Search

In the course of the last few years, interest in the development of smart cities and progress of smart buildings has increased significantly. This development has been significantly increased due to the development of new technologies, innovative functional materials, electronic components and other products. At the same time, it is imperative to use those products that contribute to the preservation of the environment, and above all to energy saving. Thus, new technologies are becoming increasingly attractive, such as the one based on OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology, which is used in the production of mobile phones, tablet computers, other devices, as well as light sources. Although this technology has been generally known for more than half a century, commercial application of OLED components was not possible due to insufficient efficiency of products based on it. However, the continuous improvement of characteristics and efficiency enabled their more significant application in the past few years. The aim of this work is to provide adequate information about the possibilities of applying some innovative technologies in the planning and development of smart cities. Especially, becoming more familiar with the basic properties and application possibilities of OLED devices can lead to the life quality improvements of city spaces users.

Ensuring the quality protection of geospatial elements entails environmental control, a task unattainable without precise measurement results. This article aims to conduct a spatio-temporal analysis of soil degradation and vegetation status within the influence zone of the Kolubara Mining Basin in Serbia. Remote sensing is employed to assess vulnerability to erosion using the erosion potential method. A geographic information system environment is utilized to generate an erosion map, illustrating erosive processes across different time periods, particularly comparing the present situation (2022) to 1983. Results indicate that observed areas are experiencing erosion due to changes in land use. Furthermore, this study investigates the use of the normalized difference vegetation index to monitor vegetation cover changes from 1992 to 2022. The objective is to demonstrate that these methods effectively depict degradation levels and vegetation status in the area. This comprehensive overview provides insights into the changes occurring across the analyzed years. Such insights are crucial for informing future efforts to restore the region to its natural state prior to lignite mining.

The World Health Organization defines sedentary screen time as the time spent in passive screenbased entertainment (TV, computer, mobile phone), excluding active screen time, specifically time spent playing games requiring physical activity or movement. Researchers agree that preschool-aged children spend longer periods of time in front of screens than recommended for their age, contradicting WHO guidelines on sedentary screen time for children up to 5 years old. The aim of our research was to obtain data on the age at which children are first exposed to screens, determine the duration of screen exposure on a daily basis, the most common type of screen, and the situations in which preschool-aged children use them. The sample consisted of 200 children, aged 48 to 60 months, of both genders. A specially constructed sociodemographic questionnaire was used for the research, which included questions regarding the age at which the child was first exposed to screens, the duration of daily exposure, as well as the most common type of screen and situations in which the child uses them. Informants were the parents of the children included in the study. The research was conducted in preschool institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, during February and March 2024. The results of the research show that children are first exposed to screens as early as at the age of 7 to 12 months, and that screen exposure on a daily basis exceeds the recommended time by WHO guidelines for most participants. The most common type of screen to which children are exposed is TV, and the most common situations in which they use them are during meals or while parents perform various household chores. Attention should be directed towards further identifying factors leading to excessive screen usage and providing clear guidelines to parents regarding the timing, content, technology, and joint activities related to screen time for young children in various cultural settings.

Recently, negative trends towards the environment where the system of Mass Passenger Public Transport (MPPT) operates continue to grow. Mobility and citizens’ standard of living are constantly increasing. A significant increase in using private cars (level of motorization) along with all negative consequences faced under such circumstances as an increase in traffic volume, congestions, a decrease in travelling speed, a higher number of traffic accidents, greater negative influence on the environment etc. can be noticed. The city of Belgrade has recognized the significance of continuous research and has monitored the quality of Mass Passenger Public Transport service as well as changes that are taking place in order to influence some specific parts of transport and traffic policy in the city. This paper contains the benchmarking of results obtained in research and a trend towards changes in the expected and perceived quality of service (QoS) within the system of Mass Passenger Public Transport in Belgrade within the period from 2005 to 2007.

The paper contains a summary of results obtained when researching demand for transporting dangerous goods of class 3 (oil and oil derivates) in the area of the city of Belgrade in 2007. Considering all transport modes used for carrying oil and oil derivates (road, rail and water transport), we present the total quantities of transported goods on a percentage basis. In light of road transport, the paper presents the features of demand for transport in terms of time and space that are a basis for the management of transporting dangerous goods and input to defining transportation routes to dangerous goods. Among the features of demand for transport in terms of time, the paper presents the quantities of goods transported within different months of the year, different week days and different periods of the day. The features of demand for transport in terms of space presented in the paper are goods flow features depending on their origin and the destination of movement in relation to the defined serviced area and the load of traffic network with goods flows.

The aim of the research was to determine the state of nutrition of children of the older and preschool education group who attend kindergartens in the municipality of Belgrade. The measurement of anthropometric measures was carried out in the physical education halls at the beginning of February 2023. The research used the probability sampling method. The subjects of the research were children of the older and preschool age groups of the kindergarten "Čukarica" from Belgrade. The research determined possible statistical differences between age groups, as well as statistical differences between both sexes of both age groups. The results of the research indicate that there are no statistically significant differences in the nutritional status of children from Belgrade in PU "Čukarica". When gender is taken as a parameter, it can also be concluded that children do not differ significantly in the state of their nutrition. In relation to the educational group to which they belong, it can be concluded that the nutritional indices of children of the older preschool group are significantly lower compared to the preschool group. This indicates that the anthropometric measurements of children correspond to their age and natural factors that influence physical development. The equality of the nutrition index between children from different groups is also observed, which indicates that their nutrition is in accordance with the age and specifics of physical development. The authors recommend further monitoring of children's growth and development before entering school.

