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This paper investigates the perceptions of pressure and stress among agile team members, focusing on various factors, such as personal characteristics, team composition, and communication practices. Empirical research was conducted by using an online questionnaire from April to October 2024. During this time, 110 agile team members from Serbian software development companies took part in the research. Hypothesis testing, including the Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis H-test, indicated no statistically significant differences by gender, age, team membership length, team size, company type, frequency of team meetings and main type of team communication. Notably, while the influence of team size approached significance, the overall results indicate that personal, teams, and organizational factors have no significant effect on perceptions of pressure and stress in agile teams. These results highlight the need for further investigation into alternative factors that may influence perceptions of pressure and stress, but they also demonstrate the superiority of agile teams.

This paper investigates how demographic factors (gender and age), and contextual factors (length of team membership and work type) affect communication, shared values, collaborative growth and improvements in agile software development teams in Serbia. Empirical research was conducted using a specially designed online questionnaire which consisted of profile questions and three highly reliable scales focusing on agile software development team communication, shared values, and collaborative growth and improvements. In the period from April to October 2024, a total of 107 agile software development team members from Serbia participated in the research. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney U-test, and the Kruskal-Wallis H-test. The findings reveal no statistically significant differences in communication, shared values, or collaborative growth based on age, length of team membership, and work type. However, a notable gender difference was observed, with female team members reporting a higher level of agreement on shared values within their teams. These results underscore the critical role of gender dynamics in fostering a cohesive team environment in agile settings. Understanding these dynamics is essential for enhancing team collaboration and performance, suggesting that organizations should consider gender inclusivity when developing agile software development teams.

The aim of this paper is to examine and analyze the role of agricultural cooperatives in the development and promotion of rural tourism. The research was conducted in Azanja, Serbia, utilizing a mixed-method research with a questionnaire technique and a case study method during March and April 2024. The key findings indicate that improving conditions for rural tourism development requires effective networking among all stakeholders and coordinated promotional activities. Establishing partnerships based on shared interests is essential for rural tourism development. In this context, the agricultural cooperative Azanja should assume several important roles: initiator, educator, coordinator, logistics organizer, tourism animator, promoter, consultant, and supervisor. By taking on these responsibilities, Azanja can effectively support and stimulate rural tourism development. Furthermore, the agricultural cooperative Azanja has the ability to develop effective promotional strategies to increase the area's visibility on the tourist map.

This paper explores the distribution pattern of SAR1g within the adult male head during utilization of hands-free operation of contemporary mobile phones as a source of electromagnetic radiation. The research assesses the optimal positioning of the mobile phone by examining three distinct orientations to determine the minimal SAR1g distribution compared to the conventional talking position when hands-free feature is not utilized. The analysis encompasses GSM bands operating at 900 MHz and 1800 MHz, depending on the alignment between the mobile phone and the head.

Background/Aim. Despite all innovations in medicine, melanoma still has a rising incidence and high mortality and thus represents a significant challenge for the healthcare system. The pandemic of the coronavirus dis-ease 2019 (COVID-19), spanning three years, redirected healthcare resources, suspended preventive programs, and strained the healthcare system, significantly impacting melanoma management. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of melanoma patients. Methods. This retrospective study analyzed melanoma patients treated at a single tertiary care center over two distinct three-year periods: pre-COVID period (2017–2020) and the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–2022). The following data were collected and compared: patient demographics, melanoma characteristics, time intervals from biopsy to surgery, and the share of thin and thick melanoma. Results. During the COVID-19 pandemic period, there was a 3 0% reduction in melanoma patients compared to the pre-COVID- 19 period. The decline was most pronounced in 2020 when the state of emergency was introduced in the country. Thin melanoma percentage as a measurement of successful screening programs decreased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic (11.57% vs. 24.01%), while median Breslow thickness remained stable. The distribution of different histological types was consistent across both periods. The average time from biopsy to surgery remained similar between the two periods, around 40 days. Conclusion. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, melanoma remains a critical healthcare issue. This study emphasized the significance of prioritizing melanoma care in emergencies, ensuring patient identification and timely treatment in order to optimize survival and minimize treatment costs.

Emotional exhaustion has become a ubiquitous phenomenon in the banking sector. In this paper, empirical research was conducted using a specially designed questionnaire with the aim of assessing the emotional exhaustion of employees in the banking sector in Serbia in relation to their gender, length of work in the bank and contact with clients. During 2022, responses were collected from 136 respondents. In the data processing, non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis H-test) were applied. The research results showed that the feeling of emotional exhaustion is more prevalent and frequent among men, compared to women, but that these differences are not statistically significant. Also, the research results indicated statistically significant differences in respondents' answers to the statements related to the feeling of tiredness and the feeling that they work too much, depending on the length of work in banks. Statistically significant differences exist in the answers of respondents who have contact with clients at their job and those who do not.

Background/Aim. Radial artery perforator flap (RAPF) is a type of fasciocutaneous or adipofascial reverse pedicle flap, which proved to be a versatile flap for the reconstruction of small and moderate size soft tissue defects of the forearm, wrist, and hand. RAPF provides suitable skin coverage with elastic subcutaneous tissue thus enabling the protection of exposed or damaged functional structures and their simultaneous repair. The aim of this study was to summarize and analyze the results of the treatment of patients with upper extremity soft tissue defects caused by trauma, infection, burn, or tumor removal, which were re-constructed with RAPF. Methods. This retrospective study included 20 consecutive patients with skin and soft tissue defects of the hand and wrist, treated at the University Clinical Center of Vojvodina from 2012 to 2022. The design of the flaps and length of the pedicles were determined by the recipient site. Tourniquet-induced exsanguination was used during surgery for better visualization. The flaps were elevated and placed at the site of the defect. Data on patients and flaps were summarized upon their collection. Results. Distally based fasciocutaneous RAPF was used in all cases. The average age of the patients was 48 years, predominantly (64%) males. Defects were most often localized on the dorsal part of the hand (60%) and wrist (20%). The most common indications for surgery were trauma (45%) and tumor resection (25%). A satisfactory coverage of the defect was achieved in all 20 patients with no flap loss. Venous congestion was noted in 4 (20%) patients, which resulted in partial necrosis of the flap in 3 (15%) patients. Wound healing was achieved upon conservative treatment by secondary intention in two patients and with a secondary suture in the last one. A surgical site infection occurred in 2 (10%) patients who withdrew after proper local and systemic therapy. Conclusion. RAPF proved to be a workhorse flap for soft tissue reconstruction of the upper limb. This surgical solution led to an excellent functional and aesthetic outcome in the majority of patients. Complex surgical procedures could be done simultaneously, together with the reconstruction of tendons, joints, or fracture stabilization. The reliability and safety of these flaps are confirmed through our clinical data.

