Regional Formation and Development Studies

The accessibility of neurology services has become an increasingly important issue in health care systems, due to the growing prevalence

Epilepsy is a disease of the nervous system. Some cases of epilepsy are resistant to pharmacotherapy. One of the treatment methods is the ketogenic diet, which is characterised by a low carbohydrate content in favour of fats. The aim of the study was to assess the level of knowledge of parents of children with epilepsy regarding the ketogenic diet. Conducted between January and March 2025, the study involved 62 parents of children with epilepsy. Parents of children diagnosed with epilepsy at an early age more frequently demonstrate a knowledge of the main principles of the ketogenic diet. Respondents perceive the ketogenic diet as a form of treatment. Knowledge of the contraindications to the ketogenic diet is limited, and depends primarily on the respondents’ level of education. Respondents are aware of the necessity of implementing the ketogenic diet under the supervision of a physician and a clinical dietitian.

The paper examines managerial competencies that support data-driven decision-making in a community football club. The study addresses the problem of which specific managerial competencies enable club leaders to use diverse data sources effectively when making strategic, operational and sport-related decisions in a non-profit, community-based context, focusing on the case of the Neptūnas Football Club in Klaipėda, Lithuania. The research object consists of managerial competencies related to data-driven decision-making, while the aim is to justify and present a coherent set of competencies relevant to similar sports organisations. The study applies literature and document analysis, content analysis of public club reports, and semi-structured interviews with six key stakeholders, followed by qualitative content analysis to identify decision-making domains, data use practices and competency requirements. The findings reveal three main decision-making areas, a wide range of data types and analytical tools used in practice, and a multidimensional set of strategic, analytical, leadership, interpersonal, personal-ethical and digital competencies linked to data-driven decision-making. The proposed competency set can serve as a practical reference for community and non-profit sports clubs seeking to strengthen data-driven decision-making and to align technological, organisational and human factors.

The article presents a theoretical examination of fiscal and monetary governance in the European Union and the United States, by comparing their institutional frameworks, fiscal and monetary policy regulations, and crisis-response mechanisms. This research is grounded in a comparative analysis of the EU and the United States spanning the years 2003 to 2024. The paper integrates a literature review with statistical comparisons and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, to investigate 11 macroeconomic indicators, which include tax revenue, government expenditure, public debt, the budget balance, the money supply, interest rates, inflation, unemployment, exchange rate fluctuations, and GDP per capita, adjusted for purchasing power parity. The analysis is organised into various economic phases (pre-crisis, post-2008 adjustment, pre-pandemic and post-pandemic), to discern how both cases reacted to significant economic disturbances, and what policy variables were most closely linked to growth outcomes. The results suggest that the United States has probably achieved a superior relative economic performance, due to its policy mix characterised by lower tax burdens, more rapid fiscal adjustments and broader monetary expansion. Conversely, the European Union’s elevated tax levels, increased public spending and slower policy adjustments were correlated with lower GDP per capita growth and extended recovery periods. These findings were based on the results of high P-value and low R, as well as squared results of OLS regression. At the same time, considerations of autocorrelation and multicollinearity have been taken into account.

This study proposes a quantitative multi-criteria framework to measure the social pillar of circular tourism, bridging the analytical gap between environmental resource efficiency and socio-economic equity. By aligning the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) with the 5R principles (reduce, recycle, repair, rethink and reuse), the Composite Social Circularity Index (CSCI) was constructed using Eurostat NUTS 2 data across 242 European regions over the 2018–2024 horizon. The methodology applies the entropy weighting method to synthesise complex indicators, such as circular workforce training, sharing economy participation and specialised repair employment. The empirical results reveal a significant circular divide within the EU-27. While a prominent northern-Alpine corridor excels in high-tech rethink strategies, peripheral regions remain caught in structural linear traps. However, a unique social repair buffer was identified in the Mediterranean region, where traditional SME-led repair cultures provide organic labour market resilience. The paper provides a standardised tool for policymakers to monitor the just transition, advocating for social conditionality parameters to ensure that circularity benefits both the environment and the regional labour force.

