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Computer and information literacy in the field of the nursing profession is an essential prerequisite for the efficiency and effectiveness of the work of nurses and technicians. Thanks to computer and information literacy, nurses and technicians better manage their own time. They reduce the time spent in administrative work and thus free up more time for health care. In order to do that, they need to be adequately educated. The aim of this paper is to determine the situation in the education of nurses/technicians in the field of information and information literacy. The hypotheses that were sought to confirm are: the analysis of available curriculum of regular education of nurses of different levels of education indicates the lack of certain current knowledge, skills and competencies in the field of computer literacy. In the process of confirming the hypotheses, the European guidelines for the regulated profession of nursing, the national guidelines of the Republic of Croatia for secondary and higher schools and the specific curriculum of four secondary, college and high medical schools were analyzed. Following the analysis, EU guidelines, national guidelines and specific curriculum were correlated. After that, the education in the field of the nursing profession in the Republic of Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, and Germany was compared. Finally, the necessary improvements in the process of education of nurses/technicians in the Republic of Croatia will be pointed out.

In the 21st century the efficiency of work in the field of nursing largely depends on the proper use of information and communication technology in order to identify, find, process, store and communicate essential information. This is imperative for nurses and technicians in order to spend as little time as possible on administrative tasks and to devote most of their time to patients and medical care. In addition, information- literate nurses and technicians can significantly influence patients' health literacy. The subject of this paper is information literacy in the field of nursing since the problem being researched is the study of the extent to which nurses and technicians are information literate. The purpose of this paper is to show the situation related to information literacy of nursing in the Republic of Croatia. Two hypotheses that are being researched are: Information literacy helps nurses to improve the quality of medical care by reducing administration time ; and the second one: In order to increase the level of information literacy, it is necessary to introduce new contents into the existing nursing curricula and ensure lifelong learning. Confirmation of the hypotheses was ensured through the implementation of the research where a questionnaire was distributed and the available body of literature was studied. The paper itself consists of an introductory part in which a brief overview of the area is given as well as an explanation of the basic concepts. Subsequently, the results of the survey and examination of the available literature are presented. The results of the research are shown in the discussion part and definitive conclusions are reached at the end.

Graphene quantum dots (GQD) are atom-thick nanodimensional carbon, very attractive for the application in theranostics due to their excellent physico-chemical and biological properties. However, their immunoregulatory properties are insufficiently investigated, especially for human immune cells. We found that non-toxic doses of GQD inhibit the production of proinflammatory and T helper (Th)1 cytokines, and augment the production of anti-inflammatory and Th2 cytokines by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. While unable to affect purified T cells directly, GQD impaired the differentiation and functions of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC), lowering their capacity to stimulate T cell proliferation, development of Th1 and Th17 cells, and T-cell mediated cytotoxicity. Additionally, GQD-treated DC potentiated Th2 polarization, and induced suppressive CD4+CD25hiFoxp3hi regulatory T cells. After internalization in a dynamin-independent, cholesterol-dependent manner, GQD lowered the ROS generation and nuclear translocation of NF-B in DC. The activity of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) was reduced by GQD, which correlated with the increase in transcription of autophagy genes and autophagic flux in DC. Genetic suppression of autophagy impaired the pro-tolerogenic effects of GQD on DC. Our results suggest that GQD-triggered autophagy promotes tolerogenic functions in monocyte-derived DC, which could be beneficial in inflammatory T-cell mediated pathologies, but also harmful in GQD-based anti-cancer therapy. 15th International Symposium on Dendritic Cells (DC), Aachen, Germany, 10-14 June 2018

This paper reports a simple route for the preparation of graphene/poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) (SBS) nanocomposite films employing a vacuum filtration method. Graphene is exfoliated well by an electrochemical procedure and homogeneously dispersed in the polymer matrix. The prepared nanocomposite films were characterized by XRD, Fourier transform IR (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, AFM and SEM. Morphological studies showed that graphene formed a smooth coating over the surface of SBS. The increase in graphene concentration induces the wrinkling of graphene sheets at the composite surface which causes a further increase in surface roughness. The FTIR, Raman and XPS spectra of graphene/SBS nanocomposite films indicate the strong interactions between graphene and the polymer matrix. According to the XRD patterns, introducing SBS into graphene did not modify the graphene structure additionally, i.e. the crystal lattice parameters do not depend on SBS content in graphene/SBS nanocomposite films. The graphene/SBS nanocomposite films also exhibited better hydrophobicity due to the increased surface roughness and lower sheet resistivity (reduced 10 times) compared to exfoliated graphene.

