Abstract Dietary intake and tissue levels of carotenoids have been associated with a reduced risk of several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity, brain-related diseases and some types of cancer. However, intervention trials with isolated carotenoid supplements have mostly failed to confirm the postulated health benefits. It has thereby been speculated that dosing, matrix and synergistic effects, as well as underlying health and the individual nutritional status plus genetic background do play a role. It appears that our knowledge on carotenoid-mediated health benefits may still be incomplete, as the underlying mechanisms of action are poorly understood in relation to human relevance. Antioxidant mechanisms – direct or via transcription factors such as NRF2 and NF-κB – and activation of nuclear hormone receptor pathways such as of RAR, RXR or also PPARs, via carotenoid metabolites, are the basic principles which we try to connect with carotenoid-transmitted health benefits as exemplified with described common diseases including obesity/diabetes and cancer. Depending on the targeted diseases, single or multiple mechanisms of actions may play a role. In this review and position paper, we try to highlight our present knowledge on carotenoid metabolism and mechanisms translatable into health benefits related to several chronic diseases.

We aimed to determine in relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) whether intrathecal synthesis of immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG is associated with outcomes reflecting inflammatory activity and chronic worsening.

Plants and animals utilize various regulatory mechanisms for control of gene expression during development in different tissues and cell types. About 30 years ago, a new mechanism of gene regulation, termed RNA interference (RNAi), was discovered and proved revolutionary for the mechanistic understanding of gene regulation. Noncoding RNAs, including short, 21-24 nucleotide (nt) long microRNAs (miRNAs), endogenously-generated from MIR genes, are key components of RNAi processes, by post-transcriptionally controlling transcripts with antisense complementarity through either translational repression or mRNA degradation. Since their discovery, important roles in regulation of ontogenetic development, cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis in eukaryotes have been elucidated. In plants, miRNAs are known regulatory elements of basic endogenous functions and responses to the environmental stimuli. While the role of miRNAs in regulation of nutrient uptake, circadian clock and general response to abiotic stress is already well understood, a comprehensive understanding of their immune-regulatory roles in response to various biotic stress factors has not yet been achieved. This review summarizes the current understanding of the function of miRNAs and their targets in plants during interaction with microbial pathogens and symbionts. Additionally, we provide a consensus conclusion regarding the typical induction or repression response of conserved miRNA families to pathogenic and beneficial fungi, bacteria, and oomycetes, as well as an outlook of agronomic application of miRNAs in plants. Further investigation of plant miRNAs responsive to microbes, aided with novel sequencing and bioinformatics approaches for discovery and prediction in non-model organisms holds great potential for development of new forms of plant protection.

Introduction: Dental implantology is the branch of dentistry that is gaining greater significance because a larger number of patients come with requests of implant placements. During dental implant placements, with patients with whom operation is carried out in the mandible, very frequently nervus alveolaris inferior can be injured. The nerve injury may occur during the implant placement, but the nerve may also be injured in case of harvesting of intraoral bone graft. During the bone graft harvesting, but also during any other procedure in the dentistry that entails working on vestibular side of corpus of the mandible, in order not to injure the nervus alveolaris inferior, it is important to familiarize oneself with the distance of the nerve from the outer vestibular cortex of the mandible. The objective of the study was to assess the vestibular bone thickness of the mandible in relation to the mandibular canal with the help of analysis of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images.Methods: It was accessed the database of CBCT images taken at the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Sarajevo, where out of 700 reviewed CBCT images, an analysis of 322 CBCT images was conducted that satisfied inclusion criteria of the study. CBCT images were taken using of ORTHOPHOS SLX imaging unit. The measurement was conducted by Sidexis program on cross-section of CBCT image. The measurement of vestibular bone thickness was performed, by measuring the distance from the lateral wall of the mandibular canal to buccal mandibular compact bone, in the region of the second premolar, of the first and the second molar.Results: There were statistically significant differences in vestibular bone thickness between men and women on both sides in the region of the second premolar (p < 0.001) and first molar (p = 0.016 right, p = 0.018 left). T-test demonstrated no statistically significant difference in the vestibular bone thickens between men and women on either side in the case of vestibular bone thickness of the center of the second molar (p = 0.397 right, p = 0.743 left).Conclusion: Values of vestibular thickness of the mandible are larger with men than with women in all measuring points; however, statistically more significant differences between genders have been detected in the second premolar and center of the first molar.

