Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease in the world. At the end stage of the disease, usually when patients cannot handle the pain anymore, the knee replacement surgery is the most common and effective treatment to reduce pain and improve functionality. The effect of preoperative exercise (prehabilitation) for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is still controversial. Aim: To investigate the effect of prehabilitation on postoperative outcome and compare the results of the intervention with the control group. Material and Methods: This prospective study included 20 patients with a diagnosis of gonarthrosis, aged 48-70, who were randomly allocated to either the intervention group or control. Ten patients (intervention group) underwent a 6-week home-based exercise program before the TKA surgery. All patients were assessed by Knee Score (KS), Function Score (FS), and Body Mass Index (BMI) according to the following schedule: 6 weeks before surgery (for intervention group it meant before the prehabilitation program), just prior to surgery (for intervention group it meant after the prehabilitation program), after the surgery, at 3rd month, 6th month, and 12th month postoperatively. They were all operated by the same surgeon, for the primary total knee replacement (Zimmer NexGen Complete Knee Solution) at the Clinic for Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Clinical Centre University of Sarajevo, from October 2016 to June 2017. Results: There is statistically significant difference for Knee and Function Score between the intervention and control group in testing time: just before surgery–meaning that KS and FS increased after the prehabilitation program. Knee Score was significantly different between the two observed groups postoperatively, 3 months postoperatively and 6 months postoperatively, while the Function Score was not significantly different in that period. Prehabilitation program provides better preoperative KS and FS, and better KS up to 6 months postoperatively. However, 12 months postoperatively there was no significant difference between the intervention and control group for the Knee and Function Score. Conclusion: Prehabilitation brings significant difference regarding the Knee Score in favor of the intervention group preoperatively and up to 6 months postoperatively.

Introduction: Plasmapheresis is often used as a therapy in the treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). TTP is manifested in thrombotic microangiopathy, consumed thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia and acute kidney injury with HUS development, neurologic dysfunction, and fever. Case report: we will present a case of a patient with acute kidney injury and refractory TTP at the beginning of hospitalization, subsequently manifested in secondary nephrotic syndrome. The patient was a female, 39 years of age, who as an emergency case was referred from the hospital in East Sarajevo to the Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Disorders of the Clinical Center University of Sarajevo with suspected TTP. A few days before hospitalization she had a fever and vomiting, and therefore consulted her physician. She was hospitalized due to severe general condition, generalized edema, visible body hematomas, and diuresis amounting to 600 ml/12 hours. Laboratory results on admission were as follows: Leukocytes 19.5, Erythrocytes 3.23, Hemoglobin 103, Hematocrit 28.8%, Platelets 65.4 with few schistocytes and 2 reticulocytes, Sodium 140 mmol/L,, Potassium 4.5 mmol/L, Calcium 1.90 mmol/L, Glucose 7.9 mmol/L, Urea 37.5 mmol/L, Creatinine 366 umol/L,, Bilirubin 19.0 umol/L, Lactate dehydrogenase 1194 U /L. The patient was communicative, in cardiopulmonary sufficient state. Central venous catheter was placed in the right jugular vein and the first plasmapheresis was performed. During the hospitalization 38 plasmapheresis treatments with frozen plasma were performed, followed by three Rituximab treatment cycles. After the last plasmapheresis treatment a platelet count was 138. Also, parameters of the renal function were in their referent values. At the beginning of the treatment proteinuria was 19.6 g/24 hours urine. We were faced with a dilemma whether renal biopsy should be repeated in the future given that it might be the case of primary and not secondary nephrotic syndrome. Controlled proteinuria was 4.7g after plasmapheresis. The patient used only Prednisolone at a dose of 10 mg daily and although initially diagnosed with acute kidney injury she was not treated with dialysis. Conclusion: early diagnosis and early start of plasmapheresis therapy is vital for treatment of patients with acute kidney injury and TTP (HUS). A small number of patients is refractory to plasmapheresis and introducing Rituximab and plasmapheresis treatment is recommended.

