Consequences of neonatal hypoxia on rat behavior

Prenatalna hipoksija stanje je smanjene opskrbe fetalnih tkiva kisikom koje moţe dovesti do oštećenja organa s dugoročnim posljedicama. Kod oštećenja mozga moţe doći do mentalne retardacije, cerebralne paralize, epilepsije i poremećaja ponašanja. Zbog toga se radi velik broj istraţivanja u kojima vaţnu ulogu imaju animalni modeli, od kojih se najčešće koristi štakor. U neonatalnog štakora, stadij razvoja mozga odgovara stadiju razvoja mozga fetusa čovjeka od 23. do 34. tjedna trudnoće, kad najčešće dolazi do problema s hipoksijom. Dosadašnja istraţivanja koristila su invazivne modele hipoksije kod kojih je ponekad teško zaključiti je li neka promjena rezultat hipoksije ili samog operacijskog zahvata. Stoga je cilj ovog istraţivanja bio razviti neinvazivni model te utvrditi postoje li promjene u lokomociji, anksioznom, eksploratornom i socijalnom ponašanju te učenju u mladih štakora, izloţenih hipoksiji u normobaričnoj komori prvog postnatalnog dana. U ovom smo diplomskom radu mladunce štakora od 33. do 45. postnatalnog dana podvrgnuli bateriji testova ponašanja: otvoreno polje, ploča s rupama, T-labirint i društveni odabir. Razina lokomotornog gibanja, anksiozno i eksploratorno ponašanje nisu se razlikovali izmeĎu skupina. U odnosu na kontrolnu skupinu, skupina izloţena hipoksiji imala je značajno manji broj točnih odabira u T-labirintu, a muţjaci i produljeno vrijeme istraţivanja druge jedinke u testu društvenog odabira. Rezultati upućuju na zaključak da neonatalno izlaganje štakora hipoksiji smanjuje sposobnost prostornog učenja i povećava socijabilnost u muţjaka.Prenatal hypoxia is a state of reduced oxygen supply to fetal tissue that can lead to organ damage with long-term consequences. Brain damage can lead to mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and behavioral disorders. For this reason, a large amount of research has been done on animal models, especially rats. In the neonatal rat, the stage of brain development matches the stage of brain development in the human fetus from the 23rd to the 34th week of pregnancy, when problems with hypoxia most often occur. Disadvantage of previously used invasive models of hypoxia is a difficulty to conclude whether the observed changes are the result of hypoxia or the operation itself. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a non-invasive model and to determine possible changes in locomotion, anxiety-like, exploratory and social behavior, and learning in young rats exposed to hypoxia in the normobaric chamber on the first postnatal day. In this study, young rats underwent the battery of behavioral tests: open field, hole board, T-maze and social choice, from the 33rd to the 34th postnatal day. The level of locomotion, anxiety-like and exploratory behavior did not differ between the groups. Compared to the control group, the hypoxia-exposed group had a significantly smaller number of correct choices in the T-maze. In addition males from the experimental group displayed prolonged research time of the conspecific in the social choice test. The findings suggest that the exposure of neonatal rats to hypoxia reduces the ability of spatial learning and increases the sociability in males

The role of Twitter in legitimating the Energy East Pipeline, Canada

This thesis explores the value of social media in contemporary democratic practices; more precisely, on the use of social media in Canadian tar-sands pipeline infrastructure debate through the lens of public sphere theory. The study aims to contribute to improved understanding of Twitter’s shaping the course of the proposed Energy East pipeline, its legitimacy and formation of public debate around it. It is based on a mixed-methods approach employing both qualitative and quantitative research methodology. Data was collected from a topic-specific content stream on Twitter, followed by a series of semi-structured interviews with some of the most influential users within a sample of collected tweets. The study identified the users, the content and socio-political context of tweets that are posted in connection with the pipeline as well as users’ perceptions of Twitter as a tool for online deliberative democratic practices. Findings indicate Twitter is praised for offering an enabling environment for citizen journalism on real-time events, its swiftness of information dissemination, enabling contact with individuals outside of users’ established social circles and the power to influence public opinion. However, the medium is not without limitations which diminish its role as an optimal tool for democratic online public deliberation. My study suggests the main hindrance for this is the absence of constructive debate due to Twitter’s character-limitation of posts and predominantly one-sided communicative processes that take place within this medium. Its role in Energy East debate remains constrained within informative and reactive aspects of its service on current developments on the pipeline polemics and has as such a limited influence on legitimation processes surrounding the project. I therefore conclude that Twitter represents only a fragment of what can be considered the new public sphere and definitely not one-size-fits-all solution to the contemporary legitimation crisis of proposed large-scale industrial projects such as Energy East pipeline.M-IE

