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Phytochemical profiling of six natural populations of Gentianella austriaca was performed by HPLC identification and quantification of a number of secondary metabolites, and evaluation of time series of peak areas by chemometric analysis. Phytochemical analysis of G. austriaca revealed the presence of iridoids, flavone-C-glucosides and xanthones. Twelve secondary metabolites were identified in the aerial parts, roots and seeds, including swertiamarin (SWM), gentiopicrin (GP), sweroside (SWZ), isoorientin (ISOOR), swertisin (SWE), demethylbellidifolin-8-O-glucoside (DMB-8-O-glc), bellidifolin-8-O-glucoside (BDF-8-O-glc), mangiferin (MGF), corymbiferin (CBF), corymbiferin-1-O-glucoside (CBF-1-O-glc), bellidifolin (BDF) and campestroside. Multivariate statistical analyses showed relatively low variability among populations according to secondary metabolite content. However, some pharmacologically important compounds were found in higher amounts in a few populations, which could be useful for conservation and future biotechnological procedures.

[EN] Floods are a consequence of extreme rainfall events. Although surface runoff generation is the origin of discharge, flood research usually focuses on lowlands where the impact is higher. Runoff and sediment delivery at slope and pedon scale receiving much less attention in the effort to understand flood behaviour in time and space. This is especially relevant in areas where, due to climatic and hydrogeological conditions, streams are ephemeral, so-called dry rivers (¿wadis¿, "ramblas" or ¿barrancos¿) that are widespread throughout the Mediterranean. This paper researches the relationship between water delivery at pedon and slope scale with dry river floods in Macizo del Caroig, Eastern Iberian Peninsula. Plots of 1x1, 1x2, 1x4, and 2x8 m located in the ¿El Teularet¿ Soil Erosion and Degradation Research Station were monitored from 2004 to 2014 to measure soil and water delivery. Rainfall and flow at the dry river Barranco de Benacancil were also monitored. Results show that runoff and sediment discharge were concentrated in few events during the 11 years of research. A single flood event was registered in the channel on September 28, 2009, however, the runoff was registered 160 times at the plots. Runoff discharge was dependent on the size of the plots, with larger plots yielding lower runoff discharge per unit area, suggesting short runoff-travel distance and duration. Three rainfall events contributed with 26% of the whole runoff discharge, and five achieved 56% of the runoff. We conclude that the runoff generated at the plot scale is disconnected from the main channel. From a spatial point of view, there is a decrease in runoff coefficient along the slope. From a temporal point of view, the runoff is concentrated in a few rainfall events. These results show that the runoff generated at plot and slope scale does not contribute to the floods except for rainfall events with more than 100 mm day-1. The disconnection of the runoff and sediment delivery is confirmed by the reduction in the runoff delivery at plot scale due to the control of the length of the plot (slope) on the runoff and sediment delivery., [ES] . Lasinundacionesson consecuencia de lluvias extremas. Aunque la generación de escorrentía superficial es el origen de la descarga, la investigación de inundaciones generalmente se enfoca en las tierras bajas donde el impacto es mayor. La escorrentía y la distribución de sedimentos a escala de pendiente y pedón reciben mucha menos atención en la comprensión del comportamiento de las inundaciones en el tiempo y el espacio. Esto es especialmente relevante en zonas donde, debido a las condiciones climáticas e hidrogeológicas, los cauces son efímeros. Son los llamados ríos secos (¿wadis¿, ¿ramblas¿ o ¿barrancos¿) muy extendidos por todo el Mediterráneo. Este artículo investiga la relación entre el suministro de agua a escala de pedón y ladera con las crecidas de ríos secos en Macizo del Caroig, este de la Península Ibérica. Las parcelas de 1x1, 1x2, 1x4 y 2x8 m localizadas en la Estación de Investigación de Erosión y Degradación de Suelos ¿El Teularet¿ fueron monitoreadas de 2004 a 2014 para medir la producción de suelo y agua. También se monitorearon las precipitaciones y el caudal en el río seco Barranco de Benacancil. Los resultados muestran que la escorrentía y la descarga de sedimentos se concentraron en pocos eventos durante los 11 años de investigación. Se registró un solo evento de inundación en el canal el 28 de septiembre de 2009, sin embargo, la escorrentía se registró 160 veces en las parcelas. La descarga de escorrentía dependió del tamaño de las parcelas. Las parcelas más grandes produjeron una menor descarga de escorrentía por unidad de área, lo que sugiere una corta distancia y duración del recorrido de escorrentía. Tres eventos de lluvia contribuyeron con el 26% de la descarga total de la escorrentía y cinco lograron el 56% de la escorrentía. Se concluye que la escorrentía generada a escala de la parcela está desconectada del canal principal. Desde un punto de vista espacial, hay una disminución en el coeficiente de escorrentía a lo largo de la pendiente. Desde un punto de vista temporal, la escorrentía se concentra en unos pocos eventos de lluvia. Estos resultados muestran que la escorrentía generada a escala de parcela y pendiente no contribuyen a las inundaciones excepto para eventos de lluvia con más de 100 mm día-1 . La desconexión de la escorrentía y la entrega de sedimentos se confirma por la reducción de la escorrentía a escala de parcela debido al control de la longitud (pendiente) sobre la escorrentía y la entrega de sedimentos., Artemi Cerda thanks the Co-operative Research program from the OECD (Biological Resource Management for Sustainable Agricultural Systems) for its support with the 2016 CRP fellowship (OCDE TAD/CRP JA00088807), POSTFIRE Project (CGL2013-47862-C2-1 and 2-R), and POSTFIRE_CARE Project (CGL2016-75178-C2-2-R) sponsored by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and AEI/FEDER, UE. This paper was written as a result of the collaboration that was initiated due to the COST ActionES1306: Connecting European Connectivity research and COST CA18135 FIRElinks: Fire in the Earth System. Science and Society. We wish to thank the Department of Geography secretariat team (Nieves Gomez, Nieves Dominguez, and Susana Tomas) for their support for three decades to our research at the Soil Erosion and Degradation Research team (SEDER), with special thanks to the scientific researchers that as visitors from other research teams contributed to the SEDER research. And we also thank the Laboratory for Geomorphology technicians (Leon Navarro) for the key contribution to our research. The collaboration of the Geography and Environmental Sciences students was fruitful and enjoyable.

