There are increasing calls for greater availability of plant genetic resources (PGR) for use in plant breeding to help counter the adverse impacts of a changing climate and threats from pests and diseases, particularly in a context of reduced agricultural inputs, and the needs of the increasing human population. Managing and promoting ex situ and in situ conservation of PGR requires an effective data and informatics foundation. However, in situ data management is particularly undeveloped, especially when compared to ex situ documentation. The work presented here is a consolidated descriptor list to support in situ conservation of PGR. The consolidated PGR descriptor list is based on numerous partial lists collated from historic PGR activities, biodiversity conservation and protected area networking activities. New descriptors for in situ conservation activities were developed where gaps were identified. The draft consolidated PGR descriptor list was reviewed and revised through a process of consultation with experts in PGR documentation and in situ conservation. In total, 171 descriptors were identified, of which seven are defined as mandatory, 47 are defined as core descriptors and 29 are newly developed descriptors for in situ conservation of PGR. The descriptors cover all aspects of in situ conservation, from gathering passport data (for which there are already well-established descriptors), to monitoring and managing crop wild relative and landrace populations. Recommendations are made for the most effective use and future development of descriptors and how they could be used to further develop and support in situ PGR conservation implementation.

There are increasing calls for greater availability of plant genetic resources (PGR) for use in plant breeding to help counter the adverse impacts of a changing climate and threats from pests and diseases, particularly in a context of reduced agricultural inputs, and the needs of the increasing human population. Managing and promoting ex situ and in situ conservation of PGR requires an effective data and informatics foundation. However, in situ data management is particularly undeveloped, especially when compared to ex situ documentation. The work presented here is a consolidated descriptor list to support in situ conservation of PGR. The consolidated PGR descriptor list is based on numerous partial lists collated from historic PGR activities, biodiversity conservation and protected area networking activities. New descriptors for in situ conservation activities were developed where gaps were identified. The draft consolidated PGR descriptor list was reviewed and revised through a process of consultation with experts in PGR documentation and in situ conservation. In total, 171 descriptors were identified, of which seven are defined as mandatory, 47 are defined as core descriptors and 29 are newly developed descriptors for in situ conservation of PGR. The descriptors cover all aspects of in situ conservation, from gathering passport data (for which there are already well-established descriptors), to monitoring and managing crop wild relative and landrace populations. Recommendations are made for the most effective use and future development of descriptors and how they could be used to further develop and support in situ PGR conservation implementation.

Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is an alkaloid that acts as a stimulant on the central nervous system. Caffeine consumption brings a momentary increase in awareness and alertness in humans, as well as in experimental animals. The refluxing method and the regular coffee preparation method were used to extract caffeine from several coffee varieties that were sold in Bosnia. TLC and melting point analysis were performed before and after purification using vacuum sublimation. Chemical characterization of samples by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) analysis was performed by comparing with caffeine standard spectra. The percentage of extracted impure caffeine was higher in coffee samples obtained by the ordinary brewing method compared to reflux. After purification of crude extracts, all refluxed samples yielded more caffeine than those prepared by conventional brewing. In developed TLC chromatograms, Rf values of samples and standard match the literary Rf values of caffeine. Unprocessed caffeine samples showed a melting point from 185 to 216°C, corresponding to the range of 180 to 220°C, the melting point of crude caffeine. After vacuum sublimation, the melting point of all samples was between 235 and 237 °C, which corresponds to the literary values (235-239 °C for the “Merck” caffeine standard). Comparing the FTIR spectra of samples and standard, characteristic caffeine signals were observed confirming successful caffeine isolation. The caffeine content in the analyzed coffee samples from the Bosnia and Herzegovina market complies with FDA (Food and Drug Administration) regulations on the daily amount of caffeine intake per cup of coffee.

