Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences
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Oestrogen receptor beta in breast cancer prognosis and treatment
No full textObjectives: About 30 % of breast cancer patients do not respond to adjuvant tamoxifen treatment. In addition to classical clinical and pathological parameters, treatment decisions are based on the presence of the oestrogen receptor alfa, the progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor 2 receptor. The inclusion of novel biomarkers in the estimation of breast cancer prognosis and in treatment decision-making could help improve patient outcomes. The objective of this study was to test whether the oestrogen receptor beta is associated with breast cancer prognosis and/or treatment response. Study design: We collected data from the 118 breast cancer patients who had undergone surgery at the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia from 2002 to 2004. Main outcome measures: We collected clinicopathological, treatment and survival data from 2002 to 2022. The data about oestrogen receptor beta protein, oestrogen receptor beta 1 and delta 5 variant mRNA and the oestrogen receptor beta promoter ON region methylation index were determined in our previous studies. We used the Kaplan-Meier test and log-rank test to estimate survival rates and differences in survival between patient groups. Results: In the exploratory subgroup analysis of patients with a high ERβ methylation index, tamoxifen use was associated with longer overall survival and disease-free survival (log-rank, p = 0.001; p = 0.033, respectively). In the subgroup of patients with a low ERβ methylation index, radiotherapy was associated with shorter disease-free survival (log-rank, p = 0.037). Conclusion: This exploratory follow-up study investigates possible associations of oestrogen receptor beta expression and methylation with survival and treatment responses of breast cancer patients. Our results suggest that oestrogen receptor beta expression and methylation could be a significant additional marker of breast cancer prognosis to inform treatment decisions. These findings, derived from subgroup analyses, should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating and require validation in future studies
Optical, Structural, and Biological Characteristics of Rapid-Sintered Multichromatic Zirconia
No full textBackground: To overcome the esthetic limitations of dental monolithic zirconia restorations, multichromatic systems were developed to combine improved structural integrity with a natural shade gradient that mimics the optical properties of natural teeth. In response to the clinical demand for time-efficient, i.e., chairside fabrication of zirconia restorations, rapid sintering protocols have become necessary to adjust clinical efficiency along with material performance. This study addresses the challenges of a rapid sintering protocol related to optical performance and phase transformation of the final restoration and the zirconia–cell interaction. Methods: The influence of a rapid sintering protocol on the color stability of the final dental restoration was evaluated by the CIE L*a*b* color space. Phase transformation was assessed through X-ray diffraction analysis. Cellular behavior was evaluated by measuring wettability, the material’s surface energy, and a cell mitochondrial activity assay on human gingival fibroblasts. Results: Optical measurements demonstrated that the total color change in all layers after rapid sintering was above the perceptibility threshold (ΔE* > 1.2), while only the polished enamel layer (ΔE* = 3.01) exceeded the acceptability threshold (ΔE* > 2.7), resulting in a clinically perceptible mismatch. Results of X-ray diffraction analysis, performed for fixed occupancy at Z0.935Y0.065O0.984, revealed that rapid sintering caused a decrease in the cubic (C-) phase and an increase in the total amount of tetragonal (T-) phases. Conventionally sintered zirconia consists of 54% tetragonal (T-) and 46% cubic (C-) phase, whereas in the speed-sintered specimens, an additional T1 phase was detected (T = 49%; T1 = 27%), along with a reduced cubic fraction (C = 24%). Additionally, a small amount of the monoclinic (M) phase is noticed. Although glazing as a surface finishing procedure resulted in increased hydrophilicity, both polished and glazed surface-treated specimens showed statistically comparable cell adhesion and proliferation (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Rapid sintering induced perceptible color changes only in the enamel layer of multichromatic zirconia, suggesting that even layer-specific alterations may have an impact on the overall esthetic outcome of the final prosthetic restoration. Five times higher heating and cooling rates caused difficulty in reaching equilibrium, leading to changes in lattice parameters and the formation of the metastable T1 phase
Simple and fast wettability control of aminosilanized surfaces with carboxylic acids
