Purpose: This study examines the psychological implications of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into judicial decision-making in criminal justice, including algorithmically supported risk assessment and sentencing decisions. It analyzes how AI-based decision-support systems influence perceptions of fairness, trust in judicial decisions, and decision confidence, as well as the emotional responses of judges, jurors, defendants, and victims. Methodology: The study employs a theory-driven and interdisciplinary conceptual framework grounded in psychological theories of decision-making, procedural justice, and affective processes. Through a critical integrative synthesis of legal, psychological, and ethical scholarship on algorithmic decision-making, predictive modeling, and risk assessment systems in criminal justice, the study examines their implications for human judgment, responsibility attribution, and judicial experience. Findings: The analysis demonstrates that AI-assisted decision-making can substantially shape psychological perceptions of justice and the legitimacy of judicial processes. Although algorithmic tools are often perceived as consistent and objective, their reliance on historical data may reproduce existing biases, thereby negatively affecting perceived fairness, trust in judicial outcomes, and decision confidence among legal professionals and trial participants. These findings indicate that the psychological impact of artificial intelligence extends beyond technical accuracy and plays a significant role in shaping perceptions of the legitimacy of judicial processes. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice, and Policy: This study contributes to psychological theory by offering a systematic examination of the cognitive, affective, and evaluative processes associated with algorithmically supported judicial decision-making in criminal justice. In the context of judicial practice, the analysis demonstrates how uncritical reliance on AI systems may diminish judicial autonomy and obscure responsibility attribution in decision-making processes. From a public policy perspective, the findings contribute to the conceptualization of regulatory approaches oriented toward transparency, fairness, and trust in the use of AI in judicial decision-making.

This study explored the relationships between geological substrate and the structural and compositional attributes of mixed beech ( Fagus sylvatica L.), fir ( Abies alba Mill.), and spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) forests on Mt. Konjuh in northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. Research was conducted on 81 experimental plots established across three dominant substrates: limestone, peridotite, and chert. Stand structure, diversity, and spatial organization were assessed using the Shannon diversity index, Pretzsch’s species profile index, Gini coefficient, and the Clark–Evans and Füldner indices. The analyses revealed consistent differences among substrates, suggesting that geological conditions influence forest structure and diversity. Higher diversity and vertical heterogeneity were generally associated with limestone, while stands on peridotite and chert exhibited simpler but more balanced structures. All forest types displayed a reverse J-shaped diameter distribution, indicating uneven-aged composition and ongoing natural regeneration. Spatial patterns showed a tendency toward clustering of beech and spruce and higher species mingling on limestone. Overall, mixed beech–fir–spruce forests on Mt. Konjuh appear to be stable ecosystems whose structure and diversity are shaped by an interplay of geological, edaphic, and ecological factors. The results highlight the relevance of site-specific and adaptive silvicultural approaches that account for local variability in substrate and stand conditions.

Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karsten) is one of the most economically important conifer species in Europe. Efficient utilisation and processing of its wood require detailed knowledge of its technical properties, as well as the most common wood defects that substantially affect both properties and utilisation. Given the crucial role of wood defects in the roundwood classification system, the primary objective of this study was to identify defects in Norway spruce and to analyse the influence of forest assortment characteristics (diameter and position along the stem) and tree attributes (diameter at breast height and position within the stand) on the size of wood defects. The research was conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, within a forest compartment of an uneven-aged, mixed beech and silver fir stand with spruce. Trees were felled and processed into assortments using a chainsaw, predominantly applying the cut-to-length method. After measuring the assortment dimensions, the occurrence of defects was assessed, and their sizes were determined. The analysis showed that, following knots, the most common wood defect was rot, followed by pith eccentricity, compression wood, scars, mechanical damage, and resin pockets. Statistically significant differences were found in the size of knots, ellipticity, and taper among different diameter classes of assortments (p<0.05), as well as assortment positions along the stem (p=0.0000). Also, a statistically significant difference was observed in the size of the knots and ellipticity in relation to both diameter at the breast height and tree position within the stand (p<0.05). Overall, the findings align with previous studies, confirming the higher quality of the lower stem section, as reflected in smaller defect sizes critical for roundwood quality classification, such as knots, rot, ellipticity, and taper.

