In the public safety sector, 5G offers immense opportunities for enhancing mission-critical services by provisioning virtualized service functions at the network edge, which enables achieving high reliability and low-latency. One of these mission-critical services is Back Situation Awareness (BSA) that supports Emergency Vehicles (EmVs) by increasing awareness about them on the roads. In this article, we introduce an on-demand BSA application service, which has been developed for multi-domain Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) systems, enabling early notification for vehicles on the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) of an approaching EmV. The state-of-the-art approaches inform civilian vehicles about EmVs only when they are in a close proximity (up to 300 m). However, in some situations (e.g., in congested areas), this may not be enough for the civilian vehicles to safely and timely maneuver out of the lane of an EmV. Our approach is, to the best of our knowledge, a unique way to significantly extend this awareness by creating an orchestrated 5G-based MEC deployment of BSA application service on optimally selected edges, thereby stretching over multiple edge domains and even countries. While consuming the real-time location, speed, and heading of an EmV, such application service affords the drivers with sufficient time to create a clear corridor, allowing the EmV to pass through unhindered in a safe manner thereby increasing the mission success. The detailed design and the performance analysis of the BSA application service that has been created following modern cloud-native principles based on Docker and Kubernetes, is presented in terms of the impact of emergency scale on the MEC system resources and service response time. Moreover, we also introduce a metric called panic indicator, which depicts how the proposed BSA service can potentially help in enabling drivers to calmly maneuver out of the path of an EmV, thereby increasing road safety.

Understanding the concepts related to real function is essential in learning mathematics. To determine how students understand these concepts, it is necessary to have an appropriate measurement tool. In this paper, we have created a web application using 32 items from conceptual understanding of real functions (CURF) item bank. We conducted a psychometric analysis using Rasch model on 207 first-year students. The analysis showed that CURF is a dependable and valid instrument for measuring students’ CURF. The test is uni-dimensional; all items are consistent with the construct and have excellent item fit statistics. The results indicate that the items are independent of each other and unbiased towards the gender and high school background of the students.

Simple Summary Innovations in the value chain of traditional meat products, leading to higher quality or healthier products, can support the niche market for local pig breeds and contribute to their more sustainable conservation. In this context, the present study investigated whether the quality traits of smoked dry-cured ham derived from the local Turopolje pig could be improved by including acorns in the animal’s diet or by innovations in processing methods, such as smoke reduction. The results show that feeding acorns to pigs increased the processing yield but had a limited effect on the quality of the dry-cured ham, as only a few differences in the physicochemical, textural or colour parameters and volatile profile were observed. However, some sensory attributes, such as odour typicality, were affected by the acorn diet. Conversely, this innovation in processing led to a significant reduction in smoke-derived volatile compounds and an improved texture to the lightly smoked hams, as shown by both instrumental and sensory analysis. Abstract The Turopolje pig (TP) is a local Croatian pig breed that almost became extinct in the second half of the 20th century. Today, the TP is still endangered, and a new conservation strategy based on products with higher added value is needed to preserve the breed. There is little information on the quality of TP meat products such as smoked and dry-cured ham, including the impact of natural feeds or processing innovations such as smoke reduction. This study, therefore, investigated the effects of the animal’s diet (either conventionally fed or acorn-supplemented) and the processing method (standard or lightly smoked) on the quality traits of dry-cured TP ham. Twenty hams, evenly distributed among the treatments, were processed for 15 months and then analysed for physicochemical and textural traits, volatiles and sensory profile. The hams from acorn-supplemented pigs lost less weight during processing (p ≤ 0.05). Otherwise, the diet had no significant effect on most examined ham traits. The exceptions were protein content and the texture parameter hardness, which decreased (p ≤ 0.05), and the degree of proteolysis and colour parameters, which increased (p ≤ 0.05) as a result of acorn supplementation. However, these effects were generally small and varied between the inner (m. biceps femoris) and outer (m. semimembranosus) muscles. Furthermore, acorn supplementation was associated with less typical ham odour and lower sensory scores for sweetness and colour uniformity (p ≤ 0.05). The smoke reduction had no effect on the physicochemical and colour properties but resulted in a significant reduction (p ≤ 0.05) in the volatile phenolic compounds and an improved texture to the hams. This was reflected both in reduced (p ≤ 0.05) hardness, identified in the instrumental analysis, and in an increased (p ≤ 0.05) softness, solubility and moistness, identified in the sensory evaluation. To summarize, the quality of the TP ham under the conditions studied was only slightly affected by acorn supplementation, whereas reduced smoking had a more significant effect, which was mainly reflected in an improved texture.

