A percolation model with nucleation and object growth is studied by Monte Carlo simulations on a triangular lattice with finite-size impurities. The growing objects are needle-like objects and self-avoiding random walk chains. Results are obtained for three different shapes of impurities covering three lattice sites—needle-like, angled and triangular. In each run through the system, the lattice is initially randomly occupied by impurities of a specified shape at a given concentration ρimp. Then, the seeds for the object growth are randomly distributed at a given concentration ρ. The percolation and jamming properties of the growing objects are compared for the three different impurity shapes. For all the impurity shapes, the percolation thresholds θp∗ have lower values in the growing needle-like objects than in the growing self-avoiding random walk chains. In the presence of needle-like and angled impurities, the percolation threshold increases with the impurity concentration for a fixed seed density. The percolation thresholds have the highest values in the needle-like impurities, and somewhat lower values in the angled impurities. On the other hand, in the presence of the triangular impurities, the percolation threshold decreases with the concentration of impurities.

Background and Objectives: Left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) is associated with a decline in cardiac function, evidenced by a lower ejection fraction (EF), due to the reduction in the proportion of functional myocardium. The left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), the left ventricular aneurysm volume (LVAV), and the LVAV/LVEDV ratio show a strong correlation with the EF. The aim of this study was to determine LVA characteristics post-myocardial infarction (basal vs. apical) and to evaluate the impact of aneurysm volume in diastole (LVAVd), aneurysm area in diastole (LVAAd), and their respective ratios with LVEDV and area (LVEDA) on the EF, in order to identify the most critical predictive factors for assessing and managing the negative impact of aneurysms on cardiac function. Materials and Methods: This observational study included post-infarction LVA patients at the “Dedinje” Cardiovascular Institute in Belgrade, Serbia, undergoing routine transthoracic echocardiography. Echocardiography assessed volumes (LVEDV, LVESV, LVAVd, LVAVs) and areas (LVAAd, LVAAs, LVEDA, LVESA) using the area–length method. The ratios (LVAVd/LVEDV, LVAVs/LVESV, LVAAd/LVEDA, LVAAs/LVESA) were derived from these measures. The left ventricular EF was calculated using Simpson’s method. Results: Basal aneurysms showed a significantly smaller LVAVd (p = 0.016), LVAAd (p = 0.003), and LVAAs (p = 0.029) compared to apical aneurysms, indicating that basal aneurysms are smaller in size. However, there was no significant difference in the EF and overall LV volumes between the groups, although the basal aneurysm group had a slightly higher EF and end-diastolic volume, with a slightly lower end-systolic volume. Furthermore, when comparing the correlation between the EF and the LVAVd, the LVEDV, and the LVAVd/LVEDV ratio, the results indicate that the LVAVd had the greatest impact on the EF (−0.695), followed by the LVAVd/LVEDV ratio (−0.637), and the lowest correlation is between the EF and LVEDV. A similar relationship is observed when comparing the EF with the LVESV, the LVAVs, and the LVAVs/LVESV ratio. Conclusions: Basal aneurysms are significantly smaller than apical ones, yet EF and LV volumes remain similar between the groups, with the EF being slightly higher in the basal group. In cases of LVA, LVAVd shows the strongest negative correlation with the EF, indicating its significant impact on systolic function, followed by the LVAVd/LVEDV ratio, with the weakest correlation seen between the EF and LVEDV.

Patients suffering from cholelithiasis have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular complications, particularly ischemic myocardial disease. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), already used in clinical practice for the treatment of cholelithiasis and related conditions, has proven antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the cardioprotective effect of UDCA pre-treatment on isoprenaline-induced myocardial injury in rats. Male Wistar albino rats were randomized into four groups. Animals were pre-treated for 10 days with propylene glycol + saline on days 9 and 10 (control), 10 days with propylene glycol + isoprenaline on days 9 and 10 (I group), 10 days with UDCA + saline on days 9 and 10 (UDCA group), and 10 days with UDCA + isoprenaline on days 9 and 10 (UDCA + I group). UDCA pre-treatment significantly reduced values of high-sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) cardiac markers (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). The value of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was also decreased in the UDCA + I group compared to the I group (p < 0.001). UDCA also significantly increased glutathione (GSH) levels, while showing a tendency to increase levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). The level of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) expression, a key regulatory gene of inflammation, was diminished when UDCA was administered. A reduction of cardiac damage was also observed in the UDCA pre-treated group. In conclusion, UDCA pre-treatment showed a cardioprotective effect on isoprenaline-induced myocardial injury in rats, primarily by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.

