Low-dose ionizing irradiation affects ntpdase activity in neuoronal cells of young female rats

In the present study, time-dependent effects of low-dose ionizing irradiation on membrane-bound enzyme activity in neuronal cell endings of young female rat brains were sudied. The ecto-adenosine triphospho diphosphohydrolases (NTPDases) hydrolyse the extracellular nucleotide di- and tri- phosphates (ADP and ATP) in the presence of divalent cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+). The influence of whole-body irradiation on membrane enzymes ATP and ADP hydrolysing activity were monitored 1, 24 and 72 h after irradiation. Animals were divided into three groups: non-treated, under physiological conditions (C), immobilized and whole body irradiated with 50 cGy by γ-rays (R) and immobilized non-irradiated (I) animals. It was shown that the levels of ATP and ADP hydrolyses were not affected within 72h after immobilisation. Lowdose irradiation significantly decreased hydrolyses of extracellular ATP as early as 1h after irradiation. ADP hydrolyses within 72 h and ATP hydrolysis after 24 h were not altered.Physical chemistry 2006 : 8th international conference on fundamental and applied aspects of physical chemistry; Belgrade (Serbia); 26-29 September 200

Modeling the mechanism of ethanol effect on nonlinear dynamical states of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system.

Predmet istraživanja ove doktorske disertacije je ispitivanje uticaja etanola na dinamička stanja biohemijskih procesa koji čine hipotalamo-hipofizno-adrenalnu osu (HPA, od eng. hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal). HPA osa objedinjuje hipotalamus, hipofizu i koru nadbubrežnih žlezda u jednu celinu...The research topic of this doctoral thesis is to examine the influence of ethanol on the dynamical states of biochemical processes underlying the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. HPA axis incorporates the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands into one entity..

Developing a Model for Sustainable Conversion of Blockhouse Bunkers in Serbia

Blockhouses represent a type of small-span aboveground bunkers, originally built in England but later also in other parts of the world. These specific forms of military heritage, which were largely built during the WWII in Balkan, are forgotten witnesses of the past. As the old military concepts and doctrines have been abandoned, the strategic interest for the blockhouses has been lost, while the questions about their future arose. While the developed countries are actively engaged in the search for sustainable solutions that consider finding the non-military uses for these military structures, it is still quite a rarity in Serbia. Many blockhouses are located in the areas of outstanding natural values or within the urban zones; so consequently, they do have a potential to be integrated into contemporary urban dynamics. The paper examines reasons and possibilities for the reuse of blockhouse bunkers, taking into account the principles of sustainability and the indicators for adaptability, analysing their spatial, functional transformation through the development of a model for sustainable conversion. In order to check the debated postulates, a design proposal of a blockhouse converted into a single-family house is presented and discussed from the aspect of layout flexibility and development of a modular extension, as a plausible and sustainable scenario

Differentiating the usability of open common spaces in multifamily housing

Отворен простор је значајна тема у развоју града и могућности социјализације корисника. Ти простори на примеру блоковских структура, а посебно отвореног блока, су веома запажен део вишепородичног становања нарочито у периоду након 1960их година у Србији. Рад испитује могућу поделу унутар појединачних одабраних отворених заједничких простора. Сагледава се могућа систематизацију која обухвата градацију коришћења делова тих простора, те да сваки сегмент простора у оквиру блока није идентично атрактиван нити једнако оптерећен корисницима. Простор се кроз анализу мапира у зависности од више параметара који се проистичу из типологије објеката вишепородичног становања (уређење и намена у приземљу, позиција и број улаза и сл.), позиције главних пешачких комуникација, саобраћајног решења, уређених игралишта и др. Отворени заједнички простор се може аналитички поделити на различите сегменте који су међузависни и хијерархијски одређени. Предложена хипотеза рада је да је коришћење и обликовање отвореног заједничког простора у оквиру вишепородичног становања директно везано за типологију стамбених склопова, постојање или непостојање урбаног мобилијара, важност других фокусних тачака у оквиру простора које корисник најчешће користи (паркинг, продавница и др). С тим у вези рад анализира два примера отворених заједничких простора вишепородичног становања на примеру два стамбена блока у Београду и Нишу, који служе као полигон за испитивање потенцијалне диференцијације простора. Спроведеним истраживањем уочавају се могућности искоришћења простора. Циљ рада је да се мапирањем ових зона јасно уочи шаблон коришћења и створи основ за истраживање будућих сценарија коришћења тих простора, уз унапређење комфора. Тиме се отвара могућност за даље интеревенције и прилагођавање простора новим потребама.Public space is a significant topic in the development of the city and the opportunity as a means of socialization of users. These spaces, on the example of block structures, and especially the open block, is a very noticeable part of multi-family housing, especially in the period after the 1960s in Serbia. This paper examines the possible division within the selected open common spaces. These spaces can be systematized, which includes the gradation of the use of different parts of these spaces, and that each segment of space within the block is not identically attractive or equally crowded by users. Such space is mapped through analysis depending on several parameters that include the typology of multi-family housing (functions of the ground floor, position, and number of entrances, etc.), the position of the main pedestrian communications, traffic solutions inside the block, furnished playgrounds, etc. An open common space can be analytically divided into different segments that are interdependent and hierarchically determined. The proposed hypothesis is that the use and design of open common space within multi-family housing is directly related to the typology of housing units, the existence or non-existence of urban furniture, the importance of other focal points within the space most often used (parking, shop, etc.). In this regard, the paper analyzes two examples of open common spaces of multi-family housing on the example of two residential blocks in Belgrade and Niš, which serve as a testing ground for examining the potential differentiation of space. This paper aims to see the pattern of use by mapping these zones and create a base for enabling new scenarios of future uses, providing sufficient comfort. Paper intends to create a framework for further interventions and adapting the space for new uses.Уредници: Александар Јевтић, Борко Драшкови

