Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of antidepressants regularly detected in the environment. This indicates that the existing wastewater treatment techniques are not successfully removing them beforehand. This study investigated the potential of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) to serve as sorbents for removal of SSRIs in water treatment. Sertraline was chosen as the template for imprinting. We optimized the composition of MIPs in order to obtain materials with highest capacity, affinity, and selectivity for sertraline. We report the maximum capacity of MIP for sertraline in water at 72.6 mg g−1, and the maximum imprinting factor at 3.7. The MIPs were cross-reactive towards other SSRIs and the metabolite norsertraline. They showed a stable performance in wastewater-relevant pH range between 6 and 8, and were reusable after a short washing cycle. Despite having a smaller surface area between 27.4 and 193.8 m2·g−1, as compared to that of the activated carbon at 1400 m2·g−1, their sorption capabilities in wastewaters were generally superior. The MIPs with higher surface area and pore volume that formed more non-specific interactions with the targets considerably contributed to the overall removal efficiency, which made them better suited for use in wastewater treatment.

Main goal of Serbian ideology, policy, practice, starting from the late XVIII until the beginning of XIX century is creation of a clean, pure and ethnic Serbian country so called Great Serbia. In such country idealists also included the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Meanwhile that is achievable only by committing heinous crimes including the Bosnian Genocide. Because of the Visegrads Geostrategic position the city is crucial for Serbian plans, aggressors and criminals tried by any means to form ethnically clean territory, not choosing the means or tools in the attempt of achieving that goal. Highest point of those crimes happened during the second world war 1941-1945, also in the time of aggression on Republic Bosnia and Herzegovina 1992-1995. Numerous mass and individual killings, extermination, enslavement, deportations and / or forcible transfer of the Bosniak population, imprisonment and other forms of deprivation of liberty committed in violation of basic rules of international law constitute a long and sad list of criminal and genocidal acts committed against Bosniaks in the Drina Valley, and in the name of the so-called project Great Serbia. In this cycle and history of chetnik misery and inhumanity, the culmination of human malice, evil blood and moral dishonor was against the Bosniaks of Eastern Bosnia. Thanks to the hard work of the community and people of the country this evil plan and evil intentions of Serbs ideologists did not come through. Yet they do not give up, furthermore they use new means and methods. In that contest targeting wider area of Visegrad, as a starting point for commencing Great Serbian goals and ideas. That gave birth to the idea that Visegrad is continuously in focus to the leaders and actors of the ideology of Great Serbia, therefore creation of ethnically clean Serbian areas. All this, for a consequence, had a permanent acts of numerous crimes against humanity and international human rights among Bosnians in wider area of Visegrad, from the period of World war 2 and in the time of aggression on Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this area number of heinous crimes were committed. One of the consequences of the horrific crimes committed against Bosniaks is a radical change in the ethnic structure of the population in the Visegrad area during the 1992-1995 aggression. In relation to the 1991 Census, when there were 13,471 Bosniaks, according to the 2013 census, 1,043 Bosniaks have registered residence in Visegrad. Still, the area wasn’t ethnically cleansed as in accordance to Serbian ideologists, so this shameful project that’s grounded on crime, continued by new means and methods. Analysis confirmed key marks of aggressive attempts of ideology and policy in creating ethnic clean Serbian territory within area of Visegrad. Research is focused and timely determined on three periods: First during the Second world war 1941-1945, Second, Aggression on Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, third period after signing of Dayton’s 1995. still this day. For the purpose of proving the general hypothesis of the research, the methods of analysis and synthesis, the hypothetical-deductive method and the comparative method will be used, and for the purposes of obtaining data, the method of analysis (content) of documents and the case study method. Serbian ideologist still tries to remove all Bosnians from the wider area of Visegrad and by doing so make that town the starting point for the next phases of ethical cleansing of non-Serbian population from walleyes of Drina Conclusion would be under any price secure at first economic conditions for survival of Bosnians on those areas, take a set of measures on economically strengthening Gorazde, as a center of gathering non-Serb population in the walleye of Drina.

