Diversification Of Sources Research Articles

Good Demand-Supply Matching Practices as A Key to The Efficiency and Effectiveness of Free Nutritional Meal Programs: Leveraging Diverse Supply Sources to Maximize Government Expenditure Value

The free nutritious food program initiated by President-elect Prabowo and his cabinet aims to improve the quality of life of Indonesians, especially vulnerable groups. Various factors, including good demand and supply matching practices, largely determine the success of this program. The objective of this research is to analyze the best strategies and techniques for matching demand and supply, as well as for effective inventory management for this program. The research method used is qualitative, with data collection through literature study. After collecting the data, the analysis is done through several stages: filtering, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results show that good inventory management and supply-demand matching are key factors for the success of this program. Some strategies and techniques identified include careful planning, robust information systems, efficient supply chain management, good inventory management techniques, and diversification of supply sources. Diversifying supply sources helps the government reduce costs, improve food quality, support local economies, and strengthen national food security. By implementing these strategies, the government can ensure that the free nutritious food program can run efficiently and effectively and provide optimal benefits to the wider community.

Exploring the critical factors in pharmaceutical supply chains revealed during COVID-19 and addressing missing links

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed profound weaknesses in global pharmaceutical supply chains, resulting in widespread shortages of critical medical supplies, delayed drug manufacturing, and disruptions in vaccine distribution. These supply chain vulnerabilities were exacerbated by several key factors, including an overreliance on a limited number of countries for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), insufficient local manufacturing capacity, and logistical constraints in transportation and distribution networks. The pandemic also exposed inefficiencies in regulatory frameworks, leading to delays in approvals and limited agility in responding to rapidly changing demands. Furthermore, the lack of transparency and real-time monitoring across global supply chains hindered effective decision-making and coordination, aggravating the crisis. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the critical factors that contributed to pharmaceutical supply chain disruptions during COVID-19, identifying missing links such as the need for diversification of supply sources, enhanced flexibility in manufacturing processes, and the integration of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and automation for supply chain optimization. The analysis highlights how supply chain visibility, digital innovation, and risk management strategies could improve resilience in the face of future global health crises. In addition to identifying these challenges, the paper proposes solutions to address the missing links in pharmaceutical supply chains, including the decentralization of production, the development of regional manufacturing hubs, and the creation of public-private partnerships to bolster local production. The role of government policies in facilitating faster regulatory approvals, fostering international cooperation, and incentivizing innovation is also explored. Case studies on successful post-COVID-19 adaptations, such as the rapid scale-up of vaccine production and the reconfiguration of personal protective equipment (PPE) supply chains, offer insights into effective strategies for building more resilient systems. Ultimately, this paper underscores the importance of a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach to ensuring the stability and security of pharmaceutical supply chains. It calls for proactive measures to strengthen global supply chain infrastructures, improve regulatory agility, and embrace emerging technologies that can predict and respond to disruptions. These steps are crucial to safeguarding the continuous delivery of essential pharmaceuticals during future pandemics or other large-scale disruptions, ensuring global health security in an increasingly interconnected world.

Comparative Policy Analysis of Renewable Energy Expansion in Mongolia and Other Relevant Countries

The study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of policies governing the expansion of renewable energy in Mongolia and selected countries. Against the backdrop of global energy transitions and Mongolia’s recent energy challenges, this research aims to identify and evaluate policy frameworks that facilitate the sustainable growth of renewable energy sources. The study delves into the unique socio-economic and geopolitical context of Mongolia, emphasizing the nation’s energy dependence on Russia. The findings of this comparative analysis provide valuable insights for Mongolian policymakers, offering recommendations for enhancing domestic policies that encourage the diversification of energy sources and attract foreign investment. By drawing on successful practices from some countries, this paper aims to contribute to the formulation of effective and context-specific strategies for Mongolia to achieve a more sustainable and resilient energy landscape.

