Sharpening of the multistage modified comb filters

This paper describes the application of filter sharpening method to the modified comb filter (MCF) in the case of decimation factor, which is product of two or more positive integers. It is shown that in the case of multistage decimation with MCF, filters in each stage are also MCF. Applying the sharpening to the decimation filter in the last stage provides very good results, with savings in the number of operations comparing to the case of sharpening of the complete filter. Direct-form FIR polyphase filter structure is proposed for the filters in each stage

Silicon and Iron Differently Alleviate Copper Toxicity in Cucumber Leaves

Copper (Cu) toxicity in plants may lead to iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) deficiencies. Here, we investigated the effect of Si and Fe supply on the concentrations of micronutrients and metal-chelating amino acids nicotianamine (NA) and histidine (His) in leaves of cucumber plants exposed to Cu in excess. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) was treated with 10 mu M Cu, and additional 100 mu M Fe or/and 1.5 mM Si for five days. High Cu and decreased Zn, Fe and Mn concentrations were found in Cu treatment. Additional Fe supply had a more pronounced effect in decreasing Cu accumulation and improving the molar ratio between micronutrients as compared to the Si supply. However, the simultaneous supply of Fe and Si was the most effective treatment in alleviation of Cu-induced deficiency of Fe, Zn and Mn. Additional Fe supply increased the His but not NA concentration, while Si supply significantly increased both NA and His whereby the NA:Cu and His:Cu molar ratios exceeded the control values indicating that Si recruits Cu-chelation to achieve Cu tolerance. In conclusion, Si-mediated alleviation of Cu toxicity was directed toward Cu tolerance while Fe-alleviative effect was due to a dramatic decrease in Cu accumulation

Slika tijela kao klinički entitet i opći faktor latentne somatopsihičke anksioznosti u bolesnica s rakom dojke

Body image, and the impact of treatment on body image in women with breast cancer, remains an important issue for researchers and clinicians in the interdisciplinary fields of psychosocial oncology and rehabilitation. The paper presents a comparative analysis of research papers published in relevant research publications - European Journal of Cancer, Psycho-Oncology, Psychosomatic Medicine, Journal of Chronic Diseases, etc. – focusing on the issues of body image in women with breast cancer. The sample consisted of 25 research papers. The clinical entity of body image was analyzed on the basis of connection among dominant variables (breast cancer, quality of life, psychosocial adjustment, sexuality, body image) and different categories of complementary variables such as psycho-emotional determinants, psychosocial determinants, body experience, therapeutic approaches, and scientific evaluation. Based on the analysis of correlations among dominant and complementary variables which defined quasi-canonical factors, it seemed appropriate to call them an overall factor of latent somatopsychic anxiety. This factor might represent one of important components in consideration of the clinical entity of body image in diagnostics and therapy. The presented results arise from a scientific research project on “Complementary Supportive Therapies and Development of Life Potentials”, supported by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia.Slika tijela i utjecaj različitih oblika liječenja na doživljaj slike tijela u žena s rakom dojke važan je predmet znanstvenih i kliničkih istraživanja u interdisciplinarnom području psihosocijalne onkologije i rehabilitacije. U radu je prikazana komparativna analiza znanstvenih radova objavljenih u relevantnim znanstvenim časopisima: European Journal of Cancer, Psycho-Oncology, Psychosomatic Medicine, Journal of Chronic Diseases, itd. u kojima su se autori bavili problemskim područjem slike tijela u žena s rakom dojke. Obuhvaćen je uzorak od 25 znanstvenih radova. Klinički entitet slike tijela razmatran je na osnovi povezanosti između dominantnih varijabli (rak dojke, kvaliteta života, psihosocijalna adaptacija, seksualnost, slika tijela) i različitih kategorija komplementarnih varijabla kao što su psihoemocionalne determinante, psihosocijalne determinante, tjelesno iskustvo, terapijski pristupi i znanstvena evaluacija. Prikazani rezultati istraživanja proizašli su iz znanstvenog projekta „Komplementarne suportivne terapije i razvoj životnih potencijala pod potporom Ministarstva znanosti, prosvjete i športa Republike Hrvatske

