Search

The current diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is based on history, clinical observation, and behavioral tests. There is a high demand to find biomarkers for the diagnosis of ADHD. The aim of this study is to analyze the serum profiles of several biomarkers, including homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B12, vitamin D, ferritin, and iron, in a cohort of 133 male subjects (6.5–12.5 years), including 67 individuals with an ADHD diagnosis based on DSM-V criteria and 66 age-matched healthy boys (healthy controls, HC). Assessments for ADHD included the Iowa Conners’ Teacher Rating Scale (CPRS) and the ADHDT test, as well as cognitive assessments using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) and the TROG-2 language comprehension test. Hcy and iron were quantified using spectrophotometry, while vitamin B12 and total 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were determined using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) and ferritin was measured using a particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay. The results showed significantly increased Hcy levels and decreased vitamin B12 levels in ADHD patients compared to HCs. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that Hcy is a potential prognostic indicator for ADHD. These results suggest that elevated homocysteine and decreased vitamin B12 may serve as markers for the diagnosis and prognosis of ADHD.

n the world of complex smells in natural environment,feeding and mating represent two important olfactory‐guided behaviors inDrosophila melanogaster(Diptera:Drosophilidae). Diet affects the chemoprofile compositionof the individuals, which, indirectly, may significantly affecttheir mating success. In this study, chemoprofiles of re-cently mated flies belonging to fourD. melanogasterstrains,which were fed for many generations on different sub-strates (standard cornmeal—S strain; banana—B strain;carrot—C strain; tomato—T strain) were identified andquantified. In total, 67 chemical compounds were identi-fied: 48 compounds were extracted from males maintainedon banana and carrot, and 47 compounds from malesmaintained on cornmeal and tomato substrates, while totalof 60 compounds were identified in females from allstrains. The strains and the sexes significantly differed inqualitative nature of their chemoprofiles after mating. Sig-nificant differences in the relative amount of three majormale pheromones (cis‐vaccenyl acetate—cVA, (Z)‐7‐pentacosene, and (Z)‐7‐tricosene) and in female pheromone(Z,Z)‐7,11‐nonacosadiene among strains were also re-corded. Furthermore, multivariate analysis of variance(MANOVA) pointed to significant differences between irgin and mated individuals of all strains and within bothsexes. Differences in some of the well known sex pher-omones were also identified when comparing their relativeamount before and after mating. The presence of typicalmale pheromones in females, and vice versa may indicatetheir bidirectional transfer during copulation. Our resultsconfirm significant effect of mating status on cuticular hy-drocarbon (CHC) phenotypes in differently fedD. melano-gasterflies.

In the world of complex smells in natural environment, feeding and mating represent two important olfactory-guided behaviors in Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Diet affects the chemoprofile composition of the individuals, which, indirectly, may significantly affect their mating success. In this study, chemoprofiles of recently mated flies belonging to four D. melanogaster strains, which were fed for many generations on different substrates (standard cornmeal-S strain; banana-B strain; carrot-C strain; tomato-T strain) were identified and quantified. In total, 67 chemical compounds were identified: 48 compounds were extracted from males maintained on banana and carrot, and 47 compounds from males maintained on cornmeal and tomato substrates, while total of 60 compounds were identified in females from all strains. The strains and the sexes significantly differed in qualitative nature of their chemoprofiles after mating. Significant differences in the relative amount of three major male pheromones (cis-vaccenyl acetate-cVA, (Z)-7-pentacosene, and (Z)-7-tricosene) and in female pheromone (Z,Z)-7,11-nonacosadiene among strains were also recorded. Furthermore, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) pointed to significant differences between virgin and mated individuals of all strains and within both sexes. Differences in some of the well known sex pheromones were also identified when comparing their relative amount before and after mating. The presence of typical male pheromones in females, and vice versa may indicate their bidirectional transfer during copulation. Our results confirm significant effect of mating status on cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) phenotypes in differently fed D. melanogaster flies.

