Penile morphology in six populations of Branchipus schaefferi Fischer, 1834 (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) from Serbia

Male genital morphology of six populations of Branchipus schaefferi from different locations in Serbia is described. Both qualitative and quantitative morphological traits were taken into consideration. The majority of males from lowland parts of the country (Pannonian Plane) had a long sickle-curved or arched spine situated on the basal part of the penis. Males sampled in the south-eastern part of the country (the region of Stara Planina Mountains) possessed short, straight or slightly bowed basal spine. A distal penile part appeared as a more stable character than the proximal one. Males from one of the examined populations possessed roundish and spineless penile tip, a feature heretofore not described in B. schaefferi.Acta Zoologica Bulgarica (2017), 69(1): 17-2

Distribution of high-risk types of human papillomavirus compared to histopathological findings in cervical biopsies in women

Introduction: In over of 99% cases of cervical cancer its appearing is preceded by persistent cervical epithelium infection caused by high-risk oncogenic types of human papillomavirus (HPV). The aim of the study was to examine the distribution of high-risk oncogenic HPV types compared to patohistological diagnoses of cervical diseases in women. Materials and methods: The study included 56 women with suspected premalignant and malignant cervical lesions, due to suspected colposcopic and cytological findings (Papanicolaou test). The HPV typing by 'in situ' hybridization method on high-risk HPV types 16, 18, 31 and 33 was performed in all patients from cervical smear as well as cervical biopsy. Histological findings of cervical biopsy was a 'gold standard' in the analysis of materials. Results: Histologically detected premalignant or malignant changes of the cervix were found at 34 (60.7%) of all 56 examined women: 17 of them had LSIL, 13 of them had HSIL, while 4 had squamous cell carcinoma. A positive HPV test had a 47 (84%) of them with a prove of the presence of one or more types of HPV. The most common type of virus was HPV 16 and it was detected in 27 (48.2%) women, followed by HPV 31 that was detected in 26 (46.4%) women, HPV 18 in 18 (32.1%) of women and HPV 33 in 4 (7.1%) women. The infection caused by oncogenic type HPV16 was significantly more frequent in patients with HSIL and cervical cancer (p<0,001), while the infection caused by oncogenic type HPV 31 was significantly more frequent in patients with LSIL and cervicitis (p=0,003). The distribution of HPV 18 and HPV 33 types was not statistically significantly different in patients with different histological findings (HPV 18, p = 0.41; HPV 33, p = 1.0). Conclusion: Based on our results we can conclude that there is a good correlation of HPV infection with pre-malignant cervical lesions and cervical cancer. The incidence of HPV type 16 infection increased with severity of cervical lesions and it is usually detected high-risk oncogenic type virus in women with severe cervical lesions type like HSIL and cancer are. HPV 31 is the most common high-risk type of HPV of mild type lesions, like LSIL and cervicitis are. We believe that women infected by high-risk oncogenic HPV types, although without histologically diagnose of cervical lesion, should be more frequent control by colposcopy and cytology (Papanicolaou) test, because of possible disease progression to a more advanced level

FUZZY LOGIC-BASED CONTROL OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL CRANE SYSTEM

The control of three-dimensional (3D) crane system represents one of the most widely challenging control problems. 3D crane system is used for lifting and moving loads horizontally, as well as lowering and realizing the gripper to the original position. In this paper fuzzy logic-based control of three-dimensional crane (3D) system is presented. Hence the system produces oscillations during moving loads, the main objective of the designed controller is to control the swing angle. As a plant for controller design, the bond graph model of 3D crane system is used. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed control method, several digital simulations with concrete values of parameters are performed using Matlab. The simulations results show that the proposed fuzzy logic control produce better performance in regard to the reduction of undesired oscillations.Key words: bond graph, 3D crane, Dymola, fuzzy control, modeling and simulation, Matlab/Simulin

