University Of Sarajevo Research Articles

Knowledge of COVID-19 and stress with oral health care personnel of the Faculty of Dentistry in Sarajevo: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: Dentists and generally dental personnel work under the risk of being infected by patients suffering from COVID-19, who are unaware that they are infected. The reason lies in the fact that during dental procedures, aerosol is formed with droplets that may contain the virus. Thus, it is extremely important that dental personnel complies with adequate protective measures and equipment during clinical work. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the knowledge of COVID-19 and determine the amount of stress with dental personnel of the Faculty of Dentistry in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: Health care personnel of the Faculty of Dentistry with Clinics of the University in Sarajevo have been included in the research: teaching staff, clinical doctors, dental nurses and dental technicians. The research was conducted in April 2020. It was conducted by an anonymous survey that participants filled-in. Out of 157 distributed questionnaires in paper form, 134 participants responded. The questionnaire was divided into 3 parts: 1) personal data 2) knowledge of infection COVID-19 (diagnostic methods, transmission pathways, prevention measures); 3) the amount of stress (feelings and thoughts) during epidemic COVID-19 with personnel. Results: The largest number of participants (61.97%) consider that COVID-19 may be transmitted from infected to a healthy person by inhalation of droplets generated through coughing of an infected person and by direct contact with aerosol dispersed from the mouth of the infected patient during dental treatment. The largest number of participants, 80 of them (59.7%) consider that the method of nucleic acid test is used in diagnosing COVID-19. COVID – 19 had a significantly larger influence on females; they showed higher extent of concern for the claim „I hardly fall asleep because of thinking about it“, „I try not to talk on this topic“ and „In my mind appear pictures in relation to this.“ (p<0.05) Conclusion: Knowledge of COVID-19 and measures of protection of health care personnel at the Faculty of dentistry with Clinics in Sarajevo is satisfactory. The largest fear of participants was fear of unconsciously transmitting the infection on people close to them and that members of their families become infected with COVID-19.

Incidence and risk factors for neural tube defects in a Bosnian population

Introduction: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are multifactorial congenital anomalies of the central nervous system that results from failed neural tube closure between the 3rd and 4th weeks of embryonic development. Numerous clinical and experimental studies indicate that supplementation with folic acid before and during early pregnancy reduces the development of these anomalies. The present study examined the incidence and risk factors for NTDs and evaluated the effects of folic acid supplementation.Methods: This cross-sectional study included all children with NTDs who were hospitalized at the Pediatric Clinic, Clinical Centre University of Sarajevo during the period from January 01, 2008 to December 31, 2012. Data were collected retrospectively from the medical histories of hospitalized children. The study included children in pediatric clinics from four cantons (Sarajevo, Zenica–Doboj, Unsko–Sanski, and Central Bosnia) of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The number of live births for the specified period in each of the four cantons was taken from a report by the Cantonal Ministry of Health.Results: Among the 69,096 live births recorded during the study period, 39 children had verified NTDs, with an overall incidence of 0.56:1,000 (or 5.6:10,000) in all four cantons. The most common NTDs were myelomeningocele with hydrocephalus (22/39, 56.4%), followed by isolated myelomeningocele (9/39, 23.1%), spina bifida occulta (7/39, 17.9%), and occipitocele (1/39, 2.6%). A total of 33.3% (13/39) of mothers took folic acid, but only one began supplementation prior to pregnancy, while 67.7% (26/39) of mothers did not take folic acid during pregnancy. NTDs were found more frequently in primiparas (53.8%), women with low education (basic school, 64.1%), and unemployed women (82.1%).Conclusion: It is important to make national recommendations for folic acid supplementation for women of reproductive age, but also change the public health policy that includes mandatory fortification of basic foods as this is the best measure for primary prevention of NTDs in the whole population regardless of employment and education status. Additional comprehensive studies are required to assess the incidence and risk factors throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Relationship between Language Learning Strategies and Lexical Complexity Measures

This study examines the hypothesis that language learning strategies (LLS) partly account for the level of L2 proficiency (i.e. the level of L2 lexical complexity produced in the written output of English language learners). To test the hypothesis, 152 English-proficient freshman students of Bosnian L1 linguistic background were surveyed utilizing the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) designed by Rebecca Oxford (1990). Their lexical output was collected through short essays that were written during formal exams held in English for Academic Purposes undergraduate courses at the International University of Sarajevo. The written samples were converted to an electronic format and analyzed with the Web-based Lexical Complexity Analyzer (Lu, 2012; Ai & Lu, 2010). Relationships between six SILL subscales and twenty-five lexical complexity (LC) measures were assessed through applying the principles of correlational design. The results confirmed the hypothesis. Statistically significant correlations were found between memory strategies and three LC measures, cognitive strategies and twenty LC measures, compensation strategies and nine LC measures, and affective strategies and three LC measures. It is concluded that the relationship between LLS and LC levels is mostly conditioned by LLS types.

