The tendency to abolish, to obtain heat from coal in order to reduce atmospheric pollution, leads to the closure of coal deposits. The alternative for obtaining heat, especially in the category of heating smaller residential buildings, with wood pellets, although acceptable from an ecological point of view, has its drawbacks, if one takes into account the scale of the required amount of energy and the role of the forest in purifying the air. Wood pulp and coal as basic energy carriers have hydrocarbon compounds. So, in both cases COx and NOx gases appear as gaseous products. The difference is in their scale. Unlike wood, coal also contains sulfur compounds, which makes it an environmentally unacceptable fuel. By adding a certain amount of wood pulp and additives to the coal mass, in this work, pyrophyllite shale, the impact on the energy and ecological aspects of heat release of such a complex fuel mixture was investigated. The ecological aspect is accentuated through the release of sulfur from coal. The mixture was subjected to the briquetting process, and the obtained samples were tested with relevant parameters, primarily the obtained lower heat value and sulfur content (SOx) in these products. The obtained results are very optimistic with both parameters mentioned above and can be a guide for further research for this idea. Key words: coal, wood sawdust, briquette, calorific value, sulfur, ecology.

Considering the escalating global prevalence and the huge therapeutic demand for the treatment of hypertension, there is a persistent need to identify novel target sites for vasodilator action. This study aimed to investigate the role of TRPA1 channels in carvacrol-induced vasodilation and to design novel compounds based on carvacrol structure with improved activities. In an isolated tissue bath experiment, it was shown that 1 µM of the selective TRPA1 antagonist A967079 significantly (p < 0.001) reduced vasodilation induced by 3 mM of carvacrol. A reliable 3D-QSAR model with good statistical parameters was created (R2 = 0.83; Q2 = 0.59 and Rpred2 = 0.84) using 29 TRPA1 agonists. Obtained results from this model were used for the design of novel TRPA1 activators, and to predict their activity against TRPA1. Predicted pEC50 activities of these molecules range between 4.996 to 5.235 compared to experimental pEC50 of 4.77 for carvacrol. Molecular docking studies showed that designed molecules interact with similar amino acid residues of the TRPA1 channel as carvacrol, with eight compounds showing lower binding energies. In conclusion, carvacrol-induced vasodilation is partly mediated by the activation of TRPA1 channels. Combining different in silico approaches pointed out that the molecule D27 (2-[2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-methylphenyl]acetamide) is the best candidate for further synthesis and experimental evaluation in in vitro conditions.

In recent years, the oak lace bug, Corythucha arcuata, has emerged as a significant threat to European oak forests. This species, native to North America, has in the last two decades rapidly extended its range in Europe, raising concerns about its potential impact on the continent's invaluable oak populations. To address this growing concern, we conducted an extensive study to assess the distribution, colonization patterns, and potential ecological niche of the oak lace bug in Europe. We gathered 1792 unique presence coordinates from 21 Eurasian countries, utilizing diverse sources such as research observations, citizen science initiatives, GBIF database, and social media reports. To delineate the realized niche and future distribution, we employed an ensemble species distribution modelling (SDM) framework. Two future greenhouse gas scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) were considered across three-time intervals (2021-2040, 2061-2080, and 2081-2100) to project and evaluate the species' potential distribution in the future. Our analysis revealed that significant hotspots rich in host species occurrence for this invasive insect remain uninvaded so far, even within its suitable habitat. Furthermore, the native ranges of Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) and Hungarian oak (Quercus frainetto L.) species offer entirely suitable environments for the oak lace bug. In contrast, the pedunculate oak and sessile oak distribution ranges currently show only 40 % and 50 % suitability for colonization, respectively. However, our predictive models indicate a significant transformation in the habitat suitability of the oak lace bug, with suitability for these two oak species increasing by up to 90 %. This shift underlines an evolving landscape where the oak lace bug may exploit more of its available habitats than initially expected. It emphasises the pressing need for proactive measures to manage and stop its expanding presence, which may lead to a harmful impact on the oak population across the European landscape.

