The paper presents an automated method for solving traditional single side 2D jigsaw puzzles, focusing solely on shape features. Termed as semi-apictorial puzzles, our approach utilizes pictorial content solely for image segmentation, not for puzzle matching. Through enhancements in background separation, corner extraction, and feature matching, our method simplifies and accelerates puzzle reconstruction. A key contribution is the introduction of an edge matching technique that employs approximate triangles to evaluate a possible match, which notably improves computational efficiency and reduces algorithm complexity. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms existing solutions, enabling the handling of a larger puzzles within a reasonable timeframe.

This paper presents the development and implementation of a flexible industrial machine model for automated visual inspection, called ETFCam, designed to improve the learning outcomes of electrical engineering students in the field of machine vision and robotics. Unlike prefabricated didactic models, which are typically “closed” systems with a predefined set of experiments, custom didactic systems for teaching and training built from scratch tend to be more flexible and provide a deeper insight in engineering, machine design and planning, while being more cost-effective. The proposed system is based on a 3DOF stepper motor-based manipulator, a DC motor driven conveyor, a pneumatic actuated gripper and a machine vision system. The paper discusses several applications of such a system in an educational environment, with a special focus on machine vision applications. Due to the fact that the system is versatile, open, modular, and easy to upgrade, it has unlimited potential and possibilities for further development. In addition, it provides students with a perfect testbed for learning new engineering skills in many areas such as schematic drawing and understanding, PLC based control, sensing, and machine vision.

This paper focuses on the design and implementation of a discrete digital PID (Proportional - Integral - Derivative) controller utilizing an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) platform, which inherently supports parallel implementation of algorithms. Typically, cost-effective FPGA boards lacks peripherals, such as analog inputs and outputs, so they need to be added externally. The main hypothesis is that a DC motor system can be controlled with a low-cost variant of FPGA-based PID controllers. Therefore, an I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) based AD (Analog-to-digital) converter is added as input, while PWM (Pulse width modulation) based output signal is used as an output. The effectiveness of the designed regulator is demonstrated on an example of a DC (direct current) motor control. Additionally, for control and monitoring purposes, the FPGA is connected to the PC using the UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) protocol. Experimental results indicate that the FPGA-based PID implementation offers solid performance.

This paper explores the application of FPGA programmable structures in the field of digital image signal processing (ISP). FPGAs offer high flexibility, speed and parallelism, making them ideal for general digital signal processing (DSP), as well as specific ISP tasks. The paper utilizes standard ISP algorithms such as morphological operations, filtering and edge detection to compare practical implementations of FPGA and CPU-based compute engines. Through illustrative examples and empirical results, we demonstrate the distinct advantages of employing FPGA for these use-cases, and contrast them with traditional CPU approaches, clearly showing FPGA capacity to significantly accelerate execution. The challenges that arise from resource-limited IOT-class hardware configurations are highlighted in the paper, namely resource optimization, memory management and maximal frequency.

This paper presents an end-to-end architecture for smart waste management, leveraging real-time data, IoT, AI, and machine learning to optimize operational efficiency and decision-making processes. The architecture is designed for both near real-time and batch data processing, ensuring continuous optimization and adaptation of waste collection routes and resource allocation. Machine learning models are employed to predict possible bad adverse scenarios and optimize operational plans. Additionally, business intelligence is utilized for data analysis and reporting, providing actionable insights based on real-time and historical data. The presented system is implemented on a scalable Kubernetes infrastructure, supporting the increasing data volumes and processing demands while maintaining system responsiveness and efficiency. This integrated approach demonstrates significant improvements in resource utilization, operational efficiency, and service delivery, highlighting the potential for smarter and more sustainable waste management practices. This research addresses the gap in combining IT architectures with AI models and IoT, paving the way for future advancements in smart waste management systems.

The aim of the research is to assess the microbiological correctness and quality of sheep's milk, which is primarily used as a raw material for the production of Travnik - Vlasic cheese, and originates from the Vlasic - Travnik area, with an emphasis on assessing its compliance with the requirements of the current legislation for raw milk. In general, Travnik - Vlasic cheese is produced, according to the original technology, from unpasteurized milk, and therefore the purity of the raw material is extremely important. The samples were collected during the first months of lactation, March and April 2023, from 8 primary producers from the Vlasic - Travnik area, and were analyzed for the total number of bacteria and all samples meet the criteria of the regulations.

