bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High case volume of radiation oncologists is associated with better survival of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy: a multifactorial cohort analysis
Authors: Chien C.‐R. , Lin H.‐W. , Yang C.‐H. , Yang S.‐N. , Wang Y.‐C. , Kuo Y.‐C. , Chen S.‐W. , Liang J.‐A.
Published: October 2011

Clin. Otolaryngol. 2011, 36, 558–565

Objectives:  The relationship between physician case volume and patient outcome in patients with head and neck cancers such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated by radiotherapy is unknown. This study was designed to investigate the association between the case volume of radiation oncologists and the survival of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Design:  Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:  Based on nationwide claims data (National Health Research Insurance Database) in the years 2002–2008.

Participants:  Newly diagnosed patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma receiving curative radiotherapy in the year 2003.

Main outcome measures:  Overall survival until 2008. We used the running log‐rank test to decide the optimal threshold for categorising the case volume of radiation oncologists. The characteristics of patients, their treatments and contact with health service providers were considered as co‐explanatory variables. The log‐rank test and Cox regression were performed. Sensitivity analyses were carried out regarding major study assumptions.

Results:  Five hundred and sixty‐two patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma newly diagnosed in 2003 were identified as the study cohort. The 5‐year overall survival was better among patients treated by high‐volume (≥6 patients in year 2002) radiation oncologists than by low‐volume (<6 patients in year 2002) radiation oncologists (77%versus 64%, P = 0.0007). The adjusted hazard ratio of death was 0.65 (95% confidence interval, 0.48–0.91) upon multivariate analysis. Patients aged at least 65 years also had a lower survival rate than those younger than 65 years old (adjusted hazard ratio of death: 2.81, 95% confidence interval: 1.94–4.08).The physician case volume and patient outcome effect remained the same after sensitivity analyses.

Conclusions:  Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated by high‐volume radiation oncologists have better survival compared with those treated by low‐volume radiation oncologists. Further studies are needed to verify our findings with similar cancer cohorts treated by modern radiotherapy techniques or other types of radiotherapy.
Improvements to bit line contact processing in trench DRAM
Authors: Kao Chyuan-Haur , Chen Hsiang , Chen Yi-Chen , Chiu Yao-Min , Tsai Shiao-Ge , Lo Hong-Kai , Chen Yun-Ru
Published: October 2011

Ionized physical vapor deposition of titanium and titanium nitride contact metal was investigated to assess whether adding extra nitrogen into the chamber reduced contact current leakage and whether lowering the RF bias power would reduce ion bombardment. The results of multiple analyses confirm that plasma deposition with extra nitrogen can suppress the accumulation of Ti atoms and, therefore, the formation of TiSix, and that lowering the RF power can reduce the ratio of resputtering and decrease the thickness of the Ti layer. The two techniques can be effectively implemented in bit line contact processing to reduce current leakage while improving product performance and reliability.
Electrical and material characterizations of HfTiO4 flash memory devices with post-annealing
Authors: Kao Chyuan-Haur , Chen Hsiang , Chang Hun Wei , Chuang Chih Sheng
Published: October 2011

A metal-oxide-high-k HfTiO4-oxide-silicon-type novel nanocrystal memory was fabricated in order to examine temperature-induced effects at different annealing temperatures and find the optimal annealing condition. The material properties and electrical characteristics were investigated via multiple material analysis techniques such as x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and electrical analysis. Through a thorough study of the crystalline structure, material composition, memory window, and program/erase (P/E) cycle, the optimal annealing temperature at which to deposit a charge trapping layer with excellent material and electrical properties was determined. An HfTiO4 charge trapping layer annealed at 950 °C had a higher window of 5.8 V in the current-voltage hysteresis loop and a higher P/E speed than samples prepared under various annealing conditions. The results indicate that annealing can enhance the crystallization of HfTiO4 and produce a more effective electric field across a tunneling oxide of high quality.
Influence of Sr and Fe Dopants on the Surface Properties of LaGaO3
Authors: Natile Marta Maria , Saorin Alberto , Galenda Alessandro , Glisenti Antonella
Published: October 2011

