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Our research is a value sensitive based approach to designing autonomous systems in a military context. Value sensitive design is an iterative process of conceptual, empirical and technical considerations. We enhance value sensitive design with Participatory Value Evaluation. This allows us to mine values of a large unorganized stakeholder group relevant to our context of research, namely Australian citizens. We found that value prioritizations differ depending on the context of use and that no one value fits all autonomous systems. General ethical frameworks can serve as high level guiding principles, but when it comes to actual technologies, a more nuanced and granulated approach to selecting and incorporating values is needed. Our research contributes to a greater awareness of the importance of inclusion of values in autonomous systems design in the context of defence. We suggest relevant frameworks and methods for values-based autonomous military systems design in the context of Australia, which may serve as a blueprint for other countries. Finally, we provide suggestions on how to operationalise values in systems design, as this is underrepresented in the current literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intellectual property law is a relatively new institution in Ukrainian law. As of today, the fundamental issues of intellectual property have remained debatable and in need of updating and improvement. The difficulties with the legal regulation of intellectual property are connected both with the constantly expanding range of objects and with the increase in the scope of rights and freedoms of participants in civil and economic turnover. No less important issues of effective regulation of the national intellectual property system have been related to the Association agreement between the European Union and its member states, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part. Also, in Ukraine, a whole series of problems of legal regulation of intellectual property is caused by a significant historical period during which intangible objects as an economic category did not exist, and therefore did not require protection. After the restoration of the independence of our State, the development of legislation on the defence of intellectual property began. Building an effective intellectual property system in Ukraine is an important stage and prerequisite for the integration of our country into the European community. After the restoration of Ukraine's independence, our legislation in the field of intellectual property underwent serious changes and reforms. The Constitution of Ukraine provided that citizens are guaranteed freedom of literary, artistic, scientific and technical creativity, protection of intellectual property, their copyrights, moral and material interests arising in connection with various types of intellectual activity. Every citizen has the right to the results of his intellectual and creative activity; no one can use or distribute them without his consent, with exceptions established by law. Intellectual property relations in Ukraine are regulated by both national legislation and international legal acts. The terms «protection» and «defence», which are often used interchangeably, are not identical. At the same time, the prospects for improving the legislation of Ukraine on the protection of intellectual property include its harmonization with the law of the European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the analysis of the criminal procedure legislation and generalisation of theoretical developments, the article identifies some peculiarities of legal regulation of the institute of special criminal proceedings (in absentia). The author identifies the categories of cases (types of criminal offences) and procedural grounds which are sufficient to initiate a pre-trial investigation in the form of special criminal proceedings. The need to exclude certain articles from the list of those listed in part 2 of Article 297-1 of the CPC of Ukraine in order to bring them in line with the provisions of the Criminal Code of Ukraine is emphasised. The peculiarities of defence counsel’s participation in special pre-trial investigation and court proceedings are analysed. It is determined that a defence counsel in such cases benefits from all the rights guaranteed to a suspect or an accused person in criminal proceedings. In view of this, and in the context of ensuring such fundamental principles of criminal proceedings as the right to defence, adversarial proceedings, observance of human rights and freedoms, access to justice, etc., the author emphasises the need to amend the current criminal procedure legislation to ensure that the defence counsel can appeal against the investigating judge's decision to conduct a special pre-trial investigation The problematic issues of defence counsel's participation are characterised, and the inadmissibility of his/her formal participation in criminal proceedings is emphasised. It is determined that the active actions to be taken by the defence counsel involved include familiarisation with the case file, choosing the defence position, participation in the trial and examination of evidence, participation in the debates, etc. The author emphasises the need for further research on the development of the practice of active participation of defence counsel in special criminal proceedings.

In the dynamic landscape of global security, NATO's strategic framework places a great emphasis on resilience as an important element of deterrence and defence. This paper delves into the multifaceted nature of resilience within the NATO context, exploring its integration as both a principle and a practical commitment across the Alliance. Resilience, defined for the purposes of this article as the ability of societies to resist and rapidly recover from major shocks, extends beyond mere disaster response, encompassing a sophisticated blend of civil preparedness and military capacity. This approach is not only critical for NATO's collective security but also reflects the shared responsibility and commitment of member states to bolster individual and collective capabilities against a broad spectrum of threats. In addressing the role of resilience in NATO's deterrence and defence posture, the paper examines key aspects, including the reliance on civilian resources for military logistics, the impact of NATO operations on national critical infrastructure, and the need for efficient coordination to prevent systemic failures. This is illustrated through various analytical tools such as the Ishikawa Diagram and SWOT analysis, which provide insights into the interconnected elements of resilience and the strategic challenges faced by NATO.

Documents of a classified nature may be of a contentious nature, the paper focusing on those concerning the service relationships of active officers. In the event of a dispute arising, the question arises as to the extent to which a plaintiff is able to mount an effective defence if he cannot know their content and whether he can be granted guarantees equivalent to respect for the right to a fair trial. Restricting the lawyer's access to important documents in a case affects to a large extent the represented party. In the European countries, the situation regarding conditional access to classified documents from the point of view of lawyers and parties against whom such documents are issued is similar, in that it is recognised that the principle of adversarial proceedings and the rights of the defence must be limited because of the need to protect national security. From a procedural point of view, it is important that the general principles of adversarial proceedings, equality, orality, non-disclosure and publicity are respected in every dispute. In this context, noting the difficulties that arise in the work of the court due to restricted access to classified documents, I have tried to identify guarantees equivalent to respect for the right to a fair trial in the cases referred to in the title of the paper, analysing national case law, that provided by the ECtHR and studies of doctrine. In accordance with these, I have developed equivalent guarantees compatible with Romanian law: the possibility of challenging the classification of the document, the request for declassification of classified information, the right of the interested party to be assisted by an ORNISS-certified lawyer and the possibility for the accused to participate in proceedings which reveal the content of classified documents.

