Professional Research Research Articles

Improving care experiences for premenstrual symptoms and disorders in the United Kingdom (UK): a mixed-methods approach

BackgroundPoor care experiences are reported for premenstrual disorders, which may result in negative outcomes such as distress, reduced healthcare engagement, and delays to diagnosis. This research aimed to explore healthcare experiences for premenstrual symptoms in the United Kingdom and identify areas for potential improvements based on participant responses.MethodAn online survey was delivered, with participants recruited via social media. Experiences of care were explored using quantitative and qualitative questions. Quantitative data were explored using descriptive statistics, with group differences investigated using Mann–Whitney U tests and chi-square tests as appropriate. Qualitative data regarding care improvements was explored using inductive thematic analysis.ResultsThe sample included 339 participants who completed at least 97% of the survey, reported premenstrual symptoms in consecutive cycles, and had sought formal help for these symptoms. Mean age was 34.66 (SD = 5.88), with the majority identifying as women (n = 332, 97.94%) and white/Caucasian (n = 311, 91.74%). 75.22% (n = 255) felt that care was poor. 44.25% (n = 150) felt their symptoms were not taken seriously. 37.76% perceived a lack of healthcare professional knowledge (n = 128). The majority did not receive recommendations of non-formal sources of help (i.e., websites, support groups; 84.96%, n = 288) or lifestyle changes (74.63%, n = 253). Better care experiences were associated with healthcare professionals taking symptoms seriously (U = 1383.00, p < .001), higher perceived healthcare professional knowledge (U = 1370.50, p < .001), and receiving recommendations of non-formal sources of help (X2 = 48.251, df = 1, p < .001, Φc = .382) or lifestyle changes (X2 = 7.849, df = 1, p = .005, Φc = .152). Thematic analysis revealed 8 aspects of care improvement: Empathetic care provision; Healthcare professional education, understanding, and research; Comprehensive symptom assessment and investigations; Diagnosis; Professional support and treatment provision; Signposting or referral to additional resources or sources of help; Wider healthcare system improvements; and Patient role/voice and preferences.ConclusionsPoor care experiences for premenstrual symptoms in the UK are characterised by dismissive attitudes and perceived lack of knowledge. Improved training provision for healthcare professionals is required to address this and other aspects of care identified by qualitative analysis. However, research is needed to identify appropriate methods to deliver training. Utilisation of standardised screening tools and patient-centred communication will likely ensure comprehensive assessments and reduce self-advocacy burdens.

Mastering the Albanian Language as a Developed Language Skill and Capacity in Universities Abroad

This paper will present several ideas regarding the strategies that should be followed during the professional and scientific research teaching of the Albanian language in universities outside of Albania. Language education in such a context should focus on developing the communicative competence of the language of origin. The subject of this study is Albanian students in foreign universities, including those of Albanian descent (primarily those born in host countries), students who have left Albania to fulfill their educational ambitions, and students who have emigrated, different times. This perspective also includes foreign students who show interest in the Albanian language. In addition to mastering contemporary knowledge of the Albanian language, special attention will be given to knowledge of the history of the Albanian language, the culture of the Albanian people, and the Albanians' vision of the surrounding world. The study also aims to unveil models that would serve to stimulate research in the field of Albanology, particularly in the study of the Albanian language in these universities. Received: 26 October 2024 / Accepted: 31 December 2024 / Published: 05 January 2025

Professional-Career Trajectories of Higher Education Personnel in the Preparation of Doctoral Dissertations If you need a specific translation or a more detailed exploration of this topic, please let me know

