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Eastern European Countries (eastern + european_country)
Selected AbstractsThe Economic Impact of International Migration within The UK EconomyECONOMIC OUTLOOK, Issue 4 2006Article first published online: 13 NOV 200 There is a vociferous debate regarding the extent, impact and future policy direction of international migration. This has intensified following the expansion of the European Union and the accession of the eight Central and Eastern European countries. This article explores the recent trends in net migration, looking particularly at the impact at the sectoral and regional level. It finds that foreign workers appear to have had a significant economic impact in filling skills gaps and in helping to arrest population decline in those regions where previously this had been a fact of economic life. [source] Immigrant Parents' Concerns Regarding Their Children's Education in the United StatesFAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES RESEARCH JOURNAL, Issue 4 2009Olena Nesteruk A growing body of research suggests that as immigrant families assimilate into U.S. culture, their children's academic achievements and aspirations decline. This article explores possible reasons for this finding from the perspective of immigrant parents from Eastern European countries whose children attend U.S. schools. In-depth, qualitative interviews are conducted with 50 married mothers and fathers who hold professional-status employment. The data are analyzed using open and axial coding approach and three central, recurring themes emerge: (a) Parental Influences: "Education is a must,. The sky is the limit"; (b) The Educational System: "Parental guidance and resources are required"; and (c) Sociocultural Influences: "Everything here is about making money,. But what about our children'" Supporting, illustrative narratives are presented in connection with each theme to explain the perspectives of these immigrant parents on their children's schooling in the United States, and to add other tentative factors for further research into the decline of the children's academic achievement and aspirations with longer residence in the United States. Implications for family and consumer scientists are presented. [source] Assessing the Fiscal Costs and Benefits of A8 Migration to the UK,FISCAL STUDIES, Issue 1 2010Christian Dustmann J61; H20 Abstract This paper assesses the fiscal consequences of migration to the UK from the Central and Eastern European countries that joined the European Union in May 2004 (A8 countries). We show that A8 immigrants who arrived after EU enlargement in 2004 and who have at least one year of residence, and are therefore legally eligible to claim benefits, are 59 per cent less likely than natives to receive state benefits or tax credits and 57 per cent less likely to live in social housing. Furthermore, even if A8 immigrants had the same demographic characteristics as natives, they would still be 13 per cent less likely to receive benefits and 29 per cent less likely to live in social housing. We go on to compare the net fiscal contribution of A8 immigrants with that of individuals born in the UK, and find that in each fiscal year since enlargement in 2004, irrespective of the way that the net fiscal contribution is defined, A8 immigrants made a positive contribution to the public finances despite the fact that the UK has been running a budget deficit over the last few years. This is because they have a higher labour force participation rate, pay proportionately more in indirect taxes and make much less use of benefits and public services. [source] Financial Dollarization and European Union MembershipINTERNATIONAL FINANCE, Issue 2 2010Kyriakos C. Neanidis We analyse the effect of European Union (EU) membership on financial dollarization for the Central and Eastern European countries. Using a unique monthly data set that spans about two decades, we find that both the accession process towards EU membership and EU entry have a direct impact on deposit dollarization (DD) and loan dollarization (LD). EU membership reduces DD while it increases LD. The negative effect on DD captures the increased confidence of the private sector in the domestic currency, as they consider the EU admission process a reflection of their government's commitment to promoting policies of long-run currency stability. The positive impact on credit dollarization is the outcome of a greater convergence of exchange rates to the euro and the subsequent anticipation of lower currency risk, which diminishes the cost of foreign currency borrowing. [source] Agricultural and Economy-Wide Effects of European Enlargement: Modelling the Common Agricultural PolicyJOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, Issue 2 2000C. F. Bach