Understanding the relationship between land use and land cover and thermal environment has recently become an emerging issue for urban planners and policy makers. We chose Belgrade, as a case study, to present a cost- and time-effective framework for monitoring spatiotemporal changes of green spaces in relation to the land surface temperature (LST). Time series analysis was performed using Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS imagery from 1991 to 2019 with an approximate 5-year interval (18 images in total). Spectral vegetation indices and supervised land cover classifications were used to examine changes of green spaces. The results showed a fluctuating trend of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the normalized difference water index (NDWI). The highest values were recorded in 2019, indicating vegetation recovery in the last decade. A significant positive correlation was determined between the spectral vegetation indices and the amount of precipitation during growing season. The land cover classification showed that the share of vegetated and bare land decreased by 11.74% during the study period. The most intensive conversion of green and bare land into built-up land cover occurred in the first decade (1991–2000). To assess spatiotemporal changes in the LST, Landsat Collection 2 Surface Temperature products were used. We found a negative correlation between change in the spectral vegetation indices and change in the LST. This indicates that the reduction in vegetation was associated with an increase in the LST. The municipalities that were the most affected in each decade were also identified with our framework. The findings of this study are of great relevance for actions targeting an improvement in urban thermal comfort and climate resilience.

The occurrence of large and recurring forest fires has long been associated with fire-prone environments, but this perception has been shifted rapidly in recent decades as Earths' landscapes have become increasingly threatened by severe and unpredictable fires as a result of climate changes. In this regard, the flammability of trees is a topic of great interest for ecology, management, and the development of sustainable restoration and rehabilitation plans. Tree species differ in regard to flammability, and many plant functional traits contribute to flammability at species, community and vegetation level. The relationship between plant traits and flammability at species level is important for a broader understanding of the vegetation-fire dynamic at the local and landscape scales. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the impact of individual plant traits of tree species on flammability components. By keywords-based searching of academic databases, 85 research papers were collected and analyzed. The literature synthesis shows: i) main issues addressed in studies on plant trait-based tree flammability, ii) general research output and biogeographic regions studied, iii) inventory of tree taxa investigated, iv) relationships between plant traits and flammability components, v) the most relevant plant traits that determine the flammability-related differences between species.

Summary Introduction The most frequent oral disease in children is tooth decay. The aim of this study was to determine the health status of primary teeth in 6 year-old children. Material and method The study included 203 children of both genders living in the territory of Podgorica municipality. Only children whose parents gave consent were included. The parameters used for assessing oral health condition were: number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth due to caries (dmft) and Significant Caries Index (SiC). One dentist clinically examined all respondents in accordance with methodology and criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO). Results The average value of dmft in 6-year-olds in Podgorica was 4.9. On average, 80.3% of examined children had dental decay. The SiC Index was 8.3. Among examined children, 12.3% had at least one tooth with fissure sealant. In dmft structure dominated untreated decay (92.6%). Conclusion Results showed high prevalence of primary teeth decay in 6 years old children, indicating the absence of preventive measures and programs in Montenegro.

Utilizing a microscopic Bogoliubov-de Gennes approach we study Josephson effect in arbitrarily oriented d-wave superconductors connected through two ferromagnets with noncollinear magnetizations, by solving scattering problem. The critical Josephson current is calculated for various parameters of the junction. Mutual influence of d-wave superconducting electrodes orientation and angle α between magnetization in ferromagnetic bilayer of thickness d is analyzed. For various orientation of superconducting electrodes, we calculate (d,α) phase diagram, and discuss the possibility to achieve except coexistence of two stable states 0 and π, also coexistence of three stable states 0, π and π∕2, by varying the angle between magnetizations. We observe also areas of coexistence of stable and metastable states.

