Variability of pomological characteristics of the Šumatovka apple

Variability refers to a process by which differences occur among individuals of the same plant species. However, some characteristics change very little while others, especially quantative ones, change rather quickly and readily even when environmental conditions change slightly. This fact has prompted an investigation aimed to establish the variability of pomological characteristics of the Šumatovka cv. apple tree, a rather old and autochthonous cultivar grown widely throughout Eastern Serbia. Its special characteristic is an ability to grow and bear fruit without any particular care and cultivation, and in conditions of especially severe water deficiency and drought. Šumatovka cv. fruits are small- or medium-sized on the average, the length Measuring 51.3 ± 6.62 mm (CV 12.9%), width 55.5 ± 6.35 mm (CV 11.4%), pedicel lenght 19.5 ± 3.2 mm (CV 16.4%) and fruit mass 66.0 ±20.6 g (CV 31.3%). Total soluble dry matter content of the mesocarp varies between 15.6 and 1.92% (CV 12.31%), total sugars 14.3 ± 4.7% (CV 32.8%) and total sour substances 0.95 ± 0.11% (CV 18.6%). Especially examined were the large-sized Šumatovka fruits measuring 72.0 mm in lenght and width, and 169.4 g in mass

Concentration of antioxidant compounds and lipid peroxidation in the liver and white muscle of hake (Merluccius merluccius L.) in the Adriatic sea

Specimens of a marine freshwater fish - hake (Merluccius merluccius L.) - were collected at the localities of Platamuni and Valdanos (Montenegro, South Adriatic) in the spring of 2003. Our results showed higher concentrations of LPO, Vit C, and Vit E in the liver in comparison with white muscle. The concentration of LPOin both tissues was higher, while that of Vit E was lower at Valdanos compared to Platamuni. These differences in parameters of oxidative stress are partly due to differences in temperature and the concentrations of nitrites, nitrates, and detergents in the waters of Valdanos compared to Platamuni.Tokom 2003. godine uzorkovane su jedinke morske ribe - oslića (Merluccius merluccius L.) iz voda sa lokaliteta Platamuni i Valdanos (Crna Gora, južni Jadran) u prolećnom periodu. Dobijeni rezultati su pokazali veće koncentracije LP, Vit Ci Vit E u jetri oslića u odnosu na belo mišićno tkivo. Koncentracija LP je bila veća, a Vit E manja u oba ispitivana tkiva oslića u vodama lokaliteta Valdanos u poređenju sa Platamuni. Ovakve promene parametara oksidacionog stresa posledica su promena temperature, kao i povećanih koncentracija nitrita, nitrata i deterdženata u vodama lokaliteta Valdanos u odnosu na Platamune.Projekat ministarstva br. 143035

Sinteza vlakana magnezijum-oksida i magnezijum-hidroksida korišćenjem paukove mreže kao matrice

Spider silk fibers, collected from Pholcus Phalangioides spider were used as a template for obtaining magnesium oxide (MgO, periclase) as well as magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2, brucite) fibers. Magnesium oxide fibers were obtained in a simple manner by heat induced decomposition of magnesium salt (MgCl2) in the presence of the spider silk fibers, while magnesium hydroxidefibers were synthesized by hydration of MgO fibers at 50 °C, 70°C and 90 °C, for 48 and 96 h. According to Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dimensions of spider silk fibers determined the dimension of synthesized MgO fibers, while for Mg(OH)2 fibers, the average diameter was increased with prolonging the hydration period. The surface of Mg(OH)2 fibers was noticed to be covered with brucite in a form of plates. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that MgO fibers were single-phased (the pure magnesium oxide fibers were obtained), while Mg(OH)2 fibers were two- or single-phased brucite depending on incubation period, and/or incubation temperature.Vlakna paukove mreže sakupljena od Pholcus phalangioides pauka korišćena su kao matrica za dobijanje vlakana magnezijum oksida (MgO, periklas) i magnezijum-hidroksida (Mg(OH)2, brucit). Vlakna magnezijum oksida jednostavno su dobijena termičkim razlaganjem soli magnezijuma (MgCl2) u prisustvu vlakana paukove mreže, dok su vlakna magnezijum hidroksida sintetisana hidratacijom MgO vlakana na temperaturama: 50, 70 i 90 °C u trajanju od 48 i 96 h. Na osnovu rezultata skenirajuće elektronske mikroskopije (SEM), veličina sintetisanih MgO vlakana bila je određena dimenzijama vlakana pauka, dok je za Mg(OH)2 vlakna prosečan dijametar rastao sa produženjem perioda hidratacije. Na površini Mg(OH)2 vlakana uočeni su tabličasti kristali brucita. Difrakcija X zraka (XRD) pokazala je da su vlakna periklasa jednofazna (dobijen je čist magnezijum-oksid), dok su brucitna vlakna bila dvofazna ili jednofazna, u zavisnosti od inkubacionog perioda i/ili teperature na kojoj je vršena inkubacija