The objective of this study was the analysis of materials used in five Oriental manuscripts from Bosnia and Herzegovina dating from the 15th - 19th century. The manuscripts were examined using various analytical techniques ranging from a series of preliminary tests (visual inspection, microchemical tests, thin layer chromatography (TLC), acidity status, UV fluorescence) to Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS). The obtained results showed that the manuscripts were made using paper, ink and pigments derived mainly from natural sources. The paper was made from either flax fibers or the combination of flax and hemp fibres and was often sized with egg white and alum to improve its quality. Both carbon black and iron-gall inks were used for the main text, whereas vermillion was chosen only for red ink. This research provides a valuable insight into the production techniques used in Oriental manuscripts from Bosnia and Herzegovina during that period. It also represents a template approach for manuscript characterisation and science-based paper conservation.

Diospyros kaki L. (Japanese persimmon) has been introduced from Asian countries to Herzegovina, where it is mostly consumed fresh. This study investigates the differences in nutritional, microbiological, and sensory values of persimmons consumed in one of the Herzegovinian regions, following drying processes at 70 °C/12 h, 85 °C/10.5 h, and 100 °C/5.5 h, together with their effects on fruit texture, mass, and composition. The notable increase in sugar content emphasises the potential of dried Japanese persimmon as a nutritious snack. No significant increase in microorganism representation was observed across all samples. Persimmons dried using a dehydrator exhibited the most preserved nutritional properties, and were rated highest in sensorial evaluations. However, due to its high water content and browning, the sample dried at 100 °C in an autoclave was excluded from sensory testing.

The aim of the current study was to analyse receptive and productive knowledge development of words belonging to 2000, 3000, and 5000 frequency levels in the Global South setting. The data were collected from 278 first-year university students after they finished both elementary and high school in the English as a foreign language (EFL) context of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The study researched the dependency of receptive and productive knowledge on a few variables, namely the students’ grammatical competence, the methods of vocabulary teaching, the use of English within EFL classes, and the outside-school exposure to it. The results revealed a significant relationship between all the aforementioned variables and students’ productive and receptive vocabulary knowledge. Such findings are expected to provide assistance to educators and students in similar environments, giving direct guidelines for practice leading to greater receptive and productive EFL vocabulary knowledge, i.e. showing how EFL vocabulary learning challenges can be faced to open up favorable opportunities for its development.

Background and Objectives In patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), thalamic atrophy occurs during the disease course. However, there is little understanding of the mechanisms leading to volume loss and of the relationship between microstructural thalamic pathology and disease progression. This cross-sectional and longitudinal study aimed to comprehensively characterize in vivo pathologic changes within thalamic microstructure in PwMS using advanced multiparametric quantitative MRI (qMRI). Methods Thalamic microstructural integrity was evaluated using quantitative T1, magnetization transfer saturation, multishell diffusion, and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) in 183 PwMS and 105 healthy controls (HCs). The same qMRI protocol was available for 127 PwMS and 73 HCs after a 2-year follow-up period. Inclusion criteria for PwMS encompassed either an active relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) or inactive progressive MS (PMS) disease course. Thalamic alterations were compared between PwMS and HCs and among disease phenotypes. In addition, the study investigated the relationship between thalamic damage and clinical and conventional MRI measures of disease severity. Results Compared with HCs, PwMS exhibited substantial thalamic alterations, indicative of microstructural and macrostructural damage, demyelination, and disruption in iron homeostasis. These alterations extended beyond focal thalamic lesions, affecting normal-appearing thalamic tissue diffusely. Over the follow-up period, PwMS displayed an accelerated decrease in myelin volume fraction [mean difference in annualized percentage change (MD-ApC) = −1.50; p = 0.041] and increase in quantitative T1 (MD-ApC = 0.92; p < 0.0001) values, indicating heightened demyelinating and neurodegenerative processes. The observed differences between PwMS and HCs were substantially driven by the subgroup with PMS, wherein thalamic degeneration was significantly accelerated, even in comparison with patients with RRMS. Thalamic qMRI alterations showed extensive correlations with conventional MRI, clinical, and cognitive disease burden measures. Disability progression over follow-up was associated with accelerated thalamic degeneration, as reflected by enhanced diffusion (β = −0.067; p = 0.039) and QSM (β = −0.077; p = 0.027) changes. Thalamic qMRI metrics emerged as significant predictors of neurologic and cognitive disability even when accounting for other established markers including white matter lesion load and brain and thalamic atrophy. Discussion These findings offer deeper insights into thalamic pathology in PwMS, emphasizing the clinical relevance of thalamic damage and its link to disease progression. Advanced qMRI biomarkers show promising potential in guiding interventions aimed at mitigating thalamic neurodegenerative processes.

