Do B chromosomes affect fecundity in yellow-necked mice Apodemus flavicollis (Rodentia, Mammalia)?

The effects of the presence of B chromosomes on fecundity of the yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis were studied in 46 females without and 28 with Bs from four localities in Serbia. Uterine inspection showed that there was no significant difference in the mean number of scars and embryos between females with and those without Bs. Thus, B chromosomes do not appear to affect the fecundity of females carrying them, indicating that the presence of Bs does not affect fitness characteristics.B hromozomi su dodatni hromozomi u odnosu na standardni komplement i nisu neophodni za preživljavanje. Javljaju se u gotovo svim taksonima kod oko 15% vrsta. Održavanje B hromozoma objašnjava se, u parazitskom modelu, kao balans suprotnih delovanja mehanizama akumulacije i eliminacije. U heterotičnom modelu, ravnoteža se postiže zahvaljujući pozitivnim efektima malog broja B hromozoma. U ovom radu ispitivani su efekti prisustva B hromozoma na fekunditet žutogrlog miša, Apodemus flavicollis, i to kod 46 ženki sa i 28 bez B hromozoma sa 4 lokaliteta u Srbiji. Analiza uterusa pokazala je da nema značajnih razlika u prosečnom broju ožiljaka i embriona među jedinakama sa i bez B hromozoma. Prema tome, B hromozomi nemaju efekte na fekunditet ženki koje su nosioci, odnosno njihovo prisustvo ne deluje na ovu značajnu fitnes karakteristiku. Prethodni nalazi, zajedno sa našim rezultatima, podržavaju heterotički model održavanja B hromozoma kod analizirane vrste.nul

Determination of biological activity of protein component in milk, modified for infant feeding, by pepsin-pancreatin digest index

Kao alternativa humanom mlijeku, u slučajevima kada majka ne može da hrani dijete vlastitim mlijekom, danas se u svijetu koristi najčešće kravlje mlijeko čiji je sastav modificiran da bi se približio sastavu humanog mlijeka. Kravlje mlijeko ima 3,5 puta više proteina od humanog mlijeka; osim toga u sastavu proteina kravljeg mlijeka nalazi se 79% kazeina i 21% serum proteinu, a u proteinima humanog mlijeka 35% kazeina i 65% serum proteina. Sastav serum proteina također nije identičan. U skladu sa ovim razlikuje se i amino-kiselinski sastav navedenih proteina i njihova biološka vrijednost. Cilj ovog rada bio je ispitivanje biološke aktivnosti modificiranih proteina u smjeru kazein-serum protein u proizvodnji "infant formula" pepsin-pankreatin testom. Ustanovljeno je utoliko veće povećanje aktivnosti ukoliko je sustav bliži proteinu humanog mlijeka.This study was carried out with the aim to determine biological activity of milk proteins, modified to supstitute human milk proteins in infant formulae, by pepsin-pancreatin digest index. The better biological activity was obtained by samples with higher simmilarity of modified milk proteins to human milk proteins

Do B chromosomes affect fecundity in yellow-necked mice Apodemus flavicollis (Rodentia, Mammalia)?

The effects of the presence of B chromosomes on fecundity of the yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis were studied in 46 females without and 28 with Bs from four localities in Serbia. Uterine inspection showed that there was no significant difference in the mean number of scars and embryos between females with and those without Bs. Thus, B chromosomes do not appear to affect the fecundity of females carrying them, indicating that the presence of Bs does not affect fitness characteristics.B hromozomi su dodatni hromozomi u odnosu na standardni komplement i nisu neophodni za preživljavanje. Javljaju se u gotovo svim taksonima kod oko 15% vrsta. Održavanje B hromozoma objašnjava se, u parazitskom modelu, kao balans suprotnih delovanja mehanizama akumulacije i eliminacije. U heterotičnom modelu, ravnoteža se postiže zahvaljujući pozitivnim efektima malog broja B hromozoma. U ovom radu ispitivani su efekti prisustva B hromozoma na fekunditet žutogrlog miša, Apodemus flavicollis, i to kod 46 ženki sa i 28 bez B hromozoma sa 4 lokaliteta u Srbiji. Analiza uterusa pokazala je da nema značajnih razlika u prosečnom broju ožiljaka i embriona među jedinakama sa i bez B hromozoma. Prema tome, B hromozomi nemaju efekte na fekunditet ženki koje su nosioci, odnosno njihovo prisustvo ne deluje na ovu značajnu fitnes karakteristiku. Prethodni nalazi, zajedno sa našim rezultatima, podržavaju heterotički model održavanja B hromozoma kod analizirane vrste.nul

