Search Results (41)

Background: Despite ongoing global elimination efforts, measles remains a persistent public health threat. Methods: This retrospective observational study examines trends in crude measles incidence and vaccination coverage from 1948 to 2024 in the northern region of Serbia—Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (AP Vojvodina)—which accounts for 26.9% of the national population. This study further explores measles vaccination coverage across the province’s seven districts, along with the number of reported measles cases, age distribution, and vaccination status of affected individuals from 2000 to 2024. Data were obtained from official annual immunization records maintained by public health institutions within the framework of Serbia’s national mandatory immunization program. Results: A notable resurgence of measles occurred in Serbia during 2017–2018, following a decline in vaccination coverage. In AP Vojvodina, outbreaks were recorded in 2007, 2014–2015, and 2017–2018, predominantly affecting unvaccinated children and adults aged 20–39 years. Since 2019, the measles incidence has significantly declined. During the 2018 outbreak, the highest incidence was observed among children aged 1–4 years (40.6 per 100,000), followed by infants under 1 year (17.3 per 100,000) and adults aged 20–39 years (12.5 per 100,000). An analysis of the data from 2000 to 2024 revealed substantial age- and dose-related differences in measles incidence, particularly among unvaccinated individuals, those who had received one or two doses of a measles-containing vaccine (MCV), and those with unknown vaccination status. During the 2017–2018 epidemic, unvaccinated children under 1 year and those aged 1–4 years were the most affected. A marked increase in cases among single-dose recipients was noted in 2018, especially in adults aged 20–39 years (9.5%) and those ≥40 years (13.5%). A considerable proportion of measles cases in these age groups had unknown vaccination status: 33.1% among individuals aged 20–39 years and 18.2% among those aged ≥ 40 years. Epidemiological investigation linked the 2007 and 2014–2015 outbreaks in AP Vojvodina to importations from Bosnia and Herzegovina. No specific source was identified for the 2017–2018 outbreak, suggesting possible endemic transmission. Conclusions: These findings underscore the impact of fluctuating vaccination coverage on measles resurgence. Sustaining high two-dose MCV coverage, strengthening routine immunization programs, enhancing surveillance systems, and ensuring timely outbreak preparedness are critical measures for achieving effective measles control. Full article

Cultural and ecological heritage is often an essential ingredient for sustainable urban and regional regeneration and needs to be properly managed for an environment-benign development. Many heritage-led areas in Europe, named here ‘cultural-ecological complexes’ (CECs), seek a sustainable, regenerative, and actionable strategy. Our study aims to identify successful CECs from the viewpoint of their transformative cultural potential, assessed through surveys among visitors and residents. The research focuses on the assessment of seven Cultural-Ecological Complexes (CECs) in Europe: Karlsborg (Sweden), Mark (Sweden), Larnaca (Cyprus), Basilicata (Italy), Huesca (Spain), Vojvodina (Serbia), and Sibiu (Romania/Moldova). The European areas under study are selected on the basis of their transformative cultural tourism profile and potential, with the aim of tracing a balanced, sustainable development and a positive regenerative or circular transition. Each CEC was analyzed based on its transformative cultural potential and sustainability impact using multivariate Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Each region under consideration comprises a set of ‘information agents’, in particular visitors and residents, who may be regarded as informal stakeholders providing crucial or decisive information and guidelines on the sustainability situation in the region and on ways to proceed to transformative cultural tourism. This novel approach is essentially a form of citizen-based or agent-based co-creation. In our study, empirical information on the perceptions, preferences, and involvement of such agents was collected through systematically structured and consistently administered surveys among hundreds of participants (visitors, residents, etc.) in seven CECs in Europe. The research methodology is based on a blend of multivariate statistics (in particular, Principal Component Analysis—PCA) and spatial efficiency analysis (using Data Envelopment Analysis—DEA). The agents in each region are conceived of as spatial decision-making units (DMUs) in a DEA framework. Our DEA assessment model contains a multiscalar structure organized in a cascadic and interactive form with two constituents, namely cultural-ecological areas (CECs) and place-based information agents. The findings from this novel Multivariate DEA provide generic directives for an enhancement of the cultural-ecological performance for CECs and offer quantitative information for place-based efficiency-improving strategies of CECs in various contexts. Full article

The Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia’s most agriculturally developed region, lies within the fertile Pannonian plain. Decades of agricultural intensification have transformed its landscape into a near continuous expanse of arable land, largely devoid of natural elements such as trees, shrubs, or non-crop vegetation. These simplified agroecosystems support very low biodiversity, contradicting the key principles of sustainable agricultural development. To assess farmers’ willingness to support more ecologically sound landscape practices, a survey was conducted of 400 farmers across Vojvodina. The results revealed limited openness to change; i.e., most respondents expressed a low interest in all three offered interventions: (a) introducing landscape elements, (b) fallowing, (c) converting arable land to grassland. This resistance reflects a prevailing productivist mindset in which farmers perceive themselves as producers of food, raw materials, and energy. Within this view, a neat, highly cultivated landscape is perceived as a hallmark of professionalism and success. These findings underscore the importance of developing context-sensitive policies and educational efforts that align sustainability goals with farmers’ values and economic realities. Full article

The mesic grasslands of the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea Tx. 1937 in Vojvodina could play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, but also in local economies, providing essential ecosystem services, such as habitats for diverse species and resources for agricultural and pastoral activities. However, they face growing threats from unsustainable land use, urbanization and climate change. In this study, a database comprising 716 relevés and 636 plant species was created. All meadow plots were classified into seven habitat types and evaluated for their sustainable use potential using the index developed in this study, based on economically notable species, their status of protection and total cover. Through this index, moist or wet mesotrophic to eutrophic pasture demonstrates the highest potential, whereas temperate and boreal moist or wet oligotrophic grassland shows the lowest. This index offers a decision-support tool, optimizing economic benefits while minimizing environmental impact and offering guidelines for sustainable grassland management and policy recommendations tailored to local conditions. It also serves as a framework for other regions facing similar challenges, contributing to the advancement of grassland ecosystem service valuation and its preservation. Full article

Optimizing irrigation and sowing schedules is critical for enhancing crop performance and resource efficiency, especially in water-limited environments. However, the balancing the trade-offs between crop yield, energy use, and environmental impacts remains a complex challenge. This study investigates the eco-efficiency of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivation in Vojvodina region (Serbia) under three irrigation regimes (100%, 80%, and 60% of crop evapotranspiration—ET_c) and three sowing periods (mid-April, late May/early June, and late June/early July). A combined energy analysis and cradle-to-farm gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was employed to assess sustainability trade-offs. Results show that early sowing with full irrigation achieved the highest crop yields, energy use efficiency, and net energy gain while minimizing specific energy input. However, this strategy also incurred the greatest environmental burden due to elevated water and fertilizer inputs. In contrast, late sowing and deficit irrigation reduced environmental impacts at the expense of productivity and energy performance. The most balanced outcome—combining acceptable yield with lower environmental pressure—was observed under early sowing (mid-April) and moderate deficit irrigation (60% of ET_c). Importantly, the study reveals discrepancies between energy and environmental assessments; energy analysis favors high-yield, high-input systems, whereas LCA emphasizes environmental burdens per unit area, often favoring low-input strategies. These findings underscore the need for integrated, site-specific management approaches that optimize both agronomic performance and environmental sustainability, particularly under growing climate and resource constraints. Full article

Information on the harvest date of crops can help with logistics management in the agricultural industry, planning machinery operations and also with yield prediction modelling. In this study, the determination and prediction of harvest dates for different crops were performed by applying machine learning techniques on C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. Ground truth data were provided for the Vojvodina region (Serbia), an area with intensive agricultural production, considering winter wheat, maize and soybean fields with exact harvest dates, for the period 2017–2020, including 592 samples in total. Data from the Sentinel-1 satellite were used in the study. Time series of backscattering coefficients for vertical–horizontal (VH) and vertical–vertical (VV) polarisations, both from ascending and descending orbits, were collected from Google Earth Engine. Clustering of harvested and unharvested fields was performed with Principal Component Analysis, multidimensional scaling and t-distributed Stochastic Neighbour Embedding, for initial cluster visualization. It is shown that the separability of unharvested and harvested data in two-dimensional space does not depend on the selected method but more on the crop itself. Support Vector Machine and Multi-layer Perceptron were used as classification algorithms for harvest detection, with the former achieving higher accuracies of 79.65% for wheat, 83.41% for maize and 95.97% for soybean. Finally, regression models were developed for the prediction of the harvest date using Random Forest and the long short-term memory network, with the latter achieving better results: an R² score of 0.72, mean absolute error of 6.80 days and root mean squared error of 9.25 days, for all crops considered together. Full article

This study examines the financial and operational sustainability of modernizing drainage pump station systems in Vojvodina, aiming to improve energy efficiency and adapt to climate change. Various technical and economic modernization scenarios were analyzed to identify the optimal variant (V3.1), which balances investment costs, operational efficiency, and long-term environmental benefits. The analytical approaches used include multicriteria analysis, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) model, the TOPSIS technique, and fuzzy logic, providing comprehensive insights into the ranking of the four proposed variants. The results indicate that Variant V3.1, which features local SCADA systems and centralized management, offers an optimal solution for modernization. This model enhances operational reliability, reduces energy costs, and contributes to the sustainable development of the region through more efficient resource utilization. The proposed approach not only meets the specific needs of Vojvodina but also provides a broader framework for assessing similar infrastructure projects in other regions. Full article

