ABSTRACT The objectives of this study were to investigate: 1) whether there were morning-to-evening differences in short-term maximal performance and 2) the impact of prolonged and specific warm-up on short-term maximal performance diurnal variations in young basketball players. Fifteen basketball players of both sexes (Male = 8; Female = 7; age: 14.4 ± 0.46 yr; weight: 64.7 ± 7.1 kg; height: 175.2 ± 6.6 cm; BMI: 21.1 ± 1.9 kg/m2) completed the following short-term maximal performance tests: CMJ with and without arm swing, Lane Agility Drill, Zig-Zag agility test with and without the ball, Sprint 20 m with and without the ball with the passage at 5 and 10 m. All tests were performed after the 15-min standard warm-up procedure (with static stretching) and/or 25-min specific warm-up (with prolonged running and dynamic stretching) in the morning and evening. Vertical jumping tests and all change-of-direction speed tests (with and without a ball) with superior responses were achieved in the evening after standard warm-up among all participants (p < 0.05). In contrast, superior short-term maximal performance was observed in the morning after prolonged and specific warm-up protocol (p < 0.05). It was concluded that specific and prolonged warm-up protocols are suitable strategy to prevent diurnal variation in short-term maximal performance in young basketball players.

Vlasi Nenkovići, u literaturi tretirani i kao Nenkovci, nemaju u cjelini poznatu srednjovjekovnu razvojnu liniju. Taj zadatak predstavlja delegirano polazište kojim se pozabavio i ovaj rad. Zna se da je kretanje po usitnjenim podacima iz vlaške problematike za srednjovjekovno razdoblje izuzetno otežano. Međutim, zna se i da veći broj prikupljenih podataka omogućava  i njihovo lakše sagledavanje i kontekstualiziranje. Takvim se pokazala naša prikupljena baza podataka u kojoj je linija predstavnika jedne katunarske porodice postala prepoznatljivoj om u svoja tri koljena, ali još važnije, u osnovnoj liniji nastanka vlaha Nenkovića koji su izrasli iz širih okvira vlaha Burmaza.

This paper aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile and bioactivities of 22 plant species used in the traditional medicine of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The utilization of plants in traditional medicine in Bosnia and Herzegovina holds significant importance, not only as a reflection of cultural heritage but also as a sustainable and time-tested approach to healthcare, fostering a harmonious connection between nature and well-being. The comprehensive analyses encompassed the determination of total phenolic and flavonoid content, alongside assessing antioxidant activity using DPPH and FRAP assays. Additionally, antimicrobial activity was tested against S. aureus. ssp. aureus, MRSA, P. aeruginosa, S. abony and C. albicans. Many of the analyzed plant extracts showed a high phenolic content (C. avellana, V. myrtillus) and antioxidant activity (C. avellana, V. myrtillus, B. pendula, S. officinale, E. angustifolium, J. globifera ssp. hirta). The majority of extracts showed good antimicrobial activity for S. aureus ssp. aureus and MRSA. The E. angustifolium extract was effective against all tested bacterial strains, with MIC values ranging from 1.25-10 mg/mL. The research identified significant levels of secondary metabolites and identified plant species with potent antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The study also revealed significant correlations among various phytochemical parameters and bioactivities.

