Generalized Poincaré plots analysis of heart period dynamics in different physiological conditions: Trained vs. untrained men

Background Recently we proposed a new method called generalized Poincare´ plot (gPp) analysis which gave a new insight into the pattern of neurocaridac control. In this study we examined potential of gPp method to reveal changes in cardiac neural control in young athletes during three conditions: supine rest, running and relaxation, with respect to untrained subjects. Methods This method is based on the quantification of Pearson's correlation coefficients r(j, k), between symmetrical (j = k) and asymmetrical summed j previous and k following RR intervals up to the 100th order (j,k.100). Results Differences between groups were obtained at all levels of this analysis. The main result is the significant difference of NAI, normalized index of asymmetry, between groups in running, which was originated in different positions of local maxima of r(j, k). Compared with untrained subjects, these findings indicate modified neural control and altered intrinsic heart rate behavior in athletes which are related to some kind of memory mechanism between RR intervals. Conclusion Obtained results provide great potential of gPp method analysis in the recognition of changes in neurocardiac control in healthy subjects. Further studies are needed for identification of altered cardiac regulatory mechanisms whose background may be useful in the evaluation of genesis of athletes neurocardiovascular pathology. © 2019 Platiša et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited

In silico Therapeutics for Neurogenic Hypertension and Vasovagal Syncope

Neurocardiovascular diseases (NCVD) are the leading cause of death in the developed world and will remain so till 2020. In these diseases the pathologically changed nervous control of cardiovascular system has the central role. The actual NCV syndromes are neurogenic hypertension, representing the sympathetically mediated disorder, and vasovagal syncope, which is the vagally mediated disorders. Vasovagal syncope, the disease far from its etiological treatment, could benefit from recruiting and application of antimuscarinic drugs used in other parasympathetic disorders. The informational spectrum method (ISM), a method widely applied for the characterization of protein-protein interactions in the field of immunology, endocrinology and anti HIV drug discovery, was applied for the first time in the analysis of neurogenic hypertension and vasovagal syncope therapeutic targets. In silico analysis revealed the potential involvement of apelin in neurogenic hypertension. Applying the EIIP/ISM bioinformatics concept in investigation of drugs for treatment of vasovagal syncope suggests that 78% of tested antimuscarinic drugs could have anti vasovagal syncope effect. The presented results confirm that ISM is a promissing method for investigation of molecular mechanisms underlying pathophysiological proceses of NCV syndromes and discovery of therapeutics targets for their treatment

Assessment of auditory behavior of deaf and hard of hearing children – teacher’s of deaf perspective

Auditivno ponašanje se definiše kao sistem međusobno povezanih radnji, koje se vrše radi obavljanja neke funkcije (govor, komunikacija, svest o okruženju, funkcionalna nezavisnost), i koje zahteva interakciju subjekta sa njegovim okruženjem. Auditivno ponašanje podrazumeva specifičan odgovor na stimulaciju zvukom, govorom ili nekim drugim zvučnim stimulansom, i predstavlja socijalnu veštinu. Usvajanje auditivnog ponašanja gluve i nagluve dece (putem slušnog aparata/kohlearnog implanta) označava sazrevanje slušanja i komunikacije, koje omogućavaju samostalno i efikasno funkcionisanje u čujućem okruženju. Auditivno ponašanje se ispituje različitim vrstama upitnika za roditelje/staratelje, radi sticanja znanja o funkcionisanju amplifikovanih osoba u kontaktu sa drugima i u različitim životnim situacijama. Problem istraživanja bio je da se utvrdi učestalost auditivnog ponašanja kod gluve i nagluve dece, u odnosu na različite faktore koji mogu uticati na auditivno iskustvo deteta, iz perspective surdologa.Uzorak u ovom istraživanju je činilo 44 dece, uzrasta od dve do trinaest godina starosti, različitog uzrasta dijagnostike, vremena amplifikacije, dužine i intenziteta rehabilitacije slušanja i govora. Procenu učestalosti auditivnog ponašanja vršio je detetov terapeut- surdolog pomoću T.E.A.C.H. upitnika (Teacher’s Evaluation of Aural/ oral performance of Children. Ching, Hill, 2005). Rezultati istraživanja ukazuju da učestalost auditivnog ponašanja, prema proceni surdologa, u velikoj meri zavisi od faktora kao što su: vreme dijagnostike, amplifikacije i početka rehabilitacije, vrste amplifikacije, ali i intenziteta rehabilitacije. Auditivno ponašanje gluve i nagluve dece poboljšava se sa uzrastom deteta, primenom adekvatne amplifikacije i rehabilitacije, kao i sticanjem slušnog iskustva.Auditory behavior is a system of dependant actions dedicated to certain functions (speech, communication, consciousness about environment, independent functioning), demanding interaction of a subject and environment. Auditory behavior is a social skill representing specific response to stimulation by sound, speech or other Acquiring auditory skills by deaf or hard of hearing children with a help of hearing aid or cochlear implant, could improve maturation of hearing and communication, thus enabling independent and efficient functioning in a hearing environment. Assessment of auditory behavior is done by a numerous questionnaires for parents/caregivers in order to learn about functioning of hearing impaired children in contact with others in various situations. The goal of this study was to assess factors affecting auditory behavior of deaf and hard of hearing children by teachers of deaf. The sample in this study was a group of 44 deaf and hard of hearing children aged 2 to 13 years with different time of identification, amplification, duraton and intensity of speech and hearing rehabilitation. Assessment of auditory behavior has been done by a child’s therapist using TEACH questionnaire (Teacher’s Evaluation of Aural/oral performance of Children. Ching, Hill, 2005). The results have shown that the pattern of auditory behavior, according to therapist’s assessment, is strongly affected by time of diagnosis, amplification and intervention, type of amplification and intensity of rehabilitation as well. Auditory behavior of deaf and hard of hearing children improves over time with the use of adequate amplification and rehabilitation and gaining auditory experience

