Belgrade Area Research Articles

The Continuous Reproduction of Contradictions in the Urban Development of New Belgrade’s Central Area

The initial source for the continuous reproduction of contradictions in the central area of New Belgrade’s urban development was the mismatch between the dynamics of political and economic reforms and the static urban planning system that has been banded to the most progressive but rigid functionalist ideals that could not adapt to the emergent pace of these reforms. Consequently, during the socialist and post-socialist periods, the central area of New Belgrade grew irregularly by developing contradictory fragments rather than totality. The inconsistency of the socialist authorities in completing the capital city according to the urban plan despite political imperatives has continued with the post-socialist governing tendencies towards irregularity, privatization, and commercialization of urban development. A series of individual, short-term, and profitable urban projects that have opposed the socialist urban structure, have reused inherited socialist urban infrastructure as a fertile ground for their growth. More than presenting a new insight into the history of urban development of the central area of New Belgrade, this study uses it as the prime case to disclose the unsustainability of the urban planning system during the socialist past and post-socialist present. An alternative urban planning system would embrace the challenges of the continuous reproduction of contradiction by affirming an institutional network of platforms for collaboration among citizens, urban planners, authorities, and developers.

Genotyping of Leptospira spp. in wild rats leads to first time detection of L. kirshneri serovar Mozdok in Serbia.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and molecular characterization of Leptospira species in Belgrade, Serbia, an area where this disease is underexplored. Specifically, the study sought to employ molecular and multilocus sequence typing analyses to fill the gap in understanding the diversity and distribution of Leptospira species within the region. A comprehensive molecular analysis was conducted on kidney samples obtained from Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) in the urban environment. The study utilized molecular diagnostic techniques including real-time PCR targeting the lipL32 gene and performing sequence-based typing schemes utilizing adk, icdA, lipL32, lipL41, rrs2, and secY genes. These methodologies were applied to ascertain the presence and characterize different Leptospira species and serovars, respectively. The findings revealed the presence of two Leptospira species and three separate serovars in the Belgrade area. This study identified the presence of L. kirschneri serovar Mozdok in Serbia for the first time, a significant discovery previously undocumented in the region. This pioneering investigation sheds light on the molecular diversity and prevalence of Leptospira species in Serbia. The study underscores the importance of employing molecular typing methods to gain insights into the epidemiology and characterization of Leptospira species. These findings significantly contribute to both local and global perspectives on leptospirosis epidemiology, providing vital insights for the development of effective control strategies and interventions. In our recent study, we explored the presence and performed molecular typing of the Leptospira species, the bacteria responsible for leptospirosis, in wild rats in Serbia. This was the first time such a study was conducted in the region. Leptospirosis is a serious disease that affects both animals and humans, often transmitted through contact with water contaminated by infected animals. Our focus was on understanding which types of Leptospira were present in these animals. Excitingly, we discovered a particular strain of Leptospira, known as L. kirshneri serovar Mozdok, for the first time in Serbia. This finding is significant because it sheds light on the presence and spread of different Leptospira serovars in Serbia. It also raises awareness about the potential health risks associated with this serovar, which was previously unknown in the area. Our work fits into a broader context of disease surveillance and public health. By identifying the types of Leptospira present in a specific region, we can better understand the risks to public health and take steps to prevent and control the spread of leptospirosis. This discovery is not just important for scientists studying infectious diseases; it has real implications for public health officials, veterinarians, and anyone concerned with preventing and treating leptospirosis. Our findings highlight the need for ongoing monitoring of Leptospira in wildlife and synanthropic fauna, to protect both animal and human health.

Characterization and Environmental Evaluation of Recycled Aggregates from Construction and Demolition Waste in Belgrade City Area (Serbia).

