Regions Of Serbia Research Articles

Exploratory Analysis of the E-government E-skills of Serbian Citizens and Their Ability to Use E-government Services with Special Emphasis on the Regional Differences

The topic of the e-government e-skills of Serbian citizens has been largely unexplored. Thus, the study aims to explore the citizens' current level of e-government e-skills competencies. The data were collected from 2,894 citizens through a paper survey and analyzed using ANOVA and EFA. The empirical results suggest that there are significant differences between the regions, with the citizens of the Belgrade region being significantly more proficient than citizens in other regions of Serbia in all areas except digital certificate skills. The empirical results also suggest that women are more proficient than men, that the 65+ age group’s digital skills are completely inadequate, and that education level is a key factor.

Moniliformin Occurrence in Serbian Maize over Four Years: Understanding Weather-Dependent Variability.

Moniliformin (MON) represents one of the most widespread emerging mycotoxins, whose presence in food and feed can potentially cause harmful effects on the health of both the public and animals. In order to investigate MON occurrence, a total of four hundred (n = 400) samples of unprocessed maize were sampled from different regions (Bačka, Banat, and Srem) of Serbia during a period of four years (2018-2021) and were analyzed using a validated liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. The influence of regional differences and variations from year to year in terms of weather conditions on the occurrence of MON was also assessed. The obtained validation parameters indicated that the LC-MS/MS method is applicable to the determination of MON in maize samples. It can be observed from the acquired findings that all samples were contaminated with MON, while concentration levels varied between the samples, especially from different sampling years. The maize samples showed the greatest levels of MON concentration during the dry and hot climatic conditions experienced in 2021. In maize samples harvested in the period 2018-2020, the MON concentration levels detected were about two to three times lower compared to the year 2021. Additionally, a comprehensive investigation into the correlation between weather conditions and the occurrence of MON in maize grown in Serbia was undertaken by reviewing the outcomes of research undertaken in the past decade.

Building an infodemic management network in Serbia: Insights from public health practitioners

Abstract Background Vaccine coverage against COVID-19 in Serbia remains suboptimal, although COVID-19 vaccines became available to the public early during the pandemic. The presence of the infodemic, an overabundance of false, harmful, or outdated information, is one of the root causes of stagnation in vaccine demand. The Laboratory for infodemiology and infodemic management has been established at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, to coordinate the efforts and mitigate the harmful impact of the infodemic. Methods Training for public health (PH) professionals, civil society organizations (CSOs), and academia was conducted in three Institutes of Public Health in different regions of Serbia. The training included an introduction to infodemic management and social listening, followed by group discussions. A questionnaire was given to all participants to share their experience about the infodemic sources, effects, and needs of the populations they serve. Results A total of 36 PH professionals, CSO representatives, and academics filled out the questionnaire. Over half of them (52.8%) had a primary affiliation in a public health institution and over 15 years of work experience. Although 83.3% of the participants stated that the infodemic presents a major public health issue in Serbia, only 16.7% were satisfied with current infodemic management activities in Serbia. Participants identify family members, doctors, and personal reasoning as the top three factors influencing health behavior. Participants identify the lack of institutional trust as the most important problem in infodemic management. Conclusions Insights from public health professionals, CSOs, and academia point to infodemic management being one of the main priorities in future public health activities. A stronger collaboration of experts of different backgrounds is needed to mitigate the complex nature of the infodemic. Key messages • Public health practitioners recognize the importance of the infodemic and search for adequate response. • The lack of institutional trust is one of the main obstacles to effective infodemic management.

