Changing Circumstances Research Articles

The Ukraine war and the shift in Russian intelligence priorities

ABSTRACT The war in Ukraine has transformed Russian intelligence activities. It has drawn the bulk of Russian intelligence collection resources, both inside Ukraine and further afield, to focus on war-related, often low-level operational/tactical targets. Even strategic collection is related to the war, especially directed toward bolstering Russia’s global reputation. However, the war has also led to the dismantling of a large portion of Russia’s intelligence apparatus, including both human and signals intelligence, especially in Europe, just when it is needed the most. It has prompted greater scrutiny and international counterintelligence cooperation against Russian intelligence activities than has been seen since the 1980s. Russia’s own actions have drawn those reactions. Nevertheless, Russian intelligence services are resilient and persistent. They learn from mistakes and adapt to changing circumstances.

Same but different: On continuity and change in agricultural policy reforms

AbstractThis article contributes to the Historical Institutionalism literature on stability and change by unpacking how an institution has persisted for more than 70 years despite substantial contextual changes. The overall stability of the institution comes both through changes in policy instruments and their settings, and through the incorporation of differing, but aligned rationales. Ideational multidimensionality yields stability by providing leeway to recondition the institution in response to changing circumstances. This allows for different interests in the coalition to stimulate overall institutional stability by supporting incremental changes in policy instruments whilst avoiding institutional exhaustion and third order changes. This shows that policies initiated under a certain set of circumstances may be better equipped to persist when circumstances change if they are able to incorporate differing, but aligned, rationales and to respond to upcoming issues through policy instrument changes. The theoretical arguments are exemplified through a case study analysis of Norwegian agricultural policy.

The World Health Organization as an engine of ideational robustness

Abstract The paper focuses on the role of the World Health Organization (WHO) in promoting a healthy world population as a generative and robust idea within health policy. The WHO’s health credo transcends national boundaries to promote health globally. It is embedded in norms, values, and standards promulgated by the organization and contributes in shaping the health responses of national governments. Ideational robustness refers to the ability of the WHO to adapt its health credo to changing contexts and circumstances, thus promoting the legitimacy of an international health order. Disturbances, including the Covid-19 pandemic, test the credo’s robustness, forcing the WHO to constantly work at reframing ideas to adapt to political forces and competing logics that structure the field of international health. Empirically, the paper is based on an historical analysis of the evolution of the health credo of the WHO since its inception. Qualitative content analysis of secondary sources, such as policy documents, explores how ideational work performed by WHO leaders impacts on the organization’s position and legitimacy. Ideational robustness appears to be largely influenced by leadership vision, preexisting organizational structure, and the political economy of international health. Ideational robustness appears as a powerful yet insufficient ingredient of policy success.

A Case Study in VLSI Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 presented numerous challenges to education. Many papers have been published detailing professors' successes and learning experiences in adapting their courses to the changing circumstances of the ongoing pandemic. For courses that have experienced great success, professors will likely choose to keep many of their remote elements. Over the past two years, we have had three capstone teams complete Very Large-Scale Integration (VLSI) designs in a remote environment, and while further improvements will be made going forward, we will continue with our fully remote course regardless of the currently loosening restrictions. We recently received our first undergraduate-led tape-out from fabrication and have begun preliminary testing.

The Future of Space Exploration

This research study conducts a complete analysis of the diverse future of space travel by tying together historical legacies, current dynamics, and potential paths. The study covers the current era, looking at significant turning events, technological advancements, the influence of commercial groups, and the growing space tourism industry. By discussing upcoming space missions, technological developments that may revolutionise space travel, the difficulties of international collaboration, and the implications for society, future directions are demonstrated. As we examine the problems of technical advancements, economic feasibility, and environmental sustainability, suggested solutions emerge, demonstrating the field's adaptability to changing circumstances.[2] Examined are the moral and social repercussions of human existence away from Earth, emphasising the importance of international inclusivity and collaboration. The study's conclusion emphasises the value of continuous adaptation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a shared commitment to responsible discovery with an eye towards the future. The exciting future of space travel will be determined by sustained study, policy development, and a shared vision for humanity's cosmic trip.[4] Key Words: — Space exploration, future trends, historical milestones, technological advancements, private space entities, space tourism, upcoming missions, interplanetary travel, international collaboration, societal implications, ethical considerations, sustainability, economic viability, interdisciplinary research, cultural contributions, global governance, continuous adaptation.

