Risky Travel? Subjective vs. Objective Perceived Risks in Travel Behaviour—Influence of Hydro-Meteorological Hazards in South-Eastern Europe on Serbian Tourists

In terms of climate related security risks, the region of South-Eastern Europe (SEE) can be identified as one of the world’s hot spots. As weather-related hazards continue to increase in num-bers and spatial distribution, risk perception in the tourism industry becomes even more important. Additionally, people’s perception of natural hazards is one of the key elements in their decision-making process when choosing a travel destination. Although a vast number of studies have exam-ined aspects of risk perception, an integrated approach which considers both objective and subjec-tive factors related to the tourism industry and hydro-meteorological hazards remains relatively scarce. This pioneering study inspects the causality between objective perceived risks, as well as subjective risk factors. A methodological approach and the obtained results present a certain nov-elty since the previous conceptualized Psychological Preparedness for Disaster Threat Scale (PPDTS) was applied for the first time in the tourism industry. The obtained results reveal the pres-ence of a statistically significant relationship between objective risks and certain subjective risk fac-tors (gender, age, education, prior experience, anticipation, and awareness). Therefore, this study may offer a conceptual platform for both theoretical and practical implications for enhanced ap-proaches oriented toward more qualitative risk management at a given travel destination, in regions prone to hydro-meteorological hazards

Morphological caracteristics of malocclusion class II

Class II malocclusion are complex anomalies of the skeletal and dental systems. The aim of this study is that the rengenkefalometrics analysis closer determine the morphological characteristics of this malocclusion. For this study were used 30 patients aged 18-30, previously clinically diagnosed class II, before the planned orthodontic treatment. The results analisis lateral cephalometric radiographs were compared with the 30 patients with class I malocclusion. Analyzed three linear and two angular cranial base dimensions and nine angular and four linear measures from the facial skeleton. The Results show: No statistically significant differensis in cranial base angle (SNBa) and anterior cranial base length (S-N) between class II and control Class I. Angle maxillar prognathism ( SNA) is no signifikant different between class I and Class II but SNB angle were signifikant smaller. The length of maxillary base (A'-SnP) is longer and the length of mandibule (Pg'-MT1/MT) is signifficantly smaller. The gonial angle (ArGo-Me) was smaller with open articular angle (GoArSN). Morphological characteristics of class II malocclusion are , retrognathic and smaller mandibular ligth, normognathic and longer maxilla, open articular angle with vertical tendency of the craniofacial growth pattern

The craniofacial morphology of school children in Kosovska Mitrovica

There are many factors that influence the craniofacial morphology, such as genetics and environmental influence. The aim of our study is to define the craniofacial morphology of school children from Kosovska Mitrovica. The study included 330 school children at the age of 8 to 11 year on the territory of Kosovska MItrovica. For this study we use series of the standard anthropometric measurements: the face height, the face width, the height and cranial deep and the craniofacial index. All data were recorded by computer, analyzed statistically and with z score calculating craniofacial variability index (CVI). This index describe on numerical way, the range of normal distribution of craniofacial morphology and abnormal craniofacial appearance outside of the normal range of the index. According the results, index of the face of boys and girls are same, mezoprosp in every group. Result of the cranial index of boys and girls show frequently brahiocefal (52.2%), then mesocefal (43.5%) and dolihocefal (4.3%)

Spectroscopic and fluorescence properties of silver-dye composite nanoparticles

The aim of this work was to investigate the formation of J-aggregates of thiacyanine dye (TC, 5,5-disulfopropyl-3,3-dichlorothiacyanine sodium salt) in the presence of 6 nm spherical silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using spectrophotometric and fluorescence methods. The formation of J-aggregates was concentration dependent and characterized by the appearance of the new absorption band with the maximum at 481 nm. Spectrophotometric study of J-aggregate formation and time stability suggested that they were formed on the account of monomer form of TC. Moreover, the stability of J-aggregates increased with the lowering AgNPs concentration. The measurements of fluorescence of the NPs-dye assembly clearly indicated that the fluorescence of TC was quenched by Ag NPs on the concentration dependent manner. The spectrophotometric and fluorescence properties of NPs-dye assembly were found to be quantitatively related to the surface coverage of the dye on the Ag NPs

