Audio fingerprinting techniques have seen great advances in recent years, enabling accurate and fast audio retrieval even in conditions when the queried audio sample has been highly deteriorated or recorded in noisy conditions. Expectedly, most of the existing work is centered around music, with popular music identification services such as Apple’s Shazam or Google’s Now Playing designed for individual audio recognition on mobile devices. However, the spectral content of speech differs from that of music, necessitating modifications to current audio fingerprinting approaches. This paper offers fresh insights into adapting existing techniques to address the specialized challenge of speech retrieval in telecommunications and cloud communications platforms. The focus is on achieving rapid and accurate audio retrieval in batch processing instead of facilitating single requests, typically on a centralized server. Moreover, the paper demonstrates how this approach can be utilized to support audio clustering based on speech transcripts without undergoing actual speech-to-text conversion. This optimization enables significantly faster processing without the need for GPU computing, a requirement for real-time operation that is typically associated with state-of-the-art speech-to-text tools.

Over the last few years, remarkable progress has been made in the field of congenital heart diseases. Improvements considering diagnostic modalities, especially imaging, in surgical and interventional techniques, as well as in postoperative therapy and care, have contributed to a significant reduction in mortality and morbidity. One of the most important applications of medical imaging techniques in children is the detection and treatment of congenital heart anomalies. Objective of this article is to show the importance of ultrasonography in the detection of congenital heart diseases in children. The study was conducted on children with simple and complex congenital heart diseases and was conducted on the Pediatric Clinic, UKCS. The research is descriptive on a representative sample. In our study, 166 children were observed, of which 148 children (77 boys, 71 girls) with simple congenital heart diseases, and 18 children (8 boys, 10 girls) with complex congenital heart diseases. Out of the total number of observed children, 115 had a surgical correction, 97 children with simple congenital heart diseases (45 boys, 52 girls) and 18 children with complex congenital heart diseases (8 boys, 10 girls). The number of children monitored through the Cardiac Counseling Center who didn’t undergo surgical correction was 51, all with simple congenital heart diseases. Out of the total number of observed children who were frequently coming for follow-ups, 28 children had changes on the ECG, and 138 of them had no changes on the ECG, 93 were surgically treated, and 73 of them were on conservative therapy. Based on the results of the research, we conclude that ultrasonography is an important method in the detection and treatment of congenital heart diseases.

The segmentation of pediatric brain MRI into distinct tissues is important for the evaluation of pediatric brain development and the diagnosis of neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders. However, when the used dataset diverges due to various acquisition protocols or biases among patient cohorts, existing deep learning algorithms cannot guarantee correct predictions. Unsupervised domain adaptation approaches have lately shown enormous potential for addressing this problem by limiting the divergence between the distributions of the used datasets. In this paper, we firstly developed a model called 3DUDRSeg, a 3D encoder-decoder for precise autonomous segmentation of pediatric brain tissues. Our proposed 3DUDRSeg model achieved a 98.88% DSC accuracy rate because of the employment of denes blocks and residual units that help relieve the degradation problem during training the network, allowing the performance advantages to be fully utilized. With this approach, our 3DUDRSeg can create more strong features to deal with the wide range of brain tissue variations. Then, we present 3DAdGanSeg, an entropy-based unsupervised domain adaptation framework for segmenting pediatric brain tissues in unannotated datasets via adversarial learning. The suggested model significantly influences the capability to distinguish the borders between tissue classes, with DSC of 85% and HD95 of 1.479 in the case of the dHCP dataset as the source domain and DSC of 81 % and HD95 of 2.061 when using the Schizophrenia Bulletin 2008 dataset as a source domain.

Corticosteroids regulate a number of physiological processes and are synthetic analogs of the natural steroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex. As drugs, corticosteroids are non-inflammatory and are used for the treatment of plethora of conditions which include arthritis, kidney, skin, lungs or thyroid disorders, for the treatment and relief of symptoms of allergies and symptoms of some gastrointestinal disorders. In addition, glucocorticoids can regulate the effects of inflammatory disorders, including sepsis, autoimmune diseases, and allergies. These conditions are potentially fatal. Consequently, this drug class is among the most commonly prescribed globally. One representative of corticosteroid class of drugs is dexamethasone which is used to treat allergies, adrenal problems, arthritis, asthma, diseases of blood or bone marrow, inflammation, kidney diseases, different types of skin conditions, and episodes of multiple sclerosis. Virulence factors help bacteria colonize the host at the level of the cell. In their nature, these factors are secretory, associated with the membrane or present in the cytosol. Secretory factors allow bacterium to circumvent the host immune response, while membrane factors aid bacterium in adhesion to the host cell. Finally, cytosol factors help bacteria adapt metabolically, physiologically, and morphologically to their changing environment. One such factor is aspartyl proteinase, a protein that degrades other proteins and is a virulence factor in many pathogens playing a role in the host invasion process. Another important virulence factor is the ability to form biofilms, which can render bacteria resistant to antimicrobials. Despite the widespread use of corticosteroids, including dexamethasone, little is known about their possible influence on the expression of virulence factors such as aspartyl proteinase. If such a connection is to exist the use of corticosteroids could elicit pathogenesis in certain microbes. In the here-presented study we wanted to investigate the effects of dexamethasone on the growth, expression of aspartyl proteinase and biofilm formation in three E. coli strains that were previously isolated from patients suffering from urinary tract infection. To this aim, we amended the growth media with 0.5 mg/mL dexamethasone. Bacterial growth was measured over the period of 24 hours and the effect of dexamethasone was established at different time points. Administration of 0.5 mg/mL glucocorticoid drug dexamethasone did not significantly affect bacterial growth. However, it resulted in an increase in concentration of secreted E. coli virulence factor aspartyl proteinase, which increased up to 2.6-fold for some E. coli strains. In addition, we noted the increased biofilm formation in to three out of four studied strains. This study indicates dexamethasone as a possible trigger molecule for the expression of virulence factor aspartyl proteinase in E. coli.

