Aim: This study examined the associations between preschool attendance, socioeconomic status (SES), gender, and early academic skills, and fourth-grade mathematics achievement in Serbia using data from a nationally representative TIMSS 2023 sample. Method: Mathematics achievement was analyzed using plausible values, and regression models were estimated in the IEA International Database Analyzer while accounting for sampling weights. Predictors were entered in four successive regression models, with socioeconomic background entered first, followed by gender and preschool attendance, and finally early literacy and numeracy skills. Results: Socioeconomic background emerged as the strongest predictor of achievement, while gender and preschool attendance showed smaller but still statistically significant effects. Early literacy and numeracy did not account for additional variance once these factors were considered. Supplementary analyses indicated that longer preschool attendance was particularly beneficial for students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, whereas differences were minimal among high-SES students, suggesting a compensatory effect of early childhood education. Conclusion: The results suggest that, while longer preschool attendance can partially compensate for disadvantaged socioeconomic status and contribute to better mathematics achievement, it alone cannot fully offset the strong influence of socioeconomic background, highlighting the need for broader policies that enhance educational quality and reduce educational inequalities.

Introduction: Cesarean delivery (CS) has been associated with altered neonatal physiological transition due to the absence of labor-related hormonal and mechanical stimuli, which are essential for effective cardiopulmonary and metabolic adaptation after birth. Aim: To evaluate the association between cesarean delivery and early neonatal transition disorders in term and late preterm newborns. Methods: This prospective observational study included 230 newborns ≥ 35 weeks of gestation over a 12-month period. Infants were divided into CS (n = 100) and vaginal delivery (VD) groups (n = 130). Outcomes included respiratory disorders (TTN, RDS), need for respiratory support (CPAP/HFNC, oxygen therapy), NICU admission, as well as metabolic disturbances such as hypoglycemia. Results: Cesarean delivery was associated with significantly higher rates of TTN (28% vs 9%, p < 0.001) and RDS (12% vs 4%, p = 0.02). Infants in the CS group more frequently required CPAP/HFNC (22% vs 7%, p < 0.001), oxygen therapy (34% vs 12%, p < 0.001), and NICU admission (26% vs 10%, p < 0.001). Hypoglycemia was also more common following CS (18% vs 7%, p = 0.01). Conclusion: Cesarean delivery is associated with an increased risk of early neonatal transition disorders, particularly respiratory and metabolic complications. Optimizing the timing and indications for CS, along with structured postnatal monitoring, may reduce neonatal morbidity.

When discussing climate change, we primarily refer to global warming, that is, the increase in air temperature which directly affects other climatic elements. The Sarajevo meteorological station has a homogeneous series of observations and measurements of this climatic elements spanning 136 years (from 1888 to 2024) without interruption, which represents a highly representative period for monitoring changes in air temperature and its fluctuations in the study area. The main characteristic of the thermal regime in the Sarajevo area is warming. The mean annual temperature for the entire instrumental period is 9.8°C, with a linear warming trend of 1.7°C. In addition to the general analysis of air temperature and its fluctuations in Sarajevo over this long-term observational period, special attention will be devoted to projecting this climatic element up to the year 2100 under different climate scenarios.

Groundwater is the primary source of water in rural areas of Tuzla Canton (TK). Its quality varies significantly due to natural and human-caused factors, which directly affect the design of water treatment systems. This paper analyzes basic groundwater quality data to determine the most common problems and offer appropriate technical solutions. These areas lack centralized water supply systems, so the population relies on local wells and springs. Groundwater quality can be compromised by the presence of iron, manganese, nitrates, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and increased hardness. According to the Water Regulations, increased hardness has no reference value, yet it significantly affects water quality and the health of the population. Additionally, microbiological pollution is often present in water and is one of the most important factors affecting human health. The results show that universal systems are not sustainable; rather, treatment needs to be adapted to local conditions and water quality.

Church facilities, with candlestands located within churches themselves or in their courtyards, can represent suitable larval breeding microhabitats for mosquito development. These habitats particularly favor the development of the invasive species Aedes albopictus, whose larvae characteristically inhabit small, confined water reservoirs such as candlestands. During a study conducted from September 2025 to February 2026, encompassing 25 church facilities across the territory of Belgrade, larval presence was recorded in several of these sites, with the highest larval density observed at the church in Žarkovo. These findings confirm that the species successfully develops under conditions typical of church environments, while the elevated larval abundance in September indicates more intense reproductive activity during periods with more favorable temperature regimes. In November, the number of sites with detected larvae decreased, whereas larvae were entirely absent during the December-February period.

Introduction: Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are a common cause of hospitalization, while the empirical use of antibiotics increases the need for reliable biomarkers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in bacterial exacerbations. Methods: This retrospective study included 50 patients hospitalized due to AECOPD during the period from August to December 2025. PCT and CRP levels, as well as clinical outcomes including the need for mechanical ventilation and mortality, were analyzed. Results: Bacterial etiology was confirmed in 82% of patients, with significantly higher PCT and CRP levels (p < 0.001). PCT ≥ 0.25 ng/mL was associated with a greater need for NIV (35.3% vs. 6.1%; p = 0.013) and a trend toward higher mortality. ROC analysis demonstrated better prognostic value of PCT for in-hospital mortality (AUC 0.80) compared to CRP (AUC 0.75). Discussion: PCT and CRP play an important role in the triage of patients with AECOPD. CRP demonstrates good sensitivity, whereas PCT is a more specific marker of bacterial infection and a more accurate prognostic indicator. Conclusion: Procalcitonin and CRP are useful biomarkers in the evaluation of AECOPD, with PCT showing greater specificity and better prognostic value.

