Physics‐informed neural networks have gained growing interest. Specifically, they are used to solve partial differential equations governing several physical phenomena. However, physics‐informed neural network models suffer from several issues and can fail to provide accurate solutions in many scenarios. We discuss a few of these challenges and the techniques, such as the use of Fourier transform, that can be used to resolve these issues. This paper proposes and develops a physics‐informed neural network model that combines the residuals of the strong form and the potential energy, yielding many loss terms contributing to the definition of the loss function to be minimized. Hence, we propose using the coefficient of variation weighting scheme to dynamically and adaptively assign the weight for each loss term in the loss function. The developed PINN model is standalone and meshfree. In other words, it can accurately capture the mechanical response without requiring any labeled data. Although the framework can be used for many solid mechanics problems, we focus on three‐dimensional (3D) hyperelasticity, where we consider two hyperelastic models. Once the model is trained, the response can be obtained almost instantly at any point in the physical domain, given its spatial coordinates. We demonstrate the framework's performance by solving different problems with various boundary conditions.

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME)-direct mass spectrometry (MS) has proven to be an efficient tool for the rapid screening and quantitation of target compounds at trace levels. However, it is challenging to perform screening using both positive and negative modes in one analytical run without compromising scanning speed and detection sensitivity. To take advantage of the special geometry of a coated blade spray (CBS) blade, which consists of two flat sides coated with the same SPME coating, we developed a CBS-MS method that enables desorption and ionization to be performed in positive ionization mode on one side of a coated blade and negative ionization mode on the other side of the same blade. By simply flipping the blade 180°, MS analysis in both ionization modes on different sides can be completed in 40 s. Combining this approach with an automated Concept 96-blade-based SPME system allowed analysis for one sample in positive and negative modes to be completed in less than 1 min. The workflow was optimized by using a biocompatible polyacrylonitrile as an undercoating layer and a binder of polyacrylonitrile/hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) particles, which enabled the rapid analysis of 20 drugs of abuse in saliva samples in both positive and negative modes. The proposed method provided low limits of quantification (between 0.005 and 10 ng/mL), with calibration linear correlation coefficients ⩾ 0.9925, accuracy between 72% and 126%, and relative precision < 15% for three validation points.

Given the doping profiles available in different CMOS technologies, different single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) structures could be designed. A good insight into the effect of various doping profiles on the electric field distribution within the device is crucial for optimizing the photodetection performance. In this paper, we present an experimental and simulation characterization of the photon detection probability (PDP) for two reach-through SPADs with different doping profiles, and study the effect of the electric field distribution on the PDP performance. We use a comprehensive model to evaluate the PDP up to an excess bias voltage of 13.2V. In addition, it is shown that the SPAD with a thicker high-field region, despite having the lower maximum value of the electric field, shows higher carrier avalanche triggering probabilities and, consequently, a higher PDP (67% at 13.2 V excess bias and a wavelength of 642 nm). The PDP at the wavelength of the absolute transmission maximum of the isolation and passivation stack at 665 nm is even 84% at 13.2 V excess bias. The presented results and discussions can offer a better insight to the designer to achieve higher PDP for other SPAD structures by optimizing the electric field profile using doping modifications.

RNA-binding proteins contain intrinsically disordered regions whose functions in RNA recognition are poorly understood. The RNA chaperone Hfq is a homohexamer that contains six flexible C-terminal domains (CTDs). The effect of the CTDs on Hfq’s integrity and RNA binding has been challenging to study because of their sequence identity and inherent disorder. We used native mass spectrometry (nMS) coupled with surface-induced dissociation (SID) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to disentangle the arrangement of the CTDs and their impact on the stability of E. coli Hfq with and without RNA. The results show that the CTDs stabilize the Hfq hexamer through multiple interactions with the core and between CTDs. RNA binding perturbs this network of CTD interactions, destabilizing the Hfq ring. This destabilization is partially compensated by binding of RNAs that contact multiple surfaces of Hfq. By contrast, binding of short RNAs that only contact one or two subunits results in net destabilization of the complex. Together, the results show that a network of intrinsically disordered interactions integrate RNA contacts with the six subunits of Hfq. We propose that this CTD network raises the selectivity of RNA binding. Significance Statement Hfq is a protein hexamer necessary for gene regulation by non-coding RNA in bacteria, during infection or under stress. In the cell, Hfq must distinguish its RNA partners from many similar nucleic acids. Mass spectrometry dissociation patterns, together with molecular dynamics simulations, showed that flexible extensions of each Hfq subunit form a dense network that interconnects the entire hexamer. This network is disrupted by RNA binding, but the lost interactions are compensated by RNAs that contact multiple Hfq subunits. By measuring interactions that are too irregular to be counted by other methods, mass spectrometry shows how flexible protein extensions help chaperones like Hfq recognize their RNA partners in the messy interior of the cell.

