ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of factors in infertile male patients to retrieve sperm from their testicles before they undergo testicular sperm extraction (TESE). In total, 64 males were enrolled in this study. Infertility was identified as obstructive azoospermia (OA); non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA); Klinefelter syndrome (KS); and cryptozoospermia (Crypt). Age, body mass index and concomitant conditions were noted. Testicular volumes, serum levels of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), testosterone (T) and prolactin were investigated. Sperm retrieval after TESE was noted as positive or negative. Average age of the cases was 36.8 years. TESE success rate of testicular sperm retrieval rate was 50.0%. Majority of men (83.9%) had a 46, XY karyotype, minority had genetic anomalies, and 5 of were diagnosed with KS – all were TESE-negative. There was no statistical difference in age, testicular volume, presence of varicocele and microcalcifications or hormonal levels in the TESE-positive and negative groups. Smoking as an independent variable was the only risk factor statistically showing (OR = 0.269; p = 0.045) prediction of negative sperm retrieval after the TESE procedure. None of the parameters investigated herein predicted successful TESE outcomes. However, in cases with negative TESE only smoking was identified as a predictive factor for negative sperm retrieval and was established as a risk factor. Abbreviations: AZF: azoospermia factor; BMI: body mass index; Crypt: cryptozoospermia; FSH: Follicle-Stimulating Hormone; ICSI: intracytoplasmic sperm injection; IU: international unit; KS: Klinefelter syndrome; LH: Luteinizing Hormone; mL: milliliter; NOA: non-obstructive azoospermia; OA: obstructive azoospermia; T: testosterone; TESA: testicular sperm aspiration; TESE: testicular sperm extraction

ABSTRACT Not being subject to various restrictions common to more formal contexts and thus establishing complete control, users are ready for a considerable investment in the target language use, in this case the English language use, on social sites. Their investment here is motivated by the desire to assume the identity of a global citizen, the identity of unique individuals deserving the attention of the target social group. In that attempt they start playing with language, foreign and multilingual language play presenting appropriate means of creating the desired identity positions. The present study, exploring the use of English by young adult Bosnian speakers on Facebook and Instagram and the reasons underlying it, aimed at investigating the aforementioned claims. Using English the participants tried to show they possess the attributes associated with English as the global language, such as modern, trendy, omnipresent, etc. Moreover, they seemed to find being both local and international, traditional and modern, and above all unique and creative more important than being correct following native-like norms. The study is expected to broaden the understanding of the interrelation between the language use and identity negotiation, and contribute to awakening a stronger interest into the potential of language play.

ABSTRACT Democracy is backsliding throughout Southeast Europe but there are no signs of full democratic breakdown. Instead, political parties and their leaders incrementally undermine challenges to governmental authority while keeping electoral contest largely intact. This article introduces a special issue that aims to examine and explain democratic decline by looking at the prevalence of illiberal politics across countries and issues. In order to overcome the limitations of fixed regime classification we adopt a procedural lens and look into governing practices that gradually tilt the electoral playing field. Utilizing the concept of Illiberal politics allows us to examine sets of policies enacted by political parties in government with the aim to remain in power indefinitely. By tracing democratic decline in Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Albania, and Croatia we observe different patterns of weakness, but also common causes arising from weak institutions and inherited governance practices that preserve executive dominance, patronage, and informality.

Abstract Cadmium is a heavy metal, toxic even in trace amounts and its biological function in the human body has not been described to date. It is assumed that cadmium manifests in dose-dependent genotoxic and cytotoxic effects on many organs and tissue types. In this study, we have analyzed the biochemical parameters in the serum of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) after chronic in vivo exposure to cadmium. Adult animals were exposed to cadmium in the form of CdCl2 dissolved in water (0.20 mg/L) for 20 days. Significant differences between controls and exposed animals were found in 12 out of 13 analyzed biochemical parameters. Total bilirubin concentrations did not show any significant differences between the two groups. Exposure to cadmium has resulted in a significant increase in lactate dehydrogenase activity, sodium and chloride concentration, as well as significant reductions in total proteins, albumins, globulins, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, calcium concentration, and alkaline phosphatase activity. In this sense, chronic in vivo exposure to low doses of cadmium has induced severe changes in the levels of observed biochemical parameters and enzyme activity. Additionally, evident cytogenetic changes in the liver were also noted, where hepatocyte damage and even lack of organized nuclei, including nuclear fragmentation, clearly indicated ongoing apoptotic processes.

