Aim: The aim of this study was to compare time of preparation and canal aberrations in a simulated root canals after using three different rotary systems: Endostar E5, Endostar E3 and T One File Gold. Materials and Methods: A total of 90 endodontic training blocks were used in this study and divided into three groups consisting of 30 each (n = 30). Blocks processing was performed by thirty dentists without any prior experience in rotary instrumentation techniques. In the first group blocks were prepared using Endostar E5, in second one with Endostar E3 and in third one with T One File Gold system. The preparation time was measured. The postoperative image of each block was taken by stereomicroscope and canal aberrations (ledge and instrument fracture) was recorded. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS software. Results: Instrumentation with T One File Gold system is significantly faster compared to instrumentation with Endostar E5 and Endostar E3 systems (p <0.05). There are no statistically significant differences in the type and number of procedural errors between Endostar E5, Endostar E3 and T One File Gold systems when the operators have no previous experience in rotary instrumentation techniques. Conclusion: Under the conditions of this study, the incidence of examined canal aberrations were similar for all tested systems. The preparation time was significantly shorter with single file system.

Introduction: Characteristics of sexual behaviour of female students, which will affect fertility in adulthood, represent one of the critical parameters of reproductive health. Aim: The aim of this study was assess characteristics of sexual behavior of female students in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Materials and Methods: In a prospective study on a representative sample of 2,872 regular girls aged 19-24 years, an anonymous survey on the reproductive health of female students in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2007 to 2009 was conducted. Results: Of the total number (N = 2872) of surveyed female students, 49.44% were sexually active. Average sexarcha age was 18.14±1.83 years, and there was statistically significant earlier sexarcha in female students in Banja Luka vs. female students of the University of Sarajevo (p<0.001), as well as in female students in Mostar vs. female students of the University of Tuzla (p<0.001). Sexually active female students in 74,4 % cases had intercourses with only one partner, and 7,7 % of them had intercourses with three or more partners. Regarding the use of contraceptive methods, 69.4% female students were using contraception at first intercourse and 66.7% of them at last intercourse. 3.5% of sexually active students (N=50) had intentional abortion. Almost half (46.9%) of surveyed female students had regular pelvic exams; nearly two-third of those (63.4%) had gynecological exams in private institutions, and 36.6% of them in public health facilitie. Only one-third (35.8%) sexually active female students in BiH stated that Pap test was performed. Conclusion: Sexual behaviour of female students in BiH is less risky than in the immediate environment, but health care quality is poor.

Interest in paulownia got its momentum around the world. With its fast-growing nature and large leaf surfaces this species can absorb significant amounts of sulfur dioxide and dust particles. The cities of Tuzla and Lukavac, as most other Bosnian-Herzegovinian towns, have a number of geo-ecological problems, and the most pronounced one is negative anthropopressing on the atmospheric complex and pedospheric cover. This area, especially during the winter period, has a disrupted air quality where the greatest polluters are individual heating places, transport, industry, and energy sector. The pedologic cover of the wider area of Tuzla and Lukavac has suffered significant changes and is largely devastated. The processes of destruction of soils lead to complete destruction or formation of a new land with modified characteristics. High rainfall is a major cause of destabilization of slopes, but also is the negative anthropogenic activity in the area. Landslides have caused significant material damages, particularly in the residential structures of slope zones of the mentioned cities and suburban areas. This paper presents the basic biological characteristics of woody species paulownia elongata, and the possibility of planting it in areas that are now unused so to improve the quality of air, as well as on surfaces that are threatened by landslides.

Introduction: Basic cognitive functions such as: alertness, working memory, long term memory and perception, as well as higher levels of cognitive functions like: speech and language, decision-making and executive functions are affected by aging processes. Relations between the receptive vocabulary and cognitive functioning, and the manifestation of differences between populations of elderly people based on the primary disease is in the focus of this study. Aim: To examine receptive vocabulary and cognition of elderly people with: verified stroke, dementia, verified stroke and dementia, and without the manifested brain disease. Material and Methods: The sample consisted of 120 participants older than 65 years, living in an institution. A total of 26 variables was analyzed and classified into three groups: case history/anamnestic, receptive vocabulary assessment, and cognitive assessments. The interview with social workers, nurses and caregivers, as well as medical files were used to determine the anamnestic data. A Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) was used for the assessment of cognition. In order to estimate the receptive vocabulary, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test was used. Results: Mean raw score of receptive vocabulary is 161.58 (+–21:58 points). The best results for cognitive assessment subjects achieved on subscales of orientation, naming, serial subtraction, and delayed recall. Discriminative analysis showed the significant difference in the development of receptive vocabulary and cognitive functioning in relation to the primary disease of elderly people. The biggest difference was between subjects without manifested brain disease (centroid = 1.900) and subjects with dementia (centroid = -1754). Conclusion: There is a significant difference between elderly with stroke; dementia; stroke and dementia, and elderly people without manifested disease of the brain in the domain of receptive vocabulary and cognitive functioning. Variables of serial subtraction, standardized test results of receptive vocabulary, delayed recall, abstraction, orientation and vigilance successfully discriminate studied groups.

