Official Regulations Research Articles

SOUTH SUMATRA LRT (LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT) DEVELOPMENT PROJECT GOVERNANCE STUDY

The South Sumatra Light Rail Transit (LRT) is a short-term solution to welcome the 2018 Asian Games, but also as a long-term strategic step to overcome the transportation problem in Palembang, Indonesia. This research aims to understand the effectiveness of project governance and the obstacles faced in the implementation of the project. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with stakeholders, direct observation at the project site, and document studies involving various official reports and regulations related to project governance. Data analysis was carried out by coding and identifying the main themes, then compared with international governance standards, namely ISO 21500:2012 and ISO 21502:2020, to assess the extent to which the project's governance was in accordance with applicable standards. The findings are expected to provide recommendations for improving project governance in infrastructure development across Indonesia, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and with minimal social impact.

Climate change stands as the new challenge for whale watching and North Pacific gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in Bahia Magdalena, Mexico, after their recovery from overexploitation

IntroductionSocial-ecological systems (SES) recognize the intricate relationship between human activities and the environment and advocate for comprehensive approaches to address complex environmental issues. This study investigates the factors influencing whale watching, particularly the gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) in northern Mexico, after significant recovery following overexploitation. Despite reaching a peak in 2015, the eastern North Pacific gray whales experienced unusual mortality events (UME), the most recent from 2019 to 2023, leading to a population decline and historically low calf production in 2022. This decline is evident in the reduced presence of whales and calves in winter breeding lagoons. Concurrently, whale watching has become a significant tourist attraction in these areas.MethodsOur objective was to develop a mental model of the SES of gray whale watching, integrating ecological and socioeconomic data to identify key variables and interactions that support system resilience. From an ecological perspective, we analyzed the long-term temporal trends of eight years of gray whale counts in the southernmost breeding and nursing lagoons within the Bahía Magdalena–Bahía Almejas Complex, Mexico. Additionally, we incorporated the current discussion in the literature about the potential impact of global climate change on gray whale populations. In the socioeconomic subsystem, we used participatory methods, including interviews, surveys, and workshops with government officials, tourism operators, and visitors. We also added on-site assessments of compliance with welfare regulations to understand tourism dynamics. ResultsOur findings identified as main external stressors the changes in ice levels in feeding areas and sea warming in breeding areas, and as internal stressors the compliance with official regulations and the number of vessels observing whales at the same time. The key socioeconomic factor of the system was tourist satisfaction, influenced by factors such as the quality of the information provided by operators. DiscussionUltimately, our mental model provides a framework for further exploration of relevant interactions and trajectories, offering insights for developing effective management strategies.

Counter-sanctions regulation: comparative legal analysis (Russia and China)

A new legal regulation is being formed in the Russian Federation related to unprecedented anti-Russian sanctions. International sanctions against Russia not only became an impetus for the development of legal institutions of Russian law, but also forced to turn to foreign anti-sanctions experience of such regulation. Under these conditions, a new legal institution of Russian law is being formed – the institute of counter-sanctions (sanctions) regulation. This process is taking place against the background of growing ties between Russia and China. At the same time, in both countries, counter-sanctions regulation is at the stage of formation. In this regard, it is relevant to conduct a comparative legal analysis, identify common and different characteristics of legislation, which will allow us to form proposals for improving Chinese and Russian counter-sanctions regulation. The author applies both philosophical and general scientific methods of cognition (analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, critical and dialectical methods) and methods specific directly to legal science (structural-logical, formal-legal, comparative-legal). The key difference between the Chinese approach to the formation of a counter-sanctions system is its focus on prohibiting compliance with the sanctions of foreign states. There is no such prohibition in Russian regulation (but several similar bills have been submitted to the legislature for consideration) and the legislative emphasis is on protecting the country and individuals from unfriendly actions of foreign states. Although the Chinese counter-sanctions regulation differs from the Russian one, it has a number of common features with it. Also, Russian regulation is more advanced and transparent in terms of mechanisms for the introduction and control of counter-sanctions. The undeniable advantage of Russian counter-sanctions regulation is undoubtedly its official consolidation within the framework of the legal system, while in China a significant part of the sanctions are outside the official legal regulation and are located in the plane of political decisions on the country's trade policy.