Recent research in AI ethics has put forth explainability as an essential principle for AI algorithms. However, it is still unclear how this is to be implemented in practice for specific classes of algorithms—such as motion planners. In this paper we unpack the concept of explanation in the context of motion planning, introducing a new taxonomy of kinds and purposes of explanations in this context. We focus not only on explanations of failure (previously addressed in motion planning literature) but also on contrastive explanations—which explain why a trajectory A was returned by a planner, instead of a different trajectory B expected by the user. We develop two explainable motion planners, one based on optimization, the other on sampling, which are capable of answering failure and constrastive questions. We use simulation experiments and a user study to motivate a technical and social research agenda.

The task of every government, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, is to provide services and goods for citizens and to maintain economic order. Therefore, the combination of legislation, the judiciary and administration is inevitable. Moreover, public administrations must transform the way they function by using more information and communication technology in order to remain responsive and efficient. This challenge was further revealed during lockdowns in individual countries, which affected their social and economic development. The solution to that challenge is the implementation of e-government in the public sector. It also increases innovation in governance processes as well as efficiency and effectiveness by offering more participative opportunities to citizens. Hence, a mature level of e-government development also arises. Nevertheless, there are significant differences among the levels of e-government development in the EU-28. The aim of this article is to assess the influence of e-government maturity on government effectiveness and efficiency in the EU-28. In order to obtain empirical results, a two-stage least square regression (2SLS) was applied. The empirical results show that e-government maturity positively and significantly contributes to enhancing government effectiveness and efficiency in the EU-28. In addition, the rule of law plays an important role in each stage regression model. Based on the empirical results, we can conclude that e-government is inevitable and should ensure the proper functioning of public administration during the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Cadmium (Cd2+) is toxic metal and environmental pollutant. Accumulation of cadmium in the kidney results initially in proximal tubule dysfunction. Although Cd2+ toxicity is well documented, all mechanisms that are involved in the early stages of nephrotoxicity, especially considering low micromolar concentrations of Cd2+ ions are still unknown. The Aim of this study was to investigate the effects acute exposure to different peritubular micromolar concentrations of cadmium (0.25, 0.50, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0 μmol/L) on the peritubular cell membrane potential in proximal tubular cells of frog kidney. The experiments were performed on isolated, doubly perfused kidneys of Rana esculenta of both sexes. Aortic and portal vein were cannulated in order to perfusate luminal and peritubular cell membraine. In controled conditions, Ringer solution was simultaneously used to perfusate both cell membraines. Cadmium chloride (different concentrations: 0.25, 0.50, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0 μmol/L) were added to the peritubular perfusate separately, by switching the peritubular perfusate from the control Ringer solution to Ringer solution with addition of cadmium ions. Peritubular cell membrane potentials (PD) were measured with conventional 3 mol/L KCl microelectrodes. The peritubular application of different micromolar Cd2+ concentrations led to a rapid, sustained, reversible hyperpolarization of the peritubular cell membrane: 0.25 µmol/L, by −3.3±0.4 mV (n=8, p<0.001); 0.50 µmol/L, by −3.0±0.5 mV (n=11, p<0.001); 1.0 µmol/L, by −2.9±0.6 mV (n=8, p<0.01); 2.0 µmol/L, by −4.2±0.4 mV (n=13, p<0.01); 3.0 µmol/L, by −3.4±0.3 mV (n=14, p<0.001); 5.0 µmol/L, by −3.0±0.4 mV (n=10, p<0.001). After switching the perfusion from Ringer solution with addition of cadmium ions to control Ringer, the peritubular membraine potential returned to the average values that were maintained before the peritubular Cd2+ application (p>0.05). Comparing the effect of different Cd2+ concentrations, there was no difference in the hyperpolarization of the peritubular cell membrane (p>0.05).Each cell served as its own control. Different low micromolar concentrations of Cd2+ provoked rapid and sustained hyperpolarization of peritubular membrane potential that did not show concentration-dependent response.