This study examines the occurrence and distribution of root-knot nematodes (RKN), Meloidogyne spp., in Serbia through an official survey conducted from 2021 to 2023. A total of 241 plant and soil samples were collected from 25 districts across two regions: Northern Serbia (Vojvodina Province) and Central Serbia. RKN infestations were detected in 23.7% of the samples. Among the 57 identified populations, 5 Meloidogyne species were recorded: M. incognita, M. hapla, M. luci, M. arenaria and M. javanica. Meloidogyne luci was reported in Serbia for the first time, marking a significant finding for nematology in the region. This study highlights the importance of implementing effective pest management strategies to mitigate the agricultural impact of RKN in Serbia. Full article

This research examined how food and wine pairing affects the sustainability in local hospitality settings. This study focused on hospitality employees’ attitudes in Srem, where it explored the importance of integrating local produce, the economic and environmental benefits of reduced food miles, and customer satisfaction through authentic experiences. Key research questions investigated the perceived value of food–wine pairing, factors that influenced sustainable practices, and employee motivation. Data were gathered via a structured survey that highlighted challenges like limited ingredient availability and high costs. The results show that the employees recognized the importance of sustainability but displayed limited motivation for further initiatives. The findings suggest that enhancing local sourcing can bolster economic resilience and cultural preservation, promoting a sustainable tourism model for the region. This study recommends additional research on ecological impacts and local community benefits to further embed sustainability in hospitality practices. Full article

Gastronomy is a key driver of regional tourism development. Despite growing recognition of its role in enhancing tourist experiences, the specific contributions of food-related factors remain insufficiently explored, especially from the perspective of hospitality and tourism employees. To address this gap, an investigation was carried out in the tourist region of Srem (A.P. Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia) through the perspective of employees in the hospitality and tourism sector. The custom-made GastroRegDevelop scale, developed for the purpose of this research, was used to comprise the food-related factors. The scale was carefully crafted through expert consultations, pilot testing, and its adaptation to the specific features of the gastronomy of the Srem Region, to ensure its clarity and validity. From a sample of 254 respondents, the survey identified four key food-related factors that contribute to tourism development: authenticity, events, quality, and food offer. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to analyze the collected data to reveal the initial factors, followed by the ordinal regression to evaluate their impact on employees’ satisfaction with the role of food in tourism and its economic effects in the region. The results indicated the importance of these factors for economic growth and tourist attractiveness, where the respondents singled out the authenticity and quality of local products as key elements in attracting tourists and increasing tourism-related income. This study not only highlights the urgent need for addressing specific food-related factors to maximize visitor satisfaction and regional economic impact, but also underscores the critical role of gastronomy in fostering sustainable regional development and establishing a unique regional identity within the global tourism market. Full article

Background/Objectives: One of the raising public health problems in the adolescent population is obesity, which has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. The aim of this work is to determine the prevalence of obesity in the population of children of secondary school, age 15 to 19 years in Serbia and the determinate connection with demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and their eating habits and physical activity. Methods: The research is part of the fourth National Population Health Survey conducted in 2019, which was conducted by the Republic Institute of Statistics, in cooperation with the Institute of Public Health of Serbia and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia. As a research instrument, questionnaires were used in accordance with the methodology of the European Health Survey. For the purposes of this research, data on the adult population aged 15–19 and over were used. Results: The association of overweight with demographic and socioeconomic characteristics was examined using binary regression. In the univariate model, male gender (OR = 1.95), younger age (OR = 1.57) and Region of Vojvodina (OR = 2.47) stood out as significant predictors of overweight, which was confirmed by the multivariate model. Conclusions: The results of our study emphasize that the prevalence of obesity in the population of high school youth is at a significant level and that a lot more needs to be done to promote healthy lifestyles and raise awareness of their benefits on health status. Full article

