Прегледај по Аутор "Bokonjic, Dejan"
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- СтавкаA Complex Relationship between Quality of Life, Anxiety, and Depression among General Population during Second Year of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Population-Based Study(MDPI, 2024) Radulovic, Danijela; Masic, Srdjan; Stanisavljevic, Dejana; Bokonjic, Dejan; Radevic, Svetlana; Rajovic, Nina; Milić, Nikola V.; Simic Vukomanovic, Ivana; Mijovic, Biljana; Vukovic, Maja; Dubravac Tanaskovic, Milena; Jojic, Mirka; Vladicic Masic, Jelena; Spaic, Dragan; Milic, Natasa M.The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the global economy and public health, disrupting various aspects of daily life. Apart from its direct effects on physical health, it has also significantly affected the overall quality of life and mental health. This study employed a path analysis to explore the complex association among multiple factors associated with quality of life, anxiety, and depression in the general population of the Republic of Srpska during the pandemic’s second year. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a nationally representative sample (n = 1382) of the general population (adults aged 20+) during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia, and Herzegovina. Assessment tools included the DASS- Quality of Life Scale (QOLS), and Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3). Sociodemographic factors and comorbidities were also assessed. Structural equation modeling was used to identify the direct and indirect links of various characteristics to quality of life, anxiety, and depression. Results: This study revealed a considerable prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms (27.5% and 20.9%, respectively), with quality of life playing a significant mediating role. The constructed path model accounted for 33.1% of moderate to severe depression and 79.5% of anxiety. Negative coping was directly linked to anxiety and indirectly to depression via anxiety, while the absence of positive coping had both direct and indirect paths (through quality of life) on depression. Among variables that directly affected depression, anxiety had the highest effect. However, the bidirectional paths between anxiety and depression were also suggested by the model. Conclusions: Pandemic response strategies should be modified to effectively reduce the adverse effects on public mental health. Further research is necessary to assess the long-term effects of the pandemic on mental health and to analyze the contributing factors of anxiety and depression in the post-COVID period.
- СтавкаDevelopment and implementation of internationalization in Bosnia and Herzegovina higher education(Emerald Publishing Limited, 2021) Markovic, Nenad; Bokonjic, Dejan; De Lepeleer, GeertPurpose – The main reason for writing this paper was the systematic determination of the state of internationalization of public higher education for the first time in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). This paper aims to compare the state of internationalization with the results of comparative European and world research in higher education in order to determine the direction of public universities inB&Hfollowing globalization and connection with the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), as well as to determine future steps for mandatory inclusion into global higher education flows. Furthermore, the aim was to determine the treatment of mobility and student exchange programs and the ways of recognizing acquired qualifications abroad. Design/methodology/approach – The paper opted for a research study by conducting questionnaires that were divided into questions of elimination, questions of qualification and questions of the main survey. A total of 2,822 final year students were surveyed, as well as 386 representatives of the management of public universities. Within the paper, 25 different SWOT analyses of internationalization were performed by public universities, ministries and state/regional agencies, which was the basis for the SWOT analysis of the internationalization of B&H public higher education. The data were supplemented with a qualitative analysis of the obtained results compared with the International Association of Universities (IAUs) and European Association for International Education (EAIE) research, as well as an overview of the most significant achievements in the field of internationalization of higher education. Findings – The paper provides empirical results on the barriers of students to study abroad, the existence of strategies and indicators for internationalization, the benefits of internationalization, internal and external drivers of internationalization and the potential risks of internationalization. These empirical results for B&H were compared with complementary IAUs and EAIE research and provided the basis for SWOT analysis of internationalization, development of institutional internationalization strategies and indicators, B&H recognition model, new criteria for accreditation with emphasis on internationalization and criteria for assessing internationalization. The paper suggests that virtual mobility and internationalization at home are future logical trends of development internationalization in B&H. Research limitations/implications – Suggestions for future research related to the examination of identified potential risks to the management of the internationalization of individual institutions, as well as to future comparisons of the new state of internationalization of higher education in B&H with current similar research in Europe and the world. Regarding the limitations in the research, it was possible that a larger number of participants participated in the survey with questionnaires, although the target set at the beginning of the survey was achieved. Practical implications – Most of the research results are the basis for improving the practical situation in the internationalization of public higher education in B&H. The paper presents a special chapter (undertaken improvement activities) dedicated to the practical implications based on the conducted research and comparison of results. Considering that this is a preliminary work related to the internationalization of higher education, based on the researched results, the context of the internationalization of public higher education in B&Hwas changed by the activities described in the mentioned chapter. The contribution to these activities was given by the approved project of the European Commission (EC) “strengthening of internationalization in B&H higher education” - STINT. Also, the research results of this paper offered a comparison with the research results of research conducted by IAUs and EAIE. Social implications – Different research groups participated in this research study: students, teachers, administration, representatives of ministries and state/regional agencies. All target groups supported the implementation of the questionnaire, the development of SWOT analyses and various reports, as well as the undertaking of various practical activities. In accordance with the research results, all these target groups were subsequently educated on issues of internationalization and recognition of qualifications. Stronger and better internationalization certainly increases the social impact on future students, higher education funders, as well as other interested stakeholders. Originality/value – This is a preliminary study whose main goal was to review the state of internationalization and to identify the most important undertaken activities in B&H. For the higher education area in B&H, the research study is new and has undertaken internationalization activities, but on the other side, in other developed European countries, similar studies and activities are not new. For the field of higher education in B&H, this work and research results are important because they will be the basis for future internationalization activities and will also serve as a basis for future activities to be undertaken in this field. The value of this paper is significant for both internal and external stakeholders of higher education.
