1. Peridynamic modeling of fatigue in layered metal compositesFilip Jerenec, 2025, doctoral dissertation Abstract: In additive manufacturing, tooling is frequently built from laminated metal composites (LMCs) that stack dissimilar metals to shorten production times. Accurately predicting fatigue-crack growth in these unequal-strength laminates is difficult—particularly across joints where property mismatches steer crack paths. This work combines experiments and simulations to study fatigue-crack growth in an LMC formed by laser-melting AISI 316L powder onto high-strength structural steel S960. Crack growth was modeled with a linearized bond-based peridynamics (PD) formulation, with interfacial bonds tuned to the measured elastic-modulus gradient, and coupled to the Kinetic Theory of Fracture (KTF). Unlike conventional S–N–based approaches, KTF parameters were calibrated directly from measured crack-length–versus-cycles (a-N) data. Material behavior in the base metals and through the transition zone was characterized via tensile tests, hardness mapping, and nanoindentation; fatigue-crack growth data came from cyclic tests on compact-tension (CT) specimens. The model reproduced the observed differences in crack-growth rates between homogeneous and bimaterial specimens, and KTF parameter transferability across loads and geometries was confirmed for homogeneous samples. A key outcome is a practical calibration workflow for KTF within a nonlocal PD framework, enabling predictive simulation of fatigue-crack growth across multilayer metallic joints.
Keywords: Peridynamics, Fatigue Crack Growth, Kinetic Theory of Fracture, Layered Metal Composite, Additive Manufacturing
Published in DKUM: 13.01.2026; Views: 0; Downloads: 13
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2. A comprehensive composite model of the corporate risk management index as a factor of medium-sized and large companies value changeAna Malnar, 2025, doctoral dissertation Abstract: Operating in today's turbulent environment is characterized by, among other things, significant risks. The current trends of deregulation and globalization of markets increase the impact of risks on the company's operations and, consequently, on its value, being a source of potential unforeseen losses due to changes in market prices, financial difficulties or other difficulties of the company. As business practices, environments, and trends change, some areas of risk management become increasingly important. When distinguishing between the terms risk and uncertainty, it can be said that they are related but different. While uncertainty is unknown and changing, risk is the result of uncertainty. All of these factors can have a significant impact on a company's cash flow, earnings, and enterprise value. The nature of risk has directed risk management to protect companies from financial difficulties, and recognizing different categories of risk such as credit, market, or ESG risks can become an important step to ensure uninterrupted business operations and protection of corporate assets. By achieving the fundamental goal of identifying and managing various forms of risk, the company will become increasingly better able to survive and operate successfully in the modern economic environment, ultimately contributing to increased shareholder value. A further step in understanding and evaluating the concept of integrated risk management in organizations is the composite risk management index, which according to numerous authors represents a significant contribution and advance in the quantitative approach to measuring and evaluating the risk management process. The CRM index represents a comprehensive dimension of CRM that effectively measures the construct. The CRM Index is proposed as an effective measure of CRM implementation and was constructed based on data derived from a thorough review of the literature. The said index uniformly assesses the data on the frequency, depth and completeness of risk management practices in organizations. The purpose of the doctoral dissertation implies and includes a theoretical and practical contribution in the field of corporate risk management and the formation of a composite index as a measurement tool for the implementation of the above process in medium-sized and large companies, as well as ways of creating, generating and measuring newly created value as a product of their interaction, with the expectation of understanding and strengthening interest in this research subject as a broad topic. A unique scientific contribution from both a theoretical and practical perspective is given. From a theoretical perspective, the research conducted makes a significant contribution to the scientific knowledge on the effects of corporate risk management as a function of the creation of medium and large firms in multiple and multiplicative ways. The academic literature is improved by conceptually upgrading various research niches, concepts and phenomena of this field of knowledge, and the interrelationships and interdependencies of corporate risk management are recognized and identified, and their effects on the creation and growth of value of non-financial firms are observed. In addition, it consolidates the different academic views on the process of enterprise risk management and further clarifies its concept, defines its scope and determines the level of action.
