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This article analyses the jurisprudence of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities with regard to gender equality in order to establish the efficacy of gender mainstreaming outcomes in the monitoring of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. At the outset, we elaborate on gender mainstreaming as a policy instrument developed by international human rights organizations, which is gradually being promoted in national policies through action plans and institutional structures that pursue gender mainstreaming efforts, gender budgeting policies, and training of relevant actors. Subsequently, we analyse the Advisory Committee’s efforts in the pursuit and promotion of gender equality in order to establish the extent to which this monitoring mechanism helps the realization of the rights of minority women and girls. In preparing this article, we conducted a detailed examination and evaluation of the country-specific opinions prepared by the Advisory Committee and the relevant academic literature on gender mainstreaming. 

The study investigates the growing phenomenon of second homes in rural Serbia and its implications for tourism development. By analyzing the geographical distribution of second homes and their relationship to the territorial capital, the study contributes to the understanding of rural tourism dynamics. The research identifies regions with high concentrations of second homes, often overlapping with attractive natural areas and renowned tourist centers. This overlap with peak tourist seasons intensifies environmental and social pressures on already fragile rural areas. To mitigate these pressures and promote sustainable tourism development, the study advocates for region-specific policies, improved infrastructure and the implementation of sustainable tourism practices. By leveraging second homes as potential rural tourism accommodations, policymakers can support local communities, lesser the environmental disturbance and promote responsible tourism.

This research aims to analyze students’ expectations and satisfaction with the quality of online learning in Serbia during the COVID-19 pandemic, while examining its advantages, disadvantages, and future intentions. The research included both desk and field research. Data were collected through an online survey and analyzed with IBM SPSS using frequency, descriptive, reliability, and correlation analysis. The results showed high student satisfaction with online education during the pandemic, which is correlated with their future intentions to use online learning platforms. These results highlight the importance of student satisfaction for online learning quality and the potential of online education during COVID-19. The research is limited by the sample size of 308 students, which may not fully represent the entire student population. While the results confirm the high quality of online learning organization at Serbian higher education institutions (HEIs), the study also identifies areas for improvement.

Research Question: The paper will investigate the service quality of the higher education provided by the higher schools of vocational studies using SERVQUAL methodology. Motivation: The paper will show the characteristics of higher education of vocational studies, and it will point out the significance of creating and maintaining a quality management system in higher education institutions. The new reform of higher education in Serbia and establishment of academies of vocational studies are the main reasons why the question of service quality becomes one of the most important issues for higher education institutions and basis for competitive advantage, better image and reputation. Also, a growing competition on the higher education market and a smaller number of prospective students are also problems which higher vocational schools are faced with. Idea: The goal of this research is to find the differences between expected and perceived service quality. Furthermore, the paper will show if there are differences between perceived service quality among the students of different study years, as well as differences between the students with State scholarship and the self-funded students. Data: The research included 244 students of the first, second, and third years of bachelor studies from higher schools of vocational studies in Novi Sad, significant and the second-largest educational centre in the Republic of Serbia. Tools: Statistical methods used in this paper are frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, while the hypotheses are tested using the paired sample t-test, the independent t-test, and the one-factor variance analysis – ANOVA. Findings: The results of the research show that service quality of higher vocational education does not meet students' expectations (sig.<0,001) and that the gap is negative for all dimensions of service quality (Tangibles (-.32), Reliability (-.52), Responsiveness (-.49), Assurance (-.33), and Empathy(-.26)). It is also shown by this research that there are no differences in higher education service quality based on the status of students (sig.>0.05) and the year of studying (sig.>0.05). Contribution: The results can be used as basis for introducing further measures to improve the quality of service provided by higher vocational institutions.

Environmental contamination by uranium (U) and other radionuclides is a serious problem worldwide, especially due to, e.g. mining activities. Ultimate accumulation of released U in aquatic systems and soils represent an escalating problem for all living organisms. In order to investigate U uptake and its toxic effects on Pisum sativum L., pea plantlets were hydroponically grown and treated with different concentrations of U. Five days after exposure to 25 and 50 μM U, P. sativum roots accumulated 2327.5 and 5559.16 mg kg −1 of U, respectively, while in shoots concentrations were 11.16 and 12.16 mg kg −1 , respectively. Plants exposed to both U concentrations showed reduced biomass of shoots and reduced content of photosynthetic pigments (total chlorophyll and carotenoids) relative to control. As a biomarker of oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels were determined, while antioxidative response was determined by catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities as well as cysteine (Cys) and non-protein thiol (NP-SH) concentrations, both in roots and shoots. Both U treatments significantly increased LPO levels in roots and shoots, with the highest level recorded at 50 μM U, 50.38% in shoots and 59.9% in roots relative to control. U treatment reduced GR activity in shoots, while CAT activity was increased only in roots upon treatment with 25 μM U. In pea roots, cysteine content was significantly increased upon treatment with both U concentrations, for 19.8 and 25.5%, respectively, compared to control plants, while NP-SH content was not affected by the applied U. This study showed significant impact of U on biomass production and biochemical markers of phytotoxicity in P. sativum , indicating presence of oxidative stress and cellular redox imbalance in roots and shoots. Obtained tissue-specific response to U treatment showed higher sensitivity of shoots compared to roots. Much higher accumulation of U in pea roots compared to shoots implies potential role of this species in phytoremediation process.

