Background/Aim: There have been different experimental conditions for in vitro studies on human umbilical arteries (HUA) in tissue bath system. This diversity was mainly reflected in variables such as stretching tension, incubation period and initial constriction challenging with potassium (KCl). The aim of the study was to establish optimal experimental conditions which will provide better responsiveness of HUA preparations, as well as to examine the impact of 24 h cold storage on viability and responsiveness of HUA to KCl and serotonin. Methods: The KCl-induced constrictions at different stretching tensions (0.5 g, 1.0 g, 2.0 g, 4.0 g), incubation times (30 min, 60 min, 120 min), and after multiple initial constriction challenging were compared. Dose response curves for serotonin were obtained under different conditions (1.0 g and 60 min vs. 2.0 g and 120 min). The influence of 24 h cold storage on KCland serotonininduced vasoconstriction of HUA preparations was examined as well. Results: The strongest constrictions induced by serotonin or KCl were obtained when preparations were adjusted at 2.0 g and incubated for 120 min. The KCl-induced constrictions observed after 120 min were statistically higher (p < 0.05) when preparations were challenged three times (30 min, 60 min, 120 min), compared to those challenged only once. The preparations that were stored at 4 0C for 24 h showed significantly stronger serotonin-induced constrictions (p < 0.01). The cold storage had no influence on KCl-induced constriction. Conclusion: For performing in vitro studies on HUA preparations in tissue bath, we propose stretching tension of 2.0 g, incubation period of 120 min and multiple initial constriction challenging with KCl as optimal experimental condition. We also showed that HUA preparations retained functional viability even after 24 h of cold storage.

Aim: The main purposes of the study were to assess the NPK fertilizer value of biogas digestates in different soils and to evaluate the risk of unwanted nutrient leaching. The fertilizer value of digestates from anaerobic digesters was investigated in a greenhouse pot experiment with wheat in three different soils; silt, loam and sand. The digestates were based on different feedstock and had a low, dry matter content. The fertilizing effect of digestates was compared to mineral fertilizer and manure. To investigate the fate of excess nutrients in soil after the growing season, the pots were leached after harvest. A complementary soil column leaching experiment without plants was carried out in the laboratory. Findings: The concentration of ammonium in digestates provided a good indicator of the nitrogen fertilizer value of the digestates. In the silt and loam, the ammonium N fraction in digestates had a fertilizer replacement1) value equal to that of mineral fertilizer N, whereas the replacement value was higher in the nutrient poor sandy soil. Digestates often have a ratio between nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which is not favourable for plant growth2). However, the suboptimal balance did not result in reduced plant growth or unwanted leaching from soil. The results show that digestates from biogas production based on fundamentally different feedstock are promising as NPK fertilizers. The N fertilization can simply be based on the digestate NH4 + concentration and, at least for wheat production, considerable variation in the concentrations of K and P can be tolerated.

Grass pea belongs to the legume family and it is traditionally used as a grain for human consumption while its foliage is used for fodder. In this study morpho-agronomic evaluation and characterisation of different grass pea accessions (Lathyrus sativus L.) from Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H)/Republic of Srpska was performed. A collection of 8 grass pea accessions was cultivated in Slovenia (Jablje) and Bosnia and Herzegovina/Republic of Srpska (Banja Luka) in the open field trials during the growing season of 2019. A number of quantitative and qualitative IPGRI descriptors for Lathyrus spp. concerning the vegetative growth, stem, branch, leaf, inflorescences, pods, and seeds were measured and/or visually estimated. The results of the present study will add value through the enrichment of the Lathyrus spp. collection in both countries, improving the existing data and documentation, as well as creating a certain basis for further studies of the morpho-agronomic traits of the grass pea.

