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Australia has traditionally done without a grand strategy, relying on Defence White Papers to set out a military strategy that is largely subordinate to the grand strategy of its great power ally. However, three changes mandate that Australia should begin to develop its own grand strategy: the demise of uncontested regional unipolarity; the bifurcation between Australia's security and economic interests; and Australia's growing geopolitical importance. This article takes the 2016 Defence White Paper as a platform on which to ponder the challenges of Australia's grand strategising around five key issues: context, capability, constraints, coherence and competitiveness. It concludes by considering the political obstacles that lie in the way of forging an Australian grand strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates how to enhance the agency of regional actors in the branding of the 'Nordic Battery Belt' (NBB), the region where the industry, considered a new green path, is emerging. Branding will enhance the attraction of skilled workforce, investment, market, and increased public awareness of the industry's contribution to decarbonization. While national battery strategies have been developed to promote the industry, the tool kit that can enhance the implementation of the strategic branding action plan is underexplored. Firstly, this article develops a tool kit based on the directed content analysis, which ensures the use of existing branding theory and its pyramidic components: attention, awareness, associations, attitudes, and relationships. Regional actors can leverage the tool kit as it reduces oversight and increases lucidity and conciseness. Secondly, the paper develops a conceptual framework through a multidisciplinary approach to elaborate on the importance of the tool kit for enhancing actors' agency in regional branding. The paper is relevant for regional actors, e.g., development agencies within the Nordic region that are saddled with the responsibility of place branding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arid Zone Research / Ganhanqu Yanjiu is the property of Arid Zone Research Editorial Office 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.)

Purpose: This paper investigates whether and to what extent operating in inner areas affects the profitability of innovative Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) over 2012–2018. Design/methodology/approach: Guided by the National Strategy for Inner Areas and the "Investment Compact," this study distinguishes between inner and core innovative SMEs. It employs various econometric models to estimate a regression for the return on assets of SMEs, differentiating between firms operating in inner and non-inner areas of northwest, northeast, centre and south Italy. Findings: Findings reveal that innovative SMEs in inner areas generally exhibit lower profitability compared to those in non-inner municipalities. However, huge heterogeneity in results is observed across the country. Specifically, innovative SMEs in the inner areas of the south register lower profitability than those operating in non-inner zones. Conversely, innovative SMEs located in the inner municipalities of northwest and northeast Italy show higher profitability than their peers in non-inner areas. The results imply that targeted policies for inner areas are crucial. However, due to the diversity of local impacts, a differentiated approach, depending on the geographic context, is necessary. Originality/value: The study aims to explore the relationship between inner areas and the performance of innovative SMEs in Italy. More precisely, it examines the effect of operating in a municipality located within an inner area on the profitability of innovative SMEs. This issue has been overlooked in existing literature. Importantly, we aim to determine whether there is a heterogeneous impact based on geographical localisation, specifically in the Northwest, the Northeast, the Centre and the South of the country. Therefore, this paper contributes to the literature by investigating the factors influencing the performance of innovative SMEs and suggesting new policy recommendations for developing inner areas in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses military-grade AI initiatives by the United States (US) and China in the cyber domain. It sheds light on these nations’ strategic priorities and implications for the ever-changing landscape of AI-driven cybersecurity. Since 1949, with evolving dynamics among China, the US, and Taiwan, marked by the unresolved civil war and the inception of the Taiwan Relations Act, China has emerged as a potential rival and the US as a possible ally. Understanding the disparity in their AI interests is now vital for Taiwan. Do so to avoid a lag in the swiftly advancing realm of AI-driven cybersecurity. Recognising this urgency, Taiwan should contemplate strategic adjustments to bridge the gap between China and the US in this domain. Our analysis reveals that the US and China prioritise addressing supply chain vulnerabilities but differ in their secondary priorities for various reasons. For the US, the secondary focus lies in enhancing defence capabilities, whereas China emphasises augmenting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). These commonalities and differences in direction are discussed in the context of the two nations’ respective national strategies and current situations. Thus, this paper contributes to Taiwan’s proactive consideration of information to help shape its cybersecurity strategy and ensure Taiwan remains competitive in an increasingly AI-centric world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Scandinavian countries are internationally recognised for leading the way in older adult care and in digitally transforming healthcare. Dignity has become a central value in care for older adults in all three Scandinavian countries. Investigating documents about digitalisation in these countries can offer insights into how the dignity of older adults is impacted by digitally transforming healthcare. This study aims to provide knowledge about digital strategies and eHealth policies concerning older adults' dignity in three Scandinavian countries: Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Methods: National-level documents by the Norwegian Directorate of eHealth, the Norwegian Directorate of Health, the Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and the Danish Ministry of Health concerning older adults were used as data sources. In addition, a systematic search of databases, informed by the Joanna Briggs Institute framework for systematic reviews of text and opinion papers, was undertaken to find relevant papers. All extracts concerning national