1. »Neretva Science Week« revisited – maintaining momentum on a conservation mission from river to catchment in the Upper Neretva River valley, Bosnia and HerzegovinaGabriel Singer, Špela Di Batista Borko, Manuela Habe, Maja Zagmajster, Mirza Čelebičić, Ivana Ivanić, Norbert Eichelmann, 2025, other scientific articles Keywords: Blue Heart of Europe, Scientists for Balkan Rivers, hydropower, biodiversity conservation, scientific advocacy
Published in DiRROS: 06.03.2026; Views: 29; Downloads: 8
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2. Current status of newborn screening in Southeastern and Central EuropeNika Požun, Daša Perko, Violeta Anastasovska, Tadej Battelino, Ana Drole Torkar, Matej Mlinarič, Žiga Iztok Remec, Barbka Repič-Lampret, Domen Trampuž, Mojca Žerjav-Tanšek, Urh Grošelj, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: Newborn screening (NBS) is a well-established public health program that enables early detection and treatment of rare disorders in newborns, preventing severe complications or death. Despite its recognized importance, the scope and implementation of NBS programs vary across Southeastern (SE) and Central Europe. This study aimed to evaluate the current status of NBS in 16 countries of SE and Central Europe and assess progress since the previous survey in 2021. A structured questionnaire was distributed to national experts between April and December 2025, collecting data on program organization, coverage, diseases included, laboratory methods, confirmatory testing, consent practices, and future expansion plans. All countries reported universal screening for congenital hypothyroidism, except Kosovo, where a national NBS is in the process of being established. Expanded NBS using tandem mass spectrometry was available in Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, North Macedonia, Romania, and Slovenia. Spinal muscular atrophy screening became universal in Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, and Slovenia. Most countries reported plans for further expansion, with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, severe combined immunodeficiency, spinal muscular atrophy, and cystic fibrosis being the most frequently targeted conditions. Although notable infrastructural progress has been achieved, financial constraints, lack of staff, and organizational barriers remain key challenges. The study’s assessment of program effectiveness was further limited by the absence of region-wide systems for capturing end-to-end performance indicators, such as the age of the infant at treatment initiation or missed cases. Regional collaboration and adoption of best practices are therefore vital to ensure equitable access and continuous advancement of NBS programs.
Keywords: newborn screening, NBS, Southeastern Europe, Central Europe, neonatal screening, expanded NBS program
Published in DiRROS: 06.03.2026; Views: 31; Downloads: 13
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3. Prevalence of chronic HCV infection in EU/EEA countries in 2019 using multiparameter evidence synthesisChristos Thomadakis, lias Gountas, Erika Duffell, Konstantinos Gountas, Benjamin Bluemel, Thomas Seyler, Filippo Maria Pericoli, Irene Kászoni-Rückerl, Ziad El-Khatib, Mojca Matičič, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Background Epidemiological data are crucial to monitoring progress towards the 2030 Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) elimination targets. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of chronic HCV infection (cHCV) in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) countries in 2019. Methods Multi-parameter evidence synthesis (MPES) was used to produce national estimates of cHCV defined as: π = πrecρrec + πexρex + πnonρnon; πrec, πex, and πnon represent cHCV prevalence among recent people who inject drugs (PWID), ex-PWID, and non-PWID, respectively, while ρrec, ρex, and ρnon represent the proportions of these groups in the population. Information sources included the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) national operational contact points (NCPs) and prevalence database, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction databases, and the published literature. Findings The cHCV prevalence in 29 of 30 EU/EEA countries in 2019 was 0.50% [95% Credible Interval (CrI): 0.46%, 0.55%]. The highest cHCV prevalence was observed in the eastern EU/EEA (0.88%; 95% CrI: 0.81%, 0.94%). At least 35.76% (95% CrI: 33.07%, 38.60%) of the overall cHCV prevalence in EU/EEA countries was associated with injecting drugs. Interpretation Using MPES and collaborating with ECDC NCPs, we estimated the prevalence of cHCV in the EU/EEA to be low. Some areas experience higher cHCV prevalence while a third of prevalent cHCV infections was attributed to PWID. Further efforts are needed to scale up prevention measures and the diagnosis and treatment of infected individuals, especially in the east of the EU/EEA and among PWID.
