Abstract Over the last few decades, many countries in the world have been struggling with high indebtedness. This has been especially emphasized in periods of crisis, and this was not an exception during the last global economic crisis in 2009. The advent of the crisis has further increased the need for borrowing. Increasing indebtedness after the crisis was also characteristic of BiH economy, the country in our research focus, which had an increase of public external debt by over 100% over the last two decades. The paper focuses on the external indebtedness of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) over the period 2004-2017. The empirical part relies on dynamic modelling - Vector Autoregression Model, which is used to explore total external indebtedness. The empirical investigation implies that foreign-trade exchange deficits have had the greatest impact on rising indebtedness in BiH, while movements in EURIBOR interest rates have little influence in explaining this variability. The empirical investigation implies that macroeconomic policy in BiH, if it wants to keep the external debt under control over the longer time horizon, does need to focus on deficits in its foreign exchange more. One of inevitable priorities is to work on supporting production based of export from this economy.

Abstract Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), as an aromatic and medicinal plant, exhibits numerous of genotypes that have various applications in food and pharmaceutical industries. Thus, chemical composition is an important parameter for assessing the quality of basil. Hence, twelve European basil genotypes were cultivated under the same conditions, and isolated essential oils and methanol extracts were subjected to detailed chemical analyses and testing their biological activities. According to the analysis of the volatiles, all genotypes belong to linalool chemotype, and they were clustered into two groups. Rosmarinic acid was found to be the major phenylpropanoid, following with luteoin, kaempherol, and rutin. Principal component analysis of phenolic compounds indicated segregation of genotypes in two distinct groups. Biological activities of the isolated extracts were correlated with the concentrations of the actives, and it was found that naringenin, luteolin, and kaempherol are the main carriers of antioxidant activity, while the levels of linalool correlated with tyrosinase inhibition activity. Adversely, methyl chavicol showed negative correlations with both assays. Finally, it was found that Czech genotypes (Litra and Chladek), as well as Dutch (Bush) and Italian (Fino Verde Compatto) possess significant amounts of terpenoid linalool, together with flavonoids luteolin, naringenin, and kaempherol, and therefore, have strong biological activities required for their use in food and cosmetic industries.

Introduction: A number of nuclear medicine procedures significantly dropped worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every nuclear medicine department has faced changed working environment in terms of the type of requested procedures, number of requests and personal protection issues. Also, some specificities emerged that affect standard operating procedures. Aim: The aim here is to present different clinical scenarios related to RT PCR molecular testing and COVID-19-associated pulmonary findings on PET/CT in oncologic patients. Methods: A case series of four patients imaged on oncologic PET/CT is presented. Short clinical history followed by description of significant PET/CT findings and their importance from the perspective of COVID-19 pandemic and interpretation of PET/CT findings is presented. Conclusion: PET/CT imaging remains of paramount importance for oncologic patients during the pandemic. Under the unprecedented circumstances, interpretation of PET/CT findings has become more complex having some specificities that must be kept in mind.

OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to determine the sealing ability of MTA, Biodentine, and Fuji IX as root-end materials after ultrasonic retrograde preparation using a dye penetration method. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventy permanent anterior teeth were used in this study. Root canals were prepared using rotary endodontic files, and obturated using the lateral condensation technique. The resection of the root apices was performed perpendicularly to the long axis, and 3 mm deep retrocavities were made by ultrasonic tips. The samples were randomly divided into three experimental groups (N=20) and two control groups (N=5). The root-end cavities were filled with mineral-trioxide aggregate (Rootdent MTA, TehnoDent, Russia) in Group 1, Biodentine (Septodont, Saint Maur des Fossés, France) in Group 2 and Fuji IX GP (GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) in Group 3. The retrocavities of the positive control group were left unfilled, while retrocavities in the negative control group were sealed using a flowable composite material. The samples were made transparent, and dye penetration was assessed under a stereomicroscope (x10). The data were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS The Biodentine group had a lower mean leakage value than the MTA and Fuji IX groups, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). No statistical difference in apical microleakage was found between the MTA and Fuji IX groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that Biodentine provides better sealing ability as a root-end material than MTA and Fuji IX. There was no statistically significant difference between the sealing ability of MTA and Fuji IX as root-end materials.

