Pharmacists have been recognized as the most accessible healthcare professionals, and research has been carried out on expanded pharmacy services they could provide. Additional pharmacy services are a cost-effective way to prevent medication errors, reduce the number of drug-related problems, and prevent chronic disease progression. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate pharmacy service users’ views of expanded pharmacy services in Croatia. This study included 745 participants. Patients who have a healthcare professional in their family more frequently knew of the existence of e-health records and the option to share it with their pharmacists (134, 56.3% vs. 229, 45.2%, p = 0.005), while persons that have chronic illness more frequently visit the same pharmacy (176, 77.9% vs. 178, 34.3%, p < 0.001). Participants are confident that pharmacists can provide screening services and education on inhaler usage; however, only around 60% agreed that pharmacists can independently lead therapy adjustment, medication substitution, or monitor therapy based on test results. Our findings should be supported with projects evaluating the cost-effectiveness of such services as they would be accepted by a greater number of pharmacy service users if covered by the national health insurer.
After being presumed extinct, the blind mole rat was rediscovered in Vučedol, Croatia. Phylogenetic analyses using mitochondrial markers (cytochrome b and 16S rRNA) were conducted to classify the population. The results confirmed a distinct separation between the Lesser mole rats (Nannospalax leucodon clade) and Western mole rats (N. monticola clade). Within the N. monticola complex, six lineages were identified, which likely diverged during the Middle to Late Pleistocene. The Vučedol sample belongs to the montanosyrmiensis cytotype subclade, which was also found in Fruška Gora, Serbia. This subclade may represent a new species, showing K2P genetic distances of 4.3% to 5.7% from the "Pannonian Plain" subclade located on both banks of the Danube River. In two Pannonian localities, secondary contacts between populations of both subclades have been documented. One of them is the Kelebia –Subotička peščara population, where a unique subclade "Kelebia" was identified. Populations with montanoserbicus cytotype cluster within two distinct subclades, montanoserbicus A and montanoserbicus B, with K2P distances ranging from 4.6% to 5.3%, indicating potential species status for montanoserbicus A. In the most parsimonious network, montanoserbicus B exhibits a close relationship with the Pannonian Plain sublineage and a single sample from Bosnia and Herzegovina, showing K2P distances of 1.9% to 3.2%, suggesting that they may belong to the same species, N. monticola. Significant divergence between populations in Bosnia and Herzegovina highlights the need for further exploration of local variability and taxonomic status. Detailed analyses with additional markers from more localities are necessary before final species delimitation and taxonomic revision can occur. For now, Nannospalax monticola (Nehring, 1898) remains the sole valid name in the N. monticola complex.
Introduction: Developmental anomalies and inflammations are common occurrences and are often associated with certain systemic conditions, such as diabetes, allergies, and anemia, as well as with harmful habits. The use of tobacco products and alcohol is frequently linked to changes on the tongue. Objective: This study aims to present the frequency of developmental anomalies and tongue inflammations in the student population of the fourth year at the Faculty of Dentistry in Sarajevo. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 50 participants, fourth-year students at the Faculty of Dentistry in Sarajevo. General anamnestic data were collected through a survey, including information on harmful habits such as cigarette smoking, hookah use, and alcohol consumption. A clinical examination of the oral cavity, focusing on the tongue, was performed for each participant, along with vitro-pression, vitro-adhesion tests, and native findings on Candida albicans. Results: The most common developmental anomaly was lingua plicata (4%). The most frequent tongue inflammation in our sample was lingua geographica (14%). Among the 6% of patients with developmental anomalies, 6% had a positive family history. Conclusion: A significant etiological factor is genetic predisposition. In our sample, among 6 participants with developmental anomalies, 6% had a positive family history. The most common etiological factors for the occurrence of developmental abnormalities and tongue inflammations were harmful habits such as cigarette smoking (20%) for over 5 years (14%) and hookah smoking (12%) for over 5 years.
