This paper investigates the dynamics of a discrete-time Rayleigh-Duffing oscillator exhibiting chaos in the Li-Yorke sense. We use Marotto's theorem to prove the existence of chaos by finding snap-back repeller. It is shown that the system undergoes a Neimark-Sacker bifurcation and a period-doubling bifurcation. We compute the Lyapunov exponents numerically to show sensitive dependence on initial conditions and chaotic behavior. The illustration of the results is presented using numerical simulations.

The Wallace--Freeman estimator is a classical minimum message length estimator whose relationship with likelihood-based asymptotic theory has not been fully developed. We show that, in regular parametric models, the Wallace--Freeman criterion is equivalent, up to constants, to a penalised likelihood criterion with penalty weight \(n^{-1}\). This representation places the estimator within the standard theory of penalised M-estimation and yields existence, consistency, an asymptotic linear expansion, and asymptotic normality under regularity conditions. We further derive the first-order difference between the Wallace--Freeman estimator and the maximum likelihood estimator, showing that it is an explicit \(O(n^{-1})\) shift determined by the gradient of the Wallace--Freeman penalty. Combining this expansion with the Cox--Snell formula gives a first-order bias expansion for the Wallace--Freeman estimator. The result clarifies its relationship with maximum likelihood, Jeffreys-prior penalisation, and Firth-type bias reduction. We illustrate the theory for the Weibull model, where the penalty modifies the leading bias of the maximum likelihood estimator of the shape parameter.

Global birth rates have been in steady decline and are projected to continue this trajectory in the coming decades. While existing literature provides important insights into the demographic and socioeconomic dimensions of this trend, there remains a critical gap in theoretical frameworks that engage with the broader implications of declining fertility. Current family planning programs often concentrate on pregnancy and postnatal care but tend to overlook the preconception period, particularly the need to equip women with the resources and autonomy required to make informed decisions about reproduction. Such omissions may have unintended consequences for women’s reproductive choices and broader fertility patterns. Meanwhile, rather than centering policy efforts solely on increasing birth rates, it is imperative to shift the focus toward improving the quality of births which emphasizes the long-term comprehensive benefits to individuals, families and society. This approach necessitates the provision of comprehensive support covering the entire reproductive cycle for women, supported by robust engagement from the global health community. This study seeks to explore the multifaceted factors that shape women’s capacity and inclination to bear children under conditions conducive to positive maternal and infant outcomes. It introduces a holistic framework designed to inform the policies and practices of health and governmental institutions, with the aim of promoting women’s overall well-being and effective and sustainable fertility outcomes.

The Wallace--Freeman estimator is a classical invariant point estimator whose large-sample properties have not been fully developed in a modern asymptotic framework. We show that the estimator can be formulated as a penalised M-estimator with a specific penalty weight, yielding a unified route to its asymptotic analysis. This representation allows us to establish existence, consistency, an asymptotic linear expansion, and asymptotic normality under standard regularity conditions. We further derive the first-order difference between the Wallace--Freeman estimator and the maximum likelihood estimator, and show that this induces an explicit $O(n^{-1})$ bias correction determined by the gradient of the penalty. As a consequence, the Cox--Snell bias formula for the maximum likelihood estimator extends naturally to the Wallace--Freeman estimator by the addition of a penalty-driven correction term. As an illustration, we derive the first-order bias of the Wallace--Freeman estimator for the Weibull model and show how the penalty modifies the corresponding maximum likelihood bias. These results place the Wallace--Freeman estimator within the general theory of penalised likelihood and provide a rigorous asymptotic basis for its use in parametric inference.

This paper aims to systematically present existing research on cognitive and executive functions, speech and auditory perception, language, literacy, and academic development, and cross-modal reorganization in children with CIs. The methodology included a systematic search of databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) using keywords related to cognition and CIs. After eliminating duplicates and applying inclusion criteria, an analysis was conducted of relevant references published from 2015 to the present, which were analyzed both in tables and narratively. Research confirms that the cognitive development of children with CIs depends on auditory input and the brain’s ability to integrate information from different sensory modalities. Multisensory and interactive approaches to rehabilitation have the potential to enhance cognitive development and should be further researched and applied in practice.

