Hearts and ovens in the Neolithic of the Central Balkans - building techniques and usage

Predmet istraživanja disertacije je utvrđivanje načina izrade i funkcije peći i ognjišta u neolitu centralnog Balkana, zanemarenih u dosadašnjim istraživanjima. Cilj istraživanja, pored definisanja tehnika korišćenih za izradu ognjišta i peći i njihove funkcije u ranom i kasnom neolitu ovih prostora, jeste i sistematizacija tipova termalnih struktura. Tehnike izrade predstavljaju društveno uslovljene kategorije i nemoguće je odvojiti ih od ostalih kulturnih aspekata, te su u ovoj disertaciji ponuđeni potencijalni društveni razlozi odabira konkretnih tehnika izrade. Na osnovu podataka iz publikovane literature i nepublikovane terenske dokumentacije, određeni su tipovi ognjišta i peći. U određivanju tehnika izrade, ključnu ulogu ima pravilno detektovanje materijala od kojeg su izrađene strukture. Kod ognjišta, u funkcionalnom smislu, odabir materijala ne predstavlja značajan podatak, dok je kod peći krucijalan, pošto određuje njene akumulativne sposobnosti i način pripreme hrane. Pretpostavlja se da su peći, između ostalog, služile za pripremu hleba. Pretpostavljene tehnike izrade i upotreba, testirane su eksperimentalnom izradom i upotrebom ognjišta i peći. Pored utvrđivanja tehnika izrade, rezultati eksperimenata su ukazali na mogućnost pripreme dva različita tipa hleba – lepinja u ranom i hleba od kiselog testa u kasnom neoltu. Predložena je i nova metodologija iskopavanja peći, putem koje je moguće odrediti tačne tehnike njene izrade. Primenom ove metodologije tokom iskopavanja peći sa lokaliteta Vinča, utvrđeno je da je peć izrađena u tehnici pločica, tehnici koja do sada nije razmatrana prilikom rekonstrukcija načina izrade vinčanskih peći. Upoređivanje karakteristika termalnih struktura sa ostalim kulturnim aspektima, pokazalo je da su na izbor tehnika izrade ognjišta i peći značajnu ulogu mogli imati stepen mobilnosti u ranom i sedentarnosti u kasnom neolitu. Obradom ranoneolitskih peći sa Lepenskog vira, utvrđen je jedinstven tip peći na Balkanu i šire, koji je mogao biti posledica kulturnog kontakta između dve populacijeThe aim of this research, besides defining building techniques and usage of hearths and ovens in the Early and Late Neolithic of this territory, is the systematization of thermal structure types. Building techniques are social constructs and one cannot separate them from other cultural aspects. With that in mind, this dissertation explores potential social phenomena which influenced these technical choices. Hearth and oven types were determined based on the data collected both from published literature and unpublished field documentation. Accurate detection of thermal structure building material plays the key role in the determination of building techniques. Material type does not pay a significant role in hearth function, while it is crucial when ovens are concerned. Oven material determines its ability to store heat, which affects its performance in food preparation. It is supposed that ovens, inter alia, were used for bread baking. Experimental hearths and ovens were made in order to test their assumed building techniques and usage. Besides determining construction techniques and usage, experiment results showed that during the Neolithic, two different bread types could have been prepared – flatbread during the Early, and sourdough bread during the Late Neolithic. New oven excavation methodology was proposed. This methodology allows the archaeologists to determine exact building techniques used for oven construction. By applying this methodology during the excavation of an oven from the site of Vinča, we were able to detect its building technique. The oven was built in the slab technique, which, up until now,was not considered as a Vinča culture oven construction method. After comparing thermal structure characteristics with other cultural aspects, certain social elements for hearth and oven technical choices emerged. These technical choices could have been influenced by the higher mobility rate in the Early and the pronounced sedentism in the Late Neolithic. At the site of Lepenski Vir, a unique oven type was detected. This unique technical choice could have been a result of cultural contact between two different population

Acute leukemia of childhood: A single institution's experience

The aim of this study was to investigate distribution of immunophenotypic and cytogenetic features of childhood acute leukemia (AL) in the cohort of 239 newly diagnosed patients registered at the leading pediatric oncohematology center in the country during a six-year period (1996-2002). With approximately 60-70% of all childhood AL cases in Serbia and Montenegro being diagnosed and treated in this institution the used data represent a valid research sample to draw conclusions for entire country. On the basis of five phenotypic markers, the distribution of immunological subtypes was as follows: 169 (70.7%) expressed B-cell marker CD19 (137 were CD10 positive and 32 CD10 negative), 37 (15.5%) belonged to T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) (cyCD3 positive), and 33 (13.8%) were acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) (CD13 positive and/or CD33 positive in the absence of lymphoid-associated antigens). The ratio of males and females was 1.5:1. Most of the cases were between the ages of 2 and 4, and were predominantly B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) cases. Another peak of age distribution was observed at the age of 7. The frequency of T-ALL (18% of ALL) was similar to that reported for Mediterranean countries: France (19.4%), Greece (28.1%), Southern Italy (28.3%), and Bulgaria (28.0%). Cytogenetic analyses were performed in 193 patients: 164 ALL and 29 AML. Normal karyotype was found in 57% of ALL and in 55% of AML patients, while cytogenetic abnormalities including structural, numerical, and complex chromosomal rearrangements were found in 43% of ALL and in 45% of AML patients. Our results represent a contribution to epidemiological aspects of childhood leukemia studies

