Institute for Educational Research, Belgrade, Serbia

Objectives To translate, cross-culturally adapt and validate the Serbian Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) questionnaire, e.g. according to the new nomenclature Radiographic-Axial Spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA), and to relate it to disease activity and functional status domains. Methods Four stages were accomplished: (1) Bilingual and lay panel for translation and cross-cultural adaptation (2) Cognitive debriefing interviews (assessing the language and cultural equivalence of the concepts used in the Serbian ASQoL translation) for face and content validity (3) Psychometric evaluation: (a) convergent validity by NHP as a comparator scale and (b) known group validity by correlations with disease activity and overall health status and reliability (internal consistency and test-retest reliability) (4) Independent regression analyses for relations between ASQoL and ASDAS, BASDAI, BASFI, Schober’s test, respiratory index and SPARCC were used. The statistical program SPSS (version 21; IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) was used. Results The bilingual panel made a unified version of the translated documents, a lay panel confirmed the clarity of the questionnaire. Cognitive debriefing interviews with 10 patients evaluated the Serbian ASQoL as clear, precise, easy to complete. The psychometric properties with 60 randomly selected patients showed good convergent validity between ASQoL and NHP domains of pain (r = 0.79), emotional reactions (r = 0.78), physical activity (r = 0.77) and energy (r = 0.75). The internal reliability was 0.95 and 0.91 (1st and 2nd administration), respectively, and the test-retest reliability was 0.84. Regression analyses showed highly significant relationships (p < 0.001) between ASQoL and ASDAS (R²=0.403), BASDAI (R²=0.564) and BASFI (R²=0.444). Conclusion The Serbian ASQoL demonstrated good psychometric properties and significant relationships with disease activity and functional status and is recommended for quality of life assessment in Serbian-speaking ankylosing spondylitis (radiographic axial spondyloarthritis) patients, both in clinical practice and clinical research.

The paper offers a critical response to the proposed “dis/analogy” between the restriction of Jehovah's Witness parental right to refuse life‐saving blood transfusions for their minor children and a “general” and “permanent” ban on “unnecessary” pediatric intersex surgery. The main argument of the analogy is “securing the patient's future autonomy.” Feinberg's theory of rights is used to demonstrate that the proposed analogy is untenable. A new category of developmental rights‐in‐trust is introduced to address specific needs of gender development in DSD situations. Both premises are disputed. First, it is shown that the case of overriding Jehovah's Witness parental rights is not based on securing the patient's future autonomy, but a simple dependency right in Feinberg's theory. Second, it is demonstrated that pediatric intersex surgery is not in the same situation in all morally relevant respects as the Jehovah's Witness case because it represents a special type of developmental right‐in‐trust. In conclusion, the arguments based on the proposed analogy do not justify a “general and permanent” on pediatric intersex surgery.

Defining a formal model for concurrency in programming languages that addresses conflicting requirements from programmers, compilers, and architectures has been a long-standing research question. It is widely believed that traditional axiomatic per-execution models that reason about individual executions do not suffice to address these conflicting requirements. Consequently, several multi-execution models were proposed that reason about multiple executions together. Although multi-execution models were major breakthroughs in satisfying several desired properties, these models are complicated, challenging to adapt to existing language specifications given in per-execution style, and they are typically not friendly to automated reasoning tools. In response, we propose a re-execution-based memory model (XMM). Debunking the beliefs around per-execution and multi-execution models, XMM is (almost) a per-execution model. XMM reasons about individual executions, but unlike traditional per-execution models, it relates executions by a re-execution principle. As such, the memory consistency axioms and the out-of-order re-execution mechanics are orthogonal in XMM, allowing to use it as a semantic framework parameterized by a given axiomatic memory model. We instantiated the XMM framework for the RC20 language model, and proved that the resulting model XC20 provides DRF guarantees and allows standard hardware mappings and compiler optimizations. Noteworthy, XC20 is the first model of its kind that also supports thread sequentialization optimization. Moreover, XC20 is also amenable to automated reasoning. To demonstrate this, we developed a sound model checker XMC and evaluated it on several concurrency benchmarks.

