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BACKGROUND: The Roma population is a genetically isolated population with a shared origin, totaling between 10 to 14 million individuals worldwide, stemming from a limited number of "genetic founders". Roma individuals exhibit specific hereditary diseases, often stemming from recessive genetic variants due to a higher degree of consanguinity, with recent molecular-genetic investigations shedding light on several conditions prevalent within the Czech Roma population. However, an overview of stomatological issues in diagnosing such diseases proves challenging, leading to frequent underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis. METHODS: The contribution monitors the clinical description, typical symptoms and treatment options including dental abnormalities in rare genetic diseases in the Roma population which are treated in ERN CRANIO centre at Motol University Hospital in Prague. RESULTS: Our research provides examples of autosomal recessive diseases, which can be molecularly confirmed, and prevalent within the Roma community. These include congenital cataract syndrome, facial dysmorphism and demyelinating neuropathy, non-syndromic prelingual e.g. deafness with GJB2 gene impairment, and myasthenic syndrome. CONCLUSION: Our report aimed to provide a systematic review of dental phenotypes which can relate to Czech Roma's rare genetic disorders therapy including dental treatment. Understanding is important for preventing unterdiagnosis or treatment for the patients affected review of observed (Fig. 6, Ref. 27). Text in PDF www.elis.sk [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is vital for the optimal development of infants, yet the practice of using infant formula has become increasingly prevalent. While many studies globally investigate factors affecting breastfeeding, there is a scarcity of research focusing on marginalized groups, particularly the Roma community. This study seeks to compare the breastfeeding rates of Roma and non-Roma mothers upon discharge from a maternity hospital in Greece. It also examines factors contributing to the decline in breastfeeding among Roma women, with particular emphasis on the role of midwifery support. The aim of this study is to promote the development of supportive policies and programs for breastfeeding among Roma mothers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2019 to January 2022, involving 248 infants born at ≥37 weeks of gestation and their mothers, who were of Greek nationality. Both Roma and non-Roma participants received consistent, high-quality care from the same midwife researcher, who personally attended to them. All participants initiated breastfeeding immediately after their newborns' births and practiced rooming-in by keeping their babies in the room with them during their hospital stay. Data were collected through questionnaires to determine the rates of exclusive breastfeeding among the two groups. Results: The study found that a smaller proportion of Roma mothers exclusively breastfed their infants compared to non-Roma mothers, despite receiving similar levels of support from healthcare professionals. Conclusions: The provision of midwifery support did not significantly enhance exclusive breastfeeding rates among Roma mothers. This suggests the need for more comprehensive and multi-faceted interventions. Further research is required to confirm these findings and to design effective programs aimed at increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates, thereby improving health outcomes for Roma children and mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Roma community consistently demonstrates that it has exacerbated pre-existing social exclusion and marginalization. However, few studies have specifically addressed the transformative actions or strategies that helped to mitigate these adverse effects. This study aimed to identify and analyze transformative elements through a systematic review, following PRISMA guidelines. The search was conducted across Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar, yielding 995 records, of which 46 were included in the final phase and 25 in our synthesis. Our analysis focused on community-led initiatives that addressed inequalities, particularly when Roma community members were involved in the design of solutions or took on mediation roles. The results underscore the critical importance of inclusive, community-driven actions in overcoming structural barriers and promoting long-term resilience within Roma communities during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roma settlement is a term that is often used in the public media space and in academic works dealing with the issue of the Roma national minority. Despite the frequency of use, this term is not clearly defined. Using the example of twelve localities inhabited by the Roma population in Međimurje County, the paper points out the basic features of spatial development, morphological and functional elements of ‘Roma settlements.’ Spontaneous origin, spatial segregation, intense spatial expansion mainly via illegal construction on usurped land, irregular structure, non-compliance with building and spatial norms, intensive infrastructural development in recent times and a deficit of basic settlement functions other than housing, are the basic characteristics of Roma settlements in Međimurje. The aforementioned characteristics refer to the very definition of a Roma settlement as a location of gathered housing units of a homogeneous Roma ethnic structure, spatially separated from the settlement, i.e. parts of the settlement with the majority population to which they administratively belong, with specific spatial development, morphological and functional characteristics significantly different from the characteristics of the surrounding settlements with the majority population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Ovarian carcinoma (OC) is one of the most common gynecological cancers. Due to its asymptomatic course and lack of screening tests, the disease is detected in advanced stages, which translates into an unfavorable prognosis for patients. Therefore, it is appropriate to seek diagnostic methods for OC, which include the determination of tumor markers. Enzymes of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) group, which are involved in all stages of the process of carcinogenesis, have particular potential. Collagenases (MMP-1, MMP-8 and MMP-13) are a poorly studied group of enzymes from the 28 MMP group. Our study suggests that they may be postulated as new diagnostic markers of OC. However, the unequivocal confirmation of their potential requires further research. Background: Ovarian carcinoma (OC) has an unfavorable prognosis due to lack of screening and an asymptomatic course. New diagnostic methods are being sought to enable earlier diagnosis of this condition. The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic utility of collagenases (MMP-1, MMP-8 and MMP-13) in the diagnosis of OC compared to HE4 and CA125 and the ROMA. Methods: The study group consisted of 120 patients with OC, the control group: 70 patients with benign ovarian lesions (BLs) and 50 healthy women (HS). MMP-1, MMP-8 and MMP-13 were determined by ELISA and HE4 and CA125 by CMIA. Results: OC patients had higher levels of MMP-1 and MMP-13 compared to the BL and HS groups. MMP-1 (SE: 81.66%; SP: 94%; PPV: 97.02%; NPV: 68.11%; AUC: 0.9625) and MMP-13 (SE: 77.50%; SP: 94%; PPV: 96.875%; NPV: 63.51%; AUC: 0.917) showed similar or higher diagnostic values to routine markers (HE4: SE:85%; SP: 92%; PPV: 96.22%; NPV: 71.875%; AUC: 0.943; CA125: SE: 80%; SP: 98%; PPV: 98.96%; NPV: 67.12%; AUC: 0.909) and the ROMA (SE: 90.83%; SP: 94%; PPV: 97.32%; NPV: 81.03%; AUC: 0.955). Performing combined analyses of individual MMPs and MMPs with ROMA was associated with further increases in diagnostic parameters. Conclusions: MMP-1 and MMP-13 have shown preliminary potential as diagnostic markers and auxiliary markers to ROMA in biochemical diagnosis of OC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates Roma undergraduates' partner selection patterns, examines the main factors in students' partner selection attitudes, and analyzes the structural role in students' network. We rely on data from semi-structured life-narratives and contact diaries of 67 Roma undergraduates. Three main partner selection patterns were distinguished among Roma students: (1) Roma and non-Roma partners with low