Conference Report: Izvještaj sa Naučne manifestacije „Historijski pogledi 2“, Tuzla, 8. i 9. novembar 2019. godine

The study critically analyzes the root causal and consequential transnational human trafficking factors from the Balkan wars to the present, implying stigmatization discourse, gender-discriminatory climate, the role of masculinity by comprehensive bibliographic review, and insight into the socio-political and economic challenges by the participative observations and the BiH case study's, highlighting harmonization, improvement, and systemic transformation. It is a social phenomenon that requires a comprehensive (legal-social) approach, i.e., applying effective measures in terms of prevention, suppression, and the punishment of perpetrators with mandatory "regional "cooperation. Illegal economy, structural adjustment policies conditioned by international financial funds, systemic corruption, long-term transition, high unemployment, and economic migrations shape the region's economic climate and indirectly affect the state of phenomena. Ethnopolitical structures produce social (in)-stability, affecting the phenomena. Lack of political will and constant internal ethnopolitical conflicts impact the contrary course of initiatives to combat the phenomenon. Considerable attention to victims' social construction in judicial and social capital is critical due to the effects of destructive representation of misogyny elements on perpetuating sexist stereotypes that harm victims and further exploiting. Stigma in social justice significantly affects victimization dynamics, intertwining cultural, legal, conservative patterns, and structural violence continuation. The Western-Balkan states' legal double standards towards prostitution are discriminatory. Implementing adequate programs to reduce stigmatization while increasing institutional and general public exposure to victims who have made successful reintegration could be a productive aspect of the systemic transformation. Western-Balkan gender-discriminatory climate and masculinity's role in establishing an ethnonational political community based on conservative values ​​remain insufficiently explored. Given the challenges of the current migrant crisis, the political level can ensure a coherent and coordinated EU and Western Balkans strategy in harmonizing and improving the existing normative solutions.

Purpose Radiological assessment of primary brain neoplasms, both high (HGG) and low grade tumors (LGG), based on contrast-enhancement alone can be inaccurate. We evaluated the radiological value of amide proton transfer weighted (APTw) MRI as an imaging complement for pre-surgical radiological diagnosis of brain tumors. Methods Twenty-six patients were evaluated prospectively; (22 males, 4 females, mean age 55 years, range 26–76 years) underwent MRI at 3T using T1-MPRAGE pre- and post-contrast administration, conventional T2w, FLAIR, and APTw imaging pre-surgically for suspected primary/secondary brain tumor. Assessment of the additional value of APTw imaging compared to conventional MRI for correct pre-surgical brain tumor diagnosis. The initial radiological pre-operative diagnosis was based on the conventional contrast-enhanced MR images. The range, minimum, maximum, and mean APTw signals were evaluated. Conventional normality testing was performed; with boxplots/outliers/skewness/kurtosis and a Shapiro–Wilk’s test. Mann-Whitney U for analysis of significance for mean/max/min and range APTw signal. A logistic regression model was constructed for mean, max, range and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves calculated for individual and combined APTw signals Results Conventional radiological diagnosis prior to surgery/biopsy was HGG (8 patients), LGG (12 patients), and metastasis (6 patients). Using the mean and maximum: APTw signal would have changed the pre-operative evaluation the diagnosis in 8 of 22 patients (two LGGs excluded, two METs excluded). Using a cut off value of >2.0% for mean APTw signal integral, 4 of the 12 radiologically suspected LGG would have been diagnosed as high grade glioma, which was confirmed by histopathological diagnosis. APTw mean of >2.0% and max >2.48% outperformed four separate clinical radiological assessments of tumor type, P-values = .004 and = .002, respectively. Conclusions Using APTw-images as part of the daily clinical pre-operative radiological evaluation may improve diagnostic precision in differentiating LGGs from HGGs, with potential improvement of patient management and treatment.

In this study, the efficacy of different extraction techniques (maceration, ultrasound-assisted and Soxhlet extraction) on the content of biologically active components in extracts from fresh and dried nettle leaves, and their antioxidant activity were analyzed. Methanol was used as the solvent. Total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu, DPPH and FRAP methods, respectively. High content of total phenolic compounds and high antioxidant activity were recorded in extracts of dried nettle. Extracts obtained from fresh nettle samples showed significantly lower content of analyzed bioactive components and lower antioxidant activity. In the case of all extracts, Soxhlet extraction proved to be the most efficient, and maceration the least efficient extraction technique for isolation of bioactive components from nettle leaves.