IDENTIFICATION OF THE LEVEL OF UPBRINGING BY APPLYING THE DIAGNOSTIC METHODOLOGY OF N. P. KAPUSTIN

In Armenian society, the socioeconomic and political developments result in an active reformation of all facets of daily life. The contemporary school is in modernization process. Any competitive educational institution needs ongoing organizational modifications to be competitive and flexible in the face of changing circumstances. There is a conflict between ideas, moral principles, stances, and points of view when society is updated and reformatted. In this respect, among the methodological and theoretical issues with education, in particular, the issues with personality development, upbringing, and preparation to live in the changing circumstances of a worldwide society, as well as the need to express one's uniqueness, are prioritized. In the schools, a variety of pedagogical processes are continually used. Knowledge acquiring, the development of skills and aptitudes, the formation of a scientific worldview, ideological-political and moral-labor education, the process of students' aesthetic and physical development, and other elements of the entire educational process are all geared toward the formation of a harmonious, fully developed personality. Education as a deliberate process for personality development will involve the growth of a knowledgeable personality, life and active pursuits, and readiness for the standards recognized in society. A welleducated person's requests, substance, and tactics differ depending on the social circumstances. What should a modern individual be like to satisfy the demands of a changing society? This is one of the most crucial concerns in the educational process. How can this be achieved in the school environment during the educational process? Today, more than ever before, it is essential to develop a certain set of skills and expertise in a person as well as work toward making this process the major internal need of a person as well as the objective of society and the state. This can be accomplished through forming new worldviews, idealistic and value systems, safe social norms, and cultural traditions through education. 40 Betty Kilerjian The approach of resolving this issue involves pedagogical diagnostics. This is a collection of measurable diagnostic instruments. methods, exams, and questionnaires developed by the author, whose usage will make it evident how well education and personality development have gone, and which will serve as the foundation for future educational work planning.

ENTERPRISE BANK RELATIONSHIP: ISLAMIC FINANCE AND THE FINANCIAL FAILURE OF COMPANIES IN MAURITANIA

Building a strong business-bank relationship involves clear communication, transparency about your company's financial needs, and understanding the services offered by the bank. Regularly review and update your financial strategy with your bank to ensure it aligns with your business goals. Islamic finance in Mauritania operates in compliance with Sharia principles, avoiding interest-based transactions. While it can provide ethical financial solutions, business failure can still occur due to various factors such as economic instability, mismanagement, or external market conditions. Evaluating risks, adhering to Islamic financial principles, and implementing sound business practices are crucial to mitigate the potential for failure. Financial failure can result from a variety of factors, including poor financial management, excessive debt, economic downturns, or inadequate market research. It's essential for businesses to maintain financial discipline, regularly assess their financial health, and adapt strategies to changing circumstances to minimize the risk of financial failure. Seeking professional advice, managing cash flow effectively, and maintaining transparency in financial reporting are key practices to safeguard against financial setbacks. This research addresses the bank-business relationship by emphasizing the role of Islamic finance in the fight against business failure. The outline of our article is as follows: 1) A literature review on microfinance and its role in financing SMEs and also its role in the fight against unemployment among young graduates. It will be a literature that sweeps from the regional context to an international context. 2) Identification of research hypotheses and development of a questionnaire 3) Analysis of quantitative data using SPSS software and validation of hypotheses. Proposal for a modeling for the relationship between microfinance and the fight against youth unemployment in Mauritania. 4) Discussions of scientific results and recommendations for future research avenues

Using risk of crime detection to study change in mechanisms of decision making.

