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Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles and microparticles for peptide delivery: release mechanisms and controlling factors
No full textBackground and purpose: Therapeutic peptides offer high potency but are limited by rapid degradation, poor bioavailability, and the need for frequent dosing. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles and microparticles are effective carriers capable of protecting peptides and enabling controlled release. This review summarizes the mechanisms governing peptide release from PLGA particles and identifies formulation factors critical for optimizing therapeutic performance. Approach: A comprehensive analysis of polymer characteristics, particle design parameters, peptide physicochemical properties, and formulation strategies was conducted using data from recent studies. Release mechanisms, including diffusion, polymer degradation, and erosion, were examined alongside manufacturing methods. The review also evaluates clinical PLGA-based peptide products to highlight translational relevance. Key results: Peptide release profiles are strongly influenced by PLGA molecular weight, lactide:glycolide ratio, particle size, end-group chemistry, drug loading, and excipients. Lower polymer molecular weight, higher glycolide content, and smaller particle dimensions accelerate release, whereas cationic peptides experience electrostatic retention within degrading matrices. Additives such as PEG, magnesium salts, and chitosan coatings effectively modulate burst release and stability. PLGA systems typically display triphasic release profiles governed by diffusion and erosion. Several PLGA microparticle-based peptide depots have achieved clinical success, although no nanoparticle-based products have yet reached the market due to manufacturing and regulatory challenges. Conclusion: PLGA nano- and microparticles provide versatile, tuneable platforms for sustained peptide delivery. Understanding the interplay between polymer properties, particle architecture, and peptide characteristics is essential for designing next-generation long-acting formulations with improved efficacy and clinical translation
Pristranost u citiranju literature u komparativnoj psihologiji: primjer istraživanja o fizičkoj kogniciji životinja objavljenih između 1994. i 2019. godine
No full textPristranost u citiranju literature ponajprije se odnosi na tendenciju citiranja pozitivnih i jasnih empirijskih rezultata i tvrdnji naspram onih negativnih i nejasnih. Iako je taj tip pristranosti opisan za različite literature, postoje pokazatelji koji ukazuju i na razlike u stupnju pristranosti među raznim disciplinama. Stoga je važno analizirati pristranosti u citiranju u specifičnim istraživačkim područjima. Cilj je ovoga rada bio istražiti pristranost u citiranju u komparativnoj psihologiji u području koje se bavi ispitivanjem fizičke kognicije životinja. Testirana je pristranost u citiranju radova objavljenih između 1994. i 2019. godine (ukupno 57 radova), uzimajući u obzir kategoriju kojoj je glavna tvrdnja iz izvornoga članka bila dodijeljena („pozitivna”, „negativna”, „nejasna”) i čimbenik odjeka časopisa u kojemu je članak objavljen. Ukupno je pronađen 2991 citirajući rad. Rezultati ukazuju na to da ne postoji jasan učinak kategorizacije glavne tvrdnje na stopu citiranosti, kao ni jasna uloga čimbenika odjeka časopisa kao medijatora. Ti rezultati upućuju na to da za to područje istraživanja u komparativnoj psihologiji ne postoji jasna pristranost u citiranosti radova koja se temelji na prirodi rezultata i tvrdnji
Computable subcontinua of circularly chainable continua
No full textThis paper explores, in computable metric spaces, circularly chainable
continua which are not chainable. Given such a continuum , if we endow it with semicomputability, its computability follows. Conditions under which semicomputability implies computability, typically topological, are extensively studied in the literature. When these conditions are not satisfied, it is natural to explore approximate approaches. In this article we investigate specific computable subcontinua of . The main result establishes that, given two points on a semicomputable, circularly chainable, but non-chainable continuum , one can approximate them by computable points such that there exists a computable subcontinuum connecting these approximations. As a consequence, given disjoint computably enumerable open sets and intersected by , the intersection of with the complement of their union necessarily contains a computable point, provided that this intersection is totally disconnected
Oral Health Status and Dental Anxiety in Psychiatric Patients
No full textAim: Dental anxiety is an anxiety state arising from dental treatment procedures, often associated with negative experiences and expectations, leading to avoidance of dental visits and poorer oral health. This study aims to determine the prevalence of dental anxiety among patients with depression and alcohol addiction using a validated dental anxiety questionnaire, compare these two groups, and assess whether dental anxiety is associated with sociodemographic characteristics. Subjects and
