Hybrid electromagnetic-triboelectric nanogenerator for mechanical energy harvesting

U ovoj disertaciji je predstavljen hibridni nanogenerator koga čine tri modula, čiji rad je zasnovan na triboelektričnom i elektromagnetskom efektu za pretvaranje mehaničke u električnu energiju. Na osnovu teorij-skog modela izvršena je optimizacija dizajna i praktična realizacija hibridnog nanogeneratora. Analiza performansi je potvrdila da predlo-ženi hibridni nanogenerator može efikasno da sakuplja mehaničku ene-rgiju iz okoline.In this thesis, a hybrid nanogenerator that integrates three units based on tribo-electric and electromagnetic working mechanisms is presented, for conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy. The device was theoretically mo-delled, optimized and practically realized. Performance characterization veri-fied the proposed hybrid nanogenerator as an efficient energy harvester

The influence of selenium deficiency and deiodinase inhibitors on innate and adaptive immune responses in juvenile rats

У оквиру ове докторске дисертације испитиван је утицај дефицита селена и инхибитора дејодиназа на урођени и стечени имунски одговор јувенилних пацова. Експеримент је рађен на 128 Wistar пацова мушког пола, подељених у осам експерименталних група: 1. Se+PTU-IA- (контролна група), 2. Se+PTU-IA+, 3. Se+PTU+IA-, 4. Se+PTU+IA+, 5. Se-PTU-IA-, 6. Se-PTU-IA+, 7. Se-PTU+IA- i 8. Se-PTU+IA+. Половини пацова који су формирали селенадекватне групе (Se+) давана је храна са адекватним садржајем селена (0,334 mg/kg). Другој половини пацова који су формирали селендефицитне групе (Se-) давана је храна са ниским садржајем селена (0,031 mg/kg). Као инхибитори дејодиназа примењивани су пропилтиоурацил (PTU+) у дози од 150 mg/L воде за пиће и јопаноична киселина (IA+) у дози од 6 mg/100 g телесне масе. Треће недеље огледа одређивани су статус селена (концентрација селена у пуној крви и активност GPх1 у крви и GPх3 у крвној плазми), статус тиреоидних хормона (концентрација Т3, Т4 и TSH у плазми), способност адхеренце и продукције пероксида перитонеалних макрофага in vitro и титар природних IgМ антитела крвне плазме реактивних са антигенима овчијих еритроцита. Друга половина пацова сваке групе је имунизована у петој и седмој недељи огледа 10%- ном суспензијом овчијих еритроцита. Након седам недеља огледа одређен им је статус селена и хормона тиреоидне осовине, целуларност слезина, релативнa заступљеност (%) и апсолутни број Т и Б лимфоцита и NK ћелија у слезини и титар IgM и IgG антитела реактивних са антигенима овчијих еритроцита. У групама са селендефицитном исхраном потврђен је селендефицитни статус пацова. Примена PTU или комбинације PTU и IA узроковала је системску хипотиреозу, док код пацова третираних јопаноичном киселином није утврђена системска хипотиреоза. Дефицит селена довео је до смањења продукције пероксида од стране перитонеалних макрофага...The effect of selenium deficiency and deiodinase inhibitors on innate and adaptive immune responses in juvenile rats was investigated within this doctoral thesis. The experiment was carried out on 128 male Wistar rats, randomly assigned into 8 experimental groups: Se+PTU-IA- (control group), 2. Se+PTU-IA+, 3. Se+PTU+IA-, 4. Se+PTU+IA+, 5. Se-PTU-IA-, 6. Se-PTU-IA+, 7. Se-PTU+IA- and 8. Se-PTU+IA+. Rats belonging to selenium deficient groups (Se-) were fed with selenium deficient diet (0,031 mg/kg feed). Rats in the other study arm (Se+) were provided with a selenium adequate diet containing 0.334 mg Se/kg feed. Propylthiouracil (PTU+) in a final concentration of 150 mg/L of drinking water, and iopanoic acid (IA+) administered in dose of 6 mg/kg bw, were used as deiodinase inhibitors. Three weeks after the beginning of the experiment the following parameters were determined: selenium status (selenium concentration in full blood; GPx1 activity in blood and GPx3 activity in plasma); thyroid status (T3, T4 and TSH concentration in plasma); rat peritoneal macrophage adherence capacity and peroxide production in vitro and titer of naturally acquired IgM reactive with sheep red blood cells. In the 5th and 7th week of the experiment, the other half of rats in each arm was immunized with 10% suspension of sheep red blood cells. After seven weeks of experiment, selenium and thyroid status of these animals, spleen cellularity, proportion (%) and absolute number of spleen T and B lymphocytes and NK cells, and titers of IgM and IgG antibodies reactive with sheep red blood cells were determined. Selenium deficient status was confirmed in all rats belonging to selenium deficient groups. Treatment with PTU alone or in combination with IA resulted in development of systemic hypothyreosis, while systemic hypothyreosis was not established in rats treated with iopanoic acid. Selenium deficiency resulted in reduction of peroxide production in peritoneal macrophages..

