Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), a culinary and folk medicinal plant used worldwide in infantile colic, bloating, and indigestion, has scarce scientific evidence.

Abstract Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is the leading cause of disability in the middle-aged and elderly population. Early detection of degenerative cartilage changes is crucial for timely therapeutic intervention and slowing the progression of the disease. Standard radiological methods often do not provide insight into the biochemical changes preceding morphological degeneration. Objective: This review aims to evaluate the diagnostic value of different MRI mapping sequences (T2, T1ρ, dGEMRIC, UTE,  3D DESS and MMF) in the early detection of biochemical changes in knee cartilage in OA, and to compare their technical and clinical characteristics. Methodology: 15 reviews of research published in the last ten years were analyzed, which used quantitative MRI sequences in assessing cartilage changes. Comparative analysis was performed based on the number of subjects, MRI techniques applied, results obtained and clinical validation. Results: T2 and T1ρ sequences are highly sensitive to disturbances in the collagen network and proteoglycan content, while dGEMRIC remains the reference method for the evaluation of glycosaminoglycans, despite the need for contrast. UTE and MMF provide additional insight into the surface and calcified zones of the cartilage, while 3D DESS enables high morphological resolution within a short time. The combination of multiple sequences shows the best diagnostic value. Most studies confirm that quantitative MRI mapping allows the detection of OA in the preclinical phase. Conclusion: MRI mapping techniques are an extremely promising tool for early diagnosis of knee OA, with the potential to replace conventional methods in clinical practice. Additional prospective research on larger samples, as well as standardization of protocols, is needed to enable wider application of these methods.

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignant tumor of the liver, with significant mortality and limited therapeutic options in advanced stages of the disease. In patients who are not candidates for resection or ablative procedures, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has established itself as standard therapy. Case report: We show a male patient, 69 years of age, diagnosed with an extensive right hepatic lobe tumor based on the CTA of the abdomen, unsuitable for surgical resection and thermal ablation. The TACE procedure using doxorubicin and embolization material was successfully performed in the catheterization laboratory (cath lab) of the Clinic of Radiology of KCUS, after which the control CTA showed a complete therapeutic response according to mRECIST criteria. Discussion: The case presented confirms that TACE is an effective treatment modality in patients with intermediate HCC, even in those with large tumor lesions. A multidisciplinary approach, adequate patient selection and precise intervention technique are key success factors. This case further emphasizes the need to integrate the TACE procedure with modern systemic therapies, including immunotherapy and targeted drugs. Conclusion: The TACE method has significant therapeutic potential in the treatment of HCC, and achieving a complete response in this case highlights the importance of an individualized approach and further research aimed at optimizing the procedure.

Feeding the large future population is associated with severe environmental challenges to which climate change is adding further complications and stress to the global food supply system. The strategies to the challenges posed on ecosystem conservation and climate neutrality would be best achieved by integrating the most current scientific findings in ‘best practice’ policies and their implementation. This paper presents the outcomes from the fourth International Catchment Science Conference in Ireland, a three-day multi-actor conference, and calls for action to improve soil fertility, reduce GHG emissions, increase carbon sequestration, and reduce pollution loss to waters. It was concluded that an accountable management of the agricultural landscape requires a multi-actor, multidisciplinary and multi-scale approach with collaboration between the scientific community, policy makers and farmers. Importantly there should be a focus on linking research, technology, education, information, engagement and innovation. Following needed requirements were identified: (i) long-term monitoring, high-temporal and high-spatial resolution data collection, (ii) combining temporarily and spatially rich datasets, (iii) long-term planning horizons to be adopted by key institutional stakeholders, (iv) mitigation strategies to adapt to changing climate and agricultural practices, and (v) an adequate advisory support and training for farmers. Some progress has been achieved to a situation where it is possible to counter or mitigate some of the more urgent issues in the food systems under consideration in the review.

The increasing integration of solar power plants into transmission grids has raised concerns about their vulnerability to disturbances, particularly lightning strokes. Solar energy, while offering significant environmental and economic benefits, faces challenges when connected to transmission lines that are prone to lightning discharges. This paper investigates the impact of lightning events on solar power plants, focusing on overvoltage effects. Lightning stroke simulations were conducted at various distances from the solar power plant along the transmission line, considering scenarios with and without surge arrester. Key lightning parameters such as peak current, front time, and tail time were varied to simulate different lightning strokes. The study also includes a Fourier transform analysis of the resulting overvoltages with and without a surge arrester, along with the Hilbert marginal spectrum of these overvoltages. The results provide insights into the effectiveness of surge arresters in mitigating lightning overvoltages and highlight the importance of proper protective measures for enhancing the reliability and safety of solar power plants connected to transmission networks.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming economies and societies around the world. As AI is increasingly being invested in, some countries are developing specific strategies for AI development. These countries are striving to improve their competitiveness and achieve greater economic growth by becoming leaders in AI. In addition to AI development, countries are striving to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In achieving these goals, countries are concerned about protecting the environment and preserving the resources they have for future generations. This paper examines the impact of AI adoption on sustainable development, with a focus on progress toward the United Nations SDGs. Therefore, this paper analyzed how the willingness of countries to use AI affects the achievement of sustainable development in those countries. Accordingly, the AI Preparedness Index and Sustainable Development Goals indicators were used for 158 countries in the world. The relationship between these variables was examined using multiple regression analysis. The results of the multiple regression analysis show that the willingness of countries to apply AI affects the realization of the SDGs of those countries. However, not all dimensions of readiness for the application of AI have an impact on the goals of sustainable development. It has been shown that the dimensions of digital infrastructure and human capital and labor market policies have the greatest influence on the SDGs. Based on this; countries must strengthen these two dimensions regarding the application of AI in order to realize the SDGs. By strengthening the potential for AI development, these countries are improving sustainability through achieving the SDGs.

