Retrofitting of multifamily housing: life-cycle costing aspects

This Life-Cycle Costing (LCC) analysis deals with the feasibility of measures taken to improve thermal performance of building envelope in order to reduce energy demands for space heating. LCC analysis is carried out on one exemplary apartment in multifamily buildings with recently refurbished facades in Karaburma, a settlement in Belgrade. Results of the analysis show that by improving properties of envelope with poor thermal U value, the reduction of electricity consumed for heating in Belgrade climate is 28 %. Considering Serbian system for electricity charging, reduction of monthly costs for electricity can be doubled

Design scenarios for an office building – energy and environmental aspects

The main concern of this research is to estimate energy performances of different scenarios of the hypothetical model of the office building in downtown of Belgrade. Specific conditions of sites in downtown make limitations in building design and application of energy efficient systems, but also represent a provocation for architects. Methodological approach entails three steps: design of different models of the office building, numerical simulations of the models in PHPP’2007 software and comparison of the results. For each hypothetical model of the office building three scenarios are created: basic scenario and scenarios of different solutions of envelope design regarding shading devices types. The design of hypothetical models and various scenarios is carried out through the educational process on the Master studio design project. Results are considered and presented through the heat and cooling energy demands as well as reduction of energy consumption for cooling in summer period by implementation of different shading devices. CO2 emissions are also discussed. Design methodology as well as results could generally be applicable for new office building design, both in Belgrade and in similar climatic conditions

Determination of Total and Individual Anthocyanins in Raspberries Grown in South Serbia

Raspberry fruits of four cultivars (Willamette, Meeker, Polana and Malling Promise) grown in South Serbia were analyzed for total and individual anthocyanins. High-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) was used to study individual anthocyanins. The major anthocyanin was cyanidin-3-sophoroside, followed by cyanidin-3-glucosylrutinoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside, pelargonidin-3-sophoroside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside. The monomeric anthocyanin contents of the acidified 80% methanol extracts were determined using the pH-differential method. The highest total and individual anthocyanins contain raspberries cv. Willamette, followed by cvs. Meeker, Polana and Malling Promise

Energetski aspekt obnove prefabrikovanih stambenih objekata u Beogradu

Mnoga prigradska naselja su izgrađena u Beogradu posle Drugog svetskog rata. Zbog loših energetskih performansi, prisutna je visoka potrošnja energije za grejanje i hladjenje i emisija CO2. Jedan od predstavnika takve stambene arhitekture je naselje Konjarnik. Procena različitih scenarija za poboljšanje energetskih karakteristika montažnih višeporodičnih objekata u Konjarniku je sprovedena u radu. Hipotetički modeli unapređenja energetskih performansi omotača postojeće zgrade su kreirani u cilju smanjenja energetskih zahteva za grejanje, a time i smanjenja emisije CO2. Analizom troškova održavanja kroz životni ciklus zgrade procenjena je efikasnost mera obnove u pogledu izvodljivosti, ekonomičnosti i uticaja na životnu sredinu

Virus bronzavosti paradajza – jedan od najdestruktivnijih biljnih virusa

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) has one of the largest host ranges among plant viruses and is widespread in all climates. TSWV is responsible for numerous epidemics in many parts of the world in different crops, mainly vegetables, tobacco and ornamentals. Its highly polyphagous nature, effectiveness of virus transmission by the thrips as its vectors, rapidity with which new variants arise, as well as difficulties in controlling the vectors make TSWV one of the most dangerous plant viruses. The ability of this virus to cause such severe losses on a broad range of crops, as well as its intriguing biological and molecular characteristics place TSWV amongst the most extensively studied plant viruses in the world at present. This paper provides a general overview of TSWV, encompassing all the major aspects of its biology and current knowledge on host range, symptomatology, molecular biology, vector relationship, control and diagnosis.Smatra se da virus bronzavosti paradajza (Tomato spotted wilt virus, TSWV) ima najširi krug domaćina i da je jedan od najrasprostranjenijih biljnih virusa. Ovaj virus je odgovoran za brojne epidemije na različitim usevima u mnogim delovima sveta, a najčešće na povrću, duvanu i ukrasnim biljkama. Visoko polifagna priroda virusa, efikasnost prenošenja vektorima – tripsima, brzina kojom se stvaraju nove varijante virusa, kao i teškoće u kontroli vektora, čine TSWV jednim od najopasnijih biljnih virusa. Zbog ekonomske važnosti na širokom krugu domaćina, kao i interesantnih bioloških i molekularnih karakteristika, ovo je danas jedan od najproučavanijih biljnih virusa. Ovaj pregledni rad o virusu bronazavosti paradajza bliže objašnjava sve aspekte njegove biologije i sadrži savremene podatke o nekim njegovim osobinama koje se odnose na niz domaćina, simptomatologiju, molekularnu biologiju, odnos sa vektorom, kontrolu i dijagnozu oboljenja koje prouzrokuje

