Gypsy Research Articles

Validity assessment in Eastern Europe: cross-validation of the Dot Counting Test and MODEMM against the TOMM-1 and Rey-15 in a Romanian mixed clinical sample.

This study investigated performance validity in the understudied Romanian clinical population by exploring classification accuracies of the Dot Counting Test (DCT) and the first Romanian performance validity test (PVT) (Memory of Objects and Digits and Evaluation of Memory Malingering/MODEMM) in a heterogeneous clinical sample. We evaluated 54 outpatients (26 females; MAge = 62.02; SDAge = 12.3; MEducation = 2.41, SDEducation = 2.82) with the Test of Memory Malingering 1 (TOMM-1), Rey Fifteen Items Test (Rey-15) (free recall and recognition trials), DCT, MODEMM, and MMSE/MoCA as part of their neuropsychological assessment. Accuracy parameters and base failure rates were computed for the DCT and MODEMM indicators against the TOMM-1 and Rey-15. Two patient groups were constructed according to psychometrically defined credible/noncredible performance (i.e., pass/fail both TOMM-1 and Rey-15). Similar to other cultures, a cutoff of ≥18 on the DCT E score produced the best combination between sensitivity (0.50-0.57) and specificity (≥0.90). MODEMM indicators based on recognition accuracy, inconsistencies, and inclusion false positives generated 0.75-0.86 sensitivities at ≥0.90 specificities. Multivariable models of MODEMM indicators reached perfect sensitivities at ≥0.90 specificities against two PVTs. Patients who failed the TOMM-1 and Rey-15 were significantly more likely to fail the DCT and MODEMM than patients who passed both PVTs. Our results offer proof of concept for the DCT's cross-cultural validity and the applicability of the MODEMM on Romanian clinical examinees, further recommending the use of heterogeneous validity indicators in clinical assessments.

Exploring Hidden Costs of Seasonal Migration in Agriculture within Roma Communities of Origin: Evidence from Romania

The article is focused on researching the hidden effects of seasonal migration in agriculture on Roma communities in Romania. The theoretical framework considers the specific nature of seasonal migration in agriculture and includes elements relevant to understanding the seasonal migration patterns of the Roma population from Romania. The research is based on a qualitative methodological design and over 120 interviews in four communities with Roma individuals and key actors at the community level (e.g., local authorities, teachers, priests, and social workers). The interviews are thematically analyzed, and the hidden costs of seasonal migration are discussed at three levels of analysis: individual, familial, and community. First and foremost, the analysis emphasizes that migration is the most significant factor of social change in the studied Roma communities, and its effects are multifaceted. The analysis reveals significant negative costs of migration in terms of health, education, employability, family, and community life. In the medium and long term, these effects decrease the positive aspects linked to the material gains from migration, making these Roma communities more vulnerable and dependent.

Frequency of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Gene Variant in Roma Population.

Aims: The pathogenic variant, p.GLY428Asp (c.1283G-A), in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene causes neonatal inflammatory skin and bowel disease 2, a disorder that is lethal during infancy due to skin infections and sepsis. This variant seems to be restricted to people of Roma origin with the majority of patients thus far reported being from Slovakia or the Czech Republic. The aim of this study was to establish the frequency of this variant in the Roma population in Slovakia. Methods: A population sample of 1321 unrelated healthy individuals of Roma origin from Slovakia was tested for the p.GLY428Asp variant in EGFR gene by real-time PCR. Results: The carrier frequency in the Roma ethnic group was 2.65%. Conclusions: This is the first report of the frequency of this variant. A high frequency of carriers together with a significant number of patients reported previously proves the p.GLY428Asp variant in the EGFR gene is a major health concern of the Roma populations in Slovakia and neighboring regions.

