Cyber War – Trends and Technologies

Cyberspace has become an indispensable part in which special operations such as cyber war or warfare take place. The role of special war as the use of so-called soft power was emphasized. The country\u27s number of potential adversaries in cyber warfare is unlimited, making highly endangered aspects of cyber civilian infrastructure, which is essentially military readiness, including the mobilization of forces through the civilian sector, also a likely target. A special type of cyber war or warfare is hybrid warfare. This type of warfare is increasingly resorted to because it is extremely cheaper than the conventional method of warfare and at the same time brings exceptional results. The first thing that affects cyber security policy analysts comes with the issue of neutrality, as well as the huge variety of assessments about future attack and defense technologies. There is also a consideration that the new (problematic) cyber technology will be deployed in a short period of time, in time periods, in just a few days in terms of warnings. Second, is the trends in cyber-attack and defense technologies and who is following those processes. Third, decision making technology having in mind high-performance computers, technologies that are well known, although rapidly evolving, are increasingly seen as a basic means of managing cyber defense at the national military and security level, as well as a new weapon in the hands of opponents. Fourth, role of intelligence in planning future scenarios for defense against hybrid or any other cyber threat/s

Colorectal anastomosis dehiscence following radical surgical operation for rectal carcinoma

Background/Aim. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the biggest health problems of modern humanity, especially in highly developed countries. In Serbia about 3,200 patients suffer from CRC, out of whom about 1,100 patients suffer from rectal cancer (RC), while about 2,100 patients suffer from other colon segments cancer. The aim of the study was to show the incidence genesis of one of the possible early postoperative complications regarding dehiscence of the colorectal anastomosis (CRA) with a group of patients suffering from RC and operated by using sphincter-saving procedures, in the period from 1993 to 2007, and then to compare the incidence genesis of these complications with those in the published series of the reporting colorectal institutions. Methods. The research included 242 patients radically operated on for RC in a 15-year period using some of sphincter-saving procedures following by a careful analysis of the symptoms of subclinical dehyscencias not solved with the reintervention as well as of the clinically evidented dehyscencias mostly solved by reoperation. Results. With 22 (9.1%) patients in the first 10 postoperative days there were early postoperative symptoms of CRA dehiscence. In 6 (2.47%) of the patients there were subclinical signs of raised body temperature, less quantity of feces content, and after the conservative treatment they ended in spontaneous process of rehabilitation. In 16 (6.61%) patients there was clinically evidented anastomosis dehiscence followed by abundant drainage of feces content, signs of local peritonitis, pelvic sepsis, so we had to undertake surgical intervention. Conclusion. Comparing the results of a few tenths of published studies with our results we proved that performing and operative technique of colorectal anastomosis in the patients suffered and radically surgically treated for RC, is quite adequate with the operative technique in reporting world institutions that are engaged in surgical treatment of RC

A young soldier with syncope, shortness of breath and palpitations

Introduction. Coronary artery disease in people under 30 years is relatively uncommon, but once a disease occurs it brings a significant morbidity and psychological effects. Case report. We reported a 28-year-old patient presenting atypical symptoms after sincopa and non-specific changes on electrocardiogram at admission. After noninvasive and invasive cardiology diagnostic procedures were made, we concluded that he had a subtotal tubular stenosis in proximal segment of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Myocardial revascularization was successfully performed 24-hour after coronarography with the left internal mammary thoracic artery graft on the left anterior descending coronary artery and the patient had a prompt and satisfactory postoperative recovery. Conclusion. This case indicates the importance of a careful evaluation of young adults even if they do not experience typical anginal symptoms or do not have multiple risk factors for cardiovascular diseases

Selection of Non-Mycotoxigenic Inulinase Producers in the Group of Black Aspergilli for Use in Food Processing