A 31-year-old woman with hepatocellular carcinoma suffered from recurrent oesophageal variceal bleeding due to portal hypertension, which was caused by severe compression of the portal vein by metastatic lymph nodes. Endoscopic band ligation and pharmacological treatment did not suffice to prevent recurrence of variceal bleeding. Eventually, after the fifth variceal bleeding within 6 months, the patient was admitted to the intensive care unit in a haemodynamic shock. A Sengstaken-Blakemore tube was inserted and all treatment options were discussed, but only percutaneous transhepatic recanalisation of the portal vein with stent placement to reduce portal vein pressure was thought to be feasible with any chance to relieve portal vein pressure. After successful portal vein stenting, our patient did not have any recurrent bleeding in the remaining year of her life. We suggest that percutaneous transhepatic portal vein stenting may be a feasible and adequate last line treatment for complications of portal hypertension.

Este estudo objetiva discutir a proposta do Programa de Residencia Pedagogica (PRP), relacionado a Politica Nacional de Formacao de Professores, apresentada pelo MEC em 18 de outubro de 2017. A proposta de Residencia Pedagogica foi apresentada no governo de Michel Temer no ano de 2017, teve seu rumo incerto apos uma breve descontinuidade em 2019 e foi retomada com o lancamento de um novo edital no ano de 2020. Destacamos que o atual contexto politico e educacional do Brasil demanda discussoes aprofundadas que busquem problematizar as concepcoes presentes nos projetos de formacao docente em disputa. Intentamos no desenvolvimento desta pesquisa, analisar a proposta do Programa de Residencia Pedagogica, bem como seus possiveis efeitos para a formacao de professores no Brasil. O estudo se organiza em 4 secoes, buscando uma retomada historica da constituicao da formacao docente no pais para a investigacao acerca das concepcoes de formacao docente presentes no PRP. A presente investigacao esta fundamentada na perspectiva metodologica da pesquisa qualitativa, a partir da analise documental e da analise de conteudo. Com este estudo, foi possivel perceber que o PRP vem ao encontro de premissas tecnicistas do fazer docente e demonstra em sua essencia uma visao pragmatica da formacao de professores, entretanto, a autonomia universitaria permitiu algumas iniciativas contra hegemonicas para a organizacao do projeto. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Formacao de professores; residencia pedagogica; politicas educacionais. Doi: 10.21703/rexe.20201941caporal17

Abstract In spring 2020 both teachers and learners experienced the interruption of education as it had been established for over 150 years and seemed to be unchangeable. The paper focuses on students’ perspectives on how they perceive the changes in learning due to the pandemic educational emergency response based on the results of a survey of students in four countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Poland and Turkey. We aim at discussing the data collected at the end of the 2019-2020 Spring semester. The research focuses on the accessibility of the tools for learning, modes of instruction, as well as interaction patterns. In addition, we present students’ opinions on the difficulties they experienced, the learning strategies they adopted and what aspects of online learning should remain as a regular educational practice after the pandemic period.

Abstract The paper examines the application of computer assisted language learning (CALL) in English language classes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The research was designed as an empirical examination of the attitudes of teachers and students on the successful application of computer assisted language learning in English language classrooms in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Lack of motivation is one the problems that most teachers are faced with. There are many causes of poor motivation, but one of them is certainly the unattractiveness and dullness of traditional methods, teaching materials and resources. However, many authors with educational experience point out that the use of information technology can positively influence students’ motivation and encourage them to work actively. While adults, as digital immigrants, might not use modern information technology excessively, children and teens are true digital natives, who have grown up with the latest technologies and use them with great pleasure in all aspects of their lives adapting them to their needs (Prensky, 2001). The results obtained in this research are an indicator of the current attitude of teachers and students towards these issues, but they also highlight some important necessary reforms in the field of teacher education.