Koncepcja „przeczarowania” świata jako sposób na dekonstrukcję obrazu wspólnoty. Wokół wystawy Małgorzaty Mirgi-Tas

The article describes the Polish Pavilion at the Biennale Arte (2022), where, due to the works of Małgorzata Mirga-Tas, the “re-enchantment” of Romani people history took place. At the exhibition, the artist representing Poland presented the alternative history of the Romani or – using Ariella A. Azoulay’s term – “potential” history. The author of the article examines how Mirga-Tas implements the idea of community, while making space for the individual. The artist, without any Romani representations, created her own graphic fantasy, rejecting historical testimonies; the fantasy presented in the text as an identity attempt and the creation of a collective self-portrait at the same time. In the second part of the article, the author inquires if the concept of “re-enchantment” can be used in didactics of the Polish language and reflects on the question of how to emancipate Romani culture at school in order to work through the one-dimensional image of the Romani described as the Other of Europe. The essence of re-enchantment lies in repairing what has been damaged by violence or prejudice.

The Process of Massive Russification of the Romanian Population Between the Prut and Dniester. An Overview Through the Activity Reports Drawn Up by the Army Priests, Participants in the Campaign in Bessarabia (1918–1919)

The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia (1917), the dissolution of the Tsarist Army and the collapse of the Eastern Front also had an impact on the security in Bessarabia. For this reason, the political authorities in Chisinau requested the Romanian Government to authorize the intervention of the Royal Army in the east of the Prut. During the military operations, the Romanian Army was accompanied by a number of approximately 40 mobilized priests. By fulfilling religious requirements, raising morale, maintaining discipline and promoting brotherly behavior towards the locals, they offered real spiritual guidance to the troops. In the interaction with the native civilian population, the military clergy officiated Orthodox acts of worship, they delivered patriotic and moralizing speeches and explained the national history, carrying out a true apostolic mission. They found on spot that the belonging of the Bessarabians to the Romanian nation had been undermined for more than a century by the policy of denationalization, intensively patronized by the power of the Russian double-headed eagle, often with the help of the Church.

Impact on quality of life of keratoconus patients treated with accelerated "epi-on" corneal collagen crosslinking technique: results from the NEI VFQ-25 Questionnaire in a Romanian population.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to describe vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) in a Romanian population of patients with keratoconus who underwent the accelerated "epi-on" corneal collagen crosslinking procedure and to evaluate the association with demographic data of age, gender and civil status (married, cohabitants or non-cohabitants). Method: The National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25 (NEI VFQ-25) was administered to 72 patients with keratoconus who had undergone a minimally invasive procedure. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were used to determine the distribution of demographic parameters and a possible association between this parameter and the scores obtained on the NEI VFQ-25 questionnaire. Results: Based on the answers to the questionnaire we calculated the mean (SD) VFQ-25 total score, which was 73,97 (15,11), whilst scores for the subscales varied from 49.93 to 84,23. No significant difference was observed between the demographic parameters and the NEI VFQ-25 items, except for one item (being with others) when comparing paired and non-paired participants. Conclusion: In a Romanian population with keratoconus being treated with accelerated "epi-on" corneal collagen crosslinking procedure, VRQoL was reported at a high baseline level. The value of this information is significant when discussing patients' expectations during treatment. The VRQoL was not affected by age or civil status.

THE RIGHT TO DIGNITY - BETWEEN ASPIRATION AND LEGISLATION

The study aims to analyse one of the essential rights of the human being, the right to dignity, with particular implications for the evolution of communities, societies and humanity as a whole. Dignity is also an ethical and legal value, which runs like a guiding thread through the evolution of individuals, whether viewed in isolation or in a larger or smaller group. Dignity is the cornerstone of the architecture of fundamental rights and freedoms, a conclusion drawn from its inclusion in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in the sequence of its component parts, as its first title. Article 1(3) of the revised and republished Romanian Constitution regulates the values declared supreme in the Romanian State and guaranteed in the spirit of the democratic traditions of the Romanian people and the ideals of the December 1989 Revolution. The first of these values is human dignity. Then follow, in succession, the rights and freedoms of citizens, the free development of the human personality, justice and political pluralism. Hence the conclusion that, in the view of the Romanian constitutional legislator, human dignity is also the pedestal of the values which are the essential elements of the Romanian state's identity. We say this because we are referring to the first article of the Fundamental Law, whose name is “the Romanian state.”

ADAM22 ethnic-specific variant reducing binding of membrane-associated guanylate kinases causes focal epilepsy and behavioural disorder.

