This study investigates the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii antibodies in sheep and examines the seasonal impact on Q fever distribution. A total of 253 blood samples from sheep in Bosnia and Herzegovina during summer and winter were used, and, the research employed ELISA testing for antibody detection. Findings revealed a significant seasonal variation in seroprevalence, with 41 positive cases identified: 37 in winter and 4 in summer, indicating a higher infection rate during colder months. Statistical analysis suggests a significant association (p<0.05) between season and infection rates; winter conditions, increased indoor density, and lambing activities may elevate transmission risks. These results underscore the importance of considering seasonal factors in Q fever management and surveillance in sheep, contributing to a better understanding of its epidemiology and informing public health strategies. The study highlights the need for further systemic-epidemiological research across different geographies and management practices to elucidate the full impact of seasonality on Q fever prevalence.

Incremental sheet forming (ISF) of torispherical vessel heads causes hardening of surface layers. The strengthening of the material can cause formation of initial cracks, and in combination with welding and residual stresses can cause the appearance of brittle fracture. The focus of the research is the heat-affected zone (HAZ) in the welded joint. Post weld heat treatment can reduce but also increase negative effects, as is the subject of analysis in this paper. Experimental research was carried out on a sheet of high-quality steel grade P355NL2+H. Research included determining actual mechanical properties of the welded joint, impact energy testing, hardness testing, measurement of residual stresses, as well as fracture mechanics tests on samples taken from the welded joint zone of finally formed vessel heads. An integrity assessment procedure was carried out for the assumed values of internal pressure and for a hypothetical crack on the outer contour of the vessel head, and the results are presented graphically (failure assessment diagram). Analyses were carried out on samples taken from finished vessel heads, before and after normalisation.

Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) stands as a pivotal tree species in Bosnia and Herzegovina, holding paramount ecological, economic, and sociological significance. Its role is fundamental in the context of uneven-aged forest management, a prevailing practice in the region. Contributing not only to biodiversity but crucially to the stability of our ecosystems, silver fir faces a discernible decline in recent times, attributed to the intricate interplay of abiotic and biotic factors. Among abiotic factors, the foremost influences include wind and fire, while within the realm of biotic factors, notable contributors to the decline encompass mistletoe, rot fungi, cancer, witches' brooms on fir, bark beetles, and fir moth miner. The silver fir exhibits remarkable responsiveness to increased light inflows, emphasizing the imperative to establish favorable conditions for its sustained growth and development throughout its life cycle. This collective understanding underscores the importance of addressing both abiotic and biotic factors to ensure the continued vitality of the silver fir in the unique ecosystems of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Use of composite materials has seen significant growth, especially in the manufacture of lightweight structures and biomedical applications. One type of composite material is made up of polymer materials reinforced with glass fibres. PA6-GF reinforced with 25 % chopped glass fibres is a representative of this composite material group. The manufacturer recommends annealing as a heat treatment process after production. However, annealing requires additional equipment and time. This paper seeks to investigate the effect of non-annealed PA6 GF on the Charpy impact properties. Samples for Charpy impact property tests are defined according to BAS EN ISO 179-2:2021. The test specimens were printed on the FlashForge Creator 3 PRO printer, and the testing was performed on the AMSLER RPK300 device.

Paediatric and geriatric populations, as well as other special patient populations with swallowing problems, require patient-tai-lored dosage forms. One promising dosage form for these specific populations is orodispersible films. When preparing orodispersible films using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose as the film-forming polymer and glycerine as the plasticizer, it is essential to determine the optimal mixing time and mixing speed of the casting solution to achieve the desired transparency/opacity of the orodispersible films. In this paper, the primary focus is on mixing time and mixing speed, and determining how these two parameters can influence optical characteristics. All tested parameters are supported by FTIR anal - ysis. The obtained results show that either a mixing speed of 7000 rpm on a high-shear mixer for 15 min or a mixing speed of 9000 rpm for 5 min can produce films with optimal optical characteristics.

Objective: Real-life management of hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unclear. Methods: A survey was conducted in 2023 by the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) to assess management of CKD patients referred to ESH-Hypertension Excellence Centres (ESH-ECs) at first referral visit. The questionnaire contained 64 questions with which ESH-ECs representatives were asked to estimate preexisting CKD management quality. Results: Overall, 88 ESH-ECs from 27 countries participated (fully completed surveys: 66/88 [75.0%]). ESH-ECs reported that 28% (median, interquartile range: 15–50%) had preexisting CKD, with 10% of them (5–30%) previously referred to a nephrologist, while 30% (15–40%) had resistant hypertension. The reported rate of previous recent (<6 months) estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin–creatinine ratio (UACR) testing were 80% (50–95%) and 30% (15–50%), respectively. The reported use of renin-angiotensin system blockers was 80% (70–90%). When a nephrologist was part of the ESH-EC teams the reported rates SGLT2 inhibitors (27.5% [20–40%] vs. 15% [10–25], P = 0.003), GLP1-RA (10% [10–20%] vs. 5% [5–10%], P = 0.003) and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (20% [10–30%] vs. 15% [10–20%], P = 0.05) use were greater as compared to ESH-ECs without nephrologist participation. The rate of reported resistant hypertension, recent eGFR and UACR results and management of CKD patients prior to referral varied widely across countries. Conclusions: Our estimation indicates deficits regarding CKD screening, use of nephroprotective drugs and referral to nephrologists before referral to ESH-ECs but results varied widely across countries. This information can be used to build specific programs to improve care in hypertensives with CKD.

