A voltage-controlled pulsed current source (VCPCS) capable of generating current pulses with four different waveforms in the time domain is presented in this article. These waveforms are the following: hyperbolic waveform in time domain (HWTD), squared HWTD (SHWTD), quasi-Dirac delta function (QDDF) based on HWTD, and QDDF based on SHWTD. The QDDF is treated as a generalized function (GF) whose limit value leads to the required shape. The controllability of the shapes and frequency of the current pulses is provided by adjustment of the parameters of saw-tooth and triangle control voltages. The design of the proposed VCPCS can be implemented in a standard CMOS technology. However, it has been prototyped here first using discrete off-the-shelf components mounted on a printed circuit board with a single supply voltage of 3.3 V. Measured results confirm the predictions of the analysis performed. Specifically, the measured ratio of the largest and the smallest HWTD current is 7.6 times larger than that in the state-of-the-art, for the same supply voltage, which is of particular importance in optical quantum random number generators (OQRNGs).

Providing an objective ranking of scientists based on their merit is a rather challenging task. Numerous factors complicate this endeavor, raising difficult questions about how such evaluations should be conducted. The goal of the present paper is to introduce a new measure for evaluating researchers’ performance, the Performance Impact Score (PIS), which combines both productivity and research impact. In this study, I compared the PIS with h-index scores for 108 researchers at the University of Sarajevo. More specifically, I examined the overlap between the top 20 researchers according to the PIS and the top 20 researchers according to Web of Science, Google Scholar, and SCOPUS h-indexes. The concordance rate was 65% for Google Scholar and Web of Science, and 55% for SCOPUS. The analysis highlights the importance of considering both productivity and impact when evaluating researchers’ rankings. It is also evident that the top 20 researchers vary across different metrics. The results further demonstrate that creating a fair and just ranking system requires going beyond the data available in bibliometric databases, particularly in cases where researchers rank highly by one metric but perform poorly when evaluated by another.

he study aims to assess the capability of various data mining techniques in detecting inaccurate financial statements of government-owned enterprises operating in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH). Inaccurate financial statements indicate potential financial fraud. Prediction models of four classification algorithms (J48, KNN, MLP, and BayesNet) were examined using a dataset comprising 200 audited financial statements from government-owned enterprises under the supervision of the Audit Office of the Institutions in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The results obtained through data mining analysis reveal that a dataset encompassing seven balance sheet items provides the most comprehensive depiction of financial statement quality. These seven attributes are: opening entry of accounts receivable, profit (loss) at the end of the period, operating assets at the end of the period, accounts receivable at the end of the period, opening entry of operating assets, short term financial investments at the end of the period, and opening entry of short-term financial investments. By employing these seven attributes, the MLP algorithm was implemented to construct the most precise predictive model, achieving a 76% accurate classification rate for financial statements. Leveraging the identified attributes, a mathematical model could potentially be formulated to effectively predict financial statements of government-owned enterprises in FBiH. This, in turn, could considerably facilitate the process of selecting GOEs for inclusion in the annual work plan of state auditors. Presently, due to resource constraints, government-owned enterprises in FBiH do not undergo regular annual scrutiny by state auditors, with only 10 to 15 such enterprises being subject to audits each year. The results of this research can also be beneficial to both the public and the Financial Intelligence Agency in the FBiH. The paper contributes to filling the gap in the literature regarding the applied methodology, particularly in the part concerning the attributes used in the research.

Arsenic concentration in seafood could potentially reach very high levels and represent a significant health risk for humans. In this study, the concentration of arsenic in various seafood: crabs (shrimp, prawns), molluscs (mussels), and cephalopods (squid) available both fresh on the market and frozen in supermarkets in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina were determined by the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The results obtained using different matrix modifiers: Mg(NO3)2, Ni(NO3)2, Pd(NO3)2, and mixture Pd(NO3)2 + Mg(NO3)2 were compared. The best recovery rate of 98.4 % arsenic for the reference material ERM-CE278k, was achieved after the addition of the mixture Pd(NO3)2 + Mg(NO3)2 . The mean arsenic concentrations were 1.551 ? 0.836 mg kg-1 1.298 ? 0.410 mg kg-1, and 2.794 ? 0.958 mg kg-1 for crustaceans, molluscs and cephalopods, respectively, by using mixture Pd(NO3)2 + Mg(NO3)2 as matrix modifier. Arsenic concentrations in the same sample measured using different matrix modifiers varied widely, even above 70 %. With the current consumption rate of seafood products, both cancerogenic and non-cancerogenic risks associated with exposure to arsenic through seafood are very low for the residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The critical role of high-voltage circuit breakers in the power grid underscores the need for reliable and efficient methods to assess their condition and operational parameters. To support the integration of smart grid concepts and enable condition assessment during circuit breaker exploitation, non-invasive approaches are essential. Among these, methods leveraging vibration fingerprints generated during the opening or closing of circuit breakers have shown significant promise. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of state-of-the-art research in this area, systematically analyzing over 100 influential works from the past two decades. The survey categorizes these methods based on their domain-specific approaches and highlights key challenges related to signal analysis, data acquisition, feature extraction, interpretation, and reasoning. By offering a structured analysis, this survey serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners, providing insights and direction for future advancements in this niche field.

