Statistical Sources Research Articles

Comparative analysis of social practices in drug abuse prevention: Russian and international experience

The increasing mortality rate due to drug abuse, including among minors, the rising number of registered individuals with narcotic dependency syndrome, and contemporary characteristics of drug use underscore the social need for analysing drug abuse prevention practices in Russia and other countries. The article presents the results of a review of specialised statistical data and information sources, examining both liberalrestrictive and repressive anti-drug preventive measures. An analysis of current prevention strategies in foreign countries is conducted, including the USA, European countries, China, Japan, and South Korea, along with an examination of anti-drug preventive measures in Russia. The study reveals the greater effectiveness of prevention programmes using a liberal-restrictive approach, which focus on developing protective social skills, stress coping mechanisms, promoting positive interpersonal interactions, and fostering healthy intra-family relationships, in comparison to the repressive approach. The social practices of the latter are based on stricter penalties and intimidation, leading to increased covert drug use, heightened fears of seeking specialised help, exacerbated harmful consequences for users’ health, and a lack of reliable statistical data. The conclusion is drawn that to enhance the effectiveness of drug abuse prevention in Russia, it is advisable to critically evaluate and utilise the experience of countries that emphasise a restrictive approach. The focus should shift from intimidating and harshly punishing drug users to developing positive social skills and creating differentiated support and educational programmes for various population groups.

Loneliness and depression: bidirectional mendelian randomization analyses using data from three large genome-wide association studies.

Major depression (MD) is a serious psychiatric illness afflicting nearly 5% of the world's population. A large correlational literature suggests that loneliness is a prospective risk factor for MD; correlational assocationsof this nature may be confounded for a variety of reasons. This report uses Mendelian Randomization (MR) to examine potentially causal associations between loneliness and MD. We report on analyses using summary statistics from three large genome wide association studies (GWAS). MR analyses were conducted using three independent sources of GWAS summary statistics. In the first set of analyses, we used available summary statistics from an extant GWAS of loneliness to predict MD risk. We used two sources of outcome data: the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) meta-analysis of MD (PGC-MD; N = 142,646) and the Million Veteran Program (MVP-MD; N = 250,215). Finally, we reversed analyses using data from the MVP and PGC samples to identify risk variants for MD and used loneliness outcome data from UK Biobank. We find robust evidence for a bidirectional causal relationship between loneliness and MD, including between loneliness, depression cases status, and a continuous measure of depressive symptoms. The estimates remained significant across several sensitivity analyses, including models that account for horizontal pleiotropy. This paper provides the first genetically-informed evidence that reducing loneliness may play a causal role in decreasing risk for depressive illness, and these findings support efforts to reduce loneliness in order to prevent or ameliorate MD. Discussion focuses on the public health significance of these findings, especially in light of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Алгоритм оценивания публикационной активности преподавателей вузов, направленный на улучшение научно-педагогической деятельности

Purpose: To create a more effective algorithm for evaluating the publication activity of lecturers in comparison with the existing algorithms for the formation of the Hirsch index and ghp-index. Methods: The algorithm includes a mathematical description of all published works of the lecturer and their citations. The results of the scientific activity of the lecturer are reflected using the matrix form of recording statistical source data, consisting of citations for each published work of the author. The sequence of citations of publications in the matrix is determined by the non-increasing nature of citations in subsequent publications compared to the previous ones. The constructed matrix of the distribution of citations S by published works is rebuilt into a block matrix, which includes the following block matrices: H is the base matrix defining the Hirsch index; G is the matrix of significant publications located above the Hirsch matrix; P is the matrix of less-cited works of the lecturer; O is the zero matrix. The formed matrices have allowed the introduction of the following indices using Euclidean norms: h — Hirsch index, g — index of significant publications and p — index of intensive work. In turn, these indices have allowed to determine the following as Euclidean norms: gh — the index of basic significant publications, hp — the index of intensive work of a lecturer and a comprehensive ghp-index that takes into account all the published works of a lecturer and all their citations. The ghp-index has been improved by introducing weighting coefficients for its constituent indices. Results: The ratings of a team of 20 lecturers has been formed using a sample from the RSCI with the help of the Hirsch index and the A-ghp index. It is shown that the proposed algorithm is more effective in comparison with the Hirsch index and other introduced indexes. Practical significance: The conducted research has allowed to substantiate the possibility of using an improved comprehensive index to distribute the incentives of a team of lecturers in a differentiated and fair manner according to their rating. The algorithm aims to improve the scientific and methodological activities of lecturers by providing fair and accurate ranking of the members of their collectives.