No full textThis study investigates the rapid and reversible transition between hydrophilic and hydrophobic states on aminosilanized glass substrates using ion pair formation between surface-bound amines and organic/inorganic acids. Glass surfaces were prepared via piranha solution treatment, followed by drying and chemical vapor deposition of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. Water contact angle measurements revealed a sharp transition in surface wettability upon treatment with mineral acids while treatment with carboxylic acids shows a strong dependence on carbon chain length. This approach utilizes non-fluorinated long-chain carboxylic acids as environmentally friendly alternatives to PFAS, aligning with current global efforts for sustainable engineering. The system's ability to cycle between hydrophilic and hydrophobic states within min per cycle demonstrates the efficiency of this ion pair-driven approach compared to conventional methods. Work offers insights into optimizing surface modifications for applications such as self-cleaning, anti-icing, microfluidics and dynamic wettability control without the need for prolonged processing times and complicated and expensive equipment
Povećanje savojne čvrstoće keramičkih pločica dodatkom glinice
No full textM82 - Novo tehničko rešenje (metoda) primenjeno na nacionalnom nivo
The comparison of an optical and X-ray counterpart of subparsec supermassive binary black holes
No full textIn this paper, we study and compare the optical and X-ray counterparts of subparsec supermassive black hole binaries (SMBHBs). With that aim, we simulated the profiles of optical spectral lines emitted from the broad line region (BLR) as well as X-ray spectral lines emitted from the relativistic accretion disks around both black holes and compared them with each other. The obtained results showed that SMBHBs could cause a specific, but different variability of the lines from the optical part and Fe K line, leaving potentially detectable imprints in their profiles. Since these imprints depend on the orbital phase of the system, they could be used for reconstructing the Keplerian orbits of the components in the observed SMBHBs. Moreover, such signatures in the optical and X-ray line profiles of the observed SMBHBs could be used as a tool for the detection of these objects as well as for studying their properties
Influence of grinding, pressing and sintering of the powder 50.0 wt% Fe, 47.0 wt% BaTiO3 and 3.0 wt% TiO2 on morphology, microstructure, magnetic and electric properties
No full textA mixture of 50.0 wt% Fe, 47.0 wt% BaTiO3, and 3.0 wt% TiO2 powders is milled and then pressed and sintered. Samples sintered from ground powders have a structure consisting of plates. They consist of the crystalline phase BaFe12O19 and crystalline and amorphous phases Fe, BaTiO3, and TiO2. Samples sintered from powders ground for more than 180 min are compact and composed of BaFe12O19 crystals embedded in an amorphous matrix consisting of amorphous BaTiO3 and TiO2 phases. Magnetization of a sample ground for 220 min gradually decreases with increasing temperature up to 440°C. This decrease result from the transition of ordered domains into chaotically directed domains. Above 440°C, the thermal energy is sufficiently large to destroy ordered paramagnetic ferromagnetic and weakly ferromagnetic domains. During sample cooling in the absence of an external magnetic field, the temperature dependence of magnetization is the same as that obtained during heating in the magnetic field. However, during the sample cooling in the magnetic field, substantially higher values of magnetization are obtained. Considerably higher magnetization of the cooled sample remains even after switching off the external magnetic field. The sintered sample, previously pressed in the magnetic field, has a higher dielectric constant than the sample pressed in the absence of the magnetic field. The dielectric constant decreases with increasing frequency
From biowaste to active ingredients for biocosmetic production
No full textIn modern life, coffee is one of the most commonly used raw materials for beverages. Over the past decade, the trend of home consumption has expanded beyond traditional types of coffee to include espresso and filter coffee. This shift has resulted in the generation of solid coffee residue, which can be repurposed for other uses. Unfortunately, the disposal or composting of this waste is not well-regulated, and the valuable remains from coffee preparation often end up as municipal waste. The goal of this work is to reuse the solid residue from espresso coffee preparation through the pyrolysis process to obtain carbon materials that can be incorporated into cosmetic products. The carbon material obtained through pyrolysis exhibits exceptional physicochemical properties, making it a suitable component for cosmetic products with skin-cleansing effects, all while being environmentally friendly and non-toxic. The properties of the obtained carbon material were analyzed using methods such as XRD, FTIR, and BET. The resulting material was utilized in a cosmetic product as both an abrasive and adsorbent component in face cleansing milk. The results related to the production information certificate confirm that the obtained material is safe to use in cosmetic products.Advanced Ceramics and Application : 13th Serbian Ceramic Society Conference : Program and the Book of Abstracts; September 8-10, 2025; Belgrade
