The major vectors of Georgia's customs policy in the post-coronavirus rehabilitation process

The customs policy is one of the most effective instruments for stimulating the economy, which, through its mechanism, contributes to the realization of the competitive environment and free market principles. The modification of existing policies will have positively impact to stimulate local business sectors and facilitate the post-crisis rehabilitation process. That is why, in the process of rehabilitationfrom the economic crisis which is caused by Coronavirus, the customs policy should ensure that the main vectors of post-crisis policy are defined, so that, country can involve in the global chain of international business with minimal losses

Modern Challenges and Small and Medium Enterprise Development Trends in Georgia

Purpose:The purpose of the study is to study the modern trends of SMEs development in Georgia, sectoral structure, directions of diversification and transformation, the spread and implementation of approaches based on digital platforms, the identification of existing problems and the search for solutions.   Theoretical framework:Based on many international and local studies, it is revealed that SMEs make a great contribution to the formation of a sustainable economy. Accordingly, there is a need to adapt to the changes facing the world and national economies and to make appropriate transformations to deal with the challenges.   Design/methodology/approach: This study was carried out based on SME-related scientific articles and studies published by international organizations. In addition, with the methods of econometric analysis and empirical research, the factors affecting the production of small and medium-sized businesses were analyzed and identified, and the sectoral features were evaluated and the needs were identified.   Findings: The study found that SMEs are represented in large numbers in traditional sectors, which are not characterized by high added value and with a high level of "spillover effect" in other sectors. There is a need to develop innovation-based industries, invest in human capital, and increase the capacity to use digital platforms.   Research, Practical & Social implications:  The provisions given in the study will be a recommendation for the better development of the SMEs small and medium business sector and for making appropriate decisions on the part of the government.   Originality/value: The work is a complex study, where the sectoral structure of the small and medium business sector, shortcomings, factors affecting the growth of productivity, aspects of the influence of innovations and digital platforms are studied

Проблеми продовольчої безпеки для країн, що розвиваються в умовах COVID-19: приклад Грузії

Introduction. Food security has not been a concern of any particular state and is a global problem for already a long time. It, as an economic category in the scientific literature, is considered from the position of ensuring the security of the global world problem, regions, individual countries, population groups and individual people. It is a multifaceted issue, closely linked to other security issues, and has a great impact on the national safety situation, which in turn is an economic, social and political category. COVID-19 has created a large-scale economic crisis. The pandemic has had a major impact on food security and the field of nutrition. The crisis has affected food systems and threatened public access to food, raising the issue of food self-sufficiency in countries.Aim and tasks. In order to assess food security, the paper examines the self-sufficiency coefficients of basic agro-food products in Georgia under the conditions of the World Pandemic, and evaluates its components: local production, import, export. In addition, local production trends have been analyzed, Results. Thus a study of the current state of the agro-food sector shows that the problem of providing the population with food is becoming more acute. The pace of development of the agro-food sector lags significantly behind the growth rates of other sectors of the economy. The current economic growth has not yet created the conditions for sustainable economic development: The level of supply of essential agro-food products is quite low, the number of jobs has not increased substantially, the level of income is low, poverty rates are still high and the food deficit is filled mainly with imported products.Conclusions. This study showed that the issue of the food security is still unresolved for Georgia. Despite the state support activities, the agro-food sector still needs assistance. We have developed recommendations, the consideration of which will significantly contribute to food supply of the markets and food supply to the population. Keywords: agro-food products, local production, food independence, self-sufficiency coefficients.Вступ. Продовольча безпека вже давно не є проблемою конкретної держави, вона являє собою глобальну проблему. Це багатоаспектний питання, тісно пов'язаний з іншими проблемами безпеки, який чинить серйозний вплив на національну безпекою, яка, в свою чергу, є економічною, соціальною та політичною категорією. COVID-19 викликав масштабну економічну кризу. Пандемія зробила серйозний вплив на продовольчу безпеку і положення в сфері харчування. Криза зачепила продовольчі системи і поставив під загрозу доступ населення до продовольства, а також на порядку денному постало питання про продовольчу самозабезпеченості країн. Мета і завдання. Метою статті є вивчення коефіцієнтів самозабезпеченості основними агропродовольчих товарами в Грузії в умовах світової пандемії з метою оцінки продовольчої безпеки, оцінки її таких компонентів, як: місцеве виробництво, імпорт, експорт. Аналіз тенденції місцевого виробництва, визначення взаємозв'язку між виробництвом агропродовольчих товарів і коефіцієнтами самозабезпеченості. Результати. Дослідження сучасного стану агропродовольчого сектору показало, що проблема забезпечення населення продуктами харчування стає все більш гострою. Темпи розвитку агропродовольчого сектору значно відстають від показників темпів зростання інших секторів економіки. Поточний економічне зростання ще не створив умов для стійкого економічного розвитку: рівень задоволеності необхідними агропродовольчих товарами досить низький, кількість робочих місць істотно не збільшилася, рівень доходів низький, рівень бідності все ще високий, а нестача продуктів харчування, в основному, заповнюється за рахунок імпортних продуктів. Висновки. Дане дослідження показало, що проблема продовольчої безпеки для Грузії досі не вирішена. Незважаючи на заходи активної державної підтримки, агропродовольчий сектор як і раніше потребує допомоги. Нами розроблені рекомендації, розгляд яких істотно посприяє продовольчого забезпечення ринків і продовольчого забезпечення населення