Humiron® is an effective biodegradable source of chelated iron for plants: An iron-59 uptake study

Here we tested plants' ability to use iron (Fe) from the water-soluble commercial product Humiron® (a complex of Fe with highly purified and solubilized humic acids extracted from leonardite) as a source of chelated Fe for both strategy 1 (e.g. cucumber) and strategy 2 (e.g. barley) plant species grown under low Fe conditions. Iron from radioactive 59Fe-labelled Humiron® can easily be acquired by strategy 1 plant species via reduction of FeIII by the inducible plasma membrane-bound reductase, similarly to the reduction of synthetic FeIII-chelates. Strategy 2 plant species can also efficiently utilize Fe from Humiron® via ligand exchange between humates and phytosiderophores (PS). Moreover, the efficacy of Humiron® is comparable to Fe complexed with waterextractable humic substances obtained form peat. Being easily biodegradable this product can be used as an effective Fe source for organic crop production

Climate change modifies carbon sequestration in copper-polluted forest soils

Soil carbon (C) storage is a key ecosystem function which can provide globally important services such as climate regulation. The effect of climate change on the restoration of soil C storage potential on post-mining land, where the development of both soil and vegetation starts de novo, is still insufficiently understood. In this work we discuss how the recent changes of climate, effectuating temperature increase and overall habitat xerophytization have, during about 40 years, markedy modified the course of spontaneous succession and concomitantly the soil C sequestration potental in a model floodplain severely altered by long-term deposition of sulphidic waste from a copper (Cu) mine. Excessive Cu strongly reduces turnover of soil organic matter and adversely affects the revegetation process. Natural floods in this complex geomorphic setup on the other hand bring both pollutants and deficient nutrients to the affected floodplain. As the recent climate changes reduce the intensity of natural floods, two very different but highly specialized forest types are developing along the microelevation gradient (transects perpendicular to water channel) with up to 3-fold different topsoil C sequestration. This work shows how climate change can increase the vunerability of spontaneous restoration process primarily by reducing nutrient fluxes

Uticaj bele lupine na poboljšanje iskorišćavanja fosfora kod soje u kontrolisanim uslovima

