Dusan Popovic

Practical sensor for nitrogen in direct current glow discharges

This paper presents a method for precise measurement of atomic and molecular nitrogen in an oxygen-nitrogen dc plasma. This is achieved by monitoring the intensities of the atomic nitrogen spectral line at 821.6 nm and the molecular nitrogen bandhead at 337.1 nm, relative to the atomic oxygen spectral line at 844.7 nm. Oxygen is one of the most frequently used gases for surface chemical treatment, including deposition and etching, therefore the ability to measure and control the process and chemical composition of the process is essential. To validate this oxygen actimometry method for N2-xO2 (where x varies from 0 to 1) dc plasmas, threshold tests have been performed with Ar actinometry. The optical measurements have been performed using two methods. The first approach uses a USB2000 fiber optic spectrometer, calibrated with a Gigahertz–Optik BN-0102-1 reference standard source, to record the desired spectral lines. The second approach uses narrow bandwidth optical filters (∼0.7–0.07 nm) with central wav...

Method for Estimation of Electron Density in a Pulse Plasma Source

The time-dependent spatial electron density distribution in a constricted, pulsed plasma source is measured using a floating hairpin resonance probe, and an extrapolation method is described for determining peak electron density from experimental data. Using these techniques, a detailed characterization of the spatio-temporal evolution of electron density, outside the constricted region above the anode of the pulsed plasma source is presented. Electron density increases sharply during the creation phase, and the rate of increase is found to decrease with the distance from the axis of the constricted channel. By modeling the plasma creation characteristics vs position, the electron density along the axis of the constricted pulsed plasma sources can be determined.

Merger Remedies and Regulatory Measures in the EU Electronic Communications Sector: A Critical Assessment

Electronic communications operators can be exposed to two types of ex ante measures — merger remedies and regulatory measures. Although in a merger control procedure competition authorities prefer structural remedies, these seem to be less adapted to the electronic communications sector, since communications operators naturally tend to concentrate. Given that the electronic communications sector is characterised by economies of scale and a network effect, behavioural remedies seem more appropriate. In EU sector-specific legislation, regulatory measures that can be imposed on operators with significant market power can be defined as behavioural as well. This can make the difference between the two types of measures even vaguer. However, the difference should be found in the very purpose of state intervention. Competition law should not be used to make an existing market more competitive, unless some element of the market is illegal. Conversely, regulation only requires that some form of conduct is considered undesirable for some reason (it need not necessarily be illegal). Unfortunately, on several occasions, the European Commission (mis)used competition law powers to regulate the market. Should this approach be applied extensively, it would result in the creation of what could be defined as hybrid competition law.

Translation and validation of the Serbian primary biliary cholangitis-40 questionnaire

Background and aims To translate into Serbian and validate the Primary Biliary Cholangitis–40 (PBC-40) and PBC-27 questionnaires. Materials and methods Ninety-four consecutive outpatients with the diagnosis of PBC from three departments across two tertiary care institutions in Belgrade were enrolled from February to October 2016. Standard methodology for cultural adaption of healthcare related quality of life questionnaires was used, and included: a forward translation, backward translation and a pilot test of the Serbian PBC-40 on five patients who gave suggestions and comments. For evaluation of the questionnaires, acceptance was shown by the proportion of missing items and the internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s α coefficient. The PBC-40 was self-administered under the supervision of an experienced hepatologist. The PBC-27 is a shorter version of the PBC-40. Results A total of 92 (97.9%) of the patients were females. The mean age was 59.26 ± 1.05 years and the average length of disease was 60.45 ± 48.314 months. The average PBC-40 score was 85.62 ± 30.46. The total time needed to complete the questionnaire ranged from 7 to 16 minutes. The proportion of missing items was 5.45% (205/3760). Cronbach’s α for the entire scale was 0.93. Reliability for all of the domains of the PBC-40 was above 0.70, except for the domain “Symptoms” (α = 0.52). Overall reliability of the PBC-27 was α = 0.90. Domains “Dryness”, “Symptoms” and “Fatigue” demonstrated reliability below α = 0.70. Conclusions The Serbian PBC-40 is a valid and reasonably adequate for use in Serbian PBC patients. The PBC-40 is preferred over the PBC-27.

Competition Law Enforcement in Serbia: Six Years of Staggering Along

The development of modern Serbian competition law started in 2005 with the adoption of the Competition Act laying down rules which were generally inspired by European Union law. As is usually the case in countries in transition, the 2005 Competition Act was soon replaced by a new one, adopted in 2009. The 2009 Act further harmonised substantive competition rules with those of the EU, while at the same time empowering the Competition Authority to directly impose fines for infringements of competition law. Although it is evident that the public authorities of Serbia made certain efforts to improve competition law enforcement, it still cannot be concluded that significant progress has been made. In this paper, the authors analyse specific problems which appeared throughout six years of competition law enforcement in Serbia. Some of the problems analysed are so-called built-in errors, arising as a consequence of the choices made by the legislator. Others are, however, the result of wrongful doing by the members of the Competition Authority. Taken as a whole, they represent the main reason for the poor results achieved through competition law enforcement in Serbia. The first problem analysed is that of wrong priorities: the Competition Authority has mostly concentrated on the control of concentrations of undertakings, while generally ignoring restrictions of competition through the conclusion of anti-competitive agreements or through abuse of a dominant position. The second problem emphasised by the authors is the absence of sound economic analysis in most decisions adopted by the Competition Authority. The fining policy of the Competition Authority is also analysed in in this paper. While no fines have been imposed under the 2005 Competition Act, the Competition Authority seems to be trying to ‘catch up’ by imposing fines under the 2009 Act for infringements established in proceedings brought under the 2005 Act. The authors argue that this should be seen as an illegal retroactive application of law. The fourth problem in the enforcement of competition law in Serbia arises from a de facto privileged treatment of undertakings with state-owned capital.

