Atrial fibrillation is the most commonly experienced type of cardiac arrhythmia and is the most associated with substantial clinical occurrences and expenses. This arrhythmia often occurs in its "silent" asymptomatic form, revealed only after complications such as a stroke or congestive heart failure have transpired. New smart devices confer effective advantages in the detection of this heart arrhythmia, of which photoplethysmography-based smart devices have shown great potential, according to previous research. However, the solution becomes a problem as widespread use and high availability of various applications and smart devices may lead to substantial amounts of false and misleading recordings and information, causing unnecessary anxiety regarding arrhythmic occurrences diagnosed by the devices but not professionally confirmed. Thus, with most of the devices being photoplethysmography based for detection of atrial fibrillation, it is important to research devices studied up to this point to find the best smart device to detect the aforementioned arrhythmias.

The need for alternative treatment of multi-drug-resistant bacteria led to the increased design of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). AMPs exhibit a broad antimicrobial spectrum without a distinct preference for a specific species. Thus, their mechanism, disruption of fundamental barrier function by permeabilization of the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane is considered to be rather general and less likely related to antimicrobial resistance. Of all physico-chemical properties of AMPs, their positive charge seems to be crucial for their interaction with negatively charged bacterial membranes. Therefore, we elucidate the role of electrostatic interaction on bacterial surface neutralization and on membrane disruption potential of two potent antimicrobial peptides, namely, OP-145 and SAAP-148. Experiments were performed on Escherichia coli, a Gram-negative bacterium, and Enterococcus hirae, a Gram-positive bacterium, as well as on their model membranes. Zeta potential measurements demonstrated that both peptides neutralized the surface charge of E. coli immediately after their exposure, but not of E. hirae. Second, peptides neutralized all model membranes, but failed to efficiently disrupt model membranes mimicking Gram-negative bacteria. This was further confirmed by flow cytometry showing reduced membrane permeability for SAAP-148 and the lack of OP-145 to permeabilize the E. coli membrane. As neutralization of E. coli surface charges was achieved before the cells were killed, we conclude that electrostatic forces are more important for actions on the surface of Gram-negative bacteria than on their cytoplasmic membranes.

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Objectives Oral health in children is additionally burdened with the presence of dental fear and anxiety (DFA). These clinical psychologic entities in their progressive stages inevitably lead to avoidance of dental appointments, which makes prevention and therapy of oral diseases more difficult. Upon the onset of DFA in general, as one of the emotional outcomes of stress in a dental office, most children patients could define the specific stressors that were most intense for them, which could predict the presence of DFA. Aim To examine the predictors of DFA presence in 9-12-year-old children, and investigate how they could explain the DFA occurrence in study participants. Material and Methods The sample consisted of 200 children aged from 9 to 12 years. The DFA presence was determined by the modified version of the CFSS-DS scale. The child's behavior in the dental office during the treatment was evaluated by the trained observer using Venham anxiety and behavior rating scales. Socioeconomic status, characteristics of dental office visits, and previous caries experience were also analyzed. Results The main DFA predictors were related to invasive dental treatments, where the behavior during dental treatment was the most accurate expression of the DFA appearance. Conclusions Invasive dental procedures are the main stressful factor for DFA occurrence. Predisposing factors could strengthen the DFA occurrence.

Background: Zearalenone is a widely spread mycotoxin, contaminant of most cereal grains. It has uterotropic, estrogenic and anabolic activity in farm animals. The results are hormonal disbalances as hyperestrogenism, Zearalenone inhibits follicle-stimulating hormone production, thus supressing ovarian follicle development and ovulation. Also, it induces oxidative stress. Melatonin acts as a potent natural antioxidant and regulates the reproductive function by modification of steroidogenesis. Objective: The present study was conducted to provide detailed qualitative histological analysis of uterus of female rats treated with zearalenone and melatonin and contribute to better understanding of the topic. Methods: Forty adult, female Wistar rats were equally divided into five groups: Z group – zearalenone, 0,3 mg/kg, i.g.; M group – melatonin, 10 mg/kg, i.p.; ZM group –concomitant application of zearalenone and melatonin in the same dosing regimen, VZ group–zearalenone vehiculum/sunflower oil, i.g. and MZ group–melatonin vehiculum/5% ethanol in Ringer, i.p. Animals were treated daily for 28 consecutive days. After that period, all animals were sacrificed to obtain samples for qualitative histological analysis using the light microscope. Results: Zearalenone led to the alterations of the uterine structures, predominantly in the endometrium that were characterized by metaplasia and hypertrophy of the epithelial cells and hypercellularity of the stroma. In the myometrium, zearalenone induced hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the myocytes. Conclusion: Melatonin, when applied together with zearalenone, blocked the adverse effects of the zearalenone.

HEDY - Life in the AI era is a 2-year Erasmus+ project started in November 2021 targeting higher education audience. Its goal is to offer a comprehensive and shared view of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is affecting our lives and reshaping our socioeconomic, cultural, and human environments and to define which topics related to AI are of interest to different university studies and how they should be addressed. Four specific free and accessible sources of information will be produced to reach these goals, the first of which is the Booklet, the subject of this paper. The Booklet is an essay defining the HEDY position on life in the AI era and its aim is to identify the challenges, opportunities and expected impact of AI on four different areas: business, governance, skills & competencies, and people & lifestyle. In this paper, we summarise the content of the Booklet. In particular, we describe our methodology to build our rationales based on collecting information from two sources: i) Literature survey, and ii) Focus groups. These two sources provide a unique contribution on AI panorama by combining state of the art research with first-hand opinions and debated questions, concerns, and ideas of interacting individuals. The main finding is that there is the necessity to train citizens in AI by providing teachings, courses and trainings in schools and higher education institutes to facilitate the use and adoption of AI for young people and future generations.