50th International Liver Congress of the European-Association-for-the-Study-of-the-Liver, Apr 22-26, 2015, Vienna, Austria

PEJCIC TP, TULIC CD, LALIC NV, GLISIC BD, IGNJATOVIC SD, MARKOVIC BB, HADZI-DJOKK JB. Urinary prostate-specific antigen: predictor of benign prostatic hyperplasia progression? Can J Urol 2013;20(2):6707-6713. Introduction: Urinary prostate-specific antigen (uPSA) can be used as additional parameter of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) progression. Materials and methods: From January 2001 to December 2011, uPSA was determined in 265 patients with benign prostate. Based on total prostate volume (TPV), the patients with benign prostate were divided in two groups: TPV lt 31 mL and TPV >= 31 mL. Additional three groups were formed upon MTOPS study criteria: non-progressive BPH group (TPV lt 31 mL, PSA lt 1.6 ng/mL, age lt 62 yrs), intermediate group (one, or two parameters {TPV, PSA, age} increased) and progressive BPH group (TPV >= 31 ml, PSA >= 1.6 ng/mL, age >= 62 yrs). Results: Average uPSA values in the groups TPV lt 31 mL and TPV 31 mL were 119.3 +/- 124.5 and 255.5 +/- 204.9 ng/mL, respectively and they were significantly different (p lt 0.0001). Average uPSA values in the non-progressive BPH group, intermediate group and progressive BPH group were 86.8 +/- 82.4 ng/mL, 166.6 +/- 164.9 ng/mL and 274.9 +/- 208.3 ng/mL, respectively and they were significantly different (p lt 0.0001). The level of uPSA correlated significantly with TPV (r = 0.32, p lt 0.0001). The cut off uPSA level of 150 ng/mL discriminates the patients with non-progressive BPH and progressive BPH with specificity of 0.83 and sensitivity of 0.67. Conclusion: The level of uPSA reflects prostatic hormonal activity and correlates with TPV, PSA and age. UPSA level >= 150 ng/mL can be used as additional predictive parameter of BPH progression.

The fullerene C-60, due to the physicochemical properties of its spherical cage-like molecule build exclusively from carbon atoms, is able to both scavenge and generate reactive oxygen species. While this unique dual property could be exploited in biomedicine, the low water solubility of C-60 hampers the investigation of its behavior in biological systems. The C-60 can be brought into water by solvent extraction, by complexation with surfactants/polymers, or by long-term stirring, yielding pristine (unmodified) fullerene suspensions. On the other hand, a modification of the C-60 core by the attachment of various functional groups results in the formation of water-soluble fullerene derivatives. Assessment of toxicity associated with C-60 preparations is of pivotal importance for their biomedical application as cytoprotective (antioxidant), cytotoxic (anticancer), or drug delivery agents. Moreover, the widespread industrial utilization of fullerenes may also have implications for human health. However, the alterations in physicochemical properties imposed by the utilization of different methods for C-60 solubilization profoundly influence toxicological effects of fullerene preparations, thus making the analysis of their potential therapeutic and environmental toxicity difficult. This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of the in vitro and in vivo toxicity of fullerenes, focusing on the comparison between pristine and derivatized C-60 preparations and the mechanisms of their toxicity to mammalian cells and tissues.

The effect of visible and infrared irradiation on the structure of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is still an insufficiently resolved subject. In this paper, we report a detailed study of two types of SWCNT thin films treated by pulsed laser irradiation and dynamic and isothermal oxidation, respectively. Raman features of treated films were investigated by 532, 633 and 780?nm excitation lines, respectively. It was established that the 532?nm excitation laser line probes the surface of SWCNT films, while the two others probe the bulk of SWCNT films. It was found that during Raman measurements, one type of SWCNTs warms up significantly while the other type does not change temperature. Raman analysis of SWCNTs probed with 532?nm showed that effects of high power laser irradiation on two types of SWCNTs are completely different. Major effects are decomposition, debundlation and photooxidation. It was found that debundlation and removal of defective carbon are much more pronounced in one type of SWCNTs treated with dynamic oxidation. Dynamic oxidation affects mostly thinner SWCNTs that easily burn in air. The only significant effects of isothermal oxidation are the increase of defective amorphous carbon in the first type of SWCNTs and the decrease of D band and debundlation in the second type. Copyright (c) 2012 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.

