Slani keks sa dehidriranim celerom

Novo tehničko rešenje primenjeno na međunarodnom nivou pod nazivom "Slani keks sa dehidriranim celerom" pokazuje mogućnost upotrebe praha celera dobijenog kombinovanim metodama sušenja, kao supstituenta pšeničnog brašna u formulaciji keksa. Nov proizvod keksa ima značajno poboljšani nutritivni i funkcionalni sastav, uz smanjenje energetske vrednosti što se ogleda u smanjenju sadržaja lipida i skroba, povećan sadržaj celuloze i smanjenu energetsku vrednost za 20%, kao i značajno povećan mineralni sastav i antioksidativni potencijal. Slani keks sa dehidriranim celerom je inovativni proizvod dobrog tehnološkog kvaliteta i senzorskih karakteristika koga karakteriše visok stepen prihvatanja od strane potrošača različitih sociodemografskih karakteristika.Na 37. redovnoj sednici MNO za biotehnologiju i poljoprivredu održanoj 27. 3. 2025. godine usvojeno je tehničko rešenje pod nazivom: "Slani keks sa dehidriranim celerom". Korisnik tehničkog rešenja je KORNI d.o.o Beogradska 39, 85 000 Bar, Crna Gora. Tehničko rešenje je verifikovano povodom izbora u više naučno zvanje dr Gorana Trivana i kategorisano kao M81 - Novo tehničko rešenje primenjeno na međunarodnom nivou

Modified Z-scheme Heterojunction of Polypyrrole/TiO2: A Recyclable Photocatalyst for Azo Dyes Removal

It is well known that titanium dioxide is widely applied in photocatalysis regarding chemical and thermal stability, availability on the market, durability, and non-toxicity. Anatase, rutile, and brookite are three different crystalline modifications of TiO2, whereby anatase is the most efficient for photocatalytic application. However, TiO2 has some drawbacks: low adsorption power towards organic pollutants, high recombination rate during photocatalysis, and it can be excited only by UV light. Coupling TiO2 with a conductive polymer, i.e. creating a conductive polymer/TiO2 heterojunction, is a promising way to overcome these obstacles. Polypyrrole (PPy) is easy to prepare, stable, and possesses unique structure with delocalized π-electrons which contributes to the high mobility of charge carriers. In this work, PPy/TiO2 composites with different amounts of PPy (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 3, and 5 wt.%) were obtained by physical mixing of hydrothermally synthesized TiO2 and PPy prepared by the chemical oxidative polymerization. Prepared composites were characterized in detail by XRPD, FTIR, FESEM, EDS, UV/Vis, and BET methods. Photocatalytic activity of the samples was examined towards toxic textile azo dye Reactive Orange 16 (RO16) under simulated solar light, while photocatalytic efficiency was estimated by UV/Vis and TOC methods. XRPD results showed that TiO2 was obtained with preserved nanoanatase structure in all the samples with crystallites of 26 nm. FTIR and EDS methods additionally confirmed presence of both, TiO2 and PPy in all the nanocomposites. UV/Vis results revealed that band gap energy decreased with an increase in PPy content from 3.11(3) eV for single TiO2 and 2.94(3) eV for 5%PPy/TiO2. Prepared nanocomposites demonstrated excellent photocatalytic activity, while 1%PPy/TiO2 was the most efficient by completely degrading RO16 dye after 120 min under simulated solar light. Such high efficiency was reached since all relevant factors were well balanced: sufficiently small TiO2 crystallites, well distribution of PPy particles in a composite, narrowed band gap (3.08 eV), and significant improvement in specific surface area (61.71 m2 g −1) compared to the single TiO2 (36.46 m2 g −1). Therefore, it can be concluded that the optimal content of PPy in the nanocomposite is 1 wt.%. Moreover, by performing several cycles of photocatalysis the reusability of the 1%PPy/TiO2 was confirmed since no decrease in efficiency was observed. Finally, the photocatalytic degradation mechanism of RO16 in the presence of 1%PPy/TiO2 was examined based on scavenger tests and thermodynamic calculations. Two important facts were found: (i) the mechanism can be well described by a slightly modified Z-scheme heterojunction, and (ii) PPy plays an active role in the process of photocatalysis by opening a new reaction pathway