digital strategies or innovative eHealth policies were deductively coded. Thereafter, extracts concerning older adults were inductively coded using a thematic analytic approach. Results: A total of 26 sources satisfied the inclusion criteria, 14 governmental papers and 12 other papers. The three countries' national digital strategies focused on access to digital technologies and continuous learning for digital skills. The included papers describing national eHealth policies underlined the importance of placing the patient at the centre of healthcare and how digital systems can increase feelings of safety. Both types of documents concerned access to data, digital device security and the human dimension of care. Conclusion: The findings present evidence on Scandinavian countries' national digital strategies and innovative eHealth policies concerning older adults' dignity. The documents describe a lack of digital competence among older adults, resulting disengagement may put their well-being and human dignity at risk. Findings also underline the importance of security and at the same time the human dimension of care: Use of new digital systems must be meaningfully integrated into digital strategies and eHealth policies. All three Scandinavian countries strategies and policies underline the importance of equal access to healthcare services, as thus they promote a stance of dignified care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing access to cyberspace and its resources is having a significant impact on our societies and our daily lives, profoundly transforming the way we live, work and interact. The importance of cyber security converts into the need to keep information, data and devices private and secure. Cyber-security is an essential element for the flat functioning of all critical information infrastructures. In this context, the treatment of cyber-security in this paper is concrete, taking into account the cyberattack that our country went through, which was aimed at destroying critical structures and testing the capacities of Albania. It is worth noting that a secure cyber environment cannot function without giving it the opportunity to have the relevant mechanisms. Specifically, increasing cyber resilience in critical information infrastructures are flexible cyber security measures, which focus on the flat functioning of online public services keeping in focus the real threats and the risk management plan. Furthermore, within the framework of commitments as a candidate country of the European Union, Albania is meticulously implementing all European acts and international standards for the drafting of a consolidated and stable legal framework. In the present paper, through a legal assessment, special attention has been paid to the National Strategy for the period 2021-2023 and legal rules on cyber-security in the Albanian legislation, aiming to analyze the legal provisions, which regulate it in this regard. Also, an important objective of this paper is also the fact that it may serve as an important basis for further studies in this field. The analysis of the cyber-security legal regulation in Albania is based on the qualitative method, which contains also the research, analytical, descriptive, interpretive methods. The results of this paper, which treats an innovative topic, will stimulates debate in the academic level and contribute to the legal doctrine in Albania that lacks such. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literatures on Macroeconomics and Human development and capabilities have been described as constituting "two different worlds" that never intersect despite the importance of macroeconomics for human development (Nayyar [2012]. "Macroeconomics and Human Development." Journal of Human Development and Capabilities 13 (1): 7–30.). This paper explores the barriers that keep the two worlds apart in policy making. It considers the case of national strategies for one is implementing UN Agenda 2030 (better known as the SDGs) with a commitment to equity and inclusion; the majority of which rely on social protection and neglect macroeconomic policies. This paper proposes four systemic barriers in the policy making processes: institutional silos and gaps, informational deficits, ideology, and interests. We highlight how these barriers play out in mutually reinforcing ways to construct resilient barriers: narrowly defined mandates of central banks and other economic agencies are reinforced by ideological commitments and the influence of vested interests to neglect inclusion, equity and sustainable development as policy objectives, and in policy research agendas. This in turn creates a vicious circle of information deficits with respect to policy alternatives. The paper discusses how these barriers play out differently in different policy making contexts for different stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Museums have widely used digital technologies to expand their societal and cultural impact. In terms of their use of information technologies (IT), museums have evolved from initial experiments in the 1950s to a significant online presence today. In the process of digital transformation, museums have shaped their digital identity, aiming to expand their activities beyond museum walls with emerging new roles in the digital era. The concept of museums' digital identity is the focus of this paper. To articulate the concept, the theory of digital identity, the methodology of web history, the concept of virtual museums, and museum branding, are brought into consideration. The author articulates the concept of museums' digital identity and outlines a number of components at the collective and individual levels embodied in national strategies and policy documents relating to digital transformation, articulated in statements by museum associations, revealed in features of their online presence, and embedded in brand design. In the conclusion, the author raises questions about the driving force of museums in developing digital identity and the need to comprehensively analyse the multiplatform museum presence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines Australia’s 2024 National Defence Strategy (NDS) within the context of evolving regional dynamics and global strategic competition. Emphasizing deterrence by denial, the NDS prioritizes capabilities aimed at thwarting aggression and safeguarding Australia’s interests, particularly in its northern approaches. The strategy underscores the importance of integrating military power with broader national resilience and international partnerships, including through initiatives like the Quad and AUKUS. Critically analyzing the NDS, the article explores its implications for regional stability, defense modernization challenges, workforce constraints, and