A technical issue with fluid flow heating is the relatively small temperature increase as the fluid passes through the heating surface. The fluid does not spend enough time inside the heating source to significantly raise its temperature, despite the heating source itself experiencing a substantial increase. To address this challenge, the concept of the multiple circular heating of air was developed, forming the basis of this work. Two PTC heaters with longitudinal fins are located within a closed channel inside housing composed of a thermal insulation material. Air flows circularly from one finned surface to another. Analytical modeling and experimental testing were used in the analysis, with established restrictions and boundary conditions. An important outcome of the analysis was the methodology established for the optimization of the geometric and process parameters based on minimizing the transient thermal entropy. In conducting the analytical modeling, the temperature of the PTC heater was assumed to be constant at 150 °C and 200 °C. By removing the restrictions and adjusting the boundary conditions, the established methodology for the analysis and optimization of various thermally transient industrial processes can be applied more widely. The experimental determination of the transient thermal entropy was performed at a much higher air flow rate of 0.005 m3s−1 inside the closed channel. The minimum transient entropy also indicates the optimal time for the opening of the channel, allowing the heated air to exit. The novelty of this work lies in the controlled circular heating of the fluid and the establishment of the minimum transient thermal entropy as an optimization criterion.

Therapeutic approaches targeting proteins on the surface of cancer cells have emerged as an important strategy for precision oncology. To capitalize on the potential impact of drugs targeting surface proteins, detailed knowledge about the expression patterns of the target proteins in tumor tissues is required. In castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), agents targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) have demonstrated clinical activity. However, PSMA expression is lost in a significant number of CRPC tumors. The identification of additional cell surface targets is necessary to develop new therapeutic approaches. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the expression heterogeneity and co-expression patterns of trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (TROP2), delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3), and carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5 (CEACAM5) in CRPC samples from a rapid autopsy cohort. We show that DLL3 and CEACAM5 exhibit the highest expression in neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), while TROP2 is expressed across different CRPC molecular subtypes, except for NEPC. We further demonstrated that AR alterations were associated with higher expression of PSMA and TROP2. Conversely, PSMA and TROP2 expression was lower in RB1-altered tumors. In addition to genomic alterations, we show a tight correlation between epigenetic states, particularly histone H3 lysine 27 methylation (H3K27me3) at the transcriptional start site and gene body of TACSTD2 (encoding TROP2), DLL3, and CEACAM5, and their respective protein expression in CRPC patient-derived xenografts. Collectively, these findings provide insights into patterns and determinants of expression of TROP2, DLL3, and CEACAM5 with implications for the clinical development of cell surface targeting agents in CRPC.

Introduction: The benefit of endovascular therapy (EVT) among stroke patients with large ischemic core (ASPECTS 0–5) in the extended time window outside of trial settings remains unclear. We analyzed the effect of EVT among these stroke patients in real-world settings. Patients and methods: The CT for Late Endovascular Reperfusion (CLEAR) study recruited patients from 66 centers in 10 countries between 01/2014 and 05/2022. The extended time-window was defined as 6–24 h from last-seen-well to treatment. The primary outcome was shift of the 3-month modified Rankin scale (mRS) score. Safety outcomes included symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and mortality. Outcomes were analyzed with ordinal and logistic regressions. Results: Among 5098 screened patients, 2451 were included in the analysis (median age 73, 55% women). Of patients with ASPECTS 0–5 (n = 310), receiving EVT (n = 209/310) was associated with lower 3-month mRS when compared to medical management (median 4 IQR 3–6 vs 6 IQR 4–6; aOR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2–0.7). Patients undergoing EVT had higher sICH (11.2% vs 4.0%; aOR 4.1, 95% CI 1.2–18.8) and lower mortality (31.6% vs 58.4%, aOR 0.4; 95% CI 0.2–0.9) compared to medically managed patients. The relative benefit of EVT was comparable between patients with ASPECTS 0 and 5 and 6–10 in the extended time window (interaction aOR 0.9; 95% CI 0.5–1.7). Conclusion: In the extended time window, patients with ASPECTS 0–5 may have preserved relative treatment benefit of EVT compared to patients with ASPECTS 6–10. These findings are in line with recent trials showing benefit of EVT among real-world patients with large ischemic core in the extended time window. Trial registration number: clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04096248 Graphical abstract