Sustainable consumption of construction materials is an important segment of sustainable development goals towards reducing climate change. Since the consumption of natural aggregates raises environmental concerns, there is an increasing demand for use of recycled aggregates (RAs), as it enhances social and environmental benefits and creates a market opportunity. This paper presents the practice of using recycled construction and demolition waste (CDW) in the Belgrade city area (Serbia) as a resource. Two groups of CDW from Vinča landfill site near Belgrade are analyzed: raw material before, and RAs after, construction of a recycling facility on site. Comprehensive characterization is performed (including particle size distribution, density, water and organic pollutants content, various mechanical resistances, flakiness index, etc.) and compilation of samples analyzed and compared to show a holistic overview. The test outputs in both groups show acceptable values and meet required standards, indicating that recycled CDW generated in the Belgrade area can be used as a substitute to natural aggregates. In addition to that, the environmental and economic benefits from this use as a substitute are analyzed and discussed, proving the substantial income from sold Ras and the landscaping benefits, as well as ecological and economic benefits from energy savings.

Thermal assessments at local and micro scales during hot summer days: a case study of Belgrade (Serbia)

Increasing thermal risk in cities is endangering the health and well-being of urban population and is driven by climate change and intensive urbanization. Therefore, if we plan to enlarge the capacities of cities to be more climate resilient in the 21st century, more detailed monitoring of urban climate on local and micro scales is needed. For this research we performed two microclimate measurement campaigns in urban area of Belgrade, during hot summer days in 2021. In total, five measurement sites were chosen in different urban designs and different local climate zones (LCZs). For thermal monitoring (air temperature – Ta and globe temperature – Tg) the Kestrel heat stress tracker sensor with 1-min measurement resolution was used, but we used 10-min average values. Obtained results showed distinct thermal differences (up to 7 °C on average) between densely built-up areas and green areas. Differences between built-up LCZs are lower with values from 2 to 4 °C. Important part of this research was microclimate monitoring on sites within the same LCZ (intra-LCZ variability). Results showed that shadows and short- and longwave radiation play a paramount role in thermal variability. Direct and reflected radiations on one measurement site increased Ta up to 6 °C and Tg up to 12 °C when compared to other measurement site (in a similar urban design), which was in the shadow.

Laissez-faire Approach to Disaster Risk Reduction: A Case Study of Floods in Belgrade, Serbia

Abstract Objective The city was hit by a flood on July 5, 2022. Afterwards, the mayor of Belgrade declared that no one should be blamed because we cannot influence God’s will. Objective is examination of the relationship between such a laissez-faire approach to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) from the city government, and some groups from hill areas (historically not flooded), who were flooded and have started to develop DRR approaches to adequately respond to the next possible flood. Methods Participant observation site work is in progress and includes 32 households in the residential hill area of Belgrade that experienced its first rain floods from 2019 to 2023. DRR is represented through self-installed special devices on the city sewage network. The data collection and analysis included narrative analysis and sociological analysis of photographs. All data was first anonymized as some practices were viewed as legitimate but not always legal. Results During the relevant three years, the number of non-flooded homes increased proportionally with increasing self-installation of special devices on their city sewage system Conclusions Groups left without official DRR policies can develop resilience through individual actions in communal infrastructure and find ways to resist natural hazards and government laissez-faire DRR.

Seroprevalence of Schmallenberg Virus in Sheep in Belgrade Epizootic Area

Abstract 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.

Middle Aptian Orbitolinid limestones in Belgrade (Serbia): microfacies and depositional environment

Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) shallow-marine limestones with intercalated polymictic conglomerates were investigated with respect to their biostratigraphic age and their microfacies. They are the younger part of the generally carbonate-siliciclastic Lower Cretaceous deep-water (max. few hundred metres) turbiditic sequences (“Paraflysch”) of the so-called East Vardar zone in the Belgrade area. The biostratigraphic age of the limestones was determined by orbitolinid foraminifera: the co-occurrence of Dictyoconus? pachymarginalis SCHROEDER and Mesorbitolina texana (ROEMER) besides various other microfossils suggest a biostratigraphic age of this shallow- marine limestone succession as middle Aptian (Gargasian). Radiolarite components in the conglomerates are Triassic in age and were derived from the obducted Middle Triassic to Middle Jurassic Neo-Tethys ophiolites and/or their ophiolitic mélanges on the wider Adria plate. From both the first precise biostratigraphic age dating as middle Aptian combined with microfacies analysis of these shallow-marine limestones and the component spectrum in the intercalated conglomerates, it can be concluded that the Lower Cretaceous turbiditic “Paraflysch” succession was deposited on the eastern rim of the Dinarides. The results will allow a better comparison of the different Lower Cretaceous sedimentary successions deposited on the eastern margin of the Dinarides.