The influence of deposition and annealing parameters on optical, structural and photocatalytic properties of N-doped titanium-dioxide (TiO2) thin films have been studied. Anatase and anatase-rutile crystalline phase mixture TiO2 thin films were obtained depending on the reactive direct current (DC) sputtering and annealing conditions. Deposition in the nitrogen atmosphere produced N-doped TiO2 thin films with energy gap values shifted towards visible region in comparison with thin TiO2 films deposited without nitrogen in the atmosphere. The role of substitutional and interstitial nitrogen atoms incorporated in obtained crystalline structures during the deposition was shown important and was reflected in the efficiency of photocatalysis. It was found that thin TiO2 films with more substitutional incorporated nitrogen exhibits better photocatalytic properties. These results could be of importance towards achieving controlled synthesis of N-doped TiO2 thin films with desired structural and optical properties, especially with improved photo-activity in the visible part of the solar spectrum.

Предмет научноистраживачког рада ,,Комуникативно развојни ток америчког екслибриса од библиотечког ,,малог” књижног листића до ,,мале” ликовне графике (XVIII - XX век)” је неистражени и недовољно познат амерички екслибрис и његов постепени развој од малог књижног листића до независног уметничког дела. У оквиру грађе коришћене у oвом раду примарно су размотрени они екслибриси и социјални моменти америчког друштва који се посредно или непосредно тичу овог тока развоја, као и основни моменти преласка из оквира библиотечких, хералдичких, алегоријских, пикторијалних и дескриптивних екслибриса у модерни савремени екслибрис. У раду је истражено позајмљивање књига, исписивање изрека на корицама, а потом и колекционарство, интересовања и начела чувања ове библиотечке грађе. Назначена је значајна улога библиотека, не само са комуникацијског и значењског, већ и са аспекта очувања грађе. Истраживање је засновано на јасном теоријско-емпиријском, истраживачком, афирмативном и ликовном приступу. Основна хипотеза рада је представљање екслибриса као посебног вида графичке уметности познате и под називом „мала” графичка уметност, у којем се првобитно чувала библиотечка и музеолошка документација одрећених периода и институција. Тада је још носио назив „малог” књижног листића и ова чињеница завређује да буде представљена и обрађена на адекватан начин узимајући у обзир све најбитније параметре и директиве струковних начела овог предмета истраживања. Америчке библиотеке су имале за циљ да путем одређених екслибриса додатно оплемене познавање своје културе, традиције, језика и друштва у целини. Екслибрис је прошао пут доктрине културних институција и еминентних личности да би дошао до рецепта независног опстанка захваљујући манирима савремених уметника америчке уметничке сцене., The subject of scientific research “Communicative developmental flow of an American exlibris from a librarian “small” bookplate to a “ small” graphic art (XVIII-XX century)” is an unexplored and insufficiently known American bookplate and its gradual development from a small booklet statuses to an independent artistic work. Within the framework of the materials used in this paper primarily were considered bookplates and socially societal aspects of the American society that was directly or indirectly involved in this exchange and the basic places of preliminaries from the circles of libraries, heraldic, allegorical, pictorial and descriptive bookplates in to the modern bookplates. The work also involves borrowing books and printing motifs on the covers, and then collecting, interests and principles in keeping in libraries as an indispensable part of this research. The great role of libraries was not only communicative, meaningful but also from the aspect of preserving the material. The research is based on a clear theoretical, empirical, exploratory, affirmative and artistic approach. The basic hypothesis of work is that the bookplate is presented as a special type of graphic art known as the "small" graphic art, in which the library and museological documentation of certain periods and institutions was originally kept when it was still called the "small" booklet, which deserves to be presented and processed in an adequate manner taking into account all the most important parameters and directives of the professional principles of this subject of research. American libraries aimed to demonstrate additional refinement of the knowledge and knowledge of their culture, tradition, language, people, general familiarity with society as a whole through certain exile. Bookplates went through the path of intellectualism, the doctrine of the culture institutes and eminent personalities to come to a regular recipe of independent choice met by the demands of the manners of conte

Nickel-alumina composites with various content of nickel were synthetized by sol-gel method. The characterization of samples was performed by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy using the Mott-Schottky analysis. Glassy carbon electrode modified by synthesized composites was investigated for reduction of 4-nitrophenol. Modification of glassy carbon electrode with composite sample led to the strong apparent electrocatalysis. Principal component analysis was used to establish correlation between structural, textural and electrochemical data of investigated composites.