Removal of the As(V) and Cr(VI) from the Water Using Magnetite/3D-Printed Wollastonite Hybrid Adsorbent

In this study, the structure, morphology and composition of the synthesized magnetite/3D-printed wollastonite (3D_W/M) composite were characterized, and its adsorption performance with respect to As(V) and Cr(VI) were studied. Magnetite (MG) modified 3D printed wollastonite was obtained by two step procedure: modification of 3D_W with 3-aminoproylsilane (APTES) followed by controlled magnetite (MG) deposition to obtain 3D_W/M adsorbent. The structure/properties of 3D_W/M were confirmed by applying FTIR, XRD, TGD/DTA, and SEM analysis. The adsorption properties of hybrid adsorbents were carried out for As(V) and Cr(VI) removal-one relative to the initial pH value, the adsorbent mass, the temperature, and the adsorption time. Time-dependent adsorption study was best described by pseudo-second order equation, while Weber Morris analysis showed that intraparticle diffusion controled diffusional transport. Similar activation energy, 17.44 and 14.49 kJ•mol-1 for adsorption As(V) and Cr(VI) on 3D_W/M, respectively, indicated main contribution of physical adsorption. Determination of adsorption parameters was performed by applying different adsorption isotherm models, and the best fit was obtained using Freundlich model. The adsorption capacity of 24.16 and 29.6 mg g-1 for As(V) and Cr(VI) at 2o C, Co = 5.5 and 5.3 mg L-1, respectively, were obtained. Thermodynamic study indicated favourable process at a higher temperature. Preliminary fixed-bed column study and results fitting with Bohart-Adams, Yoon-Nelson, Thomas, and Modified dose-response model showed good agreement with results from the batch study

Drugs with the highest drug expenditure in the Republic of Serbia

Introduction: The policy concerning drugs represents a concentrated effort to achieve better health outcomes for all, with a particular focus on people's access to and rational use of medications. On the basis of pharmacoeconomic analyses, it is possible to modify established prescribing habits, it is possible to influence the creation of guidelines, development strategy and long-term health care planning. Aim: The aim of the work was to determine drugs with the highest expenditure in the Republic of Serbia, and to compare the results obtained in three consecutive years 2016, 2017 and 2018. Also, to analyze which are the most expensive medications listed in the National Register of Medications and what is the trend of changing them. Material and methods: The drug expenditure was monitored using the ATC/DDD methodology. It implies the classification of medications according to the internationally accepted ATC classification of drugs, while DDD, i.e. defined daily dose, is used as a statistical unit for consumption monitoring. The number of DDD/1,000 inhabitants per day provides an insight into how many inhabitants (out of 1,000 of them) used the observed medication and were exposed to its effects during one day. Results: The trend of expenditure of these medications was growing exponentially from 2016 to 2018. The most expensive medications per box are from group J - anti-infective drugs for systemic use and L - antineoplastics and immunomodulators, but their expenditure in the Republic of Serbia is very low. The drugs with the highest price per 1 DDD are: enzymes imiglucerase, laronidase and the biological medication basiliximab in all three years, but considering the indications and rare prescribing, the total cost for these drugs is not high. The largest funds in the Republic of Serbia for the mentioned period were spent on drugs such as: acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol in combinations, trastuzumab, pantoprazole, amlodipine and rosuvastatin. Comparing the spending on L group of drugs in 2017 compared to 2016, there was a significant increase. Conclusion: The medications with the highest expenditure in the Republic of Serbia are used very little compared to countries with good pharmacotherapy practice. The most expensive drugs are those that are used for special and rare indications, and large amounts of money are not allocated for them as for some cheaper, but more frequently prescribed drugs

Structured headache services as the solution to the ill-health burden of headache: 1. Rationale and description

