This study was conducted with the aim of developing fruit spirits by utilizing old (autochthonous) apple and pear cultivars that can be attractive to both consumers and producers. Consumers of spirits could enjoy the unique flavor, and producers could gain an opportunity for brand development. In total, eight old apple cultivars (Sarija, Žuja, Samoniklica, Prijedorska zelenika, Bobovec, Masnjača, Lijepocvjetka, and Šarenika) and three pear cultivars (Budaljača, Krakača, and Kalićanka) from Bosnia and Herzegovina were used for the spirits production and for characterizing the flavor of distillates. Golden Delicious was used as a representative of commercial apple cultivar. The aroma profile was conducted through the identification of minor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the sensory perception of spirits. Analysis of the VOCs was performed by gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) techniques after enrichment via solid-phase microextraction (SPME). Sensory evaluation was performed by 12 trained panelists. Overall, 35 minor volatile compounds were found in spirits: 13 esters, 7 alcohols, 6 acids, 5 terpenes, and 4 aldehydes. Significant differences were detected in the distribution and quantity of the VOCs, which were fruit cultivar-dependent. Spirits made from Šarenika apple cultivar showed the largest amount of all acids, especially short- and medium-chain fatty acids; however, this richness was not correlated with pleasant sensory attributes. Spirits obtained from Prijedorska zelenika and Masnjača apple cultivars had the best sensory attributes. Budeljača and Krakača pears are promising cultivars as flavoring in spirits production.

‘’Back then, in the Corona…’’ As numbers of the COVID-infected were rising across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), over the summer and into the autumn of 2020, this phrase appeared as a common opening to individual stories and a new temporal reference that replaced “the war” as the major landmark in personal and collective lives. Corona had already become the past, equated with the days of the lockdown, even though more COVID-19 infections came after the lockdown ended. After lockdown, the death...

Spatial structure is the horizontal and vertical arrangement of individual trees. It affects many processes in the stand such as stability, production and regeneration. Stand structure parameters are used to describe spatial structure on experimental plots. The paper presents methods that describe the stand structure through three levels of diversity related to position, species and size. Research has been conducted on two experimental plots from the area of Olovo. Referent trees and their competitors were selected on both experimental plots, and competitors were defined by referent tree distance. The aim of this paper is to describe the spatial structure on experimental plot of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and experimental plot of European beech and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Indicators of spatial diversity, dimensional diversity and diversity of tree species have been determined to achieve that aim. For each experimental plots are described: horizontal tree distribution (Poisson Distribution, Clapham's Variance – Mean Ratio and Morisita's Index of Dispersion), diameter differentiation (Diameter Differentiation by Füldner and Dominance Index by Hui et al.), species diversity and structural diversity (Species Profile Index by Pretzsch) and species intermingling (Species Intermingling Index by Füldner). Obtained results show that the stand structure of both experimental plots deviates from random distribution. Dimensional diversity parameters indicate stronger intensity of competition for beech trees. Analysis of species diversity showed that beech trees occur in groups or patches, and the other represented species mix more intensive.

Length of the primary forest roads in the Federation of BiH is 11.821,00 km that includes the categories of public and forest truck roads. Cantonal Public companies for forest management in the Federation of BiH are responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of forest truck roads. The starting point in the analysis related to forest truck roads is to determine the quality and quantity of the existing forest road network. This paper deals with data for all forest truck roads in the territory of Federation of BiH that in total includes 2.907 forest truck roads. The following data were collected and analysed: pavement type, pavement width, longitudinal slope and traffic load per year per 24 h. The analysis of these elements can serve as the basis for categorizing of forest truck roads into primary, secondary and access roads, as well as starting point in planning process related to the maintenance works and future forest road construction.

The article's abstract is not available.  

Abstract Ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) is one of the three additional heating schemes to be deployed on ITER. Its two antenna arrays, installed on the outboard midplane, will deliver 20 MW of RF power in the 40–55 MHz frequency range. The plasma-facing component of the antenna assembly is the Faraday screen, comprising beryllium (Be) tile armoured, actively cooled bars located only ~1 cm radially behind the innermost point of the shaped Be first wall panels (FWPs). As such they are in close proximity to the scrape-off layer (SOL) plasma and it is important to assess the maximum heat loads that the screen bars may experience during high power ITER operation. This paper provides a detailed assessment of these loads using the new 3D field line tracing and power deposition framework SMITER (Kos et al., 2019). The focus is on the H-mode, burning plasma scenario, taking into account both plasma heat loading (including average loading due to mitigated Type I ELMs) and the loads due to photonic impact (assessed with the optical ray-tracing package Raysect (Meakins and Carr, 2017)) from power radiated in the core obtained from integrated JINTRAC simulations. Calculations are also performed to assess the minimum allowed antenna to magnetic separatrix distances, for cases in which closer approach may be required to improve RF coupling.

