In this paper, the results of measurements of indoor radon activity concentration in fourteen elementary schools in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, are presented. Measurements were performed with CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors. Radon activity concentration in investigated locations was 6.8-143 Bqm-3. To assess the indoor radon hazards for people, the annual effective dose, excess lifetime cancer risk, and the relative risk of lung cancer were estimated.

Background: Non-surgical periodontal therapy, including mechanical debridement and root planning, is the gold standard in the treatment of periodontal diseases. The most commonly used instruments for non-surgical therapy are sonic/ultrasonic devices and manual instruments such as curettes. Objective: This study evaluates the clinical effectiveness and patient experience of non-surgical periodontal therapy using the Vector® Paro Pro ultrasonic device, emphasizing its impact on periodontal indices and patient comfort. Methods: Fifty patients with gingivitis, periodontitis, or peri-implantitis participated. Baseline data, including Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), Papillary Bleeding Index (PBI), Probing Depth (PD), and Clinical Attachment Loss (CAL), were recorded. Patients underwent treatment using the Vector® Paro Pro system. Evaluations were conducted at baseline, two weeks, and one month post-therapy. Statistical analyses utilized repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-tests, with a significance threshold of p<0.05. Patient experience was assessed via a questionnaire. Results: All periodontal indices showed significant improvement post-therapy. The mean PI decreased from 1.18±0.12 to 0.52±0.08 after two weeks and 0.44±0.09 after one month (p<0.001). Significant reductions were observed in PBI (from 1.68±0.10 to 0.46±0.09) and PD (>4 mm pockets: from 5.55±0.19 to 3.65±0.45; p<0.001). CAL improved significantly (from 0.80±0.18 to 0.70±0.16 after one month; p<0.001). Patient-reported outcomes revealed that 98% experienced no pain during therapy. Conclusion: The Vector® Paro Pro ultrasonic device demonstrated significant clinical improvements in periodontal health, particularly in bleeding reduction and deep pocket management. Its hydroxyapatite-enhanced fluid effectively polished root surfaces and reduced post-therapeutic sensitivity. Patients reported minimal discomfort, underscoring the device’s potential as a comfortable, efficient alternative for non-surgical periodontal therapy. Further studies with longer follow-up periods are recommended to confirm these findings.

Background: As a surgical nurse in a healthcare team, it is helpful to position the patient, depending on the nature of the procedure, and to prepare independently both the instrumentation and the site of surgery with drapes prior to the surgical procedure. Objective: To examine the experience of surgical nurses in their work with the WHO surgical checklist in Sweden. Methods: Data were collected from one hundred and ninety-six healthcare professionals, including thirty-nine surgical nurses, using a self-administered questionnaire. The Mantel-Haenszel and Pearson χ2 tests were used for ordered and unordered categorical variables. The qualitative data was presented in the form of the positive and negative contribution of the checklist and the text was analyzed according to Graneheim and Lundman. Results: Surgical nurses (61.6%) answered “no” to the question about being educated and trained in using checklists. Almost the same answer was given when it came to adapting the checklist to the department and the fact that the assistant nurse was responsible for ensuring the checklist was used (61.5%). 89.9% of them did not know who was responsible for implementing the checklist before surgery. According to (56.4%), the checklist was used all the time in emergencies, while (12.8%) of them stated that they did not believe that the checklist improved patient safety. Conclusions: Compliance with the WHO’s checklist varies, and the observed compliance is lower than that documented. The surgical nurses gave the same responses as others in the team. Clearer procedures are needed during surgery, specifying how the checklist should be used in practice, and there should be a designated person who is responsible for implementing the checklist.

Red mud, byproduct of the aluminum industry, poses a significant environmental problem due to its chemical composition and the large quantities generated. This study explores the potential for its valorization through a multi-step process that includes reduction, leaching with acid solution, purification, and ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP). In the first step, red mud undergoes carbothermal reduction, during which metal oxides are transformed into metal phase and slag. In the second step, the slag is subjected to leaching under various conditions, including changes in pressure, temperature, and acid concentration, which allows the recovery of titanium in the form of titanium oxysulfate and other metals. Finally, after purifying the solution using precipitation or solvent extraction, ultrasonic spray pyrolysis is used to synthesize titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanopowders from titanium oxysulfate (TiOSO₄). This integrated approach not only reduces waste but also produces high-value materials with broad industrial applications.

Sustainable joining technologies are important manufacturing processes for the production of high-quality joints of electrical connections. High-quality connections must have high electrical and thermal conductivity to reduce energy losses during their lifetime, they must have high mechanical properties to achieve a long service life, and they must be manufactured with lower energy consumption. In this article, the properties of solid wire electrical contacts produced by ultrasonic welding and soldering were compared. Ultrasonic welding of thin solid copper wires was performed with a copper ring. A particular focus of this study is on the energy used to produce these joints. The research included electrical resistance, peel strength and tensile strength tests, The results of the electrical resistance showed similar electrical resistance between the two processes. The result of mechanical strength shows that ultrasonic joints achieved higher mechanical strength. The most important result is that ultrasonic welding consumed only 11% of the energy to produce the joint compared to soldered joints.