Tests of Self-Conscious Affect (TOSCAs) are a group of scenario-based dispositional scales frequently used to measure individual differences in shame and guilt. The main aim of the present research was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Serbian version of TOSCA for adolescents (TOSCA-A) and to further explore the validity of guilt and shame measures. TOSCA-A was evaluated in three samples: 114 primary school students, 256 high-school students, and 365 college students. Several models were tested, but two-factor oblique solution had the best fit in all three groups. However, both shame and guilt demonstrated high internal consistency. Convergent validity of shame-proneness was also demonstrated by moderate correlations with self-esteem, perceived stress, and different affects. Results related to the measure of guilt were less consistent across age groups. Finally, we showed that guilt is a reliable measure of someone's motivation to make amends or apologize and someone’s feelings of remorse and regret - rather than feeling of guilt.

The objective of this study was to measure the different redox biomarker levels within the follicular fluid (FF) and evaluate correlations with embryo quality using the one follicle–one oocyte/embryo approach. The prospective study included 54 women (average age 34.6 ± 3.0 years). Out of the 235 mature metaphase II cells that underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection, fertilization was achieved in 177 cells, producing 92 Grade I embryos, 26 Grade II embryos, 39 Grade III embryos, and 20 Grade IV embryos. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione transferase were significantly higher in the group consisting of lower-quality (Grades II–IV) embryos in comparison with top-quality (Grade I) embryos (p = 0.011; p = 0.021; p = 0.008, respectively). The concentration of oxidative stress markers, malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, and thiol groups was significantly increased in the group with lower-quality embryos (Grades II–IV) compared to top-quality embryos (0.027; 0.018; 0.021, respectively). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation between each oxidative marker and the activities of antioxidant enzymes was observed (p < 0.001). According to our findings, the best embryos and, consequently, better in vitro fertilization outcomes are linked to low levels of oxidative stress and low antioxidant enzyme activity.

The acoustic startle response (ASR) is leaded by a sudden and intense acoustic stimulus. ASR has several forms of plasticity, including habituation and sensorimotor gating. Although ASR and its plasticity have been intensively studied in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae, information in adult zebrafish is still very scarce. In this manuscript we present Zebra_K, a new automated high-content kinematic analysis platform for assessing ASR, its habituation and prepulse inhibition (PPI), a quantitative measure of sensorimotor gating, in adult zebrafish. The analysis of the kinematic parameters of ASR in adult zebrafish has shown a single response wave consistent with the short-latency C-bend described in zebrafish larvae. Moreover, protocols have been designed and validated in Zebra_K for the analysis of sensitivity, habituation and PPI of this response. Then, the effect of the time of day and the gender on zebrafish ASR plasticity has been analyzed for the first time. Females exhibited higher responsiveness and a lower habituation and PPI than males, a result consistent with the gender effect described in other animal models and in humans. This platform has also been used to determine the effect of a pharmacological modulators of ASR plasticity, the NMDA-receptor antagonist ketamine. As described in other animal models, ketamine increased the responsiveness to the acoustic stimuli, decreasing habituation and leading to complete abolition of PPI. These results enhance the interest of using adult zebrafish to assess the potential effect of environmental pollutants on ASR plasticity.

This chapter analyzes the relationships between life satisfaction and three dimensions of integration: social ties, participation in the labor market, and political participation among the European youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it is commonly presumed that a higher level of social integration corresponds to a greater level of life satisfaction it is important to explore whether certain forms of integration may be associated with greater dissatisfaction and frustration. For instance, under certain circumstances, dissatisfaction might motivate greater political participation and involvement in various social networks. In other words, it is of interest to ascertain whether dissatisfaction might, in fact, foster a greater propensity to connect with others and engage in collective actions. We address this problem by using multilevel data. The individual-level data come from the tenth cycle of the European Social Survey (ESS10-2018), conducted across 31 countries during the years 2020–2022. Since our study focuses on youth, a sub-population comprising individuals aged 15–35 years was extracted. In order to control for the contextual-level data, we employed two standard indicators, GINI and GDP per capita. The results show that the various forms of integration—closer social ties, being a member of an ethnic majority, labor market integration, and some forms of political participation (voting)—are associated with greater life satisfaction.