As one of the pillars of the economy, financial institutions play important role in implementation of the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR). The paper is focused on CSR in the financial sector, i.e. the perception of employees in banks and insurance companies in Serbia on the level of development of CSR regarding its external dimensions, such as responsibility toward beneficiaries, community and environment. The aim is to identify the employees' perceptions of external aspects of CSR in the financial sector, as well as to determine the impact of selected external aspects on the expected CSR benefits. The results of the conducted empirical research demonstrate a positive attitude of employees in financial institutions in the Republic of Serbia towards external aspects of CSR, as well as statistically significant impact of CSR towards beneficiary and environment on the expected CSR benefits. Additionally, the results indicate that CSR towards the community does not affect the expected benefits. Accordingly, we identified some practical and theoretical implications that can serve as a basis for creating and implementing a strategic approach to CSR in financial institutions.

The paper presents three-dimensional numerical models of short concrete-filled steel tubular circular columns that can successfully describe the column behaviour under axial compression. Several of the most commonly used material models for the steel part and a concrete portion of the column are evaluated in the models. In addition, the paper presents a new proposal for the extension of the Eurocode 2 stress-strain relation to make it suitable for describing the complex behaviour of concrete inside the steel tube. This model overcomes the current limitations of the Eurocode 2 design guide, referring to the limitation for the concrete curve in compression to 3.5%o strain. The ultimate axial column strength obtained by the proposed model is compared to the ultimate column capacity calculated by a simplified method provided in Eurocode 4. All presented numerical models are validated on a set of experiments from the literature and demonstrate good agreement. The comments about the accuracy of each model are provided, along with the identified limitations.

Quality is a factor that significantly determines the competitiveness and success of any organization on the market in today's business conditions. Customers' increasing degree and level of information, as well as their increasing demands and wishes, have presented organizations with the challenge of ensuring and nurturing top quality. Quality culture is a type of organizational culture that incorporates key assumptions, values, principles, and fundamental concepts of quality management. The findings of a 2022 study in which 21 managers and 80 employees of the company Šinvoz, Zrenjanin took part revealed that managers, on average, expressed more positive attitudes toward the aforementioned claims than employees who were more reserved. Statistically significant differences in the responses of managers and employees were identified in terms of leadership, quality as a key value in the company, focus on the customer, and employee empowerment and participation. These segments received significantly higher ratings from managers, compared to employee ratings. Leadership, working conditions, and employee motivation are the key areas that need to be improved, as they received the lowest average scores. The findings of the research can help leaders and managers make decisions about the quality culture and, more broadly, about the necessary organizational changes.

The paper highlights that in the process of identifying the brand essence, it is not enough to simply carry out quantitative research, but an in-depth study of the city's history and culture is also necessary - language, customs, myths, legends, symbols, values, and lifestyle. Valid responses on specially designed questionnaire for this research were collected in the city of Vranje from 389 participants (195 valid responses by residents and 194 by the visitors) while 16 participants participated in qualitative research (focus groups and semi-structured in-depth interviews). Determining the city brand essence requires the application of different research methods and techniques to understand the overall city's tradition and culture. A complete success in city branding can only be achieved if the brand essence is clearly defined, i.e. if this "core" generates enough of the brand's internal energy. Proposed solutions should provide an easier "orientation" in finding and managing the brand essence of the city. In this way, it is possible to discover the "heart and soul" of cities and activate their hidden potentials for brand development.

The innovativeness of the employees is a prerequisite for the development of new products, as well as maintaining and improving the market competitive position. The innovativeness of employees depends on numerous factors, some of which are internal, operating under control and jurisdiction of management. The research topic in this paper are internal organizational factors: technological equipment, availability of financial resources, culture and compensation system, as well as formal aspects of innovation. The main research goal is to show that these factors have a significant and uneven influence on the innovativeness of employees in organizations. Empirical research was conducted on a sample of 81 respondents employed in companies in the Republic of Serbia. The research results indicate that culture and the compensation system have the highest degree of influence on the innovativeness of employees, in relation to the four observed variables, but other interesting relationships were discovered, as well. They are described and explained through discussion, aiming to connect theoretical concepts and practical results. At the end of the paper, adequate conclusions were drawn and guidelines for future research provided.

he paper proposes a methodology for defining the optimal solution for the integrated usage of cogeneration and rooftop photovoltaics. The purpose is to minimize CO₂ emissions in industrial plants. The methodology is founded on the integral use of energy audit techniques (analyzing energy and material flows in a production process and the dependence of electricity and heat consumption on a production volume) and mathematical optimization (linear programming). In accordance with the obtained consumption profiles, technical limitations, and legal regulations, the potential for installing rooftop photovoltaic (PV) panels at appropriate locations and the implementation of appropriate cogeneration technologies were analysed. The proposed methodology was tested on a local margarine production facility. The integrated application of cogeneration (gas engines) and photovoltaics can reduce the current CO₂ emission by 56% if PV panels are installed on the entire accessible rooftop surface, i.e. up to 44.5% if 150 kW PV panels are installed as the new national regulation proposes.

The crystal growth rate of LiGe2(PO4)3 phase from lithium germanium-phosphate glass was studied. The glass have been homogenized using the previously established temperature-time conditions, which make it possible to remove volatile substances from the glass melt. The atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) was used to determine the chemical content of the obtained glass and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to reveal the isothermal process of crystal growth. The crystal growth rates were determined experimentally and theoretically.