The processes of salinisation and alkalinisation of soil that caused the formation of different types of saline (halomorphic) soils are characteristic of the northern part of Serbia — the area of Vojvodina. These soils are characterized by poor physical and chemical properties due to a high content of salt and/or adsorbed Na+ ions because of which are being used to a limited extent in agricultural production, and more as pastures. From the aspect of pedogenetic conditions, loess deposits and alluvial terraces of large rivers (Danube, Sava and Tisza) as aeolian-glacial sediments are the most widespread parent rock on which saline soils were formed. In addition, arid climate including geomorphological, hydrological and hydro-geochemical conditions were the main factors of the formation of saline areas of Vojvodina. These processes can also occur as a result of the poor irrigation. The increase in the average annual and summer air temperature during the period 1981–2017 compared to 1961−1990 was recorded as well as more inequality in the precipitation regime in spatial distribution and increased evapotranspiration. Under such conditions the areas of saline soils will be certainly further expanding. According to the results of previous pedological research, saline soils cover about 10% of the total soil surface of Vojvodina. In the last few decades the extensive research has been conducted on the process of soil salinisation in the area of Vojvodina including qualitative and quantitative composition of salt in various systematic soil units. They have shown the possibility of transforming saline soils into productive soils through the application of complex land reclamation measures which require substantial financial and long-term time investments.

The study’s primary purpose was to explore the abrasive water jet (AWJ) cut machinability of stainless steel X5CrNi18-10 (1.4301). The study analyzed the effects of such process parameters as the traverse speed (TS), the depth of cut (DC), and the abrasive mass flow rate (AR) on the surface roughness (Ra) concerning the thickness of the workpiece. Three different thicknesses were cut under different conditions; the Ra was measured at the top, in the middle, and the bottom of the cut. Experimental results were used in the developed feed-forward artificial neural network (ANN) to predict the Ra. The ANN’s model was validated using k-fold cross-validation. A lowest test root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.2084 was achieved. The results of the predicted Ra by the ANN model and the results of the experimental data were compared. Additionally, as TS and DC were recognized, analysis of variance at a 95% confidence level was used to determine the most significant factors. Consequently, the ANN input parameters were modified, resulting in improved prediction; results show that the proposed model could be a useful tool for optimizing AWJ cut process parameters for predicting Ra. Its main advantage is the reduced time needed for experimentation.

Background: Arteriovenous malformation (bAVM) presents maldevelopment of the brain’s vessels with a direct connection between cerebral arteries and veins. By current data, patients from Spetzler Ponce A (SP) are found to benefit from the treatment. Considering the outcome, most of SP C and some of the SP B are the most debatable. Objective: Arteriovenous malformation presents maldevelopment of the brain’s vessels with a consequent direct connection between cerebral arteries and veins. The annual risk of hemorrhage in adults is reported for 2-3 %. They usually present with unilateral headaches seizures and intracranial hemorrhage. By current data, patients from Spetzler Ponce A (SP) are found to benefit from the treatment. Considering the outcome, most of SP C and some of the SP B are the most debatable. Methods: The study included a cohort of bAVM patients referred to Fujita Health University Bantane Hotokukai Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan where the main author (AA) has completed an international cerebrovascular fellowship under the mentorship of Professor Yoko Kato. Japanese Stroke Guidelines (JSG) were used for the treatment decision. Patients were graded according to the Spetzler Ponce (SP) system. Considering American Heart Association criteria (AHA), embolization was used as a part of multimodal treatment. Intraoperative microscopic video tools included Indocyanine green ICG, FLOW 800 and dual image video angiography DIVA. Clinical outcomes were measured using Modified Ranking Score (mRs). Results: A total of eleven patients with brain bAVM were studied with a median age of 32 years [IQR = 22-52]. There were ten patients presented with supratentorial and a single patient with infratentorial AVM. Patients were graded according to the Spetzler Ponce (SP) system. There were eight patients in SP A (72,7%), one in group B (9 %) while the rest of them were in C (18 %). Two patients had associated aneurysms that required treatment. The median size of the AVM nidus was 3,50 cm [IQR= 2-5]. Deep venous drainage was found in six patients while three were located in eloquent zones. Clinical outcomes were considered good by mRs <2 in eight patients, seven from the surgically treated group (72,7 % respectively). Surgery median length time was 427, 5 minutes; [IQR =320 - 463] with complete AVM resection in all patients and no mortality recorded in this cohort with the median follow up of 39,5 months [IQR = 19-59]. Conclusion: Ideal management of bAVM is still controversial. Those complex vascular lesions require multimodal treatment in a majority of cases in highly specialized centers. In SP A patients, surgery provides the best results with a positive outcome and a small number of complications. With the improvement of endovascular feeder occlusion SP B patients become prone to a more positive outcome. Nowadays, intraoperative microscopic tools such as FLOW 800, ICG and DIVA are irreplaceable while improving safety to deal with bAVM. For SP C patients, a combination of endovascular and stereotactic radiosurgery was found to be a good option in the present time.