This paper presents a comparative analysis of the settlement of the Kobilja Glava tunnel structure, using three-dimensional numerical modeling and geodetic monitoring during construction. The numerical model, developed in the Plaxis 3D software package, included all excavation and support phases, with rock mass parameters defined based on RMR classification and conversion of Hoek-Brown parameters into the Mohr-Coulomb form. The primary lining was modeled using plate elements, while anchors were represented as embedded elements with equivalent elastic modulus.Geodetic measurements were carried out continuously, with measurement points positioned at the tunnel crown, sidewalls, and the bench, providing actual convergence values. Comparison between the numerical model results and geodetic measurements revealed discrepancies ranging from 18% to 24%, with the largest deviations recorded at a distance of 24 m from the excavation face. Statistical data analysis (RMSE ≈ 3.71 mm; σ ≈ 1.21 mm) confirmed the presence of a systematic prediction error, but also the stability of deviations across the analyzed points.The results confirm the technical validity of the applied model and the designed support system, while emphasizing the need for dynamic updating of numerical models in accordance with field data. This further reinforces the implementation of the observational method as a reliable approach under real tunneling conditions.

Solvent structure-making is an important feature of molecular organization in liquids as it shapes thermodynamic, dynamic and reactive properties. In this paper, we combine experimental and computational approaches to elucidate the structure-making behaviour of trans-4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid (ferulic acid, FA) in a series of solvents: the protic alcohols methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol, and the aprotic solvents tetrahydrofuran (THF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Precise viscometric measurements over 11 temperatures in the molality range from ∼0.01 to ∼0.5 mol kg-1 reveal that FA acts as a structure-maker across all solutions. Molecular dynamics simulations complement these findings, revealing marked cross-species correlations and mixed clusters in protic solvents. Hydrogen-bond analysis highlights the long lifetimes of cross-species hydrogen bonds, underscoring the dual donor-acceptor capacity of FA. The insights from experiments and simulations provide a molecular foundation for understanding how solute-induced structure-making by ferulic acid influences solvent organization, and ultimately, properties such as viscosity and antioxidant performance.

This article extends the analysis of Atkinson, Foley, and Ganz in"Beyond the Spoiler Effect: Can Ranked-Choice Voting Solve the Problem of Political Polarization?". Their work uses a one-dimensional spatial model based on survey data from the Cooperative Election Survey (CES) to examine how instant-runoff voting (IRV) and Condorcet methods promote candidate moderation. Their model assumes an idealized electoral environment in which all voters possess complete information regarding candidates'ideological positions, all voters provide complete preference rankings, etc. Under these assumptions, their results indicate that Condorcet methods tend to yield winners who are substantially more moderate than those produced by IRV. We construct new models based on CES data which take into account more realistic voter behavior, such as the presence of partial ballots. Our general finding is that under more realistic models the differences between Condorcet methods and IRV largely disappear, implying that in real-world settings the moderating effect of Condorcet methods may not be nearly as strong as what is suggested by more theoretical models.

This research assessed management strategies for overtourism in Zadar County. Overtourism has become apparent in both city and seaside destinations, affecting residents’ quality of life. This study defines overtourism as a challenge for urban management, emphasizing that exploring strategies to address overtourism also influences the management of sustainability and quality of life in urban areas. Here, a methodological framework was created with five strategies, each evaluated against seven criteria. The evaluation was carried out by the directors of the county’s tourist boards. Since these strategies have not yet been implemented, the directors had to rate them with some uncertainty, as they lacked complete information about the criteria and potential effects. To handle this uncertainty, the intuitionistic fuzzy set (IFS) approach was used. Additionally, the SiWeC method determined the importance of the criteria, and the TOPSIS method ranked the strategies. Results, based on ratings from 12 directors, indicated that Digital Support and Environmental Sustainability are the most important criteria. Strategy C, which aims to redirect tourists to lesser-known locations within the county, performed best, maintaining visitor numbers while helping preserve the region’s natural resources. This research has shown that strategies for managing overtourism help reduce the pressure tourists place on urban environments, thereby improving the quality of life and sustainable development of these environments.

