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One of the key tasks to ensure infrastructure safety is the periodic detection of bridge cracks. Since manual crack detection is subjective and inefficient, it is very important to develop an automatic crack recognition system by using machine vision. Inspired by the pyramid vision transformer (PVT) and the feature pyramid network (FPN) variants, a method combining PVT, residual transformer (REST), holistically nested edge detection (HED), and downstream detection tasks is proposed in this paper, which is named EVPTMFF (efficient visual pyramid transformer and multiple-feature fusion). Based on the PVT, the multiheaded attention module was replaced and the efficient attention module was adopted, which could process the data efficiently and flexibly. To improve the performance of EVPTMFF, the original perceptual field windows were changed. The adjacent windows were partially overlapped, which was more conducive to feature interaction and improves detection performance. To prove the generalization ability of the model, three different data sets related to bridges were collected and formed. We carried out experiments on these three data sets, and EVPTMFF showed good results. Especially for larger data sets, the performance advantage was more significant. Practical Applications: The crack detection model proposed in this paper presents a good detection effect under different illumination and interference. And the detection results, collected data, time, and other information are saved to the bridge crack detection software. This can help engineers quickly and accurately detect cracks on the bridge surface, as well as predict the development trend of cracks and possible safety issues. In practical application, the bridge crack detection system can help engineers find and solve the bridge crack problem in time and avoid the security risks and economic losses caused by cracks. At the same time, the efficiency and accuracy of bridge maintenance can be improved, and the maintenance cost and time can be reduced. The bridge crack detection system can be integrated with other hardware equipment and management systems to form a complete bridge management platform, which contributes to the traffic construction and social and economic development of the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significance of aquaculture in contributing to global food security is well-established, especially as traditional fishery yields plateau. Recognizing the essential role of hatcheries and nurseries in sustainable development, this paper examines Romanian aquaculture, predicting production trends until 2034. Employing time-series analysis via Microsoft Excel, it forecasts production at various life cycle stages, from eggs to juveniles, excluding mature aquaculture outputs. The study highlights expected outputs alongside their associated confidence intervals, pinpointing potential fluctuations. The forecasted trends in Romanian aquaculture highlight the potential for growth in the sector, reflecting an industry poised to meet future demands. However, the variability encapsulated within the confidence intervals suggests that stakeholders should remain adaptable to changes. Strategic planning should therefore incorporate these forecasts while also considering environmental, economic, and technological developments that could influence production. The findings underscore the need for ongoing research and adaptive management to maintain and enhance the contribution of aquaculture to food security and economic development in Romania and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional alcoholic-beverages have been used by the tribes since ages. Bonda is one of the 62 Schedule Tribes and 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups of Odisha, who reside in the southern part of the state. Historically, a number of traditional alcohols have been produced by the Bonda which is consumed widely and used in the socio-economic and cultural events. Current times evidence the production and use of traditional alcohols gradually giving way to modern alcoholic drinks. In this context this paper tries to document different types of traditional alcohols produced, consumed and used by the Bonda along with its various impacts on the individual drinker and the society. The data were collected through community-based research in four villages under Khairaput block of Malkangiri, Odisha. The study found that 23 types of traditional alcohols are produced by the Bonda households, who derive economic security there from. However, the production, consumption and use of traditional alcohols are on the decline with the gradual increase of foreign liquor and this paper suggests institutional support for the clean production and marketing of traditional alcohols of the Bonda tribe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an increasingly mobile world, the integration of immigrants and displaced individuals is an important factor in creating cohesive and inclusive societies. Integration has different dimensions; this scoping review examines the conceptualization and measurement of economic integration among immigrants and refugees in the United States. Quantitative peer-reviewed journal papers measuring or conceptualizing the economic integration of first-generation documented adult immigrants or refugees in the United States, as well as relevant conceptual or theory papers on this topic, were included in the review. The search strategy included an online search of the Web of Science Core Collection, PsycINFO, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA), and EconLit. Additional search strategies included scanning the reference lists of studies identified as relevant in the initial database search. An analysis of 72 studies included in the review using a data extraction table reveals seven key domains of economic integration: income and economic security, employment and occupational categories, assets and use of financial services, neighborhood and housing, health, education, and use of public assistance. Income and economic security emerged as the most common indicators of integration in the reviewed studies. Notably, less than half of the reviewed publications had a multidimensional approach to defining or measuring economic integration, and the majority of studies were focused on immigrants, with a smaller proportion dedicated to refugees. This review emphasizes the need for comprehensive frameworks in assessing economic integration among immigrants and refugees, reflecting the multifaceted nature of their economic integration experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses how economic insecurity poses immense threats to public safety and social order in South Africa. It was found that economic insecurity threatens public safety and social order because it disrupts the delivery of essential services such as healthcare, education, political leadership, and governance, making it impossible for people to access sustainable services that meet their expectations. Blockchain creates an automated, autonomous, and self-governing infrastructure that eliminates the need for traditional structures like managers, policies, offices, contracts, and centralized strategies. In banking systems and during financial transactions, blockchain speeds up clearing and settlement processes without requiring later approval. It promotes transparency, reduces transaction risks, and eliminates data centralization. Blockchain