Public debt sustainability in Serbia before and during the global financial crisis

We have analyzed the behaviour of primary fiscal balance and public debt in Serbia before and in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. The results of our analysis are: i) public debt to GDP ratioexhibits (near) unit root behaviour with an overall upward time trend; ii) the response of primary fiscal balance to public debt has been insufficient to mean revert the upward trend in government debt; iii) the efforts of the Serbian government to repay the debt principal after the fiscal rule breach have not been persistent, providing empirical support to the fiscal fatigue hypothesis; iv) the government budget constraint has deteriorated since the beginning of the global financial crisis; v) the response of primary fiscal balance to public debt from the onset of the global financial crisis has dropped more severely in comparison to other European economies

Experimental study on the stresses at the i-beam end-plate moment connection

The paper deals with experimental study of the stresses at the bolted end-plate moment connection. The design parameters are adopted to include prying effects in joint. A stress level is obtained in the elements where the highest values occur in the tension zone of the end-plate. The accompanied finite element analysis is performed for comparing purposes with experimental results. It is shown that end-plate thickness should be the unavoidable joint parameter in structural analysis of frame-like structures

Experimental study on the stresses at the i-beam end-plate moment connection

The paper deals with experimental study of the stresses at the bolted end-plate moment connection. The design parameters are adopted to include prying effects in joint. A stress level is obtained in the elements where the highest values occur in the tension zone of the end-plate. The accompanied finite element analysis is performed for comparing purposes with experimental results. It is shown that end-plate thickness should be the unavoidable joint parameter in structural analysis of frame-like structures

Experimental study on the stresses at the i-beam end-plate moment connection

The paper deals with experimental study of the stresses at the bolted end-plate moment connection. The design parameters are adopted to include prying effects in joint. A stress level is obtained in the elements where the highest values occur in the tension zone of the end-plate. The accompanied finite element analysis is performed for comparing purposes with experimental results. It is shown that end-plate thickness should be the unavoidable joint parameter in structural analysis of frame-like structures

Fiscal Reaction to Interest Payments-the Case of Serbia

We focus on the response of primary fiscal balance to interest payments and borrowing costs on Serbian public debt before, during and in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Our analysis reveals: i) policy makers financed up to 50% of each percentage point increase in interest payments to GDP ratio with new public debt issuance; ii) the government has responded to rising interest payments and borrowing costs by reducing primary fiscal balance from the onset of the global financial crisis; iii) the response of primary fiscal balance to interest payments mimics the response of primary fiscal balance to the costs of borrowing; iv) fiscal austerity measures adopted after the breach of fiscal rule for public debt have been insufficient to stabilize fiscal policy stance in Serbia

Oleinska kiselina - uticaj na zdravlje i status u fosfolipidima plazme u srpskoj populaciji

Oleic acid has many beneficial effects on human health. One of the main dietary sources of oleic acid is olive oil. Non-Mediterranean European countries, including Serbia, have low habitual olive oil consumption, but other vegetable oils also contain different amounts of oleic acid. In infants and young children m ilk is the most important source of fatty acids, including oleic acid. Furthermore, fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids reflects dietary intake and fatty acid metabolism. In patients with serious chronic diseases fatty acid status is altered independently on the intake. Here we reviewed status of oleic acid in healthy persons as well as in patients with different chronic diseases in Serbia.Oleinska kiselina ima ima višestrukepozitivne efekte na život i zdravlje ljudi. Jedan od glavnih izvora oleinske kiseline je maslinovo ulje. Evropske zemlje, koje nepripadaju mediteranskoj regiji, među kojima je i Srbija, retko koriste maslinovo ulje u ishrani, ali i druga biljna ulja sadrže oleinsku kiselinu u različitom procentu. Kod odojčadi i dece mlađeg uzrasta, mleko je najvažniji izvor masnih kiselina, uključujući i oleinsku. Dijetetski unos masnih kiselina i njihov metabolizam u telu, odražava masnokiselinski sastav ufosfolipidima plazme. Kod pacijenata sa teškim hroničnim oboljenjima, masnokiselinski sastav je promenjen nezavisno od unosa. U ovom radu je prikazan status oleinske kiseline kod zdravih osoba, kao i kod pacijenata sa različitim hroničnim oboljenjima u Srbiji

