Tuned polyurethanes for soft tissue regeneration

The applications of tissue engineering are increasing rapidly in biomedicine. Researcher Daniela Jovanovic developed new synthetic biomaterials for scaffolds that can be used for soft tissue regeneration, and possibly new tissue and organ formation, for example blood vessels or heart tissue. The focus of this research was on the development of biodegradable scaffolds. This is a crucial aspect for application, since recovery only occurs when physiological turnover and new tissue formation are balanced. Several commercially available biomaterials were modified with the aim to alter the biodegrading properties. The results are promising, because the new materials were incorporated well.

Antiapoptotic proteins mcl-1 and bcl-2 as well as growth factors fgf and vegf influence survival of peripheral blood and bone marrow chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells

© 2020, University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science. All rights reserved. Apoptosis inhibition in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the most important mechanism in the disease onset, progression and therapy response and is dependent of interaction with different microenvironments. Aim of our paper is to determine expression of antiapop-toic proteins mcl-1 and bcl-2 in CLL cells isolated from two different compartments (peripheral blood and bone marrow) and its relation to percent of apoptotic cells and concentration of growth factors (FGF and VEGF). Our results showed that peripheral blood CLL lymphocytes have lower apoptotic rate then those isolated from bone marrow, though bone marrow CLL lymphocytes express higher levels of antipoptotic proteins bcl-2 and mcl-1. In bone marrow FGF concentration is 10-fold higher then in patients plasma but has an limited impact on mcl-1 expression. In contrary, VEGF concentration is higher in peripheral blood and corelate with percent of apoptotic cells and mcl-1 expression in this compartment. CLL cells derived from two different microenvironmets acts differently when tested for apoptosis „ex vivo“. In peripheral blood apoptosis is strongly connected with expression of antiapoptoic proteins (mcl-1 and bcl-2) and growth factors, but not in bone marrow

Explaining trace-based learner profiles with self-reports:The added value of psychological networks

Background: Learner profiles detected from digital trace data are typically triangulated with survey data to explain those profiles based on learners' internal conditions (e.g., motivation). However, survey data are often analysed with limited consideration of the interconnected nature of learners' internal conditions. Objectives: Aiming to enable a thorough understanding of trace-based learner profiles, this paper presents and evaluates a comprehensive approach to analysis of learners' self-reports, which extends conventional statistical methods with psychological networks analysis. Methods: The study context is a massive open online course (MOOC) aimed at promoting physical activity (PA) for health. Learners' (N = 497) perceptions related to PA, as well as their self-efficacy and intentions to increase the level of PA were collected before and after the MOOC, while their interactions with the course were logged as digital traces. Learner profiles derived from trace data were further examined and interpreted through a combined use of conventional statistical methods and psychological networks analysis. Results and Conclusions: The inclusion of psychological networks in the analysis of learners' self-reports collected before the start of the MOOC offers better understanding of trace-based learner profiles, compared to the conventional statistical analysis only. Likewise, the combined use of conventional statistical methods and psychological networks in the analysis of learners' self-reports before and after the MOOC provided more comprehensive insights about changes in the constructs measured in each learner profile. Major Takeaways: The combined use of conventional statistical methods and psychological networks presented in this paper sets a path for a comprehensive analysis of survey data. The insights it offers complement the information about learner profiles derived from trace data, thus allowing for a more thorough understanding of learners' course engagement than any individual method or data source would allow.</p

Association between risk factors, basal viral load, virus genotype and the degree of liver fibrosis with the response to the therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

© 2015, Institut za Vojnomedicinske Naucne Informacije/Documentaciju. All rights reserved. Background/Aim. Hepatitis C is an important sociomedical problem worldwide due to frequent progression to chronic dis-ease, occurrence of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Standard pegylated interferon alfa 2a plus ribavirin therapy results in resolution of infection only in 50% of patients. The aim of this study was to determine the association of various factors with re-sponse to the therapy in patients with chronic heptitis C virus (HCV) infection. Age and sex of patients, inoculation risk factors, histopathological changes in the liver, viral load and HCV geno-type were analyzed. Methods. The study included a group of 121 patients with chronic HCV infection. The treatment was carried out 24 weeks for virus genotype 2 and 3, and 48 weeks for geno-type 1 and 4. The degree of histopathological changes in the liver was determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining, whereas polimerase chain reaction was used for HCV genotyping. Results. In the group of non-responding patients genotype 1 was repre-sented with 100%, while in the other groups, although predomi-nantly present, its percentage was lower. Unresponsiveness to therapy and relapse of disease were associated with higher viral load and advanced fibrosis. Intravenous use of psychoactive sub-stances, as a risk factor, was present in a high percentage in the group of patients with sustained response, while blood transfusion and dialysis were leading risk factors in the group of relapse re-sponders and non-responders. Conclusion. The results of our study showed that the treatment outcome of chronic HCV infec-tion was associated with baseline HCV ribonucleic acid, HCV genotype, route of infection and the degree of histopathological changes in the liver

