Lichens as bioindicators of air quality in Dimitrovgrad (South-Eastern Serbia)

Air pollution detection in Dimitrovgrad has not been done yet. In this work different lichen have been used as a bioindication to establish different air pollution levels. At 18 investigated points 22 lichen taxa have been found. Using the Index of Atmospheric Purity (IAP) it has been found that there are 3 different air pollution zones in Dimitrovgrad: 'lichen desert', 'transitional' and 'normal zone'. The most sensitive lichen taxa in Dimitrovgrad are Evernia prunastra, Ochrolechia pallescens, Parmelia sulcata, and Physcia tenella and the most tolerant are Phaeophyscia orbicularis, Physcia adscendens, Physconia distorta, Physconia grisea, and Xanthoria parietina.

Analytical vs Numerical Calculation of Fatigue Life for Different Welded Joint Regions

This research will show the analytical way of determining the remaining life of a welded joint with a fatigue crack initiated in its heat affected zone. The calculation will be divided into two stages, since the fatigue crack propagated through the heat affected zone, and then through the parent material. The analysis will be related to specimens with different fatigue properties taken into account for both regions. These calculations included a number of models, since different crack lengths were used for the heat affected zone and the parent material. There were three pairs of different HAZ vs PM fatigue crack lengths, always with the assumption that the total crack length is 5 mm, due to measuring range of the used measuring foils. The aim of this analysis was to apply method typically used in fracture mechanics in order to determine the number of cycles in a welded joint with an initiated fatigue crack, depending on a number of parameters. Obtained results were then compared to the results from the numerical analysis for the same cases. While the total number of cycles was mostly unaffected by these changes, some noticeable differences were observed between individual welded joint regions in question, the heat affected zone and the parent material

Ventilatory lung function in workers in the tobacco industry

U cilju odgovora na pitanje u kojoj su meri profesionalne nokse registrovane u duvanskoj industriji mogle uticati na stanje ventilacije pluća eksponiranih radnika sprovedena su ispitivanja u radnoj sredini i na radnicima. U radnoj sredini je izvršena analiza tehnološkog procesa rada, rezultata mikroklimatskih merenja, hemijskih štetnosti i zaprašenosti. Ispitivanje ventilacije pluća sprovedeno je na 95 radnika eksponirane grupe i 129 radnika kontrolne grupe. Rezultati analize radne sredine ukazuju na prisustvo duvanske prašine iznad maksimalno dopuštenih koncentracija. lspitivanja ventilacije pluća eksponiranih radnika su pokazala statistički značajno sniženje vrednosti nekih primenjenih testova kod nepušača ove grupe u odnosu na nepušače kontrolne grupe, što objašnjavamo delovanjem navedenih noksi na radnom mestu.A study was carried out to determine respiratory hazards to workers in tobacco manufacture. The investigations at the workplace included analysis of the work technology and measurements of chemical pollutants and dust concentrations in the work rooms. Ventilatory lung function tests were performed in 95 workers exposed to tobacco dust and in 129 control workers. Results of workplace analysis showed the presence of tobacco dust levels exceeding the maximum permissible concentrations. The values of some lung function tests for exposed workers non-smokers were significantly lower than for control workers non-smokers. They could be attributed to the effect of occupational noxae on the respiratory system

Effects of α5 GABAA receptor modulation on social interaction, memory, and neuroinflammation in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Aims GABAergic modulation involved in cognitive processing appears to be substantially changed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In a widely used 5xFAD model of AD, we aimed to assess if negative and positive allosteric modulators of α5 GABAA receptors (NAM and PAM, respectively) would affect social interaction, social, object and spatial memory, and neuroinflammation. Methods After 10-day treatment with PAM, NAM, or solvent, 6-month-old transgenic and non-transgenic 5xFAD mice underwent testing in a behavioral battery. Gene expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, GFAP, and IBA-1 were determined in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex by qPCR. Results PAM treatment impaired spatial learning in transgenic females compared to solvent-treated transgenic females, and social recognition in transgenic and non-transgenic males. NAM treatment declined social interaction in transgenic and non-transgenic males, while had beneficial effect on cognitive flexibility in non-transgenic males compared to solvent-treated non-transgenic males. Transgenic animals have not fully displayed cognitive symptoms, but neuroinflammation was confirmed. NAM reduced proinflammatory gene expressions in transgenic females and astrogliosis in transgenic males compared to pathological controls. Conclusion PAM and NAM failed to exert favorable behavioral effects in transgenic animals. Suppression of neuroinflammation obtained with NAM calls for more studies with GABAergic ligands in amyloid beta- and/or tau-dependent models with prominent neuroinflammation

