Study of social-economic inequalities and use of health services among women and children in Serbia

Socijalno-ekonomske nejednakosti u zdravlju su nepravedne i rezultiraju iz nejednake distribucije socijalnih determinanti koje utiču na mogućnost jedne individue da bude zdrava, njen rizik od bolesti kao i korišćenje usluga zdravstvene zaštite. Cilj ove disertacije bio je da se ispita povezanost demografskih i socijalno-ekonomskih determinanti sa korišćenjem usluga zdravstvene zaštite žena i dece tokom prenatalnog, antenatalnog i postnatalnog perioda, zatim uz pomoć koncentracionih indeksa proveriti da li nejednakosti u korišćenju usluga postoje, kao poređenje ovih nejednakosti tokom 2005., 2010. i 2014. godine u Srbiji među opštom populacijom žena i među ženama iz romskih naselja. Metod: U istraživanju su korišćeni podaci iz tri istraživanja istraživanja višestrukih pokazatelja (Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey - MICS): MICS3 iz 2005., MICS4 iz 2010. i MICS5 iz 2014. Godine sprovedenih u Srbiji na reprezentativnom uzorku opšte populacije žena i žena koje žive u romskim naseljima starosti od 15-49 godina. Kao instrumenti istraživanja korišćeni su upitnici. Rezultati: Među populacijom žena u Srbiji uočava se pad nezadovoljene potrebe za kontracepcijom u poslednjih 10 godina. U odnosu na Beograd kao referentnu kategoriju, sve žene koje žive na teritoriji Vojvodine tokom proteklih 10 godina imale su značajno manje šanse za postojanje nezadovoljenih potreba za kontracepcijom. U odnosu na 2005. godinu, upotreba kontracepcije je višestruko porasla u obe populacije tokom 2010. i 2014. godine i bila je veća među ženama koje su živele u romskim naseljima u odnosu na opštu populaciju žena...Social and economic inequalities in health are unfair and occur as a result of unequal distribution of social determinants that affect the ability of an individual to be healthy, its risk of disease and also the utilisation of health care services. The aim of this thesis was to examine the association between the demographic and socio-economic determinants and the utilization of health services in women and children during the prenatal, antenatal and postnatal periods, to explore whether health inequalities in the utilization of health service exists by using concentration index and compare them over 2005, 2010 and 2014 in Serbia among the general population of women and among women from Roma settlements. Method: The study used data from three Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS): MICS3 from 2005, MICS4 from 2010 and MICS5 from 2014. All studies were conducted in Serbia on a representative sample of the general population of women and also on women living in Roma settlements aged 15-49 years. The survey instruments were questionnaires. Results: Among all women it was identified the decrease in unmet need for contraception in the last 10 years. Compared to Belgrade, as the reference category, all women living in Vojvodina had significantly less chance for the existence of unmet need for contraception over the past 10 years. Compared to 2005, the use of contraception has grown significantly in both populations in 2010 and 2014. The rise was higher among women who live in Roma settlements compared to the general population of women. Withdrawn was reported as the most frequent method of contraception among all women during the three years of the study (significantly more frequent among the population in Roma settlements)..

Gold in the past, today and future

This paper deals with gold, which is described as a chemical element. Special attention is paid to its physical-chemical properties and, furthermore, where or in what form it can be found in nature. We discuss the role it has played through history and we inform how gold has been developed to the level it has reached today's value. Still more, when gold is broken into nanoparticles, this form could be highly useful for a wide range of processes, including general nanotechnology, electronics manufacturing and the synthesizing of different functional materials. It is important that we know that gold is also used in industry in many engineering applications (contacts in micro-electronics) and medicine (dental alloys, implants)

Main criteria for models of excellence in health care

Business excellence models have a long history of development of sixty years. Today, the business excellence model can be essentially classified as world’s most famous models/awards for excellence (Japanese, American and European), the most popular national models of excellence (the Australian, British, German, French), as well as models of excellence companies (Siemens, Philips, Toyota). In the world today there are about 120 models of excellence. The best way to improve quality of health organizations that have systems of quality management is by application of the concept of total quality (TQM). This approach ensures the improvement of overall performance of health organizations, primarily the internal organization including management, resources, processes and human resources, health services and performance of business results. The market requires high quality products and services to improve the quality of life, or TQM excellence models in all areas of social subjects operations. It is a process that never ends, and knowing the nature of man who was never satisfied with achieved, that is main driving force for social development. We are witnesses today that some countries are introducing awards to organizations which succeeded in implementation of TQM and models of excellence for quality achievement. The development of a model of business excellence (BE) for dental health care is the main subject of the current study. The aim of this study is to present and analyze the existing criteria for product excellence and based on that, to define criteria for models of excellence for dental health care in Serbia