Pathogenic variants of ADAM22 affecting either its biosynthesis and/or its interactions with either LGI1 and/or PSD-95 have been recently identified in individuals with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. Here, we describe a girl with seizures, delayed psychomotor development, and behavioural disorder, carrying a homozygous variant in ADAM22 (NM_021723.5:c.2714C > T). The variant has a surprisingly high frequency in the Roma population of the Czech and Slovak Republic, with 11 of 213 (∼5.2%) healthy Roma individuals identified as heterozygous carriers. Structural in silico characterization revealed that the genetic variant encodes the missense variant p.S905F, which localizes to the PDZ-binding motif of ADAM22. Studies in transiently transfected mammalian cells revealed that the variant has no effect on biosynthesis and stability of ADAM22. Rather, protein-protein interaction studies showed that the p.S905F variant specifically impairs ADAM22 binding to PSD-95 and other proteins from a family of membrane-associated guanylate kinases, while it has only minor effect on ADAM22-LGI1 interaction. Our study indicates that a significant proportion of epilepsy in patients of Roma ancestry may be caused by homozygous c.2714C > T variants in ADAM22. The study of this ADAM22 variant highlights a novel pathogenic mechanism of ADAM22 dysfunction and reconfirms an essential role of interaction of ADAM22 with membrane-associated guanylate kinases in seizure protection in humans.

Suicidal ideation in coronary heart disease patients: the role of ethnicity and lifestyle factors

Abstract Background Suicidal ideation (SI) is more prevalent in people with coronary heart disease (CHD) when compared to the general population. However, studies on protective factors against SI in people with cardiovascular diseases are still lacking. Moreover, there is less known about risk factors, such as ethnicity or lifestyle factors in SI and suicidal behavior. Thus, we aimed to examine the associations between ethnicity, lifestyle factors and SI in people with CHD when controlled for sociodemographic and clinical variables. Methods We included 878 patients (60.0% male; 86.0% non-Roma; mean age 57.81±7.59 years; BMI 29.78±10.39 kg/m2) with CHD. All participants completed the 36-Item Short Form Survey, Food Frequency Questionnaire, Physical Activity Scale, and the General Health Questionnaire-28. Correlation analyses and multiple linear regressions were used to analyze the data. Results The prevalence of SI was higher in Roma people with CHD (12%) when compared to non-Roma (2.9%). Bivariate analyses showed significant associations between lower age, Roma ethnicity, lower education, lower income, poor mental health, consumption of smoked food, low consumption of fruit and vegetables, smoking, physical inactivity and SI. No association between functional status, physical quality of life and SI was identified. Multivariate analyses showed that lower age (β=-.06; p<.05), poor mental health (β=-.39; p<.001), smoking (β=.09; p<.05), and physical inactivity (β=.10; p<.01) were associated with higher SI in CHD, with an explained variance of 21.0% in SI. Conclusions A better quality diet and physical activity may have a positive effect on diminishing SI in CHD. A thorough understanding of the protective lifestyle factors, including physical activity, dietary habits, and being a non-smoker could facilitate the development of tailored intervention programs to improve mental health in people with CHD (Grant support: VEGA: 1/0748/22) Key messages • Interventions aimed at a healthy lifestyle may diminish the psychological burden in CHD patients. • Ethnic disparities in mental health should be considered when designing public health interventions.

Association of HDL subfraction profile with the progression of insulin resistance

