Example Ordinance for Compost Amending Soil in Urban Landscaping

Urban landscapes are commonly installed on a final grade consisting of fill material brought on-site during construction to elevate the land surface. This material is typically inert, lacking organic matter and nutrients, and becomes compacted during the construction process. UF/IFAS research and other studies have shown that incorporating compost into these soil conditions can increase water retention in the root zone and decrease the need for supplemental irrigation for turfgrass. As a result of this benefit, local governments may consider requiring amending of new landscapes. This publication describes an example ordinance that can be used by local governments as a starting point for developing a compost amendment ordinance tailored to their local situation and conditions. The example ordinance is divided into five sections. Section 1, Basis of Ordinance, provides the background information that supports the ordinance, while Section 2, Applicability, defines the situations and circumstances for which the ordinance shall be applied. Section 3, Compost-Amended Soil Requirements, specifies the procedure for amending soils with compost, while Section 4, Compliance and Enforcement Procedures, covers how compliance shall be assessed and how the ordinance is enforced. Section 5, Other Clauses, includes any information that does not fall under the other sections along with the effective date. The content within each of these sections should be evaluated and adapted to the local context, rather than using material “as-is.

Socioeconomic inequalities in the use of dental health care among the adult population in Serbia

ObjectivesThe aim of this paper is to assess the association of demografic and socioeconomic determinants with utilization of dental services among Serbian adults.Materials and methodsThe study is a part of the population health research of Serbia, conducted in the period from October to December 2019 by the Institute of Statistics of the Republic of Serbia in cooperation with the Institute of Public Health of Serbia “Dr. Milan JovanovićBatut” and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia. The research was conducted as a descriptive, cross-sectional analytical study on a representative sample of the population of Serbia. For the purposes of this study, data on the adult population aged 20 years and older were used.ResultsMen were approximately 1.8 times more likely than women to not utilize dental healthcare services (OR = 1.81). The likelihood of not utilizing dental healthcare protection rises with increasing age, reaching its peak within the 65–74 age range (OR = 0.441), after which it declines. Individuals who have experienced marital dissolution due to divorce or the death of a spouse exhibit a higher probability of not utilizing health protection (OR = 1.868). As the level of education and wealth diminishes, the probability of abstaining from health protection increases by 5.8 times among respondents with an elementary school education (OR = 5.852) and 1.7 times among the most economically disadvantaged respondents (OR = 1.745). Regarding inactivity, respondents who are not employed have a 2.6-fold higher likelihood of not utilizing oral health care compared to employed respondents (OR = 2.610).ConclusionThe results suggest that individual sociodemographic factors influence utilization of dental services by Serbian adults and confirmed the existence of socioeconomic disparities

Sex and age differences and outcomes in acute coronary syndromes

Background: There is conflicting information about sex differences in presentation, treatment, and outcome after acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in the era of reperfusion therapy and percutaneous coronary intervention. The aim of this study was to examine presentation, acute therapy, and outcomes of men and women with ACS with special emphasis on their relationship with younger age ( lt = 65 years). Methods: From January 2010 to June 2015, we enrolled 5140 patients from 3 primary PCI capable hospitals. Patients were registered according to the International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Transitional Countries (ISACS-TC) registry protocol (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01218776). The primary outcome was the incidence of in-hospital mortality. Results: The study population was constituted by 2876 patients younger than 65 years and 2294 patients older. Women were older than men in both the young (56.2 +/- 6.6 vs. 54.1 +/- 7.4) and old (74.9 +/- 6.4 vs. 73.6 +/- 6.0) age groups. There were 3421 (66.2%) patients with ST elevation ACS (STE-ACS) and 1719 (33.8%) patients without ST elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS). In STE-ACS, the percentage of patients who failed to receive reperfusion was higher in women than in men either in the young (21.7% vs. 15.8%) than in the elderly (35.2% vs. 29.6%). There was a significant higher mortality in women in the younger age group (age-adjusted OR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.01-2.29), but there was no sex difference in the older group (age-adjusted OR 1.10, 95% CI: 0.87-1.41). Significantly sex differences in mortality were not seen in NSTE-ACS patients. Conclusions: In-hospital mortality from ACS is not different between older men and women. A higher short-term mortality can be seen only in women with STEMI and age of 65 or less

