ANALYSIS OF BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT USING THE MULTI-CRITERIA APPROACH – CASE OF BALKAN’S TRANSITION ECONOMIES

Due to the lack of their own financial resources, attracting the foreign direct investment (FDI) isthe main prerequisite for transitional economies in order to increase production and employment, sothat they can ensure the long term sustainable economic growth. In addition, the foreign directinvestment is an important instrument for the economy restructuring, based on market principles.However, achieving this goal is not simple at all. In order to attract foreign investors, it is necessaryto create a favorable business environment in transition countries, which requires a number ofeconomic, institutional, political and other reforms. The aim of this paper is to point out the mainfactors attracting foreign direct investment and, by using the multi-criteria approach, to rank theBalkan’s transition economies depending on the preferences of investors taking into account certaincomponents of the business environment

Izolacija i karakterizacija autohtonih sojeva bakterija mlečne kiseline izdvojenih iz sjeničkog sira

Lactic acid bacteria strains isolated from autochtonous cheeses of Sjenica were researched. In those products, where starters were not added fermentation occurs as a result of natural flora present in the surrounding environment. Forty thermophilic, mesophilic and citrat+ LAB strains were isolated by selective mediums (MRS agar, LM17 agar and LDC agar) from 5 samples of Sjenica-cheese. These strains were exposed to the further analysis and indetification. After examination by Gram test and catalase test, 23 strains of LAB, were selected for further analysis. On the basis of lactose fermentation manner and acid production in 1% reconstituted skim milk, only 6 strains were selected. Determination of theese strains by API 50 CHL and Rapid ID 32 Strep tests, showed that 2 strains belong to the Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis, 1 strain to the Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris, 1 strain to the Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis bivar. diacetylactis and 2 strains to the Lactobacillus para. paracasei.U radu su izolovani i karakterisani sojevi bakterija mlečne kiseline izdvojeni iz sjeničkog sira, proizvedenog autohtonom tehnologijom, bez dodavanja starter kultura. Iz pet uzoraka sjeničkog sira izvršena je izolacija 40 termofilnih, mezofilnih i citrat+ sojeva BMK na odgovarajućim selektivnim podlogama (MRS agar, LM17 agar i LDC agar). Ovi sojevi su dalje podvrgnuti ispitivanju na Gram reakciju i katalaza test, posle čega je izabrano 23 soja za dalja ispitivanja. Na osnovu načina fermentacije laktoze i acidogene sposonosti praćene u 1% rekonstituisanom obranom mleku selekcionisano je samo šest sojeva. Determinacijom ovih sojeva pomoću API CHL 50 i Rapid ID 32 Strep testa, pokazalo se da dva soja pripadaju Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis, jedan soj Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris jedan soj Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis bivar. diacetylactis i dva soja Lactobacillus para. paracasei vrsti

Possibilities for paranormal tourism development in Serbia

This paper aims to identify possibilities for paranormal tourism development in Serbia and to determine domestic tourists’ interest in participating in paranormal tourism. Paranormal places and bizarre rituals have been defined as potential paranormal tourism localities and events. Paranormal tourism is one of the new forms of special interest tourism. It is evident that paranormal tourism is a result of the expansion of other related types of tourism, such as dark tourism, ghost tourism, spiritual tourism, cultural tourism, ethnological tourism, new age tourism and pilgrimage tourism. It is defined by tourists’ interest in topics which challenge realist ontologies and representational epistemologies. The present study examines responses from 405 Serbia residents (potential tourists). After using descriptive statistics, Independent Samples T-Test and ANOVA, the study finds that potential tourists are interested in visiting certain paranormal places, and there is a possibility to develop this type of tourism in Serbia. The current work is the first study of paranormal tourism in Serbia and one of the few studies in the world