A Framework for Assessing Nature-Based Urban Stormwater Management Solutions: A Preliminary Spatial Analysis Approach Applied to Southeast Serbia

The development of the stormwater management strategies, e.g., low-impact development (LID), water-sensitive urban design (WSUD), and sustainable drainage solutions (SUDS), was initiated in the mid-1980s as a set of engineering approaches and technologies to reduce the harmful effects of stormwater. Over time, all of them evolved in the holistic, multidisciplinary approaches and, today, they are increasingly viewed and implemented under the umbrella term “Nature-based Solutions” (NbS). The technical elements and measures of these NbS represent various technical solutions, implemented i.a., according to the suitability of the site to achieve their maximum efficiency. Currently, there are no standards or procedures for the application of NbS technologies in Serbia. To overpass this and encourage implementation, we carried out preliminary assessment of NbS elements suitability for application in eight urban settlements in the Region of Southern and Eastern Serbia. The assessment is based on publicly available data and performed according to the existing recommendations in the field of spatial planning and rainwater management for WSUD. The analyses were conducted by GIS tools that involved spatial analyses of various terrain characteristics and provided an insight into the criteria, i.e., constraints that are key to the placement of various technical elements, including bioretention, rain garden, and permeable pavement. Research findings point out that creation of the thematic maps with area suitability ratings for individual NbS stormwater elements might represent a good starting point for further investigation, planning, and design. The proposed framework for preliminary assessment is potentially useful for the countries and regions without regulations in the field of NbS for stormwater management.

DOTIRANjE EKONOMIJE AUTONOMNE KOSOVSKO-METOHIJSKE OBLASTI IZ BUDžETA NARODNE REPUBLIKE SRBIJE, 1946–1953.

The territory of Kosovo and Metohija has been in a privileged economic position compared to the rest of Serbia since the formation of territorial autonomy after the Second World War. The amount of money at the disposal of the regional authorities significantly exceeded the amount of money at the disposal of the authorities in other parts of Serbia, especially in the area of «Central Serbia» outside Belgrade. This situation was made possible by financial subsidies to the regional budget, which from 1946 to 1953 amounted to 3,288,178,920 dinars. Out of a total of 6,525,114,070, which was the budget revenue of the Autonomous Kosovo-Metohija region from 1946 to 1953, 50.39% were subsidies from Serbia. A comparison of the economic development of Kosovo and Metohija and the neighboring regions of Serbia shows that the later claims about the «neglect» of the area’s development in the first post-war years were not based on data and historical facts but represented the political aspirations of the Communist League in connection with the economic strengthening of Kosovo’s autonomy.

Mapping of Inland Excess Water Using Geographical Information System and High-Resolution Satellite Images: A Case Study of SREM, Serbia

Abstract Extreme hydrological events, such as floods and droughts, are becoming more frequent as a result of climate change, leading to negative impacts on various economic sectors. The Pannonian-Carpathian Basin is particularly affected by the increasing frequency of hazardous hydrological events. Agricultural production, which is a highly significant economic sector in the region, is particularly vulnerable to these unfavourable climatic conditions. Changes in precipitation patterns and soil moisture levels can lead to reduced crop yields, while floods can pollute water sources and erode fertile soil. Mapping of Inland Excess Water (IEW), also known as ponding water or waterlogged areas, is crucial for informed decision-making, damage compensation, risk management, and future prevention planning. Remote sensing technology and machine learning have been demonstrated to be valuable tools for the mapping of IEW. The 2014 floods in Southeastern and Central Europe serve as a reminder of the importance of effective flood risk management. This study used a Geographical Information System (GIS) and a Semi-automated Classification Processing (SCP) tool to process high-resolution RapidEye satellite images from the 2014 floods in the Srem region of Serbia. The Spectral Angle Mapping (SAM) classification model was used to produce a map of IEW. The SAM model achieved an overall accuracy of 92.68 %. The study found that IEW affected approximately 2.90 % or 99.59 km² of the territory in Srem. The obtained maps can be used by responsible water management agencies to prevent and control excessive inland water.

Essential Oil Quality of Lavender Grown Outside Its Native Distribution Range: A Study from Serbia

