CHARD PRODUCTION (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. vulgaris var. cicla) ON THE OPG ''BRKIĆ'' DONJI MIHOLJAC

Blitva (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. vulgaris var. cicla) je zeljasta dvogodišnja biljka iz porodice Chenopodiaceae. Vrlo je prilagodljiva kultura uz koju se vežu dvije teorije od podrijetlu: prva teorija govori da je blitva s područja oko Sredozemnog mora odakle je proširena na zemlje Srednjeg istoka i Europe još u rimsko doba, dok druga kaže da je blitva proširena iz Kine u Japan oko 17. godine prije Krista. Iako je niske energetske vrijednosti, ima odličnu kombinaciju vitamina i minerala koji pozitivno djeluju na ljudski organizam. Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi način uzgoja presadnica, vrijeme sadnje i mjere njege kod uzgoja blitve. Istraživanje je provedeno tijekom perioda rujan-listopad 2014. godine na OPG „Brkić“ Donji Miholjac. Pokus je postavljen u negrijanom plasteniku za uzgoj presadnica. Istraživanje je provedeno na sorti srebrnolisna, najraširenijoj sorti u Hrvatskoj. Blitva je sijana u supstrat ORTOSEMINA-20 u polistirenske kontejnere s 209 sjetvenih mjesta te je dosegla veličinu za sadnju nakon 5 tjedana uzgoja. Tijekom istraživanja zabilježeni su sljedeći parametri: visina biljke bez supstrata, visina biljke sa supstratom, dužina korijena bez supstrata, količina vode za navodnjavanje, dnevne i noćne temperature u plasteniku za uzgoj presadnica te mjere njege presadnica. Ovo istraživanje presadnica blitve pokazalo je da je blitva vrlo prilagodljiva kultura s obzirom na temperaturne razlike tijekom uzgoja, da joj nije potrebno svakodnevno zalijevanje, te da je vrlo zahvalna za uzgoj u zaštićenim prostorima. Ovi skromni pokazatelji prilagodljivosti presadnica blitve mogu poslužiti kao smjernica u daljnjem istraživanju ove visokovrijedne kulture.Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. vulgaris var. cicla) is an herbaceous biennial plant in the family Chenopodiaceae. It is highly adaptable culture on witch are related two theories about origin: the first theory suggests that the chard is from the area around the Mediterranean Sea from where it is expanded to the Middle East countries and Europe since Roman times, while the second says that the chard is expanded from China to Japan about 17 BC. Although it has the low energy value, it has an excellent combination of vitamins and minerals which have a positive effect on the human body. The aim was to determine the method of seedlings production, planting time and seedlings care. The study was conducted during the period September to October 2014 at OPG „Brkić“ Donji Miholjac. The experiment was set in the unheated greenhouse for seedlings. Inevestigation was carried out on swiss chard cord cultivar called Srebrnolisna, which is the most widespread cultivar in Croatia. Swiss chard is sown in ORTOSEMINA-20 supstrate in polysyrene containers with 209 planting sites and has reached planting size after 5 weeks of production. During the study following parameters were recorded: plant height without substrate, plant height with the substrate, root length without substrate, the amount of irrigation water, day and night temperatures in the greenhouse for seedlings and seedlings care. This study of chard seedlings showed that chard is highly adaptive culture considering to temperature variations during production, it requires no daily irrigation, and is worthy for the greenhouse production. These modest adaptability indicators of chard seedlings can be used as guidance in the further research of this high value culture

Immunohistochemical evidence for the presence of a Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, Neuropeptide Y, and Substance P, in rat adrenal cortex after acute heat stress

Immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP), Neuropeptide Y (NPY), and the absence of Substance P (SP) immunoreactivity in the rat adrenal cortex. VIP- and NPY-immunoreactivity were detected in nerve fibers around the small blood vessels projecting into the capsule and cortical zones surrounding blood vessels and cortical cells. After acute heat stress, VIP- and NPY-immunoreactivities in the nerve fibers were reduced, probably as a result of the release of these peptides

Outer membrane vesicles of plant beneficial bacterial strain Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN make a contact with Arabidopsis thaliana roots

