Separation of Chlorins and Carotenoids in Capillary Electrophoresis

The present study reports the investigation of capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the separation of the photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll derivatives as well as carotenoids) together. Various CE methods, such as micellar electrokinetic chromatography, capillary electrokinetic chromatography, and nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE) are tested, with coated and uncoated capillary columns to evaluate optimal separation conditions using diode array detection. The effect of different type and composition of organic solvents and surfactants on the separation is discussed. Detection limits are found in the range of 1.14-2.45 ppm. According to the system suitability results, the most effective separation is observed using NACE with Aliquat 336 as cationic surfactant in coated capillary and mixture of MeOH-ACN-THF (5:4:1, v/v/v) as solvent. Quantitative evolution is investigated, and recovery percentage values are found to be 96.7-102

Steganographic Integration of the Data Collected on the Traffic Road

The surveillance system video structure represents a suitable medium for steganographic integration of the collected data about the condition of the road and its environment. The surveillance video retains the function of visual presentation of the condition on the road, and the integrated textual data are a component of the video recording structure. The analysis of the steganographically processed video frames indicates the impact on the integrated textual data, the video quality and the impact of manipulation of data on the integrated data. The work uses steganographic algorithm F5 for integration of various amounts of compressed textual files into image recordings recorded under various conditions. In order to prove that integrated and extracted data have identical content, cryptographic and polynomial functions have been used. For the calculations of statistical properties of the values of red, green, blue and intensity component the model was used formed in the MATLAB / Simulink applications

Određivanje dostupnosti elemenata poštanske mreže pomoću primjene gravitacijske metode

The accessibility of postal services is guaranteed by international and domestic regulations. Regulating certain density of postal network elements is the most commonly used mechanism that enables the accessibility of postal services to residents of a given country. Commonly used regulatory measures (criteria) are mainly adopted and supervised by regulatory bodies in the postal services market. This paper analyzes the application of the concept of spatial accessibility in the postal system as well as the analysis of the spatial characteristics of the selected research area. Gravity method was used to calculate the accessibility indicator of postal network elements, and therefore postal services.Dostupnost poštanskih usluga zajamčena je međunarodnim i nacionalnim zakonskim odredbama. Regulacija određene gustoće elemenata poštanske mreže mehanizam je koji se najčešće koristi u ostvarivanju dostupnosti poštanskih usluga stanovnicima određene zemlje. Općenito korištene regulativne mjere (kriteriji) uglavnom se usvajaju i nadgledaju od strane regulativnih tijela na tržištu poštanskih usluga. U ovom se radu analizira primjena koncepta prostorne dostupnosti u poštanskom sustavu, te se analiziraju prostorne karakteristike odabranih istraživanih područja. Pomoću gravitacijske metode napravljen je izračun indikatora dostupnosti elemenata poštanske mreže i poštanskih usluga

Assessment of proposed business plans of on-trip and pre-trip information in the LRT system (public urban transit) of the city of Zagreb

The quality of public urban transit organization depends to a great extent also on the organization and the quality of on-trip and pre-trip information services. The aim of this service is to provide relevant, accurate and usable traffic and transport information to current users of the public urban transit, as well as to attract new users, alleviating the burden on the roads and insuring high-quality transport service to motorists who at least on one section of their trip use public transport means. Apart from classical information forms this system greatly relies also on new telecommunication technologies including the third generation of mobile networks and mobile Internet. Apart from the wide range of methods of collecting information, their processing and dissemination, the entire problems of introducing the mentioned services into the newly organized system such as LRT needs to be systemically analyzed. It is especially important to analyze in advance and to define the relations between the private and public sector in the described process. The paper considers the corporate plans of organizing the system of on-trip and pre-trip information in the LRT system applicable in the City of Zagreb. Their implementability has been evaluated by a professional team defining the relevant factors in the selection of the corporate plan

Biological efficacy evaluation of larvicide formulations in mosquito (Diptera, Culicidae) control