The aim of this study was to test the quality (physicochemical and sensory odor properties) and bioactivity (antimicrobial and antioxidant activities) of the essential oils (EO) obtained from the most frequently cultivated lavender and lavandin varieties in Serbia, whose cultivation areas were previously reserved for warmer climates, outside the agroecological region of Serbia. Seven EO from true lavenders (L. angustifolia Mill. and cultivars: ‘Hidcote blue’, ‘Munstead’, ‘Primorska’), Croatian indigenous lavandin cultivar (L. × intermedia ‘Budrovka’), lavandin ‘Grosso’ and one undetermined lavender sample (Lavandula sp.) showed compliance with standard requirements for lavender EO composition (contents of linalool 23.9–30.2% and 28.9–36.9%, and of linalyl acetate 22.2–32.2% and 6.9–20.7% in true lavender and lavandin samples, respectively). All EO were characterized as pleasant, with a floral aroma as a prominent odor. Samples exhibited high antimicrobial activities (3.5–14.2 µL mL−1 MIC and MBC values) against important Gram-positive (B. cereus and L. monocytogenes) and Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli) and yeasts (C. albicans), and high antioxidant capacity (IC50 values of 0.23–0.59 µg AAE mL−1 EO). This preliminary research on the quality of lavender EOs reveals the potential of this species for the future of medicinal and aromatic plant species production and further diversification of agriculture in the area.

Unveiling the Comorbidities of Chronic Diseases in Serbia Using ML Algorithms and Kohonen Self-Organizing Maps for Personalized Healthcare Frameworks.

In previous years, significant attempts have been made to enhance computer-aided diagnosis and prediction applications. This paper presents the results obtained using different machine learning (ML) algorithms and a special type of a neural network map to uncover previously unknown comorbidities associated with chronic diseases, allowing for fast, accurate, and precise predictions. Furthermore, we are presenting a comparative study on different artificial intelligence (AI) tools like the Kohonen self-organizing map (SOM) neural network, random forest, and decision tree for predicting 17 different chronic non-communicable diseases such as asthma, chronic lung diseases, myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, arthrosis, lower back diseases, cervical spine diseases, diabetes mellitus, allergies, liver cirrhosis, urinary tract diseases, kidney diseases, depression, high cholesterol, and cancer. The research was developed as an observational cross-sectional study through the support of the European Union project, with the data collected from the largest Institute of Public Health "Dr. Milan Jovanovic Batut" in Serbia. The study found that hypertension is the most prevalent disease in Sumadija and western Serbia region, affecting 9.8% of the population, and it is particularly prominent in the age group of 65 to 74 years, with a prevalence rate of 33.2%. The use of Random Forest algorithms can also aid in identifying comorbidities associated with hypertension, with the highest number of comorbidities established as 11. These findings highlight the potential for ML algorithms to provide accurate and personalized diagnoses, identify risk factors and interventions, and ultimately improve patient outcomes while reducing healthcare costs. Moreover, they will be utilized to develop targeted public health interventions and policies for future healthcare frameworks to reduce the burden of chronic diseases in Serbia.

The Effects of Soil Type, Exposure and Elevation on Leaf Size and Shape in Quercus cerris L.

One of the main environmental factors that influence plant species and community diversity are soil types, exposure and elevation. This study aimed to evaluate differences in leaf size and shape of Quercus cerris L. along environmental gradients in the Šumadija region in Serbia by using geometric morphometrics methods. The results showed significant differences between Q. cerris individuals inhabiting sites with different soil types, exposures and elevations. Individuals growing on nutrient deficient soils had smaller leaf size, elongated petiole, wide leaf blade, and higher values of fluctuating asymmetry compared to individuals growing on nutrient-rich soils whose leaf size was larger, more variable in shape and had lower values of fluctuating asymmetry. Additionally, individuals inhabiting higher elevations had elongated and narrow leaves and short petioles. Leaf size was also greater in individuals from lower elevations and north-exposed sites. The results of this study suggest that leaf morphological traits are affected by habitat differences and exhibit considerable plasticity in response to environmental demands.

