bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
cis-Azo-Promoted Construction of Vinylene-Linked Covalent Organic Frameworks with Exceptional Capability of Stepwise Water Harvesting
Authors: Mou Kaiwen , Meng Fancheng , Zhang Zixing , Li Xiaomeng , Li Mengqi , Jiao Yang , Wang Zhiheng , Xue Bai , Zhang Fan
Published: November 2023

sp2-nitrogen atom holds a promising role either in promoting the construction of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) or tailoring their properties and functions. Herein, starting from 3,6-dimethylpyridazine as the linear ditopic monomer embedded with two adjacent sp2-nitrogen atoms, we successfully built up two novel vinylene-linked COFs upon Knoevenagel condensation with triformyl substituted aromatic derivatives. The finely-resolved powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns demonstrated their high crystalline structures with a hexagonal lattice in AA mode stacking along vertical direction. The resultant one-dimensional channels possess fruitful strong hydrogen-bond accepting sites arising from the decorated cis-azo units with two pair of the fully exposed lone pair electrons. In combination with their finely tailored micro-/nano-pore sizes, high surface areas and stable nonpolar vinylene linkages, as-prepared COFs enable exceptionally stepwise water harvesting from air, as shown by their water sorption isotherms consisting of successive steep water uptake steps even starting from a very low humidity (~10%), and reaching the largest water uptake capacity up to 1.26 g/g at P/PSTA = 0.95 (25 °C), representing the record values among the reported COF materials so far. Dynamic vapor sorption measurements confidently revealed the fast kinetics of such kinds of COFs, even in the cluster formation process. Water uptake and release cycling test manifested their outstanding hydrolytic stability, durability and adsorption-desorption retention ability.
Dual-Catalysed Intermolecular Reductive Coupling of Dienes and Ketones
Authors: Mayerhofer Victor , Lippolis Martina , Teskey Christopher
Published: November 2023

We report a mild, catalytic method for the intermolecular reductive coupling of feedstock dienes and styrenes with ketones. Our conditions allow concomitant formation of a cobalt hydride species and single-electron-reduction of ketones. Subsequent selective hydrogen-atom-transfer from the cobalt hydride generates an allylic radical which can selectively couple with the persistent radical-anion of the ketone. This radical-radical coupling negates unfavourable steric interactions of ionic pathways and avoids the unstable alkoxy radical of previous radical olefin-carbonyl couplings which were limited, as a result, to aldehydes. Applications of this novel and straightforward approach include the efficient synthesis of drug-molecules, key-intermediates in drug synthesis and site-selective late-stage functionalisation.
Saccharide concentration prediction from proxy sea surface microlayer samples analyzed via infrared spectroscopy and quantitative machine learning
Authors: Enders Abigail , North Nicole , Clark Jessica , Allen Heather , Duah Kezia
Published: November 2023

The physical and chemical properties of the sea surface microlayer (SSML) are dynamic and complex. With an enrichment of organics from dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and many mechanisms for their release into the atmosphere, high-throughput analysis of SSML samples is necessary. Collection of more detailed information about the SSML would enable greater understanding of the release of ice nucleating and cloud condensation particles and provide critical feedback for climate models. The work presented herein details an investigation to develop machine learning (ML) methodology utilizing infrared spectroscopy data to accurately estimate saccharide concentrations in complex solutions. We evaluated several machine learning approaches toward this goal. Support Vector Regression (SVR) models are shown to predict the accurate generalized saccharide concentrations best. Our work presents an application combining fast spectroscopic techniques with ML to analyze SSML chemistry more efficiently, without sacrificing accuracy or precision.
Programmable Catalysis by Support Polarization: Elucidating and Breaking Scaling Relations
Authors: Jung Seongjoo , Pizzolitto Cristina , Biasi Pierdomenico , Dauenhauer Paul J. , Birol Turan
Published: November 2023

The Sabatier principle and the scaling relations have been widely used to search for and screen new catalysts in the field of catalysis. However, these powerful tools can also serve as limitations of catalyst control and breakthrough. To overcome this challenge, this work proposes an efficient method of studying catalyst control by support polarization from first-principles. The results demonstrate that the properties of catalysts are determined by support polarization, irrespective of the magnitude of spontaneous polarization of support. The approach enables elucidating the scaling relations between binding energies at various polarization values of support. Moreover, we observe the breakdown of scaling relations for the surface controlled by support polarization, without requiring ensemble modification. By studying the surface electronic structure and decomposing the induced charge into contributions from different atoms and orbitals, we identify the inherent structural property of the interface that leads to the breaking of the scaling relations. Specifically, the displacements of the underlying oxide support impose its symmetry on the catalyst, causing the scaling relations between different adsorption sites to break.
A new synthetic strategy towards S, N, and O-heterocyclooctynes facilitates bioconjugation using multifunctional handles
Authors: Hu Yun , Spiegelhoff Rachel , Lee Ken , Guzei Ilia , Schomaker Jennifer
Published: November 2023