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are recognized as important mediators of intercellular communication in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. These lipid membrane – coated spherical nanoparticles carry proteins, nucleic acids and other cellular products, and facilitate exchange of these biomolecules among cells within an organism, but also between cells of different organisms, belonging to different species and even kingdoms. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), EVs produced by Gram-negative bacteria, are a significant mediator of microbial communication, involved in biofilm formation, virulence, and modulation of host immunity. OMVs of both pathogenic and plant beneficial bacteria have been shown to elicit plant immune responses. Investigations on the modes of OMV-plant cells interactions are still in their infancy, but gain rising attention. Aiming to monitor the interaction between OMVs of Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN, a plant growth promoting bacteria, and Arabidopsis thaliana roots, we isolated OMVs from bacterial culture in mineral medium, using an ion-exchange chromatography system. Isolated OMVs were labeled with lipid binding fluorescent dye Vybrant™ DiD and unbound dye was removed by washing vesicles on ultrafiltration columns. The same dye concentration in phosphate buffer saline, equivalently washed, was used as a control. A. thaliana roots, grown on Murashige and Skoog medium, were incubated with DiD-OMVs or control dye/buffer mixture, washed and observed under confocal laser scanning microscope. Red signals were observed in root hairs and epidermis in DiD-OMV treated plants, while in control-treated roots the same signals were missing. The results indicate direct contact of bacterial vesicles with epidermis and root hairs, which are indispensable for nutrient acquisition and plant-microbe interactions in rhizosphere. Further investigation will address the questions of the nature of OMVplant cell interaction, including potential delivery of OMVs cargo into host plant cells. Considering that OMVs are increasingly recognized as promising tools in biomedicine, exploring their potential for agronomical applications would be highly appreciated.Book of abstract: ICGEB WORKSHOP; Trends in microbial solutions for sustainable agriculture, 13 – 15 September 2023. Belgrade, Serbi

The Removal of Ni2+ and Cd2+ -ions onto Synthetic Mineral Based Composite Functionalized by Polyethylenimine

This study presents the synthesis of porous cordierite- based ceramics and its surface activation by polyethylenimine/nano-CeO2 for the heavy metal removal. The synthesis was carried out by the addition of following powders: MgO, Al2O3, and SiO2 in 2:2:5 molar ratios, respectively. The oxide(s) mixture was further processed in two sequential stages: i) ball milled in the ethanol for 40 minutes and palletized under the pressure of 3 t/cm2, as a pre-sintering process, and ii) the pallets were further sintered for 2h in the air atmosphere at 1350 oC, under a heating rate of 20 oC/min. The sintered mineral composite was crashed and sieved, and mixed with 20 wt % of nanocellulose, as a pore forming agent. Nanocellulose mixture was pressed into pallets under 5 t/cm2 and sintered at 700 oC, under a heating rate of 5 oC/ min. The obtained synthetic cordierite was further tested as the adsorbent activated by polyethylenimine/ nano-CeO2 for the removal of Ni2+ and Cd2+ -ions. The adsorption isotherms, kinetics models, and thermodynamic parameters were also analyzed, manifesting that the adsorption is a spontaneous and endothermic process. The phase composition of the pristine and activated cordierite was analyzed by the X-ray diffraction method (XRD), Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This work has shed light on the mechanism of heavy metals removal from the aquatic medium using the novel hybrid (nano)synthesized material

Exploring the interaction of Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) produced by Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN with Arabidopsis thaliana roots

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), extracellular vesicles (EVs) produced by Gram-negative bacteria, are increasingly recognised as promising tools in biomedicine due to their innate ability to interact with human cells and trigger immune responses. The interaction of OMVs of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) with plants, as well as with plant-pathogenic microorganisms, is far less explored. Considering the great importance of PGPBs for the development of sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions in agriculture, the study of the role of OMVs in PGPB-plant and PGPB-phytopathogen interactions holds valuable application potential. To investigate PGPB OMVs, we isolated and characterised OMVs produced by Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN, a PGPB strain known to enhance plant resistance to various abiotic and biotic stresses. After testing different methods for isolating and purifying OMVs, a commercially available affinity-based column system was selected as the most efficient. Outer membrane origin of isolated OMVs was confirmed using an essay for detection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). To examine the interaction of OMVs with plant cells, Arabidopsis thaliana roots were incubated with isolated P. phytofirmans PsJN vesicles, previously labelled with lipid binding fluorescent dye Vybrant™ DiD. Red signals were observed, under confocal laser scanning microscope, in root hairs and root surface in DiD-OMV treated plants, while in control-treated roots the same signals were missing. The results suggest direct contact of OMVs with root hairs, which are necessary for nutrient acquisition and plant-microbe interactions in rhizosphere. Our further research is focused on the characterization of OMV-associated RNA and its potential delivery into host plant cells.Small New World 2.0 4-5 September 2023., Graz, Austri