Pure and a series of Fe3+ doped zirconia nanopowders were synthesized combining colloidal chemistry and solvothermal method from organometallic precursors in order to correlate doping and properties of zirconia matrix. After annealing of washed nanopowders at 600 °C, detailed characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction, UV/Vis absorption and luminescence, infrared and electron paramagnetic spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and BET measurements. Zirconia samples had mixed monoclinic and tetragonal crystalline phase; increasing Fe3+ ions concentration was followed by increasing of tetragonal phase share. In the sample with highest Fe3+ concentration, hematite can be detected. Also, UV/Vis spectrophotometry showed that Fe3+ doping lowers effective band gap of zirconia matrix from 4.5 eV (bulk value) to 2.1 eV for doped/nanocomposite samples. EPR measurements proved presence of dopant and showed that isolated Fe3+ ions in zirconia matrix exist in both crystalline phases; monoclinic and tetragonal (g 4.8 and g 4.27–4.2, respectively) surroundings. Zirconia samples were also successfully used as photocatalysts for photocatalytic degradation of 2, 4, 6, trichlorophenol. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.

INTRODUCTION: Titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films showed as promising materials for photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in water under irradiation of UV-light. It is favorable material for photocatalytic processes because of its non-toxicity, high photosensitivity, large band gap and stability. One of the way to increase efficiency of TiO2 thin films is by doping and coating with metals. Metal-doped TiO2 can reduce electron-hole recombination and increase hydroxyl radical concentration on the surface of TiO2, resulting in increase in the photocatalytic activity1. In studies of J.M.Jung at al.1 with Au-buffered TiO2 thin films and V. S. Mohite et al.2 with doped TiO2 thin films showed that this systems have enhanced photocatalytic activity in comparison to pure TiO2 thin films. Also recent study3 showed that Au doped TiO2 thin films are great candidates beside photocatalysis for enhancing visible light water splitting. EXPERIMENTAL STUDY TiO2 and TiO2:Au thin films were obtained by DC magnetron sputtering of Ti target with Ar ions in O2 atmosphere. In the case of doped TiO2 thin films with Au, three different systems were deposited for comparison (fig.1): Buffering Au layer into the TiO2 layer (b), subsurface buffering of Au with island formation of Au on the surface and etching the surface of TiO2 layer by HF and applying Au nanoparticles on the surface. Annealing of the samples was performed in air and N2 atmospheres on 600 °C for better crystallinity and release of defects. For structural analyses XRD, XPS, TEM and SEM methods were used, while for optical characterization UV/Vis method was used. The photo-degradation rate was measured using Rhodamine B which simulated pollutant. Fig. 1: Experimental setup. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Structural analysis has shown that as deposited films have amorphous-like structures, while post-deposition thermal annealing in air for 3 hours inducted significantly better crystallinity in thin films with anatase phase dominating. S

