Search

Standards and outcomes-based education led to significant adjustments in school organizations and contributed to the in-depth analysis of teachers’ professional identity. This research aimed to examine the chemistry teachers’ attitudes in the context of the implementation of the educational outcomes and standards in educational policy and in the school practice, as well as to ascertain the level of accomplished learning outcomes for the selected teaching topic “Lipids”. The research sample included both, chemistry teachers (N = 4) and high school students (N = 172) from two countries, Serbia and Montenegro. The data were analyzed qualitatively jointly for two countries using mixed-methods research and constant comparison of the data. There are no significant differences in teachers’ attitudes as well as in achievements among students between these two educational systems. All teachers emphasized the importance of learning outcomes and standards and confirmed that they help them in organizing lessons and monitoring students’ assessments. However, interviewed teachers pointed out the need for support and consideration of teachers’ opinions about implementing educational changes. The results obtained on the knowledge test have highlighted that knowledge about “Lipids” among students is not at the expected level.

This paper investigates the perceptions of pressure and stress among agile team members, focusing on various factors, such as personal characteristics, team composition, and communication practices. Empirical research was conducted by using an online questionnaire from April to October 2024. During this time, 110 agile team members from Serbian software development companies took part in the research. Hypothesis testing, including the Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis H-test, indicated no statistically significant differences by gender, age, team membership length, team size, company type, frequency of team meetings and main type of team communication. Notably, while the influence of team size approached significance, the overall results indicate that personal, teams, and organizational factors have no significant effect on perceptions of pressure and stress in agile teams. These results highlight the need for further investigation into alternative factors that may influence perceptions of pressure and stress, but they also demonstrate the superiority of agile teams.

This paper investigates how demographic factors (gender and age), and contextual factors (length of team membership and work type) affect communication, shared values, collaborative growth and improvements in agile software development teams in Serbia. Empirical research was conducted using a specially designed online questionnaire which consisted of profile questions and three highly reliable scales focusing on agile software development team communication, shared values, and collaborative growth and improvements. In the period from April to October 2024, a total of 107 agile software development team members from Serbia participated in the research. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney U-test, and the Kruskal-Wallis H-test. The findings reveal no statistically significant differences in communication, shared values, or collaborative growth based on age, length of team membership, and work type. However, a notable gender difference was observed, with female team members reporting a higher level of agreement on shared values within their teams. These results underscore the critical role of gender dynamics in fostering a cohesive team environment in agile settings. Understanding these dynamics is essential for enhancing team collaboration and performance, suggesting that organizations should consider gender inclusivity when developing agile software development teams.

The aim of this paper is to examine and analyze the role of agricultural cooperatives in the development and promotion of rural tourism. The research was conducted in Azanja, Serbia, utilizing a mixed-method research with a questionnaire technique and a case study method during March and April 2024. The key findings indicate that improving conditions for rural tourism development requires effective networking among all stakeholders and coordinated promotional activities. Establishing partnerships based on shared interests is essential for rural tourism development. In this context, the agricultural cooperative Azanja should assume several important roles: initiator, educator, coordinator, logistics organizer, tourism animator, promoter, consultant, and supervisor. By taking on these responsibilities, Azanja can effectively support and stimulate rural tourism development. Furthermore, the agricultural cooperative Azanja has the ability to develop effective promotional strategies to increase the area's visibility on the tourist map.

This paper explores the distribution pattern of SAR1g within the adult male head during utilization of hands-free operation of contemporary mobile phones as a source of electromagnetic radiation. The research assesses the optimal positioning of the mobile phone by examining three distinct orientations to determine the minimal SAR1g distribution compared to the conventional talking position when hands-free feature is not utilized. The analysis encompasses GSM bands operating at 900 MHz and 1800 MHz, depending on the alignment between the mobile phone and the head.

