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Schmallenberg disease is an infectious disease of cattle, sheep, and goats of viral aetiology caused by the Schmallenberg virus that belongs to the family Bunyaviridae and the genus Ortobunyavirus. Schmallenberg disease is a vector-borne disease transmitted by midges from the genus Culicoides but also by other hematophagous insects. The disease has a seasonal character and most often occurs in the warm months, from late spring to autumn. In this study, we investigated the seroprevalence of Schmallenberg disease in sheep in the epizootic area of Belgrade in the period from 2017 to 2022. A total of 600 sheep serums from the serum bank were tested, 100 serum samples from each year. Sera were tested by commercial ELISA test for the detection of specific antibodies against the Schmallenberg virus. The results showed an average annual seroprevalence of 24.5% in sheep in the Belgrade area in these six years with an increasing trend predicted for the next years.

Swine influenza A viruses (swIAVs) are characterised by high mutation rates and zoonotic and pandemic potential. In order to draw conclusions about virulence in swine and pathogenicity to humans, we examined the existence of molecular markers and accessory proteins, cross-reactivity with vaccine strains, and resistance to antiviral drugs in five strains of H1N1 swIAVs.

Monitoring the health of swine herds is essential to ensure good manufacturing practices. Traditionally, active and passive surveillance on farms involved invasive sampling methods, where specific animals were selected, restrained, and sampled. However, with the increasing intensity of swine production, alternative methods for effective herd surveillance became necessary. Non-invasive sampling provides a convenient and cost-effective approach to monitor the entire herd without compromising animal welfare, while still obtaining suitable samples for testing. Oral fluids have been widely used in both human and livestock health surveillance for various viral pathogens, including significant diseases. Nasal wipes (NW) utilize different cloth materials soaked in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or tissue culture medium with antibiotics and antimycotics to sample for swine influenza virus (SIV). Udder skin wipes (USW) offer an alternative method to assess the health status of piglets in a litter. During routine procedures such as tail docking and castration, a mixture of blood and serum can be collected, known as process fluids (PF), which has proven successful in monitoring herds for the presence of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Furthermore, air sampling has emerged as a novel technique to detect pathogens in various farming systems and animal species. This method offers the advantage of obtaining diagnostic samples without direct animal contact. By employing these non-invasive sampling methods, swine producers can implement effective surveillance strategies while maintaining animal welfare standards and obtaining reliable diagnostic information.

The implementation of biosecurity measures as the first line of defense is an essential prerequisite for preventing the occurrence and spread of infectious agents in flocks. Assessment of biosecurity measures on the farms was carried out during farm visits based on the application of an appropriate questionnaire whereby the farmer answered a number of questions regarding the implemented biosecurity measures. The study was performed via Biocheck.UGent online survey on 16 broiler farms in the region of the city of Belgrade. The capacity of farms was 25,000-100,000 broilers, placed in 2-4 houses, depending on the farm. Farm visits were made by the authors to confirm the correct answers to the online survey. Results showed that external biosecurity scores ranged from 57% to 93%, averaging 83.6%. Internal biosecurity score ranged from 48% to 98%, with an average score of 85.7%. The total score for the biosecurity assessment ranged from 56% to 93%, with an average score of 84.3%. The scores for subcategories varied between the farms. Removing manure and carcasses, a subcategory within the category of external biosecurity, had the lowest mean score (farms 9 and 10 had a score of 12%). Relatively low scores were also obtained for the number of steps of broilers depopulation (farm 9 had a score of 44%) and for the location of the farm (farms 2 and 3 had a score of 44%). Concerning internal biosecurity, the lowest score was obtained for the subcategory material and measures that they apply between compartments (farm 10 had a score of 29%). These findings should be useful for decision-makers and flock veterinarians and farmers to set feasible targets and sustainable biosecurity programs to improve biosecurity, the health status of the flock, and farm profitability.

