THE ESTABLISHMENT OF INTENSIVE APPLE ORCHARDS IN SERBIA

Serbia at the present time grows apple on an area of 25.917 ha with an average production of 412.000 tons per year. This production is almost 2.5 fold higher than in the period of 2001-2005., which is associated with establishment of new intensive orchards, starting from 2006.Apple production was moving from the locations, typically used for traditional apple production to the regions, mostly located in the different valleys, that poses enough quantity of fresh water for drip irrigation. The new established orchards are equipped with anti-hail net preventingfruit damagesagainst hail or intensive sunlight. The most dominant cultivars are different clones of Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Gala and Red Delicious, which are mostly grafted on M9 rootstock. Spacing between the rows is the same as in the past (3.0-3.5 m), while  distance withinthe rows is significantly reduced and now is 0,5-0,9 m, which provide 3,200-6,250 trees ha-1. Tree height reaches 2.20-3.0 m. Large and well feathered nursery trees are used for planting, which provide fast returns of high investment. “Knip” nursery trees  as 2-year-old trees with one-year old crown are preferred for establishing new orchards. After planting, light pruning is usually applied. Only lateral shoots at the tip which are too steep and too vigorous lateral shoots along the leader are removed in its base. This type of pruning, which promotes fruit bud production and early cropping, reduces vegetative growth of the tree. In the case of good development of the trees after planting ,  they can be loaded up to 40 fruits in the second growing year, providing a yield of more than 30 tons per hectare. Production in the third leaf can achieve 40-50 t ha-1 and full production, which usually started in the fourth leaf, more than 60 t ha-1can be expected depends on cultivar and growing conditions. Pruning of the mature trees means cutting of the strong watersprouts, the upright shoots and the strong terminal shoots at the top of the tree at their base, remaining only weak fruit-bearing wood. The fruit thinning is regularly applied in modern apple orchards, starting from the second growing year, in order to achieve regular yield and uniform fruit quality.. For this purpose plant growth regulators such as auxins [naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) or naphthalene acetamide (NAAm)] and cytokinin [6 - benzyladenine (BA)] are used. Recently, herbicide metamitron, as a new chemical thinners that at a low dosage reduces photosynthesis and consequently enhances fruit drop are also used. Metamitron exhibited thinning activity when applied to apple fruitlets at the 6 to 15 mm in diameter, or even later, at 20 mm. It can be applied once or twice, depend on the weather conditions in the day of application and three days after

Sexual dimorphism in the neural impact of stress and alcohol

Alcohol use disorder is a widespread mental illness characterized by periods of abstinence followed by recidivism, and stress is the primary trigger of relapse. Despite the higher prevalence of alcohol use disorder in males, the relationship between stress and behavioral features of relapse, such as craving, is stronger in females. Given the greater susceptibility of females to stress-related psychiatric disorders, understanding sexual dimorphism in the relationship between stress and alcohol use is essential to identifying better treatments for both male and female alcoholics. This review addresses sex differences in the impact of stressors on alcohol drinking and seeking in rodents and humans. As these behavioral differences in alcohol use and relapse originate from sexual dimorphism in neuronal function, the impact of stressors and alcohol, and their interaction, on molecular adaptations and neural activity in males and females will also be discussed. Together the data reviewed herein, arising from a symposium entitled “Sex matters in stress-alcohol interactions” presented at the Fourth Volterra Conference on Stress and Alcohol, will highlight the importance of identifying sex differences to improve treatments for comorbid stress and alcohol use disorder in both populations

Dynamics of wet flue gas desulphurization in spray absorber

A concise one dimensional thermal-hydraulic two-fluid model is presented for the numerical prediction of sulphur dioxide absorption from the flue gas onto drops of the water-limestone slurry in the vertical spray tower absorber. The model is based on mass, momentum and energy balance equations for each phase separately, i.e. downward falling droplets of water-limestone slurry and upward flowing flue gas. The sulphur dioxide content in the flue gas is predicted by a balance equation of the sulphur dioxide mass fraction in the flue gas. Interface transfer processes between the flue gas and the droplets are determined by closure laws. The obtained steady-state balance equations are transformed in a form suitable for a direct application of the numerical integration method for the system of ordinary differential equations. The developed thermal-hydraulic model is validated by comparing numerical results with available measured data at the large utility absorber. The presented results clearly show the dynamics of flue gas and droplets thermal-hydraulic processes and their influence on the absorption process

