Contemporary Conditions Research Articles

Short-term stock indices as a tool for assessing and forecasting scientific and technological security

Objectives. Ensuring scientific and technological sovereignty, defined as one of the objectives of the Concept of Technological Development for the period until 2030, approved by the Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1315-r dated May 20, 2023, implies the use of effective mechanisms for managing the country’s economy. Under contemporary conditions, technology is a crucial element in the country’s economic development and a key component of scientific and technological security. Thus, the aim of the present work is to develop existing methods for analyzing economically significant information relating to the monitoring and diagnostics of scientific and technological security at the meso- and macrolevels.Methods. The developed method for scientific and technological security level monitoring and forecasting, which is based on the dynamics analysis of the values of corporate securities, includes economic and statistical analysis methods, machine learning and time series analysis tools.Results. The approach towards information processing and enhancement of analysis mechanisms in managerial decisions, which relies on diagnostic, analysis, and forecasting tools for socioeconomic system scientific and technological security, is based on information-processing, economic, and mathematical methods. The presented results constitute a developed method for the analysis of systemically important enterprises stock indices, supporting research and development to assess and predict scientific and technological security dynamics at meso- and macro levels of the economy. In order to verify the methodology, a numerical experiment was carried out using statistical data from systemically important companies.Conclusions. The developed methodology is aimed at improved managerial decision-making accuracy and speed when solving problems connected with scientific and technological security underpinning socioeconomic systems. The experimental results quantitatively confirm the significant contribution made by systemically important companies to Russian Federation’s scientific and technological security ensuring.

Ukrainian social sector development in contemporary conditions: problems and areas for their solution

Ukrainian social sector development in contemporary conditions: problems and areas for their solution

Community Perception on the Effect of Cultural Livelihoods on the Environment in Kogi State, Nigeria

This study examines the cultural livelihood of Kogi State and its effects on the environment. The study describes some of the cultural livelihood practices found in Kogi State, considering the contemporary condition of cultural livelihood and its effects on the environment. Secondary and primary data were employed, which include archives and internet search engines. Using a 4-stage sampling procedure, data were collected from a 120-person sample through an interview, field observation, a focus group discussion, and a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics using frequencies, percentages, and charts were used for the analyses. The results were compiled using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings show that about 85% of the participants discovered crop farming, arable farming, weaving, blacksmithing, fishing, and festivals of harvest, such as the New Yam Festival, among others, as the predominant cultural livelihoods. The local farming implements were made of local materials, like stones and wood. They have indigenous crop production, protection, and harvest techniques. The farming tools were economical in terms of labor, affordability, and time savings in the subsistence farming system. The study discovered that cultural livelihoods are 4% very efficient and 56% on the verge of extinction. Analyses of the effect of cultural livelihood show that 78% have a high negative effect on the economic environment, 57% have a moderate negative effect on the social environment, 51% hurt the political environment, and 22% have a low negative effect on the political environment. The intervention of the various tiers of government with the cooperation of the various communities is needed for the provision of a conducive environment for the practice of cultural livelihood, particularly in the aspect of insecurity. Adequate provision of modern equipment, funding, and social welfare services is also recommended to enhance cultural livelihoods.

Sea level and low-latitude climate control on sedimentary provenance and paleoenvironmental evolution in the central Okinawa Trough since 19 cal. ka BP

This study utilizes AMS 14C dating, grain size analysis, and elemental composition to ascertain the provenance of sediments in core C01, thereby offering insights into the paleoenvironmental evolution of the Okinawa Trough since 19 cal. ka BP. Between 19.0 and 11.3 cal. ka BP, the sediments were predominantly derived from the Changjiang River, a phenomenon attributed to the river's seaward expansion during periods of low sea level. During this interval, the Kuroshio Current (KC) exhibited relative stability. However, the rise in sea level from 11.3 to 7.3 cal. ka BP resulted in a shift in sediment sources, incorporating contributions from the Changjiang River and/or the continental shelf post-deglaciation to Taiwan, alongside a significant intensification of the KC. This increase in KC intensity is likely correlated with heightened summer insolation in the low latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere and an enhanced East Asian summer monsoon. Additionally, volcanic activity occurring at 7.3 cal. ka BP played a critical role in modifying sediment composition. By 7.3 cal. ka BP, sea levels approximated contemporary conditions, with terrestrial sediments primarily sourced from Taiwan. Around 4.9 cal. ka BP, a marked decrease in KC intensity was observed, potentially influenced by the strengthening of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, which disrupts subtropical circulation in the North Pacific. The sedimentary records from core C01 illustrate that low-latitude Pacific climate variability since the last deglaciation has significantly impacted changes in sedimentary provenance and environmental conditions in the Okinawa Trough.