educational attainment, (2) non-Roma partners with secondary or higher education, and (3) Roma partners with secondary or higher education. Partners' sociodemographic backgrounds show correspondence with the size of students' egocentric networks and indicates ties from the same social group with higher probability. Our results imply that in the choice between a typically low-status Roma environment and a high-status university environment, or in the delicate balancing act between the two, the chosen partner plays a key role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the relationship between race and property in Hungary by examining the shifting discourse of the "ghetto" in post-war Hungary. I unpack the relationship between norms of propriety, or logics of use, associated with colonial epistemologies of land and the various racial projects deployed by the Hungarian state between socialist and liberal-capitalist governments. To operationalize this project, I put into conversation Brenna Bhandar's racial regimes of ownership with David Theo Goldberg's racial governmentality to understand the shifting logics and tactics of racial management toward Roma in Hungary. I show that the concept of the ghetto was crucial in the deployment of the racial project "The Elimination of Settlements with Unacceptable Social Conditions," where the project was understood by officials as a palliative to the damage done by capitalist social relations. On the heels of this project, a group of liberal dissidents led by sociologist and demographer Istvan Kemeny forged a new problematic that centered state interventions on the Roma family. I show how this problematic was used to deny Roma tenure claims in the majority Roma Eighth District during the transition to liberal capitalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on Roma mobilities within migration studies has, so far, not explored sufficiently the role of religion in ethnic mobilisation and minority politics, with all the attention on the political and social significance of Pentecostalism, especially in Romania. Through an ethnographic focus on the unexplored social worlds of Roma in Polish-speaking Jehovah’s Witnesses congregations, this article aims to bridge this gap and brings forward a unique perspective on the dynamics of transnational religious movements, ethnic mobilisation and the complexity of Roma experiences of mobilities. Merging conceptual perspectives on religious conversions in migratory contexts, theories of Roma religious and ethnic activism and the gendered dimension of resistance within patriarchal contexts, the article brings forward Roma narratives about conversions, the relatability of Witnesses’ teaching to Roma culture, as well its ability to resist some of its aspects. In our view, conversions are made meaningful through Roma's understandings of purity, piety and patriarchal family structure and a deeper significance of their marginalisation in wider society. At the same time, the movement's popularity is strongly linked to their migratory experience and their relations with non-Roma Polish-speaking members of congregations, pointing to the role of complex hierarchies of whiteness and belonging in Britain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Within Europe, Roma, Gypsy, and Traveller groups have been marginalized and discriminated against by larger society. Persecution and displacement have resulted in high rates of unemployment, reduced access to education, and poorer health, with significantly increased risk of poverty compared with the general population. In pregnancy, there appears to be a gap in the literature surrounding the experiences and outcomes of pregnant people within these ethnic groups. Objectives: The aim of this study was therefore to scope published research, specifically questioning "What is the experience of Roma Gypsy and Traveller pregnant people who access maternity care?" and "What are the obstetric outcomes within these groups?" Search Strategy: This review followed frameworks proposed by Arksey and O'Malley, Levac, and the Joanna Brigg's Institute. The PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA‐ScR) tool was used. The search strategy and specific terms were chosen using the population–concepts–context framework. Selection Criteria: Titles and abstracts were reviewed independently by two reviewers. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined to set clear guidance for reviewers to identify appropriate studies. Data Collection and Analysis: Five electronic databases were searched (CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE [OVID] Web of Science and SCOPUS). A charting form was developed to record key characteristics systematically and uniformly from the studies. Main Results: Five themes were identified: systemic issues, antenatal care, complications of pregnancy, birth experience, and postnatal care. Systemic issues included racism, barriers to care, and adapted antenatal care. Antenatal issues included teenage pregnancy, smoking, risk of venous thrombus embolism, dietary issues, risk of communicable diseases, domestic violence, and mental health concerns. Increased risks of congenital abnormalities, growth restriction, premature labor, and perinatal and early childhood mortality were identified. For Roma women, negative birth experiences were reported, whereas the experiences of Traveller women varied. Conclusions: The findings identified in this study serve to create a framework upon which healthcare providers can tailor the way in which pregnant people from a Roma, Gypsy, or Irish Traveller background are cared for. Using such a framework would hopefully begin to reduce the systematic marginalization and discrimination of these minorities. Synopsis: Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller pregnant people suffer poor outcomes in pregnancy. The true extent of this is not known as they are underrepresented in research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High rates of childhood neurodisability are reported among the Roma, Europe’s largest ethnic minority community. Interventions targeting early child development (ECD) during the first 2 years of life can improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in vulnerable children; however, evidence from Roma preschoolers is scarce. In a quasi-experimental observational study, we compared neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 2 years, measured on the INTERGROWTH-21st Project Neurodevelopmental Assessment (INTER-NDA), between Roma children receiving a community-based ECD intervention (RI, n = 98), and age- and sex-matched Roma and non-Roma children (RC, n = 99 and NRC, n = 54, respectively) who did not receive the intervention in Eastern Slovakia. The intervention was delivered between 3 weeks and 20 months in weekly home-based sessions by trained Roma women from matched settlements to RIs. Compared with RC, RI had higher 2-year cognitive (B = 0.15; 95% CI, 0.04, 0.25), language (B = 0.25; 95% CI, 0.11, 0.38) and fine motor (B = 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01, 0.16) scores. After adjustment for covariates, cognitive delay decreased by 88% in RI compared with RC (aOR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.03, 0.53). Linear growth at 24 months was a key predictor of developmental scores for both groups (range, B = 0.04–0.14; 95% CI, 0.01, 0.07 and 0.09, 0.20). Conclusions: Our results highlight that, without directly intervening on nutritional and poverty status, a community-based ECD intervention, delivered by trained Roma women to Roma children, can significantly improve neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 2 years. What is Known: • The Roma are Europe’s largest ethnic minority. High rates of neurodisability, malnutrition and poverty are reported in Roma preschoolers. • Optimal early child development (ECD) is foundational to lifecourse health and wellbeing. Early interventions improve ECD outcomes in vulnerable children; however, evidence from Roma communities is limited. What is New: • The Omama project is a community-based ECD intervention, delivered by trained Roma women to Roma children aged 3 weeks to 20 months living in impoverished settlements in Eastern Slovakia. • Roma children receiving the intervention had (i) higher cognitive, language and fine motor scores and (ii) lower rates of cognitive delay compared with controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term hotbed of vulnerability (or HoV) has recently been used