Introduction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred method for diagnosing the causes of lumboischialgia, as it offers the highest sensitivity and specificity compared to other imaging techniques. In clinical practice, there is often a notable discrepancy between patients’ clinical symptoms and the radiological findings. While there are various clinical tests for lumboischialgia, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Visual Analogue Score (VAS) are the most commonly used and reliable. This article aims to explore the correlation between patients’ subjective pain experiences and their level of disability due to lumboischialgia and disc herniation as detected by MRI. Methods. In this prospective clinical study, a total of 100 patients of both genders, aged 18 to 65 years, were included. These patients were referred for magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine due to complaints of lumboischialgia. MRI of the lumbar spine was performed, and the extent of degenerative changes was evaluated. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding their subjective pain experience and functional status, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Visual Analogue Score (VAS) were calculated. Results. The statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between the severity of disc herniation (classification) and the intensity of spinal pain (p = 0.010), as well as with the disability index (p = 0.003). Conclusion. A statistically significant relationship was confirmed between the levels of pain and disability and the degree of intervertebral disc herniation observed on MRI images of the lumbar spine. Keywords: lumbal disk herniation, lumboischialgia, pain.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer globally and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. It remains especially lethal among patients with cirrhosis and chronic liver diseases like hepatitis B and C, alcohol abuse and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. A retrospective, multicenter study was conducted across five oncology centers in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the aim of gaining a better insight into the current state of healthcare for patients with HCC in this region. The study reveals several regional disparities in the etiology, treatment, and outcomes of HCC, but it also indicates that the diagnostic approach varies significantly from one city to another. One of the highlights of the study is the late-stage diagnosis of most patients, due to the limited healthcare access, diagnostic delays and, especially, lack of screening programs. Implementation of targeted screening methods, regular monitoring of high-risk patients and enhanced use of biomarkers could lead to a significant improvement in the diagnostic accuracy. The limited use of innovative treatments recommended by the global guidelines was also identified as an issue, which directly leads to limited surgical and other treatment options. This study signals the need for a standardized patient pathway in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, implementation of national registry and targeted HCC database, which could reduce mortality, improve overall care and patient outcomes. Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, healthcare, standardized patient pathway.

Introduction: Physiotherapy, a non-invasive method of conservative treatment, that includes manual therapy, exercises and physical procedures, is used in the treatment of temporomandibular dysfunction and polyarticular laxity. It has been proven that physiotherapy focused on temporomandibular dysfunction is an essential element of treatment that leads to a reduction in pain, an improvement in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) function, and an improvement in quality of life. Physiotherapy treatment aims to alleviate the symptoms and try to restore the normal function of the masticatory system, for which various techniques can be used. The aim of the study was to determine the type, intensity, and frequency of TMJ dysfunction pain before and after physiotherapy. Methods: The study was conducted in a private practice in Munich, Germany. All subjects who met the criteria for inclusion in the study completed a standardized questionnaire on TMJ dysfunction (TMJ disorder [TMJ/TMD] Questionnaire). The questionnaire was used to obtain data on the type and location of pain, duration of pain, and other symptoms related to the TMJ. The anamnestic data of the respondents who came to the doctor’s office with the symptoms mentioned were examined, and the orthodontic or dental findings were analyzed.Results: The analysis showed that before treatment some of the joints were affected in 28 subjects, while after treatment the joints were affected in 19 subjects. After treatment a significant decrease in affected TMJ was observed (χ2 = 9.516, p = 0.008). Ear pain occurred in 17 (54.84%) subjects before treatment, and in 5 (16.13%) after treatment. A significant reduction was observed at the p = 0.003 level. Pain around the eyes occurred in 9 (29.03%) of the respondents before treatment, and after treatment in 2 (6.45%) of the respondents. Facial pain was reported in 16.13% of the anamnestic data before the treatment, and it was not reported in any of the respondents after treatment. There was also a significant reduction in the occurrence of tinnitus (p = 0.004). The occurrence of headaches also decreased after treatment (p < 0.001). Ear pressure was present before treatment in 45.16% of cases, and after treatment in 22.58% of cases, so there was no significant decrease. Conclusion: Physiotherapy for people with TMJ dysfunction contributed significantly in reducing pain and alleviating other TMD symptoms.