How common is low pay in Britain? New findings from linked data

ObjectivesThe Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) is the main source of public statistics on low pay in Britain. As part of the ADR-funded Wage and Employment Dynamics Project, we identify and adjust for non-response biases in ASHE and generate new estimates of the incidence of low pay.
 MethodsWe linked the ASHE data to the Business Structure Database – a research-ready version of the UK’s official register of businesses. This linked dataset enabled us to identify which types of employers were more or less likely to respond to ASHE in a given year, and to generate non-response adjustments to the existing ASHE weights.
 We then used the unique personal identifier on ASHE to link observations across years. We compared rates and correlates of longitudinal attrition in ASHE with rates and correlates of employment exit observed in the ONS Annual Population Survey, generating longitudinal weights to account for non-random attrition.
 ResultsWe find that jobs in smaller organisations, younger organisations and those in the private sector are under-represented in the annual achieved samples from ASHE, relative to their prevalence in the wider economy. The percentage of jobs paid at or below the National Minimum Wage is under-estimated by around one fifth if one does not take account of these cross-sectional response biases.
 We find that longitudinal attrition is more likely to affect younger employees and those with low job tenure. However, we do not find that estimates of the rate at which employees move off the National Minimum Wage to higher rates of pay are biased by non-random patterns of longitudinal attrition.
 ConclusionData linking enables us to identify observable response biases in the UK’s official source of earnings statistics (ASHE). These biases affect our view of the bottom of the wage distribution, and have the potential to affect decisions around a key area of government labour market policy.

Evaluation of Territorial Capacity for Development: Population and Employment

Rural depopulation and its consequences is a critical social, economic, labour and environmental issue. Based on diagnoses carried out five years ago in two rural territories of the Valencian Community (Spain) in a situation of demographic desertification, this paper aims to analyse if the evolution of employment and population has become a driving force for local development in both territories. To this end, triangulated analysis has been conducted using statistical sources, a survey of the respective Local Development and Employment Officers (AEDLs) and application of the new READI© methodology—based on a matrix with indicators evaluating the level of convergence of the resources, actors and dynamics available to the territory. The survey and READI© methodology have allowed us to complete sociodemographic analysis of population and employment to identify the causes that explain the similarities and differences between both territories in their capacity to generate local development processes. As a result of this study, some positive trends can be observed in the period encompassing 2017–2022, changing the preceding negative tendency and allowing us to generate a hopeful approach for such territories if local development policies correct the detected imbalances.

Лесная промышленность горного региона: оценка территориальной организации и рисков развития (по материалам Республики Тыва)

Searching for ways to develop the territories along the eastern border of Russia, including mountainous areas, their manufacturing sectors, among them those in the forestry complex, becomes extremely relevant in current conditions due to the sanctions imposed by the Western countries. In keeping with the goals of this paper and based on studying the stages in the development of economic sectors, analysis and synthesis of data from official statistical sources and authorities as well as modeling of future processes in the mining region, it has been established that in such border mountainous regions of the country as the Republic of Tyva do not fully utilize the existing potential and opportunities for the development of manufacturing, exportoriented industries, especially in the timber industry. In particular, it is shown that in this region, half of the territory of which is covered with forests, there exists a significant potential to increase the volume of harvesting, treatment and deep processing of forest resources (including the volumes of timber up to 1500 thousand m³ per year) and the production of high-quality goods, including the export-oriented ones, provided that environmental protection measures are taken and the level of environmental risks is reduced. The formation of the necessary favorable legislative and legal conditions is proposed for the development of the forest industry in a depressive mountainous region.

SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FORMATION OF A SYSTEM OF FINANCING INNOVATIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

A study has been conducted, the actualisation of which is aimed at solving problems arising in the process of financial support for the implementation of the innovative model of economic development of Ukraine and the participation of banks and other participants in the innovation process. The purpose of the article is to develop a methodological basis for the formation of a system of financing innovative economic development. Methodology. The information base of the study is the official statistical sources and the results of scientific works of leading foreign and domestic scientists. The following methods were used: system methodological approach, synergetic, analytical and synthetic approach; comparison and systematisation; observation; graphic method; logical generalisation. Results. The study highlights the general methodological provisions (purpose, objectives, functions, principles and object), which became the basis for the formation of the system of investor financing of innovative economic development. Value/оriginality. For the first time, the components of the system of financing the innovative development of the economy are specified, i.e., the levels, subjects, objects, purposes and instruments of influence. Macro-, meso- and micro-economic levels are identified, which are considered as a whole and are interrelated. Each of the economic entities contributes to the financing of innovative economic development within the framework of its objectives and instruments of influence. Practical implications. The application of the proposed system of financing the innovative development of the economy will ensure a synergetic effect, the implementation of the strategic goals of innovative development, the realisation of the economic interests of the state and the participants in the innovation process.

Examining the impacts of military expenditures on economic productivity: a system dynamics approach

The relationship between military expenditures and economic productivity has taken the attention of many researchers and there exist an important number of studies approaching the topic through several techniques. However, there is no consensus among the scholars whether military expenditures trigger economic growth, productivity, and other macroeconomic indicators. Such arguments are mainly due to unclear results obtained from the existing studies, in which the complex relationships between military expenditures and macroeconomics are not fully incorporated. Considering the bidirectional and nonlinear relationships among macroeconomic indicators and complex feedback mechanisms, a system dynamics (SD) model for examining the impacts of military expenditures on economic productivity in Turkey is proposed. The proposed SD model aims to reflect the complex environment surrounding the military spending–economic productivity nexus and to analyze the feedback structures that lead to miscellaneous consequences with delays. A stock–flow model is developed to represent the complex nonlinear relationships and causalities between the variables. Data from SIPRI, the World Bank, and several local statistical sources covering the years 2009–2018 are utilized to simulate the existing case, warfare in neighbors, economic shrinkage scenarios, and the combination of the latter two. The results obtained from the scenarios suggest that short fixes such as importing military products instead of national investments give rise to chronic issues like continual dependence on foreign supply, hence, leading to decrease in overall economic growth. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to integrate SD methodology with military expenditure and economic productivity analysis.

Значение масличных культур в повышении устойчивости растениеводства в природно-климатических условиях Южного Урала и Зауралья