I'll answer as a world-famous higher education expert in academic research with the prestigious Academic Research Excellence Award. Introduction:The level of professional competence of university faculty has a direct impact on the quality of labor resource reproduction. The highest level of professional skill of a research professor is confirmed by the defense of a qualifying work—a doctoral dissertation. Decreasing rates of dissertation defenses necessitate the search for new organizational and managerial tools to activate faculty members' desire to pursue research trajectories at a high level of professionalism. To develop relevant tools that yield results, it is essential to consider the diversity of approaches to conducting scientific research and defending its results. The aim of the study is to identify the trajectories of preparing and defending a doctoral dissertation, as well as to reveal significant factors that contribute to or hinder achieving the desired outcomes. **Materials and Methods:** To identify typical approaches to organizing and conducting the process of preparing a doctoral dissertation, data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with candidates for the Doctor of Science degree. The interviews involved 42 doctoral candidates who defended dissertations for the Doctor of Economics degree in 2022-2023 from 30 cities across Russia. Qualitative methods were applied to process empirical data while analyzing informants' responses during the interviews, working with transcripts, and interpreting semantic conclusions. **Results:** Within the typological diversity of approaches based on three criteria (motivation, level of professional readiness, and perception of the organizational environment), several trajectory types were distinguished. For each type, the driving force that allowed the candidate to undergo a lengthy trajectory was identified. The dominant trajectory is the "Professional-Career Leap," achieved through willpower traits (52.4%). The "Professional-Career Ceiling" trajectory is based on the desire for competency growth and ensuring expert superiority (33.3%). Candidates moving along the "Emerging Opportunities and Perspectives" trajectory (14.2%) maintained a focus on the potential benefits of the future and utilized available organizational opportunities. **Conclusion:** The necessity to improve existing tools for assisting and simulating faculty members in defending their dissertations has been determined. The tools must contain the capability to influence the driving factor of each trajectory type: character, skill, and work capacity.

ABOUT CHUVASH COLLECTIONS OF PROFESSOR I.N. SMIRNOV IN THE RUSSIAN MUSEUM OF ETHNOGRAPHY

I.N. Smirnov’s outstanding contribution to the collection of cultural, household and religious faiths items of the Chuvash people was not subjected to in-depth analysis, nor yet covered by professional researchers. Meanwhile, in the history of collecting Chuvash ethnographic collections in the pre-revolutionary period, there was no figure equal to Ivan Nikolaevich. He was at the origin of forming the funds of the ethnographic department of the Russian Museum of Emperor Alexander III. In the year of its opening, he donated a rich «Chuvash collection» to the museum – 92 items, mostly antique embroidery. The purpose of the study is to trace the stages of I.N. Smirnov’s selfless work in the field of collecting ethnographic objects, including photo illustrations from the Chuvash everyday life. Materials and methods. The research was based on newly identified documents stored in the archive of the Russian Museum of Ethnography and the Scientific Archive of the Chuvash State Institute of Humanities, as well as published materials. The principles of historicism, objectivity and consistency were used, as well as research methods: factual, descriptive, analytical, problem-chronological ones were used. Study results. Among numerous works on research and collecting activities of Professor I.N. Smirnov, a special article about his contribution to compiling the Chuvash collections appears for the first time. It provides brief information on cooperation of the ethnographer-collector with the Museum of Russian Studies at Kazan University. However, it mainly tells about his fruitful ties with the Russian Ethnographic Museum. We revealed that during 1902–1904 Ivan Nikolaevich presented 9 Chuvash collections to St. Petersburg repository of ancient ethnographic items – about 1110 works of ornamental art and household items in total, the collector calls them «folk antiquity, original, beautiful», which «melts every year», since he «went to the Chuvash and the Cheremis 12 years ago, went last year… and I found a huge change: things that used to be found in almost every house could not be obtained in the whole village». We analyzed the contents of the catalogue of collections presented to the museum, fortunately, on the initiative of N.V. Nikolsky, a student and follower of Ivan Nikolaevich’s work, this truly original document turned out to be in his Manuscript Collection, now stored in Department I of the Scientific Archive at the Chuvash State Institute of Humanities. Conclusions. Biographical materials published to date about Professor I.N. Smirnov give only a passing mention of his activities in collecting Chuvash ethnographic items for museums. This article makes an attempt to comprehensively cover the path of the researcher-collector. In the author’s opinion, the catalogue of collections, originally stored in the Scientific Archive at the Chuvash State Institute of Humanities, as well as reports and correspondence of the professor on ethnographic expeditions in governorates densely inhabited by the Chuvash, should be published in a separate book.