The effect of chronic intensive training on oxidativ stress parameters and fatty acid profiles of plasma and erythrocytes in female athletes

Intenzivna fizička aktivnost utiče na metabolizam lipida i masnih kiselina (MK), dovodi do povećane potrošnje kiseonika u mišićima i drugim tkivima što vodi povećanoj produkciji reaktivnih kiseoničnih vrsta i može uticati na funkciju imunog sistema. Uticaj hroničnog intenzivnog vežbanja na parametre oksidativnog stresa i masnokiselinski profil fosfolipida kod aktivnih sportistkinja nije dovoljno ispitivan. Zbog toga je ova studija imala za cilj da ispita MK profil fosfolipida plazme i eritrocita, parametre oksidativnog stresa, aktivnost enzima antioksidativne zaštite, kao i aktivnost monocita kao dela imunog sistema, kod dve grupe aktivnih sportistkinja: vaterpolistkinja (n=15) i fudbalerki (n=19). Kontrolnu grupu (n=14) su činile zdrave devojke istih godina starosti koje se ne bave fizičkom aktivnošću. Uprkos sličnom dijetarnom unosu, MK profil plazme pokazao je znatno veći udeo stearinske, oleinske i mononezasićenih masnih kiselina (MUFA) i značajno niži procenat ukupnih i n-6 polinezasićenih MK (PUFA) kod fudbalerki u odnosu na vaterpolo i kontrolnu grupu. Sa druge strane vaterpolistkinje su imale višu procentualnu zastupljenost palmitoleinske i arahidonske kiseline u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu. MK profil eritrocita pokazao je značajno veći procenat oleinske kiseline i MUFA kod fudbalerki u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu, i smanjeni procenat stearinske kiseline uz viši udeo palmitinske i palmitoleinske kiseline kod vaterpolistkinja u odnosu na druge dve grupe. Obe grupe sportistkinja su imale značajno niži procenat n-6 PUFA i ukupnih PUFA u poređenju sa kontrolnom grupom. Procenjena aktivnost desaturaza i elongaza u eritrocitima takođe je promenjena kod sportistkinja. Analiza parametara oksidativnog stresa pokazala je značajno veći ukupni antioksidativni status u plazmi i veći stepen lipidne peroksidacije u eritrocitima kod sportistkinja u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu. Koncentracija H2O2 u plazmi bila je veća kod sportistkinja u odnosu na neaktivne žene, ali su fudbalerke imale viši nivo H2O2 i u odnosu na vaterpolistkinje. Sa druge strane, koncentracija O2 .- bila je najniža kod vaterpolistkinja a najviša kod fudbalerki, značajno viša i u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu. Koncentracija NO2 - u plazmi bila je značajno viša kod fudbalerki u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu. Aktivnost enzima antioksidativne zaštite u eritrocitima razlikovala se između sportistkinja i kontrolne grupe. Tako je aktivnost katalaze kod sportistkinja bila značajno viša u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu, dok se aktivnost glutationperoksidaze nije razlikovala između ispitivanih grupa. Aktivnost superoksid-dismutaze bila je najviša kod vaterpolistkinja, i nije se značajno razlikovala između fudbalerki i kontrolne grupe. Analiza metaboličke aktivnosti mononuklearnih ćelija periferne krvi pokazala je veću aktivnost mononuklearnih ćelija kod sportistkinja, dok se produkcija O2 .- i NO2- u mononuklearnim ćelijama nije razlikovala između ispitivanih grupa. Naši rezultati su pokazali da dugotrajna intenzivna fizička aktivnost značajno utiče namasnokiselinski profil fosfolipida plazme i eritrocita, parametre oksidativnog stresa, aktivnost enzima antioksidativne zaštite, menja aktivnost mononuklearnih ćelija periferne krvi ali ne utiče na produkciju O2 .- i NO2 - u mononuklearnim ćelijama. Zapažene razlike između grupa vaterpolistkinja i fudbalerki ukazuju da tip sporta igra značajnu ulogu u promenama u metablizmu kod sportistkinja.Intensive physical activity affects metabolism of lipids and fatty acids (FA), increases consumption of oxygen in muscles and other tissues that leads to increased production of reactive oxygen species and can affect immune system. The effect of chronic intensive exercise on parameters of oxidative stress and phospholipids FA composition in elite female athletes has not been studied extensively so far. Thus the aim of this study was to investigate FA profiles in plasma and erythrocytes phospholipids, parameters of oxidative stress, activity of antioxidative enzyme system and activity of monocytes as a part of immune system in two groups of active female athletes: water polo (n=15) and football (n=19) players. The control group was composed of 14 apparently healthy age-matched sedentary women. In spite of similar dietary patterns, plasma FA profile in the football players showed significantly higher proportion of stearic acid, oleic acid and monounsaturated FA (MUFA), and significantly lower proportion of total and n-6 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) than the water polo and control group. The water polo players had higher percentages of palmitoleic acid and arachidonic acid than the control subjects. Erythrocyte FA profile differed among groups. We found significantly higher proportion of oleic acid and MUFA in the football group than in the controls, and decreased stearic acid and elevated palmitic and palmitoleic acid in the water polo players than in the other two groups. Both groups of athletes had significantly lower percentages of n-6 PUFA and total PUFA compared to the controls. The estimated activities of elongase and desaturases in erythrocytes were also altered in the athletes. Analysis of oxidative stress parameters showed significantly higher plasma total antioxidant status and higher lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes of the athletes than in the controls. Concentration of H2O2 in plasma was higher in the athletes compared with sedentary women, but also higher in football than in the water polo players. On the other hand, level of O2 .- was the lowest in water polo players and the highest in the football group. Concentrations of both O2 .- and NO2 - were significantly higher in the football than in the control group. Catalase activity was significantly higher in the athletes that in sedentary women, while glutation peroxidase activity was similar in all groups. Superoxide-dismutase activity was higher in the water polo group than in the other two groups. Furthermore, metabolic activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was higher in the athletes, and production of O2 .- i NO2 - in mononuclear cells did not differ among the studied groups. Our results have shown that long-term, intense physical training significantly affected FA status of plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids, oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activity in women. It also changes metabolic activity of mononuclear cells but not the production of O2 .- i NO2 - in mononuclear cells. The observed differences between the water polo and the football players suggest that the type of regular training may contribute to the altered metabolism in athletes. Key words: phospholipids, fatty acids, physical activity, water polo, football, female athlete

