Stećci, medieval tombstones from the 12th to 16th centuries, are found primarily in present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina and its bordering regions of Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro, distinguished by intricate carvings and inscriptions. This paper describes ten necropolises—Blidinje, Ravanjska Vrata, Radimlja, Križevići, Kopošići, stećci at the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cista Velika, stećci at the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments in Split, Mramorje, and Žugića Bare-along with archaeological work and documentation at these sites. The study examines the impact of climate change on the preservation of stećci. By characterizing thermo-pluviometric parameters and classifying the sites within the Köppen climate system, the research highlights regional climate variations affecting stone deterioration. The analysis reveals that most necropolises are located in climate classes C and D, including types Cfa, Cfb, Csa, and Dfb. Over the past 30 years, increased sunshine, higher temperatures, and radiation have been observed, along with significant variations in humidity and precipitation and a decrease in snow cover. GIS-based mapping shows spatial trends in vulnerability, offering insights to guide future conservation strategies. By integrating archaeology, climatology, and geospatial analysis, this study emphasizes the need for adaptive conservation to protect stećci as vital cultural heritage.

Prehabilitation can decrease postoperative complications and enhance recovery for people with gastrointestinal cancer. Preoperative screening may identify individuals at highest risk of poor postoperative outcomes, enabling targeted and tailored interventions. Despite this, optimal tools for screening patients before surgery remain unclear. This Delphi study sought to achieve international consensus on appropriate screening tools to identify patients at increased risk of postoperative complications before undergoing gastrointestinal cancer surgery. A three-round iterative Delphi survey was distributed to a global multidisciplinary network of prehabilitation experts. Respondents were asked to rate screening tools, identified through a scoping review, on a 5-point Likert scale based on the appropriateness of their use for adult patients undergoing gastrointestinal cancer surgery. The screening tools were categorized as evaluating either physical, nutritional, or psychological domains. A consensus criterion was applied in the second and third rounds, which required ≥ 70% of respondents to rate a given tool as ≥ 4 for it to proceed to future rounds. Overall, 308 self-nominated prehabilitation experts rated the screening tools. Of 26 screening tools (including 9 physical, 7 nutritional, and 10 psychological), consensus was achieved for three physical, three nutritional, and four psychological tools. Based on Delphi consensus of global prehabilitation experts, 10 self-reported screening tools reached consensus. Given that tool selection was informed by Delphi consensus rather than empirical validation, prospective studies are necessary to assess whether these instruments accurately stratify surgical risk and identify candidates most likely to benefit from prehabilitation.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, a Southeast European country and a European Union (EU) candidate state, is characterized by complex social, political and economic structures that influence its development trajectory. As a post-transition economy, it faces persistent structural challenges, including low economic growth and institutional fragmentation. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been an important factor in supporting development through long-term programs, yet recent changes in the status of its operations have raised questions about the sustainability of its interventions and future economic dynamics. This paper examines the spatial distribution of selected USAID-funded economic projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, focusing on diaspora investments, agriculture, tourism and energy policy. By analyzing program documentation and examining the spatial distribution of municipal-level participation, the study provides insights into the economic and geographic impact of USAID selected initiatives. The findings indicate an uneven territorial impact, with more frequent participation in municipalities with stronger institutional and economic capacity and more limited coverage in peripheral and structurally weaker areas. While the analyzed initiatives contributed to sectoral development and capacity-building, their uneven spatial concentration suggests potential territorial vulnerabilities over time. In this context, USAID’s engagement in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been economically, institutionally and geopolitically significant.

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in early childhood. Its clinical behavior is highly variable, ranging from spontaneous regression to fatal outcome despite intensive treatment. The International Society of Pediatric Oncology Europe Neuroblastoma Group (SIOPEN) Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Specialty Committees developed consensus‐based imaging recommendations for high‐risk neuroblastoma at first presentation and throughout follow‐up. These expert opinions aim to improve reproducibility and enhance diagnostic performance in order to advance the current standard of care and assist in the development of future trials.

