The global pandemic of the virus COVID-19 dramatically has impacted Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and worldwide. HEIs were forced to switch overnight to online lectures and exams without almost any teachers' and students' preparation and education. After one year of online classes at the University of Mostar (SUM), whether that kind of teaching impacts creativity. In order to find the answer to the research question, the authors used a questionnaire they developed and applied in 2015 to investigate students' perceptions about creativity at the University of Mostar. The research presented in this paper is limited to SUM students who have had online classes since March 2020. The primary research goal is to investigate whether there are any significant changes in students' perceptions of creativity compared to research from 2015. Namely, the authors investigate whether the enhanced use of IT and online platforms (Google Meet, SUMARUM – the University of Mostar’s variant of Moodle) affected students' creativity. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

This paper aims to provide an analysis of the profitability of audit firms in the Republic of Serbia during the period 2016-2018. The analysis is based on the data collected from the financial statements from all audit firms registered in the Republic of Serbia. The profitability analysis includes two goals. This paper will primarily provide a descriptive statistical analysis of the profitability of audit firms measured by return on assets and net income per employee. The following part of the research will answer the question of which factors have a significant impact on the profitability of audit firms. Profitability as a dependent variable is defined as return on assets and net income per employee, while independent variables include market share, current ratio, leverage, size, affiliation to the international network, etc. To answer this question, a regression statistics analysis will be conducted. The research result will indicate which factor can improve the performances of audit firms. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Estimating individualized treatment effects (ITEs) from observational data is crucial for decision-making. In order to obtain unbiased ITE estimates, a common assumption is that all confounders are observed. However, in practice, it is unlikely that we observe these confounders directly. Instead, we often observe noisy measurements of true confounders, which can serve as valid proxies. In this paper, we address the problem of estimating ITE in the longitudinal setting where we observe noisy proxies instead of true confounders. To this end, we develop the Deconfounding Temporal Autoencoder, a novel method that leverages observed noisy proxies to learn a hidden embedding that reflects the true hidden confounders. In particular, the DTA combines a long short-term memory autoencoder with a causal regularization penalty that renders the potential outcomes and treatment assignment conditionally independent given the learned hidden embedding. Once the hidden embedding is learned via DTA, state-of-the-art outcome models can be used to control for it and obtain unbiased estimates of ITE. Using synthetic and real-world medical data, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our DTA by improving over state-of-the-art benchmarks by a substantial margin.

Smart lighting systems are based on sensors and tunable lighting systems are increasingly more prevalent, but collecting, analysing, and using the large data generated by these sensors are challenging. Inspired by research on evolutionary algorithms, it can be hypothesized that an adaptive lighting system can operate in real-time by adjusting its output through a decision-making algorithm based on data mining techniques. Such an adaptive lighting system requires two-order input from users; initial and continual. Initial conditions provide training to the system through human factors research investigating the interaction between humans and their environment. Continual conditions are provided by data collected through sensors in real-time, and they continuously feed into the decision-making algorithm to adjust the output to meet occupants’ biological and psychological needs. Research indicates that artificial intelligence techniques, such as evolutionary algorithms, can emerge as good candidates for this framework.

ABSTRACT Executive functions (EF) play a key role in child’s development as they are necessary prerequisites for everyday functioning and later academic success. Much research has been directed at examining whether EF are unidimensional or multidimensional construct. In this study, we tested two theoretically driven models and one mathematically driven EF model based on the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions – Preschool Edition (BRIEF-P). The sample for this study consisted of 102 children with intellectual disability (77 boys, 25 girls), aged 40–71 months (mean age- 62.1 months, SD- 7.6 months). Early childhood special education teachers completed the BRIEF-P Teacher Version. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was used to assess the validity of different EF models. The original BRIEF-P, with a second-order, three-factor model and one-factor model were not a good fit to the data. Mathematically driven one-factor model, with the addition of correlated errors between the scales of working memory and shift, and working memory and plan/organize was a good model fit. The current study indicates that EF differentiation begins to emerge at preschool age in children with intellectual disabilities. Understanding EF structure in children with intellectual disability will help create better intervention programs for this population.

