The presence of heavy metals in plants, including tea plants, is influenced by factors such as the plant's origin, geographic location, soil geochemistry, and environmental contaminants in soil, water, and air. Elevated concentrations of heavy metals pose serious health risks to humans, including the potential for various cancers and damage to vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, and brain. In this study, seven tea samples were collected from the Iraqi market to examine their safety for consumption, indicated as T1-T7. The selection of the samples is based on a questionnaire answered by 140 individuals; T1-T6 samples are black tea, and T7 is green tea. Although the primary objective of this research is to determine the heavy metal content and toxicity of all the tea samples, the secondary one is to assess whether the drying process affects the levels of heavy metals by comparing green and black tea. The analysis is conducted on the samples via the Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The EDX results showed the presence of S, K, Al, and P in the T1 sample, while K, Al, and Mg were identified in the T2 sample, S, K, Al, and P in T3, only K in T4, K and Fe in T5, K, P, and S in T6, and Only K in T7. The results obtained from the AAS showed that all samples have normal concentrations of Fe and Zn but not for Ni (in samples T1, T2, and T3) and manganese (in samples T1, T2, T4, T5, T6, and T7). Those detected concentrations are higher than the permissible levels, and their levels are within the toxic limits according to the standard limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). However, the other heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr, and Co) were either not detected or were below the detection limits of AAS, indicating that these samples are free from the mentioned toxic heavy metals.

Two stone panels with images of Silvanus and a female deity – usually recognised as an indigenous interpretation of Diana – were discovered by chance in what seems to be an original context, together with a pot, an inscription and two coins. Unfortunately, some parts of the original assemblage, such as the inscription and one of the coins, did not make it to the museum in Sarajevo and are forever lost for scholarship. Earlier scholarship focused exclusively on the typology of the images and their place in the cult of the Dalmatian Silvanus. However, this discovery in a clear indigenous context still provides a unique opportunity to get an insight into some theoretical aspects of indigenous spiritual life in early Roman Dalmatia, which will be explored in this paper. This, in particular, refers to the issues of ritual, indigenous literacy and knowledge of Latin, the adaptation of Mediterranean and Roman imperial religious templates, the function and meaning of artifacts and assemblages in religious worship, etc.

Background:  Tuberculosis (TB) poses a substantial risk as an opportunistic infection in individuals who have received solid organ transplants, particularly in those with liver transplants compounded by inflammatory bowel disease. Managing TB in this group is particularly challenging due to possible drug interactions and the heightened risk of liver toxicity. Case study: We present a 35-year-old male liver transplant recipient with Crohn’s disease, who developed pulmonary TB despite prior prophylaxis and immunosuppression. The first anti-TB treatment was modified and dose-reduced due to the patient's immunocompromised status. This regimen failed, with recurrent positive sputum cultures. Upon retreatment with a full-dose triple regimen excluding pyrazinamide, the patient responded well with full recovery and no adverse hepatic or Crohn’s-related events. Conclusion: This case illustrates the challenges of treating TB in liver transplant patients with Crohn’s disease, emphasizing the delicate balance between achieving therapeutic effectiveness and minimizing hepatotoxicity. In carefully selected patients, administering a complete tuberculosis treatment protocol without pyrazinamide can provide a safe and effective therapeutic outcome.

Sustainable joining technologies are important manufacturing processes for the production of high-quality joints of electrical connections. High-quality connections must have high electrical and thermal conductivity to reduce energy losses during their lifetime, they must have high mechanical properties to achieve a long service life, and they must be manufactured with lower energy consumption. In this article, the properties of solid wire electrical contacts produced by ultrasonic welding and soldering were compared. Ultrasonic welding of thin solid copper wires was performed with a copper ring. A particular focus of this study is on the energy used to produce these joints. The research included electrical resistance, peel strength and tensile strength tests, The results of the electrical resistance showed similar electrical resistance between the two processes. The result of mechanical strength shows that ultrasonic joints achieved higher mechanical strength. The most important result is that ultrasonic welding consumed only 11% of the energy to produce the joint compared to soldered joints.