Metabolic conversion of oestrogen phenolic groups may create conditions of oxidative stress accompanied by damage of cellular macromolecules including DNA. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the cell cycle kinetics and possible cytogenetic changes in cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes exposed to seven experimental concentrations of 17β-oestradiol (range 10-10 M to 10-4 M). Cell cycle kinetics was analyzed on metaphase spreads prepared for a standard analysis of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) stained by fluorescent-plus-Giemsa (FPG) technique. Cytogenetic changes were monitored by analysis of chromosome damage (gaps and breaks), structural and numerical aberrations. On the basis of the obtained results it can be concluded that oestradiol has no significant influence on cell cycle kinetics and mitotic index of cultured human lymphocytes. However, at estradiol concentration of 7×10-6 M, and at higher concentrations used in this experiment, there was a significant increase of gaps, breaks and aneuploidies. On the other hand, oestradiol treatment has not changed the frequency of polyploid cells. Therefore, it can be concluded that high concentrations of oestradiol pose some genetic risk detectable at cytogenetic level. Metabolička konverzija fenolnih grupa estrogenih hormona može da dovede do oksidativnog stresa praćenog oštećenjima različitih makromolekula u eliji, uključujući DNK. Cilj ovog istraživanja je evaluacija kinetike proliferacije i mogućih citogenetičkih promena u kulturama humanih limfocita pod dejstvom sedam eksperimentalnih koncentracija 17β-estradiola (opseg od 10-10M do10-4 M). Kinetika proliferacije limfocita analizirana je na metafaznim figurama obojenim tehnikom FPG za standardne analize razmena sestrinskih hromatida (SCE). Citogenetičke promene praćene su analizama hromozomskih oštećenja (gapovi i prekidi), strukturnih i numeričkih aberacija hromozoma. Na osnovu dobijenih rezultata može se zaključiti da estradiol ne utiče značajno na mitotsku aktivnost i kinetiku proliferacije limfocita u kulturi. Međutim, pri koncentraciji od 7×10-6 M, kao i pri višim eksperimentalnim koncentracijama korišćenim u ovim eksperimentima, zapažen je porast gapova, prekida i aneuploidija. S druge strane, tretman estradiolom ne menja učestalost poliploidnih ćelija. Prema tome, može se zaključiti da visoke koncentracije estradiola izazivaju izvestan genetički rizik koji se može detektovati na citogenetičkom nivou.

In this work, we present the results of a spectroscopic investigation of the emission from C-2 radicals of carbon arc in inert gas-helium. The rotational temperature Of C-2 radicals was determined in dependence of electrode-anode- diameter. It was found that the rotational temperature of diatomic carbon molecules decreased when electrode diameter decreased. The pressure dependence on rotational temperature has shown that the rotational temperature Of C-2 decreased with the increase of gas pressure. Publications of the Astronomical Observatory of Belgrade Series, 4th Serbian Conference on Spectral Line Shapes, Oct 10-15, 2003, Arandelovac, Yugoslavia

Due to its bactericidal activity Carbadox is used for treatment of swine dysentery and salmonellosis. Also, it can be used as a factor for growth stimulation. Carbadox is the only drug for certain health problems in swine production. At the same time Carbadox is slowly metabolized. The aim of this work was an examination of Carbadox genotoxicity in vivo and in vitro. In vitro genotoxicity of different doses of Carbadox was examined on cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Damage to chromosomal DNA was observed under the microscope as sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs). In vivo genotoxicity of Carbadox was examined on metaphase chromosomes from bone marrow cells of BALB/c strain male mice. Experimental animals were intragastrically treated with three different doses of Carbadox. In addition there were negative and a positive control groups of mice. Animals in the positive control were treated with a known clastogenic agent, cyclophosphamide, in a dose of 0,4 mg/kg b.w. In vivo genotoxicity of Carbadox was examined through eight experimental cycles. The results showed that this preparation with an antimicrobial mode of action induced damage to chromosomal DNA in human lymphocytes as well as structural and numerical chromosomal changes in bone marrow cells of BALB/c mice. All the examined concentrations of Carbadox significantly increased SCEs and consistently manifested a dose-dependent pattern. Also, all the examined doses caused karyotypic changes in vivo inducing numerical and structural chromosomal aberrations in mouse bone marrow cells. There was a positive correlation between the number of bone marrow cells with cytogenetic changes and the dose of Carbadox. It could be concluded that Carbadox expressed potential genotoxicity, especially at the highest investigated doses. Carbadox je sintetsko organsko jedinjenje (Metil-3(2quinoksal-metilen) karbozat-N1-N4 dioksid) sa baktericidnim dejstvom koje se koristi u suzbijanju svinjske dizenterije i salmoneloze i kao faktor koji stimuliše rast. Zbog spore metaboličke obrade i dugog zadržavanja u organizmu tretiranih životinja, a još vise zbog njegovog toksičnog, citotoksičnog i kancerogenog dejstva, Carbadox u novije vreme predmet detaljnih proučavanja. U ovom radu su izneti rezultati in vitro ispitivanja efekta Carbadoxa na limfocite periferne krvi čoveka praćenjem promena na nivou molekula DNK na osnovu učestalosti razmene sestrinskih hromatida. Citogenetička ispitivanja uticaja Carbadoxa, posle intragastrične aplikacije, na nastanak hromozomskih promena u ćelijama kostne srži obavljena su na miševima BALB/c soja. Hromozomi za kariotipsku analizu su dobijeni korišćenjem direktne metode ispiranja srži dugih cevastih kostiju. Rezultati ispitivanja efekata različitih doza Carbadoxa in vitro na limfocitima čoveka i in vivo na ćelijama kostne srži miševa BALB/c ukazali su da ovaj antibiotik poseduje visok genotoksični potencijal i jasno manifestuje mutageni efekat.

