This article investigates the effects of Serbian semi-presidentialism and the proportional representation electoral system on democratic performances. Both electoral and political systems provide ...incentives for power-sharing mechanisms and the pluralistic character of the party system. However, in situations when one party becomes much stronger and predominant, there is a growing probability for the presidentialization of politics and excessive centralization of power that might lead to competitive authoritarianism. I am analysing three such cases from different periods – Milošević regime (1990–2000), the first transitional decade (2000–2012) and the return of the old regime (2012–2020) in order to identify causes of democratic crises that are embedded in institutional design.
•The GP, SVM-FFA, ANN and SVM–Wavelet modeling of ET0 was reported.•SVM–Wavelet had the smallest RMSE of 0.233mmday−1 in testing phase.•The ANN model had the largest RMSE of 0.450mmday−1.•SVM–Wavelet ...model was found to perform better than the GP, SVM-FFA and ANN models.
Accurate estimation of reference evapotranspiration (ET0) is needed for planning and managing water resources and agricultural production. The FAO-56 Penman–Monteith equation is used to determinate ET0 based on the data collected during the period 1980–2010 in Serbia. In order to forecast ET0, four soft computing methods were analyzed: genetic programming (GP), support vector machine-firefly algorithm (SVM-FFA), artificial neural network (ANN), and support vector machine–wavelet (SVM–Wavelet). The reliability of these computational models was analyzed based on simulation results and using five statistical tests including Pearson correlation coefficient, coefficient of determination, root-mean-square error, absolute percentage error, and mean absolute error. The end-point result indicates that SVM–Wavelet is the best methodology for ET0 prediction, whereas SVM–Wavelet and SVM-FFA models have higher correlation coefficient as compared to ANN and GP computational methods.
The concept of identity has become a key analytical concept in the social sciences in recent decades. Both in scientific accounts and in everyday use, the concept of identity has traditionally been ...seen as possessed by individuals and thus, groups of individuals. However, this view has been severely criticized by the identity section of the social sciences, where these individuals view different social roles as their own when discussing identity and examining relationships with others. This is especially true after the break-up of Yugoslavia, also for the Serbian state, which has been “self-seeking” for nearly 30 years. This is also true when we examine Serbian national identity from the perspective of European Union integration and also in terms of the sustainable security and geopolitical situation in the Western Balkans.
The research subject of this paper is the analysis of the attitudes of employees in pharmaceutical companies towards the business aspects of the pharmaceutical industry during and after the end of ...the pandemic in the Republic of Serbia. The aim is to examine the differences in the attitudes of employees, as well as to determine which variables predict the situations of endangering the professional reputation of pharmaceutical companies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was conducted by means of a survey during 2021 on a sample of 27 innovative and generic pharmaceutical companies. We used the SPSS program for descriptive statistics analysis, chi square test and binary logistic regression models. The findings show that there is a statistically significant difference in the expressed attitudes of employees in innovative and generic pharmaceutical companies in terms of coming to the office during the pandemic; the lack of medicines and medical devices used in the treatment of COVID-19 infections; the patient access to a chosen doctor; the expectations of the employees to continue working from home after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of the binary regression models show the slowdown in the supply chain, the access to doctors and working from the home office have not been perceived as creating situations of endangering professional reputations, that is, they contribute to the sustainable economic success. On the other hand, the introduction of digital technologies decreases the occurrence of conditions in which their professional reputation has been threatened.
A tentative checklist of the Microlepidoptera species recorded in Serbia is presented based on the existing literature. Each entry is accompanied by references. Until now, the data on the ...Microlepidopteran fauna of Serbia have never been summarized. The present checklist is based on records extracted from about 230 literature sources published from 1880. (Curo, A.) and 1888. (Dobrosav M. Jovanović) to the present day. In total, 1120 species from 60 families and 23 superfamilies are listed.
Abstract Objectives To explore the prevalence of multimorbidity in Serbia according to sex and body mass index (BMI) categories, and to examine the association between BMI and multimorbidity. In ...addition, this study examined the relationships between the main demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population (age, settlement, education) and multimorbidity. Study design Secondary analysis of data from the 2013 Serbian National Health Survey. Methods This study analyzed data from 13,103 participants aged ≥20 years with BMI data. The associations between BMI, age, education and multimorbidity were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Results The overall prevalence of multimorbidity was higher than the overall prevalence of a single disease (26.9% vs 20.7%). The proportion of participants who reported two or more chronic diseases increased with each BMI category in both sexes, reaching the highest values in obese category III. Odds ratios (ORs) for the prevalence in all morbidity groups increased gradually with BMI category, and the highest OR values were found in obese category III. Males of obese category III were seven times more likely to have multimorbidity OR 7.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.2–12.6 than males of normal weight, whereas females of obese category III were nine and a half times more likely to have multimorbidity (OR 9.5, 95% CI 4.0–22.4) than females of normal weight. In the multivariable analysis, age (both sexes), low and middle level of education (males), and rural settlement and low level of education (females) were found to be predictors of multimorbidity. Conclusions This study found positive associations between obesity and multimorbidity and between overweight and multimorbidity. Recognizing these associations is of great importance from both clinical and public health perspectives because this could lead to an integrated approach for patients.
The aim of this research was to describe and compare the motor skills of basketball players of the Second league of Montenegro and Second league of Serbia. There were 48 participants divided into two ...sub-samples. The fi rst sub-sample was made up of 24 participants that were competing in the Serbian Second League and the second sub-sample was made up of 24 participants competing in the Second Montenegrin League. Standardized tests for the assessment of motor abilities were used to assess motor abilities. The central and dispersive statistical parameters of all variables were calculated. The diff erences were determined by a t-test for small independent samples. Results showed that there were no statistically signifi cant diff erences in any tested variables. So, the results indicate that Montenegrin basketball players have well developed motor skills and in this respect do not lag behind Serbian players.
Background/Aim. Skeletal muscles and bones are essential tissues that, in addition to supporting the body, are the primary site of postprandial glucose intake, which is significantly associated with ...insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of insulin resistance on bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk and re-evaluate the relationship between muscle properties and BMD and insulin resistance in postmenopausal women in Serbia. Methods. Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated in postmenopausal women who were divided into two groups. The ?cut-off? value of insulin resistance for the group with ?Low HOMA-IR? was < 2, and for ?High HOMA-IR? > 2. Fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), and BMD were measured on the hip and spine using a densitometer with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results. FM and LM had an evident impact on BMD. The decrease in LM and fat buildup was associated with a higher incidence of insulin resistance. A positive correlation was confirmed between HOMA-IR and BMD on the spine and hip, but there was no correlation between insulin resistance and fracture risk. Conclusion. LM and FM have significant effects on BMD. The association between LM, FM, BMD and the onset of insulin resistance in postmenopausal women is confirmed. However, women with higher insulin resistance levels and higher BMD do not have a lower fracture risk.
Abstract This study examines the complex and dynamic relationship between Kosovo and NATO. It argues that Kosovo’s prospects for NATO membership are shaped by an array of contradictory and often ...confusing international and domestic political forces. It draws on theoretical sources, media reports, and descriptive statistical data to the factors shaping expectations for NATO membership. The study relies on theories and concepts from the established and evolving literature on alliance formation and expansion to explain how states aspiring for membership in security organizations must navigate a pattern of political and security hurdles in their quest for membership accession. It then explores Kosovo’s case for NATO membership by examining whether Kosovo has met key political and security benchmarks and devotes significant attention to the settlement dispute with Serbia, the roles played by the U.S. and E.U., and identifies alternative paths for Kosovo’s membership in NATO.
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