Gender and Musculoskeletal Comorbidity Impact on Physical Functioning in Elderly after Hip Fracture: The Role of Rehabilitation

The study aim was to evaluate the effects of presence and level of musculoskeletal impairment along with gender on physical functioning outcome after the rehabilitation program in aged adults with a hip fracture. We analyzed 203 elderly people with hip fractures above 65 years of age that were treated after the hip surgery. According to the time of examination, patients were tested three times: at admission, discharge, and at three months post-discharge. Musculoskeletal impairments were analyzed, and for the estimation of severity of degree impairment, we used a cumulative index rating scale for geriatrics (CIRS-G). Regarding the gender, we separately analyzed males and females. To evaluate physical functioning of aged adults after a hip fracture, we used the physical functioning component (PFC) from the quality of life (SF-36) questionnaire. For males, on all three occasions we found non-significant differences were found in SF-36 PFC values between different degrees of CIRS-G musculoskeletal impairment. A significant difference was noticed in females three months post-discharge. Effects size of different examination periods for every CIRS-G severity degree of musculoskeletal impairment were high, where males had higher values for severity degrees 1 and 2, and females had higher values for severity degrees 0 and 3. Our findings might suggest that there is a certain degree of different rehabilitation treatment effects for males versus females. Moreover, it might be assumed that other factors could influence different degrees of functional improvement and outcome of individuals after a hip fracture with musculoskeletal impairment

REGRESSION ALGORITHMS IN ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOTOR CHARACTERISTICS ON 60-M SPRINT

The aim of the present study was to identify the relationship between morphological parameters and motor skills that are important for sprint performance in children aged 8 to 16 years divided into four age groups (U10, U12, U14, U16) in both genders. The sample consisted of two hundred eighty one participant who trained sprinting in various athletic clubs. A prediction set of twenty-five variables for assessing morphological characteristics and motor skills was applied, and the criterion variable was a sprint at 60m. Using multiple correlation, it has been established that a large number of morphological characteristics are statistically significant positive correlation with the sprint, especially the longitudinal variables, while the variables of skinfolds showed a low negative statistical significance in relation to the given criterion. In the field of motor skills, the highest number of positive statistically significant correlations were found in the tests of explosive power of the upper and lower extremities, agility test and horizontal and vertical jump tests. In order to determine which morphological features and motor skills should be applied in sprint running training, we tested related attributes using different algorithms for data mining (LR, M5, KNN, SVM, MLP, RBF). The results suggests that the predictors that we use can continue to be applied with high reliability in assessing sprint performance, but also in the monitoring of the training process in order to profile the better sprint achievements.The aim of the present study was to identify the relationship between morphological parameters and motor skills that are important for sprint performance in children aged 8 to 16 years divided into four age groups (U10, U12, U14, U16) in both genders. The sample consisted of two hundred eighty one participant who trained sprinting in various athletic clubs. A prediction set of twenty-five variables for assessing morphological characteristics and motor skills was applied, and the criterion variable was a sprint at 60m. Using multiple correlation, it has been established that a large number of morphological characteristics are statistically significant positive correlation with the sprint, especially the longitudinal variables, while the variables of skinfolds showed a low negative statistical significance in relation to the given criterion. In the field of motor skills, the highest number of positive statistically significant correlations were found in the tests of explosive power of the upper and lower extremities, agility test and horizontal and vertical jump tests.In order to determine which morphological features and motor skills should be applied in sprint running training, we tested related attributes using different algorithms for data mining (LR, M5, KNN, SVM, MLP, RBF). The results suggests that the predictors that we use can continue to be applied with high reliability in assessing sprint performance, but also in the monitoring of the training process in order to profile the better sprint achievements.Key words: youth athletes, sprint running, morphological characteristics, motor skills, regression algorithm

NMDA Receptor Antagonist Memantine Ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Aged Rats

Aging is closely related to the main aspects of multiple sclerosis (MS). The average age of the MS population is increasing and the number of elderly MS patients is expected to increase. In addition to neurons, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are also expressed on non-neuronal cells, such as immune cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of NMDARs in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in young and aged rats. Memantine, a non-competitive NMDAR antagonist, was administered to young and aged Dark Agouti rats from day 7 after immunization. Antagonizing NMDARs had a more favourable effect on clinical disease, reactivation, and apoptosis of CD4+ T cells in the target organ of aged EAE rats. The expression of the fractalkine receptor CX3CR1 was increased in memantine-treated rats, but to a greater extent in aged rats. Additionally, memantine increased Nrf2 and Nrf2-regulated enzymes’ mRNA expression in brain tissue. The concentrations of superoxide anion radicals, malondialdehyde, and advanced oxidation protein products in brain tissue were consistent with previous results. Overall, our results suggest that NMDARs play a more important role in the pathogenesis of EAE in aged than in young rats

Swot Analysis of the Rural Tourism as a Channel of Marketing for Agricultural Products in Serbia

In many countries, rural areas are undergoing significant socio-demographic and economic changes, and this trend is also present in Serbia. From the economic and demographic point of view, and this is particularly true for southern Serbia, the problem of depopulation, ageing and extinction of the village has arisen. The subject of this paper is rural tourism in Serbia, which is observed in the context of the new channel for marketing agricultural products of rural households and analyzed by SWOT methodology in order to capture all strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and possible threats. Results show that one of the highest priorities is the synthesis of agriculture and tourism in Serbia, which would be the basis for the development of diversification in rural communities. The development and advancement of the rural environment represent a sustainable and stable regional economic development

