Environmental Education in Serbian Primary Schools: Challenges and Changes in Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Teacher Training

The protection of human health and the preservation of the environment are topics that form anintegral part of the primary school curriculum in Serbia. However, research studies have shown thatstudents do not have enough knowledge to contribute to the development of a healthy lifestyle andenvironmental awareness. The latest changes in school policy and curricula confirm that the relevanceof environmental education has been recognized, but changes in school practice are yet to come. Thisarticle discusses the challenges encountered in the implementation of the intended curriculum andoffers suggestions for changes to the curriculum, pedagogy, and teacher training in order to enhanceenvironmental educationThis is the peer-reviewd version of the artivle: Stanišić, Jelena, и Slavica Maksić. 2014. „Environmental Education in Serbian Primary Schools: Challenges and Changes in Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Teacher Training“. Journal of Environmental Education 45(2):118–31. doi: 10.1080/00958964.2013.829019.Related to published version: [ http://ipir.ipisr.org.rs/handle/123456789/240

Separation mechanisms of Co(III) complexes with EDTA-type ligands during salting-out TLC on impregnated and non-impregnated silica gel

A separation mechanism of eight Co(III) complexes with ethylenediaminetetraacetate-type ligands belonging to two series during salting-out thin-layer chromatography on silica gel is investigated. The sorbent is impregnated with five poly(ethylene glycol)s with different molecular masses, and ammonium sulphate solutions are used as mobile phase. Additionally, on non-impregnated sorbent, mobile phases containing one of eight salts with ions of different lyotropic properties are used: kosmotropic Mg 2+ accompanied with SO 42- (kosmotrope), Cl - (border), NO 3- (chaotrope), ClO 4-(chaotrope), Cl - of Li + (kosmotrope), Na + (border), K + (chaotrope) and NH 4+ (chaotrope). Salting-out and salting-in effects were observed depending on salt nature. The combined retention mechanism of specific H-bonding and nonspecific hydrophobic interactions is proposed. © 2012 The Author. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved

X-ray analyses, spectroscopic and magnetic properties of [Cu4(succinato)(tpmc)2](ClO4) 6·2C2H5OH·4H2O and [Cu2(C6H5COO)tpmc](ClO4) 3·0.5CH3OH·0.5H2O complexes

[Cu4(succinato)(tpmc)2](ClO4) 6 · 2H2O (tpmc = N,N′,N″,N‴-tetrakis-(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraa zacyclotetradecane, succinato = dianion of succinic acid) has been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, UV/vis, IR, EPR (X-band) spectra, conductivity and magnetization measurements (SQUID). Based on a low-temperature measurements (100(2) K), X-ray analyses of the first tetranuclear Cu(II)-tpmc complex, single crystal of which corresponded to the [Cu4(succinato)(tpmc)2](ClO4) 6·2C2H5OH·4H2O (1) and of the previously described [Cu2(C6H5COO)tpmc](ClO4) 3·0.5CH3OH·0.5H2O (2) were also done. The complexes crystallize in triclinic P over(1, ̄) (1) and monoclinic P21/c (2) space groups. The geometry around the first Cu(II) coordination sphere in the tetranuclear complex (1) is almost regular square-based pyramidal, while significant distortion around the other metallic center was observed. The angular structural parameter (τ), which is applicable to five coordinate structures as an index of degree of trigonality, was found to be 0.05 and 0.40, respectively. In the binuclear complex (2) the geometry around the first Cu(II) coordination sphere is regular square-based pyramidal (τ = 0.09), while around the other is distorted trigonal bipyramidal (τ = 0.79). In complexes (1) and (2) the bridging carboxylate groups are coordinated to metallic centres in a syn-anti mode. Weak ferromagnetic interactions are observed between copper(II) ions, connected through syn-anti monocarboxylate bridges (2J = +1.26 and +1.84 cm-1 in complexes (1) and (2), respectively). Additional antiferromagnetic interaction through succinato anion (zJ′ = -1.57 cm-1) gives finally rise to antiferromagnetic interactions, observed in magnetic measurements in tetrameric complex (1)

PCR amplification on whole blood samples treated with different commonly used anticoagulants

The aim of this study was to explore the influence of different anticoagulants on PCR amplification, as well as to optimize PCR amplification of blood samples for successful mutation detection. For the purpose of this study the amplification of part of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene exon 4, in which mutation C677T is located, was performed. With the exception of sodium heparin, the presence of other commonly used anticoagulants (sodium citrate, K(3)EDTA, lithium heparin) made it possible to obtain satisfactory amplification. The described method, apart from saving time and material, enables successful PCR-based analysis even when a very small amount of blood sample is available

Characterization of a Bi2O3 coat based anode prepared by galvanostatic electrodeposition and its use for the electrochemical degradation of Reactive Orange 4

Two anodes were prepared by galvanostatic electrodeposition from an acidic Bi(III) solution on a Ti substrate and calcination in air at 350 °C and 600 °C. The surface coat of the anode calcined at 350 °C displayed irregular, predominantly sheet-like and needle-like morphology and it was composed of α-Bi2O3, with minor amounts of rhombohedral Bi and β-Bi2O3, and traces of ω-Bi2O3. The surface coat of the anode calcined at 600 °C predominantly displayed an oval morphology, and it was composed solely of α-Bi2O3. Only this anode was electrochemically stable. TG analysis showed that it was chemically stable in the investigated temperature range from 25 °C to 600 °C, both in oxygen and nitrogen. This anode was used for electrochemical decolorization of a dye, Reactive Orange 4, in the presence of H2O2. The optimal values for the decolorization parameters (applied current density, H2O2 and Na2SO4 concentration and pH), which provided the fastest decolorization, were determined. Decolorization reactions follow pseudo-first order kinetics