The main purpose of this study is to provide conceptual theoretical framework with purpose to investigate effects of quality and brand image on brand loyalty of smartphone consumers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hypothesized relationships are to be investigated as this represents scientifically unexplored aspect of our daily lives. The methodology suggested to be used for data analysis is descriptive statistics and regression analysis in a case of quantitative approach whereby structured survey may be used as main data collection instrument. It is expected that results of this study will confirm hypothesized relationships. It is recommended for researchers to provide validation of the proposed model and investigate hypothesized relationships not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also in other Western Balkan countries. The findings of this study will have implications for both scientists regarding their future scientific work, but also for practitioners in smartphones business regarding their marketing strategies.

The state estimation algorithm estimates the values of the state variables based on the measurement model described as the system of equations. Prior to applying the state estimation algorithm, the existence and uniqueness of the solution of the underlying system of equations is determined through the observability analysis. If a unique solution does not exist, the observability analysis defines observable islands and further defines an additional set of equations (measurements) needed to determine a unique solution. For the first time, we utilise factor graphs and Gaussian belief propagation algorithm to define a novel observability analysis approach. The observable islands and placement of measurements to restore observability are identified by following the evolution of variances across the iterations of the Gaussian belief propagation algorithm over the factor graph. Due to sparsity of the underlying power network, the resulting method has the linear computational complexity (assuming a constant number of iterations) making it particularly suitable for solving large-scale systems. The method can be flexibly matched to distributed computational resources, allowing for determination of observable islands and observability restoration in a distributed fashion. Finally, we discuss performances of the proposed observability analysis using power systems whose size ranges between 1354 and 70 000 buses.

The future of biomedical engineering is exciting, and prospects for biomedical engineering journals are rapidly growing. In this editorial, a brief history of Biomedical Engineering Online is outlined, along with our plans for future directions of the journal.

Production of free oxygen radicals in greater volume than it is possible for human organism to neutralize, can affect quality of sperm. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have an effect on mobility of human spermatozoids by changing the structure of membrane and the function of mitochondria, where they are primarily generated. This can affect DNA integrity of spermatozoids and compromise their vitality. Seven male patients, in age between 27 and 44, were examined by standard semen analysis, nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay and sperm vitality test based on eosin and nigrosin staining. From patients with positive NBT test, 40% of the patients had normal spermiogram results, while 60% of them had decreased sperm concentration, motility, or both of these parameters below the referent value. In 20% cases the output of eosin-nigrosin test was below 58%. The NBT test and eoisn-nigrosin test are simple, effective and available tests which can help in better diagnosis of male infertility and should be integrated in routine

To determine the efficiency of regional and local government public functions, the most used method in the empirical analysis is data envelopment analysis. This paper reviews 20 counties as part of regional government units in Croatia as well as the relationship between efficiency scores and exogenous determinants in the 2009-2016 period. The results of our analysis show that, among exogenous determinants, only the annual registered unemployed rate and annual average wage for full time jobs are statistically significant.

Prema hipotezi zamisljenog kontakta dovoljna je samo vizualizacija socijalnog kontakta pozitivnog tona prema vanjskoj grupi kako bi doslo do promjene u negativnim stavovima. U ovom je istraživanju ispitivana uloga kapaciteta radnog pamcenja u zamisljenom kontaktu. Provedene su dvije studije. U prvoj je, kvazieksperimentalnoj studiji, pokazano da osobe koje imaju manji kapacitet radnog pamcenja imaju negativnije opise zamisljenog kontakta i negativnije stavove prema vanjskoj grupi u odnosu na osobe veceg kapaciteta radnog pamcenja. Druga, eksperimentalna studija, prosirila je nalaze prve studije te je pokazano da su osobe koje su neposredno pred zamisljanje kontakta s clanom vanjske grupe imale dodatno opterecenje radnog pamcenja posljedicno imale negativnije opise zamisljenog kontakta i negativnije stavove prema clanovima vanjske grupe nego skupina ispitanika koja nije imala dodatno opterecenje radnog pamcenja. Medijacijska analiza potvrdila je hipotezu da je (ne)mogucnost održavanja pozitivnog tona zamisljene interakcije mehanizam koji uvjetuje uspjesnost zamisljenog kontakta na smanjenje negativnih stavova. Nalazi obiju studija upucuju na to da je kapacitet radnog pamcenja jedan od faktora koji uvjetuje uspjesnost intervencije zamisljenim kontaktom. Dobiveni rezultati otvaraju nova pitanja o efikasnosti zamisljenog kontakta u promjenama stava.

Patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) may benefit from salvage chemoimmunotherapy (CIT). To explore further the use of CIT in the pre-novel agent era, ECOG-ACRIN undertook a phase 2 trial (E2903) for R/R CLL utilizing pentostatin, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (PCR) followed by a consolidation course of alemtuzumab. This trial enrolled 102 patients with a median age of 64 years. Treatment consisted of 6 cycles of PCR followed by alemtuzumab for either 4 or 18 weeks depending on the initial response to PCR. The overall response after PCR (complete remission, CR, nodular partial remission, nPR, and partial remission, PR) was 55%. Major responses (CR or nPR) were achieved in 6%. The median overall survival (OS) and the median progression-free survival were 28 and 12 months, respectively. The most serious nonlethal adverse events were myelosuppression, febrile neutropenia, fatigue, nausea, and hyponatremia. PCR is an effective and well-tolerated nucleoside-based regimen for heavily pretreated CLL patients with R/R disease. The addition of alemtuzumab to CLL patients with a minor response (PR) or stable disease did not result in a significant number of higher responses (CR or nPR) nor an improvement in OS.

This paper investigates the impact of accidental release of propane gas in surrounding areas consequences of propane gas leak studying the negative effects on both the environment and individuals. Subject of the research is impact of accidental release of propane gas in in business zone “Ramići-Banja Luka”, Banja Luka. The ALOHA software has been used in this paper to modelling of propane release. The modelling was performed for an accidental release of 4,000 kg propane from unsheltered single storied for one hour. For a typical average atmospheric condition in location, this accidental propane release would cause a red zone of 101 metres (AEGL-3=33,000 ppm), orange zone of 159 metres (AEGL-2=17,000 ppm) and yellow zone of 324 metres (AEGL-1=5,500 ppm) to downwind from the source.

Abstract The paper is a first thorough examination of what happens to one’s emails on death. The paper demonstrates that some content of emails can be protected by copyright and transmitted on death accordingly. The paper then analyzes the contractual provisions of the main email providers, Google and Microsoft, in order to determine how these contracts, regulate the transmission of emails on death. The author finds that these provisions complicate the issues of property and transmission of digital assets and do not offer a meaningful control over the assets for their users. The paper adopts a novel focus introduced in the author’s earlier research, the idea of post-mortem privacy that is the right to privacy after death. This concept serves as an argument against the default transmission of emails on death without the deceased’s consent, whether through the laws of intestacy or by requiring the service providers to provide access to the deceased’s emails. Finally, the paper canvasses a solution which combines law and technology. It is argued that much more control should be placed in the hands of emails users. Post-mortem privacy, a potentially contested phenomenon, only accentuates the need to better account for the interests of the deceased, having in mind the volume of personal data and personal nature of emails. Therefore, an in-service solution is promoted, backed up by policy and legislation.

The system of quality management in accordance to standards of ISO 9000 series intoday’s dynamic environment is rapidly becoming the business imperative for companies,especially for small and medium enterprises which strive to increase competitivenessand improve their business performances. The link between standards andbusiness performances has been capturing a lot of attention of academic community,which mainly focuses on a different benefits that companies can achieve by adequatelyimplementing these standards.The research presented in this paper focuses on small and medium entreprises inB&H which have an established system of quality management in accordance toISO 9000 series standards in order to determine whether companies apply thesestandards in a way to improve their business performances and increase their competitiveness.The research results show that the requirements of ISO 9001:2009 standard are notadequately implemented in small and medium companies in B&H, which furtherimplicates their indisposition for the application of ISO 9004:2009 standard. Therefore,full positive effects of these standards on business performance and competitivenessimprovement of companies are not achieved.