Keywords: HCV, hepatitis C, chronic hepatitis, prevalence, elimination, Europe
Published in DiRROS: 27.02.2026; Views: 93; Downloads: 32
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4. Understanding public opinion formation in Southeast Europe : exploring social forces and communication dynamicsTodor Stojčevski, Urša Lamut, Erika Džajić Uršič, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: The article investigates the mechanisms through which social forces, networks, cognitive frames, and institutions shape public opinion in Southeast Europe via communication. Employing a qualitative approach, data was collected through synchronous focus groups conducted in six Southeast European countries. The findings reveal that social networks play a pivotal role in shaping public opinion, with organizational position and relationships influencing communication effectiveness. Cognitive frames significantly impact public perception, with entrenched beliefs guiding interpretation of information. Meanwhile, social institutions, such as language and communication rules, influence the clarity and accessibility of messages, thereby shaping public understanding. The research underscores the need for deeper research, ethical standards, and transparent communication to build and maintain public trust. Continuous engagement with the public and adaptability in communication strategies are essential for fostering mutual understanding and trust. This research emphasizes social forces’ complexity and overlapping nature in shaping public opinion and the strategic approaches required for effective communication in Southeast Europe.
Keywords: public communication, networks, cognitive frames, institutions, Southeast Europe, public opinion
Published in DiRROS: 18.02.2026; Views: 176; Downloads: 47
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5. The tale of words and power : institutional narratives in Southeast EuropeTodor Stojčevski, Urša Lamut, Erika Džajić Uršič, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: The article examines how institutional frameworks influence communication strategies and public engagement across six countries in Southeastern Europe. Findings from focus group discussions reveal that formalized communication rules enhance credibility and consistency, but hinder adaptability, especially when engaging younger audiences who prefer informal and visual communication styles. Communicator literacy fosters clarity, trust, and audience connection, including adapting language and employing rhetorical and emotional intelligence. Leadership amplifies the perceived authority of institutional messages, increasing public responsiveness. Regional complexities, such as multilingual requirements for national minorities, highlight the tension between inclusivity and efficiency. Grounded in the social-fields-approach, the article emphasizes the interplay between institutional structures, sociocultural contexts, and public opinion formation. Institutions must adopt adaptive and inclusive strategies to effectively engage diverse publics and foster trust.
Keywords: media, communication, institutions, Southeast Europe, public opinion
Published in DiRROS: 18.02.2026; Views: 200; Downloads: 59
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6. European Bee and Hovefly Database (EBHD)Ahlam Sentil, Marija Miličić, Jordan Benrezkallah, Jelena Ačanski, Andrijana Andrić, Matthieu Aubert, Ignasi Bartomeus, Paolo Biella, Mira Boustani, Leif Bloss Carstensen, Maarten De Groot, 2025, complete scientific database of research data Abstract: This publication includes: (i) Two occurrence databases of bees and hoverflies in “Pollinator Core” template, saved as RDS and CSV files. The databases are a result of compiled datasets from diverse sources, including taxonomists, national experts, published data, museum collections, literature, and aggregated datasets from previous European projects. They comprise more than 4,34 million and 1,04 million records for wild bees and hoverflies, respectively. The databases cover 97% of the European bee fauna and 97% of the European hoverfly fauna.