Energy, ecological and economic aspects of improvement of the dwelling housing in Belgrade

The main concern of this research is building refurbishment. Different possibilities of energy performances improvement of existing dwelling housing in the settlement Konjarnik, Belgrade, Serbia, are estimated from energy and economic point of view. Two hypothetical models of improvement of building envelope are created. Different solutions for reduction of energy consumption for heating of existing dwelling housing as well as reduction of CO2 emissions are considered in economic analyses. Economic analyses use BLCC (Building Life Cycle Cost) software which produces multileveled grading of building scenarios and comparative analyses of grading results. The comparative analyses take into account initial building investments and energy cost savings through certain period of building`s use. The overall behaviour of different scenarios is measured according to: (a) initial/capital investments, (b) energy costs (c) operating, maintenance, and repair (OM&R) costs and (d) capital replacement costs. Results of the analyses are used as quantitative inputs for investment decision making

Uticaj neravnomerne distribucije virusa bronzavosti paradajza na serološko dokazivanje virusa u paradajzu, paprici i ukrasnim biljkama

Reliable detection of plant pathogens does not only mean the development of sufficiently sensitive laboratory techniques for their routine testing. Regardless of the sensitivity of applied methods, the proper selection of samples to be tested has crucial influence on method reliability. Due to uneven distribution of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) in naturally infected systemic host plants, the collection and sampling of material for assaying is a critical moment upon which the reliability of laboratory procedure depends. The effect of irregular virus distribution on its serological detection was examined in tomato, pepper and four ornamental species, as its most important host plants in our country. The reliability of virus detection, depending on its uneven distribution, was assessed by serological testing of tomato and pepper symptomatic leaves and fruits, and symptomatic and asymptomatic young and old leaves, as well as flower petals of ornamentals. Although TSWV was detected using ELISA in the majority of plants included in the experiment, the tests indicated an uneven distribution and unequal concentrations of TSWV in different parts of the plants. The virus could not be detected in a certain number of subsamples, prepared from infected tomato and pepper fruits and older ornamental leaves. The virus also could not be detected in some ornamentals and tomato plants with intensive symptoms. Conversely, the virus was detected in three ornamental plants without any symptoms. Examining the virus distribution in different plant parts indicated that the reliability of ELISA could be reached not only by sampling younger ornamental leaves, but also by preparing compound samples with as much leaves as possible, or by testing a greater number of subsamples of the tested plant. Considering a small possibility of TSWV detection in tomato and pepper fruits, the infection of these should be established by testing their leaves. Besides, the data show that negative test results for the known host plants with characteristic symptoms require tests to be repeated using more sensitive methods than ELISA. These results are important as guidelines for growers and professionals who submit samples, as well as for laboratories performing routine testing.Pouzdana detekcija fitopatogenih organizama ne podrazumeva samo razvijanje dovoljno osetljivih laboratorijskih tehnika za rutinsko testiranje. Bez obzira koliko primenjene metode bile osetljive, na njihovu pouzdanost presudno utiče pravilan izbor uzoraka koji će se testirati. Za virus bronzavosti paradajza (Tomato spotted wilt virus, TSWV), zbog neravnomerne distribucije u sistemično zaraženim biljkama domaćinima, prikupljanje i priprema uzoraka za testiranje predstavljaju kritični momenat od koga zavisi pouzdanost laboratorijske metode. Sprovedena su ispitivanja uticaja neravnomerne distribucije virusa u paradajzu, paprici i četiri vrste ukrasnih biljaka, kao najznačajnijim domaćinima ovog virusa u našoj zemlji. Pouzdanost detekcije virusa, u zavisnosti od njegove neravnomerne distribucije, utvrđivana je serološkim testiranjem lišća i plodova paradajza i paprike sa simptomima i simptomatičnog i asimptomatičnog mlađeg i starijeg lišća, kao i kruničnih listića ukrasnih biljaka. Iako je primenom ELISA metode TSWV dokazan u većini biljaka uključenih u eksperiment, obavljena testiranja ukazala su na neravnomernu distribuciju i različitu koncentraciju TSWV u različitim delovima biljaka. Prisustvo virusa nije moglo biti dokazano u određenom broju poduzoraka pripremljenih od zaraženih biljaka, plodova paradajza i paprike i starijeg lišća ukrasnih biljaka. Virus nije mogao biti detektovan ni u nekim ukrasnim biljkama i biljkama paradajza sa izraženim simptomima. Nasuprot tome, TSWV je dokazan u tri ukrasne biljke bez simptoma. Ispitivanja distribucije virusa u biljci ukazala su da se pouzdanost ELISA metode može postići uzorkovanjem ne samo mlađeg lišća ukrasnih biljaka, već pripremom zbirnog uzorka sa što više listova ili ispitivanjem većeg broja poduzoraka biljke koja se testira. S obzirom na malu mogućnost detekcije TSWV u plodovima paradajza i paprike, utvrđivanje zaraženosti ovih biljaka treba obaviti testiranjem lišća. Pored toga, dobijeni rezultati ukazuju da je u slučaju pojave negativnih rezultata testiranjem uzoraka sa karakterističnim simptomima na poznatim domaćinima, potrebno ponoviti testiranje osetljivijim metodama od ELISA. Dobijeni rezultati značajni su kao smernica za proizvođače i stručna lica koja dostavljaju uzorke i laboratorije zadužene za rutinska testiranja