Uticaj hroničnog intenzivnog treninga na parametre oksidativnog stresa i masnokiselinski profil plazme i eritrocita kod sportistkinja

Intensive physical activity affects metabolism of lipids and fatty acids (FA), increases consumption of oxygen in muscles and other tissues that leads to increased production of reactive oxygen species and can affect immune system. The effect of chronic intensive exercise on parameters of oxidative stress and phospholipids FA composition in elite female athletes has not been studied extensively so far. Thus the aim of this study was to investigate FA profiles in plasma and erythrocytes phospholipids, parameters of oxidative stress, activity of antioxidative enzyme system and activity of monocytes as a part of immune system in two groups of active female athletes: water polo (n=15) and football (n=19) players. The control group was composed of 14 apparently healthy age-matched sedentary women. In spite of similar dietary patterns, plasma FA profile in the football players showed significantly higher proportion of stearic acid, oleic acid and monounsaturated FA (MUFA), and significantly lower proportion of total and n-6 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) than the water polo and control group. The water polo players had higher percentages of palmitoleic acid and arachidonic acid than the control subjects. Erythrocyte FA profile differed among groups. We found significantly higher proportion of oleic acid and MUFA in the football group than in the controls, and decreased stearic acid and elevated palmitic and palmitoleic acid in the water polo players than in the other two groups. Both groups of athletes had significantly lower percentages of n-6 PUFA and total PUFA compared to the controls. The estimated activities of elongase and desaturases in erythrocytes were also altered in the athletes. Analysis of oxidative stress parameters showed significantly higher plasma total antioxidant status and higher lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes of the athletes than in the controls. Concentration of H2O2 in plasma was higher in the athletes compared with sedentary women, but also higher in football than in the water polo players. On the other hand, level of O2 .- was the lowest in water polo players and the highest in the football group. Concentrations of both O2 .- and NO2 - were significantly higher in the football than in the control group. Catalase activity was significantly higher in the athletes that in sedentary women, while glutation peroxidase activity was similar in all groups. Superoxide-dismutase activity was higher in the water polo group than in the other two groups. Furthermore, metabolic activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was higher in the athletes, and production of O2 .- i NO2 - in mononuclear cells did not differ among the studied groups. Our results have shown that long-term, intense physical training significantly affected FA status of plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids, oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activity in women. It also changes metabolic activity of mononuclear cells but not the production of O2 .