Abstract Introduction: Antibiotics are indispensable to maintaining human health; however, their overuse has resulted in resistant organisms, increasing morbidity, mortality and costs. Increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health threat, resulting in multiple campaigns across countries to improve appropriate antimicrobial use. This includes addressing the overuse of antimicrobials for self-limiting infections, such as upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), particularly in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where there is the greatest inappropriate use and where antibiotic utilization has increased the most in recent years. Consequently, there is a need to document current practices and successful initiatives in LMICs to improve future antimicrobial use. Methodology: Documentation of current epidemiology and management of URTIs, particularly in LMICs, as well as campaigns to improve future antimicrobial use and their influence where known. Results: Much concern remains regarding the prescribing and dispensing of antibiotics for URTIs among LMICs. This includes considerable self-purchasing, up to 100% of pharmacies in some LMICs. However, multiple activities are now ongoing to improve future use. These incorporate educational initiatives among all key stakeholder groups, as well as legislation and other activities to reduce self-purchasing as part of National Action Plans (NAPs). Further activities are still needed however. These include increased physician and pharmacist education, starting in medical and pharmacy schools; greater monitoring of prescribing and dispensing practices, including the development of pertinent quality indicators; and targeted patient information and health education campaigns. It is recognized that such activities are more challenging in LMICs given more limited resources and a lack of healthcare professionals. Conclusion: Initiatives will grow across LMICs to reduce inappropriate prescribing and dispensing of antimicrobials for URTIs as part of NAPs and other activities, and these will be monitored.

We investigate the local and global character of the unique equilibrium point of certain homogeneous fractional difference equation with quadratic terms. The existence of the period-two solution in one special case is given. Also, in this case the local and global stability of the minimal period-two solution for some special values of the parameters are given. AMS Subject Classifications: 39A10, 39A20, 39A23, 39A30.

Background and Purpose: Bark thickness and its share in the volume of roundwood are the most important characteristics of the bark, particularly in the process of timber harvesting, and during scaling of processed logs. Therefore it is very important to have at disposal relatively accurate data regarding these characteristics of bark for particular tree species. The main goal of this paper is to investigate the thickness of the bark and its share in the volume of roundwood of Norway spruce. Materials and Methods: The research was carried out in the area of the Canton 10 of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and it encompassed 393 trees of Norway spruce from 10 cm to 115 cm of thickness at breast height. Measuring of the mean diameter and double thickness of bark was conducted by section method. In total, 4,647 diameters and bark thicknesses were measured in different relative lengths of stems or in average 10.6 measurements per one stem. Results: As an optimal model for the evaluation of double thickness of the bark of Norway spruce depending on mean diameter of roundwood the function with designated determination coefficient of 0.7142 was selected. The obtained results have confirmed the previously defined relations of investigate characteristics, which are as following: a) with the increase of mean diameter of roundwood (section) double bark thickness is increased from 9.26 mm (thickness class 12.5 cm) to 31.65 mm (thickness class 92.5 cm); b) with the increase of mean diameter of roundwood the share of bark in its volume decreased from 14.26% (thickness class 12.5 cm) to 6.73% (thickness class 92.5 cm). Conclusions: By the actual method of estimating bark thickness or the share of bark in the volume of roundwood of Norway spruce in the forestry of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina a significant error was created which increases with the increase of mean diameter. The obtained results point to the necessity of investigation of these bark characteristics in Bosnia and Herzegovina and represent an inevitable starting point for making adequate tables of bark thickness and its percentage share in the volume of roundwood of Norway spruce.

