The impact of the July 2007 heat wave on daily mortality in Belgrade, Serbia

Objective: Mortality has been shown to increase with heat waves. Serbia experienced the hottest heat wave in July 2007. In this study, we examined patterns of non-traumatic excess mortality in Belgrade during this event. Methods: The numbers of deaths observed during the 9-day heat wave were compared to those expected on the basis of mortality rates reported for the previous eight years and two following years. Excess mortality was analyzed by age, gender and cause of death. Results: There was a total of 167 excess deaths (38%) between 16 and 24 July. People aged 75 years and older accounted for 151(90%) of all excess deaths. An increase of mortality among elderly was 76% in comparison to the baseline mortality. Excess female mortality was over two times higher than excess male mortality (54% : 23%). The biggest increase in mortality was from diabetes mellitus (286%), chronic kidney disease (200%), respiratory system diseases (73%), and nervous system diseases (67%). Cardiovascular and malignant neoplasms mortality accounted for the highest absolute numbers of excess deaths (77 and 49, respectively). There was no decrease in mortality in the 60-day period after the heat wave. Conclusions: There are several causes of an increase in heat-related mortality. The most vulnerable population group is the elderly females

Quality assessment of the data on death outcome among psychiatric patients

Pouzdanost i tačnost mortalitetene statistike najviše zavisi od kvaliteta podataka dobijenih iz potvrde o smrti (PS). Zastupljenost dijagnoza neutvrđenih i loše definisanih uzroka smrti, nespecifičnih stanja i učestalost vršenja obdukcija (kliničkih i sudsko-medicinskih) neki su od indikatora kvaliteta podataka o smrtnim ishodima. Znanje doktora medicine u vezi sa pravilima popunjavanja i izdavanja PS ključni je činilac u stvaranju kvalitetne mortalitetne statistike. Do sada u našoj zemlji nisu sprovedena istraživanja koja su se bavila procenjivanjem znanja, stavova i ponašanja doktora medicine zasposlenih u psihijatrijskim ustanovama u vezi sa utvrđivanjem uzroka smrti i popunjavanjem PS, niti je procenjivan kvalitet mortalitetnih podataka za umrle tokom stacionarnog lečenja u ustanovama namenjenim lečenju osoba sa mentalnim poremećajima. Ciljevi ovog istraživanja bili su ispitivanje uzroka smrti kod bolnički lečenih psihijatrijskih bolesnika u pet najvećih stacionarnih psihijatrijskih ustanova, analiza kvaliteta podataka o smrtnim ishodima među njima, kao i procenjivanje znanja, stavova i ponašanja doktora medicine zaposlenih u tim ustanovama u vezi sa popunjavanjem PS. Pored toga procenjivan je kvalitet mortalitetnih podataka u opštoj populaciji izražen kroz učešče neutvrđenih i loše defnisanih uzroka smrti među ostalim uzrocima umiranja. Prvi deo istraživanja podrazumevao je deskriptivno ispitivanje neutvrđenih i loše definisanih uzroka smrti u opštoj populaciji, kao i u pet stacionarnih psihijatrijskih ustanova. Drugi deo istraživanja dizajniran je kao terenski eksperiment, gde je u dve faze istraživanja sa vremenskom distancom od godnu dana, u četiri tačke merenja procenjivano znanje, a u dve tačke stavovi i ponašanje ispitanika. Prosečna učestalost neutvrđenih i loše definisanih uzroka smrti (R00-99 dijagnoze, X revizija MKB) u desetogodišnjem periodu u Republici Srbiji (RS) bila je 4,6%. U Beogradskom regionu (BR) učestalosti R00-99 dijagnoza manje su nego u ostalim delovima RS, a obdukcija, kao način utvrđivanja uzrka smrti, statistički se značajno češće vrši za umrle u BR...obtained from the death certificate (DC). Diagnoses of ill-defined and unknown causes of death, non-specific conditions and incidence of autopsies (clinical and medico-legal) are only some of the indicators of quality of data on death outcomes. Doctors’ knowledge of the rules for completing and issuing the DC is a key factor in creating high-quality mortality statistics. Neither has research that would address the assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practice of physicians in charge of treating psychiatric patients been conducted in our country until now, nor has the quality of mortality data in institutions for the treatment of these patients been assessed. The goals of this research were to examine the causes of death among inpatients treated in five largest inpatient psychiatric institutions, to analyze the quality of data on death outcomes among them and to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practice of physicians in those institutions in relation to completing the DC. In addition, the quality of general population mortality data expressed through ill-defined and unknown causes of death, among other causes of death, has also been assessed. The first part of the research included descriptive examination of undetermined and ill-defined and unknown causes of death in general population, as well as in five inpatient psychiatric institutions. The second part was designed as a field experiment, conducted in two research stages one year apart, in which respondents' knowledge was assessed at four points in time, while their attitudes and practice were assessed at two points in time. Average incidence of ill-defined and unknown causes of death (R00-99 diagnoses, 10th revision of ICD) in a ten-year period in the Republic of Serbia was 4.6%. In Belgrade region, the incidence of R00-99 diagnoses was lower than in the rest of the country, while the incidence of autopsy as the manner of determining the cause of death was statistically significantly higher..

