Counterfactual probability

Postoji pojam verovatnoće koji se koristi u determinističkim sistemima, poput bacanja novčića, ali ostaje puno pitanja kako tačno shvatiti taj pojam. Cilj ovog istraživanja je pružanje argumenata da taj pojam treba razumeti kao protivčinjeničku verovatnoću. Da bismo opravdali ovakav zaključak, napravićemo nekoliko glavnih koraka u istraživanju. Prvo, analiziraćemo poznate istorijske i moderne interpretacije objektivnog pojma verovatnoće. Ova analiza će služiti da istaknemo mane i vrline bitnih radova u filozofiji verovatnoće, i da pokažemo da učenjem od prethodnika možemo da dođemo do određenog zaključka oko toga kakva interpretacija verovatnoće treba da bude. Tvrdiću da nam ti zaključci favorizuju protivčinjeničku interpretaciju verovatnoće, čije je osnove izneo Džon Bigelou. Predložiću modifikaciju njegove teorije. Drugo, analiziraćemo najjače argumente za inkompatibilizam objektivne verovatnoće i determinizma. Zaključićemo da je deo diskusije povodom (in)kompatibilizma u filozofiji verovatnoće plod terminološke zbrke. Uz preciznije određenje probabilističkih pojmova, pokazaćemo da ima razloga da prihvatimo kompatibilističku poziciju. Najzad, analiziraćemo tri primera determinističkih sistema koji obiluju probabilističkim pojmovima: klasičnu statističku mehaniku, evolutivnu biologiju, i igre šansi, i pokazati da postoje razlozi da se probabilistički pojmovi u slučaju klasične statističke mehanike i igre šansi shvate kao protivčinjeničke verovatnoće, a da u slučaju evolutivne biologije možemo poboljšati argumente Eliota Sobera ukoliko prihvatimo protivčinjeničku interpretacijuCertain notion of probability has been widely used in deterministic systems. However, lots of open question remain about the exact meaning of the notion. The aim of this research is to argue that the notion should be interpreted as counterfactual probability. To justify such a conclusion, we will make several steps in the research. First, we will analyze major historical and modern interpretations of the objective probability. This should serve to highlight both the flaws and virtues of famous ideas in the field of philosophy of probability, and to show that by learning from the predecessors we can come to some conclusions about what should be a good candidate for an interpretation of probability, i.e. what are criteria for acceptable interpretation of probability. I will argue that these conclusions favor the counterfactual interpretation of probability, originally proposed by John Bigelow. I will propose modification of his theory, for some philosophical reasons. Second, we will analyze the strongest arguments for incompatibilism of objective probabilities and determinism. We will conclude that at least part of the long discussion regarding (in)compatibilsm in the philosophy of probability is the result of a conceptual confusion. Using more precise probabilistic concepts, we will show that there are reasons to accept compatibilsm. Finally, we will analyze three examples of deterministic systems intertwined with probabilistic concepts: classical statistical mechanics, evolutionary biology, and games of chance. We will show that there are reasons to interpret probability in the cases of classical statistical mechanics and games of chance as counterfactual probability, and in the case of evolutionary biology, we can refine Eliot Sober's arguments if we interpret probability as counterfactual probabilit

Software tools for manipulating fe mesh, virtual surgery and post-processing

This paper describes a set of software tools which we developed for the calculation of fluid flow through cardiovascular organs. Our tools work with medical data from a CT scanner, but could be used with any other 3D input data. For meshing we used a Tetgen tetrahedral mesh generator, as well as a mesh re-generator that we have developed for conversion of tetrahedral elements into bricks. After adequate meshing we used our PAKF solver for calculation of fluid flow. For human-friendly presentation of results we developed a set of post-processing software tools. With modification of 2D mesh (boundary of cardiovascular organ) it is possible to do virtual surgery, so in a case of an aorta with aneurism, which we had received from University Clinical center in Heidelberg from a multi-slice 64-CT scanner, we removed the aneurism and ran calculations on both geometrical models afterwards. The main idea of this methodology is creating a system that could be used in clinics

Porast i formiranje plodonosnih tela gljive Pleurotus ostreatus na supstratu obogaćenom neorganskim jedinjenjima selena

