Lavandula angustifolia essential oil (LEO) was obtained by hydrodistillation of air-dried flowers collected in the Mostar region (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Its chemical composition was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, revealing a camphor content of 16.96%, substantially higher than the maximum value specified in the European Pharmacopoeia. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using quantitative suspension tests according to EN 1276 and EN 1650 under simulated “dirty” conditions with organic load (bovine albumin, 3 g/L) and a 5 min contact time. High-concentration LEO (80% w/v) exhibited strong bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli ATCC 10536 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, and yeasticidal activity against Candida albicans ATCC 10231 (>5 log10 CFU/mL reduction for bacteria, >4 log10 CFU/mL reduction for yeast), but was ineffective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442 and Enterococcus hirae ATCC 10541. Lower concentrations (1.0% and 0.1% w/v) showed no bactericidal and yeasticidal activity, highlighting LEO’s efficacy limits. Antioxidant activity, assessed by DPPH radical scavenging, was dose- and time-dependent. Molecular docking provided insight into the interaction of major constituents with selected microbial and antioxidant-related targets. These findings highlight both the potential and limitations of LEO as a renewable bio-based resource for sustainable disinfectant formulations while emphasizing the importance of chemical composition and regulatory compliance.
Objective: To evaluate the level of insight into illness in patients with schizophrenia and its associations with demographic factors, clinical symptoms, executive functions, and selected metabolic parameters. Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 60 outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-IV criteria. Participants were divided into two groups based on the median score of the Self-Appraisal of Illness Questionnaire (SAIQ): preserved insight (n=30) and impaired insight (n=30). Positive symptoms were assessed with the Positive Symptoms Rating Scale (PSRS), negative symptoms with the Brief Negative Symptom Assessment (BNSA), executive functions with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale-II (WB-II) subscales. Metabolic parameters included body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and waist circumference. Statistical analysis was performed using t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression (p<0.05). Results: Patients with impaired insight exhibited significantly higher positive (PSRS: 28.5±4.2 vs 18.3±3.1; p<0.001) and negative symptoms (BNSA: 35.2±5.6 vs 22.1±4.0; p<0.001), poorer executive performance (WCST total score: 45.6±8.9 vs 68.4±7.2; p<0.001), higher BMI (28.7±3.4 vs 24.5±2.8; p<0.01), and elevated blood pressure values. SAIQ total score negatively correlated with positive (r=–0.62; p<0.001) and negative symptoms (r=–0.58; p<0.001), illness duration (r=–0.45; p<0.01), and positively with years of education (r=0.48; p<0.01) and WCST score (r=0.52; p<0.001). Regression analysis showed that negative symptoms (β=–0.41; p<0.001) and executive dysfunction (β=–0.35; p<0.01) were the strongest independent predictors of poor insight (R²=0.62). Conclusion: Impaired insight in schizophrenia is strongly associated with greater psychopathological burden, neurocognitive deficits (especially executive dysfunction), and metabolic disturbances. These findings support the implementation of integrated therapeutic strategies targeting insight, cognition, and cardiometabolic health to improve long-term outcomes.
We identify a novel next-to-leading order renormalization effect in the dimension-six SMEFT with direct phenomenological impact. The Higgs-Yukawa operator that modifies the top-Higgs coupling $\kappa_t$ induces a shift in the $ W $ mass at two-loop order through a large anomalous dimension, rendering electroweak precision observables a powerful indirect probe of $\kappa_t$. We show that this effect is essential for the consistent interpretation of data from future Tera-$Z$ and Giga-$W$ factories such as FCC-ee. The effect is realized in a simple renormalizable two-Higgs doublet model.
ABSTRACT Background and Aims Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is frequently reported in peripheral neuropathies, but its prevalence and clinical correlates in Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A) and hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP) remain poorly defined. We aimed to determine RLS prevalence in CMT1A and HNPP and to assess associations with disease severity, muscle strength, disability, and quality of life (QoL). Methods Forty‐seven CMT1A and 18 HNPP patients were included. RLS was diagnosed according to the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group criteria, and RLS severity was assessed with the International Restless Legs Syndrome Severity Scale (IRLS‐SS). MRC Sum Score (MRC‐SS), Charcot–Marie‐Tooth Examination Score (CMTES), Overall Neuropathy Limitations Scale (ONLS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and the 36‐Item Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36) were recorded. Results RLS was present in 29.8% of CMT1A and 38.9% of HNPP patients. CMT1A patients with RLS had longer disease duration (p = 0.05), worse muscle strength (p = 0.014), higher disease severity (p = 0.014), higher upper‐limb (p = 0.005) and overall disability (p = 0.011), and higher fatigue severity (p = 0.011) compared with those without RLS. HNPP patients with RLS showed higher upper‐limb (p = 0.034) and overall disability (p = 0.032), higher depression (p = 0.005), and fatigue severity (p = 0.018) than those without RLS. QoL was significantly impaired in patients with RLS in both groups, and RLS severity negatively correlated with physical and mental QoL domains. Interpretation RLS is common in CMT1A and HNPP and is associated with increased disease severity, greater functional disability, and reduced QoL. Clinicians should screen for RLS in PMP22‐related neuropathies and consider symptomatic management.
