Finger Length Ratios in Serbian Transsexuals

Atypical prenatal hormone exposure could be a factor in the development of transsexualism. There is evidence that the 2nd and 4th digit ratio (2D : 4D) associates negatively with prenatal testosterone and positively with estrogens. The aim was to assess the difference in 2D : 4D between female to male transsexuals (FMT) and male to female transsexuals (MFT) and controls. We examined 42 MFT, 38 FMT, and 45 control males and 48 control females. Precise measurements were made by X-rays at the ventral surface of both hands from the basal crease of the digit to the tip using vernier calliper. Control male and female patients had larger 2D : 4D of the right hand when compared to the left hand. Control male’s left hand ratio was lower than in control female’s left hand. There was no difference in 2D : 4D between MFT and control males. MFT showed similar 2D : 4D of the right hand with control women indicating possible influencing factor in embryogenesis and consequently finger length changes. FMT showed the lowest 2D : 4D of the left hand when compared to the control males and females. Results of our study go in favour of the biological aetiology of transsexualism

Spatial Segregation of Roma Settlements Within Serbian Cities. Examples from Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Kruševac

This chapter focuses on the spatial segregation of Roma settlements within Serbian cities, shaped by the long-standing ethnic distance and social exclusion. In order to understand the broader context, the historical background against which Roma settlements emerged in Serbia, as well as their current demographic, legislative, and urban characteristics, are briefly presented. Several forms of segregation of Roma settlements are analysed, including segregation as a consequence of racist hostility, institutional discrimination by city administration, and development-based conflicts. Examples of setting up a wall enclosing a Roma settlement in Kruševac, racist pressures that prevent the construction of housing for Roma in Belgrade and the reluctance to improve and legalise Roma settlements in Novi Sad, illustrate the various manifestations of segregation and division of urban space in Serbia.The Urban Book Serie

Personality Disorders in Persons with Gender Identity Disorder

Background. Investigations in the field of gender identity disorder (GID) have been mostly related to psychiatric comorbidity and severe psychiatric disorders, but have focused less on personality and personality disorders (PDs). Aims. The aim of the study was to assess the presence of PDs in persons with GID as compared to cisgendered (a cisgender person is a person who is content to remain the gender they were assigned at birth) heterosexuals, as well as to biological sex. Methods. The study sample consisted of 30 persons with GID and 30 cisgendered heterosexuals from the general population. The assessment of PDs was conducted by application of the self-administered Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II PDs (SCID-II). Results. Persons with GID compared to cisgender heterosexuals have higher presence of PDs, particularly Paranoid PD, avoidant PDs, and comorbid PDs. In addition, MtF (transwomen are people assigned male at birth who identify as women) persons are characterized by a more severe psychopathological profile. Conclusions. Assessment of PDs in persons with GID is of great importance as it comprises a key part of personalized treatment plan tailoring, as well as a prognostic factor for sex-reassignment surgery (SRS) outcome

Comparative Analysis of Methods for Isochronous Magnetic-Field Calculation

Accurate magnetic fields are needed for defining the operation of a multipurpose cyclotron as well as for designing other parts of the machine, as an input parameter. The quality of an isochronous magnetic field is evaluated by the closeness of the obtained ion gyration frequency to its required value. The commonly used method of isochronous field calculation for sector focused cyclotrons was Gordons procedure. The incorporation of the gyration frequency criterion in isochronous field calculation has grown with the increase of the computer speed. We suggest a highly accurate method for the isochronous magnetic field calculation based on the gyration frequency adjustment

Magnetic field simulation in the central region of the VINCY Cyclotron

The VINCY Cyclotron is under construction at the Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Laboratory of Physics, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro. One of the most difficult problems to solve is the magnetic field shaping in the central region of the machine in a wide range of field levels. The latest measurements showed a very large magnetic field depression in the central region. The following shimming elements are used for the field shaping in the central region: a central plug and a spacer ring between the sectors and the median pole plate. These elements should both release enough vertical space for the inflector and the RF electrodes and produce a field bump in the very center of the machine. Concerning this region, one has to mention the following facts: sectors are absent or very reduced, and the small gap between the sectors restricts remarkably the possibilities of producing a field bump. Therefore, the design of these elements is the most critical one. Optimization of the central plug gap affects both the vertical sparking probability and the beam dynamics at higher harmonic modes. The redesign of the magnetic structure of the central region relied solely on the detailed 3-dimensional calculations to speed up the experimental shimming procedure. The desired calculated magnetic field shapes, which include the influence of the plug, have been produced and confirmed by the particle tracing for the 3-field levels. The final tailoring of the field map will be performed by the measurements at the full-size magnet.33rd European Cyclotron Progress Meeting, Sep 17-21, 2002, Warsaw, Polan

