New Gripping and Binding Device Greatly Improves Preparation of Natural Clasts for RFID Tracking

Radio frequency identification technology (RFID) has allowed for tracking of individual clasts implanted with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags through sedimentary systems, providing recovery rates much higher than older sediment tagging methods such as painted or magnetic clasts. However, preparation of natural clasts for PIT tag implantation has been time-consuming and dangerous with rates of catastrophic failure of clasts of ∼66% or more. Moreover, failure rates increase as clast size decreases. The authors present an improved methodology that provides nearly 100% success rates and allows for drilling of clasts down to 23 mm along the intermediate diameter. The gripping and binding device (GABI) prevents clasts from rotating and is effective when used in conjunction with the rhythmically applied pressure drilling technique. GABI is simple and inexpensive to build and can be used in a field setting. The improved safety and effectiveness of the method will allow for greater application of RFID tracking of natural sediment. Additionally, the ability to drill smaller clasts opens up new possibilities for research in sediment transport

Implementation Evaluation of a Social Detoxification Program

While cities across the United States are attempting to revitalize their central business districts, the presence of the public inebriate remains one of the most neglected urban problems hampering redevelopment efforts. An evaluation of the implementation of a social detoxification program was conducted to monitor planning, initial staffing, training, building community linkages, impact on the criminal justice system, and changes in clients\u27 working and drinking behavior. Public Drunkenness arrests, and working and drinking behavior were measured at intake, three month and six month follow-up with a sample of clients undergoing detoxification, a comparison group of individuals jailed but not detoxified, and a national comparison group of individuals undergoing detoxification in similar programs. The local detoxification clients exhibited no significant change in arrests for public drunkenness or reduction in drinking days per month. However, the detoxification group made a significant increase in the working days per month and an improvement in living accommodations at six month follow-up. Social detoxification programs can be effective if (1) police utilize detoxification centers, (2) detoxification is perceived as initial care with counseling focusing on assessing appropriateness for alcoholism rehabilitation and, (3) clients are referred to a variety of social service agencies. For those clients not appropriate for treatment, programs may have an effect if intervention addresses housing and employment issues

Morphological and molecular characterisation of a mixed Cryptosporidium muris/Cryptosporidium felis infection in a cat

To date Cryptosporidium muris has been identified by microscopy and genotyping in cats in two studies. We report morphological and genetic evidence of a mixed C. muris and C. felis infection in a cat and provide the first histological, immunohistochemical, in situ hybridisation and genetic confirmation of a C. muris infection in the stomach of a cat. The cat suffered persistent diarrhoea after the initial consultation, which remained unresolved, despite several medical interventions. Further studies are required to determine the range, prevalence and clinical impact of Cryptosporidium species infecting cats

ADMINISTRATIVE OBLIGATIONS OF VAT TAXPAYERS - SERBIA VERSUS EUROPEAN UNION

The tax administration of every tax form is a very important area of its successful operation. This is especially the case with taxes such as value added tax. Although it is important in the tax system of each country, as it greatly contributes to filling the country’s budget, due to a number of specific features of its operation, it requires a well-timed legislation. In fact, it is a complex form of taxation which, if not set on the appropriate legal basis, can easily lead to high administrative costs for the state (i.e. its administrative entities) and taxpayers. There is a high risk of occurrence of tax evasion which, if occurs, leads to a set of problems in the tax system of a given state. This paper illuminates the difference in terms of demands that are placed in front of the taxpayers in two completely different tax systems. On the one hand, the Republic of Serbia, by its size and economic potential, has a relatively small economy, so it is necessary to set such tax regulations that will be "cheap" enough to meet the demands of the taxpayers, and which will ensure sufficient mass of fiscal revenues. On the other hand, the European Union has significantly developed tax legislation, which, at the same time, sets more complicated administrative requirements. Therefore, the recommendations for both analyzed areas will go in the direction of additional harmonization and simplification of legislation, as well as avoidance of cumbersome and inefficient administration. Finally, it is necessary to harmonize them (regulation and administration) with the amount of collected tax revenues

Comparative study of selected quality parameters of marinated mackerel packed in vacuum and modified atmosphere