COVID-19 can cause a range of complications, including cardiovascular, renal, and/or respiratory insufficiencies, yet little is known of its potential effects in persons exposed to toxic metals. The aim of this study was to answer this question with in silico toxicogenomic methods that can provide molecular insights into COVID-19 complications owed to exposure to arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel, and chromium. For this purpose we relied on the Comparative Toxicogenomic Database (CTD), GeneMANIA, and ToppGene Suite portal and identified a set of five common genes (IL1B, CXCL8, IL6, IL10, TNF) for the six metals and COVID-19, all of which code for pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The list was expanded with additional 20 related genes. Physical interactions are the most common between the genes affected by the six metals (77.64 %), while the dominant interaction between the genes affected by each metal separately is co-expression (As 56.35 %, Cd 64.07 %, Pb 71.5 %, Hg 81.91 %, Ni 64.28 %, Cr 88.51 %). Biological processes, molecular functions, and pathways in which these 25 genes participate are closely related to cytokines and cytokine storm implicated in the development of COVID-19 complications. In other words, our findings confirm that exposure to toxic metals, alone or in combinations, might escalate COVID-19 severity.

Low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), including techniques like transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), and oscillatory transcranial direct current stimulation (otDCS), has been widely explored for its neuromodulatory effects on motor, cognitive, and behavioral processes. Despite well-established safety, these techniques can induce varying degrees of discomfort and side effects, potentially impacting their application. This study presents a within-subject sham-controlled experiment directly comparing the subjective experience and side effects of tDCS, tACS, and otDCS. Participants reported their discomfort levels at multiple time points during 20-min stimulation sessions and completed a side-effects questionnaire before and after each session. Results indicated that the overall discomfort levels were low across all conditions, with ≥95% reporting the absence of discomfort or mild procedure-induced discomfort. Nevertheless, tDCS and otDCS were slightly less comfortable compared to sham, especially at the beginning of stimulation, with tACS-induced discomfort levels being overall comparable to sham. The most common side / adverse effects were mild skin sensations, including itching and tingling, particularly with tDCS and otDCS, while tACS occasionally caused phosphenes and blurred vision. These findings provide a systematic comparison of tES-induced discomfort and side effects between different tES techniques, highlighting the high safety of tES, but also the importance of considering within- and between-person variability and time-course effects in tES applications.

The aim of this research is related to the influence of swimming on the development of motor abilities of students of younger school age, as well as defining the skills that are most developed under the influence of swimming. Differences in anthropometric characteristics and motor abilities between the two groups of students were analysed. One group consisted of students who, in addition to physical and health education classes, practice swimming (students/swimmers), and the second group consisted of students who do not engage in any additional organised physical activities (students). The sample of the respondents included 18 students, members of the Belgrade swimming club “Mornar” and 17 students of “Branko Radičević” primary school from Pančevo, all aged 10 years ± 6 months. In addition to basic anthropometry, an assessment of motor abilities was also carried out, with the help of the tests of strength, speed, endurance, flexibility, agility, balance, and coordination. By analysing the differences using the t-test for independent samples, the group of students/swimmers showed generally better results, and a statistically significant difference between the groups at the level of significance (p

(1) Background: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of cells in a tumor that can self-regenerate and produce different types of cells with the ability to initiate tumor growth and dissemination. Chemotherapy resistance, caused by numerous mechanisms by which tumor tissue manages to overcome the effects of drugs, remains the main problem in cancer treatment. The identification of markers on the cell surface specific to CSCs is important for understanding this phenomenon. (2) Methods: The expression of markers CD24, CD44, ALDH1, and ABCG2 was analyzed on the surface of CSCs in two cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and HCT-116, after treatment with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) using flow cytometry analysis. A machine learning model (ML)–genetic algorithm (GA) was used for the in silico simulation of drug resistance. (3) Results: As evaluated through the use of flow cytometry, the percentage of CD24-CD44+ MDA-MB-231 and CD44, ALDH1 and ABCG2 HCT-116 in a group treated with 5-FU was significantly increased compared to untreated cells. The CSC population was enriched after treatment with chemotherapy, suggesting that these cells have enhanced drug resistance mechanisms. (4) Conclusions: Each individual GA prediction model achieved high accuracy in estimating the expression rate of CSC markers on cancer cells treated with 5-FU. Artificial intelligence can be used as a powerful tool for predicting drug resistance.

A detailed analysis of the accident that occurred at the flotation tailings storage facility (TSF) at the inactive mine “Stolice” in 2014 is provided in this paper. All factors that caused the accident have been analyzed, with a review of the consequences of the accident, their accident class according to the Global Industry Standard on Tailings (GISTM), and the implemented measures to rehabilitate the TSF and the surrounding area after the accident. It has been concluded that the TSF had not been properly maintained even before the accident occurred and that the unfavorable weather conditions in Serbia in the May of that year contributed to the filtration disturbance and multiple tailings spillages from the TSF. It has been stated that the consequences according to the GISTM span from “low” to “significant”, with the group of environmental consequences having the highest rank (3). Although the accident occurred without recorded human casualties, with the damage being of a local nature, it is considered one of the most significant accidents at a TSF in Serbia in the last 20 years. The reconstructed TSF is considered stable now, with a low-to-medium risk of failure.

