Experimental study of fragmentation products in the reactions 112Sn + 112Sn and 124Sn + 124Sn at 1 AGeV

Production cross-sections and longitudinal velocity distributions of the projectile-like residues produced in the reactions 112Sn + 112Sn and 124Sn + 124Sn both at an incident beam energy of 1 AGeV were measured with the high-resolution magnetic spectrometer, the Fragment Separator (FRS) of GSI. For both reactions the characteristics of the velocity distributions and nuclide production cross sections were determined for residues with atomic number Z $\geq$ 10. A comparison of the results of the two reactions is presented.Comment: 14 pages, 12 figure

Plesni i mikotoksini u zrnu kukuruza posle berbe

Incidence of toxigenic fungi (molds) and concentration of mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZON) and fumonisin (FB1) were studied in the maize grains collected immediately after harvesting in 2012. A total of 29 maize samples were analyzed and the highest incidence was determined for fungal species of Rhizopus (56.41%), Aspergillus (43.66%) and Fusarium (14.97%) genera. Significantly lower incidence was obtained for species of genus Penicillium (3.31%), and especially for species of genera Acremonium (1.38%), Alternaria (0.75%) and Cladosporium (0.14%). Among toxigenic fungi Aspergillus flavus (36.69%) was the most common species of Aspergillus genus, whereas the Fusarium verticillioides with 14.69% of incidence was the predominant species of Fusarium genus. In all studied maize samples, the presence of AFB1, ZON and FB1 mycotoxins was established, except for DON which was established in 75.86% samples. AFB1 was detected in average concentration of 13.95 μg kg-1 for 44.83% of samples, and average concentration higher than 40 μg kg-1 for 55.17% of samples. The average concentrations of DON which was detected was 235 μg kg-1, while it was 98.38 μg kg-1 and 3590 μg kg-1 for the presence of ZON and FB1, respectively. Moderate positive correlation was obtained between concentrations of AFB1 and FB1 (r=0.35), while weak positive correlation was established between concentrations ZON and DON (r=0.02).Učestalost toksigenih gljiva (plesni) i koncentracija mikotoksina aflatoksina B1 (AFB1), deoksinivalenola (DON), zearalenona (ZON) i fumonizina B1 (FB1) je proučavana u uzorcima zrna kukuruza prikupljenim odmah posle berbe u 2012. godini. U ispitivanih 29 uzoraka najveću zastupljenost imaju vrste iz rodova Rhizopus (56,41%), Aspergillus (43,66%) i Fusarium (14,97%). Značajno niža učestalost ustanovljena je za vrste roda Penicillium (3.31%), a posebno za vrste iz rodova Alternaria (0,75%) i Cladosporium (0,14%). Među toksigenim vrstama, A. flavus (36,69%) je bila najučestalija vrsta iz roda Aspergillus, dok je F. verticillioides sa prisustvom od 14,69% bila dominantna vrsta roda Fusarium. U svim ispitivanim uzorcima kukuruza ustanovljeno je prisustvo mikotoksina AFB1, ZON-a i FB1 (100%), osim DON-a koji je bio prisutan u 75,86% uzoraka. AFB1 je detektovan u prosečnoj koncentraciji od 13,95 μg kg-1 u 44,83% uzoraka i u prosečnoj koncentraciji od više od 40 μg kg-1 u 55,17% uzoraka. Prosečna koncentracija DON-a je bila 235 μg kg-1, ZON-a 98,38 μg kg-1 i FB1 3590 μg kg-1. Srednja pozitivna korelacija ustanovljena je između koncentracija AFB1 i FB1 (r=0,35), dok je slaba pozitivna korelacija utvrđena između koncentracija ZON-a i DON-a (r=0,02)