Background: Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting (MICS CABG) via left anterior thoracotomy has emerged as a less invasive alternative to conventional open sternotomy (OPEN CABG), offering potential benefits in perioperative outcomes and complication rates. Objective. The aim of this study was to compare procedural characteristics, ventilation duration, drainage volumes, and postoperative complications between MICS CABG and OPEN CABG in a single-center cohort in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods. This retrospective cross-sectional study included 262 patients who underwent surgical revascularization between January 2019 and June 2023. Results. MICS CABG was associated with a shorter median procedure time (2.5 vs. 3.5 hours, p<0.001) and reduced mechanical ventilation duration (11.0 vs. 14.0 hours, p<0.001). Although ICU stay was similar (3.0 days, p=0.001), total hospitalization was shorter for MICS CABG (6.0 vs. 7.0 days, p<0.001). Postoperative drainage was significantly lower at all measured time points (p<0.05), and transfusion requirements were reduced for red blood cells (0 vs. 2 units, p<0.001), fresh frozen plasma (0 vs. 2.5 units, p<0.001), and platelets (p=0.035). Use of inotropic agents was less frequent in MICS CABG, both at low (50.4% vs. 62.8%, p=0.043) and medium doses (4.0% vs. 16.0%, p=0.001). Wound infections were numerically lower in the MICS group (p=0.437). Conclusions. Compared to open sternotomy, MICS CABG demonstrated significant advantages in operative time, ventilation duration, blood loss, and complication rates, supporting its role as a safe and effective alternative for coronary revascularization.

Water constitutes a substantial input in food production, exerting a direct influence on the quality of the final product. Water quality affects every stage of the food value chain, from primary production to final consumption. Contaminated water can introduce impurities, unpleasant aromas, and odors, compromise the taste and appearance of the product, and, most significantly, compromise its healthfulness. Pathogens transferred through water pose a grave health risk to consumers. Consequently, ensuring the integrity of water quality is paramount to the overall quality and safety of food. Water from natural sources, including rivers, lakes, and wells, may contain a variety of contaminants that can adversely affect food quality. The treatment of water for food production involves the removal of impurities, contaminants, and bacteria that may be present in water sources. The application of diverse treatment methods can yield water that meets quality and safety standards. It is incumbent upon food manufacturers to prioritize water quality and adhere to regulatory guidelines to ensure the highest standards of food safety and quality.

Background: Date palm fruits (Phoenix dactylifera L.) are a widely available product that contains numerous macronutrients including a high sugar content. Research has shown that date fruit extracts possess antibacterial and antifungal properties, as well as antimutagenic and antiatherogenic effects. Date fruit can also have a beneficial effect on the female reproductive system. Several studies have examined the impact of date consumption during pregnancy on the outcome of labor, providing useful results. Objective: This study aims to determine the effects of date fruit consumption on the onset and progression of labor. Methods: The study included 120 pregnant women who were pregnant at GAK Sarajevo, in the period from 01.01. 2020 to 31.12. 2020. The patients were divided into two groups, the first group of 60 patients who consumed 6 dates during the last four weeks of pregnancy, and the second group of 60 patients who did not consume dates during pregnancy. Results: There was a significant positive effect of consuming date fruits on maternal outcomes in the first and third stages of labor. The group of pregnant women who consumed dates had a shortened latent phase of labor, which meant that their cervix reached maximum dilation (10 cm) faster. Pregnant women in this group gave birth 8.5 hours faster than pregnant women who did not consume dates, in whom labor lasted about 15 hours. Of the 60 pregnant women in the first group, 60% had a spontaneous natural birth, and only 40% of the patients received oxytocin, because dates enhance the effect of oxytocin, which is responsible for uterine contractions. Conclusion: This study showed a promising effect of consuming date fruits on the duration of the stages of labor. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids found in dates stimulate the production of prostaglandins, which are necessary for labor. Dates are also rich in folic acid, vitamin K, iron, potassium, and magnesium.