During the COVID pandemic, research has shown an increase in candidemia cases following severe COVID infection and the identification of risk factors associated with candidemia. However, there is a lack of studies that specifically explore clinical outcomes and mortality rates related to candidemia after COVID infection.

: This study explores the accessibility of critical infrastructures (CRITIS) in urban planning, focusing on the City of Sarajevo. CRITIS, essential for societal functioning, encompasses diverse services vital to social, economic, political, health, educational, and administrative systems. The authors leverage geographic information system (GIS) tools to construct an accessibility model for Sarajevo, analysing the spatial availability of critical functions. Six groups of CRITIS indicators, composed of 29 CRITIS elements, were used in the derivation of critical infrastructure accessibility index. The methodological framework was based on implementation of network GIS analysis, interpolation method (IDW) and GIS multi-criteria analysis, which could be applicable to similar research studies. Local communities concentrated in the strict urban core (Ferhadija, Baščaršija) have the best accessibility of CRITIS, while peripheral local communities with a large area, such as Mošćanica and Reljevo, have the lowest. Results suggest a zonal categorization of the urban area, providing valuable insights for spatial planning and future urban development management. The study reveals that the highest value of CRITIS accessibility doesn't necessarily align with the most densely populated areas at local community level.

Remote sensing plays a vital role in analyzing urban changes. In this regard, various datasets collected from satellites today serve as a foundation for decision-makers and urban planners. This study compares the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) as indicators for the creation of surface heat islands. Using Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS C2 L2 images, spatial correlations between land surface temperature (LST) were examined for August 2013, 2019 and 2023. Urban heat islands (UHI) are a contemporary phenomenon and increasingly common in large urban areas compared to surrounding, less populated areas. With the advancement in remote sensing, it is possible to adequately determine the spatial differentiation and prevalence of urban heat islands (UHI). The study is based on Landsat 8 satellite image sets for the Sarajevo basin in August 2013, 2019 and 2023, which were used to analyze LST, NDVI, and NDBI indices. This work indicates a relationship between LST and NDVI but varies depending on the analyzed year. Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) serves as a suitable indicator for surface UHI effects and can be used as an indicator to assess its spatial distribution within a larger urban environment.

The contemporary demographic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a very active topic in academic, but also in wider political and public discourses, particularly in the context of increased depopulation trends. Distinctly negative processes in the natural change and net migration are the result of post-war and transitional circumstances, as well as the socio-economic status of the country. Demographic disparities conditioned by a complex social background (economic, social, political, cultural and environmental factors) are often the subject of geographic research in this area, however, few studies have resulted in a comprehensive demographic categorization of municipalities and cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which would be the first step in detection precise causes of demographic regression. Demographic categorization of municipalities on the basis of as many available demographic indicators as possible is a useful instrument in planning, through which concrete revitalization measures can be created primarily aimed at reducing polarization effects in development and depopulation of continuously deprived regions. This study used demographic data from the last 2013 population census, as well as those from more recent publications of national and entity statistical agencies. Special focus is placed on the index of total population change, population density, vital index, ageing coefficient and share of highly educated population. These indicators were analysed from the aspect of regional disparities, whereby special categories of municipalities and cities were created for each of them, in relation to how favourable is local demographic situation. In the second phase, their multi-criteria data integration was carried out, which more clearly indicate the general level of demographic development of individual municipalities/cities.