MaPLoRds is a software system developed to enable local municipality users to assess the resilience of their local road network from natural hazards in climate-changing conditions. The system analyzes the characteristics of the road network, vulnerability, and climate-related hazards, to evaluate the network’s resilience. A tool for mobile devices (mobile application) is developed to facilitate the data collection in the field and a web application is developed for data analysis, resilience, and priority assessment based on the methodology. The bilingual glossary, in Serbian and English, is produced for the developed version of the application, introducing key terms and phrases that are required for the MaPLoRds interface, both for mobile and web application. The system is developed according to the highest industry standards and by Platform Security and Personal Data Protection rules. Personal Data of the users (e.g., password) are stored in encrypted form in the central database, while all other non-sensitive data are not encrypted. In this paper, the MaPLoRds mobile application is available on https://maplords.rgf.bg.ac.rs

Studying plant species rich in bioactive compounds, including allelochemicals, could lead to the development of biodegradable and environmentally safe herbicides. In this study, a water extract of hemlock (Conium maculatum L.), known to be rich in alkaloids, was used to investigate its effects on the germination of Amaranthus retroflexus L., Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Stellaria media (L.) Vill., and Lactuca sativa L., providing valuable insights into its phytotoxic properties. Among the C. maculatum water extracts (CmWEs) tested, that of dry leaves showed the strongest inhibitory effect on the germination of all species analyzed. The CmWE of dry leaves (50%) completely inhibited seed germination of all species tested. The CmWE of dry stems (50%) reduced seed germination in S. media, A. retroflexus, and A. artemisiifolia by 20% to 89%, whereas the germination of L. sativa was less affected (9%). In addition, a CmWE of dry stems (5%) selectively inhibited ragweed germination (45%), while the germination of Lactuca sativa was not significantly affected. The CmWE of dry leaves (20%) inhibited early root and shoot growth of S. media more effectively than suppressing seed germination. Moreover, the dry leaves and inflorescences of C. maculatum demonstrate strong allelopathic properties even after two years of storage, highlighting the long-term potential of C. maculatum as a source of natural herbicides.

Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that, when untreated, can lead to significant disability in young adults. Despite the increase in the number of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), many people living with MS in low-resource settings do not have access to treatment. Objective The primary aim was to develop recommendations on the minimum essential DMTs for MS that should be available in low-resource settings. Methods The Multiple Sclerosis International Federation established an independent, international panel including healthcare professionals and people with MS. This panel, in collaboration with the Cochrane MS Group and McMaster GRADE Centre, reviewed evidence for use of MS DMTs following standardized GRADE protocols including consideration of balance of benefits and harms; certainty of evidence; resources required and cost-effectiveness and values, equity, feasibility and availability in low-resource settings. Results For active and/or worsening forms of relapsing MS, the panel recommends use of ocrelizumab, cladribine, fingolimod, dimethyl fumarate, interferon beta and glatiramer acetate. For active and/or worsening forms of progressive MS, the panel recommends use of rituximab, ocrelizumab, glatiramer acetate, fingolimod and interferon beta. Conclusions Recommendations for the minimum essential DMTs for MS in low-resource settings were developed based on robust consideration of evidence and relevant context.