Combination free replacement and pro-rata warranty policy optimization model

Rizik koji prati razvoj proizvoda raste iz dana u dan. Jedan od faktora koji utiču na ovaj rizik je garancija proizvoda. Garancija je moćno marketinško oružje za proizvođača i istovremeno dobra zaštita za proizvođača i kupca, ali uvek podrazumeva dodatne troškove za proizvođača. Ovi troškovi zavise od karakteristika pouzdanosti proizvoda i parametara garancije. Ovaj rad se bavi optimizacijom ovih parametara za poznatu raspodelu otkaza proizvoda u cilju smanjivanja troškova garancije i istovremenog zadržavanja njene promotivne funkcije. Kombinacija garancije besplatne zamene i parcijalne garancije je izabrana kao model, pri čemu su varirane dužine perioda besplatne zamene i perioda parcijalne garancije, kao i koeficijenti koji definišu funkciju parcijalnih troškova. Vrednosti troškova garancije dobijene su pomoću analitičkih jednačina i simulacije. Dobijeni rezultati su prikazani i razmotreni i izneta su zaključna opažanja.Product development risk increases more and more every day. One of the factors that affect this risk is product warranty. Warranty is a powerful marketing instrument for the manufacturer and a good protection for both the manufacturer and the customer, but it always involves additional costs to the manufacturer. These costs depend on the product reliability and the warranty parameters. This paper deals with the optimization of these parameters for known product failure distribution to reduce the warranty costs to the manufacturer while retaining the promotional function of the warranty. Combination free replacement and pro-rata warranty policy is chosen as a model and the length of free replacement and pro-rata policy periods are varied, as well as the coefficients that define the pro-rata cost function. Warranty costs are obtained by using analytical equations and by simulation. The obtained results are shown and discussed and some concluding remarks are given

Zlato u prošlosti, sadašnjosti i budućnosti

This paper deals with gold, which is described as a chemical element. Special attention is paid to its physical-chemical properties and, furthermore, where or in what form it can be found in nature. We discuss the role it has played through history and we inform how gold has been developed to the level it has reached today’s value. Still more, when gold is broken into nanoparticles, this form could be highly useful for a wide range of processes, including general nanotechnology, electronics manufacturing and the synthesizing of different functional materials. It is important that we know that gold is also used in industry in many engineering applications (contacts in micro-electronics) and medicine (dental alloys, implants).Ovaj članak govori o zlatu kao kemijskom elementu. Posebna pažnja posvećena je njegovim fizikalno-kemijskim svojstvima i gdje i u kojem obliku se može pronaći u prirodi. Razmatra se uloga koju je zlato odigralo u povijesti i donosi se informacije o tome kako je doseglo razinu vrijednosti koju ima danas. Zlato razlomljeno na nanočestice upotrebljivo je u širem spektru procesuiranja, uključujući opću nanotehnologiju, elektroničku prizvodnju i spajanju materijala raznih funkcionalnosti. Važno je znati da se zlato koristi i u industriji, mnogim inženjerskim procesima (kontakti u mikro-elektronici) i medicini (dentalne slitine, implatanti)

Study of the optical power of nanophotonic soft contact lenses based on poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and fullerene

U radu su predstavljeni rezultati komparativnih istraživanja optičke snage mekih kontaktnih sočiva (MKS) sa različitim tehnikama mjerenja koje se koriste pri finalnoj obradi kontaktnih sočiva. Tri vrste nanofotoničnih mekih kontaktnih sočiva su napravljene od standardnog polimacon materijala (Soleko SP38TM) sa inkorporiranim fulerenom C60, fulerolom C60(OH)24 i fuleren-metformin-hidroksilatom C60(OH)12(OC4N5H10)12. Za potrebe karakterizacije materijala za potencijalnu primjenu kod mekih kontaktnih sočiva, mjerena su optička svojstva mekih kontaktnih sočiva Rotleks i Nidek uređajem. Sa Rotleks uređajem dobijeni su sledeći optički rezultati: optička snaga i mapa defekata, a sa Nidek uređajem: optička snaga, snaga cilindra i ugao cilindra. Dobijene vrijednosti optičke snage i mape defekata pokazali su da optička snaga sintetisanih nanofotoničnih mekih kontaktnih sočiva je identična nominalnoj vrijednosti, dok to nije bio slučaj za standardna meka kontaktna sočiva. Takođe, kvalitet nanofotoničnih mekih kontaktnih sočiva je bolji nego kod standardnih mekih kontaktnih sočiva. Iz prikazanog se može zaključiti da je moguće sintetisati nova nanofotonična meka kontaktna sočiva željenih optičkih karakteristika, što otvara mogućnosti za njihovu primjenu u ovoj oblasti.In this paper results of comparative study of the optical power of soft contact lenses (SCL) made of standard material for SCL and nanophotonic materials with different measurement techniques used for the final contact lens controllers are presented. Three types of nanophotonic soft contact lenses were made of standard polymacon material (Soleko SP38 TM) incorporated with fullerene C 60 , fullerol C 60 (OH) 24 and fullerene metformin hydroxylate C 60 (OH) 12 (OC 4 N 5 H 10) 12. For the purposes of material characterization for potential application as soft contact lenses, the optical properties of the soft contact lenses were measured by Rotlex and Nidek device. With Rotlex device the following optical results were obtained: optical power and map of defects, while with the Nidek device: optical power, cylinder power and cylinder axis. The obtained values of optical power and map of defects showed that the optical power of synthesized nanophotonic soft contact lens is same to the nominal value, while this was not the case for the standard soft contact lens. Also, the quality of the nanophotonic soft contact lens is better than the standard one. Hence, it is possible to synthesize new nanophotonic soft contact lenses of desired optical characteristics, implying possibilities for their application in this field

