The financial industry is experiencing a digital revolution fueled by the fourth industrial revolution. While digital tools are widely adopted, the specific impacts of digitalization and innovation on financial markets and citizens remain under-researched. This study investigates the relationship between technological progress and innovation with the development of financial markets, the Human Development Index, and the Gross Domestic Product per capita. The core question is how, and to what extent, technological advancement and innovation influence financial development and other social and financial performances per capita. The research employs regression analysis, specifically simple linear regression, and integrates existing research and theoretical frameworks to build an inductive approach. Findings indicate that a one-unit rise in technological progress is linked to a 0.5unit increase in the financial development index (p-value < 0.001). These findings suggest that financial intermediaries and decision-makers in developing countries should consider altering their business models and adapting to rapid technological changes to enhance financial development. This paper provides insights into the connection between progress in digitization and outcomes in the economy and finance, emphasizing the importance of adapting to swift technological changes for sustainable development.

The purpose of the paper is to investigate the presentation role in study selection. Presentation and promotion of studies are major issues that academic institutions focus on in order to attract students. The study included students from the University of Sarajevo’s I, II, and III cycles of tourism and environmental protection. Three kinds of reference criteria and indicators were selected: attrac­tive presentation features, promotion approach, and presentation influence on decision. The study’s findings revealed that the faculty’s official website and recommendations are the most influential marketing tools, that the presenta­tion of the study influences choice and decision-making, and that the study’s conception, the modernity of the educational infrastructure, field teaching, as well as the geographical aspect of tourism and environmental protection, are particularly appealing factors.

Atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction are responsible for 80% of cardiovascular diseases. It's important to understand the disease's pathogenesis to determine the best prophylaxis and therapy. Diabetes mellitus contributes to the development of atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction, and keeping blood sugar levels in check is crucial. Cardioprotective, nephroprotective, and lipid profile drugs should be preferred to DM treatment. GLP-1 receptor agonists or GLP-1 analogues have cardiorenal benefits and can be used for various indications. The objective of this review is to examine the role of GLP-1 analogues in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM), focusing on their cardiovascular benefits as demonstrated by Cardiovascular Outcome Trials (CVOT). Additionally, the review aims to highlight the significance of GLP-1 analogues in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. It also proposes the hypothesis that these analogues may benefit patients with heart failure, regardless of whether the systolic function is reduced or preserved. We searched of databases and online libraries, including PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane, using keywords such as GLP-1 agonist, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular diseases. Our search focused on articles published between 2011 and 2023. Antidiabetic drugs have shown a potential impact on cardiovascular risk and benefit. Liraglutide and semaglutide have outperformed placebo, but the mechanisms behind their benefits remain unclear. Prioritizing cardiovascular safety and preventing complications is essential for patients with T2DM when selecting a treatment.

The global world is in a period of "permacrisis", which is defined as a prolonged period of uncertainty and instability. Circumstances in the world in all spheres of social action are changing very quickly, and therefore the models of action must also change quickly. This is also the case with health care systems in countries. New challenges for public health and health systems is a strong health transition conditioned by demographic and epidemiological transition, then accelerated environmental changes and technological changes. We live in a time when the frequency of crises is increasing - including public health crises - climate change, the emergence of new infectious diseases - pandemics, accelerated population migration, the rise of consumerism and the significant influence of commercial determinants of health, which significantly increases the risk factors in the early onset and development of chronic diseases - diseases of the heart and blood vessels, chronic pulmonary obstructions, malignant diseases, mental health disorders, etc. In order for the health care system to provide timely and quality health care to each individual, and finally to the entire population, which is not necessarily only acute health care, but lifelong health care, from health promotion, through prevention, diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation, it is necessary to know all the circumstances in which people live and work, the most important of which are four groups of factors: socioeconomic, environmental, genetic and cultural. Modern healthcare systems require significant change management at all levels within the system, characterized by the proactive role of healthcare services, mastery of healthcare planning techniques, healthcare needs assessment and, finally, digital health. Change management becomes a "conditio sine qua non" at all levels of health care in all countries, at all levels of health care in order to increase technical and allocative efficiency and outcomes for the health of the population. Therefore, it is necessary to develop more significant regional cooperation for the modification and refinement of educational models for health professionals, which would be in "real time" and through which everyone would quickly adapt to global changes.