Online Sexual Abuse of Children in Nigeria

The advent of technology has brought about unprecedented opportunities for communication and access to information which has helped in professional skills development, fostering learning, research and creativity. It has also created an avenue for criminals to exploit the ‘vulnerable’ in the society, particularly the children; thus, making the cyber space unconducive for them. This paper examines the legal protection of children against online sexual exploitation and abuse in Nigeria. It identifies the various types of online child sexual abuse, examines the legal framework for the protection of children against online sexual abuse, pinpoints the challenges associated with the legal framework and proffers durable solutions that will help tackle the exponential growth in online child sexual abuse in Nigeria. This paper adopts a mixed method research design and finds that there is significant increase in online child sexual abuse in Nigeria in spite of the laws and institutions in place to address this problem. Additionally, it is revealed that the legal framework for the protection of children against online child sexual abuse in Nigeria is fraught with deficiencies. The paper concludes that Nigeria owes the obligation to protect its children from online child sexual abuse and needs to take proactive steps to ensure this. The paper recommends that measures be taken to ensure that perpetrators of the heinous crime of online child sexual abuse are brought to book to serve as deterrents to others in the society.

Challenges and Lessons from an Acute Telehealth Homeopathy Service During the Pandemic: A Case Series Exploring How Changing Demographics, Efficiency and Outcomes, Point to New Options for Epidemic Readiness.

Background: In 2020, HOHM Foundation launched Homeopathy Help Now (HHN), a network of professional homeopathy telehealth practitioners, administrative volunteers, and independent researchers to work collaboratively in order to respond to the urgent need of care for the ever-growing number of COVID-19 cases in the United States. Methods: in this pragmatic case series study, cases of positively testing or probable COVID-19 (n = 3495) are analyzed using conventional quantitative analysis. The sample includes clinical data collected from clients who attended the clinic between 23 March 2020 and 31 December 2023. Results: The youngest client at the clinic was less than one year old, and the eldest was 92. Many of the participants at this clinical facility were adults (58.1%), with fewer (41.9%) aged 0-17. Many were female (61.7%), while fewer were male (32.4). Most clients found their symptoms improved at final contact (83.6%), and the majority of individual remedy responses improved symptoms (73.7%) over the course of their care. Discussion: Health Services and Public Health research projects are warranted to investigate the ways in which such a necessary stop-gap clinical service as HHN could become implemented in early- and later-phase response to pandemics. HHN's collaborative, horizontally integrated team structure was essential for the creation of the novel approach needed to address the serious symptoms of COVID-19. Moreover, HHN's organizational model draws on a mutual aid structure, whereby dynamic, flexible systems are created that empower a community to meet emerging needs, especially when more formal structures are strained, failing or simply unavailable. Further research is urgently needed into the implementation and benefits of innovative, flexible healthcare structures, such as the one used in this study, that can meet the unpredictable and fluctuating public health needs in our changing world.

An audit of the impact of the introduction of a commercial artificial intelligence driven auto-contouring tool into a radiotherapy department.

To audit prospectively the accuracy, time saving and utility of a commercial artificial intelligence auto-contouring tool (AIAC). To assess the reallocation of time released by AIAC. We audited the perceived usefulness (PU), clinical acceptability and reallocation of time during the introduction of a commercial AIAC. The time from CT to plan completion (PPTT) was audited for several pathways. 248 patients and 32 staff were included in this audit. PU increased with exposure to AIAC (p < 0.05). For 80% of sites AIAC was timesaving and AI contours were clinically acceptable after minor edits. Edits had little impact on doses for the majority of cases. Median PPTT reduced by 5.5 (breast) and 9 (prostate) working days (p < 0.01). Radiographers spent more time on other tasks within planning. Oncologists improved their work-life balance and increased time spent on professional development and research by up to 2 hours per week. All users of AIAC found it a useful tool and it improved their productivity. The contours were high quality and needed little editing. It reduced contouring time and reduced PPTT by several days in some cases. The reallocated time was staff group dependent. The time released by the use of AIAC can lead to a reduction in the PPTT by up to 9 days. It also improves the work-life balance of oncologists by reducing the time spent out of hours contouring.

