Healthy plantar pressure distribution beneath the feet plays a crucial role in children’s development from the very beginning, with any deviations potentially leading to various pathologic conditions. This review aims to examine recent applications of pedobarographic analysis in pediatrics applications, providing a clearer picture of current research practices and the topics being addressed. The authors conducted a comprehensive search across several scientific databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, ultimately selecting 17 studies after applying specific criteria for inclusion. The findings demonstrate that pedobarographic analysis can effectively differentiate between age and sex differences in plantar pressure and detect the influence of various risk factors in healthy children. It was found that a child’s foot health is closely linked to their physical activity level, with body fat percentage playing a significant role in pressure distribution. Furthermore, external factors like school bags and internal factors such as obesity were identified as major contributors to abnormal plantar pressure, and pedobarography proved successful in detecting these effects. The analysis also showed that pedobarography is an effective tool for assessing foot health, tracking changes, and monitoring longterm recovery or trends in children. However, the review also highlights a limitation in the scarcity of research, particularly in the areas of gait and plantar pressure in children. Only a few studies have focused on young healthy athletes, suggesting that future research could delve deeper into this population.

Microneedles (MNs) are emerging as versatile tools for both therapeutic drug delivery and diagnostic monitoring. Unlike hypodermic needles, MNs achieve these applications with minimal or no pain and customizable designs, making them suitable for personalized medicine. Understanding the key design parameters and the challenges during contact with biofluids is crucial to optimizing their use across applications. This review summarizes the current fabrication techniques and design considerations tailored to meet the distinct requirements for drug delivery and biosensing applications. We further underscore the current state of theranostic MNs that integrate drug delivery and biosensing and propose future directions for advancing MNs toward clinical use.

Background: COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus, with a high mortality, especially in patients with underlying diseases. Patients with COVID-19 pneumonia may express an immune response such as cytokine storm or macrophage activation syndrome, which can lead to organ failure and death.Some studies suggest that corticosteroid and tocilizumab can improve the respiratory status and clinical outcome of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the potential effect of the use of tocilizumab and corticosteroids in patients with concomitant cardiovascular diseases on the clinical course and outcome during COVID-19 infection. Methods: We performed an observational retrospective study of adult patients admitted to “Travnik” and “Jajce” Hospital, Bosnia and Herzegovina, between 01.03.2020 and 01.12.2022 with confirmed COVID-19 and underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD). Results: The majority of patients (110 or 60.4%) had previously reported cardiomyopathy, and other cardiovascular disease included earlier myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac surgery, compensated cardial disease, and acute myocardial infarction. Total of 159 (87.4%) patients received corticosteroids during treatment. Tocilizumab has been used in 16 patients; nine survived and seven died. Conclusion: Even some studies proved that it might improve clinical presentation and prevent lethal outcomes; in our study there were no significant results to confirm this thesis.             Peer Review History: Received 28 September 2024;   Reviewed 15 November; Accepted 21 December; Available online 15 January 2025 Academic Editor: Dr. DANIYAN Oluwatoyin Michael, Obafemi Awolowo University, ILE-IFE, Nigeria, toyinpharm@gmail.com Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.5/10

This paper presents the results of an action research conducted in a kindergarten in Sarajevo Canton. The participants were four female kindergarten educators who collaborated with two university professors who took the role of research leaders and moderators of reflective meetings. The action research was conceived as a model of professional development for preschool teachers in the Reggio pedagogy field, aiming to develop the skill of documenting pedagogical observation and the competence of implementing reflective practice (RP below the text) based on the Reggio principles. Data were collected on two levels: the educators documented their educational practice (photos, transcripts, videos, etc.), which was the basic material for analysis at collaborative reflective meetings, and all of it was documented by the research leaders. The data were analyzed simultaneously during the research (to decide on further action) and finally at the end of the research. The results of the research indicate that the action research raised awareness of the elements of traditional educational practice and developed the skills of pedagogical documentation management and the skill of implementing RP. Considering the limited time period for the realization of the research (14 months), significant but not optimal results were achieved, and there is still room for further progress in terms of improving the skills of keeping records and the capacity of RP implementation. It is necessary to systematically provide support for the professional development of educators through the development of reflective learning communities in kindergartens instead of the one-off and lecture-based forms that are offered.

