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The aim of this paper is to present the principle of testing electrical insulation mats and the results of the tests as well as observed irregularities in their operation in transformer stations 35/10 kV (TS 35/10) in Serbia. In accordance with the progress of technology, more and more automation and computers are being introduced in the management of the operation of TS, and the basic concepts of protection against contact voltage and step voltage of the staff who work and stay in these facilities are neglected. The fact is that these TS are facilities where people are not constantly present, but they still spend a certain amount of time in them and are exposed to various dangers. Electrical insulation mats were tested in several TS and the results were devastating. In addition to non-compliance with work procedures, these facilities often leak, various rodents are present, and unsanitary conditions are at an enviable level. The main problem is that the electrical insulating mats are not adequate for their purpose, they are not properly installed, the lack of proper inspection supervision, as well as the shortcomings in the legal regulations that define this area more...

Background/Aim. Pharmacologic therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) relieves disease progression and affects the androgen hormone status. A decrease in the level of free testosterone (freeT) within total testosterone (totalT) leads to symptoms of sexual dysfunction. The aim of this study was to show the impact of pharmacological treatment for BPH on prostate volume (PV) and levels of freeT and, consequently, on urinary parameters and sexual desire in men during 6 months of administration. Methods. This clinical prospective study included 156 BPH patients with moderate urinary symptoms – International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) < 19, PV > 30 mL and prostate specific antigen (PSA) value < 4 ng/mL. The average age of patients was 61.16 ± 2.97 years. The performed tests included determination of tumor markers (PSA, free PSA), hormones (totalT, freeT, freeT/totalT ratio), trans abdominal ultrasonography and uroflowmetry. Urinary symptoms were measured by IPSS and the Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaire while the changes in sexual desire were measured using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. Four groups were formed, 39 patients each. The group 1 received alpha1- blocker (AB) tamsulosin, the group 2, 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor (5-ARI) finasteride, the group 3, combined therapy of both drugs (tamsulosin and finasteride), while the group 4 (control group) had no therapy. Follow-ups were performed every three and six months during therapy administration. Results. Prostate volume significantly decreased in the patients on combined therapy (-6.95 ± 2.00; p < 0.001) and finasteride (-6.67 ± 3.35). In the finasteride group, the levels of freeT (-4.23 ± 5.2; p < 0.001) and freeT/totalT ratio (-0.12 0.08; p < 0.001) significantly decreased as did the freeT (-2.64 ± 7.81) and freeT/totalT ratio (-0.09 ± 0.13) in the combined therapy group. Uroflowmetry showed a significant improvement in all parameters and all the therapy groups. Combined therapy provided the greatest improvement in the maximum flow rate (Qmax) (+4.06 ± 1.75; p < 0.001) and urinary symptoms (-10.95 ± 3.19). A significant improvement of sexual desire occurred in the patients on tamsulosin (+0.78 ± 1.00; p < 0.001), with a slight deterioration in the finasteride group, but without statistical significance. Conclusion. Hormonal component of pharmacologic therapy for BPH most effectively reduces PV and freeT levels, improves urinary symptoms with a slight decline of sexual desire in men on finasteride monotherapy. more...

Introduction. The development of effective medications makes pharmacological therapy of BPH the dominant mode of treatment today. It improves urinary symptoms and prevents disease progression while producing side effects on male sexual function. Objective. The aim of the study is to present the effects of BPH pharmacological treatment on the occurrence of sexually adverse effects in men: changes in sexual desire, erectile, ejaculatory and the orgasmic function. Methods. A prospective study involving 156 BPH patients. The average age was 61.16±2.97. Four groups of 39 patients each were formed. The 4 groups were administered tamsulosin (alpha-blocker), finasteride (5-alpha reductase inhibitor), combination therapy (tamsulosin and finasteride) respectively, while the control group received no treatment. IPSS-QoL, IIEF and MSHQ-EjD questionnaires were used to evaluate the symptoms of voiding and sexual function. Follow-up examinations were performed 3 and 6 months into treatment. Results. Voiding symptoms improved in all groups receiving therapy. The side effects on the sexual function in all these groups include significant disorders of ejaculation and the orgasmic function. Ejaculation disorders: tamsulosin (-4.38±2.55; p more...

