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Spatial Ecology of a Resident Avian Predator During the Non-Breeding Period in Managed Habitats of Southeastern Europe
No full textDescribing home range and resource selection is crucial for understanding ecological needs and creating conservation programs. Still, our knowledge of spatial and behavioural ecology for most species remains limited. Here, we used satellite transmitters to investigate core and home range sizes, habitat selection, and roost characteristics in seven tawny owl males in Western Serbia during the autumn–winter period 2023. Using minimum convex polygon (MCP) and autocorrelated kernel density estimation (AKDE), we found clear variability in core area and home range sizes. Also, adult and heavier males have smaller core area and home ranges than juvenile and lightweight individuals. The Bhattacharyya coefficient showed minor home range overlap in tagged males. The final model for evaluation of habitat selection suggests that the likelihood of owl occurrence was positively correlated with the share of anthropogenic infrastructure and negatively associated with the increase in the proportion of cultivated land within the home range. However, scores of model performance metrics showed moderate predictive accuracy, implying that other unmeasured variables may dictate species presence. Our study illustrates the ecological plasticity and ability of the tawny owl to adapt to a human-modified environment while providing new information about the spatial ecology of this widespread predator in Europ
Microplastic pollution effects on soil properties in forest ecosystems (Serbia)
No full textMicroplastic (MP) pollution is recognized as one of the biggest environmental problems due to multiple direct and indirect impacts on the environment. Existing research works indicate that the presence of MP in soil affects organic matter cycle, energy flow of terrestrial ecosystems, global production of CO2, climate, plant communities, crop production and biodiversity. There are only few studies dealing with the impact of MP on forest soil ecosystems. Research aimed to access the impact of MP on soil main chemical, physical and biological properties by comparing polluted and non-polluted forest sites in the three largest alluvial plains in Serbia is currently being carried out within the project "Evaluation of the Microplastic in the Soils of Serbia". Statistically significantly higher values of electrical conductivity, pH and particles > 0.02 mm have been measured in samples from polluted localities; while C, N and CEC have been measured significantly higher in samples from unpolluted sites. Prolonged microbial respiration (three months) has been measured and obtained data have been used as input for potentially mineralizable carbon and mineralization rate estimations, which are statistically significantly higher at all polluted sites. These results support the viewpoints that can be found in the literature, that the presence of MP in the soil affect organic carbon cycle and CO2 emissions. Differences in estimates indicate that microbial communities may be using MP particles as an additional food source. In order to establish the level of the impact of MP on soil properties and microbial activity in the longer term, the study is ongoing
Diagnostic properties of miR-146a-5p from liquid biopsies in prostate cancer: A meta-analysis
No full textBackground: Several studies on biomarker properties of microRNAs from liquid biopsy in prostate cancer (PCa) identified miR-146a-5p as a potential novel diagnostic marker. However, other studies with the same or similar topic failed to confirm the supposed discriminatory ability of miR-146a-5p, for which reason we aimed at elucidating the potential biomarker role of circulatory/urinary miR-146a-5p in PCa by conducting a qualitative and quantitative data synthesis.
Methods: Eligible articles were identified by searching PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases. Open MetaAnalyst software was used for pooling data on sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio and diagnostic odds ratio (OR) of miR-146a-5p.
Results: A total of 15 articles were eligible for qualitative data synthesis, while the results from 13 studies with 2080 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The established between-study heterogeneity was high, while the expression of hsa-miR-146a was associated with a diagnostic OR of 3.544 (P < 0.001; 95 %CI 2.186-5.747). Pooled sensitivity was found to be lower than 70 % (0.655, 95 %CI 0.573-0.729, P < 0.001), while the obtained value for specificity was 65 % (95 %CI 0.583-0.709, P < 0.001). Segregating studies according to ethnicity, sample type or the type of controls did not result in significantly higher sensitivity and specificity in subgroups, compared to the overall pooled data.
Conclusions: The resulting pooled sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic OR do not qualify miR-146a-5p for a reliable diagnostic biomarker of PCa
Synthesis and characterization of In-doped BaSnO3 electrolyte for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells
No full textBaSnO3 is a good candidate for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC)
electrolyte material because of its high proton conductivity, ideal cubic crystal lattice, stable
phase composition up to 1000 °C, good thermal and chemical stability in different atmospheres,
easy preparation methods and non-toxicity. Its proton conductivity can be significantly
improved by doping with In on Sn-site in the BSO crystal lattice.
