The forestry sector is increasingly dealing with a significant lack of labor and faces the difficult task of securing a professional, stable and sustainable manpower. In this study, different strategic directions for strengthening forestry workforce sustainability are presented and evaluated. The considered strategic directions were developed with respect to forestry employees’ views on necessary measures for making the forestry occupation more appealing. Those measures were observed in three categories: (I) stronger recruiting, (II) stronger retention and (III) higher work commitment. The findings of the survey and other performed analyses resulted in the creation of four different strategic directions: (1) the direct financial strategy, implying increased direct monetary compensation as the main instrument and putting focus on labor productivity; (2) the indirect financial strategy, stressing worker wellbeing through indirect material benefits and aiming at performance quality; (3) the educational strategy, focusing on worker training and education and (4) the technical–technological strategy, aiming at the increased utilization of modern machinery and advanced technologies in forest operations. The results of the study include a comparison of the defined strategies by SWOT analysis and the construction of An analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model as the multi-criteria tool for strategy evaluation. Considering the possibility and conditions of its implementation in the national forestry sector, the technical–technological strategy has been evaluated as best option to pursue. The objective of the study is to contribute to enhancing the sustainability of forestry workforce by defining critical issues and pointing to specific cornerstones that can assist in formulating effective future policies and strategies in the forestry sector.

This paper examined the effect of Islamic finance on poverty reduction in 53 African countries over the period 2013 to 2022. Islamic finance, based on Islamic principles and values, emphasizes ethical conduct, social responsibility, and promotion of social welfare. Poverty remains a pressing issue in many African countries, and traditional financial systems have for long struggled to effectively address this challenge. Islamic finance offers unique features and mechanisms that can contribute to poverty reduction efforts. This study employs a panel System Generalized Method of Moments (SGMM) estimation technique and explores the empirical evidence on the relationship between Islamic finance development and poverty reduction, while controlling for other variables such as foreign aid, government budgets, and government effectiveness. The findings indicate that Islamic finance development, foreign aid, and government budgets have significant positive effects on poverty reduction, while government effectiveness has a negative effect. Thus, the findings highlight the potential of Islamic finance in poverty reduction in African countries and provide valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in harnessing the benefits of Islamic finance for inclusive and sustainable development.

Commercial juice processing generates a wide range of citrus byproducts including Citrus reticulata pomace. Citrus reticulata pomace consists primarily of pectin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and simple sugars. The essential oil present in small amounts contributes to the characteristic citrus aroma. In this research, volatile and semi-volatiles were extracted from citrus pomace (byproduct of mandarin juice production and then encapsulated using a freeze-drying technique. The main goal was to evaluate the efficiency of different coatings such as gum arabic, maltodextrin, and carboxymethylcellulose, to encapsulate citrus aroma. To confirm encapsulation, the microcapsules were disrupted in water. In disrupted microcapsules, a total of 17 monoterpenes, 13 sesquiterpenes, and 15 other compounds were identified, while on the surface of microcapsules, only up to 7 compounds were identified. From 46 aroma compounds identified in disrupted microcapsules, the most abundant ones were limonene, linalool, and α-terpineol.

The scientific community is continually evolving, driven by advancements, shifting priorities, and growing demands for global dissemination of knowledge. A clear example of successfully adapting to these demands is the transition from the Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences (BJBMS) to Biomolecules and Biomedicine (BB) in 2023. This strategic move symbolizes a significant step forward, expanding the journal's global reach and scientific scope.