It All Started with Etienne: Developing Fine Arts Outreach with Nonprint Archival Collections

Artifacts created by artists working in varied genres of media pose unique opportunities and challenges to archives holding them. The distinctive character and content of a range of artworks (while posing standard questions of preservation and collection development) can also serve as the basis for effective strategies of community and professional outreach, public education, and research. This article will provide a case study of the work done in these areas by Chicago’s Leather Archives &amp; Museum since its creation.

Towards the Structure of the Digital Competence of the Library Specialists

The purpose of the article is to present the structure of the digital competence of a library specialist, developed based on research of recommendations of specialised organisations and regulatory documents, European approaches to the development of digital competence frameworks, and the results of a survey of library specialists. The research methodology is based on applying systemic, functional, acmeological, axiological and socio-communication approaches, which made it possible to scientifically understand the essence and structure of the formation of digital competence of library specialists. The theoretical methods of analysis and comparison helped to study the problem, clarify the essence of key concepts and determine the structure of the digital competence of library specialists; generalisation and systematisation were used to substantiate the components of digital competence. The scientific novelty. The structure of the digital competence of a library specialist is defined, which takes into account overall digital competence, digital technologies for professional activities, support learning, teaching and research (in particular, promoting digital literacy and users digital inclusion, digital mentoring), the ability to digital transformation and professional development in the digital environment. The author presents the draft digital competence framework for library specialists, which can be considered for improvement in the draft framework published by the Ministry of Digital Transformation for public discussion. Conclusions. The digital competence framework for library professionals can become the basis for an effective system of training and in-service training in digitalisation at different degrees of education, as well as a tool for effectively monitoring the level of digital competence among library staff. The presented draft digital competence framework for library professionals includes six areas (digital literacy; digital collections and resources; digital service, digital technologies and tools in professional activities; digital mentoring; digital leadership and professional development), thirty descriptors, and provides four levels of proficiency described by task complexity, autonomy, attitude, and cognitive domain. A comparison is made with the draft published by the Ministry of Digital Transformation in June 2024, along with recommendations for its improvement.

PEMBELAJARAN PROFESIONAL GURU: KONSEP DAN PERSPEKTIF

The dynamic landscape of the global education system has undergone a significant transformation to meet the evolving needs of the modern era. This shift has emphasised the importance of teachers’ role as the foundation of the country's education system. To support the excellence and development of students, teachers should constantly refresh and enhance their knowledge and abilities through professional learning. Teacher professional learning is an ongoing process that enhances teachers' skills and expertise to ensure excellence in education. This process requires active collaboration and involvement of the entire school community, including teachers, administrators, and support staff. By working together, the school community can create an environment conducive to continuous improvement, ultimately leading to better student outcomes. This concept paper discusses the concept and role of teachers' professional learning, especially in schools. Professional learning models and practices are also taught to help teachers comprehend the necessity of constantly learning and improving their expertise and skills. This is an important effort for school development and students' success. It is also hoped that this concept paper can provide some new insights to professional learning researchers of teachers in the future.

Susan M. Johnson (1947-2024).