In early 2020, the world faced a pandemic of the COVID-19 disease that suddenly changed the way we learn, live and work. It was necessary to ensure the continuity of teaching and learning literally overnight. The university management, teachers and academic staff, students and all administrative services had to adapt to the new situation.Although the impact of the pandemic on higher education institutions was stressful and in most cases there was no contingency plan, higher education systems ensured continuity of the educational process. The system required the reorganization of teaching and learning, significant teacher involvement and additional time, advanced organization and continuous training of teachers.The lessons learned so far should serve as a guide for the future development of education as a whole and through the analysis and application of good solutions to put in the forefront a recovery program and increase investment in education. At the same time, digital transformation is becoming one of the strategic goals of the development strategy of most universities. Paper will present what necessary steps should be taken to achieve digital transformation in education, why continuous teacher training is important and what are the trends and further steps of development.

As imagens, sejam elas em movimento ou sem movimento, estão presentes no nosso cotidiano nas mais diversas situações, como em jornais, revistas, redes sociais, filmes, novelas, entre outros meios. Na escola essa situação não é diferente, pois, durante o Ensino de Ciências, as imagens sem movimento estão presentes de forma significativa no decorrer das aulas, principalmente nos materiais e livros didáticos. Diante disto, o presente artigo pretende analisar a imagem Pneus depositados na costa de Fort Lauderdale de Steve Spring, através da proposta de Leitura de Imagem Interdisciplinar – LI² com enfoque CTS, a fim de mostrar a potencialidade da imagem para abordar assuntos de Ciência-Tecnologia-Sociedade.

CLIPPER2 was an 8-year, open-label extension of the phase 3b, multicenter, 2-year CLIPPER study of the safety and efficacy of etanercept (ETN) in the treatment of patients (pts) with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) categorized as extended oligoarticular arthritis (eoJIA), enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA), or psoriatic arthritis (PsA).The objective of this analysis was to describe the safety of ETN in this population after 10 years of follow up.Pts (n=127) with eoJIA (2-17 years), ERA, or PsA (each 12-17 years) who received ≥1 ETN dose (0.8 mg/kg once weekly [max, 50 mg]) in CLIPPER were eligible to enter CLIPPER2. The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of malignancy. Long-term safety was assessed as the total incidence of events from CLIPPER baseline (BL) to month (mth) 120, frequency of events per 100 patient-years (EP100PY), and frequency of events in each study year.A total of 109/127 (86%) pts entered CLIPPER2; 99 (78%) continued in the active treatment period. At mth 120, 84 (66%) pts had completed the study; 27 (21%) while actively taking ETN; 7 (6%) had withdrawn from treatment due to low/inactive disease; 5 (4%) had re-started ETN following an earlier withdrawal from treatment; and 45 (35%) had stopped ETN (but remained under observation); 25 (20%) pts permanently discontinued from the CLIPPER2 study. In CLIPPER/CLIPPER2, 1 case of malignancy (Hodgkin’s disease) was reported (1 pt with eoJIA in Year 3). There was 1 case of uveitis (1 pt with eoJIA in Year 8) and 3 of Crohn’s disease (2 pts with ERA, Year 1/Year 6; 1 pt with eoJIA, Year 5). There were 2 cases of opportunistic infections (both herpes zoster), and no deaths. Overall, there were 559 (81.82 EP100PY) treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) excluding infections and injection-site reactions (ISRs). The overall rate of TE serious infections was low (N=14; 2.05 EP100PY) (Table 1), with the most common TE