The Economic Shockwaves of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Energy Sources Prices – The Impact on International Energy Markets

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has raised concerns regarding the stability of the global energy sector, considering that Russia is a big player in the industry, producing and exporting crude oil and natural gas globally. This study aimed to empirically investigate the impact of the conflict on the prices of energy sources in international markets. The analysis was conducted using secondary data. The data was for prices of various commodity products, including diesel, petroleum, natural gas, and crude oil. The data was collected on multiple international markets for periods from January 1, 2021 to November 30, 2023. The analysis was conducted using trend analysis and event study. The capital asset pricing model (CAPM) was adopted to run the event study analysis. The results indicated that immediately after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, major energy products such as US crude oil, European crude oil, and the global energy index experienced a sharp rise in price, followed by significant price volatility over the following up to seven months. The review of OPEC energy prices also indicated an increase in prices, and volatility was experienced in countries producing and exporting oil products. The event study further revealed that there was a sharp increasing trend immediately after the event date and an upward trend for more than ten months after the event, resulting in the highest prices recorded in the event window. The study suggested three policy implications - conflict should serve as a wake-up call on diversification of energy sources, investment in alternative, sustainable and green sources of energy to reduce the dependence on oil, and promotion of international cooperation on energy security.

Making waves: Harnessing stormwater for resilient water supply - A blueprint for vulnerable continental coasts and oceanic islands

At the forefront of climate change and natural disasters, small islands like Puerto Rico confront immense challenges in sustaining an adaptive water supply. The challenges are further exacerbated when the islands’ constraints, such as geographic isolation, limited resources, aging infrastructure, constrained capacity, and environmental fragility, are compounded. As these issues increasingly impact low-lying continental coasts, home to approximately 40 % of the global population, similar water supply crises have already emerged or are anticipated in these regions. To surmount these widespread challenges, harnessing stormwater as a non-conventional water source presents a promising solution. A stormwater-enabled water supply system, collectively characterized by water source diversification, decentralization, and modularity, can enhance the resilience of water supply in these vulnerable regions, both in routine situations and during emergencies. This article identifies barriers to the implementation of stormwater-to-drinking water (STDW) practices in Puerto Rico and advocates for engineering solutions to utilize stormwater at both community and household scales in vulnerable continental coasts and small oceanic islands. The primary barriers in Puerto Rico include uncertainty in water quality, insufficient data on local stormwater availability and domestic water demand, economic constraints, and the lack of an adaptive power supply. To overcome these obstacles, we emphasize engineering strategies focused on modular system design, assessments of local stormwater capture and demand dynamics, advancements in treatment technologies, and the enhancement of energy resilience. By analyzing the Puerto Rican context, we propose a conceptual framework that outlines pathways to adaptive STDW strategies for other oceanic islands and larger, more complex continental coasts in the face of similar challenges. These pathways encompass enhancing system modularity, understanding the dynamics of local stormwater supply and water consumption, applying tailored treatment technologies, and strengthening the resilience of supporting infrastructures. The insights gained from Puerto Rico's experience can guide current and future efforts for resilient water supply solutions in increasingly vulnerable coastal, island, and other regions.

Impact of Unconditional Support to Reduce Food Insecurity During the Pandemic of Covid 19

Vulnerable populations are always highly affected by any disaster. They have deficient coping capacity as they depend on daily income activities and need a diversified source of income. So, those people are highly impacted by any disease. The result of such a disaster may lead to food insecurity. Methods: For the survey, 1,598 people who got unconditional support were under consideration. Out of the total population, 317 samples were surveyed using proportionate random sampling for the study. The research methodology is a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) with a Pretest-Posttest Design. A smart survey through KOBO tools was done using trained local enumerators. Data collected through the survey was downloaded to Excel and analysed using Excel. Results: Cereals (99%) was the most consumed food type, while white tuber and root (2.2%) were the least consumed. Food consumed in four or more types increased from 42% to 87%. Livelihood Coping Strategies indicator (L-CSI) was used as a descriptor of a household’s coping capacity alongside the R-CSI. The responses were categorized into stress, crisis, and emergency strategies. The number of HHs under the crisis category reduced from 15.4% to 4.1%. Similarly, the number of households under the Emergency category reduced from 12.3% to 3.8%, and the number of crises reduced from 58.2 % to 6.8% Conclusion: The study showed from the calculation R-CS that conditional support of the vulnerable people increased by nearly one-third (35%) within a month of support and helped them with coping strategies.