The relevance of this study is conditioned by the accession of Sweden and Finland to the North Atlantic Al- liance, which has changed the European security system. The purpose of this study was to analyse the consequences of Finland and Sweden’s accession to the North Atlantic Alliance for the European Union’s security system. The study used the methods of analysis and synthesis, comparison, and the abstract logical method. The study found that the reasons for the analysed countries’ accession to the Alliance were geopolitical, historical, and military-strategic. The key reasons for Sweden and Finland’s accession to the North Atlantic Alliance include Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, their proximity and shared borders with Russia, a strategy of neutrality that was losing its effectiveness, and the merger of the countries’ military-industrial complexes. This accession radically changed the security system of Europe. It was found that the ac- cession of Finland and Sweden to the North Atlantic Alliance had both positive and negative consequences for the overall security system of European countries. On the one hand, the accession of these countries to the North Atlantic Alliance and the integration of their military forces into the Alliance helped to improve military capabilities, especially in the Baltic region, where the Allies did not have sufficient military power. On the other hand, the accession of new countries to the Alliance has also had negative consequences, such as complicating the defence decision-making process and increasing the confrontation between the Alliance countries in northern Europe and Russia. The findings of this study are of practical importance, as they present a holistic picture of changes in the European security system and can be used in practice by the legislative bodies of Ukraine in developing and implementing the country’s foreign policy

The article is devoted to the study of the specifics of criminal proceedings involving minors, in the context of the norms of national legislation and certain scientific works. It has been determined that the special procedural position of children in criminal proceedings is determined by the age peculiarities of these субʼєктів. The actual international standards concerning the procedure of criminal procedural activity in proceedings involving minors are considered. It is noted that at the national level, the specificity of proceedings in cases of minors is represented primarily in the isolation of the legislative regulation of criminal procedural relations with the participation of these individuals, as evidenced by the provisions of Chapter 38 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine «Criminal proceedings against minors.». During the study, the opinions of domestic scientists on the most problematic issues related to the procedural features of criminal proceedings against persons who have not reached the age of majority were analyzed. As a result of a comprehensive analysis of the legal norms of criminal procedural legislation, it was proved that certain procedures and rules of criminal proceedings are adapted specifically to the needs of minors, although their basis are general legal norms. In particular, this fact is evidenced by the dualistic representation of the interests of the juvenile suspect and the accused, the special субʼєктний composition of the participants in criminal proceedings against minors and certain specific aspects both at the stage of pre-trial investigation of juvenile crimes and during subsequent court proceedings. The article also identified a number of problematic aspects related to the implementation of these provisions at the practical level, in the context of which it is proposed to introduce certain additions and changes to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. It is considered necessary to consolidate the special principles of criminal proceedings against minors at the legislative level in the form of a separate article. The conclusion focuses on the fact that despite the existence of certain shortcomings in the legal regulation of proceedings in cases of minors, the criminal procedure legislation of Ukraine is developing in the right direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The text analyses normative solutions concerning the right to defence in Polish proceedings in cases of offences. It discusses the formation of selected elements of the right to defence, from the pre-war solutions to modern times. The author highlights the autonomy of the solutions in force in the 2001 Code of Proceedings in Misdemeanour Cases, and their similarities to the right to defence in criminal cases, constituting the most comprehensive model of this right. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of this study is determined by the need to identify the consequences of the war for the economy and the prospects for the development of military-economic relations between Ukraine and other countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamics of the volume and structure of Ukraine’s foreign economic relations during the wartime period and to outline future ways of expanding Ukraine’s foreign activities. To fulfil this purpose, the following methods were used: statistical data analysis; comparison; graphical; and data generalisation. The main results obtained in this paper include the identification of the dynamics of volumes and goods that occupy a considerable part of Ukraine’s exports and imports after the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2014; analysis of the geographical structure of foreign trade and trends in trade with the European Union in 2013-2022; assessment of the commodity and geographical structure of exports and transfers of defence goods from Ukraine in 2014-2021; determining Ukraine’s share in the total volume of exports and imports of defence-related items, the main consumers of exported products, and tracking changes in this share over 2018-2022 compared to 2013-2017; analysis of defence imports in the first half of 2023; substantiation of the proposal to develop the production of defence items, namely drones and long-range missiles, which can be used both to increase the protection of Ukraine’s territory and to strengthen the country’s position in the international market for the export of weapons and equipment during and after the war. The results and conclusions are of practical importance for the Government of Ukraine in developing areas for the development of the country’s defence sector and military-economic relations with other countries

