European Community Research Articles

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.

6951 European survey of diagnosis and management of the polycystic ovary syndrome: full report on the ESE PCOS Special Interest Group’s 2023 Questionnaire

Abstract Disclosure: S. Livadas: None. B.O. Yildiz: None. G. Mastorakos: None. A. Gambineri: None. D.L. Pignatelli: None. F. Giorgino: None. M. Andersen: None. B.M. Obermayer-Pietsch: None. D.P. Macut: None. Background: Although polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) constitutes a common endocrinopathy, there are several issues which confuse clinicians during everyday practice.Objective: To define the current status of knowledge of the full spectrum of PCOS among European endocrinologists. Methods: A detailed questionnaire comprising 41 items covering various aspects of diagnosis and management of women with PCOS was shared via web among members of European Society of Endocrinology. Results: 505 European endocrinologists (64% females), with a mean age of 47±11.6 years answered the questionnaire. Rotterdam criteria were used by 85% of endocrinologists. The most frequent age at referral was between 20-40 years (87.1%). A quarter of doctors have access to mass spectrometry for the evaluation of androgen levels. Extended metabolic profile was part of workup by the vast majority, but there was significant uncertainty regarding the diagnosis of chronic anovulation. Diabetes, gestational or type 2, was considered a major consequence for women with PCOS and screening is carried out regardless of BMI status. Lifestyle modification and metformin are considered a standard approach of all participants and oral contraceptives are a standard therapeutic modality, but there is significant discrepancy on the duration of treatment.Conclusions: Rotterdam diagnostic criteria are currently an established diagnostic approach within the European endocrine community. This updated survey showed an advance in using steroid profiling for diagnosis and strong position on recognizing PCOS as a metabolic condition with potential broader consequences. Therapeutic aspects are currently changed into the need for more lifestyle intervention involvement and the use of metabolic therapies either as monotherapy or in combination with standard hormonal compounds. Presentation: 6/3/2024

6951 European survey of diagnosis and management of the polycystic ovary syndrome: full report on the ESE PCOS Special Interest Group’s 2023 Questionnaire

Abstract Disclosure: S. Livadas: None. B.O. Yildiz: None. G. Mastorakos: None. A. Gambineri: None. D.L. Pignatelli: None. F. Giorgino: None. M. Andersen: None. B.M. Obermayer-Pietsch: None. D.P. Macut: None. Background: Although polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) constitutes a common endocrinopathy, there are several issues which confuse clinicians during everyday practice.Objective: To define the current status of knowledge of the full spectrum of PCOS among European endocrinologists. Methods: A detailed questionnaire comprising 41 items covering various aspects of diagnosis and management of women with PCOS was shared via web among members of European Society of Endocrinology. Results: 505 European endocrinologists (64% females), with a mean age of 47±11.6 years answered the questionnaire. Rotterdam criteria were used by 85% of endocrinologists. The most frequent age at referral was between 20-40 years (87.1%). A quarter of doctors have access to mass spectrometry for the evaluation of androgen levels. Extended metabolic profile was part of workup by the vast majority, but there was significant uncertainty regarding the diagnosis of chronic anovulation. Diabetes, gestational or type 2, was considered a major consequence for women with PCOS and screening is carried out regardless of BMI status. Lifestyle modification and metformin are considered a standard approach of all participants and oral contraceptives are a standard therapeutic modality, but there is significant discrepancy on the duration of treatment.Conclusions: Rotterdam diagnostic criteria are currently an established diagnostic approach within the European endocrine community. This updated survey showed an advance in using steroid profiling for diagnosis and strong position on recognizing PCOS as a metabolic condition with potential broader consequences. Therapeutic aspects are currently changed into the need for more lifestyle intervention involvement and the use of metabolic therapies either as monotherapy or in combination with standard hormonal compounds. Presentation: 6/3/2024

What can we learn from critical, liberation, and decolonization community psychologists of the global South?

The first part of this article illustrates how democracies are in crisis in many European countries and in the United States. The second part describes three important theoretical and political contributions made by critical community psychologists, decolonization, and liberation community psychologists to find theoretical constructs and action strategies that could enrich mainstream European and North American Clinical and Community Psychology. The third part explores how a thousand clinical psychologists, especially family therapists worldwide, have, through the Assisi Manifest, denounced the increase in psychological problems worldwide and the need to work not only with families but in the communities where people live. The last part outlines the major theoretical constructs and intervention methodologies we can integrate into our European community psychology activities and how to transform our "community homes" to decrease polarization and foster dialogue to foster better capabilities to care for one another and solve local and planetary problems.