COVID-19 effects on mental health of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities in North Kosovo

Background. People with intellectual disabilities (ID) are susceptible to physical, mental and social implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. Aim. Learning the way young individuals with disabilities dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic and how it affected their lives. Materials and Methods. An epidemiological questionnaire including information on the person’s health, mental state, behavior, educational capabilities, and epidemiological and clinical features of the COVID-19 infection was completed by 41 children/young adults and their family members. Results. During the two-year period of the pandemic, we monitored the frequency of COVID-19 infection in children and adolescents with intellectual disorders, children’s mental condition, and the occurrence of post-COVID symptoms. We also discussed the role of society regarding economic stability and support for families with a disabled member. Conclusions. The severity of COVID-19 symptoms was the independent predictor of mental status deterioration. Children and adolescents with ID experienced a greater prevalence of COVID-19 infection as well as post-COVID sequelae

Ligustrum vulgare leaves and fruit extracts induce apoptosis of human leukemia cells

Background and purpose: Cytotoxic effects of Ligustrum vulgare leaves on HeLa cervical tumor cells suggested that Ligustrum vulgare extracts should be investigated as potential anticancer agents. Therefore, we examined a potential antileukemic activity of methanolic extracts of Ligustrum vulgare leaves and fruit extracts on two types of leukemia cells, MOLT-4 and JVM-13, lymphocytes isolated from the blood of 33 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients and on mononuclear leukocytes isolated from the blood of 18 healthy individuals.Material and methods: The cytotoxicity of examined extracts was measured by MTT assay and LDH activity test. The antiapoptotic potential of tested extracts was measured by Annexin V/7AAD flowcytometric assay.Results: The results showed that both extracts exhibited a moderate cytotoxic effect on all three types of leukemia cells. The Ligustrum vulgare leaf extract was the most effective on MOLT-4 cells, the fruit extract on JVM-13 cells and both extracts were equally effective on CLL cells. In addition, none of the tested extracts was toxic to healthy mononuclear cells. Both extracts acted by inducing apoptosis of leukemic cells.Conclusion: Ligustrum vulgare extracts exhibit significant antileukemic potential and should be further investigated

Makroporozni kopolimer na bazi glicidilmetakrilata funkcionalizovan sa dietilentriaminom kao sorbent tekstilne boje Reactive Black 5