Synovitis of the knee synovium is proven to be a precursor of knee osteoarthritis (OA), leading to a radiologically advanced stage of the disease. This study was conducted to elucidate the expression pattern of different inflammatory factors—NF-kB, iNOS, and MMP-9 in a subpopulation of synovial cells. Thirty synovial membrane intra-operative biopsies of patients (ten controls, ten with early OA, and ten with advanced OA, according to the Kellgren–Lawrence radiological score) were immunohistochemically stained for NF-kB, iNOS, and MMP9, and for different cell markers for macrophages, fibroblasts, leukocytes, lymphocytes, blood vessel endothelial cells, and blood vessel smooth muscle cells. The total number of CD68+/NF-kB+ cells/mm2 in the intima of early OA patients (median = 2359) was significantly higher compared to the total number of vimentin+/Nf-kB+ cells/mm2 (median = 1321) and LCA+/NF-kB+ cells/mm2 (median = 64) (p < 0.001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). The total number of LCA+/NF-kB+ cells/mm2 in the subintima of advanced OA patients (median = 2123) was significantly higher compared to the total number of vimentin+/NF-kB+ cells/mm2 (median = 14) and CD68+/NF-kB+ cells/mm2 (median = 29) (p < 0.0001). The total number of CD68+/iNOS+ cells/mm2 in the intima of both early and advanced OA patients was significantly higher compared to the total number of vimentin+/iNOS+ cells/mm2 and LCA+/iNOS+ cells/mm2 (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The total number of CD68+/MMP-9+ cells/mm2 in the intima of both early and advanced OA patients was significantly higher compared to the total number of vimentin+/MMP-9+ cells/mm2 and CD5+/MMP-9+ cells/mm2 (p < 0.0001). Macrophages may have a leading role in OA progression through the NF-kB production of inflammatory factors (iNOS and MMP-9) in the intima, except in advanced OA, where leukocytes could have a dominant role through NF-kB production in subintima. The blocking of macrophageal and leukocyte NF-kB expression is a possible therapeutic target as a disease modifying drug.

The most recent development in the underlying QUIC transport protocol has revived the interest in HTTP over QUIC (HTTP/3) as a communication protocol solution in cloud and edge computing. This development is notable especially given the rise in implementations of IoT edge/cloud continuum, a new computing paradigm that extends the cloud computing IoT via edge computing systems. In IoT cloud/edge continuum, benchmarking performance of the communication protocol of choice is critical. We focus for the first time on experimental benchmarking of HTTP/3 performance in an IoT cloud/edge continuum system. To benchmark the performance in terms of scalability and latency, we first implement HTTP/3 from a set of non-standardized open-source libraries, - which is challenge, and use the implementation in two main IoT scenarios: edge computing only (IoT devices running HTTP/3 clients and edge devices running an HTTP/3 server), and cloud/edge continuum (based on Google Firebase). Experimental results show that latency and scalability remain a challenge for HTTP/3, but its appeal also remains, in its wide adoption, embedded security and compatibility with existing networked systems.

