Abstract This paper specifies and compares the ancillary services used by transmission system operators in selected countries within ENTSO-E (European Network of Transmission System Operators-Electricity) for operational needs of their transmission systems. The comparison of the ancillary services’ unit prices is also given. In addition, analyses of various experiences gained by ENTSO-E countries within their electric power systems in relation to initiatives supporting the power generation from renewable energy sources (RES) and the methods of their integration into the electric power system were made. Namely, depending on the total amount of RES, depending on the incentive system for electricity production from RES and the development of an organized electricity market, different balancing responsibility models for electricity producers from RES were established.

Abstract In the process of designing and forming each system, it is necessary to identify potential vulnerabilities and threats to that system and to include appropriate countermeasures. The process that helps to find the problem in the first phase of design is called threat modeling. Threat modeling is based on the idea that every system has valuable resources that need to be protected. These resources have certain weak points that internal or external threats can use to harm them, while there are as well countermeasures used to mitigate them. Therefore, this paper analyses the security of a Web of Things (WoT)-based system for remote management of windows, which is in the design stage by using a threat modeling approach based on STRIDE and DREAD. The results obtained through Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool (MTMT) justified the use of threat modeling in the design phase given that we have identified in total 118 threats, with Elevation of privilege class of threats being the most prominent ones. The Information disclosure threats are found to be the ones characterized as medium and low risk ones, while the most represented high-risk threats again come from the Elevation of privilege class of threats.

Abstract The Web of Things (WoT) emerges from applying Web technologies to the Internet of Things (IoT) to access information and services of physical objects. These systems are likely to characterize the future of digital environment and they put certain security issues in the story. In order to help detect potential threats to WoT-system that is being built and designed, it is advisory to implement a threat modelling process. Threat modelling is an engineering technique that can be used to identify threats, attacks, vulnerabilities and appropriate countermeasures in the context of a particular application and is a process best implemented at the system design stage. In this paper, we will analyse the threats for WoT-based door management system by using Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool (MTMT) in order to identify potential threats for this system in design phase. Obtained results justified the use of threat modelling in the design phase given that we have identified in total 89 threats, with Elevation of privilege and Denial of Service (DoS) being the most prominent ones. Those threats are characterized as high and medium risk ones.

Este estudo objetiva discutir a proposta do Programa de Residencia Pedagogica (PRP), relacionado a Politica Nacional de Formacao de Professores, apresentada pelo MEC em 18 de outubro de 2017. A proposta de Residencia Pedagogica foi apresentada no governo de Michel Temer no ano de 2017, teve seu rumo incerto apos uma breve descontinuidade em 2019 e foi retomada com o lancamento de um novo edital no ano de 2020. Destacamos que o atual contexto politico e educacional do Brasil demanda discussoes aprofundadas que busquem problematizar as concepcoes presentes nos projetos de formacao docente em disputa. Intentamos no desenvolvimento desta pesquisa, analisar a proposta do Programa de Residencia Pedagogica, bem como seus possiveis efeitos para a formacao de professores no Brasil. O estudo se organiza em 4 secoes, buscando uma retomada historica da constituicao da formacao docente no pais para a investigacao acerca das concepcoes de formacao docente presentes no PRP. A presente investigacao esta fundamentada na perspectiva metodologica da pesquisa qualitativa, a partir da analise documental e da analise de conteudo. Com este estudo, foi possivel perceber que o PRP vem ao encontro de premissas tecnicistas do fazer docente e demonstra em sua essencia uma visao pragmatica da formacao de professores, entretanto, a autonomia universitaria permitiu algumas iniciativas contra hegemonicas para a organizacao do projeto. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Formacao de professores; residencia pedagogica; politicas educacionais. Doi: 10.21703/rexe.20201941caporal17

Abstract In spring 2020 both teachers and learners experienced the interruption of education as it had been established for over 150 years and seemed to be unchangeable. The paper focuses on students’ perspectives on how they perceive the changes in learning due to the pandemic educational emergency response based on the results of a survey of students in four countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Poland and Turkey. We aim at discussing the data collected at the end of the 2019-2020 Spring semester. The research focuses on the accessibility of the tools for learning, modes of instruction, as well as interaction patterns. In addition, we present students’ opinions on the difficulties they experienced, the learning strategies they adopted and what aspects of online learning should remain as a regular educational practice after the pandemic period.

