bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental Characterization and Mathematical Modeling of P2X7 Receptor Channel Gating
Authors: Yan Zonghe , Khadra Anmar , Li Shuo , Tomić Melanija , Sherman Arthur , Stojilkovic Stanko S.
Published: October 2010

The P2X7 receptor is a trimeric channel with three binding sites for ATP, but how the occupancy of these sites affects gating is still not understood. Here we show that naive receptors activated and deactivated monophasically at low and biphasically at higher agonist concentrations. Both phases of response were abolished by application of Az10606120, a P2X7R-specific antagonist. The slow secondary growth of current in the biphasic response coincided temporally with pore dilation. Repetitive stimulation with the same agonist concentration caused sensitization of receptors, which manifested as a progressive increase in the current amplitude, accompanied by a slower deactivation rate. Once a steady level of the secondary current was reached, responses at high agonist concentrations were no longer biphasic but monophasic. Sensitization of receptors was independent of Na+and Ca2+influx and ∼30 min washout was needed to reestablish the initial gating properties. T15E- and T15K-P2X7 mutants showed increased sensitivity for agonists, responded with monophasic currents at all agonist concentrations, activated immediately with dilated pores, and deactivated slowly. The complex pattern of gating exhibited by wild-type channels can be accounted for by a Markov state model that includes negative cooperativity of agonist binding to unsensitized receptors caused by the occupancy of one or two binding sites, opening of the channel pore to a low conductance state when two sites are bound, and sensitization with pore dilation to a high conductance state when three sites are occupied.
Evidence for Cortical Automaticity in Rule-Based Categorization
Authors: Helie Sebastien , Roeder Jessica L. , Ashby F. Gregory
Published: October 2010

There is evidence that rule-based category learning is supported by a broad neural network that includes the prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex, the head of the caudate nucleus, and medial temporal lobe structures. Although thousands of studies have examined rule-based category learning, only a few have studied the development of automaticity in rule-based tasks. Categorizing by a newly learned rule makes heavy demands on declarative memory, but after thousands of repetitions rule-based categorizations are made with no apparent effort. Thus, it seems likely that the neural systems that mediate automatic rule-based categorization are substantially different from the systems that mediate initial learning. This research aims at identifying the neural systems responsible for early and late rule-based categorization performances. Toward this end, this article reports the results of an experiment in which human participants each practiced a rule-based categorization task for >10,000 trials distributed over 20 separate sessions. Sessions 1, 4, 10, and 20 were performed inside a magnetic resonance imaging scanner. The main findings are as follows: (1) cortical activation remained approximately constant throughout training, (2) subcortical activation increased with practice (i.e., there were more activated voxels in the striatum), and (3) only cortical activation was correlated with accuracy after extensive training. The results suggest an initial subcortical neural system centered around the head of the caudate that is gradually replaced by a cortical system centered around the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex. With extensive practice, the cortical system progressively becomes more caudal and dorsal, and is eventually centered around the premotor cortex.
Silencing of CDK5 Reduces Neurofibrillary Tangles in Transgenic Alzheimer's Mice
Authors: Piedrahita Diego , Hernández Israel , López-Tobón Alejandro , Fedorov Dmitry , Obara Boguslaw , Manjunath B. S. , Boudreau Ryan L. , Davidson Beverly , LaFerla Frank , Gallego-Gómez Juan Carlos , Kosik Kenneth S. , Cardona-Gómez Gloria Patricia
Published: October 2010

Alzheimer's disease is a major cause of dementia for which treatments remain unsatisfactory. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) is a relevant kinase that has been hypothesized to contribute to the tau pathology. Several classes of chemical inhibitors for CDK5 have been developed, but they generally lack the specificity to distinguish among various ATP-dependent kinases. Therefore, the efficacy of these compounds when tested in animal models cannot definitively be attributed to an effect on CDK5. However, RNA interference (RNAi) targeting of CDK5 is specific and can be used to validate CDK5 as a possible treatment target. We delivered a CDK5 RNAi by lentiviral or adenoassociated viral vectors and analyzed the resultsin vitroandin vivo. Silencing of CDK5 reduces the phosphorylation of tau in primary neuronal cultures and in the brain of wild-type C57BL/6 mice. Furthermore, the knockdown of CDK5 strongly decreased the number of neurofibrillary tangles in the hippocampi of triple-transgenic mice (3×Tg-AD mice). Our data suggest that this downregulation may be attributable to the reduction of the CDK5 availability in the tissue, without affecting the CDK5 kinase activity. In summary, our findings validate CDK5 as a reasonable therapeutic target for ameliorating tau pathology.
Local Hemodynamics Dictate Long-Term Dendritic Plasticity in Peri-Infarct Cortex
Authors: Mostany Ricardo , Chowdhury Tara G. , Johnston David G. , Portonovo Shiva A. , Carmichael S. Thomas , Portera-Cailliau Carlos
Published: October 2010

