Physicochemical characterisation of pottery from the Vinca culture, Serbia, regarding the firing temperature and decoration techniques

A study of decorated Neolithic pottery samples from the excavation site Plocnik, Serbia, was performed using X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. The investigated samples belong to the era of the Vinca culture that existed in the central Balkan region from the mid VI until the first half of the V millennium BCE. The mineralogical composition of the pottery samples and comparison of the investigated pottery with thermally treated local clay indicated firing temperatures in the range from 600 to 800 degrees C. Two different types of white pigments were identified in white incrusted decorations: calcium carbonate and bone white (composed of crushed bones). This is the first evidence of the use of bones for decorations in pottery of the Vinca culture from the excavation site Plocnik. In addition to this, it was revealed that the potters used the iron reduction technique for obtaining black decorations

Public perception of plant gene technologies worldwide in the light of food security

Achieving global food security is becoming increasingly challenging and many stakeholders around the world are searching for new ways to reach this demanding goal. Here we demonstrate examples of genetically modified and genome edited plants introduced to the market in different world regions. Transgenic crops are regulated based on the characteristics of the product in many countries including the United States and Canada, while the European Union, India, China, and others regulate process-based i.e., on how the product was made. We also present the public perception of state-of-the-art plant gene technologies in different regions of the world in the past 20 years. The results of literature analysis show that the public in Europe and North America is more familiar with the notion of genome editing and genetically modified organisms than the public in other world regionspublishedVersio

GEM Project-Derived Maize Lines Crossed with Temperate Elite Tester Lines Make for High-Quality, High-Yielding and Stable Silage Hybrids

Maize silage is fundamental for high milk production in dairy farming. The incorporation of new genetic diversity into temperate maize germplasm has the potential to improve adapted cultivars, and it could be especially useful for improving the nutrition of silage varieties. The goal of this study is to assess the potential for lines from the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize (GEM) project to compete with commercial silage hybrids when crossed with elite temperate-adapted testers. We examined 35 GEM-derived hybrids along with five commercial checks in seven environments across three years in trials that were arranged in randomized complete block designs. Hybrids were compared based on their potential for conversion into animal productivity units: milk yield per hectare (Milk ha−1) and milk yield per ton of silage (Milk t−1). Broad phenotypic variation was observed for both traits, and the broad-sense heritability of Milk ha−1 and Milk t−1 were 0.24 and 0.31, respectively. Five out of six hybrids in the top 15%, based on a multi-trait stability index, were GEM-derived hybrids. The large proportions of phenotypic variance attributed to genotype by environment interactions (GEI) for quality traits suggests that local adaptation should be leveraged for silage breeding that make use of GEM-derived materials

Increased cystatin F levels correlate with decreased cytotoxicity of cytotoxic T cells

Cystatin F is a protein inhibitor of cysteine peptidases, expressed predominantly in immune cells and localised in endosomal/lysosomal compartments. In cytotoxic immune cells cystatin F inhibits both the major pro-granzyme convertases, cathepsins C and H that activate granzymes, and cathepsin L, that acts as perforin activator. Since perforin and granzymes are crucial molecules for target cell killing by cytotoxic lymphocytes, defects in the activation of either granzymes or perforin can affect their cytotoxic potential

EMERGENCY ABDOMINAL ULTRASOUND AS SUFFICIENT DIAGNOSTIC MODALITY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF BILIARY ILEUS

