The decisions made by autonomous robots hold substantial influence over how humans perceive their behavior. One way to alleviate potential negative impressions of such decisions by humans and enhance human comprehension of them is through explaining. We introduce visual and textual explanations integrated into robot navigation, considering the surrounding environmental context. To gauge the effectiveness of our approach, we conducted a comprehensive user study, assessing user satisfaction across different forms of explanation representation. Our empirical findings reveal a notable discrepancy in user satisfaction, with significantly higher levels observed for explanations that adopt a multimodal format, as opposed to those relying solely on unimodal representations.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, and early diagnosis and prompt medical intervention are thus crucial. Frequent monitoring of stroke patients is also essential to assess treatment efficacy and detect complications earlier. While computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are commonly used for stroke diagnosis, they cannot be easily used onsite, nor for frequent monitoring purposes. To meet those requirements, an electromagnetic imaging (EMI) device, which is portable, non-invasive, and non-ionizing, has been developed. It uses a headset with an antenna array that irradiates the head with a safe low-frequency EM field and captures scattered fields to map the brain using a complementary set of physics-based and data-driven algorithms, enabling quasi-real-time detection, two-dimensional localization, and classification of strokes. This study reports clinical findings from the first time the device was used on stroke patients. The clinical results on 50 patients indicate achieving an overall accuracy of 98% in classification and 80% in two-dimensional quadrant localization. With its lightweight design and potential for use by a single para-medical staff at the point of care, the device can be used in intensive care units, emergency departments, and by paramedics for onsite diagnosis.

Solid-state physics has important applications in the development of modern technologies. Although solid-state concepts, such as electric and thermal conductivity, are included in the curricula at all educational levels, even university students have many incorrect ideas about them. The incorrect ideas identified in previous studies are mainly related to macroscopic aspects of solid-state physics. With the aim of gaining a more comprehensive insight into students’ understanding of solid-state physics, we have developed a multiple-choice concept inventory on microscopic models of electric and thermal conductivity of solids (METCS). The inventory has been field-tested with a sample consisting of 233 first-year medical faculty and engineering students from the University of Rijeka (Croatia). METCS proved to have good psychometric features and it helped to uncover many incorrect ideas that have not been reported in the earlier physics education literature. The findings from this study could be a good starting point for the development of evidence-based, university-level tutorials on microscopic models of electric and thermal conductivity.

As the geopolitical situation changes, it is necessary to discuss how politics is structured by metaphor in the context of recent social phenomena, such as the European migrant crisis. This paper analyses the conceptual metaphors politics as war, politics as a game, politics as a trade, and politics as a theater in British and Bosnian-Herzegovinian newspapers. The goal of this study is to establish to what extent and in which situations journalists resort to figurative language to persuade the recipients to view politics in a desired way. The paper aims to reflect on the use of deliberate metaphor as a perspective-changing device by journalists striving to achieve their rhetorical goals and influence recipients’ perception of the political situation. The corpus comprises 174 British and 307 Bosnian-Herzegovinian articles collected from August 2015 to March 2016 (247,912 words). Relying on Steen et al.’s (2010) model of metaphor analysis, the paper investigates the types of metaphor in the corpus, the deliberate use of politics metaphors and their communicative function in migration discourse - discussing both the rhetorical goals of journalists and the rhetorical effects on recipients. It has been established that the analyzed set of metaphors has a divertive and persuasive function in migration discourse. Similar studies are encouraged to shed light on how deliberate metaphors related to politics may have diverging communicative functions in other types of discourse.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS This paper compares the most recent data on the incidence and prevalence of kidney replacement therapy (KRT), kidney transplantation rates, and mortality on KRT from Europe to those from the United States (US), including comparisons of treatment modalities (haemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), and kidney transplantation (KTx)). METHODS Data were derived from the annual reports of the European Renal Association (ERA) Registry and the United States Renal Data System (USRDS). The European data include information from national and regional renal registries providing the ERA Registry with individual patient data. Additional analyses were performed to present results for all participating European countries together. RESULTS In 2021, the KRT incidence in the US (409.7 per million population (pmp)) was almost 3-fold higher than in Europe (144.4 pmp). Despite the substantial difference in KRT incidence, approximately the same proportion of patients initiated HD (Europe: 82%, US: 84%), PD (14%; 13% respectively), or underwent pre-emptive KTx (4%; 3% respectively). The KRT prevalence in the US (2436.1 pmp) was 2-fold higher than in Europe (1187.8 pmp). Within Europe, approximately half of all prevalent patients were living with a functioning graft (47%), while in the US, this was one third (32%). The number of kidney transplantations performed was almost twice as high in the US (77.0 pmp) compared to Europe (41.6 pmp). The mortality of patients receiving KRT was 1.6-fold higher in the US (157.3 per 1000 patient years) compared to Europe (98.7 per 1000 patient years). CONCLUSIONS The US had a much higher KRT incidence, prevalence, and mortality compared to Europe, and despite a higher kidney transplantation rate, a lower proportion of prevalent patients with a functioning graft.

With the increasing need for efficient traffic surveillance systems, computer vision emerges as a promising technology to address various challenges in this domain. This paper aims to provide an overview of recent advancements in the application of computer vision in traffic surveillance. It commences by discussing fundamental concepts of computer vision and its role in traffic monitoring, followed by an exploration of various techniques and algorithms used in computer vision systems, including object detection, tracking, and classification. Furthermore, it investigates the integration of computer vision with other technologies such as machine learning and deep learning, emphasizing their impact on enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of traffic surveillance systems. The review explores specific applications of computer vision in traffic surveillance, such as traffic flow monitoring, anomaly detection, and license plate recognition. Additionally, it addresses challenges and limitations associated with the implementation of computer vision in real-world traffic scenarios. Synthesizing existing literature, case studies, and research findings, this review offers a comprehensive insight into the current state-of-the-art in the application of computer vision for traffic surveillance systems. The paper concludes with a discussion of future directions and potential research opportunities in this rapidly evolving field.

