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This article provides information on post-pulmonary embolism syndrome (post-PE), chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease (CTEPH), and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). It explains that post-PE refers to patients who continue to experience breathing difficulties and decreased quality of life despite receiving treatment. CTEPH is a condition where patients have persistent difficulty breathing without blood clots in the pulmonary arteries, while CTEPH is the most severe form characterized by permanent obstructions and high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries. The article discusses the prevalence, risk factors, and diagnostic tests for these conditions, as well as treatment options such as anticoagulants, surgery, endovascular therapy, and medication. It emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary team for comprehensive care and provides resources for patients with pulmonary hypertension. [Extracted from the article]

This document contains three abstracts from the PM & R: Journal of Injury, Function & Rehabilitation. The first abstract discusses the impact of mild to moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) on survival and neurological and functional outcomes in individuals with acute spinal cord injury (SCI). The study found that concomitant TBI did not significantly affect survival or outcomes after SCI. The second abstract explores the effectiveness of tele-rehabilitation in improving functionality after SCI compared to traditional in-person rehabilitation. The study found that tele-rehabilitation provided similar improvements in mobility and functional outcomes as traditional rehabilitation when patients were provided with appropriate support and equipment. The third abstract examines the use of the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test (BCTT) in adults with mild TBI. The study found that individuals with TBI had a higher rate of exercise intolerance compared to uninjured controls, indicating the potential utility of the BCTT in assessing tolerance to exercise in this population. [Extracted from the article]

This document contains summaries of three articles related to physical medicine and rehabilitation. The first article discusses the improvement of walking ability in women with vertebral compression fractures. The second article examines musculoskeletal symptoms in adolescents receiving homeschooling during the COVID-19 pandemic. The third article analyzes current practice trends in physical medicine and rehabilitation. [Extracted from the article]

The archaeological evidence from the Nanhai No.1 shipwreck provides tangible evidence for the study of maritime trade during the Song Dynasty, revealing the presence of a significant amount of smuggled metal in the cargo, suggesting possible involvement in smuggling activities. Merchants may have used tactics such as under-reporting and clandestine transportation of prohibited items to evade supervision, thus engaging in the illicit trade of metal materials and artifacts banned by the Song government on the international market. Valuations of the goods recovered from Nanhai No.1 indicate that the value of iron and silver exceeds that of porcelain, while the value of gold objects and currency exceeds that of porcelain by one-third. Research also suggests a possible shift in the model of maritime trade during the Song Dynasty, from government-led to merchant-led, with a gradual weakening of government supervision and control over trade. This change may be related to reforms in trade organization and the government leniency toward prohibited activities. Despite repeated government bans, smuggling of metal goods continued throughout the Song Dynasty, with no significant reduction in the scale of the metal trade due to the profit-seeking behavior of private merchants, highlighting the inadequacy of government control over illegal smuggling activities. This complex interplay between economic gain, national security, private interests and government control had profound implications for China, the broader South China Sea region and beyond, while the outflow of metal artifacts also facilitated the exchange of goods, technology and culture between China and the aforementioned regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) 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.)

Objectives A 2021 safety alert restricted endovascular gelfoam use in Australia and resulted in an embargo on gelfoam sales to Interventional Radiology departments. This study aimed to show that gelfoam is safe in a population of trauma patients with pelvic injury, and discuss the basis of the recent controversies. Methods Retrospective cohort study was conducted between 1 January 2010 and 21 May 2021 for the patients who underwent gelfoam embolization for pelvic arterial haemorrhage. Primary outcome was the rate of adverse events related to intravascular gelfoam administration. Results Inclusion criteria met in 50 patients, comprising 58% males median age 59.9 years, and median injury severity score 31. There were 0 complications related to gelfoam use and 100% technical success. Thirty-five patients (70%) received a non-targeted embolization approach. All-cause mortality was observed in 5 patients (10%), unrelated to gelfoam. Conclusions Gelfoam is a safe and effective embolic agent in pelvic trauma. Patients are in urgent need of universal on-label registration of endovascular gelfoam products, as it is life-saving in major haemorrhage after trauma. Advances in knowledge Endovascular gelfoam is mandatory for a high-quality trauma service, and this study shows that it is safe to use intentionally in the endovascular space. Companies should work with interventional radiologists, sharing and collaborating to ensure positive outcomes for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document contains summaries of three research articles related to different topics. The first article discusses the functional outcomes of children with cerebral palsy after surgical interventions and a stay in a rehabilitation hospital. The study found that children with higher scores on the WeeFIM scale tended to have spastic diplegia, a longer length of stay, and higher admission scores. The second article examines the validity of a scale for measuring activity avoidance related to fear of falling in lower limb prosthesis users. The study found that the modified mSAFE scale showed evidence of convergent and discriminant validity, and a shorter 6-item scale was found to be appropriate. The third article investigates the effects of different taping methods on alignment, pain, and function in individuals with patellofemoral pain. The study found that both McConnell patellar taping and femoral rotational taping improved functionality, but had different effects on patellofemoral alignment. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: Qatar, a wealthy country with an open economy has limited arable land. To meet its domestic food demand, the country heavily relies on food imports. Additionally, the over three year-long economic embargo enforced by regional neighbors and the covariate shock of the COVID-19 pandemic have demonstrated the country's vulnerability to food insecurity and potential for structural breaks in macroeconomic data. The purpose of this paper is to examine short- and long-run determinants of Qatar's imports of aggregate food, meats, dairy and cereals in the presence of structural breaks. Design/methodology/approach: The authors use 24 years of food imports, gross domestic product (GDP) and consumer price index (CPI) data obtained from Qatar's Planning and Statistics Authority. They use the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) cointegration framework and Chambers and Pope's exact nonlinear aggregation approach. Findings: Unit root tests in the presence of structural breaks reveal a mixture of I (1) and I (0) variables for which standard cointegration techniques do not apply. The authors found evidence of a significant long-run relationship between structural changes and food imports in Qatar. Impulse response functions indicate full adjustments within three-quarters of a year in the event of an exogenous shock to imports. Research limitations/implications: An exogenous shock of one standard deviation on this variable would reduce Qatar's food imports by about 2.5% during the first period but recover after the third period. Originality/value: The failure of past aggregate food demand studies to go beyond standard unit root testing creates considerable doubt about the accuracy of their elasticity estimates. The authors avoid that to provide more credible findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that Spain has failed to comply with Directive 91/676 on the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources. The European Commission filed a complaint against Spain for various violations, including the failure to designate vulnerable zones and the lack of measures to reduce nitrate pollution. The Court found that Spain had not designated vulnerable zones in three out of seven regions and had not taken appropriate measures to reduce nitrate pollution in several regions. The judgment confirms the significant contribution of agricultural nitrates to water pollution and the requirement for the Commission to demonstrate a lack of improvement in water quality. [Extracted from the article]

