Noninvasive research of arterial splanchnic circulation in liver cirrhosis:correlation with serum nitric oxide (NO) and ammonia

Hiperdinamski splanhnicni i sistemski protok krvi je tipican za bolesnike sa cirozom jetre. Kombinacija arterijske vazodilatacije i povecanog intravaskularnog volumena je neophodna za potpuno ispoljavanje hiperdinamskog cirkulatornog stanja. Ciroza jetre je udružena sa perifernom vazodilatacijom koja je posledica efekata sistemskih vazodilatatornih supstanci, zbog cega je ciroza jetre sistemska bolest. Mnoge vazoaktivne supstance ucestvuju u nastanku portne hipertenzije. Meu njima, azot-monoksid (NO) je kljucni medijator koji, paradoksalno, reguliše sinusoidnu (intrahepaticku) i sistemsku/splanhnicnu cirkulaciju. Osnovni ciljevi ove doktorske disertacije bili su: 1. Merenje nivoa azotnih produkata metabolizma, kao potentnih vazo-aktivnih medijatora: serumskog azot-monoksida (NO) i serumskog amonijaka (NH3) kod bolesnika sa cirozom jetre i zdravih kontrola. 2. Pokazati promene NO i NH3 u odnosu na klinicke parametre kod bolesnika sa cirozom jetre. 3. Poreenje vrednosti serumskog NO i NH3 sa podacima izmerenih protoka krvi u visceralnim krvnim sudovima jetre, bubrega, slezine i creva kod bolesnika sa cirozom jetre u poreenju sa zdravim kontrolama (ultrasonografska merenja takoe ukljucuju merenje dijametra krvnih sudova, brzine protoka krvi i zapreminski protok). Ucesnike ove prospektivne studije cinilo je 70 pacijenata sa prethodno dijagnostikovanom cirozom jetre, sa i bez ascitesa, koji su leceni u Urgentnom centru KCS, na Klinici za gastroenterologiju i hepatologiju KCS i ambulantno u Hepatološkoj ambulanti Klinike za gastroenterologiju i hepatologiju KCS. Vazodilatatorni fenomen se ispitivao na osnovu merenja lumena i protoka u splanhnicnim arterijama (a.hepatica, a.lienalis, a.renalis, a.mesenterica superior) metodom ultrasonografije i kolor Doppler tehnikom. Kod svih pacijenata su bila uraena neinvazivna ispitivanja koja su obuhvatala: merenje nivoa NO i NH3 u serumu bolesnika sa cirozom jetre..

Modal identification of a flexible footbridge using output-only methods

This work researches the modal frequencies identification of a footbridge structure by output only technique. The structural system of the footbridge herein considered is a continuous curved girder, i.e. belongs to a frequently used one all around the world in urbanized areas. It is located on the Princeton University campus in the US and serves as an on-site laboratory for short- and long-term research and educational purposes. The investigation utilizes measurements collected by long-gauge fiber optic strain sensors installed along the main-span and south-east leg of the structure. The power spectral density of the distributed long-gauge dynamic strain response in terms of curvature is used for detecting the modal frequencies of the footbridge. Pedestrian loading represents the external excitation. However, detailed information on the load intensity, frequency and distribution are lacking. This aspect represents the challenge of the present research with the aim to obtain as much information as possible about the modal characteristics of the footbridge from very limited dynamic information (only on the structural response) and without knowing the input conditions. Previously published research serves as a guide for evaluating the effectiveness of the results and the effectiveness of the employed methodology. This preliminary step paves the path to further research, i.e., (i) to the implementation of a refined finite element model of the entire structure for dynamic analysis, and (ii) to the development of a new wireless sensor network, by using as a reference the results from the existing embedded fiber optic sensor

Deformation behavior of two continuously cooled vanadium microalloyed steels at liquid nitrogen temperature