Selenium is a trace mineral chemically related to sulfur and tellurium. In the body selenium combines with protein molecules to form selenoproteins and it is distributed in low concentrations and unequally in air, soil and water all over the world. Edible mushrooms are known to be selenium accumulators. Since mushrooms contain relatively high protein levels, and they can accumulate large amounts of selenium, it is reasonable to expect that selenium could be incorporated into proteins. The growth of mycelia and fruit body formation of different medicinal mushroom strains of Pleurotus ostreatus (Hk-35 and P70) over the wide range of concentrations of inorganic form of selenium were examined. Mushrooms were cultivated on agar base media and on substrates based on sawdust. Vegetative growths of mycelium were measured as colony diameter in pure cultures supplemented with inorganic form of Se supplements, prepared as Na2SeO4 and Na2SeO3 in concentrations of: 1, 10, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 150 mg/l. Inorganic form of Se supplements, showed stimulation effects (in concentration of 1-50 mg/l) and toxic effects in higher concentration. On the standard industrial sawdust based substrate, supplemented with 100 mg/kg Na2SeO4 and Na2SeO3, accumulation of Se in fruit bodies was determined by the method of flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The readings were performed on Varian SpectrAA-10 spectrophotometer equipped with VGA-76. Se as Na2SeO4 and Na2SeO3 was effectively taken up from substrates and accumulated in fruit bodies. Mushrooms accumulated selenium between 120 and 250 mg/kg dry weight. In mushrooms cultivated without Se supplement, Se contents were only about 1 mg/kg and in substrate about 0.1 mg/kg.Selen je esencijelni mikroelement, neophodan u malim količinama. Zemljište na teritoriji Evrope ima nizak sadržaj selena. Pečurke sadrže relativno visok nivo proteina, te stoga mogu da usvoje visoke koncentracije selena, koji se inkorporira u proteine formirajući selenoproteine. U radu je ispitivan uticaj većeg broja različitih koncentracija neorganskih jedinjenja selena na porast i formiranje plodonosnih tela medicinski značajne gljive Pleurotus ostreatus (komercijalni sojevi Hk-35 i R70). Porast micelijuma na sladnom agaru praćen je merenjem prečnika kolonije čiste kulture obogaćene neorganskim jedinjenjima selena. Korišćena neorganska jedinjenja selena, u obliku Na2SeO4 i Na2SeO3 (1-50 mg/l), stimulisala su porast micelijuma, dok su veće koncentracije pokazale različit toksičan efekat u zavisnosti od koncentracije dodavanog jedinjenja i soja gljive. Pečurke su zatim gajene na hranljivom supstratu obogaćenom neorganskim jedinjenjima selena koncentracije do 100 mg/kg. Sadržaj selena u plodonosnim telima određen je pomoću AAS (hidridni metod) nakon vlažne digestije i rezultati su očitani na VarianSpectarAA-10 spektrofotometru sa VGA-76 (pomoćni aparat za isparavanje) LSD testom. Analize su pokazale da su gljive upešno usvojile selen u plodonosnom telu. Totalni sadržaj selena u plodonosnom telu pečuraka zavisio je od ispitivanog soja i vrste dodavanog jedinjenja. Pleurotus ostreatus je bolje usvojila selen iz Na2SeO3 nego iz Na2SeO4. Koncentracija usvojenog selena se kretala između 120 i 250 mg/kg suve mase. U pečurkama koje su gajene na supstratu bez dodatka selena, sadržaj selena je iznosio svega oko 1 μg/g, dok se ova vrednost za čist supstrat kretala oko 0.1 mg/kg

Does exposure to a single dose of microplastic represent a health risk?

Worldwide pollution with plastic debris represents tremendous environmental issue. Small particles originated from plastic bottles exert various effects in organisms when exposed chronically, while the effects of a single exposure are completely unknown. Thus, to test their potential health impact, male Wistar rats were exposed by oral gavage to a single dose of microplastic particles (MP) derived from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles (1.4, 35 or 125 mg/kg with median diameter of 85 μm). Food and water intakes were monitored, and neurological and clinical tests were conducted. Obtained results point to lower food and water intakes in groups that received two higher MP doses indicating to interference with normal digestion. None of three used MP doses provoked neurological and clinical impairments either due to short-term exposure and/or lack of MP cumulative effect. Overall, presented results indicate that exposure to a single dose of MP can initiate health issues

Does exposure to a single dose of microplastic represent a health risk?

Worldwide pollution with plastic debris represents tremendous environmental issue. Small particles originated from plastic bottles exert various effects in organisms when exposed chronically, while the effects of a single exposure are completely unknown. Thus, to test their potential health impact, male Wistar rats were exposed by oral gavage to a single dose of microplastic particles (MP) derived from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles (1.4, 35 or 125 mg/kg with median diameter of 85 μm). Food and water intakes were monitored, and neurological and clinical tests were conducted. Obtained results point to lower food and water intakes in groups that received two higher MP doses indicating to interference with normal digestion. None of three used MP doses provoked neurological and clinical impairments either due to short-term exposure and/or lack of MP cumulative effect. Overall, presented results indicate that exposure to a single dose of MP can initiate health issues