This document summarizes a court case in Navarra, Spain, regarding the authorization of a wind energy project. The court ruled in favor of the regional government, stating that the project was not illegally divided and that the government had the authority to approve it. The court also dismissed concerns about the impact on bird species and protected areas. The court concluded that the wind farms should be considered as separate projects but acknowledged their shared infrastructure. [Extracted from the article]

This document is a summary of a court case, specifically the Supreme Court's ruling on March 12, 2024, regarding urban planning and environmental evaluation. The case involved a dispute over the approval of a Special Plan for the Logistics Activities Zone (ZAL) of the Port of Valencia in Spain. The court determined that the plan should have undergone a more comprehensive environmental evaluation process, rather than a simplified one. However, the court also considered the specific circumstances of the case, including the fact that the land had already been developed and integrated into the urban fabric. The ruling highlights the importance of incorporating environmental considerations into urban planning decisions. [Extracted from the article]

The Tribunal Constitucional has issued a ruling on the Andalusian Law on Territorial and Urban Planning (LISTA), which deals with urban planning in Andalusia, Spain. The court rejected several claims against the law, stating that they did not hinder the legislative process. However, the court did find certain provisions of the law to be unconstitutional, including a comment allowing residential construction in rural areas and the exclusion of mining activities from municipal urban planning permits. The court also clarified that certain uses, such as renewable energy and mining, can be considered ordinary in non-protected rural areas. The ruling addresses various aspects of the law and its impact on environmental protection and local autonomy. [Extracted from the article]

A primary goal of arms embargoes is to mitigate the humanitarian effects of conflict within target states by restricting access to foreign weaponry. Within this study, we investigate how embargoed governments adapt their violent strategies in response to restrictions on arms imports. We theorize that arms embargoes that undermine governments' military strength may inadvertently increase their reliance on civilian repression as an alternative approach to countering domestic threats. However, we expect that targeted governments' ability to acquire weapons from non-participating or non-compliant suppliers will have a mitigating effect. A global examination of the effects of arms embargoes between 1989 and 2004 supports our argument and also suggests that both the levels of arms received and who supplies them matter. Our findings suggest that policymakers who employ arms embargoes should consider increased violence against civilians as a potential unintended consequence and closely monitor target governments' use of repression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

intervenida: los relatos de Bernardo Vega". El ensayo analiza la escritura de Vega y su impacto en la historia y la literatura, destacando la importancia de sus memorias que integran la experiencia inmigrante y desafían las convenciones literarias y de autoría. También reflexiona sobre la relevancia contemporánea de estos relatos en los estudios culturales y críticos. El artículo habla sobre las memorias de Vega y su importancia para la comunidad puertorriqueña en Estados Unidos, desafiando las fronteras nacionales y creando nuevos relatos de inmigrantes. Se destaca la importancia de preservar la herencia cultural de la colonia inmigrante en Nueva York. El autor, Bernardo Vega, realiza una labor de investigación histórica sobre el elemento hispánico y puertorriqueño en Nueva York en el siglo XIX. También se menciona la relación problemática de Vega con su nuevo entorno y cómo se adapta a la vida en la ciudad. Además, se resalta la importancia de la transmisión oral de la historia y la cultura a través del personaje del Tío Antonio. El texto presenta la historia y las memorias de Bernardo Vega, un inmigrante puertorriqueño que llegó a Nueva York antes de la gran emigración a los centros urbanos e industriales. A través de sus textos, Vega desafía la exclusividad de la letra como índice de jerarquización social y democratiza la voz del lector y la oratoria de los agitadores. Sus escritos son retóricas acumulativas que narran eventos sin distinguir entre los grandes y los pequeños, formando parte de un saber sin fronteras y asistemático. Vega defiende la importancia de los afanes intelectuales y las tareas de cultura en la historia y los méritos de un pueblo. Aunque sus textos pueden parecer anacrónicos, permiten visibilizar la complejidad social y cultural de las comunidades de inmigrantes y otras violencias que aún demandan justicia. Además, se plantea la pregunta de cómo autorizar la escritura de un obrero inmigrante y hacer literatura de su voz y sus experiencias. El texto presenta una concepción marxista convencional que identifica al sujeto de la emancipación con una figura social producida por el desarrollo económico capitalista. Sin embargo, Rancière argumenta que esto no es suficiente y que el corazón de la subjetivación histórica proletaria es la capacidad de discutir y decidir sobre los asuntos de la comunidad. Se destaca la importancia de la igualdad como presupuesto inicial y se menciona la jerarquía existente entre los obreros ilustrados y los obreros manuales o de campo. Además, se habla de la hibridez de la escena pedagógica del taller y la importancia de la escritura del Manuscrito como evento y resistencia a las normativas de la buena literatura. El texto analiza el relato de Bernardo Vega en sus memorias y en su manuscrito, destacando la forma en que se presenta como un transmisor fiel pero no confiable. Se menciona la reticencia de Vega a revelar detalles personales y cómo esto contrasta con las convenciones del género autobiográfico. Se destaca la importancia del personaje de Bernardo Farallón en tercera persona en el manuscrito, así como la presencia de múltiples relatos y voces narrativas. También se menciona la correspondencia entre Vega y Jesús Colón, y se cuestiona la autenticidad y la temporalidad de los textos. Se reflexiona sobre la singularidad de la escritura de Vega y su relación con la cultura y la política. Se destaca la yuxtaposición de genealogías y cronotopos en el manuscrito, así como la repetición de temas y personajes. Se menciona la relación entre la ley y la justicia, y se destaca la importancia de la bandera de Puerto Rico y las memorias de un inmigrante como imágenes indelebles. La revista Op. Cit. presenta un ensayo sobre las memorias de Bernardo Vega, tituladas "La familia intervenida: los relatos de Bernardo Vega". [Extracted from the article]

Este artículo analiza la pobreza, la exclusión social y la desigualdad en Gipuzkoa, partiendo de los resultados de la 4.a Encuesta de Pobreza y Exclusión Social de Gipuzkoa. La mayor parte de los indicadores relacionados con la pobreza, la exclusión social y la desigualdad han mejorado en los últimos cuatro años, en línea con lo ocurrido en nuestro entorno y con la mejora de los indicadores económicos y laborales. Sin embargo, se han producido retrocesos en indicadores como la tasa de pobreza severa y la efectividad de las transferencias sociales. Las situaciones de pobreza y exclusión siguen afectando de forma desproporcionada a determinados grupos sociodemográficos, especialmente a las personas de nacionalidad extranjera y a la población infantil y juvenil. En términos comparativos, Gipuzkoa mantiene una situación muy positiva en el contexto autonómico, estatal y europeo en lo que se refiere a la mayor parte de los indicadores de pobreza y exclusión, aunque no para todos los grupos poblacionales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document contains translations of article abstracts in Spanish and Chinese. The first abstract discusses three Marxist lessons for the history and philosophy of science in the 21st century, emphasizing the relationship between practice and theory in knowledge production, the connection between social relations, technologies, and scientific abstractions, and the role of modern science in capitalist modes of production. The second abstract explores the political economy of digital technology, highlighting how the rapid development and widespread use of digital machinery have transformed labor cooperation and been used as tools of exploitation and domination. The third abstract focuses on China's poverty alleviation policies, emphasizing the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party in poverty reduction efforts and the need for the integration of vulnerable populations into socioeconomic reproduction. The final abstract examines the reproductive role of working-class soldiers in capitalist society, highlighting their contribution to the reproduction of capitalist social relations and the challenges of resolving the contradictions between the state and the working class. [Extracted from the article]

We test the predictions of recent theoretical studies of the impact of sanctions on the exchange rate. We build a database of exchange rates and sanctions spanning 1914–45 – an era when both large and small economies were targeted by multilateral sanction packages, facilitating comparisons with today's Russian war episode. We estimate the dynamic response of the exchange rate in a panel of sanction episodes at weekly frequency using local projections, conditioning on the type of sanctions taken. We tease out mechanisms through which sanctions affect the exchange rate by estimating their effects on macroeconomic variables plausibly acting as transmission channels. Our estimates suggest that import restrictions, export restrictions, asset freezes and trade embargoes lead to exchange rate effects consistent with theory, though the precision of the measured effects varies across sanction type. These findings suggest that recent models of the effects of sanctions on the exchange rate do not just match developments in today's specific Russia episode but have broader applicability. It follows that the direction of exchange rate movements is not an adequate metric of the success or failure of sanctions but a reflection of the type and scale of the measures taken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently trade sanctions are drastically affecting world commerce, economies, industries, companies, and potentially the well-being of individuals around the world. Even global peace is threatened by the growing frictions among major countries. The question we explore is how politically motivated economic sanctions affect commercial interactions within targeted countries. We focus on the case of American economic sanctions of the last half century. To the task we apply findings regarding negotiation processes and outcomes between more than 1200 experienced businesspeople in twenty-one cultural regions and countries around the world. Economic outcomes in intracultural buyer-seller negotiation simulations were found to be lower in the six cultural regions on which the United States has applied broadly comprehensive sanctions. We conclude that this “hidden” damage done can hurt international cooperation well beyond the period of the sanctions. The scope and relevance of the work is very broad, connecting concepts and theories from political science, economics, trade, anthropology, marketing science, negotiation, and, of course, business ethics. Our findings are useful for theorists, policy makers and managers of firms considering market entry to recently sanctioned countries. Specific guidance for amelioration of the negative and largely unintended consequences of sanctions on target countries are provided.

When most people hear the word "sanctions," they think of formal economic and political punishments leveled at rogue regimes, like the US trade embargo against Iran, or the threatened expulsion of Hungary from the European Union. Both kinds of sanctions have been leveled against Russia since its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. But the past eight months have also brought a different sanctions strategy to the fore: one aimed at stigmatizing the individuals close to Putin's regime, in hopes of shattering elite support and encouraging revolt. These sanctions, which have led to the freezing and seizure of Russian oligarchs' assets in the West, have prompted the first murmurs of public dissent by Russian oligarchs in nearly two decades. The sanctions have consequently been effective in destabilizing Putin's authority, cracking the façade of control that has previously deterred attempts to topple him. This article explains the sociological dynamics of this strategy, and how stigma can be effective even where legal and economic punishments fail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial from the journal "La Granja, de Ciencias de la Vida" discussing the concept of sustainability and its importance in global development. The editorial highlights the need for a balance between economic, social, and environmental factors in order to achieve sustainable development. It also acknowledges the challenges faced in implementing sustainable practices, particularly in organizations that rely on the exploitation of the environment. The document concludes by introducing several scientific articles that explore different aspects of sustainable development. Another editorial from the same journal briefly mentions a study on the positive effects of regulations on eco-innovation and sustainable performance in the automotive manufacturing industry in Mexico. The editorial also highlights other articles in the journal, including research on glaciers in the Andes, landslide susceptibility analysis, bovine mastitis, and beneficial bacteria for maize cultivation. The editorial emphasizes the importance of scientific research and the role of journals in disseminating knowledge. [Extracted from the article]