the need for clearer strategic communication. It argues for a nuanced approach to deterrence that considers diverse methods beyond military means, addresses regional perceptions, and adapts to unpredictable geopolitical shifts. As Australia navigates these complexities, the article calls for continuous assessment, adaptive strategy, and robust engagement with regional actors to effectively uphold security in the Indo-Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the functioning and structures of our society has become a concern of contemporary politics and public debates. In this paper, we investigate national AI strategies as a peculiar form of co-shaping this development, a hybrid of policy and discourse that offers imaginaries, allocates resources, and sets rules. Conceptually, the paper is informed by sociotechnical imaginaries, the sociology of expectations, myths, and the sublime. Empirically we analyze AI policy documents of four key players in the field, namely China, the United States, France, and Germany. The results show that the narrative construction of AI strategies is strikingly similar: they all establish AI as an inevitable and massively disrupting technological development by building on rhetorical devices such as a grand legacy and international competition. Having established this inevitable, yet uncertain, AI future, national leaders proclaim leadership intervention and articulate opportunities and distinct national pathways. While this narrative construction is quite uniform, the respective AI imaginaries are remarkably different, reflecting the vast cultural, political, and economic differences of the countries under study. As governments endow these imaginary pathways with massive resources and investments, they contribute to coproducing the installment of these futures and, thus, yield a performative lock-in function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to develop an understanding of the legal framework for combatting administrative corruption in Jordan and its impact on the Jordanian economy. This paper seeks to answer its key-question which asks whether the existence of a robust legal framework for combatting administrative corruption is able to help to grease the wheels of a slow-moving economy. The study uses 2SLS econometric technique for estimating the relationship between administrative corruption and economic growth. This paper indicates one major conclusion which is the irrevocably annual loss of economic opportunities due to administrative corruption, subsequently, economic progress cannot be achieved without proper administration. The national strategy and the legal frameworks related to anti-corruption are not sufficient enough to grease the wheels for economic growth. Combatting corruption in Jordan is still facing legal and technical obstacles appeared in practice, therefore, more time to surround and prevent corruption is still needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient and public involvement in health-related research is a new discipline in Denmark. In 2021, a national conference titled 'Patient and Public Involvement in Complex Intervention Research' provided a forum for discussion between patient partners, researchers and clinicians on involving patients as partners in complex intervention research. Methods: We aimed to describe specific challenges to and initiatives for patient partner involvement in order to develop recommendations for creating successful partnerships in complex intervention research. Through a collaborative learning process, 140 researchers identified the most important challenges for them in patient partner involvement and potential initiatives to improve such involvement. At a subsequent workshop, four patient partners identified the challenges and initiatives from their perspective as patient partners. They also gave feedback on the challenges and initiatives suggested by the researchers and helped shape three recommendations for practice. Three of the patient partners were involved in writing this paper. Results: The five most important challenges identified by researchers were time, recruitment, ethics, power and inequality. Between four and seven initiatives to overcome these challenges were suggested. The three most important challenges identified by patient partners were communication, when you get information that is hard to handle and recruitment. They suggested three to four initiatives for improvement. Patient partners confirmed the importance of all the researcher identified challenges when presented with them, they also provided additional comments on the researchers' initiatives. This led to the formation of recommendations for involving patient partners. Conclusions: A collaborative learning process was shown to be a suitable method for patient partner involvement. Consistency was seen between the challenges and initiatives identified by researchers and patient partners. Based on these observations, three recommendations were developed: (1) create specific programmes that aim to involve all kind of patients (including but limited to vulnerable patients) as patient partners, (2) produce ethical guidelines for the involvement of patient partners, and (3) develop a national strategy for patient partner involvement. To build on these recommendations, a joint workshop with both researchers and patient partners is needed. Plain English Summary: Involving patients in complex intervention research is new in Denmark, so there is a need to work out how to do it properly. In 2021, a national conference about this was arranged. There, two workshops were held with 70 complex intervention researchers in each. In the workshops, challenges and steps needed to bring patient partners into complex intervention research were identified. Later, a similar workshop was organized with four patient partners. Their views were similar to what was concluded at the earlier workshops. All challenges and steps to overcome these were discussed between patients and researchers at the last workshop. This resulted in the development of three recommendations to successfully involve patient partners into complex intervention research: (1) create programmes to involve patients who might otherwise be missed as patient partners, (2) produce ethical guidelines for involving patient partners in complex intervention research, and (3) develop a national plan for involving in patient partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annales Kinesiologiae is the property of Annales Kinesiologiae 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.)

Copyright of Il Capitale Culturale: Studies on the Value of Cultural Heritage is the property of Il Capitale Culturale Studies on the Value of Cultural Heritage 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.)