Alternaria spp. cause different diseases in potato and tomato crops. Early blight caused by Alternaria solani and brown spot caused by Alternaria alternata are most common, but the disease complex is far more diverse. We first provide an overview of the Alternaria species infecting the two host plants to alleviate some of the confusion that arises from the taxonomic rearrangements in this fungal genus. Highlighting the diversity of Alternaria fungi on both solanaceous hosts, we review studies investigating the genetic diversity and genomes, before we present recent advances from studies elucidating host–pathogen interactions and fungicide resistances. Taxonomy: Kingdom Fungi, Phylum Ascomycota, Class Dothideomycetes, Order Pleosporales, Family Pleosporaceae, Genus Alternaria. Biology and host range: Alternaria spp. adopt diverse lifestyles. We specifically review Alternaria spp. that cause disease in the two solanaceous crops potato (Solanum tuberosum) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). They are necrotrophic pathogens with no known sexual stage, despite some signatures of recombination. Disease symptoms: Symptoms of the early blight/brown spot disease complex include foliar lesions that first present as brown spots, depending on the species with characteristic concentric rings, which eventually lead to severe defoliation and considerable yield loss. Control: Good field hygiene can keep the disease pressure low. Some potato and tomato cultivars show differences in susceptibility, but there are no fully resistant varieties known. Therefore, the main control mechanism is treatment with fungicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boys have been identified as the main perpetrators of school violence and bullying, evoking debates on masculinities. However, boys are not always the active producers of violence. This article examines the ways in which primary school boys who otherwise denounce violence explain their participation in it. The data draw from a more extensive qualitative study that focuses on the experiences of school violence among boys at a primary school in KwaZulu-Natal. The study sample comprised a group of thirteen Grade 7 boys. The primary method of data production was through semi-structured individual interviews. The study draws on theories of masculinities that regard them as multiple, fluid and socially constructed. The findings show that although the boys in the study condemned school violence, many could not escape being part of it. As boys, they felt compelled to protect and defend themselves, their families, girls and their friends. In their efforts to resist and mediate violence, they often resorted to violent methods as part and parcel of their masculine constructions. This article argues that it is necessary to focus on boys' perspectives and to shift the focus on violence from problematic individual behaviour to an understanding of the complex social and cultural contexts within which they navigate the everyday world of school. Towards this end, the conflicting implicit and explicit demands on boys sustained through social and institutional structures must be reworked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Horses respond to threats by moving away or, if that is not an option, by behaving in ways that deter the threat or move it away. These responses that help to reduce the threat are regularly labelled aggression, but this overlooks the motivation that underpins the responses which are often simply forms of defence. A catch-all term that avoids the need to interpret the motivation for defence and aggression responses is agonistic behaviour. In domestic horses, all such responses are important because they can be dangerous for both horses and personnel; they can prompt humans to defend themselves and can compromise the relationships that horses have with their carers. This study used an online questionnaire to ask owners about the management, training, and behaviour of the horses in their care. Although this questionnaire included data on horses that had not yet been trained to be ridden or had retired, this article focuses on the results of 2743 ridden horses. It reports a scale from warning signs—threatening to bite, pinning ears, tail swishing, threatening to kick or strike—to the most serious actions that include actual biting, kicking, or striking. The analysis revealed that agonistic behaviour is associated with certain management or training activities and that horses that show one form of behaviour are likely to show others in the same context. This means that some horses are particularly motivated to show these responses by certain triggers that arise in such contexts. The clusters with common characteristics were those observed in the context of: accelerating when ridden; saddling; familiar management activities; proximity to unfamiliar horses and other species. Taken together, these results highlight the prospect that the motivation to show these responses differs with context. This finding challenges the simplistic view that the problems with equine aggression and defence lie with the horses themselves rather than with historic or current management practices. Agonistic behaviours are often directed at other animals for self-defence or to increase distance from valued resources, such as food. Examples include aggression and counter-predator behaviours. Contemporary diets may boost the value of food as a resource and create unanticipated associations with the humans who deliver it. At the same time the domestic horse is asked to carry the weight of riders and perform manoeuvres that, ethologically, are out-of-context and may be associated with instances of pain, confusion, or fear. Agonistic responses can endanger personnel and conspecifics. They are traditionally grouped along with so-called vices as being undesirable and worthy of punishment; a response that can often make horses more dangerous. The current study used data from the validated online Equine Behavioural and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ) to explore the agonistic behaviours (as reported by the owners) of 2734 horses. With a focus on ridden horses, the behaviours of interest in the current study ranged from biting and bite threats and kicking and kick threats to tail swishing as an accompaniment to signs of escalating irritation when horses are approached, prepared for ridden work, ridden, and hosed down (e.g., after work). Analysis of the responses according to the context in which they arise included a dendrographic analysis that identified five clusters of agonistic behaviours among certain groups of horses and a principal component analysis that revealed six components, strongly related to the five clusters. Taken together, these results highlight the prospect that the motivation to show these responses differs with context. The clusters with common characteristics were those observed in the context of: locomotion under saddle; saddling; reactions in a familiar environment, inter-specific threats, and intra-specific threats. These findings highlight the potential roles of fear and pain in such unwelcome responses and challenge the simplistic view that the problems lie with the nature of the horses themselves rather than historic or current management practices. Improved understanding of agonistic responses in horses will reduce the inclination of owners to label horses that show such context-specific responses as being generally aggressive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All animals and plants respond to changes in the environment during their life cycle. This flexibility is known as phenotypic plasticity and allows organisms to cope with variable environments. A common source of environmental variation is predation risk, which describes the likelihood of being attacked and killed by a predator. Some species can respond to the level of predation risk by producing morphological defences against predation. A classic example is the production of so‐called 'neckteeth' in the water flea, Daphnia pulex, which defend against predation from Chaoborus midge larvae. Previous studies of this defence have focussed on changes in pedestal size and the number of spikes along a gradient of predation risk. Although these studies have provided a model for continuous phenotypic plasticity, they do not capture the whole‐organism shape response to predation risk. In contrast, studies in fish and amphibians focus on shape as a complex, multi‐faceted trait made up of different variables. In this study, we analyse how multiple aspects of shape change in D. pulex along a gradient of predation risk from Chaoborus flavicans. These changes are dominated by the neckteeth defence, but there are also changes in the size and shape of the head and the body. We detected change in specific modules of the body plan and a level of integration among modules. These results are indicative of a complex, multi‐faceted response to predation and provide insight into how predation risk drives variation in shape and size at the level of the whole organism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as "drones", have received a notable surge in recent years, particularly within military contexts. In this study, a simulation platform was developed to assess the viability of employing drone swarms as a defensive mechanism against opposing drones. The study encompasses diverse tactical approaches including the arrangement of attacking and defending drones, the role of drone launchers, and the critical factors of detection and response time. The results show the effectiveness of drone swarms, machine guns, anti-aircraft guns, laser guns and surface-to-air missiles against swarms of attacking drones. The findings provide a comprehensive insight into the potential performance of these countermeasures, laying the groundwork for the formulation of effective defence strategies against the emerging threat of drone swarms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Foro Internacional is the property of El Colegio de Mexico AC 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.)

