The inclination is the most important criteria for determining stability of the object for objects for which the ratio of height and width is high (industrial chimneys, towers, tall buildings, etc.). In this paper, two methods for testing the verticality of objects with a circular base will be presented: principal components analysis (PCA), and a new method based on fitting circles and analytical geometry in space presented in the paper "Rapid assessment of verticality of structural objects with a circular base" (Hamzić, Kamber Hamzić i Avdagić, 2021). The cases when the verticality of the object is calculated from the cloud of measuring points of all or part of the object and when the verticality is calculated from the measurement of the circular arc of the object in two levels are analyzed. The results showed that both methods give quality results when the point cloud covers the entire circular arc of the object. In cases where only a part of the circular arc was observed, the method based on the circle fitting gave better results. In the case when the measurement is performed only in two levels on the object, the method based on circle fitting gave good results while the PCA method had large errors in estimating the inclination of the object.

<p style="text-align: justify;">The Bukva-Vila Business Zone is a place for various business activities and it was created as a result of preliminary spatial planning and organized development concept of the enterprising local population, in a unique area with developed infrastructure and proximity to the center of Te&scaron;anj. The development of the Zone caused the increase of the noise levels in this area. This paper presents the development of industrial noise map using data from previous monitoring of companies to determine the impact of an industrial noise on total environmental noise, and as well as, the development of a conflict noise map using results of own measurements.</p>

Different qualitative and quantitative changes in platelets are involved in the pathophysiological processes in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD): ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of the study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of Platelet mass Index (PMI) and other platelet parameters in assessment disease activity in patients with UC and CD. A cross-sectional, observational study consisted of 60 IBD patients (30 UC and 30 CD) and 30 healthy subjects (Control group). Patients were grouped according to disease activity into active and inactive (remission). Platelet count (PLC), Plateletcrit (PCT), Mean Platelet Volume (MPV), Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) and PMI were determined for all study participants. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and their corresponding areas under the curve (AUC) were used to determine diagnostic accuracy. Although PLC had the highest AUC (0.756) compared to PCT (AUC: 0.731), PDW (AUC: 0.722) and PMI (AUC: 0.724), they all had fair diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing active and inactive UC patients. Discriminatory accuracy of PLC was excellent (AUC: 0.909), PCT and PMI good to excellent (AUC: 0.809 and AUC: 0.893, respectively) and PDW fair (AUC: 0.789) in classifying CD patients as active and inactive. Platelet parameters are simple, routinely available biomarkers more useful for assessing disease activity for patients with CD than for patients with UC. Our results indicate, for the first time, that PMI may serve as a novel and simple marker in identifying whether IBD patients are in the active or inactive phase of the disease.

The current study investigates how attitudes towards digital transformation and personal innovativeness affect the acceptance of emergency remote learning in the COVID-19 pandemic environment. The pandemic has affected all aspects of societies across the globe, including higher education that was also a significant push-up factor for the digital transformation of higher education. Thus, the main aim of this paper is to investigate the factors affecting emergency remote learning acceptance among the higher education students in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The results presented in this paper gained from a study carried out among higher education students in BiH cover the period of April – July 2020 via the open-source platform. The study focused on the students’ attitude towards a digital transformation is a significant factor in accepting emergency remote learning. Also, the personal innovativeness score has proven to be a crucial factor for adopting this new learning setting, i.e., more innovative students have a greater emergency remote learning acceptance than students with a lower personal innovativeness score. Hence, this study pinpoints the necessity of changing the attitudes towards technology applications in education. It would increase the usage of remote learning services and provide students with knowledge and skills for the new labour market

The research is conducted to study the outcome of digital leadership on dynamic capabilities, innovation capabilities, and alliances capabilities in manufacturing industries within the Malaysian context. Today, developing corporations and industries, at the least, require a virtual transformation to have greater organizational abilities in shaping and growing their new and present commercial enterprise to healthy the brand-new generation paradigm. A cross-sectional quantitative method has been used in this study with a sample of 132 respondents with different industry back grounds. These respondents are organizations, which are based on the nature of a business role like authorized representative, distributor, importer, manufacturer, combination authorized representative, distributor and importer, and combination distributor and importer that located in Selangor, Malaysia. The research used the SMART PLS software to analyze and interpret the results. There main hypotheses are proposed and tested. The results showed that digital leadership positively affects dynamic capabilities, innovation capabilities, and alliances capabilities.