Kounis syndrome (KS) describes the occurrence of acute coronary syndromes precipitated by allergic, hypersensitivity, or anaphylactic reactions and represents a unique intersection between immunologic activation and cardiovascular disease. The epidemiology of KS is likely underestimated due to diagnostic overlap with other cardiac and allergic conditions and limited awareness across medical specialties. This narrative review focuses on the distinctive features of KS in special populations, emphasizing how patients’ age, comorbidities, immune status, and vascular substrate modify presentation, diagnosis, and outcomes. In elderly patients, polypharmacy, increased plaque vulnerability, and endothelial dysfunction favor Type II and III KS. Pediatric cases, although rare, are predominantly Type I and strongly associated with food allergies, insect stings, vaccines, and antibiotics, with under-recognition driven by diagnostic bias and ethical concerns surrounding invasive testing. Patients with coronary stents, cardiac devices, chronic kidney disease, and those receiving dialysis exhibit heightened susceptibility due to chronic inflammation, foreign-body hypersensitivity, and prothrombotic states. Pregnancy and the peripartum period represent a unique immuno-hemodynamic milieu in which Th2 immune shift, increased coronary vasoreactivity, and obstetric triggers can compromise both maternal and fetal perfusion. Additional risk modulation is observed in atopic individuals, asthmatics, patients with autoimmune, inflammatory, oncologic, psychiatric, and neurodevelopmental conditions, as well as in COVID-19 and post-infectious states. We propose a host-modified framework for KS that complements traditional classification by integrating immune phenotype and vascular substrate, enabling improved risk stratification and personalized preventive strategies.
Background: Sarajevo Canton reported large measles outbreaks in 2019 and 2024, highlighting the impact of the persistent gaps in immunisation coverage. Aim: To analyse 2 measles outbreaks in Sarajevo Canton in Bosnia and Herzegovina, identify populations at risk and assess the impact of vaccination coverage on disease transmission. Methods: We collected publicly available weekly case counts data for 45 weeks from the Public Health Institute of Sarajevo Canton and examined the vaccination coverage for 5 years to assess the impact of immunisation on outbreak dynamics. We conducted descriptive analyses using RStudio version 2024 and evaluated the differences between outbreaks using Mann-Whitney U test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 869 cases were reported in 2019 and 4505 in 2024, and children aged 1–4 years were mostly affected (42.1%). Most of the cases were either unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status; 92.3% of cases in 2019 were unvaccinated, and 87.7% in 2024 were unvaccinated, while 9.9% had unknown vaccination status. The 2024 outbreak had a higher and longer peak (416 vs 91 cases) occurence than 2019, and one death was reported in each year. Conclusion: The declining vaccination coverage in Sarajevo Canton contributed to increased measles incidence. Strengthening mandatory immunisation, targeted catch-up campaigns and public communication are essential to achieve herd immunity, prevent future outbreaks and progress towards Universal Health Coverage.
Recent research highlights the pivotal role of gut microbiota and bile acids as modulators of metabolic homeostasis in type 2 diabetes (T2D). The concomitant use of probiotics and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) may potentiate glycemic and lipid control via complementary mechanisms. To evaluate the metabolic effects of probiotic supplementation and its combination with UDCA in metformin-treated T2D patients. In this monocentric, prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, 90 patients with T2D on metformin therapy were randomized into three groups: metformin-only (MG), metformin plus probiotic (MPG), and metformin plus probiotic plus UDCA (MPUG). The intervention lasted 4 weeks. Primary outcomes included changes in fasting glucose, postprandial glucose and HbA1c. Secondary outcomes included lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), and fecal levels of probiotics and UDCA. Two visits were conducted during the study - at the beginning and at the end. Visits involved patient interviews, clinical data collection, anthropometric measurements, blood biochemical analyses, and stool sample analysis for the presence of probiotic culture and UDCA concentrations. After 4 weeks, the MPUG group showed a significant reduction in fasting glucose (−1.7 mmol/L; 95% CI: −2.2 to −1.2), postprandial glucose (−1.3 mmol/L; 95% CI: −1.8 to −0.7), and HbA1c (−0.49%; 95% CI: −0.66 to −0.31) compared to the MG group. Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were also significantly reduced, while HDL increased. The concentration of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG was highest in the MPUG group. No serious adverse events were reported. Co-administration of probiotics and UDCA for four weeks in metformin-treated T2D patients significantly improves short-term glycemic control and lipid profiles. These promising results warrant validation in larger, longer-term clinical trials.