Summary Explosive energy can be used in metal forming processes, e.g. for bulk forming, sheet forming and for other processes. This paper presents the experimental research and numerical modelling of the process of sphere deformation by explosive forming. The assembly for forming a sphere with a diameter of 210 mm was welded from flat segments and annealed after welding. The material of the sphere was steel St12 according to DIN 1629/3. The thickness of the sheet metal was 2.0 mm. The sphere was modelled in the SolidWorks program and 3D-printed with the polylactic acid (PLA) material. The Poladyn 31ECO explosive was used for the experimental investigation into the process of deep drawing of the sphere by explosion, while the LS-DYNA hydrodynamic software was used for simulation. The pressure in the sphere was measured with a pair of copper crushers. It is shown that the simulation satisfactorily reproduces the experimentally measured pressure.

This review is remembrance on occasion of 35 years of MIE ‘90 held in Glasgow which organized by UK and Scottish Association of Medical Informatics, and chaired by John Bryden and his team with support by European Federation for Medical Informatics (EFMI). It was my first participation at MIE Conferences, in that time as General Secretary of Yugoslav Association of Medical Informatics (YAMI) and officially accepted as a member of EFMI and IMIA. Besides our President of YAMI, Professor Gjuro Dezelic, one of founders YAMI (with Izet Masic, Stefan Adamic, Rajko Vukasinovic, as presidents of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenian and Serbian Societies of Medical Informatics in 1987) participants at MIE ‘90 have been, also, our colleagues: Josipa Kern, Nada Dezelic, Silvije Vuletic, Visnja Lovrek, Miroslav Madjaric, etc. It was my first active participation at MIE Conferences, and after this meeting, year by year I continued until today. Let me say some important facts about it as my personal story -„Medical Informatics Journey“, during the last 35 years, from Glasgow 1990 until today.

Background: Gentamicin is a potent, broad-spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic used in the treatment of many infections. Gentamicin can induce hepatotoxicity through oxidative stress and apoptosis. Since melatonin has antioxidant properties, its protective effects on liver tissue damage were evaluated in this study. Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct our investigation to assess the hepatoprotective effects of melatonin in rats treated with gentamicin. Methods: Forty eight adult male Wistar rats were used. The animals were randomly distributed into six groups of equal size. During the period of 11 days, three control groups of rats were daily injected i.p. with the vehicle or with melatonin at a dose of 5 or 10 mg/kg. The gentamicin group was injected with gentamicin at a dose of 80 mg/kg during 8 days and vehicle for 11 days. The other two experimental groups were administered gentamicin (80 mg/kg during) 8 days and melatonin (doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg) 3 days before and 8 days concomitantly with melatonin. Obtained liver sections were analyzed using qualitative, semi-quantitative, and stereological analysis. Results: Gentamicin expressed hepatotoxic effects inducing congestion of lobular blood vessels, hydropic degeneration of periportal hepatocytes and mononuclear infiltration in the portal tract. Treatment with gentamicin resulted in an increase in the Vv of blood vessels, a decrease in the Vv of hepatocytes, and a decrease in the glycogen content in all three lobular zones. Melatonin administration reduced the liver alterations induced by gentamicin; the higher dose had a more potent protective effect. Conclusion: Melatonin has a beneficial effect on gentamicin-induced liver damage and the effect is dose-dependent.

Background/Aim. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that can cause destructive joint disease and progressive disability. The diagnosis of RA is based on laboratory and clinical evidence, which includes the analysis of inflammatory markers, hematological, and biochemical parameters. Methods. Fifty patients diagnosed with RA without methotrexate (MTX) therapy and 50 patients with therapy (MTX, 7.5 mg/week; after three months prednisolone 10 mg/day) were included in this study. After six months of therapy, inflammatory biomarkers, hematological, and biochemical parameters were analyzed. Results. Inflammatory biomarkers: sedimentation rate (SE), C-reactive protein (CRP), and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) are significantly lower in the group of patients on therapy compared to patients without MTX therapy. Significant differences were not found for the rheumatoid factor (RF). Significant differences were not found for hematological parameters between the compared groups. Analysis of serum biochemical parameters showed significant differences for aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and iron values. In patients without MTX therapy, the incidence of anemia was recorded in 68%, which is significantly higher than the incidence of 32% in patients with therapy. Conclusion. Prescribed therapy has shown effectiveness in the treatment of RA and reduction of the inflammatory process. The success of the treatment depends on the timely diagnosis of RA. Postponement of therapy and late-detected disease prolongs therapy treatment and often requires a combination of several drugs.