Earnings Inequality and the Informal Economy: Evidence from Serbia

We analyse the extent and evolution of informality and inequality in the Serbian labour market between 2002 and 2007, using data from the Living Standard Measurement Surveys (LSMS). Two surprising results emerge. First, the level of informal employment has risen significantly over the period, despite strong economic growth and the introduction of a range of market-oriented reforms. Second, the level of inequality in earnings seems to have remained more or less constant over the period, in contrast to the experience of other countries at a similar stage of transition. We show that informal employees earn significantly less than those in the formal sector, controlling for a range of other variables, and informality plays an increasingly important role in explaining earnings inequality.informal economy; inequality; Serbia

ANTIOXIDANTS SUPPLEMENTATION BASED ON NATURAL PRODUCTS IN THE TREATMENT OF THE THERMAL SKIN INJURY

Thermal injuries are a major medical, economic and social problem, whose severity, morbidity, mortality, prognosis and treatment outcome directly depend on the surface and depth of the burn, but also on the patient's age, health status and accompanying complications. The treatment of thermal injury is long and complex, and the outcome is often uncertain with a very complex rehabilitation process, because the injury damages both physical and psychological health. Constant innovations in the protocol of medical treatment and the search for new mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of burns can be helpful in successful treatment. Therefore, there is a constant search for adjuvant therapies that will improve results like HBO, AO, platelet- rich plasma, negative pressure wound therapy and others. In recent years, the application of antioxidants as  adjuvant therapy for the care and treatment of wounds  has been the subject of various researche. Antioxidants are biologically active molecules that prevent the creation of free radicals in the body and at the same time neutralize the existing ones, this way participating in maintaining the oxidative status at the desired level. Antioxidant -rich natural products may provide a solution to improve  wound healing. The application of antioxidant therapy has shown numerous benefits in improving the outcome of burns. However, more information is needed from the clinical trials on the use of natural products, especially in combination with other therapies. Keywords: thermal skin injury, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, antioxidant rich natural product

An anatomy of male labour market earnings inequality in Serbia – 1996 to 2003

This study uses a regression-based framework to identify the key factors that determine the level and changes in main job earnings inequality for men. A number of different inequality measures are used in our work. The analysis uses data for Serbia drawn from eight annual labour force surveys, which cover both the early episode of sluggish transition and a more recent concerted phase of economic reform. It thus provides some useful insights on the evolution of labour earnings inequality through an uneven transitional process and identifies factors likely to retain an influence on earnings inequality as the market reform processes take greater hold

Pregnancy outcome during the bombing of Yugoslavia from Mart 24 to June 9, 1999

Background/Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate pregnancy outcome during the bombing of Yugoslavia in the period from March 24 to June 9, 1999. Methods. A retrospective study included a total of 81spontaneous abortion following XII gestation week, and 1448 deliveries, hospitalized in the regional hospital. The analyzed were: the incidence of spontaneous abortion, Cesarean section, post-term delivery, vaginal delivery following the previous Cesarean section within the period from March 24 to June 9, 1999, and compared to the same periods in 1998 and 2000 by the use of χ² and Kolgomorov-Smirnov tests. Results. Under the conditions of a three-month stress imposed by the bombing, significantly increased were the incidence of spontaneous abortion and vaginal delivery following the previous Cesarean section, while the incidence of Cesarean section and post-term delivery were decreased, but the incidence of perinatal outcome was paradoxically improved. The analysis of findings on admittance revealed that iterative Cesarean section was performed electively, close to the expected term of delivery, and vaginal delivery following the previous Cesarean section mainly two weeks before that term with the admittance finding confirming a high active stage pregnancy. Conclusions. Within the bombing, statistically significantly was increased the percentage of abortions after XII gestation week, and the biological duration of pregnancy was reduced. The reduced duration of pregnancy complete with the accelerated fetal mutation (also caused by the stress) resulted in better perinatal outcome, and statistically significantly lower percentage of Cesarean section

Model teorije igara zapromociju, određivanje cijena i upravljanje zalihama u lancu opskrbe