Estimated average calcium – magnesium content in day meal in a sample of students from Faculty of Medicine of Sarajevo University

Nutrients are chemical substances obtained from food. They have different roles in body. Some are used as energy source, some as structural materials, and regulating agents. Nutrients may reduce the risks of some diseases. There are some recommendations about dietary intake of these nutrients for optimal health. This study aimed to estimate average calcium and magnesium content in day meal in a sample of students from Faculty of Medicine of Sarajevo University. A cross-sectional study was conducted during academic 2015/16 year at Faculty of Medicine of Sarajevo University. The survey covered 44 students. The research instrument was a self-administered questionnaire, by which 3-Day Diet Record was provided. The average intakes of calcium and magnesium were estimated using Nutritional analysis computer program (Nutrics Professional Nutrition Analysis Software). On daily level average intake of calcium was 718.39±311.14 mg in total sample and average intake of magnesium was 292.57±310.10 mg in total sample. Average Ca/Mg ratio was 2.45. In our sample cheese was top source of calcium with Ca/Mg ratio of 32.5, and bread was top source of magnesium with Ca/Mg ratio of 3.1. These results emphasize the importance of monitoring the food nutrition facts in order to achieve adequate nutrients intake.

Characteristics of psychoactive substances consumption among students of first and fifth year of Faculty of Medicine of Sarajevo University

A psychoactive or psychotropic substance is a chemical substance that acts primarily upon the central nervous system, altering mental processes, e.g., cognition or affect. Their use can lead to addiction, so in common language ‘substance abuse’ implicate dependence-producing effect. In general, initiation to substance use happen during adolescence and early adulthood. The aim of this study was determining the pattern of psychoactive substance consumption among students at Faculty of Medicine of Sarajevo University. A cross-sectional study was conducted during May 2019 at Faculty of Medicine of Sarajevo University. The survey covered 102 students, who attended first and fifth year of study. The research instrument was a self-administered anonymous questionnaire. Results were expressed as percentages and means ± standard deviation. During statistical analysis we performed Chi-squared and the bivariate testes. A sample included 102 students, of which 66 (64.7%) were female and 36 (35.3%) were male, while 52 (51.0%) attended first year and 50 (49.0%) attended fifth year. The majority of students (91.2%) had consumed caffeine. Consumption of cigarettes reported 63.7% of students, and consumption of alcohol reported 60.8% of students. Statistically significant differences in consumption of alcohol (P<0.0005), THC (P<0.0005), cocaine (P=0.001), and amphetamine (P=0.017) were found between gender. Statistically significant differences in consumption of cigarettes (P=0.034), caffeine (P=0.017), alcohol (P=0.007), THC (P<0.0005), and sedatives (P=0.003) were found between two study group. The use of psychotropic substances in youth represents a serious public health problem. Students should implement their knowledge, not only in their practice environment, but in everyday life.

Estimated average calcium – magnesium content in day meal in a sample of students from Faculty of Medicine of Sarajevo University

Estimated average calcium – magnesium content in day meal in a sample of students from Faculty of Medicine of Sarajevo University

Characteristics of psychoactive substances consumption among students of first and fifth year of Faculty of Medicine of Sarajevo University

Characteristics of psychoactive substances consumption among students of first and fifth year of Faculty of Medicine of Sarajevo University

Applying Hagedorn’s Conceptual Framework to Examine Job Satisfaction among Faculty at the University of Sarajevo

Faculty around the world shares some underlying commonalities by virtue of sharing a profession, but we cannot draw informed parallels because culture, style and history of higher education, and faculty socialization play a significant role in how the faculty life is lived and experienced. We know quite a bit about faculty working in developed and developing nations, but the current snapshot lacks perspectives from academics living in transitional nations. This in-progress study will survey faculty employed at the University of Sarajevo, located in Bosnia and Hercegovina, to establish a baseline of their demographic profile and to describe their job satisfaction using Hagedorn’s conceptual framework. This study will test the applicability of Hagedorn’s framework in non-US settings and expand our understanding of the causes and outcomes related to faculty satisfaction.

