International Practice Experiences Research Articles

MANAGING FINANCIAL RISKS BY ENSURING THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF COMPANIES

This article discusses the scientific and practical aspects of increasing the financial stability of joint-stock companies. The scientific works of domestic and foreign economists on ensuring the financial stability of the company were studied. The financial results and trends in the financial performance of large foreign corporations are analyzed. Based on the study of international practical experience, scientific recommendations have been formulated to ensure financial sustainability in joint-stock companies in our country.

The Silverman–Andersen scale in the assessment of respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants: clinical and prognostic significance

The article discusses the historical features of the clinical formation of the diagnostic criteria of the Silverman-Andersen scale in the assessment of respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants. The epidemiology and clinical picture of the respiratory distress syndrome of newborn (infantile respiratory distress syndrome,) is given. The international practical experience of the clinical application of the rating scale in neonatology and neonatal resuscitation is presented. Modern aspects of further improvement of the neonatal scale in the primary and/or repeated visual assessment of the clinical picture of IRDS during monitoring of vital functions and intensive care of premature infants in the early neonatal period are analyzed. The important clinical and prognostic significance of the primary use of the Silverman-Andersen scale in the rapid assessment of the clinical course of ADRS in premature infants is emphasized with a targeted choice of tactics for starting respiratory support in the intensive care unit for newborns in the maternity hospital of the perinatal center of Yudin City Clinical Hospital (Moscow).

Analysis of the international application of healthy life expectancy

Healthy life expectancy is based on life expectancy to further identify the healthy component, moving the assessment threshold from the mortality to the whole life cycle, receiving more and more attention worldwide. Nowadays, it has become one of the core indicators of national major strategy and plan. As a comprehensive indicator of health measurement, healthy life expectancy is complicated and multi-dimensional. Different social and cultural backgrounds have different understandings of health and choose different measurement dimensions. Overall, although high-income countries have different choices in their national health plan, healthy life expectancy without activity restriction is by far the most widely used indicator. This paper reviewed the concept and application of healthy life expectancy systematically, drawing on international practical experience to provide reference for the establishment of a healthy life expectancy indicator system in line with the Chinese national conditions.

Razvitie glavnoj rechnoj sistemy Kitaya v transgranichnyh bassejnah s tochki zreniya konceptual'noj istorii

The implementation of the river chief system (RCS) in China is a key move to solve its complex water problems and sustain healthy rivers and lakes. The article considers the Weishan Lake project as an innovative way to develop RCS in transboundary basins: it draws on the underlying international practice experience in transboundary river/lake water environment governance.

Assessment of the Quality of Active Family Leisure

Study purpose. The study was aimed at assessing the quality of active family leisure and identifying motivations for and interests in health-enhancing and recreational physical activity of parents and children.
 Materials and methods. The study involved 106 families. A set of generally accepted research methods was used including theoretical analysis and generalization of scientific and methodological literature as well as domestic and international practical experience related to family leisure; sociological methods (questionnaire surveys), and mathematical statistics methods.
 Results. The questionnaire survey provided an opportunity to identify priority areas of joint physical activity of children and parents and to assess the quality of family well-being and active family leisure. The attitude of parents to winter types of recreation in the organization of active leisure was identified. According to the survey data, 9.4% of the families had a high level, 59.4% had an average level, 30.3% had a satisfactory level, and 0.9% had an unsatisfactory level of family well-being. The vast majority of respondents (45.2%) believed that their family members had a satisfactory level of physical activity, 40.6% of families reported they had an average level, only 10.4% indicated they had a high level, and 3.8% said they had an unsatisfactory level. Among the surveyed families, 63.2% indicated an average level of satisfaction with family leisure, 29.2% rated their leisure as satisfactory, and the remaining 3.8% indicated an excellent or unsatisfactory level.
 Conclusions. The focus was on identifying prevailing motivations, which contribute to the optimization of the family leisure process and the degree of activity when using recreational technologies. The obtained results indicate a significant potential for expanding physical activity of families with children, including through the use of winter recreation.