ЕНЕРГЕТИЧНИЙ РИНОК УКРАЇНИ : СТВОРЕННЯ УМОВ ДЛЯ ЕФЕКТИВНОГО ЕНЕРГОЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ

The article analyzes the theoretical foundations of the formation of energy security on the energy market of Ukraine in the context of European integration processes, and states that energy security is a component of the state's national security. The main advantages of long-term contracts for all energy market participants are indicated. Features of the functioning of consumer companies in the competitive market are highlighted. The main risks for large consumers when working on the day-ahead market are presented. Factors of the expediency of functioning on the balancing segment are given. Current trends in the development of world energy and their impact on energy security are analyzed. The necessity of diversification of energy supply sources for Ukraine is substantiated. The influence of the European integration processes on the reform of the energy sector of Ukraine is studied. The current state of the energy market was analyzed, and the analysis of factors affecting development trends and ensuring protection in the energy market was carried out. The influence of the European integration processes on the reform of the energy sector of Ukraine is studied. The conjuncture of the energy market of Ukraine is determined, in which it is necessary to analyze not only the peculiarities of the domestic sphere, but also the influence of international relations, international trade and the world market. The PEST analysis of the energy industry of Ukraine is presented, which allowed to identify the level of influence and the neighborhood of the group of influencing factors on the formation of the strategic potential of the energy market of Ukraine. Directions for increasing the level of energy security through modernization of the energy infrastructure, development of renewable energy sources, and integration into the European energy space are proposed. It is noted that the creation of conditions for the effective use of internal resources and the development of appropriate technologies are of strategic importance. The country's government is working on integration into the European energy community, which requires compliance with European standards and the implementation of effective management models of the energy market of Ukraine. According to the results of the strategic potential of the energy industry of Ukraine, economic factors exert the greatest influence - 1.147, which just emphasizes the important role of the energy industry in the country's economy. In second place in terms of influence are political factors - 0.847. The analysis of the market just showed the rather important role of the political component in the functioning of the energy market of Ukraine, namely in the aspect of its joining the European energy market and the transformation of Ukraine into the European Union with the rights of an equal state. In third place are technological factors - 0.553, which confirm Ukraine's determination to decarbonize the energy market. And the fourth place is occupied by socio-cultural factors - 0.537, which are only marginally inferior to technological factors. This indicates a strong influence of consumer preferences when choosing interaction models in the market.

Constructing Ubudehe? Farmers’ perceptions of drought impacts and resilience capacities in Bugesera, Rwanda

Purpose This paper analyses Rwandan farmers’ perceptions of historical drivers of landscape vulnerability (past), current livelihood assets (present) and existing or potential capacities (future) to increase resilience to drought. The specific focus is on linking experiences from the past and present with ideas for a drought-resilient future. It explores how farmers' perceptions of past droughts and future visioning can contribute to rural development policy and multi-level collaborations. Design/methodology/approach This study was conducted in Bugesera, a drought-prone district in south-eastern Rwanda. Empirical data was collected through participatory observation, semi-structured interviews and focus groups. The analytical points of departure are based on sustainable landscapes and livelihood approaches, combining spatial and temporal perspectives on challenges and opportunities identified by farmers’ communities in addressing droughts. Findings All respondents had a high awareness of the impact of droughts. Perceived drivers of landscape change include historical climate events, such as droughts and floods, immigration and agricultural expansion, which have led to demographic pressure on land, deforestation and infringement on natural resources. Factors enhancing resilience capacities include access to diversified sources of livelihood, knowledge of appropriate irrigation techniques and availability of safety nets and credits. Furthermore, farmers identified collaborative opportunities as important for resilience capacity, including peer learning, and sharing best practices through knowledge exchange and on-field training. In addition, farmers brought up the need for innovative institutions that can facilitate access to markets and enable collaboration between different agricultural sectors. Originality/value This study analyses farmers’ perceptions of resilience capacities to droughts through a spatiotemporal lens of past droughts, present capital and future challenges by linking scales, knowledge and human–environment nexus. This paper contributes to the knowledge of climate adaptation in Rwanda and to discussions about smallholder farming in the literature on climate change adaptation.

Diversification of income sources in the United Arab Emirates for the period 1975-2022 (An economic analytical study)

The research aims to benefit from the experience of the United Arab Emirates in diversifying its sources of income, by following up on the legislative base it has prepared for this change which it had planned for in its economic structure, the results that were reflected in the developments of the gross domestic product and the relative importance of the sectors that make up its oil and non-oil composition, the basket of oil and non-oil exports, and the reflection of this in the growth of the average per capita income. The researchers followed the inductive approach and the descriptive analytical method. Perhaps the most important thing they reached was that this country had built its development strategy within the framework of the outward orientation in transferring the country from the local framework to the global horizon, achieving a diversity in the components of its GDP and in its export basket. This was reflected in a noticeable increase in the average per capita income, and this could not have been achieved without the cohesion and harmony between the citizens of the country and the government.