Preface

International Physics Conference in Bosnia and Herzegovina (PHYCONBA 2020)Organizer: Physical Society in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with support of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and HerzegovinaDate: October 19, 2020Venue: Premises of The Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 7 Bistrik street,Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.Memebers of Organizing committee:1. Maja Đekić (Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo), chairwoman,2. Mirza Hadžimehmedović (Faculty of Science, University of Tuzla), member,3. Rifat Omerović (Faculty of Science, University of Tuzla), member,4. Ena Žunić-Ćejvanović, member,5. Amra Salčinović Fetić, (Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo), Technical secretary,6. Benjamin Fetić (Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo), memberMembers of Scientific committee:1. Dejan Milošević (Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, Academy of Sciences and Arts of BiH), chairman,2. Dijana Dujak (Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Sarajevo), member,3. Hedim Osmanović (Faculty of Science, University of Tuzla), member,4. Siniša Ignjatović (Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Banja Luka), member.

Peer review declaration

All conference organisers/editors are required to declare details about their peer review. Therefore, please provide the following information:• Type of peer review: Single-blind / Double-blind / Triple-blind / Open / Other (please describe) Single-blind • Conference submission management system: Email • Number of submissions received: 20 • Number of submissions sent for review: 12 • Number of submissions accepted: 12 • Acceptance Rate (Number of Submissions Accepted / Number of Submissions Received X 100): 60% • Average number of reviews per paper: 2 • Total number of reviewers involved: 12 • Any additional info on review process: Email communication with the authors is done by the Technical Editor Amra Salčinović Fetiთ, while the Editor Dejan Milošević communicated with the reviewers. Some of the authors have withdrawn their contributions. From 20 contributions to the conference only 12 are included in the final review stage and accepted after they corrected their manuscript in accordance with the referees’ suggestions. • Contact person for queries (please include: name, affiliation, institutional email address) Dejan Milošević, Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, dejan.m@pmf.unsa.ba; milo@bih.net.baPlease submit this form along with the rest of your files on the submission date written in your publishing agreement.The information you provide will be published as part of your proceedings.

ASSESSMENT OF ICHTHYOFAUNAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY INAPPROPRIATE HUMAN ARRANGEMENT OF THE NERETVA RIVER: CASE EXPERT EXAMINATION

The Department of Veterinary State and Forensic Medicine of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo, received a request for ichthyofaunal damage assessment in the fishing area of rivers, tributaries and lakes in the municipality of Konjic. The damage was caused by cleaning activities, removal of sediment from the riverbed and damage repair activities on the banks of the upper course of the Neretva River, which was carried out with certain irregularities that are not in accordance with the granted permit. Such irresponsible human activities inevitably have an impact on the living world of the aquatic ecosystem and often cause long-term harmful consequences. Through the presentation of this case, our main goal is to present the different types of harmful consequences resulting from such activities as well as the methodology of their calculation. In addition, the paper also points to violations of certain laws and bylaws governing this segment.

Surgical Treatment of the Patients with Cervical Disc Herniation at Clinical Center of University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Backgroud:Intervertebral disc herniations are caused by rupture of the fibrous ring and migration of one part of the nucleus pulposus towards the spinal canal. The most commonly affected levels are C5-C6 and C6-C7. Surgical treatment of cervicobrachialgia is indicated in the presence of long-term intense pain syndrome with or without radicular sensory-motor deficit and magnetic resonance (MRI) verified disc herniation with a compressive effect.Objective:The most common surgical treatment is anterior lateral microdiscectomy with or without the use of implants. In addition to this method, dorsolateral microsurgical treatment can be used for foraminal hernias.Methods:This retrospective study included 110 (58 / 52.7% male and 52 / 47.3% female) patients with cervical disc herniations who were surgically treated at the Neurosurgery clinic of Clinical Center of Sarajevo University (CCUS) in a five-year period. Stability, postoperative curvature, arthrodesis, implants, and changes in adjacent segments were radiographically analyzed. In the outcome assessment, functional outcome and patient satisfaction were analyzed using the Pain Self-Evaluation Scale (VAS), Prolo functional and economic score, and White’s classification of treatment outcomes.Results:The dominant prevalence of changes was recorded at the levels of C5-C6 (58%) and C4-C5 (28%) with a ventrolateral approach performed in 90% of patients. The largest representation is hard dorsolateral discs (n = 77). In the group of patients with placed implant, hard discs were present in 96 (90%) cases (p <0.001), while soft discs were dominant in patients without implant placement (p <0.001). In the group of subjects with implant, the most common are hard dorsolateral discs and those of mixed localization in 41 of 55 patients (65.5%; p = 0.001). The most common implant is PEEK cage (74.5%). From complications, we had partial vertebral body fractures in 4.5% of patients. Furtehr, the most common are sensory disturbances in 2.73% of respondents. Reduction of symptoms and improvement of preoperative neurological status were observed in over 95% of patients.Conclusion:Surgical treatment of cervical disc herniation is a safe method with a minimal percentage of complications. Microsurgical discectomy significantly contributes to the improvement of the functional status of patients, the reduction of pain, and the improvement of neurological deficit and overall mobility.

