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Methane (CH4) emissions from human activities are a threat to the resilience of our current climate system. The stable isotopic composition of methane (δ13C and δ2H) allows us to distinguish between the different CH4 origins. A significant part of the European CH4 emissions, 3.6 % in 2018, comes from coal extraction in Poland, the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) being the main hotspot. Measurements of CH4 mole fraction (χ(CH4)), δ13C, and δ2H in CH4 in ambient air were performed continuously during 6 months in 2018 and 2019 at Krakow, Poland, in the east of the USCB. In addition, air samples were collected during parallel mobile campaigns, from multiple CH4 sources in the footprint area of the continuous measurements. The resulting isotopic signatures from sampled plumes allowed us to distinguish between natural gas leaks, coal mine fugitive emissions, landfill and sewage, and ruminants. The use of δ2H in CH4 is crucial to distinguish the fossil fuel emissions in the case of Krakow because their relatively depleted δ13C values overlap with the ones of microbial sources. The observed χ(CH4) time series showed regular daily night-time accumulations, sometimes combined with irregular pollution events during the day. The isotopic signatures of each peak were obtained using the Keeling plot method and generally fall in the range of thermogenic CH4 formation – with δ13C between −59.3 ‰ and −37.4 ‰ Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite (V-PDB) and δ2H between −291 ‰ and −137 ‰ Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water (V-SMOW). They compare well with the signatures measured for gas leaks in Krakow and USCB mines. The CHIMERE transport model was used to compute the CH4 and isotopic composition time series in Krakow, based on two emission inventories. The magnitude of the pollution events is generally underestimated in the model, which suggests that emission rates in the inventories are too low. The simulated isotopic source signatures, obtained with Keeling plots on each simulated peak, indicate that a higher contribution from fuel combustion sources in the EDGAR v5.0 inventory would lead to a better agreement than when using CAMS-REG-GHG v4.2 (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service REGional inventory for Air Pollutants and GreenHouse Gases). The isotopic mismatches between model and observations are mainly caused by uncertainties in the assigned isotopic signatures for each source category and the way they are classified in the inventory. These uncertainties are larger for emissions close to the study site, which are more heterogenous than the ones advected from the USCB coal mines. Our isotope approach proves to be very sensitive in this region, thus helping to evaluate emission estimates.

Environmental protection contents are characterized by a wide range of interdisciplinarity. They are realized separately within the teaching of biology and geography (5th–8th grade) in elementary school in Serbia. Numerous concepts and facts are similar, especially within the content Nature Protection. The application of an integrative teaching approach in the realization of environmental protection contents in elementary schools was investigated. Pedagogical experiment with parallel groups of elementary school students was conducted by applying integrative teaching approach in the experimental (E) and traditional approach in control (C) groups of students. The data were obtained through the pre-test and post-test. Integrative teaching approach has proven to be effective in the realization of the above-mentioned program contents.

IntroductionDeficient mismatch repair (dMMR) or high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) is associated with an improved prognosis in colon cancer stage II but poor prognosis in stage IV colon cancer. The clinical significance of dMMR in colon cancer stage III is not established.MethodsTissue microarrays (TMAs) from 544 patients with colon cancer stage II and III with clinicopathological and survival data were stained for mismatch repair (MMR) proteins, CD3, CD8, and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1), and programmed death ligand- 1 (PD-L1). Patient outcomes were reviewed.ResultsIn stage III colon cancer, dMMR was a marker of poor disease-free survival (DFS) (Kaplan–Meier, mean survival in months: dMMR: 28.76 (95% CI 18.46–39.05) vs. pMMR 40.91 (37.20–44.63), p=0.014, multivariate Cox regression: hazard ratio (HR) 4.17 (95% CI 2.02–8.61), p

This paper focuses on the study of the strength of facade sandwich panels used in building construction. The paper describes the results of experimental and numerical research on the behavior of sandwich panels made of polyisocyanurate core (PIR) and their structural connections when exposed to tensile and compressive loads. In the initial phase of this study, laboratory tests were performed to determine the physical and mechanical characteristics of the material from which the sandwich panels are made. Laboratory tensile and compression tests were performed on small samples of sandwich facade panels. In order to verify the obtained results, they were compared with the numerical analysis performed in the ANSYS software. The numerical model was found to accurately predict the results of the laboratory tests, suggesting that the model can be used to predict the behavior of these panels under different loads in service. The study showed that the foam core sandwich panel exhibits excellent mechanical properties. The results indicate the suitability of foam-based composite structures in the construction industry for various applications, such as roof and wall structures. The findings of this study may help in the development of lightweight and durable construction materials for the industry.

