This study examines how public investment in education and the country socio-cultural context are related to the instructional leadership of school principals. In this study, we conducted an analysis using a cluster country dataset (3 clusters) based on the evaluation of investment in education. The data were derived from the responses to the questionnaire for school principals in the OECD TALIS 2018 survey. To operationalize sociocultural context, we utilize Hofstede’s societal cultural values. The analysis showed that the countries’ societal cultural values predicted instructional leadership of principals, as shown in the OECD TALIS 2018 results. The results also showed a significant but negative relationship between school principals’ instructional leadership and the countries’ investment in education in those countries with the greatest investment in education. The study did not confirm a linear relationship between investment in education and outcomes. In our case, a higher investment does not mean that school principals achieve better results in instructional leadership than in the OECD TALIS survey. By analysing the data, this study aims to provide a detailed overview of how public investment in education and the societal cultural context in each country can promote or hinder instructional leadership, thereby enriching the discussion on promoting excellence and equity in education worldwide.

Non-cash payments are intensively growing in the payment market. Therefore modern electronic systems of interbank payments are introduced to satisfy this need. The substantial renewal of the payment system was prompted for the implementation of the new banking technologies and aimed at increasing fund turnover as well as complying with the requirements applied in regard of payment systems. Such a system change is a topical theme of discussion on the simulation and analysis of systems of such kind.The article analyses the opportunities for simulating the interbank payment system and presents a model of interbank payments flow. The model is constructed on the analysis of real flow of payments in the payment system.

Monografijoje pristatomo tyrimo tikslas – ištirti pasirinktuose XIX a. pabaigos - XX a. pradžios lietuvių autorių kūriniuose artikuliuojamus sąžinės tikrovės, apimančios objektyvųjį ir subjektyvųjį jos sandus, atvejus, akcentuojant sąžinės ir pasaulėžiūros įsitikinimų koreliaciją. Sąžinės tikrovė atskleidžiama analizuojant kūriniuose atspindėtą asmens sąžinės ir objektyvios tikrovės tarpusavio santykį. Tyrimas atskleidžia, kad sąžinės vaizdavimo literatūroje skirtumai buvo nulemti įvairių faktorių: autorių pasaulėžiūros, vertybinės orientacijos, socialinės kilmės, kūrinio rašymo laiko (vykusių politinių ir kultūrinių procesų), literatūrinės srovės poveikio ir adresato. Sąžinės tikrovės tyrimas taip pat padėjo geriau suprasti, kaip visuomenė tvarkėsi su šio laikotarpio traumomis, kaip formavosi moralės atkūrimo ir atminties išsaugojimo procesai, pilietinės atsakomybės formavimasis.

The time course of physiological and psychological markers during cold acclimation (CA) was explored. The experiment included 17 controlled (i.e., until the rectal temperature reached 35.5°C or 170 min had elapsed; for the CA-17 session, the subjects (n = 14) were immersed in water for the same amount of time as that used in the CA-1 session) head-out water immersions at a temperature of 14°C over 20 days. The data obtained in this study suggest that the subjects exhibited a thermoregulatory shift from peripheral-to-central to solely central input thermoregulation, as well as from shivering to non-shivering thermogenesis throughout the CA. In the first six CA sessions, a hypothermic type of acclimation was found; further CA (CA-7 to CA-16) led to a transitional shift to a hypothermic-insulative type of acclimation. Interestingly, when the subjects were immersed in water for the same time as that used in the CA-1 session (CA-17), the CA led to a hypothermic type of acclimation. The presence of a metabolic type of thermogenesis was evident only under thermoneutral conditions. Cold-water immersion decreased the concentration of cold-stress markers, reduced the activity of the innate immune system, suppressed specific immunity to a lesser degree and yielded less discomfort and cold sensation. We found a negative correlation between body mass index and Δ metabolic heat production before and after CA.

Šis vadovėlis skiriamas aukštųjų mokyklų socialinių mokslų edukologijos, psichologijos, sociologijos, antropologijos, viešosios komunikacijos, ekonomikos, viešojo administravimo, vadybos ir politikos mokslų krypčių sudijų studentams.

