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J.K. Rowling is an author of the series of seven fantasy novels about Harry Potter. The series depicts the lives of three best friends and young wizards: Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and their fight against the evil wizard Voldemort. This paper analyzes the feminist characters in the Harry Potter series as well as anti-feminists in the novels. Some critics accuse J.K. Rowling of being anti-feminist because the main character in the series is a boy and, at first glance, it seems that the majority of the most important characters are males. They condemn her for stereotypically describing female characters as the weaker and less competent sex. This paper aims to portray the feminist characteristics of selected female characters in the series and to illustrate their power and importance. The characters who initially appear to be stereotypically described usually experience a significant character development throughout the series and able to demonstrate that they are not just passive characters but fighters for the rights of oppressed social groups, and against discrimination and racism. Witches have proven to be just as brave and important as wizards in the fight against evil.

Current recommendations advocate that blood tubes for coagulation testing should be filled not less than 90% of their nominal filling volume, since under- or over-filling >10% may generate unreliable results of some hemostasis assays. This study was hence aimed to explore filling accuracy and precision of commercial blood tubes. Between-lot variations of 3 different lots (20 tubes per lot) of 3.2% citrate blood tubes manufactured by Becton Dickinson, Greiner and Kima were studied. One additional lot from each manufacturer was assessed in triplicate (three series of 20 tubes), to assess within-lot variation. All tubes were first weighed empty and then filled with distilled water by a syringe, under ideal filling conditions. Filled tubes were weighed again, in duplicate. For each 20 tubes series, mean bias (deviation from the ideal tube filling volume) and imprecision (coefficient of variation ; CV%) were calculated. All biases were within ±10%. Within-lot and between-lot variation in filling volume was acceptable, and comprised between 0.4 and 2.4%. Greiner tubes were the most accurate (bias, −1.0 to 2.4%), followed by Kima (bias, −7.8 to −5.9%) and Becton Dickinson (bias, −9.6 to 3.3%) tubes. The highest between-lot difference was noted for Becton Dickinson tubes (up to 12.9%), followed by Greiner and Kima tubes (up to 3.4 and 1.8%, respectively). Although coagulation tubes filling accuracy was within ±10% for all three tested manufacturers, the overall bias was found to be variable among manufacturers and lots. Major effort shall be made by blood tube manufacturers for improving standardization of their products.

Background: CLSI H21-A5 guideline (Collection, Transport, and Processing of Blood Specimens for Testing Plasma-Based Coagulation Assays and Molecular Hemostasis Assays) recommends 90% fill volume for Na-citrate tubes. Tube underfilling or overfilling, greater than ±10%, may lead to false results for some coagulation assays. The aim of this study was to examine the filling accuracy and precision for Greiner, Kima and BD, 3.2% Na-citrate coagulation tubes. Materials and Methods: To asses between-lot variations, 3 different lots (20 tubes per lot) of citrate blood tubes from three major manufacturers (Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), USA ; Greiner Bio-One GmbH, Germany ; Vacutest KIMA, Italy) were examined. One additional lot from each manufacturer was measured in triplicate (three series of 20 tubes), to assess within-lot variations. All tubes were first weighed empty and then filled with water using 50 mL syringe and 19G straight needle (ideal filling conditions). Filled tubes were weighed again, in duplicate. For each series of 20 tubes, mean bias (deviation from the ideal tube filling volume) and CV (%) was calculated. Results: All biases were within ±10%. Within-lot and between-lots variations in filling volume for all three tube manufacturers was acceptable (0.4 to 2.4%). Greiner tubes were most accurate with biases ranging from -1.0 to -2.4%. KIMA tubes were least accurate, with a negative bias across all tested lots, ranging from -6.0 to -7.9%. Conclusion: Although the coagulation test tubes filling accuracy was within ±10%, for all three tested manufacturers, it should be noted that tube filling accuracy may differ between tube manufacturers. Our experiment shows that tube filling may not be ideal even under ideal filling conditions. This leaves little room for patient related tube filling problems.

