Domestic Expert Research Articles

Bordering: Australia’s Policy to Border During COVID-19

Why did Australia border earlier than most other states in response to the outbreak of COVID-19? Between mid-January and March 2020, the Australian government adopted increasingly restrictive travel bans that led to the country closing its borders to all non-residents, adopting mandatory hotel quarantines for 14 days and a travel ban on Australians travelling overseas. These actions were in contravention of the World Health Organization advice to states on travel restrictions. Australia’s border closure was one of the strictest and, ultimately, longest in the world. In this article, we complement existing explanations on bordering that include critical border studies, securitization and bio/necropolitics with theoretical approaches from public policy literature to examine the domestic conditions that inform border closure policies and practices. We demonstrate that the decision to border, in this case, was not a rejection of World Health Organization advice but a turn towards the domestic pull factors – including domestic expert advice – to border.

The Effects of the Twin-Deficit Hypothesis: A Study Case for Romania

The purpose of the paper is to explore the broader economic implications of the twin-deficit hypothesis, specifically the crowding-out effect and the deterioration of the domestic manufacturing sector. The hypothesis posits that government borrowing can inhibit private investments and growth. Such a case has been observed empirically in other countries, where high government borrowing suppressed private sector borrowing and investments. Additionally, the paper investigates how sustained deficits can erode the manufacturing sector by increasing reliance on imports, leading to the contraction of local industries and affecting employment and domestic expertise.

Methodological Approaches to Constructing Human Capital Index: Regional Dimension

The paper analyses available foreign and domestic expertise in the treatment and methods for measuring human capital. The authors identify weaknesses of a common approach to measuring human capital based on international statistical standards not adapted to national features of information and statistical support for regional analysis in the face of prominent interregional differences in socio-economic development.A methodological approach to assessing human capital is substantiated using an integral indicator that combines subindices that reflect the accumulation and reproduction of human capital. Guided by this approach and statistics on the demographic situation, upgrading knowledge, skills and strengthening the public health, including that of the working population, and based on actual data for the regions of Russia (for the year 2020), a unified summary indicator of human capital for the constituent entities of the Russian Federation was calculated and the regions were ranked by a level of human capital development.According to the authors, the developed methodological approaches to measuring the human capital index shall make it possible to take more specific action on implementing the Programme for Socio-economic Development as applied to individual Russian regions

Experience Sharing in Participating in the Environmental Safety Consultation Program—Tainan Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare

<p>本文分享財團法人醫院評鑑暨醫療品質策進會推動「環境安全諮詢計畫」，由兩位國內專家輔導委員及一位國外ACHSI輔導委員以緊急應變計畫、建築與設備、管理機制三大方面進入輔導過程，本文大致分享以國內醫療機構面臨機構建築設備老舊維護困難，在既有建築物空間規劃設計上，防災及疏散因應措施相較薄弱，如何以合宜的因應措施及編列合理改善預算，提升環境安全及災害應變能力，保障人員安全與健康，維持醫療正常營運及財產損害控管。</p> <p> </p><p>This manuscript shares the experience of participating in the “Environmental Safety Consultation Program” promoted by the Joint Commission of Taiwan. The program was guided by two domestic expert advisors and one international advisor from the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards International, focusing on three major aspects: emergency response plans, architecture and facilities, and management mechanisms. This manuscript broadly discusses how healthcare institutions in Taiwan, facing challenges with the maintenance of outdated buildings and facilities, and weak disaster prevention and evacuation measures due to existing architectural and spatial planning, can implement suitable response measures and allocate reasonable budgets for improvements. The goals are to enhance environmental safety and disaster response capabilities, ensure the safety and health of personnel, maintain normal medical operations, and manage property damage.</p> <p> </p>

Development assistance, donor–recipient dynamic, and domestic policy: a case study of two health interventions supported by World Bank–UK and Global Fund in China

