In this research, the results of bentonite characterization by XRF and SEM/EDS before and after adsorption are presented. The influence of adsorbent mass and initial ion concentration on the capacity and efficiency of adsorption of lead (II) ions using bentonite is determined by adsorption experiments for initial lead (II) concentrations of 200, 300 and 400 mg/L, adsorbent dosage of 0,5, 1 and 2 g, at pH 5, temperature 25 °C, stirring rate of 200 rpm, contact time between adsorbent and lead (II) ions of 2,5minutes. The obtained results showed that with an increase in the adsorbent mass, the adsorption capacity decreases for all three tested initial concentrations, while the adsorption capacity increases with an increase in the initial concentration of Pb(II) ions for all three investigated masses of adsorbent. On the other hand, the adsorption efficiency increases with increasing adsorbent mass, while the adsorption efficiency decreases with increasing initial ion concentration.KEYWORDS:adsorption; lead; bentonite; mass; concentration

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with a high burden of complications, most of which first present to primary care.Objective: To assess the prevalence and predictors of diabetes-related complications among patients seeking primary health care.Methods: This retrospective study analysed records of 1000 patients with T2DM in primary care. Demographic, clinical, and therapeutic variables were examined, and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of complications.Results: Majority of the patients (58.3%) had at least one complication. Neuropathy (41.8%), retinopathy (32.3%), and chronic coronary syndrome (CCS)(22.3%) were most frequent. Independent predictors for complications included older age, longer disease duration and higher HbA1c (p<0.001 for all). Neuropathy was significantly associated with female sex (p=0.016), while myocardial infarction and CCS showed significant association with male sex (p=0.027 and p=0.002 respectively). All complications were strongly associated with hospitalisations (all p<0.001), except for retinopathy. Family history independently predicted retinopathy (p=0.039) and CCS (p=0.014).Conclusion: Diabetes-related complications remain highly prevalent and are strongly linked to glycaemic control, disease duration, and age. Sex, and family history also shape complication patterns, while treatment modality reflects disease severity. These findings highlight the need for early, individualised management and implementation of guideline-based strategies to reduce complication burden and improve outcomes in frontline care.

Extant literature captures the benefits and risks concerning young adults’ use of digital technologies and platforms, but it does not unilaterally recognize the drivers of problematic digital behavior. Those drivers might differ across dimensions of young adults’ digital lives, their socioeconomic backgrounds, and other demographic determinants. In this study, we analyze the determinants of addictive digital behavior of economics and business students from a Southeast European (SEE) sample of 372 participants. We measure digital addictive behavior regarding Internet use, with a focus on mobile phones, using established psychological scales. Our results show that age is generally associated with lower problematic digital behavior (significant in the full sample), while female students report higher PRIUSS-3 scores than male students. Higher ICT proficiency is associated with lower PRIUSS-3 and MPPUS-10 scores. Daily screen time is associated with higher MPPUS-10 scores, but it does not significantly predict PRIUSS-3 in the multivariable model. The empirical results can be used to frame the higher education policies and targeted interventions in the SEE region.

Teaching quality is crucial for positive student outcomes, yet it can be limited by challenges in the classroom. In this study, we examine how teacher-reported limitations to teaching (e.g., student absenteeism, disruptive behavior, lack of engagement, language barriers) relate to student-reported teaching quality. We also explore whether teacher job satisfaction mediates this relationship. Using data from the Norwegian extension of the TIMSS 2019 Grade 9 student questionnaire, we assess three dimensions of teaching quality based on the three basic dimensions (TBD) framework. Results show that more frequent limitations to teaching are linked to lower student-reported quality. We find that more satisfied teachers deliver clearer instruction and achieve better classroom management. However, we find no evidence that limitations to teaching are associated with lower job satisfaction, nor that job satisfaction mediates the relationship between limitations and teaching quality. We discuss implications for teacher education and educational policymaking.

Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is an alkaloid that acts as a stimulant on the central nervous system. Caffeine consumption brings a momentary increase in awareness and alertness in humans, as well as in experimental animals. The refluxing method and the regular coffee preparation method were used to extract caffeine from several coffee varieties that were sold in Bosnia. TLC and melting point analysis were performed before and after purification using vacuum sublimation. Chemical characterization of samples by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) analysis was performed by comparing with caffeine standard spectra. The percentage of extracted impure caffeine was higher in coffee samples obtained by the ordinary brewing method compared to reflux. After purification of crude extracts, all refluxed samples yielded more caffeine than those prepared by conventional brewing. In developed TLC chromatograms, Rf values of samples and standard match the literary Rf values of caffeine. Unprocessed caffeine samples showed a melting point from 185 to 216°C, corresponding to the range of 180 to 220°C, the melting point of crude caffeine. After vacuum sublimation, the melting point of all samples was between 235 and 237 °C, which corresponds to the literary values (235-239 °C for the “Merck” caffeine standard). Comparing the FTIR spectra of samples and standard, characteristic caffeine signals were observed confirming successful caffeine isolation. The caffeine content in the analyzed coffee samples from the Bosnia and Herzegovina market complies with FDA (Food and Drug Administration) regulations on the daily amount of caffeine intake per cup of coffee.

