Tussilago farfara (coltsfoot) and Verbascum thapsus (mullein) have been used as folk remedies for treating respiratory disorders. The aim of this study was to test the toxicity of the water extracts of T. farfara and V. thapsus in vivo in zebrafish and in vitro in BEAS 2B epithelial bronchial cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the antioxidative properties of T. farfara and V. thapsus extracts in cell culture. Our results show that the T. farfara leaf extract does not produce toxic effects on zebrafish embryos or BEAS 2B cells, and that it has a protective effect in BEAS 2B after induction of oxidative stress. The water extract from V. thapsus displayed pronounced toxic effects on zebrafish embryos and BEAS 2B cells and did not exhibit a significant antioxidative effect on BEAS 2B cells exposed to oxidative stress. Our results suggest that the use of T. farfara water leaf extract is potentially safe and effective in treating respiratory disorders, whereas the use of V. thapsus needs further investigation. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. ON173008]

The concept of self-regulated learning (SRL) hasn’t been researched enough in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) and hence this study represents an important milestone in understanding this concept in this context. The conducted research was initiated with the presupposition that SRL had a positive impact on satisfaction and academic performance of students. In order to prove the goals of the research, two main hypotheses were formulated. The results of the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) have shown that the statements within SRL are grouped into five factors: goal-setting, metacognition, environment structuring, computer self-efficacy and social dimension. Multiple regression analysis proved that 4 of 5 factors have a positive impact on satisfaction and academic performance of students. Only goal-setting yielded no significance on the two aforementioned variables, while remaining four factors showed a significant influence on students’ satisfaction and academic performance.

O artigo apresenta a experiência do município de Santo André/SP com a formação de professoras(es) para as questões de gênero, como parte da estratégia de enfrentamento da violência doméstica e do feminicídio. Parte do pressuposto de que o fenômeno da violência doméstica é resultado de um longo processo histórico marcado pelo patriarcado. O trabalho foi desenvolvido pela Secretaria de Políticas para Mulheres de Santo André em parceria com a Secretaria de Educação, através da adesão à campanha “Quem Ama Abraça, fazendo escola”. Dentre as ações, foi realizado curso de extensão universitária com estágio em vários equipamentos de atendimento à mulher vítima de violência. O referencial teórico contou com os estudos feministas e de gênero. Os resultados demonstram que, no período de realização da campanha, o Centro de Referência da Mulher de Santo André registrou aumento no número de atendimentos às mulheres, que procuravam orientações para sair do ciclo da violência e/ou solicitavam abrigo e medidas protetivas. Nas escolas observou-se discussões mais sistemáticas sobre a temática, em que os estereótipos de gênero e as práticas sexistas foram problematizadas. Conclui que é urgente criar, nas escolas, espaços de reflexão como forma de enfrentamento dessa violência que machuca e deixa marcas em crianças, jovens e adultas(os). Recebido em: 14/05/2019Aprovado em: 20/07/2019