Guaianolide biosynthesis in chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) - influence of transformation on the production and study of germacrene A synthase and oxidase activity using promoter fusions and gene silencing

Цикорија (Cichorium intybus L.) је традиционално коришћена лековита биљка богата гвајанолидима - биоактивним сесквитерпенским лактонима. У овом истраживању цикорија је трансформисана уз помоћ Agrobacterium rhizogenes, ради евалуације продукције гвајанолида у трансгеним културама коренова и регенерисаним биљкама, и испитивања утицаја флоралне транзиције и експресије бактеријских онкогена на акумулацију ових једињења. A. rhizogenes сој A4M70GUS je успешно трансформисао цикорију, дајући HR културе из којих спонтано регенеришу изданци, а регенеранти цветају in vitro. Код регенерисаних трансгених биљака, гвајанолиди се акумулирају у току флоралне транзиције, што није случај у нетрансформисаним биљкама. Акумулација ових једињења била је посебно изражена у корену трансформаната, што је корелисало са повишеном експресијом RolC гена. Гвајанолиди потичу од заједничког прекурсора - гермакрена А, који настаје дејством гермакрен А синтазе (GAS). У следећем кораку биосинтезе, гермакрен А оксидаза (GAO) у неколико корака преводи гермакрен А до гермакрен А киселине, од које настаје костунолид - прекурсор осталих сесквитерпенских лактона. GAS РНК цикорије је претходно изолована у краћој и дужој форми - CiGASlo (GAS long) и CiGASsh (GAS short). Из BAC библиотеке цикорије је изолован један промотор за GAS long, два промотора за GAS short и један за GAO, који су фузионисани са флуоресцентним репортером GFP. Функционалност и јачина промотора је праћена агроинфилтрацијом на зеленој салати и стабилном котрансформацијом цикорије A4M70GUS сојем са унетим конструктима. Као репортер за котрансформацију је коришћен други флуоресцентни маркер, DsRED. Услед инкомпатибилности коришћених флуоресцентних репортера DsRED и GFP, активност промотора у регенерисаним трансгеним биљкама је детектована RT-PCR и qRT-PCR техникама. Промотори су се одликовали различитом јачином и делимичном ткивном специфичношћу...Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) is traditionally used medicinal plant rich in guaianolides - bioactive sesquiterpene lactones. In this research, chicory was transformed with Agrobacterium rhizogenes in order to evaluate the production of guaianolides in transgenic root cultures and regenerated plants, and to explore the influence of floral transition and bacterial oncogene expression on guaianolide accumulation. A. rhizogenes strain A4M70GUS was successfully used for chicory transformation, producing hairy root cultures, which spontaneously regenerated shoots and plants that were flowering in vitro. In transgenic plants, guaianolides were accumulated during floral transition, which was not the case in untransformed plants. Accumulation of these compounds was especially significant in transformed plants' roots, which correlated with the expression of RolC gene. Guaianolides originate from a common precursor - germacrene A, which is synthesized by germacrene A synthase (GAS). In subsequent steps, germacrene A is converted to germacrene A acid in a series of steps catalyzed by germacrene A oxidase (GAO), which is then converted into costunolide - precursor of other sesquiterpene lactones. Two GAS mRNAs have been previously isolated from chicory - CiGASlo (GAS long) and CiGASsh (GAS short). One promoter for GAS long, two for GAS short and one promoter for GAO have been isolated from chicory BAC library, and fused with a fluorescent reporter GFP. Strength and functionality of the promoters were characterized by lettuce agroinfiltration and by cotransformation of chicory by A4M70GUS strain containing the constructs. DsRED, another fluorescent reporter, was used as a marker for cotransformation. Due to incompatibility of DsRED and GFP, promoter activity was detected in regenerated transgenic plants by RT-PCR and qRT-PCR. The promoters were characterized by different strength and partial tissue specificity. GAS long promoter was less tissue specific than GAS short, which was active mainly in chicory roots..