Background/Aim. Despite all innovations in medicine, melanoma still has a rising incidence and high mortality and thus represents a significant challenge for the healthcare system. The pandemic of the coronavirus dis-ease 2019 (COVID-19), spanning three years, redirected healthcare resources, suspended preventive programs, and strained the healthcare system, significantly impacting melanoma management. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of melanoma patients. Methods. This retrospective study analyzed melanoma patients treated at a single tertiary care center over two distinct three-year periods: pre-COVID period (2017–2020) and the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–2022). The following data were collected and compared: patient demographics, melanoma characteristics, time intervals from biopsy to surgery, and the share of thin and thick melanoma. Results. During the COVID-19 pandemic period, there was a 3 0% reduction in melanoma patients compared to the pre-COVID- 19 period. The decline was most pronounced in 2020 when the state of emergency was introduced in the country. Thin melanoma percentage as a measurement of successful screening programs decreased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic (11.57% vs. 24.01%), while median Breslow thickness remained stable. The distribution of different histological types was consistent across both periods. The average time from biopsy to surgery remained similar between the two periods, around 40 days. Conclusion. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, melanoma remains a critical healthcare issue. This study emphasized the significance of prioritizing melanoma care in emergencies, ensuring patient identification and timely treatment in order to optimize survival and minimize treatment costs.

Emotional exhaustion has become a ubiquitous phenomenon in the banking sector. In this paper, empirical research was conducted using a specially designed questionnaire with the aim of assessing the emotional exhaustion of employees in the banking sector in Serbia in relation to their gender, length of work in the bank and contact with clients. During 2022, responses were collected from 136 respondents. In the data processing, non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis H-test) were applied. The research results showed that the feeling of emotional exhaustion is more prevalent and frequent among men, compared to women, but that these differences are not statistically significant. Also, the research results indicated statistically significant differences in respondents' answers to the statements related to the feeling of tiredness and the feeling that they work too much, depending on the length of work in banks. Statistically significant differences exist in the answers of respondents who have contact with clients at their job and those who do not.

Background/Aim. Radial artery perforator flap (RAPF) is a type of fasciocutaneous or adipofascial reverse pedicle flap, which proved to be a versatile flap for the reconstruction of small and moderate size soft tissue defects of the forearm, wrist, and hand. RAPF provides suitable skin coverage with elastic subcutaneous tissue thus enabling the protection of exposed or damaged functional structures and their simultaneous repair. The aim of this study was to summarize and analyze the results of the treatment of patients with upper extremity soft tissue defects caused by trauma, infection, burn, or tumor removal, which were re-constructed with RAPF. Methods. This retrospective study included 20 consecutive patients with skin and soft tissue defects of the hand and wrist, treated at the University Clinical Center of Vojvodina from 2012 to 2022. The design of the flaps and length of the pedicles were determined by the recipient site. Tourniquet-induced exsanguination was used during surgery for better visualization. The flaps were elevated and placed at the site of the defect. Data on patients and flaps were summarized upon their collection. Results. Distally based fasciocutaneous RAPF was used in all cases. The average age of the patients was 48 years, predominantly (64%) males. Defects were most often localized on the dorsal part of the hand (60%) and wrist (20%). The most common indications for surgery were trauma (45%) and tumor resection (25%). A satisfactory coverage of the defect was achieved in all 20 patients with no flap loss. Venous congestion was noted in 4 (20%) patients, which resulted in partial necrosis of the flap in 3 (15%) patients. Wound healing was achieved upon conservative treatment by secondary intention in two patients and with a secondary suture in the last one. A surgical site infection occurred in 2 (10%) patients who withdrew after proper local and systemic therapy. Conclusion. RAPF proved to be a workhorse flap for soft tissue reconstruction of the upper limb. This surgical solution led to an excellent functional and aesthetic outcome in the majority of patients. Complex surgical procedures could be done simultaneously, together with the reconstruction of tendons, joints, or fracture stabilization. The reliability and safety of these flaps are confirmed through our clinical data.

As one of the pillars of the economy, financial institutions play important role in implementation of the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR). The paper is focused on CSR in the financial sector, i.e. the perception of employees in banks and insurance companies in Serbia on the level of development of CSR regarding its external dimensions, such as responsibility toward beneficiaries, community and environment. The aim is to identify the employees' perceptions of external aspects of CSR in the financial sector, as well as to determine the impact of selected external aspects on the expected CSR benefits. The results of the conducted empirical research demonstrate a positive attitude of employees in financial institutions in the Republic of Serbia towards external aspects of CSR, as well as statistically significant impact of CSR towards beneficiary and environment on the expected CSR benefits. Additionally, the results indicate that CSR towards the community does not affect the expected benefits. Accordingly, we identified some practical and theoretical implications that can serve as a basis for creating and implementing a strategic approach to CSR in financial institutions.

