Creative Ability of Students as a Precondition for the Successful Development of Children’s Musical Creativity in Teaching Music in Lower Grades of Primary School

The effectiveness of teaching music in lower grades of primary school depends on competences of pre-service and in-service teachers who have to teach the subject curriculum. During their formal education, student teachers at pedagogical faculties acquire elementary knowledge of the theory of music and didactic-methodical competencies, but the important factor of successful teaching has to be their musical-performing and creative abilities. In this paper we examine the musical and creative abilities of student teachers in the final year of their bachelor studies (N = 48), by analyzing their products within the course of the Methodological Practicum of Music Teaching. Descriptive method and procedure of qualitative analysis of obtained student teachers’ products in the field of music creation were used. The results show that student teachers’ musical and creative abilities and the quality of their creative products do not exceed the level of curriculum requirements for teaching music in the fourth grade of primary school. The aim of this paper is to determine the level of creativity aptitude of student teachers in order to improve it by adequate methodical procedures and training in order to achieve an optimal level sufficient for developing musical and creative activities in teaching young children in a regular school context. On the basis of the obtained results, it can be concluded that frequent neglect of work in the field of developing children’s musical creativity in music teaching practice is connected with teachers’ insecurity about their own creative abilities and competencies necessary for teaching music.Publishe

Farmakoekonomska evaluacija fakoemulzifikacije i ekstrakapsularne ekstrakcije u operaciji katarakte

Background/Aim. Cataract surgery is one of the most often performed surgical interventions. The predominant method in Western countries is phacoemulsification, while in developing countries, the extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) method remains popular. The aim of the study was to evaluate the cost- effectiveness of these two cataract surgery techniques from the provider’s perspective if operation complications were the out- come of the interest. Methods. The data were obtained from the Department of Ophthalmology of the General Hospital Kruševac during a one-year period. A total of 1,179 surgeries by five surgeons were performed. The cost-effectiveness was evaluated using the decision tree. All probabilities were calcu- lated based on the likelihood of the occurrence during the study period. Only direct costs were considered, and values were taken from the documentation at the hospital and the of- ficial price list of health services. One- and two-way sensitivity analyses were performed. Results. The total cost per patient in the phacoemulsification group was 71,008.70 Serbian dinars (RSD), while the total cost in the ECCE group was 74,340.36 RSD. At the same time, phacoemulsification shows higher ef- fectiveness than the ECCE method, with 87% and 57% of pa- tients without complications, respectively. With these results, phacoemulsification was the dominant strategy compared to ECCE. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the results are sen- sitive to the number of performed operations per year. Con- clusion. The phacoemulsification technique seems to be the preferred technique for cataract surgery. All the investment in phacoemulsification equipment and consumables is justified if the number of surgeries per year exceeds 350.Uvod/Cilj. Operacija katarakte predstavlja jednu od najčešće primenjivanih hirurških intervencija. U zapadnim zemljama, dominantna tehnika je fakoemulzifikacija, dok je u zemljama u razvoju najzastupljenija tehnika ekstrakapsularne ekstrakcije (ECCE). Cilj rada bio je da se proceni ekonomska isplativost te dve tehnike operacije katarakte iz perspektive pružaoca usluge, ukoliko se kao ishod posmatraju komplikacije. Metode. Podaci su dobijeni sa Očnog odeljenja Opšte bolnice Kruševac tokom jednogodišnjeg perioda. Ukupno je izvedeno 1 179 operacija od strane pet hirurga. Ekonomska isplativost je procenjena primenom „drveta odlučivanja“. Verovatnoće za događaje su izračunate na osnovu verovatnoće pojavljivanja tokom navedenog perioda. U analizi su razmatrani samo direktni troškovi, a vrednosti su preuzete iz prateće dokumentacije i zvaničnog cenovnika zdravstvenih usluga. Sprovedena je jednosmerna i dvosmerna analiza osetljivosti. Rezultati.Ukupni troškovi u grupi koja je bila podvrgnuta fakoemulzifikaciji iznosili su 71 008.70 srpskih dinara (RSD), dok su u ECC E grupi oni iznosili 74 340.36 RSD. Istovremeno, fakoemulzifikacija je pokazala višu efikasnost u odnosu na ECCE, 87% i 57% bolesnika bez komplikacija, redom. Na osnovu dobijenih rezultata, fakoemulzifikacija je bila dominantna strategija u poređenju sa ECCE. Analiza osetljivosti pokazala je da su rezultati osetljivi na broj izvršenih intervencija na godišnjem nivou. Zaključak. Fakoemulzifikacija je ekonomski isplativija tehnika operacije katarakte u odnosu na ECCE. Sva ulaganje u opremu i potrošni materijal za fakoemulzifikaciju opravdani su ukoliko je broj izvedenih operacija na godišnjem nivou preko 350

