Benefits of inoculation with azotobacter in the growth and production of tomato and peppers

The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of Azotobacter chroococcum in tomato and pepper growth and production by using two types of inoculation - seed inoculation and seedling inoculation. The effect of inoculation was observed thirty days after sowing, thirty days after transplanting, and in the phase of technological maturity. The following were measured: height of the plants, dry matter of the plants and number and the weight of the fruits. Inoculation had a positive effect on these in both plants. With tomato, better results were achieved when seedlings were inoculated. With pepper, the length of the plant and the dry matter were greater with seedling inoculation, whereas the number and the weight of the fruits were greater with seed inoculation

Occupational exposure to blood and body fluids among health-care workers in Serbia

© 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the epidemiology of occupational accidents and self-reported attitude of health-care workers (HCWs) in Serbia. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs in selected departments of five tertiary care hospitals and in one secondary care hospital in February 2012. A previously developed self-administered questionnaire was provided to HCWs who had direct daily contact with patients. χ2 test and Student's t test were used for statistical analysis of the data. Results: Of the 1,441 potential participants, 983 (68.2%) completed the questionnaire: 655 (66.7%) were nurses/medical technicians, 243 (24.7%) were physicians and 85 (8.6%) were other personnel. Of the 983 participants, 291 (29.6%) HCWs had had at least one accident during the previous year and 106 (40.2%) of them reported it to the responsible person. The highest prevalence (68.6%) of accidents was among nurses/technicians (p = 0.001). Accidents occurred more often in large clinical centers (81.1%; p < 0.001) and in the clinical ward, intensive care unit and operating theater (p = 0.003) than in other departments. Seventy-six (13.1%) nurses/medical technicians had an accident during needle recapping (p < 0.001). Of all the HCWs, 550 (55.9%) were fully vaccinated, including significantly more doctors (154, 63.4%) than participants from other job categories (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There was a relatively high rate of accidents among HCWs in our hospitals, most commonly amongst nurses and staff working in clinical wards, intensive care units and operating theaters. The most common types of accidents were needlestick injuries and accidents due to improper handling of contaminated sharp devices or occuring while cleaning instruments or by coming into contact with blood through damaged skin or through the conjunctiva/mucous membranes

Nutritive characteristics of probiotic quark as influenced by type of starter

Quark was manufactured, under laboratory conditions, by standard batch process, from two types of milk: I) partially skimmed, with 1.6 % of fat and II) whole milk, with 3.5 % of fat. As starters, two probiotic cultures were applied: I) DVS-Probio-TecTM ABT- 1, Lactobacillus acidophilus-5, Bifidobacterium-12, S. thermophilus and II) DVS-Probio-TecTM ABT-2, Lactobacillus acidophilus-5, Bifidobacterium-12, S. thermophilus. Also, the traditional cheese culture (CH - N22) was used. The obtained Quark samples were tested by standard methods in order to determine their nutritive characteristics. The results have shown that probiotic starter ABT-1 ensured the highest level of utilization of fat, proteins, lactose and phosphorus from partially skimmed milk. Probiotic culture ABT-2 was less effective, but combined with the traditional starter and applied to a whole milk could give Quark with acceptable nutritive characteristics. When sensory characteristics of products were tested, it has been proven that the application of ABT-2 culture and combination of probiotic starters ABT-2 and traditional culture gave good products with typical mild flavor. On the contrary, inoculation with ABT-1 probiotic starter resulted in lower-quality products in case of both kinds of milk applied.

Prevalence, clinical characteristics, and predictors of peripheral arterial disease in hemodialysis patients: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundPeripheral arterial disease (PAD) is common in patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis, but is frequently underdiagnosed. The risk factors for PAD are well known within the general population, but they differ somewhat in hemodialysis patients. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PAD and its risk factors in patients on hemodialysis.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 156 hemodialysis patients. Comorbidities and laboratory parameters were analyzed. Following clinical examinations, the ankle-brachial index was measured in all patients. PAD was diagnosed based on the clinical findings, ankle-brachial index lt 0.9, and PAD symptoms.ResultsPAD was present in 55 of 156 (35.3%; 95% CI, 27.7-42.8%) patients. The patients with PAD were significantly older (6710years vs. 62 +/- 11years, p=0.014), more likely to have diabetes mellitus (p=0.022), and anemia (p=0.042), and had significantly lower serum albumin (p=0.005), total cholesterol (p=0.024), and iron (p=0.004) levels, higher glucose (p=0.002) and C-reactive protein (p lt 0.001) levels, and lower dialysis adequacies (p=0.040) than the patients without PAD. Multivariate analysis showed higher C-reactive protein level (odds ratio [OR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-1.06; p=0.030), vascular access by Hickman catheter (OR, 4.66; 95% CI, 1.03-21.0; p=0.045), and symptoms of PAD (OR, 5.20; 95% CI, 2.60-10.4; p lt 0.001) as independent factors associated with PAD in hemodialysis patients.ConclusionThe prevalence of PAD was high among patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis. Symptoms of PAD, higher C-reactive protein levels, and Hickman vascular access were independent predictors of PAD in patients on hemodialysis