Mariniranje je jedan od starijih postupaka konzervisanja ribe i često se primenjuje u Evropi. Ovaj postupak se najčešće koristi za ribe sa većim sadržajem masti, kao što su sardina, skuša, haringa, a ne retko se koristi i za konzervisanje rakova i školjki. Uopšteno govoreći, održivost i bezbednost mariniranih proizvoda od ribe i plodova voda, u koji nije uključena toplotna obrada, zavisi od vrste organske kiseline koja se koristi za mariniranje i koncentracije soli. Poznato je da je pH niži od 4,5 dovoljan da se produži održivost ribe. Međutim, niske pH vrednosti marinade mogu da uzrokuju jak, kiseo ukus. Termin „marinada“ ili „marinirana riba“ se koristi za ribu koja se za mariniranje koristi kao sveža, odmrznuta ili samo soljena, a tretirana je sa jestivim organskim kiselinama, najčešće sirćetnom kiselinom. Marinirana riba se posle završenog mariniranja pakuje najčešće u vakuumu ili modifikovanoj atmosferi, Čime se održivost marinirane ribe produžava. Ambalažiranje hrane, pa i ribe, ima za cilj da potrošačima pruži i osnovne informacije o ribi, a naročito o uslovima čuvanja i o roku trajanja. S tim u vezi, današnju prehrambenu industriju karakteriše posebno razvoj jednog njenog segmenta, a to je pakovanje hrane. Cilj istraživanja u okviru ove doktorske disertacije je bio ispitivanje uticaja pakovanja soljene, odnosno marinirane ribe (skuše) u vakuumu i modifikovanu atmosferu na održivost i odabrane parametre kvaliteta. U eksperimentu je korišćena skuša konzumne veličine (mase od 350-400 grama) koja je obrađena na način uobičajen za industrijski objekat koji se bavi obradom ribe. Riba je obrađena tako da je za soljenje, mariniranje, odnosno, pakovanje korišćen primarno obrađen trup. Riba je podeljena u dve podgrupe, od kojih je jedna podgrupa tretirana samo u slanom rastvoru (10 % soli), a druga podgrupa marinirana u marinadi sa 10 % soli i sa 0,5 % sirćetne kiseline. Tretiranje ribe trajalo je dvadeset četiri sata. Prva podgrupa je podeljena u dve grupe od kojih je jedna pakovana u vakuum (prva grupa), a druga grupa u modifikovanu atmosferu (40 % CO2+60 % N2). Na isti način je podeljena i druga podgrupa i pakovana u vakuum (treća grupa), odnosno modifikovanu atmosferu (40 % CO2+60 % N2) (četvrta grupa). Svi uzorci su skladišteni pri istim kontrolisanim uslovima. Temperatura skladištenja je bila 4 °C. Na početku eksperimenta i na svakih deset dana, tokom pedeset dana, vršene su mikrobiološke (ukupan broj bakterija, ukupan broj enterobakterija, broj psihrotrofa, broj anaerobnih bakterija, broj bakterija mlečne kiseline), hemijske (osnovni hemijski sastav, sadržaj ukupnog isparljivog azota, malondialdehid i histamina), fizičko-hemijske (pH vrednost i aw vrednost) i senzorne analize...The marinating process is one of the oldest preservation methods of fish, and is often used in Europe. This method is commonly used for preservation of the fish with a higher fat content, such as sardines, mackerel, herring, but for the crustaceans and molluscs as well. Generally, shelf life and safety of the marinated fish and seafood, without temperature treatment, depends on the type of organic acid which is used for marinating, and the concentration of salt. It is known that the pH values lower than 4.5 are sufficient to prolong the shelf life of the fish. However, the low pH values of the marinade may cause strong acidic taste. The terms marinade or marinated fish refer to fish products consisting of fresh, frozen, or salted fish or portions of fish treated with an edible organic acid, usually acetic acid. After completing marinating, fish is usually packed in vacuum or modified atmosphere, which is a way to prolong shelf life of marinated fish. The aim of food, including fish labelling is to provide consumers with key information about the fish, and especially on storage conditions and expiration date of the product. In this regard, nowadays, food industry in particular is characterized by the development of food packaging segment. The aim of the study within this PhD thesis was to investigate the influence of packaging of salted and marinated fish (mackerel) in vacuum and modified atmosphere on the shelf life and selected quality parameters. In the experiment it has been used commercial size mackerel (a mass of 350-400 g), which is treated in the manner customary for industrial plant which deals with processing of fish. Fish is processed so that for salting, marinating, and packaging has been used primarily processed fish carcasses. The fish was divided into two subgroups, first which was treated only with saline (10% salt), and a second subgroup which was marinated in a 10% salt and 0.5% acetic acid. The fish was treated for twenty-four hours. The first sub-group is divided into two groups, one of which is packaged in a vacuum (the first group), and the second group in modified atmosphere (40% CO2 + 60% N2). In the same way the other sub-groups were divided and packed in a vacuum (the third group), or a modified atmosphere (40% CO2 + 60% N2) (fourth group)..

