: Game-based learning is becoming an increasingly valuable tool for enhancing education, especially for young learners. This study explores the usability, engagement, and educational impact of a serious game designed to help children develop skills in math and logic, colors, reading and writing, and shapes through interactive gameplay. The game was tested by both children and adults, with feedback gathered through scaled question responses, open-ended suggestions, and task-related questions. The results show that children found the game intuitive and enjoyable, with particularly high ratings for interface usability and clarity of instructions. While adults provided a different perspective from the target audience, their feedback offered useful insights for improving the game’s design. These findings highlight the importance of user-centered design and adaptive learning approaches in creating engaging and effective educational games.

This research examines the integration of Ibn Khaldûn’s administrative principles within contemporary governance, challenging Western-centric narratives in public administration. Utilizing qualitative analysis of governmental reports, historical texts, and policy documents from twenty countries, the study highlights the traces and adaptations of Khaldûnian thought in governance structures. Key findings reveal the diverse interpretations and applications of foundational concepts derived from Khaldûn’s work, such as social cohesion (‘asabiyyah) and the balance between justice and economic prosperity, within varying political and administrative frameworks. The research underscores how these historical principles continue to resonate in addressing modern governance challenges, including decentralization, stakeholder participation, and the ethical integration of religious and cultural values. By bridging historical insights with contemporary practices, the study contributes to diversifying public administration theories, advocating for culturally resonant governance approaches. The comparative exploration enriches the academic discourse on inclusive and effective governance, offering policymakers practical frameworks for integrating historical insight into modern administrative systems.

Background/Aim: Pressure ulcers develop due to prolonged periods of increased pressure on certain parts of the skin and underlying tissue. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety estimates of lysozyme-based cream in the treatment of pressure ulcers of grade two according to Yarkony-Kirk scale. Methods: Adult patients with neurological diseases and severe functional deficits with grade-two pressure ulcers according to Yarkony-Kirk scale were included. All patients were treated with polarised light. Additionally, the patients were treated twice daily with a cream containing 20 mg/g of lysozyme chloride (lysozyme group) or with povidone-iodine dressings (control group). Visual checks of the ulcer were performed at the baseline and daily until the end of follow-up. Safety was evaluated by the presence of adverse reactions to treatment. Patients were followed for two months or less in case of withdrawal from the study, ulcer healing, or worsening. The Yarkony-Kirk scale grade was determined at the end of follow-up for each patient and one of the four categories was recorded: healed, improved, no changes or worsened. Results: A total of 48 subjects were included, 28 (58 %) in the lysozyme and 20 (42 %) in the control group. Age, sex, pressure ulcer position and duration of follow-up were similar between groups. The percentage of healed pressure ulcers was significantly higher in the lysozyme (71 %) compared to the control (35 %) group (p = 0.005). No adverse reactions to treatments were recorded. Conclusion: The lysozyme-based cream was found to be effective and safe in the treatment of grade-two pressure ulcers. Additional randomised, blinded, larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is the actual approach in the network design, based on separating the control and data plane. Such architectural model has brought improvements in terms of network monitoring, management and troubleshooting, but has also increased risks related to network security. Security attacks can occur at all SDN layers and disrupt part or the entire network. Existing research is mostly focused on the security of the control plane, since it contains all control logic of SDN networks and thus represents their main part. Although the data plane has many vulnerabilities and can also be a significant source of security threats towards the control plane, it is only partially covered in existing research, without enough details related to differences between methods and implementation techniques which provide security enhancement. In this paper, we present a comprehensive survey on security of the data plane, focusing on the latest advanced solutions. The survey starts with an overview of attacks, threats and affected security attributes in the data plane, classified using common security models: STRIDE, CIA and AAA. After that, we present a detailed analysis of solutions explored in the literature, including the methods used for security enhancement, implementation techniques, experimental environments, their contributions in terms of vulnerabilities that they address, performance analysis and limitations. Through this analysis, we introduce the concept of adaptive security and select several mechanisms which can be used to achieve it. Additionally, we propose possible combinations of presented mechanisms to provide strong, comprehensive solution which should adapt to dynamics of network, attackers and users, and in that way protect the network from different threats and also satisfy the requirements of services which need different levels of security.

