Liverworts from the Morača River basin: Taxonomic and ecological analysis

During the period of 1997-2007, we carried out detailed bryological research in the Morača River basin, Montenegro. Liverworts were collected at 45 locations. Thirty-five liverworts were recorded, including representatives of 24 genera and 19 families. The most frequent liverwort was Radula complanata, which was found at 17 localities. Seventeen taxa were registered at only one location in the investigated area. Scapania aequiloba is treated as endangered, and Athalamia hyalina as critically endangered, Leiocolea collaris, L. bantriensis and L. turbinata as vulnerable species. In addition, Fossombronia caespitiformis, Lophocolea bidentata var. bidentata, Riccia cavernosa, and Tritomaria quinquedentata are here registered for the first time in the bryoflora of Montenegro

Two moss species from Mt Durmitor new to the bryophyte flora of Montenegro

The present paper reports the first records of two moss species, Orthotrichum obtusifolium Brid. and Dicranoweisia cirrata (Hedw.) Lindb., in the flora of Montenegro. The mosses were found in the Tepacki kraj area on Mt Durmitor. Some morphological features, the ecological characteristics and the distribution of the species are given, along with photographs of diagnostic details and their threat status in the countries of SE Europe

First record of the rare boreo-alpine moss Herzogiella striatella (Brid.) Z. Iwats. in the Western Balkans

The rare boreo-alpine moss Herzogiella striatella was found on Mt Snježnik (W Croatia) in 2015 and constitutes the first national record. Two populations were recorded inside an old and hardly accessible spruce forest on steep boulders (Lonicero caerulae-Piceetum) along the Frankopanski Put hiking path. The markedly cool and humid microclimate ensured by small karst dolines within the forest shapes the specific bryophyte species composition with the elements of snowbed and timberline pine krummholz vegetation and the domination of boreal and arctic taxa. Due to its pronounced isolation from other European populations, the species is certainly of relict origin in Croatian Dinaric Alps

Evaluation of tourist attractiveness and museum management in Sombor and Apatin (Serbia)

In the area of Sombor and Apatin there are a number of cultural institutions. The paper will cover the Museum of silk damask in Bezdan, Tobacco Museum in Telečka and the Ethnological Exhibition in Kupusina. The aim of this paper is to assess the market attractiveness, the sensitivity of cultural property, the state of repair, the existence of cultural property management plan, regular monitoring and maintenance, potential for ongoing investment, the possibility of a negative impact of a large number of visitors to the physical condition of cultural resources and the possibility of modifications as part of the product development

Contributions to the bryophyte flora of the Prokletije Mts, Montenegro

282 bryophyte taxa (64 liverworts and 218 mosses) were recorded during our field trip to the Prokletije Mts. Two liverworts (Mannia fr agrans, Riccardia incurvata) and ten mosses (Brachytheciastrum collinum, B. dieckii, Bryum violaceum, Fissidens gracilifolius, Orthotrichum shawii, Seligeria trifaria, Sphagnum divinum, Syntrichia subpapillosissima, Tortella fasciculata, T. pseudofr agilis) are recorded for the first time in Montenegro. 45 species have conservation interest; rare in the Balkans or even in Europe and/or candidates of the new European bryophyte red-list

Evaluation of congress performance and congress attendees\u27 satisfaction - a case study of Novi Sad (Serbia)

The congress industry is a young, dynamic industry, which is growing and maturing at a rapid rate. It is now a truly international industry, witnessing huge investments across all continents. Due to economic and other benefits of a more intangible nature, the number of congress destinations and venues worldwide is growing. In order to provide the sustainability of congress destinations and venues, it is important to examine congress delegates’ experience, their overall satisfaction as well as behavioural intentions regarding destination. This study was conducted in the city of Novi Sad, which is after Belgrade the most important international meeting destination in Serbia. The purpose of this study is to examine the experience and overall satisfaction of the attendees at international congresses held in Novi Sad. Also, the relationship between overall satisfaction, word-of-mouth and intention to return were examined. A questionnaire survey was used as an instrument for the study. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS standard package. The results showed high level of attendees’ satisfaction with the congress elements and with destination choice. Also, the results confirmed that Novi Sad has a great potential for development of congress tourism, as the majority of the respondents show great interest to visit Novi Sad again and they would recommend city as a meeting destination. The results of this study are valuable for congress centre managers and for destination management organizations

