We are living in times where a viral disease has brought normal life in much of the world to a halt. The novel coronavirus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) started in December 2019 in Wuhan, China initially and in a short time crossed the European borders. After mitigating the epidemic in China, Italy became one of the most COVID-19 affected countries worldwide. International travelers are important sources of infectious diseases and a possible source of epidemic. Due to its political, geographic, and cultural similarities, Italy is one of the main economic partners of Southeast European (SEE) countries. Our data show that infection in index cases in all 11 SEE countries was travel-related with Italy being a source country for 8/11 countries. After the first case identifications on February 25, the number of cases in SEE countries is continually rising reaching the total number of 15,612 with 565 fatal cases and overall case fatality ratio (CFR) of 3.6 (median 3.8, range 0.8-5.5) by April 10, 2020. At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is approaching its peak, apart from the problems with treatment of the disease and care for critically ill patients, there are other equally important problems, such as organization of outbreak response, provision of health care, lack of hospital personnel, disruption of personal protective equipment supply chains and health care workers (HCWs) protection. But what is more important is the heroic behavior of the HCWs who are showing their humanity by disregarding their lives.

Američki cvrčak (Scaphoideus titanus Ball.) jedini je poznati prirodni vektor zlatne žutice vinove loze. Hrani se sišući sokove iz floema vinove loze, pri čemu usvaja fitoplazmu (Flavescence dorée) koju unosi u svoj organizam i na taj način ju prenosi hranjenjem sa zaraženih na zdrave trsove. Za uspješno suzbijanje američkog cvrčka vrlo je bitno poznavati njegovu biologiju i ekologiju. Temeljem toga cilj ovog rada bio je istražiti prisutnost i utvrditi brojnost američkog cvrčka, te učinkovitost tretiranja. Istraživanje je postavljeno 2018. godine na lokalitetu Ilok. Pratila se dinamika pojave i utvrdila se brojnost ličinki i odraslih oblika američkog cvrčka u vinogradima na tri različite lokacije u Iloku. Dinamika pojave i brojnost pratila se uz pomoć žutih ljepljivih ploča. Istraživanje je pokazalo da je prosječan ulov po žutoj ploči bio 2, 5 ili 9 američkih cvrčaka, ovisno o lokalitetu. Učinkovitost tretiranja pokazala se najuspješnijom u vinogradu na lokaciji „Principovac“, u kojemu su korištena zaštitna sredstva različitih skupina prema mehanizmu djelovanja. U istraživanju nisu utvrđeni simptomi zlatne žutice vinove loze.

Within the micro and nano world, tiny membrane-enclosed bits of material are more or less free to move and act as communication tools within cells, between cells, between different tissues and between organisms in global environment. Based on the mechanism of membrane budding and vesiculation that includes all types of cells, in this review, we attempted to present a review on SARS-CoV-2 virus actions in compartments of different scales (cells and their surroundings, tissues, organisms and society). Interactions of the virus with cells on a molecular level, with neural system, endothelium, hematopoietic system, gastrointestinal system and genitourinary system. Transmission route between organisms and between mother and fetus are considered. Also, transmission of virus through contact with materials and with environment, the suggested measures to prevent contamination with the virus and to support the organism against the disease are given.

<p>Cilj ovog rada je prikazati mogućnosti aplikativnog softvera GeoGebra kao digitalnog alata<br />sa akcentom na kreiranju i kori&scaron;tenju GeoGebra grupe koja igra ulogu virtualnog razreda U tu svrhu<br />kreirana je GeoGebra grupa pod nazivom &bdquo;Izometrijska preslikavanja u ravni&ldquo; koja okuplja studente<br />druge godine (n=15) smjera razredna nastava. U radu je prikazan pristup obradi osne simetrije, gdje<br />se zadaci daju kao prethodno opisane aktivnosti, nude zadaci otvorenog ili zatvorenog tipa, zahtijeva<br />odgovarajuća konstrukcija pomoću GeoGebrinih alata, izvođenje zaključaka i slično. Interaktivnost,<br />inovativnost i dinamičnost postignuta učestvovanjem u GeoGebra grupi pomaže studentima da bolje i<br />jasnije razumiju koncepte iz sadržaja osne simetrije, &scaron;toće biti potvrđeno rezultatima samostalnog rada<br />studenata kroz GeoGebrine aktivnosti prikazane, analizirane i vrednovane u ovom radu.</p>

