Multiple-criteria analysis of the employee satisfaction level at healthcare facilities during the pandemic.

Due to the pandemic, the entire staff employed in healthcare institutions were directly exposed to longer working hours and unstable working conditions. Based on these facts, the research in this article aims to find out more about employees' satisfaction with working conditions and management's engagement in preserving their health and safety. Thus, a multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) model based on the analyzed attitudes and opinions of employees was formed to reveal the interdependencies between working conditions resulting from the undertaken management activities, employee satisfaction and workplace safety. The results show that both nurses and drivers were least satisfied with working conditions during the pandemic while indicating those workplaces to be the most endangered. Additionally, the proposed model can be successfully applied to any type of organization to identify insufficiently effective management activities, address them accordingly and thereby improve the level of employee satisfaction.

Antioxidant Activity and Multi-Elemental Analysis of Dark Chocolate.

Cocoa beans are part of the cocoa plant fruit (Theobroma cacao L.) used to prepare various products such as chocolate, cocoa butter, jelly, liqueurs, cosmetics, etc. Dark chocolate is consumed worldwide by different populations and is known for its good taste, making it one of the most favoured food products. This work aimed to determine the content of total polyphenols (TPC), total flavonoids (TFC), and the antioxidant potential measured through the ability to scavenge DPPH free radicals (DPPH), ferric reducing power (FRAP), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), as well as major and trace elements contained in twelve commercially available dark chocolate samples, with cocoa content ranging from 40% to 99%. The total polyphenols content ranged between 10.55 and 39.82 mg/g GAE, while the total flavonoid content was from 10.04 to 37.85 mg/g CE. All applied antioxidant assays indicate that the sample with the highest cocoa percentage shows the greatest antioxidant activity (DPPH: 48.34% of inhibition; FRAP: 89.00 mg/g GAE; TAC: 83.86 mg/g AAE). Statistical methods were applied to establish the differences between the samples concerning TPC, TFC, DPPH, FRAP and TAC, as well as to differentiate the samples according to the mineral content. The results indicated that the differences in TPC and TFC between different samples depended on the cocoa content and the addition of dried fruit pieces. A good correlation between antioxidant potency composite index (ACI) and declared cocoa content was noticed (R2 = 0.8034), indicating that the declared percentage of cocoa is a reliable indicator for antioxidant activity of analysed dark chocolate samples. The nutritional evaluation proved that the studied chocolate samples were an excellent source of Mg, Fe, Mn and Cu.

Modeling of occupational safety and health factors in production organizations and the formation of measuring scales of occupational safety climate.

This article explores the impact of the main occupational safety and health (OSH) factors in the overall OSH climate of production organizations in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, South Serbia, as an important segment of their strategic development. The article aims to validate and test the proposed conceptual model of OSH. Hence, the SmartPLS methodology was applied. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.0. The hypothesized model was developed and tested on a sample of 871 participants employed in production companies. The results indicate that the development of an OSH climate in production organizations primarily depends on the commitment of the management to the OSH system. The results obtained indicate that the methods used in this research can be successfully used in order to identify the OSH factors in the work process, and thus to manage the quality of the work environment.

Multicriteria ranking of the influential factors of safety as criteria for development of the occupational safety and health climate.

The research in this article aimed at determining the importance of occupational safety and health (OSH) factors at work as criteria for development of the OSH climate. Based on the views of 28 responsible persons of the OSH management system, the significance of the criteria was determined using the rough step-wise weight assessment ratio analysis method. The obtained results show that development of the OSH climate in organizations primarily depends on the factors of the work environment and the commitment of the management to the OSH system. The results also point out that education of employees in the field of safety at work has a significant impact. A comparison of the obtained results was made in the sensitivity analysis using the full consistency method. The specific dimensions of the safety climate at work were determined and ranking of the OSH factors was performed.

Scandium, yttrium, and lanthanide contents in soil from Serbia and their accumulation in the mushroom Macrolepiota procera (Scop.) Singer.

The mobility (fractionation) of rare earth elements (REEs) and their possible impacts on ecosystems are still relatively unknown. Soil samples were collected from two sites in central Serbia, an unpolluted mountain region (site 1) and a forest near a city (site 2). In order to investigate REE fractions (acid-soluble/exchangeable, reducible, oxidizable, and residual) in soils, BCR sequential extraction was performed. Additionally, the content of REEs was also determined in stipes and caps of the mushroom Macrolepiota procera, growing in the observed sites. Sc, Y, and lanthanide contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and results were subjected to multivariate data analysis. Application of pattern recognition technique revealed the existence of two distinguished clusters belonging to different geographical sites and determined by greater levels of Sc, Y, and lanthanides in Goc soil compared to Trstenik soil. Additionally, PCA analysis showed that REEs in soil were concentrated in two groups: the first consisted of elements belonging to light REEs and the second contained heavy REEs. These results suggest that the distribution of REEs in soils could indicate the geographical origin and type of soil. The bioconcentration factors and translocation factors for each REE were also calculated. This study provides baseline data on the rare earth element levels in the wild edible mushroom M. procera, growing in Serbia. In terms of bioconcentration and bioexclusion concept, Sc, Y, and REEs were bioexcluded in M. procera for both studied sites.