One of the prerequisites for the safe exploitation of surface mines is the stability of the working and final slopes of the mine. In order to ensure this, it is necessary to carry out detailed field and laboratory geomechanical tests of the soil and, based on the obtained results, make calculations related to stability analyses. The results obtained in this way are used for dimensioning the slope of exploitation slopes (excavation). Landslides occur when the ultimate shear strength is reached, and therefore, the adequate definition of shear strength parameters is one of the essential prerequisites for successfully solving the stability problem. Unlike earlier tests in Serbia, when the residual shear strength parameters were determined based on the usual conventional methods (direct shear apparatus, triaxial apparatus), this time, in addition to the direct shear apparatus, a ring shear apparatus was also chosen for testing. The paper shows the method of determining the residual shear strength parameters of high plasticity gray clays and siltstones of roof sediments from open pit mine Drmno, using direct and ring shear apparatus. The results show that the residual angle of internal friction for gray clays obtained with the ring shear apparatus is 9.9–10.8°, and for the siltstone, it is 11.8–12.9°, both of which are lower than the values obtained with the direct shear apparatus. In addition, correlations between the residual parameters of soil shear resistance and some physical indicators (plasticity index, clay content) are provided, showing high correlation coefficients. The proposed correlations should be used only when time and financial constraints prevent the execution of actual tests to determine residual shear strength, as concrete experimental procedures provide a much more reliable assessment of the residual strength properties of the soil.

In industrial practice, no sensors capable of obtaining microstructural information in situ during thermo-mechanical processing of Al alloys are commonly employed. Inductive electrical conductivity measurement is safe, inexpensive, and capable of acquiring valuable information about precipitation and dissolution processes. However, commercial eddy current sensors work only at low temperatures near room temperature and are thus not suitable for in situ conductometry during heat treatments of Al alloys. We designed a high-temperature eddy current sensor and performed in situ conductometry during the homogenization of six Al-Mg-Si wrought alloys, three of which are experimental recycling-friendly alloys with increased Fe content. The results are interpreted with regard to microstructural investigations, and the advantages and limitations of our approach are discussed. As a proof-of-concept, we show how the conductivity curves and extrusion process parameters can be combined to predict final extrudate grain structures using machine learning. To achieve this, we employed finite element simulation of extrusion coupled with microstructural simulation over a wide parameter range, validated by extrusion experiments and metallography, and trained a feedforward neural network. We believe our interdisciplinary approach can lead to improvements in the industrial processing of Al wrought alloys.

High maize yields can only be achieved on fertile, loose and well-permeable soils. Previous research indicates that novel maize hybrids respond favorably to higher crop density. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of meteorological conditions, soil type and seeding density on cob length, number of grain rows on the cob, number of sterile plants, grain yield and grain water content of the maize hybrid AS 6E02 (FAO 620) during the growing season. The tests were carried out during 2017 and 2018 through field micro-experiments in the agroecological conditions of the Vranje municipality using the split-plot design with four replications on eutric cambisol, vertisol and alluvium soils. The area of the plot for grain yield was 8.4 m2 . The agronomic practices used in the experiment were standard, as for regular maize production. The years in which the surveys were conducted differed in terms of meteorological conditions, the amount and distribution of precipitation. The smallest average cob length (17.6 cm) for all investigated soils and years was obtained with the narrow-row sowing. The number of grain rows did not vary significantly depending on the sowing density. On a two-year average, the grain yield was significantly higher, influenced by the type of soil in relation to the sowing density. On average for soil types and years, the lowest percentage of sterile plants (1.90%) was found at the sowing density of 75.187 plants per ha. In comparison to 2017, the water content was higher by 8.5 index points in 2018.

Theory of Mind (ToM) is a social-cognitive ability to understand the mental states of others. ToM functions are compromised in the case of mental disorders characterized by cognitive impairments. The Faux Pas Recognition test (FPRT) is considered a good measure of verbal aspects of ToM as it measures social adaptation through the adequate interpretation of potentially sensitive and awkward social situations. However, data on FPRT psychometric properties is somewhat limited. The aim of the present study is the psychometric evaluation of the FPRT in Serbian population. The adapted version in Serbian has been administered to 268 healthy participants, 30 patients with schizophrenia and 31 with bipolar affective disorder. The results show a high internal consistencies of Faux Pas stories (α = .954), Control stories (α = .929) and overall test (α = .936). Both Horn’s parallel analysis and confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a single-factor solution is optimal, supporting the premise of a general ToM ability underlying performance across test. The Faux Pas test showed good discriminative power in differentiation between individuals from healthy and clinical populations making it a useful clinical instrument.

Ovarian tumors are a common entity in clinical practice. Tumors with an ovarian mass diameter exceeding 20 cm are termed giant ovarian tumors. Their prevalence is low, as most cases are diagnosed early during routine gynecological examinations or are incidental findings. A 34-year-old patient was admitted to the Clinic for Endocrinology for the initiation of a weight loss regimen and reevaluation of hyperthyroidism. She reported gaining about 70 kg since 2019, during which she was also diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. In September 2022 she underwent thyroid surgery (right lobe and isthmus removed); histopathology result: colloid cystic goiter, partly hyperplastic thyroid gland. Upon admission, her main complaints were abdominal pressure and shortness of breath. On examination, the patient was morbidly obese (BMI 62 kg/m²). Initial and repeated abdominal ultrasound showed a well-defined subcutaneous fluid collection measuring about 240 mm, creating cellulitis in the anterior abdominal wall. A gynecological examination revealed an anechoic formation measuring 110x80 mm behind and above the uterus. A CT scan of the abdomen without IV contrast showed a large cystic expansive tumor change in the right adnexa measuring 318x380x242mm with sharp contours, filled with serous fluid, and surrounded by a capsule, differential diagnosis: cystadenoma of the right ovary. The patient was presented to the Oncology and Radiology Institute of Serbia (IORS) for a multidisciplinary consultation, where it was decided to remove the tumor of the right ovary and the remaining left lobe of the thyroid gland in one operation. On September 21, 2023, the patient was operated at IORS, where the tumor weighing about 30 kg was removed. Histopathology results: 1. mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary; 2. colloid goiter micro and macrofollicular thyroid gland. Follow-up in January 2024 showed the patient without previously mentioned symptoms of dyspnea and abdominal pressure, with TSH 7.21, fT4 16.4 on a dose of 175mcg levothyroxine. The patient continued with a reduction diet at home.

