Abstract We analyze if various programs for entrepreneurs with disabilities (EWD) positively impact their self-efficacy. We examine if variations in self-efficacy of EWD are related to perceptions of social support, quality assistance from service providers, and perceived barriers to entrepreneurship as a way to evaluate the impact of programs for EWD. We draw upon Critical Disability Theory to understand if service providers act as ‘sites of injustice’ for EWD, creating further barriers, or as ‘sites of justice’ that positively impact their self-efficacy. Using a sample of 127 EWD, we find a positive relationship between the services received from entrepreneurship and disability-specific support programs on self-efficacy. Conversely, we find a strong negative relationship between barriers to entrepreneurship and the self-efficacy of EWD. We contribute by forwarding Critical Disability Theory to the realm of entrepreneurship and shedding new empirical light on EWD.

This study reports on the effects of insertion velocity, needle tip geometry and needle diameter on tissue deformation and maximum insertion force. Moreover, the effect of multiple insertions with the same needle on the maximum insertion force is reported. The tissue deformation and maximum insertion force strongly depend on the insertion velocity and the tip geometry. No correlation was found between the outer diameter and the maximum insertion force for small needles (30G - 32G). The endurance experiments showed no remarkable difference in the maximum insertion force during 100 insertions.

Ex-vivo expanded tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) show promise in delivering durable responses among several solid tumour indications. However, characterising, quantifying and tracking the active component of TIL therapy remains challenging as the expansion process does not distinguish between tumour reactive and bystander T-cells. Achilles Therapeutics has developed ATL001, a patient-specific TIL-based product, manufactured using the VELOS™ process that specifically targets clonal neoantigens present in all tumour cells within a patient. Two Phase I/IIa clinical trials of ATL001 are ongoing in patients with advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, CHIRON (NCT04032847), and metastatic or recurrent melanoma, THETIS (NCT03997474). Extensive product characterisation and immune-monitoring are performed through Achilles’ manufacturing and translational science programme. This enables precise quantification and characterisation of the active component of this therapy – Clonal Neoantigen T cells (cNeT) – during manufacture and following patient administration, offering unique insight into the mechanism of action of ATL001 and aiding the development of next generation processes.ATL001 was manufactured using procured tumour and matched whole blood from 8 patients enrolled in the THETIS (n=5) and CHIRON (n=3) clinical trials. Following administration of ATL001, peripheral blood samples were collected up to week 6. The active component of the product was detected via re-stimulation with clonal neoantigen peptide pools and evaluation of IFN-γ and/or TNF-α production. Deconvolution of individual reactivities was achieved via ELISPOT assays. Immune reconstitution was evaluated by flow cytometry. cNeT expansion was evaluated by restimulation of isolated PBMCs with peptide pools and individual peptide reactivities (ELISPOT).The median age was 57 (range 30 – 71) and 6/8 patients were male. The median number of previous lines of systemic anti-cancer treatment at the time of ATL001 dosing was 2.5 (range 1 – 5). Proportion of cNeT in manufactured products ranged from 0.20% - 77.43% (mean 26.78%) and unique single peptide reactivities were observed in 7 of 8 products (range 0 – 28, mean 8.6). Post-dosing, cNeTs were detected in 5/8 patients and cNeT expansion was observed in 3/5 patients.These data underscore our ability to sensitively detect, quantify and track the patient-specific cNeT component of ATL001 – during manufacture and post dosing. As the dataset matures, these metrics of detection and expansion will be correlated with product, clinical and genomic characteristics to determine variables associated with peripheral cNeT dynamics and clinical response.NCT04032847, NCT03997474The first 8 patients described have all been located within the UK and both trials (CHIRON and THETIS) have been approved by the UK MHRA (among other international bodies, e.g FDA). Additionally, these trials have been approved by local ethics boards at active sites within the UK. Patient‘s are fully informed by provided materials and investigators prior to consenting to enrol into either ATL001 trial.

