The convergence of quantum cryptography with applications used in everyday life is a topic drawing attention from the industrial and academic worlds. The development of quantum electronics has led to the practical achievement of quantum devices that are already available on the market and waiting for their first application on a broader scale. A major aspect of quantum cryptography is the methodology of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), which is used to generate and distribute symmetric cryptographic keys between two geographically separate users using the principles of quantum physics. In previous years, several successful QKD networks have been created to test the implementation and interoperability of different practical solutions. This article surveys previously applied methods, showing techniques for deploying QKD networks and current challenges of QKD networking. Unlike studies focusing on optical channels and optical equipment, this survey focuses on the network aspect by considering network organization, routing and signaling protocols, simulation techniques, and a software-defined QKD networking approach.

In this paper, empirical research about Passenger Car Equivalents (PCEs) on the longitudinal downgrade of two-lane roads in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been conducted in order to determine the influence of vehicle structure under free traffic flow conditions. The research has been carried out considering the classes of vehicles at cross-sections on the downgrade of two-lane roads. As a result, the negative influence of vehicle structure under free traffic flow conditions using passenger car equivalents (PCEs) has been determined. The results show that on the downgrade of two-lane roads, the value of passenger car equivalent decreases from the level terrain to the boundary minimum value for the determined downgrade g = −3.00%, after which its value starts to increase slightly. Based on the obtained values, the models calibrated with a second-degree polynomial have been developed to determine the average value of passenger car equivalent as a function of its boundary value. The paper also compares the results obtained by the developed models with the models from the Highway Capacity Manual under free traffic flow conditions. In addition, models for the percentage values of PCE15%, PCE50% and PCE85% have been established.

The smart home concept is rapidly becoming a key component in the emerging Internet-of-Things (IoT) society. Home automation systems help customers by improving energy-efficiency, allowing for security monitoring and convenience with simplified control over smart IoT devices. However, it has been determined that the older population has difficulties interacting with complex technical devices. Possible solution to this problem would be involving Interactive Voice Response (IVR) machine, which would enable intelligent smart home control based on the information it gathers from voice-based commands. We explore the concept of a smart home with the integration of voice over IP (VOIP) and IVR technologies, along with smart IoT devices and cloud-based services. The presented smart home concept uses voice-assistance which allows for fluent and intuitive interaction. We have modified existing solutions applied for the English language and accommodated them to work for south Slavic languages. The design and implementation of the prototype for the simple IVR-based smart-home system are explained.

Each company aims to remain competitive in the market and provides the services that their clients seek, all in accordance with the cost-effectiveness and fulfillment of customer expectations. In order to do the same, companies are looking for the best practices that help in organizing their work and delivery of their services, as well as maintaining and determining the competitive advantage. In this paper an example of such practice is explained in the ITIL framework. The purpose of the SWOT analysis is to identify strategies that match the resources and capabilities of the company with the needs of the environment in which it competes. The purpose of this analysis is to use the company advantages, to explore its capabilities, to correct weaknesses, and to counteract the threats of the environment. The aim of the paper is to demonstrate the benefits of SWOT analysis with companies with the implemented ITIL framework, which is mainly reflected in simplicity, flexibility, low cost, but with tremendous efficiency, good estimates, and finding negativity and positivism in business.

This paper provides an overview of several standards and gives an example of their implementation in custom visualizations such as dynamic data-driven maps. A specially developed tool MapSpice for data visualization will be presented in this paper. This tool is developed and designed to fulfill accessibility standards and requirements of the web publishing industry. There are descriptions and examples of important features and functionalities in map visualizations that are developed using accessibility best practices. Following these guidelines and recommendations map content is accessible to a larger range of people with different disabilities, including blindness and low vision, photo-sensitivity, speech disabilities, deafness and hearing loss, limited movement, learning disabilities, cognitive limitations, and others.The result of this paper will be an overview of accessibility standards and guidelines and their implementation in custom data-driven maps developed by MapSpice.