Damage tolerance analysis of structural components under general load spectrum

In this investigation fatigue behaviour of damaged structural components under cyclic loads constant amplitude and load spectrum is considered. Primary attention of this investigation is the establishment of computation procedure for the evaluation of the residual life of aircraft attachment lug type structural elements in the presence of initial cracks. In this investigation for residual life estimation and crack growth analysis Strain Energy Density ( SED) method is used. The SED method uses the low-cycle fatigue (LCF) properties of the material in crack growth analysis. In this approach experimentally obtained dynamic properties of the material such as Forman's constants are not required when this method is concerned. The complete computation procedure for the crack propagation analysis using low-cycle fatigue material properties is illustrated with the damaged structural elements. To determine analytic expressions for stress intensity factors (SIF) singular finite elements are used. Results of numerical simulation for crack propagation based on strain density method have been compared with own experimental results

Produkcija H2O2 i NO peritonealnih makrofaga pacova u odgovoru na crevne komensalne bakterije

The importance of commensal bacteria in the immune system development and its involvement in the etiopatogenetic mechanisms of complex multifactorial and multigenic diseases is well documented. The aim of the present study was to compare the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitric oxide (NO) produced by resident peritoneal macrophages from the autoimmune disease susceptible Dark Agouti (DA) rats vs. resistant Albino Oxford (AO) rat strain, under basal conditions and subsequent to in vitro stimulation with gut commensals. Following the stimulation with phorbol myristil acetate (PMA), E. coli/PMA or P. mirabilis/PMA, AO rats macrophages have produced significantly higher levels of H2O2 compared to the cells from DA rats. Strain differences in NO production were not detected under basal conditions and after the stimulation with lipopolysaccharide and P. mirabilis. However, after the in vitro stimulation with E. coli, AO rats macrophages have produced higher levels of NO compared to DA rats macrophages. Our results demonstrated that macrophages from AO rats have higher potential to produce H2O2 and NO in response to specific commensal bacteria when compared to DA rats. A possible relationship between the macrophage activity in response to commensal bacteria and the susceptibility to induction of autoimmune/inflammatory diseases in AO and DA rat strains is suggested.Poznato je da komensalna crevna flora ima značajnu ulogu u razvoju imunskog sistema kao i u etiopatogenezi kompleksnih multifaktorijalnih i multigenetskih bolesti. Cilj ovog rada bio je da se uporedi produkcija vodonik peroksida (H2O2) i azot monoksida (NO) peritonealnih makrofaga dva inbredna soja pacova, od kojih je jedan osetljiv (Dark Agouti, DA), a drugi rezistentan (Albino Oxford, AO) na indukciju autoimunskih bolesti, kako u bazalnim uslovima tako i nakon in vitro stimulacije makrofaga sa crevnim komensalima. Nakon stimulacije sa forbol miristil acetatom (PMA), E. coli/PMA and P. mirabilis/PMA makrofage AO pacova su produkovale značajno više H2O2 u poređenju sa makrofagama DA pacova. Nisu detektovane sojne razlike u produkciji NO u bazalnim uslovima, kao ni posle stimulacije sa lipopolisaharidom i P. mirabilis. Međutim, nakon in vitro stimulacije sa E. coli makrofage AO pacova su produkovale više NO u odnosu na makrofage DA pacova. Naši rezultati su ukazali da makrofage AO pacova imaju veći potencijal za produkciju H2O2 i NO u odgovoru na specifične komensalne bakterije. Ova različita aktivnost makrofaga može biti u vezi sa različitom osetljivošću na indukciju autoimunskih/inflamatornih bolesti kod DA i AO soja pacova

MODIFICATION OF THE COBWEB MODEL INTO GENERALIZED LOGISTIC EQUATION FOR THE WHEAT PRICE ANALYSIS

In the paper we constructed the new wheat growth model, based on the generalized logistic equation. Starting from the theoretical framework of the cobweb model, we adapted generalized logistic equation to better fit the real data of wheat prices, according to the presented wheat growth model. The aim of the paper is to present how logistic and generalized logistic equations can be used for both prediction of wheat prices and for the wheat price stability analysis. Data analysis showed better performances of the generalized logistic map in comparation with the conventional logistic map as a main result of this paper. For estimated parameters of the model the bifurcation diagrams also have been presented to show stability of wheat price over time. The conclusion is that the proposed model can be useful in predicting future wheat prices in the short-run period, as well as for the analysis of stability in conditions of uncertainty, which is also a recommendation for the application of the model in the future research