Over the past two decades, the introduction of bioorthogonal reactions have transformed the ways in which chemoselective labelling, isolation, imaging, and drug delivery are carried out in a complex biological milieu. A key feature of a good bioorthogonal probe is the ease with which it can be attached to a target compound through bioconjugation. This paper describes the expansion of the utility of a class of unique S, N, and O-containing heterocyclooctynes (SNO-OCTs), which show chemoselective reactivity with Type I and II dipoles and exhibit divergent reactivities in response to electronic tuning of the alkyne. Currently, bioconjugation of SNO-OCTs to a desired target is achieved through an inconvenient aryl- or amide-linker at the sulfamate nitrogen. Herein, a new synthetic approach towards general SNO-OCT scaffolds is demonstrated that enables installation of functional handles at both propargylic carbons of the heterocycloalkyne. This capability increases the utility of SNO-OCTs as labeling reagents through the design of bifunctional bioorthogonal probes with expanded capabilities. NMR kinetics also revealed up to six-fold improvement in cycloaddition rates of the second-generation analogs compared to first-generation SNO-OCTs.
Historiosophy of Law by Pamfil Yurkevych
Authors: Holovko Oleksandr
Published: November 2023

Pamfil Yurkevych is one of the most outstanding Ukrainian philosophers. Despite the fact that his creative work is relatively small, he did not create a coherent universal philosophical system, his views on philosophy were very original and left a noticeable mark in the history of philosophy. His original teaching of the philosophy of the heart was ahead of modernity in certain directions and is of essential importance for philosophical knowledge even today. The thinker paid considerable attention to the problems of philosophy of law and philosophy of history. As a result, his views on the philosophy of the history of law were original and distinctive. Being on the positions of natural and legal scientists, Yurkevych, at the same time, recognized the existence of regularities in the historical process. Moreover, he saw the history of society, first of all, the history of law as the essence of the historical process. It is the understanding of the law Yurkevych based on the combination of historical (i.e. empiric) and philosophical (theoretical, i.e. logical). In their balance is an important methodological prerequisite for research of historical and legal phenomena and processes. To understand the essence of the law in the context of its historical development, Yurkevych applied elements of the integrative approach, which has developed already in the philosophy of the law of the next, twentieth century. This integration consists in taking into account not only social laws, but also individual and social psychology. The above-mentioned aspects did not override the ideological, natural-legal basis of understanding of the law according to the "philosophy of the heart" P. Yurkevych, and supplemented and enriched it.
Local referendums in the European Union and Ukraine: comparative characteristics
Authors: Gudz Liudmyla
Published: November 2023

Introduction. The article formulates proposals to improve the effectiveness of legal regulation of the institute of local referendum and involvement of citizens in the implementation of local self-government on the basis of comparative legal analysis of the legal regulation of local referendum in the European Union and Ukraine.

Summary of the main research results. In EU countries, unlike national referendums, local referendums are held on the territory of a subject of the federation, autonomous entity, or administrative-territorial unit. Such referendums address issues of local importance. The procedure for legislative consolidation of the local referendum in the EU countries is possible at three levels: constitutional, national legislation, and local. In Ukraine, the normative regulation of local referendums is carried out at two levels: constitutional and legislative levels. Currently, holding local referendums in Ukraine is impossible due to the lack of a special law in this area. The main types of referendums are characterized.

Conclusions. As a result of the analysis, it is proposed that in order to improve the effectiveness of legal regulation of the institute of the local referendum and eliminate the "legal vacuum" in this area, it is necessary to adopt a separate Law "On Local Referendum".