Remote employment in the era of modern changes: current legal analysis

The article explores the urgent aspects of remote employment as one of the forms of non-standard employment in contemporary conditions. At first glance, this type of employment offers more flexibility and independence, but in reality, it is associated with numerous challenges and issues. One of the most important aspects is the need for more detailed regulation and governance of remote employment. Adherence to universally recognized labor rights is essential, as the lack of physical contact can lead to various violations in the labor sphere. The current state of legislation has been analyzed and key aspects of problems that need to be resolved to ensure an adequate level of legal protection for employees have been identified. The article particularly expresses the opinion that the existing regulatory legal acts governing the order of remote employment are outdated. Current statistical data and sociological research emphasizing the importance of developing the legislative framework in this area are taken into account. This indicates the necessity for updating these regulations in line with modern realities and challenges posed by contemporary labor relations. Attention is drawn to the rapid development of the digital economy, which underscores the importance of developing relevant legislation. This will not only ensure the dynamic development of labor relations but also contribute to the preservation of employees’ health and safety. Clear regulation of these issues will improve the quality of life for workers and address challenges associated with remote employment. The active participation of Ukrainian companies that implement advanced management practices and experiment with remote employment as one of the alternative forms of employment was also noted. Additionally, the article examines the advantages and disadvantages of remote employment for both employees and employers, considering their views and interests. In general, the article aims to emphasize the importance of legal regulation of remote employment and its impact on the development of modern labor relations. The authors highlight the need to improve legislation in light of current trends and challenges, which will contribute to the stability and development of the labor market amid ongoing technological transformations.

COMPETITIVENESS AS THE MAIN GUIDELINE FOR MARKETING MANAGEMENT IN AGRIBUSINESS

The objective of this article is to examine the principal indicators of competitiveness and environmental factors, to delineate the methodologies employed in the analysis and assessment of the competitiveness of agrarian enterprises, and to justify the marketing management decisions aimed at enhancing the level of competitiveness, thereby enabling agrarian enterprises to adapt to the contemporary conditions of agribusiness. The study's methodology was based on a synthesis of the results of applied economic research, as well as the scientific works of domestic and foreign scientists. This synthesis highlighted the fundamental theories of competitive advantage, competitiveness, and marketing management. Results. The article examines the principal indicators of competitiveness and environmental factors, considers the methods of analysis and assessment of the competitiveness of agrarian enterprises, and justifies marketing management decisions aimed at enhancing the level of competitiveness in order to facilitate the adaptation of agrarian enterprises to the contemporary conditions of agribusiness. Practical results. It has been demonstrated that it is of the utmost importance for agricultural enterprises to promptly identify and respond to changes in the competitive environment in order to optimise their strategies and minimise potential risks. Accordingly, a comprehensive understanding and analysis of these aspects is essential for an effective assessment of the marketing environment itself. Those engaged in agricultural production who possess competitive advantages are able to adapt to the complex and dynamic factors that characterise the macro-, micro-, marketing and competitive environment. This enables them to strengthen their market positions and to minimise the risks associated with numerical data. Value / Originality. In order to ascertain the competitiveness of an agricultural enterprise, it is necessary to undertake a comparative analysis of the enterprise in question with respect to a number of key indicators. These include the enterprise's conditions, resources and productivity, which should be evaluated in accordance with appropriate methods.