The global trend of incorporating students with disabilities into mainstream education is on the rise, a phenomenon observed in countries like Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, the attitudes of parents with typically developing children play a pivotal role in shaping the educational journey of students with special needs within regular school systems. This study aims to delve into the level of sensitization among parents of typically developing students concerning their peers with diverse developmental disabilities in Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Data for this investigation were collected through a survey comprising 10 questions, each offering 3/4 possible responses. The sample size includes 90 parents of typically developing students attending regular schools across North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thematic analysis of survey results unveils challenges and barriers in the inclusive education process, shedding light on parental sensitization. This exploration identifies specific issues and proposes potential solutions to enhance the inclusivity of the education system. The identified issues emphasize the necessity for targeted interventions and proactive measures to raise awareness among parents, fostering a more supportive and inclusive educational environment. By suggesting plausible solutions, this study contributes to the ongoing discourse on inclusive education, serving as a foundation for further research and practical initiatives.

Background: Radical surgical resection for pancreatic head carcinoma offers a chance for cure but unfortunately is only available to a limited number of patients. For a significant number of patients, palliative surgery remains the only option. The question of the most effective approach for patients with borderline resectable pancreatic head carcinoma (BRPHC) remains unresolved. Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the morbidity and mortality following R1 duodenocephalic pancreatectomy and double palliative bypass to explore the most optimal surgical treatment for patients with BRPHC. Methods: Our retrospective cohort study included 64 patients with BRPHC who underwent surgery from 2012 to 2019, with postoperative follow-up for three years. Morbidity and mortality parameters were examined based on the type of surgical treatment: R1 duodenocephalic pancreatectomy or palliative double bypass. Chi-square test, univariate regression, and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used as basic statistical methods in the analysis of the results. Results: Patients undergoing R1 duodenocephalic pancreatectomy had a 3.69 times higher risk of developing biliary leak (p=0.039; 95%CI:1.066, 1.181) and shorter survival compared to those undergoing palliative double bypass (p=0.022). No statistically significant association was found between the type of surgical procedure and other postoperative complications. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the double palliative bypass procedure may be a better option than R1 resection for patients with BRPHC.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Studies often consider colon and rectal cancers together. The combination of CA 19-9 and CEA markers is used to improve diagnostic accuracy, but there are no reports on the use of this combination as a prognostic predictor for CRC. The study by Kamada et al. was the first to use the "tumor marker index" (TMI), the geometric mean of normalized CEA and CA 19-9 in CRC, demonstrating the prognostic capabilities of this novel marker. However, it is not known how the preoperative value of TMI compares and fits into the current system of prognostic factors for preoperative prediction of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Objective: The aim was to investigate the significance of preoperatively determined TMI in predicting three-year overall survival (3Y-OS) and three-year disease-free survival (3Y-DFS) in patients with stage III adenocarcinoma of the upper and middle rectum. Methods: Our retrospective cohort study included 93 patients who underwent open anterior resection of the rectum between January 2015 and December 2020. Optimal cut-off values of the markers were determined by ROC analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22 and R 4.4.0. Results: Patients with TMI ≥1.0158 had a statistically significantly higher likelihood of mortality within three years (p=0.012). Patients with TMI ≥0.979 had a statistically significantly higher likelihood of disease-free survival of less than three years (p=0.003). Compared to CEA and CA 19-9, TMI had the highest AUC for predicting 3Y-OS (0.740, p=0.020) and 3Y-DFS (0.780, p=0.012). Adding TMI to other predictors increased the AUC for predicting both 3Y-OS (from 0.748 to 0.853) (p=0.001) and 3Y-DFS (from 0.711 to 0.850) (p=0.001). Conclusion: Our study confirmed previous findings on the usefulness of preoperative TMI as a prognostic marker, further expanding knowledge about its accuracy by comparing and combining it with established prognostic factors, including CEA and CA 19-9.

