Low-nutrient R2A medium in monitoring microbiological quality of drinking water

The possibility of using low-nutrient R2A medium for determining the total count of aerobic mesophilic bacteria was investigated. Sampling of water from particular points of water treatment and distribution at Kruševac drinking water treatment plant was conducted. The samples were inoculated simultaneously on Plate Count Agar (PCA) and R2A media, and incubated at 37 °C and at room temperature. The bacterial count was determined after 48, 72, 120 and 168 h. The statistical analysis of the results showed significantly higher bacterial count on R2A medium compared to PCA. Moreover, a significantly higher bacterial count developed at room temperature compared to the temperature of 37 C. R2A medium recorded 3.6% of unsafe samples in the distribution system after the 7-day incubation at room temperature. On the basis of the ob¬tained results, an optimum method for determining the total count of aerobic mesophilic bacteria for all investigated waters has been defined. The process of incubation is predictable and it can be described by a mathematical model in the form of a polynomial of the second or the third power

INDICATORS OF SPECIFICITY OF CLIMATE: THE EXAMPLE OF PODGORICA (MONTENEGRO)

Climatic indices complexly display the climate of a place, and certainly influence its more qualitative characterization. In this paper, the specificity of the climate is analyzed, such as the degree of continentality and aridity, in the example of the city of Podgorica. The climate was considered on the basis of the data for almost the entire instrument period (1951–2017). The results obtained for thermal continentality show that maritime influences are primary and predominant, but the influence of the continent is also significant. In a hygric sense, the climate of Podgorica is characterized as poorly arid to poorly humid with significant oscillations during the year. The warmer period of the year, especially the summer, has the characteristics of arid climate. The colder period of the year, especially from November to February, has the characteristics of humid and even perhumidic climate, while the transitional seasons show signs of semi-aridity and semi-humidity

Specifičnosti klime Danilovgrada (Crna Gora)

Danilovgrad and the Bjelopavlića Plain belong to the submediterranean zone of the Mediterranean climate region. The aim of this paper was to determine some specific characteristics of the Danilovgrad climate, such as the degree of continentality, aridity and bioclimatic characteristics. Data used in the research cover the period 1955-2011. The results of the study showed the dominance of the continental effect on temperature, while oceanicity was less pronounced. In hygric terms, during most of the year the climate of Danilovgrad is characterized as low humid to perhumid. Moreover, in the period October-March it is very humid, which points to the domination of oceanic influences. During the three summer months, it is dry to very dry. Based on the average monthly values of the equivalent temperature - an indicator of physiological (subjective) feeling of heat, the winter months in Danilovgrad are not assessed as very cold. It is cold in January, and in February and December it is cool. It is fresh in March and November, comfortable in April and October, and warm in May and September. In Danilovgrad, in summer it is overheated and a little muggy. All considered indicators point to quite pronounced oscillations during the year, especially in terms of humidity. Comparing the obtained results with Podgorica, it can be concluded that the climate of Danilovgrad is more continental, a bit colder and wetter.Danilovgrad je centralno i najveće naselje na području Bjelopavlićke ravnice u Crnoj Gori. Sa klimatskog aspekta, područje Bjelopavlićke ravnice je pogodno za život i razvoj poljoprivrede. Međutim, u do sada poznatim klasifikacijama klime za Crnu Goru, dat je uopšteni opis pojedinih regija i mesta, uglavnom na osnovu analize srednjih mesečnih temperatura vazduha i količine padavina. Za Danilovgrad se može reći da ima blago modifikovnu mediteransku klimu, a to znači da su leta topla i prilično sušna, a zime blage i kišovite. Prema Kepenovoj klasifikaciji, klimatska formula Danilovgrada je Csa, prosečna godišnja temperatura je 14,60C, a godišnja suma padavina 2.216 mm. Cilj nam je bio da klimu ovog mesta što bolje i podrobnije opišemo, kroz analizu termičke kontinentalnosti, aridnosti i bioklimatske karakteristike. Analizom kombinovanih klimatskih elemenata, dat je kompleksniji prikaz i kvalitetnija karakterizacija klime Danilovgrada. Smatramo da će istraživanje imati značaja za lokalnu zajednicu u smislu boljeg razumevanja prirodnog okruženja i da se dobijeni rezultati mogu primeniti u poljoprivredi, vodoprivredi i energetici, turizmu i drugim delatnostima od važnosti za budući razvoj Danilovgrada i Crne Gore. Takođe, rezultati dobijeni u ovom radu biće korisni nauci, struci i opštem obrazovanju stanovništva, jer se radi o tematici koja sve više participira kod današnjeg čoveka. Za razmatranje specifičnosti klime Danilovgrada, korišćeni su podaci za instrumentalni period 1955-2011. Rezultati istraživanja su pokazali dominaciju kontinentalnog uticaja na temperaturu, dok je maritimnost slabije izražena. U higričkom smislu, tokom većeg dela godine klima Danilovgrada se karakteriše kao slabo humidna do perhumidna. Štaviše, u periodu oktobar - mart je veoma vlažno, što govori o dominaciji maritimnih upliva. Sušno do veoma sušno je tokom tri letnja meseca. Prema bioklimatskim pokazateljima, ni jedan mesec se ne karakteriše kao veoma hladan. Na osnovu srednjih mesečnih vrednosti ekvivalentne temperature, koja je korišćena kao pokazatelj fiziološkog (subjektivnog) osećaja toplote, tokom januara je hladno, a u februaru i decembru veoma prohladno. Sveže je u martu i novembru, ugodno u aprilu i oktobru, a toplo u maju i septembru. U Danilovgradu je leti pregrejano i malo zaparno. Svi razmatrani pokazatelji ukazuju na prilično izražene oscilacije tokom godine, naročito u pogledu vlažnosti. Dobijeni rezultati ukazuju da Danilovgrad ima slične termičke, higričke i bioklimatske karakteristike kao Podgorica (Burić et al., 2007), jer je rastojanje između ova dva grada oko 20 km. Ipak, Danilovgrad je više kontinentalniji, malo hladniji i vlažniji od Podgorice

The Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and the forest fires in France in the period 1980-2014

The study examines the connection between the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and the forest fires (the annual number of fires, the annual burned area and the average burned area per fire) in France in the period 1980-2014. In order to determine the strength of the correlation connection Pearson correlation coefficient (R) was used. Monthly, seasonal and annual values of AMO were used in calculations, and one year phase shift was performed (the values for the previous year were used). In burned area the highest values of R on the monthly level were recorded for April (-0.474) and January (-0.470), and on the seasonal level for winter (-0.459) and spring (-0.447). These values are statistically significant at the level of p=0.01. By phase shifting the highest level of correlation was obtained for the autumn (-0.489). In the average burned area per fire on a monthly level the highest value of R was for January (-0.522), and on seasonal for winter (-0.506). By phase shifting the highest value of R was obtained for autumn (-0.522). In the number of fires the highest values were recorded by phase shifting for September (-0.382) and autumn (-0.337). All R values recorded during the study had a negative sign (the correlation is antiphase). In addition, downward trends were determined for all three examined indicators of forest fires in the researched period (1980-2014). Results of the research could be used as a basis for the long-term forecast of the risk of forest fires, and the approach used in the research could be applied for the other areas of the world. However, the more detailed research of the effects of other teleconnections are necessary

FOUR DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND IN THE ASSESSMENT OF CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND FETAL BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS

U posljednjim desetljećima morfološke su studije fetalnog mozga kao i ultrazvučno prikazivanje intrauterine fetalne aktivnosti u stvarnom vremenu donijele neprocjenjive informacije o najvažnijim događajima u razvoju ljudskog središnjeg živčanog sustava (CNS). Prikazano je da razvoj fetalnog mozga napreduje kroz slijed kompliciranih histogenetskih procesa, koji se odražavaju na fetalnim obrascima ponašanja. Veliki razvojni događaji, poput uspostavljanja ¬neuralnih veza u različitim područjima mozga, praćeni su pojavom novih obrazaca fetalne aktivnosti ili promjenom već postojećih obrazaca. Predloženo je da bi se ultrazvučno praćenje fetalnog ponašanja moglo upotrijebiti za procjenu ¬integriteta fetalnog CNS-a i, po mogućnosti, za detekciju funkcionalnih i strukturalnih poremećaja mozga. Nove, napredne tehnike prikazivanja, kao što je četverodimenzionalni ultrazvuk, otvaraju nove perspektive za proučavanje fetalnih obrazaca ponašanja i unaprijeđuju razvoj dijagnostičkih strategija za ranu detekciju ili moguću prevenciju disfunkcija mozga. Važnost ovih istraživanja je naglašena nedavnim otkrićima da mnogi okolišni čimbenici, uzrokujući fetalni stres, mogu ometati neurološki razvoj fetusa i ostaviti dugotrajne posljedice na moždanoj strukturi i funkciji. Značajni događaji u funkcionalnom razvoju fetalnog mozga, kao i utjecaj čimbenika okoliša na neurološki razvoj fetusa, obradit će se u ovom pregledu.During the past few decades, morphological studies of fetal brain as well as ultrasonic imaging of fetal intrauterine activities in realtime have provided invaluable information about the most important events in the development of human central nervous system. It has been shown that development of the fetal brain proceeds through a sequence of complicated histogenetic processes, which are reflected in the fetal behavioral patterns. Major developmental events, such as the establishment of neural connections in different regions of the brain, are accompanied by the occurrence of new patterns of fetal activities or by the transformation of existing patterns. It has been suggested that the ultrasound ¬assessment of fetal behavior could be used for the evaluation of the integrity of fetal CNS, and possibly for the detection of functional or structural brain disorders. The new advanced imaging techniques such as four-dimensional sonography, might open a new perspective for the studying of fetal behavioral patterns and facilitate the development of diagnostic strategies for early detection or possible prevention of brain dysfunctions. The importance of these investigations is ¬underlined by the recent findings that many environmental influences causing the fetal stress can interfere with the fetal neurodevelopment and leave the long term and profound consequences on brain structure and function. The major events in the functional development of fetal brain, as well as the influence of environmental factors on fetal neurodevelopment will be discussed in this review