The aim of this work was to establish a temperature of finish rolling stage of Nb/Ti microalloyed steel containing 0.06 wt.% C, 0.77 wt.% Mn, 0.039 wt.% Nb and 0.015 wt.% Ti, using physical simulation. Samples were subjected to laboratory simulation at a twist plastometer at high temperatures, i.e. between 825 and 950°C. Five pass deformation and interpass times were selected in accordance with a processing parameters at five stand finishing hot strip mill. Restoration (recovery and/or recrystallization) behavior was evaluated by calculation of Fraction Softening (FS) and Area Softening Parameter (ASP) values. At 950°C all individual pass stress-strain curves, FS and ASP show full recrystallization in all interpass intervals. On the other hand, with a decrease in temperature to the interval of 875-825°C, the extent of restoration is decreasing, leading to recovery as a sole softening mechanism at 825°C, which was confirmed by the stress-strain curve shape, and values of FS and ASP. It is assumed that, due to high supersaturation, strain-induced precipitation promoted pinning of grain and subgrain boundaries and suppressed recrystallization. Therefore, the critical temperature for finish rolling was estimated to be 825°C.

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is a viral disease of cattle with a high economic impact. To estimate the seroprevalence of Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection of cattle on smallholder farms we included 78 smallholder farms in the Belgrade epizootiological area where 318 blood serum samples from cattle were collected, and subsequently tested. The samples were analyzed using a commercially available competitive enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies against BVDV. The obtained results showed an overall seroprevalence of 3.8% whereas the seroprevalence on herd level varied from 0% to 80%. The obtained results showed a relatively low seroprevalence of BVD infection on smallholder farms on the territory of Belgrade city.

The US strategic foreign and security action is fundamentally conditioned by the need to preserve and enhance its own political, economic, and especially military power and influence on the international system and to protect the vital national interests. The US strategic culture is primarily reflected in the following: the strong and persistent belief of the US political elites that the real and long-term security and prosperity of the US can be ensured solely by expanding, and in no way diminishing, its sphere of foreign policy influence; the clear and constant efforts of the US political elite to establish and maintain the US foreign policy position as an undisputed regional and global (military) hegemon; insisting on the unrestricted freedom of action and retaining the sovereign right to unilateral, offensive military action of the US in international disputes and in the event of a threat to its national interests; clearly stated intentions to act decisively, proactively and preventively (militarily) in counteracting potential threats to the US national security and interests, away from its shores, and before they are fully materialized; aspirations of decision-makers, political and military elites to find and implement simple and fast solutions to complex problems in the external environment; the almost complete absence of policies and strategies that involve the planning and conduct of wars with limited political objectives; a firm and undivided belief of the entire nation in the exceptionalism and "omnipotence" of the state, which in turn contributes to the development and preservation of the tendency of the US political elites to set unrealistic and maximalist goals before the nation and its foreign policy.

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Abstract Background Early identification of patients at an increased risk for delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) and poor outcome could allow more aggressive therapy and influence better outcome. The aim of this study was to determine a predictive association of hyponatremia, hypomagnesemia, fever, and leukocytosis with DCI and poor outcome. Patients and Methods We prospective enrolled 68 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) treated from March 2011 to May 2013. Serum levels of sodium, magnesium, and leukocyte count were determined at least once a day during the first 10 days after SAH. All patients underwent noncontrast computed tomography (CT) scan 9 ± 2 days after SAH. DCI was defined as one or more of the next parameters: a new focal neurological deficit, decline for two or more points on the modified Glasgow Coma Scale or a new hypodensity on CT scan. The outcome was assessed after 6 months using the extended Glasgow Outcome scale. Results Overall, 48% of the patients recruited had DCI. Ramachandraiah logistic regression model showed significant impact of hyponatremia (p = 0.036; odds ratio [OR] = 4.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09–15.26) on DCI and poor outcome (p = 0.034; OR = 5.11; 95% CI = 1.13–23.14). We obtained strong correlation of leukocytosis (p = 0.013) with DCI and poor outcome (p = 0.016). Association of noninfectious fever and hypomagnesemia with DCI existed, but it was not significant enough. Conclusion Our results confirmed the association of hyponatremia and leukocytosis with greater risk of developing DCI and poor clinical outcome.

This paper presents one of the possible ways to optimize the movement of the suspended payload. Application of presented optimization procedure is shown on grab crane devices such as unloading bridge and harbour crane. The optimization procedure is divided into two phases. The first phase is optimization of the cargo and grab (suspended payload) movement. The second phase is determination of movement, of the grab crane device mechanisms, upon obtained optimal path and parameters of cargo and grab (payload) movement. Shape of presented mathematical model makes possible direct application of optimal control theory methods i.e. optimization of the payload movement is determined using Pontryagin’s maximum principle. The basic aim of optimization is to attain the minimal working (unloading) cycle, spending of energy and material dissipation during the grab discharging. All relevant expressions are derived analytically..