This paper is based on the analysis of the relationship between early education, mathematical skills, and student achievement in Bosnia & Herzegovina, using data from the trends in international mathematics and science study (TIMSS) 2019. The study involves 5,628 fourth-grade students whose average age was 10.1 years. The research specifically focuses on factors such as the age of students at the beginning of schooling, attendance at preschool institutions, and their mathematical skills before starting school. Through the application of SPSS analysis, insights into the statistical relationships and trends between these factors are provided, emphasizing the importance of early educational experiences to improve the quality of education in Bosnia & Herzegovina. The analysis results show that the length of stay in preschool institutions, attendance in preschool programs, and the early acquisition of mathematical skills (counting skills, recognition of numeral representations, numeral writing, simple addition, and subtraction) impact later mathematical achievements of students.

This paper presents a full degrees-of-freedom (DOFs) robust control design for a nonlinear quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operating under bounded disturbances. Second-order sliding modes controllers (SOSMCs) are designed so that the quadrotor UAV can follow a 3D trajectory in the presence of model uncertainties, underactuation, as well as external disturbances that may be matched or mismatched, and vanishing or nonvanishing. The stability analysis of the closed-loop system is presented via the Lyapunov method, showing the finite-time convergence of the system trajectories to the sliding surfaces, as well as the finite-time convergence of the quadrotor position and attitude to their reference values. The high-gain adaptation (HGA) method is adopted in the SOSMC technique, called SOSMC-HGA, to alleviate the chattering phenomenon. Simulation studies in different scenarios demonstrate that the SOSMC technique exhibits superior tracking performance and robustness properties compared to concurrent control methods for tracking reference trajectories of quadrotor UAVs. The simulation results confirm that SOSMC-HGA significantly attenuates the chattering phenomenon in control signals and system states, which is an important improvement, as it increases the safety of UAVs and reduces power consumption.

The aim of this work is to study joining Al 2024-T3 alloy plates with different welding procedures. Aluminum alloy AA 2024-T351 is especially used in the aerospace industry. Aluminum plates are welded by the TIG and MIG fusion welding process, as well as by the solid-state welding process, friction stir welding (FSW), which has recently become very important in aluminum and alloy welding. For welding AA2024-T35 with MIG and TIG fusion processes, the filler material ER 4043—AlSi5 was chosen because of reduced cracking. Different methods were used to evaluate the quality of the produced joints, including macro- and microstructure evaluation, in addition to hardness and tensile tests. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the FSW sample was found to be 80% higher than that of MIG and TIG samples. The average hardness value of the weld zone of metal for the MIG- and TIG-produced AA2024-T3511 butt joints showed a significant decrease compared to the hardness of the base metal AA2024-T351 by 50%, while for FSW joints, in the nugget zone, the hardness is about 10% lower relative to the base metal AA2024-T3511.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the disturbances in the concentration of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D) in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its correlation with airflow obstruction. Materials and methods: A prospective study included 200 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD in the Department of Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis and Pulmonology Polyclinic of University Clinical Hospital Mostar in the period of three years, between May 2021 and May 2024. Inclusion criteria were a stable phase of COPD, hemodynamically stable patients older than 40 years, forced vital capacities in the first second (FEV1)/forced vital capacities (FVC) <0.7, and patients with PTH, vitamin D, calcium, and phosphate measurements. Exclusion criteria were acute exacerbation of COPD in the last month; current treatment with nutritional supplements, vitamins, and statins; lack of availability of lung function data; use of systemic corticosteroids in the previous three months; chronic renal insufficiency, respiratory diseases other than COPD (asthma, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and bronchiectasis), and other diseases (cancer and parathyroid disease). Medical records about demographic data (age and gender), pulmonary function test (FVC, FEV1, FEV1%FVC, mean expiratory flow (MEF)50), body mass index (BMI), COPD assessment test (CAT), Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale, and serum PTH, vitamin D, calcium, and phosphate levels were obtained. Results: Patients with higher COPD stage had lower spirometry values, most significantly MEF50. The higher the COPD group (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) D), the lower vitamin D and the higher PTH levels were. Calcium and phosphate values were the same for all groups. Vitamin D and PTH levels significantly correlated with MEF50 values. The lower MEF50 level, the higher PTH levels, and lower vitamin D levels were found (P<0.05). Conclusion: Our study showed that the patients in the higher COPD group have lower vitamin D levels and higher PTH levels, indicating that they developed secondary hyperparathyroidism. The levels of vitamin D and PTH correlated the most with MEF50 values while other spirometry parameters did not significantly correlate with vitamin D and PTH levels.

