Hasil untuk "Social legislation"

Vitalii V. Zіanko, Tetiana D. Nechyporenko

Key concepts in the field of innovative research were systematized, and the author’s definition of innovation was formulated as the result of the materialization of an innovative idea into a specific tangible form, characterized by new consumer qualities, the implementation of which involves changing established methods of activity to achieve economic, social, environmental, or other effects. This approach expands the traditional understanding of the concept and allows for a more accurate assessment of innovation activity as a complex, dynamic system of actions and interactions among numerous participants in the innovation process, who conduct research and create various types of innovations. It also enables the development of effective tools to support innovation. Empirical data indicate that the financial regulation system of the innovation sector, which brings together both state and private institutions, serves as an effective catalyst for the quantitative growth of innovative projects and the enhancement of their quality. Through financial instruments such as budgetary funding, tax incentives, loans, and investment programs, state institutions contribute to the rapid commercialization of innovative projects and ensure the sustainable development of the economic ecosystem. Private institutions provide a wide range of support for the development of innovative projects. A set of interrelated factors influencing the effectiveness of financial regulation of the innovation process has been identified, allowing for the assessment of its direction and the selection of management methods that are appropriate to the specifics of the innovation process and the type of innovation. Based on this, a model of financial regulation for innovative activity is proposed, featuring a clearly defined hierarchical structure that includes the following key components: goal and objective setting, strategy development, selection of financial stimulation tools, and monitoring of their effectiveness. This approach ensures the systematic and efficient financial regulation of innovations. The analysis of international rankings (GII, IPO, GSEI) indicates that Ukraine has the potential for innovative development. However, the current financial support mechanisms do not ensure adequate access to funding for innovative projects. According to the Global Innovation Index, Ukraine significantly lags behind European countries due to imperfect legislation, insufficient funding for scientific research, and a weak innovation infrastructure. A set of interconnected issues has been identified that pose major obstacles to national innovation development. These include inadequate funding for science, ineffective state innovation policy, an underdeveloped venture capital market, an unfavorable tax environment, and weak intellectual property protection. To enhance Ukraine’s innovative potential and strengthen its position in the global market, a number of strategic recommendations are proposed. These include increasing investment in scientific research, optimizing financial mechanisms, creating a favorable business environment, stimulating the commercialization of innovations, and promoting international cooperation. The implementation of these measures will improve the efficiency of budgetary spending, optimize the regulatory environment, and intensify technology transfer. Ultimately, this will drive the country’s sustainable economic development and contribute to improving its global market position.

Peter McCulloch, April Shaw, Gail Gilchrist et al.

