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Managing Emerging Risks in Critical Infrastructure—Thinking in Tetris
No full textManaging emerging risksEmerging risks in critical infrastructure requires dynamic, adaptive frameworks capable of capturing complexity, uncertainty, and time-sensitive decision-making. This paper introduces a novel conceptual model based on the game Tetris to illustrate how emerging risks—such as cyber threats, climate impacts, and cascading systemSystem failures—can be visualized and managed more effectively. In this analogy, each Tetris piece represents a new risk or disruption entering the systemSystem, while the game board mirrors the existing operational landscape with unresolved vulnerabilities. The act of rotating and placing pieces symbolizes organizational risk responses and mitigation strategies, which must be timely, context-aware, and integrated to avoid escalation. As the game progresses and pieces fall faster, the analogy emphasizes how the accelerating pace of risks demands agile foresight, continuous monitoring, and systemic resilienceResilience. This approach offers both a pedagogical and strategic tool for understanding risk accumulation, prioritization, and intervention timing within complex critical infrastructure environments
Enhancing solubility of ellagic acid from raspberry biomass using ionic liquids
No full textEllagic acid (EA) is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound widely present in fruits and berries, recognized for its strong antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been associated with potential protective effects against cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. However, its broader therapeutic and commercial applications remain limited due to its poor water solubility and low bioavailability, which also make its extraction from plant materials and incorporation into functional formulations challenging. Traditional extraction methods employing organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, or acetone are often inefficient, environmentally unsustainable, and inadequate for dissolving hydrophobic compounds like EA. In recent years, ionic liquids (ILs) and natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) have emerged as promising green alternatives for the extraction of phenolic compounds. Composed of renewable and non- toxic components, these solvents offer tunable solvation capacity, enhanced extraction efficiency, and a low environmental impact, aligning closely with the principles of sustainable chemistry. In this study, whole raspberries and raspberry pomace were investigated as raw materials for ellagic acid extraction. Samples were lyophilized and extracted using 20% aqueous cholinium-based ionic liquids. Six cholinium chloride–based ionic liquids were applied as extraction media, while water and ethanol served as reference solvents for comparison. The obtained extracts were analyzed using HPLC-DAD. All tested ILs significantly enhanced the EA yield compared to water and ethanol, with cholinium acetate proving to be the most efficient, particularly in extractions from raspberry pomace. Furthermore, freeze-dried raspberry pomace yielded higher EA concentrations than whole raspberries, confirming that both solvent composition and biomass pretreatment are key factors of extraction efficiency. Overall, these results demonstrate that cholinium-based ionic liquids are highly effective green solvents for the sustainable extraction of ellagic acid and other phenolic compounds from raspberry-processing residues, thereby supporting the valorization of agro-industrial by-products and the advancement of environmentally responsible extraction technologies.Twenty-Third Young Researchers' Conference Materials Science and Engineering, December 3-5, 2025, Belgrade, Serbia
Synthesis-Dependent Magnetic Modifications in Starch-Coated CoFe2O4 Monodomain Nanoparticles: Structural, Magnetic and Spectroscopic Study
No full textThis study investigates the structural and magnetic properties of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles
prepared by five different synthesis methods: coprecipitation, ultrasound-assisted coprecipitation,
coprecipitation coupled with mechanochemical treatment, microemulsion and
microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis. The produced powders were additionally
functionalized with starch to improve biocompatibility and colloidal stability. The starchcoating
procedure itself by sonication in starch solution, as well as its result, affects the
structural and magnetic properties of functionalized nanoparticles. The resulting changes of
properties in the process of ligand addition depend significantly on the starting nanoparticles,
or rather, on the method of their synthesis. The structural, magnetic and spectroscopic
properties of the resulting materials were systematically investigated using X-ray diffraction
(XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. Taken
together, XRD, Raman and Mössbauer spectroscopy show that starch deposition reduces
structural disorder and internal stress, resulting in nanoparticles with a more uniform
size distribution. These changes, in turn, affect all magnetic properties—magnetization,
coercivity and magnetic anisotropy. Magnetic responses are preserved what is desirable
for future biomedical applications. This work emphasizes the importance of surface modification
for tailoring the properties of magnetic nanoparticles while maintaining their
desired functionality
Application of Ion Beam Irradiation for Engineering of Graphene Oxide-Based Environmental Sensors
No full textGraphene oxide (GO) plays a significant role in scientific research due to its versatile surface chemistry and 2D structure. The adaptability of material makes it ideal for applications in sensors and energy storage. The structure and degree of oxidation of GO are closely linked to its electrical properties. Ion beam irradiation can selectively modify the oxidation degree of GO by removing oxygen-containing groups, depending on the beam energy and type. This process also introduces controlled defects into GO that tailor its electronic, mechanical, and surface characteristics. However, it is crucial to find a balance, or a 'sweet spot', where sufficient reduction enhances conductivity while preserving the integrity of the sp² carbon network. In this work GO, GO/12-tungstophoshoric acid and GO/cobalt-ferrite thin films were deposited on interdigitated electrode arrays (IDE) and irradiated with carbon ion beams of 2 MeV energies and fluences from 1013 to 1015 ions/cm2. The electric properties of pristine and irradiated samples were investigated with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy method and correlated to oxidation degree obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and structural properties obtained by Raman spectroscopy. The results outline the positive effect of ion beam irradiation on electric properties of all samples, where increased reduction of GO with increasing fluence lead to lower impedance values. Electric properties of obtained samples were tested in various environmental conditions to test the applicability in sensor devices.Twenty-sixth annual conference on material science (YUCOMAT 2025), Herceg Novi, Montenegro, 1-5 September 2025
Carbonized young walnuts as a promising sorbent for the removal of organophosphate compounds from contaminated water
No full textThe increasing threat posed by organophosphates, including highly toxic warfare agents and their environmental analogs, such as pesticides, demands the development of efficient, robust, and cost-effective sorbent materials. In this study, young walnuts were carbonized at 900 °C to produce a porous carbon-based adsorbent. The material was comprehensively characterized using BET surface area analysis, SEM, EDX, FTIR spectroscopy, and zeta potential measurements. Its adsorption performance was evaluated through batch experiments using chlorpyrifos – a representative organophosphate pesticide structurally related to some nerve agents. Adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model, with equilibrium reached within 120 minutes. These findings confirm that the synthesized carbon material exhibits a high affinity for organophosphates and has the potential for deployment in water purification systems aimed at the removal of toxic organophosphorus compounds. Given the structural similarities between chlorpyrifos and some chemical warfare agents, the presented material may also offer a valuable platform for the remediation of more hazardous organophosphate-based threats in defence and civilian contexts.International Scientific Conference on Military Sciences Vojna 2025, Belgrade, Serbia, 11-12 September 2025
Optimisation of pld synthesis of Ε-FE2O3 thin films
No full textIn this study, the potential optimisation of the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) synthesis procedure for the preparation of ε-Fe₂O₃ thin films is investigated. The process is examined from a theoretical perspective, based on the application of soliton theory. The effect of laser interaction with the iron oxide target on the magnetisation of the final synthesis product (the ε-Fe₂O₃ phase) is discussed.International Scientific Conference on Military Sciences Vojna 2025, Belgrade, Serbia, 11-12 September 2025
Correlation between blood cell indices and adiponectin and leptin levels in COVID-19
No full textAdipose tissue (AT) is a major metabolic organ, functioning through autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine mechanisms. This study investigated the relationship between adipokine levels and blood cell indices, particularly platelets, in individuals with COVID-19. Another aim was to enhance the understanding of AT’s endocrine function during dynamic pathological changes, such as acute viral infections like COVID-19. The study was conducted as a cross-sectional analysis at the University Clinical Center of Vojvodina in 2021 and 2022, including 76 consecutive SARS-CoV-2-positive patients of both sexes. Study parameters were determined from peripheral venous blood samples routinely collected upon hospital admission. The results showed that leptin levels were significantly positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) (ρ = 0.421, P < 0.001) and body fat mass (BFM) (ρ = 0.547, P < 0.001). Simultaneously, a significant negative correlation was observed between adiponectin levels and BMI (ρ = −0.430, P < 0.001). Additionally, a significant positive correlation was found between leptin levels and mean platelet volume (MPV) (ρ = 0.307, P < 0.05), platelet distribution width (PDW) (ρ = 0.325, P < 0.05), and platelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR) (ρ = 0.305, P < 0.05). Leptin’s impact on platelet indices was confirmed in both simple and multiple linear regression models, where leptin exhibited a slightly higher beta coefficient than BMI. In contrast, adiponectin levels were negatively correlated with hematocrit (HCT) (ρ = −0.329, P < 0.05). These findings may provide further insight into the previously suspected role of AT in the complex cascade of COVID-19 pathogenesis and platelet activation. © 2025 Manojlovic et al
Peptide-mediated Al(iii) (oxy)(hydr)oxide formation: the specific stages of phase separation for additive interactions matter
No full textWe demonstrate how Al(iii) interactions with a ‘biomimetic’ model homo-peptide, polyaspartic (pAsp), with a narrow size distribution (around 20 amino acid monomer units), can lead to substantially different outcomes by governing Al(iii) hydrolysis/phase separation. The addition of unhydrolysed Al(iii) in aqueous peptide solutions results in dominant pAsp20 destabilisation and precipitation from the solution, failing to induce effective Al(iii)(oxy)(hydr)oxide formation. Allowing the peptide-free Al(iii) system to reach specific hydrolysis/phase separation stages, i.e., just before and slightly after liquid-liquid phase separation, partly dissipating its chemical energy, followed by controlled peptide addition, leads to the formation of respective Al(iii)(oxy)(hydr)oxide-peptide hybrids with smaller particles, higher Al(iii) content, and well-preserved chemical properties of the peptide. This constitutes a hydrolysis “spin-off” strategy that exploits Al(iii)-peptide interactions in distinct hydrolytic precursors, an approach transferable to multiple metals and polymeric systems. The reaction energetics determined by revisited isothermal titration calorimetry assays reflect an Al(iii) hydrolysis “footprint” and its role in metal-peptide interactions. These insights are important for various applications of aluminium species, from vaccine adjuvants and related toxicity to enhancements of corrosion resistance. © 2025 The Royal Society of Chemistry
Sustainable green extraction of selected polyphenols from Salvia officinalis L. with choline chloride-based NADES: Phytochemical screening and bioactivity
No full textNatural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) are a new class of highly efficient and environmentally friendly solvents with a high potential to replace conventional plant extraction solvents. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of two choline chloride-based natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) to extract phenolics from sage leaves under various extraction conditions and assess their biological activities. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis and spectra confirmed the successful synthesis of NADES. Choline chloride-urea NADES extracted significantly higher amounts of phenolics from sage compared to water and 70 % ethanol, particularly under extraction conditions of 90 min and 50 ◦C. NADES containing choline chloride-ascorbic acid demonstrated superior antioxidant activity in DPPH• and ABTS•+ scavenging and enhanced in vitro cytotoxicity against the MRC5 cell line. The microdilution method for in vitro antibacterial activity against two cariogenic Streptococcus bacteria revealed that NADES inhibited bacterial growth at lower concentrations than water and 70 % ethanolic extracts, particularly those containing ascorbic acid, regardless of the extraction conditions. Overall, this study demonstrates that choline chloride-urea NADES are more effective at extracting phenolics from sage. In terms of bioactivity, choline chloride-ascorbic acid NADES exhibited a more significant effect
Kovin algorithm: bridging the gap between theory and experiment
No full textLaFSe and LaFS materials have demonstrated significant promise for a range of optoelectronic uses, including light-emitting diodes, photovoltaics, and photodetectors. High-temperature experiments have been used to create mixed LaFSe/LaFS compounds. Changes in the unit cell result from the distortion of the crystal lattice caused by the addition of sulfur to LaFSe. To rapidly build and compute models for solid solution-type compounds, a new KOVIN (Keep Original Vectors In New structure) algorithm is provided that maintains the symmetries of the mixed LaFSe/LaFS phases. This algorithm is paired with ab initio structure optimization [1]. Additional expected structures under extreme conditions in other lanthanoid fluoride selenides/sulfides have been introduced, and experimental and theoretical data show very good agreement. When selenium is substituted for sulfur in the LaFSe lattice, the material's electrical structure, band gap size, and gap character can all vary, among other unusual electronic characteristics. Furthermore, additional chemical systems will be presented confirming the use of the new KOVIN algorithm as a great tool for solid solution exploration [2,3].Programme and the Book of Abstracts / 8th Conference of The Serbian Society for Ceramic Materials, 8CSCS-2025, June 14-16, 2025, Belgrade, Serbia