Draft Law No. 5512 "On Local Referendum", which was registered in the Parliament on May 19, 2021, needs to be improved, namely, to regulate the possibility of holding a local referendum both at the municipal (local) level and at the regional level, that is, at the level of the region, district and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea to address issues of common interest to these communities; not all local referendums should be mandatory; the division of local referendums into mandatory and consultative ones may depend on the quorum of participation, for example, if the turnout is 50% percent or more - mandatory, consultative - if the turnout is less than 50%; to solve the problem of financing local referendums, to provide a mechanism for partial compensation of expenses from the state budget
Theoretical-legal and comparative aspects of the concept of participation democracyas one of the political-legal grounds of municipal authority
Authors: Ganzhuk Oleksiy
Published: November 2023

Introduction. The article deals with the study of the essence and features of participatory democracy as one of the political and legal foundations of municipal power. Recognition of Ukraine as a social, democratic and legal state, as well as the establishment of a European integration course contributes to the improvement of legal provisions dedicated to the regulation of political activity of citizens and, in particular, participatory democracy. In today’s world, participatory democracy is a reflection of the practical positive European experience of citizen participation in the political and managerial sphere of society at the local level. Although, at first glance, participatory democracy seems to be a manifestation of purely political activity, not all forms of public activity belong to participatory democracy, just as participatory democracy is not limited to the political sphere.

Summary of the main research results. The author studies the existing approaches to the interpretation of participatory democracy, and provides his own definition with the identification of specific characteristics, including: 1) public involvement in the management of state and public affairs at the local level; 2) territorial community as the smallest economic unit of participatory democracy; 3) the procedure for the response of public authorities to the institutions of participatory democracy is enshrined in law; 4) the basis of participatory democracy - direct public political participation; 5) participatory democracy is an independent form, along with direct and representative democracies. Two factors of actualization of participatory democracy are singled out: 1) the process of decentralization of public power - the reform of local self-government; and 2) the spread of information technology and the emergence of society as a post-industrial. The author states the following: 1) at the normative level there is no consolidation of democracy of participation; 2) in the scientific literature, along with the concept of “participatory democracy” there are also “local democracy”, “inclusive democracy”, “democracy of participation”, which are considered synonymous; 3) in the legal doctrine there is no common understanding of the concept of “participatory democracy”, which is due to the numerous views of scholars on the interpretation of this concept.

Conclusions. It has been established that participatory democracy is a special form of democracy, the core of which is the direct public political participation of citizens at the level of local self-government, which contributes to the proper implementation of municipal public authority. It is noted that under the influence of information technology (informatization process), participatory democracy is gaining a new way of implementation, which is being transformed into e-participatory democracy, which is one of the components of digital democracy.
Peculiarities of competence and arbitration proceeding in the grain trade
Authors: Voronov Kyrylo
Published: November 2023

Introduction. The article is devoted to the study of the functioning and peculiarities of proceedings in international commercial arbitration, specializing in trade in grain and oil crops. The article examines the features of arbitration proceedings that are characteristic of GAFTA arbitration.

Summary of the main research results. The article is devoted to the study of the functioning and peculiarities of proceedings in international commercial arbitration, specializing in trade in grain and oil crops. The article examines the features of arbitration proceedings that are characteristic of GAFTA arbitration. The key differences of grain arbitration are established, namely: the specific qualification of GAFTA arbitrators in the field of trade in grain and oil crops, which distinguishes this arbitration institution from other permanent arbitration institutions; unique for arbitration proceedings is the presence of an appeal proceeding, which is also organized by the arbitration institution and gives the parties the opportunity to appeal the arbitration decision of the first instance; arbitrators reviewing first-instance decisions are not bound by the decision of the first-instance tribunal and have the opportunity to review the case with the addition of a new evidence base; availability of standard and simplified arbitration procedures, which effectively affects the time and financial resources of the parties to arbitration proceedings; the presence of a simplified procedure, which makes it impossible to appeal the arbitration decision, leaves only one arbitrator and significantly speeds up the arbitration of the case, standard for arbitration procedures, a high level of confidentiality of the proceedings, which can be especially important, taking into account the specifics of the grain trade market; features related to payment of arbitrators' work and payment of arbitration fees, depending on the parties' membership in GAFTA; the use of English law in arbitration, which in most cases is more applicable precisely for similar commercial disputes; arbitration proceedings in GAFTA in most cases take place without an oral hearing, only on the basis of written documents, which significantly speeds up the proceedings; parties can significantly reduce arbitration costs in GAFTA arbitration if they are members of the association, as in this case mandatory payments are significantly reduced; GAFTA arbitration effectively changed its working format during the coronavirus pandemic and moved to electronic document flow and electronic awards using electronic digital signatures and seals.

Conclusions. The article establishes that specialized international commercial arbitrations on grain trade are an effective way of resolving commercial disputes complicated by a foreign element, taking into account the qualifications of arbitrators and the special arbitration procedure.
Certain aspects of taxation at the local level
Authors: Plotnikova Kateryna
Published: November 2023

Introduction. The article considers some aspects of taxation at the local level. The legal regulation of local taxes in Ukraine is determined.