Background The barriers and facilitators to engagement with Opiate Substitute Treatment and Needle and Syringe Provision need to be better understood to develop interventions to attract people into services. Objective(s) We conducted a multi-method realist evaluation to generate an in-depth theory of the factors that influence the optimal provision of services in terms of access, engagement, retention and successful exit. Design Multi-method involving an online survey of United Kingdom drug and alcohol service commissioning leads and a meta-synthesis of qualitative literature (phase 1) to facilitate the development of an initial theory of optimal provision; and, in phase 2, a realist evaluation to test and refine the initial theory, involving in-depth interviews across three United Kingdom sites, with service commissioners, managers, staff and service users. We used routine treatment and staffing data to estimate the additional staff costs of implementing optimal service provision within one context of our refined theory. Results Findings indicated that optimal provision could be understood with reference to five main contexts [(1) agency and empowerment, (2) self-esteem and respect, (3) knowledge and communication, (4) goals, needs and preferences and (5) resources and demands]. The analysis suggested that optimal provision could be facilitated via specific mechanisms of action, operating at the ‘Systems level’ (policy, legislation and funding) and ‘Service level’ (delivery of services, service pathways, staff roles and responsibilities and organisational culture). Our analysis also identified the potential importance of independent ‘mediating mechanisms’ (e.g. confidence, trust and self-efficacy) which can operate to increase the likelihood of successful service outcomes. A costing analysis estimated the costs associated with a smaller caseload for shared care workers and the implementation of a salary increment scheme at one of the study sites. Limitations The survey sample size limited generalisability. There was a limited number of United Kingdom studies within the meta-synthesis. The findings of the realist evaluation highlight that provision was not optimised in the observed sites, limiting examples of best practice. However, the conceptual theory of optimal provision can direct future research to facilitate the development and implementation of optimal policy and practice. Conclusions We have provided a rich understanding of the contexts, mechanisms and actions by which optimal delivery of Opiate Substitute Treatment and Needle and Syringe Provision services may increase the likelihood of successful service provision. A multiagency approach applying various mechanisms within the various contexts of optimal provision may need to be implemented to optimise the provision. Future work Future research should focus on the development of a multiple-system toolkit or intervention to help drug services to implement optimal provision. More research is also needed to assess, the barriers and facilitators, that vulnerable underserved population and people from minority ethnic groups may face, and the mechanisms to improve provision for these populations. Study registration This study is registered as PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020209646. Funding This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (NIHR award ref: NIHR129798) and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 29, No. 64. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information. Plain language summary The aim of the study was to explore and understand how services providing opiate substitution therapy and/or needle and syringe programmes can be improved. Specifically, the aim was to improve the services to ensure as many people as possible can access and engage with these services, be retained in these services and successfully leave services having achieved any desired outcomes (e.g. drug-free or ongoing support to achieve employment). Phase 1 of our study involved summarising all of the existing literature of qualitative studies in this area and conducting an online survey seeking the views of service managers around the United Kingdom. The findings of these research methods contributed to an initial theory of optimal service provision. In phase 2, we then conducted an in-depth consultation with a wide range of service users and staff in three study sites in the United Kingdom (two in England; one in Scotland) to test and refine the initial theory. Findings from our review of qualitative studies identified problems and deficits with service delivery. The results of our online survey gave some insight into the way in which services are currently being delivered. Data from our in-depth qualitative consultation were helpful towards understanding about the facilitators to optimal service delivery. Our refined theory of optimal provision could be understood around improving service provision in the contexts of agency and empowerment; self-esteem and respect; knowledge and communication; goals, needs and preferences; and resources and demands. In our costing analysis, we estimated the additional staff costs in one study site of facilitating characteristics of optimal service provision. Scientific summary Background Illicit drug use is an escalating problem in the UK, which now has one of the highest estimated populations of people who use drugs in Western Europe. Injecting drug use is associated with numerous health-related harms, including a high incidence of blood-borne virus infection, soft-tissue and skin infection, premature mortality from overdose, suicide and other causes of death. Two central elements of global, European and UK’s harm reduction approach in relation to illicit drug use are opiate substitution therapy (OST) and needle and syringe programmes (NSPs). Engagement and retention in OST is a recognised problem globally. To prevent and reduce further harms, it is imperative that different models of service provision are better understood to attract and retain more service users in harm reduction services. Objectives The overall aim of the study was to generate a theory of optimal service provision with in-depth knowledge of the contextual factors and the mechanisms that influence access, engagement, retention and exit of OST/NSP services. We conducted a multi-method realist evaluation (RE) over two phases to meet four study objectives. Phase 1 Objective 1: To conduct a meta-synthesis (MS) of qualitative studies using systematic review methods to identify the barriers and facilitators that impact on the use of OST and NSP services. Objective 2: To conduct a UK-wide online survey of service commissioners to map current models of OST prescribing and practices to better understand current service provision/delivery. Phase 2 Objective 3: To undertake a qualitative RE using a case study approach to establish the contexts and mechanisms that impact on the use of OST and NSP provision in the UK. Objective 4: To estimate additional staff costs of implementing characteristics of ‘optimal’ OST provision identified by the qualitative RE in