The design process for manufacturing systems involves different architectural design decisions (ADDs), including deploying software to hardware components, determining shop-floor topology, and planning production tasks for stations. These ADDs exhibit complex interactions, where the synthesis of one ADD impacts other ADDs, highlighting the need to investigate their dynamic interplay. However, current research prioritizes individual ADDs over exploring multiple ADDs together. This work investigates a multi-dimensional design space exploration (DSE) of deployment, shop-floor topology, and production planning ADDs. We introduce mitigation constraints to ensure the compatibility among these ADDs. To evaluate our approach, we apply it to a flexible manufacturing line demonstrator. Furthermore, we assess and compare various DSE workflows, providing preliminary guidance to software architects on mitigatlng conflicts and enhancing the quality of ADDs.

Abstract CCl4 causes oxidative injury, fatty degeneration, fibrosis of the liver, renal failure, and even hepatocellular and renal carcinoma. Certain substances have the potential to neutralize the harmful effects of CCl4, so it will lead to numerous beneficial effects. Melatonin (MEL) is a powerful antioxidant that regulates circadian rhythm and has beneficial effects on organism; tryptophan (TRP) is its precursor necessary for the synthesis of MEL. The aim of the current study was to determine whether MEL and TRP, have protective effects during subchronic application of CCl4 to the liver and kidneys. Results suggest that CCl4 led to decrease of total proteins, albumins, globulins, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and hematocrit; and increase of creatinine, AST, ALT values, and leukocytes. MEL and TRP both showing protective effects on regulation of serum proteins, albumins, globulins, A/G, AST, ALT, and creatinine levels. TRP had been shown to have potential in regulation of disbalanced hematological parameters caused by CCl4. TRP had beneficial effects on hepatocyte morphology in term of beaded chromatin and preserved cell morphology. Overall, oral supplementation of TRP had better protective effects on liver/kidneys compared to MEL.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the reporting quality of Scoping Reviews (ScRs) in endodontics according to the PRISMA Extension Checklist for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and to analyse their association with a range of publication and methodological/reporting characteristics. METHODS Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched up to 31 January 2024 to identify scoping reviews in the field of endodontics. An additional search was performed in three leading endodontic journals. Study selection and appraising the quality of the studies was carried out independently by two reviewers. Each of the 20 PRISMA-ScR items were allocated a score of either 0, 0.5 or 1 to reflect the completeness of the reporting. An item-specific and overall percentage reporting quality score was calculated and reported through descriptive statistics across a range of publication, as well as methodological/reporting characteristics. A univariable and multivariable quantile regression was performed to identify the effect of publication and methodological/reporting characteristics (year of publication, journal, inclusion of an appropriate reporting guideline, and study registration) on the overall percentage reporting quality score. Association of reporting quality score with publication characteristics was then investigated. RESULTS A total of 40 ScRs were identified and included for appraisal. Most of the studies were published from 2021 onwards. The overall median reporting quality score was 86%. The most frequent items not included in the studies were: a priori protocol registration (22/40 compliant; 55%), and reporting of funding (16/40 compliant; 40%). Other key elements that were inadequately reported were the abstract (7/40 compliant; 18%), the rationale and justification of the ScR (21/40 compliant; 52%) and the objectives of the study (18/40 compliant; 45%). Studies that adhered to appropriate reporting guidelines were associated with greater reporting quality scores (β-coefficient: 10; 95%CI: 1.1, 18.9; p = .03). ScRs with protocols registered a priori had significantly greater reporting quality scores (β-coefficient: 12.5; 95%CI: 6.1, 18.9; p < .001), compared with non-registered reviews. CONCLUSIONS The reporting quality of the ScRs in endodontics varied and was greater when the ScR protocols were registered a priori and when the authors adhered to reporting guidelines.

In the present study, we investigated the responses provided by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s male and female respondents in regards to their usage of politically correct English language across various categories. Those categories include gender, disability, age, work, socioeconomic status, and race terminology. We hypothesized that significant differences would be present between respondents based on their gender. As the results suggest, female respondents were more inclined to use politically correct terminology in comparison to their counterparts, male participants. The distinctions were found to be present in all categories but mostly related to gender, where female respondents showed a higher preference for politically correct English language, while male respondents showed a tendency to select less politically correct English language terminology. Furthermore, categories related to disability and race showed mixed results to some extent. Therefore, we conclude that the findings point towards the importance of comprehending gender-specific tendencies when it comes to the adoption and usage of politically correct English language, as such differences can have significant influence on inclusion and communication within varied social and formal contexts.

