Libraries of religious communities and institutions

Ova disertacija bavi se bibliotekama verskih zajednica i institucija u svetu, sa ciljem da prikaţe razvoj i domete teorije i prakse u ovoj posebnoj oblasti bibliotekarstva. Iako ove biblioteke imaju dugu istoriju, sama nauĉna oblast je mlada i još uvek se razvija. Na poĉetku rada dat je prikaz teorijskih radova i korišćene terminologije na nekoliko svetskih jezika. Istorijski razvoj biblioteka verskih zajednica i institucija zapadnih i istoĉnih tradicionalnih religija ukazuje na vaţnost njihove uloge u širenju religija i kultura. Razmatrana je društvena uloga biblioteka verskih zajednica i institucija u okvirima verske i društvene zajednice. Pitanja intelektualne slobode, cenzure, etike, posebno su znaĉajna za ove biblioteke zbog njihove misije da promovišu etiĉke stavove i religijska verovanja svoje zajednice. Ovaj rad bavi se i pitanjima prakse u bibliotekama verskih zajednica: katalogizacijom, klasifikacijom, selekcijom, nabavkom i razvojem fondova, radom sa korisnicima. Katalogizacija i klasifikacija u oblastima religije i teologije su specifiĉne oblasti koja zahtevaju visokostruĉna znanja. Opisani su i primeri dobre prakse konzorcijuma u oblasti objedinjene nabavke i razvoja fondova. Predstavljena je aktivnost profesionalnih udruţenja biblioteka verskih zajednica i institucija koja postoje u svetu. Digitalno okruţenje pokreće pitanja adekvatnog predstavljanja na Internetu, Web kataloga, digitalnih izvora u oblastima religije i teologije, projekata digitalizacije koji postoje u ovoj oblasti. Kao primeri specifiĉne prakse i raznovrsnosti koja postoji među bibliotekama verskih zajednica i institucija opisani su: Biblioteka porodiĉne istorije koja pripada mormonskoj zajednici, nacionalna Biblioteka tibetskih radova i arhiva u Indiji, ĉitaonice verske zajednice Hrišćanska nauka i Hilandarska nauĉna biblioteka koja se nalazi na Drţavnom univerzitetu u Ohaju

Outage minimization of energy-harvesting wireless sensor network supported by UAV

Due to their adaptability, mobility, and capacity to offer an ideal channel, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become a potential option for wireless power transfer and data collection in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). This paper examines energy-constrained WSNs, where data transfer to the data center is facilitated by UAV and sensors rely on radio frequency (RF) energy obtained by a Power Beacon (PB). However, due to energy limitations, sensors can only send data using the harvested energy. We consider a WSN in which the nodes are randomly distributed within a circular area, with the PB placed at the center of the WSN. To evaluate the system performance, we consider the dynamic nature of the wireless channel, which includes factors such as signal reflection, scattering, and diffraction. Through numerical analysis and simulations, the main aim is to identify the optimal system parameters that minimize the outage probability. This analysis provides valuable insights for designing more effective and reliable energy-harvesting WSNs with UAV as data collector. By leveraging UAV in WSNs, system performance can be improved, ensuring data transmission to destination nodes placed at a large distance from the WSN

REMOTE CONTROL OF THE MECHATRONIC REDESIGNED SLIDER-CRANK MECHANISM IN SERVICE

Slider-crank mechanisms are used in many machines where there is a need to transform rotary motion into translation, and vice versa. Implementation of the control into a mechanical assembly of the slider-crank mechanism offers a wide range of applications of such controlled mechanism in mechatronic systems. This paper shows an example of the remote control of the angular velocity of the crank in a mechatronic redesigned slider-crank mechanism in order to achieve the desired motion of the slider. The remote control is achieved over the Internet connection and the appropriate software which is executed in the user’s internet browser. The aim of this paper is to present the applied control algorithm as well as to explain advantages of the possibility to remotely run a mechatronic redesigned slider-crank mechanism in service. This is done through an example of using a controlled slider-crank mechanism in a remote laboratory experiment

Floristic composition of permanent grassland in the nature park Stara Planina (Serbia)