Changes in dendritic spine turnover are a major mechanism of experience-dependent plasticity in the adult neocortex. Dendritic spine plasticity may also contribute to functional recovery after stroke, but in that setting its expression may be complicated by alterations in local tissue perfusion, especially around the infarct. Using adult Thy-1 GFP-M mice, we simultaneously recorded long-term spine dynamics in apical dendrites from layer 5 pyramidal cells and blood flow from surrounding capillaries within vivotwo-photon microscopy in peri-infarct cortex before and after unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion. Blood flow in peri-infarct cortex decreased significantly immediately after stroke and improved gradually over time, in a distance-dependent manner from the epicenter of the infarct. However, local tissue perfusion was never fully restored even after a 3 month recovery period. On average, surviving layer 5 pyramidal neurons experienced a ∼20% decrease in spine density acutely after stroke but eventually recovered. The dynamics of this improvement were different depending on the degree of tissue perfusion acutely after arterial occlusion. Cells in ischemic areas closer to the infarct returned to normal spine density levels slowly by retaining spines, while cells in more remote regions with preserved blood flow recovered faster by adding more spines, eventually surpassing baseline spine density by 15%. Our data suggest that maintaining tissue perfusion in the area surrounding the infarct could hasten or augment synaptic plasticity and functional recovery after stroke.
Fascist Labscapes: Geneticists, Wheat, and the Landscapes of Fascism in Italy and Portugal
Authors: Saraiva Tiago
Published: October 2010

This paper explores the role of scientists in the building of fascist regimes in Italy and Portugal by focusing on plant geneticists' participation in the Italian and Portuguese wheat wars for bread self-sufficiency. It looks closely at the work undertaken by Nazareno Strampelli at the National Institute of Genetics for Grain Cultivation (Italy) and by António Sousa da Câmara at the National Agronomic Experiment Station (Portugal), both of whom took wheat as their prime experimental object of genetics research. The main argument is that the production of standardized organisms—the breeder's elite seeds—in laboratory spaces is deeply entangled with their circulation through extended distribution networks that allowed for their massive presence in Italian and Portuguese landscapes such as the Po Valley and the Alentejo. The narrative pays particular attention to the historical development of fascist regimes in the two countries, advancing the argument that breeders' artifacts were key components of the institutionalization of the new political regimes.
Life Forms: A Keyword Entry
Authors: Helmreich Stefan , Roosth Sophia
Published: October 2010

We deliver a "keyword" account of the term life form as it has been used in natural philosophy and biology over the last two hundred years, beginning with its appearance in German as Lebensform. We argue that life form has, since its earliest enunciations, pointed to a space of possibility within which life might take shape, but that the way that space is imagined and theorized in biology has transformed substantially; life form originated as a term referring to idealized, aesthetic possibilities, then transformed to describe biogeographic and evolutionary potentialities, and today, in the age of synthetic biology and astrobiology, has come to signal conjectural and future possibilities.
Of bromination reaction for the spectrophotometric assay of domperidone in pharmaceuticals
Authors: Devi Zenita , Basavaiah K. , Vinay K.B.
Published: October 2010

Three simple and sensitive spectrophotometric methods are described for the
determination of domperidone (DOM) in bulk drug and in dosage forms using
bromate-bromide mixture as brominating agent in acid medium and three dyes,
meta-cresol purple (MCP), amaranth (AMR) and erioglaucine (EGC). The methods
involve the addition of a known excess of bromate-bromide mixture to an
acidified solution of DOM followed by the determination of the residual
bromine by reacting with a fixed amount of either MCP dye and measuring the
absorbance at 530 nm (method A) or AMR dye and measuring the absorbance at
520 nm (method B) or EGC dye and measuring the absorbance at 630 nm (method
C). Beer?s law is obeyed over the concentration ranges, 0.63 - 10.0, 0.25-4.0
and 0.13-2.0 ?g mL-1 for method A, method B and method C, respectively. The
apparent molar absorptivities are calculated to be 3.751 ? 104, 6.604 ? 104
and 1.987 ? 105 L mol-1cm-1 for method A, method B and method C, respectively
and the corresponding sandell sensitivity values are 0.011, 0.006 and 0.002
?g cm-2. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification are also
reported for all the three methods. No interference was observed from common
additives found in pharmaceutical preparations. Statistical comparisons of
the results with those of the reference method showed an excellent agreement,
and indicated no significant difference in accuracy and precision. The
accuracy and reliability of the methods were further ascertained by
performing recovery tests via standard-addition technique.
Influence of the fluorescent brightener Periblanc BA on the degree of whiteness of the knitted cotton fabric
Authors: Miljkovic Milena , Purenovic Milovan , Novakovic Mile , Randjelovic Sonja
Published: October 2010

