Socio-economic Problems Research Articles

Characteristics of salt dust aerosols and their transport implications in the Aral Sea

Central Asia is an ecologically fragile arid zone and a typical mixed salt‒sand region. The socioeconomic and ecological problems attributed to the shrinking of the Aral Sea in Central Asia are notable concerns within the international community. In this study, the characteristics of salt dust aerosols from the Aral Sea were analysed to explore their interannual variation characteristics and analyse the spatial and temporal distributions of salt dust sources and transport and dispersion pathways. The results revealed that high concentrations of salt dust aerosols were concentrated around the Aral Sea and Lake Sarekamesh. The range and intensity of salt dust aerosols were less than those of dust aerosols. Salt dust events occurred frequently in spring and less frequently in autumn and winter. The occurrence frequency and impact range of salt dust aerosols from 2008 to 2012 were significantly lower than those during the previous period. From 2013 to 2018, the salt dust sources originated largely on the western side of the North Aral Sea. The spatial autocorrelation of salt dust aerosols was high and characterized by significant agglomeration, with significant changes in cold spot and hotspot regions. Salt dust in the Aral Sea region affects mainly the Kazakhstan region in spring, and it more notably affects Russia in winter. The results of this study increase the understanding of the spatial and temporal variability in salt dust aerosols within the arid zone of Central Asia and lay a foundation for the study of the impacts of salt dust aerosols on the climate system and ecological environment in arid zones.

LC-QToF-MS Analysis of Stimulant Drugs and Their Metabolites in Wastewater During Football Games

Background: The use of illicit drugs and stimulants is a burgeoning socioeconomic problem, ultimately leading to an increase in street crimes and deteriorating human health. The persistent presence of CNS drugs in wastewater can also lead to downstream adverse effects on aquatic wildlife and humans. Objectives: In the present study, a method was developed for the solid-phase extraction and quantitative liquid chromatography coupled with tandem quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QToF-MS) analysis of CNS stimulant drugs and their metabolites in municipal wastewater. The targeted species included amphetamine, methamphetamine, methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA), cocaine, and benzoylecgonine (BE). Methods: The method was validated and applied to analyzing wastewater samples collected at the University of Mississippi and the City of Oxford wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) during weekends when the university hosted home college football games. Results: Our results indicate that while amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, and BE were all detected at quantifiable levels, amphetamine and BE were present in significantly higher concentrations in wastewater during football games. Conclusion: The insights from this study can be utilized to monitor long-term drug use trends, providing local law enforcement agencies with relevant data on consumption patterns over time.

Radical Islam in Kyrgyzstan

In the last approximately 10–15 years or so, the tendencies towards radical Islamization of Kyrgyzstan have intensified, although it is not so much the Kyrgyz as the Uzbeks and Uighurs who are more susceptible to it. However, the process is gaining momentum among the Kyrgyz as well. There are several reasons for this: socio-economic problems, insufficient work with the population of traditional Islamic structures, the process of flow from the south to the north, in relation to Kyrgyzstan, expressed in the departure of the European population and the influx of visitors from more southern states, including carriers of radical Islam. Among the latter, immigrants from Pakistan are the most active, but missionaries from the Persian Gulf and Turkey are active too. Among other things, many political parties of Kyrgyzstan, some of which directly call for the abolition of the constitutional norm on the secular nature of the Kyrgyz state, have begun to actively cooperate with radical Islamists. Christian religious structures also do not work enough with the titular population of Kyrgyzstan, either because of unwillingness to work (Orthodox), or because of the negative attitude of the authorities (Protestants). In the latter case, it is necessary to point out some laws of Kyrgyzstan that do not strike at Islamic radicals, against whom they seem to be aimed, but just at those who could resist them. Nevertheless, the situation does not seem hopeless yet and can be corrected.

The (dys)regulation of energy storage in obesity.

