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The research is devoted to the status and role of utopian consciousness in society and culture. The author believes that the utopian component is inherent in any human goal-setting and design. A project is the result of dissatisfaction with the current reality; it carries within itself a desire for change, radical restructuring, but at first a person is dominated by desire and an as yet unformed image - both the goal and the path to its implementation. Therefore, the first phase of design is always utopian. In sociocultural design, this is the “image of paradise”, which only later develops into realistic plans and selection of funds, taking into account circumstances. However, the utopian component as an ideal remains an inspiring moment with a clear distinction between ideal and reality. Utopian consciousness acquires the features of an illusion when the ideal is transferred to specific actual space and time. Then people try to either “move” to Eden, or transport it to themselves, or quickly realize it, in a hurry and getting tired. In the first case, one’s own “project for the best” is abandoned; in the second, one tries to implement one’s own project without taking into account real possibilities. In both cases, disappointment follows due to the lack of realism. The study also analyzes utopian consciousness as a social construct created by influential social groups to realize their interests. This construct is spread through the media. The author believes that ideologies, including those produced by existing power, are always at the same time utopias for the masses. Two powerful modern utopias are briefly examined - globalist-technocratic and conservative-archaic, noting their unrealistic nature, leading to subsequent disappointments.

The purpose of this study is to explore students’ and academic staff’ perspectives on the importance of transversal competences in creating design-driven innovations within STEM disciplines in higher education, aiming to find solutions for the enhancement of transversal competences. Accordingly, the following research questions are explored in this study: 1) What is the connection between design-driven innovation and transversal competences in STEM disciplines in higher education? 2) How can students' and academic staff’s self-assessment of transversal competences influence the creation of design-driven innovations? Throughout this study, the authors analyze the promotion of design-driven innovation by enhancing the transversal competences of academic staff of STEM disciplines and students. The exploration of qualitative components of transversal competences enable the identification of conditions that may contribute design-driven innovations in higher education. By examining the link between design-driven innovations and transversal competences, added value in competence, design and values-based higher education, based on socio-cultural environment and technological development. The results of the study, based on contemporary knowledge including survey data and focus group discussions on this topic, will be utilized as development conditions, an assessment system to promote progress towards design-driven innovations in higher education facilitated by the enhancement of transversal competences.

Cumulative effects assessment (CEA), as a subset of environmental impact assessment, has been used over the past half-century to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic and natural processes on the integrity of forest ecosystems. In 2019, the Canadian federal government launched the Impact Assessment Act (IAA) and the Practitioner’s Guide to Federal Impact Assessment to replace the 2012 Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) and the Practitioner’s Guide. The new act emphasizes, among other issues, the need for CEA research to actively engage Indigenous communities and the public and apply a gender-based analysis (GBA) plus framework in their assessment. This paper aims to identify how cumulative effects research in Canadian forestry has progressed over time and how it aligns with federal government guidelines under the Impact Assessment Act of 2019. Through a systematic review of CEA research in Canada since 1992 and a document analysis, we examine the conduct of CEA research and compare the 2012 CEAA and the 2019 IAA and their respective practitioners’ guides to identify key similarities and differences and establish the influence of the 2019 IAA on CEA research. This accounts for how adaptive CEA research in Canada is to the changing landscape, specifically in measuring and addressing the impacts of disturbances on different interest groups. While much of CEA research followed the impact identification and reporting requirements of the 2012 CEAA and 2019 IAA, few research projects, particularly those written after 2019, paid much attention to Indigenous and public participation, while none considered GBA Plus in their analysis. This is despite the availability of GBA Plus, Indigenous, and public engagement guidelines and resources identified in the 2019 practitioners guide. We recommend active engagement between federal regulatory agencies and industry to ensure that industry and researchers have the proper training and resources to facilitate more meaningful consideration and integration of GBA Plus, including Indigenous and public engagement processes in their CEA research.