Properties of some Late Season Plum Hybrids from Fruit Research Institute Čačak

Since 1979 to 2012 fifteen plum cultivars were named and released in Fruit Research Institute, Čačak. Some of these cultivars, such as Čačanska Lepotica, Čačanska Rodna and Čačanska Najbolja are grown in most important plum growing countries in Europe. Also, these cultivars are used as parent cultivars in many plum breeding programs. In addition to the cultivars, large number of promising hybrids are created in Fruit Research Institute, Čačak and some of them, in this moment, are candidates for new cultivars. Therefore, in 2014 and 2015, we investigated the most important properties of four promising late season hybrids and standard cultivar ‘Stanley’. All four hybrids were harvested since beginning of September (34/41/87) until the beginning of the third decade of September (10/23/87). The earliest flowering time was recorded in hybrid 34/41/87 and the latest in standard cultivar ‘Stanley’. Hybrids 10/23/87 and 26/54/87 generally had the highest fruit weight and all three fruit dimensions. Also these hybrids had the highest content of total sugars and sucrose and highest pH value, but poorest total acids content. The highest content of invert sugars and total acids was recorded in hybrid 22/17/87. This hybrid also, had the highest yield per tree and per hectare while the hybrid 34/41/87 had the lowest these values. Standard cultivar ‘Stanley’ had the largest stone weight and the highest amount of soluble solids

A Numerical Model for Brownian Particles Fluctuating in Incompressible Fluids

We present a numerical method that consistently implements thermal fluctuations and hydrodynamic interactions to the motion of Brownian particles dispersed in incompressible host fluids. In this method, the thermal fluctuations are introduced as random forces acting on the Brownian particles. The hydrodynamic interactions are introduced by directly resolving the fluid motions with the particle motion as a boundary condition to be satisfied. The validity of the method has been examined carefully by comparing the present numerical results with the fluctuation-dissipation theorem whose analytical form is known for dispersions of a single spherical particle. Simulations are then performed for more complicated systems, such as a dispersion composed of many spherical particles and a single polymeric chain in a solvent.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figure

PRODUCTION OF MEAT FROM ENTIRE MALE PIGS

Proizvodnja nekastriranih u odnosu na kastrirane nerastove je unosnija i profitabilnija, jer nekastrirani nerastovi očituju bolja svojstva kvalitete mesa s većim udjelom mišićnog tkiva i većim sadržajem proteina u odnosu na kastrate. No, jedan od ključnih problema u proizvodnji nekastriranih nerastova je neodgovarajuća senzorska kvaliteta mesa, odnosno neugodan i oštar miris te okus koji je većini potrašača neprihvatljiv. Steroidni hormoni testisa, androstenon i razloženi L-triptofan skatol, glavni su spojevi odgovorni za takav miris i okus svinjskog mesa. Razina androstenona u tkivu nerastova povezuje se sa spolnom zrelošću dok razina skatola ovisi o uvjetima okruženja i hranidbe. Pritom je ustanovljeno da nerastovi za klanje uzgojeni na organski način ne osiguravaju pouzdano smanjenje neugodnih mirisa i okusa mesa. Jedan od predloženih načina smanjenja neugodnih mirisa i okusa mesa nerastova je hranidba čistim žitricama, cikorijom i hidrolizirajućim taninom. Nadalje, postupci kod transporta prije klanja doprinose povećanju razine stresa, a time i povećanju androstenona i skatola u adipoznom tkivu nerastova. Kod genetskih utjecaja postoje oprečna mišljenja, gdje se s jedne strane ne može dokazati i potvrditi učinak genotipa na neugodne mirise i okus mesa nerasta, a s druge strane se vjeruje kako će rezultati selekcije doprinijeti smanjenju rizika glede ovog važnog senzorskog svojstva mesa nekastriranih nerastova. U mnogim zemljama imunokastracijom nerastova izbjegla se visoka razina androstenona i skatola te se neugodan okus i miris mesa sveo na najmanju razinu. Zbog dobrobiti životinja očekuje se ukidanje kastracije od 1. siječnja 2018. godine u zemljama EU. Zbog toga je od velike važnosti pronaći druga rješenja vezana uz navedene probleme.Production of entire male pigs in comparison with castrate boars is more lucrative and profitable because entire male pigs reflect better meat quality traits with a higher amount of muscle tissue and protein content compared to castrate pigs. One of the key problems in the meat sensory quality of the entire boars is the unpleasant and pungent smell and taste that is unacceptable to most of the consumers. Testicular steroid hormones, androstenone and exploded L-tryptophan, skatole, are the main compounds responsible for such smell and taste of pork. The level of androstenone in boars’ tissue is associated with sexual maturity while the level of skatole depends on environmental conditions and diet. Reduction of unpleasant smell and taste of the meat is possible to achieve by feeding the animals with cereals, chicory and hydrolyzing tannin. Boars for the slaughter farmed in the organic way do not provide a reliable reduction of the unpleasant smell and taste of the meat. Stress during the transport contributes to the increase of the androstenone and skatole in the adipose tissue. There are diverse opinions in the case of genetic influences, where on the one hand it is not possible to prove and demonstrate the effect of genotype on unpleasant smells and taste of the meat, and on the other hand it is likely that the selection results contribute to the reduction of this important meat sensory trait of the entire male pigs. In many countries castration of the boars has decreased high levels of androstenone and skatole and also unpleasant taste and odor of meat has been reduced to the lowest levels. Due to the animal welfare it is expected castration in the countries of European Union will be repealed from January, 1. 2018. It is therefore of great importance to find other solutions related to these problems