Vadovėlis „Takas“ skirtas B1 lygio lietuvių kalbos gebėjimams ugdyti. Jį sudaro 8 pamokos – „žingsniai“, – apimantys svarbias šiam lygiui leksikos temas ir dalį gramatikos. Ši knyga – rinkinys įvairių žanrų, skirtingo sudėtingumo tekstų, kad tiek studentai, tiek jų mokytojai galėtų lanksčiai, kūrybingai ir efektyviai naudotis pateikta medžiaga. Tekstų įvairovė – bandymas atsižvelgti į skirtingų mokymosi stilių, pomėgių, socialinių sričių ir interesų besimokančiųjų poreikius. Apskritai vadovėlio išeities taškas – autentiški tekstai ir natūrali kalbos vartosena. Knyga gausiai iliustruota paveikslais ir fotografijomis, atspindinčiomis įvairias gyvenimo realijas, apimančias įvairius socialinius bei kultūrinius lietuvių kalbos vartojimo ir gyvenimo aspektus. Kiekvienoje pamokoje galima rasti ir smulkiosios tautosakos bei sakytinės kalbos, neformaliosios kalbos pavyzdžių. Dalis gramatikos taisyklių pateikta pamokose kaip aktyvios užduotys. Daugiau informacijos ir gramatikos taisyklių pateikta gramatikos priedo įklijoje, kuri suskirstyta ne pagal pamokas, o pagal kalbos dalis. Šią informaciją galima naudoti skirtingose pamokose, kai tik kyla klausimų dėl tinkamos žodžio formos. Atmintuke rasite kiekvienos pamokos koliažus, kuriuos galima rodyti išmaniojoje lentoje interaktyvioms užduotims, klausymo įrašus ir visus vadovėlio tekstus, kad mokytojas panorėjęs galėtų išradingai juos panaudoti kurdamas savo užduotis. Pajuskite, kaip žingsnis po žingsnio lietuvių kalba ir kultūra jums tampa suprantamesnė, įdomesnė, gal net artimesnė.

Šiuolaikinei organizacijai, norinčiai sėkmingai dirbti rinkoje, būtinos marketingo komunikacijos. Jos yra vienas pagrindinių šiuolaikinio marketingo aspektų. Tai svarbus bet kokios organizacijos veiklos elementas, leidžiantis organizacijai bendrauti su klientais. organizacijos turi mokėti koordinuoti, integruoti, planuoti savo komunikaciją – išmokti naudoti tokį galingą marketingo įrankį kaip marketingo komunikacijos. Mokomoji knyga parengta remiantis marketingo komunikacijų tema parašytais lietuvių ir užsienio autorių darbais ir vadovėliais, taip pat internetu pasiekiamais šaltiniais.

Socialinė psichologija yra mokslas apie santykius tarp žmonių, todėl kiekvienas esame savo kasdienio gyvenimo socialiniai psichologai. Kiekvienas turime savo supratimą apie tai, kodėl mums svarbūs žmonės elgiasi taip, kaip jie elgiasi, ir spėjimą, kaip jie elgsis ateityje. Šios knygos paskirtis yra glaustai apžvelgti socialinės psichologijos problematiką ir pagrindines sukauptas žinias apie šį mokslą. Svarbiausi santykių tarp žmonių principai ir dėsniai apibendrinti taip, kad skaitytojas galėtų pritaikyti juos savo kasdieniame gyvenime. Knygoje aptariamos temos – nuo emocijų ir įvaizdžio iki meilės, manipuliacijos ir lyderystės – sudomins kiekvieną skaitytoją, norintį išmokti efektyviau bendrauti ir sukurti geresnius santykius su kitais žmonėmis.

This teaching aid has grown out from the course Introduction into English Linguistics which I have been teaching at Vytautas Magnus University for a number of years. Its aim is to present students with a concise and up-to-date discussion of some of the main topics that mod-ern linguistics addresses. The teaching guide is provided with exercises for each topic (graded from less difficult to advanced), and questions for discussion. All the exercises have been tested in class. The teaching guide also includes a glossary of the most important terms which students have to know and be able to use not only in this course but also in the other linguistic courses that they take in the programme of English Philology.