Sustainability Practices of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in China: Basis for Strategic Plan

The study presents a comprehensive analysis of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) situated in Rizhao City, Shandong, China, focusing on their profiles, sustainability practices, challenges, and a proposed strategic plan. The respondents, SME managers, play a crucial role in shaping sustainability strategies. Among the key findings, 70% of surveyed companies adopt a corporate organizational structure, while 45% primarily operate in the manufacturing sector. SMEs in China exhibit a strong commitment to economic, social, and environmental sustainability practices, with notable percentages actively seeking cost reduction through sustainability, monitoring financial impacts, and investing in research and development for sustainable innovation. Economic challenges, including difficulties in securing funds for sustainable projects, dominate the SME landscape (88%). Social challenges emphasize meeting community expectations (80%), and environmental challenges center on reducing carbon footprints (90%). The proposed strategic plan advocates phased sustainability investments, diversification of funding sources, talent management, and a circular economy approach to address economic, social, and environmental challenges collectively. The study recommends internal reviews of organizational structures, cross-industry collaboration, exploration of alternative financing, and robust monitoring and evaluation systems to enhance SMEs' success in China's dynamic business environment. These recommendations underscore the importance of adaptive, innovative approaches to foster sustainability and resilience in SMEs while contributing to societal well-being and environmental conservation.

ЧИННИКИ ТА ІНСТРУМЕНТИ ЗБЕРЕЖЕННЯ І ПІДТРИМКИ БІЗНЕСУ В УМОВАХ ВІЙНИ: ФІНАНСОВІ ТА СТРАХОВІ АСПЕКТИ

The article considers the aspects of ensuring the viability of economic entities in the critically difficult conditions of a full-scale war. As stated, in world practice, the fact of the functioning of the national economy of a country under military aggression, and even more so the preservation of the viability of economic agents, is considered paradoxical a priori. However, this has been a common practice for Ukraine for three years. The purpose of the study is to identify the factors and justify the tools of the state and corporate policy of preserving and supporting Ukrainian business in the conditions of war with the use of financial and insurance means for such purposes. Threats to the financial security of domestic economic entities in war conditions were determined by such components of security as credit, insurance, monetary, budgetary and tax, investment and fund security. Based on the same components, a policy toolkit for supporting domestic business in wartime conditions was developed, in particular in the sense of financial and insurance aspects of regulation. It was established that in the conditions of a full-scale war, the following became the dominant threats to the financial security of domestic business entities: freezing of investment projects, loss of foreign investment, destruction of facilities (investment component of financial security of enterprises); complication of attracting financial and credit resources, growth of external and internal debt, difficulty of attracting credit funds (credit component); devaluation of the national monetary unit, slowdown in the circulation of funds, difficulties in settlements with counterparties (monetary component); increase in the level of tax liabilities, decrease in the level of budget investment, delays in calculations (budget and tax component); problems of securities issuance, a decrease in the level of dividend distribution, the decline of the country’s stock system (stock component); aggravation of the problems of insurance of military risks, increase in the cost of insurance services, actualization of the problems of internal and self-insurance (insurance component). Policy instruments for strengthening the financial security of business in wartime conditions have been defined. This is the diversification of sources of investment formation, consideration of investment options abroad, however, for the production of products in the domestic market; activation of cooperation programs between enterprises to replace credit resources, optimization of internal and external debt, replacement of part of operations in foreign currency, formation of insurance and reserve funds, "decomposition" of business into separate components, detinization and legalization of business, proactive state policy in this area, use of public investment instruments, improvement of conditions for purchasing OVDP bonds, diversification of state securities, active investment policy of enterprises, improvement of war risk insurance instruments, active involvement of foreign companies to the domestic insurance market.