improves market efficiency and ensures equitable market access. Blockchain prevents fraud and corruption. A qualitative methodology was adopted to achieve the above assertions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the expression "Just transition", the European Commission refers to a new development model to bring in the environmental and digital transition "leaving no one behind". From an investment law perspective, it implies the adoption of several incentives to support new green economy activities or the reconversion of old ones into green and energy-neutral production models. Starting from an analysis of the EU just transition strategy, the paper focuses on the Italian case, investigating the interconnection between just transition funds and other measures (the Single Special Economic Zone and National Recovery and Resilience Program) to verify their effectiveness in terms of investment retention and attraction and their effects in terms of strategic industrial planning. Concerning retention, the Sider Alloys and Acciaierie d'Italia case studies are analyzed. Concerning attraction, as the incentives may appeal to aggressive activities dangerous to the EU and Member States' strategic autonomy, the paper offers an overview of the instruments available for screening and preventing creeping economic operations, especially the proposed reform of the investment screening mechanism and the anti-coercion instrument. In conclusion, the paper proposes the adoption of an ex ante impact assessment, including citizen consultation, aimed at verifying investment concrete capacity to contribute to the just transition process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do potential entrepreneurs remain in wage employment because of concerns that they will face worse job opportunities should their entrepreneurial ventures fail? Using a Canadian reform that extends job-protected leave to one year for women giving birth after a cutoff date, we study whether the option to return to a previous job increases entrepreneurship. A regression discontinuity design reveals that a longer job-protected leave increases entrepreneurship by 1.9 percentage points. These entrepreneurs start incorporated businesses that hire employees, in industries in which experimentation before entry has low costs and high benefits. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix , which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Without peace, it is difficult for a country to witness economic development, as peace is the panacea for growth and development. Every nation strives to achieve a high level of peace and development by safeguarding its country from both internal and external attacks. The paper discusses the use of satellites as a tool for safeguarding a country from both internal and external forces in order to achieve peace and economic development. The paper uses Systematic review as a method to scoop up literature on related articles related to peace, development, war, and satellites in orbit. The paper discusses the use of satellites for counterterrorism, countering illegal mining and drilling, monitoring mineral exploration, and as a tool for air defence and early warning systems. The paper concludes with a recommendation on the acquisition, maintenance, and use of satellites for the economic development of a nation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pacha: Revista de Estudios Contemporáneos del Sur Global is the property of PACHA REVISTA DE ESTUDIOS CONTEMPORANEOS DEL SUR GLOBAL and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the context of legislation introduced in Romania through Law 1 of 2020 regarding occupational pensions, this paper presents an evaluation of occupational pension system for police and military personnel and takes into consideration privately administered funds that would complement the current system. The paper evaluates the impact of the complementary occupational pension system, focusing on its dual role as both a fiscal instrument for internal financing within Romania and a mechanism for enhancing social and economic security for retired police and military staff. The occupational pension system can diversify funding sources, potentially easing the national public debt burden, while offering a sustainable and adequate retirement income for service members. Furthermore, the analysis extends to the occupational pension system's efficacy in fostering workforce stability, particularly post-eligibility for military state pensions. The study addresses the system's potential influence on staff motivation and retention, underpinning its role in maintaining a robust and committed service workforce. This simulation-based study leverages international models and legislative frameworks to corroborate these benefits, providing a nuanced understanding of the occupational pension system's role in the broader context of public service pensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is the characteristics of the issue of legal responsibility for the smuggling of goods under the conditions of martial lawin Ukraine. Design/methodology/approach: In the paper's writing, the authors used an interdisciplinary approach, combining legal science and economics methods. Findings: The detection and cessation of smuggling is currently a vital activity of customs authorities in the sphere of ensuring the financial and economic security of the state and a prerequisite for the stable development of market relations in Ukraine. At the same time, the lack of adequate legal responsibility for smuggling goods and the limited powers of customs authorities increased the facts of the smuggling of goods. This determines the importance of finding innovative principles of legal responsibility for smuggling goods under martial law conditions in Ukraine. Originality/value: The paper aims to develop innovative principles of legal responsibility for smuggling goods under martial law in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines the challenges faced by international investors in Nigeria's real property market, with a focus on metropolis cities like Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. This study was based on analyzing the challenges facing the international investments in real property portfolio relation to developing economic growth on metropolis cities in Nigeria. Despite the potential for high returns, international investment in Nigeria's real estate sector is hindered by various obstacles. Today real estate investments are seen as foundation for wealth creation and economic growth in many countries. This research identifies and analyzes the key challenges, including political and economic instability, legal and regulatory framework challenges, infrastructure and accessibility issues, currency exchange and repatriation difficulties, security concerns, cultural and language barriers corruption and bureaucratic red tape, limited transparency and data using a mixed-methods approach, the reveals that these challenges not only affect investment decisions but also impact the overall performance of real property portfolios. The finding provides valuable insights for international investors, policymakers, and real estate developers seeking to navigate the complex landscape of Nigeria's real estate market. The study contributes to the existing literature on international real estate investment in developing economies and highlights the need for tailored strategies to address the unique challenges faced in metropolis cities like Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How does India navigate contested regional multilateral frameworks in the Asia‐Pacific? This question has important implications for India's multilateral foreign policy and diplomacy that seeks to emerge from regional to global power. The authors argue that India's foreign policy involves seeking institutional balancing and avoiding rising power dilemmas. Based on the conceptual framework of institutional balancing and rising power dilemma, the paper examines how seeking institutional balancing helps India advance its diplomatic prowess vis‐à‐vis rising China while simultaneously leveraging its multi‐alignment strategy against the United States. Furthermore, the paper discusses India's key priorities for avoiding the rising power dilemma, thus exhibiting its reluctance to conform to the US hegemony and addressing its internal and external dilemma concerning China. The evaluation suggests that India's foreign policy rationality navigates between obtaining comprehensive security and economic gains in dealing with contested regional multilateralism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Mining Magazine is the property of China Mining Magazine Co., Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article examines the essence of information technology in the contemporary world and its impact on management operating systems. The authors define the concept of "information technology" and the basic principles of its functioning. In addition, the paper identifies the most common methods and approaches to modeling management operating systems. The authors analyzed the impact of information technologies on the development of Ukrainian enterprises. They also presented the latest information technologies in enterprise management and their essential contribution to the economy, exports, and employment. The study analyzed the dynamics of IT services development in Ukraine and their impact on its economy. It also presented a general analysis of operating systems in Ukraine and considered the possibilities of integrating information technology and innovative educational approaches. In addition, the paper examines the impact of information technology on the management of operating systems' security and presents the economic and technological effects that arise from implementing information technologies. This research aims to highlight the importance of information technologies in improving the efficiency and security of management operating systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industrial Relations / Relations Industrielles is the property of Universite Laval, Department of Industrial Relations and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The main research objective of this paper is to identify key factors influencing economic resilience from the perspective of comprehensive defence. This involves developing a composite economic resilience index (Ericda) that outlines the relative economic resilience of countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the Black Sea regions, within the comprehensive defence framework. The paper employs qualitative research methods, focusing on an analysis of specialist literature pertaining to economic resilience. Quantitative methods are also used for developing the Economic Resilience Index from the Comprehensive Approach to Defence (Ericda) perspective. This includes using data on selected resilience indicators in Central and the Eastern European and Black Sea region countries to generate rankings. The results of the study reveal strong positive correlations between the economic resilience index and various factors, such as logistics and infrastructure, economic complexity, foreign trade vulnerabilities and dependence, economic stability and development, governance effectiveness, military, and human capital. Additionally, a negative correlation was observed with the resilience index. The research findings suggest that to ensure effective comprehensive defence, isolated measures targeting individual pillars are inadequate. Economic resilience requires a collaborative approach, extending beyond the purview of the finance ministry and involving a broader range of stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was the largest stimulus package in US history. In this paper, I look into whether public sentiment improved in response to the CARES Act, and analyze public opinion regarding the CARES Act, implementing a Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model. The sentiment analysis results indicate a significant improvement of public sentiment following the announcement of the CARES Act, which fades away after a week but improves again as the date to receive the first stimulus check approaches. The topic modeling results highlight support toward certain programs and some criticism of the CARES Act. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China’s leadership, under Xi Jinping, has initiated a significant strategic shift toward a "fortress economy" designed to bolster national self-sufficiency and resilience against external shocks, and ultimately allow the nation to withstand “extreme situations” including protracted armed conflict. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of China’s fortress economy policy, tracing its roots from early warnings about international instability to its formalization in China’s 14th Five-Year Plan and subsequent policy actions. By examining official speeches, policy documents, and strategic initiatives, the paper explains how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is operationalizing this strategy through key domains such as food security, energy independence, and critical supply-chain resilience. The analysis highlights the CCP’s perception of an increasingly hostile international environment, prompting a paradigm shift that prioritizes national security and economic self-reliance. This research contributes to understanding China’s strategic intentions and provides a foundation for further exploration of the implications of China’s fortress economy on global economic and geopolitical dynamics.

Load forecast is the foundation of power system operation and planning. The forecast results can guide the power system economic dispatch and security analysis. In order to improve the accuracy of load forecast, this paper proposes a forecasting model based on the combination of the cuckoo search (CS) algorithm and the long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network. Load data are specific data with time series characteristics and periodicity, and the LSTM algorithm can control the information added or discarded through the forgetting gate, so as to realize the function of forgetting or memorizing. Therefore, the use of the LSTM algorithm for load forecast is more effective. The CS algorithm can perform global search better and does not easily fall into local optima. The CS-LSTM forecasting model, where CS algorithm is used to optimize the hyper-parameters of the LSTM model, has a better forecasting effect and is more feasible. Simulation results show that the CS-LSTM model has higher forecasting accuracy than the standard LSTM model, the PSO-LSTM model, and the GA-LSTM model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of an increasingly complex and unstable external development environment, enhancing economic resilience has become a key task in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. This paper analyzes the changes in the