The cardinal philosophical virtutes and contemporaryness

This article analyzes the cardinal philosophical virtues that have been elucidated by the ancient philosophers Plato and Aristotle, being further developed by medieval, modern and contemporary philosophers. The author refers to the characteristic of these virtues – prudence, courage, temperance and spirit of justice, by analyzing the views on them from antiquity to the present day. Particular attention is paid to courage as an ethical virtue that constitutes a primary form of resistance and a necessary condition for learning other virtues because it constitutes the power to resist evil within us and around us. At the same time, a special place is assigned to the spirit of justice, which records the fact that no one is above the law and other people. In conclusion, it is noted that man must, above all, in contemporary conditions, when the responsibility for the future of the existence of human civilization is immense, follow the cardinal philosophical virtues by practicing and applying them permanently.

Evaluation of the potential power generation resources in SAARC region for sustainable energy trade

AbstractThis article presents a comprehensive review on the contemporary condition of electrical energy in the SAARC countries with particular focus on conventional as well as renewable resources. The region lies at the center of the Asia with a dense population where demand and supply gap has always been a challenging factor for the governments. In addition, the region has observed enormous industrial growth during past two and half decades whose sustainability is totally dependent upon the continuous supply of energy. A bulk of valuable literature has been published in recent years that addresses the challenges, infrastructure improvements margins and several schemes to mitigate the energy deficiency in the region but most of it focuses upon either generation or transmission. This article covers this gap and presents to‐the‐point data that can be used for future forecasting, cross‐border trade possibilities and indigenous energy generation for remote and islanded regions within and across the SAARC mainland. A detailed review on electrical power generation potential by exploiting the renewable energy resources (RERs), generation capacity, installed capacity, energy short fall and transmission and distribution (T&D) losses is presented for each SAARC country and the results are presented in forms of tables and graphs. It can be inferred from the data presented in this paper that the energy crisis of the SAARC region can be overcome by mutual trade among the land‐connected countries by transporting the electrical energy, generated through RERs, across the borders. The paper concludes that the region has enormous potential for renewable energy available in form of hydal, solar, wind and biomass that, if maturely harnessed, can only not fulfil the local demands of the region but also be exported to establish the framework of cross‐border energy trade in future for sustainability of industrial and domestic utilization.

Current State and Emerging Trends in Financing Law Development

The current state of financial law is primarily defined by its subject matter. In contemporary conditions, the subject of financial law has evolved significantly, driven by the active development of its structure and, most notably, the emergence of new financial and legal institutions within decentralized finance. These institutions include state and municipal unitary enterprises, state and municipal institutions, state corporations, and public law companies. The growth of decentralized finance has been a prominent trend in the modern era, with considerable potential for further expansion. Financial and legal regulations, in general, serve to safeguard the public interests of the state and municipalities. However, it is important to acknowledge that, with the expansion of decentralized finance, the subject of financial law, considered the most fundamental indicator of the current state of this legal branch, should be understood not only in terms of the financial activities of the state and municipalities but also concerning the financial activities of entities, including non-state actors, that are tasked with executing public functions.

Temporal Range Dynamics of the Lataste's Viper (Vipera latastei Boscá, 1878) in Doñana (Spain): Insights into Anthropogenically Driven Factors.

Doñana (southern Spain), a region of notable biodiversity richness, is highly threatened by ongoing landscape transformation and climate change. We investigated the local effect of these anthropogenic factors on the temporal range dynamics of Lataste's viper (Vipera latastei), an Iberian endemic Mediterranean reptile that has apparently become rare over the years in Doñana. Using ecological niche-based models, based on climatic and remote sensing variables, we analyzed historical (1959-1999) and contemporary (2000-2022) records of the species to assess range shifts and identify environmental factors that may influence them. Our results show that V. latastei is mostly restricted to the coastal region of Doñana and that one temperature variable is the most important factor explaining this distribution pattern in both periods. Additional climatic and vegetation variables play a role in its historical distribution, but they become less important in contemporary times, suggesting a niche simplification over time. We found 30.5% of reduction in the species suitable area from historical to contemporary conditions, a reduction that would be even greater (83.37%) in the absence of niche shift. These findings underscore the species' heightened vulnerability to ongoing environmental changes and highlight the urgent need for targeted conservation strategies.

