The aim of this paper is to formulate quantitative models to predict future trends in corn production in the Republic of Srpska. The applied research methods are the descriptive analysis method, and the analytical statistical method, i.e. the Box-Jenkins Model based on the ARIMA model (Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average). The results of the research show that the corn production indicators, as the most important crop in the Republic of Srpska, will, despite the oscillations, show an increase in the last year of the five-year prediction period (2018-2022) compared to the previously analysed twenty-two year period (1996-2017). The formulation of such forecasting models is a good basis for planning the overall crop production in the Republic of Srpska.

Abstract Compression failure by fiber kinking limits the structural applications of fiber composites. Fiber kinking is especially prevalent in laminates with holes and cutouts. The latter behavior is characterized by strain localization in the matrix material and fiber rotations. To study fiber kinking on the level of the individual constituents, a homogenization of fiber composites is presented. It is based on a total Lagrangian formulation, making it independent of fiber rotations. It accounts for the microstructure of the composite, including fiber-matrix interfacial decohesion, and enables all types of material behavior of the constituents. The response of each constituent of the composite is modeled separately and the global response is obtained by an assembly of all contributions. The model is implemented as a user-defined material model (UMAT) in ABAQUS and used for multiscale modeling of notched unidirectional plies subjected to compression. The model performs well in agreement with a finite element model of an explicit discretization of the microstructure and literature results. The simulations predict the formation of a kink band in near 0-degree plies and show that the open-hole compression strength is sensitive to fiber-matrix interfacial decohesion. The present work suggests a convenient and computationally efficient tool for simulating the elastic-plastic behavior of fiber composites on the fiber-matrix level and predicting the compressive strength of laminates.

Approximately 16 % of adult onset asthma is caused by occupational exposure. The need for early detection of irritant caused asthma is key in treating and preventing the progression of the disease. The aim of the work was to investigate if exposure to irritants cause change in gas composition in exhaled breath, the “exhalome”. We studied 15 female hairdressers exposed to a controlled dose of aerosolized bleach powder in a sealed climate chamber. The subjects’ self-reported symptoms, spirometry and gas components were monitored. The exhalome was collected for breath holding times of 2 and 10 seconds from central (400 ml) and peripheral lung (1500 ml), once prior to and twice after exposure. Thus, subjects were their own controls. The composition of the gas was analyzed using a Proton Transfer Reaction – Time of Flight – Mass Spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS) where volatile organic compounds of mass up to 253 atomic mass units are identified with high time resolution. Preliminary analysis of the data shows a variation of the concentrations of the different gases in exhalome over the course of the day and that levels of isoprene and acetone are higher for longer breath holding time. More analysis is needed to evaluate if the technique is able to detect differences in the exhalome caused by the exposure. Detailed information on the relationships between the exhalome and inflammation processes in the respiratory tract induced by irritants is also required. This may contribute to a deeper understanding of asthma. In the future a PTR-ToF-MS could potentially be used as a real-time non-invasive tool for early detection asthma in exposed workers.

Despite multistep efforts many asthma patients remain symptomatic. Anti-inflammatory activities of curcumin were shown. Aim was to analyse the add-on therapy with curcumin on inflammatory parameters, lung function, disease control and quality of life in asthma patients. 150 non-smokers with moderate partially controlled asthma were treated during 3 months with stable moderate dose of inhaled glucocorticoids and divided into three groups (n=50): curcumin group (receiving curcumin 500 mg per os twice daily), placebo and control group. Before study, sputum eosinophils (sEo), blood eosinophils (bEo), high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), predicted forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1%), Asthma Control Test (ACT) and Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) were similar between groups. After study, FEV1%, ACT and AQLQ were improved in all groups, but these improvements were more prominent in curcumin group than in placebo and control. Additionally curcumin group only showed improvement in sEo, bEo and hsCRP. Furthermore, curcumin group showed also more frequent clinically significant improvement in ACT score (change>3) and in AQLQ score (change≥0.5) when compared to placebo and control. However, placebo and control showed similar distribution in FEV1%, ACT, AQLQ, hsCRP, sEo and bEo after study. This is the first placebo controlled and single-blind study to suggest that add-on therapy with curcumin could improve lung function, disease control and quality of life in moderate partially controlled asthma. Future studies may benefit from a larger sample size, longer study duration, double blind design, different dose of curcumin and/or improvements in oral bioavailability.

Abstract Purpose To investigate how accidents leading to fracture affect sense of coherence and health-related quality of life 6 months later and the association between the two phenomena. Materials and methods A cohort study including 201 patients admitted to hospital with fractures was conducted. Data were based on structured interviewing a few days after admission and 6 months later. Sense of coherence was evaluated with a nine-item scale and health-related quality of life was examined with the subscales of Short Form-36 (SF-36). Results Follow-up comprised 164 patients (81.6%), mean age 47 years. Sense of coherence changed to be either stronger (43%) or weaker (41%) and was stable for 15.9% of the participants. Health-related quality of life changed positively after 6 months but did not reach normative values. Strong sense of coherence was significantly associated with the SF-36 subscales emotional role functioning, social functioning, vitality, and mental health. Conclusions Accidents leading to fracture can be stressful life events that could influence an individual’s sense of coherence to be stronger or weaker. The association between sense of coherence and health-related quality of life emphasises the importance of therapists supporting the patients’ personal resources and promote a salutogenic focus. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION An injury may change an individual’s sense of coherence to be stronger or weaker. For patients who sustain fracture, sense of coherence should be included in therapists’ analysis of personal resources and support a salutogenic perspective. Health-related quality of life is especially for younger individuals affected by an accident and its consequences and need a guided and meticulous rehabilitation course.

In this paper, we present our software-supported method for analyzing the economic feasibility of business models. The method integrates the business models and business processes perspectives for analyzing how a company appropriates the financial cost and benefits. In this method, we use the Service-Dominant Business Model Radar to specify business models, then translate the specified business model into a business process for analyzing the financial feasibility of a business model. At the final step in our method, we use the generated business process in the previous step with a software-based tool, The Cost-Benefit Tracker, for analyzing the economic potential of the business model. We designed and developed the Cost-Benefit Tracker as a simple software-based BPMN 2.0 tool by integrating the concepts of the Service-Dominant Business Model Radar tightly. As a result, the software is simple and straightforward to use than enterprise BPMN 2.0 software. Hence, entrepreneurs can use the presented software-supported method to financially evaluate business model concepts specified with the Service-Dominant Business Model Radar.

Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) is the process of selection of the most favorable roads in a road network vehicle should move during the customer service, so as such, it is a generalization of problems of a commercial traveler. Most of the algorithms for successful solution of VRP problems are consisted of several controll parameters and constants, so this paper presents the data-driven prediction model for adjustment of the parameters based on historical data, especially for practical VRP problems with realistic constraints. The approach is consisted of four prediction models and decision making systems for comparing acquired results each of the used models.