The economic impact of extending the Common Agricultural Policy to the Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) has become a major issue in the European enlargement debate. This paper provides an assessment of the economy-wide effects of European enlargement using a global general equilibrium model where special attention is given to modelling the instruments of the Common Agricultural Policy, the Agenda 2000 proposal and the EU budget. The results indicate a substantial potential for increasing agricultural production in the CEEC. The EU budget will increase significantly and the transfers from EU taxpayers to farmers in the CEEC result in significant welfare gains in the new member countries. In spite of these important transfers the macroeconomic costs for the EU are found to be limited. [source] Prevalence of HBV genotypes in Central and Eastern EuropeJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 10 2008Katja Deterding Abstract The importance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes for disease progression and response to interferon-alpha-based treatment is well established. While almost all patients in the Mediterranean area are infected with HBV genotype D, HBV genotype A is dominant in Northern Europe. However, the distribution of HBV genotypes is unknown for several Central and Eastern European countries. Data are described of 1313 HBsAg-positive patients recruited at 14 referral centers in eight countries. There were only very few cases of HBV genotype B, C, E, F, and H infection while HBV genotypes A and D were found in 42% and 48% of patients, respectively. Eight percent of patients had positive bands for more than one genotype using the hybridization assay. The frequency of genotype A was higher in Poland (77%) and the Czech Republic (67%) as compared to Hungary (47%), Lithuania (41%), Croatia (8%), and Germany (32%). In contrast, HBV genotype D was most frequent in Croatian, Romanian, and Russian patients with 80%, 67%, and 93% of cases, respectively. In conclusion, HBV genotype A versus D showed significantly different distribution patterns in Central and Eastern Europe which deserves consideration for national guidelines and treatment decisions. J. Med. Virol. 80:1707,1711, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Guidelines for the laboratory diagnosis of trichomoniasis in East European countriesJOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 10 2010M Domeika Abstract The laboratory diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections in many Eastern European countries remains suboptimal. The main objective of the present evidence-based guidelines is to provide comprehensive information regarding the laboratory diagnosis of infections caused by Trichomonas vaginalis in East European countries. In particular, the present guidelines recommend: (i) to encourage examination of the wet mounts of vaginal exudates, instead of stained smears, at all clinical settings; (ii) nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) or culture could be employed if no trichomonads are detected on microscopic examination of the wet preparation and there is a strong indication of infection and (iii) the use of NAATs is encouraged in screening, using non-invasive specimens, or high volume testing situations. In the absence of internationally recognized commercial NAAT systems, tests developed in-house should be validated using obtainable international standards and quality assured strictly. Individual East European countries may be required to make minor national adjustments to these guidelines as a result of lack of accessibility to some reagents or equipment, or laws in a specific country. [source] Skin reactivity to histamine and to allergens in unselected 9-year-old children living in Poland and ItalyPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2003Roberto Ronchetti Several studies have shown a higher prevalence of positive skin-prick tests to airborne allergens in Western than in Eastern European countries. We have recently reported that skin histamine reactivity significantly increased in Italy over the past 15 years. Population differences in skin histamine reactivity could, at least in part, explain the reported differences in positive allergen skin tests. To test this hypothesis we compared histamine skin reactivity and the prevalence of allergen positive skin-prick tests in a sample of Italian and Polish schoolchildren. A total of 336 unselected 9-year-old-schoolchildren (198 in Italy and 138 in Poland) underwent skin-prick tests with three different histamine concentrations (10, 1 and 0.2 mg/ml) and with a panel of common airborne allergens according to the ISAAC protocol, phase two. Mean wheals elicited by skin-prick tests with the three serial concentrations of histamine were