Many public figures, companies and associations are planning events in different cities and at the same time have active profiles on social media. The planning process requires processing a large amount of data and different parameters when choosing the best event venue. Social media captures a large number of fan actions per day. This paper describes the process of selecting the most appropriate cities to organize events, aided by data collected from social media. The problem is defined as a combinatorial optimization problem. A modified metaheuristic Bat algorithm was proposed, implemented, and described in detail to solve the problem. Although the original Bat algorithm is designed to solve continuous optimization problems, the implemented bat algorithm is adapted to solve the defined problem. The algorithm is compared to the exhaustive search method for smaller instances, and to the greedy and genetic algorithm for larger instances. The algorithm was tested on benchmark data on cities in 20 European countries, as well as on real data collected from pages on the social network Facebook. Bat algorithm has shown superior results compared to other techniques, both in time and in the quality of the solutions generated.

We consider the problem of the choice of gauge in nonrelativistic strong-laser-field physics. For this purpose, we use the phase-space path-integral formalism to obtain the momentum-space matrix element of the exact time-evolution operator. With the assumption that the physical transition amplitude corresponds to transitions between eigenstates of the physical energy operator rather than the unperturbed Hamiltonian H0=(−i∂/∂r)2/2+V(r), we prove that the aforementioned momentum-space matrix elements obtained in velocity gauge and length gauge are equal. These results are applied to laser-assisted electron-ion radiative recombination (LAR). The transition amplitude comes out identical in length gauge and velocity gauge, and the expression agrees with the one conventionally obtained in length gauge. In addition to the strong-field approximation (SFA), which is the zeroth-order term of our expansion, we present explicit results for the first-order and the second-order terms, which correspond to LAR preceded by single and double scattering, respectively. Our general conclusion is that in applications to atomic processes in strong-field physics the length-gauge version of the SFA (and its higher-order corrections) should be used. Using the energy operator as the basis-defining Hamiltonian, we have shown that the resulting transition amplitude is gauge invariant and agrees with the form commonly derived in length gauge.

Riverine nutrient loads are among the major causes of eutrophication of the Baltic Sea. This study applied the Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in three catchments flowing to the Baltic Sea, namely Vantaanjoki (Finland), Fyrisån (Sweden), and Słupia (Poland), to simulate the effectiveness of nutrient control measures included in the EU’s Water Framework Directive River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs). Moreover, we identified similar, coastal, middle-sized catchments to which conclusions from this study could be applicable. The first modelling scenario based on extrapolation of the existing trends affected the modelled nutrient loads by less than 5%. In the second scenario, measures included in RBMPs showed variable effectiveness, ranging from negligible for Słupia to 28% total P load reduction in Vantaanjoki. Adding spatially targeted measures to RBMPs (third scenario) would considerably improve their effectiveness in all three catchments for both total N and P, suggesting a need to adopt targeting more widely in the Baltic Sea countries.

—The problem of transport optimization is of great importance for the successful operation of distribution companies. To successfully find routes, it is necessary to provide accurate input data on orders, customer location, vehicle fleet, depots, and delivery restrictions. Most of the input data can be provided through the order creation process or the use of various online services. One of the most important inputs is an estimate of the unloading time of the goods for each customer. The number of customers that the vehicle serves during the day directly depends on the time of unloading. This estimate depends on the number of items, weight and volume of orders, but also on the specifics of customers, such as the proximity of parking or crowds at the unloading location. Customers repeat over time, and unloading time can be calculated from GPS data history. The paper describes the innovative application of machine learning techniques and delivery history obtained through a GPS vehicle tracking system for a more accurate estimate of unloading time. The application of techniques gave quality results and significantly improved the accuracy of unloading time data by 83.27% compared to previously used methods. The proposed method has been implemented for some of the largest distribution companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The main OFDM drawbacks are Carrier Frequency Offset (CFO) and large Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR), which both degrade the Bit Error Rate (BER). Specifically, we consider here clipping or any other PAPR reduction method sufficient to prevent the nonlinear high-power amplifier from generating errors. Moreover, in small cells, the signal-to-noise ratio is large, while the small time dispersion allows the OFDM symbol cyclic prefix to prevent intersymbol interference. This retains the CFO to solely determine the BER and vice versa, enabling indirect estimation of CFO-induced phase distortion by simple BER testing. However, a particular problem is measuring very low BER values (generated by alike residual CFO), which could last a long time in order to acquire statistically enough errors. The test time can be drastically reduced if the noise margin is reduced in a controllable way, by adding the interfering signal to each subcarrier at the receiver. This approach is shown to enable efficient and accurate short-term BER (and so CFO phase error) testing.