Background: One of the main goals of any organization is to achieve certain success, in fact it is the reason for the existence of any organization. Management provides the framework and basis for the control system required to maintain each organization. Management theorists believe that the knowledge and management skills are universal and apply equally to all business processes. Objective: The aim of this article is to present development of health management through history based on facts from appropriate literature as sources. Methods: The method is systematic review of the facts described in the published scientific papers about general and health management stored in scientific databases PubMed Central, Hinari, Scopus, EBSCO, etc., which are relevant to be used in the praxis. Results and Discussion: Management as a method or management skills traces its roots back to the original creation of the human society. In primary community, a human was performing its duties intuitive, and later taught preceding experience, began to plan and organize work activities to help them to more efficiently perform it. That is why it is claimed that management, as a complex activity, is old as human civilization itself. Health management plays a key role in providing a good health care quality, ultimately improving the health of an entire population. Therefore, it is important to provide good education in management to physicians who aspire to be managers and to lead hospitals, clinics and different health institutions. Management in the health care system is an area of scientific management which in terms of economic, socio-economic and socio-political change, crisis and political change, crisis and extraordinary circumstances requires more attention. The world clearly shows a significant interest in the role of all managers in the health sector and highlights the importance of a good and professional managers to solve problems in the functioning of health institutions and their services. At the same time, in the developed countries, the schools of management flourishing by training the managers in managerial skills. Efficiency refers to doing things in a right manner. Scientifically, it is defined as the output to input ratio and focuses on getting the maximum output with minimum resources. Effectiveness, on the other hand, refers to doing the right things. It constantly measures if the actual output meets the desired output. Therefore, efficiency is generally an internal measure and effectiveness an external measure. Conclusion: Health care services, like any other business, need effective managers. Medical and health service managers are either specialists, supervising a clinical department, or generalists, overseeing an entire facility. All management theory in one way or another were good, but could never be uniform for all organizations. That is why today the new theory is based on the fact that each organization requires specific that and that every requires form of management appropriate for it.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis is the most common rheumatic disease characterized by pain, structural changes and impairment of quality of life. This disease has a multifactorial etiopathogenesis, and the main role is attributed to mechanical factors. There is a primary and secondary form of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis diagnosis is carried out on the basis of history, clinical picture and radiological examinations. Osteoarthritis is a major cause of absenteeism for middle-aged people. In the treatment of osteoarthritis, the triad is important: education, rehabilitation and supportive therapy with chondroprotective drugs. As part of the study, 60 patients with clinical and radiographic signs of knee osteoarthritis were given Cartinorm (1500mg glucosamine sulfate, 800mg chondroitin sulfate, 5000mg forti gel, 250mg vitamin C). After 3 months of treatment, there was an improvement in movement, a reduction in pain and an improvement in activities of daily living as measured by the Oswestry score. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reduction of pain, improvement of the clinical picture and improvement of the quality of life, after three months of supportive therapy with chondroprotective drugs (Cartinorm -1500mg glucosamine sulfate, 800mg chondroitin sulfate, 5000mg forti gel, 250 mg vitamin C). Methods: In a study that is prospective, analytical and descriptive, 60 subjects of both sexes with clinical and radiological signs of knee osteoarthritis were included. The study was conducted in six cities (Sarajevo, Tuzla, Banja Luka, Mostar, Zenica and Bijeljina) and lasted three months. During the study for pain relief, patients could only use Paracetamol and all patients took Cartinorm 1x a day. Pain Scale and Ostwestry index tests were performed for each patient to assess the quality of life at the beginning of the study, at the end of the first, second and third month. Results and Results: Total number of 60 subjects with clinical and radiological signs of knee osteoarthritis were included in the study. The analysis of the gender structure showed the dominance of the female gender (43 respondents), compared to the male population (17 respondents). The largest number of respondents had bilateral knee osteoarthritis. Assessment of pain through the VAS pain scale on the first day and at the end of the 3-month study showed a statistically significant reduction in pain. Analysis of the quality of life at the beginning of the study showed that 22 subjects performed activities with many difficulties, and at the end of the study only 5 subjects performed activities with many difficulties, which shows an improvement in the quality of life after 3 months of taking Cartinorm. Conclusion: Proper education of subjects with knee osteoarthritis and application of chondroprotective drugs (Cartinorm) for a period of 3 months showed an improvement in terms of pain reduction measured through the VAS scale, improvement of knee mobility and improvement of quality of life measured through Oswestry Scor.