The aim of this work is to investigate the cold sintering, a relatively new low-temperature
sintering technique, for the preparation of dense indium doped BaSnO3 electrolyte with the
composition BaSn1-xInxO3, BSIO (x = 0.00, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20). This sintering technique enables
full densification and controlled microstructure design of ceramic materials at low
temperatures (<300 °C) within short duration (~1 h).
BSIO powders were prepared by polymerization method and subsequently cold sintered at
250 °C for 30 min and 1 h using different types and amount of the liquid phase. The structural
properties of BSIO sintered samples were examined by XRD analysis, while the FESEM, TEM
and HRTEM analyses were used for their microstructural properties. Total electrical
conductivity of dense BSIO-based electrolyte was investigated by impedance spectroscopy in
the temperature range of 400 to 700 °C in a wet hydrogen atmosphere.
Acknowledgement: This research was supported by JECS trust (the visit of 8th May to 5th August at
Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia, Contract No: 2024 398)
VLADYKOV’S LAMPREY Eudontomyzon vladykovi Oliva & Zanandrea, 1959
No full textTelo dunavske paklare je zmijoliko, slično jegulji (Slika 141). Prva polovina tela je deblja od druge. Leđna strana tela tamnije je obojena u odnosu na trbuh. Iza oka nalazi se sedam okruglih škržnih
otvora. Vilice odsustvuju. Poseduje karakterističan oralni disk koji joj služi da se prikači za podlogu. Parna peraja nedostaju. Trup ima 61–67 miomera i nije istačkan (išaran) kod larvi, a bezbojno i
providno repno peraje ima lopatast oblik (Docker, 2015). Maksimalna zabeležena dužina tela je 21,2 cm, obično 18 cm (Kottelat & Freyhof, 2007; Muus & Dahlström). Neki autori smatraju da je ova vrsta sinonim za ukrajinsku paklaru, E. mariae (Holčík & Renaud, 1986; Renaud, 2011).The body of the Vladykov's resembles that of an eel (Figure 141).
The first half of the body is wider than the second. The back is darker
than the belly. There are seven round gill openings behind the eye.
The jaws are not present. It has a characteristic oral disc with which it
can cling to the substrate. Paired fins are absent. The trunk has 61–67
myomeres and is not spotted (mottled) in larvae, and the colourless
and hyaline caudal fin has a spade-like shape (Docker, 2015). The
maximum recorded body length is 21.2 cm, usually 18 cm (Kottelat
& Freyhof, 2007; Muus & Dahlstroem). Some authors consider this
species to be a synonym of the Ukrainian brook lamprey, E. mariae
(Holčík & Renaud, 1986; Renaud, 2011)
Comparative Study of Fertilization Value and Neutralizing Power of Lime Materials of Carbonate and Silicate Natures on Plants of the Families Gramíneae, Brassicáceae, and Leguminósae
No full textThe dissolution of Ca and Mg in soil and their translocation in plants from different families when using different doses of liming materials of industrial waste origin have not yet been sufficiently studied. In this study, the influence of increasing doses of ameliorants of carbonate (dolomite flour—DF) and silicate (blast furnace slag—BFS) natures on the change in acid–base properties of soddy-podzolic light loamy soil, yield, and chemical composition of plants of the families Gramíne-ae (spring wheat), Brassicáceae (spring rapeseed), and Leguminósae (vetch and beans) was studied in five-year pot experiments. In the five-year experiments, the ameliorant of a carbonate nature showed greater effect on soil acid–base properties than that of a silicate nature. A return to the ini-tial state of soil pH was not established in any of the treatments. Both ameliorants showed similar effects on wheat straw biomass, but DF had a greater positive effect on wheat grain yield than BFS. Regardless of the dose of DF applied, the accumulation of Ca and Mg by the plants through-out the study period was higher than when BFS was applied. Among the studied plants, those of the family Brassicáceae were the most responsive to liming and, at the same time, showed high ecological adaptability. Differences in the effects of the two ameliorants on the soil chemical prop-erties were more significant than differences in their effects on plant productivit
Activity Coefficients of the System {yNaCl + (1 − y)NaH2PO4}(aq) AT T = 298.15 K Determined by Electromotive Force Measurements
No full textThe mean ionic activity coefficients of NaCl in the system {yNaCl + (1 − y) NaH2PO4}(aq)
were determined by electromotive force measurements (EMF) in two series in which the
NaCl ionic strength fraction was as follows: I series, y = (0.2368; 0.3101; 0.4101; 0.5051;
0.6090; 0.7775; 0.9039) and II series, y = (0.1998; 0.4005; 0.5993; 0.8105) in the range
of total ionic strength of the solution Im = (0.0887–1.0081) mol·kg−1 at a temperature
T = 298.15 K. A cell of the Na–ISE∣NaCl(mNaCl) , NaH2PO4(mNaH2PO4
)∣Ag∣AgCl type was
utilized for the EMF measurements. The standard electrode potential of the electrode pair
was estimated as E0 = 23.2288 mV. The values of the mean ionic activity coefficient of
NaCl in the mixed electrolyte solution, ±NaCl , were determined using the Nerst equation.