LaGaO3 doped on A-site and B-site with different amounts of strontium and iron, respectively (La0.8Sr0.2GaO3-δ, La0.6Sr0.4GaO3-δ and LaGa0.8Fe0.2O3, LaGa0.4Fe0.6O3) as well as a doubly doped LaGaO3 perovskite (La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Fe0.2O3-δ) have been synthesized by citrate gel method. The present work focuses on the XPS analysis. In particular, the effects of dopants and dopant concentrations on the LaGaO3 surface properties have been investigated and discussed. Besides the wide scan spectrum, detailed spectra for the La 3d, Ga 2p3/2, Sr 3d, Fe 2p, O 1s and C 1s regions and related data are presented and discussed.
Allowing Apoptosis
Authors: Vinson Valda K.
Published: October 2011

Antagonist binding to an apoptosis inhibitor releases inhibition by promoting dimerization required for autoubiquitination.
Electrical Synapse Plasticity
Authors: Stern Peter R.
Published: October 2011

Paired bursting in coupled neurons depresses electrical synapses while their asymmetry increases after unidirectional use.
Memory access optimization in compilation for coarse-grained reconfigurable architectures
Authors: Kim Yongjoo , Lee Jongeun , Shrivastava Aviral , Paek Yunheung
Published: October 2011

Coarse-grained reconfigurable architectures (CGRAs) promise high performance at high power efficiency. They fulfil this promise by keeping the hardware extremely simple, and moving the complexity to application mapping. One major challenge comes in the form of data mapping. For reasons of power-efficiency and complexity, CGRAs use multibank local memory, and a row of PEs share memory access. In order for each row of the PEs to access any memory bank, there is a hardware arbiter between the memory requests generated by the PEs and the banks of the local memory. However, a fundamental restriction remains in that a bank cannot be accessed by two different PEs at the same time. We propose to meet this challenge by mapping application operations onto PEs and data into memory banks in a way that avoids such conflicts. To further improve performance on multibank memories, we propose a compiler optimization for CGRA mapping to reduce the number of memory operations by exploiting data reuse. Our experimental results on kernels from multimedia benchmarks demonstrate that our local memory-aware compilation approach can generate mappings that are up to 53% better in performance (26% on average) compared to a memory-unaware scheduler.
Nanonetworks
Authors: Akyildiz Ian F. , Jornet Josep Miquel , Pierobon Massimiliano
Published: October 2011

Technology able to create devices the size of a human cell calls for new protocols.
Realistic perspective projections for virtual objects and environments
Authors: Steinicke Frank , Bruder Gerd , Kuhl Scott
Published: October 2011

Computer graphics systems provide sophisticated means to render virtual 3D space to 2D display surfaces by applying planar geometric projections. In a realistic viewing condition the perspective applied for rendering should appropriately account for the viewer's location relative to the image. As a result, an observer would not be able to distinguish between a rendering of a virtual environment on a computer screen and a view “through” the screen at an identical real-world scene. Until now, little effort has been made to identify perspective projections which cause human observers to judge them to be realistic.

In this article we analyze observers' awareness of perspective distortions of virtual scenes displayed on a computer screen. These distortions warp the virtual scene and make it differ significantly from how the scene would look in reality. We describe psychophysical experiments that explore the subject's ability to discriminate between different perspective projections and identify projections that most closely match an equivalent real scene. We found that the field of view used for perspective rendering should match the actual visual angle of the display to provide users with a realistic view. However, we found that slight changes of the field of view in the range of 10-20% for two classes of test environments did not cause a distorted mental image of the observed models.
Steady affine motions and morphs
Authors: Rossignac Jarek , Vinacua Álvar
Published: October 2011

We propose to measure the quality of an affine motion by its steadiness, which we formulate as the inverse of its Average Relative Acceleration (ARA). Steady affine motions, for which ARA=0, include translations, rotations, screws, and the golden spiral. To facilitate the design of pleasing in-betweening motions that interpolate between an initial and a final pose (affine transformation),
B
and
C
, we propose the Steady Affine Morph (SAM), defined as
A
t
∘
B
with
A
=
C
∘
B
-1
. A SAM is affine-invariant and reversible. It preserves isometries (i.e., rigidity), similarities, and volume. Its velocity field is stationary both in the global and the local (moving) frames. Given a copy count,
n
, the series of uniformly sampled poses,
A
i/n
∘
B
, of a SAM form a regular pattern which may be easily controlled by changing
B
,
C
, or
n
, and where consecutive poses are related by the same affinity
A
1/n
. Although a real matrix
A

t

does not always exist, we show that it does for a convex and large subset of orientation-preserving affinities
A
. Our fast and accurate Extraction of Affinity Roots (EAR) algorithm computes
A

t

, when it exists, using closed-form expressions in two or in three dimensions. We discuss SAM applications to pattern design and animation and to key-frame interpolation.
Modal-space control for articulated characters
Authors: Jain Sumit , Liu C. Karen
Published: October 2011