In this study the influence of the different fluorescent brightener Periblanc
BA concentrations on the degree of knitted cotton fabric whiteness was
investigated. Two consecutive experimental runs were performed. The first was
the bleaching of the knitted cotton fabric with hydrogen peroxide using the
methods of two and single bath exhaustion while the second was the optical
bleaching with fluorescent brightener Periblanc BA using the exhaustion
method. CIE Whiteness Index and Tint value were measured on the Color-Eye
3000 spectrophotometer at the standard illuminant D65 (Ice-Texicon, d/8,
D65/10?) while K/S values were determined using the Kubelka Munk equation.
The results show that cotton fabric bleached with fluorescent brightener
Periblanc BA after bleaching with hydrogen peroxide using two bath exhaustion
method has higher degree of whiteness (118.8) with a reddish tint in
comparison to the one bleached with hydrogen peroxide using single bath
method (106.1).
Planners’ roles and techniques in developing sustainable "eco-City": The case of gaborone, Botswana
Authors: Cavric Branko
Published: October 2010

Efforts to incorporate sustainability principles into city planning demands new relationships between traditional and contemporary culture of key players involved in urban development arena. Many stakeholders involved in urban projects, management and governance are tailoring the destiny of urban world. Unfortunately, their contribution to sustainable practices show the lack of awareness and negative attitude towards protection of basic environmental, economic and social elements for the benefits of future generations of urban dwellers. By changing the way in which they think it is important to spell out clearly the role of planning professionals which should be more active and persistent in educating and advising decision-makers and other stakeholders helping them not to think and act only sectorally supporting individual and forgetting common interests. With carrying capacities and sustainability in mind these "key players" should be trained and guided by planners and diverse community entrepreneurs to have a look well beyond current planning horizons of socio-economic and physical plans, because sound sustainable solutions need wider and more ecologically friendly temporal frameworks. This paper explores contemporary physical planning concepts for sustainable development of Gaborone city, the capital of Botswana. sensitive development solutions, lamenting more on behavioural organisational and technological improvements in city planner?s "toolkit" and planner?s roles of technocrats and advocates of sustainable change. The purpose of this exploration will also be to suggest how to create enough manoeuvring space beyond the exclusive political power and how to apply different planning concepts which can help to create a sustainable eco-city.
Application of EIA/SEA system in land use planning: Experience from Serbia
Authors: Stojanovic Bozidar
Published: October 2010

This paper discusses the experience and current status of EIA/SEA procedures and assessment methodologies in Serbia, aiming to propose strategies that can lead to effective integration of the SEA in spatial planning. Institutional and practical problems with regard to the regulations of EIA/SEA were considered. Experience from the past decade shows that implementation of EIA system in Serbia has not been effective as expected. New legislation on EIA and SEA is harmonized with corresponding EU Directives. First steps in the application of the SEA show that the main issues are screening, scooping and decision making. According to the research results, it is suggested that extra evaluation processes should be incorporated into current assessment procedures to improve their scientific validity and integrity.
The role and development perspectives of small towns in central Serbia
Authors: Spasic Nenad , Petric Jasna
Published: October 2010

The link between urban centers and the countryside, including movement of people, goods, capital and other social exchanges, play an important role in processes of rural and urban change of a country. Major demographic and spatial changes have been typical for Serbia in the second half of the 20th century, caused by a dynamic primary urbanization process, i.e. by intense migration trends between rural areas and towns (cities). A special attention in this paper is given to the small urban centers in Serbia (small towns with population of less than 20,000) as the first magnet in proximate contact with the rural surroundings, and the one that therefore could have the greatest influence on organization structure and development prospects of the rural areas. In addition to being difficult to substantiate criteria for urban classification, small towns themselves do not represent a homogeneous group of settlements, and this makes it even harder to put up generalizations that would fit to all the settlements of this kind either within our country or cross-borders. However, here are identified certain common features for the small towns in Central Serbia and their development perspective is analyzed in relation to medium towns and cities of the same territory in consideration. Finally, this paper discusses the importance of policies for small town development in light of a real risk that the process of globalisation may lead to the justification of a new concentration of activities in the large cities, increasing the already significant regional differences in living conditions and economic development.
A big laboratory named city
Authors: Halim Deddy
Published: October 2010

nema
Strategic environmental assessment as an instrument for enhacement of public participation in planning
Authors: Crncevic Tijana
Published: October 2010

The paper presents an overview of experiences of public participation within planning, summarized in the "ladder of citizen participation". Further, considering that Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is seen as an instrument for operationalizing the sustainable development strategy, the stress is on the place, role and scope of public participation in SEA within planning. Special attention is given to the status of SEA regarding public participation in planning in Serbia. One of the conclusions of the paper is that by introduction of the "Plan for public participation" as a legal obligation, it could be the way for operationalizing pubic participation and further, enhancement of participation in planning. .
Experiences and dilemmas of strategic action planning implementation on the local level
Authors: Njegovan Zoran
Published: October 2010