BackgroundThis study views sustainability after the exit of development assistance for health (DAH) as a shared responsibility between donors and recipients and sees transitioning DAH-supported interventions into domestic health policy as a pathway to this sustainability. It aims to uncover and understand the reemergent aspects of the donor–recipient dynamic in DAH and how they contribute to formulating domestic health policy and post-DAH sustainability.MethodsWe conducted a case study on two DAH-supported interventions: medical financial assistance in the Basic Health Services Project supported by the World Bank and UK (1998–2007) and civil society engagement in the HIV/AIDS Rolling Continuation Channel supported by the Global Fund (2010–2013) in China. From December 2021 to December 2022, we analyzed 129 documents and interviewed 46 key informants. Our data collection and coding were guided by a conceptual framework based on Walt and Gilson’s health policy analysis model and the World Health Organization’s health system building blocks. We used process tracing for analysis.ResultsAccording to the collected data, our case study identified three reemergent, interrelated aspects of donor–recipient dynamics: different preferences and compromise, partnership dialogues, and responsiveness to the changing context. In the case of medical financial assistance, the dynamic was characterized by long-term commitment to addressing local needs, on-site mutual learning and understanding, and local expertise cultivation and knowledge generation, enabling proactive responses to the changing context. In contrast, the dynamic in the case of HIV/AIDS civil society engagement marginalized genuine civil society engagement, lacked sufficient dialogue, and exhibited a passive response to the context. These differences led to varying outcomes in transnational policy diffusion and sustainability of DAH-supported interventions between the cases.ConclusionsGiven the similarities in potential alternative factors observed in the two cases, we emphasize the significance of the donor–recipient dynamic in transnational policy diffusion through DAH. The study implies that achieving post-DAH sustainability requires a balance between donor priorities and recipient ownership to address local needs, partnership dialogues for mutual understanding and learning, and collaborative international–domestic expert partnerships to identify and respond to contextual enablers and barriers.

Development of the Local Food Systems Policy Index (Local Food-EPI+) tool and assessment process to benchmark the implementation of local government policies for creating healthy, equitable and environmentally sustainable food systems.

Local governments have an important role to play in creating healthy, equitable and environmentally sustainable food systems. This study aimed to develop and pilot a tool and process for local governments in Australia to benchmark their policies for creating healthy, equitable and environmentally sustainable food systems. The Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI), developed in 2013 for national governments, was tailored to develop the Local Food Systems Policy Index (Local Food-EPI+) tool for local governments. To incorporate environmental sustainability and the local government context, this process involved a literature review and collaboration with an international and domestic expert advisory committee (n 35) and local government officials. Local governments. The tool consists of sixty-one indicators across ten food policy domains (weighted based on relative importance): leadership; governance; funding and resources; monitoring and intelligence; food production and supply chain; food promotion; food provision and retail in public facilities and spaces; supermarkets and food sources in the community; food waste reuse, redistribution and reduction; and support for communities. Pilot implementation of the tool in one local government demonstrated that the assessment process was feasible and likely to be helpful in guiding policy implementation. The Local Food-EPI+ tool and assessment process offer a comprehensive mechanism to assist local governments in benchmarking their actions to improve the healthiness, equity and environmental sustainability of food systems and prioritise action areas. Broad use of this tool will identify and promote leading practices, increase accountability for action and build capacity and collaborations.

ТОРГОВО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЕ ВЗАИМОДЕЙСТВИЕ РОССИИ С ЛАТИНСКОЙ АМЕРИКОЙ КАК ЧАСТЬЮ ГЛОБАЛЬНОГО ЮГА

Russia’s strategic turn towards the priority development of cooperation with friendly and neutral states involves both increasing interaction with the World Majority as a whole and with individual regions of the Global South, including Latin America (Latin and Caribbean America - LCA). It is precisely because of the ongoing global geo-economic and geopolitical transformations that relations between the Russian Federation and Latin American countries, and most importantly, their core, trade and economic ties, are entering a period of profound changes, in fact, at the stage of forming an up-to-date agenda that meets modern realities, current and future. This trend sets the task for the domestic expert community to take a fresh look at the needs and capabilities of partners within the objectively defined framework of economic cooperation, to reveal the available reserves and indicate ways to increase the potential of Russian-­Latin American cooperation. This is the main purpose of the present article.