The problem that is being addressed in this paper is to improve the services provided by company and achieve better communication between companies in the supply chain. Therefore, a qualitative assessment of service has been required. This service is characterized by a group of parameters, which are often inaccurately estimated values, as well as their importance for the evaluation system. This is often the result of assessor ́s uncertainty, variability of conditions, etc. Therefore, in the context of AM4SCM (Adaptive Model for Supply Chain Management) a mathematical model for evaluating the quality of services has been developed (FAM4QS Fuzzy Aggregation Method for Quality Service) which is based on the fuzzy arithmetic. Selection of different values for the degrees of fuzzy power mean, which are used for evaluation of parameters or groups of parameters of the system and the service, contributes to a better assessment and it is due to the varying nature of the parameters. The observed model was simulated on 17 supply chains on the territory of the Republic of Serbia. Service quality assessment is carried out based on data from the user requirements participants of supply chains binding the so-called fuzzy aggregation function.

The daily requirements and needs imposed on the executors of logistics services imply the need for a higher level of quality. In this, the proper execution of all sustainability processes and activities plays an important role. In this paper, a new methodology for improving the measurement of the quality of the service consisting of three phases has been developed. The first phase is the application of the Delphi method to determine the quality dimension ranking. After that, in the second phase, using the FUCOM (full consistency method), we determined the weight coefficients of the quality dimensions. The third phase represents determining the level of quality using the SERVQUAL (service quality) model, or the difference between the established gaps. The new methodology considers the assessment of the quality dimensions of a large number of participants (customers), on the one hand, and experts’ assessments on the other hand. The methodology was verified through the research carried out in an express post company. After processing and analyzing the collected data, the Cronbach alpha coefficient for each dimension of the SERVQUAL model for determining the reliability of the response was calculated. To determine the validity of the results and the developed methodology, an extensive statistical analysis (ANOVA, Duncan, Signum, and chi square tests) was carried out. The integration of certain methods and models into the new methodology has demonstrated greater objectivity and more precise results in determining the level of quality of sustainability processes and activities.

Introduction: The increase in the percentage of the Cesarean sections has got an important place in determination of modern obstetrics. The evaluation of that needs actual, modern opinion for obstetrics and transformation actual obstetric science than investigating the best situation for the mother and child in the actual moment. All medical, organizational, economic and ethical capacities with support of modern diagnostic and therapeutic procedures present a reason for the access in modern obstetrics. It takes the descriptive and analytic method at work. In our country the percentage of the Caesarean section is 15% (according to WHO data), with large variations in frequency depending on the writer and the investigated time. Aim: To investigate the prevalence of Cesarean section in Bosnia and Herzegovina until 2017. Patients and Methods: In our investigation made prospective and target analysis is investigated at 2017 as a target year. Sources are: patient charts, notes and charts of new born. Group A presents number investigated patients with made Cesarean section in time at one year (2017) in General hospital „Prim.dr A.Nakaš“. Group B presents control group with identical number of deliveries with Cesarean section in 2007 in General hospital „Prim.dr A. Nakaš“ with all variables who detected in investigation group. Results: Analysis the number of deliveries finished Cesarean section in time from 2007 to 2017 in General hospital „Prim.dr Abdulah Nakaš “Sarajevo presents augmentation frequency from 15,5 % in 2007 year to 21,7 % in 2011; smaller number in 2012 to 20,3% and finally 22.9% in 2017 for all deliveries. Conclusion: Our investigation shows an important number of Cesarean section and is still working because of clearer obstetric indication but they make a vital indication for the mother and baby. It worries percent of poorly described indications, that are something important for the comfort of doctor and any patients that wants natural delivery. It worries the public because the more important short term and long-term unwanted effects; Cesarean delivery in correlation with augmentation of this operation.

Introduction: The role of Radio frequent Generator (RF) has been extended from simple tumor ablation to routine hepatic resection. RF energy precoagulates the tissue and thus allows the closure of small blood vessels and bile ducts. The development of surgical techniques and modern technological advances have enabled liver resections to be significantly surgically better controlled in the sense of bleeding, and are more successful and safer for patients. The RF generator has its advantages and disadvantages and as such can be equally used in resective liver surgery. Aim: Display the intraoperative and postoperative complications among patients that had been subjected to liver resection using a RF generator (RF resection), compared to those that had been subjected to liver resection without the use of RF generators (classical liver resection methods of CC resection). Material and methods: The study included 60 patients of both sexes which had resective operative surgery or metastasectomy on the liver due to the basic process. The study was conducted at the Clinic for General and Abdominal Surgery of the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo in a four-year period. The study was designed as a comparative study of outcome and postoperative complications of surgical treatment, i.e. resective liver interventions using two operating techniques (RF–liver resection and Classical resection techniques on the liver). Results: The highest number of surgical procedures was due to colorectal cancer. A slightly smaller number was performed due to primary liver cancer and gallbladder cancer. The highest number of surgical interventions remain on non-anatomic resections. Smaller number remains to large resective operations. The length of hospitalization was significantly correlated with blood loss (r = 713 p = 0,000) and the average hospitalization time ranged from 10.5 to 53.3 days. Conclusion: We have shown that the use of RF generators does not significantly reduce intraoperative and postoperative complications. There is a justification for using both techniques for resection on the liver. The resective liver operation depends mostly on the personal stance and the surgeons training.

