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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]

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]

In this paper, I draw on ethnographic fieldwork (participant observation) carried out at a Bulgarian service area to argue that such spaces create a 'meaningful sociality' building on imagination and sensual experience, as well as on experiences of intersectional oppression or dominance. I draw on the history and adaptations of shkembeto (tripe soup) and my observations of its preparation and serving at one such service area. This soup, which is famous in Turkey and Bulgaria, offers some people disorienting sensory experiences that are associated with complex power relations, which makes the service area a site for reflection on discrimination and gender roles. The paper closes with reflections on the sociality of such places, which is ephemeral but meaningful both there and at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to bridge the gap between archival text analysis and network analysis by applying network clustering methods to analyze the coverage of Bulgaria in 123 issues of the newspaper Osservatore Romano published between January and May 1877. Utilizing optical character recognition and generalized homogeneity blockmodeling, the study constructs networks of relevant keywords. Those including the sets Bulgaria and Russia are rather isomorphic and they largely overlap with those for Germany, Britain, and War. In structural terms, the blockmodel of the two networks exhibits a clear core-semiperiphery-periphery structure that reflects relations between concepts in the newpaper's coverage. The newspaper's lexical choices effectively delegitimised the Bulgarian national revival, highlighting the influence of the Holy See on the newspaper's editorial line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is the first part of a larger study on the vision of digital competences of primary school students and teachers in Bulgaria in the educational documentation. It attempts to explore the place and the approaches for developing digital competencies in the educational documentation concerning the Bulgarian primary school subject “Computer Modelling” (CM) and to define the necessary competencies for primary school teachers to develop the digital competencies of students within this subject. The primary research methods employed in the study are curriculum mapping, document analysis and comparative analysis of educational documentation as well as textbooks and methodological guides for primary school teachers. The results of the study demonstrate that the curricula predominantly focus on the development of programming skills, occasionally at the expense of other areas of digital competence. It raises the need to reconsider the CM curriculum to ensure a more balanced emphasis on different competence areas, which could also be achieved through their integration into other school subjects. The importance of the professional competence of the teachers for successful development of students’ digital competencies is also highlighted in the paper. Some concerns regarding the efficacy of teaching the CM subject are raised accordingly. The emerging need for an in-depth empirical study of the factual state of the digital competences of teachers and students is indicated. [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]

This paper aims to identify the factors that are positively or negatively impacting students' well-being and their academic engagement. We used partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using the data collected through a questionnaire from four countries: Romania, Turkey, Slovakia, and Bulgaria. The model includes seven factors that influence the well-being of students and indirectly their academic engagement: stressors in the students' lives; professors' support; social support from family and friends; the students' perceived satisfaction in their lives; engaging in activities during their leisure time; self-exploration regarding their careers; and environmental exploration regarding their careers. The results show that all factors, except for stressors and environmental exploration regarding their careers, positively influence the students' well-being and thus their academic engagement. These findings are useful for university professors and managers in better organizing activities to increase academic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine internal and external factors as well as main obstacles to managers'/owners' participation in education and training. Design/methodology/approach: The sample comprises managers of 151 Bulgarian predominantly micro- and small-size enterprises. The data was gathered in 2020 through direct standardized interviews at the respondent's workplace. This study uses quantitative estimation methods including binominal and multinominal logistic regression as well as nonparametric testing. Findings: Regarding the findings in the relevant studies, the results confirm that the larger firm's size, the existence of human resource management strategy and practices as well as learning-oriented culture stimulate employer-financed management training. The lack of trainers with relevant need-specific expertise appears to be a major barrier. Additionally, the outputs highlight the role of other important determinants not being extensively discussed so far such as the level of development of the region in which the company operates, involvement in R&D and innovation activity as well as the issue of trust in trainer. Practical implications: This study provides insights into (under)investments in continuing vocational training which might lead to practical implications for businesses, education and government policy in lifelong learning. Moreover, this study focuses on a country with one of the lowest participation rates in adult education across Europe which allows for a