Procedure and importance of North Macedonia\u27s accession to the EU

Rаziskаvа sе оsrеdоtоčа nа pоstоpеk in pоmеn vstоpа Sеvеrnе Mаkеdоnijе v Еvrоpskо unijо, pri čеmеr аnаlizirа ključnе kоrаkе zа izpоlnitеv pоgоjеv zа pristоp tеr pоtrеbnе rеfоrmе nа pоlitičnеm, еkоnоmskеm in sоciаlnеm pоdrоčju zа usklаditеv z еvrоpskimi stаndаrdi. Оbrаvnаvаni sо vplivi tеgа prоcеsа nа nоtrаnjе in zunаnjе оdnоsе držаvе, vključnо s stаbilnоstjо, dеmоkrаcijо, prаvnо držаvо in člоvеkоvimi prаvicаmi. Pоsеbnа pоzоrnоst jе nаmеnjеnа tudi izzivоm, kоt sо dvоnаciоnаlnоst in vprаšаnjе dvоjеzičnоsti v Sеvеrni Mаkеdоniji, tеr rеšеvаnju spоrоv s sоsеdnjimi držаvаmi, ki vključujеjо vprаšаnjа idеntitеtе, jеzikа in zgоdоvinе. Pоlеg tеgа rаziskаvа prеučujе gеоpоlitični in strаtеški pоmеn vstоpа zа širšо rеgijо Bаlkаnа. Zаključеk vključujе оcеnо vplivа vstоpа nа stаbilnоst rеgijе tеr аnаlizо izzivоv, s kаtеrimi sе bо držаvа sооčаlа pо pridružitvi Еvrоpski uniji.Thе rеsеаrch fоcusеs оn thе prоcеss аnd significаncе оf Nоrth Mаcеdоniа\u27s аccеssiоn tо thе Еurоpеаn Uniоn, аnаlyzing thе kеy stеps rеquirеd tо mееt аccеssiоn cоnditiоns аnd thе nеcеssаry rеfоrms in pоliticаl, еcоnоmic, аnd sоciаl dоmаins tо аlign with Еurоpеаn stаndаrds. It еxаminеs thе impаct оf this prоcеss оn thе cоuntry’s intеrnаl аnd еxtеrnаl rеlаtiоns, including stаbility, dеmоcrаcy, rulе оf lаw, аnd humаn rights. Spеciаl аttеntiоn is аlsо givеn tо chаllеngеs such аs birаtiоnаlity аnd thе issuе оf bilinguаlism within Nоrth Mаcеdоniа, аs wеll аs rеsоlving disputеs with nеighbоring cоuntriеs, which invоlvе mаttеrs оf idеntity, lаnguаgе, аnd histоry. Furthеrmоrе, thе rеsеаrch еxplоrеs thе gеоpоliticаl аnd strаtеgic impоrtаncе оf аccеssiоn fоr thе brоаdеr Bаlkаn rеgiоn. Thе cоnclusiоn prоvidеs аn аssеssmеnt оf thе impаct оf ЕU mеmbеrship оn rеgiоnаl stаbility аnd аnаlyzеs thе chаllеngеs Nоrth Mаcеdоniа is likеly tо fаcе аftеr jоining thе Еurоpеаn Uniоn