Some of the conditions which occur in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients with a high incidence resulting in a decline in their quality of life, include malnutrition, renal osteodystrophy, refractory hypertension and chronic systemic inflammation. In developing countries, due to the low level of economic development, low-flux dialysis is the main means of extracorporeal blood purification therapy. But it can hardly remove the middle and large molecule uremic toxins and protein-bound toxins; as a result, the patients suffer from long-term complications and poor quality of life. In this study, we attempted to investigate whether the combination of maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) with hemoperfusion (HP) could improve the clearance rate of middle and large molecule uremic toxins so as to improve their uremic complications. A total of 54 patients, who underwent routine hemodialysis, were assessed in this study. Those patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group 1 (27 patients) received combined treatment of HD with hemoperfusion (HP) in this regimen: HD 2 times a week with HD+HP once a week two times in a row, then after two weeks, and afterwards once a month as a maintenance treatment. Group 2 (27 patients) was only undergoing maintenance HD 3 times a week. The clinical and laboratory properties of both groups were followed up for 18 months, whereas the primary outcomes included normal clinical data, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH), phosphorus (P04), calcium (Ca), albumin, iron (Fe), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), hemoglobin, Epo doses and types of hypertensive drugs. At the end of the 18-month observation, the serum concentration of albumin, P04, hsCRP, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were lower with Group 1 than with Group 2 (p<0.05). Whereas, higher levels of iPTH were noticed in group 1, but when the laboratory and clinical data are analysed of the group 1 alone a statistically significant lower values after the observational period are noticed especially in the serum values of iPTH (p<0.05), P04 (p<0.001), CRP (p<0.011), SBP and DBP (p<0.05). HD+HP was superior to HD in regularly eliminating middle and large molecule uremic toxins accumulated in the body which is mostly shown through reducing the values of iPTH and hsCRP. These findings suggest a potential role for HD+HP in the treatment of inflammation and renal osteodystrophy as well, because lowering these values of iPTH leads to a normalization of other minerals which is expected and therefore leads to a stabilization of this long-term uremic complications, which can improve the overall general condition of the MHD patient.

Brain tumors diagnosis in children is a scientific concern due to rapid anatomical, metabolic, and functional changes arising in the brain and non-specific or conflicting imaging results. Pediatric brain tumors diagnosis is typically centralized in clinical practice on the basis of diagnostic clues such as, child age, tumor location and incidence, clinical history, and imaging (Magnetic resonance imaging MRI / computed tomography CT) findings. The implementation of deep learning has rapidly propagated in almost every field in recent years, particularly in the medical images’ evaluation. This review would only address critical deep learning issues specific to pediatric brain tumor imaging research in view of the vast spectrum of other applications of deep learning. The purpose of this review paper is to include a detailed summary by first providing a succinct guide to the types of pediatric brain tumors and pediatric brain tumor imaging techniques. Then, we will present the research carried out by summarizing the scientific contributions to the field of pediatric brain tumor imaging processing and analysis. Finally, to establish open research issues and guidance for potential study in this emerging area, the medical and technical limitations of the deep learning-based approach were included.