<p>Pravilan pristup u pisanju programskog koda i način optimiziranja koda je bitna karakteristika<br />za dobrog programera sa stajali&scaron;ta zahtjeva koji se postavljaju od strane softverske industrije. Da bi se<br />pristupilo pravilnom pisanju koda neophodno je stvoriti temelj kroz formalno i neformalno obrazovanje.<br />U raduće se prikazati pravilan način pisanja koda uz pravilno optimiziranje koda sa ciljem &scaron;to bržeg<br />izvr&scaron;avanja aplikacije. Doprinos rada se ogleda u izgradnji vje&scaron;tina kod mladih ljudi koji se &scaron;koluju za<br />buduće poslove programera. Cilj je da budući programeri percipiraju sliku na koji način mogu da<br />razviju vlastiti stil pisanja koda.</p>

<p>The aim of the paper was to conduct Critical Discourse Analysis of political discourse of three<br />High Representatives stationed in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2006 &ndash; 2010. In order to<br />carry out the envisaged analysis, the key tool for language description was Systemic Functional<br />Grammar. The theory elaborates significance of language in everyday life and its role in the<br />construction of meanings. The analytical framework for CDA consisted of three stages: description,<br />interpretation and explanation. The paper shows that CDA approach to language analysis and SFG<br />descriptive language tools provide a valuable platform for investigations of language in context. The<br />findings highlight different communicative models which emerge as a result of lexico-grammatical<br />choices that political actors make in specific contexts and under specific circumstances.</p>

Presentations of virtual cultural heritage artifacts are often communicated via the medium of interactive digital storytelling. The synergy of a storied narrative embedded within a 3D virtual reconstruction context has high consumer appeal and edutainment value. We investigate if 360° videos presented through virtual reality further contribute to user immersion for the application of preserving intangible cultural heritage. A case study then analyzes whether conventional desktop media is significantly different from virtual reality as a medium for immersion in intangible heritage contexts. The case study describes bridge diving at Stari Most, the old bridge in Mostar Bosnia. This application aims to present and preserve the bridge diving tradition at this site. The project describes the site and history along with cultural connections, and a series of quiz questions are presented after viewing all of the materials. Successful completion of the quiz allows a user to participate in a virtual bridge dive. The subjective evaluation provided evidence to suggest that our method is successful in preserving intangible heritage and communicating ideas in key areas of concern for this heritage that can be used to develop a preservation framework in the future. It was also possible to conclude that experience within the virtual reality framework did not affect effort expectancy for the web application, but the same experience significantly influenced the performance expectancy construct.

Abstract Osteoprotegerin (OPG) regulates bone metabolism by reducing the activation of osteoclasts, but may also be involved in blood vessel calcification and atherosclerosis. Within endothelial cells OPG is stored in Weibel–Palade bodies (WPBs). Blood kinetics of OPG are essentially unknown. We aimed to assess these using two distinct in vivo models; one after stimulation with desmopressin (DDAVP) and another after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Both clinical trials were conducted at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. Participants received desmopressin (0.3 µg/kg), LPS (2 ng/kg), or placebo (sodium chloride 0.9%) with subsequent blood sampling at time points up to 24 hours after administration. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the plasma kinetics of OPG after stimulation with desmopressin and LPS. Secondary analyses included the release of other WPB contents including von Willebrand factor (vWF). This analysis included 31 healthy volunteers (n = 16 for desmopressin and placebo, n = 15 for LPS). Infusion of desmopressin did not increase OPG concentrations compared with placebo, while LPS infusion significantly increased OPG levels, both compared with desmopressin (p < 0.0001) and to placebo (p = 0.004), with a maximum of ∼twofold increase in OPG levels ∼6 hours after infusion. von Willebrand factor levels increased after both desmopressin and LPS infusion (p < 0.0001), with a maximum of ∼threefold increase 2 hours after desmopressin and a maximum of ∼twofold increase 6 hours after LPS administration. In conclusion, we report that, in contrast to vWF, OPG is not released upon stimulation with desmopressin, but increases significantly during experimental endotoxemia.