Інструменти державного регулювання ринку агрострахування

The purpose of the article is to develop practical recommendations for improving the tools of state regulation of the agricultural insurance market. Research methods. The research was based on general scientific research methods, scientific works of domestic and foreign economists on insurance in the agricultural sector of the economy, regulations and Internet resources. The application of the method of comparison, the monographic method in combination with the method of induction made it possible to systematize and generalize the foreign experience of state support for agricultural producers. Research results. The reasons for the need to improve the system of state regulation of the agricultural insurance market are systematized. The international practical experience of formation of systems of the state support of agricultural insurance is generalized. The normative-legal acts regulating relations in the field of insurance of agricultural products are considered. Emphasis is placed on existing programs to protect agricultural producers from the risks posed by the state. An assessment of the current state of the agricultural insurance market in Ukraine and identified prospects for its development using the tools of state regulation. Scientific novelty. It is proved that agricultural insurance is a new effective tool for state support of farmers in case of risks, which will help improve the economic performance of the agricultural sector of Ukraine. Practical significance. Measures to improve the instruments of state regulation of the agricultural insurance market are proposed. The introduction of state support for agricultural insurance will contribute to the growth of the domestic market of agricultural insurance, which will provide additional revenues to the state budget. Refs.: 13.

Civil activism as a resource for political administration of media space: Russian and international experience

Currently, control over the political process is exercised not only on the physical level: a significant role in political transformations is also played by media space. Alongside the traditional forms, such as television, radio and periodicals, the Internet grows in popularity, being a platform for communication between most active social actors concerned with the problems of political, cultural and other social spheres. The virtual environment that opens doors for the promotion of civil initiatives. It is noteworthy that civil activity can have a destabilizing effect on the media space, when the population uses online platforms not as a resource of “soft power”, but as the means of influencing the government. The citizens’ pursuit of sociopolitical changes manifests not only in the forms of protest: media space affords opportunities for participation in various online platforms, forums, etc. for the citizens with active political position. At the same time, the virtual means of participation in such projects as a resource of political administration have certain limitations and are controlled by the government. Leaning on the comparative analysis, the author analyzes the theory of the question, as well as Russian and international practical experience pertaining to implementation of civil activism as a resource for political administration of media space. The conclusion is made on the level effectiveness of implementation of civil activism in media environment, its capabilities and limitations.

NATIONAL CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MODEL: THE IMPERATIVES OF FUNDING THE GROWTH OF THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY

The article discusses the role, importance, potential and problems of corporate organization of industry in Russia. We established that the implementation of a developed model of corporate governance is a reliable and effective system of funding the growth of enterprises. The authors reviewed corporate governance in economically developed countries, which are the main drivers of global economic development. On the basis of a broad analysis of theoretical studies and practice of large foreign and Russian corporations, we attempt to show that the assumption about the effectiveness of reforms in the Russian Federation on the basis of privatization of state property and due to this increase in funding of development processes has not remained a proven hypothesis. The reason for this is the reformers’ ignorance of the theoretical principles and international practical experience in the evolution of corporate governance. The methodical basis of this article is economic-statistical, system, and comparative research methods. The authors analyzed and compared large foreign and Russian corporations by industry, the position of the state in management, the number of shareholders, the volume and mechanisms of funding of innovations. We have also summarized the main ratings of large corporations by revenue and capitalization, financing for research and development. The authors identified trends in the gap between Russia according to the factors of the economically developed countries-leaders. The authors concluded that the impact of national corporate governance on the economic development of countries is complex and ambiguous. High productivity, advanced technologies and innovations allow economically developed countries to extract Schumpeterian rent, to obtain additional sources of R&D funding, providing themselves with competitive advantages. Based on a comprehensive analysis of statistical data, the authors recommend that the relevant executive and legislative authorities of the Russian Federation do not delay the entry into a new phase of development of the Russian economy, which can prevent systemic and insurmountable obstacles in the foreseeable future. We propose to strengthen the organization of corporate governance with legislation, state regulation and business practices.

Transforming primary care: scoping review of research and practice

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to reflect on research evidence and practice experience of transforming primary care to a more integrated and holistic model.Design/methodology/approachIt is based on a scoping review which has been guided by primary care stakeholders and synthesises research evidence and practice experience from ten international case studies.FindingsAdopting an inter-professional, community-orientated and population-based primary care model requires a fundamental transformation of thinking about professional roles, relationships and responsibilities. Team-based approaches can replicate existing power dynamics unless medical clinicians are willing to embrace less authoritarian leadership styles. Engagement of patients and communities is often limited due to a lack of capacity and belief that will make an impact. Internal (relationships, cultures, experience of improvement) and external (incentives, policy intentions, community pressure) contexts can encourage or derail transformation efforts.Practical implicationsTransformation requires a co-ordinated programme that incorporates the following elements – external facilitation of change; developing clinical and non-clinical leaders; learning through training and reflection; engaging community and professional stakeholders; transitional funding; and formative and summative evaluation.Originality/valueThis paper combines research evidence and international practice experience to guide future programmes to transform primary care.