Na globalnom i lokalnom nivou, komarci se svrstavaju u grupu najznaĉajnijih molestanata i vektora patogena ĉoveka i ţivotinja, prouzrokovaĉa oboljenja sa ĉestim smrtnim ishodom, kao što su malarija, ţuta groznica, groznica zapadnog Nila, denga i ĉikungunja. Hematofagni reţim ishrane ţenki komaraca na ljudima i ţivotinjama je deo ponašanja koje ih ĉini toliko vaţnim sa aspekta javnog zdravlja, jer već tokom uzimanja prvog obroka krvi one mogu usvojiti i patogene iz zaraţenog domaćina. Cirkulacija virusa zapadnog Nila u ljudima, pticama, konjima i komarcima je nedavno potvrĊena na prostoru Srbije tokom nekoliko uzastopnih godina. Vrsta koju karakterišu osobine visoko kompetentnog vektora je kućni komarac, odnosno domaća vrsta Culex pipiens complex. Vrsta je prisutna u svim delovima Srbije i veoma rasprostranjena u širokom spektru akvatiĉnih razvojnih staništa.  Druga veoma znaĉajna je invazivna vrsta Aedes albopictus. Ova invazivna vrsta uspešno prenosi patogene prouzrokovaĉe gore pomenutih oboljenja u Evropi.  U programima suzbijanja komaraca neophodno je dopuniti strategiju prilagoĊenu suzbijanju komaraca molestanata strategijom suzbijanja vektora, koja podrazumeva prilagoĊavanje i podizanje efikasnosti metoda koje će se koristiti u cilju bolje i brţe kontrole. Za razliku od većine zemalja Evrope gde se zadovoljavajuća efikasnost u suzbijanju komaraca ostvaruje samo larvicidnim tretmanima u Srbiji se to još ne postiţe, ĉak i pored prekomerne i rastuće aplikacije adulticida. Planiranje i sprovoĊenje akcija suzbijanja komaraca treba da bude prilagoĊeno novonastalim potrebama suzbijanja vektora. Prilikom opredeljivanja i izrade planova i programa suzbijanja komaraca u Srbiji bilo bi potrebno da se uspostavi suzbijanje komaraca koje će biti precizno prilagoĊeno lokalnim uslovima, ekonomiĉno, efikasno i koje će minimalno uticati na narušavanje prirodne ravnoteţe u ruralnim i urbanim staništima.  Cilj ovog istraţivanja je evaluacija biološke efikasnosti i procena perzistentnosti delovanja formulacija ciromazina, diflubenzurona, piriproksifena i polidimetilsiloksana u funkciji supresije dve veoma vaţne molestantske i vektorske vrste komaraca, Cx. pipiens complex i Ae. albopictus.  Opredeljena su tri razliĉita tipa regulatora rasta i razvoja insekata (IGR)- ciromazin, piriproksifen i diflubenzuron kao standard/komparativna aktivna materija (hemijski metod), a potom i polidimetilsiloksana (fiziĉki metod). Mehanizam delovanja IGR agenasa zasnovan je na ometanju hormonskog balansa u telu insekta ili prekidu normalnih funkcija vezanih za proces presvlaĉenja koji se dalje reperkutuju na ometanje i prekid normalnih tokova fizioloških funkcija, rezultirajući smrtnim ishodom tretiranog insekta. Selektovane su formulacije granula na ekološki prihvatljivim, biodegradabilnim nosaĉima (zeolit, kukuruzna koĉanka i Biodac, komercijalni nosaĉ na bazi reciklirane hartije). Biološka efikasnost formulacija ciromazina, piriproksifena i diflubenzurona ocenjivana je na larvama vrste Cx. pipiens complex u laboratorijskim uslovima, nakon ĉega je ciromazin ocenjivan u poluprirodnim uslovima (u plastiĉnim buradima). Potom su granule ciromazina i diflubenzurona opredeljene za nastavak evaluacije u poljskim eksperimentima (u drenaţnim kanalima semiruralne sredine).  Aquatain AMF je preparat novijeg datuma na bazi silikona (polidimetilsiloksan), koji na površini vode stvara monomolekularni film, a od nedavno EU komisija ga uvrštava u grupu biocida za suzbijanje komaraca. Ovaj monomolekularni film ometa i prekida normalan razvoj juvenilnih stadijuma komaraca redukujući površinski napon vode. Na ovaj naĉin onemogućena je respiracija akvatiĉnih formi komaraca. Smatra se da ovaj agens uzrokuje „multistage― efekat, utiĉući na sve stadijume razvića tretirane populacije komaraca.  Sve testirane granule regulatora rasta su pokazale visoku efikasnost u suzbijanju vrste Cx. pipiens complex. Granule ciromazina su ukazale direktnu vezu primenjene doze i efikasnosti. Zabeleţena je visoka i perzistentna efikasnost granula sa sadrţajem aktivne materije ciromazina od 2 % u odnosu na granule sa niţim sadrţajem ciromazina (0.5%). Granule sa 2% ciromazina su zadrţale visoku efikasnost tokom dva meseca u laboratorijskim uslovima. Primenjene granule diflubenzurona (1% a.m) i piriproksifena (0.5% a.m) su takoĊe postigle supresiju celokupne eksponirane populacije (mortalitet 100%), ali su ovi IGR zahtevali duţi period za postizanje maksimalnog efakta. Zadovoljavajuću efikasnost (LT90) najbrţe su postigle granule ciromazina 2, potom diflubenzuron, dok je najsporije delovanje zabeleţeno primenom piriproksifena.  Testirane granule nisu flotirale, te je sve do optimizacije ove formulacije potrebno ograniĉiti njihovu primenu na razvojna staništa komaraca sa ĉvrstom strukturom dna (npr. veštaĉki recipijenti vode svih zapremina), gde ne postoji mogućnost gubljenja apliciranih granula usled zamuljivanja.  Aquatain AMF je pokazao visoku efikasnost u suzbijanju larvi i lutki obe ciljne vrste Cx. pipiens complex i Ae. albopictus u laboratorijskim uslovima. MeĊutim, kućni komarac je pokazao veći stepen osetljivosti na prisustvo Aquatain AMF sloja u odnosu na tretiranu invazivnu vrstu. Najveća senzitivnost obe vrste na monomolekularni sloj zabeleţena je u poslednjem larvenom stupnju i stadijumu lutke. Senzitivnost testiranih vrsta u stadijumu lutke se nije meĊusobno razlikovala. Primenjen u veštaĉkim recipijentima vode, ovaj preparat obezbeĊuje visok stepen supresije (100%) tretirane populacije obe vrste. Aplikacijom u kanalima redukuje populaciju kućnog komarca u trajanju od 21 dan (u kanalu gusto obraslim vegetacijom) pa sve do 56 post tretman dana (u kanalu na ĉijoj vodenoj površini ništa ne remeti celovitost apliciranog sloja), u zavisnosti od abiotiĉkih i biotiĉkih faktora koji ometaju postojanost monomolekularnog sloja. U preporuĉenoj i duploj dozi od 1, odnosno 2 mL/m2, preparat ne prevenira ovipoziciju dugoroĉno (maksimalno do nedelju dana), ali onemogućava razvoj larvi iz jaja poloţenih na film. Kada je testirana 10 puta veća doza, utvrĊeno je da Aquatain AMF onemogućava polaganje jaja u trajanju od 19 dana.  UvoĊenje evaluiranih, novih supstanci u programe suzbijanja juvenilnih stadijuma razvoja komaraca, pre nego što doĊe do pojave odraslih formi, svakako predstavlja opravdanu mogućnost za proširenje izbora supstanci koje postoje na trţištu u Srbiji.  