The implications of innovation implementation in the agriculture for sustainable development of the Republic of Serbia

Apstrakt: Usvajanje inovacija u agraru je važan pokretač rasta produktivnosti i postizanja održivosti razvoja. Danas se u svetu primenjuju različiti savremeni pristupi u razvoju agrara, koji podrazumevaju uvođenje inovacija i tehnologija, prihvatljivih u socio-ekonomskom i ekološkom smislu (integralna, organska, cirkularna, zelena i bioekonomija). Osnovni cilj ove doktorske disertacije je utvrditi koji su pristupi razvoju agrara danas najuspešniji u svetu i kakve su mogućnosti njihove primene za održivi razvoj Republike Srbije. U skladu sa definisanim ciljem doktorske disertacije, formulisane su osnovne hipoteze istraživanja, koje su usmerene na razmatranje razvijenosti multifunkcionalne poljoprivrede u Republici Srbiji, kroz poređenje sa ostalim zemljama Zapadnog Balkana. Takođe, istražene su poljoprivredne tehnologije koje vode ka povećanju produktivnosti u agraru, zatim kvalitet i konkurentnost najznačajnijih agrarnih proizvoda Republike Srbije i njihov uticaj na izvoz, kao i značaj celokupnog poljoprivredno-prehrambenog sektora za izvoz, privredni i održivi razvoj Republike Srbije i inovativnih zemalja sveta. Ispitan je značaj uvođenja inovacija u agrarni sektor za privredni i održivi razvoj Republike Srbije i inovativnih zemalja i upoređena je inovativnost agrarnog sektora Republike Srbije sa poljoprivredno inovativnim zemljama. Empirijskim istraživanjem su dokazane postavljene hipoteze i u skladu sa tim su izvedeni zaključci. Sprovedeno istraživanje ima teorijske i praktične implikacije, koje mogu biti korišćene za dalja istraživanja i obogaćivanje literature iz predmetne oblasti. Takođe, može poslužiti kreatorima agrarne politike Republike Srbije, u smislu uvođenja najperspektivnijih pristupa za budući razvoj agrara u cilju održivog razvoja Republike Srbije.Abstract Adoption of innovations in agriculture is an important driver of productivity growth and sustainable development. Today in the world apply different approaches to the development of modern agriculture, which include innovation and technology, acceptable in socio-economic and environmental terms (integral, organic, circular, green and bio-economy). The main goal of this doctoral dissertation is to determine which approaches of the development of agriculture are the most successful in the world and what are the possibilities of their application for the sustainable development of the Republic of Serbia. In accordance with the defined goal of the doctoral dissertation, the basic research hypotheses have been formulated, which are aimed at considering the development of multifunctional agriculture in the Republic of Serbia, through comparison with other countries in the Western Balkans. Also, explored are agricultural technologies that lead to increased productivity in agriculture, then the quality and competitiveness of the most important agricultural products of the Republic of Serbia and their impact on exports, as well as the importance of the entire agri-food sector for export, economic and sustainable development of Republic of Serbia and innovative countries in the world. The importance of introducing innovation in the agricultural sector for economic and sustainable development of the Republic of Serbia and innovative countries was examined and the innovation of the agricultural sector of the Republic of Serbia was compared with agriculturally innovative countries. Empirical research proved the set hypotheses and drew conclusions accordingly. The conducted research has theoretical and practical implications, which can be used for further research and enrichment of literature in the subject area. It can also serve the creators of the agricultural policy of the Republic of Serbia, in terms of introducing the most promising approaches for the future development of agriculture in order to achieve sustainable development of the Republic of Serbia

Photocatalytic Degradation of Carbofuran in Water Using Laser-Treated TiO2: Parameters Influence Study, Cyto- and Phytotoxicity Assessment

This study investigates the impact of changing parameters on the photocatalytic degradation of carbofuran (CBF) using laser-treated TiO2 nanotube arrays on a Ti mesh under simulated sunlight irradiation and assessing toxicity during photocatalytic degradation. Various parameters, including the stirring effect, light intensity, initial CBF concentration, and variation in the active surface area of laser-treated TiO2 photocatalysts, were examined to determine their impact on degradation efficiency. The photodegradation kinetics were monitored using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with a PDA detector (UPLC-PDA) and UV-Vis spectrophotometry, while mineralization was assessed by a total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer. The photocatalytic degradation of CBF is enhanced by an increase in the active surface area of the TiO2 photocatalyst, light intensity, and the introduction of stirring, but it decreases with an increase in the initial concentration of CBF. The toxicity assessments revealed that the cytotoxicity of CBF initially increased during the degradation process but decreased after further treatment, indicating the formation and subsequent breakdown of toxic intermediates. The phytotoxicity test showed that longer degradation times resulted in higher toxicity to plant growth. This study provides new insights into the photocatalytic degradation of CBF with TiO2, the importance of parameter optimization for more efficient treatment, and the use of toxicity tests to confirm the success of the photocatalytic proces