This study aimed to compare the anthropometric and performance characteristics of U16 and U18 male basketball players to better understand post-peak height velocity (PHV) developmental differences. A total of 31 athletes from the local international basketball academy participated in the research—15 from the U16 category (15.25 ± 0.86 years) and 16 from the U18 category (17.46 ± 0.34 years). Measurements included body composition, sprinting (with and without the ball), agility, and jump performance. The results revealed significant between-group differences in most anthropometric variables (p < 0.001), including body mass, BMI, skeletal muscle mass, fat-free mass, total body water, and segmental muscle mass. However, there were no significant differences in body height and body fat percentage. Performance comparisons showed that U18 players outperformed U16 players in agility (p = 0.026), 10 m and 20 m sprints (p = 0.045 and p = 0.016, respectively), and 20 m dribbling sprints (p = 0.011), while no significant differences were observed in jumping ability. These findings suggest that physical maturation strongly influences anthropometric parameters and partially affects performance characteristics. The results highlight the importance of age-appropriate training strategies that consider biological development stages in youth basketball.

Because of its nutritional and medicinal qualities, honey is a significant dietary supplement that should be safe to consume. Honey samples (n=33) of different origin from various geographical locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina were examined with the aim of characterization. The study revealed following mean values: 16.95 %; 4.36; 0,19%; 72.56%, 0.73 mS/cm; 24.17 mEq/kg; 18.50 mg/kg and 34.84 mEq/kg for water content, pH, ash, sugar, electrical conductivity, diastase activity, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and free acidity, respectively. Ten samples (30.30%) did not meet the required level of physicochemical quality. For each sample, total viable count, Enterobacteriaceae, sulfite reducing clostridia, yeasts, molds and Salmonella sp., were determined. Total viable counts varied between 10 and 8300 cfu/g, sulfite reducing anaerobic bacteria between 10 and 50 cfu/g and molds level were between 100 and 7000 cfu/g, respectively. None of the samples contained Salmonella sp. or bacteria from Enterobacteriaceae gender. With reference to Bosnia and Herzegovina standards, maximal levels of selected microbiological properties were exceeded for two samples (6.06%) regarding clostridia and 14 samples (42.42%) for molds count. Cladosporium sp., Penicillium sp., Mucor sp., and Alternatia sp. were molds identified in Bosnian honey. These molds originate mainly from primary sources of contamination. It is of great importance to maintain and improve the quality of domestic honeys since a large percentage of them are intended for export or domestic consumption due to it antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Soils play an important role in the global carbon cycle by storing organic carbon and releasing carbon dioxide (CO2) through biological processes. Land use management practices influence soil CO2 emissions by changing physical, chemical, and biological soil properties. Seasonal soil C-CO2 emissions (soil CO2 efflux expressed as C-CO2 in kg ha−1 day−1) were analyzed under cropland, orchard, grassland, forest, and abandoned land, in a peri-urban area in central Croatia in 2021 and 2023. Emissions were measured using the static method in a closed chamber, accompanied by measurements of soil temperature, moisture, and total porosity. In both years, grassland and orchards had the highest average soil C-CO2 emissions, whereas cropland showed consistently lower values. However, total soil C-CO2 emissions were significantly lower in 2023, probably influenced by higher precipitation and changes in soil moisture. The seasonal trends differed from year to year, with the highest emissions recorded in fall 2021 and spring 2023. In both years, there was a positive correlation between average soil C-CO2 emissions and soil temperature/moisture, while soil porosity also contributed to the observed emission variations. The results show the significant influence of land use types on soil C-CO2 emissions and emphasize the importance of seasonal and environmental factors in assessing soil carbon cycling. This research enhances understanding of soil contributions to climate change and supports the development of sustainable land management practices aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

  The Chair of Silviculture and Urban Greenery an organizational unit of the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Sarajevo, is dedicated to excellence in both education and scientific research. Our focus encompasses silvicultural systems, natural and artificial regeneration, forest genetics, and urban greenery. Informed by natural processes our Chair plays important role in shaping decisions related to forest management. We are dedicated to exploring the complexities of old growth forests, emphasising biological and genetic diversity. Furthermore, our interest extends to the dynamic realm of urban greenery. Through its history, the Chair has undergone transformative phases, culminating in its nomenclature established in 1996. At present our Chair comprises five accomplished professionals - a distinguished academician, full professor, associate professor, senior Ph.D. assistant and a dedicated assistant. The Chair of Silviculture and Urban Greenery is organized into two distinct scientific fields. One field concentrates on forest seed collection, forest nurseries, reforestation (both natural and artificial) and various silvicultural systems. Simultaneously, the second field deals with forest genetics. Both scientific fields converge to address the multifaceted aspects of urban greenery. Driven by a clear mission, our Chair is resolute in its commitment to educating students and advancing scientific knowledge. This dedication is evident from our efforts ranging from writing textbooks to publishing impactful scientific papers. In alignment with our vision for the future, we actively monitor scientific trends in the field of silviculture and forest genetics globally, implementing these insights at the Faculty to stay at the forefront of academic excellence.