The paper presents three-dimensional numerical models of short concrete-filled steel tubular circular columns that can successfully describe the column behaviour under axial compression. Several of the most commonly used material models for the steel part and a concrete portion of the column are evaluated in the models. In addition, the paper presents a new proposal for the extension of the Eurocode 2 stress-strain relation to make it suitable for describing the complex behaviour of concrete inside the steel tube. This model overcomes the current limitations of the Eurocode 2 design guide, referring to the limitation for the concrete curve in compression to 3.5%o strain. The ultimate axial column strength obtained by the proposed model is compared to the ultimate column capacity calculated by a simplified method provided in Eurocode 4. All presented numerical models are validated on a set of experiments from the literature and demonstrate good agreement. The comments about the accuracy of each model are provided, along with the identified limitations.

Quality is a factor that significantly determines the competitiveness and success of any organization on the market in today's business conditions. Customers' increasing degree and level of information, as well as their increasing demands and wishes, have presented organizations with the challenge of ensuring and nurturing top quality. Quality culture is a type of organizational culture that incorporates key assumptions, values, principles, and fundamental concepts of quality management. The findings of a 2022 study in which 21 managers and 80 employees of the company Šinvoz, Zrenjanin took part revealed that managers, on average, expressed more positive attitudes toward the aforementioned claims than employees who were more reserved. Statistically significant differences in the responses of managers and employees were identified in terms of leadership, quality as a key value in the company, focus on the customer, and employee empowerment and participation. These segments received significantly higher ratings from managers, compared to employee ratings. Leadership, working conditions, and employee motivation are the key areas that need to be improved, as they received the lowest average scores. The findings of the research can help leaders and managers make decisions about the quality culture and, more broadly, about the necessary organizational changes.

The paper highlights that in the process of identifying the brand essence, it is not enough to simply carry out quantitative research, but an in-depth study of the city's history and culture is also necessary - language, customs, myths, legends, symbols, values, and lifestyle. Valid responses on specially designed questionnaire for this research were collected in the city of Vranje from 389 participants (195 valid responses by residents and 194 by the visitors) while 16 participants participated in qualitative research (focus groups and semi-structured in-depth interviews). Determining the city brand essence requires the application of different research methods and techniques to understand the overall city's tradition and culture. A complete success in city branding can only be achieved if the brand essence is clearly defined, i.e. if this "core" generates enough of the brand's internal energy. Proposed solutions should provide an easier "orientation" in finding and managing the brand essence of the city. In this way, it is possible to discover the "heart and soul" of cities and activate their hidden potentials for brand development.

The innovativeness of the employees is a prerequisite for the development of new products, as well as maintaining and improving the market competitive position. The innovativeness of employees depends on numerous factors, some of which are internal, operating under control and jurisdiction of management. The research topic in this paper are internal organizational factors: technological equipment, availability of financial resources, culture and compensation system, as well as formal aspects of innovation. The main research goal is to show that these factors have a significant and uneven influence on the innovativeness of employees in organizations. Empirical research was conducted on a sample of 81 respondents employed in companies in the Republic of Serbia. The research results indicate that culture and the compensation system have the highest degree of influence on the innovativeness of employees, in relation to the four observed variables, but other interesting relationships were discovered, as well. They are described and explained through discussion, aiming to connect theoretical concepts and practical results. At the end of the paper, adequate conclusions were drawn and guidelines for future research provided.

he paper proposes a methodology for defining the optimal solution for the integrated usage of cogeneration and rooftop photovoltaics. The purpose is to minimize CO₂ emissions in industrial plants. The methodology is founded on the integral use of energy audit techniques (analyzing energy and material flows in a production process and the dependence of electricity and heat consumption on a production volume) and mathematical optimization (linear programming). In accordance with the obtained consumption profiles, technical limitations, and legal regulations, the potential for installing rooftop photovoltaic (PV) panels at appropriate locations and the implementation of appropriate cogeneration technologies were analysed. The proposed methodology was tested on a local margarine production facility. The integrated application of cogeneration (gas engines) and photovoltaics can reduce the current CO₂ emission by 56% if PV panels are installed on the entire accessible rooftop surface, i.e. up to 44.5% if 150 kW PV panels are installed as the new national regulation proposes.

