This research contributes to the assessment of the potential for carbon dioxide (CO
2
) sequestration in poplar plantations, through applying regression models of total and annual sequestration as ...related to stand age. The study was carried out in northern Serbia, in plantations of Populus ×euramericana (Dode) Guinier clone I-214. Based on the measured data obtained during the field research, a modeling framework for quantifying carbon (C) sequestration in forest ecosystems (CO2FIX version 3.1) was used to calculate the total carbon stored in fresh (aboveground and belowground) biomass, in soil organic matter, and in wood products. Four regression models were created as a part of the research: (i) total C sequestration model, (ii) total CO
2
sequestration and carbon credit (CO
2
e) generation model, (iii) annual C sequestration model, and (iv) annual CO
2
sequestration and annual carbon credit generation model. The stand-level research results indicated that the total sequestration of C for a 30-year production cycle was 78.58 t C·ha
−1
, while the average value for all years of a 30-year production cycle was 44.02 t C·ha
−1
. The average annual sequestration of C for all years of a 30-year production cycle was 2.62 t C·ha
−1
·year
−1
, while the average annual sequestration of CO
2
or the average annual changes in CO
2
stocks for all years of a 30-year production cycle was 9.60 t CO
2
·ha
−1
·year
−1
.
Mycotoxins are toxic compounds, produced by the secondary metabolism of toxigenic moulds in the Aspergillus, Alternaria, Claviceps, Fusarium, Penicillium and Stachybotrys genera occurring in food and ...feed commodities both pre- and post-harvest. Adverse human health effects from the consumption of mycotoxins have occurred for many centuries. When ingested, mycotoxins may cause a mycotoxicosis which can result in an acute or chronic disease episode. Chronic conditions have a much greater impact, numerically, on human health in general, and induce diverse and powerful toxic effects in test systems: some are carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, estrogenic, hemorrhagic, immunotoxic, nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, dermotoxic and neurotoxic. Although mycotoxin contamination of agricultural products still occurs in the developed world, the application of modern agricultural practices and the presence of a legislatively regulated food processing and marketing system have greatly reduced mycotoxin exposure in these populations. However, in developing countries, where climatic and crop storage conditions are frequently conducive to fungal growth and mycotoxin production, much of the population relies on subsistence farming or on unregulated local markets. Therefore both producers and governmental control authorities are directing their efforts toward the implementation of a correct and reliable evaluation of the real status of contamination of a lot of food commodity and, consequently, of the impact of mycotoxins on human and animal health.
The present study was conducted to estimate the exposure and characterize the risk for the child population of Serbia to Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) from milk and milk-based food. A total of 3404 samples ...comprising milk and different milk-based food samples were collected from various regions of Serbia from 2017 to 2019. Evaluation of AFM1 exposure was carried out using the deterministic method, whereas risk characterization was evaluated using the margin of exposure (MOE) and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Detection rates for AFM1 in milk and milk-based food samples ranged between 2% and 79%, with the highest incidence (79%) and mean level (22.34 ± 0.018 ng kg
) of AFM1 being detected in pasteurized and UHT milk. According to the three consumption estimates, the values of estimated daily intake (EDI) were higher for toddlers as compared with children aged 3-9 years. Children aged 1-3 years had the highest risk of exposure to AFM1 in milk, with an estimated daily intake of 0.164 and 0.193 ng kg
bw day
using lower bound (LB) and upper bound (UB) exposure scenarios, respectively. Such difference could result from the higher consumption to weight in younger children. Based on the estimated daily intake (EDI) found in this study, the risk of AFM1 exposure due to consumption of milk and milk-based food was low since the MOE values obtained were >10,000. In addition, the risk of HCC cases/year/10
individuals of different age groups showed that the value of HCC, using potency estimates of 0.0017 (mean), was maximum (0.00034) in the age group 1-3 years, which indicates no health risk for the evaluated groups. The present study revealed the importance of controlling and preventing AFM1 contamination in milk through continuous monitoring and regular inspection to reduce the risk of AFM1 exposure, especially in children.