Background: European countries have included healthcare workers (HCWs) among priority groups for COVID-19 vaccination. We established a multi-country hospital network to measure the SARS-CoV-2 incidence and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among HCWs against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: HCWs from 19 hospitals in 10 countries participated in a dynamic prospective cohort study, providing samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing at enrolment and during weekly/fortnightly follow-up. We measured the incidence during pre-Delta (2 May–6 September 2021), Delta (7 September–14 December 2021), and Omicron (15 December 2021–2 May 2023) waves. Using Cox regression, we measured the relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of the first COVID-19 booster dose versus primary course alone during Delta and Omicron waves. Results: We included a total of 3015 HCWs. Participants were mostly female (2306; 79%), with a clinical role (2047; 68%), and had a median age of 44 years. The overall incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 3.01/10,000 person-days during pre-Delta, 4.21/10,000 during Delta, and 23.20/10,000 during Omicron waves. rVE was 59% (95% CI: −25; 86) during Delta and 22% (1; 39) during Omicron waves. rVE was 51% (30; 65) 7–90 days after the first booster dose during the Omicron wave. Conclusions: The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs was higher during the Omicron circulation period. The first COVID-19 vaccine booster provided additional protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to primary course vaccination when recently vaccinated

The study is devoted to construct a typology of discourses about a miracle. Discourses are interpreted in this case not in a linguistic, but in a philosophical sense, as a certain “way of talking” about a chosen phenomenon. This includes the ontological and ideological position of the speaker (writer), emotional and value pathos, a communicative attitude or lack thereof, a message to the listener (reader) of specific views and beliefs. The author distinguishes three groups of discourses on the ideological basis: 1) a miracle, understood as supernatural, but accessible for communication; 2) a miracle understood as a man-made, purely human phenomenon; 3) a miracle as the result of a “dual determination” coming from both the transcendent and the person himself. The miracle is initially interpreted in the article as a positive phenomenon that can be described and expressed in speech without directly naming the word itself. Within the first group of discourses, the following are considered: religious (Christian), mythological and fairy-tale discourse, and the fate-providentialist discourse is also highlighted. The second approach, connected with the denial of the supernatural, speaks of a miracle in the context of its scientific and technical creation, as well as hopes for a miracle within the framework of progressive and utopian concepts. The third type of discourses, combining the view of a miracle as coming from above and from the person himself, includes mystical-magical, existential and creativistic discourses - interpreting the theme of creativity. The mystical-magical discourse describes a miracle as the result of illumination and as a consequence of persistent spiritual searches. In the existential discourse, represented by fiction, there is also a place for describing a miracle as a magical nature and a magical fate. In creative discourse, the miracle is the very act of the birth of a new one. Summing up what has been said, the author emphasizes that he presents readers with nothing more than a sketch that requires further work and thematic disclosure.

E-leadership (i.e., remotely leading employees) has become a new normal in the public sector during the pandemic. However, practices of e-leadership differ due to legal, national and even organisational conditions. A deeper analysis is needed to understand what has happened with leadership practices in municipalities after the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the article is to reveal the main challenges of e-leadership in the post-pandemic municipal administrations and to identify e-leaders’ approaches (how they should act) in this context. A qualitative method of online focus groups was used to analyze specifics of the post-pandemic e-leadership in municipal administrations. The research was conducted in Lithuanian, Latvian and German municipal administrations. It was revealed that the use of remote work and e-leadership in municipal administrations after the pandemic heavily depends on the attitudes of supervisors toward work productivity. In addition, ensuring effective digital communication as well as managing social contacts and maintaining team spirit become challenges for e-leadership in municipalities after the pandemic also when remote work is reduced.

Introduction: Regional environmental risk assessment is a practical approach to understanding and proactively addressing the cumulative effects of resource development in areas of regional importance. However, regional assessment is methodologically complex, and frameworks to identify and prioritize regional risk issues to guide effective management decisions are lacking. This research develops a risk and impacts-based cumulative effects assessment framework for scoping regional cumulative effects issues to guide present and future project and regional assessment. We operationalized the framework dubbed Risk Assessment Framework for Cumulative Effects (RAFCE) to assess the risks and impacts of proposed mining development in the Ring of Fire region of Northern Ontario, Canada.Methods: Methodologically, we built on existing studies to understand the key valued ecosystem components (VECs) impacted by mining; organized an expert Bowtie Risk Assessment Tool workshop and interviews to identify regional risks and define the VECs impacted by mining; and developed an impact prioritization model that helped quantify and prioritize impacts of mining.Results and Discussion: RAFCE enabled us to: a) identify drivers and impacts of cumulative effects and potential preventive and mitigation measures for effective cumulative effects management and b) describe, quantify, and rank the major impact and components of regional interest. Using RAFCE, we can identify and prioritize impacts that are cross-cutting, multisector‐driven, synergistic, and relevant to a region, visualize and understand the risk management process, identify policy and management issues to prevent risks or mitigate impacts, and ultimately inform resource allocation for effective regional cumulative effects assessment outcomes. RAFCE is suitable for engaging diverse stakeholders in planning for regional cumulative effects assessment.