Perceptions of crime detection risk (e.g., risk of arrest) play an integral role in the criminal decision-making process. Yet, the sources of variation in those perceptions are not well understood. Do individuals respond to changes in legal policy or is perception of detection risk shaped like other perceptions-by experience, heuristics, and with biases? We applied a developmental perspective to study self-reported perception of detection risk. We test four hypotheses against data from the Dunedin Longitudinal Study (analytic sample of N = 985 New Zealanders), a study that spans 20 years of development (Ages 18-38, years 1990-2011). We reach four conclusions: (1) people form their perception of detection risk early in the life course; (2) perception of detection risk may be general rather than unique to each crime type; (3) population-level perceptions are stable between adolescence and adulthood; but (4) people update their perceptions when their life circumstances change. The importance of these findings for future theoretical and policy work is considered. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Integrating Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Airspace: A Systematic Review

In this article, a comprehensive review of the integration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) into shared airspace is presented. By applying a systematic review methodology, the study clarifies the main challenges, problems, and possible fixes related to safety, coordination, and regulatory frameworks. The results demonstrate the critical role that several elements play in supporting the safety of UAV integration. These elements include multi-layered airspace models, careful path planning, secure communication networks, Conflict Detection and Resolution (CDR) strategies, and strong regulations. The paper explores the potential of Human-in-the-loop Reinforcement Learning (HRL) and Reinforcement Learning (RL) algorithms to train UAVs for maneuvering through complex terrain and adapting to changing circumstances. The study's conclusions highlight the importance of ongoing research projects, stakeholder cooperation and continuous support for technology developments-all of which are necessary to ensure the safe and orderly integration of UAVs into airspace.

Cognitive Uncertainty and Employees’ Daily Innovative Work Behavior: The Moderating Role of Ambidextrous Leadership

Innovation is crucial for public organizations to adapt to changing circumstances. While successful innovation requires employees both to explore new ideas and to exploit current processes, such innovative work behavior is often bounded by constraints, both situational and personal. This study examines individual-level constraints on innovation by focusing on cognitive uncertainty as a personal state that may affect innovative work behavior. Using a quantitative daily diary study among public professionals in the Netherlands ( n = 88 respondents and 369 diary entries), the analysis identifies a positive relationship between daily cognitive uncertainty experiences and daily employee innovative work behavior. However, this relationship is only present when employees perceive substantial support from their team leader. This support takes the form of ambidextrous leadership, which mirrors the duality of the innovation process and is shown to be most effective in stimulating innovative work behavior and in managing cognitive uncertainty in stimulating innovation.

Принципи обліку та оподаткування в умовах військового стану

This article demonstrates that under martial law conditions, conducting accounting and taxation requires adherence to a set of principles based on values such as: creating opportunities for financing military needs, social protection for military personnel and their families, and fostering a favorable environment for business development, both private and state entrepreneurship. It is substantiated that, according to these principles, it is necessary to ensure effective control over expenses and income, rational use of resources, continuous monitoring, and evaluation of the effectiveness of financial policy, including accounting and taxation. Moreover, it justifies the importance of adapting to changing circumstances and addressing the unique challenges posed by martial law. In summary, the principles discussed in this article provide a solid foundation for accounting and taxation during military conflict, and their implementation is critical for ensuring financial stability and effective management.

The need for an historical theology of women deacons in the early church

AbstractThis article briefly surveys the historical evidence of Byzantine deaconesses and trends in modern research on the order. By drawing attention to the detrimental effects of research bias, the value of an historical theology of deaconesses becomes clear. The diaconate, like all the major orders, evolved throughout the early Christian period reflecting an adaptation to changing circumstances. Historical deaconesses should be interpreted by the theology of their own time and place, rather than through the lens of the more limited liturgical role of the modern diaconate. Does theological continuity exist between the apostolic diakonia and the ordination and vesting of deaconesses in the eighth century? An historical theology of this enigmatic, yet canonical ministry will reveal the varied iterations of deaconesses extended the ministry of the apostles and bishops into women's spheres in a manner consistent with the Church's enduring theology and mission.

The Impact of Changing Collaborative Workplace Parameters on Assembly Operation Efficiency

Human–robot collaborative systems bring several benefits in using human and robot capabilities simultaneously. One of the critical questions is the impact of these systems on production process efficiency. The search for high-level efficiency is severely dependent on collaborative robot characteristics and motion parameters, and the ability of humans to adjust to changing circumstances. Therefore, our research analyzes the effect of the changing collaborative robot motion parameters, acoustic parameters and visual factors in a specific assembly operation, where efficiency is measured through operation times. To conduct our study, we designed a digital twin-based model and a laboratory environment experiment in the form of a collaborative workplace. The results show that changing the motion, acoustic and visual parameters of the collaborative workplace impact the assembly process efficiency significantly.

