This paper describes the preparation and application of “home-made” iodide ISE enriched with ZnO nanoparticles. Iodide ISE membrane was made of AgI:Ag 2 S:PTFE = 1:1:2 and enriched with ZnO nanoparticles in ratio 1-5.0 wt.%. Prepared membranes were used for penicillamine (Pen) determination in acetic buffer (pH = 4-4.75) and in perchloric acid (pH = 1-2). Due to the low price method, simplicity and relative speed, a possibility for Pen determination was found. Pen determination showed better results in an acetic buffer, pH = 4 than in perchloric acid. All experiments for Pen measurements were done without pretreatment of pharmaceuticals. The determination is based on the reaction between Pen with both Ag + and Zn 2+ from the electrode membrane. A newly described method has linear response range for Pen 2.45×10 −6 -1×10 −2 mol L −1 and a detection limit of 2.24×10 −6 mol L −1 . The found concentrations of Pen are in a very good agreement with the declared ones with the standard deviation of 2.70 %.

Phthalate esters are suspected endocrine disruptors that are found in a wide range of applications. The aim of this study was to determine the excretion of urinary metabolites in 16 individuals after inhalation and/or dermal exposure to 100–300 µg/m3 of deuterium-labelled diethyl phthalate (D4-DEP) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (D4-DEHP). Dermal exposure in this study represents a case with clean clothing acting as a barrier. After inhalation, D4-DEP and D4-DEHP metabolites were excreted rapidly, though inter-individual variation was high. D4-DEP excretion peaked 3.3 h (T½ of 2.1 h) after combined inhalation and dermal exposure, with total excreted metabolite levels ranging from 0.055 to 2.351 nmol/nmol/m3 (nmol of urinary metabolites per phthalates air concentration in (nmol/m3)). After dermal exposure to D4-DEP, metabolite excretion peaked 4.6 h (T½ of 2.7 h) after exposure, with excreted metabolite levels in between 0.017 and 0.223 nmol/nmol/m3. After combined inhalation and dermal exposure to D4-DEHP, the excretion of all five analysed metabolites peaked after 4.7 h on average (T½ of 4.8 h), and metabolite levels ranged from 0.072 to 1.105 nmol/nmol/m3 between participants. No dermal uptake of particle phase D4-DEHP was observed. In conclusion, the average excreted levels of metabolites after combined inhalation and dermal exposure to D4-DEP was three times higher than after combined exposure to D4-DEHP; and nine times higher than after dermal exposure of D4-DEP. This study was made possible due to the use of novel approaches, i.e., the use of labelled phthalate esters to avoid the background concentration, and innovative technique of phthalate generation, both in the particle and the gas phase.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory joint disease that eventually leads to permanent bone and cartilage destruction. Fas has already been established as the regulator of inflammation in RA, but its role in bone formation under arthritic conditions is not completely defined. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Fas inactivation on the bone damage during murine antigen‐induced arthritis. Subchondral bone of wild‐type (WT) and Fas‐knockout (Fas−/−) mice was evaluated by histomorphometry and microcomputerized tomography. Proportions of synovial bone and cartilage progenitors were assessed by flow cytometry. Synovial bone and cartilage progenitors were purified by fluorescence‐activated cell sorting and expression of Fas and Fas‐induced apoptosis were analyzed in vitro. Results showed that Fas−/− mice developed attenuated arthritis characterized by preserved epiphyseal bone and cartilage. A proportion of the earliest CD200+ bone and cartilage progenitors was reduced in WT mice with arthritis and was unaltered in Fas−/− mice. During osteoblastic differentiation in vitro, CD200+ cells express the highest levels of Fas and are removed by Fas ligation. These results suggest that Fas‐induced apoptosis of early CD200+ osteoprogenitor population represents potential mechanism underlying the impaired bone formation in arthritis, so their preservation may represent the bone‐protective mechanism during arthritis.—Lazić Mosler, E., Lukač, N., Flegar, D., Fadljević, M., Radanović, I., Cvija, H., Kelava, T., Ivčević, S., Šućur, A., Markotić, A., Katavić, V., Marušić, A., Grčević, D., Kovačić, N. Fas receptor induces apoptosis of synovial bone and cartilage progenitor populations and promotes bone loss in antigen‐induced arthritis. FASEB J. 33, 3330–3342 (2019). www.fasebj.org

Two important problems distribution companies face on a daily basis are the routing and tracking of a vehicle fleet. The former is being overcome by solving the famous vehicle routing problem (VRP), a generalization of the traveling salesman problem (TSP), and the later analyses GPS data to get information of the moving vehicles. In this paper a system which uses GPS data to track the vehicles, analyze their routes and improve input data needed for the algorithm for the vehicle routing problem is described. In a real-world scenario, implementing an VRP algorithm is not enough. Algorithms which analyze GPS data ensure that the VRP algorithm takes correct input data and that the driven routes are those that the algorithm proposed.