Background/Aim. External manifestations and comorbidities represent important clinical aspects of decompensated alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC), providing insight into disease severity and systemic involvement. The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of external signs and comorbidities in male patients with decompensated ALC. Methods. A prospective, comparative, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted at the Clinic for Internal Medicine, University Clinical Center of the Republic of Srpska, in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The study included 123 male patients diagnosed with decompensated ALC. All necessary diagnostic evaluations, including laboratory, microbiological, serological, radiological, and endoscopic assessments, were performed during their first hospitalization. Results. The mean age of the patients was 59.09 ? 9.32 years. The most common external manifestations were jaundice (79.67%), spider nevi (54.47%), palmar erythema (36.58%), and gynecomastia (18.69%). The most frequent comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (19.51%), congestive heart failure (17.88%), and chronic kidney disease (11.38%). A significant correlation was found between disease severity and the presence of external signs, with jaundice being the most prevalent. Conclusion. External manifestations and comorbidities are frequent in male patients with ALC, reflecting the systemic impact of the disease. Recognizing these clinical markers can aid in early diagnosis, risk stratification, and tailored therapeutic strategies.

The growing need to reduce the negative impact on the environment and human health, as well as to meet the growing demand for eco-friendly textiles, has led to the development of environmentally friendly printing techniques and the use of natural dyes in the textile industry. Grape pomace is important waste material in winemaking, and has been extensively studied for its potential as a source of compounds with biological properties, especially anthocyanins, pigments responsible for the red, purple, and blue colors in grapes. The aim of this paper was to examine the potential use of natural dye extracted from grape pomace of domestic cultivar crna Mirisavka (GPCM) in preparation of printing paste with alginate, citric acid, and tannic acid for printing on cotton fabric. Special focus was placed to achieve process color magenta, by adjusting the pH value of the extract obtained. The natural dye from GPCM was extracted using maceration with 80% methanol, followed by sonication to enhance the yield of bioactive compounds. GPCM extract demonstrated significant antioxidant activity measured by FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS+ tests, and moderate antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The pH-dependent stability of anthocyanins in GPCM extract was examined, demonstrating a magenta tone at acidic pH (pH 2-4) and color degradation at higher pH values. Cotton fabric printed with two different concentrations of GPCM extract (100 mg/L and 50 mg/L) showed good antioxidant and antibacterial activity. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that GPCM extract can be an environmentally friendly solution for the development of antibacterial and antioxidant textiles, with potential application in the production of protective clothing in healthcare institutions, as well as for the production of decorative home textiles, for the production of children's toys and textiles for packaging.

Introduction: The mechanisms of pulmonary embolism in patients with metabolic syndrome has not been fully investigated. The aim of the study was to determine the connection between metabolic syndrome and pulmonary embolism and to evaluate the values of the glucolipid profile in patients with pulmonary embolism in metabolic syndrome. Methods: A cohort study included 305 patients with pulmonary embolism, divided into two groups: the first group with metabolic syndrome (n=165) and the control group without metabolic syndrome (n=140). The data was collected from May 2019 to May 2023. Demographic, anthropometric and laboratory parameters (glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides) were analyzed in all patients with confirmed pulmonary embolism. Results: Patients with pulmonary embolism in metabolic syndrome had statistically significantly higher values of glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and lower values of HDL cholesterol compared to patients with pulmonary embolism without metabolic syndrome (p<0.05). Discussion: The results of our research indicate a strong need for a broad evaluation of metabolic abnormalities with special highlight on comorbidities and the need for a multidisciplinary approach to patients with metabolic syndrome. Assessing the risk of pulmonary embolism should become imperative in the treatment of patients with metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome may play a key role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary embolism and may be a link between venous thrombosis, atherosclerosis and pulmonary embolism. Due to the complex relationship between hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and pulmonary embolism, additional research is necessary to answer the question why people with metabolic syndrome have a higher risk of pulmonary embolism, as well as to determine appropriate preventive strategies.

