Characteristics of Serbian foreign trade of agricultural and food products

Agricultural and food products are a significant segment of the total foreign trade of Serbia, which is characterized by a relatively high import dependency, modest export and constantly present deficit. In such conditions, agrarian sector serves as a stabilizer, and its importance is reflected in the permanently positive balance, increased participation, particularly in total exports, and balancing the trade balance of the country. The aim of the paper is to analyze the basic characteristics of foreign trade of agricultural and food products of Serbia in the period 2005-2015. The tendencies in export, import, and the level of coverage of import by export of agro-food (or agrarian) products are analysed. The participation of these products in the total foreign trade of Serbia is also considered, followed by the comparison of this indicator with the neighbouring countries. In the next part of the paper, the structure of Serbian export and import of agricultural and food products (by product groups) is analysed. Special attention is given to the territorial orientation of export and import of agrarian products by the most important trade partners. In order to conduct more comprehensive analysis of comparative advantages, or competitiveness of certain groups of agro-food products of Serbia in the exchange with the world, indicator of Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) is calculated. The analysis of qualitative competitiveness is derived using the indicator - unit value of export and import. The analysis points to the dynamic growth in the value of Serbian export and import of agro-food products, with the constant surplus of trade balance in the observed period. These products are significantly represented in the structure of the total foreign trade of the country, particularly in export (with about 20%). RCA indicators show that Serbia has a comparative advantage in trade of agro-food products to the world in primary products and products of lower processing phase. The relatively low unit value of Serbian export of agricultural and food products, even lower than the unit value of import confirm the existence of unfavourable export structure with a dominant share of raw materials and products of lower processing phase comparing to import which is more represented by processed products of higher quality

Influence of Bi2O3 on microstructure and electrical properties of ZnO-SnO2 ceramics

The effects of small amounts (0.5; 1.0 and 1.5 mol. %) of bismuth oxide on the microstructure and electrical properties of ZnO-SnO2 ceramics have been studied. Starting powders of ZnO and SnO2 were mixed in the molar ratio 2:1. After adding Bi2O3 this mixture was mechanically activated for 10 minutes in a planetary ball mill, uniaxially pressed and sintered at 1300ºC for 2h. The phase composition of the sintered samples was analyzed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and by Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS). Morphologies were examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). An Impedance/Gain Phase Analyzer (HP 4194A) was used to measure the impedance spectra (100Hz - 10MHz) at different temperatures. The electrical DC resistivity/conductivity at different temperatures was measured using a High Resistance Meter (HP 4329A)

Trace elements and heavy metals in multifloral honeys from Serbia

This study was to determine the contents and any correlations of As, Cu, Zn, Fe, Cd and Pb in multifloral honeys. Honey, among other bee products, is a good bioindicator since it can reveal the connections between soil, plants and honeybees. Ninety-two samples of multifloral honey were collected from the retail market during the 2018 vegetation season and analyzed to determine mineral content. Analysis of the elements was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The most abundant element was Fe, with average concentration of 2.21 +/- 1.00 mg/kg, followed by Zn, Cu, Pb, As and Cd. The results obtained show positive correlations: Zn-As, Fe-As, Fe-Cu, Fe-Cd, Cd-Cu and Cd-Pb. Negative correlations are noticeable between Pb and all other minerals except Cd

Analysis of K-ras gene codon 12 mutation in pancreatic tissue of patients with pancreatic cancer

Ovo istraživanje je imalo za cilj da se analizira prisustvo mutacije u kodonu 12 gena K-ras u pankreasnom tkivu pacijenata sa karcinomom pankreasa i da se proceni da li ova mutacija predstavlja potencijalni molekularni marker za karcinom pankreasa u srpskoj populaciji. Istraživanje je obuhvatilo analizu 40 uzoraka tkiva pankreasa pacijenata sa kliničkom dijagnozom karcinoma pankreasa. Prisustvo mutacije u kodonu 12 gena K-ras analizirano je metodom PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length poly­morphism). Rezultati istraživanja ukazuju da je mutacija u kodonu 12 gena K-ras u tkivu pankreasa prisutna sa visokom učestalošću (66 %) kod pacijenata sa karcinomom pankreasa.The aim of this study was to analyze K-ras codon 12 mutation in the pancreatic tissue of Serbian patients with pancreatic cancer and assess whether the given mutation can be used as a molecular marker for this disease. The study was performed on pancreatic tissue samples obtained from 40 patients with clinical diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The presence of K-ras codon 12 mutation was analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Our study showed that K-ras mutation is present with a high frequency (66%) in the pancreatic tissue of patients with pancretic cancer

Comparative analysis of the anatomical structure of heartwood and sapwood selected Gymnocladus canadensis Lam. trees in Srpska Crnja

