ENHANCING QUALITY AND EXTENDING SHELF LIFE: THE ROLE OF Ɣ-IRRADIATED BLACK PEPPER (PIPER NIGRUM) IN MORTADELLA PRESERVATION DURING COLD STORAGE

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of incorporating Ɣ-irradiated black pepper (Piper nigrum) at the maximum approved radiation dose of 10 kGy on the quality characteristics and shelf-life of sliced mortadella bologna-type sausage (IBP) stored at 4 ± 2 °C for 21 days in vacuum packaging. The sterility of the black pepper grains was confirmed using the standard microbiological agar plate method, revealing < 0.01 log cfu/g microbial activity, a state maintained after the pepper's addition at 1.5% of the total sausage mass. This led to an extended lag phase in microbial growth within the IBP samples during storage, positively influencing various sensory and biochemical parameters. Statistically significant improvements (p ≤ 0.05) in hardness and color intensity were observed by the 14th day, enhancing overall appearance and resulting in lower TVB-N values due to decreased microbial activity. These findings suggest that Ɣ-irradiated black pepper can enhance the quality and extend the shelf-life of mortadella bologna-type sausages during cold storage in normal atmosphere packaging

ANTIBIOTIC USE IN AGRICULTURE AND ITS ROLE IN THE SPREAD OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANT BACTERIA

Antibiotics were a significant advancement in medicine, yet infections from resistant bacteria are now on the rise, posing a major public health challenge. These bacteria can reach humans through food or contact and can cause severe illnesses that are harder to treat, leading to increased illness and death rates. Additionally, resistant strains can spread into the environment via animal waste, amplifying resistance in the environmental microbiome. The study explored the antimicrobial resistance profile of bacteria in soil, which is a highly diverse environment and a reservoir for resistance genes. In addition, the aim of this study was to isolate soil bacteria from compost and assess their antibiotic resistance profiles using the diffusion test method. In this study, 24 different antibiotics were used to evaluate the resistance profiles of the isolated bacteria. Results showed that 8 out of 20 bacterial isolates exhibited resistance to the tested antibiotics. 60% of the isolates demonstrated resistance to chloramphenicol and nitrofurantoin, whereas only 10% of the isolates exhibited resistance to gentamicin, representing the lowest observed resistance rate. This highlights the need for stronger regulations on antibiotic production, distribution, use, as well as global collaboration to support developing countries in improving antibiotic use and resistance surveillance

COSMIC SYNTAGMS: A STUDY OF ACO SHOPOV’S POETIC UNIVERSE

Poetry serves as a powerful source of new vocabulary, as its essence lies in shaping the formless into form. Тhus, as the poet speaks of their most intimate feelings, new words and word forms are arising. Recognizing poetry as an important source of novel vocabulary, this qualitative research aims to answer the question: What purpose do the lexical innovations in Aco Shopov’s poetry serve? The aim is, thus, to identify and understand the defining elements of Shopov’s poetry and their contribution to his poetic expression. To achieve this goal, a corpus i.e. a sample was compiled for the purposes of this paper. The sample includes eighteen poems by Shopov – poems that include stellar themes and cosmic symbolism. Qualitative content analysis is used, based on the coding and the general qualitative method.The findings reveal that Shopov’s poetic language consistently maintains a cosmic dimension, with lexical innovations as an integral to this aspect of his poetry

TECHNOLOGY OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION OF BEE PATTIES

