et ont reçu de l’aide pour les techniques de recherche et de documentation. En tant que discours impliquant des traditions d’expression comportementale et de vision du monde, le folklore joue un rôle important dans l’alphabétisation. Cet article examine de manière spécifique les interactions entre les participantes, leurs choix de sujets, l’environnement muséal, et signale le besoin d’une compréhension des notions de valeur, classe, genre et contextes d’utilisation dans l’évaluation de l’alphabétisation. L’article passe en revue la littérature sur le sujet, plus particulièrement les études ethnographiques sur l’alphabétisation, en mettant l’accent sur les travaux récents dans les régions atlantiques du Canada. Il discute également des aboutissements de cette étude et des orientations futures de ce type de recherche qualitative basée dans une communauté

OBEZBEĐENJE POTRAŽIVANJA BANKARSKOM GARANCIJOM U REPUBLICI SRBIJI I ZEMLJAMA U REGIONU

The practice of business entities by the term "bank guarantee" means different legal institutes, aimed at ensuring the fulfillment of contract obligations the bank's clients. It is a different means of securing both personal (endorsement guarantee, acceptance bill, documentary credit, etc..) and the actual or the real (pledge, mortgage, lien on securities). Ensuring the fulfillment of contractual obligations is a common feature of these institutes in the wider sense of the "bank guarantee" for the fulfillment of contractual obligations. However, the bank guarantee in the narrow sense is a separate legal institution that has specific characteristics, and that it, in spite of certain common points, significantly different from the above mentioned institutes. The subject of this paper is to provide a bank guarantee claims in the Republic of Serbia and the countries in the region. In addition to the provisions of the Law on Obligations of 1978. years, particularly in the analyzed provisions of the new Law of Obligations in 2008. year, which is applied in the Republic of Montenegro, as well as the provision of bank guarantee at the invitation of the Law on Obligations of the Republic of Croatia, in 2005. year, with the latter's novels. It is also emphasized and the new ruling on bank guarantee in the draft Law of Obligations of the Federation of BiH / Serbian Republic in 2003. year. The provisions on bank guarantee from these regulations in force or being drafted in the countries in the region have similarities but also significant differences in relation to the provision of bank guarantee of the Obligations Act of 1978. YearU poslovanju privrednih subjekata pojmom "bankarska garancija" označavaju se različiti pravni instituti, koji imaju za cilj obezbeđenje ispunjenja ugovorom preuzetih obaveza bančinih komitenata. Reč je o različitim sredstvima obezbeđenja, kako personalnim (menično jemstvo, akceptiranje menice, dokumentarni akreditiv i sl.), tako i realnim, odnosno stvarno-pravnim (ručna zaloga, hipoteka, založno pravo na hartijama od vrednosti). Obezbeđenje ispunjenja ugovornih obaveza zajednička je odlika navedenih instituta koji u širem smislu predstavljaju "bankarske garancije" za ispunjenje ugovornih obaveza. Međutim, bankarska garancija u užem smislu je poseban pravni institut koji ima specifične karakteristike, a koje ga, i pored određenih dodirnih tačaka, bitno razlikuju od napred navedenih instituta.1 Predmet ovog rada je obezbeđenje potraživanja bankarskom garancijom u Republici Srbiji i zemljama u regionu. Pored odredaba Zakona o obligacionim odnosima iz 1978. godine, posebno su analizirane odredbe novog Zakona o obligacionim odnosima iz 2008. godine, koji se primenjuje u Republici Crnoj Gori, kao i odredbe o bankarskoj garanciji na poziv iz Zakona o obveznim odnosima Republike Hrvatske, iz 2005. godine, sa docnijim novelama. Takođe, ukazano je i na nova rešenja o bankarskoj garanciji u nacrtu Zakona o obligacionim odnosima Federacije BiH/Republike Srpske iz 2003. godine. Odredbe o bankarskoj garanciji iz navedenih propisa koji važe ili su u nacrtu u zemljama u regionu imaju sličnosti, ali i velike razlike u odnosu na odredbe o bankarskoj garanciji iz Zakona o obligacionim odnosima iz 1978. godine

