Corporate governance and small & medium businesses

Corporate governance refers to a set of internal policies, rules, and procedures that a company follows on a regular basis to ensure that it operates in a fair, equitable, and appropriate manner for the benefit of the company, its management and its stakeholders. It is almost always thought about in the context of big publically listed companies. However, it is just as important for privately held, small and medium sized businesses to adhere to good corporate governance policies and practices. One of the reasons being their accountability as key economic drivers and job creators in most of the countries (example: in 2009, there were 27.5 million businesses in the United States, according to US Office of Advocacy estimates`1). As businesses grow and stakeholders increase, good corporate governance becomes even more important, as there are many people with vested interests. Yet many small and medium businesses do not necessarily pay attention to the concepts of corporate governance. Most of them do not even have the necessary structure and knowledge organize and implement it. This Paper discusses how corporate governance applies to small businesses. It explains the mechanisms related to sound corporate governance in big companies, such as well developed and implemented policies, procedures and processes, risk management systems, strategic planning, transparency and disclosure, reporting, employee management systems, etc. and recommends which of these mechanisms may be applicable and effective for small and medium businesses. As there is a buzz among the businesses that legislation requiring small and medium businesses to adhere to similar if not exact rules on corporate governance as big publically listed companies, is being considered, this Paper shall discuss whether the government should impose its will to the small and medium business environment, or leave it up to the discretion of the businesses. As a final note, having discussed all of the above, the Paper shall conclude that every company, no matter what size it is, will see the positive effects of implementing the principles of corporate governance. `1 Kobe, Kathryn. 2007. U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau and Intellectual Trade Administration. www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs299.pdf (accessed September 10, 2011

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT CASE STUDY OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MAIN GAS PIPELINE, SECTION SVETI NIKOLE-VELES

The Republic of North Macedonia undertakes intensive activities aimed at replacing fuels - fossil fuels with renewable energy sources and natural gas, to monitor the modern trends of exit from the energy crisis and environmental protection. Under the efforts of the National Gasification System in the country, i.e. the development of the existing gas infrastructure, the project for construction of the gas pipeline section Sveti Nikole – Veles was developed. The route of the gas pipeline starts east of the city of Sveti Nikole and ends south of the city of Veles with characteristics: DN 200, Ø 8” and length of 27.67 km. The Environmental Impact Assessment process is intended to serve as a primary input for the decision-making process by Macedonian authorities and the IFI in charge (EBRD in this case), which have to approve the Project before its implementation. The decision-making process includes the preparation of all documentation in accordance with the EBRD’s Performance Requirement (PR), The National Legislation, and Good International Practice (GIP). This EIA study identifies the potential negative impacts on the media in the environment from the relevant stages of the project i.e. pre-construction, construction, operations, and decommissioning and reinstatement, and proposes measures for their reduction or mitigation, i.e. improvement of the environment in the Environmental and Social Management Plan

Проценка на остеопорозата и појава на вертебрални фрактури кај постменопаузни пациентки со ревматоиден артритис третирани со мали дози на гликокортикоиди

Osteoporosis (OP) is a serious extracorporeal manifestation that occurs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). One of the risk factors is long-term use of glucocorticoids (GC). Osteoporosis together with the increased risk of vertebral (VF) and non-vertebral fractures (non-VF) in particular has a negative impact on quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of the study was to detect the occurrence of OP and VF in postmenopausal patients with RA and their association with long-term use of small doses of glucocorticoids. Material and methods: A total of 46 patients were analyzed. All respondents underwent imaging for osteoporosis evaluation with a DXA scanner (Lunar iDXA, GE) and VF  with incorporated Vertebral Fracture Assessment (VFA). Results: The values of bone mineral densities (BMD) were significantly smaller in the group that received glucocorticoids. According to VFA, 37,0% of patients were registered to have a fracture of middle degree, a mild fracture was registered in 19.6% of patients, and severe fractures were registered in 3 patients (6.5%). Conclusion: In postmenopausal patients with RA receiving GC therapy, a more common occurrence of osteoporosis and vertebral fractures was reported compared with the remaining group of RA patients. All patients with RA in menopause need to be screened for timely detection and treatment of osteoporosis and prevention of its complications.Остеопорозата (OP) е сериозна вонзглобна манифестација која се јавува кај пацинетки со ревматоиден артритис (RA). Еден од ризик-факторите претставува долготрајната примена на гликокортикоиди (GC). Остеопорозата заедно со зголемениот ризик од вертебрални (VF) и невертебрални фрактури (non-VF) има негативно влијание врз квалитетот на живот кај пациентките со ревматоиден артритис.  Целта на трудот беше да се детектира  појавата на  OP и VF  кај постменопаузни пациентки со RА и нивната поврзаност со долготрајната примена на мали дози гликокортикоиди. Материјал и методи: Беа анализирани 46 пациентки. Кај сите беше направенo снимање за евалуација на остеопороза со апарат за двојно-енергетска x-зрачна aпсорпциометрија - DXA скен, “Lunar iDXA”, производство на GE, со вграден софтвер за проценка на VF, VFA (Vertebral Fracture Assessment). Резултати: Вредностите на коскениот минерален дензитет (BMD) беа сигнификантно помали во групата која примала гликокортикоиди. Според VFA, кај 37,0% од пациентките беше регистрирана фрактурa од среден степен, кај 19,6% леснa фрактурa, a  тешка фрактура беше регистрирана кај три пациентки (6,5%). Заклучок: Кај постменопаузните пациентки со RA кои примаа терапија со GC беше регистрирана  почеста појава на OP како и VF споредено со останатата група пациентки со ревматоиден артритис. Кај сите пациенки со RA во менопауза,  потребно е навремено детектирање и третман на остеопорозата и превенирање на нејзините компликации