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In the context of a digitized society, educational activities transcend conventional spaces. Generation Z, the cohort to which today's students belong, differs substantially from previous generations. Within this framework, characterized by the lens of technology and easy access to information, digital education is considered a cornerstone in educating the human resources of the future. Building upon these premises, the objective of this endeavor is to identify the main challenges encountered in the domain of military university education. Additionally, utilizing the method of content analysis, this article aims to delineate an accurate portrayal of the current state of challenges in the field of digital education and to present future perspectives in addressing these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ius Novum is the property of Sciendo 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 presents the results of research carried out for the purposes of the doctoral dissertation entitled Creating the image of the Polish Armed Forces as a guarantor of defence capabilities. The work draws attention to the importance and essential meaning of military classes in this process. The article presents the history of military classes and the methodological assumptions of the research. A review of research on students of military classes included in the literature on the subject was conducted. The results of the author’s own research on the impact of education in military classes on the perception of the Polish Armed Forces were presented, as well as conclusions and recommendations. The research problem of this article is the question: How do students of military classes perceive the current image of the Polish Armed Forces? The aim of the study was to analyse the currently employed measures shaping the image of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland in the opinion of the students of military classes.

A study was conducted to document nest intruders in newly divided colonies of stingless bees. The nature of the damage, the sequence of activities after colony division, and task allocation in the colony were studied. Three insect invaders - solitary resin bees (Megachile disjuncta, M. cephalotes), ants (Oecophylla smaragdina and Camponotus sp.) and spiders belonging to the family Salticidae and Lycosidae invaded the colonies during the earlier stages of division. The mean number of resin bees and ant invasions was significantly higher during the first week after division. Spiders invaded the hives and formed webs during the second week after division, resin and honey resources are robbed by resin bees and ants. Nest entrance closure was observed at 4.37±0.74 days after colony division guard bee activity from 6.13±1.24 days and foraging activity from 10.63±1.06 days after division. Observations on the task allocation framework after colony division indicated that 69% of bees were involved in hive entrance repair, 18% in colony architecture development, and 13% in tending to newly emerged bees from brood cells. The bees built a complex nest entrance, guarded activity and demonstrated nest closure behaviour in order to protect the nest against intruders. The results of the study are of prime importance for beekeepers to learn how to watch for hive intruders during colony division and to understand the adaptive defence mechanism to protect colonies.

The relevance of the subject under study is conditioned upon the scientific originality and practical significance of the implementation of the defence function of the state in the context of drastic changes in the forms and methods of conducting combat operations in modern wars. At the general theoretical level, the structure of the mechanism for implementing the defence function of the state was analysed and methodological aspects of the correlation of its main elements were highlighted. The purpose of this study was to highlight the methodological characteristics of the concept, essence, and content of the mechanism for implementing the defence function of the state, to determine its place and role in protecting state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and other national interests during the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The methodological toolkit of this study includes a set of research approaches, philosophical, general scientific, and concrete scientific methods that provided substantiated study results regarding the mechanism of implementing the defence function of the state. The theoretical design of this mechanism was analysed, as well as certain aspects of interaction and complementarity of its structural elements were considered. It was found that the model of this mechanism comprises legal (regulatory), institutional (organizational), and functional components. The regulatory element of the mechanism for implementing the defence function of the state covers the principles and norms that ensure the regulation of legal relations in the field of preparation for armed defence and protection in the event of an armed conflict (aggression). It was established that special subjects serve as the basis of the institutional (organizational) element of this mechanism, which, within the limits of their powers, carry out defence activities aimed at preparing for armed defence and protection in the event of an armed conflict (aggression). It was noted that defence activity is a functional component of the mechanism for implementing the defence function, which is implemented by authorized entities in appropriate forms, methods, and makes provision for preparation for armed defence in the event of armed aggression (conflict). The practical value of this study lies is that based on a methodological analysis of the legal literature and regulations of Ukraine on certain aspects of the implementation of the defence function of the state, proposals were formulated to create a realistic strategy for countering the aggressor state, aimed at improving the current legislation in the fields of national security and defence

The article presents the results of the research into the participation of scouts and scouting associations present in three countries. Three Baltic states (BS) – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - have been chosen as the subject of the research. The goal of this paper was to answer the questions of how the scouts perceive their role in the national defensive education system, and what the older scouts want to teach the youth. Based on this, we have attempted an appraisal of whether – and to what degree – scouting organizations contribute to increasing the level of defensive education in a given community. The paper has avoided strictly system-wide solutions, as the latter form a mere backdrop for the results of the research. In order to achieve the goal of the current research, the following research questions were formulated: Does participation in a scouting association represent a form of defensive education? Are the skills obtained from one’s membership in them helping increase the mentioned indicators?