one study site. Methods Patient and public involvement took place throughout the study. Meta-synthesis methods We conducted a systematic review and MS of qualitative studies. A prior protocol was published: PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020209646; available from: www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020209646. A sensitive search strategy was developed and then run in multiple online research databases in January 2021: MEDLINE; Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature; British Nursing Index and Archive; Applied Social Science Index and Abstracts; Social Sciences Citation Index and PsycInfo® (American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, USA). In addition, the following grey literature sources were searched: OpenGrey and PsycEXTRA. Any primary or secondary qualitative studies conducted anywhere in the world that sought to understand the optimal provision of NSP and OST services from the perspectives of key stakeholders were included. Studies should have been seeking to understand issues regarding: Access, Engagement, Retention and Exits of OST and/or NSP. All included publications were subject to a global assessment of study quality. Drawing on methods proposed by Noblit and Hare, data synthesis was rigorous and multistaged. Online survey methods A cross-sectional online survey was sent to commissioners of OST and NSP services across the UK, including Northern Ireland. The survey was distributed in Spring 2021. A short survey instrument was developed to obtain information on which areas provide OST and NSP services, what the model of service provision is in relation to OST, how they are provided and additional questions about workforce composition and prescribing arrangements. Realist evaluation methods In-depth interviews were conducted with a range of key stakeholders. The target population were the following, sampled from three study sites (two in England and one in Scotland): (1) service users in contact with OST and/or NSP services; (2) service users out of contact with OST and/or NSP services; (3) core drug service managers; (4) core drug service staff; (5) non-core drug service staff and (6) Service commissioners. Study sites were selected purposively to reflect the diversity of models of OST and NSP provision, for example, to include sites that use various models of OST prescribing, including shared care with general practitioners, specialist medical models and pharmacy models. Individual interviews were aimed to be held with six key stakeholder groups (minimum total per study site n = 24): service users in regular contact (target = 8 per site); service users not in regular contact (target = 5 per site); core service managers (target = 3 per site); core service staff (target = 3 per site); non-core services staff (target = 3 per site) and service commissioners (target = 2 per site). All service users were interviewed face to face in a private consultation room at the core service. Some core service managers and staff and non-core drug service staff were also interviewed face to face in private consultation rooms within the core services. All other interviews were carried out by telephone or via Microsoft Teams (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA). The anonymity and confidentiality of participants were protected throughout. Framework analysis was used to analyse the interview data. Costing analysis methods A smaller caseload for shared care workers (SCWs) and the implementation of a salary increment scheme were identified by the RE as mechanisms to facilitate service optimisation. The target for an optimal SCW caseload of 50 per full-time equivalent (FTE) worker was specified by the service manager. The caseload of SCWs in site A was estimated using anonymous event-level treatment data for both SCWs and service users within one of the English study sites was accessed from the local electronic service user records, which provide data for the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System. The treatment data covered 13 weeks from April to June in 2023, 2022 and 2019. To assess the impact of differences in service user complexity on staff workload, univariable and multivariable linear regressions were performed using service user-level data, with total appointments booked as the dependant variable and substance use type, opiate use in the last 28 days and housing problem as covariates. The event-level treatment data for SCWs were linked to data supplied by the service on the FTE and years of employment for each worker and any periods of work leave. The mean caseload per FTE in each period was estimated using appointments booked and measures of available staff capacity and full staff capacity. Staff turnover was also estimated. The number of additional FTE workers required for a caseload of 50 per FTE worker was estimated for each period. The salary-related cost of the additional FTE workers required for a caseload of 50 per FTE worker was estimated using a unit salary cost of a FTE worker on spinal point 15 of the 2023–4 National Joint Council for Local Government Services pay scale, and salary oncosts and overheads were estimated to be 35% of the salary cost. The initial additional annual cost of introducing an illustrative salary increment scheme was calculated using data on the years of employment for each SCW and an estimated unit salary cost of a FTE worker and selected increment costs from the 2023–4 National Joint Council for Local Government Services pay scale. Results Meta-synthesis From 63 included studies (53 OST-related and 10 NSP-related), it was noted that none included the views of commissioners of services; thus their views are absent. Twenty of the included studies (13 OST and 7 NSP) included a total of 449 (15%) staff participants, and 53 studies (45 OST and 8 NSP) included a total of 2518 (85%) service user participants. The views of staff, and to a much greater extent, service users, are therefore well represented in the MS. Studies were conducted across a wide range of countries (mainly North America), with nine being conducted in the UK (six OST/three NSP). The majority (n = 31) were published within the previous 5 years. The barriers and facilitators identified in the MS significantly contribute to our understanding of four important ‘contexts’ within which services are delivered. Within these contexts, the barriers and facilitators that were identified contributed towards hypothesised mechanisms that could lead to optimal provision regarding successful access, engagement, retention and exit. This contributed significantly to the identification of an initial programme theory (IPT) of how services can ensure optimal service provision. Online survey Thirty-two respondents from 183 commissioning areas surveyed responded (response rate of 17%). Respondents were commissioners, service managers, public health specialists and specialist pharmacists. The COVID pandemic is likely to have had a negative impact, contributing to a very low response rate among already overstretched services, limiting the representativeness