Synergy of Nd:YAG Picosecond Pulsed Laser Irradiation and Electrochemical Anodization in the Formation of TiO2 Nanostructures for the Photocatalytic Degradation of Pesticide Carbofuran

This study proposes a simple and controlled method for producing TiO2 with phase junction, oxygen vacancies, and Ti3+ by combining picosecond pulsed laser irradiation and electrochemical anodization. Ti mesh was pretreated by irradiating with a picosecond pulsed laser technique using an Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) at two fluencies, 15 J/cm2 and 30 J/cm2 . The samples were then subjected to electrochemical anodization to form TiO2 nanotube arrays on the previously laser-treated surface. This study will investigate the possibility of forming TiO2 nanotube arrays on a pre-laser-treated Ti substrate and determine their physicochemical and photocatalytic properties. The samples were characterized by FESEM, XRD, Raman, XPS, and UV-Vis DRS. UV-Vis spectroscopy was used to observe the progress of photocatalytic degradation for all samples, and degradation products were determined using GC-MS. With the synergistic effects of phase junction, oxygen vacancies, and Ti3+, the laser-treated TiO2 with 30 J/cm2 showed a higher photocatalytic degradation rate (85.1%) of the pesticide carbofuran compared to non-laser-treated TiO2 (54.8%), remaining stable during successive degradation cycles, which has promising practical applications

Ruralni turizam kao pokretač razvoja ruralnih područja i privrede Republike Srbije

Rural tourism supports the linking of the economic, social and environmental development elements, while boosting employment and stepping up rural development This paper aims to assess the importance of rural tourism in terms of the economic and rural development in the Republic of Serbia. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the values referring to the number of registered tourist arrivals and overnight stays per region. According to the research findings, the region of Šumadija and Western Serbia has the largest number of rural households and also records the highest number of tourist arrivals and overnight stays. In developed countries, the tourism industry strongly supports the agricultural sector by creating new jobs and contributing to the overall economic development, however, the situation is quite different in Serbia. Furthermore, considering the EU, where the rural areas cover a large part of the overall territory, it is exactly the rural areas that account for a significant number of overnight stays and accommodation facilities.Publishe

Significance of fiscal policy for economic development and agriculture

With the latest global economic crisis (2007-2009) the importance of fiscal policy as a part of economic policy is growing. Its significance extends from the experience of the Great Depression of the 1930s. In this paper, with the help of the ARIMA model, the influence of fiscal policy instruments on macroeconomic fiscal indicators and some selected indicators of economic development in the context of countries of Southeast Europe have been explored. Friedman's test has shown that the countries have not yet recovered from the global economic crisis. The results shows that fiscal policy can act on the individual's standard of living, but only responsible implementation will have the same effect on public finances and the overall sustainable development of a country. Also, fiscal policy is an important measure of agricultural policy and is increasingly being used as a directional development factor.Publishe

Agricultural enterprises and economic growth: A regional analysis in the Republic of Serbia

Since agriculture is the highly important economic activity in the Republic of Serbia, it is necessary to create an environment in which competitive agricultural enterprises will develop. However, regions in the Republic of Serbia considerably differ regarding the intensity of agricultural activity. This paper examines the impact of agricultural enterprises on the region's contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country in the period between 2010 and 2018. Activity of agricultural enterprises was observed using number of agricultural enterprises, number of employees in them, their turnover and gross value added. Random-Effects GLS regression showed that regions with higher agricultural activity contribute to the lesser extent to the GDP of the country. Research results are robust to changing sampling period and lagging independent variables. In this regard, several proposals have been recommended.Publishe

Lipidni status trkačkih konja nakon fizičkog opterećenja različitog intenziteta i trajanja