better understanding of similar examples. Originality/value: To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first paper examining determinants of management training in Bulgaria and one of the few in the European context. It gives support to the existing literature but adds new findings as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DRZEWIECKA, Ewelina. Cyrillo-Methodian Anniversaries in the Context of Socialism (Ideological Functions, National Uses, and Research Perspectives). The aim of the paper is to address the phenomenon of anniversary in regard to the cultural conditions that are typical of the period of socialism in South-East Europe. The focus is on a jubilee discourse that was generated for the purposes of state commemorations of SS. Cyril and Methodius, i.e. the inventors of the first Slavic alphabet and literacy. The starting point is the case of People's Republic of Bulgaria (1946 - 1990), which is perceived as both an example of rewriting the Cyrillo-Methodian tradition under the local conditions of Communist ideology, and a meaningful manifestation of the "culture of jubilee". The paper discusses the continuity of cultural matrix within the Bulgarian modernity despite the distinct semantic shifts in the Cyrillo-Methodian narrative and suggests a great potential of investigating the phenomena with regard to the past that is shared/contested in terms of different national ideologies. It is suggested that a "contrastive grammar" of competing jubilee discourses and practices would be a promising way of interpreting the Bulgarian-Macedonian confrontations and struggles for primacy that emerged during socialism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greece and Bulgaria are neighboring countries. In the 19th century, the two countries became independent after the Greеk-Turkish and Russian-Turkish Wars, respectively. After several territorial transformations, the modern territory of Greece was formed in the 1920s, and that of Bulgaria after WWII. In addition to territorial transformations, both countries underwent socio-economic and political transformations differently. Between the two countries as well, there are geographical differences as well as cultural and lifestyle differences. Differences in mortality between Eastern and Western European countries have been and still are, of scientific interest to many researchers. However, differences in mortality between Bulgaria and Greece, in particular, have not been well studied. The paper aims to analyze the differences in life expectancy in Bulgaria and Greece from 1961 to 2019. We used data provided by EUROSTAT. The main results show significant differences between Bulgaria and Greece in mortality and longevity due to socioeconomic development, diet, lifestyle, access to medical care, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This survey is a part of a broader ethnobotanical research conducted amongst visitors of protected areas in Bulgaria. The aim of the present study was to find out which herbs are collected by the visitors. Two types of interviews were conducted – among visitors of the Shumen Plateau Nature Park and among users of social network Facebook. Only small proportion from both groups collected medicinal plants from the visited areas. On the other hand, their answers revealed the knowledge about the most used medicinal plants in Bulgaria. Notably, most of them specify, that they comply with legal requirements and that the collected herbs are for personal use only. There are some differences between two groups – a smaller proportion of the online group collected medicinal plants from natural habitats, but demonstrated a greatest knowledge than the visitors of the Shumen Plateau Nature Park. Reported medicinal plants by the respondents are widely distributed in Bulgaria. Two endangered species have been mentioned: Aesculus hippocastanum L. and Sideritis scardica Griseb. Four medicinal plants were cited from both groups: – Hypericum perforatum L., Thymus sp. div., Tilia tomentosa Moench and Rosa canina L. Results revealed also the major disadvantages of the online surveys – skewed respondents, as only people interested in using herbs participate in the survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dividend puzzle for private corporations has a long-lasting history. Six theories provide explanations to this puzzle. However, the dividend puzzle has not yet been discussed as an economic problem for state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The article addresses this issue based mainly on the experience of the Bulgarian SOEs. In the paper all well-known six theoretical concepts of the dividend puzzle are presented and their strengths and weaknesses are analysed. Furthermore, the specific features of SOEs are brought out and the dividend puzzle for them is formulated. Presenting the experience of the dividend policy of SOEs, a confrontation with the theories is made. It is proved that only the theory of dividend payment preference is relevant to SOEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the second part of a more extensive study on the vision of digital competences of primary school students and teachers in Bulgaria according to the educational documentation. It explores the place and the approaches for developing digital competence in the curricula of all primary school subjects where this competence is integrated as transversal. The necessary competencies for primary school teachers to develop the digital competencies of students are also indicated. The research methods employed in the study are curriculum mapping and comparative analysis of educational documentation. Additionally, more than 70 students’ textbooks and their corresponding methodological guides for primary school teachers are reviewed for further clarification. The results of the study demonstrated a deficient consistency and balance among the curricula regarding the development of digital