significantly larger (p < 0.001) and shifted more toward higher values (p < 0.001) in Italian than in Polish children. The differences were greater for the intermediate histamine concentration tested (1 mg/ml) than for the highest concentration (10 mg/ml). Skin-prick tests for airborne allergens were more frequently positive in Italian children: wheals ,,3 mm induced by any allergen [odds ratio (OR) 1.69; confidence interval (CI) 0.98,2.92] by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (OR 1.92; CI 0.97,3.80) and by D. farinae (OR 3.15; CI 1.16,8.63). Labeling as positive allergen wheal reactions half the size of the 10 mg/ml histamine wheal or larger reduced but did not abolish the Italian,Polish differences. The significantly higher skin histamine reactivity observed in Italian children could help to explain why allergen skin-test reactions differ in the East and West European populations. Moreover, differences in nonallergen-specific factors among populations should be considered in the interpretation of skin test results (e.g. cut-off points). To obtain meaningful results, epidemiological studies of allergies should include serial histamine dilutions. [source] Similarity in trade structures, integration and catching-up1THE ECONOMICS OF TRANSITION, Issue 2 2008Luca De Benedictis CEECs; export composition; growth; EU enlargement Abstract In this paper, we look at the role of export composition in the growth process, considering how increased similarity in trade structure among countries can induce catching-up in income levels in a group of countries in transition. We analyze the sectoral export patterns of the Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) by comparing them to those of the current members of the European Union (EU), focusing on countries' specialization as suppliers for the EU market, and we assess whether similar export patterns foster the catching-up process of the CEECs. Our main result is that similarity in export composition has a positive, significant and non-linear impact on catching-up, and seems to be driven by the growth of the main export market and delocalization of production more than by other factors. [source] Occupational sunlight exposure and risk of renal cell carcinoma,,CANCER, Issue 8 2010Sara Karami PhD Abstract BACKGROUND: Recent findings indicate that vitamin D obtained from ultraviolet (UV) exposure may reduce the risk of several different cancers. Vitamin D is metabolized to its active form within the kidney, which is the major organ for vitamin D metabolism and activity. Because both the incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency have increased over the past few decades, in the current study, the authors explored whether occupational UV exposure was associated with RCC risk. METHODS: A hospital-based, case-control study of 1097 patients with RCC (cases) and 1476 controls was conducted in 4 Central and Eastern European countries. Demographic and occupational information was collected to examine the association between occupational UV exposure and RCC risk. RESULTS: A significant reduction (24%-38%) in the risk of RCC was observed with increasing occupational UV exposure among men who participated in the study. No association between UV exposure and RCC risk was observed among women who participated. When the analyses were stratified by latitude as another estimate of sunlight intensity, a stronger reduction (71%-73%) in the risk of RCC was observed between UV exposure and cancer risk among men who resided at the highest latitudes. CONCLUSIONS: The current results suggested that, among men, there is an inverse association between occupational UV exposure and the risk of RCC. Replication studies are warranted to confirm these results. Cancer 2010. Published 2010 by the American Cancer Society. [source] A relatively low prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in a healthy paediatric population in Riga, Latvia: a cross-sectional studyACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 10 2001I Daugule The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, age of acquisition and risk factors for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) among asymptomatic children. 