The aim of this research was to determine the effects of physical activity on the lipid status in racehorses in a gallop race and a forty-kilometre endurance ride. Two groups of healthy 3-5-year-old full-blooded racehorses were assessed. The first one ran a 2 400-m gallop race, which is considered a short-lasting, intense physical activity; lipid status was assessed prior to, and 48 and 72 h after the race. The second group ran a forty-kilometre endurance ride, which is a long-lasting moderate physical activity; the lipid status was assessed immediately before, soon after and 48, 72, 96, 120 and 144 h after finishing the race. In intense physical activity the parameters of lipid status (total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, free cholesterol and triglycerides) remained stable at all times assessed in comparison with basal concentrations (p>0.05). Following the long-lasting moderate physical activity a slight, although statistically insignificant (p>0.05), increase in the concentrations of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, free cholesterol and LDL cholesterol was noticed immediately after the endurance ride in comparison to the values before the ride. By contrast, the concentration of LDL cholesterol increased immediately after the gallop race, which was followed by its significant decrease (p lt 0.05) 96, 120 and 144 h after the ride in comparison to the values both before and immediately after the ride. Unlike in the gallop race, immediately after the 40-km endurance ride there was a plummet in triglyceride concentration (p lt 0.01), but was followed by its statistically significant increase (p lt 0.05 and p lt 0.01) at all sampling times in comparison to the value on finishing the ride. In horses which ran the gallop race there was a high positive correlation between the concentrations of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides before, 72 and 96 h after the race (r = 0.9278, p lt 0.001). In those which ran the endurance ride a high positive correlation between the concentrations of total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol was noticed on finishing the ride (r=0.7395 p lt 0.01), as well as at all sampling times which followed. In addition, there was a positive correlation between the concentrations of HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol 72 h (r=0.6843, p lt 0.01) after the ride. Aerobic exercise decreases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, partly because it is accompanied by the moderate increase in serum concentration of HDL cholesterol, decrease in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, which all result in the improvement in lipid profile in horses which completed the endurance ride.Cilj ovog rada je bio utvrđivanje efekata fizičkog opterećenja različitog intenziteta tokom galopske trke i endjurans trke, na lipidni status trkačkih konja. U ispitivanju su učestvovali zdravi punokrvni trkački konji, starosti 3-5 godina, podeljeni u dve grupe. Prva grupa trkačkih konja podvrgnuta je kratkotrajnom fizičkom opterećenju visokog intenziteta tokom galopske trke na 2400 m, i lipidni status je određivan pre učešća u trci, 48 h i 72 h posle istrčane trke. Druga grupa trkačkih konja podvrgnuta je prolongiranom fizičkom opterećenju niskog intenziteta tokom endjurans trke na 40km, a lipidni status je određivan pre učešća u trci, neposredno posle istrčane trke, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h, 120 h i 144 h posle istrčane trke. Kod fizičkog vežbanja visokog intenziteta parametri lipidnog statusa (ukupni holesterol, HDL-holesterol, LDL-holesterol, slobodni holesterol i trigliceridi) ostaju stabilni u svim ispitivanim vremenskim intervalima u odnosu na bazalne koncentracije (p>0,05). Nakon dugotrajnog fizičkog vežbanja niskog intenziteta uočen je blagi porast koncentracije ukupnog holesterola, HDL-holesterola, slobodnog holesterola i LDL-holesterola odmah nakon endjurans trke na 40km u odnosu na vrednosti pre trke, mada dobijeni rezultati nisu pokazali statističku značajnost (p>0,05). Nasuprot njima, koncentracija LDL-holesterola se povećala neposredno nakon trke, a potom se statistički značajano smanjivala u uzorcima uzetim 96 h, 120 h i 144 h nakon trke u odnosu na vrednost pre trke i neposredno nakon trke (p lt 0,05). Za razliku od galopske trke, neposredno nakon endjurans trke na 40 km došlo je do naglog statistički značajnog pada koncentracije triglicerida (p lt 0,01), a potom je u svim narednim ispitivanim vremenskim intervalima dokazan njihov statistički značajan porast (p lt 0,05 i p lt 0,01) u odnosu na vrednosti triglicerida neposredno nakon trke. Kod galopske trke ustanovljena je međusobna visoka pozitivna korelacija između koncentracije ukupnog holesterola, koncentracije HDL-holesterola i koncentracije triglicerida pre, 72 h i 96 h posle trke (r = 0,9278, p lt 0,001). Kod endjurans trke ustanovljena je medjusobna visoka pozitivna korelacija između koncentracije ukupnog holesterola i HDL-holesterola neposredno nakon trke (r = 0,7395, p lt 0,01), kao i u svim ispitivanim vremenskim intervalima posle endjurans trke. Dokazana je i pozitivna korelacija između koncentracije HDL- holesterola i LDL-holesterola 72 h (r = 0,6843, p lt 0,01) nakon trke. Aerobnim vežbanjem se smanjenje rizik od razvoja kardiovaskularnih bolesti, delimično usled pratećeg umerenog povećanja serumske koncentracije HDL-holesterola uz redukciju ukupnog holesterola, LDL-holesterola i triglicerida, što sve zajedno rezultira poboljšanjem lipidnog profila krvi konja koji su trčali endjurans trku