The enemy release hypothesis (ERH) is the best‐known hypothesis explaining high performance (e.g. rapid population growth) of exotic species. However, the current framing of the ERH does not explicitly link evidence of enemy release with exotic performance. This leads to uncertainty regarding the role of enemy release in biological invasions. Here, we demonstrate that the effect of enemy release on exotic performance is the product of three factors: enemy impact, enemy diversity, and host adaptation. These factors are modulated by seven contexts: time since introduction, resource availability, phylogenetic relatedness of exotic and native species, host–enemy asynchronicity, number of introduction events, type of enemy, and strength of growth–defence trade‐offs. ERH‐focused studies frequently test different factors under different contexts. This can lead to inconsistent findings, which typifies current evidence for the ERH. For example, over 80% of meta‐analyses fail to consider ecological contexts which can alter study findings; we demonstrate this by re‐analysing a recent ERH synthesis. Structuring the ERH around factors and contexts promotes generalisable predictions about when and where exotic species may benefit from enemy release, empowering effective management. Our mechanistic factor–context framework clearly lays out the evidence required to support the ERH, unifies many enemy‐related invasion hypotheses, and enhances predictive capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf traits often vary with plant neighbourhood composition, which in turn may mediate plant susceptibility to herbivory. However, it is unknown whether there are any common patterns of change in leaf trait expression in response to neighbourhood diversity, and whether these responses confer increased resistance or susceptibility to herbivores.We used meta‐analysis to combine data from 43 studies that examined the influence of neighbourhood diversity on eight physical and chemical leaf traits that could affect herbivory. All leaf traits apart from leaf thickness were highly plastic and exhibited significant differences between plant monocultures and species mixtures, but the direction of effect was variable. Leaf toughness was the only trait that displayed a significant decrease with plant diversity, whereas specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf nitrogen were both marginally increased in species mixtures.The magnitude and direction of leaf trait responses to neighbourhood diversity were independent of plant density and phylogenetic diversity, but changes in SLA correlated positively with plant species richness. SLA was also significantly increased in experimental studies, but not in observational studies, while neighbourhoods containing nitrogen‐fixers were associated with increased leaf nitrogen and reduced phenolics. When studies on the over‐represented species Betula pendula were removed from the analysis, the effect of neighbourhood diversity on leaf toughness became nonsignificant, but phenolics were significantly reduced in diverse neighbourhoods composed of mature trees, and marginally reduced in species mixtures across all studies.Increases in plant neighbourhood diversity are often associated with reductions of herbivory, although in some cases, the reverse occurs, and plants growing in species mixtures are found to suffer greater herbivory than those in monocultures. This study offers a potential explanation for the latter phenomenon, as our results show that leaf trait expression is highly plastic in response to neighbourhood diversity, and in certain cases could lead to increased leaf quality, which in turn could promote greater rates of herbivory. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of the research into the participation of scouts and scouting associations present in three countries. Three Baltic states (BS) - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - have been chosen as the subject of the research. The goal of this paper was to answer the questions of how the scouts perceive their role in the national defensive education system, and what the older scouts want to teach the youth. Based on this, we have attempted an appraisal of whether - and to what degree - scouting organizations contribute to increasing the level of defensive education in a given community. The paper has avoided strictly system-wide solutions, as the latter form a mere backdrop for the results of the research. In order to achieve the goal of the current research, the following research questions were formulated: Does participation in a scouting association represent a form of defensive education? Are the skills obtained from one's membership in them helping increase the mentioned indicators? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The military conflict provoked by the Russian Federation in Ukraine has created major imbalances in international security. In this fluid and unpredictable security environment, the defence industry has reacted promptly, increasing production and export of military equipment and modern weapon systems to counterbalance the aggressive actions of the Russian Federation. The data analysed indicate the Russian Federation's continuing concern to make significant defence investments, including in the defence complex, which reveals its interest in continuing the military conflict in Ukraine. As for the Euro-Atlantic states, they are trying to counter the threat posed by the Russian Federation by supplying Ukraine with high-performance military equipment, while investing in their militaries to supplement the weapons supplied to Ukraine. After the outbreak of the military conflict in Ukraine, Romania has managed to increase its exports of arms and ammunition, creating favourable conditions for profitable partnerships with large companies in the Euro-Atlantic area. At the same time, Romania has increased its defence budget allocation to 2.5% of GDP, and there are discussions to further increase this percentage in the coming period. A substantial part of this budget allocation is earmarked for the procurement of modern military equipment to NATO standards for the Romanian armed forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sapindales is a large order with a great diversity of nectaries; however, to date, there is no information about extrafloral nectaries (EFN) in Sapindaceae, except recent topological and morphological data, which indicate an unexpected structural novelty for the family. Therefore, the goal of this study was to describe the EFN in Sapindaceae for the first time and to investigate its structure and nectar composition. Shoots and young leaves of Urvillea ulmacea were fixed for structural analyses of the nectaries using light and scanning electron microscopy. For nectar composition investigation, GC-MS and HPLC were used, in addition to histochemical tests. Nectaries of Urvillea are circular and sunken, corresponding to ocelli. They are composed of a multiple-secretory epidermis located on a layer of transfer cells, vascularized by phloem and xylem. Nectar is composed of sucrose, fructose, xylitol and glucose, in addition to amino acids, lipids and phenolic compounds. Many ants were observed gathering nectar from young leaves. These EFNs have an unprecedented structure in the family and also differ from the floral nectaries of Sapindaceae, which are composed of secretory parenchyma and release nectar through stomata. The ants observed seem to protect the plant against herbivores, and in this way, the nectar increases the defence of vegetative organs synergistically with latex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientific Journal of the Military University of Land Forces is the property of Gen. Tadeusz Kosciuszko Military Academy of Land Forces 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.)

