DSpace-CRIS 8

On February 16, 1918, the restoration of the Lithuanian state was proclaimed. However, the path from declaration to implementation was arduous and prolonged. Initially, Germany opposed Lithuania’s full independence. After Germany and the military bloc under its control were defeated in World War I, Lithuania faced new aggressive challenges. The young country defended its right to a place on the map of Europe through the War of Independence and Unification (1919– 1923). The primary objective was successfully achieved, and the Lithuanian state survived despite confrontations with various imperial projects. Nevertheless, the issue of uniting all Lithuanian lands remained unresolved, which in the long run fueled irredentist sentiments in Lithuania and shaped the entire framework of its foreign policy during the interwar period. The process of Lithuania’s international recognition proved to be lengthy. Between 1918 and 1924, more than 40 states recognized the republic. The integration into the global community involved not only interstate communications and recognition but also the aspiration to join the League of Nations – the leading international organization of the time, established by the Versailles- Washington system. Lithuania was confirmed as a full-fledged member of the League of Nations on September 22, 1921. The activity of Lithuanian diplomacy in the interwar period was primarily driven by the country’s complex geopolitical position. The republic was caught between three major powers – Germany, the Soviet Union, and Poland. Against this backdrop, countries of the Islamic East or the so-called Global South remained on the periphery of interest for both contemporary Lithuanian policymakers and later generations of historians. This article focuses on the expansion of the Lithuanian Republic’s international contacts in Asia during the 1930s. A key component of the study includes the texts of three treaties of friendship concluded in 1930 between Lithuania and the Persian Empire (Iran), Turkey, and Afghanistan. For the first time, all three documents have been translated into Ukrainian by the author of this article and introduced into domestic Lithuanian studies within its historical and legal framework in the context of interwar chronology.

This study examines the spatial distribution of chemical elements in the urban environment of Klaipėda Seaport City, assessing their concentrations in industrial, residential, and port zones. Particulate matter (PM) samples were collected using passive sampling methods and analyzed for their chemical composition to identify pollution patterns. Beyond spatial pollution analysis, a detailed correlation analysis of pollutants was conducted to determine potential emission sources across different functional city zones. The results indicate significantly elevated concentrations of heavy metals in port and transport zones, highlighting the necessity for targeted air quality improvement measures and innovative pollution mitigation strategies.

This study examines the topical issue of hybrid attacks employed by authoritarian regimes against democratic states within the European Union. Beginning in 2021, after the presidential elections in Belarus, the results of which were falsified, Alexander Lukashenko, a veteran autocrat, claimed victory once again. His security services, using migrants from third countries, launched a continuous hybrid attack on the borders of Poland and Lithuania. These events have posed an unprecedented threat to both countries. Therefore, it is evident that this emerging hybrid approach cannot remain unexplored, which is precisely what this manuscript's authors aim to address. A case study method was chosen for the research methodology, which is suitable for this type of study. The findings confirm that, despite the implementation of various countermeasures, the situation at the borders of Belarus, Poland, and Lithuania remains in constant tension, thus posing a threat to the northeastern flank of NATO, especially in the context of a possible conflict with Russia.

What are the main findings? We introduce the Impact Detection Methodology (IDM), a system to monitor and detect crane-induced impacts on containers in real time, demonstrating effectiveness in mitigating handling-related damage. We identify key factors contributing to container damage, such as unsuccessful hooking attempts during above-deck lifts due to spreader oscillations and high operational workloads. What is the implication of the main findings? Integrating the IDM with crane management technologies and sway control systems can enhance operational precision, reduce container damage, and improve port efficiency. Broader real-time monitoring and advanced analytics adoption can support sustainable growth in global containerisation by reducing operational costs and mitigating financial risks. Highlights: The global containerisation industry, while significantly advancing international trade, faces persistent challenges related to infrastructure capacity, environmental impact, and operational efficiency. One critical yet under-researched issue is the physical damage that containers endure during handling operations, particularly at port terminals. This paper examines the complexities of container handling, focusing on damage caused by quay crane activities, especially during corner hooking. Such damage compromises container integrity, impacts cargo safety, and increases operational costs. To address these concerns, we present the Impact Detection Methodology (IDM), a system designed to monitor and detect impacts in real time, enhancing operational precision and safety. Preliminary studies conducted at Klaipeda City port demonstrate the IDM’s effectiveness, though limited data have constrained validation. Our research underscores the need for broader experimentation to confirm the IDM’s potential in mitigating container damage. Key findings indicate that unsuccessful hooking attempts predominantly occur when containers are lifted from above-deck positions, influenced by spreader oscillations and high operational workloads. This paper also highlights the importance of integrating sway control systems with existing crane management technologies to assist operators in reducing handling errors. Enhanced monitoring and data analysis are essential for improving container handling processes, supporting sustainable growth in global containerisation, and mitigating financial risks.

Background. Treatment with angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reduces the rate of cardiovascular events among patients with left-ventricular dysfunction and those at high risk of such events. We assessed whether the ACE inhibitor perindopril reduced cardiovascular risk in a low-risk population with stable coronary heart disease and no apparent heart failure. Methods We recruited patients from October, 1997, to June, 2000. 13 655 patients were registered with previous myocardial infarction (64%), angiographic evidence of coronary artery disease (61%), coronary revascularisation (55%), or a positive stress test only (5%). After a run-in period of 4 weeks, in which all patients received perindopril, 12 218 patients were randomly assigned perindopril 8 mg once daily (n=6110), or matching placebo (n=6108). The mean follow-up was 4.2 years, and the primary endpoint was cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or cardiac arrest. Analysis was by intention to treat...

Recent comprehensive data provided through the DAISIE project (www.europe-aliens.org) have facilitated the development of the first pan-European assessment of the impacts of alien plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates – in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments – on ecosystem services. There are 1094 species with documented ecological impacts and 1347 with economic impacts. The two taxonomic groups with the most species causing impacts are terrestrial invertebrates and terrestrial plants. The North Sea is the maritime region that suffers the most impacts. Across taxa and regions, ecological and economic impacts are highly correlated. Terrestrial invertebrates create greater economic impacts than ecological impacts, while the reverse is true for terrestrial plants. Alien species from all taxonomic groups affect “supporting”, “provisioning”, “regulating”, and “cultural” services and interfere with human well-being. Terrestrial vertebrates are responsible for the greatest range of impacts, and these are widely distributed across Europe. Here, we present a review of the financial costs, as the first step toward calculating an estimate of the economic consequences of alien species in Europe.

1 Pathways describe the processes that result in the introduction of alien species from one location to another. A framework is proposed to facilitate the comparative analysis of invasion pathways by a wide range of taxa in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Comparisons with a range of data helped identify existing gaps in current knowledge of pathways and highlight the limitations of existing legislation to manage introductions of alien species. The scheme aims for universality but uses the European Union as a case study for the regulatory perspectives. 2 Alien species may arrive and enter a new region through three broad mechanisms: importation of a commodity, arrival of a transport vector, and/or natural spread from a neighbouring region where the species is itself alien. These three mechanisms result in six principal pathways: release, escape, contaminant, stowaway, corridor and unaided. 3 Alien species transported as commodities may be introduced as a deliberate release or as an escape from captivity. Many species are not intentionally transported but arrive as a contaminant of a commodity, for example pathogens and pests. Stowaways are directly associated with human transport but arrive independently of a specific commodity, for example organisms transported in ballast water, cargo and airfreight. The corridor pathway highlights the role transport infrastructures play in the introduction of alien species. The unaided pathway describes situations where natural spread results in alien species arriving into a new region from a donor region where it is also alien. 4 Vertebrate pathways tend to be characterized as deliberate releases, invertebrates as contaminants and plants as escapes. Pathogenic micro-organisms and fungi are generally introduced as contaminants of their hosts. The corridor and unaided pathways are often ignored in pathway assessments but warrant further detailed consideration. 5 Synthesis and applications. Intentional releases and escapes should be straightforward to monitor and regulate but, in practice, developing legislation has proved difficult. New introductions continue to occur through contaminant, stowaway, corridor and unaided pathways. These pathways represent special challenges for management and legislation. The present framework should enable these trends to be monitored more clearly and hopefully lead to the development of appropriate regulations or codes of practice to stem the number of future introductions.

The accelerating rates of international trade, travel, and transport in the latter half of the twentieth century have led to the progressive mixing of biota from across the world and the number of species introduced to new regions continues to increase. The importance of biogeographic, climatic, economic, and demographic factors as drivers of this trend is increasingly being realized but as yet there is no consensus regarding their relative importance. Whereas little may be done to mitigate the effects of geography and climate on invasions, a wider range of options may exist to moderate the impacts of economic and demographic drivers. Here we use the most recent data available from Europe to partition between macroecological, economic, and demographic variables the variation in alien species richness of bryophytes, fungi, vascular plants, terrestrial insects, aquatic invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Only national wealth and human population density were statistically significant predictors in the majority of models when analyzed jointly with climate, geography, and land cover. The economic and demographic variables reflect the intensity of human activities and integrate the effect of factors that directly determine the outcome of invasion such as propagule pressure, pathways of introduction, eutrophication, and the intensity of anthropogenic disturbance. The strong influence of economic and demographic variables on the levels of invasion by alien species demonstrates that future solutions to the problem of biological invasions at a national scale lie in mitigating the negative environmental consequences of human activities that generate wealth and by promoting more sustainable population growth.