Spatial-Functional Organization of a Contemporary Apartment in Serbia

The expansion of residential construction has marked the last twenty years in Serbia. Contemporary housing construction is popularly called “investor construction”, and it is based on the investor’s influence on achieving the greatest possible capacity in relation to the area of the plot, the largest possible area for sale, as many apartments as possible per floor, the largest possible dimensions of the building on the plot, and the largest possible number of rooms within the smallest possible total square footage. The research’s aim is to discover how the aforementioned effects manifest themselves in the spatial-functional organization of the units. The analysis is performed on the case studies of residential construction in the largest urban areas of Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Nis. The findings of this research show that different authors repeat the same functional organization regardless of the location where they are constructed.

Neurological and neuromuscular manifestations in patients with West Nile neuroinvasive disease, Belgrade area, Serbia, season 2022.

We aimed to describe neurological manifestations and functional outcome at discharge in patients with West Nile neuroinvasive disease. This retrospective study enrolled inpatients treated in the University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases in Belgrade, Serbia, from 1 June until 31 October 2022. Functional outcome at discharge was assessed using modified Rankin scale. Among the 135 analyzed patients, encephalitis, meningitis and acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) were present in 114 (84.6%), 20 (14.8%), and 21 (15.6%), respectively. Quadriparesis/quadriplegia and monoparesis were the most frequent forms of AFP, present in 9 (6.7%) and 6 (4.4%) patients, respectively. Fourty-five (33.3%) patients had cerebellitis, 80 (59.3%) had rhombencephalitis, and 5 (3.7%) exhibited Parkinsonism. Ataxia and wide-based gait were present in 79 (58.5%) patients each. Fifty-one (37.8%) patients had tremor (41 (30.3%) had postural and/or kinetic tremor, 10 (7.4%) had resting tremor). Glasgow coma score (GCS) ≤ 8 and respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation developed in 39 (28.9%), and 33 (24.4%) patients, respectively. Quadriparesis was a risk factor for prolonged ventilator support (29.5 ± 16.8 vs. 12.4 ± 8.7days, p = 0.001). At discharge, one patient with monoparesis recovered full muscle strength, whereas 8 patients with AFP were functionally dependent. Twenty-nine (21.5%) patients died. All of the succumbed had encephalitis, and 7 had quadriparesis. Ataxia, tremor and cognitive deficit persisted in 18 (16.9%), 15 (14.2%), and 22 (16.3%) patients at discharge, respectively. Age, malignancy, coronary disease, quadriparesis, mechanical ventilation, GCS ≤ 8 and healthcare-associated infections were risk factors for death (p = 0.001; p = 0.019; p = 0.004; p = 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively).

THERMAL COMFORT IN BELGRADE, SERBIA: UTCI-BASED SEASONAL AND ANNUAL ANALYSIS FOR THE PERIOD 1991-2020

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The main goal of this research is to examine thermal comfort in the central area of Belgrade (Serbia), over a period of 30 years (1991-2020). The Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) was used as a measure for evaluating outdoor thermal comfort (OTC). The obtained results were considered separately for each season, as well as at the annual level. The analysis was carried out on the basis of an extensive database, which included hourly values (7h, 14h, 21h CET) of meteorological parameters, as well as their average daily, minimum, and maximum values.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt; &amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The obtained values of UTCIs show a positive growth trend during all four seasons. A significant increase in the annual values of UTCIs was also recorded. Four of five years with the highest average UTCIs were recorded in the last decade of the survey, more precisely in the period 2015-2020. The years that stand out for the frequency of record spring, autumn and winter UTCIs values are 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. On an annual level, minimum UTCI value has rising trend of 0.099&amp;amp;deg;C/year, while at maximum UTCI value, that trend is 0.081&amp;amp;deg;C/year.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