competence. There seems to be a lack of a shared vision for the digital competencies that students should acquire in primary school, and their development as a separate subject is not aligned with their development in other subjects. Moreover, the results implied a need for conceptualization of the integration of digital competences as transversal in the curricula, referencing appropriately the Digital Competence Framework for Citizens. There is also an emerging necessity to develop specific instructions for teachers on how to integrate the various key competences into the teaching of respective subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The authors extend the literature on decoupling by analyzing the microlevel effects of institutionalized practices within the framework of international standards. This study investigates the specific informal management practices that decision-makers embrace in order for organizations to achieve ISO 9001 certification without all regulations being adopted and followed according to the standard's original design and purpose. Design/methodology/approach: As the basis for its research framework, this paper adopts the neo-institutional theory. The research employs the comparative case study method and draws its data from a sample of 21 ISO 9001:2008 certified organizations in Bulgaria. Findings: The results show ambivalent behavior toward the ISO 9001 standard's formal requirements. This behavior is expressed through targeted noncompliance with (certain) regulations and procedures regarding top management commitment, as well as documented information which are formally adopted within the organization and certified as complying with the standard. Research limitations/implications: The study has implications for future research into decoupling, organizational learning, and standardization. In terms of limitations, the authors examined the process of decoupling from a micro perspective in Bulgaria only. Noncompliance with international standards such as the ISO 9000 may exhibit specific regional or national characteristics. Practical implications: Findings from this research encourage the International Standards Organization to respond to previous calls for revising the formal structure of ISO 9000 and other international management standards by considering a more flexible and liberal point of view. Originality/value: As opposed to previous studies which have explored decoupling from a macro perspective, this study focuses on how the internal constraints imposed by the standard's universal requirements are being mitigated at a micro level. That is, the authors provide a detailed account of the specific informal management practices which managers (deliberately) adopt in order to achieve certification without fully integrating the formal criteria imposed by international standards (e.g. ISO 9001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Bulgaria, the superfamily Cercopoidea consists of 18 species in two families - Aphrophoridae and Cercopidae. Of these, 13 species of Aphrophoridae belong to the genera Philaenus, Neophilaenus, Aphrophora and Lepyronia and five species of Cercopidae are in Cercopis and Haematoloma. Over a period of 25 years of extensive research on the species of the superfamily in the country, a large amount of georeferenced data has been collected on 17 of the species, which has significantly increased knowledge of their biogeography. New information: The paper presents a dataset of the materials of the superfamily Cercopoidea deposited in the Zoological Collection of the University of Sofia (BFUS). The specimens were collected from 888 localities in Bulgaria over a period of 25 years (1997 to 2022). The Cercopoidea collection comprises 8722 specimens grouped into 6670 collection objects. The text provides data for each species, including a distribution map, regional literature taxon names and identifiers from eight taxonomic infrastructures (GBIF, BOLD, OpenBiodiv, BHL, COL, Plazi, EOL and TaxonWorks). It also includes data from literature and new records, phenology and altitudinal distribution in Bulgaria, as well as known host plants. Live photographs are provided for all species. A nanopublication presents the establishment of a new host plant, Asphodeline lutea (L.) Rchb., for the species Philaenus signatus Melichar, 1896. [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]

The digital transformation of society is a reality. Technology is becoming integral to people's daily lives and children are growing up in the digital age. The education systems have to reflect and adapt to the new digital reality to effectively engage and prepare students for the future. Teachers have to possess digital competences at a high level, meaning that they are successfully able to use digital tools and technologies in their teaching practices. Digital competences include digital literacy, experience using educational software and platforms, and the ability to seamlessly integrate information and communication technologies (ICT) into the organization of educational activities. The current paper aims to study the opinion of teachers in Bulgarian schools regarding the possibilities of using digital technologies to achieve educational goals and the extent to which teachers integrate digital tools in their teaching activities. Teachers' opinions about the need for specific digital competences are important. The results of the survey show that teachers in Bulgaria actively use digital technologies in their daily teaching activities (84.8%) in order to create and provide learning content to students and to provoke their active participation, and is a convenient tool for evaluating their students' knowledge and skills and for providing effective feedback. The conducted research also identifies the necessary competences that teachers of the digital generation of learners need—skills and competences for developing authored electronic resources in various formats