In this paper we report results from an online study conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (May 2020). The study examined a range of social and behavioural responses by youth from different ethnic backgrounds and across 63 cities (N = 569). More specifically, the study focused on investigating the relationship between threat perceptions, public health behaviours, stress and social cohesion. As expected, results indicate that higher perceptions of threat were related to higher compliance to safety and health measures despite extremely extremely low levels of political trust. Surprisingly, participants reported relatively low levels of stress despite high social isolation and physical restrictions. These results could partially be explained by an increased level of family interactions. Furthermore, participants reported relatively high levels of social cohesion and common-ingroup identification in a usually segregated and conflict-ridden context.

The success of any activity and process depends fundamentally on the possibility of balancing (symmetry) needs and their satisfaction. That is, the ability to properly define a set of success indicators. The application of the developed new multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods can be eliminated or decreased by decision-makers’ subjectivity, which leads to consistency or symmetry in the weight values of the criteria. In this Special Issue, 40 research papers and one review study co-authored by 137 researchers from 23 different countries explore aspects of multi-criteria modeling and optimization in crisp or uncertain environments. The papers proposing new approaches and elaborate case studies in the following areas of applications: MCDM optimization in sustainable engineering, environmental sustainability in engineering processes, sustainable multi-criteria production and logistics processes planning, integrated approach for modeling processes in engineering, new trends in the multi-criteria evaluation of sustainable processes, multi-criteria decision-making in strategic management based on sustainable criteria.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing implemented shortly after influence physical activity levels (PALs). The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the changes in PAL and factors associated with PALs among Croatian adolescents while considering the impact of community (urban vs. rural living environment). The sample included 823 adolescents (mean age: 16.5 ± 2.1 years) who were tested on baseline (from October 2019 to March 2020; before COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia) and follow-up (in April 2020; during the COVID-19 pandemic and imposed rules of social distancing). Baseline testing included anthropometrics, physical fitness status, and evaluation of PALs, while follow-up included only PALs (evaluated by a standardized questionnaire through an internet application). The results showed a significant influence of the living environment on the decrease of PAL, with a larger decrease in urban adolescents. Logistic regression showed a higher likelihood for normal PALs at baseline in adolescents who had better fitness status, with no strong confounding effect of the urban/rural environment. The fitness status of urban adolescents predicted their PALs at follow-up. The differences between urban and rural adolescents with regard to the established changes in PALs and relationships between the predictors and PALs are explained by the characteristics of the living communities (lack of organized sports in rural areas), and the level of social distancing in the studied period and region/country.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate whether there is a difference in career development programs between family and nonfamily companies. Moreover, the paper explores the relationships between career development dimensions and affective commitment in a family business setting.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was used to collect data from 506 employees in Bosnia and Herzegovina across the different industries. Independentt-test and hierarchical regression were used to test the hypotheses developed in the study.FindingsThe findings supported our assumptions that there is a significant difference in career development opportunities between family and nonfamily companies. Moreover, career development has a higher influence on affective commitment in the family business setting.Research limitations/implicationsThe data for this study was collected by using convenience sampling, as well as a cross-sectional survey method, which limits the generalization of results. Due to the unavailability of a public database, we relied on employees’ perceptions when it comes to the ownership of a company.Practical implicationsTo keep key employees, family business owners and managers have to invest in career development programs. The study shows that by aligning employee and organizational goals, offering professional development and remunerating the positive performance helps in keeping the most valuable assets within the company.Originality/valueSo far, the research about career development in family businesses was insensible. This study provides an important contribution to the understanding of career development and its outcomes in family businesses.

Este artigo relata experiencias de profissionais e usuarios de servicos da Rede de Atencao Psicossocial (RAPS), nos municipios de Ilheus e Itabuna, os quais estao entre os que lideram as estatisticas em numero de casos da COVID-19 no estado da Bahia, Brasil. Descreve-se a criacao de um grupo de WhatsApp para usuarios de um Centro de Atencao Psicossocial (CAPS), com impactos na proximidade das interacoes entre eles, e entre eles e a equipe e a comunidade. A experiencia e encorajadora, na medida em que a mutua ajuda nasce e produz autonomia e protagonismo. A outra experiencia baseia-se em movimentos de uma gestora da RAPS, para articular usuarios do CAPS e Atencao Primaria a Saude, para apoio emocional e respostas as demandas em momentos de pandemia e isolamento social. Nesses cenarios, as experiencias tem criado e fortalecido novas estrategias de saude mental, ampliando atores sociais, ferramentas e setores, na producao do cuidado na comunidade.

