This paper presents a fuzzy system for reliability-based power distribution network planning. The proposed Mamdani type fuzzy inference system with subsequent application of the Bellman-Zadeh decision-making method is used to evaluate the reliability of the power line feeders as criteria for power system planning. Unplanned outages of system components, the Energy Not Supplied (ENS) and age of the power lines are used as input variables of the system and are fuzzified using triangular fuzzy functions. The proposed model was tested on a model of a realistic distribution network in order to prove its relevance and applicability. Results demonstrated that this model could make a contribution in this field as it can be used in practical planning situations for project priority ranking.

The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant capacity of some phytochemicals by using an H2O2 scavenging assay. Betaine, Allantoin and Nicotinamide were put to the test.  Even though hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is not intrinsically reactive, it can be transformed into the extremely reactive and harmful hydroxyl radical (HO), which is then able to interact with nucleotides in deoxyribose nucleic acid and in that way trigger breakage of the strand resulting in carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, etc. Antioxidants aid in the protection of cells from the harmful effects of reactive oxygen species that are known to induce oxidative stress. Excessive production of these reactive oxygen species in the human body is associated with many chronic degenerative diseases such as diabetes, neurodegenerative disease, cancer, etc. The effective way to minimize levels of oxidative stress is the ability to scavenge these reactive oxygen species (ROS). Also, phytochemicals are able to act as antioxidants, and in that way play a vital role in the prevention of disease caused by oxidative stress. The ability of a compound to scavenge H2O2 is a good predictor of its potential antioxidant function. The hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging assay was determined using the Ruch et al., 1989 method, and a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. In conclusion, our samples had marvellous H2O2 scavenging activity and possessed good antioxidant capability, and were compared with the ascorbic acid (vitamin c) as standard natural antioxidant/ as reference antioxidant. The samples were also able to scavenge H2O2 in a concentration-dependent way, according to our results

Debljina kore i njen udio u obujmu oblog drva predstavljaju bitne značajke u tehnološkom procesu pridobivanja drva, posebno u fazi preuzimanja drva. S obzirom da je itekako važno raspolagati s relativno točnim podacima ovih značajki kore za pojedine vrste drveća, osnovni cilj ovoga rada je istražiti navedene značajke kore bukve. Istraživanje je provedeno na području Kantona 10, a obuhvatilo je 678 stabla bukve od 10 do 85 cm promjera na prsnoj visini i od 5 do 40 m visine. Mjerenje srednjeg promjera i debljine kore obavljeno je metodom sekcioniranja, a ukupno je izmjereno 6.403 promjera i debljina kore ili 9,4 mjerenja po jednom stablu u prosjeku. Rezultati su pokazali sljedeće: a) povećanjem srednjeg promjera oblog drva dvostruka debljina kore povećava se od 6,05 mm (debljinski razred 12,5 cm) do 20,69 mm (debljinski razred 82,5 cm); b) povećanjem srednjeg promjera oblog drva udio se kore u obujmu eksponencijalno smanjuje od 9,44% (debljinski razred 12,5 cm) do 4,95% (debljinski razred 82,5 cm). ­Utvrđene razlike u komparaciji s drugim autorima koji su istraživali ove značajke kore bukve, ukazuju na važnost nastavka istraživanja i na drugim područjima u BiH. Na taj način bi se dobili pouzdaniji rezultati koji bi bili primjenjivi za cijelu državu ili parcijalno za pojedine njene dijelove, ako se razlika između područja pokaže statistički ­značajnom. Dobiveni rezultati predstavljaju nezaobilaznu polaznu osnovu za izradu tablica kore bukve i novog ­pravilnika o načinu izmjere oblog drva i utvrđivanja količina.

Heavy metals, due to their inability to degrade, pose a serious environmental and nutritional problem. The accumulation of essential and non-essential heavy metals in living organisms reduces normal growth and development, resulting in acute poisoning, disease and even death of organisms. Melatonin is a very important multifunctional molecule in protecting plants from oxidative stress due to its ability to directly neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS). Also, melatonin has a chelating property, which may contribute in reducing metal-induced toxicity. In this paper, the protective role of melatonin in counteracting metal-induced free radical generation was highlighted. Using the HPLC-FLD technique melatonin was identified and quantified in the roots and leaves of lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis L.), grown under photoperiod conditions. Furthermore, the response of plants pre-treated with exogenous 0.1 mM melatonin to the increased zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations was observed, with changes in mineral (Ca, Mg), physiological and antioxidant status of the plant during heavy metals stress. The obtained melatonin concentrations were the highest published for dry plants so far. Elevated Cd and Zn levels in soil caused alternation in biochemical and physiological parameters of lemon balm leaves and roots. However, melatonin pre-treatment increased plant tolerance to heavy metals stress. Increased Cd and Zn uptake and their translocation into the leaves were also improved, indicating the possible use of melatonin in phytoremediation.