중세 이탈리아 대학과 조선시대 서원 비교 연구 - 아레초대학 규정과 이산서원 원규를 중심으로

This article seeks to examine the potential for specific case studies that compare medieval European universities with Seowon of the Joseon Dynasty, emphasizing that despite temporal and spatial disparities, these institutions share certain educational similarities. This study examines how the official regulations of educational institutions reflect their structure and operation by analyzing the Statuti of the Medieval University of Arezzo, established in the early 13th century, alongside the regulations of Isan Seowon of Joseon, founded in 1559. The analysis identifies specific similarities and differences between these institutions, which originated in entirely disparate cultural contexts. Both institutions feature similar compositions, including administrators, students, and support staff. However, there are variations in the detailed aspects of these compositions according to their historical contexts. A further point of similarity is the emphasis on mutual respect and honor among members, which derives from the institutions' role as spaces for learning. However, there are notable differences in economic provisions. The University of Arezzo's regulations include specific penalties for various infractions and procedures for tuition collection, while the Isan Seowon regulations lack direct references to financial issues. This discrepancy is attributed to differences in the facilities and operational forms of the two educational settings. Nevertheless, the overall framework of the regulations clearly articulates the educational objectives of both the University of Arezzo and Isan Seowon.

Organizational and economic transformations in the agro-industrial complex of the region as part of the implementation of the federal project

Relevance. The agro-industrial complex is one of the key sectors of the country's economy and includes such areas as: agriculture (livestock and crop production), processing of agricultural raw materials, production of fertilizers, chemicals, and feed. The agro-industrial complex works closely with enterprises involved in the transportation, storage, and processing of agricultural products, as a result, any changes in the agro-industrial complex affect the country's economy.The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of the implementation of the federal project of the Russian Federation “Development of industries and technical modernization of the agro-industrial complex” (hereinafter referred to as the Federal Project) on structural changes in the agro-industrial complex.Objectives: consideration of the objectives of the Federal project, its financial support for 2022-2024, analysis and assessment of economic and statistical indicators, identification and consideration of current problems within the framework of the project.Methodology. The information base of the study consisted of official regulations, works of domestic researchers in the field of agriculture, collections of articles with collective authors, articles from magazines, statistical data, official websites of relevant departments and ministries.Results. There are many problems in the development of the Russian agro-industrial complex, but there are also many promising areas for its development. These prospects are determined primarily by state policy in the field of supporting agriculture, the goal of which is the development of Russian farmers and increasing their role in the domestic and foreign markets.Conclusions. A promising direction for the development of the agro-industrial complex is the revision of the entire financing system in order to provide business executives with funds for the purchase of mineral fertilizers, fuels and lubricants, materials, and high-quality feed in the volumes necessary for efficient production. Also requiring attention are such pressing issues as increasing wages for agricultural workers, which will attract young specialists to the village and, thereby, resolve the issue of shortage of qualified personnel.

Molecular monitoring of Dinophysis species assemblage in mussel farms in the Northwestern Adriatic Sea

Several Dinophysis species can produce potent lipophilic toxins that pose a risk to human health when contaminated seafood is consumed, especially filter-feeding bivalve mussels. In the mussel farms of the Northwestern Adriatic Sea, seawater and seafood are regularly monitored for the presence of Dinophysis species and their associated toxins, but the current methodological approaches, such as light microscopy determinations, require a long time to make results available to local authorities. A molecular qPCR-based assay can be used to quantify various toxic Dinophysis species in a shorter timeframe. However, this approach is not currently employed in official testing activities. In this study, field samples were collected monthly or bi-weekly over one year from various mussel farms along the Northwestern Adriatic coast. The abundance of Dinophysis species in the seawater was determined using both traditional microscopy and qPCR assays. In addition, the concentration of lipophilic toxins for DSP in mussel flesh was quantified using LC-MS/MS focusing on the okadaic acid group. Dinophysis spp. site-specific single cells were isolated and analysed by qPCR yielding a mean rDNA copy number per cell of 1.21 × 104 ± 1.81 × 103. The qPCR assay gave an efficiency of 98 % and detected up to 10 copies of the rDNA target gene. The qPCR and light microscopy determinations in environmental samples showed a significant positive correlation (Spearman rs = 0.57, p-value < 0.001) with a ratio of 2.24 between the two quantification methods, indicating that light microscopy estimates were generally 44.6 % lower than those obtained by the qPCR assay. The qPCR approach showed several advantages such as rapidity, sensitivity and efficiency over conventional microscopy analysis, showing its potential future role in phytoplankton monitoring under the Official Controls Regulations for shellfish.