The five most important meadow associations on the Stara Planina Mountain in National Park "Stara Planina" were analysed in order to define initial parameters for determination of grassland potential, as well as natural resources for production of biologically valuable and high quality food and revitalization of agricultural production in hilly-mountainous region. Floristic composition of five meadow associations is presented: Medicago falcate - Festucetum rubrae at three locations around the Pirot, Triflolio - Agrostietum stoloniferae Lj. Mark. 1973, Agrostietum vulgaris Z. Pavl. 1955, two ass. Festucetum vallesiaceae - Agrostietum vulgaris Danon et Blaz. 1978 and Festuco-Agrostietum Horv. (1951) 1982.em Trinajest.1972 one. All five associations are around Dimitrovgrad. First association of Festucetum vallesiaceae - Agrostietum vulgaris Danon et Blaz. 1978 had the highest diversity with the total number of 75 species. The number of species in investigated associations was: grasses from 8 to 23, legumes from 8 to 17 and other species from 21 to 34. Participation of major meadow species based on their mass is presented in the paper. On the basis of their productivity the species belong to the associations of useful grasses, useful legumes and other useful species and weeds. The study of grasslands was done in order to establish production potentials and quality of grasslands used for grazing of small ruminants, i.e. sheep and goats

Robust optimization of gradient RP HPLC method for simultaneous determination of ivabradine and its eleven related substances by AQbD approach

This paper is aimed at developing a gradient elution reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method for the separation of a complex mixture composed of ivabradine and its eleven impurities, in a reasonable timeframe. In order to obtain a robust and reliable HPLC method for separation of this mixture, Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) was applied. This approach demonstrated to be useful in development of a long lasting life cycle methods. Four chromatographic variables were defined as key method parameters (KMPs) and optimized towards the analytical target profile (ATP). Designated KMPs were initial and final amount of acetonitrile in the mobile phase, pH value of the aqueous phase and gradient time, while resolutions of critical peak pairs were denoted as critical method attributes (CMAs). Relationships between KMPs and CMAs were obtained with the aid of Design of Experiments (DoEs) methodology among which Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed to gain valid mathematical models. Obtained mathematical equations were used to construct the Design Space (DS) and select reliable optimal separation conditions. They included 11% (v/v) and 34% (v/v) of initial and final amount of acetonitrile, respectively, as well as 45 min of gradient elution time and 20 mM ammonium acetate as aqueous mobile phase with pH set to 7.35. The possibility to separate the diastereoisomers of impurity X was also evaluated. It was demonstrated that this separation could not be achieved in gradient elution mode within the defined variable domains and in a reasonable time span. The developed method was validated according to ICH Q2 (R1) guideline and met all the required criteria

Povezanost klaničnih osobina jaradi balkanske rase koza

Objective of this study is to determine the correlation between slaughter traits of kids of Balkan goat breed. Research was carried out in underdeveloped region of Serbia, on altitude of approximately 850 m. Semiintensive breeding system, of housing and care of goats was applied. Results of the study of slaughter properties are presented in this paper, also correlation between certain measures on carcass and carcass sides established in 96 kids of Domestic Balkan breed (gender ratio 50:50), slaughtered at the age of 90 days. Average dressing percentage of warm carcass with head and offal of investigated kid population was 58.19%, whereas the value of the dressing percentage of cold carcass with head and offal was 45.19%. Male kids had statistically significantly (at the level of P (lt) 0.05 and P (lt) 0.01) higher values of carcass mass and linear carcass and carcass side measures compared to female kids. Data on established correlation coefficients between slaughter traits of Domestic Balkan kids reflect presence of highly positive and statistically significant (P (lt) 0.001) correlative dependence. Linear regression coefficients of pre-slaughter body mass of kids, as well as coefficients of determination of linear regression (from 0.41 to 0.99) indicate that this trait has very significant effect on all dressing percentages and carcass and carcass side measures. Considering the expression of slaughter traits and correlation between them in kids of Balkan breed, obtained results should be used for formulating of future programs designed to improve the production of meat from autochthonous goat breeds.Cilj ovog rada je da se utvrdi povezanost (korelacija) između klaničnih parametara jarića balkanske rase koza. Istraživanja su izvedena u nerazvijenom području R Srbije na nadmorskoj visini od oko 850 m. Primenjen je poluintenzivan sistem odgoja, smeštaj i nege koza. U radu su prikazani rezultati ispitivanja klaničnih karakteristika i utvrđena korelaciona povezanost osobina pojedinih mera na trupu i polutkama, kod 96 jaradi domaće balkanske koze (sa odnosom polova 50:50) koja su zaklana u uzrastu od 90 dana. Prosečan randman toplog trupa sa glavom i iznutricama kod jaradi ispitivane populacije iznosio je 58,19% dok je vrednost randmana hladnog trupa sa glavom bez iznutrica bila 45,19%. Muška jarad su imala statistički značajno teža i imala su veće linearne mere trupa (na nivou P (lt) 0,05 i P (lt) 0,01) u poređenju sa ženskim. Podaci o koeficijentima korelacije između ispitivanih klaničnih karakteristika jaradi domaće balkanske koze, odražavaju postojanje visoko pozitivne i statistički značajne (P (lt) 0,001), korelativne zavisnosti. Linearni regresioni koeficijenti telesne mase jaradi pred klanje, kao i koeficijenti determinacije linearne regresije (od 0.41 do 0.99), ukazuju na to da ova osobina veoma značajno utiče na sve randmane i mere na trupu i polutkama. Imajući u vidu ispoljenost i povezanost ispitivanih klaničnih karakteristika kod jaradi balkanske rase koza, dobijeni rezultati treba da se iskoriste u formulisanju budućih programa unapređenja proizvodnje mesa kod autohtnonih rasa koza

