Authors/Task Force Members: Francesco Cosentino* (ESC Chairperson) (Sweden), Peter J. Grant* (EASD Chairperson) (United Kingdom), Victor Aboyans (France), Clifford J. Bailey (United Kingdom), Antonio Ceriello (Italy), Victoria Delgado (Netherlands), Massimo Federici (Italy), Gerasimos Filippatos (Greece), Diederick E. Grobbee (Netherlands), Tina Birgitte Hansen (Denmark), Heikki V. Huikuri (Finland), Isabelle Johansson (Sweden), Peter Jüni (Canada), Maddalena Lettino (Italy), Nikolaus Marx (Germany), Linda G. Mellbin (Sweden), Carl J. € Ostgren (Sweden), Bianca Rocca (Italy), Marco Roffi (Switzerland), Naveed Sattar (United Kingdom), Petar M. Seferovi c (Serbia), Miguel Sousa-Uva (Portugal), Paul Valensi (France), David C. Wheeler (United Kingdom)

This research examines different hypotheses that explain generic profitability within the framework of the hypothesis of efficiency, representing its main contribution to the use of direct measurement of efficiency through profitability and market competition. This measurement is achieved using pioneering techniques using a model in the scientific work Profitability, market structure and efficiency by M. Gumbau and J. Maudos (2000). Evidence obtained enables us not to reject the hypothesis about the profitability of oil producers in B&H, to determine whether the concentration positively affects profitability, and further, the results in most cases, enabled us to reject a clean hypothesis of efficiency since, although efficiency contributes positively to explaining the differences in profitability, the market share, which encompasses the effect of market power, also has a positive impact on it. So, from results obtained we do not reject the hypothesis of profitability so that we find positive relationship between profitability and the market share of Oil industry in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This study introduces Uncertainty Balance Principle (UBP) as a new concept/method for incorporating additional soft data into probabilistic credit risk assessment models. It shows that soft banking data, used for credit risk assessment, can be expressed and decomposed using UBP and thus enabling more uncertainty to be handled with a precise mathematical methodology. The results show that this approach has relevance to credit risk assessment models in the sense that it proved its usefulness for the purpose of soft-hard data fusion, it modified Probability of Default with soft data modeled using possibilistic (fuzzy) distributions and fused with hard probabilistic data via UBP and it obtained better classification prediction results on the overall sample. This was demonstrated on a simple example of one soft variable, two experts and a small sample and thus this is an approach/method that requires further research, enhancements and rigorous statistical testing for the application to a complete scoring and/or rating system