Marketing plan for the needs of a company/organization

Rokomet je eden od najbolj priljubljenih ekipnih športov v Sloveniji, Rokometni klub Trimo iz Trebnjega pa je med najvišje uvrščenimi v prvi slovenski rokometni ligi, Ligi NLB. Glede na vpliv na lokalnem in državnem nivoju ter željo po nadaljnjem napredku na mednarodnem nivoju klub že zdaj veliko pozornost namenja marketinškim aktivnostim. Glede na trenutno stanje in načrte pa obstaja prostor za izboljšave, kar je podano kot predlog ob koncu raziskave. Diplomsko delo je opravljeno s ciljem priprave marketinškega načrta Rokometnega kluba Trimo Trebnje, ki temelji na rezultatih teoretične in empirične raziskave. Z namenom doseganja ciljev povečanja števila gledalcev in sponzorjev, so predlagani ukrepi usmerjeni predvsem v učinkovito uporabo digitalnega komuniciranja, raznoliko ponudbo marketinških materialov in kreativne marketinške akcije, ki bodo pritegnile vse kategorije ljubiteljev rokometa. Z naraščajočo popularnostjo kluba lahko pričakujemo povečanje članstva in večjo bazo rokometašev. Dobro izdelan marketinški načrt in njegovo vestno izvajanje sta eden od predpogojev za celotno športno in poslovno uspešnost kluba.Handball is one of the most popular team sports in Slovenia, and the handball club Trimo from Trebnje is among the best placed in the first Slovenian handball league, Liga NLB. Taking into account the influence at the local and national level and the desire for further progress on the international level, the club is already paying great attention to marketing activities. However, analyzing the current situation and plans, there is room for improvement, which is given as a suggestion at the end of the research. The thesis was carried out with the aim of preparing a marketing plan for the Trimo Trebnje Handball Club, based on the results of theoretical and empirical research. In order to achieve the goals of increasing the number of spectators and sponsors, the proposed measures are primarily focused on the effective use of digital communication, a diverse range of marketing materials and creative marketing campaigns that will attract all categories of handball fans. With the growing popularity of the club, an increase in membership and a larger base of handball players could be expected. A well-developed marketing plan and its conscientious implementation are one of the prerequisites for the club\u27s overall sporting and business success

Chemical composition and morphological descriptors of the fruits of the accessions of Prunus domestica L. and P. cerasifera Ehrh.

Magistrska naloga obravnava kemijsko sestavo in morfološke deskriptorje plodov akcesij dveh vrst sliv: Prunus domestica L. in P. cerasifera Ehrh. Namen raziskave je bil ugotoviti razlike v kemijskih in morfoloških lastnostih plodov med tema dvema vrstama ter oceniti njihov potencial kot vir antioksidantov in sladkorjev. V raziskavo smo vključili 31 akcesij sliv, ki smo jih analizirali glede na 18 morfoloških deskriptorjev ter vsebnost sladkorjev, skupnih fenolov in antocianinov. Statistično značilne razlike smo ugotovili pri naslednjih morfoloških lastnostih: velikost plodov, lateralna oblika plodu, simetrija plodu v vertikalnem pogledu, globina šiva sadja pri peclju, barva mesa, trdnost mesa, sočnost ploda ter stopnja spojenosti koščice in mezokarpa. Na drugi strani statistično značilne razlike niso bile ugotovljene pri depresiji na vrhu ploda, prisotnosti dlakavosti, globini votline peclja ploda, osnovni barvi kože, obliki koščice v lateralnem in ventralnem pogledu, površini endokarpa, širini dna koščice ter obliki vrha koščice. Rezultati so pokazali, da se akcesije razlikujejo po barvi eksokarpa. Najpogostejša barva plodov je bila rdeča, ki je predstavljala 36 % vseh plodov, sledi rumena z 21 % in škrlatno vijolična z 12 %. Analiza je pokazala, da je barva plodov v pozitivni korelaciji z vsebnostjo antocianinov. Plodovi z rdečo barvo kože so imeli visoke vrednosti antocianinov (mediana 180,50 mg/100g) in nizke vrednosti sladkorjev (mediana 14,70 °Brix). Plodovi z zeleno barvo eksokarpa so imeli visoke vrednosti sladkorjev (mediana 19,40 °Brix) in nizke vrednosti antocianinov (mediana 7,60 mg/100g). Spearmanov korelacijski test je pokazal, da obstaja močna pozitivna korelacija med vsebnostjo skupnih antocianinov in fenolov.The master\u27s thesis examines the chemical composition and morphological descriptors of the fruits of accessions from two plum species: Prunus domestica L. and P. cerasifera Ehrh. The aim of the study was to determine the differences in the chemical and morphological properties of the fruits between these two species and to assess their potential as a source of antioxidants and sugars. The study included 31 plum accessions, which were analyzed based on 18 morphological descriptors and the content of sugars, total phenols, and anthocyanins. Statistically significant differences were found in the following morphological traits: fruit size, lateral shape of the fruit, fruit symmetry in vertical view, depth of the suture at the pedicel, flesh color, flesh firmness, fruit juiciness, and the degree of adhesion between the stone and mesocarp. On the other hand, no statistically significant differences were found in the presence of depression at the fruit apex, presence of pubescence, depth of the pedicel cavity, basic skin color, stone shape in lateral and ventral views, endocarp surface, stone base width, and stone apex shape. The results showed that the accessions differ in exocarp color. The most common fruit color was red, representing 36 % of all fruits, followed by yellow with 21 % and scarlet-purple with 12 %. The analysis revealed that fruit color is positively correlated with anthocyanin content. Fruits with red skin had high anthocyanin values (median 180.50 mg/100g) and low sugar values (median 14.70 °Brix). Fruits with green exocarp color had high sugar values (median 19.40 °Brix) and low anthocyanin values (median 7.60 mg/100g). Spearman\u27s correlation test indicated a strong positive correlation between total anthocyanin and phenol content

