Steroid hormones such as estrogen play a central role in postnatal female physiology and their effects are exerted through its receptors. The estrogen receptor gene is one of the first and most extensively investigated candidate genes for reproductive traits in pigs, especially for litter size. The aim of the study was to investigate the estrogen receptor gene polymorphism using endonuclease PvuII and its association with the number of stillborn (NSB) and number of mummified (NMUM) piglets in the first, second, third and subsequent parities and in overall parities. Topigs 20 sows (n=101) from 1st to 7th parities were analyzed. Estrogen receptor genotypes were detected by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Two alleles (A and B) were identified with three genotypes. Alleles (A and B) and genotype frequencies were determined. Comparison of observed and expected genotype frequencies was performed using the χ2-test and considerable deviation from Hardy-Weinberg principle was found. All data were analyzed using the General Linear Model. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference (P<0.05) in NMUM between the AB and BB genotypes in the third and subsequent parities. The statistical significance of differences between AA and BB genotypes tended to be lower (P<0.1) in the third and subsequent parities in NMUM. The sows with A allele had less NSB indicating a beneficial effect of this allele, unlike B allele in NMUM. The results obtained will contribute to the understanding of the effect of ESR genotype on NSB and NMUM and substantiate genetic evaluation of litter size traits in pigs.

INTRODUCTION Cerebral ischemic small-vessel disease (SVD), causing lacunar infarcts and white matter hyperintensities on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is a progressive disease associated with an increased risk of stroke, dementia and death. Increased arterial stiffness has been associated with ischemic stroke and cerebral SVD independently of common vascular risk factors. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to analyze arterial stiffness in our patients with symptomatic SVD. METHODS In a cross-sectional study design we included 30 patients with clinical and MRI evidence of cerebral SVD and 30 age-, gender- and risk factor-matched control subjects with no neurological diseases. Patients were evaluated at the Ultrasound Laboratory at the Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia in Belgrade, during a three-month period (from September 1st to December 1st 2012). Baseline demographic and vascular risk factors were recorded. All patients underwent standard carotid ultrasound scans with measuring of intima-media thickness (IMT) and analysis of atheromatous plaques. Internal carotid artery stiffness was evaluated with the use of e-tracking option as beta stiffness index (BSI) value. RESULTS There were no differences between study groups in regard to degree of carotid stenosis and type of carotid plaques (p > 0.05). Patients in SVD group had significantly higher mean IMT (p = 0.0093) and mean BSI (p < 0.0001) than subjects in the control group. No significant correlation was detected between IMT and BSI in SVD group (r = 0.168; p = 0.376). Brain lesions severity correlated with BSI (r = 0.733; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Arterial stiffness is increased in symptomatic patients with SVD, independently of vascular risk factors and IMT.

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) commonly known as the "flesh eating disease" is a rare and threatening life disease which is often misdiagnosed on admission. Caused by group A streptococcus (GAS), NF can lead to streptococcal toxic shock syndrome with multiple organ failure and high mortality rate (30 % – 70 %) in spite of aggressive treatment. We present a case of a young woman who was admitted to hospital and primarily diagnosed as acute appendicitis on admission. After explorative laparotomy which showed no sign of acute abdominal illness, pale skin lesion proposing as cellulitis, on her right leg was noticed. In the next 6 hours she developed toxic shock with rapid progression of the soft tissue necrosis.

In this paper, a new fuzzy-behavior-based algorithm for roundabout intersection management is presented. The algorithm employs cooperative intelligence and includes intelligent vehicles and infrastructure to calculate speed profiles for different vehicles, in order to achieve more comfortable driving profiles, as well to reduce congestion and CO 2 emissions. The algorithm uses adaptive spatio-temporal reservation technique and was tested in MATLAB/Simulink environment. The algorithm is designed to function in different scenarios with both cooperative and non-cooperative vehicles, as well as optional intersection infrastructure. Results have show that using the proposed algorithm different vehicle communication types can be successfully combined in order to increase traffic flow through roundabout intersections.

Every citizen of the Republic of Serbia has another opportunity to invest and increase their income - investment funds. The first funds began its operations shortly after adoption of the Law on Investment Funds in 2006 which provided legal framework for their establishment and doing business. The initial years of business were marked with negative influences as a result of great crisis within world markets. The main reasons for limitation of greater investment of individual investors in investment funds are both low standard and financial status of citizens of Serbia, underdeveloped national economy, underdeveloped financial markets and consequently, low and negligible investment funds' income.