Urban Space: The Phenomena of Unfinished in the Cities of Montenegro

Throughout the history of civilisation and architecture, the phenomenon of unfinished has been constantly present. Many historical and sociopolitical developments have caused some buildings and urban areas never to be completed. Nevertheless, these “structures”, although “mistakes of the past”, have continued to live spontaneously, being integrated into the urban fabric of the city. They have often become parts of the public space, as “mutants”, and a constant inspiration for architects and artists. There are many such examples in the territory of Montenegro: Ulcinj, Risan, Budva, Pluzine, Niksic, etc. The Revolution Memorial Hall building in Niksic, an unfinished concrete and steel mega-structure – “mega-unfinishedness” (“a similar structure was not built in the former SFRY”), is a good example of it. Today, this unfinished “dead space” continues to “live” by generating new “events in space”, from “kiosk size businesses” to the idea of being simply “buried”, turning thus into a “live monument”

Bone marrow transplantation generates T cell–dependent control of myeloma in mice

Transplantation with autologous hematopoietic progenitors remains an important consolidation treatment for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and is thought to prolong the disease plateau phase by providing intensive cytoreduction. However, transplantation induces inflammation in the context of profound lymphodepletion that may cause hitherto unexpected immunological effects. We developed preclinical models of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for MM using Vk*MYC myeloma-bearing recipient mice and donor mice that were myeloma naive or myeloma experienced to simulate autologous transplantation. Surprisingly, we demonstrated broad induction of T cell-dependent myeloma control, most efficiently from memory T cells within myeloma-experienced grafts, but also through priming of naive T cells after BMT. CD8+ T cells from mice with controlled myeloma had a distinct T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire and higher clonotype overlap relative to myeloma-free BMT recipients. Furthermore, T cell-dependent myeloma control could be adoptively transferred to secondary recipients and was myeloma cell clone specific. Interestingly, donor-derived IL-17A acted directly on myeloma cells expressing the IL-17 receptor to induce a transcriptional landscape that promoted tumor growth and immune escape. Conversely, donor IFN-γ secretion and signaling were critical to protective immunity and were profoundly augmented by CD137 agonists. These data provide new insights into the mechanisms of action of transplantation in myeloma and provide rational approaches to improving clinical outcomes

Cardiopoietic cell therapy for advanced ischemic heart failure: results at 39 weeks of the prospective, randomized, double blind, sham-controlled CHART-1 clinical trial

Cardiopoietic cells, produced through cardiogenic conditioning of patients' mesenchymal stem cells, have shown preliminary efficacy. The Congestive Heart Failure Cardiopoietic Regenerative Therapy (CHART-1) trial aimed to validate cardiopoiesis-based biotherapy in a larger heart failure cohort

Architecture of the 20th century as a Cultural Heritage : Architectural Communication – Memorial Hall in Kolasin, Montenegro

The main objective of this paper is to develop a methodology (model) for the analysis of architectural edifices through the aspect of architectural communication. Architectural communication was defined through three types of relations: with the context (social and physical), with users (utilization of architecture) and with the author/architect (architecture as knowledge transmission). Memorial Hall in Kolasin, the north of Montenegro, built in 1970’s is chosen as case study

Cultural landscape devastation as a consequence of poor Sustainable Urban Development practice Case study: Kostanjica, Boka Bay, Montenegro

Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor, Boka Bay, Montenegro, is well known for its exceptional beauty, evaluated by UNESCO. The unique universal value has been embodied in the cultural landscape: vernacular architecture harmonized with the cultivated terraced landscape on the slopes of high, rocky mountains. Kostanjica is an old settlement in Boka Bay, former fishermen village, recognized for valuable elements of the cultural landscape: chestnut tree and laurel forest, terraced gardens with arable land, fruit gardens, traditional architecture in stone: clusters of houses, piers and docks, pedestrian pathways, pavements, retaining walls, well-integrated in the autochthone Mediterranean vegetation. Since Montenegro has pronounced itself Ecological state in 1991, environmental protection has become the highest priority in all Sustainable Development agendas and policies. Furthermore, preservation of regional peculiarity and fostering distinctive identity of a place, is one of the crucial sustainable development goals. The ongoing development of tourist resort “Boka Gardens” in Kostanjica has revealed these harmful, unsustainable tendencies in Montenegro. On the grounds of investor’s urban planning and profit-driven architecture, the unique and valuable cultural landscape of Kostanjica has been devastated to the extent that Boka Bay’s UNESCO status has been jeopardized. The paper researches cause of this damaging phenomena, seeking for ways of overcoming profoundly harmful building practices, thus leading to a more efficient and sustainable urban development

Architecture of the 20th Century as a Cultural Heritage : Architectural Communication – Memorial Hall in Kolasin, Montenegro

The main objective of this paper is to develop a methodology (model) for the analysis of architectural edifices through the aspect of architectural communication. Architectural communication was defined considering three types of relations: with the context (social and physical), with the users (utilization of architecture) and with the author/architect (architecture as knowledge transmission). Memorial Hall in Kolasin, the north of Montenegro, built in the 1970’s is chosen as case study

Economic Justification for use the Green Forage Conveyor in Production

Modernizing of livestock production, it is necessary to create a quality base for production of quality green forage. In terms dictated by climatic conditions and market trends, it is necessary to switch to a different way to make enough food to feed farm animals. Accordingly, the use of green forage conveyor, shown many advantages over the traditional way of meadow-pasture utilization system of forage. In agronomic terms, stimulates fuller utilization of nutrients in fresh form, in economic terms reducing costs the processing and storage, as well as the use of machinery in the production process. The use of this method is the most cost effective way to create economic production and conservation of plant genetic resources

Toward Regenerative Sustainability: A Passive Design Comfort Assessment Method of Indoor Environment

The fact that people spend a major part of their lifetime indoors, together with the lethal COVID-19 pandemic which caused people to spend even more time inside buildings, has drawn attention to the significance of achieving Agenda 2030 SD goal number three: good health and well-being, in reference to the indoor environment. The research subject is the health and well-being of building users explored through the sustainable (passive) design principles having an impact on the comfort and quality of the indoor environment. It is set within a regenerative sustainability framework encompassing the physiological, biophilic, psychological and social aspects of comfort. The Comfort Assessment Model’s categories, to some extent, rely on the first author’s doctoral thesis, with further modifications regarding the passive design criteria and indicators. A comparative analysis of the model with international sustainability certification (rating) systems has been performed, proving the significance of introducing more passive design comfort (health) related criteria into sustainability assessment models. In addition, a focus group of expert architects contributed to the research conclusions by responding to a questionnaire addressing the issues of sustainability, comfort and passive design, in terms of the health and well-being of building users, which confirmed the relevance of applied passive design measures for providing comfort indoors and fulfilling sustainable development goals