Age estimation has become inordinately significant for human beings for many reasons, such as detecting legal and criminal responsibility and other social events like a marriage license, birth certificate, etc. This paper aims to decide on the most desirable machine learning algorithm (from conventional machine learning algorithms to deep learning) for dental age estimation based on buccal bone level. The database consisted of 150 CBCT images (73 males and 77 females) from an existing base of the Faculty of Dental Medicine with Clinics, University of Sarajevo, aged 20-69. Results were obtained using the Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis (Weka), machine learning software in Java. Left and Right Buccal Alveolar Bone Levels are increasing with age, so they showed to be the most important attributes, especially the latter. Random Forest classifier provided the greatest result with the correlation coefficient of 0.803 and the mean absolute error of 6.022. We have also shown that considering sinus-related features can be a significant addition to the databases. Our paper is probably one of the first studies where regression algorithms based on the Support Vector Machines and Random Forest were utilized.

Abstract Sweet chestnut forests in Bosnia and Herzegovina are underrepresented in the total forest fund, and their area is declining today. The research aims to determine the correlation relations of morphological traits of chestnut leaves, fruit and cupule in the population of Bosnian Krajina (northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina) to undertake selection and breeding activities. Eleven traits of fruits, leaves and cupules were measured, seven assessed and six calculated. A mutual correlation for the researched traits was calculated using the Pearson correlation coefficient r. When the fruit traits and cupule traits were compared, the needle length showed a statistically significant correlation with most of the fruit traits. The traits of the number of fruits in the cupule and needle length had a statistically significant correlation coefficient with leaf blade width and leaf petiole length. The correlated traits can be distinguished as important for further selection and breeding of sweet chestnuts. The research results indicate that the genetic material of sweet chestnut is a rich source of genetic diversity and can be used in selection to obtain new varieties and cultivars in Bosnia and Herzegovina and for the protection of the indigenous gene pool.

Benzophenone (BP) type UV filters are common environmental contaminants that are posing a growing health concern due to their increasing presence in water. Different studies have evidenced the presence of benzophenones (BP, BP-1, BP-2, BP-3, BP-4, BP-9, HPB) in several environmental matrices, indicating that conventional technologies of water treatment are not able to remove them. It has also been reported that these compounds could be associated with endocrine-disrupting activities, genotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity. This review focuses on the degradation kinetics and mechanisms of benzophenone-type UV filters and their degradation products (DPs) under UV and solar irradiation and in UV-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) such as UV/H2O2, UV/persulfate, and the Fenton process. The effects of various operating parameters, such as UV irradiation including initial concentrations of H2O2, persulfate, and Fe2+, on the degradation of tested benzophenones from aqueous matrices, and conditions that allow higher degradation rates to be achieved are presented. Application of nanoparticles such as TiO2, PbO/TiO2, and Sb2O3/TiO2 for the photocatalytic degradation of benzophenone-type UV filters was included in this review.

Origanum compactum, an endemic Moroccan medicinal herb, possesses many different activities such as antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and anticancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the stability and antifungal activity of liposomal dispersion with this essential oil. Liposomal dispersion stability was evaluated by testing the vesicle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential. It was also examined the in vitro release of thymol and carvacrol from liposomal dispersion. The major components of this essential oil were carvacrol (58.4%), thymol (12.5%) and γ-terpinene (10.7%). Origanum compactum essential oil showed a strong antifungal activity, and the inhibition zones ranged from 24 to 45 mm. After 210 minutes, 80.88% thymol and 16.67% carvacrol were released. Stability assessment was performed for three months and the liposomal dispersion showed a good stability.

Objectives The study aimed to compare the color stability of two different light-cured composites after immersion in three liquids and the effectiveness of 16% carbamide peroxide (CP) in removing the discoloration. Material and methods Color stability of a microhybrid (Z250, 3M ESPE) and nanocomposite (Z550, 3M ESPE) was evaluated after immersion in instant coffee, tea, Coca-Cola, and deionized water as a control group (n=5). Samples were kept in liquids for four hours daily at 37°C for 30 days. Furthermore, 16% CP was applied for the following 14 days, simulating night whitening. A digital spectrophotometer was used for color measurement based on the CIEL*a*b* color coordinates. The color changes (∆E) were measured at baseline, after immersion in the beverages, and also after the teeth whitening procedure. Mixed and factorial ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s post-hoc test were used for statistical evaluation (p≤0.05). Results Tested resin composites showed a color change over the acceptability threshold (ΔE*> 3.48) after immersion in coffee and tea. Nanocomposite reported a significant increase in discoloration in coffee after 30 days (p <0.05). The color of both materials significantly changed (p<0.05) along all three L*a*b* axes in coffee and tea to darker, yellow, and red. Whitening with 16% CP was effective in removing external discoloration in both examined composite materials. Conclusion Coffee and tea induced clinically detectable color changes in dental composites tested, with cumulative effects. Whitening represents an efficient method for the removal of surface discoloration in composite restorations.