Background/Aim. Gunshot wounds caused by the automatic rifle M70AB2 (AK-47) 7.62 mm, after the primary surgical management, were closed with delayed primary suture during the next four to seven days. This period coincides with the fibroblastic phase of wound healing. Fibrin glue is used as a local hemostatic and as a matrix for the local dosed release of antibiotics. Antibiotics addition to fibrin glue resulted in continuous diffusion into the surrounding next 4 to 7 days. The aim of this study was to create the preconditions for gunshot wounds closing without complications by the application of fibrin glue with antibiotics 24 h after primary surgical treatment. Methods. A total of 14 pigs were wounded in the gluteofemoral region by the bullet M67, initial velocity of 720 m/s. All wounded animals were surgically treated according to the principles of the warsurgery doctrine. Seven wounds were closed with primary delayed suture four days after the primary surgical treatment (traditional approach). Fibrin glue with antibiotics was introduced in seven wounds during the primary surgical treatment and primary delayed suture was done after 24 h. The macroscopic appearance and the clinical assessment of the wound were done during the primary surgical treatment and during its revision after 24 h, as well as histopathological findings at the days 4 and 7 after wounding. Results. Gunshot wounds caused by the automatic rifle M70AB2 (AK-47) 7.62 mm, and treated with fibrin glue with antibiotics after primary surgical management, were closed with primary delayed suture after 24 h. In further wound evolution there were no complications. Conclusion. Uncomplicated soft-tissue wounds caused by an automatic M70AB2 rifle may be closed primarily with delayed suture without the risk of developing complications if on revision, 24 h after primary surgery, there were no present necrotic tissues, hematoma, and any signs of infection when fibrin glue with antibiotics (ceftriaxone and clindamycin) was applied. The use of this method should be limited to individual and strictly controlled cases in civil practice for now. more...

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Background/Aim. Unknown primary tumors represent a heterogeneous group of malignancies that are indicative of ominous prognosis. Cancer of unknown primary site (CUP) is defined as the lack of any detectable primary site after full evaluation, and accounts for approximately 3-5% of all newly diagnosed patients with malignancies. The aim of this report was to present the prognostic and predictive value of 8 serum tumor markers in this group of patients. Methods. The study involved 63 patients. On histological examination, all the patients were presented with metastatic tumors whose primary site (origin) could not be detected with noninvasive diagnostic techniques. Following the routine light microscopy, all histological findings were classified into one of the following three groups: plano-cellular carcinoma - 8 patients; adenocarcinoma - 33 patients; unclassifiable (undifferentiated) carcinoma - 22 patients. In all the cases we evaluated 8 serum tumor markers: alpha-fetoproteins (AFP), chronic gonadotrophin beta submit, human (beta-HCG), neuron specific enolase (NSE), marker of malignant ovarian tumors (CA 125), prostate-specific antigene (PSA), marker of malignant brest tumor (CA 15-3), marker of malignant pancreas tumor and gastrointestinal tumor (Ca 19-9), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) at the time of diagnosis. The patients on chemotherapy had the markers determined after the third and sixth chemocycle, i.e. at the time of illness progression observation, if present. The patients responding to chemotherapy with complete response (CR), partial response (PR) or stable disease (SD) had the markers determined after three-month periods until the time of relapse or progression. Chemotherapy was applied in 32 patients (20 females and 12 males), aged 29-70 years, who met the inclusion criteria. The following chemotherapy regimen was used: doxorubicin 50mg/m2 (day 1), cisplatin 60mg/m2 (day 1), and etoposide 120 mg/m2 (days 1-3). The period between two chemotherapy cycles was three weeks, and maximum five weeks in the case of prolonged hematological toxicity. Results. Most commonly elevated were NSE values (82.54%), while AFP values were least commonly elevated (11.11%). Average survival time was 17.89 months (95%CI 12.96; 22.83). The probability of 24 months' survival was 0.228. The group of 32 patients treated with chemotherapy had 12 (37.5%) fatal outcomes in the observed period (72 months). Average survival time was 26.6 months (95% CI 19.5; 33.7). Average tumor marker values before and after the chemotherapy were significantly lower for NSE and CA 125. Survival was significantly better in cases of NSE and CA 125 decrease of more than 20%. Conclusion. Increased values of serum tumor markers are very often in CUP. The tumors show nonspecific overexpression of tumor markers. The NSE and CA 125 levels show good correlation with response to the given chemotherapy. However, a routine evaluation of commonly used serum tumor markers has not been proven of any prognostic and predictive assistance. more...