Computerization of education process is a contemporary trend that is emerging at the global scale, but with substantial regional disparities in the level of its implementation. The present study is aimed at revealing the current situation regarding computer technology use in geographical education in primary and secondary education in Bosnia and Herzegovina through a survey conducted among geography teachers from two typical regions – Canton of Sarajevo with predominantly urban features and Central Bosnia region, where majority of population lives in rural areas. The obtained results suggest that general situation with regard to the level of computer skills identified among geography teachers is satisfying, but that there are still certain disparities across different categories of respondents. It turns out that younger teachers, as well as those from urban region possess a higher level of IT skills and use this technology more frequently for the preparation and implementation of teaching process. At the same time, significant differences regarding the respondents gender have not been found, except in the context of extracurricular activities.

Seismology provides important constraints on the structure and dynamics of the deep mantle. Computational and methodological advances in the past two decades improved tomographic imaging of the mantle and revealed the fine-scale structure of plumes ascending from the core-mantle boundary region and slabs of oceanic lithosphere sinking into the lower mantle. We discuss the modeling aspects of global tomography including theoretical approximations, data selection, and model fidelity and resolution. Using spectral, principal component, and cluster analyses, we highlight the robust patterns of seismic heterogeneity, which inform us of flow in the mantle, the history of plate motions, and potential compositionally distinct reservoirs. In closing, we emphasize that data mining of vast collections of seismic waveforms and new data from distributed acoustic sensing, autonomous hydrophones, ocean-bottom seismometers, and correlation-based techniques will boost the development of the next generation of global models of density, seismic velocity, and attenuation. ▪  Seismic tomography reveals the 100-km to 1,000-km scale variation of seismic velocity heterogeneity in the mantle. ▪  Tomographic images are the most important geophysical constraints on mantle circulation and evolution.

This case trial reports the effects of L-carnosine supplementation on neuromuscular performance, brain metabolism, and various patient- and clinician-reported outcomes in a case series of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Two women (aged 37 and 48) and a man (age 48 years) who fulfilled the 2017 McDonald criteria for MS diagnosis, and were free of other major chronic diseases or acute disorders were recruited for this case study. The duration of illness was 4 years in CASE 1 (37-year old women), 5 years in CASE 2 (48-year old men), and 15 years in CASE 3 (48-year old women). L-carnosine (2 g/day) was administered orally during 8 weeks in all MS patients. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID NCT03995810). The intensity of symptoms and signs of MS after L-carnosine administration diminished in 5 out of 7 domains in CASE 1, in 3 out of 7 domains in CASE 2, and one domain in CASE 3; general fatigue has been reduced in all three cases at the follow-up. The Visual Analog Scale scores for numbness, weakness, pain, and depression decreased in all MS patients at post-administration. This was accompanied by an improved walking distance to exhaustion in all patients, with values improved for 51.1% in CASE 1, 19.5% in CASE 2, and 2.1% in CASE 3 at 8-week follow-up. An increase in serum total antioxidant capacity was found at 8-week follow-up in all patients (from 4.6 to 49.6%); this was accompanied by lower blood lactates at follow-up in all cases (23.5% on average). Single-voxel 1.5 T MRS revealed an increased brain choline-contained compounds (18.9% on average), total creatine (21.2%), and myo-inositol levels (12.3%) in girus cinguli at 8-week follow; this was accompanied by a drop in brain glutamate for 22.6% on average. This case report suggests the favorable effects of medium-term L-carnosine as a possible adjuvant treatment to improve selected patient- and clinician-reported outcomes in a man and two women suffering from MS. There is a need for larger and more rigorous human intervention studies to corroborate these preliminary findings. This study was funded by the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development (#175,037); the Provincial Secretariat for Higher Education and Scientific Research (#114–451-710); the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, Novi Sad; and CarnoMed LLC, Novi Sad.