Some Developments and Vulnerabilities in the Child Rights Protection System under the Umbrella of the European Family

Bearing in mind that the European Economic Community was originally a purely economic construction, there is no consistent and relevant degree of conventionality in the relationship between the EU, on the one hand, and the family, in all its configuration, on the other. However, indirectly, through its own policies, the Union has shaped certain aspects of the concept of family, the free movement of European citizens and their family members being a case in point. In this study we aim to determine to what extent we can speak of the existence of the concept of the European family and to present the European standards that circumscribe the child in a family unit, including the adaptation of some "classic" rights of EU law to best suit the specific interests and needs of the child. Last but not least, we aim to present some vulnerabilities in the European system of protection of children's rights, caused either by inconsistency of the European legislator or by a lack of refinement in the interpretation of legal provisions relating to fundamental rights. Keywords: Child; Freedom of movement; Citizenship; Family member

Identity discourse - support for overcoming identity confusion

In the context of Moldova’s reorientation towards the values of the multicultural European community, national identity requires a new approach. Over the past two centuries, the identity discourse in the Prut-Dniester region has been suppressed, with legitimization references distorted, falsified, and substituted. Consequently, the collective memory, a nation’s intangible treasure and backbone, remains damaged and mutilated in crucial segments. Even after the disintegration of the Soviet empire and the establishment of the Republic of Moldova, identity uncertainty persists among Romanians, the predominant population. The identity discourse has yet to be correctly perceived, understood and at least accepted, if not assumed. Through this study, focused on the identity discourse constantly promoted by Metropolitan Gurie, we propose samples of analysis and formats of consensus platforms, elaborated based on his perpetuated discourse for the consolidation of the identity landmarks of Romanians in Bessarabia, which could be useful in the challenging geo-political context currently faced by the country.

Developing a multi-level european-wide composite indicator to assess vulnerability dynamics across time and space

The escalating frequency of extreme climatic events and ongoing urbanisation expose European communities to increasing disaster risks, which are determined not only by the hazardous events themselves, but also by the exposure and vulnerability to these hazards. Consequently, effective risk management strategies cannot overlook a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing vulnerability of the communities. This paper addresses this need by presenting a European-wide framework for the development of a Vulnerability Index (VI) that evaluates vulnerability at both national and subnational scales. Adopting a multi-dimensional and multi-level approach, the VI captures socio-economic, political, environmental, and physical factors contributing to community resilience. A standardised, supranational methodology is employed, providing harmonised cross-country information and time series data for vulnerability and its underlying indicators. This comprehensive assessment facilitates the understanding of socio-economic dynamics, enabling the formulation of targeted policy actions at both country and subnational levels. By offering insights into current vulnerability trends, the VI underlines the importance of governance, economic factors, and disaster preparedness in reducing vulnerability at different administrative levels, while highlighting the role of social factors, such as poverty and social exclusion, in community vulnerability at sub-regional levels.

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The article examines the processes of management of land relations and environmental policy of Ukraine in the context of security challenges and the course of European integration. Prospects of Ukraine's agrarian policy in the context of land management and environmental policy, taking into account security challenges and the course of European integration, reflect the need for a comprehensive approach to the preservation and restoration of land resources, as well as environmental protection. Effective management of land relations requires not only consideration of economic aspects, but also the integration of European environmental standards, which contributes to achieving sustainable development and strengthening environmental security. Given the security challenges, the development of measures to restore war-affected lands, including the clearance of explosive ordnance and soil restoration, is of particular importance. Against the background of the European integration course, it is important to continue the adaptation of the national policy to the EU legislation, which will contribute to the creation of a transparent system of land resource management, ensuring the protection of biodiversity, sustainable land use and increasing the efficiency of waste management. Agrarian policy, focused on European integration standards, also provides for the development of modern technologies for precision agriculture and resource management. This creates opportunities for increasing the productivity of the agricultural sector and minimizing the environmental impact of agricultural activities. At the same time, it is important to develop environmental monitoring tools and early warning systems that will allow a better response to potential threats to the environment. Ensuring sustainable management of land resources and environmental protection is the basis for the further development of the agricultural industry, which meets international standards and contributes to the economic stability of the country. Taking into account security aspects related to land relations and ecology will allow to form an effective strategy that meets national interests and supports integration into the European community.