Potential of Trichoderma harzianum IS005-12 (TH-IS005-12) to promote seed germination and seedling growth of Italian ryegrass (IRG) forage was evaluated in vitro. Non-desiccated seeds and those pre-harvestly desiccated with total herbicide were treated 25 days (freshly harvested) and 178 days after harvest (mature) with TH-IS005-12 spore suspensions at 0 (T0), 1.8 × 107 (T1) and 1.2 × 109 (T2) spore/mL. TH-IS005-12 promoted the early and final germination and seedling growth in all non-desiccated and desiccated, freshly harvested as well as mature IRG seeds. It was more effective in pre-harvestly desiccated freshly harvested seeds where T2 treatment increased final germination rate for 24%, root number per seedling 1.6-fold and seedling vigour 1.9-fold compared to the untreated control. Moreover, TH-IS005-12 showed an inhibitory activity against seedborne fungi Alternaria alternata and A. ventricosa suppressing their growth in vitro by 82% and 77%, respectively.

Abstract Objective To explore glucose metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its association with insulin resistance (IR) risk factors and disease activity indicators, including matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3). Methods This single-center study included 127 non-diabetic subjects: 90 RA patients and 37 matched controls. IR-related risk factors, disease activity (DAS28-ESR/CRP), concentrations of inflammation markers, MMP3, glucose, specific insulin, and C-peptide (a marker of β-cell secretion) were determined. Homeostasis Model Assessment was used to establish insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) and sensitivity (HOMA2-%S). Associations of HOMA2 indices with IR-related risk factors, inflammation markers, and RA activity were tested using multiple regression analyses. Results RA patients had significantly increased HOMA2-IR index than controls. In the RA group, multivariate analysis revealed DAS28-ESR, DAS28-CRP, tender joint counts, patient’s global assessment, and MMP3 level as significant positive predictors for HOMA2-IR (β = 0.206, P = 0.014; β = 0.192, P = 0.009; β = 0.121, P = 0.005; β = 0.148, P = 0.007; β = 0.075, P = 0.025, respectively), and reciprocal negative for HOMA2-%S index. According to the value of the coefficient of determination (R 2), DAS28-ESR ≥ 5.1 has the largest proportion of variation in both HOMA2-IR indices. DAS28-ESR ≥ 5.1 and ESR were independent predictors for increased C-peptide concentration (β = 0.090, P = 0.022; β = 0.133, P = 0.022). Despite comparability regarding all IR-related risk factors, patients with DAS28-ESR ≥ 5.1 had higher HOMA2-IR than controls [1.7 (1.2–2.5) vs. 1.2 (0.8–1.4), P = 0.000]. There was no difference between patients with DAS28-ESR

