There is little research on sexting in the LGBTQ+ population, especially among LGBTQ+ adolescents and emerging adults who face particular challenges such as body image concerns. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the role of body image factors (body surveillance, body shame, control beliefs) in predicting sexting motivations and behavior in LGBTQ+ youth, adolescents and emerging adults. A total of 847 LGBTQ+ individuals (366 adolescents and 481 emerging adults) from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia participated in the online study. The results suggest that, on average, LGBTQ+ adolescents are more motivated to sext than LGBTQ+ emerging adults, but do not differ in the frequency of sexting behavior. The body shame was significantly positively correlated with sexting motivation, while other body-related variables were not correlated with sexting (motivation and behavior). Additionally, among adolescents, control beliefs were negatively correlated with sexting motivation. The strength of these correlations differs between adolescents and emerging adults and is stronger in adolescents. The results of this study provide novel evidence of the complex interplay between body image and sexting motivation and behavior in adolescents and emerging adults, highlighting that body variables are generally more important for adolescents than for emerging LBTQ+.

Hypothermia-related deaths present significant diagnostic challenges due to non-specific and often inconsistent autopsy findings. This study investigated the histological and immunohistochemical alterations associated with primary and secondary hypothermia in an experimental Rattus norvegicus model, focusing on the effects of benzodiazepine and alcohol ingestion. Twenty-one male rats were divided into three groups: control (K), benzodiazepine-treated (B), and alcohol-treated (A). After two weeks of substance administration, hypothermia was induced and multiple organ samples were analyzed. Histologically, renal tissue showed hydropic and vacuolar degeneration, congestion, and acute tubular injury across all groups, with no significant differences in E-cadherin expression. Lung samples revealed congestion, emphysema, and hemorrhage, with more pronounced vascular congestion in the alcohol and benzodiazepine groups. Cardiac tissue exhibited vacuolar degeneration and protein denaturation, particularly in substance-exposed animals. The spleen showed preserved architecture but increased erythrocyte infiltration and significantly elevated myeloperoxidase (MPO)-positive granulocytes in the intoxicated groups. Liver samples demonstrated congestion, focal necrosis, and subcapsular hemorrhage, especially in the alcohol group. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed statistically significant differences in MPO expression in both lung and spleen tissues, with the highest levels observed in the benzodiazepine group. Similarly, CK7 and CK20 expression in the gastroesophageal junction was significantly elevated in both alcohol- and benzodiazepine-treated animals compared to the controls. In contrast, E-cadherin expression in the kidney did not differ significantly among the groups. These findings suggest that specific histological and immunohistochemical patterns, particularly involving pulmonary, cardiac, hepatic, and splenic tissues, may help differentiate primary hypothermia from substance-related secondary hypothermia. The study underscores the value of integrating toxicological, histological, and molecular analyses to enhance the forensic assessment of hypothermia-related fatalities. Future research should aim to validate these markers in human autopsy series and explore additional molecular indicators to refine diagnostic accuracy in forensic pathology.

Industry 4.0 marks a new phase of industrial transformation, driven by the integration of advanced technologies such as industrial robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and cyber‑physical systems (CPS). The Republic of Korea and Singapore are global frontrunners in this domain, ranking first and second worldwide in robot density per 10,000 manufacturing workers. This paper explores how the strategic integration of robotics with key Industry 4.0 technologies contributes to smart manufacturing and enhanced industrial performance. Using a comparative case study approach, the research analyzes national policies, investments in R&D and education, 5G infrastructure, and support for innovation ecosystems that have enabled these countries to develop flexible, automated, and intelligent production systems. Findings indicate that both Korea and Singapore have successfully combined robotics with IoT, big data analytics, and cloud platforms to create efficient and adaptive manufacturing environments. The study emphasizes that robotization alone is not sufficient; its effectiveness depends on alignment with broader digital transformation strategies. Based on longitudinal data from 2013 to 2023, sourced from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the OECD, and national innovation agencies, the research highlights how coordinated implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies fosters sustainable and globally competitive manufacturing.

The historical evolution of auditing reflects an increasing complexity in organizational demands, culminating in the emergence of Audit 5.0—an approach that integrates emerging technologies with professional judgment. This study aims to analyze how technological adoption influences risk assessment and materiality determination in financial auditing within a practical, real-world context. The research, qualitative in nature, combines narrative and thematic analysis of the literature, ethnography in a professional setting, and task analysis, developed over four years of experience in a firm of Chartered Accountants. The findings reveal that although digital tools enhance efficiency and accuracy, professional judgment remains essential to ensure the ethics, reliability, and contextualization of audited information. This study contributes to the advancement of understanding regarding the complementarity between technology and the human factor, proposing paths toward more robust and digitally adapted auditing practices.