We present a novel control algorithm for simulating an articulated character performing a given reference motion and its variations. The unique feature of our controller is its ability to make a long-horizon plan at every time step. Our algorithm overcomes the computational hurdle by applying modal analysis on a time-varying linear dynamic system. We exploit the properties of modal coordinates in two ways. First, we design separate control strategies for dynamically decoupled modes. Second, our controller only applies long-horizon planning on a subset of modes, largely reducing the size of the control problem. With this decoupled and reduced control system, the character is able to execute the reference motion while reacting to unexpected perturbations and anticipating changes in the environment. We demonstrate our results by simulating a variety of reference motions, such as walking, squatting, jumping, and swinging.
Phase Analysis of the Cellulose Triacetate-Nitromethane System
Authors: Shipovskaya Anna B. , Gegel Natalia O. , Shmakov Sergei L. , Shchyogolev Sergei Yu.
Published: October 2011

A comprehensive study was made on the cellulose triacetate-nitromethane system to explore its phase separation within ranges 2–25 wt.% and−5÷+80°Cby means of polarization light and electron microscopy, the turbidity spectrum method, differential thermal and X-ray analyses, and rheological techniques. The physical state of the polymer was identified within the phase coexistence boundaries on the phase diagram which included three types of phase separation (amorphous (with a UCST atTcr=57∘Candccr=7.3 wt.%), crystal, and liquid crystal). The boundaries of the regions determining the coexistence of the liquid crystal (LC) and the partly crystal phase were found to be inside the region of amorphous liquid-liquid phase separation. For cellulose ester-solvent systems, this state diagram is the first experimental evidence for the possibility of coexistence of several phases with amorphous, LC, and crystal polymer ordering.
Serum High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T Is a Significant Biomarker of Left-Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Subjects with Non-Diabetic Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Kitagawa Masashi , Sugiyama Hitoshi , Morinaga Hiroshi , Inoue Tatsuyuki , Takiue Keiichi , Kikumoto Yoko , Uchida Haruhito Adam , Kitamura Shinji , Maeshima Yohei , Toh Norihisa , Nakamura Kazufumi , Ito Hiroshi , Makino Hirofumi
Published: October 2011

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with left-ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) which progresses to diastolic heart failure. However, biomarkers predicting LVDD in patients with CKD are largely unknown. Methods: In 93 patients with non-diabetic CKD, the relationships among echocardiography, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and renal function were evaluated. LV mass index, peak early diastolic mitral filling velocity (E), peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E′), and E/E′ were recorded. Results: The E′ values were significantly decreased and E/E′, BNP, and hs-cTnT increased with increasing CKD stage. The CKD patients with LVDD with E′ <5 cm/s had a significantly higher hs-cTnT level as well as a significantly higher BNP level compared to those with E′ ≧5 cm/s. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for hs-cTnT and BNP to detect E′ <5 cm/s was 0.880 (p = 0.0101) and 0.741 (p = 0.0570), respectively. In multivariate analysis, hs-cTnT and albuminuria were significantly associated with E′, and estimated glomerular filtration rate with the hs-cTnT level, after adjusting for age, cause of CKD, and other parameters. Conclusions: These data suggest that hs-cTnT may be a useful biomarker of LVDD in non- diabetic CKD patients.
Aurora kinase A-specific T-cell receptor gene transfer redirects T lymphocytes to display effective antileukemia reactivity
Authors: Nagai Kozo , Ochi Toshiki , Fujiwara Hiroshi , An Jun , Shirakata Toshiaki , Mineno Junichi , Kuzushima Kiyotaka , Shiku Hiroshi , Melenhorst J. Joseph , Gostick Emma , Price David A. , Ishii Eiichi , Yasukawa Masaki
Published: October 2011