Concentration of antioxidant compounds and lipid peroxidation in the liver and white muscle of hake (Merluccius merluccius L.) in the Adriatic sea

Specimens of a marine freshwater fish - hake (Merluccius merluccius L.) - were collected at the localities of Platamuni and Valdanos (Montenegro, South Adriatic) in the spring of 2003. Our results showed higher concentrations of LPO, Vit C, and Vit E in the liver in comparison with white muscle. The concentration of LPOin both tissues was higher, while that of Vit E was lower at Valdanos compared to Platamuni. These differences in parameters of oxidative stress are partly due to differences in temperature and the concentrations of nitrites, nitrates, and detergents in the waters of Valdanos compared to Platamuni.Tokom 2003. godine uzorkovane su jedinke morske ribe - oslića (Merluccius merluccius L.) iz voda sa lokaliteta Platamuni i Valdanos (Crna Gora, južni Jadran) u prolećnom periodu. Dobijeni rezultati su pokazali veće koncentracije LP, Vit Ci Vit E u jetri oslića u odnosu na belo mišićno tkivo. Koncentracija LP je bila veća, a Vit E manja u oba ispitivana tkiva oslića u vodama lokaliteta Valdanos u poređenju sa Platamuni. Ovakve promene parametara oksidacionog stresa posledica su promena temperature, kao i povećanih koncentracija nitrita, nitrata i deterdženata u vodama lokaliteta Valdanos u odnosu na Platamune.Projekat ministarstva br. 143035

Seasonal Variations of the Activity of Antioxidant Defense Enzymes in the Red Mullet (Mullus barbatus l.) from the Adriatic Sea

This study investigated seasonal variations of antioxidant defense enzyme activities: total, manganese, copper zinc containing superoxide dismutase (Tot SOD, Mn SOD, CuZn SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and biotransformation phase II enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity in the liver and white muscle of red mullet (Mullus barbatus). The investigations were performed in winter and spring at two localities: Near Bar (NB) and Estuary of the River Bojana (EB) in the Southern Adriatic Sea. At both sites, Mn SOD, GSH-Px, GR and GST activities decreased in the liver in spring. In the white muscle, activities of Mn SOD, GSH-Px, GR and GST in NB decreased in spring. GR decreased in spring in EB, while CAT activity was higher in spring at both sites. The results of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) based on correlations indicated a clear separation of various sampling periods for both investigated tissues and a marked difference between two seasons. Our study is the first report on antioxidant defense enzyme activities in the red mullet in the Southern Adriatic Sea. It indicates that seasonal variations of antioxidant defense enzyme activities should be used in further biomonitoring studies in fish species

