Providing the population with sufficient quantities of hygienically healthy food is the foundation of public health protection. According to the current BiH Law on Food, the main goal is to ensure a high level of human health protection, and the measures applied should be based on risk assessment. Regular food monitoring is one of the key public health problems, and this paper presents the quantitative risk of copper intake by consuming mint herbal tea infusions. The average copper concentration in the 20 analyzed samples of mint herbal tea infusions was 0.0028 ± 0.0125 mg / kg, while the value of the average daily intake was less than the oral reference dose for copper, so that the hazard coefficient itself was <1 , and consuming the analyzed infusions of herbal mint tea has no harmful effects on the health of the surveyed children.

The modern concept of lightweight design (LW) requires the application of different materials in one structure (multi-material structures). The structure of different materials has a good perspective for application in the automotive and aerospace industries but only if it is possible to achieve a quality joint between different materials. The most used technology for joining different materials in the automotive industry is Resistance spot welding (RSW). Due to different mechanical, physical, and chemical properties, the joining of different materials by RSW technology does not provide a quality joint, and accordingly, alternative technologies for joining different materials have emerged. Resistance element welding (REW) was developed to enable joint of different materials. This paper presents the welding of AW 5754 H22 Al alloy (1.0 mm-thick) and DP500 steel (1.5 mm-thick) using novel REW. The peak load, absorption energy, microstructure, microhardness and fatigue strength of the REW joint has been investigated. The joint of the same materials has been done also using conventional RSW to compare some results. The results that will be presented in this paper show that that REW can achieve reliable joining of the two materials at relatively low welding currents compared to RSW. Using REW process with a significantly lower welding current, satisfactory mechanical characteristics of the weld joint can be achieved, so peak load is between 2300–2500 N, displacement is between 2.5–3 mm and the absorption energy is between 3.3–5.7 J. REW joints showed fatigue strength with the fatigue limit of 882 N.

Healthcare workers (HCW) in primary healthcare centres in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, are on the first combat line with COVID-19. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among HCW at the primary healthcare centres and to analyse the risk exposure to COVID-19, clinical signs and vaccination status. A cross-sectional study was conducted among HCW at the selected primary healthcare centres between 19 March and 30 April 2021. Antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 1,023 HCW (mean age 45 years; 71% female) were included in the study. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 69.5% of all participants. There was a significant difference in seropositivity among primary healthcare centres from different geographical regions. As many as 432 (42%) of all participants had confirmed COVID-19 symptoms before the study and, 84.8% of them were seropositive. This study showed that 702 primary HCW were vaccinated with any of these vaccines: Sputnik V, Sinopharm, Pfizer/Biontech. High titre of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was found amongst those who received one (92.6%) or both (97.2%) doses of vaccines. In this study, we report high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody among HCW in primary healthcare in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina during the third pandemic wave.

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is commonly associated with hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and inflammation which are well known cardiovascular risk factors. Pomegranate peel polyphenols have a proven hypolipemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. However, there is a lack of clinical studies that would confirm its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in diabetic patients. The potential of pomegranate peel extract (PoPEx) to counteract inflammation and oxidative stress in T2DM patients was investigated. For this purpose, a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study involving adult T2DM patients treated with PoPEx or placebo for eight-weeks was conducted. METHODS Patients were randomly divided into two groups: the first group (n = 30) received capsules containing PoPEx 250 mg twice daily, while the placebo group (n = 30) received placebo capsules twice daily. Plasma concentration of inflammatory factors (interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP)), oxidative stress biomarkers (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nitrites (NO2-), superoxide anion radical (O2-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), total antioxidant capacity (TAC)), homocysteine and lipid profile were analyzed. RESULTS The PoPEx treatment showed a significant reduction of inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α, hsCRP), oxidative stress biomarkers (TBARS, NO2-, O2-) and homocysteine, while the TAC was increased. Moreover, a significant improvement in lipid profile was observed in the PoPEx group. Additional analysis showed a significant inverse correlation between the decrements of all measured inflammatory markers and TAC in the PoPEx group. CONCLUSIONS The study demonstrated that eight-week-long PoPEx administration had favorable effects on inflammatory status and oxidative stress biomarkers in diabetic patients.

ABSTRACT Due to its economic worth, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is grown in almost 70 countries and provides income for more than 250 million people. Therefore, producing cotton with having some desired characteristics that includes extended biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, improved fiber quality, promoted nutritional content and increased yield is the main objective for cotton biotechnology. To achieve this goal, many tissue culture and gene transfer techniques are being developed and used throughout the years. As applications for the gene transfer, the Agrobacterium-mediated, particle bombardment and pollen tube pathway-mediated methods are most successfully used and in conjunction with this, meristematic shoot tips as explants are efficiently utilized in gene transfer methods. In this study, the main objective was to report an efficient protocol for a greater recovery of transgenic cotton plant using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. For this, one of the cotton strains (Cukurova 1518) cultivated widely in Turkey was chosen and meristematic shoot tips as explant sources, and GFP and NPTII genes as reporter and marker genes were used, respectively. The effective post co-cultivation conditions were provided via using the selection regime in vitro. Finally, the current results showed highly reproducible protocol developed could be used to produce transgenic cotton plants expressing desired traits or can be utilized as a model system to study the expression of particular genes.