Aurora kinase A (AURKA) is overexpressed in leukemias. Previously, we demonstrated that AURKA-specific CD8+ T cells specifically and selectively lysed leukemia cells, indicating that AURKA is an excellent target for immunotherapy. In this study, we examined the feasibility of adoptive therapy using redirected T cells expressing an HLA-A*0201–restricted AURKA207-215-specific T-cell receptor (TCR). Retrovirally transduced T cells recognized relevant peptide-pulsed but not control target cells. Furthermore, TCR-redirected CD8+ T cells lysed AURKA-overexpressing human leukemic cells in an HLA-A*0201–restricted manner, but did not kill HLA-A*0201+ normal cells, including hematopoietic progenitors. In addition, AURKA207-215-specific TCR-transduced CD4+ T cells displayed target-responsive Th1 cytokine production. Finally, AURKA207-215-specific TCR-transduced CD8+ T cells displayed antileukemia efficacy in a xenograft mouse model. Collectively, these data demonstrate the feasibility of redirected T cell–based AURKA-specific immunotherapy for the treatment of human leukemia.
Tailoring photonic metamaterial resonances for thermal radiation
Authors: Bermel Peter , Ghebrebrhan Michael , Harradon Michael , Yeng Yi Xiang , Celanovic Ivan , Joannopoulos John D , Soljacic Marin
Published: October 2011

Selective solar absorbers generally have limited effectiveness in unconcentrated sunlight, because of reradiation losses over a broad range of wavelengths and angles. However, metamaterials offer the potential to limit radiation exchange to a proscribed range of angles and wavelengths, which has the potential to dramatically boost performance. After globally optimizing one particular class of such designs, we find thermal transfer efficiencies of 78% at temperatures over 1,000°C, with overall system energy conversion efficiencies of 37%, exceeding the Shockley-Quiesser efficiency limit of 31% for photovoltaic conversion under unconcentrated sunlight. This represents a 250% increase in efficiency and 94% decrease in selective emitter area compared to a standard, angular-insensitive selective absorber.

PACS: 42.70.Qs; 81.05.Xj; 78.67.Pt; 42.79.Ek
A new dot immunoassay for simultaneous detection of celiac specific antibodies and IgA-deficiency
Authors: Conrad Karsten , Roggenbuck Dirk , Ittenson Annelore , Reinhold Dirk , Buettner Thomas , Laass Martin W.
Published: October 2011

This study investigated whether a dot immunoassay (DIA) can provide simultaneous detection of anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG), anti-deamidated gliadin (DG) and total IgA antibodies, as required in the work-up of celiac disease (CD) patients.

Celiac disease patients (n=111) consecutively diagnosed from 2001 to 2011 at the Children’s Hospital and Institute of Immunology (Technical University Dresden) were tested for anti-tTG, anti-DG and total IgA by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and DIA retrospectively. Blood donors (n=45) and non-CD individuals with low IgA serum levels (n=8) were included as controls. Antibodies to endomysial antigens (EmA) were assessed by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF).

Four (3.6%) of 111 CD patients demonstrated an IgA deficiency with total IgA below 50 mg/L by ELISA. Total IgA of the 107 IgA-non-deficient CD patients varied from 70 to 6000 mg/L. All four IgA-deficient CD patients were detected by a reduced reaction control of DIA and demonstrated positive anti-tTG or anti-DG IgG by DIA or ELISA. Detection of anti-tTG and anti-DG by DIA and ELISA showed a very good agreement (IgA: κ=0.972, 0.856, respectively; IgG: 0.921, 0.895, respectively).

Immunodot assay is a reliable and easy-to-use technique for the detection of IgA-deficient CD patients. Simultaneous assessment of anti-tTG and anti-DG IgA antibodies, and IgA deficiency by DIA can improve the efficacy of CD serology.
Novel Micro- and Nano-particles Cellulose Based Pickering Emulsions.
Authors: Capron Isabelle , Bizot Hervé , Grosbois Solène , Winter Heiko , Cathala Bernard
Published: October 2011