The influence of selenium and deiodinases blockers on juvenile rats body weight

In this work there was investigated the influence of selenium and deodinases blockers on juvenile rats body weight during three months. The experiment was carried out on 64 rats divided into eight groups with eight individual animals per group. Following groups were formed: 1. Se+PTU-IA- (control group), 2. Se+PTU+IA+, 3. Se+PTU+IA-, 4. Se+PTU- IA+, 5. Se-PTU-IA-, 6. Se-PTU+IA+, 7. Se-PTU+IA- and 8. Se-PTU-IA+. The groups labeled (Se+) were selenium adequate and they were fed with food that contained 0.334 mg Se/kg. The groups labeled (Se-) were selenium deficient and obtained food with 0.031 mg Se/kg. As deiodinases blockers there were used propylthiouracil (PTU+) in a dose of 150 mg/L of drinking water and iopanoic acid (IA+) in a dose of 6 mg/100 g TM intraperitoneally. Body weight of experimental rats was measured every seven days. After three weeks of treatment there were taken blood samples of animals from all experimental groups and following parameters were determined: selenium concentration in blood, thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroidstimulating hormone (TSH) in blood plasma. Analysis of the samples showed that the animals from the groups treated with PTU had lower body weight in regard to the control group, as well as lower concentration of T3 and T4 in plasma. Selenium deficient rats had lower average body weight compared to the selenium adequate ones after three weeks, but there were no differences in thyroid hormones concentration. The lowest average body weight was noticed in selenium deficient rats groups treated with PTU. [Projekat Ministartsva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR31050 i br. TR31003

The most important diseases in dogs and cats and new trends in immunoprophylaxis

Značajan segment profesionalnog angažovanja doktora veterinarske medicine predstavlja tzv. mala praksa; često nazvana i luksuzna, s obzirom na, većim delom, sentimentalnu vrednost pacijenata. Najčešće se radi o psima i mačkama koji u veterinarsku ambulantu (kliniku) dolaze i povodom sprovođenja imunoprofilaktičkih mera, tj. vakcinacija, kojima se sprečavaju odnosno kontrolišu najznačajnije infektivne bolesti ove dve vrste životinja. Ne razmatrajući osnovne preduslove za sticanje adekvatne zaštite odnosno pravilne reakcije na vakcinu, u radu se ukazuje na nove sisteme imunoprofilakse i upotrebu novih imunogena. Naime, za vakcinaciju pasa na tržištu se nalaze u različitim formulacijama kako inaktivisani tako i atenuisani imunogeni parvovirusa pasa, atenuisani adenovirusi i paramiksovirusi (štenećak i parainfluenca). U slučaju vakcinacije mačaka, kontrolišu se kalici, herpes, parvovirusne i retrovirusne infekcije, kao i hlamidioza mačaka. Neka infektivna oboljenja pasa i mačaka su zoonoze. Tako se, na primer, infekcije sa leptospirama kontrolišu inaktivisanim vakcinama koje tradicionalno sadrže serotipove koji su od značaja kako za pse tako i za ljude (serotipovi Canicola i Icterohaemorrhagiae). Od značaja je svakako i činjenica da se u populacijama pasa i mačaka pojavljuju i neki drugi serotipovi bakterije L. interrogans. Dobro je poznata epizootiološka činjenica da se psi pojavljuju kao rezervoari gore napomenutih serotipova ali, po svemu sudeći, i mačke igraju značajnu ulogu u održavanju leptospiroze u našem regionu. Postojanje maternalnog imuniteta nije i jedini problem prilikom vakcinacije mladih životinja. Naime, u nekim slučajevima, uspešno sproveden protokol vakcinacije, na primer, protiv parvovirusne infekcije pasa, obezbeđuje višegodišnju zaštitu pa je u takvim slučajevima vakcinacija jednom godišnje kontraindikovana.A significant segment of professional engagement for doctor of veterinary medicine is the so called. small practice; often referred as luxury, given the largely sentimental value to patients. Frequently, it comes to dogs and cats that in veterinary clinic (clinic) come because of the occasion for the implementation of immunoprophylactic measures ie. vaccinations that prevent or control the most important infectious diseases of these two species. Not considering the basic prerequisites for obtaining of adequate protection or proper reaction to the vaccine, the paper points to the new systems of immunoprophylaxis and use of new immunogens. Namely, for the dogs vaccination, in market are in various formulations inactivated and attenuated immunogenic parvovirus, adeno and attenuated paramyxovirus (distemper and parainfluenza) viruses. In the case of vaccination of cats, calici, herpes, parvo and retro viral infections and chlamydiosis of cats controlled. Some infectious diseases of dogs and cats are zoonoses. For example, infection with leptospires, control is with inactivated vaccines traditionally serotypes that are of importance for both dogs and humans (serotypes canicola and icterohaemorrhagiae). Of importance is certainly the fact that in populations of dogs and cats appear and some other serotypes of L. interrogans. Well known is epidemiological fact that dogs appear as reservoirs of the serotypes, but apparently cats play an important role in the maintenance of leptospirosis in our region. The existence of maternal immunity is not the only problem during the vaccination of young animals. Namely, in some cases successfully executed the protocol of vaccination, for example against parvoviral infections of dogs, provides long-term protection and is in such cases, vaccination once per year, is contraindicated