sustainable and resilient building design: approaches, methods and tools

The challenges to which contemporary building design needs to respond grow steadily. They originate from the influence of changing environmental conditions on buildings, as well as from the need to reduce the impact of buildings on the environment. The increasing complexity requires the continual revision of design principles and their harmonisation with current scientific findings, technological development, and environmental, social, and economic factors. It is precisely these issues that form the backbone of the thematic book, Sustainable and Resilient Building Design: Approaches, Methods, and Tools. The purpose of this book is to present ongoing research from the universities involved in the project Creating the Network of Knowledge Labs for Sustainable and Resilient Environments (KLABS). The book starts with the exploration of the origin, development, and the state-of-the-art notions of environmental design and resource efficiency. Subsequently, climate change complexity and dynamics are studied, and the design strategy for climate-proof buildings is articulated. The investigation into the resilience of buildings is further deepened by examining a case study of fire protection. The book then investigates interrelations between sustainable and resilient building design, compares their key postulates and objectives, and searches for the possibilities of their integration into an outreaching approach. The fifth article in the book deals with potentials and constraints in relation to the assessment of the sustainability (and resilience) of buildings. It critically analyses different existing building certification models, their development paths, systems, and processes, and compares them with the general objectives of building ratings. The subsequent paper outlines the basis and the meaning of the risk and its management system, and provides an overview of different visual, auxiliary, and statistical risk assessment methods and tools. Following the studies of the meanings of sustainable and resilient buildings, the book focuses on the aspects of building components and materials. Here, the life cycle assessment (LCA) method for quantifying the environmental impact of building products is introduced and analysed in detail, followed by a comprehensive comparative overview of the LCA-based software and databases that enable both individual assessment and the comparison of different design alternatives. The impact of climate and pollution on the resilience of building materials is analysed using the examples of stone, wood, concrete, and ceramic materials. Accordingly, the contribution of traditional and alternative building materials to the reduction of negative environmental impact is discussed and depicted through different examples. The book subsequently addresses existing building stock, in which environmental, social, and economic benefits of building refurbishment are outlined by different case studies. Further on, a method for the upgrade of existing buildings, described as ‘integrated rehabilitation’, is deliberated and supported by best practice examples of exoskeleton architectural prosthesis. The final paper reflects on the principles of regenerative design, reveals the significance of biological entities, and recognises the need to assign to buildings and their elements a more advanced role towards natural systems in human environments

Biological properties of extracellular vesicles and their physiological functions

In the past decade, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been recognized as potent vehicles of intercellular communication, both in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. This is due to their capacity to transfer proteins, lipids and nucleic acids, thereby influencing various physiological and pathological functions of both recipient and parent cells. While intensive investigation has targeted the role of EVs in different pathological processes, for example, in cancer and autoimmune diseases, the EV-mediated maintenance of homeostasis and the regulation of physiological functions have remained less explored. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the physiological roles of EVs, which has been written by crowd-sourcing, drawing on the unique EV expertise of academia-based scientists, clinicians and industry based in 27 European countries, the United States and Australia. This review is intended to be of relevance to both researchers already working on EV biology and to newcomers who will encounter this universal cell biological system. Therefore, here we address the molecular contents and functions of EVs in various tissues and body fluids from cell systems to organs. We also review the physiological mechanisms of EVs in bacteria, lower eukaryotes and plants to highlight the functional uniformity of this emerging communication system