Security Operations Centers (SOCs) are pivotal in modern enterprises. Tasked to monitor complex network environments constantly under attack, SOCs can be active 24/7 and can include hundreds of operators supported by state-of-the-art technologies. Abundant research has studied the internal processes of SOCs, highlighting their pros and cons, as well as the challenges faced by SOC analysts -- such as dealing with the overwhelming number of false alarms triggered by automated security mechanisms. In this context, we wonder: given that"someone"must triage the alarms, and that such triaging must be grounded on established knowledge or evidence-based reasoning, can SOC employees justify why a certain decision was taken while triaging alarms? Answering such a research question (RQ) can better guide future efforts. We hence tackle this RQs. First, via a systematic literature review across 257 research documents, we provide evidence that such RQ received limited attention so far. Then, we partner-up with a real-world SOC and carry out a field study (n=12) with SOC employees. We show them real alarms raised in their SOC, and inquire whether such alarms are indicative of true security problems or not. Then, we ask to explain their decision. We found that while most analysts were able to separate"true from false"alarms (the decision was correct in 83% of the cases), a correct justification was hardly provided (only 39% of the provided explanations reflected the actual root cause). Ultimately, our results highlight the need for decision-support systems that help SOC analysts not only make the right call -- but also understand and articulate why it is right.
This study assesses the impacts of climate change (CC) on maize production in Bosnia and Herzegovina, comparing ten maize-producing municipalities and using Gradiška as a case study. Agroclimatic indicators and ISAREG-based soil water balance simulations were used to evaluate regional suitability for future maize production. Projections indicate substantial increases in average temperatures of 2 to 6 Celsius by the end of the century, depending on the RCP scenario, together with important reductions in accumulated mean precipitation, particularly during summer. Rising temperatures accelerate maize phenology, shortening growth cycles and enabling double-cropping opportunities for short-season cycles. Medium-season cycles may become feasible in most regions, while long-season cycles remain constrained in high-altitude areas due to thermal requirements. Rainfed maize in Gradiška is expected to face increased relative evapotranspiration deficits under future ‘hot & dry’ conditions, with potential relative yield losses due to water deficit of up to 12%. Irrigated maize shows a variation in irrigation requirements from −26% to +8% relative to the baseline, which reflects the combined effect of a shortened crop growth cycle under higher temperatures and increased evapotranspiration demand under drier conditions. Regions with high soil water-holding capacity are the most resilient, while areas with shallow soils or Mediterranean climates are more vulnerable under future conditions. The findings underscore the need for agronomic adaptation measures to the projected CC impacts, including supplemental irrigation, drought-tolerant cultivars, and potential adjustment of sowing.
Cascade reservoirs on the Drina River (Bosnia and Herzegovina) are heavily modified water bodies that require reliable biological tools for assessing trophic status and ecological potential. Under the Water Framework Directive (WFD), assessments of surface water ecological status and potential rely on biological quality elements, since aquatic communities integrate and respond to prevailing environmental conditions and thus serve as reliable indicators of water quality. This study aims to (i) describe phytoplankton diversity, biomass, and functional-group composition along the Drina reservoir cascade, (ii) examine monthly changes across the studied reservoirs, (iii) determine trophic status and ecological potential, and (iv) provide a preliminary estimate of total phosphorus thresholds that may support future setting of ecological potential boundaries. Phytoplankton composition and functional groups were analysed in three longitudinally connected reservoirs of the Drina River during four monthly surveys in 2024. A total of 80 phytoplankton taxa were recorded, with diatoms dominating most of the study period. The highest biomasses were recorded for Fragilaria crotonensis, Dinobryon divergens, Acanthoceras zachariasii and Sphaerocystis sp., while the dominant functional groups were P, E, A, and F. Phytoplankton assemblage structure showed moderate spatial differentiation among the reservoirs. Mean chlorophyll a and Carlson’s Trophic State Index indicated eutrophic conditions in the Višegrad Reservoir and mesotrophic conditions in the Perućac and Zvornik reservoirs, while biomass showed a pronounced summer maximum, particularly in Perućac. Ecological potential was generally classified as good or better, except for a moderate classification in the Zvornik Reservoir in late summer. The good/moderate TP boundary was estimated at 39 µg L−1, linking EQR-based ecological assessment with the onset of eutrophic conditions. Overall, this study represents the first application of the phytoplankton functional group approach in cascade reservoirs in Bosnia and Herzegovina and may provide a valuable basis for the development of a phytoplankton-based monitoring framework in lakes and reservoirs, which is currently lacking.