Abstract The study aimed to analyse the potential of Lamiaceae essential oils, extracts, and hydrolats against bacterial biofilms. Bacterial cells Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus were exposed to Thymus vulgaris L. (thyme), Salvia officinalis L. (sage), Mentha × piperita L. (mint) essential oils, extracts, and hydrolats. The result of the minimal inhibitory concentration assessment shows the highest antibacterial potential for essential oils, followed by extracts and hydrolats respectively. The anti-biofouling capacity revealed that thyme essential oil has the highest potential for biofilm prevention for all tested bacteria, reducing up to 91% of biofilm, followed by mint (88%) and sage (87%) essential oil. While the thyme extract (84%), sage extract (83%) and hydrolat (77%) we less effective. The chemical composition of thyme essential oil showed a high percentage of monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes, among which p-cymene and thymol were the most predominant. The bacterial cell membrane integrity assessment shows a significant increase in dead cells by increasing the concentration of thyme essential oil. The findings of our research indicate that the choice of herbal preparation significantly affects the active components, thereby influencing both antibacterial and anti-biofouling capabilities. Lamiaceae essential oils show great potential for biofilm management and represent a good candidate for antibacterial application in pharmacy, medicine, and industry.

Wood is one of the most important materials that has been used for several millennia. It is therefore not surprising that wood plays an important role in the cultural and technical heritage of several European countries and beyond. An excellent example of cultural and technical heritage is a wooden mill, almost 100-year-old, near Cazin in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These mills played an important role, especially in times of Bosnian war (1992- 95), when this region was cut off from electricity. The microscopic analysis of the wood materials used in the mills revealed that the mills were made of chestnut (Castanea sativa) and oak (Quercus sp.) wood. Sufficient durability of these wood species resulted in good structural integrity of the mills. The surface of the wood materials in the mills showed partial degradation patterns caused by weathering over the years. However, the interior parts of the wood materials were intact probably due to smoke deposits from the open fireplace. It is suggested that the roofing in the mills should be maintained regularly to prevent possible leaks to protect this heritage for future generations.

Abstract Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a highly infectious viral disease that affects birds, including wild water birds and poultry. The emergence and spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strains, such as H5N1, have raised concerns due to their potential to cause severe outbreaks and cross the species barrier, leading to human infections and global public health emergencies. In this study, we report the first case of HPAI H5N1 detection in Montenegro. Twenty-six carcasses of dalmatian pelicans were found in Skadar Lake, Montenegro, and the H5N1 subtype was confirmed through molecular testing in the samples from pelicans. The whole influenza genome was sequenced and belonging to clade 2.3.4.4b was determined.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to identify the frequency, severity, and risk factors associated with Hickman catheter-related complications in children with hemato-oncological malignancies at the largest pediatric tertiary care unit in Bosnia and Herzegovina. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on a cohort of pediatric cancer patients who underwent Hickman central venous catheters (CVCs) between January 2019 and December 2022. Mechanical, infectious, and thrombotic Hickman catheter-related complications were evaluated and analyzed. We also investigated possible risk factors associated with these complications. RESULTS Seventy-one Hickman CVCs were inserted in 68 children (44 boys and 24 girls) at a mean age of 6.9 ± 4.6. Forty (58.8%) children had hematological malignancies and 28 (41.2%) solid cancers. The median follow-up after Hickman CVC insertion was 190 days (95% CI [160-212]) for 12 644 catheter days. During follow-up, 10 (14.1%) mechanical, 7 (9.9%) infectious, and 1 (1.4%) thrombotic complications were recorded (0.8, 0.48, and 0.08 for mechanical, infectious, and thrombotic complications per 1000 catheter days, respectively). A slightly higher incidence of complications was recorded in children with hematological malignancies (1.59 per 1000 catheter days) compared with children with solid cancers (1.22 complications per 1000 catheter days). CONCLUSION Using Hickman CVCs for long-term venous access in infusional chemotherapy for pediatric cancer patients is safe but is associated with significant morbidity.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a common chronic liver condition. Due to pathophysiological processes, MASLD's relation to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is still unclear, especially when the role of adipocytokines is taken into consideration. Objective: This study aims to examine the potential predictive value of adiponectin and resistin for MASLD in T2DM. Patients and methods: In a two-year study, 71 T2DM patients were categorized into MASLD-T2DM and non-MASLD-T2DM groups according to MASLD development. Serum samples were tested for resistin, adiponectin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting glucose, and triglycerides. An appropriate equation is used to calculate the adiponectin/resistin (A/R) index. The optimal cut-off values for differentiating MASLD patients from non-MASLD patients were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the corresponding areas under the curve (AUC). To predict the onset of MASLD in patients with T2DM, a logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: There were significant differences in adiponectin (p<0.001), resistin (p<0.001), and A/R index (p<0.001) between T2DM individuals with and without MASLD. The ROC curve for resistin produced an AUC of 0.997 (p<0.001) with a sensitivity of 96.1% and a specificity of 100% for the cut-off point of 253.15. Adiponectin (OR, 0.054; 95% CI, 0.011-0.268; p<0.001) and resistin (OR, 1.745; 95% CI, 1.195-2,548; p=0.004) were found to be independent predictors for MASLD by logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: This study confirms the potential of adiponectin and resistin as predictors of MASLD development in T2DM.