5G Stand Alone (SA) networks are in the process of implementation, as the today's progress of the main business services to migrate to the 5G new services communication (enhanced Mobile Broadband - eMBB, Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications - URLLC, massive Machine Type Communications - mMTC) is estimated to slowly increase. There have been identified some key aspects responsible for the novel 5G communication adoption process, such as the complexity of the services deployment and the clear understanding of the huge potential of the technology that can further support the 5G vertical's stakeholders. This paper is representing the work of the EU funded project VITAL-5G in deploying 5G Stand Alone 3GPP Rel.16 testbeds, with enhanced network and services capabilities and 5G resources available to be offered to industries vertical's customers. The 5G solution of the testbed design is covering several aspects of the future 5G network implementation, such as services management and orchestration, automation of resources allocation, 5G network slicing (Radio Access Network, Core and Transport) and user traffic prioritization according to the service slice needs, eMBB and URLLC. An important aspect is the availability of the entire 5G ecosystem to be offered to the 5G developers and 3 rd parties for advanced and extensive trials such as Innovative Network Application (N etApps) implementations. By abstracting the complexity of underlying 5G infrastructure, reducing the time of service creation and deployment and optimizing the 5G resource usage, N etApps is a key enabler of 5G adoption.

Abstract Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, several public health challenges were faced, requiring worldwide leaders able to direct, guide, and establish appropriate strategies. The aim of this review was to summarize evidence on public health leadership during the COVID-19 era. Methods The systematic literature review was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 checklist. A search of relevant articles was performed in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Eligible articles were any type of publication, published between 2020 and 2022, that outlined one or more characteristics of effective public health leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic We excluded all articles that did not explicitly address the COVID-19 pandemic or had a different setting. Results A total of 2499 records were screened, and 45 articles were included. We identified 93 characteristics, clustered in six groups, that were reported as fundamental to be an effective leader in public health crises worldwide. Emotional intelligence and human traits (reported by 46.67% of the articles) were considered essential to build trust in the population and ensure cooperation with working groups. Communication skills (47%) are considered necessary to enable people to understand and accept measures. A supportive, multidisciplinary team and accountability mechanisms (33,33%) were highlighted as central elements, especially in the international field, to ensure reliability and consistency in action. Management skills (35,56%), adaptability (44,44%), and evidence-based approach (33,33%) were reported as key capabilities to ensure a prompt and rapid response to the challenges created by the pandemic. Conclusions The identification of the attributes of an effective public health leader conducted in this study is useful in choosing the key personalities who must lead public health today and in the training of tomorrow's European and worldwide leaders to be ready to face future threats. Key messages • Effective public health leaders in crisis are empathetic and trustworthy people, who have developed management and communication skills, and are able to make timely and evidence-based decisions. • In order to create leaders capable of facing future threats, more emphasis in the training of public health workforce on soft skills and management competencies should be recommended.

Abstract Background Analysis of years of life lost (YLL) due to premature deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic can direct decision-makers towards specific public health recommendations in order to improve health and lives of people. Our study aimed to examine the existence of age- and sex-specific patterns of the three most common causes of premature death in Belgrade during the first year of the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods Mortality data disaggregated by age, sex and cause of death, as well as the estimated number of inhabitants and remaining life-expectancy by age-groups for Belgrade was provided by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. YLLs were calculated using the methods of the Global Burden of Disease Study, without garbage code redistribution. Mortality rates were standardized according to the European Standard Population. We acknowledge the support from the COST Action 18218 - European Burden of Disease Network. Results In 2020 in Belgrade, according to the share in all-cause YLLs, cardiovascular diseases ranked first (36.2%), followed by neoplasms (25.7%) and COVID-19 (11.1%). However, on average, COVID-19 generated higher number of YLLs per death case (11.9) than cardiovascular diseases (9.2), but fewer than neoplasms (13.9). In total of 31,943 YLLs due to COVID-19, men had 1.7 times more YLLs than women. By age groups, the highest YLL share due to COVID-19 was among men aged 45-49 (16%) and 70-74 (16%) and among women aged 20-25 (33%) and 25-29. years (29%). In men, COVID-19 YLL rate was 2,488 per 100,000 and was higher after standardization (2,714). In women, COVID-19 YLL rate was 1346 per 100,000 and was lower after standardization (1,245). Conclusions In Belgrade, COVID-19 was the third cause of premature mortality in 2020. The difference between COVID-19 YLL rates in men and women were even more prominent after standardization. Future research is needed to determine the synergistic impact of COVID-19 and other causes of premature death. Key messages • In 2020, COVID-19 was among the top three causes of premature mortality among male and female contingents of the Belgrade population. • Assessing the causes of premature mortality is important for determining community health priorities.