Methods: A total of 65 patients treated at the University Hospital Center Sestre Milosrdnice participated in the study. The participants were divided into two groups: 31 patients diagnosed with depression and 34 patients diagnosed with alcohol addiction, without comorbidities. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire and Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, with t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA) applied. Results: Dental anxiety was found in 40 (61.5 %) participants. It was more prevalent among patients with depression (26/31; 83.9 %) compared to those with alcohol addiction (14/34; 41.2 %). A significant difference was observed between the two groups (t = 3.437, p < 0.01). No significant association was found between sociodemographic characteristics and dental anxiety. Conclusion: The findings indicate
a higher prevalence of dental anxiety in psychiatric patients, particularly among those with depression. These results highlight the need for better education of dental
professionals to improve their approach to psychiatric patients, recognize dental anxiety, and reduce stigma. Addressing this issue may help prevent dental avoidance and improve oral health outcomes in these vulnerable populations
Elektrokoagulacija, zeolit i magnet u obradi otpadne vode: analizaulogematerijala elektrode
No full textEfficient wastewater treatment is essential for environmental protection and sustainable water resource management, particularly when dealing with complex wastewater streams. Hybrid processes that combine electrochemical and physicochemical methods are increasingly explored due to their potential to enhance pollutant removal efficiency and reduce operating costs. This study evaluates the performance of hybrid treatment methods for complex compost wastewater by integrating electrocoagulation (EC), zeolite and magnetic assistance using aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe) electrodes. The influence of different electrode materials on magnetically assisted hybrid treatment process was assessed with respect to key treatment indicators, including chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity reduction, as well as electrode mass loss, surface morphology, suspension settling, and EC sludge amount. Energy consumption and electrode usage were also considered to evaluate process economics. The results show that the application of a magnetic field in Al electrode systems slightly improves COD and turbidity removal, enhances anodic dissolution, and contributes to a more homogeneous surface morphology. In contrast, Fe electrodes exhibit a partially opposite response – the magnetic field accelerates floc settling and increases EC sludge production but reduces pollutant removal efficiency due to decreased dissolution intensity. Ferromagnetic Fe electrodes respond more strongly to the magnetic field, promoting aggregation and compaction of Fe-hydroxide flocs and partial surface stabilisation, which leads to lower anode mass loss. Weakly paramagnetic Al electrodes, on the other hand, are not directly affected by the magnetic field, but experience an indirect influence through magnetohydrodynamic (MHD)-induced micro-mixing and improved mass transfer. This leads to more uniform and intensive dissolution and a slightly higher pollutant removal efficiency. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the interactions between electrochemical and magnetic effects in hybrid electrocoagulation and offer guidance for optimising electrode material selection and magnetic field parameters to achieve more efficient and sustainable treatment of complex wastewater.Učinkovita obrada otpadnih voda ključna je za zaštitu okoliša i održivo upravljanje vodnim resursima, posebice kod složenih otpadnih voda. Hibridni procesi koji kombiniraju elektrokogulaciju i fizikalno-kemijske metode sve se više istražuju zbog svojeg potencijala za poboljšanje učinkovitosti uklanjanja štetnih tvari i smanjenje operativnih troškova. U ovom radu procijenjena je učinkovitost hibridnih metoda obrade složenih kompostnih otpadnih voda integriranjem elektrokogulacije (EK), zeolita i magneta uporabom aluminijskih (Al) i željeznih (Fe) elektroda. Utjecaj različitih materijala elektroda na magnet u hibridnom procesu ocijenjen je u odnosu na ključne pokazatelje obrade, uključujući smanjenje kemijske potrošnje kisika (KPK) i mutnoće, kao i gubitak mase elektroda, morfologiju površine, taloženje suspenzije i količinu EK mulja. Potrošnja energije i elektroda također su razmotreni radi procjene ekonomske učinkovitosti procesa. Rezultati pokazuju da dodatak magneta kod Al elektroda blago smanjuje KPK i mutnoću, potiče anodno otapanje i doprinosi homogenijoj morfologiji površine. Nasuprot tome, Fe elektrode pokazuju djelomično kontrastno ponašanje – magnetsko polje ubrzava taloženje i povećava količinu EK mulja, ali smanjuje učinkovitost uklanjanja štetnih tvari zbog smanjenog intenziteta anodnog otapanja. Feromagnetne Fe elektrode snažnije reagiraju na magnetsko polje, što dovodi do agregacije i zbijanja Fe-hidroksidnih flokula te djelomične stabilizacije površine i manje potrošnje anode. Slabo paramagnetne Al elektrode ne reagiraju izravno na magnetsko polje, ali magnetsko polje posredno djeluje putem magnetohidrodinamički (MHD) induciranog mikromiješanja i poboljšanog prijenosa mase, što rezultira ravnomjernijim i intenzivnijim otapanjem te blago višom učinkovitošću uklanjanja onečišćivala. Dobiveni rezultati doprinose dubljem razumijevanju međudjelovanja elektrokemijskih i magnetskih učinaka u hibridnoj elektrokoagulaciji te pružaju smjernice za optimizaciju izbora elektroda i magnetskih parametara radi postizanja učinkovitije i održivije obrade složenih otpadnih voda
Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Port Management and Operations: A Prisma-Based Review