TEXTILE DYES REMOVAL USING HYDROTHERMALLY SYNTHESIZED LiTiO2

Environmentally friendly titanium-based nanomaterials, such as layered titanates, are increasingly used in nanotechnology due to their excellent properties in the fields of metal-ion batteries, adsorption, photocatalysis, and sensors [1,2]. In order to obtain a pure LiTiO2, nanoanatase powder was hydrothermally treated with 3 M LiOH solution at 120 °C for 18 h. The sample was characterized by XRPD, SEM, TG/DTA, and UV-VIS/DRS analyses. XRPD confirmed the complete transformation of the starting nanoanatase into the pure LiTiO2 phase with the average crystallite size around 17 nm. According to SEM, LiTiO2 nanoparticles of about 40 nm created very soft agglomerates of 2–5 μm size. The thermal stability of the obtained lithium titanate was confirmed by TG/DTA up to 400 °C. The adsorption capacity and photocatalytic activity of the LiTiO2 nanopowder were tested on harmful industrial dyes. The LiTiO2 nanoparticles completely adsorbed the Ethyl Violet dye within 5 min and 53.2 % of the Methylene Blue dye within 30 min. On the contrary, the same sample negligibly adsorbed the Mordant Blue 9 dye, but it photodegraded 66.2 % of this dye within 4 hours under simulated solar light. The strong adsorption power and photocatalytic activity of LiTiO2 open the possibility of its multipurpose application in wastewater treatment. 1. B. Simović, A. Dapčević, J. Zdravković, N. Tasić, S. Kovač, J. Krstić, G. Branković, J. Alloys Compd., 781 (2019) 810. 2. H.-D. Yang, Y.-Y. Kang, P.-P. Zhu, Q.-W. Chen, L. Yang, J.-P. Zhou, J. Alloys Compd., 872 (2021) 159759

Can We Turn Harmful Invasive Non-Native Fish Species into a Valuable Food Resource?

This study explores the potential of utilizing black bullhead (Ameiurus melas Rafinesque, 1820), an invasive freshwater species, as a stocking fish for aquaculture. Fish were mass-removed from Ponjavica Nature Park during two periods (2018–2019 and 2020–2021), with selected individuals reared to evaluate growth, survival, and meat quality. A total of 20,145 individuals were removed in the first period (168 reared), and 15,921 in the second (120 reared). Two rearing systems—cages and recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS)—and four feed types were tested. Results demonstrated the species’ adaptability to intensive aquaculture, with good growth, resilience to high-protein diets, and tolerance to high stocking densities. Cage systems generally showed superior growth performance, while RAS produced higher survival rates. Both systems achieved favorable feed conversion ratios. Meat analysis revealed optimal levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in RAS and cage-reared fish, enhancing the species’ nutritional value for human consumption. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of repurposing black bullhead as a sustainable aquaculture resource. This dual-purpose approach addresses ecological concerns while offering economic benefits through increased fish production and affordable, nutritious food availability. Further technological development is needed to optimize production systems for broader implementation

Response of Different Perennial Ryegrass Varieties to Water Stress

Perennial ryegrass represents the most important forage grass, yet its generally low drought tolerance leads to reduced yields under water scarcity. Nevertheless, large intra- and inter-population variability could be a pool for selecting new drought-tolerant varieties. In this study we evaluated three populations (K-11, Exp population and Shandon) under semi-controlled conditions across four watering levels (100%, 70%, 50% and 30% of field water capacity), focusing on yield and key morphological and biochemical traits. Dry matter yield and root dry mass decreased in all populations under limited watering conditions. The highest biomass production in such conditions was observed in the Exp population, likely due to better root performance in the deeper soil layer. On the other hand, oxidative stress markers (MDA and H2O2) and water-soluble sugars, which indicated the best physiological status in cultivar K-11 under severe drought, did not lead to the highest DMY. These results show the importance of including multiple physiological and biochemical traits in breeding processes, with the aim of developing perennial ryegrass cultivars capable of withstanding prolonged and intense summer drought as a consequence of climate change