This study provides the data on dietary exposure of Serbian children to nitrites and phosphorus from meat products by combining individual consumption data with available analytical data of meat ...products. A total of 2603 and 1900 commercially available meat products were categorized into seven groups and analysed for nitrite and phosphorous content. The highest mean levels of nitrite content, expressed as NaNO
, were found in finely minced cooked sausages (40.25 ± 20.37 mg/kg), followed by canned meat (34.95 ± 22.12 mg/kg) and coarsely minced cooked sausages (32.85 ± 23.25 mg/kg). The EDI (estimated daily intake) of nitrites from meat products, calculated from a National Food Consumption Survey in 576 children aged 1-9 years, indicated that the Serbian children population exceeded the nitrite ADI (acceptable daily intake) proposed by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) in 6.4% of children, with a higher proportion in 1-3-year-old participants. The mean phosphorus concentration varied from 2.71 ± 1.05 g/kg to 6.12 ± 1.33 g/kg in liver sausage and pate and smoked meat products, respectively. The EDI of phosphorus from meat products was far below the ADI proposed by EFSA, indicating that the use of phosphorus additives in Serbian meat products is generally in line with legislation.
Toskić, LD, Dopsaj, MJ, Marković, MR, Toskić, DR, Ignjatović, AM. Mechanical and contractile properties of knee joint muscles measured by the method of tensiomyography in differently trained men and ...women. J Strength Cond Res 36(6): 1532-1539, 2022-The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in mechanical and contractile properties of knee joint flexor and extensor muscles between differently trained men and women, using tensiomyography (TMG). The sample consisted of 159 subjects (84 men and 75 women), who were assigned to one of 5 groups according to the following levels and types of their physical activity: physically inactive, physically active nonathletes, strength and power athletes, endurance athletes, and team sports athletes. Measurements were performed on the following knee flexor and extensor muscles of the dominant leg: rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, and semitendinosus. The results showed significant differences in contraction time-Tc (F = 1.911, p = 0.010) and delay time-Td (F = 1.989, p = 0.007) parameters between differently trained men and women, whereas in other TMG parameters, there were no differences between groups. It is indicated that physical activities characteristic of strength and power sports (combat sports and sprint disciplines) could lead to an increased speed of twitch force generation and fast twitch muscle fibers, and that almost any regular, systematic, and planned physical activity leads to increased muscle responsiveness. Obtained results also indicated that TMG parameters do not have enough specific discriminatory power for detecting differences between differently trained young adults.
Health Canada (HC) has, since 2013, issued safety alerts restricting the use of codeine-containing drugs among breastfeeding women and children/adolescents under 18 years of age. These products are ...linked to breathing problems among ultra-rapid CYP2D6 metabolizers and early use of opioid can lead to future opioid misuse. Using a multi-province population-based cohort study, we estimate the impact of federal safety alerts on annual rates of codeine use in the Canadian pediatric population. We analyzed data from 8,156,948 children/adolescents in five Canadian provinces between 1996 and 2021, using a common protocol. Children/adolescents were categorized as: ≤ 12 years (children) or > 12 years (adolescents). We defined codeine exposure by ≥ 1 prescription filled for codeine alone or combined with other medications. For both age categories, we obtained province-specific codeine prescription filling rates per calendar year by dividing the number of children/adolescents with ≥ 1 codeine prescription filled by the number of person-time. Annual rates of codeine use per 1000 persons vary by province from 3.0 (Quebec) to 10.1 (Manitoba) in children, and from 5.5 to 51.3 in adolescents. After the 2013 HC advisory, exposure decreased in all provinces (adjusted level change from - 0.6 to - 18.4%) in children and from - 2.1 to - 17.9% in adolescents after the 2016 advisory. Annual rates declined over time in all provinces, following HC safety alerts specific to each of the two age categories.
The aim of this systematic review is to provide information regarding the incidence and levels of aflatoxin M
1
(AFM
1
) in raw and heat processed cow's milk in Serbia during 2015-16 and to compare ...these with collected data on the occurrence of AFM
1
in raw milk and dairy products during the last decade in our region. Estimation of dietary exposure (EDI) and hazard index (HI) calculations for different age groups of the population were also carried out, based on the AFM
1
content of milk samples and on available food consumption data in Serbia. AFM
1
was detected in 69.9% (984/1408) of raw milk samples in 2015 versus 84.9% (3094/3646) in 2016, while in heat-processed milk, AFM
1
was detected in 77.8% (364/468) in 2015 versus 98.5% (753/765) in 2016. On the basis of the obtained results, 450 (9%) of raw and 14 (1.1%) of heat-processed milk samples were contaminated with AFM
1
levels above the maximum permitted level in Serbia (0.25 μg kg
−1
). However, a large percentage of raw and heat processed milk in Serbia (30.1% and 17.3%, respectively) was contaminated with AFM
1
levels above the maximum permitted level regulated in the European Union (0.05 μg kg
−1
). Therefore, in order to protect consumer health, it is extremely important to further control the level of aflatoxins in milk, and this should be considered as a high priority for risk management actions.
