Search

Media images of borders and their control have been one of the most dominant frames in reporting on the migrant crisis in European media and the negative coverage of the topic of migrants, presenting them as a threat to security and public health dominates media narratives around the world. This paper examines the way migrants and refugees have been portrayed on the borders of Serbia, a transit country alongside the Western Balkans migration corridor. The mixed method analysis is based on 300 images published in relevant national and regional print media and their online versions from 2015 until 2020. The results show that the visual depiction of walls, wires, control, law and order, modern technological equipment, security providers, and important political authorities have been often intensified with sensational headlines and tabloid coverage and at the same time confronted with images framing migrants as violent and deviant, threatening borders, people, and security.

Contemporary research on media reporting about migrants and refugees has been intensified since the 2015 European migrant crisis. However, only a limited number of authors focus on the visual representation of female migrants, which has been recognised to lead to more positive citizens' perceptions and the development of the "culture of hospitality" (Bleiker et al., 2014). The main objective of this paper is to identify dominant visual frame in which female migrants appear in the Serbian print and online media. The mixed-method analysis of 54 images captured from 2015 until 2020 is based on the theoretical concept of visual media frames. The main results show that female migrants have been dominantly visually represented as a threat to border security and public health and that they are usually captured in long shots, deprived of identity and voice in the overall media coverage.

New binary catalytic systems based on sulphated zirconia-alumina were synthesized by controlled hydrolysis of alkoxides using relative molar ratios of constituents 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 in favour of zirconia. The obtained differences in the final catalytic material’s properties may be related to organic precursor memory effect, the applied calcinations temperatures and used alumina contents. The addition of alumina to zirconia affected the structural and surface properties stabilizing bare zirconia by means of slower phase transformation of tetragonal zirconia crystal phase into monoclinic one, further resulting in smaller crystallites sizes and higher surface density of acidic function (sulphates). The best alumina impact on physico-chemical properties was achieved when the highest amount of alumina (e.g. 50%) and lower calcination temperature (500°C) were used, causing relatively high steady-state activity in isomerization of n-hexane at reaction temperature 250 °C. On the other hand, higher calcination temperature (600 °C) played a role in the genesis of greater sulphate density. Catalytic activity and selectivity are expressed as a complex synergistic function of relative density of acid sites together with positive status of other optimized physico-chemical properties of the catalytic material (by activation and calcination temperatures).

We explored links between competitive authoritarianism and populism in Serbia under Vučić via mixed methods. We conducted a quantitative content analysis of 228 political cartoons (2013--2017) by Dušan Petričić, a leading cartoonist and government critic, and qualitative visual and contextual analysis of four cartoons that reflected key themes--media freedom violations, unfair political competition, and populist and abusive rule. We found that populism appeared as the 'soft' face of competitive authoritarianism, tolerable to domestic audiences and acceptable to influential international actors because of its reliance on more informal and sophisticated and less repressive forms of authoritarian manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper builds on the framing theory and its paradigm related to media coverage of protests. Protests are considered as multidimensional phenomena with important visual manifestations both at the time they take place and in later treatment in the media. The aim of this research was to contribute to understanding of visual framing of protests in Serbian media. For that purpose, we analyzed "Against the Dictatorship" protest held after presidential elections in 2017. Our analysis was focused on TV news aired on RTS1, B92, Pink and N1, photographs published in print outlets Kurir, Informer, Vecernje novosti, Politika and Danas, and photos from Web sites blic.rs and telegraf.rs. The method of content analysis was used to examine the representation of visual frames of violence, performance, legitimization and delegitimization, and social semiotics to analyze the content of frames. Results of our study show that the mediascape in Serbia is divided between outlets which positively represent protests and others which frequently use negative frames of violence and delegitimization. More than other frames, visual performance is linked with newsrooms' work routines and focuses on the visual attractiveness of the event, while legitimization and delegitimization frames reflect political bias and editorial policies of certain media outlets.

This article questions and analyzes the concept of 'immersive' journalism, which has emerged from advanced technologies of augmented and virtual reality and which has already been changing the role of the media, journalism and audiences' experiences. Developed and applied in media and tech companies in the Western countries, this form of journalism represents one of the growing business models used by companies oriented towards improving and developing social networks, mobile platforms and multimedia online portals. Immersion of the audience into journalistic stories, which are upgraded by AR and VR technologies, represents the key change of our understanding, analyzing and representing the reality, and at the same time brings into question ethical and professional journalistic standards. Built on the growing body of academic scholarship and contemporary research in the field, this article critically examines the concept 'immersive' journalism and looks into relevant aspects of its theoretical foundations and practical implementation in the media industry and the university education of journalists.

