Security System Research Articles

Crisis prevention and response in Ryan white-funded HIV clinics

ABSTRACT The high prevalence of trauma among people with HIV (PWH) and its negative impact on HIV outcomes underscore the need for Ryan White-funded HIV clinics (RWCs) to implement trauma-informed care (TIC) inclusive of crisis prevention and response. As part of a mixed-methods study of TIC practices employed by RWCs, we conducted qualitative interviews with 36 administrators, providers, and staff from Southeastern RWCs exploring crisis prevention and response strategies. Interviews were guided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration TIC framework and analyzed using a framework-driven, qualitative thematic approach. Crisis prevention strategies included: using electronic medical records to identify patients at risk for experiencing crisis, peer navigators to help patients bypass clinic public spaces, protocols to ensure perpetrator-victim pairs were not concurrently scheduled, and social workers to help patients identify crisis triggers and develop safety plans, plus dedicating safe spaces for patients with extensive trauma histories. Crisis response included patient referral to onsite and community crisis intake, trauma support, and mental health services and having onsite security personnel and alarm systems. Several participants requested additional training in response protocols. Study findings highlight the need for RW network-wide TIC training and sharing of best practices in crisis prevention and response.

Beyond security failures: The complexities of addressing Boko haram in Nigeria

The fight against Boko Haram in Nigeria highlights the complexities of addressing a multifaceted insurgency that thrives on political, social, and economic dysfunction. This article examines the critical failures in Nigeria’s security and justice systems, which have allowed Boko Haram to flourish despite military interventions. It explores the limitations of a purely military response and underscores the importance of addressing the broader socio-political issues that contribute to terrorism. The article evaluates how government corruption, poor governance, and the lack of accountability within the security apparatus have weakened Nigeria's capacity to combat Boko Haram effectively. Moreover, it considers the role of international stakeholders, including the United States, in supporting Nigeria's counterterrorism efforts, while emphasizing that foreign assistance must align with domestic reforms to be effective. The application of complexity theory is proposed as a framework to understand the interconnected factors contributing to the persistence of Boko Haram. This approach underscores that addressing Boko Haram requires more than just military solutions; it demands addressing economic stagnation, political corruption, and social grievances that fuel the insurgency. The article concludes by recommending a holistic strategy that combines security sector reform, governance improvements, and international cooperation as the path forward for Nigeria.

Terrorism in Nigeria: Exploring the causes and the rise of Boko Haram

Terrorism remains a significant challenge in Nigeria, with Boko Haram emerging as one of the deadliest terrorist groups in the region. This article explores the concept of terrorism, its various types, and the unique factors that have contributed to the rise of Boko Haram. By analysing the economic, political, and social dynamics of Nigeria, the article examines the root causes of terrorism in the country. Factors such as religious and cultural diversity, economic stagnation, and deep-rooted political corruption are identified as key drivers that have fuelled Boko Haram’s growth. The inability of Nigeria’s security and justice systems to effectively manage these challenges further exacerbates the problem. Moreover, the article discusses the broader implications of these factors on national stability, social cohesion, and regional security. Boko Haram's rise is not an isolated event but rather a complex interplay of various socio-political and economic issues. Understanding these underlying causes is essential to addressing the terrorist threat in Nigeria. The article concludes by suggesting that a holistic approach, involving both domestic reforms and international cooperation, is necessary to combat terrorism effectively and bring peace to the region

IoT-Enabled Secure and Scalable Cloud Architecture for Multi-User Systems: A Hybrid Post-Quantum Cryptographic and Block Chain-Based Approach towards a Trustworthy Cloud Computing