The crystal growth rate of LiGe2(PO4)3 phase from lithium germanium-phosphate glass was studied. The glass have been homogenized using the previously established temperature-time conditions, which make it possible to remove volatile substances from the glass melt. The atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) was used to determine the chemical content of the obtained glass and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to reveal the isothermal process of crystal growth. The crystal growth rates were determined experimentally and theoretically.

Intellectual capital in the knowledge era is a strategic advantage of board structure, which leads to the improvement of a company’s work and the achievement of its goals. The aim of this study is to develop a structural model that connects the corporate governance, intellectual capital and financial performance of the banking sector. Corporate governance is conceptualised by the board of directors as the main internal mechanism of corporate governance, which is measured by the size of the board of directors, the number of independent board members and the female board members. Intellectual capital represents a mediator in this model and its efficiency is calculated through the Value Added Intellectual Coefficient (VAIC) model, while the financial performance of banks is measured through return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). The results of the study conducted in 22 Serbian banks between 2015 to 2019 show that the size of the board of directors and the number of independent board members have a statistically significant impact on intelectual capital (IC), but there is no impact on total assets (ROA). The number of women in the board of directors does not have a statistically significant effect on either ROA or ROE. The findings also indicate that intellectual capital (HCE, SCE, CEE) has a significant mediating role in the relationship between board structure and bank performance. The results of this study will provide a significant contribution to further investment in intellectual capital as the strongest link in achieving positive effects on bank performance.

Background/Aim. Upper blepharoplasty is one of the most often performed aesthetic operations and is indicated for periorbital rejuvenation or correction of some functional problems. The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcome of this procedure and to assess patients’ satisfaction and possibilities of objective measurement of operative results. Methods. A two-year prospective observational study was conducted among female patients who had upper blepharoplasty done by the same surgeon. Data were collected from medical documentation, questionnaire, and objective measurements conducted via standardized digital photographs taken before and two months after surgery. Tarsal platform show (TPS) and brow fat span (BFS) were measured at three points (P1, P2, P3) before and two months after the surgery. A questionnaire conducted before surgery and two months after it included general complaints considering upper eyelids (visual field narrowing, fallen eyelids, the sensation of heavy eyelids, raising head backward in order to enhance vision, headache), patientsʼ assessment of eyelid asymmetry and an additional questionnaire after surgery included questions for the surgeon and patients concerning satisfaction with treatment outcome. Results. This study involved 50 female patients aged be-tween 33 and 67 years (49.98 ± 8.6 years). There was a statistically significant difference in all points for TPS and BFS measurements before and after the operation. No significant asymmetries were noticed between eyes neither before nor after surgery. There was a statistically significant difference in operation success among 3 age categories in TPS-P1 (χ2 = 13.089, df = 2, p = 0.001) and TPS-P2 (χ2 = 8.386, df = 2, p = 0.015) with best results achieved in older patients (> 55 years). There was strong positive, statistically significant correlation between patient’s and surgeon’s satisfaction (r= 0.704, p = 0.002), as well as between patients’ satisfaction and their age (r = 0.704, p = 0.002). Conclusion. Realistic expectations, adequate information about the surgery and possible complications, are essential to satisfied patients. Objective measurements correlate with patientsʼ satisfaction and together with photographs can be a useful tool in communication with them.

Introduction/Objective. The most important etiologic factors for both, capsular contracture (CC) and breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is subclinical infection, defined as a response of an organism on presence of biofilm on the implant surface. The aim of this research was to examine the possibility of biofilm formation of four different bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Ralstonia picketti) on three differently textured silicone breast implants (Siltex, Mentor, pore size 70–150 μm; MESMORsensitive, Polytech, pore size 50–900 μm; and SilkSurface, Motiva pores 13 μm) in vitro. Methods. Samples of silicone breast implant capsules (sized 1 × 1 cm) were divided into three groups according to texture. After sterilization, 30 samples in every group were contaminated with 100 μl of examined bacterial broth, followed by incubation which led to biofilm formation. For testing the capability of biofilm formation, modified technique with microtitar plates described by Stepanović was used. Results. All four examined bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Ralstonia picketti) form more biofilm on implants with pore sizes 50–900 μm compared to implants with pore size 70–150 μm and those with 13 μm. Statistical significance was found in biofilm formation on implants with pores 70–150 μm compared to implants with pores 13 μm. The only exception was P. aeuruginosa which did not show significant difference in biofilm formation on implants 70–150 μm and 13 μm. Conclusion. Silicone breast implants with micro and nanotexture should be chosen in order to prevent biofilm formation and possible consequent complications.

