West Balkan Research Articles

Seasonal fluctuations of the serum basal biochemical profile in spawning and postspawning West Balkan trout (Salmo farioides, Salmonidae): Implications for fish biology and aquaculture

ABSTRACT Endangerment of fish habitats worldwide is a global problem. Breeding fish in restocking hatcheries is important for bioconservation of many fishes. Analysis of biochemical and hematological parameters provides important information on spawning performance and fish health. Variations of different serum biochemical constituents and increase in body length and mass of West Balkan trout were analyzed during spawning and postspawning. High body weight deviations of males were found in both periods. The body length and weight of males is higher compared to females. After spawning, higher growth was observed in males. Biochemical values are higher in females in relation to males. Low values of glucose, chloride, and potassium are present in the spawning phase. Decreases in protein, triglycerides, cholesterol, AST, sodium, and calcium levels were found in postspawning. Serum biochemical constituents of females vary significantly compared to males. Serum markers indicate a strong association with metabolic processes, which allows for better nutritional control and management of environmental factors, especially the presence of organic particles in the broodstock.

Accelerations in the Local Magnetic Field on the Adriatic Tectonic Microplate

The high level of noise is a special feature of the geomagnetic field on the territory of Slovenia. The tension of the Adriatic tectonic microplate, on which Slovenia entirely lies, was recognized as one of its sources. The interior of the Earth is also the source of geomagnetic jerks. They are impulses in the secular variation calculated on the basis of monthly or annual mean values of variation of the geomagnetic field. The paper presents an analysis of accelerations in a local magnetic field calculated on the bases of daily mean values of the magnetic field measured at PIA geomagnetic Observatory (Piran, Slovenia) in 2020. These accelerations indicate geomagnetic impulses at the regional level over days or weeks. Then these results are compared with the registered seismic activity in the West Balkans.

Phytochemical investigation of Pimpinella serbica

The plant species Pimpinella serbica (Vis.) Drude, endemic to West Balkans, belongs to the genus Pimpinella L. (Apiaceae) according to newer botanical classification. Initially, the plant was described as Pancicia serbica Vis. and long considered as a monotypic genus. Previous phytochemical investigations of this plant were limited to the essential oil analysis by the GC?MS method. This is first study that includes LC-DAD?MS screening of the extracts of the roots and aerial parts, followed by isolation of secondary metabolites using chromatographic techniques. Five compounds belonging to phenylpropanoids and polyacetylenes, well known for their bioactivities, were isolated and structurally determined by combined spectroscopic methods (UV, NMR, MS). Dillapiole (1), nothoapiole (2) and oplopantriol A 18-acetate (4) were found in both extracts, while falcarindiol (3) was isolated from the roots and dendrotrifidol (5) from the aerial parts only. The phytochemical profile of P. serbica L. supports its position in the Pimpinella L. genus.

Silurian metalliferous nodules from the region of Asaritsa peak, West Balkan mountain – preliminary results

First data for polymetallic nodules and host sediments in Silurian sequence from the region of Asaritsa peak, West Balkan mountain are presented. The nodules are rich of Fe, Mn, Co and Ni. Both sediments and nodules have high content of REE. The described Silurian nodules and sediments show a number of similarities with modern deep-sea polymetallic nodule bearing sediments. Some differences such as probable depth of deposition, mechanism of nodule formation, degree of lithification are also established.

Estimation of a Suitable Range of Discharges for the Development of Instream Flow Recommendations