Inhibition of myeloperoxidase and antioxidative activity of Gentiana lutea extracts

The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory activity of Gentiana lutea extracts on the enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO), as well as the antioxidant activity of these extracts and their correlation with the total polyphenol content. Extracts were prepared using methanol (100%), water and ethanol aqueous solutions (96, 75, 50 and 25% v/v) as solvents for extraction. Also, isovitexin, amarogentin and gentiopicroside, pharmacologically active constituents of G. lutea were tested as potential inhibitors of MPO. Antioxidant activity of extracts was determined using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging test and also using cyclic voltammetry (CV). Among all extracts, the antioxidant capacity of 50% ethanol aqueous extract was the highest, both when measured using the DPPH test, with IC50 = 20.6 mu g/ml, and when using CV. Also, 50% ethanol extract, showed the best inhibition of MPO activity in comparison with other extracts. In the group of the selected G. lutea constituents, gentiopicroside has proved to be the strongest inhibitor of MPO, with IC50 = 0.8 mu g/ml. Also, the concentration of G. lutea constituents were determined in all extracts, using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC). (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Risky Travel? Subjective vs. Objective Perceived Risks in Travel Behaviour—Influence of Hydro-Meteorological Hazards in South-Eastern Europe on Serbian Tourists

In terms of climate related security risks, the region of South-Eastern Europe (SEE) can be identified as one of the world’s hot spots. As weather-related hazards continue to increase in numbers and spatial distribution, risk perception in the tourism industry becomes even more important. Additionally, people’s perception of natural hazards is one of the key elements in their decision-making process when choosing a travel destination. Although a vast number of studies have examined aspects of risk perception, an integrated approach which considers both objective and subjective factors related to the tourism industry and hydro-meteorological hazards remains relatively scarce. This pioneering study inspects the causality between objective perceived risks, as well as subjective risk factors. A methodological approach and the obtained results present a certain novelty since the previous conceptualized Psychological Preparedness for Disaster Threat Scale (PPDTS) was applied for the first time in the tourism industry. The obtained results reveal the presence of a statistically significant relationship between objective risks and certain subjective risk factors (gender, age, education, prior experience, anticipation, and awareness). Therefore, this study may offer a conceptual platform for both theoretical and practical implications for enhanced approaches oriented toward more qualitative risk management at a given travel destination, in regions prone to hydro-meteorological hazards

Mechanism and Kinetics of J-Aggregation of Thiacyanine Dye in the Presence of Silver Nanoparticles

The aim of the present work was to elucidate the binding mechanism and kinetics of anionic cyanine dye 3,3-disulfopropyl-5,5-dichlorothiacyanine sodium salt (TC) J-aggregation on the surface of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs, particle size similar to 6 nm). The hybrid J-aggregateAgNPs assembly was characterized by TEM analysis, UVvis spectrophotometry, and fluorescence measurements. In the elucidation of TC binding on the surface of AgNPs, they were considered as macromolecules with several binding sites and TC dye was considered as a ligand. Scatchard and Hill analysis revealed that TC binding was a random process rather than cooperative, with similar to 200 bonded TC molecules per AgNP and a binding constant K-a = 4.8 x 10(7) M. The TC-AgNP assembly exerted concentration-dependent fluorescence quenching properties. The linearity of the SternVolmer relation, accounting for both static and dynamic quenching, indicated that only one type of quenching occurred, suggesting that AgNPs quenched the fluorescence of TC with an extraordinarily high SternVolmer constant (KSV) in the range of 10(8) M-1. Additionally, the kinetics of J-aggregation of TC in the presence of AgNPs was studied using a stopped flow technique. Kinetic measurements were performed as a function of the TC and AgNP concentration, yielding sigmoidal kinetic curves. The concentration dependence of the parameters of the kinetic curves indicated that J-aggregate formation on the AgNP surface occurred via a two-step process; the first was adsorption of the initial dye layer, followed by the growth of consecutive layers