The role of locally produced bio products in the development of agritourism

One of the preconditions for the development of agritourism is the cultivation and production of natural agricultural products. It is for this purpose that we studied the specificity of the interdependency between tourism and agriculture on the example of Guria, one of the regions of Georgia. The potential and development perspectives of all three municipalities of the region (Ozurgeti, Chokhat’auri, and Lanchkhuti) are discussed in the article. The study is focused on the main elements of agritourism, on the local possibilities of food production, and on its natural character. The results of the research prove that there is a great interest among tourists in this activity, which is due to the purchase and tasting of quality and safe food and their participation in its production. Besides that, hindering factors are identified: in the first place, it is the ignoring of food safety rules, the failure of the infrastructure, and insufficient financial resources

Hyperhomocysteinemia and pregnancy outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A case-control study

Background: One of the reproductive medicine challenges is to determine the role of hyperhomocysteinemia in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), especially in women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Objective: Determine the correlation between hyperhomocysteinemia and pregnancy outcome in women with PCOS. Materials and Methods: This case-control study involved 245 women (20-30 yr) and was conducted in Georgia, Tbilisi from 2019-2022. Of these, 175 were women with PCOS (study group) and 70 were healthy women (control group). Women with PCOS were divided into group I with RPL (n = 90), and group II with live births (n = 85). Group I was divided into subgroups A and B with and without insulin resistance. The investigation measured homocysteine (Hcy), follicle-stimulating, luteinizing, anti-Mullerian hormones, total and free testosterone were determined. To determine the ovarian volume and antral follicle count, participants also underwent an ultrasound examination. Results: In women with PCOS, the average Hcy level was significantly higher than in the controls, p < 0.05. In group I, the average Hcy level was significantly higher than in group II and controls, p < 0.05. There was no significant difference in average Hcy level between group II and controls. The average Hcy level in group I, subgroup A was significantly higher than in subgroup B, p < 0.05. The average total, free testosterone levels, and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance levels (HOMA-IR) in group I was significantly higher than in group II and controls. HOMA-IR in group II and controls did not differ significantly. The average anti-Mullerian hormone levels in women with PCOS were significantly higher than controls, p < 0.05. No significant difference was observed in average anti-Mullerian hormone level, ovarian volume, antral follicle count, and body mass index between the comparison groups of PCOS. In group I, a positive correlation between Hcy with HOMA-IR was detected. Conclusion: Serum Hcy levels are elevated in women with PCOS and RPL, which correlates with their insulin resistance status. Key words: Polycystic ovary syndrome, Hyperhomocysteinemia, Recurrent abortion, Insulin resistance

Melanosomes in pigmented epithelia maintain eye lens transparency during zebrafish embryonic development

Altered levels of trace elements are associated with increased oxidative stress that is eventually responsible for pathologic conditions. Oxidative stress has been proposed to be involved in eye diseases, including cataract formation. We visualized the distribution of metals and other trace elements in the eye of zebrafish embryos by micro X-ray fluorescence (mu-XRF) imaging. Many elements showed highest accumulation in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of the zebrafish embryo. Knockdown of the zebrafish brown locus homologues tyrp1a/b eliminated accumulation of these elements in the RPE, indicating that they are bound by mature melanosomes. Furthermore, albino (slc45a2) mutants, which completely lack melanosomes, developed abnormal lens reflections similar to the congenital cataract caused by mutation of the myosin chaperon Unc45b, and an in situ spin trapping assay revealed increased oxidative stress in the lens of albino mutants. Finally transplanting a wildtype lens into an albino mutant background resulted in cataract formation. These data suggest that melanosomes in pigment epithelial cells protect the lens from oxidative stress during embryonic development, likely by buffering trace elements.Peer reviewe

On the Earliest Greek Colonial Architecture in the Pontus

B1 - Chapter in Research Book