Comparison of Box-Behnken, Face Central Composite and Full Factorial Designs in Optimization of Hempseed Oil Extraction by n-Hexane: a Case Study

Statistical multivariate methods like Box-Behnken, face central composite and full factorial designs (BBD, FCCD and FFD, respectively) in combination with the response surface methodology (RSM) were compared when applied in modeling and optimization of the hempseed oil (HSO) extraction by n-hexane. The effects of solvent-to-seed ratio, operation temperature and extraction time on HSO yield were investigated at the solvent-to-seed ratio of 3:1, 6.5:1 or 10:1 mL/g, the extraction temperature of 20, 45 or 70 °C and the extraction time of 5, 10 or 15 min. All three methods were efficient in the statistical modeling and optimization of the influential process variables and led to almost the same optimal process conditions and predicted HSO yield. Having better statistical performances and being economically advantageous over the FFD with repetition, the BBD or FCCD combined with the RSM is recommended for the optimization of liquid-solid extraction processes

99mTc-hexakis-(2-metoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile) ( 99mTc-MIBI) a new myocardial imaging agent: synthesis of MIBI, optimising conditions for radiolabelling with 99mTc at high radiochemical purity and in vivo behavior

99mTc-MIBI is a promising radiopharmaceutical for myocardial perfusion imaging agent, but it has also shown good results in identifying several types of tumors, such as breast, lung and thyroid cancers. It is a lipophilic, cationic technetium (1) complex. In this paper a complete study on the synthesis of 2-metohy-isobutyl-isonitrile (MIBI) as well as a formulation of a lyophilized kit for labeling with 99mTc is presented. Investigation on effective factors as well as finding out the optimum parameters to obtain the highest labelling efficiency and radiochemical purity of 99mTc-MIBI complex were performed. The radiochemical purity of the labelled preparation was high (>95%). Biodistribution study performed in health male Wistar rats showed satisfactory biokinetics results. 99mTc-MIBI was accumulated in sufficient amount into the hearth tissue for myocardial perfusion imaging. MIBI in kit formulation was found to be stable and also safe for administration.Physical chemistry 2006 : 8th international conference on fundamental and applied aspects of physical chemistry; Belgrade (Serbia); 26-29 September 200

New Values of Teucrium species: in Vitro Study of Cytotoxic Activities of Secondary Metabolites

The cytotoxicity of seven Teucrium species, a long time ago used as a food spices, for beverages and teas preparing, as well as therapeutics for digestive and respiratory diseases, were examined against human cervix adenocarcinoma HeLa, human melanoma Fem-x, human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 and human breast adenocarcinoma MDA-MB-361 cells. MTT assay was used for determination of target cell survival. The most prominent cytotoxic effect was observed against K562 cells, especially by T. scordioides, T. montanum and T. botrys. All Teucrium extracts showed good cytotoxic activity on HeLa cells, but very low cytotoxic effect on MDA-MB-361 cells. In addition, the cytotoxic activities of T. scordioides and T. montanum extract were tested on healthy resting and phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PHA-stimulated PBMC). T. scordioides and T. montanum extracts at concentration of 200 µg/ml reduced the resting PBMC and PHA-stimulated PBMC survival up to 10% and 20%, while the reduction of K562 cell survival at the same concentration of extracts was 94% and 97%, respectively. These results point to selectivity in their antitumor actions. Teucrium species can be regarded as promising candidates for natural plant sources of effective biological compounds as a supplements in the food industry, as well as for therapeutic use