Experimental Investigation of Pyrolysis Process of Agricultural Biomass Mixture

This paper describes an experimental investigation of pyrolysis process of agricultural biomass mixture, without the addition of inert gas. The mixture consists of corn stalk, wheat straw, soy straw and oat straw with equal mass fractions. During the experiment, the mass of biomass sample inside the reactor was 10 g with a particle diameter of 5-10 mm. The sample in the reactor was heated in the temperature range of 24-650ºC at average heating rates of 21, 30 and 54ºC/min. The sample mass before, during and after pyrolysis was determined using a METTLER P1000 digital scale. Experimental results of the sample mass change indicate that the highest yield of pyrolytic gas, achieved at 650ºC, was in the range from 74 to 81%, while char yield ranged from 19 to 26%. Heating rate of biomass mixture sample has significant influence on the pyrolytic gas and char yields. It was determined that higher heating rates in the reactor induce higher yields of pyrolytic gas, while the char mass reduces. Condensation of pyrolytic gas at the end of the pyrolysis process at 650ºC produced 1.3-1.8 g of liquid phase. The results obtained represent a starting basis for determining material and heat balance of pyrolysis process as well as agricultural biomass pyrolysis equipment

Časopis Geološki anali balkanskoga poluostrva - trenutno stanje i perspektive

The journal Geološki Anali Balkanskoga Poluostrva was founded by geologists and enthusiasts led by Prof. Jovan Žujović in 1888, while the first issue was published a year later. The first issue had 160 pages, containing 20 figures and a geological sketch map of the Kingdom of Serbia created by .ujovi., printed in color at a scale of 1:500000. For the first six decades, the journal did not have a regular annual periodicity, but since 1949, it has been published regularly every year. From the very beginning, the journal published articles from all geological disciplines, but also from mining, which makes it the oldest scientific and professional geological journal in Serbia, as well as in the Balkans. The journal shared the fate of the state and the people, so it was not published during the First and Second World Wars, while the general periodicity of the journal before the First World War was much weaker than between the two wars (1918.1941). Since 2017, following the publishing standards of the 21st century ] the journal has been accepting only online submission of papers through the Open Journal System (OJS) platform, which also represents the Internet presentation of the journal. In addition to the OJS platform, a digital library of the journal was created. It contains metadata about all published papers from the first to the last issue, according to the Dublin core standard, while the full PDF versions of works from 2002 are downloadable free of charge in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribute 4.0 International (CC BY) license. The editorial board plans to publish two issues per year since 2018, which is a basic precondition for a journal to be included in the evaluation process for assigning impact factor and indexing in the SCIe list

Tendencies in swine industry of Serbia though prism of economic indicators during the period of 2001-2014

У раду су разматране тенденциjе кретања броjа свиња по категориjама, производним показатељима, као и економским резултатима пословања у свињарству Србиjе у периоду од 2001. до 2014. године. Анализираjући броj свиња, може се установити да jе просечан броj свиња у Републици Србиjи био 3.484.000 са варирањем од 3.139.000 (2012) до 3.990.000 (2006. год.). Установљено jе да jе просечан броj прасади у испитиваном период био 1.138.000±167.200 грла, а просечан броj товних свиња био jе 1.936.000±175.100 грла. При анализи тенденциjе кретања укупног броjа свиња, броjа прасади и броjа товних свиња установљава се тренд са просечним годишњим смањењем од 1.165 грла прасади и смањењем броjа товних свиња од 4.248. Анализираjући кретање цена прасади у испитиваном периоду установљава се да jе она била просечно 1,90±0,37 евра, просечна цена товљеника у истом периоду била jе 1,36±0,27 евра. Анализираjући везу између цене кукуруза и цене прасади добиjамо негативан и низак коефициjент корелациjе (rxy=-0,40), што указуjе на малу и негативну зависност цене прасади у односу на промену цене кукуруза. Утицаj цене кукуруза на цену товних свиња готово jе занемарљив (rxy =0,18). Нешто већи и позитиван утицаj има промена цене товљеника на повећање цене прасади (rxy =0,57). Негативни коефициjенти економичности били су у 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007. и 2010. години.The paper considers with the tendency of changes in the number of pigs by categories, production indices, as well as the economic results of business in the swine production industry of Serbia in the period from 2001. to 2014. Analyzing the number of pigs, it may be found that the average number of pigs in the Republic of Serbia was 3,484,000 ranged from 3,139,000 (2012.) to 3.990.000 (2006). It was found that the average number of piglets in the tested period was 1,138,000±167,200, and the average number of fattening pigs was 1,936,000±175,100. When analyzing the tendencies of changes in the total number of pigs, piglets number and fattening pigs number we obtain trend with an average annual reduction of 1,165 piglets and reducing the number of fattening pigs of 4,248. Analyzing the price movements of pigs in the tested period, it can be established that it was 1.90±0.37 euros, average price of fattening pigs in the same period was 1.36±0.27 euros. Analyzing the relationship between the corn price and price of pigs we get negative and low correlation coefficient (rxy = -0.40), indicating small negative and dependency rates of piglets in relation to the price of corn. Impact of corn prices on the price of fattening pigs is almost insignificant (rxy = 0.18). Slightly larger and positive influence had a price change of fattening pigs to the price increase of piglets (rxy = 0.57). The negative economy coefficients were in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007. and 2010