Globalisation and Digitalisation: The European Approach to Cutting-edge Educational Practices

The urgency of optimising the development of Ukraine’s education system is driven by the need to preserve intellectual potential and national identity against the backdrop of the priority of integrating into the European system in the context of post-war recovery. The research aims to identify gaps in existing studies on globalisation and digitalisation practices based on successful European experiences and propose a new research direction in immersive technologies. The innovative solutions proposed in the article pertain to immersive technologies integrated into the educational process to enhance material assimilation and create engaging experiences. The advantages of their application are highlighted, including the visualisation of abstract and complex learning concepts, stimulation of active participation in interaction with virtual objects and environments, development of creativity and problem-oriented thinking, and obtaining realistic experience. The study establishes that the implementation of advanced educational practices of the European community and the involvement of long-term international funding in synergy form potential optimal prerequisites for developing the higher education system in the national space through the differentiation of powers between various institutions, autonomy in the organisation of educational process management, and the formation of a competitive environment in the higher education sector.

The Procedure for Admitting New Members to the European Union: Legal Aspect

INTRODUCTION. The article is devoted to the process of accession of new states to the European Union (EU). The authors try to demonstrate the evolution of the procedure for admitting new members since the formation of the European Communities and identify the main subjects of this procedure.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The current research is based on various international legal documents, including the founding treaties of the European Union, as well as acts of EU institutions and doctrinal sources.RESEARCH RESULTS. The research represents a retrospective analysis of the formation of the procedure for accession of new members to the European Communities/EU. It was found out that the norms of the founding agreement set only the general legal framework of the procedure, and its specific content differed through out the existence of the European integration project. The actual content of the accession process is determined by the member states, which, through the institutions of the Communities/Union, primarily the Council and the European Council, formulate the criteria and principles of accession. The Commission also plays a significant role in the process. The role of the European Parliament in this procedure is insignificant, although this institution tries to increase its influence throughout the negotiation process. DISCUSSION AND COCLUSION. To sum up, the accession procedure is typologically close to a special legislative procedure. Since its origin the accession of new states to the EU has been transformed from a rule-making procedure enshrined in the founding treaties to a set of various instruments and practices, including non-legal (political) ones.

Formation and development of the Acquis Communautaire in France, Germany and Switzerland: A comparative legal analysis

The article is devoted to the comparative legal analysis of the formation and development of the acquis communautaire in France, Germany and Switzerland with a view to identifying similarities and differences in the formation and development of the acquis communautaire in countries with different legal status in the European Union. The analysis was carried out using comparative legal, formal legal, dialectical, historical and legal, hermeneutical and other methods, as well as the principles of determinism, pluralism of opinions and complexity of knowledge. On the basis of and through the disclosure of the concept of “acquis communautaire”, the diversity of its understanding within different approaches and the nature of this phenomenon, as well as the study of the formation of the acquis communautaire specifics, it is established that this process took place in the course of formation of the European Communities in the 1950s with the participation of France and Germany on the basis of a combination of liberal market and general social values, and its development took place during the elaboration of the foundations of the mechanism for adoption of a common European policy. It is found that the patterns of formation and development of the acquis communautaire in France, Germany and Switzerland are overcoming contradictions and searching for compromises between France and Germany in all areas of common European policy and the need to coordinate their position with other members of the European Union. Furthermore, the similarity of these processes in France and Germany is rooted in their participation in the creation and development of the European Communities, in the formation of the acquis and its identical legal sources, and the difference lies in the motives and objectives of these States, their positions in certain areas of common European policy and procedural activities related to the implementation of the acquis into national legislation. At the same time, the article reveals that the specifics of formation and development of the European Union acquis in Switzerland are determined by its status as an associated country in the Union, which provides for the possibility of implementing the relevant acquis with certain exceptions on the basis of sectoral agreements between it and the European Union. The difference in the formation and development of the acquis between France and Germany, as well as Switzerland, is manifested in the mechanism and consequences of the implementation of the new acquis: Switzerland participates in the development process, but not in decision-making. Finally, it is noted that the common feature of the development of the EU acquis for all these countries is a combination of market-liberal and general social values and the introduction of a socially oriented market economy model.