National security is a crucial component of the state of the Republic of Moldova. Therefore, an important condition for ensuring it is the exact compliance by the military with the military laws and regulations to successfully carry out the tasks established by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova and ensure state security. Violation by military personnel of legislative requirements and military statutes carries with it either disciplinary responsibility or, in the most serious cases, criminal liability. In this context, the criminal legislation of the Republic of Moldova provides for "Military Offenses" in Chapter XVIII. Desertion represents a component of the acts that fall under the category of military offences, which is criminalized in Art 371 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Moldova. The unjustified absence of a soldier from their unit constitutes a clear insubordination primarily against the law and military regulations. Dodging military service represents a violation of duty towards the country, a provision confirmed by the supreme law of the Republic of Moldova, which states that defending the country is a sacred duty of every citizen.

Boys have been found to be the main perpetrators of violence and bullying in schools, putting a spotlight on masculinities. However, boys are not always active producers of violence. This article examines ways in which primary school boys who denounce violence explain their participation in it. It draws attention to how dominant gender and heterosexual ideologies impact the lives of boys at school. The data draws from a larger qualitative study which focuses on the experiences of school violence amongst boys in a primary school in KwaZulu Natal. The sample comprised fifteen grade seven boys. The primary method of data production was semi-structured individual interviews. The findings show that although the boys in the study condemned school violence, many could not escape being part of it. As boys, they felt compelled to protect and defend themselves, their families, girls and their friends. In their efforts to resist and mediate violence, they often resorted to violent methods in their masculine constructions. This article argues that it is necessary to focus on boys’ perspectives and shift the focus on violence from problematic individual behaviour to complex social and cultural contexts within which they navigate the everyday world of school. Towards this end, the conflicting implicit and explicit demands on boys sustained through social and institutional structures must be reworked.

Using a perspective external to the Swedish Armed Forces this study examine the Swedish management of capability and technology development focusing on defence equipment. The study analyses a value chain that identifies activities from strategy definition to delivered capability in the case of Swedish management of capability and technology development. In general the study show that Swedish Armed Forces has a structured system supporting each activity in the value chain. However, challenges and potential for improvement can be found throughout the value chain. Especially an effective translator between, what Industries would call Voice of the Customer and Voice of the Engineer, could improve the effectiveness at both the Armed Forces and the Defence Industry.

Abstract All animals and plants respond to changes in the environment during their life cycle. This flexibility is known as phenotypic plasticity and allows organisms to cope with variable environments. A common source of environmental variation is predation risk, which describes the likelihood of being attacked and killed by a predator. Some species can respond to the level of predation risk by producing morphological defences against predation. A classic example is the production of so‐called ‘neckteeth’ in the water flea, Daphnia pulex, which defend against predation from Chaoborus midge larvae. Previous studies of this defence have focussed on changes in pedestal size and the number of spikes along a gradient of predation risk. Although these studies have provided a model for continuous phenotypic plasticity, they do not capture the whole‐organism shape response to predation risk. In contrast, studies in fish and amphibians focus on shape as a complex, multi‐faceted trait made up of different variables. In this study, we analyse how multiple aspects of shape change in D. pulex along a gradient of predation risk from Chaoborus flavicans. These changes are dominated by the neckteeth defence, but there are also changes in the size and shape of the head and the body. We detected change in specific modules of the body plan and a level of integration among modules. These results are indicative of a complex, multi‐faceted response to predation and provide insight into how predation risk drives variation in shape and size at the level of the whole organism.

The emergence of a new ground for closing criminal proceedings in the current Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine – in connection with the decriminalization of an act committed by a person – has caused ambiguous assessments by scholars. The application of the new procedure in judicial practice necessitates a thorough scientific study of the problem in order to prevent violations of the law. The purpose of the study was to determine the practical feasibility of the adopted amendments for pre-trial investigation and court proceedings. To achieve this goal, the following methods were used: dialectical, systemic and structural, comparative legal, formal and logical, and modelling. The study describes the actions of participants in criminal proceedings at the stage of pre-trial investigation and in court during consideration of the said procedure. The author compares the new procedure with other existing special investigative procedures and emphasizes their differences. The author calls into question whether the legislator has singled out this procedure as a type of special procedure. The author comes to the conclusion that the subject under study is an exclusively improved basis for closing criminal proceedings or further continuation of their consideration, depending on the right of the defence to close or continue the proceedings in court. The author analyses the court practice of application of this criminal procedural institute. Attention is focused on the need for investigators, prosecutors, and judges to take into account the requirements of the new grounds for closing criminal proceedings and to prevent violations of the law, since during its consideration the suspect and the accused are granted an additional alternative right to agree or disagree with the closure of proceedings, which is a guarantee of human rights and freedoms. The author's conclusion that it is inappropriate for the legislator to classify the procedure for closing proceedings as a separate type of special procedure is justified by haste and lack of appropriate scientific research. The study provides the basis for improving the methodology of procedural actions of the prosecution during the closure of criminal proceedings and may be used by the legislator for further regulation of the criminal proceedings' procedure