The lower Colorado River has experienced extensive loss of riparian vegetation due to dams and other human activity. Sigmodon arizonae plenus (Colorado River cotton rat) is an isolated subspecies that only occurs along the lower Colorado River. The habitat and population demographics of S. a. plenus were quantified using a capture–mark–recapture technique. Permanent trapping grids were established at three sites with Colorado River cotton rats present, which included the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve, CA, Cibola Nature Trail, AZ, and Pintail Slough, AZ. Habitat was quantified horizontally and vertically within 1 m3 surrounding every trap station 4 times across 2 years. Individual recapture histories were used to model the survival, capture probability, and population size of Colorado River cotton rats over 5 trapping occasions spanning 4 years. Program Mark was used to model population demographic parameters using the Robust model. Population sizes (as estimated by capture–mark–recapture methods) were highly variable within and among the three sites. The Palo Verde Ecological Reserve population initially increased then decreased in size. The Cibola Nature Trail population began large and decreased overtime. At the beginning of the study, 20 individuals occupied Pintail Slough. No Colorado River cotton rats were captured at Pintail during the last occasion. We documented site differences in vegetation composition and cover; however, no statistical differences within site use were revealed. In general, the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve had the highest vertical cover estimates, followed by the Cibola Nature Trail and Pintail Slough. Reasonable estimates for demographic data were not possible for most occasions because of a steady drop in trap success throughout the study. The limitations of these data are discussed, along with their utility in restoration efforts. La parte baja del río Colorado ha experimentado una gran pérdida de vegetación ribereña debido a las represas y otras actividades humanas. Sigmodon arizonae plenus (rata de algodón del río Colorado) es una subespecie aislada que solo se encuentra a lo largo de la parte baja del río Colorado. El hábitat y demografía de la población de S. a. plenus se cuantificaron utilizando una técnica de captura–marca–recaptura a lo largo de la parte inferior del Río Colorado. Se establecieron trampas de captura permanentes en tres sitios. El hábitat se cuantificó horizontal y verticalmente dentro de 1 metro cúbico rodeando cada estación de trampa 4 veces a lo largo de 2 años. Se utilizaron historias de recaptura individuales para modelar la supervivencia, la probabilidad de captura y el tamanó de la población de ratas algodoneras del Río Colorado en cinco ocasiones de captura que abarcan 4 años. Se utilizó el Programa Mark para modelar los parámetros demográficos de población utilizando un modelo Robusto. Los tamaños de población (estimados por métodos de captura–marca–recaptura) fueron muy variables dentro y entre los tres sitios. La población de la Reserva Ecológica Palo Verde inicialmente aumentó y luego disminuyó en tamaño. La población de Cibola Nature Trail comenzó a crecer y disminuyó con el tiempo. Al inicio del estudio, 20 individuos ocuparon el sitio de Pintail. No se capturaron ratas algodoneras del Río Colorado en Pintail durante la última ocasión. Documentamos las diferencias del sitio en la composición y cobertura de la vegetación; sin embargo, no se revelaron diferencias estadísticas dentro del uso del sitio. En general, la Reserva Ecológica Palo Verde Ecological tuvo las estimaciones de cobertura vertical más altas, seguidas por Cibola Nature Trail y Pintail. Las estimaciones razonables de los datos demográficos no fueron posibles en la mayoría de las ocasiones debido a una caída constante en el éxito de las trampas a lo largo del estudio. Se discuten las limitaciones de estos datos, junto con su utilidad en los esfuerzos de restauración. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitoses can destroy Apis mellifera hives. Bee biology and physiology determine distribution and abundance of their parasites; however, geographic and environmental factors constrain the frequency and intensity of interaction. This census evaluated the occurrence of Varroa destructor and Nosema spp. in temperate and semiarid ecoregions at Michoacán. Samples were collected from 54 hives from the temperate ecoregion and 50 from the semiarid ecoregion. Varroa destructor was in 18.5% of colonies in the temperate ecoregion, with average infestation of 0.5% and was in 94% in the semiarid ecoregion, average of 5.0%. Nosema spp. was in 43.4% of colonies at the temperate ecoregion, with an average of 24,383,019 spores per bee, and 19.1% of colonies at the semiarid ecoregion with an average of 433,333.33 spores per bee. V. destructor was more in the semiarid ecoregion. Nosema spp. was more in the temperate ecoregion, an inverse pattern of infestation. Los parásitos pueden destruir las colmenas de Apis mellifera. La biología y fisiología de la abeja determina la distribución y abundancia de sus parásitos; sin embargo los factores geográficos y ambientales limitan la frecuencia e intensidad de la interacción. Este censo evaluó la ocurrencia de Varroa destructor y Nosema spp. en ecorregiones templadas y semiáridas de Michoacán. Las muestras fueron colectadas de 54 colmenas en la ecorregión templada y de 50 en la ecorregión semiárida. Varroa destructor estuvo en 18.5% de las colonias en la ecorregión templada, con un promedio de infestación de 0.5% y de 94% en la ecorregión semiárida, con un promedio de 5.0%. Nosema spp. fue de 43.4% de las colonias en la ecorregión templada, con un promedio de 24,383,019 esporas por abeja, y 19.1% de colonias en la ecorregión semiárida con un promedio de 433,333.33 esporas por abeja. V. destructor fue mayor en la ecorregión semiárida. Nosema spp. fue mayor en la ecorregión templada, un patrón inverso de infestación. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

History shows that wars can be enormously disruptive of economic activity, especially international trade, national income, and global economic welfare. This article analyzes the impact on the European regions the Russian invasion of Ukraine using the largest and most updated multiregional input‐output model for Europe. Two shocks, trade and inflation, and four alternative scenarios are simulated. The scenarios are considered regarding the number of countries applying a trade embargo, the exemption of oil and gas, and the potential trade diversions with third countries such as China. We obtained a significant fall in GDP (−1.7%), 3.7 m lost jobs and 3% raise over the prewar inflation rate. For trade shock, large indirect effects are obtained, indicating the high relevance of the sectors and countries exposed to the war and the sanctions. The republics of the former Soviet Union, as well as the satellite countries of the former communism, face the harshest adverse impacts. This work shows the importance of breaking Russia's colonial economic ties to the countries in Eastern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is a review of the book "Bailando con moscas" by Antonio Fontdevila Vivanco. Fontdevila is a renowned geneticist and evolutionary biologist who has focused on studying the evolution of cactophilic species of the Drosophila genus. The book, published by Editorial Menoscuarto, consists of 10 chapters and an epilogue, covering topics such as the author's scientific career, his travels to collect samples of flies, and the importance of Drosophila as a model species. The reviewer praises the book for its engaging and informative content, which includes descriptions of the author's scientific and personal experiences during his expeditions. The reviewer recommends the book to both scientists and the general public. [Extracted from the article]