Legalities of language use in linguistic landscaping

Abstract Linguistic landscapes, according to Backhaus (2009: 170), are “consciously shaped and controlled by official rules and regulations.” However, the current body of Philippine linguistic landscape research – under-studied as it already is – lacks a close examination of Philippine national laws governing the (re)production of public signage. This paper therefore investigates the linguistic and ideological underpinnings of select […] national sign laws by situating these not only within the context of their legal precedents, mandates, and history but also through an examination of 600 public signs collected from six diverse region centers in the Philippines. It examines how national laws prefer English in public signs over local and Indigenous languages, thereby perpetuating what Phillipson (1992) calls “English linguistic imperialism” and exacerbating the unequal power dynamics between those who speak English and those who do not in the Philippines.

Possible Metal Burden of Potentially Toxic Elements in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) on Aquaculture Farm

Aquaculture products are important parts of human nutrition due to their healthy components; however, they may contain elements that are potentially toxic to consumers. The aim of the study was to detect the concentration of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) originated from an aquaculture farm in Italy. The amount of As was 1.65 ± 0.49 mg/kg; however, the total As cannot be evaluated due to the absence of official regulation. The calculated EDI and THQ for the inorganic As content were below the reference values. The level of Cd was higher than the regulated limit in 30% of the samples; however, its EDI and THQ were below the recommended limit. The concentration of Hg was below the regulated maximum limit in all the samples. The detected amount of Pb was above the maximum limit in 10% of the samples; however, EDI and THQ were below the reference dose and recommended value. Despite higher concentrations of Cd and Pb than the official regulated limit, HI was below 1 for adults; thus, the consumption of the investigated rainbow trout is safe, but it was above the official regulated limit for children, resulting in a slight risk, particularly during long-term intake.

Understanding Informatics in Continuing Vocational Education and Training Data in Germany

Objectives The purpose of this study is to reveal the importance of informatics in continuing vocational education in Germany. The labour market is a field with diverse data structures and multiple applications, for example connecting jobseekers and trainings or jobs. The labour market heavily relies on vocational education and training and advanced vocational qualification to meet challenges, e.g. digitalization. Study Methods Since continuing vocational education and training (CVET) is a structurally important lever for the digital transformation of work, this article presents a methodological procedure for content analysis that provides information about the significance of computer science in unregulated continuing education offerings and in formal continuing education regulations. Findings The question of the extent to which continuing education programs include informaticss topics is investigated, assuming that they can be found in continuing education as cross-cutting topics in a wide variety of thematic contexts. Our results indicating the need for training in computing education. At the same time, computing education offers the highest share of unregulated CVET programs. This could reflect the fact that training and further education regulations in Germany are designed open to technology. Conclusions We present a novel and unique approach to analyze the importance of informatics and digitalization in CVET advertisements and official regulations for the same.

Construction of collective memory through official history education in North Cyprus (1971-2003)

Fundamental to recalling memories and remembering is to look at the past and the future concurrently. Remembering is crucial to have a temporal association so that present changes and developments can be elaborated in understanding the construction of memory. Historical trauma is a psychological and emotional collective and subjective injury which are transmitted from adults to children in a cycle process, and it continues over a life span of individuals and across generations. Soft memories are created and shared as a social process. These are narratives, historical texts and similar, less tangible forms of memory. History education has a profound influence on social discourse and the way soft memories are perceived, and since formal schooling is at the centre of shaping a generation and textbooks are the main medium of knowledge transmission, the official narrative shapes it and is often presented selectively. This research explores how the official regulation of history education is used to align official state discourse with social memory. This research employs secondary data and document analysis by examining the compulsory textbook (1979) used since 1971 in history education. It explores history education’s impact on individual narratives of remembrance and collective memory. It examines the long-term effects of what has been taught in secondary school history education on adulthood perceptions of past historical occurrences. Findings confirm that a consistent, official historical discourse supported by exposure to “hard” and “soft” memories enables the maintenance of collective memory as represented in the official discourse among society members. It also concluded that when difficult history is transmitted to the younger generation as part of education, they may experience trauma and similar negative associated feelings; furthermore, they do not necessarily unconditionally embrace the official history but question it in their adulthood.