Hydrological variability is of great importance for water resources management. Regardless of how rivers are individually managed, numerous research studies have concluded that aquatic organisms are highly dependent on flow regime variability. Nevertheless, natural streamflow regimes are being altered due to human-induced pressures and climate change/variability, and sufficient biological information in not incorporated in efforts to minimize these effects. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop sustainable environmental flow management guidelines to manage the risk associated with alterations to the flow regime particularly in areas where flow-ecology relationships have not been well studied. This study focuses on a stream with high natural flow regime variability, typical in Mediterranean countries. The major finding of this work is that the estimated Suitable Range of Discharges (SRD) could better address environmental water requirements, rather than simply allocating single value minimum ecological flows. SRD was estimated using advocate statistical analysis of hydrological data series, coupled with habitat suitability models to balance the trade-offs between natural flow variability and human water needs. Combination of the aforementioned approaches was made using the West Balkan trout as a biological component which is a very important species for the quantification of environmental flows. Overall implementation of SRD during dry season is likely to provide large habitat areas for 58 to 67% of the time for the small-size fish and 35 to 55% of the time for the large-size West Balkan trout, according to the Weighted Usable Area0.5 threshold index.

New records of longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Bulgaria

During the period 1969-2019, longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) were studied in Bulgaria. In different regions of the country, 144 cerambycid taxa from six subfamilies were established: Prioninae (five species), Lepturinae (37 species and subspecies), Necydalinae (one species), Spondylidinae (nine species and subspecies), Cerambycinae (46 species and subspecies) and Lamiinae (46 species and subspecies). New localities of 14 rare cerambycid taxa were established (Pedostrangalia revestita, Alocerus moesiacus, Anisarthron barbipes, Icosium tomentosum atticum, Paraclytus sexguttatus, Aegomorphus krueperi, Agapanthia frivaldszkyi, Deroplia genei genei, Dorcadion equestre transsilvanicum, Phytoecia albovittigera, Phytoecia praetextata praetextata, Pogonocherus hispidus, Niphona picticornis and Saperda perforata). New longhorn beetles were also found in the West Balkan Range, the Eastern and Western Rhodopes, Maleshevska Planina Mt. and North-eastern Bulgaria. These new records enlarged the knowledge about the regional distribution of longhorn beetles in Bulgaria.

Fiscal Adjustments in the European Union versus West Balkans economies: Evidence from Heterogeneous Panels

This paper empirically assesses heterogeneity of fiscal adjustments in the European Union and West Balkans economies, in the circumstances when debt crisis renewed the questions when and how governments adjust their public expenditure. The research covers sample of 28 European Union economies and 5 West Balkans economies over the period 1995-2018. The results based on PMG panel model point to weak fiscal sustainability with significant fiscal adjustments, in average, 28.18 % of deviations from equilibrium relationship are corrected in one year. Moreover, the results provide heterogeneous evidence of fiscal adjustments of public expenditure to long-run equilibrium relationship in European Union and West Balkans economies. Implications of the results for the West Balkans economies are that accession process to European Union means improvements in public finances of candidates and potential candidate economies, in the context of achieving weak fiscal sustainability. However, accession process does not lead to automatic convergence of economies and fiscal sustainability assessment, although significant fiscal adjustments are noted.

Tree-circles spontaneous vegetation over a long climatic gradient

Urban flora varies between urban habitats within a city and between cities. We used a particular urban habitat - tree-circles to compare floristic differences between urban agglomerations along a long climatic gradient on a continental scale. We recorded flora of this unique habitat in seven West Balkan cities and compared it to seven cities from Western and Central Europe. On average, 91 species were found on tree-circles in every city in the Balkans (compared to 81 in continental Europe). Climate was the most important factor influencing species composition. Western and Central European tree-circles floras are much more uniform and homogeneous than Balkan ones, which have richer species pools.

The Effect of Walnut Consumption on n-3 Fatty Acid Profile of Healthy People Living in a Non-Mediterranean West Balkan Country, a Small Scale Randomized Study.