economic resilience of the Guangdong-Hong Kong- Macao Greater Bay Area and its constituent cities after the 2008 global financial crisis by virtue of the regional economic resilience assessment method proposed by Martin et al. It constructs an economic connection network for the Guangdong-Hong Kong- Macao Greater Bay Area using the data from corporate headquarters and branches of A-share listed companies to analyze its impact on the economic resilience of the Area. The study reveals the three following conclusions. Firstly, the economic resilience of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area generally outperforms the national average level, seeing a rapid boost over the recent years and exceeding the level witnessed during the 2008 financial crisis. However, there are marked disparities in the economic resilience of various cities within the Greater Bay Area, with Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Dongguan emerging as the most robust in this regard. Secondly, the economic connection network has a positive impact on the economic resilience of the cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Specifically, there is a positive correlation between a city's economic resilience and its centrality in the economic connection network. Such centrality exerts a positive spillover effect on the economic resilience of surrounding cities. Thirdly, from the perspective of industry-specific networks, circulation and service industry networks are more conducive to improving the economic resilience of a city. Given the significant role of the economic connection network in shaping regional and urban economic resilience, it is imperative for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to prioritize ensuring economic development security and enhancing economic resilience, promote the development of the economic connection network, and enhance the network centrality of its constituent cities. This can improve the economic resilience of itself and its constituent cities in an effective manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The US-China chip war is becoming more intense as both countries understand the significance of semiconductors for their economic security and national defense. As a result of nationalist and unilateral actions taken by the US and China under the chip war, other Asian economic powerhouses are reassessing their semiconductor strategies, leading to new opportunities for semiconductor partnerships in Asia among middle powers. South Korea, a leading semiconductor power in Asia, is facing critical challenges amid the chip war, that, in turn, resulted in reshaping its trade and overseas production strategies that are heavily reliant on China. To maintain its semiconductor dominance and ensure economic security, Korea is adopting new approaches such as export and production diversification. In the meantime, India, amid the ongoing US-China tech war, is also seeking to construct a resilient supply chain and decrease its reliance on China for imports. In the process, New Delhi is looking to develop its semiconductor industry and build chip ties with like-minded countries in production and workforce development. This opens up significant prospects for Korea-India semiconductor partnerships. This paper proposes three areas where Korea and India could collaborate: semiconductor trade partnerships, semiconductor production partnerships, and semiconductor workforce collaboration. By doing so, it highlights how the US-China chip war is creating new opportunities for other Asian economic powerhouses to collaborate in the semiconductor industry. This paper also provides insights for policymakers to set a new agenda for India-Korea partnerships as both countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The salience of education for better life outcomes is well accepted, but people with disabilities continue to be underrepresented in higher education. Building on Weedon's approach to the intersection of impairment with socioeconomic factors, this paper identifies the facilitators and barriers encountered and/or experienced by young people with disabilities along their diverse pathways to and through higher education in Sweden. The data comes from longitudinal ethnographic case studies of persons with ADHD. While the findings show similarities in impairment-specific barriers, such as transition and inadequate support available at university, they make even more visible the existing heterogeneity among people with ADHD and the inadequacy of support structures at higher education institutions. Parents, economic security and individual factors, such as ease of learning and belief in one's own capacity, were found to be strong facilitators. ADHD and socioeconomic disadvantage together magnified vulnerabilities and hurdles faced while aspiring to and accessing higher education. The article concludes by highlighting the urgent need for universities to change entrenched structures that perceive students with disabilities as a homogeneous group and disability as an individual problem, in order to enable participation of all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Formation of an economic and mathematical model as an economic platform for the protection of industrial enterprises in order to implement economic security in the frameworks of business process reengineering. Methodology. The following methods were used in the research process: methods of theoretical generalization and comparison, analysis and synthesis (to determine the meaning of the concept of “economic security of the enterprise”), statistical method (to analyze the initial data), economic and mathematical modeling of the compositional restructuring of an economic unit – an industrial enterprise (to determine conditions under which it is advisable to reengineer the business processes of an economic unit in order to form a platform of economic security). Findings. The results are determined by the fact that the theoretical provisions of the paper are brought to the level of specific proposals and have a form suitable for use in practical activities. An example of the practical application of the proposed economic and mathematical model is presented as illustrated by Pivdennyi Mining and Processing Plant (MPP) PJSC, where the essence of the given analysis is revealed. The obtained results proved their effectiveness and feasibility of use at the relevant domestic industrial enterprises. Originality. For the first time, an approach to the development of economic security of the enterprise on the basis of business process reengineering has been proposed. Economic-mathematical modeling has gained further development in determining the conditions for the feasibility of implementing structural transformations of an economic unit to obtain optimal values of indicators that reveal the essence of the economic security of an industrial enterprise. Practical value. The analysis of modeling results makes it possible to propose the implementation of imperatives – economic security of the enterprise on the basis of the implementation of its restructuring. Application of the proposed model provides a means to ensure rapid adaptability of industrial enterprises to changes, high flexibility and adaptability of all elements of the system, autonomy and economic functioning of enterprises as a whole and their structural subdivisions. The practice of using the developed economic and mathematical model based on reengineering confirmed the obtained theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many cities suffer from the large spread of slums, especially the cities of the Middle East. The purpose of the paper is to study the reality of informal housing in Al-Barrakia and the most important problems that it suffers from. The paper also seeks to study the presence or absence of a correlation between urban safety indicators and urban containment indicators as one of the methods of developing and planning cities. This can be achieved through sustainable urban management. The slums are a source of many urban problems that threaten the security and safety of the residents and represent a focus for the concentration of crimes and drugs. The paper seeks to answer the following question: How can urban safety be improved through urban containment indicators? The research uses the descriptive analytical method by presenting urban problems related to slums and the most important indicators of slum containment to improve urban safety. Several indicators of urban containment were identified and classified into (community, physical, social, economic, politics). Influencing urban security within the economic and social dimension, the analysis was adopted through questionnaire, observation and statistical method. The paper concluded that there is a high correlation between urban containment indicators and urban safety, as the coefficient of determination R reached 94%. This means that the urban containment indicators explained 94% of Urban safety, The remaining percentage was explained by other indicators that were out of the scope of the present paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the promotion and development of oversized data technology, many data analysis platforms based on super large data storage and computing frameworks have emerged in the industry. While the platforms with oversized economic data analysis combined with machine learning models are still relatively lacking. And oversized data also brings a new problem, that is the security of economic development. It is an important and difficult task to analyse and detect risks from oversized economic data. Based on machine learning, data analysis, economic market and other multidisciplinary fields, this paper proposes a machine learning method, which is a genetic algorithm (GA) based feature selection method: FSGA. This method abstracts every possible feature selection result into an individual in GA, generates a population through genetic operation, and measures the merits of the individual through fitness. In addition, this paper has conducted multitudinous simulation experiments on the GA‐based FSGA method and the traditional LSTM data analysis method respectively. The accuracy rate and other indicators are obtained by comparing the training. The experimental results show that the GA‐based FSGA machine learning method has higher prediction accuracy when analysing oversized economic data. And it is practical to accelerate the development of digital economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper provides a new empirical evidence of the impact of Global security on economic growth in Tunisia. Like Buzan (1991), the framework used four types of security: army security, economic security, social security, and political security. Design/methodology/approach: The authors examine the multidimensionality of global security using ARDL-based cointegration bound tests. The model allows also for examining the long-run/short-run impacts of global security indicators on economic growth. Findings: The proposed methodology revealed interesting results that may raise some potentially prominent policy implications. First, the findings show that the four security indicators have a significant impact on economic growth. In particular, from a social/political security point of view, the fundamental objective is to satisfy the needs of the poorest population, to limit the effect of social demands and protests on economic and political stability, to review the subsidy principle and aid policy to the poorest families, for greater efficiency and social equity. Originality/value: The study highlights that global security is no longer a question of just army and defense, but it is also a question of equity, economic, social, and political development. These results call for the policymaker to adopt a strategy that reduces regional disparities and social inequalities and this through fairly distributing financial wealth for the benefit of marginalized populations. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-02-2023-0082 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To analyze the basic principles of blockchain technology implementation, highlighting the algorithms for reaching consensus in the blockchain network to ensure its reliability; to identify key problems in the implementation of such technology and suggest ways to overcome them; to perform a systematic analysis of the blockchain technology contradictions and suggest ways to eliminate them. Methodology. The research used the basics of economic analysis of economic entities to compare their managements centralized and decentralized models. This approach showed that another wave of transformation of business and social models has unfolded in recent years, caused by the next-generation digital technologies involving the economys transition to the digital area. Revealing the blockchain technology mechanisms is based on modern databases and peer-to-peer computer networks, covering in detail the main means of contradictions, application, and implementation of blockchain technology. Findings. The main results of these studies are obtained in the digital economy. The paper shows that digital technologies open up a wide range of opportunities for different sectors of the economy. The research highlights the features and principles of distributed registry technology (Blockchain) applications. It is shown that as a decentralized data registry, blockchain technology is the most discussed and relevant topic in the digital economy. Originality. The paper further developed the main component of the digital economy, which is progressing most intensively, the distributed ledger technology (Blockchain). The paper analyzed its strengths, such as cost reduction, increased security, and transparency of transactions that attracted the attention of various sectors of the economy. The authors approach for eliminating the revealed mechanisms of contradictions, application, and implementation of blockchain technology is presented. The definition of the digital economy, digital technologies in the economy, and end-to-end digital technologies have been improved to clarify the understanding of the economic management decentralization problems. That showed that the digital economy has several subtleties associated with insufficient research and comprehension of technical implementation and flexibility. Practical value. The research results will be useful for expanding ideas about the blockchain technology implementation in different sectors of the economy, accompanied by lower costs, increased security and transparency of economic entities, and improving their economic efficiency and development in digital technologies application. The blockchain technologies implantation at the enterprises of the mining and metallurgical industry allows making the production and sales of products more efficient and transparent, and at the same time significantly reduces the human factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeszyty Naukowe UPH Seria Administracja i Zarządzanie is the property of Siedlce University of Natural Sciences & Humanities and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Decarbonisation of the European economy is one of the main strategic goals of energy transition in the European Union (EU), which aims to become a leader in this process by 2050 and to include other European countries making thus the European continent the first carbon neutral region in the world. Although decarbonisation is an important goal of the EU, the models for monitoring the progress of this process have not yet been clearly defined, and views on the social, economic, and security implications in terms of prioritising decarbonisation are conflicting. The main objective of this paper is to determine the methodological correctness of the existing method of decarbonisation monitoring, to develop a new monitoring model indicating the differences in the EU and European countries that are non-EU and to point out the underlying social, economic and security implications that must certainly find their place in the decision-making process in this field. Results: The main results showed that there is no clearly defined model for monitoring the success of decarbonisation, while the indicators that are commonly used for this purpose make a model that, as the analysis shows—is methodologically incorrect. In the case of EU countries, the following indicators proved to be the most reliable: consumption-based CO2 and share in global CO2. For non-EU countries, the best monitoring indicators are CO2 per unit of GDP, consumption-based CO2, and renewable energy consumption. These indicators can explain 99% of the variance in decarbonisation success. Conclusions: The basic conclusion of the paper is that even before the implementation, the decarbonisation monitoring model should be defined and methodologically tested, and the use of a single model for all EU countries or for all countries is not recommended. It is proposed to simplify the monitoring model, with an emphasis on monitoring of consumption-based CO2, which proved to be the most efficient in all sampled countries. The current method of monitoring is based exclusively on environmentally related indicators while ignoring the fact that decarbonisation is associated with almost all aspects of development. The additional social, economic and security aspects need to be developed and included in the further monitoring process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to persistent underperformance, Pakistan's national economy may be considered an Achilles heel of the country's security, which needs immediate course correction towards sustainable growth. Cutting-edge technologies like Nanotechnology (NT) are one avenue which presents the promise to provide our national economy with desired growth stimulus if efficiently employed. NT is a broad-based technology with potential applications in nearly every sector of the national economy. It can radically transform various sectors by creating an environment where responsible and societally responsive innovation can improve productivity and enhance economic opportunities. However, there are challenges associated with the acquisition and use of nanotechnology. This paper is envisaged to highlight the importance of nanotechnology, present viable recommendations to avail the potential opportunities, and indicate how to overcome the associated challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the workplaces, the work force being employed by private entities and contract workers are facing various unfair labour practices and as such excluded from labour protection law. Instances of human rights abuses abound, and these have severe socioeconomic implications on atypical workers. This paper examines how atypical workers face inhuman treatment, discrimination and denial of basic labour rights and benefits in the workplace. The paper also looks at whether there is any semblance of labour protection extended to atypical workers. It is observed that such interventions have not provided strong protection for atypical workers hence they are still exposed to various labour vulnerabilities, discrimination, mistreatment, abuses and denial of benefits and socio and economic securities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the end of the Cold War, the former Soviet states of Europe, located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, have been the site of a political game between the great powers, gradually developing a left-right strategy. This paper constructs the explanatory theory of hedging strategy and argues that post-socialist European countries, collectively referred to as 'New Europe', have navigated a middle way between balance and followup strategies called compound hedging. Starting at the regional scale, this paper discusses three issues, i.e., whether the new Europe has adopted a hedging strategy, why they adopt a hedging strategy, and the policy performance and effectiveness of hedging in the security and economic fields. Specifically, New Europe has implemented diversified fuzzy strategies amidst the transatlantic alliances and Eurasian powers, avoided security risks from Russia through cooperation with NATO, and balanced interest risks caused by European Union pressure through contacts with the United States, Russia, China and other countries. Although New Europe has realized certain practical strategic effects, it still faces difficulties (e.g., structural pressure changes, divergences between old and New Europe, and a lack of hedging capacities and motivations), and its policy space remains narrow and uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic growth is crucial for any country as an indicator of development. However, a sustainable growth warrants development in a sustainable manner and required to register all round development that provide economic security to the marginalized and maintain environment sustainability. After a challenging implementation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), United Nations has called for implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the same has commenced since 2015 and the various targets are to be achieved by 2030. The objective of the paper is to assess the significance of SDGs and assess the progress of implementation in India. Gender equality is one development agenda that the policy makers have been debating in India and the paper looks into the status of implementation. The methodology of the paper is to review the progress made in the implementation of SDGs in India. Existing literature on SDGs and Gender Equality would be reviewed to gather deeper understanding of the subject. The paper is expected to help policy makers, practitioners and civil society in understanding the significance of ensuring gender equality and advocate for better policies and programs to correct the imbalance in gender equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergency load shedding (ELS) is a vital measure for power systems to manage extreme events, ensuring the safety, stability, and economic operation of the grid. The integration of distributed energy resources and controllable devices in modern power systems has bolstered grid flexibility. Consequently, developing precise load shedding strategies to balance economic and security goals has emerged as a prominent subject in power system optimization. However, existing methods exhibit inadequacies, including overlooking practical