Abstract Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a major global public health problem, as it is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Insulin resistance (IR) is considered to be a condition characterized by disturbances in carbohydrate and lipid metabolisms that precede T2D. The correlation between IR and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels is known, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The present study aimed to investigate the association between HDL subfraction profile and the development of IR. Methods The progression of IR was assessed using the Homeostatic Model Assessment for IR index (HOMA-IR), and IR was defined as those with a HOMA-IR greater than 3.63. The HDL-C was separated using the Lipoprint system, which identifies ten subfractions (HDL-1-10) and three classes: large- (HDL-L), intermediate- (HDL-I), and small-HDL (HDL-S). All analyses were performed on samples of 240 control subjects and 137 individuals with IR from the Hungarian general and Roma populations. Results The HDL-1 to -6 and the HDL-L and -I showed a significant negative association with elevated HOMA-IR and the presence of IR. Among them, HDL-2 (β = 42.2, p = 4.1 × 10-12) and HDL-L (β = 15.5, p = 2.2 × 10-10) showed the strongest correlation with the IR progression. The optimal cut-off value was found to be 0.264 mmol/L for HDL-L and 0.102 mmol/L and above for HDL-2. The risk of IR is 5.1 times higher for HDL-L levels below the cut-off (p = 2.2 × 10-7), and 4.2 times higher for HDL-2 (p = 3.0 × 10-6). Furthermore, the risk of early manifestation of IR are significantly higher in individuals with both HDL-L (HR = 3.5, p = 3.2 × 10-7) and HDL-2 (HR = 3.19, p = 2.0 × 10-6) levels below the cut-off. Key messages • HDL-2 and -L levels are strongly associated with the development of insulin resistance. • Elevated risk of early onset of insulin resistance is associated with HDL subfraction profile.

Prejudices towards the Romas in Hungarian healthcare: taboos and areas to tackle inequalities

Abstract Background The Roma or Gipsy population is the largest ethnic minority both in Europe and Hungary with 10-15 years lower life expectancy and worse health indicators than majority populations. The aim of our study was to investigate a sensitive and controversial issue: the perspectives of Hungarian health professionals about the presence and impacts of prejudice towards Roma patients. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted between June 2017 and May 2018 involving 19 healthcare professionals. Qualitative methods were applied to analyse the transcripts. Results The presence and occasional manifestation of prejudices against the Romas were confirmed by the interviewees, most commonly in the form of longer waiting time, comments or other meta-communicative tools. Prejudicial attitudes and discriminatory behaviour are less common in wards where the prevalence of disadvantaged patients (HIV-positive, homeless) is higher (e.g. infectology). Prejudice is not specifically directed at the Roma ethnic minority, but also extends to populations living in poor socio-economic conditions, or with underlying self-destructive behaviour (alcoholism, drug use). In the opinion of our interviewees, occasional prejudicial behaviour does not lead directly to sub-standard care and poorer health, but it cannot be ruled out that it may indirectly contribute to it, in case the patient does not seek medical attention due to a former negative experience within healthcare. In terms of prevention, the education of both parties and the prevention of burnout of health providers are essential tasks for the future as this latter may also enhance the manifestation of prejudices. Conclusions Our study includes the investigation of a highly sensitive and understudied area of research. Our findings may provide a better understanding of Hungarian health professionals’ views on the effects of prejudice towards the Roma patients in healthcare, as well as about the need and strategies of prevention. Key messages • Direct relationship between healthcare providers’ prejudices and the lower quality of healthcare services or the worse health status of Roma patients may be excluded. • Indirect negative effects of prejudices may occur in cases where a patient refrains from seeking care due to previous perceived or experienced discrimination.

Socioeconomic inequalities in the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in Hungary; context and public health implications

Abstract Background Eastern Europe witnessed substantial life expectancy losses in 2021. COVID-19 vaccination coverage was lower, and mortality was higher than in Western Europe. Research suggests an important factor behind lower vaccination coverage is vaccine hesitancy. Our studies aimed to explore spatial inequalities in COVID-19 morbidity, mortality, and vaccination coverage in Hungary and the reasons behind vaccine hesitancy during the 3rd and 4th pandemic waves. Methods We characterized COVID-19 morbidity, mortality, and vaccination coverage by indirectly standardized ratios at the municipality level and investigated the association with deprivation. Attitudes towards vaccination were measured by a nationally representative monthly questionnaire survey. Results In Hungary, people in the most deprived municipalities had 17-58% higher relative COVID-19 mortality than the national average, although morbidity was significantly lower. COVID-19 vaccination coverage among the least deprived was 9.2% (95% CI 9-9.5%) higher, while in the most deprived areas, it was 38.2% (95% CI 38.0-38.4%) below the national average at the end of the 3rd pandemic wave. In the 10 districts with the highest proportion of the Roma population, vaccination coverage was 56.0% of the national average (95% CI 55.0-64.0%). Inequalities persisted by the end of the 4th pandemic wave. Younger age, lower education, and lower income were major determinants of vaccine refusal. Reasons for refusal mostly resulted from barriers to accessing reliable information and mistrust. Although Hungary has traditionally had high social acceptance of vaccination, the campaign failed to close the gap in COVID-19 mortality. Hungary demonstrates how social inequalities, misinformation, and mistrust can undermine a vaccination program's success. Consistent, credible communication can dispel misconceptions and build trust, which is key to the acceptance of public health measures.

