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Red Deer Resequencing Reveals the Importance of Sex Chromosomes for Reconstructing Late Quaternary Events
No full textSex chromosomes differ in their inheritance properties from autosomes and hence may encode complementary information about past
demographic events. We compiled and analyzed a range-wide resequencing data set of the red deer (Cervus elaphus), one of the few Eurasian
herbivores of the Late Pleistocene megafauna still found throughout much of its historic range. Our analyses of 144 whole genomes reveal
striking discrepancies between the population clusters suggested by autosomal and X-chromosomal data. We postulate that the genetic legacy
of Late Glacial population structure is better captured and preserved by the X chromosome than by autosomes, for two reasons. First, X
chromosomes have a lower Ne and hence lose genetic variation faster during isolation in glacial refugia, causing increased population
differentiation. Second, following postglacial recolonization and secondary contact, immigrant males pass on their X chromosomes to female
offspring only, which effectively halves the migration rate when gene flow is male mediated. Our study illustrates how a comparison between
autosomal and sex chromosomal phylogeographic signals unravels past demographic processes that otherwise would remain hidd
Using Douglas Fir and European Larch Needles for the Assessment of Their Retention Capacity for Atmospheric Heavy Metals
No full textAmong numerous global problems, one of the most significant is air pollution. Inthis paper, unwashed (U) and water-washed (W) needles of two conifers—European larchand Douglas fir—were used to assess their capacity for the retention and accumulationof heavy metals. The needle samples were used to represent the atmospheric depositionof heavy metals located on the surface of the needles. The sampled European larch andDouglas fir plantations were situated at three locations in Serbia: a least polluted (Kuˇcevo),a moderately polluted (Avala), and a very polluted (Lazarevac) site. The content of fiveheavy metals (Ni, Cu, Co, Cd, Pb) was investigated in the study. The concentration ofcadmium (Cd) was higher in the European larch needles compared to Douglas fir, whilethe differences in the content of the other heavy metals between the species studied wereinsignificant. For both species, the following trend applied with respect to the heavy metalcontent in their needles: Ni > Cu > Co > Pb > Cd. Based on the results obtained, wededuced that the concentrations of all investigated heavy metals at all three locations forboth species were within the allowed limits, except for nickel (Ni) content, which wasover the predicted limit values for both species in the highly polluted area (Lazarevac). APCA (principal component analysis) undertaken suggests that European larch has a greaterability to accumulate Co than Douglas fir on sites contaminated with heavy metals. Thepredictive foliar metal accumulation index (MAI) value was slightly higher in Douglas fir(4.14) than in European larch (3.76); therefore, the results suggest that this species would bea good planting choice, particularly in urban and industrial environments
Integrative high‑performance thin‑layer chromatography‒ bioautography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis for exploring the cosmeceutical potential of Serbian medicinal plants
No full textThe increasing demand for natural and sustainable cosmetic products has fueled interest in plant-based ingredients. Skin
aging, driven by oxidative damage and enzymatic overactivation, results in wrinkles, sagging, and pigmentation disorders.
The proposed study targeted radical scavenging activity and key hyperpigmentation enzymes such as tyrosinase to develop
efective anti-aging and skin-whitening agents. We employed an integrated analytical approach combining high-performance
thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) with bioassays (HPTLC‒2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] and HPTLC‒tyrosinase) as an ecofriendly, rapid, and cost-efective tool for (bio)screening of natural plant extracts. The structural characterization of active compounds was further achieved using attenuated total refectance‒Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
(ATR‒FTIR). Additionally, total phenolic and total favonoid content were determined to assess bioactive content. Principal
component analysis (PCA) enabled the classifcation of extracts based on their chemical signatures. Our results demonstrated
that Rosaceae plants, including hawthorn and dog rose, exhibit promising antipigmentation properties, whereas agrimony
(Rosaceae) and wall germander (Lamiaceae) showed potent antioxidative activity. The HPTLC‒DPPH-tyrosinase‒ATR‒
FTIR approach proposed bioactive compounds. This integrative HPTLC approach highlights the potential of Serbian medicinal plants as sustainable sources for innovative cosmeceuticals
Relationship between site characteristics and plant communities of relict woody species in the 'Ðerdap' National Park, Serbia
No full textStarting from the premise that a specific constellation of site factors is best expressed through
soil and vegetation characteristics, the main objective of this study is the precise examination
and detailed definition of the soil and phytocenological characteristics of the investigated localities.
