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The study evaluated a new model of a Plair SA airflow cytometer, Rapid-E+, and assessed its suitability for airborne pollen monitoring within operational networks. Key features of the new model are compared with the previous one, Rapid-E. A machine learning algorithm is constructed and evaluated for (i) classification of reference pollen types in laboratory conditions and (ii) monitoring in real-life field campaigns. The second goal of the study was to evaluate the device usability in forthcoming monitoring networks, which would require similarity and reproducibility of the measurement signal across devices. We employed three devices and analysed (dis-)similarities of their measurements in laboratory conditions. The lab evaluation showed similar recognition performance to that of Rapid-E, but field measurements in conditions when several pollen types were present in the air simultaneously showed notably lower agreement of Rapid-E+ with manual Hirst-type observations than those of the older model. An exception was the total-pollen measurements. Comparison across the Rapid-E+ devices revealed noticeable differences in fluorescence measurements between the three devices tested. As a result, application of the recognition algorithm trained on the data from one device to another led to large errors. The study confirmed the potential of the fluorescence measurements for discrimination between different pollen classes, but each instrument needed to be trained individually to achieve acceptable skills. The large uncertainty of fluorescence measurements and their variability between different devices need to be addressed to improve the device usability.

Crop maps are highly desired information in modern agriculture as they enable possessors to manage their business in the most optimal way. Usually in remote sensing, crop mapping is performed using satellite images and within-season ground truth samples that are collected in extensive survey campaigns every year, neglecting information and knowledge that past seasons’ classification models provided. This paper assessed different temporal transferring approaches, including transfer learning, together with traditional crop mapping approach to provide an exhaustive comparison. Transferring approaches differed in portion of knowledge utilized from a historical model and that coming from a target season dataset. Three distinct algorithms, Random Forest, Convolutional Neural Network and Transformer, were employed and evaluated using highly dense time series of Sentinel-1 data. Source and target domain were respectively represented by two sets, 2017–2020 and 2021 season data, and 9 different crop types were classified. Results showcased that transferring a model has a great potential in crop mapping when little to no ground truth data is available for the target season. However, traditional approach catches up rather quickly and even surpasses transfer learning approach in terms of performance after a certain portion of target domain data is collected. Without target season ground truth data, model transferring can yield modest crop mapping performance of 78% for F1 score, between 84% and 86% F1 score with transfer learning employed in conjunction with limited target season ground truth (i.e. between 120 and 720 parcels), and 88% F1 score at best with traditional approach (ca. 720 parcels). Even though a good discriminatory is found between different crop types, there is still a room for improvement regarding the least represented classes in the dataset. The study significantly contributes to the area of agricultural monitoring and management by demonstrating the effectiveness of transfer learning while lessening the necessity for extensive and labor-intensive data collection, thereby fostering cost and time efficiency. Utilizing Sentinel-1 data, it provides a practical and efficient solution for agricultural analysis worldwide regardless of cloudiness.

Allergenic pollen affects the quality of life for over 30% of the European population. Since the treatment efficacy is highly related to the actual exposure to pollen, information about the type and number of airborne pollen grains in real-time is essential for reducing their impact. Therefore, the automation of pollen monitoring has become an important research topic. Our study is focused on the Rapid-E real-time bioaerosol detector. So far, vanilla convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are the only deep architectures evaluated for pollen classification on multi-modal Rapid-E data obtained by exposing collected pollen samples of known classes to the device in a controlled environment. This study contributes to the further development of pollen classification models on Rapid-E data by experimenting with more advanced concepts of CNNs, residual, and inception networks. Our experiments included a comprehensive comparison of different CNN architectures, and obtained results provided valuable insights into which convolutional blocks improve pollen classification. We propose a new model which, coupled with a specific training strategy, improves the current state-of-the-art by reducing its relative error rate by 9%.

Abstract Pollen monitoring have become data-intensive in recent years as real-time detectors are deployed to classify airborne pollen grains. Machine learning models with a focus on deep learning, have an essential role in the pollen classification task. Within this study we developed an explainable framework to unveil a deep learning model for pollen classification. Model works on data coming from single particle detector (Rapid-E) that records for each particle optical fingerprint with scattered light and laser induced fluorescence. Morphological properties of a particle are sensed with the light scattering process, while chemical properties are encoded with fluorescence spectrum and fluorescence lifetime induced by high-resolution laser. By utilizing these three data modalities, scattering, spectrum, and lifetime, deep learning-based models with millions of parameters are learned to distinguish different pollen classes, but a proper understanding of such a black-box model decisions demands additional methods to employ. Our study provides the first results of applied explainable artificial intelligence (xAI) methodology on the pollen classification model. Extracted knowledge on the important features that attribute to the predicting particular pollen classes is further examined from the perspective of domain knowledge and compared to available reference data on pollen sizes, shape, and laboratory spectrofluorometer measurements.

Pollen-induced allergies are among the most prevalent non-contagious diseases, with about a quarter of the European population being sensitive to various atmospheric bioaerosols. In most European countries, pollen information is based on a weekly-cycle Hirst-type pollen trap method. This method is labour-intensive and requires narrow specialized abilities and substantial time, so that the pollen data are always delayed and subject to sampling- and counting-related uncertainties. Emerging new approaches to automatic pollen monitoring can, in principle, allow for real-time availability of the data with no human involvement. The goal of the current paper is to evaluate the capabilities of the new Plair Rapid-E pollen monitor and to construct a first-level pollen recognition algorithm. The evaluation was performed for three devices located in Lithuania, Serbia and Switzerland, with independent calibration data and classification algorithms. The Rapid-E output data include multi-angle scattering images and the fluorescence spectra recorded at several times for each particle reaching the device. Both modalities of the Rapid-E output were treated with artificial neural networks (ANNs) and the results were combined to obtain the pollen type. For the first classification experiment, the monitor was challenged with a large variety of pollen types and the quality of many-to-many classification was evaluated. It was shown that in this case, both scattering- and fluorescence-based recognition algorithms fall short of acceptable quality. The combinations of these algorithms performed better, exceeding 80 % accuracy for 5 out of 11 species. Fluorescence spectra showed similarities among different species, ending up with three well-resolved groups: (Alnus, Corylus, Betula and Quercus), (Salix and Populus) and (Festuca, Artemisia and Juniperus). Within these groups, pollen is practically indistinguishable for the first-level recognition procedure. Construction of multistep algorithms with sequential discrimination of pollen inside each group seems to be one of the possible ways forward. In order to connect the classification experiment to existing technology, a short comparison with the Hirst measurements is presented and the issue of false positive pollen detections by Rapid-E is discussed.

Hepcidin is a peptide that was discovered in 2000, it is synthesized in the liver and it goes into circulation. There are three forms of hepcidin, hepcidin-25, hepcidin-22 and hepcidin-20. The first form is the most studied and its role is the most significant. Hepcidin-25 is considered to be a major regulator of the absorption of dietary iron as well as its release from cells. It achieves its regulatory function by preventing the function of ferroportin, the major cellular iron exporter. Ferroportin is a protein whose function is to release iron from the cells on which it is located (macrophages, hepatocytes and enterocytes). Hepcidin-25 induces degradation of ferroportin, resulting in an increase in intracellular iron stores. It also reduces the absorption of iron from food and thus reduces the concentration of circulating iron. During physical activity, the concentration of hepcidin increases at an intensity of 65% VO2 max, and maximum values are reached at 90-95% VO2 max. Not only intensity, but also the volume of physical activity influence its concentration. Studies showed that hepcidin expression during physical activity is influenced by inflammation, iron status, erythropoiesis and hypoxia. It is considered one of the causes of anemia in athletes. There are potential methods for neutralizing hepcidin (monoclonal antibodies and antagonists) and reducing its expression (erythropoietin doping, which is forbidden in sport, anti-IL-6 antibodies, STAT and BMP modulators). Given its important role in iron metabolism, which is essential for the transport of oxygen in the body, it can affect sports performance. It is still the subject of many research.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death and the main cause of disability. In the last decade, homocysteine has been found to be a risk factor or a marker for cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure (HF). There are indications that vitamin B6 plays a significant role in the process of transsulfuration in homocysteine metabolism, specifically, in a part of the reaction in which homocysteine transfers a sulfhydryl group to serine to form α-ketobutyrate and cysteine. Therefore, an elevated homocysteine concentration (hyperhomocysteinemia) could be a consequence of vitamin B6 and/or folate deficiency. Hyperhomocysteinemia in turn could damage the endothelium and the blood vessel wall and induce worsening of atherosclerotic process, having a negative impact on the mechanisms underlying MI and HF, such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and altered function of gasotransmitters. Given the importance of the vitamin B6 in homocysteine metabolism, in this paper, we review its role in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, influencing the functions of gasotransmitters, and improving vasodilatation and coronary flow in animal models of MI and HF.

This paper begins with the current state of the electronic communications market in general, whose specificity is the existence of so-called a Significant Market Power (SMP) operator, and its ex-ante regulation by national regulatory authorities under predefined rules, that are based on EU legislation. European regulatory framework has changed many times and the number of markets with SMP operator also changed. Special attention has to be put on the existence of Internet market with of dominant wholesale operators. This market records continuous growth in revenues and three groups of participants appear on it: monopolists (one or more), alternative operators and regulator. Taking into account these facts, the paper analyzes the possibilities for simultaneous development of competition and further growth of monopolist's revenues, i.e. how much competition can be useful for the monopolists in the Internet market, either by encouraging himself to introduce new services or by the regulatory activities.

This paper presents a comprehensive techno-economic evaluation of the hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) networks and the multichannel Ethernet passive optical networks (EPONs) as two main next generation broadband technologies. The focus within this study is the comparison of these technologies in the case of their deployment in the rural area. Moreover, this paper analyzes how these technologies could be profitably deployed and what could be the optimal migration path for the operators in Europe.

Acrylamide (AA) is an important industrial chemical worldwide. AA also forms naturally in many high-carbohydrate foods (bread, French fries, coffee, etc.) when they are heated. Since AA is ubiquitous in the human diet, and more than one-third of the calories we take in each day come from foods with detectable levels of acrylamide, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of subchronic AA treatment on colon goblet cell mucin secretion. Male Wistar rats were gavaged with AA for 5 days a week for 21 days. The animals were divided into three groups that were gavaged with different AA concentrations (0, 25, 50 mg/kg/day). Colon samples were processed for histochemical (PAS-AB, HID-AB) and immunohistochemical (anti-rat MUC2 antibody) staining to visualize mucins in the goblet cells. AA treatment showed an alteration in mucin production and secretion in that the amount of all investigated mucin types dropped. More prominent changes were detected in the upper crypt part where a decreased number of goblet cell was observed. AA treatment elicited a significant reduction in neutral mucins, while acidic mucins showed linearly decreasing trend with respect to AA doses. Also, a linear reduction of MUC2 mucins was noticed. Sulfomucins were absent in the colon lower crypt in all experimental groups, while in the upper crypt both sulfo- and sialomucins were significantly decreased. The results of our study point to changes in the synthesis, differentiation and distribution of mucins after AA treatment, which can have adverse effect on colorectal health. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III46001]

Background and Purpose: Mycorrhizal fungi are of high importance for functioning of forest ecosystems and they could be used as indicators of environmental stress. The aim of this research was to analyze ectomycorrhizal community structure and to determine root colonization rate with ectomycorrhizal, arbuscular mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi of poplars growing on pyrite tailings contaminated site near the river Timok (Eastern Serbia). Materials and Methods: Identification of ectomycorrhizal types was performed by combining morphological and anatomical characterization of ectomycorrhizae with molecular identification approach, based on sequencing of the nuclear ITS rRNA region. Also, colonization of poplar roots with ectomycorrhizal, arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septated endophytic fungi were analysed with intersection method. Results and Conclusions: Physico-chemical analyses of soil from studied site showed unfavourable water properties of soil, relatively low pH and high content of heavy metals (copper and zinc). In investigated samples only four different ectomycorrhizal fungi were found. To the species level were identified Thelephora terrestris and Tomentella ellisi, while two types remained unidentified. Type Thelephora terrestris made up 89% of all ectomycorrhizal roots on studied site. Consequently total values of Species richness index and Shannon-Weaver diversity index were 0.80 and 0.43, respectively. No structures of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were recorded. Unfavourable environmental conditions prevailing on investigated site caused decrease of ectomycorrhizal types diversity. Our findings point out that mycorrhyzal fungal community could be used as an appropriate indicator of environmental changes.

Lycoperdon perlatum (Pers) 1796 is saprobic puffball species with a global distribution. It is edible if young, when the gleba is still homogeneous and white. Since this species has a pleasant texture and taste, it has been used in soups as a substitute for dumplings. The aim of this work was to study bioactivity of crude extracts prepared from wild-growing sporocarps of L. perlatum collected from Eastern Serbia during 2012. The bioactivity screens included antioxidant (DPPH and FRAP assays), antiproliferative (human breast MCF-7 cancer cell-line; MTT and SRB assays) and antibacterial (three referent ATCC strains; microdilution assay) effects. Polar extracts (aqueous - LycAq and ethanol - LycEtOH) and a nonpolar extract (hexane - LycHex) of the examined mushroom species were screened. In addition, LycAq and LycEtOH were primarily characterized by UV-VIS spectrophotometry, due to determination of chemical composition (total phenol and flavonoid contents). The highest anti-DPPH radical activity was observed for LycAq (IC50 = 46.56 µg/ml). In comparison with LycAq, less polar LycEtOH showed slightly better ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (IC50 = 21.87 µg/ml and IC50 = 19.28 µg/ml, respectively). However, total phenol contents of both extracts were similar (≈ 2.0 mg GAE/g d.w.). Conversely, modest activities were found against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25922 (LycHex, MIC = 3.12 mg/ml) and MCF-7 cells (with the highest one obtained for LycEtOH after 72 h, IC50 = 367.54 µg/ml and IC50 = 390.03 µg/ml, MTT and SRB assays, respectively). According to the obtained experimental data, L. perlatum can be considered as a good source of novel and potent natural antioxidants for use in regular diet.

Introduction: The level of education quality of medical health care graduates (Bachelors of Health care and Nursing) depends on curriculum quality. Knowing what motivates students to enroll medical health care studies and development of professional and academic career are of great importance for education as well as the practice. Aim of the study: To see if there is a difference in attitudes and opinions between 1st year students and 4th year students about health care study program and nursing as a profession, students motivations for enrolling the program and their expectations about possibilities to develop personally, professionally and scientifically after graduating. Patients and Methods: 55 Health care students of Medical Faculty University of Banja Luka (1st year 37 and 2nd year 18 students) were a sample. Research was conducted by using anonymous, original questionnaire which was written for the needs of this research. SPSS (Statistical Product and Service Solutions) version 20. was used for data processing, and Windows, operating system, for data analysis. Results: Conducted research shows that material component, with possibility of finding better job and willingness to care for other people are major criteria which motivate students to choose nursing study. Health care students of both generations graded study program with 3,22 ± 0,76, and there was statistically significant difference (p

Research of the influence of geographical and historical factors on changes in natural features and the quality of ecosystem services is important for the evaluation of the reference state of the quality of the environment and the potential of natural systems for the renewal of functions on which the wildlife on the planet depends. The territory of central Banat in the surrounding of protected areas 'Slano Kopovo' Special Nature Reserve, 'Rusanda' Nature Park and 'Okanj Bara' Special Nature Reserve covering the settlements of Novi Bečej, Kumane, Melenci, Elemir and Taraš was selected for the analysis. Changes in ecosystems were monitored based on available geographical and historical data on the residence and activities of people in this territory during various time periods. Evaluation was conducted by scoring and gradation of impact was carried out by applying approximate values of spatial, qualitative and quantitative change indicators. According to the research results, current effects of the impact on the considered area were between significant and great. Results indicate the alarming state in the environment, since further increase in the scope of influences leads to the exceedance of capacities of the surrounding ecosystems for performing a part of ecosystem services (tremendous impact), or most of ecosystem services (drastic impact).

Optical packet switching allows very efficient bandwidth use in the metropolitan ring networks, in comparison to optical circuit switching. However, when dimensioning an optical packet switching network, the stability of the network needs to be planned carefully, as these networks encounter the same stability issues as the electronic packet networks (e.g. Ethernet or Resilient Packet Ring). In this paper, we show which stability conditions need to be satisfied by inserting nodes, in an optical packet switching network. On an example, we illustrate the impact that the stability has on the network QoS performance and incite the introduction of the stability constraints in network design. Next, we explain a network design method and the corresponding CAPEX cost assumptions. Finally, we study the stability in a small metropolitan ring with a uniform and symmetric traffic matrix, in order to evaluate the impact of stability on the network cost and capacity. Numerical results show that the stability constraints induce the average increase in network CAPEX cost of around 9%.

Due to general growing resistance and side effects to common antifungal drugs nowadays, there have been many studies reported on the use of herbal essential oils as antifungal agents in recent years. In this study, essential oils of Origanum vulgare and Rosmarinus officinalis (Lamiaceae) were examined for their in vitro antifungal activity against three Candida albicans strains (laboratory - CAL, human pulmonary - CAH, and reference ATCC10231-CAR) in comparison to Nystatin (0.30 mg/ml) and Fluconazole (2 mg/ml) as standard antifungal agents. The antifungal activity was evaluated by comparing inhibition zone diameters obtained both by disc-and well-diffusion assays, as well as by comparing MIC and MBC values detected by microdilution assay. Diffusion test results revealed stronger antifungal effect of O. vulgare against all analyzed C. albicans strains identifying CAL strain as the most susceptible one. Inhibition zones ranged from 12.65 to 25.10 mm depending on the concentrations applied. The highest concentrations of Rosemary essential oil (5.00 mg/ml) demonstrated activity against two strains: CAL and CAR ATCC 10231 in both diffusion assays applied, while no antifungal activity was recorded against CAH isolate. Microdilution assay showed that both oils demonstrated the same MIC values for all tested strains (0.11 mg/ml), except MIC value against ATCC strain (0.23 mg/ml) obtained for Rosemary essential oil. The obtained results indicated that oregano and rosemary essential oils might be highly effective in the natural prevention treatment of candidiasis, although toxicity assays should be previously preformed. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 172058]

Non-native alien zoopathogens have had a profound impact on the health of aquatic zoobiota in Republika Srpska and the Republic of Serbia as well as around the region and the world as a whole. The movement of disease-causing microfungi around the world has taken its toll on many different organisms, and continues to intensify with an increase in global transport of cargo, people, and animals. Those who study fungi have little information about the characteristics of invasive, zopathogenic fungi because of the fact that a particular fungus can inhabit many different organisms, and may be pathogenic to some of these hosts but not to the others. Crayfish plague (Aphanomyces astaci) broke out through the Danube River to the territory of Bačka and Banat (today A.P. Vojvodina, the Republic of Serbia) in 1879. Until 1880, the disease spread through the Sava River to the northern Bosnia (today Republika Srpska). From 1955 until 1970, almost all territories of Republika Srpska and Republic of Serbia were afflicted with the crayfish plague disease. Despite the fact that the problems of the spread of crayfish plague in the territory of the Republika Srpska and the Republic of Serbia have been of great significance, there is little data available for analyzing this issue. According to IUCN criteria, and mostly due to the Aphanomyces astaci invasion, the degree of endangerment of noble crayfish in Serbia was evaluated as “Endangered”, which was a higher degree than the international level determined for this species, i.e., “Vulnerable”.

In this paper an overview of official regulations on the protection of lichens in the Republic of Serbia is presented, and provisions of individual regulations are analyzed. Also, the effects of adopted regulations on the protection of endangered species of lichens are discussed and general measures to improve the protection of lichens in the future are proposed. Finally, the need for further studies on lichens is suggested as a basis for their effective protection and conservation. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. OI-179 079]

In the frame of investigation of the main cause of dying trees of the main arbored walks (Mladena Stojanovića Aley and Park), the investigation of the presence and diversity of macrofungi in Banja Luka City were undertaken in the period 2006-2011. Relatively poor generic diversity of lignicolous (pathogenic or potentially pathogenic and saprotrophic) macrofungi with only 16 species representing this group (13 basidiomycets: Schizophyllum commune, Fomes fomentarius, Stereum hirsutum, Coriolus versicolor, Flammulina velutipes, Pseudotrametes gibbosa, Ganoderma applanatum, G. lucidum, G. adspersum, Polyporus squamosus, Meripilus giganteus, Laetiporus sulphureus, Auricu­laria auricula-judae, and 3 ascomycets: Nectria cinnabarina, Xylaria hypoxylon, X. poly­morpha) were recorded. Such a poor qualitative composition of this very important fungal group could be explained by the reduction in the number of plant species in arbored walks and alleys, as well as the reduction in the number of fungi resistant to heavy air pollution caused by nearby (1-5m) fuel combustion in engines. Although only preliminary, our results pointed to the necessity of conservation and protection of the most beautiful features of Banja Luka and its alleys and arbored walks, by undertaking the measures of curing damaged trees and treating them with fungicides in order to wipe out the epiphytia caused in more than 95% of cases (dated May 2011) by Split-gill (Schizophyllum commune), present on dead wood but also on damaged trees of Aesculus hyppocastaneum (127 trees), Tilia cordata (124 trees), Tilia platyphyllos (36 trees), Tilia argentea (40 trees), Acer negundo (20 trees), Platanus acerifolia (2 trees), Robinia pseudoacacia (3 trees), Fraxinus ornus (1 tree), Betula pendula (1 tree), Catalpa sp. (2 trees), etc. Altogether, during the last decade, around 200 trees collapsed or were sanitary cut in Banja Luka arbored walk from the Malta site to the Green bridge, a total length around 5 km. The reason for this was primarily due to Split-gill fungus and the restoration of arbored walks in the streets extremely polluted by engine fuel consumption in the zone of Mladena Stojanovića street. By analyzing the trees along the City of Banja Luka main street it could be concluded that, besides the appearance of suffocation of plants, due to wide asphalt surfaces that are located immediately next to the tree-trunks and heavy air pollution, fungi caused illnesses are the most important cause of the decline of trees. With its great adaptation to arid climate and ability to resist to the air pollution, Schizophyllum commune turned out to be the most aggressive and successful universal fungal invader of trees from old alleys, even threatening immuno­compromised human individuals. However, man and his direct or indirect impacts contrib­ute to the dying of trees much faster than the fungal pathogens in the busiest and most polluted Mladena Stojanovića street.

The results of tests on the presence of yeasts and molds in cornstarch [AD ‘IPOK’ Zrenjanin, 2007-2008, made at the time when previous Regulations were valid] were analyzed in terms of bioindicative values of microfungi as indicators of quality and safety of raw material or final food products. Microbiological analysis was used to detect the presence of a number of microorganisms MMI-0001, and a questionnaire was designed at the Department of Public Health in Zrenjanin town (Republic of Serbia), where the anal­yses were done, regarding the microbiological tests on starch. In order to rationalize the analyses and make them more economical, several areas of product quality control (water, food, raw materials, space) were recommended either to be excluded or regarded as optional. Thus, analysis of presence of microfungi as indicators of product quality was categorized as optional. The results obtained from this research suggest a different conclusion because the bacteria in the samples indicated ˮmicrobiologically“, namely bacteriologically, safe samples of food, while, on the contrary, the presence of some microfungi as distinct xerophilous or xerotolerant microorganisms, indicated that the food was mycologically non-safe. The obtained data are crucial for questioning the decision to exclude the earlier required (mycological) analysis of the samples (in the production of starch, or end products, etc.) and categorize such analyses in new Regulations as optional, depending on the manufacturer’s preference. Bioindicative values of microfungi as indicators of the quality of starch, clearly point to the shortsightedness of the new Regulations on food hygiene and safety, where tests on certain microorganisms (in this case, yeasts and molds) are not legally defined as mandatory, but the Law leaves manufacturers a possibility to choose (or not to choose) the testing and frequency of testing on the presence (absence) of microorganisms, which can be risky, both in the production and marketing of the finial products. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. OI-179079]

Aromatic plants are among the most important sources of biologically active secondary metabolites, with high antimicrobal potential. This study was carried out to examine in vitro antifungal activity of Foeniculum vulgare (Apiaceae), Carum carvi (Apiaceae) and Eucalyptus sp.(Myrtaceae) essential oils against three Candida albicans strains of different origin (laboratory-CAL, human pulmonary-CAH and ATCC10231-CAR). The essential oils were screened on C. albicans using disc and well-diffusion and microdilution method, and compared to Nystatine and Fluconazole as standard anti-mycotics. The activity of tested oils was expressed by inhibition zone diameter (mm), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) (mg/ml). The results indicated that studied essential oils show antifungal activity against all three isolates of C. albicans. It was observed that each oil exhibits different degree of antifungal activity depending on the oil concentration applied as well as on analyzed strain of C. albicans. Carum carvi demonstrated the strongest antifungal effect to all tested strains, showing the lowest MIC values (0.03mg/ml for CAL, 0.06mg/ml for CAH, and 0.11mg/ml for CAR, respectively). Eucalyptus sp. exhibited the lowest antifungal activity, with MIC values ranging from 0.11 mg/ml for CAL to 0.45 mg/ml for both CAH and CAR. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 172058]

An in vivo model was set up to establish the behavioral stress response (rate of survival) and morphometric characteristics of A1 protocerebral neurosecretory neurons (cell size) of Eisenia foetida (Oligochaeta) as a result of the synergetic effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF - 50 Hz, 50 μT, 17 V/m and 50 Hz, 150 μT, 17 V/m, respectively) and constant illumination (420-450 lux). If combined, these two stressors significantly (p

Fruška Gora mountain represents very important source of natural and semi-natural forest ecosystems in the northern part of the Republic of Serbia and therefore it is important source of habitats for different groups of fungi. As opposed to coordinated inventory and monitoring projects of fungi established around Europe long ago, mycological researches in Serbia are still sporadic and insufficiently coordinated by authorities and experts. In accordance with that, available data concerning the state of fungi in Serbia are scarce. The aim of this work was to collect all relevant unpublished data considering fungi in Fruška Gora and to present checklist of two fungal phyla: Myxomycota and Ascomycota. In the presented checklist, 23 recorded species of Myxomycota (known as fungal analogues) were distributed in 2 classes, 5 orders, and 7 families. The first class (Protosteliomycetes) contained only one species - Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa (fam. Ceratiomyxaceae). The largest order was Trichiales (9 species), while the dominant families were Stemonitidaceae and Trichiaceae, each with 6 species recorded. The most abundant species was Lycogala epidendrum (fam. Reticulariaceae), with 13 records. Phylum Ascomycota was represented with 95 species belonging to 6 classes, 12 orders and 29 families. The most highly represented classes were Leotiomycetes (32 species) and Pezizomycetes (31 species). The most abundant species were: Xylaria polymorpha (17 records), Xylaria hypoxylon (14 records), and Sarcoscypha coccinea (14 records). [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III-43002]

Conservation and protection of fungi have lately been considered as extremely important elements of the environmental conservation, and numerous environmental, scientific, medical, economic, cultural, ethical, and other reasons for such attitude exist today. This paper presents an overview of official regulations on the protection of fungi in the Republic of Serbia from the Act of Protection of 1991 until today. The paper lists and analyses the good and bad provisions of individual legal regulations. It registers the effects of the adopted regulations on the actual efficiency of protection of endangered species of fungi (macrofungi, mushrooms), and considers the impact of chronological development of legislation on the population of fungi in nature, and presents general measures to improve protection of mushrooms in the future. These measures primarily include reliable information and study of fungi as a basis for their effective protection based on scientific knowledge. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. OI-179079]

Modern agricultural practices usually include the intensive use of a number of conventional pesticides, which can act as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC) and for this reason may adversely affect species diversity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of EDC herbicide atrazine (ATR) on the mammalian reproductive ability. For this purpose, effects of atrazine on morphological and morphometrical characteristics of Leydig cells of Wistar rats testes were evaluated. Animals were treated from 23rd to 53rd postnatal day (PND) with atrazine in doses of 50 mg/kg of body weight (bw) and of 200 mg/kg bw. Our results have shown that both doses have caused a decrease in body and testicular weight in a dose-responsive manner. Also, both of these treatments caused an increase in interstitial space volume of testes and change in number, nucleocytoplasmic ratio and degree of vacualisation of Leydig cells. In this study we have shown that atrazine affects the structure and number of Leydig cells in a way that it can decrease the reproductive capability of rats, as well as other male mammals which is a serious and growing threat to mammalian biodiversity regarding the fact that the herbicide atrazine is excessively used in non-EU countries, as well as in the United States.

In this paper, the simulation model of coexisting GPON and NG-PON1 (10G-PON) systems is presented, which has been developed for the analysis of feasibility and implementation issues of this coexistence. The aim was to analyze the impact of the most important parameters of the components that are needed for new network elements, on the performance of these coexistent networks. On the basis of the results obtained, the optimal parameters of the new system components were defined.

The antimicrobial effect of the ZnO nanoparticles dispersed in polyurethane varnishes was investigated. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against three bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and one strain fungi (Sacharomyces cerevisiae) by the “pour-plate” test. It was shown that the ZnO nanoparticles efficiently inhibit growth of the colonies of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but their activity against Escherichia coli was found to be questionable suggesting more detailed research.

We studied the influence of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF EMF) to subcortical structures of a brain, i.e. basal ganglia, of sexually mature rats of Wistar strain. The animals were exposed to nonhomogenous ELF EMF, intensity of 50-500 μT, 50 Hz frequency, 7 hours a day, and 5 days a week during three months. Histological and stereological analysis established a reduction in volume density of ganglia cells in the area of basal ganglia, an increase of their nucleo-cytoplasmatic volume ratio, and presence of an intensive edema of pericellular (perineural) type.

It is a well known fact that sportswomen with irregular menstrual cycle are exposed to the risk of diminished bone mineral density, and consequentially osteoporosis may appear. Monitoring of the levels of biochemical markers of bone metabolism enables understanding of the dynamic changes during the bone remodeling process. The objectives of the conducted research were to determine the prevalence of menstrual dysfunctions in a sportswomen sample and a control group, and also to determine the levels of bone metabolism markers in groups of women with menstrual dysfunctions. The women (n=117) were separated into two groups, the experimental group (S) (n=84) comprised of three subgroups of sports women (34 women who play ball game sports, 27 athletes and 23 sport dancers) and the control group (C) (n=34). To establish the menstrual profile and dysfunction of the menstrual cycle, we used a very detailed questionnaire. The level of mid-fragment osteocalcin (N-MID osteocalcin) as a marker of bone formation was deter mined, as well as b-Cross Laps (b-CTx-bone resorption marker) via the electro luminescent immunoche mistry method on an Elecsys 1010 automated machine. Pri mary amenorrhea was found in 7 (8.33%) and oligomenorrhea in 11 (13.09%) sportswomen, which was statistically a much higher incidence (p

Today, implementation of wavelength division multiplexing in the Ethernet passive optical network (EPON) is considered as one of the most perspective solutions for the bottleneck problem in the access network. With the development of new applications and services, multimedia applications above all, quality of service (QoS) support becomes a major concern in WDM EPON, as it was the case in EPON. In this paper, WDM EPON architecture is presented along with a novel algorithm for wavelength and bandwidth allocation with full QoS support. Besides theoretical analysis, simulation results are presented and they confirm a good performance of presented solution.

The goal of this research was to investigate improvement of drying method of peppermint and pumpkin kernels (hull-less pumpkin seed) with the aim to get as best microbiological quality of products as possible. Small and medium scale producers of medicinal plants in most cases perform it in batch dryers, which offer optimal output rate. Disadvantages of this dryer type are slower through-heating of upper layers, with the resulting increase of microbial count. In this paper, results of investigation of drying characteristics in batch dryer expressed through the changes of count of bacteria and microfungi are presented. The drying regime was applied in three different phases, and different material batch heights. Obtained results show that microbial count has increased in the upper layer during process of peppermint drying, while the temperature was less than 45°C for a long period. However, during the final drying phase in this layer, the temperature was also over 45°C, and the final microbial count was almost the same for upper and lower levels. During the treatment of pumpkin kernels in all of cases number of microorganisms indicated that the treated pumpkin grains belonged to the 3B qualitative group or to the 4B for phase drying respectively, and to the 4A for control group according to the Europaean Pharmacopoeia. The results obtained suggest that the treatment of hull-less pumpkin seed with even higher temperatures of drying agents, for example 70°C or 80°C, in the first phase should be investigated. After that phase, the second phase would follow, using temperature of 60°C, and the method with shifting mode should be applied.

The current study included the investigation of several metals and their distribution in urban soils from parks and green areas in the city of Belgrade. The soils were sampled in January and February 2008. The concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Mn and Zn were measured, as well as the pH values and organic matter contents. The obtained results showed that there was a significant level of contamination in some samples, especially with lead, and that it was most probably caused by anthropogenic activities, mostly from traffic. The results were compared with the National legislation and Netherlands standards. Also, the recent results were compared with the data from previous work and it was concluded that there has been a certain increase of the Pb concentration in the past three years. The level of pollution in playground soil was very high and each analyzed sample exceeded the Dutch target value for Cd, Co and Pb.

The current study included the investigation of several metals and their distribution in urban soils from parks and green areas in the city of Belgrade. The soils were sampled in January and February 2008. The concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Mn and Zn were measured, as well as the pH values and organic matter contents. The obtained results showed that there was a significant level of contamination in some samples, especially with lead, and that it was most probably caused by anthropogenic activities, mostly from traffic. The results were compared with the National legislation and Netherlands standards. Also, the recent results were compared with the data from previous work and it was concluded that there has been a certain increase of the Pb concentration in the past three years. The level of pollution in playground soil was very high and each analyzed sample exceeded the Dutch target value for Cd, Co and Pb.

In the frame of biodiversity investigation of the Republic of Serbia, the investigation of the presence and the diversity of macrofungi of the Zasavica Special Nature Reserve (North Serbia) has been undertaken. Relatively poor generic diversity of macrofungi was recorded with domination of ecological group of wood-decaying species. Even though being preliminary, our results point to the necessity of conservation and protection of recent fungal diversity but, in our opinion, not by making a so-called 'Red list of endangered species', which, due to the lack of information and very poor evidence on this group of organisms in our country, are extremely unreliable and therefore disputable, but rather through the very short list of a few not endangered species, conditionally called 'White list of not endangered fungal species', if such species recently exist et all.

The search for new biosynthetic and biodegradable materials to save nonrenewable resources and reduce global pollution problems is an urgent task. Recently, materials like thermoplastic poly-3-hydroxyalkanoates (PHA), have been found synthesized by bacteria as storage materials. The major PHAs synthesized are poly-b-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), poly-b-hydroxyvalerate (PHV) and their copolymers. They are already commercially produced and used as BIOPOLTM (ICI, England). Their complete degradability by bacteria has already been shown. Today, oceans and estuaries serve as major landfills, and since fungi are an important part of the degrading microbiota, in order to prove their participation in the degradation process, a simple degradation test suitable for fungi and marine conditions had to be developed. Several solid media based on artificial sea water, differing in the content of non-alkanoate organics and supplemented with 0.1% PHA (or BIOPOLTM) as a main source of carbon have been tested. The testing principle consists of clearing the turbid medium in test tube or plates caused by suspended granules of PHA. All media tested supported the growth of fungi. For the discrete and transparent clearing of zones, a mineral medium with 0.01% peptone, 0.01% yeast extract, and 0.1% PHB or BIOPOLTM was finally chosen where the fine and evenly distributed turbidity is accomplished by a specific procedure. This method allows the investigation of degradability of PHA-based plastic materials as well as screening for fungal ability to depolymerise pure PHA homopolymers. Using this medium, 32 strains of marine yeasts and 102 strains of marine mycelial fungi belonging to different systematic and ecological groups were tested for their ability to degrade PHAs. Only about 4% of the strains were able to degrade BIOPOLTM and about 6% depolymerised pure PHB homopolymer. This is in sharp contrast to the results of our previous experiments with 143 strains of terrestrial fungi which showed that 55% are able to degrade BIOPOLTM.

In this paper we investigate charge carrier recombination processes in polymer based photodetector ITO/PEDOT:PSS/MEH-PPV/Al. The major carriers are the hole polarons created by the photoexcitation in the active MEH-PPV film. The model used in this paper is based on the continuity equation and drift-diffusion equation for hole polarons. We assume the Poole-Frenkel expression for field dependence of the hole polaron mobility. The internal quantum efficiency dependence on incident photon flux density, incident light wavelength and applied electric field is included in the model. The simulated photocurrent density spectra for two different, assumed, recombination mechanisms, linear (monomolecular) and square (bimolecular) is compared with our experimental results. The bimolecular recombination mechanism applied in our model is assumed to be of Langevin type. The agreement between the measured and the calculated data unambiguously indicate that the hole polaron recombination mechanism in the MEH-PPV film is bimolecular with bimolecular rate constant depending on the external electric field. For the established recombination mechanism the theoretical prediction of the photocurrent density spectra shows excellent agreement with the measured spectra in wide range of inverse bias voltages (from 0 to -8 V).

Crude extracts (methanolic-ME andwater-WE) of the fungus Meripilus giganteus (Pers.: Pers.) Karst. were analyzed for their antioxidative, antibacterial, cytotoxic, neurotoxic, and hemolytic activities using tests in vitro. The highest scavenging activity was exhibited by WE on OH• radicals, showing a 50% effective concentration (EC50) at 292.83±2.5 μg/ml and ferric-reducing ability at 14.24±2.9 mg eq of ascorbic acid per g of dried extract (mg/g).An anti­bacterial effect was detected mostly against Gram-positive strains of bacteria. Toxicity assays exhibited higher effects for ME, reaching EC50=403.43±5.8 μg/ml against estrogen-dependent breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7); 50% hemolytic activity at a concentration of 30±0.03 μg/ml against erythrocytes; andEC50=4.5±0.05 mg/ml for acetyl cholinesterase-inhibitory activity. These results suggest possible use of this fungus as a new source of pharmaceuticals.

In this paper we investigate the most popular silicon waveguide structures in the form of a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) rib waveguide. Single mode and birefringence free conditions in these relatively small waveguides are discussed and the influence of the top oxide cladding stress is analyzed. Field profiles for a wide range of waveguide cross section shapes and dimensions are systematically considered. Design guidelines for this type of SOI waveguides are presented.