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a global health threat and bacteriophages are a potential solution in combating pandrug-resistant K. pneumoniae infections. Two lytic phages, LASTA and SJM3, active against several pandrug-resistant, nosocomial strains of K. pneumoniae were isolated and characterized. Their host range is narrow and latent period is particularly long; however, their lysogenic nature was refuted using both bioinformatic and experimental approaches. Genome sequence analysis clustered them with only two other phages into the new genus Lastavirus. Genomes of LASTA and SJM3 differ in only 13 base pairs, mainly located in tail fiber genes. Individual phages, as well as their cocktail, demonstrated significant bacterial reduction capacity in a time-dependent manner, yielding up to 4 log reduction against planktonic, and up to 2.59 log on biofilm-embedded, cells. Bacteria emerging from the contact with the phages developed resistance and achieved numbers comparable to the growth control after 24 h. The resistance to the phage seems to be of a transient nature and varies significantly between the two phages, as resistance to LASTA remained constant while resensitization to SJM3 was more prominent. Albeit with very few differences, SJM3 performed better than LASTA overall; however, more investigation is needed in order to consider them for therapeutic application.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known for their immunosuppressive properties. Based on the demonstrated anti-inflammatory effect of mouse MSCs from hair follicles (moMSCORS) in a murine wound closure model, this study evaluates their potential for preventing type 1 diabetes (T1D) in C57BL/6 mice. T1D was induced in C57BL/6 mice by repeated low doses of streptozotocin. moMSCORS were injected intravenously on weekly basis. moMSCORS reduced T1D incidence, the insulitis stage, and preserved insulin production in treated animals. moMSCORS primarily exerted immunomodulatory effects by inhibiting CD4+ T cell proliferation and activation. Ex vivo analysis indicated that moMSCORS modified the cellular immune profile within pancreatic lymph nodes and pancreatic infiltrates by reducing the numbers of M1 pro-inflammatory macrophages and T helper 17 cells and upscaling the immunosuppressive T regulatory cells. The proportion of pathogenic insulin-specific CD4+ T cells was down-scaled in the lymph nodes, likely via soluble factors. The moMSCORS detected in the pancreatic infiltrates of treated mice presumably exerted the observed suppressive effect on CD4+ through direct contact. moMSCORS alleviated T1D symptoms in the mouse, qualifying as a candidate for therapeutic products by multiple advantages: non-invasive sampling by epilation, easy access, permanent availability, scalability, and benefits of auto-transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the tests results of three types of hay mowing machines (later in text: mowers), namely a self-propelled oscillatory mower-conditioner and two tractor-mounted mowers with oscillatory and rotary blades, used to mow alfalfa grown under dry land conditions in the region of central Serbia during three seasons in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Although characterized by older design, they are still commonly used at smaller and medium size farms in this region. Therefore, their optimal exploitation parameters are still of large importance for hay quality and production efficiency and sustainability. The exploitation parameters of all three mowers generally increased linearly with higher speeds, having high R2 values (over 0,8), with rare exceptions. The regression coefficients b clearly showed that the self-propelled mower-conditioner achieved maximum increase in production performance (b = 0,3606), compared with the oscillatory (b = 0,1158) and rotary mowers (b = 0,1414). Mower design had a significant (p ≤ 0,001) effect on cutting and chopping losses, production performance, and specific fuel consumption (p ≤ 0,05). The tests confirmed the superiority of the self-propelled mower over the two mowers aggregated with tractors.

Maize seed is characterised by a variety of shapes and sizes, which directly or indirectly affect physiological properties. The aim of the present study was to establish the significance of the seed shape and size on the first count and germination. The following eight hybrids were used as a seed material in the trial: ZP196, ZP260, ZP341, ZP360, ZP434, ZP677, ZP684 and ZP704. The traits of seed shape and size were observed under laboratory conditions. The seed mass, the first count and germination were determined. The genotype and the seed fraction significantly affected the variance of seed mass formation, R2≥0,911, while the significance of these factors for the first count and germination was small with the coefficient of determination of R2≤0.129 and≤0.298, respectively. The first count and germination were high (above 95%) in all sizes and all shapes of seeds. The lowest first count and germination were detected in SO (94.2; 95.1, respectively), while the highest values were determined in SSP (97.1; 98.0, respectively). The importance of seed germination was determined by the analysis of variance (p

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the origin and size of planting material on the morphological characteristics of seed tuber's three potato cultivars. The objects of research were three varieties of potatoes: Aladdin, Newton and Desiree. The analysis of the morphological characteristics tuber showed highly significant (r

Seed quality is crucial for achieving the desired number of plants in the mixture, as well as the ratio of grass-legume components. Seeds of red clover and Italian ryegrass can be placed on the market with germination of 70 % and more. In this experiment, the seeds of six varieties of red clover and four varieties of Italian lily were examined. Seeds up to four years of age were tested. Seed quality was examined by monitoring the following parameters: germination energy, amount of hard-dormant seed, total germination and amount of abnormal seedlings. The tested varieties of red clover and Italian ryegrass seeds showed the best quality after one and two years of storage. After four years of storing seeds, out of six tested varieties of red clover, two did not meet the criteria for marketing in Serbia, according to the current rulebook on seed quality. In the case of Italian ryegrass, out of four tested varieties, two did not meet the criteria for placing seeds on the market.