People living in non-Mediterranean West Balkan countries have diets with a low n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content. Walnuts, a traditional Serbian food, could be an excellent source of n-3 PUFA. The first sub-study evaluated the fatty acid and mineral content of Serbian walnuts, demonstrating that walnuts had the high content of linolenic acid (C18:3, n-3 ALA). The second sub-study assessed the consumption of walnuts (Juglans regia L.) and total n-3-fatty acid intake in apparently healthy Serbian residents, using 24-h dietary recalls (n = 352). An inadequate intake of n-3 fatty acids and a low consumption of walnuts was seen. Additionally, we evaluated the fatty acid profile of healthy Serbian adults (n = 110) and finally, via a randomized intervention 4-weeks study, we assessed the effects of walnut consumption on n-3 fatty acid profile of participants (n = 18). The plasma content of n-3 PUFA was low and the n-6/n-3 ratio was high in our study participants. The n-3 plasma fatty acid profile was improved after 4 weeks of walnut consumption, meaning that ALA, eicosapentaenoic acid, and total n-3 were significantly increased. The results of our study pointed out the potential health benefits of walnuts consumption on amelioration of the n-3 fatty acid profile that should be taken into account in preventive management programs. The higher conversion of ALA to EPA (>10%) in examined study participants, suggests the importance of a moderate walnut consumption.

Macroeconomic Effects of Serbia\u2019s Integration in the EU and the Euro Area

In 2009, Serbia officially applied for European Union (EU) membership. In 2014, membership negotiations began. After joining the EU, Serbia will have to adopt the euro as legal tender as soon as it fulfils the relevant Maastricht criteria. So far, the quantitative consequences of such changes in the institutional framework on the macroeconomy and the major objective variables of Serbia (or another West Balkan country) have not been analyzed. In this paper, we examine likely macroeconomic effects from Serbia’s membership in the EU and the Euro Area by means of simulations with a macroeconometric model of the Serbian economy. We show that EU accession and the introduction of the euro bring about higher real gross domestic product, more employment, and more sustainable public finances. The benefits of joining the Euro Area are mainly due to increases in productivity.

From Th Perspective Of Cultural Diplomacy Of Germany and Turkey In The West Balkan in 2000-2015

Balkanlar tarihte farklı yönlere çeşitli göçlerin yapıldığı geçiş coğrafyası olması nedeniyle her zaman etkili bir kavşak noktası olmuştur. Soğuk Savaş sonrası bölge taşıdığı çatışma ve savaş riski nedeniyle daha da önemli hale gelmiş, Avrupa’nın güvenliği ve enerji ihtiyacı açısından istikrarın sağlanmasının zorunlu olduğu bir alan teşkil etmiştir. Bölgede farklı kültürlerin ve dini kimliklerin yaşaması Balkanlar’da ayrı bir hassasiyet durumuna işaret etmektedir. Bu çalışma Balkanlarda Alman ve Türk kültürel diplomasi politikalarının, dolayısıyla “yumuşak güç”lerinin mukayesesini ele alırken Türkiye ve Almanya’dan “hangi ülkenin bölgede daha etkili olduğu” sorusuna literatür tarama yöntemi ışığında cevap arayacaktır. Mevcut çalışmalar Türkiye’nin ya da Almanya’nın Balkan politikalarını araştırmakta, söz konusu iki ülkeyi özellikle 1990 sonrası dönemde karşılaştıran analizler yetersiz kalmaktadır. Çalışmanın çıktıları karşılaştırmalı analiz ile ilgili literatüre bir fayda sağlayabilecektir.

Association of FTO Gene Variant (rs8050136) with Type 2 Diabetes and Markers of Obesity, Glycaemic Control and Inflammation.

SummaryBackgroundFTO, a gene recently discovered in genomewide associated studies for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), play an important role in the management of energy homeostasis, nucleic acid demethylation and regulation of body fat mass by lipolysis. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of FTO rs8050136 A>C genetic variant with clinical and biochemical parameters of T2D in the population of West Balkan region (Bosnians and Herzegovinians and Kosovars).MethodsThe study included 638 patients with T2D and prediabetes and 360 healthy controls of both genders, aged from 40 to 65 years. Patients were recruited at the Clinical Centre University of Sarajevo, University Hospital of Clinical Centre in Banja Luka, General Hospital in Tešanj and Health Centre in Prizren. Genotyping of analyzed FTO polymorphism rs8050136 A>C was performed by qPCR allelic discrimination.ResultsGenotype frequencies of the analyzed polymorphism were comparable between patients with T2D, prediabetic patients, and healthy population. Logistic regression analyses didn’t show significant association of FTO rs8050136 A allele with increased risk of T2D. However, risk A allele was significantly associated with higher levels of HbA1c, insulin, HOMA-IR index, diastolic blood pressure, and inflammatory markers (fibrinogen and leukocytes) as well as showed tendency of association with increased values of obesity markers (BMI, waist and hip circumference).ConclusionsResults of our study showed a significant association of FTO genetic variant rs8050136 A>C with the major markers of insulin resistance, obesity and inflammation, opening new avenues for solving many unclear questions in the pathogenesis of T2D.