Hydrological response to climate change in Baro basin, Ethiopia, using representative concentration pathway scenarios

Droughts and floods are common in the Baro basin and climate change may exacerbate them. This study aimed to investigate the hydrological response to climate change’s impact in the Baro River basin. Four climate models namely, Hadley Centre Global Environmental Model, version 2 (HadGEM2-ES), Max Planck Institute Earth System Model—Low Resolution (MPI-ESM-LR), Coupled Model Version 5, Medium Resolution (CM5A-MR) and European Community Earth System Model (EC-Earth) dynamically downscaled outputs were obtained from Africa coordinated regional downscaling experiment program. The four climate models were evaluated using a suite of statistical measures such as bias, Root Mean Squared Error, and Coefficient of Variation. The bias of the simulated rainfall varies between − 4.20% and − 25.39% suggesting underestimation. The performance of the models differs subject to the performance measures used for evaluation. Before being used in the climate impact analysis, the climate model data was heavily skewed and needed correction. In terms of bias, HadGEM2-ES performed the worst while EC-Earth performed the best. MPI-ESM-LR was the worst performer in terms of RMSE and CM5A-MR was the best. Changes in the hydrological response to climate change were compared to the baseline scenario (1971–2000) under the Representative Concentration Pathway Scenarios (RCP 4.5) for the medium term (2041–2070). The GCM predictions for the RCP 4.5 scenarios suggested that, in the medium period (2041–2070) the maximum temperature in the Baro River basin will probably rise by 2.1 °C for MPI-ESM-LR and 2.49 °C for CM5A-MR, while the minimum temperature would likely climb by 1.7 °C to EC-Earth and 2.8 °C for HadGEM2-ES. Annual rainfall is expected to fall by 7.02% for CM5A-MR and 17.01% for HadGEM2-ES, while annual evapotranspiration potential is likely to rise. Except from March to May CM5A-MR consistently generated the greatest amount of streamflow change, while MPI-ESM-LR consistently generated the highest magnitude of streamflow change. The annual streamflow reduction is consistent with the annual precipitation reduction and increased annual potential evapotranspiration. Generally, climate change is predicted to have a significant impact on the hydrological response in the Baro River basin under the RCP 4.5 scenario.

The Beast Computer of Brussels: An American Invention That Conquered the World

Abstract In 1972, the American Pentecostal preacher David Wilkerson produced a fifty-minute film, The Rapture, depicting “the return of Jesus Christ.” Subtly alluding to the apocalyptic “mark of the beast” (Revelation 13:16–18), the film featured a gigantic computer called “the Beast.” Located in Brussels, the Beast controlled global commerce by tracking every human on earth with numbers “invisibly ‘laser’ tatooed on the forehead or the back of the hand.” Within months of the film’s release, American Evangelical Protestant networks were reporting the existence of the beast computer as an actual fact and spread the story worldwide. By the 1980s, Greek and Russian Orthodox Christians, skeptical of the European Community, eagerly integrated the beast computer into their own eschatologies. The legend demonstrates the dynamism of the American evangelical imagination, which created this flexible symbol of globalization and technology, as well as the power of the global networks that disseminated it.

Comparative study of caná – a fermented sugarcane beverage produced from culms with and without bark

Cachaça is a Brazilian beverage produced by distilling fermented must from sugarcane juice, with an alcohol content ranging from 38% and 48% v/v. Currently, thousands of “Alembics” (small-scale destilleries located in agricultural environments) produce cachaça at a high standard of quality with both national and international recognition. These producers possess the infrastructure, knowledge, and expertise required to introduce Caná (a fermented sugarcane beverage) into their production line. According to Brazilian legislation, the alcohol concentration for this beverage is defined to be within the range of 4% to 14%. Being only fermented, Caná retains the phenolic compounds from the juice, which have a high nutritional value. Furthermore, following the example of the European Community, there are prospects for Brazil to implement lower tax rates for beverages produced in small-scale factories with a low alcohol content. This context means that Caná is a significant option for enhancing the competitiveness of Alembics in both the Brazilian and international markets. In this work, a comparison was made between Caná produced from juice obtained from intact stalks and the core (after removing the woody wall). The sensory results were markedly different, and there is still a need for some operational adjustments. Both beverages were positively evaluated, which confirms the prospect of a wide range of colors and flavors for Caná resulting from the use of different varieties of sugarcane, and there exists the possibility of numerous adjustments in operational procedures.