Aim To compare different pooling methods in an attempt to improve the COVID-19 PCR diagnostic capacities. Method We developed a novel information-dependent pooling protocol (indept), based on transmission of less informative sequential pools on to the next pooling cycle to maximize savings. We then compared it to the halving, generalized halving, splitting and hypercube protocols in a simulation study, across variety of scenarios. Results All five methods yielded various amount of test savings, which mostly depended on the virus prevalence in the population. In situations of low prevalence (up to 5%), indept had the best performance, requiring on average 20% of tests needed for singular testing across scenarios that were analyzed. Nevertheless, this comes at the expense of speed, with the worst-case scenario of indept protocol requiring up to twice the time needed to test the same number of samples in comparison to the hypercube protocol. In order to offset this, we developed a faster version of the protocol (indeptSp), which minimizes the number of terminal pools and manages to retain savings compared to other protocols, despite marginally longer processing times. Conclusion The increasing demand for more testing globally can benefit from application of pooling, especially in resource-restrained situations of the low- and middle-income countries or situations of high testing demand. Singular testing in situations of low prevalence should be systematically discouraged.

Background: Because of the health systems globalization, it is important to examine health systems organization in Africa, in terms of patient care, to highlight the failures and propose possible solutions. Objective: Modeling based on the Internet of Things (IoT) an Integrated Network for Monitoring Patient Data in West African Health Systems. Methodology: To achieve this, three steps have been followed. 1) Identification of the different characteristics of IoT-based health surveillance systems, WBAN systems and physiological parameters monitorable on a patient. 2) The modeling of the architecture of West African health systems in the form of a cloud of Technocentres. 3) Cross analysis between different IoT technologies, characteristics and functional requirements identified. All this is based on wireless medical sensor networks in Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) systems. Result: This work has been used to model health systems in Africa as a remote monitoring network for patients. Conclusion: The implementation of this model of monitoring networks will be a tool for supporting large-scale decision-making for a health system in Africa. It will enable the West African health system to have an information database.

Cilj: Prikazati učestalost uroloških komplikacija nakon transplantacije bubrega u našem transplantacijskom centru. Ispitanici i metode: Retrospektivnim istraživanjem bili su obuhvaćeni svi pacijenti u Kliničkom bolničkom centru Rijeka u kojih je između 30. siječnja 1971. godine i 31. prosinca 2018. godine učinjena transplantacija bubrega. Rezultati: U promatranom razdoblju u našem transplantacijskom centru učinjeno je 1160 transplantacija bubrega. Urološke komplikacije imala su ukupno 154 pacijenta (13,3 %). Najčešće komplikacije su bile stenoza uretera u 52 pacijenta (4,5 %), urinarna fistula u 50 pacijenata (4,3 %), retencija urina u 23 pacijenta (1,9 %) te urolitijaza u 8 pacijenata (0,7 %). U većine pacijenata je provedeno kirurško liječenje. U posljednje vrijeme značajno se povećalo rješavanje uroloških komplikacija korištenjem minimalno-invazivnih metoda. U dvoje pacijenata (0,17 %) je zbog uroloških komplikacija došlo do gubitka grafta, a u troje pacijenata (0,25 %) su one dovele do smrtnog ishoda. Zaključak: Urološke komplikacije u našoj transplantacijskoj populaciji nisu česte. U pacijenata u kojih je potrebno kirurško liječenje endourološke metode predstavljaju danas inicijalnu metodu liječenja.

In this study, a method was developed for the determination of five neonicotinoid pesticides (acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam) in propolis. Two sample preparation methods were tested: solid-phase extraction and the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method. The identities of analytes were confirmed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in the selected reaction monitoring mode. Solid-phase extraction resulted in cleaner extracts; therefore, the SPE-LC-MS/MS method was validated according to the SANTE protocol in triplicate at two spiking levels (10 ng/g and 50 ng/g). The average recoveries of analytes ranged from 61% to 101%, except for clothianidin (10–20%). The LOD ranged from 0.2 ng/g to 4.4 ng/g, whereas the LOQ was in the range of 0.8 ng/g–14.7 ng/g. In order to compensate for the matrix effect, matrix-matched calibration was used. Good accuracy (relative error: 1.9–10.4%) and good linearity (R2 > 0.991) were obtained for all compounds. The optimised method was applied to 30 samples: 18 raw propolis and 12 ethanol tinctures. Acetamiprid, imidacloprid, and thiacloprid were detectable in seven samples but were still below the LOQ. This study is the first to report the determination of several neonicotinoid residues in propolis.