TURISTIČKA DJELATNOST I MENADŽMENT – IZAZOV ZA ŽENE

The tourist trade and tourism management represent a special challenge to women. If this is the century of tourism, and if this is the time of “pink-collars” in management, that is, an invasion of female managers, then the domination of women in this industry can truly be expected. The authors point to numerous trends in tourism development that women have successfully embraced. Inevitable questions arise in the Balkan region: Is there a fear of strong women? What is the business style of female managers and what advantages do female managers have over their male counterparts? The authors seek the answers to these and other questions through case studies.Turistička djelatnost i menadžment predstavljaju poseban izazov za žene. Ako je prema očekivanjima ovo stoljeće – stoljeće turizma, a u menadžmentu vrijeme “ružičastih” kragni tj. najezda žena menadžera, onda se s pravom očekuje njihova dominacija baš u ovoj djelatnosti. Autori stoga ukazuju na mnogobrojne trendove u razvoju turizma koje s uspjehom riješavaju žene. Neizbežna pitanja za Balkan, pritom, su: postoji li strah od jakih žena; kakav je poslovni stil žene menadžera i koje su prednosti žene – menadžera u odnosu na muškarca. Odgovore na ova pitanja, ali i neka druga autori su pokušali dobiti i preko studije slučaja

In vitro synergistic antibacterial activity of Salvia officinalis L. and some preservatives

The aim of this work was to investigate the antibacterial activity of aqueous extracts of the species Salvia officinalis L. and its synergistic action with the preservatives sodium nitrite, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate in vitro against selected food spoiling bacteria. Synergism was assessed by the checkerboard assay method and quantitatively represented by the FIC index. Synergistic action was established for aqueous extract/sodium benzoate, aqueous extract/potassium sorbate, aqueous extract/sodium nitrite combinations. Synergism was detected in relation to: Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Bacillus subtilis and Proteus sp. Synergism was established at plant extract and preservative concentrations corresponding up to 1/8 MIC values

In vitro interaction between Agrimonia eupatoria L. extracts and antibiotic

Synergistic activity between water, acetone, ethanol and diethyl ether extract of Agrimonia eupatoria L. and commonly used antibiotic (ampicillin) were evaluated. Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used. Interaction between plant extracts and antibiotic were tested by checkerboard method and expressed as fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index showed indifferent, additive and synergistic effects. Synergism was observed against E. coli for every combination of agents. FICI values were ranged from 0.03 to 0.29. Inhibitory concentration (IC50) was evaluated for every combination of tested extracts and antibiotic and the best combinations for every tested bacteria were combination of diethyl ether extract + ampicillin and combination of acetone extract + ampicillin

Dijagnostički značaj određivanja proteina u cerebrospinalnoj tečnosti kod diferencijalne dijagnostike oboljenja CNS-a

The differential diagnosis between inflammatory and noninflammatory diseases of CNS includes CSF quantitative measurements of immunoglobulin and albumin concentrations and their comparison to the serum. For that purpose we estimated the concentrations of albumin and immunoglobulin G both in CSF and serum of patients with inflammatory and noninflammatory diseases of CNS. Parallely, these parameters were determined in the control group composed of patients having the values of investigated parameters within reference ranges. The obtained data were statistically evaluated by nonparametric Mann-Whitney test. The values of calculated CSF/albumin ratio have shown significant differences between the both patient groups and the control one (p lt 0.001). It proves that in each examined group the blood brain barrier is damaged. For the assessment of intrathecal IgG synthesis we have calculated both IgG/albumin index and Schuller index. The comparison of the values obtained for patients with noninflammatory diseases to the control one, revealed no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05). On the contrary, significant difference have been observed between the group with inflammatory diseases and the control (p lt 0.05), proving the existence of IgG intrathecal synthesis. Values of both indexes were much higher in patients with inflammatory than noninflamatory diseases, meaning that they can be used in differential diagnosis.Diferencijalna dijagnoza inflamatornih i neinflamatornih oboljenja CNS-a, obuhvata kvantitativno određivanje koncentracija imunoglobulina i albumina, kao i njihovo poređenje sa serumom. Koncentracije albumina i imunoglobulina G određene su u cerebrospinalnoj tečnosti (CST) u serumu pacijenata sa inflamatornim i neinflamatornim oboljenjima CNS-a. Ovi parametri određeni su i u kontrolnoj grupi, sačinjenoj od pacijenata kod kojih su ispitivani parametri bili u granicama referentnih vrednosti. Dobijeni rezultati statistički su obrađeni neparametarskim Mann-Whitney testom. Izračunate vrednosti CSF/albumin pokazale su statistički značajne razlike između obe grupe pacijenata i kontrolne grupe (p lt 0,001). Ovo dokazuje da je kod obe grupe pacijenata krvno moždana barijera oštećena. Za procenu intratekalne sinteze IgG izračunati su Ig/albumin indeks i Schuller-ov index. Poređenjem vrednosti za pacijente sa nezapaljenskim oboljenjima i kontrolne grupe nisu nađene značajne razlike (p > 0,05). Suprotno, statistički značajne razlike uočene su između grupe sa inflamatornim oboljenjima i kontrolne grupe (p lt 0,05), što ukazuje na postojanje intratekalne sinteze IgG-a. Vrednosti izračunatih indeksa za zapaljenske procese bile su značajno više u odnosu na nezapaljenska oboljenja (p lt 0,05), što se može iskoristiti za diferencijalnu dijagnozu ovih oboljenja