The occurrence of spinal deformities during periods of rapid growth in children has been increasingly recognized as a significant issue within the broader community. This study aimed to evaluate the spinal posture during one of the most critical phases of physiological development in a specific group of preschool children. The research involved 153 preschool aged 4 to 6 years (mean age ± standard deviation: 4.6 ± 1.1 years) residing in Sarajevo. Postural assessment was conducted using the method proposed by Napoleon Wolanski (1975), which evaluates segmental relationships through the following parameters: head posture assessment (HPA), shoulder posture assessment (SPA), scapular posture assessment (SBPA), chest posture assessment (CPA), scoliotic posture evaluation (SCP), abdominal posture assessment (APA), leg posture assessment (LPA), and foot posture assessment (FPA). Deviations were categorized based on severity, assigned negative points as follows: 0 points for no deviation, 1 point for mild deviation, and 2 points for significant deviation. The associations between the eight parameters were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient (rho). The highest degree of correlation was observed between the variables of abdominal posture assessment and head posture assessment (0.536). Poor abdominal posture, often linked to weakened core muscles or imbalances in the lumbar region, can result in compensatory shifts in the head and neck to preserve balance and visual orientation.

Cyclosporine A (CsA) is widely used as an immunosuppressant in organ transplantation to improve graft survival and prevent tissue rejection. The impact of CsA on cancer progression is highly complex, influenced by the intricate relationship between immunosuppression and malignancy. While individuals with compromised immune systems, notably organ transplant recipients, face an elevated risk of cancer invasion and progression due to immunosuppressive regimens, CsA’s role in either promoting or inhibiting cancer remains elusive. Divergent outcomes from in vitro and in vivo studies suggest suppression of cancer progression under CsA treatment and complicate the translation of findings to clinical scenarios. Despite promising in vitro and in vivo results, the clinical application of CsA in oncology necessitates careful consideration of its toxicity profile in in vivo models, starting at 50–200 mg/kg/d. The divergence between preclinical and clinical findings highlights the need for further research to elucidate the true nature of CsA’s impact on cancer, providing a foundation for more informed and targeted therapeutic approaches.

The present work aspires to contribute to the discussion on the relationship between macroscopic measurements and microstructure, helping establish a methodology that will allow the quantitative assessment of the effect of strain on magnetic properties in the plastic deformation regime. In particular, we study the effect of strain on the magnetization process as a result of varying the anisotropy profile at the grain level. Results on micromagnetic calculations of hysteresis loops for various configurations of magnetic anisotropy are shown and discussed against the interplay between the energy terms involved in the calculations, namely anisotropy, demagnetizing, and exchange. The results are in line with previously obtained results using vector Preisach modeling with the Stoner–Wohlfarth model acting both as a switching and rotation mechanism. The hysteresis loop phenomenology is consistent with the emergence of a hard phase in the form of a boundary around soft grains which is assumed to be the result of the onset of compressive stresses in the plastic region. Future research will be oriented toward the study of the effect of the secondary peak in differential permeability, which is observed experimentally in the plastic deformation region, and its dependence on the angle of misalignment between the hard boundary and the soft grain.

A dedicated run of a future electron-positron collider (FCC-ee) at a center-of-mass energy equal to the Higgs boson mass would enable a direct measurement of the electron Yukawa coupling. However, it poses substantial experimental difficulties due to large backgrounds, the requirement for monochromatised e+e− beams, and the potential extension of the FCC-ee timeline. Given this, we explore the extent to which the electron Yukawa coupling can be enhanced in simplified UV models and examine whether such scenarios can be constrained by other FCC-ee runs or upcoming experiments at the intensity frontier. Our results indicate that in certain classes of models, the (g − 2)e provides a probe of the electron Yukawa coupling that is as effective or better than the FCC-ee. Nevertheless, there exist models that can lead to sizeable deviations in the electron Yukawa coupling which can only be probed in a dedicated run at the Higgs pole mass.