CURRENT GENERAL THEORETICAL ISSUES OF MODERN FORENSIC COMMODITY EXAMINATION

The article is devoted to the search and scientific substantiation of the directions of theoretical research, which will ensure the integration of domestic forensic commodity expertise into the relevant European system of scientific knowledge. It has been established that Ukraine has a wide range of footwear for servicemen, which is a potential object of forensic commodity expertise but has not yet been studied from the standpoint of modern commodity science. The range of footwear offered by “Prof 1 Group”, “Scout Tactical”, and “Patriotshop” was analyzed and the nomenclature of their properties, which has more than 30 characteristics, was studied. It is shown that at the level of groups and types of this footwear has significant features of classification, marking, and other commodity characteristics, which are significantly different from the system of special knowledge of the domestic expert commodity expert. The systems of marking the anthropometric characteristics of the studied footwear and their units of measurement in the USA, Great Britain, and the European Union are compared. It is revealed that the system of special knowledge of commodity experts in the field of footwear needs to be optimized by supplementing scientific information on the main categories of footwear commodities. It is proposed to develop such addition as two blocks of information that correspond to separate basic categories of commodity science. The first block – scientifically sound data on current classification systems, new consumer properties, modern groups, species, and intraspecific range of footwear for servicemen. The second block – data on marking and schematic representation of measurements of anthropometric sizes of footwear and feet of consumers, which are developed based on a single scientifically sound scale of sizes and completeness; such a scale will be agreed with and approved by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, harmonized with the relevant scales in force in the developed world, mandatory for all producers and suppliers of this product in Ukraine. In the example of commodity knowledge about footwear for servicemen, the objective necessity and urgency of improving the existing Ukraine classification systems of uniforms, which is a potential object of commodity examination, in three directions: updating, harmonization with the needs of supply and trade practices, coordination with similar classification systems in developed countries. Based on the results of theoretical commodity research, it is proposed to modernize the system of special knowledge of a forensic commodity expert by developing a full range of modern methodological support for expert activities. Key words: forensic examination, theoretical research, footwear for servicemen, classification, marking.

Errors in Measuring the Distance to an Obstacle by Technical Vision Means and in Forecasting Braking Distance in Driverless Train Control Systems. World of Transport and Transportation

Technical vision systems are sources of information about an obstacle on the track in the case of driverless train control. Based on the information received, the traffic control system decides to turn on the braking mode to prevent a colliosni with an obstacle. In accordance with international and domestic expertise and standard ratings, it is necessary to ensure the probability of a dangerous failure, in this case, the probability of hitting an obstacle, not more than 10-8 with a confidence probability of 0,95 according to SIL-4 ([Russian state standard] GOST-R61508). Considering the presence of an error in measuring the distance to an obstacle by the technical vision system and an error in calculating the stopping distance, it is required to determine the coordinate of the braking start point when an object is detected on the track in such a way as to ensure that the train stops before the obstacle with a probability determined in accordance with SIL-4.A feature of the problem being solved for estimating the errors in measuring the distance to an obstacle and calculating the stopping distance implies the need to determine the estimates of their maximum values and to develop an algorithm for using these estimates in such a way that the collision probability does not exceed the normalised value.A technique is described for determining the maximum value of the error in measuring the distance to the obstacle, the probability of exceeding which is quite small (from 10-2 to 10-6). A proposed algorithm for multiple measurements of the distance to an obstacle allows choosing the minimum measurement result for deciding on the start of braking, which ensures meeting standard indicator of a probability of a train colliding with an obstacle according to SIL-4. A method for estimating the error in calculating the stopping distance has been developed, which, together with the algorithm of multiple measurements by the technical vision system of the distance to the obstacle, provides the standard indicator according to SIL-4. The need for the second channel of technical vision due to the presence of curves along the route is shown. The necessity of using algorithms for multiple measurements to an obstacle through the second channel located outside the train is also substantiated. It is noted that the methods described in this article for choosing the maximum values of random errors in measurements and calculations, the values of which can be exceeded with a very low probability, can be used to solve various applied problems of traffic control in transportation processes.