Cloud computing remains one of the most significant advancements in resource provision to organizations in the latest decades since they initiate conveniences on demand access. The adoption of the IoT has brought about a new era of collaborative computing by employing a pool of linked smart sensors and devices that will produce and analyze great amounts of data, thus creating new related problems in terms of size and security, hence increasing even more the importance of traditional security measures. Therefore, in this paper, we synthesize a new SSCA that combines IoT and cryptographic mechanisms, to build highly available and secure cloud systems, which makes these systems multi-users and fully usable by many users at the same time. The design resolves to a distributed structure where sever al cloud nodes will address user s requests proficiently and it uses Multicast and Broadcast Rekeying Algorithm (MBRA) to maintain the privacy and the confidentiality of the users’ detail, employing a cryptosystem that integrates MBRA, Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and block chain. The architecture using IoT devices collects data from the distributed sensing resources through the data storage layer; it enforces the security integrity of the information collected by employing the MBRA-PQC encryption algorithms; the blockchain provides the security for the confidential data by storing it in unalterable and dispersed registers. The proposed approach is then demonstrated with different data sets and its performance is measured based on the response time, the throughput and scalability, security and reliability. The outcome of the expressions reveals the efficiency of the proposed SSCA compared to MHE-IS-CPMT as it reduced by 1. 67 seconds and 0. 97 seconds at 250 and 1000 devices respectively. Similarly, the result as AUC value for SSCA showed a better improvement than the MHE-IS-CPMT, EAM, SCSS, and SHCEF models with improvements in percent at 25-user level: 6. 30%, 6. 90%, 7. 60%, and 7. 30%, respectively as well as; at 50-user level: 5. 20%, 9. 30%, 11. 50%.

A Scalable, Secure, and Efficient Framework for Sharing Electronic Health Records Using Permissioned Blockchain Technology

This paper presents a scalable, secure blockchain-based healthcare system architecture that efficiently manages large patient datasets. DHTs and Skip Lists enable efficient data access, while DPoS and PBFT facilitate parallel transaction processing. Adaptive filters, Radix Trees extended by Merkle Trees, and an immutable blockchain ledger secured by Tendermint consensus ensure data integrity and protection against evolving threats. Threshold Cryptography secures consensus participant selection, and Bulletproofs verify transactions, complying with healthcare regulations. ChaCha20, a symmetric stream cipher, encrypts sensitive data, enhancing performance across devices. ABAC manages access rights, ensuring fine-grained control over data accessibility. This architecture offers a comprehensive, efficient, and secure solution for healthcare data management in blockchain environments.

Factors that influence the behavioral intention of customers toward online food delivery service

Many studies focus on components that influence consumers' behavioral intent to acquire an online food delivery service rather than those responsible for determining consumers' online behavioral intent to purchase service providers. Therefore, this study aims to identify such factors and assess the impact on the behavioral intention toward OFDs according to the consumer's point of view. Findings are supported by the explanatory approach and the quantitative research technique and were collected via a questionnaire accessible through a Google Form. Costumers living in Tallinn, Estonia, were polled using a non-probability sample approach, and 137 responses were received. Trust demonstrates the highest impact of 30.8% on the intention of using OFD service by customers, followed by time-saving benefits (21.0%), perceived ease of use (15.2%), and perceived usefulness (14.5%). Price-saving benefits and food safety risk perception are insignificant statistically, and the study assumptions are rejected. The study suggested that customers' intentions to use Online food delivery services must be tailored to their preferences and perceptions of the product's intrinsic and extrinsic worth and quality. Service providers must become more alert and efficient to keep everything safe and confidential. A secure system for sharing information should be implemented if at all practicable.

AI security in different industries: A comprehensive review of vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies

Artificial intelligence has quickly and gradually spread across all sectors and fields, achieving exceptional performance in operations and decision-making. Yet, as industries process their tasks with the help of AI systems, new threats appear that require proper solutions. In the following section of this paper, the use of security solutions involving AI in various industries, which are finance, health, manufacturing, and government, as well as a discussion of risks involving artificial intelligence in particular fields and the corresponding measures to be taken against them will be discussed. AI is often applied to detect fraud and credit scoring in the financial sector but has potential risks, such as adversarial attacks and data manipulation. Similarly, the healthcare industry uses AI for predictive healthcare diagnostics and patient information protection; threats are data theft and adversarial examples attacking diagnostic models. In manufacturing, AI individuals contain predictive servicing and excellent control, though they are constantly exposed to industrial espionage and the sabotage of AI models. In retail, however, AI is used to improve marketing and predict consumer behavior. While these benefits exist, questions about using Algorithms that could be biased and privacy infringements continue to raise their ugly head. Defensive and governmental organizations that apply AI for surveillance or automatic operating systems are most vulnerable to adversarial intervention with key control systems and innate security systems. To counter such threats, this paper provides details of industry-specific measures, including adversarial training data sanitization, AI model audit, and privacy-preserving approaches. We illustrate examples linked to every one of these methods to show how they can be deployed in a variety of industries and to guard AI systems. To this end, the following review of the relationship between AI and cybersecurity demonstrates that security measures that rely on artificial intelligence must be regularly checked and updated. This reveals the call for proper, protective, and industry-specific measures to manage the risks and protect AI applications to ensure that the world’s modern, interconnected world is safe for AI.

A comprehensive survey of cybercrimes in India over the last decade

Since the 1990s, the integration of technology into daily life has led to the creation of an extensive network of interconnected devices, transforming how individuals and organizations operate. However, this digital transformation has also spurred the rise of cybercrime, criminal activities perpetrated through networks or computer systems. Cybercrime has become a global concern, presenting significant challenges to security systems. Although advancements in digital technology have enhanced efficiency, they have also opened new avenues for exploitation by cybercriminals, highlighting the urgent need for advanced cybersecurity measures. The escalating number of cyberattacks and associated risks in the past decade highlights the critical importance of protecting sensitive data and safeguarding information systems. Cybercrimes range from financial fraud and phishing scams to identity theft and online harassment, posing substantial risks to both individuals and organizations. In response, governments, law enforcement agencies, and cybersecurity units have intensified their efforts to address these threats. In recent years, India has experienced a significant surge in cybercrime incidents, with a notable increase in cases involving ransomware, data breaches, and social engineering attacks. The growing penetration of internet services, the expansion of e-commerce, and the rapid adoption of digital payment systems have made individuals and organizations more vulnerable to cyber threats. Key areas affected include banking, healthcare, and government sectors, which are frequently targeted due to the sensitive nature of the data they handle. To combat these risks, there is an increasing focus on public awareness, cybersecurity education, and robust regulatory frameworks. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of cybercrime, with a focus on developing innovative prevention strategies, strengthening internal security protocols, and classifying key cybercrime terminologies to better understand their implications for digital infrastructure.

Silencing the Guns: African Traditional Proverbs and Aphorisms for Peace and Security in 21st Century Africa

Africa is yet entangled with some Western modernity responsible for their political crises and incessant insecurity. Insecurity in Africa has historical roots from pre-colonial to post-colonial periods. The continent's hosting of the seventh United Nations Peace Support mission and over 60 percent of the UN Security Council's agenda addresses African insecurity underscore the urgent need to tackle these challenges. This paper examines insecurity in Africa and advocates for reviving African traditional methods to restore peace, utilizing proverbs and wisdom. Through analysis, criticism, and prescription, it explores the inherent insecurity problems and argues that African proverbs offer valuable insights for fostering unity. The study compares Western crisis resolution methods with African approaches, concluding that traditional African means are a more effective alternative. It highlights Africa as a potential solution to its own insecurity while recognizing the benefits of Western methods. The paper concluded that Africa has strong indigenous values and security systems capable of addressing insecurity even before colonialism. The paper recommended that African traditional security outfits are more efficient and better considered as alternative measures to solving the problems of peace and insecurity in Africa rather than adopting the Western war-war method.