Example Ordinance for Compost Amending Soil in Urban Landscaping

Urban landscapes are commonly installed on a final grade consisting of fill material brought on-site during construction to elevate the land surface. This material is typically inert, lacking organic matter and nutrients, and becomes compacted during the construction process. UF/IFAS research and other studies have shown that incorporating compost into these soil conditions can increase water retention in the root zone and decrease the need for supplemental irrigation for turfgrass. As a result of this benefit, local governments may consider requiring amending of new landscapes. This publication describes an example ordinance that can be used by local governments as a starting point for developing a compost amendment ordinance tailored to their local situation and conditions. The example ordinance is divided into five sections. Section 1, Basis of Ordinance, provides the background information that supports the ordinance, while Section 2, Applicability, defines the situations and circumstances for which the ordinance shall be applied. Section 3, Compost-Amended Soil Requirements, specifies the procedure for amending soils with compost, while Section 4, Compliance and Enforcement Procedures, covers how compliance shall be assessed and how the ordinance is enforced. Section 5, Other Clauses, includes any information that does not fall under the other sections along with the effective date. The content within each of these sections should be evaluated and adapted to the local context, rather than using material “as-is.

Comparison of training and detraining on redox state of rats: Gender specific differences

© 2018 Slovak Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Given the fact that oxidative stress response induced by training/detraining has still not been clarified and may be influenced by gender, the aim of our investigation was to compare the effects of swimming training and detraining on oxidative and antioxidative parameters in rats, with a special focus on sex differences. Wistar albino rats (n = 64) were divided into 4 groups: control, trained group, groups exposed to 2 and 4 weeks of detraining. Each group included two subgroups: males and females. After sacrificing, hearts were isolated and retrogradely perfused according to Langendorff technique. Levels of superoxide anion radical, hydrogen peroxide, nitrites and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were measured in plasma and coronary venous effluent, while reduced glutathione, activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were measured in erythrocytes. Our results indicate that swimming training doesn't promote oxidative damage, nor act protectively within the heart. However, 2 and 4 weeks of detraining led to a partial lost in exercise-induced adaptation. It seems that moderate-intensity physical exercise of sufficient duration leads to beneficial adaptations, which may be partially lost during detraining period. Positive antioxidative effects of training remained longer in males. Findings of present study may help in elucidation of training and detraining effects on modulation of redox homeostasis, especially from aspect of gender differences

Geography and environment – analysis of indicators of sustainable development of tourism

National parks as the most complex category of protected resources are provided for the overall sustainable development, and coordination of geography, tourism and nature conservation is a basic development orientation of these areas in the future. In order to analyze the state of environment, but also the impact of tourism on nature, the method of indicators of sustainable development of tourism of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is applied in the paper in the case of the National Park Tara (Western Serbia). The study included analysis and evaluation of indicators related to the ecological value of the area and direct impact of tourism activity on the protection of nature

Current Susceptibility Surveillance and Distribution of Antimicrobial Resistance in <i>N. gonorrheae</i> within WHO Regions

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae) is the etiological agent of the second most common sexually transmitted disease in the world, gonorrhoea. Currently recommended and last available first-line therapy is extended-spectrum cephalosporins most often combined with azitromycin. However, misuse of antibiotics and the abilities of N. gonorrhoeae to acquire new genetic and plasmid-borne resistance determinants has gradually led to the situation where this bacterium has become resistant to all major classes of antibiotics. Together with a generally slow update of treatment guidelines globally, as well as with the high capacity of gonococci to develop and retain AMR, this may lead to the global worsening of gonococcal AMR. Since effective vaccines are unavailable, the management of gonorrhoea relies mostly on prevention and accurate diagnosis, together with antimicrobial treatment. The study overviews the latest results of mostly WHO-initiated studies, primarily focusing on the data regarding the molecular basis of the resistance to the current and novel most promising antibacterial agents, which could serve to establish or reinforce the continual, quality-assured and comparable AMR surveillance, including systematic monitoring and treatment with the use of molecular AMR prediction methods