Minerals are essential substances with an important function in livestock, and their disbalance negatively affects the health and production, especially of ruminants. The addition of fat to the rations of dairy cows impacts the overall and mineral metabolism, and thus on health and production. The aim of the research was to examine the correlative relationships between balanced production meals and the mineral status of lactating cows with different ration compositions with or without the presence of vegetable oil. The research was conducted on 30 dairy cows of the Holstein breed at the Butmir farm, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Three groups of 10 animals were formed based on productivity (A, 13-15 kg of milk/day, B, 19-21 kg of milk/day and C, 25-27 kg of milk/day). Samples of feed, blood plasma and milk of animals were collected on three occasions a 3-week intervals. According to the feed analysis results, the rations were standardized for each group, given for three weeks without oil,and then for three weeks with the addition of sunflower oil in the amount of 2.5% of the ration dry matter. After determining the content of basic nutrients, dry matter and ash in the rations, the concentrations of Ca, Mg, Na and K were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry,while the colorimetric method was used to analyse P according to Woy and Eggertz-Finkener. Analysis of blood mineral parameters was performed spectrophotometrically. The content of fat, proteins, lactose, and non-fat dry matter in milk samples was determined by infrared spectrometry using an automatic analyser. Based on the results, we observed a similarity in changes of values and the statistical significance of the differences in plasma Ca, P and Mg between the study groups and at sampling intervals. Milk production was positively correlated with the concentration of Mg and Ca with addition of the sunflower oil to the meal, while no correlation coefficient was established for P in any of the samplings. Balanced meals with and without the addition of oil did not significantly affect the content of Ca, P or Mg in the blood plasma of the tested animals, nor were significant differences found between the groups. However, by determining the correlations between milk parameters and blood biochemical parameters, a significant positive correlation was established between the amount of milk and Ca and Mg levels with a diet supplemented by oil. Given that the addition of sunflower oil in the amount of 2.5% of dry matter of the balanced rations for cows had no negative effects on the mineral profile and the parameters of the tested animals, we conclude that the introduction of this oil could be useful both from the economic point and improving nutritional composition of milk as an animal food present in the daily human diet.

Aim: The primary aim of the study was to determine the incidence of testicular neoplasms in the Zenica-Doboj Canton (ZDC) region for the period from 2019 to 2021. Also, the study aimed to examine the age structure of the affected population, the frequency of testicular neoplasms in all the ZDC cities and municipalities, and the pathohistological characteristics of neoplasms. Material and methods: The study was conducted at the Oncology and Radiotherapy Department of the Zenica Cantonal Hospital. The study period refers to the time interval from January 2019 to December 2021. The study included 37 patients with a verified diagnosis of testicular neoplasm. Results: Arithmetic mean of patients’ age was 33.49 years, while the standard deviation was 12.59. Most respondents, accounting for 40.5%, were aged 26-35 years. The incidence of testicular neoplasms in the ZDC region was 4.2/100,000 per - sons in 2019, 3.08/100,000 persons in 2020, and 3.10/100,000 persons in 2021. Most diagnosed neoplasms (48.6%) were the myxoid type germ cell originating tumors. Conclusion: The incidence of testicular neoplasms in the ZDC was 4.2/100,000 persons in 2019, 3.08/100,000 persons in 2020, and 3.10/100,000 persons in 2021.

By virtue of several European visionaries, led by Robert Schuman and Jean Monnet, whose noble goal was to end centuries of wars and bloodshed on the European continent, today we have the European Union, the most successful integration project of the 20th century. The European Union has come a long way to achieve the ultimate goal of political stability, based on equality in diversity, rule of law, democracy and respect for human rights, as well as the economic growth and development of all its members. From the original six countries that founded the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951, the European Union, through seven rounds of enlargement, has grown into a community of 27 prosperous countries, which both individually and together within the Union, have become a significant player on the global political and economic scene. The aim of this paper is to research and analyze the complexity of the European Union enlargement policy, its preferences and downsides, with special emphasis on Bosnia and Herzegovina and its integration processes, following its recent candidate status. The main research objective is to identify the factors that may enable or constrain effective EU enlargement policy and its implementation in BiH. The paper argues that the final goal - the EU acquis transposition and enforcement by enlargement countries - may present the biggest hurdle on the EU trajectory. The research methods include qualitative methods - analysis of the relevant literature, publications, official EU data, as well as the EU and BiH policy documents and strategies.

