The Necessity of Developing Ethical Standards of Behavior in Taking Care of Elderly People

The growing number of elderly people and the challenges associated with old age in general are topics worthy of investigation from a variety of viewpoints: medical, legal, philosophical, anthropological, psychological, sociological, economic, etc. The demographic aging of the population in Bulgaria (especially in rural areas) necessitates adequate medical and social care in this environment. Chronic diseases prevail in these age groups, impacting the demand for long-term care significantly. In this context, there is an increasing demand for competent and properly trained staff to provide quality geriatric care. The lack of standardized ethical norms of conduct in caring for this age group is highlighted in order to illustrate the health needs and the necessity for skilled care professionals, as well as the issues facing the elderly regarding the absence of official documents regulating their rights.Objective: The purpose of the report is to summarize the main problems of the elderly, that prompt the formulation of ethical norms of behavior in caring for them

OPTIMIZING HYBRIDISM: A CRITIQUE OF NATURALIST, NORMATIVIST AND PHENOMENOLOGICAL ACCOUNTS OF DISEASE IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF MEDICINE

This dissertation represents an investigative critique of the philosophical approaches to defining health and disease, going beyond pure conceptual analysis and straight into historical-philosophical analysis in an attempt to unpack the very discourse which underpins the discussion. Drawing on the notion of language as a medium of social instruction, it problematizes various specific features of the debate’s intellectual format, for example pointing out that its preoccupation with linguistic precision ought to be replaced with a focus on expressing the complex multidimensional nature of disease in a relatable manner. After presenting evidence of clinical reasoning’s inherent susceptibility to bias, the thesis exposes naturalism’s historical roots as an ideologically driven counter-reaction to nineteenth century vitalism, thereby discrediting the ideal of neutrality. Despite this skeptical start, it rejects eliminativist positions that philosophical attempts to produce health/disease definitions are pointless and unnecessary, and argues that the debate needs to be maintained due to such discussions’ important implications for medical and social identities, patient narratives, the negotiation of treatment objectives, or even the effectiveness of public health programmes (as a population’s inclination to comply with state-mandated public health measures is directly influenced by the notions it holds about health and disease). This is followed by an exploration of the conceptual limitations faced by the most commonly applied strategies of defining disease, after which their advantages are re-combined in an optimized hybrid account of disease supported by a philosophical distinction between the categories of ‘symptoms’ and ‘clinical signs’. Finally, this account is tested on a wide range of problematic cases, to ensure its capacity to deliver the promised results whilst also overcoming challenging influences such as the ones posed by bias, discursively shaped diagnostic labels, or unwarranted pathologization

The role of school psychologists and pedagogical counselors in counteracting aggressive behavior at school

According to the conducted studies, the interventions of the aggressive pupils in the Bulgarian schools are entrusted mainly to the school psychologists and, in the case of the more severe offenses - to the children's pedagogical rooms. Systemic work with pupils, both individual and group, is lacking.The purpose of this review is to examine the practical possibility of implementing preventive and corrective actions, to characterize the current situation and difficulties and to offer options for optimizing the role and function of these specialists.In the present work of school psychologists, three distinct trends are emerging: psycho-diagnostics, crisis response, or ambiguous mediator functions between teachers and parents.In conversations with school psychologists, it became clear that virtual harassment is increasing, there is a lack of systematic work with pupils and their parents. The need for serious preventive programs and the introduction of a subject in health and social education, in which the topics include both acquaintance with the main diseases and conditions that are significant for the school age, as well as with psychological methods and techniques for responding to aggression is realized.It is necessary to impose the state educational standard for psychological services in education, in which to include also emotional and social education of children. School psychologists should have a leading role in the realization of these activities

Significance of the DMF(T+t) index for the children with prematurely extracted teeth

Premature extraction of temporary teeth is a consequence of different factors such as socio-economic status of the population, level of caries activity, oral hygiene, presence of fluoride in water, philosophy of the dentist. The aim of this article is to compare the DMF (T+t) between children with premature extraction and those without premature extraction. Subject of monitoring of the clinical research were 140 children between 6 and 9 years old.  The clinical group consisted of 90 children with prematurely extracted teeth, divided into three groups. The control group consisted of 50 children with intact denture. The dental status was examined and registered according to the WHO by the DMF (T+t). There was a statistically significant difference in the distribution of caries DMF(T+t) between the control groups (2.34±019) and clinical groups (between 5.17±0.33 and 6.40±0.41). The children with premature extraction of temporary teeth had higher caries activity compared to the control group (children without early loss of teeth). The children with prematurely extracted temporary teeth and severe orthodontic deformation had the highest prevalence of DMF(T+t). These results demonstrate the connection between DMF(T+t), malocclusions and the need for prophylaxis

Projects without Project Ecologies: Experiments in Regional Governance from the Netherlands to Bulgaria and Back