Non-Dipping Patten of Blood Pressure and Gestational Hypertension

Gestational hypertension (GH) is one of the entities of the hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP), a major cause of maternal, fetal, and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Also, the HDP have been recognized as an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Thus, women who develop GH or preeclampsia (PE) are at increased risk of hypertension, ischemic heart disease and stroke in later life. An ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) takes an important role in diagnosing of hypertension in pregnancy. Also, it has been shown that ABPM had higher accuracy in the prediction of GH, premature childbirth and low birth weight, compared with the conventional blood pressure (BP) measurements. In addition, we have found that non-dipping pattern of BP is very highly related with worse pregnancy outcome in a term of preterm delivery and intrauterine growth restriction. Also, it is associated with worse maternal hemodynamics, more impaired systolic function and more pronounced cardiac remodeling compared to women with GH and dipping pattern of BP. This review aimed to explore the (a) current classifications of the HDP; (b) pathogenesis of GH and PE; (c) physiological changes of BP and maternal hemodynamics in pregnancy; and (d) pathophysiological changes of BP and maternal cardiac function, especially in a term on BP pattern

Uticaj selena i blokatora dejodinaza na telesnu masu juvenilnih pacova

In this work there was investigated the influence of selenium and deodinases blockers on juvenile rats body weight during three months. The experiment was carried out on 64 rats divided into eight groups with eight individual animals per group. Following groups were formed: 1. Se+PTU-IA- (control group), 2. Se+PTU+IA+, 3. Se+PTU+IA-, 4. Se+P-TU-IA+, 5. Se-PTU-IA-, 6. Se-PTU+IA+, 7. Se-PTU+IA- and 8. Se-PTU-IA+. The groups labeled (Se+) were selenium adequate and they were fed with food that contained 0.334 mg Se/kg. The groups labeled (Se-) were selenium deficient and obtained food with 0.031 mg Se/kg. As deiodinases blockers there were used propylthiouracil (PTU+) in a dose of 150 mg/L of drinking water and iopanoic acid (IA+) in a dose of 6 mg/100 g TM intraperitoneally. Body weight of experimental rats was measured every seven days. After three weeks of treatment there were taken blood samples of animals from all experimental groups and following parameters were determined: selenium concentration in blood, thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroidstimulating hormone (TSH) in blood plasma. Analysis of the samples showed that the animals from the groups treated with PTU had lower body weight in regard to the control group, as well as lower concentration of T3 and T4 in plasma. Selenium deficient rats had lower average body weight compared to the selenium adequate ones after three weeks, but there were no differences in thyroid hormones concentration. The lowest average body weight was noticed in selenium deficient rats groups treated with PTU.U okviru ogleda je ispitivan uticaj selena i blokatora dejodinaza na telesnu masu juvenilnih pacova tokom tri nedelje. Ogled je izveden na 64 pacova podeljenih u osam grupa od po 8 jedinki. Formirane su sledeće grupe: 1. Se+PTU-IA- (kontrolna grupa), 2. Se+PTU+IA+, 3. Se+PTU+IA-, 4. Se+PTU-IA+, 5. Se-PTU-IA-, 6. Se-PTU+IA+, 7. Se-PTU+IA- i 8. Se-PTU-IA+. Grupe sa oznakom (Se+) su bile selenadekvatne i dobijale su hranu koja je sadržala 0,334 mg Se/kg hrane. Grupe sa oznakom (Se-) su bile selendeficitne i dobijale su 0,031 mg mg Se/kg hrane. Kao blokatori dejodinaza su korišćeni propiltiouracil (PTU+) u dozi od 150 mg/L vode za piće i jopanoična kiselina (IA+) u dozi od 6 mg/100g t.m. intraperitonealno. Telesna masa oglednih pacova je merena svakih sedam dana. Nakon tri nedelje tretmana uzeti su uzorci krvi životinja iz svih oglednih grupa i određivani su sledeći parametri: koncentracja selena u punoj krvi, tiroksin (T4), trijodtironin (T3) i tireostimulirajući hormon (TSH) u krvnoj plazmi. Analiza je pokazala da su jedinke iz grupe tretiranih sa PTU imale nižu telesnu masu u odnosu na kontrolnu, kao i nižu koncentraciju T3 i T4 u plazmi. Selendeficitni pacovi su nakon tri nedelje imali nižu prosečnu telesnu masu u odnosu na selenadekvatne, ali nisu uočene razlike u koncentraciji tireoidnih hormona. Najniža prosečna telesna masa zabeležena je kod selendeficitnih grupa pacova tretiranih sa PTU

