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The main part of companies in Bulgaria are built, however in the 70s, and upgraded last decade. The country supplies around 80 % of its supplies of paper, paperboard and pulp with own production. Integrated treatment of wastes is a priority for realizing closed life cycle of materials. The aim of the present work is to investigate the composition and other important characteristics of biomass wood ash wasted from paper industry. The correlations and associations among the chemical characteristics are also studied to find some basic trends and important relationships between two similar wastes from different enterprises. It was proved that all samples taken contained Ba, Cr, Mn, Ni, Co, Al, Fe, Cu and Zn far below the legal limits for such type of products. A product has a certain anti-acidic effect. The other positive result was that the content of iron is between 34 to 60 mg per 1 kg dry waste. The microscopic photos confirmed that the particles are close to the nano-size materials. The content of the elements C, N, H is in good quantities and ratios, which is a prerequisite for their use as a soil improver. By the results of this study, it was confirmed that all samples produced as a result of the thermal treatment and final low water content achieved are free from pathogen microorganisms and different weed seeds, affecting the yield and soil sustainability. That allows determining the optimal ratio between the used components with a view to obtain products with desired thermal stability and physico-chemical properties as soil improvers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Rosa consists of more than 200 species. Among these Rosa damascena Mill belongs to the Damask group of roses which are known for their strong fragrance. R. damascena has been cultivated as garden rose in some west European collections but it is mainly grown for production of rose oil and rose water obtained after steam distillation of the rose flowers. It is considered that the oil rose originates from ancient Persia (today Iran) and has been later spread to Europe and Northern Africa. By the 14th century the Damask roses were already grown in West European rose collections as garden roses. Rose oil is mainly used in the perfumery and cosmetics industry as a base component of many of the modern perfumes but it also finds application in the food industry as a flavor additive. The main producers of rose oil are Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran and India. Smaller amounts of rose oil and mainly rose water are produced in the countries of Northern Africa. The price of the rose oil has been growing during the last years. The rose oil and rose flower extracts have been studied for a number of health-beneficial effects including antibacterial activity, antioxidant activity, anti-infective and anti-inflammatory properties, relaxant effects on tracheal chains and anti-HIV activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the hope of rapid development of rural tourism in Bulgaria, how to innovate and optimize the marketing mode and successfully achieve marketing purposes is an urgent problem for the marketing of rural tourism destinations. Based on the analysis of destinations in Bulgaria like Botevgrad, Chiprovtsi, Radomir, etc., this paper has proposed suggestions on designing tourist products in the provinces of Bulgaria. The ambition is to encourage rural areas to make full use of local superior resources, including traditional folk culture, old churches and pastoral views to build traditional leisure agricultural projects, protect the precious historic and cultural heritage and promote the prosperity of local rural economy. The research is based on field research of the specific places with the cooperation of local authorities and different organizations. The paper begins with a literature review concerning the role of tourism in sustainable destination development, considering the specificities of rural tourism, and the contribution of this tourism to sustainable development of rural areas. The literature review is followed by a case study for 3 regions in Bulgaria. Via qualitative and quantitative approach, the case study identifies the views of diverse stake holders (visitors, public, private agents of supply, residents and consultants). The methodology and observations under the analysis are presented and open for discussion. The paper ends with some prescriptions and offers for marketing strategy creation. In conclusion there are some suggestions on how to make the rural area sustainable through marketing strategies on rural tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past decade has witnessed an escalating, well-financed, and well-organized international mobilization against any study, policy, or discussion related to gender or LGBTQI+ issues in many parts of the world. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe have been disproportionately affected by this backlash, resulting in public threats and violence against scholars and representatives of the nongovernmental sector who work on gender and LGBTQI+ issues. The anti-gender mobilization has been extremely successful in Bulgaria, where there have been numerous threats against scholars, nongovernmental organizations, and public figures dealing with gender and sexuality issues. The Bulgarian Constitutional Court was the first court on a global level to pronounce the term "gender" anti-constitutional in response to a request submitted by the government regarding ratification of the so-called Istanbul Convention. Dealing with gender and LGBTQI+ studies in Bulgaria is believed to be "illegal" by many, based on the court's decision. As a result, any approaches to gender and sexuality that do not fit essentialist and religious beliefs have become dangerous and have endangered knowledge in many contexts. In this paper, I discuss the rapid development of the anti-gender mobilization within certain neoliberal discourses and values, and using the concept of a "neoliberal utopian gaze," I outline the challenges gender and sexuality studies have faced. Based on case studies, personal experiences, and public discourses, the paper explores how gender and sexuality studies have been affected by (1) institutional decisions, (2) manipulation of scientific information, (3) radical political populism, (4) transnational religious movements, and (5) the advancement of social media. Finally, the paper discusses possible solutions to this alarming trend, paying particular attention to academic solidarity, knowledge production, and institutionally coordinated policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the possibility of transport development as a factor for the rural integration of a population of over 100,000 using the example of the