Urbane zone se smatraju kritiĉnim taĉkama za suzbijanje komaraca obe navedene vrste jer usled mnogobrojnih izvorišta i povoljnih uslova razvoja (temperatura vode), blizine velikog broja potencijalnih domaćina, dolazi do kontinuiranog polaganja jaja,  odnosno formiranja više generacija tokom sezone, koje se meĊusobno preklapaju. Adekvatna primena ocenjivanih biocidnih agenasa prilagoĊena tipu razvojnog staništa dve najznaĉajnije urbane vrste komaraca omogućila bi smanjenje broja tretmana u poreĊenju sa primenom kako konvencionalnih tako i bioloških larvicida DatumMosquitoes are globally and locally most significant molestants and vectors, transmitting pathogens which may cause humans’ and animals’ severe diseases like West Nile Fever, yellow fever, malaria, dengue and chikungunya frequently with fatal outcome. Mosquito females regular behaviour pattern which includes haematophagous feeding regime on humans and animals gave them highly significant role in public health. Females may intake pathogens at first blood meal on infected host. West Nile Virus circulation in humans, birds, horses and mosquitoes on the Serbian territory has been recently confirmed in several consecutive years. The major highly competent vector is house mosquito, Culex pipiens complex. The species is widely distributed in all parts of Serbia, inhabiting diverse aquatic breeding sites. Invasive, widespread Aedes albopictus is one of the most important vector species of severe human and animal diseases in Europe.  Within mosquito control programs it is essential to modify the strategy of molestant control by vector control, which implies adaptations and optimisations of available methods’ efficacy aiming to the enhanced and faster mosquito suppression/control. Opposite to the most European countries which succeed satisfying mosquito suppression level only by larvicide treatments, Serbia has not reached that level yet, regardless excessive and increasing adulticides treatments in our country. Mosquito control methods should be planed and implemented according to the most recent surveillance of mosquito vector species. Mosquito control plans and programs in Serbia should be precisely based on local conditions and enable economically, ecologically, highly effective meassures which will minimize the negative impact to the equilibrium of the non-target aquatic biota and other organisms that could be endangered by eco-toxicological aspects of applied products into waters of rural and urban areas.  The main objectives of this study aimed to evaluate available larvicide efficacy (cyromazine, diflunbenzuron, pyriproxyfen and polydimethylsiloxane) and to determine susceptibility of the juvenile forms of Cx. pipiens and Ae. albopictus populations to the applied compounds, but also to determine product persistence/longevity in mosquito population reduction treatments.  As a part of chemical control three different Insect Growth Regulators (IGR) types were selected- cyromazine, pyriproxyfen and diflubenzuron as standard/comparative active ingradient. Additionally, silicone (polydimethylsiloxane) based product Aquatain AMF, aimed for physical control, was evaluated.  Mode of IGRs action consists of hormonal disbalance or regular molting process disturbance that reflects to disorder or break of normal physiological functions, resulting by insect death. Aquatain AMF is a silicone-based monomolecular film (polydimethylsiloxane), novel tool, and recently-approved product in the EU for mosquito control affecting mosquitoes’ aquatic developmental stages. AMF spreads spontaneously and rapidly over a water surface. The physical mode of action based on lowering water surface tension prevents mosquito larvae/pupae respiration. Subsequently, AMF disables gravid females to land on the water surface and obstructs the natural oviposition process. According to the multiple effects on all immature mosquito stages, AMF can reduce mosquito density. All selected IGR formulation were granules consisted of ecologically suitable, biodegradable carriers (zeolite, corn cob and Biodac, commercial carrier made of recycled paper). Biological efficacy of all tested IGRs was evaluated in laboratory conditions and subsequently cyromazine was tested in semi-field experiments (in plastic barrels). Following findings obtained cyromazine and diflubenzuron granules were evaluated under field conditions (ditches/channels semirural location).  Tested IGR granules showed high efficacy in Cx. pipiens complex control. Cyromazine granules applied doses were directly equivalent to its efficacy. Granules with 2% cyromazine demonstrated higher, faster and more persistent efficacy comparing to the granules with lower cyromazine content (0.5 %).  Cyromazine 2 granules were two months highly effective against Cx. pipiens juveniles in laboratory conditions. Applied diflubenzuron (1% a.i.) and pyriproxyfen (0.5% a.i.) granules caused complete population reduction (mortality 100%). However, diflubenzuron and pyriproxyfen required longer period to cause same rate of effectiveness. Satisfying efficacy level (LT90) cyromazine achieved more rapidly than other evaluated IGRs. Slowest activity of tested products was recorded in pyriproxyfen treatment.  Bias of all tested IGR formulations were their inability to float. Therefore, until optimised, application of IGR granular formulation should be limited to aquatatic breeding sites with solid base structure (e.g. artificial water recipient, regardless of volume), in which granules would not be lost in mud after they sink from water surface.  Aquatain AMF achieved high mortality rates of juvenile stages of both Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens under laboratory conditions. However, Cx. pipiens larvae showed higher susceptibility to AMF compared to Ae. albopictus. The impact on pupae was not different between species. Pupae of both species were highly susceptible. Applied in artificial water recipients, Aquatain AMF inhibits completely (100%) population eclosion to the adult stage of Ae. albopictus. In field conditions Aquatain AMF longevity to suppress Cx. pipiens complex population was estimated in range from 21 to 56 post treatment days, depending on abiotic and biotic factors disturbing applied monomolecular layer.  Recommended dose of this product will not prevent females’ oviposition in a longterm (maximum seven days), but will unable juvenile development hatched from eggs after oviposited on monomolecular layer. Increased dose (10 fold) provides long-term oviposition prevention. Females would be 19 days unable to lay eggs on 10 mL/m2 thick layer.  Implementation of tested novel mosquito control agents which prevent juvenile stages development to adult stage justify possibility of increasing available products of biocides for a sound vector control.  Urban breeding sites are critical and complex to control mosquitoes because of continuous seasonal availability of water bodies and suitable temperatures (frequently higher than in rural areas). Additionally, vicinity of densely populated hosts (humans), generates enormous populations with overlapping generations and presence of all developmental stages from April to October. Adequate selection and application of evaluated biocide agents, adapted to the Cx. pipiens and Ae. albopictus breeding site types would decrease required number of treatments comparing to conventional and biological biocides, especially treatments in urban areas