for students with different learning styles, as well as for working in online environments—individually and collaboratively with other teachers. [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 article examines cooperatives from the Agricultural sector and the Manufacturing industry. The research focuses on the growth of cooperatives of different sizes and ages. The period of the research is 5 years. After an indepth study of the empirical data of the studied sectors, an analysis of the rate of change in net sales revenue and their productivity is made. The productivity, growth and age of the cooperatives are expected to be positively related for the period under study. Cooperatives with longer working experience are predicted to realize a higher rate of change in net sales revenue compared to cooperatives that have been operating for a shorter period of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An attempt is being made to analyze the geodemographic picture in the rural areas (RA) of Bulgaria within a tenyear period. The authors of the scientific publication are based on the fact that the human population located in the smaller administrative territorial units (neighbourhoods, villages and small towns in terms of area and population) is of key importance for the functioning of social activities, which are basic for economic development in the country. The purpose of the scientific research is to investigate and analyze the natural growth (NG) of the population in the RA of Bulgaria for the period between the two national censuses 2011-2021. The results will present the temporary geodemographic picture of rural municipalities. Methodology in the scientific article is based on the definition of RA in the EU and Bulgaria. It is applied to the NUTS classification for grouping the abovementioned regions of the country, calculation of the natural increase of the population by years is based on the methodology of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) of the Republic of Bulgaria. The visualization of the process - NG of the population in the RA is presented in tables and figures, in which the dynamics of the numerical values for a certain period in per million (‰) and their change during the study are indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the application of digital information management tools in the context of financial control. In Bulgaria, such research is innovative as it is the first time that digital transformation in crucial financial control institutions, which influence the formation of the revenue part of the state budget and the spending of public funds, has been studied. The study aims to answer the research question of to what extent the application of digital tools in financial control improves its effectiveness. It analyses how modern technologies improve the efficiency and accuracy of information used in financial control institutions. The authors examine the impact of digital tools, such as database management systems, business analytics platforms, and electronic document management tools, on collecting, analyzing, and managing financial and non-financial information. The study uses descriptive statistics and a correlation analysis, which significantly contributes to establishing the relationship between implemented digital tools and improvements in financial control procedures. The results show that despite the conditions created for digitalization in financial control institutions, digital tools are used to a limited extent in the information management process. The study emphasizes the need for continuous investment in digital technologies and training to maximize the benefits of their application in financial control. [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]

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]

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]

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]

In 2024 the value added tax becomes 70 years old. This "crown of fiscal technique" arose on the basis of the turnover tax, which in turn was a product of the ancient excise tax. Today value added tax is the backbone of the tax system in almost all countries of the world. This paper is dedicated to the prehistory of the tax, the pioneering experience of France (and the European Union) from the middle of the last century and the implementation of the value added tax in Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to present the effects of the applied regimes of fertilization and irrigation on the sensory characteristics of white strawberry variety. A two factors experiment was conducted during 2023 in unheated greenhouse in the Chelopechene experimental field, Sofia, Bulgaria with drip irrigated and fertigated strawberry variety (Fragaria x Anannassa "Snow White"). The irrigation and the fertilization factors were applied in two rates: I1 - 75% (ETc) I2 - 50% (ETc), F1: optimal fertilization N8.09P12.76K15.62; F2 - suboptimal fertilization - 75% (F1). Five treatments was tested: control: I0F0:100% (ETc) without fertigation; I1F1; I1F2; I2F1; I2F2. Sensory analyzes were carried out during the first growing season of the fruits according to indicators: appearance, color, consistency, taste, aroma and general sensory evaluation on a 5-point rating scale, given by 10 experts. It was established that the applied agricultural techniques have an impact on the indicators of appearance, color and aroma of the investigated fruit variants. The total sensory evaluation was statistically distinguishable only in the fruits of the control and the variant with 50% irrigation and 75% fertilization (p<0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy after 2007 has brought new dynamic changes to the business environment where this primary Bulgarian industry functions. Getting financial incentives to support income as well as incentives to comply with other European policies distorts the business environment