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine whether differences exist in the expression of the multidimensional components of DF A among school-aged children in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included mentally and physically healthy participants of both sexes, aged 8-15 years, attending a scheduled dental appointment involving either invasive or non-invasive procedures. Prior to treatment, participants completed IDAF-4C core module and the IDAF-S stimulus module independently. Behavioral responses during treatment were assessed using the Frankl Behavior Rating Scale by an independent observer. Results: The findings were presented descriptively in tables. Differences were identified in the expression of the multidimensional components of DF A assessed with the IDAF-4C module. The behavioural component demonstrated the lowest level of expression, followed by the cognitive and physiological components, whereas the emotional component demonstrated the highest level of expression (Friedman test = 238.963; p < 0.0005). Differences were also observed according to the invasiveness of dental procedures, with all components demonstrating higher (more negative) scores during invasive dental treatments: emotional component (Mann-Whitney U = 21,894.000; p = 0.004), behavioural component (Mann-Whitney U = 21,211.500; p = 0.009), physiological component (Mann-Whitney U = 23,570.500; p < 0.0005), and cognitive component (Mann-Whitney U = 20,749.500; p = 0.048). Conclusion: There were no statistically significant differences in the expression of the multidimensional components of the DF A among school-aged children in BiH between the younger and older age groups of respondents. A statistically higher level of DF A components was observed in association with invasive treatments, indicating a link between the intensity of dental fear and the presence of specific stimuli.

Decarbonizing energy-intensive and other hard-to-abate sectors remains essential for meeting climate targets, yet these sectors continue to depend on fuels for high-temperature heat, chemical feedstocks, and energy-dense transport applications. This roadmap assesses the potential role of renewable synthetic fuels (RSFs) in supporting this transition, with a primary focus on the European context and on sectors including steel, cement, glass, aviation, shipping, and power generation. It reviews the current status of RSF combustion science, the high-fidelity experimental and numerical data needed to understand fuel behavior under relevant conditions, and the emerging hybrid physics-based and data-driven modeling approaches that can accelerate progress. Particular attention is given to digital twins and related cyber-physical tools as enabling technologies for process optimization, monitoring, scale-bridging, and industrial implementation. The roadmap also examines practical deployment barriers, including fuel availability, infrastructure, safety, regulatory and policy barriers, and data integration challenges. Developed in the framework of the CYPHER COST Action (CA22151), it highlights that large-scale RSF deployment will require coordinated action across research, industry, and policy, together with stronger business cases, policies that stimulate demand, and workforce development.

: The growing demand for mental health services has led to the rapid emergence of digital mental health applications. Simultaneously, recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have enabled the development of high-performance chatbots powered by large language models (LLMs). Our paper explored the potential of an LLM-based mental health counselling chatbot for university students. We developed the chatbot using the QLoRA fine-tuning approach of a lightweight open-source LLM on curated counselling transcript data. We evaluated the system in a user study, with 30 university students, and found that a single chatbot counselling session reduced negative emotions significantly. Overall, our results suggested that LLM-based counselling chatbots present promising opportunities for AI-driven mental health interventions.

This article examines the development of criminal procedure in the Roman Imperial period, with particular emphasis on the relationship and gradual transition between the accusatorial model (accusatio) and the extraordinary imperial procedure (cognitio extra ordinem). Starting from the institutional and procedural changes caused by the decline of republican judicial bodies and the strengthening of imperial authority, the paper analyses the transformation of judicial power holders, the initiation of criminal proceedings, the role of the judge, the shift from public to secret hearings, the law of evidence, and the emergence of legal remedies such as appeal (appellatio) and asylum (asylum). Special attention is devoted to the issue of proof and to a critical reassessment of the long-standing doctrinal misconception concerning the existence of a formal and binding system of evidentiary rules in Roman law. The conclusion highlights the importance of Roman imperial criminal procedure for the development of the continental legal tradition, emphasizing its ambivalent legacy between enhanced state repression and the early formation of procedural safeguards.

This paper examines the level of alignment between procedural safeguards for children in criminal proceedings in the Republic of Srpska and the standards established by Directive (EU) 2016/800 on procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings. Recognising children as a particularly vulnerable category of participants in criminal proceedings, the paper analyses whether the domestic normative framework ensures effective and child-appropriate procedural protection, taking into account the child’s age, maturity and specific needs. The analysis is based on a normative-dogmatic approach and focuses on the Law on the Protection and Treatment of Children and Juveniles in Criminal Proceedings of the Republic of Srpska, with the subsidiary application of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Srpska. Directive (EU) 2016/800 is used as the primary reference standard, interpreted in the light of the European Convention on Human Rights and the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights. The findings indicate that the domestic legal framework is largely aligned with European standards, particularly regarding the right to legal counsel and the basic limitations on the deprivation of liberty of children. However, the analysis also reveals notable normative shortcomings, especially concerning the individual assessment of the child, the right to information in a child-appropriate manner, and the comprehensive protection of the child’s privacy and identity. The paper concludes that targeted legislative improvements are necessary in order to achieve full and consistent compliance with the standards set by Directive (EU) 2016/800.

.

Neutral stochastic dierential equations represent an important class of mathematical models in which the present dynamics depend on both the current state and delayed memory eects under random perturbations. In this paper, a class of neutral stochastic dierential equations with delay is studied through an eective-state formulation. Instead of analyzing only the original process x(t), the neutral expression  z(t) = x(t)-u(x(t-δ(t)), t)  is introduced as the main dynamic quantity. This eective state separates the current state, the delayed state and the neutral memory term, which makes it suitable for stability analysis. A Lyapunov-type approach is used to formulate sucient conditions for boundedness and mean-square stability of the eective state. A scalar neutral stochastic model with delay is also considered as a motivating example. The proposed framework provides a basis for further numerical approximation and computational stability testing of neutral stochastic systems.