Public attitudes towards artificial intelligence

Understanding public attitudes toward artificial intelligence (AI) is crucial for shaping the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies, aligning them with public expectations, and addressing societal concerns and ethical considerations. The goal of this research was to gain a comprehensive understanding of how the public in general as well as customers in exchange process perceive AI and the factors that influence these perceptions. Our research problem based around researching the complex relationships between various aspects of AI, suchas perceived threats, societal benefits, trust in AI institutions, and overall attitudes toward AI. We laid the groundwork in the theoretical part by researching existing knowledge about theoretical foundations of attitudes, about AI, and the attitudes ofpublic towards AI. This theoretical background provided essential context for our research into public attitudes toward AI. In the empirical part, we conducted a detailed survey based on stratified sample of adult population of the Republic of Slovenia (n= 205-209) to gather data on how the public feels about AI. This involved asking participants about their views on AI as a potential threat, its societal benefits, the level of trust they have in institutions and companies responsible for AI, and their overall attitudes toward AI. In our study, we found that individuals who perceive AI as a potential threat to their jobs or privacy tend to hold more negative attitudes toward AI. Interestingly, our research revealed that whether people think AI is beneficial for society or poses risks does not have a strong impact on their overall views about AI. Equally surprising, our results suggest that trust in institutions and companies involved in AI development does not appear to be a major factor in shaping public attitudes toward AI. These findings offer a detailed perspective on how the public views AI. They carry significant implications for policymakers, businesses, and AI developers, highlighting the importance of responsible AI development. It is crucial to address personal concerns and work on building trust and confidence in AI technologies among the public

Police and investigation of bee killings

V diplomskem delu je analiziran problem preiskovanja pomorov čebel, ki so posledica različnih dejavnikov, kot so nepravilna uporaba fitofarmacevtskih sredstev, podnebne spremembe in neustrezne kmetijske prakse. Čebele igrajo ključno vlogo v ekosistemu, njihovo odmiranje pa predstavlja velik okoljski in gospodarski izziv. Raziskava je zajemala analizo zakonodaje, statističnih podatkov in intervjujev s strokovnjaki, pri čemer so bile identificirane pomanjkljivosti v preiskovalnih postopkih in usklajevanju med institucijami. Rezultati kažejo na potrebo po izboljšanju usposabljanja policistov, prilagoditvi zakonodaje in okrepitvi preventivnih ukrepov. Kot ključna rešitev se predlaga interdisciplinaren pristop in okrepitev sodelovanja med pristojnimi organi, kar bi omogočilo bolj učinkovito obravnavo pomorov čebel ter zmanjšanje njihovega števila v prihodnje.The issue of investigating mass bee die-offs has been analyzed, considering various contributing factors such as the improper use of plant protection products, climate change, and inadequate agricultural practices. The crucial role of bees in the ecosystem has been highlighted, as their decline is recognized as a significant environmental and economic challenge. The research involved an analysis of legislation, statistical data, and expert interviews, through which shortcomings in investigative procedures and coordination among institutions were identified. The findings suggest that improvements in police training, legislative adaptations, and the strengthening of preventive measures are necessary. An interdisciplinary approach and enhanced cooperation between competent authorities have been proposed as key solutions to enable a more effective response to bee die-offs and to reduce their occurrence in the future

Magnetic properties of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with different polymer coatings

