The evolving gambling environment, marked by increased accessibility and innovative promotions, has led to rising expenditures globally. Despite this, the relationship between social media use and problem gambling in the Czech Republic remains underexplored. To investigate the association between social media use and problem gambling severity among Czech adults using the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). Is there a difference in gambling severity based on demographic characteristics? (1); Is there a relationship between social media news consumption and gambling severity? (2); Is there a connection between negative motives for social media use and problematic usage? (3); Is there a link between problematic social media use and gambling severity? (4). Primary research, designed as a cross-sectional study, was conducted in the Czech Republic in November 2024 on a sample of 3093 respondents (48.4% male). All participants were aged 16 years or older. The sample was selected using quota sampling based on multiple identifying quota variables, with minimal differences in the proportions of quota indicators compared to the general population. Non-parametric tests and ordinal logistic regression analyzed relationships between demographics, social media use, and PGSI scores. Higher PGSI scores were found among males, younger participants, those with lower education, and the unemployed or students. Greater social media news consumption correlated with increased gambling severity. Disruptive social media behaviors, such as waking up to check notifications and interrupting activities, were significantly associated with higher PGSI scores. Problematic social media use involving deceit and family conflict substantially heightened the risk of severe gambling problems. These findings highlight the need for targeted prevention initiatives, regulatory policies, and enhanced digital literacy to safeguard vulnerable groups from the risks posed by digital gambling platforms. Addressing both gambling behaviors and problematic social media use is crucial in mitigating potential harms.
- Klíčová slova
- Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), digital gambling platforms and expenditures, digital literacy and prevention, disruptive social media behavior, internet gambling addiction,
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- hráčství * psychologie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- motivace MeSH
- průřezové studie MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- sociální média * MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
BACKGROUND: Population health is vital to a nation's overall well-being and development. To achieve sustainable human development, a reduction in health inequalities and an increase in interstate convergence in health indicators is necessary. Evaluation of the convergence patterns can aid the government in monitoring the health progress across the Indian states. This study investigates the progressive changes in the convergence and divergence patterns in health status across major states of India from 1990 to 2018. METHODS: Sigma plots (σ), kernel density plots, and log t-test methods are used to test the convergence, divergence, and club convergence patterns in the health indicators at the state level. RESULTS: The result of the sigma convergence suggests that life expectancy at birth has converged across all states. After 2006, however, the infant mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, and total fertility rate experienced a divergence pattern. The study's findings indicate that life expectancy at birth converges in the same direction across all states, falling into the same club (Club One). However, considerable cross-state variations and evidence of clubs' convergence and divergence are observed in the domains of infant mortality rate, neonatal death rate, and total fertility rate. As suggested by the kernel density estimates, life expectancy at birth stratifies, polarizes, and becomes unimodal over time, although with a single stable state. A bimodal distribution was found for infant, neonatal, and total fertility rates. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, healthcare strategies must consider each club's transition path while focusing on divergence states to reduce health variations and improve health outcomes for each group of individuals.
- Klíčová slova
- Club convergence, Health status, Indian states, Kernel density,
- MeSH
- hodnocení výsledků zdravotní péče MeSH
- kojenec MeSH
- kojenecká mortalita * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- naděje dožití * MeSH
- novorozenec MeSH
- porodnost MeSH
- zdravotní stav MeSH
- Check Tag
- kojenec MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- novorozenec MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Innovative Work Behavior (IWB) of employees is one of the essential requirements for organizations to excel in competition in today's dynamic world. Nowadays, organizations can keep the current pace through competitive advantage. But to acquire competitive advantage, employees must be creative and innovative in their work-related behaviors. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan are suffering several challenges in this regard. Therefore, current study is designed to examine the role of negative events and negative leadership on the IWB of the employees with mediating role of Psychological Well-being (PsyWB). Further, the moderating role of Perceived Organizational Support (POS) has also been tested. The negative event used in current research is Workplace Incivility (WPI) and Despotic Leadership (DL) from the negative leadership styles examined. Results of the current study showed that the presence of WPI and DL in organizations damage the IWB of employees as they harm the PsyWB of employees. We find that PsyWB mediated the relationship among DL, WPI, and IWB. POS is helpful for employees to overcome the negative issues prevailing in the organizations. The SMEs need to construct policies to eradicate WPI and must discourage despotic personalities to make the environment favorable for employees to protect their IWB. There must be some events that can increase the positive PsyWB of employees to make them more creative and motivated. Likewise, POS must be at sufficient level so that employees feel safe and healthy in all respects.