Emulsions are usually metastable systems of two non-miscible phases stabilized by surface active species like surfactant molecules. Emulsions stabilized by solid colloidal particles adsorbed at the interface (Pickering emulsions) offer some competitive advantages with respect to classical emulsions. Most studies published up to now concern emulsions stabilized by inorganic (metallic oxides, exfoliated clays, carbonates and phosphates) or polymeric particles while biomass derived alternatives have only been explored to a limited extent. For the first time, we report the stabilization of emulsions by unmodified cellulose nanocrystals [1, 2] . Cellulose nanocrystals were produced from bacterial cellulose and used to form Pickering emulsions. We demonstrate by SEM that the nanocrystals are adsorbed at the oil/water interface. We also study the size distribution of the droplets that was found to range around 4μm in diameter with very narrow dispersity. The stability of the emulsions was also investigated. The fabrication of new armored microparticles exposing cellulose acicular nanocrystals from cellulose nanocrystals opens opportunities to build materials from low cost and environmental friendly resource.
Effect of Engineered Solid and Mesoporous Silica Particles Physical Properties on In Vitro Toxicity
Authors: Nguyen Kennedy , Premasekharan Gayatri , Yuen Alexander , Forman Henry J. , Leppert Valerie J.
Published: October 2011

Mesoporous silica is of current interest for therapeutic applications, such as drug delivery, because of its small size and internal pore structure into which small molecules can be adsorbed. However, while the toxicity literature is extensive for micron-sized crystalline silica due to occupational health concerns, there is relatively little information available for mesoporous silica. Here, solid silica and mesoporous silica particles are characterized using SEM, DLS, XRD, and BET analysis; and their toxicities assessed using a modified MTT assay for cell viability and DPPP assay for lipid peroxidation. On a mass basis, mesoporous silica reduces cell viability from 82 ± 8% to 73 ± 16% compared to solid silica, likely due to the decreased density and therefore increased number of particles and particle surface area. This modest increase in toxicity, compared to the dramatic 600X increase in total surface area for mesoporous silica, from both pore and particle surfaces, suggests that the toxicity mechanism depends on the surface area available to the cell and not the total surface area. DPPP results support this conclusion and indicate that membrane lipid peroxidation is involved.
Efficient application programming interface for multi-dimensional modeling data
Authors: Jones Norman L. , Wallace Robert M. , Jones Russell , Butler Cary , Zundel Alan
Published: October 2011

This paper describes an Application Programming Interface (API) for managing multi-dimensional data produced for water resource computational modeling that is being developed by the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), in conjunction with Brigham Young University. This API, along with a corresponding data standard, is being implemented within ERDC computational models to facilitate rapid data access, enhanced data compression and data sharing, and cross-platform independence. The API and data standard are known as the eXtensible Model Data Format (XMDF), and version 1.3 is available for free download. This API is designed to manage geometric data associated with grids, meshes, riverine and coastal cross sections, and both static and transient array-based datasets. The inclusion of coordinate system data makes it possible to share data between models developed in different coordinate systems. XMDF is used to store the data-intensive components of a modeling study in a compressed binary format that is platform-independent. It also provides a standardized file format that enhances modeling linking and data sharing between models.
Prediction of time variation of scour depth around spur dikes using neural networks
Authors: Karami Hojat , Ardeshir Abdollah , Saneie Mojtaba , Salamatian S. Amin
Published: October 2011

The maximum depth of scouring around spur dikes plays an important role in the hydraulic design process. There have been many studies on the maximum depth of scouring, but there is little information available on the time variation of scour depth. In this paper, the time variation of scouring around the first spur dike in a series was investigated experimentally. Experiments were carried out in four different bed materials under different flow intensities (U/Ucr). To achieve a time development of scouring around the first spur dike, more than 750 sets of experimental data were collected. The results showed that 70–90% of the equilibrium scour depths were occurring during the initial 20% of the overall time of scouring. Based on the data analysis, a regression model and artificial neural networks (ANNs) were developed. The models were compared with other empirical equations in the literature. However, the results showed that the developed regression model is quite accurate and more practical, but the ANN models by feed forward back propagation and radial basis function provide a better prediction of observation. Finally, by sensitivity analysis, the most and the least effective parameters, which affected time variation of scouring, were determined.
Characterization and anti-fouling performance of nano-Al2O3/PVDF membrane for Songhua River raw water filtration
Authors: Yu S. L. , Shi W. X. , Lu Y. , Yang J. X.
Published: October 2011