Aluminium and its alloys have excellent corrosion resistance. When aluminium is exposed to the atmosphere, a thin invisible oxide Al2O3 is formed, protecting the metal from further oxidation. Compared to pure metals, alloys can have higher corrosion resistance depending on the content of certain alloying elements. Various substances such as organic or inorganic inhibitors can affect the corrosion of aluminium alloys and thus slow down the degradation of the material. In this paper, we studied the inhibitory effect of potassium dichromate on the corrosion processes of aluminium alloy. All measurements were performed in 0.5 M sodium chloride solution with the addition of different concentrations of inhibitors. The methods used were potentiodynamic polarization, cyclic voltammetry, and chronoamperometry.

Gallic acid is a phenolic acid widely spread in various plants, where it is present either in free form or as part of tannins, called gallotannins. It shows several positive effects on human health. It has different biological effects: antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. Many scientists are showing great interest in gallic acid precisely because of its antitumor effect. The content of gallic acid was determined in (Rubus idaeus L.) Polka raspberry by applying reverse-phase high-resolution liquid chromatography on reverse phases on Shimadzu Prominence Modular HPLC with UV/Vis detector, mobile phase degasser, pump, autosampler, and column oven. The analysis was performed in ethanolic extracts of Polka raspberry flower obtained by the Soxhlet extraction and the ultrasonic methods. Raspberry flowers (Rubus idaeus L.) Polka varieties were collected from two different localities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, namely: Starposle near Kakanj and Moševac near Maglaj. Gallic acid was determined in all analyzed samples of Polka raspberry. The highest gallic acid content was determined in the extract of Polka raspberry flower from the Maglaj-Moševac site, using the ultrasonic method (0.1789%), and the smallest in the Polka raspberry flower from the Kakanj Starposle site, using Soxhlet extraction (0.0995%). The proportion of gallic acid was higher in the extract of Polka raspberry flower from the Maglaj-Moševac site, which suggests that these flowers of Polka variety are recommended as better natural sources of this phenolic acid and that ultrasonic extraction has proven to be a more efficient method for extraction of gallic acid in ethanolic extracts, which is the goal of research.

The solid-state ion-selective electrodes presented here are based on the FePO4:Ag2S:polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) = 1:1:2 with an addition of (0.25–1)% microwave-synthesized hematite (α-Fe2O3), magnetite (Fe3O4), boehmite [γ-AlO(OH)], and alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) in order to establish ideal membrane composition for iron(III) cations determination. Synthesized NPs are characterized with Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Powder X-Ray Diffraction (PXRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). The iron oxides NPs, more specifically, magnetite and hematite, showed a more positive effect on the sensing properties than boehmite and alumina NPs. The hematite NPs had the most significant effect on the linear range for the determination of ferric cations. The membrane containing 0.25% hematite NPs showed a slope of −19.75 mV per decade in the linear range from 1.2∙10−6 to 10−2 mol L−1, with a correlation factor of 0.9925. The recoveries for the determination of ferric cations in standard solutions were 99.4, 106.7, 93.6, and 101.1% for different concentrations.

<p>In &nbsp;diesem &nbsp;Beitrag &nbsp;wird &nbsp;im &nbsp;Rahmen &nbsp;der &nbsp;Wortbildungslehre &nbsp;der &nbsp;Vorgang &nbsp;des &nbsp;Ableitens &nbsp;und &nbsp;die daraus resultierende Ableitung als Ergebnis mithilfe der Kategorie der Substantive mit dem Suffix &nbsp;-heit mit &nbsp;Varianten &nbsp;-keit &nbsp;und &nbsp;-igkeit &nbsp;dargestellt &nbsp;wie &nbsp;z. &nbsp;B.: &nbsp;wahr &nbsp;+ &nbsp;-heit &rarr;e Wahrheit, dunkel+ &nbsp;heit &rarr;e Dunkelheit, &nbsp;verlegen &nbsp;+ &nbsp;-heit &rarr;e Verlegenheit usw. Dieses Suffix zeigt sich im Deutschen als sehr produktiv f&uuml;r die Bildung von neuen Formen. Die kroatischen Entsprechungen dieses Derivats k&ouml;nnen in drei Gruppen eingeteilt werden: Derivate mit dem h&auml;ufigsten Suffix&ndash;(n)ost, Simplizia und Wortgruppen wie z. B.: Wahrheit = istinitost, (auch: istina), Dunkelheit = mrak, Verlegenheit = neugodan poloţaj. Das Ziel &nbsp;der &nbsp;kontrastiven &nbsp;Untersuchung &nbsp;war &nbsp;zu &nbsp;erfahren, &nbsp;wie &nbsp;kompatibel &nbsp;die &nbsp;zwei &nbsp;Sprachen &nbsp;bei &nbsp;diesem Wortbildungsprozess sind, insbesondere im Hinblick auf die Wortbildungsfreudigkeit im Deutschen.&nbsp;</p>