SWOT analysis of the rural tourism as a channel of marketing for agricultural products in Serbia

In many countries, rural areas are undergoing significant socio-demographic and economic changes, and this trend is also present in Serbia. From the economic and demographic point of view, and this is particularly true for southern Serbia, the problem of depopulation, ageing and extinction of the village has arisen. The subject of this paper is rural tourism in Serbia, which is observed in the context of the new channel for marketing agricultural products of rural households and analyzed by SWOT methodology in order to capture all strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and possible threats. Results show that one of the highest priorities is the synthesis of agriculture and tourism in Serbia, which would be the basis for the development of diversification in rural communities. The development and advancement of the rural environment represent a sustainable and stable regional economic development

Susceptibility to antifungal agents of Candida spp. from blood and feces collected in Novi Sad in 3-year period (2008-2010)

Candidemia is an important emerging nosocomial infection in patients with risk factors. Candida species from nonsterile sites can give insight into the characteristics of strains that may cause invasive disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate antifungal susceptibility of Candida blood and fecal isolates in Novi Sad, Vojvodina. During a 3-year period (2008 to 2010), 424 isolates of Candida spp. were collected, 30 bloodstream isolates and 394 strains from fecal samples. In vitro susceptibility of these isolates to five antifungal agents was established using commercial ATB FUNGUS 3 (Bio-Mérieux). Predominant species was Candida albicans (6 isolates from blood and 269 from feces). Resistance to one or more antifungal agents was less common in Candida albicans (3.63%) than in other species (24.83%). Resistance to itraconazole was the most commonly found in both groups of isolates, 9.64% strains from feces and 20% from blood samples. Twelve isolates were multiply resistant, usually to fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole. Resistance to amphotericine B was extremely rare. Although resistance to antimycotics of Candida spp. is rare at present, continued surveillance of antifungal susceptibility is necessary in order to monitor trends, and to choose the right empiric therapy

Farm Differentiation Strategies and Sustainable Regional Development

The paper examines differentiation business strategies in food production in Braničevo-Podunavlje region (Serbia). The research methodology includes survey research focused on the producers engaged in the production of value-added agricultural products, which have a greater potential for differentiation and branding. A range of survey indicators enable farmers and entrepreneurs of differentiated products to emphasize key success factors, detect barriers, and generate business ideas and innovations. Survey research was conducted in the period December 2018–January 2019, among 67 farmers, legal entities, and unincorporated enterprise producers of high-quality niche food products in Branicevo–Podunavlje region. Results of the research indicated vegetable and fruit processing, beekeeping, and milk processing as sectors of the most promising value-added food products, including those that form the region’s basket of products. The study’s findings should contribute to the development of differentiated business models in the food sector and strengthening their role in smart regional development

Characterization of bentonite clay from “Greda” deposit

Based on mineralogical and technological investigations of the deposit “Greda” important characteristics of bentonite clay were determined. Representative samples of the deposit were characterized with X-ray diffraction, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, chemical analysis, differential thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy. It was determined that the main mineral is montmorillonite and in subordinate quantities kaolinite, quartz and pyrite. The chemical composition generally shows high silica and alumina contents in all samples and small quantities of Fe3+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ cations. Based on technological and mineralogical research, bentonite from this deposit is a high-quality raw material for use in the ceramic industry

Corrosion Testing of an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloy After Different Heat Treatment Regimes by the Application of Electrochemical Methods

Abstract: The corrosion tendency in the 7000 series aluminium alloys changes depending on the content of alloying elements, thermal and thermo-mechanical treatments, etc. An alloy of this type applied in the production of weapons and military equipment has been investigated by applying different electrochemical methods. A degree of the precipitation hardening (aging) of the alloy has been evaluated by measuring its electrical resistivity. The corrosion potential measurements (Ecorr.) gave information about the distribution of the alloying elements between the solid solution and the precipitation phases. The polarization measurements, performed in the 0.5 M NaCl solution, have shown a more positive value of the pitting potential (Epit.) and a greater corrosion resistance for the two-step aged alloy. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has also shown that the two-step aged alloy has better corrosion properties (a higher value of polarization resistance, Rp, and a lower value of capacitance, Cdl) comparing to the one-step aged alloy. These results enable a deeper insight into the effects of both heat treatment and alloying elements, primarily copper, on the corrosion resistance of the tested alloy

STRESS CORROSION CRACKING OF AN AL-ZN-MG-CU ALLOY AFTER DIFFERENT PRECIPITATION HARDENING TREATMENTS

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) was tested in a high strength 7000 series aluminium alloy applied for weapons and military equipment. The effect of one step- and two-step precipitation hardening (aging) on SCC was investigated. The slow strain rate test (SSRT) and the fracture mechanics (FM) method were used for SCC testing. The measurements of electrical resistivity allowed evaluating an aging degree in the tested alloy. Both testing methods have shown that the alloy after two-step precipitation hardening is significantly more resistant to SCC. The critical stress intensity factor for SCC, KISCC is significantly higher, and the crack growth rate on the plateau, vpl is more than one order of magnitude lower for the alloy in this state. Processes that take place at the crack tip are proposed and the effect of copper was analyzed. The effect of the testing solution (NaCl) temperature on the vpl was determined. Two values of the apparent activation energy, Ea, were obtained; one value (46.6 kJ mol-1) refers to higher temperatures, while the other (70.4 kJ mol-1) refers to lower test temperatures. These values of Ea correspond to the different processes that control the vpl, at higher and lower temperatures