Serbia was highly polarized ahead of the 2010 Pride parade in Belgrade, an event marred by violence. It is often assumed that the media played a negative role by uncritically giving voice to anti-LGBT activists. To investigate this claim, we conducted a quantitative and qualitative analysis of media reporting as well as 25 in-depth interviews with journalists. We conclude that the media denied extremists direct access to the media. However, due to the high polarization, the media did empower nonviolent opponents of the parade, and hence indirectly contributed to the stereotypical and sometimes derogatory representation of the LGBT population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising tool for regenerative medicine, but due to the heterogeneity of their populations, different sources and isolation techniques, the characteristics defining MSCs are inconsistent. Objective. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of MSCs derived from two different human tissues: peripheral blood (PB-MSCs) and umbilical cord Wharton’s Jelly (UC-MSCs). Methods. The PB-MSC and UC-MSC were isolated by adherence to plastic after gradient-density separation or an explant culture method, respectively, and compared regarding their morphology, clonogenic efficiency, proliferating rates, immunophenotype and differentiation potential. Results. MSCs derived from both sources exhibit similar morphology, proliferation capacity and multilineage (osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic and myogenic) differentiation potential. Differences were observed in the clonogenic capacity and the immunophenotype, since UC-MSCs showed higher CFU-F (colony-forming units-fibroblastic) cloning efficiency, as well as higher embryonic markers (Nanog, Sox2, SSEA4) expression. When additional surface antigens were analyzed by flow cytometry (CD44, CD90, CD105, CD33, CD34, CD45, CD11b, CD235a) or immunofluorescent labeling (vimentin, STRO-1 and α-smooth muscle actin), most appeared to have similar epitope profiles irrespective of MSC source. Conclusion. The results obtained demonstrated that both MSCs represent good alternative sources of adult MSCs that could be used in cell therapy applications. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 175062]

Sun is the renewable energy source whose usage exerts influence on architectural design. Facade concepts of energy efficient buildings are developed producing new facade structures and components. Photovoltaic systems, as elements of active solar systems are discussed in the paper and particular attention is paid to building integrated systems, as they influence building appearance. Classification and analyzes of PV systems - materials, supporting systems, coatings and design principles are presented in the paper. The purpose of this paper is discussion on design and construction possibilities for PV integration in envelopes of new and existing buildings. Possibilities for structural variability of envelopes with PV integrated systems are described in the paper. .

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a very successful method of treatment for children with different aquired or inborn diseases. The main goal of post-transplantation chimerism monitoring in HSCT is to predict negative events (such as disease relapse and graft rejection), in order to intervene with appropriate therapy and improve the probability of long-term DFS (disease free survival). In this context, by quantifying the relative amounts of donor and recipient cells present in the peripheral blood sample, it can be determined if engraftment has taken place at all, or if full or mixed chimerism exists. In a group of patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at the Mother and Child Health Care Institute, we decided to use standard human identfication tests based on multiplex PCR analyses of short tandem repeats (STRs), as they are highly informative, sensitive, and fast and therefore represent an optimal methodological approach to engraftment analysis.

Modern architectural concepts, which are based on rational energy consumption of buildings and the use of solar energy as a renewable energy source, give the new and significant role to the roofs that become multifunctional structures. Various energy efficient roof structures and elements, beside the role of protection, provide thermal and electric energy supply, natural ventilation and cooling of a building, natural lighting of the indoor space sunbeam protection, water supply for technical use, thus according to the above mentioned functions, classification and analysis of such roof structures and elements are made in this paper. The search for new architectural values and optimization in total energy balance of a building or the likewise for the urban complex, gave to roofs the role of "climatic membranes". Contemporary roof forms and materials clearly exemplify their multifunctional features. There are numerous possibilities to achieve the new and attractive roof design which broadens to the whole construction. With such inducement, this paper principally analyze the configuration characteristics of the energy efficient roof structures and elements, as well as the visual effects that may be achieved by their application.

The aim of this study was to investigate distribution of immunophenotypic and cytogenetic features of childhood acute leukemia (AL) in the cohort of 239 newly diagnosed patients registered at the leading pediatric oncohematology center in the country during a six-year period (1996-2002). With approximately 60-70% of all childhood AL cases in Serbia and Montenegro being diagnosed and treated in this institution the used data represent a valid research sample to draw conclusions for entire country. On the basis of five phenotypic markers, the distribution of immunological subtypes was as follows: 169 (70.7%) expressed B-cell marker CD19 (137 were CD10 positive and 32 CD10 negative), 37 (15.5%) belonged to T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) (cyCD3 positive), and 33 (13.8%) were acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) (CD13 positive and/or CD33 positive in the absence of lymphoid-associated antigens). The ratio of males and females was 1.5:1. Most of the cases were between the ages of 2 and 4, and were predominantly B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) cases. Another peak of age distribution was observed at the age of 7. The frequency of T-ALL (18% of ALL) was similar to that reported for Mediterranean countries: France (19.4%), Greece (28.1%), Southern Italy (28.3%), and Bulgaria (28.0%). Cytogenetic analyses were performed in 193 patients: 164 ALL and 29 AML. Normal karyotype was found in 57% of ALL and in 55% of AML patients, while cytogenetic abnormalities including structural, numerical, and complex chromosomal rearrangements were found in 43% of ALL and in 45% of AML patients. Our results represent a contribution to epidemiological aspects of childhood leukemia studies.