to describe growing inequalities and the increased exposure of marginalized spaces to climate change impacts. What has been less addressed so far is how HoVs are the result of intersecting social processes (marginalization, informality and invisibilization) that expel racialized populations from the space of safe habitation and subject them, via territorial stigmatization and relegation, to the foreseeable impacts of climate change. HoVs emerge as the extreme outcome of the processes mentioned above, through which the concentration of multiple sources of vulnerability coalesces in one location and shapes the exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity of marginalized families. This paper uses quantitative and qualitative data to flesh out the characteristics of HoVs, first by means of a survey in 96 segregated Roma communities in Romania and, second, using an extended case study of Dăroaia, a Roma community in the Apuseni Mountains affected by floods in July 2021. Our results indicate that there are indeed synergistic effects that occur in HoVs and that these cannot be addressed only by technical means but require instead a comprehensive consideration of their social roots. Continued marginalization, informality, and invisibilization all interact to reproduce HoVs, thereby deepening their vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to propose a critical reflection on the possible relationships between the essay genre and the so-called "adventure of the proper name". Using authors such as Giorgio Agamben, W. G. Sebald, Erich Auerbach and Juan Rodolfo Wilcock, the article offers a range of citations and references that have as their central focus the issue of the proper name: firstly, the way in which the proper name as a signifier interferes in the transmission and reading of texts over time; secondly, the way in which the proper name becomes part of the authors' imaginative panorama. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Roma population—with a unique history marked by migration, settlement issues, and ongoing resilience—has always faced significant social marginalization and has often been subjected to forced migration. Despite being one of the largest and most diverse ethnic groups in Europe, Roma continue to face systemic discrimination and social exclusion, leading to poor outcomes in education, employment, health, and housing. This article analyses the migration pathways, settlement experiences, and persistent obstacles faced by Roma. We argue that removing historical and systemic barriers to create a more equitable and welcoming environment for the Roma community is their right. The resilience of the Roma community in the face of adversity is a testament to their cultural strength and adaptability. This research aims to document these aspects and thus provide a basis for policies that promote social inclusion, equality, and respect for cultural diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates contemporary expressions of racism toward Roma in the context of growing populism in the UK. We focus on how and why Romaphobia becomes widespread in times of socio-political crises, especially during the 2016 referendum when the UK voted to leave the European Union. Drawing on content analysis and Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis, we provide an in-depth account of how Roma migrants have been represented in two British newspapers during the 2016 so-called "Brexit" Referendum campaign and subsequent vote. The textual and visual analysis demonstrates how racist tropes about Roma identity and culture are embedded into populist rhetoric, often taking subtle forms of expression, yet simultaneously manage to avoid accusations of racism. We argue that the scapegoating and demonisation of Roma migrants in the media contributed to shaping negative attitudes towards Eastern European immigrants and by proxy, to the EU. This plays out in a context of rising nativism and populism where Roma communities come to embody the perceived ills of the European integration project and are regarded as a threat to the fabric of the British nation. We draw attention to the danger of these representations which condemn an already vulnerable community to further socio-economic exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood undernutrition affects both physical and cognitive growth and is strongly associated with morbidity and mortality. United Nations’ pledge to ‘leave no one behind’ requires prioritizing policies that address inequalities and reach the most marginalized communities. Yet, undernutrition among Roma children is widely higher than that among children of the majority of the population, particularly in the Western Balkans. In light of this, we explore the determinants of the gap in undernutrition among Roma and non-Roma children in four Western Balkan countries, using several rounds of Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys data. In the countries considered in this study, the prevalence of undernutrition among Roma children is nearly three times higher than that among non-Roma children. Even after controlling for key socioeconomic and demographic factors, Roma children remain particularly vulnerable to undernutrition. While the probability of stunting decreases in the non-Roma population as age progresses, it remains persistently high at all ages among Roma children. Our findings provide valuable insights for policymakers seeking to develop effective interventions to address the issue of undernutrition among marginalized communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 'Taking the screening tests close to the people' program offers cardiovascular screening to the inhabitants of underprivileged settlements. This study aimed to evaluate the cardiovascular risk factors of underprivileged populations, including individuals who described themselves as belonging to the Roma population. Methods: During the program, we collected information about demographic features, lifestyle and current illnesses. A general health assessment (body weight, height, blood pressure and fasting blood glucose) and cardiovascular examination were performed. We analysed data on both Roma and non-Roma groups and used Pearson's chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression models to analyse the factors that contribute to the onset of comorbidities, with a special focus on ethnicity. Results: Data from 6211 participants were processed. Based on self-reports, the non-Roma population consisted of 5352 respondents (1364 men (25.5%) and 3988 women (74.5%)), and the Roma population comprised 859 respondents (200 men (23.3%) and 659 women (76.7%)). A total of 91.2% (4849) of the non-Roma population and 92.5% (788) of the Roma population exercised less than 3 h per week (p < 0.001). Of the non-Roma population, 71.7% (3512) had a body mass index above 25 kg/m2, while the corresponding figure was 72.4% (609) in the Roma population (p = 0.709). The median body mass index was 28.0 (24.6–31.9) in the non-Roma population and 28.8 (24.5–33.0) in the Roma population (p < 0.001). The prevalence of active smokers was 28.7% (1531) in the non-Roma population and 60.3% (516) in the Roma population (p < 0.001). The prevalence of hypertension was 54.9% (2824) in the non-Roma population and 49.8% (412) in the Roma population (p < 0.001). The prevalence of diabetes was 11.5% (95) in the Roma population and 12.2% (619) in the non-Roma population (p < 0.001). Conclusion: We found a high prevalence of overweight and obesity, a lack of physical activity and an remarkably high smoking rate in the studied underprivileged population. Both type 2 diabetes and hypertension were more common among people living in underprivileged settlements than in the general Hungarian population. People living in underprivileged settlements need more attention in primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines a case of urban displacement and its impact on the local Roma community by uncovering the discursive strategies of the local governments and the tactical responses of the local people. Based on two-year-long ethnographic research, this study aims to understand the intricate dynamics of the counter-cultural production of the Roma people as a response to gentrification policies of local governments. The rapid rise of the rent value of land has motivated the capital class to force an exile strategy on Roma and accelerated existing segregation policies. During this time, some discursive strategies to manufacture