Background/Aim. Esophageal variceal bleeding is one of the most frequent and gravest complications of liver cirrhosis, directly life-threatening. By monitoring certain clinical and laboratory hepatocellular insufficiency parameters (Child-Pugh score), it is possible to determine prognosis in patients who are bleeding and evaluate further therapy. Recently, the Model for the End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) has been proposed as a tool to predict mortality risk in cirrhotic patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate survival prognosis of cirrhotic patients by the MELD and Child-Pugh scores and to analyze the MELD score prognostic value in patients with both liver cirrhosis and variceal bleeding. Methods. We retrospectively evaluated the survival rate of a group of 100 cirrhotic patients of a median age of 57 years. The Child-Pugh score was calculated and the MELD score was computed according to the original formula for each patient. We also analyzed clinical and laboratory hepatocellular insufficiency parameters in order to examine their connection with a 15-month survival. The MELD values were correlated with the Child-Pugh scores. The Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis. Results. Twenty-two patients died within 15-months follow-up. Age and gender did not affect survival rate. The Child- Pugh and MELD scores, as well as ascites and encephalopathy significantly differed between the patients who survived and those who died (p < 0.0001). The International Normalized Ratio (INR) values, serum creatinine and bilirubin were significantly higher, and albumin significantly lower in the patients who died (p < 0.0001). The MELD score was significantly higher in the group of patients who died due to esophageal variceal bleeding (p < 0.0001). Conclusion. In cirrhotic patients the MELD score is an excellent survival predictor at least as well as the Child-Pugh score. Increase in the MELD score is associated with decrease in residual liver function. In the group of patients with liver cirrhosis and esophageal variceal bleeding, the MELD score identifies those with a higher intrahospital mortality risk. more...

Background/Aim. Variceal bleeding is the most life-threating complication in liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the sources of gastroesophageal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis and to ascertain the risk factors of bleeding from esophageal varices. Methods. This prospective study included 52 patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Severity of liver dysfunction according to Child’s classification, coagulation parameters, and endoscopic findings were analyzed. In patients with varices we analyzed the size, color, location of varices, and the presence of red signs. The varices were classified as small, medium and large. Results. Esophageal varices were found in 76.9% of the patients. Isolated varices were present in 36.6%, and associated with other findings in 40,3%. Small varices were present in 10%, medium in 25% and large in 65% patients. Of them 55% had variceal bleeding. Variceal bleeding was present in 50% of the patients with medium and in 65.38% of the patients with large varices. There was no bleeding in the patients with small varices. Endoscopy revealed red signs before bleeding in 85% of the patients with large varices. There was a higher incidence of variceal bleeding in the Child’s group B. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the coagulation parameters in patients with and without variceal bleeding. Rebleeding was present in 86.36% of the patients. Most of them (52.63%) were rebleeding between 7 weeks and 12 months after the first episode of variceal bleeding. In the patients with the most severe hepatocellular dysfunction (Child’s group C) the period between the first bleeding and rebleeding was the shortest (mean, 20.8 days). Conclusion. Our study revealed that esophageal varices are the most frequent sources of bleeding in the patients with liver cirrhosis. There is the association between the first bleeding and large varices and the red signs. Coagulation disorders and hepatic dysfunction were not related to the initial episode of variceal bleeding. The risk of early rebleeding was higher in the patients with severe hepatic dysfunction (Child’s class C). . more...