The start-up sector in Romania, particularly in the North-West Development Region (NW), is experiencing rapid growth and driving innovation and economic development. Understanding this sector and its connection to Research and Development (R&D) is vital for regional progress. The NW Region has become a prominent hub for start-up activity in Romania. Examining the start-up sector in these regions is essential as it contributes significantly to economic growth. Start-ups introduce disruptive technologies, create new market opportunities, and promote regional diversification. The impact of the R&D sector on economic growth cannot be underestimated. R&D activities drive innovation, laying the groundwork for the emergence and success of start-ups. Investing in R&D fosters knowledge creation, technological advancements, and intellectual property, which are crucial for entrepreneurial ventures. By understanding the interplay between start-ups and the R&D sector, stakeholders can develop targeted strategies for fostering innovation-driven economic growth. This article aims to provide valuable insights into the start-up sector in Romania's NW Region, its relationship with R&D, and the connection between total expenditure on R&D and economic growth in both Romania and the NW Region.

The choices made by autonomous robots in social settings bear consequences for humans and their presumptions of robot behavior. Explanations can serve to alleviate detrimental impacts on humans and amplify their comprehension of robot decisions. We model the process of explanation generation for robot navigation as an automated planning problem considering different possible explanation attributes. Our visual and textual explanations of a robot’s navigation are influenced by the robot’s personality. Moreover, they account for different contextual, environmental, and spatial characteristics. We present the results of a user study demonstrating that users are more satisfied with multimodal than unimodal explanations. Additionally, our findings reveal low user satisfaction with explanations of a robot with extreme personality traits. In conclusion, we deliberate on potential future research directions and the associated constraints. Our work advocates for fostering socially adept and safe autonomous robot navigation.

Product design and manufacturing leverage 3D scanning for various applications. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of 3D scanning in furniture production by surveying the literature and showcasing four real-world case studies. The literature review reveals that 3D data acquired from real-world objects have applications in research, rapid prototyping, restoration, and preservation of antique furniture, optimizing CNC machining processes, and measuring furniture components for quality control. The case study descriptions demonstrated the circumstances, rationale, and methodology for 3D scanning. All the case studies analyzed stem from the collaboration between the Laboratory for Product Development and Design at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sarajevo and various furniture production enterprises from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The conclusions highlight that 3D scanning in the furniture sector is advantageous for developing computer-aided design models from early-stage design prototypes, validating the dimensional accuracy of manufactured components by comparing with CAD models, safeguarding and reconstructing vintage furniture, and remanufacturing formerly produced goods that lack complete technical records (reverse engineering).

External Human-Machine Interfaces (eHMIs) have been evaluated to facilitate interactions between Automated Vehicles (AVs) and pedestrians. Most eHMIs are, however, visual/ light-based solutions, and multi-modal eHMIs have received little attention to date. We ran an experimental video study (<Formula format="inline"><TexMath><?TeX $N~=~29$?></TexMath><AltText>Math 1</AltText><File name="chi24-142-inline1" type="svg"/></Formula>) to systematically understand the effect on pedestrian’s willingness to cross the road and user preferences of a light-based eHMI (light bar on the bumper) and two sound-based eHMIs (bell sound and droning sound), and combinations thereof. We found no objective change in pedestrians’ willingness to cross the road based on the nature of eHMI, although people expressed different subjective preferences for the different ways an eHMI may communicate, and sometimes even strong dislike for multi-modal eHMIs. This shows that the modality of the evaluated eHMI concepts had relatively little impact on their effectiveness. Consequently, this lays an important groundwork for accessibility considerations of future eHMIs, and points towards the insight that provisions can be made for taking user preferences into account without compromising effectiveness.

Highlights • Gene expression in response to Cd: The study analyzed the expression levels of several genes (RAMP6, HIPP26, HIPP27, HMA2, and MAPK2) in response to CdCl2 exposure. The results showed an overall increase in gene expression with higher Cd concentrations, except for HMA2 at 1000 µM CdCl2.• MAPK2 expression variability: The expression of MAPK2 varied among kale varieties, with an overall decrease in Kale 23. This may be due to mutations in the MAPK2 primers and potential cell death in higher CdCl2 concentrations.• Role of RAMP6: RAMP6 was found to have a proportional increase in expression with increasing CdCl2 concentrations, suggesting its role in Cd metabolism in B. Oleracea.• HIPP26 and HIPP27 Potential Roles: While studies specific to B. Oleracea are lacking, findings from A. thaliana suggest that HIPP26 and HIPP27 may be involved in Cd influx in B. Oleracea, with HIPP27 possibly playing a role in Cd detoxification.• Kale varietal resistance: Domestic B. Oleracea kale varieties exhibited greater resistance to Cd stress compared to hybrid varieties, highlighting the potential for phytoremediation.

The selection of handling equipment represents an important aspect of operational planning in logistics centers and affects the potential increase in work efficiency. Therefore, it is necessary to consider various factors when making decisions regarding the selection of handling equipment. This paper presents the selection of an electric forklift for the needs of loading and handling activities in a closed warehouse of the GTC (Goods Transport Center) Doboj. An MCDM model, consisting of FUCOM (Full Consistency Method) and MARCOS (Measurement of Alternatives and Ranking According to the COmpromise solution) was applied to evaluate electric forklifts. The FUCOM method was used to determine the values of criteria, and the MARCOS method was used to evaluate electric forklifts. After obtaining the results, sensitivity analysis and comparative analysis were performed.