Određivanje teških metala u zemljištu i biomasi primenom potenciometrijske striping analize

In this paper the determination of lead, cadmium and zinc in soil and biomass was performed using potentiometric stripping analysis (PSA). In order to establish the optimal experimental conditions for PSA of Pb, Cd and Zn, the influence of pH value, time of metals extraction, stirring rate of the solution and the thickness of the mercury layer, as the working electrode, was investigated. The influence of mentioned parameters was tested for individual and simultaneous metals determination. The achieved limits of determination of single ions were for: lead 22.5 μg dm-3, cadmium 16.2 μg dm-3 and zinc 18.8 μg dm-3. The obtained results deviated from the expected for 1.1%, 1.9% and 1.8%, for lead, cadmium and zinc, respectively. For simultaneous determination, the method is tested using the ions contents as follows: 45.0 μg dm-3 for lead, 32.5 μg dm-3 for cadmium and 37.5 μg dm-3 for zinc. The relative errors for simultaneous determination were: 4.6% for lead, 1.9% for cadmium and 1.9% for zinc. For the established optimal conditions, except for lead, deviations did not exceed ±2%. It is shown that potentiometric stripping analysis is usable for individual and simultaneous determination of lead, cadmium and zinc in soil and biomass.U ovom radu je opisana primena potenciometrijske striping analize (PSA) za određivanje olova, kadmijuma i cinka u uzorcima zemljišta i biomase. U cilju utvrđivanja optimalnih eksperimentalnih uslova ispitivan je uticaj pH vrednosti rastvora, vremena izdvajanja metala iz rastvora, brzine mešanja rastvora i debljine filma žive, kao radne elektrode. Uticaj ovih parametara je ispitan za pojedinačno i istovremeno određivanje analiziranih metala. Postignute granice kvantifikacije pojedinačnih određivanja su za: olovo 22.5 μg dm-3, kadmijum 16.2 μg dm-3 i cink 18.8 μg dm-3. Dobiveni rezultati odstupaju od očekivanih vrednosti 1.1%, 1.9% i 1.8%, za olovo, kadmijum i cink, respektivno. Pri istovremenom određivanju sva tri ispitivana jona, metoda je testirana pri sledećim koncentracijama: 45.0 μg dm-3 za olovo, 32.5 μg dm-3 za kadmijum i 37.5 μg dm-3 za cink. Relativne greške simultanog određivanja su bile: 4.6% za olovo, 1.9% za kadmijum i 1.9% za cink. Obzirom da greške određivanja ne prelaze ±2%, osim za olovo, dobijeni rezultati ukazuju da se PSA može primeniti i za istovremeno određivanje sadržaja olova, kadmijuma i cinka u zemljištu i biomasi

Redox imbalance in peripheral blood of type 1 myotonic dystrophy patients

Objectives: The aim of our study was to determine if redox imbalance caused by the activities of antioxidant enzymes existed in erythrocytes of type 1 myotonic dystrophy ( DM1) patients. Methods: The activities of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase were measured in 30 DM1 patients and 15 healthy controls ( HCs). The obtained values were correlated with the Muscular Impairment Rating Scale ( MIRS) score and creatine kinase ( CK). Results: Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were lower in DM1 patients compared to HCs. A positive correlation was found between disease duration and MIRS score as well as with glutathione reductase activity. In DM1 patients, there were positive correlations between catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activities. After sub-dividing DM1 patients according to CK levels, superoxide dismutase activity was still statistically different from HCs. However, catalase activity was significantly lower only in DM1 patients with increased CK. Discussion: Undesirable alterations in antioxidant enzyme activities during DM1 disease progression may result in conditions favoring oxidative stress and changes in metabolism which together could contribute to muscle wasting