Comorbidity networks, which capture disease-disease co-occurrence usually based on electronic health records, reveal structured patterns in how diseases cluster and progress across individuals. However, how these networks evolve across different age groups and how this evolution relates to properties like disease prevalence and mortality remains understudied. To address these issues, we used publicly available comorbidity networks extracted from a comprehensive dataset of 45 million Austrian hospital stays from 1997 to 2014, covering 8.9 million patients. These networks grow and become denser with age. We identified groups of diseases that exhibit similar patterns of structural centrality throughout the lifespan, revealing three dominant age-related components with peaks in early childhood, midlife, and late life. To uncover the drivers of this structural change, we examined the relationship between prevalence and degree. This allowed us to identify conditions that were disproportionately connected to other diseases. Using betweenness centrality in combination with mortality data, we further identified high-mortality bridging diseases. Several diseases show high connectivity relative to their prevalence, such as iron deficiency anemia (D50) in children, nicotine dependence (F17), and lipoprotein metabolism disorders (E78) in adults. We also highlight structurally central diseases with high mortality that emerge at different life stages, including cancers (C group), liver cirrhosis (K74), subarachnoid hemorrhage (I60), and chronic kidney disease (N18). These findings underscore the importance of targeting age-specific, network-central conditions with high mortality for prevention and integrated care.

Zlatko Ugljen’s architecture represents a profound engagement with the interplay between regional identity and universal architectural values. Through an analysis of his most significant works, this paper examines how Ugljen synthesizes traditional construction principles with modernist architectural expression, ensuring the continuity of spatial and cultural meaning. Particular attention is given to the concept of the architecture of respect, analyzed within the theoretical frameworks of critical regionalism and the phenomenology of space. Furthermore, the paper investigates the impact of socio-political contexts - ranging from socialist Yugoslavia to the post-conflict reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina - on Ugljen’s architectural practice. Employing a methodological framework that integrates a comparative analysis, case studies, and a phenomenological approach, the paper explores the materiality, spatial organization, and symbolic dimensions of his architectural solutions. The findings suggest that Ugljen’s work serves as a paradigm for contemporary architectural practice, demonstrating how regional identity can be reaffirmed while simultaneously establishing universal spatial values capable of addressing the challenges posed by globalization and cultural fragmentation.

Particulate matter (PM) is a major health risk, particularly in indoor environments where air quality should be optimized and pollution reduced efficiently. While technical air purification systems can be costly and impractical, indoor plants offer a sustainable alternative. Using a novel methodology, four common indoor plants were evaluated for their potential to reduce PM2.5. PM2.5 was introduced via incense in a custom-designed test chamber with air circulating at 0.3 m/s. Air quality was continuously monitored with an AirGradient Open Air device (Model O-1PST), an optical particle counter. Statistical significance was confirmed by independent t-tests and ANOVA. Calcium chloride regulated relative humidity in the chamber. The plants Epipremnum aureum, Chlorophytum comosum, Nephrolepis exaltata, and Maranta leuconeura were assessed for their PM2.5-binding capacity. Nephrolepis exaltata showed the highest reduction efficiency. Maranta leuconeura with its hemispherical leaf cells was tested for the first time and proved to trap particles within its leaf structure. It is ranked second and showed a stronger dependence on ambient PM2.5 concentrations for reduction efficiency.

Abstract An experimental analysis of water pressure in the spiral casing of a Francis turbine is presented. Measurements are conducted to analyze the pressure variation in a radial section of the spiral casing in correlation wtih changes in electric generator output power. The equipment and the software used for signal acquisition and analysis are described. Pressure transducer selection and preparation are carried out to ensure acceptable accuracy for this specific experiment. Existing connectors for turbine monitoring devices are utilized as pressure measurement points in this experiment. Output power is monitored indirectly through the electric signal of the guide vanes opening, with power values used in post-processing from SCADA logs. Hydraulic pressure and pressure differences across different output power levels and operating conditions are discussed.

This paper examines the operation of photovoltaic power plants (PVPP) in lightly loaded distribution networks, addressing stability challenges due to voltage and frequency fluctuations. Using DIgSILENT PowerFactory simulations, the study analyzes load profiles and PVPP interactions under low demand conditions. Results indicate that PVPP can induce overvoltage, voltage dips, and reactive power losses, reducing system efficiency. Optimization strategies, including advanced voltage and frequency regulation, are proposed to enhance stability. Findings emphasize the importance of proper PVPP controller tuning for reliable integration of renewables. Future work should explore network digitalization for improved flexibility and resilience.