Application of sunspaces in fostering energy efficiency and economical viability of residential buildings in Serbia

Residential building sector in Serbia has changed dramatically over the last two decades. Large scale projects have given way to individual, private initiative resulting in smaller interventions rarely exceeding one lot. For this reason architectural concepts, building types, scopes and construction technology have been marginalized and fallen under the influence of market mechanisms and stringent local planning procedures. New regulations on energy efficiency have risen the standards for thermal insulation therefore increasing the thickness of building enclosure. This actually means that construction costs are increased and net built area, therefore expected profit, reduced. In order to provide the viable ground for both implementation of new regulations and economic benefits for investors, authors of energy efficiency regulations in Serbia have noted a whole set of solar systems, among which sunspaces that would not count as a part of gross area, provided that they contribute to the increase of energy performance of the building. This paper describes the case of a typical residential new construction in Belgrade that has applied the prescribed solutions and became the first building that has obtained the building permit by applying a sunspace as an efficient strategy for energy saving.This is the peer-reviewed version of the article: Ignjatović, Dušan, Milica Jovanović Popović, and Jasna Kavran. 2015. ‘Application of Sunspaces in Fostering Energy Efficiency and Economical Viability of Residential Buildings in Serbia’. Energy and Buildings, Renewable Energy Sources and Healthy Buildings, 98 (July): 3–9. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2015.02.049

Biological efficacy evaluation of larvicide formulations in mosquito (Diptera, Culicidae) control

