This paper examines the relationship between herbivores and plants with a strong Allee effect. When the plant reaches a particular size, the herbivore attacks it. We use the logistic equation to model plant growth and analyze its behavior without herbivores before investigating their interactions. Our study investigates the equilibrium points and their stability, discovering that different fixed points can become unstable due to various bifurcations such as transcritical, saddle-node, period-doubling, and Neimark–Sacker bifurcations. We have identified the Allee threshold, which, if exceeded, can cause both populations to become extinct below that level. However, we have discovered a coexistence equilibrium that is locally asymptotically stable for a range of parameter values above that threshold. Our additional numerical simulations suggest that this area of stability can be expanded. Our results indicate that this system is highly responsive to its parameters. We compare our findings to those of a system without strong Allee effects and conduct numerical simulations to verify our results. By including the Allee effect in the plant population, we enrich the local and global dynamics of the system.

Aim To investigate morphometric determinants of lumbar canal in patients treated in Cantonal Hospital Zenica, and their variation according to gender. Methods Morphometry of lumbar spinal canal was assessed in 52 patients treated at the Department of Neurosurgery of Cantonal Hospital Zenica in the period between September 2022 and November 2022. Data were collected retrospectively: anteroposterior and transverse diameter of lumbar vertebrae and intervertebral discs, as well as anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal. Results Gender appeared to be an important morphometric determinant, since it significantly differed when it comes to lumbar vertebral anteroposterior and transverse diameter, being mostly larger in males. Conclusion This study increases anatomical knowledge of the vertebras and spinal canal of the lumbar region. Therefore, the measured dimensions of the lumbar vertebrae and spinal canal could be used as a baseline point for evaluation of patients presenting with low back pain and potential spinal canal stenosis.

BACKGROUND Real-world mobility involves walking in challenging conditions. Assessing gait during simultaneous physical and cognitive challenges provides insights on cognitive health. RESEARCH QUESTION How does uneven surface, cognitive task, and their combination affect gait quality and does this gait performance relate to cognitive functioning? METHODS Community-dwelling older adults (N = 104, age=75 ± 6 years, 60 % females) performed dual-task walking paradigms (even and uneven surface; with and without alphabeting cognitive task (ABC)) to mimic real-world demands. Gait quality measures [speed(m/s), rhythmicity(steps/minute), stride time variability (%), adaptability (m/s2), similarity, smoothness, power (Hz) and regularity] were calculated from an accelerometer worn on the lower back. Linear-mixed modelling and Tukey analysis were used to analyze independent effects of surface and cognitive task and their interaction on gait quality. Partial Spearman correlations compared gait quality with global cognition and executive function. RESULTS No interaction effects between surface and cognitive task were found. Uneven surface reduced gait speed(m/s) (β = -0.07). Adjusted for speed, uneven surface reduced gait smoothness (β = -0.27) and increased regularity (β = 0.09), Tukey p < .05, for even vs uneven and even-ABC vs uneven-ABC. Cognitive task reduced gait speed(m/s) (β = -0.12). Adjusted for speed, cognitive task increased variability (β = 7.60), reduced rhythmicity (β = -6.68) and increased regularity (β = 0.05), Tukey p < .05, for even vs even-ABC and uneven vs uneven-ABC. With demographics as covariates, gait speed was not associated with cognition. Gait quality [lower variability during even-ABC (ρp =-.31) and uneven-ABC (ρp =-.28); greater rhythmicity (ρp between.22 and.29) and greater signal-adaptability AP (ρp between.22 and.26) during all walking tasks] was associated with better global cognition. Gait adaptability during even (ρp =-0.21, p = 0.03) and uneven(ρp =-0.19, p = 0.04) walking was associated with executive function. SIGNIFICANCE Surface and cognitive walking tasks independently affected gait quality. Our study with high-functioning older adults suggests that task-related changes in gait quality are related to subtle changes in cognitive functioning.

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We investigated the relationship between serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels and psychopathological symptoms, clinical and socio-demographic characteristics and antipsychotic therapy in individuals with schizophrenia. TNF-α levels were measured in 90 patients with schizophrenia and 90 healthy controls matched by age, gender, smoking status, and body mass index. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to assess the severity of psychopathology in patients. No significant differences in TNF-α levels were detected between the patients and controls (p=0.736). TNF-α levels were not correlated with total, positive, negative, general, or composite PANSS scores (all p>0.05). A significant negative correlation was observed between TNF-α levels and the PANSS cognitive factor (ρ=-0.222, p=0.035). A hierarchical regression analysis identified the cognitive factor as a significant predictor of the TNF-α level (beta=-0.258, t=-2.257, p=0.027). There were no significant differences in TNF-α levels among patients treated with different types of antipsychotics (p=0.596). TNF-α levels correlated positively with the age of onset (ρ=0.233, p=0.027) and negatively with illness duration (ρ=-0.247, p=0.019) and antipsychotic treatment duration (ρ=-0.256, p=0.015). These results indicate that TNF-α may be involved in cognitive impairment in schizophrenia, and would be a potential clinical-state marker in schizophrenia.

Aim To investigate the influence of irregular shifts on increased emotional, physical, and cognitive exhaustion and decreased working performance expressed by the phenomenon of presenteeism. Methods The study sample of 405 healthcare workers from Family medicine centres completed questionnaires in two measurement time points, in 2014 (TP1) and repeated in 2019 (TP2), when 301 respondents remained in the study. Healthcare workers completed questionnaires assessing demographics, work schedules, job burnout, and presenteeism. Results Repeated long-term exposure to rotating day-evening shifts was a significant risk for increased presenteeism (OR=1.689, 95%CI 1.042-2.739; p=0.001) and burnout (OR=1.705, 95%CI 1.237-2.352; p=0.001). Extended working hours are a predictor of presenteeism (OR=1.989, 95%CI 1.042-2.739; p=0.008). Conclusion The adverse effects of rotating day-evening shifts on burnout and presenteeism among healthcare workers in a family medicine centre was little researched, particularly the issue of managing the risks of exposure to rotating day-evening shifts and extended working hours. This study reflects a situation of uncertainty, in which the logic of precaution is imposed on mental health, and keeps working engagements in health care workers. Appropriate management of shift work and better organization of work schedules in the primary healthcare sector protects the wellbeing of healthcare workers and patients, efficient work, and quality of health care, and invites for future research on better working schedules and introducing preventive interventions with available flexibility of working times.