Since it has been recognized as a separate disease during the Korean war hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) has often been discovered among the members of different armies in various countries, military personnel being the highest risk group for the disease. In the period from March to May 1999 we treated 6 soldiers coming from the military formation stationed at Kosovo and Metohia. The reaction of indirect hemagglutination test proved the presence of antibodies against Hantavira in each of them. They were infected during the stay in a dugout in the area with great population of field rodents. Only one patient was slightly ill, on the admission to the hospitalall. The others had severe clinical and laboratory findings: several days lasting fever, strong abdominal pain, as well as the pain in the loins dyspeptical discomfort, manifold increased blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine values, thrombocytopenia, etc. Oliguria occurred in 4 patients. Hemorrhagic manifestations were slight (epistaxis, petechial rash conjunctival injection), or absent. Because of the aggravation of the acute renal failure, hemodialysis was performed in 3 patients, while other 3 underwent conservative treatment. Two of the patients had severe anemia because of which transfusions of erythrocytes and plasma were performed. Complications occurred in 2 patients (convulsive crises and lung infections). All patients recovered completely. more...

This paper will present the latest research from the current field of mass application of artificial intelligence and Industry 4.0, through the prism of the impact on digital transformation and digital competencies of key users in business. Based on the research of representative foreign and domestic scientific literature, the theoretical foundations of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and defined digital competence necessary for the age of the information society will evolve. The paper will present concrete cases of the effects of artificial intelligence on application in business through the impact on certain areas of life and work with examples from neighboring countries. This research study defines the concept, highlights the evolution and development of artificial intelligence, digitization process, and digital transformation, through an overview of their key technologies that identifies the role of artificial intelligence as the backbone of digital transformation, explores the trends of the digitization process, highlights key challenges and explores its applications in business and industry 4.0 in European countries with the identification of the impact on everyday life, and the evolution of current trends and challenges. more...

In this paper, on the basis of empirical research, the conditions, perspectives and possibilities of replacing the dollar as the world's leading currency will be presented in a systematic and methodological way. In this sense, the paper follows the positioning of the dollar as the primary currency used for international reserves in the world. The presentation of the dollar as a reserve currency follows the comparison with other currencies and gold as well as the increase in the share of other currencies. In the paper, the potentials of the world's leading economies and BRICS countries were developed and presented through comparative analysis, with a presentation of research results and the potential of de-dollarization. more...

The goal of this studious analysis is to determine the extent to which sophisticated technology can be used to improve business operations. Today's time brings daily new and rapid changes in the business environment to which small and medium-sized enterprises in Serbia should adapt as soon as possible, often and on the fly. The defined objectives of the research refer to the assumption that business intelligence with its methods, techniques and tools can improve existing business processes in the company, make them more efficient while reducing overall business costs. Research shows that there are almost no companies that have not incorporated the principles of reengineering, introduction of total quality management (eng. Total Quality Management-TQM), "outsourcing" and the like into their strategies and plans. One of the most appropriate ways to create a competitive advantage for SMEs in Serbia, in the current conditions of the world economic crisis and recession, is the concept of business intelligence (eng. Business Intelligence - BI). The work is based on the original methodological approach to the development and construction of BIS and on the testing of the intelligent system and the critical assessment of its application in the process of managing the enterprise. more...