Sewage sludge is a by-product of wastewater treatment. Sewage sludge is a desirable material for application in agriculture production as a fertilizer or soil conditioner, as it is characterized by a high content of organic matter and nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. However, sewage sludge tends to concentrate trace metals, organic pollutants and pathogenic organisms due to the initial pollutant load of the treated wastewater and the treatment processes. Although various chemical methods can be used to remove trace metals from sewage sludge, the use of microbes is considered a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach compared to chemical treatments. This review examines the risks of trace metals in the application of sewage sludge and demonstrates the efficiency of their removal using physical, chemical and biological methods.

Short-wave infrared radiation allows for efficient heating of a body (target) with minimal thermal interaction with the gaseous medium through which it passes. The mutual geometric relationship between the infrared heating source and the target impacts the spatial resistances of radiation heat transfer. Therefore, a significant portion of the short-wave infrared radiation emitted by the heat source does not reach the target, thereby reducing its efficiency. To maximize the use of thermal radiation, this study analyzes a profiled nanofluid collector on which a heated target is placed. Nanofluid with Al2O3 nanoparticles flows through internal arrays of round nozzles and a profiled housing, being heated by the inner surface of the collector. The paper establishes a methodology based on the thermal irreversibility of the heat source, collector and nanofluid. The established methodology allows for minimizing thermal entropy in order to optimize the geometric and process parameters of the described system. The results of the conducted analysis are based on the cross-influence of the Reynolds number of the nanofluid, target and collector emissivity, short-wave heating time and nanoparticle volumetric ratio. The results obtained indicate that as the target emissivity, heater temperature and heating time increase, the thermal entropy of the mutual interaction between the heater and the target also increases significantly. Similarly, the thermal entropy of the mutual interaction between the collector and the nanofluid is greatly influenced by factors such as the Reynolds number (from 2000 to 4000), volumetric ratio (3% and 5%) and type of nanoparticles used (Al2O3, TiO2, and CuO). In this way, the specially designed collector allows for the utilization of captured heat, while the established methodology offers the opportunity to optimize the process-geometric parameters of the heating system being analyzed.

Climate change is one of the main challenges facing the population around the world. The consequences of these changes have been manifested for decades in various ways, creating disasters that threaten the lives of an increasing number of people. This paper analyses the consequences of the floods that hit the United Arab Emirates on April 16, 2024. After any natural disaster, this flood also calls into question the approach, preparedness and response to this challenge, questioning the success of managing critical infrastructure. This is an important question given that in the last two decades the United Arab Emirates has encountered several floods of a more serious scale. In line with the further development of the consequences of climate change and in response to the challenges they bring with them when it comes to the United Arab Emirates, the authors also propose specific guidelines for the relevant institutions as a way of improving critical infrastructure. A significant area would be to focus on the latest technology in creating superior public-private partnerships that would become modern, national-integrated emergency management systems. The authors used the Risk Management Theory, suggesting ways in which preventive responses can be made. The authors also used content analysis, as well as the observation method.

It is known that throughout history the people of Herzegovina have been good and skilled fighters and competitors, especially in wrestling, boxing, throwing maces, spears and knives, fencing, etc. Those fighting skills and various competitions were traditional activities of Herzegovinians and were nurtured, preserved and passed down from generation to generation. In the Middle Ages, in the area of today's Herzegovina, physical activities were nurtured and practiced, as well as in neighboring areas and countries. During the Turkish occupation (1463-1878) there was a halt in their development, while during the Austro-Hungarian occupation (1878-1918) sports and other physical activities and competitions began to be practiced more intensively. Numerous sports and other physical activities appeared and began to develop, such as: athletics, cycling, equestrian sports, roller-skating, bowling, hunting, fencing, football, climbing, swimming, wrestling, diving, sokolism, tennis, etc. In the Kingdom of SCS/Yugoslavia (1918-1941), this development became more intensive in terms of content and institutions. In addition to the already mentioned, also began the development of other sports, such as: basketball, folk sports, volleyball, skiing, archery, etc. After the end of the Second World War, sport gained full momentum in Herzegovina, especially in the form of institutional organization. The subject of this research is sport and other physical activities in the territory of Herzegovina, with the aim of making an overview of their origin and development up to the most recent times. During writing historical method was used.