U ovom radu analizira se odnos socijalne politike prema civilnim žrtvama rata i njihova međusobna korelacija u Bosni i Hercegovini. Krajnji cilj je doći do odgovora na pitanja kako odgovoriti potrebama civilnih žrtava rata kroz kvalitetnu socijalnu politiku u Bosni i Hercegovini. U ostvarivanju socijalne pravde, socijalnih prava, smanjivanju društvene nejednakosti i općoj humanizaciji društva u Bosni i Hercegovini posebnu ulogu ima upravo socijalna politika. S tim u vezi primjenu socijalnih politika u području brige i zaštite civilnih žrtava rata sve više pažnje usmjeravaju na deinstitucionalizaciju i tako nastoje da trendovi u brizi o civilnim žrtvama rata idu prema zbrinjavanju ne na državnom nivou, nego na nivou lokalne zajednice. Ono što bi moglo biti jedno od rješenja ili državnih strateških pravaca jeste razvijanje različitih modela podrške, uz podršku njima najbližih osoba, odnosno podrška primarne socijalne mreže uz podršku države. Činjenica je da se naše društvo mora suočiti sa izazovom kreiranja sistema koji će biti prilagođen i u skladu s potrebama kategorije civilnih žrtava rata. Važan preduslov za poboljšanje statusa i brige o civilnim žrtvama rata jeste kroz primjenu kvalitetne i zakonom utvrđene socijalne politike. Odnos socijalne politike prema kategoriji civilnih žrtava rata je vrlo prisan, samom činjenicom jer se ona bavi raznim društvenim segmentima, a civilne žrtve rata su upravo jedna od najugroženijih društvenih kategorija čija ljudska, socijalna i druga prava, bi se trebala početi primjenjivati onako kako to nalažu i međunarodne konvencije koje su sastavni dio socijalne politike, a ne biti samo mrtvo slovo na papiru.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) occupies a dominant transformational position in a wide range of fields, including education, business, law, medicine, rehabilitation – among others. Despite the controversies regarding the use and abuse of this technology, it is possible for professionals, especially those in education, to reap its benefits for instruction, research, and administrative endeavors. Keeping in mind the ethical concerns and the current limitations of the system, AI can provide substantial assistance to, for example, teachers, students, and scholars. Setting aside fears of this technology, teachers can save time and become more efficient and productive with their administrative and instructional tasks. Teachers can also use AI to improve the academic, communication, and social skills of students, including—and especially--students in special education programs. Students can learn to use AI independently; in fact, AI can help students to become autonomous and critical seekers of knowledge. After highlighting some challenges of using AI, the present manuscript discusses a few benefits of AI for children and adolescence who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing (d/Dhh). The manuscript also contains recommendations for teacher education and future research endeavors.

Introduction: Cognitive impairment is the most common neurological disorder associated with brain tumors, which leads to linguistic communication damage. Anxiety and depression are among the most prevalent psychiatric comorbidities in this population. Objectives: To determine the level of cognitive functioning, anxiety, and depression in patients with intracranial tumors with and without aphasia. Subjects and methods: A prospective study was conducted on 91 patients with verified brain tumors which were hospitalized at the Clinic for Neurosurgery for one year period. The patients were assessed with Mini Mental State Examination, Beck’s depression inventory, and Beck’s anxiety inventory. The type and severity of aphasia were determined by the Boston Aphasia Test. Results: The highest number of patients, a total of 31 (37.3%), had moderate anxiety disorder. 30 patients (36.1%) had shown symptoms of moderate depression, and 33 (39.7%) had shown mild and moderate cognitive dysfunction. Conclusion: Anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction were significantly more pronounced in subjects with aphasia.

To evaluate clinical characteristics and outcomes of urgent bronchoscopies due to foreign body aspiration (FBA), we analyzed cases from January 1954 to December 2021. The study included children up to 14 years of age who underwent emergency bronchoscopy on suspicion of a foreign body in the lower respiratory tract. Each patient was assessed for age, sex, nature and location of the foreign body, bronchoscopy findings, complications, and airway involvement. A total of 889 children underwent urgent bronchoscopy over 67 years. Most cases (66.7%) occurred within the first three years of life, and 10.6% involved children under one year of age. Recently, a marked decrease in positive findings in infants has been observed. Boys represented 62.5% of cases. Organic foreign bodies, predominantly pumpkin seeds, were most common. The right bronchus was the predominant location (51%). In the most recent period, multiple-location foreign bodies became more frequent. Both the annual number of bronchoscopies and the proportion of positive findings have declined. During the COVID-19 pandemic, suspicion of FBA and the number of bronchoscopies significantly decreased.

Objective To compare cognitive profiles and dementia severity among older patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), with and without ischemic stroke (IS), and to evaluate the contribution of vascular burden to global cognitive status. Methods This cross-sectional clinical study included 124 patients aged ≥55 years who were stratified into three groups: AF without IS (n = 50), AF with IS (n = 25), and IS without AF (n = 49). Global cognitive status was assessed using ordinal categories derived from the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Attention and working memory were additionally evaluated using the Information-Memory-Concentration (IMC) test derived from the Blessed Dementia Scale. Vascular burden was assessed using the Hachinski Ischemic Score (HIS). Group differences were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests, and predictors of worse cognitive status were examined using ordinal logistic regression. Results Patients with combined AF and IS demonstrated a trend toward a less favorable cognitive profile and higher vascular burden compared with patients with AF alone or IS alone. The proportion of female participants differed significantly across groups (p = 0.022), whereas age category and educational level were comparable. In multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis, higher Hachinski Ischemic Score independently predicted worse global cognitive status (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.42–2.25; p < 0.001) after adjustment for age, sex, education, and major vascular risk factors. Conclusions Vascular burden plays an important role in cognitive impairment among older patients with atrial fibrillation, particularly when accompanied by ischemic stroke. Incorporating vascular burden assessment into routine clinical evaluation may facilitate earlier recognition and characterization of cognitive impairment in aging populations.

