Purification of waters and elimination of organochloric insecticides by means of active coal

Pollution of water and the determination of the degree of its pollution with numerous physical, chemical and biological polluters have become general, ever increasing social and health related problems. Within this study, the concentrations of some most frequently used organochloric insecticides (OCI): a-hexachlorocyclohexane (a-HCH), γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane), heptachlor, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, dichlorodiphenyl trichlorethane (DDT) were investigated. OCI are highly toxic substances for the human population and their effective elimination from the environment is of paramount interest. To determine the OCI concentration in water samples, the EPA–608 method and the liquid–liquid extraction principle were applied. A procedure for OCI elimination was realized by passing the water over four columns filled with various active coals: KRF, K-81/B, NORIT ROW-0.8 and AQUA SORB CS. These active coals are carbonized coconut shells activated by different procedures. The obtained results indicated that best purification of potable and waste water achieved using a column with Norit Row-0.8 filling. Research proved that small quantities of OCI can also be effectively removed using a Norit Row-0.8 active coal filled column, without altering the organoleptic properties of the water, which meets the requirements of water purification processes

Morphological characteristics of alfalfa genotypes tolerant to low soil ph

In total 76 varieties of alfalfa were collected and sown and 41 alfalfa genotypes showed tolerances to lower soil pH. The selected alfalfa genotypes are then sown in a test field on the soil that belongs to the type of brown soil on the gravel or the cambisol with the soil pH from 5.33 to 5.64. After 5 years, 10 genotypes were selected based on the agronomic properties and the experiment was set up on the soil with the pH from 5.0 to 5.1 in H2O. The following genotypes were used for these tests: G-2, G-11, G-19, G-34, G-39, G-44, G-48, G-51, G-53 and G-100. The following properties were observed: plant height (cm), number of stems per plant, stem thickness (mm), number of internodes per stem, leaf/stem ratio (%), yield of biomass in the I cut (g plant(-1)). During these tests, the highest degree of tolerance towards the lower soil pH was shown by the genotype G-44. Good results were achieved with alfalfa genotypes G-11 and G-48 where the percentage of survivors was over 80%. The highest average plant height during the three-year study (36.9 cm) was recorded in the genotype G-100. The high and stable yield of dry mass per plant have genotypes G-44 and G-19 and they are grouped in group I and are desirable for further breeding. Genotype and year have statistically significant and highly significant influence on the tested parameters, while the significance of the interaction of the genotype x year was determined only for the thickness of the stem

Uloga pušenja i uzimanja alkoholnih pića u razvoju i ponavljanju plućne tuberkuloze

During a two-year period (2001-2003), 464 patients were treated for tuberculosis at Jordanovac Department for Lung Diseases in Croatia. Besides pulmonary tuberculosis in 97.7% of patients, patients were also treated for tuberculous pleurisy (0.9%), tuberculous laryngitis (0.6%), tuberculous meningitis (0.2%), tuberculous pericarditis (0.2%) and urogenital tuberculosis (0.4%). Out of the total number of patients, 57.3% declared themselves to be active smokers (men were predominant and made up to 80.8%) and 20.9% to be active alcohol consumers. Both risk factors, i.e. smoking and alcohol consumption, were present in 15.1% of all patients. The most common comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (30.4%), cardiac diseases (11.2%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (8.0%). Lung carcinoma was the most common malignant disease (n=51), with Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated in 33% of them. Seventy-two of 464 (15.5%) patients had recurrences of tuberculosis. Of these, 30.5% had one of the risk factors (20.8% were smokers and 9.7% consumed alcohol), while 32.5% of patients had both risk factors. In conclusion, cigarette smoking was proved to be the most significant risk factor for development of pulmonary tuberculosis and its recurrence.Tijekom dvije godine (2001.-2003.) u Klinici za plućne bolesti “Jordanovac”, Zagreb, Hrvatska, od tuberkuloze je liječeno 464 bolesnika. Osim najčešće plućne tuberkuloze u 97,7% bolesnika, oboljeli su liječeni i od eksudativnog tuberkuloznog pleuritisa (0,9%), laringealne tuberkuloze (0,6%), tuberkuloznog meningitisa (0,2%), perikardijalne tuberkuloze (0,2%) te tuberkuloze koja je zahvatila urogenitalni sustav (0,4%). Od ukupnog broja bolesnika 57,3% ih se izjasnilo kao aktivni pušači (muškarci 80,8%), dok je 20,9% deklarirano kao aktivni konzumenti alkohola. Ukupno je 15,1% bolesnika imalo oba rizična čimbenika u anamnezi, tj. i aktivno pušenje cigareta i konzumaciju alkohola. Od komorbiditeta najčešća je bila šećerna bolest u 30,4% bolesnika, od srčanih bolesti bolovalo je 11,2% bolesnika, dok je kronična opstruktivna plućna bolest bila prisutna u 8% bolesnika. Karcinom pluća bio je najčešće zastupljen među malignim bolestima. Od ukupnog broja oboljelih od karcinoma pluća (51 bolesnik), Mycobacterium tuberculosis izolirali smo u 33% bolesnika. Recidivi tuberkuloze su zabilježeni u 72 (15,5%) bolesnika. Jedan rizični čimbenik imalo je 30,5% bolesnika: pušača je bilo 20,8%, dok je alkohol konzumiralo 9,7% bolesnika, a 32,5% bolesnika imali su oba rizična čimbenika. Zaključno, pušenje cigareta pokazalo se kao najznačajniji rizični čimbenik za razvoj plućne tuberkuloze, kao i za pojavu recidiva tuberkuloze