The purpose of the article is to clarify certain aspects of taxation at the local level.

Summary of the main results of the study. The author focuses on financial decentralization, which should result in greater autonomy of local governments in the collection of taxes and fees. It is determined that local taxes are mandatory payments, the amount of which in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine is set by the local government in the relevant territorial-administrative unit and credited to its local budget.

The legal bases of local taxation in foreign countries are described. In general, the local taxation of different countries differs significantly depending on various factors, in particular, the general standard of living, socio-economic policy, the level of legal culture of citizens, the properties of the tax system, minimize possible forms of tax evasion. Powers of local self-government authorities to establish local taxes and fees in foreign countries. The most significant shortcomings of local taxation in Ukraine are emphasized, among which: insignificant fiscal role of local taxes and fees, and, consequently, low specific share in local budget revenues, in gross domestic product; a small list of local taxes and fees compared to other countries; lack of absolute independent rights of local governments to introduce their own taxes and fees on their territory; lack of interest of local authorities in attracting additional funds from local taxes and fees; lack of interdependence between the level of public services in a given area with the tax capacity of the population, etc. The focus is on the latest changes in local tax legislation and the conditions for administering certain local taxes.

Conclusions. It is concluded that local taxes and fees in Ukraine play an insignificant role in the formation of local government finances compared to the revenues of local budgets of foreign countries. Proposals for improving the local taxation system in the context of financial decentralization have been developed.
Сriminal-legal characteristics of violence in the criminal offense provided for by article 153 of the Сriminal Сode of Ukraine
Authors: Danylenko Denys
Published: November 2023

Introduction. The article analyzes the category of violence in the criminal offense provided for in Article 153 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine in view of the changes introduced in 2017 and its modern significance for the qualification of such an offense. Including, the place of violence when committing any violent acts of a sexual nature is determined. The purpose of the research is to analyze the use of violence in the commission of a criminal offense provided for in Article 153 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Research methods that were used: analysis and synthesis, comparative legal and statistical methods.

Summary of the main results of the study. The statistics of detected criminal offenses provided for by Art. 153 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine from 2017 to 2022, characterized by a moderate decrease in the number of such acts. It was determined that the wording of Art. 153 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine until 2017 was characterized by a morally outdated phrase that was devoid of legal certainty. Despite the numerous comments of the scientific community regarding the new content of the criminal offense - sexual violence, the author identifies the positive aspects of the new version of the article. In particular, the replacement of the outdated construction of «violent satisfaction of sexual passion in an unnatural way» by «any violent acts of a sexual nature» criminalizes a much larger number of acts.

Conclusions. Judicial practice confirms that committing violent acts of a sexual nature, including the use of physical and/or mental violence against the victim. Taking into account the existence of different meanings of sexual violence in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and the Law of Ukraine «On Prevention of Domestic Violence», there is a need to change the title of Art. 153 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine on «violent acts of a sexual nature without penetration into the body of a person».
National stereotypes as a translation problem
Authors: Rebrii Oleksandr , Sysa Yana
Published: November 2023

The article is investigating the impact of national stereotypes (ethnostereotypes) on creating the image in the source literary discourse and its re-creating in the target literary discourse. The research is substantiated by the development of imagology – a new and dynamic discipline, whose focus of attention has been gradually shifting from literary aspects of image formation to linguistic and stylistic means of its embodiment in different languages and cultures. The research is aimed at studying national heterostereotypes as a problem of translation based on the novel “A short history of tractors in Ukrainian” by the British author Marina Lewycka, that is seen as an exemplary case of a manipulative representation of the image of a Ukrainian in the modern British literature, as well as its two translations – into Ukrainian and into Russian. The object of research is national stereotypes as a factor of a literary image formation, while the subject of analysis is their linguistic and stylistic markers in the original and translated texts. Among the research methods we distinguish the following: method of “ascribing qualities” by Katz–Braly employed for identifying stereotypes as projected on the novel characters; methods of lexical, semantic, stylistic, and contextual analysis employed for identifying linguistic and stylistic means of these stereotypes’ discourse actualization; method of comparative analysis employed for juxtaposing the source text with the target texts as well as two target texts between themselves. This approach allowed to perceive the strategies of both translators and to explain their differences. The involvement of two different translations accentuated the role of an ideological factor in reproducing linguistic and stylistic means of stereotypes’ embodiment. When the attitude towards the stereotyped image in a target culture is neutral or positive, the translator may apply the strategy of a negative stereotype softening, but when the attitude towards the stereotypisized image in a target culture is negative, the translator may resort to intentional deterioration of already negative characteristics.
Trends in tuberculosis incidence and mortality coefficients in Brazil, 2011–2019: analysis by inflection points
Authors: Silva Júnior José Nildo de Barros , Couto Rodrigo de Macedo , Alves Layana Costa , Silva Daiane Alves da , Heráclio Isabela de Lucena , Pelissari Daniele Maria , Andrade Kleydson Bonfim , Oliveira Patrícia Bartholomay
Published: November 2023

Objective.