Personalizovana vizuelizacija geo-informacija iz integrisanih izvora informacija zasnovana na semantici i web tehnologijama

The research subject of this PhD thesis is personalized vizuelization of geo-information originating from integrated geo-information sources, performed within Web-based Geographic Information Systems (Web GIS). The research presented in this PhD thesis includes the definition, design and implementation of Web GIS system architecture that enables personalized visualization of geospatial information based on contextual information. The presented architecture relies on the usage of GeoNis framework for interoperability of GIS applications. GeoNis platform uses a hybrid ontology approach for information integration purposes. By taking advantage of hybrid ontology approach, GeoNis platform provides an infrastructure that enables acquiring geospatial information from a large number of GIS systems, whereas GIS systems implement their interface components in the form of Web services developed according to geospatial information dissemination standards. The presented architecture enables efficient usage of GIS system’s interface components to provide customers with a personalized view over the integrated geo-information available within any of the GIS system integrated within GeoNis platform. The presented architecture of Web Geo-Information System for personalized visualization of geospatial information uses a textual description of user preferences as a baseline for selection of geospatial content from integrated geo-information sources for individual users. A description of user preferences is used to discover geo-information sources within GeoNis platform, whereby user preferences description becomes the basis for the development of user context, in terms of selected information and maps. To discover geo-information sources, described architecture takes advantage of semantic description of integrated geo-information sources, e.g. integrated GIS systems (application). As a semantic description of the integrated geospatial information sources, this process is capable of utilizing domain GeoNis ontology and local ontologies of integrated GIS systems. The model used for storing user’s contextual information within the presented Web GIS system is defined according to the OGC Web Map Context Document specification. The development of a Web GIS system according to the proposed architecture included the development of specification and implementation of a Web service that enables creating, storing and acquiring contextual documents developed for a particular user. Also, this PhD thesis included an implementation of a mechanism that allows the prediction of geospatial context of new Web GIS system user, in terms of the selection of geospatial information and maps for individual Web GIS system user. This mechanism is based on the use of metadata that had to be previously developed for each Web GI Service in the presented Web GIS system architecture. Due to the importance of a symbology used to visualize information in a GIS, an implementation of a Web GIS system for personalized visualization of integrated geospatial information included a development of a specification and implementation of the repository that enables creating, storing and acquiring symbology used to visualize geospatial information