Distribution companies use complex software systems called WMS (Warehouse Management System). The WMS is an important part of the company’s business and it can make processes simple to keep track of. Smart WMS optimizes processes to save resources and to create a more efficient working place. This paper describes the concept of a smart WMS that is implemented in one of the largest distribution companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The system uses artificial intelligence and optimization algorithms to improve working process. The paper describes the complete warehouse workflow that includes stock planning, initial product placement, transfer from stock to pick zone, order picking process, transport and tracking. The anomaly detection is used in some processes to improve the whole system. The main contribution of this paper is the presentation of an efficient and in the real world used smart WMS concept.

Error correction in quantum cryptography based on artificial neural networks is a new and promising solution. In this paper the security verification of this method is discussed and results of many simulations with different parameters are presented. The test scenarios assumed partially synchronized neural networks, typical for error rates in quantum cryptography. The results were also compared with scenarios based on the neural networks with random chosen weights to show the difficulty of passive attacks.

We propose a mechanism that allows for sizeable flavour violation in quark-lepton currents, while suppressing flavour changing neutral currents in quark-quark and lepton-lepton sectors. The mechanism is applied to the recently proposed “4321” renormalizable model, which can accommodate the current experimental anomalies in B-meson decays, both in charged and neutral currents, while remaining consistent with all other indirect flavour and electroweak precision measurements and direct searches at high-pT. To support this claim, we present an exhaustive phenomenological survey of this fully calculable UV complete model and highlight the rich complementarity between indirect and direct searches.

ORcid: Emir Becirovic, http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4134-987X • Ammar Brkic, http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5436-3670 Esad Brkic, http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7784-328X • Amira Kusljugic, http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4537-4615 Edita Sijercic, http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5926-7226 • Hazim Tulumovic, http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0662-5576 Denis Mrsic, http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6736-9561 • Daniela Loncar, http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8186-1766

2Univerzitet of Tuzla, School of Medicine, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina KeYWORdS: myocardial infarction, exercise training, cardiovascular rehabilitation. citAtiON: Cardiol Croat. 2018;13(11-12):416. | https://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2018.416 *AddReSS fOR cORReSpONdeNce: Emir Bećirović, JZU Univerzitetski klinički centar Tuzla, Klinika za interne bolesti, Prof. dr Ibre Pasica, 75 000 Tuzla, Bosnia i Herzegovina. / Phone: +387-61-876-152 / E-mail: becirovic.emir@live.com ORcid: Emir Becirovic, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4134-987X • Ammar Brkic, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5436-3670 Esad Brkic, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7784-328X • Tarik Brkic, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2054-2571 Ermina Mujanovic, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8154-586X • Amir Becirovic, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7012-8064 Semir Hadzic, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3308-8331 • Amila Jasarevic, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4861-6683 Majda Skokic, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5913-1863 • Esref Becirovic, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3759-7878

Accurate and easy to perform high voltage circuit breakers condition assessment is of crucial importance for the reliability of the overall power system. This paper presents the concept of the designed and developed embedded and handheld system for the timing measurement of the high voltage circuit breaker performed in online mode with the focus on the "first-trip" test.

One of the effective strategies for increasing reliability of the distribution networks is to perform a faster fault localization. The common techniques for accelerating the process of finding the faults are based on application of fault locators and fault passage indicators. The goal of this study is to assess the performance of both techniques, either considered separately or in combination with each other. Since the performance of both concepts depends on various stochastic variables, a comprehensive assessment methodology developed in this paper is based on the non-sequential Monte Carlo simulation.

In this paper a methodology for determining proper number and positions of fault passage indicators (FPIs) in medium voltage distribution networks with installed fault locators (FLs) is proposed and discussed. The main goal is to achieve the techno-economic balance, by obtaining maximum improvement of the reliability indices while using the minimum number of FPIs. The method is verified by Monte Carlo simulation on a real combined urban/rural distribution network in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The purpose of the simulation tests is to assess performance of the proposed methodology, as well as to discuss the results and propose potential actions required to improve their reliability for several possible scenarios: the use of FLs only, the use of FPIs only and the combined use of FLs and FPIs.

Clinical diagnosis of early melanoma (Breslow thickness less than 0.8 mm) is crucial to disease-free survival. However, it is subjective and can be exceedingly difficult, leading to missed melanomas, or unnecessary excision of benign pigmented skin lesions. An objective technique is needed to improve the diagnosis of early melanoma. We have developed a method to improve diagnosis of (thin) melanoma, based on Raman spectroscopy. In an ex vivo study in a tertiary referral (pigmented lesions) centre, high-wavenumber Raman spectra were collected from 174 freshly excised melanocytic lesions suspicious for melanoma. Measurements were performed on multiple locations within the lesions. A diagnostic model was developed and validated on an independent data set of 96 lesions. Approximately 60% of the melanomas included in this study were melanomas in situ. The invasive melanomas had an average Breslow thickness of 0.89 mm. The diagnostic model correctly classified all melanomas (including in situ) with a specificity of 43.8%, and showed a potential improvement of the number needed to treat from 6.0 to 2.7, at a sensitivity of 100%. This work signifies an important step towards accurate and objective clinical diagnosis of melanoma and in particular melanoma with Breslow thickness <0.8 mm.