Holographic massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), in which a spatially continuous surface is being used for signal transmission and reception, has emerged as a promising solution for improving the coverage and data rate of wireless communication systems. To realize these objectives, the acquisition of accurate channel state information in holographic massive MIMO systems is crucial. This paper proposes a channel estimation scheme based on a parametric physical channel model for line-of-sight (LoS) dominated communication in millimeter and terahertz wave bands. The proposed channel estimation scheme exploits the specific structure of the radiated beams generated by the continuous surface to estimate the channel parameters in a dominated LoS channel model. Since the number of unknown channel parameters is fixed regardless of the number of antennas, the training overhead of the proposed scheme does not scale with the number of antennas. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed estimation scheme significantly outperforms other benchmark schemes in a poor scattering environment.

Detailed characterization of medullary and extramedullary reservoirs of osteoclast progenitors (OCPs) is required to understand the pathophysiology of increased periarticular and systemic bone resorption in arthritis. In this study, we focused on identifying the OCP population specifically induced by arthritis and the role of circulatory OCPs in inflammatory bone loss. In addition, we determined the relevant chemokine axis responsible for their migration, and targeted the attraction signal to reduce bone resorption in murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). OCPs were expanded in periarticular as well as circulatory compartment of arthritic mice, particularly the CCR2hi subset. This subset demonstrated enhanced osteoclastogenic activity in arthritis, whereas its migratory potential was susceptible to CCR2 blockade in vitro. Intravascular compartment of the periarticular area contained increased frequency of OCPs with the ability to home to the arthritic bone, as demonstrated in vivo by intravascular staining and adoptive transfer of splenic LysMcre/Ai9 tdTomato-expressing cells. Simultaneously, CCL2 levels were increased locally and systemically in arthritic mice. Mouse cohorts were treated with the small-molecule inhibitor (SMI) of CCR2 alone or in combination with methotrexate (MTX). Preventive CCR2/CCL2 axis blockade in vivo reduced bone resorption and OCP frequency, whereas combining with MTX treatment also decreased disease clinical score, number of active osteoclasts, and OCP differentiation potential. In conclusion, our study characterized the functional properties of two distinct OCP subsets in CIA, based on their CCR2 expression levels, implying that the CCR2hi circulatory-like subset is specifically induced by arthritis. Signaling through the CCL2/CCR2 axis contributes to OCP homing in the inflamed joints and to their increased osteoclastogenic potential. Therefore, addition of CCL2/CCR2 blockade early in the course of arthritis is a promising approach to reduce bone pathology.

The aim of this international multicentre study was to review potential drug–drug interactions (DDIs) for real‐life coadministration of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19)‐specific medications.

Argumentation or reasoning is the part of rhetorical activities in which the subjects of speech make statements that support their basic thesis, or do everything to convince listeners of the truth of their own, and the falsity of the claims of others. This is done in principle in order to convince certain subjects and thus direct their actions as the speaker arguing the claims wants. By this we mean that argumentation is a means, mechanism, or art of influencing human thought and behavior. This paper deals with this issue. The paper will systematically present the importance of argumentation for legal rhetoric. First of all, special attention will be paid to some basic concepts and clarification of the terms argument and argumentation. Then we will turn to the question of the theory of argumentation, where the author of the paper will present some of his views on these issues, and in connection with legal rhetoric. There will be a discussion on the importance of argumentation of the mind in oratory, and show what the power of arguments is in legal rhetoric through the example of judicial oratory. People use rhetoric on a daily basis and give reasons that go in their favor, that is, contrary to the claims of others. This is almost the rule in everyday speech. This issue is particularly important in the field of law. As the type and manner of presenting arguments (but also argumentation errors) can significantly affect the outcome of a certain legal situation, we therefore consider it of great importance to study argumentation in legal rhetoric. I believe that this work will contribute at least a little in this field.

