SPECIFICITY OF PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE AND THE SERBIAN ARMED FORCES

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the specific characteristics of performance measurement on the example of the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces. The calculation of financial and non-financial performance measures of the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces contributes to constant improvement or maximization of their ability to provide goods and services through the effective and efficient acquisition and use of different types of resources. The research was conducted using the data on selected financial and nonfinancial performances from the 31st Infantry Battalion reports in the period from 2012 to 2018. In order to confirm the hypothesis, the method of analysis, the synthesis method and the correlation analysis method were used. The empirical results of this study show that there is a high degree of interdependence between the financial management and control systems, on the one hand, and increased training of people and more adequate maintenance of motor vehicles, weapons and combat techniques, on the other. The main contribution of this paper is to emphasize the importance of performance measurement in the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces and their contribution to creating a certain level of socialwelfare

Oxidative stress

The unceasing need for oxygen is in contradiction to the fact that it is in fact toxic to mammals. Namely, its monovalent reduction can have as a consequence the production of short-living, chemically very active free radicals and certain non-radical agents (nitrogen-oxide, superoxide-anion-radicals, hydroxyl radicals, peroxyl radicals, singlet oxygen, peroxynitrite, hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorous acid, and others). There is no doubt that they have numerous positive roles, but when their production is stepped up to such an extent that the organism cannot eliminate them with its antioxidants (superoxide-dismutase, glutathione-peroxidase, catalase, transferrin, ceruloplasmin, reduced glutathion, and others), a series of disorders is developed that are jointly called „oxidative stress.“ The reactive oxygen species which characterize oxidative stress are capable of attacking all main classes of biological macromolecules, actually proteins, DNA and RNA molecules, and in particular lipids. The free radicals influence lipid peroxidation in cellular membranes, oxidative damage to DNA and RNA molecules, the development of genetic mutations, fragmentation, and the altered function of various protein molecules. All of this results in the following consequences: disrupted permeability of cellular membranes, disrupted cellular signalization and ion homeostasis, reduced or loss of function of damaged proteins, and similar. That is why the free radicals that are released during oxidative stress are considered pathogenic agents of numerous diseases and ageing. The type of damage that will occur, and when it will take place, depends on the nature of the free radicals, their site of action and their source. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173034, br. 175061 i br. 31085

Reaction sintering of the 2ZnO-TiO2 system

Sintering kinetics of the mechanically activated ZnO-TiO2 system was studied. Mixtures of ZnO and TiO2 powders were mechanically activated using a high-energy ball mill for different time intervals from 0 to 300 minutes. Formal phenomenological analyses were performed in order to describe the specimen’s behavior during isothermal sintering at 1100oC. Non-isothermal sintering was investigated by dilatometer measurements up to 1100oC with a constant heating rate. The Dorn method was applied in order to give information on the activation energy

Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on the Competitiveness of Multinational Corporations

AbstractCurrent development trends, at the global level, caused fundamental transformation in doing business in modern economy, and at the same time, set a request to change the dominant business strategies and policies by which companies achieve their goals. The liberalization of international trade and investment flows has contributed to the spread of the effects of technological progress and influenced development in many countries, but also raised a number of limitations in opportunities for achieving sustainable development. Decade of the nineties of the twentieth century can be characterized as a period of increasing pressure on the environment, the direct recipient of pollutants, resulting from the use of dirty manufacturing processes and production techniques, as well as the space through which manufactured products are distributed, used and postponed. The uncontrolled use of natural resources, especially non-renewable, has led to the endangerment of existential prerequisite for the maintenance of a healthy environment, as well as deterioration of environmental quality and escalating environmental problems on a global level.Under pressure from institutional factors, multinational corporations (MNCs), as motor of developments in the world economy, today pay more attention to the integration of the dimensions of sustainability in its own operations. Involving aspects of managing the impacts of corporate activities on social development and the environment is in the function of sustainable business. Development of key competences in the area of addressing social and environmental issues is a prerequisite of achieving and sustaining competitive advantage of MNCs in the modern market. In addition, long-term negligence of the non-financial aspects of the business can make multiple negative effects on the financial performance and the reduction of corporate reputation among key stakeholders, thereby reducing its competitive advantage.Great impact on the rise of social-economic consciousness of MNCs was made by a bulk of problems caused by negative consequences of their activities, which gave rise to boycott of consumers and other stakeholders. This resulted in the decrease of enterprise credibility, ruin of their reputation, built in years, and failure in competitiveness. An MNC management team has realized that un-responsible behavior towards environment could have a “boomerang effect” to it. On the other hand, responsible behavior of enterprises towards stakeholders, society, and environment could contribute to achievement of competitive advantage. For example, by ensuring good working conditions to employees, by instigation of non-discrimination, by respecting of human rights, and by offering a possibility of advancement, MNC become attractive for new employees, especially most talented people. By insuring transparency towards shareholders, and respect of their rights, by continuous reporting, and risk management, MNC become attractive for new investments. By offering quality, healthy, and safe products, and by performing promises about after-sale services, enterprises become attractive for consumers. Talented employees, substantial capital, and safe market are the key conditions for achieving MNC competitive advantage. Hence, it is obvious that social responsible behavior of MNC becomes important factor of their survival and success. By explaining the impact of corporate social responsibility on the competitiveness of MNCs, the aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of such practice for the competitiveness of MNCs

