Soil of arable land and meadows from the Ap horizon, taken from ten different localities, were investigated for different forms of Fe, including total (HF), pseudo-total (HNO 3 ), 0.1 M HCl extractable and DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid)-extractable. A sequential fractional procedure was employed to separate the Fe into fractions: water soluble and exchangeable Fe (I), Fe specifically adsorbed with carbonates (II), reducibly releasable Fe in oxides (III), Fe bonded with organic matter (IV) and Fe structurally bonded in silicates (residual fraction) (V). The soil pH, cation exchange capacity, and size fractions (clay and silt) had a strongest influence on the distribution of the different forms of Fe. The different extraction methods showed similar patterns of the Fe content in arable and meadow soils. However, the DTPA iron did not correspond with the total iron, which confirms the widespread incidence of irondeficiency in vertisols is independent of the total iron in soils. The amount of exchangeable (fraction I) and specifically adsorbed (II) iron showed no dependence on its content in the other fractions, indicating low mobility of iron in vertisols. The strong positive correlation (r = 0.812 and 0.956) between the content of iron in HNO 3 and HF and its contents in the primary and secondary minerals (fraction -V) indicate a low content of plant accessible iron in the vertisol. The sequential fractional procedure was confirmed as suitable for accessing the content and availability of iron in the vertisols of Serbia.

This paper analyses the effects of the biochar application morphologi?cal traits in maize and soybean under semi-controlled conditions. During the study, the in?creasing doses of biochar (0%, 0.5%, 1, 3, and 5%) were incorporated in three soil types: Alluvium, Humogley and Chernozem to determine plant height and shoot weight. The ex?periment was set up as fully randomized design with three repetitions. The plants were grown in pots of 5 l with controlled watering and N fertilization. The research results have shown that there are differences in terms of biochar effects on soils. The greatest effect on plant height and shoot weight was obtained when the biochar was applied to Humogley soil and lower effects were found on the Alluvium soil. The increase in aboveground mass of maize and soybeans was significantly conditioned by adding different doses of biochar. Based on these results, it can be concluded that adding biochar can significantly affect the growth of plants. This is a consequence of the changes it causes in soil, which requires further tests to complement the current findings. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR031072 i br. TR031073]

Synecology of the communities of the alliance Thero-Salicornion BrBl. 33 em. Tx. 50 growing on continental salt-affected soils (Banat, Yugoslavia) has been characterized on the basis of area type percentages and life form explanations, using methods of indicative geobotany

Percutaneous tracheostomy is a commonly carried out procedure in patients in the Intensive Care Unit. Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy consists of the introduction of a tracheal cannula from the front of the neck, through blunt dissection of the pretracheal tissues, using a guide by Seldinger technique. When percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy procedure was introduced in routine clinical practice in the Clinical Center of Vojvodina, procedural protocol was established. This Protocol includes: 1. indications, contraindications and timing for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy, 2. assessment of the patient, 3. preparation of the patient and equipment, 4. procedure description, 5. potential complications and complication management. At our institution percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy is performed on an individual patient basis assessment within 5-7 days following translaryngeal intubation. Routinely the platelet count, activated prothrombin time and prothrombin time are checked. The patient's neck is assessed clinicaly and by the use of fiberoptic bronchoscope and ultrasound. At our institution we use the modified Ciaglia technique of the percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy-Ciaglia Single Dilatator method with the TRACOE ® experc Set vario which includes spiral reinforced tracheal cannula. At the end of procedure fiberoptic evaluation of the tracheobroinchial tree is made and chest X-ray is done. Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy is a simple, safe, and effective procedure performed in the Intensive Care Unit. It is the preferred technique of airway management in the Intensive Care Units in the patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation, tracheobronchial hygiene and weaning from mechanical ventilation.

Introduction/Objective. This study aimed to investigate the effects of preoperative dexamethasone usage on the incidence and severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), postsurgical pain and vocal impairment after thyroid surgery. Methods. We performed a prospective, randomized, double blind study with 50 patients who underwent thyroid surgery. Group A patients (n = 25) received 0.9% NaCl solution (2 ml) before anesthesia, patients in Group B (n = 25) were administered dexamethasone 8mg. All patients received ondansetron 4 mg preoperatively. During the first 48 hours after surgery, postoperative complications were monitored in defined periods. Results. PONV rate and severity was significantly lower in Group B than in Group A (p < 0.05). Patients in Group B reported less pain in resting and in activity (p < 0.05) and lower vocal impairment (p < 0.05) than patients in Group A in each defined time period. Conclusion. Preoperatively adding dexamethasone to ondansetron is more effective than usage of ondansetron alone in the prevention of PONV. Dexamethasone significantly reduces the pain and improves voice function; therefore, we could advise the routine usage of single dose dexamethasone before thyroid surgery.