Curcumin loaded pegylated nanoemulsions designed for maintained antioxidant effects and improved bioavailability: A pilot study on rats

The current study describes the experimental design guided development of PEGylated nanoemulsions as parenteral delivery systems for curcumin, a powerful antioxidant, as well as the evaluation of their physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant activity during the two years of storage. Experimental design setup helped development of nanoemulsion templates with critical quality attributes in line with parenteral application route. Curcumin-loaded nanoemulsions showed mean droplet size about 105 nm, polydispersity index <0.15, zeta potential of −40 mV, and acceptable osmolality of about 550 mOsm/kg. After two years of storage at room temperature, all formulations remained stable. Moreover, antioxidant activity remained intact, as demonstrated by DPPH (IC50 values 0.078–0.075 mg/mL after two years) and FRAPS assays. In vitro release testing proved that PEGylated phospholipids slowed down the curcumin release from nanoemulsions. The nanoemulsion carrier has been proven safe by the MTT test conducted with MRC-5 cell line, and effective on LS cell line. Results from the pharmacokinetic pilot study implied the PEGylated nanoemulsions improved plasma residence of curcumin 20 min after intravenous administration, compared to the non-PEGylated nanoemulsion (two-fold higher) or curcumin solution (three-fold higher). Overall, conclusion suggests that developed PEGylated nanoemulsions present an acceptable delivery system for parenteral administration of curcumin, being effective in preserving its stability and antioxidant capacity at the level highly comparable to the initial findings

Fifth European Dirofilaria and Angiostrongylus Days (FiEDAD) 2016

Peer reviewe

Some characteristics of the state of lung ventilation in workers from the electronics industry

U cilju utvrđivanja uticaja profesionalnih respiratornih noksi na stanje bronhopulmonalnog sistema izvršena su ispitivanja u radnoj sredini i na radnicima Elektronske industrije na radnom mestu pored kalajnog kupatila i na lemljenju provodnika. U radnoj sredini nađene su sledeće hemijske nokse: olovo, kalaj, kalafonijum i etil-alkohol čije su koncentracije bile u granicama dozvoljenih. Upoređivanjem stanja ventilacije pluća 120 radnika Elektronske industrije i 129 radnika kontrolne grupe nađeno je značajno uvećanje celokupnog otpora strujanju vazduha u disajnim putevima pri mirnom disanju kod radnika Elektronske industrije pri čemu su opstruktivne promene mahom lokalizovane u malim disajnim putevima.To establish the effects of occupational respiratory noxae on the state of the bronchopulmonary system a study of the working environment and examinations of workers from the electronics industry whose workplaces were near tin baths and in conductor soldering shops were carried out. The following chemical noxae were found to be present in the working environment: lead, tin, calophonium and ethyl alcohol, all in permitted concentrations. Comparison of the state of lung ventilation in workers from the electronics industry (n = 120) and control workers (n = 129) pointed to a major increase in total air flow resistance during calm breathing in the exposed workers. The obstructive changes were mainly localized in the small airways

Ventilatory lung function in workers in the tobacco industry

U cilju odgovora na pitanje u kojoj su meri profesionalne nokse registrovane u duvanskoj industriji mogle uticati na stanje ventilacije pluća eksponiranih radnika sprovedena su ispitivanja u radnoj sredini i na radnicima. U radnoj sredini je izvršena analiza tehnološkog procesa rada, rezultata mikroklimatskih merenja, hemijskih štetnosti i zaprašenosti. Ispitivanje ventilacije pluća sprovedeno je na 95 radnika eksponirane grupe i 129 radnika kontrolne grupe. Rezultati analize radne sredine ukazuju na prisustvo duvanske prašine iznad maksimalno dopuštenih koncentracija. lspitivanja ventilacije pluća eksponiranih radnika su pokazala statistički značajno sniženje vrednosti nekih primenjenih testova kod nepušača ove grupe u odnosu na nepušače kontrolne grupe, što objašnjavamo delovanjem navedenih noksi na radnom mestu.A study was carried out to determine respiratory hazards to workers in tobacco manufacture. The investigations at the workplace included analysis of the work technology and measurements of chemical pollutants and dust concentrations in the work rooms. Ventilatory lung function tests were performed in 95 workers exposed to tobacco dust and in 129 control workers. Results of workplace analysis showed the presence of tobacco dust levels exceeding the maximum permissible concentrations. The values of some lung function tests for exposed workers non-smokers were significantly lower than for control workers non-smokers. They could be attributed to the effect of occupational noxae on the respiratory system