public consent about the gentrification have circulated to change the representation of the Roma identity, replacing their imagery in mainstream society by mainly signifying them as the undeserving poor. This research aims to understand how strategic discourses and actions have positioned Roma in the societal and cultural sphere and in response, how everyday tactics of the Roma engenders counter-cultural forms through intercultural communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of microaggressions alerts us how majority group members' everyday behaviour can impact minorities negatively. Recently, some researchers have questioned the criteria for identifying microaggressions and rejected the concept's utility. We maintain that attending to minorities' everyday experiences is important and illustrate this through a three‐phase study with Roma in Hungary. First, we conducted interviews exploring their everyday interactional experiences (Phase 1, N = 17); second, Roma participants filmed (naturally occurring) interactions with majority group members (Phase 2, N = 10); third, we showed such filmed interactions to Roma focus groups and recorded their discussions (Phase 3, N = 28). Analysing these discussions, we focused on how the experience of surveillance when shopping (even when manifested in apparently helpful attention from shop assistants) impacted participants in ways that majority group members likely have little awareness of. Specifically, participants reported their need to (a) reflect on (and manage) their emotional reactions; (b) weigh a variety of strategic considerations as to how to respond; and (c) engage in in‐the‐moment interpretation as to the nature of the interaction. Such experiences negatively impact the use of public space and illustrate the value of adopting the minority's vantage point concerning the identification of microaggressive treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scholarly investigation of Roma communities in Türkiye has intensified since the 2000s, largely driven by Türkiye's EU accession candidacy and subsequent adaptation process. This alignment, along with internal developments, prompted governments to prioritize Roma issues, implement projects, and issue action plans. The Roma Civil Society Movement in the 1990s further highlighted Roma challenges, resulting in a diverse body of literature. This study critically examines academic literature to map prevailing trends and thematic foci. Key areas of scholarly engagement include the various dimensions of socio-economic exclusion faced by Roma in education, employment, housing, and health. Additionally, scholars analyze how Roma negotiate and resist pejorative representations, construct their identities, and organize to address contemporary challenges. State policies affecting Roma, from past to present, also receive considerable attention. By critically engaging with this scholarship, the present study highlights significant progress and ongoing challenges in Romani Studies in Türkiye, offering insights into future research directions. This article was published open access under a CC BY-NC-ND licence: https://creativecommons.org/licences/by-nc-nd/4.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the reception, perception, and implementation of cultural expertise within the court systems of Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. It uses both quantitative and qualitative data collected from 2018 to 2022 for the EURO-EXPERT project and is available on the CULTEXP database. Furthermore, this paper examines the potential of cultural expertise to enhance access to justice, promote fair proceedings, and foster inclusivity and diversity in judicial decision-making. It argues that while the full extent of the benefits of cultural expertise remains undiscovered and requires further examination, a more comprehensive understanding of this can be gained by exploring it in the context of Nordic Legal Pluralism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Soprintendenza Speciale di Roma is developing a new application to set up a 'Map of the Archaeological Potential of Rome' within the SITAR platform. The research group is developing a solid system for the Rome Archaeological Potential Map, which is based on the great documentary heritage included in the system, i.e. 25,000 archaeological partitions and over 10,000 cores collected and processed. With a view to a participatory philosophy, this tool will be implemented through the input of data entered by individual users of the platform. The final elaboration will soon be available on the SITAR webgis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using secondary research from the political, education, and employment fields, this paper aims to demonstrate the consequences of confused and overlapping conceptualizations of the Roma in Hungary as an ethnic group, a racialized minority, a national minority, and a socially disadvantaged group. The resulting cacophony of operationalizing schemes blurs clarity and constrains efficient measures for inclusion policies. In social sciences and law, the purpose of classification is to help us understand the internal logic of concepts. Thus, classification has significant consequences, as it can imperil policy goals. Through examining the case of the Hungarian Roma, the article demonstrates how the confused conceptualization of ethnicity, race, and nationality and ill-applied methods of operationalization have vastly detrimental consequences. In addition, it is argued that many concerns regarding ethnic data processing that policy actors voice are legally unfounded, and pre-existing data protection regimes allow the processing of ethno-racial data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Discrimination against Roma individuals is a prevalent issue across Europe, presenting significant socio‐economic challenges. Spain, holding the highest concentration of Roma in Western Europe, serves as a focal point for investigating such disparities. Objectives: This study aims to explore the wage gap between the Roma and non‐Roma populations in Spain, assessing the extent to which this disparity may be attributed to potential discriminatory practices. The objective is to provide a detailed analysis of wage inequalities to inform more effective anti‐discrimination policies. Methods: The analysis utilizes data from the 2018 Survey on Social Integration and Social Needs, employing statistical and econometric techniques. This approach helps in quantifying the wage gap and in examining the factors contributing to the observed disparities between the two groups. Results: The findings indicate a substantial wage gap between the Roma and non‐Roma populations. Approximately 43.5 percent of the wage difference remains unexplained by the standard variables included in the econometric model, suggesting that factors beyond educational and professional qualifications might contribute to these inequalities. Conclusion: The significant unexplained portion of the wage gap likely points to the existence of ethnic discrimination by employers. This study underscores the urgent need for nuanced, targeted anti‐discrimination interventions specifically designed for the Roma community in Spain. The results advocate for policy adjustments that address these disparities at their core, ensuring equity and social integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we will discuss a mediator – the criollo Jesuit procurator Alonso de Ovalle – and his movements between the Americas, Spain and Rome in the second half of the 17th century. We will link this mediator to an agent of knowledge and specific networks of knowledge. Thus, the case study we present allows us to examine how a book about Chile that was published in baroque Rome, An Historical Relation of the Kingdom of Chile, opens up possibilities for the procurator’s importance as a mediator and agent of circulation who was able to publicize and describe the vicissitudes of war and peace in a remote corner of the Spanish monarchy to Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Romania, one of the countries with the largest Roma community in Europe, the gap between the majority population and the Roma minority continues to be wide. The paper explores whether there is a sustainability of traditional Roma occupations and crafts or whether we are witnessing a continuous occupational dynamic. The objective of the research is to identify the patterns of traditional and non-traditional economic activities practised in Roma communities in two cities: Timişoara and Cluj-Napoca. The research hypothesis investigates whether there is a wide range of economic activities in analyzed Roma communities, where traditional activities tend to have a negligible share and dynamics compared to non-traditional ones. Also, we analyze whether traditional activities remain relevant in Roma communities and whether they represent a significant occupational resource in the case of external migration. The following statistical hypotheses are presented: there are significant differences between members of Roma communities in Timisoara and Cluj-Napoca. These are observed in the choice of practising non-traditional-traditional economic activities in the country. There are significant differences between members of Roma communities in Timisoara and Cluj-Napoca in the practice of traditional versus non-traditional occupations according to ethnic subgroup membership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