The paper points out the leading role of the HR department in crisis situations, with special emphasis on the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected the whole world in early 2020. Regardless of the intensity and form in which they occur, crises threaten the functioning and survival of organizations. The HR department is an important factor in the successful functioning of organizations and, in a period of crisis, this department takes a leading role in the process of crisis management and subsequent recovery. During COVID-19 pandemic, the HR department of every organization had to confront new challenges in order to protect the health of employees, while ensuring the normal functioning of organizations. In order to find out how this department dealt with crisis that occurred, empirical research with a specially designed questionnaire was conducted and filled in by 108 respondents from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia in 2020. The research results showed that HR department has taken a leading role in preserving the health and safety of employees, as well as in the process of adapting organizations to function in crisis conditions. According to results, the key activities carried out by the HR department in organizations are work from home (wherever the nature of the work allowed), flexible working hours, reorganization of the working space to achieve the required physical distance between employees, improved hygiene measures, etc. In addition, the research results showed that, during the global COVID-19 pandemic, the HR departments took an active role in providing psychological assistance to employees to adapt to new conditions and ways of working.

The nucleation process of lithium germanium-phosphate glass was studied to determine the temperature range of nucleation and the temperature of the maximum nucleation rate. The differential thermal analysis (DTA), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to reveal the nonisothermal and isothermal process of nucleation, respectively. The crystallization process occurred at a high homogeneous nucleation rate and the spherulitic crystal growth morphology. Nanostructured samples were obtained.

Background/Aim. Hand injuries are one of the most common injuries seen in emergency departments. Inadequate treatment can lead to prolonged healing, complications, significant morbidity, and serious disability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology, risk factors, and treatment of hand injuries in one tertiary care level clinical center. Methods. This study was designed as a descriptive retrospective epidemiological study that involved all patients with hand injuries treated at the University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia for seven years. The authors collected sociodemographic and clinical data such as age, gender, mechanism of injury, type of injury, days of hospitalization, type of defect reconstruction, the time of in-jury, the timing of surgery, and reasons for operative treatment delay. For every hospitalized patient the Modified Hand Injury Severity Score (MHISS) was calculated. All data were analyzed using SPSS IBM 21.0 software. Results. From 2012 to 2018, 34,796 patients were treated for hand injury at the University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, with 554 (1.6%) hospitalized patients. The mean age of patients was 43.2 years; the majority of them (87.55%) were men, and most (47.2%) were injured at home. Most injuries occurred during knife handling. The average length of stay for hospitalized patients was 4 days. MHISS score for most patients was over 50 and was classified a s severe. It was noticed that the waiting time for operation became shorter throughout the selected years. Conclusion. Hand injuries present a complex problem that can sometimes be underestimated by patients. The requirement of highly specialized hand surgeons, sometimes special equipment (e.g., microscope), multiple operations, prolonged rehabilitation, possible invalidity, and high cost of treatment calls for careful evaluation of the problem and the development of proper strategies in order to be able to lower the costs and obtain better medical care for all people with higher injury risk.

The pandemic of the COVID-19 virus disease has resulted in significant changes in everyday life. As a result, two-thirds of the urban population has been forced to alter previously established travel habits. With this in mind, the international scientific community wonders if the newly formed travel habits could be maintained after the pandemic is over. This paper presents the findings of a survey conducted among students in Kragujevac prior to and during the COVID-19 virus pandemic. Furthermore, the citizens' expectations regarding the change in travel habits following the end of the pandemic are presented. For a period of five years, the survey was conducted once a year on students at the Faculty of Engineering in Kragujevac (Serbia). According to the survey results, during the pandemic, the car was considered a more comfortable mode of transportation than before. When compared to before the pandemic, the share of student families with two cars increased by 15%. The number of cyclists has also increased, making the lack of bike paths during the pandemic a more visible issue than previously. The students polled believe that once the pandemic is over, they will walk more and continue to rely on public transportation as before.

