Flora of the city of Podgorica, Montenegro: Chorologic structure and comparison with the floras of Rome, Patras, and Salonika

Research on the geographical structure of the flora of Podgorica revealed that 85.9% of the species are native, while 14.1% are non-native. This ratio is typical of Mediterranean settlements, where even the most urbanized region reflects the overall character of the surrounding flora. In terms of chorologic groups, the three largest are: eury-Mediterranean (18.2%), cosmopolitan (12.6%), and steno-Mediterranean (8.3%). The percentage of endemic and subendemic plants is also significant (6.8%). Within the group of aliens, species of Asian origin prevail. Comparative analysis of the chorologic spectra of Podgorica, Rome, Patras, and Salonika revealed some similarities

Rat duodenal motility in vitro: Prokinetic effects of DL-homocysteine thiolactone and modulation of nitric oxide mediated inhibition

Homocysteine is a significant but modifiable risk factor for vascular diseases. As gastrointestinal smooth musculature is similar to blood vessel muscles, we investigated how elevated homocysteine levels affect nitric oxide-mediated neurotransmission in the gut. There is accumulated evidence that a dysfunction of NO neurons in the myenteric plexus may cause various diseases in the gastrointestinal tract such as achalasia, diabetic gastroparesis and infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. In the present study, we aimed to assess the effects of homocysteine on NO-mediated responses in vitro, and to examine the effects of DL-homocysteine thiolactone on the spontaneous motility of rat duodenum and nitrergic neurotransmission. DL-homocysteine thiolactone concentration of 10 μmol/L leads to the immediate increase in tone, amplitude and frequency of spontaneous movements in isolated rat duodenum. L-NAME (30 μmol/L) leads to an increase in basal tone, amplitude and frequency of spontaneous contractions. The relaxations induced by EFS were significantly reduced in duodenal segments incubated in DL-homocysteine thiolactone compared with the control group. EFS-induced relaxations were inhibited by L-NAME in both experimental and control groups. These results suggest that a high level of homocysteine causes an important impairment of non-adrenergic non-cholinergic innervation of the rat duodenum. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 175043

Structural characterization and electrical properties of sintered magnesium-titanate ceramics

In this article the influence of ball miling process on structure of MgO-TiO2 system, as well as the electrical properties of samples after sintering, was investigated. The mixtures of MgO-TiO2 powders were mechanically activated in a planetary ball mill for the time period from 0 to 120 min. The influence of mechanical activation and sintering on the lattice vibrational spectra was studied by Raman spectroscopy at room temperature. Structural investigations have been performed on produced powders. Nitrogen adsorption method was used to determine the BET specific surface area and pore size distribution. Unusual results have been obtained: specific surface area continuosly decreased up to 40 min of activation and increased after that, reaching its minimun value of 5.5 m(2)/g. The Raman spectra of activated powders have shown that anatase modes have been decreasing in intensity and broadening as the time of activation extended. Also, the additional modes attributed to TiO2 II, srilankite and rutile phases started to appear as a consequence of activation. The small differences noticed in the Raman spectra of sintered samples have been explained by structural modification of MgTiO3 phase due to the presence of defects. The effects of activation and sintering process on microstructure were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrical measurements showed difference in dielectric constant (epsilon(r)), loss tangent (tg delta) and specific resistance (rho) as a function of time of mechanical treatment