Magnetic field simulation in the central region of the VINCY Cyclotron

The VINCY Cyclotron is under construction at the Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Laboratory of Physics, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro. One of the most difficult problems to solve is the magnetic field shaping in the central region of the machine in a wide range of field levels. The latest measurements showed a very large magnetic field depression in the central region. The following shimming elements are used for the field shaping in the central region: a central plug and a spacer ring between the sectors and the median pole plate. These elements should both release enough vertical space for the inflector and the RF electrodes and produce a field bump in the very center of the machine. Concerning this region, one has to mention the following facts: sectors are absent or very reduced, and the small gap between the sectors restricts remarkably the possibilities of producing a field bump. Therefore, the design of these elements is the most critical one. Optimization of the central plug gap affects both the vertical sparking probability and the beam dynamics at higher harmonic modes. The redesign of the magnetic structure of the central region relied solely on the detailed 3-dimensional calculations to speed up the experimental shimming procedure. The desired calculated magnetic field shapes, which include the influence of the plug, have been produced and confirmed by the particle tracing for the 3-field levels. The final tailoring of the field map will be performed by the measurements at the full-size magnet.33rd European Cyclotron Progress Meeting, Sep 17-21, 2002, Warsaw, Polan

Symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in patients with chronic otitis media

Purpose Persistent symptoms of chronic otitis media cause limitations in daily routine and social interactions, influencing significantly patients' quality of life and mental health. The purpose of the study was to assess the intensity depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in patients with chronic otitis media and to examine if patient demographic data, characteristics and reported symptoms of otitis influence reported depression, anxiety and stress symptoms. Material and methods The study included 316 adult patients diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral chronic otitis media with or without cholesteatoma. Patients underwent a complete otological, audiological and radiological assessment. Chronic otitis media questionnaire 12 (COMQ-12) was used to assess the impact of COM and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) was used for depression, anxiety and stress assessment. Results Some level of anxiety and stress were detected in 70.57% 49.37% of the patients, respectively. 13.29% of the patients had scores indicating depression disorder. The mean value of the COMQ-12 questionnaire for this group of patients was 26.24 (SD±11.47) More intense symptoms of COM were significantly associated (p<0.05) with higher scores on DASS-21 subscales. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that significant positive predictors of higher anxiety scores were pure tone average (PTA) on better and worse hearing ear (p<0.05). Drainage from the ear, hearing problems at home and tinnitus were significant positive predictors of a higher DASS-depression score. (p<0.05) Conclusion The study confirmed positive correlation between reported level of anxiety, depression and stress, severity of COM symptoms and quality of life. Level of hearing on the better and worse hearing ear were significant positive predictors of anxiety and stress in patients with COM

A channel for modification of materials with post-accelerated or decelerated multiply charged ion beams

t present, heavy ion beams from the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source in the Laboratory of Physics of the Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia, are employed in a channel for surface modification of materials. The source and channel were commissioned in 1998, and have been used since that time by a number of user groups from the Vinca Institute and other scientific and educational institutions in Serbia. However, since the maximum extraction voltage of the source is +25 kV, sometimes the extracted beams do not have sufficiently high energies for such applications. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, we have decided to construct a new channel, to be used for deeper modification of materials. The beams obtained from the source will be post-accelerated by biasing the target to be irradiated to the negative potentials of down to - 100 W For example, we shall be able to bombard the target with the (132)Xe(24+) beam of the energy of up to 3 MeV, instead of up to 600 keV, in the case without the biasing system. An additional possibility will be to bias the target to the positive potentials of up to +25 kV and thus decelerate the beams extracted from the source down to the energies of about 1 keV. Consequently, one will be able to modify materials with the beams in a wide energy range, from similar to 1 to similar to 3 MeV, which is rarely met at similar experimental set-ups. It must be noted that changing the post-accelerated or decelerated beam energy in the new channel will be performed simply by adjusting the power supply of the biasing system, without any adjustments of the source and of the transport elements between the source and the interaction chamber. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved