United Nations University Institute on Globalization, Culture and Mobility

This study analyses the current state of deliberation platforms in Greece. The analysis was based on two sets of criteria focusing on technical features and participatory design. The findings reveal limited data availability, regardless of laws promoting government data being open and reusable. Multilingual support is also an issue, with Greek being the main language, while English is present but not at a satisfactory level. Engagement is also an issue with uneven numbers of participation between platforms. While these platforms have allowed processes to take place online, thus allowing easier participation, true deliberation has not yet been achieved, as most currently work as a one-way communication tool for collecting comments and feedback. The Conference on the Future of Europe stands as an example of how these platforms can improve in the future.

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) rely on the functional integrity of spermatozoa, which can be affected by in vitro handling and preparation procedures. HyperSperm is a novel sperm treatment medium developed to enhance sperm function and improve clinical outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HyperSperm in human semen samples from patients undergoing fertility treatment. A paired analysis was performed on 135 clinical semen samples, each divided into two equal fractions processed using either standard conditions or the HyperSperm protocol. Sperm motility and kinematic parameters were measured with computer-assisted analysis. Safety assessments included sperm viability at baseline and after 24 hours, DNA fragmentation using a fluorescence-based assay, and acrosomal integrity under spontaneous and progesterone-stimulated conditions. Comparisons between paired samples were analyzed using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test. HyperSperm significantly enhanced sperm kinematic parameters, including curvilinear velocity and amplitude of lateral head displacement, resulting in higher levels of hyperactivated motility. Stratification by semen quality demonstrated that samples with reduced motility showed the greatest functional improvement. HyperSperm did not affect sperm viability or DNA integrity, even after 24 hours of incubation, and preserved acrosomal structure and responsiveness to progesterone. The clinical trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06742437, December 12th 2024). HyperSperm improves critical sperm functional parameters without compromising cellular viability, DNA stability, or acrosomal integrity. These findings support the safe and effective use of HyperSperm to optimize sperm performance and potentially improve outcomes in assisted reproduction.

Abstract This collection of articles focuses on some instruments that served to finance the expansion of private European trade and enabled the European intermediation of global commerce in the early modern period. Because they were distinct from those featured by the financial modernization of northern European economies -i.e. banks, bills and bonds, they have been conventionally assumed as archaic and lacking the efficiency and productivity gains of the modern vehicles and institutions. However, they coexisted, completed the financial architecture of Europe, and allowed a substantial extra-European commerce whose expansion was at the core of the Smithian growth of the period. Their persistence, scope and geographical reach were central for the expansion and integration of markets in the early modern globalization. Yet, their understanding is confined to micro-case studies of trades that reliant in cash payments and remittances were lagging in the innovations that revolutionized financial markets and long-distance commerce. This view also ignores their relevance even for the very European economy. Whilst the origins preceded the commercial expansion of Europe, research of the European trade finance has mostly focused on institutions of corporate models of trade finance and their institutional spillovers to bonds markets and banking infrastructure that developed exceptionally in some European economies. The alternative instrument common to these contribution was probably more ubiquitous than others more “modern” and persisted despite the flaws associated with its relative “archaism”.

ABSTRACT This paper explores the concept of e-resilience in educational systems, particularly in Public Affairs Education, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigate the drivers and challenges faced by actors from an educational system perspective, which is conceptualized by adjusting Bronfenbrenners’ ecological model using dimensions of Technology, Human, and Intersections and levels Macro, Meso and Micro, during this global shock. Utilizing a multiple case study approach across Argentina, Nigeria, South Africa, the Netherlands, and the United States, we examine e-resilience through 36 group interviews involving 41 students, staff, administration, and program directors. Our findings reveal that challenges within the technological system impact overall system performance, while human-level challenges disrupt learning and pose greater obstacles for the system. Despite these challenges, each context exhibits various drivers, providing insights for building more robust educational systems. By better understanding the dynamics of e-resilience within each educational system context, we can enhance educational systems in the face of unprecedented shocks.

The current study investigated the roles of social anxiety and gender as factors in young adults’ perceptions of the differences in their online versus offline interactions with friends. A large sample of 687 Australian young adults completed an online survey and of those, 520 participants (62.7% female; Mage = 19.34 years, SD = 2.05) who perceived a difference between their online and offline interactions were included in analyses. Matrix coding and crosstab queries were conducted comparing frequencies of theme endorsement of those high (n = 103) versus low-to-moderate (n = 416) in social anxiety, and female (n = 326) versus male (n = 193). Key differences were noted for socially anxious versus less-anxious youth, and in how females described and utilised the affordances of online interaction, relative to males. Compared to their peers with lower social anxiety, more socially anxious young adults described feeling more confident, comfortable, and open in online versus offline interactions with close friends. Further, female young adults reported using the perceived control and accessibility of friends online for relationship maintenance more than their male counterparts. Results highlight the need for additional research exploring the nuances of online interactions and the experiences of such for young adults.

Restorative justice is a complex, debated paradigm often defined as an approach to social justice that prioritizes restoration. It is particularly relevant for addressing anti-LGBT hate crimes and discrimination due to its potential to reduce secondary victimization, improve victim wellbeing, and generate social transformations. Drawing from qualitative interviews with LGBT NGO and justice professionals from six European Union member states, we analyze their experiences with restorative justice in cases of LGBT hate crimes to delineate its practical parameters, as well as its potentialities and limitations, and we identify significant conceptual and experiential dissonances and gaps. We argue that restorative justice processes can be productively designed and adapted, but the existing practices and expectations of our research participants do not always conform to restorative paradigms that achieve these goals, which points to the need for a shift in justice culture and training to implement restorative practices.