“Too big to fail”? The Agrokor case and its impact on West Balkan economies

AbstractFrom about April 2017, Agrokor became the main economic topic in the Balkans. Once the greatest pride of the Croatian economy, it became a serious problem for its government. Its systemic importance for the country and the region required an immediate legislative solution. The Government had Parliament pass a special law intended to save this company. The special law on the procedure of extraordinary administration in companies of systemic importance adopted in April 2017 is an interesting example, because it introduced a new insolvency procedure titled “extraordinary administration” clearly following the example of the Italian Legge Marzano, which was adopted in order to save the Parmalat group in 2003. It also represents an example of a collision of legislation in the case of cross‐border insolvency proceedings inside and outside of the European Union, where different jurisdictions have diverging standpoints on the question of its recognition as a foreign insolvency procedure. However, once the rescue proceedings began, numerous (and some dubious) interests of the different stakeholders came to the light. The government tried not only to rescue the company and its assets throughout the Balkans region but also to acquire control of it. This was especially visible through the prerogatives of the extraordinary commissioner, formally appointed by the court, but in fact a government official. Creditors at risk, mainly Russian and Italian banks, filed lawsuits to prevent the selling of the debtor's assets. At the end, the majority creditors called to vote on the settlement agreement became the new owners of the company. However, Agrokor is still far from the end of the crisis. It has more than 60,000 employees in the region and their destiny depends on the outcome of the crisis. In more recent times, the case also revealed major political scandals.

The West Balkans (the Albanian Lands) during the Late 15th Century Based on Western Travellers’ Notes

The West Balkans (the Albanian Lands) during the Late 15th Century Based on Western Travellers’ Notes

PARTIAL PRODUCTIVITY OF AGRICULTURE IN THE WESTERN BALKAN COUNTRIES – IMPLICATION FOR COMPETITIVENESS OF THE RURAL ECONOMY

The process of transition and, within it, the agricultural transformation in the Western Balkan countries resulted, in the first phase, in the weakening of the developmental performances in agriculture. Such tendencies widened the gap between the countries of the Western Balkans and the EU countries, which continued their steady increase in agricultural productivity. Unfavorable tendencies in agricultural productivity adversely affected its competitiveness, and, consequently, the competitiveness of the rural economy as a whole. The effect of the low agricultural competitiveness on the competitiveness of the rural economy is determined by the importance of agriculture in the rural economy, which is substantial in the West Balkan countries.

The Effect of Foreign Investment on the Economic Growth With a Special Focus on Kosovo

The main aim of this scientific work is to show in concrete way the role and impact of foreign direct investment on the economic development, where Kosovo will be analyzed with a special focus. Through this study, we will investigate the correlation between Foreign Direct Investment and the Economic Growth in Kosovo during the time spam from 2005-2016. To test the data and results, we will use different econometric models and methods in order that the results have a higher scientific significance, such as the Narrative Method, Comparative Method, as well as the Econometric Method. Testing of the data and the building of the econometric model will be realized by using the econometric method, concretely by using the method of Pooled OLS and the analysis of Correlation. The source of the data will be quite diversified and multifarious, based on data from the Central Bank of Kosovo, the Agency of Statistics, the International Monetary Fund, as well as the Macroeconomics Indicators of The World Bank. The main finding of this study is the existence of the positive relation between the Foreign Investment and the Economic Growth, more concretely, according to the results from the Econometric Model, we see that if the Foreign Direct Investment in Kosovo grows by 1%, it will affect positively the Economic Growth by (67.27%). Some of the limits of this study are that other countries of the West Balkans are not included, as other explanatory variables. Therefore, in future it must be supported by other specific studies that treat the connection between the Economic Growth and Foreign Investment. The data and results from this research could be used by different users and parties.