10.M. Workshop: Community Health Practice and Research in Europe: Up front and centre!

Abstract Community Health (CH) is one of the most undervalued and poorly funded domains of action of health systems. Although evidence is strong on its contribution to population health, well-being and equity, national and regional health systems, and to some extent public health institutions, tend to pay little attention to its contribution. Community health encompasses the application of health promotion principles and strategies at the local level to improve equity and resilience of a community. It does so through three fundamental means: cross-sectoral collaborations, community involvement/engagement, and community health workers (CHW). It engages and works with communities in a culturally appropriate manner in order to implement effective strategies. In community health, capacity building is essential. The aim of this workshop is three-fold: 1) to generate a discussion among participants on the state of practice and research, 2) to reflect on strategies to strengthen and improve community health in Europe and, 3) to enhance the visibility of this domain within the ranks of the European Public Health Association (EUPHA). The workshop will provide a space for reflections and discussions. Each of our speakers, who are researchers from 5 different countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, and UK), will have 5 minutes to provide some elements of answers to the two following questions: • What is the state of community health practice and research in your country? • What difference does it make for health systems to implement community health strategies? Eric Breton (France) will briefly introduce the workshop providing a conceptual framework for community health and an overview of the different perspectives that drive practices and policies. Manfred Cassens (Germany) and Caroline Masquillier (Belgium) will discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has enhanced the shortfalls of health systems and lead their countries to experiment community health strategies. Camila Picchio (Spain) will demonstrate how CHWs are essential in reaching out marginalised communities as will Ekaterina Volevach (Czech Republic) drawing lessons from a programme targeting the Roma population. Both will highlight the difficulties health systems face in answering the need of vulnerable population. Catherine Jenkins (United Kingdom), will describe a city-region intervention for galvanising community-level innovation to reduce gambling-related harms. Luis Saboga-Nunes, President of the EUPHA Health Promotion Section and Goof Buijs, Manager of the UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education will conclude the session. We trust that this very interactive workshop will help attendees of the EUPHA conference in Dublin working in community health to find each other and facilitate the development of partnerships. Key messages • Community Health strategies are essential in improving populations’ health and well-being. Yet, this contribution is hardly reflected in national health policies and in the resources invested locally. • The COVID-19 pandemic cast a harsh light on the limits of health systems under-investing in community engagement, community health workers and in the mobilisation of local stakeholders.

Romanian students’ knowledge on radiation protection

Abstract Since March 2022, Romania has become a country in the vicinity of a military conflict (there are 649 km border between Romania and Ukraine). As the Russian Federation threatens with using its nuclear arsenal against Ukraine or NATO member states, the risk the Romanian population to be exposed to high radioactivity levels (including radioactive iodine) has to be taken into consideration. In this context, in April 2022 the Romanian Ministry of Health decided to provide iodine tablets to all people under the age of 40; it also launched a public information campaign aimed to advise people on how to avoid radiation exposure, including how to take iodine tablets. One year after this campaign, we evaluated the students’ knowledge on potassium iodide (KI) administration. A number of 828 students (in Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, Sciences, Electronics, and Philology), 68% females, aged 20-24 years, answered a 12-item questionnaire on KI administration. The results show 78.3% of the subjects associated KI administration with a nuclear accident/use of nuclear weapons; about 70% knew they can have KI from the pharmacist's using a prescription from the general practitioner. Only 38.6 % of the students correctly mentioned the age of KI administration; 41.1% knew a single dose administration is necessary. About 63% of the respondents knew KI is necessary to protect the thyroid; 53.1% mentioned thyroid cancer as the risk of KI non-administration. As expected, most correct answers were given by students in health-care specialties, while the less correct - by students in Philology (p < 0.001). Surprisingly, best informed medical students were respondents from Nursing, followed by those in Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry (p < 0.01). Even students are considered a well-informed population group, the results indicate more than half of the subjects miss important information concerning radiation exposure attitude. Key messages • Nowadays nuclear weapons use is a threat everybody should be aware of. • Information is an essential tool to make people able to protect themselves against radiation exposure.