Novi oralni antikoagulansi (NOAK) su lijekovi koji se posljednjih nekoliko godina sve više koriste u prevenciji i liječenju venske i arterijske tromboze. Metode kvantitativnog određivanja koncentracije NOAK lijekova tek postaju predmetom uvođenja u specijalizirane laboratorije za pretrage hemostaze i za sada još uvijek nisu sastavni dio laboratorijske dijagnostike. Cilj ovog rada bio je ispitati ključna analitička obilježja kvantitativnih metoda određivanja koncentracije NOAK lijekova na dva različita analitička sustava kako bi se procijenilo jesu li ispitivane metode prikladne za uvođenje u svakodnevni rad. Ispitivanja metoda za određivanje koncentracije dabigatrana, rivaroksabana i apiksabana na analitičkim sustavima BCSXP (Siemens, Njemačka) i Compact MAX (Stago, Francuska) pokazala su zadovoljavajuće i prihvatljive kriterije ponovljivosti, unutarlaboratorijske preciznosti i linearnosti metoda. Stoga se zaključuje da su metode prikladne za uvođenje u redovnu laboratorijsku praksu. Ispitivana preciznost pokazala se nižom kod niskih koncentracija lijekova, što se može objasniti manjom preciznošću i točnošću mjerenja pri koncentracijama oko graničnih koncentracija kvantifikacije u odnosu na veće koncentracije lijeka. New oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are drugs that have been increasingly used for the prevention and treatment of arterial and venous thrombosis in recent years. The methods for quantitative determination of concentration of NOAC drugs are just being introduced into specialized hemostasis laboratories and are currently not in routine laboratory use. The aim of this study was to examine the key analytical characteristics of the quantitative methods for determination of NOACs on two different analytical systems in order to determine their suitability for routine laboratory use. The methods for the determination of concentration of dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban on analytical systems BCSXP (Siemens, Germany) and Compact MAX (Stago, France) have met the criteria of repeatability, intralaboratory precision and linearity. Therefore, it was concluded that the methods are suitable for routine laboratory use. The determined precision was found out to be lower in the range of low drug concentrations, which can be explained by worse precision and measurement accuracy in the range of concentrations around the limit of quantification compared to higher drug concentrations.

Samskost je od nekdaj prisotna v družbi, vendar se o njej ne govori. V ta stan so bili ljudje prisiljeni zaradi službe, zaradi katere se niso smeli poročati (na primer učiteljice, duhovniki), ali pa jih je do tega pripeljala življenjska situacija (Leskošek, 2002 Koropeckyj-Cox, 2005). V današnji družbi sta zakon in družina še vedno normi, katerih se držimo. Samski moški je sicer del družbe, vendar je zaradi določenih stereotipov in predsodkov postavljen v neprijetne vsakodnevne situacije. Po eni strani je v medijih predstavljen mit samskega moškega kot uspešnega in zadovoljnega posameznika zahodne družbe, ki gradi in vlaga v kariero, se zna prepustiti užitkom in rad zapravlja, na drugi strani pa ostaja v družbi tradicionalna slika moškega, ki hrepeni po partnerki/parterju, je nesrečen in neizpolnjen v življenju (DePaulo in Morris, 2005b). Opisane stereotipe so tudi intervjuvanci, vključeni v mojo raziskavo, sami izpostavili, vendar se nihče od petih ni poistovetil s katerim izmed teh. Poleg tega igra v ozadju pomembno vlogo tudi družbeni spol in »temeljna« pravila o moškosti in doseganju te podobe. V diplomski nalogi sem raziskovala, kakšen način življenja živijo samski moški, in jih primerjala tudi na podlagi njihove starosti. Poleg tega me je zanimalo njihovo mnenje o svojem stanu, kako ga sprejemajo, kje vidijo dobre in kje slabe strani, kakšno podporo imajo v družini in kakšno v širši okolici. Opaziti je bilo razliko med mlajšimi intervjuvanci in starejšimi, sploh v sprejemanju situacije, v kateri so zaradi lastne odločitve ali življenjskega preobrata. S primarno družino imajo vsi dobre odnose in v njej čutijo podporo in razumevanje. Kljub preostalim raziskavam, ki kažejo na zapostavljenost samskih moških v družbi, intervjuvanci v moji diplomski nalogi tega ne opažajo oziroma tega ne povezujejo s svojim stanom. The single status has always been present in the society, but has not been talked about. People were either forced to remain single due to their occupation not allowing them to wed (e.g. teachers, priests), or it was the result of their life situation (Leskošek, 2002 Koropeckyj-Cox, 2005). Marriage and family remain the norm. A single man, even though incorporated in the society, is confronted with uncomfortable everyday situations due to certain stereotypes and prejudices. On the one hand, the media present the myth of a single man as a successful and happy individual in Western society, who develops and invests in his career, who knows how to indulge in pleasures and likes to spend money. But on the other hand, the common image of a man, who longs for a life partner and an unhappy and unfulfilled life remains entrenched in our society (DePaulo and Morris, 2005b). These stereotypes were also highlighted by the interviewees included in my research. However, none of the five interviewees identified themselves with either of them. Additionally, gender and the rules of masculinity and achieving this image play an important role behind the scene. In this thesis, I researched the lifestyles of single men and also compared them based on their age. Furthermore, I was interested in their opinion about their single status, how much they accept it, where they see the benefits and the disadvantages, and what kind of support they have in their families and in their surroundings. I noticed a difference between the younger and older interviewees, especially in accepting the situation that was the result of their own choices or some other turning point in life. They all have good relationships with the primary families and feel support and understanding there. Contrary to other research show the marginalization of single men in the society, the interviewees in my thesis do not feel this or do not associate it with their marital status.