The Evolution and Development of Malaysia's Strategy Towards China (1957-2022)

This article uses the period from 1957, the year Malaysia gained independence, to 2022, as the research timeline to examine how Malaysia's strategy toward China developed and what variables significantly influenced its development. The study's findings demonstrate that Malaysia, a tiny nation, has developed its relationship with China through four distinct phases: confrontation (1957–1974), non–alignment (1974–1981), balance (1981–2018), and the "new" hedging approach (2018-2022). Five main factors, including leadership qualities, domestic interest groups, national interest considerations, great power rivalry, and ASEAN principles, all play a role in the evolution of Malaysia's strategy toward China over the course of four phases, according to Robert Putnam's Two-Level Game Theory. Of these, national interest considerations and great power rivalry are the most important influencing factors. Although Malaysia's various strategic decisions and use of China have, to some extent, helped to stabilize bilateral relations and practical cooperation between Malaysia and China, they also demonstrate that Malaysia, as a small and sensible country, is cautious and concerned when establishing relations with China. Due to these complex variables, Malaysia will modify its China policy to reflect the current environment in order to better respond to changes in both domestic and global circumstances and advance its own national interests.

Fostering Executive-Function Skills and Promoting Far Transfer to Real-World Outcomes: The Importance of Life Skills and Civic Science

Executive-function (EF) skills are a set of attention-regulation skills that provide a neurocognitive foundation for adapting to changing circumstances across the life span; EF skills measured in childhood are associated with important real-world outcomes (e.g., school and job success). Although training can improve EF skills, the benefits of training frequently fail to transfer to these outcomes. We argue that EF skills are associated with outcomes such as school success only to the extent that they first contribute to intermediate-level EF-based life skills that are more directly instrumental in achieving key outcomes. These intentional intermediate-level skills are configurations of specific EF skills and non-EF skills that are used when reasoning and solving problems in a variety of domains. We further argue that an effective way to bridge the gap between specific EF skills and real-world outcomes is by training these EF-based life skills that people need to function effectively in society. We propose that this can best be achieved using a civic-scientific approach, engaging citizens (e.g., children, youth, parents, teachers) in the design process from the beginning so that interventions are responsive to perceived needs and address perceived obstacles to success and sustainability.

External coercion and public support: The case of the US–China trade war

Domestic support is crucial for state leaders facing international challenges. Previous studies suggest that in both democracies and autocracies, citizens tend to support their government in resisting external coercion, and state leaders would pay high political costs for backing down, especially after they have publicly committed to standing firm. But it is also frequently assumed that the public would grow weary of international conflict and turn to peaceful settlement. Empirical research on how and why this presumed shift in public opinion would take place remains relatively scarce. This article tackles this issue by examining the dynamics of Chinese public opinion during the US–China trade war in 2018. With a two-wave survey of Chinese citizens, I explore how the government’s strategy affected public approval through two causal mechanisms: the state’s reputation for resolve and economic impact. I find that respondents’ support for standing firm was strengthened by gains in reputation for resolve but attenuated by anticipated economic losses. I also find that respondents were more sensitive to the anticipated economic losses of a prolonged trade war over time and that respondents’ preferences were constantly conditional on their pre-existing anti-American sentiment. These findings illuminate the nuanced considerations of an authoritarian audience whose calculations extend beyond sheer nationalist beliefs and dynamically respond to changing circumstances.

Doctrinal Approaches to the Problem of the Influence of a Fundamental Change in Circumstances on the Operation of Treaties

The paper is devoted to the study of the views on the problem of the influence of a fundamental change in circumstances on the operation of treaties that existed in the science of international law before the adoption of the Vienna Convention on the Law of International Treaties of 1969. The author analyzes the following approaches, common in international legal science, to the problem of applying the rebus sic stantibus clause in interstate contractual practice: its unconditional support; her denial; recognition of the admissibility of using a clause in the presence of a number of conditions.Based on the study of special scientific literature, conclusions are drawn regarding the validity and acceptability of each of the approaches, which to a certain extent contributes to a proper understanding of the true meaning of the current conventional norm on the impact of a fundamental change in circumstances on international treaties. An analysis of the first approach, which assumes the right of any of the states party to the treaty to refuse to implement it in the event of such a change in circumstances that seriously affects the fundamental rights of this state, leads to the conclusion that in the absence of clear criteria for the use of a clause, it is almost impossible to reliably answer the question of whether after a change in circumstances, the implementation of the contract will threaten the fundamental rights of the state. The denial of the rebus sic stantibus clause was argued either by challenging its legal essence or by stating its inconsistency with the principle of pacta sunt servanda. The third approach, which is the most realistic, won approval at the UN Vienna Conference on the Law of Treaties and was normatively enshrined in the Vienna Convention of 1969, which ultimately made it possible to remove uncertainty regarding the impact of a fundamental change in circumstances on the operation of international treaties.