Trauma is still the leading cause of death in the world among the population under the age of 45 and bleeding is the dominant cause of early mortality in one third of all injured. Coagulopathy in trauma is directly related to the outcome and is considered to be the most significant preventable cause of death. Trauma-induced coagulopathy is a complex, multifactorial disorder that can be roughly divided into three phases. The entity of acute traumatic coagulopathy is characterized as an endogenous hemostatic disorder that occurs in the first few minutes of injury associated with tissue damage caused by severe trauma and hemorrhagic shock, regardless of external factors. The pathogenesis of trauma-induced coagulopathy is not fully known and is still the subject of research. According to the latest recommendations of the European Guide for the Management of Massive Bleeding and Coagulopathy in Trauma, tranexamic acid should be used as soon as possible, and no later than three hours after the injury in a patient who is bleeding or at risk of significant bleeding. Its prehospital application should be considered. In the light of new knowledge, the question of the justification and safety of the free use of tranexamic acid in trauma has been raised. The use of tranexamic acid in trauma-induced coagulopathy is a simple and affordable therapeutic approach that should be used in the prehospital period in those patients who are bleeding or at risk of significant bleeding. The implementation of this therapy in our country has not yet come to life.

Today's society is characterized by the expansion of scientific and technological development, leading to changes in the conception of educational work at all levels of education. The integration of digital technology is aimed at modernizing the education system. In practice, however, even the best designed media tools can quite often prove to have numerous drawbacks. Consequently, there is a need for empirical research into the educational value of digital learning tools. In view of the fact that, apart from parents, preschool teachers are the most important mediators between children and contemporary ICT devices, the aim of our study was to explore preschool teachers' perceptions of the risks and potential negative influences of computer games on children's development, behavior and learning. Teachers' attitudes were analyzed in relation to their educational level, place of work, age, and years of service, in order to identify tendencies linked to changes in the research sample structure. A quantitative approach to result analysis was employed, with a tabular and graphical presentation of the obtained data. Research results suggest teachers believe that excessive use of computer games at preschool level is accompanied by addiction, aggressive thoughts, feelings and insensitivity to scenes of violence in the real world. In contrast, teachers believe that social isolation, passivity, a decline in children's creativity and adverse effects on their physical health are not an inevitable consequence of the excessive use of computer games. As regards statistically significant differences in teachers' attitudes, the results indicate that an increase in the number of years of service and educational level is linked to increased perceptions of the drawbacks relative to the benefits of using computer games. Teachers' place of work is not statistically significant in determining their attitudes to the potential risks of using computer games.

Maize is one of the most important field crops with broad genetic and phenotypic variations. It occupies an important place in agricultural production in the world as in Serbia. The main aim of maize breeding is to obtain new inbred lines, i.e. to identify new hybrid combinations that will surpass existing hybrids in terms of grain yield and other important traits. The aim of this study was to examine the phenotypic variability of 10 NS maize hybrids of different genetic bases and maturity groups in agroecological conditions in Rimski Šančevi, to consider the interdependence of grain yield and other tested traits using PCA and correlation analysis. The obtained results indicate a significant variation of all examined properties except for the ear length. The significance of the difference indicated by the F test was confirmed by the Duncan test. Correlation coefficients indicate a significant positive interdependence between the mass of 1000 grains and the ear length (r = 0.698). PCA analysis provided a more complex analysis of the interdependencies of the examined traits and grain yield. The highest yields were achieved by hybrids that simultaneously showed high values of several yield components. Yields ranged from 11,210 kg ha-1 in the G-10 hybrid (FAO 600), to 14,790 kg ha-1 in the G-3 hybrid (FAO 400). In this study, hybrids of earlier maturity achieved higher grain yields, mainly due to drought tolerance. Therefore, the goal is to create drought-tolerant maize hybrids that will successfully endure the negative consequences of global warming.