Purpose: This study aimed to enhance the understanding of the financial knowledge (FK) levels among micro-entrepreneurs in Katowice City, Poland and is a partial answer to the OECD’s call expressed in 2022&23’s reports regarding the need to investigate and diagnose financial literacy and FK in Poland (including a subpopulation of SMEs, micro-entrepreneurs) and the first steps towards a roadmap for designing National Strategy for Financial Education. This study analyzed the FK levels among micro-entrepreneurs, explicitly focusing on adapting the OECD/INFE Toolkit 2022 (OECD/INFE/T2022) to the local context. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study employed an adjusted, fine-tuned questionnaire and methodology to evaluate FK based on the OECD/INFE/T2022 (methodology and questionnaires), tailored to the socio-legal, organizational, and economic conditions of the country and region. The paper also involved a comprehensive review of the existing literature on the importance of FK for micro-entrepreneurs and FK surveys among them. Findings: The research fills a significant gap in the international academic literature and responded to the OECD’s recommendations for Poland, shedding light on the FK status among micro-entrepreneurs locally. Likewise, sets the groundwork for future research on FK among micro-entrepreneurs, s.a., local cyclical evaluations, research on a regional or national level, providing valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners. Research Limitations/Implications: While the study on Katowice micro-entrepreneurs provided crucial insights for local stakeholders, further research across regions, nation-wide, through time is necessary to ensure a comprehensive understanding of FK among microentrepreneurs. Additionally, the OECD/INFE/T2022 questionnaire can be further adjusted and translated to encompass remaining subsections (financial attitudes and behaviors) for a multidimensional examination. Originality/Value: This research significantly contributes to the call by the OECD for a more in-depth understanding of FK among SMEs, particularly micro-entrepreneurs, in Poland. Its findings underscore the critical role of FK in fostering the well-being and sustainable growth of micro-entrepreneurs; it enables stakeholders to target problematic areas of FK identified in the study and to design financial education programs adequate for mitigating diagnosed deficiencies, thereby making a valuable contribution to the literature, and governmental and market practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the end of the Cold War it seemed that authoritarian regimes are bound to suffer economic marginalization because command economies proved to be unable to compete with free and open markets. Currently, however, we witness a number of non-democratic, authoritarian States capable of abusing market rules to create an unfair advantage to their undertakings - “National Champions” - competing with other enterprises, which are bound into a tight corset of anti-subsidy regulations, so ultimately to achieve regimes’ political goals. In this context, the paper - based primarily on analysis and review of literature and secondarily on dogmatic analysis - by presenting a set of interlinked political and economic motivations seeks to argue that, on the one hand, strategic rejection of free market doctrine is an inherent feature of authoritarian regimes, and on the other, that inefficiencies endemic in non-democratic forms of governments reduce the likelihood of successful implementation of the eponymous strategy. On this basis, the secondary aim of this paper is to provide a conceptual basis for answering the following question: Considering the need to adapt to long-term effects of the current economic uncertainty, are the strategies of creating undue competitive advantages for national champions pursued by many authoritarian regimes serious enough threat to free markets to warrant a response from the international community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper conducts a scientific assessment of aesthetic quality to provide intuitive and scientific planning strategies for national park construction. Focusing on Qianjiangyuan National Park, the study used the scenic beauty evaluation (SBE) method to subjectively assess landscape photos from 16 sample sites. Objective eye movement indicators describing visual behavior were also analyzed. A national park landscape visual quality assessment model was derived through multiple linear regressions correlating subjective evaluations with objective indicators. Spatial technologies like ArcGIS were used to analyze the visual quality and its spatial distribution. Key findings include (1) subjective evaluations showed higher SBE scores for wetland landscapes, followed by recreational, village, and forest landscapes, (2) eye movement behavior varied across landscape types, with the forest landscape having the shortest first fixation time and the lowest saccade frequency, while recreational landscapes had the lowest average saccade speed, (3) strong correlations were found between SBE and indicators such as average fixation time and saccade frequency, with fixation duration ratio being the leading factor influencing visual aesthetic quality, and (4) visual aesthetic quality was highest in the north and south areas of the park, with significant differences between sample sites in these regions compared to the central area. Among different functional zones, the ecological protection area had the highest quality, while the Suzhuang management area excelled in aesthetic quality compared to the Hetian management area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of Veterans who died by suicide in 2021 had not recently used Veterans Health Administration (VA) services. A public health approach to Veteran suicide prevention has been prioritized as part of the VA National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide. Aligned with this approach, VA's Patient Safety Center of Inquiry--Suicide Prevention Collaborative piloted a Veteran suicide prevention learning collaborative with both clinical and non-clinical community agencies that serve Veterans. The VA COmmunity LeArning CollaboraTive (COACT) uses a quality improvement framework and facilitative process to support community organizational implementation of evidence-based and best practice suicide prevention strategies to achieve this goal. This paper details the structure of CO-ACT and processes by which it is implemented. This includes the CO-ACT toolkit, an organizational self-assessment, a summary of recommendations, creation of a blueprint for change, selection of suicide prevention program components, and an action plan to guide organizations in implementing suicide prevention practices. CO-ACT pilot outcomes are reported in a previous publication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over a decade has passed since the publication and enactment of the first National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy (NLNS; Department of Education and Skills. 