Significant direction for the innovation and development of new machine tool is a developing a hybrid kinematic machine (HKM) which have the respective advantages of serial and parallel mechanism. This paper considers the developed domestic configurations of HKM. The paper presents the developed original HKM configurations in University of Belgrade Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Faculty of Technical Science University of Novi Sad.

Background/Aim. Given that frequent manipulation of the abutment during immediate loading can have a negative impact on the surrounding peri-implant hard and soft tissues, the concept “one abutment at one time” (OAO) has been introduced and documented in daily clinical practice. The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in peri-implant bone levels, clinical and radiographic parameters, and patient perspectives during the six-month follow-up period. Methods. The study was designed as a randomized controlled clinical trial. Patients with bilaterally healed sites in the posterior mandible received implants with a diameter of no less than 3.5 mm and a length of at least 8 mm. Based on randomization, patients were divided into a test group and a control group. Patients who were in the test group received implants that were immediately loaded with definitive abutments. In contrast, patients in the control group received implants where healing abutments were placed, followed by temporary abutments. Implants were immediately loaded with provisional restorations within the first seven days. They were delivered over the test group’s definitive abutment and the control group’s temporary abutment. Probing depth, bleeding on probing, clinical attachment level, plaque index, and keratinized tissue width were measured. Patient-Reported Outcome Measures and the Oral Health Impact Profile - 19 (OHIP-19) questionnaires were noted. Results. Out of 24 included patients, 22 completed the six-month follow-up. Peri-implant bone loss between study groups was comparable (mesial: t = -0.798, df = 21, p = 0.434; distal: t = 1.688, df = 21, p = 0.106), without statistical inter-group significance. OHIP-19 total scores significantly decreased after three months and remained similar six months after the implant placement in both groups without statistically relevant clinical inter-group changes. Conclusion. The OAO approach and provisional abutments showed comparable effectiveness regarding the immediate loading of posterior single implants.

The link between environmental pollution and obesity is of high importance, because understanding the relationship between the two can provide valuable insights into the complex factors contributing to the obesity epidemic. These chemicals, termed "obesogens," are believed to disrupt lipid metabolism processes, therefore promoting the development of obesity. Human activities such as industrialization, urbanization, agriculture, and transportation have significantly contributed to environmental pollution. Therefore, the main identified obesogens are BPA found in plastics, food packaging, and thermal paper receipts, phthalates, commonly used in plastics, personal care products, and food packaging, toxic metal(oid)s, determined in non-stick cookware, water-resistant fabrics, and food packaging, pesticides, used in agriculture, as well as other persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and pharmaceuticals (waste). Addressing environmental pollution not only has the potential to improve environmental quality, but also to promote public health and prevent obesity-related diseases. Addressing the causality between pollutants and obesity could be a new and challenging road map for health professionals.

Introduction/Objective. Neurological impairment and immobility in stroke patients can lead to numerous complications. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cycling exercises with visual feedback combined with conventional rehabilitation on neurological and motor recovery, balance, walking speed and endurance, and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients after acute and subacute stroke. Methods. A randomized prospective controlled trial was applied to this research. One hundred and twenty-seven hemiplegic stroke patients who received in-hospital rehabilitation were randomly assigned into two groups. Both groups received conventional rehabilitation treatment. The experimental group had an extra 30 minutes of cycling exercises for the upper and lower extremities on a stationary ergocycle MOTOmed muvi. Both groups’ neurological status, upper and lower limb function, independence in ADL, balance, walking speed, and endurance were observed before and after the rehabilitation treatment. Outcome measures used were the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the modified Ashworth scale (MAS), the Brunnstrom Motor Evaluation Scale (BMES), upper and lower Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), the Barthel index (BI), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and the Timed Up and Go test (TUG). Results. The neurological recovery on the NIHSS scale, spasticity of the knee extensor measured by the MAS, the BMES and FMA-LE subscale for the affected leg, and the 6MWT presented more significant improvement in the experimental group than in the control group after the treatment (p < 0.05 for all three analyses). Conclusion. Cycling exercises with visual feedback combined with conventional rehabilitation could promote neurological recovery and improve the motor function of the affected leg and walking speed in patients recuperating after acute and subacute stroke.