Shrubland is a Mediterranean biome characterized by densely growing evergreen shrubs adapted to fire events. To date, scientific research has focused on the impact of vegetation on soil erosion mainly through the control that plant biomass or plant cover exerts on sediment delivery and runoff discharge, being the individual plant species influence on hydrological and erosional processes not achieved in detail. The objective of this research is to determine: i) runoff and soil losses in a shrubland-covered rangeland at Sierra de Enguera, Spain; and ii) how four plant species affect soil and water losses. We measured soil cover, soil properties, runoff discharge and sediment yield under natural rainfall for five years (2010-2014) in a typical shrubland burnt in 1999. Four plant species were selected with 4 plots each: Ulex parviflorus Pourr., Pistacia lentiscus L., Quercus coccifera L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. Despite that the soil properties and plant cover did not exhibit statistically significant differences among plant species, the runoff discharge was lower on Q. coccifera (4.87%, SE 0.24) and P. lentiscus (6.24%, SE 0.51) than on U. parviflorus (13.41%, SE 0.58) and R. officinalis (13.84%, SE 1.23). Sediment concentrations were, respectively, 3.91, 4.33, 4.31 and 4.88 g l-1, and the differences between R. officinalis and the other species were statistically significant. The runoff discharge determined differences in soil erosion rates among the plant species with lower rates on P. lentiscus (1.36 Mg ha-1 y-1) and Q. coccifera (1.53 Mg ha-1 y-1), than on U. parviflorus (3.17 Mg ha-1 y-1) and R. officinalis (3.85 Mg ha-1 y-1). This long term in situ study indicated that Q. coccifera and P. lentiscus are more efficient in controlling runoff discharge and soil losses than U. parviflorus and R. officinalis one decade after a fire. We discuss these results in light of the recent findings by the scientific community of the role of the canopy cover (rainfall interception), soil macropore and root system, and the water repellency that control the hydrological response of the soil (e.g. runoff generation, infiltration). The information supplied by 5 years of research is relevant for restoration and rehabilitation programs and advise that Q. coccifera and P. lentiscus are the most efficient plant species to control soil and water losses within the Mediterranean shrubland. This is an applied science approach for a better management of rangelands.

Natural populations of Gentiana asclepiadea L., located at two mountainous sites, were HPLC-analyzed regarding the contents of six representative secondary metabolites. The contents of swertiamarin (SWM), gentiopicrin (GP), sweroside (SWZ), mangiferin (MGF), isoorientin (ISOOR), and isovitexin (ISOV) were determined in six populations (three per study site), and separately for aboveground and belowground plant parts. PCA showed a clear separation of four groups according to the contents of the analyzed secondary metabolites. Out of six analyzed compounds, five were present in all samples and only one (SWZ) was found in Golija populations (belowground parts) but not in Vlasina populations, and its presence can be indicative of the geolocation of populations. Clear separation of groups was mostly affected by the different contents of chemical compounds in plant parts (aboveground versus belowground) and by the differences related to population origin (higher content of SWM and GP in belowground parts of individuals from Vlasina populations and higher content of MGF and ISOOR of individuals from Golija populations). The results of this study contribute to the spatiochemical profiling of G. asclepiadea populations and a better understanding of inter- and intrapopulation variability of pharmacologically important compounds.

Natural populations of Rubus hirtus Waldst. & Kit. were studied at three locations along the Gabrovnica river on Stara Planina mountain, to assess the inter-population differences in ecophysiological and ecomorphological parameters. The content of total chlorophyll in leaves, estimated by the SPAD method, as well as leaf width and leaf width/length ratio had the highest values in population A, which inhabits a forest community dominated by hornbeam and sessile oak and grows in vegetative shade. Populations B (which is also located within the forest complex) and C (which is located in a relatively open habitat) had lower values for the examined parameters. Inter-population differences in the examined parameters can be partially interpreted as an adaptation to habitat light conditions (significant differences between individuals from populations A and C). However, the values of parameters in population B cannot be explained by light conditions, indicating the need to consider complex environmental conditions at that site, primarily heavy metal contamination of soil and groundwater.

Changes in climate, land use, and land management impact the occurrence and severity of wildland fires in many parts of the world. This is particularly evident in Europe, where ongoing changes in land use have strongly modified fire patterns over the last decades. Although satellite data by the European Forest Fire Information System provide large-scale wildland fire statistics across European countries, there is still a crucial need to collect and summarize in-depth local analysis and understanding of the wildland fire condition and associated challenges across Europe. This article aims to provide a general overview of the current wildland fire patterns and challenges as perceived by national representatives, supplemented by national fire statistics (2009–2018) across Europe. For each of the 31 countries included, we pres ent a perspective authored by scientists or practitioners from each respective country, representing a wide range of disciplines and cultural backgrounds. The authors were selected from members of the COST Action “Fire and the Earth System: Science & Society” funded by the European Commission with the aim to share knowledge and improve communication about wildland fire. Where relevant, a brief overview of key studies, particular wildland fire challenges a country is facing, and an overview of notable recent fire events are also presented. Key perceived challenges included (1) the lack of consistent and detailed records for wildland fire events, within and across countries, (2) an increase in wild land fires that pose a risk to properties and human life due to high population densities and sprawl into forested regions, and (3) the view that, irrespective of changes in management, climate change is likely to increase the frequency and impact of wildland fires in the coming decades. Addressing challenge (1) will not only be valuable in advancing national and pan-European wildland fire management strategies, but also in evaluating perceptions (2) and (3) against more robust quantitative evidence.