Five neutral heteroleptic mononuclear vanadium(IV) hydrazone complexes ([VOL(bpy)]), derived from 2-hydroxy-5-methylacetophenone and various acid hydrazides (furoic, thiophene, benzoic, nicotinic, and isoniazid), were synthesized and shown to exhibit improved antidiabetic efficacy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, with reduced toxicity and minimal bioaccumulation compared to maltolato- and picolinato-based vanadium species. Structural identity was established by spectroscopic methods. Crystal structures were obtained for four complexes, providing insight into their solid-state chemistry. Stability studies in simulated intestinal and gastric fluids showed that the complexes largely retained their integrity under intestinal conditions, whereas decomposition occurred in the highly acidic gastric environment within several minutes. In vivo experiments revealed a structure-antihyperglycemic activity relationship. The nicotinic-containing complex showed the highest activity, reducing blood glucose levels by 67% within 7 days of treatment, while the remaining complexes improved glycemic control by more than 50%. Bioaccumulation studies demonstrated <1.1% uptake in the liver and kidneys and negligible accumulation in the brain. The presented vanadium compounds enhance antidiabetic potential by addressing key limitations, particularly bioaccumulation and toxicity, associated with vanadium agents previously evaluated in clinical trials.

We examined gender and geographical patterns of authorship ( N  = 1,273,571) across psychology journals listed in Scopus ( N  = 1,398) depending on their citation impact for 4 consecutive years (from 2020 to 2023). We observed gender balance and a dominance of authors from WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) countries in the authors sample ( N  = 921,411). The percentage of WEIRD authors varied as a function of journals’ impact, so that more WEIRD authors published in higher impact journals, and were more probable to be in a first and last authors position. Our findings show that while more authors from underrepresented regions are contributing to psychological journals, journals with higher prestige tend to have fewer of these authors. We also argue that the apparent 50/50 gender balance observed may still reflect representation bias, that is, an inadequate number of women as authors given base rates of their professional participation in psychology. These insights are crucial for fostering a more inclusive and representative field of psychology, which can lead to more equitable research practices and better outcomes for diverse populations.

Ždralovac peatland in the karst field Livanjsko polje in southwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina with an area of about 3.500 ha has always been drained and used for the regional people. But drainage, agriculture and climate change cause the peat drying in the summer and create the conditions for frequent fires and serious changes of peat properties. Since 1.000 ha of peatland was used for agriculture (abandoned areas for 25 years that are being cultivated again today), and the extracted peat is used as a raw material for the plant growing substrate. The presence of certain pollutants is a good indicator of the suitability of peat for the plant production. In this paper, the state of peat related to contamination with heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - PAHs and pesticide residues was investigated in undrained peat areas, reclamation areas and peat burning sites. The presence of heavy metals in concentrations higher than permitted was not recorded. The presence of combustion products PAHs was recorded on all surfaces, but only naphthalene exceeds the permitted concentrations of organic pollutants. Only pesticide residue of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) was recorded in abandoned meliorated areas used in agriculture, and the concentration exceeded the level of uncontaminated land.

Egyptian blue (EB) was a prized, intense blue pigment in antiquity, its color commonly associated with wealth, status, and divinity. While frequently used in small quantities for decorative enhancements, Pompeii’s newly excavated “Blue Room”, a shrine in Regio IX Insula 10, is remarkable in that the entire room is covered with this historically famous pigment. Using a combination of visible (white light)-induced luminescence, SEM-EDS, and Raman spectroscopy, we were able to spatially map the large-scale distribution of EB in situ, identify the method of application, and calculate the total quantity of EB used. We estimate that between 2.7 and 4.9 kg of EB was applied in the fresco technique, corresponding to a total cost of between 93 and 168 denarii. These findings demonstrate how modern multi-scale characterization tools can be employed to provide valuable insights into material investment, artistic practice, and social status in an ancient Roman domestic context.