<p>Air bending is one of the most common methods of forming positions from sheet metal. It has found wide use due to the simplicity of the procedure and the possibility of bending any angle by controlling the movement of the upper tool (punch). With this procedure, it is possible to create very complex shapes that can have a large number of bends. <br />In order to form the developed form based on the given bent form, we must accurately determine the K-factor, which is the basic factor that defines the arrangement of the bent lines and the length of the piece in the developed form. There are many parameters that affect the K-factor, among others are the type and thickness of the material being bent. In this paper, it was analyzed whether, and to what extent, the choice of the bottom tool (V-die) affects the K-factor. In the experimental part, test pieces of the same width and length were bent on dies of different widths, and after required measurements and K-factor calculation, the magnitude of this influence was determined.</p>
Speech and language delay in children is associated with increased difficulties with reading, writing, attention and socialization which also affects the child's entire organism. The aim of the research was to examine the oral hygiene habits in children with delayed speech development and children with typical development in the area of the Tuzla Canton and to determine deviations and differences between the groups. The sample consisted of 80 respondents from the area of the Tuzla Canton, children with slow speech development who came for regular treatments at the Center for Early Growth and Development and children who came for regular dental examinations. During the research, a survey was conducted onchildren' parents with delayed speech development, as well as parents of children with typical development who made up the control group. Age and gender information were used, but not information of identity. There is a difference between answers regarding the child' birth weight, maintaining the child's oral hygiene, the first dental examination, extraction of deciduous and permanent teeth, consumption of sweets, frequency of annual visits to the dentist. In a larger number of observed parameters, the working hypothesis was confirmed while the null hypothesis was rejected. In order to preserve the oral health of children it is necessary to work on the promotion and prevention of oral health as well as early detection of oral and dental diseases and to strengthen cooperation between dentists and experts dealing with the problems of children with developmental disabilities.
<p style="text-align: justify;">This paper examines the free oscillations of beams, which are essential for preventing resonance in constructions such as bridges, buildings, and other engineering structures. The objective of the study is to evaluate the accuracy of numerical methods by comparing their results with exact solutions for three support conditions: a simply supported beam, a <br />cantilever beam, and a beam fixed at both ends. Exact solutions were presented for all cases. Numerical results for the first three oscillation modes were obtained using ANSYS software and compared to the exact values.</p>
Aim: The aim of the work is to examine the possibility of perception of dental aesthetics and satisfaction with one's own appearance in children of different ages. Materials and methods: In this research, 80 children, aged 3-16 years, participated, none of whom were orthodontic patients. The research consisted of an interview, in which the children were asked questions, and a drawing on the topic of what is a "beautiful and ugly" tooth for them. The questions were designed to reflect children's perception and attitude related to dental aesthetics, as well as satisfaction with their own appearance in the context of dental aesthetics. The drawings and answers were classified according to Piaget's classification of cognitive development, according to the age of the subjects. The questions for the parents were related to the parents' practice related to visits to the dentist and previous caries experience in children. Results: The results of the research showed that all respondents, regardless of gender and age, showed the ability to perceive and express their attitudes regarding the concepts of "beautiful" and "ugly" in the context of dental aesthetics, as well as to express their attitude, knowledge and satisfaction/dissatisfaction with one's own appearance. Conclusion: The research results suggest that the experience of beauty and the feelings associated with dental aesthetics are universal, independent of gender and age. Children have the ability to distinguish what they consider beautiful or ugly, regardless of age, and are able to clearly express attitudes related to satisfaction with their own appearance.
In their work, dentists, especially those in general dental practice, encounter patients of various ages and with different health conditions. Undoubtedly, the pediatric population is not excluded in this context, and special attention is paid to oncological patients in this population. Malignant diseases require a special approach in the field of dentistry, both through guidelines and preventive measures, as well as in cases where it is necessary to treat conditions or diseases resulting from oncology treatment or the disease itself. Oncological treatment consequences are also visible in the oral cavity, which becomes extremely sensitive during the course of treatment. Children, as oncological patients, can quickly transition from a relatively "healthy state" to a state characterized by significant changes in the oral cavity, which are conditions that are extremely difficult for children to endure. These changes manifest as complications such as oral mucositis, xerostomia, opportunistic infections, dental hypersensitivity, developmental disorders of the jaw structures, and GvHD. For complications during and after chemotherapy, the treatment is symptomatic, involving the implementation of a treatment protocol with clearly defined procedures for each complication, ranging from preventive brushing to the application of medication. Due to the increasing number of pediatric oncological patients, it is the dentist's task to understand the nature of malignant diseases, their basic characteristics, how to prevent the development of oral complications during and after oncological therapy, and how to treat any complications that may arise.