Due to the low consumption of chemicals, the absence of toxic residual side products, the procedure simplicity and time-saving aspects, gamma irradiation offers advantages over the classical chemical protocols. We successfully employed gamma irradiation in order to introduce N-atoms in Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs). By irradiating GQDs water dispersions in the presence of isopropyl alcohol and ethylenediamine, at doses of 25, 50 and 200 kGy, we attached amino groups onto GQDs in a single synthetic step. At the same time, a chemical reduction is achieved, too. Selected conditions induced incorporation of N-atoms within GDQs atomic lattice (around 3 at%), at all applied doses. Additionally, the C-atoms percentage was highly increased, from 63 to 79 at % or higher. The zeta potential of dots changed from −34.6 to +9.1 mV, due to the modification of functionalizing groups localized at the surface. Produced chemical changes lead to the desired alteration of the GQDs optical properties, such as an increased photoluminescence intensity, a higher photoluminescence quantum yields (from 2.07 to 18.40%) and a narrowing of the spectral features in the emission spectra. The ability of gamma-irradiated GQDs to quench free radical species was investigated and positively assessed; additionally, non-enzymatic optical detection of Cu(II) ions using GQDs as a sensor was studied and the detection limits areherein reported. These results suggest that GQDs can be potentially applied as smart photoluminescent sensors for metal cations. This is the peer-reviewed version of the article: S. Jovanović, Slađ. Dorontić, D. Jovanović, G. Ciasca, M. Budimir, A. Bonasera, M. Scopelliti, O. Marković, B. Todorović Marković, Gamma irradiation of graphene quantum dots with ethylenediamine: Antioxidant for ion sensing, Ceramics International (2020), 46, 15, 23611-23622 DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2020.06.133] The published version: [http://cer.ihtm.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3593]

In this paper, we performed synthesis of graphene thin films by rapid thermal annealing (RTA) of thin nickel copper (Ni/Cu) layers deposited on spectroscopic graphite as a carbon source. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of annealing temperature and annealing time on formation and quality of synthesized graphene films. Raman spectroscopy study showed that annealing at lower temperatures results in formation of monolayer graphene films, while annealing at higher temperatures results in formation of multilayer graphene films. We used Raman mapping to determine the distribution of graphene sheets. Surface morphology of graphene thin films was investigated by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with EDS probe. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Herein, the ability of gamma irradiation to enhance the photoluminescence properties of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) was investigated. Different doses of gamma-irradiation were used on GQDs to examine the way in which their structure and optical properties can be affected. The photoluminescence quantum yield was increased six times for the GQDs irradiated with high doses compared to the nonirradiated material. Both photoluminescence lifetime and values of optical band gap were increased with the dose of applied gamma irradiation. In addition, the exploitation of the gamma-irradiated GQDs as photosensitizers was examined by monitoring the production of singlet oxygen under UV illumination. The main outcome was that the GQDs irradiated at lower doses act as better photoproducers than the ones irradiated at higher doses. These results corroborate that the structural changes caused by gamma irradiation have a direct impact on GQD ability to produce singlet oxygen and their photostability under prolonged UV illumination. This makes low-dose irradiated GQDs promising candidates for photodynamic therapy.