State budget system improvement for informed decision-making in Latvia

The study aims to improved the state budget system to ensure informed decision-making, which will contribute to more efficient use of budget funds and increase national financial stability. A comparative analysis of successful budget planning practices in other countries, such as Sweden, Canada and Estonia, was conducted, and the legal framework for coordination between government agencies in the budget management process in Latvia was reviewed. The methodological approach was based on the analysis of statistical data from official sources and regulations, as well as the use of information from government and ministerial websites. The results of the study showed that the analysis of revenues and expenditures of the Latvian state budget for the period from 2019 to August 2024 revealed a steady increase in revenues, with the exception of a decline in 2020 due to the pandemic, and an increase in expenditures, which requires optimisation and better coordination between government agencies. The study determined that the existing legal framework of Latvia regulating coordination between state institutions in budget management needs to be improved to increase the efficiency of this interaction. A comparison of Latvia's budget management systems with the successful practices of Sweden, Canada and Estonia demonstrated management improvement potential by introducing long-term strategic planning, as in Sweden, integrating results into the budget process, as in Canada, and increasing transparency and public involvement, as in Estonia. Based on the data obtained, recommendations were developed to integrate new technologies into the budget process and increase transparency, contributing to a more efficient use of public resources. The results indicate the need to reform the state budget system to ensure informed decision-making in Latvia. This will make it possible to use budget funds more rationally, increase the transparency of financial processes and strengthen public confidence in government decisions

Comparative analysis of the chemical quality of fishmeal produced on the Northwest coast of Mexico

Objective: To evaluate the physico-chemical quality of fishmeal produced by four companies in different states of the Republic (Baja California Sur, Jalisco and Sinaloa). Design/methodology/approach: The analyzed fishmeals were from six batches, sardine meal from California pilchard and Pacific thread herring (S. sagax and O. libertate), and skipjack tuna and (K. pelamis) processed by different Mexican companies. Proximal chemical analysis was carried out at the Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR). Results: The fishmeal’s quality parameters analyzed in this study showed similar values to those reported in the literature. The variations observed in their proximate chemical composition allow them to be classified according to the results of the analyses. Limitations on study/implications: Considering that four of the six flours were produced from the same raw material, S. sagax, the high variability in their physico-chemical quality parameters indicates a lack of standardization in both production methods and quality controls among the producing companies. Findings/conclusions: K. pelamis by-products can produce meals of equal or better physico-chemical quality than those produced from S. sagax. The development of official regulations establishing quality standards to fishmeal production at national level is desirable for competitiveness.

Problematic issues of the legal regulation of local self-government officials’ remuneration

Problematic issues of the legal regulation of local self-government officials’ remuneration

Legal regulation of communal land ownership in the Russian Empire in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries

Аbstract. The study is devoted to the peculiarities of legal regulation of communal land ownership in the Russian Empire in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries; it is a complex, multifaceted phenomenon that requires new theoretical understanding. At that period, the Russian peasant land community was the subject of heated discussions and debates among representatives of various layers of socio-political thought in pre-revolutionary Russia. The article investigates legal regulation of communal land ownership and legislation of the specified period (Complete Collection of Laws of the Russian Empire) and is resulted in findings and conclusions. It is concluded that the complexity of legal regulation of communal land ownership in the Russian Empire in the period under study was associated with the lack of genuine economic freedom of peasants in relation to land, its ownership, use and disposal. The specifics of legal regulation of communal land ownership in the Russian Empire in that period represented the combination of customary law, whose norms governed the peasant community, and official statutory regulation. The study features chronological framework and periodization of legal regulation of communal land ownership. The examples stem from practice and pre-revolutionary literature based on the archival documents.

Artificial intelligence and higher education - enemies or allies

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) has become one of the most discussed topics in 2023. According to sociological surveys, the awareness of Russians in the field of AI and their willingness to use new technologies have grown. The leap in the development of neural networks, chatbots and AI technologies in general has already affected many areas of life, and the education system is no exception. Teachers face many challenges related to the regulation of the AI application in the educational process. On the one hand, issues of regulating the use of AI technologies in universities require a scrupulous study which is complicated by the speed of technological development. On the other hand, in addition to official regulations, it is necessary to solve more global and labor-intensive tasks: to unlock the potential of AI in the educational process; analyze the ethical side of the issue and develop the culture of using new technologies; adapt educational materials and assignments based on the possible application of AI by students; change curricula and revise the competency system, etc. The article considers ways to use AI technologies in the educational process as perceived by teachers and students. The author emphasizes both constructive and destructive capabilities of new technologies, the challenges that universities will face in the near future, and the positions of university representatives on these issues. The author believes that the use of AI technologies in education can benefit both teachers and students in sociology and other areas. It is impossible to stop the development of technologies; any attempts to hinder them are counterproductive; therefore, it is necessary to reconsider the established educational approaches according to the requirements of our time.