Metabolic energy stored mainly as adipose tissue is homeostatically regulated. There is strong evidence that human body weight (BW) is physiologically regulated, i.e. maintained within a relatively narrow range in most mammals, including humans. Nevertheless, the prevalence of obesity has increased markedly in recent decades and now constitutes major medical and socioeconomic problems worldwide. This review focuses on understanding this paradox and the clinical issues that it has spawned: how and why do individuals become obese and how can we help those with obesity lose excess BW and body fat and maintain whatever loss they achieve. Excess BW gain occurs when physiological responses that usually resist short-term weight gain fail to compensate for excess caloric intake occurring over extended periods of time, often over many years or even decades. On the other hand, the difficulties of achieving BW loss and maintenance of reduced BW in obese subjects are due, in part, to the operation of the same physiological regulatory system that helps maintain a healthy BW in individuals without obesity. But, given obesity's association with many pathological conditions, we maintain that the physiological processes that resist BW loss and persistently drive regain are examples of dysregulation. Here we review research in humans and animals addressing these and other unresolved issues in the physiology of obesity. We bring important unresolved problems into focus, and, in some cases, propose hypotheses that can further elucidate their mechanisms to provide research opportunities into modalities that might lead to more effective treatments of obesity.

PARTICIPATION OF VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS IN PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS AS ONE OF THE MAIN DIRECTIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT IN UKRAINE AFTER THE REVOLUTION OF DIGNITY

The revolutionary events of late 2013 – early 2014, and especially the occupation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and the beginning of hostilities in the East of Ukraine, opened a new page in the development of the volunteer movement. The rise of volunteer activity in Ukraine was also facilitated by the unity of Ukrainian society against the background of external aggression and a number of unresolved socio-economic problems on the part of the state, this especially concerned the support of the participants in hostilities and a large group of immigrants from the East of Ukraine. It is the support of internally displaced persons (IDPs), along with the provision of everything necessary for ATO participants, that has become one of the main activities of volunteer organizations. This support became especially relevant with the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine in February 2022.This publication reveals the specifics of the activities of volunteer organizations supporting IDPs, which consisted in providing displaced persons with everything they need: food, clothing, hygiene products, medicines, temporary housing, as well as in providing them with legal, psychological, social support, employment, and training retraining and advanced training, at the same time, emphasis is placed on the activities of specialized volunteer and charitable organizations, among them: BF «Right to Protection», «East SOS», «Everybody can help», BF «Rehabilitation Center «Maidana Hospital», «Fund for Good Deeds», NGO «Ukrainian Association of Specialists in overcoming the consequences of psychotraumatic events».It also highlights the activities of international volunteer organizations that, after the Revolution of Dignity, actively participated in helping displaced people, providing them with both material support and comprehensive non-material assistance, including training, legal services, and psychological support. Among them, it is worth mentioning the «Red Cross Society of Ukraine», «Caritas in Ukraine», etc. At the same time, with the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, international volunteer organizations temporarily curtailed their activities, instead, the role of the Ukrainian volunteer movement, which received all kinds of support from international charitable funds, and to some extent the state and local self-government bodies, increased.

The Impact of the Digital Divide on the Development of Network Markets (Using the Example of the Video Services Market)

Introduction. The problem of the digital divide appeared in the 21st century as a result of the dynamic spread of digital technologies and it very soon became the center of numerous studies and scientific discussions. Today the digital divide is considered to be an urgent socio-economic problem that is widely discussed in the scientific community both in the context of asymmetric access to the social infrastructure (in the context of unequal access to education, healthcare, socially significant information through the use of communication technologies) and in the context of the impact of the digital divide on various significant aspects of a person’s life. The impact of the digital divide is felt in the real and monetary spheres, at the level of individuals and at the level of society, in the markets of goods and services. In this article, we suppose to analyze the impact of the digital divide on the development of network markets (using the example of the video services market).Materials and methods. The methodological basis of the study consists of the following research methods: the method of comparative analysis; the method of synthesis; the method of complex analysis of the socio-economic phenomenon; the method of formal logic; the statistical method. Reseach results. As a result of the analysis, it was revealed that the digital divide affects the development of network markets in several directions: the dynamics of growth through the possibility of access and the content of potential consumers; the speed of the distribution of network externalities through an increase in the number of consumers; the consumption structure and attributes of network goods through product personalization, taking into account the specifics of a particular digital divide.Discussion and conclusions. As a result, the article states the necessity to take into account the factors of the digital divide influence both on a company operating in the video services market and on a country interested in the development of the video services market. Considering these factors will allow them to be used in order to optimize the behavior of players in this market. Among the problems hindering the more dynamic development of the video services market in Russia, in addition to the standard challenges (income level, specifics of the digital divide, price limits), it should be noted the continuing negative experience of illegitimate players’ behavior in the market, representing some sort of an institutional trap.