2011. Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life: The National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011–2020. Dublin: Department of Education and Skills). This paper provides insights into the reality of its enactment across a range of primary and post-primary settings. Drawing on qualitative data from interviews (n = 30) and quantitative data from a survey (n = 455) of primary and post-primary teachers, the paper charts commonalities and differences across these two sectors. Qualitative data indicated that the NLNS was successful in putting literacy on the agenda, with a range of consequent policy and practices reported by teachers. The teaching of literacy tended to be grounded in largely traditional conceptualisations of print-based reading and writing, with limited reference to digital or multimodal practices. Quantitative data highlighted the divergence of opinions between teachers from both sectors, particularly in relation to students’ literacy skills on entry to post-primary school and in DEIS settings. As policymakers prepare for the enactment of a successor strategy (Government of Ireland. 2024a. Ireland’s Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy 2024–2033: Every Learner from Birth to Young Adulthood. Dublin: Government of Ireland), the paper concludes by addressing implications for the next decade of literacy-focussed policy in Irish schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protection and inheritance of the local intangible cultural heritage (ICH) holds profound significance, which has the characteristics of oral transmission and the intertwining of time and space, is an important content and means of rural cultural governance in China in the new era. It is significant in value for promoting rural revitalization and passing on the cultural genes of China. As rural society transforms, the change of rural social structure and cultural order leads to some conflicts for rural ICHs in China, such as subjective crises, weakening of values and the impact of modernity. Therefore, this paper combines the advantages of experience with the inheritance needs of ICH and puts its inheritance and protection under the national strategy of rural revitalization. The study focuses on the function of ICH in rural revitalization from the perspective of experience and explores the topic from three levels: the government, universities, and villages. Moreover, we provide sustainable development strategies for integrating intangible cultural heritage into rural revitalization to promote the revival of rural culture. This article explores the mutually beneficial relationship between intangible cultural heritage and rural revitalization, enhancing our understanding of both aspects. The primary contribution lies in providing sustainable development strategies for integrating intangible cultural heritage into rural revitalization at the government, university, and village levels. Ochrona i dziedziczenie lokalnego niematerialnego dziedzictwa kulturowego (ICH) ma ogromne znaczenie, gdyż łączy przekaz ustny z elementami czasu i przestrzeni. Jest ważną formą treści kulturowych a także sposobem zarządzania kulturą na obszarach wiejskich w Chinach w nowej epoce. Ma ogromną wartość dla promowania rewitalizacji obszarów wiejskich i przekazywania genów kulturowych Chin. W miarę transformacji społeczeństwa wiejskiego zmiana struktury społecznej obszarów wiejskich i porządku kulturowego prowadzi do pewnych konfliktów dla wiejskich ICH w Chinach, takich jak kryzysy subiektywne, osłabienie wartości i wpływ nowoczesności. Niniejszy artykuł łączy doświadczenia z potrzebami spadkowymi ICH i wpisuje jego dziedziczenie i ochronę w krajową strategię rewitalizacji obszarów wiejskich. Badanie koncentruje się na funkcji ICH w rewitalizacji obszarów wiejskich z perspektywy doświadczenia i eksploruje temat na trzech poziomach: rządu, uniwersytetów i wsi. Ponadto sugerujemy strategie zrównoważonego rozwoju mające na celu włączenie niematerialnego dziedzictwa kulturowego do rewitalizacji obszarów wiejskich w celu promowania odrodzenia kultury wiejskiej. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of All Azimuth: A Journal of Foreign Policy & Peace is the property of Ihsan Dogramaci Peace Foundation, Center for Foreign Policy & Peace Research 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.)

Copyright of People & Nature is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Commodity price co-movements significantly impact investment decisions. High correlations constrain portfolio diversification and limit risk mitigation potential. While international markets often exhibit strong price linkages, understanding national-level dynamics is crucial for effective portfolio optimization. In this paper, we examine the commodity price co-movements within three key sectors—energy, metals, and agriculture—in the specific context of Pakistan. Utilizing data from 13 January 2013 to 20 August 2020 and employing an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, we reveal a surprising finding: co-movement among these sectors is weak and primarily short-term. This challenges the conventional assumption of tight coupling in national markets and offers exciting implications for investors. Our analysis suggests that Pakistani commodities hold significant diversification potential, opening promising avenues for risk-reduction strategies within the national market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implicit government guarantee results in financing convenience and distorting corporate investment. The effects on MCB's credit spread and corporate investment are studied in this paper based on China's bond market from 2010 to 2020. The implicit government guarantee lies in MCBs whose financing costs are significantly lower than those of POEs. The inefficiency of corporate investment also exists in MCBs with investment reductions. But this inefficiency has been corrected by China's recent major national strategy, the Belt and Road Initiative. We provide direct evidence from three perspectives, provinces along BRI routes, city-level features of China-Europe Railway Express and bond-level funding purposes. This paper reveals that implicit government guarantee could only reduce the funding cost, while major national strategy is helpful to promote corporate investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an overview of comparison of bioeconomy indicators, in Romania and European Union, related to Green Deal Pact of the EU. The so called European Green Deal, is a set of proposals adopted by European Commission in order to reduce the climate change by 