This paper analyzed the influence of the addition of Zn- and Se-fortified wheat flour to corn extrudates on viscosity, total starch content, starch damage, and bioavailability of zinc and selenium. Fortified wheat flour was added to corn grits in 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40 ratios at three extrusion temperature profiles: 140/170/170 °C, 150/180/180 °C, and 160/190/190 °C. Viscosity values decreased significantly at different extrusion temperature profiles and at different proportions of wheat. The extrusion process increased the starch content, regardless of the extrusion temperature, and decreased it by adding different proportions of flour enriched with zinc and selenium. The starch damage increased with extrusion, without significant changes with extrusion temperature increment. The addition of different proportions of Zn- and Se-fortified wheat flour reduced starch damage values proportionally to the added content of enriched wheat. Increasing the temperature and the proportions, the total zinc content in the extrudates increased. Zinc bioavailability increased with increasing extrusion temperature. As for selenium, the total content increased by proportion increment but decreased with an increase in the extrusion temperature, though there were no significant differences in selenium bioavailability regardless of changes in extrusion temperature or the proportion of enriched wheat.

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is found in southeast Europe and Anatolia. Its primary traditional medicinal use includes the treatment of various conditions of the upper respiratory tract. In recent years, its isoflavones have become the focus of research aimed at developing treatments to alleviate menopausal symptoms. Reduced levels of circulating estrogen due to reduced ovarian function can cause short-term symptoms such as hot flashes, palpitations, difficulty sleeping, headaches, fatigue, mood disorders and reduced concentration but also long-term chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, accelerated weight and bone mass loss, atrophic vaginitis, osteoporosis, and cognitive impairment. The aim of this narrative review was to analyze the effects of commercially available and standardized red clover extracts on menopausal women. Eight randomized controlled trials on a total of 8769 menopausal women (aged 40 to 65 years) evaluated the effect of red clover isoflavone extract on menopausal symptoms. In all studies, isoflavone extract treatment showed improvement in all menopausal symptoms, including some common comorbidities, namely, hot flashes (1487 women, 25%), blood lipids (1155 women, 19%), atherosclerosis (6938 women, 79%), risk of breast cancer and endometrial cancer (428 women, 5%), osteoporosis and osteopenia (555 women, 6%), and menopause-related cognitive impairment (3530 women, 40%).

BACKGROUND Both phases of euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS) are associated with worse prognosis in septic shock patients. Although there are still no indications for supplementation therapy, there is no evidence that both phases (initial and prolonged) are adaptive or that only prolonged is maladaptive and requires supplementation. AIM To analyze clinical, hemodynamic and laboratory differences in two groups of septic shock patients with ESS. METHODS A total of 47 septic shock patients with ESS were divided according to values of their thyroid hormones into low T3 and low T3T4 groups. The analysis included demographic data, mortality scores, intensive care unit stay, mechanical ventilation length and 28-day survival and laboratory with hemodynamics. RESULTS The Simplified Acute Physiology Score II score (P = 0.029), dobutamine (P = 0.003) and epinephrine requirement (P = 0.000) and the incidence of renal failure and multiple organ failure (MOF) (P = 0.000) were significantly higher for the low T3T4. Hypoalbuminemia (P = 0.047), neutrophilia (P = 0.038), lymphopenia (P = 0.013) and lactatemia (P = 0.013) were more pronounced on T2 for the low T3T4 group compared to the low T3 group. Diastolic blood pressure at T0 (P = 0.017) and T1 (P = 0.007), as well as mean arterial pressure at T0 (P = 0.037) and T2 (P = 0.033) was higher for the low T3 group. CONCLUSION The low T3T4 population is associated with higher frequency of renal insufficiency and MOF, with worse laboratory and hemodynamic parameters. These findings suggest potentially maladaptive changes in the chronic phase of septic shock.

Abstract The major driver of the costs of treating patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) is its complications, which in developing countries are a consequence of poor glycemic control due to the low availability of novel, innovative antidiabetic drugs. We aimed to determine the ratio of direct medical costs arising from DM2 to the direct costs of its complications, as well as their main predictors. This was a retrospective cohort study of health care utilization and direct medical costs for adults with DM2, with (inpatients) or without (outpatients) complications. The utilization data were multiplied by the unit prices of drugs and services reimbursed by the Serbian Republic Health Insurance Fund to obtain direct costs. In total, 205 inpatients and 60 outpatients with DM2 participated in the study. Key drivers of the costs of treating diabetes complications in hospitals are consultations with specialist clinicians (B = 0.025 [0.003–0.047]), use of reserve antibiotics (B = 0.022 [0.007–0.036]), biochemical tests (B = 0.038 [0.022–0.055]) and length of stay in the hospital (B = 0.011 [0.009–0.013]). On the other hand, the number of encounters with general practitioners (B = 0.179 0.115–0.242) and the number of ultrasound examinations are strongly correlated with the total costs of treating outpatients with DM2 (B = 0.234 [0.054–0.414]). None of the outpatients included in the study were prescribed novel antidiabetic drugs. Overall, the costs of treating DM2 in Serbia are considerable and mainly driven by the 2–11-fold higher costs of complications vs. the costs of the disease itself.

