Highlights • Deep learning improved thalamus segmentation in multiple sclerosis brain scans.• Atlas based methods overestimated thalamus volume despite spatial overlap.• Voxel overlap and volume accuracy diverged across segmentation tools.• Quantitative magnetic resonance maps modestly improved disability associations.

Ferroelectric Capacitors (FeCAPs) based on HfZrO2 (HZO) are promising building blocks for ferroelectric (FE) Non-Volatile Memories (NVM). In this work, we investigate for the first time the deposition of FE HZO on top of epitaxial Cobalt Silicide (CoSi2), a mainstream CMOS material. While no systematic study exists on this combination, our preliminary results demonstrate the crystallization of the FE phase in HZO on CoSi2 and suggest pathways to improve FE performance to that of the reference stack TiN/HZO/TiN reported in this study and widely used in the literature.

Background Trochanteric femur fractures constitute nearly half of all hip fractures and represent the most commonly surgically treated fracture type overall. Postoperative pain is linked to increased morbidity and poorer functional recovery, and its management remains challenging due to the adverse effects associated with commonly prescribed analgesics. Objectives This study aimed to assess the influence of oral vitamin C supplementation on postoperative pain intensity in patients with trochanteric femur fractures managed with intramedullary nailing. Methods A prospective, randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed involving 70 patients allocated to either a vitamin C group or a control group. Participants in the vitamin C group received 1 g of oral vitamin C daily for 40 postoperative days, whereas the control group received a placebo for the same duration. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain scores, total postoperative metamizole consumption, Harris Hip Score (HHS) values, and complication rates were recorded and compared between groups. Results No statistically significant differences were observed between groups regarding age, gender distribution, length of hospital stay, fracture side, or fracture classification. The cumulative postoperative VAS scores were significantly lower in the vitamin C group compared with the control group (P = 0.0000). Median postoperative metamizole consumption was lower in the vitamin C group, with a significant difference compared with the control group (P = 0.020). Harris Hip Score values assessed at 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively did not differ significantly between groups (P = 0.760 and P = 0.796, respectively). Conclusions The findings indicate that vitamin C supplementation significantly reduced subjective postoperative pain and analgesic consumption, suggesting its potential usefulness as an adjunctive measure for pain management following hip fracture surgery.

This research aimed to examine which of the selected strategies can most effectively influence households to reduce their total municipal waste and thus protect the environment. To achieve this goal, a sample of 202 households from the Brčko District of BiH was used. Respondents evaluated six strategies against ten criteria, expressing their assessments through linguistic values. These linguistic inputs were modeled using symmetric fuzzy numbers, ensuring a consistent and mathematically robust representation of uncertainty and subjective judgment. The research used the fuzzy SiWeC (Simple Weight Calculation) method to determine the importance of the criteria, and the fuzzy TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution), ARAS (Additive Ratio Assessment), and SAW (Simple Additive Weighted) methods to rank the strategies. The application of several methods in decision-making helps validate results and verify the robustness of strategy selection. These methods identified “waste reduction efficiency” as the most important criterion and “Strategy 3—Packaging return machines” as the most effective overall. Furthermore, analysis of demographic subgroups revealed significant variations in the perceived value of alternative strategies. Consequently, this study concludes that to optimize municipal waste management, strategies should be tailored to specific demographic profiles. This targeted approach would enhance waste reduction at the source, divert more waste from landfills, and promote the broader implementation of circular economy principles. The use of symmetric fuzzy numbers provided a reliable and stable foundation for this multi-criteria decision-making analysis.

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) provides internationally comparable data on students’ mathematics and science outcomes. The present study examines whether school bullying moderates gender differences in outcomes on the TIMSS mathematics test among fourth-grade students in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The sample consisted of 3,324 fourth-grade students (1,654 girls and 1,670 boys). Mathematics achievement was assessed using TIMSS plausible values, and analyses accounted for the complex survey design using the student sampling weights. Results showed a significant negative association between school bullying and mathematics achievement for both genders, as well as a significant gender × bullying interaction. Boys achieved higher scores at low and moderate levels of bullying, whereas girls outperformed boys under high bullying exposure. This pattern was consistent across all plausible mathematics values. The results suggest that efforts aimed at improving school social climate and reducing bullying may play an important role in promoting both students’ academic achievement and their well-being. Keywords: TIMSS, mathematics, gender, school bullying, Bosnia and Herzegovina

In this paper, we present an online method for converting an arbitrary geometric path, represented by a sequence of states, and generated by any planner (e.g., sampling-based planners such as RRT or PRM, search-based planners such as ARA*, etc.), into a kinematically feasible, jerk-limited trajectory. The method generates a sequence of quintic/quartic splines that can be discretized at a user-specified control rate and streamed to a low-level robot controller. Our approach enables real-time adaptation to environmental changes and can be re-invoked at any instant to generate a new trajectory from the robot’s current state to a desired target state or sequence of states. Under a bounded-obstacle-velocity assumption, the method provides conditional stopping-safety guarantees over a finite time interval in dynamic environments, while allowing bounded geometric deviation from the original path. Kinematic constraints, including jerk limits, are explicitly considered. We validate the approach in a comparative simulation study against a competing method, demonstrating favorable behavior w.r.t. smoothness, computational time, and real-time performance, particularly with frequent target-state changes (up to $1\,\mathrm{[kHz]}$). Real-robot experiments demonstrate applicability in real-world scenarios, including scenarios with a human as an obstacle.