Williams syndrome – phenotypical and developmental specificities

Vilijamsov sindrom je genetski i razvojni poremećaj okarakterisan brojnim anomalijama i sniženim kvalitetom razvojnog seta. Strukturiranje (re)habilitacionog tretmana u slučaju ove kliničke slike je i dalje izazovno. Cilj ovog rada je analiziranje podataka o fenotipskom određenju i neurorazvojnim karakteristikama Vilijamsovog sindroma. Sistematski pregled literature objavljene u akademskim publikacijama izvršen je pretraživanjem elektronskih baza podataka koje su dostupne preko servisa Konzorcijuma biblioteka Srbije za objedinjenu nabavku – KOBSON, kao i korišćenjem pretrage uz Research Gate, Academia i Google Scholar. Rezultati ovako načinjene analize ukazuju da kombinacija intelektualne ometenosti, medicinskih problema, poremećaja u ponašanju, psiholoških i adaptivnih deficita dovodi do značajnih ograničenja kvaliteta života kod osoba sa Vilijamsovim sindromom. Zato se u radu naglašava važnost psihoedukacione evaluacije jedinstvenog kognitivnog i bihevioralnog profila u službi pravilnog kreiranja odgovarajućeg obrazovnog plana.Williams syndrome is a genetic and developmental disorder characterized by numerous anomalies and reduced quality of the developmental set. Structuring (re)habilitation treatment regarding this clinical picture is still challenging. The aim of this paper is to analyze data on the phenotypic determination and neurodevelopmental characteristics of Williams syndrome. A systematic review of the literature published in academic publications was carried out by searching electronic databases that are available through the service of the Serbian Library Consortium for Coordinated Acquisition – KOBSON, as well as by using searches with Research Gate, Academia and Google Scholar. The results of this analysis indicate that the combination of intellectual disabilities, medical problems, behavioral disorders, psychological and adaptive deficits leads to significant limitations in the quality of life of people with Williams syndrome. That is why the paper emphasizes the importance of psychoeducational evaluation of a unique cognitive and behavioral profile in the service of the proper creation of an appropriate educational plan

Izolacija i karakterizacija bakterijske flore iz autohtonih fermentisanih proizvoda Srbije i Crne Gore

The natural community of lactic acid bacteria isolated from farmhouse fermented milk products has been investigated. In such products, where no starters are added, fermentation occurs as a result of natural flora present in the surrounding environment. A total of 200 isolated strains were examined for their acidification activity and EPS formation. Out of the 200 isolated strains, 27 strains were selected for further investigation. They were further identified by 16S rRNA sequencing in order to obtain the identification at species level, which showed that 14 strains belong to Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, 10 of them to Lactobacillus sp and 3 strains belongs to Leuconostoc sp. To differentiate between strains the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns, of 15 isolated lactococcal strains, was generated using Smal or Ascl. Unrelated strains yielded different patterns of digestion products. The plasmid isolation of these strains has also been conducted in order to compare these results to patterns of PFGE. Phage typing of the Lactococcus sp. strains has been conducted. All lactococcal strains were resistant against 41 phages (Chr. Hansen phage collection) representing the major phage groups known for Lactococcus. These results indicate that the strains represent a possible tool for cultures that have not been exposed to any industrial selection.U ovom radu su proučavani sojevi bakterija mlečne kiseline izolovani iz autohtonih fermentisanih mlečnih proizvoda. Kod ovih proizvoda, kojima se ne dodaju starter kulture, fermentacija se odigrava kao rezultat aktivnosti prirodne mikroflore koja je prisutna u okolnoj sredini. Kod ukupno 200 sojeva proučavana je njihova sposobnost acidifikacije i sposobnost stvaranja egzopolisaharida (EPS). Od ukupno 200 izolovanih sojeva selektovano je njih 27 koji su podvrgnuti daljem proučavanju. Nakon ove selekcije, sojevi su identifikovani 16S rRNA sekvenciranjem u cilju njihove identifikacije na nivou vrste. Od 27 selektovanih sojeva, 14 je pripadalo vrsti Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis, 3 soja je pripadalo vrsti Leuconostoc spp., dok je 10 sojeva pripadalo vrsti Lactobacillus sp. Da bi se utvrdile razlike između različitih sojeva urađena je analiza uz korišćenje elektroforeze u pulsirajućem električnom polju (PFGE), a matrice su dobijene uz korišćenje Smal i AscI restrikcionih enzima. Sojevi koji nisu u srodstvu dali su različite matrice digestionih produkata. Izvršena je i izolacija plazmida iz ovih sojeva kako bi se potvrdili rezultati dobijeni PFGE tehnikom. Takođe je izvršena i fagotipizacija sojeva za sve sojeve za koje je dokazano da pripadaju vrsti Lactococcus sp. Svi laktokokni sojevi su bili rezistentni na 41 fag (kolekcija faga kompanije Chr. Hansen) koji predstavljaju grupu bakteriofaga koji su najčešći za vrstu Lactococcus. Dobijeni rezultati ukazuju na to da proučavani sojevi predstavljaju mogući izvor kultura koji do sada nisu bili izloženi bilo kakvoj industrijskoj selekciji