The reliability of diarylheptanoids as chemotaxonomic markers at inter- and intraspecific levels has been investigated. Six diarylheptanoids were quantified in bark ethanol extracts of four Alnus spp. populations by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The populations described here as locus classicus Alnus glutinosa (I) and locus classicus Alnus incana (III) are clearly differentiated. Compared to population I, individuals in population III have higher extract yields and hirsutanonol-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside content and lower contents of hirsutanonol, rubranoside A and oregonin. Individuals from neighboring populations of A. glutinosa (II) and A. incana (IV) share similar contents of hirsutanonol. All the studied populations exhibit a high intrapopulation variability of the selected diarylheptanoids; they have a heterogeneous chemotype and they partially overlap. The geographical proximity of populations II and IV increases their chemical similarity. Principal component analysis (PCA) clearly shows that the biggest dispersion of individuals lies within population IV. The reason for its heterogeneity might be its physical proximity to population II, i.e. the appearance of hybrids. Also, geometric morphometrics of leaves was performed as a screening criterion for spontaneous hybrids.

Introduction Separation of instruments in the root canal is one of the challenges in endodontic treatment. More specifically, nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary instruments usually separate without previous deformation. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the effect of torsional stress on endodontic NiTi rotary instruments separation in simulated clinical conditions. Materials and methods Research was conducted on a sample of 20 human teeth in laboratory conditions. Experimental procedure consisted of determining canal curvatures for each root on digital radiographs and root canal treatment using endodontic NiTi rotary instruments. Out of 20 teeth (60 canals), two groups were formed with similar root canal curvatures (10 pairs of teeth) and instrumented using NiTi rotary instrument with or without torque control. Results Wilcoxon matched pair test showed no statistically significant difference in average number of instruments use with or without torque control (p>0.05). Conclusion Even though there is no statistical significance in instrument separation when instruments were used with or without torque, there is tendency to experience sudden fracture of instruments after work without torsional control even after only few uses in clinical work., Uvod Dijabetes melitus (DM) u dečjem uzrastu može negativno da utiče na oralno zdravlje. Cilj ovog istraživanja je bio utvrđivanje stanja zdravlja parodoncijuma kod dece obolele od dijabetesa melitusa tipa I u odnosu na zdravu decu. Metode U studiju je bilo uključeno 177 dece uzrasta 10-15 godina. Ispitanici su podeljeni u dve grupe. Osamdeset sedmoro dece obolelo od dijabetesa melitusa tipa 1 (DMT1) bilo je uključeno u prvu grupu. Drugu, kontrolnu grupu, njih 90, predstavljala su zdrava deca. Samo ona deca čiji su roditelji svojim potpisom dali saglasnost bila su uključena u studiju. Za utvrđivanje oralne higijene primenjivan je plak indeks (PI) po Green-Vermillionu. Stanje zdravlja gingive procenjeno je pomoću gingivalnog indeksa (GI), opisanog po Löe-Silnessu. Procena stanja parodoncijuma registrovana je primenom CPI indeksa (Community Periodontal Index) i merenjem nivoa pripojnog epitela (NPE). Rezultati Prosečna vrednost PI za obolelu decu iznosila je 1,31 ± 0,55, a za zdravu populaciju 1,03 ± 0,51, što je bilo statistički visoko značajno (p = 0,001). Ispitanici iz grupe dijabetičara imaju procentualno najviše zastupljenu umerenu i tešku inflamaciju gingive, dok ispitanici iz kontrolne grupe imaju najviše zastupljenu zdravu gingivu i blagu inflamaciju (p lt 0,05). Prosečna vrednost CPI indeksa u grupi dece sa DM bila je 1,36 ± 1,12, a u kontrolnoj grupi dece 0,59 ± 0,84, što je bilo statistički značajno (p = 0,000). Prosečna vrednost nivoa pripojnog epitela za decu obolelu od dijabetesa melitusa iznosila je 1,33 ± 0,60 i bila je znatno viša (p = 0,000) u odnosu na pripadnike kontrolne grupe 0,66 ± 0,53. Zaključak Deca obolela od dijabetesa melitusa tipa 1 imaju više dentalnog plaka, lošije zdravlje gingive i više promena na parodoncijumu u odnosu na decu iz kontrolne grupe .

A faunistic study of the family Elateridae was carried out in Backa, the north-western district of Vojvodina Province in Serbia, focusing on their preferred habitats and soil types. The survey included four locations with a total of 1059 ha, in which 35 species, belonging to 15 genera of Elateridae, were observed. The frequency of larval and adult forms was 58.94% and 67.40%, respectively, proving that wireworms are regular residents of the area. Regarding habitat preferences, it was shown that a majority of Elateridae species prefer open biotopes and wheat crop, while marsh soil, chernozem and alluvium were the preferred soil types of wireworms.