Software for Measuring Acoustic Parameters in Open-plan Offices

This paper presents a development of software for the measurement and estimation of the quality of acoustic design in open-plan offices. The measurement method is defined by a standard and measurements should be performed in a large number of different spatial positions in order to measure and determine the acoustic quality of the surroundings of as many workstations as possible. The presented software significantly simplifies the process of analyzing open-plan offices by processing the signal at the time of measurement. Furthermore, it allows for the storing of measured signals and parameter values, which can be of importance for further analysis or repeated calculations. The presented procedure leads to the reduction of the necessary hardware elements for completing the analysis. All that is needed for measurement are a sound source, a microphone, a sound card and a computer. As a result, the user obtains a detailed report of the characteristics of the analyzed office space and a descriptive mark which depends on the values of the calculated parameters

Insights into platinum-induced peripheral neuropathy-current perspective

Cancer is a global health problem that is often successfully addressed by therapy, with cancer survivors increasing in numbers and living longer world around. Although new cancer treatment options are continuously explored, platinum based chemotherapy agents remain in use due to their efficiency and availability. Unfortunately, all cancer therapies affect normal tissues as well as cancer, and more than 40 specific side effects of platinum based drugs documented so far decrease the quality of life of cancer survivors. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is a frequent side effects of platinum-based chemotherapy agents. This cluster of complications is often so debilitating that patients occasionally have to discontinue the therapy. Sensory neurons of dorsal root ganglia are at the core of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms. In these postmitotic cells, DNA damage caused by platinum chemotherapy interferes with normal functioning. Accumulation of DNA-platinum adducts correlates with neurotoxic severity and development of sensation of pain. While biochemistry of DNA-platinum adducts is the same in all cell types, molecular mechanisms affected by DNA-platinum adducts are different in cancer cells and non-dividing cells. This review aims to raise awareness about platinum associated chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy as a medical problem that has remained unexplained for decades. We emphasize the complexity of this condition both from clinical and mechanistical point of view and focus on recent findings about chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in in vitro and in vivo model systems. Finally, we summarize current perspectives about clinical approaches for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy treatment

Does digitalization affect the contribution of entrepreneurship to economic growth?

U radu se analiziraju različite vrste inovativnog poduzetništva kao što su poduzetništvo novih proizvoda (NP), novih tehnologija (NT), visokih očekivanja rasta (HG) i prosječnih očekivanja rasta (AG) te njihov doprinos gospodarskom rastu kroz regije EU-a, koje se međusobno razlikuju u stupnju digitalizacije. Regije su stvorene primjenom klaster analize. Stupanj digitalizacije mjeren Indeksom digitalne ekonomije i društva bio je glavni kriterij za grupiranje. Hijerarhijski regresijski modeli s panel podacima za razdoblje 2010-2017 primijenjeni su s ciljem da se ispita utjecaj različitih vrsta inovativnog poduzetništva na gospodarski rast. Rezultati istraživanja potvrđuju razlike u doprinosu pojedinih vrsta poduzetništva gospodarskom rastu u regijama EU, kao i utjecaj digitalizacije na odnos poduzetništva i gospodarskog rasta. Poduzetništvo visokog rasta i poduzetništvo u razvoju novih tehnologija imaju najveći doprinos gospodarskom rastu u regijama koje karakterizira veći stupanj digitalizacije. S druge strane, prosječno očekivanje rasta poduzetništva i poduzetništvo s novim proizvodima imaju dominantnu ulogu u gospodarskom rastu u regijama s nižim razinama digitalizacije.The paper analyses the contribution of different types of innovative entrepreneurship: new products entrepreneurship (NP), new technology development entrepreneurship (NT), high growth expectation entrepreneurship (HG), and average growth expectation entrepreneurship (AG) to economic growth through the EU regions, which differ from each other on the degree of digitization. The regions were created by the application of cluster analysis. The clustering criterion was the level of digitization measured by the Digital Economy and Society Index. Hierarchical regression models were developed with purpose to investigate the effect of different types of innovative entrepreneurship on economic growth, on panel data for the period 2010-2017. The obtained results confirm differences in contribution of the certain types of entrepreneurship to economic growth in the EU regions, as well as, the influence of digitization on the relationship between entrepreneurship and economic growth. High growth expectation entrepreneurship and new technology development entrepreneurship have greatest contribution to economic growth in the regions characterized by a higher degree of digitization. On the other side, average growth expectation entrepreneurship and new products entrepreneurship have a dominant role in economic growth in the regions with lower levels of digitization

IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS FROM PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL AND MIND-BODY MEDICINE PERSPECTIVES

Idiopathic scoliosis, defined as a three-dimensional spine and trunk deformity, which appears in otherwise healthy subjects, exhibits complex relations with various forms of personal well-being and psychopathology. Most research studies have documented a higher proportion of psychological disturbances (e.g., self-criticism, negative body image, low self-esteem) and mental disorders (e.g., anxiety and depressive disorders, personality disorders) among idiopathc scoliosis patients compared to healthy controls. In addition, there are some reports, although more systematic research is warranted, on the role of mental health and personality traits in relation to the adherence to conservative treatment. Given the increasing role of surgical treatment in the management of scoliosis, as well as several reports on negative psychological outcomes of such interventions, there is a growing need for ongoing screening and mental health care in this population. It seems this also holds true for non-operative treatments, particularly bracing therapy. One should keep in mind that these scoliosis-psychopathology relations are deduced from a limited number of empirical studies, usually conducted on small sample sizes, suggesting the need for further large-scale investigations, preferrably those with longitudinal research designs. Understanding the complex interplay between personality/psychopathology and spinal deformities within the framework of personalized mind-body medicine, should help clinicians tailor more individualized and specific treatments and predict therapeutic outcomes in this clinical population

The impact of national intellectual capital on the economic growth in the South-Eastern European Countries

In the contemporary circumstances, intellectual capital has become the engine of the economic, social and cultural development. Mobilization and utilization of intellectual resources in enterprises create value, thus transforming and accelerating development of national economies towards the knowledge and innovation based economies. Due to these reasons, the most developed economies increase investments in education, information technologies and stimulate innovativeness. On the other hand, less developed countries do not have possibilities for significant investments in creating and employing national intellectual potential. This is reflected in their economic growth rates, as in the case of the Southeastern European (SEE) countries. In that regard, the paper investigates the impact of education, information technologies and innovations, as determinants of national intellectual capital development, on the economic growth in the SEE countries. The aim of this paper is to identify the contribution of the key intellectual capital determinants to the economic growth and development in the SEE countries and propose measures whose implementation lead to further development towards knowledge and innovation economies. The results of correlation analysis revealed positive and statistically significant correlation between GDP per capita and employed measures of national intellectual capital. The research has shown that increase in high-technology export, number of R&D researchers and mobile phone subscribers has a positive and significant impact on economic growth. The authors advise intensified cooperation between business community and institutes and universities to achieve synergetic effects in generating and utilising national intellectual potential

Citotoksična, antioksidativna i antimikrobijalna aktivnost Ampelopsis brevipedunculata i Parthenocissus tricuspidata (Vitaceae)

Cyclohexane and methanol extracts of leaves and inflorescences of Ampelopsis brevipedunculata and Parthenocissus tricuspidata are shown to exert significant cytotoxic action on both estrogen-dependent (MDA-MB-361) and estrogen-nondependent (MDA-MB-453) breast cancer cell lines. Methanol extracts of P. tricuspidata exhibited higher cytotoxicity for the MDA-MB-453 cell line (inflorescence: IC50 =111.45 ± 2.56 μg/ml; leaves: IC50= 56.76 ± 7.11 μg/ml) than for MDA-MB-361. Cyclohexane extracts of A. brevipedunculata leaves exhibited high cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-453 (IC50 =78.32 ± 0.1 μg/ml) and the estrogen-dependent MDA-MB-361 cell line (IC50 =97.40 ± 2.61 μg/ml). The highest DPPH-scavenging ability was exhibited by methanol extracts of P. tricuspidata inflorescences, with IC50=7.55±0.07 μg/ml. The tested extracts possessed weak antimicrobial activity.Cikloheksanski i metanolni ekstrakti listova i cvasti Ampelopsis brevipedunculata i Parthenocissus tricuspidata pokazali su značajnu citotoksičnu aktivnost na estrogen-zavisne (MDA-MB-361) i estrogen-nezavisne ćelije raka dojke (MDA-MB-453). Metanolni ekstrakt P. tricuspidata ispoljio je veću citotoksičnost na MDA-MB-453 ćelije (cvast: IC50 =111.45 ± 2.56 μg/ml; listovi: IC50= 56.76 ± 7.11 μg/ml) u odnosu na MDA-MB-361 ćelije. Cikloheksanski ekstrakt listova A. brevipedunculata pokazao je visoku citotoksičnost na MDA-MB-453 (IC50 =78.32 ± 0.1 μg/ml), kao i na estrogen-zavisne MDA-MB-361 ćelije (IC50 =97.40 ± 2.61 μg/ml). Najveću sposobnost uklanjanja DPPH radikala imao je metanolni ekstrakt cvasti P. tricuspidata čija je IC50=7.55±0.07 μg/ml. Ispitivani ekstrakti poseduju slabu antimikrobnu aktivnost