Na globalnom i lokalnom nivou, komarci se svrstavaju u grupu najznaĉajnijih molestanata i vektora patogena ĉoveka i ţivotinja, prouzrokovaĉa oboljenja sa ĉestim smrtnim ishodom, kao što su malarija, ţuta groznica, groznica zapadnog Nila, denga i ĉikungunja. Hematofagni reţim ishrane ţenki komaraca na ljudima i ţivotinjama je deo ponašanja koje ih ĉini toliko vaţnim sa aspekta javnog zdravlja, jer već tokom uzimanja prvog obroka krvi one mogu usvojiti i patogene iz zaraţenog domaćina. Cirkulacija virusa zapadnog Nila u ljudima, pticama, konjima i komarcima je nedavno potvrĊena na prostoru Srbije tokom nekoliko uzastopnih godina. Vrsta koju karakterišu osobine visoko kompetentnog vektora je kućni komarac, odnosno domaća vrsta Culex pipiens complex. Vrsta je prisutna u svim delovima Srbije i veoma rasprostranjena u širokom spektru akvatiĉnih razvojnih staništa.  Druga veoma znaĉajna je invazivna vrsta Aedes albopictus. Ova invazivna vrsta uspešno prenosi patogene prouzrokovaĉe gore pomenutih oboljenja u Evropi.  U programima suzbijanja komaraca neophodno je dopuniti strategiju prilagoĊenu suzbijanju komaraca molestanata strategijom suzbijanja vektora, koja podrazumeva prilagoĊavanje i podizanje efikasnosti metoda koje će se koristiti u cilju bolje i brţe kontrole. Za razliku od većine zemalja Evrope gde se zadovoljavajuća efikasnost u suzbijanju komaraca ostvaruje samo larvicidnim tretmanima u Srbiji se to još ne postiţe, ĉak i pored prekomerne i rastuće aplikacije adulticida. Planiranje i sprovoĊenje akcija suzbijanja komaraca treba da bude prilagoĊeno novonastalim potrebama suzbijanja vektora. Prilikom opredeljivanja i izrade planova i programa suzbijanja komaraca u Srbiji bilo bi potrebno da se uspostavi suzbijanje komaraca koje će biti precizno prilagoĊeno lokalnim uslovima, ekonomiĉno, efikasno i koje će minimalno uticati na narušavanje prirodne ravnoteţe u ruralnim i urbanim staništima.  Cilj ovog istraţivanja je evaluacija biološke efikasnosti i procena perzistentnosti delovanja formulacija ciromazina, diflubenzurona, piriproksifena i polidimetilsiloksana u funkciji supresije dve veoma vaţne molestantske i vektorske vrste komaraca, Cx. pipiens complex i Ae. albopictus.  Opredeljena su tri razliĉita tipa regulatora rasta i razvoja insekata (IGR)- ciromazin, piriproksifen i diflubenzuron kao standard/komparativna aktivna materija (hemijski metod), a potom i polidimetilsiloksana (fiziĉki metod). Mehanizam delovanja IGR agenasa zasnovan je na ometanju hormonskog balansa u telu insekta ili prekidu normalnih funkcija vezanih za proces presvlaĉenja koji se dalje reperkutuju na ometanje i prekid normalnih tokova fizioloških funkcija, rezultirajući smrtnim ishodom tretiranog insekta. Selektovane su formulacije granula na ekološki prihvatljivim, biodegradabilnim nosaĉima (zeolit, kukuruzna koĉanka i Biodac, komercijalni nosaĉ na bazi reciklirane hartije). Biološka efikasnost formulacija ciromazina, piriproksifena i diflubenzurona ocenjivana je na larvama vrste Cx. pipiens complex u laboratorijskim uslovima, nakon ĉega je ciromazin ocenjivan u poluprirodnim uslovima (u plastiĉnim buradima). Potom su granule ciromazina i diflubenzurona opredeljene za nastavak evaluacije u poljskim eksperimentima (u drenaţnim kanalima semiruralne sredine).  Aquatain AMF je preparat novijeg datuma na bazi silikona (polidimetilsiloksan), koji na površini vode stvara monomolekularni film, a od nedavno EU komisija ga uvrštava u grupu biocida za suzbijanje komaraca. Ovaj monomolekularni film ometa i prekida normalan razvoj juvenilnih stadijuma komaraca redukujući površinski napon vode. Na ovaj naĉin onemogućena je respiracija akvatiĉnih formi komaraca. Smatra se da ovaj agens uzrokuje „multistage― efekat, utiĉući na sve stadijume razvića tretirane populacije komaraca.  Sve testirane granule regulatora rasta su pokazale visoku efikasnost u suzbijanju vrste Cx. pipiens complex. Granule ciromazina su ukazale direktnu vezu primenjene doze i efikasnosti. Zabeleţena je visoka i perzistentna efikasnost granula sa sadrţajem aktivne materije ciromazina od 2 % u odnosu na granule sa niţim sadrţajem ciromazina (0.5%). Granule sa 2% ciromazina su zadrţale visoku efikasnost tokom dva meseca u laboratorijskim uslovima. Primenjene granule diflubenzurona (1% a.m) i piriproksifena (0.5% a.m) su takoĊe postigle supresiju celokupne eksponirane populacije (mortalitet 100%), ali su ovi IGR zahtevali duţi period za postizanje maksimalnog efakta. Zadovoljavajuću efikasnost (LT90) najbrţe su postigle granule ciromazina 2, potom diflubenzuron, dok je najsporije delovanje zabeleţeno primenom piriproksifena.  Testirane granule nisu flotirale, te je sve do optimizacije ove formulacije potrebno ograniĉiti njihovu primenu na razvojna staništa komaraca sa ĉvrstom strukturom dna (npr. veštaĉki recipijenti vode svih zapremina), gde ne postoji mogućnost gubljenja apliciranih granula usled zamuljivanja.  Aquatain AMF je pokazao visoku efikasnost u suzbijanju larvi i lutki obe ciljne vrste Cx. pipiens complex i Ae. albopictus u laboratorijskim uslovima. MeĊutim, kućni komarac je pokazao veći stepen osetljivosti na prisustvo Aquatain AMF sloja u odnosu na tretiranu invazivnu vrstu. Najveća senzitivnost obe vrste na monomolekularni sloj zabeleţena je u poslednjem larvenom stupnju i stadijumu lutke. Senzitivnost testiranih vrsta u stadijumu lutke se nije meĊusobno razlikovala. Primenjen u veštaĉkim recipijentima vode, ovaj preparat obezbeĊuje visok stepen supresije (100%) tretirane populacije obe vrste. Aplikacijom u kanalima redukuje populaciju kućnog komarca u trajanju od 21 dan (u kanalu gusto obraslim vegetacijom) pa sve do 56 post tretman dana (u kanalu na ĉijoj vodenoj površini ništa ne remeti celovitost apliciranog sloja), u zavisnosti od abiotiĉkih i biotiĉkih faktora koji ometaju postojanost monomolekularnog sloja. U preporuĉenoj i duploj dozi od 1, odnosno 2 mL/m2, preparat ne prevenira ovipoziciju dugoroĉno (maksimalno do nedelju dana), ali onemogućava razvoj larvi iz jaja poloţenih na film. Kada je testirana 10 puta veća doza, utvrĊeno je da Aquatain AMF onemogućava polaganje jaja u trajanju od 19 dana.  UvoĊenje evaluiranih, novih supstanci u programe suzbijanja juvenilnih stadijuma razvoja komaraca, pre nego što doĊe do pojave odraslih formi, svakako predstavlja opravdanu mogućnost za proširenje izbora supstanci koje postoje na trţištu u Srbiji.  