Bolji zubi, bolje zdravlje? Odnos između hipoplazije zubne gleđi i skeletnih markera stresa u ranobronzanodopskim populacijama severne Srbije

The Early and Middle Bronze Age Maros culture has been the subject of many archaeological studies aiming to answer questions related to social differentiation, status, and life histories. Archaeological and skeletal material from the necropolises of Mokrin and Ostojićevo has been employed numerous times to answer questions on status, diet, activity and kinship. Even though some things have become clearer, further information on the health status of these Bronze Age populations is needed for a deeper understanding of the social mechanisms and norms of the Maros culture. This paper examines the health status of a Bronze Age population from two archaeological sites, Mokrin and Ostojićevo, using osteological markers of stress and enamel hypoplasia. We hypothesise that individuals who experienced childhood stress, as evidenced by enamel hypoplasia, would exhibit greater vulnerability to infections and disease, as indicated by the presence and frequency of osteological stress markers. The analysis was conducted on a sample of skeletal remains, controlled for age-at-death, and assessed the correlation between enamel hypoplasia and cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, and periostosis. The findings indicate that reducing the health status to a single osteological stress marker is not a viable approach for this sample size. The analysis of consolidated variables, considering the presence and frequency of any osteological stress markers, yielded more promising results. The frequency of osteological markers showed a statistically significant positive correlation with both the presence and frequency of enamel hypoplasia; so we highlight the importance of considering multiple osteological markers of stress when assessing health status in the past populations.Rano i srednjebronzanodopska kultura Maroš bila je predmet mnogih arheoloških istraživanja koja su imala za cilj odgovoriti na pitanja društvenog usložnjavanja, statusa i načina života. Arheološki i skeletni materijal s nekropola Mokrin i Ostojićevo više puta je korišćen da odgovori na pitanja o statusu, ishrani, fizičkoj aktivnosti i srodstvu. Iako su neki aspekti života nosioca maroške kulture postali jasniji, neophodne su detaljnije informacije o zdravstvenom stanju ovih bronzanodopskih populacija za dublje razumevanje društvenih mehanizama i normi kulture Maroš. Ovaj rad bavi se pitanjem zdravstvenog statusa populacija sahranjenih na nekropolama Mokrin i Ostojićevo oslanjajući se na skeletne markere stresa i hipoplaziju zubne gleđi. Naša hipoteza drži da su individue koje su u detinjstvu preživele epizodu stresa, koja je ostala zabeležena kao defekat gleđi, posledično imale veće šanse da svoju uvećanu osetljivost na infekcije i bolesti ispolje kroz veću prisustnost skeletnih markera stresa. Analiza je uređena uzimajući u obzir teoriju osteološkog paradoksa, te uz kontrolisanje starosti inidividua, prateći korelacije između hipoplazije zubne gleđi i kribre orbitalije, porotične hiperostoze i periostoze. Rezultati ukazuju da svođenje zdravstvenog statusa na praćenje samo jednog skeletnog markera stresa nije odgovarajući pristup, posebno kod relativno malih skeletnih serija. Analize koje su se koristile konsolidovanim varijablama prisustva i frekvencije skeletnih markera pokazale su se kao bolji pristup. Učestalost osteoloških markera stresa dalo je statistički značajnu korelaciju sa prisustvom i učestalošću hipoplazije zubne gleđi, te ukazuje na važnost praćenja više različitih markera stresa prilikom procenjivanja skeletnog statusa populacija u prošlosti

Relationship between health and social status in Bronze age cuture Maros : necropolises Mokrin and Ostojićevo