and generalisability of the findings. The findings from the survey were triangulated with the findings from the MS, which supported the identified IPT. Realist evaluation In-depth interview data were collected from 86 participants in 3 sites between April and September 2022: 29 participants were service users in regular contact with services; 15 were service users not in regular contact with services; 15 were core drug service staff; 12 were core drug service managers; 9 were non-core drug services staff and 6 were drug service commissioners. Testing of the four contexts of the IPT, via in-depth interview data, indicated that there are examples of best practice and areas of weakness where contemporary service provision needs improvement. As a result, the initial theory was developed into a refined theory with five main contexts, representing the need for services to provide an adequate level of the following factors. Agency and empowerment This context indicates that optimal service delivery can be achieved and understood with reference to the following three mechanisms: Service users are empowered via a person-centred approach to make decisions regarding treatment. Services deliver tailored non-punitive, non-restrictive harm reduction approaches that make minimal demands of service users (low-threshold services). Service users have access to those involved in their care. Self-esteem and respect This context indicates that optimal service delivery can be achieved and understood with reference to the following two main mechanisms: Staff recognise the importance of confidentiality and a non-stigmatising approach. Service users are supported to develop strengths-based competencies, recovery capital and self-esteem. Knowledge and communication This context indicates that optimal service delivery can be achieved and understood with reference to the following three mechanisms: All stakeholders proactively encourage partnership working. A peer network programme is embedded into the core service. Staff have the knowledge and skills required to provide high-quality care. Goals, needs and preferences This context indicates that optimal service delivery can be achieved and understood with reference to the following four main mechanisms: Recording system(s) are fit for purpose to manage care plan reviewing effectively. A commitment to providing services that facilitate a shared ethos, understanding and responsibility between all key stakeholders. Access to a full range of services to meet treatment goals and wider needs. Appointments take account of service user needs and preferences, and staff are given time and resources to facilitate a proactive approach to meet these. Resources and demands This new context includes mechanisms related to understanding the multiple demands upon services and the required resources to satisfy those demands, and it indicates that optimal service delivery can be achieved and understood with reference to the following five main mechanisms: Understanding service demands to inform service delivery and design so that resources can be allocated appropriately. Staff are supported and resourced to overcome barriers to their ability to effect good treatment outcomes and to work effectively and efficiently in their demanding roles. Core services receive adequate, reliable and sustained resources to create the right circumstances for good recruitment and retention of staff. Funding of core drug services and wider drug service-related initiatives is sufficient, reliable and accessible. A range of key performance indicators are measured to direct effective service delivery, ensuring provision remains person-centred. Our analysis of the data across all contexts also indicates that, within the hypothesised mechanisms, specific ‘mechanisms of action’ exist. Furthermore, we propose that these mechanisms of action can be understood as mechanisms operating at either of two levels: a ‘Systems level’ which relates to high-level strategic influence upon the delivery of services (e.g. policy decisions, legislation and funding); and a ‘Service level’ which relates to the delivery and organisation of services (e.g. service provision pathways; staff roles and responsibilities and organisational culture). Our analysis also identified the potential importance of ‘mediating mechanisms’ (e.g. confidence, trust and self-efficacy) which can operate to increase the likelihood of successful access, engagement, retention and exit. Costing analysis In our single case study site, the FTE staff capacity decreased between the 13-week periods in 2019 and 2022 and then increased in 2023. Long-term leave accounted for 5% (1.4/26.0) of the FTE capacity in 2023 and by taking long-term leave into account, the available FTE capacity increased by 8% (1.9/24.6) between 2019 and 2023. There was a high turnover in staff over time, with 60% (18/30) of available staff in 2023 having also worked in the service in 2022, and this experience compares to 58% (15/26) of available staff in 2022 having also worked in the service in 2019. The FTE staff with < 2 years employment in the service increased from 22% (5.3/23.7) in 2019 to 48% (11.7/24.6) in 2023. The RE identified a smaller caseload for SCWs and the implementation of a salary increment scheme as key characteristics of the ‘optimal’ OST provision. The 24.6 FTE available staff working in 2023 had a mean caseload of 67.8 service users per FTE available staff compared to 82.9 in 2022 and 76.3 in 2019. Implementation of a mean caseload of 50 would require an increase in available staff capacity from 24.6 FTEs to 33.4 FTEs, associated with an additional annual staff cost of 32.5%, £328,798. If operating at full staff capacity (26.0 FTEs), then the increase in annual staffing cost would be 27.3%, £276,251. Having accounted for measures of service user complexity, the mean number of appointments booked per service user was lower in 2023 compared to 2019. The introduction of an illustrative salary increment scheme to aid retention of staff with three annual increments would entail a 3.5% increase in annual staffing cost in 2023, representing £35,726, resulting in a combined cost of £311,977 for the estimated 33.4 FTEs, associated with a caseload of 50 service users per FTE. Conclusions We have provided a rich understanding of the contexts, mechanisms and actions by which the optimal delivery of OST and NSP services may be understood in order to increase the likelihood of successful access to, engagement with, retention in and exit from services. Services may wish to consider how well they are currently operating regarding the contexts and mechanisms we have identified and to determine where they may be deficient and then use the descriptions we have provided as a road map to make improvements in those areas. Study registration This study is registered as PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020209646. Funding This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (NIHR award ref: NIHR129798) and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 29, No. 64. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