The territories of AP Kosovo and Metohija represent the challenging and fast-growing wine market. However, many wine producers from Kosovo and Metohija are forced to acquire an innovative marketing approach which provides enhanced consumer experience and value. Therefore, they have implemented various marketing strategies in order to develop a positive brand reputation and create new opportunities for small and medium-sized wine producers. This paper aims to inspect the role of digital marketing in promotion of wine from Kosovo and Metohija, which enables producers to combine and integrate different marketing techniques in order to promote their strengths, that is, brand. Based on the primary data collected through the questionnaires, in-depth interviews and surveys, this study attempts to show how using digital marketing is statistically significant with reported increases in wine sale. The findings show that digital marketing facilitates the implementation of various marketing strategies which can improve the value of the consumption experience offered to the customer. more...

Modern way of living and functioning of human society requires a new principle of decision making and adjusting to contemporary living needs. In times when humans have perfected the contemporary living needs with their technological achievements yet another disadvantage among those needs has appeared. Studying possibilities and adjusting to educational requirements have hardly made any progress in years. Traditional learning methods are implemented by means of book, pencil and paper, as was the case thousands of years ago, supporting functioning of human society. This paper, based on researches founded on implementation of educational software and researches founded on postulates of implementation of frontal education and summarizing related specialized literature from this area, will set forth possibilities for implementation of information and communications technologies (ICT) and educational software in teaching. The results of this research indicate that the students who were using electronic methods of learning in combination with traditional learning had become more motivated, skilled and interested in a new way of thinking that activates all senses in order to form their intellectual personality. more...

Contemporary teaching of mathematics at all levels of education is mainly reduced to the application of algebraic formulas and algebraic procedures. A visual-logical approach to the examination and solving of mathematical tasks is very little present in mathematics teaching. Such a practice should change because visualization is of great importance in the process of learning and understanding mathematics. In this paper we present the introduction of figurative numbers in mathematics classes of the sixth grade of elementary school and their contribution to the development of students' abilities to perceive legality among numbers and to apply the observed laws in solving various problems with numerous strings. The research described in this paper was begun by examining the ability of students of the sixth grade to solve tasks with natural numbers by observing the laws. The findings we received were largely unsatisfactory. That is why we organized a student meeting with selected examples that demonstrate the observation of legality between numbers and the application of observed laws in solving tasks. In order to compare the results in the research, we formed two groups of students, experimental and control, whereby experimental group was working with figurative numbers and control was not. In both groups we formed small three-member groups of students of different levels of mathematical knowledge for collaborative learning. We organized a three-hour exercise of visual-logical approach to solving tasks for both groups. Before the start and after the end of the planned work, we carried out testing of the students of both groups. The pre-test showed that there were no significant statistical differences between the experimental and the control group. At the post-test, both groups achieved progression, with the results in the experimental group being significantly better than the results in the control group. The research has shown that dealing with figurative numbers contributes to the development of students' abilities to perceive legality among numbers and to apply observed laws in solving tasks. more...

This paper, based on the extensive research of relevant professional literature, will present and elaborate possible aspects of influence which information-communications technologies (ICT) have on educational process. Contemporary information-communications technologies and their use in teaching process resulted in numerous enhancements of teaching process altering traditional methods of learning and teaching. With the aim of confirming theoretical postulates researches were conducted on candidates with specific educational degrees in various forms of traditional teaching and teaching with educational software. The survey was conducted on a control and experimental group, on a sample of 1542 candidates. The candidates were observed in a period of approximately five months. The results of this research indicate that the candidates taught by use of educational software have shown far greater level of achieved knowledge and significantly higher motivation for learning. The participants of the experimental group actively participated in the acquisition of their competences. The contribution of this paper is in the new methodological approach to the organization of education, which significantly improves the teaching process, its goals and outcomes. more...

In this paper, we wanted to explain the phenomenon of economic and environmental effect of the green mineral lithium in the world and our country. We started with an answer to the question why the mineral lithium is the future and support for the green revolution in the world. We have tried to also give a special dimension to tendencies and activities with regard to the usage of green mineral lithium in the world market. In addition, the paper presents the Jadar project and mineral lithium as economic and environmental opportunity for Serbia. more...