Simple Summary The virus responsible for COVID-19 can affect multiple animal species, including wildlife. In this study, we tested, by commercial ELISA, blood samples from red foxes and golden jackals in Serbia for IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Antibodies were detected in both species, with a seroprevalence of 13.3% in red foxes and 7.3% in golden jackals (overall seroprevalence: 10.3%). All the samples were tested in parallel by an in-house adapted ELISA. These results provide the first evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in wild canids in Serbia. Monitoring pathogens in wildlife improves our understanding of disease ecology and supports early recognition of potential zoonotic risks.

Sitagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor used to treat type 2 diabetes. However, several studies have demonstrated its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sitagliptin on the functional and phenotypic properties of human neutrophils under normal (NG, 5.5 mM)- and high (HG, 22 mM)-glucose conditions in vitro. Neutrophils were pretreated with varying concentrations of sitagliptin and stimulated with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLP), calcium ionophore (CaI), or opsonized zymosan (OpZym). Survival, phenotypic, and functional characteristics were then assessed. Our results showed that sitagliptin was non-cytotoxic to neutrophils even at very high concentrations. It decreased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), generally following a stimulus- and concentration-dependent pattern. The effect was more pronounced under HG conditions. Furthermore, sitagliptin showed a significant ROS-scavenging effect in a cell-free system. It also rapidly altered the expression of surface markers in both resting and fMLP-stimulated neutrophils, typically upregulating CD10, CD16, CD62L, CD63, CD88, CD89, and PD-L1, and downregulating CD11b/CD18, CD66b, and CD182, a phenotype consistent with a dampened, less-primed activation state of these cells. In conclusion, sitagliptin exhibited marked antioxidative/ROS-scavenging activity in neutrophil cultures and induced a coordinated shift in neutrophil phenotype, accompanied by suppression of NETosis under both NG and HG conditions. Collectively, these data support the view that neutrophils may constitute an additional cellular target contributing to sitagliptin’s anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory profile.

Background This study explored whether tumor regression following neoadjuvant therapy can be used as a reliable indicator of surgical operability in patients with stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods A retrospective cohort analysis was performed, including patients with stage IIIA NSCLC treated at a tertiary thoracic surgery center. Patients were categorized according to treatment approach: induction therapy followed by surgery or primary surgical management. Treatment response was assessed using imaging findings, pathological staging changes, residual tumor burden, and lymph node status. Surgical feasibility and perioperative outcomes were evaluated. Statistical significance was defined at p<0.05. Results Patients receiving induction therapy demonstrated greater tumor reduction, higher rates of mediastinal nodal regression, and more frequent complete pathological response. Complete (R0) resection was achieved more often in this group. Tumor regression and nodal response were identified as independent predictors of surgical feasibility. Postoperative complication rates and mortality did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusion Tumor response after neoadjuvant therapy is closely associated with surgical operability in stage IIIA NSCLC. Response-based selection may improve resectability without increasing perioperative risk.

The search for new anticancer agents with improved efficacy and reduced toxicity has intensified interest in metal-based compounds. In this study, two novel palladium(II) complexes, synthesized from Schiff base ligands derived from 5-chloro-salicylaldehyde and p-hydroxybenzylamine or tyramine, were chemically characterized and biologically evaluated. Both complexes exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with Pd2 showing slightly higher potency. Morphological analysis of treated cells indicated that apoptosis is the predominant mechanism of cell death. To gain deeper insight into the potential mechanisms underlying the observed anticancer activity, several biologically relevant targets were investigated. Enzyme kinetics revealed that the complexes act as uncompetitive inhibitors of liver catalase, suggesting a possible role in the induction of oxidative stress. Fluorescence studies demonstrated that Pd2 interacts with CT-DNA through combined intercalative and minor groove binding modes and exhibits significant binding affinity toward human serum albumin, predominantly at Sudlow’s site I. Molecular docking analysis further supported favorable interactions with catalase, estrogen receptor α, and B-form DNA, providing structural insight into the experimentally observed biological effects. Overall, the study explores multiple potential mechanisms of anticancer action, underscoring the promising therapeutic potential of these palladium(II) complexes, while antitumor activity has been initially assessed using a MCF-7 cell line as a preliminary model.