In recent years, Western societies have witnessed a notable rise in populism, nationalism, and extremist ideologies, marked by the increasing dehumanization of specific social groups. This trend presents significant challenges to the preservation of civil liberties, particularly the freedom of action and speech for targeted groups, both within higher education institutions and K-12 schools. The study investigates whether access to such freedoms impacts students’ sense of belonging in school and society. Reduced belonging among certain groups diminishes social cohesion and heightens the risk of radicalization and targeted violence. Drawing from a comprehensive sample of N = 518,833 students from 18,819 schools in 68 countries or economies as defined by the OECD, this study reveals a significant insight: countries with more equitable access to civil liberties across all social groups exhibit the higher average levels of school belonging.

Abstract Designing optimal controllers aims to improve the performance of a control system by minimizing tracking errors,control effort, or other system-specific objectives. However, obtaining analytical solutions for optimal controllers is often intractable for highly nonlinear, coupled multi-input multi-output (MIMO) systems. While gradient-based optimization methods can be employed, they may converge to suboptimal solutions due to the presence of multiple local minima in the cost function. Metaheuristic algorithms, on the other hand, offer a way to search for global optima even in complex, nonlinear systems. This article considers a nonlinear, coupled 2-DOF SCARA robot manipulator and proposes a super-twisting sliding mode controller that generates smooth control inputs compared to conventional sliding mode controllers, which typically produce discontinuous signals. We explore the use of genetic algorithms, particle swarm optimization, and simulated annealing to automatically tune the controller parameters, with the objective of minimizing trajectory and velocity tracking errors along a predefined path.

Zadržavanje talenata predstavlja ključni aspekt talent menadžmenta, koji direktno utječe na konkurentnost i dugoročnu uspješnost organizacija. Istraživanje ove teme u regionu još uvijek nije dobilo na važnosti, pa ovaj rad ima svrhu da analizira i proširi dosadašnja naučna saznanja iz oblasti zadržavanja talenata. Cilj rada je istražiti važnost aktivnosti zadržavanja talenata kroz analizu i sistematizaciju postojećih teorijskih i istraživačkih saznanja, te ispitati nivo primjene ovih aktivnosti u uslužnim preduzećima u Bosni i Hercegovini. Također, rad nastoji identificirati specifične inicijative i programe zadržavanja talenata koje preduzeća provode, kao i izazove s kojima se suočavaju. Rezultati empirijskog istraživanja u okviru rada pokazuju da su aktivnosti zadržavanja talenata u prosjeku visoko razvijene, pri čemu se najveći fokus stavlja na kontinuirane programe motivacije, atraktivne nagrade i brigu o brendu poslodavca. Rad doprinosi razumijevanju važnosti zadržavanja talenata, daje saznanja o trenutnoj razvijenosti aktivnosti i pruža smjernice za unaprjeđenje organizacijskih praksi.

This paper provides an overview of the impact of certain types of galvanic faults that may occur in cables in drop wires on the transmission of IPTV services over VDSL2 lines. The study examines how severe serial and shunt galvanic faults affect the physical layer management parameters of VDSL2 transceivers and IPTV QoS parameters.

Biflavonoids are an important group of flavonoids found in Juniperus species, yet their distribution and accumulation patterns remain insufficiently explored. In this study, we applied a method for the simultaneous quantification of seven biflavonoids to analyze different plant parts of J. communis, J. communis subsp. nana, and J. oxycedrus. In order to determinate the influence of growing location, we also analyzed J. communis samples collected from different locations. Four biflavonoids—cupressuflavone, amentoflavone, bilobetin, and hinokiflavone—were detected. In both analyzed J. communis varieties, amentoflavone was the predominant biflavonoid in cones and needles, while in J. oxycedrus, cupressuflavone was the most abundant in cones, with amentoflavone dominating in needles. Overall, biflavonoid content was significantly higher in needles than in cones, with total biflavonoid levels in needles exceeding 5 mg/g dw, highlighting the tissue-specific nature of biflavonoid biosynthesis within Juniperus species. Additionally, our results suggest that in J. communis, biflavonoid accumulation is significantly influenced by growing location.