Event Operation and Management in Risk Assessment for Outdoor Food Bazaar Events

This study evaluates risk management in organizing a food bazaar held in an open field at the Jakarta International Velodrome from May 31 to June 2, 2024. The research methodology includes direct observation, structured interviews with the organizing committee, and document analysis. The assessment results indicate that the event falls into the Very High Risk category for safety aspects, with potential hazards such as smuggling, theft, and fire. Additionally, the cleanliness of the area and healthcare facilities are deemed inadequate, categorized as High Risk. The limitations of hygiene facilities such as toilets and sinks, as well as the risk of dehydration, were also identified. This study recommends enhanced preparation and attention to risk management for similar events in the future to ensure the safety and comfort of visitors. By identifying, analyzing, and evaluating risks more comprehensively, it is hoped that event organizers can minimize potential hazards and improve the quality of future events. The study also emphasizes the importance of collaboration among various stakeholders, including the government, event organizers, security personnel, and healthcare services, to create a safe and comfortable event environment. Measures such as safety training for staff, adequate placement of healthcare facilities, and improved security systems can reduce the risks faced by visitors. Additionally, the study highlights the need for effective communication with the audience regarding safety and health protocols to be followed during the event. The implementation of technology such as crowd monitoring applications and early detection systems can also be a solution in managing risks more effectively.

Harnessing big data for national security: A review of information systems and emerging technologies in the U.S

The rapid growth of big data and emerging technologies has fundamentally transformed the national security landscape, enabling governments to leverage vast amounts of information for decision-making, threat detection, and operational effectiveness. This review explores the integration of big data analytics into U.S. national security systems, focusing on the technological innovations that facilitate real-time data processing, secure communications, and predictive analytics. Key emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things, are evaluated for their role in enhancing intelligence gathering, cybersecurity, and surveillance operations. Furthermore, the paper examines the foundational principles of big data in national security, detailing its data sources, types, and uses in both structured and unstructured forms. While these advancements present significant opportunities, they also pose challenges related to privacy, ethics, policy, and legal frameworks, which are critical for ensuring that the implementation of such technologies aligns with democratic values and security objectives. The paper concludes by highlighting future research directions, emphasizing the need for continued development in big data infrastructure, governance, and ethical considerations to fully harness its potential in protecting national interests.

A Robust Hybrid Approach for Malware Detection: Leveraging CNN and LSTM for Encrypted Traffic Analysis

The rapid growth in Internet usage and advancements in network technologies have escalated the risk of network attacks. As the adoption of encryption protocols increases, so does the difficulty in identifying malware within encrypted traffic. Malware represents a significant danger in cyberspace, as it compromises personal data and harms computer systems. Network attacks involve unauthorized access to networks, often aiming to disrupt or damage them, with potentially severe consequences. To counter these threats, researchers, developers, and security experts are constantly innovating new malware detection techniques. Recently, deep learning has gained traction in network security and intrusion detection systems (IDSs), with models such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) showing promise in detecting malicious traffic. Despite these advancements, extracting relevant features from diverse malware types remains a challenge. Current solutions demand substantial computational resources and are often inefficient for large datasets. Additionally, existing image-based feature extraction methods consume significant resources. This study tackles these issues by employing a 1D CNN alongside LSTM for the detection and classification of encrypted malicious traffic. Using the Malware Analysis benchmark dataset, which consists of 42,797 malware and 1,079 goodware API call sequences, the proposed model achieved an accuracy of 99.2%, surpassing other state-of-the-art models

The Preferential Protection of Incomplete Labor Relations and Its Future Legislative Approach

Incomplete labor relations are not a definite legal relationship, but a spectrum of relationships between labor relations and civil relations. The concept of incomplete labor relations was proposed in official documents by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and other departments, but it still leaves many issues such as the path, principles, content, and measures of preferential protection to be further studied and explored. The article argues that the preferential protection of incomplete labor relations should choose the "Civil Law +" approach, focusing on protecting the rights related to the basic survival of workers and their basic social rights. At the same time, the content of the preferential protection is not one-size-fits-all, and should reflect differentiation according to specific situations. In the long run, the trend of incomplete labor relations is bound to grow, and it is inevitable that the dichotomy of labor relations will be broken. At the same time, the bundling of social security and labor relations also needs to be dismantled, and the social security system should be transformed into a public service that everyone can enjoy.