SMOKING BEHAVIORS AND LUNG CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY: A COHORT STUDY

Background: Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world. According to the latest available data, in the year 2012 Croatia was among 20 countries with the highest incidence of lung cancer. Although tobacco smoking is a proven cause of lung cancer, recent data show that more than one quarter of adult inhabitants of Croatia are everyday smokers. The purpose of this study was to present epidemiology and treatment modalities of lung cancer in the Department for mediastinal tumors, Clinic for lung diseases Jordanovac, and to make a comparison between the available data from Croatia and the rest of the world. Subjects and methods: The study cohort included 212 newly diagnosed lung cancer patients who had referred to our Department from January 2012 until December 2012. Features such as age, gender, cytology and histology of the tumor, stage at diagnosis and applied therapy were evaluated respectively. Results: Approximately two-thirds of all newly diagnosed lung cancers occurred in men. Out of the study cohort, 12.3% were diagnosed with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and 87.7% were diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The majority of the patients diagnosed with NSCLC had adenocarcinoma (47.9%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (33.9%) and large cell carcinoma (15%). Only a small number of patients diagnosed and treated for lung cancer in our Department had never smoked tobacco. The majority of those patients were women and the most common histological type found was adenocarcinoma. Conclusion: The number of patients who had potentially operable disease at presentation was around 10%. That is why, in most cases, therapeutic options were confined to palliative chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Attention should be directed to an early detection of lung cancer patients, which could provide better treatment options and improve overall survival

Obračun troškova po aktivnostima na primeru preduzeća koje se bavi sušenjem šljiva

This paper examines the possibility of application of the activity-based costing in a company engaged in drying fruit. Activity Based Costing (ABC) was developed due to the shortcomings of traditional cost accounting systems, which was shown to have serious limitations, on one hand, and due to the need for more accurate cost price, on the other. This is of great importance for business decision making, which requires quality data and information, because the intense technical and technological progress has significantly altered the environment companies operate in. Along with this fact, major changes in cost structure occurred, which reflected through the increase of the indirect cost portion, and decrease of direct labor and material costs. Traditional cost accounting methods allocate indirect production costs using keys which are no longer appropriate for the new circumstances, and therefore typically allocate unreasonably high amount of indirect costs to those products which are produced in larger series. ABC cost accounting system firstly allocates indirect costs to pre-defined activities, and afterwards carries them to cost and profit drivers. The application of ABC costing in Serbia is at the very beginning. Having in mind that the privatization and the restructuring phase in the economy is followed by the establishment of a new management with fresh ideas, this can be a good timing for companies to introduce modern approach and modern methods of cost accounting. ABC method is very convenient for application in service companies, food processing industry, confectionery companies, driers, sugar refineries, breweries, dairies, mills etc.U ovom radu je ispitivana mogućnost primene obračuna troškova po aktivnostima (Activity Based Costing - ABC) na hipotetičkom primeru preduzeća tj. sušare u okviru koje se proizvode dva gotova proizvoda, suva šljiva sa košticom i suva šljiva bez koštice. Cilj ovakvog istraživanja je bio da se pokažu razlike i nedostaci u izračunavanju cene koštanja finalnih proizvoda kod tradicionalnog metoda i metode obračuna troškova po aktivnostima. Pomoću ove metode, pored toga što je izračunata cena koštanja, izračunati su i ukupni indirektni troškovi, koji su za ovu metodu od izuzetnog značaja, jer se dešavaju velike promene u strukturi troškova, a to se pre svega ogleda kroz porast učešća indirektnih troškova i smanjenje troškova direktnog rada i materijala. Primena metode obračuna troškova po aktivnostima (ABC) u Srbiji je na samom početku, a faza restrukturiranja i privatizacije preduzeća je praćena uspostavljanjem nekog novog menadžmenta sa svežim idejama, pa je ovo dobar trenutak da preduzeća uvedu moderne pristupe i moderne metode obračuna troškova. ABC metoda je veoma pogodna za primenu u onim preduzećima koja se bave uslužnim delatnostima, u prehrambenoj industriji, tehnologiji konditorskih proizvoda, sušarama, pivarama, šećeranama, mlekarama, mlinovima i sl