White lupine (Lupinus albus L.) is considered as highly efficient in the P uptake and utilization of sparingly available source of soil phosphorus, due to morphological and physiological adaptations of roots. These plants have short roots with high density of rootlets, which poses a mechanism of the increased biosynthesis and efflux of citrate, which are capable of solubilising complexed aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe) from Al- and Fe-phosphates by chelation, thus increasing the availability of P. The aim of this work was to show that soya bean (Glycine hispida Max) could use a part of P that was mobilised in the lupine rhizosphere under conditions of low availability of P. Plants were grown in a greenhouse, in pots with acid soil and low available P (pH 5,5; 39 mg kg-1 P). White lupine and soya bean were grown as a single crop, as a control, and intercropped as well. The concentration of P in the white lupine leaf (0.20 % P) was significantly higher compared to soya bean (0.14% P) when grown separately (control). Leaf P concentration of soya bean intercropped plants was significantly increased compared to the single crop soya bean plants (around 43%) and reached the concentration obtained for lupine grown as the single crop. The P concetration in intercropped soya bean roots was only slightly increased compared to the single crop, while the highest P concentration occurred in white lupine. Results indicate that intercropping in general, can increase P availability for P-inefficient plants, particularly in acid soils where P from fertilisers can be immobilised due to a high content of Al and Fe.Bela lupina (Lupinus albus L.) pripada grupi biljaka efikasnih u iskorišćavanju fosfora (P) iz kiselih zemljišta, zahvaljujući morfološkoj i fiziološkoj prilagođenosti korenovog sistema. Ove biljke formiraju guste bočne korenove male dužine (klaster korenovi) koji ispoljavaju adaptivni mehnizam povećane biosinteze i efluksa citrata. Citrati, kao jaki helatori, u rizosferi heliraju aluminijum (Al) i gvožđe (Fe) iz nepristupačnih Al- i Fe-fosfata, prevodeći ih tako u oblik pristupačan za biljke. Cilj ovg rada bio je stoga da se pokaže da soja (Glycine hispida Max), gajena u združenoj setvi sa lupinom u uslovima slabe obezbeđenosti zemljišta pristupačnim P, može da iskoristi deo P koji je u zoni korenovog sistema lupine preveden u pristupačni oblik. Biljke su gajene u staklari u sudovima sa kiselim zemljištem, deficitarnim pristupačnim P (pH (u H2O) = 5,5; 39 mg P kg-1 zemljišta). Kao kontrola lupina i soja su gajene odvojeno kao čist usev. Koncentracija P u listu lupine (0,20 % P), bila je statistički značajno veća u odnosu na soju (0,14% P) kada su gajene kao čist usev (kontrola). U združenoj setvi koncentracija P u nadzemnom delu lupine nije se menjala u odnosu na kontrolu, dok se kod soje statistički značajno povećala (oko 43 % povećanja u odnosu na kontrolu). Ovi rezultati ukazuju da ovakav način združene setve može da utiče na poboljšano iskorišćavanje P kod P-neefikasnih biljaka, kao što je soja, posebno u jako kiselim zemljištima u kojima zbog visoke koncentracije Al i Fe postoji opasnost od imobilizacije P iz đubriva

Slika tijela kao klinički entitet i opći faktor latentne somatopsihičke anksioznosti u bolesnica s rakom dojke

Body image, and the impact of treatment on body image in women with breast cancer, remains an important issue for researchers and clinicians in the interdisciplinary fields of psychosocial oncology and rehabilitation. The paper presents a comparative analysis of research papers published in relevant research publications - European Journal of Cancer, Psycho-Oncology, Psychosomatic Medicine, Journal of Chronic Diseases, etc. – focusing on the issues of body image in women with breast cancer. The sample consisted of 25 research papers. The clinical entity of body image was analyzed on the basis of connection among dominant variables (breast cancer, quality of life, psychosocial adjustment, sexuality, body image) and different categories of complementary variables such as psycho-emotional determinants, psychosocial determinants, body experience, therapeutic approaches, and scientific evaluation. Based on the analysis of correlations among dominant and complementary variables which defined quasi-canonical factors, it seemed appropriate to call them an overall factor of latent somatopsychic anxiety. This factor might represent one of important components in consideration of the clinical entity of body image in diagnostics and therapy. The presented results arise from a scientific research project on “Complementary Supportive Therapies and Development of Life Potentials”, supported by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia.Slika tijela i utjecaj različitih oblika liječenja na doživljaj slike tijela u žena s rakom dojke važan je predmet znanstvenih i kliničkih istraživanja u interdisciplinarnom području psihosocijalne onkologije i rehabilitacije. U radu je prikazana komparativna analiza znanstvenih radova objavljenih u relevantnim znanstvenim časopisima: European Journal of Cancer, Psycho-Oncology, Psychosomatic Medicine, Journal of Chronic Diseases, itd. u kojima su se autori bavili problemskim područjem slike tijela u žena s rakom dojke. Obuhvaćen je uzorak od 25 znanstvenih radova. Klinički entitet slike tijela razmatran je na osnovi povezanosti između dominantnih varijabli (rak dojke, kvaliteta života, psihosocijalna adaptacija, seksualnost, slika tijela) i različitih kategorija komplementarnih varijabla kao što su psihoemocionalne determinante, psihosocijalne determinante, tjelesno iskustvo, terapijski pristupi i znanstvena evaluacija. Prikazani rezultati istraživanja proizašli su iz znanstvenog projekta „Komplementarne suportivne terapije i razvoj životnih potencijala pod potporom Ministarstva znanosti, prosvjete i športa Republike Hrvatske