Simple Summary This study examined the skull characteristics of Holstein and Simmental cattle to provide reference values for future research. We collected 54 skulls of young male cattle from Turkey to conduct 27 measurements and calculate eight indices. Holstein skulls tended to be longer, though not markedly, but they exhibited notably longer nasal bones and shorter skull lengths. Holsteins also had wider faces. A statistical analysis showed that overall size differences did not separate the breeds, but certain skull features did. Simmental skulls had higher basal index values and wider occipital regions, likely due to their larger skull size and weight, which provides more space for muscle attachment. Holsteins had more oval-shaped eye sockets, while Simmentals had wider, rounder ones. These findings help identify breed-specific traits and offer insights into how each breed’s skull structure supports their functions. This knowledge is valuable for breeding and conservation, and future research should look into the genetic and environmental factors influencing these traits. Abstract This study aimed to reveal the morphological characteristics of pure Holstein and Simmental skulls and to obtain reference values for morphometric analysis. Moreover, 54 skulls from 12- to 14-month-old male Holstein (n = 25) and Simmental (n = 29) cattle were collected from Turkey’s Southeastern Anatolia Region between 2023 and 2024. Linear measurements indicated that Holsteins had longer skulls compared to Simmentals. Holsteins exhibited significantly higher values for the greatest length of nasals and the shortest skull length. The facial breadth was wider in Holsteins and statistically distinctive between the breeds. Holsteins had a more oval orbital bony roof, while Simmentals exhibited a wider orbital structure. The orbital index was higher in Holsteins, distinguishing between the two breeds. It was observed that Simmental cattle had a wider occipital region. This difference is likely due to the larger lateral appearance of the Simmental skull, which has more body weight and provides a larger surface area for muscle attachment. These differences not only aid in breed identification but also offer insights into the functional adaptations of each breed. Future research should explore the genetic and environmental factors contributing to these morphological traits, further enriching our knowledge of cattle morphology and its implications for breeding and conservation efforts.

Robots and other autonomous agents are well-positioned in the research discourse to support the care of people with challenges such as physical and/or cognitive disabilities. However, designing these robots can be complex as it involves considering a wide range of factors (e.g., individual needs, physical environment, technology capabilities, digital literacy), stakeholders (e.g., care recipients, formal and informal caregivers, technology developers), and contexts (e.g., hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient care facilities, private homes). The challenges are in gaining design insights for this unique use case and translating this knowledge into actionable, generalizable guidelines for other designers. This one-day workshop seeks to bring together researchers with diverse expertise and experience across academia, healthcare, and industry, spanning perspectives from multiple disciplines, including design, robotics, and human-computer interaction, with the primary goal being a consensus on best practices for generating and operationalizing design knowledge for robotic systems for care settings.

We report a case of a 34-year-old woman diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer at 12 weeks of pregnancy. The oncology team opted for neoadjuvant chemotherapy while continuing the pregnancy. To exclude metastatic liver disease, CT was not feasible due to radiation risks, and liver MRI was avoided due to concerns about gadolinium deposition in the fetal basal ganglia.

Post-disaster scene understanding frameworks are increasingly crucial in Search And Rescue (SAR) operations. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) provide an efficient means to carry out the task of scene understanding due to the higher altitudes at which they function. However, complex environments in post-disaster scenarios make it difficult for UAVs to detect humans or objects accurately. Inefficient object detection mechanisms lead to low accuracy for object detection tasks. Hence, to mitigate these issues, we propose a UAV and GAN-aided Ensemble Network (UGEN) framework for efficient ORAN-based post-disaster survivor detection. This approach deploys a Context-Conditional Generative Adversarial Network (CCGAN)-based model to remove occlusion in the images obtained from the UAVs. The UGEN framework classifies entities present in the visual scope of the UAV using a semantic segmentation framework deployed on the CCGAN-enhanced images, resulting in a pixel-level prediction of entities present in the post-disaster images. An ensemble network comprising a combination of single-stage and multi-stage detectors detects survivors present in the post-disaster scenario, thereby combining the benefits of both architectures, resulting in a reduced false negative rate and improved performance. An Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) executes data propagation between the UAV and the ground station for reduced transmission latency. The proposed model achieved a survivor detection accuracy of 96.7%.