In the paper are specifically analyzed and discussed experiences and dilemmas in the process of strategic development programming which appeared in West Balkan Countries during the regional and local development projects implementation. The main critical framework conditions regards to Impediments on a Local level connected with different structures which led to different experiences, successes and problems; Accuracy and relevance of data and information; Institutional competence; Consideration of horizontal and vertical relations of local community which neglect their required active role in the development process; Financial restrictions as a considerable bottleneck for successful development planning upon unstable resource flow; Political culture norms and values; and The role of external experts and improvement of the above mentioned aspects which will enhance the situation of development planning at the local level in a sustainable manner. It is concluded that the various aspects are strongly interrelated and are forming a spider net with the object of the development process, the municipality, the town or the city. It is also concluded that the success of development efforts of the subordinated administrative levels depends to a high degree on adequate framework-conditions, which have to be formed and fostered at the superior level. .
Promotion of the cultural heritage of Mediterranean city in the scope of upgrading cultural tourism
Authors: Djokic Vladan , Radivojevic Ana , Roter-Blagojevic Mirjana
Published: October 2010

World and especially European trends of tourist economy are mainly focused on development of diversity in cultural tourism. Cultural tourism is a complex of numerous activities that enables not only the affirmation of cultural-historic motives, but also provides important resources for renewal of cultural-historic monuments, tangible and intangible heritage and resources. Today, there is no serious and ambitious country that does not prefer development of tourism in its development strategies as a planetary phenomenon and development sector. This specially refers to cultural tourism, as a competitive segment, based on local authenticity, unique areas, urban entities and ambiance, different historic layers and monuments, local tradition, myths and customs, affirmative mentality of population, geographic and ecological resources, in brief - complex and original identity of its area and its population. Cultural tourism in Montenegro has a modest tradition and only recently through valuable but sporadic initiatives and encouragements from Europe, attempts to valorize its own potentials, making them competitive through creative projects and programs. It is most certainly that the Montenegrin coast is a deeply settled part of complex Mediterranean cultural sphere that possesses certain characteristics which marks it as a unique cultural space in which different historical, geographic, confessional and other influences from surroundings intersect, predefining it for development of cultural tourism. This paper represents an effort to create a professional study report, although limited to single destination - city of Budva that treats cultural tourism in correlation with evaluation of renewal and use of cultural-historic and built heritage. From the mentioned reasons and within described context, this paper tends to be a small, but precisely created contribution to the future actions of creating complex tourist offer at Montenegrin coast, especially in Budva as its 'capital', as it is often emphasized with reasonable expectations in public. .
Strategic evaluation of economic feasibility of mountain tourist region development: Case study of Stara Planina
Authors: Milijic Sasa , Banicevic Dusan , Krunic Nikola
Published: October 2010

This paper covers theoretical, methodological and practical discoveries and
evaluation of the economic aspects of development and planning of the
mountain tourist regions. The basic aspects of economic-spatial theories,
analysis and methods are presented for research of development effects in the
mountain regions. It is also pointed to the basic terms of the mountain
tourist regions development in the countries of the European Union which
realize respective development results The work analyses significance of
tourism in development of the mountain regions characterized by the
capability for innovative activities, i.e. starting the whole range of
complementary activities which reversibly influence the forming of growth and
development poles. Especially are analyzed commercial and non-commercial
effects of realization of the mountain tourist centers in ecologically saved,
but as a rule, economically not enough developed mountain regions. The
approach in the strategic evaluation of the economic feasibility of
development of the tourist region is considered in accordance with the
experience of the countries with higher degree of mountain region
development, on example of Stara Planina. The analysis of economic
feasibility of mountain region development Stara Planina covered the
following segments: market, consumption, number of employed, investment means
and economic effects of exploitation. Considering the fact that Stara planina
is region covered by the Park of Nature and Tourist region for which the
Spatial plan is done, a special problem was harmonization of development and
protection functions, i.e. evaluation of economic and ecological
acceptability for development implementation. The Spatial plan foreseen
rational model of sustainable regional development of the Stara planina
region based on integration of urban and rural economies on one side and
development of tourism and protection of nature, on the other.
Evaluation of energy efficiency measures applied in public buildings (schools & hospitals) in Serbia
Authors: Stankovic Sinisa , Campbell Neil , Maksimovic Dusko , Cvjetkovic Tanja
Published: October 2010

