Exposure to extremely low frequency (50 Hz) electromagnetic field changes the survival rate and morphometric characteristics of neurosecretory neurons of the earthworm Eisenia foetida (Oligochaeta) under illumination stress

An in vivo model was set up to establish the behavioral stress response (rate of survival) and morphometric characteristics of A1 protocerebral neurosecretory neurons (cell size) of Eisenia foetida (Oligochaeta) as a result of the synergetic effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF - 50 Hz, 50 μT, 17 V/m and 50 Hz, 150 μT, 17 V/m, respectively) and constant illumination (420-450 lux). If combined, these two stressors significantly (p<0.05) increased the survival rate of E. foetida in the 150 μT-exposed animals, because of delayed caudal autotomy reflex, an indicator of stress response. In addition, morphometric analysis indicated that there were changes in the protocerebral neurosecretory cells after exposure to the ELF-EMF. The present data support the view that short-term ELF-EMF exposure in “windows” of intensity is likely to stimulate the immune and neuroendocrine response of E. foetida

Agricultural Cooperatives and Unions of Cooperatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Opportunities for Improvement

Given the breakup of Yugoslavia and the ensuing war, there has been massive changes in the agricultural structure in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In particular, the remade cooperatives and the unions of cooperatives that are supposed to serve them are struggling. This paper examines the needs of the agricultural cooperatives to be more successful and identifies what support will likely come from the unions of cooperatives and what must come from other sources. Data was obtained in three ways: 1) questionnaires to a large group of cooperatives, 2) focus groups with a smaller number of cooperatives, and 3) personal interviews with union of cooperatives representatives. The findings indicated that the unions of cooperatives are working on institutional issues such as registering and auditing cooperatives, and resolving land ownership conflicts. However, since the cooperatives are not familiar with the market economy, they also need help in business management, marketing, legal services, and organizational effectiveness. It is not likely that the unions will be able to help the cooperatives with these issues. New partners such as the Ministry of Agriculture, colleges of agriculture, or non-governmental organizations should be tasked with providing this educational support.Bosnia and Herzegovina, agricultural cooperatives, union of agricultural cooperatives, agricultural development, Agribusiness,

Distribucija fitoplanktona u ribnjačkom jezeru Prevlaka (Bardača)

Područje Bardače je smješteno na krajnjem sjeveroistoku Lijevča polja, oko 50 km sjeverno od Banjaluke. Od 2007. godine je uvršteno u svjetsku listu zaštićenih močvarnih područja (tzv. „Ramsarsko područje“). Područje ribnjaka se sastoji od 11 bazena od kojih je bazen Prevlaka sa površinom od oko 160 hektara drugi po veličini. Šaran čini 95% ukupnog nasada ribe, dok su sa po 2% zastupljeni sivi tolstolobik i amur, a 1% nasada čine som i smuđ. Ribnjaci generalno trpe znatno veći antropogeni uticaj nego bilo koji drugi tip kopnenih voda. U šaranskim ribnjacima se odvijaju posebno komplikovani fizičko-hemijski i biološki procesi budući da je neophodno osigurati optimalnu sredinu za život riba i pritom racionalno iskoristiti biološko kruženje materije u vodi. Biološka produktivnost ribnjaka je uslovljena prije svega prisustvom biogenih elemenata u vodi, dinamikom njihove potrošnje i dodavanja u obliku stajskih ili mineralnih đubriva. Najjeftiniji način proizvodnje ribljeg mesa je iz prirodne hrane čiji razvoj se pospješuje đubrenjem. Jedan od efekata đubrenja jeste i povećavanje razvoja primarnih producenata, tj. fitoplanktona i makrofita. Planktonske alge najčešće pripadaju razdjelima Euglenophyta, Pyrrophyta i Chrysophyta, dok se predstavnici Cyanobacteria, Chlorophyta i Bacillariophyta mogu podjednako naći i u planktonu i u bentosu. Svaka vrsta pritom ima svoje posebno kretanje u toku godine, poseban životni ciklus, tempo razmnožavanja i specifične reakcije na spoljašnje uticaje. Unošenje nutrijenata u ribnjake dovodi do narušavanja homeostaze ekosistema. Prirodna sukcesija biocenoza u ribnjacima se narušava krajem uzgojne sezone kada se vrši ispuštanje vode. Tokom 2011. godine je praćen kvantitativni i kvalitativni sastav fitoplanktona u vodi bazena Prevlaka. Analize su pokazale da se bazen Prevlaka odlikuje znatnim diverzitetom ove grupe organizama, ali i visokom organskom produkcijom. Tokom 2011. godine u vodi je konstatovano prisustvo 85 taksona iz 7 razdjela fitoplanktona, uključujući i cijanobakterije. Kvalitativno je bilo najviše predstavnika razdjela Chlorophyta koje su bile zastupljene sa 31 taksonom. Sledeće po zastupljenosti su bile Bacillariophyta-e, Euglenophyta-e i Cyanobacteria-e. Krečenje vode, koje se provodi od aprila do jula, dovelo je do pomjeranja ili potpunog izostanka proljetnog maksimuma razvoja fitoplanktona. Znatno višu brojnost fitoplankton je dostigao u drugom, tzv. ljetno/jesenjem cvjetanju algi. Zbog konstantno visokog sadržaja organske materije u vodi izostala je faza čiste vode. I pored provedenih agrotehničkih mjera u vodi su bile brojne nepoželjne vrste cijanobakterija, dok su poželjne zelene alge u ljetnom periodu bile zastupljene u znatno manjem broju. U cilju poboljšanja ribnjačke proizvodnje trebalo bi vršiti kontinuiran monitoring fitoplanktona i u skladu sa njegovim razvojem provoditi odgovarajuće agrotehničke mjere