The paleokarst origin of the carbonate “Ropočevo breccia” and a closing Neotethys: regional geological constraints on the Vardar zone s.s. (Belgrade area, Central Serbia)

The paleokarst origin of the carbonate “Ropočevo breccia” and a closing Neotethys: regional geological constraints on the Vardar zone s.s. (Belgrade area, Central Serbia)

Trend ranog sifilisa u Beogradu u periodu od 2001. do 2020. godine

Introduction/Aim: In the period 2010-2019, in the countries of the European Union, the incidence of syphilis increased by 209.8% in men and in women there was a slight increase. The increase of incidence was particularly noted in the population of men who have sex with men (MSM). The aim of this study was to determine the trend of early syphilis in Belgrade in the period 2001-2020. Methods: For the analysis of the epidemiological situation of syphilis in the area of Belgrade in the period 2001-2020, data from reports on infectious diseases, medical documentation, annual reports on the work related to the prevention, suppression and elimination of infectious diseases and the results of epidemiological and laboratory tests were used. Data on the number of inhabitants regarding gender and age for Belgrade were taken from the 2011 census, while estimates were used for the years between censuses. Based on the obtained data, raw, age-specific and incidence rates by gender were calculated for syphilis. In order to analyze the trends in incidence rates of syphilis for the period 2001-2020, as well as for the period 2011-2020, joinpoint regression analysis was used. Results: In the period 2001-2020, a total of 938 cases of syphilis were registered, while the highest incidence rate was registered in 2018 (8.1/100,000), and the lowest in 2008 (0.5/100,000). In the period 2001-2008, the incidence rate of syphilis decreased by 1.1% per year (p &gt; 0.05), while in the period 2009-2020, there was a significant increase of 24.3% per year. In the population of men, a significant increase in the incidence rate by 20.7% per year was registered in the period 2011-2020, while in the population of women, this increase was 0.9% per year, and it was not significant. In the period 2011-2020, the highest incidence rates were in men aged 30-39 years, and in women aged 20-29 years. In all age groups, the incidence rate was higher in men than in women, while the average ratio of affected men and women was 11.9. Conclusion: Syphilis is still a common sexually transmitted infection in Belgrade, and therefore, early diagnosis and therapy are needed, especially among the members of vulnerable groups for sexually transmitted infections, in order to prevent the spread of this disease and the emergence of complications. Since it is common among women in the reproductive period, antenatal screening for this infection can be recommended to all pregnant women, and especially to those at increased epidemiological risk.

Adaptability of quality of life in rural Serbia to the needs of young people: Perceptions of agricultural extension officers

High quality of life in rural areas represents the key prerequisite for sustainable rural development. In addition to ensuring that the young will remain in these areas, it also indicates rural vitality and plays a key role in rural development policies and local development strategies in all countries. The aim of this article was to examine the extent to which the quality of life in rural Serbia was adapted to the needs of young people in order to ensure their stay in rural areas. Using a semi-structured questionnaire and an online and telephone survey, the author asked 118 agricultural extension officers from all agricultural extension services in Serbia to express their opinions on this issue. The agricultural extension officers evaluated quality of rural life and its adaptability to the needs of the young using a Likert scale ranging from 1 (not adapted) to 5 (highly adapted). The average score for Serbia was 2.4, which indicates that quality of life is slightly adapted to the needs of the young. Quality of life was rated higher (moderately adapted) only in the area of Belgrade, while in the other areas it had the average values for Serbia (slightly adapted). Despite the significant differences between the regions regarding the achieved level of economic development, the Kruskal-Wallis test showed that these differences did not have an influence on the agricultural extension officers' evaluation of the analyzed variable (p=0.239).