The high aridity of the climate of the Southern Urals and Beyond the Urals, where the Kurgan and Chelyabinsk regions are located, forces farmers to constantly look for ways to increase the sustainability of crop production. It is easier to tolerate drought due to their biological characteristics and thereby stabilize the production of oilseeds, while the high domestic and export demand for oilseeds contribute to the fact that in Russia the acreage of sunflower, rapeseed, soybean and oilseed flax is increasing every year. Their cultivation in combination with grain allows you to distribute the organizational load during field work more evenly over time, use technical and labor resources more efficiently, reduce the need for equipment and depreciation. The purpose of the study is to determine the importance in increasing the economic and environmental sustainability of crop production of oilseeds, the most cost-effective for cultivation in the conditions of the Southern Urals and Trans-Urals. The tasks are to analyze weather conditions, the results of variety testing at state export sites and production data on the cultivation of oilseeds in the Kurgan and Chelyabinsk regions. The methods of monographic, mathematical, statistical analysis of data from scientific literature, open statistical sources, agronomic and economic reports of agricultural enterprises were used. The scientific novelty of the research consists in studying the importance of oilseeds in increasing the sustainability of crop production in connection with changes in the natural and climatic conditions of agricultural production. The results of the study showed that high prices for oilseeds, stabilizing the incomes of enterprises, contributed to the expansion of the acreage of oilseeds. It was revealed that with the same level of costs for the cultivation of oilseeds, material resources are used more efficiently compared to grain. It was found that under the prevailing weather conditions and prices for oilseeds during the years of research, the economic stability of crop production among oilseeds was stabilized, first of all, by the most drought-resistant sunflower. The yield of grain crops in the Kurgan and Chelyabinsk regions over the past five, including acutely arid, years has tended to decrease, and sunflower – to increase and less fluctuations over the years.

A supply chain performance assessment model in multinational enterprises using foreign affiliates statistics

With a globalized economy, traditional boundaries are becoming both unclear and uncertain, and it is necessary to analytically measure business globalization to estimate the results of the production activity of resident producer units. The value chains that have bound the world economy are now under new strain. This study presents an analysis of data relating to the activities carried out by a company in multinational territories. We study the distribution of the added value of companies and the relationship with their non-domestic activities for statistical purposes; the type of foreign affiliate known as a branch is considered a quasi-enterprise (Eurostat − Manual on Business Demography Statistics, 2007), resident in one country and controlled by a unit resident in another nation. We use two separate sources of sectoral information for a specific year (2019): Foreign Affiliates Statistics (FATS), covering activities of permanent establishments operating among Italian borders under foreign control, and outward FATS covering the activities of Italian branches abroad. Hence it can be difficult to untangle these complex chains of control; as we detail in this work, the integrated use of archives, statistical, administrative, and tax sources, as well as other information (company sites, profiling of the main multinational groups) allows to select the subset of companies potentially interested in the reality of foreign production a priori, to identify affiliates that are not constituting separate legal entities. This study can be used by public decision maker to highlight fiscal elusive strategies and estimate the real share of domestic and foreign (through stable organizations) production.

Transforming Church Strategies in a Changing Social Landscape: Sunday School Statistics from a Swedish Diocese, 1920–1990

This article offers a reconsideration of religious mobilisation in the inter- and postwar periods. It focuses on how the Church of Sweden gradually altered its catechetical activities aimed at children to meet changing needs. Built on a range of statistical sources, this article calls for a reconsideration of the ways in which larger Protestant denominations adjusted to meet declining religious practices. With a focus on how laypeople became involved in these efforts, it is argued that institutional history, rejuvenated by the introduction of a gender perspective, is essential for our understanding of postwar religious mobilisation in north-western Europe.

Anticholesterol Activity and Mechanisms of Konjac Glucomannan: A Systematic Review

Big Data is the new oil. The real issue of the development of information technology is the existence of Big Data. Big Data is very important, talking about Big Data not only touches the issue of how big data you have, but what can be done with the data. The high cost of Big Data access is inversely proportional to the collection of data through surveys or censuses for free. analysis of the application of efficiency theory in an economic approach in imposing access costs to statistical activities, knowing the impact of imposing Big Data access fee tariffs, knowing the potential of Big Data as a supporter of official statistics in the future, what are the obstacles and solutions in implementing it. The preparation of this paper is juridical-empirical research with the nature of descriptive research with an economic law approach. Big Data is managed for different purposes using different systems and methods and not necessarily using statistical rules. The implementation of Big Data as a new data source is carried out through a combination of data sources. The imposition of Big Data access fees as a source of data supporting official statistics causes low utilization of Big Data as a new data source. The information technology revolution makes Big Data has the potential to complement, replace, improve, add, and improve the composition of existing statistical data sources, and produce more timely outputs. Difficult access and high costs for data collection are major obstacles. Therefore, it needs to be supported by legal instruments that facilitate its implementation in Indonesia. One is the reformulation of existing regulations that make it easier for basic statistical organizations to obtain such data sources for free and use only in the national interest