Intellectual capital in the knowledge era is a strategic advantage of board structure, which leads to the improvement of a company’s work and the achievement of its goals. The aim of this study is to develop a structural model that connects the corporate governance, intellectual capital and financial performance of the banking sector. Corporate governance is conceptualised by the board of directors as the main internal mechanism of corporate governance, which is measured by the size of the board of directors, the number of independent board members and the female board members. Intellectual capital represents a mediator in this model and its efficiency is calculated through the Value Added Intellectual Coefficient (VAIC) model, while the financial performance of banks is measured through return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). The results of the study conducted in 22 Serbian banks between 2015 to 2019 show that the size of the board of directors and the number of independent board members have a statistically significant impact on intelectual capital (IC), but there is no impact on total assets (ROA). The number of women in the board of directors does not have a statistically significant effect on either ROA or ROE. The findings also indicate that intellectual capital (HCE, SCE, CEE) has a significant mediating role in the relationship between board structure and bank performance. The results of this study will provide a significant contribution to further investment in intellectual capital as the strongest link in achieving positive effects on bank performance.

Background/Aim. Upper blepharoplasty is one of the most often performed aesthetic operations and is indicated for periorbital rejuvenation or correction of some functional problems. The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcome of this procedure and to assess patients’ satisfaction and possibilities of objective measurement of operative results. Methods. A two-year prospective observational study was conducted among female patients who had upper blepharoplasty done by the same surgeon. Data were collected from medical documentation, questionnaire, and objective measurements conducted via standardized digital photographs taken before and two months after surgery. Tarsal platform show (TPS) and brow fat span (BFS) were measured at three points (P1, P2, P3) before and two months after the surgery. A questionnaire conducted before surgery and two months after it included general complaints considering upper eyelids (visual field narrowing, fallen eyelids, the sensation of heavy eyelids, raising head backward in order to enhance vision, headache), patientsʼ assessment of eyelid asymmetry and an additional questionnaire after surgery included questions for the surgeon and patients concerning satisfaction with treatment outcome. Results. This study involved 50 female patients aged be-tween 33 and 67 years (49.98 ± 8.6 years). There was a statistically significant difference in all points for TPS and BFS measurements before and after the operation. No significant asymmetries were noticed between eyes neither before nor after surgery. There was a statistically significant difference in operation success among 3 age categories in TPS-P1 (χ2 = 13.089, df = 2, p = 0.001) and TPS-P2 (χ2 = 8.386, df = 2, p = 0.015) with best results achieved in older patients (> 55 years). There was strong positive, statistically significant correlation between patient’s and surgeon’s satisfaction (r= 0.704, p = 0.002), as well as between patients’ satisfaction and their age (r = 0.704, p = 0.002). Conclusion. Realistic expectations, adequate information about the surgery and possible complications, are essential to satisfied patients. Objective measurements correlate with patientsʼ satisfaction and together with photographs can be a useful tool in communication with them.

Introduction/Objective. The most important etiologic factors for both, capsular contracture (CC) and breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is subclinical infection, defined as a response of an organism on presence of biofilm on the implant surface. The aim of this research was to examine the possibility of biofilm formation of four different bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Ralstonia picketti) on three differently textured silicone breast implants (Siltex, Mentor, pore size 70–150 μm; MESMORsensitive, Polytech, pore size 50–900 μm; and SilkSurface, Motiva pores 13 μm) in vitro. Methods. Samples of silicone breast implant capsules (sized 1 × 1 cm) were divided into three groups according to texture. After sterilization, 30 samples in every group were contaminated with 100 μl of examined bacterial broth, followed by incubation which led to biofilm formation. For testing the capability of biofilm formation, modified technique with microtitar plates described by Stepanović was used. Results. All four examined bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Ralstonia picketti) form more biofilm on implants with pore sizes 50–900 μm compared to implants with pore size 70–150 μm and those with 13 μm. Statistical significance was found in biofilm formation on implants with pores 70–150 μm compared to implants with pores 13 μm. The only exception was P. aeuruginosa which did not show significant difference in biofilm formation on implants 70–150 μm and 13 μm. Conclusion. Silicone breast implants with micro and nanotexture should be chosen in order to prevent biofilm formation and possible consequent complications.

The paper points out the leading role of the HR department in crisis situations, with special emphasis on the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected the whole world in early 2020. Regardless of the intensity and form in which they occur, crises threaten the functioning and survival of organizations. The HR department is an important factor in the successful functioning of organizations and, in a period of crisis, this department takes a leading role in the process of crisis management and subsequent recovery. During COVID-19 pandemic, the HR department of every organization had to confront new challenges in order to protect the health of employees, while ensuring the normal functioning of organizations. In order to find out how this department dealt with crisis that occurred, empirical research with a specially designed questionnaire was conducted and filled in by 108 respondents from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia in 2020. The research results showed that HR department has taken a leading role in preserving the health and safety of employees, as well as in the process of adapting organizations to function in crisis conditions. According to results, the key activities carried out by the HR department in organizations are work from home (wherever the nature of the work allowed), flexible working hours, reorganization of the working space to achieve the required physical distance between employees, improved hygiene measures, etc. In addition, the research results showed that, during the global COVID-19 pandemic, the HR departments took an active role in providing psychological assistance to employees to adapt to new conditions and ways of working.

The nucleation process of lithium germanium-phosphate glass was studied to determine the temperature range of nucleation and the temperature of the maximum nucleation rate. The differential thermal analysis (DTA), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to reveal the nonisothermal and isothermal process of nucleation, respectively. The crystallization process occurred at a high homogeneous nucleation rate and the spherulitic crystal growth morphology. Nanostructured samples were obtained.