Abstract The main goal of this paper is to examine the influence of macro factors and the degree of the exchange rate pass-through (ERPT) on aggregate and disaggregate import prices of the industrial sectors in the short- and long-run. The study is based on a model used by Campa and Goldberg (2002) and Campa et al. (2005). The ERPT is determined by applying the single equation and the cointegration approach (autoregressive distributed lag model [ARDL]), vector decomposition, and data over the period from 2002Q1 to 2016Q4. In the long-run, the ERPT is complete for the aggregate import and for the industrial sector beverages and tobacco. In the short-run, the ERPT is incomplete for the aggregate import and for majority of industrial sectors. Further, we have discovered that the degree of the ERPT is higher with heterogeneous products than with homogeneous products. Due to the inaccessibility of data for micro factors, we were not able to determine their effect on import prices. The results of our research can help economic policymakers to create adequate measures in the field of economic policies that will improve the competitiveness of the economy. Finally, this paper identified the effect of the volatility degree of the ERPT on the disaggregate import prices of industrial sectors that has not been sufficiently explored so far.

This paper shows a method to determine unknown angular accelerations of driving members of a planar mechanism with multiple degrees of freedom via partial mechanism reduction, assuming that driving loads are known for those driving members. Besides the partial reduction of mechanism, here we use the analysis of primary and secondary accelerations, as well as the principle of virtual displacements (virtual work). Using this method, a set of decoupled equations is obtained, which is an advantage when compared to classical methods, such as an application of generalized laws of dynamics, which result in a set of equations that are coupled. As an illustration of how to use the described method, an example is shown.

SUMMARY – Spinal dumbbell tumors are defined by a narrowing at the point where they penetrate the intervertebral foramina or dura mater, assuming an hourglass or dumbbell shape. Dumbbell-shaped spinal hemangiomas are extremely rare. We describe a dumbbell spinal tumor (epidural cavernous hemangioma) resected by a 2-stage single-sitting combined approach. We also conduct a substantial literature review of the subject. We present a case of a 78-year-old male who was found to have a homogeneously enhancing, dumbbell-shaped, intraspinal, extradural tumor mass extending into the left chest cavity. The tumor was resected with a single-sitting 2-stage posterior technique: a microsurgical approach, followed by endoscopic resection via a thoracoscopic approach. There are several reports in the literature on the combined approach for dumbbell tumors of the spinal cord. Our case is the first to describe 2-stage combined surgery in 1 sitting for dumbbell hemangioma with the patient in the lateral decubitus position for the thoracoscopic part of the surgery; and the use of a fat pad, which was applied in the neuroforamen via the posterior route, as a marker for resection during the transthoracic procedure.

Introduction: Quantifier Elimination gives us perfect insight into the most basic world of the computer, its origin, its primer functions and it basic operations. Carefully designed and programmed Algorithm for Quantifier Elimination makes the quantifier elimination from the quantified formulas much easier and much more comprehensive Aim: This paper explains how Quantifier Elimination algorithm can be used in the field of Biology, or to be more specific, in the field of Epidemiology. Material and methods: Exemplary formulas needed for the algorithm are all the formulas from the Mathematical Logic field. JavaScript programming language was used in order to program fast and effective algorithm for Quantifier Elimination. Results: Solving the certain problems from the field of Epidemiology using the Quantifier Elimination method, proved to be very successful in the past, because it made possible for the results to be extracted very fast. Doing the exact thing using the newer generation algorithm might be even more effective. Conclusion: The most basic concepts of Mathematical Logic can be implemented in order to solve the one of the most important questions in Epidemiology.

