Nicotine dependence remains one of the most complex and widespread global public health challenges. Despite extensive prevention efforts and regulatory actions, its prevalence continues to be high. In recent years, there has been rapid development of non-combustible nicotine delivery products, including nicotine pouches (NP), which represent a newer category within the smokeless, tobacco-free market. These pouches are placed in the oral vestibule, between the lip and the gum, allowing nicotine to be gradually absorbed over approximately 30 minutes per use. However, their effects on oral health are still not well understood. This narrative review therefore aims to summarize and clarify the current evidence regarding the oral manifestations associated with NP use.

This study uses bibliometric analysis to examine research on financial sector efficiency in Southeast Europe (SEE) from 1998 to 2024. Using PRISMA methodology, we identified and analyzed articles that investigate the efficiency of the financial sector in SEE countries. Based on the reviewed literature, we explore key quantitative methods and approaches used in efficiency analysis and uncover opportunities and gaps for future research. The analysis reveals methodological choices, regional challenges, and differences in data availability among countries. Alongside practical suggestions, such as supporting data-sharing initiatives and encouraging methodological diversification, the study highlights the importance of recent data, interdisciplinary collaboration, and advanced mathematical techniques. These findings enhance our understanding of financial efficiency and offer researchers and policymakers recommendations for improving the stability, resilience, and integration of Southeast Europe’s financial systems.

Introduction: Impacted maxillary canines are among the most common orthodontic anomalies and often require comprehensive radiographic assessment for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. The KPG index is a CBCT-based three-dimensional classification system used to evaluate the severity of canine impaction. Aim: To assess the association between the KPG index and angular parameters (α and θ angles) in impacted maxillary canines. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 30 patients with impacted maxillary canines treated at the Department and Clinic of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Sarajevo. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and panoramic radiographs were analyzed. The KPG index was determined from CBCT images, while α and θ angles were measured on panoramic radiographs. Correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between the KPG index and angular parameters. Results: The mean KPG index was 13.17 ± 7.29, the mean α angle was 32.93 ± 21.34°, and the mean θ angle was 53.87 ± 19.91°. A statistically significant moderate positive correlation was found between the KPG index and α angle (rs = 0.635, p < 0.001). No statistically significant association was observed between the KPG index and θ angle (rs = −0.234, p = 0.206). Conclusion: The α angle showed a significant positive association with the KPG index and may represent a useful adjunctive parameter in the assessment of impacted maxillary canines. In contrast, the θ angle was not significantly associated with impaction severity. Although panoramic radiographs provide valuable diagnostic information, CBCT-based three-dimensional imaging remains the gold standard for evaluating impacted maxillary canines and supporting orthodontic treatment planning.

<p>Estmating the risk to pulic health from heavy metals can help solve the basic questions about the potential dangers of exposure to them. This is the first study&nbsp; aimed to assess the health risk for the residents of the municipality of Zenica, on the land closest to the steel industry by examining the heavy metals Zn, Ni, Pb, Cd, Cr and Cu in the soil and plant cultivars corn and chard that could be used for the potential remediation of such soil. With the calculated data for HQ and HI, the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk for adults and children were estimated, based on heavy metals in the selected topsoil and plants, which are usually grown in the area of interest, through different ways of their intake. The results showed that there is an unacceptable risk for children and adults due to long-term consumption of investigated plant cultivars from soil contaminated with heavy metals. Constant monitoring and measures to reducing the heavy metal pollution, primarily Cd, Pb and Cr, are necessary in the lands of ​​the municipality of Zenica. Special caution is required for residents who intend to grow plant cultivars near steel industry</p>

A comprehensive understanding of fundamental physical laws is essential for effectively using modern medical devices and comprehending the biological processes of organisms. This underscores the necessity of physics as a mandatory course in medical and healthcare studies. However, there is a lack of research regarding medical students’ motivation to learn physics and their awareness of its importance in healthcare, particularly among students in radiology and physiotherapy programmes. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess students’ motivations for enrolling in healthcare programmes, their opinions about physics, and their perceived value of physics education for future career competencies. The sample comprised 157 undergraduate students from the physiotherapy and radiologic technology programmes at the Faculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka, Croatia. Data were collected using a standardised questionnaire and analysed using the non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis test. The research findings indicate that most students are enthusiastic about learning physics when they see its practical applications, especially in therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. Additionally, students are primarily motivated by a desire to help others, positive high school experiences, career aspirations, and family influence. Final-year students particularly recognise the significance of physics in diagnostics and therapies. Furthermore, professors’ professionalism and the curriculum’s relevance to future job skills are keymotivators. These findings can be used to develop diverse teaching strategies to enhance student interest, ultimately cultivating experts who can advance healthcare and improve disease diagnosis and treatment. 