Physicochemical and sensory characteristics of promising plum (Prunus domestica L.) genotypes bred at fruit research institute, Čačak

Five plum hybrids (38/62/70, IV/63/81, 32/21/87, 34/41/87 and 22/17/87) and newly released cultivar ‘Nada’, obtained by planned hybridisation and singled out within breeding programme at Fruit Research Institute, Čačak, were assessed for the main physical (fruit and stone weight and flesh percentage), chemical (soluble solids content, total and inverted sugars content, sucrose content, total acids content, pH value of fruit juice, ratio of soluble solids and total acids content and ratio of total sugars and total acids content) and sensorial (attractiveness, taste, aroma and consistency) traits compared with the standard cultivar ʻČačanska Lepoticaʼ. Results showed that the studied plum genotypes differed significantly in all of the assessed traits. Regarding the physical features, the best results were shown by hybrid 38/62/70, which had the highest fruit weight (56.92 g) and flesh percentage (96.91%), as well as by the new cultivar ‘Nada’, for which a larger fruit was observed in comparison to the standard (45.54 g and 42.24 g, respectively). Also, ‘Nada’ had better sensorial properties such as attractiveness, taste, aroma and consistency in relation to the other promising hybrids and the standard cultivar. From the aspect of all the studied sensorial characteristics, in addition to ‘Nada’, only hybrid 38/62/70 was aligned with the standard cultivar. Out of the studied genotypes, late ripening hybrid 22/17/87 had the best values of parameters of fruit chemical composition such as the soluble solids content (17.01%), total and inverted sugars contents (12.31% and 8.96%, respectively). The highest sucrose content (3.39%), pH value of fruit juice (3.51), as well as the highest ratio between soluble solids and total acids content (43.72) and ratio between total sugars and total acids content (32.58) were found in cultivar ‘Nada’. The highest total acids content (1.42%) was recorded in hybrid 32/21/87. Compared to ʻČačanska Lepoticaʼ, the same or better results in terms of the fruit chemical composition were determined in cultivar ‘Nada’ and hybrids 34/41/87 and 22/17/87. The study revealed existence of significant correlations between individual studied parameters of the fruit physical, chemical and sensorial properties

Elastic modulus of multi-walled carbon nanotubes produced by catalytic chemical vapour deposition