Water supply and sewage drainage pipes have a critical role to play in the provision of clean water and sanitation, and pipe material selection influences infrastructure life, water quality, and microbial communities. Zinc-containing compounds are highly valued due to their mechanical properties, anticorrosion behavior, and antimicrobial properties. However, the effect of zinc salts, such as zinc sulfate heptahydrate and zinc chloride, on biofilm-forming bacteria, including Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis, is not well established. This study investigates the antibacterial properties of these zinc salts under simulated pipeline conditions using minimum inhibitory concentration assays, biofilm production assays, and antibiotic sensitivity tests. Findings indicate that zinc chloride is more antimicrobial due to its higher solubility and bioavailability of Zn2+ ions. At higher concentrations, zinc salts inhibit the development of a biofilm, whereas sub-inhibitory concentrations enhance the growth of biofilm, suggesting a stress response in bacteria. zinc chloride also enhances antibiotic efficacy against E. coli but induces resistance in E. faecalis. These findings highlight the dual role of zinc salts in preventing biofilm formation and modulating antimicrobial resistance, necessitating further research to optimize material selection for water distribution networks and mitigate biofilm-associated risks in pipeline systems.

Gender diversity and the inclusion of women in leadership roles are increasingly recognized as critical drivers of organizational equity and sustainability, particularly through their influence on workforce diversity, employee development, and fair compensation practices. While these effects are well-documented in developed economies, evidence from transitional contexts remains limited. This study explores the impact of female leadership on the social dimension of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance in private sector companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Focusing on three key outcome areas—inclusive hiring, investment in employee training, and average employee compensation—it examines whether a higher share of women in decision-making positions correlates with stronger ESG-related practices. Using original data from 131 firms that applied for the 2024 United Nations Development Programme’s SDG Business Pioneers Award, the analysis reveals a positive association between female leadership and all three outcome variables. These findings suggest that gender-inclusive leadership contributes meaningfully to socially responsible business practices, even in transitional economies. By providing empirical insights from Bosnia and Herzegovina, this study adds to the growing body of research on gender and sustainability. It highlights the potential of female leadership as a lever for advancing ESG goals and offers practical implications for policymakers and corporate actors aiming to align business strategy with inclusive and sustainable development.

Disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI) affect up to 40% of people worldwide and in several studies an association with hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) was described. HSD patients frequently report gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and GI dysmotility has been suggested as underlying mechanism. This study evaluates whether individuals with (undiagnosed) joint hypermobility and/or HSD show different GI symptom and motility patterns compared to those without hypermobility/HSD. In this prospective open-label study, patients who were referred for GI motility assessment between 2016 and 2018 were included. Motility assessments included esophageal manometry, gastric emptying test, antro-duodenal manometry, colonic manometry, and/or a colonic transit study. Joint hypermobility was assessed using the Beighton score, and HSD was diagnosed using the Brighton criteria. Symptom severity, anxiety and depression, and quality of life were evaluated through validated questionnaires. Eighty-seven participants were included (73 women, median age 42.0 years), and categorized into HSD (n = 23) and non-HSD (n = 64), with further subdivision by Beighton cut-off values (≥ 4, and ≥ 6). GI symptom scores were high, with 37% of the total population exhibiting depressive symptoms (HADS ≥ 8), and 32% experiencing anxiety. Quality of life scores were generally low, with a physical composite score of 26.9 (13.2) and a mental composite score of 47.3 (17.1). Across all comparisons, no significant differences in GI symptoms or motility patterns were found between all groups. This exploratory tertiary care study found no distinct GI symptom or dysmotility patterns between patients with and without hypermobility/HSD. Further research is warranted to investigate whether GI dysmotility is related to hypermobility.