Our research aims to support decision-making regarding the financing of healthcare projects by structural funds with policies targeting reduction of the development gap among different regions and countries of the European Union as well as the achievement of economic and social cohesion. A fuzzy decision support model for the evaluation and selection of healthcare projects should rank the project applications for the selected region, accounting for the investor's wishes in the form of a regional coefficient in order to reduce the development gap between regions. On the one hand, our proposed model evaluates project applications based on selected criteria, which may be structured, weakly structured, or unstructured. On the other hand, it also incorporates information on the level of healthcare development in the region. The obtained ranking increases the degree of validity of the decision regarding the selection of projects for financing by investors, considering the level of development of the region where the project will be implemented. At the expense of European Union (EU) structural funds, a village, city, region, or state can receive funds for modernization and development of the healthcare sector and all related processes. To minimize risks, it is necessary to implement adequate support systems for decision-making in the assessment of project applications, as well as regional policy in the region where the project will be implemented. The primary goal of this study was to develop a complex fuzzy decision support model for the evaluation and selection of projects in the field of healthcare with the aim of reducing the development gap between regions. Based on the above description, we formed the following scientific hypothesis for this research: if the project selected for financing can successfully achieve its stated goals and increase the level of development of its region, it should be evaluated positively. This evaluation can be obtained using a complex fuzzy model constructed to account for the region's level of development in terms of the availability and quality of healthcare services in the region where the project will be implemented.
This study proposes an approach to the external evaluation of medical education programs' quality based on a combination of indicators, including international rankings, external stakeholders' input, and independent agencies' assessments. We modify the success equation with a detailed consideration of the skill component and its decomposition into internal and external quality assurance elements along with authority. We carried out a bibliometric analysis regarding the problem of medical education quality assessment in the context of achieving sustainable development goals. We described the calculation model of external quality assessment indicators through the algorithms of independent education quality assurance agencies' activity and rating indicators shown in the modified Mauboussin's equation. The model considers the economic component (the consequence of achievement) of skill, which is expressed in raising funds from external sources to implement educational and scientific activities. The proposed algorithm for assessing the educational program quality can be applied to benchmark educational program components, complete educational programs within the subject area, and the educational institution for different areas. We propose a "financial" model for educational program quality based on the analysis results. The model makes it possible to determine the need for additional focused funding of the educational program based on the individual analysis of the external evaluation criteria of the achievement level. This study analyzes the accreditation results of more than 110 educational programs in 2020 and 8 months of 2021 within the direction 22 "Medicine" (according to the national classification of fields of knowledge) (state and private Ukrainian medical universities).
This study aimed to assess the relationship between safety perceptions and destination image in the Central European region during the technological and social environment change brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study sample consisted of respondents from three Central European countries, namely, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. The quantile regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the image of the destination and its perceived safety. The results showed that concerns about the safety of the tourism environment could be negatively associated with the image of the infrastructure in Hungary and Slovakia, with value for money in the three countries, and with images of enjoyment in Slovakia. Higher levels of destination safety may be associated with a more positive destination image, with health, facilities and services being the most important dimensions of perceived safety, because of the pandemic. This study contributes to the knowledge of the concept of destination images and the development of tourism.
- Klíčová slova
- Central European countries, Destination image, Domestic tourists, Perception, Safety, Tourism management,
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The aim of this review was to study why, despite large investments in research and development, algae biodiesel is still not price competitive with fossil fuels. Microalgal production was confirmed to be a critical cost item (84 up to 93 %) for biodiesel regardless of the production technology. Techno-economic assessment revealed the main cost drivers during mass cultivation. It is argued that a breakthrough in the cultivation efficiency of microalgae is identified as a necessary condition for achieving price-competitive microalgal biodiesel. The key bottlenecks were identified as follows: (1) light and O2 concentration management; (2) overnight respiratory loss of oil. It is concluded that most of the research on microalgae biodiesel yields economically over-optimistic presumptions because it has been based on laboratory scale experiments with a low level of interdisciplinary overlap.
- Klíčová slova
- Biodiesel, Biomass, Feedstock, Microalgae, Production cost,
- MeSH
- biomasa MeSH
- biopaliva * MeSH
- fosilní paliva MeSH
- mikrořasy * MeSH
- technologie MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
- Názvy látek
- biopaliva * MeSH
- fosilní paliva MeSH
INTRODUCTION: Although there is a growing number of scientific publications on financial monitoring, combating money laundering, the shadow economy, and the impact of corruption on economic development, further research needs to determine the stability of the national financial system in dynamics. The dynamic stability of the national financial monitoring system subjects will allow to adequately assess the effectiveness of the existing national financial monitoring system in each country and determine the influential factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The article investigates an approach to identifying the dynamic stability of the national financial monitoring system subjects based on the calculation of the integrated indicator of the country's financial system propensity to ALM, vector autoregression (VAR) model taking into account time lag. The proposed integrated indicator allowed to adequately assess the existing financial monitoring systems of the countries (15 countries of the European Union for 2000-2020: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain). In addition, vector autoregression models (VAR) of the dependence of the country's financial system propensity to ALM on the regressors Government Integrity, Index of economic freedom, Monetary Sector credit to the private sector (% GDP), were built, taking into account time lags in general and for each studied country. RESULTS: According to the modeling results, the national financial monitoring systems in Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Slovak Republic, Spain were resistant to money laundering. It is vice versa in Malta, Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Italy, Latvia. These conclusions are also confirmed based on a binary approach. Such exogenous variables as Government Integrity (with a lag of 2 years) and the Index of economic freedom (taking into account the time delays of the regression reflection under the influence of this regressor for 1 and 2 years) have a statistically significant effect on the country's financial system. CONCLUSION: The general vector autoregression (VAR) model shows that the current value of the country's financial system propensity to ALM by 92.78% is determined by its previous value. With an increase of Government Integrity by 1%, the country's financial system's propensity to ALM will decrease by 0.000616 units with a lag of two years. The nature of the impact made by the Index of economic freedom on the performance feature was specific-when this indicator increases by 1% for a lag delay in one year, the PFSALM value will decrease by 0.001997 units, and for a lag delay of two years it will change the trend and increase by 0.003076 units per unit, respectively.
