Nanosheet heterostructures offer emergent optical/electronic properties. These could be achieved using selective materials binding peptides, but lack of understanding of selectivity impedes advancement. Here we examine peptides with affinity for graphene or h-BN using quantitative experiments and molecular simulation to identify traits for design of 2D nanosheet selective peptides.

Von Willebrand factor (VWF) plays a major role in arterial thrombosis. Antiplatelet drugs induce only a moderate relative risk reduction after atherothrombosis, and their inhibitory effects are compromised under high shear rates when VWF levels are increased. Therefore, we investigated the ex vivo effects of a third-generation anti-VWF aptamer (BT200) before/after stimulated VWF release. We studied the concentration-effect curves BT200 had on VWF activity, platelet plug formation under high shear rates (PFA), and ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation (Multiplate) before and after desmopressin or endotoxin infusions in healthy volunteers. VWF levels increased > 2.5-fold after desmopressin or endotoxin infusion (p < 0.001) and both agents elevated circulating VWF activity. At baseline, 0.51 µg/ml BT200 reduced VWF activity to 20% of normal, but 2.5-fold higher BT200 levels were required after desmopressin administration (p < 0.001). Similarly, twofold higher BT200 concentrations were needed after endotoxin infusion compared to baseline (p < 0.011). BT200 levels of 0.49 µg/ml prolonged collagen-ADP closure times to > 300 s at baseline, whereas 1.35 µg/ml BT200 were needed 2 h after desmopressin infusion. Similarly, twofold higher BT200 concentrations were necessary to inhibit ristocetin induced aggregation after desmopressin infusion compared to baseline (p < 0.001). Both stimuli elevated plasma VWF levels in a manner representative of thrombotic or pro-inflammatory conditions such as arterial thrombosis. Even under these conditions, BT200 potently inhibited VWF activity and VWF-dependent platelet function, but higher BT200 concentrations were required for comparable effects relative to the unstimulated state.

Background: Compared to heterosexual women, lesbian women experience higher rates of many chronic diseases, including depression, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Lesbian women report higher rates of risky health behaviors such as hazardous drinking and cigarette smoking. However, little longitudinal research has been done to examine changes in disparities between lesbian and heterosexual adult women. Methods: A total of 1,084 women were initially recruited from Pittsburgh, PA to participate in the Epidemiologic Study of HEalth Risk in Women (ESTHER) study and completed a baseline survey between 2003 and 2006. In 2015 or 2016, N = 483 women, 270 of whom were lesbian, completed a follow-up survey. Participants completed a questionnaire at both baseline and follow-up and completed a clinic visit for the baseline study to provide biometric data. Results: At baseline, lesbian participants reported higher rates of obesity (p = 0.03), depression (p = 0.02), and smoking (p = 0.04). Lesbian participants had elevated measured C-reactive protein levels (p = 0.05). By the time of the follow-up survey 10 years later, lesbian women continued to have higher rates of smoking (p = 0.04), but the disparity in depression (p = 0.53) and obesity (p = 0.24) rates had resolved. We found no differences in any other outcomes of interest. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to report a resolution in obesity or depression disparities between lesbian and heterosexual women. Future research is necessary to determine if other disparities, such as respiratory conditions, appear over time and how lesbian women's health may continue to improve relative to heterosexual women and stem this public health inequity.

Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrinopathy affecting up to 20% of pre-menopausal women. The most recent international guidelines set lifestyle management as the cornerstone of the PCOS treatment. Still, there is a paucity of data on the implementation of lifestyle management in clinical practice. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore physicians-reported practices in PCOS lifestyle management in the Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The profession of dietetics is not legally recognized in BiH. Nutritional interventions in health promotion and disease treatment are provided by medical professionals. Methods Data were collected by a paper-based questionnaire distributed during March-May 2018 in the Public Institution Health Centre of Sarajevo Canton. Results Forty-six physicians (response rate of 80.7%) completed the questionnaire. An initial treatment plan based solely on lifestyle measures (diet + physical activity), as recommended by current guidelines was reported by 34.8% of physicians. Although dietary interventions were rated as highly relevant in PCOS management by the vast majority of physicians, only one-half reported recording patients' adherence and 45.7% of physicians were unsure of the effectiveness of the lifestyle interventions in their patients. Conclusion PCOS lifestyle management in the study setting is sub-optimal. Additional education on effective PCOS lifestyle management strategies would be beneficial, especially for physicians with less than 15 years in practice. Possible obstacles to better physicians' engagement in PCOS lifestyle management should be further investigated.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is characterized by the growth of session control signalling, which is based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). The growing amount of SIP signalling may cause an overload of VoIP session control infrastructure and quality of service degradation. To reduce the effect of overload conditions, we studied the impact of SIP message differentiation on the quality of VoIP session control procedures. We proposed an algorithm for SIP message prioritization and tested it with Kamailio SIP server under different conditions. Summarizing our research findings, the proposed algorithm improves the performance metrics related to VoIP session control procedures.

The number of obese and overweight people around the world rapidly grows and takes on epidemic proportions. The aim of this research is to determine the influence of body weight on quality of life and to investigate our patients' consciousness about their body weight and its impact on their quality of life.Methods : The cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing 1067 respondents, using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire.Results : Out of 1067 patients, 684 were females. 65.5 % of patients had BMI ≥25 kg/m 2 . 21.7% of 699 patients who had BMI ≥25 kg/m 2 think that their increased body weight doesn’t affect their health, 27.9 % of respondents think that their overweight is unrelated to physical activity, 41.8 % of respondents have no problems purchasing the clothes due to their weight and 31.6 % of respondents with BMI ≥25 kg/m 2 think that it doesn’t affect their quality of life.Conclusion : Quality of life is significantly better in respondents with BMI <25 kg/m 2 . The alarming result is that slightly less than half of respondents think that overweight doesn’t affect their health and don’t understand the seriousness of the problem.

Abstract Objectives Young laboratory medicine professionals (YLMPs) are the future of clinical laboratories. Although everyday practice shows significant differences among countries, especially during residency training, most of them face the same challenges. Besides promoting scientific, professional and clinical aspects of laboratory medicine in Europe, the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) should take into consideration YLMPs’ concerns and interests to help them achieve excellence. The aim of this survey was to assess the opinion and expectations of YLMPs about their involvement in the activities of EFLM. Methods An online survey was distributed to YLMPs in Europe through different channels. The questionnaire consisted of 21 items grouped into five sections: demographic questions, opinion about the current status of YLMPs within EFLM, YLMPs network, suggestions and opportunities, and scientific training and exchange. Where appropriate, responses from residents and specialists were compared. Results A total of 329 valid responses were obtained from 53 different countries. Countries with the highest number of participants were Spain, Turkey, Croatia and Romania. A significant percentage would like to know more about EFLM and their activities (86%) and wish EFLM promoted networking and scientific exchanges (95%), for instance by means of a European YLMPs network (93%). EFLMLabX project was widely unknown (75%). Conclusions YLMPs demand better connection to share concerns about daily healthcare duties, to keep updated and to advance professionally. EFLM needs to improve their advertising through national societies to increase YLMPs’ participation. In addition to international meetings and congresses, respondents have emphasized that workshops and other small group activities would significantly help promote laboratory medicine practice in Europe.