Strain differences and the role for HSP47 and HSP70 in adjuvant arthritis in rats

Because of high sequence homology between microbial and endogenous heat shock proteins (HSP), immunological cross-reactivity to microbial HSP has been suggested as a possible cause of the development of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. The present study aimed to determine a potential role of HSP47, a molecular chaperone involved in the synthesis and assembly of collagen molecules, and microbial HSP71 (mHSP71) in adjuvant arthritis (AA) in two rat strains: Dark Agouti (DA), susceptible to AA induction and Albino Oxford (AO), which is resistant to AA induction. Immunization with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced an increased expression of HSP47 in joints of DA rats, which exhibited severe clinical signs of AA at the time of disease peak, while this protein was not detectable in joints of AO rats. In contrast, no strain differences in HSP72 (rat analogue of mHSP71) expressions in joints were observed. The increased levels of anti-HSP47 antibodies were detected in sera of DA rats during the AA peak, while the immunization with CFA increased levels of anti-mHSP71 antibodies in sera of AO rats. HSP47 and mHSP71 reduced proliferation of draining inguinal lymph node cells (LNC) in resistant AO rat strain, leading to a hypothesis that both HSP participated in AA control. Finally, mHSP71 potentiated the apoptotic response of LNC in susceptible DA rat strain. In conclusion, our findings indicate involvement of HSP47 in the development of AA in the rat, and point out to the regulatory role for both HSP47 and mHSP71

Razlike u edemu šape pacova indukovanom konkanavalinom a u zavisnosti od soja - uticaj histaminskih H1 i H2 receptora

The present study tests the hypothesis that the difference in the intensity of paw edema found between the Dark Agouti (DA) and Albino Oxford (AO) rat strains originates from the distinct participation of histamine, serotonin and their corresponding receptors in Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced inflammation. DA and AO male rats were intraplantarly injected with specific receptor antagonists prior to Con A, and the intensity of inflammation was determined by measuring the paw diameter. Our results have showed that histamine H1 and H2 receptor antagonists reduced the Con A-induced paw edema in DA rats, while serotonin 5HT3 receptor antagonist diminished the inflammation in both DA and AO rat strains. The calcium channel blocker did not change Con A-induced inflammation. Strain differences in the intensity and kinetics of inflammation observed between the DA and AO rats are most likely defined by the diversity of mediators released and their receptors activated upon Con A injection.Testirana je hipoteza da razlike u intenzitetu inflamatornog edema šape indukovanog konkanavalinom A u pacova Dark Agouti (DA) i Albino Oxford (AO) soja potiču od različitog doprinosa histamina i serotonina i njihovih odgovarajućih receptora. Mužjaci pacova DA i AO soja su intraplantarno tretirani antagonistima specifičnih receptora pre izazivanja inflamacije konkanavalinom A i intenzitet inflamacije je praćen merenjem dijametra šape. Naši rezultati su ukazali da antagonisti histaminskih H1 i H2 receptora smanjuju edem šape indukovan konkanavalinom A u DA pacova, dok antagonist serotoninskih 5HT3 receptora smanjuje edem šape u oba soja pacova. Blokator kalcijumskih kanala ne utiče na inflamaciju izazvanu konkanavalinom A. Razlike u intenzitetu i kinetici inflamatornog odgovora indukovanog konkanavalinom A između DA i AO sojeva su najverovatnije posledica razlika u oslobođ enim medijatorima i aktivaciji odgovarajućih receptora nakon injekcije konkanavalina A

Fenotipske promene izazvane imunizacijom encefalitogenom menjaju funkcije peritonealnih makrofaga u dva soja pacova različite osetljivosti prema indukciji eksperimentalnog autoimunskog encefalomijelitisa (EAE).