Assessing the Level of Knowledge and Experience Regarding Cervical Cancer Prevention and Screening among Roma Women in Romania.

Background and Objectives: Romania ranks among the countries with a particularly high rate of mortality that can be prevented through prevention programs, screening, early detection, and prompt care. Cervical cancer (CC) is a major cause of these preventable deaths, affecting individuals from marginalized and rural regions, as well as the Roma population. The purpose of this article was to identify accurate and consistent information about the Roma population on the risk of CC, as well as the importance of understanding the causes of the disease and awareness of the available prevention methods. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire applied only to Roma women in Romania. Results: We enrolled 759 patients in this study. These were divided into two groups: Group 1 comprised 289 (38.1%) women who had been tested for HPV infection, while Group 2 included 470 (61.9%) women who had never been tested for HPV infection. Characterization of women in Group 1: mostly aged between 25 and 54 years, with high school education, married, who started sexual activity under the age of 18 years, with only one sexual partner, and had over five pregnancies. Regarding contraceptive methods, 35.7% of women do not know or use any contraceptive method, and 32.2% use hormonal contraceptives. Two thirds of the women tested had heard of HPV, and 19.7% were vaccinated against HPV with at least 2-3 doses. A percentage of 8.7 had a diagnosis of CC, compared to those who were not tested (p-0.0001), whereas 63% of the tested women did not know much about CC, as opposed to 85.7% of the group of untested women. Conclusions: Cervical cancer (CC) continues to be a public health concern in Romania, particularly among vulnerable groups. Promoting campaigns to raise awareness for HPV vaccination and CC screening are necessary to reduce the associated mortality and morbidity.

Engaging with the claim of Roma people through twitter: who is behind the hashtags?

Grassroots Roma communities play a pivotal role in organizing at the grassroots level, advocating for their rights, and challenging anti-Roma sentiment across Europe. Nevertheless, there remains a need for a deeper understanding of how these efforts manifest within the digital landscape. Within the overarching framework of the Narratives4Change project (EU Marie Curie Action, Nr. 841,355), this study seeks to examine the use of Twitter as a platform for advocating Roma-related issues. Specifically, it investigates the types of actors engaged in tweeting about Roma-related content and explores potential variations in profiles (organizations vs. individuals) based on the content being tweeted. The analysis encompasses six Roma-related hashtags spanning the years 2017 to 2020: #RomaLivesMatter, #InternationalRomaDay, #OpreRoma, #OpreRomnia, #MujerGitana, and #RomaWomen. The findings reveal that organizations are most active when employing the hashtags #InternationalRomaDay and #MujerGitana, whereas for the other hashtags studied, individual users dominate. Our data underscore the untapped potential of social media spaces and their ecosystems as strategic tools for advocacy and mobilization in support of Roma rights throughout Europe.

Support for the Inclusion of Roma Children through the Project Teaching Model

Roma are the largest minority ethnic group in Europe, but very few Roma achieve a level of education that enables them to secure employment or positive life chances. The general perception of Roma is based on a series of stereotypes such as poverty, asociality, unemployment, poor education, a tendency towards social tension, and susceptibility to educational deficiencies. Their values, lifestyle, principles, language, generally lower social status, and their socio-cultural traditions are noticeably different from those of the majority population of any given European country. The inclusion of Roma in the education system would soften the existing discourse and encourage their integration into a society. The paper aims to point out the possibility of integrating the Roma population into schools, with the given model of project teaching, in such a way that the other students also get to know their culture and traditions. The paper proposed the model of project teaching, which aims to introduce students to the Roma people and their famous representatives through the contents of legends, music, and true war stories, in order to develop knowledge about the other and different, and foster a climate of togetherness in the class and school.