Šiuolaikinei organizacijai, norinčiai sėkmingai dirbti rinkoje, būtinos marketingo komunikacijos. Jos yra vienas pagrindinių šiuolaikinio marketingo aspektų. Tai svarbus bet kokios organizacijos veiklos elementas, leidžiantis organizacijai bendrauti su klientais. organizacijos turi mokėti koordinuoti, integruoti, planuoti savo komunikaciją – išmokti naudoti tokį galingą marketingo įrankį kaip marketingo komunikacijos. Mokomoji knyga parengta remiantis marketingo komunikacijų tema parašytais lietuvių ir užsienio autorių darbais ir vadovėliais, taip pat internetu pasiekiamais šaltiniais.

This text serves as an introduction to critical analysis of crime fiction in English. After a brief review of the pre-history of crime fiction in English, the principal focus is on sub-genres such as Golden Age detective stories, American noir thrillers, thrillers in general and police procedurals. For each sub-genre a list of characteristics is provided. Some major authors like Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler, P.D. James, Ruth Rendell, Ian Rankin and Kathy Reichs are given closer attention. In addition, newer trends in crime fiction are discussed. Exercises for students and advice in carrying out research on crime fiction are also given.

The idea to write this book primarily came from our intention to share what we have discovered about one of the greatest childhood miracles – play. For a number of years we have explored this phenomenon, yet its profound and extraordinary nature still continues to surprise us. Promotes development and, at the same time, is the greatest achievement of the child. Keeping this in mind, we designed our monograph for a few purposes. First, we wanted to present the results of the three-year project “Development of Self-Regulation in Play” attained in play research laboratory of the Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences. Second, we sought for the first time to discuss in Lithuanian language the theory of play based on cultural – historical psychology. Our objective was to formulate and present the key principles of the development of self-regulation through play activities. Finally, we aimed to describe the steps of practical use of joint (adult-child) play activities that help a child to develop a self-regulatory behavior during play. Why did we choose to focus on the development of self-regulation through play activities? Simply that a large number of worldwide studies show (Elkind, 1982, 2007; Singer, Singer, D’Agostino, DeLong, 2008; Frost, 2010) that children’s imaginary play is vanishing and that their imagination and self-regulation skills have deteriorated. Another observed trend is a clear opposition between play and academic learning (Miller & Almon, 2009; Nicolopoulou, 2010). Surveys reveal that currently selfregulation and executive functions are in the center of researchers’ attention worldwide and are among top ten studies in progress. [...]

This paper gives the main definitions relating to dependability, a generic concept including as special case such attributes as reliability, availability, safety, integrity, maintainability, etc. Security brings in concerns for confidentiality, in addition to availability and integrity. Basic definitions are given first. They are then commented upon, and supplemented by additional definitions, which address the threats to dependability and security (faults, errors, failures), their attributes, and the means for their achievement (fault prevention, fault tolerance, fault removal, fault forecasting). The aim is to explicate a set of general concepts, of relevance across a wide range of situations and, therefore, helping communication and cooperation among a number of scientific and technical communities, including ones that are concentrating on particular types of system, of system failures, or of causes of system failures.

Land Use Regression (LUR) models have been used increasingly for modeling small-scale spatial variation in air pollution concentrations and estimating individual exposure for participants of cohort studies. Within the ESCAPE project, concentrations of PM(2.5), PM(2.5) absorbance, PM(10), and PM(coarse) were measured in 20 European study areas at 20 sites per area. GIS-derived predictor variables (e.g., traffic intensity, population, and land-use) were evaluated to model spatial variation of annual average concentrations for each study area. The median model explained variance (R(2)) was 71% for PM(2.5) (range across study areas 35-94%). Model R(2) was higher for PM(2.5) absorbance (median 89%, range 56-97%) and lower for PM(coarse) (median 68%, range 32- 81%). Models included between two and five predictor variables, with various traffic indicators as the most common predictors. Lower R(2) was related to small concentration variability or limited availability of predictor variables, especially traffic intensity. Cross validation R(2) results were on average 8-11% lower than model R(2). Careful selection of monitoring sites, examination of influential observations and skewed variable distributions were essential for developing stable LUR models. The final LUR models are used to estimate air pollution concentrations at the home addresses of participants in the health studies involved in ESCAPE.

