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

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

The sludge, which is produced from wastewater treatment facilities features concentration of harmful substances, including heavy metals. Therefore, before being used in agriculture, it is necessary to process the sludge in order to meet the requirements of the regulation concerning sludge utilization. The purpose of this study was to explore the possibility of growing corn using sewage sludge from the paper industry. A two-year experiment was performed with „Kneja 613“variety, which was grown in the field and fertilized by WWTP sludge, two standards - 1000 and 1500 kg/dka. The experiment was displayed on alluvial soil near the town of Stamboliyski (Southern Bulgaria). The following properties were monitored: germination, third and fourth leaves growth phase, phase of fifth and sixth leaves growth, stem thickness, number of the cobs and cob length. The results indicate the dependence of the amount of the deposited precipitate. The growth and development of plants grown at fertilization with 1500 kg/dka sludge showed much higher values of biometric properties than the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the effects of fiscal policy in an economy with efficiency wages, consumption taxes and a common income tax rate. Design/methodology/approach: A dynamic general-equilibrium model with the government sector is calibrated to Bulgarian data (1999–2018). Two regimes are compared and contrasted – the exogenous (observed) vs optimal policy (Ramsey) case. Findings: The main findings are as follows: (1) The optimal steady-state income tax rate is zero. (2) The benevolent Ramsey planner provides three times lower amount of the utility-enhancing public services. (3) The optimal steady-state consumption tax needed to finance the optimal level of government spending is 18.7%. Originality/value: The focus of the paper is on the relative importance of consumption vs income taxation, as well as on the provision of utility-enhancing public services. Bulgarian economy was chosen as a case study due to its major dependence on consumption taxation as a source of tax revenue. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-08-2021-0488. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The characteristics that influence farmer's behavior and attitude toward risk should be identified in order to explain inconsistencies between the farmer's perception of risk and the accurate measurement of the probability of the occurrence of a risk event. The article investigates the various types of responses of farmers to risk-related decisionmaking. The paper's goal is to highlight various types of farm characteristics in terms of risk and on this basis to be prepared general conclusions. The following tasks were assigned to achieve the goal: 1) a literature review is associated with the risk perception; 2) application of methodology for research the farmer's behavior regarding their perceptions of risk taking; 3) determining and evaluating farm types; and 4) main conclusions and statements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discussion of the threat of disintegration of library collections in East Central Europe focuses on a study of collection condition surveys and preservation operations of three major academic libraries in L'viv, Ukraine and Sofia, Bulgaria. Considers inferior materials used to produce most Slavic publications and inadequate facilities to house the collections. (Author/LRW)

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

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

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

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

The digital transformation of society is a reality. Technology is becoming integral to people's daily lives and children are growing up in the digital age. The education systems have to reflect and adapt to the new digital reality to effectively engage and prepare students for the future. Teachers have to possess digital competences at a high level, meaning that they are successfully able to use digital tools and technologies in their teaching practices. Digital competences include digital literacy, experience using educational software and platforms, and the ability to seamlessly integrate information and communication technologies (ICT) into the organization of educational activities. The current paper aims to study the opinion of teachers in Bulgarian schools regarding the possibilities of using digital technologies to achieve educational goals and the extent to which teachers integrate digital tools in their teaching activities. Teachers' opinions about the need for specific digital competences are important. The results of the survey show that teachers in Bulgaria actively use digital technologies in their daily teaching activities (84.8%) in order to create and provide learning content to students and to provoke their active participation, and is a convenient tool for evaluating their students' knowledge and skills and for providing effective feedback. The conducted research also identifies the necessary competences that teachers of the digital generation of learners need—skills and competences for developing authored electronic resources in various formats for students with different learning styles, as well as for working in online environments—individually and collaboratively with other teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The article examines cooperatives from the Agricultural sector and the Manufacturing industry. The research focuses on the growth of cooperatives of different sizes and ages. The period of the research is 5 years. After an indepth study of the empirical data of the studied sectors, an analysis of the rate of change in net sales revenue and their productivity is made. The productivity, growth and age of the cooperatives are expected to be positively related for the period under study. Cooperatives with longer working experience are predicted to realize a higher rate of change in net sales revenue compared to cooperatives that have been operating for a shorter period of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

Copyright of Bulletin of the Institute of Ethnography of the Serbian Academy of Sciences & Arts / Glasnik Etnografskog Instituta SANU is the property of Institute of Ethnography, SASA 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.)