Search Results (701)

This study aimed to assess the variation, genetic architecture, and genome-enabled prediction of traits with nutritional and health relevance in 156 pea (Pisum sativum L.) accessions of diverse geographic origins. The traits included the total phenolic compounds (TPCs), two saponins (Ssβg, Ss1), sucrose, three raffinose-family oligosaccharides (RFOs), and the in vitro antioxidant activity (AA). An analysis of variance revealed significant effects of regional germplasm pools for all traits. Accessions from West Asia showed the highest TPC and AA levels, while those from the East Balkans and the UK displayed the lowest values. High saponin and RFO concentrations characterized accessions from Germany and the UK. Correlation and PCA analyses highlighted strong associations within compound classes and an overall negative relationship between TPCs/AA and saponins/RFOs. The accessions were clustered into seven metabolically distinct groups, partially reflecting their geographic origin. The linkage disequilibrium decayed rapidly (average of 4.7 kb). A GWAS based on 10,249 SNP markers identified 37 significant SNPs, 35 within annotated genes, associated with the metabolites, indicating a polygenic genetic architecture. Genomic prediction models showed a moderately high predictive ability (>0.40) for all traits except the raffinose content. Our findings can support line selection and the identification of genetic resources with a desired level of secondary metabolites. Full article

Construction of precast reinforced concrete (PRC) industrial halls in seismically active areas has been increasing in recent decades. As connections are one of the most sensitive and vulnerable zones of PRC structures, there is a need to pay special attention to their investigation and modeling in seismic analysis. Knowing that each PRC system is specific and unique, this study aims to evaluate the actual seismic performances of PRC industrial halls built in the AMONT system, which represent a significant portion of the existing industrial building stock in Italy, the Balkans, and Turkey. As there is a lack of published research data on its specific joints, the results of the quasi-static full-scale experiments carried out up to failure on the models of four characteristic connections are presented. Since the implementation of nonlinear dynamic analysis in everyday engineering practice can be demanding, a simplified model of the structure considering the effects of the connections’ stiffness is proposed in this paper. The differences in the roof top displacements between the proposed model and the model with the rigid joints of the analyzed frames are in the range from 16.53% to 66.93%. The values of inter-story drift ratios are larger by 10–100% when the real stiffness of connections is considered, which is above the limit value provided by standard EN 1998-1. These results confirm the necessity of considering the nonlinear behavior and stiffness of connections in precast frame structures when determining displacements, which is particularly important for the verification of the serviceability limit state of structures in seismic regions. Full article

In this article, the authors address the Serbian media narrative about the EU’s communication on lithium mining in Serbia. In an effort to answer the question of how this narrative can influence the positioning of the EU on Serbia as a candidate country for EU membership, the authors have made a research based on a quantitative–qualitative analysis of media coverage, drawing on a sample of 192 articles (N = 192) published by four Serbian online news portals (RTS, N1, B92, and Blic). The analysis leads to two main conclusions: (1) It indicates an inversion in the general approach to foreign policy orientation across the analyzed media platforms. The customary discourses on Serbia’s foreign policy trajectory temporarily diverged from established patterns—specifically, the fervently pro-Western orientation characteristic of anti-government platforms and the ostensibly West-sceptical orientation typical of pro-government media. This reinforces the argument that the primary structuring line of media discourse in Serbia lies in the division between pro-regime and anti-regime orientations. (2) Media repositioning has exerted a pronounced negative effect on pro-European segments of the Serbian public, reactivating the thesis of “stabilocracy”, conceptualized as the dynamic relationship between authoritarian regimes in the Balkans and their external supporters. According to the authors, the EU’s inability to anticipate the drastic negative shift in public sentiment toward it—particularly among those segments of Serbian society that had been most supportive—or, alternatively, its decision to continue pursuing its own economic interests despite such awareness, underscores the profound flaws in the political communication it employed in this case. Full article