The aim of this work was to establish deformation behaviour of two vanadium microalloyed medium carbon steels with different contents of carbon and titanium by tensile testing at 77 K. Samples were reheated at 1250°C/30 min and continuously cooled at still air. Beside acicular ferrite as dominant morphology in both microstructures, the steel with lower content of carbon and negligible amount of titanium contains considerable fraction of grain boundary ferrite and pearlite. It was found that Ti-free steel exhibits higher strain hardening rate and significantly lower elongation at 77 K than the fully acicular ferrite steel. The difference in tensile behavior at 77 K of the two steels has been associated with the influence of the pearlite, together with higher dislocation density of acicular ferrite. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. OI174004]

Formability of Al-Mg6.8 alloy has been evaluated experimentally in uniaxial tension and biaxial stretching. Three different structures developed after cold rolling and annealing in the range of temperature from 265 to 320 °C: (I) recovered dual (a + β) phase, (II) recrystallized (a + β) dual phase, and (III) recrystallized a-Al single phase structure, were tested. Samples with recovered structure have shown a lower formability level than the samples with fully recrystallized structure. Formability level assessed through FLD and LDH value, has been a result of complex interaction between work hardening ability and strain rate sensitivity.

Objectives: Although bluetongue is not a contagious disease, it is easily transmitted and spread by appropriate insect vectors, causing great economic damage. Climate change has led to the fact that vectors and diseases have spread to the top of Northern Europe, causing great economic losses in livestock production. An even greater problem is controlling the disease, because numerous species of domestic and wild ruminants are susceptible to bluetongue. The most effective tool against bluetongue disease is vaccination., Methods: Our goal was to carry out laboratory tests of the starting material and the finished product of the candidate inactivated vaccine against BTV4, and to comment on the obtained laboratory results and the results of previously performed clinical studies. There is no ideal vaccine against the bluetongue virus (BTV) due to the serotype diversity of its strains. Thus, there is a need for a vaccine for at least 24 clinically significant serotypes. Sometimes, it is difficult to obtain the desired amount of vaccine against a defined serotype on the market, and this has led to the need for a new vaccine against bluetongue disease. In this study, we tested an experimental inactivated vaccine against BTV4. The master seed BTV4 was examined and characterized by sequencing., Results: The candidate BTV4 vaccine induced the onset of immunity at the latest at day 21 after the application of the first dose in more than 80% of the vaccinated individuals, while the ELISA test detected specific antibodies against BTV for more than a year. Along with our laboratory results, the preliminary results of safety and efficacy trials are also presented., Conclusions: The side effects of this inactivated BTV4 vaccine are within the limits of permissible local reactions without generalized changes in the health status, while the serology and challenge test leads to the conclusion that this vaccine against BTV4 protects a high percentage of vaccinated individuals against BTV4 or causes a significant reduction in the intensity and duration of the clinical signs in the vaccinated sheep. Based on the trial results, the new vaccine has given encouraging results in terms of quality, safety, and preliminary efficacy tests. Thus, we believe that a new vaccine against BTV is on the horizon.

Mass mortality of farmed 1 yr old common carp Cyprinus carpio occurred at a carp farm in April 2022. In addition to high mortality, diseased fish exhibited papillomatous growths on the skin and fins, characteristic of carp pox. To investigate a possible viral cause, tissue samples were collected and nucleic acid was extracted using standard procedures. In a pooled sample from the gills and kidneys, carp edema virus (CEV) was detected by real-time PCR. In a skin tissue sample with papillomatous growths, cyprinid herpesvirus 1 (CyHV1) was detected by a conventional PCR targeting a conserved region of the DNA polymerase of cyprinid herpesviruses. PCR products were visualized through agarose gel electrophoresis, and the presence of CyHV1 DNA was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. This represents the first molecular confirmation of CyHV1 in common carp in Serbia.