Study of silver, selenium and arsenic concentration in wild edible mushroom Macrolepiota procera, health benefit and risk.

The content and bioaccumulation of trace (Ag, Se, As) and major elements (Ca, Mg, Na and K) in wild edible mushroom Macrolepiota procera and its corresponding soil substrates, collected from five sites in the Rasina region in central Serbia, were investigated. The content of Ag, As and Se was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) while the amount of Ca, Mg, Na and K was determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The concentrations of major elements in the mushrooms were at typical levels. As far as trace elements are concerned, M. procera bioaccumulates silver although all samples were collected from unpolluted sites. It was found that the content of Ag depended on the geographical origin and the density of fruiting body on the certain site. Principal component analysis distinguished the mushroom samples from different geographical areas and revealed the influence of soil composition on metal content in fruiting bodies. Also, a linear regression correlation test was performed to investigate correlations between Ag, Cd, Se, Pb and As in caps and stipes at different geographic sites separately. In addition, our results indicated that M. procera could serve as a good dietary source of Mg, K and Se. The content of Ag and As was low, so it could not pose a health risk for consumers.

Metal accumulation capacity of parasol mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) from Rasina region (Serbia).

During many years of industrial development, soil system was contaminated with large amounts of toxic metals. In order to investigate the mobility and availability of metals from soil to mushrooms, the content of 13 elements (Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti, and Zn), in caps and stipes of wild-grown edible mushroom Macrolepiota procera and soil substrates, collected from five sites in Rasina region in central Serbia, was determined. Soil samples were subjected to the sequential extraction procedure proposed by the Community Bureau of Reference in order to fractionate acid-soluble/exchangeable, reducible, oxidizable, and residual fractions. Metal concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer and the results subjected to multivariate data analysis. A principal component analysis distinguished mushrooms samples from different geographical areas and revealed the influence of soil composition on metal content in mushrooms. Hierarchical cluster analyses confirmed that the first three phases of extraction were the most important for metal uptake by mushrooms from soil. The bioconcentration factors and translocation factors for each metal were also calculated. These results showed that M. procera could serve as a good dietary source of essential elements, especially Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe but the consumption of mushrooms may pose a health risk for consumers during the "season of mushrooms," due to the presence of cadmium.

[The influence of occupational stress on lipid status of road traffic professional vehicle drivers].

INTRODUCTION: Professional stress can damage all organs and systems of exposed workers. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of occupational stress on lipid state of exposed professional drivers in road traffic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The atherogenic risk in vehicle drivers professionally exposed to stress was assessed by measuring total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. The examination included a group of 200 vehicle drivers professionally exposed to stress. The occupational stress index was calculated using the standardized questionnaire authorized by Karen Belkic. Serum lipid parameters were examined by standard methods. RESULTS: All lipid parameters increased with the occupational stress index values. Atherogenic risk increased with the values of occupational stress index too. Workers exposed to occupational stress index over the 90 were at the highest atherogenic risk. CONCLUSION: The highest occupational stress index and the highest values of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol were recorded in professional bus drivers at inter urban traffic.

Serum lipids and glucose disturbances at professional drivers exposed to occupational stressors.

The aim of this study is to find association between some groups of occupational stressors and serum lipids and glucose concentrations in professional drivers in road traffic. The study included 417 male professional drivers (162 inter city bus drivers, 36 suburban bus drivers, 33 city bus drivers, 81 truck drivers, 71 official car drivers and 34 professional taxi drivers). Occupational stressors were identified and total occupational stress index score was measured by standardized questionnaire authorized by Karen Belkic. Occupational stressors were divided into seven groups (underload, high demand, strictness, extrinsic time pressure, noxious exposures, avoidance and conflict). Serum glucose and lipids concentrations (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triacylglycerols) were measured in study group of drivers. Maximal total OSI values were achieved in group of professional truck drivers. The highest values of serum glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triacylglycerols and the lowest values of serum HDL cholesterol were found at professional truck drivers. With the increase of occupational stress index, there is an increase of the serum glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triacylglycerols concentration in the exposed group of drivers. Specific analytes thresholds' level of occupational stress index exists.