Keywords: database, wild bee, hoverfly, Europe
Published in DiRROS: 12.02.2026; Views: 339; Downloads: 59
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7. Synthesised database of wild bee and hoverfly records in EuropeAhlam Sentil, Marija Miličić, Jordan Benrezkallah, Jelena Ačanski, Andrijana Andrić, Matthieu Aubert, Ignasi Bartomeus, Paolo Biella, Mira Boustani, Leif Bloss Carstensen, Maarten De Groot, 2026, other scientific articles Abstract: Wild bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) and hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae), the two major groups of insect pollinators, are undergoing alarming declines worldwide, including Europe. The lack of accessible and verified spatial and temporal occurrence records currently challenges efforts to understand and mitigate this decline. Here, we compiled datasets from diverse sources, including taxonomists, national experts, public repositories, museum collections, published literature, verified open-access platforms, and aggregated datasets from previous European projects. The collected data were standardised, cleaned and validated by taxonomists and national experts. This collective effort resulted in two databases comprising more than 4.34 million and 1.04 million records for wild bees and hoverflies, respectively. The databases cover 97% of the European bee fauna (2,083 species out of 2,138 recorded in Europe) and 97% of the European hoverfly fauna (886 species out of 913 recorded in Europe). These standardised databases constitute essential resources for future assessments of status and trends, habitat associations, and other research and conservation initiatives to protect and understand wild pollinators on the European continent.
Keywords: database, wild bee, hoverfly, Europe
Published in DiRROS: 12.02.2026; Views: 387; Downloads: 94
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8. The "New course" and its impacts in Central and Eastern Europe : the case of HungaryEndre Domonkos, András Schlett, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: The death of Stalin on 5 March 1953 signified a watershed in international relations, which promoted to mitigate the tensions between the two main superpowers, the USA and the USSR. These events had repercussions in the Central and Eastern European countries. In the early 1950s, the economic policy based on forced industrialisation and the collectivization of agriculture clearly showed the deficiencies of the command economy. To avoid internal rebellion within the region, the new Soviet leadership decided to correct the mistakes made in economic policy. The aim of the paper is to analyse the impacts of the „New Course” in Central and Eastern Europe based on a multi-disciplinary approach. It also gives an overview about the reforms of Imre Nagy during 1953–1955. Due to length constraints, the essay will not evaluate the foreign relations of each country, rather it focuses on the consequences of the “thaw” between 1953 and 1956.
Keywords: economic history, "New course", Central and Eastern Europe, reform attempts, de-Stalinisation process
Published in DiRROS: 09.02.2026; Views: 393; Downloads: 100
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9. The border as a space of exchange in the 18th century : commissioners’ networks and Joseph Hueber’s architectural workshop in Croatia and SloveniaDubravka Botica, 2025, review article Abstract: In Central Europe, borders are not solid barriers but are rather fluid. Central Europe is a deeply connected cultural space of intensive exchange (M. Csáky) in which artistic production is shaped by densely intertwined mutual contacts and influences between individual countries and regions. This is particularly visible in the activities of large architectural, painting and sculptural workshops in the 18th century, which had a wide network of collaborators throughout the area. A key role in the rapid and far-reaching transfer of artistic solutions was played by the commissioners of artworks, both ecclesiastical and secular, strongly connected by a dense network of contacts that did not stop at (today’s national) borders. This paper studies the example of the activities of the architectural workshop of Joseph Hueber from Graz (1715–1787) in historical Styria, present-day Austria, and Lower Styria (present-day Slovenia) and northwestern Croatia to explore the method and scope of the workshop’s work, as well as the reconstruction of contacts between commissioners from the ranks of the Styrian, Hungarian and Croatian nobility.
Keywords: Central Europe, Styria, Slovenia, Croatia, Baroque architecture, borders, building workshops, Joseph Hueber, art patronage, the nobility
Published in DiRROS: 21.01.2026; Views: 253; Downloads: 114
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10. Medical geneticists’ interpretations of genetic disorders in Roma communities in post-socialist HungaryBarna Szamosi, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: The article investigates the utilization of ethnic classification by human geneticists in Hungary, with a particular focus on the Roma minority. Drawing on qualitative expert-interviews, it analyzes how historically situated social imaginaries inform the production of genetic knowledge. The study explores how human genetics constructs heritable disorders as ethnic diseases, exposing the epistemological and ethical tensions inherent in translating sociocultural difference into biological terms.
Keywords: population genetics, race/ethnicity, Roma, public health, East Central Europe
Published in DiRROS: 19.01.2026; Views: 250; Downloads: 115
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