Special software for aridity indices calculation (AICS); Vojvodina, Serbia case study

Knowledge of aridity is necessary to explain the characteristics of the geographical landscape. Increasing aridity due to global warming can be a real hazard, with the threat of desertification. The main aim of this paper is to introduce special software for aridity indices calculation (AICS), and on the basis of those data to peruse aridity as a natural hazard. These indices were calculated from data obtained from 10 meteorological stations in the Vojvodina region for the period from 1949 to 2006. In order to calculate the De Martonne aridity index, IDM, and the Pinna combinative index, IP, software was created using C# programming language. Not only that this software shows the values of indices, but also it shows to which class it belongs according to the De Martonne climate classification. Graphical presentation of both calculated indices is also enabled. Further development of AICS is planned. As additional software package here was used ArcMap 10.1 for the spatial representation and visualization of the aridity indices. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 176020 i br. 176013

Crystal growth of K2TiGe3O9 in the glass

The kinetics and mechanism of isothermal crystal growth of K2TiGe3O9 from a glass of the same stoichiometric composition were studied. The crystal growth rate U = 1 x 10-11-1.27 x 10-10 m s-1 was experimentally determined in the temperature interval of t = 540-600°C. In the range of high undercooling, Δt=435-375°C, spherical crystals growing at (374 ± 19) kJ mol-1 was observed

Multielement determination using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry for metal characterization of water from artesian wells in Semberija region: Multivariate analysis of data

The concentrations of fifteen metals (Mg, Na, Ca, K, Se, Zn, Mn, Fe, Pb, Cr, Cu, Cd, Sb, Ni, Co) were determined in water from ten artesian wells (AW) in Semberija to obtain a general metal profile of water in this region. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used in this classification. Using principal component analysis two factors controlling the metal variability were obtained, which accounted for nearly 71.5% of the total variance. Natural (lithogenic) factor is represented by PC1, while anthropogenic factor is represented by PC2. PC1 with high contribution of Mn, Mg, Na, K, Ca, Zn and Se accounting for 41.84% of the total variance, while PC2 exhibits high loading for Cd, Ni, Sb, Cr and Pb (29.66%). Three general areas (clusters) with different metal characteristics were detected. Water from artesian wells in first cluster (AW1, AW2, AW3, AW4, AW5 and AW6) had much higher metal concentration compared with those in the second (AW7, AW8 and AW9) and third cluster (AW10). That is as a result of anthropogenic inputs. Also, the analysis of water demonstrated slightly elevated values for Mn (concentrations up to 0.176 mg/L), while concentrations of the other investigated elements are below the values recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 172047

Genetic characterization of GSD I in Serbian population revealed unexpectedly high incidence of GSD Ib and 3 novel SLC37A4 variants

Glycogen storage disease (GSD) type I is inborn metabolic disease characterized by accumulation of glycogen in multiple organs. We analyzed 38 patients with clinical suspicion of GSD I using Sanger and next-generation sequencing (NGS). We identified 28 GSD Ib and 5 GSD Ia patients. In 5 patients, GSD III, VI, IX, cholesteryl-ester storage disease and Shwachman-Diamond syndrome diagnoses were set using NGS. Incidences for GSD Ia and GSD Ib were estimated at 1:172746 and 1:60461 live-births, respectively. Two variants were identified in G6PC gene: c.247C gt T (p.Arg83Cys) and c.518T gt C (p.Leu173Pro). In SLC37A4 gene, 6 variants were detected. Three previously reported variants c.81T gt A (p.Asn27Lys), c.162C gt A (p.Ser54Arg) and c.1042_1043delCT (p.Leu348Valfs*53) accounted for 87% of all analyzed alleles. Computational, transcription studies and/or clinical presentation in patients confirmed pathogenic effect of 3 novel variants: c.248G gt A (p.Gly83Glu), c.404G gt A (p.Gly135Asp) and c.785G gt A (p.Ser263Glyfs*33 or p.Gly262Asp). In the cohort, hepatomegaly, hypoglycemia and failure to thrive were the most frequent presenting signs of GSD Ia, while hepatomegaly and recurrent bacterial infections were clinical hallmarks of GSD Ib. All GSD Ib patients developed neutropenia while 20.6% developed inflammatory bowel disease. Our study revealed the highest worldwide incidence of GSD Ib. Furthermore, description of 3 novel variants will facilitate medical genetic practice.This is the peer reviewed version of the paper: Skakic, A., Djordjevic, M., Sarajlija, A., Klaassen, K., Tosic, N., Kecman, B., Ugrin, M., Spasovski, V., Pavlovic, S., & Stojiljkovic, M. (2018). Genetic characterization of GSD I in Serbian population revealed unexpectedly high incidence of GSD Ib and 3 novel SLC37A4 variants. Clinical Genetics, 93(2), 350–355. [https://doi.org/10.1111/cge.13093