The city as multispecies space: Dog walking in downtown Belgrade during the COVID-19 lockdown

This paper represents an autoethnographic account of dog walking in a residential area of downtown Belgrade during the COVID-19 lockdown of early 2020. It is also an attempt at, or rather, the result, of the largely experimental practice of canine-assisted ethnography, as my dogs Dita and Ripley were instrumental during fieldwork. The lockdown, with its ill-thought-out and constantly changing rules about dog walking underlined three basic issues: 1) in a city with a huge dog owning population, public policy with regard to this issue is virtually non-existent; 2) the city lacks public green spaces, and 3) the movement patterns of dog walkers tend to converge due to the fact that the needs of the canines (both biological and social) are embedded into the architecture and planning of local neighborhoods. In this sense, the city emerges as a multispecies space, and the social patterns and walking routes of its residents who keep dogs are influenced, if not completely determined by the human-animal bond at play. This became especially visible during lockdown at times when dog walkers were the only people allowed outside. Thus, this paper analyzes how interspecies (in this case human-dog) relationships shape the functions of urban space in Belgrade.

New manifestations and meanings of Orthodox Lity - preservation of identity and sacralization of space and time in the Belgrade’s (and broader Serbian) context

In the text, we primarily deal with the observation of the latest manifestations of the Orthodox lity procession ritual and ways of sacralising the space on the example of Belgrade. Accordingly, attention is also paid to the symbolism of different spatial landmarks, which is emphasized at the level of several semantic layers. Recent events have once again actualized the importance of the Lity procession ritual - deeply rooted in both folk tradition and religion - as well as its manifestations, both in the Republic of Serbia and in the wider Serbian ethnic area. The basic and most visible function of Lity is the consecration and marking of space, but also of time, with special significance for a certain ethnic-social context, community or place. However, Lity also have a pronounced cohesive and identity function, as was particularly clearly demonstrated in the example of the defense of holy sites, i.e. of basic religious rights, precisely through Lity in Montenegro. Consequently, Lity proved to be one of the most effective weapons against attempts to deconstruct the Serbian identity. In accordance with the relevant indicators, in our work, with a multidisciplinary approach, various structural and semantic dimensions and possibilities of Lity are considered. This primarily refers to the level of the Belgrade area, but in a more general sense it is also directly related to field and other research on related issues, which were carried out in a much wider area during the previous decades.

Identifying spatiotemporal variability of traffic accident mortality. Evidence from the City of Belgrade, Serbia

Traffic accident mortality (TAM) is a significant global problem and is a part of the sustainable development goals strategy. In Serbia, a decline in the number of deaths in traffic accidents is evident, but in certain time intervals and areas, the number of deaths is higher than in others. This paper adopted Joinpoint regression analysis and a geospatial approach to assessing spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal mortality variability due to traffic accidents in Belgrade from 2016 to 2021. Results suggested statistically significant change during each year and spatial clustering of higher values of deaths in central Belgrade municipalities. Spatiotemporal analysis of traffic accidents data indicated a change in spatial clusters over time, pointing out two types of hotspots for traffic accident mortality—Sporadic- and New hotspots along the international highway, main, and local roads, in the broader area of the city. The main findings of this paper pointed to the areas in Belgrade where the population is more endangered in traffic compared to others. The obtained results and conclusions can serve traffic managers and decision-makers as a basis for more detailed research and local-specific traffic safety strategies.