13C-urea breath tests and questionnaires were obtained from 142 children and 40 parents. The prevalence of H. pylori was 19%. H. pylori positivity was higher in children with a positive parent (p= 0.003) and independently inversely related to antibiotic treatment during the previous year in preschool children (p= 0.045). Conclusion: The prevalence of H. pylori in children in Riga is higher than that in Western countries, but lower than that in Eastern European countries. H. pylori is present during the second year of life and is influenced by parental H. pylori status and previous treatment with antibiotics. [source] Polish and Belgian consumers' perception of environmentally friendly behaviourINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSUMER STUDIES, Issue 1 2000Irene T. M. Roozen The aim of this study was to design a method for evaluating the importance that consumers place on the characteristics of environmentally friendly (EF) products and on consumer EF behaviour. Attitudes and opinions of consumers regarding the EF value of the different aspects of consumer behaviour , purchasing, using and disposing of goods , were measured. The perception of EF behaviour was analysed for Belgian and Polish consumers, a Western and an Eastern European country. The cultural, economic and political differences between Belgium and Poland may imply that their consideration of EF behaviour is different. The perception of consumers about buying, using and disposing of EF products does not necessarily indicate their own EF behaviour, but it gives an indication of what consumers think is EF behaviour. On the basis of the results, policy-makers and industry can diagnose the consumers' perceived cost,benefit relationship of EF consumer behaviour. An evaluation of what consumers think is EF can be made for the two countries. Marketers, government and EF organizations can draw on our research results when developing EF products and/or advertising campaigns. [source] On the Way to a Better Future: Belgium as Transit Country for Trafficking and Smuggling of Unaccompanied Minors1INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION, Issue 4 2005Ilse Derluyn ABSTRACT During the last decade, irregular border crossings emerged as a new element in international migratory flows, with smuggling and trafficking networks being an essential part. Many people are compelled to use these networks to realize their dream of a better living, and for many this "promised land" is the United Kingdom (UK). Belgium has important sea connections with the UK, and is, therefore, an important migration transit zone, although many migrants are intercepted on Belgian territory during their tempt to reach the UK. Some are unaccompanied or separated children and adolescents, minors travelling without parent(s) or a legal caregiver. This study aims to gain insight about this population of unaccompanied minors travelling to the UK. We use the situation in Zeebrugge, one of Belgium's main ports, as a case study. We analysed 1,093 data files of unaccompanied minors intercepted in Zeebrugge, and carried out participatory observation at the shipping police station. The intercepted unaccompanied minors are mainly male, between 15 and 18 years of age, and from an Asian or Eastern European country. Of the 899 unique persons found in the data files, 113 were intercepted several times. After the interception, the Aliens Office gives the majority (82.9%) an identity document without a requirement to leave Belgium, while 15.3 per cent must leave Belgium immediately or within five days. In 82.9 per cent of the cases, a child protection officer is contacted to make a decision about the situation. In 67.2 per cent of these cases, no child protection measure is taken, and the minor may leave the police station; in 32 per cent of the cases, the minor is transferred to a centre, mostly crisis reception. Almost all unaccompanied minors are convinced they want to reach the UK to create a better livelihood, join a family member, or escape a difficult political situation. Nevertheless, most travel in difficult circumstances; are scared; and lack essential information about life in the UK, their possibilities in Belgium, what will happen if they are transferred to a centre, and so forth. Most minors also do not want to be transferred to a centre, and many , although not all , disappear again from the centres. This study has several implications concerning the kind of decisions taken by the legal authorities, the necessary physical and psycho-social care and the availability of an interpreter and social worker during the interception, the number of reception places and the care in these centres, and the tasks of the legal guardian. Finally, some limitations of the study are mentioned. VERS UN AVENIR MEILLEUR : LA BELGIQUE COMME PAYS DE TRANSIT POUR LA TRAITE ET L'INTRODUCTION CLANDESTINE DE MINEURS NON ACCOMPAGNÉS Au cours de la dernière décennie, le franchissement irrégulier des frontières est apparu comme un nouvel élément des flux migratoires internationaux, dont les réseaux de traite et d'introduction clandestine sont un aspect essentiel. Beaucoup de gens sont forcés d'utiliser ces réseaux pour réaliser leur rêve d'une vie meilleure et pour beaucoup, cette « terre promise », c'est le Royaume-Uni. La Belgique ayant d'importantes liaisons maritimes avec le Royaume-Uni con-stitue de ce fait une importante zone