The position of regional geography in the system of geographical sciences is a topic that has been the subject of intense epistemologically and methodologically focused discussion within scientific realm at the global level since the middle of the 20th century. The initial outcome of these processes at the academic level was the marginalization of regional geography in the study of spatial phenomena, but since then there was a partial revitalization of the regional approach. In view of these changes, the place of regional geography within geographical education also began to be problematized. In this paper, it is conducted a critical review of selected academic articles from the last few decades that at least in a certain segment touch on this topic, as well as analysis of recent trends in school geography. This analysis suggests that it is difficult to find an adequate replacement for regional content, especially in the geographical education at lower levels of education, and that in many countries it still represents the basis or at least an important part of the geographical curriculum. However, at the same time, the need for change of teaching approach based on the excessive so-called regional inventory of space, by introducing general geographical concepts in the study of regional units of various levels, and putting them in the service of the development of critical thinking in students.

The main urgent problem of humanity is related to clean water availability. Shortage of drinking water in most parts of the world has been a growing concern in recent times. This chapter will consider emerging contaminants present in the aquatic environment. The commonly present concentrations are in the range from mg/L to ng/L in wastewater, surface water, ground water, and drinking water. The challenges in wastewater and drinking water purification are dependent on the origin of the water. Solar photocatalysis is a new promising technology for the water purification. With solar, photocatalysis is possible to reduce organic contaminants present in water by using the sunlight. This chapter addresses the fundamental reaction mechanism, different type of photocatalytic nanomaterials based on TiO2, and recent developments in the reactor design for solar photocatalytic water purification from lab scale-up to large-scale application.

Cationic NLCs represent lipid vesicles bearing cationic lipids on its surface, which leads to electrostatic interactions with negative charges of the nucleic acids such as miRNA and formation of a complex which protect the nucleic acids from the inevitable physicochemical biological impacts within the blood circulation [1]. This study aimed to develop cNLCs in order to obtain the most suitable formulation for further delivery of miRNAs.

The interaction between geogrid/wire fabric reinforcement and fill material in reinforced earth walls, as well as its quantification, is a complex problem that depends on a number of factors. This paper presents and discusses state of the art related to numerical simulations of pull-out tests used for investigation of interaction between cohesionless fill and reinforcement. In addition, the results of a specially designed group of numerical simulations are presented and compared with recommendations of American and European standards related to such experiments.

Oil-in-water cationic nanoemulsions (CNE) are fine dispersions consisting of an oil core (from natural or synthetic origin) stabilized by a single cationic lipid or a mixture with phospholipids, non-ionic surfactants, and/or PEG-lipids. CNEs are considered to be suitable and potential delivery system for nucleic acids in gene therapy field due to their positively charged surface which complex with negatively charged gene material through electrostatic interactions [1]. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of cationic lipid-sterylamine (SA) on mean droplet size, zeta potential and pH of the CNEs. Formulations containing various concentrations of SA were prepared on high-pressure homogenizer. The mean droplet size and zeta potential of the emulsions were determined by photon correlation spectroscopy and electrophoretic light scattering, respectively (Malvern NanoZs Zetasizer). The mean droplet size of emulsions varied from 126 to 129 nm while the polydispersity index varied from 0,068 to 0,137. As expected, zeta-potential increased from +43,7 mV to +53,7 mV with the SA concentration increase from 0,25 to 0,75 % (w/w). During the 60-day storage period at 25 °C, the droplets stayed in the nanometer range with only a minor size increase (~10 nm), no significant changes in droplet size distribution nor zeta potential or any difference in their visual appearance (no creaming or phase separation) proving therefore a satisfactory formulation stability.

Pharmacy activity in Bosnia and Herzegovina was regulated in 1879 by an Order of the Provincial Government, at the beginning of the Austro-Hungarian occupation. The pharmacy owner had to have a doctorate in chemistry or a master's degree in pharmacy obtained at an Austro-Hungarian faculty. The Law on Pharmacies was adopted in 1907. The first modern pharmacy in Banja Luka was opened by Moritz Brammer in 1879. The pharmacy was inherited by his son Robert, who had sons, Ernest, Hans and Alfred, pharmacists. Ernest inherited father's pharmacy, where he worked as of 1921. Hans, also a writer and a publicist, worked in this pharmacy (1921-1930). He emigrated to Israel in 1949. Before World War II, Alfred owned a pharmacy and a drugstore in Zagreb. The Brammer family, a well-known one in Banja Luka, contributed greatly to the cultural and social development of the city in the time in which they lived.