in Bulgaria. The land reform has been a key element of the agricultural transformation during the long-term transition in Bulgaria, which aims to create favourable conditions for the establishment of market economy by decentralizing the process and restoring the right of ownership to all owners and their heirs. The problems related to the study of land relations are of eternal relevance and significance. The importance of land relations is much more essential for the sustainable development of the viable rural regions in Bulgaria, having in mind the favourable natural conditions and the traditions inextricably interwoven with the agricultural sector in the country. The comprehensive research of land relations is a key condition for studying their impact on the socio-economic processes and relations, thus focusing on certain synergistic opportunities for the agricultural sector in Bulgaria. The purpose of this article is to describe, present and analyze the role and challenges of land relations, as well as the related issues that are fundamental for the state of agriculture and the place of the sector in Bulgarian economy as a whole. The study also has a narrow focus on achieving the key goal of intensifying the links between education, business and public authorities in general. For the research analysis we will apply the scientific approach as well as the following methodological framework such as complex and structural analysis. The study focuses on the challenges and problems in the development of land relations in Bulgaria, as well as the range of land relations related to the social, economic, management and legal environment in Bulgaria. The institutional environment in Bulgarian agriculture is a complex system of symbiotic relationships, dynamically changing under the influence of national and sectoral legislation. The challenges and issues of land relations are an extremely complex social phenomenon. The economic, social and environmental influences involved in it has a two-way impact on the agricultural sector. The harmonization and improvement of institutional framework in compliance with the requirements of the EU - development of sectoral legislation, re-structuring of agricultural farms, as well as various aspects of the implementation of the CAP, competitiveness and development of rural regions, are part of the issues and challenges related to the sustainable development of land relations and the agricultural sector in Bulgaria. [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]

The paper examines specific artifacts - stone balls of various sizes - that constitute significant material remnants of Ottoman military history in Bulgaria. While historical records confirm the existence of Ottoman gunpowder artillery in the region, archaeological research has contributed little to its study. This is largely due to the misdating and misinterpretation of these stone balls. Through careful analysis of publicly available archaeological data and historical sources, this study presents a new perspective on using gunpowder artillery and stone projectiles in Ottoman Bulgaria. It contends that most of these artefacts were integral to the Ottoman military arsenal, challenging previous assumptions that limited them to medieval ammunition. The study provides compelling evidence for the existence of Ottoman-era stone projectiles at several sites, including Cherven, Shumen, Nikopol, Silistra, Kaliakra, and Svishtov. This evidence is corroborated by historical records, which underscore the undeniable presence of Ottoman artillery in the region, particularly in the areas between the Danube and the Balkan Mountains, which remained a vulnerable frontier zone in contrast to the land south of the mountains. Crucially, this research underscores the need for more precise archaeological documentation, comprehensive artefact descriptions, thorough contextual information, and multidisciplinary research to understand the complex history of these stone projectiles fully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether a country's innovative capacity increases when the business sector invests more in research and development. The empirical investigation covers Serbia and its three neighboring countries in the European Union - Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria - for the period from 2011 to 2021. The results indicate that an increase in investment by the business sector at the current level of GDP influences the increase in innovation in the case of Serbia, Hungary, and Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social enterprises play a key role in the social and economic development of the European Union, and in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Following the European Commission's 2011 Social Business Initiative, national legislation on social enterprises has been adopted by almost all European countries. In 2019 the Act on Social and Solidarity-Based Enterprises entered into force in Bulgaria, introducing social enterprises as subjects of the social and solidarity-based economy. Four and a half years after the adoption of the Act, there are only fifty-one officially registered social enterprises in Bulgaria, indicating a major failure of the social business initiative. This paper explores the reasons for this significant backlog through both desk research and primary data analysis of a survey of non-profit organisations, which are supposed to be the main actors of the social economy and therefore the focus of the Act on Social and Solidarity-Based Enterprises. The main findings point to critically low awareness of the new Act and weak motivation to apply for a Social Enterprise statute, poorly designed conditions and ineffective communication. The lessons learnt can be used to prevent similar mistakes in other countries and to improve support for social entrepreneurship initiatives. [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]