Abstract Digital transformation has put tremendous pressure on employees to innovate with the use of information technology (IT). This paper explores the extent to which digital literacy and personal innovativeness contribute to individual’s innovative work behavior (IWB). To test our hypotheses, we apply double bootstrapping chained mediation analyses paired with relative importance analysis on a dataset collected from employees (N = 167) in a pharmaceutical company. The results showed the existence of a double-mediation chain whereby digital practices and attitude toward digitalized innovation mediate the positive relationship between digital literacy and IWB. Surprisingly, said chain was not supported for personally innovative individuals, indicating that digital literacy plays a relatively more important role in stimulating attitudes toward digitalized innovation and IWB. Our findings add further specificity to research on digital natives and may help organizations understand the role of digital literacy and personal innovativeness in organizationally-relevant outcomes, such as IWB.

Juvenile systemic sclerosis (jSSc) is an orphan disease with a prevalence of around 3 in 1, 000,000 children. It is known that in pediatric jSSc cohorts, there are a significant number of patients with overlap features, such as arthritis and myositis. However, the disease burden between those with and without overlap features in jSSc has not been defined.Compare the clinical phenotype between children with and without overlap features in the juvenile systemic scleroderma inception cohort (jSScC).A cross-sectional study was performed using baseline visit data. Demographic, organ system evaluation, autoantibody profile, treatment, and patient and physician reported outcome variables were extracted from jSScC. Comparison between patients with and without overlap features was performed using chi-square test and Mann Whitney U-test.At the time of data extraction, 175 jSSc patients were enrolled in the cohort, 81% were Caucasian and 81% female. Mean disease duration was 3.1 year (±2.7). Mean age at Raynaud´s onset was 10 years (±3.8) and mean age of first non-Raynaud´s was 10.2 years (±3.8). Overlap features occurred 17% (n=30) of the cohort, 12.5% in the diffuse cutaneous (dc) jSSc and in 30% in the limited cutaneous (lc) jSSc. Significant differences in clinical characteristics were found between those patients with compared to without overlap characteristics. Patients with overlap features presented more frequently with Gottron papules (p=0.007), swollen joints (p=0.019), muscle weakness (p=0.003), and lung involvement documented by decreased DLCO < 80% (p=0.06) and/or abnormal high resolution computed tomography (p=0.049). Anti-PM/Scl autoantibodies were also more common in this group (p=0.001). Significantly more patients without overlap features had Raynaud´s (p=0.006). Physician Global Assessment of disease activity was significantly higher in patients with overlap features (41 vs 34; p=0.041). (Table 1.)Table 1.Demographic and clinical characteristics of jSSc patients with and without overlap features.Whole CohortN=175Patients without overlapN=145Patients with overlapN=30P valueFemale to Male Ratio 4.3:1(142/33)4:1(116/29)6.5:1(26/4)0.395Cutaneous subtypeDiffuse subtype (N)73% (128)11216Limited subtype (N)27% (47)3317Mean disease duration (years)3.1 (± 2.7)3.2 (± 2.8)3.1 (± 2.2)0.291Mean age of onset of Raynaud´s (years)10.0 (± 3.8)17 non-Raynaud10.0 (± 3.8)10 non-Raynaud10.0 (± 3.7)7 non-Raynaud0.931Mean age of onset of non-Raynaud´s (years)10.2 (± 3.8)10.2 (± 3.9)9.8 (± 3.7)Disease modifying drugs (N)88% (154) 89% (129)83% (25)0.388Raynaud´s phenomenon90% (158)93% (135)77% (23)0.006Anti-PMScl18% (12/68)9% (5/53)47% (7/15)0.001Gottron Papules (N)27% (46/171)23% (33/144)48% (13/27)0.007DLCO <80% (N)44% (39/88)39% (28/71)65% (11/17)0.06Abnormal findings in HRCT (N)44% (59/133)40% (43/107)62% (16/26)0.049Proportion of patients with swollen joints 18% (32) 14% (21) 37% (11)0.019Muscle Weakness (N) 21% (31/149)16% (20/123) 42% (11/26)0.003Physician global disease activity(0-100) min -max35 (0-90) n=14134 (0-90) n=11441 (0-80) n=270.041Results from this large international cohort of jSSc patients demonstrate significant differences between patients with and without overlap features. Patients with overlap have significantly more interstitial lung disease and more physician rated disease activity and should not be considered to have more “mild disease”.Supported by the “Joachim Herz Stiftung”None declared