Zadnjih desetljeća, primjena politike zaštite prirode, zasnovane na principima javnog sudjelovanja, postala je jedna od glavnih izazova za znanstvenike i donositelje odluka. Primjena politike očuvanja prirode slijedi dva osnovna pristupa: izdvajanje na osnovi prostorne podjele zaštićenih područja od proizvodnih, i pristup integracije, na temelju kojega se uključuju proizvodne i zaštitne namjene prostora. U mnogo slučajeva primjena politike očuvanja prirode uzrokovala je porast sukoba radi različitih i kompetitivnih principa korištenja zemlje, različitih interesa i pogleda. Cilj istraživanja je analizirati mišljenja stručnjaka o mogućim sukobima, prilikama i teškoćama za ljudske aktivnosti, ograničenjima u gospodarenju šumom vezano na uspostavu novih zaštićenih područja. Istraživanje je strukturirano u tri osnovna koraka: analiza stručnjaka, anketiranje i statistička obrada prikupljenih podataka. Polu-strukturirani upitnik putem emaila poslan je stručnjacima prema planiranom uzorku u svaku zemlju koja je uključena u COST CAPABAL projekt (COST Targeted Network TN1401 “CAPABAL” (41 sudionik u 10 zemalja). Podaci su statistički obrađeni, kako bi se naglasile razlike između EU28 zemalja članica i nečlanica i među institucijama (javna administracija, stručnjaci iz šumarstva i drvne industrije, fakulteta i istraživačkih institucija i okolišnih nevladinih organizacija). Na kraju prikupljanja podataka, sakupljn je 41 upitnik, koji su ispunili stručnjaci podijeljeni na zemlje članice EU (22 upitnika sa udjelom 54% u uzorku), i 19 stručnjaka iz zemalja izvan EU (46%). Promatrajući distribuciju uzorka prema zainteresiranim grupama, 41,5% ispitanika predstavlja javnu administraciju, 29,3% sveučilišta i istraživačke institute, 22% sudjeluje u lancu šuma-drvo, 7,3% su članovi nevladinih okolišnih udruga. Rezultati pokazuju da su najčešće vrste sukoba one koje su vezane za procedure uspostave novih zaštićenih zona, s posebnim naglaskom na ograničenja prava vlasništva i dodatno administriranje. Sudionici iz zemalja koje nisu EU28 članice, više su naglasile važnost ograničenja lovnih aktivnosti kao potencijalni sukob u usporedbi za sudionicima iz EU28 zemalja članica. Vezano na mogućnosti i ograničenja ljudskih aktivnosti u zaštićenim područjima, rezultati su pokazali da je razvoj ekoturizma jedna on najznačajnijih prilika za razvoj ruralnih marginalnih područja. Najveća zapreka je otežano gospodarenja šumom (pridobivanje drva) vezano za zahtjeve očuvanja prirode. Konačno, rezultati pokazuju da na ispitivanom uzorku najveća zabrinutost u gospodarenju šumom su dodatno vrijeme i novac potreban za nadzor i primjenu aktivnosti očuvanja prirode u zaštićenim područjima. Za ispitanike iz EU28 zemalja članica najveća zabrinutost vezano na aktivnosti gospodarenja šumom je primjena aktivnosti očuvanja prirode u zaštićenim područjima, dok su ispitanici izvan EU28 zemalja istaknuli primjenu pesticida kao najvažniju promjenu u gospodarenju šumom. Stavovi stručnjaka su temeljna početna pozicija koju treba uzeti u obzir kako bi se umanjili sukobi između očuvanja prirode i ljudskih aktivnosti te povećala socijalna uključenost u politiku očuvanja prirode.

We investigate the formation of resonances in the P33 partial wave with the emphasis on possible emergence of dynamically generated quasi-bound states as a consequence of a strong $p$-wave pion attractive interaction in this partial wave, as well as their possible interaction with the genuine quark excited states. By using the Laurent-Pietarinen expansion we follow the evolution of the $S$-matrix poles in the complex energy plane as a function of the interaction strength. Already without introducing a genuine quark resonant state, two physically interesting resonances emerge with pole masses around 1200 MeV and 1400 MeV, with the dominant $\pi N$ and $\pi\Delta$ component, respectively. The added genuine resonant state in the $(1s)^3$ quark configuration mixes with the lower dynamically generated resonance forming the physical $\Delta(1232)$ resonance, and pushes the second dynamical resonance to around 1500 MeV, which allows it to be identified with the $\Delta(1600)$ resonance. Adding a second resonant state with one quark promoted to the $2s$ orbit generates another pole whose evolution remains well separated from the lower two poles. We calculate the helicity amplitudes at the pole and suggest that their $Q^2$ dependence could be a decisive test to discriminate between different models of the $\Delta(1600)$ resonance.

By using the Kolmogorov-Arnold-Moser (KAM) theory, we investigate the stability of two elliptic equilibrium points (zero equilibrium and negative equilibrium) of the difference equation t n + 1 = α t n + β t n 2 − t n − 1 , n = 0 , 1 , 2 , … , where are t − 1 , t 0 , α ∈ R , α ≠ 0 , β > 0 . By using the symmetries we find the periodic solutions with some periods. Finally, some numerical examples are given to verify our theoretical results.

The clinical appliance of perfusion is being continuously developed and it is closely related to technology development. The role of perfusion neuroimaging in the management of acute stroke has been to prove reduced regional blood flow and to give the contribution in the identification of ischemic areas, respectively the regions of hypoperfusion that can be treated by thrombolytic and/or endovascular recanalization therapy. There are two main approaches to the measurement of cerebral perfusion by magnetic resonance. The aim of this article is to compare different measuring approaches of MR perfusion neuroimaging.