Research background. Inulinases are used for fructooligosaccharide production and they are of interest for both scientific community and industry. Black aspergilli represent a diverse group of species that has use for enzyme production, in particular some species are known as potent inulinase producers. Finding new potential producers from the environment is as important as improving the production with known strains. Safe use of enzymes produced by aspergilli in food industry is placed ahead of their benefit for inulinase production. Experimental approach. Here we show a specific approach to finding/screening of newly isolated fungal inulinase producers that combines a newly developed screening method and an equally important assessment of the toxigenic potential of the fungus. In this study 39 black aspergilli collected from different substrates in Serbia were identified and assessed for inulinase production. Results and conclusions. The most common species were Aspergillus tubingensis (51.2 %), followed by A. niger (23.1 %), A. welwitschiae (23.1 %) and A. uvarum (2.6 %). The isolates for inulinase production were selected using a cheap and easy, fast and non-hazardous alternative inulinase screening test developed in this work. Enzymatic activity of selected inulinase-producing strains was confirmed spectrophotometrically. Since some A. niger and A. welwitschiae strains are able to produce mycotoxins ochratoxin A (OTA) and fumonisins (FB), the toxigenic potential of selected inulinase producers was assessed analytically and genetically. Fungal enzyme producer can be considered safe for use in food industry only after comparing the results of both approaches for investigating toxic potential, the direct presence of mycotoxins in the enzyme preparation (analytically) and the presence of mycotoxin gene clusters (genetically). In some strains the absence of OTA and FB production capability was molecularly confirmed by the absence of complete or critical parts of biosynthetic gene clusters, respectively. The two best inulinase producers and mycotoxin non-producers (without mycotoxin production capability as additional safety) were selected as potential candidates for further development of enzyme production. Novelty and scientific contribution. The presented innovative approach for the selection of potential fungal enzyme producer shows that only non-toxigenic fungi could be considered as useful in food industry. Although this study was done on local isolates, the approach is applicable globally

Potassium 3-dithiocarboxy-3-aza-5-aminopentanoate dihydrate

The synthesis and crystal structure of the title compound, K+. C5H9N2O2S2-. 2H(2)O, are described. The structure consists of potassium cations, 3-dithiocarboxy-3-aza-5-aminopentanoate anions and molecules of water. The anion exists in two tautomeric forms, each described by two resonance structures

Hemijska ispitivanja miskantusa gajenog u Srbiji - potencijalni obnovljiv izvor energije

According to scientific community and professional specialists, urging necessity to increase capacity of sources of energy can be partially achieved by using biomass as a raw material. This approach is justified by both economic and ecological reasons. In this paper the results of chemical study of the biomass Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deu. cultivated in the Republic of Serbia in the experimental field of the Institute for Application of Nuclear Energy in Zemun were presented. Study of an amount of ashes, elemental analysis of the biomass, and calorific value of the biomass (both higher and lower), which are critical parameters when estimating the quality of a biofuel, points out the possibility of utilization of the miscantus biomass as a fuel. Samples of the plant material for this study were collected during two harvesting periods: in the fall, when the biological yield is the highest, and at the end of the winter, when a highest quality biomass with respect to the combustion is obtained do to a decrease in moisture content and remobilization of the macro- and micronutrients from the above-ground parts of the plants to the rhizomes. Values of the studied parameters indicate that biomass meets the 'green' energy requirements because the amounts of oxides of nitrogen and sulphur in the combustion products would not threaten current quality of the environment and the amount of carbon dioxide produced would be consumed in the process of photosynthesis. Results of the chemical analyses strongly suggest to a high potential of utilization of the miscantus biomass as a biofuel (renewable source of energy) to generate thermal energy.Delimičan odgovor stručne i naučne javnosti na pitanje kako povećati kapacitete energetskih izvora je upotreba biomase kao sirovine, kako iz ekonomskih, tako i iz ekoloških razloga. U ovom radu su prikazani rezultati fizičko-hemijskih ispitivanja biomase miskantusa (Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deu.), gajenog na teritoriji Republike Srbije, oglednom polju Instituta za primenu nuklearne energije, Zemun. Ispitivanjem količine pepela, elementarnog sastava biomase i kalorične vrednosti biomase (donje i gornje), koji su presudni za procenu kvaliteta biogoriva, ukazano je na mogućnost eksploatacije biomase miskantusa kao biogoriva. Prikupljanje uzoraka biljnog materijala za ovo istraživanje izvršeno je u dva žetvena roka: u jesen - vreme maksimuma biološkog prinosa i krajem zime, kada se dobija kvalitetnija biomasa za sagorevanje usled smanjenja sadržaja vlage i remobilizacije makro- i mikrohraniva iz nadzemnih delova rizoma. Vrednosti ispitivanih parametara pokazuju da biomasa ispunjava zahteve 'zelene' energije, jer produkti sagorevanja biomase svojom količinom (oksidi N i S) ne bi ugrožavali postojeći kvalitet životne sredine, a količina nastalog ugljenik (IV) - oksida ne bi predstavljala ekološki problem, jer bi se dalje uključila u proces fotosinteze. Rezultati hemijskih analiza argumentovano ukazuju na veliki potencijal upotrebe biomase miskantusa kao biogoriva (obnovljivog izvora energije) u proizvodnji toplotne energije