Migration as an Adaptation Measure to Achieve Resilient Lifestyle in the Face of Climate-Induced Drought: Insight from the Thar Desert in Pakistan

A significant number of people, either seasonally or permanently, migrate from the Thar Desert in Pakistan each year due to droughts caused by climate change. This study aims to investigate the determinants and consequences of these migration decisions, examine the effectiveness of migration as a climate adaptation strategy, and identify challenges in adapting to these changes. Data were gathered from 400 migrated households in the Mithi sub-district. A mixed-method approach was used, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. The findings revealed that threats to the standard of living, including lack of food and clean drinking water, unemployment, and limited educational and medical opportunities, were the primary reasons for permanent and temporary migration from ancestral locations. Migration significantly impacted the origin and destination regions, with positive or negative effects. Specifically, migrants identified various consequences for both the origin and destination communities, including population decline (63%), changes in age structure, increased demand for housing, economic fluctuations (73%), alterations in healthcare services, and increased psychological stress (77%). The study also revealed that individuals who migrated from the Thar Desert experienced improved conditions compared to their previous location, such as diversification of income sources, increased job stability, access to clean water and food, reduced health risks, and overall improvements in their living conditions. However, the destination communities faced significant challenges due to widespread resource depletion and environmental deterioration. Migrants encountered barriers to developing resilient livelihoods in destination areas, including lack of proper knowledge and information, institutional and government issues, environmental and technological challenges, and social and cultural issues. The study highlights the urgent need for comprehensive policies and sustainable solutions to address the root causes of migration and support the resilience of vulnerable populations.

ANALYSIS OF INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR OF UKRAINE: DETERMINATION OF FACTORS AND WAYS OF ITS ACTIVATION

The purpose of the article is to study the theoretical aspects of investment activity, analyse the current level of investment activity in the agricultural sector of Ukraine's economy and identify factors and methods of its increase. Methodology. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study is the fundamental principles of national economic management, investment activity and development of agricultural production entities. The research used the following scientific methods: axiomatic (to establish basic definitions that clarify the essence of the study), systematic (to identify components within the agricultural production sector), institutional (to construct the subject-object framework of the institutional environment for investment activity in agricultural production), correlation-regression analysis (to identify key predictors influencing investment activity in the agricultural sector), abstraction (to prioritise the stimulation of investment activity in agricultural production), and reproductive (to substantiate alternative strategies for attracting investment in agricultural enterprises). The results of the study show that diversification of investment sources and modernisation of technological infrastructure of agricultural production are important prerequisites for institutional reforms in the agricultural sector of the country. Increasing investment activity in agricultural enterprises can be achieved by creating a favourable investment climate. This includes government initiatives to create a transparent and stable regulatory framework, simplify bureaucratic processes, and ensure legal and financial stability. Another key aspect is to facilitate access to financial instruments such as low-interest loans, grants and subsidies to support the development of agricultural enterprises. The results of the study are presented in the form of tables, figures, graphs, diagrams and charts. Practical implications. Given the high level of integration of the domestic agricultural sector into the global food market, it is worth exploring the potential of using customs instruments to stimulate investment processes. Such instruments could include a zero VAT rate for investment agricultural goods and measures to prevent double taxation. Value / Оriginality. Investment activity in Ukraine can be intensified under the following conditions: ensuring financing for innovations; developing and implementing a system of measures to increase the investment activity of commercial banks; promoting the development of the stock market and venture capital; developing investment infrastructure; borrowing the best international experience in assessing the efficiency of business centres and business incubators; forming an investment and innovation culture in society, etc.

Multifaceted economic impacts of a 500-year flood on gateway communities of Yellowstone National Park

Disasters can have dramatic implications for gateway communities of National Parks, especially local economies that rely on park tourist visitation as their primary source of income. In June 2022, a 500-year flood event impacted Yellowstone National Park (YNP) and gateway businesses, both directly through infrastructure damages (property loss) and indirectly through park closures and post-disaster marketing. We used a combination of approaches to document and explore the relative importance of these diverse sources of economic impacts. First, structured surveys were used to evaluate economic impacts, from the perspective of individual business owners and community leaders in six gateway communities surrounding YNP. Average revenue loss was 48 % during peak tourist season across all communities but averaged 75 % for communities inaccessible to the park. Direct infrastructure damages to businesses were localized; however, even businesses sustaining property losses suggested more severe economic impacts were the result of loss of visitors from park closures and damaging media coverage. Using annual visitation and economic input-output model data, we developed a statistical model to estimate regional economic impacts from the flood. The model corroborated the results of our survey and suggested the flood led to a total loss of $156 million in visitor spending in gateway areas in 2022, exceeding economic losses from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. We present some guidelines for building economic resilience in gateway communities, including diversifying sources of income, building social capital, embracing tourist adaptations, and developing coordinated park-gateway-regional messaging and marketing to the media post-disasters.