The European Theatre Night is a one-day event that takes place every year in European countries, and since 2010, Bosnia and Herzegovina has also participated. The program includes theatre performances and other forms of performing arts. The European Theatre Night is the largest and most extensive theatrical manifestation and one of the most significant cultural manifestations in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina. The work mainly deals with the analysis of this manifestation, that is, the main actors of the organization and cooperation, artistic institutions in which various theatre institutions, organizations and artists participate.

BACKGROUND: Critically ill COVID-19 patients are usually subjected to clinical, laboratory, and radiological diagnostic procedures resulting in numerous findings. Utilizing these findings as indicators for disease progression or outcome prediction is particularly intriguing. OBJECTIVES: Exploring the significance of dynamic changes in haematological and biochemical parameters in predicting the mortality of critically ill COVID-19 patients. METHODS: The present study was a prospective and observational study involving mechanically ventilated 75 critically ill adult COVID-19 patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure. The collected data included baseline patient characteristics, treatment options, outcome, and laboratory findings at admission and 7 days after. The dynamics of the obtained findings were compared between survivors and non-survivors. RESULTS: The 28-day survival rate was 61.3%. In the group of non-survivors significant dynamic changes were found for C-reactive protein ( p = 0.001), interleukin-6 ( p < 0.001), lymphocyte ( p = 0.003), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio ( p = 0.003), platelets ( p < 0.001), haemoglobin ( p < 0.001), iron ( p = 0.012), and total iron-binding capacity ( p < 0.001). Statistically significant changes over time were found for ferritin ( p = 0.010), D-dimer ( p < 0.001), hs-troponin T ( p < 0.002), lactate dehydrogenase ( p = 0.001), glucose ( p = 0.023), unsaturated iron-binding capacity ( p = 0.008), and vitamin D ( p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The dynamic changes in inflammatory, haematological and biochemical parameters can predict disease severity, and outcome.

In this study, we examined the correlation between the collected municipal waste (MW) and the tourism intensity (TI) in five of Croatia’s most popular tourist towns—Zagreb, Poreč, Rovinj, Split, and Dubrovnik—from 2015 to 2021. Furthermore, we conducted a comparative analysis of target scenarios for municipal waste reduction in these tourist towns based on population changes and the amount of separately collected and residual MW collected to achieve EU targets for processing MW for reuse and recycling. The TI indicator quantifies the population’s theoretical multiplication during tourist influx, providing a clear picture of the pressure exerted by tourism. Rovinj and Poreč have the highest TIs, while larger cities like Dubrovnik, Split, and Zagreb have lower average TI values. The correlation between the collected MW and the tourism intensity in Dubrovnik is very high and positive, in Zagreb and Rovinj it is high and negative, while Split has a higher positive correlation than Poreč. The results for the MW preparation rates for reuse and recycling from 2015 to 2021 and future projections for 2021–2035 suggest that, in five of Croatia’s leading tourist towns, the imperative must be to decrease residual MW, promote separation at the source, and separate MW collection to meet EU targets. Given the challenges of meeting all three—or even two or one—of the EU’s targets of 50% by 2025, 60% by 2030, and 65% by 2035, the current waste separation system must be improved. This study contributes to the scientific community by addressing the gap in the current knowledge on the effects of population changes caused by tourism on MW in tourist destinations. The findings could be relevant for practitioners and policymakers planning MW collection, processing, and recovery in tourism-oriented economies, particularly in Croatia’s top tourist destinations.

Bentonite clay is a valuable material in various process industries, thanks to its specific properties. Easy availability, low cost and their effectiveness are the main factors that have made bentonite adsorbent in the edible oil industry. The textural characteristics of bentonite clay play an important role in its performance. In its natural form, as an aluminosilicate material, bentonite does not show satisfactory sorption and catalytic properties, and it needs to be activated. The main goal of this research is to increase the adsorption capacity of bentonite clay by modifying its properties by treatment with organic acid. Activation of bentonite clay in the experimental part was performed with different concentrations of sulfuric acid. The chemical composition of the natural bentonite sample was determined using XRF alongside the influence of acid activation of bentonite with H2SO4 on the surface characteristics (such as specific surface area, pore volume and average pore diameter, adsorption capacity and isotherm type) of bentonite clay. The XRF analysis of the natural bentonite, which contains 56.35% SiO2 and 19.82% Al2O3 as its primary components, confirms that it is an aluminosilicate material. Except for SiO2, which recorded a consistent increase in quantity from 56.35% to 74.15% with increasing acid concentration, the composition of other components, after activation slightly decreased or remained the same. The acid concentration that yielded the highest increase in specific surface area, as measured by the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, was selected as the optimal concentration for activating bentonite. The specific surface area almost tripled (from 95.519 m2/g to 346.467 m2/g)) by activation with 15% sulfuric acid, with an activation time of 3 hours and a bentonite: acid ratio of 1:5. The research results show the effectiveness of acid modification in terms of improving the characteristics of the porous structure of bentonite samples.