Liquid Phase Exfoliated Graphene/PDMS hybrid sensor for finger motion tracking
No full textGraphene, a two-dimensional crystalline carbon structure, consists of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. Due to its extraordinary properties, including strength, durability, optical characteristics, exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity, and biocompatibility, graphene is utilized in diverse fields such as medicine, electronics, photonics, energy storage devices, environmental applications, and more. In our work, we employed the Langmuir-Blodgett method to deposit a thin conductive graphene layer, derived from electrochemically obtained liquid-phase exfoliated graphene in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), on a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) substrate. The PDMS elastomer is a biocompatible, transparent, and flexible material with a wide range of applications, including the development of flexible sensors. This process led to the development of a flexible sensor designed to track finger movements. The layer of graphene was characterized using Raman spectroscopy, XPS, and AFM. Electrical contacts to the sensor were made by sputtering a thin layer of gold. Copper wires were connected to the sensor with silver paste as a connection between the sensor and electrical equipment, which enabled to track changes in electrical resistance with finger movement when the sensor was attached to a human finger. This study shows that a flexible sensor with LPE graphene on a PDMS substrate featuring sputtered electrical contacts yields a stable and precise electrical signal upon finger movement and that this type of sensor can be used to track limb motion.Advanced Ceramics and Application : 13th Serbian Ceramic Society Conference : Program and the Book of Abstracts; September 8-10, 2025; Belgrade
Patentability of Carrageenan-Based Products
No full textCarrageenan is a mucopolysaccharide from the algae class Rhodophyceae (red seaweed). It is an anionic, linear, high-molecular-weight sulfated polymer, that includes 1,3α-1,4β-galactans repeating units with one (κ-), two (ι-) or three (λ-) sulfates per disaccharide unit. Because of their biocompatibility, carrageenans are used in the food, pharmaceutical and biomedical industries. This study aims to provide a patent landscape of carrageenan applications. The Espacenet (a free database of European Patent Office), Cooperative Patent Classification and the International Patent Classification were used to analyze innovative solutions and technological growth in the last ten years. Patent documents were searched according to title, abstract and claim, narrowed by adding keywords: carrageenan, hydrogel, carrier, obtaining and process for granted patents. A comprehensive analysis was given concerning the year of publication, patent classifications, applicants, owners and authorities. This research shows 4993 patent documents (applications and granted patents) and 937 granted patents found in the period from the beginning of 2015 to the end of 2024 for the carrageenan keyword in the patent claims. After filtering the data by the keyword hydrogel, 1205 patent documents with 439 granted patents were recorded. During the analyzed period, China recorded the highest number of patents (260), followed by Korea (209). The International Patent System (PCT) was utilized by 136 applicants, while the United States of America published 113 patents, Japan 103, and the European Patent Office 96. According to the IPC/CPC subclassifications, the majority of granted patents were classified under the following classes: A61Q19/00, C08J3/075, A61K8/04, A61K8/18, C08L5/00, C08J (3/02 and 3/03). The data analysis reveals that most granted patents based on carrageenan are classified in the field of medical or veterinary hygiene, specifically cosmetic or similar toilet preparations characterized by a specific physical form. These include dispersions and emulsions, as well as ointments and other semi- solid forms, e.g. creams, sticks and gels. Carrageenan-based products represent a significant area of innovation, particularly for cosmetic and medical applications.Materials, Methods & Technologies : 27th International Conference; 14-17 August 2025; Burgas, Bulgaria
Level of agreement (variability) of PM10 and PM2.5 detected with equivalent v.s. low-cost monitors installed in four municipalities
No full text9th WeBIOPATR Workshop & Conference: Particulate Matter: Research and Management : Abstracts of Keynote Invited Lectures and Contributed Papers; 28th November- 1st December, 2023; Belgrade, Serbia