Biodegradable porous silicon (pSi) particles are under development for drug delivery applications. The optimum particle size very much depends on medical use, and microparticles can outperform nanoparticles in specific instances. Here we demonstrate the ability of sedimentation to size-select ultrasmall (1–10 μm) nanoporous microparticles in common solvents. Size tunability is quantified for 1–24 h of sedimentation. Experimental values of settling times in ethanol and water are compared to those calculated using Stokes’ Law. Differences can arise due to particle agglomeration, internal gas generation and incomplete wetting. Air-dried and supercritically-dried pSi powders are shown to have, for example, their median diameter d (0.5) particle sizes reduced from 13 to 1 μm and from 20 to 3 μm, using sedimentation times of 6 and 2 h respectively. Such filtered microparticles also have much narrower size distributions and are hence suitable for administration in 27 gauge microneedles, commonly used in intravitreal drug delivery.

The use of renewable energy sources increases the energy self-sustainability of cities, enabling citizens to reduce energy costs, which results in an increase in their standard of living. However, solar energy penetration in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and its capital Sarajevo, is not in line with the possibilities. Furthermore, the Sarajevo Canton is extremely polluted during the winter months because of the use of unacceptable heating fuel. The aim of this paper is to introduce photovoltaic power systems use in heating electrification system. In this paper AQI is calculated based on historical data and the hybrid model EMD-SARIMA for air pollution and a solar production forecast is presented. The methodology was tested in the Sarajevo Canton, taking into account 35,000 households. In order to ensure clean air, renewable electric energy use for household heating should be implemented. The widespread use of inefficient individual heating systems characterized by inefficient and expensive use of firewood and the use of coal in individual furnaces in populated areas are the main problems of internal and urban air pollution in Sarajevo Canton. In order to reduce energy poverty in Sarajevo Canton, the use of a floating photovoltaic power plant located on Lake Jablanica with a capacity of 30 MW and the solar prosumers with capacity of 115 MW to provide the 196 GWh necessary for heating electrification of 35,000 households is implemented in this paper. Finally, based on correlation between AQI forecast and solar production it was calculated that the values of the AQI, considering the application of solar energy during 150 days (five months) in one heating season, have significantly decreased. Also renewable energy sources have a very important role in reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into the atmosphere and reducing urban pollution. With this approach, households would be heated by renewable electricity, which would make Sarajevo a cleaner, smarter city.

Diffusion MRI (dMRI) represents one of the few methods for mapping brain fiber orientations non-invasively. Unfortunately, dMRI fiber mapping is an indirect method that relies on inference from measured diffusion patterns. Comparing dMRI results with other modalities is a way to improve the interpretation of dMRI data and help advance dMRI technologies. Here, we present methods for comparing dMRI fiber orientation estimates with optical imaging of fluorescently labeled neurofilaments and vasculature in 3D human and primate brain tissue cuboids cleared using CLARITY. The recent advancements in tissue clearing provide a new opportunity to histologically map fibers projecting in 3D, which represents a captivating complement to dMRI measurements. In this work, we demonstrate the capability to directly compare dMRI and CLARITY in the same human brain tissue and assess multiple approaches for extracting fiber orientation estimates from CLARITY data. We estimate the three-dimensional neuronal fiber and vasculature orientations from neurofilament and vasculature stained CLARITY images by calculating the tertiary eigenvector of structure tensors. We then extend CLARITY orientation estimates to an orientation distribution function (ODF) formalism by summing multiple sub-voxel structure tensor orientation estimates. In a sample containing part of the human thalamus, there is a mean angular difference of 19° ± 15° between the primary eigenvectors of the dMRI tensors and the tertiary eigenvectors from the CLARITY neurofilament stain. We also demonstrate evidence that vascular compartments do not affect the dMRI orientation estimates by showing an apparent lack of correspondence (mean angular difference = 49° ± 23°) between the orientation of the dMRI tensors and the structure tensors in the vasculature stained CLARITY images. In a macaque brain dataset, we examine how the CLARITY feature extraction depends on the chosen feature extraction parameters. By varying the volume of tissue over which the structure tensor estimates are derived, we show that orientation estimates are noisier with more spurious ODF peaks for sub-voxels below 30 μm3 and that, for our data, the optimal gray matter sub-voxel size is between 62.5 μm 3 and 125 μm 3. The example experiments presented here represent an important advancement towards robust multi-modal MRI-CLARITY comparisons.

