Non-Destructive Examination for Cavitation Resistance of Talc-Based Refractories with Different Zeolite Types Intended for Protective Coatings.

In many industrial processes that include fluid flow, cavitation erosion of different engineering structures (pumps, turbines, water levels, valves, etc.) during their operation is expected. Metallic, ceramic, and composite materials are usual candidates considered for application in such extreme conditions. In this study, the idea is to synthesize refractory ceramic material based on talc with the addition of zeolite for utilization as protective coatings in cavitating conditions. Two talc-based refractories with zeolites from two Serbian deposits were produced. The behaviors of the samples in simulated cavitation conditions were examined by an advanced non-destructive methodology consisting of monitoring mass loss and surface degradation using image analysis compiled with principal component analysis (PCA), interior degradation by ultrasonic measurements, and the microstructure by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Lower mass loss, surface degradation level, and modeled strength decrease indicated better cavitation resistance of the sample with Igros zeolite, whereby measured strength values validated the model. For the chosen critical strength, the critical cavitation period as well as critical morphological descriptors, Area and Diameter (max and min), were determined. A Young's elasticity modulus decrease indicated that surface damage influence progressed towards interior of the material. It can be concluded that the proposed methodology approach is efficient and reliable in predicting the materials' service life in extreme conditions.

The Impact of Structured Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose Combined With Intensive Education on HbA1c Levels, Hospitalizations, and Quality-of-Life Parameters in Insulin-Treated Patients With Diabetes at Primary Care in Serbia: The Multicenter SPA-EDU Study.

BACKGROUND: We assessed the effect of structured self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), in combination with intensive education, on metabolic control, SMBG frequency, hospitalizations, cardiovascular risk factors, and quality-of-life parameters in patients with insulin-treated diabetes in primary health care settings in Serbia. METHODS: This 6-month, observational, noninterventional study, followed 346 insulin-treated diabetes patients (type 1 diabetes [T1D], n = 57; type 2 diabetes [T2D], n = 289) from 28 primary care centers. Patients attended a 10-day course at the specialized educational center and were followed monthly by their primary care physicians. Patients used a simple paper tool to document 3-day, 7-point glucose profiles prior to each monthly clinic visit. Physicians reviewed the completed forms at each visit and used a standardized education program to provide remedial training. Changes in HbA1c levels, SMBG frequency, metabolic risk factors, and Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS) were assessed. RESULTS: Mean (± SD) HbA1c within the full cohort was significantly improved from baseline at 6 months (8.85 ± 1.17% vs 7.91 ± 1.24%, P < .01). Significant increases in average SMBG frequency per week were seen at 6 months versus baseline (14.6/week vs 4.3/week, P < .001). The mean (± SE) number of hospitalizations due to metabolic conditions was significantly lower during the 6-month study compared to the 6-month period prior to the study (0.14 ± 0.04 vs 0.59 ± 0.09). DDS scores decreased from 39.6 ± 13.9 to 33.9 ± 14.5, P < .01. CONCLUSION: The use of structured SMBG combined with intensive education was associated with clinically significant reductions in HbA1c, increased SMBG frequency, and improved quality of life.

Distribution and mobility of heavy elements in floodplain agricultural soils along the Ibar River (Southern Serbia and Northern Kosovo). Chemometric investigation of pollutant sources and ecological risk assessment.

This work investigates the influence of a high-magnitude flood event on heavy elements (HEs) pollution and mobility in the agricultural soils along Ibar River in Southern Serbia and Northern Kosovo. The study area was one of the most important Pb/Zn industrial regions in Europe. Soil samples (n = 50) collected before and after the floods in May 2014 were subjected to the sequential extraction procedure proposed by the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR). The results indicated that the floods significantly increased not only the pseudo total concentrations of HEs in the soil but also their mobile and potentially bioavailable amounts. Moreover, higher concentrations (both pseudo total and potentially bioavailable) were found in the agricultural soils closer to the industrial hotspots. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis successfully grouped the analyzed elements according to their anthropogenic or natural origin. The floods significantly increased the potential ecological risk of HEs associated with Pb/Zn industrial activities in the study area. The potential ecological risk of Cd after the floods was highest and should be of special concern.

[Cardiovascular autonomous dysfunction in diabetics: the influence of disease duration, glycoregulation degree and diabetes type].

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular autonomous neuropathy (CAN) in diabetes has not been still defined clinically and aetiopathogenetically. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of disease duration, glycoregulation degree and diabetes type on damage of the cardiovascular part of the autonomous nervous system in our group of patients. METHOD: This study included diabetics, (100 patients) the same number of patients with diabetes type I and II as well as 20 healthy individuals in the control group. Classic Ewing's cardiovascular tests were used for CAN diagnosis: (1) the cardiovascular response to Valsalva manoeuvre, (2) the cardiovascular response to deep breathing (the so-called E/I ratio), (3) the cardiovascular response to rising (the so-called 30/15 ratio), (4) the test of orthostatic hypotension and (5) the TA response to handgrip. It has been arbitrarily taken that patients, whose score of "parasympathetic" tests (Valsalva manoeuvre, E/I ratio, 30/15) is equal or bigger than 1.5 (out of possible 3), have damage of the parasympathetic part of the autonomous nervous system while patients, whose score of "sympathetic tests" (the test of orthostatic hypotension and TA response to hand-grip is equal or bigger than 1 (out of possible 2), have damage of the sympathetic part of the autonomous nervous system. The patients whose total score is equal or bigger than 2 have cardiovascular autonomous neuropathy. The glycoregulation degree is determined by the level of HbA1c. RESULTS: There is a statistically significant, positive correlation between the values of the parasympathetic score and disease duration as well as between the total score, that is, CAN and disease duration. The connection between the sympathetic score, that is, damage of the sympathetic part of the autonomous nervous system and disease duration has not been observed. There is a positive correlation between the values of the parasympathetic score and HbA1c. The same pattern exists regarding the ratio of damage of the sympathetic part of the autonomous nervous system and the value of HbAlc, as well as the ratio of CAN, that is, the total score and HbA1c. Almost twofold, a bigger coefficient of correlation between the sympathetic score and HbA1c in relation to the coefficient of correlation of the parasympathetic score and HbA1c, points to bigger sensitivity of the sympathetic part of the autonomous nervous system to subacute deterioration of glycoregulation. The correlation between the values of autonomous scores and diabetes type has not been noted. CONCLUSION: Our results show that besides disease duration, the subacute deterioration of glycoregulation also leads to the appearance of cardiovascular autonomous dysfunction in diabetes. The sympathetic nervous tissue is functionally more sensitive than the parasympathetic one to metabolic disorders in diabetes. The cardiovascular autonomous dysfunction will occur independently of the type of diabetes.