Background/Aim. Hand injuries are one of the most common injuries seen in emergency departments. Inadequate treatment can lead to prolonged healing, complications, significant morbidity, and serious disability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology, risk factors, and treatment of hand injuries in one tertiary care level clinical center. Methods. This study was designed as a descriptive retrospective epidemiological study that involved all patients with hand injuries treated at the University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia for seven years. The authors collected sociodemographic and clinical data such as age, gender, mechanism of injury, type of injury, days of hospitalization, type of defect reconstruction, the time of in-jury, the timing of surgery, and reasons for operative treatment delay. For every hospitalized patient the Modified Hand Injury Severity Score (MHISS) was calculated. All data were analyzed using SPSS IBM 21.0 software. Results. From 2012 to 2018, 34,796 patients were treated for hand injury at the University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, with 554 (1.6%) hospitalized patients. The mean age of patients was 43.2 years; the majority of them (87.55%) were men, and most (47.2%) were injured at home. Most injuries occurred during knife handling. The average length of stay for hospitalized patients was 4 days. MHISS score for most patients was over 50 and was classified a s severe. It was noticed that the waiting time for operation became shorter throughout the selected years. Conclusion. Hand injuries present a complex problem that can sometimes be underestimated by patients. The requirement of highly specialized hand surgeons, sometimes special equipment (e.g., microscope), multiple operations, prolonged rehabilitation, possible invalidity, and high cost of treatment calls for careful evaluation of the problem and the development of proper strategies in order to be able to lower the costs and obtain better medical care for all people with higher injury risk.

The pandemic of the COVID-19 virus disease has resulted in significant changes in everyday life. As a result, two-thirds of the urban population has been forced to alter previously established travel habits. With this in mind, the international scientific community wonders if the newly formed travel habits could be maintained after the pandemic is over. This paper presents the findings of a survey conducted among students in Kragujevac prior to and during the COVID-19 virus pandemic. Furthermore, the citizens' expectations regarding the change in travel habits following the end of the pandemic are presented. For a period of five years, the survey was conducted once a year on students at the Faculty of Engineering in Kragujevac (Serbia). According to the survey results, during the pandemic, the car was considered a more comfortable mode of transportation than before. When compared to before the pandemic, the share of student families with two cars increased by 15%. The number of cyclists has also increased, making the lack of bike paths during the pandemic a more visible issue than previously. The students polled believe that once the pandemic is over, they will walk more and continue to rely on public transportation as before.

Background/Aim. When it comes to anesthesia, patient satisfaction (PS) is more difficult to assess than in any other medical specialty. The aim of this study was to construct a tool for assessing PS with anesthesia and then examine the effects of postoperative care provided by anesthesiologists on PS. Methods. The study included patients undergoing general anesthesia due to the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate knee ligament who were considered the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) 1 and ASA 2 classes. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1 included 74 patients who had a postoperative visit performed by an attending anesthesiologist; group 2 included 70 patients who had a postoperative visit performed by a nurse anesthetist after surgery; group 3 included 74 patients who did not have postoperative visit during postoperative care by an anesthesiologist nor a nurse anesthetist. The tools used in the research were the Anesthesia Patient Satisfaction questionnaire specially designed for this study and the Post Anesthetic Recovery Scoring System (PAS). ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used to estimate the statistical significance of the obtained results between the groups. Results. Association between an objective assessment of the postoperative status of patients on day zero and satisfaction with the anesthesiologist’s patient management showed statistical significance (p < 0.05). Patients who had a postoperative visit by an anesthesiologist tolerated better preoperative and postoperative physical symptoms. Patients visited by an anesthesiologist were most satisfied with postoperative care (p < 0.05). Conclusion. The use of a highly reliable questionnaire for the evaluation of PS with anesthesia could improve the postoperative condition of patients and enable faster recovery during the postoperative period.

Every generation of people has needs, incentives, desires, intentions, attitudes and values that make it distinguishable, specific and unique. Generation Z is entering the labour market and beginning its search for an ideal employer in order to obtain outstanding experience and optimal employee value proposition. Members of Generation Z have specific traits and characteristics that set them apart from other generations. In order to build a brand as a successful and desirable employer in digital economy, one should take into account these specific traits and characteristics in order to attract and retain members of Generation Z in the long term. This paper points out the key factors of employer branding and employee value proposition that influence Generation Z's decision-making regarding employment. The results of an empirical research, which included 339 members of Generation Z from the Republic of Serbia, indicated the following three key factors that influence their choice of an employer: the opportunity for career advancement, a pleasant and interesting work environment, and the opportunity for personal development (acquiring new knowledge and skills). The conducted research provides important information on the basis of which employers can better conceptualize value proposition for members of Generation Z and establish their branding of a desired employer.

The selected lithium germanium-phosphate glass was prepared by a conventional melt-quenching technique. The XRD method was employed to confirm the glass was obtained and to reveal crystalline phases during heat treatment. The dilatometry (DIL), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to determine the characteristic temperatures and enthalpies of crystallization and melting of the crystalline phase. The DTA and DIL were used to obtain the viscosity curves by applying the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann (VFT) equation

The results of the gamma-spectrometric measurements in a 16500 ha large region of south-western Serbia, are presented. Activity concentrations of 40K, 137Cs, and 210Pb in different deciduous and evergreen trees in the region are investigated. For all the investigated isotopes, there is a tendency that, on average, the lowest activity concentrations were found in tree stems, then in leaves, while the highest ones were in the soil. Statistical analysis did not show any differences between activity concentrations of leaves and needles, showing that both leaves and needles could be equally well used as a biomonitors.

Three edible mushrooms of the Russulacea family (Lactarius deliciosus, Lactarius sanguifluus and Lactarius semisanguifluus), most frequently consumed in Serbia, were analyzed using the ICP-OES technique to evaluate the content of K, P, Ca, Mg, Na, Al, As, Cd and Pb, both in cap and stipe. Corresponding soils were analyzed, too. Based on the obtained values for the elemental composition of the mushrooms and the soil, bioaccumulation and translocation factors were calculated. All the examined mushrooms species were recognized as bioexclusors of analyzed toxic elements, but bioaccumulators of K, P and Ca. The studied mushrooms are good sources of macroelements. One portion of 300 g of fresh mushrooms had a significant contribution of K and P, exceeding 15 % of the recommended daily intake for the elements. On the contrary, mushrooms had a low potential to bioaccumulate toxic elements, and presented results indicated the regular consumption of wild edible mushrooms is safe for human health. Correlation analysis was applied to determine phosphorus’s influence on the elements’ content in the mushrooms and corresponding soils, demonstrating the most remarkable mushrooms' tendency to accumulate phosphorus.