Industrialization and urbanization have led to an increased accumulation of waste materials that are transformed into a nutrient-rich and high-quality product called vermicompost by the vermicomposting process. Vermicomposting is an ecofriendly and economically favorable biotechnological process that involves the interaction of earthworms and microorganisms. Due to the importance of this process and its great potential in dealing with the consequences of waste accumulation, this review aims to provide key insights as well as highlight knowledge gaps. It is emphasized that there is a great challenge in understanding and clarifying the mechanisms involved in the vermicomposting process. The optimization of the factors affecting the possible application of vermicompost is crucial for obtaining the final product. Information on the composition of bacterial communities, amount of vermicompost, effect on heavy metal content, plant pathogens, diseases and organic waste selection is here recognized as currently the most important issues to be addressed. By answering these knowledge gaps, it is possible to enable wider utilization of vermicompost products.

One of the biggest and commonest problems that is seen and treated by foot and ankle surgeons is the deformity where the second toe crosses over the hallux. According to available literature, this is the first published case of extraction of the proximal phalanx due to crossover toe deformity. We present the case of a 64-year-old Caucasian female with a crossover second toe deformity of her left foot. Because of this deformity, she was completely disabled to wear normal shoes and she felt intensive pain in her front part of the foot. She underwent a total extraction of the proximal phalanx of the second toe. After the operation, she was very satisfied with the status of the operated foot and the final result of the surgical treatment. The procedure that we performed could be a good possibility for the treatment of crossover second toe deformity because we got a good functional and cosmetic result, the morbidity associated with more advanced reconstruction is avoided, and the rehabilitation period was short. Patient satisfaction was high, and complications were minimal.

Due to climate change in recent years, there has been an increasing water deficit during the winter wheat sowing period. This study evaluated six Croatian winter wheat varieties’ physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses under two drought stress levels at the germination/seedling growth stage. Lipid peroxidation was mainly induced under both drought stress treatments, while the antioxidative response was variety-specific. The most significant role in the antioxidative response had glutathione along with the ascorbate-glutathione pathway. Under drought stress, wheat seedlings responded in proline accumulation that was correlated with the P5CS gene expression. Expression of genes encoding dehydrins (DHN5, WZY2) was highly induced under the drought stress in all varieties, while genes encoding transcription factors were differentially regulated. Expression of DREB1 was upregulated under severe drought stress in most varieties, while the expression of WRKY2 was downregulated or revealed control levels. Different mechanisms were shown to contribute to the drought tolerance in different varieties, which was mainly associated with osmotic adjustment and dehydrins expression. Identifying different mechanisms in drought stress response would advance our understanding of the complex strategies contributing to wheat tolerance to drought in the early growth stage and could contribute to variety selection useful for developing new drought-tolerant varieties.

Autorica analizira fenomen nacionalnih sudova kao \"europskih\" prvostupanjskih sudova i njime kreiran sustav dvostruke lojalnosti prema europskom i prema nacionalnom ustavnom poretku. U odnosu na problem zaštite viših nacionalnih standarda temeljnih ljudskih prava i sloboda te nacionalnog ustavnog identiteta razmatra proceduralne načine pomirenja Simmenthal doktrine Suda pravde Europske unije i čl. 37. Ustavnog zakona o Ustavnom sudu Republike Hrvatske. Osim snažne sudačke lojalnosti Ustavu identificira mehanizam dvostruke preliminarnosti kao kompromisno rješenje unutar nacionalne proceduralne autonomije koje bi paralelno koristilo mogućnost interlokutorne kontrole Ustavnog suda i provoðenja prethodnog postupka pred Europskim sudom. In ultima linea naglašava supremaciju nacionalnog ustava i njegova ustavnog identiteta, koji u svim slučajevima nepomirljivosti europskih i nacionalnih stajališta, unatoč duhu lojalne suradnje i otvorenosti europskom pravu, mora prevladati. S obzirom na to, Ustavni sud Republike Hrvatske mora ojačati doktrinu ustavnog identiteta i izrijekom preuzeti odgovornost nadzora nad ustavnosti europskog prava u odnosu na njega.

Climate change, through changes in temperature, precipitation, and frequency of extreme events, has influenced agricultural production and food security over the past several decades. In order to assess climate and weather-related risks to fruit and grape production in Serbia, changes in bioclimatic indices and frequency of the occurrence of unfavourable weather events are spatially analysed for the past two decades (1998–2017) and the standard climatological period 1961–1990. Between the two periods, the Winkler and Huglin indices changed into a warmer category in most of the viticultural regions of Serbia. The average change shift was about 200 m towards higher elevations. Regarding the frequency of spring frost, high summer temperatures and water deficit, the most vulnerable regions in terms of fruit and grape production are found alongside large rivers (Danube, Sava, Great and South Morava), as well as in the northern part of the country. Regions below 300 m are under increased risk of high summer temperatures, as the number and duration of occurrences increased significantly over the studied periods. The high-resolution spatial analysis presented here gives an assessment of the climate change influence on the fruit and grapes production. The presented approach may be used in regional impact assessments and national planning of adaptation measures, and it may help increase resilience of agricultural production to climate change.