SOUTH AFRICA: THE STATE OF THE ENERGY INDUSTRY AND PROSPECTS FOR COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA

The energy situation after COVID-19 in the Republic of South Africa remains tense due to rolling power outages in major cities. The author notes that the first reason is the deterioration of the power grid on the one hand, and on the other the socio-economic situation of the majority of the population, which pushes it to destruction, including energy infrastructure. This implies a more global reason for the growing socio-economic crisis in South Africa. The author notes that the political program of President S. Ramaphosa’s «New Dawn» has not fundamentally solved the socio-economic problems of South Africa over the past five years. The problem of youth unemployment is particularly acute, which leads to further aggravation of social contradictions. The ruling African National Congress party lost its majority in the parliamentary elections, and the country is on the verge of political and socioeconomic changes.According to the author, Pretoria’s pragmatic cooperation with Moscow will continue, including in the energy sector. Russia is interested in diversifying and developing energy projects in Africa. However, South Africa needs to diversify its energy sources independently, not only by switching to cleaner renewable energy sources under pressure from the «climate lobby», but also by developing reserves of non-renewable energy sources on the continental shelf.

Critique of labourfication and solutionism in (teacher) education – a defence of teacher educators’ poetic freedom to act as public intellectuals

ABSTRACT This psychoanalytically and philosophically informed article sets its focus on one of the emerging challenges that comes with the notion of labourfication and solutionism when it frames teacher education. Teacher educators’ agency, including their poetic freedom to think critically and act as public intellectuals, has become limited by neoliberal labour policy and by the increased instrumentalization of and solutionism linked to teacher educational tasks. Among the main tasks for teacher educators is socialising student teachers to “fit in” and to “be interpellated” by the socio-symbolic neoliberal reality and to provide them with functional, useful skills and qualifications (in terms of work readiness) that can make them desirable objects for and within this reality. At the same time, the educationalization of socio-economic and moral problems demands that teacher education solve problems that can prevent “failure” with the labour-oriented task(s) they are given. This article argues that teacher educators must reclaim agency by refusing to act in ways that are targeted to satisfy the Big neoliberal Other’s desire for labourfication and solutionism in teacher education.

Housing construction in Russia during the 100-year period: Dynamics, results and socio-economic problems

The article considers the dynamics of housing construction in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR — a constituent republic of the Soviet Union) and the Russian Federation from the year of 1918 to 2023. For our analysis, we make use of such indicators as housing completions overall and in urban and rural areas, by source of financing, by segment (apartment buildings and individual houses); the data on the size of the housing stock and its structure depending on the form of ownership; housing availability to the population; quantity, structure and floor space of housing units built as well as number of people who improved their housing conditions. On the basis of the data on housing completions in various segments and changes in the legislation, we identify seven stages in the evolution of housing construction in the RSFSR and the Russian Federation during the century considered as well as characterize each of the stages. The article presents for the first time estimates of the area of total and rural socialized housing stock and the housing stock of the RSFSR that was in the personal ownership of citizens for the years of 1926, 1939, 1949 and for the period from 1958 to 1979. We also pinpoint major current socioeconomic problems in housing construction and suggest measures to resolve them with the aim of raising housing availability and affordability for the population of the Russian Federation.

Развитие инвестиционных процессов в муниципальном образовании

The article discusses the problems in activating investment processes in municipalities of the Russian Federation, the necessary measures to stimulate them, as well as success factors in this area. Attracting investments at the local level is an important tool for solving many socio-economic problems.