BACKGROUND The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) vary between regions but have risen globally in recent decades. A lack of data from developing nations limits the understanding of IBD epidemiology. AIM To perform a follow-up review of IBD epidemiology in the Tuzla Canton of Bosnia-Herzegovina during a 10-year period (2009-2019). METHODS We prospectively evaluated the hospital records of both IBD inpatients and outpatients residing in Tuzla Canton for the specified period of time between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2019. Since all our patients had undergone proximal and distal endoscopic evaluations at the hospital endoscopy unit, we used the hospital’s database as a primary data source, alongside an additional cross-relational search of the database. Both adult and pediatric patients were included in the study. Patients were grouped by IBD type, phenotype, age, and gender. Incidence rates were calculated with age standardization using the European standard population. Trends in incidence and prevalence were evaluated as a 3-year moving average and average annual percentage change rates. RESULTS During the 10-year follow-up period, 651 patients diagnosed with IBD were monitored (of whom 334, or 51.3%, were males, and 317, or 48.7%, were females). Of all the patients, 346 (53.1%) had been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC), 292 (44.9%) with Crohn’s disease (CD), and 13 (2%) with indeterminate colitis (IC). We observed 440 newly diagnosed patients with IBD: 240 (54.5%) with UC, 190 (43.2%) with CD, and 10 (2.3%) with IC. The mean annual crude incidence rates were found to be 9.01/100000 population for IBD [95% confidence interval (CI): 8.17-9.85], with 4.91/100000 (95%CI: 4.29-5.54) for UC and 3.89/100000 (95%CI: 3.34-4.44) for CD. Calculated IBD prevalence in 2019 was 146.64/100000 (95%CI: 128.09-165.19), with 77.94/100000 (95%CI: 68.08-87.70) for UC and 65.77/100000 (95%CI: 54.45-74.1) for CD. The average annual IBD percentage change was 0.79% (95%CI: 0.60-0.88), with -2.82% (95%CI: -2.67 to -2.97) for UC and 6.92% (95%CI: 6.64-7.20) for CD. During the study period, 24,509 distal endoscopic procedures were performed. The incidence of IBD was 3.16/100 examinations (95%CI: 2.86-3.45) or 1.72/100 examinations (95%CI: 1.5-1.94) for UC and 1.36/100 examinations (95%CI: 1.17-1.56) for CD. CONCLUSION Trends in the incidence and prevalence of IBD in Tuzla Canton are similar to Eastern European averages, although there are significant epidemiological differences within geographically close and demographically similar areas.

Using the Kolmogorov–Arnold–Mozer (KAM) theory, we investigate the stability of May’s host–parasitoid model’s solutions with proportional stocking upon the parasitoid population. We show the existence of the extinction, boundary, and interior equilibrium points. When the host population’s intrinsic growth rate and the releasement coefficient are less than one, both populations are extinct. There are an infinite number of boundary equilibrium points, which are nonhyperbolic and stable. Under certain conditions, there appear 1:1 nonisolated resonance fixed points for which we thoroughly described dynamics. Regarding the interior equilibrium point, we use the KAM theory to prove its stability. We give a biological meaning of obtained results. Using the software package Mathematica, we produce numerical simulations to support our findings.

Terms such as “charge” and “oxidation state” appear frequently in the literature. The problem is that they are often viewed to be synonymous. However, they are fundamentally different concepts using distinct notations. The aim of the present discussion is to attract the attention of researchers from various fields of science in order to prevent further use of misleading interpretations.

Background: According to the WHO (2019), more than 1.5 billion people worldwide are infected with soil-transmitted parasites. Previous research in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H) was mainly conducted in the area of the Sarajevo Canton. Therefore, the aim of the research was to explore contamination of soil and vegetation with developmental forms of parasites in the other cantons of FB&H. Methods: Between Apr and Oct 2018, a total of 1,618 soil and vegetation samples were taken from 386 different locations in the 9 cantons of the FB&H. Results: Positive samples were observed, 65/66 (98.48%) municipalities/cities and on 239/386 (61.92%) locations. Out of 1,618 samples taken in total (1,263 soil samples and 355 vegetation samples), 357 (22.06%) were positive, out of which 337 (26.68%) and 20 (5.63%) were soil and plant samples, respectively. In total, the following adult and developmental forms were identified: Taeniidae eggs (7.30%), Toxocara spp. eggs (62.08%), Ancylostomatidae eggs (25.00%), Trichuris spp. eggs (9.55%), Capillaria spp. eggs (3.37%), Toxascaris leonina eggs (1.40%), Nematodes larvae (19.38%), Giardia duodenalis cysts (5.06%), Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts (1.4%), oocysts and cysts of different species of Protozoa (3.93%). Conclusion: The identified developmental forms of parasites pose a permanent threat to human health. It is necessary to carry out measures to reduce the contamination of soil and vegetation in coordination with systematic solutions (legislation), paralelly with contribution of animal owners, veterinarians, physicians, ecologists, parents and all the others involved in this issue.