This paper provides a methodological overview of the current state of the art in discrete element modeling of rock fracture in the context of comminution, an energy-intensive process of breaking down rocks into smaller sizes. This process is essential for liberating valuable metals and minerals that are in growing demand for the green transition and the electrification of society. The paper covers the most recent developments and addresses fundamental issues in the bonded discrete element method, the lattice element method, the particle replacement method, and the level-set discrete element method. We argue that the most effective modeling approach must emerge from a synergy between solid mechanics, rock mechanics, and the comminution field—an effort made by this collaborating multidisciplinary group, with the goal of making the next generation of comminution models, powered by GPU-accelerated high-performance computing, more reflective of real-life rock behavior, advancing energy-efficient mining.

This study examines the impact of structured internal innovation project management (IPM) practices and external innovation ecosystem (IE) characteristics on sustainable and responsible innovation (SRI) in EU widening countries. Using a two-stage Delphi-informed survey of 100 firms across Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Albania, and Serbia, the research applies moderated multiple regression analysis to examine the interplay between internal processes and external ecosystem maturity. Results show that both structured innovation phases and tools have a positive impact on SRI. However, while innovation phases consistently enhance SRI regardless of ecosystem conditions, the effect of innovation tools weakens in stronger ecosystems, suggesting a resource substitution dynamic. These findings challenge the assumption that greater ecosystem support uniformly improves innovation outcomes. The study contributes to the theoretical integration of the Resource-Based View and Innovation Ecosystem Theory, highlighting context-specific conditions in transitional economies. Practical implications are offered for managers and policymakers; firms in weaker ecosystems should prioritize building internal innovation capabilities, while those in mature ecosystems may gain more from leveraging external collaborations. The research advances debates on sustainable innovation strategies by showing how the effectiveness of internal management practices depends on ecosystem maturity, offering insights for both policy interventions and strategic innovation management in developing economies.

The African hinged terrapin genus Pelusios currently contains 17 recognized species. We describe an additional new species with two subspecies from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. According to phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA, the new species is closely related to P. subniger, whereas three nuclear loci (C-mos, RAG2, R35) suggest a closer relationship to P. bechuanicus and P. upembae. Morphologically, the new species resembles in plastral shape P. subniger, but differs in plastral coloration in having a diffuse dark plastral pattern instead of the blotched pattern of P. subniger. The two subspecies of the new species are characterized by distinct mitochondrial clades and private alleles in the nuclear RAG2 and R35 loci. According to an examination of museum specimens and photographic records, the new species occurs largely west of the Rift Valley, while P. subniger is distributed east of the Rift Valley. Museum specimens and iNaturalist records suggest that the two species could occur sympatrically in central Tanzania. Furthermore, we found no evidence for any genetic distinctness of P. subniger from the Seychelles, supporting that the subspecies from there is invalid.

Enzymes derived from extremophiles, or extremozymes, possess unique properties that enable them to function under extreme environmental conditions. Microbial communities in subterranean ecosystems have evolved specialized metabolic pathways to survive, leading to the discovery of bioactive molecules with diverse biotechnological and industrial applications as well as the development of sustainable methods for habitat restoration. This study aimed to identify cultivable microorganisms producing industrially relevant enzymes, such as laccases, proteases, and urethanases, from extremophiles in the Dinaric Karst subterranean ecosystems, which are known as biodiversity hotspot. A total of 40 samples were collected from six caves and an abandoned railway tunnel, now a key roost for a large Myotis myotis maternity colony. Cave samples were taken from the entrance, twilight, and dark zones, including soil, sediments, moonmilk, mineral deposits, bedrock deposits, insect remains, entomophagous fungi, wall biofilm, and guano from various bat species. Following microbial cultivation, 207 colonies were screened for enzymatic activity using substrate‐specific assays. Functional analysis identified one microorganism exhibiting strong laccase activity, seven capable of degrading polyurethane, and numerous protease‐producing colonies. Notably, this study constitutes the inaugural report on discovering polyurethane‐degrading microorganisms in karst caves. Molecular identification revealed microbial genera, including Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Paenibacillus, and Priestia. These findings underscore the biotechnological potential of subterranean extremophiles and highlight the importance of conserving these ecosystems. Further characterization of these enzymes may drive advancements in environmental remediation, waste recycling, and sustainable industrial processes.