Nataliia Karpinska

The relevance of the article is as follows: on the one hand, the importance of sanitary and phytosanitary measures as an integrating category, a category that stands at the crossroads of agrarian, environmental, social and international policies is not yet fully realised and therefore significantly underestimated; on the other hand, at the present stage, it is impossible to ignore the objective growth of the role and importance of non-governmental organisations in regulating the relations in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary measures. The purpose of the article is to identify and highlight the range of issues related to the relations between the State and non-governmental organisations which approve their own standards in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, between the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the same non-governmental organisations, and also between the WTO and the State under whose jurisdiction a non-governmental organisation approves its own standards in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary measures. The leading methods of scientific cognition were: the dialectical method, which served as the methodological basis for scientific cognition, reflecting the relationship between theory and practice, as well as the conceptual provisions of legal science; formal logical method was used to analyse the content of current national and European legislation on the legal regulation of the application of private standards in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary measures;  the comparative legal method was used to analyse and study the EU requirements, in particular the provisions of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and practical mechanisms that can be implemented in national legislation and put into practice; the conclusions and proposals contained in the article are formulated using the method of dogmatic (logical) analysis. The article covers a range of issues related to the relations between the State and non-governmental organisations that approve their own standards in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary measures and notes that internal corporate standards and policies play a significant role in the activities of most international companies, which ensure that company employees comply with the requirements of both international and national legislation. The study revealed the following results: 1) the issue of risks of private standards has been updated, namely, they are not always based on scientific data, as required by the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures; differ from international standards; such standards are stricter than official sanitary and phytosanitary requirements; require additional costs for small suppliers; private standards are set without transparency, consultation and appeal systems; private standards are diverse and not harmonised; the rule of Further research on the purpose of increasing the influence of private standards in international trade; development and justification of the procedure for introducing standards; determination of the role of the state and its responsibility; analysis of the prospects for the introduction of stricter requirements by non-governmental organisations; development of methodological foundations for the extension of certain international legal obligations to private individuals are considered promising.

Marco Aparicio

The European Union is proceeding with a process of dismantling the mechanisms which, not without many difficulties, had managed to achieve a certain level of legal protection for people on the move. This progressive lack of protection is taking place both in terms of the rights that people have once they have managed to settle in one way or another in one of the countries that make up the European Union and, even more notoriously, in terms of the rights of people who are in the process of entering, in the same attempt to enter or once inside as applicants for international protection. The present text analyzes one of the main expressions of this process, which is that of pushbacks and its attempt at legal validation, taking into account the jurisprudence of the Strasbourg Court and its implications in the Spanish context.