Nanodelci imajo čedalje večji potencial v različnih industrijah zaradi svojih izjemnih fizikalnih in kemijskih lastnosti. Prilagajanje magnetnih lastnosti nanodelcev je ključno za oblikovanje novih večnamenskih materialov. V magistrskem delu smo proučevali vpliv različnih razmerij ionov Fe2+ in Fe3+ na strukturne in magnetne lastnosti nanodelcev. MNPs smo sintetizirali z metodo koprecipitacije. Izvedli smo tudi študijo vpliva različnih polimernih prevlek (aminosilan ali arabinogalaktan) na lastnosti modificiranih MNPs. Prevleka preprečuje aglomeracijo MNPs in stabilizira MNPs. MNPs, prevlečeni s polimernimi prevlekami, so po navadi tudi bolj biokompatibilni. Sintetizirane delce smo okarakterizirali z analiznimi metodami, kot so FTIR, TGA in VSM. Z analizami smo potrdili prisotnost polimernih prevlek na površini MNPs. Določili smo termične stabilnosti modificiranih MNPs. Prav tako so vsi modificirani MNPs izkazovali superparamagnetno naravo. MNPs z arabinogalaktansko prevleko v razmerju Fe²⁺ : Fe³⁺ = 2 : 1 celo izkazujejo protibakterijsko učinkovitost na E. coli in S. aureus.Nanoparticles have an increasing potential in various industries due to their exceptional physical and chemical properties. Tailoring the magnetic properties of nanoparticles is THE key to designing new multifunctional materials. In this master\u27s thesis, we studied the influence of different ratios of Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions on the structural and magnetic properties of nanoparticles. MNPs were synthesized by the co-precipitation method. The influence of different polymer coatings (aminosilane or arabinogalactan) on the properties of modified MNPs was investigated as well. Such polymer coating prevents agglomeration of MNPs and increases stabilization of the particles. MNPs coated with polymer coatings are usually more biocompatible. The synthesized particles were characterized by analytical methods such as FTIR, TGA and VSM. The analysis confirmed the presence of polymer coatings on the surface of MNPs. The thermal stabilities of modified MNPs were determined. In addition, all modified MNPs exhibited superparamagnetic nature. MNPs with an arabinogalactan coating in the ratio Fe²⁺: Fe³⁺ = 2:1 even demonstrated antibacterial efficiency against E. coli and S. aureus

Measures to improve the work of older employees

Število starejših zaposlenih se povečuje, zato je pomembno, da se organizacije pripravijo na večje število starejše delovne sile. Aktivno delo v zrelejših letih povzroča težave tudi starejšim zaposlenim. Na delovnem mestu se tako srečujejo z različnimi ovirami, kot so stres, izgorelost, razne zdravstvene težave, slabše poznavanje tehnologije, fizično zahtevno delo, neprilagojeno delovno okolje in nefleksibilno delo. V diplomskem delu smo izvedli raziskavo med starejšimi zaposlenimi z namenom, da bi ugotovili, s kakšnimi težavami se starejši zaposleni srečujejo, kako lahko starejšim zaposlenim pri opravljanju delovnih nalog pomaga organizacija in kateri ukrepi bi starejšim zaposlenim omogočili bolj produktivno delo. Ugotovili smo, da največjo težavo starejšim zaposlenim predstavljajo neustrezna in neprilagodljiva delovna oprema, stres ter nefleksibilnost dela. Organizacija bi starejšim lahko pomagala s prilagoditvijo delovnega okolja in delovnih nalog in prilagoditvami delovnega časa ter dodatnimi izobraževanji in usposabljanji. Starejši zaposleni menijo, da bi jim večjo produktivnost dela omogočili s prilagoditvami delovnega okolja, posodobitvami delovne opreme, z razbremenitvijo, dodatnimi izobraževanji in delom od doma.The number of older employees is increasing, so it is important for organizations to prepare for a larger aging workforce. Actively working in later years poses challenges for older employees themselves. In the workplace, they face various obstacles such as stress, burnout, various health issues, limited technology skills, physically demanding work, unsuitable working environments, and inflexible work. In this thesis, we conducted a survey among older employees to determine the challenges they face, how organizations can assist them in performing their job tasks, and what measures could enable older employees to work more productively. We found that the greatest challenges for older employees are inadequate and inflexible work equipment, stress, and inflexible work arrangements. Organizations could help by adapting the working environment and tasks, adjusting working hours, and providing additional training and education. Older employees believe that their productivity could be enhanced through adjustments to the work environment, updates to work equipment, workload relief, additional training, and opportunities for remote work