A multimodal spectroscopy system for real-time disease diagnosis

The combination of reflectance, fluorescence, and Raman spectroscopy—termed multimodal spectroscopy (MMS)—provides complementary and depth-sensitive information about tissue composition. As such, MMS is a promising tool for disease diagnosis, particularly in atherosclerosis and breast cancer. We have developed an integrated MMS instrument and optical fiber spectral probe for simultaneous collection of all three modalities in a clinical setting. The MMS instrument multiplexes three excitation sources, a xenon flash lamp (370–740 nm), a nitrogen laser (337 nm), and a diode laser (830 nm), through the MMS probe to excite tissue and collect the spectra. The spectra are recorded on two spectrograph/charge-coupled device modules, one optimized for visible wavelengths (reflectance and fluorescence) and the other for the near-infrared (Raman), and processed to provide diagnostic parameters. We also describe the design and calibration of a unitary MMS optical fiber probe 2 mm in outer diameter, containing a single appropriately filtered excitation fiber and a ring of 15 collection fibers, with separate groups of appropriately filtered fibers for efficiently collecting reflectance, fluorescence, and Raman spectra from the same tissue location. A probe with this excitation/collection geometry has not been used previously to collect reflectance and fluorescence spectra, and thus physical tissue models (“phantoms”) are used to characterize the probe’s spectroscopic response. This calibration provides probe-specific modeling parameters that enable accurate extraction of spectral parameters. This clinical MMS system has been used recently to analyze artery and breast tissue in vivo and ex vivo.National Institutes of Health (U.S) ( Grant No. P41-RR-02594

Structural investigation of mechanically activated ZnO powder

Commercially available ZnO powder was mechanically activated in a planetary ball mill. In order to investigate the specific surface area, pore volume and microstructure of non-activated and mechanically activated ZnO powders the authors performed N-2 physisorption, SEM and TEM. Crystallite size and lattice microstrain were analyzed by X-ray diffraction method. XRD patterns indicate that peak intensities are getting lower and expend with activation time. The reduction in crystallite size and increasing of lattice microstrain with prolonged milling time were determined applying the Rietveld's method. The difference between non-activated and the activated powder has been also observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS is used for investigating the chemical bonding of ZnO powder by analyzing the energy of photoelectrons. The lattice vibration spectra were obtained using Raman spectroscopy. In Raman spectra some changes along with atypical resonant scattering were noticed, which were caused by mechanical activation

Integrating quantitative and qualitative methodologies for the assessment of health care systems: emergency medicine in post-conflict Serbia

BACKGROUND: Due to the complexity of health system reform in the post-conflict, post-disaster, and development settings, attempts to restructure health services are fraught with pitfalls that are often unanticipated because of inadequate preliminary assessments. Our proposed Integrated Multimodal Assessment – combining quantitative and qualitative methodologies – may provide a more robust mechanism for identifying programmatic priorities and critical barriers for appropriate and sustainable health system interventions. The purpose of this study is to describe this novel multimodal assessment using emergency medicine in post-conflict Serbia as a model. METHODS: Integrated quantitative and qualitative methodologies – system characterization and observation, focus group discussions, free-response questionnaires, and by-person factor analysis – were used to identify needs, problems, and potential barriers to the development of emergency medicine in Serbia. Participants included emergency and pre-hospital personnel from all emergency medical institutions in Belgrade. RESULTS: Demographic data indicate a loosely ordered network of part-time emergency departments supported by 24-hour pre-hospital services and an academic emergency center. Focus groups and questionnaires reveal significant impediments to delivery of care and suggest development priorities. By-person factor analysis subsequently divides respondents into distinctive attitudinal types, compares participant opinions, and identifies programmatic priorities. CONCLUSIONS: By combining quantitative and qualitative methodologies, our Integrated Multimodal Assessment identified critical needs and barriers to emergency medicine development in Serbia and may serve as a model for future health system assessments in post-conflict, post-disaster, and development settings

Relaksacija aorte pacova indukovana novosintetisanim orto-hlornim derivatom propafenona