Infrared and dielectrical properties of SrTiO3: Nd

Far-infrared reflection spectra and results of dielectric measurements of SrTiO3 single crystal doped by neodymium are presented in the paper. Dielectric investigations were conducted at temperature range from 25 K to room temperature for the test frequency 1MHz. The numerical analysis of the far-infrared reflection spectra made using a fitting procedure based on factorized form of the dielectric function. The results for SrTiO3: Nd are compared with those for pure crystal. The lowest-frequency phonon mode is found to be strongly influenced by presence of neodymium ions in SrTiO3 single crystal.

Institutional Design of State Aid Authorities in South East Europe: The Unfit Legal Transplant and Its Ramifications

All countries in South East Europe introduced a national system of state aid control. The paper first analyses the legal requirements for introducing national state aid rules, stemming from the Stabilization and Association Agreements these countries concluded with the European Union, but also from the Central European Free Trade Agreement and the Energy Community Treaty. The analysis of the institutional design of the national state aid authorities reveals that the SEE countries largely chose to establish an authority with close links to the Government—either as a unit within the ministry of finance or ministry of economy, or as a collegial body formed by the representatives of different ministries, but only formally separated from the Government. Only the FYR Macedonia has chosen to design its state aid authority in a different manner, by entrusting the existing competition authority with the task of state aid control. Both types of institutional design are “inspired” by the models of state aid authorities that existed in the Central and East European countries in the pre-accession period. Regardless of the type of institutional design that a country opted for, the enforcement record of these authorities remains unsatisfactory. The paper concludes with an analysis of the reasons for the inefficiency of state aid control in SEE countries, which do not seem to directly result from the choice of the institutional model of the monitoring authority, since there is no substantive separation of the state aid authority from the Government structures that provide state aid.

Report: Workshop ‘Collective Redress in South-East Europe’, University of Sarajevo, 28 June 2014

On 28 June 2014, the Faculty of Law of the University of Sarajevo hosted a workshop entitled ‘Collective Redress in South-East Europe’, organised by the Law Faculties of the Universities of Sarajevo and Zagreb with the financial support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The workshop gathered law professors from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro. The guest of honour was Ms Diana Wallis, President of the European Law Institute (ELI). Collective redress is a relatively new topic among lawyers in South-East Europe. While certain countries of the region have horizontal legislation on collective redress, legislators in other countries still hesitate to introduce this mechanism, ‘replacing’ it with different forms of organisational claims. Even in countries that introduced a collective redress mechanism, decisional practice is quite scarce. The novelty of the collective redress mechanism in the region of South-East Europe, as well as its relevance in the European Union, especially given the recent initiatives of the European Commission, incited the organisers to arrange this exchange of views between researchers from South-East Europe and the European Union.

Palliative care with special reference to gastroenterohepatology

Increased number of patients with malignant disease as the cause of death requires a specific concept in the treatment and care those patients. The concept was launched in the UK today is important for patients in the terminal stage by a comprehensive approach to palliative care. Care for these patients is specific with regard of therapy, care and psychological support to patients and their family. Palliative care, effective and quality is reflected in the best possible provided techniques to improve the quality of life in patients in the terminal stage. Marked weakness, difficult movement or immobility, pains, nausea and vomiting, constipation, and decreased food intake of fluids, are just some problems which struggle patients, so that palliative care can be influenced to a greater conforms more dignified person. Patients in the terminal stage with the liver insufficiency and associated complications are the most complex with regard of palliative care. In this paper will demonstrate the principles of palliative care patients suffering from malignant disease in Gastroenterohepatology.

Effects of Mn and Nd Doping on Polarization Mehanisms of SrTiO3 Single Crystal

Far‐infrared reflection spectra and results of dielectric measurements of SrTiO3: Mn and SrTiO3: Nd crystals are presented in the paper. Dielectric investigations were conducted at temperature range from 25 K to room temperature in the frequency region between 80 kHz and 11 MHz. Far‐Infrared reflectivity spectra have been measured in the wave‐number region from 150 cm−1 to 4000 cm−1 at temperatures 80 K and 300 K. The numerical analysis of the far‐infrared reflection spectra was made by using a fitting procedure based on factorized form of the dielectric function. The obtained results are compared with those for pure SrTiO3 crystal. The lowest‐frequency phonon mode is found to be strongly influenced by presence of neodymium ions in SrTiO3 single crystal.