Pursuit of integration in the former Yugoslavia’s planning

From the perspective of its inherent promises, difficulties, elusiveness, and relative discontinuity, the pursuit of integration in planning could be compared to the Quest for the Holy Grail. The aim of this paper is to identify the main commitments and impediments to pursued integration in the former Yugoslavia’s planning from the late 1950s until the late 1980s, drawing on the theoretical discourse, legislative, and institutional framework and the case study of the spatial plan preparation in the Socialist Republic of Serbia. During the chosen period, different aspects of integrated approach to spatial and urban planning were pursued in a context of creating and failing to deliver a unique Yugoslav version of the welfare state – the self-management socialism. In this light, the intended integration is contrasted to poor outcomes, which led to the loss of legitimacy and the final dissolution of the state, its ideology, governance, and socio-economic planning. The conclusion reflects on the main merits and pitfalls of the former Yugoslavia’s experiment to illuminate some general risks associated with the integrated approach in planning.     

Adjustment of Planning Practice to the New Eastern and Central European Context

The urban planning profession and its activities in Eastern and Central Europe have been affected by the political and economic transformation in these countries. The new, still evolving societal and institutional frameworks present urban planners with a highly dynamic context to which they must adapt. In contrast to relatively predictable centrally planned and controlled development, the cities there are now subjected to multiple forces and immense pressures on their already fragile environments. This article reviews the frameworks, trends, and issues that characterize the planning practice in this transitional period as evidenced in the capital cities of Prague, Bratislava, and Budapest. Planners in the U.S. and Western Europe will find many of these topics relevant to past, present, and future circumstances they face. The article provides for mutual learning and exchange of experiences, and for better understanding and improvement of planning systems and practice. It relates to the core dilemma in justifying planning as government intervention vis-a-vis free market rule.     

Internal oxidation of Ag–VC composites

The internal oxidation (IO) of Ag–VC composites containing 5 vol.% of carbide was examined at three oxidation temperatures (350, 400, 600 °C). Two mechanisms were observed due to the formation of double oxides with relatively low-melting points. At temperatures below the lowest eutectic point in situ, or diffusion less IO, was observed with the formation and growth of oxide layers surrounding the initial carbide. At temperatures above the eutectic point IO resulted in the formation of liquid oxide pools, which grew in size and developed into a network of oxides within the metal matrix. The kinetics confirmed the presence of two distinct mechanisms.     

Antiproliferative Activity of β-Hydroxy-β-Arylalkanoic Acids

Article describes the synthesis of fifteen β-hydroxy-β-arylalkanoic acids by Reformatsky reaction using the 1-ethoxyethyl-2-bromoalkanoates, aromatic or cycloalkyl ketones or aromatic aldehydes. The short survey of previously reported synthetic procedures for title compounds, is given. The majority of obtained compounds exert antiproliferative activity in vitro toward human: HeLa, Fem-X cells, K562, and LS174 cells, having IC₅₀ values from 62.20 to 205 μM. The most active compound is 3-OH-2,2-di-Me-3-(4- biphenylyl)-butanoic acid, having the IC₅₀ value 62.20 μM toward HeLa cells. Seven examined compounds did not affect proliferation of healthy human blood peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC and PBMC+ PHA), IC₅₀ > 300 μM. The preliminary QSAR results show that estimated lipophilicity of compounds influences their antiproliferative activity in the first place. The ability of dehydration, and the spatial arrangement of hydrophobic portion, HBD and HBA in molecules are has almost equal importance as lipophilicity.