Introduction/purpose: This paper presents the results of the research on visually lossless image compression which is of particular interest because it achieves a high degree of compression, while the visual quality of the image is not impaired, i.e., end users are very satisfied with the image quality. The analysis was carried out using the publicly available large-scale picture-wise KonJND-1k database which contains the results of subjective tests on JPEG and BPG compressed images. Methods: Thanks to the availability of images from the KonJND-1k database, the dependence of objective assessments of image quality on parameters that control the degree of compression of source signals (quality factor for JPEG and quantization parameter for BPG) is analyzed. The results of the visually lossless subjective tests are used for a deep analysis of the boundary and typical values of the parameters that control these two types of compression, as well as for the analysis of the corresponding values of the objective quality scores. Furthermore, reliable features for predicting the boundary between visually lossless and visually lossy compression have been identified. For that purpose, the degree of agreement between the predictions and the ground truth values of the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and image representation in bits per pixel (bpp) is used. The visually lossless compression ratio is used to compare JPEG and BPG techniques. Results: It is shown that the boundary between visually lossless and visually lossy image compression is found in a wide range of PSNR values (about 20 dB for JPEG and 15 dB for BPG). The corresponding JPEG image compression quality factor values at this threshold also range widely from 31 to 79, with concentration between 40 and 45. For the BPG encoder, the values of the quantization parameter are grouped around 30, and the boundary values are 25 and 34. Furthermore, it is shown that this boundary can be reliably determined based on simple features derived from the original uncompressed image. Gradient-based features known as spatial frequency and spatial information proved to be the best predictors. The degree of agreement between the predictions obtained from these features with the ground truth values of PSNR and bpp in both types of compression is greater than 85%. A comparative analysis has showed that, using BPG compression, it is possible, on the average, to achieve a twice larger compression ratio of visually lossless compression than for JPEG (80 versus 40). Conclusion: Although a high degree of agreement is achieved between the predictions and the ground truth values of PSNR and bpp of the boundary between visually lossless and visually lossy compression, there is a need for the development of new prediction approaches, especially with the BPG technique, which through the compression ratio proved to be superior to the JPEG technique. The existing databases used for the analysis of visually lossless compression contain color images from the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Considering the increasing use of images from the infrared part of the spectrum, there is a need to conduct similar tests in this spectral range.

Introduction/purpose: Direct sequence spread spectrum modulation is widely used in many radiocommunications systems. At the first time, this modulation technique was used in military communications and navigation systems. Later, applications became diverse in civil communication systems as well. Today, there are many systems where direct sequence spread spectrum modulation is implemented as a part of the system. This article aims to sublimate knowledge about the direct sequence spread spectrum modulation technique and its applications. Methods: The article presents a review of the historical development of the direct sequence spread spectrum modulation technique, its principles and the most important current applications. Results: Based on a large number of references, this article summarizes the historical development, basic principles and modern applications of the direct sequence spread spectrum modulation in military and commercial communication systems. Conclusion: Direct sequence spread spectrum modulation is widely used in modern wireless and satellite radiocommunications. It is expected to be part of future global communication systems.

In nowadays business conditions, such as increased competition and the rapid market changes, companies can be distinguished by the quality of services resulting from analysis and matching opportunities with market requirements. One way is to use the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method. This method has shown a significant effect in the EU countries, the USA, and especially in Japan, while in our country its use is not widespread in the quality system. From the market perspective, there are three basic product characteristics: price, quality and delivery time. These facts are used in the planning process, based on user requirements interpretation into appropriate quality characteristics for each phase of the product life cycle (marketing, planning, design, prototype development, production process testing and development, production, sales). The common goal of the entire team working on the project must be the product competitiveness on the market. This method application has led to significant improvements in solving deficiencies in planning, designing, testing and developing the production process. In this paper, we presented the QFD method application for selecting products or services that meet the quality, price, and delivery time requirements.

This paper presents only a part of the risks and harmfulness to which the employees working in Serbian MoD and especially in Technical Test Center are exposed during tests on new armaments and various other equipment under development. In addition to the results of noise and vibration measurements in the working environment at the training grounds and the airport, the risks during laboratory and experimental-exploitation tests in the field are presented. Noise and vibration as harmfulness effects were measured and evaluated according to the relevant criteria, while far more dangerous risks of working with prototypes are immeasurable, unpredictable and not included in the regulations.

Cilj istraživanja bio je ispitati uticaj tehnologije proizvodnje na senzorni kvalitet “Visočkog sudžuka”. Pored navedenog, cilj istraživanja bio je ispitati razlike u senzornom kvalitetu “Visočkog sudžuka” između različitih proizvođača unutar obje tehnologije proizvodnje. Istraživanjem je utvrđeno da postoje statistički značajne razlike u vrijednostima ispitivanih senzornih karakteristika uzoraka „Visočkog sudžuka“ između uzoraka iz tradicionalne i industrijske proizvodnje. Također, utvrđene su i razlike unutar grupe uzoraka iz iste proizvodnje između različitih proizvođača koje su bile statistički značajne. Istraživanjem je zabilježeno očuvanje senzornog kvaliteta proizvoda korištenjem tradicionalne proizvodnje, kao i manje oscilacije u kvalitetu između proizvoda proizvedenih na isti način (tradicionalno). Najbolje ocijenjeni uzorci bili su VST 4 iz tradicionalne proizvodnje, dok je najbolje ocijenjeni uzorak iz industrijske proizvodnje bio VSI 1. Okus uzoraka iz tradicionalne proizvodnje bio je bolje ocijenjen u odnosu na uzorke iz industrijske proizvodnje, gdje je najbolji okus imao uzorak VST 4. Najlošije ocijenjeni uzorci po svim senzornim svojstvima bili su uzorak VSI 3 koji se izdvojio iz grupe industrijskih proizvoda i uzorak VST 1 iz grupe tradicionalnih proizvoda.

The casting industry uses large quantities of quartz sand, which is a cheap and accessible raw material that must be prepared for use in foundries. After the casting process, foundries generate huge amounts of waste foundry sand (WFS) as industrial waste. The regeneration and reuse of waste foundry sand is a practice and a necessity in many foundries for technological, environmental, and economic reasons. In this review paper, in addition to the characteristics of quartz sand for the casting industry and the characteristics of WFS, typical processes of regeneration in industrial practice, as well as the possibilities of using such recycled WFS in other industries, are presented.