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 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. 

Bearing in mind that some palladium complexes showed good antitumor potential while exhibiting less kidney toxicity comparing to cisplatin, to discover a new agents for chemotherapy with improved properties two novel palladium(II) complexes [Pd (L)₂] (3A and 3B) with acyl pyruvates (O,O bidentate ligands) were synthesized and characterized by spectral (UV-Vis, IR, NMR, ESI-MS) and elemental analysis. The novel palladium(II) complexes were analyzed for their cytotoxic potential on human cancer cell lines (HeLa and MDA-MB 231) and normal fibroblasts (MRC-5). Results showed that complex 3A displayed very good cytotoxic activity, while complex 3B had moderate activity on the tested tumor cell lines. After 48h incubation with complex 3A, his IC₅₀ values were similar to the IC₅₀ values of cisPt. Notably, all IC₅₀ of complex 3A on human fetal lung fibroblasts (MRC-5) were higher than 100 μM, indicating good selectivity. In addition, complex 3A induced apoptotic type of cell death, cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase in both HeLa and MDA-MB 231 cell lines. In addition, we revealed that 3A can be useful as adjuvants in cancer therapy by reducing the dose of cisplatin and in this manner its’ side effects. For the investigations of interactions between novel palladium(II) complex 3A and CT-DNA or bovine serum albumin (BSA) fluorometric titrations method was used. The obtained results implied that 3A has great affinity to displace ethidium bromide (EB) from the EB-DNA complex through intercalation, suggesting strong competition with EB. Results in fluorescence titration of BSA with complex 3A showed that the fluorescence quenching of BSA happens because of the formation of the 3A-BSA complex. Obtained K_a value is in the optimal range signifying that appropriate amount of 3A can be transported and distributed through the cells. In order to better understand the binding of newly synthesized complex 3A to BSA or DNA, molecular docking study was further performed.

The article examines the role of small, medium and large enterprises in the economy of Republic of Srpska for the period from 2014 to 2022 year. The authors analyzed the economic indicators, according to company size (profitability rate, labor costs per employee,  added value per employed person – productivity, employees – annual average and average wages paid per employed person), and also annual business indicators by company size (number of entrepreneurs, number of employees, number of companies and turnover). The aim of the paper is to analyze the operations of SMEs in order to give recommendations for future business improvement and to indicate the main obstacles and weaknesses as well as recommendations. The method of description and classification of data and the method of analysis and synthesis were used in order to achieve the objectives of the research.

The study paper’s focus is on establishing the connection between marketing initiatives and the strategy used by numerous volunteers to plan sporting events. The manager of the volunteer sector is responsible for assembling a project team and overseeing the recruiting, selection, training, deployment, supervision, and coordination of volunteers while they work as volunteers at major sporting events. The greatest candidates for this position are coordinators for the volunteer sector who have experience as volunteers, as they can inspire others to perform selfless volunteer work. Research has shown that in order to effectively oversee 800 unpaid employees, someone must first build a direct relationship with them—something that can only be done in the event that there are a significant number of trained coordinators. Additionally, it is essential to heavily publicize the volunteer contest and emphasize the advantages that volunteers obtain by taking part in order to attract a big number of participants. In addition to the aforementioned, well-planned, organized, intricate, and gradual preparation that begins several months prior to the competition is required to prepare a big number of volunteers for high-quality and committed involvement at a sporting event. After receiving top-notch training, volunteers can serve in any area of the competition. Additionally, volunteers who have previously taken part in a well-run sporting event typically return to sports volunteering multiple times. Ultimately, the paper’s set hypothesis—which related to the contention that there is a positive connection between marketing initiatives, sports event organization, and the approach of volunteers.

The beginnings of artificial intelligence are linked to 1956 and the Dartmouth conference organized by Stanford University. From those beginnings until the end of the 20th century, its development was relatively slow due to hardware and software limitations. However, the 21st century brings a turning point in every sense. ln the 21st century, there was also a division into specialized artificial intelligence, which was primarily developed in the 20th century, and general artificial intelligence, on which the focus of development has been placed in recent decades. The positive economic effects of the adoption of artificial intelligence, according to the conducted research, are unequivocal. The effects on individuals and humanity are significantly more open to discussion. Almost half of the respondents in the conducted research are not in favor of accepting artificial intelligence for private purposes, and the other half is almost equally divided between those who do not have an opinion on this issue and those who are not against its acceptance. About 70% of respondents believe that artificial intelligence can become a threat to humanity and the mental health of individuals. At the same time, the majority of respondents do not see challenges in their employment. As a solution, the respondents see a clear and strict regulation of the development and possibilities of artificial intelligence itself. Institutions of the society we live in and companies that develop artificial intelligence are seen as responsible for this regulation. A real step in this direction was taken by the European Union with the adoption of the Act on Artificial Intelligence in March 2024. What is expected is that this example of the EU will be followed by other countries, which would ensure the correct development and use of artificial intelligence for the general benefit of humanity, which it should serve.