3.Y.2. Road traffic injuries, disability burden and implications for compensation schemes in Europe

Abstract Reducing traffic fatalities and injuries is a complex challenge, but it is one that is of paramount importance for public health and safety worldwide. In recent years, there have been improvements in trauma care and injury prevention efforts, which reduced mortality rates and increased survival after serious injury. However, an increased heterogeneity in recovery times is observed with survivors of road traffic injuries differing in their adjustment compared to other traumas in terms of symptoms’ onset, variability and chronicity. The recovery trajectory seems to vary widely with a large percentage of survivors in need of extensive time periods for full recovery. Attention has now been shifted towards the adverse effects of non-fatal injuries on functional, mental health, economic and societal outcomes. The capacity of a person to continue functioning, inability to work, sickness absence and reliance on welfare benefits to compensate for loss of income are some of the injury-related long-term consequences, causing great concern for health and social security systems across Europe, as they have been shown to account for more than one third of total road traffic incident costs. These figures fail to include individuals who sustain “minor” injuries, which do not require hospitalisation, yet still impair their ability to work. Despite the rapidly growing epidemiological and clinical attention, there are still several issues missing from research, policy and practice. A universal definition of recovery after a road traffic injury is still missing, and this has been seen as critical for improved understanding of risk factors of poor recovery as well as improved identification of those in need of welfare benefits. Furthermore, long-term sickness absence and disability following road traffic injury in Europe is still understudied and evidence on the different return to work pathways and compensation schemes is scarce. Evidence is still limited on the context in which return to work occurs, the injury profiles most dependent on long term compensation schemes and the policy settings of injury compensation schemes that impact return to work outcomes post injury. Data availability and data linkage issues often cause misclassification errors when granting disability pensions and this remains unattended long after an injury. Welfare benefits are often poorly connected with the injury or other medical diagnoses and this makes it difficult to assess the contribution of injuries on disability pensions and other welfare benefits, especially in comorbid and multimorbid conditions. The current workshop aims to improve our understanding of the long-term consequences and the challenges faced by those injured in road traffic injuries and aid the development of interventions that seek to enable sustained recovery, and help inform policy and practice of healthcare and injury compensation systems. Key messages • Timely access to quality healthcare, rehabilitation therapies, and assistive technologies can significantly improve outcomes and reduce the strain on social security and compensation systems. • Ensuring equitable access to social security benefits for injured individuals, requires efficient compensation schemes that recognize the full impact of the disability on individuals’ life.

Mortality rate of percutaneous coronary interventions in st-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients under the public health insurance schemes of thailand

Abstract Background ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) presents a critical public health challenge internationally, including in Thailand. Currently, standard therapeutic interventions, particularly primary percutaneous coronary interventions (pPCI), are administered to Thai citizens. However, selected healthcare systems restrict access to specific pharmaceuticals and medical devices, causing inequalities in the quality of medical care amongst different healthcare systems. Such inequalities have the potential to significantly impact the quality of life of patients, particularly in the long term. Purpose The primary objective is to compare mortality rates within one year of STEMI patients after treatment with pPCI among the public health insurance schemes of Thailand. The secondary objective is to study prognostic determinants for one-year mortality rates among patients diagnosed with STEMI who have undergone pPCI. Methodology This study is a single-centre retrospective analysis of patients with STEMI treated with pPCI. It involves patients utilising various state health insurance schemes in Thailand from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2020. Data collection occurred through the hospital's computerised management system and the registration administration office of the Department of Provincial Administration. The data analysis employed the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards regression modelling method. Results The study involved 1,077 patients, categorised into three groups based on their state health insurance: Universal Health Coverage (UC) (546 patients, 50.7%), Social Security System (SS) (199 patients, 18.5%), and Civil Service Reimbursement (CS) (332 patients, 62.6%). The one-year mortality rates in these groups were 10.57%, 4.21%, and 6.47%, respectively (p=0.010). In the unadjusted model, the SS group showed a lower risk of one-year mortality rate (HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.18-0.80, p=0.011), and the CS group also demonstrated a lower risk (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.35-0.99, p=0.047) compared to the UC group. In the adjusted model, only the CS group significantly reduced the risk of one-year mortality. Other factors that affected one-year mortality were age ≥65 years, a Killip score of 3-4, pre-discharge prescription of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, occlusion in the left anterior descending artery, and pericardial effusion. Conclusion Healthcare schemes play a significant role in influencing one-year mortality rates among STEMI patients treated with pPCI. The use of civil service reimbursement is a protective factor for the one-year mortality rate in STEMI patients. This information would be crucial for developing strategies and programs to aid healthcare policymakers at both regional and international levels in reducing morbidity and mortality.