Enhancement of Bioactivity of Common Ash and Manna Ash Leaf Extracts Against Spongy Moth Larvae Using a Chitosan–Gelatin Biopolymer Matrix

This study investigated the bioactivity of common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and manna ash (Fraxinus ornus L.) leaf extracts, both in the crude form and incorporated into a biopolymer matrix, against spongy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) larvae. Chemical analysis revealed that both species were abundant in polyphenolic compounds, with common ash containing significant quantities of p-hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and verbascoside, while manna ash was rich in coumarins, particularly aesculetin and aesculin. This study evaluated the feeding deterrent activity, contact and digestive toxicity, effects on larval nutritional indices, and larval development. Chitosan–gelatin-based biopolymer matrices containing the leaf extracts exhibited strong feeding deterrent activity at all tested concentrations, while crude leaf extracts showed moderate deterrence. The biopolymer matrices influenced spongy moth behavior only after digestion, resulting in reduced consumption and growth, as well as a prolonged duration of the third larval instar. No contact toxicity was observed for the biopolymer matrices. Incorporating leaf extracts into the chitosan–gelatin biopolymer matrix significantly enhanced their bioactivity against spongy moth larvae compared with crude leaf extracts. The results suggest that biopolymer matrices containing common ash and manna ash leaf extracts are promising environmentally friendly bioproducts for forest insect control, offering an innovative approach to managing spongy moth populations and protecting forest ecosystems

Anthelmintic Activity of Winter Savory (Satureja montana L.) Essential Oil against Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Sheep

Background: The increasing difficulties in combating anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) of sheep worldwide, and the residues of chemical drugs in animal products and the environment, necessitate the search for alternatives. Previous studies have shown that plant essential oils (EOs) could be valuable anthelmintic agents, due to their numerous advantages. The present study aimed to evaluate the possibility of using winter savory (Satureja montana L.) EO against sheep GINs. The chemical composition of the tested oil was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The efficacy of the tested oil was determined in vitro using the egg hatch test (EHT), and in vivo using the faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) performed in two farms. Preliminary toxicity studies including clinical observation, haematological and biochemical blood analysis were also performed to evaluate the safety of the tested oil to the hosts. In addition, a coproculture study was carried out in the tested farms using the appropriate morphological keys. Results: Main compounds of the S. montana oil identified by GC–MS analysis were p-cymene (42.8%), carvacrol (28.1%) and y-terpinene (14.6%). The in vitro EHT showed a dose-dependent (R2 = 0.94) anthelmintic potential of the tested oil, with ovicidal activity varying from 17.0–83.3% and determined IC50 value of 0.59 mg/ml. The field efficacy reached 33% (at group level) and 50% (at individual level) at D14 after treatment. In vivo efficacy was significantly higher in farm 2 (FEC above 65% at group level, p  0.05) in the percentage representation of GIN genera were observed in the coproculture study, indicating that the treatment agent was not specific to a single genus. Conclusion: The anthelmintic potential showed on EHT and FECRT, without adverse effects on the sheep, suggests that S. montana EO is suitable for the control of sheep GINs as part of an integrated parasite management. However, further studies should be conducted to increase efficacy in field conditions