The use of ultrasonic waves dates back to the forties of the last century. Due to easy portability, ease of use, as well as diagnosing life-threatening conditions such as cardiac arrest, aortic dissection, myocardial infarction, cardiac tamponade, pericardial effusion, etc., ultrasound is recognized as a perfect diagnostic instrument at the prehospital level. Case report 1: The Emergency medical services (EMS) team received a first line emergency call for a 79-year-old female patient. After arriving at the scene, all measures of cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation (CPR) were started according to the protocol for shockable rhythms. During the rhythm check, the presence of cardiac activity was confirmed by ultrasound. Case report 2: A 59-year-old female patient called 194 due to a feeling of suffocation that has lasted all day and is intensifying. Ultrasound diagnostics in the form of urgent echocardiography were applied, where a decrease in systolic function was registered, which until then did not exist in the available medical documentation of the patient, who states in her anamnestic that she is not being treated for anything. In addition to the urgent echocardiography, the doctor on the field also performed an ultrasound of the lungs, where the pathological findings and the presence of B lines as part of the alveolar syndrome are registered. Alveolar syndrome and reduction of systolic function are sufficient pre-hospital diagnostic data that differentially indicated alveolar fluid overflow and consequent cardiac decompensation. Case report 3: A 71-year-old patient experiences cardiac arrest in the outpatient department of the Institute for Emergency Medical Assistance in Novi Sad, and all CPR measures are started. After 20 minutes of CPR closure, the doctor decides for an urgent echocardiography, as a result of which he observes the presence of cardiac activity in the patient. Urgent echocardiography registered a pathological finding in the form of akinesia of the lower wall of the heart, and a rupture of the papillary muscle was suspected, which was later confirmed at the emergency admission of the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases of Vojvodina. Case report 4: A 48-year-old man calls 911 because of what he describes as stomach discomfort and sweating. Upon arrival of the team, patient states that his complaints have passed and refuses to see a doctor. The doctor still insists on the examination. The electrocardiographic findings at the time of examination are comparatively stationary compared to all previous ones. Using urgent echocardiography, the doctor finds a pathological finding in the form of hypokinesia to septo-apical akinesia, and the patient, accompanied by medical team, is referred to the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases under the differential diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Conclusion: In addition to facilitating the doctor in the field in making a differential diagnosis of the patient, errors in therapeutic procedures can be significantly reduced, as shown by previous studies.

Total defence is a concept that should ensure the response of the state in situations caused by war and other extraordinary circumstances. This comprehensive approach of the state system's response requires that all segments of society as a whole actively act in order to preserve the sovereignty and security of the state. In order for a society to be able to respond positively to threats, challenges and risks, it is necessary that the strategy of deterrence be based on the concept of total defence. The historical beginnings of the establishment of the concept of total defence go back to the period after the Second World War, while the development of the concept intensified during the Cold War. The mentioned periods are characterized by an increase in the fear of aggression and potential occupation, which predicted that states would strengthen their own readiness for defence. The aim of this paper is to present, based on the experiences and examples of other countries, lessons learned that could be used to build the concept of total defense in the Republic of Serbia. The authors, finding important features of the application of the concept of total defense in countries around the world, tried to provide important lessons for strengthening military neutrality and building the concept of total defense of the Republic of Serbia.

Crataegus species (hawthorn) have been commonly used in traditional medicine, especially for the treatment of congestive heart failure. Many studies confirmed that they are rich in polyphenols, thus exhibiting strong antioxidant activity, which contribute to the beneficial effects of hawthorn on the cardiovascular system. In the market, there are many herbal medicinal products based on hawthorn, which consumption as adjuvant therapy in heart-related issues is supported by European Medicines Agency. Since there is a global trend of making homemade herbal preparations, this study aimed to compare whether there is a difference in polyphenol profile and antioxidant potential between homemade and commercial ethanol extracts of hawthorn. Polyphenol profile was evaluated by determination of total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and by quantitative analysis of selected polyphenols by liquid chromatography– mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry. Antioxidant potential was examined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power and lipid peroxidation inhibition assays. The results of this study suggest that homemade ethanol extracts of hawthorn flowers, leaves and fruits are just as good source of polyphenols and antioxidants as commercial ones, and their utilization should be supported. Furthermore, hawthorn extracts made of leaves and flowers are better source of bioactive polyphenols and have higher antioxidant activity compared with the same of fruits, regardless of the method of preparation.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system. We aimed to investigate serum and cerebrospinal fluid levels of different laboratory inflammatory biomarkers in patients with MS. Methods: A total of 120 subjects participated in the study, 60 of whom were diagnosed with MS, 30 with the final diagnosis of non-inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), and 30 healthy subjects representing the control group. Regarding the progression of radiological findings after 2 years from the initial diagnosis, the MS group was divided into stationary radiological findings (n=30) and radiologically proven disease progression (n=30). In all patients, we analyzed levels of laboratory inflammatory biomarkers: C reactive protein (CRP), Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) in serum samples, and neurofilaments (NFs) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). NFs and GDF15 were analyzed initially, while CRP and NLR values were analyzed initially and after two years. Results: We found statistically lower GDF15 values and initial CRP values in the MS group regarding the group with non-inflammatory diseases of the CNS (p

The paper presents an approach for applying the STEP-NC protocol in additive manufacturing. The ISO 10303 AP238 standard is used, which enables the implementation of geometrical information about material addition layers as input data for the generation of STEP-NC programs. The methodology for applying the STEP-NC protocol in additive manufacturing is also given. For verification and simulation of the generated programs for additive manufacturing, the STEP-NC Machine environment and us own configured machines for additive manufacturing within this software are used.

Introduction/purpose: All data exchanged over the Internet as well as other computer networks should be considered exposed to various types of security threats. In light of this, the transmission of voice over applications that do not use any type of crypto-protection allows anyone to discern the content of communication. Since voice transmission requires as little delay as possible, various protocols are used to enable crypto protected real-time communication. This paper presents one solution in a desktop application variant. Methods: The essence in voice exchange systems as well as in other systems where real-time communication is necessary is the establishment of a crypto-protected session which is a virtual secure channel for communication to which only the communicating parties have access. Voice sessions in the application are established with the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) protocol. The sessions are further protected using the ZRTP (Zimmerman Real-time Transport Protocol) protocol. FusionPBX was used as the SIP server (registrar) for testing purpouses. The application is developed in C++ language using the Qt framework. Results: The final version of the application demostrates that ZRTP and SIP protocols are well suited for establishing crypto protected voice communications with low delay. Conclusion: This solution provides cryptographic functions for data secrecy and the management of cryptographic keys. Improving the solution with digital signatures and certificates will result in additional cryptographic functions: data integrity and personal identification. With this improvement, this solution will be able to withstand modern security threats with low delay.

