Simple Summary African swine fever is a deadly viral disease of pigs and wild boar that causes major losses for farmers and threatens food security. The disease does not affect people, but its rapid spread and high fatality in pigs make it one of the most serious challenges for animal health in Europe. Since 2019, the disease has been present in Serbia, and in 2023, it was first reported in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this study, we examined virus samples collected from pigs and wild boar during outbreaks between 2023 and 2025 to better understand how the virus is spreading in the region. By looking at several important parts of the virus genome, we found that all the samples belonged to the same group, known as cluster 19. This shows that the same type of virus has been circulating for several years without major changes. The results suggest that the disease is being maintained locally, mainly through contact between wild boar and pigs kept on small farms with little or no protection. The discovery of the same virus type in Bosnia and Herzegovina highlights that the disease crosses borders, making regional cooperation and continued monitoring essential for controlling its spread.

Synthetic herbicides have adverse effects on the environment and human health. Understanding allelopathic intera c tions can provide alternatives for weed control without using these synthetic chemicals. This study investigated the impact of three concentrations (10, 20, and 30 μg/m L ) of Salvia sclarea essential oil (EO) on the Matricaria chamomilla , Leuca n themum vulgare , and Trifolium repens germination process, as well as its toxicological and antimicrobi al profile. Our results showed that S. sclarea EO, particularly at higher concentrations, affected the germination and growth parameters of the tested species, with T. repens being the most sensitive. A statistically significant increase in the value of the mitotic index was observed for all three tested concentrations of S. sclarea EO compared to the control group. A significant i n crease in the number of acentric fragments at between 10 and 30 µg/m L of S. sclarea EO compared to the control group, as well as an increase in the frequency of aneuploidy at between 10 µg/m L of S. sclarea EO compared to the control was detected. Minimum inhibitory concentration of EO was 500 μ L /m L for all tested bacteria. Impact on the bacterial biofilm formation was species-specific and concentration dependent. Our findings suggest that S. sclarea EO possesses certain allelopathic, proliferative, genotoxic, and antibacterial potential.

INTRODUCTION Most COVID-19 cases are mild, but some require hospitalization due to pneumonia, with symptoms like hypoxia and dyspnea. This has led to speculation about erythrocyte involvement in the infection. This study aimed to examine the differences in the presence of dysmorphic erythrocytes in COVID-19 patients upon admission compared to healthy subjects, as well as to assess these differences in relation to the severity of the clinical presentation of COVID-19. METHODOLOGY This study included 150 participants: 100 COVID-19 patients and 50 healthy subjects who formed the control group. The COVID-19 positive participants were divided into two groups based on the deterioration or improvement of their health conditions during hospitalization. Hematological parameters were analyzed, and peripheral blood smears were prepared to observe morphological changes in erythrocytes. RESULTS The morphological changes observed in hospitalized COVID-19 patients included spiculated red blood cells (RBCs), spherocytes, stomatocytes, schistocytes, knizocytes, keratocytes, as well as mushroom- and cup-shaped RBCs. At admission, spiculated RBCs and spherocytes were more prevalent in patients showing improvement. Conversely, stomatocytes, knizocytes, keratocytes, and mushroom-shaped RBCs were more frequent in patients experiencing deterioration. Additionally, spiculated RBCs were more common in patients with improvement, while stomatocytes, schistocytes, knizocytes, keratocytes, mushroom-, and cup-shaped RBCs were more prevalent in deteriorating patients. CONCLUSIONS The complete blood count and the examination of peripheral blood smears in hospitalized patients may serve as fundamental tools to assist clinicians in differentiating disease severity and improving treatment decision-making.

Background: Many deaths during heat waves stem not only from body overheating but also from heat stress, which can intensify pre-existing medical conditions, leading to fatal outcomes. Aim: This study aimed to investigate whether the intensity of pathological changes in the heart muscle and lung tissue of albino rats exposed to hyperthermia correlates with different water temperatures (WT) and to determine whether the histological structure of the myocardium and lungs varies. Methods: A sample of 21 albino rats was exposed to water temperatures of 37°C, 41°C, and 44°C. Temperature readings were recorded before immersion, immediately after immersion, at the point of reaching hyperthermia, at 20 minutes, and at the time of death. Tissue samples were collected from the dissected rats, fixed in 10% buffered formalin at room temperature, embedded in paraffin, sectioned into 4–5 μm slices, and stained using the hematoxylin-eosin method. Results: The severity of myocardial histopathological alterations increased with both higher temperatures and longer exposure durations WT. However, the progression of morphological alterations in cardiomyocytes was not markedly significant, likely due to the brief exposure time, which limited the visualization of subcellular alterations in Hematoxylin and Eosin staining-stained tissue. All lung samples from the seven rats exposed to the highest temperatures displayed bronchiolitis and acute bronchitis, along with early bronchopneumonia. Conclusion: While some organs exhibit greater tolerance to heat stroke than other organs, most organs show similar alterations characterized by capillary dilation, vascular pathway disruption, and extravasation. The extent of pathological changes in myocardial and lung tissue intensified with higher temperatures and longer exposure durations to elevated WT. However, the progression of morphological alterations in cardiomyocytes did not demonstrate marked significance, likely because of the brief exposure period. This short duration may limit the detection of subcellular changes when using hematoxylin-eosin staining.

