INTRODUCTION: This study was created to analyze dynamic alterations in coagulation, hematological and biochemical parameters and their association with mortality of COVID-19 patients. To identify the most sensitive biomarkers as predictors of mortality more research is required. METHODS: The present study was a prospective, one-year-long observational study conducted on all critically ill, COVID–19 patients with respiratory failure. The following data were collected: demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population, comorbidities, coagulation, biochemical and hematological parameters. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who died. RESULTS: 91 patients with median age 60 (50–67), 76.9% male, met the acute respiratory distress syndrome criteria. It was tested whether dynamic change (delta-Δ) of parameters that were found to be predictors of mortality is independently associated with poor outcome. Adjusted (multivariate) analysis was used, where tested parameters were corrected for basic and clinical patients characteristics. The only inflammatory parameter which dynamic change had statistically significant odds ratio was ΔCRP (p < 0.005), while among coagulation parameters statistically significant OR was found for Δ fibrinogen (p < 0.005) in predicting mortality. CONCLUSION: Monitoring of coagulation, hematological and biochemical parameters abnormalities and their dynamical changes can potentially improve management and predict mortality in critically ill COVID –19 patients.

The operating speed is the average value of the speed of traffic flow under normal conditions, i.e., the conditions of mutual interference of traffic participants. The operating speed serves as a gauge for how well a given roadway is performing under the applicable traffic conditions. All key decisions in the management of the growth and utilization of a road network, including planning, designing, evaluating, and implementing road projects, depend on accurate measures of capacity and level of service. This paper aims to develop a recommended model for operating speed on two-lane roads under local conditions by analyzing the operating speeds of the traffic flow on representative sections of such roads. Through the modeling process, the values of the 85th percentile of the operating speed were determined, and compared with relevant studies. The results show that the authors have successfully modeled operating speeds as a function of longitudinal gradient in local conditions on two-lane roads.

Objective − The aim of this research was to evaluate the physical and mental health of emerging adults who lost a parent before the age of 18, and to examine the predictors of satisfaction with physical and mental health. Materials andMethods − The subjects who participated in this study were emerging adults (18-29 years of age) from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. For this study, the equivalent pairs method was used - participants who had experienced the death of a parent were matched with those who had not experienced such a loss in relation to the variables of sex, age, and socioeconomic status, comprising a sample of 29 pairs, i.e., 58 subjects - 50 women and 8 men. The research was conducted via an online questionnaire. Participants completed the Psychosomatic Symptoms Questionnaire, CORE-OM questionnaire for evaluation of general psychopathological difficulties, and were asked to rate their satisfaction with their physical and mental health.Results − The results show no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the levels of satisfaction with physical health, the presence of physical symptoms, and the presence of general psychopathological difficulties. A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in the level of satisfaction with mental health - those who had experienced the loss of a parent reported lower satisfaction with their mental health. The experience of the loss of a parent explained their mental health satisfaction level, above the results of the standardized measures of mental health.Conclusion − The results indicate the need for assessing levels of satisfaction with mental health beyond the assessment of levels of general psychopatological symptoms when working with adults who experienced the early death of a parent.

BACKGROUND: Questions remain regarding optic nerve (ON) physiology, mechanical compliance, and microvasculature, particularly surgical outcomes and atypical visual field defects associated with sellar/parasellar pathology (eg, tumors and aneurysms). OBJECTIVE: To study the microsurgical/histological anatomy of each ON segment and corresponding microvasculature, calculate area of optic-carotid space at each decompression stage, and measure ON tension before/after compression. METHODS: Five cadaveric heads (10 sides) underwent sequential dissection: (1) intradural (arachnoidal) ON dissection; (2) falciform ligament opening; (3) anterior clinoidectomy, optic canal decompression, and ON sheath release. At each step, we pulled the nerve superiorly/laterally with a force meter and measured maximal mobility/mechanical tension in each position. RESULTS: Cisternal ON microvasculature was more superficial and less dense vs the orbital segment. ON tension was significantly lower with higher mobility when manipulated superiorly vs lateromedially. Optic-carotid space significantly increased in size at each decompression stage and with ON mobilization both superiorly and laterally, but the increase was statistically significant in favor of upward mobilization. At decompression step, upward pull provided more space with less tension vs side pull. For upward pull, each step of decompression provided added space as did side pull. CONCLUSION: Opening the optic canal, falciform ligament, and arachnoid membrane decompresses the ON for safer manipulation and provided a wider optic-carotid surgical corridor to access sellar/parasellar pathology. When tailoring decompression, the ON should be manipulated superiorly rather than lateromedially, which may guide surgical technique, help prevent intraoperative visual deterioration, facilitate postoperative visual improvement, and help understand preoperative visual field deficits based on mechanical factors.

Objective - To assess 25(OH)D status in children with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C) associated with SARSCoV-2 infection, and the association between serum levels of 25(OH)D and inflammatory marker values.Patients and methods - This retrospective study was conducted at the Clinic for Children’s Diseases, University Clinical Center, Tuzla in the period from November 2020 to November 2021.Results - The study included 23 children with MIS-C with a median age of 6.9 years, and 22 children with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, with a median age of 1.1 years. Both groups of children had low serum levels of 25(OH)D in the range of deficiency; median levels of 25(OH)D in MIS-C children were lower (median 44.60 nmol/L) than in children with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection - median 52.45 nmol/L. There was no statistically significant difference in 25(OH) D levels between the two groups of children included in the study (P=0.33). The same number of children in both groups had adequate serum levels of 25(OH)D. The children in both groups had elevated markers of inflammation, but we did not find a significant correlation between the values of 25(OH)D and the inflammatory marker values.Conclusion - Deficiency of 25(OH) D could be one of the precipitating factors that lead to the development of both MIS-C - related SARS-CoV-2 and more severe forms of acute infection. 25(OH)D enriched food, as well as supplementation with 25(OH)D, should be considered a long-term strategy in all high-risk children and adolescents.