No full textArtificial Intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly relevant technological component in the digital transformation of ports, supporting improvements in operational efficiency, safety and environmental performance. In recent years, several literature reviews have examined AI applications in maritime and port-related contexts; however, these studies typically focus on specific dimensions, such as safety and risk management, smart port development, or individual Machine Learning techniques. Consequently, a consolidated and application-oriented overview explicitly centered on port management and operations remains limited. This study addresses this gap by conducting a systematic literature review aimed at synthesizing current scientific evidence on the application of AI in port management and operational activities, while identifying emerging research gaps. The review follows the PRISMA protocol and analyses 30 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2021 and early 2025. The results indicate that AI is predominantly applied in operational areas such as vessel arrival forecasting and scheduling, berth and quay crane allocation, container handling and predictive maintenance. Machine Learning and Deep Learning approaches are the most frequently adopted and exhibit higher levels of empirical validation. Reported outcomes include improvements in operational efficiency, enhanced decision-support accuracy and reductions in environmental impact. Despite these advances, the literature highlights persistent challenges related to data availability and quality, system interoperability, cybersecurity and the adaptation of AI solutions to heterogeneous port environments. The study concludes that, while AI adoption in ports is progressing beyond experimental stages, further empirical research and structured implementation strategies are required to support scalable and secure deployment across different port contexts
The Meta-analysis based Modified Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology Model: A Systematic Review
No full textThis study reviews state-of-the-art research on the application of the meta-analysis based Modified Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model (Meta-UTAUT) to provide a comprehensive understanding of how the model has been applied across diverse contexts. From 1,881 citations of the original model, 36 Scopus-and Web of Science-indexed studies were analysed. Findings reveal that mobile payment is the most examined system, with financial technology as the predominant domain of application. Across studies, attitude consistently emerged as a strong determinant of behavioural intention and use behaviour, underscoring its central role in technology adoption. Behavioural intention and facilitating conditions were the most influential predictors of use behaviour, while performance expectancy and effort expectancy contributed substantially to shaping attitude. Many studies extended the Meta-UTAUT framework by incorporating external variables to enrich explanations of attitude, intention, and behaviour, deepening theoretical understanding of technology adoption. This review highlights recurring methodological limitations, including single-subject sampling, cross-sectional designs, and sampling methods, indicating the need for more rigorous approaches to strengthen theoretical refinement and improve generalisability. This study is the first to offer an extensive synthesis of Meta-UTAUT applications, providing valuable implications for researchers and guiding future inquiry toward more rigorous and contextually diverse investigations
Benedikt Vujica, De origine, natura et contentu doctrinali praefationum ad “Pater noster” in anaphoris rituum orientalium. Sarajevo: FMC Lux verbi, 2025.
Get PDFBIOLOGICAL, PRODUCTIVE AND SOCIOCULTURAL IMPORTANCE OF HONEY BEES - CONTRIBUTION TO COMMON WELFARE
No full textThe coexistence of bees (Apis spp.) and humans goes back for millennia. Bees play an irreplaceable role as pollinators of flowering plants (Angiospermae) in ecosystems and thus in maintaining biodiversity. Throughout history, humans have brought honey bees closer to themselves by building them dwellings and providing certain protection in exchange for their products. Today, the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) is primarily needed as a pollinator of many agricultural crops and without them humanity would not be able to produce enough food. The usefulness of bees is also manifested in the form of biological indicators of the conditions in the environment. The importance of bees and their role in human society are intertwined with various segments of society and culture. Bees have a prominent place in literature, religion, culture and art, as well as in everyday life. However, it is not possible to numerically express and materially quantify every individual value attributed to bees. Therefore, due to (lack of) care for their and human’s shared environment, the issue of the consequences of the loss of bees is imposed at the level of the number of honeybee colonies as well as at the level of the number of bee species. This complex problem can be viewed more comprehensively from a multidisciplinary and integrative bioethical aspect. In it all contributions of bees are acknowledged, recognizing that the health or illness, wealth or poverty of future generations depend on their protection and enabling the realization of the roles that are both innate and assigned to them