Veoma izražene morfološke i ponašajne osobine kod životinja često su rezultat delovanja seksualne selekcije. Kod insekata, ovaj proces za rezultat ima prisustvo intenzivne pigmentacije, neuobičajenih morfoloških struktura i kompleksnih feromona, koji se odlikuju velikom varijabilnošću u zavisnosti od sredinskih faktora. Za voćnu mušicu, D. melanogaster, jedan od najvažnijih faktora sredine je ishrana, koja ima značajan efekat na fiziološke, semiohemijske, morfološke i ponašajne osobine. Cilj ove doktorske disertacije je praćenje efekta višegodišnjeg gajenja pet linija D. melanogaster na različitim supstratima (standardni laboratorijski supstrat i supstrati koji sadrže paradajz, bananu, šargarepu i jabuku) na uspeh u parenju, morfološke i semiohemijske osobine. Rezultati ove doktorske disertacije su pokazali da su mužjaci gajeni na supstratu koji sadrži paradajz imali najveći uspeh u parenju, dok su najmanji uspeh u parenju imali mužjaci gajeni na podlozi koja sadrži jabuku. Razlike u uspehu u parenju, između ostalog, se mogu pripisati i razlikama u sastavu supstrata, ali i razlikama u komponentama adaptivne vrednosti. Značajne razlike između linija su uočene i na semiohemijskom i morfološkom nivou. Seksualna izolacija je utvrđena između linija održavanih na supstratima koji sadrže bananu i šargarepu. Na uspeh u parenju značajno je uticao oblik krila mušica, dok veličina krila nije imala značajan efekat. Takođe, kutikularni ugljovodonici, pre svega seksualni feromoni kakvi su 7-trikozen, 7-pentakozen, cVA, 7,11-nonakozadien i 7,11- heptakozadien, su imali važnu ulogu u odabiru partnera., Very pronounced morphological and behavioural traits in animals are often the result of acting sexual selection. In insects, this process leads to intense pigmentation, unusual morphological structures and complex pheromones, exhibiting great variability depending on the environments. For fruit fly, D. melanogaster, one of the most important environmental factors is food, which has a significant effect on physiological, semiochemical, morphological and behavioural traits. The aim of this doctoral dissertation was to determine the impact of long-term maintaining of five D. melanogaster strains on different nutritive substrates (standard laboratory substrate and substrates which contain tomato, banana, carrot and apple) on mating success, morphological and semiochemical traits. The results of this doctoral dissertation showed that males reared on tomato diet had the highest mating success, while males reared on apple diet had the lowest mating success. Differences in mating success could be related with differences in the substrate composition, as well with differences in the fitness traits. Significant differences among strains were also observed on semiochemical and morphological levels. Sexual isolation has been established between strains reared on banana and apple diets. Mating success was significantly influenced by the wing shape, while the wing size showed no effect. Also, cuticular hydrocarbons, primarily sexual pheromones 7-tricosene, 7-pentacosene, cVA, 7,11-nonacosadiene and 7,11-heptacosadiene, had important role in mate choice.

Solvothermal synthesis of ZrO2-TiO2 binary oxides and pure counterparts at 150 degrees C in water/isopropanol media is presented. Titanium (IV) isopropoxide and zirconium (IV) propoxide were used as precursors. XRD and TEM techniques were used for structural and morphological characterization of obtained samples. XPS spectra of mixed oxide samples were compared in order to correlate composition of samples with surface properties and presence of defects. Relative positions of defect states within band-gaps of semiconductors were estimated from UCPL spectra. UV-Vis DRS spectra revealed that both pure oxides experienced red shift of absorption thresholds compared to reference data. Photocatalytic activities of all samples were probed under simulated Solar light on three model compounds: phenol, 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and 2, 4, 6-trichlorphenol (TCP). Pure TiO2 showed the highest photocatalytic activity in the case of phenol. However, pure ZrO2 and binary oxides showed higher photoactivity in degradation of 4-CP and TCP. The activity of wide band-gap semiconductors under simulated Solar light in photodegradation of phenol and its derivatives is most probably the consequence of formation of charge transfer complexes between pollutant molecules and semiconductors surface.

Solvothermal synthesis of ZrO2-TiO2 binary oxides and pure counterparts at 150 degrees C in water/isopropanol media is presented. Titanium (IV) isopropoxide and zirconium (IV) propoxide were used as precursors. XRD and TEM techniques were used for structural and morphological characterization of obtained samples. XPS spectra of mixed oxide samples were compared in order to correlate composition of samples with surface properties and presence of defects. Relative positions of defect states within band-gaps of semiconductors were estimated from UCPL spectra. UV-Vis DRS spectra revealed that both pure oxides experienced red shift of absorption thresholds compared to reference data. Photocatalytic activities of all samples were probed under simulated Solar light on three model compounds: phenol, 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and 2, 4, 6-trichlorphenol (TCP). Pure TiO2 showed the highest photocatalytic activity in the case of phenol. However, pure ZrO2 and binary oxides showed higher photoactivity in degradation of 4-CP and TCP. The activity of wide band-gap semiconductors under simulated Solar light in photodegradation of phenol and its derivatives is most probably the consequence of formation of charge transfer complexes between pollutant molecules and semiconductors surface.