The Serbian Energy Efficiency Project 1 (SEEP1 - Design and Supervision
Support for Implementation of the Energy Efficiency Improvements in Public
Buildings in Serbia), funded by a credit from The World Bank, has involved
the energy efficient refurbishment of 28 public buildings in Serbia (12
hospitals and 16 schools). The major goal of the project has been
implementation of the energy efficiency improvements in public buildings in
Serbia and the verification of the energy and cost savings as well as CO2
emission reductions achieved through implementation of the energy efficiency
measures. Significant energy consumption savings have been achieved for all
refurbished buildings with annual savings in the range of 15% to 63% and an
average of 40% over entire project. Associated annual CO2 emission reductions
vary between 15% to 64% with an average of 42%. The average specific space
heating annual energy consumption for the hospitals monitored was ~339 kWh/m2
and has been reduced down to ~205 kWh/m2 after refurbishment. The average
specific space heating annual energy consumption for the schools monitored
was ~243 kWh/m2 and has been reduced down to ~144 kWh/m2 after refurbishment.
The simple payback period (SPP) on investment across all buildings was found
to be about 7.5 years. For hospitals, due to their 24/7 operation, the
average SPP is 5.3 years and for schools is 12.8 years.
Selection of building materials based upon ecological characteristics: priorities in function of environmental protection
Authors: Jovanovic-Popovic Milica , Kosanovic Saja
Published: October 2010

Numerous scientific researches show that the activities connected with
building materials produce significant negative environmental effects.
Observed from the point of architecture, the use of building materials is
found to be one of the critical factors of environmental pollution and
degradation. The purpose of introducing architectural interventions,
including proper selection, is the reduction of the negative environmental
impact of building materials. The aim of this paper is to define, from the
ecological aspect, basic principles for the selection of building materials.
First, principles were defined through the all - inclusive analysis of every
phase in the life cycle of building materials. Summing categories: embodied
energy and embodied CO2 are discussed afterwards. In the order to simplify
the procedure of arriving at a decision, priorities in selection were
emphasized in every separate segment of this paper. The selection of building
materials with reduced negative environmental impact (ecologically correct
building materials) is one of the key decisions in the process of designing
ecologically correct buildings.
Self-compacting concrete and its application in contemporary architectural practice
Authors: Okrajnov-Bajic Ruza , Vasovic Dejan
Published: October 2010

In majority of the most modern architectural designs realized in the past
10-20 years, concrete having features in fresh and hardened state as well as
making, placing and curing techniques that are defined in detail was used.
Quite frequently concrete which was self-compacting in fresh state was used.
In order to get acquainted with this material and with possibilities of its
application this paper presents various buildings in which it was used. The
definition of self-compacting concrete is given and advantages of its
application are underlined. Next, features of fresh SCC, test methods are
described in detail and classifications especially defined for this material
are proposed.
Towards re-reforming the EU cohesion policy: Key issues in the debate and some thoughts on peripheral regions
Authors: Foutakis Dimitris , Thoidou Elisavet
Published: October 2010

Two years after the inception of the fourth programming period, the debate on
post-2013 cohesion policy has already been launched. In fact, public
consultation was launched in 2007 and considerable steps have followed since
then, while others are about to start. At the same time, the new strategic
guidelines and rules that guide cohesion policy have only been in place for a
short period and as yet their impacts are not clear. Critical events and
major political issues that concern the whole EU structure are the main
factors behind this evolution. In particular, the economic recession in
addition to the prospects for the new EU Treaty could be considered decisive
elements in the launch of the debate on future cohesion policy. More
specifically, among the issues highlighted in this context are the
distinction between efficiency and equity objectives, the need for a
place-based strategy, high growth sectors and their contribution to cohesion,
and the potential for creativity and innovation. Overall, it seems like old
dilemmas of spatial development recur, while contemporary ones also gain
ground. The outcome of this debate is of significant importance for all EU
regions not only in budgetary terms, but also in terms of strategic policy
goals. This paper examines the above future policy issues with an emphasis on
regions faced with particular difficulties such as less favored regions as
well as those in the EU periphery.
Regional competitiveness and territorial industrial development in Serbia
Authors: Zekovic Slavka
Published: October 2010

In the paper are investigated the regional competitiveness and the
territorial aspects of industry in Serbia. There are analyzed the key recent
movement in industrial development of Serbia and macrolocational factors and
territorial organization of industry. The research of possible structural
changes of industry and identification of its key development sectors is the
important component of territorial development analysis in Serbia. This paper
points to the kinds and types of industrial zones and industrial parks as
fundamental models of regional and urban development of that activity with
critical retrospection on the industrial zones in Serbia (greenfield and
brownfield industrial locations). There are shown results of evaluation the
regional competitiveness from a stand-point of possibilities of industrial
development on the regional level (NUTS 3) by comparative analyses and Spider
method. Results are used as one of the bases for making preliminary draft of
territorial development scenario of this activity in Serbia and for the
possible alocation of the future industrial zones and industrial parks in
region level.
Recent problems in research on transition to adulthood: Country focus Serbia
Authors: Ignjatovic Suzana
Published: October 2010