Background/Aim. When it comes to anesthesia, patient satisfaction (PS) is more difficult to assess than in any other medical specialty. The aim of this study was to construct a tool for assessing PS with anesthesia and then examine the effects of postoperative care provided by anesthesiologists on PS. Methods. The study included patients undergoing general anesthesia due to the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate knee ligament who were considered the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) 1 and ASA 2 classes. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1 included 74 patients who had a postoperative visit performed by an attending anesthesiologist; group 2 included 70 patients who had a postoperative visit performed by a nurse anesthetist after surgery; group 3 included 74 patients who did not have postoperative visit during postoperative care by an anesthesiologist nor a nurse anesthetist. The tools used in the research were the Anesthesia Patient Satisfaction questionnaire specially designed for this study and the Post Anesthetic Recovery Scoring System (PAS). ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used to estimate the statistical significance of the obtained results between the groups. Results. Association between an objective assessment of the postoperative status of patients on day zero and satisfaction with the anesthesiologist’s patient management showed statistical significance (p < 0.05). Patients who had a postoperative visit by an anesthesiologist tolerated better preoperative and postoperative physical symptoms. Patients visited by an anesthesiologist were most satisfied with postoperative care (p < 0.05). Conclusion. The use of a highly reliable questionnaire for the evaluation of PS with anesthesia could improve the postoperative condition of patients and enable faster recovery during the postoperative period.

Every generation of people has needs, incentives, desires, intentions, attitudes and values that make it distinguishable, specific and unique. Generation Z is entering the labour market and beginning its search for an ideal employer in order to obtain outstanding experience and optimal employee value proposition. Members of Generation Z have specific traits and characteristics that set them apart from other generations. In order to build a brand as a successful and desirable employer in digital economy, one should take into account these specific traits and characteristics in order to attract and retain members of Generation Z in the long term. This paper points out the key factors of employer branding and employee value proposition that influence Generation Z's decision-making regarding employment. The results of an empirical research, which included 339 members of Generation Z from the Republic of Serbia, indicated the following three key factors that influence their choice of an employer: the opportunity for career advancement, a pleasant and interesting work environment, and the opportunity for personal development (acquiring new knowledge and skills). The conducted research provides important information on the basis of which employers can better conceptualize value proposition for members of Generation Z and establish their branding of a desired employer.

