Peptides released on frogs’ skin in a stress situation represent their only weapon against micro-organisms and predators. Every species and even population of frog possesses its own peptidome being appropriate for their habitat. Skin peptides are considered potential pharmaceuticals, while the whole peptidome may be treated as a taxonomic characteristic of each particular population. Continuing the studies on frog peptides, here we report the peptidome composition of the Central Slovenian agile frog Rana dalmatina population. The detection and top-down de novo sequencing of the corresponding peptides was conducted exclusively by tandem mass spectrometry without using any chemical derivatization procedures. Collision-induced dissociation (CID), higher energy collision-induced dissociation (HCD), electron transfer dissociation (ETD) and combined MS3 method EThcD with stepwise increase of HCD energy were used for that purpose. MS/MS revealed the whole sequence of the detected peptides including differentiation between isomeric Leu/Ile, and the sequence portion hidden in the disulfide cycle. The array of the discovered peptide families (brevinins 1 and 2, melittin-related peptides (MRPs), temporins and bradykinin-related peptides (BRPs)) is quite similar to that of R. temporaria. Since the genome of this frog remains unknown, the obtained results were compared with the recently published transcriptome of R. dalmatina.

Abstract Background Foreign Body (FB) injuries in children are a relevant public health problem associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The characterization of objects causing the injuries is an essential step for developing effective prevention strategies. Scanning the objects causing the injuries would help identify characteristics that make the objects dangerous for young children. The study aims to use 3D scanning within a large series of FB injuries collected in the Susy Safe database to develop a system able to identify the risk profile of everyday objects based on information collected through the scanning study. Methods The Susy Safe is the largest international registry collecting data on FB injuries in children under the age of fifteen. It collects almost 35,000 cases. For each case, information about the child, the object, and the circumstances of the injuries are collected. Furthermore, whenever possible (according to the object type and the approach used for FB removal) also the object is collected. Such objects are undergoing 3D scanning with structured light technology, a common non-contact scanning method allowing for 3D digitization of all dimensions and appearances. Results Currently, 383 objects have undergone 3D scanning. Most objects were made of a stiff material (60%). The scanning of the objects is still ongoing. The digitalized information for each object is collected in a REDCap repository together with all information about the FB injury and the picture of the object. Conclusions The final aim of the project is to develop a web-based application able to identify dangerous objects, based on shape and size parameters, according to the data collected through the scanning. Its objective is to make people aware of the risks posed by particular objects, especially parents and guardians of children. Furthermore, through the web-based application, parents will be able to report injuries and share images on FBs. Key messages • 3D scanning would be a promising opportunity to improve primary prevention of foreign body injuries. • Integrating data from 3D scanning and surveillance systems would represent the basis for the development of a web application able to assist families in identifying hazardous objects.

A unifying design perspective is presented for emulation-based (dynamic) event-triggered state-feedback control of nonlinear systems. The main component of this new approach is to interpret event-triggered controlled systems as the interconnection of hybrid dynamical systems and to analyze the overall system using a hybrid small gain theorem. Based on this new perspective, we unify several event-triggered schemes that were previously proposed in the literature under one umbrella. Moreover, the design approach offers great flexibility and can be used for the development of novel event-triggered schemes and systematic modification and improvement of existing triggering strategies. In this article, we illustrate via simulations that these novel and/or modified event-triggered controllers can lead to a further reduction in the required number of transmissions, while still guaranteeing stability.

Industrial production is currently experiencing a revolutionary transformation through digitization processes and networked technology, so that it necessarily goes through a series of essential changes, which require conceptual design and creation of new terms. In the field of social organization of work, the processes of management and control are experiencing radical changes, and many novelties that bring technological innovations provide the opportunity to analytically observe the interaction relationships of different systems, without losing individuals, organizations and society in the context. Given that digital transformation is not a uniform process, the paper presents the advantages of a holistic approach in the analysis of organizational changes. New ways of organizing work bring various kinds of challenges that must be understood in order to be able to detect the social mechanisms that are at the very basis of change. The paper points out the specific social dimensions of technology that appear during the creation of organizational processes within the framework of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The very term ‘industrial revolution’ is understood in the paper in a broader sense, and includes changes in social relations and the status of certain social groups, and not only changes in the production process and factors of production. The paper explains the status changes in power that are connected with the possibility of making business decisions in various forms of organizational practices, showing the increasingly pronounced complexity of interactional relationships between people and technology, which points to the necessity of interdisciplinary observation and finding a holistic approach to understanding the nature of the changes that are taking place.