The industrial advancement of downstream products resulting from the directed hydrogenation of maleic anhydride is hindered by the limitations related to the activity and stability of catalysts. The development of nonprecious metal intermetallic compounds, in which active sites are adjustable in the local structures and electronic properties embedded within a distinct framework, holds immense potential in enhancing catalytic efficacy and stability. Herein, we report that nickel-based silicides catalysts, RNi2Si2 (R = Ca, La, and Y), afford high efficiency in the selective hydrogenation of maleic anhydride. Among the RNi2Si2 with the same tetragonal structure, CaNi2Si2 with complete isolation and highest electron density of Ni sites presents the low apparent activation energy (98.4 kJ/mol). Preferential adsorption of intermediate succinic anhydride via C═O bonds is achieved by the high oxygen affinity of CaNi2Si2, resulting in chemoselectivity to γ-butyrolactone (>80%). Additionally, the silicide with good resistance to sintering and acid corrosion presents remarkable stability for at least 130 h. The design of the silicide structure will offer fresh perspectives on the development of effective and enduring selective hydrogenation catalysts.

Sociology offers a valuable lens through which to examine the societal transformations taking place in the age of artificial intelligence. By analysing micro-, meso- and macro-social levels, sociology can shed light on how AI affects processes such as socialisation, education, training, employment, communication, leisure and work. Furthermore, the impact of AI on social sustainability is a critical concern. This paper proposes a reflexive analysis of the sociology of AI to explore its potential contributions to social sustainability in the digital age. It considers the challenges associated with accessing and promoting digital literacy for AI, both as consumers and producers. It also considers the implications for sociology as a scientific discipline, encompassing both research methodologies and the products of inquiry. Through this analysis, the paper seeks to provide insights into how the sociology of AI can contribute to a more sustainable society in the digital age, and to identify the obstacles that need to be overcome to achieve this goal.   Received: 22 May 2024 / Accepted: 22 December 2024 / Published: 11 January 2025

Abstract Objectives Two different European Reference Networks cover CTDs with paediatric onset, the European Reference Network on Rare and Complex Connective Tissue Diseases (ERN ReCONNET) and the European Reference Network on Rare Immunological Disorders (ERN RITA). The transition of care is a significant focus, with ReCONNET centres actively addressing this through updated programs. Despite these efforts, challenges persist. We aimed to inventory transitional care programs for rare CTDs across Europe. Methods In April 2023, the ERN ReCONNET Transition of Care Task Force, consisting of expert clinicians, patient advocates and coordination team members, created a survey to assess transitional care practices. The survey was distributed to ERN ReCONNET and ERN RITA centres and responses received by 15 March 2024 were analysed. Results A total of 67 responses from 59 centres across 20 European countries were collected. Paediatric rheumatologists typically initiated the transition process (49% of centres). Twenty centres had joint clinics. Despite positive self-assessments of transitional programs, significant limitations were noted. Transition policies varied, with only 40% of centres having a formal standardized policy and less than half of the centres adhering to available transition of care guidelines. Transfer readiness was evaluated using validated questionnaires in 13% of centres, while 29% transitioned patients based solely on age without any readiness assessments. The main challenges included finding adult-oriented centres and the lack of guidelines or engagement from adult centres. Adult healthcare providers also noted a lack of training in adolescent medicine. Conclusion The survey highlighted diverse transition practices and resources across centres, with challenges in readiness evaluation and the use of guidelines. Despite these obstacles, respondents rated ongoing transition processes positively. Enhancing patient perspectives in the transition process is crucial to meet their needs during this critical phase.