2050.Official statistical data related to green transition were retrieved from Eurostat database. Specific indicators taken into consideration were circular material use rate, raw material consumption, valued added at factor cost and environmental protection expenditure. Comparison of the dynamics of these indicators for Romania vs other European Union member states, for latest available data, was plotted. When analyzing the data it can be observed that steps are being taken in each state towards fulfilling the objectives of green transition. However, Romania's bioeconomy is still underdeveloped as compared to most of the EU's member states. In order to support the Green Deal targets we need a national strategy and action plan towards green and just transition of our economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's foremost national goal is to become a major space power by 2030. Consequently, President Xi Jinping has made the launch of the BeiDou navigation satellite system (BDS) and promotion of a "BDS global network" a national priority. BDS represents a frontier technology of the "fourth industrial revolution" which ushered in the digital age. Using BeiDou as a case study, this paper attempts to analyze the structural features of China's frontier technology strategy and its impact on China's global influence. Significantly, BDS has both military and civilian applications, which is a prominent feature of today's cutting edge technologies. Therefore, a focus on BDS will deepen our understanding of how China is exploring these new types of dual-purpose technologies to expand its global reach. The paper argues that by dramatically restructuring its decision-making process under Xi Jinping, China has been able to adopt a state-led national strategy for using BeiDou domestically, while expanding its global reach through a market-driven approach. This strategy has facilitated the penetration of Chinese BDS applications into the economies and societies of many developing (and some developed) countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper contains a synthesis of the EU and Romania objectives and targets from the perspective of the principles of sustainable development. After evoking the overwhelming importance of achieving the vital goal Net Zero Emission - Greenhouse gas emissions, the second part of the paper presents the synthesis of EU legislation to achieve this objective. In chapter 3 of the paper, the National Strategies relevant to the enrollment in the objectives of the European Green Deal are evoked, and in the last part, the conclusions of the analysis are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei are located in the Bohai Rim region of Northeast Asia, China. It is the region with the largest economic scale and strongest economic vitality in northern China. Due to historical development and administrative division, the economic strength of Beijing and Tianjin is strong, while the economic strength of Hebei Province is weak. The economic development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is severely uneven. The "Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Coordinated Development Strategy" is proposed and elevated to a national strategy in this context, aiming to explore the path of coordinated economic development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, promote economic cooperation, balance economic differences, and enhance the overall economic strength of the Beijing Tianjin Hebei region through national leadership. The economic collaborative development evaluation in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is a classical multiple attribute decision making (MADM) problems. Recently, the TODIM and Evaluation based on Distance from Average Solution (EDAS) method has been used to cope with MADM issues. The hesitant triangular fuzzy sets (HTFSs) are used as a tool for characterizing uncertain information during the economic collaborative development evaluation in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. In this paper, the hesitant triangular fuzzy TODIM-EDAS (HTF-TODIM-EDAS) method is built to solve the MADM under HTFSs. In the end, a numerical case study for economic collaborative development evaluation in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is given to validate the proposed method. The main contributions of this paper are summarized: (1) the HTF-TODIM-EDAS method is proposed under HTFSs. (2) The MADM method is designed based on the information entropy and HTF-TODIM-EDAS method under HTFSs. (3) A numerical case study for economic collaborative development evaluation in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is given to validate the proposed method. (4) A comparison between proposed method and existing methods is carried out to check its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of the Internet, cyberspace has expanded, which has ushered in several changes. These changes have significantly impacted the defense sector. The defense sector is changing from an existing weapon system-centered operation to a network-centered operation, and cyberspace is now recognized as the fifth strategic space, land, sea, air, and space. However, this expansion of cyberspace paradoxically increases its vulnerability to cyberattacks. Hacking groups have been causing damage through cyberattacks in many countries. Therefore, several countries are preparing countermeasures for cybersecurity at the national level. In 2019, the ROK announced its national cybersecurity strategy. However, in the case of the defense field, there are limitations in implementing the cybersecurity policy of the higher concept because it is closed and has specificity. Accordingly, this paper proposes the secure defense planning and management system (SPPBEES) so that the cybersecurity policy of the high concept is materialized as a strategy and leads to force reinforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: A new framework to support the national and local capacity building plan for disaster risk management (DRM) in Cameroon is presented. For the past 30 years, after the general re-organisation of the civil protection department, capacity building programmes for DRM has been solely carried out for and by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and the Department of Civil Protection. The exclusion of businesses, civil society and community participation, among others, has been the main obstacle to capacity building programmes undertaken for DRM. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach: Based on interviews conducted among 200 informants by means of a process of participatory monitoring and evaluation as well as a duo capacity building workshop for DRM held in August 2017 in Yaoundé, this paper evaluated existing capacity building programmes for DRM in Cameroon. Findings: Findings show that the greater portion of government representatives within the public administration lack capacity to address DRM initiatives at the local and national levels of governance. While recommending DRM programmes as a necessity for integration within civil administrative curriculum, this paper proposes six elements to address capacity building gaps for DRM in Cameroon. Originality/value: The results demonstrate critical gaps in capacity building aimed at DRM, especially where single ministry or department monopolises DRM. The findings provide the government with a useful tool to review its national strategy for a disaster reduction policy and the drawing up of a national intervention plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problems related to privacy and security preservation are in the scope of the concerns of governments and policymakers because of their impact on fundamental rights. Users are called to act responsibly whenever they are potentially exposed to related risks, but governments and parliaments must be proactive in creating safer conditions and a more appropriate regulation to both guide users towards good practices and create a favoring environment which reduces exposure. In this paper, we propose a modeling framework to define and evaluate policies which identify and use appropriate levers to accomplish these tasks. We present a proof-of-concept which shows the viability of estimating in advance the effects of policies and policymakers' initiatives by means of Influence Nets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abandonment of inland areas has become a major demographical challenge, causing a condition of local fragility in terms of spatial marginalization. To deal with this issue in Italy, a number of policy actions have been implemented over the time, namely the National Strategy for Inland Areas, established a decade ago, and more recently the Next Generation EU (NGEU) to foster local economic recovery and employment. In this context, RI.P.R.O.VA.RE., a project funded by the former Italian Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea (MATTM), was aimed at strengthening the resilience features of communities and territories, focusing on areas within the Matese and Ufita in the Campania region and the Medio Agri in the Basilicata region (southern Italy). Besides the ability to respond to different pressure factors (e.g., of demographic and economic origin), the project also addressed issues concerning seismic and flood risks. This paper synthesizes the methods and tools provided for their analysis and mitigation as a prerequisite for regenerating inland areas. After presenting the developed methods and tools, the results obtained for the Matese study area are presented and discussed. While, on the one hand, the retrieved risk zoning maps allow individuating those municipalities requiring priority structural interventions, on the other hand, the latter are properly individuated based on the peculiar characteristics of urban fabrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water reuse is critical to national development, sustenance, and survival in this era of climate, demographic, and social changes. There is no systemic national approach to systematically addressing this challenge. This paper presents a framework and method to develop a national research strategy for water reuse. It presents an ontology of water reuse strategies that encapsulates the combinatorial complexity of the problem clearly, concisely, and comprehensively. Subsequently, it discusses the method to use the framework to develop a national strategy, adapt it through feedback and learning, and ultimately effect a revolutionary change in the strategy for water reuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientists and diplomats have significant differences in professional skills, activity time and work content, but they should work together. With the deepening impact of science and technology (S&T) on socio-economic development and international relations, S&T has become a crucial component of national strategies, particularly for diplomacy. There is a need for scientific evidence and advice, meaning that mastering more knowledge and skills in S&T would be helpful in negotiations. This paper analyses the ideas of S&T diplomacy, including a review of its 40-year history in China, its definition (with detailed connotations) and its characteristics. The paper focuses on the significant role of people-to-people communication in S&T, which may inform future work. Five suggestions are given to strengthen the strategic planning of S&T diplomacy: (1) A more clarified, strategic goal of future-oriented S&T diplomacy is required; (2) It is important to build a theoretical system for China to describe S&T diplomacy; (3) The creation of a global S&T cooperation map that adapts to the new type of international relations would be valuable; (4) Fairness and justice shall be maintained, while a reform of the global S&T governance system is promoted; (5) It is a must to adhere to bottom-line thinking and strengthen risk prediction and emergency responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has proposed "ecological conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin" to a major national strategy, which puts forward higher requirements for water, energy, and food along the Yellow River (TYR). However, the water–energy–food nexus (WEF) system in TYR basin is very complicated. Based on the theory and method of harmonious regulation, this paper puts forward a new WEF harmony framework (WEFH) to study the harmonious balance of WEF in TYR. WEFH cannot only evaluate the harmonious balance of WEF, but also identify the main influencing factors, and further study the harmonious regulation of WEF. For the key steps of regulation and control, we provide a variety of methods to choose from in this framework. In practice, we apply this framework to the regulation of WEF in the nine provinces along TYR. The results show that during 2005–2018, the harmony degree of WEF in the nine provinces along TYR is between 0.29 and 0.58. The harmony degree of WEF has improved over time, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. Among them, per capita water resources, hydropower generation ratio, carbon emissions, and another 12 indicators have great influence on the harmony of WEF. We have established eight control schemes for nine of these indicators. In eight control schemes, most areas have reached a moderate level of harmony degree. These results show that the framework proposed in this paper is helpful to the comprehensive management of regional WEF and provides a viable scheme for the optimization of WEF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Praxis (16618157) is the property of Aerzteverlag medinfo AG 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.)