The soil characteristics encompass field−collected data, a presentation of the soil’s fundamental
physical and chemical properties, classification of soil types, and information on the soil water
balance (WBL). The phytocenological characteristics include a species list across all three vege−
tation layers, with corresponding abundance and coverage values, along with a description of basic
site conditions (altitude, exposure, slope, geological substrate and site coordinates). An analysis
of ecological spectra is also provided, covering life forms, species’ moisture preferences, soil pH,
nitrogen content, and their relationships to light and temperature. Soil and vegetation data were
collected across seven localities, within communities of four Tertiary relict species found in the
‘Ðerdap’ National Park: Turkish hazel Corylus colurna, common walnut Juglans regia, European
nettle tree Celtis australis, and holly Ilex aquifolium. Of the four Tertiary relict species, only J. regia
is not classified as protected. I. aquifolium is strictly protected, while C. australis and C. colurna are
under protection. Although communities of these species occur in other parts of Serbia, the wal−
nut−nettle tree community Celtido−Juglandetum has been recorded exclusively in the Ðerdap
area. The significance of these relict species and their communities lies in their contribution to
biodiversity preservation – since they are typically represented by a small number of individuals
– and in their value for understanding evolutionary processes and phytogeographic patterns of
the region. Relict woody species in the area of ‘Ðerdap’ National Park occur in the following
plant communities: the community of beech and walnut Juglando−Fagetum moesiacae, the pure
community of walnut Parietario−Juglandetum , the depleted community of beech and hazel Corylo
colurnae−Fagetum moesiacae, to the community of walnut and nettle tree Celtido−Juglandetum and
to the community of beech and holly Ilici−Fagetum moesiacae. The following soil types were studied
in the research area: Molic Leptosol (Brunic, Skeletic), Colluvic Regosol (Eutric), Rendzic Leptosol
(Calcaric, Skeletic), Haplic Cambisol (Eutric, Skeletic) and Haplic Cambisol (Dystric)
Impact of climate change on forest soils in limestone areas of Tara National park
No full textUnderstanding the capacity of forest soils to support vegetation is
critical, especially in the context of climate change. This study focuses on
mapping the soil water balance level (WBL) and nutrient regime (NR) in
forest soils developed on limestone in Tara National Park (Western Serbia),
where European beech (Fagus sylvatica) is a dominant tree species.
Using a digital elevation model (DEM), dominant landforms were
identified (hollows, ridges, slopes, spurs, summits, and valleys), and 44 soil
profiles were sampled across varying slope gradients (30°) and
aspects (warm: S, SW, SE, W; cold: N, NE, NW, E; and neutral: slopes
<12.5°).
Detailed laboratory analyses were conducted to determine key physical
and chemical properties, including texture, structure, color, skeleton
content, pH, base saturation, and nutrient content.
WBL and NR values were calculated using standard transfer tables.
WBL ranged from 2 to 4 (2 = very dry; 3 = dry; 4 = moderately dry), while
NR ranged from rich to medium-rich, based on base saturation.
These data were visualized using GIS ArcMap 10.8, and site types were
identified through map overlays.
Under the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate change scenarios (reference
period 1971-2000), notable differences in temperature and precipitation
patterns are observed, affecting soil properties. Average temperatures
increased by 0.4°C and 4.5°C, while precipitation decreased by 10–20%
and 5–30%, respectively. Both scenarios predict reduced precipitation
during the growing season, negatively impacting WBL and NR.
Due to climate changes, a decline in site index quality can be expected
with shifts to more thermophilic species on drier sites. Our study showed
that growth optima for species, such as Turkey oak (Quercus cerris) and
European hop-hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia), increased under climate
change. This may enrich beech forests or even substitute beech as
dominating species on the driest sites in the future Development of digital site mapping and estimating future tree species
suitability in Serbia is essential for forest practitioners. With these models,
the impact of climate change on the distribution of tree species can be
analyzed, which can serve as a basis for future management and planning
strategies for major tree species in different site types
Antimicrobial Effect of Boswellia serrata Resin’s Methanolic Extracts Against Skin Infection Pathogens
No full textFrankincense resin (Boswellia serrata), native to arid regions of India, the Mid‑
dle East, and parts of Africa, has been highly valued for its medicinal properties. This
study evaluated the antimicrobial potential of methanolic extracts of Boswellia serrata resin
against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Listeria monocytogenes. High‑
performance thin‑layer chromatography (HPTLC) coupled with bioautography identified
bioactive zones, while Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC‑MS) quantified
the phenolic and terpenoid compounds. The cytotoxicity was assessed on HaCaT hu‑
man keratinocyte cells to evaluate the safety for dermatological applications. The results
demonstrated significant antibacterial activity, particularly against S. aureus and L. monocy‑
togenes. The bioautograms revealed that samples from central and southern Serbia showed
the highest antimicrobial effect against the tested bacterial strains. The active compounds
included 11‑keto‑β‑boswellic acid (up to 3733.96 µg/g), gallic acid (110.93 µg/g), and narin‑
genin (53.13 µg/g). Cytotoxicity assays confirmed non‑toxic effects at 10 µg/mL, with sam‑
ple 6 enhancing the keratinocyte viability by 137%, while higher concentrations (50 µg/mL)
showed variable cytotoxicity. These findings highlight the potential of B. serrata resin as
a natural antimicrobial agent, particularly against antibiotic‑resistant pathogens. Its ther‑
apeutic applicability in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations is promising provided
that dosing ensures a balance between efficacy and safety
Machining acoustics: signal processing and deep learning as a tool for process monitoring (Keynote lecture)
No full textThe requirements of Industry 4.0 and beyond go hand in hand with adaptive, intelligent process
control through the application of some form of AI. To this end, some acoustic phenomena have been
observed in this series of research conducted over the last few years. Noise analysis for different
working conditions of circular saw blades was investigated in this study. The main objective of this
work was to verify the existing relationships between the recorded noise patterns and the
corresponding operating conditions of different circular saw blades. This goal was achieved by
analyzing noise signals and using different neural network architectures, such as GoogleNet,
MobileNetV2, VGG19, Dense-Net, Squeeze-Net, ResNet and InceptionV3. The results obtained in
this series of investigations suggest that the noise generated during cutting can be used as a tool for
process monitoring with high accuracy. Various cases are presented in this paper, such as determining
the speed of the same saw, recognizing different types of saws idling at different speeds, recognizing
types of wood being processed with the same saw, and idling the same type of saw at different
bluntness and utilization. In all cases presented, the trained neural networks showed a relatively high
accuracy in determining the observed output
The impact of beech log quality on the workload of the production system in the sawmill processing
No full textThis paper examines the impact of beech log quality on the workload of the production system
during sawmill processing. Specifically, it analyzes the extent to which labor and machinery
utilization depend on the quality of the processed roundwood. The research was conducted on a
sample of 60 beech sawlogs with diameters ranging from 30 to 39 cm and a length of 4 m, which were
classified into three quality grades. The logs were sawn using a log band saw and a resaw band saw,
applying free sawing methods and quality-based cutting. The resulting sawn timber was then
photographed, enabling the use of photogrammetry to determine the exact dimensions of the
assortments and the distribution of wood defects. Based on these images, a simulation of the
secondary processing of the obtained assortments was conducted to assess the workload on secondary
machines. Subsequently, data from primary machines were incorporated into the calculation, and the
total workload of the production system was determined. The results indicate that the workload of
individual workstations varies significantly, depending on the distribution of wood defects and the
decision regarding which machine will be used for defect removal. However, it was established that a
decrease in raw material quality leads to an increase in overall system workload
Morpho-anatomical traits of Quercus cerris and Q. rubra oneyear-old seedlings cultivated in different container types
No full textThe paper investigated the variability of the morphological-anatomical traits of one-yearold oak seedlings (Quercus cerris L. and Quercus rubra L.) produced in three different
container types (Hiko, Plantagrah, biodegradable). A two-factorial ANOVA showed for
the morphological characteristics (root collar diameter and height) statistically significant
difference between the species and between the containers, too. The interaction between
the variability factors (container type and species) also affects height and root collar diameter.
As for the obtained results of two-factorial ANOVA for anatomical parameters (wood, bark,
pith proportion, and vessel width), statistically significant differences were obtained for all of
them between species, as well as between container types. On the other hand, the interaction
of container type and species does not affect vessel width and bark content unlike wood and
pith proportion. Comparing the species, it can be concluded that the average values of all
traits, apart from vessel width, are higher in Q.rubra L. The largest dimensions of all elements
regardless of the species were obtained for Hiko, then Plantagrah, and the smallest for
biodegradable container
Spatial use and the needs of visitors of the Bojčin forest nature monument (Belgrade, Serbia)
No full textUrban forests contribute social, aesthetic, ecological, recreational and economic benefits within
cities. This paper analyzes the Bojčin Forest Nature Monument in Belgrade, with a special
emphasis on the needs of its visitors and usage of this urban forest. The aim of this paper is to
understand the needs of users and the integration of their opinions and attitudes in 70 visitors
was conducted on-site in Bojčin Forest via random sampling. The results show that the highest
number of visitors coming from surrounding neighborhoods, tj. from the territory of the
municipality Surčin, mainly for walking and enjoying nature or for active recreation (using of
fitness trail). Because the Bojčin forest is relative isolated from the urban area and has poor
traffic connections with other parts of the city it is the most visited during weekends, when
people can come by car and stay longer. More than a two third of the respondents (72%) rating
the overall management and maintenance of the area of Bojčin forest as acceptable. According
to the respondents improvements are realted to the equipment, hygiene and infrastructure. The
results provide practical solutions related to the management and maintenance of the forest and
emphasize the importance of communication with users in order to raise awareness of the
importance of urban forests