Semiconductor Spintronics

Spintronics refers commonly to phenomena in which the spin of electrons in a solid state environment plays the determining role. In a more narrow sense spintronics is an emerging research field of electronics: spintronics devices are based on a spin control of electronics, or on an electrical and optical control of spin or magnetism. This review presents selected themes of semiconductor spintronics, introducing important concepts in spin transport, spin injection, Silsbee-Johnson spin-charge coupling, and spindependent tunneling, as well as spin relaxation and spin dynamics. The most fundamental spin-dependent nteraction in nonmagnetic semiconductors is spin-orbit coupling. Depending on the crystal symmetries of the material, as well as on the structural properties of semiconductor based heterostructures, the spin-orbit coupling takes on different functional forms, giving a nice playground of effective spin-orbit Hamiltonians. The effective Hamiltonians for the most relevant classes of materials and heterostructures are derived here from realistic electronic band structure descriptions. Most semiconductor device systems are still theoretical concepts, waiting for experimental demonstrations. A review of selected proposed, and a few demonstrated devices is presented, with detailed description of two important classes: magnetic resonant tunnel structures and bipolar magnetic diodes and transistors. In most cases the presentation is of tutorial style, introducing the essential theoretical formalism at an accessible level, with case-study-like illustrations of actual experimental results, as well as with brief reviews of relevant recent achievements in the field.Comment: tutorial review; 342 pages, 132 figure

Biological and pomological characteristics of superior walnut selections

As late spring frosts are a limiting factor to successful growth of walnuts attention was focused on walnut selection in years when late spring frosts occur after bud swelling. This particularly referred to the years of 1998 and 2002, and, partly 2001. In those years, 32 walnut trees were found to produce satisfactory yield in regions severely affected by string spring frosts and were subjected to careful observation in the following years. Of that number, 11 trees were found exceptional. They were characterized by luxuriance, vigour, satisfactory resistance to walnut antracnose, and yielding capacity. Fruits had good quality and favorable characteristics of the shell (smooth, thin, light-colored, easily separable) and kernel (relatively smooth, light-colored, tasty). Fruit mass measured 18.0-9.3 g kernel mass 8.6-4.1 g, and kernel content 55.0-47.0%. The kernel contained 67.0-61.1% oil, 19.3-14.5% crude proteins and 2.65-2.12% mineral matter. All investigated selections had been grafted. They were grown in identical conditions, in collection, and the ones found best for commercial growth were selected

The influence of long term sound stress on histological structure of immune organs in broiler chickens

The aim of this paper was to examine the effect of different duration sound stress on immune organs of broiler chickens of different age. Nine groups, with 10 chickens in each group were included in experiment. The histological structure of bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and spleen were analyzed. The results indicated that the bursa of Fabricius, in relation to the other examined organs, was the most sensitive to this kind of stress. Histological changes of spleen and thymus were also observed, but less prominent except in chickens after more than 30 days of exposure to stress. According to our results, degree of histological changes of immune organs under the influence of sound stress depends on the length of exposure and age of chickens

Impact of Individual Headache Types on the Work and Work Efficiency of Headache Sufferers

Background: Headaches have not only medical but also great socioeconomic significance, therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the overall impact of headaches on a patient’s life, including their work and work efficiency. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of individual headache types on work and work efficiency. Methods: This research was designed as a cross-sectional study performed by administering a questionnaire among employees. The questionnaire consisted of general questions, questions about headache features, and questions about the impact of headaches on work. Results: Monthly absence from work was mostly represented by migraine sufferers (7.1%), significantly more than with sufferers with tension-type headaches (2.23%; p = 0.019) and other headache types (2.15%; p = 0.025). Migraine sufferers (30.2%) worked in spite of a headache for more than 25 h, which was more frequent than with sufferers from tension-type and other-type headaches (13.4%). On average, headache sufferers reported work efficiency ranging from 66% to 90%. With regard to individual headache types, this range was significantly more frequent in subjects with tension-type headaches, whereas 91–100% efficiency was significantly more frequent in subjects with other headache types. Lower efficiency, i.e., 0–40% and 41–65%, was significantly more frequent with migraine sufferers. Conclusions: Headaches, especially migraines, significantly affect the work and work efficiency of headache sufferers by reducing their productivity. Loss is greater due to reduced efficiency than due to absenteeism