Incomplete promises and the norm of keeping promises

Promises, like contracts, are inherently incomplete and rarely specify what the promisor ought to do in different possible contingencies, thereby being apt to be interpreted differently by the promisor and promisee, with their conflicting interests, and in a self-serving manner whenever circumstances change. This article studies the effect of the incompleteness of a promise on the decision to keep the promise and on individual beliefs that are relevant for the social norm of keeping promises. It investigates, in a laboratory experiment, how individuals form beliefs about how promisors behave, how promisees expect promisors to behave, and how neutral individuals evaluate the immorality of breaking promises when a contingency that was not explicitly addressed by the promise materializes. Promisors distort their beliefs to breach without incurring guilt or moral costs when the promise is incomplete, but even neutral individuals believe that breach is more socially acceptable in this case. Results further reveal substantial heterogeneity in individual beliefs, providing insights into why people do not always respect a fundamental social norm such as keeping promises, at times violating it and at times keeping it.

Автоматизація побудови, порівняння та вибору маршрутів та схем доставки в системі мультимодальних перевезень


 The article proposes the application of a methodical approach to choosing the optimal route of multimodal transportation based on a module integrated into the information system of a freight forwarding company. The functions of the module are to build an optimal delivery scheme and meet all customer requirements, both domestic and international multimodal transportation, taking into account the changing circumstances in the conditions of instability caused by the state of war and the need to reorient the usual delivery routes.
 In the conditions of military operations, this method of automated search and comparison of alternative routes allows taking into account changing conditions that develop in real time, while the cargo flow should be accompanied by an information flow that would also be available in real time. The proposed structure of the database, the structures of requests for development routes., developed forms of source documents. The criteria for comparing routes of different dimensions are defined: the difference in the distance of cargo transportation, the costs of changing the existing system of cargo transportation, increasing the level of transportation safety, delivery time, reducing the cost of delivering a batch of goods, the difference in delivery time. A solution to the multi-criteria decision-making problem by normalizing the criteria and the additive optimization method is proposed. The method of determining the best route and supply scheme is implemented in the "decision-making" module, which is integrated into the information system of the transport forwarding company.
 The result of the practical implementation of the proposed method of construction, comparison and selection of routes and delivery schemes in the system of multimodal transportation based on the integrated module in the information system of the transport and forwarding company is the possibility of quick response to changes in external circumstances, warnings of emergency and conflict situations, control of the transportation process along the entire route and , if necessary, making adjustments to the route and delivery scheme, choosing a safe and effective option by the operator of multimodal transportation.

Strategic Leadership in Times of Crisis: A Comparative Study of Successful Organizational Responses

This research article investigates strategic leadership during times of crisis through a comparative study of successful organizational responses. Utilizing a qualitative methodology involving literature review and library research, the study aims to analyze how strategic leaders navigate crises and steer their organizations towards successful outcomes.
 The literature review delves into various aspects of strategic leadership and crisis management, examining theoretical frameworks, case studies, and empirical research. By synthesizing existing knowledge, the article seeks to identify common strategies and leadership approaches employed by organizations that have effectively managed crises.
 The findings highlight several key themes in strategic leadership during crises, including proactive decision-making, effective communication, agility, resilience, and the ability to foster collaboration among stakeholders. Successful organizational responses often involve adaptive strategies that prioritize both short-term survival and long-term sustainability.
 Moreover, the study explores the role of leaders in inspiring confidence, maintaining morale, and instilling a sense of purpose among employees during challenging times. It also discusses the importance of learning from past experiences and continuously evolving strategies in response to changing circumstances.