The toxicity of isoproterenol to myocardial tissue in experimental conditions

Ispitivan je utjecaj jednokratne aplikacije izoproterenola (ISP) na ukupnu aktivnost i izoenzimsku sliku kreatin kinaze (CK) i laktat dehidrogenaze (LDH) u serumu štakora te korelacija tih promjena sa patohistološkim promjenama u tkivu miokarda. lzoproterenol, apliciran u dozi od 25 mg/100 g tjelesne mase, uzrokovao je statistički značajan porast ukupne aktivnosti CK i LOH u serumu te aktivnosti kardiospecifičnih izoenzima CK-MB, LDH-1 i LDH-2 u vremenu od šest sati nakon aplikacije izoproterenola. Također je nađena izomorfna izoenzimska slika LDH što govori u prilog nastanka kardiogenog šoka. Uz navedene opisane promjene nađen je i porast aktivnosti izoenzima CK-MM i LDH-5, a što se znade tumačiti kao sekundarna pojava kardiogenog šoka i posljedičnog oštećenja tkiva sa anaerobnim tipom metabolizma, kao što je jetra. Prethodni nalazi potvrđeni su patohistološkom analizom tkiva miokarda gdje je nađena koagulacijska nekroza sa miocitolizom te undulacije mišićnih stanica srca kao znaka kardiogenog šoka.The effect of toxic doses of isoproterenol (ISP) on total activities and isoenzyme patterns of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LOH) in rat sera was investigated and correlated with histopathological changes in the myocardial tissue. A single dose of 25 mg ISP per 100 g body weight caused a statistically important elevation of CK and LOH total activities and of the activities of cardiospecific isoenzymes CK-MB, LOH-1 and LOH-2 six hours after intraperitoneal administration. The isomorphic LOH isoenzyme pattern, which was also observed, was taken to be a proof of the ISP-induced cardiogenic shock. The increase in the activity of CK-MM and LOH-5 isoenzymes could be explained as a secondary consequence of cardiogenic shock and of the consecutive damage of the tissue with anaerobic metabolism such as liver. The findings were confirmed by a histopathological analysis showing the development of coagulative necrosis and myocytolysis as well as undulations of heart muscle cells as a sign of cardiogenic shock

Influence of Ultrasonic and Microwave Irradiation on Cation Exchange Properties of ClayMaterial

This study deals with optimization of the clay activation process using artificial neural network models and multi-objective optimization function. Different artificial neural network models were used for description of the relation between clay sorption capacity and the activation treatment process (power and time of clay exposure to ultrasonic and/or microwave irradiation). Two methodologies (feed-forward and cascade-forward) in combination with five different training algorithms (random order incremental training with learning functions, resilient backpropagation, one-step secant backpropagation, Levenberg-Marquardt backpropagation, Bayesian regularization backpropagation) were applied in order to obtain an optimal artificial neural network model. The optimal artificial neural network model showed good predictive ability (relative error 6.02 % based on external validation data set). In-house developed multi-objective criteria function was used in combination with the developed artificial neural network model and calculated optimal activation was determined (5 minutes of ultrason

The Effects of alpha-Lipoic Acid on Liver Oxidative Stress and Free Fatty Acid Composition in Methionine-Choline Deficient Diet-Induced NAFLD

Development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs through initial steatosis and subsequent oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of -lipoic acid (LA) on methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet-induced NAFLD in mice. Male C57BL/6 mice (n=21) were divided into three groups (n=7 per group): (1) control fed with standard chow, (2) MCD2 groupfed with MCD diet for 2 weeks, and (3) MCD2+LA group2 weeks on MCD receiving LA i.p. 100mg/kg/day. After the treatment, liver samples were taken for pathohistology, oxidative stress parameters, antioxidative enzymes, and liver free fatty acid (FFA) composition. Mild microvesicular hepatic steatosis was found in MCD2 group, while it was reduced to single fat droplets evident in MCD2+LA group. Lipid peroxidation and nitrosative stress were increased by MCD diet, while LA administration induced a decrease in liver malondialdehyde and nitrates+nitrites level. Similary, LA improved liver antioxidative capacity by increasing total superoxide dismutase (tSOD), manganese SOD (MnSOD), and copper/zinc-SOD (Cu/ZnSOD) activity as well as glutathione (GSH) content. Liver FFA profile has shown a significant decrease in saturated acids, arachidonic, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), while LA treatment increased their proportions. It can be concluded that LA ameliorates lipid peroxidation and nitrosative stress in MCD diet-induced hepatic steatosis through an increase in SOD activity and GSH level. In addition, LA increases the proportion of palmitic, stearic, arachidonic, and DHA in the fatty liver. An increase in DHA may be a potential mechanism of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of LA in MCD diet-induced NAFLD