Primary osteoarthritis (POA) is a complex hereditary disease that involves the interplay between genetics and epigenetics. MicroRNA molecules play important roles in epigenetic mechanisms. MicroRNA‐146a (miR‐146a) is a negative regulator of the immune response in osteoarthritis (OA). So, variations in the miR‐146a gene could affect OA risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the miR‐146a, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), Toll‐like receptor 10 (TLR10), and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNFA) genes and the risk for development of advanced‐stage primary hip osteoarthritis (PHOA) and primary knee osteoarthritis (PKOA) in the Croatian population. A total of 609 POA patients and 656 healthy donors were genotyped for SNPs in the miR‐146a (rs2910164, G>C). Since we used same patients and controls as two studies before us, we already had information about IL‐6 (rs1800795, C>G), TLR10 (rs11096957, C>T), and TNFA (rs1800629, C>T) genotypes of our subjects. None of the differences were statistically significant comparing either allelic or genotypic frequencies of miR‐146a SNP rs2910164 (G>C) between the PHOA and PKOA patients and controls. However, we found a significant association with risk to PHOA for the combination of genotypes (stratified miR‐146a genotype with the IL‐6, and stratified miR‐146a genotype with the TNFA). In a multifactorial disease such as POA, we have shown the indirect relevance of a second modifying factor (miR‐146a), which apparently contributes to the overall risk of PHOA. There was no risk association with the PKOA, indicating that these two localities (hip and knee) might have different risk‐modifying factors.

This study explores the correlation between immunological and clinical characteristics in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with detectable severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in feces, analyzing data from 251 patients admitted to Mostar University Clinical Hospital (UCH) from December 2021 to January 2022. Methods involved reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) from nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs and feces, alongside serological tests for anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgGs. Demographic and clinical data were collected through questionnaires and medical records. The data analyses were performed using SPSS statistical software. Death occurred in 53 patients (21.1%, P < 0.001), mostly in the elderly (47/53, 88.7%, P ═ 0.001) and immunocompromised (19/53, 35.8%, P ═ 0.05), particularly those developing acute respiratory insufficiency (ARI) (46/53, 86.8%, P ═ 0.004), and severe/critical disease (46/53, 86.8%, P ═ 0.002). Among the patients with positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies (86/251, 34.3%, P < 0.001), 41 (47.7%) were vaccinated and 45 (52.3%) unvaccinated (P ═ 0.666), showing no significant differences in clinical outcomes or mortality. Unvaccinated patients with a negative antibody titer had a higher incidence of ARI (96/123, 78%, P ═ 0.029) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission (22/123, 17.9%, P ═ 0.026), than those with a positive antibody titer. Forty-seven (62.7%) patients, out of the 75 hospitalized who provided a feces sample, were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA (P ═ 0.028), without statistical differences between fecal SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative groups regarding vaccination status (15/47, 31.9%, P ═ 0.493), antibody status (18/47, 38.3%, P ═ 0.628), or death outcome (5/47, 10.6%, P ═ 0.706). In conclusion, unvaccinated hospitalized patients with a severe COVID-19 presentation and a negative anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 IgG titer had adverse outcomes more frequently. This suggests cautious consideration for the diagnostic use of fecal samples compared to NP swabs.

This study investigated the potential for energy savings and reduction in CO2 emissions in hospital buildings in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), through the implementation of energy renovation measures. The building sector in B&H is characterized by significant energy consumption, and hospitals account for a substantial portion of the total energy consumption in public buildings. This study analyzes certain energy renovation measures for selected hospital buildings, including the installation of thermal insulation on exterior walls and flat roofs, and the installation of a photovoltaic plant on the flat roof. The Preference Selection Index (PSI) multicriteria decision-making method was employed to evaluate and rank renovation scenarios based on energy, environmental, and financial criteria. The results indicate that the most preferred measure is the installation of a photovoltaic plant on a flat roof, resulting in significant primary energy and CO2 savings, with an acceptable discounted payback period. The findings emphasize the effectiveness of energy renovation measures in enhancing energy efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of hospital buildings in B&H.