Anticorruption Measures in the Healthcare System During the Pandemic

This article aims to analyze anti-corruption measures in the healthcare system during a pandemic. During this study, the problem of corruption was studied as a subject of interdisciplinary analytical discourse in the global and domestic expert space. Also, based on the results of the content analysis of critical analytical documents from leading international anti-corruption organizations, specific health problems during the pandemic, typical for all countries of the world, were identified. As a result of the analysis of international documents, Kazakhstani scientific and analytical articles, leading state initiatives of Kazakhstan in the field of reforming the country, key conclusions were drawn regarding the understanding of strategic ways of sustainable development through the introduction of an effective and efficient mechanism for adapting world standards to the Kazakhstani field of combating corruption in general and to the system public administration in the healthcare system in particular. The study was carried out based on a comparative analysis of expert assessments of corruption in the healthcare sector. To determine the adaptive effectiveness of applying the recommendations of the global anti-corruption expertise in Kazakhstani practices of combating corruption in the public health administration system, an empirical study of institutional aspects in anti-corruption international analytics was undertaken. This made it possible to see the significance of local features and systemic prerequisites that determine the success of anti-corruption actions in Kazakhstan. During the preparation of the article, the following sources were used: socio-economic expertise of Interpol; National Report on Combating Corruption; analytics from a global anti-corruption NGO.

Forensic DNA Analysis: Development State and Prospects in Ukraine

This research purpose is to summarize information on the main directions of using DNA analysis in the practice of detection and investigation of crimes used in different countries, consider possibilities of these areas and the state of their implementation in domestic investigative and forensic expert practice and formulate the author’s vision of prospects for the further development of theoretical and applied aspects of forensic DNA research in Ukraine.
 Traditional DNA profiling methods based on STR locus analysis and mtDNA SNP research are described, information on the application of the latest technologies for searching relatives by DNA profile bases and determining the age and biogeographical origin of human DNA, as well as methods of mass parallel DNA sequencing and performing rapid DNA profile tests. It was noted that main obstacle to the further development of DNA analysis in Ukraine is the lack of proper legal regulation that hinders formation of effective national database of DNA profiles. Attention is drawn to the obvious lack of scientific support for DNA research in Ukraine.
 Ways to solve existing issues in this area are proposed, in particular: promote relevant knowledge among law enforcement officers to minimize typical errors in handling of traces of biological origin; make changes in the criminal procedural legislation of Ukraine for the purpose of proper adjustment of issues of sampling of biological samples and carrying out rapid analyzes on a DNA profile; take measures to expand the tool base and real capabilities of forensic genetics laboratories.

The effects of antifungal therapy on the recurrence of aspergillus infection after pulmonary aspergilloma resection: a study protocol for a single-center, prospective, non-blind, randomized, 24-month, parallel group study

BackgroundIn recent years, the incidence of pulmonary aspergilloma has increased. The harm of aspergilloma is life-threatening massive hemoptysis, and the conventional treatment is surgical treatment. However, whether the antifungal treatment after surgery is required and the course of treatment before and after surgery are still unclear.MethodsIn this study, patients with pulmonary aspergilloma confirmed pathologically after surgery will be selected as subjects to conduct a single-center, randomized, parallel grouping, prospective, 2-year clinical study. Through regular visits, the recurrence of aspergillus infection, quality of life, lung function indicators, safety of antifungal therapy and other indicators were recorded to evaluate the recurrence risk of aspergillus infection and safety of antifungal agents. Cox proportional risk regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of antifungal therapy on aspergillus infection recurrence after aspergillus bulbectomy. Cox multiple regression model was used for optimal model fitting, and regression coefficient (β), relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval of RR were calculated.DiscussionThe study will explore whether antifungal therapy could improve the quality of life, reduce the recurrence of aspergillus infection, and ultimately improve the prognosis of patients with aspergilloma. The study results will provide high-quality evidence-based medical evidence for the formulation, revision and optimization of international and domestic clinical guidelines and expert consensus on chronic aspergillus lung disease, effectively improve the clinical treatment effect of aspergilloma, and form the latest concept of diagnosis and treatment of aspergilloma.Trial registration: The trial was registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry website (https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=33231). Registration number: ChiCTR1800019990.