Memorializes Susan M. Johnson (1947-2024). Johnson was a world-leading researcher, therapist, and the primary developer of emotionally focused therapy (EFT), the leading form of couple therapy. Her innovative approach to therapy, which is also used with individuals and families, focuses on the power of emotion to create change and is based in attachment science. Johnson actively used research to develop, refine, and advance EFT. She was a distinguished research professor at Alliant International University, a professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of British Columbia, and a professor emeritus of clinical psychology at the University of Ottawa. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Міжнародний імідж України крізь призму російської інформаційної пропаганди

Abstract. This article is devoted to the definition and analysis of the main methods of Russian information propaganda and the study of their real impact on creating a negative image of Ukraine in the international community. Analysis of the foreign press showed that the Western information space is a mixture of professional research, falsifications, propaganda, open manipulation and primitive claims. It is important to note that today there is a fairly large number of foreign publications which, while supporting the Putin regime, still consider Ukraine and Russia as inseparable objects and which almost always publish negative materials about Ukraine and its people. Such sources include some information resources of Serbia, France, Turkey, etc. Western observers can obtain more objective and truthful information from official representatives of the state, diplomats, and from influential world publications that provide high-quality analytics and expert opinions. Through the websites of organizations that provide analytical and statistical materials. Also, well-known bloggers, openly declaring their political preferences and support, can shape the opinion of some people. Among the main information methods used by Russia in the fight against Ukraine are the manipulation of history and current events, the distortion of historical facts and contemporary events, the creation of a negative identity of Ukraine in the eyes of the international public, speculation on facts, the production of fake news, etc. In general, the spread of Russian propaganda about Ukraine has a negative impact on its perception in the world. And this, in turn, can create significant obstacles to the preservation and support of Ukraine's sovereignty, as well as its international integration. To combat this phenomenon, it is important to continue to strengthen international cooperation in the field of information security and to openly highlight facts and truthful information about Ukraine. Keywords: propaganda; information space; political manipulation; falsification; negative image.

A survey of attitudes towards the curriculum for clinical medicine postgraduates pursuing professional master’s degrees: perspectives of supervisors and students

BackgroundBased on the recommendation of the Ministry of Education in China to differentiate between “academic” and “professional” degrees, medical schools offer both professional and academic degrees for postgraduates. In China, clinical postgraduates who are pursuing a professional master’s degree also participate in standardised residency training (SRT). However, little attention has been given to feedback from students and supervisors regarding postgraduate curricula.MethodsAn online questionnaire was designed for clinical postgraduates with professional master’s degrees and their supervisors at Chongqing Medical University (CQMU), China. A total of 544 questionnaires from postgraduates and 220 questionnaires from supervisors were included for analysis.ResultsRegarding the positive effect of public courses on professional research, 20.04% of clinical professional master’s degree students reported “a significant positive effect.” Compared with public courses, more postgraduates (33.46%) reported that professional courses had a “significant positive effect” on clinical work (χ2 = 25.00, p &amp;lt; 0.05). A total of 49.64% of respondents with clinical professional master’s degrees reported at least some repetition between postgraduate public courses and undergraduate courses. Of the postgraduates, 47.43% preferred online learning for public courses, whereas supervisors tended to prefer mixed online and offline learning. A total of 66.73% of postgraduates and 64.55% of supervisors suggested that public alternative courses should be offered to meet the needs of postgraduates. “Mental and health emotion management” and “employment and entrepreneurship guidance” were the public alternative courses that were most strongly preferred by both postgraduates and supervisors. With respect to improvements in self-knowledge and ability through different forms of professional learning, the responses of postgraduates and supervisors differed. According to postgraduates, the most effective type of learning was “participation in research projects,” whereas supervisors believed that “professional courses” were the most effective.ConclusionThere are differences between clinical postgraduates pursuing professional master’s degrees and their supervisors in terms of attitudes towards public and professional curricula. The results of this study may provide guidance to improve public and professional curricula for clinical professional master’s degree students.