Secure low-cost photovoltaic monitoring system based on LoRaWAN network and artificial intelligence

The advanced study will focus on developing a secure and cost-effective photovoltaic monitoring system using Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) and Artificial Intelligence technologies for highly risky missions. With the world shifting to using renewable energy, the development of secure and efficient cost-effective monitoring systems for photovoltaic installations becomes very important. However, most of the solutions in use for PV installation monitoring are characterized by high costs, hence their limited use, especially in developing regions. In this regard, the present work presents country-specific protocols designed for the country of Turkey. The proposed system in this study is expected to offer real-time monitoring and data collection at a very meager cost by utilizing inexpensive microcontrollers and sensors. The accuracy rate demonstrated by the research is highly above board: 97.65%. It costs $210, with a very low power consumption of 0.5W and a range of 10 km. The major features underpin real-time monitoring with wide area coverage for effectiveness and efficiency in PVs monitoring. Test results in many places around Turkey have turned out reliable and accurate to justify a possible reduction in operational costs without compromising the quality of data received. This design is reinforced by a detailed mathematical model that assures one of its thorough analysis in performance. There is custom-built firmware that enhances communication efficiency and ensures data integrity in implementation. Comparative studies carried out with existing technologies indicate that the proposed system is cost-effective and operationally sound. This work gives a scalable, low-cost solution that probably might raise the uptake of PV systems in economically constrained areas.

Cybersecurity Maintenance in the Automotive Industry Challenges and Solutions: A Technology Adoption Approach

Numerous attempts have been made to create a secure system that meets the criteria and requirements of the automotive vehicle development life cycle. However, a critical gap exists in the secure development lifecycle, particularly concerning the development and maintenance of software after the vehicle has been sold by the manufacturer. This step is often overlooked by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), especially after the expiration of the vehicle warranty period, given the cost that it will require to update and test the software in their vehicles. This paper addresses the issues that affect current and future vehicle cybersecurity, during the maintenance of cybersecurity, and how the neglect of it could end up creating hazards for the vehicle owner or other road users. To accomplish this, we will employ the technology adoption model (TAM) as a theoretical framework, which is used to understand and predict how organizations adopt technology. Thus, through qualitative and quantitative research, including text mining, we identify the challenges in the adoption and diffusion of cybersecurity maintenance in the automotive sector and its supply chain. In addition, we propose possible solutions on how to maintain a level of security that will benefit road users, OEMs and regulators, covering the cybersecurity needs for the vehicle’s usable life, taking into account the vehicle’s heterogeneity of components and technology, connectivity, environmental impact and cost of production and maintenance of a vehicle.

Resilience Assessment and Influencing Factors Analysis of Water Security System in the Yellow River Basin