Nickel Catalysts on Porous Ceramic Supports for the Reaction of Partial Oxidation of Propane to CO and H2

In this paper synthesis, textural and structural properties as well as selectivity of Ni based catalysts for partial oxidation of propane to CO and H2 are given. The influence of aluminosilicate and magnesia based porous ceramic supports on catalyst performance is emphasized. The influence of concentration of impregnation solution, number of successive impregnations and nature of modifier was investigated. The catalytic test was performed in order to define the catalyst with the highest selectivity toward CO and H2 while the presence of side-products like CO2, CH4, and coke as well as unreacted C3H8 are reduced to minimum. All synthesized catalysts samples were dominantly macroporous. The selectivity of catalysts increased with presence of modifiers in the following order: CaO < MgO < Al2O3. The selectivity of studied catalysts is governed mainly by two structural parameters: nickel loading and nickel crystallite size. The comparison of the best performing aluminosilicate and magnesia supported catalysts with Al as modifier revealed that the latter express somewhat lower selectivity particularly toward CO

Establishment and in-house validation of stem-loop rt pcr method for microrna398 expression analysis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) belong to the class of small non-coding RNAs which have important roles throughout development as well as in plant response to diverse environmental stresses. Some of plant miRNAs are essential for regulation and maintenance of nutritive homeostasis when nutrients are in excess or shortage comparing to optimal concentration for certain plant species. Better understanding of miRNAs functions implies development of efficient technology for profiling their gene expression. We set out to establish validate the methodology for miRNA gene expression analysis in cucumber grown under suboptimal mineral nutrient regimes, including iron deficiency. Reverse transcription by "stem-loop" primers in combination with Real time PCR method is one of potential approaches for quantification of miRNA gene expression. In this paper we presented a method for "stem loop" primer design specific for miR398, as well as reaction optimization and determination of Real time PCR efficiency. Proving the accuracy of this method was imperative as "stem loop" RT which consider separate transcription of target and endogenous control. The method was verified by comparison of the obtained data with results of miR398 expression achieved using a commercial kit based on simultaneous conversion of all RNAs in cDNAs

Silicon Alleviates Iron Deficiency in Barley by Enhancing Expression of Strategy II Genes and Metal Redistribution

The beneficial effects of silicon (Si) have been shown on plants using reduction-based strategy for iron (Fe) acquisition. Here we investigated the influence of Si on Fe deficiency stress alleviation in barley (Hordeum vulgare), a crop plant which uses the chelation-based strategy for Fe acquisition. Analyses of chlorophyll content, ROS accumulation, antioxidative status, concentrations of Fe and other micronutrients, along with the expression of Strategy II genes were studied in response to Si supply. Si successfully ameliorated Fe deficiency in barley, diminishing chlorophyll and biomass loss, and improving the activity of antioxidative enzymes, resulting in lowered reactive oxidative species accumulation in the youngest leaves. Alleviation of Fe deficiency stress correlated well with the Si-induced increase of Fe content in the youngest leaves, while it was decreased in root. Moreover, Si nutrition lowered accumulation of other micronutrients in the youngest leaves of Fe deprived plants, by retaining them in the root. On the transcriptional level, Si led to an expedient increase in the expression of genes involved in Strategy II Fe acquisition in roots at the early stage of Fe deficiency stress, while decreasing their expression in a prolonged stress response. Expression of Strategy II genes was remarkably upregulated in the leaves of Si supplied plants. This study broadens the perspective of mechanisms of Si action, providing evidence for ameliorative effects of Si on Strategy II plants, including its influence on accumulation and distribution of microelements, as well as on the expression of the Strategy II genes