Williams syndrome – phenotypical and developmental specificities

Vilijamsov sindrom je genetski i razvojni poremećaj okarakterisan brojnim anomalijama i sniženim kvalitetom razvojnog seta. Strukturiranje (re)habilitacionog tretmana u slučaju ove kliničke slike je i dalje izazovno. Cilj ovog rada je analiziranje podataka o fenotipskom određenju i neurorazvojnim karakteristikama Vilijamsovog sindroma. Sistematski pregled literature objavljene u akademskim publikacijama izvršen je pretraživanjem elektronskih baza podataka koje su dostupne preko servisa Konzorcijuma biblioteka Srbije za objedinjenu nabavku – KOBSON, kao i korišćenjem pretrage uz Research Gate, Academia i Google Scholar. Rezultati ovako načinjene analize ukazuju da kombinacija intelektualne ometenosti, medicinskih problema, poremećaja u ponašanju, psiholoških i adaptivnih deficita dovodi do značajnih ograničenja kvaliteta života kod osoba sa Vilijamsovim sindromom. Zato se u radu naglašava važnost psihoedukacione evaluacije jedinstvenog kognitivnog i bihevioralnog profila u službi pravilnog kreiranja odgovarajućeg obrazovnog plana.Williams syndrome is a genetic and developmental disorder characterized by numerous anomalies and reduced quality of the developmental set. Structuring (re)habilitation treatment regarding this clinical picture is still challenging. The aim of this paper is to analyze data on the phenotypic determination and neurodevelopmental characteristics of Williams syndrome. A systematic review of the literature published in academic publications was carried out by searching electronic databases that are available through the service of the Serbian Library Consortium for Coordinated Acquisition – KOBSON, as well as by using searches with Research Gate, Academia and Google Scholar. The results of this analysis indicate that the combination of intellectual disabilities, medical problems, behavioral disorders, psychological and adaptive deficits leads to significant limitations in the quality of life of people with Williams syndrome. That is why the paper emphasizes the importance of psychoeducational evaluation of a unique cognitive and behavioral profile in the service of the proper creation of an appropriate educational plan

Histamine index and clinical expression of rheumatoid arthritis activity

Background/Aim: Many arguments prove the pathophysiologic role of histamine in the process of remodeling and joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of our study was to find out if there was a relation between histamine concentration in synovial fluid and blood with clinical expression of disease activity. Methods: Histamine concentration in synovial fluid and blood was determinated in 19 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Histamine concentration measurement was based on the Shore's fluorometric method. Histamine index (HI) was evaluated as a ratio between histamine concentration in synovial fluid and blood. Disease activity score, DAS 28 (3), with three variables (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, the number of swelled joints and the number of tender joints) was also evaluated. Results: Our results showed that there was no significant difference in concentration of histamine in synovial fluid and blood related to disease activity. However, there was a significiant difference in the histamine index which was increased proportionally with disease activity. Conclusion: Our study indicates that histamine index could be useful in estimation of rheumatoid arthritis activity