The main focus of the study was to witness the effects of chicken waste-based biodiesel blends along with constant hydrogen injection in a modified diesel engine. Furthermore, the nanoparticle multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) effects on the engine efficiency were also examined. A series of tests was conducted in the single cylinder, water cooled engine fuelled with diesel, CB100N, CB10N, CB30N, and CB50N. Throughout the entire run, constant hydrogen injection of 5 LPM has been maintained. The parameters such as brake thermal efficiency, brake specific fuel consumption, heat release rate and the emissions of different pollutants were determined for a variety of engine speeds. ASTM standards were applied to measure the viscosity, density and calorific value. From the reported findings, it was clear that the addition of the chicken waste biodiesel could be a sustainable substitute for the existing fossil fuels. Although the emission of the pollutants was dropped significantly, there was a massive drop in the BTE values. To compensate such shortage of power, the biodiesel was dispersed with MWCNT at the concentration of 80 ppm. Compared to the regular biodiesel, MWCNT inclusion increased the BTE by 14%. Further, the consumption of the fuel was also reduced marginally. Considering the pollutants, the catalytic activity of the MWCNT reduced the emissions of CO, NOx, and HC at various engine speeds. Besides, 10% reduction in NOx had been reported at lower engine speeds and was reduced to 8% at higher speed regimes. Compiling all together, increasing the concentration of the biodiesel blends obviously reduced the performance values and however, there was a great advantage in terms of the emission magnitudes irrespective of the engine operating conditions.
- Klíčová slova
- Chicken waste, Diesel engine, Hydrogen fuel, Nanoparticles, Waste management,
- MeSH
- benzin MeSH
- biopaliva MeSH
- kur domácí MeSH
- látky znečišťující životní prostředí * MeSH
- nanotrubičky uhlíkové * MeSH
- oxid uhelnatý analýza MeSH
- tuky MeSH
- vodík MeSH
- výfukové emise vozidel MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Názvy látek
- benzin MeSH
- biopaliva MeSH
- látky znečišťující životní prostředí * MeSH
- nanotrubičky uhlíkové * MeSH
- oxid uhelnatý MeSH
- tuky MeSH
- vodík MeSH
- výfukové emise vozidel MeSH
INTRODUCTION: Population health is one of the highest priorities for countries, which can translate into increased economic prosperity. This encourages research on health in an economic context. METHODS: The objective was to assess the relationships between health spending, treatable respiratory mortality, and gross domestic product (GDP) in countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The research was conducted with respect to health systems (tax-based, insurance-based) and gender differentiation of the productive population (aged 25-64 years). Descriptive analysis, regression analysis, and cluster analysis were used to achieve the main objective. The data covered the period from 1994 to 2016. RESULTS: The results of the regression analysis revealed negative relationships between health spending and treatable respiratory mortality in countries with a tax-based health system for male and female working-age populations, as well as in countries with an insurance-based health system for male population. This means that higher health spending was associated with lower treatable respiratory mortality. Also, lower treatable mortality was associated with higher GDP, especially in the male productive population from countries with an insurance-based health system. In this study, countries with a tax-based health system were characterized by higher health spending, lower rates of treatable mortality from respiratory system diseases, and higher GDP compared to countries with an insurance-based health system. Males reported a higher mortality rate than females. Among the countries with a tax-based health system, the United Kingdom and Latvia showed less positive outcomes, while Italy and Iceland were the countries with the most positive outcomes. Among the countries with an insurance-based health system, Hungary and Slovakia reported poor outcomes, while France, Switzerland and Luxembourg were characterized by very positive outcomes. The United States showed a high mortality rate despite its high economic outcomes, i.e., health spending and GDP. DISCUSSION: Health care financing in particular is one of the instruments of health policy. It seems that the leaders of countries should ensure a sufficient level of health financing, as higher health spending can contribute to lower mortality rates in a country. This may translate into higher productivity. Especially countries with underfunded health systems should increase their health spending.
- Klíčová slova
- GDP, OECD, health spending, health systems, productive population, respiratory diseases, treatable mortality,
- MeSH
- hrubý domácí produkt MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Organizace pro hospodářskou spolupráci a rozvoj * MeSH
- výdaje na zdravotnictví * MeSH
- zdravotní politika MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Spojené státy americké MeSH
- Švýcarsko MeSH