Beekeeping is a vital economic and traditional practice with significant economic and ecological impacts. Beyond producing functional and medicinally beneficial products for humans, honey bees (Apis mellifera) play a crucial role in plant pollination - a service with an economic value far exceeding that of bee products. Supplemental feeding using industrially produced foods, such as sugar syrups and protein patties, is essential for ensuring adequate winter food supplies. Protein patties are typically produced using integrated sugar products and dried yeasts (for bakery and livestock use), enriched with proteins, vitamins, minerals, and nutritional bio stimulants. This technologically advanced production process involves the careful selection of raw materials, storage, refining, grinding, heat treatment, dosing, homogenization, fat addition, packing, and transportation. Strict quality control at every stage ensures the final product meets the nutritional needs of bees and the expectations of beekeepers. This study analyzed honey yields over five years in two apiaries. Case Study 1 recorded a total honey yield of 9,400 kg, while Case Study 2 yielded 2,550 kg. The results highlighted the positive impact of stimulatory supplements on bee productivity, with particularly notable improvements in 2021 and 2022. Additionally, local environmental conditions were found to significantly influence honey yields. The findings confirm that stimulatory supplements enhance bee activity, immunity, queen productivity, and the successful wintering of young bees. These advancements demonstrate the potential to improve the sustainability and productivity of beekeeping through targeted nutritional interventions

UNDERSTANDING INFLATION DRIVERS IN NORTH MACEDONIA: AN ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS

Inflation plays a key role in a country’s economy, especially in terms of its economic stability and growth. Understanding its determinants is essential for formulating effective policies. This paper analyzes the factors influencing the rate of inflation in the Republic of North Macedonia in the period 20022023. The objective is to identify and assess the impact of the money supply (M2), the real effective exchange rate of the Macedonian denar (MKD), and the unemployment rate (independent variables) on the inflation rate (dependent variable) in the analyzed period. In the paper, a statistical analysis was performed that identified the possible correlations between the dependent variable and the three independent variables. Also, econometric modeling and evaluation of the model was performed using the ordinary least squares (OLS) linear regression method. The results of the research have been properly interpreted and relevant conclusions have been drawn based on that. This research is particularly useful for economists, policymakers and the Central Bank of the country, as it provides insights into inflation dynamics. Based on this information, they will be able to develop and implement appropriate monetary policies to control and manage the economy, which is crucial for achieving economic stability and growth

DIFFERENT PERCEPTION REGARDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES – UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS AND EMPLOYERS

A frequent problem faced by employers in the labor market in the Republic of North Macedonia are candidates who possess formal knowledge but lack the necessary skills, abilities and knowledge. In short – they lack the competencies required for successful performance in a specific job position. In every hiring process, employers first assess the competencies possessed by the job candidate, or the potential that determines whether they will be successful in the workplace. It should be emphasized that competencies encompass skills, abilities, knowledge and personal traits that match the job requirements, determining whether a specific candidate is suitable for the job or needs to improve some skills and develop competencies necessary for the position. Most of the technical competencies should ideally be acquired during formal education i.e. undergraduate studies for the majority of citizens in Macedonia. The entire problem regarding the different perceptions of employment opportunities between the two sides of this issue – the unemployed and the employers – lies in the different assessment of the candidate's competencies from both sides (often including a lack of awareness of the competencies required for the job being applied for by the candidates). The analysis in this paper is focused on this extremely relevant issue, with an emphasis on the fact that quality education based on real needs is the foundation for a healthy economy, a healthy labor market and progress in any country

А COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF FIRST-PERSON PRONOUN USE IN AI AND HUMAN ESSAYS

This study comparatively analyzed the use of the personal pronoun “I” in AI-generated and human-written essays through an AntConc analysis of two self-made corpora of texts, to (dis)prove the hypothesis: AI-generated essays will use the first-person pronoun "I" significantly less frequently than human-written essays. The first corpus of essays in this study, all generated by ChatGPT, consisted of 100 essays totaling 29,442 words. The second corpus of 100 essays, written by humans, included texts with a total word count of 39,878. The frequency analysis revealed a significant disparity in the use of the pronoun “I” between the two corpora. In the AI-generated essays, "I" was used only 15 times, contrasting sharply with the human-written essays, where “I” appeared a total of 523 times. These findings showed the noteworthy differences in the narrative styles of AI and human writers, showing the potential limitations of free Generative AI models in replicating human-like self-reference and subjectivity in written discourse