The impact of sociodemographic and health aspects on cognitive performance in the older adult population in the republic of Serbia

The aim of this study was to investigate how sociodemographic and health factors contribute cognitive abilities in the older population of the Republic of Serbia, using data from the 2019 national health survey. The study included 3,743 participants, of whom 2,061 (55.1%) were women and 1,682 (44.9%) were men. The median age of all participants was 72 (10) years. Study used logistic regression on cross-sectional data to analyze how education, social support, and healthcare access affect cognitive abilities, while adjusting for demographic variables. The results revealed negative associations between higher levels of education and lower odds of experiencing memory and concentration problems, while recent visits to specialists were positively associated with increased risk for the same. The highest percentage of participants (22.6%) reporting major difficulties in memory and concentration were in the age group of 85–89 years (p &lt; 0.001). A statistically significant relationship was found between social support and issues related to memory and concentration (p &lt; 0.001). Social support emerged as a significant factor in preserving cognitive abilities. The discussion underscores the need for a comprehensive approach in promoting cognitive health, taking into account education, social integration, and access to healthcare as key factors. The study acknowledges its limitations, including its cross-sectional nature and potential subjective biases in self-assessment of cognitive abilities. Future research should incorporate longitudinal studies and more objective measures of cognitive abilities

The Influence of Different SARS-CoV-2 Strains on Changes in Maximal Oxygen Consumption, Ventilatory Efficiency and Oxygen Pulse of Elite Athletes

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different SARS-CoV-2 strains on the functional capacity of athletes. Methods: In total, 220 athletes underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) after coronavirus infection and before returning to sports activities. Eighty-eight athletes were infected by the Wuhan virus, and 66 were infected during the Delta and Omicron strain periods of the pandemic. Results: The CPET results showed significantly decreased maximal oxygen consumption, ventilatory efficiency, and oxygen pulse in athletes who were infected with Wuhan and Delta strains compared to athletes who suffered from Omicron virus infection. An early transition from aerobic to anaerobic metabolic pathways for energy production was observed in the Wuhan and Delta groups but not in athletes who were infected with the Omicron strain. There were no differences in the obtained results when Wuhan and Delta virus variants were compared. Conclusion: These results suggest that the Wuhan and Delta virus strains had a significantly greater negative impact on the functional abilities of athletes compared to the Omicron virus variant, especially in terms of aerobic capacity and cardiorespiratory function

Training/detraining-induced gender specific functional adaptations of isolated rat heart

Background/Aim. Mechanisms responsible for the bene-ficial effects of aerobic exercise training on cardiovascular function are well known, but detraining effects on myo-cardial parameters have not been adequately elucidated. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the occurrence and speed of cardiac adaptation reversibility after the ces-sation of aerobic exercise and to reveal gender differences in achieved effects of training/detraining. Methods. Fe-male and male Wistar albino rats were divided into the fol-lowing groups: Control, trained, and two detrained groups. Hearts were perfused according to the Langendorff tech-nique and the following cardiodynamic parameters were determined: The maximum and minimum rate of pressure development in the left ventricle (dp/dt max and dp/dt min, respectively), systolic and diastolic left ventricular pressure (SLVP and DLVP, respectively), heart rate (HR), and coronary flow. Results. Training significantly reduced values of dp/dt max, dp/dt min, and SLVP in males and females, and coronary flow in males. Detraining caused a reversion of those changes, which was gender-specific. In females, levels of SLVP were higher after 4 weeks of de-training compred to training, and after 2 weeks of detrain-ing. Values of SLVP were lower in both detraining periods compared to training in males. Males had higher coronary flow after 2 weeks of detraining. Simultaneously, coronary flow was reduced in the 4th week of detraining in females. Conclusion. By using a model of the isolated rat heart, the present study confirmed the existence of training-induced changes in cardiac function. Cessation of training was followed by the loss of those adaptations, faster in males than females