Smart City: Modeling Key Indicators in Serbia Using IT2FS

Previous initiatives developed for the purpose of designing and the realization of a smart, sustainable city have shown that there is no single approach to make a city “smarter” and more sustainable. Each city represents a unique system where different stakeholders, local authorities, utility companies, and citizens undertake numerous activities, creating a matrix of interactions and interdependencies. In order to understand the ecological and social contexts of the city, as well as its priority activities, history, and specific features, the establishment of an appropriate methodology to support the establishment of a sustainable and smart city has become extremely important. Our research aims to explore key indicators in the development of the concept of the smart city in Serbia, and to assess the prioritization of activities. An integral approach based on a mathematical method a hybrid fuzzy Multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model based on Interval type-2 fuzzy sets classifies the whole system through different criteria and sub-criteria while respecting the experts’ opinions. The aim is to offer modelled solutions for our country integrated with the EU by smart cities

TOPSIS optimization for the choice of soil remediation contractor in Serbia

Environmental projects are being intensively invested in recent decades due to the ecological context of sustainability. Besides, construction practice has been actively focused on solving the issue of abandoned industrial, military and others complexes marked as brownfield areas, and creating opportunities for their reuse. Brownfields often represent landfills and former industrial plants so during the renewal process it is necessary to carry out soil remediation and remove pollution that poses a threat to the environment and people. Various economic, social and political transitional changes, as well as citizens' negligence, have led to the formation of a large number of brownfields in Serbia. Due to insufficient social awareness about the importance and need for brownfields reconstruction, their regeneration process is usually limited to the decontamination of highly polluted soil using appropriate remediation methods. Modern science offers a wide range of remediation technologies, but the question of choosing the soil remediation contractor is crucial, as it affects the overall amount of investment costs and the rehabilitation success. The paper aims to enable decision-makers to determine, based on established criteria, the optimal alternative in terms of choosing the contractor for brownfield soil remediation by TOPSIS mathematical method, using the Mathematica software package

Fuzzy and Interval AHP Approaches in Sustainable Management for the Architectural Heritage in Smart Cities

For the past four decades, the methodology of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process based on fuzzy trapezoidal or triangular numbers with the linear type of membership functions has witnessed an expanding development with applicability to a wide variety of areas, such as industry, environment, education, government, economics, engineering, health, and smart city leadership. On the other hand, the interval gray analytic hierarchy process is a more practical method when a significant number of professionals have large variations in preferences and interests in complex decisions. The paper examines the management of architectural heritage in smart cities, using methods of multi-criteria decision making. Two appropriate methods generally recommended by the scientific literature have been applied: fuzzy and interval grey analytic hierarchy process. By using both techniques, there is an opportunity to analyze the consensual results from the aspect of two different stakeholder groups: architectural heritage experts and smart city development experts. Trapezoidal fuzzy analytical hierarchical process shows better stability than a triangular one. Both approaches assign priority to the strategy, but the interval approach gives a more significant rank to architectural heritage factors. The similarity of the proposed methods has been tested, and the similarity factor in the ranking indicates a high degree of similarity in comparing the reference rankings

Fuzzy and Interval AHP Approaches in Sustainable Management for the Architectural Heritage in Smart Cities

For the past four decades, the methodology of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process based on fuzzy trapezoidal or triangular numbers with the linear type of membership functions has witnessed an expanding development with applicability to a wide variety of areas, such as industry, environment, education, government, economics, engineering, health, and smart city leadership. On the other hand, the interval gray analytic hierarchy process is a more practical method when a significant number of professionals have large variations in preferences and interests in complex decisions. The paper examines the management of architectural heritage in smart cities, using methods of multi-criteria decision making. Two appropriate methods generally recommended by the scientific literature have been applied: fuzzy and interval grey analytic hierarchy process. By using both techniques, there is an opportunity to analyze the consensual results from the aspect of two different stakeholder groups: architectural heritage experts and smart city development experts. Trapezoidal fuzzy analytical hierarchical process shows better stability than a triangular one. Both approaches assign priority to the strategy, but the interval approach gives a more significant rank to architectural heritage factors. The similarity of the proposed methods has been tested, and the similarity factor in the ranking indicates a high degree of similarity in comparing the reference rankings