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Detailed knowledge of the periglacial flora is essential to assess the vegetation dynamics in deglaciated regions of northern and north eastern Europe, previously covered by the ice sheet of the Late Weichselian Glaciation. Therefore, the territory of Belarus, which stretches in the periglacial zone of the Last Glaciation and the most part of which was free of ice during the Last Glacial maximum, is off particular importance in analysing the post-glacial floral establishment and the subsequent vegetation dynamics in this part of the continent. In this study, results of palaeobotanical (pollen and plant macrofossil), lithological (measurements of magnetic susceptibility, MS) and isotopic (14C) investigations were obtained to fill the existing gap in reconstructing the peculiarities of the terrestrial and aquatic vegetation dynamics throughout the Lateglacial - Early Holocene period in the central Belarus. The investigated sediment profile, comprising organically enriched gyttja at 13,400–13,100 cal yr BP, carbon enriched and sandy gyttja at 13,100–9700 cal yr BP and unconsolidated mud after 9500 cal yr BP, provides clear evidence proving the flourishing of a pine-birch predominated forest with occasional spruce stands during the Allerød in area. Three occasions of change in the vegetation structure were noted within the Younger Dryas, i.e. 12,900–12,700 cal yr BP, 12,200–12,000 cal yr BP and 11,900–11,700 cal yr BP, suggesting negative climatic excursion taken place in area and facilitating flourishing of a Picea-predominating forest that culminated at about 12,300 and 12,000 cal yr BP. Pollen record suggests the Early Holocene vegetation shifts occurring at about 11,300–11,200 cal yr BP, 10,800–10,600 cal yr BP and 10,300–10,100 cal yr BP evidence the general response to the global-scale climatic events i.e. Preborael Oscillation or “10,2 ka” while fluctuations triggered by local or regional-scale climatic events have been identified as well. About 10,800–10,700 cal yr BP, formation of the forest with an increasing representation of thermophilous taxa (Ulmus, Tilia, Quercus) started in area.

Evidence suggests an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, particularly among emerging adults. However, theories on altruism born of suffering or adversarial growth suggest that we might also see prosocial behavior as a function of the pandemic, which may protect against mental health challenges. Because cultural values are central in determining prosocial behavior, the current study explored how cultural values were differentially associated with adaptive prosocial behaviors that might protect against mental health challenges. Participants for the current study included 5,682 young people aged 18–25 years from 14 different countries around the world (68% female, 62% college students). Path analyses suggested that there were few differences in patterns as a function of culture, but revealed that horizontal individualism and horizontal and vertical collectivism were indirectly associated with lower levels of depression via prosocial behavior toward family members. Discussion focuses on the importance of coping by strengthening family relationships via prosocial behavior during the pandemic.

In this paper, we have considered that ranked set sampling is able to estimate the parameters of exponentiated Pareto distribution. The method with which the maximum likelihood estimators for the parameters of exponentiated Pareto distribution is studied is numerical since there is no presence or possibility of a closed-form at the hands of estimators or any other intellectual. The numerical approach is a well-suited one for this study as there has been struggles in achieving it with any other technique. In order to compare the different sampling methods, simulation studies are performed as the main technique. As for the illustrative purposes, analysis of a simulated dataset is desired for the objective of the presentation. The conclusion that we can reach based on these is that the estimators based on the ranked set sample have far better efficiency than the simple random sample at the same sample size.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is an extremely important factor that promotes national competitiveness and economic development through technology transfer, new management skills, foreign trade, corporate productivity, etc. This study aims to analyze the significance of FDI and its impact on tax revenue and competitiveness, focusing on the European Union (EU) economy. An empirical analysis is conducted to determine the relationship between inward and outward FDI and tax revenue by employing data on EU countries between 1999 and 2019. The data were extracted from the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) database and the World Development Indicators database (WDI) of the World Bank. To fulfill the objective of this study and to determine the effect of FDI on tax revenue, an econometric model was developed. The research methods include systematic and comparative analysis of scientific literature, panel data analysis, and multiple regression analysis. The regression analysis was based on the least-squares method, and the estimates of the econometric models were calculated by identifying robust heteroscedasticity-consistent standard errors. The study results reveal that the outward FDI has a significant stimulating impact on total tax revenue. In contrast, inward FDI has a dampening effect on tax revenue. The analysis of the lagging effect of FDI on tax revenue in the EU member states revealed a statistically significant lagging impact of the outward FDI made two years before. The estimations indicate that the lagging effect is an incentive. No statistically significant lagging effect of the inward FDI flows on tax revenue was found.