Predmet istraživanja ove disertacije su skeletni i arheološki markeri zdravstvenog i društvenog statusa osoba sahranjenih na nekropolama Mokrin i Ostojićevo. Analizirani su skeleti odraslih individua pronađeni u moriškim grobovima, a posebna pažnja posvećena je analizi hipoplastičnih defekata gleđi, te markerima nespecifičnog stresa (cribra orbitalia, porotična hiperostoza i periostoza). Istraživan je odnos između preživljenih epizoda stresa u detinjstvu (praćenih kroz prisustvo hipoplazije gleđi) i zdravstvenih ishoda i dužine životnog veka. U analizu su uključeni podaci o polu/rodu i socijalnom statusu. Cilj istraživanja je da kroz analizu zdravstvenog statusa odgovorimo na pitanja o individualnom i populacionom zdravlju, vezi preživljenog stresa u detinjstvu sa kasnijim zdravstvenim ishodima, ali i odnosu zdravlja i društvenog uređenja moriške kulturne grupe. Pretpostavili smo da će individue koje su preživele epizodu stresa u detinjstvu imati više šanse da razviju patološke promene kasnije u životu, da će živeti kraće, te da će biti nižeg rasta. Rezultati istraživanja pokazali su da, merene na ovaj način, epizode stresa preživljene u detinjstvu nisu uticale na ostvarivanje potencijala telesnog rasta, a da postoje naznake negativnog uticaja na dužinu životnog veka kod muškaraca i ograničenog negativnog uticaja na zdravstveni status. Analize odnosa zdravstvenih i društvenih markera upućuju nas na tumačenje društvenog uređenja moriške kulturne grupe kroz model rangiranih društava po kome razlilke u pristupu osnovnim resursima koji mogu uticati na zdravstvene ishode ne postoje među pripadnicima različitog pola/roda i društvenih kategorija.The subjects of research of this dissertation are skeletal and archaeological markers of health and social status of individuals buried in the necropolises of Mokrin and Ostojićevo. Skeletons of adult individuals found in Maros graves were analyzed, and special attention was paid to the analysis of hypoplastic defects of enamel, and markers of non-specific stress (cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis and periostosis). The relationship between survival of stress episodes in childhood (monitored through the presence of enamel hypoplasia) and health outcomes and life expectancy was investigated. Sex/gender and social status data are included in the analysis. The aim of the research is to answer questions about individual and population health, the connection between surviving childhood stress and later health outcomes, but also the relationship between health and social organization of the Maros cultural group. We hypothesized that individuals who survived an episode of childhood stress would be more likely to develop pathological changes later in life, to have shorter life expectancy, and to be of shorter stature. The results of the research showed that, measured in this way, episodes of stress experienced in childhood did not affect the realization of physical growth potential, and that there are indications of negative impact on life expectancy in men and limited negative impact on health status. Analyses of the relationship between health and social markers lead us to interpret the social organization of Maros cultural group using the model of ranked societies, which posits that differences in access to basic resources that may affect health outcomes do not exist among members of different sexes/genders and social categories

Effects of Wii-fit balance board exercise on the posture of stroke patients

We studied the effects of the balancing exercise with visual feedback to the correction of posture in stroke patients. We included eight stroke patients into a 30-minute daily, two-week long clinical study where Wii-Fit balance board was the instrument to provide visual feedback. We assessed the posture before and after the treatment by four clinical tests: Berg balance test, Barthel index, Timed up & go and Functional reach test. We also analyzed the ground reaction pressures (GRP). We measured the GRP by using insoles comprising five MEMS sensors each. We developed a program that created maps showing ground pressure distribution. The program uses cubic spline interpolation of data. The maps of left and right sole were compared to assess the symmetry, and the maps before and after the treatment were used to examine the effects of the exercise. The clinical test scores suggest improved standing after the treatment compared with before the treatment. The maps of ground reaction pressure also show improvement, but more critical provide information for correcting the posture

Influence of two weeks balance practice with feedback on the gait in hemiplegic patients

We hypothesized that practicing balance with feedback will improve the gait in hemiplegic patients. The practice consisted of two weeks 30-minute long Wii-Fit balance board gaming. The gait analysis was based on ground reaction pressures (GRP) recorded with the custom designed insoles. The data were collected at 100 samples per second from two insoles, each comprising five pressure (force) sensors. The sensors communicated with the host computer by a WiFi link. Custom software was developed in Matlab for automatic segmentation of the GRP data into segments belonging to swing and stance phases of each step. The examiner could correct the automatic segmentation if necessary. The outputs from the program were: pressure vs. time from all sensors and standard gait data (cadence, symmetry index, etc.). The results show that the exercise of the function with feedback has positive effects on the gait performance. The exercise period was only two weeks, and the group was small and heterogeneous; hence, a more extensive study is required for proving the significance

Notes on Columbella shells from the Bronze age necropolis Mokrin, Northern Serbia