Outdoor recreation contributes to ecological changes along coastlines: Temperate United States cases highlight key impacts and ways forward

Coastal natural areas including sandy and rocky beaches comprise some of the United States’ most critical recreational and ecological resources. Through collaboration, governmental conservation agencies and non-profits forecast that over 2 billion coastline visits occur each year. Under contemporary conditions, coastal resource overuse endangers the integrity of both social and ecological systems. Existing and mounting concerns call for different coastal zone management strategies, including research into poorly understood and emerging disturbances. This work explains how recreational disturbances influence coastal environments through wildlife behavior changes, plant dynamics, and the quality of abiotic ecosystem elements. Atlantic and Pacific cases indicate that some outdoor recreation systems strongly affect habitat quality, sensitive species, and interacting communities. New insight into outdoor recreation’s contributions to ecosystem change will inform how coastal zone management agencies can implement stronger co-existence strategies for people and nature.

Certain aspects of combination of practical disciplines "Fire training" and "Special physical training" in institutions of higher education with specific learning conditions

The article discusses the impact of external and internal factors on the effectiveness of higher education systems, particularly in the context of training future law enforcement officers. It is noted that ensuring quality student training requires consideration of specific learning conditions, such as requirements for firearms and physical training. The article analyzes the role of disciplines such as «Firearms Training» and «Special Physical Training» in shaping the professional skills of future law enforcement officers. The importance of these disciplines in ensuring societal security and enhancing the combat readiness of law enforcement officers in various conditions, including wartime, is highlighted. Specifically, the necessity of firearm proficiency and the ability to effectively utilize it in situations requiring law enforcement intervention is discussed. It is also noted that preparation for armed conflicts and security maintenance requires students to have a high level of physical fitness and firearm interaction skills. In the context of contemporary challenges related to increasing crime rates and wartime, the importance of combining education with firearms and physical training to develop a well-rounded law enforcement personality is emphasized. The authors emphasize that this combination helps students become prepared for real-life situations they may encounter in their future careers. The conclusion underscores the need for continuous improvement of law enforcement professionals’ skills in contemporary conditions, including tactical-specialized, firearms, and physical training. The importance of physical education and sports as a means of promoting a healthy lifestyle is also emphasized. Additionally, it is noted that present conditions and periods of wartime require law enforcement officers to possess special skills and abilities beyond routine duties. Such situations may necessitate additional training for law enforcement personnel with elements of military preparation, including terrain orientation, grenade throwing, obstacle overcoming, engineering preparation, and other important aspects.

«Зеленая» экономика в контексте международных инвестиционных соглашений

The matters of green economics within the framework of the environmental transformation of the energy sphere (the energy transition), reduction of the anthropogenic impact on the environment in the course of socioeconomic development, give investment opportunities for international business but at the same time pose specific systemic and structural challenges to investors, states that receive investments, researches and individuals that witness the consequences of the dynamic change of the environment in the contemporary conditions. The presented article studies the evolution of approaches to international law regulation of investment activities from the standpoint of solution of environmental protection and conservation tasks in order to analyze opportunities with regards to the named challenges. Such analysis is used as a basis to conclude that the historical and legal method of studying the problems in question gives an opportunity for a systemic and structural evaluation of the original prerequisites for the logic of development of the international law architecture of regulation of investment activities in respect of goals and tasks of publicly significant environmental protection and conservation interests including the sphere of green economics and minimization of negative consequences of the anthropogenic impact as a result of investment activities, and evaluate the logic and limits of application of international investment agreements to achieve the environmental protection and conservation goals.