Quality Management in Education

Having considered the current situation of the Croatian educational system and the quality of all its individual components, we can’t help but notice that the awareness of the importance of education as a foundation for the growth and development of each country isn’t strong enough. Education quality is becoming increasingly important for those who are involved in it either directly or indirectly, and for those who use its services. Access to education and quality education are to be regarded as mutually dependent and indivisible needs and rights. This is primarily achieved by developing creativity, civic and democratic values, as well as by knowledge, abilities and skills needed for everyday and professional life. Basic education is not sufficient or complete, and therefore should be considered only as a basis for learning that needs to be used all life long. Lifelong learning for all has become one of the pillars of development. Quality management is a part of management aimed at achieving quality goals through planning, monitoring, assuring and improving quality. Involving all members of the organization brings us closer to total quality control (Total Quality Management, TQM). Efficient Total quality management system in organization can facilitate quickly challenge in word market. Total quality management realize target and mission in education of young generation. TQM upgrade management quality and quality of work in education institute in general. The key points for the improvement of education are scientific and technological development, social changes and organizational changes. Education efficiency and success don’t depend just on quantity but as well on quality. The quality indicator system of education, as well as the criteria related to the quality indicators help schools to identify the crucial areas of their activities - their own advantages, disadvantages and development opportunities.quality, quality management, total quality management, educational system, quality indicators

Functionalization of cotton with poly-NiPAAm/chitosan microgel: Part II. Stimuli-responsive liquid management properties

An innovative strategy for functional finishing of cotton involves application of stimuli-responsive surface modifying system based on temperature- and pH-responsive poly-NiPAAm/chitosan microgel. The stimuli-responsiveness implied to cotton is the consequence of swelling/collapse of the microgel particles incorporated to the fibre surface, which produces an active liquid management system. The performance of functionalized cotton fabric in terms of liquid management properties was assessed by choosing appropriate techniques (water uptake; thin-layer wicking; water retention capacity; and drying capability) and discussion of the results was based on the types of water that are expected to be present in hydrated cotton and stimuli-responsive microgel

Dirac parameters and topological phase diagram of Pb1-xSnxSe from magneto-spectroscopy

Pb1-xSnxSe hosts 3D massive Dirac fermions across the entire composition range for which the crystal structure is cubic. In this work, we present a comprehensive experimental mapping of the 3D band structure parameters of Pb1-xSnxSe as a function of composition and temperature. We cover a parameter space spanning the band inversion that yields its topological crystalline insulator phase. A non-closure of the energy gap is evidenced in the vicinity of this phase transition. Using magnetooptical Landau level spectroscopy, we determine the energy gap, Dirac velocity, anisotropy factor and topological character of Pb1-xSnxSe epilayers grown by molecular beam epitaxy on BaF2 (111). Our results are evidence that Pb1-xSnxSe is a model system to study topological phases and the nature of the phase transition.Comment: Submitte

Italija u politici kralja Aleksandra i kneza Pavla (1918-1941)