Trends on barrier characteristics improvement of emerging biopolymeric composite films using nanoparticles - A review

BackgroundBio-based films have wide applications in various areas, including medical, packaging, biosensor design, and environmental remediation. Unfortunately, their associated features restricted the application windows for these bio-based films. Barrier properties, such as H2O permeability, O2 permeability, and UV-barrier properties, are among the typical qualities important in designing packaging films because they safeguard food safety and extend shelf life. MethodsEnhancing the barrier qualities has been imperative in recent years owing to its significant impact on food preservation and the valorization of natural biopolymers. The most innovative method is adding metal and metal oxide nanoparticles to the biopolymer with carefully regulated loads and parameters. This review aims to examine the barrier performance as well as their enhancement methods using metal, metal-oxide, and the synergetic effects of nanoparticles. Significant findingsThe review concludes that incorporating metallic and metallic oxide NPs into films has improved their barrier quality. The current and future materials in the property improvement field include metallic and metallic oxide nanoparticles, such as Ag, ZnO, GO, and TiO2, as well as their binary effects. Improvements to the barrier characteristics of bio-based films address the environmental and socioeconomic problems brought on by using petro-based films.

GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISES AND THEIR MACROECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES FOR NATIONAL ECONOMIES: THE CASE OF UKRAINE

The article provides a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the nature, types and causes of financial crises, which can threaten both individual national economies and global economic stability. The study analyses the origin and development of financial crises, which, in turn, are given special attention as they are becoming increasingly common amid deepening globalization and the growing integration of world markets. Particular emphasis is placed on theoretical aspects, in particular, on different approaches to the classification of financial crises, as well as on their key characteristics and determining factors that contribute to their emergence and development. The author examines the impact of global financial crises on macroeconomic indicators, including recession, instability of national currencies, rising unemployment and a general decline in economic activity, which have long-term consequences for the global economy. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the impact of the financial crisis on the Ukrainian economy, taking into account its specific socio-economic conditions and structural problems that impede the overcoming of the crisis. The main challenges facing Ukraine in the context of the financial crisis are identified, including low productivity, instability of the banking system and weak competitiveness in global markets. The study also examines strategies for preventing and overcoming financial crises, including improving the regulatory framework, developing effective macroeconomic policies and strengthening the role of the state in managing economic processes. In addition, the international experience of overcoming financial crises and the possibility of adapting it to Ukrainian realities to ensure sustainable economic growth and financial stability were considered. The final part contains recommendations aimed at restoring Ukraine's economic sectors in order to reduce their vulnerability to future financial crises and increase their overall economic potential.

INFRASTRUCTURE BONDS AS A TOOL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CAPITAL-INTENSIVE INDUSTRIES

The article considers infrastructure bonds as one of the most relevant instruments for financing infrastructure and capital-intensive projects, its significance, state and dynamics in Russia at the present stage. Based on the generalization of foreign experience and the dynamics of the development of the infrastructure bond market, a hypothesis has been formed about the possibility of using this financing tool in various capital-intensive industries, in particular, for the development of the aviation industry. The paper analyzes the conclusions of a number of authors, including the approaches proposed by F. Barbosa (2020) and Della Croce R. Together with Yermo J. (2018), who emphasize the importance of attracting institutional investors for the successful implementation of infrastructure projects, an integrated approach is applied to the study of infrastructure bonds as a tool for the development of capital-intensive industries, and to illustrate the practical application of infrastructure bonds, several examples from different countries are selected and a comparative analysis is carried out. Infrastructure bonds are a promising instrument for financing various capital-intensive projects that require «long» money, however, a low proportion of this source of financing and slowing factors have been identified. The barriers and problems of financing infrastructure projects and directions for expanding the use of this form of financing are outlined. The legal, organizational and administrative measures for the development of the infrastructure bond market in Russia have been identified. The article considers recommendations for practical application and the possibility of subsequent use of the work to stimulate and develop the infrastructure bond market. The implementation of measures to expand the use of this tool will contribute to the intensification of the development of public-private partnerships and concession agreements, as well as more effective solutions to socio-economic problems, infrastructure modernization and, in particular, the development of the aviation industry.