From Titania to Titanates: Phase and Morphological Transition

Regarding their extraordinary properties, such as biological and chemical sta- bility, photocatalytic activity, cost-effectiveness, the titanium-based nanoma- terials are the subject of an intense research. Although titania is well known as a photocatalyst, the titanates are promising candidates for the wide range of applications including ion exchange, high adsorption capacity toward or- ganic molecules and radioactive toxic metal ions[2], in photovoltaics, H- and Li-storage, gas sensors, etc. The hydrothermal process became a very import- ant way to obtain these materials in nanostructural form since the discovery of anatase-based alkaline hydrothermal treatment reported by Kasuga et al. [1]. In this work, nine products were obtained by modifying the experimental conditions (6, 12 and 18 h at 110, 135 and 160 °C) of hydrothermal treatment of starting nano- anatase in less alkaline medium (5 mol dm–3 NaOH solution) than usual. Specimens are labeled as TT–t, where T is temperature of the treatment and t is duration of the treatment. The step-by-step optimization of this simple and costless procedure was necessary in order to obtain a pure titanate phase and to finally distinguish the ti- tanates from titania in terms of structure and microstructure. The nanocrystalline samples were characterized by HRTEM/SAED, XRPD, EDS, TG, UV-VIS and BET techniques.According to XRPD and HRTEM, the complete conversion of anatase to pure titanate phase was achieved after energetically the most intensive treatment, i.e. 18 h at 160 °C. Among other products, a certain amount of anatase remained, with its decreasing content as the temperature and time of hydrothermal treatment increases. This increment significantly improves the solubility of TiO2 promoting the changes in morphology from the approximately spherical anatase nanoparticles into elongated titanate nanosheets (Fig. 1). Based on EDS and TG, the Na0.4H1.6Ti2O5·H2O formula could be assigned to T160_18. The HRTEM/SAED revealed the shortening of interplanar distances along aaxis because of the dehydratation due to the high vacuum of the TEM chamber and high energy of the electron beam irradiation confirming the layered structure of Na0.4H1.6Ti2O5·H2O (Fig. 2). Because of the poor characterization of titanate nanosheets found in literature, the optical and textural properties of products were also investigated. A blue shift toward lower wavelength is observed with the temperature increasing being the most pronounced for the T160_18 (Fig. 3). This is the consequence of full transformation of TiO2 into Na0.4H1.6Ti2O5·H2O. For the same reason, the values of specific surface areas decreased with the temperature increasing. As shown in this work, the structure, morphology and texture of samples strongly depend of the conditions of hydrothermal treatment. The production of single phase titanate and its detailed microscopic characterization finally allowed the clarification of long-standing confusion between titania and titanates. References: [1] T Kasuga et al, Langmuir 14 (1998), p. 3160. [2] Y Zhang et al, RSC Advances 5 (2015), p. 79479. [3] The authors acknowledge funding from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, Grant Numbers III45007 and III45019. The support of the bilateral cooperation with Slovenia is also gratefully acknowledged (Project No. 451-03-3095/2014-09/32)