This paper presents the main challenges of integrating micromobility vehicles into modern traffic and transportation systems. Although micromobility seems to be an effective concept for the first and last mile, the reality points to the potential problems that the integration of micromobility vehicles can create and that must be resolved appropriately. Micromobility vehicles are characterised by extensive development, which is not accompanied by appropriate legal regulations. The street design has its spatial limitations and usually separates non-motorised and motorised users, which is a notion that could be disrupted by new micromobility options. When it comes to Serbia, the existing legislation does not recognise the majority of micromobility vehicles, which results in the lack of safety of these participants and their place in the street profile. The aim of this paper is to provide guidelines for improving the existing regulations and integrating these vehicles into the traffic system of Serbia, with special reference to general recommendations through which micromobility vehicles can be treated in other countries. The results of this paper can be useful to decision-makers but also to all other participants in the process of developing effective policies and strategies for the integration of micromobility vehicles into traffic and transportation systems.

Background/Objectives: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common heart disorder characterized by the thickening of the heart muscle, particularly in the left ventricle, which increases the risk of cardiac complications. This study aims to analyze the expression of apoptosis-regulating genes (CASP8, CASP9, CASP3, BAX, and BCL2) in blood samples from HCM patients, to better understand their potential as biomarkers for disease progression. Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was used to evaluate gene expression in blood samples from 93 HCM patients. The correlation between apoptosis-regulating genes was conducted and clinical parameters were integrated for feature importance and clustering analysis. Results: Most patients exhibited significant downregulation of CASP8, CASP9, and CASP3. In contrast, BAX expression was elevated in 71 out of 93 patients, while BCL2 was increased in 55 out of 93 patients. Correlation analysis revealed weak negative correlations between the BAX/BCL2 ratio and CASP gene expression. Conclusions: These findings suggest that reduced expression of apoptotic genes may indicate a protective cellular mechanism, which could serve as a biomarker for disease progression. Further studies are needed to investigate the potential for therapeutic modulation of these pathways to improve patient outcomes.

Fruit juice production is one of the most important branches of the food and beverage industry, considering both the market size and demand. It is also one of the largest generators of industrial wastewater, considering the large consumption of fresh water during fruit processing. Hence, the appropriate treatment strategies are of the utmost importance to minimize the environmental footprint of food industry effluents. This study aimed to investigate the valorization routes for strawberry juice production wastewater (SJPW), both in terms of nutrient recovery and a circular approach to its utilization as a medium for plant biostimulant production. The results show a low antioxidant capacity and low content of polyphenols in SJPW; however, promising results were obtained for the in vitro seed germination and tomato growth promotion when investigating a biostimulant based on Bacillus sp. BioSol021, which was cultivated using SJPW in a lab-scale bioreactor, with root and shoot length improvements of approximately 30% and 25%, respectively, compared to the control samples. The plant growth promotion (PGP) traits indicated the ability of IAA production, in a concentration of 8.55 ± 0.05 mg/L, and the enzymatic activity was evaluated as through the enzymatic activity index (EAI), achieving the following: 2.26 ± 0.04 for cellulolytic activity, 2.49 ± 0.08 for hemicellulolytic activity, 2.91 ± 0.16 for pectinolytic activity, and 1.05 ± 0.00 for proteolytic activity. This study opens a new chapter of possibilities for the development of techno-economically viable circular bioprocess solutions aimed at obtaining value-added microbial products for sustainable agriculture based on the valorization of food industry effluents thus contributing to more sustainable food production at both the agricultural and industrial levels.

Although they have been extensively studied in many species of the genus Rosa L., garden roses’ hips have largely been overlooked. To investigate their potential use in the food industry, this study evaluated five cultivars from ‘Aurora’ collection: ‘Purple Aurora’, ‘Berry Bush Aurora’, ‘Aromatic Aurora’, ‘Butterfly Aurora’, and ‘Rugose White Aurora’. Morphological characterization, along with the assessment of the phenolic profile, vitamin C levels, and biological activities—including antioxidant and neuroprotective effects—was conducted. The fruit mass reached 5.15 g, while the mesocarp mass ranged from 3 to 4 g, resulting in a mesocarp-to-fruit ratio of over 75%. The total phenolic content ranged from 37.1 to 63.9 mg GAE/g de, while total flavonoids were present in amounts from 0.85 to 2.14 mg QE/g de. Rosehip extracts from four out of five cultivars exhibited a very high vitamin C content, reaching 2384 µg/g fw. Quinic acid and 31 phenolic compounds were found in the rosehip extract of at least one cultivar. Results indicated ‘Aurora’ rosehips have potent antioxidant properties and a moderate inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase, highlighting their potential as a source of functional food. Additional research is needed to fully leverage these benefits and establish garden rosehips as a viable alternative to synthetic antioxidants.

The primary objectives of asthma management during pregnancy are to achieve adequate symptom control, reduce the risk of acute exacerbations, and maintain normal pulmonary function, all of which contribute to ensuring the health and well-being of both the mother and the baby. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) recommends that pregnant women with asthma continue using asthma medications throughout pregnancy, as the benefits of well-controlled asthma for both the mother and fetus outweigh the potential risks of medication side effects, poorly controlled asthma, and exacerbations. The classification of asthma medications by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) into categories A, B, C, D, and X is no longer applied. Instead, the potential benefits and risks of each medication during pregnancy and lactation are considered individually. The use of medications to achieve good asthma control and prevent exacerbations during pregnancy is justified, encompassing inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), some leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA), short-acting beta-2 agonists (SABA), long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABA), short-acting muscarinic antagonists (SAMA), long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA), and, recently, biological therapies, even in the absence of definitive safety data during pregnancy.