Innovative technologies for the forming of three-tier environmental education

The increasing environmental problems of mankind requires specifics of the educational process of modern youth. The educational innovation should be based on international practical experience of the children and youth environmental education. And the main focus is to attract young people to environmental education activities and direct the organization of environmental activities that promote environmental awareness, various campaigns, festivals and exhibitions environmental, environmental forums, workshops, seminars, lectures and discussions, ets.

INNOVATIVE ERP APPLICATIONS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF NEW ZEALAND EXPERIENCE

Annotation. Contemporary economic science is looking for ways of research actualisation to resolve the challenges under the world financial crisis. Besides existing challenges in private de-regulated sector, one of the efficient innovations can be found in broadening ERP applications in the Public Sector. This paper approaches to the ERP applications mainly from the eco-nomical rather than from technical perspective. Comparative analysis of New Zealand public sector is supported by relevant in-ternational practical experience (implementations), and by core fundamental analysis of economical nature of business proc-esses used by public entities. The key advantage (based on a historical timeline) comes from a full integration of financial scope and operational activities. Using the example of ERP (as one of the drivers of productivity & performance improvement), the pa-per is aiming to underline how to bring the best practice and technology (data management and logical architecture) from the private sector into the public sphere. Keywords: ERP, Public Sector, optimisation, New Zealand, productivity, financial implementation, configuration.

International Practice Experiences in Pharmacy Education

To identify reasons for inclusion of international practice experiences in pharmacy curricula and to understand the related structure, benefits, and challenges related to the programs. A convenience sample of 20 colleges and schools of pharmacy in the United States with international pharmacy education programs was used. Telephone interviews were conducted by 2 study investigators. University values and strategic planning were among key driving forces in the development of programs. Global awareness and cultural competency requirements added impetus to program development. Participants' advice for creating an international practice experience program included an emphasis on the value of working with university health professions programs and established travel programs. Despite challenges, colleges and schools of pharmacy value the importance of international pharmacy education for pharmacy students as it increases global awareness of health needs and cultural competencies.

Assessment on Biogas Utilizations in Rural Areas in Urumqi, Xinjiang

As the effective and efficient means of resources utilization, biomass energy has become a very valuable and reliable source of alternative energy in China, especially for remote areas and countryside. First, in order to facilitate the development of biogas applications and promote the economic, social and ecological benefits from comprehensive utilization of biogas in rural areas in Urumqi (Capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, XUAR), the biogas potential was estimated, the biogas engineering construction and biogas comprehensive utilization were evaluated, and the existing problems of biogas development were analyzed, in this study. Second, countermeasures and recommendations were proposed in trying to resolved existing problems, based on international practical experience. And, according to local climatic situation and regional characteristics in Urumqi, ecological agriculture was proposed in this study as the development mode for the rural areas in Urumqi, based on the development of biogas technologies and international practical experience.

Globalization of Healthcare

This article explains the current state of the global healthcare market with respect to international medical travel (medical tourism) and worldwide provider sourcing. Emphasis is placed on the traditional twin pillars of oversight: program accreditation and branding affiliation. These are discussed for their main strength, which is their ability to operate at a system-strata level. This strength also represents a primary weakness from the international patient's perspective, which is the functional gap between systemic oversight and bedside surveillance. International case management (ICM) is identified as the right conduit of patient-level service delivery that fills the gap between system and bedside. The ICM professional is introduced and defined as the provider of patient-centered quality and safety improvements, who coordinates and collaborates using international network connections and culture-sensitive in-country communication skills. The article's information is useful for healthcare practitioners who want to learn about the global medical marketplace. Practitioners who are preparing to or who already have business enterprises associated with the global healthcare market will also find the information helpful. Explanations and content are useful to case management generalists, specialists, and business developers. The content is intended for uptake by interested parties within and outside the healthcare practice arena. All research and syntheses were executed by the authors. Sources included business correspondences, medical tourism literature, corporate Internet profiles, news releases, and healthcare industry investigative and monitoring agencies. Clinical competencies stem from the international practice experiences of one author (K. Craig). International health insurance, economics, and financing expertise stems from other author (L. Beichl). This article launches the platform for development of checklists, tools, and guidelines for international case management practice. The article focuses on (1) the examination of traditional quality safeguards of accreditation and branding and (2) the introduction of patient-centered ICM practices. The article aims to identify sources of risk for individual medical consumers who travel across national borders to seek medical care and methods of risk mitigation, especially international case management.