The Molecular Evidence for Invasive Climber Echinocystis lobata (Michx.) Torr. & A. Gray in Eastern and Central Europe

The climbing cucurbit Echinocystis lobata, native to North America and alien to many European countries, was assessed for its genetic diversity and differentiation across its introduced range of populations by applying markers of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Various tests, including an evaluation of the intrapopulation diversity, principal coordinate, and molecular variance analyses, showed that the Central and Eastern European populations differing in geography and arrival history are also distinct in the genetic parameters. Genetic diversity, defined as the percentage of polymorphic AFLP loci, ranged within 28–62% (on average 51%) at the regional scale (in Romanian, Baltic State, and Central Russian populations), and was very similar to this parameter at the local scale (on average 52% for Lithuanian populations). The differentiation was significant among the populations of the regions (Ф = 0.125, p = 0.001) and at the local scale (among the Lithuanian populations of the different river basins, Ф = 0.058, p = 0.010). The Bayesian results suggested the presence of three genetic clusters among the 29 sites, with populations from Romania, Latvia, Estonia, and the northern part of Lithuania comprising one prevailing cluster, populations from the Nemunas river basin of Lithuania comprising either the former mentioned cluster or the second cluster, and populations of Central Russia comprising the third genetic cluster. Overall, E. lobata in Europe has probably originated from multiple introductions. The intentional anthropogenic seed dispersal by marketing accompanied by hydrochory might have an impact on such a profile of genetic clusters.

Relationships of the Romanian population of Bukovina with representatives of the authorities during World War I

The purpose of the study is to analyze the relationships of the Romanian popula- tion of Bukovyna with the Austrian and Russian authorities during World War I. Th e method- ology of the study is based on the principles of historicism, objectivity, systematic approach and the use of methods of analysis and synthesis, as well as problematic and chronological, historical and typological, historical and systematic ones. Th e scientifi c novelty is defi ned by the fact that the situation of the Romanian population of Bukovyna during World War I and the measures taken by the Austrian and Russian authorities to control the population have been comprehen- sively analyzed for the fi rst time in Ukrainian historiography. Bukovyna became a part of the combat zone from the beginning of the Great war, and its population was forced to face a new attitude of the Austrian authorities, who considered it necessary to eliminate any manifestations of Russophilia, both among Ukrainians and Romanians. Since the Russian authorities intended to achieve the appropriate attitude towards the Romanian population of Bukovyna in order of Romania entering the war, the Austrian authorities made some steps to restrict the freedom of teachers and priests as mentors of the peasants. Despite the belief in the existence of irredenta among the Romanians, the Austrian authorities tried to attract Romanians to participate in volunteer armed forces during defensive battles in Bukovyna. Accusations of treason oft en resulted in the dismissal of the accused, but such cases occurred mainly at the end of the war and oft en concerned representatives of the upper world, as was the case with Yanku Flondor. The imbalance of the Austrian authorities’ attitude towards the Romanians caused some animosity towards them among the latter. Conclusion. The Romanian population of Bukovyna became the element by infl uencing which the Russian occupation authorities intended to trigger the break-up of Austria-Hungary during World War I. The loyalty of the Russian authorities to the Romanian population should have helped to convince the country’s authorities of the need to join the Entente countries. However, the authorities had not always been able to fi nd the right solutions to social issues, which had kept the latter ones in the background. Aft er all, the Russian authorities failed to avoid the pogroms of Romanian farms, which did not prevent the Russian side from Romania entering the war on the Entente side.

Minulosť v (ne)pamäti Rómov

This study uses authentic interviews from field research into the Roma people of Slovakia to search for partial answers to questions concerning the functioning of collective and individual memory of the marginalised ethnic group that to this day almost exclusively leans on oral presentation instead of written recordings when sharing stories and experiences between generations. Witnesses to wartime events are dying out. Their stories need to be re-interpreted. They are too often lost, however, in the chasm of oblivion caused by ostracisation, neglected education, politics and, above all, poverty. The state has failed in the past and continues to fail today, albeit differently, by enabling the process of forgetting.