Respective Countries Research Articles

CHANGES IN MIGRATION PREFERENCES OF UKRAINIANS DURING THE RUSSO-UKRAINIAN WAR

Problem Description and Purpose of the Study. Due to Ukrainian forced migration, the population decreased by almost a third. Moreover, the migration process continues actively. The task of the study is to analyze the population’s readiness for migration and preferences regarding the choice of countries. Problem Statement and Purpose. The study analyzed the dynamics of Ukrainians’ willingness to move abroad, the main factors that influenced such a decision, and the establishment of regional specifics regarding the choice of countries for migration. Data & Methods. The study uses UNHCR data on the number of refugees. The primary analysis tool is Google Trends – a free tool from Google that provides information about the popularity of specific search queries on Google during a certain period and in certain regions. Based on the analysis of requests, peaks, and dynamics of requests for migration, as well as interest in migration to different countries, were established. Results. According to the study results, apparent regional differences were established in the migration attitudes and preferences of the Ukrainian population. Western regions remain the leaders in search queries, which is explained by the concentration of IDPs and the traditional labor migration of the population of these regions. The peak of search queries came at the beginning of summer. The formation of the second wave of migration explains this. The number of Russian-language requests, and even more requests regarding departure to Russia, is a cause for concern. If this is almost the norm for the occupied regions, then for those remote from the front and the capital, it is a task for the national security structures. Peaks of requests in certain regions come either after large-scale missile attacks, before the winter of 2022, or before the start of specific migration programs or increased payments to refugees in certain countries. Regarding the choice of countries for migration, the intensity of requests almost corresponds to the number of Ukrainian refugees in the respective countries. The leaders are Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, the USA, and Canada. Exceptions are only certain neighboring countries with a stable ethnic or labor connection. The grouping of regions of Ukraine according to migration attitudes and population preferences formed separate regions. The first type includes the partially occupied regions of the south and east, with low indicators of migration attitudes and a predominance of Russian-language requests. The second group included as many as 11 regions and Kyiv. This type is characterized by average indicators of migration attitudes and a relatively wide variety of choices of countries for migration. However, preference is given to the USA, Great Britain, and Canada. The second and third types of regions have similar characteristics. As one moves to the western borders, the interest in migration increases. Regarding the choice of countries for migration, European countries dominate more.

Understanding the role of digital technologies in the transitional care process: a user perspective

The literature defines transitional care as the coordination and continuity of care during the transition from one health care setting to another or to home. Referred to as transition of care, between health care professionals and settings, as their condition and care needs change during the course of a chronic illness, acute illness or acute admission. In this scenario, the transition of care from hospital to home carries a number of risks of adverse events and poor care continuity. Therefore, daily technologies such as wearables and smart devices can support the improvement of interventions as they can collect up-to-date daily data from patients, helping to gain an in depth understanding of the real situation and their healthcare needs, improving the transition care process. 
 The aim of this research, integrated in VITALISE Project (H2020.GA101007990), is to identify and explore the needs, barriers and challenges of transitional care by involving different stakeholders in different participating countries. In Spain 3 patients, 2 carers and 7 health professionals participated in co-creation sessions with a person-centred approach addressing the topic of using ICT tools to gather information/data to support the transitional care process (hospital discharge process and recovery at home) and to collect information on current practices in transitional care processes (from hospital to home).
 Two sessions with patients, carers and with professionals, aimed to understand the different perspectives on each profile, enriching the comments and contributions. Two facilitators with experience guiding accessible co-creation sessions ensured each participant had a space for participation. The sessions were distributed in four blocks: 1) understanding the current practice in transitional care; 2) experience in the use of smart devices and digital tools; 3) understanding the barriers, difficulties and challenges in using digital tools in this process and 4) what the ideal role of technology would be. 
 As a finding, during the patients and carers session participants highlighted that there should be a protocol for the transition process but that it is currently not established and it all depends on how ""fortunate"" you are. They appreciate the advantages given by the health system in their respective country, but they do not agree with the organisational set-up or with some specific actions. Regarding technology, they mostly accept technology in transition processes and believe that it can bring many benefits helping to improve (as long as it is not used to replace human care). On the other hand, professionals use technology in their work on a daily basis and have a very broad view of its impact on people's experiences and its acceptability. Finally, beyond the benefits for the user, professionals take advantage of these technologies to improve individual care and systematise the collection of information. Overall, the inclusion of digital technologies is accepted in integrated and transitional care processes, when adapted to the users and not the other way around. These findings are key for the preparations of the small-scale studies phase “Digital Biomarkers for Supporting Transitional Care Decisions: Protocol for a Transnational Feasibility Study” [JMIR Res Protoc.2022Jan19;11(1):e34573.doi:10.2196/34573].