Bone fractures are a significant public health issue among elderly subjects. This study examines the impact of diet and vitamin D status on the risk of long bone fractures due to falls in elderly subjects in Vojvodina, Serbia. Conducted at the University Clinical Center of Vojvodina in autumn/winter 2022–2023, the study included 210 subjects >65 years: 105 (F: 80/M: 15) with long bone fractures due to falls and 105 (F: 80/M: 15) controls. Groups were similar regarding age and BMI. Dietary intakes (by two 24-h recalls) and serum vitamin D levels were analyzed. The fracture group had a significantly lower median daily vitamin D intake (1.4 μg/day vs. 5.8 μg/day), intake of calcium, energy, proteins, fats, fibers, dairy products, eggs, fish, edible fats/oils, and a higher intake of sweets (p < 0.001 for all). Serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower in the fracture group (40.0 nmol/L vs. 76.0 nmol/L, p < 0.001). Logistic regression identified serum vitamin D as the most important protective factor against fractures, and ROC curve analysis indicated that serum vitamin D levels > 50.5 nmol/L decreased fracture risk. Nutritional improvements (increased intake of vitamin D and protein sources such as fish, eggs, and dairy), increased sun exposure, and routine vitamin D supplementation during winter are advised. Full article

This study investigates the perception of the implementation of the Farm to Table (F2T) concept on the sustainability of agritourism households in the Republic of Serbia. The main objective of the study is to determine how this concept affects the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of these households according to the participants. Data were collected through surveys of agritourism homestead owners in the regions of Vojvodina, Western Serbia, Southern Serbia, and Eastern Serbia. The research findings, obtained using quantitative (SEM) analyses, indicate that the F2T concept significantly contributes to the sustainable development of agritourism homesteads by increasing economic profitability, reducing environmental impact, and strengthening the social community. Moderators such as seasonal product availability, employee education, and the local community support have a significant impact on the effectiveness of F2T activities. The innovation of this study lies in the application of quantitative methods to analyze the specific impacts of the F2T concept on the sustainability of agritourism households, an area that has been poorly explored in the literature. The study has a number of implications, including providing empirical data that can help farmers, tourism operators, and policymakers to promote sustainable agritourism businesses. Full article

Extreme precipitation events, which are common natural hazards, are expected to increase in frequency due to global warming, leading to various types of floods, including pluvial floods. In this study, we investigated the probabilities of maximum 3-day precipitation amount (Rx3day) occurrences during spring in the Vojvodina region, covering both past (1971–2019) and future (2020–2100) periods. We utilized an ensemble of eight downscaled, bias-corrected regional climate models from the EURO-CORDEX project database, selecting the RCP8.5 scenario to examine future Rx3day amounts. The probabilities of occurrences of Rx3day were modeled using the GEV distribution, while the number of events where Rx3day in spring exceeds specific thresholds was modeled using the Poisson distribution. The results indicate that Rx3day with a ten-year return period during the spring months is expected to increase by 19% to 33%. Additionally, the probabilities of having more than one event where Rx3day exceeds thresholds are projected to rise by 105.6% to 200.0% in the future compared to the historical period. The analysis comparing the design values of Rx3day with future projections for the period 2020–2100 revealed that 51 drainage systems are likely to function without difficulties under future climate conditions. However, for the remaining 235 drainage systems, an increased risk of pluvial flooding was identified, as their design precipitation amounts are lower than the future projections. This study reveals that analyzing extreme rainfall events in the context of climate change yields crucial information that facilitates effective planning and policy making in water management, particularly flood protection. Full article

The Special Nature Reserve “Kraljevac” (RK) is located in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, in southern Banat. This first-category reserve covers an area of 264.3 ha and represents a natural item of exceptional importance. The reserve is characterized by significant geological heritage such as loess sections and dune relief, a lake with famous floating peat islands that form the physiology of this wetland, and very rare representatives of flora and fauna. The RK is characterized by the rich cultural heritage of the population living in South Banat. The different ethnic composition of the population and multiculturalism are the main sociocultural tourist motives of this protected area. The Deliblato Sands, known in Europe for their rare geological features, flora and fauna, are located in the immediate vicinity. This significantly increases the value of the RK. Quantitative methodology was used in the paper, which included interviewing respondents as a research technique. The research was conceived according to the Prism of Sustainability (PoS) model. For this sustainable tourism research, a total of 750 respondents (470 residents and 280 visitors) were surveyed. A written and online questionnaire was used in the survey of respondents. By using a questionnaire, respondents expressed their views on certain statements that were grouped into two categories. The claims refer to the natural and sociocultural factors of tourism development in this protected area. Both categories of tourism destination factors can significantly influence sustainable tourism. In addition, we examined the impact of sociocultural and natural factors on respondents’ satisfaction with sustainable tourism. The research results indicate that there is a significant influence of these factors on the satisfaction of residents and visitors with sustainable tourism. The results of this research can provide important information when planning the development of tourism in this protected area. Also, the results can help in the evolution of tourism development at the local, national and regional levels. The forms of tourism that could be central in the RK are scientific research, sports–recreational, ecotourism, bird-watching, events, cultural, gastronomic, and other tourism forms. These forms of tourism can provide environmental, economic and social benefits for this protected area as a tourism destination. Full article