serious infection being gastroenteritis (N=2; 0.29 EP100PY). The most frequently reported TEAEs (N [EP100PY]) were headache (28 [4.10]), arthralgia (24 [3.51]), pyrexia (21 [3.07]), diarrhea (14 [2.05]), and leukopenia (12 [1.76]). Overall, 39 patients reported serious AEs (excluding infections/ISRs). The number and frequency (N [EP100PY]) of TEAEs (excluding infections/ISRs) decreased over the 10-year study period from 193 [173.81] in Year 1 to 9 [27.15] in Year 10. The number and frequency of TE infections and TE serious infections also decreased over the 10-year study period. There was no clear trend of a decrease over time for the incidence of TE serious AEs (Figure 1).Table 1.ETN Safety Summary (from CLIPPER BL to mth 120), N (EP100PY) (FAS)*eoJIA, n=60(EXP=313.667 PY)ERA, n=38(EXP=206.971 PY)PsA, n=29(EXP=162.576 PY)Total, n=12(EXP=683.214 PY)TEAEs†269 (85.76)176 (85.04)114 (70.12)559 (81.82)TE serious AEs†16 (5.10)17 (8.21)7 (4.31)40 (5.85)TE ISRs23 (7.33)29 (14.01)12 (7.38)64 (9.37)TE infections418 (133.26)99 (47.83)155 (95.34)672 (98.36)TE serious infectionsǂ5 (1.59)4 (1.93)5 (3.08)14 (2.05)Opportunistic infections§01 (0.48)1 (0.62)2 (0.29)TEAEs causing withdrawal†7 (2.23)9 (4.35)2 (1.23)18 (2.63)TE infections causing withdrawal2 (0.64)01 (0.62)3 (0.44)*While on active ETN treatment or within 30 days of last dose†Excluding infections/ISRsǂGastroenteritis, 2 (0.29); acute tonsillitis, anal abscess, bronchopneumonia, gastrointestinal infection, helicobacter gastritis, influenza, peritonitis, pharyngitis, pyelocystitis, sepsis, urinary tract infection, viral infection, all 1 (0.15)§Both herpes zosterEXP, exposure to ETN; FAS, full analysis set; n, number of patients; N, number of eventsETN treatment to mth 120 was well tolerated in this patient population and consistent with the known safety profile. Frequency of TEAEs and TE infections decreased over time. Over 10 years, there was 1 reported event of malignancy and the overall rate of TE serious infections was low.[1]NCT00962741/NCT01421069Medical writing support was provided by Iain McDonald, PhD, of Engage Scientific Solutions and was funded by Pfizer.Jelena Vojinovic Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Roche, Sandoz, Joke Dehoorne Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Roche, Consultant of: Abbvie, Roche, Violeta Panaviene: None declared, Gordana Susic: None declared, Gerd Horneff Speakers bureau: Chugai, Eli-Lilly, Glaxo Smith and Kline, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche and Sobi, Grant/research support from: Novartis, Janssen, Roche, Valda Stanevicha Speakers bureau: Sandoz, Abbvie, Roche, Katarzyna Kobusinska: None declared, Zbigniew Żuber: None declared, Bogna Dobrzyniecka: None declared, Jonathan Akikusa: None declared, Tadej Avcin Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Octapharma, and Takeda, Consultant of: AbbVie, Alexion, Octapharma, and Takeda, Alberto Martini Speakers bureau: Aurinia, Bristol Myers and Squibb, Eli-Lilly, EMD Serono, Janssen, Pfizer, Roche, Consultant of: Aurinia, Bristol Myers and Squibb, Eli-Lilly, EMD Serono, Janssen, Pfizer, Roche, Cecilia Borlenghi Shareholder of: Pfizer, Employee of: Pfizer, Edmund Arthur Employee of: Pfizer, Svitlana Y Tatulych Shareholder of: Pfizer, Employee of: Pfizer, Chuanbo Zang Shareholder of: Pfizer, Employee of: Pfizer, Bonnie Vlahos Shareholder of: Pfizer, Employee of: Pfizer, Nicolino Ruperto Speakers bureau: Ablynx, Amgen, Astrazeneca-Medimmune, Aurinia, Bayer, Bristol Myers and Squibb, Cambridge Healthcare Research (CHR), Celgene, Domain therapeutic, Eli-Lilly, EMD Serono, Glaxo Smith and Kline, Idorsia, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Sobi, UCB., Consultant of: Ablynx, Amgen, Astrazeneca-Medimmune, Aurinia, Bayer, Bristol Myers and Squibb, Cambridge Healthcare Research (CHR), Celgene, Domain therapeutic, Eli-Lilly, EMD Serono, Glaxo Smith and Kline, Idorsia, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Sobi, UCB.