Cryptocurrencies are new financial instruments that pose opportunities and challenges for modern finance. This paper synthesizes previous research using a literature review method and various academic databases. The results show that cryptocurrencies offer lower transaction costs, greater privacy, diversification benefits, and alternative financing solutions for institutional investors and individuals. However, they also face challenges such as regulatory uncertainty, criminal activity, environmental costs, prohibitions and restrictions on use, security and privacy concerns, and high volatility. The paper provides useful information for the academic and professional public who want to understand these new financial instruments. The research question is, “What are the opportunities and challenges of cryptocurrencies in modern finance?”
One of the complex decision-making problems, which requires consideration of several criteria, is the choice of a smartphone. This paper presents an approach that combines user review analysis with machine learning and multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods to identify and evaluate alternatives. Based on the processed reviews, the Random Forest algorithm was used to identify the criteria that most influence the selection of smartphones. The weights of the criteria were determined using the Defining Interrelationships Between Ranked criteria II (DIBR II) method, improved by the application of triangular fuzzy numbers for better processing of the subjective and imprecise nature of the data. For the final selection of the optimal alternative, the Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) method was applied in a fuzzy environment, which enables the combination of additive and multiplicative approaches in ranking. The methodological justification of the proposed approach was confirmed by a sensitivity analysis, through 15 scenarios of changes in the weight coefficients of the criteria, which showed that small oscillations in the weights do not significantly affect the final ranking, especially not in the first two positions. The validation was additionally supported by a comparative analysis with four other decision-making methods in a fuzzy environment, which confirmed the stability and consistency of the results. The proposed approach provides an empirically grounded and methodologically robust framework for solving decision-making problems under conditions of multi-criteria evaluation and uncertainty, and can be applied to a wide range of similar problems in different fields.
In recent decades, China has significantly increased its global economic presence, emerging as one of the leading powers in the international system, in alignment with its strategic plan through 2049. This presence includes a keen interest in Southeast Europe, with Serbia identified as a key strategic partner. China's approach to Serbia intersects with Russia's longstanding presence rooted in the historical and cultural ties with Serbia. This paper examines the strategic interests and goals of China and Russia in Serbia, exploring their respective methods and tools. It also delves into Serbia's foreign policy aspirations for sustainable security trying to balance the presence of superpowers within, and around its territory. The paper evaluates Serbia's try of strategic navigation of its geostrategic position between East and West, questioning if Serbia is actually naive or aware of its circumstances. The study elucidates on how China and Russia's strategic maneuvers in the region, often subconsciously, shape Serbia and its neighboring countries. Within this intricate landscape, the concept of “Strategic symmetry” emerges as a crucial element, highlighting the delicate balance of influence that both powers exert in Serbia while it strives to maintain its entry into the European Union.
The main goal of this paper is to show and analyze the differences in the parameters of the situational efficiency of home and guest matches of the Premier League of BiH clubs in the 2023/24 season. The paper is based on research into current trends of the analysis of situational efficiency parameters in football. The purpose of the paper is to bring the trends closer to all those who love football and statistics. It is to be believed that the paper will contribute to football theory and practice and that it will have its benefits. The paper used statistical indicators collected by notational analysis of 12 clubs in the 2023/24 season, as well as data from the COMET system and the "SofaScore" application. The analysis will contain certain variables with which the parameters of the situational efficiency of the clubs will be compared. These are: ball possession, total shots, shots on goal, shots off goal, corners, goalkeeper saves, yellow cards, red cards, number of spectators (home matches), number of substitutions, number of goals scored per match as a whole set of performance indicators for players and teams. The percentage of ball possession success ranged from 53.45% in home matches to 46.56% in away matches, the number of shots on goal averaged 4.75% in home matches and 3.41% in guest matches. Total shots on goal were 11.71% in home games and 8.45% in away games. The number of corners on average was 5.42% for the home team, while guest teams took 3.79% of corners per game. Goalkeepers had 2.32% of saves in home games, and 3.06% of saves in guest games. Regarding the variable yellow cards, on average teams received 2.07% of cards as home players, and 2.42% of yellow cards in guest games. Also, the variable red cards and the average of red cards is higher in guest games where teams received an average of 0.11%, and as home players 0.07%. Coaches made an average of 4.48% of substitutions per game as home players, and 4.44% of substitutions in guest games out of a possible 5%. The most important variable for which football is played is the number of goals scored, where teams as hosts scored 1.7% of goals per game and 1.1% of goals in guest games. A total of 33 matches were analyzed for each team. Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) in favor of home matches were determined for the parameters ball possession, total shots, number of shots on goal, number of shots off goal, corners and number of goals scored in the match. Teams in guest matches had statistically significantly higher (p<0.05) values in the variables goalkeeper defense and number of yellow cards. Knowledge of the analysis of situational efficiency parameters will enable football coaches to design football tactics more precisely.