Plasma-Activated Medium Potentiates the Immunogenicity of Tumor Cell Lysates for Dendritic Cell-Based Cancer Vaccines

Autologous dendritic cells (DCs)-based vaccines are considered quite promising for cancer immunotherapy due to their exquisite potential to induce tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells. However, a lack of efficient protocols for inducing immunogenic tumor antigens limits the efficacy of DC-based cancer vaccines. Here, we found that a plasma-activated medium (PAM) induces immunogenic cell death (ICD) in tumor cells but not in an immortalized L929 cell line or human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. PAM induced an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), autophagy, apoptosis, and necrosis in a concentration-dependent manner. The tumor lysates prepared after PAM treatment displayed increased immunogenicity in a model of human monocyte-derived DCs, compared to the lysates prepared by a standard freezing/thawing method. Mature DCs loaded with PAM lysates showed an increased maturation potential, as estimated by their increased expression of CD83, CD86, CD40, IL-12/IL-10 production, and attenuated PDL1 and ILT-4 expression, compared to the DCs treated with control tumor lysates. Moreover, in co-culture with allogeneic T cells, DCs loaded with PAM-lysates increased the proportion of cytotoxic IFN-γ+ granzyme A+ CD8+ T cells and IL-17A-producing T cells and preserved the Th1 response. In contrast, control tumor lysates-treated DCs increased the frequency of Th2 (CD4+IL-4+), CD4, and CD8 regulatory T cell subtypes, none of which was observed with DCs loaded with PAM-lysates. Cumulatively, these results suggest that the novel method for preparing immunogenic tumor lysates with PAM could be suitable for improved DC-based immunotherapy of cancer patients

The effects of crossing Balkan and Saanen goat breeds on carcass traits and certain quality parameters of kid meat

The possibility for improvement of carcass traits and quality of kid meat of the autochthonous Balkan goat breed by crossing with Saanen breed was investigated in this study. The trial was carried out on one group of Balkan goat kids and three groups of kid crosses of Balkan and Saanen goats with different proportion of Saanen genes: 25, 50 and 75%. Each group had 16 male kids, which were slaughtered at the average body weight of 18 kg. With the increase in the proportion of Saanen genes, the age of kids that reached preslaughter weight decreased, the chilling loss increased and the proportion of fat tissue (kidney and pelvic fat) in the carcass side decreased (P (lt) = 0.05). The crossing also increased the proportion of carcass parts of the first category (leg and loin section), as well as muscle tissue in those parts. The highest proportion of muscle tissue in the thigh (74.91%) and loin section (75.66%) was determined in kids from the group with 75% of Saanen genes, and kids from this group also had the highest proportion of intramuscular fat (2.48%) in samples of m. longissimus dorsi. Slight differences between kid groups were established in indicators of technological meat properties, such as water binding capacity and tenderness, with the increase in the proportion of Saanen genes in the genotype. Sensory score for roasted meat was high, and scores for tenderness and juiciness were slightly higher in kid crosses with 50% and 75% of Saanen genes (P (lt) = 0.05). Results presented in this study confirm the positive effect of crossing the Saanen breed with the Balkan breed on carcass traits and for obtaining meat of more desirable quality