Simplified surgical extraction planning using cone beam computed tomography

Introduction: An impacted tooth is one that fails to erupt within the dental arch in the expected time and away from its anatomic position. Treatment decision depends on several factors: location of the impaction, prognosis of the intervention on the impacted tooth and adjacent teeth, surgical accessibility, impact of treatment on the final functional occlusion, and possible surgical morbidity. This decision has traditionally been based on planar 2-dimensional (2D) radiography. New imaging techniques like cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), which has a lower-dose and lower-cost alternative to conventional CT can direct us in proper planning and make it easier. Case presentation: A 43-year-old woman complained of facial pain and headache, with no signs of any disorders but, based on a panoramic radiograph, with the presence of impacted maxillary wisdom teeth. 3D CBCT scans were performed to evaluate the position and direction of the impacted teeth in the maxillary sinus and related teeth. We noticed that the left third maxillar molar lying on the root of the second maxillar molar and the right one located inside the maxillary sinus, were not clearly demonstrated on panoramic radiography. After that, an appropriate and concise treatment plan was set up and successful surgical removal was done. Conclusion: CBCT offers 3-dimensional and multi-planar views for a more accurate diagnosis and easier and more appropriate planning for a minimally possible invasive treatment approach without radiation exposure of conventional computed tomography (CT) scans. Keywords: Ectopic wisdom teeth, Cone Beam Computed Tomography, surgical planning, extractio

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

За еден варијационен проблем од електротехника и неговиот соодветен контурен проблем

Во трудот се разгледува математички модел на еден конкретен варијационен проблем со неговиот соодветен контурен проблем и се компарираат два приода за негово решавање

A Synergy of Failures:Environmental Protection and Chinese Capital in Southeast Europe

Chinese economic presence in Europe is primarily discussed as a security threat with its impact on sustainability remaining a rather marginal issue. This article investigates the repercussions of Chinese capital’s surge in Europe for environmental protection and analyses the reasons behind its poor performance. We examine five key Chinese projects in Southeast Europe, a sub-region that includes countries with different forms of association with European institutions and with varying levels of development and state capacity. We find that the negative environmental impact of these projects cannot be attributed to the commonly held perception of the Chinese as inherently “bad” investors and of host states as “weak” and dependent. Rather, we identify a synergy of failures between investors, host states and regional institutions that results in poor regulation and compliance. This finding calls for the inclusion of sustainability in foreign investment screening mechanisms and the abandonment of contradictory developmental priorities in the region

Knowledge, dentist confidence and management of periodontal patients among general dentists from Belarus, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova and Romania

Background: Evidence concerning periodontal practice in Eastern European countries is scarce. The aim of the present study was to investigate periodontal risk knowledge, patient management and self-perceived confidence among General Dentists (GDs) from five Eastern European regarding their provision of periodontal care. Methods: GDs from Belarus, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova and Romania participated in a questionnaire survey. Power calculations were used to identify the sample size for each country. The structured questionnaire included several domains of inquiry. The socio-demographic domain inquired about dentist’s age, gender and years of clinical experience. The dental practice domain inquired about practice location, practising or not practising in a group practice and having or not having a periodontist or a dental hygienist in the practice. The distributions of answers across-countries were compared employing one way ANOVA (comparison of means) or Chi square test (comparison of proportions). For each country, the predictors of the study outcomes: a summative knowledge score for periodontal risks and dentist’s confidence level were identified employing either linear or logistic multiple regression models. Results: The sample comprised 390 Belarussian, 488 Lithuanian, 349 Macedonian, 316 Moldovan, and 401 Romanian GDs. The majority of GDs (~ 80%) practiced in urban areas. Age and gender distributions differed significantly among countries. Significant across-country differences were found regarding working/not working in a group practice, having/not having access to a periodontist/dental hygienist and in proportions of patients receiving periodontal treatments or being referred to specialists. None of Macedonian patients nor the majority of Moldovan patients (78%) were referred to periodontists. There were also significant across-country differences in diagnosis, patient management and periodontal knowledge. Only in the Lithuanian cohort were dentists’ confidence levels associated significantly with their knowledge. In all countries, taking a medical history was a consistent and significant predictor of having higher periodontal knowledge score. Except in Belarus, periodontal risk assessment was a significantly consistent predictor of certainty levels associated with the provision of periodontal treatments. Conclusions: There were substantial differences among GDs in the five countries regarding diagnosis, dentist’s confidence and management of periodontal patients.Dentistry, Faculty ofNon UBCReviewedFacult