Juvenile delinquency points to the existence of adverse social circumstances in which children grow up, and it requires a very complex intervention directed at a number of factors that cause such a phenomenon. Due to insufficient development and sensitivity in this stage of growing up, a young person’s development may be directed in an asocial or antisocial direction, going all the way to a criminal form of behavior. A juvenile experimenter is a person who has not been satisfied with life for a long time before they start taking addictive substances. The causes can be different: from loneliness, intro-version, unattainable goals, boredom, frustration due to disappointment, or rejection in society. In addition, people who enter the world of addiction usually do not have family in the true sense of the word. It is often not easy to recognize the difference between “normal, ” common changes in adolescence, such as mood swings and defying parents and teachers and signs of substance abuse. There are a number of signs of substance abuse in young people, the most important of which is change, that is, it is important to pay attention to any significant changes in physical appearance, personality, attitudes, or behavior. Over the past decades, therapeutic communities have been trying to provide an answer to the phenomena and problems related to substance abuse. All users of the therapeutic community have behavioral problems of various forms and intensities as well as a certain degree of educational neglect. Psychotherapy and rehabilitation are the purpose of the therapeutic community. Without adequate psychotherapy and sociotherapy, juvenile users would become frequent users of health services.

Significance Invasive alien species pose major threats to biodiversity and ecosystems. However, identifying drivers of invasion success has been challenging, in part because species can achieve invasiveness in different ways, each corresponding to different aspects of demographics and distribution. Employing a multidimensional perspective of invasiveness to Europe’s alien flora, we find species generally fall along an axis from overall poor invaders to super invaders that become abundant, widespread, and invade diverse habitats. Some species that deviate from this pattern are recently introduced and still spreading, but others represent atypical forms of invasiveness. In addition to identifying species traits and ecological circumstances associated with super invaders (e.g., intercontinental introductions), we explore drivers in atypical invasions, providing increased clarity into invasion processes. Understanding drivers of success for alien species can inform on potential future invasions. Recent conceptual advances highlight that species may achieve invasiveness via performance along at least three distinct dimensions: 1) local abundance, 2) geographic range size, and 3) habitat breadth in naturalized distributions. Associations among these dimensions and the factors that determine success in each have yet to be assessed at large geographic scales. Here, we combine data from over one million vegetation plots covering the extent of Europe and its habitat diversity with databases on species’ distributions, traits, and historical origins to provide a comprehensive assessment of invasiveness dimensions for the European alien seed plant flora. Invasiveness dimensions are linked in alien distributions, leading to a continuum from overall poor invaders to super invaders—abundant, widespread aliens that invade diverse habitats. This pattern echoes relationships among analogous dimensions measured for native European species. Success along invasiveness dimensions was associated with details of alien species’ introduction histories: earlier introduction dates were positively associated with all three dimensions, and consistent with theory-based expectations, species originating from other continents, particularly acquisitive growth strategists, were among the most successful invaders in Europe. Despite general correlations among invasiveness dimensions, we identified habitats and traits associated with atypical patterns of success in only one or two dimensions—for example, the role of disturbed habitats in facilitating widespread specialists. We conclude that considering invasiveness within a multidimensional framework can provide insights into invasion processes while also informing general understanding of the dynamics of species distributions.