Uticaj paragenetskih faktora na reproduktivne osobine krava simentalske rase

The examination was made on the effect of systematic factors (parturition group, calving season, birth type, calf gender, and birth type-calf gender interaction) and age at first conception on the expression of reproductive traits (gestation length, service period, fertility intensity and calf birth weight) in 143 Simmental cows. The overall mean (μ) for gestation length, service period, intercalving period and calf birth weight was 284.14 days, 153.82 days, 416.92 days and 35.40 kg, respectively. The parturition group effect on all fertility traits was highly significant (P lt 0.01). The calving season statistically significantly (P lt 0.05) affected the intercalving period and calf birth weight. Birth type induced very significantly longer gestation (P lt 0.01) and higher calf birth weight in singles (P lt 0.01) and significantly longer service period in twins (P lt 0.05). Calf gender had a very significant effect (P lt 0.01) only on calf birth weight, and the interaction between birth type and calf gender significantly affected gestation duration only (P lt 0.05). The regression effect of age at first conception on all fertility traits was not significant (P>0.05).Na ispoljenost reproduktivnih osobina (dužina bremenitosti, servis period, intenzitet plodnosti i masa teladi pri rođenju) kod 143 krave simentalske rase, ispitivan je uticaj sistematskih faktora (grupe partusa, sezone telenja, tip rođenja, pol teladi i interakcija tipa rođenja i pola teladi) i uzrasta pri prvoj oplodnji. Opšti prosek (μ) za dužinu bremenitosti iznosio je 284.14 dana, servis period 153.82 dana, međutelidbeni interval 416.92 i masu teladi pri rođenju 35.40 kg. Uticaj grupe partusa na sve osobine plodnosti bio je visoko značajan (P lt 0.01). Sezona telenja statistički značajno (P lt 0.05) je uticala na međutelidbeni interval i masu teladi pri rođenju. Tip rođenja uslovio je vrlo značajno dužu bremenitost (P lt 0.01) i veću masu teladi pri rođenju kod jedinaca (P lt 0.01) i značajno duži servis period kod blizanaca (P lt 0.05). Pol teladi vrlo značajno je uticao (P lt 0.01) samo na masu teladi pri rođenju, dok je interakcija tipa rođenja i pola teladi značajno uticala samo na trajanje bremenitosti (P lt 0.05). Regresijski uticaj uzrasta pri prvoj oplodnji na sve osobine plodnosti nije bio signifikantan (P>0.05)

Uticaj uzrasta pri prvoj oplodnji na reproduktivne, proizvodne i funkcionalne osobine krava simentalske rase

The effect of cow age at first insemination on productive and reproductive traits, as well as on longevity and lifetime production ones was examined in the Simmental cows housed at the 'Zlatiborski Suvati' (Mt. Zlatibor Pastures) Farm. The general linear model was used to calculate linear regression coefficients for the effect of age at first insemination on productive, reproductive traits, longevity traits and lifetime production traits The calculated linear regression coefficients suggested that the age at first insemination had a statistically significant effect (P lt 0.05) on milk, milk fat and 4% fat milk production in whole lactations (bxy=1.508, bxy=0.056 and bxy=1.464), a very high significant effect (P lt 0.001) on the age at culling and cow utilisation index ((bxy=1.386 and bxy=-0.020), and no significant effect (P>0.05) on other longevity traits. The age of cows at first insemination did not significantly affect (P>0.05) fertility and lifetime milk and milk-fat production traits. The presented results suggest that cow age at first insemination should be included in the models used in estimating breeding values of dairy cows.Uticaj uzrasta krava pri prvoj oplodnji na proizvodne i reproduktivne osobine i osobine dugovečnosti i životne proizvodnje ispitivan je kod krava simentalske rase smeštenih na farmi 'Zlatiborski suvati'. Opštim linearnim modelom izračunati su koeficijenti linearne regresije uticaja uzrasta pri prvoj oplodnji na proizvodne i reproduktivne osobine, kao i osobine dugovečnosti i životne proizvodnje Na osnovu izračunatih koeficijenata linearne regresije uzrast pri prvoj oplodnji statistički je značajno uticao (P lt 0.05) na proizvodnju mleka, mlečne mast i 4% masnog mleka u celim laktacijama (bxy=1.508, bxy=0.056 i bxy=1.464), vrlo visoko značajno (P lt 0.001) na uzrast pri izlučenju i indeks iskorišćavanja krava (bxy=1.386 i bxy=-0.020), dok na ostale osobine dugovečnosti nije imao signifikantan uticaj (P>0.05). Uzrast krava pri prvoj oplodnji nije imao značajnog uticaja (P>0.05) na osobine plodnosti i životne proizvodnje mleka i mlečne masti. Na osnovu prikazanih rezultata uzrast krava pri prvoj oplodnji trebalo bi uvrstiti u modele za procenu odgajivačke vrednosti mlečnih krava