This paper aims to compare the mechanical and structural properties of butt-welded properties of dissimilar aluminum alloys 2024-T351 and AA 6082-T6 obtained by MIG and TIG welding processes. Alloy AA 6082 T6 is well weldable by classic fusion welding processes (MIG and TIG), while alloy 2024-T351 is almost non-weldable. For the welding of these two different Al alloys, MIG and TIG welding procedures were used on 8 mm thick sheet metal using additional material 4043A (AlSi5) and a mixture of argon and helium as a protective gas for the MIG welding process, or pure argon for the TIG welding process. The paper compares the mechanical properties of welded joints obtained by MIG and TIG welding. The microstructural evolution of the welded joint of dissimilar aluminum alloys AA6082-T6 and AA2024-T351 is compared. The mechanical properties of welded joints of dissimilar aluminum alloys are compared based on the results of Vickers hardness tests, tensile and bending tests of welded samples.

Introduction: Metacognition, which refers to the ability to oversee and regulate one's cognitive activities, plays a crucial role in medical education. Evaluating metacognitive awareness is particularly important for university students, as it impacts their learning strategies and academic performance. The objective of this study was to examine the psychometric characteristics of the Serbian adaptation of the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (MAI), with an emphasis on its construct validity and internal consistency. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade, on third-year medical students during October 2024. The psychometric properties of the Serbian version of the MAI were evaluated by assessing its factorial structure and internal consistency. The MAI consists of 52 items, comprising two primary components: 'Knowledge of Cognition' and 'Regulation of Cognition'. The subcomponent of "knowledge of cognition" were categorized into declarative knowledge, procedural knowledge, and conditional knowledge, whereas "regulation of cognition" subcomponent were classified into planning, information management strategies, comprehension monitoring, debugging, and evaluation. Results: A total of 426 medical students were included in the study. The mean age of the respondents was 21.3 ± 1.4 years, and the majority were females (68.5%). The mean score of the scale was 199.0. The internal consistency analysis of the Serbian version of the MAI questionnaire yielded a Cronbach's a of 0.94, and a McDonald's o of 0.95 for the entire scale, which indicates excellent scale reliability. The Serbian version of the MAI questionnaire was validated using confirmatory factor analysis, supporting both the hypothesized eight-factor and two-factor structures. The eight-factor model showed good fit indices (IFI = 0.908, CFI = 0.905, RMSEA = 0.042), with statistically significant factor loadings (p < 0.05). Similarly, the two-factor model demonstrated adequate fit (IFI = 0.921, CFI = 0.918, RMSEA = 0.039), with all loadings also significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The present study revealed the Serbian version of MAI as reliable and valid tool for identifying medical students' metaconginive awareness.

TIG welding is used when a good weld appearance and a highest quality of the weld are required Nevertheless, the process has also some major disadvantages like relatively shallow penetration capability and low productivity. To increase the penetration and/or productivity, instead of traditional pure Ar, gas mixtures containing gases with high thermal conduction can be used. For austenitic stainless steels, as they are not prone to hydrogen cracking, also H2 is suitable. As H2 is active gas, the process is called Tungsten Active Gas (TAG). In this research, austenitic stainless steel sheet was welded with a competitive welding speed of 40 cm min−1, with pure argon and with Ar+7.5 H2 mixture. With pure Ar, a welding current of 220 A was far too small to reach full penetration in 3 mm sheet. With the 7.5 H2 active gas mixture, only 130 A was sufficient with unchanged welding speed.

This study empirically explores short run and long run causality between institutional financial inclusion and income inequality in 22 members of European Union (EU) divided in two subpanels: Old EU members and New EU Member states (NMS). A panel VECM (PVECM) approach is utilized to observe the dynamic causal relationship between financial inclusions on income inequality when control the effect of economic development on inequality. The current level of financial inclusion in the old EU members only through expansion ATMs services lead to decrease income inequality in long run while it contributes through expansion commercial bank branches in short run. On the contrary, the study finds weak and subdued effect financial inclusion on income inequality in the NMS countries in long run, while only expansion commercial bank branches lead to decrease income inequality in short run. The results show that financial inclusion measured by commercial bank branches contributes to more equal income distribution for both regions, only in the short run. In fact, deepening institutional financial inclusions by increasing availability and diversify of specialized financial products and ATM services are still needed to address impediments to financial inclusion, especially in the NMS.

