Information technology is increasingly permeating the lives of every modern individual, profoundly impacting them as consumers. With e-commerce and online shopping now firmly entrenched in daily routines, it becomes imperative to conduct research and establish a comprehensive e-shopper/e-buyer profile. The purpose of this article is to study modern Internet shoppers in Latvia and describe the profile of a typical e-buyer to identify possible problems and prospects for the development of e-commerce for Latvian companies during the relevant period. The article highlights some aspects that characterize Latvian e-buyers and their behaviour as consumers, analysing their buying habits by age structure in dynamics and comparing data for the period from 2010 to 2021. The frequency of online purchases by Latvian users is also examined. The key characteristics of several basic portraits of the typical e-shopper in Latvia are substantiated. The analysis employs monographic and statistical methods, and visual images are presented based on Eurostat data. The research authors conclude that the Latvian segment of online buyers is rather conservative, but it is becoming more and more active in exploring the possibilities of online shopping. The key characteristics of several basic profiles of an average e-shopper in Latvia are also justified.

Ensuring the spatial development of regional agricultural systems in Ukraine during martial law requires a comprehensive study and implementation of urgent effective tools and mechanisms. The hostilities had a negative impact on agriculture, disrupting the regional structure of agricultural production and consumption, destroying agricultural land, assets, enterprises in certain regions of Ukraine, and reducing the volume of agricultural exports through traditional logistics channels. The aim of the study is use territorial marketing to ensure the development of regional agricultural systems in Ukraine. It is based on the analysis of regional structure of agricultural systems in Ukraine, clustering of regional agricultural systems in terms of relative security of sustainable agriculture, and mechanisms of land use development. The regional structure of agricultural systems in Ukraine is analysed and the territories where the ecosystem is destroyed and unsuitable for agriculture, which are temporarily occupied are identified. The dynamics of planted area of agricultural crops under the harvest were assessed, clusters of regional agricultural systems of Ukraine during martial law were identified. Based on research results, the use of territorial marketing is proposed, a mechanism for sustainable agriculture and strategic land use planning is developed. Prospects intend to ensure spatial development of regional agricultural systems in Ukraine during martial law by relocating agricultural enterprises to relatively safe regions, creating of integrated entrepreneurial agricultural structures, developing of public-private partnerships, attracting investments and introducing innovations, digitalization in agriculture, developing exports within the framework of cross-border cooperation, increasing employment in agriculture due to internal migration processes, etc.

A review of the available literature revealed that there was no information about public opinions on start-ups; therefore, the authors set the main aim to theoretically examine the nature of start-ups and identify the opinions of residents on start-ups in Latvia. The specific research tasks were defined as follows: 1) to conduct a theoretical review of literature on start-ups and the ecosystem thereof in Latvia; 2) to identify the knowledge and opinions of residents aged 18 to 75 about start-ups in Latvia. As part of the present research, the authors conducted a survey in Latvia to identify the population’s knowledge of start-ups, differences between start-ups and other kinds of enterprises as well as the role of start-ups in entrepreneurship. The research employed the monographic and descriptive methods, the descriptive statistics method and a sociological method – an Internet survey using quota sampling. The survey was conducted in January 2023 and involved 1005 respondents throughout Latvia. The survey found that most of the respondents (73%) generally knew or had heard about start-ups and, according to the respondents, the main features that distinguished start-ups from other kinds of enterprises were innovation (54%), use of modern technologies (48%) and fast growth (41%). 63% of the respondents who had heard about start-ups noted that the start-ups, compared with other kinds of enterprises, were generally important for further development of the business environment in Latvia.

The objective of this research was to design an economically efficient logistics management model for fuel retail enterprises to improve their competitiveness. In the current global market situation, fuel retail enterprises face various challenges, such as sharp increase in raw material price, intense market competition, high price sensitivity, low profitability, and significant logistics costs. By combining theoretical and practical insights, an improved logistics management model was designed, which provides significant competitive advantage for fuel retail enterprises. The designed model incorporates and integrates three distinct logistics arrangements, resulting in considerable advantages for fuel retail enterprises. These advantages include a reduction in logistics costs and increased independency from the fluctuating logistics service expenses. To determine the economic efficiency of the designed logistics management model, it was validated by using data obtained from a fuel retail enterprise based in Sweden. Results of the research indicated that the fuel retail enterprise can anticipate an annual reduction in logistics costs ranging from 2.91% to 3.32% from the implementation of the improved logistics management model. On top of that, the developed logistics management model is projected to be economically viable until 2027, assuming the continuation of the current market trends and conditions. The findings of the research suggest that other fuel retail enterprises may also benefit from implementation of the designed model in the current market conditions.