IRON CONTENT IN THE FRUITS OF THE GRAPEVINES AND PEACH TREES GROWING NEAR THE MINING AND SMELTING COMPLEX BOR, EAST SERBIA

The samples of fruits of the grapevine (Vitis vinifera, cultivar Tamjanika) and the peach tree (Prunus persica L. Batech) from the Bor region were analyzed using an ICP-OES to determine the content of iron (Fe). This was done in order to assess possible health risks related to this essential element; the region of Bor’s municipality is known as one of the most polluted areas in Serbia. The content of Fe in unwashed grapes seems not to be affected by the mining/metallurgical activities, as it was either in the normal concentration range or was at even lower than critical deficiency concentration in plants (21.8-98 mg/kg). The level of Fe in the samples of peaches ranged from 62.4 to 1418 mg/kg, which is much higher than that in grape samples and in one case, even higher than the phytotoxic threshold. The values of the enrichment factor (EF) were lower than 2 in the case of grape samples, while for peach samples, these values ranged from rather low (0.99) to extremely high (22.66). Based on the herein obtained results, in the region of Bor, it seems that the cultivation of grapevine should be favored over the cultivation of peach trees.SADRŽAJ GVOŽĐA U PLODOVIMA VINOVe LOZe I BRESKVE KOJE RASTU U BLIZINI RUDARSKO-TOPIONIČARSKOG KOMPLEKSA BOR, ISTOČNA SRBIJAUzorci plodova vinove loze (Vitis vinifera, sorta Tamjanika) i vinogradarske breskve (Prunus persica L. Batech) iz regiona Bora su analizirani metodom ICP-OES, kako bi se odredio sadržaj gvožđa (Fe). Analize su vršene da bi se procenio mogući zdravstveni rizik povezan sa ovim esencijalnim elementom; poznato je da je region Borske opštine jedan od najzagađenijih predela u Srbiji. Čini se da rudarsko-metalurške aktivnosti ne utiču na sadržaj Fe kod vinove loze, jer je isti bio ili u okviru koncentracija normalnih za većinu biljaka ili čak niži od kritične koncentracije deficijencije (21.8-98 mg/kg). Koncentracija Fe u uzorcima breskve je bila u opsegu od 62.4-1418 mg/kg, što je mnogo više nego u uzorcima grožđa i u jednom slučaju čak iznad granice fitotoksičnosti. Vrednosti faktora obogaćenja bile su manje od 2 u slučaju uzoraka grožđa, dok su se kod uzoraka breskve ove vrednosti kretale od niskih (0,99) do ekstremno visokih (22,66). Na osnovu dobijenih rezultata, u borskom regionu, čini se da bi se trebalo forsirati uzgoj grožđa u odnosu na uzgoj breskve. HIGHLIGHTS Iron (Fe) represents one of the key constituents of particulate matter originating from the copper smelter plant in Bor.The influence of anthropogenic activities on the Fe content in the investigated fruits was more obvious and more considerable in the case of peach samples.The concentration of Fe in peach samples was much higher than in grapes, and in one case even higher than the phytotoxic threshold.The content of Fe in grapes was in the range of normal concentrations in plants or, in many cases, lower than the critical deficiency concentration

PVDF-HFP/NKBT composite dielectrics: Perovskite particles induce the appearance of an additional dielectric relaxation process in ferroelectric polymer matrix

Na0.25K0.25Bi0.5TiO3 (NKBT) perovskite particles are synthesized by solid-state method and used as a filler for polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) co-polymer. X-ray diffraction analysis of NKBT powders shows that the particles have a rhombohedral perovskite crystal structure (R3c symmetry). Raman spectroscopy reveals that the co-polymer crystallizes predominantly into the mixture of polar beta- and gamma-crystals, while there is also a contribution of the non-polar a-crystal phase. The introduction of the NKBT into the PVDF-HFP results with an increase in effective dielectric permittivity and this effect depends on the inorganic content in the composite. The most interesting result of the present study is that the introduction of NKBT particles induces the appearance of an additional transition peak in the dielectric spectra of the co-polymer matrix. At the fixed frequency of similar to 2 kHz, the observed process appears at similar to 10 degrees C (about 45 degrees above the glass transition temperature) and its magnitude strongly depends on the amount of the NKBT in the composite. Dielectric spectroscopy measurements of the composites are carried out in the wide range of frequencies (from 0.1 Hz to 1 MHz) and temperatures (from -100 to 100 degrees C). They reveal that the novel process can be clearly distinguished in the frequency range between 160 Hz and similar to 50 kHz