Quantifying the impact of an abrupt reduction in mineral nitrogen fertilization on crop yield in the European Union

Contemporary crop production in Europe relies on nitrogen (N) fertilization. Fertilizer prices soared in 2021–2022, and remained at historical high levels in 2023. These high prices invoked an immediate concern on the possible consequences for Europe's food production.In this study, we use a biogeochemical model framework to estimate the impact of reducing mineral N fertilization on crop yields in the European Union (EU). First, crop yields simulated with the biogeochemical DayCent model are evaluated against subnational yield data averaged for 2015–2018 reported by Eurostat and National Statistical Institutes in the EU for soft wheat, barley, grain maize and rapeseed. Then, we simulate three different scenarios where mineral N fertilization across the EU is abruptly reduced by respectively 5, 15 and 25 %, and compare yields to the projected baseline for contemporary conditions (2019–2022).The model evaluation gives r2 values ranging from 0.28 (rapeseed) to 0.61 (soft wheat) and root mean square errors (RMSE) ranging from 0.6 (rapeseed) to 1.95 t ha−1 (maize). The model shows a reduction in yield per crop at the EU level up to 2.1, 6.4 and 11.2 % with the 5, 15 and 25 % reduction scenario, respectively. Different crops show different percentage reduction in yield following a reduction in mineral N fertilization, showing a legacy effect over the years and depending on the availability of organic fertilizer. The strongest relative yield reduction occurs for soft wheat for all three scenarios. Even with 25 % drop in mineral N fertilization, maize yield in the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark is not significantly reduced, because of the high N surplus and large share of organic fertilization in these countries.This process-based modelling study provides spatially explicit, high resolution information on the response of crop yields to N fertilizer input reductions, helping policy-makers in decision-making on food security and environmentally-friendly food systems.

Идеи космизма как философское основание эволюционно-экологического мышления (размышление над книгой)

Evolutionary-ecological thinking, in contemporary conditions, is a relevant di­rection in the synthesis of evolutionism and ecology. The ideas of wholeness, organicism, and historicity, which form the core of the reflections of the main representatives of the philosophy of Russian cosmism, largely set the world­view tone for this direction. These ideas are becoming increasingly relevant in modern conditions, where space exploration presents itself as a global prob­lem related to overcoming the negative consequences of the ecological crisis. The author’s focus is on the collective monograph Russian Cosmism: N.F. Fe­dorov, K.E. Tsiolkovsky, V.I. Vernadsky, A.L. Chizhevsky, published in the series Russian Philosophy of the First Half of the XXth Century, whose authors dis­cuss the worldview and methodological specifics of the concepts of Russian cosmists in the context of contemporary problems (including ecological and evolutionary ones). Among them, especially important in this context are the con­cepts of the common task (N.N. Fedorov), the cosmic philosophy (K.E. Tsiol­kovsky), the doctrine of the noosphere (V.I. Vernadsky), and heliobiology (A.L. Chizhevsky). It is shown that the ideas of cosmism and evolutionary-eco­logical thinking are connected with such directions as A. Bergson’s creative evolution, P. Teilhard de Chardin’s theistic evolutionism, planetary evolution, and macroevolutionary research. It is precisely at the scale of the biosphere and noosphere that evolutionary and ecological principles intersect the most. The construction of the noosphere, taking into account contemporary scientific and methodological realities, is a direction of evolutionary-ecological thinking in our time

Eco-Thrax: Anthrax Narratives and Unstable Ground

Abstract Numerous articles predicting pandemic futures identify threats tied directly to a warming planet. One notable example is the threat of once-stable pathogens held in ice shelves being released into the world. Bacillus anthracis, or anthrax, presents as the key bacterial threat emerging from melting permafrost. Such a threat reads like a fictitious horror brought into direct proximity with the real. Exploring perceptions of microbes across time and the resonance of specific tropes in television and eco-horror in the context of anthrax reveals an unstable theoretical and ecological landscape characterized by shifting human/biological relationships. Untangling this relationship more than 20 years after the last great anthrax-related challenge – the “Amerithrax” incident – and in recognition of the impact of COVID-19 on contemporary environmental humanities, it becomes possible to think of contagion as more than an epidemiological threat. Instead, contagion, as related to anthrax, can be identified as a window across time and place, one which assists in rethinking relationships to ecologies and environments. Two theoretical frameworks, the “outbreak narrative” as proposed by Priscilla Wald and the “hijacker model” introduced by Hannah Landecker, are deployed as lenses to introduce and think differently anthrax’s contemporary condition.