Banana Product Development in the Women Farmers Group (KWT) Mertelu Village, Gunungkidul

Gedangsari District is one of the sub-districts in Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta which is classified as underdeveloped. This sub-district has potential but has not developed optimally because its human resource capabilities have many limitations. The livelihood of the people in Mertelu Village is farming. The Mertelu region has a field area of 101.68 hectares which is mostly used by the community to grow bananas. Steep topographic conditions cause people's access to mobility to be hampered. This affects the economic conditions of the community, especially in expanding sales targets for agricultural products. So selling to the public is still within a narrow scope. Most of the banana harvest is only consumed for personal use and sold raw if the harvest is large enough. It is hoped that the development of food products can provide variations in finished products so that they have a high selling value and can cover the shortage of terrain in the Mertelu area. Therefore, an innovative approach is needed in solving socio-economic problems in the village. One of the proposed approaches is community empowerment through increasing skills in banana processing production. It is hoped that this method can make a positive contribution in improving the quality of life of the people in Mertelu Village by empowering women, especially the Batur Indah Women Farming Group (KWT).

ОЦЕНКА РАЗВИТИЯ АГРОПРОМЫШЛЕННОГО КОМПЛЕКСА В СИСТЕМЕ СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИХ ОТНОШЕНИЙ МУНИЦИПАЛЬНОГО РАЙОНА

The article presents an approach to assessing the development of agro-industrial complex in the system of socio-economic relations of a municipal district on the example of Khokholsky municipal district of the Voronezh region. The agro-industrial complex can act as a system-forming factor of the municipal territory and have a direct impact on the solution of socio-economic problems by activating the economic activity of the population. An important condition is the balance of such a relationship.

Conor McPherson’s The Veil: The Haunting Reflection of the Past in Early Twenty-First-Century Ireland

As an early twenty-first-century Gothic play, McPherson’s The Veil reflects the socio-economic problems and traumas of Ireland after the collapse of the Celtic Tiger economy. As indicated by the title and the prevalent mirror image within the play, the playwright holds up a mirror to the past and through a correlation between nineteenth-century and early twenty-first-century Ireland, he points out the everlasting impacts of postcolonial traumas in the present. In the play, the economic predicament of the landholders and the tenants functions as a microcosm of contemporary Ireland as the post-Celtic Tiger period brought back the problems of the past such as unemployment, dispossession and emigration. Moreover, during the early twenty-first century, the collapse of the Celtic Tiger economy created a haunted landscape replete with ghost estates while also producing zombie banks cannibalising the Irish society. In this regard, the impoverished and harsh conditions of nineteenth-century Ireland transforming people into zombified figures and the effects of economic decline in the early twenty-first century such as ghost estates and zombie banks are closely intertwined. The zombie figure signifies not only economic hardships but also the enduring legacy of colonialism in the present. At the intersection of the past and the present, McPherson presents an uncanny and zombified portrayal of contemporary Ireland. Accordingly, this article explores the traumatic echoes of Ireland’s revenant past in the aftermath of the dramatic economic crisis.

Biochemical conversion of municipal solid waste to biofuels and bioproducts: a review.

The disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) in urban areas is a big issue nowadays in most of the countries. Developing countries like India are struggling with the continuous indiscriminate disposal of MSW due to rapid increase in the urbanization, industrialization, and human population growth. The mismanagement of MSW causes adverse environmental impacts, public health risks, and other socio-economic problems. India, the second most populated country in the world, faces the problem of MSW and simultaneously grave the crisis of energy as management problems of MSW provide a platform to utilize it as a promising renewable energy source, thus resolving the related issues. The pressing need for the development of alternatives gave several different technological solutions; among them, Waste-to-Energy is being recognized as a renewable option for energy generation and waste remediation. The associated challenges of managing regularly generated MSW make it difficult to adopt the suitable technique/process to treat it. However, detailed information and discussion are needed to decide which strategy is to be adopted. Considering the large availability and potential of MSW, this article has been reviewed to collect and represent different strategies of using MSW for different products based on the requirements of society. The article reviews the up-to-date biochemical conversion strategies being employed to treat the MSW and simultaneously harness the energy, and other value-added products. Besides, the life cycle assessment highlights the futuristic scope for industrial growth to determine the environmental impact of using MSW as a renewable energy source and substrate for biopolymers.