Dripping rainfall simulators (DRS) for soil research generate water drops with different types of drippers, but metal tubes are most commonly used, often in the form of hypodermic needles. However, scientific papers using dripping rainfall simulators are often incomplete in terms of data on hypodermic needle characteristics, as well as data on drops produced by hypodermic needles under different water pressures. This study determines which drop sizes and dripping speeds are generated by various hypodermic needles at different water pressures. For the purpose of this study, a dripping rainfall simulator was designed and constructed for laboratory use. Water drops were generated with 11 different needles, ranging in size from 16 G to 32 G (tube gauge number), at different water pressures. Measured water drop sizes ranged from 1.42 to 3.69 mm at a dripping speed between 10 and 360 drops per minute and water head from 14 to over 1970 mm. Measured drop sizes, supplemented with data from previous studies, provided information on the relation between drop sizes and the size of the hypodermic needles. Van Boxel’s numerical model provided estimations of the fall velocity for different drop diameters and their kinetic energy for falling heights up to 11.5 m. The results of this research can be used to design dripping rainfall simulators for soil research.

Background and Objectives: Most patients who are successfully resuscitated from cardiac arrest remain comatose, and only half regain consciousness 72 h after the arrest. Neuroprognostication methods can be complex and even inconclusive. As mitochondrial components have been identified as markers of post-cardiac-arrest injury and associated with survival, we aimed to investigate cytochrome c and mtDNA in comatose patients after cardiac arrest to compare neurological outcomes and to evaluate the markers’ neuroprognostic value. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study included 86 comatose post-cardiac-arrest patients and 10 healthy controls. Cytochrome c and mtDNA were determined at admission. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was measured after 72 h. Additional neuroprognostication methods were performed when patients remained unconscious. Cerebral performance category (CPC) was determined. Results: Cytochrome c was elevated in patients compared to healthy controls (2.029 [0.85–4.97] ng/mL vs. 0 [0.0–0.16], p < 0.001) but not mtDNA (95,228 [52,566–194,060] vs. 41,466 [28,199–104,708] copies/μL, p = 0.074). Compared to patients with CPC 1–2, patients with CPC 3–5 had higher cytochrome c (1.735 [0.717–3.40] vs. 4.109 [1.149–8.457] ng/mL, p = 0.011), with no differences in mtDNA (87,855 [47,598–172,464] vs. 126,452 [69,447–260,334] copies/μL, p = 0.208). Patients with CPC 1–2 and CPC 3–5 differed in all neuroprognostication methods. In patients with good vs. poor neurological outcome, ROC AUC was 0.664 (p = 0.011) for cytochrome c, 0.582 (p = 0.208) for mtDNA, and 0.860 (p < 0.001) for NSE. The correlation between NSE and cytochrome c was moderate, with a coefficient of 0.576 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Cytochrome c was higher in comatose patients after cardiac arrest compared to healthy controls and higher in post-cardiac-arrest patients with poor neurological outcomes. Although cytochrome c correlated with NSE, its neuroprognostic value was poor. We found no differences in mtDNA.

Recent advances in regenerative medicine provide encouraging strategies to produce artificial skin substitutes. Gelatin scaffolds are successfully used as wound-dressing materials due to their superior properties, such as biocompatibility and the ability to mimic the extracellular matrix of the surrounding environment. In this study, five gelatin combination solutions were prepared and successfully electrospun using an electrospinning technique. After careful screening, the optimal concentration of the most promising combination was selected for further investigation. The obtained scaffolds were crosslinked with 25% glutaraldehyde vapor and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The incorporation of antibiotic agents such as ciprofloxacin hydrochloride and gentamicin sulfate into gelatin membranes improved the already existing antibacterial properties of antibiotic-free gelatin scaffolds against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Also, the outcomes from the in vivo model study revealed that skin regeneration was significantly accelerated with gelatin/ciprofloxacin scaffold treatment. Moreover, the gelatin nanofibers were found to strongly promote the neoangiogenic process in the in vivo chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay. Finally, the combination of gelatin’s extracellular matrix and antibacterial agents in the scaffold suggests its potential for effective wound-healing treatments, emphasizing the importance of gelatin scaffolds in tissue engineering.

Unifying the concept of social, economic and ecological development, the new development paradigm was established under the name of sustainable development. Sustainable development should harmonize sensible consumption of natural resources with their protection and ensure a more equitable division of wealth and equal economic development at the global level. Within such a context, science and environmental education constitute the precondition for our joint future. As regards the contents, this paper provides a precise and comprehensive overview of theoretical features of environmental pollution and sustainable development, as well as the most important aspects of environmental and natural resource management. For effective control of environmental pollution to be possible, it is necessary to consider the ethical foundations of environmental economics in particular, and special attention is paid to in the paper. A significant part of this work is devoted to criticism of uncontrolled economic growth and the inefficiency of the state in controlling environmental pollution. Knowledge management for the purpose of sustainable development and development of international regulations on the environment are also included.

The current conditions of the global economy have caused innovative changes to be the main condition for a good, sustainable, competitive business of the organization. The solution to the problem can be seen in innovation management, of course with information technology. The goal of this work is the development of innovation with practical software solutions through the innovation management process, i.e. increasing business excellence in the organization. Researchers in organizations use original experience in the implementation of developed software solutions in the field of document management and business innovation. In recent times with globalization and the technological revolution, knowledge has become a key resource for the economic growth and development of nations. Accordingly, the improvement of innovation has become a key condition for the sustainable development and competitiveness of organizations on the local and international market. The results of the conducted research are presented through author-developed programs for statistical data processing and for assessing economic sustainability and achieved business excellence (based on the EFQM 2013 methodology).