<p>Nifuroxazide is an antimicrobial drug from the nitrofuran group, which is used in the treatment of acute bacterial intestinal infections. Its mechanism of action is based on the reduction of the nitro group in bacterial cells, which produces reactive metabolites that permanently damage enzymes and the genetic material of microorganisms. Enzymes of redox metabolism are particularly sensitive, among which lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) stands out. In this work, an electrochemical method (cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry) was used to determine kinetic constants. The enzyme LDH (biosensor) was immobilized on a GC electrode and the effect of nifuroxazide on enzyme activity was monitored. The results show that nifuroxazide binds non-competitively to the enzyme and thus changes the enzyme conformation. This process leads to permanent blockade of key metabolic reactions, disruption of the redox balance and death of the bacterial cell.</p>

<p>The aim of this work was to examine the possibility of stabilizing red mud with a natural mineral, namely pyrophyllite shale, to the extent that it is not harmful to the environment, as well as the use of such a stabilized composite for the production of building materials such as bricks, in order to ultimately achieve a complete circular economy, where on the one hand there would be the utilization of waste material, the preservation of the environment and natural resources, and on the other hand, the production of products of the same quality.</p> <p>Based on the set goal, the results for the composition of red mud and pyrophyllite shale as well as the stabilized composite before and after thermal treatment at 900 &deg;C are presented in the work, and they show that there is a decrease in the proportion of all oxides present in the mixture except silicon, because it is over 63% in pyrophyllite shale. Based on the stabilized composite, building block samples were formed. After the firing process, the samples cracked, and as such they could not be analyzed further. Based on this, it could be concluded that only stabilized composite cannot be used to make bricks.</p>

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In this research, a rapid seismic assessment of the I Gymnasium in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) was conducted. The structural information was obtained from original designs, visual inspection, which was supported by the usage of a drone, and infrared thermography. The vulnerability of the structure was assessed by implementing the Vulnerability Index Method (VIM). Once the mean damage grades were obtained for various seismic intensities (EMS 98 scale applied) vulnerability curve was constructed, enabling the quantification of risk for various seismic scenarios. The structure would experience no to minor damage if exposed to weaker earthquakes (IV–V). The most interesting intensities for Sarajevo are VII and VIII, indicating moderate damage. For earthquakes of higher intensities (X–XII), there is a significant increase in heavy and severe damage, leading to the complete collapse in the case of XII intensity level. The paper further discussed the effects that have a direct impact on the degradation of masonry material, leading to a reduction of its resilience. An aspect of inadequate strengthening is emphasized, together with the importance of regular maintenance for prolonging the life of these types of structures.

U radu su prezentovani trendovi razvoja interne revizije u Republici Srbiji. Sa teorijskog aspekta trendovi razvoja prezentovani su kroz komparativan prikaz osnovnih specifičnosti zakonskih regulativa koje se odnose na internu reviziju na nivou različitih organizacija iz realnog sektora, sektora bankarstva, osiguranja, javnog sektora i lizinga. U praktičnom delu prezentovana je analiza trenda izdatih sertifikata ovlašćenih internih revizora u periodu od 2008. do 2025. godine. Takođe, prezentovana je analiza sertifikata ovlašćenih internih revizora prema pojedinim oblastima u kojima su interni revizori zaposleni. Najveći broj ovlašćenih internih revizora zaposlen je u okviru realnog sektora, što odgovara i rasporedu organizacija prema obaveznosti uspostavljanja interne revizije.

Abstract Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication associated with de novo gestational hypertension, proteinuria, and dysregulations in the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems. Platelet-derived factors include various growth and differentiation factors, such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. The TGF-β type III receptor (TGFBR3), also known as betaglycan, is a co-receptor for the TGF-β superfamily and an important regulator of reproduction and fetal development. Here, we test the hypothesis whether or not TGFBR3 is involved in platelet-mediated upregulation of placental plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). Perivillous fibrin deposits and PAI-1 levels were analyzed via immunohistochemistry, gene expression as well as protein expression in healthy and preeclamptic placental tissue. Placental villi and trophoblast cell line BeWo were incubated in presence or absence of washed platelets from pregnant women, platelet-derived soluble factors, or platelet-derived extracellular vesicles. Additionally, BeWo cells were treated with TGF-β-receptor inhibitors and silenced for TGFBR3 expression. PAI-1 and its encoding gene SERPINE1, as well as perivillous fibrin deposits, were significantly increased towards term of gestation and showed a significant upregulation in placental villi from preeclamptic pregnancies. Furthermore, SERPINE1 and PAI-1 were substantially upregulated in response to washed platelets and platelet-derived factors, but not to platelet-derived extracellular vesicles. The upregulation of SERPINE1 was blocked to control levels with the TGF-β inhibitor P144, whereas silencing of TGFBR3 had no effect. Our results suggest that platelet-derived factors induce placental PAI-1 expression independently of TGF-β receptor 3. Increased maternal platelet activation may contribute to significantly upregulated placental PAI-1 and perivillous fibrin deposits in preeclampsia.

Monitoring vehicle movements at roundabouts and determining their operational throughput traditionally relies on tracking individual turning movements, a process that is technically demanding, labour-intensive and often impractical for complex multi-leg roundabouts. This study proposes a simplified approach to data collection and the determination of roundabout flow parameters. Two data collection techniques were examined: simplified manual counting of vehicles at entry legs and automated licence plate recognition. For roundabout flow parameters, determining the key methodological contribution is applying the roundabout investigation model (MIKR). Model MIKR enables capacity and turning-movement estimation using only entry and exit counts, thereby substantially reducing the scope of required field observations compared with conventional trajectory-based methods. The results show that licence plate recognition can determine turning flows with an accuracy of approximately 90%. The MIKR model reliably estimates roundabout capacity without requiring vehicle trajectory tracking. These findings confirm the practical value of the MIKR approach and highlight its potential for more efficient and cost-effective traffic-flow analysis at roundabouts.