CLIPPER2 was an 8-year, open-label extension of the phase 3b, 2-year CLIPPER study of the safety and efficacy of etanercept (ETN) in patients (pts) with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), categorized as extended oligoarticular JIA (eoJIA), enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA), or psoriatic arthritis (PsA).Evaluation of the efficacy of ETN and its effect on health outcomes over 10 years of follow-up were secondary objectives and are reported here.Pts (n=127) with eoJIA (n=60; 2-17 years of age), ERA (n=38; 12-17), or PsA (n=29; 12-17) who received ≥1 ETN dose (0.8 mg/kg once weekly [max, 50 mg]) in CLIPPER were eligible to enter CLIPPER2. The study design has been reported previously.1 Efficacy endpoints included proportions of pts achieving JIA American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 30/50/70/90/100 criteria, Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score (JADAS) inactive disease and clinical remission criteria, and sustained clinical remission (ACR criteria) or JADAS ≤1 for 12 continuous months (mths). Exploratory efficacy endpoints included time to flare following ETN withdrawal (based on ≥30% worsening in ≥3/6 ACR Pedi components, with ≥30% improvement in <2/6 remaining components and ≥2 active joints), and time to re-treatment with ETN.Observed Cases were used (i.e., there was no imputation for missing data) for pts who were in the Active Treatment Period.A total of 109/127 (86%) CLIPPER participants entered CLIPPER2 (n=55 eoJIA, n=31 ERA, n=23 PsA), with 99 (78%) pts continuing in the Active Treatment Period. Overall, 84 (66%) pts completed 120 mths of follow-up; 27 (21%) while actively taking ETN. Thirty (24%) pts entered the Withdrawal Period from the Active Treatment Period (i.e., they discontinued ETN, either by meeting the Wallace definition for clinically inactive disease for at least 6 months on ETN, or by having had a good clinical response and being deemed to benefit from withdrawal in the investigator’s judgment). Of the pts in the Active Treatment Period, over 90% achieved JIA ACR 50 response at all study time points. Sustained JADAS and ACR remission was achieved by 42 (33%) pts and 17 (13%) pts, respectively. The mean improvements from baseline in JADAS disease activity at mth 24 of CLIPPER were largely maintained through CLIPPER2 A total of 109/127 (86%) CLIPPER participants entered CLIPPER2 (n=55 eoJIA, n=31 ERA, n=23 PsA), with 99 (78%) pts continuing in the Active Treatment Period. Overall, 84 (66%) pts completed 120 mths of follow-up; 27 (21%) while actively taking ETN. Thirty (24%) pts entered the Withdrawal Period from the Active Treatment Period (i.e., they discontinued ETN, either by meeting the Wallace definition for clinically inactive disease for at least 6 months on ETN, or by having had a good clinical response and being deemed to benefit from withdrawal in the investigator’s judgment). Of the pts in the Active Treatment Period, over 90% achieved JIA ACR 50 response at all study time points. Sustained JADAS and ACR remission was achieved by 42 (33%) pts and 17 (13%) pts, respectively. The mean improvements from baseline in JADAS disease activity at mth 24 of CLIPPER were largely maintained through CLIPPER2.The low numbers of evaluable pts notwithstanding, efficacy results were consistent with the profile of ETN, and treatment responses were considered clinically meaningful and durable with long-term treatment.[1]Foeldvari I, et al. Arthritis Res Ther 2019;21:125.[2]Trincianti C, et al. Arthritis Rheumatol 2021:73;1966-75.Trial Registration:NCT00962741/NCT01421069Medical writing support was provided by Iain McDonald, PhD, of Engage Scientific Solutions and was funded by Pfizer.Jelena Vojinovic Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Roche, Sandoz, Joke Dehoorne Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Roche, Consultant of: Abbvie, Roche, Violeta Panaviene: None declared, Gordana Susic: None declared, Gerd Horneff Speakers bureau: Chugai, Eli-Lilly, Glaxo Smith and Kline, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche and Sobi, Grant/research support from: Novartis, Janssen, Roche, Valda Stanevicha Speakers bureau: Sandoz, Abbvie, Roche, Katarzyna Kobusinska: None declared, Zbigniew Żuber: None declared, Bogna Dobrzyniecka: None declared, Jonathan Akikusa: None declared, Tadej Avcin Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Octapharma