Tick-borne diseases are rising across Europe, yet human-biting tick data from the central Balkans remain limited. We analysed ticks removed from patients seeking care after tick bites at centers in Skopje (North Macedonia) and Novi Sad (Serbia) between January 2022 and December 2024, recording species, developmental stage, month of removal, and anatomical attachment site. A total of 1641 ticks were collected (North Macedonia, n = 157; Serbia, n = 1484) and identified morphologically. Six tick species were detected in North Macedonia and eight in Serbia. Ixodes ricinus was dominant in both countries, comprising ~69% of ticks in North Macedonia and >90% in Serbia, while Hyalomma marginatum was found in North Macedonia. Adult females predominated among ticks in North Macedonia (75.8%), whereas nymphs were most frequent among ticks in Serbia (55.6%); between-center comparisons of developmental stage should be interpreted cautiously given the marked sampling imbalance. In both settings, collections peaked in May–June (~64% of annual ticks), indicating highest bite pressure in late spring/early summer. Attachment sites were most commonly the torso and lower extremities, with significant between-country differences and species-/stage-specific patterns most evident in Serbia. These data refine the epidemiology of human tick exposure in two Balkan countries and support targeted seasonal prevention messaging and strengthened regional surveillance. Full article

The region of South-East Europe, located in geologically and climatically diverse areas, hosts a wide range of freshwater habitats. However, comprehensive studies of macroinvertebrate communities are limited, and research on Chironomidae (Diptera) is particularly scarce. We present data on the diversity and structure of chironomid assemblages in hilly and mountainous streams across three ecoregions: the Pannonian Lowland (Ecoregion 11), the Dinaric Western Balkans (Ecoregion 5), and the Eastern Balkans (Ecoregion 7) and provide a comparative overview of their community patterns based on 130 samples. According to the CCA results and Monte Carlo permutation tests, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, and altitude were identified as statistically significant parameters influencing Chironomidae assemblages across the ecoregions, collectively explaining 72.20% of the variation. The higher diversity indices were recorded in each season in the Pannonian Lowland and the highest within-ecoregion similarity. Dissimilarity was highest between ER11 and ER7 and lowest between ER5 and ER7. These results demonstrate that the ecoregion was the strongest influence of the studied environmental variables on Chironomidae assemblages, with community patterns closely reflecting their spatial distribution across distinct ecoregional settings. Full article

Particulate matter is widely known as a significant air pollutant due to its proven detrimental impact on human health. Furthermore, ultrafine particles (UFPs) are those with diameters smaller than 100 nm, which can cause numerous serious health effects. Thus, identifying the sources of UFPs is essential for formulating effective mitigation strategies. Quantifying the contributions of particle sources can be performed by measuring particle number size distributions (PNSDs) for specific size ranges. This study was conducted in the city of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, and one of the largest cities in the Balkans peninsula, which, within the European framework, belongs to a region and urban area characterized by high levels of atmospheric particulate matter pollution. In addition, there is a lack of studies addressing UFP levels and their sources in Serbia, including Belgrade. Several criteria pollutants were measured, together with the UFPs and equivalent black carbon (BC) at the urban background site in the city of Belgrade, Serbia, for the period from February to August 2024. The particle sources were analyzed using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) of PNSDs along with equivalent BC, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, O₃, SO₂, NO, NO₂ and NO_x. Seven source types were identified, characterized, and quantified, including two traffic sources (separated into traffic 1 and traffic 2), mixed traffic, an urban diffuse source, nucleation and nucleation growth sources, and a biomass burning source. Traffic-related sources were found to have the most significant contribution at around 40% of total particles emitted, followed by nucleation-related sources (24%) and biomass burning (20%). This is the first study performed in Serbia and Belgrade that addresses source apportionment of PNSD, for particles in the range 10–400 nm. Full article

The Balkan mountain ranges are major hotspots of genetic diversity and endemism, yet many species remain poorly studied. One such species is Alyssum bosniacum, a narrow endemic of the Central Dinaric Alps. To fill this gap, we examined 143 individuals from 15 populations across the species’ range using flow-cytometric ploidy determination, amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), nuclear microsatellites, and chloroplast DNA sequences. Microsatellite data revealed two genetic clusters, showing moderate differentiation and relatively high diversity. AFLP profiles indicated shallow but geographically structured variation, while chloroplast haplotypes showed limited divergence and regional clustering. Our data suggest possible persistence in multiple microrefugia within the Central Dinaric Alps, although further evidence is needed to confirm this scenario. Despite range fragmentation, genetic variation within the population remains high, indicating evolutionary resilience and supporting the species’ long-term future population stability under current conditions. Full article