Leydig cells produce androgens that are essential for male sex differentiation and reproductive function. Leydig cell function is regulated by several hormones and signaling molecules, including growth hormone (GH). Although GH is known to upregulate Star gene expression in Leydig cells, its molecular mechanism of action remains unknown. The STAT5B transcription factor is a downstream effector of GH signaling in other systems. While STAT5B is present in both primary and Leydig cell lines, its function in these cells has yet to be ascertained. Here we report that treatment of MA-10 Leydig cells with GH or overexpression of STAT5B induces Star mRNA levels and increases steroid hormone output. The mouse Star promoter contains a consensus STAT5B element (TTCnnnGAA) at -756 bp to which STAT5B binds in vitro (EMSA and supershift) and in vivo (ChIP) in a GH-induced manner. In functional promoter assays, STAT5B was found to activate a -980 bp mouse Star reporter. Mutating the -756 bp element prevented STAT5B binding but did not abrogate STAT5B-responsiveness. STAT5B was found to functionally cooperate with DNA-bound cJUN. The STAT5B/cJUN cooperation was only observed in Leydig cells and not in Sertoli or fibroblast cells, indicating that additional Leydig cell-enriched transcription factors are required. The STAT5B/cJUN cooperation was lost only when both STAT5B and cJUN elements were mutated. In addition to identifying the Star gene as a novel target for STAT5B in Leydig cells, our data provide important new insights into the mechanism of GH and STAT5B action in the regulation of Leydig cell function.

Introduction: The objective of this study is to assess the long-term effectiveness of a treat-and-extend (T&E) anti-vascular endothelial growth factor regimen in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration who remain on T&E and those switched from once-monthly (OM) dosing to T&E (OM-T&E). Methods: In this 12-month extension of the 2-year CANTREAT study, patients received intravitreal ranibizumab 0.5 mg in a T&E regimen. Main outcome measures included mean change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline and from month 24 to month 36; percentages of patients who gained ≥5, ≥10, or ≥15 Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters or lost ≥5, ≥10, or ≥15 letters from baseline and from month 24 to month 36; and number of injections administered from baseline and from month 24 to month 36 for both groups. Results: Of the 139 patients (73 T&E, 66 OM-T&E) in the extension, 121 (68 T&E, 53 OM-T&E) completed 36 months. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) BCVA changes from baseline to the extension last visit (month 33–36) were +6.6 (11.4) letters in the T&E group and +4.8 (14.3) letters in the OM-T&E group, representing maintenance of 24-month gains. The mean (SD) numbers of injections during the extension were 7.3 (2.7) for T&E and 7.1 (2.8) for OM-T&E. Discussion/Conclusion: These findings suggest that after 36 months of treatment, the mean BCVA improvement achieved at 24 months is maintained for both the patients exclusively treated with the T&E regimen and those that switched to T&E after 24 months in the OM regimen.

Here we analyzed six years of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance, from 2015 to 2020, of 10 countries linked to the WHO Regional Reference Laboratory, at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy. The analysis also comprises the polio vaccine coverage available (2015–2019) and enterovirus (EV) identification and typing data. Centralized Information System for Infectious Diseases and Laboratory Data Management System databases were used to obtain data on AFP indicators and laboratory performance and countries’ vaccine coverage from 2015 to 2019. EV isolation, identification, and typing were performed by each country according to WHO protocols. Overall, a general AFP underreporting was observed. Non-Polio Enterovirus (NPEV) typing showed a high heterogeneity: over the years, several genotypes of coxsackievirus and echovirus have been identified. The polio vaccine coverage, for the data available, differs among countries. This evaluation allows for the collection, for the first time, of data from the countries of the Balkan area regarding AFP surveillance and polio vaccine coverage. The need, for some countries, to enhance the surveillance systems and to promote the polio vaccine uptake, in order to maintain the polio-free status, is evident.