Innovations are the key to the long-term survival, growth, and development of any organization. For that reason, all organizations strive to have as much as possible successful innovations that consequently bring many positive effects to the entire economy. This paper points out the importance and role of engaged employees who take a leading role in organizational innovations. Engaged employees give their best effort during the performance of work tasks, try to create new, better ways to perform certain activities through cooperation and exchange of knowledge with colleagues, and try to improve the functioning of the entire organization. With their enthusiasm, perseverance, persistence, and sincere desire to give their contribution to the business of the organization, engaged employees are the important source of creativity and innovation in the workplace. At the organizational level, a significant role in the innovation process has the proposals of engaged employees who truly love their job, the organization in which they work and have the desire to dedicate themselves to additional innovative activities that are not in their job descriptions.

In the newly created unusual circumstances, what follows is a transformation of three principles of a visual merchandising from real to virtual experience of visual, tactile (emotional) perception of the customer, balanced offer and freedom of choices. Finding and adopting new methods of visual merchandising and models of communication aim to, globally, give fashion brands efficient and fast access to each individual and can enter into a virtual dialogic form with them, providing virtual vision, tactility and emotion so that the potential buyer would be an active participant and make a certain choice.

Every organization strives to have productive, creative, responsible employees, who constantly seek to acquire new knowledge and skills, who are motivated, loyal and engaged, and psycho-physically healthy. However, modern and dynamic business conditions, constantly growing demands and needs of consumers, setting new goals and tasks, increasing the level of responsibility and standards, and often setting expectations from employees too high are just some of the many pressures and sources of stress to which employees are permanently exposed in their workplace. Caring about employees, and safety and health protection at work is one of the important activities of the business function of human resource management. The priority task of experts in this field is to act preventively against stressors by creating various methods and techniques for their efficient and effective management. One of the techniques that is becoming increasingly popular in socially responsible organizations, are wellness programmes. By organizing and implementing these programmes, the management of the organization shows that it cares and acts preventively to maintain the safety and protection of the health of its employees, and the employees themselves acquire new knowledge and healthy life habits through these programmes. This paper points out the importance and role of wellness programmes, as important activities of strategic human resource management of modern organizations, which occupies a significant position in the protection and prevention of employee health. Also, the paper outlines all the important elements that management should keep in mind when designing and implementing wellness programmes in order for them to adequately influence the improvement of physical and mental health of employees.

The second most important source of indoor radon, after soil beneath dwelling, is building material. With the increase in environmental awareness and new energy-saving policies, residents tend to replace the existing windows with tighter windows, which leads to a decrease in air exchange rate and consequently an increase in indoor radon concentration. In case of low exchange rates, dose caused by inhalation of radon and its progeny can exceed external dose originating from the radium content in the surrounding building material. In this paper, surface exhalation rates of radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn) from typical building materials used for construction and interior decoration of houses in Serbia were investigated. Surface exhalation rate measurements were performed using the closed-chamber method, while concentrations of radon and thoron in the chamber were continuously measured using an active device, RTM1688-2, produced by SARAD® GmbH. Finally, the impact of the replacement of windows on the indoor radon concentration was estimated.

The contemporary media culture in Serbia has been marked by two trends - democratization and transformation of the media. These parallel processes on the eve of the 21st century led to the decrease in informative contents and the increase in the entertainment ones. Therefore, reality shows take primacy in Serbia, no longer being an exclusive feature of the television. This paper is aimed at researching and describing the ways in which informative contents in the Serbian media have been replaced by television reality contents, as well as the ways in which the printed media and internet portals inform about them. By the qualitative method of content analysis, this paper realizes its goal to fathom the mechanisms of the transposition of the informative content into the entertainment one, thus deconstructing journalistic practices. The results will indicate that the domestic portals relate to realities in two ways - the first and less common modality is ignoring, while the second implies uncritical acceptance of this type of content, which creates fertile soil for the development and maintenance of the so-called reality culture.

Various imported building materials commonly used in construction and industry in Serbia were analyzed using gamma spectrometry. Based on the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in the investigated samples, radium equivalent activity, Raeq, absorbed dose rate, D, annual effective dose, DE, and the external hazard index, Hex, were calculated to assess the radiation hazard for people. The Raeq for most of the analyzed samples (416 in total) was lower than the maximum admissible value of 370 Bqkg-1 set in the UNSCEAR report. The absorbed gamma dose rate in air was found to vary from 0.030 mGyh-1 to 1.328 mGyh-1 which in some cases exceeded indoor dose rates in Europe. The obtained values for annual effective dose exceed the limits of 0.41 mSv given in literature for about 5 % of measured samples, while values of Hex were higher than unity for three samples of cement, eight samples of granite, and one sand sample. As a possible source of elevated effective dose, the radon exhalation from building materials was estimated using the parameters given in literature. The internal dose due to 222Rn exhaled from the building material was found to be up to nine times higher than external dose due to 226Ra content in some cases. [Projects of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III43009 and Grant no. OI171018]

Visual merchandising is actually a technique, ie. mastery of different methods to promote the sale of goods by improving their presentation in the shop window and the object itself. It also includes certain components of ambient design using visual rhetoric and communication, primarily through visual imagery, sending symbolic messages, to arouse a perceptual and emotional response in a potential customer, and finally to influence its behavior in the store by bringing him into the brand identity. In the book Death of Fashion, Harald Gründl studies fashion showcases that appear twice a year, when a new fashion collection arrives in stores, in an atmosphere of beautifully decorated showcases and is out of fashion at the end of the season. The seasonal period of sale, before a new product collection each Spring-Summer and Fall-Winter became the transition phase between the old and the new collection, when the beauty of visual merchandising disfigured.