de transit pour les migrations, bien que de nombreux migrants soient interceptés sur le territoire belge alors qu'ils tentent d'atteindre le Royaume-Uni. Certains d'entre eux sont des enfants et des adoles-cents non accompagnés, séparés, des mineurs qui voyagent sans parent(s), sans personne qui en ait la garde juridique. Cette étude vise à mieux connaître cette population de mineurs non accompagnés voyageant en direction du Royaume-Uni. Nous prenons comme cas concret la situation à Zeebrugge, l'un des principaux ports belges. Nous avons analysé 1 093 fichiers de données concernant des mineurs non accompagnés interceptés à Zeebrugge, et nous sommes livrés à une observation participative au poste de police du port. Les mineurs non accompagnés inter-ceptés sont pour la plupart des garçons âgés de quinze à dix-huit ans originaires d'un pays d'Asie ou d'Europe orientale. Sur les 899 personnes trouvées dans les fichiers, 113 ont été interceptées plusieurs fois. Après l'interception, les Ser-vices de l'immigration donnent à la majorité de ces garçons un document d'identité sans obligation de quitter la Belgique, alors que 15,3 pour cent d'entre eux doivent quitter le pays, soit immédiatement soit dans les cinq jours. Dans 82,9 pour cent des cas, un agent de protection de l'enfance est contacté pour prendre une décision quant à la situation. Dans 67,2 pour cent de ces cas, aucune mesure de protection de l'enfant n'est prise et le mineur peut quitter le poste de police. Dans 32 pour cent des cas, le mineur est transféré dans un centre, un lieu d'accueil pour les situations de crise. Presque tous les mineurs non accompagnés sont convaincus de vouloir se rendre au Royaume-Uni pour y gagner leur vie, retrouver un membre de leur famille ou échapper à une situation politique difficile. Pourtant, la plupart de ces mineurs voyagent dans des circonstances difficiles. Ils ont peur. Ils n'ont pas les informations essentielles sur la vie au Royaume-Uni, sur les possibilités qui existent pour eux en Belgique, sur ce qui se passera s'ils sont transférés dans un centre. Beaucoup , mais pas tous , disparaissent de ces centres. Cette étude a diverses implications concernant le genre de décisions que pren-nent les autorités juridiques, les nécessaires soins physiques et psychosociaux pendant l'interception ainsi que la présence d'un interprète et d'un travailleur social, le nombre de places et les soins dans les centres d'accueil, les tâches de la personne qui a la responsabilité légale du mineur. Enfin, certaines limites de cette étude sont évoquées. CON MIRAS A UN MEJOR FUTURO: BÉLGICA COMO PAÍS DE TRÁNSITO DE LA TRATA Y EL TRÁFICO DE MENORES NO ACOMPAÑADOS Durante la última década, los cruces fronterizos irregulares se han convertido en un nuevo elemento de las corrientes migratorias internacionales, siendo un componente esencial de ellas las redes de tráfico y trata de personas. Son muchas las personas que se ven obligadas a recurrir a estas redes para hacer realidad su sueño de una vida mejor y para muchos "la tierra prometida" es el Reino Unido. Bélgica tiene importantes conexiones marítimas con el Reino Unido y, por consi-guiente, es una zona de tránsito de la migración sumamente importante, aunque muchos migrantes son interceptados en territorio belga en su intento por llegar al Reino Unido. Entre las personas interceptadas se encuentran niños y adoles-centes, menores de edad que viajan solos, sin sus padres o tutor legal. Este estudio tiene por objeto comprender cómo esta población de menores no acom-pañados viaja al Reino Unido. Con ese fin, se recurre a un estudio por casos examinando la situación en Zeebrugge, uno de los principales puertos de Bélgica. Se han analizado 1.093 expedientes de menores no acompañados, interceptados en Zeebrugge, y se ha realizado una observación participativa en la estación de policía naval. Los menores no acompañados interceptados eran principalmente varones, entre 15 y 18 años de edad, provenientes de Asia y Europa oriental. De las 899 personas no acompañadas encontradas en los expedientes, 113 habían sido interceptadas varias veces. Tras la intercepción, el Servicio de Inmigración otorga a la mayoría un documento de identidad (82,9 por ciento) sin obligarles a abandonar Bélgica, mientras que el 15,3 por ciento debe salir inmediatamente de Bélgica, o bien en un plazo máximo de cinco días. En el 82,9 por ciento de los casos, se establece contacto con un oficial de la protección de la infancia para que decida en cuanto a la situación del menor. En el 67,2 por ciento de estos casos, no se adopta ninguna medida de protección del menor y éste puede abandonar la estación de policía; y en el 32 por ciento de los casos, se transfiere al menor a un centro de recepción que se ocupa de casos críticos. Prácticamente todos los menores no acompañados tienen