Quality in Translation

This article identifies three categories of case management (CM), in-country, international, and micro, that are poised to serve as the quality proxy for the international medical patient in the rapidly emerging globalized healthcare marketplace. The content concentrates on describing in-country CM and international CM (ICM). Because CM professionals are the providers of patient-centered quality and safety improvements, they are capable of filling the chasm between the travel industry and the regulators who specialize in accrediting hospital systems. In-country and ICM case managers are equipped to perform surveillance and intervention at the level of the international patient's bedside, activate network connections, and use culture-sensitive communication skills to safeguard patients in their individual sojourns abroad. The article discusses useful concepts and sources, including an algorithmic tool under development that is geared to identify and quantify risks for lay and business individuals who seek to engage the global medical market. The article's information is provided for front-line and front-office healthcare practitioners to understand or enter the worldwide medical marketplace. Content is targeted to CM generalists, specialists, and business developers interested in learning about safeguarding the patients who travel internationally to receive medical care. It can also be applied by those within and outside the healthcare practice arena, particularly those interested in the development of quality initiatives. All research and syntheses were executed by the authors. Sources included scholarly treatises, business correspondence, medical tourism literature, corporate Internet profiles, news releases, and healthcare industry investigative and monitoring agencies. International health insurance, economics, and financing expertise stems from one author (L.B.). Clinical competencies stem from the international practice experiences of one author (K.C.). This article identifies Web sites and sources that constitute high-quality resources for ongoing reference by ICM practitioners. Two strategic tools are introduced: one for assessing the readiness of the regional marketplace for CM and the Beichl-Craig Medical Travel Risk Evaluator for international medical consumer risk identification. The emerging global healthcare marketplace is certain to change the way case managers anticipate and respond to care delivery concerns in different regional systems. A systematic structure for analyzing specific country and CM "readiness" is introduced. For case managers who assist clients to receive care internationally, the application of these concepts will help them know where a range of potential obstacles lie and how to calibrate risks and set realistic expectations. For healthcare product developers and quality analysts, the information will help stimulate discourse regarding innovative strategies, tools, and metrics geared to identify, measure, and mitigate risks for patients in the global medical marketplace.

Cultural encounters in reflective dialogue about nursing care: a qualitative study

This paper is a report of a study to explore how students developed reflective nursing practice through cultural encounters between students from Tanzania and Norway. Nursing students need to develop cultural care competence to care for patients in a globalized world. One way to achieve this goal may be through international practice experience. Previous studies have shown that students visiting developing countries matured personally and intellectually more than those who experienced encounters between developed countries. The study was exploratory, using qualitative data about nursing practice and cultural encounters experienced by nursing students from Tanzania and Norway. Data were collected through participatory observation, students' logs and focus group interviews in 2006. The encounter was characterized with an open attitude facilitating a good context for co-learning between the students. Three main themes were identified. The Norwegian students emphasized nurse-patient relationships, individualized care, direct communication and emotional involvement. The Tanzanian nursing students demonstrated a collectivist approach in nursing characterized by nurse-relative-patient relationships, and they emphasized curing attributes with skillful performance of procedures. A cultural encounter between students from different culture proved to be a fruitful way of teaching nurses. The opportunity to share thoughts, reflect on value systems and personal practice through dialogue with students from a different culture offer possibility in terms of cultural competence, reflexivity and consciousness of various ways practising nursing. This may contribute to bringing the practice of nursing a step forward in both cultures.