OBJECTIVE To determine changes in inflammatory parameter values ​​after foam sclerotherapy of varicose vein. The values ​​of inflammatory parameters were taken and compared immediately after treatment and seven days after treatment. METHODS A total of 41 patients with verified varicose vein disease were included in this study. They were monitored immediately after treatment and seven days after treatment. Samples were taken from the cubital vein and 82 samples were analyzed. The following values ​​were measured: C-reactive protein, D-dimer, fibrinogen and leukocytes. RESULTS Only positive results and significant differences were observed in D-dimer values. Significant changes were recorded in D-dimer levels, which showed significant increases 7 days after treatment. D-dimer levels increased from an average of 287.3 ng/ml to 350.9 ng/ml, which is a statistically significant change with a p-value of 0.04. The difference was not statistically significant for other parameters. CONCLUSION D-dimers have been shown to be a specific inflammatory parameter in veins sclerotherapy. Increased values ​​did not affect blood hypercoagulability. Sclerosing agents are effective for seven days after treatment, and recovery should be adjusted to this finding. Although an increase in D-dimer values ​​has been proven, veins sclerotherapy treatment is a safe, extremely effective and reliable method of treating varicose veins, and will have an increasingly wide usage in future.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) share symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits. Both are linked to dysbiosis and gut–brain axis dysfunction. IBS is a multifactorial disorder characterized by abnormal motility, visceral hypersensitivity, low-grade inflammation, and alterations in the microbiota. In contrast, SIBO is defined by excessive bacterial colonization of the small intestine that can mimic or worsen IBS symptoms. Gut microbes and their metabolites influence motility, immune activation, barrier integrity, and gas production; methanogen overgrowth is associated with constipation-predominant presentations, while hydrogen- and hydrogen sulfide-related pathways may contribute to diarrhea and bloating. Because recurrent or empiric antibiotic use is common—particularly in suspected SIBO—yet carries risks of resistance, microbiome disruption, and relapse, there is a strong rationale to prioritize effective non-antibiotic strategies. Accordingly, this review synthesizes current evidence on IBS/SIBO pathophysiology and microbiota interactions. It evaluates non-pharmacological interventions including dietary approaches, probiotics/prebiotics, herbal therapies, and mind–body treatments (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy and gut-directed hypnotherapy). We emphasize an integrative framework that supports symptom control and quality of life while helping reduce unnecessary antibiotic exposure.

AIM To describe the clinical picture and laboratory findings, as well as to examine the significance of novel hemogram-derived inflammatory indices in adult patients with measles admitted to a tertiary hospital. METHODS This prospective, descriptive, and analytical study included adult patients over 18 years of age with clinical signs of measles, admitted at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases, Clinical Center of Sarajevo. Upon admission, medical history, physical examination, and laboratory analyses were conducted from February 2024 to 31 December 2024. RESULTS The study included 124 patients, 52 men and 72 were women with a mean age of 38.33±13.18 years. The most common symptoms in most patients were rash (95.97%) and cough (69.36%). Neutrophilia (63.7%) and lymphopenia (74.19%) were the main hematological features along with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) (95.17%) and transaminase (75%) in the vast majority of patients. The results of laboratory analyzes also indicated hyponatremia and hypokalemia, with elevated values ​​of the enzymes creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The CRP, as the most commonly elevated laboratory parameter, showed positive, significant correlation with Neutrophil/Lymphocyte ratio (NLR), Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI) (p<0.05) and Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and Aggregate Index of Systemic Inflammation (AISI) (p<0.01). CONCLUSION Adult measles was associated with significant inflammation, hematologic changes, and organ involvement, with CRP showing strong correlations with hemogram-derived indices. These findings suggesting that they may be useful in diagnostics of measles.

AIM To investigate the impact of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology on vascular surgery, focusing on its role in preoperative planning and surgical training. METHODS A systematic review was conducted of studies published between 2017 and 2024 that evaluated 3D printing in vascular surgery. Databases searched included MEDLINE and CENTRAL. Eligible studies reported applications of 3D printing in preoperative planning, simulation, or surgical education. RESULTS Analysis of relevant studies revealed that 3D-printed vascular models improved surgical precision, reduced fluoroscopy time, enhanced technical skill acquisition, and increased trainees’ confidence. Models based on computed-tomography angiography data provided accurate, patient-specific anatomy for classic or endovascular aortic aneurysm repair and other vascular procedures. CONCLUSION 3D printing significantly enhances vascular-surgery training and preoperative preparation by providing realistic, patient-specific simulations that improve both technical competence and surgical outcomes.