Introduction. Virtual reality is a computer-generated interactive simulation of reality that provides a wide range of possibilities for creating a beneficial therapeutic program. The use of virtual reality systems in the rehabilitation of motor disorders in children with cerebral palsy is relatively recent. Objective. Accordingly, the aim of this review is to establish the level of effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions based on virtual reality systems in the treatment of children with cerebral palsy, based on the available literature. Methods. The initial search identified 63 scientific papers (research reports). By applying the selection criteria, nine papers were selected that met the given criteria and thus entered the further process of analysis. During the analysis, special attention was paid to: the outcomes of therapeutic procedures (the achieved results); and the analysis of the selection criteria of virtual reality systems to be used in the rehabilitation and accessibility of these systems for commercial and clinical applications. Results. Contradictory results have been found based on the analysis of the levels of effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions. In addition to studies that testify to the unequivocally positive effects of the application of virtual reality in the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy, there are also those in which it is evident that this effect is absent. Conclusion. The general conclusion of this paper is that virtual reality systems have great potential for application in the field of rehabilitation of motor disorders, but also that this area is still not sufficiently researched and requires further engagement to go one step further to justify or challenge their application.

Anesthesiologists are ranked among health professionals that are most often affected by burnout syndrome. A critical view is needed to interpret data published about burnout syndrome among anesthesiologists, keeping in mind differences in methodology. This also causes difficulty to estimate the prevalence of overall burnout, no matter which professional group is studied. Safe anesthesia and surgical care are not available when needed for 5 billion of the world's 7 billion people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, even the countries with the highest numbers of Anesthesia Providers faced anesthesia shortages due to significant workload increases. The highly specialized, multidisciplinary treatment of patients during the pandemic, an increased risk of coronavirus infection, staff shortages, and a lack of equipment imposes a significant physical and cognitive burden on anesthesiologists. Burnout syndrome among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic is a critical topic. Health care workers and anesthesiologists worldwide reported relevant, work-related psychological pressure, burnout, and somatic symptoms. This fact requires attention as previous studies showed that emotional distress is associated with a long-lasting effect on professionals' health. Increasing the number of anesthesiologists, harmonizing regional, international, and world standards in education and patient safety while addressing the quality of life of anesthesiologists should be our goal, set by The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA), so that by 2030, safe anesthesia will be available to all the people in the world.

Delirium is not only a mental change but also a complex clinical syndrome with multiple pathophysiological changes. Delirium is an acute brain dysfunction accompanied by change or fluctuation of basal mental status, loss of attention with disorganized thinking, or altered level of consciousness. Although healthcare professionals realize the importance of recognizing delirium, it frequently goes unrecognized in the intensive care unit. Acute delirium is associated with increased mortality, morbidity, length of stay, and healthcare costs in intensive care units and hospitals. The consequences of delirium are long-term cognitive impairment, functional disability, post-discharge cognitive dysfunction, and institutionalization. Critical illness-related delirium can affect the diagnosis and treatment of primary diseases and disappears with the improvement of primary diseases. In the intensive care unit, delirium has been reported in 40% to 60% of non-ventilated patients and up to 50% to 80% of critically ill patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. Recent investigations have shown that delirium is preventable in 30-40% of cases. Available sedation and delirium monitoring instruments allow clinicians to recognize these forms of brain dysfunction. Multiple management strategies such as ABCDE, eCASH, and ESCAPE are helpful to prevent and treat delirium and improve the prognosis of critically ill patients.

Introduction: Women make up an increasing portion of the physician workforce in anesthesia, but they are consistently under-represented in academic anesthesiology and leadership positions. The objective of this study is to provide a current update on the role of women in anesthesiology in Belgrade, Serbia. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted during September and October 2013 amongst anesthesiologists at ten tertiary health care institutions in Belgrade. The study population was 272 anesthesiologists. Participants' consent and ethical approval were obtained. The questionnaire captured basic sociodemographic and work-related characteristic information: age, sex, level of academic and professional postgraduate education, the managerial position of the section or department. Sociodemographic characteristics were tested in relation to sex by Pearson's chi-squared test. Results: The response rate was 76.2%. Over two-thirds (70.7%) of respondents were women. One-third of female participants (34.5%) and 23.3% of male participants had obtained additional academic achievements; 35.2% of female participants and 40.0 % of male participants had been in managerial positions. Statistically significant gender discrepancies in the additional academic education and upper-rank leadership positions were not detected. Conclusion: Female anesthesiologists in Serbia have achieved parity with men in the highest academic ranks and leadership positions. These women may play an important role in mentoring future generations of female physicians and inspiring them to achieve their professional goals.