Introduction: Aim of this study is to analyze gender-related epidemiological characteristics of cauda equina syndrome (CES) in Zenica-Doboj Canton in 10 years period. Methods: The study was conducted in the Zenica-Doboj Canton, and data were obtained from the time period between 2012 to 2022. The study included a total sample of 1709 patients diagnosed with disc herniation who underwent surgical decompression. In total, 48 patients developed cauda equine syndrome (CES). Results: The analysis unveiled noteworthy gender disparities, with male predominance (79.2% vs. 20.8%, p<0.001) and varying employment distributions (males: 23.7% unemployed, 63.2% employed, 13.1% retired; females: 40.0% unemployed, 20.0% employed, 40.0% retired, p<0.001). The calculated OR for 2012-2022 was 2.969 (95% CI: 1.576-5.593, p=xxx), signifying a substantial gender-incidence relationship for CES. CES-I incidence ranged 0.80-1.60/100,000 and CES-R ranged 0.25-0.83/100,000. Highest CES incidence was 4.17/100,000 (2015); the lowest was in 2019 with no CES-R cases reported. Male incidence peaked at 2.64/100,000 (2018), and the lowest was 1.06/100,000 (2013, 2017). For females, the highest was 1.17/100,000 (2018, 2021), with no cases reported in certain years. The affected level demonstrated gender differences, with L4/L5 prevalence in males (47.4%) and L3/L4 in females (50%, p=0.165). Conclusion: This study revealed a higher incidence of CES in males compared to females in the Zenica-Doboj Canton. The heterogenicity of data regarding CES occurring due to the lumbar disc herniation is significant. This indicates a clear need for additional research and epidemiological studies that would highlight the population of patients that have higher risk of CES onset.

This particular article will utilize a constructivist approach, in order to analyze the various dynamics of the involvement of civil society in environmental governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina, specifically focusing on its position inside the European Union. Based on the philosophical principles of constructivism, this study investigates how civil society, as an active and socially produced participant, influences the complex landscape of environmental regulation in the European Union. The study primarily investigates the constructive mechanisms that promote engagement between civil society and government authorities. It specifically tackles the areas of lobbying, grassroots mobilization, and engagement with partners. Moreover, it analyzes the influence of civil society on environmental policies and their enhancement through the analysis of case studies and theoretical methodologies centered in constructivism. This study intends to clarify the ongoing conflict and constructivism in environmental governance and demonstrate how civil society’s constructive engagement facilitates democratic decision-making and contributes to the advancement of sustainability objectives.

The World Health Organization (WHO) released guidelines for physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and sleep for children under 5 years of age in 2019, but there are no reports on the adherence to the guidelines in southeastern Europe. This study aimed to: (i) determine the proportion of preschool children (aged 3-5 years) who met the WHO guidelines and examine the feasibility of the proposed protocol for the SUNRISE study in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), and (ii) define sex-, and urban/rural-living-specifics in movement-behaviors, anthropometrics, gross-motor-skills, fine-motor- skills, and cognitive-skills. The sample comprised 115 preschool children (63 girls and 52 boys), residing in urban (n = 66) and rural areas (n = 49) from B&H. Participants were tested on movement behaviors (PA, sleep time, screen time) by accelerometry and comprehensive questionnaires. Body height, weight, body mass index, executive function, fine-, and gross-motor skill, and cognitive function were also measured. The results showed that PA-, sleep duration-, and screen time guidelines were met by 64%, 74% and 53% of children, respectively, while only 23% of the children met all three guidelines on movement behaviors. Boys exhibited higher PA than girls, but no differences in gross- and fine motor skills and cognitive functioning were recorded between the sexes. Children living in urban and rural environments did not differ in any of the studied variables. Results evidenced preschool children from B&H being in line with other samples globally about study variables. Although PA was higher in boys than in girls it was not translated to differences in motor skills. Further studies on larger samples and other environments are warranted.

This study explores relationships between societal culture value dimensions and preferred leader behavior in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH). It is one of the first studies that provide an overview of the dimension of Monumentalism in BIH and bring together all seven cultural dimensions, thus contributing to their overall understanding. Data in two observed regions (region Bosnia, region Herzegovina) have not yielded significant differences in preferred leader behavior across regions, and regarding cultural dimensions, significant differences among regions were found only for Individualism and Masculinity, implicating relatively homogenous culture in BIH. While Power Distance has no significant correlations with any of the preferred leadership behaviors, significant correlations were found for other cultural dimensions. The study’s results contribute to a deeper understanding among leaders and employees and enhance managerial effectiveness.