Abstract Background The transition to civilian life following separation from military service is associated with increased risk of mental health disorders, suicide, and poor adjustment. No measure currently enables pre-separation screening to assess mental readiness for transition and identify personnel most at risk of poor outcomes. The Mental Readiness for Military Transition Scale (MT-Ready) was developed to identify psychosocial factors predictive of post-separation psychological adjustment and mental health. Methods Phase I was a qualitative study including transitioned veterans (n = 60), partners of transitioned veterans (n = 20) and mental health clinicians (n = 20) which enabled development of candidate items that were subsequently piloted with a current serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) sample (n = 19). Phase II included evaluation of the factor structure, psychometric properties, and scale refinement of the initial pool of 50 items with a convenience sample of transitioning ADF personnel (n = 345). Analyses included exploratory factor analysis, evaluation of test-retest reliability, internal consistency, convergent, divergent, discriminant and predictive validity. Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve Analysis was also conducted to determine an optimal cut-off score. Results Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 15-item, three-factor solution that explained 62.2% of the variance: Future focus and optimism; Anger and perceived failure; Civilian connections and social support. Reliability and convergent, divergent, and discriminant validity was established. Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve Analysis determined a cut-off score of 55. MT-Ready scores significantly differentiated those reporting adjusting versus not adjusting to civilian life 3.7 months post-separation, and predicted post-separation outcomes including symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, depression, anxiety, psychological adjustment and quality of life. Conclusions This evaluation provides promising evidence the MT-Ready is a valid, reliable measure of mental readiness for transition, with predictive capability and considerable potential to assist prevention of poor post-separation outcomes among military personnel.

(Series Information) European Papers - A Journal on Law and Integration, 2023 8(2), 411-416 | European Forum Insight of 27 July 2023 | (Table of Contents) I. EU strategic autonomy and technological sovereignty: an overview. - II. Mapping the sectors of EU strategic autonomy and technological sovereignty. - III. Identifying cross-cutting instruments to guarantee EU’s strategic autonomy. - IV. Structure and Contents of the Special Focus | (Abstract) This Special Focus aims at reflecting on the concepts of European technological sovereignty (ETS) and European strategic autonomy (ESA). Taking a legal perspective, it gathers the Insights of a group of scholars on highly debated issues such as the EU’s strategic autonomy, technical and digital sovereignty.

(Series Information) European Papers - A Journal on Law and Integration, 2023 8(2), 487-501 | European Forum Insight of 27 July 2023 | (Table of Contents) I. Introduction. - II. Space as enabler of EU strategic autonomy. - III. Institutional complexities of EU space governance: the role of ESA and of the Member States. - IV. The material complexities of EU space governance: the civil/military nexus and the different legal basis applicable to civil and security aspects of space. - V. Tackling material complexities: improving the security/defence requirements and uses of EU space infrastructure. - VI. Addressing institutional complexities: the single EU Space Programme and the EU Space Programme Agency (EUSPA). - VII. Final remarks. | (Abstract) EU space policy is an important field in the pursuit of EU strategic autonomy, both as regards the need to protect EU space infrastructures (and industry) from external threats and as regards the need to strengthen EU capacity to act in the space domain for security and defence purposes. However, some complexities exist in the governance of EU space policy, which may affect its ability to deliver in the above-mentioned terms. Reference is made, in particular, to: (i) the role of other international organisations, such as the European Space Agency (ESA), and of the member States, in shaping and carrying out EU space policy (ii) the nature of EU space competence as designed in the Treaties and the different procedures applicable respectively to civil and security/defence aspects of space. Recent practice shows that EU is striving to overcome such limits, with a view to equip its own space policy with the necessary tools to address security and defence challenges of the Union and of the Member States. The Insight gives account of such recent practice and singles out the main developments which allowed the EU legal system to cope with the above-mentioned difficulties, in order to realize a shift from a purely scientific/commercial approach to space policy to a more strategic one, where security and defence interests of the EU and of the Member States are taken into account and possibly addressed.

The defence sector is now at an advanced level, catering to the global scenario, and countries also invest heavily in research and development. Countries around the world have spent a lot of money on research and development over the years in order to stay ahead of their competitors. Lightweight materials are critical in defence applications because they allow components to be lighter without sacrificing strength. This review provides an overview of the research related to defence applications. The book provides comprehensive details on current trends in the application of lightweight materials in defence. This review also includes historical and current perspectives on defence technologies. It discusses uses of lightweight materials such as metal matrix composites, polymer composites, ceramic matrix composites, fiber composites in defence sectors Finally, the review paper also emphasizes future military applications of lightweight materials.

In regard to public and strategic modern communication, at least in one respect. Considering the armed conflicts near the border of our country, more attention should be paid to national security; thus, all public institutions responsible for national security and defence should focus more on the combat training of subordinate personnel. As a NATO member state and through the role that our country has within the Alliance, in order to prove that we are a strong and respected state, we must constantly make efforts to be able to rise to the level of our partners within the Alliance. In this sense it is necessary to make progress regarding the use of the latest information and communication technologies, the modernization of military techniques and equipment, but also regarding the improvement of the level of physical training. In order to improve the fighting ability of the military, it is necessary to increase the level of their physical training, which can be achieved in the shortest possible time based on the methods and means of training used by the modern armed forces and their implementation in the design of physical training programmes from the very beginning of the military career.

The current security context requires proper and consolidated solutions in order to lower the number of risks posed by the ongoing national security threats. Strengthening the security culture is one of these solutions, as it can ensure the engendering of desirable attitudes towards existing security risks. Shortly, security culture is a combination of knowledge and attitudes toward the security issues of the state. In Romania, since 2010, the consolidation of security culture is an assumed objective within the National Defence Strategies. Over time, different Romanian institutions have taken several steps to achieve this goal, but a main actor is represented by the Romanian Intelligence Service, as it took multiple measures in order to have a better-informed population and better trained authorities. In addition, the National Cyber Security Directorate has been actively involved in strengthening the cybersecurity culture, an extremely important branch of the security culture. Taking into consideration that every human activity is more and more connected to the cyber space, people have to face many risks coming from this direction. In this article you will find information about some measures taken in Romania in order to strengthen the security culture. The main objective of this article is to emphasize the importance of creating a common security culture, but also to spot the limits of such a process. For accomplishing this objective, it was used “literature review” as a research method.