and Takeda, Consultant of: AbbVie, Octapharma and Takeda, Alberto Martini Speakers bureau: Aurinia, Bristol Myers and Squibb, Eli-Lilly, EMD Serono, Janssen, Pfizer, Roche, Consultant of: Aurinia, Bristol Myers and Squibb, Eli-Lilly, EMD Serono, Janssen, Pfizer, Roche, Cecilia Borlenghi Shareholder of: Pfizer, Employee of: Pfizer, Edmund Arthur Employee of: Pfizer, Svitlana Y Tatulych Shareholder of: Pfizer, Employee of: Pfizer, Chuanbo Zang Shareholder of: Pfizer, Employee of: Pfizer, Vasileios TSEKOURAS Shareholder of: Pfizer, Employee of: Pfizer, Bonnie Vlahos Shareholder of: Pfizer, Employee of: Pfizer, Nicolino Ruperto Speakers bureau: Ablynx, Amgen, Astrazeneca-Medimmune, Aurinia, Bayer, Bristol Myers and Squibb, Cambridge Healthcare Research (CHR), Celgene, Domain therapeutic, Eli-Lilly, EMD Serono, Glaxo Smith and Kline, Idorsia, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Sobi, UCB., Consultant of: Ablynx, Amgen, Astrazeneca-Medimmune, Aurinia, Bayer, Bristol Myers and Squibb, Cambridge Healthcare Research (CHR), Celgene, Domain therapeutic, Eli-Lilly, EMD Serono, Glaxo Smith and Kline, Idorsia, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Sobi, UCB.

Despite the low rate of neurological deficits following the SARS-COV-2 infection in the pediatric population, children and adolescents who develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) after being infected with SARS-COV-2 are at a higher risk for neurological abnormalities and brain injury, increasing the risk of adverse cognitive and psychiatric outcome.Given the increased risk of central nervous system impairment we chose to conduct a prospective study looking at the cognitive and psychosocial outcome of patients with MIS-C.Our study included 27 of the 29 patients between 2 to 18 years of age (M = 11.1, SD = 4.4) who were treated for MIS-C from the onset of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic until the beginning of May 2021 at the only tertiary care pediatric immunology center in Slovenia. We assessed these patients 6 months after diagnosis using the age-appropriate Wechsler intelligence scales and a battery of neuropsychological test measuring attention, executive function, memory and fine motor skills. We also asked parents to report on patients’ psychosocial outcome using the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist.By using Bayesian statistics to take into account parental education and any potential pre-morbid learning difficulties we found no evidence of impairment on measures of intelligence. However, the posterior distribution of scores on neuropsychological measures indicated that a significant proportion of patients scored 1SD bellow expected levels on measures of attention (31%), executive function (28%) and visual memory (35%). Increased symptoms of depression, anxiety and attention difficulties were also reported by parents, although their extent did not rise to a clinically significant level.The findings from our cohort suggest that the cognitive and psychosocial outcome of patients with MIS-C is generally favorable, although up to 35% may experience specific neuropsychological deficits more than 6 months after diagnosis. The most commonly impaired cognitive domains seem to be attention, executive function and visual memory.Funding for this work was provided by the Slovenian Research Agency grant J3-3061 and University Medical Centre grant 20210069. Support was also provided by Dušica Boben and the publisher Center za psihodiagnostična sredstva by providing the local adaptations of psychological assessment tools.David Gosar Speakers bureau: Biogen, Novartis, Mojca Zajc Avramovič: None declared, Nina Emersic: None declared, Mateja Šušterič: None declared, Maja Maša Šömen: None declared, Damjan Osredkar: None declared, Tadej Avcin: None declared