Towards a better understanding of goal oriented care by means of co-creating an interprofessional training program with experts by experience

The literature defines transitional care as the coordination and continuity of care during the transition from one health care setting to another or to home. Referred to as transition of care, between health care professionals and settings, as their condition and care needs change during the course of a chronic illness, acute illness or acute admission. In this scenario, the transition of care from hospital to home carries a number of risks of adverse events and poor care continuity. Therefore, daily technologies such as wearables and smart devices can support the improvement of interventions as they can collect up-to-date daily data from patients, helping to gain an in depth understanding of the real situation and their healthcare needs, improving the transition care process. 
 The aim of this research, integrated in VITALISE Project (H2020.GA101007990), is to identify and explore the needs, barriers and challenges of transitional care by involving different stakeholders in different participating countries. In Spain 3 patients, 2 carers and 7 health professionals participated in co-creation sessions with a person-centred approach addressing the topic of using ICT tools to gather information/data to support the transitional care process (hospital discharge process and recovery at home) and to collect information on current practices in transitional care processes (from hospital to home).
 Two sessions with patients, carers and with professionals, aimed to understand the different perspectives on each profile, enriching the comments and contributions. Two facilitators with experience guiding accessible co-creation sessions ensured each participant had a space for participation. The sessions were distributed in four blocks: 1) understanding the current practice in transitional care; 2) experience in the use of smart devices and digital tools; 3) understanding the barriers, difficulties and challenges in using digital tools in this process and 4) what the ideal role of technology would be. 
 As a finding, during the patients and carers session participants highlighted that there should be a protocol for the transition process but that it is currently not established and it all depends on how ""fortunate"" you are. They appreciate the advantages given by the health system in their respective country, but they do not agree with the organisational set-up or with some specific actions. Regarding technology, they mostly accept technology in transition processes and believe that it can bring many benefits helping to improve (as long as it is not used to replace human care). On the other hand, professionals use technology in their work on a daily basis and have a very broad view of its impact on people's experiences and its acceptability. Finally, beyond the benefits for the user, professionals take advantage of these technologies to improve individual care and systematise the collection of information. Overall, the inclusion of digital technologies is accepted in integrated and transitional care processes, when adapted to the users and not the other way around. These findings are key for the preparations of the small-scale studies phase “Digital Biomarkers for Supporting Transitional Care Decisions: Protocol for a Transnational Feasibility Study” [JMIR Res Protoc.2022Jan19;11(1):e34573.doi:10.2196/34573].

From Tradition to Diversity, Innovation, and Breakthrough: Key Conversations on Dance Therapy Around the World

In the World Arts & Embodiment Forum 2023, a key conversation was held with an international panel. This panel convened 16 international experts in dance and movement therapy to discuss their personal contributions to the field’s development in their respective countries. The aim was to create a space for sharing experiences and knowledge paradigms, embracing the diversity of emerging forms. Encouraging a creative environment, the panel fosters open dialogue to support the uniqueness of approaches and experiences. These presentation summaries have, in some instances, been edited for publication. These discussions provide insight into the profession’s evolution in a diverse world, fostering a collective understanding of key developments. The panel reflects a spirit of global collaboration and consolidation.