Motivated by the fact that optimizing quantization error fails to minimize the accuracy degradation caused by the quantization of Neural Network (NN) weights, in this paper, we highlight the need for a comprehensive analysis of post-training quantization, covering average bit rate, accuracy degradation and SQNR. One such analysis, for the layer-wise uniform quantization and its application is NN weight compression is presented in this paper. We introduce an additional aspect of Uniform Quantizer (UQ) choice, and we allow the selection of one of two UQs (2-bit or 3-bit UQs) for each layer of NN. However, choosing a particular bit rate allocation to minimize average bit rate and accuracy degradation requires finding a trade-off solution. To solve the issue underpinning our motivation, for a post-training layer-wise uniform quantization framework with two UQs, we propose an algorithm for generating bit rate allocation patterns and corresponding pairs of average bit rate and accuracy degradation. We analyze the output of this algorithm and determine a solution of the elaborated two-objective optimization problem. To confirm the validity of the results we also apply the Pareto dominance method. This work can be considered a solid foundation for further analyses of more complex and deeper NNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal decomposition (pyrolysis) of coal bottom ash (collected after lignite combustion in coal-fired power plant TEKO-B, Republic of Serbia) was investigated, using the simultaneous TG-DTG techniques in an inert atmosphere, at various heating rates. By using the XRD technique, it was found that the sample (CBA-TB) contains a large amount of anorthite, muscovite, and silica, as well as periclase and hematite, but in a smaller amount. Using a model-free kinetic approach, the complex nature of the process was successfully resolved. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the sample is characterized by dissociation reactions, which are endothermic with positive activation entropy changes, where spontaneity is achieved at high reaction temperatures. The model-based method showed the existence of a complex reaction scheme that includes two consecutive reaction steps and one single-step reaction, described by a variety of reaction models as nucleation/growth phase boundary-controlled, the second/n-th order chemical, and autocatalytic mechanisms. It was established that an anorthite I1 phase breakdown reaction into the incongruent melting product (CaO·Al2O3·2SiO2) represents the rate-controlling step. Autocatalytic behavior is reflected through chromium-incorporated SiO2 catalyst reaction, which leads to the formation of chromium(II) oxo-species. These catalytic centers are important in ethylene polymerization for converting light olefin gases into hydrocarbons. Adiabatic TD24 prediction simulations of the process were also carried out. Based on safety analysis through validated kinetic parameters, it was concluded that the tested sample exhibits high thermal stability. Applied thermal treatment was successful in promoting positive changes in the physicochemical characteristics of starting material, enabling beneficial end-use of final products and reduction of potential environmental risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines and analyzes the relationship between workplace robots, employee emotional exhaustion, and turnover intentions within the context of Industry 5.0. Empirical research was conducted from January to May 2024. During this period, a total of 582 respondents from four Southeastern European countries (Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina) participated in the research. The proposed relationships between variables were tested by using the partial least squares method for structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM, SmartPLS software). The research results confirmed that the emotional exhaustion of employees had a positive relationship with turnover intentions, while workplace robots' effects were negatively related to employee emotional exhaustion and turnover intentions. Leaders, managers, and human resource professionals may benefit from the findings presented in this paper, especially during the decision-making process on how to reduce the emotional exhaustion of employees by using workplace robots, which, in the end, will result in employee retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this investigation was to assess the total polyphenolic content (TPC), identify and quantify individual polyphenols, and evaluate their radical scavenging activity (RSA), as well as determine the mineral composition in stem extracts from nine distinct Vitis vinifera varieties. The total phenolic content in grape stem extracts ranged from 34.87 to 76.95 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per gram of dry weight (d.w.). These extracts exhibited significant free radical scavenging activity, ranging from 0.344 to 0.898 mmol Trolox equivalents (TE) per gram d.w. Stem extracts were predominantly characterized by flavan-3-ols, flavonols, and phenolic acids. Catechin and quercetin-3-glucuronide were identified as the most abundant components, with concentrations of up to 1.858 mg/g d.w. and 1.315 mg/g d.w., respectively. Potassium (K) emerged as the most abundant element in all samples, with content ranging from 7.297 mg/g d.w. to 16.695 mg/g d.w., followed by calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the potential for rural tourism development in Azanja (Republic of Serbia) by analyzing its territorial capital - natural, social, cultural, economic and human capital. Results from field research conducted in 2024 encompassing 209 residents revealed that the main strength lies in Azanja’s social capital, followed by natural and cultural capital. However, economic and human capital were identified as weak points, hindering rural tourism development. The results showed that rural tourism development in Azanja requires strategic investments and capacity building to overcome its economic and human capital limitations. Recommendations include fostering local entrepreneurship, providing financial incentives for tourism-related businesses, and implementing educational programs to enhance residents’ knowledge and skills in tourism management and hospitality. By identifying the strengths and weaknesses of Azanja’s territorial capital, this research provides a basis for formulating targeted strategies to enhance the region’s appeal to tourists and foster sustainable rural tourism development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few decades, quality has become one of the most important factors of companies' competitiveness, a condition for their survival and development. The subject of this paper is the analysis of the degree of quality culture development in an organization. The analysis was based on empirical research in which 80 employees from the company Šinvoz, Zrenjanin participated during November 2022. The results showed that the organizational culture in this company did not sufficiently implement the characteristics of the quality culture. Employees do not notice enough management involvement and commitment in quality improvement efforts, the organizational culture is centralized and formalized, which is why the employees themselves are not engaged and committed to quality improvement. There is a big disproportion (gap) between what is visible and publicly announced (quality statement) and what is not immediately visible (opinions and attitudes of employees). In the following period, the company should constantly confirm in practice that quality is its key value, in order to reduce this disproportion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selected lithium germanium-phosphate glass was prepared by a conventional melt-quenching technique. The XRD method was employed to confirm the glass was obtained and to reveal crystalline phases during heat treatment. The dilatometry (DIL), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to determine the characteristic temperatures and enthalpies of crystallization and melting of the crystalline phase. The DTA and DIL were used to obtain the viscosity curves by applying the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann (VFT) equation