Correlation between Fitness and Fatness in 6-14-year Old Serbian School Children

Lack of physical activity and/or physical fitness are some reasons epidemiologists suggest for increase in childhood obesity in the last 20 years, with clear correlation between body composition and physical activity and/or physical fitness yet to be determined. The objectives of the study were to (a) investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Serbian school children and (b) determine the relationship between indicators of physical activity and body fatness in Serbian school children aged 6-14 years. The study subjects included a representative sample of Serbian elementary school children (n=1, 121—754 boys and 367 girls—aged 6.2-14.1 years), all of whom were recruited in the OLIMP (Obesity and Physical Activity among Serbian School Children) study. Anthropometric and physical fitness values, including body mass index (BMI), waist-circumference, body-fat, and aerobic capacity, were measured in all the children. Significant differences were found between male and female children regarding the prevalence of obesity (6.8% vs 8.2%, p<0.05, boys and girls respectively). Boys had significantly lower body mass, BMI, waist-circumference, sum of six skinfolds, and body-fat compared to their female counterparts (p<0.05). The highest level of weight, BMI, body-fat, and waist-circumference observed in a 14-year old girl (96.3 kg, 40.5 kg/m2, 54.5%, 91.4 cm respectively) implies the existence of extreme obesity in Serbian school children. The negative relationship between body-fat and maximal oxygen (VO2max) uptake was moderately high (r=-0.76; p<0.05). The study has shown a high prevalence of adiposity among Serbian school children, with a strong negative relationship between aerobic fitness and body fatness. Data of the study emphasize the necessity to identify children with weight problems and to develop early interventions to improve physical activity in children and prevent the increase of childhood obesity

Association between atherosclerosis and osteoporosis, the role of vitamin D

The latest data support the correlation of atherosclerosis and osteoporosis, indicating the parallel progression of two tissue destruction processes with increased fatal and non-fatal coronary events, as well as higher fracture risk. Vitamin D inadequacy associated with low bone mineral density increases fall and fracture risk, leads to secondary hyperparathyroidism, calcifies coronary arteries and significantly increases cardiovascular disease. Randomized clinical trial evidence related to extraskeletal vitamin D outcomes was limited and generally uninformative. A recent recommendation on vitamin D dietary requirements for bone health is 600 IU/d for ages 1-70 years and 800 IU/d for 71 years and older, corresponding to a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of at least 20 ng/ml (50 nmol/l). Further large randomized controlled trials are needed to reassess laboratory ranges for 25-hydroxyvitamin D in both diseases, in order to avoid under- and over-treatment problems, and completely clarify the relationship between atherosclerosis and osteoporosis

Penile Curvature Incidence in Hypospadias: Can It Be Determined?

The aim was to retrospectively determine the real incidence of congenital penile curvature in various forms of hypospadias, in order to indicate intraoperative assessment and correction of curvature. We analyzed 842 patients with hypospadias who underwent surgery from 2003 to 2010, classified into two groups. First group was intraoperatively checked for curvature as a routine procedure, while a curvature in the second group was assessed mostly in severe hypospadias. Results are analyzed using Fisher's and chi-square tests. In total, 238 cases (28.3%) of associated curvature were confirmed. Curvature was significantly more frequent in the first group, regarding hypospadias in general (P<0.01), as well as distal (P<0.05) and midshaft forms (P<0.01). Penile curvature is common figure in hypospadias, including distal types. Intraoperative testing for associated curvature should be considered as a routine procedure in hypospadias repair

Morfološki deformiteti usnog aparata roda chironomus (diptera: chironomidae) izazvani teškim metalima

U slatkovodnim ekosistemima larve Chironomidae su izložene svim prisutnim toksičnim materijama u vodi i sedimentu i kao takve mogu se koristiti kao idealni biotest organizmi. Kod larvi hironomida često se razvijaju deformacije usnih delova, posebno mentuma, za koje se pretpostavlja da su uglavnom prouzrokovani neorganskim hemikalijama. Kod gajenih hironomida (Chironomus) na sedimentu iz šaranskog ribnjaka utvrđen je stepen i tip deformiteta u zavisnosti od koncentracije i tipa teških metala. Larve Chironomus-a (prikupljene iz Jelenačkog potoka) bile su izložene olovo (II) acetat-3 hidratu i bakar (II) sulfat-pentahidratu u koncentracijama 30, 120 i 200 µg/g suve mase sedimenta. Za procenu stepena deformiteta korišćen je indeks toksičnosti TSI po Lenatu. Kod larvi Chironomus-a, izloženih olovu primećen je porast učestalosti deformiteta sa povećanjem koncentracija i to najčešće deformitet medijalno-lateralnih zuba, koji su kraći, i nedostatak zuba. Larve Chironomus-a izložene bakru pokazuju pad stope deformiteta od najniže ka najvišoj koncentarciji, a najčešći tipovi deformiteta su kraći i podeljeni medijalni zubi i kraći medijalno-lateralni zubi

LOGISTICS OF ELECTRIC DRIVE MOTOR VEHICLES RECYCLING

Increase in number of transport vehicles, especially motor vehicles, has negative impact on environment. It refers to air pollution problem due to usage (combustion) of fossil fuels in motor vehicles. Agriculture activities, factories, industry and many other activities additionally contributes to air pollution. Greenhouse gas emission is main cause of global warming and air pollution, and mainly occurs due to industry and transport. In many countries, the adoption of legislation gives priority to the use of electric vehicles due to lower emissions compared to conventionally powered vehicles (diesel or gasoline engines). In this way, goals have been set in the European Union and regulations have been passed which, among other things, require a certain percentage of motor vehicle recycling at the end of their service life. The Directive 2000/53/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council regulates waste management in the vehicle sector. Due to the increased number of electric vehicles, which participate in the transport of goods and people, the paper partially analyzes the problem related to the adaptation of existing recycling centers (for classic vehicles), for the needs of recycling electric vehicles and their specific parts and equipment (such as magnets and electric motors)

Tachyon constant-roll inflation in Randall-Sundrum II cosmology

We study inflation in a model with constant second slow-roll parameter $\eta$. In this case, the Hubble expansion rate equation has analytical solutions describing four possible, nontrivial inflation scenarios. The evolution of the inflaton governed by a tachyon field is studied in the framework of the standard and Randall-Sundrum II cosmology. The attractor behavior of the solution is briefly demonstrated. Finally, the calculated values of the parameters $n_{\rm s}$ and $r$ are compared with observational data