BACKGROUND Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is the most common condition requiring surgery in infancy, but the etiology of IHPS is still unclear. The study aimed to analyze the epidemiological and clinical features of the infants with IHPS in our setting and determine the yearly trends in IHPS incidence in the Sarajevo Canton between 2007 and 2016. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed epidemiologic, clinical, and operative data of all infants undergoing pyloromyotomy for IHPS over ten years in the largest tertiary care facility in Bosnia and Herzegovina. RESULTS Fifty-three IHPS patients were diagnosed, yielding an overall incidence of 1.17 per 1000 live births (1.25 and 1.09 cases in 2007-2011 and 2012-2016, respectively). IHPS was more prevalent among male infants (ratio 6.6:1, p < 0.001). The mean age at onset of symptoms was 39.6 days (range, 17-107 days). The estimated median time from symptoms onset to hospitalization was 11 days (range, 1-17 days). The mean age at diagnosis was significantly longer in premature infants compared with term infants (p = 0.003). Both first-born rank and bottle-feeding were significantly associated with IHPS (p = 0.001 and p = 0.04, respectively). No seasonal variation associated with IHPS was detected (p = 0.25). No evidence was found of differences in the incidence of IHPS related to maternal age (p = 0.24) and smoking (p = 0.59). CONCLUSION Our data indicate a declining trend and provide insights into the clinical characteristics of IHPS in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Most of the obtained results are in line with the published data and could improve the quality of local pediatric services.

An adaptive control is a control, which by pre-setting the parameters of the controller, enables the control of processes whose parameters are time-varying or are initially uncertain. The possibilities and benefits of adaptive control are versatile and can be best demonstrated by applying the system while driving a car, or maintaining the optimal speed and distance between cars, which is shown in this paper. As the car’s weight decreases while driving due to fuel consumption, the control algorithm has to be adapted to the changed driving conditions. Accordingly, an adaptive control system using the Matlab software package, and an adaptive cruise control system (ACC) was created in this paper, which is based on a predictive model. After evaluating the developed model of adaptive car motion control, the output parameters such as speed, acceleration, and distance between the two vehicles were analyzed. In this paper a PID controller is used to reduce oscillations in the system. First, the P controller was used to reduce the rise time of the significant values, then the PI controller improved the rise time, and finally the PID controller achieved overshoot reduction performance without affecting the dynamic response system. The obtained results confirm the justified expectations for the possibility of adaptive car control utilization as one of the possible solutions to the increasing traffic incidents, as well as a measure to improve the reduction of these incidents.

Wood is one of the most important construction materials in Europe and its use in building applications has increased in the recent decades. To enable even more extensive and reliable use of wood, this article aimed to determine the effect of thermal modification on mechanical properties of fir wood (lat. Abies sp.), linden wood (lat. Tilia sp.), and beech wood (lat. Fagus sp.). The thermal modification was conducted in a laboratory oven at five different temperatures of 170, 180, 195, 210, 220 °C and processed with a different maximum duration of the process of 78, 120, 180, 240, 276 minutes. Mechanical properties of treated wood have shown statistically insignificant fluctuations at lower temperatures compared to control samples. On the other hand, raising the temperature to 210 °C significantly affected the strength of all the species. The results revealed that thermal modification at high temperatures and longer exposure causes a decrease in the maximum force of the three wood species.

In the production of expanded polystyrene, the standards are very high in terms of thermal, fire, dimensional, and mechanical characteristics, because each of the characteristics is a condition for achieving quality that allows competitiveness in the market. To ensure high-quality products, it is necessary to achieve optimal performance and product quality through carefully adjusted input parameters of production. Since the production of expanded polystyrene is specific in several ways, an experimental study was conducted in which the basic parameters affecting product quality were detected and through which a series of experiments were performed to prove product quality. Experimental research for this work was conducted on three types of expanded polystyrene samples whose purpose is to insulate floors exposed to pressure. The samples were made of the same material of different densities and aging times for which the pressure stress at a deformation of 10% was tested. After the experimental phase, the modeling of the output parameters was performed. Modeling involved the development of a model that describes a given problem and the obtained modeled values were analyzed and compared with the experimental one. The modeling method used genetic programming using the GPdotNET software package. The goal of modeling with the GpdotNET tool is to obtain a realistic model that would give the value of the compression stress at a deformation of 10% as an output variable in materials made of expanded polystyrene.

Goal of this research was to develop and manufacture planetary gearbox prototype using rapid prototyping technology (additive manufacturing). Developed prototype was used to visually analyse the design of the planetary gearbox. Also, it was used to improve and innovate education of students on several courses at Mechanical Design study program at Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. It is shown that low cost rapid prototyping technology can be used to manufacture prototypes of complex machines and machine elements. Prototypes manufactured using this technology have same functionality like the real one. Main limitation is the fact that they cannot sustain real world loads and stresses. This paper shows opportunities which low cost rapid prototyping technology is offering in improvement and innovation of education process at engineering schools and faculties. All complex and heavy machines can be manufactured using this type of technology and on that way more precisely presented to the students.