Abstract The paper examines the application of computer assisted language learning (CALL) in English language classes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The research was designed as an empirical examination of the attitudes of teachers and students on the successful application of computer assisted language learning in English language classrooms in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Lack of motivation is one the problems that most teachers are faced with. There are many causes of poor motivation, but one of them is certainly the unattractiveness and dullness of traditional methods, teaching materials and resources. However, many authors with educational experience point out that the use of information technology can positively influence students’ motivation and encourage them to work actively. While adults, as digital immigrants, might not use modern information technology excessively, children and teens are true digital natives, who have grown up with the latest technologies and use them with great pleasure in all aspects of their lives adapting them to their needs (Prensky, 2001). The results obtained in this research are an indicator of the current attitude of teachers and students towards these issues, but they also highlight some important necessary reforms in the field of teacher education.

Aim To compare different pooling methods in an attempt to improve the COVID-19 PCR diagnostic capacities. Method We developed a novel information-dependent pooling protocol (indept), based on transmission of less informative sequential pools on to the next pooling cycle to maximize savings. We then compared it to the halving, generalized halving, splitting and hypercube protocols in a simulation study, across variety of scenarios. Results All five methods yielded various amount of test savings, which mostly depended on the virus prevalence in the population. In situations of low prevalence (up to 5%), indept had the best performance, requiring on average 20% of tests needed for singular testing across scenarios that were analyzed. Nevertheless, this comes at the expense of speed, with the worst-case scenario of indept protocol requiring up to twice the time needed to test the same number of samples in comparison to the hypercube protocol. In order to offset this, we developed a faster version of the protocol (indeptSp), which minimizes the number of terminal pools and manages to retain savings compared to other protocols, despite marginally longer processing times. Conclusion The increasing demand for more testing globally can benefit from application of pooling, especially in resource-restrained situations of the low- and middle-income countries or situations of high testing demand. Singular testing in situations of low prevalence should be systematically discouraged.

We present a detailed computational study of the UV/Vis spectra of four relevant flavonoids in aqueous solution, namely luteolin, kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin. The absorption spectra are simulated by exploiting a fully polarizable quantum mechanical (QM)/molecular mechanics (MM) model, based on the fluctuating charge (FQ) force field. Such a model is coupled with configurational sampling obtained by performing classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The calculated QM/FQ spectra are compared with the experiments. We show that an accurate reproduction of the UV/Vis spectra of the selected flavonoids can be obtained by appropriately taking into account the role of configurational sampling, polarization, and hydrogen bonding interactions.

Gender inequalities are reflected in differential vulnerability, and exposure to the hazards posed by climate change and addressing them is key to increase the adaptive capacities of societies. We provide trajectories of the Gender Inequality Index (GII) alongside the Shared-Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs), a scenario framework widely used in climate science. Here we find that rapid improvements in gender inequality are possible under a sustainable development scenario already in the near-term. The share of girls growing up in countries with the highest gender inequality could be reduced to about 24% in 2030 compared to about 70% today. Largely overcoming gender inequality as assessed in the GII would be within reach by mid-century. Under less optimistic scenarios, gender inequality may persist throughout the 21st century. Our results highlight the importance of incorporating gender in scenarios assessing future climate impacts and underscore the relevance of addressing gender inequalities in policies aiming to foster climate resilient development. Gender inequality increases vulnerability to climate change impacts and reduces societies’ adaptive capacity. Here the authors show how gender inequality may evolve in the future in five scenarios of socioeconomic development and highlight the importance of incorporating gender inequality in climate change research and policy.

Lipid multilayer gratings are promising optical biosensor elements that are capable of transducing analyte binding events into changes in an optical signal. Unlike solid state transducers, reagents related to molecular recognition and signal amplification can be incorporated into the lipid grating ink volume prior to fabrication. Here we describe a strategy for functionalizing lipid multilayer gratings with a DNA aptamer for the protein thrombin that allows label-free analyte detection. A double cholesterol-tagged, double-stranded DNA linker was used to attach the aptamer to the lipid gratings. This approach was found to be sufficient for binding fluorescently labeled thrombin to lipid multilayers with micrometer-scale thickness. In order to achieve label-free detection with the sub-100 nm-thick lipid multilayer grating lines, the binding affinity was improved by varying the lipid composition. A colorimetric image analysis of the light diffracted from the gratings using a color camera was then used to identify the grating nanostructures that lead to an optimal signal. Lipid composition and multilayer thickness were found to be critical parameters for the signal transduction from the aptamer functionalized lipid multilayer gratings.