The crystal structure of new lanthanum strontium borate glass-ceramics was refined by the Rietveld method. The results showed that La2SrB10O19 has the monoclinic crystal structure, space group C2 (No. 5) with a = 11.1170(6), b = 6.5667(3), c = 9.2363(3) Å, β = 91.481°, V = 674.04(7) Å3, two formula units per unit-cell, and density 3.830 g cm−3. The main building units of the crystal structure are BO4 tetrahedra and BO3 triangles. Clusters composed of [B5O12] form an infinite double layer running perpendicular to the c-axis. Lanthanum atoms, situated in [B5O12]n layers, are coordinated with 10 oxygen atom in a form of LaO10 polyhedra, while Sr atoms, located between [B5O12]n layers, are coordinated with 8 oxygen atoms in a form of SrO8 polyhedra. Microstructural measurements contain both crystallite domain sizes and microstrain calculations obtained by the Warren-Averbach and the simplified integral-breadth methods. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. OI172004 and Grant no. TR34001]

As a result of the separation of ownership from control and relationship between the owners as principals and managers as agents, the so-called agency problem arises. In order to alleviate the agency problem in transition economies, internal corporate governance mechanisms are applied. Culture is considered as one of the most important factors within an informal institutional framework that is often associated with the effectiveness of corporate governance mechanisms. Starting from the fact that the board is an important internal mechanism, this paper examines the national culture as a determinant of the board structure based on a widely accepted cultural framework developed by Geert Hofstede. The aim of the research is to obtain relevant scientific knowledge on whether the board structure, analyzed through board composition and size, differs in countries that have similar dimensions of national culture. The research is carried out on a sample of 60 companies in Serbia and Montenegro. Relying on the T-test, the research showed that the boards composition in these countries differs, while their average size is the same. This pilot study mitigates the research gap that exists in domestic literature and represents the basis for future research in this area.

Stroke is a clinical syndrome, and one of the leading causes of death and disability, occurring under the influence of a large number of risk factors. The symptoms of a stroke are in correlation with the size, time and location of the lesion. Rehabilitation, which involves the application of conventional and supplementary methods, relates to the assessment of the ability, the level of damage of the affected functions, and an adequately designed rehabilitation program. The use of dance, as a rehabilitation procedure in post-stroke patients, requires listening and active participation of an individual with a specific motor reaction to the stimulus. The primary aim of this article is to demonstrate the importance and effects of the application of dance in the rehabilitation process in post-stroke patients, with a special emphasis on the process of improving motor skills and functions. In accordance with the set criteria and purpose of study, scientific research papers were collected and analysed from the PubMed/MEDLINE, Science Direct and Oxford Academic databases, all published in the period between 2010 and 2019, and all indicating the importance of the application of dance when treating post-stroke conditions. The obtained results suggest that dance, which is basically a sports-recreational activity, when applied for therapeutic purposes in persons after stroke, contributes to the development and recovery of motor abilities, balance, mobility, endurance, coordination, motor skills, stance, walking and precision. Also, dancing is of great importance for the improvement of the functioning of the whole organism, which directly or indirectly affects the recovery of motor functions and the overall welfare of an individual.

Respecting the importance of corporate governance (CG), particularly various corporate governance mechanisms for improving corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, the paper highlights relevant CG–CSR synergies from the perspective of systems thinking. The paper further aims to demonstrate the ways in which selected systems methodologies can support CG–CSR synergies. Accordingly, we selected appropriate systems methodologies, such as dialectical systems theory, soft systems methodology, and system dynamics. We defined the dialectical system, consisting of essential corporate governance mechanisms, which contribute to CSR; we also identified the key stakeholders and their perceptions of CG–CSR relations through CATWOE analysis; thus, the appropriate root definition and conceptual model, including the activities that are relevant for CG–CSR relations, were developed. Developed systemic framework provided a relevant methodological support to highlight the various issues of corporate governance, such as institutional framework, market for corporate control, ownership structure, board structure, and their contribution to CSR.

Crystallization kinetics of 22.5Li2O•10Al2O3•30GeO2•37.5P2O5 (mol%) glass was studied under non-isothermal condition using the differential thermal analysis (DTA). The study was performed by using the first crystallization peak temperature (Tp1) which belongs to the precipitation of LiGe2(PO4)3 phase in the glass. The activation energy of glass crystallization (Ea) was determined using different isokinetic methods. The dependence of Ea on the degree of glass-crystal transformation (α) was studied using model-free isoconversional linear integral KAS (Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose) and FWO (Flynn-Wall-Ozawa) methods. It was shown that the Ea varies with α and hence with temperature and consequently the glass/crystal transformation can be described as a complex process involving different mechanisms of nucleation and growth. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 34001 and Grant no. 172004]

Small and medium-sized enterprises are holders of economic development. Their part in one country's economy is very important, especially they're important for countries that are developing. Those sort of enterprises are significant part of economic reforms, driver of economic recovery and the engine of its further development and growth. Because of this sector's importance, finish line of this thesis is to determine and growth. Because of this sector's importance, finish line of this thesis is to determine the condition, and to analyze development trends os small and medium-sized enterprises in the Republic of Serbia.

In this work, the dissolution behavior of a polyphosphate glass, with the composition 45P2O5·3SiO2·25K2O·15CaO·10MgO·ZnO·MnO (mol %), in simulated body fluid (SBF) at a temperature of 37 °C for different times was studied. Two powder sizes of the glass (granulation: 0.1–0.3 and 0.3–0.65 mm) and the bulk glass were investigated. The dissolution experiments were conducted under stationary conditions. Changes in the normalized mass release, normalized concentration of ions, pH values, and surface morphology were determined as a function of the dissolution time. The initial rates of glass powder dissolution and leaching of ions, as well as the diffusion coefficient of cations and the releasing rate of ions, during the hydrolysis process of glass were determined. It was shown that the investigated phosphate glass dissolves in SBF incongruently, with neither precipitation nor the formation of newly potentially toxic compounds, in a dissolution period 720 h. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 34001 and Grant no. 172004]

The primary aim of this research is the investigation of natural and artificial radioactivity in protected areas of Kopaonik, Vlasina, and Rila Mountains. Soil samples (including lake sediment), drinkable spring water and conifers at mentioned locations of Southeast Europe, are chosen as study objects due to their importance for people and the environment in global. Specific activities of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, 238U, 235U, 137Cs, 210Pb, and 7Be are determined using gamma spectrometry and the obtained values compared with literature and mean world values. Risk assessment parameters and the soil-plant transfer factor were determined for 226Ra, 40K, 137Cs, and 210Pb. This is the first radioactivity study of high mountain areas of Vlasina and Kopaonik in Serbia and Rila in Bulgaria and as such a baseline measurement and foundation for future research. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III43009]