Biological activities of extracts from cultivated Granadilla Passiflora alata

Research conducted in this study showed the influence of ethanol, acetone and ethyl acetate extracts of the outgrowth of cultivated Passiflora alata on microorganisms, as well as the antioxidant activity and the concentrations of total phenols, flavonoids and tannins. In vitro antimicrobial activities of extracts were studied on 27 species of microorganisms, of which 17 species of bacteria and 10 species of fungi. The strongest antimicrobial activity was detected on G+ bacteria while the activities on other species were moderate. Ethyl acetate extract showed the strongest effect. The concentrations of total phenols were examined by using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and the obtained values ranged from 14.04 to 34.22 mg GA/g. By using aluminium chloride method, the concentrations of flavonoids were obtained and the values ranged from 33.19 to 62.30 mg RU/g. In determining the amount of tannins we used the method with buthanol-HCl reagent and the obtained value was 5.1 % of dry matter. The efficiency of antioxidation, which we identified through the reduction of DPPH, was in the range from 808.69 to 1107.79 μg/ml for a particular IC50, and AAI values were between 0.07 and 0.10. The best parameters were shown by ethanol extract. All data were statistically analyzed. Overall, extracts showed potential for further investigation and use

Bioactive extracts of Gentiana asclepiadea: antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antibiofilm activity

Extracts of the aerial parts and roots of the wild-growing medicinal plant Gentiana asclepiadea were analysed for their antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant activity with quantification of the total phenolic and total flavonoid content. Antimicrobial activity was tested against pathogenic and spoilage bacteria, yeasts, and moulds using the microdilution method. The strongest antibacterial activity was detected on Bacillus species, where minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of from 0.16 mg/mL to 5 mg/mL were obtained, while antifungal activity was low to moderate, with MICs between 1.25 and 20 mg/mL. In the crystal violet assay, the extracts inhibit 50% biofilm formation in the concentration range of from 2.12 to 37.04 mg/mL. Staphylococcus aureus, S. aureus ATCC 25923, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 biofilms were the most sensitive to the presence of extracts. The extracts rich in phenolic compounds showed good DPPH-scavenging activity, with EC50 values between 181.3 and 614.3 μg/mL for extracts of aerial parts and from 426.67 to >1000 μg/mL for root extracts. Even though G. asclepiadea has long been traditionally used, its biological activity is still insufficiently explored, so the obtained results are significant for contributing new knowledge about the plant's medicinal properties

Antimicrobial, antioxidant and antibiofilm activity of extracts of Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall.