The composition and variability of the terpenes and their derivatives isolated from the needles of a representative pool of 114 adult trees originating from four natural populations of dwarf mountain pine (Pinus mugoTurra) from the Julian Alps were investigated by GC-FID and GC/MS analyses. In total, 54 of the 57 detected essential-oil components were identified. Among the different compound classes present in the essential oils, the chief constituents belonged to the monoterpenes, comprising an average content of 79.67\% of the total oil composition (74.80\% of monoterpene hydrocarbons and 4.87\% of oxygenated monoterpenes). Sesquiterpenes were present in smaller amounts (average content of 19.02\%), out of which 16.39\% were sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and 2.62\% oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The most abundant components in the needle essential oils were the monoterpenes -car-3-ene, -phellandrene, -pinene, -myrcene, and -pinene and the sesquiterpene -caryophyllene. From the total data set of 57 detected compounds, 40 were selected for principal-component analysis (PCA), discriminant analysis (DA), and cluster analysis (CA). The overlap tendency of the four populations suggested by PCA, was as well observed by DA. CA also demonstrated similarity among the populations, which was the highest between Populations I and II. Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Serbia {[}173011, 173021]; Slovenian Research Agency {[}P4-0107, P4-0059]

On a global scale, it has been found that in the last decades the surface of the vulnerable land and land affected by degradation is increasing and that unsustainable land management is one of the key drivers of land degradation. In order to assess the effect that these changes have on biodiversity and ecosystem services, and to carry out the appropriate planning and management actions for conserving the environment it is essential to identify and quantify changes caused by land degradation. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of geological setting i.e. type of bedrock, and land use on soil physico-chemical properties in vulnerable mountainous areas of Fruškagora. For the purpose of this study the total of 30 soil samples at 0-20 cm depth were collected at four locations on the Fruškagora Mt. Geological setting was serpentinite and marl and land cover was forest and meadow. Following soil properties were determined: pH, redox potential (Eh), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), concentrations of available cations Ca, Mg, K, Na, contents of organic carbon (Corg) and nitrogen (N). The correlation between the obtained parameters was tested with two-way ANOVA and Principal Component Analyses (PCA). All of the obtained results indicate that the soil physico-chemical properties depend on geological setting and that rock composition has to be taken into consideration during land management. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 176006 i br. 173011]

Diarylheptanoids are a group of secondary metabolites widely distributed in the Betulaceae family and characteristic for Alnus species. In this study, the chemotaxonomic power of diarylheptanoids, such as hirsutanonol-5-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, rubranoside A, oregonin, platyphylloside, alnuside A and hirsutanonol, has been investigated in combination with principal component analysis (PCA) for differentiation of Alnus species. Concentrations of six diarylheptanoids in the bark extracts of two natural populations of Alnus glutinosa (black alder) and Alnus incana (gray alder) were determined by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). PCA clearly shows the separation of three groups. Populations I (A. glutinosa) and II (A. incana) both consisted of individuals of the corresponding species. Four individuals from both sampled populations formed a separate group (population III), which possibly represents a hybrid group. Accordingly, diarylheptanoids may serve in combination with PCA as chemotaxonomic markers at the species level, which may also reveal hybrid species.

The aim of the present study was to determine the content of six phenolic compounds, natural anti-oxidants, in fruits of wild growing Cornus mas L. Fruits were sampled from two different locations. The extracts were obtained from fresh fruits and subjected to LC-MS/MS analysis to identify and quantify the content of neochlorogenic acid and five derivatives of quercetin. All of the analyzed phenolic compounds were detected in total sample of C. mas fruits, and their occurrence and content were clearly locality-dependent. Out of analyzed compounds, the prevailing was neochlorogenic acid (5-O-CQ) in samples from Avala, whereas glucuronide (Q-3-O-GlcA) dominated in samples from Zlatar lake. These results showed that wild growing populations are rich source of natural antioxidants, especially those with proved pharmacological activity in humans, such as glucuronide. As indicated by data on traditional usages and ethnopharmacological knowledge, C. mas fruits collected in wild are valuable source of natural antioxidants and deserve attention in preservation of genetic and biological diversity.

Aim:L. is a widespread European shrubby species. It is a potential source of biologically active compounds, especially antioxidants, as indicated by the dogberries’ black color. The aim of the present study was to determine the content of several quercetin derivatives in the dogberries and to evaluate phytogeographical variability of these compounds.Materials and methods:The dogberries were collected in the middle of September at two natural habitats of this species: Mt. Avala and Lake Zlatar, Serbia. The extract obtained from fresh fruits was subjected to LC-MS/MS analysis to identify and quantify the content of five quercetin derivatives: quercetin-3-Results:All of examined quercetin derivatives were detected in extract of fresh dogberries and their contents were in the following order: Q-3-O-GlcA>Q-3-O-Gal>Q-3-O-Rut>Q-3-O-Glc>Q-3-O-Rha. The average amount of Q-3-O- Rut varied significantly and depended on the geographic origin of the fruit sample.Conclusions:These results indicate that dogberries could be a potential source of natural antioxidants, and encourage further investigation of this species considering that it has not yet been exploited in either nutrition or as a source of important pharmacological compounds.

The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), causes enormous damage to broadleaved forests in the northern hemisphere where it frequently defoliates large areas of forest. Since outbreaks begin in oak forests, its most suitable habitat, we determined the preference and performance of gypsy moth larvae when reared on three species of native oaks: sessile oak, Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.; Turkey oak, Q. cerris L.; and Hungarian oak, Q. frainetto (Ten.). Leaf expansion and selected physical and chemical characteristics of the oak leaves were also measured. The shortest development time and highest relative consumption (RCR), growth rate (RGR), assimilation efficiency (AD), efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) and digested food into larval biomass (ECD) values were recorded when larvae were fed on Turkey oak. Two-choice tests revealed that Turkey oak is the preferred host plant. It had the highest total soluble protein and leaf nitrogen content, lowest C/N ratio and its phenology was well synchronized with the hatching of the larvae. The worst performance and lowest preference index were recorded when fed on Hungarian oak, the leaves of which had the lowest protein and nitrogen content, while in terms of the values for preference and performance the larvae fed on sessile oak were intermediate. Our results indicate that forests with Turkey oak are highly likely to be defoliated by gypsy moth larvae and therefore should be regularly monitored.