Urbane zone se smatraju kritiĉnim taĉkama za suzbijanje komaraca obe navedene vrste jer usled mnogobrojnih izvorišta i povoljnih uslova razvoja (temperatura vode), blizine velikog broja potencijalnih domaćina, dolazi do kontinuiranog polaganja jaja,  odnosno formiranja više generacija tokom sezone, koje se meĊusobno preklapaju. Adekvatna primena ocenjivanih biocidnih agenasa prilagoĊena tipu razvojnog staništa dve najznaĉajnije urbane vrste komaraca omogućila bi smanjenje broja tretmana u poreĊenju sa primenom kako konvencionalnih tako i bioloških larvicida DatumMosquitoes are globally and locally most significant molestants and vectors, transmitting pathogens which may cause humans’ and animals’ severe diseases like West Nile Fever, yellow fever, malaria, dengue and chikungunya frequently with fatal outcome. Mosquito females regular behaviour pattern which includes haematophagous feeding regime on humans and animals gave them highly significant role in public health. Females may intake pathogens at first blood meal on infected host. West Nile Virus circulation in humans, birds, horses and mosquitoes on the Serbian territory has been recently confirmed in several consecutive years. The major highly competent vector is house mosquito, Culex pipiens complex. The species is widely distributed in all parts of Serbia, inhabiting diverse aquatic breeding sites. Invasive, widespread Aedes albopictus is one of the most important vector species of severe human and animal diseases in Europe.  Within mosquito control programs it is essential to modify the strategy of molestant control by vector control, which implies adaptations and optimisations of available methods’ efficacy aiming to the enhanced and faster mosquito suppression/control. Opposite to the most European countries which succeed satisfying mosquito suppression level only by larvicide treatments, Serbia has not reached that level yet, regardless excessive and increasing adulticides treatments in our country. Mosquito control methods should be planed and implemented according to the most recent surveillance of mosquito vector species. Mosquito control plans and programs in Serbia should be precisely based on local conditions and enable economically, ecologically, highly effective meassures which will minimize the negative impact to the equilibrium of the non-target aquatic biota and other organisms that could be endangered by eco-toxicological aspects of applied products into waters of rural and urban areas.  The main objectives of this study aimed to evaluate available larvicide efficacy (cyromazine, diflunbenzuron, pyriproxyfen and polydimethylsiloxane) and to determine susceptibility of the juvenile forms of Cx. pipiens and Ae. albopictus populations to the applied compounds, but also to determine product persistence/longevity in mosquito population reduction treatments.  As a part of chemical control three different Insect Growth Regulators (IGR) types were selected- cyromazine, pyriproxyfen and diflubenzuron as standard/comparative active ingradient. Additionally, silicone (polydimethylsiloxane) based product Aquatain AMF, aimed for physical control, was evaluated.  Mode of IGRs action consists of hormonal disbalance or regular molting process disturbance that reflects to disorder or break of normal physiological functions, resulting by insect death. Aquatain AMF is a silicone-based monomolecular film (polydimethylsiloxane), novel tool, and recently-approved product in the EU for mosquito control affecting mosquitoes’ aquatic developmental stages. AMF spreads spontaneously and rapidly over a water surface. The physical mode of action based on lowering water surface tension prevents mosquito larvae/pupae respiration. Subsequently, AMF disables gravid females to land on the water surface and obstructs the natural oviposition process. According to the multiple effects on all immature mosquito stages, AMF can reduce mosquito density. All selected IGR formulation were granules consisted of ecologically suitable, biodegradable carriers (zeolite, corn cob and Biodac, commercial carrier made of recycled paper). Biological efficacy of all tested IGRs was evaluated in laboratory conditions and subsequently cyromazine was tested in semi-field experiments (in plastic barrels). Following findings obtained cyromazine and diflubenzuron granules were evaluated under field conditions (ditches/channels semirural location).  Tested IGR granules showed high efficacy in Cx. pipiens complex control. Cyromazine granules applied doses were directly equivalent to its efficacy. Granules with 2% cyromazine demonstrated higher, faster and more persistent efficacy comparing to the granules with lower cyromazine content (0.5 %).  Cyromazine 2 granules were two months highly effective against Cx. pipiens juveniles in laboratory conditions. Applied diflubenzuron (1% a.i.) and pyriproxyfen (0.5% a.i.) granules caused complete population reduction (mortality 100%). However, diflubenzuron and pyriproxyfen required longer period to cause same rate of effectiveness. Satisfying efficacy level (LT90) cyromazine achieved more rapidly than other evaluated IGRs. Slowest activity of tested products was recorded in pyriproxyfen treatment.  Bias of all tested IGR formulations were their inability to float. Therefore, until optimised, application of IGR granular formulation should be limited to aquatatic breeding sites with solid base structure (e.g. artificial water recipient, regardless of volume), in which granules would not be lost in mud after they sink from water surface.  Aquatain AMF achieved high mortality rates of juvenile stages of both Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens under laboratory conditions. However, Cx. pipiens larvae showed higher susceptibility to AMF compared to Ae. albopictus. The impact on pupae was not different between species. Pupae of both species were highly susceptible. Applied in artificial water recipients, Aquatain AMF inhibits completely (100%) population eclosion to the adult stage of Ae. albopictus. In field conditions Aquatain AMF longevity to suppress Cx. pipiens complex population was estimated in range from 21 to 56 post treatment days, depending on abiotic and biotic factors disturbing applied monomolecular layer.  Recommended dose of this product will not prevent females’ oviposition in a longterm (maximum seven days), but will unable juvenile development hatched from eggs after oviposited on monomolecular layer. Increased dose (10 fold) provides long-term oviposition prevention. Females would be 19 days unable to lay eggs on 10 mL/m2 thick layer.  Implementation of tested novel mosquito control agents which prevent juvenile stages development to adult stage justify possibility of increasing available products of biocides for a sound vector control.  Urban breeding sites are critical and complex to control mosquitoes because of continuous seasonal availability of water bodies and suitable temperatures (frequently higher than in rural areas). Additionally, vicinity of densely populated hosts (humans), generates enormous populations with overlapping generations and presence of all developmental stages from April to October. Adequate selection and application of evaluated biocide agents, adapted to the Cx. pipiens and Ae. albopictus breeding site types would decrease required number of treatments comparing to conventional and biological biocides, especially treatments in urban areas