city of Stara Zagora in Bulgaria. The analysis showed that improving the access of the rural population to the agglomeration areas can be done through the combination of inter-urban transport that connects the villages with the nearby city The purpose of developing this process is to increase the access of the rural population to the cities and, accordingly, to bring out the problems that the people of the villages have in terms of urban transport. Based on a proposed methodology, we propose to highlight the main public transport problems of the rural population. On the other hand, to propose different views and models to achieve higher efficiency of urban transport and its implementation in rural areas. In this paper, quantitative and qualitative analysis is used and the results are also used to assess the impact of price fluctuations on vegetable marketing channels including vegetable processing enterprises. Data on vegetable prices were extracted from the tempo on line database and the analysis was also based on interviews with key stakeholders in the vegetable processing chain. The results reveal a high coefficient of variation at the farm gate stage, which is also transmitted to the distribution and commercialization stage. The analysis was also carried out at the processing level and the results also show a rather high coefficient of variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the digitalization of the economy and the increasing demand for resources have created several challenges for developing countries, their regions, and urban agglomerations. Therefore, many governments have undertaken significant changes in the policies applied to developing regions and cities. These new concepts are aimed at gradually building sustainable and smart cities. This is the response of countries to new challenges such as the digital environment, combating climate change, and maintaining favorable living conditions due to the strong environmental and socio-economic degradation. In this regard, the authors set as their main research objective to analyze and assess the sustainability of cities and the surrounding territory by implementing sustainable development policies at all levels. A major task and difficulty for the authors is to build upon and refine a model that can be used to assess sustainable and smart cities. In this paper, the authors propose an approach to studying sustainable cities, thus evaluating the effects of policies implemented in this field. The model includes the main groups of indicators that are used to analyze the sustainable and smart development of municipalities in the Northeast region of Bulgaria. Based on these indicators, data is collected, and processed, and comparative and statistical analysis is carried out to assess their sustainability and intelligence. The authors reach important conclusions such as an unsatisfactory level of sustainable and intelligent development, although the environment and conditions at the national level are favorable. In fact, in Bulgaria, based on the assessment of the studied municipalities in the Northeast region, it is clear that we cannot talk about sustainable cities because Bulgarian municipalities are still at the beginning of this development path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dipsacus gmelinii is here reported as a new addition to the vascular flora of Bulgaria. It was recorded on Belene Island, in the Danube River. In the present paper, the species is described morphologically with an emphasis on carpomorphological characters. The distinctive differences from related species of the genus are also highlighted. Additionally, ecological conditions and floristic composition at the localities of the species, and phytosociological relationships of the communities in which it participates are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the role played by organizational ambidexterity and open innovation in innovation outputs, considering business units with different levels of technological intensity (medium-high and high tech, and medium-low and low tech) for countries with different innovation profiles. The countries considered in this paper are i) Estonia and Slovenia as innovation followers; ii) Slovakia, Hungary, Spain, Czech Republic, Italy, Portugal, Norway, and Croatia as moderate innovators; and iii) Bulgaria, Lithuania and Romania as modest innovators. In the empirical approach, the research hypotheses arise from the literature review and are tested using secondary data collected from the Community Innovation Survey (CIS) 2010. The conceptual model is tested using the logistic regression method, which indicates suitable accuracy and reliability for empirical testing purposes. The evidence reveals that for innovation followers, ambidexterity has a greater influence on the practice of eco-innovation, marketing innovation, and product innovation. For moderate innovators, ambidexterity has a greater influence on the practice of product innovation, process innovation, and eco-innovation. Concerning modest innovators, ambidexterity has a greater influence on the practice of product innovation, process innovation, and eco-innovation. With regard to open innovation, for innovation followers, this has a negative influence on product innovation in medium-high and high-tech companies. For moderate innovators, open innovation has a greater influence in process, organizational, and ecoinnovation. In the case of modest innovators, open innovation is more significant for innovation outputs in product, organizational, and marketing innovation. Size is not always positively related to innovation outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper compares physical and chemical characteristics of technogenic soil profiles at coal mine spoil from Maritsa-Iztok Mines. Sites with coniferous vegetation and without vegetation were selected. Brief comparison was made between physicochemical characteristics of studied soil profiles and those from other mine spoils. Relations with previous studies are also provided. The technogenic soil profiles have high cation exchange capacity and organic carbon content. Soil water repellency was measured and its correlation with studied soil characteristics of the Technosols was established. The water drop penetration time (WDPT) decreases sharply after heating of extremely hydrophobic soil samples. Before heating it correlates significantly with exchangeable cations of aluminium (R*WDPT-Al = 0.863) in the soil profile under pine and less with hydrogen in the profile without vegetation (RWDPT-H8.2 = 0.409). In the pine site, significant correlation was also found between the WDPT and the total organic carbon (R*WDPT-TOC = 0.711) as well as with fulvic organic carbon (R*WDPT-FOC = 0.824). In the non-vegetated soil profile, the correlation is significant with the fraction of unextracted organic carbon (R*WDPT-Cunextr. = 0.644). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an algorithm for organizing and grouping data related to the expenditures by education levels in Bulgaria. The built database is used as a source from which the necessary information is searched depending on the entered indicators and time interval. The considered indicators include the public and private expenditures by education levels for the period2012-2020. The extracted subsets of elements are processed and analyzed. In this connection, four groups of variables are calculated and discussed. The results show that the expenditures in four of the education levels (primaryand pre-primary education as well as upper and lower secondary education) grow over the last five years (2016-2020). The quoted indicator inpost-secondary, non-tertiary education isreduced gradually in 2016-2019. During 2015, as compared to 2014, the expenditures in the considered 7 levels of education decreased in the range from 0.29% to 7.81%. This work calculates the share of expenditure for tertiary educationbachelor, master and doctor in comparison with the total expenditures for education in the indicatedtime period. The obtained value of the variable for this education level is the highest. It is 29.74%. The values of this variable are significantly lower for the following two levels of education - tertiary education-professional bachelor and postsecondary, non-tertiary education. They are 1.54% and 0.29% respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with a quantitative assessment of the production efficiency of the forestry sector in EU countries, which is largely neglected in the literature. Only a few studies have been conducted so far, processing data mainly in the first half of the last decade. In contrast to these studies, in this article we focus on the period between 2016 and 2020. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to compare the efficiency of the forest sector to fill the gap. The empirical results of this study show that the leaders in this sector are Germany, Finland, and the Czech Republic. These countries are fully efficient throughout the period under review. In contrast, Bulgaria lags far behind, with an efficiency score typically around 35%. The results of the cluster analysis show that although countries have similar characteristics, their efficiency scores are not necessarily at the same level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to present the need and the importance of using efficiently the energy and finding new ways to improve the transport based on renewable energy. The paper is based on a large number of official information sources which are structured and presented in the author's opinion. The main results emphasize that the Danube region is a large river basin and ecological corridor requiring a regional approach to nature conservation, spatial planning and water management. The environmental impact of transport links, tourist constructions or new energy production facilities must also be considered. Transport policy has been given a new direction: achieving a 'sustainable through flexibility' system, which means organizing transport in such a way as to optimize energy consumption. The development of the national transmission system shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements of conservation and environmental protection and the rational use of energy. The protection of human life and the environment is a priority in all transport-related relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the paper is to analyze and evaluate the demographic development trends in Bulgaria as well as to identify demographically problematic rural areas and the consequences of their development. Based on information from the National Statistical Institute, the demographic processes in the rural areas of Bulgaria for the period 2011-2021 are analyzed. The obtained results show the high rate of population decline in some regions of Bulgaria and the unfavorable values of the coefficients for demographic dependence and replacement. Rural areas of our country are experiencing faster depopulation than cities. This leads to significant territorial disparities in the manifestation of the observed processes. The last part emphasizes the need to implement regional demographic policies aimed at stimulating families with children and reforming professional education. It is also recommended to implement a proactive immigration policy to attract Bulgarians living abroad and immigrants from third countries with the necessary educational and professional qualifications to reduce the negative effects of the labor shortage in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of the investment flows from Greek to Bulgarian regions against the context of COVID-19. Employing a mixed research method, it investigates the initial impact of COVID-19 on regional FDI flows from Greece to Bulgaria and intends to explore to which extent the pandemic acts as an impediment to firm relocation, by examining regional investment flows from 2013 to 2020. The effects of the COVID-19 macroeconomic shock are placed in the context of the existing conditions shaped by the 2008 global economic crisis. The paper also attempts to provide a critical insight of factors underlying investment flows. The results indicate that there was a limited investment halt but no disinvestment from the Greek to Bulgarian regions in the first year of the COVID-19 outbreak. Low and stable taxation, cheap labour and efficient regulatory regime attract Greek investments in Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Bulgaria, a National Health Information System was launched, which started e-health care. The process covered all participants and main flows of information in the sector: - Electronic Health Record (patient file); - Electronic recipes (e-recipes); - Electronic directions (e-directions); This paper presents the results of a pilot study to create safety of obstetric care in e-health conditions. The aim of the study is to examine the opinion of working professionals providing obstetric care in conditions of e-health, increasing the safety of the processes. Methods and methodology: a survey was conducted among 106 medical specialists directly engaged in the activities of the hospital wards of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Varna for the period January-March 2023. The results are processed and presented graphically. Results and discussion: more than half of the respondents (53.13% of medics and 51.35% of healthcare pro)fessionals) have difficulty working with a database. More than 60% believe that the work process is facilitated with the introduced amendments regarding the work with electronic file, compared to paper media. Aggravating factors for the workflows are the frequent change of requirements in the regulatory framework and the lack of clear regulations for content and requisites of the electronic file. In conclusion, with the rapid development of electronic forms of communication and information technologies are the basis of the most successful economic, administrative, health activities that support the processes of diag)nosis, treatment in hospital structures. They save time, resources, ensure patient safety and improve the quality of service when providing electronic peripheral sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Nasopharyngeal cancers (NPC) are very aggressive, and the recurrence rate after radical therapy is high. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of brachytherapy (BT) also called interventional radiotherapy (IRT) in primary NPC in comparison with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) alone. Material and methods: A systematic search was performed in Scopus, Cochrane, and PubMed databases. Clinical query based on PICO framework was as follows: In patients with NPC (P), is EBRT plus IRT (I) superior to EBRT alone (C) in terms of local control (LC) and toxicity (O)? Full articles evaluating the efficacy of IRT as a boost after EBRT in patients with NPC were considered. Results: Eight papers, including 1,320 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The median 5-year LC for IRT group and no-IRT group was 98% (range, 95.8-100%) and 86% (range, 80.2-91%), respectively; the median 5-year overall survival (OS) for IRT group and no-IRT group was 93.3% (range, 89.2-97.5%) and 82.9% (range, 74.8-91.1%), respectively; the median 5-year DFS for IRT group and no-IRT group was 94.2% (range, 92.5-96%) and 83.9% (range, 73.3-94.6%), respectively; the median 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) for IRT group and no-IRT group was 96% (range, 94.5-97.5%) and 88.2% (range, 83.4-93.1%), respectively. G1-2 and G3-4 toxicities were similar in some articles, or significantly lower in patients treated with IRT in other papers. Conclusions: Data suggest that IRT may improve results of external beam radiotherapy in primary NPCs, especially when using new technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principal economic sector devoted to the breeding, raising, and production of farm animals is known as the livestock industry. There are precise standards for making high-quality feed in animal husbandry. Precision livestock feeding is a crucial component, with the potential to significantly impact the profitability of livestock; it permits the provision of diets to animals that are precisely tailored to their specific daily nutritional needs. Through simulation modeling, a single model can be created for automated systems to determine daily rations for farm animals. For the purposes of this document, precision livestock feeding refers to the practice of tailoring feed to individual animals or groups of animals, taking into account their changing nutritional needs over time and individual differences in terms of nutritional requirements. The practice aims to optimize animal health and performance while reducing feed waste. This paper presents a formal model for determining the quantities of components needed to achieve a minimum cost mixture that satisfies compositional and quantitative criteria. The present research calculates the amount of hay and silage required to feed an animal per day at the most economical cost by applying an optimization approach that involves defining and solving an optimization problem. The problem is solved using a well-known software package, which is necessary for the practical application of the resulting model. Real data from livestock production in Bulgaria are used to numerically test the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this article is to recount the birth and development of midwifery and maternal care education in Bulgaria after the Bulgarian Liberation at the end of XIX and the beginning of the XX century. The researchers set the following tasks: 1) to present the main reasons for the emergence of professional midwifery education in post-Liberation Bulgaria; 2) to show the place and role of the first professionally trained midwives in Bulgaria; 3) to outline the seminal work of notable personalities for the development of professional midwifery care. Historical method was used, secondary historical sources, documents and scientific papers were reviewed. Conclusions: Professional midwifery education helped the introduction and spread of modern Obstetrics/Gynecology medicine, which lead to decrease in maternal and infant mortality and slowly improved quality of life for Bulgarian women and children. Bulgarian nationals educated abroad brought to the country the scientific foundation and best practices in maternal health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an analysis of the complex global reproduction networks driving the rapidly expanding cross-border surrogacy industry in Asia's reproductive bioeconomy. It sheds light on the unique features of informal surrogacy networks, notable for their flexible business ties and non-standardized surrogate mother recruitment. These factors contribute to heightened vulnerability for surrogate mothers operating within these networks. While previous literature has underscored the merits of labor law in regulating the surrogacy industry, its application in informal cross-border surrogacy remains under-examined. To address this gap, this research delves into innovative labor law strategies with potential to better regulate the surrogacy sector. Drawing inspiration from progressive labor regulations and supply chain strategies in Bulgaria and Australia, the proposed model aims to redefine the traditional employment relationship. This shift is aimed at bolstering protection for surrogate mothers and enforcing accountability throughout the surrogacy business network. The model further advocates for a collective framework that fosters collaboration and mandates the documentation and registration of surrogacy contracts. Moreover, it underscores the critical significance of international collaboration in bridging regulatory gaps and distributing accountability across consumer and supply states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainfall, with its intensity, duration, and seasonal distribution, is among the main factors causing soil erosion, which is a widespread environmental problem in Bulgaria. Rainfall erosivity shows the potential of precipitation to generate erosion processes and is an essential indicator of the climate vulnerability of a region. This paper aims to evaluate rainfall erosivity in a part of the Eastern Rhodopes Mountains, an area that is characterised by high-intensity erosion