ABSTRACT Introduction There are positive aspects regarding the prescribing of fixed dose combinations (FDCs) versus prescribing the medicines separately. However, these have to be balanced against concerns including increased costs and their irrationality in some cases. Consequently, there is a need to review their value among lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) which have the greatest prevalence of both infectious and noninfectious diseases and issues of affordability. Areas covered Review of potential advantages, disadvantages, cost-effectiveness, and availability of FDCs in high priority disease areas in LMICs and possible initiatives to enhance the prescribing of valued FDCs and limit their use where there are concerns with their value. Expert commentary FDCs are valued across LMICs. Advantages include potentially improved response rates, reduced adverse reactions, increased adherence rates, and reduced costs. Concerns include increased chances of drug:drug interactions, reduced effectiveness, potential for imprecise diagnoses and higher unjustified prices. Overall certain FDCs including those for malaria, tuberculosis, and hypertension are valued and listed in the country’s essential medicine lists, with initiatives needed to enhance their prescribing where currently low prescribing rates. Proposed initiatives include robust clinical and economic data to address the current paucity of pharmacoeconomic data. Irrational FDCs persists in some countries which are being addressed.

ABSTRACT The first generation of installed optical cables in Eastern Europe has been in use for more than 20 years. This paper analyzes the change of optical fibers from the aspect of aging under the influence of transmitted signals and the aspect of parameter degradation during exploration. The paper provides the answer for how to repair the increased attenuation at 1310 nm. We also proposed the method of solution NG PON access for small remote villages that are situated along the analyzed route.

Abstract A certain class of a host–parasitoid models, where some host are completely free from parasitism within a spatial refuge is studied. In this paper, we assume that a constant portion of host population may find a refuge and be safe from attack by parasitoids. We investigate the effect of the presence of refuge on the local stability and bifurcation of models. We give the reduction to the normal form and computation of the coefficients of the Neimark–Sacker bifurcation and the asymptotic approximation of the invariant curve. Then we apply theory to the three well-known host–parasitoid models, but now with refuge effect. In one of these models Chenciner bifurcation occurs. By using package Mathematica, we plot bifurcation diagrams, trajectories and the regions of stability and instability for each of these models.

Tumor DNA sequencing data can be interpreted by computational methods that analyze genomic heterogeneity to infer evolutionary dynamics. A growing number of studies have used these approaches to link cancer evolution with clinical progression and response to therapy. Although the inference of tumor phylogenies is rapidly becoming standard practice in cancer genome analyses, standards for evaluating them are lacking. To address this need, we systematically assess methods for reconstructing tumor subclonality. First, we elucidate the main algorithmic problems in subclonal reconstruction and develop quantitative metrics for evaluating them. Then we simulate realistic tumor genomes that harbor all known clonal and subclonal mutation types and processes. Finally, we benchmark 580 tumor reconstructions, varying tumor read depth, tumor type and somatic variant detection. Our analysis provides a baseline for the establishment of gold-standard methods to analyze tumor heterogeneity. Methods for reconstructing tumor evolution are benchmarked in the DREAM Somatic Mutation Calling Tumour Heterogeneity Challenge.

Abstract Introduction Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is a type of spontaneous hemorrhagic stroke, which is caused by a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. Cerebral vasospasm (CVS) is the most grievous complication of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The aim of this study was to examine the risk factors that influence the onset of CVS that develops after endovascular coil embolization of a ruptured aneurysm. Materials and methods The study was designed as a cross-sectional study. The patients included in the study were 18 or more years of age, admitted within a period of 24 h of symptom onset, diagnosed and treated at a university medical center in Serbia during a 5-year period. Results Our study showed that the maximum recorded international normalized ratio (INR) values in patients who were not receiving anticoagulant therapy and the maximum recorded white blood cells (WBCs) were strongly associated with cerebrovascular spasm, increasing its chances 4.4 and 8.4 times with an increase of each integer of the INR value and 1,000 WBCs, respectively. Conclusions SAH after the rupture of cerebral aneurysms creates an endocranial inflammatory state whose intensity is probably directly related to the occurrence of vasospasm and its adverse consequences.

Abstract During radiotherapy treatment for cervical cancer, up to 84% of patients exhibit some form of acute radiation toxicity (ART). The primary aim of this clinical study is to determine the impact of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, β-blockers and other risk factors such as the patient’s anatomical characteristics on ART emergence in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer treated by chemoradiotherapy. This is a combination of two nested case–control studies within the cohort of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer based on the analysis of potential risk factors for the onset of ART in patients treated with 3D conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) and 2D conventional radiotherapy (2D-RT), prospectively followed up from January 2017 to September 2018 in a tertiary care hospital. The ACE inhibitors and bladder volume were identified as factors that significantly affect the occurrence of ART in patients treated with 3D-CRT. In patients treated with 2D-RT, the factors that significantly affect the occurrence of ART were ACE inhibitors, body mass index (BMI), brachytherapy rectal and bladder dose. This study has shown that BMI, radiation dose received by the bladder and rectum are of exceptional importance for the occurrence of the ART and also that therapy with ACE inhibitors was associated with the decreased chances of the ART.