Dapsone is a sulfone used in treating inflammatory skin conditions. Despite its widespread dermatological use, the pharmacological actions of dapsone remain poorly understood. Here, we examined how different aspects of neutrophil functions are affected by dapsone. Peripheral blood neutrophils from healthy donors were stimulated with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLP), or calcium ionophore (CaI) or primed with cytokines prior to stimulation, in the presence of different concentrations of dapsone (from 10 to 50 µg/mL), followed by analyses of their survival, phenotype, and functional properties. We found that dapsone at the concentration of 50 μg/mL induced a significant neutrophil apoptotic rate during 6 h and 18 h, while other concentrations were well tolerated compared to control non-treated cells. However, dapsone significantly decreased the induced oxidative burst of neutrophils at all non-cytotoxic concentrations. Additionally, dapsone showed a dose-dependent suppression of NETosis in activated neutrophils. The production of IL-8 by dapsone-treated neutrophils was decreased under both stimulated (fMLP) and primed (TNF-α/fMLP) conditions. Moreover, dapsone inhibited the expression of CD11b/CD18, CD66, and CD89 and reversed or significantly mitigated the downregulation of CD16, CD32, CD181, CD88, and CD62L on neutrophils after priming and fMLP stimulation. In conclusion, our results indicate the complexity of dapsone actions on neutrophil functions, extending previous knowledge on the suppression of oxidative burst and IL-8 production upon neutrophils’ activation. Suppressed NETosis and modulation of marker expression associated with different neutrophil functions under inflammatory conditions are new findings, not recognized previously.
For efficient production planning, it is necessary to know the power consumption of a particular woodworking operation in advance. In the past, many power measurement tests have been carried out based on a large number of different combinations of technological parameters. However, in this paper, the effects of technological parameters and wood properties on the power magnitude of peripheral milling are analysed using experimental design methods, where the effects of the different factors can be tested with a much smaller number of combinations. Therefore, a central composite experimental design was used to plan the experiments. Three different tree species with different densities were milled with three different numbers of cutting knives and three depths of cut at constant feeding speed and rotational velocity. For each milling combination, the power was measured continuously and then the average power was calculated. Based on the measurements, a suitable model was determined that allowed the magnitude of the cutting power to be determined for each combination of technological parameters and wood species tested. The model proved to be suitable, as the deviations between the measured and modelled power values are minimal.
<p>Zeolite 13X is one of the best adsorbents among zeolites and one of the most commercially available zeolites. This paper investigates the influence of several process parameters on the properties of 13X zeolite, including crystallization temperature, crystallization duration and Si/Al molar ratio in the starting reaction mixture. The quality of the obtained powders was examined in detail through a series of analytical and instrumental methods, presented in the paper. Water and CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption capacities were determined as key quality parameters of 13X zeolite, and additional characterization was performed by determining material granulometry, specific surface area (BET analysis), crystallinity (X-ray diffraction method) as well and SEM analysis. The obtained results indicate a clear dependence between the examined process parameters of the system and the characteristics of the synthesized materials, thus enabling the selection of optimal conditions for the synthesis of 13X zeolite.</p>
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