Mucosa-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are unconventional T cells with innate-like capacity to rapidly respond to microbial infection via MR1-restricted antigen recognition. Emerging evidence indicate that they can also act as rapid sensors of viral infection via innate cytokine activation. However, their possible role in the immune response to mRNA vaccination is unknown. Here, we evaluated the involvement of MAIT cells in individuals vaccinated with the BNT162b2 mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. MAIT cell levels, phenotype and function in circulation were preserved and unperturbed through day 35 post-vaccination in healthy donor (HD) vaccinees, as well as people living with HIV (PLWH) or with primary immunodeficiency (PID). Unexpectedly, pre-vaccination and post-vaccination levels of MAIT cells correlated positively with the magnitude of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific CD4 T cell and antibody responses in the HD vaccinees. This pattern was largely preserved in the PID group, but less so in the PLWH group. Furthermore, in the HD vaccinees levels of MAIT cell activation and cytolytic potential correlated negatively to the adaptive antigen-specific immune responses. These findings indicate an unexpected association between MAIT cell compartment characteristics and the immune response magnitude to the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine.

Mucosa-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are unconventional T cells with innate-like capacity to rapidly respond to microbial infection via MR1-restricted antigen recognition. Emerging evidence indicate that they can also act as rapid sensors of viral infection via innate cytokine activation. However, their possible role in the immune response to mRNA vaccination is unknown. Here, we evaluated the involvement of MAIT cells in individuals vaccinated with the BNT162b2 mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. MAIT cell levels, phenotype and function in circulation were preserved and unperturbed through day 35 post-vaccination in healthy donor (HD) vaccinees, as well as people living with HIV (PLWH) or with primary immunodeficiency (PID). Unexpectedly, pre-vaccination and post-vaccination levels of MAIT cells correlated positively with the magnitude of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific CD4 T cell and antibody responses in the HD vaccinees. This pattern was largely preserved in the PID group, but less so in the PLWH group. Furthermore, in the HD vaccinees levels of MAIT cell activation and cytolytic potential correlated negatively to the adaptive antigen-specific immune responses. These findings indicate an unexpected association between MAIT cell compartment characteristics and the immune response magnitude to the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine.

PurposeThis study investigates the relationships between the four dimensions of organizational justice (OJ) (distributive, procedural, interpersonal, and informational) and employees' intention to stay (ITS) in organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina while considering the mediating role of job satisfaction (JS).Design/methodology/approachThrough a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey, 336 responses were collected from employees in private companies and non-governmental organizations. Structural equation modeling was performed to test the hypotheses.FindingsResults indicate support for the relationships between dimensions of OJ and ITS, except in the case of procedural justice (PJ). Similarly, JS is a full mediator in all relationships, except for PJ.Originality/valueThe study extends the literature by incorporating all four dimensions of OJ and testing them individually in relation to the ITS. Furthermore, the study deviates from a traditional approach of simple relationships by introducing the mediating role of JS. Finally, it contributes to the scarce literature in developing countries.

Abstract Background Parental education is one of the best predictors of child school achievement. Higher parental education is not only associated with higher child intelligence, but children from highly educated parents also perform better in school due to other family related factors. This study evaluates the relation between parental education, child non-verbal intelligence and parenting practices with child school achievement. Methods Longitudinal data from a large population-based, multi-ethnic cohort of children in the Netherlands (63% Dutch origin) followed from birth to age 13 years (3547 children; 52.3% girls) were analyzed. School achievement was measured at the end of primary school (12 years of age) with a national Dutch academic test score. Parental education was assessed at age 3 years. The non-verbal intelligence of the child was measured at age 6 years and a full intelligence was measured at age 13 years. Maternal and paternal family routines, harsh parenting and corporal punishment were assessed in early and mid-childhood. Mediation analysis was performed with the G-formula and Structural Equation Models. Results Child intelligence partially mediated [B indirect effect =0.54 95% CI (0.46, 0.62) P < 0.001] the association between parental education and child school achievement. Independent of intelligence, family routines [B indirect effect =0.04 95% CI (0.01, 0.07) P < 0.01], but not harsh parenting mediated this association. Conclusions Higher parental education was associated with better school achievement through two independent mechanisms, through higher intelligence of the child and parenting practices.

increasingly common occurrence of rain with a significant amount of precipitation in one hour, which causes floods. Floods cause great material and intangible damage per population and often endanger human lives. The road network in such situations has crucial importance to take urgent intervention measures and rescue people, animals and material goods. This paper is focused on the natural flood disaster and its influence on road infrastructure and presents the risk assessment methodology and determines critical road sections of main roads in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, analyzing data on 100-year floods.

Flooding is a significant threat to human-life, ecosystems, cultural heritage and society in general. A risk-based safety approach is necessary to support decision making and prioritize intervention measures, either during the response or during the prevention stage. As a consequence of flooding, transport infrastructure and flood protection system can be significantly damaged and cause cascading effects on other infrastructure. In this paper a risk assessment model will be presented for determining the direct and indirect impacts of flooding hazards in the case study area of city of Karlovac. The model is using the novel vulnerability assessment methods for embankments and bridges exposed to different flood hazard scenarios. The consequence analysis is using an improved quantification model for direct and indirect impacts of different flood hazard scenarios. These scenarios are then used for flood risk mapping, applied on the case study area.

Collaborative graphic ethnography can generate new ways of identifying, materializing, and documenting political possibility in what otherwise seems like an overdetermined world, and in doing so, offers a model for practicing anthropology differently. We come to these insights through our work in the embattled Bosnian detergent factory “Dita,” located on the outskirts of the post-industrial city of Tuzla, whose workers scored an unprecedented victory when they managed to preserve their factory and restart production despite the threat of bankruptcy and liquidation. In researching and telling the story of their struggle and victory through this innovative format, we build upon the historical popularity of comics in former Yugoslavia, as well as contemporary experimentation with the form among anti-corruption activists in Bosnia-Herzegovina. We explore ethnographic and political affordances of sequential art and the graphic form for an engaged or activist anthropology, including its capacity to visualize and materialize the immaterial and overlooked aspects of politics, mitigate anthropology’s extractivist tendencies, enlist the imagination and participation of readers in directions both hoped for and unanticipated, and engage and animate multiple local and international publics.  

It is practically impossible to imagine the collection of necessary evidence and the evidentiary procedure without the application of general evidentiary actions as well as special investigative actions in relation to legally prescribed criminal offenses for which the application of these specific actions can be determined. The Criminal Procedure Code prescribes general evidentiary and special investigative actions as well as restrictive legal conditions for their application. It is undisputed that the position of the prosecutor in the evidentiary procedure regarding the determination of the existence of a certain criminal offense and guilt depends on the volume and qualitative component of the evidence collected in the investigation, which means that the segment of the application of general and special investigative actions in relation to legality of collected evidence and respect for human rights and freedoms, is very important. The burden of proof is on the acting prosecutor, who has a leading and supervisory role in the investigation in relation to authorized officials in terms of the implementation of mentioned evidentiary actions and the collection of necessary evidence. It follows from the above stated that in each specific case, for the application of general evidentiary actions and special investigative actions, it is necessary to meet restrictive legal requirements. Also, this paper covers the implementation or enforcement aspect regarding the initiation and application of these evidentiary actions.