In contrast to adults, children are less likely to develop serious disease upon infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) but are at increased risk for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases linked to the virus (1). The reported incidence of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) varied from 0.2 to 11.4/100,000 persons under 21 years (2,3). It is yet unknown whether MIS-C can recur after SARS-CoV-2 reinfection or COVID-19 vaccination.To estimate the incidence and describe the spectrum of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection and coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination in pediatric patients from two neighbouring South Central European countries and regions, Slovenia and Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG), Italy.We performed a multi-centre prospective cohort study of all children and adolescents (under 18 years) newly diagnosed with MIS-C or other inflammatory/autoimmune diseases linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection, who were admitted to the pediatric tertiary care hospitals in Slovenia or FVG, Italy during the period from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021. These hospitals serve a combined population of 587,053 children and adolescents. Only patients who had positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and/or positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test within 3 months prior to disease onset were considered for estimating the disease incidence. We obtained the number of patients with serious adverse events (SAE) after COVID-19 vaccination and the number of patients with severe COVID-19 in the same population. This study was conducted as a part of the EU interregional Italy-Slovenia project CATTEDRA (Cross border cooperation for innovative diagnosis of rare diseases in paediatrics).192 children and adolescents were diagnosed with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases linked to SARS-CoV-2 (Figure 1). Median age at diagnosis was 11.9 years (IQR 7.6 -14.7). All included patients were White. Incidence of MIS-C was one in 921 children and adolescents after SARS-CoV-2 infection and one in 5870 of all children and adolescents. Cumulative incidence of MIS-C since the start of the pandemic was 17/100,000 children and adolescents. Until December 31, 2021, 92,139 children and adolescents (15.7 %) received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Three patients presented with inflammatory/autoimmune disease after COVID-19 vaccination, including 2 patients with MIS-C and one patient with myositis. All 3 had evidence of recent SARS-CoV-2 infection in form of positive anti-N SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. In the same period, 15 children and adolescents were hospitalised with severe COVID-19. Seven patients from our cohort were vaccinated against COVID-19 median 8 months after MIS-C and further 6 patients had a SARS-CoV-2 reinfection 3-14 months after MIS-C. None of them experienced SAE or recurrence of MIS-C.Figure 1.Inflammatory and autoimmune diseases linked to SARS-CoV-2 and severe COVID-19 in pediatric population in Slovenia and FVG, ItalyCOVID-19=coronavirus disease, FVG=Friuli Venezia Giulia region in Italy, MIS-C=multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, SARS-CoV-2=severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2MIS-C was the most common manifestation and its incidence in this predominantly white population was higher than previously reported. Based on our limited experience, MIS-C does not seem to recur after SARS-CoV-2 reinfection or COVID-19 vaccination, however long-term data are lacking. Autoimmune diseases were much more common after SARS-CoV-2 infection than after COVID-19 vaccination. Hospitalisations due to MIS-C were seven times as frequent as hospitalisations due to severe COVID-19 in children.[1]Ramaswamy A, et al. Immunity. 2021;54:1083-1095.e7.[2]Belay ED, et al. JAMA Pediatrics. 2021;175:837–45.[3]Lee EH, et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3:e2030280.None declared

Accessibility is a key for the social and economic development of persons with disabilities. In the digital age, digital or ICT accessibility is imperative, which includes identifying and eliminating obstacles and barriers that persons with disabilities face in using ICT.The purpose of this article is to give a short introduction to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, universal design principles, assistive technology, accessibility, and relevant EU directives and standards.Additionally, the Internet Society in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s activities in empowering blind persons through computer training will be presented. Acquiring ICT skills is a necessary condition for access to the opportunities offered by the Internet, which is in line with the Internet Society mission - Internet for All.