Being able to read well is crucially important for language learners. Successful performance at elementary and high school level, as well as on higher levels of academic education, is partly dependent on the ability to read. It is believed that good learners are those who are proficient in reading. However, building such a connection between a reader and the written information is complex for both English as a second language (ESL) and English as a foreign language (EFL) students, and requires the application of various reading strategies. The present study aimed to investigate EFL Bosnian learners' awareness of the use of various reading strategies. Furthermore, the study investigated students' reading habits, favorite reading materials, and the purpose of reading. It was conducted among fifty-seven ninth grade elementary school students. The findings proved that these students are aware of the importance of reading and development of reading skills, as well as of the importance of using appropriate reading strategies in order to be proficient readers and eventually to be more successful in the overall process of learning.

Pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr.), Waste Streams, Characterisation and Valorisation: An Overview

Entre o montante de residuos solidos urbanos produzidos diariamente incluem-se rejeitos com caracteristicas de toxicidade, inflamabilidade, corrosividade e potencial contaminante, os quais merecem atencao especial, uma vez que sao classificados pela NBR no 10.004/2004 como residuos perigosos. Este e o caso dos residuos de medicamentos domiciliares (RMD), como frascos, comprimidos, seringas etc., que podem ser gerados em residencias e, quando descartados incorretamente, contaminam o solo e os corpos hidricos. Diante dessa problematica, a Lei cearense no 15.192, de 19 de julho de 2012, estabeleceu a implantacao da logistica reversa para RMD em farmacias, drogarias e distribuidores de medicamentos, para que o consumidor final tenha acesso a alternativas corretas de descarte. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho buscou verificar, atraves de pesquisa de campo para registro fotografico e preenchimento de formulario, o atendimento a esta Lei no Centro do Municipio de Fortaleza, bairro com maior numero de estabelecimentos farmaceuticos do municipio. Os resultados mostram que apenas 7% das farmacias recebiam os RMD e que em mais de 60% dos estabelecimentos e perceptivel o desconhecimento da normativa em questao, indicando uma possivel falha na capacitacao dos profissionais desses estabelecimentos, desconhecimento do proprietario/gestor do estabelecimento ou deficiencia na fiscalizacao desse quesito por orgaos publicos. Portanto, e necessario que o poder publico atue efetivamente com politicas publicas, fiscalizacao e outras acoes, para que fabricantes e importadores de medicamentos - base do comercio de farmacos - apoiem a logistica reversa de RMD iniciada no distribuidor final, ademais de medidas de educacao ambiental para o consumidor final.

This paper is concerned with a special case of stochastic distributed optimal control, where the objective is to design a structurally constrained controller for a system subject to state and input power constraints. The structural constraints are induced by the directed communication between local controllers over a strongly connected graph. Based on the information structure present, that is, who knows what and when, we provide a control synthesis with the optimal control law consisting of two parts: one that is based on the common information between the subsystems and one that uses more localized information. The developed method is applicable to an arbitrary number of physically interconnected subsystems.

Background: Dental documentation which includes main information about a patient and dental treatment provided is a very important asset of each dental office. Objective: This research aims to analyze the way of fulfilling and keeping mandatory dental records and periodic reporting forms by doctors of dental medicine in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H). Methods: The study was observational with a cross-sectional design using a questionnaire as a study tool. The questionnaire was distributed electronically to the participants working in public health care facilities and private practice. Results: A total of 426 Doctors of Dental Medicine (DDM) participated in the study, of whom 58.7% of respondents were employed in dental offices in the public health sector and 41.3% in dental offices in the private health sector. Dental records are filled out only manually by 53.5% of respondents, while 9.4% fill out the records only electronically, while 37.1% of respondents fill out records both manually and electronically. The manner of keeping dental documentation between respondents employed in dental offices in the public health sector and dental offices in the private health sector differs significantly (p<0.05). Almost all respondents understand the purpose and significance of keeping dental records. Conclusion: This paper points out that good dental records are of great importance as they allow monitoring the quality of services provided to patients for a longer period.

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are known as rare genetic diseases which are caused by mutation in the enzyme heparin sulfate, which normally leads to degradation and accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in the cells. There are 11 types of MPSs, whereby neuropathy may occur in seven of them (MPS I, II, IIIA, IIIB, IIIC, IIID and VII). Accumulation of degraded heparin sulfate in lysosomes causes cellular dysfunction and malfunction of several organs. However, the exact molecular mechanism how protein degradation and storage leads to cellular dysfunction is not understood, yet. Nonetheless, several genetic and biochemical methods for diagnosis of MPSs are available nowadays. Here we provide an overview on known molecular basis of MPS in general, including enzyme defects and symptoms of MPS; however, the main focus is on MPS type III together with potential and perspective therapy-options.

Research show that the vibrations of the strings and the radiated sound of the solid body electric guitar depend on the vibrational behavior of its structure in addition to the extended electronic chain. In this regard, most studies focused on the vibro-mechanical properties of the neck of the electric guitar and neglected the coupling of the vibrating strings with the neck and the solid body of the instrument. Therefore, the aim of the study was to understand how the material properties of the solid body could affect the stiffness and vibration damping of the whole instrument when comparing ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and walnut (Juglans regia L.) wood. In the electric guitar with identical components, higher modal frequencies were confirmed in the structure of the instrument when the solid body was made of the stiffer ash wood. The use of ash wood for the solid body of the instrument due to coupling effect resulted in a beneficial reduction in the vibration damping of the neck of the guitar. The positive effect of the low damping of the solid body of the electric guitar made of ash wood was also confirmed in the vibration of the open strings. In the specific case of free-free vibration mode, the decay time was longer for higher harmonics of the E2, A2 and D3 strings.

Face masks help to limit transmission of infectious diseases entering through the nose and mouth. Beyond reprocessing and decontamination, antimicrobial treatments could extend the lifetime of face masks whilst also further reducing the chance of disease transmission. Here, we review the efficacy of treatments pertaining antimicrobial properties to medical face masks, filtering facepiece respirators and non-medical face masks. Searching databases identified 2113 studies after de-duplication. A total of 17 relevant studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. Risk of bias was found to be moderate or low in all cases. Sixteen articles demonstrated success in avoiding proliferation (if not elimination) of viruses and/or bacteria. In terms of methodology, no two articles employed identical approaches to efficacy testing. Our findings highlight that antimicrobial treatment is a promising route to extending the life and improving the safety of face masks. In order to reach significant achievements, shared and precise methodology and reporting is needed.