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The assessment of the net effect of active labour market policy contributes to the effective use of public funds in order to achieve optimal results and provide opportunities for future changes in the priority areas of the employment action plans. The paper examines the basic concepts for assessing the net effect of active labour market policy and assesses the net effect of this policy in Bulgaria. In the process of assessing the impact of active labour market policy at the individual level for each program and measure included in the National Employment Action Plan in 2015 and funded from the state budget, the gross effect, deadweight effect, the substitution and displacement effects are estimated. The quasi-experimental design method is applied to assess the net effect of programs and measures on the labour market in Bulgaria. The estimation results demonstrate that the total net effect has the value of 14.5%. The net effect for women is significantly higher than for men. Regarding education, the highest net effect can be seen among those with primary or no education Regarding age, the highest net effect is observed among young people up to 24 years of age. As related to the duration of unemployment, the highest net effect can be seen among long-term unemployed people (over 24 months). In terms of working capacity, the highest net effect is observed among people with reduced working capacity. Regarding the type of settlement, the highest net effect can be seen in rural areas. The paper provides a number of conclusions and recommendations for increasing the effectiveness of active labour market policy and for improving the state of the labour market in Bulgaria. The analysis shows that in Bulgaria it is necessary to maintain the variety of different programs and measures on the labour market, covering different target groups.

The current investigation examined the effect of inclusion of Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens; BSF) dry larvae in hens’ diet on egg quality and hen performance. A total of 260 brown egg-laying hens (RIR × RIW) were divided into four groups (65 hens/group; 5 pens/group) and fed with control and experimental diets (inclusion rates 3%, 6%, 9%). Although the four-week feeding period did not influence production parameters, yolk color responded positively to the test diets, showing a linear increase with the percentage of BSF inclusion rate (p < 0.001). This was reaffirmed by the increased levels of yolk carotenoids (astaxanthin and β-carotene) and α-tocopherol, with notable differences in 6% and 9% BSF-fed groups (p ≤ 0.003). Lipids are an important factor in carotenoid absorption and assimilation, and the combination of fat content and carotenoids in BSF suggests the potential of this system for egg enrichment. Along with the increased antioxidant levels, a novel finding is the positive correlation between BSF inclusion rates and hens’ egg yolk levels of C:15 and C:17 fatty acids, key players in the core mechanisms of cell health and longevity. Altogether, the results provide evidence of the potential of BSF for enrichment of eggs with carotenoids and vitamins with strong antioxidant activity, which would have a positive effect on human health.

Nepeta nuda (catmint; Lamiaceae) is a perennial medicinal plant with a wide geographic distribution in Europe and Asia. This study first characterized the taxonomic position of N. nuda using DNA barcoding technology. Since medicinal plants are rich in secondary metabolites contributing to their adaptive immune response, we explored the N. nuda metabolic adjustment operating under variable environments. Through comparative analysis of wild-grown and in vitro cultivated plants, we assessed the change in phenolic and iridoid compounds, and the associated immune activities. The wild-grown plants from different Bulgarian locations contained variable amounts of phenolic compounds manifested by a general increase in flowers, as compared to leaves, while a strong reduction was observed in the in vitro plants. A similar trend was noted for the antioxidant and anti-herpesvirus activity of the extracts. The antimicrobial potential, however, was very similar, regardless the growth conditions. Analysis of the N. nuda extracts led to identification of 63 compounds including phenolic acids and derivatives, flavonoids, and iridoids. Quantification of the content of 21 target compounds indicated their general reduction in the extracts from in vitro plants, and only the ferulic acid (FA) was specifically increased. Cultivation of in vitro plants under different light quality and intensity indicated that these variable light conditions altered the content of bioactive compounds, such as aesculin, FA, rosmarinic acid, cirsimaritin, naringenin, rutin, isoquercetin, epideoxyloganic acid, chlorogenic acid. Thus, this study generated novel information on the regulation of N. nuda productivity using light and other cultivation conditions, which could be exploited for biotechnological purposes.

This paper reviews the recent development of the scientific, legislative, economic and environmental aspects of plant organic farming. The impact of organic farming on biodiversity and soil fertility is discussed in comparison with conventional systems. A significant barrier for wide application and future development of organic farming is the existing diversity of national and international policy instruments in this sector. Special attention is paid to up-to-date research techniques that could help solve a number of the problems typically faced in plant organic farming. It is argued that organic farming is still not productive enough to be considered fully sustainable. This underlines the necessity of strong support for more effective implementation of scientific research innovations and improvement of the networking between all stakeholders – organic producers, scientists and corresponding policy makers at the national and international level.

In this work the first results of the creation of a substorms catalog including the mid-latitude positive bays (MPB) registered at the Bulgarian station Panagjurishte (∼37° GMLat, ∼97° GMLon) are presented. MPB index characterizes the mid-latitude effect of substorm, which developed at auroral latitudes, and it is associated with the substorm current wedge. The work went in several lines. First, the catalog design and content were taken. Second, tools of data processing have been developed. Third, substorms during two months, namely January and February 2013 were identified. And finally, data processing was implemented and the characteristics of the positive bays were determined. The obtained data and their visualizations were put in a convenient folder and file structure, ftp positioned.