we study the epigraphic documentation generated by those Hispanics who moved to Italy between the 1st century BC and the 5th century AD. To compile this information we have reviewed the CIL indexes relating to Italy and Rome, as well as the data collected in specialised publications and databases, selecting all those inscriptions that have a Hispanic origin. This documentation forms the basis of the corresponding historical study, which analyses the origin and destination centres of these Hispanics, as well as the reasons for their movements. We also study their professions and the activity they carried out in their new places of residence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates processes of spatially ordered marginality of Roma in a former industrial town in Hungary. The analysis focuses on local poverty governance tactics and practices that aim to maintain social and spatial order through the regulation and selective displacement of Roma within the city. These practices of controlling Roma marginality are clear manifestations of the spatialization and racialization of poverty and I argue that spatial containment constitutes a new mode of poverty governance that aims to temper local tensions and cement local power. Moreover, these local policies reflect continuity from socialist era practices in terms of governing Roma marginality through disciplining and displacement. In the present context, EU-funded urban rehabilitation projects represent a vital local resource. While ostensibly targeting social integration, the local government in question has used these resources to promote the mobility of 'deserving' vulnerable groups and control 'undeserving' marginalized Roma through enclosure. Those who are seen as undeserving are racialized and subject to punitive containment while the 'deserving' enjoy material support and a sense of belonging to local society, provided they accept the conditions dictated by local government actors. In this way, the emphasis on individual responsibility masks the structural deficiencies of social housing and related social issues and perpetuates different forms of racism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I analyse two versions that have come down to us of Marcus Aurelius' dream before he was appointed as Antoninus Pius' successor, a dream in which Marcus has ivory shoulders. I examine the dream metaphorically and proceed to a summary of Marcus's life, from his childhood to the empire, ending by understanding the dream as a dreamlike prescription about what attitude would be favourable to Marcus at the helm of Rome, as well as an anticipation of his capacity to endure great challenges during his rule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article contains an overview of an innovative educational prescription "Ethnology and cultural anthropology" (ECA), based on the results of a multi-year interdisciplinary study of the socio-cultural and ethno-confessional features and processes of a specific region of Bulgaria - the city of Lom and its surroundings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Infant mortality rates are reliable indices of the child and general population health status and health care delivery. The most critical factors affecting infant mortality are socioeconomic status and ethnicity. The aim of this study was to assess the association between socioeconomic disadvantage, ethnicity, and perinatal, neonatal, and infant mortality in Slovakia before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The associations between socioeconomic disadvantage (educational level, long-term unemployment rate), ethnicity (the proportion of the Roma population) and mortality (perinatal, neonatal, and infant) in the period 2017–2022 were explored, using linear regression models. Results: The higher proportion of people with only elementary education and long-term unemployed, as well as the higher proportion of the Roma population, increases mortality rates. The proportion of the Roma population had the most significant impact on mortality in the selected period between 2017 and 2022, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022). Conclusions: Life in segregated Roma settlements is connected with the accumulation of socioeconomic disadvantage. Persistent inequities between Roma and the majority population in Slovakia exposed by mortality rates in children point to the vulnerabilities and exposures which should be adequately addressed by health and social policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe poverty literature often overlooks the relationship between housing insecurity and income-generating activities. The often informal sources of income among the homeless strongly connect to other aspects of their lives. Nonetheless, these groups of severely deprived people are often missing from large-scale studies and official statistics. Using an original and comprehensive survey, we document the complex interaction between living conditions and begging, a most visible form of extreme poverty and a central concern for urban planning and social assistance. We interviewed 358 people who were begging between 2021 and 2022 in Brussels. We estimate that approximately 80% of them are Romanian Roma. Our findings suggest that around half of the people who beg sleep rough, while some occupy relatively insecure and low-quality dwellings. Further differences relate to gender and ethnicity, with women and those with children more often seen in emergency accommodations and non-conventional dwellings and Romanian Roma occupying, on average, more problematic housing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The site known as Lipnica is a segregated Roma settlement built on the edge of a municipal landfill in the district town of Turčany, central Slovakia (fictitious names have been used for the site and the town). The settlement emerged as a result of processes rooted in neoliberal economic restructuring, accompanied by a sharp rise in unemployment in the 1990s. The settlement was originally built to provide temporary housing for those who were in arrears for rent in municipal flats, and originally consisted of one apartment building and several modular cabins. In the following years it expanded, and today it is an ethnic quasi-ghetto for approximately 400 Roma inhabitants. From a theoretical perspective, an analysis of the Lipnica settlement is situated at the intersection of critical race theory and environmental justice theory. In this article, we describe the trajectory leading to the formation of the settlement and analyse how the impoverishment of the Roma, coupled with the construction of the community as 'maladjusted' anti-social others, facilitated their spatial exclusion. We conclude that the case demythologises culturising explanations for the emergence of Roma settlements, by using empirical data to show how Lipnica developed as a result of intentional discriminatory policies of the local ruling class used against an ethnic minority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article uses a Polanyian frame to place the plight of Roma in Europe in the context of an age of crisis, as evidenced by faltering neoliberal economies and a corresponding rise in xenophobia and extreme manifestations of nationalism. The situation of the Roma remains precarious, a situation exacerbated by the 2008 economic crises and the COVID-pandemic. Despite a number of social inclusion measures in recent decades, at the national and European level which target the