Business operations of companies in modern conditions are subject to enormous market, social and especially technological pressures from the environment. Information and communication technologies have become so incorporated both in our everyday life and in the operations of every company, that without them we feel almost lost and helpless. Big Data, as a theoretical (philosophical) concept has existed for decades, but only recently, thanks to the extraordinarily rapid development of information and communication technologies, it has become applicable in practice, and as a business concept it has been recognized as a unique opportunity for success in the business world. Like all organizations, small and medium-sized enterprises can find a unique opportunity to improve their own business in the application of this concept. The number of users is growing exponentially, generating a huge amount of different data every second through different sources (YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Google, Skype, Internet, E-mail). All those unimaginably large amounts of data need to be stored somewhere: processed, analyzed, presented and interpreted, and then propose (suggest) specific business solutions based on those results. Realization of those activities in real or reasonable time, and often unexpected and surprising conclusions, are made possible by the Big Data concept. This article aims to shed light on the concept and technology of Big Data and its application at the level of small and medium enterprises. Big Data is a theoretical and technological concept, which is able to revolutionize the way of decision-making in companies and achieve extraordinary and concrete results. A secondary, but no less important, goal of writing this paper is to point out the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises, which outnumber the large ones. Most of them strive for a stable, dominant and high market position, so it can be concluded that they are extremely important for development and progress of each country.

Introduction: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the most common skin malignancies in the heterogeneous group of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Due to increasing incidence these tumours remain significant health problem worldwide. Methods: We conducted retrospective analysis to evaluate the incidence of primary BCCs and SCCs in our institution from 2003 to 2022, and to correlate it with available clinical data. Results: We noticed that the incidence of NMSC increased between 2018 and 2022 (p<0.01). Among 1570 patients diagnosed with NMSC, BCC represented 77.9% of cases. BCC was constantly more common type of NMSC with statistically significant difference in the period from 2003-2005 and in the period from 2017- 2022 (p<0.01). Nodular subtype of the BCC was the most common, affecting primarily face. Superficial BCC occurred most commonly on trunk (p<0.01), affecting younger patients than the other histological subtypes (mean age 61.29±13.47 years (p<0.01). High-risk BCCs in men were more common on face and scalp (p<0.05). BCCs were predominantly smaller tumours (<2 cm) in contrast to SCCs with highest incidence in pT2-pT4 group (p<0.01). SCC patients were older (mean age 72.89±9.7) than BCC patients (mean age 65.15±12.80) (p<0.01). Conclusion: In order to improve prevention strategies and prevent further increase in incidence, there is need to develop current and exact registries of these malignancies, especially separately BCC and SCC.

: Within the evolving landscape of modern business, a proficient logistics sector stands paramount in fostering regional and global competitive edges. A country's logistics performance, gauged aptly, can influence not just the business outcomes of individual enterprises but also shape the nation's holistic logistics efficacy. This study delves into an examination of logistics standards in European Union (EU) countries, viewed through the lens of the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) as reported by the World Bank. The primary focus is on the LPI data for 2023, with a subsequent exploration of the EU’s performance trajectory from 2007 to 2018. The findings illuminate that specific EU countries consistently uphold superior logistics proficiency, while striving for advancements. Beyond these front runners, many EU countries manifest commendable logistics outcomes, positioning themselves favorably on the global stage.

Perception of sounds and speech involves structures in the auditory brainstem that rapidly process ongoing auditory stimuli. The role of these structures in speech processing can be investigated by measuring their electrical activity using scalp-mounted electrodes. However, typical analysis methods involve averaging neural responses to many short repetitive stimuli that bear little relevance to daily listening environments. Recently, subcortical responses to more ecologically relevant continuous speech were detected using linear encoding models. These methods estimate the temporal response function (TRF), which is a regression model that minimises the error between the measured neural signal and a predictor derived from the stimulus. Using predictors that model the highly non-linear peripheral auditory system may improve linear TRF estimation accuracy and peak detection. Here, we compare predictors from both simple and complex peripheral auditory models for estimating brainstem TRFs on electroencephalography (EEG) data from 24 participants listening to continuous speech. We also discuss the data length required for estimating subcortical TRFs with clear peaks. Interestingly, predictors from simple models resulted in TRFs that were similar to those estimated using complex models, and were much faster to compute. This work paves the way for efficient modelling and detection of subcortical processing of continuous speech, which may lead to improved diagnosis metrics for hearing impairment and assistive hearing technology.

Tussilago farfara L., also known as coltsfoot, is a plant that has been used since ancient times to relieve coughs. Subsequently, the effectiveness of coltsfoot in the treatment of bronchial asthma, pneumonia and other respiratory diseases was established. In this research, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of different coltsfoot extracts was analyzed. The antioxidant activity was monitored through the DPPH radical inhibition efficiency and the extract's reducing ability. Antibacterial activity was tested using the diffusion technique. Tussilago farfara L. extracts showed extremely high antioxidant activity in in vitro conditions. The highest antioxidant capacity was found in extracts prepared by mixing water and organic solvents. High antibacterial activity was found for ethanolic, acetone and aqueous-ethanolic extracts of coltsfoot.