The aim of this work was to establish deformation behaviour of two vanadium microalloyed medium carbon steels with different contents of carbon and titanium by tensile testing at 77 K. Samples were reheated at 1250°C/30 min and continuously cooled at still air. Beside acicular ferrite as dominant morphology in both microstructures, the steel with lower content of carbon and negligible amount of titanium contains considerable fraction of grain boundary ferrite and pearlite. It was found that Ti-free steel exhibits higher strain hardening rate and significantly lower elongation at 77 K than the fully acicular ferrite steel. The difference in tensile behavior at 77 K of the two steels has been associated with the influence of the pearlite, together with higher dislocation density of acicular ferrite. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. OI174004

THE INFLUENCE OF THE BERRY SIZE ON THE SKIN ANTHOCYANINS CONTENT OF SOME BLACK WINE VARIETIES

The influence of the berry size on the skin anthocyanins content of the black wine grape varieties Cabernet sauvignon (clone 169), Merlot (clone 348) and Pinot noir (clone 115) was studied. Research was conducted in vineyard of Experimental estate “Radmilovac” and  in the laboratory of  Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade. The aim of the research was the determination of an anthocyanin of malvidin-3-glucoside on the berry skin. For all three varieties, berries were separated into three categories: small, medium and large. Based on the results, the goal was to compare the berry skin anthocyanin content of different sizes of berries. Determination of fertility coefficients, yield indicators, analysis of the composition and structure of clusters and berries and the content of sugars and total acids were performed regularly. The obtained results on the content anthocyanin of malvidin-3-glucoside were expressed in mg/g skin fresh weight. Varieties Cabernet sauvignon and Pinot noir had an expected result, meaning that the highest anthocyanin content was recorded in the smallest berries (diameter < 7.5 mm). For the Merlot variety, the highest anthocyanin content was observed in the medium berries (diameter 7.6 – 10 mm). The lowest anthocyanin content in varieties Cabernet sauvignon and Merlot was obtained in the largest berries (diameter > 10.1 mm), which was the expected result, while in the Pinot noir variety the lowest anthocyanin content was registered in the medium category (diameter 7.6 – 10 mm). Variety Cabernet sauvignon (clone 169) showed the highest anthocyanins content (average 6.871 mg/g fresh skin weigh), followed by Merlot variety, clone 348 (average 4.61 mg/g fresh skin weigh), whereas the lowest anthocyanin content was observed in Pinot noir, clone 115 (average 4.05 mg/g fresh skin weigh)

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

Effect of starter cultures on survival of Listeria monocytogenes in Cajna sausage

The aim of the study was to evaluate the survival of Listeria monocytogenes during the production of Cajna sausage with short maturation time. Sausage batter was inoculated with three different serotypes 4b and serotype 1/2. of L. monocytogenes. Control sausages were without any starter culture added; the second batch was inoculated with strains of Lactobacillus sakei, Staphylococcus carnosus and Staphylococcus xylosus, and the third batch was inoculated with strains of Debaryomyces hansenii, Lactobacillus sakei, Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Staphylococcus carnosus and Staphylococcus xylosus. After 18 days of ripening, L. monocytogenes was not detected in any of the sausages, but during this fermentation and drying, the numbers of this pathogen was lower in the sausages inoculated with starter cultures

Patterns of human and porcine gammaherpesvirus-encoded BILF1 receptor endocytosis

The viral G-protein-coupled receptor (vGPCR) BILF1 encoded by the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is an oncogene and immunoevasin and can downregulate MHC-I molecules at the surface of infected cells. MHC-I downregulation, which presumably occurs through co-internalization with EBV-BILF1, is preserved among BILF1 receptors, including the three BILF1 orthologs encoded by porcine lymphotropic herpesviruses (PLHV BILFs). This study aimed to understand the detailed mechanisms of BILF1 receptor constitutive internalization, to explore the translational potential of PLHV BILFs compared with EBV-BILF1

Copper(II) complexes with different diamines as inhibitors of bacterial quorum sensing activity