Sludge generated in wastewater treatment processes must be treated in an adequate manner, and therefore disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. The biggest obstacle to the efficient use of sludge is the high water content, therefore the development of methods to accelerate the sludge dewatering process is particularly important. For the purposes of the research, the waste sludge created in the process of purifying ammoniaphenol wastewater in the GIKIL factory was used. Sludge conditioning was performed by adding a commercial flocculant (0.1 % solution) in combination with pyrophyllite, kaolin clay and shredded cardboard. According to earlier research, the volume of waste sludge with the addition of a suitable flocculant could be reduced by more than 5 times compared to the initial amount, leaving behind a large amount of separated water that can be returned to the process. The results show that the addition of commercial flocculant in the amount of 0.8 % gives the best results (reduction of sludge volume by 78.8 %). A lower percentage was found in samples with a mixture of flocculants with pyrophyllite (78 %) and kaolin (77.6 %), while the combination of flocculants with waste cardboard was ineffective (64.4 %). Addition of flocculant to waste sludge resulted in a decrease in specific filtration resistance (1.15x107 s2/g). A decrease in specific resistance was also observed in flocculant/kaolin clay (0.8x107 s2/g) and flocculant/cardboard (1.09x107 s2/g) samples. Sludge conditioning also resulted in a reduction of suspended solids in the neonate compared to settled raw sludge without additives.

Background: Psoriasis can be described as a T-cell-mediated disease, with a complex role for variety of cytokines and other factors. Among the inflammatory molecules influencing the keratinocites, TNF-α appears critical in sustaining most of the clinical manifestations of psoriasis. It is postulated that changes in cytokine production both locally and systemically could be useful in monitoring disease activity. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in patients with psoriasis and the healthy subjects, and also to assess a possible association between TNF-α, clinical type and severity of disease. Methods: We studied the levels of serum TNF-α in 60 patients with psoriasis and in the serum of helthy 20 controls. According to the clinical type of disease, patients with psoriasis were divided into four groups: chronic plaque psoriasis (CPP), erythrodermic psoriasis (EP), pustular psoriasis (PP) and psoriatic arthritis (PA). Blood samples were collected from all psoriasis patients and from healthy control subjects. Serum level of TNF-α were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. The severity of CPP was assessed by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Results: Serum levels of TNF-α in patients with psoriasis were significialy higher than in the control group (3.25+1.74 pg/mL vs 0.20+0.01pg/mL, respectively). Significantly elevated serum TNF-α was in patients with PP type (7.39+6.92 pg/mL). There was statistically significant difference between the mean level of TNF-ɑ compared to the clinical type of psoriasis (p<0.05). The mean PASI score in patients with CPP was 0.56±12.45. It was not found statistically significant correlation between serum level of TNF-ɑ and PASI score in patients with CPP (p>0,05). Conclusion: Our results have demonstrated the imortance of determining serum levels of TNF-ɑ in patients with psoriasis. Further investigations are required to clarify the pathogenic role and clinical significance of TNF-ɑ, and these findings may provide important clues to assist in the development of new therapeutic strategies for patients with psoriasis.

Background: Thimerosal is an organomercury compound with high mercury content. Thimerosal is located in the market as an effective bacteriostatic in a series of pharmaceutical products, ophthalmic and nasal products, immunoglobulin preparations, and as a preservative in vaccines. Aims and Objectives: Since it is a compound with living content, this study aimed to examine the genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of thimerosal in human lymphocytes culture. Materials and Methods: We used chromosome aberration analysis and cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome (CBMN-Cyt) assay to test its genotoxic and cytotoxic potential in human lymphocyte culture. Results: Results showed that the frequency of structural chromosome aberrations and CBMN-cyt assay was significantly increased in treated cultures (1 μg/ml and 0.5 μg/ml) compared to the negative control. Conclusion: Obtained results and statistical analysis show that thimerosal is genotoxic and cytotoxic in human lymphocytes in tested concentrations.

Highlights • Gap of public on-the-ground cancer data was addressed through questionnaires to professionals in the SEE region.• There is a lack of diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy modalities in the SEE region in comparison to Western Europe.• The Mortality to incidence ratio correlates inversely with the economic development and the availability of radiotherapy equipment.• The cancer incidence in SEE countries was correlate directly with the life expectancy and the availability of diagnostic equipment.• The need for reliable national and regional cancer registries in SEE countries for data collection and analysis has been emphasized.

We investigated DAB1-protein deficiency in the inner-ear development of yotari in comparison to humans and wild-type (wt) mice by immunofluorescence for the expression of connexins (Cxs) and the pannexin Panx1. The spatial and temporal dynamics of Cx26, Cx32, Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, Cx45, and Panx1 were determined in the sixth and eighth weeks of human development and at the corresponding mouse embryonic E13.5 and E15.5, in order to examine gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) and hemichannel formation. The quantification of the area percentage covered by positive signal was performed for the epithelium and mesenchyme of the cochlear and semicircular ducts and is expressed as the mean ± SD. The data were analysed by one-way ANOVA. Almost all of the examined Cxs were significantly decreased in the cochlear and semicircular ducts of yotari compared to wt and humans, except for Cx32, which was significantly higher in yotari. Cx40 dominated in human inner-ear development, while yotari and wt had decreased expression. The Panx1 expression in yotari was significantly lower than that in the wt and human inner ear, except at E13.5 in the mesenchyme of the wt and epithelium and mesenchyme of humans. Our results emphasize the relevance of GJIC during the development of vestibular and cochlear functions, where they can serve as potential therapeutic targets in inner-ear impairments.