The Belief in Pullayar among Agrarian People in Ampara District, Sri Lanka

Worship of deities takes a specific position among the religious beliefs related to agriculture. The Pullayar deity belief with agriculture specially can be seen in Northern Province and Nuwarakalaviya in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The study investigates the significance of the Pullayar deity belief among the agricultural community in Ampara District. It also focusses on the ways in which the agricultural practices of farmers, socio-cultural identities, and customs are influenced by the deity belief system. The main objective of the research was to examine the contemporary condition of Pullayar deity belief associated with agriculture in the Ampara District. The two Grama Niladari (GN) divisions of Galahitiyagoda and Udayagiriya belonging to Uhana Divisional Secretariat in Ampara district were used as the study areas. Data required for the research was collected using forty (40) farmers selected from the study area under random sampling method. Participatory observation and unstructured interviews were used to gather data. Pullayar worship is closely linked with the agricultural practices of Ampara district. Here farmers perform specific rituals for a successful harvest. Among the farming folk beliefs of Ampara, the Pullayar deity worship is uniquely adapted to protect the land from fertility and natural calamities. According to the farmers in this area, it is customary to worship the Buddha as well as Gambara Devi before doing any task in the paddy fields. As a special offering for pullayar deity, farmers offer coconut and let the pots overflow with milk as a ritual. It is performed by them for the protection of their fields and cattle. Pullayar rituals foster collective social cohesion. Strengthens community bonds through shared spiritual practices. Worship as well reveals a gendered division of religious duties, with men leading agricultural rituals and women maintaining household shrines. Therefore, this society reflects a balanced role of spiritual practices across genders. Though, Pullayar deity worship can be regarded as a particular cultural aspect that is unique to the agrarian economic system in this area and still exists now.

Long haul unionism: southern labor history and the struggle to organize Volkswagen in Chattanooga, Tennessee

ABSTRACT In April 2024, workers at Volkswagen’s huge plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, voted overwhelmingly to join the United Auto Workers. The victory was highly-significant; the union had organized the first foreign-owned automaker in the South after decades of trying. A breakthrough in a sector responsible for half of North American auto production, this “seismic victory” was widely-reported. This article probes the reasons for the union’s victory, advancing the concept of “long haul unionism” to understand it. While media accounts stressed short-term factors – including the UAW’s recent revival and a wider post-pandemic labor upsurge – I argue that it also occurred because of the union’s long haul strategy. The UAW had been trying to organize the plant since 2010, losing elections in 2014 and 2019. Undeterred, it stayed on the ground, gradually overcoming its “outsider” label. It also focused effectively on workers’ demands for a stronger voice in the plant. The victory illustrated how southern organizing often required sustained effort over many years, something highlighted by previous union fights, including Operation Dixie in the 1940s and the J.P. Stevens campaign of the 1970s. As such, the win needs to be understood in the context of history – not just contemporary conditions.

Understanding the ‘Spirit’ of Qurʾānic Laws in Contemporary Shīʿī Islamic Thought

Abstract Shīʿī mujtahids (mujtahidun) and thinkers often try to adopt the norms of Islamic law to contemporary conditions, and usually it is hampered by the absolute authority of the ‘letter’ of the Qurʾān, Sunna, and sometimes the opinions of authoritative theologians of the past, which leads to an understanding of Islamic law as dogmatic. However, some scholars attempt to revise this approach, appealing to the principles and ‘spirit’ of the Qurʾānic verses and the need for the Islamic legal norms to meet the conditions of the time and place of their application. This paper analyses the case studies with approaches of contemporary Shīʿī mujtahids Yousef Saanei and Mohammad Ebrahim Jannaati and their views on this issue.

Дела частного обвинения: вечное или уходящее? Статья первая: что думают о проблеме некоторые ученые. Статистика

Firstly, the author analyzes the contemporary condition of the privately prosecuted case concept, secondly, studies some statistical data on the work of justices of the peace, thirdly, gives an example of a specific criminal case to analyze the mistakes found within the framework of second cassation: the Judicial Chamber on Criminal Cases of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.