The cemeteries of the Maros culture have been the subject of archaeological investigations since the 19th century. One of the best known is the Mokrin necropolis, located in the northern part of Serbian Banat, near the town of Kikinda. Although general picture of funerary practices executed at the Mokrin necropolis has already been formed, some details in the primary publication of the finds attracted our attention and resulted in a small-scale study on presence of Columbella shells in the graves. They occur in the graves with more opulent fittings, equally in the graves of males and females, but mostly adults. Their usage in clothes and accessories is restricted to a single zone: head, chest or waist. The accessible shell items were examined, both the ones that had been published as fossils and the ones that had not, and eventually we were able to dismiss the assumption that the beads were made out of fossils. After the re-examination we came to the conclusion that the available morphological characteristics were not sufficient to diagnose all of the items with any certainty to the level of species. In accordance with it goes the determination of them as Columbella sp., but also the assumption that we actually deal with the C. rustica species, being that it is the only member of the Columbella genus inhabiting the Mediterranean. Looking at the Mediterranean as the place of origin of the Collumbelae in Mokrin gave us more solid base to claim the existence of networks of long distance trade and exchange

Morphometric analysis of Bronze Age funerary vessels from the necropolis of Mokrin

Archaeologists commonly use subjective classifications to group ceramic vessels into different classes, but the usefulness of such tools for creating narratives about the past is seldom questioned. After noticing that certain ceramic classes from the Bronze Age necropolis of Mokrin have quite similar shape and size, we decided to undertake a morphometric analysis of vessels from this site. We show that some traditional classes largely overlap in both shape and size, and that the majority of funerary ceramics from Mokrin can be classified into two main morphological classes of vessels: (1) bowls; and (2) one- or two-handled beakers and amphorae. Our results go beyond this study, as they show how quantitative methods can be used in a complementary manner with more traditional tools to gain meaning full knowledge about the pas

Uticaj tehnološko-tehničkog sistema aplikacije mineralnih đubriva na njihove fizičko-mehaničke osobine

Mineral fertilizers have a pivotal role in contemporary agricultural production, especially when seeking to exploit the full biological potential of crops. This paper presents the results of a three-year experiment on the distribution uniformity of different mineral fertilizer application systems. One of the objectives in this study was to define the physical and mechanical properties of four different types of mineral fertilizers and examine their changes during storage, transportation and application. A total of four fertilizers were taken into account: UREA, CAN, MAP and NP. The main physical properties, i.e. particle size, particle size distribution, friction coefficient, angle of repose and particle resistance, were analyzed on samples collected from the storage, the trailer (prior to application) and the field (after application). The results obtained show that fertilizers with a particle size distribution of 3.3 to 4.75 mm exhibit higher values of the angle of repose, friction and resistance. The lowest value of the angle of friction (17.53 0) was observed in the UREA fertilizer after application, whereas the highest angle of friction (24.37 0) was measured in the MAP fertilizer obtained from the storage. The values of the static repose angle varied depending on the fertilizer type and the place of sampling (storage, trailer or field). The lowest value of the static repose angle (30.34 0) was measured in the MAP fertilizer after application, whereas the highest static repose angle (36.91 0) was measured in the NP fertilizer from the storage. The NP fertilizer exhibited the highest value of the dynamic friction angle, whereas the lowest value of the dynamic friction angle was calculated for the UREA fertilizer. The NP fertilizer particles showed the highest resistance, whereas the UREA fertilizer particles were most susceptible to breakage.Savremena poljoprivredna proizvodnja se ne može zamisliti bez primene đubriva, posebno sa aspekta boljeg korišćenja biološkog potencijala rodnosti gajenih biljaka. U radu je prikazan deo rezultata trogodišnjih ispitivanja tehničko-tehnološkog sistema aplikacije mineralnih đubriva različitim tipovima centrifugalnih rasipača. Jedan od ciljeva istraživanja bio je i određivanje fizičko-mehaničkih osobina različitih tipova mineralnih đubriva, njihovih promena tokom samog procesa aplikacije i njihovog uticaja na kvalitet same aplikacije. U istraživanje su uključena četiri tipa mineralnih đubriva i to UREA, KAN, MAP i NP. Dobijeni rezultati tokom ispitivanja fizičko-mehaničkih osobina primenjivanih mineralnih đubriva pokazuju da đubriva koja imaju najveći procenat granula prečnika između 3,3 mm i 4,75 mm imaju najveće uglove trenja i nasipanja, kao i dobru otpornost prema lomu granule. Vrednosti ugla trenja su značajno varirale u zavisnosti od tipa đubriva i mesta uzorkovanja. Najniža vrednost, 17,53o je zabeležena kod UREE nakon aplikacije a najviša, 24,37o kod đubriva MAP iz skladišta na imanju. Vrednosti statičkog ugla nasipanja su takođe statistički značajno varirale u zavisnosti od tipa đubriva i mesta uzorkovanja. Najniža vrednost, 30,34o, je zabeležena kod đubriva MAP nakon aplikacije a najviša, 36,91o, je zabeležena kod NP đubirva iz skladišta. NP đubrivo je pokazalo i najviše vrednosti dinamičkog ulga trenja. Najniže vrednosti ovog parametra, 23,35o, imalo je đubrivo UREA. Čvrstoća granula je varirala u zavisnosti od tipa đubriva i od mesta uzorkovanja. Najviše vrednosti su zabeležene kod đubriva NP u svim fazama manipulacije dok su najniže vrednosti zabeležene kod đubriva UREA