Abstract Background We compared the accuracy of preoperative transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) versus magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the assessment of myometrial invasion (MI) in patients with endometrial cancer (EC), while definitive histopathological diagnosis served as a reference method. Patients and methods Study performed at a single tertiary centre from 2019 to 2021, included women with a histopathological proven EC, hospitalized for scheduled surgery. TVUS and MRI were performed prior to surgical staging for assessment MI, which was estimated using two objective TVUS methods (Gordon’s and Karlsson’s) and MRI. Patients were divided into two groups, after surgery and histopathological assessment of MI: superficial (≤ 50%) and deep (> 50%). Results Sixty patients were eligible for the study. According to the reference method, there were 34 (56.7%) cases in the study with MI < 50%, and 26 (43.3%) with MI > 50%. Both objective TVUS methods and MRI showed no statistical significant differences in overall diagnostic performance for the preoperative assessment of MI. The concordance coefficient between both TVUS methods, MRI and histopathology was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Gordon’s method calculating MI reached a positive predictive value (PPV) of 83%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 83%, 77% sensitivity, 88% specificity, and 83% overall accuracy. Karlsson’s method reached PPV of 82%, NPV of 79%, 69% sensitivity, 88% specificity, and 80% overall accuracy. Accordingly, MRI calculating MI reached PPV of 83%, NPV of 97%, 97% sensitivity, 85% specificity, and 90% overall accuracy. Conclusions We found that objective TVUS assessment of myometrial invasion was performed with a diagnostic accuracy comparable to that of MRI in women with endometrial cancer.

The aim of the paper is to analyze international sanctions in the third decade of the 21st century. International sanctions are non-violent actions that individual states undertake against other states to force them to change certain foreign and domestic policy aspects that are considered unacceptable. Sanctions, introduced by one country, or an international organization are divided into unilateral and multilateral. Sanctions are usually divided into three forms: diplomatic (restriction or complete termination of diplomatic relations), economic (usually related to the prohibition of trade, usually related to weapons), and military sanctions. The aim of the paper is to analyze the current economic multilateral sanctions against the Russian Federation. The purpose of the introduction of sweeping sanctions is to try to overthrow the current government, which made it impossible to implement the policy that led to the introduction of the sanctions. Descriptive and comparative methods and scientific articles were used in the paper together with announcements by regulators, websites of relevant institutions, books, etc. Data on monthly oil and gas production, exports, inflows, and outflows of capital, mandatory financial reports of large companies, data on the monetary base of the central bank, data on direct foreign investments, and data on lending are observed. The paper shows that the general public is actually deprived of a large number of essential statistical data that was updated on a monthly basis until February 2022. Namely, one of the key reasons why there is doubt about the effectiveness of sanctions is that not enough relevant economic indicators are coming from Russia. Instead, optimistic Russian economic analyses, forecasts, and projections are transmitted. The work indicates that there are certain misconceptions among experts and the general public regarding sanctions. The conclusion is that certain sanctions, such as bans related to agricultural products and artificial fertilizers, have been relaxed. However, all sanctions are introduced to hurt the country and lead to regime change. The paper raises numerous questions arising from the fact that there is great uncertainty that has led to a slowdown in economic activity at the global level.

Human coronaviruses are agent which cause respiratory illnesses and have been described to be continously emerging. Seroprevalence of IgM/IgG antibodies was determined by lateral flow immunoassay. Study were include data on participants experience of COVID-19 symptoms during the pandemic (including symptoms and health status). Among 443 serum samples for detection seroprevalence, 186 (42.0%) were seropositive on specific antibodies (IgM/IgG) or participants who had COVID-19 with or without symptoms. Of the seropositive the age group 25-50 years old had the highest percentage (32.8%) followed by 51-64 years (30.6%). Ninety seropositive patients (out of 186; 48.4%) were detected with the specific symptoms. The most frequently symptoms were fever (n=54, out of 90; 60.0%), muscle pain (46.7%), dry cough and loss of smell (36.7%) and others. More than one symptoms were detected in 59 cases (65.6%). The most common comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (n=12, out of 186; 6.5%), than hypertension (nine; 4.8%) and heart diseases (seven; 3.8%). More than half of seropositive were asymptomatic (n=96, out of 186; 51.6%). Note: In period March 2020 - June 2021, among 3323 samples, 804 (24.2%) were positive on SARS-CoV-19 with RT-PCR. The results showed that 394 (out of 804; 49.0%) positive samples were collected from female and 410 (51.0%) from male. The most prevalent of SARS-CoV-19 viruses were detected in > 65 years old (n=267, out of 804; 33.2%). Further research on the contribution of symptomatic or asymptomatic individuals to the community spread of COVID-19 is essential for effective control of the pandemic spread of SARS-CoV-2.