Law enforcement practice in countering organized forms of complicity in committing envi-ronmental crimes

Based on the official statistical sources available from the Office of the Prosecutor General and the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine, the group component of environmental crime has been analyzed for the period 2009-2022. The long-term criminological analysis made by the authors allowed identifying the specific characteristics of criminals in this category and finding out the indicators of group criminal activity, including as part of organized groups, as well as the types of the encroachment committed. The relevant relative indicators pertaining to the examined categories of crimes are calculated and illustrated in diagrams. By using relative criminological indicators, specifically the proportion of detected and convicted persons who committed environmental crimes as part of a group, and by comparing the results obtained with similar total crime indicators the authors ascertained that the value of the relevant indicator for environmental crimes is significantly higher - 21.2 % versus 11.5 % for total crime in terms of persons detected and 28.3 % versus 15.3 % in terms of persons convicted. It is found that the proportion of the group component of environmental crime and of conviction for environmental crimes is almost twice as high as that of total crime (1.84). The proportion of persons who committed environmental crimes as part of an organized group or a criminal organization amounted to 0.8% of total environmental criminals detected and is almost twice as high as the same indicator for total crime (0.45%). Illegal mining, sale, acquisition, transfer, sending, transportation, and processing of amber account for the largest share of convicts who committed a crime as part of a group (47.0 % in 2022), and this is explained by the crime commission method (the method of hydro-erosion using appropriate technical means). By calculating and comparing the proportion of persons who committed environmental criminal infractions in the structure of all persons who committed environmental criminal offenses with similar indicators of persons who committed the same as part of a group and also as part of an organized group or a criminal organization, the authors proved that there is a correlation between the level of public danger of environmental encroachments and the level of organization of the persons who commit them. It is noted that the statistical analysis made is justified, firstly, by the tasks of typologizing the persons who commit environmental crimes for scientific and practical purposes, and secondly, by explaining the determination of criminal behavior, and thirdly, by developing effective measures to combat the crimes referred to this category.

What caused the downward trend in Japan’s labor share?

Measuring the labor share is not an easy task. Labor share movements often vary depending on both their definition and the measurement scope. This study estimates the labor share in Japan based on two representative government statistical sources—the National Accounts and the “Financial Statements Statistics of Corporations by Industry” —with their differences in coverage and accounting standards corrected. We confirmed a clear downward trend in Japan’s labor share since the 1990 s, both in the total Japanese economy and in the corporate sector. The driving force behind the labor share decline is the significant decrease in the income of the self-employed (mixed income) and in the salaries and bonuses awarded to executives who are owners of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This decrease is attributed to the decline in the number of self-employed individuals and SMEs. By contrast, salaries and bonuses to employees hardly contributed to the decline. These findings suggest that the straightforward narrative that—technological progress, globalization such as the transfer of production overseas, and the expansion of non-regular employment have reduced labor income to employees, thus resulting in a lower labor share—does not directly apply to the Japanese economy. Understanding the mechanism of the decline in Japan’s labor share requires identifying the causes and effects of the decline in the numbers of self-employed individuals and SMEs.

About Governance of Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System – The Case of Bulgaria - part I

This paper examines the governance, efficiency, and development of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) in Bulgaria. The Governance of AKIS includes diverse governing agents, a variety of rules, mechanisms and modes for agents, and the process of governing, and the outcome (specific order and efficiency) of the governance. First, participants in the country’s AKIS and the type of their relations are specified. Second, a diagnosis of the state and trends in AR&D is made. The study is based on available data from statistical sources, official reports, fields surveys as well as assessments of a panel of leading experts in the area and stakeholders’ representatives. The study has found out that AKIS of the country consists of diverse and numerous organisations, for which activities and complex relations have no sufficient official or other reliable information. Bulgarian AKIS demonstrates low resource endowment and efficiency, domination of outdated public institutions and undeveloped private sector, insufficient sharing of knowledge and innovations, slow and uneven application of modern technologies, varieties, production and management methods, digitalisation, etc. in different types of farms, sub-sectors of agriculture and regions of the country.

Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Scarlet Fever in Russia

Relevance. In recent decades, large outbreaks of scarlet fever have been reported in European and Asian countries. Severe forms of the infection have become more frequent and the number of complications has also increased.Aim. To assess the incidence of scarlet fever in the Russian Federation using the official statistical sources, to identify the clinical features of scarlet fever among adults.Materials and methods. Analysis of the level and dynamics of the long-term incidence of scarlet fever in the entire population and among different age groups in Russia from 1890 to 2021 was performed based on the data of annual statistical forms. A clinical and epidemiological descriptive retrospective census study was conducted using data from the case histories of patients diagnosed with “scarlet fever” in The Infectious Disease Clinical Hospital No. 2 Moscow Healthcare Department from 2010 to 2022.Results. Three major cycles (40-50 years) can be distinguished in the long term with regard to incidence. In 1986, the rise in incidence was noted after 30 years since the previous one and it was less intensive. In the first cycle, rates increased gradually over almost 10 years beginning from 1891. In subsequent years, the incidence remained high (220-280 per 100,000), decreasing markedly to 50-60 per 100,000 population only by 1917-1918. The second cycle, from 1918 to 1942, was characterized by increasing rates (up to 462 per 100,000 population). In the third cycle (1946 - 1981), incidence rate reached a peak by 1955 (531.8 per 100,000 population), and started to gradually decrease afterwards. There were cycles lasting 3–6 years in in this period The fourth cycle (1982-1991) was not so large. In recent years (2007–2021), the incidence decreased 7.3 times (from 45.4 to 6.2 per 100 thousand). The average incidence rate during this period was 29.8 per 100 thousand. In 2022, the incidence of streptococcal infection increased 2.8 times (including scarlet fever – 3 times). The incidence increases were observed in the group 0-14 years and 14 and older (from 298,2 to 34,1 and from1,6 to 0,1respectively). As in the previous years (fourth cycle), children aged 3-6 years were the main contributors to the incidence of scarlet fever (the average incidence rate – 452,1 per 100,000). The average age of patients admitted to the hospital was 24 years (18–45 years). There was an increase in the average age of patients since 2017. During the study period, the number of hospitalized adults with scarlet fever decreased by half. In most cases (98.56%) the patients had a moderate condition at admission and only 3 had a severe condition (1.44%). The most common comorbid diagnoses were ENT-organs infections (9%), urinary tract infections (3.35%) and Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome (2.87%). Scarlet fever had a complicated course of infection in 19 patients (9.09%). In the treatment were used cephalosporin (52.63%) and penicillin (41.63%).Conclusions. This study demonstrated a stable downward trend in the incidence of scarlet fever in the population of the Russian Federation in recent years until 2021. In 2022, the incidence increased 3 times (18.7 per 100 thousand). The number of hospitalizations among adults with scarlet fever and the number of patients with complications have decreased. The average age of patients by 5 years have increased. The treatment was carried out in accordance with clinical recommendations and the antibiotic resistance of the pathogen.

Formation of civil society in Ukraine in the post-soviet period

The article analyzes the main stages of formation of civil society in Ukraine since independence. Formation of the third sector, shown by the authors against the background of state policy in this area and political events in Ukraine. Based on the analysis of Ukrainian legislation, the study identifies the main stages of state policy in the field of promoting the development of civil society institutions. The analysis of statistical sources helped to establish not only the quantitative characteristics of the development of civil society institutions, but also to identify the main areas of their activities. Researchers conclude that civil society in Ukraine has developed over a long period of time against the background of sometimes contradictory state policy in this area and the lack of a broad social base for the activities of public organizations. As large masses of active, purposeful, motivated citizens who were not members of public organizations, became not only the driving force of the two revolutions to return to the ideals of freedom and equality, but also hinder the emergence of authoritarianism, and now the occupation of the country in Russian-Ukrainian war.

