Introduction: Chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection leads to progressive fibrosis making fibrosis staging necessary in the evaluation of such patients. Different fibrosis scores are emerging as possible non-invasive alternatives for liver biopsy. The Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4) and AST to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) scores are the most widely used and the most extensively tested. This study aims to determine if it was possible to accurately use these to identify patients that are unlikely to have severe fibrosis. Methodology: One hundred and forty-two patients with chronic hepatitis C infection who underwent liver biopsy since January 1st 2014 until May 31st 2017 at the Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases in Belgrade were analyzed. The FIB-4 and APRI scores were calculated for each patient and compared to histologically determined fibrosis stage. Results: A comprehensive statistical analysis was conducted in order to compare patients with and without severe fibrosis and to evaluate the accuracy of the fibrosis scores. Patients with non-severe fibrosis were younger, had higher platelet counts and lower transaminase levels. FIB-4 had an AUC of 0.875 and the APRI score had an AUC of 0.861. No patients with severe fibrosis or cirrhosis had a FIB-4 lower than 1.08. FIB-4 was superior to APRI in identifying patients with severe fibrosis in the study cohort. Conclusion: FIB-4 was superior to APRI in the recognition of severe fibrosis. FIB-4 may prove very useful in identifying patients without advanced liver disease, especially if other non-invasive methods are inaccessible.

Upotreba fosilnih goriva jeste ključni generator štetnih gasova koji izazivaju efekat staklene bašte i dovode do globalnih klimatskih promena, zbog čega se upravljanje rastućom globalnom energetskom tražnjom nameće kao jedan od ključnih prioriteta. Ovaj članak je posvećen istraživanju najvažnijih demografskih i ekonomskih determinanti energetske potrošnje u 28 zemalja članica Evropske unije za vremenski period 1960-2014. godine. Analiza je sprovedena na osnovu logaritmovanog modifikovanog STIRPAT modela primenom tehnika ekonometrijske analize panel podataka. Dobijeni rezultati pokazuju da obe posmatrane demografske varijable (ukupan broj stanovnika i udeo starih 65 i više godina u ukupnom broju stanovnika) vrše pozitivan uticaj na potrošnju energije. Povećanje broja stanovnika za 1% dovodi do rasta potrošnje energije između 1,59% i 1,76%. Takođe, rast udela stanovništva sa 65 i više godina od 1% rezultuje povećanjem energetske potrošnje od oko 0,43%. Visoka elastičnost potrošnje energije u odnosu na broj stanovnika najverovatnije se može objasniti činjenicom da demografski rast otežava i usložnjava procese planiranja efikasne upotrebe energetskih resursa. Pozitivnu elastičnost u odnosu na udeo starije populacije treba shvatiti kao dokaz da evropska društva sa većim udelom starije populacije troše više energije od društava sa većim udelom mlađeg stanovništva. Osim toga, nalazi ove studije upućuju na zaključak da važan uticaj na potrošnju energije u EU vrši i nivo ekonomske aktivnosti zemalja i to u skladu sa konceptom Kuznjecove krive okruženja (EKC). Nivo per capita dohotka koji je potreban da bi se EKC efekat ispoljio kreće se između 54.183 i 81.552 dolara. Ključne reči: potrošnja energije, veličina populacije, udeo starijih lica, per capita BDP, elastičnost Uvod i pregled literature U toku proteklih nekoliko decenija zabeležen je veoma snažan trend intenziviranja uticaja ljudskog društva na ekosistem, potrošnju prirodnih resursa i globalne klimatske promene. Uticaj društva na prirodno okruženje je u potpunosti razjašnjen i dominantno se realizuje  Centar za ekonomska istraživanja Instituta društvenih nauka, Beograd (Srbija);