The modern world has for decades been confronted with a request for a shared responsibility for the development which would be in line with the needs of people and nature, ie. for equal responsibility for the natural and social environment. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a concept that is used with the aim that economic, environmental and social objectives are effectively integrated into the company's operations. The first part of this paper shows the legal and institutional framework of CSR in our country in order to draw attention to the decisions taken by our country in the field of corporate social responsibility in terms of the adopted laws and strategies related to this area. The second part presents the results of research conducted in companies: Lola "FOT"-Lesak, FE "Ibar"-Leposavic and RIF "Kopaonik"-Leposavic, in order to point out the factors which, in the opinion of managers employed by these companies, have the greatest impact on a clearer and stronger policy of social responsibility in companies. more...

This research study demonstrates analysis of key success factors for business intelligence systems implementation. The analysis is based on the review of a large amount of literature on this subject matter, industrial presentations, and on the processing of data obtained from interviews with several companies. more...

IT has made remarkable progress over the last years. Business intelligence systems have been developing as an important part of IT. Enterprises often fail to realize importance and necessity of implementation of business intelligence solutions. This paper will deal with the approach for assessment of business intelligence in enterprises, based on maturity models. The significance of this paper is in the development of new conceptual research models which do not apply the usual thesis on maturity models. more...

This work shall present a part of the analyses of research results dealing with the presence of modern ICT in school lessons, the level of the teachers` acquaintance with modern ICT and the use of computers in school activities, with the aim of getting insight into the teachers` experiences, their level of ICT knowledge as well as of the other media available in teaching, the advantages of Internet services, and finally providing the answer about weather teachers demonstrate to their students all of the advantages of Internet and modern ICT. more...

This work presents the effects of software tools` application, such as OLAP, Data Warehouse, Data Mining, applied within intelligent systems` development program in forest company `Lipovica`.The main purpose and the accent of this research is to present the effects of intelligent system concept application on specific supporting field, in decision making and business development, as well as to show these concepts` contribution to protection of the environment and sustainable development, and the wealth of its impact upon the process of management and decision making and upon business development. more...

In this studious major research paper presented analysis of implementation erp system, through research relevant scientific literature or in practice and determining the most common mistakes (errors) than occur when introducting information system and to define ways to minimize such errors or eliminated. Results of this study can serve as the material to everyone involved in the current issues and who decide to implement modern integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions for their companies and for this to expand their knowledge. more...

Background/Aim. Variceal bleeding is the most life-threating complication in liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the sources of gastroesophageal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis and to ascertain the risk factors of bleeding from esophageal varices. Methods. This prospective study included 52 patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Severity of liver dysfunction according to Child's classification, coagulation parameters, and endoscopic findings were analyzed. In patients with varices we analyzed the size, color, location of varices, and the presence of red signs. The varices were classified as small, medium and large. Results. Esophageal varices were found in 76.9% of the patients. Isolated varices were present in 36.6%, and associated with other findings in 40,3%. Small varices were present in 10%, medium in 25% and large in 65% patients. Of them 55% had variceal bleeding. Variceal bleeding was present in 50% of the patients with medium and in 65.38% of the patients with large varices. There was no bleeding in the patients with small varices. Endoscopy revealed red signs before bleeding in 85% of the patients with large varices. There was a higher incidence of variceal bleeding in the Child's group B. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the coagulation parameters in patients with and without variceal bleeding. Rebleeding was present in 86.36% of the patients. Most of them (52.63%) were rebleeding between 7 weeks and 12 months after the first episode of variceal bleeding. In the patients with the most severe hepatocellular dysfunction (Child's group C) the period between the first bleeding and rebleeding was the shortest (mean, 20.8 days). Conclusion. Our study revealed that esophageal varices are the most frequent sources of bleeding in the patients with liver cirrhosis. There is the association between the first bleeding and large varices and the red signs. Coagulation disorders and hepatic dysfunction were not related to the initial episode of variceal bleeding. The risk of early rebleeding was higher in the patients with severe hepatic dysfunction (Child's class C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...