Saul or Shaul Yeroham Mezan is a doctor with specialization in surgery and urology, Doctor of Medicine, officer, public figure, Zionist, anti-fascist, publicist, journalist, poet, historian, and folklorist – researcher of Sephardism, political scientist and current political analyst. He was born in the city of TatarPazardjik (today Pazardjik, Bulgaria) in 1893, and died far from his homeland, as a victim of Nazism, probably around 1943. Nowadays his name is known to a few researchers, as the predominant writings about him and his work are episodic in time and fragmentary in their subject matter. His literary and journalistic works, as well as his socio-political views, remain almost unknown to the general public, including, unfortunately, to the Jewish community in Bulgaria. The objective of the paper is the French-speaking environment in which S. Mezan was formed, and his works in French in various fields of the knowledge, which prevail over the ones in Bulgarian both in quantity and in terms of scientific and social significance. The author also pays special attention to the numerous yet scattered references for the French influence on the language, the way of life and the culture of the Sephardim in Bulgaria in the book by S. Mezan dedicated to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results from the application of the holistic approach to employability based on secondary data and a questionnaire survey of the human resources employed in the hotel and restaurant sector (198) and semi-structured interviews with tourism sector employers (11) in the municipality of Devin, Bulgaria. The results outline some of the dimensions of employability, existing problems of employability and their potential solutions. It is typical for the municipality of Devin that a large part of the local population in the region is directly dependent on tourism. This leads to relatively low staff turnover and high motivation to offer a quality tourism product. Respondents exhibit a high self-assessment of their own knowledge, skills and attitude in terms of development of tourism, but this does not correspond to the real situation given their activities to improve their own skills during the pandemic period closure. Recommendations are proposed for upgrading the qualification of staff at municipal and enterprise level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents information about some Mediterranean dolichopodid species and their habitat preferences, as well as distribution from the southern parts of Bulgaria and southeast Turkey. One new locality of Sybistroma discipes is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some of the biggest challenges in one's life include self-actualization and achieving success. Feeling successful in turbulent times has become more and more challenging. The goal of this paper is to introduce a multidimensional model of success and test it among a non-representative sample (N = 1063) of digital users in Bulgaria. According to the model, success beliefs are culturally specific and comprise four dimensions: happiness, achievement, material well-being, and social capital. The research method includes non-representative snowball sampling among Bulgarian social media users on Facebook and LinkedIn. A descriptive statistical analysis was used for the validation of data. The results show that participants consider themselves to be moderately successful. Respondents positively associate success with most factors, except for public influence (social capital) and material property (well-being). Digital users associate success the most with happiness and the least with social capital. They perceive success as an intangible and emotional concept, rather than a material one. The participants who feel moderately or completely unsuccessful associate success primarily with material possessions (well-being) and connections (social capital). It is suggested to continue researching this topic in a representative study among Bulgarian and even foreign citizens. The multidimensional model of success is an applicable research tool for future research in business and organizational management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to identify how energy cooperatives and energy communities could affect the social innovation within the European Union as a whole and specifically in Bulgaria. It begins with an applicable legislation and energy policy analysis and provides a helicopter view of the regulatory framework connected with the energy communities and copperatives on both European and national level, as well as the opportunities for their future development. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify the gaps, which consists of a bibliometric and a content analysis and outlines a growing interest in those relatively new energy formations that promote renewable energy sources, enhance energy security and empower local communities. It highlights the current research gap and endorses the need for the conduction of some additional deeper researches and empirical studies. The SWOT analysis provides an in-depth assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threads of those energy formations in Bulgaria, with an emphasis on their advantages and the challenges in front of them. The results provide a clear understanding of the factors that can help the growth and sustainability of those energy organizations and how they can endorse the energy transition in the country and in the European Union as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research is based on data for 43 non-financial enterprises listed on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange for the period 2018-2022. The results show a statistically significant positive relationship between the indicators of the trade credit policy and the term structure of the enterprises' debt in most years of the studied period. An indicator of the maturity structure of the debt in the study is the ratio