Rural tourism stands out as a specific form of tourism. The rural search for peace, rest and recreation is a growing trend at regional, national, European and international levels. It can be said that rural tourism represents a relatively new tourist activity that aims to return people to traditional values and the natural environment. This type of tourism produces numerous positive macroeconomic effects. These are, first of all: the development of underdeveloped areas, the employment of a larger number of household members, the placement of home-made products and agricultural products, and development of non-agricultural activities. Development of rural tourism, in addition to contributing to the economic empowerment of the rural population, also contributes to the strengthening of local and regional economies, as well as the overall economy. The most important consequence of rural tourism development in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the progress of rural communities, the improvement of the socioeconomic status of the rural population so that they would rather choose to stay in their surroundings than to migrate to larger cities in the country or outside the country. In FBiH, there are already a lot of guesthouses, rural households, camps, vineyard houses, mountain huts and ethnic villages that provide rural tourism services. However, there are also numerous difficulties faced by those who have decided to stay in their local community and develop it through the provision of tourist services. In the paper, we will point out the current situation in the field of rural tourism in FBiH, the challenges it faces and possible perspectives and directions in the future.

Global crises like pandemics and geopolitical turbulence have underscored the importance of responsible business practices and corporate transparency. In light of these circumstances, ESG reporting, which measures and expresses a company's concern for the environment, society, and transparent management, has become increasingly crucial. However, in challenging environments with limited resources, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), adopting ESG reporting can present significant barriers to the accounting profession. Therefore, this paper aims to examine accountants' readiness in BiH to adopt ESG reporting under such circumstances. To achieve this goal, we surveyed a representative sample of 290 accountants from across BiH. The survey used a Likert scale to assess accountants' knowledge of ESG standards, their willingness to adopt different reporting methods, and their expectations regarding the impact of ESG reporting on their work, responsibilities, long-term career prospects, and professional development. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, ANOVA tests and t-tests in Excel and SPSS programs. Our study provides valuable insights into the readiness of accountants for ESG reporting, the measures necessary to support its implementation, and the impact of ESG on the development of the accounting profession in BiH. The study also discusses the role accountants can play in encouraging ESG reporting and answers questions about ESG standards' challenges and how accountants can prepare for their adoption. Our results demonstrate that the majority of accountants in BiH support ESG reporting, but they lack the necessary knowledge, tools, and resources to properly implement the new requirements. Hence, we strongly recommend taking measures to improve the preparation of accountants for ESG reporting.

The aim of this paper is to investigate the quality of financial statements during the period of crisis. The crisis has a negative effect on the business performance of a company. It is necessary to measure and analyze various aspects of performance and take timely corrective actions in order to achieve business stability. Quality of financial statements can be expressed as one of the business performances. High-quality financial statements are created in an accurate, timely and reliable manner in accordance with all requirements of regulation. Professional accounting regulation determines a large number of obligatory disclosures which have a direct impact on the quality of financial statements. This paper will analyze the quality of financial statements from the aspect of disclosures according to the International Accounting Standard 2 – Inventory (IAS 2). Inventory represents significant assets for production and trade companies. Therefore, the quality of disclosures according to IAS 2 can be significant for adequate business decisions. The research is based on a sample of agricultural and manufacturing companies registered in the AP Vojvodina during the period 2020-2021. The research is based on a descriptive analysis of the quality of disclosures according to the IAS 2 and financial reporting quality index. The results indicate that 41% of the obligatory disclosures are presented in companies reports. Accounting policy for inventories and carrying amount according to inventory classification are identified as disclosures of high quality. On the other hand, disclosure of the write-down of inventories, recognized as an expense for the period is identified at the lower quality level. The research can be of interest for managers, owners, and creators of financial statements in order to improve the quality of financial reporting as a result of disruption during the period of crisis.

The paper explores the key role of the last mile in the evolution of supply chains, with a focus on identifying challenges and solutions applied in the last phase of delivery. Today's challenges for logistics operators have significantly evolved over the past two decades due to current and growing trends. With the rise of e-commerce and urbanization, the last mile becomes a crucial point of competition, where fast, customized, and sustainable delivery emerges as an imperative for all involved stakeholders. The paper is divided into three parts. The first part refers to the identification of challenges faced by logistics operators in the last phase of the supply chain. The second part of the paper provides an overview of existing solutions and strategies that can be used to respond to challenges in the last mile of delivery. The third part offers case studies that provide a comparative cost analysis using different strategies in the last mile of delivery. Through the analysis of various solutions and strategies in the final stage of the supply chain, different aspects of efficiency and costs are illuminated in various scenarios. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for shaping the future of delivery that is efficient, sustainable, and tailored to the needs of the modern consumer.