BACKGROUND This paper compares the incidence and prevalence of kidney replacement therapy (KRT), kidney transplantation rates, and mortality on KRT between Europe and the United States (US), including sex comparisons. METHODS Data were derived for 2022 from the population-based European Renal Association (ERA) Registry and the United States Renal Data System (USRDS). RESULTS In 2022, the KRT incidence in the US (388.7 per million population (pmp)) was 2.7-fold higher than in Europe (146.2 pmp), with a greater difference for women (3.2-fold) than for men (2.4-fold). The proportion of women initiating KRT was lower in Europe (35%) than in the US (41%). Between 2013 and 2022, the KRT incidence in Europe was stable in women (+0.1% annually), but increased in men (+1.1%). In the US, the KRT incidence increased similarly in women (+0.2%) and men (+0.3%). On 31 December 2022, the KRT prevalence was 2-fold (women: 2.2-fold, men: 1.9-fold) higher in the US (2444.2 pmp) than in Europe (1218.6 pmp). The proportion of women was lower in Europe (38%) than in the US (41%). The kidney transplantation rate was 1.7-fold higher in the US (79.1 pmp) than in Europe (45.4 pmp), 1.9-fold for women and 1.7-fold for men, with women accounting for 37% of the recipients versus 39% in the US. The KRT mortality rate was 1.5 times higher in the US (145.0 per 1000 patient years (/1000py)) compared to Europe (100.5/1000py): 1.6-fold for women and 1.4-fold for men. In Europe, mortality was lower for women receiving KRT (93.7/1000py) than for men (104.6/1000py), whereas in the US the reverse was (women: 148.9/1000py, men: 142.2/1000py). CONCLUSION The US had a notably higher KRT incidence, prevalence, kidney transplantation rate and mortality compared to Europe. Differences between Europe and the US were larger for women than for men.

U radu se analizira trajni utjecaj rimskog pravnog naslijeđa na suvremeno privatno pravo, s posebnim naglaskom na regulaciju odgovornosti za materijalne nedostatke u potrošačkoj prodaji. Analizom pravnih instituta poput actio redhibitoria i actio quanti minoris ističe se njihova normativna postojanost i prilagodba unutar pravnog okvira Europske unije i Bosne i Hercegovine. Posebna pozornost posvećena je razvoju odgovornosti prodavatelja putem Direktive 1999/44/EZ, poslije Direktive (EU) 2019/771, koje usklađuju i moderniziraju prava potrošača zadržavajući pritom temeljne principe rimskog prava. Rad kritički ocjenjuje stupanj usklađenosti bosanskohercegovačkog zakonodavstva s europskim standardima u dijelu potrošačke prodaje. Unatoč formalnoj transpoziciji relevantnih direktiva, stvarna harmonizacija još je uvijek ograničena strukturnim, interpretativnim i institucionalnim izazovima. Povijesno-komparativnim pristupom rad pokazuje kako rimski pravni koncepti i dalje predstavljaju vrijedne metodološke alate u nastojanjima postizanja veće pravne koherentnosti u procesu integracije u Europsku uniju, posebice u pravnim sustavima s normativnom fragmentacijom poput Bosne i Hercegovine.

OBJECTIVE To examine the associations between parent perceived environmental factors, nighttime sleep duration and 24-h sleep duration among an international sample of preschool-aged children. METHODS Secondary analyses of cross-sectional data from preschoolers across 23 countries (19 LMICs), collected during the third pilot phase (January 2021-August 2024) of the SUNRISE Study. Parents completed a questionnaire which asked about their child's sleep patterns and environmental factors that impacted their child's sleep in the previous 3 days. RESULTS Data from 2,219 children were analyzed. A significant difference was observed between nighttime sleep (F = 14.27, p = <0.0001) and nap duration (F = 9.10, p = 0.0004) across country income level. Environmental factors such as heat (-12.87, 95% CI: -11.54, -0.61) and cold (-17.70, 95% CI: -34.53, -0.85) were negatively associated with nighttime sleep duration. CONCLUSIONS Public health researchers and professionals should prioritize context-specific strategies to minimize the impact of weather conditions on sleep to promote healthy levels of sleep among preschoolers from diverse settings.