The Role of Financial Oversight in Enhancing the Efficiency of Public Spending in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

This study aimed to determine the extent of the impact of financial control on the efficiency of public spending in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to regulate corruption, reduce waste of public funds, enhance transparency, and assess the effectiveness of current financial control legislation and agencies, and the procedures included therein, to understand their responsiveness, efficiency, and their impact on diversifying income sources, reducing unemployment rates, and their effect on economic growth through the analysis and study of international and local reports and indicators regarding financial control. Additionally, this study reviews the most distinguished international experiences in financial control and how to benefit from them to enhance the efficiency of control over the implementation of the general budget in the Kingdom. This study adopts the descriptive-analytical approach to reveal the effectiveness of current financial control over the public budget in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and its impact on the efficiency of spending, relying on three important indicators that represent the growth rate, unemployment rate, and diversification of income sources, through the review and analysis of international and local reports and indicators during the period covered by the Open Budget Index in the Kingdom, starting from 2008 to 2023. The study revealed the necessity of financially and administratively independent financial control agencies, granting them the necessary powers to carry out their tasks, making all administrative levels accountable, with the need for continuous updating of financial control legislation and laws in the Kingdom, activating what has recently been introduced of systems, working on integrating control agencies, in addition to the importance of exercising preventive control before preparing the budget to avoid budget deficit crises and preserve public funds. The researcher believes, through what has been discussed, that this study provides a valuable contribution to the development of financial control policies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF CREATING SOURCES OF SHARED WATER USE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

The purpose of the article is to study the financial and economic aspects of creating sources of shared water use in rural communities, substantiating their feasibility, importance for providing the population with high-quality drinking water and sustainable economic growth.|The article states the fact of deterioration of water supply in rural areas both in quantitative and qualitative aspects. The way out can be seen in the solution of issues regarding the use of underground water, which is better protected than surface water resources, by increasing the number of sources of shared water supply. It has been substantiated that as a result of free water use, rural communities can receive such advantages as the improvement of the quality of drinking water, the efficiency of water resources, use the reliability, security and stability of the water supply source. The measures of financial and economic regulation of the use of groundwater, among which the diversification of funding sources for the renewal of water management infrastructure facilities, the attraction of credit and grant funds to renew the technical and technological base of water management enterprises, and to improve monitoring procedure for the extraction of groundwater from deep wells, have been systematized.The article reflects the results of a survey conducted in order to find out the opinion of the respondents regarding the sources of water intake, the presence of interruptions in the water supply of populated areas of Chernihiv Oblast, the need to create shared water use facilities in the community and the sources of funding for their creation. The vast majority of respondents have reported that in their communities they use wells, their own boreholes and there are interruptions in water supply, there are problems with wells drying up.

IMPROVING INDUSTRIAL POLICY MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN THE SYSTEMATIC REGULATION OF TECHNOLOGICAL SAFETY IN RUSSIA UNDER SANCTIONS

The subject of research in the article is the technological security of Russia, which is acquiring particular relevance in the context of growing geopolitical tensions. Special attention is paid to technological sovereignty as a significant factor in ensuring the country's technological security in the context of unprecedented sanctions. In line with this current topic, the goal is to develop a number of significant industrial policy measures that will make it possible to strengthen the systematic regulation of technological safety in Russia in the context of sanctions. The novelty of the research lies in the substantiation and development of four groups of systemic measures aimed at ensuring consistency, coherence, diversification and balance of regulatory influences when solving technological safety problems. The first group of proposed measures affects the Concept of Technological Development of the Russian Federation. Their implementation will improve the consistency of the Concept with existing strategic planning documents and eliminate identified logical inconsistencies through the use of a specially developed structural and logical design. The second group of measures relates to the formation of feedback, which makes it possible to adjust priorities and distribute government funding among government support options, taking into account assessments of business preferences. The third group of measures is focused on ensuring diversification and balance of external sources of technology, which allows reducing the risks of dependence on one partner and thereby increasing the country’s technological security. The fourth group of measures is aimed at ensuring diversification and balance of domestic sources of technology. The need for a combination of adaptation (urgent) and long-term measures of state support for technological projects is substantiated. In general, the proposed measures will help strengthen the consistency and improve the quality of state regulation in the field of ensuring Russia’s technological security under sanctions.