Effects of selenium and thyroid hormone deficiency on peritoneal macrophages adhesion and occurrence of natural IGM antibodies in juvenile rats

Both selenium, as an effector and regulator of antioxidative enzymes activity, and thyroid hormones are potent immunomodulators. Besides, selenium incorporated into iodothyronine deiodinases is involved in the thyroid function and thus indirectly regulates the immune response. Studies of the mutual infl uence of selenium and thyroid hormones on the immune response are scarce, hence we analyzed the effects of an iodothyronine deiodinases blocker, propylthiouracil (PTU), and selenium defi ciency on the function of peritoneal macrophages, and titer of naturally occurring anti-sheep red blood cells (SRBC) IgM antibodies in juvenile rats. The experiment was carried out on 64 Wistar male rats allotted to 4 groups: controlselenium adequate PTU-group; selenium adequate, PTU+ group; selenium defi cient, PTU-group; and selenium defi cient, PTU+. The selenium adequate and selenium defi cient groups were fed a diet containing 0.334 and 0.031 mg Se/kg, respectively. PTU+ groups received PTU (150 mg/L) in drinking water. After 3 weeks, thyroxine (T-4), triiodothyronine (T-3), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were determined. The animals having "intermediate" concentrations of T-3 (1.56-1.69 nmol/L) and T 4 (41-50 nmol/L) were excluded from further analysis. Thus, PTU+ groups included hypothyroid animals (T-3 lt = 1.55 nmol/L; T-4 lt = 40 nmol/L), while PTU-groups included euthyroid rats (T-3 lt = 1.70 nmol/L; T-4 lt = 50 nmol/L). Both groups of selenium defi cient rats had, when compared to the control group, a signifi cantly lower activity of glutathione peroxidase GPx1 and GPx3. Neither selenium defi ciency nor PTU infl uenced the adherence of peritoneal macrophages. Selenium defi ciency signifi cantly decreased the peroxide synthesis in macrophages and signifi cantly increased the titer of anti-SRBC IgM. Hypotyroidism alone or in combination with selenium defi ciency had no infl uence on these parameters

Organised crime and international aid subversion: evidence from Colombia and Afghanistan

Scholarly attempts to explain aid subversion in post-conflict contexts frame the challenge in terms of corrupt practices and transactions disconnected from local power struggles. Also, they assume a distinction between organised crime and the state. This comparative analysis of aid subversion in Colombia and Afghanistan reveals the limits of such an approach. Focusing on relations that anchor organised crime within local political, social and economic processes, we demonstrate that organised crime is dynamic, driven by multiple motives, and endogenous to local power politics. Better understanding of governance arrangements around the organised crime-conflict nexus which enable aid subversion is therefore required

Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million participants

Summary Background Comparable global data on health and nutrition of school-aged children and adolescents are scarce. We aimed to estimate age trajectories and time trends in mean height and mean body-mass index (BMI), which measures weight gain beyond what is expected from height gain, for school-aged children and adolescents. Methods For this pooled analysis, we used a database of cardiometabolic risk factors collated by the Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor Collaboration. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends from 1985 to 2019 in mean height and mean BMI in 1-year age groups for ages 5–19 years. The model allowed for non-linear changes over time in mean height and mean BMI and for non-linear changes with age of children and adolescents, including periods of rapid growth during adolescence. Findings We pooled data from 2181 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in 65 million participants in 200 countries and territories. In 2019, we estimated a difference of 20 cm or higher in mean height of 19-year-old adolescents between countries with the tallest populations (the Netherlands, Montenegro, Estonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina for boys; and the Netherlands, Montenegro, Denmark, and Iceland for girls) and those with the shortest populations (Timor-Leste, Laos, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea for boys; and Guatemala, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Timor-Leste for girls). In the same year, the difference between the highest mean BMI (in Pacific island countries, Kuwait, Bahrain, The Bahamas, Chile, the USA, and New Zealand for both boys and girls and in South Africa for girls) and lowest mean BMI (in India, Bangladesh, Timor-Leste, Ethiopia, and Chad for boys and girls; and in Japan and Romania for girls) was approximately 9–10 kg/m2. In some countries, children aged 5 years started with healthier height or BMI than the global median and, in some cases, as healthy as the best performing countries, but they became progressively less healthy compared with their comparators as they grew older by not growing as tall (eg, boys in Austria and Barbados, and girls in Belgium and Puerto Rico) or gaining too much weight for their height (eg, girls and boys in Kuwait, Bahrain, Fiji, Jamaica, and Mexico; and girls in South Africa and New Zealand). In other countries, growing children overtook the height of their comparators (eg, Latvia, Czech Republic, Morocco, and Iran) or curbed their weight gain (eg, Italy, France, and Croatia) in late childhood and adolescence. When changes in both height and BMI were considered, girls in South Korea, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and some central Asian countries (eg, Armenia and Azerbaijan), and boys in central and western Europe (eg, Portugal, Denmark, Poland, and Montenegro) had the healthiest changes in anthropometric status over the past 3·5 decades because, compared with children and adolescents in other countries, they had a much larger gain in height than they did in BMI. The unhealthiest changes—gaining too little height, too much weight for their height compared with children in other countries, or both—occurred in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, New Zealand, and the USA for boys and girls; in Malaysia and some Pacific island nations for boys; and in Mexico for girls. Interpretation The height and BMI trajectories over age and time of school-aged children and adolescents are highly variable across countries, which indicates heterogeneous nutritional quality and lifelong health advantages and risks

Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults

Background Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from 1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 3663 population-based studies with 222 million participants that measured height and weight in representative samples of the general population. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends in the prevalence of different BMI categories, separately for adults (age ≥20 years) and school-aged children and adolescents (age 5–19 years), from 1990 to 2022 for 200 countries and territories. For adults, we report the individual and combined prevalence of underweight (BMI <18·5 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). For schoolaged children and adolescents, we report thinness (BMI <2 SD below the median of the WHO growth reference) and obesity (BMI >2 SD above the median). Findings From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity in adults decreased in 11 countries (6%) for women and 17 (9%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 that the observed changes were true decreases. The combined prevalence increased in 162 countries (81%) for women and 140 countries (70%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. In 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity was highest in island nations in the Caribbean and Polynesia and Micronesia, and countries in the Middle East and north Africa. Obesity prevalence was higher than underweight with posterior probability of at least 0·80 in 177 countries (89%) for women and 145 (73%) for men in 2022, whereas the converse was true in 16 countries (8%) for women, and 39 (20%) for men. From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of thinness and obesity decreased among girls in five countries (3%) and among boys in 15 countries (8%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80, and increased among girls in 140 countries (70%) and boys in 137 countries (69%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. The countries with highest combined prevalence of thinness and obesity in school-aged children and adolescents in 2022 were in Polynesia and Micronesia and the Caribbean for both sexes, and Chile and Qatar for boys. Combined prevalence was also high in some countries in south Asia, such as India and Pakistan, where thinness remained prevalent despite having declined. In 2022, obesity in school-aged children and adolescents was more prevalent than thinness with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 among girls in 133 countries (67%) and boys in 125 countries (63%), whereas the converse was true in 35 countries (18%) and 42 countries (21%), respectively. In almost all countries for both adults and school-aged children and adolescents, the increases in double burden were driven by increases in obesity, and decreases in double burden by declining underweight or thinness. Interpretation The combined burden of underweight and obesity has increased in most countries, driven by an increase in obesity, while underweight and thinness remain prevalent in south Asia and parts of Africa. A healthy nutrition transition that enhances access to nutritious foods is needed to address the remaining burden of underweight while curbing and reversing the increase in obesit