Background: Prior to 2012, the mesentery was perceived as a fragmented structure, lacking distinct functional and anatomical characteristics, and was merely considered part of other digestive organs. Dr. J. Calvin Coffey's in 2012 in his study redefined the mesentery as a distinct organ with a clearly defined anatomical and histological structure, although its specific function remains under investigation. The continuous structure and unique tissue properties of the mesentery classify it as the 78th independent organ in the human body. Insights into mesenteric adipose tissue have enhanced our understanding of normal metabolic processes and disease etiology, impacting health significantly. Experimental and clinical research highlights the vital roles of visceral adipose tissue, influencing neighboring organ function. The interaction within the brain-gut-liver axis is illuminated by the newfound functions of mesenteric adipose tissue, emphasizing its independent organ status. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the latest findings on the structure and function of the mesentery, focusing on visceral-mesenteric adipose tissue, and assess its role as a new organ in the brain-gut-liver axis. Methods: A comprehensive analysis of clinical and experimental studies on the mesentery's structure and function was conducted, focusing on recent discoveries regarding mesenteric adipose tissue and its role in the brain-gut-liver axis. Results and Discussion: Recent research has revealed the mesentery's unique functions, particularly in mesenteric adipose tissue. Mesenteric adipose tissue plays a crucial role in metabolic functions and influences disease onset. It acts as a vital link in the brain-gut-liver axis, directly influencing hepatic metabolism and disorders such as metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: Scientific evidence confirms the mesentery's anatomical and functional specificities, solidifying its status as the 78th independent organ in the human body. It serves as a crucial link in the brain-mesentery-small intestine-liver axis, impacting health and disease. Ongoing research holds promise for advancing our understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms and treatment approaches for metabolic syndrome and other chronic diseases.

Background: COVID-19 affects all organ systems, including the visual organs. Clinical manifestations encompass all segments of the eye. Neuro-ophthalmic manifestations are rare and can occur during the acute phase of the illness, during recovery, or in the course of Long COVID. These clinical manifestations include optic neuritis and various forms of encephalomyelitis. Optic neuritis more commonly occurs during the recovery phase from the acute form or during Long COVID. Family physicians are in a position to first diagnose optic neuritis in the early stages. Objective: The aim of this paper is to present a case of optic neuritis occurring in the early stages of the disease, diagnosed in the prehospital period in a family medicine practice with consultations from ophthalmologists, infectologists, and neurologists. Such close collaboration enabled the early administration of corticosteroid therapy. Case report: A case of a 28-year-old woman is presented, who exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 with a confirmed positive antigen for the SARS-CoV-2 virus (PCR nasopharyngeal swab). On the fourth day of illness, sudden loss of vision in the right eye occurred along with headache. Early diagnosis and early administration of corticosteroid therapy led to significant improvement in vision. Conclusion: Clinical manifestations of eye diseases can occur in the early stages of COVID-19 as a direct consequence of viral infection. Ophthalmologist and neurologist examinations are necessary in the early stages of the disease for timely diagnosis of various ophthalmologic and neurologic disorders and adequate therapy.

Introduction: The primary healthcare reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina began in 1999. The focus was on the introduction of family medicine, in comparison to the existing dispensary model of care based on the practice of general medicine. The reform is an ongoing process, and all changes are being implemented to improve patients' satisfaction. Our objective is to analyze patients' satisfaction and the impact of socio-demographic factors on patients' satisfaction with the work of family medicine teams. Methods: This research is an observational and descriptive study conducted in family medicine clinics of the Primary Healthcare Centre in Banja Luka from February 1st to April 1st 2022. The data was gathered using the EUROPEP questionnaire which is a standardized instrument for the evaluation of patients' satisfaction with primary healthcare, as well as a questionnaire with socio-demographic information. The study comprised 250 patients from family medicine clinics in the city, suburbs, and countryside. Results: The analysis of 250 questionnaires has provided answers to 23 questions in the EUROPEP instrument assessing four domains: doctor-patient relation X̅ (4.22) SD (0.85); medical care X̅ (4.32) SD (0.90); information and support X̅ (4.04) SD (0.94); and organization of services X̅ (3.81) SD (0.98). Socio-demographic and other patient characteristics greatly impact family medicine patients' satisfaction with healthcare services. Conclusions: In general, the patients are satisfied with the care provided by the family medicine teams of the Primary Healthcare Centre in Banja Luka, and least satisfied with the organization of services. According to individual questions in the EUROPEP questionnaire, the patients are most unsatisfied with reaching their doctors by phone, receiving advice from them, spending a lot of time waiting in the waiting rooms, and scheduling their appointments.