The article presents a reconstruction of the history of cooperation between I.A. Bunin, V.N. Bunina and the Chekhov Publishing House in New York, where in 1952 –1955 the last lifetime Bunin’s books were published: the novel “Life of Arseniev” (first full edition), collections of stories “Spring in Judea. Rose of Jericho” and “Mitya's Love. Sunstroke”, as well as the collection of stories “The Loopy Ears” and the unfinished essay “On Chekhov”. The last two books were published by V.N. Bunina after the author’s death.

Background. The severity of thrombosis clinical course, poor prognosis, upcoming disability and permanent organ failure in newborns necessitate further search and study of thrombotic conditions predictors in order to prevent them. Aim of the study is to analyze the frequency of gene variants of plasmic, thrombocytic and fibrinolytic hemostasis components and determine their role in the thrombosis development in newborn children. Methods. The study included 46 full-term newborns with thromboses of different localization – cases group. Inclusion criteria were: child age 28 days or less, gestational period >37 weeks, informed consent on participation in the study. The control group included children of I and II health groups. Vascular thrombosis was diagnosed via instrumental imaging methods: vascular ultrasound, computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging. Thrombophilic anamnesis and pregnant woman’s health condition was analyzed according to pregnancy medical records. The molecular genetic testing included 8 single nucleotide polymorphisms definition of the following genes: FGB -455 G>A (rs1800790), F2 20210 G>A (rs1799963), F5 1691 G>A (rs6025), F7 10976 G>A (rs6046), F13 G>T (rs5985), ITGA2 807 C>T (rs1126643), ITGB3 1565 T>C (rs5918), PAI-1 -675 5G>4G (rs1799889). Results. Molecular genetic predictors of thrombosis in newborns have been revealed: variants of fibrinogen gene FGB -455 G>А (AP, %=66), plasminogen activator inhibitor gene PAI-1 -675 4G > 4G (AP, % = 89), genotype associations PAI-1 -675 4G/>4G /F7 10976 G>G (AP, % = 82), PAI-1 -675 4G>4G / F13 34 G>G (AP, % = 63)PAI-1 -675 4G>4G / F7 10976 G>G / F13 34 G>G(AP, % = 61), and integrin alpha 2 gene ITGA2 807 T/T (AP, % = 93). Maternal factor of thrombosis development in children is impaired uteroplacental circulation in pregnant woman (AP, % = 66). Conclusion. The role of gene variants of plasmic, thrombocytic and fibrinolytic hemostasis components in development of thrombosis in newborns was determined, as well as quantitative estimation of their contribution was presented.

The article provides a brief overview of the publication history of I.A. Bunin’s works in emigration during 1920–1955: facts that make it possible to reconstruct each episode of interaction between Bunin and émigré publishing houses correlate with the history of the book indusrty of the Russian diaspora.