The Botevgrad basin main characteristics and evolution

The Botevgrad basin is one of the numerous Late Pliocene–Quaternary basins developed over the Balkanide orogen. The basin is developed in the West Balkan tectonic zone and on the northern slopes of the Stara Planina Mountain along the Plakalnitsa fault zone, the front of the orogen. The basin was interpreted as half-graben formed on the SW block of the Dragoybalkan fault, considered as the Plakalnitsa fault zone’s extensionally reactivated roots. Our data suggest that the basin formation is more complicated and all basin boards are fault predestined. The boards are morphologically well prominent and their geometry is a result of the reactivated older faults’ segmentation, combined with the different rheology of the basement lithologies, mainly Palaeozoic low-grade metamorphites and intruded into them syn- to post-metamorphic granitoids. The distribution of the numerous depocentres, the orientation of drainage systems, watershed shape and depositional system migration indicate polyphasic basin evolution. The basin shape and other data, such as criteria for sense of shearing, and intrabasinal push-up blocks’ rotation, suggest that the Botevgrad basin should be interpreted as pull-apart basin.

ОПЫТ ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЙ ИНТЕГРАЦИИ ХОРВАТИИ, СЕРБИИ, ЧЕРНОГОРИИ: КОМПАРАТИВНЫЙ АНАЛИЗ

The article compares the ways of the European integration of the Balkan countries (Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia) and analyzes the problems occurring within this process. In the period of Yugoslavia’s breakdown, the newly formed states were beyond it due to armed confrontations but from the 2000s, when de-escalation of the West Balkans occurred, the European Union (EU) began to consider rapprochement with the West Balkan countries and prospects for further integration. Three states are the leaders of this process: Croatia, which is already a full member of the European Union, Montenegro and Serbia negotiating intensively with the European Union.

Juniperus phoenicea var. turbinata (Guss.) Parl. Leaf Essential Oil Variability in the Balkans.

In the present work, the leaf essential oil from 97 individuals of Juniperus phoenicea var. turbinata (Guss.) Parl. from the Balkan Peninsula was analyzed. The essential oil was dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons (45.5-71.8%), of which α-pinene was the most abundant in almost all of the samples (38.2-55.8%). Several other monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were also present in relatively high abundances in samples such as myrcene, δ-3-carene, β-phellandrene, α-terpinyl acetate, (E)-caryophyllene and germacrene D. Multivariate statistical analysis suggested the existence of three possible chemotypes based on the abundance of the four components. Even though the intrapopulation variability was high, discriminant analysis (DA) was able to separate populations. DA showed high separation between western and eastern populations but also grouped geographically closer populations along the west Balkan shoreline. The potential influence of the climate on the composition of the essential oil was also studied.

Horizontal participatory action research: Refugee solidarity in the border zone

This paper outlines a refugee solidarity action in the territory of the border zone on the West Balkan route to Central Europe. Methodologically it develops a horizontal approach to participatory action research. In an attempt to engage in research and action created in a non‐hierarchical collaboration with non‐academic co‐researchers, horizontal participatory action research renounces forcing the research process into a lockstep curriculum. It replaces power relations between researchers and participants with collective and relational knowledge creation and includes multiple modalities of reflection. Taking action, researchers are empowered to project the possibility of achieving social transformation through their practice of solidarity with migratory movements across borders. These movements contain moments of autonomy in regards to any attempt to control and regulate them. Solidarity in the terms of the horizontal participatory action research is thus conceived as action and reflection that is affirmative of the autonomy of migration.