We have investigated the phenotype of peritoneal cells and the functions of peritoneal macrophages obtained from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)-susceptible Dark Agouti (DA) and EAE-resistant Albino Oxford (AO) rat strains on days 1, 3 and 7 post immunization with encephalitogen. Resident peritoneal cells from immunized and non-immunized rats of both strains were subjected to flow cytometric analyzes and after adherence were tested for zymosan phagocytosis, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitric oxide (NO) production. In non-immunized rats, macrophages from the DA rat strain phagocytosed more zymosan but produced less H2O2 than cells from the AO strain, while both strains produced comparable amounts of NO. Immunization increased phagocytosis in DA rats' cells, but decreased both phagocytosis and H2O2 production in cells from AO rats. Overall higher phagocyte ability in DA rats was associated with a significantly larger population of ED1+ cells (macrophages and dendritic cells), in contrast to a more pronounced expression of ED2 antigen (resident macrophages) on cells from AO rats. Immunization also increased the expression of CD11b molecule on non-resident ED2-macrophages of DA, but not of AO rats. The early and subtle phenotype changes in peritoneal cells of both rat strains might mirror the mechanism contributing to their different sensitivity to the induction of autoimmunity.Ispitivan je fenotip peritonealnih ćelija, kao i funkcije peritonealnih makrofaga, izolovanih od pacova Dark Agouti (DA) soja osetljivog na indukciju eksperimentalnog autoimunskog encefalomijelitisa (EAE) i pacova Albino Oxford (AO) soja koji je rezistentan prema EAE-u, 1, 3. i 7. dana nakon imunizacije encefalitogenom. Rezidentne peritonealne ćelije su ispitivane metodom protočne citofluorometrije, a zatim je nakon adherence testirana njihova sposobnost fagocitoze čestica zimozana i kapacitet produkcije vodonik peroksida (H2O2) i azot monoksida (NO). U neimunizovanih pacova makrofage DA soja su intenzivnije fagocitovale čestice zimozana i imale nižu sposobnost produkcije H2O2 nego ćelije pacova AO soja, ali nije bilo sojnih razlika u sposobnosti produkcije NO. Imunizacija je dovela do povećanja fagocitne sposobnosti makrofaga DA pacova, ali i do smanjenja fagocitoze i produkcije H2O2 makrofaga pacova AO soja. Generalno veću sposobnost fagocitoze u DA pacova prati i značajno veća zastupljenost ED1+ ćelija (koje čine uglavnom makrofage i dendritične ćelije) nasuprot većoj zastupljenosti ED2 antigena (marker rezidentnih makrofaga) na ćelijama pacova AO soja. Imunizacija encefalitogenom je takođe dovela do povećanja ekspresije CD11b molekula na nerezidentnim ED2- ćelijama pacova DA, ali ne i AO soja. Rane i diskretne fenotipske promene na peritonealnim ćelijama pacova oba soja verovatno odslikavaju mehanizme koji doprinose njhovoj različitoj osetljivosti prema indukciji autoimunskih oboljenja

Optimization of the extraction of antioxidants from stinging nettle leaf using response surface methodology

The aim of this study was to optimize the parameters for the extraction of total flavonoids from stinging nettle leaf. Comparison of the effects of different solvents on total flavonoid content showed that, regardless of extraction time, aqueous methanolicextracts had higher total flavonoid content than did aqueous ethanolic extracts. So, full factorial design and response surface methodology (RSM) were em-ployed to estimate the effects of methanol content (50, 75and 100%) and extraction time (30, 60and 90 min) on the total flavonoid content and antioxidant capacities of the extracts. RSM analysis showed that methanol content in the solvent influenced significantly total flavonoid content and FRAP (ferric-reducing antioxidant power) antioxidant capacity, while extraction time had no significant effect on either of these responses. Extraction parameters for maximal total flavonoid content were estimated to be 69% aqueous methanol and 67 min, and 65% aqueous methanol and 83 min for maximal FRAPantioxidantcapacity. DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) antioxidant capacity was not significantly affected by extraction time or methanol percentage in the solvent

Analysis of the Prognostic Potential of Schlafen 11, Programmed Death Ligand 1, and Redox Status in Colorectal Cancer Patients

The Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) protein has recently emerged as pivotal in DNA damage conditions, with predictive potential for tumor response to cytotoxic chemotherapies. Recent discoveries also showed that the programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) protein can be found on malignant cells, providing an immune evasion mechanism exploited by different tumors. Additionally, excessive generation of free radicals, redox imbalance, and consequential DNA damage can affect intestinal cell homeostasis and lead to neoplastic transformation. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the significance of SLFN11 and PD-L1 proteins and redox status parameters as prognostic biomarkers in CRC patients. This study included a total of 155 CRC patients. SLFN11 and PD-L1 serum levels were measured with ELISA and evaluated based on redox status parameters, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and survival. The following redox status parameters were investigated: spectrophotometrically measured superoxide dismutase (SOD), sulfhydryl (SH) groups, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), malondialdehyde (MDA), pro-oxidant–antioxidant balance (PAB), and superoxide anion (O2•–). The prooxidative score, antioxidative score, and OXY-SCORE were also calculated. The results showed significantly shorter survival in patients with higher OXY-SCOREs and higher levels of serum SLFN11, while only histopathology-analysis-related factors showed significant prognostic value. OXY-SCORE and SLFN11 levels may harbor prognostic potential in CRC patients