Metastatic spread of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovaries into abdominal wall

Epithelial ovarian cancer belongs to the most common and most deadly of all types of ovarian carcinomas. Ovarian cancer affects women in the age group 65 years and older more frequently than younger women. Approximately 75% of cases will have spread beyond the ovaries at the time of diagnosis. Twenty-two year old patient was treated at the Institute of Oncology Sremska Kamenica, in the period from 1998 until 2000. In 1993, she underwent left salphingo-oopherectomy; histopathological finding was mucinous cystadenoma of the ovaries. In 1994, mucinous papillary cystadenoma with borderline malignancy confirmed by histopathological findings was found after abdominal hysterectomy with right salpingo-oopherectomy and total omentectomy. The patient was well until 1998 when she palpated a tumor mass in the front abdominal wall with pain in that region. Tumor was extirpated and final histopathological finding was mucinous adenocarcinoma in fibrous tissue. The patient received with chemotherapy (carboplatin and cyclophosphamide) and external-beam radiotherapy. Recurrence free survival rate was 20 months but in April 2000, patient came back with recurrence of the disease. It was the same spread into abdominal wall. Rectus abdominis muscle was resected and plastic surgery of abdominal wall was performed. After operation patient received second line chemotherapy according to the same protocol. However, during the treatment the disease spread into abdominal cavity and affected small intestine and liver

Procjene roditeljstva istospolnih parova u odnosu na roditeljstvo parova različitog spola: primjena vinjeta u složenom eksperimentalnom nacrtu među sveučilišnim studentima i studenticama heteroseksualne orijentacije

Despite the decline in prejudice towards LGBT people, the issue of parenthood is still controversial with negative attitudes towards LGBT parents being openly expressed. This study aimed to examine attitudes towards parenting by same-sex couples using a vignette design. Parenting condition (parent’s negative vs positive reaction), active parent’s gender (mother vs father) and family composition (different-sex vs same-sex couple) were varied to test differences in the evaluations of parenting, child behaviour, family environment, social distance and willingness to grant rights. 392 heterosexual and cisgender students from the University of Zagreb (87% female, 13% male), aged 18 to 37, participated in an online study. After reading one of the eight vignettes, participants evaluated parenting, child behaviour, family environment, social distance and rights of the family described in the vignette. The results showed that parenting and family environment were evaluated as better, and participants were less convinced that the child’s behaviour is the result of parents’ relationship in the positive parenting condition than in the negative. Social distance was lower towards parents in the positive parenting condition than in the negative and – unexpectedly – towards same-sex in comparison to different-sex couples. Participants were more inclined to grant family rights to parents from the positive than to those from the negative parenting condition. Although other results suggested unbiased attitudes towards same-sex couples’ parenting, participants were less inclined to grant same-sex couples family rights in comparison to different-sex couples. The findings reflect an important mechanism underlying the stability of prejudice – a resistance towards generalising attitudes from individual cases to a group. This can be used in efforts to confront prejudice against parenting among LGBT peopleUnatoč smanjenju predrasuda prema LGBT osobama, pitanje roditeljstva još je uvijek kontroverzno i negativni stavovi o LGBT roditeljima otvoreno se iznose. Cilj ove studije bio je istražiti stavove prema roditeljstvu istospolnih parova koristeći vinjete. Varirani su bili uvjet roditeljstva (negativna u odnosu na pozitivnu reakciju roditelja), spol aktivnog roditelja (majka u odnosu na oca) i struktura obitelji (istospolni u odnosu na parove različitog spola) kako bi se testirale razlike u procjenama roditeljstva, ponašanja djece, obiteljske klime, društvene distance i spremnosti na priznavanje prava. U internetskom anketnom istraživanju sudjelovalo je 392 studenta/ice Sveučilišta u Zagrebu (87% ženskog i 13% muškog spola) u dobi od 18 do 37 godina. Nakon čitanja jedne od osam vinjeta, sudionici/e su procjenjivali roditeljstvo, ponašanje djeteta, obiteljsku klimu, društvenu distancu i prava za članove/ice obitelji opisane u vinjeti. Roditeljstvo i obiteljska klima bili su bolje procijenjeni te su sudionici/e bili manje uvjereni da je dječje ponašanje rezultat roditeljskog odnosa u uvjetu pozitivne roditeljske reakcije u odnosu na negativnu. Društvena distanca bila je manja prema roditeljima u uvjetu pozitivne roditeljske reakcije u odnosu na negativnu i, neočekivano, prema istospolnim u odnosu na parove različitog spola. Sudionici/e su bili spremniji priznati prava vezana uz obitelj roditeljima u uvjetu pozitivne roditeljske reakcije u odnosu na negativnu. Iako drugi rezultati nisu pokazali negativnu pristranost prema roditeljstvu istospolnih parova, sudionici/e su bili manje skloni priznati im prava vezana uz obitelj u odnosu na parove različitog spola. Ti nalazi odražavaju važan mehanizam stabilnosti predrasuda – otpor prema generaliziranju stavova od individualnih slučajeva na skupinu i mogu se upotrijebiti pri suzbijanju predrasuda o roditeljstvu LGBT osoba