Erosion Map Reliability Using a Geographic Information System (GIS) and Erosion Potential Method (EPM): A Comparison of Mapping Methods, BELGRADE Peri-Urban Area, Serbia

Soil erosion is a product of natural and anthropogenic factors and, at the same time, an economic and environmental concern. One of the methods applied to calculate the intensity of erosion is the erosion potential method (EPM), with two possible procedures for determining the average erosion coefficient of an area: analytical and graphical. Using GIS and EPM methods, without field observations of erosion, based on cartographic materials and satellite images, erosion maps were created for 1970 and 2018, for part of the peri-urban area of Belgrade. Based on the created erosion maps, the values of the mean coefficients of erosion, as well as the arithmetic means for the study area, were determined for the settlements. The aim of the study is to assess the reliability of the mean coefficient of soil erosion, obtained from the erosion map created from the cartographic materials and satellite images, without field observations of erosion. Thus, the obtained values of the mean erosion coefficient were compared with the values obtained from the erosion map with field observation and the values obtained by the analytical procedure. Statistical analysis (F test) for 1970 and for 2018 determined a high degree of reliability (p &lt; 0.05) of the mean erosion coefficients of the area obtained from erosion maps that were created from cartographic materials and satellite images without field observation. Regardless of the procedure for determining the mean erosion coefficient, a significant decrease in soil losses was observed, from 10.64 to 5.97 t ha−1year−1 (average annual specific production of sediments, year 1970 and 2018, respectively).

Helminths of Wild Boars Hunting in the Belgrade Area

There are multiple areas in the vicinity of Belgrade that are inhabited by wild boars. The aim of the current study was to the investigation of biodiversity and prevalence of intestinal and pulmonary helminths of wild swine in the broader Belgrade area. The study was carried out on 47 wild boars (14 males and 33 females), shot by authorized hunters, and collected during the hunting period between 01.12.2018. and 31.01.2020. During the examination, we occurred Metastrongylus elongatus (56.25%), Hyostrongylus rubidus (21.87%), Physocephalus sexalatus (18.75%), Globocephalus urosubulatus (15.62%), Macracanthorhynchus hиrudиnaceus (12.50%), Ascaris suum (9.37%) and Trichuris suis (6.25%).

Uticaj rekonstrukcije megabloka (1990-2020) na kvalitet otvorenih zajedničkih javnih prostora - blokovi 21 i 28 na novom beogradu

The quality of common open public spaces is conditioned, among other things, by the layout and characteristics of the facilities located in their immediate vicinity, but also by the functions and contents, equipment and materialization of the ground floor of those facilities. For this reason, interventions on existing facilities and the construction of new ones around common open public spaces can positively or negatively affect the quality of these areas. The construction of New Belgrade began in 1948 and continues today. In the area of New Belgrade, the network of common open public spaces covers more than 50% of the total area of the municipality. Initially, the blocks in New Belgrade were built on the basis of a unique planning solution. The transformation of the blocks began in the 1990s in the post-socialist period, when it became possible to change the legal regulations and enable a greater participation of private investments in the processes of reconstruction and new construction. In order to determine the real impact of the reconstruction of mega blocks on the quality of common open public spaces, this paper will present the criteria for determining the quality of these spaces. The criteria will help to examine the differences between the quality of common open public spaces within a block that has had frequent interventions and one where there have been no significant interventions over the last few decades. The conclusions should provide an answer as to whether and to what extent spatial interventions affect the quality of common open public spaces.

Determination of the methodology for the selection of alternative plant species for sustainable green roof design

It is known that green roofs mitigate the negative effects of climate change and environmental changes in cities. The paper presents research related to the determination of the methodology for the selection of autochthonous plant species of the flora of Serbia that would find application in the design of green roofs. The area of city of Belgrade was considered a pilot area. In order to achieve the set goal, the basic climate characteristics of the Belgrade area were considered, as well as the ecological and morphological characteristics of the plants, using the appropriate methodology. Based on the set criteria, a list of autochthonous plants of the flora of Serbia that could be used for the design of green roofs was proposed. When choosing plant material, care was taken to select different groups of plants: annual, biennial, and perennial plants, grasses, and succulents, considering that each of these groups of plants contributes in different ways to the stability and decorativeness of the green roofs.