The selected lanthanum-strontium-borate glasses were prepared by a conventional melt-quenching technique. The compositions of the investigated glasses were chosen to be: 5.7, 9.5, 14.3, 19.1 mol % for La2O3, 22.9, 19.1, 14.3, 9.5 for mol % SrO and 71.4 mol % for B2O3. The density, molar volume, oxygen molar volume, oxygen packing density, oxygen/boron ratios and structural transformations in the glass network were investigated according to the substitution of SrO by La2O3. The density and the molar volume increased in parallel with La2O3 content increase. Simultaneously, oxygen molar volume values increased while the oxygen packing density values decreased. A hot stage microscope (HSM) and a differential thermal analysis (DTA) were used to determine the characteristic temperatures. By increasing the content of lanthanum, the glass transition temperatures, changed with the same trend as the molar volume. Glass stability parameters were calculated from the temperatures obtained by DTA and HSM. The HSM results were used to obtain the viscosity curves by applying Vogel-Fulcher-Tamman (VFT) equation. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 172004 i br. 34001]

The aim of the paper was to estimate the values of transfer factors for natural radionuclides (40K, 226Ra, 232Th, 235U, and 238U) and 137Cs from soil to plants (cereals: wheat, corn and barley) as important parameters for the agricultures in the selection of the location and the sort of cereals to be planted on. The results presented in this paper refer to the „soil-cereals” system in the region of Pcinja, Serbia. Total of 9 samples of soil and 7 samples of cereals were measured in the Department of Radiation and Environmental Protection, Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, using three high-purity germanium detectors for gamma spectrometry measurements. In all the samples, transfer factors for 226Ra are significantly lower than for 40K, but they are all in good agreement with the literature data. On the three investigated locations, the calculated values of transfer factors for 40K were in the range of 0.144 to 0.392, while in the case of 226Ra, the transfer factors ranged from 0.008 to 0.074. Only one value (0.051) was obtained for transfer factor of 232Th. Specific activities of 137Cs, as well as uranium isotopes, in all the investigated cereal samples, were below minimal detectable activity concentrations. Also, the absorbed dose rate and the annual absorbed dose from the natural radionuclides in the soil, were calculated. The absorbed dose rate ranged from 49-86 nSv/h, while the annual absorbed dose ranged from 0.061-0.105 mSv. The measurements presented in this manuscript are the first to be conducted in the region of Pcinja, thus providing the results that can be used as a baseline for future measurements and monitoring.

This work presents the results of an investigation undertaken to determine the level of natural radioactivity in the traditional building materials used for medieval indoor vaulted constructions in the territory of the central Balkan region. Indoor radiation exposure varies appreciably if it comes from the earth building materials, hence the presence of natural radioisotopes of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in masonry vaulted constructions was analyzed using gamma ray spectrometry. In addition, the internal health hazard index, the absorbed dose rates and the effective annual doses were calculated. The results were then compared both with the reported data from the previous studies concerning the territory of the Balkan Peninsula, as well as with the worldwide values for the materials of historic buildings. The results obtained from the materials examined in this paper all showed the radioactivity levels below the maximum permitted values. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 171007 i br. 43009]

In modern tourism, events are of great importance. The increase in the number of events on a global scale has influenced the growth of competitive pressure and the need for a marketing approach in managing event development. Consumer satisfaction (service user) is one of the basic elements in managing tourism development generally seen, and thus it is also important to manage and measure the satisfaction of event visitors. The satisfaction of event visitors is important bearing in mind its influence onto passing over positive experience, re-visits and tourism affirmation in areas where the event takes place. The paper analyzes the visitor satisfaction of three most important cultural events in Belgrade-BITEF, Jazz Festival and Belgrade book fair. The focus of the analysis is on visitor satisfaction which is the result of event participation, the contents which the event offers, as well as the following tourism contents of Belgrade, as a tourism destination. The analysis has been conducted based on an empirical research in which 450 participants, event visitors, took part in.

The purpose of corporate governance mechanisms is to prevent opportunistic behaviour by managers, in order to align the interests of owners and managers. Following from this, our research topic is the analysis of ownership concentration as an internal mechanism to protect the interests of shareholders. In the study of the interdependence between ownership concentration and shareholder protection, particular importance needs to be given to the relationship between ownership structure, the role of the board, and strategic decision-making. Starting from this interdependence, our research aim is to examine the impact of ownership concentration on the protection of shareholders’ interests and the board’s responsibility for firm strategy. This paper presents the results of an empirical, pilot study in the Republic of Serbia. The research confirms the interdependence of corporate governance mechanisms and strategic decision-making. Our findings indicate that ownership concentration protects majority shareholder interests and leads to lower board responsibility for strategic decision-making.

Radon testing by using open-faced charcoal canisters is a cheap and fast screening method. Many laboratories perform the sampling and measurements according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency method - EPA 520. According to this method, no corrections for temperature are applied and corrections for humidity are based on canister mass gain. The EPA method is practiced in the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences with recycled canisters. In the course of measurements, it was established that the mass gain of the recycled canisters differs from mass gain measured by Environmental Protection Agency in an active atmosphere. In order to quantify and correct these discrepancies, in the laboratory, canisters were exposed for periods of 3 and 4 days between February 2015 and December 2015. Temperature and humidity were monitored continuously and mass gain measured. No significant correlation between mass gain and temperature was found. Based on Environmental Protection Agency calibration data, functional dependence of mass gain on humidity was determined, yielding Environmental Protection Agency mass gain curves. The results of mass gain measurements of recycled canisters were plotted against these curves and a discrepancy confirmed. After correcting the independent variable in the curve equation and calculating the corrected mass gain for recycled canisters, the agreement between measured mass gain and Environmental Protection Agency mass gain curves was attained. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III43009: New Technologies for Monitoring and Protection of Environment from Harmful Chemical Substances and Radiation Impact]