To analyze the temporal trend of tuberculosis incidence and mortality rates in Brazil between 2011 and 2019.

Methods.

This was an ecological time series study of tuberculosis incidence and mortality rates in Brazil between 2011 and 2019. Data were extracted from the Notifiable Disease Information System and the Mortality Information System, and population estimates were from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Trends were analyzed by Joinpoint regression, which recognizes inflection points for temporal analysis.

Results.

The average incidence rate of tuberculosis in Brazil in the period was 35.8 cases per 100 000 population. From 2011 to 2015, this coefficient had an annual percentage change of –1.9% (95% CI [–3.4, –0.5]) followed by an increase of 2.4% (95% CI [0.9, 3.9]) until 2019. The average mortality rate between 2011 and 2019 was 2.2 deaths per 100 000 population, with an average annual percentage change of –0.4% (95% CI [–1.0, 0.2]). Amazonas was the only state with an increase in the annual average percentage variation for the incidence rate (3.2%; 95% CI [1.3, 5.1]) and mortality rate (2.7%; 95% CI [1.0, 4.4]) over the years, while Rio de Janeiro state had an increasing inflection for incidence from 2014 to 2019 (2.4%; 95% CI [1.4, 3.5]) and annual average of decreasing percentage variation (–3.5%; 95% CI [–5.0, –1.9]).

Conclusions.

During the period analyzed, a decreasing trend in incidence was observed between 2011 and 2015, and an increasing trend for the period from 2015 to 2019. On the other hand, no change in the trend for mortality was found in Brazil.
Cognitive Regulation of Junior Bilingual Schoolchildren in the Process of Learning a Third Language
Authors:   Udmurt State University, Izhevsk, Russia, Khotinets Vera , Shishova Evgeniya ,   Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Russia, Novgorodova Yulia ,   Udmurt State University, Izhevsk, Russia, Kozhevnikova Oksana ,   Udmurt State University, Izhevsk, Russia, Medvedeva Daria ,   Udmurt State University, Izhevsk, Russia
Published: November 2023

The work raises problems about the possibility of extrapolating the effects of bilingualism to trilingualism at primary school age, about the increase/decrease in cognitive regulation in bilingual children in the process/result of their acquisition of other languages. The purpose of the pilot study is to identify opportunities in cognitive regulation among primary bilingual schoolchildren in the educational situation of learning a third language. The study involved second grade schoolchildren (N=60) aged from 8 to 9.8 years (M=8.8, SD=0.36), among them with unbalanced bilingualism (N=30, 15 boys, 15 girls ) from the national Udmurt gymnasium; monolinguals with their native Russian language (N=30, 13 boys, 17 girls) from a secondary school in Izhevsk, Udmurt Republic. To measure the components of cognitive regulation, the following were used: test battery NEPSY-II (children's version in printed form): “Repetition of sentences”, “Memory for construction”, “Inhibition”; computer test samples of the software of the psychologist's toolkit “Practice – MSU”: Stroop Test, Shulte Tables, Memory for geometric shapes, Go-NoGo. The main statistical method for analyzing empirical research data is structural modeling (structural equation modeling). The results of the pilot study show a possible syncretic (mixed) effect of bilingualism in the process of mastering a third language by primary schoolchildren with the need to control it in the educational situation. We assume that bilingualism in the educational situation of learning a third language, as a predictor of cognitive changes, provides advantages in the self-organization of subsystems of regulatory processes at the cognitive level and, at the same time, creates difficulties due to the high regulatory load.
The Economic Impact of the COVID-19 on the Serbia’s Labor Market: Statistics and Facts
Authors: Pavlović Dejana , Bodroža Duško , Vukmirović Valentina
Published: November 2023