A New Aculodes Species (Prostigmata: Eriophyidae) Described from an Invasive Weed by Morphological, Morphometric and DNA Barcode Analyses †

A new species of eriophyoid mite, Aculodes marcelli sp. nov., was discovered on cheatgrass, Anisantha tectorum (L.) Nevski (syn. Bromus tectorum L.), an annual grass that is native to Eurasia and Northern Africa. This grass was introduced to North America near the end of the 19th century and now is widespread and associated with the observed increases in the size, frequency, and intensity of wildfires in western N. America. In this paper, A. marcelli sp. nov., is morphologically described and illustrated. Compared with other Aculodes spp., it differs based on morphology and the sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene, subunit I (MT-CO1). Results of morphometric analysis showed clear differentiation between A. marcelli sp. nov., and the most similar congener, A. altamurgiensis from Taeniatherum caput-medusae. Analysis of MT-CO1 sequence divergence revealed significant levels of genetic variation (17.7%) and supported the results from the morphometric analysis; therefore, it is determined that they are two different species. Aculodes marcelli sp. nov., is a new candidate agent for classical biological control of A. tectorum. © 2022 by the authors

Distribution of B chromosomes in age categories of the yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis (Mammalia, Rodentia)

The presence of B chromosomes (Bs) is frequently found in populations of yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis. Differences in frequencies of Bs in age categories were analyzed in 717 animals in order to clarify the mechanisms of their maintenance in populations of A. flavicollis. The absence of statistically significant differences in the frequency of Bs between six age categories indicates that the maintenance of Bs in populations can be explained by in terms of their contribution to overall genetic diversity of the species rather than by parasitic behavior.Prekobrojni hromozomi nazivaju se B hromozomi ako zadovoljavaju tri kriterijuma: nisu neophodni za preživljavanje, ne sparuju se sa hromozomima A seta i ne nasleđuju se mendelovski. B hromozomi su vrlo često prisutni u populacijama žutogrlog miša, Apodemus flavicollis. Njihovo održavanje u populacijama objašnjava se sa dva suprostavljena modela. Model označen kao parazitski tvrdi da se B hromozomi održavaju zahvaljujući mehanizmu akumulacije uprkos štetnim efektima na fitnes nosilaca. S druge strane, heterotički model sugeriše da u odsustvu akumulacije mali broj B hromozoma ima adaptivnu prednost za nosioce, dok veći broj može biti štetan. Ako B hromozomi, koji su označeni kao parazitski, redukuju fitnes kod jedinki koje su njihovi nosioci, onda je očekivano da frekvenca jedinki sa B hromozomima opada sa starošću. Analizirana je razlika u frekvenci B hromozoma u uzrasnim kategorijama kod 717 jedinki sa ciljem da se razjasne mehanizmi njihovog održavanja u populacijama A. flavicollis. Odsustvo statistički značajnih razlika u frekvenci B hromozoma između 6 uzrasnih kategorija ukazuje da se održavanje B hromozoma u populacijama ove vrste može objasniti njihovim doprinosom ukupnoj genetičkoj raznovrsnosti pre nego parazitskim ponašanjem.Projekat ministarstva br. 14301

Autogenic training as a therapy for adjustment disorder in adolescents

INTRODUCTION Autogenic training is a widespread technique used in psychotherapy. The British school of autogenic training cites a large list of diseases, health states, and life changes, in which autogenic training can be of help. We wanted to explore the application of autogenic training as a therapy for adjustment disorder in adolescents. The sample consisted of a homogeneous group of 31 individuals, with an average age of 17.3±0.2 years, who were diagnosed with adjustment disorder, F 43.2, in accordance with ICD 10 search criteria. OBJECTIVE The aim of our work was to figure out the influence of autogenic training on adjustment disorder, through biophysical and biochemical indicators, and to research the efficacy of autogenic training as a therapy for adjustment disorder in adolescents. METHOD We observed adjustment disorder indicators and their changes in three phases, using initial, final, and control values, which we measured immediately before the beginning, immediately after the completion, and six months after the completion, of the practical course in autogenic training. We measured systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure, brachial pulse rates, cortisol levels in plasma, cholesterol levels in blood, as well as glucose concentrations. During that period, autogenic training was employed as the sole therapy. RESULTS The study confirmed our preliminary assumptions. The measurements we performed showed that arterial blood pressure, pulse rates, cholesterol and cortisol concentrations, after the application of autogenic training among adolescents suffering from adjustment disorder, were lower than the initial values. They remained lower even six months after the completion of the practical course in autogenic training. CONCLUSION We concluded that autogenic training significantly decreases the values of physiological indicators of adjustment disorder, diminishes the effects of stress in an individual, and eases the adaptation of adolescents to stress, helping with recovery

