Line Patterns in Free Groups

We study line patterns in a free group by considering the topology of the decomposition space, a quotient of the boundary at infinity of the free group related to the line pattern. We show that the group of quasi-isometries preserving a line pattern in a free group acts by isometries on a related space if and only if there are no cut pairs in the decomposition space.Comment: 35 pages, 22 figures, PDFLatex; v2. finite index requires extra hypothesis; v3. 37 pages, 24 figures: updated references and add example in Section 6.3 of a rigid pattern for which the free group is not finite index in the group of pattern preserving quasi-isometries; v4. 40 pages, 26 figures: improved exposition and add example in Section 6.4 of a rigid pattern whose cube complex is not a tre

THE INFLUENCE OF AEROBIC TRAINING ON THE BIOCHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PARAMETERS OF OBESE WOMEN

The study was conducted on a sample of 23 working age female subjects of average age 38. 3 ± 4.45 years from Pancevo classified by body mass index (BMI≥25 kg/m2). Their blood and body composition was measured during the initial and final measuring. The experimental factor involved directed low intensity aerobic training for a period of eight weeks. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the transformation process and relation of biochemical parameters at the initial and final body composition variables assessment measuring. The research results obtained by Paired-Samples T test revealed statistically significant differences in the following variables: Body Weight, Body Fat Mass, BMI, Body Fat Percent, Visceral Fat, Blood Glucose, LDL and HDLD in favor of final measuring. Regression analysis showed that the system of biochemical parameters determine BMI in a small extent, Visceral Fat and Body Fat Mass (from 16% to 30% at the initial measuring and from 18% to 32.8% at the final measuring) and that the predictor system was significantly associated in neither of the cases. Biochemical parameters for the most part were associated with nutritional status at the final measuring, while this percentage was lowest in the Visceral Fat criteria at the initial measuring. On the final measuring the share of biochemical parameters the Body Fat Mass was reduced, while BMI and Visceral Fat had been slightly increased. The authors recommend moderate intensity training as an effective way to improve the physical and biochemical parameters of the health preservation of and weight reduction

Dependence of Macrophage Phagocytic Efficacy on Antibody Concentration

Macrophages ingest the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans only in the presence of opsonins, and this provides a remarkably clean system for the detailed analysis of phagocytosis. This system is also unusual in that antibody-mediated phagocytosis involves ingestion through both Fc and complement receptors in the absence of complement. Mathematical modeling was used to analyze and explain the experimental data that the macrophage phagocytic index increased with increasing doses of antibody despite saturating concentrations and declined at high concentrations. A model was developed that explains the increase in phagocytic index with increasing antibody doses, differentiates among the contributions from Fc and complement receptors, and provides a tool for estimating antibody concentrations that optimize efficacy of phagocytosis. Experimental results and model calculations revealed that blocking of Fc receptors by excess antibody caused a reduction in phagocytic index but increased phagocytosis through complement receptors rapidly compensated for this effect. At high antibody concentrations, a further reduction in phagocytic index was caused by interference with complement receptor ingestion as a consequence of saturation of the fungal capsule. The ability of our model to predict the antibody dose dependence of the macrophage phagocytic efficacy for C. neoformans strongly suggest that the major variables that determine the efficacy of this process have been identified. The model predicts that the affinity constant of the opsonic antibody for the Fc receptor and the association-dissociation constant of antibody from the microbial antigen are critical parameters determining the efficacy of phagocytosis

The need to prepare future teachers for inclusive education of Roma children

Cilj ovoga rada jeste da se ukaže na značaj stavova prema učenicima romske nacionalne manjine sa kojim studenti budući učitelji ulaze u inicijalno profesionalno obrazovanje, a u kontekstu inkluzivnog obrazovanja definisanog kao kvalitetno obrazovanje za sve. Dat je pregled nalaza jednog broja istraživanja stavova studenata budućih učitelja, sa posebnim akcentom na podatke dobijene u istraživanju stavova studenata prve godine pedagoških fakulteta u Srbiji i Sloveniji, realizovanog 2009­2013. godine, koje je pokazalo da jedan broj anketiranih studenata ulazi u profesionalno obrazovanje sa predrasudama o uzrocima školskog neuspeha romskih učenika, socijalnom distancom prema romskim porodicama i neprihvatanjem pune odgovornosti za inkluziju romskih učenika. Implikacije nalaza ovog i drugih istraživanja ukazuju na potrebu temeljnije pripreme budućih učitelja za rad sa decom koja dolaze iz marginalizovanih i sociokulturno depriviranih sredina. Unapređivanju postojećeg stanja mogu da doprinesu izmene i dopune programa inicijalnog obrazovanja učitelja u domenu sticanja kompetencija za inkluzivno obrazovanje. Jedna od mogućnosti efikasne pripreme studenata za obrazovnu inkluziju romskih učenika odnosi se način realizacije profesionale prakse i kros-kurikularnu raspoređenost sadržaja o inkluzivnom obrazovanju.The aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of attitudes towards Roma pupils with whom students, future teachers, enter into initial professional education, and in the context of inclusive education defined as a quality education for all. An overview of the findings of a number of students future teachers' attitudes is given here, with special emphasis on the data obtained in the study of attitudes of first year students of pedagogical faculties in Serbia and Slovenia, implemented from 2009 to 2013. year, which showed that a number of the surveyed students was entering the professional education with prejudice about the causes of school failure of Roma pupils, a social distance towards the Roma families and with not accepting a full responsibility for the inclusion of Roma pupils. The implications of the findings of this and other research suggest a need for thorough preparation of future teachers to work with children who come from disadvantaged socio-cultural and deprived communities. Changes and additions to the program of initial teacher education in the field of competencies for inclusive education, may contribute to the improvement of the existing conditions. One of the possibilities for effective preparation of students for educational inclusion of Roma pupils refers to the way of realization of professional practice and cross-curricular content on inclusive education distribution

The cultural responsiveness of teacher candidates towards Roma pupils in Serbia and Slovenia - case studies

In many countries, there is a growing need for teacher awareness and sensitivity to cultural differences, what is often called culturally responsive teaching. This is why teacher education institutions are making significant efforts to require student teachers to enrol in courses that focus on understanding, tolerance and acceptance of differences in others. Determining beliefs of student teachers towards the diversity of pupils at the onset of their studies is critical for providing teacher education that more efficiently challenges implicit beliefs and biases. The main objective in this paper is therefore to determine the initial beliefs of student teachers concerning the Roma population, Europe's largest ethnic minority. Research was conducted at the Faculty of Education at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia and the Teacher Training Faculty at the University of Belgrade in Serbia. The results of the study suggest that most student teachers are in favour of schooling Roma pupils in regular schools; however, most of them would not like to have them in their classes. Most student teachers are aware of the discrimination against Roma pupils in schools; however, they are not ready to engage in closer interactions with Roma families. The implications of these findings for teacher education programmes are subsequently discussed