ВОЗМОЖНОСТИ И ПРАВОВЫЕ ОСНОВАНИЯ АКТУАЛИЗАЦИИ КУЛЬТУРНОГО НАСЛЕДИЯ КАК РЕСУРСА ТУРИСТСКОЙ ОТРАСЛИ КРЫМА

Nowadays, one of the most urgent tasks of the socio-cultural policy of the Russian Federation is to solve the problems of preservation and actualization of the cultural heritage as an important factor in the spiritual and material life of people. The study emphasizes that the issues of preservation and the development of the cultural heritage have always been significant for Russia and the Crimea. So, these issues have become particularly relevant as a result of the events of 2014 − the reunification of the Crimea with Russia and the introduction of various measures against the Crimean Republic of “anctions” nature, which caused an active search for additional resources for the regional development – including the field of culture. According to the developed approach of this article, the cultural heritage can be not only an integral part of history in modern conditions, as well as the Keeper of spirituality, etc., but also a source of the development of territories. At the same time, the author emphasizes that the cultural heritage itself, without “the involvement” in a variety of socio-cultural practices, cannot be a factor of the regional development. Particular attention is paid to the assessment of the regulatory framework of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Crimea in terms of preservation, the usage and the promotion of the cultural heritage. The author notes that this practical importance of the cultural heritage as a resource acquires in the relevant social and constructive practices, and above all – in tourism, are increasingly supported by the point of view in the domestic expert cultural community. The article describes the features of the representation of the cultural heritage of the Crimea. The author provides a description and analysis the number of measures that can attract the cultural heritage to the tourist activities of the region. At the same time, the author notes a certain positive effect of the use of the cultural heritage as a resource of tourism, draws attention to a number of problems that require the consideration and the solution. The conclusions emphasize that the cultural heritage and tourism are interrelated elements of the socio-cultural sphere. However, if the cultural heritage is considered as a resource for the development of territories at the level of the Federal legislation, then the usage of the cultural heritage will be still fragmented in practice. It has a mosaic character, and so it needs to be formed a systematic, interdepartmental approach. Therefore, there is an urgent need to create special platforms for the interaction of the government and the business nowadays in Russia and in its regions, including the Republic of Crimea. It is necessary to use mechanisms of the inter-sectoral coordination between tourism agencies and cultural entities, the purpose of which should be to support and to present a holistic socio-cultural environment of the territories through the implementation of their cultural potential, by means of tourist activities as well.

'Hybrid' top down bottom up health system innovation in rural China: A qualitative analysis.

China has made considerable progress with health system reforms in recent years. Rural China, however, has lagged behind as the diversity of needs of China's 3,000 rural counties were not always well addressed by national top-down reforms. China's Rural Health Reform Project Health XI (HXI) piloted a hybrid process of top down and bottom up implementation of health system reforms which were tailored to rural county level needs and covered a population of more than 21 million. Different studies provide evidence that HXI counties have achieved substantial benefits given the relatively limited investment. The Effectiveness of HXI subsequently raises the question how the hybrid approach may have resulted in effective implementation of interventions. We answer this question to advance understanding of hybrid approaches in general and in the rural Chinese context in particular, where the bottom-up elements might match poorly with the traditional organisational culture and learning style. We conducted an in-depth qualitative analysis in three 'best practice' counties, performing document-analyses, observations, semi-structured individual and group interviews. In alignment with the research question, this study is of an explorative nature and follows a sequence of deductive and inductive steps. HXI struggled initially as counties had difficulties to take initiative and autonomously select and adapt their own reforms. The initial reforms required multiple improvement iterations before achieving the planned results. The effectiveness of these bottom up reform processes has been aided by tight top down supervision and extensive domestic expert involvement. County level leadership is seen as essential to align the top down and bottom up structures and processes. Where successful, HXI has changed mind-sets and counties developed generic health improvement capabilities. Tailoring innovations to fit local needs formed a severe challenge for the three 'best practice' counties studied. A 'change of mindset' to actively take initiative and assume autonomy was needed to advance. Top down supervision and extensive support of experts was required to overcome the barriers. The studied counties finally achieved sustainable improvements and developed double loop learning capabilities beyond HXI objectives. Taken together, the above findings suggest that the continuum of healthcare reform implementation approaches in which hybrid approaches reside-from bottom up to top down-has two dimensions: a content dimension and a procedural dimension. Enabled by top down procedures, counties were able to bottom up tailor the content of best practice innovations to fit local needs.

