Influence of Artificial Infestation with Western Corn Rootworm Eggs on Maize Morphology

A field experiment was carried out in Bečej (Serbia) during 2014 with Serbian maize cultivar NS-640. In experimental field, 96 plants were selected, marked, and arranged in 48 pairs. In each pair, one plant was artificially infested in root zone with 4 mL of Diabrotica v. sp. virgifera eggs 0.125% agar suspension (D plants). The maximum measured height on D (infested) and C (control) plants was 295 cm and 320 cm, respectively. The maximum measured diameter on D plants was 27.93 mm and on C plants was 32.13 mm respectively. The maximum recorded number of leaves was 15 on both categories. Statistical analysis shows that differences between plant diameters and the number of leaves between D and C plants are significant

Cost-effectiveness analysis of tocilizumab in combination with methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis: A Markov model based on data from Serbia, country in socioeconomic transition

Background/Aim. Recent studies have shown that biological treatments for rheumatoid arthritis can change the course of rheumatoid arthritis and improve functional ability of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In spite of this fact, use of biological therapy is still limited by high prices of these medicines, especially in countries in socioeconomic transition. The aim of our study was to compare costeffectiveness of a combination of tocilizumab and methotrexate with methotrexate alone for rheumatoid arthritis in Serbia, a country in socioeconomic transition. Methods. For the purpose of our study we designed a Markov model using data on therapy efficacy from the available literature, and data on the costs of health states calculated from records of actual patients treated in the Clinical Center Kragujevac, Serbia. The duration of one cycle in our model was set at one month, and the time horizon was 480 months (40 years). The study was done from the social perspective, and all the costs and outcomes were discounted for 3% per year. Results. Treating rheumatoid arthritis with diseasemodifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) alone was more cost-effective in comparison with a combination of biologic treatment with tocilizumab and DMARDs. The total costs for treating a patient with DMARDs for one year were on average 261,945.42 RSD, or 2,497.70 Euro and the total costs for treatment with tocilizimab plus DMARDs were on average 1,959,217.44 RSD, or 18,659.20 Euro. However, these results are susceptible to changes in costs and treatment effects of tocilizumab in patients with more severe forms of rheumatoid arthritis. Conclusion. Our results show that the use of tocilizumab for rheumatoid arthrits in economic environment of Serbia is not cost-effective. Use of tocilizumab for treating rheumatoid arthritis can become affordable, if costs of its use become lower. In order to start using expensive biologic medicines in patients in transitional countries, special strategy and pricing policy of international pharmaceutical companies are necessary, which would include calculation of prices of biologic medicines on the basis of local pharmacoeconomic studies

Plants as Bio-Insecticides in the Service of the Suppression of Potato Tuber Moth in Storage

Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is economically very important pest of potato and other solanaceous plants in the field and warehouse. Frequent and excessive use of insecticides leads to development of insects resistance, environmental pollution, and lives residues in food. All this implicated as a obligatory applications of botanical insecticides. Research in this area is increasingly attracting attention as the kingdom of plants is an inexhaustible source of active ingredients with insecticidal properties. This is the only way in the registration and appropriate use of eco-friendly active ingredients as pesticides

Population Dynamics of WCR and ECB in Maize Field in Bečej, Vojvodina Provance

WCR and ECB are maize pest present worlwide in Corn Belt. The documented economic level of looses and plant damages of this two pests vary up to 100 %. Experiment was carried out in Vojvodina provance, region Bačka, during vegetation 2014-2015, from Jun until September. During weekly inpection for tree month we recorded present of WCR and ECB in pheromone traps. Both pests shows fluctuating flight during experimental years. The higest catch of WCR (71 specimens - 8 August 2015) and ECB (14 specimens - 14 August 2014). WCR flight shows similarity over the two years. But, ECB flight is more extended in 2015

AP-1 as a Regulator of MMP-13 in the Stromal Cell of Giant Cell Tumor of Bone

Matrix-metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) has been shown to be an important protease in inflammatory and neoplastic conditions of the skeletal system. In particular, the stromal cells of giant cell tumor of bone (GCT) express very high levels of MMP-13 in response to the cytokine-rich environment of the tumor. We have previously shown that MMP-13 expression in these cells is regulated, at least in part, by the RUNX2 transcription factor. In the current study, we identify the expression of the c-Fos and c-Jun elements of the AP-1 transcription factor in these cells by protein screening assays and real-time PCR. We then used siRNA gene knockdown to determine that these elements, in particular c-Jun, are upstream regulators of MMP-13 expression and activity in GCT stromal cells. We conclude that there was no synergy found between RUNX2 and AP-1 in the regulation of the MMP13 expression and that these transcription factors may be independently regulated in these cells