In this paper, macroporous glycidyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate copolymer functionalized with diethylene triamine (PGME-deta), was evaluated as Reactive Black 5 (RB5) sorbent. Batch RB5 removal from aqueous solution by PGME-deta was investigated by varying pH, contact time, sorbent dosage, initial dye concentration and temperature. The sorption is pH sensitive having maximum at pH 2 (dye removal of 85%), decreasing with the increase of pH (dye removal of 24% at pH 11) after 60 min. Sorption kinetics was fitted to chemical-reaction and particle-diffusion models (pseudo-first-, pseudo-second-order, intraparticle diffusion and Mckay models). The pseudo-second-order kinetic model accurately predicted the RB5 amount sorbed under all investigated operating conditions, while the intraparticle diffusion was the dominant rate-limiting mechanism. The diffusion mechanism was more prevalent with the decrease in temperature and the increase in concentration. The isotherm data was best fitted with the Langmuir model, indicating homogeneous distribution of active sites on PGME-deta and monolayer sorption, with the maximum sorption capacity of 353 mg g(-1). The calculated sorption rates improved with increasing temperature and an activation energy close to 40 kj mol(-1) was determined, suggesting that chemisorption was also rate-controlling.U okviru ovog rada ispitana je mogućnost korišćenja makroporoznog kopolimera glicidilmetakrilata i etilenglikoldimetakrilata funkcionalizovanog reakcijom otvaranja epoksidnih grupa sa dietilentriaminom (PGME-deta) kao sorbenta reaktivne tekstilne boje Reactive Black 5 (RB5). U šaržnim uslovima je ispitano uklanjanje RB5 iz vodenog rastvora pomoću PGME-deta, variranjem pH, vremena kontakta, mase sorbenta, početne koncentracije boje i temperature. PGME-deta je pokazao afinitet za sorpciju RB5 zbog prisustva protonovanih amino grupa koje privlače anjonske sulfonatne grupe u molekulu boje i mogućnosti stvaranja vodoničnih veza između sorbenta i sorbata. Kinetika sorpcije je analizirana pomoću četiri kinetička modela (pseudo-prvog, pseudo-drugog reda, unutarčestične difuzije i Mekej) da bi se odredilo koji model najbolje opisuje sorpciju RB5. Zapažen je izrazit uticaj pH vrednosti na sorpciju RB5, sa maksimumom na pH 2 (pri čemu je efikasnost uklanjanja boje 85%), i smanjenjem količine sorbovane boje sa povećanjem pH (količina uklonjene boje na pH 11 posle 60 min iznosi samo 24%). Izučavanjem kinetike sorpcije pokazalo se da sorpcija RB5 pomoću PGME-deta sledi kinetički model pseudo-drugog reda (PSO), sugerišući da je brzina sorpcije kontrolisana kapacitetom sorbenta i koncentracijom sorbata. Mehanizam procesa dominantno čini unutarčestična difuzija, uz manji uticaj difuzije kroz film. Ovi mehanizmi difuzije su izraženiji pri nižim temperaturama i većim koncentracijama. Langmirov model najbolje opisuje ravnotežnu izotermu, ukazujući na homogenu raspodelu aktivnih mesta na površini PGME-deta i monoslojnu sorpciju. Maksimalni sorpcioni kapacitet izračunat iz Langmirove izoterme iznosi 353 mg g-1. Zapaženo je da se brzina sorpcije povećava sa povećanjem temperature. Izračunata vrednost aktivacione energije od oko 40 kJ mol-1 potvrđuje da se radi o procesu koji dominantno kontroliše hemisorpcija

DEFICIT IRRIGATION TECHNIQUE FOR REDUCING WATER USE OF TOMATO UNDER POLYTUNNEL CONDITIONS

The aim of paper was to asses the use of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) for production of two tomato cultivars (Cedrico and Abellus) in polytunnels in Serbia. RDI plants received 60% of the water that was applied to FI plants and significant saving of water for irrigation and increased in irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) were achieved. Yield data for Cedrico cultivar showed no differences between RDI and FI, while due to the bigger sensitivity to drought, yield of Abellus was reduced under RDI. In general, fruit quality (soluble solids, titrable acidity) was sustained or improved in both cultivars under RDI. Economic analyses showed that due to the current low prices of water and electricity in Serbia, the profit increase of Cedrico, similarly to the previously trialed cultivar Amati, was not high under RDI comparing to FI. Reduction of yield and consequent profit for Abellus, indicated that for future commercial growing of tomato under RDI should be used drought resistant cultivars

WP4 ‐ Modernization of teaching contents 4.1. Need analysis for knowledge refreshment

This brochure is a result of the TEMPUS project “Building Capacity of Serbian Agricultural Education to Link with Society” (CaSA) 544072-TEMPUS-1-2013-1-RS-TEMPUS-SMHES (2013-4604/001-001). Daniela Šćepanović and Steve Quarrie were responsible for questionnaire construction, assisted by Slavica Čolić. Analysis of questionnaires was coordinated by Daniela Šćepanović, as well as final preparation and presentation of the results. For final document preparation, all CaSA Steering Committee members gave valuable contribution. For brochure final preparation Daniela Šćepanović, Vesna Poleksić and Goran Topisirović were in charge.TEMPUS Project: Building Capacity of Serbian Agricultural Education to Link with Society (CaSA) 544072-TEMPUS-1-2013-1-RS-TEMPUS-SMHES (2013 – 4604 / 001 - 001) Coordinator: University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agricultur