Perspektive veštačke inteligencije u osnaživanju osoba sa invaliditetom u Srbiji

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into assistive technologies represents a transformative advancement in enhancing the quality of life for persons with disabilities. This paper explores the multifaceted applications of AI, from aiding daily activities and providing personalized medical care, to improving social and emotional well-being. By examining AI-powered tools such as text readers, robotic assistants, and communication aids, the study high-lights how these technologies facilitate independence and better healthcare outcomes. A survey from 2022 focusing on Serbia explores how many basic digital literate persons with disabilities use AI-based communication aids, and how many are aware that AI is following their everyday activities. The study reveals a possibility of future high usage rates and positive impacts on persons with disabilities in Serbia. About 24.32% of them already utilize AI-based communication tools, mostly audio and text processing tools. In this paper we underscore AI’s potential to foster inclusivity and independence, which is an important topic that should be emphasized in the society today.Napredak veštačke inteligencije (VI) može dovesti do značajnog poboljšanja života osoba sa invaliditetom, a njena primena obuhvata dve glavne oblasti: medicinsku negu i personalizovane alate za svakodnevnu podršku. Roboti i aplikacije zasnovane na VI počeli su da se koriste kao pomoć u nezi i tretmanima pacijenata, posebno onima sa neurodegenerativnim bolestima te fizičkim i senzornim oštećenjima. U kontekstu medicinskih usluga, VI analizira zdravstvene podatke, prati stanje pacijenata i prilagođava planove lečenja. Ona može optimalno da dozira lekove i preporuči terapiju u skladu sa individualnim potrebama, što olakšava brigu o pacijentima. Njena pravovremena reakcija i efikasnost intervencije utiču na kvalitet života osoba sa invaliditetom. VI ima potencijal da transformiše pristup obrazovanju i kulturi, i da personalizuje obrazovne resurse, te prilagodi obrazovne materijale kako bi odgovarali jedinstvenim potrebama osoba sa invaliditetom. Tehnologija emocionalne VI omogućava robotima da tumače izraze lica, gestove i emocije, pružajući sveobuhvatnu podršku koja odgovara kako praktičnim tako i emocionalnim potrebama korisnika. U Srbiji je prepoznat potencijal VI za osobe sa invaliditetom, što se vidi u Etičkim smernicama za razvoj VI koje je usvojila Vlada Srbije. U radu je pokazano da 24,32% korisnika pomagala među digitalno pismenim osobama sa invaliditetom već koristi komunikacione alate zasnovane na VI. Većina ovih alata spada u grupe Mobilne i tablet aplikacije, i Konvertori teksta i zvuka, dok su ostali iz grupa Specijalizovani softver, i Hardver i druga fizička pomagala. Istraživanje je pokazalo da skoro dve trećine osoba sa invaliditetom koje koriste komunikacione alate koriste one zasnovane na VI, što ukazuje na to da je tehnologija VI prepoznata kod osoba sa invaliditetom u Srbiji. Istražena je i upoznatost sa zaštitom podataka, gde se pokazalo da su ispitivane osobe sa invaliditetom delimično upoznate sa tim na koji način algoritmi zasnovani na VI utiču na njihove online aktivnosti, kao što je rangiranje sadržaja na društvenim mrežama. Sa obzirom na sve navedeno, primena VI za potrebe osoba sa invaliditetom u Srbiji ima veliki potencijal, što prati trendove u razvijenim zemljama. Integrisanje VI u zdravstvo, obrazovanje i socijalnu zaštitu može značajno doprineti nezavisnosti, poboljšanju kvaliteta života i zadovoljenju složenih potreba osoba sa invaliditetom. Ujedno, ovakva perspektiva VI ukazuje na to da ona može postati transformišuća sila u promovisanju inkluzivnosti i nezavisnosti osoba sa invaliditetom u Srbiji, kao i u svetu