Molecular characterization of Dobrava-Belgrade hantavirus in Serbia, 2007-2011

Background: Hantaviruses are etiological agents of emerging zoonotic diseases worldwide, including hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). A number of hantavirus species is known to be present in Europe. In Serbia, existing data on hantavirus presence and prevalence rely in serological findings. In this study, molecular analysis was performed in order to characterize HFRS causing hantaviruses in Serbia. Methods: Sixty four serum samples of HFRS cases, previously found seropositive to anti-hantaviral anti-bodies, were included in the study. Partial hantaviral L and S segments were PCR amplified producing 390nt and 598nt amplicons, respectively, in parallel with human beta-actin mRNA as external reverse transcription positive control. Hantavirus specific PCR products were DNA sequenced in both direction and the obtained sequences phylogenetically confirmed and analyzed. Results: PCR detection of hantavirus L and S genome segments was positive in 18/64 and 11/64 tested samples, respectively. Positive PCR results involved samples obtained from different locations, mostly from central and southern parts of Serbia. All the obtained sequences were identified as Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV). In the phylogenetic analysis sequences from Serbia tended to cluster in distinctive, geographically related clusters. Conclusions: Our findings indicate DOBV as the main HFRS causing hantavirus in Serbia, the site of its initial isolation. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Limited on behalf of King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Representing IT Performance Management as Metamodel

Many empirical studies have shown that the business value from investment in IT projects can be greater than the one being currently achieved. Thus it calls for specific focus on IT governance in order to reach fusion between business and IT goals. Good IT performance management should enable the business and IT executives to understand how IT is contributing to the achievement of business goals. The paper addresses the issue of representing IT governance best practice frameworks as ontological metamodels. Special attention is dedicated to VAL IT framework, which represents a comprehensive framework to maximize business value from IT investments. The paper points out the necessity of analyzing, comparing and integrating IT governance frameworks in order to complement different knowledge and generate ontological metamodel of IT performance management. Scope ofour work is in the static aspect of the framework and as the metalanguage Extended Entity/Relationship model is used

A serological survey of canine leptospirosis in the city of Belgrade, Serbia

Canine leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by bacteria belonging to the genus Leptospira. Dogs are one of the animal species involved in the cycle of preservation and transmission of leptospirosis in urban areas. Serological testing for the presence of specific antibodies against Leptospira spp. in dogs was continuously performed between 2010 and 2020 in the city of Belgrade. At the request of the owners themselves, other veterinary laboratories or laboratory clinics, 179 blood sera from 179 dogs were examined in the Laboratory for Immunology, Scientific Institute of Veterinary Medicine of Serbia. Blood sera samples from dogs were examined using the standard microscopic agglutination test (MAT) for the presence of specific antibodies against seven different serovars of Leptospira: Pomona, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Grippotyphosa, Sejroe, Canicola, Bataviae, and Australis. The number of seropositive dogs was 17/179 (9.5%). Among all examined sera, the highest titre of seropositive samples was to serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae (10/17, 58.8%), followed by Pomona (4/17, 23.5%), and serovar Canicola (3/17, 17.6%). Specific antibodies for serovars Grippotyphosa, Sejroe, Bataviae and Australis were not detected in any of the dog sera. Cross-reaction (the presence of two or three titres with different values where one of them was higher than others) between different serovars was diagnosed in a low number of sera (n=4), with the following serovars: Icterohaemorrhagiae and Pomona (n=3) and Pomona and Canicola (n=1). The confirmed specific antibody titres for Leptospira spp. were between 1:100 to 1:3000 (5 sera had titres of 1:100, 7 had titres of 1:300, 4 had titres of 1:1000, and 1 serum had a titre 1:3000). Monitoring canine leptospirosis is a useful tool in preventing leptospirosis in Belgrade