EFFECT OF STORAGE TEMPERATURE AND THERMAL PROCESSING ON CATECHINS, PROCYANIDINS AND TOTAL FLAVONOIDS STABILITY IN COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE COCOA POWDERS

Storage stability of catechin, epicatechin, procyanidins B1-B4 and total flavonoids in cocoa powder samples was studied over the temperature range 4-35 ºC. Thermal stability of total flavonoids was studied over the temperature range 95-125 ºC. Total flavonoids concentration decreased as a function of time and the degradation was accelerated at higher temperatures: a half-life (t1/2) of total flavonoids was much shorter at room temperature than during cold storage. A first-order kinetic model fitted well to all the data. Temperature dependence of the degradation rate constants, described by the Arrhenius equation, was more pronounced during heating than during storage. In the temperature interval from 4 ºC to 35 ºC, the calculated activation energies (Ea) for catechin, epicatechin and procyanidins B1-B4 were 20.4 kJ/mol, 12.5 kJ/mol, 9.4 kJ/mol, 21.6 kJ/mol, 19.4 kJ/mol, 23.7 kJ/mol, respectively. UTICAJ TEMPERTURE ČUVANJA I ZAGREVANJA NA SADRŽAJ KATEHINA; PROCIJANIDINA I UKUPNIH FENOLA KOMERCIJALNIM UZORCIMA KAKAOA U PRAHUUticaj temperature čuvanja na stabilnost katehina, epikatehina, procijanidina B1-B4 i ukupnih flavonoida u uzorcima kakaoa u prahu praćen je u temperaturnom opsegu od 4 ºC do 35 ºC. Uticaj zagrevanja na sadržaj ukupnih flavonoida je praćen u temperaturnom opsegu od 95 ºC do 125 ºC. U toku skladištenja uzoraka je došlo do smanjenja u sadržaju ukupnih flavonoida. Pomenuta promena je bila izraženija na višim temperaturama: vreme polu-života (t1/2) ukupnih flavonoida u ispitivanom uzorku kakaoa u prahu bilo je kraće kada je on čuvan na sobnoj temperaturi nego kada je čuvan u frižideru. Promene u sadržaju flavonoida u ispitivanim uzorcima prate kinetiku prvog reda. Konstante brzine degradacije, izračunate pomoću Arenijusove jednačine, veće su tokom zagrevanja nego tokom čuvanja ispitivanih uzoraka na nižim temperaturama. Izračunate energije aktivacije (Ea) za katehin, epikatehin i procijanidine B1, B2, B3 i B4 u temperaturnom intevalu od 4 ºC do 35 ºC  bile su: 20,4 kJ/mol, 12,5 kJ/mol, 9,4 kJ/mol, 21,6 kJ/mol, 19,4 kJ/mol i 23,7 kJ/mol. HIGHLIGHTS Storage stability of (epi)catechin, procyanidins B1-B4 and total flavonoids in cocoa powder samples was studied(temperature range 4-35 °C)The stability of the total flavonoids was studied over the temperature range 95-125 °CThe degradation of the total flavonoids was significantly accelerated at higher temperaturesTemperature dependence of the degradation rate constants was more pronounced during heating than during storag

A guided tour of asynchronous cellular automata

Research on asynchronous cellular automata has received a great amount of attention these last years and has turned to a thriving field. We survey the recent research that has been carried out on this topic and present a wide state of the art where computing and modelling issues are both represented.Comment: To appear in the Journal of Cellular Automat

Vulnerability to natural disasters in Serbia: spatial and temporal comparison

The frequency of natural disasters and the extent of their consequences at a global level are constantly increasing. This trend is partially caused by increased population vulnerability, which implies the degree of population vulnerability due to high magnitude natural processes. This paper presents an analysis of vulnerability to natural disaster in Serbia in the second half of the twentieth and the early twenty-first century. Vulnerability changes were traced on the basis of demographic–economic indicators derived from statistical data for local government units (municipalities) provided by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. Calculations were performed in the geographical information system environment. The results of the study show that spatial and temporal vulnerability variations are causally correlated with changes in the selected components. Significant rise of vulnerability is related to urban areas, while lower values are characteristic for other areas of Serbia; this is primarily a consequence of different population density