The Teaming Initiative: Establishing of New European Centers of Excellence in Plant Biology and Medicine

The Teaming programme is a new funding instrument of the European Commission aimed at closing the research and innovation gap between the leading and lagging EU countries by establishing new research centers. The new centers of excellence are located in the so called widening, countries, and are created in partnership with advanced institutions from European regions with high research and innovation index. Here we describe the new research institutes in the field of plant biology and medicine from the first two Horizon 2020 Teaming calls. We analyze the financial investment by the European Commission through the Teaming instrument, as well as the Governmental co-funding and the contribution of the advanced partner institutions and local authorities. With these collective efforts, these institutes have quickly become the drivers of scientific and socio-economic developments of their respective countries.

Perspectives of African stakeholders on gene drives for malaria control and elimination: a multi-country survey

BackgroundGene drive modified mosquitoes (GDMMs) have the potential to address Africa’s persistent malaria problem, but are still in early stages of development and testing. Continuous engagement of African stakeholders is crucial for successful evaluation and implementation of these technologies. The aim of this multi-country study was, therefore, to explore the insights and recommendations of key stakeholders across Africa on the potential of GDMMs for malaria control and elimination in the continent.MethodsA concurrent mixed-methods study design was used, involving a structured survey administered to 180 stakeholders in 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, followed by 18 in-depth discussions with selected groups and individuals. Stakeholders were drawn from academia, research and regulatory institutions, government ministries of health and environment, media and advocacy groups. Thematic content analysis was used to identify key topics from the in-depth discussions, and descriptive analysis was done to summarize information from the survey data.ResultsDespite high levels of awareness of GDMMs among the stakeholders (76.7%), there was a relatively low-level of understanding of their key attributes and potential for malaria control (28.3%). When more information about GDMMs was provided to the stakeholders, they readily discussed their insights and concerns, and offered several recommendations to ensure successful research and implementation of the technology. These included: (i) increasing relevant technical expertise within Africa, (ii) generating local evidence on safety, applicability, and effectiveness of GDMMs, and (iii) developing country-specific regulations for safe and effective governance of GDMMs. A majority of the respondents (92.9%) stated that they would support field trials or implementation of GDMMs in their respective countries. This study also identified significant misconceptions regarding the phase of GDMM testing in Africa, as several participants incorrectly asserted that GDMMs were already present in Africa, either within laboratories or released into the field.ConclusionIncorporating views and recommendations of African stakeholders in the ongoing research and development of GDMMs is crucial for instilling stakeholder confidence on their potential application. These findings will enable improved planning for GDMMs in Africa as well as improved target product profiles for the technologies to maximize their potential for solving Africa’s enduring malaria challenge.

An Unsupervised Learning Study on International Media Responses Bias to the War in Ukraine

Abstract Newspapers, as an important social media, is considered to be full of biased opinions. Whether newspapers in neutral state are neutral seems an interesting question. This research uses the topic modeling approach to probe into the aforementioned question on the basis of the Russian–Ukraine War. Comprehensively, we fully considered the results derived from LDA and Mallet and found that America and Switzerland reported more about their respective responses to the invasion and the countries involved in the war, whereas China tended to focus more on their country, negotiations and the effect on their citizens. Our results support the notion that international relations between countries affect the way that the media of the respective countries writes about each other. Further research could be on the larger datasets for improvement of comparability.

Increasing Sanfilippo Syndrome Awareness through Children's Literature and Music.