In terms of ichthyology, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is one of the most interesting parts of Southeast Europe, due to its rich biodiversity and high level of endemism. Despite its relevance, the entire territory has been poorly explored. Here, we provide an updated inventory of the current state of knowledge on fishes, including lampreys, from the freshwaters of BiH by hydrographic basin, with recent distributional data and updated taxonomic status reviewed and compared with previous lists. The checklist was compiled based on the existing scientific and grey literature, technical reports, scientific congresses, academic dissertations, and unpublished/personal observations. In total, 123 species including diadromous and euryhaline fishes have been documented in BiH freshwaters to date. Of these, 110 are primarily freshwater. In comparison to the last published monography (Sofradžija 2009), we present a 9% increase in species number (11 species), resulting mainly from taxonomic re-evaluations of existing taxa on the basis of new information and the adoption of a new changes in the taxonomic status of several species. Among the valid primarily freshwater species, 87 are native and 23 are non-native. A total of 38 endemic species have restricted distribution, and are threatened by numerous anthropogenic pressures. Four species are considered endemic only to BiH: Cobitis herzegoviniensis Buj & Šanda, 2014; Phoxinellus pseudalepidotus Bogutskaya & Zupančič, 2003; Telestes dabar Bogutskaya, Zupančič, Bogut & Naseka, 2012; and T. metohiensis (Steindachner, 1901). In total, 75 genera and 34 families are represented: Leuciscidae is represented by 37 species, the Salmonidae by 13, followed by the Cyprinidae, Cobitidae and Percidae, each with eight species. The native species richness follows a pattern similar to that observed in other southern European countries. A national list of endangered species has not yet been proposed to BiH and management strategies for their protection or conservation are also not implemented. Hopefully, this updated checklist will serve as a basis for future research aimed at understanding the origin and status of conservation of the BiH fishes diversity, and supporting effective management and conservation programmes.

The within-school gap in teaching has long been a primary focus of policymakers, researchers, and practitioners working to ensure equitable student outcomes. However, limited empirical research has examined the factors that can address this gap. This study examined the role of instructional school leadership in explaining variation in within-school creative pedagogies, controlling for various school-level contextual and teacher-related variables. The data come from 17 countries that participated in the 2022 PISA program. The analysis followed three steps. First, variables related to school and teachers were included in the regression. Then, instructional leadership was included in the analysis to examine its association with within-school variation in teachers’ use of creative pedagogies. The regression coefficients from each country were then combined in a meta-analysis to estimate the country-level effects. Across 17 countries, instructional leadership was generally associated with lower within-school variation in teaching quality, though this relationship was statistically significant in only three countries. These results point to a modest but potentially meaningful role for instructional leadership in reducing the gap among teachers in their creativity-oriented teaching practices and, in turn, promoting greater equity in student learning.

KRAS mutations are among the most prevalent oncogenic alterations in colorectal, lung, and pancreatic cancer, yet their detection remains analytically challenging in the presence of an overwhelming wild-type (WT) background. Here, we report a photoelectrochemical (PEC) genotyping platform that integrates clamp-inhibited loop-mediated isothermal amplification (C-LAMP) with enzyme-free singlet oxygen (1O2)-driven PEC transduction for mutation-selective KRAS detection. Locked nucleic acid (LNA) clamp probes selectively suppress WT amplification during isothermal amplification, enriching mutant alleles and enabling single-nucleotide variant (SNV) discrimination with high selectivity. Amplified products are magnetically captured and transduced into photocurrent via visible-light-induced 1O2 redox cycling, eliminating enzymatic reporters and reducing background interference. The C-LAMP/PEC platform achieves a limit of detection of 35 copies µL-1 (58 aM) and a minimum detectable variant allele frequency (VAF) of 4.8% in heterogeneous mutant/WT genomic DNA mixtures. Analytical performance was validated in cancer cell lines and in patient-derived fresh frozen tissues, showing complete concordance with Nanopore sequencing and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) within the evaluated cohort (n = 16). This work introduces a robust and modular PEC biosensing strategy that combines molecular WT suppession with enzyme-free photoelectrochemistry, offering an economically competitive and instrumentation-simplified approach for clinically relevant KRAS mutation analysis toward decentralized testing.