In countries where headache services exist at all, their focus is usually on specialist (tertiary) care. This is clinically and economically inappropriate: most headache disorders can effectively and more efficiently (and at lower cost) be treated in educationally supported primary care. At the same time, compartmentalizing divisions between primary, secondary and tertiary care in many health-care systems create multiple inefficiencies, confronting patients attempting to navigate these levels (the “patient journey”) with perplexing obstacles. High demand for headache care, estimated here in a needs-assessment exercise, is the biggest of the challenges to reform. It is also the principal reason why reform is necessary. The structured headache services model presented here by experts from all world regions on behalf of the Global Campaign against Headache is the suggested health-care solution to headache. It develops and refines previous proposals, responding to the challenge of high demand by basing headache services in primary care, with two supporting arguments. First, only primary care can deliver headache services equitably to the large numbers of people needing it. Second, with educational supports, they can do so effectively to most of these people. The model calls for vertical integration between care levels (primary, secondary and tertiary), and protection of the more advanced levels for the minority of patients who need them. At the same time, it is amenable to horizontal integration with other care services. It is adaptable according to the broader national or regional health services in which headache services should be embedded. It is, according to evidence and argument presented, an efficient and cost-effective model, but these are claims to be tested in formal economic analyses

The politics of performance: transnationalism and its limits in former Yugoslav popular music, 1999–2004

This paper examines transnational relations between the Yugoslav successor states from the point of view of popular music, and demonstrates how transnational musical figures (such as Djordje Balaševi?, Mom?ilo Bajagi?-Bajaga and Ceca Ražnatovi?) are interpreted as symbolic reference points in national ethnopolitical discourse in the process of identity construction. Another symbolic function is served by Serbian turbofolk artists, who in Croatia serve as a cultural resource to distance oneself from a musical genre associated by many urban Croats with the ruralization (and Herzegovinization) of Croatian city space. In addition, value judgements associated with both Serbian and Croatian newly composed folk music provide an insight into the transnational negotiation of conflicting identities in the ex-Yugoslav context. Ultimately the paper shows how the ethnonational boundaries established by nationalizing ideologies created separate cultural spaces which themselves have been transnationalized after Yugoslavia's disintegration

The effectiveness of certain antibiotics in the treatment of acute otitis media in children

Among the many antibiotics that treat infections of the respiratory system, the most common and with a large role are penicillins, cephalosporins, and macrolides. Acute otitis media is rapidly formed otitis media, with the duration of the inflammatory process to 3 weeks. As a rule, there is a nasal-pharyngeal route, and causes are viruses, bacteria and / or a viral / bacterial coinfection. To determine the effectiveness of amoxicillin, amoxicillin with clavulanate, ceftriaxone and azithromycin in children aged 0 to 14 years, depending on the number of repeat episodes. 120 patients with acute inflammation of the middle ear, treated in the cabinet of Otorhinolaryngology of Health Center of Gracanica. Diagnosis of the patients was placed and confirmed on the basis of physical examination, laboratory and microbiological analysis and tympanometry findings. 120 children aged 0-14 years. 52 (43.33%) male and 68 (56.67%) female. In 37 (30.83%) an episode of OMA, in 41 (34.86%) two episodes, in 29 (24.16%) three, in 13 (10.83%) cases more than three episodes in the past year. In 23 (19.16%) two epizide acute inflammation shorter than two months, in 11 (9.16%) children 3 episodes in 6 months, and in 13 (10.83%) children four episodes OMA for a period of one year . Causes: Streptococcus pneumoniae (37.64%), Haemophilus inphluenzae (14.11%), Moraxella catarrhalis (12.94%) and Pseudomonas (12.94%), Staphylococcus aureus (4.70%), Escherichia coli (4.70%) and Streptococcus pyogenes (3.52%). Amoxicillin (90 mg / kg bw) and amoxicillin + clavulanate (90 mg / kg bw), azithromycin (5-10 mg / kg bw), ceftriaxone (50mg / kg). Based on our research, we came to the data that is generally consistent with the WHO recommendations for the treatment of OMA in children