Screening of neonicotinoids in surface water samples by liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The EU Decision 2015/495 concerning the watch list of substances for Union-wide monitoring in the field of water policy pursuant to Directive 2008/105/EC,among others, includes neonicotinoid insecticides, as well. The LC-QTof-MS technique was used for screening analysis of the surface water samples from Serbia. The residues of thiamethoxam, acetamiprid and imidacloprid were detected

Metabolomic Profiling of Bipolar Disorder by 1H-NMR in Serbian Patients

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a brain disorder that causes changes in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function. It has a prevalence of 60 million people worldwide, and it is among the top 20 diseases with the highest global burden. The complexity of this disease, including diverse genetic, environmental, and biochemical factors, and diagnoses based on the subjective recognition of symptoms without any clinical test of biomarker identification create significant difficulties in understanding and diagnosing BD. A 1H-NMR-based metabolomic study applying chemometrics of serum samples of Serbian patients with BD (33) and healthy controls (39) was explored, providing the identification of 22 metabolites for this disease. A biomarker set including threonine, aspartate, gamma-aminobutyric acid, 2-hydroxybutyric acid, serine, and mannose was established for the first time in BD serum samples by an NMR-based metabolomics study. Six identified metabolites (3-hydroxybutyric acid, arginine, lysine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, and glycerol) are in agreement with the previously determined NMR-based sets of serum biomarkers in Brazilian and/or Chinese patient samples. The same established metabolites (lactate, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, glutamine, glutamate, glucose, and choline) in three different ethnic and geographic origins (Serbia, Brazil, and China) might have a crucial role in the realization of a universal set of NMR biomarkers for BD

Esterase and peroxidase isoforms during initial stages of somatic embryogenesis in Fritillaria meleagris L. leaf base

The aim of this study was to determine the enzymatic profile of esterases and peroxidases during early stages of somatic embryogenesis of Fritillaria meleagris L. Somatic embryogenesis was induced using the leaf base as explant on a medium supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Zymography showed the presence of different moieties, six isoforms of esterases and peroxidases, during morphogenesis as compared to control explants. One isoform of esterases was detected only during the process of somatic embryogenesis, and one isoform was detected in control explants. Analysis of esterases with 1-naphthyl butyrate proved that esterases, which participate in somatic embryogenesis of F. meleagris, belong to the family of aryl esterases. For the first time it was proved that five isoforms of esterases, which are involved in morphogenesis of F. meleagris, belong to the family of aryl esterases, while two isoforms are carboxyl esterases. One isoform of carboxyl esterases was visible in control explants. This is also the first description of peroxidases during the morphogenetic process, and of the difference between aryl and carboxyl esterases. More isoforms of esterases during morphogenesis as compared to control explants are probably responsible for some early physiological process during somatic embryogenesis of F. meleagris.Archives of Biological Sciences (2017), 69(4): 619-62

Antioxidative Responses of Duckweed (Lemna minor L.) to Phenol and Rhizosphere-Associated Bacterial Strain Hafnia paralvei C32-106/3

Duckweed (L. minor) is a cosmopolitan aquatic plant of simplified morphology and rapid vegetative reproduction. In this study, an H. paralvei bacterial strain and its influence on the antioxidative response of the duckweeds to phenol, a recalcitrant environmental pollutant, were investigated. Sterile duckweed cultures were inoculated with H. paralvei in vitro and cultivated in the presence or absence of phenol (500 mg L−1), in order to investigate bacterial effects on plant oxidative stress during 5 days. Total soluble proteins, guaiacol peroxidase expression, concentration of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde as well as the total ascorbic acid of the plants were monitored. Moreover, bacterial production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was measured in order to investigate H. paralvei’s influence on plant growth. In general, the addition of phenol elevated all biochemical parameters in L. minor except AsA and total soluble proteins. Phenol as well as bacteria influenced the expression of guaiacol peroxidase. Different isoforms were associated with phenol compared to isoforms expressed in phenol-free medium. Considering that duckweeds showed increased antioxidative parameters in the presence of phenol, it can be assumed that the measured parameters might be involved in the plant’s defense system. H. paralvei is an IAA producer and its presence in the rhizosphere of duckweeds decreased the oxidative stress of the plants, which can be taken as evidence that this bacterial strain acts protectively on the plants during phenol exposure