A proper abelian coloring of a cubic graph G by a finite abelian group A is any proper edge-coloring of G by the non-zero elements of A such that the sum of the colors of the three edges incident to any vertex v of G equals zero. It is known that cyclic groups of order smaller than 10 do not color all bridgeless cubic graphs, and that all abelian groups of order at least 12 do. This leaves the question open for the four so called exceptional groups Z4 x Z2, Z3 x Z3, Z10 and Z11 for snarks. It is conjectured in literature that every cubic graph has a proper abelian coloring by each exceptional group and it is further known that the existence of a proper Z4 x Z2-coloring of G implies the existence of a proper coloring of G by all the remaining exceptional groups. In this paper, we give a characterization of a proper Z4 x Z2-coloring in terms of the existence of a matching M in a 2-factor F of G with particular properties. Moreover, in order to modify an arbitrary matching M so that it meets the requirements of the characterization, we first introduce an incidence structure of the cycles of F in relation to the cycles of G - M. Further, we provide a sufficient condition under which M can be modified into a desired matching in terms of particular properties of the introduced incidence structure. We conclude the paper by applying the results to some oddness two snarks, in particular to permutation snarks. We believe that the approach of this paper with some additional refinements extends to larger classes of snarks, if not to all in general.

This paper deals with the analysis of challenges and perspectives of the transition to electric vehicles as a sustainable solution for the transport sector in the context of global energy challenges and the need to reduce negative environmental impacts. With an emphasis on the energy situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the paper explores the possibilities of switching to electric vehicles and analyses the effects of electricity sources on CO2 emissions. The paper highlights the motivation to switch to electric vehicles, driven by the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and rely on renewable energy sources. After analyzing relevant studies, it is concluded that smaller and lighter electric vehicles have lower CO2 emissions and that the participation of renewable sources in electricity production reduces these emissions. The conducted analysis of the vehicle fleet specifies that the CO2 emissions of electric vehicles are not zero and that they depend on the source of electricity. Furthermore, other factors, such as the production of batteries, also play an important role in the overall environmental impact. Although the motivation to switch to electric vehicles is emphasized to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and use renewable energy sources, it has been shown that the CO2 emissions of electric vehicles are not zero and that it significantly depends on the source of electricity. This paper acknowledges the presence of emissions associated with battery production, storage, and disposal, as well as with vehicles themselves. However, it does not delve into this issue in detail. Future research will aim to address this matter more thoroughly.

The current paper investigates the effects of geometric design parameters on the fatigue failure of the drive axle housing using the Finite Element Method (FEM). The study examines the effects of various factors on the fatigue life of the drive axle housing, such as axle housing wall thickness, housing cross-sectional rounding radius, and rounding radius of the central part of the housing. Based on the known material properties and dynamic loads, a CAD/FEM model of the drive axle housing was developed, and a structural analysis was carried out. Based on the results of the structural analysis, critical places on the housing were determined, and fatigue analysis and lifetime prediction were performed. Through a series of simulations, the study reveals that increasing housing wall thickness can significantly improve fatigue performance. Similarly, increasing the rounding radius at the housing cross-section, as well as the rounding radius at the central part of the housing can also lead to improved fatigue performance. However, the effect of increasing the value of these two radii is not as significant as the effect of the wall thickness. These findings give useful information regarding the design and manufacture of drive axle housings for vehicles, intending to reduce the likelihood of fatigue failure.

Abstract Water is one of the key ecological factors that has a great impact to development and productivity of lowland species such as Quercus robur. This paper deals with water regime influence to site conditions of these species and how actually changeable soil moisture affects Q. robur. Studied area includes a protective embankment built on the river bank in order to eliminate flooding effect, which means that all needs for water these associations provide from rainfalls and groundwater. Water regime was monitored during two critical years (extremely dry and extremely wet) on four soil types – Planosol, Fluvisol and Gleysol that belong to hydromorphic (three experimental plots) and Chernozem which belongs to automorphic soils (three experimental plots), respectively. It was studied the distribution of rainfalls and groundwater during the growing seasons and how it affects total and available water amount in the soil. The main focus should be given to available water, because it is located in capillary pores and plants can utilize it. Bearing in mind rainfalls makes just 15–20% of the total water amount in the soil it is much more significant to evaluate its proportion in available water. Based on obtained results, we can deduce that much more suitable site conditions for Q. robur are present on hydromorphic soils due to much greater proportion of groundwater.