Development of labor law in the eu an d eaeu: how comparable?

As of 2015 Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and (since May 2015) Kyrgyzstan have entered  into the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) with the ambitious goal of ultimately transforming it into  a “Eurasian Union” with a deeper confederative structure in the future. Parallels between this  regional integration project and the European Union integration process are emerging. But there  are also marked differences between them. The article highlights those parallels and differences in  order to assess the general prospects for harmonizing labor law among the member states and to  clarify how much of the EU experience in the harmonization of labor law may be applicable to the  Eurasian integration project. The completely different roots and ways to harmonize the national  labor law systems within the EU and the EAEU are also discussed in the article. The authors claim  that the approaches to harmonizing labor law in the two regions are mirror images of each other.While the EU project attempts to provide at least a partial common legal framework for certain separate aspects of legal regulation of labor among the very diverse national labor  law  systems, the EAEU currently refuses even to address the harmonization of national labor laws.  However, the national labor law systems of EAEU member states are already much more  homogenous than in the EU. Therefore, labor law harmonization in the EAEU may develop as a  consequence of its economic integration and single market.

Reviewing changing institutional conditions for private farming in Russia

The dominant organizations of agricultural production (kolkhozes and sovkhozes) have become obsolete with independence and the abolition of the Soviet era's planned economy. These organizations had to be restructured and family farms, or more generally private farms, were intended to form the new backbone of farm production. However, development since then has been difficult. Based on a literature review, this study reviews and assesses this development in terms of the changing institutional conditions. The Russian government's policies, by interchangeably supporting large-scale farming organizations or private farming, have created uncertainties for private farmers. Russian farmers were once strongly influenced by the mentality from Soviet times, but there are indications now that they are gaining strength, possibly as a consequence of a more benevolent political order, more entrepreneurial attitudes and developing organizational arrangements

Social capital in Russian agricultural production co-operatives

When the Soviet kolkhozy and sovkhozy were converted, a large number of agricultural production co-operatives was created. Most of these co-operatives still exist in Russia and some of them have a strong market position, accounting for almost one-third of the aggregate volume produced by large farms. This study explores whether social capital might be the explanation for this relative success, i.e. that members support their co-operative because they trust their fellow members as well as the leadership. Interviews with co-operative members resulted in 1401 usable answers. The results from an ordered logit model indicate that social capital plays a partial role. Members who consider co-operatives to be an efficient business form value social ties to other members, even though the leadership does not enjoy much social capital

Can the result of a tilt test be predicted in the first five minutes?

Background: Head-up tilt testing (HUT) plays a pivotal role in the management of vasovagal syncope (VVS). Heart rate variability (HRV) is a well-known method used for noninvasive evaluation of autonomic nervous system activity. However, different results have been obtained in studies that have evaluated the HRV response to HUT in patients with VVS. Methods: One hundred fourteen patients with recurrent VVS were enrolled in the study. According to the results of HUT, patients were divided into five groups: positive (n = 30) and negative (n = 23) Westminster; positive (n = 44) and negative (n = 11) Italian. Fourteen healthy volunteers with no history of syncope comprised the control group. Spectral indices of HRV variability were analyzed for three short-term intervals. Results: Both protocols showed similar distribution of responses to tilt-testing. In the supine position, significant differences were observed between patients from groups 1, 2 and 3 in comparison with the control and Italian negative groups. They had significantly lower initial results of LF1 [nu] and LF1/HF1 ratio, and higher HF1 [nu] values. The onset of HUT in patients with positive Westminster protocol was characterized by an almost two-fold increase in LF [nu] and decrease in HF [nu] compared to all other patients. LF2/HF2 ratio in the Westminster positive group had increased more than five times since the baseline level, while during the last period, LF3/HF3 ratio had increased more than six times. Conclusions: Patients with VVS have disturbed sympathovagal balance at rest. Our data suggests that the results of HUT could be predicted by analyzing the spectral parameters of HRV during the first five minutes of the test. The reaction to orthostasis in patients with syncope during the Westminster protocol was more severe compared to the Italian protocol group and the control group. Vasovagal response during the Italian protocol may be triggered by drug-induced vasodilatation. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 5: 521–526

Contribution to comprehending symbolism and meaning of architectural form

Architectural form and space, from the very beginning of their creation, weren’t only elements reflecting mere act of building; as the act of human actions, they included proper symbolic presentation of a creator's perception of the world. The initial point is that each physical, therefore each architectural form, speaks volumes on more than just their purpose, so it can have symbolic meanings, being proved in history of architecture for such a long time. While observing architectural form, these two questions impose. The first question refers to identifying usable purpose of particular facility, in other words, its function. The second question imposes to identify what are the things that we are reminded of concerning that particular facility. This second question represents search for the meaning in each form that mankind instinctively longs to identify in order to comprehend the world we live in. No matter if we are in natural or building area, everything we are surrounded by has got specific forms recalling certain associations. The aim of this paper is to indicate that pictures appearing as a consequence of close forms and designs represent associations and they should not be compared to symbols. The goal of this research is to contribute to clearer seeing of symbolism of architectural form, in which situations it exists and whether it exists in contemporary architectural forms. This work is based on elements of Gestalt observation theory

Is it possible to accurately differentiate neurocardiogenic syncope from epilepsy?

Global cerebral hypoperfusion resulting in syncope, and asynchronous discharge of cerebral neurons leading to seizure, are two major mechanisms of transient loss of consciousness. They both have a lot in common in clinical and historical settings, although with a high prevalence of incorrect diagnosis, even by well-trained staff. The aim of this review was to try to combine data from both a cardiologist’s and a neurologist’s perspective (history taking, special questionnaires, serum prolactin, EEG, CT/MRI, tilt-testing, loop recorders). (Cardiol J 2010; 17, 4: 420-427

The development of agricultural production cooperatives in russia

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a large number of collective farms (kolkhozes and sovkhozes) were transformed into agricultural production co-operatives. After two decades, most of these production co-operatives are still in operation. Although they face problems as regards e.g. wage levels, profitability and productivity, they are strong in many regions of the Russian Federation and within many types of crops. The continued existence of such agricultural production co-operatives puzzles many Western economists. This paper attempts to provide an explanation in terms of the history of Russian co-operatives in the agricultural sector and of the institutional settings, i.e. the legal and administrative environment of the cooperatives

Social capital in Russian agricultural production co-operatives

When the Soviet kolkhozy and sovkhozy were converted, a large number of agricultural production co-operatives was created. Most of these co-operatives still exist in Russia and some of them have a strong market position, accounting for almost one-third of the aggregate volume produced by large farms. This study explores whether social capital might be the explanation for this relative success, i.e. that members support their co-operative because they trust their fellow members as well as the leadership. Interviews with co-operative members resulted in 1401 usable answers. The results from an ordered logit model indicate that social capital plays a partial role. Members who consider co-operatives to be an efficient business form value social ties to other members, even though the leadership does not enjoy much social capital

Architectural and constructive concept of the historical residential development of St. Petersburg in the XVIII-early XX centuries

The most important stages of the formation of residential development are considered, the spatial and structural features of the construction of historical residential development of St. Petersburg in each period are identified. The organization of private plots, functional and spatial characteristics and design solutions of residential buildings are described. The typology of residential planning systems used at that time was clarified, design options and variants for using building materials in difficult geological conditions and taking into account the peculiarities of the local microclimate are shown. These characteristics are considered by the general system and are the basis for a comprehensive renovation of historical buildings in St. Petersburg