THEORETICAL BASIS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN UKRAINE IN THE CONTEXT OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

The article reveals the impact of European directives and policies on the development of the circular economy in Ukraine. In particular, the "Circular Economy Action Plan" and the EU Waste Directive, which serve as guidelines for adapting Ukrainian policy to European standards, are considered. The role of the EU in supporting Ukraine on the way to the implementation of circular practices is considered. Possibilities of cooperation with European partners to ensure sustainable development were explored. It is argued that the development of the circular economy contributes to reducing the level of waste and increasing the efficiency of resource use. The connection between European directives and national policy in the field of sustainable development is established. Based on the set goal, the key directions and mechanisms for adapting the principles of the circular economy in Ukraine are considered. The paper examines the impact of Russian aggression against Ukraine and establishes that each community needs the formation of a new management system, which should be aimed at their reconstruction and integration into the European Community on the basis of sustainable development, restoration of critical infrastructure, and energy security. Therefore, the expediency of developing the project of the Strategy for the Green Reconstruction of Territories on the basis of subsidiarity and taking into account the European Green Course is substantiated. The specified strategy must meet the Sustainable Development Goals of Ukraine until 2030 and be based on the planning system: state strategy - regional strategy - community strategies. Examples of successful implementation of circular practices in various countries and enterprises are highlighted. The article calls on the Government of Ukraine to actively implement circular principles in the country's economy in order to achieve greater sustainability, resource conservation and promote environmental responsibility in this important industry. Attention is focused on the fact that when forming a new model of the circular economy, it is necessary to take into account and connect the development of ecological innovations and, accordingly, the ecological economy.

The degree of freedom of the designer of the industrial design

The article is devoted to the study of the essence of the concept of the degree of freedom of the designer of an industrial design in the context of such a criterion of the protectionability of an industrial design as an individual character. The Law of Ukraine «On Protection of Rights to Industrial Designs» has been analyzed for the purpose of defining the concept of «designer’s degree of freedom». It has been established that the domestic law does not contain a broad explanation of the mentioned concept. It has been found that some additional information regarding the understanding of the concept of «designer’s degree of freedom» is contained in such a secondary legal act as the recently approved Rules for drawing up and submitting an application for an industrial design and conducting an examination of an application for an industrial design and international registration of an industrial design. It has been analysed the Association Agreement between Ukraine, on the one hand, and the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and their member states, on the other hand, as well as Directive 98/71/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of October 13, 1998 on legal protection industrial designs and Council Regulation (EC) No. 6/2002 of December 12, 2001 on Community industrial designs, the provisions of which were implemented in 2020 into the Law of Ukraine «On the Protection of Industrial Design Rights». It has been established that the above-mentioned international legal acts do not provide a deep interpretation of the concept of the designer’s degree of freedom. Separate foreign and international court cases have been considered, in which the designer’s degree of freedom in specific practical cases has been analyzed in detail. It has been clarified and illustrated with real examples the specific importance of the degree of freedom of the designer for the individual character of an industrial design. On the basis of domestic legislation, international legal acts, foreign and international judicial practice, own conclusions have been drawn regarding the understanding of the concept of the degree of freedom of the author of an industrial design. It has been established under which circumstances the degree of freedom of the designer cannot be limited. It has been concluded that the requirements for the differences of the designed product from others, which make an impression on the informed user, depend on the lower or higher degree of freedom of the designer.

Obituary: Professor Ivor Browne, FRCPI FRCPsych MSc (Harv.) DPM.

Professor William Ivory (Ivor) Browne, consultant psychiatrist, who died on 24 January 2024, was a remarkable figure in the history of medicine in Ireland and had substantial influence on psychiatric practice and Irish society. Born in Dublin in 1929, Browne trained in England, Ireland, and the US. He was chief psychiatrist at St Brendan's Hospital, Grangegorman, Dublin from 1965 to 1994 and professor of psychiatry at University College Dublin from 1967 to 1994. Browne pioneered novel and, at times, unorthodox treatments at St Brendan's. Along with Dr Dermot Walsh, he led the dismantling of the old institution and the development of community mental health services during the 1970s and 1980s. He established the Irish Foundation for Human Development (1968-1979) and, in 1983, was appointed chairman of the group of European experts set up by the European Economic Community for reform of Greek psychiatry. After retirement in 1994, Browne practiced psychotherapy and pursued interests in stress management, living system theory, and how the brain processes trauma. For a doctor with senior positions in healthcare and academia, Browne was remarkably iconoclastic, unorthodox, and unafraid. Browne leaves many legacies. Most of all, Browne is strongly associated with the end of the era of the large 'mental hospital' at Grangegorman, a gargantuan task which he and others worked hard to achieve. This is his most profound legacy and, perhaps, the least tangible: the additional liberty enjoyed by thousands of people who avoided institutionalisation as a result of reforms which Browne came to represent.