In the first section the author points out the situation of the Yugoslav state immediately after the end of World War I in 1918 — a situation more than unsatisfactory in both foreign and domestic affairs. As a result, the leaders implemented a policy of relaxing tensions and avoiding any eventual conflict — particularly with Italy. The Regent Alexander, who later was the King, advocated this policy of caution, malleability, and extreme moderation towards Italy. It was Alexander who discreetly pushed through the "agreement" with Italy and later, after conclusion of the Treaty of Rapallo (1920), he further attempted to win Italian favor with a policy of relaxation and thereby to create a basis for cooperation. He strove to continue this policy because changes had taken place in Italy in the autumn of 1922 and the Duce, Benito Mussolini had taken power. Working from the assumption that cooperation with Italy was possible and that relaxation would convince her of this, which would in turn lead to friendship, Alexander sought a modus vivendi with the "new, young" Italy. This policy coincided with Alexander\u27s own political inclinations, for he was unfavorable to neither fascism as an ideology and operation of the far right, nor to the Duce himself. This policy was instrumented through the foreign minister M. Ninčić, and later, for a longer period of time, by V. Marinković. Under Marinković a treaty of friendship and cooperation was signed in Rome in 1924. Somewhat later, in 1925, the Nettun Conventions were concluded; although in the face of heavy opposition, Marinković was not able to obtain ratification until 1928. The regime in Belgrade took all possible measures for reciprocal extension of the 1924 Italian-Yugoslav treaty, but Mussolini adamantly refused. Even this setback failed to deter Alexander in his search for a way to Mussolini, and he initiated two parallel efforts on the diplomatic front with the same strategic goal. One was headed by Marinković, who engaged in a dialogue with the Italian foreign minister D. Grandi, and the other by the King himself; the latter in such great secrecy that the foreign minister himself was kept in the dark. Neither Marinković\u27s attempts with Grandi nor the King\u27s with the Italian representative, G. M. Cappi, were able to persuade Mussolini to open a new chapter in Yugoslav-Italian relations. Negotiations foundered on the question of Albania, as Italy was adamant in demanding that Yugoslavia recognize the "predominance" of Italian interests in Albania - a move Alexander was unwilling to make. When this became evident in the course of negotiations, Mussolini instrumented a radical turnabout in policy, and, after an unsuccessful uprising (the so-called "Velebit Uprising") and the Oreb assassination attempt in Zagreb, he succeeded in removing King Alexander from the political scene with the help of the Ustaše organization in Marseille, October 9, 1934. In the second section the author presents the policies of Prince Paul towards Italy and Mussolini. Prince Paul, as the regent and undoubted architect of Yugoslav domestic and foreign policy after 1934, benefitted from the example of his royal predecessor and was less eager to look to Mussolini for a joint platform of future cooperation. Where Alexander had been caught between France and Italy, Prince Paul\u27s position was in essence quite different. On the one hand lay Adolf Hitler\u27s Germany, which required increasing attention, and on the other was Great Britain, with whom lay most of the Prince\u27s sympathies in any event. That was the basis for Prince Paul\u27s development of the following concept in foreign policy: a continual increase in economic ties with Germany as a potential protector from neighboring Italy\u27s excessive (and always dangerous) appetite, an easing of ties with France accompanied by a discreet reliance on Great Britain, a persistant refusal to recognize the Soviet Union, and a gradual improvement of relations with fascist Italy. This meant virtual inclusion of Yugoslavia in the neutralist camp! Conclusion of the "Belgrade Agreements" by Ciano and Stojadinović in 1937 was facilitated by the Prince\u27s greater desire to see the Ustaše organization liquidated than to increase tension over the "predominance" of Italian interests in Albania. Later developments showed the Prince\u27s calculations to have been productive in several instances. The Italian attack on Greece in 1940 introduced new elements into the general military situation and Yugoslavia\u27s situation in particular. Hitler could not permit his Axis partner to be defeated, and he therefore resolved to "straighten out" Yugoslavia before embarking on "Operation Marita" against Greece and the British Expeditionary Force in the spring of 1941, as a prelude to the enormous dimensions of his "Operation Barbarossa" against the Soviet Union. Faced with demands that Yugoslavia unhesitatingly join the Tripartite Pact, the Prince finally gave in, thereby receiving from Berlin significant concessions which were actually in direct contradiction to the Tripartite Pact treaty. Yugoslavia\u27s joining the Tripartite Pact, however, and her formal attachment to the Axis were so unpopular with the Yugoslav masses, that this anti-fascist mood of the masses served as a butress to the forces which engineered the coup d’état on March 27, 1941, bringing down the Regency and the government of Dragiša Cvetković and forcing Prince Paul into exile

Restrictions of life at high altitudes and physiological adaptations in animals

Velike visine oduvijek su privlačile ljude, naročito planinare i skijaše. No s velikim visinama dolazi i nepogodan okoliš karakteriziran velikom hladnoćom, niskim tlakom i hipoksijom. Upravo niski tlak i hipoksija stvaraju najveću opasnost za ljudsko zdravlje. Ovaj rad pregled je fizioloških procesa koji se zbivaju u tijelu, a uzrokovani su hipoksijom. Objašnjen je i pojam aklimatizacije te se opisuju neke visinske bolesti kao i njihovo liječenje. Rad razmatra prilagodbe stanovnika velikih visina (životinje i starosjedioce) na hipoksične uvjete. Dosta radova napravljeno je na ovom području, ali mnogo mehanizama još uvijek je nepoznato te zahtijevaju dodatno istraživanje. Također je potrebno istražiti bolesti i prilagodbe kod ljudi i životinja kako bi se pronašli odgovarajući životinjski modeli.High altitudes have always been attractive to people, especially mountaineer and skiers. They are charachterized by hostile environment, extreme cold, low pressure and hypoxia. Low pressure and hypoxia are charachteristics that pose the biggest threat to human health.This article is an overview of physiological processes caused in body by hypoxia. It also explanins concept of acclimatization and describes some illnesses caused by high altitudes as well as their treaments. Article also investigates adaptations of high altitude rezidents (animals and natives) on hypoxic conditions. Lot of work has been done in this area, but many mechanisms still remain unexplained and in need of future research. To find appropriate animal models future research of ilneses and adaptations in humans and animals should be conducted