This dissertation investigates the efforts of a temporary organization, or a project, to assemble a set of diverse stakeholders to deliberate and chart a territorial plan for the Black Sea coastal region in Bulgaria. The project lasted two years and tried to apply the integrated method of regional planning developed in the area around the port of Rotterdam. It was led by a Dutch consultant and a team of Dutch and Bulgarian environmental experts. The main question the dissertation addresses is how a temporary organization operates in an environment that provides little support for its actions. All new organizations, but temporary ones in particular, have a high risk of failure due to limited time to set roles for their members, establish trust among them, and build a common identity. Temporary organizations have been shown to rely on role structures, identities, and sources of trust outside of the organization itself. Project ecologies comprised of personal and organizational ties built around industries and geographical areas facilitate their work. Usually the existence of such ecologies is assumed in research on organizations. There are few studies addressing the question how such ecologies might come into being or how an organization that lacks the support of ecologies might try to survive. Following one such case, this dissertation details the turning points in the project's strategy as its leader consecutively attempted to play the role of facilitator, recruiter, and finally, supporter of other organizations. In the process, he abandoned the associational governance model which relies on assembling "the public" through representative organizations. Instead, connections were made and mutual support was extended to organizations on the periphery - small entrepreneurial NGOs and municipalities lacking many investment opportunities. In this sense, the project leader acted as an institutional entrepreneur trying to carve institutional space for this and other similar projects and organizations. He tried to employ coalition building tactics based on common goals and current opportunities for exchange. The project's connection to previous similar projects even if they are in a geographically different region, as well as its efforts to link itself to ongoing and future similar projects, is what we call a projective path. It is through its temporal embeddedness in this chain of previous and future projects that a temporary organization can hope to achieve results and survive the slow and difficult process of organizing

Nucleon momentum distribution in deuteron and other nuclei within the light-front dynamics method

The relativistic light-front dynamics (LFD) method has been shown to give a correct description of the most recent data for the deuteron monopole and quadrupole charge form factors obtained at the Jefferson Laboratory for elastic electron-deuteron scattering for six values of the squared momentum transfer between 0.66 and 1.7 (GeV/c)$^{2}$. The good agreement with the data is in contrast with the results of the existing non-relativistic approaches. In this work we firstly make a complementary test of the LFD applying it to calculate another important characteristic, the nucleon momentum distribution $n(q)$ of the deuteron using six invariant functions $f_{i}$ $(i=1,...,6)$ instead of two ($S$- and $D$-waves) in the nonrelativistic case. The comparison with the $y$-scaling data shows the decisive role of the function $f_{5}$ which at $q\geq$ 500 MeV/c exceeds all other $f$-functions (as well as the $S$- and $D$-waves) for the correct description of $n(q)$ of the deuteron in the high-momentum region. Comparison with other calculations using $S$- and $D$-waves corresponding to various nucleon-nucleon potentials is made. Secondly, using clear indications that the high-momentum components of $n(q)$ in heavier nuclei are related to those in the deuteron, we develop an approach within the natural orbital representation to calculate $n(q)$ in $(A,Z)$-nuclei on the basis of the deuteron momentum distribution. As examples, $n(q)$ in $^{4}$He, $^{12}$C and $^{56}$Fe are calculated and good agreement with the $y$-scaling data is obtained.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, corrected, to appear in Phys. Rev. C in February 200

Testing 6,8^{6,8}He density distributions by calculations of total reaction cross-sections of 6,8^{6,8}He+28^{28}Si

Calculations of the $^{6,8}$He + $^{28}$Si total reaction cross sections at intermediate energies are performed on the basis of the Glauber-Sitenko microscopic optical-limit model. The target-nucleus density distribution is taken from the electron-nucleus scattering data, and the $^{6,8}$He densities are used as they are derived in different models. The results of the calculations are compared with the existing experimental data. The effects of the density tails of the projectile nuclei as well as the role of shell admixtures and short-range correlations are analyzed.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures. Submitted to the International Journal of Modern Physics

Sexually Transmitted Infections Management Legal Regulation in Bulgaria: Present Situation and Challenges

Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to be a significant public health problem with numerous health social, ethical and economic dimensions. The goal of this study is to present and discuss the Bulgarian legal framework dimensions related to the management of the spectrum of STIs, and associated public health challenges. An analysis of Bulgarian legislation normative documents connected with the presented problematic was applied. Results: For the effective STIs-spectrum management, the presented normative acts envisage a number of rules and requirements for conducting preventive, diagnostic and treatment activities. These rules are not sufficient and cannot cover all cases in the practical work of medical professionals most of them serve as general guides. The main problem that is emerging is the lack of financial resources and sources of funding. Conclusion: Despite the large legal framework, most documents are only a framework, without specifics in the organization and lack of funding for regulated activities