processes and high erosion risk. Local peculiarities of rainfall erosivity were revealed by the calculation of some precipitation indices based on the monthly precipitation for the period 2000–2021, such as the precipitation concentration index (PCI), Angot precipitation index, Fournier index (FI), and modified Fournier index (MFI). The analysis of the extremely wet and extremely dry months at the annual and seasonal (October–March and April–September) levels was performed to evaluate the susceptibility to erosion. The results from the study show that rainfall erosivity in the studied area varies from low to moderate in the northern part of the study area and from high to very high in the south. According to the MFI, high and very high erosivities have been observed mainly since 2012. The erosivity increases from north to south, to the area with a complex relief, where the combination of orography and atmospheric circulation make favourable conditions for the occurrence of extreme precipitation. The analyses of the calculated indices show that the precipitations in most of the studied area generally have from a low to a moderate erosivity, but this does not exclude the occurrence of cases with high and very high erosivities, which are characteristic of recent years and are related to the increase in annual precipitations and extreme precipitation months. The results of this study can contribute to the development and implementation of measures and preventive activities for the reduction and possible elimination of the negative impacts of extreme precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valorization of high-volume mine tailings could be achieved by the development of new geopolymers with a low CO2 footprint. Materials rich in aluminum and silicon with appropriate solubility in an alkaline medium can be used to obtain a geopolymer. This paper presents a study of copper mine tailings from Bulgaria as precursors for geopolymers. Particle size distribution, chemical and mineralogical composition, as well as alkaline reactivity, acidity and electroconductivity of aqueous slurry are studied. The heavy metal content and their mobility are studied by leaching tests. Sequential extraction was applied to determine the geochemical phase distribution of heavy metals. The studied samples were characterized by high alkalinity, which could favor the geopolymerization process. The water-soluble sulphates were less than 4%. The Si/Al ratio in mine tailing was found to be 3. The alkaline reactivity depended more so on the time of extraction than on the concentration of NaOH solution. The main part of the heavy metals was found in the residual fraction; hence, in high alkaline medium during the geopolymerization process, they will stay fixed. Thus, the obtained geopolymers could be expected to exert low environmental impact. The presented results revealed that studied copper mine tailing is a suitable precursor for geopolymerization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents research on the hypothesis that by deepening their understanding of children's rights, future specialists with a pedagogical focus will significantly improve their abilities in a practical environment. The aims of the study such as the rights of the child and its place in the current educational system in Bulgaria are presented. Students from different pedagogical specialties are objects of the study. Questions from a two-part survey are described where the first part contains questions concerning the students’ awareness of children’s rights and the second part focuses on the acquired and expanded knowledge as well as its practical application. The analysis of the results shows that knowledge about children’s rights is a crucial part of the professional competencies of specialists with a pedagogical focus and has a positive influence on their abilities to teach children in a practical environment. Acquaintance with the present research would be extremely beneficial for anyone wishing to improve their practical skills in working with children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the constitution of a moral economy of welfare through acts of benefit fraud. The structural conditions of contemporary labour, citizenship, and migration regimes in Europe exclude large shares of workers from access to social citizenship and place them in a position of undeserving trespassers of the social contract. Drawing on the case of Bulgarian Roma engaged in precarious labour and short-term intensive mobility between Bulgaria and the Netherlands, I show how labour conditions in both countries and the structures of the welfare regimes effectively exclude them from access to social citizenship and confine them to the realms of informal work, thus putting them in a position of differential inclusion. The benefit fraud in this context has multiple interpretations—ranging from crime through a survival strategy to a claim to social justice. By mobilizing the idea of the moral economy of welfare, I seek to explain how migrants justify their actions not as transgression, but as a claim to social citizenship and a critique of an unjust social and economic order. In a moral economy of welfare, the migrants see themselves as deserving state support both by virtue of being citizens and of being good workers. Being excluded from proper welfare support is interpreted as a failure of both states. In this context, the fraud is framed in moral terms as an act of citizenship aiming to restore justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The provision of public goods is associated with major challenges, such as trade-offs between environmental performance and farm profitability, time interval between action and impact, and potential mismatch between scales of action and effects. As a result, several public goods in rural areas, such as water and air quality, soil erosion control, carbon capture, animal and plant biodiversity and recreation, are characterized by insufficient provision. EU agricultural policy, has partially refocused its goal on providing public goods in rural areas, taking into account today’s societal requirements. The goal of this paper is to analyze possible implementation of different environmental contract solutions to improved delivery of agri-environmental public goods (AEPGs) in Bulgaria. The results of this study aim to search for innovative mechanisms enabling to boost farmers’ provision of agri-environmental climate public goods. The novelty of this study is the exploration of improved contract solutions and their future implementation in Bulgarian farms for fulfillment of lack of public funding and environmental deterioration. The analysis is based on the survey with 96 farmers conducted in the period January – March 2021. The result from the survey shows that Bulgarian