Genetic variation among five elite winter barley cultivars (H. vulgare L.) currently grown in Bulgaria was assessed at the molecular level using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The present study sampled RFLPs in four well characterized multigene families in barley: the seed storage protein loci; the 18S, 5.8S and 26S ribosomal DNA loci; the loci coding for 5S ribosomal RNA and the loci coding subunit α of ATP-A complex in the mitochondrial genome. RFLPs were detected in three out of five investigated chromosomal loci in the barley cultivars studied. RAPD assay using arbitrary 10-base primers was applied to generate amplified length polymorphic markers in barley. Overall a total of 15 polymorphic phenotypes were found among the studied barley cultivars by using 11 out of 25 tested primers. All RAPDs were considered as dominant genetic markers except for two, where PCR and Southern blot analysis indicated the presence of codominant amplification products. Five RAPD polymorphisms in F1 and F2 progenies of the cross between Alpha and Obzor were inherited in Mendelian fashion. The determined values for the genetic variation proved a high genetic similarity among the tested cultivars. Genetic similarity (GS) calculated from RFLP and RAPD data ranged from 0.888 to 0.997 with a mean GS – 0.933.

The key objective of the paper is to identify and assess the administrative burdens for businesses in Bulgaria according to the selected national laws related to the EU Internal Market. The study relies on objective data and analytical frameworks with a view to identify and assess the information obligations stemming from selected laws and regulations, including national rules implementing or transposing European legislation. This is an important step in strengthening Bulgaria’s national policy on better regulation for businesses. Information obligations are those arising from regulation to provide information and data to the public sector or third parties. Administrative burdens represent the “extra” administrative costs linked to collecting and providing information that businesses would not normally have to do in the absence of a legal obligation. While regulation is important and necessary, these additional costs represent a burden for businesses. It is a burden for business both in terms of money and time, which diverts resources from productive investments and generally discourages entrepreneurship. The methodology used in the paper is based on the Standard Cost Model for Estimating Administrative Costs established for assessing administrative costs imposed by the EU legislation. The paper is developed taking into account the findings of the OECD and the European Commission. The study outlines the results of the administrative costs and administrative burdens for businesses in Bulgaria of totally measured 742 information obligations (IOs) in 16 national laws and regulations to them in 9 selected priority areas during 2013. Even though the study is limited to specific legal acts and to an assessment of costs to business, the results are helpful in understanding the mechanisms by which the administrative costs and administrative burdens accrue.

The key objective of the paper is to identify and assess the administrative burdens for businesses in Bulgaria according to the selected national laws related to the EU Internal Market. The study relies on objective data and analytical frameworks with a view to identify and assess the information obligations stemming from selected laws and regulations, including national rules implementing or transposing European legislation. This is an important step in strengthening Bulgaria's national policy on better regulation for businesses. Information obligations are those arising from regulation to provide information and data to the public sector or third parties. Administrative burdens represent the \"extra\" administrative costs linked to collecting and providing information that businesses would not normally have to do in the absence of a legal obligation. While regulation is important and necessary, these additional costs represent a burden for businesses. It is a burden for business both in terms of money and time, which diverts resources from productive investments and generally discourages entrepreneurship.

In the present work, the Coats-Redfern method was used to determine the kinetic parameters and the possible reaction mechanism of the thermal degradation of ultra-high molecular mass polyethene and its composites with fiber monocrystals in static air at three different heating rates − 6, 10 and 16 K min−1. The analysis of the results obtained showed that the thermal degradation process of pure ultra-high molecular mass polyethene corresponded to a diffusion controlled reaction (three-dimentional diffusion, mechanism D3), while its composites with fiber monocrystals degraded by two concurrent mechanisms (diffusion one D3 and A1,F1 mechanism). The fiber monocrystals used increased the thermal stability of the composite materials obtained. The values of the activation energy, frequency factor, the changes of entropy, enthalpy and Gibbs energy for the active complex of the composites were calculated.

The key objective of the paper is to identify and assess the administrative burdens for businesses in Bulgaria according to the selected national laws related to the EU Internal Market. The study relies on objective data and analytical frameworks with a view to identify and assess the information obligations stemming from selected laws and regulations, including national rules implementing or transposing European legislation. This is an important step in strengthening Bulgaria’s national policy on better regulation for businesses. Information obligations are those arising from regulation to provide information and data to the public sector or third parties. Administrative burdens represent the “extra” administrative costs linked to collecting and providing information that businesses would not normally have to do in the absence of a legal obligation. While regulation is important and necessary, these additional costs represent a burden for businesses. It is a burden for business both in terms of money and time, which diverts resources from productive investments and generally discourages entrepreneurship. The methodology used in the paper is based on the Standard Cost Model for Estimating Administrative Costs established for assessing administrative costs imposed by the EU legislation. The paper is developed taking into account the findings of the OECD and the European Commission. The study outlines the results of the administrative costs and administrative burdens for businesses in Bulgaria of totally measured 742 information obligations (IOs) in 16 national laws and regulations to them in 9 selected priority areas during 2013. Even though the study is limited to specific legal acts and to an assessment of costs to business, the results are helpful in understanding the mechanisms by which the administrative costs and administrative burdens accrue. All IOs identified and verified in the paper, related both to national rules implementing or transposing European legislation, are distinguished by specific laws and by specific priority areas. The data collection methods include interviews with business entities (field work) and expert assessments. The results obtained from the study show that more than half of all IOs examined in the paper are concentrated in three selected national laws – the Medicinal Products in Human Medicine Act, the Law on Statistics and the Law on Technical Requirements for Products and Conformity Assessment. More than half of all IOs are associated with implementation of national requirements related to the EU Internal Market. As concerns the value of the administrative burden, the highest share of administrative burden of all identified and evaluated IOs is observed under the Excise Duties and Tax Warehouses Act and the Law on Support for Farmers. The lowest share of the administrative burden of all IOs is found under those laws where the identified and assessed IOs are only a few (the Law on Social Assistance, the Bulgarian Chamber of Builders Act, the Independent Assessors Act and the Cadastre and Land Registry Act).