There is an ongoing effort to increase rare disease awareness amongst healthcare providers. This front is important and can help to address several challenges faced by rare disease patients, such as lengthy diagnosis times, difficulty in finding adequate providers of medical services and experts, and adequate treatment if one exists. On another front, there is the need for awareness among citizens and their support in the advocacy for public policies towards rare disease patients and families. Awareness campaigns are prevalent in social networks and fundraising events. In this poster, we present a complementary approach to engage society and promote rare disease awareness through children's literature and music. A Portuguese teenager wrote a book ('My Life with my sister'), describing simple and daily moments spent with her teenage sister affected by Sanfilippo syndrome. A professional illustrator designed and illustrated the book. The book is bilingual in Portuguese and English. The author, with the assistance of her music teacher, also composed a song which was recorded with the participation of professional musicians and made into a video clip telling their story and the books. The book and song promote the inclusion and love for people affected by rare diseases and their families. To increase outreach, sister organizations translated the book, adapted the song, and published/ recorded the material in Brazilian Portuguese and French. The proceeds from the sales go towards the Sanfilippo foundations in their respective countries to fund common research projects. The material is being advertised on social media, television, interviews, newspapers, podcasts, libraries, schools, bookshops, book fairs, and others. To date, more than eight hundred books have been sold to individuals and companies. The interviews and video clips add to more than twelve hundred views. The target audience is children, parents, teachers but also companies, and their employees.

Circular Pathways to Sustainable Development: Understanding the Links between Circular Economy Indicators, Economic Growth, Social Well-Being, and Environmental Performance in EU-27

The transition towards the circular economy (CE) is one of the major priorities of the European Union (EU). By observing its benefits through the prism of sustainable development, this study aims to reveal the intricate relationships between the CE and the economy–society–environment nexus across 27 EU countries during the period from 2012 to 2020. Utilizing an extensive dataset comprising 243 observations drawn from the EUROSTAT database, we employed a panel data analysis. In this research, we quantified the impact of CE indicators on key dependent variables: GDP per capita (economic dimension), mortality, morbidity, and the welfare cost associated with exposure to environment-related risks (social dimension) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the environmental realm. The findings of our study illuminate the multifaceted connections between circular economy practices and the broader goals of sustainable development within the EU-27 context. The CE indicators aggregated at the EU level not only have a beneficial impact on the economy but also on society and the environment. The analysis reveals that each of the six explanatory variables incorporated into the models exhibits the anticipated relationship with at least one of the outcome variables. This research contributes valuable insights for policymakers, public authorities, and other stakeholders seeking to enhance the circular economy landscape in respective countries.

Low knowledge of national biodiversity symbols among urban South Africans limits their potential value as conservation flagship species

Abstract Most countries have declared one or more animal or plant species to be among their national symbols, termed here national biodiversity symbols. National biodiversity symbols are the species formally or informally recognised by societies and countries as having meaning to one or more of national identity, values and unity. It has been proposed previously that national biodiversity symbols can be used as flagship species to advance habitat conservation in their respective countries. However, this assumes that the symbols are well‐known and revered by the citizens of the country concerned. We examined this assumption via direct interviews with 382 urban residents in four towns in South Africa, which is a mega‐biodiversity country with five national biodiversity symbols (a national tree, flower, animal, bird and fish). We found that less than 3% of the urban respondents could name all five species, ranging from 6% for the national tree to 40% for both the national flower and national animal. Knowledge of other national symbols (flag and anthem) were equally low. The number of national biodiversity symbols known increased with income and education level of respondents. Despite limited knowledge of which species were the national biodiversity symbols, almost two‐thirds of respondents felt that having national biodiversity symbols was important for promoting national identity. These findings show that from a heritage perspective a great deal more awareness needs to be developed in South Africa around the national biodiversity symbols. From a conservation perspective, it indicates that the national biodiversity symbols are unlikely, at this stage at least, to be useful as flagship species for habitat conservation programmes. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Geopolitics in the ESC: Comparing Russia’s and Ukraine’s use of cultural diplomacy in the Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovision Song Contest has long served as a platform for cultural diplomacy among its participants. This paper examines how Russia and Ukraine have approached cultural diplomacy in and around the Eurovision Song Contest in the wake of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Following an outline of pertinent events from 2014 to 2022, including the Song Contest and the respective countries’ selected entries as well as the public discourse surrounding them, two distinct types of cultural diplomacy—culturalist versus neo-propagandist—are employed in a congruence analysis. The findings show that Russia employed a largely neo-propagandist approach to cultural diplomacy characterized by their projected image of peacefulness, innocence, and strength to alter their situational image. Ukraine has employed a mostly culturalist approach mainly focused on mutual recognition and the representation of national culture. The conscious instrumentalization of the platform to counter misconstrued perceptions of Ukraine shaped by the Kremlin’s rhetoric also adds neo-propagandist elements.