Estimating within-city variability in air pollution concentrations is important. Land use regression (LUR) models are able to explain such small-scale within-city variations. Transparency in LUR model development methods is important to facilitate comparison of methods between different studies. We therefore developed LUR models in a standardized way in 36 study areas in Europe for the ESCAPE (European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects) project. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) were measured with Ogawa passive samplers at 40 or 80 sites in each of the 36 study areas. The spatial variation in each area was explained by LUR modelling. Centrally and locally available Geographic Information System (GIS) variables were used as potential predictors. A leave-one out cross-validation procedure was used to evaluate the model performance. There was substantial contrast in annual average NO2 and NOx concentrations within the study areas. The model explained variances (R2) of the LUR models ranged from 55% to 92% (median 82%) for NO2 and from 49% to 91% (median 78%) for NOx. For most areas the cross-validation R2 was less than 10% lower than the model R2. Small-scale traffic and population/household density were the most common predictors. The magnitude of the explained variance depended on the contrast in measured concentrations as well as availability of GIS predictors, especially traffic intensity data were important. In an additional evaluation, models in which local traffic intensity was not offered had 10% lower R2 compared to models in the same areas in which these variables were offered. Within the ESCAPE project it was possible to develop LUR models that explained a large fraction of the spatial variance in measured annual average NO2 and NOx concentrations. These LUR models are being used to estimate outdoor concentrations at the home addresses of participants in over 30 cohort studies.

Methods. We pooled data from 14 population-based mother–child cohort studies in 12 European countries. Overall, the study population included 74 178 women who had singleton deliveries between Feb 11, 1994, and June 2, 2011, and for whom information about infant birthweight, gestational age, and sex was available. The primary outcome of interest was low birthweight at term (weight <2500 g at birth after 37 weeks of gestation). Mean concentrations of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2•5 μm (PM2•5), less than 10 μm (PM10), and between 2•5 μm and 10 μm during pregnancy were estimated at maternal home addresses with temporally adjusted land-use regression models, as was PM2•5 absorbance and concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen oxides. We also investigated traffic density on the nearest road and total traffic load. We calculated pooled effect estimates with random-effects models. Findings. A 5 μg/m3 increase in concentration of PM2•5 during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of low birthweight at term (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1•18, 95% CI 1•06–1•33). An increased risk was also recorded for pregnancy concentrations lower than the present European Union annual PM2•5 limit of 25 μg/m3 (OR for 5 μg/m3 increase in participants exposed to concentrations of less than 20 μg/m3 1•41, 95% CI 1•20–1•65). PM10 (OR for 10 μg/m3 increase 1•16, 95% CI 1•00–1•35), NO2 (OR for 10 μg/m3 increase 1•09, 1•00–1•19), and traffic density on nearest street (OR for increase of 5000 vehicles per day 1•06, 1•01–1•11) were also associated with increased risk of low birthweight at term. The population attributable risk estimated for a reduction in PM2•5 concentration to 10 μg/m3 during pregnancy corresponded to a decrease of 22% (95% CI 8–33%) in cases of low birthweight at term. [...].

This paper gives the main definitions relating to dependability, a generic concept including as special case such attributes as reliability, availability, safety, integrity, maintainability, etc. Security brings in concerns for confidentiality, in addition to availability and integrity. Basic definitions are given first. They are then commented upon, and supplemented by additional definitions, which address the threats to dependability and security (faults, errors, failures), their attributes, and the means for their achievement (fault prevention, fault tolerance, fault removal, fault forecasting). The aim is to explicate a set of general concepts, of relevance across a wide range of situations and, therefore, helping communication and cooperation among a number of scientific and technical communities, including ones that are concentrating on particular types of system, of system failures, or of causes of system failures.