The Role of Cytogenetic Methods in the Diagnosis of Haematological Diseases

Introduction: Conventional cytogenetics by the use of standard karyotyping allows the study of numerical and structural chromosomal aberrations. Haematological malignancies include a number of cancer types that originate in the blood cells of the bone marrow or of the lymphatic system. Cytogenetic methods are traditionally used for the sake of diagnosis and prognosis of these diseases. However, with the ever more frequent use of molecular methods in the diagnostic laboratories, the importance of the conventional cytogenetic analysis in the diagnosis of haematological diseases needs to be reassessed. Aim: To evaluate the role of cytogenetic methods in the diagnosis of haematological malignancies. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of cytogenetic findings of 146 patients with various haematological malignancies was performed. All of the findings were made over a period of three years at the Centre for Genetics at the Medical Faculty of the University of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Microsoft Excel 2019 was used for the analysis and presentation of data in the form of tables and graphs. Results: The results of the present study showed that the use of conventional cytogenetic analysis is a good diagnostic method for 50.68% (74) of patients in whom chromosomal aberrations were detected. Conclusion: Cytogenetics remains the most comprehensive method for assessing chromosomal abnormalities due to its ability to detect clinically relevant aneuploidies and additional cytogenetic abnormalities that cannot be detected by locus-specific assays.

Socijalna motivacija i emocionalna kompetentnost kod studenata

The goal of the research was to identify relations between social motivation structure and emotional competence among students of different psychosocial characteristics. The research was conducted at the Faculty of Philosophy and the Faculty of Economics, East Sarajevo University. The sample consisted of 228 first-and fourth-year students. For the study purposes, we used the social motivation questionnaire and the emotional competence questionnaire. The results of the research will be useful as motivation for further research, as well as in teaching and designing programs which promote students' mental health.

The idea of establishing the University of Sarajevo at the beginning of 20th century: Austro-Hungarian authority in Bosnia and Herzegovina between cultural mission and political reality

At the beginning of the 20th century; the Balkans was the epicentre of numerous crises and some of them (the Annexation Crisis 1908–1909 and the Balkan Wars 1912–1913) had a major effect on social activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Therefore; faced with a very complex political situation in the Balkans; Austro-Hungary was about to develop a strategy of increasing its own influence in the mentioned area. Consequently; Sarajevo was bound to play an important role in these plans. This paper argues that; by promoting the idea of establishing a university in Sarajevo; the Austro-Hungarian authorities were actually oscillating between their previous plan of conducting a cultural mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina and political machinations aimed at the annihilation of Serbian influence. The public reactions in Bosnia; as well as in the remainder of the Monarchy; forced the solicitors of this idea to re-examine their own political considerations.

Defining Criteria for the Selection of Measures to Increase Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings

Buildings, although one of the largest energy consumers in the world, also represent big potential to reduce energy consumption, dependence on fossil fuels and carbon dioxide emissions, through the implementation of energy efficiency measures. Improvement of energy efficiency of existing buildings requires a dedicated, serious and detailed approach. Investors are often guided by economic criteria, which greatly influence on investments and interventions, potentially causing some negative side effects (comfort reduction, use of energy-intensive materials, etc.). Therefore, it is very important to rely on methods that provide detailed and affordable cost, technical and environmental analysis. Energy efficiency methods are often based on simple methods such as research, estimation of energy consumption, preliminary design, estimation of energy savings and financial cost-effectiveness. For example, in energy audits of buildings, annual energy consumption and cost-effectiveness are considered for analysis. For a more detailed assessment, a calculation tool based on the calculation of energy consumption of particular facility and the estimation of energy savings after the proposed energy efficiency measures is being used. The proposed measures generally represent a classic scenario of energy efficiency measures. In this paper, factors such as comparison of the share of fossil fuels and renewable energy sources (RES), the estimation of cost-effectiveness of the use of renewable energy technologies, aspect of embodied energy in materials and life cycle assessment in buildings are being considered. This paper defines the criteria for the evaluation of scenarios (functional groups of measures) for increasing energy efficiency of the building, which include, in addition to energy and economic aspects, environmental aspect. The six criteria have been defined for evaluation of energy efficiency scenarios related to: annual energy consumption, total annual primary energy, share of RES in primary energy, direct and indirect carbon emissions, embodied energy in applied materials and investment per scenario. For each criteria an expression for its calculation is given. Defined criteria are calculated for six scenarios of increasing the energy efficiency of Mechanical Engineering Faculty, University of Sarajevo. Based on the calculated different values of criteria of considered aspects, it is possible to identify in more detail way critical points, advantages and disadvantages of different combinations of energy efficiency measures, which can further serve to identify the best strategy necessary for evaluation of energy performance of the building before and after the intervention.