Geotechnical monitoring of mining facilities in the system for assessing and ensuring the quality of geomechanical solutions

Relevance of the research. Effective monitoring of mining facilities is an essential component of the quality assurance system for geomechanical solutions. Modern systems that regulate monitoring of mining facilities are characterized by good elaboration and efficiency, however, the systems do not provide for formalization of monitoring, which excludes the optimization of monitoring in money and kind Purpose of research. The main reason for this situation is the lack of methods to make a reasonable quantitative assessment of the quality of observations, the potential damage from the effects of deformations and to formalize criteria and models for monitoring optimization taking into account the quality of observations, significance and features of the objects. Research methods. Quality of observations - the initial objective assessment of the quality of monitoring as a whole is defined as the product of three probabilities of detecting predetermined threshold levels of the state of a mining facility: functions of accuracy, frequency of observations and the number of control points. Knowing the quality of observations allows us to move on to formalizing monitoring itself based on the relationship of monitoring reliability (probability of detecting a dangerous situation) with information costs, levels of geomechanical risk, and geomechanical significance (potential damage from the effects of deformations). The latter means that the damage assessment should reflect the negative consequences of mining and construction, including hazard levels for working personnel and the population in the area of the monitoring object. A quantitative pre-drilling estimate of the reliability or probability of detecting dangerous deformations is established in the final phase of monitoring the forecasting of specific conclusions based on observations made about the state of mining facilities and their future trends. Three classes of methods are involved in forecasting: extrapolation, modelling, and examination. In addition to the classical extrapolation techniques based on the theory of time series, new procedures have been developed: for groups of control stations, sequential forecasting under conditions of instability of forecast horizons, forecast horizon correction for planned lead periods, nonparametric forecasting with guarantee coefficients. The possibilities of physical modelling in the aspect of forecasting the consequences of mining reserves in the non-working side of an active quarry with a collapsing system are investigated. For mining structures with increased levels of responsibility (tailing dams, developed areas under development, etc.), the possibilities of combining numerical and simulation modelling with extrapolation forecasting are shown, starting from “preventive” monitoring with the transition to the project forecast in phases of latent and active deformations. The domestic expert system of the All-Russian Research Institute of Mining Geomechanics and Survey has been digitalized in combination with simulation modelling, which ensures the reliability of assessments of the status of horizontal and inclined workings and chambers. Results and their application. Methods for quantitative monitoring performance monitoring are implemented in 12 programs and 33 text files. Typical monitoring models are presented that demonstrate the effectiveness of the adopted approach. The correspondence and convergence of the forecasting results with the results of practical use are shown. Conclusions. Criteria and models for monitoring mining structures are formalized taking into account the quality of observations, the significance and characteristics of the observed objects. Formalization of monitoring with access to its optimization is an obligatory component of the system of assessments and ensuring the quality of geomechanical solutions and is of independent importance.

Artificial intelligence and education in China

ABSTRACT This paper examines the political economy of artificial intelligence (AI) and education in China, through an analysis of government policy and private sector enterprise. While media and policy discourse often portray China’s AI development in terms of a unified national strategy, and a burgeoning geopolitical contestation for future global dominance, this analysis will suggest a more nuanced internal complexity, involving differing regional networks and international corporate activity. The first section considers two key policy documents published by the central Chinese government, which are shown to implicate educational institutions as influential actors in national and regional strategies for AI development, with a significant role in plans to train domestic expertise. The second section outlines three prominent private education companies: New Oriental Group, Tomorrow Advancing Life (TAL), and Squirrel AI. These companies are selected to represent important aspects of China’s development of educational AI applications, including the influence of a well-established private education sector, and a growing interest in international corporate activity. The paper concludes with the suggestion that while central government policy reserves a significant role for education in the national AI strategy, the private sector is utilising favourable political conditions to rapidly develop educational applications and markets.

Local business environment, domestic CEOs and firm performance in a transitional economy: Empirical evidence from Vietnam

This paper investigates the impact of CEO origin on firm performance in the context of a transitional country. Our analysis, which uses data from over 298,000 firms operating in Vietnam, shows that firms operating in a more favourable business environment are less likely to employ a domestic expert as their CEO. However, firms managed by a domestic CEO appear to outperform those run by a foreign peer, especially when they operate in an environment characterised by having low entry costs, low time costs, high transparency, high proactivity, adequate business support, and sufficient labour training. This result is more pronounced for larger firms. These findings are robust to various model specifications. The paper provides informative implications to market participants, policy makers, and academics.