Uticaj telesne mase koza i laktacije po redu na porast jaradi u dojnom periodu

The paper presents results of investigation of milk yield by lactation, by order, and mother's body weight on growth rate of kids of the domestic Balkan goat. Daily weight gains of 376 single kids (168 male and 208 female), in three monthly intervals, and their final body weight at 90 days of age were established. Variability of analyzed traits was presented using descriptive statistics parameters, and differences of growth traits for weight gain of kids resulting from the effect of milk yield of female goats by order of lactation were investigated by single analysis of variance. The effect of independent variables, mothers' milk yield and body weight, on body weight of kids was tested using multiple regression analysis. During the entire suckling period, established average values for kids body weight differed significantly (P lt 0.001), increasing from the 1st toward later lactations. At 90 days of age the lowest values were established in kids from the youngest mothers (11.86 kg), while for kids of mothers in the fourth or later lactations these values were higher (13.93 kg). Coefficients of determination indicate that the variability percentage for individual growth traits of kids was in the 0.08 - 0.17 interval, indicating its significance. Both 'b' coefficients (b1 and b2) are positive and statistically highly significant, except for coefficient b2 in the analysis of body weight of kids at birth. The positive sign and high statistical significance indicate a pronounced effect of mother's milk yield and body weight on the body weight of kids up to 90 days of age.U ovom radu prikazani su rezultati ispitivanja uticaja količine mleka u laktaciji po redu, i telesne mase majke na porast jaradi domaće balkanske koze do 90 dana. U cilju ispitivanja razvoja telesne mase jaradi u zavisnosti od količine mleka u laktaciji po redu u toku dojnog perioda ukupno je izmereno 376 jaradi jedinaca (168 muških i 208 ženskih). Varijabilnost analiziranih osobina je prikazana parametrima deskriptivne statistike, dok su razlike u osobinama porasta jaradi koje su nastale pod uticajem mlečosti koza u laktaciji po redu, ispitivane jednostrukom analizom varijanse. Višestruko regresionom analizom ispitivan je uticaj nezavisno promenljivih veličina, mlečnost majke i telesna masa majke, na porast jaradi. Utvrđene vrednosti telesnih masa u toku čitavog dojnog perioda značajno su se razlikovale (P lt 0,001) i povećavale od prve ka kasnijim laktacijama, pri čemu su u uzrastu od 90 dana najmanje vrednosti utvrđene kod jaradi od najmlađih koza (11,86 kg), dok su kod jaradi čije su majke bile u četvrtoj i kasnijim laktacijama te vrednosti iznosile 13,93 kg. Koeficijenti determinacije ukazuju na to da se procenat varijabilnosti pojedinih osobina porasta jaradi nalazio u intervalu od 0,08 do 0,17, što ukazuje na njihovu značajnost. Oba 'b' koeficijenta (b1 i b2) su pozitivna i statistički visoko značajna, osim koeficijenta b2 u analizi telesne mase jaradi pri rođenju. Pozitivni predznak i visoka statistička značajnost ukazuju na izražen uticaj mlečnosti i telesne mase majki na porast jaradi do 90 dana

A search for nature’s robust proteases with zein as a substrate

Zein is produced in large quantities as a byproduct of corn starch manufacturing since it constitutes a majority of the total protein of maize seed (44–70%). Enzymatic treatment of zein significantly improves its aqueous solubility and provides peptides that are used as animal feed, functional food, or biologically active carriers for other bioactive molecules. Moreover, zein-derived peptides exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities in human organisms 1. Few attempts up to this day have been made to screen for microorganisms that are capable of zein degradation. Available protocols for proteases identification almost exclusively rely on screening on casein, skim milk, and gelatin agar in limited experimental conditions. We have screened different Bacillus sp strains isolated from across Serbia for zein-degrading proteases. To do so we developed an inexpensive, simple, and reproducible way of high throughput functional screening of zein-degrading proteases on zein-containing gels. Besides detecting proteases with specificity towards zein, a developed diffusion assay was designed to support screening for naturally occurring robust proteases with high potential for industrial application. By using classical methods of protein purification, we isolated an alkaline thermostable protease from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain 12B that is resistant to the presence of detergents, organic solvents, and high salt concentrations