Potencijalno neprikladni lijekovi u osoba starije životne dobi utvrđeni implicitnim kriterijima i njihova povezanost s karakteristikama bolesnika

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je odrediti učestalost propisivanja potencijalno neprikladnih lijekova (PNL) u hospitaliziranih osoba starije životne dobi s bolestima probavnog sustava koristeći implicitne kriterije te utvrditi povezanost PNL-ova s demografskim i kliničkim čimbenicima. Retrospektivno, presječno opservacijsko istraživanje uključilo je pacijente primljene putem hitnog ili elektivnog prijema na Odjel gastroenterologije Klinike za unutarnje bolesti Kliničke bolnice Dubrava u razdoblju od listopada 2014. do listopada 2015. godine. Uključujući kriteriji bili su životna dob od 65 ili više godina te bolest probavnog sustava ili neoplazma koja zahvaća probavni sustav. Na temelju prikupljenih podataka prikladnost svakog lijeka u terapiji pojedinog ispitanika tijekom hospitalizacije procijenjena je pomoću implicitnog Indeksa prikladnosti lijekova (MAI kriterija) te su na taj način identificirani PNL-ovi. Dodatno je istražena povezanost utvrđenih PNL-ova s demografskim i kliničkim čimbenicima. Podaci su statistički obrađeni u programu IBM SPSS v20. Istraživanje je uključilo 62 pacijenta prosječne dobi 73,84 ± 5,55 godina koji su prosječno imali 5,94 ± 2,90 dijagnoza i koristili 7,15 ± 3,45 lijekova. Identificirano je 68,6% lijekova u terapiji 96,8% ispitanika potencijalno neprikladnih barem prema jednom od deset MAI kriterija. Najčešći problem bile su neispravne ili nepotpune upute (24,8%), klinički neopravdane indikacije (19,6%) i lijek-lijek interakcije (14,9%). Lijekovi najčešće uključeni u neprikladno propisivanje bili su oni s djelovanjem na probavni (16,3%), kardiovaskularni (16,0%) i živčani (8,6%) sustav. Najpropisivaniji PNL bio je antibiotik cefuroksim (n=25). Prosječan indeks prikladnosti po lijeku iznosio je 2,23 ± 2,25, a prosječan indeks prikladnosti po pacijentu je iznosio 15,90 ± 10,93. Najviše vrijednosti indeksa imali su lijekovi s djelovanjem na osjetila (6,50 ± 0,71) i koštano-mišićni sustav (5,25 ± 3,08). Učestalost PNL-ova bila je povezana s većim brojem lijekova u terapiji (p < 0,001). Učestalost potencijalno neprikladnog propisivanja u ovom je istraživanju bila vrlo visoka. Politerapija je bila povezana sa statistički značajno većom učestalosti PNL-ova.The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) identified by implicit criteria in hospitalized elderly patients with gastrointestinal diseases, and to explore the association of PIMs with demographic and clinical factors. A retrospective, cross-sectional observational study included emergently or electively admitted patients at the Department of Gastroenterology of Clinic for Internal Medicine, University Hospital Dubrava, in the period from October 2014 to October 2015. Including criteria were the age of 65 years or older and the gastrointestinal disease or neoplasm affecting gastrointestinal system. Based on the collected data, the appropriateness of each medication in therapy of every patient during hospitalization was assessed using implicit Medication Approprateness Index (MAI criteria), and thus PIMs were identified. Additionally, the association of PIMs with demographic and clinical factors was explored. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS v20 software. The study included 62 patients, average age 73,84 ± 5,55 years, who had average 5,94 ± 2,90 diagnosis and 7,15 ± 3,45 medications. There were 68,6% of medications in therapy of 96,8% of patients identified as potentially inappropriate according to at least one of ten MAI criteria. The most common problems were inccorect directions (24,8%), clinically unindicated medications (19,6%) and drug-drug interactions (14,9%). Drugs most commonly involved in inappropriate prescribing were those with effect on gastrointestinal (16,3%), cardiovascular (16,0%) and nervous (8,6%) system. The most commonly prescribed PIM was antibiotic cefuroxime (n=25). The mean MAI score per drug was 2,23 ± 2,25, and the mean MAI score per patient was 15,90 ± 10,93. The highest MAI scores had drugs with effect on sensory organs (6,50 ± 0,71) and musculo-skeletal system (5,25 ± 3,08). The prevalence of PIMs was associated with higher number of medications (p < 0,001). The prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescribing in this study was very high. Polytherapy was associated with statistically significantly higher incidence of PIMs