Background and Purpose: Coppice forests have a particular socio-economic and ecological role in forestry and environmental management. Their production sustainability and spatial stability become imperative for forestry sector as well as for local and global communities. Recently, integrated forest inventory and remotely sensed data analysed with non-parametrical statistical methods have enabled more detailed insight into forest structural characteristics. The aim of this research was to estimate forest attributes of beech coppice forest stands in the Sarajevo Canton through the integration of inventory and Sentinel S2A satellite data using machine learning methods. Materials and Methods: Basal area, mean stand diameter, growing stock and total volume data were determined from the forest inventory designed for represented stands of coppice forests. Spectral data were collected from bands of Sentinel S2A satellite image, vegetation indices (difference, normalized difference and ratio vegetation index) and biophysical variables (fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation, leaf area index, fraction of vegetation cover, chlorophyll content in the leaf and canopy water content). Machine learning rule-based M5 model tree (M5P) and random forest (RF) methods were used for forest attribute estimation. Predictor subset selection was based on wrapping assuming M5P and RF learning schemes. Models were developed on training data subsets (402 sample plots) and evaluations were performed on validation data subsets (207 sample plots). Performance of the models was evaluated by the percentage of the root mean squared error over the mean value (rRMSE) and the square of the correlation coefficient between the observed and estimated stand variables. Results and Conclusions: Predictor subset selection resulted in a varied number of predictors for forest attributes and methods with their larger contribution in RF (between 8 and 11). Spectral biophysical variables dominated in subsets. The RF resulted in smaller errors for training sets for all attributes than M5P, while both methods delivered very high errors for validation sets (rRMSE above 50%). The lowest rRMSE of 50% was obtained for stand basal area. The observed variability explained by the M5P and RF models in training subsets was about 30% and 95% respectively, but those values were lower in test subsets (below 12%) but still significant. Differences of the sample and modelled forest attribute means were not significant, while modelled variability for all forest attributes was significantly lower (p<0.01). It seems that additional information is needed to increase prediction accuracy, so stand information (management classes, site class, soil type, canopy closure and others), new sampling strategy and new spectral products could be integrated and examined in further more complex modelling of forest attributes.

The complex policy decision-making situation around nature conservation requires examination of the operational environment. This study develops and tests a three-phase analytical framework for the evaluation of operational environment factors influencing nature conservation policy implementation. The four important operational environment factors (legal, policy, economic, and social) have been identified, to build up a framework. The framework was tested in selected countries and includes experts’ opinions. Experts (n = 44) from five EU countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Slovakia, and Slovenia) and four non-EU countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia) defined and evaluated the factors and sub-factors that affect the operational environment related to nature conservation policy implementation. The results show policy changes arising from the new governance requirements introduced by changed political regime and Europeanization are key driving factors for changes in the nature conservation operational environment. For nature conservation, these wide-reaching changes have led to new political and legal frameworks, new institutional set-ups and multilevel governance frameworks, new establishment of protected areas and Natura 2000 network, and the re-allocation of financial resources and inclusion of non-state actors in policy decision-making. However, there are also some challenges and unsolved problems that need further attention from policy decision-makers and institutions, especially related to the institutional gap, sustainable financing of nature conservation, transposition of the EU Directives into legal systems, designation of sites or improving their implementation, implementation of innovative funding schemes, and a transparent participatory process. This analytical framework can be applied to various problems related to any environmental issues or other policy implementation or management, and other sectors where public decision-making is combined with stakeholders’ engagement.

This paper investigates the influence of the fuel injector nozzle geometry on the liquid fuel contraction coefficient and Reynolds number. The main three fuel injector nozzle geometry parameters: nozzle diameter (d), nozzle length (l) and nozzle inlet radius (r) have a strong influence on the liquid fuel contraction coefficient and Reynolds number. The variation of the nozzle geometry variables at different liquid fuel pressures, temperatures and injection rates was analyzed. The liquid fuel contraction coefficient and Reynolds number increase with an increase in the nozzle diameter, regardless of the fuel injection rate. An increase in the r/d ratio causes an increase in the fuel contraction coefficient, but the increase is not significant after r/d = 0.1. A nozzle length increase causes a decrease in the fuel contraction coefficient. Increase in the nozzle length of 0.5 mm causes an approximately similar decrease in the contraction coefficient at any fuel pressure and any nozzle length. Fuel injectors should operate with minimal possible nozzle lengths in order to obtain higher fuel contraction coefficients.