Proliferation and differentiation potential of canine synovial fluid cells

The aim of this study was to determine whether synovial fluid (SF) of dogs contains cells that have characteristics of MSCs and to describe their differentiation potential. SF adherent cells from 5 young German shepherd dogs (average 3.8 +/- 0.9 years) were expanded (37 degrees C, 5% CO2, humidified atmosphere) three weeks before their phenotype was characterized by flow-cytometry for the presence of CD90 and CD34. Population doubling time (PDT), number of CFU-F and adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic potentials have been determined in vitro. In early passages PTD was 31 +/- 10 hours and expansion fold after 3 sub cultivations (9 days) theoretically could be 372 +/- 134. At P1, 0.55 +/- 0.05% of SF cells had the ability to form CFU-F. Sixty-six percent of cells expressed CD90 and none of the cells expressed markers of hematopoietic cells. Oil Red O staining has shown accumulation of fat droplets in cells grown in adipogenic medium, while deposits of calcium in the osteogenic medium were evidenced with Alizarin red staining. SF cultured in hondrogenic and control medium in three-dimensional conditions formed a cartilage-like tissue. Alcian blue staining of pellets' slides have shown a significant amount of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and immunohistochemistry analysis documented collagen type II expression. The amount of GAGs in pellets grown in both conditions showed no difference. SF cells in vitro exhibited osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potentials, suggesting the presence of different mesenchymal progenitors. These results also demonstrated that SF cells have a spontaneous chondrogenic potential that should be further explored for possible tissue engineering protocols

Supplementary data for the article: Božić, A.; Marinković, A.; Bjelogrlić, S.; Todorović, T. R.; Cvijetić, I. N.; Novaković, I.; Muller, C. D.; Filipović, N. R. Quinoline Based Mono- and Bis-(Thio)Carbohydrazones: Synthesis, Anticancer Activity in 2D and 3D Cancer and Cancer Stem Cell Models. RSC Advances 2016, 6 (106), 104763–104781. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ra23940d

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ra23940d]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2352

Supplementary data for the article: Filipović, N. R.; Bjelogrlić, S.; Portalone, G.; Pelliccia, S.; Silvestri, R.; Klisurić, O.; Senćanski, M.; Stanković, D.; Todorović, T. R.; Muller, C. D. Pro-Apoptotic and pro-Differentiation Induction by 8-Quinolinecarboxaldehyde Selenosemicarbazone and Its Co(III) Complex in Human Cancer Cell Lines. MedChemComm 2016, 7 (8), 1604–1616. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6md00199h

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1039/c6md00199h]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2293]Related to accepted version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3598

Supplementary data for the article: Bjelogrlić, S. K.; Todorović, T. R.; Kojić, M.; Senćanski, M.; Nikolić, M.; Višnjevac, A.; Araškov, J.; Miljković, M.; Muller, C. D.; Filipović, N. R. Pd(II) Complexes with N-Heteroaromatic Hydrazone Ligands: Anticancer Activity, in Silico and Experimental Target Identification. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 2019, 199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2019.110758

Supplementary material for: [10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2019.110758]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3318

A novel binuclear hydrazone-based Cd(II) complex is a strong pro-apoptotic inducer with significant activity against 2D and 3D pancreatic cancer stem cells

A novel binuclear Cd complex (1) with hydrazone-based ligand was prepared and characterized by spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Complex 1 reveals a strong pro-apoptotic activity in both human, mammary adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) and pancreatic AsPC-1 cancer stem cells (CSCs). While apoptosis undergoes mostly caspase-independent, 1 stimulates the activation of intrinsic pathway with noteworthy down regulation of caspase-8 activity in respect to non-treated controls. Distribution of cells over mitotic division indicates that 1 caused DNA damage in both cell lines, which is confirmed in DNA interaction studies. Compared to 1, cisplatin (CDDP) does not achieve cell death in 2D cultured AsPC-1 cells, while induces different pattern of cell cycle changes and caspase activation in 2D cultured MCF-7 cells, implying that these two compounds do not share similar mechanism of action. Additionally, 1 acts as a powerful inducer of mitochondrial superoxide production with dissipated trans-membrane potential in the majority of the treated cells already after 6 h of incubation. On 3D tumors, 1 displays a superior activity against CSC model, and at 100 M induces disintegration of spheroids within 2 days of incubation. Fluorescence spectroscopy, along with molecular docking show that compound 1 binds to the minor groove of DNA. Compound 1 binds to the human serum albumin (HSA) showing that the HSA can effectively transport and store 1 in the human body. Thus, our current study strongly supports further investigations on antitumor activity of 1 as a drug candidate for the treatment of highly resistant pancreatic cancer