Short-term debt/Total debt, and indicators of the trade credit policy of companies are the amount of receivables from customers and suppliers, the ratio Receivables from customers and suppliers/Short-term assets and the ratio Receivables from customers and suppliers/Total assets. This positive relationship is in accordance with the hypothesis of matching the maturities of the liabilities and the assets financed with them and reflects the desire of the companies to hedge the risk and reduce their costs on the borrowed resource. It is established that only in the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic in Bulgaria, there is no significant relationship between the trade credit policy and the maturity structure of the debt of public companies. The reasons for this are the sharp and unexpected deterioration of business conditions in the sectors affected by the pandemic, the strong increase in uncertainty, the disruption of supply chains and difficulties in accessing finance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtualization and online engineering of services are emerging as key themes that will profoundly influence society and industry in the near and distant future. This paper focuses on the transformation of administrative services in universities into virtual services through online engineering. This transition presents challenges not only to universities in Bulgaria but also worldwide. Given the significant impact of technology on the daily operations of universities, it is evident that the digital divide is an issue worthy of investigation. Disparities in the adoption of online administrative services can and will lead to inconsistencies in the economic development of universities. This article aims to explore some of the challenges associated with virtualization and online engineering of administrative services in universities and offers insights into how to address them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the bilateral project Assessing reading literacy and comprehension of early graders in Bulgaria and Italy, its aims and expected results, as well as the principles underlying the creation of texts assessing reading literacy in Italian and Bulgarian. The ultimate goal of the project is to improve the literacy skills of primary school children through education. In order to contribute to the achievement of this goal, a thorough investigation focused on the assessment of reading literacy and comprehension among early school children in Bulgaria and Italy. The article focuses on the principles for preparing materials in Italian and Bulgarian for assessing reading literacy. The linguistic features used to predict reading ability are divided into four main groups: raw text, lexical, morpho-syntactic and syntactic features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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By focusing on the communicative strategy of G. Gospodinov's Time Shelter, the paper aims to identify some of the reasons for the success of the novel in a non-Bulgarian environment. The focus is also on the image of Bulgaria that Time Shelte builds; in rela- tion to this image, the paper considers concepts such as "pamphlet" and "feuilleton" from a functional perspective. [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]

Issues related to shadow economy operation in Bulgaria and its socio-economic effects have been constantly a subject of extensive academic research. This was especially valid for the 1990s – the first decade of the market transition and related social, political, and economic reforms. Various studies aimed in understanding the multifaceted nature of undeclared work and its implications on the country's economic system. Policy-oriented research focused on issues concerning policymakers providing insights into the main drivers of the grey economy, enabling the development of targeted measures to address these underlying causes. This perspective is essential in understanding the shadow economy in Bulgaria as a former transition country not as an isolated phenomenon but as an integral part of the economic fabric that requires sophisticated and multifaceted responses. Furthermore, the methodological experience of researchers in monitoring the shadow economy in Bulgaria has evolved significantly, with a blend of statistical and sociological approaches being applied. In this respect, questionnaire surveys applying modern sociological standards as well as both micro- and macro-econometric analyses have been utilized. Particularly, various surveys have been instrumental in informing the policymaking in respect of the support to the national strategy for measuring, restricting, and preventing shadow economic activities. Additionally, the academic literature on the hidden economy in Bulgaria reflects on various socio-economic effects, including social legitimacy and economic expediency, viewing the grey economy as a parallel economic reality composed of life strategies that adapt to, neutralize, or completely ignore formal rules. This review article emphasizes on the complexity of the shadow economy issues in Bulgaria and the need for implementing comprehensive approaches to its study and evaluation. The ongoing academic discourse underscores the importance of continuous research and the adaptation of methodologies to capture the dynamic nature of this phenomenon. Moreover, the hidden economy has implications for tax morale, resulting in lower government revenues and impacting the country's ability to reach the goals of its national development programmes and sustainable growth. Particularly, the focus of the current review is put on a selection of recent studies that provides valuable information beneficial for the justification of different strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of the shadow economy, thereby fostering a more transparent and robust economic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]