By intensively investing in innovation, development and construction, Photovoltaic power plants become the first choice for electricity production due to a number of reasons related to environmental parameters, sustainable development, but also the wide availability of the primary source. However, a significantly larger number of such power plants compared to fossil fuel power plants with a larger capacity creates new risks, related to the conditions of network infrastructure availability, management of such complex systems, where telemetry management, especially with the introduction of new standards, ICT and advanced technologies, has an increasing significance and brings a number of benefits, eliminates a number of obstacles, but also reduces the perceived risks to an acceptable level. The aim of this article is to show the potential of improving telemetry control at PV power plants, but also to show the results of adequate use of this type of control. With the intensive development of new technologies for remote management and control, there will be an increasing potential and need for their application in Electric Power Systems, which due to the need for sustainable development are becoming more and more complex and demanding, but also more necessary if one wants to ensure safe, reliable and effective exploitation.

This study examines the impact of media convergences on the evolution of role-playing games (RPGs) from the early 1970s to the present day. The analytical focus of this research is directed at the dynamics between player community participation and the process of commodification within this genre. In this context, specific phases in the development of RPGs are highlighted, including tabletop role-playing games (TRPGs), classic computer role-playing games (CRPGs), massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), live-action role-playing (LARP), and actual play (AP). This study highlights the similarities and differences between these forms, their mutual convergence, and their convergence with other analog and digital media (such as books, comics, television, film, and podcasts). Special attention is given to the phenomenon of prosumerism within the RPG subculture; that is, the specific interaction between the content offered by the entertainment industry and the efforts of RPG communities to maintain the participative and creative aspects of the genre. This research is based on a diachronic comparison of specific phases in the development of the RPG genre, as well as a secondary analysis of the dominant media content on current trends in the RPG subculture.

Public administration is a dynamic discipline that has evolved throughout history under the influence of various scientific fields, primarily social sciences. Its roots trace back to ancient civilizations, and it has significantly developed over centuries. As a scientific discipline and a complex social phenomenon, public administration encompasses sociological, political, legal, organizational, and other characteristics. The emergence and functioning of public administration as a crucial state instrument for law enforcement and ensuring social stability have been significantly influenced by numerous scientific disciplines, particularly political science, law, sociology, economics, and psychology. These disciplines provided the initial impetus and later momentum for the development of specific public administration concepts. Key theoretical approaches to studying public administration emphasize the importance of organizational structures and functionality within social systems. Understanding the historical and theoretical foundations of administration is essential for addressing contemporary challenges and opportunities in public administration. The aim of this paper is to highlight the influences of some key social and technological disciplines on the development of public administration, focusing on understanding how historical changes have shaped modern practices.

The purpose of the paper is to show, through the selection of given criteria, which of them has the greatest impact on food losses in an agricultural-food company. For this purpose, an innovative expert method of multi-criteria decision-making, SiWeC (Simple Weight Calculation), and its fuzzy variant, was applied. The results show that the criteria “poor handling of products during transport” and “inadequate packaging and handling of products” have the greatest impact. Considering the already existing plan of the company to train this part of the work processes, the expert assessment confirms the results of the research. Also, the successful use of this method with the application of fuzzy logic was confirmed, and future research should be directed towards the development of new ways of researching the influence of individual factors on the entire process of supplying food to end consumers.

Energy poverty remains a significant issue in Bosnia and Herzegovina, characterized by limited access to affordable and sustainable energy sources. This paper examines the prevalence of energy poverty among 1500 retiree households and evaluates the potential of photovoltaic (PV) systems as a solution. The research highlights the multidimensional nature of energy poverty, incorporating variables such as income, energy expenditures, and heating methods. Using statistical methods, including factor analysis and regression models, the research developed an energy poverty index (EPI) to categorize households and identify key drivers of energy poverty. The findings reveal that 96.5% of households experience moderate to high energy poverty when transport costs are included, dropping to 84.3% when these costs are excluded. Households using wood for heating, with a combined rooftop area of 26,104 m2, could generate 7,831,200 kWh of solar energy annually, reducing CO2 emissions by 1,389,825 kg. The aggregated payback period for PV investments is approximately 9.3 years, demonstrating financial viability. The paper underscores the potential of energy communities in pooling resources, facilitating rooftop leasing for PV installations, and promoting policy reforms to promote renewable energy adoption. This research contributes to the understanding of energy poverty dynamics and provides actionable recommendations for integrating PV power plants, fostering energy equity, and reducing environmental impacts.