U ovom radu raspravljamo kako na tržištu reagiraju proizvođač i trgovci kojima je cilj maksimizacija njihovih neto profita, u slučaju kada je VMI sustav dogovoren među njima. Proizvođač proizvodi jedan gotovi proizvod koji dalje distribuira trgovcima po istoj veleprodajnoj cijeni. Trgovci dalje distribuiraju taj proizvod na geografski raspršenim i međusobno nezavisnim tržištima. Potražnja je za gotovim proizvodom na svakom od tržišta rastuća i konkavna funkcija ulaganja u oglašavanje proizvođača i trgovaca te padajuća i konveksna funkcija maloprodajne cijene. Proizvođač odlučuje o veleprodajnoj cijeni, ulaganju u oglašavanje, ciklusima obnove zaliha i gotovog proizvoda te o udjelu neisporučene robe kako bi maksimizirao profit. Trgovci uzimaju u obzir odluke koje je napravio proizvođač i na osnovu toga odlučuju o optimalnim maloprodajnim cijenama i ulaganju u oglašavanje kako bi maksmizirali vlastite profite. Problem je modeliran kao Stackelbergova igra u kojoj je proizvođač predvodnik, a trgovci sljedbenici. Izveli smo algoritam za računanje Stackelbergove ravnoteže. Napravili smo i numerički analizu kako bismo pokazali kako algoritam funkcionira te koliko je rješenje igre osjetljivo na promjene pojedinih ulaznih parametara.In this paper we discuss how the manufacturer and its retailers react on the market in order to maximize their individual net profits, in the case when the VMI supply chain is arranged between them. The manufacturer produces and supplies a single finished product at the same wholesale price to multiple retailers. The retailers sell the product in dispersed and independent markets. The demand for the finished product in each market is an increasing and concave function of the advertising investments of the manufacturer and the retailers, but decreasing and convex function of the retail price. The manufacturer makes decisions about the wholesale price, advertising investments, replenishment cycles of the raw materials and finished product, and backorder quantity to maximize its profit. Retailers consider the manufacturers decisions and determine the optimal retail prices and advertisement investments to maximize their profits. This problem is modeled as a Stackelberg game where the manufacturer is the leader and retailers are followers. We proposed an algorithm for computing the Stackelberg equilibrium. Also, we made a numerical analysis to demonstrate how the algorithm works and to understand how the equilibrium reacts when inputs are changed

Mind the Gap: The Use of Artistic Methods in Anthropological Research. A Critical Reading of Marcus

U radu se razmatra kritika nedostatne uporabe umjetničkih metoda u antropološkim istraživanjima Georga Marcusa (Calzadilla i Marcus 2006). Marcus tvrdi da vizualni eksperimenti, zbog svoje estetske dimenzije, nisu korišteni u antropologiji. Međutim, nedostatak uporabe audio-vizualnih medija ne implicira da ih antropolozi uopće nisu koristili. Isto kao i Marcus, neki drugi antropolozi naglašavaju važnost suradnje s umjetnicima. Također, ti društveni znanstvenici misle da takva vrsta kooperacije treba postati dio mainstreama socio-kulturne antropologije. U radu se skreće pozornost na nekoliko suvremenih antropoloških radova koji primjenjuju umjetničke metode, kao što su radovi Sare Pink, Anne Grimshaw i Amande Ravetz, Roane Heller, Ane Alfons i João Ramos Manuela i Howarda Morphyija. Također, u radu se daje kratak povijesni pregled uporabe vizualnih metoda, prije svega fotografije i kamere u antropološkim istraživanjima u Americi i zapadnoj Europi. Svi spomenuti primjeri imaju za cilj pokazati da, iako uporaba vizualnog materijala i vizualnih eksperimenata ne predstavlja dio vladajućeg tijeka socio-kulturne antropologije, nasuprot Marcusovom mišljenju, oni postaju sve više prihvaćeni unutar discipline. U skladu s tim, antropolozi su svjesni prednosti interdisciplinarnih pristupa i projekata suradnje s umjetnicima.This paper presents an overview of several artistic approaches used within anthropological research in order to question a claim made by George Marcus. Marcus stated that visual experiments, due to their aesthetic elements, were not used in anthropology. In a collaborative work with the artist, scenographer and artist of the theatre, Fernando Calzadilla, Marcus remarked that, although anthropology after the 1980s lost its firm scientific ground, anthropologists did not use possible artistic tools (such as visual experiments) for its plausible and legitimate completion. This paper aims to critically discuss his claims through an analysis of several anthropological interdisciplinary works, looking at how anthropologists combine their methods of research with artistic techniques

The features of conservation-restoration activities in the National and University Library in Zagreb

Uslijed naglog porasta netradicionalne knjižnične građe, promijenjenih tehnoloških potreba i korisničkih zahtjeva, Nacionalna i sveučilišna knjižnica u Zagrebu (NSK) je suočena s korjenitim promjenama knjižničnih funkcija, uključujući zaštitu i osiguranje dostupnosti građe. U žarištu ovog istraživanja je analiza obilježja konzervatorsko-restauratorske djelatnosti, njenih potreba i mogućnosti razvoja u NSK. Razmatra se uloga konzervatora/ restauratora u promijenjenom okruženju. Istražuju se razine znanja i vještina potrebnih za provođenje djelotvorne zaštite. Istraživanja stanja konzervatorsko-restauratorske djelatnosti u NSK utvrdila su ozbiljan nedostatak stručnoga konzervatorskog osoblja, ali i nedostatak standardizacije i mjerila te praktičnih smjernica i uputa u svakodnevnom radu i izvanrednim okolnostima. U uvjetima promjenjivog okruženja i balansiranja između potreba i interesa različitih interesnih skupina i suvremenih korisnika, sve više jača potreba za održavanjem visokih etičkih standarda konzervatorske prakse. Poštivanje Etičkog kodeksa i pravila struke jedno je od glavnih jamstava za ostvarivanje kvalitete konzervatorskorestauratorskog rada.Due to the rapid increase in traditional library materials, the changed technological needs and user requirements, NSK faced with radical changes of library functions, including protecting and ensuring the availability of library materials. The focus of this study is to analyze the characteristics of conservation and restoration activities in NSK, their development, needs, and opportunities. This paper discusses the role of conservators / restorers in the changing environment. It includes investigating the levels of knowledge and skills necessary for the implementation of effective protection. The study identified the serious lack of qualified conservation staff, but also the lack of standardization and criteria as well as practical guidelines that would be appropriate for normal everyday needs and extraordinary situations. While keeping a balance between the needs and interests of different stakeholders and users in today’s fast-changing environment, an increasing need to maintain high ethical standards is essential to good conservation practice. Compliance with the Code of Ethics and rules of the profession is one of the main guarantees of the quality of conservation-restoration work