PCR-RAPD markers revealed individual variation in F. ornus. A total of 122 fragments were amplified using 7 primers and of these 97 fragments were polymorphic. The percentage of polymorphic loci was between 53.3% and 74.6% with an average of 63.1%. The mean gene diversity for all populations was 0.30 and the mean Shannon’s index was 0.44. Of the total genetic variation 87% was intra-population whilst 13% was inter-population. The Mantel test revealed significant correlation between genetic and geographical distance matrice. Results herein represent the first use of molecular genetic (DNA) markers to characterize genetic variation in F. ornus populations. The partition of total genetic variance indicates a relatively restricted population differentiation as expected in outcrossing species. Present and future information on genetic structure and variability in F. ornus needs to be incorporated into strategies for the preservation of genetic resources of tree species. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173011]

Out of a total number of tree species in Serbian flora, 28% are hermaphrodites, 43% are monoecious and 29% are dioecious. The dendroflora appears to have a larger proportion of unisexual than hermaphrodite species. The monoecious system is the dominant unisexual system within the tree species in Serbia. The possible sex differentiation by RAPD markers and Correspondence Analysis was examined in a population of Fraxinus ornus var. angustifolia. On the basis of 6 selected RAPD bands which contribute to the differentiation in frequency between male and hermaphrodite individuals, Correspondence Analysis visualized the following tendency: 20 trees of each variety were separated into two groups that mainly correspond to sexual types. Our results showed that RAPD markers assisted by Correspondence Analysis could be used in identifying male and hermaphrodite individuals in F. ornus varieties.

Photosynthetic performance of seedlings of Quercus robur exposed to short-term water stress in the laboratory conditions was assessed through the method of induced fluorometry. The substrate for seedlings was clayey loam, with the dominant texture fraction made of silt, followed by clay and fine sand, with total porosity 68.2%. Seedlings were separated in two groups: control (C) (soil water regime in pots was maintained at the level of field water capacity) and treated (water-stressed, WS) (soil water regime was maintained in the range of wilting point and lentocapillary capacity). The photosynthetic efficiency was 0.642?0.25 and 0.522?0.024 (WS and C, respectively), which was mostly due to transplantation disturbances and sporadic leaf chlorosis. During the experiment Fv/Fm decreased in both groups (0.551?0.0100 and 0.427?0.018 in C and WS, respectively). Our results showed significant differences between stressed and control group, in regard to both observed parameters (Fv/Fm and T?). Photosynthetic efficiency of pedunculate oak seedlings was significantly affected by short-term water stress, but to a lesser extent than by sufficient watering.

The ecophysiological model INTERCOM was evaluated for its suitability in predicting the growth of perennial forest herbs. A field experiment was conducted to obtain data on photosynthesis and growth parameters of two spring flowering understorey geophytes. Results were used to parameterize the model and its performance was evaluated using the average normalized difference (AE) between predicted and observed biomass and the leaf area index. The model was assumed to provide accurate simulations if the AE was smaller than 0.4. Adjusting the photosynthetic intensity parameters in the model to reflect observed changes in photosynthesis throughout the growing period resulted in the accurate prediction of Scilla bifolia and Arum maculatum biomass (AE=0.13 and AE=0.021, respectively) and LAI (AE=-0.16 and AE=-0.08, respectively). Ecophysiological models may be useful tools for predicting the biomass accumulation of forest understorey species in response to varying environmental conditions, which could be useful for monitoring forest ecosystem health.

Population dynamics of the species Plantago major L. and Poa annua L., typical representatives of ruderal vegetation, was analyzed in a replacement series experiment. The analyzed species were sown in an area with meadow vegetation, where the vegetation present had been previously removed by a total herbicide and additionally by hoeing. The objective of the experiment was to monitor growth dynamics and the effect of intra- and inter-specific interaction of the species Plantago major and Poa annua in conditions of different sowing densities and proportions. The effects of intra- and inter-specific interference and the density-dependent responses were assessed on the basis of several parameters (natality, mortality, age structure, and measures of ontogenetic changes). Based on the study results, it can be concluded that the responses of the species in the experiment were different, which is explained by different adaptive mechanisms, i.e., strategies, in the specific environmental conditions. An effect of the density dependent response was present in both species in the replacement series experiment. The response was amplified by water deficit caused by intensive evapora?tion of the bare soil. No effect of inter-specific interference was observed at the given densities of the study species on the sample plots. An effect of intra-specific interference of the species Plantago major and Poa annua was observed in the guise of a density-negative response of the rate of ontogenetic changes and fecundity.