operability, privacy concerns, and a lack of adaptability to response time requirements. To address these gaps, this paper introduces a precise ELS approach for distributed networks with a focus on response time needs. Contributions encompass designing load shedding processes for various response times, integrating demand response, and partitioning networks for optimized load shedding. Through validation using standard test cases, the proposed approach effectively utilizes response time and demand-side resources for precise ELS control in distribution networks. It accommodates different scenarios, offering a robust solution for rapid and accurate load shedding during emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the two most recent extended manifestos on Europe (2019) of the French populist radical right party Rassemblement National (RN), previously known as the Front National (FN), from a narrative perspective. The perspective used is based on the Narrative Policy Framework's focus on the setting, plot, characters and moral of the narrative combined with a generic approach. Rather than the 'classical' genres of tragedy, comedy, romance and satire, however, this study focuses on the narrative elements of the dystopian genre, and argues that the RN's narrative on Europe broadly resembles fictional dystopian narratives. In dystopian narratives, the inhabitants find their ontological security threatened by a dehumanising, authoritarian regime, in this case the EU. It is in the 'green world', a timeless space outside the limits of the dystopian state, here represented by the RN's proposed European Alliance of Nations, where the dystopian hero recuperates their sense of autonomy and identity. Such narratives, through exacerbating an already widespread sense of anxiety and ontological insecurity, are potentially powerful attempts to frame continued membership in an unreformed EU as a threat to security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing use of measures of economic coercion by China has caused its trading partners to review their close trade ties with that country as well as their ability to resist such pressure. In December 2022, the European Union (EU) requested that the World Trade Organization (WTO) adjudicate its dispute with China regarding restrictive trade measures China had imposed on Lithuania in response to its foreign policy actions that were not to China’s liking. The EU also drafted new legislation – the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Protection of the Union and its Member States from Economic Coercion by Third Countries – to deter third countries from applying coercive measures that target the EU and its Member States. This paper considers the new instrument in the context of the EU’s evolving ‘economic de-risking’ strategy on China and a wide range of measures aimed at protecting the common market from the unfair behaviour of China and other states and reducing the EU vulnerability vis-à-vis economic and security threats. The EU’s ability to deter states from applying coercive measures against it hinges upon its ability to strengthen its market power and to use the new instrument when necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the significant impact of COVID-19, financial markets in various countries have undergone drastic fluctuations. Accurately measuring risk in the financial market and mastering the changing rules of the stock market are of great importance to macro-control and financial market management of the government. This paper focuses on the return rate of the Shanghai Composite Index. Using the SGED-EGARCH(1,1) model as a foundation, a quantile regression is introduced to establish the QR-SGED-EGARCH(1,1) model. Further, the corresponding value at risk (VaR) is calculated for a crisis and stable period within each model. To better compare the models, the Cornish-Fisher expansion model is included for comparison. According to the Kupiec test, VaR values calculated by the QR-SGED-EGARCH(1,1) model are superior to other models at different confidence levels most of the time. In addition, to account for the VaR method's inability to effectively measure tail extreme risk, the expected shortfall (ES) method is introduced. The constructed model is used to calculate the corresponding ES values during different periods. According to the evaluation index, the ES values calculated by the QR-SGED-EGARCH(1,1) model have a better effect during a crisis period with the model showing higher accuracy and robustness. It is of great significance for China to better measure financial risk under the impact of a sudden crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the dialectics of settlement continuity and change in Palestine's southern coastal plain during the Mamluk and Early Ottoman periods (1270–1750 CE). Using Ḥamāma, an Arab village in Majdal 'Asqalān's hinterland as a test-case, the paper introduces a new method of establishing settlement continuity — a major challenge in the study of the historical geography of late medieval and Ottoman Palestine, by showing continual presence of known village lineages. The paper presents an integrative, topic-oriented discussion of Ḥamāma's administration, demography, settlement geography, economy, religion, material culture and daily life, as evidenced by literary and archaeological evidence. The paper argues that nomadic economic and security pressures led to a major process of settlement abandonment around Majdal 'Asqalān, and the southern coastal plain in general, during the seventeenth to eighteenth centuries. The population of abandoned villages moved to surviving settlements, while the lands of abandoned settlements continued to be cultivated by neighboring villages. • Historical Geography of Ḥamāma in Southern Palestine, inhabited 1270–1948. • A new method for establishing settlement continuity by presence of village lineages. • Ottoman records reveal wide settlement abandonment due to nomads c. 1700–1948. • Displaced populations concentrated in fewer surviving villages. • The territory of abandoned settlements carved among surviving villages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of European strategic autonomy (ESA) in the energy field gained particular traction after the Russian invasion of Ukraine showed the extent and risks of fossil energy dependency on autocratic regimes. Fossil dependency on undemocratic and unstable petrostates is a critical weakness that increase the European Union's (EUs) vulnerability and limit its capacity to act. This liability stretches beyond the dependency on Russia since the EU imports from many other countries that are undemocratic and heavily reliant on oil and gas revenues. Increasing new sources of renewable energy helps to address this issue, but also brings new dependencies, namely on critical raw materials (CRMs) whose value chains are largely in Chinese hands. This paper argues that the EU should nevertheless continue to reduce its fossil dependencies on petrostates and consider more pro-actively how to manage the energy relationship with them. Simultaneously, in the area of CRMs it needs to expand its partnerships, recycling capacities and research and development (R&D) into diversification into alternative materials for green energy technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper demonstrates that false data injection (FDI) attacks are extremely limited in their ability to cause physical consequences on $N-1$ reliable power systems operating with real-time contingency analysis (RTCA) and security constrained economic dispatch (SCED). Prior work has shown that FDI attacks can be designed via an attacker-defender bi-level linear program (ADBLP) to cause physical overflows after re-dispatch using DCOPF. In this paper, it is shown that attacks designed using DCOPF fail to cause overflows on $N-1$ reliable systems because the system response modeled is inaccurate. An ADBLP that accurately models the system response is proposed to find the worst-case physical consequences, thereby modeling a strong attacker with system level knowledge. Simulation results on the synthetic Texas system with 2000 buses show that even with the new enhanced attacks, for systems operated conservatively due to $N-1$ constraints, the designed attacks only lead to post-contingency overflows. Moreover, the attacker must control a large portion of measurements and physically create a contingency in the system to cause consequences. Therefore, it is conceivable but requires an extremely sophisticated attacker to cause physical consequences on $N-1$ reliable power systems operated with RTCA and SCED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Evaluating of the population quality of life in each country, including EU countries, it is especially important to take into account economic security and physical safety. These are particularly sensitive categories in the context of a crisis of a different nature, including the Covid-19 pandemic health crisis. Considering that, the paper is aimed at perceiving the conditions and changes in the economic security and physical safety of the EU countries' population, particularly in the period after the emergence of the global financial and economic crisis, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic, namely from 2010 to 2021. The results indicate that the global financial and economic crisis has a direct impact on the economic security of individuals in the EU. Thus, seen from 2010 to 2014, there is a gradual increase in the share of the population that cannot cope with unexpected expenses and/or has regular monthly payments in arrears. These participations are decreasing over the coming years, including the years after the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic did not leave drastic consequences in a large part of the EU countries in the analyzed segments, i.e. they successfully coped with the unexpected financial implications of the pandemic crisis and the payment of regular expenses, as well as in maintaining physical safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The methodological study presented in this paper is based on the relevance of modeling the effective management of dynamic processes of militaryeconomic cooperation of foreign countries in order to further development and implementation of measures to eliminate threats for national economic security in today's globalization conditions. The purpose of the study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the dynamic processes of military goods export, based on the methods of mathematical management theory and effective management of dynamic processes of military and economic cooperation of foreign states. The study was conducted on the basis of analytical data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Military Expenditure Database on the present issue. The study used generally accepted, timetested special methods of research: construction of a system of linear differential equations with constant delay - in order to obtain analytical dependences of the intensity of interstate military conflicts on the system of national economic security from a certain time period; construction of a mathematical model of fluctuations - in order to develop an algorithm for identifying the level of protection of the national economic security system in order to effectively manage interstate conflicts, depending on the level of their duration and intensity; regression analysis - in order to build approximating functions of the dynamics of military goods exports in the US and in Ukraine, as well as to obtain analytical dependences to determine the relationship of offset policies of these two countries according to phase trajectories to determine areas of stability of effective military and economic cooperation. The methodology was developed for building an economic and mathematical model of effective regulation of dynamic processes for military and economic cooperation of foreign countries, based on improved methods of managing the impact of interstate conflicts on the national economic security system, which, in contrast to existing ones, takes into account the period of delay of the system's response to the conflict, the probability of risk situations, and allows to synthesize the function of analyzing the level of security of the economic security system to make optimal management decisions to combat interstate conflicts. The paper suggests an economic and mathematical model of effective management of dynamic processes of military and economic cooperation of foreign states (on the example of Ukraine and the United States), analytical dependences of the intensity of interstate military conflicts on the system of national economic security based on systems of differential equations with initial conditions that take into account the behavior of the system over a period of time. The proposed dependences allow to build the laws of distribution of probability of losses during interstate conflicts within the system of national economic security. It was determined that during the studied period from 1998 to 2020 the level of military goods (MG) imports from the US increased, and the level of MG exports in Ukraine stabilized, which, in turn, led to increased macroeconomic indicators, and this had a positive impact on general economic development. Along with that, considering the average value of exports per year for the corresponding period, the dynamics of exports to Ukraine reveals more positive growth, in contrast to the volume of imports from the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve financial sustainability and promote economic stability, it is important to understand the intricate relationship between finance and macroeconomy. Thus, focusing on financial stress and macroeconomic sectors, this paper investigates macro-financial spillovers in China. First, we develop a high-frequency financial stress index based on eight daily financial indicators to measure the stability of China's financial markets. Through event identification, we find that China's Financial Stress Index can effectively reflect the stress situation of China's financial market. Then, given that the traditional co-frequency method fails to deal with financial stress index and macroeconomic data with different frequencies, we employ the mixed-frequency spillover method to evaluate macro-financial spillovers to examine the connectedness between China's financial market and the real side of the economy. We find that financial stress is the leading net risk output and primarily affects the loan sector; deterioration of economic conditions can lead to more apparent fluctuations in spillover effects, with spillovers from financial stress to others being the most susceptible; within the sample, the 2015 stock crash, U.S.–China trade friction, and COVID-19 have the most impact on macro-financial spillover effects. In addition, we track the results of different risk events on spillover effects across sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]