This research is dedicated to a comprehensive exploration of the strengths and weaknesses inherent in the legal and institutional measures established to safeguard cultural heritage in the Republic of Serbia against the adverse effects of disasters, including earthquakes, landslides, rockfalls, floods, torrents, storms, hail, and forest fires. The study seeks to identify key challenges and shortcomings within the existing legal and institutional framework while also highlighting and analyzing best practices and potential avenues for improvement in the protection system. The research posits a preliminary hypothesis suggesting that significant challenges exist within the current framework, potentially hindering effective response and recovery efforts following natural hazards. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with field experts and an in-depth analysis of existing documentation. These methods were aimed at gathering critical data and insights to enhance the understanding of systemic issues and contribute to developing practical, viable solutions. The analysis and processing of the collected data were conducted using ATLAS. ti software, enabling a detailed and systematic examination of qualitative information. Moreover, assessing the current capacity of institutions to respond swiftly and effectively to natural hazards that threaten cultural heritage formed a central aspect of this study. The findings reveal notable deficiencies in the legal framework, inadequate institutional capacities, limited resources, and insufficient training for disaster response. The results underscore the pressing need for improved inter-institutional cooperation and the development of technical and logistical capabilities. To address these issues, the study recommends aligning legal frameworks with international standards, securing increased funding for technical resources, and implementing specialized training programs for institutional staff. This article makes a significant contribution to advancing the understanding and enhancement of the cultural heritage protection system in Serbia, offering actionable insights and a robust foundation for further research and strategic development in this critical area.

Medicinal mushroom extracts, i.e. their dried biomass, have long been known as sources of bioactive compounds with positive effects on the human health. The antioxidant, antigenotoxic, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties of the commercially available extracts Agaricus blazei auct. non Murrill (AB), Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. (CS), and Immune Assist (IA) have already been documented. This study, studied the influence of these three mushrooms on the viability of cell lines MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and HS-5. The cytotoxicity of AB, CS, and IA at different concentrations (25, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 μg/mL) was evaluated using the MTT assay. The results showed that AB was the most effective and induced cytotoxicity in both cancer cell lines, with IC 50 values of 96.7 μg/mL for MCF-7 and 368.4 μg/mL for MDA-MB-231. After treatment with CS and IA, the half-maximal inhibitory concentration was reached only in MDA- MB-231 cells (IC 50 =613 μg/mL for CS and 343.3 μg/mL for IA). We have shown here that AB, CS and IA can suppress the growth of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, while affecting the survival of healthy HS-5 cells to a much lesser extent. Our in vitro results suggested that AB, CS and IA are promising natural sources with potential anticancer activity.

Proponents of remedial secession theory (henceforth RST) claim that a group obtains the right to secede when it is wronged by the state, given that other preconditions – which can be more or less restrictive, depending on the theory's author – are also fulfilled. However, in doing so, they face multiple moral challenges and problems. Here, we identify five major problems with their normative claims while paying particular attention to the ethical and practical implications of the “implementation” and the “appropriateness” problem. With the help of Pollock's method for evaluating moral theories, we conclude that the critical problems encountered by RST remain unresolved due to the untenability of its fundamental premise: that secession is an instrument suitable for achieving corrective justice.

Biocontrol techniques that impair reproductive capacity of insect pests provide opportunities to control the dynamics of their populations while minimizing collateral damage to non‐target species and the environment. The Trojan Female Technique, or TFT, is a method of the trans‐generational fertility‐based population control through the release of females that carry mitochondrial DNA mutations that negatively affect male, but not female, reproductive output. TFT is based on the evolutionary hypothesis that, due to maternal inheritance of mitochondria, mutations which are beneficial or neutral in females but harmful in males can accumulate in the mitochondrial genome without selection acting against them. Although TFT has been theoretically substantiated, empirical work to date has focused only on Drosophila melanogaster populations, while the existence of male‐biased mutations and the TFT approach in economically important pest species remain unexplored. Here, we examined the sex‐specific effects of three distinct and naturally occurring mitochondrial haplotypes (MG1a, MG1d, and MG3b) on several reproductive and life history traits in the seed beetle Acanthoscelides obtectus. Our results revealed that males harboring the MG3b mitotype exhibited lower early fecundity and fertility, while there were no effects on females or longevity in either sex. Our experiments provide support for the existence of the mitochondrial variant that specifically impairs male reproductive output in pest insects. These results can be harnessed to further develop TFT as a novel form of biocontrol with broad applicability to economic pests and disease vector insects.