Boiling and Condensation in Two-Phase System Transients with Water Hammer

Water hammer in two-phase systems, induced by direct steam condensation on subcooled water or by separation of subcooled water column, results in the most intensive pipeline pressure surges. Amplitudes of pressure spikes along the course of these dangerous transients strongly depend on the condensation and evaporation rates. The present paper provides a literature overview of thermal-hydraulic models for the prediction of water hammer phenomenon in two-phase systems, together with an original mechanistic approach for the prediction of phase transition rates, based on the shape and size of vapor-liquid interfacial area and the phase transition potential expressed through vapor and liquid phase temperature difference. Available water hammer experimental conditions were numerically simulated with the new modeling approach. Driving parameters of boiling and condensation rates at the steam-water interfaces are evaluated, and a good agreement is shown between numerical results and experimental data of bulk two-phase flow parameters during water hammer transients

Evaluation of novel dendrimer-gold complex nanoparticles for theranostic application in oncology

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.tandfonline.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/nnm-2023-0355Aim: Despite some successful examples of therapeutic nanoparticles reaching clinical stages, there is still a significant need for novel formulations in order to improve the selectivity and efficacy of cancer treatment. Methods: The authors developed two novel dendrimerâ gold (Au) complex-based nanoparticles using twodifferent synthesis routes: complexation method (formulation A) and precipitation method (formulation B). Using a biomimetic cancer-on-a-chip model, the authors evaluated the possible cytotoxicity and internalization by colorectal cancer cells of dendrimerâ Au complex-based nanoparticles. Results: The results showed promising capabilities of these nanoparticles for selectively targeting cancer cells and delivering drugs, particularly for the formulation A nanoparticles. Conclusion: This work highlights the potential of dendrimerâ Au complex-based nanoparticles as a new strategy to improve the targeting of anticancer drugs.This work is financially supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 952603 (http://sgabu.eu/). This article reflects only the author’s view. The Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. For the experimental part of the study, we acknowledge BIONECA project – Biomaterials and advanced physical techniques for regenerative cardiology and neurology (CA16122) – and the FEDER funded project 2IQBIONEURO (0624 2IQBIONEURO 6 E). M Carvalho acknowledges her postdoctoral contract TERM RES Hub – Scientific infrastructure for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Ref Norte-01-0145-FEDER-02219015. D Caballero acknowledges the financial support from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the program CEEC Individual 2017 (CEECIND/00352/2017), and the project 2MATCH (PTDC/BTM-ORG/28070/2017) funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte supported by European Regional Development Funds (ERDF). This work was partially supported by IET A. F. Harvey Engineering Research Award 2018 (ENG The Cancer). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed

Uticaj godine na prinos i kvalitet zrna ozimih sorti pšenice

The small-scale trials over two years (2009/10th and 2010/11th), examined the six varieties of winter wheat (Vizija, Takovčanka, Kg 56 S, Kruna, Aleksandra and Planeta). Studied grain yield (t ha-1), weight of 1000 grains (g) and test weight (kg hl-1). Estimates were statistically significant differences for grain yield between varieties and years. Cultivars Vizija, Kg 56 S, Takovčanka and the Kruna have conducted surveys have shown a high degree of adaptability conditions of production of wheat and had a satisfactory yield in the examined vegetation seasons.U mikroogledima tokom dve godine (2009/10.-2010/11.), ispitivano je šest sorti ozime pšenice (Vizija, Takovčanka, Kg 56 S, Kruna, Aleksandra i Planeta). Istraživan je prinos zrna (t ha-1), masa 1000 zrna (gr) i hektolitarska masa (kg hl-1). Procenjene su statistički signifikantne razlike za prinos zrna između sorti i godina. Sorte Vizija, Kg 56 S, Takovčanka i Kruna su u sprovedenim ispitivanjima pokazale visok stepen adaptabilnosti uslovima proizvodnje pšenice i imale su zadovoljavajući prinos u ispitivanim godinama