This is a summary of the original article ‘Ten-year safety and clinical benefit from open label etanercept treatment in children and young adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis’. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) usually appears before the age of 16. JIA causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. People with JIA receive treatment for several years until the disease goes into prolonged remission. Therefore, the long-term safety of these treatments is an important topic. Etanercept is a treatment for JIA, which acts on the body’s immune system to reduce arthritis. This summary of research article describes safety and how well etanercept works in children with JIA taking it for up to 10 years.

The design process for manufacturing systems involves different architectural design decisions (ADDs), including deploying software to hardware components, determining shop-floor topology, and planning production tasks for stations. These ADDs exhibit complex interactions, where the synthesis of one ADD impacts other ADDs, highlighting the need to investigate their dynamic interplay. However, current research prioritizes individual ADDs over exploring multiple ADDs together. This work investigates a multi-dimensional design space exploration (DSE) of deployment, shop-floor topology, and production planning ADDs. We introduce mitigation constraints to ensure the compatibility among these ADDs. To evaluate our approach, we apply it to a flexible manufacturing line demonstrator. Furthermore, we assess and compare various DSE workflows, providing preliminary guidance to software architects on mitigatlng conflicts and enhancing the quality of ADDs.

Abstract CCl4 causes oxidative injury, fatty degeneration, fibrosis of the liver, renal failure, and even hepatocellular and renal carcinoma. Certain substances have the potential to neutralize the harmful effects of CCl4, so it will lead to numerous beneficial effects. Melatonin (MEL) is a powerful antioxidant that regulates circadian rhythm and has beneficial effects on organism; tryptophan (TRP) is its precursor necessary for the synthesis of MEL. The aim of the current study was to determine whether MEL and TRP, have protective effects during subchronic application of CCl4 to the liver and kidneys. Results suggest that CCl4 led to decrease of total proteins, albumins, globulins, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and hematocrit; and increase of creatinine, AST, ALT values, and leukocytes. MEL and TRP both showing protective effects on regulation of serum proteins, albumins, globulins, A/G, AST, ALT, and creatinine levels. TRP had been shown to have potential in regulation of disbalanced hematological parameters caused by CCl4. TRP had beneficial effects on hepatocyte morphology in term of beaded chromatin and preserved cell morphology. Overall, oral supplementation of TRP had better protective effects on liver/kidneys compared to MEL.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the reporting quality of Scoping Reviews (ScRs) in endodontics according to the PRISMA Extension Checklist for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and to analyse their association with a range of publication and methodological/reporting characteristics. METHODS Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched up to 31 January 2024 to identify scoping reviews in the field of endodontics. An additional search was performed in three leading endodontic journals. Study selection and appraising the quality of the studies was carried out independently by two reviewers. Each of the 20 PRISMA-ScR items were allocated a score of either 0, 0.5 or 1 to reflect the completeness of the reporting. An item-specific and overall percentage reporting quality score was calculated and reported through descriptive statistics across a range of publication, as well as methodological/reporting characteristics. A univariable and multivariable quantile regression was performed to identify the effect of publication and methodological/reporting characteristics (year of publication, journal, inclusion of an appropriate reporting guideline, and study registration) on the overall percentage reporting quality score. Association of reporting quality score with publication characteristics was then investigated. RESULTS A total of 40 ScRs were identified and included for appraisal. Most of the studies were published from 2021 onwards. The overall median reporting quality score was 86%. The most frequent items not included in the studies were: a priori protocol registration (22/40 compliant; 55%), and reporting of funding (16/40 compliant; 40%). Other key elements that were inadequately reported were the abstract (7/40 compliant; 18%), the rationale and justification of the ScR (21/40 compliant; 52%) and the objectives of the study (18/40 compliant; 45%). Studies that adhered to appropriate reporting guidelines were associated with greater reporting quality scores (β-coefficient: 10; 95%CI: 1.1, 18.9; p = .03). ScRs with protocols registered a priori had significantly greater reporting quality scores (β-coefficient: 12.5; 95%CI: 6.1, 18.9; p < .001), compared with non-registered reviews. CONCLUSIONS The reporting quality of the ScRs in endodontics varied and was greater when the ScR protocols were registered a priori and when the authors adhered to reporting guidelines.