Analysis of the potential of the Port of Novi Sad to become a new container terminal on Danube

This paper discusses the possibility the establish and construct a new container terminal in the Port of Novi Sad which has regional and international importance and good geographical position, located in the Serbian Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The provided analysis presents current container flows in Serbia and the forecast for the next 5 and 10 years (including three scenarios: realistic, pessimistic and optimistic), at first for the whole country, but later on the analysis was focused on the Danube gravitating regions in Serbia and finally to the existing Port of Novi Sad in order to evaluate its potential to become a logistics center. It was concluded that the construction of a new container terminal in the Port of Novi Sad on the Danube aims to bring about a significant change in the container transport system in Serbia, but also in the region or the Danube countries

Analysis of the potential of Serbia to transport containers on Danube

This paper deals with problems and possible solutions for the improvement of container transport of Serbia by using Danube as a waterway. Given the geographical position in relation to the Danube, Serbia has a sufficient number of ports on this river, which could be an element of further development of the economy and therefore can be considered as a great potential. An analysis of import and export of container that was done in this paper indicates that Serbia has substantial potential to transport containers on Danube. Consequently, there are sufficient justifications for the design and construction of a modern container terminal on the Danube which will connected Serbia with main Europian ports and which will contribute to the further progress of the Serbian economy

Assessment of auditory behavior of deaf and hard of hearing children – teacher’s of deaf perspective

Auditivno ponašanje se definiše kao sistem međusobno povezanih radnji, koje se vrše radi obavljanja neke funkcije (govor, komunikacija, svest o okruženju, funkcionalna nezavisnost), i koje zahteva interakciju subjekta sa njegovim okruženjem. Auditivno ponašanje podrazumeva specifičan odgovor na stimulaciju zvukom, govorom ili nekim drugim zvučnim stimulansom, i predstavlja socijalnu veštinu. Usvajanje auditivnog ponašanja gluve i nagluve dece (putem slušnog aparata/kohlearnog implanta) označava sazrevanje slušanja i komunikacije, koje omogućavaju samostalno i efikasno funkcionisanje u čujućem okruženju. Auditivno ponašanje se ispituje različitim vrstama upitnika za roditelje/staratelje, radi sticanja znanja o funkcionisanju amplifikovanih osoba u kontaktu sa drugima i u različitim životnim situacijama. Problem istraživanja bio je da se utvrdi učestalost auditivnog ponašanja kod gluve i nagluve dece, u odnosu na različite faktore koji mogu uticati na auditivno iskustvo deteta, iz perspective surdologa.Uzorak u ovom istraživanju je činilo 44 dece, uzrasta od dve do trinaest godina starosti, različitog uzrasta dijagnostike, vremena amplifikacije, dužine i intenziteta rehabilitacije slušanja i govora. Procenu učestalosti auditivnog ponašanja vršio je detetov terapeut- surdolog pomoću T.E.A.C.H. upitnika (Teacher’s Evaluation of Aural/ oral performance of Children. Ching, Hill, 2005). Rezultati istraživanja ukazuju da učestalost auditivnog ponašanja, prema proceni surdologa, u velikoj meri zavisi od faktora kao što su: vreme dijagnostike, amplifikacije i početka rehabilitacije, vrste amplifikacije, ali i intenziteta rehabilitacije. Auditivno ponašanje gluve i nagluve dece poboljšava se sa uzrastom deteta, primenom adekvatne amplifikacije i rehabilitacije, kao i sticanjem slušnog iskustva.Auditory behavior is a system of dependant actions dedicated to certain functions (speech, communication, consciousness about environment, independent functioning), demanding interaction of a subject and environment. Auditory behavior is a social skill representing specific response to stimulation by sound, speech or other Acquiring auditory skills by deaf or hard of hearing children with a help of hearing aid or cochlear implant, could improve maturation of hearing and communication, thus enabling independent and efficient functioning in a hearing environment. Assessment of auditory behavior is done by a numerous questionnaires for parents/caregivers in order to learn about functioning of hearing impaired children in contact with others in various situations. The goal of this study was to assess factors affecting auditory behavior of deaf and hard of hearing children by teachers of deaf. The sample in this study was a group of 44 deaf and hard of hearing children aged 2 to 13 years with different time of identification, amplification, duraton and intensity of speech and hearing rehabilitation. Assessment of auditory behavior has been done by a child’s therapist using TEACH questionnaire (Teacher’s Evaluation of Aural/oral performance of Children. Ching, Hill, 2005). The results have shown that the pattern of auditory behavior, according to therapist’s assessment, is strongly affected by time of diagnosis, amplification and intervention, type of amplification and intensity of rehabilitation as well. Auditory behavior of deaf and hard of hearing children improves over time with the use of adequate amplification and rehabilitation and gaining auditory experience