Yu. M. Melnychuk

The article "Аn inclusive perspective on the management of service institutions along global risk in the context of overcoming the global financial crisis" is dedicated to the main inclusive areas of overcoming financial risks that arose during the Covid-19 pandemic. The article examines the importance and necessity of the hotel business in the cultural, social and economic spheres of the country and the world. There is a parallel between the development of the hotel business and the crisis pandemic in the country. The problems that arose during the pandemic, the threats to business, the consequences that led to financial losses are highlighted. The practical inclusive experience of the world's leading hotel companies was taken into account. The economic factors affecting the state of the hotel business and the ways to overcome them have been studied. Structured management proposals for overcoming financial crises, overcoming existing situations, and ways to prevent them are provided. The work used a set of research methods that constitute the methodology of analysis and organization of the main publications, legislative acts and laws, namely the methods of generalization, comparison, chronology, analysis and generalization. A feature of the study was the use of the "Petal" histogram to display the digital impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the level of revenue from hotel services. The article deals with the urgent issue of saving the hotel business in the period of global crises. The task of researching the management of service institutions during the Covid-19 pandemic in the context of overcoming the global financial crisis has been solved. The world experience of solving problems and inclusive experience in atypical situations that arise when global crises, namely Covid-19, are used. The totality of factors influencing the activity of the hotel enterprise was studied, and a systematic division into internal and external was carried out. It is explained that the external environment of the organization is a set of elements that are not part of the organization, but have a certain influence on it; to external factors affecting the activity of hotel enterprises: suppliers, inflationary processes in the country, consumers, the legislation of the country, competitors, adjacent markets. The problem of recovery and business development of enterprises in the tourism and hospitality industry in modern conditions complicated by the Covid-19 pandemic has been identified. Close cooperation and consolidated activities between enterprises of the industry, search for inclusive ways of cooperation, one of which is the creation of combined hotels, are proposed. This form of cooperation in the hospitality industry increases the competitiveness of enterprises in this field, allows closing and restoring medium and large small business enterprises, and ensures their further development at the national level.

Bernadett Solymosi-Szekeres

The situation of young workers is determined by the legal regulation of work. Of particular interest in this context is the traineeship, which is statistically proven to be the basis for many young people entering the labour market. In this context, it is especially important that national regulations are clear and stable to ensure the security of young workers. The Hungarian national regulations will be examined in this study, starting with statistical data, i.e. the extent to which traineeships are present, and examining the related legal relationships based on the EU conceptual background, with the aim of exploring whether the Hungarian legal framework guarantees status security for young trainees. Based on the legislation, case law and relevant literature, it can be concluded that the Hungarian national legislation on traineeship is fragmented, non-transparent, complex, and generally does not provide an impeccable basis for improving the labour market situation of young people from a labour law or social security perspective, and shows a number of inconsistencies in national and EU labour law.

Chen Q, Tian W, Zheng L et al.

Qiang Chen,1 Wei Tian,2 Long Zheng,3 Taoying Li1,4 1Law School, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Foreign Languages, Guangxi Science & Technology Normal University, Laibin, People’s Republic of China; 3Graduate School and Open Learning College, Cavite State University, Indang, Philippines; 4Department of Law, Jiangxi Police College, Nanchang, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Long Zheng, Graduate School and Open Learning College, Cavite State University, Indang City, Cavite Province, Philippines, Tel +8618279129539, Email 645873409@qq.comAbstract: Older people in rural China enjoy the right to health under Chinese law. However, the problems of economic difficulties, the unbalanced allocation of medical resources between urban and rural areas and the weakening of the traditional function of the family as a provider of old-age care in reality make the elderly in rural areas face a higher risk of health problems. The law is an important tool to mitigate these problems. Although China has made great efforts to legally guarantee the right to health of the rural elderly, it has not yet fully implemented the requirements of Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Article 14 of the Madrid Political Declaration and International Plan of Action on Ageing. China needs to further improve the relevant legislation to provide adequate legal support for the exercise of the right to health of the elderly in rural areas.Keywords: elderly people in rural China, the right to health, legal protection, legislation

Otilia Manta, Mirela Panait, Eglantina Hysa et al.

This paper proposes a “systematization” of current concerns about sustainable public procurement, an investigation of ways and solutions for public procurement to make an increased contribution to achieving sustainable development goals. The authors emphasize the need to capitalize on all the components of sustainability, especially the social component and those on how to support the public procurement process in compliance with climate change procedures. It is very important for the authorities to take into account the social sustainability of public procurement when awarding contracts by introducing sustainability clauses in public procurement legislation. In order to clarify this issue, the national laws of the countries reporting to the World Bank on public procurement issues have been mapped, the opinions of other researchers have been systematized, as well as relevant studies of international organizations (OECD, European Commission, UNESCO, World Bank). Statistical data from the World Bank's Global Public Procurement Database (GPPD), systematized by group of countries, were processed using statistical tools to test the hypotheses.