Introduction: The diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease is necessary for the further treatment of patients with the present symptoms, and molecular diagnostics is considered the gold standard. However, it is already known that patients with symptoms of the disease can have a negative test due to various factors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the laboratory parameters in patients with symptoms of COVID-19 infection who have both positive and negative test results. Methods: The study included 101 samples from patients who tested positive for COVID-19 and 101 samples from patients who tested negative, both groups presenting symptoms of COVID-19. Data on the complete blood count, the absolute values of the differential blood count, and the D-dimer values were collected from the samples that were taken. Using blood count data, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios, and systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) were calculated. Results: Based on the examination and research, a significant increase and change in the values of inflammatory indices and D-dimer were determined. In addition to the increase of these values above the reference value, a positive correlation was confirmed between the inflammation index value and the D-dimer value. Conclusion: COVID-19-negative patients with characteristic symptoms of COVID-19 had higher values of lymphocytes and the determination of platelets and SII in these patients can be added to the diagnostic algorithm.

Introduction: The need for this study on the prevalence of hypodontia in a sample of orthodontic patients from Bosnia and Herzegovina arises from the fact that in the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is a lack of data on the prevalence and distribution of hypodontia as a previously defined, growing global problem and that it could emphasize the importance of its early diagnosis, as this is still the best standard for preventing the occurrence of complications due to a lack of teeth. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the prevalence and distribution of hypodontia in orthodontic patients in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: The study was conducted in the Orthodontic Department of the University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Dentistry, with the Center for Clinical Dentistry. The study included all patients who presented to the Orthodontic Department in the period from January 2020 to March 2023 and whose diagnostic protocol included panoramic radiographs, which were analyzed for the purposes of this study. The sample consisted of the orthopantomography radiographs of 5084 patients (2031 males and 3053 females). Results: Hypodontia was found in 6.77% of orthodontic patients, of which 38.4% were male patients and 61.6% were female. The teeth most frequently affected by hypodontia were the second premolars (68.15%). After stratifying the sample by jaw, the most common hypodontic tooth was the second premolar in the mandible and the lateral incisor in the maxilla. Conclusion: We can conclude that the prevalence of hypodontia in orthodontic patients in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its distribution are very similar to the general population. The results of this study may help to improve the early diagnosis of hypodontia as a growing problem, which may reduce the complications that may arise from missing a tooth.

Introduction: Insulin resistance (IR) is a complex pathophysiological condition multifactorial etiology characterized by diminished responsiveness of insulin target tissues. Today, various diagnostic approaches involving different laboratory parameters are available, but simple and non-invasive indices based on mathematical models are increasingly used in practice. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of various clinical surrogate indices in predicting IR across a population with varying body weights. Methods: The matched case-control study was conducted between January 2021 and December 2022. Secondary data extracted from the medical records of 129 subjects was analyzed, including demographic characteristics (age and gender), anthropometric measures (height and weight), and biochemical laboratory test results. y further divided into two subgroups based on body mass index (BMI): overweight (BMI between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2) and obese (BMI of 30 kg/m2 or higher). Using laboratory data values for six widely used clinical surrogate markers were calculated: Homeostatic model assessment for IR (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), Mcauley index (MCAi), metabolic score for IR (METS-IR), Triglyceride to Glucose Index (TyG), and TyG to BMI (TyG-BMI). Results: Significant differences in HOMA-IR levels were observed between the groups (p < 0.001). A similar pattern was found for the TyG-BMI, with notable differences (p < 0.001). The obese participants had the highest mean levels for METS-IR and the TyG index while the control group had the highest mean values for the QUICKI and MCAi indices (p < 0.001). According to the analysis, three indices showed statistical significance in predicting IR independent of BMI (p < 0.05). Sensitivity and specificity were higher in the obese group (0.704 and 0.891) than in the overweight group (0.631 and 0.721). Conclusion: Given that IR is a multifactorial disease, using derived indices based on a combination of biochemical parameters and anthropometric indicators can significantly aid in predicting and mitigating numerous complications.

Introduction: Aging is a natural, irreversible physiological process that depends on genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Many physiological, biological, psychological, and other factors play a major role. According to the World Health Organization, falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury death in the world and represent a major global public health problem. Falls are most commonly caused by intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors. A comprehensive assessment of fall risk is critical to the development of effective fall prevention programs. The screening protocol is brief, easy to use, and multifactorial and allows the identification of risk factors for falls. The aim of this study is to investigate the importance of the presence of risk factors in the home environment and the impact on increasing the risk of falls in people in the third age. Methods: The study was conducted in the municipality of Podgorica. 109 elderly people from urban and rural areas were included in the study using the snowball method. The instruments used in our study are a standardized checklist for assessing risk factors in the home environment, inside and outside the home (HASSAT), and a self-assessment scale of one’s own concern about a possible falls efficacy scale international. The survey was conducted from the end of October to the end of November 2023. Results: There is a statistically significant difference in social and physical activities of daily living in the area of concern about falling. When analyzing the overall result of the fear of falling scale in relation to gender, a significant statistical difference is found. The analysis of the individual rooms in relation to the age of the respondents shows that there is a significant statistical difference. Conclusion: The results obtained show that the high risk of falling is present in all rooms of the home environment for people in their 3rd year of life and that fear of falling increases with age.