The authors in this paper deal with special investigative actions in Baltic countries. Special investigative measures today represent one of the most important measures in the fight against serious criminal offences, but its improper use endangers fundamental human rights, especially the right to privacy and the right to a fair trial. The article is divided into three main parts. After the introductory remarks, the authors elaborate the Lithuanian criminal procedure legislation, which influenced development of the European Court of Human Rights's jurisprudence in the field of the undercover investigator. Latvian solutions are explained in the next part and its main characteristic are numerous special investigative measures. Finally, the authors explain Estonian legislation. The authors specifically consider and analyse the positions of the European Court of Human Rights through judgments rendered in this field. A wide range of special investigative actions indicates their diversity, but mostly the solutions of all three legal frameworks are in line with the standards of the European Court of Human Rights.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a disruption in the regular process of teaching and learning. The inclusion of electronic learning (e-learning) is a measure introduced in order to preserve continuity in school education. E-learning, however, was introduced in response to the state of emergency and the pandemic and not as a pre-planned and well-prepared innovation, thus suggesting the need to research students' attitudes towards the implementation of e-learning in high school biology instruction. 255 students of two Belgrade high schools (the Zemun High School and the Fifth Belgrade High School), in which e-learning was implemented, took part in the study. Processing of the data obtained by means of a questionnaire yielded results indicating that students on the whole have a neutral attitude to e-learning and do not want it to become their sole model of learning. Moreover, they are aware only of some of the benefits provided by e-learning. The results show that there are no statistically significant differences between the attitudes of male and female students to e-learning. Similarly, students' grade, their end-of-semester grade in biology, and rating of how interesting instructional content is, do not affect their attitudes to e-learning. Based on the results, in view of the current situation in terms of health security and the need to optimize the instruction process, further continued training of teachers and students in e-learning and instruction is being planned, as well as the provision of appropriate material and other resources for this purpose.

Since the beginning of 2020, SARS-CoV 2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Corona Virus 2) has been in the focus of scientific circles and beyond. Finding the most efficient therapeutic protocol in prevention and treatment of the new and unknown COVID - 19 (Corona Virus Disease - 2019) disease has been indentified as especially important. SARS-CoV 2 uses various mechanisms to lead patients to malnutrition, which is detected by a higher frequency of admission to hospital treatment, especially on admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Malnutrition has a negative impact on the course and outcome of the disease. In the pandemic, the number of patients on various types of oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation increased, and in correlation with that, there has been a greater need for knowledge and education of staff to use different diagnostic and therapeutic modalities and different approaches in feeding critically ill patients. Nutritional therapy is the basis for maintaining body weight, supporting respiratory function, as well as helping in the overall recovery of patients. Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins C and D have shown potentially beneficial effects against COVID-19 diseases. The aim of this paper is to consolidate the current knowledge and recommendations in the field of nutritional therapy in patients with COVID-19 treated in the Intensive Care Unit.

Parental involvement in the life and work of the preschool institutions is an issue that is becoming increasingly relevant as the reform of the system of the pre-school education unfolds. With the introduction of The New Preschool Curriculum Framework - Years of Ascent (2018), this matter has become fairly significant, because the new curriculum perceives parents as key partners in achieving the goals of the institutional preschool education. Accordingly, there is a clear need to thoroughly study this topic and examine all relevant factors which determine an active positioning of parents in the process of the preschool education. In that context, it is very important to establish parents´ self-assessment of their involvement in the process of the pre-school education. This paper aims to examine parents´ attitudes towards their involvement in the work of preschool institutions. The paper constitutes a part of a more extensive research which deals with the field of parents´ co-operation with pre-school institutions. In this paper the authors present the results of a subscale that examines parents´ attitudes regarding their involvement in the work of pre-school institutions. The research included 763 parents whose children attend public preschool institutions on the territory of Serbia. The results obtained through the research show that parents believe that they have been adequately included in the work of the preschool institutions and they consider themselves informed and active partners in the process of co-operation. Concerning the independent research variables, the results indicate that mothers are more involved than fathers, as well as that younger parents are more active than those who belong to an older category of parents. The parents´ education level has proven to be an important factor behind parental involvement, as well as the variable relating to a specific education group that children attend. Following the obtained results, one can conclude that parents´ self-assessment regarding their involvement in the work of preschool institutions engenders optimism and it supports the attitude that parental involvement is of immense significance for the quality of the preschool education.