M. Swanson

Adewale A. Adesanya, R. Sidortsov, Chelsea Schelly

Abstract This paper examines five communities in the United States (U.S.) that have transitioned to 100% use of renewable resources for electricity. The paper describes and compares social, political, and economic similarities and differences among these communities to improve understanding of the factors that support successful renewable energy (RE) transitions. The analysis builds on Geels’ multi-level perspective theory in assessing sustainable energy transitions and the energy transition process based on these five case studies. Main variables of interest considered for 100% renewable energy transition in these municipalities are renewable energy resource availability (solar, wind, and hydro), utility ownership, partisanship of municipal leadership, population size, and supporting energy legislation at state level renewable portfolio standard (RPS). Findings from this paper show that utility ownership appears to play a critical role in the transition process, as most of the municipalities have municipally owned utilities. State RPS programs are also prominent among all the states in which these the municipalities are located, indicating the importance of state legislation. Further, RE resource availability may not be required, as possibilities for hybridization of energy technologies are evident in the studied places. The most common pathway typology in these 100% RE transitions is reconfiguration. This typology results from technological innovations fuelled by development in RE technologies and stakeholder advocacy. Identified drivers from this research provide helpful parameters of consideration for energy transitions in other places in the U.S. and beyond.

Liliana Belecciu

The public water supply and sewerage service includes the totality of activities of public utility and general economic and social interest carried out for the purpose of the collection, treatment, transportation, storage and distribution of drinking water on the territory of the administrative-territorial unit, as well as for the purpose of the collection and purification of wastewater. This service is regulated, in particular, by the Law on public water supply and sewerage service No. 303/2013. The object of the law represents the creation of the legal framework for the establishment, organization, operation, regulation and monitoring of the public drinking water supply and sewerage service in the conditions of accessibility, availability, reliability, continuity, competitiveness, transparency, respecting quality, safety and environmental protection. Everything that exceeds these activities is not subject to the regulation of the Law No. 303/2013. And the application of the “share” is an illegal activity that is punishable in accordance with the legislation in force.

Adriana A. Maldonado‐Chaparro, Gloriana Chaverri

Abstract The internationally recognized levels of conservation, namely ecosystems, species, and genes, have thus far served as important guidelines to determine how national and international laws should protect nature. However, a far ignored aspect of a species' life history in the legislation is its tendency to form social groups. Group members greatly depend on each other for survival and reproduction, and when the persistence of groups is threatened, so may the population as a whole. Humans affect groups through indirect activities, such as tourism, or directly by removing individuals through poaching, for example. These activities disturb groups in both predictable and unpredictable ways: destabilizing dominance hierarchies, changing the strength of social relationships, modifying cooperative interactions, reducing alloparental care, and altering social skills, among others. We propose that greater efforts must be undertaken first, to more thoroughly understand how our actions are affecting group dynamics in as many species as possible, and second, to adapt policies to reduce the negative effects of direct and indirect anthropogenic activities on group and population persistence.

Dizer Oleg Alexandrovich, Bavsun Irina Gennadievna, Zarubin Andrey Viktorovich et al.

The study prerequisites are the fragmentation in the current criminal legislation of criminal law standards protecting the field of sports, as well as the issues of criminalization of acts in sports and the qualification of sports crimes. The study aims to solve the issues of systematization of regulatory provisions, the object of which is social relations in sports, taking into account the characteristics of the generic and specific objects, the degree of encroachment danger. The methods included the dialectical method, abstraction, analysis, synthesis, deduction, formal legal method, method of comparative jurisprudence. The results and novelty of the study reside in the conclusions about the advisability of identifying a separate specific object of criminal law protection (social relations in sports), which would systematize related and close acts not only in professional sports but also at all levels of official sports competitions. In this context, the issues of criminalization and qualifications of causing harm to life and health of an individual in violation of the sport rules, exerting unlawful influence on the result of an official sports competition, actions provided for in Art. 230.1 and 230.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, as well as the synchronization of the subject of the latter with the subject of Art. 234 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Based on the foregoing, the recommendation of isolating a separate chapter in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and issuing a separate Resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on crimes in sports is substantiated. Such measures will be able to optimize the criminal law protection of such an important sphere of public life as sports. In addition, this will make it possible to bring the quality of domestic criminal legislation and sports legislation to the international level and significantly increase the prestige of the Russian Federation.