At the beginning of the 20th century, migrants from Belarus, Ukraine and the Pskov province founded a number of settlements in the territory of the Central Angara region. Migrants brought with them the specific features of their traditional culture and economic activity, which were different from those typical for the local Russian population. The empirical basis for the research was formed by the materials of an ethnographic expedition conducted in 2017 in the territory of the Bratsk district (Irkutsk region, Russia). The research was aimed at identifying various markers of the ethnocultural identity of Belarusian peasant migrants in their material culture and at investigating the interactions of Belarusians with their ethnic environment. It is found that the ethnic identity of Belarusian migrant descendants is currently characterized by a high level of variability across different families. Certain representatives of the senior generation consider themselves as Belarusians. At the same time, the majority of informants emphasize in their oral stories that only their ancestors were Belarusians. The culture of food among the first Belarusian migrants had a number of distinct features. Thus, in comparison with Russian settlers, Belarusians tended to consume more vegetables, rye bread and pork. The first generation of the Belarusian migrants preferred to make clothes according to their ethnic traditions; however, the subsequent generations of migrants borrowed many clothing items from the local population, which were more practical for the local climatic conditions. A visual survey of dwellings and other buildings indicates that the national architecture of the Belarusian migrants still have a number of features introduced from their homeland. At the same time, these features have undergone certain transformations over the course of the 20th century, as a result of adaptation to a more severe climate and introduction of improved construction technologies. In comparison with the immovable objects of traditional material culture, the transformation of such cultural manifestations as cuisine and clothing is shown to be a more prolonged process.

E-leadership (i.e., remotely leading employees) has become a new normal in the public sector during the pandemic. However, practices of e-leadership differ due to legal, national and even organisational conditions. A deeper analysis is needed to understand what has happened with leadership practices in municipalities after the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the article is to reveal the main challenges of e-leadership in the post-pandemic municipal administrations and to identify e-leaders' approaches (how they should act) in this context. A qualitative method of online focus groups was used to analyze specifics of the post-pandemic e-leadership in municipal administrations. The research was conducted in Lithuanian, Latvian and German municipal administrations. It was revealed that the use of remote work and e-leadership in municipal administrations after the pandemic heavily depends on the attitudes of supervisors toward work productivity. In addition, ensuring effective digital communication as well as managing social contacts and maintaining team spirit become challenges for e-leadership in municipalities after the pandemic also when remote work is reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With its northern location, the exposure and vulnerability of Canada's forest ecosystems to climate change impacts are all too glaring. While there is now an extensive body of literature describing expected climate change impacts and potential responses, studies characterizing the implementation of adaptation and mitigation practices in forest management remain rare in the Canadian forest sector. Using a systematic literature review, we examined reports on forest management practices implemented in response to climate change, specifically focusing on governance and institutional arrangements that either support or limit climate change adaptation and mitigation responses. Our literature sample size of 24 documents suggests that the body of literature reporting on adaptation and mitigation practices in forest management is scarce. Governments remain the dominant actors providing funding and leading the implementation and reporting of climate change adaptation practices, primarily in response to national or international climate change commitments. Forest practices such as enhanced silviculture, assisted migration, and nature-based solutions were the most frequently reported. However, given the scarcity of literature, it is difficult to conclude the scope of climate change adaptation practice uptake in Canada. Barriers such as lack of information/data, inter-jurisdictional knowledge transfer, policy conflicts, forest tenure models, technical capacity gaps, and economic barriers to adaptation need to be overcome to strengthen climate change response in forest management. Better coordination of reporting at the provincial and national levels and improved information flows between private sector organizations and governments are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canada is recognized as a global leader in sustainable forest management. Canadian forests and the forest sector remain vital pillars of the Canadian economy and home to many rural and remote communities. However, climate change is an existential threat to the sustainability of forests and forest-dependent communities. While both direct and indirect threats posed by climate change to Canada's forest sector are now well understood, our understanding of specific forest practices that have emerged from the body of science to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts is not well documented. Through a review of the scientific and grey literature, this study expands our knowledge and operational gaps associated with implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation practices in Canadian forests. The study found a dearth of literature specifically dedicated to reporting on the type of forest practices currently in use across Canada to address mitigation and adaptation. Most reports or studies were published in 2019 or later, with federal and provincial governments being the dominant actors in reporting and monitoring, research, and funding. Across the 15 terrestrial ecozones in Canada, forest practices linked to climate change were reported in 12 ecozones, with most practices reported in the Montane Cordillera located in western Canada. Common forest practices reported include fuel management, assisted migration, enhanced silvicultural activities, and carbon offset projects. We conclude that climate change adaptation/mitigation practices in Canada are in their early stages of implementation. Many practices remain in experimental stages (e.g., genetic trials) or are implemented at a relatively small scale in Canada (e.g., climate-based seed transfer and carbon reserves). The literature suggests that the most mainstream practices associated with climate change mitigation in Canada include tree planting for carbon sequestration and the designation of protected areas to enhance ecosystem resilience. We conclude that despite increasing reports linking climate change benefits with reported forest practices, the reporting in the scientific literature is scarce, poorly reported, and often not grounded in credible evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main problem that runs through the article is the problem of assessing the ongoing changes, identifying their positive and negative sides, for which a dialectical approach is used. The authors analyze the pros and cons of immersing a modern person in the information environment, emphasizing both its convenience for life and the reduction of communication. The market-economic nature of the information environment is considered, but against the background of the assertion of its progressiveness, the manipulative and controlling functions of the "information Big Brother" are demonstrated, the question of the relationship between external control and morality is raised, while emphasizing the importance of moral values. The authors further criticize the “new ethics” actively pursued in networks, which presupposes the domination of the minority over the majority, point to the value of democracy and the importance of preserving historically established identities, including the identity of male and female, and advocate taking into account the biological component of man, which is also part of his nature. Emphasizing the deep connection between globalization and glocalization, the authors affirm the value of patriotism, which does not interfere with communication between different cultures. A solid place in the article is given to post-secularism in the era of digitalization. The article rejects the ideas of cyborgization, and calls for a careful and balanced approach to change, realizing that in a situation of the present and today's values organically grow from the past.