Intermittent Drug Treatment of BRAFV600E Melanoma Cells Delays Resistance by Adaptive Resensitization to Drug Rechallenge

Melanoma patients receiving drugs targeting BRAFV600E and MEK1/2 invariably develop resistance and continue progression. Based on preclinical studies, intermittent treatment involving alternating periods of drug withdrawal and rechallenge has been proposed as a method to delay the onset of resistance. The beneficial effect of intermittent treatment has been attributed to drug addiction, where drug withdrawal reduces the viability of resistant cells due to MAP kinase pathway hyperactivation. However, the mechanistic basis of the intermittent effect is incompletely understood. We show that intermittent treatment with the BRAFV600E inhibitor, LGX818/encorafenib, suppresses growth compared to continuous treatment in human melanoma cells engineered to express BRAFV600E, p61-BRAFV600E, or MEK2C125S oncogenes. While drug addiction is clearly observable, it fails to account for the advantageous effect of intermittent treatment. Instead, growth suppression is best explained by resensitization during periods of drug removal, followed by cell death after drug readdition. Continuous treatment leads to transcriptional responses prominently associated with chemoresistance in melanoma. By contrast, cells treated intermittently reveal a subset of transcripts that switch between successive cycles of drug removal and rechallenge, and reverse the expression of some, but not all, mediators of cell invasiveness and the epithelial to mesenchymal transition. These transcripts change during periods of drug removal by adaptive phenotype switching, rather than selection pressure. Resensitization occurs against a background of sustained expression of melanoma resistance genes, producing a transcriptome distinct from that of the initial drug-naive cell state. We conclude that phenotypic plasticity leading to drug resensitization can underlie the beneficial effect of intermittent treatment. Large-scale biological data sets are often contaminated by noise, which can impede accurate inferences about the underlying processes. We describe a general method for automatically reducing noise in large-scale biological data sets. These network filters use an interaction network to identify groups of correlated or anti-correlated measurements that can be combined to better recover an underlying biological signal, similar to image denoising. Applied to synthetic and real data sets, network filters accurately decrease the noise and improve the accuracy of machine learning tasks. Our results indicate the broad potential utility of network filters to applications in systems biology.</p

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