Particle size analysis: (90)Y and (99m)Tc-labelled colloids

Colloidal particle size is an important characteristic to consider when choosing a radiopharmaceutical for diagnosis and therapeutic purposes in nuclear medicine. Photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to determine the particle-size distribution of (90)Y- and (99m)Tc-labelled antimony trisulfide (Sb(2)S(3)) and tin colloids (Sn-colloid). (90)Y-Sb(2)S(3) and (99m)Tc-Sb(2)S(3) were found to have a diameter of 28.92 +/- 0.14 and 35.61 +/- 0.11 nm, respectively, by PCS. By TEM, (90)Y-Sb(2)S(3) particles were measured to be 14.33 +/- 0.09 nm. (90)Y-labelled Sn colloid were found to exist with a d(v(max1)) of 805 nm and a d(v(max2)) of 2590 nm, by PCS, whereas (99m)Tc-Sn colloid was shown to have more than 80% of radioactive particles of approximately 910 nm by PCS. For (90)Y-labelled Sb(2)S(3) and Sn colloid, a comparison of TEM and PCS indicates that these techniques found significantly different mean diameters. TEM has an excellent resolution necessary for radiocolloid particle-sizing analysis, and it is a desirable size-measuring technique because it is more reliable than PCS

Spatial Segregation of Roma Settlements Within Serbian Cities. Examples from Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Kruševac

This chapter focuses on the spatial segregation of Roma settlements within Serbian cities, shaped by the long-standing ethnic distance and social exclusion. In order to understand the broader context, the historical background against which Roma settlements emerged in Serbia, as well as their current demographic, legislative, and urban characteristics, are briefly presented. Several forms of segregation of Roma settlements are analysed, including segregation as a consequence of racist hostility, institutional discrimination by city administration, and development-based conflicts. Examples of setting up a wall enclosing a Roma settlement in Kruševac, racist pressures that prevent the construction of housing for Roma in Belgrade and the reluctance to improve and legalise Roma settlements in Novi Sad, illustrate the various manifestations of segregation and division of urban space in Serbia.The Urban Book Serie

On the detectability of intelligent civilizations in the galaxy

In this paper we argue for the possibility that even in the event of a Galaxy teeming with extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) the probability of receiving recognizable signals from the ETIs may be very low. There are two majors factors that may limit our ability to detect other civilizations. (i) Evolutionary mismatches may cause difficulties analogous to humans attempting to communicate with lower primates. (ii) Independent evolutionary paths resulting from differing planetary/stellar environments may result in life whose cognitive processes and consequent perceptions of the universe are very different from ours. Interpreting signals from such civilizations may prove a very difficult or even futile task. Even on Earth, an example of a cognitive mismatch is that between humans and dolphins, where evolution in very different environments has led to difficulty in establishing communication between these two species. The main effect of the second factor is to limit communication while the effect of the first is to constrain what communication is possible to a "window of opportunity", a finite period of time, τω, when communication may be possible before diverging evolution makes it impossible. For example, if the number of ETIs in the Galaxy is one million and if τω 5 × 10 3 light years so that one star in 10 10 harbors such a civilization. If the above arguments are correct we reach the following conclusions. The absence of detected signals does not translate into an absence of ETI’s. Targeting individual stars in the search for ETI has a low probability of success. The use of radio signals is of limited value because with such large separations between "contactable" civilizations interstellar scintillation strongly limits the propagation of radio signals. Similarly, optical communication would be hindered by interstellar extinction. Possible alternatives to current searches for narrow band signals include listening for modulated broadband signals searching for narrow-band signals in the microwave/FIR spectrum and searching for evidence of artificially processed environments. All such searches would need to be "all sky" to have a reasonable chance of success