Background & Aims YAP (Yap1) and TAZ (Wwtr1) are transcriptional co-activators and downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway, which play crucial roles in organ size control and cancer pathogenesis. Genetic deletion of YAP/TAZ has shown their critical importance for embryonic development of the heart, vasculature, and gastrointestinal mesenchyme. The aim of this study was to determine the functional role of YAP/TAZ in adult smooth muscle cells in vivo. Methods Because YAP and TAZ are mutually redundant, we used YAP/TAZ double-floxed mice crossed with mice that express tamoxifen-inducible CreERT2 recombinase driven by the smooth muscle–specific myosin heavy chain promoter. Results Double-knockout of YAP/TAZ in adult smooth muscle causes lethality within 2 weeks, mainly owing to colonic pseudo-obstruction, characterized by severe distension and fecal impaction. RNA sequencing in colon and urinary bladder showed that smooth muscle markers and muscarinic receptors were down-regulated in the YAP/TAZ knockout. The same transcripts also correlated with YAP/TAZ in the human colon. Myograph experiments showed reduced contractility to depolarization by potassium chloride and a nearly abolished muscarinic contraction and spontaneous activity in colon rings of YAP/TAZ knockout. Conclusions YAP and TAZ in smooth muscle are guardians of colonic contractility and control expression of contractile proteins and muscarinic receptors. The knockout model has features of human chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction and may be useful for studying this disease.

To develop a consensus on diagnosis and treatment of acromioclavicular joint instability. A consensus process following the modified Delphi technique was conducted. Panel members were selected among the European Shoulder Associates of ESSKA. Five rounds were performed between October 2018 and November 2019. The first round consisted of gathering questions which were then divided into blocks referring to imaging, classifications, surgical approach for acute and chronic cases, conservative treatment. Subsequent rounds consisted of condensation by means of an online questionnaire. Consensus was achieved when ≥ 66.7% of the participants agreed on one answer. Descriptive statistic was used to summarize the data. A consensus was reached on the following topics. Imaging: a true anteroposterior or a bilateral Zanca view are sufficient for diagnosis. 93% of the panel agreed on clinical override testing during body cross test to identify horizontal instability. The Rockwood classification, as modified by the ISAKOS statement, was deemed valid. The separation line between acute and chronic cases was set at 3 weeks. The panel agreed on arthroscopically assisted anatomic reconstruction using a suspensory device (86.2%), with no need of a biological augmentation (82.8%) in acute injuries, whereas biological reconstruction of coracoclavicular and acromioclavicular ligaments with tendon graft was suggested in chronic cases. Conservative approach and postoperative care were found similar A consensus was found on the main topics of controversy in the management of acromioclavicular joint dislocation. Each step of the diagnostic treatment algorithm was fully investigated and clarified. Level V.

The scope, scale, and intensity of real, as well as potential attacks, on the Smart Grid have been increasing and thus gaining more attention. An important component of Smart Grid cybersecurity efforts addresses the availability and access to the power and related information and communications infrastructures. We overload the term, Denial-of-Service (DoS), to refer to these attacks in the Smart Grid. In this paper, we provide a holistic and methodical presentation of the DoS attack taxonomies as well as a survey of potential solution techniques to help draw a more concerted and coordinated research into this area, lack of which may have profound consequences. To the best of our knowledge, the literature does not have such a comprehensive survey study of the DoS attacks and solutions for the Smart Grid.

Purpose The present study aims to explore “what” type of knowledge is shared, “how” it is shared and what information and communication tools are used to share knowledge among health-care professionals in the context of emerging “digital laggard” country in the South-Eastern European region (i.e. Bosnia and Herzegovina [B&H]). Design/methodology/approach This study applies the qualitative research methodology and thematic analysis for collecting, analysing and interpreting data. Primary data is collected using semi-structured interviews (n = 9). Key informants are employees of the main primary health-care institution in the capital of B&H. Findings The results indicate that knowledge sharing among primary health-care practitioners is the interplay of formal and informal exchange of knowledge, facilitated by both traditional communication media (face-to-face interaction) and ICT-based tools. In regards to ICT tools, our findings suggest that instant messing applications (predominantly Viber) are viewed as common media for sharing tacit knowledge within a community of practice. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to one emerging digital laggard country; thus, future research regarding ICT-based knowledge sharing in other emerging digital laggard countries is welcomed. Originality/value In the context of “digital laggard”, societies, informal, spontaneous and dynamic system of social interactions can be a successful substitute for ICT-based formalised and structured system of knowledge sharing.