Carbon Nanotube Quality Impact on Epoxy Composites Thermal Conductivity

Composite materials thermal conductivity is a challenging area. This is particularly applicable in the through thickness direction. Obstacles on the path of improvement are numerous. To overcome issue of carbon nanotube distribution within composite a new approach was adopted. This was achieved with employment of new method to obtain a basic building block for the layer-by-layer method. Laminate was prepared from prepreg layers utilising ancillary materials stack-up sequence optimised for thermal conductivity improvement through nanomaterials. Autoclave cured materials were examined for thermal conductivity. The highest value was achieved at 125 deg C. The highest improvement over reference carbon fibre / epoxy composite material was obtained at 25 deg C. Three different carbon nanotube materials were used in the research. Least damaged carbon nanotubes yielded the best results. Simple calculations completed on carbon nanotube / epoxy composites confirmed the least damaged carbon nanotubes – the carbon nanotubes of the highest quality - as the best heat transport medium

Reactions on the New European Bauhaus Design Curricula: Project Oriented Approach at the Master Course Sustainable City

Design education in architecture and its allied disciplines represents one of the cornerstones for design professionals, contributing to the sustainable future of the built environment. However, despite the dedication of educators, the changing focus in design pedagogy is still not fully embraced in the university setting. Recent concerns about outmoded and static approaches in the higher education have, therefore, triggered some new insights casing the updating, upgrading and improvement of programs. Consequently, critical thinking and inquiry, creativity and innovation, research and investigation, collaboration and civic engagement, supported by technical competences, have become increasingly valued in the contemporary design pedagogy.Following this trend, one of the master courses at the University of Belgrade -Faculty of Architecture, entitled Sustainable City, has been structured around the project oriented approach. The curriculum supports student` work, with the final test in theform of a Civil Initiative Project Proposal which responds to various ongoing competitions and calls. The process is finalised through a Civil Initiative Project Proposal data set, established on the Teams platform, providing the possibility of an active involvement into practice, while solving the various problems of local communities

Toward a sustainable urban regeneration? Urban heritage between neoliberal forces and community preferences

The paper discusses a relationship between the neoliberal forces shaping contemporary urban transformations and the social sustainability of recent regeneration projects focused on urban heritage. Analysing two post-transitional cases, based on two different approaches, the paper will provide an insight into the dominant processes influencing both practices, as well as their anticipated/announced social sustainability and its achieved level.The first case is from Serbia - the Power Plant "Power and Light‖ - which was the first one generating alternating current in Belgrade. Located in the Dorcol area, this ex-industrial setting is situated close to the city center. Since 2005, the entire area has undergone a significant transformation into a luxurious residential and commercial complex, initiated by private investors and directed by city authorities in order to change the previous urban image.The second case, the Contemporary Art Center in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, represents different approach. Created in 1997, the center is a non-governmental organisation of public interest. In 1995 the Municipality of Plovdiv obtained the right to locate the center within the remains of the ancient baths of Rome, which were rebuilt under the Turkish Empire. As the 16th century monument, the building belonged to the municipality and in 2004, the three-year period of support started, provided by the association Art Today (the Swiss cultural program), as well as the National Heritage Fund in Bulgaria.The analysis will be based on the selected principles of social sustainability, simultaneously highlighting the problems of heritage (re)use and regeneration in a challenging global environment of uncertain financial flows and shifting local governmental priorities, which could put on hold or totally ignore the aspect of social sustainability

The Transformation of Dorćol Power Plant: Triggering a Sustainable Urban Regeneration or Selling the Heritage?

The power plant “Power and Light” (1932, Belgrade) was the first one to generate alternating current in Serbia. Situated along the Danube river, it represented a part of an industrial area positioned in the Dorćol neighborhood, close to the urban core. Since 2005, the whole area has been exposed to a significant transformation into a luxurious residential and commercial complex, triggered by the intentions of private investors and directed by the ideas of changing city authorities. Considering the unpredictable local context created by the dominant post-socialist transitional economy, the article focuses on the sensitive relationship between the social sustainability of the ongoing urban regeneration plans and the emerging neoliberal forces targeting the areas of industrial heritage. Consequently, the case of the Dorćol ex-power plant and the anticipated changes in its urban surrounding are analyzed according to the selected principles of social sustainability. Revealing numerous controversies, both on the level of preferred urban policies and their questionable application, this case addresses the problems of heritage (re)use and regeneration in an environment of fast-shifting governmental priorities and financial flows, with reduced receptivity to sustainable solutions

Primary spinal glioblastoma multiforme. Single center experience and literature review

