Cross-Border Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus: Development Problems in New Economic and Political Conditions

The authors consider the economic and political situation around Russia and Belarus in 2022–2023 as new conditions, as well as its influence on relations within the Union State of Russia and Belarus. Border area as a territory adjacent to other states is inevitably involved in international trade and cooperation, but its role can be both contact and barrier, and development is both dynamic and becoming depressed. The article describes the factors of global processes affecting the border and its features on the territory of the Russian Federation and justifies the use of the theory of “center — periphery” for further analysis of the border space between Russia and Belarus. The two states are obliged to build a system of border interaction. This system should be part of a system of supranational governance built to solve the problems of two sovereign states. Cross-border cooperation is not only a managerial, but also an economic resource that will deepen union integration

Continuous face authentication scheme for mobile devices with tracking and liveness detection

We present a novel scheme for continuous face authentication using mobile device cameras that addresses the issue of spoof attacks and attack windows in state-of-the-art approaches. Our scheme authenticates a user based on extracted facial features. However, unlike other schemes that periodically re-authenticate a user, our scheme tracks the authenticated face and only attempts re-authentication when the authenticated face is lost. This allows our scheme to eliminate attack windows that exist in schemes authenticating periodically and immediately recognise impostor usage. We also introduce a robust liveness detection component to our scheme that can detect printed faces and face videos. We describe how the addition of liveness detection enhances the robustness of our scheme against spoof attacks, improving on state-of-the-art approaches that lack this capability. Furthermore, we create the first dataset of facial videos collected from mobile devices during different real-world activities (walking, sitting and standing) such that our results reflect realistic scenarios. Our dataset therefore allows us to give new insight into the impact of user activity on facial recognition. Our dataset also includes spoofed facial videos for liveness testing. We use our dataset alongside two benchmark datasets for our experiments. We show and discuss how our scheme improves on existing continuous face authentication approaches and efficiently enhances device security

Evaluating the achievements and impacts of EC framework programme transport projects

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present what kind of elements and evaluation methods should be included into a framework for evaluating the achievements and impacts of transport projects supported in EC Framework Programmes (FP). Further, the paper discusses the possibilities of such an evaluation framework in producing recommendations regarding future transport research and policy objectives as well as mutual learning for the basis of strategic long term planning. Methods: The paper describes the two-dimensional evaluation methodology developed in the course of the FP7 METRONOME project. The dimensions are: (1) achievement of project objectives and targets in different levels and (2) research project impacts according to four impact groups. The methodology uses four complementary approaches in evaluation, namely evaluation matrices, coordinator questionnaires, lead user interviews and workshops. Results: Based on the methodology testing, with a sample of FP5 and FP6 projects, the main results relating to the rationale, implementation and achievements of FP projects is presented. In general, achievement of objectives in both FPs was good. Strongest impacts were identified within the impact group of management and co-ordination. Also scientific and end-user impacts of the projects were adequate, but wider societal impacts quite modest. Conclusions: The paper concludes with a discussion both on the theoretical and practical implications of the proposed methodology and by presenting some relevant future research needs. Document type: Articl

Evaluating the achievements and impacts of EC framework programme transport projects

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present what kind of elements and evaluation methods should be included into a framework for evaluating the achievements and impacts of transport projects supported in EC Framework Programmes (FP). Further, the paper discusses the possibilities of such an evaluation framework in producing recommendations regarding future transport research and policy objectives as well as mutual learning for the basis of strategic long term planning. Methods The paper describes the two-dimensional evaluation methodology developed in the course of the FP7 METRONOME project. The dimensions are: (1) achievement of project objectives and targets in different levels and (2) research project impacts according to four impact groups. The methodology uses four complementary approaches in evaluation, namely evaluation matrices, coordinator questionnaires, lead user interviews and workshops. Results Based on the methodology testing, with a sample of FP5 and FP6 projects, the main results relating to the rationale, implementation and achievements of FP projects is presented. In general, achievement of objectives in both FPs was good. Strongest impacts were identified within the impact group of management and co-ordination. Also scientific and end-user impacts of the projects were adequate, but wider societal impacts quite modest. The paper concludes with a discussion both on the theoretical and practical implications of the proposed methodology and by presenting some relevant future research needs

THE CENTRALIZED STRUCTURE OF FUND OF ASSESSMENT TOOLS OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

Abstract. The centralized structure of assessment tools of the main educational program of higher education consists of the following documents:- fund of assessment tools of the educational program — the central document uniting information on competences (formulations, codes of competences, a matrix of competences, stages of formation of competences), the description of types and forms of control on all elements of the educational program, criteria and scales of estimation (basic, standard, specialized), the methodical materials defining procedures of assessment tools development and the procedure of assessment, the main assessment tools of elements of the educational program;- funds of assessment tools of the current control of progress and intermediate certification as a part of working programs for separate elements of the educational program, which are developed on the basis of a central document.The offered structure of the fund of assessment tools is brought closer to the classical scheme of normalization of data – «one fact – in one place». The basic information relating to competences is concentrated in one document. Distinctive feature of the offered structure is the possibility to reduce considerably time and labor input of documentation development of the educational program