Experiences of caregivers of adolescent children with intellectual disabilities in menstrual hygiene management: obstacles and needs

The menstrual period of adolescents with intellectual disabilities is a complex phenomenon as they are a vulnerable group. During this period, both the adolescent and the caregiver are exposed to a lot of discrimination and face emotional, psychological, and socio-economic problems. The study is conducted to determine the experiences of caregivers of adolescent children with intellectual disabilities in menstrual hygiene management. The study is a qualitative research conducted between October 2022 and January 2023. The study sample consisted of 17 caregivers (mothers) of adolescent children with intellectual disabilities living in different provinces of Turkey who were selected through snowball sampling. Data were collected using the “Participant Information Form” and “Semi-structured Interview Form”. Collaizzi’s phenomenological analysis was used to analyze the data. This study was conducted in accordance with the COREQ Statement Checklist. As a result of the research, five themes were identified: (1) Expected day, (2) Inevitable end, (3) Problems experienced, (4) Communication with caregiver, (5) Search for solutions. It is recommended that health professionals (nurses, child development specialists, etc.) provide training and counseling to caregivers on the best approaches to implement good menstrual hygiene for adolescents with intellectual disabilities.

ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT: FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS

The relevance of the functional analysis of enterprise management is since its effectiveness allows to achieve not only the goal of activity, but also several urgent socio-economic problems. However, because of constant changes in the business environment, technological and digital transformation, the list of the main functional manifestations of enterprise management, which requires a comprehensive study, is significantly expanding. During the research, it was determined that today enterprise management should be considered as a kind of art that requires managers to constantly study, master new methods and improve practical skills. The classical approach proposed by A. Fayol was used as a basis for the division of enterprise management functions. In accordance with the main management functions inherent to any enterprise, regardless of the field of activity, we assigned planning, organization, motivation, coordination, control and regulation. However, numerous factors caused by transformational changes and the development of new technologies make it possible to expand this list with specific functions of enterprise management. Marketing, financial, personnel management, production, innovation, logistics, information support, and environmental functions were included in such functions.

Dynamic Simulation of Land Use Change and Assessment of Carbon Storage Based on the PLUS Model: A Case Study of the Most Livable City, Weihai, China

Analyzing and monitoring land use/cover (LULC) changes is critical for improving regional ecosystem service functions and developing strategies for long-term socio-economic development. Exploring future changes in land use and carbon storage under different scenarios is important for optimizing regional ecosystem service functions and formulating sustainable socio-economic development policies. In the present work, we evaluate LULC changes and carbon storage changes in the Rapid Urbanization Area (RUA) of Weihai City from 2000 to 2020 using satellite images. Using five Landsat images, the spatio-temporal dynamics of the LULC changes were measured, using a supervised classification algorithm of the neural net and the intensity analysis techniques in GIS. The Landsat images from 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 were categorized into five main land use categories in the researched region: urban areas, woodlands, cultivated areas, bare soil, and water bodies. Our results reveal that urban areas, woodlands, and bare soil increased by about 129.63 km2 (13.29%), 53.07 km2 (5.44%), and 40.99 km2 (4.2%) from 2000 to 2020, respectively. On the contrary, the cultivated areas decreased by 218.35 km2 (22.36%) and the water bodies decreased by 5.44 km2 (0.56%). To summarize, the conversion of cultivated areas into urban areas has been the most significant transformation in the RUA during the period 2000–2020. Regarding carbon storage, in the study area, it decreased by 14.92 × 104 t from 2000 to 2020. Moreover, according to the prediction of the LULC changes for 2030 by the patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model, the cultivated areas and carbon storage will continue to decline. The slow increase in woodland brings good ecological benefits. But the sharp reduction in the per capita cultivated areas will bring environmental and socio-economic problems to the RUA. Therefore, it is time to strengthen the implementation of cultivated area protection policy. Monitoring and managing LULC changes are critical for establishing relationships between policy choices, regulatory measures, and future LULC operations, especially because many potential concerns remain in the RUA territories.