The next step for companies towards smart manufacturing is to process the previously integrated and contextualised data to create manufacturing intelligence. This poster presents a use case for enhancing self-awareness, contextual-awareness, and peer-to-peer awareness to a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) by using low-cost IoT equipment. An experimental setup is demonstrated investigating enhanced awareness features for the PLC making use of internal and external temperature measurements.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a biological process in which small RNAs regulate gene silencing at the transcriptional or posttranscriptional level. The trigger for gene silencing is double-stranded RNA generated from an endogenous genomic locus or a foreign source, such as a transgene or virus. In addition to regulating endogenous gene expression, RNAi provides the mechanistic basis for small RNA-mediated communication between plant hosts and interacting pathogenic microbes, known as cross-kingdom RNAi. Two core protein components, Argonaute (AGO) and Dicer (DCL), are central to the RNAi machinery of eukaryotes. Plants encode for several copies of AGO and DCL genes; in Arabidopsis thaliana, the AGO protein family contains 10 members, and the DCL family contains four. Little is known about the conservation and specific roles of these proteins in monocotyledonous plants, which account for the most important food staples. Here, we utilized in silico tools to investigate the structure and related functions of AGO and DCL proteins from the model grass Brachypodium distachyon. Based on the presence of characteristic domains, 16 BdAGO- and 6 BdDCL-predicted proteins were identified. Phylogenetic analysis showed that both protein families were expanded in Brachypodium as compared with Arabidopsis. For BdDCL proteins, both plant species contain a single copy of DCL1 and DCL4; however, Brachypodium contains two copies each of DCL2 and DCL3. Members of the BdAGO family were placed in all three functional clades of AGO proteins previously described in Arabidopsis. The greatest expansion occurred in the AtAGO1/5/10 clade, which contains nine BdAGOs (BdAGO5/6/7/9/10/11/12/15/16). The catalytic tetrad of the AGO P-element-induced wimpy testis domain (PIWI), which is required for endonuclease activity, is conserved in most BdAGOs, with the exception of BdAGO1, which lacks the last D/H residue. Three-dimensional modeling of BdAGO proteins using tertiary structure prediction software supported the phylogenetic classification. We also predicted a provisional interactome network for BdAGOs, their localization within the cell, and organ/tissue-specific expression. Exploring the specifics of RNAi machinery proteins in a model grass species can serve as a proxy for agronomically important cereals such as barley and wheat, where the development of RNAi-based plant protection strategies is of great interest.

analysis of visual records of protests in both countries, which consist of pictures taken by media reporters and activists as well as the author and his associate, provides evidence for this argument. Chapters 5, 6 and 7 discuss the possibilities for Ukraine’s development in the aftermath of military aggression by Russia, which is still ongoing in the eastern provinces. Underlining fragmented support for tougher sanctions within the European countries in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its involvement in the Donbas conflict, Oleinik argues that Europe’s dependence on Russian energy might play a key role in this outcome. In a way, Europe’s inability to form a united response against Russia proves his point that the Ukrainian people might need to rely on their own social, cultural and economic resources in building the country. Along this line, Oleinik surveys how Ukrainians view a number of concepts that he suggests correspond with different perceptions of power—such as human rights and honour—and assesses whether Ukrainian people might be able to overcome authoritarian culture while rebuilding the country. Yet, partly because Ukrainian territories have historically been under Russian rule—imperial and then Soviet—for such a long time, Ukrainians’ perceptions of these concepts are very close to the Russian way of thinking. For example, Oleinik’s findings indicate that in both countries power is closely associated with violence. While Ukrainians made efforts to resist this notion of power during the 2013–2014 mass protests, according to Oleinik, continued active efforts by forces other than established elites will still be required if Ukraine is to depart from the Russian path. Chapters 8 and 9 focus on internal solutions to the economic difficulties that Ukraine is currently facing. For a start, Oleinik argues, simply turning from Russia to the West for inspiration for economic policies to best serve national interests is not the answer. Instead, Ukrainian economists should try to start a national debate and focus on how to build the domestic market. Next, Oleinik suggests that Ukraine could strengthen its economy by pursuing temporary protectionist policies to allow national businesses to develop, while securing free access by national producers to the Western markets. His study of the timber industry is a case in point. Chapter 10 evaluates the potential of volunteer movement that emerged in 2013–2014 to take the lead in the process of nation-state building. As Oleinik remarks, over recent years, volunteer initiatives have earned the trust of the Ukrainian people (p. 365), while the ruling elite failed to make any significant changes. His analysis of survey data reveals a significant level of support among Ukrainian volunteers for a democratic independent Ukraine (pp. 393–95). Given all this, Oleinik argues that ‘the volunteer movement may well become a base for consolidation of the traditionally divided country’ (p. 406). Even though volunteer initiatives still need foreign assistance in building a nation-state, Oleinik concludes that the West should leave geopolitical considerations aside in lending a hand to Ukraine. Overall, this book presents a descriptive study of the current state of Ukraine, with a thorough analysis of a large amount of qualitative and quantitative data.