РЕЛАЦИЈЕ ТЕХНОЛОШКОГ КВАЛИТЕТА ЗА ОДРЖИВО ПОСЛОВАЊЕ ПРИВРЕДНИХ СУБЈЕКАТА

The technological level of contemporary economic entities is closely linked to global trends in new technologies. Revolutionary trends in the development of new technologies create modern and efficient economic entities and enable them to operate in the global market through various computerized structural models. An economic entity striving for success pays special attention to technological improvement as an output indicator of sustainable operations, incorporating sustainable development into its business strategy. This paper examines the validation of technological quality and the selected factors relevant to the sustainable operations of economic entities. The core idea is to identify the central value of the achieved technological level of national economic entities as a relevant factor in generating their sustainability in the market. The assumption is that the level of operations and the duration of functioning significantly impact the differences in the technological levels of national economic entities.Технолошки ниво савремених привредних субјеката уско је повезан са модерним трендовима нових технологија на глобалном нивоу. Револуционарни трендови развоја нових технологија креирају савремене и ефикасне привредне субјекте и омогућавају им пословање на светском тржишту кроз различите информатизоване структурне моделе. Привредни субјект који стреми успеху, посебну пажњу придаје технолошком побољшању као излазном индикатору одрживог пословања које укључује усвајање одрживог развоја у пословну стратегију. Предмет истраживања у овом раду је валидација технолошког квалитета и селектованих фактора релевантних за одрживо пословање привредних субјеката. Основна идеја је проналажење централне вредности оствареног технолошког нивоа националних привредних субјеката као релевантног фактора генерисања њихове одрживости на тржишту. Претпоставка је да ниво пословања и дужина функционисања играју значајну улогу на разлике у технолошком нивоу националних привредних субјеката

Spectroscopic and Microscopic Study of Silicon-Lignin Interaction: Effects on Plant Cell Walls and Industrial Potential

Silicon (Si) is one of the most abundant elements on Earth and plays a crucial role in plant biology. It is a beneficial element for plants, contributing to their mechanical support, enhancing grain yield, facilitating mineral nutrition, and bolstering stress response mechanisms. Si is present in plant cell walls (CWs), where it is covalently bound to polysaccharides and lignin. This incorporation strengthens CWs, increases mechanical resilience, and mitigates the effects of biotic and abiotic stresses. Despite its importance, the precise interaction between Si and the lignin formation process in CWs remains poorly understood. This study explores the interaction between Si and lignin model compounds during in vitro synthesis, with a particular focus on how Si concentrations modulate lignin polymerization dynamics over time. Fluorescence techniques (microscopy and spectroscopy), combined with FTIR spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM), proved effective in monitoring the effects of Si on molecular conformation and aggregation behavior. We investigated the interaction of SiO₂ (complexed with NH₄OH) with the peroxidase-catalyzed polymerization of a lignin monomer into a dehydrogenation polymer (DHP) as a model system. Three Si concentrations (0.1 mM, 0.6 mM, and 6 mM) were analyzed and compared with a pure DHP sample. Samples were monitored at three synthesis intervals: 1 minute, 4 hours, and 24 hours. Results demonstrate that lower Si concentrations promote the aggregation of lignin oligomers into larger particles, while higher concentrations increase oligomer repulsion, preventing particle growth. Fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that polymer fragments containing conjugated -C=C- and -C–C- bonds exhibit redshifts in the green region (500–520 nm), with the extent of the shift correlating to Si concentration. Fluorescence microscopy and AFM showed that samples with higher Si concentrations formed more compact structures, with increased rigidity attributed to Si binding. FTIR spectroscopy identified Si-specific bands (967 cm⁻¹ and 1093 cm⁻¹) in the final polymers, indicating Si’s integration into the lignin structure. Notably, Si did not form new intermolecular bonds but interacted with dimers formed during DHP synthesis, inhibiting the formation of larger lignin fragments. Bands above 1200 cm⁻¹ in the FTIR spectra of Si-containing samples became less prominent, suggesting a significant impact of Si on lignin chemistry. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex interaction between silicon (Si) and lignin, demonstrating Si’s role in restructuring lignin, shaping cell wall architecture, and improving stress tolerance—key aspects for advancing research in plant biology. Additionally, the exploration of lignin-silica composites offers significant potential, enabling the development of sustainable materials with diverse applications in industries such as construction, medicine, energy, environmental protection, and advanced technologies