Organic Lamb Meat Production in Serbia Based on Autochthonous Zackel Breed: Opportunities and Challenges

The global growing tendency of lamb and mutton meat production has been emphasized. The fastest growing meat production industry on a global level is lamb and mutton meat production. Lamb meat production increase is primarily based on genetic improvement of sheep breeds, reproduction management and disease reduction. The new Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development in Serbia from 2014 to 2024 defines goals and priorities for further development of agriculture. One of priority topics is the promotion of organic production. Organic lamb production is a great opportunity for rural regions development. Botanical composition analyses, as well as plants nutrition value, have shown that natural resources of regions in Serbia have great potentials for organic lamb production. Basic principles of organic production promote well adapted, autochthonous breeds. Various types of Zackel sheep are important genetic resources, evolutionary adapted on specific conditions and extreme climate. The study evaluated the value of various types of Zackel sheep populations in the regions where they are traditionally reared with special emphasis on some traits such as health status and robustness, important for organic production. Disease frequency analysis in different Zackel type populations has shown that gastrointestinal parasitic infections represent the main health problem in sheep farming. The introduction of veterinary medicine standards in organic sheep production is a great challenge. Considering that conventional prevention and medication are forbidden in organic production, veterinary control of parasitic infections is not satisfying. Our investigations are focused on preventive measure and genetic resistance/tolerance to parasitic infections of various types of Zackel sheep as very important for organic lamb production

Characterization of Spontaneous and Induced Puberty in Girls with Turner Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To characterize puberty in girls with Turner syndrome (TS) and determine whether specific patient characteristics are associated with the timing of menarche. We also sought to compare spontaneous versus induced puberty in these patients. METHODS: Medical records of girls followed in our Pediatric Endocrine clinic for TS from 2007 to 2015 were reviewed. RESULTS: Fifty-three girls were included, of whom 10 (19%) achieved menarche spontaneously and 43 (81%) received hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Of girls receiving HRT, a younger age at estrogen initiation correlated with a longer time to menarche (P = .02), and a mosaic karyotype was associated with a shorter time to menarche (P = .02), whereas no relationship was seen for body mass index, estrogen regimen, or maternal age at menarche. Nineteen girls (44%) receiving HRT had bleeding on estrogen alone at a wide dose range and were more likely to be on transdermal than oral preparations (P = .01). Girls with spontaneous puberty achieved menarche at a younger age (P<.01) and were more likely to have mosaic TS (P = .02). CONCLUSION: Significant variability in the timing of menarche exists among girls with TS. However, age at pubertal induction and karyotype were significantly correlated with age at menarche in our patients. A wide range of estrogen doses is seen in girls who bleed prior to progesterone, suggesting extreme variability in estrogen sensitivity among patients with TS. Girls achieving spontaneous menarche are younger and more likely to have a mosaic karyotype than those with induced menarche. Large-scale prospective studies are needed to confirm these results

The Complex Relationship between Pain Intensity and Physical Functioning in Fibromyalgia: The Mediating Role of Depression

Fibromyalgia (FM) is typically associated with the experience of diffuse pain and physical impairment.Depression also commonly co-exists in patients with FM, and has been correlated with pain intensity and physical functioning.Previous research suggests an association between pain intensity and physical functioning; however, the direct causal relationship between improvements in pain intensity and in functioning is not observed in many FM patients.This may suggest that another factor such as depression is mediating this relationship. The present work examinedmediating role of depression. METHODS: 216 patients with FM completed measures of pain intensity, depression, and physical functionas part of a larger longitudinal study.Assessments were completed at baseline, 12, 24, and 36 weeks.RESULTS: Longitudinal mediational analyses indicated that depression is a partial mediator of the relationship between pain intensity and physical functioningat all four assessment points.Beta coefficients for the path from pain to physical functioning ranged from 0.18 –0.36, with attenuated path coefficients ranging from 0.03 –0.08, still showing significant but decreased associations when depression was added as a mediator. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical implication includes the importance of treating co-morbid depression in patients with fibromyalgia early in the course of treatment to prevent engagement in the cycle of disability