Foreign and domestic expertise in strengthening concrete structures with carbon fiber

Over the last 10-15 years, Russia has faced a significant increase in the scope of reconstruction work (including restoration and overhaul) for buildings of various purposes aiming to extend the life cycle of existing facilities and to bring buildings in line with requirements of modern regulatory documents in terms of strength and increase in their energy efficiency. Strengthening the building structures with composite materials is by far the most ‘gentle’ method of restoring building structures and improving their operational performance. At the same time, there is only a small number of publications generalizing this type of strenghtening in the domestic scientific and technical literature. During the operation of buildings and structures (especially industrial ones) numerous factors cause accelerated degradation in building structures. This phenomenon is particulary strong in reinforced concrete structures due to their composite base. Practice shows that corrosive damage is one of the main factors of intensive constuction degradation of reinforced concrete structures. Therefore, these damages are caused by manufacturing defects (reduction of concrete protective layer), loss of concrete-against-reinforcement protective properties due to carbonization or damage. Corrosive damage greatly reduces the life capability and durability of reinforced concrete structures, which in turn leads to a decrease in the safety of construction site operations.

Politiche, prassi e potenziale nella cooperazione sino-europea sulla ricerca: quali lezioni imparate? - Policies, Practices and Potential in Sino-European Research Cooperation: Any Lessons Learned?

The article describes the policy context of the EU-China research and innovation collaboration with a focus on the last two decades, and outlines its long-standing challenges as well as most recent issues. It analyses several examples of good practice from European organisations which created innovative approaches towards their activities in China. Despite the ongoing debate across Europe how to rebalance the relationship, cooperation with the world’s second biggest research & development funder is unlikely to decrease. However, the past achievements and failures have formed neither a base for a Europe-wide understanding of the complexities of China’s environment, nor platforms for proper utilisations of Europe’s domestic expertise on China. As a result, the potential to create a balanced relationship in research, innovation and higher education remains untapped.

Challenges and Opportunities for Education in Irrigation Engineering

Declining enrollments in a declining number of university degree programs in irrigation engineering are generating concern about the future of irrigation engineering expertise.Technical degree and certificate programs offer options for professionals in irrigation careers, especially those in landscape irrigation careers requiring licensure.Extension programs are evolving to include more on-demand internet-based and social media-based information delivery, as audiences have become more accustomed to these platforms.Addressing workforce and expertise needs in irrigation engineering is critically important, and it will involve equipping future professionals to address national and international challenges in agriculture.Abstract. Irrigation continues to be economically important in the U.S. and internationally, yet there is concern about future accessibility to appropriate expertise and the engineering preparation of irrigation professionals for both public and private sectors. Recent and impending retirements of academic and industry leaders, losses of some important academic programs (curricula/degree programs, research, and extension) in irrigation engineering, and reduced numbers of students threaten to significantly limit irrigation engineering capacity, especially in agricultural irrigation. Some of the challenges can be met through opportunities afforded by development of distance education programs; expansion of multi-state, multi-agency, multi-university collaborations; and increasing public-private partnerships, as well as through vigorous recruitment efforts. Recruitment can be strengthened by improving the competitiveness of salaries to be commensurate with other engineering disciplines, and by demonstrating and better explaining the abilities of the irrigation engineering profession to meet future challenges related to food, fiber, fuel, and ecosystem demands of a rapidly growing global population. While access to irrigation engineering expertise, especially domestic expertise, has declined, the need for such technical support and information for practitioners has not decreased. In fact, in many cases, technical advancements from public and industry developments have greatly outpaced the capacity for applied research and extension programs to robustly evaluate technologies and deliver objective, science-based recommendations. Growing knowledge gaps and time lags have exacerbated restlessness among some audiences, increasing the opportunities for promotion of unsubstantiated claims for some products that remain unchallenged, and further confusing appropriate selection from a growing array of available technologies. Keywords: Continuing education, Distance education, Extension, Irrigation engineering, Public-private partnerships, Technical support.