The assessment and regulation of water security system resilience (WSSR) are important ways to alleviate water resource crises. On the basis of the three characteristics of resilience, namely, resistance, restoration, and adaptability, an evaluation index system of the WSSR was built for the Yellow River Basin (YRB). A projection pursuit model based on the sparrow search algorithm (SSA-PP model) was constructed to assess the WSSR at the overall and provincial scales from 2009 to 2022. The factors influencing the spatial distribution patterns of WSSR was identified through factor detector and interactive detector techniques. The results revealed that: (1) From 2009 to 2022, the YRB exhibited a rising trend in WSSR, with the western region attaining the peak level, and the eastern region recording the lowest magnitude. (2) the adaptability capacity of most provinces and regions in the YRB tended to decrease to about 1.0, whereas the resistance and restoration capacities tended to increase towards 2.0. (3) Factors relevant to the restoration and adaptability subsystems, such as the development and utilization ratio of water resources and surface water resources (B2 and B3), water resource load index (C1), water consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP (C8), and total precipitation (A1), significantly affected the WSSR. The interaction between factors exhibited significant enhancement effects on explanatory. Therefore, targeted countermeasures and recommendations were provided to improve the WSSR in the YRB.

Exploring support for return-to-work: A comparative analysis of firm and country-level factors

Abstract Background Employers are important stakeholders in efforts to facilitate the return-to-work (RTW) of employees after sick-leave, but the available data reveal large variation in employer support for RTW across European countries and firms. This paper explores in a comparative perspective what factors at the country level and at the firm level can explain these differences. Methods Employer support for RTW is examined using microdata covering 31 countries from the Third European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER), conducted in 2019 (N = 9,775). These data are integrated with country-level indicators to capture national differences in economic incentives and institutional provisions concerning the management of sick-leave. Two-level mixed-effects logit models with random intercepts are used to estimate the impact that different firm characteristics and country-level factors have on the propensity to provide RTW support. Results The empty model has an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.345, indicating that a substantial share of the observed variation across European firms is determined at the country level. Larger establishments and those with workplace health risks are more likely to provide RTW support. Including firm-level indicators does however not reduce the observed between-country variance. Institutional differences in the economic costs of sick leave for employers, on the other hand, explain about 15% of this variance. The ICC drops more strongly after including in the model policy indicators that capture activating elements in the social security system and the existence of national policies targeting RTW. The full model explains almost two thirds (62.8%) of the observed between-country variance. Conclusions The findings highlight that only in few European countries employers are systematically involved in RTW support and strengthen the case for comprehensive policy strategies to engage employers in worker activation. Key messages • Employer characteristics, such as firm size, impact the propensity to provide RTW support, but they do not explain the large between-country variation that we observe across Europe. • Comprehensive national policy strategies and institutional incentives are crucial to engage employers systematically in RTW efforts.

THE INTERESTS OF THE UK FOREIGN POLICY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FORMATION OF THE AUKUS INTERSTATE ASSOCIATION

The article is devoted to the study of the evolution of the UK's foreign policy in the period after its withdrawal from the European Union (post-Brexit period) in the context of the country's participation in the formation of the AUKUS (an abbreviation of the English names of Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States). The research methodology was formed by the principles of historicism, systematicity, and objectivity, general scientific methods of logic, comparative analysis, special historical methods of historiographic analysis, historical-systemic, chronological, historical-genetic, retrospective analysis, and comparative-historical methods of scientific knowledge. It is noted that the creation of the interstate association AUKUS in 2021 was a resonant event in the world of international politics. The agreements provide for the development of systemic military-political cooperation between the three states at the strategic level in the long term with the primacy of the US-British alliance, which will potentially have a significant impact on the configuration of the international security system, especially in the context of current attempts to revise it It is stated that the relatively recently launched international security project AUKUS has already become one of the examples of active foreign policy activities of the British governments in the post-Brexit period, which is fully consistent with the Global Britain strategy. By participating in AUKUS, the British side not only contributes to global security and strengthens its military presence in one of the key regions of world politics, protects its own geopolitical and economic interests, but also guarantees the development of high-tech knowledge-intensive industries for the long term. The project of comprehensive sectoral military and defence cooperation proposed by the United States (with the support of two allied states) reflects an attempt to maintain American and British influence in the Indo-Pacific region and globally in the face of the growing conflict with China. With the resumption of the US policy of isolationism and protectionism, and possible financial problems of the UK as the second most important partner, the AUKUS project faces uncertain prospects. Ukraine's international prospects also depend on the success or failure of the AUKUS project.