The global pandemic caused by the COVID-19 public health crisis has affected the global economy, not sparing any single country. In order to identify weaknesses and threats posed to the Republic of Serbia’s labor force, this paper analyzes the impact of the crisis through the analysis of key macroeconomic indicators and key labor-market indicators. Serbia’s labor market has shown a positive trend over the last five years; the latest statistics show that the labor market itself has not yet felt the effects of the emergency caused by the global pandemic. Therefore, due to the implementation of emergency economic measures of the Republic of Serbia, the labor market has been buttressed; however, to what extent it would be able to weather another wave of severe economic interruption is unclear. The total impact the crisis has had on the labor market at the moment cannot be determined precisely as it is primarily determined by the inactivity within the economy as well as the second round of the pandemic which health experts largely predict to come by this year’s end. The sectors that will be most exposed to the impact of the crisis are expected to be manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, accommodation and food service activities as well as real estate activities. The results of research are significant for future studies centering on economic development as affected by global pandemics, as well as for analyzing the impact of the current crisis on the labor market and macroeconomic indicators in the Republic of Serbia.
Comparative Analysis of High Technology Exports and Selected Innovation Indicators for Serbia and CEE Countries
Authors: Marjanović Darko , Ahmetagić Deniz , Beraha Isidora
Published: November 2023

The article reports on comparative analysis of high technology exports and selected innovation indicators for Serbia and three CEE countries – Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria for the 2011-2015 period, with an aim to provide an insight on the innovation potential of Serbia. The analysis is based on data publicly available at Eurostat and the Global Innovation Index rankings. The selection of countries for country comparison is based on many similarities such as historical circumstances and geographical position. HTP exports are exports of high technology products as a share of total exports.  As for innovation indicators, the article considers the Global Innovation Index (GII) which provides metrics about innovation performance of countries and economies, as well as values of selected inputs contained in the innovation pillar of the GII such as costs, R&D investment (total by sector) and number of researchers (in total and by sector). The analysis shows that there are considerable differences between Serbia and the three CEE countries. The analysis results are divided into three groups according to impact on the HTP export. The first group refers to innovation indicators with significant impact on HTP exports such as GDP, number of researchers, the GII rank and R&D costs in the business enterprise sector. The second group are innovation indicators with significant impact on HTP export such as total R&D costs, and finally the third group are innovation indicators with little impact on HTP export.
What Drives Private Equity and Venture Capital in Central and Eastern Europe Countries: Focus on Serbia
Authors: Ljumović Isidora , Milojkić Ivana Lečovski , Obradović Vladimir
Published: November 2023

The paper examines the main drivers of Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC) capital into the Central and Easter European (CEE) market. In addition, we analysed the current trends in the industry. Although most of CEE economies remain far behind EU-15 countries in the amounts invested trough PE and VC industry, the region is becoming increasingly attractive. Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Czech Republic currently attract the majority of PE/VC investors. Investment activities in CEE observed by sector, show that the largest total investments are made in the sector of consumer goods and services, in the sector of Information and communication technology and in life sciences.CEEprivate equity market remained dominant in buyouts, where VC as a proportion of total investment activity remained relatively low. Main drivers of the region are increased economic activity, favourable tax rates, tax incentives for investors and high quality of labour with low costs. According to SWOT analysis, Serbia has many advantages in terms of attracting PE/VC investments, with the most important natural factors such as geographical position and wealth in natural resources, but also the efforts made in recent years like reforms, improvement of fiscal discipline, and introduction of numerous incentives in order to attract investments.
The Role of Online Shopping in the Republic of Serbia During COVID-19
Authors: Ivanović Đina , Antonijević Marija
Published: November 2023

This paper investigates the role of online shopping during severe COVID-19. The main aim is to see whether this virus and implemented measures of reducing the spread of contagion brought by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, resulted with changes in consumer behaviour. The data was collected from 408 respondents from the Republic of Serbia using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire lasted from 07th April until 04th May. Data were analysed using the Chi-Square test. Results of this study revealed that there is a significant association between purchasing online before and after the appearance of the COVID-19. Also, the authors conclude that there is no significant association between gender and the decision to purchase after the appearance of the COVID-19. The main three motives for online shopping in the period during COVID-19 were that too many stores are working only online, reducing health risk, and saving time. The most frequently online bought products by the respondents, were Food (groceries), Medicines and Books (magazines, newspapers). The contribution of this paper, even though the analysed sample is not national representative, lays in the fact that there is almost none research of this topic in our country.
Total Factor Productivity and Economic Freedom in Former Socialistic Countries
Authors: Borović Zoran , Gligorić Dragan , Trivić Jelena
Published: November 2023