This paper is based on the authors’ many years of experience in teaching, organizing special courses and one-day workshops for different groups of students, as well as IEEESTEC students’ project conferences. The manuscript contains a brief description and results of the implementation and evaluation of the special course “Let’s put knowledge into practical work” for grammar school students. In order to continue their study and provide students with additional knowledge, the Arduino course was designed. Since 2018, by attending the course as an extracurricular activity, students gain new knowledge in the field of electronic components and microcontroller programming. Based on the conducted analyzes and evaluations, as well as current pedagogical trends, the authors give recommendations on how to overcome problems that may arise due to a lack of practical knowledge and increase students’ self-confidence and indicate the importance of a course designed in this way for those freshmen who want to acquire some new skills and knowledge.

When we talk about education, we usually mean planned influences that are exerted on the student to develop all his potential on the one hand. On the other hand, the question arises whether there are unintended influences in the education process, whether their outcome is positive or negative, and whether pedagogy also deals with such spontaneous, unintended processes. Therefore, the goal of this research was to examine and analyze the views of pedagogues, associate and scientific-teaching professions on the nature of the influence that is realized within the framework of education. The sample has the characteristics of a deliberate and convenient sample, and it is composed of pedagogues with associate and scientific-teaching titles from two public universities in the Republic of Srpska. The paper used the method of theoretical analysis and descriptive statistics, and of the techniques, the survey technique. The results show that pedagogues, associate, and scientific-teaching professions under education imply a synthesis of intentional and unintentional influences on the student, only a small number of pedagogues consider that the term functional education is inadequate for what it represents and do not give suggestions for its redefinition. The pedagogues think that the (un)intentionality of education is still a current and open question of pedagogy, but not a fundamental one. In the context of the environment, they believe that the family community is a synthesis of intentional and unintentional influence, and the same integrations are not renounced in the institutional environment as well as in the educational activities that took place even in the pre-civilization period. The results can serve as an initial investigation of the phenomenon of (un)intentionality in education and serve as a basis for further quantitatively and qualitatively larger research, but also for the theoretical foundations of all those who in any way discuss the theoretical issues of general pedagogy.

This work investigates the relationship between the occurrence of large forest fires (more than 1,000 ha) and meteorological data. Specifically, it analyzes the characteristics of large forest fires in July 2007 (2,500 ha) and October 2019 (2,108 ha) in Serbia’s Stara Planina Nature Park (NP). The results show that at these times, forest fires occurred during long heatwaves with low relative humidity and high air temperature. Dry climatic conditions in the preceding months also contributed to the occurrence of large forest fires, alongside the presence of wind. The study uses climate indices based on the combination of air temperature and precipitation. Forest drought index (FAI) data show that 2007 and 2019 were drier than the 1961–1990 climate period. According to the Lang Precipitation Factor Index (AILang), the periods June–July 2007 and July–October 2019 can be classified as dry. The De Martonne Drought Index (ImDM) shows that July 2007 and October 2019 had the characteristic of areism. These were also the periods when large wildfires were recorded. The results of this study could be used for wildfire risk assessment in protected areas and for fire prevention and suppression planning.

Abstract People resort to various questionable health practices to preserve or regain health - they intentionally do not adhere to medical recommendations (e.g. self-medicate or modify the prescribed therapies; iNAR), or use traditional/complementary/alternative (TCAM) medicine. As retrospective reports overestimate adherence and suffer from recall and desirability bias, we tracked the variations in daily questionable health behaviors and compared them to their retrospectively reported lifetime use. We also preregistered and explored their relations to a wide set of psychological predictors - distal (personality traits and basic thinking dispositions) and proximal (different unfounded beliefs and biases grouped under the term irrational mindset). A community sample (N = 224) tracked daily engagement in iNAR and TCAM use for 14 days, resulting in 3136 data points. We observed a high rate of questionable health practices over the 14 days; daily engagement rates roughly corresponded to lifetime ones. Both iNAR and TCAM were weakly, but robustly positively related. Independent of the assessment method, an irrational mindset was the most important predictor of TCAM use. For iNAR, however, psychological predictors emerged as relevant only when assessed retrospectively. Our study offers insight into questionable health behaviors from both a within and between-person perspective and highlights the importance of their psychological roots.

Background and Objectives: Inadequate treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) might have a negative impact on their progression. Inhalation therapy is the cornerstone of pharmacotherapy for these conditions. However, challenges such as low adherence, negative attitudes, and misconceptions about inhaled medications still persist, impeding effective disease management. This study aimed to evaluate adherence, ascertain the level of disease control in asthma and COPD, explore potential misconceptions surrounding inhalation therapy among patients with obstructive lung diseases and the general population in Vojvodina, and evaluate the reliability of newly developed questionnaires employed in the study. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized a battery of questionnaires encompassing sociodemographic data, the Asthma Control Test (ACT), the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), along with two novel questionnaires—one for assessing adherence and another for analyzing attitudes toward inhalation therapy. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS software, version 25.0. Results: The average ACT score among patients with asthma was 17.31, while it was 19.09 for the CAT questionnaire among COPD patients. The composite score on the newly developed adherence assessment questionnaire was 2.27, exhibiting a reliability coefficient lower than recommended (α = 0.468). Significant statistical differences emerged among sample subgroups regarding attitudes and misconceptions toward inhalation therapy. The reliability coefficient for this questionnaire was deemed satisfactory (α = 0.767). Conclusions: Adherence rates were notably suboptimal in both subgroups of the studied population. The disease control levels were higher among asthma patients, while they exhibited less prevalent misconceptions regarding inhalation therapy compared to COPD patients and the healthy population.