Inguinal hernia is a prevalent condition requiring surgical intervention, and accumulating evidence suggests that the type of anesthesia administered may influence systemic inflammatory responses. This study investigates the concentrations of inflammatory parameters in patients with inguinal hernia who underwent surgery utilizing either general or spinal anesthesia. The cohort comprised 87 male patients with inguinal hernia, classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status 1-2, who underwent elective surgical procedures. Participants were divided into two groups based on the anesthesia type: 44 received general anesthesia while 43 received spinal anesthesia. Plasma concentrations of leukocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) were quantified using automated immunoassays and a hematological analyzer. Standard parametric and non-parametric statistical tests were employed for data analysis, and the predictive capacity of select parameters, along with body mass index (BMI) and age, was assessed through Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis with Area Under the Curve (AUC). Statistical analysis via the t-test identified significant differences in LBP concentrations (LBP 1, LBP 2, and LBP 3) between patients receiving general and spinal anesthesia. Correlation analysis of BMI and the measured parameters revealed statistically significant positive correlations for LBP 1 and LBP 2 in patients who underwent spinal anesthesia. Notably, the preoperative concentration of LBP, with a cutoff value exceeding 9.7 µg/mL, suggests a potentially superior approach with spinal anesthesia compared to general anesthesia, demonstrating 50% sensitivity and 81.4% specificity. Other parameters did not exhibit statistical significance in differentiating the type of anesthesia used for inguinal hernia surgery.

Background and Objectives While MRI is known to be crucial for TIA workup, the benefit of perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) is underexplored. We aimed to assess the association between focal hypoperfusion on baseline PWI MRI and the long-term incidence of subsequent acute ischemic stroke (AIS) after TIA. Methods Consecutive patients with TIA who underwent baseline PWI MRI as part of their emergency consultation between January 2015 and December 2019 were retrospectively identified. For study inclusion, both a time-based (symptom duration <24 hours) and an imaging-based (no signs of ischemia on diffusion-weighted imaging) TIA definition were applied. Long-term incidences of AIS after TIA were identified based on follow-up reports. Associations between focal hypoperfusion and subsequent AIS were assessed using Cox regression models adjusted for predefined predictors of stroke occurrence including symptomatic extracranial or intracranial stenosis. In subgroup analyses, we aimed to determine effects of focal hypoperfusion within vs outside the expected TIA territory, defined as a brain region potentially correlating with TIA symptoms. Results Of 1,359 eligible patients with TIA, 1,075 with PWI MRI (79%) were included (median age 70 years, 46% female). Focal hypoperfusion was identified in 211 patients (20%); in 116 of 211 (55%), hypoperfusion occurred within the expected TIA territory. The median time from symptom onset to imaging was 233 minutes (interquartile range [IQR] 131–632) for patients with focal hypoperfusion vs 229 minutes [IQR 140–441] for patients without (p = 0.42). Focal hypoperfusion was associated with a higher incidence of AIS (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.13; 95% CI 1.19–3.80). While this was observed for focal hypoperfusion within the expected TIA territory (aHR 3.95; 95% CI 2.05–7.60), there was no such association in case of focal hypoperfusion outside the expected TIA territory (aHR 0.72; 95% CI 0.25–2.03). Discussion Focal hypoperfusion on acute PWI MRI was found in 1 in 5 patients with TIA. It was associated with a higher incidence of AIS during long-term follow-up, especially when within the expected TIA territory. Further research is needed to clarify the predictive value of focal hypoperfusion in relation to the incidence of AIS after TIA and to explore potential therapeutic implications.

The future circular $e^+e^-$ collider (FCC-ee or CEPC) will provide unprecedented sensitivity to indirect new physics signals emerging as small deviations from the Standard Model predictions in electroweak precision tests. Assuming new physics scenarios containing a dark matter candidate and a $t$-channel mediator, we analyse the synergy and interplay of future Tera-$Z$ factories and non-collider tests conducted through direct and indirect searches of dark matter. Our results highlight the excellent prospect for a Tera-$Z$ run to indirectly probe the presence and nature of dark matter.

This article examines the integration challenges faced by foreign workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, based on qualitative data from 16 workers across various professions. It addresses how these workers perceive integration policies and the legal, bureaucratic, social, and cultural barriers they encounter. With a significant outflow of skilled labor from Bosnia, foreign workers play a crucial role in filling the workforce gaps. The European Migration Network predicts a need for 45 million qualified workers in Western Europe, including Bosnia, by 2030, prompting a high emigration rate from the Western Balkans, which, in turn, will increase the demand for foreign labor. This will, in turn, make it more complex for BiH to fulfill its commitment to the Agenda 2030, as set forth by the United Nations in 2015, through the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A low birth rate contributes to the increasing need to increase the labor force, which may ultimately result in social engineering. Although the number of foreign workers in Bosnia has increased, they experience limited access to integration programs and face social isolation and administrative hurdles, which this article analyzes and aims to emphasize better integration policies. Future studies can explore the social acceptance of foreign workers by the locals in Bosnia.