This paper tries to highlight the importance of identifying dimensions of service quality and their impact on the satisfaction and loyalty of users of services provided by insurance companies in the Republic of Serbia. The focus of the study is on analyzing the key parameters of service quality and user satisfaction. The aim of the paper is to investigate the differences between expected and perceived characteristics of insurance services based on the Servqual model. The total sample in this research is 112 respondents. The specific objectives are the analysis of the differences in the ratings of the dimensions of the expected and observed attributes of the Servqual scale in relation to socio-demographic variables, such as gender, age and level of education. Based on the results of empirical research, it was concluded that all service quality parameters play a key role in user satisfaction. The results show that the five basic dimensions of Servqual – tangibility, reliability, accountability, security and empathy – have a significant and positive association with overall perceived service quality

This study provides a new perspective on trust in artificial intelligence (AI), examining people's attitudes toward trust in the use of AI systems in particular. The aim of this study is to examine attitudes and to know what are the advantages and disadvantages of artificial intelligence (AI). Also, in addition to the empirical part, this paper also deals with theoretical knowledge about artificial intelligence, which is the basis of the existing literature. For the purposes of this research, the authors created a survey based on secondary sources. The survey was conducted on the entire territory of Serbia. The subject of this work is the examination of the attitudes and knowledge of the inhabitants of Serbia about artificial intelligence as well as its technologies, which focuses on a deeper understanding of the perceptions and attitudes of the public in Serbia about artificial intelligence.

Aluminium and silicon particles in fuel known as “cat fines” are catalytic residues from the refinery process. They can cause mechanical damage to fuel pumps, injectors, piston rings and cylinder liners. They are very hard and highly abrasive, thus causing abrasive wear to main engine components. These impurities in marine fuel must be minimised to recommended levels. One of the main tasks of the fuel treatment plant on a ship is to separate solids and water from the fuel. Modern vessels are equipped with fuel separators which rotate at a high speed (more than 6,000 rev/min) producing centrifugal force and providing good separating effect even for small solid particles (Al+Si). Proper settling and regular drainage from the tanks, even when adequate filtration is applied, are not sufficient for proper fuel preparation. The quality of purifier operation varies over years because it is affected by a large number of factors. For the purpose of this paper, over twelve thousand fuel samples were analysed to determine the current efficiency of the purifiers and whether they can meet the stringent requirements of marine engine manufacturers. The data will be taken from a tanker ship, considering different operational scenarios. These scenarios are linked to the maximum possible fuel consumption on the ship during exploitation. Using the Simulink program for the system simulation, optimisation can be achieved in the operation of fuel separator. This optimization refers to the required amount of fuel and quality of separation, particularly concerning the removal of abrasive impurities.

Ensuring the proper operation of a ship’s propulsion system necessitates the use of high-quality fuels. Several factors contribute to fuel quality, including the source of origin crude oil, refining methods, blending processes, and the quality of storage and distribution. Marine fuels must adhere to international standards such as ISO standards to be suitable for consumption on ships.

This article presents an analysis of over 6000 fuel samples obtained from two sample points within a purification system, conducted by independent laboratories. While all samples must meet the ISO 8217:2017 Standard for marine residual fuel before bunkering, this analysis focuses on elements with potentially harmful effects on marine engine systems. A comprehensive examination will be conducted, employing an inductive method to draw general conclusions about the current levels of abrasive impurities and other detrimental elements in fuels post-purification.

Specific attention will be given to elements like aluminium, silicon, vanadium, calcium, magnesium, lead, nickel, potassium, sodium, zinc, and phosphorus present in residual fuel oils. These elements, in certain forms or concentrations, pose challenges to marine engines. Testing conducted according to the IP 501 standard, utilizing inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry, is essential to ensuring smooth engine operation and mitigating damages and associated costs caused by abrasive fines in the fuel oil.

The existence of an efficient system of public health care in the social community is a characteristic for a quality social entity and a measuring element of the life quality in a population. Like any other sub-system in the state, it is necessary to finance the sustainable development of the public health system. The paper contains an analysis of several payments models from the funds of the obligatory health insurance to the health system and health service providers, with a presentation of the existing systems and models of covering costs. For this purpose, research was conducted by comparing historical data on health care costs and analyzing their trends. The aim of the paper is to research and select adequate financing models for provided health services, which is the job of managers in health care, in order to choose between several models developed for this purpose. The manner in which health care costs are settled in the Republic of Srpska, as well as the amounts in the observed period, is also shown. Conclusions on trends confirmed, that the costs of medical treatments, for which the state allocates money for the health care system, are increasing. At the same time, it was observed that the number of insured persons is decreasing, and that despite the relatively high average allocation for treatment per capita, considerable amounts of direct personal payment for services and medicines are still high, which are either not available from obligatory health insurance, or are difficult to access through regular procedures. Keywords: health care, health insurance, medical costs, financing models.

This paper aims to explore the structure and objectives of the Western Balkans Growth Plan as an incentive for the integration of the Western Balkans region into the EU single market. In november 2023, the European Commission prepared the Western Balkans Growth Plan, which should accelerate the implementation of reforms in the countries of the region and their integration into the European Union single market. The Growth Plan represents an effort by the European Union to influence the region towards deepening economic integration with the Union and accelerating economic growth, which are necessary prerequisites for the desired transformation of the countries of the region. The Western Balkans Growth Plan aims to: integrate partners from the Western Balkans into the EU single market, improve regional economic cooperation, deepen EU-related reforms, and increase pre-accession financing to accelerate the socio-economic convergence of the Western Balkans towards the EU. The research results of this paper have shown that the European Union in the Western Balkans region, from the first regional approach in 1997 to the proposed growth plan in 2023, has contributed to the development of the regional cooperation process and the economic development of the region itself.

