A Systematic Review of Relationships Between Mountain Wildfire and Ecosystem Services

Landscape Ecology - Consideration of human–environment dimensions of wildfire make ecosystem services (ES) a useful framework for understanding wildfire challenges and devising viable...     

Phenolic compounds, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and antioxidant capacity of colored maize (Zea mays L.) kernels

In this study, the contents of total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, β-carotene, and lutein as well as free, conjugated, and insoluble bound phenolic acids were determined in whole kernels of 10 different colored maize genotypes. In addition, the antioxidant activity was evaluated as radical scavenging activity with ABTS (2,2-azino-bis/3-ethil-benothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) reagents. Generally, considerable differences in phytochemical contents and antioxidant capacity were observed between the genotypes. The β-carotene and lutein contents ranged from 0 to 2.42 mg/kg d.m. and from 0 to 13.89 mg/kg d.m., respectively, whereas the total anthocyanin contents of anthocyanin-rich colored maize genotypes ranged from 2.50 to 696.07 mg CGE/kg d.m. (cyanidin 3-glucoside equivalent) with cyanidin 3-glucoside (Cy-3-Glu) as the most dominant form. The light blue ZPP-2 selfed maize genotype has a higher content of total phenolics, flavonoids, and ferulic acid as compared to other tested maize and the highest ABTS radical scavenging activity.     

Wild rocket – effect of water deficit on growth,flowering, and attractiveness to pollinators

Wild rocket, Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC. (Brassicaceae), is one of the three cultivated rocket species, the demand and production of which have recently increased in Mediterranean countries where irrigation water is scarce. Besides its use as a crop, D. tenuifolia has been observed to flower for a long period and to be attractive to pollinators. In this study we assessed the effect of drought stress and moderate- and severe-deficit irrigation on growth, flower development, and attractiveness to pollinators in D. tenuifolia. The results showed that in greenhouse conditions, potted D. tenuifolia could be without irrigation for 4 days without affecting its growth, flowering, and attractiveness to pollinators. However, lack of irrigation for 8 days or longer significantly reduced the vegetative growth, number of open flowers, total floral area, flower diameter, corolla tube diameter, and corolla tube length of D. tenuifolia. This study shows that regulated-deficit irrigation can improve water use efficiency, and depending on the purpose of growing D. tenuifolia, as a crop or as a beneficial plant to attract pollinators, it can reduce water consumption from 40% to 70% without affecting its vegetative and floral development and without reducing its attractiveness to pollinators.     

The systemic effects of juvenoids on the red firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus and on the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum with data on life table response

BACKGROUND: A series of juvenoid alcohols and their glycosidic derivatives (juvenogens), synthesized at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry in Prague, commercially used juvenoids and the natural derivatives of juvabione were evaluated for their systemic juvenilizing effect on the red firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus L., and on the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris. A life table response experiment was designed, and demographic characteristics were computed for a cohort of A. pisum following chronic exposure to a range of concentrations of the selected trans-isomer of carbamate juvenoid 8 applied via the broad bean (Vicia faba L.) root system. RESULTS: Using the ratio of topical and per os activities, promising effects were found in two alkyl beta-D-glucopyranosides (3 and 9) and the trans-isomer of carbamate juvenoid 8 in tests on P. apterus. In A. pisum, the highest systemic activity was found in tests with the trans-isomer of carbamate juvenoid 8. The longevity, the number of offspring per female and the number of offspring per reproducing female significantly decreased with concentrations of 0.05 mg mL(-1) and higher. While the net reproductive rate R(0) and the intrinsic rate of natural increase r(m) displayed similar trends, the generation time G varied slightly between 11.6 and 12.8 days. CONCLUSION: Expected systemic activity of glycosidic juvenogens in P. apterus was not confirmed by exposure of the pea aphid on broad bean treated with aqueous solutions of the compounds. Nevertheless, the carbamate juvenoid alcohol 8 displayed a considerable juvenilizing effect on A. pisum in screening tests. Furthermore, this compound indicated a sublethal effect as the realized fecundity U(x) decreased disproportionately to the age-specific survival L(x) with increased concentration. The population parameters are compared with the data in similar demographic studies and are discussed together with the possibilities of using the compounds of this structural type in practice.     