Rozwój agencji pracy tymczasowej w województwie łódzkim w latach 2003-2012

Celem niniejszego rozdziału jest analiza i opis zmian ilościowych zachodzących w działalności agencji zatrudnienia, w zakresie usług pracy tymczasowej w województwie łódzkim, w latach 2003-2012. Okres ten stanowi pierwsze dziesięć lat funkcjonowania tego rodzaju podmiotów na rynku pracy w Polsce.Udostępnienie publikacji Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego finansowane w ramach projektu „Doskonałość naukowa kluczem do doskonałości kształcenia”. Projekt realizowany jest ze środków Europejskiego Funduszu Społecznego w ramach Programu Operacyjnego Wiedza Edukacja Rozwój; nr umowy: POWER.03.05.00-00-Z092/17-00

To establish terminological equivalence on the basis of French and Polish terms in individual retirement plans

This paper constitutes a kind of protocol, based on the author’s experience, which proposes to review several situations that occurred during her attempt to determine equivalence between French and Polish terms in the field of individual retirement plans. This attempt was made exclusively on various textual sources and their related data allowed to isolate a number of situations that differ in their details.This paper constitutes a kind of protocol, based on the author’s experience, which proposes to review several situations that occurred during her attempt to determine equivalence between French and Polish terms in the field of individual retirement plans. This attempt was made exclusively on various textual sources and their related data allowed to isolate a number of situations that differ in their details

Survey of Postoperative Satisfaction and Pain Following Femoral Nerve Block and On-Q Pain Pump Catheter in Total Knee Replacement