Greenhouse gases emissions (GHG) and global climate change phenomena have been top priorities on the agenda of highest-level policy makers for a long period of time now. Scientists are well-familiarised with the fact that use of fossil fuels, such as oil derivatives and coal, is the main generator of harmful gases. In addition, possible substitutions for fossil fuels in the form of other energy sources are very limited, and it should be remembered that other energy sources also have certain adverse environmental effects. Bearing in mind climate change caused by products of fossil fuels combustion, as well as inevitable depletion of natural crude oil resources, management of growing global energy demand becomes one of the key goals and challenges of 21st century. This study is dedicated to lightening up of most significant demographic, economic and technological indicators of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 28 EU member states in the period between 1991 and 2014. The research results, based on logarithmic STIRPAT model and application of econometric techniques on unbalanced panel data sample of 587 (247) observations, indicate that impact of GDP per capita is statistically significant and positive. An increase in GDP per capita growth rate of 1% leads to increased CO2 emissions growth rate ranging between 1.10% and 1.15%. The results unequivocally suggest positive impact of energy intensity to CO2 emissions. Increased growth rate in relative energy consumption of 1% results in increased CO2 emission growth rate ranging between 1.07% and 1.09%. This analysis reinforces the conclusions of numerous empirical studies that impact of population on CO2 emissions is significant and positive. An increase in demographic growth rate of 1% implies increased CO2 emission growth rate ranging between 0.74% and 1.02%. In other words, low fertility rate in the European Union might have positive effect on CO2 emissions reduction. In addition, possibility that elasticity of CO2 emission growth rate in relation to population growth rate is changed depending on the size of population growth rate is rejected on the basis of obtained findings. Impact of gross value added of manufacturing and demographic variables representing the population age structure (share of children and adolescents younger than 14 and share of working age population in total population) is not estimated as statistically significant. Finally, the result that average household size does not determine the CO2 emission should be construed very carefully, since it was obtained on quite small sample, thus questioning representativeness and validity thereof. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III47010 i Grant no. 179014]

LABOUR LAW STATUS OF PLATFORM WORKERS -BETWEEN AUTONOMY AND SUBORDINATION ***The paper deals with the theoretical and fundamental conceptual foundation of new forms of work arrangements, i.e. so-called "platform work", considering its practical application. The idea of matching the supply and demand for paid work through an online platform in the era of "platform capitalism" creates several legal discrepancies calling for urgent policy and legal answers. In the paper, we aim to analyse the so-called "platform work", which is staying halfway between traditional subordinate work and self-employment, by applying the legal normative and comparative method, along with the holistic approach to the research subject regarding the identification of its legal nature. The standard elements of the employment relationship -a contract-based relation, the performance of work on another's behalf, payment of remuneration and subjection to direction and supervision i.e. subordination -need to be considered in terms of the technological changes, transformations in the organisation of companies and, consequently, the flexibility of work arrangements. The importance of adjustment of the labour law theory and practice to a new reality by addressing the "products" of the gig economy represented in new digital forms of work supports the principles of social justice, equity, and dignity at work. The labour law needs to follow changes in the economy and society by expanding the scope of its core concepts to address the regulatory gaps and perform its mission of protection of employment-related rights and freedoms.

Society and economies face the necessity of social, political and, consequently, legal addressing of discrimination based on different personal characteristics, such as gender, race, language, political opinion, national origin, and ethnic and social status. In this regard, it is possible to look at, especially from the conceptual-theoretical, as well as the accompanying applicative aspect, and give a conceptual demarcation of (gender) equality in relation to the institute of women?s inequality as an established vulnerable category in workplaces. For many years throughout history in traditional and patriarchal societies, women had a subordinate position with an emphasis on the dominance of the paternalistic concept of man?s position in the world of work. However, in the last decade, as more is being written, spoken, and more research is being conducted on the subject of discrimination at work, efforts have been made to solve this problem. The latest trends related to the transition to a green economy also aim to promote the importance and necessity of mitigating factual inequality between the sexes with legal measures deriving from the principle of equal opportunities and procedures in employment and work. The subject of this analysis is an overview of gender inequalities in the labour market, Norway, Slovenia and Serbia, which were taken as examples of good practices in the period from 2015 to 2021. The comparison is made with a focus on the current concept of promoting a green economy and sustainable development. The goal of the paper is to determine whether the green economy is a chance to alleviate inequality and increase equality in the labour market, or whether it carries limitations that can hardly be overcome when it comes to the world of work.