IMPACT OF DIFFERENCES IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIOECONOMIC STABILITY ON BENZODIAZEPINE EXPOSURE BETWEEN THE THREE BALKANS COUNTRIES

Introduction: Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental disorders. Benzodiazepines belong to the group of anxiolytic sedatives and the most prescribed drugs in the world. The aim in ours study was to evaluate the differences in the exposure of the population to benzodiazepines (in period from 2014-2018) be tween Serbia, Slovenia and Croa tia, the three countries of th e Southwestern Balkans with varying degrees of socioeconomic development. Study design: A academic investigator initiated, pharmacoepidemiological difference-in -difference time se ries analysis of population exposure to benzodiazepines between the three, geogr aphically close Balkans countries (Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia) wi th varying degrees of socioeconomic developmen t has been carried out. Study was conducted as academic investigator initiated, in a retrospective manner on monthly basis international data set from January 2014 to December 2018. Results: At the annual level, during the study period from Januar y 2014 to December 2018, compared to Slovenia, Serbia and Croatia had higher DIDs, from 5 fold (Croatia) to 6 fold (Serbi a), for all benzodiazepines in total. By analyzing the differenc es-in- difference, we have shown that influence of both time (month) and c ountry on DIDs is significant as well as their mutual intera ction (the country × month) for all benzodiazepines in total. Conclusion: Serbia and Croatia must implement exp licit measures of reduci ng benzodiazepine prescription in health primary care based on evidence-based recommendations in the indicati ons where general medicine practitioners/family doctors most commonly prescribe these medicines. Without providing a realistic supplement/alternative to benzodiazepines such as increasing the availability of psychotherapy and impr oving the structure of psyc hiatric professionals in healthcare settings, implicit measures are not recommended for reducing pr escription, implementing accountability measures for prolonged prescription of benzodiazepines, and in particular for“ masked ”somatic diseases . All this comes to the fore by raising economic development and socioeconomic stabilit

IMPACT OF DIFFERENCES IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIOECONOMIC STABILITY ON BENZODIAZEPINE EXPOSURE BETWEEN THE THREE BALKANS COUNTRIES

Introduction: Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental disorders. Benzodiazepines belong to the group of anxiolytic sedatives and the most prescribed drugs in the world. The aim in ours study was to evaluate the differences in the exposure of the population to benzodiazepines (in period from 2014-2018) be tween Serbia, Slovenia and Croa tia, the three countries of th e Southwestern Balkans with varying degrees of socioeconomic development. Study design: A academic investigator initiated, pharmacoepidemiological difference-in -difference time se ries analysis of population exposure to benzodiazepines between the three, geogr aphically close Balkans countries (Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia) wi th varying degrees of socioeconomic developmen t has been carried out. Study was conducted as academic investigator initiated, in a retrospective manner on monthly basis international data set from January 2014 to December 2018. Results: At the annual level, during the study period from Januar y 2014 to December 2018, compared to Slovenia, Serbia and Croatia had higher DIDs, from 5 fold (Croatia) to 6 fold (Serbi a), for all benzodiazepines in total. By analyzing the differenc es-in- difference, we have shown that influence of both time (month) and c ountry on DIDs is significant as well as their mutual intera ction (the country × month) for all benzodiazepines in total. Conclusion: Serbia and Croatia must implement exp licit measures of reduci ng benzodiazepine prescription in health primary care based on evidence-based recommendations in the indicati ons where general medicine practitioners/family doctors most commonly prescribe these medicines. Without providing a realistic supplement/alternative to benzodiazepines such as increasing the availability of psychotherapy and impr oving the structure of psyc hiatric professionals in healthcare settings, implicit measures are not recommended for reducing pr escription, implementing accountability measures for prolonged prescription of benzodiazepines, and in particular for“ masked ”somatic diseases . All this comes to the fore by raising economic development and socioeconomic stabilit