Revitalising Singapore's Central City through Gentrification: The Role of Waterfront Housing

Global cities in the post-Fordist and digital era require the support of specialised services and functions as global city competition accelerates and intensifies. Young and professional gentrifiers are key providers of such services highly concentrated in financial districts. Since the 1980s, gentrification has also aimed to enhance liveability and accessibility to a better quality of life with landscaping and greenery provisions. Since the 1960s, the Central Area of Singapore has eliminated its dualistic character and slums, and has transformed itself into a modern business district skyline. However, the early emphasis had neglected a ‘balanced’ commercial cum residential setting, leading to a largely deserted downtown after office hours. The post-1990 policy to regenerate the downtown core of Singapore is embryonic but has strong governmental support. The success or failure in making Singapore a leading position in the global city competition will much rely on the outcome of gentrification, including the integrated resort programme in the new Central Business District—the waterfront Marina South. The article analyses gentrification efforts undertaken by key world cities and their limited success. From a theoretical perspective and international practical experience, the future of Singapore's revitalisation programme is intricately investigated. Determinant variables are multiple, inter alia, ‘centrality’ values in attracting talent in different areas of expertise, international capital in high-value operations, recreational and cultural input, quality housing and state-of-the-art entrepreneurship in global linkages.

An American dermatologist goes to Canada: Lessons from a single-payer healthcare system

I moved to Canada two years ago after having trained and practiced medicine in the United States for 20 years, in both private and academic sectors. Many of my Canadian patients expressed surprise that an American physician would choose to practice in Canada; they perceive that Canada usually loses its physicians to the United States. Statistics show that more than 200 doctors leave Canada for the United States annually. Before moving, my exposure to Canadian healthcare was through American media, which were frequently biased against the ‘‘socialized medicine’’ of Canada. After a year of considering the pros and cons of each system, I reached my conclusion when a colleague with international practice experience asked if I missed the US system. My answer was an emphatic ‘‘NO.’’ Surprisingly, I was finding Canadian-style healthcare to be a favorable alternative to the system I had watched evolve over 20 years in the United States. What follows is an inside look at the defining features andpros and consof theCanadianhealthcare system from my perspective as a university-based dermatologist in Toronto, Ontario.

Applying new science leadership theory in planning an international nursing student practice experience in Nepal.

Planning an international practice experience for nursing students is a challenging, but rewarding, opportunity. Kwantlen University College faculty members' experience of planning for 8 Bachelor of Science in Nursing students to study abroad was no exception. Faculty members' and students' interest prompted a request for a placement in Nepal. The faculty members involved in the planning were dedicated to using a process that would enable them to remain true to the program philosophy and theoretical underpinnings throughout the entire experience, from the planning phase to the follow-up presentation. Using Wheatley's theory, the students and faculty members reexamined their personal leadership styles to ensure they remained relationship focused, rather than task focused. Wheatley maintained that because the potentiality lies in building strong relationships, it is important to support the creative power that lies in those involved in a project. This article describes new science leadership and relates it to the planning phase for the practice experience in Nepal. Then, reflections on how the philosophy of the program may have influenced the experience are shared. Finally, critical reflection on using this theory in nursing education is presented.

Crack path stability in cracked panel

The prediction of the crack growth path plays a significant role in the estimation of the final shape of broken solids and structures. Furthermore, the study of the crack path in broken specimens renders the loading conditions just before fracture. Experiments on brittle materials, pre‐cracked specimens of the same geometry, under similar loading conditions, occasionally result in different trajectories of the crack propagation. The already proposed theories for the prediction of the crack path (in) stability are based on the perturbation method in combination with analytical and finite elements methods; however, they require knowledge of the toughness equations. Therefore, they can only be applied in specimens with uncomplicated geometry and straightforward loadings. In the present paper the problem of the crack path (in) stability, is approached from a different viewpoint. Using a finite element program, the stres field is calculated, and consequently, a plotting program constructs the contours map of the strain energy density on the idealized geometry of the specimen or structure. For the determination of the predicted trajectory of the crack during unstable propagation, the minimum of the strain energy density criterion (SED) is used. The forecasted trajectory appears with the drawing of the “gorge” on the contours map of the strain energy density. Based on the estimation criterion, which claims that the degree of stability is a function of the distinctness of the gorge plot, we can predict the degree of the crack path stability. Therefore, this simple method offers good reliability in the prediction of the crack path stability for two as well as three‐dimensional problems with complex geometry structures and arbitrary loadings. In order to clarify the suggested prediction method, we apply it on the central cracked panel where a rich international practical experience exists. The results that are analysed in the present work, are in good agreement with equivalent published experimental results.