The information on the inhibitory effect of propafenone in vascular smooth muscle is sparse. Propafenone acts through blockage of voltage-dependent cardiac Na+ channels, L-type Ca2+ channels, voltage-sensitive K+ (Kv) channels, as well as β-adrenergic receptors in the heart. The introduction of different chemical groups in the benzyl moiety of propafenone influences pharmacological properties of newly developed derivate of propafenone. Here we investigated the effect of new ortho-chloro derivate of propafenone (5OCl) on the vascular tone of precontracted rat aorta. 5OCl produced endothelium-independent relaxation of rat aorta. In order to test the involvement of different ion channels in 5OCl mechanism of action, antagonist of Na+, lidocaine, KV channels, 4-aminopyiridine (4-AP) and L-type Ca2+ channels, nifedipine were used. All tested antagonists of ion channels did not influence the relaxation of rat aorta induced by high a concentration of 5OCl (≥10 μM), but antagonized the relaxation induced by low concentrations of this propafenone derivate. Thus, 5OCl derivate has comparable potency and efficacy as propafenone. According to its interaction with lidocaine, 4-AP and nifedipine it seems that 5OCl partly shares the mechanism of action with propafenone. The mechanism of vasodilatation induced by high micromolar concentration of 5OCl is not defined and further investigations are necessary.Informacije o efektima propafenona na vaskularne glatke mišiće su oskudne. Propafenon blokira voltažno-zavisne Na+ kanale, Ca2+ kanale L-tipa, voltažno-senzitivne K+ (Kv) kanale i β-adrenergičke receptore u srcu. Uvođenje različitih hemijskih grupa u benzilni deo molekula propafenona utiče na promenu njegovih farmakoloških osobina. U ovoj studiji je ispitivan uticaj novog orto-hloro derivata (5OCl) propafenona na vaskularni tonus prekontrahovane aorte pacova. Orto hlorni derivat (5OCl) je izazvao endotel-nezavisnu relaksaciju aortnih prstenova. Da bi se ispitala uloga različitih jonskih kanala u ovoj relaksaciji, korišćeni su lidokain, (antagonist Na+ kanala), 4-aminopiridin (antagonist Kv kanala) i nifedipin (antagonist Ca2+ kanala L-tipa). Testirani antagonisti jonskih kanala nisu uticali na relaksaciju aorte pacova izazvanu visokom koncentracijom 5OCl (≥10 μM), ali su zato antagonizovali relaksaciju aorte koncentracijama 5OCl koje su bile manje od 10 μM. Prema tome, 5OCl derivat ima sličnu jačinu i efikasnost kao propafenon. Prema njegovoj interakciji sa lidokainom, 4-AP i nifedipinom može se reći da je mehanizam dejstva 5OCl sličan propafenonu. Mehanizam vazodilatacije 5OCl derivata u koncentracijama većim od 10 μM nije definisan i za to su potrebna dalja istraživanja

Application of the Schroth Method in the Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Idiopathic scoliosis can be defined as a complex three-dimensional deformity of the spine and trunk, which occurs in basically healthy children. Schroth scoliosis-specific exercises have shown good results in reducing idiopathic scoliosis progression. This study aimed to critically evaluate the effect size of Schroth’s method through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Four databases were included in the search: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The following keywords were used: “Schroth exercise”, “idiopathic scoliosis”, “Cobb angle”, “angle of trunk rotation”, and “quality of life”. Only articles written in English that met the following criteria were included in our study: subjects who had idiopathic scoliosis, the Schroth method was applied, and Cobb angle or angle of trunk rotation or quality of life as outcomes. Results: Ten randomized controlled trials were included in this study. The effect size of the Schroth exercise ranged from almost moderate to large, for the outcomes used: Cobb angle (ES = −0.492, p ˂ 0.005); ATR (ES = −0.471, p = 0.013); QoL (ES = 1.087, p ˂ 0.001). Conclusions: The current meta-analysis indicates that the Schroth method has a positive effect on subjects with idiopathic scoliosis

The politics of performance: transnationalism and its limits in former Yugoslav popular music, 1999–2004

This paper examines transnational relations between the Yugoslav successor states from the point of view of popular music, and demonstrates how transnational musical figures (such as Djordje Balaševi?, Mom?ilo Bajagi?-Bajaga and Ceca Ražnatovi?) are interpreted as symbolic reference points in national ethnopolitical discourse in the process of identity construction. Another symbolic function is served by Serbian turbofolk artists, who in Croatia serve as a cultural resource to distance oneself from a musical genre associated by many urban Croats with the ruralization (and Herzegovinization) of Croatian city space. In addition, value judgements associated with both Serbian and Croatian newly composed folk music provide an insight into the transnational negotiation of conflicting identities in the ex-Yugoslav context. Ultimately the paper shows how the ethnonational boundaries established by nationalizing ideologies created separate cultural spaces which themselves have been transnationalized after Yugoslavia's disintegration