Decision making framework for decreasing the redundancy of air quality monitoring stations in Vojvodina Province (Serbia)

Stanice za praćenje kvalitete zraka se koriste za brzo i pouzdano vrednovanje kvalitete zraka. Bez obzira što su stanice skupe, vrlo često njihov broj na određenom teritoriju prelazi optimalni broj stanica što rezultira njihovim viškom, povećanim troškovima, preklapanjem podataka itd. Da bi omogućili analizu kvantitativnih i kvalitativnih kriterija, autori predlažu pristup temeljen na dobro poznatom alatu za donošenje odluka pod nazivom Analitički hijerarhijski proces (AHP). U prvom koraku definiranja okvira za donošenje odluka o smanjenju suvišnih stanica na lokalnoj i regionalnoj razini u pokrajini Vojvodini, tri eksperta su identificirala ključne indikatore za ocjenjivanje karakteristika stanica. Petnaest indikatora je izabrano i podijeljeno u tri grupe (ciljevi životne sredine, ciljevi lokacije/tehnički; socijalno/ekonomski ciljevi). Prema predloženoj metodologiji eksperti su vrednovali dvije stanice u općini Kikinda. Stanica KIMA je imala bolje ukupne karakteristike, zbog čega je odgovornima predloženo da premjeste mjernu opremu iz KISA stanice u KIMA stanicu te tako smanje troškove održavanja i operacijske troškove.Air quality monitoring stations are used for quick and reliable assessment of air quality. Although the stations are expensive, very often their number on certain territory exceeds optimal number of stations leading to their redundancy, increased costs, overlapping of data etc. To enable analysis of quantitative and qualitative criteria, authors propose an approach based on well-known decision support tool called analytic hierarchy process (AHP). As the first step in defining the decision framework for decreasing redundancy of stations locally and regionally in Vojvodina Province, three experts were asked to identify key performance indicators for assessing the performance of the stations. Fifteen indicators were selected and divided into three groups (Environmental objectives; Location/Technical objectives; and Social/Economic objectives). Experts evaluated performance of two stations in Municipality of Kikinda. Station KIMA showed better overall performance, so it is suggested to responsible authorities to relocate monitors from KISA station to KIMA station and thus decrease maintenance and operation costs

Z.; Statistical optimization of reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography for the analysis of caffeine paracetamol and its degradation product p-aminophenol; Acta Chimica Slovenica

Abstract Paracetamol, analgoantipyretic and anti-inflammatory drug, is available in numerous pharmaceutical formulations in common combination with caffeine and some other drug substances. p-aminophenol is paracatamol's process-related impurity that also may be present in formulations containing paracetamol. This paper presents a RP-HPLC method for simultaneous determination of caffeine, paracetamol and p-aminophenol, using chromatographic system Hewlett Packard 1100 series. In defining optimal RP-HPLC chromatographic conditions for the separation of these three compounds, experimental design was applied. Completely separation was achieved using Zorbax Extend C18 column (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm), with mobile phase consisting of methanol-phosphate buffer pH 6 (20:80 v/v), flow rate of 1 ml/min, and column temperature of 30 °C. UV detection was performed at 230 nm

The saproxylic hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) of Serbia

The revision of the saproxylic hoverflies collected in Serbia from 1950 to 2010 has revealed a total of 56 species, of which Sphiximorpha subsessilis (Illiger in Rossi) is new to the Balkan Peninsula and Arctophila superbiens (Muller), Blera fallax (Linnaeus), Brachyopa panzeri Goffe, Brachyopa testacea (Fallén), Brachyopa vittata Zetterstedt and Chalcosyrphus piger (Fabricius) are new to Serbia. According to “Syrph the Net, the database of European Syrphidae”, 16 of the 56 species are threatened with extinction in Europe, while 6 species are “strictly protected” and 13 are “protected” under Serbian legislation. Distribution maps for each species, as well as new data on adult habitats, are provided. The conservation status of the saproxylic hoverflies of Serbia is discussed. The present study attempts to provide a basis for the conservation of the saproxylic hoverflies of this Balkan country

Determination of quercetin in pharmaceutical formations via its reaction with potassium titanyloxalate. Determination of the stability constants of the quercetin titanyloxalato complex

Asimple, rapid and accurate procedure for the quantitative determination of quercetin in its pure form and in formulations has been developed. The method is based on the spectrophotometric determination of a complex formed between quercetin and potassium titanyloxalate in 50 % ethanolic solutions. To characterize the quercetin titanyloxalato complex, the stability constants of the complex were determinated potentiometrically and spectrophotometrically at different temperatures (T = 26.0 oC, 34 oC and 39.0 oC), as well as at different ionic strengths (I = 5.0Ã10-4 mol dm-3, 3.0Ã10-2 mol dm-3 and 6.0Ã10-2 mol dm-3) and the thermodynamic parameters were calculated. As quercetin is usually conjugated to vitamin C in pharmaceutical formulations, two procedures for the quantitative determination of quercetin by this complexing reaction were tested both in the absence and presence of ascorbic acid. In both procedures, the Beer law was obeyed over the same concentration range of quercetin, i.e., 0.85 mg mL-1Ã16.9 mg mL-1. In the first procedure in the absence of ascobic acid the molar absorptivity coefficient of the quercetin-titanyloxalate complex is a = 2.49Ã104 mol-1 dm3 cm-1, Sandells sensitivity of the method is S = 1.35Ã10-2 mg cm-2 and the detection limit is d = 0.67 mg mL-1. Whereas, in the presence of ascorbic acid (second procedure) a = 3.04Ã104 mol-1 dm3 cm-1, S = 1.11Ã10-2 ug mL-1. The proposed method was verified for the determination of quercetin in pharmaceutical dosage forms