Bidirectional communication between pathogenic microbes and their plant hosts via small (s)RNA-mediated cross-kingdom RNA interference (ckRNAi) is a key element for successful host colonisation. Whether mutualistic fungi of the Serendipitaceae family, known for their extremely broad host range, use sRNAs to colonize plant roots is still under debate. To address this question, we developed a pipeline to validate the accumulation, translocation, and activity of fungal sRNAs in post-transcriptional silencing of Arabidopsis thaliana genes. Using stem-loop RT-qPCR, we detected the expression of a specific set of Serendipita indica (Si)sRNAs, targeting host genes involved in cell wall organization, hormonal signalling regulation, immunity, and gene regulation. To confirm the gene silencing activity of these sRNAs in plant cells, SisRNAs were transiently expressed in protoplasts. Stem-loop PCR confirmed sRNAs expression and accumulation, while qPCR validated post-transcriptional gene silencing of their predicted target genes. Furthermore, Arabidopsis ARGONAUTE 1 immunoprecipitation (AtAGO1-IP) revealed the loading of fungal SisRNAs into the plant RNAi machinery, suggesting the translocation of SisRNA from the fungus into root cells. In conclusion, this study provides a blueprint for rapid selection and analysis of sRNA effectors and further supports the model of cross-kingdom communication in the Sebacinoid symbiosis.

Although COVID-19 is not a pandemic anymore, the virus frequently mutates, resulting in new strains and presenting global public health challenges. The lack of oral antiviral drugs makes it difficult to treat him, which makes the creation of broadly acting antivirals necessary to fight current and next epidemics of viruses. Using the molecular docking approach, 118 compounds derived from marine organisms and 92 previously synthesized compounds were screened to assess their binding affinity for the main protease and papain-like protease enzymes of SARS-CoV-2. The best candidates from the xanthene, benzoxazole, and coumarin classes were identified. Marine-derived compounds showed slightly better potential as enzyme inhibitors, though the binding affinities of synthesized compounds were similar, with the best candidates displaying affinity values between 0.2 and 0.4 mM. Xanthenes, among both marine origin and synthesized compounds, emerged as the most promising scaffolds for further research as inhibitors. The papain-like protease was found to be more druggable than the main protease. Additionally, all top candidates met the criteria for various drug-likeness properties, indicating good oral bioavailability and low risk of adverse effects. This research provides valuable insights into the comparative affinities of marine origin and synthesized compounds from the xanthene, coumarin, and benzoxazole classes, highlighting promising candidates for further in vitro and in vivo studies.

An assessment of different materials for additive manufacturing (AM) of polymer gears is presented in this research. Experimental testing is carried out for three different materials. Two materials are selected as the most common materials used for gears made by additive manufacturing. These materials are nylon and polycarbonate (PC). The third material is IGUS i180, which is a tribological material specially developed for additive manufacturing of parts with demands for high resistance properties such as resistance to friction, wear, and high temperatures which are essential for the long service life of gears. Gears are experimentally tested to determine service life in the form of operating cycles until failure. In addition, the gear temperature is monitored during the experimental testing. Using the value of maximum temperature at the moment of total gear failure at a specific load level enables the categorization of failure type. Different types of gear failures are categorized and presented. Taking into consideration failure type and the service life in the form of operating cycles, the applicability of analyzed materials for specific applications concerning load, speed, and thermal conditions is presented and discussed at the end of the paper. The main goal of this research was to test IGUS i180 material and compare its mechanical and thermal properties with other commonly used materials for gears manufactured by AM, such as nylon (PA6/66) and polycarbonate (PC). IGUS i180 material showed inferior properties concerning gear design in the case of high loads. This research showed that PA6/66 material is still the best solution for polymer gears production using AM, but the applicability of this material, due to temperature constraints, is still quite limited.