Through the use of hydrogen bond driven solid-state synthesis, mononuclear complexes are transformed into crystalline materials.

Abstract Twelve previously synthesized, biologically active 2,6,7-trihydroxyxanthen-3-one derivatives were evaluated in vitro for antiproliferative activity. Compounds were screened against HeLa, SW620, HepG2 and A549 tumor cell lines. Compound with the trifluormethyl group on C-4’ position of the phenyl ring showed the best inhibitory activity towards HeLa and A549 tumor cells with IC50 of 0.7 and 4.1 µmol L−1, resp. Compound with chlorine and fluorine substituents on aryl ring showed the best antiproliferative activity against SW620 with IC50 of 4.1 µmol L–1 and against HepG2 tumor cell line with IC50 of 4.2 µmol L–1. Analyses of cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of the trifluormethyl derivative were performed with cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay in human lymphocyte culture and revealed no genotoxic and cytotoxic effects. The most potent compounds were subjected to molecular docking simulations in order to analyse bindings to molecular targets and, at the same time, further support the results of experimental cytotoxic tests. Docking studies showed sites of importance in forming hydrogen bonds of the most potent compounds with targets of interest.

This paper investigates the specific models and patterns of production, dissemination and dynamics of news in the Bosnia and Herzegovina online sphere, as well as the mechanisms which prolong or reduce news cycles. The research assumption is that the news network is created and maintained under the influence of the specifics of journalism, as well as based on the interest of the audience for a particular topic and under the influence of the mainstream influencers who, within the context of political influence, the dominant ideologies and participatory cultures determine the news cycles and create the prevailing discourse. This research was carried out based on the media coverage of the topics related to the recent war history (revision of the verdict by the Hague Tribunal on Bosnia and Herzegovina's lawsuit against Serbia), and on the topics related to the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina (coordination mechanism in the process of Euro-Atlantic integration), all in order to prove that the topics related to the past have an extended lifecycle and a stronger impact on the audience.

Abstract This observational clinical study was composed of two substudies: a non-comparative one (n = 166), testing only lysozyme-based compounds (LBCs), and a comparative substudy (n = 275), testing both LBCs and bicarbonate-based local compounds (BBCs) on the healing of oral mucositis during radio- or chemotherapy. The density of ulcerations has decreased significantly after the treatment with lysozyme in both substudies. The density of ulcerations in the radiotherapy group was lower in patients treated with LBCs compared to patients treated with BBCs (p < 0.001). In the chemotherapy group, reduction of ulceration density was similar with both LBCs and BBCs. The LBCs reduced pain intensity during the intake of solid food and speech more than BBCs in both patient cohorts (p < 0.05). In the radiotherapy cohort, pain intensity when consuming liquid foods was reduced more with LBCs than with BBCs (p < 0.05). No adverse events were recorded. This study demonstrates the advantages of treating oral mucositis during radiotherapy or chemo-therapy with LBCs.

We propose a simple $SU(5)$ model that connects the neutrino mass generation mechanism to the observed disparity between the masses of charged leptons and down-type quarks. The model is built out of $5$-, $10$-, $15$-, $24$-, and $35$-dimensional representations of $SU(5)$ and comprises two (three) $3 \times 3$ ($3 \times 1$) Yukawa coupling matrices to accommodate all experimentally measured fermion masses and mixing parameters. The gauge coupling unification considerations, coupled with phenomenological constraints inferred from experiments that probe neutrino masses and mixing parameters and/or look for proton decay, fix all relevant mass scales of the model. The proposed scenario places several multiplets at the scales potentially accessible at the LHC and future colliders and correlates this feature with the gauge boson mediated proton decay signatures. It also predicts that one neutrino is massless.