The relationship between education and labor market is significant and complex. Education increases employment opportunities and reduces the chance of occurrence and duration of unemployment. Earnings, among other things, represent private returns on investment in education and are in the center of the analysis of this article. The main aim of this article is to estimate private and social returns on investment in primary, secondary and tertiary education in selected old and new member states of the European Union (EU) by using two methods (Earnings function and Short-cut method) based on the Mincer equation. Results have shown that there is no statistically significant difference between the estimated private and social returns on investment in primary, secondary and tertiary education in groups of old and new EU members. New members converge towards the old members, at least when it comes to returns on investment in these three education levels. The results also indicate the existence of low and negative returns on investment in education in both old and new EU members. Thus, this article with its new findings contributes significantly to the literature that studies the universality of conclusions on returns on investment in education and the methodology that is used.

Abstract C18H12Br2CuN4O2, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 11.5165(11) Å, b = 5.4369(5) Å, c = 14.4872(14) Å, V = 873.52(14) Å3, Z = 2, R gt (F) = 0.0232, wR ref (F2) = 0.0559, T = 200 K.

<p style="text-align: justify;">Microstructure of an austenitic stainless steels is primarily monophasic, i.e. austenitic. However, the chemical composition of steel can affect on precipitation of a delta ferrite. The presence of the delta ferrite in austenitic stainless steel has a beneficial or detrimental effect on mechanical properties (impact and tensile) as well as on weldability and corrosion resistance. This paper presents some methods of determining the content of delta ferrite in austenitic stainless steels as well as in weld metal.</p>

DNA molecule is found in every cell in a living organism and function as an instruction manual for growth, development, as well as any other processes that happen. As the cell divide, it needs to copy its DNA. During the copying, an error can occur, which can lead to a disease. However, there are different error repair mechanisms that are searching for an error, and repairing it. This study focused on 2 proteins involved in DNA repair mechanism, RPA32B and RPA2 from Arabidopsis thaliana. Throughout multiple in silico approached,  multiple sequence alignment, phylogenetic tree construction, 3D visualisation, combination and interaction, we confirmed that the  RPA2 and RPA 32b are involved in DNA replication, meiotic recombination and DNA repair mechanism.

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a challenging chronic inflammatory vasculitis of large vessels with unknown etiology. It usually affects the aorta and its main branches and in few cases it affects other arteries like pulmonary and coronary. We report a case of a young woman with transient ischemic attack (TIA) as the initial presentation followed later by ischemic limb syndrome and then ischemic stroke. Lack of specific diagnostic biomarkers for this disease makes early diagnosis and treatment challenging.

Metal injection molding technology is commonly used in production of small and very complex parts. Residual porosity is unavoidable characteristic of P/M parts, affecting their final properties. During injection molding phase powder-binder separation can occur, causing green density variation through cross section of the part. This behaviour is particularly pronounced as complexity of the parts increases. As a consequence, zones with different density and residual porosity can be seen after sintering. In this regard, porosity and hardness distribution of the sintered ring-shaped part is analysed and presented in the paper.

This study aims to improve the understanding of perceived managerial decency by developing an initial set of items for its measurement scale. Based on the social exchange theory and driven by the strong need for instilling more decency and civility in managerial discourse, this study makes a comprehensive overview of the scope and domain of perceived managerial decency and extracts the potential decency dimensions. After conducting a literature review, 50 collected interview responses on typical examples of managerial decency, as perceived by employees, served as a basis for further analysis. Using the content analysis tools, we generated a set of initial items and dimensions of decency. Those were further refined by 21 experts (5 from academia and 16 from the target audience) using the means of qualitative and quantitative assessment. as a result, we define the perceived managerial decency construct and outline its six potential dimensions: (1) respectful interactions, (2) treatment with good manners, (3) employee development, (4) mutual trust, (5) decent feedback, and (6) providing insight into a bigger picture, as well as generate a set of 75 valid items that reflect the decency construct. We further discuss the research implications for theory and practice.

The contemporary business environment, characterized by high levels of dynamism, turbulence, and uncertainty, has forced companies to re-evaluate traditional models of commerce and make a shift towards Internet-based e-commerce models. Since the perception of usefulness determines the firm’s willingness to adopt e-commerce, this study strives to explore the contributing factors among SMEs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A survey of 154 SME managers/owners was conducted, to identify variables that are key drivers of perceived usefulness. The findings revealed that the strategic management benefits, compatibility, and external pressures are the key predictors of perceived usefulness. This study also shows that the perceived usefulness of e-commerce is higher, if companies belonging to the same industry, or the same business network, have already adopted this business model. These findings strengthen the idea of the enterprise bandwagon effect. Compared to the newer and younger firms, the results also indicate that mature firms tend to have higher perceived usefulness of e-commerce.