Land Use Regression (LUR) models have been used increasingly for modeling small-scale spatial variation in air pollution concentrations and estimating individual exposure for participants of cohort studies. Within the ESCAPE project, concentrations of PM(2.5), PM(2.5) absorbance, PM(10), and PM(coarse) were measured in 20 European study areas at 20 sites per area. GIS-derived predictor variables (e.g., traffic intensity, population, and land-use) were evaluated to model spatial variation of annual average concentrations for each study area. The median model explained variance (R(2)) was 71% for PM(2.5) (range across study areas 35-94%). Model R(2) was higher for PM(2.5) absorbance (median 89%, range 56-97%) and lower for PM(coarse) (median 68%, range 32- 81%). Models included between two and five predictor variables, with various traffic indicators as the most common predictors. Lower R(2) was related to small concentration variability or limited availability of predictor variables, especially traffic intensity. Cross validation R(2) results were on average 8-11% lower than model R(2). Careful selection of monitoring sites, examination of influential observations and skewed variable distributions were essential for developing stable LUR models. The final LUR models are used to estimate air pollution concentrations at the home addresses of participants in the health studies involved in ESCAPE.

Estimating within-city variability in air pollution concentrations is important. Land use regression (LUR) models are able to explain such small-scale within-city variations. Transparency in LUR model development methods is important to facilitate comparison of methods between different studies. We therefore developed LUR models in a standardized way in 36 study areas in Europe for the ESCAPE (European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects) project. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) were measured with Ogawa passive samplers at 40 or 80 sites in each of the 36 study areas. The spatial variation in each area was explained by LUR modelling. Centrally and locally available Geographic Information System (GIS) variables were used as potential predictors. A leave-one out cross-validation procedure was used to evaluate the model performance. There was substantial contrast in annual average NO2 and NOx concentrations within the study areas. The model explained variances (R2) of the LUR models ranged from 55% to 92% (median 82%) for NO2 and from 49% to 91% (median 78%) for NOx. For most areas the cross-validation R2 was less than 10% lower than the model R2. Small-scale traffic and population/household density were the most common predictors. The magnitude of the explained variance depended on the contrast in measured concentrations as well as availability of GIS predictors, especially traffic intensity data were important. In an additional evaluation, models in which local traffic intensity was not offered had 10% lower R2 compared to models in the same areas in which these variables were offered. Within the ESCAPE project it was possible to develop LUR models that explained a large fraction of the spatial variance in measured annual average NO2 and NOx concentrations. These LUR models are being used to estimate outdoor concentrations at the home addresses of participants in over 30 cohort studies.

Background: Evidence is growing for the beneficial impacts of natural outdoor environments on health. However, most of the evidence has focused on green spaces and little evidence is available on health benefits of blue spaces and about possible mediators and modifiers of such impacts. We investigated the association between natural outdoor environments (separately for green and blue spaces) and health (general and mental) and its possible mediators and modifiers. Methods: Cross-sectional data fromadults interviewed in Catalonia (Spain) between 2010 and 2012 as part of the Catalonia Health Surveywere used. The collected data included sociodemographic characteristics, self-perceived general health, mental health, physical activity and social support. Indicators of surrounding greenness and access to natural outdoor environments within 300 m of the residence and degree of urbanization were derived for residential addresses. Associations were estimated using logistic regression and negative binominal models. Results: Green spaces were associated with better self-perceived general health and better mental health, independent of degree of urbanization. The associationsweremore consistent for surrounding greenness than for access to green spaces. The results were consistent for different buffers, and when stratifying for socioeconomic status. Slightly stronger associations were found for women and residents of non-densely populated areas. No association was found between green spaces and social contacts and physical activity. The results for blue spaces were not conclusive. Conclusion: Green spaces are associated with better general and mental health across strata of urbanization, socioeconomic status, and genders. Mechanisms other than physical activity or social support may explain these associations.