This study examines the relationships between societal cultures and preferred leadership behaviors across seven Slavic nations: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, North Macedonia, Poland, Russia (in two regions), and Serbia. The results depict variations in the associations between cultural dimensions and leadership behaviors within the Slavic context, revealing both consistent patterns and intriguing differences across countries, underscoring their cultural diversity. The obtained results contribute to the field of cross-cultural leadership and provide deeper insights into leadership dynamics within Central and Eastern European countries.

Mental health is deteriorating far and fast globally post-COVID. Though there were already over one billion people living with mental disorders pre-pandemic, in the first year of COVID-19 alone, the prevalence of anxiety and depression soared by 25% worldwide. In light of the chronic shortages of mental health resources and talents, along with disruptions of available health services caused by pandemic-related restrictions, technology is widely believed to hold the key to addressing the rising mental health crises. However, hurdles such as fragmented and oftentimes suboptimal patient protection measures substantially undermine technology’s potential to address the global mental health crises reliably and at scale. To shed light on these issues, this paper aims to discuss the post-pandemic mental health challenges and opportunities, and the strategies and solutions the global mental health community could leverage to protect and elevate society’s mental health in the long run.

Studies have shown that the benefits of fully auto-mated traffic, namely increased safety and efficiency, are being negated in mixed traffic scenarios already by a low percentage of human drivers. Besides human driving and perception errors, this effect is caused by the lack or coarseness of communication between the automated intersection control system and the human drivers, typically only through classical traffic lights. In this work, we propose to extend the interaction capabilities between human-driven vehicles (HDVs) and an automated intersection with warnings and maneuver recommendations, such as lane-change or velocity recommendations (comp. green light optimal speed advisory (GLOSA)) or safety warnings. These so-called soft inputs enable HDVs to travel more efficiently and safely by exploiting 5G communication, collective perception, and state-of-the-art intersection control concepts. The human compliance behavior to such inputs is modeled, calibrated, and simulated based on expert knowledge and naturalistic driving data. A suitable maneuver recommendation formulation for a conflicting unprotected left-turn scenario is outlined and tested in simulation studies in a typical urban intersection scenario. Analyzing relevant key performance indicators shows the high achievable performance and its trade-off characteristics with respect to HDV penetration rate and compliance behavior.

Abstract Plant viral infections cause significant economic losses, totalling $350 billion USD in 2021. With no treatment for virus-infected plants, accurate and efficient diagnosis is crucial to preventing and controlling these diseases. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) enables cost-efficient identification of known and unknown viruses. However, existing diagnostic pipelines face challenges. First, many methods depend on subjectively chosen parameter values, undermining their robustness across various data sources. Second, artifacts (e.g. false peaks) in the mapped sequence data can lead to incorrect diagnostic results. While some methods require manual or subjective verification to address these artifacts, others overlook them entirely, affecting the overall method performance and leading to imprecise or labour-intensive outcomes. To address these challenges, we introduce IIMI, a new automated analysis pipeline using machine learning to diagnose infections from 1583 plant viruses with HTS data. It adopts a data-driven approach for parameter selection, reducing subjectivity, and automatically filters out regions affected by artifacts, thus improving accuracy. Testing with in-house and published data shows IIMI’s superiority over existing methods. Besides a prediction model, IIMI also provides resources on plant virus genomes, including annotations of regions prone to artifacts. The method is available as an R package (iimi) on CRAN and will integrate with the web application www.virtool.ca, enhancing accessibility and user convenience.

Abstract Academic medicine encompasses education, research and clinical practice, and plays a crucial role in advancing medical science and training physicians. However, the field faces a crisis, with fewer graduates pursuing academic careers. Family medicine emerged as an academic discipline in the second half of the 20th century, contributing significantly to science and primary healthcare. Despite its recognised status, the World Health Organization has yet to formally define it as an academic discipline. Nevertheless, the discipline must continually update its academic dimension in order to address future challenges. The international conference in Banja Luka, attended by deans or representatives of Medical Faculties in Southeast Europe, emphasized family medicine's role in primary healthcare and academic medicine, adopting the Banja Luka Declaration to promote family medicine as an independent academic discipline. The conference aims to inspire global support for family medicine as an academic discipline.