Background Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries is a chronic, progressive condition characterized by the buildup of plaque within the arterial walls. Coronary artery disease (CAD), more specifically coronary atherosclerosis (CATS), is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Computational modeling frameworks have been used for simulation of atherosclerotic plaque progression and with the advancement of agent-based modeling (ABM) the simulation results became more accurate. However, there is a need for optimization of resources for predictive modeling, hence surrogate models are being built to substitute lengthy computational models without compromising the results. Objective This study explores the development of a surrogate model for atherosclerotic plaque progression using ABM simulation data. Method The dataset used for this study contains samples from latin-hypercube sampling based generated simulation parameters used in conjunction with 15 patient-specific geometries and corresponding plaque progression data. The developed surrogate model is based on deep learning using artificial neural networks (ANN). Results The surrogate model achieved an accuracy of 95.4% in benchmarking with the ABM model it was built upon which indicates the robustness of the framework. Conclusion Adoption of surrogate models with high accuracy in practice opens an avenue for utilization of high-fidelity decision support systems for predicting atherosclerotic plaque progression in real-time.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between linear and change-of-direction sprinting performance with dribbling performance and Dribble Deficit in professional female handball players. Methods Eleven professional female handball players (mean age: 21.12 ± 4.34 years; body height: 171.59 ± 4.52 cm; body weight: 66.29 ± 5.73 kg) participated in the study. Each participant completed several linear (sprint over 10, 20, and 30 m) and change-of-direction tests (slalom test, zig-zag test, 505 test), first without the ball (sprinting performance) followed by ball dribbling (dribbling performance). Dribble Deficit was calculated indirectly as the time difference between the best trial while dribbling minus the best trial without dribbling. Results A large to very large correlation was observed between the linear sprint and dribbling performance (r = 0.53–0.78), as well as between change-of-direction sprinting performance and dribbling performance (r = 0.66–0.88). The study also showed a moderate to perfect relationship between linear dribbling performance and Dribble Deficit (r = 0.46–0.93), and a large relationship between change-of-direction dribbling performance and Dribble Deficit (r = 0.54–0.55), while the relationships between linear sprinting performance and Dribble Deficit (r = −0.51–0.21) and between change-of-direction sprinting performance and Dribble Deficit (r = −0.14–0.26) were small and non-significant. Conclusion In summary, Dribble Deficit reflects dribbling ability independent of sprinting ability and refines its application for practical use in assessing dribbling skills in female handball players.

A subset of developmental disorders (DD) is characterized by disease-specific genome-wide methylation changes. These episignatures inform on the underlying pathogenic mechanisms and can be used to assess the pathogenicity of genomic variants as well as confirm clinical diagnoses. Currently, the detection of these episignature requires the use of indirect methylation profiling methodologies. We hypothesized that long-read whole genome sequencing would not only enable the detection of single nucleotide variants and structural variants but also episignatures. Genome-wide nanopore sequencing was performed in 40 controls and 20 patients with confirmed or suspected episignature-associated DD, representing 13 distinct diseases. Following genomic variant and methylome calling, hierarchical clustering and dimensional reduction were used to determine the compatibility with microarray-based episignatures. Subsequently, we developed a support vector machine (SVM) for the detection of each DD. Nanopore sequencing-based methylome patterns were concordant with microarray-based episignatures. Our SVM-based classifier identified the episignatures in 17/19 patients with a (likely) pathogenic variant and none of the controls. The remaining patients in which no episignature was identified were also classified as controls by a commercial microarray assay. In addition, we identified all underlying pathogenic single nucleotide and structural variants and showed haplotype-aware skewed X-inactivation evaluation directs clinical interpretation. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates nanopore sequencing enables episignature detection. In addition, concurrent haplotyped genomic and epigenomic analyses leverage simultaneous detection of single nucleotide/structural variants, X-inactivation, and imprinting, consolidating a multi-step sequential process into a single diagnostic assay.