Roma, Roma exclusion remains a serious challenge. The paper assesses why previous policy regimes failed but also reflects on what is the way forward in terms of inclusive policy frameworks. The article seeks to provide some answers to these questions with a vision of a Polanyian countermovement in the form of a New Social Europe predicated on redistribution, recognition and community action but also a re-envisioning of integration and transformative change in structural and cultural terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to demonstrate the analytical potential of initial vocational education and training (iVET) in the debate on the costs of social mobility. It is based on extensive qualitative fieldwork with over 250 young people in Romania's iVET (around 20% of whom were Roma). Central to the discourses of young Roma are the experiences of discrimination, the absence of a 'vocational habitus' and an awareness of credential inflation, despite the social and economic costs of attending iVET. The research calls for a recalibration of the narrative on social mobility, in an economic context where work is becoming increasingly precarious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This international, phenomenological study involved marginalised individuals who completed higher education despite their socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Two subsamples included first-in-family college graduates; 16 Roma professionals in the Czech Republic and 29 Native American academics across the United States. Due to the assimilationist legacy and class privilege underlying the respective educational systems, the participants' education-driven social mobility trajectories entailed particular struggles. However, the participants were able to reinterpret and transform selected factors inherent to the disadvantageous sociocultural contexts of their working class or even underclass backgrounds into sources of resilience. Although the historically embedded sociocultural and political contexts pertaining to each population impacted these sources, patterns shared across participants regardless of their diversity are highlighted. This study develops a deep understanding of crucial interest to educational practitioners and policy-makers. Marginalised minority members can also benefit from learning how differentiated and distinctive meaning systems associated with social mobility trajectories can hinder/facilitate resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores how first-in-family-graduate Roma and non-Roma Hungarians from the working-class experience education-driven social mobility and reconcile the dislocation of their primary-habitus due to changing class through transiting a 'third space'. Drawing on Bhabha's and bell hooks' development of this concept, we aim to unpack the different ways how class-changers, in moving between the social milieu of their origin and their destination, occupy a unique position between two fields. Their social position is described as one of social navigators with a bridging potential between social classes. We also investigate what part higher education plays in this distinct form of changing class and becoming incorporated into middle-class society through a third space for those academic high achievers who come from working-class families. Contrasting the experience of Roma with non-Roma first-generation graduates in Hungary, we draw attention to the different opportunities of reconciling conflicting class-related habitus along ethno-racial lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected vulnerable populations like Roma patients in Western Romania due to marginalization and limited healthcare access. Methods: A retrospective study analyzed COVID-19 cases between March 2020 and August 2022 using data from the Directorate of Public Health in Timis county. Demographic, epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data were assessed, along with risk factors and biomarkers for ICU admission and mortality prediction. The following biomarkers were assessed: C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin (FER), IL-6, D-dimers, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and 25-OH vitamin D (25-OHD). Results: In comparison with the general population (GP), Roma patients were more overweight (p = 0.0292), came from rural areas (p = 0.0001), could not recall transmission source (p = 0.0215), were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU, p = 0.0399) more frequently, had worse symptomatology (p = 0.0490), showed more elevated levels of CRP (p = 0.0245) and IL-6 (p < 0.0001) and lower levels of HDL (p = 0.0008) and 25-OHD (p = 0.0299). A stronger, significant correlation was observed between CRP and severity (rho = 0.791 vs. 0.433 in GP), and an inverse stronger significant one was observed between HDL and severity (rho = −0.850 vs. −0.734 in GP) in the Roma patients. The male sex continues to be an important risk factor for ICU admission (OR = 2.379) and death (OR = 1.975), while heavy smoking was more important in relation to ICU admission (OR = 1.768). Although the Roma ethnicity was 1.454 times more at risk of ICU admission than the GP, this did not prove statistically significant (p = 0.0751). CRP was the most important predictive factor in regards to admission to the ICU for both Roma (OR = 1.381) and the GP (OR = 1.110) and in regards to death (OR = 1.154 for Roma, OR = 1.104 for GP). A protective effect of normal values of HDL and 25-OHD was observed in the GP for both ICU admission (OR = 0.947, 0.853, respectively) and death (OR = 0.920, 0.921, respectively), while for the Roma group, normal 25-OHD values were only considered protective in regards to death (OR = 0.703). Cutoff values for ICU admission were 28.98 mg/L for Roma and 29.03 mg/L for GP patients, with high specificity for both groups (over 95). Conclusions: Higher rates of ICU admissions, severe symptomatology, and distinct laboratory biomarker profiles among Roma patients emphasize the critical importance of personalized care strategies and targeted interventions to mitigate the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 on vulnerable communities. CRP values at admission have had a clear impact as a risk assessment biomarker for Roma patients, while the significance of IL-6, HDL, and 25-OHD should also not be overlooked in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empowerment evaluation (EE) is an especially useful tool that enables people to be involved in both individual and group transformation processes, in particular in contexts characterized by social inequality. By using a participatory approach, this methodological article analyses an Empowerment Evaluation experience within the European RoMoMatteR project. This project, which focuses on the notion of reproductive justice, has involved a group of Roma girls from Alicante (Spain), in a context characterized by discrimination based on ethnicity, gender and age, as well as by structural determinants such as social exclusion. The main research objective has been to analyse the relevance of the methodology designed to assess how project participants have developed a sense of autonomy and the acquisition of socio‐cultural resources as assets for their future life choices. Therefore, the study design has followed the model proposed by Fetterman for Empowerment Evaluation: establishing a mission to be assessed, participatory diagnosis of the current status and finally planning for the future to start the desired change. Fetterman's model was adapted by designing and organizing participatory workshops with the girls involved in the project. The results confirm the relevance of the methodological proposal of the workshops to engage aspects of empowerment. The findings also allow to detect the empowerment of the Roma girls especially in two areas of the project: reaching the proposed objectives and the methodology used to register significant information. In the first case, the results show that Roma girls' establish a critical perspective on the idea of reproductive justice, and related to this, the activation of proactive behaviours linked to the acquisition of socio‐cultural resources in the development of visions of their personal futures. In the second case, the Roma girls have also shown empowerment in decision‐making on technical aspects, methodological design and taking action aimed at the collective construction of useful information in the project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participatory ethnography brings together strands of academic and local knowledge, transforming the positionality of both academic and local participants in the research site. The extent of citizen involvement in participatory (action) research and the ethical dilemmas for both academic and civil researchers have long been the subject of debate [Lenette, Caroline. 