Premature ventricular contraction (PVC) is a frequent kind of arrhythmia that affects around 1% of the general population. While PVC most frequently impairs ventricular function in structurally normal heart, retrograde ventriculo‐atrial conduction can occur in people with PVC. These retrograde atrial activations may mimic pulmonary vein‐derived atrial ectopies. As a result, PVC may raise the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) by retrograde ventriculo‐atrial conduction. The Four‐Dimensional Automated Left Atrial Quantification (4D Auto LAQ) tool is a left atrial analytical approach that utilizes three‐dimensional volume data to quantify the volume, as well as LA longitudinal and circumferential strains. The purpose of this study was to determine if clinical diagnosis of PVC is connected with abnormal LA function as determined by LA strain evaluation utilizing a 4D Auto LAQ compared to the healthy population.

Premature ventricular complex (PVC) is common in general population. The atrial conduction time (ACT) represents the interval between electrocardiographic P wave and atrial mechanical contraction, and the prolongation of ACT called atrial electromechanical delay (EMD). In the present study, we investigated atrial conduction parameters through echocardiography in patients with frequent PVC. The study involved 54 patients with PVC and 54 healthy volunteers as a control group. A comprehensive echocardiographic examination was done. The time difference between the onset of the p wave and septal Am wave was the PA septal, the time difference between the onset of the p wave and the lateral Am wave was the PA lateral, and the time difference between the onset of the p wave and the tricuspid annulus Am wave was the PA tricuspid. The interatrial EMD was the time difference between the PA lateral and the PA tricuspid, the left atrial (LA) intraatrial delay was the time difference between the PA lateral and the PA septal and the right atrial (RA) intraatrial delay was the time difference between the PA septal and the PA tricuspid. LA anterior-posterior dimension and LA maximum volume were significantly larger in the patient group. Left intraatrial EMD, right intraatrial EMD, and interatrial EMD were significantly longer in the patient group. PA lateral, PA septal, PA tricuspid durations were significantly prolonged in the patient group. Atrial conduction times were prolonged in patients with frequent PVC. Type of funding sources: None.

The main objectives of this research were to (i) investigate the concentration; (ii) characterize the distribution; (iii) determine the sources apportionment; (iv) estimate environmental and health risks of heavy metals in soil from mountain beech forest. A total of 76 soil samples from 20 pure beech forest stands from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA), Bulgaria (BG), Check Republic (CZ), Germany (DE), Italy (IT), Poland (PL), Romania (RO), Serbia (RS), Slovakia (SK), Slovenia (SL), and Spain (ES) were collected. The content of major elements was measured by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). The content of heavy metals was measured by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP/OES). Heavy metals had a specific concentration range, which followed in soil samples from depth 0-40 cm the common order (low to high): Hg < Cd < As < Co < Pb < Ni < Cu < Cr < Zn, and from depth 40-80 cm: Hg < Cd < As < Pb < Co < Ni < Cu < Cr < Zn. The grouping of the examined parameters according to rock types, soil types, and localities indicated the separation of carbonate rocks from other substrates, luvisol, and rendzina from other soil types, and samples from BA, SL, and IT from other localities. According to sources apportionment As, Pb and Zn are of anthropogenic origin, Cd, Co, Cr, and Ni are of geogenic origin, while the middle position of Cu and Hg indicates a combined contribution of both sources. Elements Cd and Hg indicated severe to extremely severe enrichment with a mean value of 24.3 and 70.6, respectively. Based on the determined values Ni, Cr, As and Cd do not pose a health risk.

Acinic cell carcinoma of the breast is a rare special subtype of breast cancer in the category of salivary gland-type tumors. It is morphologically similar to acinic cell carcinomas of salivary glands and pancreas and has a triple-negative phenotype (estrogen receptor-negative, progesterone receptor-negative, and Her-2/neu negative). Its molecular genomic features are more similar to triple-negative breast cancer of no special type than to its salivary gland counterpart. However, the clinical course of the mammary acinic cell carcinoma appears to be less aggressive than the usual triple-negative breast carcinomas. This review comprehensively summarizes the current literature on the clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular features of this rare and distinct subtype of breast cancer.

SUMMARY In prostate adenocarcinoma, both tumorous stroma and epithelium have important role in tumor progression. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF- β) is a promotor in advanced stages of prostate cancer. Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), the endopeptidase that degrades extracellular matrix is considered to be overexpressed in prostatic carcinoma related to its growth and aggressiveness. Therefore, the aim was to analyze the expression of proteins TGF- β and MMP2 between both epithelium and stroma of prostatic adenocarcinoma and adjacent unaffected parenchyma. The intensity of TGF- β and MMP2 expression in epithelium, tumorous stroma and adjacent unaffected parenchyma was analyzed in 62 specimens of prostatic adenocarcinoma by microarray-based immunohistochemistry. TGF- β was more expressed in tumorous than in prostate stroma (p =0.000), while no statistical significance in case of MMP2 (p = 0.097) was found. MMP2 was more expressed in tumorous than in prostate epithelium (p =0.000), while no statistical significance in case of TGF- β (p = 0.096) was observed. The study results indicate that both tumorous stroma and epithelium have a role in tumor progression and support potential role of TGF- β and MMP2 in prostatic adenocarcinoma progression.