Dimensions

The global economy is dynamically evolving in the testing of digital tools for creating added value and maximizing profits. The new economic reality - neo-economics - involves a global reformatting of labor and capital markets and people's consciousness. Its philosophy includes digital innovations as a development tool, creativity as an economic force, ethics as a business norm, and sustainable development as the basis for the future. Changes encourage the concentration of scientific research on the issue of adaptation to new conditions. The research aimed to study the theoretical aspects of the formation of the doctrine of the concept of neo-economy as a systemic phenomenon and the ethics of its economic development. This requires understanding the paradigm of change (through the prism of digital, creative, and socio-ethical factors) and strengthening the dialogue on the concept of coexistence of market actors in the new digital reality. To achieve this goal, the following general scientific methods were used: analysis, synthesis, systematization, theoretical generalization, abstraction and analogy, induction, and forecasting. Results. The evolution of economic thought is studied. The need to find compromises in building a harmonious combination between economic growth and social values in the new reality is emphasized. The importance of human potential in the system of creative solutions of the global neo-economy and the need to develop levers to protect its ethical norms are revealed. The study's practical significance lies in the fact that it focuses society's attention on the issues of fundamental economic challenges (ethical, digital) and the search for ways to solve them. A new vision of humanity's role in the neo-economy paradigm is formulated. The definition of the concept of “neo-economy” based on the use of the creative component of human potential and the results of innovative activities (new technologies, innovations, information, knowledge) was suggested by the author. It is proposed to involve the broadest possible range of participants, namely “consumer-company-product-society-state,” in implementing new economic solutions to avoid social conflicts and build a humane symbiosis. The main conclusions can be used. The necessity of forming unified mechanisms for safeguarding ethical standards is substantiated. The need to expand the public dialogue of change is emphasized.

Nearly two decades have passed since the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted the Employment Relationship Recommendation, 2006 (No. 198). This article explores the relevance and potential influence of the Recommendation, and, in particular, Sections 12 and 13 of its Chapter II on national work relationships. It investigates whether the Recommendation can assist in assessing the nature of employment relationships and new forms of work in Lithuania and internationally. Through an analysis of the documents and reports underpinning the Recommendation, the article concludes that, while it offers formal and methodical proposals, there is considerable room for misinterpretation regarding its significance for the content of national employment relationship concepts.

The present study analyzes the types of interrogative, such as yes/no questions, wh-questions, or alternative questions, and their semantic and pragmatic functions in a multilingual parallel corpus of spoken monologues extracted from the TED Talks transcripts in five languages: English, European Portuguese, Lithuanian, Bulgarian, and Hebrew. The corpus was developed with English as the pivot language, and the examples are aligned in all five languages based on the occurrence of an interrogative. To conduct this study, we designed an annotation scheme that harmonizes two parts of ISO 24617 – Part 8: Semantic relations and Part 2: Dialogue acts. This framework enabled us to determine the discourse relations that questions establish with the segments to which they are connected and that precede them and their communicative function. In our analysis, we observed that, despite the monologic nature of the corpus, interrogatives are very frequent and diversified across the five languages. Our findings also reveal that the questions are mostly used with a pragmatic function and that the range of discourse relations is less varied. Additionally, the analysis disclosed some pertinent differences between the five languages concerning the translation choices.

We analyze the spatio-temporal dynamics of sand relocation for beach nourishment in the low-energy coastal segment north of the Port of Klaip & edot;da, eastern Baltic Sea, under mild wave conditions, with significant wave heights below 0.9 m and water level variations from -30 to 44 cm with respect to the long-term average. In summer 2022, about 180 000 m3 of sand was added approximately 120 m from the shore at water depths of 2-3.5 m to form a 750 m long underwater bar. Sand relocation is evaluated based on repeated water depth measurements along 114 cross-shore coastal profiles. Some sand was rapidly transported to greater depths, down to about 6 m, even though wave conditions were particularly mild. The predominant sand motion was directed offshore, and characteristically for the area, wave-driven sediment transport was directed to the north. The analysis confirms that even very mild wave conditions can substantially relocate large volumes of deposited sand in shallow water, both offshore and onshore, from its original location during the initial adjustment phase following nourishment.