Report on the Status of Organic Agriculture and Industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Report on the Status of Organic Agriculture and Industry in Bosnia and Herzegovin

Report on the Status of Organic Agriculture and Industry in Montenegro

Report on the Status of Organic Agriculture and Industry in Montenegr

Rib waveguides for mid-infrared silicon photonics

Design rules for both single-mode and polarization-independent strained silicon-on-insulator rib waveguides at the wavelength of 3.39 mu m are presented for the first time to our knowledge. Waveguide geometries with different parameters, such as waveguide height, rib width, etch depth, top oxide cover thickness and sidewall angle, have been studied in order to investigate and define design rules that will make devices suitable for mid-IR applications. Chebyshev bivariate interpolation with a standard deviation of less than 1% has been used to represent the zero-birefringence surface. Experimental results for the upper cladding stress level have been used to determine the influence of top oxide cover thickness and different levels of upper cladding stress on waveguide characteristics. Finally, the polarization-insensitive and single-mode locus is presented for different waveguide heights. (C) 2009 Optical Society of Americ

Bioindicative values of microfungi in starch and possible deficiencies of the new Serbian regulation on food hygiene

The results of tests on the presence of yeasts and molds in cornstarch [AD ‘IPOK’ Zrenjanin, 2007-2008, made at the time when previous Regulations were valid] were analyzed in terms of bioindicative values of microfungi as indicators of quality and safety of raw material or final food products. Microbiological analysis was used to detect the presence of a number of microorganisms MMI-0001, and a questionnaire was designed at the Department of Public Health in Zrenjanin town (Republic of Serbia), where the anal­yses were done, regarding the microbiological tests on starch. In order to rationalize the analyses and make them more economical, several areas of product quality control (water, food, raw materials, space) were recommended either to be excluded or regarded as optional. Thus, analysis of presence of microfungi as indicators of product quality was categorized as optional. The results obtained from this research suggest a different conclusion because the bacteria in the samples indicated ˮmicrobiologically“, namely bacteriologically, safe samples of food, while, on the contrary, the presence of some microfungi as distinct xerophilous or xerotolerant microorganisms, indicated that the food was mycologically non-safe. The obtained data are crucial for questioning the decision to exclude the earlier required (mycological) analysis of the samples (in the production of starch, or end products, etc.) and categorize such analyses in new Regulations as optional, depending on the manufacturer’s preference. Bioindicative values of microfungi as indicators of the quality of starch, clearly point to the shortsightedness of the new Regulations on food hygiene and safety, where tests on certain microorganisms (in this case, yeasts and molds) are not legally defined as mandatory, but the Law leaves manufacturers a possibility to choose (or not to choose) the testing and frequency of testing on the presence (absence) of microorganisms, which can be risky, both in the production and marketing of the finial products. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. OI-179079

Fungi in the legislation of the Republic of Serbia

Conservation and protection of fungi have lately been considered as extremely important elements of the environmental conservation, and numerous environmental, scientific, medical, economic, cultural, ethical, and other reasons for such attitude exist today. This paper presents an overview of official regulations on the protection of fungi in the Republic of Serbia from the Act of Protection of 1991 until today. The paper lists and analyses the good and bad provisions of individual legal regulations. It registers the effects of the adopted regulations on the actual efficiency of protection of endangered species of fungi (macrofungi, mushrooms), and considers the impact of chronological development of legislation on the population of fungi in nature, and presents general measures to improve protection of mushrooms in the future. These measures primarily include reliable information and study of fungi as a basis for their effective protection based on scientific knowledge. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. OI-179079