Acorn size influence on the quality of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) one-year old seedlings

Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) is one of the most important deciduous tree species in the Serbian and European forests. Different negative factors limit natural regeneration of pedunculate oak forests, so producing of high quality seedlings becomes imperative to ensure successful forest restoration. This research was conducted with to aim to determine whether acorn size is related to seedlings quality. Acorns were collected from the natural pedunculate oak forest and divided into two groups by their size. Acorns were sown in the spring into plastic containers after five months cold storage. Size of acorns was in the standard species range, though germination was low (< 20 %). Germination was more then double in group of large acorns in comparison to group of smaller acorns (19.2 %, respectively 8.6 %). Height and root collar diameter of produced seedlings were lower than seedlings produced in seedbeds in commercial nurseries in Serbia, but it was in range of container produced seedlings in some similar researches. Height to root collar diameter ratio and shoot to root ratio were considered as satisfactory for containerized seedlings. There was not strong correlation between acorn size and seedlings quality attributes

ORGANOCHLORINE INSECTICIDES IN DRINKING WATER IN THE CITY OF KRALJEVO

Organochlorine insecticides (OCI) belong to the group of chlorinated hydrocarbons with wide, but often uncontrolled, application in agricultural production. The consequence of this is that OCI and their residues are found in numerous samples ecosphere. Contamination of aquatic environments is particularly emphasized. Although OCI are toxic substance for wildlife, especially for human, a large part of the population is daily exposed to their activities in small quantities. OCI presence in drinking water is generally below the maximum allowable concentrations, whereas repeated doses can cause chronic toxic effects. For these reasons, it is necessary to continuously monitor the concentration of OCI in drinking water and perform its purification in order to obtain water with the lowest possible concentration. This work included the analysis of individual OCI concentration in drinking water, the city of Kraljevo. Certain individual concentration for seven OCI: alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH), gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane), heptachlor, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT). OCI were treated according to the appropriate EPA-608 method, liquid-liquid extraction, and then detected by gas chromatography method with appropriate columns. From the measured concentrations for individual OCI significantly increase heptachlor, which is almost four times, and aldrin, two times higher compared to the value of the said Ordinance MAC. Measured concentrations of dieldrin is at the upper limit value of the MAC. About a measured concentration of endrin could not be discussed because it is not regulated by the Ordinance value MAC.Overall, cumulative concentration OCI water pumping station with 0.294 µg/l, which is in line with the maximum permissible concentration of 0.5 µg/l according to the Regulations on the hygienic safety of drinking water. Given that this paper analyzed only seven organochlorine insecticides, it is the value of aggregate concentration unexpectedly high (over 50%). The results presented OCI in drinking water, especially measured increased concentrations of aldrin and heptachlor, indicate the processes of chemical contamination. For these reasons it is necessary to continuously check the concentration of total and individual OCI in drinking water and take effective measures purification

Public Risk Perspectives Regarding the Threat of Terrorism in Belgrade: Implications for Risk Management Decision-Making for Individuals, Communities and Public Authorities

The aim of this paper is to assess the risk of terrorist attacks as perceived by individuals, the local community as a whole, and municipal public safety officials in Belgrade, the capital of the Republic of Serbia. The structured questionnaire about perceived risk of terrorist attacks and preparedness was developed using close-ended, multiple choice questions and questionnaire items featuring 5-point Likert response options. Data were collected between June and September 2017 by a telephone survey using a random digit dialing procedure; 485 adult Serbian residents participated in the research voluntarily. Study participants exhibited low levels of perception vis-a-vis the future likelihood of terrorist attacks occurring in their communities, and only a moderate knowledge of counter-terrorism activities currently being undertaken by public safety authorities. Other responses to our questionnaire indicated statistically significant differences in perception of the risks of terrorism threats in Belgrade with respect to demographic variables such as age, gender, employment and past exposure to major emergencies. We encourage emergency management agencies in Serbia to use the differences in public perception of risks identified in our study to develop enhanced counter-terrorism preparedness measures through the promotion of behavioural change. Such action goes hand-in-hand with the adoption of improved risk management decision-making procedures. Furthermore, to improve risk management decision-making we need to anticipate virtually all possible scenarios because terrorism is now a clear and present danger to the safety of the citizens of Serbia. All cities and towns in Serbia need to have up-to-date disaster plans that are tailored to specific scenarios and locations as opposed to only preconceived generalized plans