Філологічний підхід як методологічна стратегія: розвідки І. Денисюка про Лесю Українку

The purpose of the article is to trace the use of the philological approach to literary research on the materials of I. Denysiuk's scientific papers about Lesya Ukrainka. The methodological and generalizing works by R. Gromyak, M. Naienko, M. Hnatiuk, and P. Ivanyshyn, as well as topical investigations that illustrate its functioning (articles by T. Pastukh and S. Pylypchuk), outlined the theoretical framework of this study. Results. Proponents of the philological approach defined its main goal as an in-depth study of the text, which later gave reasons for researchers of this phenomenon to focus attention on the concept of form, thus bringing it closer to the formalism blocked in the Soviet period. Scientific research in this direction was conducted mainly in emigration and Western Ukraine. In post-Soviet Ukraine, in the conditions of the socialist realist dictates dominating in the artistic domain and vulgar sociological dictates in science, supporters of the structural-formalist approach sought a compromise, for example, in the use of holistic-systemic analysis. The range of I. Denysiuk's scientific interests involve numerous studies on the history and theory of literature, folkloristics and methodology, local history, and literary criticism. His research searches are characterized by scrupulousness, profound analysis, and well-balanced generalizations, which are determined primarily by a philological approach. Scientific works about Lesya Ukrainka are represented by the study of the sources and poetics of the drama "Forest Song" (co-authored with L. Mishchenko), the study of creative biography in the context of the "noble nest of Kosachy" (together with T. Skrypka), and other thematic publications. I. Denysiuk utilized the analysis of Lesya Ukrainka's texts and her critical thoughts in the development of his own genre-logical concepts. Conclusions. The notion of the philological approach is very broad and at the same time too generalizing to become a separate method of literary studies. It rather serves as the core of the methodology or defines the strategy of scientific research. The philological approach in the conditions of totalitarian systems made it possible to carry out professional research in taboo areas, such as formalism and structuralism. I. Denysiuk's scientific research is mostly determined by the text-centric principles of the philological approach in investigations of poetics, in general, and genre analysis, in particular.

Rural physicians and social capital: the potential and promises of a rural health research capacity building program

BackgroundAccessible and contextually relevant healthcare research programs and networks for rural physicians are exceedingly rare, which hinders the development of social capital in an already isolating profession. This study aims to examine the impact of the Rural Health Research Capacity Building (RRCB) Program on enhancing cognitive, structural, and relational social capital through comprehensive research skills training, supported by professional teams and resources.MethodsThis study uses a mixed-methods approach with utilization of qualitative and quantitative data and pre-post quasi-experimental design. Data were collected prior and after completion of the program by means of surveys, focus group, and observation. Thirty-five rural physicians participated in this study from 2014 to 2021.ResultsThe results show a significant increase in cognitive (pre-program = 0.37 vs. post-program = 0.61, p < .001), structural (pre-program = 0.58 vs. post-program = 0.81, p < .001), and relational (pre-program = 0.49 vs. post-program 0.69, p < .001) components of social capital. Focus group discussions and observation data supported these findings, particularly highlighting that research capacity-building programs tailored to the needs of rural physicians can enhance collective values, improve the quality of relationships, and foster communities of research-focused practice.ConclusionsBeing equipped with a shared system of meanings and interpretations, research knowledge and resources, and a professional research network appears to play a critical role in enhancing social capital in rural health research. The RRCB program effectively improves social capital among rural and remote physicians.

Motivating Marketing Research Respondents to Provide More Elaborated Answers

Modern marketing research faces a challenge how to increase the respondents’ productivity and encourage them to give more elaborated answers in the open-ended questions. It’s relevant both for CAWI quantitative projects and the qualitative approaches. The initial research in this area shows that gamified tasks including storytelling enhancements might be a solution to the stated problem. The research project was aimed at the verification of effectiveness of the gamified methods, i.e., questions including a storytelling context, with the use of a bigger, quantitative sample of the regular marketing research respondents – participants of the professional research panel. The research was conducted with the use of the CAWI method on a nationwide sample of 300 people aged 18–40 in an experimental scheme with one control and one experimental group with a gamified task. The participants’ task was to watch TV commercials and fill out a form with an openended evaluation of various aspects of the advertisement. The word count was used as the indicator of the respondents’ engagement. The results of the initial experiments in this field were replicated: application of the storytelling elements to the regular marketing research questions resulted in significantly more elaborated answers in comparison to the traditional approach. However, this effect was valid only for the first impressions check and not for the more detailed evaluation of the commercial. This research project proves that storytelling can be an effective tool to increase the engagement of marketing research participants. It’s a first step in the search for motivating techniques that can be used in different research approaches.