Organoklorirani pesticidi u slatkovodnim ribama zagrebačkog područja

The aim of this study was to determine the level of organochlorine pesticides in freshwater fish from the Zagreb area, Croatia. The study included 215 freshwater fish samples from three sites: the Sava River, Lake Jarun, and five fishponds from the Zagreb surroundings. Organochlorine pesticides DDT and derivates, HCH, HCB, lindane, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor with epoxide, and methoxychlor were determined using the GC-ECD method. The determined amounts of organochlorine pesticides were within allowed concentration limits in all analysed fish samples. Median values ranged from below the detection limit of 0.01 µg kg-1 for dieldrin and metoxychlor to 2.00 µg kg-1 for DDT in the Cyprinidae fish family from the Sava River, Zagreb sampling site (group 1). This study has confirmed pesticide persistence in the overall ecosystem in our country despite the ban of some thirty years ago, like in many other parts of the world.Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi količinu organokloriranih pesticida u slatkovodnim ribama zagrebačkog područja. Obrađeno je ukupno 215 uzoraka slatkovodne ribe sa sljedećih triju lokacija: rijeka Sava, jezero Jarun i pet tzv. ekoloških jezera u okolici Zagreba. Organoklorirani pesticidi DDT i derivati, HCH izomeri (α-HCH, β-HCH and δ-HCH), HCB, lindan (γ-HCH), aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptaklor, heptaklorepoksid i metoksiklor) određivali su se metodom plinske kromatografije uz elektronapsorpcijski način detekcije i uz postignutu granicu detekcije od 0,01 µg kg-1. Vrijednosti ispitivanih organokloriranih pesticida u svim su uzorcima riba bile mnogo niže od maksimalno dopuštenih koncentracija. Vrijednosti medijana kretale su se od najnižih 0,01 µg kg-1 za dieldrin i metoksiklor do najviših 2,00 µg kg-1 za DDT u uzorcima riba porodice Cyprinidae s lokacije Sava - Zagreb. Utvrđeni ostaci preostalih ispitivanih pesticida potvrđuju kako njihovu uporabu na našim područjima tako i njihovu postojanost i prisutnost u cjelokupnom ekosustavu unatoč činjenici da je većina zabranjena u Hrvatskoj prije gotovo 30 godina, kao i u mnogim dijelovima svijeta

Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles 2018 (MISEV2018):a position statement of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles and update of the MISEV2014 guidelines

The last decade has seen a sharp increase in the number of scientific publications describing physiological and pathological functions of extracellular vesicles (EVs), a collective term covering various subtypes of cell-released, membranous structures, called exosomes, microvesicles, microparticles, ectosomes, oncosomes, apoptotic bodies, and many other names. However, specific issues arise when working with these entities, whose size and amount often make them difficult to obtain as relatively pure preparations, and to characterize properly. The International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) proposed Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles (“MISEV”) guidelines for the field in 2014. We now update these “MISEV2014” guidelines based on evolution of the collective knowledge in the last four years. An important point to consider is that ascribing a specific function to EVs in general, or to subtypes of EVs, requires reporting of specific information beyond mere description of function in a crude, potentially contaminated, and heterogeneous preparation. For example, claims that exosomes are endowed with exquisite and specific activities remain difficult to support experimentally, given our still limited knowledge of their specific molecular machineries of biogenesis and release, as compared with other biophysically similar EVs. The MISEV2018 guidelines include tables and outlines of suggested protocols and steps to follow to document specific EV-associated functional activities. Finally, a checklist is provided with summaries of key points

Water for all : Proceedings of the 7th international scientific and professional conference Water for all

The 7th International Scientific and Professional Conference Water for all is organized to honour the World Water Day by the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group (EHEDG), Danube Parks, Croatian Food Agency, Croatian Water, Faculty of Food Technology Osijek, Faculty of Agriculture in Osijek, Faculty of Civil Engineering Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek Department of Chemistry, Nature Park “Kopački rit”, Osijek- Baranja County, Public Health Institute of the Osijek- Baranja County and „Vodovod-Osijek“ -water supply company in Osijek. The topic of World Water Day 2017 was "Wastewater" emphasizing the importance and influence of wastewater treatments on global environment. The international scientific and professional conference Water for all is a gathering of scientists and experts in the field of water management, including chemists, biologists, civil and agriculture engineers, with a goal to remind people about the significance of fresh water and to promote an interdisciplinary approach and sustainability for fresh water resource management. The Conference has been held since 2011. About 300 scientists and engineers submitted 95 abstracts to the 7th International Scientific and Professional Conference Water for all, out of which 33 was presented orally and 62 as posters. 47 full papers were accepted by the Scientific Committee. 38 full papers became the part of the this Proceedings while 9 papers were accepted for publication in Croatian Journal of Food Science and Technology and Electronic Journal of the Faculty of Civil Engineering Osijek - e-GFOS