The objective of this study was to determine and compare the antimicrobial resistance profiles of clinical Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (n = 90) and Staphylococcus aureus (n = 61) isolates from different animal species in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Among S. pseudintermedius isolates from dogs (n = 86), resistance to penicillin (87.2%) was most common followed by amoxicillin (76.7%) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (67.4%). A total of 25 isolates were found to be resistant to oxacillin of which 21 were mecA-positive and multidrug resistant (MDR). The most frequent MDR pattern was penicillins-lincosamides-cephalosporins-macrolides-fluoroquinolones. Among the 61 methicillin-susceptible S. pseudintermedius isolates, 18 were MDR (penicillins-lincosamides-macrolides). Most of S. aureus isolates were resistant to penicillin (50.8%), followed by amoxicillin (41%) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (31%). Resistance to cefoxitin was detected in only two isolates. All S. aureus isolates were mecA and mecC-negative. MDR was observed in six S. aureus isolates of which five were from cattle (penicillins-lincosamides-fluoroquinolones). Isolates from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were sensitive to most of the antimicrobials tested. The high number of methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius and MDR isolates in dogs exposed in this study underlines the urgent need for establishment of national antimicrobial resistance surveillance program in animals in the country, as well as for the surveillance of veterinary antimicrobial consumption.

Sustainable technologies are being increasingly used in various areas of human life. While they have a multitude of benefits, they are especially useful in health monitoring, especially for certain groups of people, such as the elderly. However, there are still several issues that need to be addressed before its use becomes widespread. This work aims to clarify the aspects that are of great importance for increasing the acceptance of the use of this type of technology in the elderly. In addition, we aim to clarify whether the technologies that are already available are able to ensure acceptable accuracy and whether they could replace some of the manual approaches that are currently being used. A two-week study with people 65 years of age and over was conducted to address the questions posed here, and the results were evaluated. It was demonstrated that simplicity of use and automatic functioning play a crucial role. It was also concluded that technology cannot yet completely replace traditional methods such as questionnaires in some areas. Although the technologies that were tested were classified as being “easy to use”, the elderly population in the current study indicated that they were not sure that they would use these technologies regularly in the long term because the added value is not always clear, among other issues. Therefore, awareness-raising must take place in parallel with the development of technologies and services.

Regular curriculum modifications and the shift from a teacher-centered to a learner-centered paradigm in educational institutions are meant to enhance the teaching-learning process and fulfill learners' needs as successfully as possible. This study aimed to examine learners' attitudes towards learning English, their needs/wants, learning preferences, strategies, and lesson topics. Moreover, it also investigated the differences in learning preferences based on grade level.  The data were gathered from a survey administrated to 200 elementary school students in Central Bosnia and Herzegovina. The findings illustrated that the participants generally have a positive attitude towards learning English with more significant extrinsic reasons motivating them to learn it. Regarding students' needs, the analysis revealed that overall, students found writing the most challenging and speaking the most desirable language skill. Furthermore, the majority of the participants reported that they like to learn by reading texts or stories, finding the discussion in the classroom the most annoying classroom activity. While learning vocabulary by translating new words is regarded as the most beneficial method, doing written exercises at school presents the most significant way of acquiring grammar. Moreover, the study identified a significant influence of a grade level on the preferred ways of learning English.

The sense of sight plays a very important role in the life of every individual, since we receive most of the information from the environment with the help of sight. Visually impaired children have difficulty receiving information from the world around them. Lack of visual experience can negatively affect their development. Timely examinations and assessments will indicate the occurrence of various neurological disorders in children, if any are present. A very common cause of neurological disorders is perinatal brain damage. Children with perinatal brain damage often have difficulties in visual functioning and it is therefore very important to assess functional vision in these children. If there are any neurodevelopmental disorders in the child, it is important to start vision rehabilitation as soon as possible, in order to effectively influence the improvement of visual functions. Keywords: functional vision, perinatal brain damage, early vision rehabilitation.