Abstract Objectives Spinal glioblastomas represent a rare entity accounting for ca 1–3% of all intramedullary tumors; data about survival, prognostic factors and therapeutic protocols are quite poor. Even with an aggressive multimodal management the spinal glioblastoma patients' survival remains poor, with rapid progression of the disease. This study reports our experience with the management of the primary intramedullary glioblastomas, also in regard to the current literature data. Patients and Methods We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 5 patients treated at the Department for Neuro-oncology and Spine Surgery of the Clinical Center of Belgrade, Serbia, between January 2007 and December 2016 for a primary intramedullary glioblastoma. Demographic characteristics, pre-operative data and post-operative results were then compared with previous literature regarding spinal GBMs and attempt to identify potential prognostic factors. Results Gross total resection was achieved in two patients, while a subtotal resection was performed in the latter 3 cases; as per protocol, all patients underwent to surgery, followed by radio and chemotherapy. There were no intraoperative complications and no patients developed a new postoperative neurological defect; the median overall survival was 6 months. Progression or recurrence of disease was noted in all patients at the 3-months follow-up, despite the adjuvant treatments. Conclusions To the date, there is a lack of consensus on specific management of spinal glioblastomas: the extent of resection can play an important role, but it appears to be not preeminent. A shorter interval between symptoms onset and treatment and a smaller extension of the tumor seem to be correlated with better outcomes and a longer overall survival. However, there is not an adjunctive viable standardized postoperative therapy yet, which results in concrete and persistent improvement of overall survival and progression free survival

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea in a patient with Pallister–Hall syndrome

Pallister-Hall syndrome (PHS) is extremely rare autosomal dominant disorder with typical clinical features such as presence of polydactyly, hypothalamic hamartoma, bifid epiglottis, anal, renal, genitourinary and pulmonary abnormalities, mainly located in the midline of the body. Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea is also a rare condition, and it is used to describe nasal discharge of CSF unrelated to previous trauma, localized tumour, surgery, or previous radiation therapy. The exact cause is not yet fully understood. We report a case of adult female patient previously diagnosed with PHS and late onset of spontaneous nasal liquorrhea, due to defect in the anterior skull base. Although it can be incidental finding, we believe that described defect in the body midline can be another presentation of congenital craniofacial abnormality which are common in PHS

Functional characterization of the human SOX3 promoter: identification of transcription factors implicated in basal promoter activity. Gene

Abstract SRY-related HMG-box genes (Sox genes) constitute a large family of developmentally regulated genes involved in the decision of cell fates during development and implicated in the control of diverse developmental processes. Sox3, an X-linked member of the family, is expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) from the earliest stages of development. It is considered to be one of the earliest neural markers in vertebrates playing the role in specifying neuronal fate. The aim of this study has been to determine and characterize the promoter of the human SOX3 gene and to elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of its expression. In this study, we have isolated and performed the first characterization of the human SOX3 promoter. We have identified the transcription start point (tsp) and carried out the structural and functional analysis of the regulatory region responsible for SOX3 expression in NT2/D1 cell line. Using promoter-reporter constructs, we have determined the minimal SOX3 promoter region that confers the basal promoter activity, as well as two regulatory elements which have positive effects on the promoter activity. We have investigated in detail the functional properties of three conserved motifs within the core promoter sequence that bind transcription factors specificity protein 1 (Sp1), upstream stimulatory factor (USF) and nuclear factor Y (NF-Y). By mutational analysis, we have shown that all three sites are of functional relevance for constitutive SOX3 expression in NT2/D1 cells. We have also shown that, besides the TATA motif, at least one other essential regulatory element is required for the basal transcription of the human SOX3. Taken together, data presented in this paper suggest that transcription factors such as Sp1, USF and NF-Y could function as key regulators for the basal activation of the human SOX3 gene.

The Impact of Intraoperative Monitoring on Extent of Resection and Long-Term Neurological Outcomes: A Series of 39 Intramedullary Ependimomas

To analyze the impact of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) on the extent of removal and long-term neurological outcomes in a series of grade II ependymomas

Spatiotemporal Analysis of West Nile Virus Epidemic in South Banat District, Serbia, 2017–2019

West Nile virus (WNV) is an arthropod-born pathogen, which is transmitted from wild birds through mosquitoes to humans and animals. At the end of the 20th century, the first West Nile fever (WNF) outbreaks among humans in urban environments in Eastern Europe and the United States were reported. The disease continued to spread to other parts of the continents. In Serbia, the largest number of WNV-infected people was recorded in 2018. This research used spatial statistics to identify clusters of WNV infection in humans and animals in South Banat County, Serbia. The occurrence of WNV infection and risk factors were analyzed using a negative binomial regression model. Our research indicated that climatic factors were the main determinant of WNV distribution and were predictors of endemicity. Precipitation and water levels of rivers had an important influence on mosquito abundance and affected the habitats of wild birds, which are important for maintaining the virus in nature. We found that the maximum temperature of the warmest part of the year and the annual temperature range; and hydrographic variables, e.g., the presence of rivers and water streams were the best environmental predictors of WNF outbreaks in South Banat County