Adam Kuź

In the second decade of the 21st century, the Middle Kingdom, which had huge financial surpluses, became the world’s largest exporter of money capital, which meant that investment policy became the main element of China’s foreign policy. In the case of Central and Eastern Europe, the 16+1 (17+1) format, containing both investment policy and soft power elements, has become the basic tool of the general policy of Middle Kingdom. This article aims to define the basic principles of China’s policy towards Central and Eastern Europe. For this purpose, the following general hypothesis was formulated: Chinese policy in Central and Eastern Europe consists of presenting the countries of this region with initiatives that do not go beyond the sphere of declarations and serve as a bargaining chip in relations with Germany, the country with the greatest potential in the European Union. The general hypothesis gives rise to detailed hypotheses that were verified in individual parts of the article with the use of the comparative method. The reasons most often mentioned in the literature on the subject, such as economic, cultural, social, and political differentiation of Central and Eastern European countries, legal barriers resulting from EU legislation, insufficient recognition of the region’s needs by the Chinese side and asymmetry of expectations of both parties, undoubtedly largely contribute to the lack of effective Sino-CEE cooperation. However, they cannot be considered decisive because similar problems occur wherever Chinese companies appear. However, in many regions of the world, despite these obstacles, mutual economic relations are more dynamic than in CEE. The reasons why the potential of the 16+1 (17+1) format has not been properly used can be found primarily in the context of German-Chinese relations.

Mayely Cedillo, Ángela Díaz Moreno, Ólman Gradis Santos et al.

Justificación: Las fallas en la responsabilidad profesional médica representan un problema de interés por el impacto que tienen en la salud de los pacientes y de los médicos. Objetivo: Evaluar cuál es el nivel de conocimientos de los profesionales de la medicina hondureños sobre aspectos relevantes de la responsabilidad profesional o mala praxis médica. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio transversal descriptivo; la recolección de datos se hizo mediante un instrumento tipo encuesta electrónica con formato de Google®, la cual se validó con un grupo de expertos y cubrió, variables sociodemográficas; de los encuestados, así como cinco ámbitos de conocimiento definidos como: el ámbito legal, el conceptual, el de derechos de los pacientes, el de deberes del médico y el de condicionantes para la denuncia. La población encuestada: estudiantes de medicina con seis o más años cursados de la carrera, indistintamente de la universidad donde estudiaron; médicos residentes y profesionales, ya sea médicos generales o especialistas, todos hondureños. El análisis de los datos se realizó utilizando Excel® 2010, y el Programa R, versión 3.6. Para mejor comprensión de los resultados se construyó una escala descriptiva de acuerdo a los porcentajes de acierto obtenidos. De 0-39% “deficiente”, de 40-59% “insuficiente”, de 60 a 80% “aceptable”, 81-90% “adecuado”, de 91% en adelante se clasificó como “conoce el tema”. Resultados: El nivel de conocimiento de los médicos, indistintamente de su formación académica, edad, sexo o centro donde labora, se ubicó en un nivel entre insuficiente y aceptable, siendo el ámbito donde se observó el menor puntaje, con 51,2% de aciertos. Conclusiones: Las fallas en la responsabilidad profesional podrían estar estrechamente ligadas al déficit de competencias y habilidades adecuadas de estudiantes y médicos durante el acto médico.

Nicolás Sabillón, Heydi Rodas

Femenina de 36 años de edad, obesa, con cuadro de inicio súbito de dolor abdominal e irradiación a región lumbar de aproximadamente cuatro horas de evolución, acompañado de episodios de lipotimias, pérdida de la consciencia y muerte. La autopsia reveló aneurisma ateroesclerótico sacular, roto en la arteria iliaca izquierda (fotos insertas; flechas) y hematoma retroperitoneal. El aneurisma se define como una dilatación anormal localizada de un vaso sanguíneo. Los aneurismas de la arteria iliaca son muy poco frecuentes, con una incidencia de 0.03 % en series de autopsias, el 80 % son causados por ateroesclerosis y debido a su localización son de difícil diagnóstico 1.

Neil Fligstein, Iona. Mara-Drita

A. Chaabane, A. Ramudhin, M. Paquet

P. Craig

Imam Machali

Fulfilling the education right in Indonesia as stated in the constitution faces a lot of problems. The problems include lagislation and policy, budgeting of education , fair distribution and easy access to education covering gender equality in getting and accessing education in area of conflict, boundaries, and remoted area. Problem of legislation related to law and national education policy and noble ideal of independence and the Constitution 1945, Instrument and National and International Standard of Human Right which are not in line yet, results in the condition that the education development is not based on the human right. The education budgeting relates to government commitment to allocate the amount based on the law, fair distribution and wide access to education covering the unit capacity and providing equal opportunities to all learners from different social, economic background, place of living, intelectual capacity, physical condition and gender. Those problems lead to unfulfilled education right as stated independece goals.