Uticaj sistematskih faktora na dužinu bremenitosti kod krava Simentalske rase

The effect of systematic environmental factors on gestation length in Simmental cows was evaluated by calculating the least squares mean (LSM) and its error (SELSM), by analysis of variance and by calculating the coefficient of determination (R2). The study involved Simmental cows reared at three locations, including the Zlatiborski Suvati farm (n=578), the Dobričevo farm (n=964) and individual private farms at the Voćar Farming Cooperative in Kotraža (n=1263). The analysis included gestation length in Simmental cows as affected by continuous systematic factors (age at first conception) and discontinuous factors such as farm, calving season, birth season, parity group, calf sex, type of birth and the interaction of these factors. The effect of age at first conception was statistically significant (P lt 0.05). The discontinuous factors had a very high significant (P lt 0.001) effect on gestation length. The coefficient of determination was as low as 0.086 (8.6%), undoubtedly suggesting the small effect of the non-genetic factors on gestation length, given the fact that the trait is biologically determined and that it shows low variability.Uticaj sistematskih faktora okoline na dužinu bremenitosti analiziran je izračunavanjem sredine najmanjih kvadrata (LSM) i njegove greške (SELSM), analizom varijanse po primenjenom modelu i izračunavanjem koeficijenta determinacije (R2). Istraživanjem su obuhvaćene krave simentalske rase raspoređene na tri lokaliteta i to farmi Zlatiborski suvati (n=578), farmi Dobričevo (n=964) i individualna gazdinstva na području Zemljoradničke zadruge 'Voćar' iz Kotraže (n=1263). Na dužinu bremenitosti ispitivan je uticaj kontinuelnih sistematskih faktora (uzrast pri prvoj oplodnji) i dikontinuelnih faktora kao što su farma, sezona telenja i rođenja, grupe partusa, pola teladi, tipa rođenja i interakcija pomenutih faktora. Uticaj uzrasta pri prvoj oplodnji bio je statistički značajan (P lt 0.05), dok uticaj svih diskontinuelnih uticaja na trajanje bremenitosti bio je vrlo visoko značajan (P lt 0.001). Koeficijent determinacije iznosio je svega 0.086 (8.6%), što nedvosmisleno ukazuje na mali uticaj paragenetskih faktora na ispoljenost dužine bremenitosti obzirom da je ona biološki data i da se odlikuje niskom varijabilnošću

Uticaj sistematskih faktora na mlečnost krava Simentalske rase u celim laktacijama

The effect of systematic factors on production traits over complete lactations was investigated in 2,805 Simmental cows born in 1982 and onwards. The cows were housed at three farms in different areas: at the Zlatiborski Suvati dairy farm, Zlatibor, at the Dobricevo Agricultural Farm, Cuprija and at private farms in the region of Kotraze. The systematic factors (farm, calving season, lactation groups, group (year x season of birth), farm x calving season and farm x lactation group interactions) and age at first conception had statistically highly significant (P (lt) 0.001) effects on all complete lactation traits, with the exception of the effect of calving season on complete lactation duration (P (lt) 0.05) and milk-fat content (P>0.05). No statistically significant effect was produced by age at first conception on complete lactation duration and milk-fat content (P>0.05). Determination coefficients ranged from 0.100 in complete lactation duration to 0.361 in milk-fat content.Ispitivanje uticaja sistematskih faktora na ispoljenost proizvodnih osobina celih laktacija obavljeno je kod 2805 krava simentalske rase rođenih od 1982. godine pa na dalje. Krave su smeštene na tri farme, odnosno područja: farmi muznih krava 'Zlatiborski suvati' na Zlatiboru, Poljoprivrednom dobru Dobričevo u Ćupriji i području Kotraže na individualnim gazdinstvima. Sistematski faktori (farma, sezona telenja, grupe laktacija, grupa (godina x sezona rođenja), interakcije farma x sezona telenja i farma x grupe laktacija) i uzrast pri prvoj oplodnji statistički su vrlo visoko značajano (P (lt) 0.001) uticali na sve osobine punih laktacija, izuzimajući uticaj sezone telenja na trajanje punih laktacija (P (lt) 0.05) i sadržaj mlečne masti (P>0.05). Uzrast pri prvoj oplodnji nije statistički značajno uticao na trajanje celih laktacija i sadržaj mlečne masti u njima (P>0.05). Koeficijenti determinacije kretali su se od 0.100 kod trajanja celih laktacija do 0.361 kod sadržaja mlečne masti