Evaluation of the remediation effect of solid waste synergistic materials on heavy metal-contaminated soil

In this study, we investigated the effect of various solid waste materials such as fly ash (CFA), steel slag, and kaolinite on the simultaneous stabilization of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in the soil of abandoned lead-smelting slag plant. Synchronous stabilization of HMs in highly contaminated soils was achieved using the application of 29 % formulated material Fe/Ca-Si based co-remediation material (FCS) with a ratio of FeSO4 + CFA + kaolinite of 14 %: 12 %: 3 %, the bioavailable content of HMs As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn was reduced by 71.55 %, 49.62 %, 91.35 %, 61.37 %, and 41.45 %, respectively, and had little effect on the pH of the soil. Leaching toxicity analyses guaranteed the safety of restorative materials. The results of the field validation experiments showed that the FCS was able to effectively reduce the content of HMs in plant rhizomes and stabilized with maintenance time. European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) and Wenzel sequential extraction procedures showed that FCS promoted the transformation of HMs in soil from unstable to stable phases. The analysis of soil microbial community diversity by FCS showed that it created a favorable soil living environment for microorganisms and was conducive to the stabilization of HMs. SEM, Surface scanning analysis, XRD, and FTIR results showed that FCS reacts with HMs to form a stable phase. Cost analysis showed that it has certain economic benefits. In conclusion, FCS is feasible for soil remediation in lead-smelting slag-polluted areas and also provides a way for high value-added utilization of solid waste.

The Ukrainian national idea as one of the fundamental components of the identity of the Ukrainian state in the context of the European community

Today, in Ukraine, which, in the tragic circumstances of full-scale Russian aggression and a sharp ideological struggle, is forced not only to defend the European vector of its historical perspective but also to fight for the very existence of its own statehood and nation, the problem of the Ukrainian national idea is inevitably becoming more relevant. In the context of new foreign policy challenges, the search for ways to strengthen the national identity remains one of the important components of national security policy. In fact, the Ukrainian national idea arose and exists precisely to resist the invasive ideas of other nations and to promote the establishment of Ukrainians in the fullness of their own being as an original part of humanity. The basis for the spread of the so-called Russian world in Ukraine was the destruction and leveling of the Ukrainian national idea.

Spatial and temporal effects of heat waves on the diversity of European stream invertebrate communities

The frequency and magnitude of extreme events, such as heat waves, are predicted to increase with climate change. However, assessments of the response of biological communities to heat waves are often inconclusive. We aimed to assess the responses in abundance, taxonomic and functional diversity indices of stream invertebrate communities to heat waves using long-term monitoring data collected across Europe. We quantified the heat waves' magnitude, analyzed the spatial (i.e., long-term mean) and temporal (anomaly around the long-term mean) components of variation in the magnitude of heat waves, and their interaction with anthropogenic stressors (ecological quality and land cover). For the spatial component of variation, we found a negative association of the community indices to the increasing magnitude of heat waves. Sites undergoing heat waves of higher magnitude showed fewer species and lower trait diversity compared with sites experiencing lower magnitude heat waves. However, we could not detect an immediate temporal response of the communities to heat waves (i.e., the temporal component). Furthermore, we found that the effects of heat waves interacted with the ecological quality of the streams and their surrounding land cover. Diversity declined with increasing heat waves' magnitude in streams with higher ecological quality or surrounded by forest, which may be due to a higher proportion of sensitive species in the community. Heat waves' impacts on diversity were also exacerbated by increasing urban cover. The interaction between heat waves' magnitude and anthropogenic stressors suggests that the effects of extreme events can compromise the recovery of communities. Further, the predicted increase in heat waves will likely have long-term effects on stream invertebrate communities that are currently undetected.