Abstract. Experimental demonstration of a quantum random number generator based on one single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detector, a T  /    (  T  −  t  )   pulse-shaped laser, and an field-programmable gate array (FPGA) acquisition module is presented. An integrated laser driver drives an external laser diode at 670 nm wavelength, whereas the SPAD with a photon detection probability of 18.5% is integrated together with an active quenching-resetting circuit. The SPAD detector generates counts for the interarrival time (IAT) measurement system implemented in an FPGA, where the change of the IATs between consecutive pulses is used to derive a random bit stream. It is shown how the application of a pulse-shaped laser driver can increase the performance of the system as compared to the continuous-wave operation of the laser diode to achieve the maximum generation rate of 5 Mbps while using a single SPAD. The generated numbers pass all randomness tests of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Dieharder, and ENT test (pseudorandom number sequence test) suits.

Background: Because of the health systems globalization, it is important to examine health systems organization in Africa, in terms of patient care, to highlight the failures and propose possible solutions. Objective: Modeling based on the Internet of Things (IoT) an Integrated Network for Monitoring Patient Data in West African Health Systems. Methodology: To achieve this, three steps have been followed. 1) Identification of the different characteristics of IoT-based health surveillance systems, WBAN systems and physiological parameters monitorable on a patient. 2) The modeling of the architecture of West African health systems in the form of a cloud of Technocentres. 3) Cross analysis between different IoT technologies, characteristics and functional requirements identified. All this is based on wireless medical sensor networks in Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) systems. Result: This work has been used to model health systems in Africa as a remote monitoring network for patients. Conclusion: The implementation of this model of monitoring networks will be a tool for supporting large-scale decision-making for a health system in Africa. It will enable the West African health system to have an information database.

Cilj: Prikazati učestalost uroloških komplikacija nakon transplantacije bubrega u našem transplantacijskom centru. Ispitanici i metode: Retrospektivnim istraživanjem bili su obuhvaćeni svi pacijenti u Kliničkom bolničkom centru Rijeka u kojih je između 30. siječnja 1971. godine i 31. prosinca 2018. godine učinjena transplantacija bubrega. Rezultati: U promatranom razdoblju u našem transplantacijskom centru učinjeno je 1160 transplantacija bubrega. Urološke komplikacije imala su ukupno 154 pacijenta (13,3 %). Najčešće komplikacije su bile stenoza uretera u 52 pacijenta (4,5 %), urinarna fistula u 50 pacijenata (4,3 %), retencija urina u 23 pacijenta (1,9 %) te urolitijaza u 8 pacijenata (0,7 %). U većine pacijenata je provedeno kirurško liječenje. U posljednje vrijeme značajno se povećalo rješavanje uroloških komplikacija korištenjem minimalno-invazivnih metoda. U dvoje pacijenata (0,17 %) je zbog uroloških komplikacija došlo do gubitka grafta, a u troje pacijenata (0,25 %) su one dovele do smrtnog ishoda. Zaključak: Urološke komplikacije u našoj transplantacijskoj populaciji nisu česte. U pacijenata u kojih je potrebno kirurško liječenje endourološke metode predstavljaju danas inicijalnu metodu liječenja.

In this study, a method was developed for the determination of five neonicotinoid pesticides (acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam) in propolis. Two sample preparation methods were tested: solid-phase extraction and the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method. The identities of analytes were confirmed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in the selected reaction monitoring mode. Solid-phase extraction resulted in cleaner extracts; therefore, the SPE-LC-MS/MS method was validated according to the SANTE protocol in triplicate at two spiking levels (10 ng/g and 50 ng/g). The average recoveries of analytes ranged from 61% to 101%, except for clothianidin (10–20%). The LOD ranged from 0.2 ng/g to 4.4 ng/g, whereas the LOQ was in the range of 0.8 ng/g–14.7 ng/g. In order to compensate for the matrix effect, matrix-matched calibration was used. Good accuracy (relative error: 1.9–10.4%) and good linearity (R2 > 0.991) were obtained for all compounds. The optimised method was applied to 30 samples: 18 raw propolis and 12 ethanol tinctures. Acetamiprid, imidacloprid, and thiacloprid were detectable in seven samples but were still below the LOQ. This study is the first to report the determination of several neonicotinoid residues in propolis.