Introduction: Our understanding of the COVID-19 disease has been steadily evolving since the original outbreak in December 2019. Advanced disease is characterised by a hyperin ammatory state, systemic coagulopathies and multiorgan involvement, in particular respiratory distress.We here describe our initial experience with treating of COVID-19 patients based on early initiation of extracorporeal blood puri cation, systemic heparinisation and respiratory support.Methods: 15 patients were included; 2 were females. We monitored real-time several biochemical, immunological and coagulation biomarkers associated with disease severity following admission to our dedicated COVID-19 intensive care unit. To guide personalised treatment, we monitored among others levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte ratios, Thrombocyte counts, D-Dimers, Fibrinogen, and Activation Clotting time (ACT).Treatment consisted of individualised respiratory support supplemented with 1 -4 cycles of 24-hour Extracorporeal Organ Support (ECOS) and Blood Puri cation using the AN69ST (oXiris ® ) hemo lter. We administered heparin (300 U/kg) to counter suspected hypercoagulability (= elevated Fibrinogen or Ddimers) states to maintain ACT ≥ 180 seconds.Results: N = 10 presented with severe to critical disease (= dyspnoea, hypoxia, respiratory rate > 30/min, peripheral oxygen saturation < 90%, or > 50% lung involvement on X-ray imaging). A single case was admitted with a critical condition (= respiratory failure). One patient died after 5 days of hospitalisation after developing Acute Respiratory Syndrome. 8 Patients have been discharged -average ICU length-ofstay was 9.9 ± 2.4 days. Clinical improvement was associated with normalisation (increase) of thrombocytes, white blood cells, stable levels of IL-6 (< 50 ng/mL) and a decrease of CRP and Fibrinogen. Conclusion:Means to monitor COVID-19 disease severity during hospitalisation are crucial to control disease progression and prevent hyperin ammation and irreversible multiorgan failure. We present here a real-time monitoring system accounting for biochemical, immunological, coagulation parameters and radiological imaging.The combination of systemic heparin anticoagulation regimens and blood puri cation may prevent hyperin ammation, thromboembolism during hospitalisation and thus support clinical recovery.

The research scope of the paper is prioritization of open innovation determinants in banking industry using an integrated application of qualitative and quantitative methods in the evaluation process. The research methods were implemented to compound the depth of experts' knowledge and experience on the one hand, and the precise mathematical reasoning, on the other, thus creating the objective and accurate basis for effective decision making. The overview of determinants of open innovations in banking industry has been obtained from the literature overview and the Delphi study conducted among 51 experts from banks in Serbia. Fifteen significant determinants within five dimensions were further evaluated through AHP decision-making method to prioritize them toward the development of the open innovation in banking. The research results show that effective application of open innovation in banking lies in formal reinforcement by management to integrate innovation into organizational policies and in designing dual structures that facilitate the initiation and implementation of an innovation, i.e. building an ambidextrous organization. The research findings and results introduced in this paper can be usefully applied and widely used by both academics and practitioners who are interested in applying the open innovation concept in banking industry.

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The paper presents roles of information and communication technologies in innovation processes in services. Research method has been a case study due to the lack of empirical studies of innovation processes in Serbia. The paper analyses four original service innovation projects which have been conducted in Serbia based on ICT enhanced innovations. The main findings affirm that ICT progress per se enables new ways of gathering, processing, keeping and transferring information in services and also in that way enables base and impulse for innovations. Beside this, new findings also show that ICT have considerable role in the very process of innovation, from an idea, development and testing to commercialization. The paper points out key ICT methods and tools which can be used in different stages of innovation process.