The paper compiles different explanations and definitions of smart specialisation in Latvia. The development of smart specialization strategies (RIS3) should promote the competitiveness of countries or regions. For national level, RIS3 helps concentrate resources and support innovations. Desk research identifies lack of regional level when comparing smart specialisations in different countries. Nevertheless, some regions in Latvia have still stated RIS3 when elaborating their regional development strategy. The research performed is mainly based on desk research by using content analysis and the monographic method. An assessment tool from the RIS3 Assessment Wheel elaborated using the S3 Platform may be also used for assessment of RIS3 development in Latvia. The RIS3 of Latvia and Lithuania were compared and the differences were connected with transportation, usage of natural resources and society development. The RIS3 of Lithuania referred to the development of a sustainable environment, which was not present in the RIS3 of Latvia. The development of Latvia’s RIS3 has been assessed by using the RIS3 Assessment Wheel. The development of a tool for the synthetic representation of the progress made in drafting/designing a RIS3 allows condensing a huge amount of information in one visual model. There is measured development of Latvia’s RIS3 by comparing Latvian state institution official opinion with articles authors, performed as a first probation. There should be continued research on the regional level of Latvia, involving more experts and specialists particularly from the sectors representing smart specialisation priorities.

Jurassic clay rich in organic matter from western Latvia is known already from early 19th century. Jurassic clays provide an interest because of high potential for innovative use due to its clay mineral composition jointly with organic material. Properties of the Jurassic clayey deposits were studied by using various physical and chemical methods. Material gained from field was tested by modern techniques such as UV-Vis, 3D fluorescence and FTIR - spectra, which show patterns of organic compounds in the clay material. AAS analyses characterized inorganic content. PXRD studies raised discussions about the origin of kaolin, illite and smectite and interactions among these clay minerals. Obtained results show that Jurassic clays with organic matter have future potential for possible use in cosmetic industry and as a sorbent material. | Pētījumā gūtie rezultāti sniedz ziņas par Juras perioda mālaino nogulumu īpašībām, un palīdz salīdzināt šī perspektīvā derīgā izrakteņa īpašības. Juras sistēmas Kelovejas un Oksfordas stāvu nogulumi atrodami urbumu serdēs, atradnēs, kā arī pleistocēna ledāja atrauteņos jeb glasiodislokācijās. Līdz šim plašāki pētījumi notikuši Polijā un Lietuvā, salīdzinoši mazāk informācijas apkopots par Latvijas Juras māliem un to raksturojošām īpašībām. Šī pētījuma ietvaros paraugi tika ievākti Zoslēnu, Papiles un Lēģernieku atradnēs; to galvenās atšķirības saistās ar mālu frakcijas īpatsvaru salīdzinājumā ar pārējo nogulumu materiālu. Juras mālaino nogulumu sastāva īpatnības raksturotas, izmantojot granulometriskās analīzes, karsējuma zudumu, rentgendifraktometrisko un atomabsorbciometrijas metožu kompleksu; detalizēti pētīti arī nogulumu sastāvā esošie organiskie savienojumi, izmantojot UV-Vis un 3-D fluorescenci. Mālu sastāvā esošās organiskās vielas pamatā ir humusvielas, savukārt māla frakcijas neorganisko materiālu veido smektīts, illīts, kaolinīts un hlorīts aptuveni līdzīgās proporcijās, ko pierāda rentgendifraktometriskā izpēte. Agrākie pētījumi Polijā un Lietuvā liecina, ka dabiskās organiskās vielas, kas atrodamas Juras mālos, atspoguļo nogulumu veidošanās apstākļus. Juras māli var tikt izmantoti tālākos praktiskā pielietojuma pētījumos, kā arī, lai precīzāk raksturotu attiecīgā perioda paleoģeogrāfiskos apstākļus.

Trichinella species are worldwide distributed zoonotic agents and carnivores, as pine marten and stone marten, are common wildlife reservoirs for this nematode. In wild and domestic animals from Latvia and Lithuania detected Trichinella britovi, T. nativa, T. spiralis and T. pseudospiralis. Aim of this study was to obtain the Trichinella species prevalence and diversity in stone and pine martens in Latvia and Lithuania. Samples collected in hunting seasons from 2011 till 2014 in different regions of Latvia and in Kaunas region, Lithuania. Animals were killed by licensed hunters accordingly to Latvian hunting law (MK rules No 760) and Lithuania hunting law (LR MEDŽIOKLĖS ĮSTATYMAS Nr. IX-966). From each sampled animal (n=142) collected muscle tissues from foreleg and stored frozen at -20° C until further analyzing. Trichinella larvae detection was conducted separately for each animal. At least 25 g muscle tissue was analyzed according to European Union Commission Regulation with reference method (EC No 2075/2005). The number of Trichinella larvae per gram of muscle tissues (l.p.g.) was determined and larvae were collected and stored in 96% ethyl alcohol for further analyses. Trichinella species were identified by multiplex-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using species specific primers. Trichinella sp. prevalence in Martes sp. is 48.6%: in Lithuania (Kaunas region) 20.0% but in Latvia 52.0%. In Latvia detected higher Trichinella sp. prevalence in Martes sp. than in Lithuania (Kaunas region). There is no difference in Trichinella sp. prevalence in pine marten (49.2%) and stone marten (45.8%) in Latvia and Lithuania (Kaunas region). Trichinella sp. intensity is higher in pine marten (0.04-49.88 l.p.g.) than in stone marten (0.04-17.92 l.p.g.). In Trichinella identification determined three species: T. britovi, T. nativa and T. spiralis. There is higher Trichinella sp. diversity in Latvia than in Lithuania (Kaunas region). Trichinella nativa is only common in mix invasion with T. britovi. The widespread species in Latvia and Lithuania (Kaunas region) is T. britovi.