This paper presents the development and implementation of integrated intelligent CAD (computer aided design) system for design, analysis and prototyping of the compression and torsion springs. The article shows a structure of the developed system named Springs IICAD (integrated intelligent computer aided design). The system bounds synthesis and analysis design phases by means of the utilization of parametric 3D (three-dimensional) modeling, FEM (finite element method) analysis and prototyping. The development of the module for spring calculation and system integration was performed in the C# (C Sharp) programming language. Three-dimensional geometric modeling and structural analysis were performed in the CATIA (computer aided three-dimensional interactive application) software, while prototyping is performed with the Ultimaker 3.0 3D printer with support of Cura software. The developed Springs IICAD system interlinks computation module with the basic parametric models in such a way that spring calculation, shaping, FEM analysis and prototype preparation are performed instantly.

Background: It has been shown that coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) measurement by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) during dobutamine (DOB) provocation provides a more accurate functional evaluation of myocardial bridging (MB) compared to adenosine. However; the cut-off value of CFVR during DOB for identification of MB associated with myocardial ischemia has not been fully clarified. Purpose: This prospective study aimed to determine the cut-off value of TTDE-CFVR during DOB in patients with isolated-MB, as compared with stress-induced wall motion abnormalities (VMA) during exercise stress-echocardiography (SE) as reference. Methods: Eighty-one symptomatic patients (55 males [68%], mean age 56 ± 10 years; range: 27–74 years) with the existence of isolated-MB on the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and systolic MB-compression ≥50% diameter stenosis (DS) were eligible to participate in the study. Each patient underwent treadmill exercise-SE, invasive coronary angiography, and TTDE-CFVR measurements in the distal segment of LAD during DOB infusion (DOB: 10–40 μg/kg/min). Using quantitative coronary angiography, both minimal luminal diameter (MLD) and percent DS at MB-site at end-systole and end-diastole were determined. Results: Stress-induced myocardial ischemia with the occurrence of WMA was found in 23 patients (28%). CFVR during peak DOB was significantly lower in the SE-positive group compared with the SE-negative group (1.94 ± 0.16 vs. 2.78 ± 0.53; p < 0.001). ROC analyses identified the optimal CFVR cut-off value ≤ 2.1 obtained during high-dose dobutamine (>20 µg/kg/min) for the identification of MB associated with stress-induced WMA, with a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of 96%, 95%, 88%, and 98%, respectively (AUC 0.986; 95% CI: 0.967–1.000; p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that MLD and percent DS, both at end-diastole, were the only independent predictors of ischemic CFVR values ≤2.1 (OR: 0.023; 95% CI: 0.001–0.534; p = 0.019; OR: 1.147; 95% CI: 1.042–1.263; p = 0.005; respectively). Conclusions: Noninvasive CFVR during dobutamine provocation appears to be an additional and important noninvasive tool to determine the functional severity of isolated-MB. A transthoracic CFVR cut-off ≤2.1 measured at a high-dobutamine dose may be adequate for detecting myocardial ischemia in patients with isolated-MB.

Entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises are very important from a social and economic point of view. Education, and in particular higher education, creates human resources for future economic and social development. There are numerous EU and national strategic documents underlining that entrepreneurship should be promoted and encouraged in educational institutions and curricula. The primary aim of this research is to determine the entrepreneurial intentions of the student population and the differences in the entrepreneurial intentions of students with regard to the field of study. The research has been conducted at the University of Mostar from April to June 2020. For the research purpose, a questionnaire was used and delivered online to students of several faculties from different areas and fields of science and education, including the first and second educational cycle. The data were analysed in IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0. The results were expressed as number and percentage and mean and standard deviation. The results of the research showed the entrepreneurial intentions of students, their entrepreneurial education and perception of entrepreneurship, their connection, and that there are certain differences with regard to the field of study.