The impact of architectural and Urban patterns on the behaviour of an exhibited angular size-illusion

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The effect of acute heat exposure on rat pituitary corticotroph activation: the role of vasopressin.

The increased ambient temperature affects the function of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Since the correlation among vasopressin (VP), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) responses to various stressors have been long recognized, the aim of this study was to reveal the aforementioned hormones production and morphology of the pituitary gland after exposure to acute heat. Rats were exposed to high ambient temperature (38 °C) for 20 or 60 minutes. The circulating hormones were determined by an ELISA test or chemiluminescence's method. The results obtained show the elevation in ACTH and CORT secretion depending on the duration of heat exposure. The VP concentration increased only after prolonged exposure to heat (60 min). The pituitary morphology was examined by routine and fluorescent immunohistochemistry as well as electron microscopy. Observed changes in the anterior and posterior pituitary well corresponded to circulating hormones, regarding the volume density of ACTH-immunopositive cells, percentage of ACTH immunopositive area v. total area and number of VP-immunopositive containing varicose fibers per total area. Acute heat exposure also induced changes in shapes of ACTH-immunopositive cells. Cells appeared stellate with numerous slender cytoplasmic processes and degranulated, which is the most obvious after 20 min. In addition, immunopositivity of endothelial and anterior pituitary cells for VP suggests its influence on ACTH secretion

QUANTIFYING THE DENSITY-QUALITY OF PHOTOGRAMMETRICALLY CREATED POINT-CLOUDS OF LINEAR ARCHITECTURAL/URBAN ELEMENTS AS A FUNCTION OF SHOOTING DISTANCES AND NUMBER OF CAMERA POSITIONS I.E. SHOOTING-DIRECTIONS

This paper examines the impact of various object-to-camera distances and the number of station-points i.e. various shooting directions with regard to the obtained Density-quality of photogrammetrically created Point-clouds - as digital representations of the existent linear architectural/urban objects/elements.According to an artificial (purified) experimental scene used, the conclusion is that with the chosen focal lengths/object-to-camera distances, with shooting directions perpendicular to the axis of that object, with station-points uniformly radially distributed around it (at a circle of 360deg), and with the obtained values of photogrammetric-software process-quality outputs which belong to the recommended ranges, the achieved density-level of the created Point-clouds may be treated as independent on the camera's radial-movement angle but dependent on the percentage of „Object's Photo-Coverage”: the lower the Coverage, the lower the density. Also, regardless of the Coverage level, the majority of the generated points are generally more "densimetrically" precise than they are "densimetrically" accurate.Key words: Architectural Photogrammetry, Image-Based 3D-Modeling, Point-Cloud, Density, Precision, Accuracy

The role of glucocorticoid hormones in diet-induced metabolic diseases

Summary. Excessive fructose intake promotes the development of metabolic syndrome through the deregulation of metabolic pathways in the hypothalamus, liver and adipose tissue, which play crucial roles in metabolic homeostasis by responding to the body’s nutritional and energy requirements. Variable amounts and modes of fructose intake have been shown to result in different patterns of expression of metabolic disturbances, which generally include adiposity, insulin and leptin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension. We explored the possible mediatory role of glucocorticoid signaling on the effects of two different dietary fructose loads on hypothalamic leptin sensitivity and hepatic and adipose tissue lipid metabolism, which are responsible for the development of signs of metabolic syndrome. Experimental rats were provided with 10% and 60% fructose solutions ad libitum over a period of nine weeks. Our results revealed that the applied fructose had different impacts on leptin and glucocorticoid signaling and different consequences on visceral adiposity and hepatic lipid metabolism. Only rats maintained on the high-burden 60% fructose diet accumulated visceral fat through the activation of adipogenic transcription factors and adipogenesis. This was paralleled by diminished glucocorticoid signaling in the adipose tissue and the establishment of the state of hypothalamic leptin resistance. The high-burden dietary fructose triggered hepatic de novo lipogenesis and a concomitant inhibition of β oxidation. Consumption of 10% fructose enhanced glucocorticoid signaling and lipolysis in the adipose tissue, creating a circulatory influx of free fatty acids and providing substrates for enhanced β oxidation and triglyceride synthesis in the liver. In summary, our results show that a long-term high dietary fructose load leads to hypothalamic leptin resistance, the development of visceral adiposity and increased hepatic de novo lipogenesis. Glucocorticoids regulate adipocyte storage functionality and thus may indirectly contribute to the observed changes in hepatic lipid metabolism, aggravating the metabolic disturbance

Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 Expression in Human Pyelonephritis

Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) is a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF) beta superfamily and is involved in regeneration, repair, and development of specific tissues, for example kidney and skeleton1–5. The experimental studies have shown its protective role against fibrotic processes. Tubulointerstitial changes are present in the pyelonephritic kidney which progresses to fibrosis4–6. Renal fibrosis may lead to the loss of renal function. The aim of this study was to investigate BMP-7 expression in acute and chronic pyelonephritis in humans. Seven patients with acute pyelonephritis and 7 with chronic pyelonephritis were treated in Department of Nephrology Clinical Hospital, Rijeka. Tissue biopsy was taken and renal tissue was studied histopathologically by use of hematoxylin and eosin and scored for diagnosis of pyelonephritis. BMP-7 expression was studied by imunohistochemical staining. BMP-7 expression was observed in the tubular area of the pyelonephritic kidneys. The expression of BMP-7 was stronger in the acute pyelonephritic group and less in the chronic pyelonephritic group of patients. The results imply that BMP-7 has a role in chronic pyelonephritis. Tubular BMP-7 expression had a negative correlation with fibrosis and tubular, atrophy. Our results are suggesting that BMP-7 plays an important protective role in renal inflammatory diseases preventing greater damage and fibrosis

Neonatal outcome following exposure to organophosphorous pesticides

The aim of our study was to determine the neonatal outcome in mothers and children exposed to organophosphorous pesticides (OP). We found that 22.4% pregnant women were exposed to organophosphorous pesticides. OP pesticide concentration was higher in breast milk, newborn sera than maternal sera. Newborn parameters such as birth weight, birth length, head circumference, Apgar score and presence of meconium, as well as gestational age of delivery, showed no significant difference between the two groups. However, postpartum weight loss, hospitalization duration, levels of newborn bilirubin and glycaemia differed significantly between the two groups. Morbidity and presence of CNS disorders were six times and more than twelve times higher, respectively, in the OP-exposed than in the OP pesticide non-exposed group

Encoding/Decoding Capitals of Classical Architectural Orders by Using Fractal Geometry: Establishing Methodology

In most cases, artefacts are differentiated in terms of style they belong to – mainly visually, not mathematically. So, the main research questions of this study are both how to numerically encode stylistic regularities (peculiarities) as geometric indicators of artefacts morphology and how to decode them, namely to identify architectural style those artefacts belong to. Columns, namely their capitals are chosen as the most distinctive elements among artefacts. To elaborate on the validity of the defined principles of the aim-related methodology, a few representatives (capital samples) from each of three fundamental classical architectural orders (Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian) are used. The subject of this Paper is to establish relevant indicators of capital qualification, capital classification, and thus, referred architectural order identification. The verification of those indicators is performed by processing two sets of capitals contours (that belong to the mutually equidistant transverse and equiangular radial section planes) of each of the selected samples (namely digital 3D models). The narrower research aim is to point out that it is possible to encode not only chosen but also any other capital – by using the mentioned indicators of fractal and non-fractal nature (as a control one). The wider research aim refers to a possibility to identify order a concrete fragment of capital belongs to in terms of recognising it computationally (as confidently as possible from the mathematical probability point of view) based on the established research methodology principles. Finally, it is possible to conclude that changes of the analysed indicators trendlines behaviour (expressed by changes of its slope, roughness, continuation, etc.) accurately/precisely describe morphology-wise variations of a form that could point out subject-related stylistic variation, as well. So, this Paper demonstrates not only the fact that architectural orders capitals are true fractal objects, but rather how fractal analysis as a tool can be used to scientifically numerically encode/decode their certain characteristics (fractal features) of single- or multi-scale nature