Considering the proposed new administrative territorial reform in Latvia, regional demographic implications of such municipal restructuring should be evaluated and placed in line with the advancements of the two neighbouring Baltic countries. This study aims to develop an indicative demographic outline of Latvian municipalities proposed under the 39-municipality model and identify main regional demographic peculiarities in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia for the next two decades. Literature review, statistical and geospatial methods, as well as recalculation, estimation and forecasting of the regional demographic data are used as research tools within this study. Study results indicate that despite expected structural changes proposed by the reform, Latvia could expect continuation of the two-speed demographic development pattern and core-periphery divide in regional development. However, judging upon experience in regional demographic developments of the two neighbouring countries, the new structure may prove to be more robust and manageable, linking rural municipalities and their respective regional development centres under “one roof”, thus allowing for easier control and implementation of the corrective policy measures.

By pair correlation analysis it has been shown that non-financial investment without construction work varies in different land regions of Latvia and this variation correlates with social and economic indicators of the district. In Eastern part of Latvia - Latgale there are the lowest values of non-financial investment without construction work. One exception is Preili. Non-financial investment without construction work correlates with higher education level, higher willingness to learn English, lower dying out of population, higher success in diary, lower unemployment benefits, higher car numbers and higher voting for EU. The highest correlation between no-financial investments without construction work has been observed with education. Presumably education is the most important lever to improve economic life in Latgale.

Increase of international competition for qualified young persons to attract them for higher education is on everyday activities agenda for many higher education establishments worldwide as well as research topic for academic researchers. Development of information technologies and their possibilities are used also by successful higher education establishments to attract students including students from foreign countries. In more and more cases, social networks are the first information source about dream higher education study programmes and later followed by more detailed information on webpage and other information sources. The aim of this paper is to analyse current developments of social network use for higher education marketing in foreign markets. Tasks of the research: update recent scientific findings in social media application for attraction of prospective students; find statistical data on recent situation in the country related to foreign students in HEI; update the expert views on information on higher education institutions in social networks; make comparisons of gateway websites for prospective foreign students based on different criteria. Methods used in the research: analysis of scientific literature, analysis of information in social networks related to higher education marketing in foreign markets, in – depth interviews with foreign relation specialists in higher education institutions, expert survey of public relation specialists and information technology specialists. For most of the evaluations of social network applications and statements in the survey were used evaluations in scale 1 – 10. The research results have indicated that a lot can be done to provide reasonable information about the higher education in Latvia and use recent technology and marketing solutions to attract foreign students.

The aim of the current research was to find socio-economic differences in e-government and e-participation development patterns in the three Baltic States – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The following research methods were applied: 1) descriptive statistics to compare levels of e-government and e-participation in the three countries; 2) correlation analysis to find relationships between socio-economic indicators and indicators of e-government and e-participation in the three countries. The current research put forward two hypotheses: H1: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have different dynamics in e-government and e-participation development. H2: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have different patterns of interconnections between socio-economic indicators and e-government and e-participation development. The research confirmed both hypotheses and suggested the following proposals based on research results: 1) to facilitate e-government and e-participation development in Latvia authorities should stress efforts on measures increasing economic competitiveness and curbing corruption; 2) to facilitate e-government and e-participation development in Lithuania authorities should stress efforts on measures supporting national income growth; 3) to facilitate e-participation development in Estonia authorities should stress efforts on measures supporting national income growth.

In recent years, security is one of the most important issues in political arena. Every country must ensure internal and external security for its citizens. In this context, the policy-makers have to decide how much to spend on this hot issue. The aim of this paper is to provide empirical insights of defence spending trends and its structural changes over the period of 2007–2013. The authors have employed comparative approach in order to assess the trends of defence expenditure in the context of the Baltic States, such as Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. To that end, the findings have suggested the following: 1) different trends of defence expenditure and economic growth have been detected within the Baltic States. Lithuania and Estonia have reported a negative association between these indicators, while Latvia has demonstrated a positive one; 2) on the basis of intensity rate, Lithuanian defence expenditure pattern could be characterized as shifting over the analysed period. It has been some times greater than in Latvia and Estonia; 3) Latvia and Estonia have almost identical structures of defence expenditure, while Lithuania and Estonia have the most significant dissimilarity.

The Baltic States have common geography and history. The major activities of free trade of the Baltic States during the period 1920 till 1940 have been agreements on: 1) Economic and Customs Union between the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Latvia (1923.01.11.); 2) Trade between the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Latvia (1930.24.11.); 3) Trade between the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Latvia (1931.03.07.). However normal free trade of the Baltic States was prevented by a planned economy in these countries. Now there are once again preconditions for the united Baltic States and their way to the united Europe.

A myxomycete collection made by K. Starcs in 1934 and deposited in the Herbarium of the University of Latvia (RIG) is published in the paper. Collection is arranged as exsiccati, it includes 37 herbarium sheets containing 24 species of myxomycetes; the following two are new records for Latvia: Badhamia utricularis and Cribraria vulgaris. Comments on morphology are given for critical specimens. Collection sites are mapped.