The permanently rotating wind turbines: a new strategy for reliable power system frequency support under low and no wind conditions

The problem of frequency stability becomes more concerning as the presence of converter-interfaced units increases and conventional generators are suppressed. A decrease in total system inertia, inherently delivered by synchronous generators, results in abrupt frequency changes and jeopardizes power system stability. Therefore, securing sufficient flexible resources with frequency support capability is necessary. The rotational masses of wind turbines (WTs) are a significant and economical source of flexibility in power systems. However, the available kinetic energy (KE) of the WTs’ rotational masses depends on wind conditions and can only be exploited when the wind speed is sufficient for their rotation. When the wind speed is low, the WT is stopped and cannot support the frequency recovery. In this paper, a new concept of WT operation is proposed, which enables the permanent rotation of the WT under low and no wind conditions, making them reliable flexible resources that can continuously provide frequency support. Due to its widespread presence, the doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) type of machine was considered. The variable-speed WT’s converter management allows rotational speed control, fast power injection, and release of the turbine’s stored KE even when no wind energy is available. The estimated accessible KE in the WT justifies the proposed concept, and the energy consumption due to motoring operation under low and no wind conditions is shown to be acceptable. A case study is performed for the South Banat region in Serbia to demonstrate the presented management concept. Additionally, a dynamic simulation was implemented to illustrate the permanent operation strategy’s impact on frequency stability in a low-inertia system under low and no wind conditions. Besides virtual inertia continuous capability, the proposed concept provides reduced wear of the WT mechanical components due to a lower number of on/off events.

PR CHALLENGES IN PROMOTING THE CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION DANUBE-CRIS-MURES-TISA (DKMT)

The cross-border cooperation is viewed in Europe as an important tool for unifying the once divided continent and for dismantling historic rivalries between states. In the border region of Romania, Hungary and Serbia the Euro-regional cooperation known as DKMT (Danube-CrisMures-Tisa) develops as a model for Romania. The elected officials at the regional level from the three states involved agree to develop projects and try to asses DKMT as part of the “big Europe”. The paper looks into the PR practice of the administrative bodies of DKMT and analyzes some of the current problems in delivering Euro-regional information to the general public.

Elemental Profile of Propolis from Different Areas of Serbia.

Propolis is a resinous natural substance collected by honeybees from different plant sources. The element content of propolis is influenced by the content of elements in the soil, climatic factors, and the degree of pollution. The aim of the study was to characterize element composition and content of toxic elements in 51 propolis collected from different locations in Serbia and to evaluate the differences among them. Determination of the 21 elements were performed using Inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectrometry. K was the most abundant element, followed by Ca, Mg, Si, Fe, Zn, and Al. The microelements B, Ba, Mn, Na, Pb, and Ti were also present in propolis, while Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Sr, and V were found in trace. Toxic elements such as Pb, As, and Cd were found in the trace. Kruskal-Wallis tests differentiate groups of samples by geographical origin. The presence of B, Fe, Sr, Ti, Zn, and As demonstrated statistical significance between six regions of Serbia.

Dietary Intake of Salt from Meat Products in Serbian Population.

Salt intake above 5 g/day correlates with prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). CVD, the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Europe, account for 45% of all deaths, while, in Serbia in 2021, CVD accounted for 47.3%. The objective was to investigate salt content labelled on meat products from the Serbian market and estimate dietary exposure to salt from meat products in the Serbian population using consumption data. Data on salt content were collected from 339 meat products and classified in eight groups. Consumption data were collected using the EFSA EU Menu methodology (2017-2021) from 576 children and 3018 adults (145 pregnant women) in four geographical regions of Serbia. The highest salt content was in dry fermented sausages and dry meat, average 3.78 ± 0.37 g/100 g and 4.40 ± 1.21 g/100 g, respectively. The average intake of meat products is 45.21 ± 39.0 g/day and estimated daily salt intake from meat products per person is 1.192 g, which is 24% of the daily recommended amount. The actual meat product consumption and content of salt in meat products in Serbia present a risk factor for development of CVD and related comorbidities. A targeted strategy, policy and legislation for salt reduction are needed.