The rapid pace of change in technology, business models, and work practices is causing ever-increasing strain on the global workforce. Companies in every industry need to train professionals with updated skill-sets in a rapid and continuous manner. However, traditional educational models — university classes and in-person degrees— are increasingly incompatible with the needs of professionals, the market, and society as a whole. New models of education require more flexible, granular and affordable alternatives. MIT is currently developing a new educational framework called Agile Continuous Education (ACE). ACE describes workforce level education offered in a flexible, cost-effective and time-efficient manner by combining individual, group, and real-life mentored learning through multiple traditional and emerging learning modalities. This paper introduces the ACE framework along with its different learning approaches and modalities (e.g. asynchronous and synchronous online courses, virtual synchronous bootcamps, and real-life mentored apprenticeships and internships) and presents the MIT Refugee Action Hub (ReACT) as an illustrative example. MIT ReACT is an institute-wide effort to develop global education programs for underserved communities, including refugees, displaced persons, migrants and economically disadvantaged populations, with the goal of promoting the learner’s social integration and formal inclusion into the job market. MIT ReACT’s core programs are the Certificate in Computer and Data Science (CDS) and the MicroMasters in Data, Economics and Development Policy, which consist of a combination of online courses, bootcamps, and global apprenticeships. Currently, MIT ReACT has regional presence in the Middle East and North Africa, East Africa, South America, Asia, Europe and North America.

pH represents the concentration of free H+ in pine needles extracts (PNE) and is therefore an important initial parameter in quality control. Electrical conductivity and pH of samples of fresh and stored for 20 days of PNE with black cumin oil and olive oil had values of 0.00 due to the encapsulation of water molecules, pH and electrical conduction was not possible. The pH of the other samples was in a weakly acidic environment because the pH of natural pine needles is 3.8. Electrical conductivity values in all samples except pine needle extract and honey increased during storage. By monitoring the parameters of pH and electrical conductivity in the quality control of PNE, it gives us a significant insight into the physical state of the phases and the way of storage.

Background: Multiple sclerosis is a progressive inflammatory disease of the the central nervous system. Problems with sexual functions are the common features of multiple sclerosis and important factor that contribute to the quality of life among affected persons. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics on sexual functions domains of health related quality of life (HRQOL) in multiple sclerosis patients. Methods: This study included 100 MS patients treated at the Department of Neurology, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo. Inclusion criteria were an Expanded Disability Status Scale score between 1.0 and 6.5, age between 18 and 65 years, stable disease on enrollment. HRQOL was evaluated by the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 questionnaire. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis test were used for comparisons between sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and HRQOL scores. Results: Out of 60% of patients reported to have sexual dysfunction, and 55 % were female patients. Younger patients had statistical significant higher median value of sexual function score (91.68 vs. 58,28, p=0.001) and satisfaction with sexual life scores (62.5 vs 37.5 , p =0.019) comparing to older patients. Employed patients also showed statistical significant higher median value of sexual function score (82 vs. 66.7, p=0.003) comparing to unemployed patients and also statisticaly significant higher median scores considering satisfaction with sexual life among employed patients (p=0,001). There were no differences in sexual functions scores considering gender, marital status and education. Patients with higher level of disabilty, progressive type of disease, more relapses and longer diseas duration had statistical significant lower median value of sexual function score and also satifaction with sexual life scores, except for disease duration Conclusion: Aging, dysability and progression are major factors that contribute to lower sexual function scores and satisfaction with sexual life among multiple sclerosis patients. Althoug women reported sexual problems more often then men, impact of these problems on quality of life are similar in men and women with MS.

Out of all benign tumors of the ceruminous glands, syringocystadenoma papilliferum is the rarest and represents only 2% of cases. It is an extremely rare benign tumor that originates from modified apocrine sweat glands. The aim of this paper was to present, according to our findings, the 18th case of syringocystadenoma papilliferum in the external auditory canal, with a detailed review of its clinical, radiological and histomorphological characteristics. A 59-year-old man reported to our clinic due to a 5×5 mm papillomatous growth at the entrance to the right external auditory canal. Histopathology indicated, after an excisional biopsy, that it was a syringocystadenoma papilliferum. The resection lines were free of tumor tissue, and the patient has no signs of tumor recurrence. Although rare, it should be considered as a differential diagnosis of lesions in this region. Complete excision is mandatory in order to avoid recurrence and potential malignant alteration.

Due to higher requirements for achieving sustainable development goals, current challenging sociopolitical climate and internationalization, business models remain problematic, resulting in a more complex global competition among firms and the need for sustainability incorporation. Throughout this study, a conceptual model based on the systematic literature review was applied as the methodology, with the study's purpose to propose the new Model of Continuous Enterprise Sustainability, which is designed to facilitate and enhance enterprise management in today's demanding and complex business environment by providing concise steps for effectively incorporating sustainability into day‐to‐day business activities. Five essential components, through their interconnectedness, form the Model of Continuous Enterprise Sustainability, which smooth the path of sustainable management in a dynamic environment, which are as follows: (1) situational factors, (2) creating factors/processes, (3) triple‐sustainable results, (4) organizational results, and (5) continuous stakeholder communication, optimization, innovation and learning. This conceptual model contributes in the first line to advancement and detail explanation of how to achieve sustainable human, financial and natural resources management within enterprises. In addition to directions for sustainable internal resources management, this model also involves clarification how to strategically manage with external resources and prime stakeholders in order to integrate meaningful sustainability matters in firm's business core and create continuously greater value for firm and its prime interested parties.