Umerena radioprotektivna uloga zeolita kod pacova

Background/Aim. Exposure of living organisms to γ- radiation results in the overproduction of free radicals. The aim of the study was to test if the subacute administration of micronized zeolite (MZC) accomplishes radioprotective role based on the evaluation of the status of oxidative stress (OS) in the brain and 8-hydroxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) in the plasma of the rats exposed to the single γ-ray irradiation of 2 and/or 10 Gray (Gy). Methods. Wistar rats were on a four-week normal or 5% MZC supplemented diet and af- terward exposed to the single γ-ray irradiation of 2 and 10 Gy. Groups of rats were: a) on a normal diet (the control group, and 2Gy and 10Gy groups); b) on 5% MZC supple- mented diet (the control group – MZC, MZC + 2Gy, and MZC + 10Gy groups). We measured malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) total, and activity of total super- oxide dismutase (tSOD) and manganese superoxide dis- mutase (MnSOD) in vulnerable brain regions (cerebellum, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex) and 8-OH-dG in plasma. Results. Lower MDA was found in the MZC+2Gy and MZC+10Gy groups compared to the 2Gy and 10Gy groups. Activity od total SOD was higher in the MZC+10Gy group than in the 10Gy one. GSH was the highest in the 10Gy group. Compared to the control group, 8-OH-dG was extremely higher in groups radiated with 10 Gy regardless of a diet, but slightly lower in the MZC+2Gy and 2Gy groups. Conclusion. Subacute MZC pretreatment accomplished partial radioprotective effect in irradiated rats compared to non-irradiated rats, based on suppressed SOD activity at 2 Gy, and reduced brain MDA when exposed to 2 Gy and 10 Gy.Uvod/Cilj. Izlaganje živih organizama gama zračenju re- zultira hiperprodukcijom slobodnih radikala. Cilj istraživanja je bio da se ispita da li subakutna ishrana dopunjena sa 5% mikronizovanog zeolita (MZC) ispoljava radiozaštitnu ulogu na osnovu statusa oksidativnog stresa (OS) u mozgu i 8- hidroksiguanozina (8-OH-dG) u plazmi pacova izloženih pojedinačnim dozama jonizujućeg zračenja od 2 i 10 Gray (Gy). Metode. Wistar pacovi su bili na četvoronedeljnoj normalnoj ishrani ili ishrani obogaćenoj sa 5% MZC, posle čega su bili izloženi pojedinačnom jonizujućem zračenju od 2 Gy, odnosno 10 Gy. Grupe pacova bile su: a) gru pa pacova na normalnoj ishrani (kontrolna grupa i grupe 2Gy i 10Gy); b) grupa pacova na ishrani obogaćenoj sa 5% MZC (kontrolna grupa – MZC i grupe MZC+2Gy i MZC+10Gy). Meren je malondialdehid (MDA), glutation (GSH) i aktivnost ukupne (tSOD) i mangan superoksid dizmutaze (MnSOD) u osetljivim strukturama mozga (cerebelum, hipokampus i cerebralni korteks), a 8-OH-dG u plazmi. Rezultati. Biomarker MDA je bio niži u MZC+2Gy i MZC+10Gy grupama, u odnosu na grupe 2Gy i 10Gy. Aktivnost ukupne SOD je bila viša u grupi MZC+10Gy, u odnosu na grupu 10Gy. Najviši nivo GSH bio je u grupi 10Gy. U pređenju sa kontrolnom grupom, 8- OH-dG je bio izuzetno viši u grupama ozračenim sa 10 Gy, bez obzira na dijetetski režim i niži u grupama MZC+2Gy i 2Gy. Zaključak. Pacovi koji su bili na režimu ishrane obogaćene sa 5% MZC bili su delimično zaštićeni od zračenja, shodno redukovanoj moždanoj aktivnosti SOD pri 2 Gy i sniženom nivou MDA pri izlaganju zračenju od 2 i 10 Gy

Detection of the Xanthi Chryso-like Virus in New Geographical Area and a Novel Arthropod Carrier

Here, we report on a serendipitous finding of a chryso-like virus associated with Culex pipiens mosquitos in the course of study aimed to detect and characterize West Nile virus (WNV) circulating in mosquitos in Serbia, Southern Europe. Upon initial detection of unexpected product in a PCR protocol for partial WNV NS5 gene amplification, further confirmation and identification was obtained through additional PCR and Sanger sequencing experiments. Bioinformatic and phylogenetic analysis identified the obtained sequences as Xanthi chryso-like virus (XCLV). The finding is particular for the fact that it associates XCLV with a new potential vector species and documents a novel geographical area of its distribution