- СтавкаPulp Sensitivity: Influence of Sex, Psychosocial Variables, COMT Gene, and Chronic Facial Pain(Elsevier, 2018) Mladenovic, Irena; Krunic, Jelena; Supic, Gordana; Kozomara, Ruzica; Bokonjic, Dejan; Stojanovic, Nikola; Magic, ZvonkoIntroduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations of variability in pulp sensitivity with sex, psychosocial variables, the gene that encodes for the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), and chronic painful conditions (temporomandibular disorders [TMDs]). Methods: The study was composed of 97 subjects (68 women and 29 men aged 20–44 years). The electric (electric pulp tester) and cold (refrigerant spray) stimuli were performed on mandibular lateral incisors. The results were expressed as pain threshold values for electric pulp stimulation (0–80 units) and as pain intensity scores (visual numeric scale from 0–10) for cold stimulation. The Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD were used to assess TMD, depression, and somatization. DNA extracted from peripheral blood was genotyped for 3 COMT polymorphisms (rs4680, rs6269, and rs165774) using the real-time TaqMan method. Multivariate linear regression was used to investigate the joint effect of the predictor variables (clinical and genetic) on pulp sensitivity (dependent variables). Results: Threshold responses to electric stimuli were related to female sex (P < .01) and the homozygous GG genotype for the rs165774 polymorphism (P < .05). Pain intensity to cold stimuli was higher in TMD patients (P < .01) and tended to be higher in women. Multivariate linear regression identified sex and the rs165774 COMT polymorphism as the determinants of electric pain sensitivity, whereas TMD accounts for the variability in the cold response. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that sex/a COMT gene variant and TMD as a chronic painful condition may contribute to individual variation in electric and cold pulp sensitivity, respectively. (J Endod 2018;44:717–721)
- СтавкаSHORT-TERM LOW-LEVEL LASER THERAPY ATTENUATES INFLAMMATION AND PRODUCTION OF INTERLEUKIN-1, BUT ELEVATES THE LEVEL OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE 9 IN CHRONIC PERIODONTITIS(Ektodermal Displazi Grubu, 2014) Ismaili, Bashkim; Bokonjic, DejanBackground / Purpose: Low- level laser therapy (LLLT) has been used as an adjunct to the treatment of chronic periodontitis (CP), but its efficacy has not been well-documented. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of LLLT on clinical parameters in CP patients and their relationship with concentrations of biohumoral markers of inflammation in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). . Materials and methods: Thirty-six patients were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups after scaling. The experimental group was treated with a diode laser (wavelenght: 635 nm; power density: 100 mW/cm2), by applying the laser beam to diseased teeth for 9 days, whereas the control group did not receive LLLT. Clinical examination was performed at baseline and 10 days after the treatment. GCF samples were collected from the same periodontal site before and after therapy. The levels of interleukin 1 (IL-1) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in GCF were measured by ELISA. Results: LLLT decreased clinical parameters of CP. The levels of IL-1α and IL-1β in GCF were decreased (p< 0.05), but the level of MMP-9 was increased (p<0.01). After LLLT, the level of IL-1α correlated positively with MMP-9 (p< 0.05) and the MMP-9 levels correlated negatively with plaque index (p< 0.05) and papillary bleeding index (p< 0.01). Conclusion: LLLT attenuated periodontal inflammation in CP patients, as judged by clinical parameters and decreased levels of IL-1 in GCF. It remains to be studied whether elevated levels of MMP-9 in GCF might be beneficial for reparation processes.