Central and peripheral neurotoxic effects of ivermectin in rats

Ivermectin is considered a very safe drug; however, there are reports of toxic effects in particularly sensitive populations or due to accidental overdose. The aim of this study was (1) to further characterize the central and peripheral toxic effects of ivermectin in animals and (2) to determine possible therapeutic strategies for use in cases of ivermectin poisoning. We tested the effects of experimental doses of ivermectin previously reported to cause various intensities of CNS depression. However, in our study, ivermectin at 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mg/kg i.v. did not produce visible CNS depression in rats and 10 mg/kg resulted in sleepiness and staggering 10 to 40 min after application, while a dose of 15 mg/kg caused CNS depression very similar to general anesthesia. Ivermectin dose-dependently potentiates thiopentone-induced sleeping time in rats. Flumazenil (0.2 mg/kg), the benzodiazepine antagonist, did not affect the action of thiopentone; however, it significantly reduced sleeping time in rats treated with a combination of ivermectin (10 mg/kg) and thiopentone (25 mg/kg; from 189.86 ± 45.28 min to 83.13 ± 32.22 min; mean ± SD). Ivermectin causes an increase in the tonus (EC(50)=50.18 μM) and contraction amplitude (EC(50)=59.32 μM) of isolated guinea pig ileum, very similar to GABA, but without the initial relaxation period. These effects are dose-dependent and sensitive to atropine. Our results confirm the central and peripheral GABAergic properties of ivermectin in mammals and also indicate involvement of the cholinergic system in its toxicity. In addition, the results suggest that flumazenil and atropine have potential clinical roles in the treatment of ivermectin toxicity.     

A comparative perspective of urban forestry in Belgrade,Serbia and Freiburg,Germany

As in many countries after periods of political unrest and with unstable economical conditions, urban woodland and green spaces are becoming prioritized in the last decade in Serbia. This stands in stark contrast to countries like Germany, where there is a long history of integrating urban green space in urban development.Looking through the lens of urban forestry, this paper compares the status, planning and management of urban woodland in the Serbian capital of Belgrade with the German city of Freiburg. Holding up the difficult situation in Belgrade to the good-practice case of Freiburg allows the identification of status, problems and potentials for development. Both cases of urban forestry were analysed by a series of methods, including expert interviews, on-site observations, and analysis of documents, literature and maps.Results indicate that in Belgrade institutions and policies of urban woodland management have being much less developed than in Freiburg. Furthermore, Belgrade faces various problems that need to be solved, e.g. in terms of developing the policy framework for urban forestry and the need to promote political awareness about its importance. Important lessons can be learnt from the experiences of cities like Freiburg.     

Heat capacity of a strongly interacting Fermi gas

We have measured the heat capacity of an optically trapped, strongly interacting Fermi gas of atoms. A precise addition of energy to the gas is followed by single-parameter thermometry, which determines the empirical temperature parameter of the gas cloud. Our measurements reveal a clear transition in the heat capacity. The energy and the spatial profile of the gas are computed using a theory of the crossover from Fermi to Bose superfluids at finite temperatures. The theory calibrates the empirical temperature parameter, yields excellent agreement with the data, and predicts the onset of superfluidity at the observed transition point.     

Morphological characteristics of best Cornelian cherry (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cornus mas</Emphasis> L.) genotypes selected in Serbia

On the territory of Serbia, the Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) populations grow at different locations and on a variety of geological substrates and they represent a large and important genetic potential for use in breeding programs of this fruit species. Collection and study of Cornelian cherry genotypes, introduction of best selections in commercial production, and preservation of genetic variability are activities that could improve the existing fruit gene pool. In the Vojvodina Province, over 200 Cornelian cherry genotypes have been monitored at all stages of growth and development. Large variability has been observed in all morphological and chemical characteristics under study. This paper deals with 10 Cornelian cherry genotypes, which showed best morphological characteristics in a three-year study (2007–2009), which will be used for the development of standard Cornelian cherry varieties in Serbia.     

Effect of Climate Change on Wheat Quality and HMW Glutenin Subunit Composition in the Pannonian Plain

The primary goal of this study is to improve our understanding of the extent of influence of climatic factors in Serbia and high‐molecular‐weight glutenin subunit (HMW‐GS) composition upon wheat end‐use quality. In‐depth analyses were performed on four bread wheat cultivars that are the most common in agricultural practice in Serbia. Total glutenin content showed significant difference between the production years, in opposition to gliadins. Cluster analysis of different percentages of glutenin and gliadin subunit molecular weight ranges (<40,000, 40,000–80,000, 81,000–120,000, and >120,000) indicated that the year of production and the cultivar did not have a significant effect on the percentage ranges for glutenins. However, they had a considerable impact on the percentage ranges for gliadins. Production year and the interaction of year and cultivar had the strongest influences on the percentage of SDS‐unextractable polymeric proteins. A synergistic effect of the HMW‐GS composition and climatic conditions revealed that all eight samples with HMW‐GS composition 2*, 5 + 10, 7 + 9 along with the highest Glu 1 score of 9 (out of a maximum of 10) produced in the year 2011 belonged to two clusters with the best wheat end‐use quality. Furthermore, the climate conditions in 2011 made it possible for the wheat cultivars with HMW‐GS composition –, 2 + 12, 7 + 9 to possess similar qualities as cultivars with HMW‐GS composition 2*, 5 + 10, 7 + 9 produced in 2012.