The paper explores theoretical and methodological aspects of transition to adulthood. The concept is discussed within the framework of life course paradigm. The concept of transition to adulthood is operationalized as four dimensions: family transition, professional (career) transition, financial status transition and housing transition. We discuss in detail the process of becoming an adult in Serbian society. The thesis of specific type of transition to adulthood, named prolonged adolescence, has been fully examined. The analysis is based on data collected in a survey (2003) of young people aged 17-35. In the paper we focus on the sub sample of respondents aged 34-35 being a post-transitional cohort. The 34-35 cohort trajectory to adulthood is explored as an indicator of general trend in transition to adulthood in a period of radical social turmoil. .
Citizens of Serbia in focus of the labour market
Authors: Sukovic Danilo
Published: October 2010

This paper analyzes the mutual dependence of the labor market and the population, since the supply of the labor force depends on population size and its structure. The demographic aspects of the labor market are especially analyzed and it is shown that the supply of the labor force does not depend only on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the population but that the mutual dependence of the labor market and demographic factors are much more complex and multiply expressive. An analysis of the key trends on the labor market presented in this paper indicates that the global economy requires an increasingly flexible labor force. In that sense, the forecasts of numerous economists and sociologists are based on the conviction that more and more people in future will become workers with a portfolio. They will posses a certain number of skills and qualifications which they will use to transfer from one job on to another during their working life. A continuous profession, namely a steady career, in today's sense of the word, will only a relatively small number of people have. It all goes in favor of the theory that having a 'job for your whole working life' is becoming a thing of the past. In this paper it is further concluded that for tracing the path for an efficient labor market, it should be considered that, during the nineties of the last century, there has been an increase in poverty and a change in population structure, not only because of a large inflow of refugees and internally displaced persons, but due to emigration of the younger population and an increase of the old, ill and dependant persons. All these changes greatly influenced the supply of the labor force, in a quantitative and qualitative way, and thus the strategy for increasing employment should be adjusted. The rapid expansion of the underground-informal economy must be added to all this, which grew rapidly in the nineties of the last century, naturally to the detriment of the formal sector. This paper especially stresses that the economic crisis has large unfavorable consequences on our labor market. The estimation of numerous experts indicate that after the economic recovery and end of the economic crisis, unemployment will still be very high and that the recovery of the labor market will be the slowest, namely that the effects of the economic recovery will reflect the slowest on the labor market, namely employment increase. For this reason it will be necessary to stimulate the reformative processes of the labor market so as to increase its efficiency and thus create conditions to rationally engage the large working potential of Serbia's population, which is one of the key prerequisites for larger economic growth and development.
Trends of extramarital births in Serbia in the second half of the 20th and at the beginning of the 21st century in the wider European context
Authors: Stankovic Biljana , Penev Goran
Published: October 2010

The paper analyses the phenomenon of extramarital births in Serbia in the period of 1950-2008. Great changes that European countries have been undergoing in the last half-century related to fertility and family forms were also followed by an intense increase in the share of extramarital births. This is also true for Serbia (excluding Kosovo), where the share of extramarital births in total live births for the period of 1950-2008 increased almost 3 times (from 8.0% to 22.8%), and their number increased by a fifth (from 13,1 to 15,7 thousand). At the beginning of the observed period, significant differences existed in the percentage shares of extramarital births in the main regions, with the share in Vojvodina several times that of Central Serbia. Subsequent divergent dynamics led to the disappearance of regional differences and, after 1970, the level of extramarital fertility was mostly balanced. From a European aspect, the increase in the share of extramarital births in Serbia was moderate, with Serbia being one of the few countries that also recorded a decrease in the share of extramarital births in the last four decades (between 1970 and 1980). In comparison with other European countries, position of Serbia changed during the observed period from the top towards the bottom of the list, so that it was in its lower half in 2008. During the 1990s, as well as at the beginning of the 2000s, the greatest increase in the share of extramarital births in Europe was recorded in countries in transition. In the paper, the changes in the marital status of the population were treated as one of the determinants of the increase of extramarital births in Serbia. The paper also points out the similarities and differences between births in cohabitation and marriage, and legal aspects related to extramarital unions and extramarital births were also analyzed. The conclusions about the degree of presence of births in stable partner unions were made indirectly, based on the results of survey research and the latest available data on recognition children by their fathers. Since approximately three fifths of extramarital children at the beginning of the 2000s were not recognized, it was assumed that they were born in unstable unions and that they were brought up by their mothers alone. At the same time, the small level of cohabitations, discovered through survey research on the representative sample, shows that the increase in extramarital births was not proportionally followed by an increase in cohabitation. Therefore, based on indirect indicators, the authors conclude that the phenomenon of extramarital birth in Serbia was not the result of an advanced transition in partner relationships and abandoning of marriage as the partner union in which children are born. At the same time, the importance of understanding the social context of births was pointed out on the example of the Czech Republic, as a country in transition.
Ecology of Dolichopodidae (Diptera) in a wetland habitat and their potential role as bioindicators
Authors: Gelbič Ivan , Olejníček Jiří
Published: October 2010