Barokna i rokoko odjeća u povijesnim filmovima

U ovom završnom radu bavit ćemo se temom odjeće u povijesnom filmu u razdoblju rokokoa i baroka. Istražujući o ovoj temi i gledajući povijesne filmove uz čitanje izabrane literature sažela sam dosta važnih podataka, a filmovi inspirirani zbivanjima tog vremena vizualno nam pokazuju najbitnije činjenice koje se tiču modnog stvaralaštva tijekom tog velikog razdoblja u povijesti. Razdoblje rokokoa i baroka za umjetnost je značajno jer je njegov povijesni utjecaj kasnije inspirirao i na svojstven način usmjerio dio filmske i kazališne kulture. U razdoblju 17. i 18. st. koje je tema ovog rada Pariz je bio središnji grad mode i modnih strujanja, a tako je dobrim dijelom i danas. I tada su, kao i danas, postojale značajne klasne razlike u odijevanju jer su bogatiji pripadnici višeg društvenog sloja mogli priuštiti skuplju odjeću i materijale kao što su krzno, svila, čipka i sl., dok su srednji i niži sloj ponajviše nosili jednostavno krojenu odjeću maštajući o glamuru. U ovom smo radu prikazali važnost autentičnog prikazivanja odjeće iz doba rokokoa i baroka radi stvaranja upečatljive filmske atmosfere te dočaravanja uvjerljive povijesne pozadine filmske radnje i odnosa među likovima

Leyendo la Tuḥfa de Abdallāh b. Abdallāh al-Tarŷumān (1420) en el Imperio Otomano: Polémica Cristiano-Musulmana e Intertextualidad en la época de la “Confesionalización”

In 1604, a charismatic Sufi sheikh from Tunis commissioned the translation into Ottoman Turkish of Abdallāh b. Abdallāh al-Tarjumān’s polemical text entitled Tuḥfat al-Adīb fī alradd ʿalā ahl al-ṣalīb (1420), with the intention of presenting it to Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I. Soon after, this text became one of the most widely known and disseminated anti-Christian polemical texts in the Islamic world, and by the late ninteenth century, in Europe as well. The article examines the circumstances of Tuḥfa’s translation from Arabic into Ottoman Turkish, the actors involved, the narrative’s trajectory from Tunis to Istanbul, its reception by the Ottoman reading public, as well as impact on the development of an Ottoman polemical genre of self-narrative of conversion to Islam. Transcription and translation of such an Ottoman narrative, which appears to have been directly influenced by Tuḥfa, is featured in the article’s appendix. By focusing on the trajectory of a single text belonging to the genre of religious polemics, the article bridges the traditionally disconnected academic discussions pertaining to the early modern Iberian, North African and Ottoman history and demonstrates their inherent connectivity in the age of confessional polarization (16th-17th centuries).En 1604, un carismático sufí de Túnez encargó la traducción al turco otomano del texto de polémica titulado Tuḥfat al-Adīb fī al-radd ʿalā ahl al-ṣalīb (1420) de Abdallāh b. Abdallāh al-Tarjumān, con la intención de presentárselo al Sultán otomano Ahmed I. Poco después, este texto se convirtió en uno de los textos de polémica anti-Cristiana mejor conocidos y leídos en el mundo islámico y en Europa, a finales del siglo XIX. Este artículo estudia las circunstancias en que se realizó la traducción de la Tuḥfa del árabe al turco otomano, los actores involucrados en esa traducción, la narrativa de su trayectoria desde Túnez hasta Estambul, su recepción por el público letrado otomano y, finalmente, su impacto en el desarrollo del género de polémica otomana en las narrativas de conversión al Islam. En el apéndice de este artículo se incluye una transcripción y traducción de esa narrativa, que parece estar directamente influida por la Tuḥfa. Mediante el estudio de la trayectoria de un único texto perteneciente al género de la polémica religiosa, este artículo evita las discusiones académicas, tradicionalmente desconectadas entre sí porque estudian la historia moderna ibérica, norte africana y otomana de forma separada, demostrando así su íntima conexión en la época de polarización confesional (ss. XVI y XVII)