DIGITAL RECONSTRUCTOR: INTEGRATION OF DIGITAL TWINS FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION AND REMEDIATION OF WAR-AFFECTED TERRITORIES IN UKRAINE

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential and opportunities of Digital Twin technology for the reconstruction and remediation of socio-economic and ecological systems in Ukraine. Given the scale of destruction caused by military activities, limited resources, and tight recovery timelines, traditional remediation methods often prove too slow and resource-intensive. To address this, the authors propose a project aimed at implementing Digital Twin systems for the integrated restoration of infrastructure in these systems. Virtual models of war-damaged infrastructure (roads, bridges, buildings) and ecosystems (forests, water systems) will be created using geospatial data, sensors, and real-time monitoring technologies, enabling timely responses, effective decision-making, and efficient resource management. The study examines successful applications of Digital Twins and discusses their challenges and prospects within sustainable development. The results confirm that the adoption of Digital Twin technology can significantly enhance post-war recovery efforts. The authors’ future research will focus on successful digital transformation experiences and the development of frameworks to optimize the integration of Digital Twins into Ukraine’s post-war remediation management model

INTERDISCIPLINARITY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS: THE CASE OF ALBANIA

Achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) is among top national priorities for Western Balkan countries even if the efforts and awareness remain low especially in Albania. Sustainable development education has been integrated to different levels of the curricula of pre-university education and it is part of the curricula of higher education institutions (HEIs) in Albania. Sustainable development education is considered catalyst in raising awareness on SDGs especially among young people. In business related university degrees sustainable development education has been traditionally linked to corporate social responsibility (CSR), business ethics courses or circular economy (CE) courses. The number of dedicated courses and degrees focused in sustainable development has increased over the years. The teaching and learning approach remain traditional. Sustainable development is interdisciplinary. Courses related to sustainable development lack of interdisciplinary approach. The aim of this paper is to explore the integration of interdisplinarity in sustainable development in Albanian HEIs. The approach of this study is qualitative, case study method is used. The study focuses in business ethics course offered by the Department of Management at the Faculty of Business, Aleksandër University of Durrës. The findings suggest that interdisciplinary in this course is needed in order to build transversal competence in terms of sustainable consumption, sustainable production, gender discrimination, sustainable spaces and digital and AI competence

DIETARY HABITS OF DIFFERENT CONSUMER CATEGORIES REGARDING THE CONSUMPTION OF FUNCTIONAL FOOD

The aim of this paper is to study consumer dietary habits regarding the consumption of functional foods, with a particular focus on functional dairy products as one of the elements of sustainable development. Functional foods, enriched with additional nutritional components (probiotics, antioxidants, vitamins), positively influence human health and well-being, the preservation and stability of biodiversity, climate change, and environmental protection. The research was conducted on 373 respondents who varied by gender, age, and educational level. They answered an anonymous questionnaire consisting of 48 questions regarding the demographic characteristics of the respondent, the frequency, and habits of consuming functional dairy products. The questionnaire was created using Google Forms and distributed electronically. For statistical processing and analysis of the data, tools from Microsoft Office Excel and SPSS 21 statistical software were used.According to the results, women prefer functional food more frequently than men (4.5 vs. 4.1 points). By age: the category of individuals aged 14-18 years are the most frequent consumers of functional food (4.7 points); those aged 19-34 years consume it the least (4.11 points), while among individuals aged 35-50 years and over 51 years, no significant differences were observed, with an average of 4.2 points (on a scale of 1-6). Regarding education level, respondents with higher education consume functional food more than those with secondary education (4.36 vs. 4 points).From the results obtained, it can be concluded that dietary habits and the consumption of functional foods differ among various categories of respondents, depending on their demographic characteristics, but an upward trend in the consumption of functional dairy products is expected with the application of ecological and economically sustainable practices