Korelaciona analiza povezanosti proizvodnih osobina kroz tri generacije krava simentalske rase

The relationship between milk production traits over whole lactations was evaluated across three generations of Simmental cows, i.e. between daughters, dams and grand dams, by a phenotypic regression analysis with whole lactation traits in the daughter generation being used as the dependent variables (x1), and those in the dam and grand dam generations being used as the independent variables (x2 and x3). The results were obtained from a sample of 1170 daughters and as many dams and grand dams. The significance of the partial regression coefficients b2 and b3 was separately evaluated by a t-test. An analysis of variance was used to estimate the significance of the simultaneous effect of the production traits of dams and grand dams on the milk production achieved in the daughter generation. The calculated value of the partial regression coefficients for the whole lactation production traits across three generations (grand dams, dams and daughters) and their statistical significances determined by the t and F tests, as well as the regression equations used, suggested that the effect of the grand dam generation on the milk production traits in granddaughters was substantially lower than the effect of dams. The calculated partial regression coefficients (b2 and b3) were positive and statistically very significant (P lt 0.01), excepting the regression coefficients b3 for lactation length and b2 for milk fat content that were not statistically significant (P>0.05). A very significant change (P lt 0.01) was observed in all production traits in the daughter generation as simultaneously affected by the traits in the dam and grand dam generations.Povezanost osobina mlečnosti u punim laktacijama analizirana je između tri generacije krava simentalske rase, odnosno između kćerki, majki i baba, fenotipskom regresionom analizom u uslovima kada su osobine punih laktacija u generaciji kćerki posmatrane kao zavisno (x1), a osobine punih laktacija u generaciji majki i baba kao nezavisno promenljive (x2 i x3). Rezultati su dobijeni na uzorku od po 1170 kćerki, majki i baba. Pojedinačno ispitivanje značajnosti delimičnih regresionih koeficijenata b2 i b3 izvršeno je t-testom, a analizom značajnosti istovremenog uticaja proizvodnih osobina majki i baba na ostvarenu proizvodnju kod kćerki izvršena je metodom analize varijanse. Na osnovu izračunate vrednosti delimičnih regresionih koeficijenata za proizvodne osobine celih laktacija kroz tri generacije (babe, majke i kćerke) i njihove statističke značajnosti određene t i F testom, kao i jednačina regresije konstatovano je da je uticaj generacije baba na proizvodnju unuka znatno manji u odnosu na uticaj kojeg imaju majke. Svi izračunati delimični koeficijenti regresije (b2 i b3) bili su pozitivni i statistički vrlo značajni (P lt 0.01), izuzimajući koeficijent regresije b3 kod trajanja laktacije i b2 kod sadržaja mlečne masti koji nisu bili statistički značajni (P>0.05). Značajnost promena svih posmatranih proizvodnih osobina u generaciji kćerki pri istovremenom uticaju tih osobina iz generacije majki i baba bila je vrlo visoka (P lt 0.01)

Chalcopyrite leaching in acid media: a review

In the modern practice of copper production, more and more attention is paid to the possibility of treating low-percentage sulfide ores that cannot be treated with conventional procedures (crushing, grinding, flotation). In addition to this, the processes of obtaining copper from complex sulfide concentrates, which cannot undergo pyrometallurgical processing, are increasingly being investigated. Extraction of copper from such raw materials is in most cases achieved by applying leaching procedures. Since chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) is by far the most abundant copper sulfide mineral, a large portion of the research is focused on studying the behavior of chalcopyrite in the leaching process, because processes of copper extraction from increasingly poor raw materials may be created using results of these studies. In addition, the main objective of this research is examining the kinetics and mechanism of chalcopyrite oxidation under the influence of various oxidants (O2, Fe3 +, H2O2, chlorate ions, etc.) and at the same time obtaining data necessary for the development of copper production process that could satisfy increasingly stringent technological, economic and environmental criteria. The paper presents the existing knowledge of the chalcopyrite leaching procedure and phenomena that accompany chalcopyrite oxidation in acidic sulfate and chloride solutions