Uticaj sezone i genotipa na prinos i kvalitet zrna kod ozimih sorti pšenice

The small-scale trials over two years (2011/12th and 2012/13th), examined the six varieties of winter wheat (Vizija, Takovčanka, Planeta, Kruna and Perfekta). Studied grain yield (t ha-1), weight of 1000 grains (g) and test weight (kg hl-1). Estimates were statistically significant differences for grain yield between varieties and years. Cultivars Vizija, Takovčanka and the Planeta have conducted surveys have shown a high degree of adaptability conditions of production of wheat and had a satisfactory yield in the examined vegetation seasons.U mikroogledima tokom dve godine (2011/12.-2012/13.), ispitivano je šest sorti ozime pšenice (Vizija, Takovčanka, Planeta, Kruna i Perfekta). Istraživan je prinos zrna (t ha-1), masa 1000 zrna (gr) i hektolitarska masa (kg hl-1). Procenjene su statistički signifikantne razlike za prinos zrna između sorti i godina. Sorte Vizija, Takovčanka i Planeta su u sprovedenim ispitivanjima pokazale visok stepen adaptabilnosti uslovima proizvodnje pšenice i imale su zadovoljavajući prinos u ispitivanim godinama

The CABB dataset: A multimodal corpus of communicative interactions for behavioural and neural analyses

We present a dataset of behavioural and fMRI observations acquired in the context of humans involved in multimodal referential communication. The dataset contains audio/video and motion-tracking recordings of face-to-face, task-based communicative interactions in Dutch, as well as behavioural and neural correlates of participants’ representations of dialogue referents. Seventy-one pairs of unacquainted participants performed two interleaved interactional tasks in which they described and located 16 novel geometrical objects (i.e., Fribbles) yielding spontaneous interactions of about one hour. We share high-quality video (from three cameras), audio (from head-mounted microphones), and motion-tracking (Kinect) data, as well as speech transcripts of the interactions. Before and after engaging in the face-to-face communicative interactions, participants’ individual representations of the 16 Fribbles were estimated. Behaviourally, participants provided a written description (one to three words) for each Fribble and positioned them along 29 independent conceptual dimensions (e.g., rounded, human, audible). Neurally, fMRI signal evoked by each Fribble was measured during a one-back working-memory task. To enable functional hyperalignment across participants, the dataset also includes fMRI measurements obtained during visual presentation of eight animated movies (35 minutes total). We present analyses for the various types of data demonstrating their quality and consistency with earlier research. Besides high-resolution multimodal interactional data, this dataset includes different correlates of communicative referents, obtained before and after face-to-face dialogue, allowing for novel investigations into the relation between communicative behaviours and the representational space shared by communicators. This unique combination of data can be used for research in neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, and beyond

Kalcizacija kiselih zemljišta u centralnoj Srbiji

Acidic soils are preset over 60% of the total arable land in Central Serbia. Yields of the majority of field crops that are achieve on acid soils are low and poor quality. The introduction of control of soil fertility and application of amelioration measures, especially liming, are significantly influenced to improvement of fertility of acid soils and increase yields of cultivated plant species. Also, by neutralizing the acidity of the soil there were positive changes in the degree of weed infestation of crops, changes in the structure of weeds, as well as greater efficiency of protection of cultivated plants from weeds. A substantial portion of acid soils in Central Serbia is not under control of soil fertility and use of fertilizer and without implementation liming as a measure of amelioration. Also, in this area do not exist demonstration experiments in order to monitor changes that cause the application of liming in soils, as well as the promotion of this important amelioration measures.U radu je dat pregled najvažnijih rezultata neutralizacije kiselih zemljišta Centralne Srbije primenom pH melioranata, naročiro upotrebom krečnog đubriva "Njival Ca". Na osnovu dosadašnjih istraživanja utvrđen je veoma pozitivan efekat primene kalcizacije na podizanje nivoa plodnosti svih proučavanih tipova kiselih zemljišta i to preko: povećanja njihove pH vrednosti, sadržaja organske materije, ukupnog azota, lakopristupačnog fosfora i kalijuma, značajnog smanjenja sadržaja mobilnog aluminijuma, gvožđa i mangana, kao i sadržaja pristupačnih formi teških metala. Takođe, neutralizacijom kiselih zemljišta značajno su povećani prinosi gajenih biljnih vrsta (od 30% do nekoliko puta), naročito osetljivih na niske pH vrednosti i sadržaj mobilnog Al. Primenom ove pedomeliorativne mere na kiselim zemljištima utvrđeno je i smanjenje zakorovljenosti i pozitivne promene florističkog sastava korova u usevima pojedinih biljnih vrsta