The paper, devoted to the communicative competence development, regards it as the key element of professional competence. Modern specialists in any sphere of professional activity need the necessary information and communication skills (i.e. the ability to use the principles of busyness communication for planning and analysis, goal-setting, choosing strategies, understanding the partners’ intentions and modifying the communication ways). The author highlights the labor market requirements to communication skills of the higher school graduates, and insists on introducing the theoretical and practical methods of communication competence development into the educational curricula. The paper specifies the aspects of perception and reflection in interpersonal contacts, and describes the group training methods with the main emphasis on such collective forms as role plays, group discussions, and training sessions. The outlines of the training program in business communication are given along with its approbation results including the improvements in students’ self-assessment, group communication, feelings, moods, activity, self-control in conflict situations, etc.

The article considers the analysis results of the occurrence frequency of genotypes and alleles of plasma, platelet and fibrinolytic hemostasis in full-term newborns with arterial and venous thrombosis of various localization. Gene polymorphisms were studied by real-time PCR in human DNA samples obtained from buccal epithelium and venous blood lymphocytes. The control group was a group of healthy full-term newborns from families without a thrombophilic history. Predictors of arterial and venous thrombosis in children are such as polymorphism of the plasminogen activator inhibitor gene PAI-1-675 4G/4G (OR=5,6 [2,3-13,8]), combinations of polymorphisms PAI-1-675 4G/4G + factor VII G10976A G/G (OR=5,8 [1,7-19,1]), combinations of polymorphisms PAI-1 -675 4G/4G + factor VII G10976A G/G + factor XIII Val34Leu G/G (% AR=61), fibrinogen FGB -455 G/A (OR=3,75 [1,4-9,4]) and integrin alpha 2 ITGA2 807 T/T (OR=15,56 [1,9-126,7]). Thus, the study of polymorphisms of the plasminogen activator inhibitor, fibrinogen, integrin alpha 2 can serve as one of the criteria for identifying a high-risk group for the development of arterial and venous thrombosis in newborns and should be taken into account when evaluating individual thrombophilia risk.

The leader’s role is decisive when developing a strategic vision and strengthening democracy at local as well as at highest level. Local government leaders should develop new approaches to further development, be able to adapt to the time of frequent change and thus enhance the effectiveness of organizations and leadership at local level. The aim of the paper is to examine the development of leaders’ skills and competences. Most often leadership skills are being developed at school, within NGOs and society. It is important to be organized and have good communication skills, be able to generate and disseminate ideas. Leaders’ characteristics, leadership skills and their development, future challenges are discussed in the first part of this paper. In the second part, the impact of local government leaders on democracy strengthening at local level are analysed. This research shows that the activity of local government leaders has a huge impact on democratization processes in Latvia therefore motivation for further development, lifelong learning and competence development play a very important role.