Different levels of humoral immunoreactivity to different wheat cultivars gliadin are present in patients with celiac disease and in patients with multiple myeloma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Immunity to food antigens (gliadin, cow's milk proteins) is in the centre of the attention of modern medicine focused on the prevention of diseases, prevention which is based on the use of appropriate restriction diet. Detection of the enhanced levels of the immune reactions to antigen(s) present in food is from this point of view of great importance because there are reports that some of health disturbances, like celiac disease (CD) and some premalignant conditions, like monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), were vanished after the appropriate restriction diets.</p> <p>It is well known that gliadin is toxic to small bowel mucosa of relatively small population of genetically predisposed individuals, who under this toxic action develop celiac disease (CD). As the quantity of immunogenic gliadin could vary between different wheat species, the first aim of this work was to determine the percentage of immunogenic gliadin in ten bread wheat cultivars and in three commercially grown durum wheat cultivars. The second part of the study was initiated by results of previous publication, reporting that sera of some of multiple myeloma (MM) patients showed the presence of elevated levels of anti-gliadin IgA, without the enhanced levels of anti-gliadin IgG antibodies, determined with commercial ELISA test. It was designed to assess is it possible to reveal is there any hidden, especially anti-gliadin IgG immunoreactivity, in serum of mentioned group of patients. For this purpose we tested MM patients sera, as well as celiac disease (CD) patients sera for the immunoreaction with the native gliadin isolated from wheat species used for bread and pasta making in corresponding geographic region.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Gliadin was isolated from wheat flour by two step 60% ehanolic extraction. Its content was determined by commercial R5 Mendez Elisa using PWG gliadin as the standard. Results obtained showed that immunogenic gliadin content varies between 50.4 and 65.4 mg/g in bread wheat cultivars and between 20 and 25.6 mg/g in durum wheat cultivars.</p> <p>Anti-gliadin IgA and IgG immunoreactivity of patients' sera in (IU/ml) was firstly determined by commercial diagnostic Binding Site ELISA test, and then additionally by non-commercial ELISA tests, using standardized ethanol wheat extracts -gliadin as the antigen.</p> <p>In both patients groups IgA immunoreactivity to gliadin from different cultivars was almost homogenous and in correlation with results from commercial test (except for one patient with IgA(λ) myeloma, they were more then five times higher). But, results for IgG immunoreactivity were more frequently inhomogeneous, and especially for few MM patients, they were more then five times higher and did not correlate with results obtained using Binding Site test.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Results obtained showed different content of immunogenic gliadin epitopes in various species of wheat.</p> <p>They also point for new effort to elucidate is there a need to develop new standard antigen, the representative mixture of gliadin isolated from local wheat species used for bread production in corresponding geographic region for ELISA diagnostic tests.</p