Kukuruzni plamenac, Ostrinia Nubilalis hbn. (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) kao štetočina

European Corn Borer is a corn pest worldwide, present with different number of generation and races. The economic level of looses vary from 0-100 %. Apperance, harmffulness and voltinism are consequences of vegatation, agrometerological conditions, cultivars and technology. In Europe and north America are detected Z, E and H strain of pest. As a rule all strains are present in corn field. Exception is France, where is Z strain present in corn, and E strain in hop and mugwort. The presence of different pheromone isomer is the base of strain differentiation.Kukuruzov plamenac je štetočina kukuruza prisutna sa različitim brojem generacija i tipova. Nivo ekonomskih gubitaka u godišnjoj proizvodnji varira od 0-100 %. Pojava, štetnost i voltinizam posledica su uticaja vegetacije, agrometeoroloških uslova, sortimenta i tehnologije gajenja. Na evropskom i severoameričkom prostoru utvrđeno je prisustvo Z, E i H tipa štetočine. Uglavnom su ovi tipovi prisutni u usevu kukuruza. Izuzetak je Francuska gde je Z tip identifikovan u kukuruzu, a E tip na hmelju i crnom pelinu. Razdvojenost na tipove uslovljena je prisustvom feromona i njihovom funkcionalnom praktičnom upotrebom u privlačenju mužjaka

Moljac krompira kao štetočina – od prisutne do visoko ekonomski značajne vrste u Srbiji

Potato tuber moth, Phthorimea operculela Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelichiidae) becoming economically very important pest of potato in open field condition in West region of Serbia. Surveillance and monitoring are organized by Serbian Forecast and Report Services (Prognozno Izveštajna Služba Srbije - PISS) from 2013 by phero-traps. At the territory of Extension Services Čačak monitoring represent a part of obligatory measures under PISS coordination. In this area pest is present from 2013. High population is registered during 2015. The imposes need to continue pest monitoring and documenting the damage from the both (field and storage).Moljac krompira (MK), Phthorimea operculela Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelichiidae) postaje ekonomski sve značajnija štetočina u regionu Zapadne Srbije. Monitoring vrste sprovodi se feromonskim klopkama od 2013. godine u okviru redovnih mera praćenja koje koordinira Prognozno Izveštajna Služba Srbije. Na teritoriji PSS Čačak, štetočina je prisutna od 2013.godine, a u vegetaciji 2015. godine registrovana je visoka brojnost. Nameće se neophodnim nastavak moniotoringa i dokumentovanje šteta na terenu

History of ductile-to-brittle transition problem of ferritic steels

This paper presents a review of different approaches through history concerning DTB transition phenomenon of ferritic steels and their characterization using FM concept, from the earliest studies based on LEFM to the application of the EPFM concept. The large scattering of the experimental fracture toughness data, characteristic of all ferritic steels in the transition temperature region, has imposed the need of including statistical methods for data processing. Such approach that began in the 1970s can be encountered even nowadays as the base of fracture toughness data interpretation in DTB problems. An overview of studies with statistical interpretation of experimental data in the transition temperature region is also given. Aforementioned provides a foundation for novel approaches in DTB transition problems, which include size effects and scaling of geometrically similar specimens

Treatment of Multiple Chalazions with Intralesional Kenalog-40 Injections in Juvenile Patient: A Case Report

Aim: To case report the efficacy of subcutaneous steroid injections in the treatment of multiple chalazions and to evaluate the safety of intralesional injection in primary and recurrent chalazions in juvenile patient.Case report: A 25-year-old man noticed lesions which appeared on upper lid during past three months. It was clinically presented with three focal, large and painful nodules in upper right eyelid. Inflammation process began on May the 1st of 2013. After one month in May 30th 2013 was directly administered synthetic steroid, Kenalog-40. Application of triamcinolone acetonide resulted in two satellite lesions, compared to the original, when the same incisions drained during the first surgery in July 5th 2013, with topical antibiotic-steroidal drugs and hot compresses. Second surgery was in July 26th 2013. Third surgery was performed in August 5st 2013 with second application of Kenalog-40. Combined treatment leads to recovery of clinical signs and inflammation of right upper eyelid with regressions of primary and recurrent chalazions.Conclusion: Two steroid subcutaneous injections produced complete resolution of multiple primary and recurrent chalazions. Clinical imperative was that recurrent or unusual refractory chalazions require referral to Hystopathological examination of curetting to exclude malignancy