Background/Aim. Treatment options for metastatic melanoma in Serbia are limited due to the lack of newly approved biologic agents and the lack of clinical studies. Also, there is a paucity of data regarding the treatment approaches in different tertiary centers and efficacy of available chemotherapy protocols. The aim of this study was to obtain more detailed data about treatment protocols in Serbia based on structured survey in tertiary oncology centers. Methods. Data about the melanoma patients treated in 2011 were analyzed from hospital databases in 6 referent oncology centers in Serbia, based on the structured survey, with the focus on metastatic melanoma patients (unresectable stage IIIC and IV). Results. A total of 986 (79-315 in different centers) patients were treated, with 320 (32.45%) newly diagnosed patients. There were 317 patients in stage IIIC/IV, 77/317 aged < 50 years. At the time of diagnosis 47.3% of patients were < 60 years of age (24.2% < 40 years, 23% 50-59 years, 52.6% > 60 years). At initial diagnosis 12.5% of patients were in stage III and 4.5% in stage IV. The most common type was superficial spreading melanoma (50-66%), followed by nodular melanoma (23.5-50%). Apart from the regional and distant lymph node metastases, the most frequent organs involved in stage IV disease were distant skin and soft tissues (12-55%), lungs (19-55.5%), liver (10-60%), and bones (3-10%). The first line therapy in stage IV metastatic melanoma was dacarbazine (DTIC) dimethyl-triazeno-imidozole-carboxamide in 61-93% of the patients, while the second line varied between the centers. Disease control (complete response + partial response + stable disease) was achieved in 25.7% of the patients treated with the first line chemotherapy and 23.1% of the patients treated with the second line therapy, but the duration of response was short, in first-line therapy 6.66 ± 3.36 months (median 6.75 months). More than 90% of patients were treated outside the clinical trials. Conclusion. Based on this survey, there is a large unmet need for the new treatment options for metastatic melanoma in Serbia. The development of national guidelines, and greater involvement in international clinical studies could lead to widening of treatment options for this chemotherapy resistant disease.

Background/Aim. Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is usually an acute infection of superficial fascia with rapid progression in around soft tissue. If not promptly recognized and aggressively treated NF usualy leads to sepsis and multiorgan failure with fatal outcome, thus early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment are crucial for healing of these patients. The aim of this article was to evaluate the clinical presentation of all patients with acute NF diagnosed and treated in surgical clinics of Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia. Methods. The medical records of patients treated for acute NF localized on a different parts of the body in Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia, during a 5- year period (from January 2008 to December 2012) were retrospectively evaluated. This study enrolled patients admitted via Emergency Center of Vojvodina with the diagnosis of acute NF either as the primary diagnosis or with the diagnosis at discharge after surgical treatment. Results. During a 5-year period there were 216 patients with final diagnosis of acute NF. Most of our patients (140 - 64.81%) were admitted with the initial diagnosis of cellulitis, abscesses, phlegmons or sepsis. Unfortunately, the clinical symptoms of acute NF were atypical at time of initial examination. Pain and swelling of the affected localization were the most presented bias of symptoms (183 - 84.72%). The majority of our patients were male (164 - 75.92%). Among the 216 patients, the most common pre-existing single factor was drug abuse (39 - 18.05%), followed by obesity (38 - 17.59%) and diabetes mellitus (31 - 14.35%). Trauma was most common etiological factor (22 - 10.8%) in infected wounds, followed by abdominal (15 - 6.94%) and orthopedic (11 - 5.09%) surgical intervention. In the present study idiopathic acute NF was diagnosed in 22 (10.18%) patients and more than one etiological factor were diagnosed in 20 (9.25%) patients. The majority of our patients had type I acute NF (172 - 79.62%) with Streptococcal species as the most common microorganism (125 - 71.02%). The most common localization was an extremity (151 - 69.90%). The minority of our patients had head and neck localization of infection (7 - 3.24%). Surgical treatment was performed in all the patients and most of them (183 - 84.72%) received the first surgery within 24 h. Other patients (23 - 10.64%) received operation after stabilization of general status or after getting the diagnosis of acute NF (unclear diagnosis on admission). During hospitalization, the most common complication among our patients was sepsis (156 - 72.22%). The mortality rate was 14.35%. Conclusion. Acute NF is a rare but very difficult and sometimes life-threatening disease of superficial fascia and around soft tissue. If acute NF is suspected, early radical excision of all the affected tissue with exploration and excision of superficial fascia with pathological and microbiological assessment are most significant for treatment. Appropriate antibiotics and intensive care setting to manage other organ failure of NF are recommended at the same time with surgery.

Background/Aim. Hand injuries comprise up to one fourth of all injuries and require excellent skills and aggressive physical therapy with still a high potential to cause long term physical and functional disability which affects one’s quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate disability and quality of life in patients with different degrees of hand and forearm injuries using the two different scoring systems and to examine the correlation between them. Methods. This retrospective study was performed among patients operated on at our clinic due to acute hand and forearm trauma during the period of two years. Four groups of patients were made according to the Modified Hand Injury Severity Score (MHISS). One year after the treatment, phone interviews were made with those patients to answer to the Disability of Arm Shoulder and Hand (quick-DASH) score for estimating disability and to the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF (WHOQoL-BREF) score to estimate the quality of life regerding four domains: physical, social, environmental and psychological. Results. Out of 182 patients who satisfied the inclusion criteria, only 60 completely answered to the questionnaires, 46 (17%) men and 14 (23%) women. Most of the patients were in the group with moderate injuries according to the MHISS, followed by the group with major and severe injuries. A weak correlation was found between the MHISS and quick DASH score in the group with minor injuries, compared to no correlation between these parameters in other groups. The lowest quality of life was registered in the physical domain, while the highest in the social one. A negative correlation was found among the four domains of the WHOQoL BREF score and quick- DASH score in all the groups. Conclusion. Severity of hand and forearm injuries does not necessarily correlate with patient’s perception of disability. The quality of life was less affected by severity of injury than by the patient’s perception of disability.