Abstract Total knee replacement patients at the Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest site were interviewed to gain insight into what type of anesthesia is most effective in managing postoperative pain. Based on a review of literature, it was hypothesized that a regional anesthetic would yield less pain and greater patient satisfaction. Aiming to determine which type of regional anesthetic was most effective, the results of this study suggest that a femoral nerve block was the best mode of anesthesia delivery for those electing to undergo total knee replacement as compared with the On-Q Pain Pump (a catheter that infuses anesthetic) and other modes of anesthesia; such as general anesthesia and a spinal nerve block. Overall, recipients of the femoral nerve block reported consistently lower subjective pain scores, greater comfort and satisfaction, and a shorter length of stay, than recipients of other modes of anesthesia; suggesting that a femoral nerve block controls postoperative pain most effectively, leading to better recovery and outcome. Intro/Background/Purpose Patients typically elect to undergo total knee replacement due to intense or worsening pain or severe arthritis. Many patients experience symptoms that interfere with their activities of daily living (ADL’s); such as an uneven gait, pain walking up or down stairs, getting out of a car, and difficulty walking long distances, as well as decreased range of motion and weakness (Mancuso, 1996). By replacing a worn-out joint with a new, stainless steel one, the vast majority of patients are able to live more fulfilling lives with greater independence and less pain (Bourne, 2008). Before the first incision is made, decisions concerning anesthesia for total knee replacement patients are made. Many patients are given a combination of anesthesia. Total knee replacement patients can be given a femoral nerve block; where an anesthesiologist inserts a small catheter into the groin, blocking sensation in the majority of the leg. Some patients receive the On-Q Pain Pump, an anesthetic similar to a nerve block, where the catheter remains for approximately 24 hours and allows Ropivacaine to infuse into the nerve and continue to block pain and sensation over a longer period of time. Some patients are given a spinal nerve block to help control pain after patients leave the operating room. Spinal nerve blocks make patients numb from the umbilical region and inferiorly. In a handful of patients, the spinal block does not work, and general anesthesia must be used instead. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness in different methods of anesthesia in pain management following total knee replacement surgery. The study also aimed to evaluate overall satisfaction of patients who underwent total knee replacement. By gauging patient satisfaction following total joint replacement, one can gain insight into what improvements can be made in the typical hospital pathway for TKA patients. Literature Reviews In one study concerning TKR patient satisfaction in 2007, Baker asserts that “patients with higher scores relating to pain . . . had a lower level of satisfaction.” Another study suggests that the numbing effects of femoral nerve blocks last longer than general anesthesia (Williams-Russo, 1996). Those given general anesthesia tend to sleep into postoperative day one whereas those given a nerve block are more lucid the day after surgery, and therefore more engaged during physical therapy sessions (Allen, 1994). Based on these studies, it is suspected that regional anesthesia is more effective in pain management than general anesthesia. This study aimed to determine which type of regional anesthetic yields less pain and greater satisfaction and comfort following surgery; a femoral nerve block, or the On-Q Pain Pump. Methods Data collection for this study occurred over a five-week period. Fifty-two TKA patients were interviewed the day of their surgery, and every day until discharge. All results were inputted into an iPad. Patients were asked to rate their pain (weight-bearing and non-weight bearing), confidence in performing daily activities, overall satisfaction, and overall comfort on a scale from one to ten. Patients were asked to respond “yes” or “no” to “difficulty falling and staying asleep” and to report any side effects; such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, or dizziness. Then patients were asked to complete a double-blind survey in which they rated their satisfaction with their nursing care, surgeon, anesthesiologist, physical therapy staff, facilities, and miscellaneous staff on a scale from one to five. On the day of discharge, patients were asked what they would do differently, if they were to undergo another joint replacement, what advice they would give to friends undergoing a joint replacement, and how strongly they would recommend Lehigh Valley Hospital Network, (LVHN) to a family member on a scale from one to five. In addition to interviewing the patient, various metrics were taken from each patient’s chart, and from Centricity electronic medical records. Anesthesia mode, age, gender, degree of flexion, strength of extremity, time of arrival to 7K, time of discharge, opioid consumption, and ability to bear weight were recorded. All data was collated into an Excel spreadsheet for analysis. Results Average Pain Scores for TKA Patients According to Mode of Anesthesia Femoral Nerve Block On-Q Pain Pump Other Anesthesia Weight Bearing Non-Weight Bearing Weight Bearing Non-Weight Bearing Weight Bearing Non-Weight Bearing Postoperative Day 0 1.250 1.500 2.929 1.429 2.786 3.143 Postoperative Day 1 6.000 3.429 7.263 5.529 5.588 4.412 Postoperative Day 2 6.714 4.571 6.833 3.667 6.083 4.833 Average Weight Bearing Pain Scores for TKA Patients According to Mode of Anesthesia Average Non-Weight Bearing Pain Scores for TKA Patients According to Mode of Anesthesia Percentage of TKA Patients Reporting Side Effects According to Mode of Anesthesia Femoral Nerve Block On-Q Pain Pump Other Anesthesia Postoperative Day 0 10% 35% 29% Postoperative Day 1 29% 47% 25% Postoperative Day 2 43% 0% 8% Comfort Levels for TKA Patients According to Mode of Anesthesia Femoral Nerve Block On-Q Pain Pump Other Anesthesia Postoperative Day 0 9.222 8.688 8.188 Postoperative Day 1 8.571 8.632 7.941 Postoperative Day 2 7.429 8.333 6.500 Average Satisfaction Scores for TKA Patients According to Mode of Anesthesia Femoral Nerve Block On-Q Pain Pump Other Anesthesia Postoperative Day 0 9.889 9.500 9.600 Postoperative Day 1 9.571 8.632 9.529 Postoperative Day 2 9.143 8.833 9.167 Average Length of Stay for TKA Patients According to Mode of Anesthesia Conclusion/Discussion In general, the femoral block appeared to be the most effective mode of anesthesia for managing postoperative pain. Overall, patients who received a femoral block reported the lowest levels of pain and the highest levels of comfort and satisfaction. Patients given a femoral block reported the lowest pain levels when non-weight bearing, even after the effects of the block had worn off. Patients not given a regional anesthetic reported more consistent pain throughout the three-day period, while both the nerve block and the