Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe pulmonary disease first described in 1967 by Dr. Thomas L. Petty and colleagues as a syndrome of respiratory failure that presents with progressive arterial hypoxemia refractory to oxygen therapy, severe dyspnea caused by reduction of pulmonary compliance and diffuse bilateral pulmonary infiltrations. This clinical syndrome is characterised by acute, severe and life threatening respiratory insufficiency with high mortality rate [1-3]. The definition of ALI/ARDS was recommended by the American/ European Consensus Conference since 1994 (Table 1). The standard definition classifies the patients with bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and arterial hypoxemia, who have the ratio of PaO2 / FiO2 less than 300 mmHg. However, if the ratio is less than 200 mmHg, the diagnosis of ARDS can be made. In patients with left heart disease, the pulmonary wedge pressure less that 18 mmHg is a criterion to distinguish ARDS form cardiac failure. Recently, new Berlin classification of ARDS was accepted in 2013, where the term ALI was abandoned and ARDS was categorized [3,4].

This paper presents method for sustainability assessment of thermal power plant unit using multi-criteria analysis with aim to create base for business decision. Seven options of possible status of thermal power plant „Kolubara A” unit No. 2 with energy indicators of sustainable development were shown. Energy indicators of sustainable development consists of sets of resource preservation, economic, environmental, and social indicators. Sustainability assessment often fails to account for social influence on energy system. Considering to this, special focus will be on social indicators, their definition, forming, and impact on multi-criteria sustainability analysis. Analysis of quality of the selected options (energy systems) in respect to sustainable development by compare of their general index of sustainability is presented. Methodology of multi-criteria analyse of thermal power plant unit can show decision makers how to find best available options when the social indicators impact is leading. The aim of this paper is to choose the criteria for the evaluation of the available options, determine the relative importance of specific criteria and present methodology of multi-criteria analysis in the decision-making process.

In this paper the ability of three natural zeolites from different localities (Vranjska banja-VB, Igros-I and Baia Mare-BM deposits) to remove copper has been investigated. These three zeolites were subjected to the elementary analysis as well as XRDP and DTA/TG analysis due to complete characterization. Cation exchange capacity of VB, I and BM zeolites were 150.1, 169.2, and 176.5 meq/100g. The maximum adsorption capacity for the copper adsorption on VB, I and BM-zeolites were 7.75, 8.51, and 11.18 mg/g. Based on the obtained results the mathematical expression that describes correlation between the CEC and copper adsorption capacity has been developed. This linear dependance has been tested with the vast variety of experimental results. According to this expression it is possible to predict the copper adsorption capacity for different zeolites based only on their CEC value.