The experimental results from this study were treated with the models proposed by Pitzer,
Clegg and Scatchard to estimate the mixture parameters. A high degree of agreement was
found between the experimental and calculated values of the mean ionic activity coeffi
cients of NaCl with an average standard deviation of fit being s.d. ± ∼ 2.5·10–3 for each
of the three models. The values of the osmotic coefficients of the system {yNaCl + (1 − y)
NaH2PO4}(aq) were estimated based on the determined model parameters and compared
with literature data. Negligible differences were found between the estimated and experi
mental values of the osmotic coefficients
Biofertiliser EM Aktiv helps turn green leaf lettuce into a functional food
No full textLettuce is an annual leafy vegetable crop, with the ability to cultivate all year round, especial-
ly using a protected environment as a way to extend the growing period in temperate climate
conditions. This study aimed to examine the effect of biofertiliser EM Aktiv on the antioxidant ac-
tivity of leaf lettuce. Green lollo cultivar ‘Aleppo’ was grown in the greenhouse without additional
heating during winter on the anthropogenic soil. Total antioxidant capacity (ABTS test), total phe-
nolic content (Folin Ciocalteu’s method), chlorophyll, and total carotenoid content (Lichtenthaler
and Wellburn method) were determined spectrophotometrically. Application of EM Aktiv led to
an increased level of total antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content compared to control
plants. Total antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content were 0.23 g AA eq/g FW and 231.96
μg GAE/g FW, respectively, using biofertiliser compared to control conditions (0.04 g AA eq/g FW
and 122.93 μg GAE/g FW, respectively). On the contrary, no statistical difference was observed in
chlorophyll and total carotenoids content. Very strong linear positive correlations were found be-
tween total antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content (r =0.90*), and total carotenoids with
both chlorophyll b (r =0.99**) and chlorophyll a+b (r =0.99**). Our findings indicate that the usage
of biofertiliser EM Aktiv can contribute to obtaining green leaf lettuce as a functional food with
additional bioactive value grown in low humus soil
In situ biomimetic mineralization of Laccase@ZIF
No full textThe rapid, straightforward, cost-effective synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their
various potential applications and ease of implementation make them highly attractive materials. In
this study, we focused on zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), one subgroup of MOFs that could
be synthesized under mild conditions, and our goal was to immobilize laccase in ZIF-8 using the
biomimetic mineralization method.1,2 We varied few parameters during biomimetic mineralization to
identify the most optimal conditions for best preservation of enzymatic activity. Zinc concentration,
zinc imidazole ratio, and source of laccase enzyme were examined. The outcome of our study
demonstrates that the most desirable conditions are the ones with the lowest zinc concentration, zinc
imidazole ratio, and laccase from Trametes versicolor with 0.88 IU/g specific activity. Besides this,
we discovered that washing with sodium dodecyl sulfate solution has a destructive effect in the case
of laccase, which is not the case with glucose oxidase. This implies that the type of enzyme greatly
impacts the formation of biocomposite, and there is an excellent area for future investigation
INNOVATION KNOW-HOW WORKSHOP
No full textOur team at the University of Belgrade has developed a microalgae-based alternative concept of urban greening named urban photo-bioreactor LIQUID3. The dissection of the innovation process produced the innovation know-how that could be transferred to other innovators through interactive workshops. ‘Innovation know-how workshop’ participants can learn about the process of innovation development and identify the aspects essential for a viable innovation, i.e. for bringing the concept to the public and the market. During the workshop, examples, such as the LIQUID3 photo-bioreactor, are used to illustrate the key aspects of an innovation process. The lecturer and other participants discuss their views through cross-disciplinary dialogue, critical thinking, scenario planning and role-playing. Innovation know-how method is presented through a standardized method overview table that includes main purpose, acquired competencies, educational setting,
space requirements, resources, necessary materials, number of participants, facilitator and
participants' competencies and skills, and the duration of method application