farmers adopt to a highest extent measures regarding soil resources, where measures for water resources represent a very narrow percentage. However, future intentions of respondents show high willingness to adopt measures regarding water resources and carbon storage. From different environmental contracts analyzed in the paper, the resultbased contracts are the most well accepted among farmers and represent a future alternative for agri-environmental contracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scientific article explores the potential of The Great Reset initiative to revive Bulgarian agriculture by proposing a transformative approach to address the critical challenges faced by the sector. The paper employs a logical sequence of analysis and argumentation beginning with a literature review on The Great Reset and its potential impact on the sector. The analysis highlights the pressing need for a structural reform in Bulgarian agriculture. The paper proposes a reframing process to address these challenges through The Great Reset framework, drawing on insights and findings to develop specific recommendations for policymakers, farmers, and other stakeholders. The results section of the paper highlights the potential impact of The Initiative on the transformation of Bulgarian agriculture. The discussion section analyzes the positive and negative correlation between The Great Reset policies and the transformation of Bulgarian agriculture. The paper concludes that The Great Reset is not only desirable, but could also be a necessary catalyst for the transformation of Bulgarian agriculture. The conclusion section provides practical guidance for stakeholders seeking to embrace a divergent vision for the sector. This scientific article offers a convincing case for why The Great Reset initiative can be crucial for the transformation of Bulgarian agriculture. It underscores the importance of a holistic, collaborative, and forward-looking approach that can help unlock the potential of Bulgarian agriculture and position it for long-term sustainability and growth. As such, it contributes to the ongoing debates about the future of agriculture in Bulgaria and offers action oriented recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The National Sports Academy "V. Levski" in Bulgaria is a leading educational and scientific institution in Europe for producing specialised personel in the field of Wellness & Spa tourism. The majority of graduates students (Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degree) immediately find high-paying jobs abroad and leave the country. Methods: This paper aims to discuss and analyse the ongoing brain drain in the Bulgarian Wellness & Spa tourism industry. The study examines changes in values and beliefs that have significant impacts on employment, labor, and human behavior. Results: The high salaries offered to specialized personnel in the field of Wellness & Spa tourism has resulted in an annual brain drain to countries such as Europe, the USA, and the Emirates. Despite historical traditions, Bulgarian Wellness & Spa businesses are struggling due to the shortage of well-trained personnel. Discussion: This paper discusses changes in lifestyle and the underlying causes for the permanent shortage of qualified employees in the Wellness & Spa tourism industry. The negative economic impact of brain drain on Bulgaria as a tourist destination is also emphasised. Conclusion: The brain drain in the Bulgarian Wellness & Spa tourism industry is affecting operational, managerial, and scientific staff. It is essential to implement policy changes to safeguard the sector. These policies should aim to attract and retain specialized personnel, as well as offer competitive salaries and benefits. Failure to address brain drain could lead to long-term negative impacts on the Bulgarian economy and the country's Wellness & Spa industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper studies data concerning consumer monetary expenditure in Bulgaria. They are structured and saved in several tables of a built data base. The considered objects are 10 different expenditures. A statistical analysis applied to these data on consumer monetary expenditure in Bulgaria is presented for the time period 2012-2021. The necessary information is searched and extracted from the indicated data base. As a result of the performed analysis of variance and Tukey's test four groups with statistically proven differences are obtained for the examined expenditures, average per household. A similar conclusion can be formed about the considered expenditures, average per person. As a whole, consumer monetary expenditure, average per household, increased in eight of the listed ten years. A quite small decline is found during 2016 as well as 2020. It is 1.36% for the first of the listed years and 1.32% for the second one. Approximately the same results are established for the consumer monetary expenditure average per person, where an insignificant decrease is calculated only for 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When designing and manufacturing machines and installations for processing, transporting and storing grain and seeds, it is necessary to know some of their basic physical and mechanical characteristics. They are also necessary for the correct selection of the operating modes of the facilities in the grain warehouses. In this paper, an engineering and technical classification of the mass-grown cereals, legumes and oilseed crops in Bulgaria is presented. For the most used varieties and hybrids, density of grains (seeds), hectoliter mass, angle of natural slope, and angle of friction on smooth materials are determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring post-fire forest disturbances and subsequent recovery is vital for the management and preservation purposes of the forest ecosystems. This study aimed to assess forests' damages and regrowth dynamics after fire using remotely sensed data and to compare its reliability for post-fire monitoring in different forest environments. This paper compared forest regrowth dynamics applying selected spectral indices - Differenced Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (dNDVI), Differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR), and Differenced Disturbance Index (dDI). The post-fire environmental impact and recovery processes were performed on the territory of the three fires in Bulgaria - Ardino, Bistrishko branishte, and Perperek. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, climate change has become a critical global issue with far-reaching consequences for regional climates and ecosystems. While regional climate models provide valuable information, there is a growing need for high-resolution simulations to assess local impacts. This paper addresses this gap by presenting the first simulation of a 3 km convection-permitting (CP) scenario simulation for Bulgaria. The main aim of this study is to assess different precipitation indices and their future changes for Bulgaria under the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) scenario following the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment Flagship Pilot Study protocol. The simulations are evaluated against high-resolution observations. We downscale Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 Global Climate Model (CMIP5 GCM) data for historical (1995–2004) and future (2089–2098) periods using a regional climate model (RCM) at 15 km grid spacing and parametrized convection. We use these fields as initial and boundary conditions for convection-permitting kilometer-scale simulations. The 15 km grid spacing driving model is used as a reference to assess the added value of the kilometer-scale simulation. Additionally, the 3 km seasonal mean and projected 2 m temperature and the winter snow water equivalent are presented. The results show that the kilometer-scale simulation shows better performance of wet-hour intensity in all seasons, wet-hour frequency in the spring, fall, and winter, and extreme precipitation (99.9th percentile of all precipitation events, p99.9) in the winter and fall. The kilometer-scale simulation improves the projected precipitation distribution and modifies the signal of the precipitation frequency, intensity, and heavy precipitation change over some areas. A positive projected change in the wet-hour intensity is expected in all seasons (13.86% in spring, MAM, 17.48% in summer, JJA, 1.97% in fall, SON, and 17.43% in winter, DJF) and in the heavy precipitation in the spring (13.14%) and winter (31.19%) in the kilometer-scale experiment. The projected increase in mean winter precipitation is accompanied by a significant decrease in mean winter snowfall over lowlands (50−70%). The convection-permitting Regional Climate Model, version 4.7.1 (RegCM4.7.1) suggests an increase in winter snowfall over the highest parts of the country, but a significant increase in the 2 m temperatures there. The results of this study are encouraging and may be of interest to the community of climate scientists and users of climate data for making reliable estimates of the local impacts of future climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the paper, an analysis is made of an implemented short study module "Design Project" for the students of the "Engineering Design" Bachelor program from the University of Forestry in Bulgaria. The aim of this publication is to reveal the process, its failures, and its successes. The dynamics and evolution of the design process were followed during the five days of the study module. The interaction between the students themselves, the teaching staff and the sponsor was observed. To this end, the results of an inquiry are presented. In the conclusion, attention is directed to the online implementation of the Design Project and its influence, as a result of specific conditions (last year of study, the implementation of the Teams platform, the participating teaching staff, and the sponsor) which created the necessary environment for the event. It was found that the online module probably helped for a more concentrated and productive activity, and for the smooth procedures of the event without any waste of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The F-POD, an echolocation-click logging device, is commonly used for passive acoustic monitoring of cetaceans. This paper presents the first assessment of the error-rate of fully automated analysis by this system, a description of the F-POD hardware, and a description of the KERNO-F v1.0 classifier which identifies click trains. Since 2020, twenty F-POD loggers have been used in the BlackCeTrends project by research teams from Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Türkiye, and Ukraine with the aim of investigating trends of relative abundance in populations of cetaceans of the Black Sea. Acoustic data from this project analysed here comprises 9 billion raw data clicks in total, of which 297 million were classified by KERNO-F as Narrow Band High Frequency (NBHF) clicks (harbour porpoise clicks) and 91 million as dolphin clicks. Such data volumes require a reliable automated system of analysis, which we describe. A total of 16,805 Detection Positive Minutes (DPM) were individually inspected and assessed by a visual check of click train characteristics in each DPM. To assess the overall error rate in each species group we investigated 2,000 DPM classified as having NBHF clicks and 2,000 DPM classified as having dolphin clicks. The fraction of NBHF DPM containing misclassified NBHF trains was less than 0.1% and for dolphins the corresponding error-rate was 0.97%. For both species groups (harbour porpoises and dolphins), these error-rates are acceptable for further study of cetaceans in the Black Sea using the automated classification without further editing of the data. The main sources of errors were 0.17% of boat sonar DPMs misclassified as harbour porpoises, and 0.14% of harbour porpoise DPMs misclassified as dolphins. The potential to estimate the rate at which these sources generate errors makes possible a new predictive approach to overall error estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children have the right to be free from violence in schools, yet violence in schools persists. The social and gender norms, or unwritten rules of behavior that drive our collective beliefs, attitudes, and perspectives, perpetuate both positive and harmful behavior related to violence. However, social norms are malleable. To explore this further, the Regional Research on Violence Against Children in Schools in South East Europe project, supported by Terre des hommes and the Child Protection Hub and led by the International Institute on Child Rights and Development (IICRD) sought to work with young people and their supporters in eight South and East European countries from 2019-2021 to unpack how social and gender norms impact school related gender-based violence (SRGBV) and the potential role young people play in challenging destructive social norms in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, and Serbia. At the intersection of a child's right to be safe, to be educated and to be heard, this paper looks at a creative and participatory research approaches that bring children's experiences of violence in schools to the fore and centers their experiences. This largely qualitative study drew on participatory and creative methods to explore the incidence and type of violence that children and young people are facing in and around school in South East Europe, who is most impacted by it, the social and gender norms related to violence (including SRGBV) against children, the mechanisms and child-led actions that protect children from violence and promote wellbeing, how children and young people felt able to prevent or respond to violence (and SRGBV specifically), and the ideas they had for prevention. National academic and independent researchers were trained on the research and analysis tools that were designed by the IICRD team to ensure consistency. Two schools in each country were chosen to run 2-3-day workshops with up to 15 young people aged 13-18-years-old and up to 15 adult supporters at each site. This paper outlines the findings and focuses on the cyclical nature of research and practice where one informs the other. The multi-country research design and findings offer unique insights into effective approaches to work with young people as well as the levels of violence experienced by young people and their critical insights in how to implement enhanced safety in schools. In addition, this paper emphases the process of conducting research using creative and participatory methods as this is not often discussed in detail in the literature. In order to develop research with children and young people that can effectively impact practice, we suggest it is imperative to have a relational approach embedded in research that provides training for adults to ensure they are equipped to do this sensitive work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the current state of production from cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats in the hilly, foot-hilly and mountain regions of Bulgaria, as well as the opportunities for its increase. Negative trend were observed in the populations of cattle, sheep and goats in the last two decades. 634,466 cattle were raised in Bulgaria in 2001, 371,901 of which were dairy cows. Data for 2020 showed values of 568,700 heads of cattle, 365,500 of which were dairy cows and pregnant heifers. In this period, the number of sheep decreased from 1,571,410 in 2001 to 1,307,800 in 2020, and the decline in goats was even more noticeable, from 675,292 in 2001 to 253,400 in 2020. The decline in the breeding of farm animals led to a decrease in the volume of animal milk and meat products. For the positive development of the volume of agricultural production in the foot-hilly and mountain regions of Bulgaria, decisions are needed to improve the gene pool, health care, feeding, as well as the application of advanced modern technologies. The advantage of mountain and foot-hilly agriculture is in the creation of high-quality food products and for this reason it is necessary to support it through appropriate measures and programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The institutional environment in Bulgarian agricultural sector is a complex system of relationships, dynamically changing under the influence of national and sectoral legislation. Over the last 16 years, was characterized as a difficult period for agriculture and land relations in Bulgaria -- because of insufficient legislation the Ownership and Use of Agricultural Land Act about 34 changes have been made to the Act, which are directed in the interest of agricultural users. The changes made concern the concluded contracts for the use and lease of the agricultural land. The dynamics and future changes in land relations are inextricably linked to changes in European and national policy. Receiving European subsidies and financial support to the income of Bulgarian farmers deforms the economic environment in our country. The European subsidies are a key motive and priority for farmers. The purpose of this paper is to describe the state in Bulgarian agricultural sector which is characterized by intensity and dynamics, more complexity and instability. The value of the gross agricultural output had declined during the last years. This research work is based on the following methodological approaches: complex, structural and comparative. The theoretical framework of this article provides a summary overview of the main institutional changes in the agricultural policy and the structure of land relations in Bulgaria. For the purposes of the research different information sources have been used - scientific journals, as well as the author's own research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper presents a mathematical approach for evaluation of the purchased quantities of several types of meat average per household in Bulgaria. The investigated groups of data are stored in a relational database. They include the following eight considered elements - pork meat, lamb meat, minced meat, poultry meat, mutton and goat meat, edible offals and bacon. Certain set of variables have been calculated and analysed during the studied period (2010-2021). The pace of change of the indicated variables has also been discussed for the mentioned years. It significantly supports users in decision making and presenting the obtained conclusions about the examined objects. The share of average purchased quantities per household for poultry meat is higher in comparison with that for the other investigated types of meat for each one year of the period. The pace of change of the examined indicator for the pork meat is comparatively more intensive in 2019-2021. Only, the values of this indicator for edible offals decreased continuously for ten of the considered twelve years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores how the leaders of parliamentary represented parties in Bulgaria discussed Fidesz's policies in the period 2010-2019. Furthermore, it attempts to explain why Orbán's brand of conservative illiberalism has emerged as a normative ideal for a number of Bulgarian political parties, including the Bulgarian socialists after 2016. The paper argues that so-called 'democratic backsliding' in CEE, and Bulgaria more specifically, cannot be understood without acknowledging the role of decommunization for the rehabilitation and rise of far-right nationalist discourses. Within a common framework of capitalist free markets and decommunization, a series of ideological 'slippages' from 1990s liberalism to post-2008 conservatism has taken place. It is the consistent backsliding of left-wing thought in Bulgaria that has made a critique of liberalism possible mainly from a conservative point of view, even for the socialists. Third, the paper argues that while Bulgarian politicians praise Orbán and his conservative illiberalism on the domestic scene, they pay lip service to liberal values in their international discourse, pre-empting in this way criticism from the EU. It is precisely Orbán's open normative ideological challenge that has made Hungary the 'poster child' of illiberalism distracting attention away from his political followers in countries such as Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]