Senna alata (L.) Roxb. and Senna occidentalis (L.) Link (family Fabaceae) are commonly used in different systems of traditional medicine to treat ailments. The present study was designed to determine the phytoconstituents, antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, and antimicrobial activities of the methanolic extract from the leaves of these two Senna species. A total of 75 phenolic compounds belonging to dihydroxybenzoic acids, dihydroxycinnamic acids, flavonoid C‐glycosides, flavonoid O‐glycosides, flavonoid aglycones, anthraquinone glycosides, and anthraquinone aglycones were identified. Flavonoid C‐glycosides were only found in S. occidentalis while sennosides A, B, and C were only detected in S. alata. In line with its higher total phenolic and flavonoids contents, S. alata exerted significantly (p < 0.05) higher antiradical (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazy (DPPH) = 58.36 mg trolox equivalent (TE)/g; 2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid (ABTS) = 118.86 mg TE/g), ions reducing (cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) = 93.85 mg TE/g; ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) = 50.42 mg TE/g), and total antioxidant (1.39 mmol TE/g) activities than S. occidentalis. S. alata revealed significantly (p < 0.05) higher inhibitory effect against butyrylcholinesterase (1.67 mg galantamine equivalent (GALAE)/g), tyrosinase (45.07 mg KAE/g) 45.07 mg kojic acid equivalent (KAE)/g), α‐glucosidase (0.73 mmol acarbose equivalent (ACAE)/g), and α‐amylase (2.95 mmol ACAE/g) enzymes. Both species showed high antibacterial and antifungal activities with remarkable antifungal activity exerted by S. alata against Trichoderma viride (minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) 1 mg/mL), similar to that of Ketoconazole. The study utilized molecular docking, molecular mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) free energy calculations, and molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate the binding interactions between anthraquinone glycosides and various bacterial enzymes, including targets from Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The findings suggest that compounds like sennoside A, sennoside B, and chrysophanol exhibit strong binding affinities, stable interactions, and potential as antimicrobial inhibitors, especially against vital bacterial proteins such as MurE and 30S ribosome S3. In conclusion, our findings underscore the biopharmaceutical potential of these two Senna species, suggesting their significance as sources of bioactive agents for health‐related applications.

In recent times, para-aramid fabrics have become widely used in the design of composite structures for defense, automotive, and aerospace sectors, sports equipment, and other various applications. High-performance para-aramid fibers form the foundation of lightweight ballistic materials, typically as a woven fabric or a non-woven cross-plied unidirectional material, usually impregnated with a thermosetting or thermoplastic polymeric matrix. Currently, efforts are under way to enhance the impact protection performance of these composites by incorporating reinforcement such as ceramics, nanofibers, various nanoparticles, nanotubes, and their modified hybrid structures with a poly (vinyl butyral) (PVB) thermoplastic matrix. The aramid fibers reinforce the composite’s strength and thermal stability, while the PVB matrix offers flexibility, toughness and impact resistance. This survey presents the effects of adding different nanofillers and their hybrids on impact resistance and overall performance of these p-aramid fibers/poly (vinyl butyral) composites, focusing on improved elastic modulus and energy absorption following the ballistic impact and knife penetrations of the composites. Overall, incorporating hybrid nanofillers into aramid fiber/PVB composites results in materials with superior impact resistance, thus enhanced protective capabilities, making them ideal for high-performance applications.