Keywords: corporate risk management, firm performance, corporate risk management index, value growth
Published in DKUM: 25.11.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 11
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3. ECONOMIC GROWTH AND CO2 EMISSIONS: ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF SUSTAINABLE LOW-CARBON GROWTH IN THE EUROPEAN UNIONBarbara Fajdetić, 2025, doctoral dissertation Abstract: The European Union has recognised the problem of sustainable development and the need for decarbonisation in order to achieve sustainability. Therefore, the EU Green Deal was adopted, whose main objective is to achieve climate neutrality, create a competitive economy and strengthen energy stability. The EU Green Deal is complex and encompasses all the economies of the European Union, which differ according to their level of economic development, their institutional development, but also the mentality of the population. Nevertheless, all member states fully support this plan and integrate it into their national strategies. The transition to a low-carbon economy is an opportunity for economic growth, market development and the development of new business opportunities, as well as an opportunity for technological progress. The development of green practises, decarbonisation and sustainable development must go hand in hand with the continuous development of innovation, as they are the basis for long-term economic growth, as Romer emphasised in his endogenous growth theory. Knowledge and innovation make a crucial contribution to overall production as they enable the development of new ideas that can significantly improve existing production - either by improving existing systems or by developing completely new systems. The motivation for this study stems from the development of Romer and Nordhaus' model, which is based on the observation of positive externalities from technological development and the diffusion of ideas, and the diffusion of negative externalities from greenhouse gas emissions. The European Union is in a low-carbon transition process and accordingly major structural changes are taking place, especially in the energy, agriculture and manufacturing sectors. The dissertation has two main objectives - the first part of the empirical analysis deals with the ecological footprint of the European Union, while the other part refers to the economic footprint of the European Union. The panel data analysis confirmed the two research hypotheses that the transition to a low-carbon economy has a significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions and causes structural changes that affect economic activity. It can be concluded that this study not only contributes from a theoretical perspective, but also provides new insights for the practical application of low-carbon and sustainable practises and standards. Theoretical contributions are seen within the framework of the theory of environmental economics and the theory of sustainable development. The findings confirm the importance of environmental protection laws in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, research has emphasised the importance of the balance between environmental and economic aspects of sustainability. On the other hand, the practical implications of policy makers' decisions become clear. Firstly, research has confirmed the effectiveness of general environmental taxes in the EU, which are an effective tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Secondly, the use of renewable energy contributes to the low-carbon transition, but its impact on economic growth remains detrimental.
Keywords: decarbonisation, sustainability, renewable energy, GHG emissions, economic growth
Published in DKUM: 25.11.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 6
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4. A water solution from the seeds, seedlings and young plants of the corn cockle (Agrostemma githago) showed plant-growth regulator efficiencyJana Ambrožič-Dolinšek, Vid Golič, Víctor Rouco Saco, Petra Peranić, Jaša Veno Grujić, Terezija Ciringer, 2025, original scientific article Keywords: Agrostemma, plant growth regulators, cytokinin, auxin, biostimulants, bioassay
Published in DKUM: 20.08.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 14
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5. Comparative analysis of fracture mechanics parameters for wrought and SLM-produced Ti-6Al-7Nb alloyIvan Gelo, Dražan Kozak, Nenad Gubeljak, Tomaž Vuherer, Pejo Konjatić, Marko Katinić, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: The research presented in this paper is based on the need for personalized medical implants, whose serial production is impossible, so the need for production process adjustments is inevitable. Conventional production technologies usually set geometrical limitations and generate a lot of waste material, which leads to great expenses, especially when the material used for production is an expensive Ti alloy. Additive technologies offer the possibility to produce a product almost without waste material and geometrical limitations. Nevertheless, the methods developed for additive production using metal powder are not significantly used in biomedicine because there is insufficient data published regarding the properties of additively produced parts, especially from the fatigue and fracture standpoint. The aim of this research is the experimental determination of fracture mechanics properties of additively produced parts and their comparison with the properties of parts produced by conventional technologies. Drawing is the first production process in the comparison, and the second one is selective laser melting (SLM). The Ti-alloy Ti-6Al-7Nb, used for medical implants, was selected for this research. Experimental testing was performed in order to determine ∆Kth fracture mechanics parameters and resistance curves according to ASTM E1820. Test specimen dimensioning and the experiments were carried out according to the respective standards. For the drawn test specimen, the value obtained was ∆Kth = 3.84 MPam0.5 , and the fracture toughness was Kc = 84 MPam0.5, while for SLM produced test specimens the values were ∆Kth = 4.53 MPam0.5, and Kc = 21.9 MPam0.5.
Keywords: fracture toughness, crack growth curve, resistance curve, additive technologies, powder metallurgy, selective laser melting, Ti-6Al-7Nb
Published in DKUM: 19.08.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 14
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6. Inflation, inflation uncertainty and economic growth in Tunisia : nonlinear modelling frameworkThouraya Dammak Boujelbene, Khoutem Ben Jedidia, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Inflation uncertainty is a critical factor influencing not only the market mechanisms but also the economic activity efficiency. In this paper, we investigated the relationship between inflation and growth to capture the impact of inflation uncertainty in Tunisia. The study relied on a dataset covering the period 1984.01-2018.08 and was characterized by a nonlinear specification. We used Hansen’s (2001) Threshold Regression (TR) analysis to determine one threshold effect of inflation on growth while explaining the role of inflation uncertainty in the whole process. This study concluded that an optimal inflation rate does exist. Under this rate, a little rise in inflation may enhance economic growth, allowing an adverse impact of inflation uncertainty. Above the critical threshold of 3%, it was revealed that inflation and inflation uncertainty play opposite roles: while the former harms growth, the latter benefits it. Thus, we cannot sustain the Friedman-Ball hypothesis for the two regimes. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that aimed to investigate the simultaneous effects of inflation and inflation uncertainty on growth in Tunisia using a non-linear methodology. This study aims to fulfil the knowledge gap of such studies for developing countries.