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are ideal structures for use as reinforcement fibres in composite materials, due to their extraordinary mechanical properties, in particular high Young's modulus (E∼1TPa). Usually the high value of E is taken as granted for all types of carbon CNTs. Here we demonstrate that multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) produced by catalytic chemical vapour deposition (CCVD) have low moduli (E<100GPa) independently of their growth conditions. We attribute this to the presence of structural defects. Additional high-temperature annealing failed to improve the mechanical properties. This study urges a better control of the growth process in order to obtain high strength CCVD grown MWCNTs suitable for reinforcement in large-scale industrial application

Environmental constraint of intraguild predation: Inorganic turbidity modulates omnivory in fairy shrimps

Omnivory is widespread in food webs, with an important stabilising effect. The strength of omnivorous trophic interactions may change considerably with changes in the local environment. Shallow temporary waters are often characterised by high levels of inorganic turbidity that may directly limit the food uptake of filter-feeding organisms, but there is little evidence on how it might affect omnivorous species. Anostracans are key species of temporary waters and recent evidence suggests that these organisms are omnivorous consumers of both phyto- and zooplankton. Using Branchinecta orientalis as a model species, our aim was to test how turbidity affects the feeding of an omnivorous anostracan. To do this, we used short-term feeding experiments and stable isotope analyses, with animals collected from soda pans in eastern Austria. In the feeding experiments, algae and zooplankton were offered as food either separately or in combination. The prey type treatments were crossed with turbidity levels in a factorial design. There was a pronounced decrease in the ingested algal biomass with increasing turbidity. Conversely, ingestion rates on zooplankton were less affected by turbidity. Stable isotope analyses from field material supported our experimental results by showing a positive relationship of the trophic position of anostracans and the trophic niche of the communities with turbidity. Our results show that turbidity modulates the intraguild trophic relationship between anostracans and their prey by shifting the diet of anostracans from more herbivorous in transparent to more carnivorous in turbid waters. Thus, inorganic turbidity might also have a community-shaping role in plankton communities of temporary waters through altering trophic relationships

An 800-million-solar-mass black hole in a significantly neutral Universe at redshift 7.5

Quasars are the most luminous non-transient objects known and as a result they enable studies of the Universe at the earliest cosmic epochs. Despite extensive efforts, however, the quasar ULAS J1120+0641 at z=7.09 has remained the only one known at z>7 for more than half a decade. Here we report observations of the quasar ULAS J134208.10+092838.61 (hereafter J1342+0928) at redshift z=7.54. This quasar has a bolometric luminosity of 4e13 times the luminosity of the Sun and a black hole mass of 8e8 solar masses. The existence of this supermassive black hole when the Universe was only 690 million years old---just five percent of its current age---reinforces models of early black-hole growth that allow black holes with initial masses of more than about 1e4 solar masses or episodic hyper-Eddington accretion. We see strong evidence of absorption of the spectrum of the quasar redwards of the Lyman alpha emission line (the Gunn-Peterson damping wing), as would be expected if a significant amount (more than 10 per cent) of the hydrogen in the intergalactic medium surrounding J1342+0928 is neutral. We derive a significant fraction of neutral hydrogen, although the exact fraction depends on the modelling. However, even in our most conservative analysis we find a fraction of more than 0.33 (0.11) at 68 per cent (95 per cent) probability, indicating that we are probing well within the reionization epoch of the Universe.Comment: Updated to match the final journal versio

Three dimensional ink-jet printing of biomaterials using ionic liquids and co-solvents

1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([C2C1Im][OAc]) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([C4C1Im][OAc]) have been used as solvents for the dissolution and ink-jet printing of cellulose from 1.0 to 4.8 wt%, mixed with the co-solvents 1-butanol and DMSO. 1-Butanol and DMSO were used as rheological modifiers to ensure consistent printing, with DMSO in the range of 41–47 wt% producing samples within the printable range of a DIMATIX print-head used (printability parameter < 10) at 55 °C, whilst maintaining cellulose solubility. Regeneration of cellulose from printed samples using water was demonstrated, with the resulting structural changes to the cellulose sample assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and white light interferometry (WLI). These results indicate the potential of biorenewable materials to be used in the 3D additive manufacture process to generate single-component and composite materials