Unveiling therapeutic potential of bacteriophage treatment in acinetobacter baumannii-infected zebrafish embryo model

Introduction: There is an urgent demand for the development of new therapeutic approachesto combat multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, and bacteriophages appear to be a highly promising solution. Phages are suitable to precisely target the infection-causing bacteria without disrupting the beneficial microbiota. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo model represents an insightful animal model for preclinical studying of various infectious diseases and for discovery of novel safe and effective antimicrobial drugs. Methods: Systemic bacterial infection was established by microinjection of 2000 cells of nosocomial carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii strain 6077/12 into the bloodstream of 48 hour old zebrafish embryos. Infected embryos were treated by parenteral administration of 4 different doses (10, 50, 100, 500 PFU) of bacteriophage vB_AbaM_ISTD at 6 hours after infection (hpi). Efficacy of treatment was evaluated according to embryo survival, morphological malformations and bacterial burden (CFU) over a 3- day period. Results: A. baumannii-infected embryos treated with bacteriophage resulted with 100% survival rate, while 70% of untreated embryos survived to 24 hpi and none to the end of the experiment. Viable bacterial cell count and embryo morphology observations indicated that the administered phage effectively reduced A. baumanii infection in vivo. The most effective dose was 500 PFU, decreasing the bacterial load by 3.09 log units during 24 hpi, while lower bacteriophage doses(10, 50 and 100 PFU) produced less prominent, but also significant bacterial reduction of 2.10, 2.19 and 2.67 log units, respectively. Conclusion: Parentheral administration of phage ISTD demonstrated potent therapeutic activity against A. baumannii infection in every investigated dose

Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency in Serbian Adults with Lung Diseases

Aim: Alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) is the main inhibitor of neutrophil elastase, and severe alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (A1ATD) is a genetic risk factor for early-onset emphysema. Despite the relatively high prevalence of A1ATD, this condition is frequently underdiagnosed. Our aim was to determine the distribution of the A1ATD phenotypes/alleles in patients with lung diseases as well as in the Serbian population. Methods: The study included the adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (n = 348), asthma (n = 71), and bronchiectasis (n = 35); the control was 1435 healthy blood donors. The A1ATD variants were identified by isoelectric focusing or polymerase chain reaction-mediated site-directed mutagenesis. Results: PiMZ heterozygotes, PiZZ homozygotes, and Z allele carriers are associated with significantly higher risk of developing COPD than healthy individuals (odds ratios 3.43, 42.42, and 5.49 respectively). The calculated prevalence of PiZZ, PiMZ, and PiSZ was higher in patients with COPD (1:202, 1:8, and 1:1243) than in the Serbian population (1: 5519, 1: 38, and 1:5519). Conclusion: The high prevalence of A1ATD phenotypes/allele in our population has confirmed the necessity of screening for A1ATD in patients with COPD. On the other hand, on the basis of the estimated number of those with A1ATD among the COPD patients, it is possible to assess the diagnostic efficiency of A1ATD in the Serbian population

Inflammatory niche: Mesenchymal stromal cell priming by soluble mediators

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells of stromal origin that possess self-renewal capacity and the ability to differentiate into multiple mesodermal cell lineages. They play a critical role in tissue homeostasis and wound healing, as well as in regulating the inflammatory microenvironment through interactions with immune cells. Hence, MSCs have garnered great attention as promising candidates for tissue regeneration and cell therapy. Because the inflammatory niche plays a key role in triggering the reparative and immunomodulatory functions of MSCs, priming of MSCs with bioactive molecules has been proposed as a way to foster the therapeutic potential of these cells. In this paper, we review how soluble mediators of the inflammatory niche (cytokines and alarmins) influence the regenerative and immunomodulatory capacity of MSCs, highlighting the major advantages and concerns regarding the therapeutic potential of these inflammatory primed MSCs. The data summarized in this review may provide a significant starting point for future research on priming MSCs and establishing standardized methods for the application of preconditioned MSCs in cell therapy