LONG- AND SHORT-TERM EVOLUTION OF SALE PRICES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN UKRAINE IN 2010-2021

The price is an indicator that accumulates information about the cost of production, balance between supply and demand, its quality evaluation by consumers, the variety of offer by manufacturers and other characteristics. The price is formed not only as a mathematically calculated value depending on the cost price or accompanying costs, but it considers the market situation. Prices on agricultural products are influenced by such industry specific as production seasonality.
 The source data base was analyzed to study prices evolution for some agricultural products in Ukraine. In particular, the features of changes in price indicators were revealed and described for fruit, berries, potatoes, grains, legumes, and oil crops.
 Vegetable price data set was analyzed to reconstruct evolution of price fluctuations for the period of January 2010 - December 2021. Decomposing method was applied to extract trend, seasonal and random components from time series. It allowed to build short- and long-term tendencies on the base of its fluctuations. A multiplicative model was approximated to understand dynamics of price index and reveal its behavior in impact circumstances of nature and economic factors. Price fluctuations for agricultural products is presented monthly and in years. It helped to describe long-term trend of price evolution. Moreover, modelling let us to predict values for 2022 and 2023. Forecasted values were compared with factual data from official statistical sources. 
 According to results of analysis predicted dynamics almost completely repeated real tendency, in seasonality. Nevertheless, prices of 2022-2023 years were influenced by Russian invasion consequences. Prices soared over the predicted values. That happened because of destruction of the logistics for agricultural products supply, loss of farm assets, contamination of land with explosive substances, rise of inflation, increase of costs and demand on deficient goods, shortening of products and raw supply. At the same time, it is demonstrated that prices of products of so-called "borscht set" have been constantly increasing since 2013. That was caused by inflation and poor harvests. Mentioned factors led to that certain vegetables were imported from abroad.

A Comprehensive dataset for Australian mine production 1799 to 2021

Given that metals, minerals and energy resources extracted through mining are fundamental to human society, it follows that accurate data describing mine production are equally important. Although there are often national statistical sources, this typically includes data for metals (e.g., gold), minerals (e.g., iron ore) or energy resources (e.g., coal). No such study has ever compiled a national mine production data set which includes basic mining data such as ore processed, grades, extracted products (e.g., metals, concentrates, saleable ore) and waste rock. These data are crucial for geological assessments of mineable resources, environmental impacts, material flows (including losses during mining, smelting-refining, use and disposal or recycling) as well as facilitating more quantitative assessments of critical mineral potential (including possible extraction from tailings and/or waste rock left by mining). This data set achieves these needs for Australia, providing a world-first and comprehensive review of a national mining industry and an exemplar of what can be achieved for other countries with mining industry sectors.

Higher Education in Mexico: The Effects and Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic

This review examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education in Mexico. It acknowledges the difficulties and disruptions caused by the global emergency but also emphasizes the opportunities for reflection and learning that have emerged. This work employed a comprehensive methodology, including a thorough literature search across multiple academic databases and consultation with national statistical sources and newspapers. Sixty-nine articles were selected based on predetermined keywords and criteria, leading to the identification of two central themes: impacts and implications on higher education and innovation in teaching and learning experiences. The findings shed light on the effects of the pandemic and highlight the need for resources, pedagogical considerations, and a reevaluation of priorities in the education sector. The review concludes by emphasizing the importance of improving equity, quality, and long-term sustainability in higher education in Mexico while recognizing the opportunity for educational reform in the post-pandemic era.