A growing number of professional societies in clinical and medically related disciplines investigate evidence, make recommendations, and take action to advance gender equity. Evidence on women’s advancement and leadership in the context of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology, EULAR, is limited [1].The objective of the EULAR Task Force on Gender Equity in Academic Rheumatology was to establish the extent of the unmet need for support of female rheumatologists, health professionals and non-clinical scientists in academic rheumatology and develop a framework to address this through EULAR and Emerging EULAR Network (EMEUNET).Potential interventions to accelerate gender-equitable career advancement in academic rheumatology were gathered from a narrative review of the relevant literature, expert opinion of a multi-disciplinary Task Force (comprised of 23 members from 11 countries), data from the surveys of EULAR scientific member society leaders, EULAR and EMEUNET members, and EULAR Executive Committee members. These interventions were rated by Task Force members, who ranked each according to perceived priority on a five-point numeric scale from 1 = very low to 5 = very high.A framework of 29 potential interventions was formulated, which covers six thematic areas, namely, EULAR policies, advocacy and communication, EULAR Congress and associated symposia, training courses, mentoring/peer support, and EULAR funding (Figure 1).Figure 1.A framework of potential interventions with the levels of priority, mean and standard deviation (SD)The framework provides structured interventions for accelerating gender-equitable career advancement in academic rheumatology.[1]Andreoli L, Ovseiko PV, Hassan N, et al. Gender equity in clinical practice, research and training: Where do we stand in rheumatology? Joint Bone Spine 2019;86(6):669-72.The task force is grateful to EULAR for funding this activity under project number EPI 024.None declared

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pediatric population, caused by extensive activation of immune system. The understanding of the distorted immune response is still in the early stages.To analyze comprehensively immune profile in MIS-C patients including detailed serologic response to SARS-CoV-2 in comparison with control groups.Blood samples of consecutive MIS-C patients were collected at admission. Flow cytometric analysis of all lymphocyte populations including T and B cell differentiation was performed. Immunophenotyping was performed by six-color panels for the detection of lymphocyte subpopulations. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies were measured in the patients serum. The IgA and IgG antibodies against S protein, the IgG S1 and S2 specific antibodies, antibodies against nucleoprotein and neutralising antibodies were measured. Patients were assessed for a wide range of auto-antibodies, namely ANA, anti-ENA (Jo-1, PL-7, PL-12, SRP, Mi-2, Ku, Pm/Scl 100, Scl-70), myositis specific antibodies (EJ, MDA-5, TIH-Y, Ro52, SAE-1, SAE-2, NXP-2), anti-dsDNA, anti-phopholipid antibodies (aCl IgA, IgG, IgM, antiβ2GPI IgG, IgM) and ANCA. Control groups to compare specific antibody response consisted of 14 healthy children and 19 healthy adults, who had SARS-CoV-2 infection in the last 2 months.Samples of 20 patients were included (14/20 boys, median age 12.4 years). Patients had higher percentage of double negative T cells and low numbers of of cytokine producing T cells Th1, Th2 and Th17. . Numbers of immune competent and CD21+ transitional B cells were also lowered. All patients had positive antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 including neutralising antibodies. Nine (9/19; 47 %) patients had high titer (≥1:160) of neutralising antibodies. Results were compared with 2 control groups; 14 healthy children (7/14 boys; median age 8 years,) and 19 healthy adults, who all experienced SARS-CoV-2 infection in the last two months. Patients with MIS-C had significantly higher levels of anti-S IgA (p<0.0001), patients with MIS-C and healthy children had significantly higher titers of anti-S1 (p=0.001) and significantly lower titers of anti-S2 (p=0.016) in comparison to adults (Figure 1). No differences were found in the titers of neutralising antibodies and anti-N antibodies. All patients were ANA negative, 19/20 patients were anti-ENA negative, whereas 1 patient had anti-Ro antibodies in low titre. Three patients had aCL IgG in medium titre and 2 patients anti-beta2GPI IgG in low titre. Patients were negative for all other autoantibodies.The immune response in MIS-C patients is specific with most prominent differences in elevated percentage of double negative T cells and low numbers of Th1, Th2, Th17 and CD21+ transitional B cells. MIS-C patients have distinct serologic response with high anti-S IgA, high anti-S1 and low anti-S2 titres.Figure 1.Antibody titres in patient group and control groups. Mean value with SEM s shown.None declared.