In Israel, Long-eared Owls (Asio otus) were considered primarily a wintering species with documented sporadic breeding. However, by the turn of the last century, it had become an increasingly numerous breeding species in the northern and central parts of the country. Based on the analysis of nest numbers in the Judea region, we determined that the population increased by at least 22% each year between 2003 and 2008, from 28 known nests in 2003 to 118 in 2008. We believe our study was conducted during the initial years for the Long-eared Owl population expansion in the region. We found that birds nesting in more-urban areas produced fewer offspring per brood than birds in more rural areas. We also found that nestlings from more-urban areas, exposed to artificial light at night, fledged earlier than birds from wild areas. The rapid growth in the numbers of nesting Long-eared Owls in the Judea region was likely due, at least in part, to the species' adaptation to urban areas. En Israel, Asio otus fue consideraba principalmente como una especie migratoria invernal, con registros esporádicos de reproducción. Sin embargo, a partir del siglo 21, se convirtió en una especie reproductora cada vez más numerosa en en norte y centro del país. Basándonos en el análisis de números de nidos en la región de Judea, determinamos que la población aumentó al menos un 22% cada año entre 2003 y 2008, pasando de 28 nidos conocidos en 2003 a 118 en 2008. Creemos que nuestro estudio se llevó a cabo durante los primeros años de la expansión de la población de A. otus en la región. Descubrimos que las aves que anidaban en áreas más urbanas produjeron menos crías por nidada que las aves en áreas más rurales. También encontramos que los polluelos de áreas más urbanas, expuestos a la luz artificial por la noche, emplumaban antes que las aves de áreas silvestres. El rápido crecimiento en el número de individuos de A. otus que anidaban en la región de Judea probablemente se debió, al menos en parte, a la adaptación de la especie a áreas urbanas. [Traducción del equipo editorial] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of arms embargoes on the economic performance of major international defense companies. The direction of this effect is not immediately clear as it relies on the embargo evading opportunities by exporting companies on the one hand and the stringency of enforcement by the sending state on the other. The main findings in this study indicate that the total revenues of a defense company significantly drop after the introduction of an arms embargo. As a result, the net profits of these companies are under downward pressure when the number of arms embargoes increases globally. It turns out that the ability of a firm to effectively mitigate the negative consequences of an embargo is both related to firm-specific particularities, such as the degree of diversification, as well as, country differences. For instance, the negative effect appears, in particular, to be present in countries with a strong rule of law or effective control of corruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document contains four abstracts from the PM & R: Journal of Injury, Function & Rehabilitation. The first abstract discusses the use of electromyography with needle (EMG) as a complementary tool to improve the accuracy of manual muscle testing (PMM) in determining muscle grades 0 and 1. The second abstract explores the impact of physical and occupational therapy in intensive care units (ICUs) on patient mobility, self-care, and hospital stay duration. The third abstract examines the functional outcomes of patients who receive combined rehabilitation in a hospital-based rehabilitation center and a specialized nursing facility. The fourth abstract identifies risk factors for readmission to intensive care units for patients with amputations after hospital-based rehabilitation. According to the results of this study, specific rehabilitation plans may be required for amputee patients with certain risk factors to reduce rehospitalization in the intensive care unit. The study examined gender differences in prosthetic-related outcomes among veterans with lower extremity amputations. Contrary to the hypothesis, there were no statistically significant gender differences in satisfaction with prosthetic services, prosthetic fit, satisfaction with prosthetics, daily prosthetic use, or type of amputation. The study suggests that minimal differences may be due in part to receiving care from the integrated Amputation Care System. [Extracted from the article]

