The issues of many organizations are related to the proper evaluation of human performance and efficient decision-making. The expert system application within the decision-making process is not a novelty, but the widespread of its implementation regarding performance evaluation has not been recognized yet. To overcome this problem, a case study of rule-based expert system application in the decision-making process regarding human performance in periodical technical inspection stations in Croatia is presented. The rule-based expert system improves the quality of traditional decision-making as designed rules provide a visual, transparent, and accurate comparison of observed values with the expected values. Moreover, it provides easy problem identification. Therefore, rules regarding periodical technical inspection inspectors’ performance are designed and embedded in the expert system architecture. However, more effort should be made into data analysis to define parameters and their relations for the purpose of designing rules. Thus, the binary logistic regression and an ANOVA statistical test were conducted to identify which parameters can be assumed as relevant indicators regarding the performance of periodical technical inspection inspectors. In this study, the expert system application has resulted in faster response, greater efficiency, and increased objectivity. That is of utmost importance for providing an efficient and transparent periodical technical inspection system.

Vehicles that are non-roadworthy pose a hazard for all road users and can be one of the main causes of traffic accidents. Previous studies have analysed the impact of the driving style on environmental sustainability and road safety. Starting from this, there was a need to further investigate the relationship between the driving style and vehicle roadworthiness as well. Vehicles that do not comply with the prescribed requirements should be excluded from traffic at a periodic technical inspection. However, the causes of detected vehicle defects cannot be established at a periodic technical inspection. The paper therefore, examines the factors affecting vehicle roadworthiness. First, the failure rate and mileage of vehicles at periodic technical inspection regarding the type of ownership was examined. In addition, a questionnaire was conducted to collect data about the driving style and maintenance habits of different types of car owners. The paper argues that vehicles owned by legal entities were generally in a worse condition than the vehicles owned by natural persons, due to the increased vehicle exploitation, but also due to a more aggressive driving style. Finally, it was found that by modifying their driving style, the drivers can affect the condition of their vehicles, considering the same mileage and maintenance habits.

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Background: This study aimed to determine the potential advantages of midazolam co-induction with general anesthesia (GA) over the use of propofol alone.Methods: We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blinded clinical trial of 102 patients, aged 18 to 65, American Society of Anesthesiologists II and III, who underwent elective laparoscopic gallbladder surgery. Patients were randomly divided into 3 groups: the placebo group (C) received 1 mL of 0.9% saline intravenously and the test groups received intravenous midazolam at doses of 0.03 mg/kg (M1) or 0.06 mg/kg (M2) before induction of GA. We assessed effects of midazolam co-induction on arterial pressure and heart rate (HR) in the early stage of GA prior to surgical incision and effects on perioperative and postoperative glycemia and cortisol levels. Systolic/mean/diastolic (SAP/MAP/DAP) arterial pressure and HR were measured 4 times (preoperative, on the third, sixth and ninth minute after atracurium administration). Cortisol was measured on 3 occasions (preoperatively, 60 minutes after surgical incision, and the following morning) and glucose on 4 occasions (preoperatively, 15 and 60 minutes after incision, and the following morning). We also assessed the incidence of postoperative anxiety, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and propofol requirement for induction.Results: SAP/MAP/DAP were significantly higher in M2 immediately after induction compared to the other study groups (P = .002/.004/.013). Midazolam co-induction led to a significant reduction in postoperative anxiety (P = .03), reduced cortisol concentration 60 minutes after surgical incision (P < .001) and propofol requirements (P < .001). Conclusion subsections:Midazolam co-induction prevented a marked decline in SAP/MAP/DAP immediately after induction of GA, led to reduced postoperative anxiety and cortisol response to surgery, and reduced propofol requirements for induction.Abbreviations: BIS = bispectral index monitoring, C = placebo/control group of patients, COR = cortisol, GA = general anesthesia, GLU = glucose, HR = heart rate, M1 = group of patients that received intravenous midazolam at dose of 0.03 mg/ kg, M2 = group of patients that received intravenous midazolam at dose of 0.06 mg/kg, MAC = minimum alveolar concentration, PONV = postoperative nausea and vomiting, SAP/MAP/DAP = systolic/mean/diastolic blood pressure, SAS = Zung's Self-rating Anxiety Scale, TIVA = total intravenous anesthesia.

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