Doping remains one of the most important problems in sports, but legal issues related to anti-doping are relatively understudied in this context. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of a newly designed questionnaire aimed at evaluating antidoping legal knowledge among sport officials.The participants included 211 sport officers (coaches, medical professionals, nutritionists; 41.7±7. years of age, 71 females) from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, who were tested on a newly designed questionnaire on knowledge of legal anti-doping regulations for sport officials (Q-LADR-O). Additionally, data on sociodemographic characteristics, sport-related factors, and doping-related factors were collected. In the first phase, a subsample of 56 participants was tested and retested on the Q-LADR-O in the time frame of 7--10 days to evaluate the reliability of the tool.Among the 20 original questionnaire items, 18 had appropriate test-retest reliability (Cohen’s kappa > 0.61, absolute agreement > 80%). Factor analysis identified two distinct latent structures reflecting (i) rights and obligation under the anti-doping code and (ii) anti-doping testing and legislation. The validity of the Q-LADR-O was confirmed by significant differences between medical staff and coaches/nutritionists (6.71 ±1.79 and 4.21 ± 1.2 for medical staff and coaches/nutritionists, respectively, t test = 8.71, p < 0.01) and a significant correlation between the Q-LADR-O and sport-officiating level (Spearman’s R = 0.21, p < 0.05) and between the Q-LADR-O and the number of doping tests of athletes officiated (Spearman’s R = 0.55, p < 0.05).Considering its proper reliability and validity, Q-LADR-O can contribute to more effective anti-doping education, primarily by reducing unintentional rule violations. Further intervention studies are warranted.
This article is about the Bosnian animated series Bruca Braca Bruda Brada which deals with contemporary social issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina, focusing on Švrakino selo, a predominantly working-class neighbourhood on the outskirts of Sarajevo. The series’ creators are Helem Nejse, a Sarajevo-based hip-hop band. The humour stands out because of the linguistic subtlety through which contemporary society is portrayed, focusing especially on the Sarajevo area. Stylistically, the slang, the wordplay, the counter-images of real-life politicians, criminals and events are all part of a layered storyline, painting an image of a society trapped for over three decades in the limbo of expectations of a better life. The analytical framework consists of the following units, superficially functioning as general knowledge scripts: names, nationalism, (local) patriotism, know-it-all and corruption. However, these scripts, in the context of the analysed material, become restricted, making the humorous interpretation challenging not only to an international audience, but also to native speakers in some instances. Stylistic traits of the selected material are observed, together with additional linguistic devices that enhance humour. Culture-specific expressions and other important contextual segments are also explained where necessary.
The aim of this study was to evaluate real-world rivaroxaban safety and adherence in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). A prospective, observational, cohort, postmarketing study was conducted during a six-month period. The primary outcome was bleeding, including major bleeding, non-major bleeding, and fecal occult blood test positivity. Secondary outcomes included non-bleeding adverse reactions, changes in laboratory parameters, and therapy adherence measured by the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 (MMAS-8). We included 1184 patients evaluated at baseline and at one, three, and six months. During follow-up, cumulative incidences (95% confidence interval) were 0.9% (0.5–1.7%) for major bleeding, 13.3% (11.4–15.3%) for non-major bleeding, and 3.4% (2.4–4.6%) for fecal occult blood positivity. Other adverse drug reactions were infrequent and mild, most commonly headache and fatigue, and no clinically relevant deterioration of laboratory parameters was observed. MMAS-8 score was the same throughout the follow-up period and was 1.0 (interquartile range 0.0–2.0), which is in the domain of good therapy adherence. Approximately one-third of patients demonstrated full therapy adherence, and one-fifth of patients exhibited poor adherence. This real-world study supports the favorable safety profile and generally good patient adherence to rivaroxaban in NVAF, though continued monitoring of bleeding risk and enhanced patient education on adherence remain crucial for optimal outcomes.
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