Despite the frequent use of economic sanctions by states, there are insufficient analyses of the collateral effects of these measures on target states. Under the sanctions, targeted leaders who pursue the longevity of their regimes adjust domestic policies to mitigate the costs associated with sanctions. Specifically, this article analyzes the effects of sanctions on capital account liberalization in target states. Economic sanctions trigger changes in the capital account openness of target states. However, the direction of the reform is dependent on the political institutions in target states, which characterize the behavioral incentive structure of the leaders. Specifically, economic sanctions lower capital account openness, albeit only in autocracies. Democracies, which are sensitive to the benefits of capital account openness, are less likely to tighten the restrictions. Instead, they are likely to open their markets. I employ the two-way fixed approach to test my argument, using time-series cross-sectional data spanning 145 countries for the period 1965–2005. In this regard, I find evidence in favor of my argument, with the findings suggesting the indirect impact of economic sanctions on target states' financial policies on which the decisions are primarily driven by the political incentives of the targeted leaders. A pesar del uso frecuente de las sanciones económicas por parte de los Estados, no existen suficientes análisis acerca de los efectos colaterales que tienen estas medidas en los Estados de destino. En virtud de las sanciones, los líderes de los Estados de destino de estas sanciones, que tienen como objetivo la longevidad de sus regímenes, ajustan sus políticas nacionales con el fin de mitigar los costes asociados a las sanciones. En concreto, en este artículo se analizan los efectos que tienen las sanciones sobre la liberalización de la cuenta de capital en los Estados de destino. Las sanciones económicas provocan cambios en la transparencia de la cuenta de capital de los Estados de destino. Sin embargo, la dirección de las reformas depende de las instituciones políticas de los Estados de destino, las cuales caracterizan la estructura de incentivos conductuales de los líderes. De manera más concreta, las sanciones económicas reducen la transparencia de la cuenta de capital, aunque solo en las autocracias. Las democracias, que son sensibles a los beneficios de la transparencia de la cuenta de capital, son menos propensas a endurecer las restricciones. En cambio, es probable que abran sus mercados. Utilizamos el enfoque fijo bidireccional con el fin de demostrar nuestro razonamiento, mediante el uso de datos transversales de series temporales que abarcan 145 países durante el período entre 1965 y 2005. A este respecto, encontramos evidencias que apoyan nuestro razonamiento, ya que las conclusiones sugieren el impacto indirecto que tienen las sanciones económicas sobre las políticas financieras de los Estados de destino, cuyas decisiones están impulsadas principalmente por los incentivos políticos de los líderes del Estado de destino. Malgré la fréquence de l'utilisation des sanctions économiques par les États, les analyses des effets collatéraux de ces mesures sur les États cibles restent insuffisantes. Les dirigeants ciblés qui souhaitent assurer la longévité de leur régime ajustent les politiques nationales pour atténuer les coûts associés aux sanctions auxquelles ils sont soumis. Plus précisément, cet article analyse les effets des sanctions sur la libéralisation du compte de capital dans les États cibles. Les sanctions économiques déclenchent des modifications dans l'ouverture de celui-ci. Cependant, l'orientation de la réforme dépend des institutions politiques des États cibles, qui caractérisent la structure d'incitations comportementales des dirigeants. Plus précisément, les sanctions économiques réduisent l'ouverture du compte de capital, quoique seulement dans les autocraties. Les démocraties, plus sensibles aux avantages de l'ouverture du compte de capital, accentueront moins souvent les restrictions. Elles auront plutôt tendance à ouvrir leur marché. J'utilise une approche d'effets fixes bilatéraux pour évaluer mon argument, à l'aide de données chronologiques transversales couvrant 145 pays entre 1965 et 2005. À cet égard, je trouve des éléments pour étayer mon argument : les conclusions indiquent la présence de conséquences indirectes des sanctions économiques sur les politiques financières des États cibles. Les décisions concernant ces dernières se fondent principalement sur des incitations politiques des dirigeants ciblés. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large service-delivery international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) help shape the lives of millions worldwide, contributing significantly to the betterment of global health, development, education, and more. However, these organizations operate on limited financial resources and must deliver services on-the-ground, requiring them to make calculated decisions about their location strategies for operations. Although these INGOs should aim to maximize their efforts by operating in countries with the greatest need, sometimes they may face challenges from political conditions in these environments. Do safety expectations in countries affect the assistance allocation decisions of large service delivery INGOs? We explore this question using new data on the location and operational-intensity of country-level projects across 90 of the largest service delivery INGOs worldwide between 1990 and 2015. We find that these INGOs do send greater operational resources to countries demonstrating need and that INGOs are not necessarily afraid to operate in countries with safety risks. However, large INGOs do send far fewer service operations to autocracies, suggesting that political factors affect their location strategies as well. Las grandes organizaciones no gubernamentales internacionales (ONGI) de prestación de servicios ayudan a dar forma a la vida de millones de personas en todo el mundo, contribuyendo significativamente a la mejoría de la salud mundial, al desarrollo y a la educación, entre otras muchas cosas. Sin embargo, estas organizaciones operan con recursos financieros limitados y tienen que prestar sus servicios sobre el terreno, lo que les obliga a tomar decisiones calculadas sobre sus estrategias de ubicación para las operaciones. Aunque, en teoría, estas ONGI deberían tratar de maximizar sus esfuerzos operando en los países que tienen unas mayores necesidades, a veces las ONGI pueden tener que enfrentarse a ciertos desafíos debido a las condiciones políticas existentes en estos entornos. ¿Afectan las expectativas de seguridad de los países a las decisiones de asignación de asistencia por parte de las grandes ONGI de prestación de servicios? Estudiamos esta cuestión utilizando nuevos datos acerca de la ubicación y de la intensidad operativa de los proyectos a nivel de país en las 90 ONGI de prestación de servicios más grandes del mundo entre 1990 y 2015. Encontramos que estas ONGI envían mayores recursos operativos a los países que demuestran una mayor necesidad y que las ONGI no necesariamente tienen miedo a operar en países con riesgos de seguridad. Sin embargo, las grandes ONGI envían muchas menos operaciones de servicio a las autocracias, lo que sugiere que los factores políticos también afectan sus estrategias de localización. Les grandes organisations non gouvernementales internationales (ONGI) qui fournissent des services ont une incidence sur la vie de millions de personnes dans le monde entier, notamment en contribuant considérablement à l'amélioration de la santé, du développement et de l'éducation à l'échelle mondiale. Néanmoins, ces organisations fonctionnent à partir de ressources financières limitées et doivent fournir des services sur le terrain. Elles doivent donc prendre des décisions réfléchies quant à leur stratégie d'emplacement pour leurs opérations. Bien que ces ONGI devraient souhaiter optimiser leurs efforts en concentrant leurs activités dans les pays où les besoins sont les plus importants, elles peuvent parfois se retrouver confrontées à des défis issus des conditions politiques de ces environnements. Les attentes en matière de sécurité dans les pays ont-elles une incidence sur les décisions d'attribution d'aides des grandes ONGI qui fournissent des services ? Nous examinons cette question à l'aide de nouvelles données sur l'emplacement et l'intensité des activités dans les projets au niveau national chez 90 des plus grandes ONGI qui fournissent des services dans le monde entier entre 1990 et 2015. Nous observons que ces ONGI envoient bel et bien plus de ressources opérationnelles dans les pays qui démontrent un besoin et qu'elles n'ont pas particulièrement peur d'aller dans les pays où il existe des menaces pour la sécurité. Néanmoins, les grandes ONGI lancent bien moins d'opérations de fourniture de services dans les autocraties, ce qui suggère que les facteurs politiques influencent aussi leurs stratégies de choix d'emplacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing studies show that the deployment of a peacekeeping operation (PKO) can provide an economic boost to the host state and its population. Some of those studies also suggest that such a boost is unsustainable and that peacekeeping exit may trigger economic downturn within host states. If that is the case, however, do some locals feel the adverse economic effects of PKO exit more than others? In this article, we argue that individuals who come to directly or indirectly depend on economic opportunities that emerge following the deployment of peacekeepers are particularly likely to experience negative economic effects after PKO exit. However, those effects may be partly mitigated through individuals' economic actions and/or their access to new sources of outside support after the exit of peacekeepers. We test our argument on original data gathered through a large-scale household survey of Monrovia, Liberia, conducted in early 2020. We also draw on qualitative interview data. After noting an overall downturn in Liberia's economy after 2018 (when the UN Mission in Liberia closed), we find broad support for our claims in the survey data, albeit qualified by nuances in a secondary, disaggregated analysis. We conclude by highlighting implications of our study for the planning and management of peacekeeping withdrawal. Los estudios existentes demuestran que el despliegue de una operación de mantenimiento de la paz (OMP) puede proporcionar un impulso económico al Estado receptor y a su población. Algunos de esos estudios también sugieren que ese impulso resulta insostenible y que la finalización de las operaciones de mantenimiento de la paz puede llegar a desencadenar una recesión económica en los Estados receptores. Sin embargo, si ese es el caso, ¿existen algunos ciudadanos que noten en mayor medida los efectos económicos adversos derivados de la finalización de una OMP con relación al resto de la población? En este artículo, argumentamos que las personas que llegan a depender directa o indirectamente de las oportunidades económicas que surgen tras el despliegue del personal de mantenimiento de la paz tienen una mayor probabilidad de experimentar efectos económicos negativos después de la finalización de una OMP. Sin embargo, esos efectos pueden mitigarse, en parte, mediante las medidas económicas adoptadas por los ciudadanos y/o su acceso a nuevas fuentes de apoyo externo después de la partida del personal de mantenimiento de la paz. Ponemos a prueba nuestro argumento usando datos originales, que fueron recopilados a través de una encuesta realizada a gran escala en hogares de Monrovia, Liberia, a principios de 2020. También, nos basamos en datos cualitativos obtenidos de entrevistas. Observamos una desaceleración general de la economía de Liberia después de 2018 (cuando se cerró la Misión de las Naciones Unidas en Liberia), la cual proporciona un amplio apoyo a nuestras afirmaciones en los datos de la encuesta. Sin embargo, encontramos matices para este apoyo al realizar un análisis secundario y desagregado. Concluimos destacando las consecuencias que tiene nuestro estudio para la planificación y la gestión de la retirada de las operaciones de mantenimiento de la paz. Des études existantes montrent que le déploiement d'opérations de maintien de la paix (OMP) peut stimuler l'État hôte et sa population sur le plan économique. Certaines d'entre elles suggèrent que cet effet n'est pas durable et que la fin de l'OMP peut avoir des effets négatifs sur l'économie des États hôtes. Néanmoins, si tel est le cas, certains résidents ressentent-ils ces effets plus que d'autres? Dans cet article, nous affirmons que les personnes qui finissent par dépendre directement ou indirectement des opportunités économiques créées par le déploiement de l'OMP auront plus de chances de ressentir des effets économiques négatifs quand cette opération prend fin. Toutefois, ces effets peuvent être atténués en partie par les actions économiques individuelles et/ou l'accès à de nouvelles ressources d'aide extérieure après la fin de l'OMP. Nous évaluons notre argument grâce à des données inédites collectées à l'aide d'un sondage de grande échelle auprès de particuliers de Monrovia, au Libéria, mené au début de l'année 2020. Nous nous fondons également sur des données qualitatives d'entretiens. Nous notons une récession généralisée au Libéria après 2018 (quand la mission de l'ONU au Libéria a pris fin), puis nous trouvons nombre d'éléments pour venir étayer nos arguments dans les données de sondage, malgré qu'ils soient nuancés par une analyse ventilée secondaire. En conclusion, nous soulignons les implications de notre étude pour la planification et l'organisation de la fin des OMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se presenta un editorial que discute sobre la celebración de su edición número 50, destacando su pluralidad y contribución a la disciplina iberoamericana. Se destaca también eventos económicos y sociales relevantes, como la recesión de 2008 y la pandemia de COVID-19. También explora temas contemporáneos como cambio climático, corrupción y desafíos democráticos, así como hitos históricos como el bicentenario del Trienio Liberal en España.

