Serbia's Action against Transnational Organised Crime

This article examines the extent to which Serbia has implemented relevant international standards on action against transnational organised crime contained in the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime 2000. The first part explores key obligations with particular reference to prohibition of substantive offences, intelligence-led law enforcement (special investigative techniques), confiscation of criminal proceeds, as well as international law enforcement cooperation. The second part of the article analyses how these obligations are implemented by Serbia in reality by examining legislative frameworks as well as law enforcement practices. The main conclusion is that, while Serbia has taken some steps to implement international standards with a view to enhancing individual and collective actions against transnational organised crime, effective law enforcement is hampered by issues such as corruption and a lack of expertise, experience and resources

Red mud-blast furnace slag-based alkali-activated materials

The aluminum Bayer production process is widespread all over the world. One of the waste products of the Bayer process is a basic aluminosilicate bauxite residue called red mud. The aluminosilicate nature of red mud makes it suitable as a precursor for alkali-activated materials. In this work, red mud was mixed with different percentages of blast furnace slag and then activated by sodium silicate solution at different SiO2/Na2O ratios. Obtained samples were characterized by chemical–physical analyses and compressive strength determination. Very high values of compressive strength, up to 50 MPa, even for high percentage of red mud in the raw mixture (70 wt.% of RM in powder mixture), were obtained. In particular, the higher compressive strength was measured for cubic samples containing 50 wt.% of RM, which showed a value above 70 MPa. The obtained mixtures were characterized by no or scarce environmental impact and could be used in the construction industry as an alternative to cementitious and ceramic materials

Pressure Dependence of the Magnetic Anisotropy in the "Single-Molecule Magnet" [Mn4O3Br(OAc)3(dbm)3]

The anisotropy splitting in the ground state of the single-molecule magnet [Mn4O3Br(OAc)3(dbm)3] is studied by inelastic neutron scattering as a function of hydrostatic pressure. This allows a tuning of the anisotropy and thus the energy barrier for slow magnetisation relaxation at low temperatures. The value of the negative axial anisotropy parameter $D_{\rm cluster}$ changes from -0.0627(1) meV at ambient to -0.0603(3) meV at 12 kbar pressure, and in the same pressure range the height of the energy barrier between up and down spins is reduced from 1.260(5) meV to 1.213(9) meV. Since the $\rm Mn-Br$ bond is significantly softer and thus more compressible than the $\rm Mn-O$ bonds, pressure induces a tilt of the single ion Mn$^{3+}$ anisotropy axes, resulting in the net reduction of the axial cluster anisotropy.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Alkali-Activated Red Mud and Construction and Demolition Waste-Based Components: Characterization and Environmental Assessment

The aluminum Bayer production process is the most diffused process in the world, but it creates a high amount of basic waste material known as red mud (RM). The use of RM as a precursor of alkali-activated materials is one of the best opportunities for both the ecosystem and the economy. In the present work, mortar samples were obtained by alkali activation of RM with various percentages of blast-furnace slag (BFS) and inert construction and demolition sands. This process creates samples that have a low environmental impact and that can be used as an alternative in the construction industry to cement materials or ceramic ones. The development of these new materials could also represent a way to reduce the CO2 emissions linked to cement and ceramic brick production. In the present study, cubic 40 mm samples reported very interesting values in compressive strength, with a maximum of about 70 MPa for low environmental impact mortars. With such a material, it is possible to create solid bricks for structural use and concrete tiles for road paving or use it for other purposes. Mortar specimens were prepared and characterized, and an LCA analysis with a “cradle-to-gate” approach was carried out for a comparison of the environmental impact of the studied mortars with other materials currently marketed

Antioxidant and cytotoxic potential of selected plant species of the boraginaceae family

Antioxidant activity is one of the most important properties of plant extracts. Antioxidants from natural sources have been intensively studied in the last few decades. The antioxidant contents of medicinal plants may contribute to the protection of diseases. Bioactive components of plants have a potential role in chemoprevention and inhibition of different phases of the malignant transformation process. Therefore, plant extracts and essential oils are in the focus of research, and in recent decades have been tested on a large number of malignant cell lines. The aim of this study was to examine antioxidant and cytotoxic potential of selected plant species from the Boraginaceae family. Determination of antioxidant activity was performed by ammonium-thiocyanate method. Testing citotoxic activity was performed by MTT test on cancer cell lines: HEP 2c (human larynx carcinoma), RD (human cell line-rhabdomyosarcoma) and L2OB (mouse tumor fibroblast line). The best antioxidant activity showed ethanol, acetone and chloroform extracts of Anchusa officinalis, Echium vulgare and Echium italicum. The tested extracts showed an inhibitory effect on cancer cells, but chloroform and acetone extracts of all three plant had the most effective effect on L2OB cells. Isolation of individual active components from this plants and their testing for cancer cells would be of great importance for this field of research

A new self-compatibility haplotype in the sweet cherry 'Kronio', S5', attributable to a pollen-part mutation in the SFB gene

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Level of physical activity in patients with osteoporosis

Objectives: The aim of this research was to examine the degree and types of physical activity (heavy physical activity, medium heavy and light physical activity) in female patients with lower bone mineral density compared to healthy women. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study included 40 female patients (65,85±11,46 yrs) with lower bone mineral density (BMD) and 20 patients (56,25±6,6 yrs) with no existing abnormality of BMD levels. The research was conducted at the Medical Rehabilitation Clinic, Clinical Center of Vojvodina. Data were collected using the internationally endorsed questionnaire IPAQ. BMD was measured at lumbar spine (L1-4) and at proximal femur by Dual X-ray Absorptiometry technique (DXA). Osteoporosis was defined as BMD > -2.5 T score. Results: We found that subjects with a normal bone mineral density had the highest level of physical activity (MET = 3154.58), followed by subjects with osteopenia (MET = 2311.25). Patients suffering from osteoporosis who were physically active had the lowest value of MET (1972.95) (p˂0.01). Sub-analysis based on BMI categories showed 10% (2 patients) of those with osteopenia were underweight, compared to 40% (8 patients) in the group with osteoporosis. Conclusions: Patients with osteoporosis were more obese and less physically active, as compared to healthier females. Our findings support the fact that adapted physical activity seems to be important for the prevention and treatment of patients with osteoporosis

RGS16, a novel p53 and pRb cross-talk candidate inhibits migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells

Data collected since the discovery of p53 and pRb/RB1 suggests these tumor suppressors cooperate to inhibit tumor progression. Patients who have mutations in both p53 and RB1 genes have increased tumor reoccurrence and decreased survival compared to patients with only one tumor suppressor gene inactivated. It remains unclear how p53 and pRb cooperate toward inhibiting tumorigenesis. Using RNA expression profiling we identified 179 p53 and pRb cross-talk candidates in normal lung fibroblasts (WI38) cells exogenously coexpressing p53 and pRb. Regulator of G protein signaling 16 (RGS16) was among the p53 and pRb cross-talk candidates and has been implicated in inhibiting activation of several oncogenic pathways associated with proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancer cells. RGS16 has been found to be downregulated in pancreatic cancer patients with metastases compared to patients without metastasis. Expression of RGS16 mRNA was decreased in the pancreatic cancer cell lines tested compared to control. Expression of RGS16 inhibited migration of the BxPC-3 and AsPC-1 but not PANC-1 cells and inhibited invasion of BxPC-3 and AsPC-1 cells with no impact on cell viability. We have identified for the first time p53 and pRb cross-talk candidates and a role for RGS16 to inhibit pancreatic cancer migration and invasion