Economic growth and foreign direct investment in Balkans

Foreign direct investment (FDI) has become a key source of economic growth for the Balkan countries, offering vital funding for development initiatives. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the dynamics of FDI in Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro from 2000 to 2023. An econometric model was used to conduct the research, namely, the relationship between FDI and economic growth in the region was analysed. A multiple regression model was developed that includes gross domestic product growth as the dependent variable. It was established that significant fluctuations in the rates of economic growth are characteristic of all three countries during this period. Serbia has shown particular resilience, with positive growth rates prevailing in most years. Key sectors attracting FDI were also identified, including services, manufacturing, automotive, IT, agriculture, energy and tourism. The obtained results emphasised the importance of reforms aimed at business development, infrastructure development and regional integration, especially with the EU, as critical factors in attracting FDI. In addition, diversification of FDI sources was emphasised with increased investments from China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, which complement traditional investors from the EU. More than 60% of foreign investment in Serbia has been found to be concentrated in the services sector, while North Macedonia has successfully attracted investment in high value-added industries such as information technology and engineering. These findings are consistent with established economic theories about the impact of FDI on growth, while providing specific insights into the Balkan context. It found that a 1% increase in FDI was associated with a 0.3-0.5% increase in gross domestic product in the Balkan countries studied. The obtained results can become the basis for future political decisions and investment strategies in the region

Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in the Afadzato south district of Ghana

BackgroundCOVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is a major public health challenge with the potential to prevent communities from achieving the coverage level necessary for herd immunity against the COVID-19 virus.Objective/aimThe study determined COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and associated factors among residents of the Afadzato South District of Ghana.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 respondents aged 18 years and above using a self-administered and interviewer administered structured questionnaires for persons who could read and with no formal education respectively. The study was conducted and reported in line with the Strobe statement for cross sectional studies. Data analysis was done using the Stata-17.0 software. The association between the dependent and independent variables was examined using a logistic regression analysis, with a p-value of < 0.05 considered statistically significant.ResultsMore than half of the respondents (n = 291, 68.96%) were below 25 years old. Majority of the respondents were females (n = 218, 51.66%) and had attained secondary education (n = 291, 68.96%). Less than half of the respondents 35.5% (151) indicated acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and more than half (n = 271, 64.22%) indicated non-acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine. The results showed that education level, information source, overall knowledge of COVID-19 vaccine, and misconception of COVID-19 vaccine were significantly associated with acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine.ConclusionThe study found high vaccine hesitancy among the respondents. Important significant predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy were education level, information source, overall knowledge of COVID-19 vaccine, and misconception of COVID-19 vaccine. In the attempt to address vaccine hesitancy by health agencies, it is important to take into consideration the varying educational backgrounds of the population in context and their diversified sources of information. This may ensure that everyone in the community is reached with important information on COVID-19 and its vaccines to reduce misconceptions and misinformation.

Utilization of local agro-industrial by-products based substrates to enhance production and dietary value of mushroom (P. ostreatus) in Ethiopia

Food insecurity and malnutrition are serious problems in many developing countries, including Ethiopia. This situation warrants an urgent need for the diversification of food sources with enhanced productivity. This study was aimed at contributing to the food security in Ethiopia through cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus mushrooms using sustainable and locally available agro-industrial byproduct-based substrates in parallel with pollution control. Ten substrates were prepared using sugarcane bagasse, filter cake, trash, cotton seed hull and animal waste, namely cow dung and horse and chicken manure. The effect of each substrate (treatment) on the yields, biological efficiency, nutritional composition, and mineral contents of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom species was evaluated at the Ethiopian Forest Products Innovation Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The results obtained indicate that a significantly higher (p < 0.05) yield and biological efficiency were recorded from the mushroom cultivated on S2 substrate containing a mixture of 80% sugarcane bagasse, 12% cow dung, and 8% cotton seed hull. Moreover, substrate containing sugarcane bagasse mixed with cotton seed hull, cow dung, and chicken manure significantly (p < 0.05) increased the yields and biological efficiency of the mushroom. The content of protein, crude fat, fiber, and carbohydrates of the mushroom cultivated from all the utilized substrates were in the range of 17.30–21.5, 1.77–2.52, 31.03–34.38, and 28.02–39.74%, respectively. The critical macro-elements are abundant in the mushroom in the order of potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sodium. The mushrooms cultivated on all the substrates were rich in essential micro-elements in the order of iron and zinc. It was found that substrate preparation and formulation significantly (p < 0.05) improved the yields, biological efficiency, nutritive values, and mineral contents of the mushroom. The use of these by-products as substrates is sustainable and environmentally friendly and allows the production of mushroom with high nutritional value on a sustainable basis in order to enhance food security in the country.