Spring viraemia of carp (SVC) is an infectious disease responsible for severe economic losses for various cyprinid species, particularly common carp (Cyprinus carpio carpio). The causative agent is the Rhabdovirus carpio or SVC virus (SVCV), a member of the Sprivivirus genus, within the Rhabdoviridae family. Phylogenetically, SVCV is divided into four genogroups (SVCV a, SVCV b, SVCV c and SVCV d), which have a reasonable correlation with the geographical distribution of the virus. In the late twentieth century, the disease was widespread in Serbian aquaculture and caused massive deaths in common carp. This study aimed to molecularly characterize the circulating SVCV isolates in Serbia over a 17-year period. The genetic relationships between 21 SVCV isolates from common carp and rainbow trout in Serbia between 1992 and 2009 were determined based on the partial nucleotide sequence of the glycoprotein gene (G gene). The phylogenetic analysis showed that the dominant SVCV isolates in Serbia belong to the SVCV d genogroup, with only one isolate belonging to genogroup SVCV b. The SVCV strains circulating in Serbia exhibited high homogeneity, as several isolates shared 100% similarity within these genogroups. Most Serbian isolates belonged to SVCV d1 and d2 subgroups, with one isolate notably different and included in a new subgroup SVCV d5. Understanding the SVCV genetic variants circulating in Serbia would be helpful in future epizootic investigations., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The cementless Corail stem is one of the most frequently implanted stems and has undergone several design changes. Currently in use is the third generation, named Corail AMT. Until now, only one third-generation Corail stem neck fracture has been described in 2020. In our paper, we present an almost identical complication with an additional analysis of the fracture using a scanning electron microscope. The revision surgery consisted of changing the broken implant with a Corail revision stem, along with replacing the polyethylene liner and the femoral head with new one, after which the patient achieved a full recovery. According to the available literature, this is the second case of this extremely rare complication., (© 2023 The Authors.)

The objective of this study was to investigate why holding times on 2 different tests of isometric trunk flexor endurance capacity (prone plank and v-sit) are weakly correlated. Body position and ground reaction force data from 10 men and 10 women were used to conduct static biomechanical analyses of both test postures, and bilateral activations of the rectus abdominis, internal and external obliques, latissimus dorsi, and lumbar and thoracic erector spinae were measured in a second sample of 15 men and 15 women while holding the test postures. No between-posture differences in net low back flexor moments were found (P = .111), but the lumbar spine was 28° more flexed in the v-sit than in the plank (P < .001). No between-posture differences were detected in the rectus abdominis (P = .397), external obliques (P = .204), internal obliques (P = .226), or lumbar erector spinae (P = .116) activation levels, but those of the thoracic erector spinae (P = .0253) and latissimus dorsi (P < .001) were greater in the plank than in the v-sit. Altogether, the findings suggest that differences between plank and v-sit holding times are most likely related to between-test differences in lumbar spine postures and shoulder demands.

Sustained maximum lumbar spine flexion can increase the angle at which the low back flexion relaxation phenomenon (FRP) is observed. This adaptation has been hypothesized to have implications for the control of lumbar spine stability and increase the potential for low back injury. The objective of this study was to investigate if similar changes in the FRP would occur from sub-maximal spine flexion induced by an extended continuous duration of seated office deskwork. Twenty-three participants (12 male and 11 female) performed three bouts of full forward spine flexion interspersed with two 1-h periods of seated deskwork. Lumbar spine angular kinematics and electromyographic activity from the lumbar erector spinae were obtained throughout all trials. The angles at which myoelectric silence occurred (FRP onset) were documented. Lumbar flexion at FRP onset increased by 1.3±1.5° after 1-h of sitting (p<0.05) with no further increase after 2-h. However, when the angle at the FRP onset was normalized to the total range of flexion, there was no difference in the FRP onset. These results suggest that the seated posture may induce residual deformation in the viscoelastic passive tissues of the low back; this could increase the challenge of controlling spine motion and reduce the load-bearing capacity of the lumbar spine system during activities performed following extended bouts of sitting., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The endothelin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) systems are central to the control of reactive brain processes and are thought to partly exert these tasks by endothelin-induced transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) Here we show that beyond EGFR transactivation, endothelins prevent the ligand-induced internalization of the EGFR. We unravel that endothelins abrogate internalization of the EGFR by either promoting the formation of "internalization-deficient" EGFR/ErB2-heterodimers or by activating c-Abl kinase, a negative regulator of EGFR internalization. We further provide evidence that this cross-talk is operational in the control of astrocytic glutamate transport. Specifically, we establish that the inhibitory effects exerted by endothelins on basal as well as EGF-induced expression of the major astroglial glutamate transporter subtype, glutamate transporter 1, are a direct consequence of the endothelin-dependent retention of the EGFR at the cell surface. Together our findings unravel a previously unknown cross-talk between endothelin and epidermal growth factor receptors, which may have implications for a variety of pathological conditions., (© 2012 The Authors. Journal of Neurochemistry © 2012 International Society for Neurochemistry.)