Vertikalna rasprostranjenost cezijuma-137 u obradivim i neobradivim zemljištima

This paper introduces the distribution BACKGROUND: and unique characteristics of 137Cs in cultivated and undisturbed areas. The samples were taken from three measuring points of the depth of 1 m. We examined all visible horizons and determined their classifications. There were four horizons in one profile. All four horizons had a different zone thickness. 137Cs is an artificial radionuclide that has been produced primarily as a result of atmospheric thermonuclear weapon tests since the 1950. Also, the great amount of 137Cs (~85 PBq) was released in the atmosphere during the Chernobyl accident. So, 137Cs has been globally distributed, with fallout rates generally related to latitude and precipitation depth. The movement of 137Cs in soil is primarily controlled by soil erosion processes, such as processes caused by water, wind, and tillage. Thus, 137Cs is a valuable tracer to study soil erosion. The specific activity of 137Cs in soil and sediment samples was determined by using the gamma-spectrometric method.U ovom radu prikazana je rasprostranjenost i jedinstvene karakteristike cezijuma-137 kako u obradivim tako i u neobradivim zemljištima. Uzorkovanje je vršeno na tri merna mesta do 1 m dubine. Ispitani su svi vidljivi horizonti i utvrđeno je postojanje 4 horizonta u jednom profilu, koji su različitih debljina. Cezijum-137 je veštački radioizotop koji je nastao kao posledica termonuklearnih reakcija ispitivanog oružja u atmosferi zemlje kao i neželjeni proizvod nuklearnih akcidenata (Černobil, 1986). Ovaj radioizotop je široko rasprostranjen u celom svetu, gde se njegova migracija u zemljištu prati pomoću intenziteta erozije potpomognutim vodom i vetrom. Stoga je cezijum-137 važan faktor pri određivanju intenziteta erozije kako u zemljištu tako i u sedimentima, te je određena njegova specifična aktivnost korišćenjem gama spektrometrije

GIS-Based Forest Fire Susceptibility Zonation with IoT Sensor Network Support, Case Study—Nature Park Golija, Serbia

The territory of the Republic of Serbia is vulnerable to various natural disasters, among which forest fires stand out. In relation with climate changes, the number of forest fires in Serbia has been increasing from year to year. Protected natural areas are especially endangered by wildfires. For Nature Park Golija, as the second largest in Serbia, with an area of 75,183 ha, and with MaB Reserve Golija-Studenica on part of its territory (53,804 ha), more attention should be paid in terms of forest fire mitigation. GIS and multi-criteria decision analysis are indispensable when it comes to spatial analysis for the purpose of natural disaster risk management. Index-based and fuzzy AHP methods were used, together with TOPSIS method for forest fire susceptibility zonation. Very high and high forest fire susceptibility zone were recorded on 26.85% (Forest Fire Susceptibility Index) and 25.75% (fuzzy AHP). The additional support for forest fire prevention is realized through an additional Internet of Thing (IoT)-based sensor network that enables the continuous collection of local meteorological and environmental data, which enables low-cost and reliable real-time fire risk assessment and detection and the improved long-term and short-term forest fire susceptibility assessment. Obtained results can be applied for adequate forest fire risk management, improvement of the monitoring, and early warning systems in the Republic of Serbia, but are also important for relevant authorities at national, regional, and local level, which will be able to coordinate and intervene in a case of emergency events

Effects of C60 Fullerene on Thioacetamide-Induced Rat Liver Toxicity and Gut Microbiome Changes

Thioacetamide (TAA) is widely used to study liver toxicity accompanied by oxidative stress, inflammation, cell necrosis, fibrosis, cholestasis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. As an efficient free radical’s scavenger, C60 fullerene is considered a potential liver-protective agent in chemically-induced liver injury. In the present work, we examined the hepatoprotective effects of two C60 doses dissolved in virgin olive oil against TAA-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. We showed that TAA-induced increase in liver oxidative stress, judged by the changes in the activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, GST, the content of GSH and 4-HNE, and expression of HO-1, MnSOD, and CuZnSOD, was more effectively ameliorated with a lower C60 dose. Improvement in liver antioxidative status caused by C60 was accompanied by a decrease in liver HMGB1 expression and an increase in nuclear Nrf2/NF-κB p65 ratio, suggesting a reduction in inflammation, necrosis and fibrosis. These results were in accordance with liver histology analysis, liver comet assay, and changes in serum levels of ALT, AST, and AP. The changes observed in gut microbiome support detrimental effects of TAA and hepatoprotective effects of low C60 dose. Less protective effects of a higher C60 dose could be a consequence of its enhanced aggregation and related pro-oxidant role

Effects of acute hypoxia on the energy status and antioxidant defense system in the blood of carp - Cyprinvs carpio L.

The influence of acute hypoxia on glucose, pyruvate, lipid peroxide (LP) reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations and lactate level in the whole blood of carp (Cyprinus carpio L) under aquarium conditions were studied. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), the concentrations of ATP and ADP and ATP/ADP ratio in the red blood cells (RBCs) were analyzed. Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity was determined in the plasma. Our experiments showed that short-term and long-term hypoxia causes significant changes of all examined haema-tological parameters. Increased concentration of LP and increased SOD CAT and GST activities, as well as a decreased GSH-Px activity showed that under hypoxic conditions oxidative stress and RBCs damage were produced.Uticaj akutne hipoksije na koncentraciju glukoze, piruvata, lipidnih peroksida (LP), redukovanog glutationa (GSH) i na nivo laktata u krvi šarana (Cyprinu carpio L) je analiziran u akvarijumskim uslovima. U crvenim krvnim zrncima (RBCs) je analizirana aktivnost enzima superoksid-peroksidaze (GSH-Px) kao i koncentracije ATP, ADP i odnos ATP/ADP. U plazmi je analizirana aktivnost glutation S-transferaze (GST). U našim eksperimentima je utvrđeno da kratkotrajna progresivna hipoksija izaziva značajne promene svih ispitivanih hematoloških parametara. Povećanje koncentracije LP i povećanje aktivnosti enzima SOD, CAT i GST uz istovremeno smanjenje aktivnosti GSH-Px potvrđuju nastanak oksidacionog stresa i oštećenje RBCs pod hipoksičnim uslovima.nul