Hypercalcemic type of small cell carcinoma of the ovary

© 2015, Institut za Vojnomedicinske Naucne Informacije/Documentaciju. All rights reserved. Introduction. Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma is a rare, prognostically bad tumor category. Primary, it can be localized in every organ, even in the ovary, where, due to its clinical specifici-ties, it represents a challenge in diagnosis, as well as in therapy. Small cell ovarian carcinoma (SCOC) is biologically very aggres-sive malignant tumor of unknown histogenesis. We presented a rare case of SCOC with hypercalcemia of aggressive course and fatal outcome in a postmenopausal woman at International Fed-eration of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Ia stage. Case re-port. A 60-year-old woman, Caucasian, came to the doctor be-cause of discomfort in the lower abdomen and pain of greater in-tensity in last few days. Ultrasound examination and CT scan of the abdomen confirmed the presence of large adnexal masses of cystic-solid appearance with the largest diameter of 13 cm, regu-lar structure of the other gynecological organs, without verifying the existence of metastatic deposits. All the results of laboratory analysis gave normal values, except for calcium, which was ele-vated. Explorative laparotomy with complete hysterectomy, bi-lateral salpingo-oophorectomy, dissection of lymph nodes and omentectomy were conducted. Based on pathohistological analy-sis of the operative material, SCOC at FIGO Ia stage was diag-nosed. No complications were observed in a postsurgery period and after 10 days the patient was discharged in a good condition and with normal calcemia. The treatment was continued with concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, in spite of overall treatment, the disease progressed, and the patient died of disseminated metastatic disease, 26 months after the diagnosis. Conclusion. Small cell carcinoma localized in the ovary is gener-ally a tumor category with bad prognosis depending on the stage of the disease

Expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in subcutaneous endometriosis

Endometriosis is a clinical disorder defined by the presence of functional endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Depending on the localization of the endometrial tissue related to the pelvis, the endometriosis can be classified either as intrinsic or extrinsic. The prevalence of endometriosis is difficult to determine. Statistical data show that endometriosis could be associated both with female infertility (20%) and pelvic pains (24%), while in 4.1% of affected women, endometriosis has asymptomatic forms. The total prevalence of endometriosis is estimated to be between 5-10%. A 35-year-old woman from Knic, Serbia, was admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of the Clinical Center in Kragujevac for surgical treatment of a suspicious swelling in the pubic region. Following surgical intervention, a nut-sized tumor was removed and sent for both pathohistological and immunohistochemical analysis. The results confirmed the presence of subcutaneous endometriosis positive for both estrogen and progesterone receptors. Endometriosis is usually described as a steroid hormone-dependent change that resembles the eutopic endometrial tissue characteristic for the presence of both glandular and stromal tissues. Given the fact that endometrial lesions are estrogen-dependent tumors, a crucial factor in the development of endometriosis is a late exposure to the hormone, mostly estrogen. Spontaneous subcutaneous endometriosis is rarely observed, but it could be assumed if there is recurrent pelvic pain which intensifies during menstruation. Given the fact that endometriosis coexists with different autoimmune diseases, multidisciplinary approaches are required for its proper diagnosis

Socioeconomic inequalities in the use of dental health care among the adult population in Serbia

ObjectivesThe aim of this paper is to assess the association of demografic and socioeconomic determinants with utilization of dental services among Serbian adults.Materials and methodsThe study is a part of the population health research of Serbia, conducted in the period from October to December 2019 by the Institute of Statistics of the Republic of Serbia in cooperation with the Institute of Public Health of Serbia “Dr. Milan JovanovićBatut” and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia. The research was conducted as a descriptive, cross-sectional analytical study on a representative sample of the population of Serbia. For the purposes of this study, data on the adult population aged 20 years and older were used.ResultsMen were approximately 1.8 times more likely than women to not utilize dental healthcare services (OR = 1.81). The likelihood of not utilizing dental healthcare protection rises with increasing age, reaching its peak within the 65–74 age range (OR = 0.441), after which it declines. Individuals who have experienced marital dissolution due to divorce or the death of a spouse exhibit a higher probability of not utilizing health protection (OR = 1.868). As the level of education and wealth diminishes, the probability of abstaining from health protection increases by 5.8 times among respondents with an elementary school education (OR = 5.852) and 1.7 times among the most economically disadvantaged respondents (OR = 1.745). Regarding inactivity, respondents who are not employed have a 2.6-fold higher likelihood of not utilizing oral health care compared to employed respondents (OR = 2.610).ConclusionThe results suggest that individual sociodemographic factors influence utilization of dental services by Serbian adults and confirmed the existence of socioeconomic disparities