A Comparative Study of the Music Education Systems of China and the United States

Different social environments and cultural atmospheres can shape diverse concepts of music education. By investigating the distinct approaches to music education in China and the United States, this research aims to illuminate their impact on young individuals, even if they do not pursue a musical career. The author examines how child development relates to music education and how China and the United States’ music education system impact their own children-citizens before reaching potential problem-solving solutions for the two countries in order to cultivate well-rounded individuals capable of navigating the complexities of society as experienced stakeholders of the highest caliber, as music education possess numerous benefits both physically and mentally. The author finds that Chinese children are often trained with discipline, shortening the overall learning time but lacking creativity, while kids in the United States have much more latitude. Essential differences of the education system also greatly impact how music practitioners provide training to young children in the respective countries.

Europe Is Looking for a Super-Judge

One of the cornerstones of the rule of law is an independent, impartial, and high-quality court. It is therefore of the utmost importance that respect for the rule of law in the European Union (inclusive of its member states) be ensured by a court whose members are themselves elected in accordance with the rule of law. This means that, just as for the courts of the Member States, the ideal – which one would hope gets reflected in real-world practice in most cases – is for the Court of Justice of the European Union to be led by independent and impartial judges. Judges who are not only well-versed in their own national law but also fluent in the nuances of European Union law, are oriented toward the global legal world, display an ability to work in an international environment (encompassing several languages, most importantly French as the working language of said court), have an outstanding record of professional and scientific excellence, express themselves clearly and convincingly (both verbally and in writing), and possess impeccable moral and ethical integrity – in short, individuals who are unquestionably leaders in their field and role models for other judges. Indeed, Article 253 (1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) specifies that the Court of Justice’s judges and Advocates General shall be chosen from among persons whose independence is beyond doubt and who possess the qualifications required for appointment to the highest judicial offices in their respective countries or who are lawyers of recognised competence, with appointment by common accord of the governments of the Member States for a term of six years after consulting with the panel provided for by Article 255 TFEU. Membership of the institution’s General Court is similarly regulated. Accordingly, Europe is looking for super-judges and super-Advocates General for the Court of Justice of the European Union. The article gives an overview of the process involved, focusing in particular on the work of the so-called Article 255 panel.

Factors influencing the carbon footprint of milk production on dairy farms with different feeding strategies in western Europe

Greenhouse gas emissions from dairy production represent a major source of emissions especially in Western Europe where the sector has grown over the past decade. Different feeding strategies have evolved and there is a need to identify effective mitigation measures. Life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to examine carbon footprints (CFs) of milk production across 71 commercial dairy farms in Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Spain (Galicia and Basque regions), Portugal and France based on monthly data collection over two years. Emissions up to the farm gate were calculated within a global boundary with both higher tier emission factors (HTEF) applicable in respective countries, and default emission factors (DEF). The global warming potential (GWP) used was the GWP100 metric, however results were also calculated using GWP20 for comparison. Functional units were: (i) one tonne fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM); (ii) 1 ha of on-farm agricultural area (FAA); (iii) 1 ha of global agricultural area (GAA). Farms were categorised based on the proportion of time that cows spent grazing. Mean CF per tonne FPCM (FPCM-CF) were 1,129, 1237 and 1519 kg CO2e for grazing (>220d grazing; n = 16), mixed (up to 219d grazing; n = 17) and housed farms (0d grazing; n = 38), respectively. housed had the widest range, from 884 to 2494 kg CO2e/tonne FPCM, and included the farm with the overall lowest FPCM-CF. housed also had the highest mean CF per ha FAA: 44.1 tonne CO2e, followed by mixed (15.2 tonne) and grazing (11.6 tonne). CF (tonne CO2e) per ha GAA followed the same ranking: housed (15.1), mixed (9.8) and grazing (9.2). There was no difference in ranking of the feeding strategies using DEF in comparison with HTEF. A stepwise regression analysis identified feed efficiency and age at first calving as important factors in determining FPCM-CF for all farms. Furthermore, N surplus was important for grazing &mixed farms. The proportion of uncovered slurry storage, milk yield per cow and the amount of bought in concentrate per cow were important for housed farms. Wide variation in CFs implies considerable potential for lowering emissions per tonne FPCM and per ha FAA and GAA, but it is imperative that mitigation measures are tailored to feeding strategy.

The Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in South America: potential distribution, presence in protected areas and anthropic threats

The avifauna of South America is one of the most widely studied groups of vertebrates. However, certain species, such as the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii), have received limited attention regarding their ecological patterns, biology, current distribution, and environmental requirements. This study analyzed observation data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) on the Andean Ibis in four countries to identify and understand critical variables that determine the species’ presence, assess the proportion of its habitat within protected areas and identify possible threats to the species. Additionally, this study considered environmental and ecological variables to model ecological niches using the maximum entropy approach in MaxEnt to map the suitable habitat of the species. The findings revealed the extent of suitable Andean Ibis habitats in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile. The variables that most determined the presence of the species were: altitude (36.57%), distance to lakes (23.29%) and ecological isothermality (13.34%). The distribution area of the Andean Ibis totaled 300,095.00 km2, spanning both sides of the Andean mountains range. Human activities have left a significant impact on the Andean Ibis habitat, with 48% of this area impacted by the human footprint and only 10% of the territory falling within protected areas designated by the respective countries. The results of this study show that the Andean Ibis presents characteristics of a specialist species due to its adaptation to the climate conditions of the plateau and highlands, including low temperatures, herbaceous vegetation and the presence of water bodies. The species is distributed in disconnected Andean landscape areas, whose functionality could be compromised by increased human activities. Complementary studies will be necessary to understand the ecological role and effectiveness of protected areas for conserving the species.

Identifying patterns and recommendations of and for sustainable open data initiatives: A benchmarking-driven analysis of open government data initiatives among European countries

Open government and open (government) data are seen as tools to create new opportunities, eliminate or at least reduce information inequalities and improve public services. More than a decade of these efforts has provided much experience, practices, and perspectives to learn how to better deal with them. This paper focuses on benchmarking of open data initiatives over the years and attempts to identify patterns observed among European countries that could lead to disparities in the development, growth, and sustainability of open data ecosystems. To do this, we studied benchmarks and indices published over the last years (57 editions of 8 artifacts) and conducted a comparative case study of eight European countries, identifying patterns among them considering different potentially relevant contexts such as e-government, open government data, open data indices and rankings, and others relevant for the country under consideration. Using a Delphi method, we reached a consensus within a panel of experts and validated a final list of 94 patterns, including their frequency of occurrence among studied countries and their effects on the respective countries. Finally, we took a closer look at the developments in identified contexts over the years and defined 21 recommendations for more resilient and sustainable open government data initiatives and ecosystems and future steps in this area.

The Website as a Virtual Host of the Museum: a Comparative Study. Three National Museums Meet Digital Audiences

The article focuses on analyzing the websites of three prominent national museums in Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia. These websites are examined within the broader context of the cultural institutions' activities, as they hold significant importance in the cultural infrastructure of their respective neighboring Balkan countries. A comparison table is utilized to establish evaluation criteria for the digital platforms, with a particular emphasis on content. The article extensively characterizes the sections dedicated to the main and temporary exhibitions, which play a crucial role in facilitating digital engagement with both existing and potential audiences. The chosen approaches for showcasing museum teams and collections are also scrutinized. In addition, gaps and inconsistencies are identified by comparing these websites with others in the museum domain. The evaluation of video materials and digital tours of the exhibitions adheres to the high standards set by modern digital technologies in the cultural sector. Consequently, the article concludes by formulating three recommendations aimed at enhancing the websites of the national history museums in Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia. These recommendations are intended to address the identified shortcomings and improve the overall digital experience provided by these institutions.