A “ No vel Th understorm A lert S ystem” (NOTHAS) has been developed and extensively tested for forecast and warnings of mid-latitude and tropical convective events. The design of the system showed some potential advantages compared to earlier alert systems, mainly in reducing uncertainties in predictions by taking the given maximum hourly local-scale signal. It represents a dynamic tool which allows the use of the probability concept of multivariate distribution and integrating it into general function by taking all convective parameters. It utilizes the latest developed microphysical parameterization scheme using a scale and aerosol awareness convective scheme and the sharpest criteria for mid-latitude storms. NOTHAS shows consistency and some kind of flexibility in post-processing applications, regardless of different parameterizations used in the ensemble or deterministic forecasts. The scientific verification shows a high level of accuracy in all significant scores which indicates that severe weather outlooks produced by NOTHAS for several hours ahead are in good alignment with observed thunderstorm activity. This novel tool shows a good performance which has sufficient merit for further additional testing and system evaluation of different severe mid-latitude and tropical storms, tropical cyclones and other severe weather cases across regions.

As a consequence of the measures taken to remedy the medical problem, there may be a bigger one - economically, all over the world. The paper analyzes the consequences of the current economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 virus pandemic. The key economic consequences of the pandemic for companies but also for the economy have been identified. Entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises, with the smallest liquidity stocks, are expected to feel the greatest consequences of the economic crisis. Taught by the failures of the Great Depression and the relative successes of the crisis in 2008, governments have already announced and launched massive programs to help businesses. At this moment, the supply of liquidity of deficient economic entities is a critical issue. The previous crisis showed that governments have tried and tested mechanisms for supplying liquidity to the financial sector, but transmission mechanisms to end-users were the Achilles' heel of the mechanism. We believe that success in finding adequate channels for the transfer of liquidity to economic entities with a liquidity deficit will be crucial for the character, length, and depth of the crisis. The paper offers a number of proposals for key necessary measures at the state level to overcome the observed economic disruptions. One of them is the request of the regulator, the other is the reaction of the state, but an important part must also come from the company. In addition, the research conducted by the questionnaire method for joint-stock companies from the Western Balkans resulted in a set of measures that serve as a basis for determining the gap in the required and current set of measures taken at the level of an individual organization. The aim of this paper is to point out that in the short term it is possible to stabilize the system through the application of macroeconomic and microeconomic measures.

The fourth industrial revolution is about the development of Industry 4.0, the changing of the production paradigm and economic digitalization. The research subject are the development conditions of Industry 4.0 in the Republic of Serbia. The main research objective is to point out the importance of the efficient development of Industry 4.0 and the implementation of structural changes through the process of digitalization and application of technological innovation in the manufacturing industry. The method of analysis is used to identify the concepts of Industry 4.0 and the new industrial paradigm. The comparative method is used to compare technological criteria and changes. The development conditions of Industry 4.0 are analyzed indirectly through technological criteria and innovation, i.e. data obtained from survey on innovation, individual innovation and technology indicators and composite indicators. Industry 4.0 is an important factor in technological and structural change, economic growth and competitiveness. The research results show that the Republic of Serbia lacks incentives for the development of Industry 4.0. The research results are useful to industrial policy makers as they point to some of the key factors and directions of change to create the conditions for the development of Industry 4.0, the manufacturing industry and the digital transformation of the economy.

The fourth industrial revolution is about the development of Industry 4.0, the changing of the production paradigm and economic digitalization. The research subject are the development conditions of Industry 4.0 in the Republic of Serbia. The main research objective is to point out the importance of the efficient development of Industry 4.0 and the implementation of structural changes through the process of digitalization and application of technological innovation in the manufacturing industry. The method of analysis is used to identify the concepts of Industry 4.0 and the new industrial paradigm. The comparative method is used to compare technological criteria and changes. The development conditions of Industry 4.0 are analyzed indirectly through technological criteria and innovation, i.e. data obtained from survey on innovation, individual innovation and technology indicators and composite indicators. Industry 4.0 is an important factor in technological and structural change, economic growth and competitiveness. The research results show that the Republic of Serbia lacks incentives for the development of Industry 4.0. The research results are useful to industrial policy makers as they point to some of the key factors and directions of change to create the conditions for the development of Industry 4.0, the manufacturing industry and the digital transformation of the economy.