Introduction: Biliary ileus is a rare emergency condition that mainly affects the elderly population, with a predominance of females and a mortality rate of 12-27%. It is a mechanical intestinal obstruction caused by the impaction of the biliary calculus within the gastrointestinal tract. It occurs due to the formation of bilio-enteric fistula, as a rare complication of cholelithiasis. Case report: A 73-year-old male patient with epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting was referred for ultrasound exam. The analysis of the clinical-biochemical status of the patient as well as the ultrasound examination of the abdomen itself raised the suspicion of small intestine obstruction, due to the enclaved biliary calculus. After an urgent exploratory laparotomy, the diagnosis was confirmed, and enterotomy was successfully performed with calculus extraction. Cholecysto-duodenal fistula has been confirmed as a major cause of biliary ileus. The post-operative course was uneventful. Conclusion: This case report highlights the enormous importance of ultrasound diagnostics in diagnosing biliary ileus using the criteria of The Rigler Triad, which includes pneumobilia, intestinal obstruction and ectopic calculus. Initialy unrecognisied cause of obstruction and a late diagnosis correlated with bad prognosis. Ultrasonographic examination of these patients, can be a sufficient diagnostic modality in making an accurate diagnosis and further surgical treatment of these patients

GEM Project-Derived Maize Lines Crossed with Temperate Elite Tester Lines Make for High-Quality, High-Yielding and Stable Silage Hybrids

Maize silage is fundamental for high milk production in dairy farming. The incorporation of new genetic diversity into temperate maize germplasm has the potential to improve adapted cultivars, and it could be especially useful for improving the nutrition of silage varieties. The goal of this study is to assess the potential for lines from the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize (GEM) project to compete with commercial silage hybrids when crossed with elite temperate-adapted testers. We examined 35 GEM-derived hybrids along with five commercial checks in seven environments across three years in trials that were arranged in randomized complete block designs. Hybrids were compared based on their potential for conversion into animal productivity units: milk yield per hectare (Milk ha−1) and milk yield per ton of silage (Milk t−1). Broad phenotypic variation was observed for both traits, and the broad-sense heritability of Milk ha−1 and Milk t−1 were 0.24 and 0.31, respectively. Five out of six hybrids in the top 15%, based on a multi-trait stability index, were GEM-derived hybrids. The large proportions of phenotypic variance attributed to genotype by environment interactions (GEI) for quality traits suggests that local adaptation should be leveraged for silage breeding that make use of GEM-derived materials

Antagonistic Interaction between Phosphinothricin and Nepeta rtanjensis Essential Oil Affected Ammonium Metabolism and Antioxidant Defense of Arabidopsis Grown In Vitro

Phosphinothricin (PPT) is one of the most widely used herbicides. PTT targets glutamine synthetase (GS) activity in plants, and its phytotoxicity is ascribed to ammonium accumulation and reactive oxygen species bursts, which drives rapid lipid peroxidation of cell membranes. In agricultural fields, PPT is extensively sprayed on plant foliage; however, a portion of the herbicide reaches the soil. According to the present study, PPT absorbed via roots can be phytotoxic to Arabidopsis, inducing more adverse effects in roots than in shoots. Alterations in plant physiology caused by 10 days exposure to herbicide via roots are reflected through growth suppression, reduced chlorophyll content, perturbations in the sugar and organic acid metabolism, modifications in the activities and abundances of GS, catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. Antagonistic interaction of Nepeta rtanjensis essential oil (NrEO) and PPT, emphasizes the existence of complex control mechanisms at the transcriptional and posttranslational level, which result in the mitigation of PPT-induced ammonium toxicity and in providing more efficient antioxidant defense of plants. Simultaneous application of the two agents in the field cannot be recommended; however, NrEO might be considered as the PPT post-treatment for reducing harmful effects of herbicide residues in the soil on non-target plants

Public perception of plant gene technologies worldwide in the light of food security

Achieving global food security is becoming increasingly challenging and many stakeholders around the world are searching for new ways to reach this demanding goal. Here we demonstrate examples of genetically modified and genome edited plants introduced to the market in different world regions. Transgenic crops are regulated based on the characteristics of the product in many countries including the United States and Canada, while the European Union, India, China and others regulate process-based i.e. on how the product was made. We also present the public perception of state-of-the-art plant gene technologies in different regions of the world in the past 20 years. The results of literature analysis show that the public in Europe and North America is more familiar with the notion of genome editing and genetically modified organisms than the public in other world regions