In insects, cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profile is involved in many important biological functions and may vary in different conditions. Among fruit fly species, Drosophila subobscura is one of the most frequently used in genetic, ecological and evolutionary research, because of its rich chromosomal polymorphism, specific behavioral repertoires and habitat preferences. In this work, we identified and quantified cuticular chemoprofile of D. subobscura. Using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), 25 chemical compounds were found in males and 23 compounds were found in females. Further, ANOVA confirmed significant sexual dimorphism in cuticular chemoprofile amounts. Knowledge of cuticular chemistry could contribute to further research in D. subobscura, starting from behavioral, up to ecological, since this species is recognized as an important model system for the study and monitoring of global climate changes.

The surface modification of nanocrystalline TiO2 particles (45 angstrom) with catecholate-type ligands having different electron donating/electron withdrawing substituent groups, specifically 3-methylcatechol, 4-methylcatechol, 3-methoxycatechol, 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and 4-nitrocatechol, was found to alter the optical properties of nanoparticles in a similar way to catechol. The formation of the inner-sphere charge-transfer (CT) complexes results in a red shift of the semiconductor absorption compared to unmodified nanocrystallites and a reduction of the effective band gap, being slightly less pronounced in the case of electron withdrawing substituents. The investigated ligands have the optimal geometry for binding to surface Ti atoms, resulting in ring coordination complexes of the catecholate type (binuclear bidentate binding-bridging) thus restoring six-coordinated octahedral geometry of surface Ti atoms. From the absorption measurements (Benesi-Hildebrand plot), the stability constants in methanol/water = 90/10 solutions at pH 2 in the order of 10(3) M-1 have been determined. The binding structures were investigated by using FTIR spectroscopy. Thermal stability of CT-complexes was investigated by using TG/DSC/MS analysis. Quantum chemical calculations on model systems using density functional theory (DFT) were performed to obtain the vibrational frequencies of charge transfer complexes, and the calculated values were compared with the experimental data.

Nutrition is one of the most important environmental factors that influence the development and growth in Drosophila. The food composition strongly affects their reproduction, welfare and survival, so it is necessary for flies to search for a mixture of macronutrients that maximizes their fitness. We have five D. melanogaster strains, which were reared for 13 years on five different substrates: standard cornmeal-agar-sugar-yeast medium and four substrates modified by adding tomato, banana, carrot and apple. This study was aimed at determining how such long-term rearing of flies on substrates with different protein content affects fitness traits (dynamics of eclosion, developmental time and egg-to-adult survival). Further, we determined how transferring flies reared on fruit/vegetable substrates to a standard laboratory diet affected their fitness. Results indicate that strains reared on the diet with the lowest content of protein and the highest C/N ratio had the slowest eclosion and developmental time, and lowest egg-to-adult survival (apple diet). The flies reared on the diet with the highest protein content and the lowest C/N ratio had the highest survival (tomato diet). Flies reared on the carrot diet, which is quite similar in protein content and C/N ratio to the standard cornmeal diet, had the fastest development. Transferring flies to the standard cornmeal diet accelerate eclosion and developmental time, but did not affect survival.

Purpose: Extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields as essential ecological factors may induce specific responses in genetically different lines. The object of this study was to investigate the impact of the ELF magnetic field on fitness components and locomotor activity of five Drosophila subobscura isofemale (IF) lines.Materials and methods: Each D. subobscura IF line, arbitrarily named: B16/1, B24/4, B39/1, B57/2 and B69/5, was maintained in five full-sib inbreeding generations. Their genetic structures were defined based on the mitochondrial DNA variability. Egg-first instar larvae and 1-day-old flies were exposed to an ELF magnetic field (50Hz, 0.5mT, 48h) and thereafter, fitness components and locomotor activity of males and females in an open field test were observed for each selected IF line, respectively.Results: Exposure of egg-first instar larvae to an ELF magnetic field shortened developmental time, and did not affect the viability and sex ratio of D. subobscura IF lines. Exposure of 1-day-old males and females IF lines B16/1 and B24/4 to an ELF magnetic field significantly decreased their locomotor activity and this effect lasted longer in females than males.Conclusions: These results indicate various responses of D. subobscura IF lines to the applied ELF magnetic field depending on their genetic background.