Goal: The paper will present the library collection of the Babusaade Ahmed Agha based on one of the three existing waqfiyas of this benefactor, preserved in the Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul (TS.MA.d. 6927). The waqfiya describes the establishment of a madrasa and its accompanying library in Mostar in the mid-17th century. The work will also offer a comparison of this collection with the Gazi Husrev-beg Library collection in Sarajevo, as the majority of the preserved titles from the mentioned collection can be found in this central heritage institution. Approach/Methodology: Using the identification method, we determined the exact titles and authors of the endowed books and manuscripts, for which numerous lexicographical dictionaries and manuscript catalogs were consulted. The classification of works by subject areas was based on the Flügel and Ahlwardt models. Regarding the presence of works from the original collection established by the Babusaade Ahmed Agha, the main research base was the Gazi Husrev-beg Library collection in Sarajevo, which provided direct access to works from the mentioned collection, as well as published catalogs of manuscripts in Oriental languages from this institution. Results: The paper highlights data related to the titles and authors of works from the library collection that was part of this educational institution. Based on this information, insight was provided into the thematic and content diversity of the mentioned library. Particularly interesting is the fact that this waqfiya contains the oldest mention of a librarian (1653) in Mostar, along with his duties and responsibilities regarding the preservation of the manuscript collection. In addition to this, the paper discusses the current state of the collection, aiming to determine the extent of preservation of the manuscript holdings from this 17th-century Mostar library. Originality/Value: In scientific and expert circles, it was known that there was a waqf established by the Babusaade Ahmed Agha, but it was not widely known what he left behind as a legacy for his fellow citizens in Mostar. This paper specifically discusses his legacy in Mostar based on primary sources, as well as the provisions he established to specify how this waqf would function. The waqf of Ahmed Agha was very important for the cultural life of Mostar in the second half of the 17th century.

The accessible literature sources do not give an integrated register of non-native tree species in Bosnia and Herzegovina and western Balkans floras. Therefore, the focus of this study was on an inventory of allochthonous dendroflora in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) by 2023. Numerous literature sources, the herbarium collection of the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SARA) and the authors' field investigations were used to create the allochthonous B&H dendroflora list. The inventory list comprises dendro species of trees, shrubs and lianas. The survey consists of 552 non-native dendro taxa, associated with family, geographic origin, residence time status, degree of naturalization, zone of resistance, and abundance of the investigated taxa. A total of 82 families, 208 genera, and 552 taxa, which included species level, subspecies, varieties, and hybrids were recorded. The B&H allochthonous dendroflora generally originate from Asia (260 taxa) and North America (128), with a significant share of hybrids (81). Only 19 archaeophytes were registered. According to the degree of naturalization, it was observed that as many as 451 taxa are casual and 13 invasive. The non-native dendro species in B&H mainly belong to the USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9, 5-9 and 6-9. The alien dendroflora of B&H includes 152 occasional, 142 rare, 198 abundant and only 60 taxa with massive abundance. The presented results give a detailed insight into the allochthonous dendroflora of B&H, which is also the first such presentation for the Western Balkans.

Starting from the metabolic profile of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), we hypothesized that the mechanisms of ¹³¹I-induced cardiotoxicity differ between patients diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) with/without T2DM, with metformin potentially acting as a cardioprotective agent by mitigating inflammation in patients with T2DM. To address this hypothesis, we quantified, using ELISA, the serum concentration of several key biomarkers that reflect cardiac injury (NT-proBNP, NT-proANP, ST2/IL-33R, and cTn I) in 74 female patients with DTC/−T2DM and 25 with DTC/+T2DM treated with metformin. All patients received a cumulative oral dose of 131I exceeding 150 mCi (5.55 GBq) over approximately 53 months. Our results showed the following: (i) In DTC/−T2DM patients, high-cumulative 131I doses promote a pro-inflammatory state that accelerates the development of cardiotoxicity. Monitoring NT-proBNP, ST2/IL-33R, and cTn I in these patients may help identify those at risk of developing cardiac complications. (ii) In patients with DTC/+T2DM, high-cumulative 131I doses lead to the release of NT-proANP (r = 0.63), which signals that the atria are under significant stress. (iii) In patients with DTC/+T2DM, metformin suppresses inflammation, leading to a dose-dependent reduction in cTn I (r = −0.59). Monitoring cTn I and NT-proANP, and considering the use of metformin as part of the therapeutic strategy, could help manage cardiotoxicity in T2DM patients undergoing 131I therapy.