Aim of study was to assess the visual acuity (VA) before and after correction with soft and rigid gas permeable contact lenses (CLs) in healthy subjects, as well as their visual perfomance, including contrast sensitivity function (CSF), and twilight vision (TV). 60 eyes corrected with soft contact lenses (SCLs) and 38 eyes with rigid gas permeable contact lenses (RGPCLs) were enrolled in this prospective study. The following measurements were obtained: best spectacle–corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), best contact lens-corrected visual acuity (BCLCVA), TV, and CSF. Parameters were evaluated before and after CLs fitting and 2 months after the baseline. Exclusion criteria included anterior and posterior segment pathology, amblyopia, prior CLs wear, and ocular surgery. When analyzing TV, results showed superiority of CLs to the spectacle correction, with no statistical difference regarding the CL type. As for the CSF, RGPCLs were superior to both SCLs and spectacle correction. Visual performance was better in group fitted with RGPCLs oppose to SCLs group. CL wear improved visual performance compared to spectacles. This is the first prospective study to simultaneously investigate changes in VA, CS, and TV in SCL and RGCL wear, suggesting RGPCLs as the correction of choice for achieving optimal visual performance.

In this paper, transcultural nursing is reviewed in light of bioethical issues arising from the interpretation of mental illness in some Western Sub-Saharan African communities. Four field studies were carried out by the authors of this paper in Sub-Saharan Africa (from 2016 to 2019), during which the traditional “treatment” of enchaining people considered “crazy” by local cultures was explored. These inhuman practices raise the attention of bioethics, which investigate ways to overcome this traditional practice not violating the cultural identity of the peoples who practice it. The model of Gregoire Ahongbonon and of his Association, “Saint Camille de Lellis”, is reported as an example of negotiation between the respect for traditions and the guarantee of human rights. The care practice in force in the Saint Camille is related to transcultural nursing as an adequate form of treatment and strategy for restoring patients’ dignity and rights.

We present and thoroughly characterize a large collection of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones as A2BAR antagonists, an emerging strategy in cancer (immuno) therapy. Most compounds selectively bind A2BAR, with a number of potent and selective antagonists further confirmed by functional cyclic adenosine monophosphate experiments. The series was analyzed with one of the most exhaustive free energy perturbation studies on a GPCR, obtaining an accurate model of the structure-activity relationship of this chemotype. The stereospecific binding modeled for this scaffold was confirmed by resolving the two most potent ligands [(±)-47, and (±)-38 Ki = 10.20 and 23.6 nM, respectively] into their two enantiomers, isolating the affinity on the corresponding (S)-eutomers (Ki = 6.30 and 11.10 nM, respectively). The assessment of the effect in representative cytochromes (CYP3A4 and CYP2D6) demonstrated insignificant inhibitory activity, while in vitro experiments in three prostate cancer cells demonstrated that this pair of compounds exhibits a pronounced antimetastatic effect.

Two-dimensional 1H transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) provide a platform, analogous to group IV cubic semiconductor alloys (${\mathrm{Si}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{Ge}$), that enables systematic investigations on the effects of alloying in 2D material systems. The existing literature on TMD alloys explores their electrical, magnetic, and optical properties, but lacks a comprehensive analysis of thermal transport in supported and nanostructured systems. Here we employ first-principles-driven phonon Boltzmann transport formalism and a 2D-3D thermal boundary conductance model to systematically study in-plane and cross-plane phonon transport of suspended and ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$ supported single-layer TMD alloys. We find that the thermal conductivity of alloyed TMDs is dependent on system size up to tens of microns and that the combination of mass-difference and substrate scattering can significantly reduce thermal transport even in large systems ($g500$ nm). Beyond in-plane transport, we find that the thermal boundary conductance displays a qualitatively different trend and significantly weaker modulation with alloy composition as compared to the thermal conductivity. Our results help shed light on the in-plane and cross-plane thermal transport properties of 2D single-layer TMD alloys and further their applications in nanoelectronics, sensing, and energy devices.