             It is not just about increasing the wealth of the countries of the region and their citizens, but the point and ultimate goal is that these countries and these citizens should live together, create, cooperate and spend together in conditions of international competition.

The expected economic effects of the Western Balkans Growth Plan will also ensure a positive perception of the European Union and the benefits of membership in this regional organization among the citizens of the region.

The aim of this research is to examine the impact of consumers economic and educational status on the frequency of organic food purchases through all available distribution channels, with focus on online channels. The research was conducted via online questionnaire and based on sample of 358 respondents from the territory of Republic of Srpska. The results showed that 86% of respondents buy or occasionally buy organic food, while 14% respond they never purchase organic food. Using Kruskal-Wallis test, a positive and statistically significant relation was identified between the level of education and the frequency of organic food purchases, regardless of the distribution channel, while household income did not show a significant relation. When online organic food purchases were analyzed specifically, neither the level of education or household income had a statistically significant impact, although a slight trend was observed for education level, which may be relevant for future research.

U ovom radu se metodima pravne dogmatike i korišćenjem teorijskih saznanja procesnog i antidiskriminacionog prava objašnjava postupak i ocjenjuje argumentacija Evropskog suda za ljudska prava (ESLJP) u predmetu broj 43651/22, Slaven Kovačević (aplikant) protiv Bosne i Hercegovine (BiH). U ovom predmetu, aplikant je prvo ostvario još jednu ekspresnu pobjedu u isticanju povrede opšte zabrane diskriminacije iz člana 1. Protokola 12 (P12) uz Evropsku konvenciju o ljudskim pravima i osnovnim slobodama (EK) u uživanju prava da glasa na izborima za kandidate po svom političkom uvjerenju na osnovu člana 3. P1. Međutim, poslije osporavanja ove pobjede doživio je neočekivan procesni poraz u postupku pred Velikim vijećem ESLJP, u kome je ocijenjeno da aplikant nije žrtva diskriminacije i da je čak zloupotrijebio pravo na aplikaciju. U radu se takođe ukazuje na eventualne implikacije konkretne presude na dalji razvoj P12 i antidiskriminacionog prava. Detaljan uvid u radnje i rezonovanje svih procesnih subjekata otkriva indicije o nesavjesnom korišćenju procesnih ovlašćenja strana u postupku i pristrasnosti procesnih subjekata, te o neuređenosti i nepoštovanju pravnog okvira zastupanja BiH pred ESLJP. Procesni poraz aplikanta pred Velikim vijećem ukazuje na odustajanje ESLJP od dosadašnjeg proaktivnog pristupa u primjeni P 12 i na suzdržanost od daljeg miješanja u probleme konsocijativnog uređenja BiH. Međutim, taj novi pristup ne priliči instituciji Savjeta Evrope, čija je misija, između ostalog, suzbijanje diskriminacije, a nedosljedna argumentacija izvjesno ne doprinosi konceptualnom razvoju antidiskriminacionog prava i obeshrabruje države da ratifikuju inače nedovoljno prihvaćeni  P 12.   

Cold pressing of flaxseed produces high-quality oil along with a nutritionally rich by-product—flaxseed cake. While the cold-pressing process is valued for its minimal processing and preservation of oil quality, it is also characterized by low resource utilization efficiency and significant by-product generation. Specifically, the production of 1 kg of flaxseed oil results in approximately 2 kg of residual cake. Given its high protein content (approximately 35–40%), flaxseed cake holds considerable potential as a source of bioactive peptides and other value-added compounds

In this study, flaxseed cake obtained from cold pressing was milled and sieved to a particle size below 0.6 mm. Its chemical composition (protein, oil, fiber) was analyzed. Controlled enzymatic hydrolysis was performed with Trypsin for 2 h. An E/S ratio was 5 %, and the temperature used for hydrolysis was 37 °C. The antioxidant capacity of the non-hydrolyzed sample and hydrolysate was determined.

Protein content was 37 %, oil was about 21 %, and fiber was approximately 28 %. The results showed a degree of hydrolysis of about 5 % and a significant increase in antioxidant activity. By determining the concentration of flaxseed powder required to inhibit 50 % of the DPPH free radicals, it was observed that this concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the non-hydrolyzed sample (11.0 mg/mL) compared to the hydrolysate (9.1 mg/mL).

This study explores the use of natural plant extracts as a sustainable method to enhance the quality and safety of long-life sausages by incorporating them into natural edible casings. Ethanol (E) and aqueous (A) extracts of blackthorn (BT) and red cherry (RC), as well as their ethanol and water-based solutions, were prepared and analysed for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The analyses included the quantification of total phenols, non-flavonoids, flavonoids, flavonols, and anthocyanins, along with antioxidant activity assessments using FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS assays. Antimicrobial efficacy was tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica) and mold Penicillium expansum via agar dilution methods to determine MIC and MBC/MFC.

Results showed that ethanol extracts had higher antioxidant activity than aqueous ones (p<0.05), with the ethanol extract of blackthorn (EBT) containing the highest levels of phenolics (54.11 mg GAE/g d.e.) and exhibiting the strongest antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antifungal activities. Casings treated with EBTE (ethanol BT extract dissolved in ethanol) demonstrated significant antibacterial properties, particularly against Gram-negative bacteria. This study confirms that plant-extract-enriched natural casings can protect against oxidation and microbial spoilage, thereby enhancing the overall quality and safety of dry-cured sausages.