We investigated differences of salinity tolerance between 'salt-tolerant' (ST) and 'salt-sensitive' (SS) genotypes of yellow centaury [Centaurium maritimum (L.) Fritsch] selected during the germination phase. The ability of in vitro cultured C. maritimum to complete the whole ontogenetic cycle in less than 6 months enabled us to deterine salinity tolerance during different growth phases. Based on the physiological attributes measured in this study (growth, morphogenesis, photosynthesis, flowering, seed germination), it can be concluded that C. maritimum genotypes differing in salinity tolerance showed a variable response to elevated salt concentrations during both the vegetative and the generative growth phase.

The results of 20-year monitoring of the population of Mergus merganser in the East Dinaric Mountains are presented in this article. Colonization of the Sjenicko, Zlatarsko, and Radojina Lakes in Serbia by this species and its dispersion on the Zvornicko, Perucac, and Visegradsko Lakes in the Republic of Srpska occurred in this period. The population of goosander is progressive and we sug gest that it will expand to other lakes in the region, ones in Montenegro and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Study Area The East Dinaric Mountains are situated in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula, with the highest peaks up to 2500 m a.s.l. The whole Dinaric region belongs to the Black Sea basin, and the Drina River catchment area includes rapid highland rivers with a great amount of water. The climate is highland continental in the area of the upper lakes, whereas sub-Mediterranean climatic elements appear in the lower canyons. Coniferous and deciduous forests with refugial habitats in the canyons make up the vegetation cover of the mountain region. The energy potential of Drina River has been greatly exploited in the past 50 years by the building of nine hydro-electric power plants with artificial lakes. The first of them, Zlatarsko Lake, was formed

Studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of the ethanol extracts from five aromatic medicinal plants against the bean weevil, Acanthoscelides obtectus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). The extracts were tested for potential to protect stored legume seeds in terms of their repellency, toxicity and reduction of F1 progeny. Significant insecticidal activity was exhibited only by the 100% concentrated extracts from Urtica dioica L. and Taraxacum officinale L., whereas both 100 and 30% extracts from these plants were effective in repellency and reduction of F1 progeny. Although the extract form Achillea millefolium L. (100%) was ineffective in insecticidal activity, it provided a good level of repellency and reduction of F1 progeny. Extracts from Sambucus nigra L. and Juglans regia L. were ineffective in all conducted bioassays. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. null

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out on the territory of the highest mountain in Central Serbia, Kopaonik, which is characterized by great plant diversity. In total, 83 wild species from 41 families and 96 preparations for use in human therapy were recorded. Among those wild plants which are most commonly used for medicinal purposes, Hypericum perforatum L., Urtica dioica L., Achillea millefolium L., Matricaria chamomilla L., Sambucus nigra L., and Thymus serpyllum L. were particularly highly recommended by the majority of informants as being 'beneficial for all ailments'. The most frequently reported medicinal uses were for treating gastrointestinal ailments (50%), skin injuries and problems (25.6%), followed by respiratory, urinary-genital and cardiovascular problems (20.5%, 20.5%, 19.2%, respectively). Plants with unusual phytotherapeutic uses are Galium verum L. (sedative properties) and Eupatorium cannabinum L. (influenza-like illnesses), while plants with interesting but lesser-known properties include Daphne laureola L. (rheumatism and skin ailments) and Ficaria verna Huds. (tubers for treating haemorrhoids). In addition, 10 wild species used in veterinary medicine, as well as 25 herbs used for human nourishment were noted. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. null

The Resava Gorge is situated in Eastern Serbia in the region of the Gornja Resava River, extending westward from Mt. Globski Krs to the town of Lisine. In floral research conducted during 1997 and 1998, 297 taxa of vascular flora belonging to 68 families were discovered. The families Poaceae (28), Asteraceae (21), Fabaceae (20) and Lamiaceae (19) were best represented. The presence of 49 floral elements was also noted. The greatest number of plants are sub-Central European (18,86 %), Eurasian (14,14 %), sub-Mediterranean (8,75 %), Central European (6,40 %) and sub- Eurasian (6,40 %). As for life forms, hemi-cryptophytes (49,50 %), phanerophytes (19,53 %) and geophytes (11,11 %) were noted as dominant.

Biomass accumulation, leaf longevity and growth rate of two spring forest geophytes, Scilla bifolia L. and Arum maculatum L. were estimated separately for three size groups within each population of these species. Despite the differences in leaf longevity, both species showed a similar pattern of biomass accumulation in relation to their phenologies and reproductive demands. Eco-physiological acclimation to changing light environment was assumed through photosynthetic parameters and dynamics of leaf area index in the predominant size group of each species. A light response curve was measured under natural light for each species through the continuum of its phenology to quantify the photosynthetic photon flux density at light saturation, light-saturated photosynthetic rate, light compensation point, and dark respiration. Light-saturated assimilation per leaf area basis, dark respiration rate and light compensation points were significantly higher in S. bifolia relative to A. maculatum. However, the acclimation of photosynthesis that would respond to light changes in environment was not found in S. bifolia. In contrast, in A. maculatum a marked shift in the light dependence of photosynthesis through the season was noticed, which resulted in a strong photosynthetic acclimation to the low-light conditions. Accompanied by significant leaf area index, this efficient low-light photosynthesis enabled greater leaf longevity, and consequently longer accumulative period to A. maculatum. From the different parameters that we determined (both photosynthetic acclimation and growth strategy) it would appear that these species belong to two distinct subgroups: S. bifolia to the early and A. maculatum to the late vernals. (Managing editor: Ya-Qin)