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis is a simple, reproducible, rapid, and effective method, and therefore, has attracted considerable interest among scientists in the field of synthesis not only of iron oxide but also of other metal oxides. This method has been used for the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles, hematite (α-Fe2O3), and goethite (α-FeOOH) in strongly alkaline media with iron(III) chloride (FeCl3) as precursor under microwave emission of 850 W. In this work, the effect on the size, shape, and composition of the final product was investigated by changing the conditions, such as shortening the synthesis time, increasing the synthesis temperature, and adding various substances to the synthesis pathway. Samples synthesized at 200 °C for 20 min by increasing the added percentage of polyethylene glycol (PEG), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), rosemary essential oil and lavender essential oil promote goethite-to-hematite transformation, while N-guanylurea sulfate (NGS) and sage essential oil behave differently. The aforementioned substances added at 260 °C resulted in a decrease in particle size, but pure hematite was obtained, regardless of the type of the substances added or the decrease in synthesis time from 20 min to 5 min. Furthermore, the use of essential oils rather than surfactants in this study was presented as a novel, environmentally friendly method of iron oxide synthesis.

The productivity, health, and well-being of office workers are known to be influenced by the indoor thermal conditions, most significantly the temperature and air humidity. This article is based on measurements and calculated predictions, as well as surveys of the employees in a newly renovated office building in Vienna, Austria. The renovation measures include street-side facade greening. The aim of this study was to determine the possible effects these renovation measures have on thermal comfort inside the building. The evaluation is carried out in accordance with the standards based on the predicted mean vote (PMV), calculated with the collected measurement data. Based on the survey, the calculation results are compared with the subjective perception of the employees. Even though the measurements and the survey were carried out only one year after the renovation, about 70% of the employees’ statements speak about noticeable positive changes due to the renovation measures. Regarding daylight and artificial lighting conditions, a total of 80% of employees are neutral or satisfied. The majority also expresses neutrality or satisfaction regarding spatial conditions and air quality. The satisfaction of the employees is reflected in their work performance. The goal is therefore to achieve the highest possible satisfaction of the building’s users.

InP/ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) offer a cadmium-free solution to make white LEDs with a narrow blue, green and red emission peak. Such LEDs are required for display and lighting applications with high color gamut. An important phenomenon that hampers the efficiency of such quantum-dot-on-chip LEDs is re-absorption of already converted light by the QDs. Proposed solutions to remedy this effect often rely on complex or cost-ineffective manufacturing methods. In this work, four different RGB QD-on-chip LED package configurations are investigated that can be fabricated with a simple cavity encapsulation method. Using accurate optical simulations, the impact of QD re-absorption on the overall luminous efficacy of the light source is analyzed for these four configurations as a function of the photo-luminescent quantum yield (PLQY) of the QDs. The simulation results are validated by implementing these configurations in QD-on-chip LEDs using a single set of red and green emitting InP/ZnSe/ZnS QDs. In this way, the benefits are demonstrated of adding volume scattering particles or a hemispherical extraction dome to the LED package. The best configuration in terms of luminous efficacy, however, is one where the red QDs are deposited in the recycling cavity, while the green QDs are incorporated in the extraction dome. Using this configuration with green and red InP/ZnSe/ZnS QDs with a PLQY of 75% and 65% respectively, luminous efficacy of 102 lm/W was realized for white light with a CCT of 3000 K.

This research work included bioinformatics modeling of the dipotassium-trioxohydroxytetrafluorotriborate-halogenated boroxine molecule, as well as simulation and prediction of structural interactions between the halogenated boroxine molecule, human carbonic anhydrase, and human catalase structures. Using computational methods, we tried to confirm the inhibitory effect of halogenated boroxine on the active sites of these previously mentioned enzymes. The three-dimensional crystal structures of human catalase (PDB ID: 1DGB) and human carbonic anhydrase (PDB ID: 6FE2) were retrieved from RCSB Protein Data Bank and the protein preparation was performed using AutoDock Tools. ACD/ChemSketch and ChemDoodle were used for creating the three-dimensional structure of halogenated boroxine. Molecular docking was performed using AutoDock Vina, while the results were visualized using PyMOL. Results obtained in this research are showing evidence that there are interactions between the halogenated boroxine molecule and both previously mentioned proteins (human carbonic anhydrase and human catalase) in their active sites, which led us to the conclusion that the inhibitory function of halogenated boroxine has been confirmed. These findings could be an important step in determining the exact mechanisms of inhibitory activity and will hopefully serve in further research purposes of complex pharmacogenomics studies.

High surface texture of textile materials is rougher than other printing substrates which can cause excessive macro non-uniformity. Adding metal oxides into the ink to enhance material properties usually add to surface roughness and increase print mottle. In this paper copper(I)oxide particles and different amounts of Pinus sylvestris L. plant extract were added to modified alginate paste (CHT-NV) prior to printing. The aim of this paper is to inspect the influence of added metal oxide and plant extract on the print quality of linen based material via surface macro non-uniformity GLCM determination method. In the pattern recognition phase, the co-occurrence matrix is applied to calculate the texture characteristics, such as contrast, correlation, energy, entropy and homogeneity. The research results indicated that the metal oxide particles have had a negative influence on macro uniformity of printed linen. Increasing of the concentration of extract leads to a dilution of the printing paste, and thus to a greater penetration of copper ions between the threads of the fabric, as well as into the yarn itself.