Total Factor Productivity (TFP) is the portion of the country's output not explained by the amount of inputs used in production. The main goal of the present paper is to estimate the Total Factor Productivity levels and then determine the long-term impact of Economic freedom on the TFP in ten former socialistic countries, which are full EU members since 2000. To estimate the TFP we have applied the fixed effect panel on standard Cobb-Douglas production function in per capita terms. In the second iteration we have used PMG ARDL model to estimate the long-term impact of economic freedom on the TFP. This research has proven that higher level of economic freedom, which is used as a proxy of the quality of the institutions and institutional framework, caused higher level of total factor productivity in the period 2000-2018 in the case of ten former socialistic countries which are full EU members since 2000. The obtained results enable us an insight in policies which are important for efficiency increase and economic performance. Our finding could be very useful for policymakers, stressing which policies are contributing to efficiency, and which are not. So that policymakers could intervene in the way to increase the quality of institutional framework and economic institutions. Many other studies investigate the TFP and growth, or growth and institutional framework for the countries of Central and East Europe. Our survey is among the first to investigate the long-term impact of the institutional framework and economic institutions on the countries efficiency for this countries. Our survey enables us an insight into the mechanism through which the institutions can positively impact the TFP through increasing the predictability and reducing the uncertainty for CE countries.
Information and Communication Technology’s Skills among the Working Population of Serbia
Authors: Banović Jelena , Pavlović Dejana
Published: November 2023

Major social shifts in the economy conditioned by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have led to equal shifts in the labor market. In this paper, the use of ICT skills in Serbia is presented through an analysis of the microdata from the survey “The Usage of Information and Communication Technology on individuals/households in the Republic of Serbia for 2020”.  Results showed that Internet users have increased in the last five years. According to results, in 2020, 78.4% of people between 16 and 74 used computers in the last three months. The number of unemployed who used a computer in 2020 was 83.6%, and the number of employed who used a computer was 92.7%. Students used computers 99.8% in 2020. On the other hand, 96.3% of employed used the Internet in 2020, while 89.2% of unemployed used Internet at the same period. The use of e-government web services is almost present to the same extent among students, the employed and unemployed. Unlike online shopping, students are most likely to use e-government services, even though the employed and unemployed both use online shopping equally. However, comparing statistical data, Serbia is not at the European level in ICT usage , which can significantly jeopardise individuals' position in the labor market. There are substantial distinctions between youth and older individuals, especially regarding advanced skills. This affects the creation of digital exclusion, which increases the lack of resources that can be employed in better-paid jobs. The main solution for solving the digital divide is education to ensure equal competitiveness for all individuals on the labor market.
Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Western Balkan Countries
Authors: Bodroža Duško , Lazić Milena
Published: November 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major economic imbalances and impeded economic activity in all Western Balkan (WB) countries. This paper analyzes the strength of economic impact of the ongoing health crisis on key macroeconomic variables (GDP, public debt, fiscal balance, and unemployment) in the WB countries. In addition, the paper points out the main challenges that the economies of these countries will face in the years to come. The analysis has shown that the crisis slowed down the WB economies, but its intensity differed among the observed countries. The main economic challenges in the coming period relate to the further course and duration of the pandemic. Due to the great level of uncertainty, more detailed analysis of the crisis’ impact on the economic potential will be possible only after the end of the pandemic.
Effects of Consumer Ethnocentrism, Cosmopolitanism and Cultural Intelligence on the Acceptance of Foreign Brands
Authors: Zdravković Stefan , Gašević Dragana
Published: November 2023

Globalization of the market has diminished the importance of national borders, so that an increasing number of companies are internationalizing their business. It is very important that the company’s management investigates the characteristics of the foreign market in which it wants to operate. It is necessary to formulate and implement adequate marketing strategy, which will take into account ethnocentric tendencies and the cultural framework of consumers. Consumer ethnocentrism usually comes to the fore during crisis situations and a number of consumers want to strengthen the national economy by purchasing domestic products and services. On the other hand, a number of consumers have developed a high degree of cosmopolitanism and cultural intelligence, which implies preferences for foreign brands over domestic ones. The aim of this scientific paper is to identify some of the most important drivers of consumer ethnocentrism (patriotism, conservatism, dogmatism), and then to examine whether consumer ethnocentrism, cosmopolitanism and cultural intelligence through their basic factors (metacognitive, cognitive, motivational and behavioral factors) influence the formation of consumer attitudes towards foreign brands. It also examines whether the positive attitude of consumers towards foreign brands affects the loyalty of consumers to foreign brands, because it is necessary for companies to move from transactional marketing to customer relationship management, because loyal consumers are a stable source of income and enable long-term profitable business. Empirical research was conducted using a survey method in the Republic of Serbia (Belgrade, Kragujevac). The results of the research showed that consumer ethnocentrism has a negative statistically significant impact, and consumer cosmopolitanism and cultural intelligence have a positive statistically significant impact on consumer attitudes towards foreign brands, and a positive attitudes implies consumer loyalty to foreign brands.
Forecast of Belex15 and Belexline movement using ARIMA model
Authors: Živković Aleksandra
Published: November 2023