The Rzhanski granitoid pluton and Ignatitsa diorite porphyry bodies are considered Late Paleozoic in age, belonging to the Western Balkan Zone (WBZ) in Northwestern Bulgaria. Here, we provide U-Pb zircon geochronology of these magmatic bodies, together with their geochemistry complemented by the geochemistry of the overlying volcanic rocks. Geochemical data indicate that the intermediate to acid magmatic rocks are mostly peraluminous, calc-alkaline diorite/andesite to granite, that have an origin in a continental magmatic arc tectonic environment. All plutonic, subvolcanic and volcanic rocks exhibit uniform LILE- and LREE-enriched characteristics of an arc-related igneous suite. Zircons in the Ignatitsa diorite porphyry yield a magmatic crystallization age of 315 Ma, while the zircons in the Rzhanski aplitic metagranite pluton crystallize at 294 Ma. The record of the Variscan intrusive magmatism encompasses a region-wide, well-defined time interval 332–294 Ma in the WBZ, which coincides with those of the Central Balkan Zone and the adjacent Sredna Gora Zone. The age of the Variscan greenschist facies metamorphism using the metagranite and host greenschists relationships is limited between 294 Ma and the unpublished depositional age of 268 Ma for the overlying clastic formation in the studied part of the WBZ. Full article

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and smart technologies is transforming hospitality operations, yet guest acceptance remains uneven, shaped by utilitarian, experiential, ethical, and cultural evaluations. This study develops and empirically tests a multicomponent framework to explain how these factors jointly influence two behavioral outcomes: whether AI-enabled features affect hotel choice and whether guests are willing to pay a premium. A cross-sectional survey of 689 hotel guests in Tirana, Albania, an emerging hospitality market and rapidly growing tourist destination in the Western Balkans, was analyzed using cumulative link models, partial proportional-odds models, nonlinear and interaction extensions, and binary robustness checks. Results show that prior experience with smart or AI-enabled hotels, higher awareness, and trust in AI, especially trust in responsible data handling, consistently increase both acceptance and willingness to pay. Perceived value, operationalized through the breadth of identified benefits and desired features, also exhibits robust positive effects. In contrast, privacy concerns selectively suppress strong acceptance, particularly financial willingness, while cultural–linguistic fit and support for human–AI collaboration contribute positively but modestly. Interaction analyses indicate that trust can mitigate concerns about reduced personal touch. Open-ended responses reinforce these patterns, highlighting the importance of privacy, human interaction, and staff–AI coexistence. Overall, findings underscore that successful AI adoption in hospitality requires aligning technological innovation with ethical transparency, experiential familiarity, and cultural adaptation. Full article

Cordulegaster heros is an endemic species for Central and Southeastern Europe and one of the species protected under the European Union’s Habitats Directive. To adequately protect this species and its habitats, it is of crucial importance to have detailed information on its distribution, habitat requirements and potential threats to its survival. The main aims of this study were to record Cordulegaster heros geographical and altitudinal distribution and habitat requirements (stream width, fine substrate content and habitat shading), along with the importance of protected area network in its conservation and threats to its habitats in Croatia. To achieve those aims, we investigated 201 perennial and intermittent streams across three biogeographical regions (Continental, Alpine, Mediterranean). Additionally, in a small-scale study conducted in streams located within a protected area, we assessed the species’ relationship with water quality. According to the current results, Cordulegaster heros was confirmed to reproduce in 44 perennial streams in the Continental and Alpine regions, with a significantly higher number of sites and species’ abundance recorded in the Continental region. As the species was not recorded in the Mediterranean region, its occurrence there remains unverified. The species occurred at an altitudinal range between 150 and 665 m a.s.l., with 77% of the sites being between 150 and 350 m a.s.l. It was mostly documented in streams with widths up to 250 cm, fine sediment content up to 30%, and high habitat shading (>75%). A small-scale assessment of its relationship with water parameters within a protected area revealed a significant correlation with higher concentration of oxygen and lower conductivity, confirming its requirements for clean and well-oxygenated habitats. Approximately 57% of the sites where this species was recorded are within the protected area network. However, because most known occurrences are concentrated within only one area, the Continental region, along with the rather low population densities and anthropogenic threats (e.g., deforestation, hydro-morphological alterations) present at 43% of those streams, further monitoring activities are necessary. The presented results provide a basis for further monitoring of Cordulegaster heros and its habitats in Croatia. Full article