Background: The negative symptoms of schizophrenia are less known aspects of the illness although they often mark its course and outcome. Negative symptoms refer to loss of function, and they are associated with poor outcomes. It is considered that they are more prominent with the longer duration of illness. Objective: To determine the negative symptoms in the patients with schizophrenia with regard to the duration of illness. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 60 consecutive outpatients with schizophrenia. Two groups were formed regarding the duration of illness (⩽2 years, and >3 years). The negative symptoms were established with the Brief Negative Symptom Assessment – BNSA. Results: Average score of negative symptoms in the group with the shorter duration of illness was 8.37±2.94, and in the group with longer duration was 10.73±2.86. Independent Samples Test was significant p=0.003, t-2.367, and therefore the difference between scores on BNSA within groups was significant. Moderate size effect was found (p = 0.69). Conclusion: Negative symptoms of schizophrenia are more prominent with the longer duration of illness.

Background: We could say that traditional healing is a way of healing that has been common since ancient times. It has been passed down from generation to generation for many centuries. Magic medicine, although not approved by any of the monotheistic religions present in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and strictly prohibited by Islam, in the form of various magical acts and spells, exists among the people. Some of these magical practices have their roots in the pre-Christian Slavic period and earlier. Objective: The aim of this article was to provide the review of the traditional medicine during the history and today in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: Review of the available literature, personal contacts and personal experience in contact with the traditional medcine. Discussion: Some of these magical practices have their roots in the pre-Christian Slavic period and earlier. Since the cause of the disease was usually associated with evil beings of supernatural powers, a deity or God’s will or punishment, it is understandable that priests have long been engaged in healing. Especially in the mentally ill, there seemed to be a certain divine or demonic origin of the disease. Muslim folk medicine divides diseases into two groups; in fevers and obsessions with unclean spirits. Folk medicine knows the healing properties of herbs and other substances of animal or mineral origin. The medicinal properties of simple foods that can be found in every home are also widely used, such as: milk, honey, vinegar, oil, onion, and garlic. Prescription books, known as “ljekaruše”, were created by collecting and writing down folk remedies. They were written mostly by Catholic priests. “Witch doctors” or “healers” have been preserved in Orthodox monasteries. Conclusion: Traditional medicine is important for history of medicine, ethnology, anthropology, and abounds in folklore elements. It is an area that leads to knowing, understanding or feeling the very nucleus of a nation.

Acta Informatica Medica journal (www.actainformmed.org), as Biomedical Informatics journal, during past 30 years of existing played important role in distribution of knowledge and experience within this scientific field, by publishing contributions of the biomedical experts from worlwide and spreading of Biomedical informatics knowledge and experiences in scientific and academic community. Acta Informatica Medica journal has been founded in the year 1993 by Izet Masic and Zoran Ridjanovic, as official journal of Bosnian-Herzegovinan Society of Medical Informatics (BHSMI). In the year 2019 Acta Informatica Medica has been accepted as official journal of the European Federation for Medical Informatics (www.efmi.org), besides 3 other journals: International Journal of Medical Informatics, Methods of Information in Medicine and European Journal of Biomedical Informatics. Journal Acta Informatica Medica is abstracted and indexed in 30 on-line data bases, including Pubmed, Pubmed Central, Scopus, Embase, Hinari, etc. The journal follows the Guidelines and recommendations of ICJME, COPE, EASE, WAME, etc. as well as the recommendations of the “Sarajevo Declaration on Integrity and Visibility of Scholarly Journals”, accepted by 17 Editors of biomedical journals at “SWEP 2018” Conference held in Sarajevo and printed in the countries in South-Eastern Europe. The journal supports presentations at conferences held in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The abstract papers presented at “The Mediterranean Seminar on Science Writing, Editing and Publishing“ – “SWEP 2016”, “SWEP 2018”; “SWEP 2020” and “SWEP 2021”, also found its place in the journal, by which we met our goal of promoting science and scientific publication at the area of Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries in the region. Acta Informatica Medica has been ranked: Highest Impact Factor for 2011–2022 was 1.496 and Lowest Impact Factor for 2011–2022 was 0.59. During the year 2021 in Acta Informatica Medica journal was published 46 papers. From total amount published papers, 67,39% was original papers, where it was more published original papers in the journal than in the year 2020. Acta Informatica Medica has value of important metrics (last updated on November 16, 2021): Impact Score - 1.50, h-Index - 20, Rank - 15980, SJR - 0.267.