Innovations are very important condition and tool for competitive entrepreneurship. To obtain more effective approaches, researchers are devoting deepened analysis for many factors influencing innovations and innovative activities indicating that there is an important influence on different sources of information on innovations — own company, co-operation with universities and business incubators, with research organisations. Empirical research results were based on survey results of entrepreneurs and on analysis of obtained survey results by use of descriptive statistics indicators confirmed that entrepreneurs in Kurzeme region biggest inspiration get in their own company as well as from suppliers of equipment, programs and materials but they have less influence on information about innovations from universities and other higher education institutions as well as private organisations, also research organisations.

One of the most pressing problems of sustainable spatial development in Latvia is the existence of degraded areas. To address the issues of revitalization of degraded territories and to ensure sustainable development of the territory, Latvian municipalities could apply for support under the Specific Support Objective 5.6.2 (SSO 5.6.2) ‘Revitalization of territories through regeneration of degraded territories in accordance with integrated development program of municipalities’ during the European Union (EU) Structural Funds programming period 2014–2020. According to the Ministry of Finance (MF) data on project costs, it was found that during the implementation of the projects for revitalization of degraded territories, the local governments have not ensured an effective project management process in accordance with the implementation requirements of SSO 5.6.2, resulting in irregularities detected in the audits carried out on the projects, which have led to the decision on inappropriately performed expenses (IPE). Considering that the deadline for the implementation of projects under the 2014–2020 EU funds programming period is 31.12.2023, it is necessary to carry out an analysis of IPE to identify the reasons for the occurrence of IPE and to plan timely preventive actions to eliminate mistakes in the new programming period 2021–2027. The relevance and importance of the study lies in the analysis of the factors holding projects back - mistakes and irregularities and their prevention to ensure an efficient project management process.

Natural processes and human activity play a crucial role in altering the nitrogen cycle and increasing nitrogen oxide (N2O) emissions. Nitrous oxide isotopes 15N and 18O are important parameters that can help to explain the sources of N2O gas, as well as their circulation under different soil physical properties. The main goal of the study is to analyse the possibilities of using dinitrogen isotopes 15N and 18O, measured in soil samples, for the identification of N2O sources. A total of 16 plots were sampled. Each soil sample was assigned a code. Wetting of the samples was carried out to create wet aerobic conditions and wet anaerobic conditions. N2O measurements were performed in laboratory conditions using the Picarro G5131-i device. The 15Nα and 15Nβ values obtained in the measurement data were used to calculate the δ15NSP and δ15Nbulk values. The obtained δ15NSP and δ15Nbul values were analysed using two methods – descriptive statistics and Kruskal-Wallis test. The test showed that there are statistically significant differences between δ15NSP values (p-value <0.0001), and δ15Nbulk there was no significant difference (p-value 0.885).

Lowering emissions expelled from internal combustion engines has been the focus of researchers worldwide. Adding hydroxy gas to current internal combustion engines can be an effective way of lowering CO2, CO, HC and particle emissions, as well as improve combustion. Because of this, a review of previously conducted research on the addition of hydroxy gas to different internal combustion engines has been produced. During this review, it was concluded that addition of hydroxy gas can be an effective way of lowering fuel consumption and CO, CO2 and HC emissions in petrol engines, as well as fuel consumption and CO and HC emissions in diesel engines.

Cyberattacks have become a regular part of network activity. To mitigate the risks from possible threats, organisations have implemented firewalls and intrusion detection systems, which can help stop network attacks. The problem is that often the accuracy of these systems is not effective enough. Another part of network security is security information and management platforms. These systems are more advanced versions of Threat Intelligence Platforms, because it is possible to make in-depth analyses of real-time events in a network. This research paper proposes improving intrusion detection system functionality using Open-Source Intelligence. Anomaly-based intrusion detection systems often generate alerts, but these alerts require deeper analysis to understand whether it is a real attack or just a false alarm. By making Open-Source Intelligence requests and evaluating extra information, it is possible to make more precise rules to stop attacks against network infrastructure. Open-Source Intelligence requests are generated directly from the intrusion detection system or with Python scripts based on the organisation’s infrastructure profile. The proposed architecture was experimentally tested by automating Open-Source Intelligence requests and intrusion detection rule generation by Python scripts.