- i NO2 - in mononuclear cells. The observed differences between the water polo and the football players suggest that the type of regular training may contribute to the altered metabolism in athletes. Key words: phospholipids, fatty acids, physical activity, water polo, football, female athletesIntenzivna fizička aktivnost utiče na metabolizam lipida i masnih kiselina (MK), dovodi do povećane potrošnje kiseonika u mišićima i drugim tkivima što vodi povećanoj produkciji reaktivnih kiseoničnih vrsta i može uticati na funkciju imunog sistema. Uticaj hroničnog intenzivnog vežbanja na parametre oksidativnog stresa i masnokiselinski profil fosfolipida kod aktivnih sportistkinja nije dovoljno ispitivan. Zbog toga je ova studija imala za cilj da ispita MK profil fosfolipida plazme i eritrocita, parametre oksidativnog stresa, aktivnost enzima antioksidativne zaštite, kao i aktivnost monocita kao dela imunog sistema, kod dve grupe aktivnih sportistkinja: vaterpolistkinja (n=15) i fudbalerki (n=19). Kontrolnu grupu (n=14) su činile zdrave devojke istih godina starosti koje se ne bave fizičkom aktivnošću. Uprkos sličnom dijetarnom unosu, MK profil plazme pokazao je znatno veći udeo stearinske, oleinske i mononezasićenih masnih kiselina (MUFA) i značajno niži procenat ukupnih i n-6 polinezasićenih MK (PUFA) kod fudbalerki u odnosu na vaterpolo i kontrolnu grupu. Sa druge strane vaterpolistkinje su imale višu procentualnu zastupljenost palmitoleinske i arahidonske kiseline u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu. MK profil eritrocita pokazao je značajno veći procenat oleinske kiseline i MUFA kod fudbalerki u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu, i smanjeni procenat stearinske kiseline uz viši udeo palmitinske i palmitoleinske kiseline kod vaterpolistkinja u odnosu na druge dve grupe. Obe grupe sportistkinja su imale značajno niži procenat n-6 PUFA i ukupnih PUFA u poređenju sa kontrolnom grupom. Procenjena aktivnost desaturaza i elongaza u eritrocitima takođe je promenjena kod sportistkinja. Analiza parametara oksidativnog stresa pokazala je značajno veći ukupni antioksidativni status u plazmi i veći stepen lipidne peroksidacije u eritrocitima kod sportistkinja u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu. Koncentracija H2O2 u plazmi bila je veća kod sportistkinja u odnosu na neaktivne žene, ali su fudbalerke imale viši nivo H2O2 i u odnosu na vaterpolistkinje. Sa druge strane, koncentracija O2 .- bila je najniža kod vaterpolistkinja a najviša kod fudbalerki, značajno viša i u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu. Koncentracija NO2 - u plazmi bila je značajno viša kod fudbalerki u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu. Aktivnost enzima antioksidativne zaštite u eritrocitima razlikovala se između sportistkinja i kontrolne grupe. Tako je aktivnost katalaze kod sportistkinja bila značajno viša u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu, dok se aktivnost glutationperoksidaze nije razlikovala između ispitivanih grupa. Aktivnost superoksid-dismutaze bila je najviša kod vaterpolistkinja, i nije se značajno razlikovala između fudbalerki i kontrolne grupe. Analiza metaboličke aktivnosti mononuklearnih ćelija periferne krvi pokazala je veću aktivnost mononuklearnih ćelija kod sportistkinja, dok se produkcija O2 .- i NO2- u mononuklearnim ćelijama nije razlikovala između ispitivanih grupa. Naši rezultati su pokazali da dugotrajna intenzivna fizička aktivnost značajno utiče namasnokiselinski profil fosfolipida plazme i eritrocita, parametre oksidativnog stresa, aktivnost enzima antioksidativne zaštite, menja aktivnost mononuklearnih ćelija periferne krvi ali ne utiče na produkciju O2 .- i NO2 - u mononuklearnim ćelijama. Zapažene razlike između grupa vaterpolistkinja i fudbalerki ukazuju da tip sporta igra značajnu ulogu u promenama u metablizmu kod sportistkinja