Remote and distributed control by using OPC UA protocol

Diplomsko delo preučuje uporabo protokola OPC UA za povezovanje industrijskih naprav, tako komercialnih kot odprtokodnih rešitev. Namen je bil preizkusiti delovanje OPC UA v različnih okoljih, vključno z integracijo v SKADA sistem iFIX in mobilnimi aplikacijami. Uporabljene metode vključujejo konfiguracijo OPC UA strežnikov in odjemalcev ter prenos podatkov prek različnih naprav. Rezultati kažejo, da OPC UA omogoča učinkovito povezovanje, vendar zahteva optimizacijo za realno-časovne aplikacije. Priporočila vključujejo izboljšanje interoperabilnosti in podpore za novejše OPC UA FX.The thesis explores the use of the OPC UA protocol for connection of industrial devices and open-source solutions. The goal was to test OPC UA functionality in various environments, including integration with the SCADA system iFIX and mobile applications. Methods included configuring OPC UA servers and clients, as well as data transfer via different devices. Results show that OPC UA enables efficient connectivity but requires optimization for real-time applications. Recommendations include improving interoperability and support for OPC UA F

Hybrid project management in a public institution

Diplomsko delo raziskuje uporabo hibridnih metodologij, ki združujejo tradicionalne in agilne pristope. Namen raziskave je analizirati prednosti in slabosti hibridnega projektnega vodenja ter preučiti, kako lahko tovrstni pristop prispeva k boljšemu izvajanju projektov. Raziskava pokriva področje projektnega vodenja v Javnem zavodu Cene Štupar – Center za izobraževanje Ljubljana, kjer je uspešno izvajanje projektov ključno za doseganje organizacijskih ciljev. Teorija navaja, da hibridno projektno vodenje prinaša številne prednosti, vključno s povečano prilagodljivostjo, izboljšano komunikacijo znotraj projektnih ekip ter višjo uspešnostjo projektov, vendar se je v aplikativnem delu, kjer je bila opravljena raziskava na enem od projektov, pokazalo, da v Javnem zavodu Cene Štupar – Center za izobraževanje Ljubljana uporaba hibridnih metodologij ne bi bila smiselna .The thesis explores the use of hybrid methodologies that combine traditional and agile approaches. The purpose of the research is to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of hybrid project management and to examine how this type of approach can contribute to the better implementation of projects financed from European and national sources. The research covers the field of project management in the public sector, where the successful implementation of projects is the key to achieving organizational goals. The results of the research show that hybrid project management brings many advantages, including increased flexibility, improved communication within project teams and higher project success, but in the application part it was shown that the use of hybrid methodologies in the Cene Štupar public institution would not make sense

Conversion app for converting images from raw to png format with machine learning

V diplomskem delu je prikazan razvoj aplikacije za pretvorbo slik formata RAW v format PNG, pri čemer uporabljamo dva pristopa. Prvi temelji na standardnih algoritmih za pretvorbo slik, drugi pa na strojnem učenju, kar pomeni, da je bil model naučen čim bolj natančno pretvarjati sliko iz enega formata v drugega. Ta aplikacija dobro služi fotografom, ki zajemajo slike v formatu RAW, saj jih lahko na svojem mobilnem telefonu pretvorijo kar na poti. Na koncu sta sledili primerjava in analiza rezultatov za ugotavljanje, kateri postopek prinaša boljše rezultate. Za učenje modela je bilo uporabljenih 16 različnih slik, algoritem pa je bil implementiran s pomočjo knjižnic. Pretvorba z algoritmom je poskrbela za kvalitetnejše slike, vendar je bila pretvorba z modelom včasih hitrejša. Pretvorjene slike so bile primerjane z metrikama PSNR in SSIM ter analizirane.The thesis presents the development of an application for converting images from RAW format to PNG format, using two different approaches. The first approach is based on standard image conversion algorithms, while the second relies on machine learning, meaning that a model was trained to convert images from one format to another as accurately as possible. This application is especially useful for photographers who capture images in RAW format, as it allows them to convert images on the go directly on their mobile phones. In the end, a comparison and analysis of the results were conducted to determine which method yields better results. A total of 16 different images were used to train the model, and the algorithm was implemented using libraries. The algorithm-based conversion produced higher quality images, although the model-based conversion was sometimes faster. The converted images were compared and analyzed using the PSNR and SSIM metrics