Studying the hazel flowering was carried out in agro-ecological conditions of the Banja Luka in the period from December to March during 2010/2011 and 2011/2012. The study was conducted on 13 hazel cultivars in two orchards. In the first orchard, the following four cultivars were observed: ‘Tankoljuskasti’, ‘Multiflora’, ‘Merveille de Bollwiller’and ‘Tonda Gentile Romana’, whilst the second orchard included the following: ‘Hall’s Giant’, ‘Gustav’s Zellernuss’, ‘Istrian Round’, ‘Avellana’, ‘Romai’, ‘Apolda’, ‘Ludolph’s Zellernuss’, ‘Imperiale de Trebizonde’and ‘Jean’s’. Phenological observations of the development of flowering phenophase with the aforementioned cultivars were monitored every three days in both years. In 2010/2011 the blooming of male and female inflorescence of the observed hazel cultivars lasted from late December to mid-March in total. The presence and pollen germination was proven to be a limiting factor for a successful pollination and fruit set in 2011. Namely, the pollen of cultivars: ‘Hall’s Giant’, ‘Istrian Round’, ‘Ludolph’s Zellernuss’, ‘Avellana’, ‘Imperiale de Trebizonde’ and ‘Romai’ did not germinate, and with ‘Gustav’s Zellernuss’, pollen germination was very low (7,22%). In ‘Apolda’, ‘Jean’s’, ‘Merveille de Bollwiller’, ‘Tonda Gentile Romana’, ‘Multiflora’ and ‘Tankoljuskasti’ pollen germination ranged between 28,57-81,69%. In 2011/2012 the flowering of male and female inflorescence of the observed hazel cultivars started 30 to 45 days later than the previous year i.e., female inflorescence of all the observed cultivars bloomed in early and mid-March, except in ‘Tankoljuskasti’, in which female inflorescence bloomed in late January and early February. Male inflorescence of ‘Tankoljuskasti’, ‘Hall’s Giant’ and ‘Gustav’s Zellernuss’ bloomed in the second half of January and early February, and in all other cultivars in mid-March. Pollen germination in 2012 proved to be a limiting factor for ‘Apolda’ and ‘Romai’, as their pollen did not germinate, as well as for ‘Hall’s Giant’ and ‘Jean’s’ where pollen germination was below 5%. For other cultivars, pollen germination was very good and ranged from 37,24 (‘Merveille de Bollwiller’) to 73,97% (‘Multiflora’). Based on the analysis of dynamics of blooming and pollen germination of 13 hazel cultivars in two years, the monitoring of pollen germination and strategy of artificial pollination must be adopted as a basic approach to control hazel fertility in the conditions of the Banja Luka region.

This paper is motivated by the control of robot teams by a human. Control challenges arise because i) typically, the team needs to achieve multiple control objectives, shared between the robot team and the human, in order to accomplish a task, ii) robust stability needs to be guaranteed to facilitate the safe interaction with the human and the apriori unknown environment. The concept of passivity has been successfully applied for robust stabilization of robotic systems, however, not in the context of shared control in human-robot team interaction. In this paper we propose a novel control approach which decouples the robot team dynamics into multiple subsystems, each having a different control objective. The proposed control law, suitable for the interaction of the robot team with the human or environment, guarantees passivity of the subsystems. The approach is illustrated in a simulation.

Abstract This paper aimed to investigate metaphorical images used by master’s students in order to gain an insight into their schemata for thinking about the process of master’s thesis writing. Semistructured interviews on the topic of master’s thesis writing with three students coming from humanities, social sciences and natural sciences served as a corpus from which the data were extracted. The paper analysed participants’ unconscious use of metaphorical language in their narratives, mirroring their perception of the thesis writing process. The results revealed that the participants’ personal experience revolves around the concept of journey as the central image they share and the journey metaphor, along with a group of related specific metaphors, serves to illustrate the complexity of the writing process itself.

Pustahija, F., Bašić, N. & Siljak-Yakovlev, S.: Chromosome numbers and genome size data for some Balkan species. [In Kamari, G., Blanché, C. & Siljak-Yakovlev, S. (eds), Mediterranean plant karyological data 28]. – Fl. Medit. 28: 420-428. doi: 10.7320/FlMedit28.420 Chromosome numbers and metaphase plates are given for eight species, seven from Bosnia and Herzegovina (Alnus × pubescens, Erythronium dens-canis, Genista tinctoria, Leucanthemum vulgare, Melittis melissophyllum, Orchis mascula, Stachys recta), and one species from F.Y.R.O.M. (Scorzonera austriaca). Chromosome counts and genome sizes are discussed.