There are increasing calls for greater availability of plant genetic resources (PGR) for use in plant breeding to help counter the adverse impacts of a changing climate and threats from pests and diseases, particularly in a context of reduced agricultural inputs, and the needs of the increasing human population. Managing and promoting ex situ and in situ conservation of PGR requires an effective data and informatics foundation. However, in situ data management is particularly undeveloped, especially when compared to ex situ documentation. The work presented here is a consolidated descriptor list to support in situ conservation of PGR. The consolidated PGR descriptor list is based on numerous partial lists collated from historic PGR activities, biodiversity conservation and protected area networking activities. New descriptors for in situ conservation activities were developed where gaps were identified. The draft consolidated PGR descriptor list was reviewed and revised through a process of consultation with experts in PGR documentation and in situ conservation. In total, 171 descriptors were identified, of which seven are defined as mandatory, 47 are defined as core descriptors and 29 are newly developed descriptors for in situ conservation of PGR. The descriptors cover all aspects of in situ conservation, from gathering passport data (for which there are already well-established descriptors), to monitoring and managing crop wild relative and landrace populations. Recommendations are made for the most effective use and future development of descriptors and how they could be used to further develop and support in situ PGR conservation implementation.

This paper presents a comparative analysis of the settlement of the Kobilja Glava tunnel structure, using three-dimensional numerical modeling and geodetic monitoring during construction. The numerical model, developed in the Plaxis 3D software package, included all excavation and support phases, with rock mass parameters defined based on RMR classification and conversion of Hoek-Brown parameters into the Mohr-Coulomb form. The primary lining was modeled using plate elements, while anchors were represented as embedded elements with equivalent elastic modulus.Geodetic measurements were carried out continuously, with measurement points positioned at the tunnel crown, sidewalls, and the bench, providing actual convergence values. Comparison between the numerical model results and geodetic measurements revealed discrepancies ranging from 18% to 24%, with the largest deviations recorded at a distance of 24 m from the excavation face. Statistical data analysis (RMSE ≈ 3.71 mm; σ ≈ 1.21 mm) confirmed the presence of a systematic prediction error, but also the stability of deviations across the analyzed points.The results confirm the technical validity of the applied model and the designed support system, while emphasizing the need for dynamic updating of numerical models in accordance with field data. This further reinforces the implementation of the observational method as a reliable approach under real tunneling conditions.

This article extends the analysis of Atkinson, Foley, and Ganz in"Beyond the Spoiler Effect: Can Ranked-Choice Voting Solve the Problem of Political Polarization?". Their work uses a one-dimensional spatial model based on survey data from the Cooperative Election Survey (CES) to examine how instant-runoff voting (IRV) and Condorcet methods promote candidate moderation. Their model assumes an idealized electoral environment in which all voters possess complete information regarding candidates'ideological positions, all voters provide complete preference rankings, etc. Under these assumptions, their results indicate that Condorcet methods tend to yield winners who are substantially more moderate than those produced by IRV. We construct new models based on CES data which take into account more realistic voter behavior, such as the presence of partial ballots. Our general finding is that under more realistic models the differences between Condorcet methods and IRV largely disappear, implying that in real-world settings the moderating effect of Condorcet methods may not be nearly as strong as what is suggested by more theoretical models.

This research assessed management strategies for overtourism in Zadar County. Overtourism has become apparent in both city and seaside destinations, affecting residents’ quality of life. This study defines overtourism as a challenge for urban management, emphasizing that exploring strategies to address overtourism also influences the management of sustainability and quality of life in urban areas. Here, a methodological framework was created with five strategies, each evaluated against seven criteria. The evaluation was carried out by the directors of the county’s tourist boards. Since these strategies have not yet been implemented, the directors had to rate them with some uncertainty, as they lacked complete information about the criteria and potential effects. To handle this uncertainty, the intuitionistic fuzzy set (IFS) approach was used. Additionally, the SiWeC method determined the importance of the criteria, and the TOPSIS method ranked the strategies. Results, based on ratings from 12 directors, indicated that Digital Support and Environmental Sustainability are the most important criteria. Strategy C, which aims to redirect tourists to lesser-known locations within the county, performed best, maintaining visitor numbers while helping preserve the region’s natural resources. This research has shown that strategies for managing overtourism help reduce the pressure tourists place on urban environments, thereby improving the quality of life and sustainable development of these environments.

Solvent structure-making is an important feature of molecular organization in liquids as it shapes thermodynamic, dynamic and reactive properties. In this paper, we combine experimental and computational approaches to elucidate the structure-making behaviour of trans-4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid (ferulic acid, FA) in a series of solvents: the protic alcohols methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol, and the aprotic solvents tetrahydrofuran (THF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Precise viscometric measurements over 11 temperatures in the molality range from ∼0.01 to ∼0.5 mol kg-1 reveal that FA acts as a structure-maker across all solutions. Molecular dynamics simulations complement these findings, revealing marked cross-species correlations and mixed clusters in protic solvents. Hydrogen-bond analysis highlights the long lifetimes of cross-species hydrogen bonds, underscoring the dual donor-acceptor capacity of FA. The insights from experiments and simulations provide a molecular foundation for understanding how solute-induced structure-making by ferulic acid influences solvent organization, and ultimately, properties such as viscosity and antioxidant performance.