New Bulgarian University

BACKGROUND Still, in most endemic countries, hepatitis A (HA) is a serious socio-medical problem due to high morbidity, leading to frequent hospitalizations and financial burdens on health systems.AIM To find out the clinical spectrum of HA infection in children, the relationship between atypical manifestations and laboratory findings and the outcome of patients with atypical HA virus (HAV) manifestations. METHODS A total of 115 patients aged 0-14 years (mean 5.2 +/- 3.5 years) were admitted to the hospital with symptoms of HA and a positive IgM anti-HAV test result during the period from July 2018 to December 2023. Patients were followed up weekly until they had made a complete recovery. RESULTS Atypical features were present in 30 (26%) children; prolonged cholestasis 11 (9.56%), acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) 15 (13.04%), ascites 2 (1.73%), thrombocytopenia 1 (0.86%) and fulminant hepatitis 1 (0.86%) were observed. Pruritus, as well as higher serum total and direct bilirubin levels, were statistically significant in children with atypical manifestations of the disease. Moreover, this group had a prolonged mean duration of jaundice and hospital course. CONCLUSION Atypical manifestations such as protracted cholestasis and AAC are not uncommon in children with HA.

This text contains some notes on the Griesmer bound. In particular, we give a geometric proof of the Griesmer bound for the generalized weights and show that a Solomon–Stiffler type construction attains it if the minimum distance is sufficiently large. We also determine the parameters of optimal binary codes for dimensions at most seven and the optimal ternary codes for dimensions at most five.

This study examines the marketing management of tourist destinations in the context of a sustainable model of their future development. In the context of increasing competition, a dynamic tourist environment and increased environmental and social challenges, sustainability is being established as a key factor for effective management of tourist resources. The emphasis is placed on the collaboration between tourist destination management algorithms and marketing strategies.

Differentiated teaching (DT) is promoted as a means of addressing learner variability in inclusive classrooms, yet there is limited evidence that focuses specifically on students with hearing impairment (HI) in mainstream settings. This study compares teacher-rated educational functioning, screened with the Screening Instrument for Targeting Educational Risk (SIFTER), between students taught by DT-trained teachers and those taught by teachers without DT training. Two cohorts were examined: 10 students taught by DT-trained teachers and 17 students taught by teachers without DT training. Teachers completed the Greek-adapted Primary or Secondary SIFTER, which assess five domains: pre-academics/academics, attention, communication, class participation and school behavior. Across domains and in total scores, the DT-trained cohort outperformed the non-trained cohort. Mean total SIFTER scores were 65.8 for the DT-trained group and 53.4 for the non-trained group. Students taught by DT-trained teachers more frequently achieved scores within the pass range across domains, particularly in class participation and communication, indicating stronger engagement and language-related functioning. By contrast, the non-trained cohort displayed more marginal or failing scores, especially in attention and behavior. These findings suggest that DT training is associated with improved participation, communication, attention and behavior alongside academic performance for students with HI. The results support DT-focused professional development for mainstream teachers working with this population and the routine use of concise screening tools such as SIFTER to monitor educational risk.

he history of Thrace in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC offers a fascinating view of the political and military shifts in the ancient world, particularly in the context of the rising Roman Republic. Thrace, a key strategic region in the Balkans, played a significant role in the conflicts between the Hellenistic powers of Macedonia, the Seleucid Empire and the Ptolemaic Kingdom, with various Thracian tribes and rulers navigating these tumultuous times. This study explores the involvement of Thracian forces in the Macedonian Wars, their alliances with key figures such as Philip V and their responses to the growing power of Rome. The First and Second Macedonian Wars, while not resulting in major territorial changes for Thrace, marked the beginning of Roman influence in the region. Over time, as the Macedonian and Seleucid kingdoms weakened, the Odrysian dynasty emerged as a key ally of Rome. By the time of the Third and Fourth Macedonian Wars, Thracian rulers, particularly Cotys, adopted pro-Roman policies, ensuring their survival and relevance in a new political order. The consolidation of Macedonia as a Roman province (148–146 BC) and the eventual alignment of the Odrysian dynasty with Rome marked the transition of the Balkans from Hellenistic to Roman dominance.