<p><strong>Aim </strong>To determine the outcome of pregnancies in women whose pregnancies resulted from in vitro fertilisatio&nbsp; (IVF) procedure.</p> <p><strong>Methods </strong>This a retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Data from the delivery protocol were analyzed over a five-year period, from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023. A total of 257 deliveries from IVF pregnancies were analyzed, constituting the study group, while the control group consisted of an equal number of women with spontaneously conceived pregnancies. The following data were analyzed: baseline obstetrics&nbsp; and neonatal characteristics, and presence of complications during pregnancy and delivery.</p> <p><strong>Results </strong>The average age of pregnant women was higher in the study compared to the control group (p=0.001). The average body weight and body length at birth were lower in the study group (p=0.001). The twin pregnancies were more frequent in the study group (p=0.0001). In the study group it was recorded largest number of primiparous women (p=0.0001). It was found higher number of newborns with Apgar scores &lt;7 at the first and fifth minutes in the study group (p=0.0001). There were higher prevalence of preterm births and cesarean section in the study group (p=0.0001). Fetal asphyxia and breech presentation were more prevalent in the study group (p=0.008 and p&lt;0.0001).</p> <p><strong>Consclusion </strong>Pregnancies resulting from IVF were still riskier than those resulting spontaneously.</p>

AIM To determine the outcome of pregnancies in women whose pregnancies resulted from in vitro fertilisatio  (IVF) procedure. METHODS This a retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Data from the delivery protocol were analyzed over a five-year period, from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023. A total of 257 deliveries from IVF pregnancies were analyzed, constituting the study group, while the control group consisted of an equal number of women with spontaneously conceived pregnancies. The following data were analyzed: baseline obstetrics  and neonatal characteristics, and presence of complications during pregnancy and delivery. RESULTS The average age of pregnant women was higher in the study compared to the control group (p=0.001). The average body weight and body length at birth were lower in the study group (p=0.001). The twin pregnancies were more frequent in the study group (p=0.0001). In the study group it was recorded largest number of primiparous women (p=0.0001). It was found higher number of newborns with Apgar scores <7 at the first and fifth minutes in the study group (p=0.0001). There were higher prevalence of preterm births and cesarean section in the study group (p=0.0001). Fetal asphyxia and breech presentation were more prevalent in the study group (p=0.008 and p<0.0001). CONSCLUSION Pregnancies resulting from IVF were still riskier than those resulting spontaneously.

INTRODUCTION Environmental factors may influence postoperative outcomes and quality of life following total hip replacement (THR). This study investigated the impact of the geographical location of the surgical site, as well as the patient’s place of birth and residence, on treatment outcomes in individuals with artificial hips. METHODS A prospective study was conducted involving 280 patients (both genderes; mean age 62 ± 8.8 years) who underwent THR due to primary or secondary hip osteoarthritis. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 64) included individuals who were not operated on in their place of birth and residence, while Group B (n = 216) consisted of those who were born, resided, and underwent surgery in the same geographical location. Outcomes were assessed using the EQ-5D questionnaire (covering mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression), the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, and a VAS-based treatment satisfaction scale, administered preoperatively and one year postoperatively. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher’s exact test (p < 0.05). RESULTS Only 22.9% of all patients underwent surgery in their place of birth and residence, mostly for primary hip osteoarthritis. Preoperatively, Group A reported significantly greater limitations in self-care (p < 0.05). One year postoperatively, Group B showed significantly higher VAS scores for treatment satisfaction (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Patients who underwent total hip replacement in their place of birth and residence demonstrated better postoperative outcomes compared to those who had relocated.

AIM Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) presents diagnostic challenges, with head computed tomography (head CT) often overutilized in emergency settings. Blood biomarkers such as glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) have shown promise in early injury detection. Aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of GFAP and UCH-L1 in identifying   intracranial injuries early and potential reduction in unnecessary head CT scans in mTBI patients. METHODS A prospective study was conducted on 102 adult patients with mTBI. Serum levels of GFAP and UCH-L1 were measured within 12 hours post-injury and compared with head CT findings using appropriate statistical analyses. RESULTS Both biomarkers demonstrated 100% sensitivity and moderate specificity, with high negative predictive value (NPV), supporting their utility in ruling out injuries detectable on CT. CONCLUSION GFAP and UCH-L1 are effective early biomarkers for excluding significant intracranial injuries and may help optimize head CT scan utilization in the acute management of mTBI.