Introduction : Drug–drug interactions (DDIs) influence treatment outcomes, particularly in complex diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of DDIs in COVID-19 patients. Materials and methods : A study was conducted on 200 patients with mild, moderate, or severe COVID-19 infections. Next, DDIs were classified into five risk categories (A–X). Results : Altogether, 1689 DDIs were identified (maximum of 64 per patient). Most interactions were category C (65.3%). Clinically significant DDIs (C–X) accounted for 73.6% of interactions. Positive correlations were found between the total number of DDIs and both the total number of drugs (very strong) and comorbidities/diagnoses (strong). Patients with severe COVID-19 infections had significantly more DDIs and drugs used. Polypharmacy was highly frequent (97.5%, average of 9.9 drugs per patient). Conclusion : Overall, COVID-19 patients often have clinically significant DDIs resulting from polypharmacy and comorbidities, especially in severe cases. Systematic DDI assessment is essential.

There is no medical field where the impact of medical evolution is more palpable than in kidney transplantation. The pioneers of this procedure, 70 years ago, laid out the foundation for organ transplantation in general and kidney transplantation in particular. Despite the incredible advancements that have been made since, huge differences exist worldwide in terms of access, equity and quality of care. Nowhere are these disparities more prominent than in developing countries with limited resources, underfunded healthcare systems and transplantation infrastructures, particularly the Western Balkans. This position paper delineates the biggest barriers hindering the development of kidney transplantation in the Western Balkans, put forth and agreed upon by a group of regional experts on the field, based on the Modified Delphi Method. Limitations in training, infrastructure, restrictive and outdated legislative practices, lack of a centralized coordination network and fragmented regional collaboration, emerged as the principal challenges. Endorsed by European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT), this paper outlines a pragmatic and practical framework to overcome these obstacles, towards building robust and sustainable transplantation programs that ensure high-quality and equitable access to kidney transplantation, for all patients in this region.

Soda is a key raw material widely used in various industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, detergents, and glass production. At the "Sisecam Soda Lukavac" plant, soda is produced using the Solvay process, which relies on an aqueous solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). Due to the limited availability of global soda sources, efforts are being made to increase production capacity. However, higher production requires greater amounts of industrial water, resulting in increased consumption of fresh water from the Modrac reservoir. To reduce this consumption and minimize environmental impact, this study investigates the reuse of the waste condensate stream from the slaking drums as the aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide (lime milk) through the installation of a barometric condenser operating on the principle of direct contact between the cooling medium and steam. A barometric condenser was proposed for recovering approximately 8339.3 kg/h of steam, which would reduce water consumption by 7.58% and thermal energy losses by 29.3 %, with a payback period of less than six years. Reusing this waste condensate stream is expected to achieve significant operational, ecological, and economic improvements. KEYWORDS:soda production, waste stream, condensate, water, reuse

Cadmium is recognized as one of the most hazardous heavy metals, ranking among the top ten in terms of toxicity. With the growing industrial reliance on cadmium for various manufacturing processes, concerns have risen within the scientific community regarding its presence in wastewater and the challenges associated with its removal. This research investigates the potential for removing Cd(II) ions from a synthetic aqueous solution by utilizing NaHCO3as a precipitating agent. The removal efficiency exceeded 99%, with the most effective conditions identified as: pH 8, a stirring speed of 300 rpm, a stirring duration of 5 minutes, and a precipitation agent of 90 mg. Additionally, removal efficiencies of 96.256% and 91.234% were achieved at cadmium concentrations of 150 mg/L and 300 mg/L, respectively. The removal of Cd(II) ions was found to be more efficient in a mixture of metals, with an efficiency above 98%, compared to when individual metals were considered in isolation.KEYWORDS:Cd(II) ions, most effective conditions, removal efficiency