Diagnosis of mycotoxicoses in veterinary medicine

The problem of mycotoxin presence in animal feed and the consequences that arise due to this, represent a great challenge for anyone encountering them. In the chain which includes studies from prevention to treatment, a very important place and a frequent source of confusion is the process of diagnosing diseases caused by mycotoxins. The aim of this paper is to present a long experience of the team of experts at the Institute of Veterinary Medicine of Serbia in Belgrade, who follows this issue in terms of clinical manifestations of mycotoxicoses in different animal species, pathomorphological and pathohistological changes that characterize them, and laboratory analysis of feed which is the source of those biological hazards and natural contaminants. Based on the findings it could be concluded that mycotoxin contamination is common. Although these levels usually do not exceed the limits laid by the legislation, considering the cumulative effects and possible chronic exposure of animals to their harmful influence, appropriate and competent approach is necessary. Namely, even when direct losses, such as animals’ mortality, are not present, indirect losses, due to a drop of animal performances and production, as well as the occurrence of secondary infections, should not be neglected

Skull variation in Dinaric-Balkan and Carpathian gray wolf populations revealed by geometric morphometric approaches

Dinaric Balkan and Carpathian gray wolf (Cams lupus L, 1758) populations, although geographically separated. occupy closely situated areas in the territory of Serbia. We studied morphological variation in the skull to investigate whether the two populations are distinguishable despite the animals being very large and highly mobile and seeming to form one continuous population The size and shape of the mandible and cranium in the lateral view were compared between sexes and populations using landmark-based geometric morphometrics. Significant differences between sexes and populations were found for size and shape of both structures Males were larger than females in both populations, and Carpathian were lamer than Dinaric Balkan wolves Principal component analysis revealed the cranium to be a highly discriminative skull structure Zygomatic arches were located anteriorly in males and posteriorly in females Dinaric Balkan wolves had a more elevated snout and sagmal crest than Carpathian wolves. Difference between Dinaric Balkan and Carpathian wolves in the cranial flexion was observed for the first time in a comparative study of wolf populations. Present-day separation of Dinaric Balkan and Carpathian wolf populations could have originated from 2 different glacial refuges We presume that the observed morphometric divergence between the populations is not only a relic of the last glacial maximum but was further strengthened and shaped by synergistic effects of environmental factors and social behavior (territoriality and a dispersal mechanism influenced by the natal habitat) DOI: 10 1644/09-MAMM-A-265 1.Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Serbia [TR20019]; Ministry of Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia [143011

Cranial variation of the greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae) from the central Balkans

Cranial size and shape variation of the greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum from territories in Serbia and Montenegro was examined using geometric morphometric methods. Statistically significant size and shape differences among specimens from distinct geographic regions (the Carpatho-Balkanides, the Internal and External Dinarides) were observed. Bats from the Carpatho-Balkanides have the smallest crania, while those from the External Dinarides have the largest ones. Compared to specimens from the Carpatho-Balkanides, bats from the other two regions have crania wider in the temporal and elongated in the facial region, while the basicranial region is smaller. Our analysis of sexual size dimorphism revealed no statistically significant differences between males and females. Even though significant sexual shape dimorphism was observed, cranial shape differences among bats from different geographic regions exceeded those between sexes. We also found that size and shape vary with climatic factors. Allometry has statistically significant effect on cranial shape variation and somehow contributes to covariation between cranial shape and environmental variables. Although the examined bats were from a relatively small territory, we have provided new insights into important issues like geographic variation, sexual dimorphism and allometry in this species. (C) 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia {[}173003