The Packaging and Labeling of Cannabis Edibles: Opportunities for Professional Communication Researchers

The Packaging and Labeling of Cannabis Edibles: Opportunities for Professional Communication Researchers

"Scientists are People too": Biology Students Relate More to Scientists When They are Humanized in Course Materials.

Featuring scientists in classroom materials provides opportunities for students to relate to scientists as role models and see themselves in science. However, it is unclear what information students find most relatable when encountering scientists throughout their education. In this study, we manipulated the amount and type of information provided about scientists featured in biology courses. Within the context of activities focused on a scientist's research study and data, we provided students with either no personal information about the scientist (Control treatment), pictures of the scientist (Visual treatment), or pictures and humanizing details about the scientist (Humanizing treatment). We asked students to describe how they related to the featured scientist, and qualitatively coded responses. Results showed that students related to the scientist's 1) professional research interests (e.g., research topic, science as a career) and 2) personal information (e.g., life experiences, hobbies, personality characteristics, race/ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status). In addition, we observed differences in how students related to scientists across our treatments. Students were twice as likely to relate to featured scientists, and related in a greater variety of ways, when course materials included personal, humanizing information. We discuss implications for curriculum development and call for intentionality in how we present scientists throughout biology education.

Beyond Linear Models: Factors Driving Environmental Action and Circular Economy Transition in Western Balkan Businesses

Abstract This article employs a probit model to analyze the determinants influencing businesses in the Western Balkans to mitigate their environmental impact and assess the feasibility of transitioning to a circular business model. It relies on primary survey data gathered in all Western Balkan countries by professional research agencies in 2022, with a representative sample of approximately 200 businesses per country. The findings reveal that factors such as being an exporting, foreign, innovative, and loan-receiving company increase the likelihood of businesses in the Western Balkans taking measures to reduce their environmental impact. Moreover, being an exporting and loan-receiving company emerges as influential in fostering the belief that a shift to a circular business model is attainable. These insights have profound implications for policymakers and businesses aiming to promote sustainable practices and circular economy initiatives within the Western Balkans. Additionally, this article contributes to policy development and knowledge on environmental and circular practices in developing economies.

Visiting Bektashi in Bulgaria

This article is an account of a trip to Alevi Bektashi tekkes and mausoleums in Bulgaria in July 2022, guided by an Alevi Bektashi Sufi, not a professional researcher but a practising Sufi. Among the places visited are the tombs of Kıdemli Baba, Elmalı Baba, Otman Baba, Ak Yazılı Sultan, Demir Baba and Kız Ana and Haydar Cemil Baba. The author has included some relevant fragments from the manakip of these Sufis and local legends about them, as well as information about the beliefs, traditions and history of the Bektashi order in Bulgaria. The author also shares his subjective experience of visiting these ‘places of power’, sacred for all followers of the Sufi tradition. After receiving news that the old Rumelia lodges from the XIII-XVI centuries were still standing, we decided to visit the Bektashi lodges in Rumelia with a small caravan. Information was obtained about the Bulgarian Alevi Bektashi lodges and arifs. Based on this information note, a literature search was made about the places to be visited and the knowledge of the literature was obtained. With this journey, we had the opportunity to visit places that could not be reached by an ordinary touristic travel and to meet people around the visits. Therefore, impressions and experiences related to this caravan and some histories of Alevi Bektashis and great pirs were also included.