Keywords: threshold regression model, inflation, inflation uncertainty, economic growth, Tunisia
Published in DKUM: 01.08.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 6
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7. Does ownership matter : Nexus between entrepreneurial orientation, network capability, financial resources diversity and financial performance of HGCsBlaž Frešer, Polona Tominc, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Background/Purpose: This paper aims to analyse the nexus between selected growth determinants and the finan-
cial performance of high-growth companies (HGCs) in relation to their ownership. In line with principal-agent theory,
we try to determine if the differences exist between managers who are also (co)owners and those managers who are
not (co)owners. Also, we analysed if additional equity-based compensation, through different growth determinants,
could increase HGC’s financial performance.
Methods: The study was conducted on a sample of 119 HGCs from the Republic of Slovenia and was carried out in
2022. The empirical analysis was performed using regression analysis based on exploratory factor analysis (EFA).
Analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 27 software.
Results: Results showed that considering the importance of organisational networking capability for HGC’s finan-
cial performance, there are statistically significant differences between owner-managers and managers, implying
that ownership (and equity-based compensations) could positively shape HGC’s financial performance. In addition,
results show that when analysing the owners-managers group of HGCs, risk-taking and organisational networking
capability positively and statistically significantly impact HGC’s financial performance.
Conclusion: Our paper highlights the importance of organisational networking capability as a growth determinant
through which equity-based manager compensations can positively influence HGCs’ financial performance. The
study contributes to diverse literature related to HGCs and contributes to relevancy for the policymakers aiming at
enabling better financial performance of HGCs.
Keywords: high-growth company, entrepreneurial orientation, network capability, financial performance, principal-agent theory, equity-based compensation
Published in DKUM: 09.07.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 12
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8. Entrepreneurial dynamism and sustainability : unveiling Europe’s economic growth patterns through cluster analysisBarbara Bradač Hojnik, Karin Širec, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: This paper highlights the complex relationship between entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and economic growth in 41 European countries, using a reliable K-Means cluster analysis. The research thoroughly evaluates three key factors: the SDG Index for sustainable development, GDP per capita for economic well-being, and the New Business Density Rate for entrepreneurial activity. Our methodology reveals three distinct narratives that embody varying degrees of economic vitality and sustainability. Cluster 1 comprises the financially stable and sustainability-oriented countries of Western and Northern Europe. Cluster 2 showcases the variegated economic and sustainability initiatives in Central and Southern Europe. Cluster 3 envelopes the economic titans with noteworthy business expansion but with the potential for better sustainable practices. The analysis reveals a favourable association between economic prosperity and sustainable development within clusters, although with nonlinear intricacies. The research concludes with a series of strategic imperatives specifically crafted for each cluster, promoting economic variation, increased sustainability, invention, and worldwide collaboration. The resulting findings highlight the crucial need for policy-making that considers the specific context and the potential for combined European resilience and sustainability.
Keywords: entrepreneurship, sustainable development, economic growth, economic diversification, policymaking, European countries, K-Means clustering
Published in DKUM: 02.07.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 5
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9. Determinants of income inequality in the selected group of European countries : a panel data analysisDarja Boršič, Simon Matej Podgoršek, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: The paper focuses on providing basic characteristics of income inequality in a group of selected European countries in the period from 2000 to 2019. After presenting stylized facts and brief literature review, the paper proceeds to empirical analysis of income inequality in the observed countries by panel data techniques. Fixed and random effects models are estimated. After Hausman test approved the usage of fixed effects model, it was tested for serial correlation and robust standard errors were calculated. The empirical analysis of the determinants of income inequality shows that GDP growth, share of population in upper 10% of income percentile, Human Development Index and unemployment rate increase income inequality measured by Gini index, while share of workforce and share of population with tertiary education decrease income inequality. The results of the empirical analysis provide insight into determinants of income inequality, which may be useful for economic policy decision makers in their efforts to decrease the income inequality.
Keywords: income inequality, Gini index, economic growth, panel analysis, fixed effects model
Published in DKUM: 30.06.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 11
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