Resumen: A pesar de su importancia ecológica y económica, en Chile se desconocen muchos aspectos de la ecología de los murciélagos y de su distribución. Esta situación no permite una correcta implementación de los esfuerzos de conservación aún cuando son legalmente reconocidos por sus beneficios para la agricultura. En este trabajo estudiamos la actividad y la comunidad de murciélagos en dos tipos de paisaje agrícola (homogéneo vs. heterogéneo) en un hotspot de biodiversidad en el centro‐sur de Chile. Para ello, monitoreamos cuatro transectos de 10 km en cada tipo de paisaje, con 10 puntos de escucha separados por 1 km. Estos transectos se repitieron 5 veces, una vez al mes. Evaluamos la actividad de los murciélagos según el tipo de cobertura forestal (nativa, mixta y plantaciones) y la densidad de árboles aislados. Nuestros resultados mostraron que el paisaje heterogéneo fue dominado por Tadarida brasiliensis mientras que el paisaje homogéneo fue dominado por Lasiurus spp. Sin embargo, sólo la especie T. brasiliensis fue afectada por el tipo de paisaje. En el paisaje heterogéneo, sólo las variables de cobertura forestal tuvieron un impacto significativo en la actividad de las especies de murciélagos, donde Lasiurus spp. y Myotis chiloensis tuvieron una respuesta positiva para bosque nativo y mixto, así como Lasiurus spp. tuvo una respuesta negativa para plantaciones. La densidad de árboles aislados tuvo un efecto negativo sobre la actividad de T. brasiliensis y Lasiurus spp. en el tipo de paisaje homogéneo. Nuestros resultados muestran la importancia de considerar los elementos forestales en el paisaje agroforestal para conservar las comunidades de murciélagos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resumen: Los bosques subantárticos de las montañas fueguinas son consideradas una de las pocas áreas silvestres que quedan en el planeta; sin embargo, las perturbaciones humanas como incendios forestales, especies exóticas, etc. agravan su degradación. En 2012, se inició un incendio de origen humano en una remota zona de bosque y montaña, y dos años después comenzó un proyecto de reforestación para restaurar el dosel natural. Los renovales de la especie nativa de árbol Nothofagus se obtuvieron de zonas no perturbadas utilizando el método de raíz desnuda. En este estudio se evaluó la influencia de (1) los macroambientes (considerando la topografía natural y la fisonomía de la vegetación) y microambientes (topografía, cobertura del dosel, sustrato y cobertura del sotobosque) afectados por el fuego; y (2) el tamaño de extracción de los renovales (tamaño inicial), sobre la supervivencia y el crecimiento de los renovales plantados, a lo largo de 5 años. La supervivencia total de los renovales fue del 41,4%, con una tasa media de crecimiento de 8,46 cm año−1. La supervivencia y el crecimiento fueron influenciados por las variables estudiadas. A nivel de macroambiente, los renovales mostraron mayor éxito en zonas bien drenadas, mientras que a nivel de microambiente los renovales mostraron mejor desempeño en los que contribuyen a retener la humedad del suelo y evitar la evapotranspiración. Concluimos que las características ambientales influyen diferencialmente dependiendo de la escala de análisis. Para restaurar bosques templados quemados aplicando el método de repique directo a raíz desnuda, recomendamos utilizar renovales de Nothofagus de <40 cm de altura para obtener mejores resultados. En este sentido, demostramos la eficacia del método ya que se obtuvieron resultados comparables en otras experiencias de restauración. Este método también puede ser aplicado en áreas sin material de vivero y cuando la biología de las plantas sea apropiada, por ejemplo, el crecimiento superficial de los sistemas radiculares, la formación de bancos naturales de plántulas de árboles, etc. Este trabajo representa una de las pocas experiencias de restauración a medio plazo reportadas para los bosques más australes del planeta: nuestros hallazgos podrían ser aplicados en otras experiencias de reforestación, logrando mejoras notables en el proceso de recuperación. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resumen: La rentabilidad es uno de los factores que más influye en la selección de presas. Este factor varía en función del tamaño de la presa y del tiempo de manipulación. Por lo tanto, generalmente las presas grandes son altamente rentables para los consumidores e intensifican la competencia. El cleptoparasitismo es una forma de competencia en la que un individuo roba alimento previamente obtenido por otro individuo. En consecuencia, la manipulación de presas grandes debería aumentar la probabilidad de ocurrencia de cleptoparasitismo, sin embargo, estas relaciones siguen siendo poco conocidas. En este trabajo estudiamos la ocurrencia de cleptoparasitismo de la Gaviota Cáhuil (Chroicocephalus maculipennis – Laridae) sobre Zarapitos (Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus – Scolopacidae) que se alimentan de chanchitos de mar (Emerita analoga) en una playa arenosa expuesta al oleaje en el sur de Chile. Los modelos lineales generalizados, ajustados a los datos de video secuencias focales‐individuales, mostraron que la probabilidad de cleptoparasitismo tuvo una respuesta sigmoidal positiva al tiempo de manipulación. Además, con un aumento de un segundo en el tiempo de manipulación, los Zarapitos duplicaron su probabilidad de ser cleptoparasitados. Además, la probabilidad de ser cleptoparasitado fue un 17% más alta con un aumento de 10 mm en la longitud de la presa y un 47% más alta con un aumento de una gaviota por hospedador. Sin embargo, el efecto del tiempo de manipulación sobre la probabilidad de cleptoparasitismo disminuyó ligeramente (2%) con un aumento de 10 mm en la clase de tamaño de la presa. Nuestros resultados sugieren la existencia de un umbral de tiempo en el que los consumidores pueden manipular a sus presas antes de que la probabilidad de cleptoparasitismo sea demasiado alta. Sin embargo, la tasa media de ingesta de los zarapitos alcanzó 0,15 ± 0,13 kJ s−1, permitiendo que los zarapitos cumplan, en teoría, con sus requerimientos energéticos a pesar de perder algunas presas a causa de los cleptoparásitos. Este estudio proporciona una nueva visión sobre una forma común de competencia entre consumidores, destacando la importancia del tiempo de manipulación de presas para las aves playeras con un tiempo de alimentación restringido a causa de los ciclos de marea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an interview with Dr. Michiko Tanaka, a prominent academic specializing in the study of Japan in Latin America and the Caribbean. Dr. Tanaka discusses the lack of academic resources on Japan in Spanish and English when she began teaching in Mexico in 1973. However, there has been an increase in academic interest and production in Latin America due to Japan's growing global presence and the popularity of Japanese popular culture. Dr. Tanaka emphasizes the importance of collaboration and exchange between Mexico, Japan, and other countries in the region. The interview concludes with Dr. Tanaka recognizing the achievements of researchers at El Colegio de México and the ongoing need for resources and support for young scholars. The text also discusses the complex and diverse reality of Latin America and the Caribbean, cautioning against generalizations about the region. It suggests that researchers should focus on increasing access to accurate and real-time information about political and economic realities, as well as exploring various aspects of Japanese culture and society. The text also highlights significant political, social, and cultural factors influencing contemporary Japan, including its dependence on the United States, corruption scandals, and challenges related to security and potential global power reconfiguration. It concludes by noting that Japan is currently facing a period of scandals and crises. [Extracted from the article]