la certeza de que llegarán al Reino Unido para tener una mejor vida, reunirse con un familiar, o escapar de la difícil situación política. No obstante, la mayoría viaja en condiciones difí-ciles, tiene miedo y carece de información esencial sobre la vida en el Reino Unido, sobre sus posibilidades en Bélgica, y sobre lo que ocurrirá si son trans-feridos a un centro, etc. La mayoría de estos menores no quiere ser transferida a un centro y muchos, aunque no todos, se escapan de los mismos. Este estudio repercutirá, sin lugar a dudas, en las decisiones que adoptan las autoridades jurídicas, en la atención física y sicosocial necesarias, en la disponi-bilidad de un intérprete o trabajador social durante la intercepción, así como en el número de plazas de acogida y de atención en estos centros, y en las tareas que incumben a todo tutor legal. Finalmente, se enumeran algunas de las limitaciones de este estudio. [source] The Debrecen Stroke Database: demographic characteristics, risk factors, stroke severity and outcome in 8088 consecutive hospitalised patients with acute cerebrovascular diseaseINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE, Issue 5 2009D. Bereczki Background High stroke mortality in central,eastern European countries might be due to higher stroke incidence, more severe strokes or less effective acute care than in countries with lower mortality rate. Hospital databases usually yield more detailed information on risk factors, stroke severity and short-term outcome than population-based registries. Patients and methods The Debrecen Stroke Database, data of 8088 consecutively hospitalised patients with acute cerebrovascular disease in a single stroke centre in East Hungary between October 1994 and December 2006, is analysed. Risk factors were recorded and stroke severity on admission was scored by the Mathew stroke scale. The modified Glasgow outcome scale was used to describe patient condition at discharge. Results Mean age was 68±13 years, 11·4% had haemorrhagic stroke. The rate of hypertension on admission was 79% in men, and 84% in women, 40·3% of men and 19·8% of women were smokers, and 34% of all patients had a previous cerebrovascular disease in their history. Case fatality was 14·9%, and 43% had some disability at discharge. Outcome at discharge was worse with higher age, higher glucose, higher blood pressure, higher white cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate and more severe clinical signs on admission. In multivariate analysis admission blood pressure lost its significance in predicting outcome. Conclusions In this large Hungarian stroke unit database hypertension on admission, smoking and previous cerebrovascular disease were more frequent than in most western databases. These findings indicate major opportunities for more efficient stroke prevention in this and probably other eastern European countries. [source] Activity of telithromycin and seven other agents against 1034 pediatric Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from ten central and eastern European centersCLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION, Issue 7 2003B. Bozdogan Objective, To test the activity of telithromycin against 1034 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from pediatric patients in ten centers from ten central and eastern European countries during 2000,2001, and to compare it with the activities of erythromycin A, azithromycin, clarithromycin, clindamycin, and quinupristin,dalfopristin. Methods, The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of telithromycin, erythromycin A, azithromycin, clarithromycin, clindamycin, levofloxacin, quinupristin,dalfopristin and penicillin G were tested by the agar dilution method with incubation in air, and mechanisms of resistance to macrolides and quinolones were investigated. Results, Strains were isolated from sputum, tracheal aspirates, ear, eye, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid. Among S. pneumoniae strains tested, 36% had raised penicillin G MICs (, 0.12 mg/L). Susceptibilities were as follows: telithromycin, quinupristin,dalfopristin and levofloxacin, , 99%; clindamycin, 83%; and erythromycin A, azithromycin and clarithromycin, 78%. Of 230 (22.3%) erythromycin A-resistant S. pneumoniae strains, 176 (79.6%) had erm(B), 38 (16.1%) had mef(A), and 10 (4.3%) had mutations in 23S ribosomal RNA or in ribosomal protein L4. The rates of drug-resistant S. pneumoniae are high in all centers except Kaunas, Riga, and Prague. Conclusion, Telithromycin had low MICs against all strains, irrespective of macrolide, azalide or clindamycin resistance. Ribosomal methylation was the most prevalent resistance mechanism among all resistant strains, except in Sofia, where the prevalence of the efflux mechanism was higher. [source] | ||||||||||||||||