This article explains why the European Union has not replicated Central and Eastern Europe’s (CEE) transformation in the Western Balkans (WB6). Drawing on the original External Incentives Model (EIM) conditions, the article argues that a different political climate in the WB6 requires attention to additional contextual conditions within the EIM framework to show how the weakened linkage between compliance and rewards emerges. Geopolitical enlargement and the presence of rival powers, a stability-over-democracy approach, bilateral vetoes, and the EU’s ongoing “permacrisis” negatively impact determinacy and EU credibility, while also increasing adoption costs. At the WB6 level, reforms become partial and reversible/at-risk, and even in cases of real progress (Montenegro and Albania), institutions remain fragile. The current arrangement serves both Brussels and local elites, providing short-term stability and keeping the WB6 on the EU path at the price of tolerating domestic capture and reforms without transformation. Yet, this arrangement carries a long-term risk of eroding the EU’s transformative power, as public dissatisfaction with local elites is not met with EU support, and rival powers exploit identity ties and elite channels. Full article

Environmental accounting adoption remains limited in transitional economies, particularly where formal institutions fail to enforce sustainability mandates. We examine this phenomenon in Albania—an EU candidate country with regulatory requirements but no implementation infrastructure. Drawing on institutional-void theory and resource-based perspectives, we test whether adoption mechanisms diverge when external enforcement is weak. Survey data from 151 Albanian non-financial companies, analyzed using ordinal logistic regression, show that firm size predicts adoption, whereas sector, ownership, and market orientation do not. Critically, individual-level factors—managerial environmental knowledge and pro-environmental values—significantly predict adoption, while external institutional factors exert negligible influence. Analysis of Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive readiness reveals similar patterns: internal organizational capacities support preparation, whereas external support remains insufficient. These findings demonstrate how institutional voids shape sustainability accounting and provide empirical evidence from an understudied Balkan context. Full article

This study examines spatial patterns and self-reported user experiences within the Balkan Campus of Trakya University as a single, context-specific case. The aim is to describe how campus-scale spatial configuration and user perceptions appear within this setting, without pursuing broader generalization. Methods: Space Syntax metrics (integration, connectivity, visibility) and a cross-sectional survey were used to document campus-level spatial characteristics and participants’ experiences. Spatial measures were not matched to individual movement paths; thus, all patterns reflect descriptive co-occurrences rather than causal or generalizable relationships. Results: The campus displayed a center–periphery structure shaped by its historical and linear development. Higher integration, connectivity, and visibility values occurred in areas respondents described as either clear or unclear for navigation, showing context-specific overlaps between spatial structure and perception. Regression analyses indicated associations between user satisfaction and wayfinding difficulty, availability of social spaces, and cleanliness–hygiene conditions. Positive evaluations appeared to occur somewhat more often near social and green areas, consistent with observations in previous campus-based studies but only within this site. Conclusions: All findings are limited to the physical and institutional characteristics of the Balkan Campus. The study provides a strictly context-bound, exploratory description of how spatial configuration and reported experiences appear within this single campus setting. Full article

Energy plays a crucial role in the development of societies, yet increasing demand and pressure for production pose significant environmental challenges. This study addresses the critical need for renewable energy, particularly solar power, in light of the projected 50% increase in global energy consumption by 2050 and the European Union’s goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While Albania predominantly relies on hydropower for electricity generation, which constitutes 95% of its capacity, the variability in hydropower underscores the necessity for diversifying energy sources, especially to harness the country’s solar potential. This research aims to assess industrial awareness and the influence of government subsidies and financial incentives on investment intentions through data gathered from questionnaires conducted in 2023. The findings reveal a substantial interest in solar energy, reflecting a gap in the existing literature which primarily focuses on developed economies. By contributing insights into renewable energy awareness in Albania, this paper addresses a significant gap in research concerning transition countries in the Western Balkans. The study ultimately emphasizes the importance of industrial awareness and environmental protection in adopting sustainable energy practices in a region characterized by abundant solar resources. The findings of the study highlight that there is a significant awareness–action gap regarding solar panels. Therefore, financial support and technical assistance are necessary for businesses to adopt solar energy technologies. Full article