2022. Participatory Action Research: Ethics and Decolonization. New York: Oxford Academic]. Our paper focuses on how local participants manage their new knowledge and transformed ideologies in a local reality that remains highly (in)securitised. The research site presented in this paper is a small town in Hungary with a large Romani-speaking community. We organised monthly workshops in the town with the participation of academics, local Hungarian-Romani bilingual and Hungarian monolingual citizens. The present study is based on the findings of these workshops and on ethnographic work conducted by the academic participants with citizens not involved in the workshops. We draw attention to the fact that the dissemination of workshop results in the locality can be successful only if local citizens succeed in developing a transformative voice of their own which disrupts conventionalised discourse repertoires. The intersubjective dynamics between local v. non-local and participating v. non-participating actors determines the long-term sustainability and impact of participatory research projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and subsequent COVID-19 has spread world-wide and become pandemic with about 7 million deaths reported so far. Interethnic variability of the disease has been described, but a significant part of the differences remain unexplained and may be attributable to genetic factors. Aim: To analyse genetic factors potentially influencing COVID-19 susceptibility and severity in European Roma minority. Subjects and methods: Two genetic determinants, within OAS-1 (2-prime,5-prime-oligoadenylate synthetase 1, a key protein in the defence against viral infection; it activates RNases that degrade viral RNAs; rs4767027 has been analysed) and LZTFL1 (leucine zipper transcription factor-like 1, expressed in the lung respiratory epithelium; rs35044562 has been analysed) genes were screened in a population-sample of Czech Roma (N = 302) and majority population (N = 2,559). Results: For both polymorphisms, Roma subjects were more likely carriers of at least one risky allele for both rs4767027-C (p < 0.001) and rs35044562-G (p < 0.00001) polymorphism. There were only 5.3% Roma subjects without at least one risky allele in comparison with 10.1% in the majority population (p < 0.01). Conclusions: It is possible that different genetic background plays an important role in increased prevalence of COVID-19 in the Roma minority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Roma are Europe's largest ethnic minority group, and often face discrimination and social exclusion. Social strife and lack of access to healthcare are associated with increased symptoms of psychopathology. We aimed to review evidence on mental health outcomes and on access to mental healthcare among the Roma population in Europe. We systematically searched five databases (PsycINFO, Global Health, Social Policy and Practice, Web of Science and PubMed) and conducted a grey literature search in August 2020. We identified 133 studies, 26 of which were included for final analysis. We present the results using a narrative synthesis. The available literature indicates a relatively high prevalence of anxiety, depression and substance abuse among Roma, and females seem to be more affected than males. Roma children exhibit more externalizing and internalizing disorders when compared with non-Roma children. Mental health and perceived well-being among the Roma population are strongly linked to social determinants of health such as housing or economic income. Access to mental healthcare is limited for Roma people because of several barriers pertaining to language, lack of information regarding available services, and the insurance and economic status of Roma people. Roma people report mainly negative experiences with mental health services, including a lack of understanding from healthcare providers, and instances of racism and discrimination. There is a need for more research on mental health and access to healthcare in Roma people. Future studies should be participatory in order to provide guidelines for mental healthcare that addresses the needs of the Roma population. [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]

Objectives: Inadequacy of effective sensitive and specific screening modalities results in late-stage diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Cancer Antigen-125 (CA-125) individually possesses limited specificity for differentiating adnexal masses. The present study aimed to evaluate the Human Epididymis Protein 4 (HE4), Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm (ROMA), and Risk of Malignancy Index (RMI) for ameliorating sensitivity and specificity for differentiating benign from malignant adnexal masses. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 96 preoperative women with suspected adnexal mass (patients) and 48 healthy females without adnexal mass (controls) for the duration of 2 years. Both study participants were divided into two groups, pre-and postmenopausal. CA-125 and HE4 were done using commercially available kits. ROMA% and RMI were calculated. We validated their performances using histopathology as the gold standard. The statistical analysis was done using SPSS 21, Kruskal–Wallis, and Tukey's tests. The best cutoff points to best values of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were also evaluated. Statistical Analysis: The statistical analysis was done using SPSS 21. All study subjects were categorized based on menopausal status and final pathology of masses based on biopsy results into pre-and post-M and benign, malignant, and borderline masses groups, respectively. Comparisons were made between these by the Kruskal-Wallis test along with Tukey's test. For all of the statistical comparisons, a level of p < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant and standard error was also calculated. Results: For differentiating benign from malignant masses in the premenopausal group, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and area under the curve (AUC) were 93.7%, 78.3%, 65.2%, 96.6%, 0.892 for CA-125; 87.5%, 83.7%, 70%, 93.9%, 0.926 for HE4; 93.7%, 70.2%, 57.6%, 96.2%, 0.927 for ROMA; and 68.7%, 86.4%, 68.7%, 86.5%, 0.916 for RMI. While in the postmenopausal group, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and AUC were 92.3%, 76.4%, 85.7%, 86.6%, 0.907 for CA-125; 78.5%, 94%, 95.6%, 80%, 0.955 for HE4; 92.3%, 94.1%, 96%, 88.8%, 0.968 for ROMA; and 88.4%, 88.2%, 92%, 83.3%, 0.943 for RMI. Conclusion: For differentiating benign from malignant masses more specifically in women with a suspected adnexal mass, ROMA and HE4 appear to be more effective than CA-125. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Baptist evangelical mission among the Bulgarian Roma traces its roots to the beginning of the twentieth century. Waves of persecution, discrimination, and a hatespeech narrative have continuously placed the Roma community at the fringes of society. Despite ineffectual state efforts and strategies, many churches manage to make a difference in the lives of the Roma in their surrounding communities. The church adopts a holistic approach — meeting spiritual needs, together with physical and social needs. This article provides an overview of the development of Baptist mission to the Roma people, its transformative outcomes, and its impact on both church life and the surrounding community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the article is to analyse the Roma theme in the landscape painting in the works of artists-realists of the second half of the XIXth century. The research highlights the motives, related to the traditions of the Roma, which attracted the realistic direction artists' attention. It is reviewed that the majority of Roma images and their traditional life style of the second half of the 19th century were presented in the painting works with the introduction of the landscape storylines. The research methodology includes the following methods: historical-cultural method and analytical one, a method of the historical-artistic typology and logical-generalizing method. These methods made it possible to follow the development of Romani subjects in the landscape art of the studied period. The scientific novelty of the article is an attempt to fill up the lack of research on the chosen topic and the need to introduce it into the scientific circulation as such, which will make the Roma topic in the context of realistic landscape painting in the world fine art of the XIXth century interesting for the researchers, historians etc. Conclusions. The research consists of the several stages. The first one is the analysis of the historiographical base, which has allowed to emphasize the relevance of studying the dialogue of the landscape and Roma images in the works of realist artists. During the second research stage, the peculiarities of the landscape genre in the realism direction works are characterized. In addition, the canvases of August von Pettenkofen (1854), Kharyton Platonov (1877), David Bates' (1886) and Franciszek Streitt (1885-1886) were singled out from the array of the artistic works and described in the context of the interdependence of the landscape and Roma images and (or) scenes from Roma life. Finally, it is shown that the landscape does not contrast with the Roma theme in these works, moreover it is a tool for its highlighting. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that the landscape line was used by realist artists as a logical component of the romance of nomadism in the XIXth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While many scholarly contributions have documented the socialist state policies deployed toward the Roma from Central and Eastern Europe, less attention was paid to how discourses and policies have aimed to turn the "non-European," "backward Roma" into reformed and modernized subjects that were supposed to conform to an "European," sedentary way of life. Thus, I discuss proletarization and sedentarization not as state policies but as programs and technologies of power, specific to a socialist governmentality. The article interrogates the programs, technologies of power and biopolitical regulations that allowed the state authorities to legitimize their intervention in the daily lives of the Roma, with profound depoliticizing effects. I analyze political programs, governmental reports on Roma and ministry regulations as instruments of governmentality through which the governance of the "Roma question" took shape. Special attention is given to data/knowledge production. Finally, the research pinpoints that the micro-scale and the everyday workings of the socialist technologies of power might explain the different trajectories of socio-economic adaptation among Roma groups, which some studies have revealed during post-socialism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ernest Renan's name was first heard by a large Turkish audience in Paris in March 1883, following a lecture entitled Islam and Science. The backlash against this infamous treatise earned the author a notorious reputation. Three years earlier, Ernest Renan had been invited to lecture on the relationship between Christianity and Rome at the Institute founded by Robert Hibbert in 1847. The work we have translated is the second in a series of lectures Renan gave in London in 1880 entitled 'The Influence of Rome on Christianity.' The other lectures in the series will also be published by the author. As far as we can tell from the translated lecture and the others in the series, it concerns the doctrine of papal infallibility declared by Pius IX after the First Vatican Council in 1870. In the context of this development, which caused great anger and concern in Protestant countries, it makes sense that such a conference should be held in England two years after the death of Pope Pius IX. When the Council was held, there had already been a large Irish Catholic population in England, forced to emigrate to the island after the two great Irish famines of 1845–1852 and 1870. W. E. Gladstone, the great Prime Minister of the time, wrote a series of pamphlets from 1870 onwards in which he explained that he had doubts as to which side the Catholic British subjects would lean to when faced with the conflicting orders of the Empire and the Pope and explained how these doubts could be overcome. In this lecture, as in his other lectures in the series, Renan has taken a route around the claims of legitimacy of the Church of Rome and the nullity of those claims. Here, he gives a history of the rise and fall of Rome to its present prestigious position in the Church hierarchy. He presents a panorama of the pagan era and the new era, marked by the replacement of Remus and Romulus by Peter and Paul. Renan argues that, far from representing Christ, moreover, the papacy is a structure developed in opposition to His ideals. By linking this claim with the Christian narratives of Paul and Peter and the deeds of Nero, he argues that the papacy, or rather the Church of Rome, formalised the despicable acts of Nero centuries later by decreeing them at the First Vatican Council and making them the doctrine of the Church. In support of this argument, he claims that the original founders of the Roman Church were Aquila, a Jew from Pontus, and Priscilla, his wife. He further states that other apostles, notably James and Peter, launched some counter-missions in Jerusalem to compete with the influence of Paul's missions and, therefore, that they followed Paul's itinerary in these missions. Renan states that the conflict between Paul and Peter was essentially between the two traditions, Judaeo-Christian and Hellenic, and that pagan Rome sought to consolidate its position among the churches by establishing a duality in the form of Peter and Paul as the successors of Remus and Romulus. Reconciliation, however, could only be achieved after the deaths of the two apostles. For, as Renan points out, Paul and Peter were bitter opponents during their lifetimes. However, the unity of Paul's Hellenism and Peter's Judaeo-Christianity was essential to the future success of the Roman Church. For, according to Renan, while the Judeo-Christian tradition represents the conservative spirit, without which nothing can be preserved, Hellenism represents progress and development, without which nothing can really exist. The success of the Roman Church lies in its ability to bring these two opposing ends together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the "marmora" used in the parietal wall coverings found at the Villa dei Quintili in Rome, Italy. Special attention is paid to the preparation of the walls and to the macroscopic identification of the "marmora", noting a great variety of parietal marble coverings and lapidary types, as well as the reuse of ornamental rocks in the preparation of the walls. Greyish white marbles ("greco scritto" and "bardiglio") are in the majority, and the use of two varieties of Hispanic decorative rocks was verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of the COVID-19 vaccine signified a historic milestone in the field of vaccinology, showcasing remarkable scientific collaboration and global solidarity. However, the most prominent hurdle in maximizing the global public health impact of vaccines remains the absence of comprehensive and inclusive health systems in both high- and low-resource settings. Our discussion centers around the major contributing factors that played a key role in formulating the rapid and efficacious COVID-19 vaccines. Simultaneously, we illuminate the disparities that have marred the vaccine delivery process throughout the pandemic. In particular, we highlight the case scenarios of two minority and vulnerable communities from the Global South and North—the undocumented migrants in Thailand and the Roma community in Europe—who continue to experience inequitable vaccine access regardless of their location. We note that a crucial programmatic solution that is rooted in inclusive and equitable global public health policy, characterized by empathy and trust and bolstered by digital innovation, is lacking. These examples underscore the significance of establishing a comprehensive and integrated health system at multiple levels across countries and the entire world. Furthermore, we highlight the need for both local and global actors to collaboratively engage in vaccine distribution efforts. By gaining a concise grasp of these intricacies, the global community will be better poised to effectively combat future pandemics and emerging health challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]