‘The Thaw’ in the Arctic: constructing Mirny as a Soviet Arctic city of a new type

Abstract The town of Mirny, which was established in 1955 in the Arctic region of Yakutia, was not only the first Soviet settlement constructed near the newly explored diamond mine; it was also one of the first industrial towns in the Soviet Arctic to be constructed from scratch in the post-World War II period, as it was never part of the Gulag legacy. Focusing on the case of Mirny, this article elucidates the new principles behind the perception of urban space in the Soviet Arctic in the 1960s. Close analysis of the first years of the town’s construction illuminates the formation of a new conception of a socialist Arctic town at that period – a town open for migration flows, with a developed public and social sphere, that was celebrated as a ‘town of youth’ or a ‘town of the future’, and yet was also a town where extreme environmental conditions had a greater influence on the life of its inhabitants than did official state directives and regulations.

Skin on Trial: Experts and Expertise on ‘Skin Diseases’ in Early Modern Italy

Summary By using both static or normative documents (licenses, official regulations, barber-surgeon’s manuals) and more dynamic sources (trials of the Protomedicato), my presentation asks what was an expert on skin diseases in early modern Italy and how the loose category of “skin diseases” came into being under the influence of medical theory, surgical practice, patient demand, and civic regulation of medical practice. I argue that by the late seventeenth century “skin disease” became an independent category, the surface of the body an independent object, and the empiric surgeon an expert of such surface. As human skin as a surface acquired autonomy as an object of knowledge and practice, a class of experts emerged following a path which is in large measure independent from the transformations of Galenic theoretical medicine and the rise of mechanistic medicine which are typically described as central in this period. I argue that empirical surgeons and barber-surgeons became experts on skin through the licensing system and by inverting the classical path of medical knowledge – not from the inner body to its surface as manifestation of internal humoral imbalances, but rather from the surface to the knowledge and the treatment of the inner body.

Hungary and Refugee: From Historical to Legal Development

Abstract In 2015 refugee crisis, Hungary’s strict border controls and legal reforms drew international criticism, straining EU relations. This article employs the qualitative legal historical methodology to investigate the historical dynamics underpinning Hungary’s shifting refugee policies. The analysis uncovers a significant shift in Hungary’s approach to refugees. Following World War I, the Trianon agreement, which led to territorial loss and population displacement, posed migration challenges that Hungary addressed on a case-by-case basis. Furthermore, after 1989, Hungary aligned its legal systems with international standards. It ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention, marking the first official regulation of refugees under Decree 101. In 2007, upon EU accession, Hungary enacted the Asylum Act 2007, aligning it with the Dublin regulation and relevant EU directives, which formed the foundation for refugee crisis legislation in 2015. The study also examines the 2011 constitutional amendment, indirectly creating sociocultural barriers between Hungarian society and refugees.

Early Acquaintances with Modern Mass Culture in Late Ottoman Istanbul: The Experiences of Child Audiences at Direklerarası

AbstractDireklerarası, the core of Ramadan entertainment in late Ottoman Istanbul, rose to prominence toward the end of the nineteenth century at about the same time as entertainment hubs in Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, and New York. Thanks to the legitimacy provided by the Holy Ramadan, which played a positive role in reducing public suspicion and uneasiness among Muslim families towards the products of early mass culture, Direklerarası seems to draw a larger children's audience compared to Pera and Galata, the epicenter of European‐style entertainment and a location where non‐Muslims were heavily populated. As a result, many children were introduced to emerging modern mass culture at Direklerarası, which offers a large variety of shows and spectacles grouped under the name of lubiyat in the Ottoman world, including theater, musical plays, juggling, circus, concerts, shadow theater and cinema. This article focuses on childhood experiences at Direklerarası using a wide range of primary sources from archival documents and official regulations to Ottoman periodicals and memoirs. It aims to discuss the moral and aesthetic concerns arising from the fact that the spheres of adults and children were not yet clearly separated from each other, as well as how this experience at Direklerarası was remembered later as a childhood memory.

Confounders in Predictive Medical Models: Roles of Nationality and Immigrant Status

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the opinion of natural science specialists on the latest recommendations of official regulators regarding the prevention of causes of social disparities in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models. Materials and Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted using the Telegram platform, where participants were asked a single question: "Is the inclusion of predictors such as “nationality” and “immigrant status” in AI and ML medical models ethical and consistent with contemporary scientific standards?" Respondents were provided with two response options: "Yes" or "No." The survey was specifically targeted at international groups, focusing primarily on English and Russian-speaking clinicians and scientific researchers. Results: 180 unique individuals participated in the survey. The results revealed that one-third of the respondents (60 individuals) agreed that including predictors such as nationality and immigration status is inappropriate in the current ML and AI models. Conclusion: In conclusion, the fact that only one-third of respondents disagree with categorizing patients based on nationality is at odds with the standards set by official regulators. This discrepancy underscores the need for educational programs aimed at sensitizing the scientific community to prioritize biological predictors over data documented in passports or identity cards.