Intercultural education constitutes an integral part of the education system reform currently being undertaken in our country. This paper shall indicate the competencies thatteachers are required to develop to successfullyimplement the concept of intercultural education. Special attention shall be paid to analyzing key elements that initial trainingfor intercultural education at Teachers´ Training Faculties should comprise, bearing in mind that developing intercultural competencies in teachers constitute the basis for developing such competencies in students. Apart from providing them with a high-quality initial education, to develop the required competencies in teachers one also needs to furnish them with continuing professional development. The paper shall emphasize the importance of developing specific teaching competencies, and it shall point to various assumptions regarding successful teaching activities aiming at the development of intercultural education.

A total of six tomato seed populations, collected in the autumn of 2016 at different locations in Serbia (West (3), South (1), North (1) and East (1)), were enrolled in this study. Seeds of the tomato populations considered were produced in the organic growing system in the area of Zaovice (76 m a.s.l., chernozem), Stara Pazova, Northern Serbia (44˚ 47 '19.6" N, 20˚ 27' 56.2" E) in 2017. Analyses of the germination parameters of the tomato seed populations examined (namely the germination energy, total germination, abnormal seedlings and dead seeds of the tomato seeds considered) indicated significant (r < 0.01) differences according to the production year (A) and the tomato seed population (B). The impact interactions (r < 0.01) of these factors (A × B) proved significant only relative to dead seeds. A highly significant positive correlation was found between the germination energy and the total germination of the seeds considered (r = 0.8711, p < 0.001), as well as between the amounts of their abnormal seedlings and dead seeds (r = 0.92297, p < 0.001). The germination energy and the total germination of the tomato seeds considered were found to decrease with the increasing seed age, in contrast to the numbers of their abnormal seedlings and dead seeds which continued to increase with seed aging.

This paper presents the results of the cleaning tests of three different natural alfalfa seed lots and three different red clover seed lots performed using seed processing machines. The alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and the red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) are two of the most important perennial forage legumes in the Republic of Serbia. Alfalfa and red clover seeds for sowing should be clean, i.e. free from weeds and foreign matter, and of high germination and genetic values. Such requirements can only be achieved by cleaning, i.e. removing all undesirable impurities and poor-quality seeds. The following parameters important for the seed cleaning process and equipment were observed: seed purity, contents of weed and other crop seeds, inert substance content, amounts of processed seeds (kg), seed loss and processing output. The results obtained facilitate (depending on the amount and type of weeds and other impurities found in the alfalfa and red clover seed lots considered) the proper adjustment of the seed processing equipment to obtain the largest possible quantity of quality seeds that are in compliance with the laws and regulations of Serbia.

Sepsis is a medical emergency and therefore requires early identification and immediate management, which is not a matter of hours, but minutes. Since the first definition in 1991, sepsis remains a major challenge for clinicians and scientists. Despite significant advances in technology and therapy, mortality and cost of treatment are unacceptably high. Septic shock is the leading cause of mortality in critically ill patients. Cognitive impairment and functional disability were observed after survivors’ long-term follow-up. Since its foundation in 2002, Surviving Sepsis Campaign aims to implement global strategies and to raise awareness of the challenges associated with sepsis. The implementation of guidelines and sepsis care bundles resulted in significant decrease in mortality. Hospital mortality is lower in hospitals with high versus low bundle compliance. Still, epidemiological data for sepsis are missing for low- and middleincome countries.

The circular economy (CE) is currently a worldwide popular concept that should ensure sustainable development and resource efficiency. It is established on the theory of consumption and use of resources in the process of production in a way that affects a limitation of adverse effects on the environment. Simultaneously, this concept creates additional value and reuse of the products. In the Republic of Serbia (RS), the idea of CE is still new and underdeveloped. Hence, this paper aims to explore the possibility of implementing a CE in companies that operate in the RS by adopting the already developed methodology in the European Union. This research was conducted by monitoring the production process in the company "MB INTERNACIONAL" that produced cardboard packaging. The obtained approximate value of Circular Indicator of this company was 0.47, which indicated that the company had excellent chances for full implementation of the CE model in the business with the application of specific measures. The low-budget and highbudget measures, which could improve the circularity level in the analyzed company, are also presented in the research.