Ahead of the Russia-Ukraine war, global natural gas production in 2021 rose nearly 5 percent to a record 4.04 trillion cubic meters. In 2021, Russian natural gas exports were 202 billion cubic meters of pipeline gas and 39.6 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas (LNG). [Russia Struggles to Make Up for Europe's Gap in Natural Gas Exports. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/russia-struggles-to-make-up-for-europes-gap-in-natural-gas- exports/2717651]. Because of the war in Ukraine, Russia stopped exporting essential volumes of natural gas to Europe, which used to account for 40 percent of the EU's supply, causing gas prices in Europe to rise. Georgia, with its strategic location on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, has the potential to create a liquefied natural gas (LNG) hub for transporting gas to European markets bypassing Russia -- using existing port facilities in Anaklia, Poti, Batumi, Kulevi (owned by Sokar BST LLC); Recent developments show the Russian government's interest in the idea of a Turkish gas hub. At the end of September 2022, two days after the explosion of the "North Stream 1 and 2" gas pipelines on the bottom of the Baltic Sea, Presidents R.-T. Erdogan and Vladimir Putin agreed to add two more new gas pipelines along the TurkStream pipeline, which is apparently a rival project to the EU's Southern Gas Corridor (SGC). The SGC goes through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey to the Balkans, and the TurkStream pipeline from Russia through the Black Sea and Turkey enters in the same region of Europe, where the European SGC also goes -- namely, South-Eastern Europe. Natural gas has recently become one of the main types of fuel since the 70s of the last century. At the beginning of this century, about 88-90% of natural gas was supplied to consumers by pipelines, long-term economic contracts, and the rest by tankers, in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Global LNG imports in 2021, according to the report of the International Group of LNG Importers (GIIGNL), increased by 4.5% compared to the previous year and reached 513.7 billion cubic meters (372.3 million tons). The Group's research notes that in 2021, LNG will already account for approximately 40% of the global gas market, with the rest coming from gas pipelines. In 2021, about 73% (375 billion cubic meters, or 271.8 million tons) of LNG was imported by Asian countries. In addition, only 36.6% of the world's LNG volume was sold on the spot market, i.e. in small lots -- the rest was sold through long-term contracts, thereby neglecting the market mechanism of free price formation. Due to the Russia-Ukraine war, gas supplies to the EU through Gazprom pipelines have been almost completely cut off since the beginning of 2023, and Brussels is desperately looking for alternative routes. For the first time, the idea of such an alternative in the form of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline was put forward by then US President Bill Clinton in 1996. However, due to the uncertainty of the status of the Caspian Sea -- the lack of delimitation of its shelf boundaries, the conflicting position of Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan, etc., this project was not implemented. Now Russia tries to use old Russia-Azrbaijan gas pipeline to connect his gas with EU SGC pipelines. Georgian government suggested in late 2022 to use his black sea Anaklia or Kulevi ports for constraction of LNG terminals and export the LNG tankers with Azeri (and Russian ?!) gas to the Balkan ports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]