Heavy Metals Content in Selected Medicinal Plants Produced and Consumed in Serbia and Their Daily Intake in Herbal Infusions

The heavy metals content (HMs) was investigated in 14 different medicinal plants collected from the three regions in Central Serbia, Zlatar, Sokobanja, and Kopaonik. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Ni, Hg and Pb were determined: Cd (<0.03-2.72 mg/kg); Cr (<0.08-12.1 mg/kg); Ni (<0.08-12.2 mg/kg); Pb (0.6-49.0 mg/kg); the Hg concentration was below the detection limit of 0.06 mg/kg in all samples. The daily intake of HMs due to ingestion of 200 mL of herbal infusion was in all cases below the recommended limit prescribed by the World Health Organization. The estimated daily intake values were below the values for the oral reference dose regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USA EPA). The target hazard quotient and hazard index for Cd, Cr Ni, and Pb were below 1. Nevertheless, due to the tendency of heavy metals to accumulate in the organism, attention should be paid to the daily intake of herbal infusion during long-term usage. Specifically, it is recommended to consume not more than one cup (200 mL) of infusion per day made from thyme (Mt. Zlatar) and blueberry (Mt. Kopaonik), and not more than two cups per day for other herbs.

Patterns of ASFV Transmission in Domestic Pigs in Serbia.

The first case of African swine fever in domestic pigs in Serbia was in 2019. The following year, the disease was confirmed in wild boar. Thenceforth, ASF has been continuously reported in both wild and domestic pigs. The outbreaks in domestic pigs could not be linked directly to wild boars, even though wild boars were endemically infected, and reservoirs for ASF. This study aimed to investigate outbreaks and routes of transmission in domestic pigs in a region of central Serbia where no outbreaks in wild boar were reported. Fourteen outbreaks of ASF on backyard farms with low biosecurity were traced back, and no connection to wild boar was found. The epidemic investigation covered 2094 holdings, with 24,368 pigs, out of which 1882 were tested for ASF. In surrounding hunting grounds, field searches were conducted. Dead wild boars were found, and 138 hunted wild boars were negative for ASFV. It was concluded that outbreaks in 2021 were provoked by the illegal trade of live animals and pig products. Even though infective pressure from wild boars is assumed, no positive cases have been found, while the ASFV spreads within the domestic swine population evidenced in four recent outbreaks in 2022.

DETERMINANTS OF WOMEN’S EMPLOYMENT IN THE REGION OF SOUTHERN AND EASTERN SERBIA: AN ECONOMETRIC APPROACH

During time, women’s participation in the labour markets all over the world has increased. However, gender differences in the level of employment still exist, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries. Since empirical evidence shows that a higher degree of women’s employment has many positive effects on the economy, it is of great importance for such countries’ governments to create mechanisms for increasing it. These mechanisms are especially important for the Republic of Serbia, since women’s employment is still lagging behind men’s employment. On the interregional level, the gender discrepancies in employment are even larger, which slows down the development of the country as a whole. In order to create effective strategies and mechanisms which will increase the degree of women’s employment in such regions, it is of great importance to discover which factors currently determine whether women will be employed or not. Since the problem of women’s unemployment is particularly noticeable in the Region of Southern and Eastern Serbia, this paper aims to provide an analysis of the basic factors of women’s employment in this region, so as to raise awareness about these factors and shed light on possible employment policies that could be designed accordingly. These policies are expected to enhance the economic development of this region and the country as a whole. For this purpose, primary research was conducted on a sample of 678 women. The results of the study indicate that age, educational attainment, household income, place of residence, and having children ages 7 through 18 represent significant factors that determine women’s employment.

Assessment of Climate Change Impact on Maize Production in Serbia

Climate factors have an impact on plant life cycle, yield, productivity, economy and profitability of agricultural production. There are not a lot of studies on understanding of influence of climate factors variation on maize yield in agro-ecological conditions of Serbia. The aim of this paper is analysis of variation of climatic factors over a long-time period, as well as assessment of impact of the examined climate parameters on maize yield in two localities in the Republic of Serbia. For the analysis of climatic factors (temperature, precipitation, sunshine, humidity) in the region of Central Serbia and Vojvodina, the data of meteorological stations Kragujevac and Sombor during two thirty-year periods (1961–1990 and 1991–2020) were used. In order to determine the existence and strength of the relationship between the observed climatic factors and maize yield, a correlation analysis of these indicators for the period 2005–2020 years, was performed. In the period 1991–2020, the average values of temperature were annually increased for 0.046 °C in Kragujevac and for 0.05 °C in Sombor, and in the same period the average value of sunshine on an annual level was increased for 1.3 h in Kragujevac and for 5.01 h in Sombor, 2020 in comparison to average values in period of 1961–1990. The humidity was decline annually for 1.3 in Kragujevac and for 3.4 in Sombor in period 1991–2020 in comparison to average humidity in period of 1961–1990. The results of the correlation analysis showed that the maize yield was significantly lower in the years with expressed high temperatures and precipitation deficit. Based on these studies, established effect of climate change on maize yield and that this demand developing adaptation agricultural practice through creating maize hybrids and varieties with greater adaptability and improvement of agrotechnic measure.