This paper examines the level of payment for ecosystem services (PES) concept implementation in the financing of water-related forest ecosystem services (ES) in the Republic of Croatia, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H), the Republic of Slovenia, and the Republic of Serbia. The focus is on water-related forest ES recognised by the millennium ecosystem assessment (MEA). For the purpose of this paper, the term pure PES describes schemes that comply to all five conditions set by Wunder definition and term PES like for those schemes that miss some of those conditions. In the first step, the most important legislative documents related to forests, water, and environmental protection were selected. The second consists of a content analysis; focusing on the definition of ES; the definition of fees or payments; the establishment of ‘forest funds’, ‘water funds’, or ‘environmental funds’; and the way these funds were spent. Here we looked at the flow of funding into the forestry sector recognising forest management as the main water-related forest ES provider. Research revealed existence of well-established payments schemes in forestry in Croatia for almost 30 years and in FB&H for some 20 years which were assessed as closest to pure PES. In Serbia and Slovenia, there were no PES or PES like schemes in the forestry sector. In the water sector the well-established PES like payments schemes existing in all four countries. The environmental protection sector, however, rely more on the tax like rather than on the PES like schemes. Legislation in general recognised the link between forests and water, but this was much more evident in the forestry than in the water or environment sector. The role of the state is strongly pronounced in all countries studied, and was the main driving force behind all payments. However, this position of the state represents also the main obstacle for the development of pure PES schemes, together with underdeveloped private forestry and complex socio-economic conditions. Nevertheless, there is room for further development of pure PES and PES like schemes based on EU or global experiences.

Functional activation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) has been shown to strongly promote carcinogenesis, leading to the investigation of HER2-directed agents in cancers with HER2 genomic alterations. This has been best documented in the context of HER2 gene amplification in breast and gastric/gastroesophageal junction carcinomas for which several HER2-directed agents are available and have become a part of standard treatment regimens. Somatic HER2 gene mutations have been recently described at low frequency in a variety of human cancers and have emerged as a novel predictive biomarker for HER2-directed therapies. Preclinical data also indicate that activating HER2 mutations are potent oncogenic drivers in a manner that is analogous to HER2 amplification. HER2 mutations may clinically confer sensitivity to HER2-directed agents as recently shown in a phase II clinical trial with antibody-drug conjugate against HER2 trastuzumab deruxtecan in patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung carcinoma.

The present study investigated the impact of English as the global language on Bosnian with a particular focus on the use of English words among adult Bosnian speakers. Thus, the survey was administered to 200 participants to get an insight into their preferences for native Bosnian words, foreign English words and adapted English words. The analysis revealed that English has gained a prominent status in Bosnia and Herzegovina, not rarely being preferred over the native structures with a similar or equivalent meaning. Furthermore, filling lexical gaps does not seem to motivate borrowing, but rather a wish to transmit a message of a more modern lifestyle.

Even though the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) technologies have been significantly addressed in managerial literature, few studies investigated the topic in context of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). This study explores the ERP technologies adoption using a Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Accordingly, effects of Perceived Ease of Use and Perceived Usefulness on Behavioral Intention and Actual Use of ERP technologies in B&H will be investigated. Valid and reliable structured survey has been prepared and delivered to companies in B&H which are using ERP technologies. Based on the recent literature, first order structural equation model has been proposed and tested. In total, 82 questionnaire responses have been collected from companies in B&H which are using ERP technologies. Factory data analysis has been performed to purify scales through items’ loadings and Cronbach’s Alpha values. The scales were also tested for Convergent validity through partial least-square path modelling using Smart PLS 3 software. Results indicated that effects of Perceived Ease of Use on Behavioral Intention and Perceived Usefulness are significant and positive. Business Innovativeness has significant effects on Actual ERP System Use while Perceived Usefulness does not appear to be predictor of Behavioral Intention.