Conscription is an exceptionally stressful life event for young adults. During service, some conscripts manage to cope with service challenges and demands, stay engaged and motivated. Others develop serious adjustment problems, which prevents them from continuing the service. The personality characteristic of psychological hardiness has been recognized as a protective factor against adversity and stressful events. The aim of this study is (1) compare levels of psychological hardiness between mandatory service volunteers and draftees (personal choice); (2) examine the direct and indirect effects of the relationship between psychological hardiness, basic psychological need satisfaction (Self-determination theory; Deci & Ryan, 2000) and engagement; (3) explore the potential moderating role of personal choice (i.e. volunteer service status) in the direct and indirect links between hardiness, need fulfilment, and engagement. The results among a sample of Lithuanian Armed Forces conscripts (N = 601) showed that conscripts who joined military service voluntarily scored significantly higher on hardiness compared to draftees. In addition, results of the structural equation analyses showed that the effect of psychological hardiness on conscripts’ engagement is at least partially mediated by psychological need satisfaction; this relationship is moderated by volunteer service status. This study is among the first to explore the role of personal choice (i.e. volunteer service status) for predicting conscripts’ engagement.

The transition from financial dependence on one's parents to financial self-sufficiency is one of the most relevant transitions during emerging adulthood. It is important to have an instrument able to assess emerging adults' financial capabilities and to detect its change over time. The current article aims to collect international evidence of the Financial Identity Scale (FIS) validity and reliability. Cross-sectional data collected from 2,501 emerging adults aged 18-25 and belonging to three different countries-U.S. (n ¼ 1,535), Italy (n ¼ 485), and Lithuania (n ¼ 481)-were adopted to test score structure validity, generalizability, sensitivity to difference, criterion-related validity, and internal consistency. Instead, four-wave longitudinal data, available for the American sample only (n ¼ 1,900), were adopted to test FIS structural stability and sensitivity to change. As recommended by the contemporary view of validity, different structural equation models were performed. Findings suggest that FIS scores are valid and reliable. The implications for researchers and practitioners are discussed.

Background: Psychological factors are known to modulate the aging process, and might also act on genetic level. Telomeres and telomerase are basic molecular features of cells genetic senescence that also contributes to various diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of neuroeducational methods on telomere length shortening. Method: The study was conducted on 20 relatively healthy subjects aged 23–59 years old. Data summarizes the findings on telomere length of neuroeducational group and controls at baseline and after 6 months post-intervention. Ten persons had regular (20 h/month) neuroeducational sessions (stress reduction, mindfulness, art therapy with professional specialists). Control group consisted of 10 individuals, matched by demographic and health history criteria. HT-Q-FISH (LifeLength, Spain) was used to measure the median telomere length (TL). Results: In neuroeducational group individuals, median TL over the 6 months period decreased 100 ± 27 base pairs (bp) – from 10480 bp to 10380 bp, whereas subjects in the control group lost 420 ± 80 bp telomeres – from 10920 bp to 10500 bp. The subjects of control group lost telomeres statistically significantly (p = 0.02). Discussion: The findings of this pilot study show that neuroeducational sessions reflect to slower shortening of telomeres. We hypothesize that neuroeducation can impact some biochemical pathways involved in stress-related mechanisms (cortisol level, autonomous nervous system, etc.) and may contribute to a “decreased aging” phenotype.

Although Critical Thinking (CT) has been a desirable aim expressed both by higher education institutions and labour market professionals, studies on what CT means and what it looks like in the workplace are scarce. The current study intends to tackle this gap by sharing findings about the importance of CT and its practical manifestation in professions from the points of view of 189 European employers. Data shows that CT is recognized mostly as: (1) the capacity to avoid mistakes and make right decisions; (2) the capacity to correct and regulate oneself; and (3) as a social responsibility. Our findings prove that CT is valued not only insofar as it contributes to professional success, but also for personal improvement and common good. Unfortunately, participants tend to share general and ambiguous ideas about the importance of CT rather than presenting concrete, practice-based professional life examples illustrating its understanding and application within their organizations.

There are a large number of investigations that estimate available soil phosphorous (P), but a paucity of global data on available soil P. One significant modern challenge is developing low cost, accurate approaches to predict available soil P that are useful to scientists around the world. We conducted a global meta-analysis using data on available soil P from 738 sites, 640 in the USA and 149 in 14 other countries. Four different methods of determining available soil P, New Zealand (NZ), acid oxalate, Bray and Mehlich 3 were represented in the dataset. Inputs evaluated for inclusion in the pedotransfer functions to predict available soil P were clay (C), fine silt, (FSi) coarse silt (CSi), very fine sand (VFS), fine sand (FS), medium sand (MS), coarse sand (CS), very coarse sand (VCS), organic carbon (OC), pH, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), and manganese (Mn). Available soil P was estimated for: 1) the entire dataset, 2) only the USA, and 3) the non-USA dataset. The best models to estimate available soil P were obtained for the NZ method (using the co-variates C, FSi, CSi, VFS, MS, CS, OC, Fe, Al, Mn, Ca, Mg, and pH) and for the acid oxalate method (using the co-variates C, FSi, Fe, Al, Mn, Ca, and Mg). Although estimation of available soil P determined with the acid oxalate method was poor for the entire dataset, good estimates were obtained for the USA and non-USA datasets separately. Models for the Bray and Mehlich 3 methods only predicted available soil P well for the non-USA dataset. Using pedotransfer function models to estimate available soil P could provide an efficient and cost effective way to estimate global distributions of a soil property that is important for a number of agricultural and environmental reasons.