Three copper(II) complexes, trans-[Cu(1,3-pd)(2)Cl-2]center dot H2O (Cu1; 1,3-pd is 1,3-propanediamine), trans-[Cu(2,2-diMe-1,3-pd)(2)Cl-2] (Cu2; 2,2-diMe-1,3-pd is 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine) and trans-[Cu(1,3-pnd)(2)Cl-2]center dot H2O (Cu3; 1,3-pnd is (+/-)-1,3-pentanediamine), were synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental microanalyses, IR, electronic absorption and reflectance spectroscopy and molar conductivity measurements. The antimicrobial efficiency of the complexes against four clinically relevant microorganisms and their antiproliferative effect on the normal human lung fibroblast cell line MRC-5 were evaluated. Since in many bacteria, pathogenicity is regulated by an intercellular communication process called quorum sensing (QS), the effect of the copper(II) complexes Cu1-3 on bacterial QS was examined. The obtained results showed that these complexes inhibited violacein production in Chromobacterium violaceum CV026, indicating their anti-QS activity via the homoserine lactone (HSL) pathway. Two biosensor strains were used to determine which pathway, C4-HSL (N-butanoylhomoserine lactone) or 3OC12-HSL (N-(3-oxododecanoyl) homoserine lactone), was affected by the copper(II) complexes. The biological activities of the copper(II) complexes were compared with those for the nickel(II) complexes of the general formula trans-[Ni(L)(2)(H2O)(2)]Cl-2 (L = 1,3-pd, 2,2-diMe-1,3-pd and 1,3-pnd)

Effect of vacuum and modified atmosphere packaging on microbiological properties of cold-smoked trout

Because of the importance of different packaging methods for the extension of fish shelf life, as a highly perishable food, the aim of the present study was to examine the effect of vacuum and modified atmosphere packaging on the total Enterobacteriaceae and lactic acid bacteria counts of cold-smoked Salmon trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) stored at 3 degrees C during six weeks. Trout fillets were vacuumed packaged (VP) or packaged in one of two different modified atmospheres, with gas ratio of 50% CO2/50%N-2 (MAP1) and 90% CO2/10%N-2 (MAP2) and analysed on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42. Both the total Enterobacteriaceae and total lactic acid bacteria counts increased in the trout fillets in all packaging types during storage. A significantly lower total Enterobacteriaceae count was determined in the MAP fish compared to the VP fish, with the weakest growth rate and lowest numbers attained in MAP2 fillets. The lactic acid bacteria count was higher in trout packaged in MAP compared to VP, with the highest number in the MAP with 90% CO2 (MAP2)

Phytoaccumulation of metals in three plants species of the Asteraceae family sampled along a highway

The aim of this study was to determine the ability of roots and above-ground parts of three plant species of the Asteraceae family (Matricaria inodora L., Achillea millefolium L., Crepis setosa Haller fill.) for bioaccumulation and translocation of eight metals (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr). Those plants were sampled directly along the lanes of the highway at the entrance into the City of Kragujevac, Republic of Serbia. The investigated metals are emitted into the air from road traffic and are deposited in the surrounding soil. Many of them are toxic to the living organism, and it is, therefore, necessary to apply effective, economical, sustainable methods for their removal from the environment. An example of such a method is as phytoremediation, based on the use of metal hyperaccumulator plants. The results of this research showed the species studied differ in the absorption, translocation and accumulation of investigated metals. They also showed that species M. inodora and A. millefolium (leaves) can be used for the phytoextraction of Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and Cr, species C. setosa (leaves) for Ca, Mg and Cu species M. inodora (stem) for Cr. The results further indicate that all three species absorb Zn from the soil and translocate it to the stems and leaves. All three of the studied species are suitable for phytostabilization of soils loaded with Zn, but only the species M. inodora and C. setosa can be applied in phytoremediation of this metal.&nbsp