Concept of „long centric"

The objective of this paper was to show the historical perspective of the „long centric" occlusal concept and its importance in the modern dentistry, especially from the gnathological aspect. The „long centric" concept represents therapeutic modality used in modern dentistry and occlusal adjustment in all patients showing differences in strong and weak closure of the lower jaw starting from the position of physiological rest/long centric" concept is applied only for anterior teeth and occlusal movements from rather than toward the center. Whenever the „long centric" parameters are not adequate, occlusal disturbance, resulting from the „wedge" effect during the initial closure of the lower jaw, is present. Different degrees of abrasion or hypermobility of the teeth are often the result of the above-mentioned occlusal disturbances and can potentially trigger bruxism and malfunction. Modus procedendi should be the regular approach of every dentist to any occlusion, because only the built-in „long centric" efficiently contributes to the occlusal stability of the anterior portion of the dentition. All occlusions should be routinely tested regarding their need for „long centric", especially when the extensive therapeutic interventions (conservative, prosthetics) of the occlusal complex are required

Projekat opšteg kaznenog zakonika za Kraljevinu Norvešku : Motivi izraćeni od komisije, postavljene Kraljevskom Odlukom od 14 novembra 1885 god. po želji Ministarstva pravde nemačkog carstva /

Mode of access: Internet

Grape Seed Oil Characterization: A Novel Approach for Oil Quality Assessment

The amount of organic pomace, left behind agricultural processes, is continuously rising in accordance with industrial progress. Grape pomace, generated in the wine industry all over the world, represents a raw material for obtaining valuable products. Grape seeds are especially rich in oil containing bioactive compounds that can have various health-related effects. The aim of the study is to compare the quality of seed oils obtained from six white grapes, including two Serbian autochthonous varieties. Linoleic acid, associated with numerous health benefits, is the major fatty acid in all samples (≈66% of total); α-tocopherol is the main tocopherol homologue. Total polyphenol content ranges from 73.4 to 104.3 mg of gallic acid equivalents per 100 g. In order to provide comprehensive information about antioxidant capacity of grape seed oil (GSO), three tests are performed (ferric ion reducing antioxidant power; 2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging). Antimicrobial activity is investigated against different strains; however, GSO inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Obtained results are used to develop a novel approach for oil quality assessment. Calculated oil quality scores (OQS) reveal no significant difference between international and autochthonous varieties, although Smederevka stands out as the most potent one. Practical applications: Considering the progressive waste increase in the wine industry and keeping in mind all health-promoting effects of grape seed oil (GSO), it is clearly observed that oil production represents a profitable and sustainable utilization of grape seeds. The results of the present study show that GSO is a rich source of compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. In addition, this work provides deeper insight into a quality of Serbian autochthonous grape varieties that are still insufficiently explored. Furthermore, the proposed oil quality score could be used as a comprehensive and unbiased method that enables quality assessment of oils. This tool can find practical application in comparing different plant oils regarding their compositional and functional properties. Finally, it would contribute to making some general oil intake recommendations

The effect of cannabinoid receptor 1 blockade on hepatic free fatty acid profile in mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

We used rimonabant to investigate the role of CB1 receptor on hepatic FFAs profile during NAFLD. Male mice C57BL/6 were divided into: control group fed with control diet 20 weeks (C; n = 6); group fed with HFD 20 weeks (HF; n = 6); group fed with control diet and treated with rimonabant after 18 weeks (R; n = 9); group fed with HFD and treated with rimonabant after 18 weeks (HFR; n = 10). Rimonabant (10 mg/kg) was administered daily to HFR and R group by oral gavage. Rimonabant decreased liver palmitic acid proportion in HFR group compared to HF group (p  lt  0.05). Liver stearic and oleic acid proportions were decreased in R group compared to control (p  lt  0.01 respectively). Rimonabant increased liver linoleic and arachidonic acid proportions in HFR group compared to HF group (p  lt  0.01 respectively). CB1 blockade may be useful in the treatment of HFD-induced NAFLD due to modulation of plasma lipid and hepatic FFA profile