The Open and Reproducible Musculoskeletal Imaging Research (ORMIR) community is a scientific community dedicated to promoting openness and reproducibility in musculoskeletal imaging, image processing, and computational modelling. In this perspective paper, we outline the motivations for conducting transparent research and provide practical guidelines to implement it. We start with defining open and reproducible research and describing the benefits and challenges of working transparently. Next, we redefine the outputs of a computational research study as—ideally—a combination of data, code, and a publication, recommend a folder and file structure that reflects these three study outcomes, and describe how to maintain and update such a structure during the study and at study publication. Finally, we emphasize that working in an open and reproducible manner is a learning process and the best way to acquire the necessary competencies is simply to start. Lay summary: The ORMIR community promotes openness and reproducibility in musculoskeletal imaging research. In this perspective paper, we explain why transparency matters and recommend how to conduct a computational study in an open and reproducible manner focusing on its three outputs: data, code, and publication. Finally, we highlight that the best way to learn these practices is simply to start.

Abstract The Open and Reproducible Musculoskeletal Imaging Research community is a scientific community dedicated to promoting openness and reproducibility in musculoskeletal imaging, image processing, and computational modeling. In this perspective paper, we outline the motivations for conducting transparent research and provide practical guidelines for implementing it. We start by defining open and reproducible research and describing the benefits and challenges of working transparently. Next, we redefine the outputs of a computational research study as—ideally—a combination of data, code, and a publication, recommend a folder and file structure that reflects these three study outcomes, and describe how to maintain and update such a structure during the study and at study publication. Finally, we emphasize that working in an open and reproducible manner is a learning process, and the best way to acquire the necessary competencies is simply to start.

Leptospirosis, a reemerging zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic bacteria of the genus Leptospira, affects a wide range of domestic and wild animals. The only investigation into sheep leptospirosis in Bosnia and Herzegovina was conducted nearly 50 years ago. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of leptospirosis and to identify the most common serovars in sheep in Bosnia and Herzegovina, using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Leptospirosis seroprevalence was determined to be 2.16% at a cut-off titer of ≥1:100 (55/2542) and 8.10% at a cut-off of ≥1:25 (206/2542), with all positive cases related to a single serovar. The MAT titers were 1:25 and 1:100, with the majority of positive animals having low titer (1:25) (151/206; 73.3%). At a cut-off of ≥1:100, the sera most frequently reacted to Pomona (54.55%) and Hardjo (27.27%), and less commonly to Saxkoebing and Icterohaemorrhagiae (0.2%) (P<0.05). Odds of seropositivity were higher for Pomona and Hardjo than for Saxkoebing and Icterohaemorrhagiae. The results of this study showed for the first time in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the presence of serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae in sheep, with Pomona and Hardjo as the dominant serovars. Although the seroprevalence is low, the potential zoonotic risk requires continuous monitoring and control strategies to prevent the spread of leptospirosis.

Background: Inflammation-driven mechanisms play a central role in adverse outcomes after non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), yet simple, widely available biomarkers for early risk stratification remain insufficiently defined. Hemogram-derived indices and iron-related inflammatory markers may provide complementary prognostic information. Objective: To evaluate the prognostic significance of the mean platelet volume-to-monocyte ratio (MMR) and serum ferritin in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with NSTEMI, and to assess the association of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy with clinical outcomes. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 170 consecutive NSTEMI patients admitted to the University Clinical Center Tuzla between February 2022 and January 2023. All patients received dual antiplatelet therapy and high-intensity statins. The baseline evaluation included a complete blood count, serum ferritin, and C-reactive protein. MMR was calculated as the ratio of mean platelet volume to absolute monocyte count. Patients were followed for 12 months for the occurrence of MACE, defined as cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, urgent revascularization, stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Results: During follow-up, 103 patients (60.6%) experienced MACE. Admission MMR (18.1 ± 11.7 vs 13.2 ± 5.5; P = 0.003) and ferritin levels (284 ± 396 vs 152 ± 109 µg/L; P = 0.001) were significantly higher in patients with events. In multivariable analysis, both MMR (odds ratio [OR] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.11; P = 0.008) and ferritin (OR 1.28 per 100 µg/L, 95% CI 1.10-1.55; P = 0.003) independently predicted MACE, while ACE inhibitor therapy was associated with a lower risk (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.08-0.70; P = 0.01). The combined model demonstrated good discriminative performance (AUC 0.72; 95% CI 0.64-0.80). Conclusion and Relevance: Elevated admission MMR and ferritin were independently associated with a higher 1-year risk of MACE in patients with NSTEMI. ACE inhibitor therapy was associated with improved outcomes, although causality cannot be inferred. These findings suggest that readily available inflammatory biomarkers may complement established clinical parameters for early risk stratification and support continued guideline-directed pharmacotherapy in NSTEMI.