The objective of this research was to analyze the distribution of two typical widespread xerohalophytic associations in sandy and sandy-shingle beaches of Montenegrin foreland: Cakilo-Xanthietum italici (Beg. 1941) Pign. 1953 and Echinophoro-Elymetum farcti GEHU 1988. Intense human activity generally affects the processes of vegetation degradation in this habitat type. The Velika plaža beach near Ulcinj is one of the few relatively undamaged sand beaches, in floristic and vegetational sense. Major environmental gradient in this habitat is the decrease in moisture and salinity from seaward to landward zone. This site's conditions model the prominent zonation of coastal plant species and distribution patterns of plants and plant communities.

The biological activities of essential oils from Ocimum basilicum L. and Salvia officinalis L. against Sitophilus oryzae were investigated in the laboratory experiments. Contact toxicity (applied essential oils on filter papers), grain treatment for mortality and repellency assays, and also effect of oils on insect fecundity were obtained during four weeks. Only the most concentrated solutions of essential oils (2 %) of both plants caused the significant mortality, repellency and anti-reproductive effect. All grain-protective properties of essential oils were concentration- and time-dependent. Insecticidal effectiveness of applied oil's solutions on the grain surface was similar as on filter paper; repellency of the most concentrated oils was significant, but their effect in reduction the F1 progeny was the most striking.

Ethanol solutions of five fractions obtained from essential oil of sweet basil Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) (F1-F5) were tested for their antifeedant properties against 2(nd) instar gypsy moth larvae, Lymantria dispar L. (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), in laboratory non-choice and feeding-choice experiments. Prior to bioassays, the chemical composition of each fraction was determined by gas chromatography analyses. Significant larval deterrence from feeding was achieved by application of tested solutions to fresh leaves of the host plant. The most effective were were F1 (0.5%), F4 (0.05, 0.1, and 0.5%), and F5 (0.1 and 0.5%), which provided an antifeedant index80% after five days. A low rate of larval mortality was observed in no-choice bioassay. In situ screening of chlorophyll fluorescence as an indicator of plant stress level (assessed by the induced fluorometry) confirmed that the tested compounds did not cause alternations in the photosynthetic efficiency of treated leaves.

Articles published between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2010 in 42 forestry journals (N = 16,258) were collected and, depending on their content and key words, classified in one of 22 sub-disciplines. Among the forestry sub-disciplines, the following are currently dominant: Mensuration and inventories, Forest management, Plant ecophysiology and Wood science. PCA ordination was used to visualize grouping tendencies and data separation. For each component, a number of characteristics contributed to the total variation, and significant importance was attached to those with the highest loading factors. The first component included Mensuration and inventories, Plant ecophysiology, Vegetation ecology and Forest management, as the highest loading factors. The second components comprised Sociological aspects, Plant ecophysiology, Wood science and Forest management. The most pronounced increase trend over the five-year period is noted for Genetics and breeding, Vegetation ecology, Fuels and energy, while the most pronounced decrease trend is visible in Forest health, Forest fire, Sociological aspects and Forest products. PCA suggests the existence of three groups of journals: the first group comprises Forest Ecology and Management and Canadian Journal of Forest Research, the dominating two, the second group comprises Annals of Forest Science, Plant Ecology, Tree Physiology and Trees-Structure and Function, while the rest of the journals belong to the third group. The Canadian Journal of Forest Research is the most diversified, while Tree Genetics and Genomes, Silvae Genetica and Tree-ring Research are narrowly specialized. Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia {[}173011]

In studies of population variability, particular attention has to be paid to the selection of a representative sample. The aim of this study was to assess the size of the new representative sample on the basis of the variability of chemical content of the initial sample on the example of a whitebark pine population. Statistical analysis included the content of 19 characteristics (terpene hydrocarbons and their derivates) of the initial sample of 10 elements (trees). It was determined that the new sample should contain 20 trees so that the mean value calculated from it represents a basic set with a probability higher than 95 %. Determination of the lower limit of the representative sample size that guarantees a satisfactory reliability of generalization proved to be very important in order to achieve cost efficiency of the research. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. OI-173011, br. TR-37002 i br. III-43007]

We study theoretically the Josephson effect and pairing correlations in planar SF${}_{1}$F${}_{2}$S junctions that consist of conventional superconductors (S) connected by two metallic monodomain ferromagnets (F${}_{1}$ and F${}_{2}$) with transparent interfaces. We obtain both spin-singlet and -triplet pair amplitudes and the Josephson current-phase relations for arbitrary orientation of the magnetizations using the self-consistent solutions of Eilenberger equations in the clean limit and for a moderate disorder in ferromagnets. We find that the long-range triplet correlations cannot prevail in symmetric junctions with equal ferromagnetic layers. Surprisingly, the long-range spin-triplet correlations give the dominant second harmonic in the Josephson current-phase relation of highly asymmetric SF${}_{1}$F${}_{2}$S junctions. The effect is robust against moderate disorder and variations in the layers thickness and exchange energy of ferromagnets.