Analysis of the potential of the Port of Novi Sad to become a new container terminal on Danube

This paper discusses the possibility the establish and construct a new container terminal in the Port of Novi Sad which has regional and international importance and good geographical position, located in the Serbian Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The provided analysis presents current container flows in Serbia and the forecast for the next 5 and 10 years (including three scenarios: realistic, pessimistic and optimistic), at first for the whole country, but later on the analysis was focused on the Danube gravitating regions in Serbia and finally to the existing Port of Novi Sad in order to evaluate its potential to become a logistics center. It was concluded that the construction of a new container terminal in the Port of Novi Sad on the Danube aims to bring about a significant change in the container transport system in Serbia, but also in the region or the Danube countries

Optimization of container transport routes

An efficient and sustainable intermodal transport of containers requires the optimization of transportation costs and time while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. For these purposes, within the DBS Gateway Region project, a Pilot Action has been performed focused on the sustainable intermodal transport of containers in the DBS (Danube Black Sea) region. The Pilot Action included two main activities: development of a multi-criteria route optimization application for container transport and tracking and tracing of a container on an intermodal route from China to Serbia to detect the existing bottlenecks and provide recommendations for the development of sustainable intermodal transport in the DBS Gateway Region

Improving Logistics Processes in Inland Container Terminal

This paper focuses on the application of two approaches: Business Process Redesign (BPR) and Discrete Event Simulation (DES) in an attempt to enhance the basic logistics processes in inland container terminals. The goal of the paper is to identify the weaknesses and potential problems in the execution of current logistics processes, as well as to redesign such identified weaknesses and problems. The main contribution of the paper is to show how DES and BPR can be used in restructuring of container logistics processes in inland container terminals. Its original feature is a novelty, a holistic approach in rationalization of container logistics processes in inland intermodal terminals, creating models of the current (AS-IS) and improved (TO-BE) states. Models show that DES and BPR represent an easily accessible and effective tool in the analysis of terminal processes in container terminals. Therefore, it can be efficiently used for monitoring the current situation, identification of weak spots in a particular system and for creating any necessary preconditions for improvement of business processes

Identification of Candidate Allosteric Modulators of the M1 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Which May Improve Vagus Nerve Stimulation in ChronicTinnitus

Chronic tinnitus is characterized by neuroplastic changes of the auditory cortex. A promising method for therapy of chronic tinnitus is vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) combined with auditory stimulation. The principle of VNS is reversal of pathological neuroplastic changes of the auditory cortex toward physiological neural activity and synchronicity. The VNS mechanism of action in chronic tinnitus patients is prevailingly through the muscarinic neuromodulation of the auditory cortex by the activation of nc. basalis Meynerti. The aim of this study is to propose potential pharmaceutics which may improve the neuromodulatory effects of VNS. The working hypothesis is that M1 receptors have a dominant role in the neural plasticity of the auditory cortex. We propose that allosteric agonists of the muscarinic receptor type 1 (M1) receptor could improve specificity and selectivity of the neuromodulatory effect of VNS on the auditory cortex of chronic tinnitus patients even in the circumstances of lower acetylcholine brain concentration. This intervention would also reinforce the re-learning process of tinnitus (sub) networks by acting on cholinergic memory and learning mechanisms. We performed in silico screening of drug space using the EIIP/AQVN filter and selected 50 drugs as candidates for allosteric modulators of muscarinic receptors. Further filtering of these compounds by means of 3D QSAR and docking revealed 3 approved drugs-bromazepam, estazolam and flumazenil as the most promising candidates for combined chronic tinnitus therapy. These drugs should be further evaluated by biological tests and clinical trials