The inheritance of family businesses is a problem that many entrepreneurs face at the end of their successful activity. The goal of this article is to analyze some preconditions for the successful inheritance of family companies from one generation to another on the basis of two factors: the positive intra-family attitude towards the inheritance of family businesses and the existence of national regulatory frameworks to regulate the inheritance. The objectives are: (1) to present basic legal documents from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania and Uzbekistan regulating the inheritance of family businesses, and (2) to present a comparative study on student responses from these countries as regards their intentions of having joint businesses with their relatives. The data has been collected by each co-author for the related country within the international academic network of INTERGEN in 2021 and 2023. The target groups were students and alumni from universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania and Uzbekistan; the number of respondents is 2496.

The development of tourism in Neum , Bosnia and Herzegovina’s only coastal town, represents a complex process that began during Yugoslavia’s socialist era, marked by various social, architectural, and ecological challenges. During the 1960’s, alongside accelerated urbanization, transportati on infrastructure, and secondary housing, Neum experienced a transformation from a local community to a remarkable tourist destination. Architecture of that period, marked by modernist principles, was not just functional, but reflected a wide socialist ide ology - promoting collective welfare, harmony with natural surroundings, and inclusivity. However, the expansion of tourism in Neum also brought problems, such as illegal construction, the destruction of landscape, and spatial segregation . The aim of this research is to analyze how the elements of socialist modernist architecture can be used as a base for the further development of hotel complexes in Neum. Modernist architecture from the socialist period provides various important lessons for today’s u rban p lanning. It’s basic principles - simplicity, functionality, and the adaptation to the natural terrain, offer a relevant frame for the contemporary development of tourism. In this context, this research focuses on the integration of those principles into con temporary architecture, with the aim of creating sustainable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing hotels that satisfy the needs of t ourists, while keeping the local identity. With the use of primary and secondary sources, the analysis includes the study of current hotels in Neum, their architectural characteristics, and urban organization. Special attention is paid to challenges, such as unplanned const ruction, degradation of the coast, and the unequal development of different parts of the municipality. Through this analysis, concrete models for the further development of hotels are suggested, which include the incorporation of modernist principles, but with a comb ination of new approaches.

Background To gain insight into the role and relevance of inflammatory and immunological markers in the comprehensive assessment of a patient's immune response to surgical procedures. This study focused on investigating preoperative and postoperative serum levels dynamics of SAA, CRP and proportion of HLA-DR CD14 monocytes, CD14 monocytes, and pro-inflammatory monocytes CD16 T CD14 T in patients who underwent heart surgery using extracorporeal circulation (on-pump). Methods An observational, prospective study was conducted at the Heart Center of the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo on 53 patients divided into 3 age groups: 50-59, 60-69, and 70-80. The serum levels of CRP and SAA were quantitatively determined by immunonephelometry. At the same time, flow cytometry technology was applied to measure the proportion of CD14 monocytes, HLA-DR CD14 monocytes, and pro-inflammatory CD16 CD14 monocytes. Results Measured values of CRP; SAA, proportion of monocytes CD14, and proportion of pro-inflammatory monocytes CD16 CD14 are significantly increased postoperatively compared to the preoperative values (p < 0.05). The proportion of HLA-DR CD14 monocytes is lower postoperatively compared to preoperative values (p < 0.001). Furthermore, there are no significant gender differences in the preoperative or postoperative parameters (p > 0.05), with the notable exception of the preoperative proportion of CD14 monocytes (p < 0.05). The analysis of age-related differences indicates no significant changes in the observed preoperative and postoperative parameters among the defined age groups (p >0.05). Conclusions Early monitoring of inflammatory and immunological markers in the postoperative phase could be valuable for healthcare professionals to implement prompt interventions to mitigate negative outcomes.

This research explores how architectural education can be made more practical and relevant to real - world challenges, by identifying strategies that can equip future architects with the skills needed to address pressing social, economic, technological, and environmental issues. It argues that architectural pedagogy should move beyond the idealized, theoretical environment of the studio and engage with the real world and its stakeholders from an early stage in the educational process. The paper examines the introduction and implementation of various practical education models across seven architecture schools within a research pro ject consortium, including higher education institutions in Italy, Norway, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The res earch focuses on how practical education is defined in different cultural contexts and what insights can be gained from diverse approaches — varying in scale, complexity, professional engagement, and time spent outside the studio. Using a comparative methodology that includes workshops, site observations, surveys, and interviews, the paper analyses the outcomes of these edu cational practices. The research also presents a "Practice Typology Matrix" as a framework for assessing various models of practice involvement in architectural education, highlighting the most effective approaches for different contexts. Through this analy sis, the paper identifies best practices and strategies for integrating real - world experience into architectural training .