Ecological investigations of long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae) were carried out in wet meadow wetlands near České Budějovice, Czech Republic. Sampling was performed during the adult flies’ seasonal activity (March–October) in 2002, 2003 and 2004 using yellow pan traps, Malaise traps, emergence traps, and by sweeping. Altogether 5,697 specimens of 78 species of Dolichopodidae were collected, identified and analysed. The study examined community structure, species abundance, and diversity (Shannon-Weaver’s index - H’; Sheldon’s equitability index - E). Chrysotus cilipes, C. gramineus and Dolichopus ungulatus were the most abundant species in all three years. Species richness and diversity seem strongly affected by soil moisture.
Investigation of influence of tilt angle on mode dispersion in step-index plastic optical fibers
Authors: Kovacevic M.S. , Djordjevich A.
Published: October 2010

Effect of numerical aperture on mode dispersion and bandwidth is reported for commercially available step-index plastic optical fibers. For the first time, the functional relationship is given between dispersion and the “tilt-angle” describing the slant of the input/output face for a fiber terminated by a plane not perpendicular to the fiber axis. This tilt of a non-squarely terminated fiber may be intentional as in some biomedical spectroscopic sensors, or otherwise when exploiting the quick-interconnectivity potential of plastic fibers.
Variable Scottish English Consonants: The Cases of /ʍ/ and Non-Prevocalic /r/
Authors: Schützler Ole
Published: October 2010

In a sample of 27 speakers of Scottish Standard English two notoriously variable consonantal features are investigated: the contrast of /ʍ/ and /w/ and non-prevocalic /r/, the latter both in terms of its presence or absence and the phonetic form it takes, if present. The pattern of realisation of non-prevocalic /r/ largely confirms previously reported findings. But there are a number of surprising results regarding the merger of /ʍ/ and /w/ and the loss of non-prevocalic /r/: While the former is more likely to happen in younger speakers and females, the latter seems more likely in older speakers and males. This is suggestive of change in progress leading to a loss of the /ʍ/ - /w/ contrast, while the variation found in non-prevocalic /r/ follows an almost inverse sociolinguistic pattern that does not suggest any such change and is additionally largely explicable in language-internal terms. One phenomenon requiring further investigation is the curious effect direct contact with Southern English accents seems to have on non-prevocalic /r/: innovation on the structural level (i.e. loss) and conservatism on the realisational level (i.e. increased incidence of [r] and [ɾ]) appear to be conditioned by the same sociolinguistic factors.
Pack wounds of donkeys and mules in the Northern High Atlas and lowlands of Morocco
Authors: SELLS P. D. , PINCHBECK G. , MEZZANE H. , IBOURKI J. , CRANE M.
Published: October 2010

Reasons for performing study: Wounds are one of the primary welfare concerns of working equids and are often related to harness or load‐bearing packs.

Objectives: To identify and quantify factors associated with the presence of pack wounds in donkeys and mules working in the wood trade in the Midelt (Northern High Atlas) region of Morocco, and to compare wounds of these donkeys and mules to those working in other trades.

Methods: The study population comprised equids working in the Midelt region involved in the wood trade. Comparison populations were comprised of equids working in other trades, in the same region and in Khemmiset region (lowlands of Central Morocco). Wounds were numbered and scored according to their severity. Questionnaires were used to gather data from owners, and objective data regarding the animal, berdaa (back‐pack) and load were collected. Data were analysed using multilevel uniand multivariable regression models to allow for clustering of wound sites within an equid.

Results: Analysis showed an overall pack wound prevalence of 54% (n = 80/147). The most common site was the withers. Equids working in the wood trade were at increased risk of suffering pack wounds. Equids in the lowland study population were at increased risk of developing pack wounds, and donkeys were at increased risk of suffering pack wounds compared to mules both overall and within the wood trade. Other factors affecting the prevalence of wounds included the cleanliness of the berdaa and the frequency and distances of work imposed on the equid.

Conclusion: Pack wounds in donkeys and mules are common in the 2 study regions of Morocco and appear to be associated with work factors including the trade the equids work in, the frequency and distances of work imposed and cleanliness of the pack. Donkeys are more susceptible than mules to developing pack wounds.