Fostering a democratic and socially just energy transition: How do Ombudspersons in Europe frame energy poverty?

This exploratory research examines how 20 Ombudspersons in Europe frame their understanding of energy poverty and energy justice, and explores the potential link between their framing and the prevalence of energy poverty in their respective countries. The countries exhibit varying levels of energy poverty and energy injustices influenced by factors such as income poverty, housing deprivation, electricity monopoly, social protection strength, and government effectiveness. The framing of energy poverty by Ombudspersons in Europe has a grading character. Apart from Ombudspersons that do not mention any energy injustice, the least ambitious framing category is ‘consumer right’, followed by the more ambitious category of ‘social vulnerability’, while the highest level of ambition is reached when Ombudspersons explicitly mention ‘right to energy’ or energy poverty. Ombudspersons framing energy poverty as a consumer right discuss policy cohesion and institutional lock-ins that impact energy poverty. Those who view energy poverty as a question of social vulnerability consider the vulnerable groups' needs. Ombudspersons who explicitly mention energy poverty or the ‘right to energy’ perceive access to basic services as a right, where violations of rights impact dignity. There is a partial correlation between how Ombudspersons frame energy poverty and the prevalence of energy poverty and energy injustices in their respective countries. In cases where energy poverty is a significant issue, the Ombudspersons usually analyze it, but it is absent from their work in countries where energy poverty is a minor issue. The Ombudsperson is an emerging actor to foster a democratic and socially just energy transition.

Associative Rules for Modeling International Security Decisions in the Context of the Ukrainian-Russian War. Preliminary Evaluations

Abstract Research background By launching a war against Ukraine, Russia changed the entire world system and demonstrated the ineffectiveness of the global security system. Today it is necessary to look for effective solutions to support the adoption of security decisions and develop effective strategies for the formation of a new architecture of the international security system. Purpose The paper aims to obtain preliminary approximate estimates of the state commitments of the countries of the world that support Ukraine in the war with Russia and to reveal non-obvious connections and regularities in the provision of various types of aid. Research methodology The data were collected on the rough refugee cost estimate, quantitative assessment of the government-to-government commitments, and preliminary data on non-bilateral aid transferred by governments to Ukraine of 40 countries. We used the FP-Growth algorithm to identify non-obvious connections and patterns between different types of support for Ukraine. Results We created an associative rules model to detect non-obvious patterns and relationships between the different types of bilateral commitments of the countries, that support Ukraine. Novelty Preliminary estimates were obtained between various types of international support for Ukraine in the war against Russia covering February 24 to November 20, 2022, the number of Ukrainian refugees accepted by the respective countries, and the sale of arms to Russia by some of them after the ban.

Scaling-up Activities to Mitigate Against the Spread of the COVID-19 Virus: Appreciating the Role of Local Government Authorities in the Caribbean

In January 2020, several governments in the English-speaking Caribbean not only started sensitizing their populations about the novel coronavirus but triggered various public health provisions that would allow the state to better manage the disease once it arrives within the respective countries. With the confirmation of the first cases, some national governmental systems were primed to act. Central governments across the region announced various policies and strategies, such as the closing of borders and schools as well as lockdowns as was necessary to mitigate the spread of the virus. But whilst attention was focused on what the central government was doing, very little attention was paid to local government activities that supported the central government’s policies. Local governments scaled-up the policies as enunciated by the central government, to ensure a wider geographical reach as well as a more intensive implementation process. Scaling-up also allowed for some expansion beyond the national policies to effect a program to mitigate the spread of the virus. Using examples from across the region, the article appraises the role of local governments in the quest to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic.