The Use of Essential Oils against Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Sheep - In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Gastrointestinalne nematode predstavljaju jedan od glavnih problema sa kojima se suočava moderno ovčarstvo, kako u svetu tako i kod nas. Njihov negativni uticaj se obično reflektuje u vidu izazivanja subkliničkog oboljenja sa gubicima telesne mase i padom proizvodnje. Međutim, u pojedinim slučajevima može doći i do klinički vidljivog oboljenja sa pojavom kaheksije, dijareje, anemije, gubitaka proteina i edema, kao i uginuća. Dodatni problem predstavljaju razvoj rezistencije na najčešće korišćene antihelmintičke lekove iz grupe benzimidazola, makrocikličnih laktona i imidazotiazola, kao i rezidue koje ove preparati ostavljaju u životinjskim proizvodima i životnoj sredini. Zbog toga se, u cilju smanjenja upotrebe ovih lekova, danas širom sveta radi na otkrivanju alternativnih rešenja poput razvoja različitih biljnih preparata. Cilj ovih istraživanja, sprovedenih u Regionalnom centru za monitoring parazitoza KREMOPAR u Eboliju (Salerno), Italija je bio ispitati efikasnost in vitro (test izgleganja larvi) i in vivo (test redukcija broja jaja nematoda u fecesu) odabranih etarskih ulja protiv gastrointestinalnih nematoda kod ovaca, uz određivanje bezbednosti primene nekoliko ulja ispitanih u terenskim uslovima (posmatranje tretiranih životinja i praćenje hematoloških i biohemijskih parametara krvi). Dodatno, određen je hemijski sastav svih ispitanih etarskih ulja uz pomoć gasne hromatografije i masene spektrometrije, kao i određena procentualna zastupljenost prisutnih rodova nematoda uz pomoć odgovarajućih ključeva determinacije. Rezultati su pokazali visok antihelmintički potencijal ispitanih ulja čija efikasnost je zavisila od vrste i hemotipa biljke, odnosno hemijskog sastava i prisutnih bioaktivnih jedinjenja, kao i od primenjene koncentracije/doze. Pri tome, nijedno od primenjenih ulja nije izazvalo negativne efekte kod životinja. Od velikog broja ispitanih ulja naročito se istaklo ulje origana, sa karvakrolom kao glavnim sastojkom, koje je pokazalo najveći antihelmintički potencijal od svih ulja generalno testiranih u ovakvim i sličnim istraživanjima. Dalja ispitivanja će biti usmerena ka razvoju odgovarajuće formulacije, zasnovane na kombinaciji pojedinih ulja, koja bi se koristila u praksi, kao i otkrivanju najefikasnijeg načina primene.Gastrointestinal nematodes represent one of the main problems faced by modern sheep breeding all over the world and in Serbia. Their negative impact is usually reflected in the form of subclinical disease with body weight loss and production decline. However, in some cases clinically visible disease can also occur with the signs of cachexia, diarrhea, anemia, protein loss and edema, as well as death. An additional problem is the development of resistance to the most commonly used anthelmintic drugs from the group of benzimidazoles, macrocyclic lactones and imidazothiazoles, as well as the residues that these drugs leave in animal products and the environment. For these reasons, researchers worldwide are focused in discovering alternative solutions, such as the development of various herbal preparations, to reduce the use of commercial anthelmintics. The aim of the present study, carried out at the Regional Center for Parasitosis Monitoring CREMOPAR in Eboli (Salerno), Italy, was to examine the effectiveness in vitro (Egg Hatch Test) and in vivo (Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test) of selected essential oils against gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep, while determining the safety of application of several oils tested in field conditions (clinical observation of treated animals and monitoring of hematological and biochemical blood parameters). In addition, the chemical composition of all tested essential oils was determined by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, and the percentage representation of the nematode genera present was determined using appropriate determination keys. The results showed a high antihelminthic potential of the tested oils, the effectiveness of which depended on the type and chemotype of the plant, i.e. the chemical composition and bioactive compounds present, as well as on the applied concentration/dose. In addition, none of the applied oils caused negative effects in animals. Of the large number of tested oils, the oil of oregano, with carvacrol as the main ingredient, stood out in particular, which showed the highest anthelmintic potential of all the oils generally tested in this and similar research. Further tests will be aimed at developing a suitable formulation based on a combination of individual oils that will be used in the practice, as well as discovering the most efficient way of application

THE VIEWS OF TOURISM STUDENTS ON THE SUBJECT OF THE CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC HERITAGE OF SERBIA

This work presents the research conducted among students of the Academy of Professional Studies Šumadija, Department of Aranđelovac, enrolled in the Tourism and Hospitality Management program. Within the study, students expressed their attitudes regarding three groups of statements: 1) the mutual influence of the curriculum and knowledge that students acquire on one and trips and visits to places with cultural and artistic content on the other side; 2) the influence of curriculum on the understanding of cultural and artistic heritage; and 3) its influence on the understanding of contemporary cultural and artistic events and the development of tourism in Serbia. We used exploratory factor analysis for statement grouping and the Likert scale to present the attitudes. We found no significant difference in attitudes between the groups of students from different years. The results could be a starting point for all curriculum developers in higher education and for improving tourism education

Повећање фотосинтезе код бораније гајене у пољу после третмана наранџастим угљеничним тачкама

Биљна нанобионика је област истраживања која користи наночестице ради побољшања биљних функција. Ова студија истражује ефекат наранџастих угљеничних тачака (енгл. orange-carbon dots, o-CDs) на фотосинтетске параметре бораније гајене у пољу током целог вегетационог циклуса. Водене суспензије o-CDs наночестица (1 mg/L и 5 mg/L) примењиване су фолијарно у једнаким временским интервалима до цветања. Фотосинтетски параметри -брзина фотосинтезе (енгл. photosynthetic rate, PR), брзина транспирације (transpiration rate, TR) и ефикасност коришћења воде (енгл. water use efficiency, WUE) су мерени након сваког третмана помоћу LC-pro + система. Након извршених третмана спректрофотометријски је одређивана концентрација фотосинтетских пигмената (хлорофила a, хлорофила b и каротеноида). Резултати су показали да третмани и временски ток значајно мењају све тестиране фотосинтетске параметре. Примећен је растући тренд ових вредности са повећањем концентрације, а значајна разлика у односу на контролу је примећена након третмана са 5 mg/L o-CDs. У првој временској тачки (након једног третмана) није било значајних разлика у испитаним фотоситетским параметрима у поређењу са контролом. Међутим, сва три фотосинтетска параметра су била значајно повећана у другој временској тачки (након два третмана) са концентрацијом o-CDs од 5 mg/L (вредности за контролу, 1 mg/L и 5 mg/L су респективно износиле 10,134/11,650/13,826 μmol CO2·m-2·s-1 за PR; 1,834/2,053/2,238 mmol H2O·m-2·s-1 за TR и 5,519/5,678/6,180 μmol CO2·mmol-1 H2O за WUE). Садржај фотосинтетских пигмената није значајно промењен ниједним третманом ни у једној временској тачки, што указује да позитиван ефекат o-CDs наночестица на фотосинтезу није директно повезан са променом садржаја фотосинтетских пигмената

Book of Abstracts / 9 th International Conference on Silicon in Agriculture

The 9th International Conference on Silicon in Agriculture (!CSA 2025), organized by the University of Belgrade - Institute for Multidisciplinary Research and the International Society of Silicon in Agriculture (ISSAG), under the auspices of the Serbian Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovations, was held from September 15 to 19, 2025, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belgrade, Serbia, and included a one-day excursion. This triennial conference, postponed once due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has a rich tradition of being hosted across continents: Florida, USA (1999); Tsuruoka, Japan (2002); Uberlandia, Brazil (2005); Durban, South Africa (2008); Beijing, China (2011); Stockholm, Sweden (2014); Bangalore, India (2017); and New Orleans, USA (2022). After a decade, ICSA has returned to Europe, and it was our great pleasure to welcome you to Belgrade, the vibrant capital of Serbia. The central theme of ICSA 2025, Silicon for Sustainable Agriculture and Resilient Ecosystems, aimed to highlight recent advances in silicon-related research across agriculture, plant biology, and ecology. Over three days of scientific sessions, topics included the availability and dynamics of silicon in soils; mechanisms of silicon uptake and transport in plants; role of silicon in stress tolerance; broader impacts of silicon on plant growth, crop productivity and nutritional quality; relevance of silicon cycling and its implications on ecosystem resilience, and climate change mitigation; and innovations in silicon­based fertilizers and sustainable management practices. A new initiative of ICSA 2025 was the Epstein Memorial Session, held in honor of Professor Emanuel Epstein. As part of this tribute, the Emanuel Epstein Award was presented to three outstanding PhD students and early-career researchers, recognizing their exceptional contributions to the field. ICSA 2025 brought together more than I 00 participants from over 20 countries, including both academic researchers and industry professionals. To support sustainability, the Book of Abstracts was published exclusively in e-format and includes 94 abstracts (46 oral and 48 poster presentations). We hope this e-book will serve as a valuable resource for all those engaged in silicon research aimed at addressing global agronomic and ecological challenges. After the conference, there will be an opportunity to submit full manuscripts to a special issue of Plant and Soil (S 125 - Silicon). We are pleased to announce that the next ICSA will take place in Australia and look forward to seeing you there

Production of compost by bioconversion of agro-industrial waste with the use of selected biopreparations

Accumulation of agro-industrial waste represents problem of environmental pollution, considering that it increases the emission of greenhouse gases. Composting is an environmentally friendly waste management solution based on a circular economy strategy. The bioconversion of agro-industrial waste into the product with added value, such as compost, may reduce the amount of synthetic fertilizers utilized in agriculture. The bioconversion of lignocellulosic material itself is a complex process consisting of pretreatments such as mechanical, chemical or biological. The biodegradation of cellulose consists of the initial action of exo- and endoglucanase enzymes that break down the amorphous and crystalline structure of cellulose. Delignification of lignocellulosic biomass is carried out by extracellular oxidative enzymes, which are mainly produced by fungi that cause wood rot, as well as other types of bacteria. The inoculating lignocellulosic waste materials with specific microbial starters might accelerate the composting. This study developed technology for the production of compost from plant waste using selected organically certified biopreparations based on seaweed extracts, enzyme extracts of entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria spp., Metarhizium spp., Verticillium spp. - 10%) and a mixture of Bacillus strains. The composting material used, was one of the most abundant agroindustrial wastes, lignocellulosic waste from wheat straw and alfalfa hay. To assess the maturity and quality of the compost, chemical and biological parameters (C/N ratio, pH, electrical conductivity, content of P2O5, K2O, NH4-N and NO3-N and phytotoxicity) were monitored during the 40-day monitoring period. According to the results of C/N ratio and NH4-N and NO3-N content, the composting process was accelerated at the very beginning in the first 10 days in samples with biopreparations, compared to the control without treatment, which indicates increased microbial activity and accelerated decomposition of organic matter. The Germination index (GI) of the investigated white mustard seeds (Sinapis alba L.), after 40 days of the composting process, is higher by 30% compared to the control, in samples of compost from wheat straw and alfalfa hay with the treatments. The addition of organically certified biopreparations made it possible to reduce the time required for decomposition of plant waste, and the produced compost was acceptable and safe for further use in agriculture, according to all tested chemical and biological parameters and with an improved effect of biofertilization

Platinum- and rhodium-enhanced electrocatalysis of hydrogen electrode reactions on cobalt in alkaline media

Hydrogen electrode reactions are crucial processes regarding sustainable energy conversion technologies such as water electrolysis and fuel cells. In this study, we investigated the electrocatalytic activity of cobalt electrodes, whose surfaces were modified with noble metals – platinum (Pt) and rhodium (Rh) – towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) in alkaline media. The surface modification was achieved through a simple and rapid galvanic displacement process (30 seconds), enabling the efficient deposition of Pt and Rh onto polycrystalline cobalt electrodes, which resulted in a significant improvement in their electrocatalytic activity. Our results show that the Pt-modified electrode exhibited the highest activity for HER, surpassing even polycrystalline platinum, while the Rh-modified electrode also demonstrated substantial improvement compared to pure cobalt. However, for HOR, pure platinum retained superior electrocatalytic performance compared to the modified cobalt electrodes. These findings suggest that galvanic displacement of cobalt with Pt and Rh is an effective strategy to enhance HER kinetics and reduce noble metal utilization, offering a cost-efficient pathway for designing advanced electrocatalysts in hydrogen-based energy systems

Ethics and Impact of Artificial Intelligence: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Rapid development in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) brings significant opportunities for society, prompting at the same time an exploration of its complex implications. Creating and using AI that mirrors human intelligence implies an associated responsibility. Ethical concerns about the impact of AI also include human autonomy, dignity, and justice, which underscores the need to cultivate responsible and ethical practices in its development and use. AI’s impact on social structures, some of which are the labor markets and communication, underscores the need for developing modified, responsible regulation for the new circumstances. Additionally, its potential to amplify social inequalities due to the inherent biases and other reasons, indicates the importance of our thorough engagement that would ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability of AI systems. For a holistic understanding of AI’s societal impact, a multidisciplinary approach is needed that implicates collaboration between IT experts, philosophers, sociologists, theologians and many others. Need for the ethical development and application of AI, calls for achieving the collaboration between governments, industries, civil society, and international organizations. It is a global issue, but the current practice shows no unity on this issue on a global scale. What’s more, global race for AI dominance makes deep geopolitical ramifications. Having in mind all of the above, we assume that human-AI relations should be continuously reevaluated and controlled through the ongoing dialogue of multidisciplinary and multi-level character, based on considerations of ethical implications, where diverse national and cultural perspectives are being respected

High efficiency solar light photocatalytic degradation of mordant blue 9 by monoclinic BiVO4 nanopowder

The research presented in this paper focuses on the influence of solution pH on the photocatalytic activity of single-phase monoclinic BiVO4 nanopowder degrading highly toxic textile dye Mordant Blue 9 (MB9) under the simulated solar irradiation. BiVO4 nanopowder was synthetized using a sonochemical route. The catalyst was confirmed to be single-phase and have relatively high surface area with mesoporous nanoparticles with 50 nm in diameter on average. Band gap was estimated to be 2.38 eV, proving high absorbance of the visible light. Photodegradation was observed in different pH values (pH = 1, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13) and the mechanism was proposed. Influence of catalyst concentration and its reusability at pH = 13 are also reported, showing no activity loss after four cycles

SYNTHESIS OF SnO2 NANOFIBERS BY ELECTROSPINNING METHOD AND STUDY OF ITS ETHANOL AND ACETONE SENSING PROPERTIES

Gas sensors are crucial in multiple aspects of daily life, such as environmental and food quality monitoring, human and industrial safety, and illness detection. Among semiconducting metal oxides, SnO2 has been extensively investigated for gas-sensing applications owing to its wide bandgap, non-stoichiometric nature, excellent electronic mobility, and stability. To tailor its gas sensing functionalities, numerous approaches regarding its synthesis into useful nanostructured morphologies have been explored. For this purpose, electrospinning proved to be one of the most simple, versatile and low-cost method for producing nanofibers with high surface area-to-volume ratio and interconnectivity of nanoparticles. For the preparation of the electrospinning solution, a dimethylformamide DMF/ethanol (weight % = 40:60) solvent system was used. Separately, tin(II) chloride dihydrate (SnCl2·2H2O) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were dissolved in this solvent system. Finally, both solutions were mixed and stirred further to obtain a clear and transparent solution for electrospinning. Optimal conditions for electrospinning were: applied voltage of 20 kV, a needle-to-collector distance of 18 cm, a flow rate of 0.7 mL/h, and a collector rotation speed of 1000 rpm, using aluminum foil as the substrate. Nanofibers were collected over multiple electrospinning cycles, and after each cycle, the fiber-coated foils were dried to remove residual solvent. The dried nanofibers were calcined at 550 °C for 1 h to induce complete crystallization. TGA of nanofibers indicates complete decomposition of the organics at 550 °C and their XRD analysis confirms the formation of pure tin oxide. The specific surface area of the as spun nanofibers was 75 m²/g with pore radius of 4.5 nm. FESEM study shows cylindrical fibers with diameter in the range of 20–50 nm with aspect ratio >1000. The sensing films were prepared by screen-printing a paste composed of calcined nanofibers dispersed in terpineol onto Al2O3 substrates pre-patterned with interdigitated electrodes and integrated microheaters. The printed films were subsequently heated at 160 °C for 1 h to remove the organic binder and improve adhesion between the sensing layer and the substrate. The gas sensors were tested using a dynamic gas sensing measurement system. Ethanol and acetone sensing of the nanofibers showed a good and desirable sensing behavior such as high sensitivity, fast response and recovery times

Application of locally manufactured GPS tracking technology in wildlife reintroduction in Serbia

In Serbia, many game and threatened species currently exhibit low population abundance and fragmented distributions, prompting state authorities and expert bodies to initiate species reintroduction programs. The conservation translocation of species to habitats from which they have been disappeared is a complex process that depends heavily on careful planning and effective monitoring. GPS telemetry, particularly through the use of modern GPS tags, has become a valuable tool for obtaining critical data on spatial and behavioral ecology, resource selection and their conservation. However, the implementation of GPS technology in Serbia is still emerging due to limited resources and the high cost of imported equipment. Developing locally manufactured alternatives could provide a cost-effective and readily available solution for advancing wildlife research in the region. This study evaluates the performance of GPS tags developed by the Serbian company CANANDI (Niš), a pioneer in the field, in tracking three species: Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra Linnaeus, 1758), Red Deer (Cervus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758), and Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo Linnaeus, 1758). A total of four GPS tags were deployed to assess their effectiveness in monitoring above-mentioned species and to evaluate their potential for broader application in conservation efforts. Preliminary findings, although limited, highlight the usefulness of GPS tags in the reintroduction process. Results provided valuable insights into the ecological requirements of marked individuals, including the detection of mortality in a Chamois; the successful adaptation of an Eagle Owl to its new environment; and dispersion patterns of two Red Deer stags, one of which adapted to the pre-release enclosure while the other moved outside the fenced area. These initial findings demonstrate the potential of locally manufactured GPS technology in supporting wildlife conservation and management. As such they provide a valuable foundation for future research and improved species reintroduction strategies in Serbia and neighboring areas