The article is devoted to the draft law on defence financing, which aims to oblige the government to allocate an amount of at least 2% of GDP to defence in every draft law on the state budget. During the inter-ministerial comment procedure, the Supreme Audit Office expressed doubts whether the draft means anything more than an unenforceable political commitment in relation to the Chamber of Deputies". The article convincingly demonstrates, with the help of legal argumentation and interpretation of the Constitution of the Czech Republic, the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies, as well as the established case law of the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic, that if approved, the Chamber of Deputies will also be bound by the Defence Financing Act when approving the state budget. To do otherwise would violate constitutionality.

The purpose of the article is to present a situational analysis of the education and training system in the field of security in the Republic of Bulgaria in 2021, in which internal and external threats, strengths and weaknesses, problem areas and possible solutions will be highlighted. The subject of the article is the education and training system, as the specific subject is the education and training system in the field of security in the Republic of Bulgaria.

The economic relationship between India and Russia has been limited and faced various challenges historically. However, changing geopolitical and geoeconomic situations have created new opportunities while also presenting challenges and risks. This paper aims to analyse the legacy issues and dynamic shifts in international trade and order that are currently taking place. The article explores the ongoing transformation of Indo-Russian economic engagement and proposes possible means for moving forward. The existing advantages of both countries in the areas of trade and investment are also outlined.Assuming a resolution to the Russian Special Military Operation in Ukraine, the paper proposes an economic roadmap for continuing the recent momentum in the trade and economic relationship between Russia and India. The first step is to strengthen bilateral trade in existing priority export sectors of both countries. This can be followed by deeper cooperation in oil, civilian nuclear energy, and defence sectors. The introduction of rupee-rouble trade, even partially, could significantly boost these efforts. The paper also advocates for involving the private sector in these efforts by adopting a proactive approach by both governments.By combining immediate efforts with long-term geopolitical maneuvers on both sides and an early resolution of the Russian Special Military Operation in Ukraine, it is possible to push bilateral trade and investment levels onto a sustainable growth path in the future. The paper argues strongly for this approach.

The present article aims to focus the attention on the Russian-Ukrainian war from February 24, 2022 and its impact on the environment. The analysis reveals the importance of climate issues in Ukraine for the past, present and future of the country by considering: a/the war as wake-up call for climate emergency; and b/ the desire of Kiev for accession to the EU as an opportunity for green transition and sustainable recovery. It is claimed that the war in Ukraine from 2022 is an example of how military actions have a significant ecological footprint and how the post-war recovery could be a chance for low-carbon development of the economy and society of the second largest country in Europe, the seventh in terms of population and the eighth of military forces of the old continent. On the one hand, it emphasizes on the multidimensional role of the armed forces and defence sector that should be considered within the wider climate-security nexus. On the other hand, it shows that the pursuit of EU membership has a green transformative effect, цonsidering the strategic targets of the Union to move towards Net Zero by 2050. The analysis leads to the following conclusions: 1) The military conflict between Russia and Ukraine shows the widespread use of various types of weapons, which generates large amounts of carbon dioxide, by strongly affecting the climate of the entire continent; 2) The post-war recovery is a chance for Ukraine for better sustainable development of its economy, society and security; 3) The path of Ukraine to the EU would be a stimulus for the armed forces and defence sector, as causing and suffering the consequences of climate change, to increase the resilience of their capabilities and infrastructure, by investing in green and innovative technologies and at the same time by decreasing their environmental footprint without reducing their operational effectiveness.

The India-France partnership has witnessed significant progress since 2014, particularly under the leadership of President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two countries have deepened their collaboration in a wide range of areas, including defence, space, energy, and technology which also impacted their cultural relations. This research provides an analysis of the strategic cooperation between India and France in the post-2014 period, with a focus on the achievements, challenges, and prospects for future collaboration. The data is drawn from a range of primary and secondary sources, including official statements, reports, and media coverage. It begins with an overview of the historical context of India-France relations and the evolution of the strategic partnership in recent years. It then examines the key areas of cooperation between the two countries, highlighting the progress made in each of these areas. Finally, the research explores the future prospects for the India-France partnership, particularly in the context of the changing global order and the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific region. It concludes that the India-France partnership has the potential to be a significant force for stability, prosperity, and security in the region, but will require sustained efforts from both countries to overcome the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities.

The Mawgridge’s case in 1707 set the precedent where adultery was recognised as a justified trigger for the husband’s killing of his wife’s lover; this crystallised a partial defence for provocation. However, in an 1810 case, the killing of the unfaithful wife followed a manslaughter conviction rather than murder for the first time. This study aims to investigate the shaping of a legally permissible violence, that is, the mitigation of the husband’s culpability in killing his adulterous wife. This provides the opportunity to question the (ir)rationality behind the judiciary’s discourse in the case of R v Clinton 2012; here, despite infidelity being abolished in 2009 in England and Wales as a defence for murder, the judges still insisted on its relevance in our culture and hence on legal culpability. The theoretical framework in this paper draws upon the scholarship of masculinity, the family, and the law. This paper discusses the contribution of the hegemonic male identity in creating this legal violence and fortifying social-hierarchical structure.

Copyright of Selcuk Law Review / Selçuk Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Selcuk Law Review 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.)