Harvest timing is a critical factor in viticulture, as it directly influences grape composition and, consequently, wine quality. This study evaluated the effects of harvest timing on the physical and chemical traits of two widely cultivated grape varieties from the Trebinje vineyard area, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Basic chemical parameters (total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity) were measured alongside cluster and berry traits, including length, width, and weight of clusters; the number and weight of berries; the skin and flesh weight of 100 berries; and the number and weigh of seeds. Early-harvested grapes showed greater cluster weight but lower total soluble solids, higher titratable acidity, and lower pH compared to later harvests in both cultivars. Changes in cluster and berry traits were more pronounced in ‘Vranac’, where berry weight, skin and flesh mass increased significantly at later harvests, however, in ‘Žilavka’ only the seed weight was notably affected. Across all harvests period, ‘Žilavka’ consistently exhibited higher total soluble solids and lower pH values than ‘Vranac’, indicating a strong varietal effect on grape quality. These findings highlight that delaying harvest within the recommended window can enhance grape composition, while varietal differences determine the extent of morphological and chemical changes during ripening.

The long-term sustainability of research software is a critical challenge, as it usually suffers from poor maintainability, lack of adaptability, and eventual obsolescence. This paper proposes a novel approach to addressing this issue by leveraging the concept of fitness functions from evolutionary architecture. Fitness functions are automated, continuously evaluated metrics designed to ensure that software systems meet desired non-functional, architectural qualities over time. We define a set of fitness functions tailored to the unique requirements of research software, focusing on findability, accessibility, interoperability and reusability (FAIR). These fitness functions act as proactive safeguards, promoting practices such as modular design, comprehensive documentation, version control, and compatibility with evolving technological ecosystems. By integrating these metrics into the development life cycle, we aim to foster a culture of sustainability within the research community. Case studies and experimental results demonstrate the potential of this approach to enhance the long-term FAIR of research software, bridging the gap between ephemeral project-based development and enduring scientific impact.

EURO-Titan project aims upscaling Ti-metal powder manufacturing from metallurgical residues, abundantly available in Europe. The demonstration of the overall process is planned at the Al-Doo Aluminium plant (Bosnia-Herzegovina) and at ORANO (France). For Ti extraction from red mud, reduction was applied at 1600 ?C in an electric arc furnace to remove most of the iron through magnetic separation. Then the slag is leached by sulfuric acid at variable pressure to obtain the highest yield of titanium oxysulfate. Highest Ti-leaching efficiency (95%) was reached at 150 ?C using 5 mol|L sulfuric acid at 9 bar oxygen in 2 h. For Ti-leaching by sulfuric acid from tionite, a byproduct of the titanium dioxide production through sulfate processing, gave lower leaching efficiency under high pressure in an autoclave, altered Ti-compounds resist to dissolution. Nanosized and submicron TiO2-powders were prepared from Ti oxysulfate, using ultrasonic spray pyrolysis and hydrogen reduction between 700 and 1350°C.

INTRODUCTION This study investigates the molecular docking of 306 phytochemicals from Iris, Daphne, and Chrysosplenium species against three key proteins of the H5N1 influenza virus: neuraminidase, polymerase, and hemagglutinin. Phytochemicals are recognized for their antiviral potential, but interactions between compounds from these genera and H5N1 proteins remain underexplored. Given the ongoing threat of H5N1, identifying novel inhibitors is essential. The main intent is to evaluate the binding affinities of selected phytochemicals through molecular docking and assess the drug-likeness of top candidates using pharmacokinetic and physicochemical filters. METHODS Molecular docking was performed for 306 phytochemicals against the three H5N1 proteins. Fourteen promising compounds were further screened for physicochemical properties, compliance with Lipinski's Rule of Five, Veber's Rule, and PAINS alerts. RESULTS All compounds exhibited no PAINS alerts, with several conforming to Lipinski's Rule of Five and Veber's Rule. Edgeworoside A emerged as the top-performing compound, showing strong binding affinity across all three targets and favorable interaction profiles. Triumbellin and daphnogi-rin A exhibited significant binding affinity for hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, as well as for polymerase, respectively. Compounds such as 3-isobutenylquercetin, irisoid E, junipegenin A, daphne-toxin, and excoecariatoxin exhibited high binding potential without violating drug-likeness criteria. CONCLUSION Several phytochemicals, particularly edgeworoside A, demonstrate promising multi-target potential against H5N1 influenza proteins. These findings highlight the therapeutic relevance of compounds from underexplored plant genera and support their further development through in vitro, in vivo, and preclinical studies.