Biosphere reserves represent important laboratories for testing innovative approaches to sustainable regional development. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the role of smart innovations, particularly those that combine digital technologies, open data infrastructures and participatory governance. This paper analyses selected examples of smart innovations implemented in European biosphere reserves, with a particular focus on their contribution to the development of social potential in these territories. The study applies a qualitative research design based on the analysis of 205 European biosphere reserves. Initial case identification was supported by AI-assisted screening, and subsequently validated using secondary sources, including official websites, project documentation and scientific publications. The findings indicate that the most advanced biosphere reserves apply integrated monitoring systems combining remote sensing, sensor networks and participatory data collection. At the same time, open biodiversity databases, socio-environmental observatories and digital communication platforms enable broader access to environmental information, and support collaboration between researchers, public authorities and local communities. Examples from biosphere reserves such as Sierra Nevada, Menorca, Wadden Sea, North Devon, Nordhordland and Kristianstads Vattenrike demonstrate how smart tools can strengthen participatory governance, knowledge exchange, and evidence-based decision-making. The results suggest that biosphere reserves can function not only as sites of technological innovation, but also as platforms for social innovation, where digital tools and participatory approaches contribute to sustainable regional development.

The article examines the relationships between the application of negotiating techniques, conflict management, the organisational environment, and emotional well-being among nurses working in inpatient healthcare institutions. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire, developed on the basis of previous scientific literature and validated theoretical models. Convenience sampling was applied. A total of 510 questionnaires were distributed, of which 384 were returned completed (the response rate was 75.3%). Respondents evaluated the questionnaire’s statements using a five-point Likert scale. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, while descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rank correlation, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 29. The study demonstrated the excellent internal consistency of the questionnaire (Cronbach’s α = 0.943). Statistically significant positive associations were identified between negotiating techniques, conflict management, organisational environment and emotional well-being. The strongest relationship was observed between conflict management and the organisational environment (r = 0.523; p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that conflict management and the organisational environment were independently associated with nurses’ emotional well-being, whereas negotiating techniques did not reach statistical significance. The findings suggest that supportive organisational environments, constructive conflict management and respectful communication are associated with better emotional well-being among nurses. Considering that the study was based on a convenience sample and self-reported data collected in inpatient healthcare institutions in western Lithuania, the findings should be interpreted within these methodological limitations.

Research on community-based tourism encompasses urban and rural landscapes, the local architectural heritage, local traditions and customs, ethnography, historical events, cultural preservation events, and biographical studies of notable local people. This body of knowledge encourages communities to conduct systematic research, and to identify and highlight the most important factors and values, which can then serve as the basis for creating and organising tourism itineraries designed to introduce visitors to communities as an alternative form of cultural tourism. The community tourism model is a new sector in the Lithuanian tourism system. Therefore, it has virtually no practical applications, and is still in its formative stages. The aim is to highlight the significance of community-based tourism among Klaipėda’s communities as a promising branch of alternative cultural tourism, based on which the community-based tourism model and research methodology can be adapted for use in communities in other regions.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing traditional educational methods to innovative, technology-based methods. As with any other subject at school, it is essential to use various technologies when teaching English, to help develop students’ language skills. In modern education, technological advancements are driving the integration of AI into English language teaching and learning in primary schools. AI is becoming a transformative educational tool. Qualitative research has revealed that AI technologies stimulate students’ interest in and motivation to learn English, making lessons more interesting and engaging. Teachers believe that AI technologies enable them to create more diverse learning content, revitalising traditional teaching methods. AI also fosters students’ creativity, and helps them to develop language skills while learning English. However, the study findings also show that teachers face challenges when applying AI tools. These challenges are related to a decline in student progress due to excessive technology use, unreliable information, and a lack of digital competence among teachers. Teachers who apply AI technology tools in the educational process must know and be able to explain to students and inform them about the principles of the operation of AI technology tools such as data protection (students may or may not agree with the application of AI-based monitoring systems). Students must be clearly informed about how their personal data is collected, stored and interpreted using AI technologies. Therefore, to use AI effectively to develop the English language skills of primary school students, it is important not only to use AI in the classroom, but also to engage the students themselves.