In this study, we conducted a thorough analysis of Rheum turkestanicum (RT) and Calendula officinalis flowers (COF) extracts with varying polarities using LC–MS chemical profiling and biological tests (antioxidant, antimicrobial, enzyme inhibition, and cytotoxic effects). The highest level of total phenolic content in the ethanol extract of RT with 75.82 mg GAE/g, followed by the infusions of RT (65.00 mg GAE/g) and COF (40.99 mg GAE/g). A total of 20 bioactive compounds were identified and quantified. The ethanol extract of COF was rich in terms of 5‐O‐caffeoylquinic acid (2780.56 μg/g), isorhamnetin‐O‐rutinoside (1653.59 μg/g), and rutin (1356.97 μg/g). However, RF extracts were rich in catechin gallate (21.66–80.01 μg/g) and 5‐O‐caffeoylquinic acid. Except for metal chelating ability, the ethanol extract of RT exhibited the strongest ability (DPPH: 171.5 mg TE/g; ABTS: 387.35 mg TE/g; CUPRAC: 449.80 mg TE/g; FRAP: 195.60 mg TE/g; and PBD: 1.52 mmol TE/g). In the enzyme inhibition tests, the tested ethanol extracts for both species were more active than the infusion. The highest values for tyrosinase were recorded as 72.47 mg KAE/g (in RT extracts) and 71.74 mg KAE/g (in COF extracts). Furthermore, all extracts underwent assessment for their antibacterial and antifungal properties, targeting both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, as well as clinical yeast and fungal microorganisms. In silico studies yielded valuable insights into the potential therapeutic applications of the bioactive compounds identified in COF and RT extracts. Stable interactions were observed between key compounds, such as isorhamnetin 3‐O‐glucoside and 3‐O‐caffeoylquinic acid, with crucial target proteins (AChE, BChE, and MurE). These compounds formed stable hydrogen bonds with minimal root mean square deviation (RMSD) fluctuations, particularly in the isorhamnetin 3‐O‐glucoside‐Staphylococcus aureus MurE and 3‐O‐caffeoylquinic acid‐MurE of S. aureus complexes. These findings further underscore the potential of these compounds as promising candidates for therapeutic development.

Background Multiple studies have shown that children with developmental disabilities (CDD) often live with unrecognized and untreated pain, consume inadequate diet and have inadequate levels of physical activity. This study aimed to analyze pain, dietary habits and physical activity of CDD in Croatia, North Macedonia and Serbia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Croatia, North Macedonia and Serbia in March–April 2023 within the Erasmus+ SynergyEd project. The study included parents and caregivers of CDD. Data were collected via online survey. Results We included 954 participants from Croatia (N=543; 57%), North Macedonia (N=205; 21%) and Serbia (N=206; 22%). Participants reported that 16% of children suffered from chronic pain related to their condition. The main findings of our study are that chronic pain is prevalent in CDD (16%). Almost half (48%) of participants avoid certain foods for their children. The majority of children (86%) were not on a special diet. Among those that were on a special diet, they were most commonly (60%) on a gluten-free diet. Most (54%) participants stated that their children used nutritional supplements. Less than half participants (45%) stated that the child is involved in some kind of physical activity. Only 17% of CDD engaged in physical activities 5 h or more per week. Conclusion Our findings indicate that chronic pain, inadequate dietary patterns and insufficient physical activity are common in CDD from Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia. Education of parents and caregivers can mitigate their use of interventions that have not been proven effective, such as for example the use of gluten-free diets in CDD.

In out-of hospital settings (OHS), various Trauma Scores (TS) are useful as significant trauma outcome predictors. This study was to retrospectively calculate the RTS (Revised Trauma Score), MGAP (Mechanism of Injury, GAP-Glasgow Coma Score, Age, Arterial Pressure) and GAP values and then compare them as mortality predictors in OHS. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 286 trauma patients (TP) in OHS treated from 1 st to 31 st October 2020 and transported to the Clinical Center of Serbia (CCS). The data analysed came from medical reports filled out by the IEM Belgrade doctors and the discharge papers from the CCS. Clinical and demographic variables for all the subjects, as well as their GAP, MGAP, and RTS scores, were examined. Their AUC values were compared. While analysing the ability of the GAP, MGAP and RTS scores to predict in-hospital mortality, we found comparable values at 0.890 (GAP), 0.869 (MGAP) and 0.871 (RTS) by using the AUROC curve with high statistical significance (p< 0.001). MGAP has the highest sensitivity, and GAP has the highest specificity. No significant difference in the ability to predict mortality between these three scores. Clinical parameters and calculated TS for all TP classified according to whether the subjects survived (n=230; 80.5%) or died (n=46; 19.5%) after four weeks of treatment in the CCS were significantly statistically different in these two groups. GAP, MGAP and RTS scores are significant predictors of poor outcomes and mortality in TP. It was established that there is no difference in their predictive value.