The paper presents a diagnosis of the condition of the stadium FK Velež “Rođeni” in Mostar, which was built in period 2006-2008 and represents an important facility for the citizens of Mostar. The steps in diagnosing the condition of an existing structure are explained, including a collection of existing documentation, an inspection of the structure, test and calculations, and assessment and decision on further action. Drawings of the stadium were given, visual inspection of the stadium was performed and calculations of the current and future layout of the structure. The calculations were performed in software Tower 8 and with respect to European norms EN0, EN1, EN2, EN3 and EN8. A visual inspection revealed a large number of damages to the stadium, which were classified into specific groups. The mechanisms of destruction and classification were performed using EN 1504.

Optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) enables simple identification and localization of a plethora of refractive and reflective events on a fiber link, including splices, connectors and breaks, and measuring insertion/return loss. Specifically, large enough OTDR dynamic range (DR) and thus high signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) enable clear far-end visibility of longer fibers. We point out here that, under such conditions, the optical bit-error-rate (BER) floor is dominantly determined by reflective events that introduce significant return loss. This complements the OTDR legacy tests by appropriate optical BER floor estimation in the field. As high SNR implies inter-symbol interference as dominating error generating mechanism, we could apply the classical time-dispersion channel model for the optical BER floor determined by the root-mean-square (rms) delay spread of the actual fiber channel power-delay profile. However, as the high-SNR condition is not always fulfilled mostly due to insufficient DR, we propose here inserting a low-noise optical preamplifier as the OTDR front-end to reduce noise floor and amplify the backscattered signal. In order to verify the model for the exemplar test situation, we measured BER on the same fiber link to find very good matching between the measured BER floor values and the ones predicted from the OTDR trace.

The development of teleoperation systems, robots, or any physical part of the system can be costly and if something goes wrong it can lead to development overdue. Precisely for these reasons, engineers and scientists today resort to the development of simulated systems before the construction of a real system. Robot Operating System (ROS) is one of the most popular solutions for robot development, manipulation, and simulation. In this paper, we present a web application for remote control of a ROS robot. The robot is controlled via a web application that is used as a virtual Joystick. Also, in this paper, an experimental work analysis of the projected system is performed. Further research possibilities include upgrading the presented web interface, adding certain motion autonomy sensors, or integrating some path planning algorithms.

Nowadays, automatic systems are using in more spheres of industry, and in this way, human intervention is avoided and used as minimally as possible. In the chicken poultry industry, the use of mother hens is transferring to automatic egg incubating systems. Such systems are helpful for the farmers to incubate the eggs automatically without the need for human intervention. These systems work by keeping the physical quantities, temperature and humidity, at the optimal level. In that way, the fetuses inside eggs are growing without the presence of the mother hen. The egg incubating systems not only improve poultry production considerably but also help in the regularity of income making, enabling the farmers to be able to get transition into possible rural entrepreneurship. This paper describes the design and implementation of a fuzzy control system for egg incubating based on IoT technology. The microcontroller is programmed to work as a fuzzy logic control system for controlling microclimate conditions in the egg incubator to keep the conditions for different eggs type optimal. Informations from the temperature and humidity sensors are sent wirelessly to the cloud. Also, the implemented egg incubating system enables automatic tracking of the remaining days until hatching chickens. In this way, remote monitoring, from any location, of microclimatic conditions inside the egg incubator is enabled. For the experimental work analysis of the implemented egg incubating system, the egg incubator is made. Based on the results of the experimental work analysis can be seen that the egg incubating system works well and that it helps with improving poultry production.

With the development of modern technology, smartphones have become a necessity for most people. Among other uses, mobile phones are increasingly being used in smart home systems. In smart homes, mobile phones are used to remotely control and monitor various systems such as simply turning on/off lights and household appliances, various monitoring systems, etc. Nowadays, sending coded messages or pressing application buttons is increasingly being avoided in process of developing smart systems. More and more frequently is used voice commands. The system which uses voice commands for remote control and monitoring smart home is described in this paper. In the implemented system, the user is able, using specific voice commands to remotely control the operation of various appliances in his home. An Android application was designed to control the implemented system. Using the designed Android application, the user controls the desired home devices with specific voice commands. Also, on the designed Android application are buttons that the user can use, in case the user’s voice is not recognized in the implemented system. For experimental work analysis, the model of the home is made with lights and different home appliances inside. The results of the experimental work analysis of the implemented system show this system is very simple to use and very efficient. Also, the latest technology for remote control and monitor smart systems is applied in the proposed smart home system.