This article presents a comparative analysis and characteristics of the pension insurance systems of foreign countries, namely Germany, Sweden, Estonia, Poland, France with the aim of implementing their effective and noteworthy experience in Ukraine. The key indicators of the characteristics of the pension systems of these countries and Ukraine (amount of insurance contributions to the public pension fund; retirement age; insurance period; the ratio of the average pension to the average wage) have been studied and analyzed. Having examined these indicators, the authors came to the conclusion that the general trend in most countries of the world is that they guarantee only a minimum pension, which is caused by the increase in the share of pensioners in society. To solve the demographic problems affecting pension provision, the most countries increase the retirement age and provide financial incentives to stimulate citizens to work after the retirement age. To increase the pension, there are pension accumulation tools at the expense of the employer or at the expense of one’s own funds. Following the example of foreign countries, the directions for improving the pension insurance system of Ukraine were allocated.

Heat stress amplified by climate change causes excessive reductions in labor capacity, work injuries, and socio-economic losses. Yet studies of corresponding impact assessments and adaptation developments are insufficient and incapable of effectively dealing with uncertain information. This gap is caused by the inability to resolve complex channels involving climate change, labor relations, and labor productivity. In this paper, an optimization-based productivity restoration modeling framework is developed to bridge the gap and support decision-makers in making informed adaptation plans. The framework integrates a multiple-climate-model ensemble, an empirical relationship between heat stress and labor capacity, and an inexact system costs model to investigate underlying uncertainties associated with climate and management systems. Optimal and reliable decision alternatives can be obtained by communicating uncertain information into the optimization processes and resolving multiple channels. Results show that the increased heat stress will lead to a potential reduction in labor productivity in China. By solving the objective function of the framework, total system costs to restore the reduction are estimated to be up to 248,700 million dollars under a Representative Concentration Pathway of 2.6 (RCP2.6) and 697,073 million dollars under RCP8.5 for standard employment, while less costs found for non-standard employment. However, non-standard employment tends to restore productivity reduction with the minimum system cost by implementing active measures rather than passive measures due to the low labor costs resulting from ambiguities among employment statuses. The situation could result in more heat-related work injuries because employers in non-standard employment can avoid the obligation of providing a safe working environment. Urgent actions are needed to uphold labor productivity with climate change, especially to ensure that employers from non-standard employment fulfill their statutory obligations.

This study discusses prospects and challenges facing start-up entrepreneurs in language and culture-related tourist attractions in Lombok, Indonesia. Data were collected by observing the operations of tourism entrepreneurs and interviewing the owners, workers, clients, and authorities in the industry. The data were analyzed using a mixed method where tourism sales over one year of business experience were quantitatively analyzed and where prime causes leading to profits and losses were qualitatively explicated. The findings identify six prospective opportunities and five challenges in sustainably establishing language and culture-related tourist attractions as core entrepreneurial businesses. This study enriches our understanding of what micro and small entrepreneurs experience at the early stages of business start-ups and how they respond to uncertainties facing them. The study also provides readers with an understanding of the prospects and the challenges facing small tourist-related entrepreneurs in operations at early start-up stages and serves as a reminder to small businesses about the potential challenges in their business operations. The article also recommends viable management plans to refer to as contingency strategies for probable future challenges. Furthermore, this study attempts to fill a gap in the literature on start-up entrepreneurship in language and culture-related tourist attractions.

Coordination and integration among farms within agri-food chains are crucial to tackle the issue of fragmentation within the primary sector, both at the European and national level. The Italian agri-food system still complains about the need to aggregate supply to support market dynamics, especially for niche and quality products that characterize the Made in Italy. It is well known that the Italian agri-food sector is closely linked to the relationship between agriculture on one hand and culture/tradition on the other, which is reflected in the high number of quality products that have obtained EU PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) recognition. The development of vertical forms of coordination has found significant support in recent years from the integrated supply chain design approach, which is increasingly becoming an essential tool for implementing rural development policies. In this context, the study provides a comparison between companies that have joined the Integrated Supply Chain Projects of the Rural Development Program and those that have not applied. The aim is to highlight any differences in order to understand policy impact. The analysis is based on the Emilia-Romagna region Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) data, and the sample consists of more than 2 thousand farms. The statistical analysis conducted compares treated and non-treated using the Welch-t-test for independent unmatched samples. The main results show higher values for treated farms when structural variables are analyzed, like the utilized agricultural area or the agricultural work unit. In general, higher balance sheet performances emerged for treated farms. In conclusion, this study shows that the Integrated Supply Chain Projects represent a worthwhile tool both to increase cooperation, food quality, and to enhance a competitive agricultural sector.

This study critically examines the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) delimitation and regional cooperation efforts impacting Greco-Turkish relations in the Eastern Mediterranean, focusing on their influence on both nations’ maritime security definitions. With the increasing strategic significance of maritime areas, Greek and Turkish perspectives on security are becoming ever more significant. This paper posits that the interrelations between Greece and Turkiye significantly shape their respective maritime security frameworks. Through a comprehensive review, we juxtapose the evolution of general security concepts with the specific developments in maritime security as perceived by each country. This approach reveals the profound impact of bilateral tensions on maritime security perceptions and policies. The analysis extends to the implications of these dynamics for regional stability and international maritime law, underpinning the urgent need for a collaborative and equitable approach to resolve ongoing maritime disputes. This research contributes to the broader field of international relations by highlighting the intricate relationship between historical conflicts, national security paradigms, and maritime sovereignty claims, proposing new directions for future research in regional security cooperation and conflict resolution.

Leukemia is a major public health problem in China, but epidemiological studies on leukemia in China are still insufficient. This study aims to analyze leukemia's disease burden and risk factors in China from 2010 to 2021 and provide a basis for leukemia prevention and treatment. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database, trends in the burden of leukemia in China from 2010 to 2021 were analyzed. Additionally, epidemiological differences by gender and age groups were explored. In 2021, there were 531,000 leukemia patients in China, with 106,000 new cases and 59,000 deaths. Compared to 2010, the mortality rate and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 100,000 population in 2021 decreased by 5% and 18%, respectively, while the incidence and prevalence rates increased by 12% and 29%, respectively. Gender and age stratification indicated that males had higher rates across all indicators than females, and elderly individuals faced higher leukemia mortality and DALYs. The most significant decrease in DALYs was observed in children and adolescents under 20. The highest burden of leukemia for males was found in the 85–90 age group, while for females, it was in the 70–74 age group. Major risk factors for leukemia included smoking, high BMI, and exposure to carcinogens, benzene, and formaldehyde. The overall burden of leukemia in China showed a decreasing trend, with significant gender and age differences. More measures are needed to reduce leukemia mortality, particularly focusing on the prevention and treatment of leukemia in males and the elderly.