North Macedonia’s accession negotiations are conditioned by the country’s progress on fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria. Respect for human rights, defined as one of the founding values of European Union, it is associated with the fundamental political criteria for full membership for every candidate state. In the Progress Report for 2022, European Commission raised the concerns that North Macedonia had made “limited progress in improving the rights of persons with disabilities”. Considering that the country since its independence ratified several international treaties on human rights and assumed obligation not only to guarantee but also to protect the fundamental human rights, in this paper will be analyzed: the national legal framework on the protection of the fundamental rights of persons with disabilities, national strategies on the rights of persons with disabilities, and national policies on the integration of persons with disabilities. The purpose of this study it is to analyze the responsibilities and commitment of the state authorities in providing equal rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities, especially focusing on the access of women with disability to the labor market and access of children and young people with disability to education. The research it is in-depth analysis and guided by two research questions: What are the responsibilities of North Macedonia as a candidate country in promoting and enforcing the rights of persons with disabilities? What have done North Macedonia for social inclusion of persons with disabilities? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wide acceptance that Climate Change (CC) is a reality, often taking extreme forms, has led to the development of strategies to mitigate climate change and the need to adapt to the new climate conditions. Greece has already developed a National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change (NSACC), which has started to be implemented in 2016 in the 13 regions of the state by implementing relevant projects. The Primary Sector of Agriculture (PSA) is one of the most vulnerable sectors to CC in Greece. This analysis describes the main points of the national strategy for mitigation and adaptation, focusing on the adaptation strategy for the PSA. Most of the information included in the analysis comes from a multidisciplinary study organized by the Bank of Greece (BoG), which was used as a guide for the formulation of the NSACC. The analysis includes a comprehensive summary of the PSA adaptation policy to CC, an assessment of climate evolution in Greece with emphasis on the characteristics related to the PSA, estimations of the CC impact on plant and animal production, and the whole organization of the national effort for adaptation to CC. The entire organization of the work followed the framework of the BoG study and the methodologies used in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As highlighted by the UN 2030 Agenda, sustainable development is a complex and multidimensional issue that can be effectively implemented and reached at the local level. This implies the evaluation of differences and disparities between territories in order to define local priorities and support cohesion policy objectives. This need has been addressed by the Italian "National Strategy for Inner Areas", which aims to support the growth of territories with a continuous economic and population decline. However, Inner Areas are identified by a set of indicators related to the low accessibility to Services of General Interest, neglecting other important factors that contribute to this condition. This paper proposes a critical analysis of this measurement and of the related "territorialization" of Inner Areas, by introducing a more comprehensive assessment model based on the concept of Territorial Capital (TC), which highlights a more nuanced understanding of complexities and diversities related to the potential development of a territory. In particular, the proposed model evaluates eight TC dimensions (human, social, cognitive, infrastructural, productive, relational, environmental and settlement capital), which cover a broad spectrum of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In order to accurately demonstrate the differences between the results of the two evaluation methods, this paper presents the results of a case study application concerning all 377 municipalities, which compose the Autonomous Region of Sardinia (Italy). The findings of this study confirm the potential of an approach based on the Territorial Capital for place-based policymaking. TC, in fact, can become relevant for defining local priorities and supporting complex decisions, allowing governments to better design and tailor interventions for the effective and efficient management of available resources. Furthermore, these results pose new questions for future research developments in the field of sustainable and equitable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As technology evolves, businesses face new threats and opportunities in the areas of information and information assets. These areas include information creation, refining, storage, and dissemination. Governments and other organizations around the world have begun prioritizing the protection of cyberspace as a pressing international issue, prompting a renewed emphasis on information security strategy development and implementation. While every nation's information security strategy is crucial, there has not been much work conducted to define a method for gauging national cybersecurity attitudes that takes into account factors and indicators that are specific to that nation. In order to develop a framework that incorporates issues based on the current research in this area, this paper will examine the fundamentals of the information security strategy and the factors that affect its integration. This paper contributes by providing a model based on the ITU cybersecurity decisions, with the goal of developing a roadmap for the successful development and implementation of the National Cybersecurity Strategy in Greece, as well as identifying the factors at the national level that may be aligned with a country's cybersecurity level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The present study aims to investigate the effect of the quality of institutions on tourism development in a panel of 27 countries from the European Union for the period of 2008-2021. The number of arrivals and employees in tourism measures tourism development. The control variables used, which also represent the determinants of tourism, are GDP growth rate per capita, inflation, higher education, quality of the environment, and trade. Quality of institutions indexes are constructed based on indicators of government effectiveness, political stability, regulatory quality, the rule of law, and voice and accountability. To estimate the impact of selected determinants in tourism development, we used the Generalized method of the moments-GMM model. According to the obtained results, it can be concluded that there is a positive connection between the quality of institutions and tourism. The results of this research should provide insight into the most important determinants of management and institutions and explain their influence on events in tourism. All of the above knowledge should be of interest to the management bodies in charge of creating national development strategies. The contribution of this research is reflected in the clarification of the importance of institutions' quality and monitoring. Previous research on this topic is generally limited to specific tourist regions or is based on smaller indicators. This paper covers the area of the European Union, with different stages of development and share in tourist traffic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]