Analysis of the cause of the girth gear tooth fracture occurrence at the bucket wheel excavator

Premature damages and fractures of components and structures of bucket-wheel excavators at open-pit mine often occur in exploitation, caused either by inadequate design or insufficient knowledge of the material properties, welded joints and flaws in component production technology. The bucket-wheel excavator, TAKRAF SRs 2000 x 32/5.0 was employed on the excavation of barren soil for 5.000 h (a few weeks more than a year after the assembly) when the fracture of the tooth of the girth gear, which enables the circular motion of the upper structure of the bucket-wheel excavator, occurred. The gear was, according to the manufacturer's certificate, made of the cast steel GS 40 MnCrSi3 V. The paper presents calculations of the stress variations cycles' number for one tooth, as well as of the fracture mechanics parameters - the critical stress intensity factor and critical crack length. It was established that the fracture of the tooth occurred due to an initial crack existing in its base, which originated during the gear's manufacturing, i.e. due to the so-called "manufacturing-in defect"

Biological effect of pomegranate polyphenols on the components of metabolic syndrome: implications on oxidative stress

Nar (Punica granatum, L) je jedan od najstarijih jestivih plodova koji se koristi u prevenciji i lečenju od davnina. Različiti delovi biljke, kao što su plod, seme, kora i lišće, sadrže bioaktivne sastojke za koje se navodi da poseduju lekovita i terapeutska svojstva. Međumnogobrojnimbioaktivnimkomponentama u naru, polifenoli predstavljaju najvažniju grupumolekula sa pozitivnimefektomna zdravlje. Hipoglikemijski, hipolipemijski, hipotenzivni i anti-oksidativni efekat polifenola nara potvrđen je u brojnimstudijama. Ovaj pregledni rad ima za cilj da predstavi najnovija istraživanja o strukturi i biološkoj aktivnosti komponenata nara i njihovompotencijalnom korisnom efektu u terapiji bolesti povezanih sa metaboličkim sindromom.Pomegranate (Punica granatum, L) is one of the oldest edible fruits used in prevention and treatment. Various parts of the plant, such as fruit, seeds, bark, and leaves, contain bioactive ingredients that possess medicinal and therapeutic properties. Among the many bioactive components in pomegranate, polyphenols are the most important group of molecules with a positive effect on health. The hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, hypotensive, and anti-oxidative effects of pomegranate polyphenols have been confirmed in numerous studies. The aim of this review is to present the latest research on the structure and activity of bioactive components of pomegranate and their potential beneficial effect in the treatment of diseases related to metabolic syndrome