Productivity traits of rye (secale cereale), khorasan wheat (triticum turgidum, ssp taranicum mckey) and quinoa (chenopodium quinoa willd) grown on degraded soil

The productivity traits of rye, khorasan wheat and quinoa on degraded soil were investigated in a three-year research (2010-2012). The research was carried out in two localities: Stanari (ST) (Bosnia-Herzegovina) and at "TENT 2" in Obrenovac (OB) (Serbia). A significant interdependence between grain yield and aboveground biomass yield was observed in the investigated genotypes and localities. The resulting average grain yields in these localities ranged between 1,166-1,702 kg ha-1 (rye), 1,826-1,943 kg ha-1 (khorasan wheat) and 520-966 kg ha-1 (quinoa). Fluctuations in grain yields were due to different soil conditions different nutrient contents and the distribution of precipitation at initial stages of crop development. This research confirmed that rye is a crop with minimum soil requirements and it can be successfully grown in poor soil. The second best biomass yield was obtained by khorasan wheat, while the lowest biomass yield was obtained by quinoa

Karakterizacija i diverzitet populacije sojeva Erwinia amylovora poreklom iz jabučastih voćaka gajenih u Srbiji

The diversity of 30 Erwinia amylovora strains, isolated from quince, pear and apple trees on 14 localities in Serbia, was studied using bacteriological and molecular methods. In pathogenicity tests, all strains caused necrosis and oozing of bacterial exudate on inoculated immature pear, cherry and plum fruits, and induced hypersensitive reaction in tobacco leaves. The studied strains were Gram and oxidase negative, non-fluorescent, levan and catalase positive and facultatively anaerobic. The strains did not reduce nitrates, but utilized citrate and produced acid from sorbitol, hydrolyzed gelatine, produced reducing substances from sucrose and grew in the presence of 5% NaCl, but not at 36oC. Identity of the strains was confirmed by conventional and nested PCR methods. Rep-PCR with REP, ERIC and BOX primers resulted in amplification of several DNA fragments respectively, but showed no variation within the strains. However, different genetic profiles were obtained with RAPD-PCR by using six primers which enabled differentiation of the strains into four groups. Genetic differences between the studied strains did not correlate with the host plants, geographical origin or year of isolation.Primenom standardnih bakterioloških i molekularnih metoda proučen je diverzitet 30 sojeva Erwinia amylovora izolovanih iz dunje, kruške i jabuke, poreklom iz 14 lokaliteta u Srbiji. Svi proučavani sojevi izazvali su nekrozu i pojavu bakterijskog eksudata na nesazrelim plodovima kruške, trešnje i šljive, kao i hipersenzitivnu reakciju duvana. Proučavani sojevi bili su Gram i oksidaza negativni, fakultativno anaerobni, levan i katalaza pozitivni i nisu stvarali fluorescentni pigment na Kingovoj podlozi B. Svi sojevi hidrolizuju želatin, koriste citrate i stvaraju kiselinu iz sorbitola, proizvode redukujuće supstance iz saharoze, ne redukuju nitrate, razvijaju se u prisustvu 5% NaCl, ali ne i pri 36°C. Identitet sojeva potvrđen je konvencionalnim PCR i nested PCR metodama. Rep-PCR metodom korišćenjem REP, ERIC i BOX prajmera umnoženo je više fragmenata DNK čiji broj i veličina su se podudarali kod svih proučavanih sojeva. Za razliku od Rep-PCR, primenom RAPD-PCR metode uz korišćenje šest prajmera došlo je do izdvajanja različitih genetičkih profila i diferencijacije sojeva u četiri grupe. Genetičke razlike među proučavanim sojevima nisu bile u korelaciji sa domaćinima iz kojih su izolovani, niti sa njihovim geografskim poreklom i godinom izolacije