An importance-performance analysis of destination competitiveness factors: case of Jablanica district in Serbia

The principal aim of this paper was to explore destination competitiveness factors of Jablanica District (Serbia), by examining the attitudes of tourists. For research purposes, 32 attributes of destination competitiveness were rated with two parallel five-point Likert type scales – one by which tourists rated the importance of the attribute and the other by which they expressed their satisfaction with the same. A total of 378 validly completed questionnaires were collected and served as a basis for data analysis. By using a factor analysis, the most important destination competitiveness factors were extracted. Based on this factor solution, Importance-Performance Analysis (I.P.A.) was performed. Using I.P.A., this article examines the efficiency of the resources allocation based on isolated factors, and the possibility of creating management strategies to improve the competitiveness of this destination. The results of this study indicate that the factors of food and environment are of primary importance for tourists when choosing this tourism destination. Research results will be of great importance for tourism managers in the destination, as well as for authorities of local governments in the district, to better understand strengths and weaknesses of identified competitiveness factors and utilise them as a starting point for tourism development

Kinetic modelling of ultrasound-assisted extraction of phenolics from cereal brans

peer-reviewedCereal brans are by‐products of the milling of cereal grains, which are mainly used as low value ingredients in animal feed. Wheat and oat bran is a rich source of bioactives and phytochemicals, especially phenolic compounds. Within this study, the application of ultrasound (US) technology to assist the extraction of phenolics from oat and wheat bran was investigated (20–45 kHz). Peleg’s mathematical model was used to study the kinetics of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and subsequent stirring of total phenolic compounds (TPC). The surface morphology of cereal brans after extraction was studied using SEM analysis. The excellent agreement was determined between the values of TPC calculated from Peleg’s mathematical model and actual experimental results. The constant that represents a time required for the initial phenolic concentration to be extracted to one-half of its initial value has been introduced (K1/2). It was shown that the TPC extraction kinetics was dependent only on K1/2 enabling fast kinetics fitting and comparison between extraction rates. Moreover, different values of K1/2 constant could indicate the differences in brans composition and consequently different influence of US pretreatment on these samples

Evaluation of gallbladder motility in patients following total gastrectomy (Roux-en-Y) by infusion cholescintigraphy

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to evaluate gallbladder (GB) motor function, by infusion cholescintigraphy, in patients after total gastrectomy (Roux-en-Y) with expected disturbances in the physiological regulation of biliary tract motility. METHODS: The study was done in 10 controls, as well as in 12 patients early (less than 2 months) and in 14 late (6 months-2 years) after surgery. Anterior abdominal imaging by gamma camera and computer acquisition was performed during three-hours infusion of 150 MBq, preceded by the loading dose of 50 MBq of 99mTc-EHIDA in bolus injection. The test meal stimulation was done in the 120th min of the study. GB TA curve was obtained and five parameters of GB motility were analysed: durations of filling (ascending) and emptying (descending) phases, filling and emptying rate ratio and ejection fraction and rate. RESULTS: Our results have shown that in the early period after the operation GB filling is prolonged and emptying impaired, while after several months GB motor function is normalised. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that the infusion cholescintigraphy is potentially useful in patients after such surgery to decide on the specific treatment introduction in order to prevent GB calculosis and other complications

Nova formulacija ulja karanfilića (Syzygium aromaticum L.) u kontroli brojnosti krompirovog moljca (Phthorimaea operculella)

tehničko rešenj

Nova formulacija ulja karanfilića (Syzygium aromaticum L.) u kontroli brojnosti krompirovog moljca (Phthorimaea operculella)

U okviru ove studije, prvi je put u svetu uspešno sintetizovana nova stabilna i homogena EC formulacije ulja karanfilića (S. aromaticum) zasnovana na biopolimerima kao što je zeolit. Nova formulacija ulja karanfilića (F-CSZ) prema fizičkim svojstvima ispunjava kriterijume za EC formulaciju u obliku kojem je sintetizovana. Novoformulisano, inkapsulirano ulje karanfilića obezbeđuje ekološki prihvatljivu zamenu sintetičkim pesticidima u kontroli štetočina na osnovu ispoljavanja visoke biološke efikasnosti u kontroli brojnosti imaga krompirovog moljca ali i bezbeđivanjem produžene efikasnosti ulja do 14 dana u odnosu na čisto etarsko ulje karanfilića koje je izgubilo insekticidnu aktivnost nakon 24 h od tretmana. Nova formulacija ulja karanfilića (F-CSZ) je ispoljila visoku efikasnost u suzbijanju imaga krompirovog moljca, a da pri tome nije uticala na kvalitet krompira te se može komercijalno koristiti kao fumigant ili zaštitni premaz za suzbijanje štetočina u skladištu, a samim tim i za smanjenje gubitaka tokom skladištenja i čuvanja proizvoda

Influence of Modification on the Textural Properties of the Natural Zeolite and Its Efficiency for the Heavy Metals Ions Removal from Contaminated Aqueous Solution

The influence of modification on the textural properties of the natural zeolite (NZ) and its efficiency for the heavy metals ions removal from contaminated aqueous solution was investigated. The mineralogical composition of the NZ showed that the dominant mineral is clinoptilolite. The surface of the NZ was modified combining the methods for pure goethite and iron-coated zeolite preparations. After modification, the cation exchange capacities and the specific surface area increased from 30.2 to 52.5 m2/g, i.e., from 141 to 165 meq/100g, respectively. Adsorption experiments were done for different heavy metals initial concentrations (copper(II) 0.8 - 12.6 Cu2+mmol/dm3 or lead(II) 1.9 – 29.0 Pb2+mmol/dm3), for 24h, at pH 4.2, in batch conditions. Results showed positive influence of modification on the heavy metals ions removal. The results were fitted with Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models, and the best fits were obtained with Freundlich model (R2 > 0.92).Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems ((LNNS,volume 926)

Comparison, artificial neural network modeling and genetic algorithm optimization of the resinoid and potassium yields from white lady’s bedstraw (Galium mollugo L.) by conventional, reflux and ultrasound-assisted aqueous-ethanolic extraction

In this work, the yields of resinoid and potassium obtained from aerial parts of white lady’s bedstraw (Galium mollugo L.) by maceration, reflux extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction using aqueous ethanol solutions as solvents. The main goal was to define the influence of the extraction technique and the ethanol concentration on the resinoid and potassium yields. The resinoid and potassium yields were determined by the solvent evaporation from the liquid extracts to constant weight and the AAS emission method, respectively. The dependence of resinoid and potassium yields on the ethanol concentration was described by linear and quadratic polynomial models, respectively. The best potassium extraction selectivity of 0.077 g K/g of dry extract was achieved by maceration at the ethanol concentrations of 10 g/100 g. The artificial neural network (ANN) was successfully applied to estimate the resinoid and potassium yields based on the ethanol concentration in the extracting solvent and the time duration for all three extraction techniques employed. The response surface methodology was also used to present the dependence of ANN results on the operating factors. The extraction process was optimized using the ANN model coupled with genetic algorithm. The maximum predicted resinoid and potassium yields of 30.4 and 1.67 g/100 g of dry plant were obtained by the ultrasonic extraction (80 min) using the 10 g/100 g aqueous ethanol solution

Effects of beta-blocker therapy on hs-CRP levels in elderly patients with ischemic and non-ischemic heart failure: results from the CIBIS-ELD trail

Congress of the European-Society-of-Cardiology (ESC), Aug 29-Sep 02, 2015, London, Englan