Potential relevance: These results allow recommendations to be made to owners of equids that may decrease the prevalence of wounds and, therefore, improve welfare and working capability of these equids. Research is required to identify reasons for regional difference in prevalence of pack wounds in equids not working in the wood trade.
Preparation of a Carbon-Based Solid Acid Catalyst by Sulfonating Activated Carbon in a Chemical Reduction Process
Authors: Liu Xiao-Yan , Huang Miao , Ma Hai-Long , Zhang Zeng-Qiang , Gao Jin-Ming , Zhu Yu-Lei , Han Xiao-Jin , Guo Xiang-Yun
Published: October 2010

Sulfonated (SO3H-bearing) activated carbon (AC-SO3H) was synthesized by an aryl diazonium salt reduction process. The obtained material had a SO3H density of 0.64 mmol·g-1 and a specific surface area of 602 m2·g-1. The catalytic properties of AC-SO3H were compared with that of two commercial solid acid catalysts, Nafion NR50 and Amberlyst-15. In a 10-h esterification reaction of acetic acid with ethanol, the acid conversion with AC-SO3H (78%) was lower than that of Amberlyst-15 (86%), which could be attributed to the fact that the SO3H density of the sulfonated carbon was lower than that of Amberlyst-15 (4.60 mmol·g-1). However, AC-SO3H exhibited comparable and even much higher catalytic activities than the commercial catalysts in the esterification of aliphatic acids with longer carbon chains such as hexanoic acid and decanoic acid, which may be due to the large specific surface area and mesoporous structures of the activated carbon. The disadvantage of AC-SO3H is the leaching of SO3H group during the reactions.
A Sulfur Hexafluoride Sensor Using Quantum Cascade and CO2 Laser-Based Photoacoustic Spectroscopy
Authors: Rocha Mila , Sthel Marcelo , Lima Guilherme , Silva Marcelo da , Schramm Delson , Miklós András , Vargas Helion
Published: October 2010

The increase in greenhouse gas emissions is a serious environmental problem and has stimulated the scientific community to pay attention to the need for detection and monitoring of gases released into the atmosphere. In this regard, the development of sensitive and selective gas sensors has been the subject of several research programs. An important greenhouse gas is sulphur hexafluoride, an almost non-reactive gas widely employed in industrial processes worldwide. Indeed it is estimated that it has a radiative forcing of 0.52 W/m2. This work compares two photoacoustic spectrometers, one coupled to a CO2 laser and another one coupled to a Quantum Cascade (QC) laser, for the detection of SF6. The laser photoacoustic spectrometers described in this work have been developed for gas detection at small concentrations. Detection limits of 20 ppbv for CO2 laser and 50 ppbv for quantum cascade laser were obtained.
A Business Rules Design Framework for a Pharmaceutical Validation and Alert System
Authors: Bousquet C. , Sabatier B. , Caruba T. , Durieux P. , Degoulet P. , Boussadi A.
Published: October 2010

Objectives: Several alert systems have been developed to improve the patient safety aspects of clinical information systems (CIS). Most studies have focused on the evaluation of these systems, with little information provided about the methodology leading to system implementation. We propose here an ‘agile’ business rule design framework (BRDF) supporting both the design of alerts for the validation of drug prescriptions and the incorporation of the end user into the design process.

Methods: We analyzed the unified process (UP) design life cycle and defined the activities, subactivities, actors and UML artifacts that could be used to enhance the agility of the proposed framework. We then applied the proposed framework to two different sets of data in the context of the Georges Pompidou University Hospital (HEGP) CIS.

Results: We introduced two new subactivities into UP: business rule specification and business rule instantiation activity. The pharmacist made an effective contribution to five of the eight BRDF design activities. Validation of the two new subactivities was effected in the context of drug dosage adaption to the patients’ clinical and biological contexts. Pilot experiment shows that business rules modeled with BRDF and implemented as an alert system triggered an alert for 5824 of the 71,413 prescriptions considered (8.16%).

Conclusion: A business rule design framework approach meets one of the strategic objectives for decision support design by taking into account three important criteria posing a particular challenge to system designers: 1) business processes, 2) knowledge modeling of the context of application, and 3) the agility of the various design steps.
Uncivil Student Behaviors in Clinical Settings: Strategies for Clinical Nurse Educators
Authors: Cleary Michelle , Horsfall Jan
Published: October 2010

Clinical educators may have difficulty determining how best to respond to uncivil behaviors from students in clinical settings. This column describes communication, ground rules, and policy enabling clinical educators to teach effectively and minimize inappropriate student responses.
Computer-Assisted Revision of Failed Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Confalonieri Norberto , Manzotti Alfonso , Chemello Cesare , Cerveri Pietro
Published: October 2010

The authors performed a matched-paired study comparing 22 computer-assisted surgery (CAS)-unicompartmental knee replacement (UKR) revisions with a similar group of knee replacement revisions performed conventionally. The aim of the study was to assess differences in implants used in the revision, surgical time, limb alignment, joint line restoration, and procedure costs. In the conventional group, there was a higher percentage of posterior stabilized (PS) and condylar constrained knee (CCK) implants, as well as a higher percentage of augmentations/stems/offsets. There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative mechanical axis, surgical time, or hospital stay. There were fewer outliers and better joint line restoration in the CAS group. More blood transfusions were performed in the conventional group, and costs were higher in this group as well.