A single dose protocol of FSH for superstimulation in cattle may improve compliance and superovulatory response. A single subcutaneous (sc) administration of pFSH was efficacious, but response ...depended on body condition and injection site; the adipose tissue pad behind the shoulder was most efficacious. Inconsistent results in Holsteins were partially overcome by sc administration of 75% of the total pFSH dose behind the shoulder on the first day followed by 25% 48 h later. An alternative would be to combine FSH with polymers that cause it to be released slowly over several days. Hyaluronan is found normally in most animal tissues and is nonreactive when administered parentally. A single intramuscular (im) administration of pFSH in a 2.0% hyaluronan induced a superovulatory response that did not differ from twice daily im administration over 4 d. However, 2.0% hyaluronan was viscous and difficult to mix with FSH. Although solutions of 1.0 and 0.5% hyaluronan were less viscous, they lacked efficacy as a single im administration. However, superovulatory response was high when either 1.0 or 0.5% hyaluronan was used in a two-dose im protocol; two-thirds on the first day and one-third 48 h later. A single im administration of FSH in 0.5% hyaluronan effectively induced superstimulation for OPU in cattle. Successful superovulation in the cow was associated with circulating FSH levels that were similar to endogenous FSH levels prior to follicular wave emergence; however, levels must be maintained above baseline for at least 72 h, or 36 h for OPU. Circulating FSH levels following a single sc administration of 400 mg NIH-FSH-P1 behind the shoulder in beef cows increased to 1.0 or 1.2 ng/mL at 12 h and were back near baseline in approximately 60 h, while FSH levels following im administration of 200 mg NIH-FSH-P1 in 0.5% hyaluronan into Holstein donors reached 1.5 ng/mL at 12 h and returned to baseline in approximately 36 h.
The aim of this systematic review is to provide information regarding the incidence and levels of aflatoxin M
(AFM
) in raw and heat processed cow's milk in Serbia during 2015-16 and to compare these ...with collected data on the occurrence of AFM
in raw milk and dairy products during the last decade in our region. Estimation of dietary exposure (EDI) and hazard index (HI) calculations for different age groups of the population were also carried out, based on the AFM
content of milk samples and on available food consumption data in Serbia. AFM
was detected in 69.9% (984/1408) of raw milk samples in 2015 versus 84.9% (3094/3646) in 2016, while in heat-processed milk, AFM
was detected in 77.8% (364/468) in 2015 versus 98.5% (753/765) in 2016. On the basis of the obtained results, 450 (9%) of raw and 14 (1.1%) of heat-processed milk samples were contaminated with AFM
levels above the maximum permitted level in Serbia (0.25 μg kg
). However, a large percentage of raw and heat processed milk in Serbia (30.1% and 17.3%, respectively) was contaminated with AFM
levels above the maximum permitted level regulated in the European Union (0.05 μg kg
). Therefore, in order to protect consumer health, it is extremely important to further control the level of aflatoxins in milk, and this should be considered as a high priority for risk management actions.
The aim of this study was to establish two new methods for measuring the tibial plateau angle (TPA): proximal tibial circle (PTC) as well as full tibial circle (FTC) method, and to test their ...reliability in comparison to the classical method (CM). Three radiologists implemented each method, and measurements were repeated three times.
The results of consecutive measurements obtained by two observers had excellent reliability with an interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) greater than 0.9 for all methods, while measurements obtained by the third observer had good reliability for the CM (ICC=0.885) and PTC method (ICC=0.851).
The results obtained by the three observers for all methods indicate good reliability for the PTC and FTC methods (ICC=0.848 and 0.880, respectively) and excellent reliability for CM (ICC = 0.909); the results of the different observers for each method were not significantly different.
The significant difference resulting from the applied measurement method (ICC = 0.447 and P<0.01) was confirmed. Statistically significant differences were not found between the CM and PTC method (P>0.05), while differences between the PTC and FTC, as well as CM and FTC methods, were statistically significant (P<0.01).
New methods for TPA measurements based on shorter tibial axes may be an alternative to a method based on the full-length axis. A high correlation between the methods indicates the precision of each of them. Newly established methods can be used when the tarsal joint is not included in radiographs or is affected by degenerative changes, making use of the classical method not possible.