Ocena stanja prirodnih vrednosti gazdinske jedinice "Jasenovo-Božetići" na području jugozapadne Srbije

This paper presents the assessment of the condition of natural values of forest stands in relation to the origin, structural form, mixedness as well as in relation to affiliation of the forest stand to forest management type. The object of the research is the Forest management unit "Jasenovo-Božetići" which belongs to the Western forest region in Serbia. Assessment of the condition has been performed in accordance with the method developed on the project entitled Contribution of Sustainable Forest Management to Low Emission and Resilient Development (GCP/SRB/002/GEF). The total area on which the assessment of natural values was carried out amounts to 1684.7 ha. Based on the final assessment of biodiversity, the stands of low natural value cover the area of 1205.6 ha (71.5%), the stands of lower medium natural value cover 300.9 ha (17.9%), the stands of higher medium natural value 178.2 ha (10.9%), while stands of high natural value are not registered.

The improvement of the body and udder hygiene influence on the milk safety and composition on small dairy farms in Serbia

The hygienic condition of dairy cows and their udders in 128 small household farms in different regions of Serbia, producing mostly milk, having 5-15 cows, a milk cooler and at least one milking machine, was evaluated by the following indicators: 1. general assessment of body cleanliness, 2. visual inspection of teats and udder base, and 3. maintenance of udder cleanliness, rated on a scale of 0 and 1 or 1 to 5. The samples were taken at each visit to the farm after cooling and tested for milk protein and fat content, somatic cell count (SCC) and the total number of microorganisms (TNM). The milk fat content was determined by the Gerber method, the protein content by the Kjeldahl method, the TNM according to the ISO 4833-1:2013 method and the SCC using Fossomatic TM. The IBM SPSS program was used for statistical data processing. Capacity, housing system, breed, milking system, number of cows, and capacity occupancy mostly had a very significant or significant impact on hygiene parameters, protein and fat content, SCC and TNM in milk. The hygiene parameters showed a continuous trend of improvement in relation to the visits. TNM mean scores increased after each visit, with significant differences between visits (F=9.63, P&lt;0.0001). SCC scores varied very significantly between visits (F=5.17, P&lt;0.0001). The number of visits tended to show a significant influence on the milk fat rate (F=2.221; P?0.1), but no influence on the milk protein rate (P=0.480; F=0.901).

SPREMNOST UČITELjA ZA IMPLEMENTACIJU STEM KONCEPTA OBRAZOVANjA

The paper emphasizes the importance of teacher’s readiness for the im- plementation of the STEM concept as one of the key barriers to its implementation. The need for additional professional engagement of teachers in familiarizing themselves with the concept itself to empower students for a cohesive understanding of STEM discipline content and the level of teacher competence in creating and using interdisciplinary STEM educational materials are some of the elements that underscore the importance of consid- ering the diffusion problem of the STEM concept as a pedagogical innovation. In order to investigate the level of teacher’s readiness for implementing the STEM concept in elemen- tary education in our region, an empirical study was conducted, within which a survey of 107 teachers from various regions of Serbia was carried out. Teachers’ attitudes were assessed using a scale previously validated by foreign authors, which exhibited the char- acteristics of a five-point Likert scale of attitudes. The nature of the relationship between teachers’ cognitive and affective readiness and their self-efficacy, and sociodemographic variables (gender, years of service, years of working in education) was examined as well. The results showed that teachers demonstrated readiness for implementing this approach in teaching and express a high degree of affective readiness, which is correlated with their level of cognitive readiness and level of self-efficacy.