pain pump pain scores showed a sharp increase in pain from postoperative day zero and day one. Patients on the pain pump appeared to experience the most intense pain on postoperative days one and two, but their pain on postoperative day zero appeared to be well-controlled. Those on the On-Q Pain Pump also experienced a consistently high level of comfort, whereas, those with other modes of anesthesia appeared to become less comfortable over time. On the day that patients underwent surgery, pain seemed to be best managed on the pain pump and with the femoral nerve block; with patients reporting an average pain score of approximately 1.5. Because patients rarely have the opportunity to bear weight on postoperative day zero, non-weight bearing pain scores become most relevant. Patients reported more average pain (3.143) if they did not receive a regional anesthetic. Patients experienced the greatest comfort on postoperative day zero for all modes of anesthesia; with those receiving a femoral block reporting the greatest comfort. Femoral nerve block recipients also reported the lowest levels of side effects, which could affect comfort scores. On postoperative day one, in general, patients reported more pain and less comfort as the anesthetic effects from their surgery wore off. On average, patients on the pain pump rated their weight-bearing pain as the highest, followed by patients with the femoral nerve block, and then patients who received neither anesthetic. Patients on the pump also reported lower comfort levels than those with the nerve block, and those with neither the pump nor the nerve block. Patients with the On-Q Pain Pump also reported the highest number of side effects. By postoperative day two, the pain metrics for each type of anesthesia appeared to be similar. Regardless of the type of anesthesia administered, patients reported subjective pain around the four to six range. While patients on the On-Q Pain Pump averaged the highest amount of pain on postoperative day one, pain pump recipients averaged the lowest non-weight bearing pain on postoperative day two, suggesting that patients may have more pain initially and less pain during long-term recovery. Of the recipients of the femoral nerve block, 43% reported side effects, such as headache, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness; while the rates for other modes of anesthesia were much lower, at 0% and 8%. The data suggests that a regional anesthetic is more effective in managing postoperative pain than general anesthetic or a spinal nerve block; as patients experienced less pain, greater comfort, and greater satisfaction. Those given a nerve block and those on the pain pump experienced the lowest levels of pain on the day they had surgery, and by postoperative day two the average pain scores for each method of anesthesia were about the same. While the average pain scores seem to fall around the same value by postoperative day two, the femoral nerve block appears to control pain most effectively from postoperative days zero and one. Altogether, one can conclude that the femoral nerve block is most effective in reducing pain over a short recovery period, but are inconclusive regarding any long-term effects of the anesthesia. Regardless of the type of anesthesia that patients received, the overwhelming majority of patients were extremely satisfied with their care, and almost all patients stated that they would highly recommend LVHN to a friend or loved-one. This suggests that, even though some patients may experience more painful recovery, ultimately the majority of patients are pleased with the outcome of their surgery. Patients on the On-Q Pain Pump averaged approximately a five hour longer stay in the hospital than the other two modes of anesthesia. However, further examination into this finding could screen out such discrepancies as pre-existing health conditions, fitness level before surgery, physiological issues, and overall pain tolerance as variables for increased time in the hospital. As with any study, there were inherent weaknesses that affected the results. The largest obstacle to more scientific results was that although all patient data was collected postoperatively, data for some patients was inconsistently collected on postoperative days 1-3, yielding incomplete data availability for patients who underwent surgery on later days of the week. In response, data was analyzed for all patients according to postoperative day, rather than being able to analyze data on the whole group of patients over the entire duration of their hospital stay. A secondary, yet significant, error was non-response. Some patients refused to participate in the survey or in the interview; or did not understand the survey items. In addition, the survey administration times were sometimes inconsistent; as patients were seen in the evening of postoperative day zero, and again in the morning of each subsequent day, preventing a full 24-period between data collection times. Also, antithetical to expectations, on postoperative day zero, two-out-of-three weight bearing pain scores were actually lower than non-weight bearing pain scores, without reasonable explanation. If the study were to be repeated, it would be useful to obtain a larger and more complete sample size to lessen the effects of outliers; as some subjects experienced complications unrelated to their joint replacement or to the anesthesia that they received. And although it was not formally recorded as a metric in the study, it was suspected that those with a higher body mass index (BMI) experienced more pain and difficulty in recovery. It may be interesting to explore the correlation between patient BMI and pain, comfort, and satisfaction in future studies. References Allen, Hugh W. MD and Liu, Spencer S. MD et. al. (1994). Peripheral Nerve Blocks Improve Analgesia After Total Knee Replacement Surgery. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 87, 96-97. doi: 10.1213/00000539-199807000-00020 Baker, P.N. MRCS, et al. (2007). The role of pain and function in determining patient satisfaction after total knee replacement. The Bone and Joint Journal, 89 (7), 893-900. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.89B7.19091 Bourne, Robert B. MD, FRCSC et. al. (2008). Measuring tools for functional outcomes in total knee arthroplasty. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 466 (11), 2634-2636. doi: 10.1007/s11999-008-0468-0 Mancuso, Carol A. MD and Ranawat, Chitranjan S., MD. (1996). Indications for total knee and total hip arthroplasties. The Journal of Arthroplasty, 11, 34-46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0883-5403(96)80159-8 Noble, Philip C. MD (2006). The John Insall Award: Patient Expectations Affect Satisfaction with Total Knee Arthroplasty. Current Orthopaedic Practice: A Review and Research Journal, 452, 35-43. doi: 10.1097/01.blo.0000238825.63648.1e Williams-Russo, Pamela MD et. al. (1996). Randomized Trial of Epidural Versus General Anesthesia: Outcomes After Primary Total Knee Replacement. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 331, 199-208. Retrieved from http://journals.lww.com/corr/Abstract/1996/10000/Randomized_Trial_of_Epidural_Versus_General.28.asp