The dynamic properties of the actin cytoskeleton in smooth muscle cells play an important role in a number of cardiovascular disease states. The state of actin does not only mediate mechanical stability and contractile function but can also regulate gene expression via myocardin related transcription factors (MRTFs). These transcriptional co-activators regulate genes encoding contractile and cytoskeletal proteins in smooth muscle. Regulation of small non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) by actin polymerization may mediate some of these effects. MiRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that modulate gene expression by post-transcriptional regulation of target messenger RNA. In this study we aimed to determine a profile of miRNAs that were 1) regulated by actin/MRTF-A, 2) associated with the contractile smooth muscle phenotype and 3) enriched in muscle cells. This analysis was performed using cardiovascular disease-focused miRNA arrays in both mouse and human cells. The potential clinical importance of actin polymerization in aortic aneurysm was evaluated using biopsies from mildly dilated human thoracic aorta in patients with stenotic tricuspid or bicuspid aortic valve. By integrating information from multiple qPCR based miRNA arrays we identified a group of five miRNAs (miR-1, miR-22, miR-143, miR-145 and miR-378a) that were sensitive to actin polymerization and MRTF-A overexpression in both mouse and human vascular smooth muscle. With the exception of miR-22, these miRNAs were also relatively enriched in striated and/or smooth muscle containing tissues. Actin polymerization was found to be dramatically reduced in the aorta from patients with mild aortic dilations. This was associated with a decrease in actin/MRTF-regulated miRNAs. In conclusion, the transcriptional co-activator MRTF-A and actin polymerization regulated a subset of miRNAs in vascular smooth muscle. Identification of novel miRNAs regulated by actin/MRTF-A may provide further insight into the mechanisms underlying vascular disease states, such as aortic aneurysm, as well as novel ideas regarding therapeutic strategies. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: ECS Meeting edited by Claus Heizmann, Joachim Krebs and Jacques Haiech.

Introduction: Research indicates that women victims of domestic violence show significant cognitive changes, emotional numbing, and avoidance of interpersonal relationships. Aim: The aim of this research was to analyze emotional profile of women victims of domestic violence, and to determine the relationship between dimensions of emotions and frequency of women exposure to domestic violence. Methods: The research was conducted on the sample of 169 women, 111 were victims of domestic violence and 58 were women who did not experience domestic violence. Plutchik’s Emotions Profile Index (EPI) was used for measuring of the emotion profile, and the Modified Inventory of Domestic Violence for measuring experiences of different types of violence. Basic socio-demographic data were also collected. Results: Significant differences between women victims of domestic violence and women who did not experience domestic violence were found in a few dimensions of emotional profile. Women victims of domestic violence had higher results in the dimensions of deprivation/depression and aggression/destruction, while women who did not experience domestic violence had higher results in dimensions of reproduction and incorporation. Aggression was in significant negative correlation with reproduction, incorporation and self protection, whereas it was significant positive correlation with deprivation and opposition. There were significant and positive correlation between the dimensions of aggression and deprivation and frequency of all three forms of domestic violence and age of women. Conclusion: According to results obtained in this research, it can be concluded that women victims of domestic violence have significantly more intensive negative emotional dimensions in comparison to women who were not abused. Women victims of domestic violence with higher frequency of abuse describe themselves as more sad, apathetic, lonely, angry, quarrelsome and less sociable. Prominence of negative emotions, deprivation and aggression, can be factor of risk for mental health disorders and for re-victimisation of women victims of domestic violence.

UDK: 630*228(234.422 Bjelašnica)(253) This paper presents the results of a comparative analysis of the structural and vegetation characteristics of "Ravna vala" pristine (virgin) forest and the managed forest of beech and fir (with spruce). Pristine forest "Ravna vala" is located in the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, about 20 km southwest of Sarajevo on Bjelašnica Mountain, at an altitude from 1280 to 1450 m. The managed forest of beech and fir with spruce, which was used for comparison, borders "Ravna vala" and has the same habitat conditions: climate, orography and land, and the similar structural characteristics and composition of tree species as the pristine forest. Beech and fir communities (Abieti-Fagetum illyricum Treg. 1957) dominate but spruce can also be found in the area of ​​research. Noble hardwoods such as sycamore and elm are found both individually or in small groups in depressions in deeper soils. Both the pristine forest and the managed forest show the selective diameter structure. However, the great differences between the pristine forest and the managed forest are final diameter classes. The thickest tree in the pristine forest has the breast diameter of 145 cm, while the diameter of the thickest tree in the industrial forest is 70 cm. The volume of the stands is 770 m3/ha in the pristine forest and it is two times larger than in the managed forest. The volume of dead wood in the pristine forest is 170 m3/ha and it is five times larger than in the managed forest. While stumps and thicker branches are the most common in the stock of dead trees in the managed forest, the most common in the stock of dead wood in the pristine forest are tall stumps as well as lying and standing dead trees. Floristic researches have shown that selective management does not reflect negatively on floristic diversity, but ground vegetation is richer in species in the managed forest. Shannon's diversity index and evenness index of vascular flora have higher values ​​in the managed forest. Unlike floristic diversity, the stand diversity index of Jähne & Dohrenbusch (1997) shows higher values ​​in the pristine forest than in the managed forest.