Background and Objectives Contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) is a potentially preventable complication after exposure to iodinated contrast media. In patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), the incidence and clinical impact are poorly characterized, and no validated prediction tool is currently available. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and prognostic significance of CA-AKI in EVT-treated patients with AIS and to develop and validate a predictive score. Methods A retrospective, multicenter cohort study was conducted involving EVT-treated patients across 73 centers in 16 countries (January–December 2023). Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, absence of dialysis, availability of preprocedural and 48-hour postprocedural creatinine levels, and available 90-day follow-up (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score). The primary outcome was CA-AKI, defined by KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria;creatinine increase ≥0.3 mg/dL or ≥1.5 times baseline, within 48 hours). Secondary outcomes were (1) in-hospital mortality, (2) 90-day mRS score, and (3) 90-day severe disability or death (mRS score >3). Logistic models assessing associations with outcomes accounted for within-center clustering by applying robust standard errors. CA-AKI prediction models were developed across imputed data sets using univariable selection (p < 0.20), backward elimination (p < 0.05), and coefficient-based scoring after categorization of continuous predictors, with internal validation by bootstrap to obtain optimism-adjusted estimates. Results Among 6,638 patients (median age 74 years; 48.7% male), CA-AKI occurred in 326 (4.9%) and was independently associated with in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.269; 95% CI 1.615–3.190), higher 90-day mRS scores (adjusted common odds ratio 1.584; 95% CI 1.110–2.258), and 90-day severe disability or death (aOR 1.530; 95% CI 1.057–2.216). A preprocedural risk model including 12 routine clinical variables—sex, ethnicity, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease, antiplatelet therapy, NIH Stroke Scale score at admission, serum glucose, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hemoglobin, mean arterial pressure, and IV thrombolysis—demonstrated acceptable discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.710 [95% CI 0.682–0.738]; precision-recall area under the curve 0.13 [95% CI 0.10–0.16]), good calibration (slope 0.870 [95% CI 0.759–0.928]), good overall performance (Brier score 0.045 [95% CI 0.042–0.049]). A second model that included EVT-related variables (e.g., contrast volume) showed similar performances. Discussion In this large, international cohort, CA-AKI occurred in approximately 1 in 20 EVT-treated patients with AIS and was independently associated with poor outcomes. A simple preprocedural risk score enables early identification of high-risk individuals and may support preventive strategies.

Early in 2020, the WHO recommended that existing drugs be evaluated as a repurposed resource to fight the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Here, we investigate the trends of using repurposed and off-label drugs among people living with HIV in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). From November 2020 to May 2021, data on the clinical outcomes of HIV-positive patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were collected on eCRFs (SurveyMonkey® platform, Inc. San Mateo, CA, USA). Factors associated with the off-label drugs available at this time (chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, favipiravir, oseltamivir, and lopinavir/ritonavir) were identified using logistic regression models. Of the 557 HIV-positive patients assessed with COVID-19 disease, 67 (12.0%) received off-label drugs, as well as 11.6% (16/138) of hospitalized and 12.2% (51/419) of ambulatory patients (p = 0.8564). In the adjusted logistic regression model, higher odds of off-label drug use were found in patients who had their diagnoses confirmed by an RT PCR test (aOR 5.08 [95%CI 1.17–22.0], p = 0.0396), and who came from a non-EU region (aOR 6.79 [95%CI 3.51–13.1], p < 0.0001). The only factor decreasing the odds of off-label drug use was co-infection (aOR 0.31 [95%CI 0.10–0.94], p < 0.0395). In a cohort of HIV patients from the CEE, 12% were prescribed off-label drugs for COVID-19. Symptomatic patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection or who were from non-EU countries were more likely to receive a repurposed drug. Drug repurposing is an immediate solution to emerging pandemics. All data regarding the safety and effectiveness of such use should be monitored, reported, and publicly available. Access patterns within and outside the EU should be analyzed to prevent potential inequalities in access to care during epidemics in European settings.

Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) T-cell therapy is a ground-breaking discovery in immunotherapy, mainly known for its exceptional results in treating haematological malignancies. The latest research has revealed that the potential of CAR T-cell therapy extends far beyond its current capabilities and could represent a novel therapeutic approach for treating various cancers. This review aims to summarize the latest innovations in CAR T-cell therapy applied in cancer treatment, including multiple myeloma, osteosarcoma, glioblastoma, melanoma and various childhood malignancies. However, several challenges limit success of CAR T-cell therapy, including the antigen escape phenomenon, 'on-target off-tumour' toxicity, penetration into solid tumour tissue, alongside the cost-effectiveness concerns. The improvement of cancer immunotherapies currently available requires an increase in the effectiveness of CAR T-cells in managing refractory and solid cancers. This could be achieved by using CAR T-cells to target various antigens, enhancing their local delivery and tumour infiltration capabilities and utilizing CAR T-cells in combination with checkpoint blockade and immunotherapy, such as PD-1 blockade and CD19 CAR T-cell combined therapy. Although CAR T-cell treatment offers a lot of promise, its cost needs to be taken into account, especially in healthcare systems with limited funding. More importantly, frameworks for Health Technology Assessment (HTA) must adapt to incorporate ethical, sociological and psychological aspects. Reducing CAR T-cell toxicity is also essential, as it remains among biggest obstacles to their widespread application in clinical practice. Future research should therefore focus on enhancing our understanding of CAR T-cell therapy and expanding the application of immunotherapy in treatment.

Neural activity reorganizes profoundly after birth, transitioning from highly synchronous population events to sparse, decorrelated firing in the mature brain. Although inhibitory maturation and shifts in excitation-inhibition balance have been implicated in this process, how individual neurons implement the transition remains unclear because rapid brain growth has prevented long-term, same-neuron mapping. Here, we introduce growth-adaptive spring electronics that provide depth-wise compliance during tissue expansion, maintaining a stable electrode-tissue interface over weeks of neonatal development. We developed a vision-language model-assisted spike processing pipeline for the developing brain that probabilistically matches units across days using high-density waveform spatial footprints, despite developmental changes in the neonatal brain. Together, these innovations enable spike-resolved mapping of the same neurons in rat visual cortex and medial prefrontal cortex from postnatal day 10 to 45. Using population coupling to quantify each neuron’s coordination with local population activity, we show that developmental decorrelation is driven primarily by a distinct subset of neurons that progressively shifts from strong to weak coupling during postnatal weeks 3 to 5, whereas other neurons remain stably weakly or strongly coupled throughout development. These results resolve population-level desynchronization into identifiable neuron-specific trajectories. This framework enables direct tests in neurodevelopmental disorder models, including schizophrenia and autism, of whether altered maturation reflects global circuit imbalance or selective disruption and mistiming of specific developmental programs.

This article examines the use of collaborative online international learning to support educator and educational leadership preparation. As part of a university partnership, the authors piloted virtual exchanges in 2021 and 2022 between university students in the United States (U.S.) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (B.H.). The pilot included 18 U.S. doctoral leadership students and 22 B.H. bachelor's, master's and doctoral students in religious pedagogy and theology. Qualitative case study methods were used to examine two COILs. The authors analyzed curricular and instructional materials, student reflections, faculty notes and correspondence and publicly available B.H. media accounts. Reported learning emphasized reflection focused on cultural attitudes, knowledge and skills; intercultural and interlinguistic awareness; intercultural team functioning and educational leadership, system and policy comparisons. Supports for and challenges to reported learning were structural, curricular and instructional in nature. Little research exists on the use of virtual exchange for educational leadership preparation. This study offers early lessons for using virtual technologies to incorporate an international and intercultural dimension into educational leadership preparation.