Synoptic characteristics of an extreme weather event: the tornadic waterspout in Tivat (Montenegro), on June 9, 2018

Recently Montenegro has often been faced with extreme weather events. The aim of this paper is to provide a detailed synoptic analysis of a severe weather event, a waterspout, and to confirm an indication that in most cases such events could potentially be forecasted, which is of great practical significance, since human lives and property can be saved. The paper presents the research results of synoptic and mesoscale weather conditions which created a favourable meteorological environment for a waterspout development in Tivat (Montenegrin coast) on June 9, 2018, around 01 UTC (03 CET). Based on field survey analysis, the rating of tornado intensity by the Fujita scale (F-scale) has been done by assessing the damage. The synoptic type for this situation was CLOSED-SW and was determined by a detailed examination of atmospheric circulation. The results presented in the manuscript can help decision makers in Montenegro to take certain adaptation measures (above all, in tourism and construction) in order to mitigate the negative consequences of weather extremes

Contribution to the study of climate change in Serbia using continentality, oceanity, and aridity indices

The aim of the study is to present some specific climatic conditions on the territory of the Republic of Serbia based on the analysis of four climate indices, which can help in understanding contemporary climate changes. Temperature and precipitation data from 31 meteorological stations for the period 1951–2010 were used. The relative homogeneity of the data series was done using the MASH v3.02 method. The indices used are: Johansson Continentality Index, Kerner Oceanity Index, De Martonne Aridity Index, and Pinna Combinative Index. Geospatial analysis of the distribution of the values of the four mentioned indices was done using the QGIS package 2.8.1. The results of the research show that the continentality effect is present in most of Serbia, while oceanity is observed locally, mainly in the western and southwestern parts of the country. The further analysis showed that there is no dry and semi–dry Mediterranean climate in Serbia. Considering that it is dry in the warmest part of the year (July–September), when the need for water is increased, which is clearly shown by the Walter climate diagram, as well as the fact that an increase in temperature and a decrease in precipitation during the vegetation period were observed in the second 30–year period (1981–2010), it can be concluded that in Serbia there is a tendency towards arid climate. The results presented in this paper can help decision makers to plan certain climate change adaptation measures

THE NORTH ATLANTIC OSCILLATION (NAO) AND THE WATER TEMPERATURE OF THE SAVA RIVER IN SERBIA

The data on the water temperature of the Sava in Serbia (hydrological stations Šabac and Belgrade, period 1961–2015) were used for the research, as well as the data on the surface air temperature. The temperature trends were determined and the significance (at p≤0.05 and p≤0.01) was established on the basis of the t-test. The Pearson correlation coefficient (R) was used for the calculation of the correlation. Increasing trends of the water temperature of the Sava were recorded in all cases at both stations. However, in the case of the HS Šabac, the trends for 6 months (February–April and September–November) were not statistically significant. In the case of the HS Belgrade, all the calculations (except for April) showed statistically significant increasing trends, which can be explained by anthropogenic influence. High level of correlation between the surface air temperature and the water temperature was also determined. In this research, the lowest values of R were recorded for October (0.561 for Belgrade), and on the seasonal level, for autumn (0.625 for Šabac). The research on the correlation between the water temperature of the Sava River and the NAO index showed the highest values of R for January (0.512 for HS Šabac and 0.528 for HS Belgrade). On the seasonal level, the highest values were recorded for winter (0.422 for HS Šabac and 0.432 for HS Belgrade)

Forest fires in Finland - the influence of atmospheric oscillations

In Finland, in the period 1996-2017, 28,434 forest fires were recorded (an average of 1,292.5 per year), and the total burned area was 11,922 ha (an average of 541.9 ha per year). In both cases, a statistically nonsignificant downward trend was recorded. Forest fires in Finland do not represent a particularly significant problem, primarily due to climatic characteristics, well-organized fire protection, and low density of population. The research of climate influence included the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and the Arctic Oscillation (AO). The statistically significant values (p lt = .05) of Pearson correlation coefficient were recorded for the August values of NAO and the surface area of burned forest (-0.44), the June values of NAO and the average surface area of forest burned per fire (-0.51) and the May AO values and the average surface area of forest burned per fire (-0.45). For the June values of NAO and the average surface area of forest burned per fire, the Lomb periodogram shows four significant peaks, and the match is at two, at 2.4 and 3.4 years, which supports the hypothesis of the connection between NAO and forest fires in Finland