This paper shows the results obtained from the study of the macroscopic-microscopic structure (capillary system) in the growth stem of Gymnocladus canadensis Lam. originating from North America, which grows in 'Muzljanski rit' in the area of Srpska Crnja. Gymnocladus canadensis Lam. falls under the ring-porous species according to its porosity, with large tracheas in its early zone. The early zone trachea lumens, contained in the sapwood, reach dimensions of up to 160 μm, while early zone trachea lumens in the growth stem rings of the sapwood reach dimensions of up to 120 μm. Examination of the microscopic structure of this tree show good properties of the tree.Projekat ministarstva br. 3104

Concentrations of manganese and iron in some woody and herbs plants

Heavy metals are the substances that indicate environmental pollution. The plants polluted with heavy metals may endanger natural environment and cause health problems in humans. In our multidisciplinary research of the concentrations of pollutants in forest ecosystems and natural environment in Belgrade, we examined the contents of heavy metals essential for plants but harmful in greater concentrations on a long-term basis. The fact that heavy metals manganese and iron are accumulated in plants to the greatest extent focused our work on determination of the level of concentrations of Mn and Fe in the vegetative parts of 8 plant types on three locations on the Avala Mountain and one location in the centre of the city of Belgrade. The analyses of heavy metals contents in plants were performed by the method of flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The examination of the existence of important differences between the average values was performed by implementation of Duncan’s test for the level of significance of 95%. The current contents of heavy metals in plants in the area of the protected natural resource Avala do not represent danger that would presently cause notable damage to forests but show the tendency of the increase of concentrations. Therefore, this issue should be constantly monitored

CFTR gene analysis in patient with atypical cystic fibrosis

U ovom radu je prikazan slučaj atipične cistične fibroze sa graničnom vrednošću znojnog testa. U većini slučajeva znojni test je glavni dijagnostički parametar za dijagnostikovanje cistične fibroze, ali se dijagnoza može potvrditi samo na osnovu rezultata molekularno-genetičkog testiranja. Utvrđeno je da je pacijent složeni heterozigot za dve CFTR mutacije, F508del i D1152H. Prisustvo mutacije F508del detektovano je PSM metodom, dok je za analizu prisustva druge mutacije korišćena DGGE metoda. Strategija detekcije mutacija kod pacijenata sa cističnom fibrozom, naročito onih sa atipičnim prezentacijama bolesti koji nose ređe mutacije, trebalo bi da uključuje i direktne i indirektne metode molekularne dijagnostike.This paper reports a case of a patient presenting with atypical cystic fibrosis whose sweat test shows borderline values. In vast majority of cases the sweat test is essential diagnostic tool for establishing the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, but only after the molecular genetic testing the diagnosis can be confirmed. The patient was found to be compound heterozygote for two CFTR mutations, F508del and D1152H. The presence of F508del mutation was analyzed by PSM method, while the screening for the second mutation was performed using DGGE. The strategy of mutation detection in cystic fibrosis patients, especially those with atypical presentations who carry less frequent mutations, should include both direct and indirect methods of molecular diagnostics

Combined effect of GSTM1 gene deletion, GSTT1 gene deletion and MTHFR C677T mutation in male infertility

The aim of the study was to investigate the association between the GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene deletion and MTHFR C677T mutation and male infertility. The study has encompassed 52 infertile and 56 fertile males. Genotype distributions of GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene deletions and the MTHFR C677T mutation did not differ significantly among the analyzed groups, however, a difference in distribution of certain genotype combinations was observed. The obtained results indicate that carriers of double GSTM1/GSTT1 deletion and the MTHFR 677CC genotype are at higher risk of infertility than carriers of any other combination of genotypes (OR 3.5, 95%CI 0.68-18.30)

Determination of the Fatty Acids in Fish Tissue and Feed - Comparison of Different Methods and Statistical Evaluation

With the aim to reinforce laboratory competence in the field of testing the quality of fish from aquaculture, a study on the precision of fatty acid (FA) analyses in fish meat and fish feed was undertaken. Different methods were performed in laboratories. In situ transesterification method and extraction of lipids from the fish were followed by capillary gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. The reproducibility (R) values of the majority of FM were less than 3% of their absolute values. Differences in calculating ionization detector response factors and/or autoxidation caused by faulty sample-handling could lead to variation in quantification of FAs in fish, especially for FA C22:6n-3. Statistical analysis showed a significant correlation between the two laboratories quantifications of FM in fish and fish feed (Pearsons correlation coefficient; r = 0.987, r = 0.994, and r = 0.997; for fish Z [trout], fish g [rainbow trout], and fish feed, respectively). Overall, adequate accuracy was obtained in this study. The proposed method provides a fast and efficient means of identifying fish and feed for quality control purposes