Background and purpose Fatigue is a physiological phenomenon that reduces the ability of muscles to maintain maximal force during repeated activities. Anaerobic capacity and the Fatigue Index (FI) are key indicators of the body’s ability to sustain explosive power, and the Running Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST) is a recognized tool for their assessment. Purpose: this study was to assess the anaerobic abilities of active sportsmen, using the RAST, with a focus on Peak Power (PP) and the Fatigue Index (FI). Material and methods The study included two male active sportsmen. (U.G., 70 kg and A.V., 85 kg) who performed six 35-meter sprints with 10 seconds of rest between sprints. Sprint time and lower limb power (W) were measured, while FI was calculated based on the difference between maximal and minimal power. Results Both participants showed a linear decline in speed and power during repeated sprints. A.V. achieved a higher level of power and a lower FI (11.6%) compared to U.G. (18 %). Power decreased from (both) sample 732W to 515W, while total average sprint time increased by 0.57s. Conclusions The Rast aerobic sprint test is an effective and practical tool for assessing anaerobic capacity and monitoring individual progress. The results confirm lactate accumulation and muscle fatigue. Targeted high-intensity anaerobic training can reduce FI and improve the anaerobic capacity of physical education and sport students.

The cement industry is under constant pressure to reduce its environmental footprint while ensuring economic competitiveness and technological reliability. One of the most effective strategies to achieve this goal is the substitution of traditional raw materials with alternative ones derived from industrial (by)products, waste, or secondary resources. This paper presents a structured methodology for the selection and evaluation of potential raw materials for clinker production. The proposed approach integrates four key criteria: physical compatibility, which determines whether the raw material can be handled by existing processing equipment; chemical compatibility, which ensures compliance with clinker quality requirements; environmental compliance, which assesses adherence to local and international environmental regulations; and economic viability, including the costs of material acquisition, processing, equipment adaptation, and CO2 emissions associated with the raw mix. The research procedure involves initial communication with suppliers, visual inspection of the material, laboratory analysis (chemical and environmental), raw mix modelling, and full economic evaluation. If at any stage the material fails to meet the required criteria, feedback is provided to the supplier, avoiding unnecessary costs and efforts. Results indicate that this integrated methodology offers a systematic and transparent making of decision framework that can accelerate the acceptance of alternative raw materials, improve resource efficiency, and contribute to sustainable cement production.

Background Fermented foods are an integral part of diets worldwide, and emerging epidemiological data suggest their significant beneficial health effects. However, assessing their intake is challenging since many of these foods are sporadically and/or locally consumed, hence current traditional nutritional assessment tools lack the specificity to capture this variability. To address this gap, the Fermented Food Frequency Questionnaire (3FQ) was developed and this study aimed to evaluate its relative validity and repeatability across European regions. Methods In the validation study of the 3FQ, 12,646 adult participants were recruited across four European regions to assess consumption of sixteen major fermented food groups. Repeatability was assessed by administering the 3FQ twice, ~6 weeks apart, to a subset of participants (n = 2,315). Validity was evaluated using 24-h dietary recalls (24 h). Statistical analyses included Spearman's rank correlation coefficients and Intra-Class Correlation coefficients (ICC) for repeatability, and Bland-Altman plots for validity. Results Results showed high repeatability, overall and by region, for estimated quantities and frequencies of consumption for most of the fermented food groups (from 0.4 to 1.0), with a few exceptions for infrequently consumed items (e.g., fermented fish). Validity assessment via Bland-Altman plots revealed excellent agreement between the 3FQ and 24 h for most of the food groups, with over 90% of values falling within the agreement interval. Notably, fermented dairy products, coffee, and bread categories showed the strongest agreement (>95%). Conclusion The 3FQ is a robust and reliable tool for estimating the consumption of diverse fermented food groups across four European regions and provides valid estimates of the frequency and quantity of intake for specific fermented foods. The 3FQ could be a valuable instrument for epidemiological research aiming to elucidate associations between certain fermented foods and health parameters in European diets.

Contemporary approaches to teaching children’s literature and music education are increasingly replacing traditional pedagogical methods. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has made these processes more dynamic and complex, presenting both opportunities and challenges for educators and pupils. This development raises important questions about teachers’ readiness to adopt innovative methodologies and pupils’ receptiveness to deeper learning and improved outcomes through AI-enhanced instruction. Children’s literature and music possess the capacity to educate, nurture, and heal. Their interdisciplinary nature provides primary school teachers with a rich foundation for creative and integrative teaching strategies, particularly relevant in the age of AI. This paper advocates for the deliberate integration of AI and healing education into the teaching of children’s literature and music at the primary level. It proposes that such integration can be achieved through creative and interdisciplinary applications of AI tools, alongside bibliotherapeutic and musicotherapeutic methods. The central methodological framework employed is mood mapping. The study examines the use of the Donna AI Song Generator within healing education, aiming to identify optimal strategies for both teachers and pupils. These findings may inform the development of diverse teaching methodologies and offer insights into the creative use of AI in interdisciplinary primary education. Additionally, the paper introduces an innovative conceptual framework – the Bibliotherapy and Musicotherapy Questionnaire (BMQ) – proposed as a theoretical model for future implementation in primary education settings. Although conceptual and theoretical in nature, the study is grounded in extensive practical teaching experience and the integration of AI tools, particularly within healing education. The BMQ model demonstrates adaptability to diverse instructional contexts and age groups, offering potential for future empirical validation and practical classroom application. Ultimately, this research highlights the transformative potential of AI in fostering holistic, creative, and therapeutic learning environments in primary education.