The demographic changes and trends notable in the Balkan countries hit Bosnia and Herzegovina as well. Migration of the population is the result of economic stagnation and living standards far below the EU average. For this reason, the number of the working-age population seeking to move to Western Europe countries is raising. The first aim of the research is to predict the demographic trends expected by the year 2050, using demographic data from the last thirteen years. In addition to this, the aim is to analyze how demographic changes affect higher education and training, labor market efficiency, and innovation. Comparing these variables with population trends, this paper identifies if there is a correlation between them. The research is based on hypothesis that there is a correlation between the country’s competitiveness pillars and demographic trends. The hypotesis is tested using statistical methods. Current demographic trends, along with other factors, have an impact on the weakening of the competitiveness of Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of the reasons could be that demographic changes are mainly related to the young and working-age population, as valuable human capital of the country.

Nastavnici postavljanjem pitanja doprinose procesu učenja stranog jezika i razvoju mišljenja višeg reda kod učenika. Pitanja su značajna za pokretanje interakcije u učionicama stranih jezika. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je dobiti uvid u vrste pitanja koje nastavnici koriste u poučavanju engleskog kao stranog jezika (engl. EFL). Metoda prikupljanja podataka uključivala je promatranje nastave koje se često koristi u istraživanjima u učionicama stranih jezika. Rezultati su pokazali da se u osnovnim i srednjim školama češće postavljaju pitanja nižeg reda od pitanja višeg reda, dok su složenija pitanja i setovi pitanja i odgovora pokazali veću učestalost pitanja višeg reda. Nadalje, složenost odgovora učenika ovisila je o vrsti pitanja koju je nastavnik postavio. Analiza je također pokazala da, usprkos tome što je bilo više pitanja koja su poticala na razmišljanje i samoizražavanje u srednjoj školi nego u osnovnoj školi, veliki broj prikupljenih pitanja nižeg reda ipak pokazuje potrebu za većom upotrebom pitanja višeg reda.

Passenger car equivalents (PCE) present a very important parameter for capacity calculation and road service level as well as a planning segment of road capacity. There are many ways of calculating PCE and most of them are based on Greenshield’s basic method. This paper studies the PCE calculation methodology and conditions under which it is applied. The first part of the paper is about role of PCE in analyzing traffic flow, and the rest of the paper is presenting methodologies for computation of PCE. Example of the latest method for determining PCE according to HCM-2010 is given in this paper. The goal of the research is presented by structural, parameter and functional analysis of methods. Further research directions of PCE are shown as well.

We conducted a genome-wide association study of blood DNA methylation and smoking, attempted replication of previously discovered associations, and assessed the reversibility of smoking-associated methylation changes. DNA methylation was measured in baseline peripheral blood samples for 5,044 participants in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study. For 1,032 participants, these measures were repeated using blood samples collected at follow-up, a median of 11 years later. A cross-sectional analysis of the association between smoking and DNA methylation and a longitudinal analysis of changes in smoking status and changes in DNA methylation were conducted. We used our cross-sectional analysis to replicate previously reported associations for current (N=3,327) and former (N=172) smoking. A comprehensive smoking index accounting for the bioactivity of smoking and several aspects of smoking history was constructed to assess the reversibility of smoking-induced methylation changes. We identified 4,496 cross-sectional associations at P<10−7, including 3,296 that were novel. We replicated the majority (90%) of previously reported associations for current and former smokers. In our data, we observed for former smokers a substantial degree of return to the methylation levels of never smokers, compared with current smokers (median: 74%, IQR=63-86%). Consistent with this, we found wide-ranging estimates for the half-life parameter of the comprehensive smoking index. Longitudinal analyses identified 368 sites at which methylation changed upon smoking cessation. Our study provides evidence of many novel associations between smoking and DNA methylation at CpGs across the genome, replicates the vast majority of previously reported associations, and indicates wide-ranging reversibility rates for smoking-induced methylation changes.

The paper describes the mechanical properties and the corrosion behaviour of three Al?Si alloys in 0.5 M NaCl solution. The alloys have exhibited similar values of hardness, but the highest tensile strength and the lowest elongation have shown the specimens of alloy with 11.38 % of silicon. Higher content of both copper and magnesium has contributed to better tensile strength and lower elongation of as-cast hypoeutectic alloys. The harmful effects of iron on mechanical properties of all alloys have been reduced to some extent by nickel and cobalt addition. The differences in the values of the open circuit potential of the examined alloys were insignificant. The thickness of the protective oxide layer has increased over time, and the layer has become very compact. Slight differences in the values of the corrosion potential of the alloys were determined, whereas the lowest value of the corrosion current was indicated for the hypereutectic alloy. The presence of intermetallic phases in the alloys has shown that the oxide film was not consistent. The severe pits have not been found at the surface of the corroded samples. Based on the obtained results, the examined alloys may be used for the manufacturing of the internal combustion engine parts.

BackgroundConflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) was committed on a large scale against women across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) during the 1990’s war, and research has shown both negative and positive psychosocial outcomes following such acts of interpersonal violence. We aim to determine the capacity for posttraumatic growth (PTG) among a population of women who experienced CRSV, and to what extent it is impacted by factors such as coping and optimism.MethodsThis study sought to examine the relationship between PTG (posttraumatic growth inventory), symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Harvard Trauma Questionnaire) and dispositional factors such as coping (COPE) and optimism (Life-Orientation Test-Revised) in a sample of n = 104 women. We first conducted bivariate correlations and then hierarchical linear regression analyses, and hypothesized that approach coping strategies and optimism will act to enhance PTG.ResultsFindings showed that the average total score for PTG in this study was 58.94 (SD = 23.01), and current PTSD symptomatology above a threshold of > 2.5 was detected in 92.3% (n = 96) participants (mean score 3.18, SD = .45). Bivariate correlations showed that higher levels of PTG were associated with greater optimism, greater approach coping strategies positive reinterpretation and planning, and lower avoidance strategies behavioural disengagement and substance use. When entered into a regression model, only positive reinterpretation and behavioural disengagement remained, the R-square of the total set of predictors was 0.16, thus explaining 16% of PTG total score.ConclusionTwo types of coping (namely capacity of both greater positive reinterpretation and lower behavioural disengagement) most strongly predicted growth after trauma in this sample of CRSV survivors from BiH. These dimensions of coping confirm the role of coping strategies in the development of PTG. Further research would be useful in corroborating these findings in other post-conflict settings, and delving further into the possibility of a dual mechanism of growth and distress after CRSV.

Designing the Invisible provides a foundational collection of the main definitions, theories, and concepts necessary for understanding and learning about the Service Design field. The main aim of t...