Introduction. Trichinellosis is a cosmopolitan anthropozoonosis, and is a group of systemic diseases caused by larval forms of Trichinella. This is one of the oldest and most controversial parasitic zoonoses that has been in the forefront of veterinary, medical and biological research for many years. Parasites from the genus Trichinella were diagnosed in more than one hundred species of domestic and wild mammals and birds. The aim of this study was economic evaluation of a program for monitoring and controlling Trichinella in pigs. Materials and Methods. A systematic pest rodent control program deemed suitable for monitoring and controlling Trichinella in pigs was implemented in a representative test zone. The results of the pest rodent control program were analyzed using cost-benefit analysis to determine if a similar program would be suitable for a larger land area. Results and Conclusions. Prior to pest control, the incidence of Trichinella in pigs living in the test zone increased annually, while after systematic pest rodent control, the incidence of Trichinella-positive pigs decreased. These results, as well as relevant economic indicators, enabled us to design two mathematical models describing the control and monitoring of Trichinella in a larger land area. In this area, Srem Region, Serbia, a suitable Trichinella control program in pigs is clearly justified because the profit to cost ratio was positive for both models.

This paper provides an overview of the combined auxiliary cohorts that were settled at camp on Humac during the period of Principate (1-3 century). After the end of the Great Illyrian revolt (AD 6-9), some of the cohorts that participated in its suppression remained at this camp. Combined Hispanic cohorts (cohors I Lucensiumequitata and cohors I Bracaraugustanorum equitata) and cohors III Alpinorum equitata, that probably played a major role in the building of the camp on Humac, which served as a permanent base for Roman military forces, were among them. Cohors I Belgarum equitata took permanent garrison in the camp at the beginning of the 2nd century. Monuments left by this cohort serve as evidence about the increased participation of local young men in the Roman auxiliary troops, while officers originated from the western parts of the Empire. Also, we discussed the monuments of cohors VIII voluntariorum civium Romanorum in the Ljubuški area, which has not yet been determined with certainty as cohorts equitatae. We dedicated special attention to the issue of marriage between local girls and Roman auxiliary soldiers and officers that, in our opinion, wasn’t adequately treated in current literature. In connection with this, the case of Iulia B, the wife of decurion Flavius Aurelianus, is particularly interesting. She served as an example of Romanization, or how local girls married auxiliaries which were settled in the camp on Humac. Through careful analysis of epigraphic records with their names, we found that previous interpretations of these monuments are not scientifically justified, and that Iulia B[---] is probably from Pannonia, as well as her husband.

Abstract The main purpose of the paper is to address the effects of digital transformation in the telecommunications markets which are characterized by network externalities. By acknowledging disruptive effects of digital transformation age, the paper highlights challenges which were created by advancement of technological capabilities. The specific aim of the paper is to present a methodological framework for measuring the information society. The research will be based on an analysis of the number of subscribers by types of telecommunication services, in developed and developing countries, in the last two decades. In this regard, increasing the number of subscribers leads to higher value of the selected network. We expect confirmation of both hypotheses respectively (H1: Digital transformation affects the simultaneously continuous growth of the number of subscribers and the continuous decline in prices of telecommunication services; H2: There are similar trends in developed and developing countries, which are related to the number of the telecommunication services subscribers). Therefore, digital transformation and the effect of network externalities contribute to increasing the number of subscribers, reducing the number of networks (distortion of the market competition) and reducing the prices of telecommunication services.

BackgroundGlobal mental health is a widely used term describing initiatives in policies, research and practice to improve the mental health of people worldwide. It has been gaining momentum over the last 10 years, reflected in increasing funding opportunities, training programmes, and publications. In light of the rising importance of global mental health and the various uncertainties about its future directions, this paper explores what the future may hold for global mental health in 30 years’ time.MethodA scenario planning method was used, involving a workshop with experts from four continents and a range of backgrounds, including clinical and academic psychiatry, psychology, art and music therapy, service user advisory role, funder of global health research and post-graduate students.ResultsSix distinct scenarios that describe potential future situations were developed: universal standards for care; worldwide coordination of research; making use of diversity; focus on social factors; globalised care through technology; mental health as a currency in global politics.ConclusionsThese scenarios consider different social, economic, scientific and technological drivers and focus on distinct aspects. Some reflect a global application of possible trends in mental health, whilst others apply general global developments to mental health care. They are not fixed forecasts, but instead may help to promote discussion and debate about further developments and decisions.