Background: The Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains a major public health challenge worldwide, with survival outcomes heavily influenced by early intervention. The presence of an initial shockable rhythm significantly increases the likelihood of survival when combined with timely cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation. Objective: To analyze patient outcomes and the incidence of bystander and dispatch-guided CPR in cases of OHCA with an initial shockable rhythm treated by physician-led emergency medical teams in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: Data for this study were collected over a 5-year period, from January 2019 to September 2023, using the Utstein protocol. Hospital records were analyzed to determine patient outcomes, with a focus on the 30-day survival rate and favorable neurological outcomes. Instances of dispatch-guided and bystander CPR were recorded for each case based on available patient records. Results: In this study, 1,020 patients were included, with 151 cases (14.8%) having an initial shockable rhythm, of which 14.3% of males and 4.4% of females achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). ROSC rates varied by year, with the highest in 2019 (20.4%) and 2022 (17.9%). Thirty-day survival with a good neurological outcome was observed in a small percentage of cases. The initial shockable rhythm was found to be statistically significant (p<0.001) for achieving a good neurological outcome after 30 days. Dispatch-guided CPR was attempted in 12.9% of cases, with success in 1.9%. Bystander CPR was performed in 1.4% of cases, and only one case involved the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). The median response time for successful resuscitations was 2 minutes, while for unsuccessful resuscitations, it was 6 minutes. The findings emphasize the role of age, initial rhythm, and response time in determining outcomes for OHCA patients. Conclusion: The promising survival rate of OHCA patients, despite limited bystander CPR, highlights the impact of short response times and skilled physician-led teams, underscoring the need for public education and a unified registry to address gaps and better understand OHCA epidemiology in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Background: In the year 2024 Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) celebrates 130 years anniversary of establishing the Regional hospital in Sarajevo (Landesspittal) which played great role in healthcare protection of B&H population and also of education over 60 percent of medical staff in B&H. Great role have had also a lot of other medical institutions in B&H, most of them established and organized during Austro-Hungarian period. Objective: The aim of this article was to describe historical facts how mentioned institutions were founded and what was importance of functioning all of them during the past. Methods: The author searched important historical facts about establishing and works of hospital anf other institutions and their roles in healthcare protection of population in B&H in period from 1878 until 1941. using facts published in the books and articles deposited in indexed databases PubMed Central, Scopus, etc. Results and Discussion: During Ottoman Empire were established 5 Waqf''s hospitals (Sarajevo, Tuzla, Banja Luka, Mostar and Travnik by Governor Sherif Osman Topal Pasha (1861 until 1869)). After Berlin Congress and ocupation by Austro-Hungarians for 6 District - 6 Governments (Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Bihac, Travnik, Tuzla and Mostar, Bosnian Council has appointed district medical references, and in 66 districts (counties) were set up district, and county medical officers, mostly doctors. In each county council there was a sanitary commission of 3 members (the district doctor, a police officer and municipal councilor), whose task was to carry out sanitary control (inspection). The Medical Department of the Provincial Government published the relevant legal acts and regulations at the state level, The first official hospital established in B&H was Land hospital opened in 1894 and had 303 hospital beds in 4 departments: the first Internal Department with diseases of the throat and nose (not the ear) with 45-50 beds, the Second - Surgical Department with ophtalmology (for ear surgery) with 45-50 beds, the Third - Dermatology and Venerology ward with 70-80 beds and the fourth - Gynaecology-Obstetrics Department with 70-80 beds. It will be a good basis for training future teachers pioneers of medicine and generations of medical students attend the 80 years of study in Sarajevo. True, most students of this generation will be mobilized during the war, some will move on to medical faculties in other cities Tuzla, Banja Luka, Mostar, Foca, Zenica, Bihac. The first Faculty of Medicine in Bosnia and Herzegovina officialy established in November 16th 1946. Conclusion: All institutions described in this article played important role in the history of healthcare education and healthcare protection.

Background: Transplantation of cells, tissues, and organs enables many patients to regain impaired organ function, promoting healing or prolonging life and improving overall quality of life. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of students in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding organ donation and transplantation of organs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 255 students from four different faculties in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the majority enrolled in either the Faculty of Medicine or the Faculty of Health Sciences. The students collected data using a self-administrative questionnaire, providing sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge and attitudes about organ donation and transplantation. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel version 3645 and R studio v2024.04.2, based on R 4.4.1. Results: Out of all students, 49 of them (19.3%) demonstrated poor knowledge, while 131 students (51.6%) exhibited average knowledge. Analyzing the data by Faculty type revealed significantly higher levels of knowledge among students in Medical and Health faculties compared to those in the Educational Science Faculty (χ2=10.196, p=0.006). Regarding attitudes, 56 students (22%) had a negative attitude, while 117 students (45.9%) had a highly positive attitude. Only 13 students (5.1%) owned a donor card. Conclusion: Students from Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences generally possess higher basic knowledge about organ donation, yet despite this knowledge, their attitudes toward organ donation often remain negative. It is essential to implement effective strategies aimed at raising awareness and fostering a positive attitude toward organ donation.