Novi pravci primene otpornosti tikava u kontroli virusnih oboljenja

As there is a growing frequency of viral plant diseases in epidemic proportions, the possibilities for successful control are constantly being explored. Despite the fact that integral and simultaneous employment of numerous control measures may contribute to the decreasing amount of yield losses, especially concerning non-persistently aphid-transmitted viruses, these measures are often not efficient enough. Research into the basis of resistance to viral infection and principles of its inheritance, introduction of sources of resistance in susceptible genotypes, by conventional or genetic manipulations, are very intensive for cucurbit crops, especially pumpkins. Pumpkin crops are being endangered by a great number of different viruses, among which the Zucchini yellow mosaic virus, (ZYMV), Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) are present every year in Serbia, frequently causing epidemics. The majority of pumpkin cultivars are not resistant or tolerant to viral infections, but sources of resistance have been identified in various related species. So far, the identified sources of resistance to the ZYMV are found in Cucurbita moschata and Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus genotypes and consist of one or several major dominant genes of resistance. It is a similar case with WMV, although the sources of dominant major genes are identified in C. lanatus and C. colocynthis. The sources of resistance to CMV in the form of one dominant gene have been identified in the genotype C. moschata, although the introduction of this gene by conventional means proved to be very difficult. Besides the aforementioned, substantial efforts are being made in developing genotypes with multiple resistance against several viruses and even other pathogens, as well as genotypes with resistance to the most significant plant aphid species, through mechanisms of antixenosis or antibiosis. The other way of obtaining resistant genotypes includes genetic manipulation. Genetically modified resistant pumpkins have been among the first successfully developed crops. Genotypes with pathogen derived resistance can already be found in commercially grown pumpkins in some parts of the world, and they have been developed by introducing the coat protein gene of one, two or all three viruses which are the most frequent, ZYMV, WMV and CMV. Yet, this approach to the control of pumpkin viral diseases is related to possible negative consequences, mostly through the already detected gene transfer to wild plants and development of resistant transgenic weeds of unpredictable impact on the environment. Improved host plant genetic resistance to viral infections or biological vectors, developed by conventional or genetic engineering methods, represents the most dynamic and prominent field of research. It is economically and ecologically the most justified approach to the control of pumpkin and other plant diseases caused by viruses non-persistently transmitted by aphids.Kako je pojava brojnih viroza gajenih biljaka u epidemijskim razmerama sve češća, mogućnosti za uspešnu kontrolu stalno se ispituju. Integralna i istovremena primena brojnih pojedinačnih mera kontrole, naročito u slučaju virusa koji se prenose biljnim vašima na neperzistentan način, mogu da doprinesu smanjenju šteta, ali često nisu dovoljno efikasne. Proučavanja osnova otpornosti i načina nasleđivanja, unošenje izvora otpornosti u osetljive genotipove, konvencionalnim ili genetičkim manipulacijama, vrlo su intenzivna kod vrežastih kultura, posebno tikve. Tikve ugrožava veliki broj raznorodnih virusa od kojih se u Srbiji svake godine javljaju virus žutog mozaika cukinija (Zucchini yellow mosaic virus, ZYMV), virus mozaika lubenice (Watermelon mosaic virus, WMV) i virus mozaika krastavca (Cucumber mosaic virus, CMV), a pojedinih godina izazivaju epidemije. Većina sorti gajenih tikava ne poseduje otpornost ili tolerantnost na virusne zaraze, ali izvori otpornosti identifikovani su u različitim srodnim vrstama. Do sada identifikovani izvori otpornosti na ZYMV nalaze se u genotipovima Cucurbita moschata i Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus i obuhvataju jedan ili nekoliko major gena rezistentnosti koji se nasleđuju dominantno. Slična situacija je i sa WMV, mada su izvori dominantnih major gena identifikovani u C. lanatus i C. colocynthis. Izvor otpornosti na CMV u vidu jednog dominantnog gena identifikovan je u genotipu C. moschata, mada je unošenje ovog gena konvencionalnim putem bilo veoma teško. Pored toga, veliki napori ulažu se u dobijenje genotipova sa istovremenom otpornošću na više virusa čak i drugih patogena, kao i genotipova koji ispoljavaju otpornost na najznačajnije vrste biljnih vaši, kroz mehanizme antiksenoze ili antibioze. Drugi pravac dobijanja otpornih genotipova podrazumeva genetičke manipulacije. Genetski modifikovane otporne tikve su među prvima, od svih gajenih biljaka, uspešno razvijene. Genotipovi sa PD (pathogen derived) otpornošću već se nalaze u komercijalnoj proizvodnji tikava u nekim delovima sveta i dobijeni su unošenjem gena za CP (coat protein) jednog, dva ili sva tri u svetu najraširenija virusa, ZYMV, WMW i CMV. Ipak, ovaj prilaz kontroli virusnih oboljenja tikava vezan je za uočene moguće negativne posledice, pre svega kroz već registrovan transfer gena u biljke spontane flore i nastanak otpornih transgenih korova nepredvidljivog ponašanja i značaja u prirodi. Poboljšana genetička otpornost biljke domaćina bilo na infekciju virusima, bilo na biološke vektore, dobijena konvencionalnim ili metodama genetičkog inženjeringa predstavlja najdinamičnije i najperspektivnije polje istraživanja kao ekonomski i ekološki najopravdaniji pristup kontroli oboljenja tikava i drugih biljaka koje izazivaju virusi koji se neperzistetno prenose biljnim vašima