Ostaci organoklornih pesticida u domaćem mlijeku

US28 is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), encoded in DNA of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Depending on geographical region 40 to 100% of the population was proved to be HCMV positive. Although the latent infection is asymptomatic, it can lead to severe and life-threatening diseases in immunodeficient hosts. HCMV infection is associated with number of chronic inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis, cancer and transplant rejection. The hijacking of a host signaling machineries is the fundamental part of viral host-evasion strategies and here the viral GPCRs play a very important role. US28 receptor is so far the most characterized viral GPCR. Due to the high homology with human chemokine receptors, it can even bind several chemokines. Its constitutive signaling couples efficiently to the hosts signaling networks and enhances viral survival, dissemination and in some cases oncogenesis or cardiovascular diseases. This makes the US28 receptor a very interesting pharmacological target and our goal was to synthesize ligands that would reverse the constitutive signaling of this viral GPCR. Assessing the modulation of US28-mediated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, we were able to identify partial inverse agonists of US28 receptor with dihydroisoquinolinone and tetrahydroisoquinoline core structures that showed functional activity equal or superior to the known US28 inverse agonist VUF2274. An exchange of the dihydroisoquinolinone unit for a biphenyl scaffold resulted in ligands with full inverse agonism at US28 receptor. Dihydroisoquinolinones and biphenyls were rapidly and efficiently obtained from simple precursors such as diazonium salts applying radical carboamination reactions or radical biaryl synthesis, respectively. Moreover, by using enzyme catalysis or an enantioselective macrocyclisation reaction employing a chiral auxiliary, we were able to demonstrate that dihydroisoquinolinone core structures of US28 receptor ligands can be obtained in enantiomerically enriched or potentially even enantiomerically pure forms. In addition, partial inverse agonists of US28 receptor with isopropanolamine structure were discovered and analogues of natural antiviral agents with chalcone and flavonol structures were identified as modulators of US28 receptor constitutive activity. First attempts to develope photoexcitable probes, which could enable determination of the proximate amino acids in the binding pocket of these ligands were made. US28 ist ein G-Protein-gekoppelter Rezeptor (GPCR), der in der DNA des humanen Zytomegalievirus (HCMV) kodiert ist. Abhängig von der geographischen Region werden 40 bis 100% der Bevölkerung als HCMV-positiv eingestuft. Obwohl die latente Infektion asymptomatisch ist, kann es zu schlimmen und lebensbedrohlichen Erkrankungen in immungeschwächten Wirten führen. Die HCMV-Infektion ist mit zahlreichen chronisch-entzündlichen Krankheiten assoziiert, einschließlich Atherosklerose, Krebs und Transplantatabstoßung. Die Übernahme der Kontrolle über das Signalsystem des Wirtes ist ein grundsätzlicher Teil der viralen Wirtsumgehungsstrategie, wobei die viralen GPCRs eine sehr wichtige Rolle spielen. Der US28-Rezeptor ist der bis heute am besten charakterisierte virale GPCR. Aufgrund seiner hohen Homologie mit humanen Chemokinrezeptoren kann er sogar einige Chemokine binden. Seine konstitutive Signaltransduktion kuppelt effizient zum Signalnetzwerk des Wirtes und erhöht das Virusüberleben, dessen Ausbreitung und führt in einigen Fällen zu Onkogenese oder Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen. Das alles macht US28 zu einem pharmakologisch sehr interessanten Targetrezeptor. Unser Ziel war es, Liganden zu synthetisieren, die die konstitutive Signaltransduktion dieses viralen GPCRs inhibieren würden. Nach Untersuchung der Modulation der US28-vermittelten Aktivierung der Mitogen-aktivierten Proteinkinase (MAPK) abhängigen Signalübertragungswege konnten wir inverse Partialagonisten des US28-Rezeptors charakterisieren, die eine Dihydroisochinolinon- und Tetrahydroisochinolin-Grundstruktur besitzen und die eine gleiche oder sogar bessere funktionelle Aktivität als der bekannte US28-Inversagonist VUF2274 zeigen. Ein Austausch der Dihydroisochinolinon-Einheit gegen einen Biphenyl-Baustein ergab einen vollständigen inversen Agonisten am US28-Rezeptor. Die Dihydroisochinolinone und Biphenyle wurden schnell und mit geringem Aufwand synthetisiert, wobei einfache Vorstufen, wie Diazoniumsalze, durch radikalische Carboaminierung beziehungsweise enantioselektive Makrocyclisierung umgesetzt wurden. Außerdem konnte durch Enzymkatalyse oder enantioselektive Makrocyclisierung unter Verwendung eines chiralen Auxiliars gezeigt werden, dass die Dihydroisochinolin- Teilstrukturen der US28-Rezeptorliganden in enantiomerenangereicherter oder möglicherweise auch enantiomerenreiner Form gewonnen werden können. Des Weiteren wurden inverse Partialagonisten des US28-Rezeptors mit Isopropanolamin-Struktur sowie natürlich vorkommende antivirale Wirkstoffe mit Chalkon- und Flavonol-Struktur als Modulatoren der konstitutiven Aktivität des US28-Rezeptors entdeckt. Erste Experimente gezielt auf die Entwicklung von photochemisch anregbaren Liganden, durch welche benachbarte Aminosäuren in der Bindungstasche dieser Liganden detektiert werden können, wurden ausgeführt.

Slovenia is a small country covering an area of a bit more than 20.000 square kilometres. The population is nearly 2 million. Over 90 % are Slovenes and the others are mostly of Croatian, Serbian, Moslem, Italian and Hungarian origin. Slovenia is situated at the edge of central and Western Europe. Its neighbouring countries are Italy to the West, Austria to the north, Hungary to the north-east and Croatia to the east and south. As the main route from the Balkan states and the middle east to the European community passes through Slovenia the country is quite interesting when it comes to the migration studies.

Prikaz nekih bioloških metoda u suzbijanju štetnika

U ovom radu navodimo nekoliko dokaza Cauchy-Schwarz- Bunjakovskijeve nejednakosti.

Ovim radom prikazana je primjer projekta u implementaciji: menadžer ureda - nova perspektiva. Na samom početku projekta, kao polazište razvoja novog kurikuluma, provedeno je istraživanje potrebe poslodavaca za znanjima i vještinama njihovih poslovnih tajnica te spremnosti poslodavaca na ulaganje u usavršavanje osoba zaposlenih na radnom mjestu tajnice. Utvrđeno je da poslodavci na prvo mjesto stavljaju komunikacijske vještine, zatim primjenu računala u poslovanju, poznavanje stranog jezika, uredsko poslovanje, organizacijske i menadžerske vještine te, naposljetku osnove financija i računovodstva. Nadalje, poslodavci percipiraju potrebu za daljnjim usavršavanjem ali ne iskazuju spremnost na ulaganje u edukaciju poslovnih tajnica.

The borders of nation-states, the authors claim, are an embodiment of the junction between the system and life-world. They manifest the translation of the social into physical spaces and vice versa. The authors reflect the meaning of distinctions and oppositions (us and them, here and there, safety and danger, included and excluded etc.) in the construction, maintenance and disappearance of boundaries in space. When it comes to the borders of nation-states distinctions are identified within and grounded solely in the political sphere, the same sphere that needs borders and distinctions in order to constitute itself. A qualitative study about the experience and meaning of the Yugoslav-Slovenian-Italian border lies at the core of the article. Three historical periods are highlighted: the constitution of the border in 1953/54, followed by several decades leading up to Slovenia joining the European Union and the "border disappearance" period after 2004. The authors believe that the field of "absolute politics" dominated over the everyday experiences of the people living in the border area and, when some turning points occurred, demanded radical decisions and identity transformations. Meje nacionalnih držav, pravita avtorici, so utelešenje stika med sistemom in življenjskim svetom, so učbeniško nazorna podoba tega, kako se družbeni prostori prevajajo v fizične in narobe. V članku razmišljata, kako se meje v prostoru vzpostavljajo, ohranjajo in tudi brišejo na podlagi razlik in opozicij (mi in oni, tukaj in tam, varnost in nevarnost, vključeni in izključeni ...). V primeru meja med nacionalnimi državami se razlike prepoznavajo in utemeljujejo izključno v sferi politike, natanko iste politike, ki potrebuje meje in razlike, da bi se sploh lahko konstituirala. Osrednji del besedila je kvalitativna raziskava vsakdanjega doživljanja in pomenov meje med Italijo in nekdanjo Jugoslavijo ter Slovenijo v treh obdobjih: ob vzpostavljanju meje v letih 1953/54, nato v desetletjih, ki so sledila vse do vstopa Slovenije v Evropsko unijo, in v obdobju "izginjanja meje" po letu 2004. Avtorici mislita, da je izkušnjam življenja ob meji skupno sporočilo, kako zelo je polje "absolutne politike" obvladovalo vsakdanja življenja ljudi in v prelomnih obdobjih tudi terjalo radikalne odločitve in identitetne preobrazbe.