In this paper, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, the concentrations of total phenols, flavonoids, tannins and proanthocyanidins in the water, acetone, diethyl ether and ethanol extracts of Melilotus officinalis L. were analysed and their effect on the bacterial biofilm formation. The highest concentration of total phenols (36.25 mgGA/g) and tannins (21.25 mgGA/g) were detected in the water extract. The highest concentration of flavonoids (53.09 mgRU/g) was detected in the acetone extract. Proanthocyanidins were not detected in the water extract, while the highest concentration of these compounds was measured in the acetone extract (3.77 mgCChE/g). The antioxidant and reducing power of the M. officinalis extracts were measured by spectrophotometric method, and all results were compared to vitamin C and water extract of Aronia melanocarpa. The water extract showed the highest antioxidant activity, while the diethyl ether extract the lowest one. The extent of reducing power in the examined extracts was various. The water extract demonstrated the highest activity and the absorbance was from 0.03 to 0.68, while the lowest reducing power was demonstrated in the diethyl ether extract whose absorbance was from 0.04 to 0.20. In vitro antimicrobial activity was tested by microdilution method determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum microbicidal concentration (MMC). 25 microorganisms were examined, including 19 species of bacteria and 6 species of fungi. The extracts showed greater effect on G+ bacteria than on the G- bacteria. The acetone extract showed the highest antimicrobial activity. The acetone extract inhibit the biofilm formation of bacteria Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Publishe

Experimental examination of the applicability of additive technologies in the field of rapid tooling - injection molding

In this paper, an experimental examination/analyzing applicability and machinability of the polymer material’s core and cavity formed using additive technology (rapid tooling) was conducted. Achieving the price reduction of the final product, as well as the price of the mold for plastic injection through the introduction of rapid tooling injection molding can be applied, not only to mass production, but also to small series production. This research is limited to obtaining plane parts of simpler geometry from polypropylene polymer material. Obtained results showed that, at this point, it is not directly possible to completely produce a core and cavity only through additive technologies. In order to achieve some tolerances at specific places, it is still necessary that the core and cavities are machined with conventional methods. On the other hand, it turned out that by using a polymer core and cavity, it is possible to produce a smaller series of the parts

Early Leaf Removal Increases Berry and Wine Phenolics in Cabernet Sauvignon Grown in Eastern Serbia

Cluster zone leaf removal is a well-established viticulture practice for improving cluster mi-croclimate and wine quality in cooler climates, while its efficacy in warmer conditions is less is known. Here we compared the effect of early (ELR, after fruit set; diameter of berries 3–5 mm) and late (LLR, beginning of veraison) leaf removal on berry composition and wine phenolic profile of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) variety Cabernet Sauvignon grown in a temperate, warmer region of Eastern Serbia. Compared to the control (no leaf removal), both leaf removal treatments increased the sugar content in fresh juice and alcohol concentration in wine. Over three consecutive years (2011–2013) markedly different in temperature and rainfall, ELR was clearly most effective in decreasing weights of cluster and of one berry, and in increasing of skin share in a berry. The content of total phenols, tartaric acid esters, anthocyanins, and flavanols in berry skin and wine was the highest in ELR treatment. ELR prominently modified the phenolic profile: Increasing flavanols, myricetin and quercetine in skin and wine, and anthocyanins, peonidin-3-glucoside in skin and delphinidin-3-glucoside in wine. This work demonstrated that early leaf removal positively influenced the chemical composition of berries and wine of Cabernet Sauvignon and might be recommended for practice in the temperate warm conditions

Immortelle (Xeranthemum annum L.) as a natural source of biologically active substances

Antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, total phenolic content and flavonoid concentrations of methanolic, acetone and ethyl acetate extracts from Xeranthemum annuum L. were investigated in this study. The total phenolic content was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and ranged between 101.33 to 159.48 mg GA/g. The concentration of flavonoids in various X. annuum extracts was determined using spectrophotometric method with aluminum chloride and the results varied from 22.25 to 62.42 mg RU/g. Antioxidant activity was monitored spectrophotometrically using DPPH reagent and expressed in terms of IC50 (μg/ml), and it ranged from 59.25 to 956.81 μg/ml. The highest phenolic content and capacity to neutralize DPPH radicals were found in the acetone extract. In vitro antimicrobial activity was determined by microdilution method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum microbicidal concentration (MMC) have been determined. Testing was conducted against 24 microorganisms, including 15 strains of bacteria (standard and clinical strains) and 9 species of fungi. Statistically significant difference in activity between the extracts of X. annuum L. was observed and the acetone extract was found most active. The activity of acetone extract was in accordance with total phenol content and flavonoid concentration measured in this extract. The tested extracts showed significant antibacterial activity against G+ bacteria and weak to moderate activity against other microorganisms. Based on the obtained results, X. annuum can be considered as a rich natural source of polyphenolic compounds with very good antioxidant and antimicrobial activity