The text critically analyses the provisions of the Proposal of the Law on Implementation of the Decisions of Courts in the Federation of BiH concerning their compliance with the Constitution of BiH, precision, Article III/3 /b and the Decision on the Representative/Agent of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina before the European Court of Human Rights and the Office of the Representative/Agent of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina before the European Court of Human Rights, as well as the expediency of passing such a law.

This text is a review of New Approaches to University of Sarajevo's Publishing Activities.

Nowadays companies have been facing arising modern world challenges, where rules employee's knowledge, high technology, digitalisation, expertise and innovation, what put demanding tasks for firms to invest more in talents' learning and development in order to master changes and sustain competitive advantage. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of talented managers’ learning and development on their retention within the companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methodology in this research article included an appropriate questionnaire on talents' training and education and talents' engagement, as the measure for talent retention. The results from this research showed that talented managers in Bosnia and Herzegovina attended mostly “on job trainings and educations through job instructions” and “external trainings through seminars”. Furthermore, it is discovered that talent training and education affect the factors of employee engagement, but it is not statistically significant for talent retention. The contribution of this study is in the first place to the existing theory on talents management, as well as to companies in developing countries to realise the importance of talents learning and development and the need for its customization to talents' uniqueness in order to increase talent retention.

Glioblastoma’s (GBM) origin, recurrence and resistance to treatment are driven by GBM cancer stem cells (GSCs). Existing transcriptomic characterisations of GBM classify the tumours to three subtypes: classical, proneural, and mesenchymal. The comprehension of how expression patterns of the GBM subtypes are reflected at global proteome level in GSCs is limited. To characterise protein expression in GSCs, we performed in-depth proteogenomic analysis of patient-derived GSCs by RNA-sequencing and mass-spectrometry proteomics. We identified and quantified over 10,000 proteins in two independent GSCs panels, and propose a GSC-associated proteomic signature (GSAPS) that defines two distinct morphological conditions; one defined by a set of proteins expressed in non-mesenchymal - proneural and classical - GSCs (GPC-like), and another expressed in mesenchymal GSCs (GM-like). The expression of GM-like protein set in GBM tissue was associated with hypoxia, necrosis, recurrence, and worse overall survival in GBM patients. In a proof-of-concept proteogenomic approach, we discovered 252 non-canonical peptides expressed in GSCs, i.e., protein sequences that are variant or derive from genome regions previously considered protein-non-coding. We report new variants of the heterogeneous ribonucleoproteins (HNRNPs), which are implicated in mRNA splicing. Furthermore, we show that per-gene mRNA-protein correlations in GSCs are moderate and vary compared to GBM tissue.

Campgrounds are an essential part of the camping experience due to the attractions and facilities they offer to campers. The factors that motivate campers to travel have increasingly become more complex making it vital to take camper expectations into account for effective planning of campgrounds. The present study aimed to determine the trailer park amenities based on expert opinion. The paper systematically applied the Fuzzy Pivot Pairwise RElative Criteria Importance Assessment (Fuzzy PIPRECIA) Method in the selection of the trailer park criteria. Four main criteria and 20 sub-criteria were considered. In the findings the amenities were structured as follows: primarily, 'location,' followed by 'necessities' and 'campground attributes' and finally 'facilities and camping tools.' Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficients were employed to determine the consistency of the proposed model.

In order to address the main challenges related to the rare diseases (RDs) the European Commission launched the European Reference Networks (ERNs), virtual networks involving healthcare providers (HCPs) across Europe. The mission of the ERNs is to tackle low prevalence and RDs that require highly specialised treatment and a concentration of knowledge and resources. In fact, ERNs offer the potential to give patients and healthcare professionals across the EU access to the best expertise and timely exchange of lifesaving knowledge, trying to make the knowledge travelling more than patients. For this reason, ERNs were established as concrete European infrastructures, and this is particularly crucial in the framework of rare and complex diseases in which no country alone has the whole knowledge and capacity to treat all types of patients.It has been five years since their kick-off launch in Vilnius in 2017. The 24 ERNs have been intensively working on different transversal areas, including patient management, education, clinical practice guidelines, patients' care pathways and many other fundamental topics. The present work is therefore aimed not only at reporting a summary of the main activities and milestones reached so far, but also at celebrating the first 5 years of the ERN on Rare and Complex Connective Tissue and Musculo-skeletal Diseases (ReCONNET), in which the members of the network built together one of the 24 infrastructures that are hopefully going to change the scenario of rare diseases across the EU.