Financial markets are known to be volatile and often unpredictable. Movement of stock indices values and stock prices over time can be labelled with big oscillations during time, so financial institutions and other investors are constantly working on forecasting these movements, in order to adjust their business decisions and increase their profit. Aim of this research is to determine whether ARIMA model, which is often used for short-term forecast, is suitable for forecasting of Belgrade Stock Exchange indices movement. Subject of this research are Belex15 and Belexline indices and based on daily data from 5th January 2009 until 31st March 2022, ARIMA model was used to forecast indice values for following 11 trading days (from 1st April until 15th April 2022). Methodology of this research contains of presenting and analysing empirical data of Belex15 and Belexline movements, choosing suitable ARIMA model for forecast and forecasting indice values, which were later compared with real indice values. Obtained results point to high accuracy of forecasted values and lead to the conclusion that ARIMA model is corresponding econometric method for short-term forecast of Belgrade Stock Exchange indices.
Covid-19 and Serbian Stock Market Response
Authors: Đorđević Bojan , Stanković Sunčica
Published: November 2023

In this paper, the authors attempted to explore the relationship between the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic and the stock market in the Republic of Serbia. The main research variables on the stock market are the daily values of the Belex 15 and Belex Line indices and trading volume. For the pandemic variables, official daily data on the number of new Covid-19 cases in Serbia, Europe, and the world were taken. By applying the panel regression analysis for the period from 03/06/2020 to 12/30/2021, the empirical results show a positive and significant influence of the number of daily infected in Serbia and Europe on the stock market index value, At the same time, the influence of daily infected ones on trading volume is negative but statistically significant only when it comes to the new cases of coronavirus per day at the level of Europe. The presented results indicate the resilience of the Serbian capital market to internal and external shocks.
Remote Work Opportunities for the Persons with Disabilities
Authors: De la Roche Marcelle , Simović Vladimir
Published: November 2023

This research represents one of the first literature reviews of remote work opportunities for persons with disabilities. Given the fact that persons with disabilities represent almost 15% of the total world population and that this category of people is facing huge challenges in terms of employment inclusion and risk of poverty, it is obvious that remote work arrangements provide excellent employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. This argument in combination with enormous growth of the remote work platforms and digital entrepreneurship, represents a key reason for the rising interest of the research community in this topic. The aim of this research was to identify the current state of the academic literature in the area of remote work opportunities and persons with disabilities and to identify gaps in our current understanding of this field, as a basis for some future research recommendations. Insight, critique and transformative redefinition of the current academic literature on remote work and persons with disabilities was applied to analyze and synthesize the literature. In total, around 80 articles were analyzed by theoretical focus, methodology, time, and geography. Google Scholar search was conducted during December 2022 using a comprehensive search strategy built around the following major topics: 1. persons with disabilities in the labor market, 2. remote work and the persons with disabilities, and 3. remote work capacity of the persons with disabilities. The results of this research show that the research on remote work capacity of the persons with disabilities is fragmented and that more studies, covering different aspects of remote work opportunities for persons with disabilities are needed, especially those which will be quantitative in their nature and more integrative. This research has contributed towards better understanding of the literature gaps in regards to remote work opportunities for the persons with disabilities and pointing to some future research directions such as skills and competences of the persons with disabilities for remote work, the challenges of remote work for persons with disabilities, and the requirements of the remote work platforms and other remote work opportunities.
eHealth Skills of Female Entrepreneurs in Serbia
Authors: Bradić-Martinović Aleksandra , Zdravković Aleksandar , Mišić Tatjana
Published: November 2023

This paper's main objective is to assess the current level of eHealth skills of female entrepreneurs in Serbia and their respective associations with selected socio-demographic characteristics. To this end, we use a dataset from the 2018 survey on ICT usage in Serbia. In particular, the analysis covers three eHealth skills: seeking health-related information online, scheduling medical appointments online or via applications, and online purchase of pharmaceutical products. The analysis shows that female entrepreneurs in Serbia, on average utilized eHealth opportunities more frequently than other women or male entrepreneurs. Level of education and average monthly income appears as the socio-demographic characteristics associated with eHealth skills related to familiarity with online services.