The purpose of this study was to explore the links between the perceived importance of critical thinking skills, self-reported critical thinking skills, and work engagement. The study applied a cross-sectional design, and the sample consisted of 2012 employees; the mean age was 41.93 (SD=11.42). To analyse the links between the constructs, three instruments were used: The Work Engagement Scale (UWES), The Perceived Importance of the Critical Thinking Skills Scale (PICTS), and The self-reported Critical Thinking Skills Scale (CTS). For the statistical analyses, SPSS v.26.0, AMOS v.26.0, JASP v.18, and JAMOVI v.2.2.1 software was applied. Confirmatory factor analyses showed the acceptable model fit and validity of the scales in the Lithuanian population. The structural equation modelling results revealed the complex model of the links between the perceived importance of critical thinking skills, the self-reported critical thinking skills, and the elements of work engagement, namely, vigour, dedication, and absorption. The findings revealed that both self-reported critical thinking and the perceived importance of critical thinking skills positively contributed to work engagement, thus indicating the need to foster critical thinking in organizations so that to ensure their flourishing and efficacy.

Straipsnyje nagrinėjamos prieš šimtmetį Vlado Mačio knygoje „Civilinio proceso paskaitos“ pateiktos idėjos apie civilinio proceso teisę. Taip pat vertinama, kokį civilinio proceso modelį siūlė Vladas Mačys, kokios jo pagrindinės kryptys, kaip buvo siūloma užtikrinti teisingą ir teisėtą civilinį procesą. Nagrinėjama, kokia yra knygos „Civilinio proceso paskaitos“ struktūra, kaip moksliškai buvo vertinamas civilinis procesas. Straipsnyje atskleidžiama, kad Vladas Mačys civilinio proceso tikslus siejo su socialinės taikos (harmonijos) tarp ginčo šalių kuo operatyvesniu atkūrimu. Taip pat analizuojama, kokios Vlado Mačio idėjos liko reikšmingos šiuolaikinio civilinio proceso teisei bei teisei į teisingą teismą užtikrinti civilinės bylose.

The purpose of this article is to introduce the Erasmus+ project Learning from Europe-an Lives (LEuLiv). This project is unique in its partnerships (Germany, Poland, Slovenia and Lithuania), the combination of diversity and synergy in the project’s concept and the fact that it encompasses four dimensions of biographical learning: the personal, inter-personal, social/societal and transcultural. Students from a variety of different academic and professional backgrounds in the partnership countries will learn the the-oretical basis of biographical exploration with a focus on autobiographical memories as a resource in the present and conduct an interview with an older person (aged 60 or older). Project results include the creation of teaching manuals and innovative learn-ing programs as well as a multi-lingual, multicultural biographical databank with 80 plus interviews to be used by the participating partners for future research and course development.

The outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war marked a geopolitical awakening for the EU. It prompted a reevaluation of EU foreign and security policies, revealing shortcomings in direction and cohesion. The EU reacted to Russia‘s war of aggression against Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022, by imposing severe and unprecedented sanctions against it. The economic penalties are intended to hold Russia accountable for its conduct and to successfully obstruct Russian efforts to prolong the attack. Those who support, finance, carry out, or who gain from actions that undermine Ukraine‘s territorial integrity, sovereignty, or independence is the subject of individual sanctions. The CFSP, governed by the Treaty on European Union, is primarily enforced through Council decisions, with Article 29 being a key provision used for adopting foreign policy positions and imposing sanctions. However, the legal nature of CFSP decisions, often considered „soft law,“ presents challenges in their implementation and enforcement. Additionally, the paper discusses the procedural aspects of adopting restrictive measures, highlighting the complexities involved in unanimity among Member States and the subsequent enforcement at the national level. Judicial review of CFSP decisions, particularly in the context of sanctions, is explored through case analyses. The paper examines recent court cases related to CFSP decisions, including challenges to sanctions imposed on individuals and entities. The analysis underscores the difficulties courts face in balancing CFSP objectives with fundamental rights, particularly regarding media regulation and freedom of expression. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for a more unified and effective CFSP framework, especially in the face of evolving geopolitical challenges. It highlights the importance of addressing the shortcomings in CFSP decision-making processes and ensuring a balanced approach to judicial review to uphold the rule of law and fundamental rights while enhancing the EU‘s external actions‘ legitimacy and efficacy.

Books are an important output in many fields of research. However, they pose a significant challenge for research assessment systems, partly because of the limited availability of information to support the assessment of books. To inform book assessment practices, I present a systematic examination of the ISBN Manual and the Global Register of Publishers (GRP). I evaluate the extent to which these two sources can be used to determine the genre and publisher of a book as well as the country in which a book was issued. My analysis focuses on books submitted to the research assessment systems in Lithuania and the UK from 2008 to 2020. I show how the ISBN Manual captures the complex interactions between publishers, their imprints, and other organisations active in academic publishing, revealing the pitfalls of measuring books’ quality by their publisher’s prestige. The results also indicate that the ISBN standard provides no basis for the book genres mandated by research assessment systems in some countries. Finally, I demonstrate how the ISBN Manual and metadata accumulated in the GRP are convenient tools for designers of research assessment systems and are suitable for identifying ISBN registrants and performing bibliometric analysis.