Rezultati arheološke prospekcije 2017. godine na prahistorijskom lokalitetu Butmir i njegovo stanje danas / Results of the archeological prospection on the site of Butmir from 2017

Preventive archaeological excavations on the national site Butmir continued during 2017 with the same goal, to determine the actual area of distribution of the archaeological potential on the site. These excavations have been conducted on the area around Hotel Hills, by a consortium consisting of the Institute of Archaeology at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Sarajevo and the Association “Društvo arheologa 1894” (Association of Archaeologists 1894). The implemented methods of research were the same as for the previous excavation, which combined machine-dug and hand-dug test trenches. Bore holing was also used to determine the depth of geological and potential archaeological layers, which would serve as a basis for getting clearer and wider results on the distribution of archaeological potential. Using the listed methods, there have been excavated 32 machine-dug test trenches whose length goes from 3 to 20 m, 3 hand-dug test trenches, and 7 boreholes. It has been determined that cultural layers from the ancient and prehistoric periods exist between 0.60 and 0.90 m. In trenches 1-6 there have been found a significant amount of pottery and traces of metallurgy from the prehistoric period.&#x0D; Trench number 3 provided the most significant results – a large amount of pottery and one bowl with remains of iron slag. Trenches 6 to 15 showed a deeper cultural layer and potential settlement layer which resulted in excavating hand-dug trenches with specifically prehistoric remains that have been reliably determined to the Neolithic period. Nevertheless, the national monument Butmir is not the same as at the time of discovery, and the area for potential new archaeological excavations has been significantly shrunk because of modern architecture and infrastructure. Having that in mind, previous excavations have determined that the present Neolithic Butmir settlement contains findings from an area excavated during the Austro-Hungarian period and a smaller part of the marginal area of the Neolithic tells where the central part of the settlement has been found.

Acute descending necrotizing mediastinitis as a complication of the retropharyngeal abscess caused by anaerobes

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a rare, life-threatening form of mediastinitis caused by odontogenic, pharyngeal, or cervical infections. The retropharyngeal space is the most common primary site of infection. Given the fulminant course and high mortality rate, early diagnosis and prompt treatment are important predictors of survival in patients with DNM. Appropriate empirical antibiotic treatment, prompt surgical intervention, and proper management of patients in the intensive care unit can be of vital importance. We present the case of a previously healthy 20-year-old male patient who was successfully cured and discharged from the Clinical Center University of Sarajevo after suffering from a severe form of mediastinitis as a complication of the retropharyngeal abscess caused by anaerobes.

STAVOVI STUDENATA ODSJEKA ZA ANGLISTIKU FILOZOFSKOG FAKULTETA UNIVERZITETA U SARAJEVU / ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES

In the present paper, the authors analyse attitudes of students (N=91) studying at the Department of English Language and Literature toward distance learning launched at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo, during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The study is designed as action research containing elements of both qualitative and quantitative research. The key instrument for collecting data was a survey designed by the authors of the present paper. The Google Forms survey was delivered to 1st-5th year students at the Department of English Language and Literature by e-mail. The collected data were processed by means of SPSS software (descriptive statistics). Results of the analysis show that students do not consider “distance learning’’ to be of better quality when compared to “learning in the classroom’’ but also that students, in the period of returning to a “new normal’’, openly express their preference for blended learning. At the same time, results of the analysis reveal that it is necessary to modernise teaching practices by means of introducing a more representative version of the distance learning system that would not only significantly improve the quality of the teaching practices, but also assist in maintaining competitiveness of the Faculty of Philosophy as a higher education institution.

A cross-sectional study on assessment of physical activity level and anthropometric indicators of health risk among students of sixth year of Faculty of Medicine of Sarajevo University.

A cross-sectional study on assessment of physical activity level and anthropometric indicators of health risk among students of sixth year of Faculty of Medicine of Sarajevo University.