ABSTRACT HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) has shown great promise in reducing HIV transmission among affected populations; however, PrEP uptake among Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) has stalled. This study compares BMSM using PrEP and BMSM at risk for HIV not using PrEP based on differences in behavior, psychosocial conditions and the presence of a syndemic (n = 1,411). BMSM reporting PrEP use were significantly more likely to report three of five HIV risk behaviors and three of four psychosocial conditions. Odds of reporting PrEP use increased as the number of psychosocial conditions increased such that BMSM with three psychosocial conditions (AOR = 5.65, 95% CI: 3.17, 10.08) and four conditions (AOR = 18.34, 95% CI: 5.01, 67.20) demonstrated significantly greater odds of PrEP use compared to BMSM reporting one or less conditions. While BMSM at greatest risk are using PrEP, strategies are still needed for men at varying risk levels.

This factsheet which is part of a report by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) entitled “The Unpaid Health Bill – How coal power plants in the Western Balkans make us sick” provides an assessment of the health impacts and costs associated with air pollution from coal and lignite combustion at existing power stations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It also estimates the costs for planned plants.

The problem of irregular sitting position of pupils during classes in schools occurs in everyday life, depending on the use of a workbench, which results in deepening the problems of a spinal column loading. Spinal load analysis was performed by a software simulation depending on a seating position in the school bench. Processing the data in Excel, the current utilization of the workbench surface was determined and then a new design offered. The results of the work offer a completely new design of the school bench with a special emphasis on the surface of the workbench, as well as the optimum seating position for pupils during classes, resulting in spinal relief and an increased seating comfort.

Biofilms have become a major issue in different spheres of medicine and industry. Source of the issue revolves around increasing resistance of microorganisms towards conventional antibiotics which is even more elevated within biofilms that are difficult to eradicate by means of biocides and antibiotics. Multiple approaches were applied to deal with this issue amongst which green nanotechnology gave promising results and the search for molecules that “freeze bacteria” in the planktonic state. Since silver was used as an antimicrobial agent since ancient times. Considering this a study which deals with the effect of sub-inhibitory concentrations of silver nitrate and silver nanoparticles on biofilm forming capacity of bacteria would yield valuable information to evaluate the effect these substances have on the phenotypical expression of biofilm formation in bacteria as potential biofilm gene expression

Today's industrial automation systems are undergoing a digital transformation that implies a shift towards the Internet of Things (IoT), leading to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) paradigm. Existing Industrial Automated Control Systems (IACS), enriched with a potentially large number of IoT devices are expected to make systems more efficient, flexible, provide intelligence, and ultimately enable autonomous control. In general, the majority of such systems come with high level of criticality that calls for well-established methods and approaches when achieving cybersecurity, preferably prescribed by a standard. IEC 62443 is an industrial standard that provides procedures to manage risks related to cybersecurity threats in IACS. Given the new IIoT paradigm, it is likely that existing standards are not sufficiently aligned with the challenges related to developing and maintaining cybersecurity in such systems. In this paper we review the applicability of the IEC 62443 standard in IIoT contexts and discuss potential challenges the process owners might encounter. Our analysis underlines that some areas within the standard could prove difficult to reach compliance with. In particular, handling of cross zone communication and software updates require additional guidance.

Today's industrial automation systems are undergoing a digital transformation that implies a shift towards the Internet of Things (IoT), leading to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) paradigm. Existing Industrial Automated Control Systems (IACS), enriched with a potentially large number of IoT devices are expected to make systems more efficient, flexible, provide intelligence, and ultimately enable autonomous control. In general, the majority of such systems come with high level of criticality that calls for well-established methods and approaches when achieving cybersecurity, preferably prescribed by a standard. IEC 62443 is an industrial standard that provides procedures to manage risks related to cybersecurity threats in IACS. Given the new IIoT paradigm, it is likely that existing standards are not sufficiently aligned with the challenges related to developing and maintaining cybersecurity in such systems. In this paper we review the applicability of the IEC 62443 standard in IIoT contexts and discuss potential challenges the process owners might encounter. Our analysis underlines that some areas within the standard could prove difficult to reach compliance with. In particular, handling of cross zone communication and software updates require additional guidance.