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) flat ultrafiltration membranes modified by nano-sized alumina (Al2O3) particles were prepared by phase inversion process and their properties and anti-fouling performances were examined. The influence of three types of natural organic matters on the modified membrane fouling was also studied. Raw water was taken from two different locations, i.e., Harbin and Zhaoyuan, of Songhua River. Dissolved organic compounds in the raw water were fractionated using XAD resins into three fractions, i.e., hydrophobic fraction, transphilic fraction, and hydrophilic fraction (HPI). The three adsorbed compounds were further eluted and dissolved into distilled water respectively to prepare the feed for the fouling tests. All solutions were adjusted to a concentration of 10.6 mg C/L, which equals to the total organic carbon (TOC) of the raw water. Results show that the addition of nano-Al2O3 particulars did not affect the inherent traits of the PVDF membranes, however, its surface hydrophilic properties were improved significantly with the addition of nanoparticles and anti-fouling performance was enhanced as well. The HPIs in the Songhua River were the main foulant, causing more fouling to membrane than hydrophobic and transphilic matters.
Partial nitrification of sludge reject water by means of aerobic granulation
Authors: López-Palau S. , Pericas A. , Dosta J. , Mata-Álvarez J.
Published: October 2011

Granular sludge formation was performed in a laboratory scale Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) fed with supernatant of anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge. This effluent was concentrated progressively in order to enhance biomass capacity without inhibiting it. During the first part of the study, ammonium nitrogen was converted to nitrate, so conventional nitrification took place. When a nitrogen load of 0.8 g N L−1 d−1 was treated, the effluent concentration of nitrite started to increase while the nitrate concentration decreased until it disappeared. So, partial nitrification was achieved. At the end of this study, a nitrogen load of 1.1 g N L−1 d−1 was treated obtaining an effluent with 50% ammonium and 50% nitrite. The volatile suspended solids concentration in the reactor reached 10 g VSS L−1. At this point the granule morphology was quite round and no filamentous bacteria was observed. The Feret's diameter was in the range between 1 and 6 mm with an average value of 4.5 mm. Roundness value was all the time higher than 0.7. Granule density increased during the experimental period, obtaining a final value of 7.0 g L−1.
Nutrient export in run-off from an in-field cattle overwintering site in East-Central Saskatchewan
Authors: Smith A. , Schoenau J. , Lardner H. A. , Elliott J.
Published: October 2011

Wintering cattle directly in the field creates potential concerns with water quality, as nutrients added from urine and fecal material over the winter can end up in runoff water, ground water and soil. In 2008/2009 an experiment was conducted to observe the effect of in-field winter feeding of cows on the nutrients in spring snowmelt run-off water. Low temperatures give little opportunity for organic N, urea and ammonium added in the urine and fecal matter to convert to nitrate, resulting in nitrate-N concentrations in snowmelt run-off water that were similar in the control and winter fed areas. Orthophosphate-P and ammonium-N concentrations were significantly elevated in run-off from the winter feed treatment basins compared to the controls. Surface soil sampled in the spring from the winter feeding site had higher soluble nitrate while soluble forms of phosphorus in the soil were lower compared to the fall soil samples. Caution should be used when utilizing in-field winter feeding systems so that the runoff water does not reach sensitive water bodies.
The potential of sustainable tourism development at the Stara mountain
Authors: Dragovic Ranko , Todorovic Marina , Stankovic Stevan
Published: October 2011

In the past, the greatest part of the Stara mountain had been subjected to
anthropogenic processes which induced serious ecologic consequences and
diminished the worth of the potential for tourism development. The present
study investigates the possibilities for the development of sustainable
tourism of the Stara mountain with focus on analyzing the natural environment
and the consequences that may be induced by preparations for more intensive
tourist exploitation (technical interventions). The importance is stressed of
anti-erosion protection and of the measures for improvement of biodiversity
and geo-diversity of the Stara mountain. The necessity of finding the modes
of more rational exploitation of natural and anthropogenic qualities of the
Stara mountain is indicated.
Use of hegemony in settlement of international disputes over sources of drinking water
Authors: Ostojic Gavrilo , Blagojevic Marija
Published: October 2011

Sources of drinking water are a renewable but limited natural resource that
is unevenly distributed on the Earth. The rapid development of human society,
this especially including the period from the beginning of the last century
up to the present days, has resulted in the increased consumption of water in
agriculture, industry and in urban areas. Environmental pollution caused by
by-products and climate change, which have been prominent in the last
decades, have made water become a resource in globally short supply. The
aspiration to dominate the lacking sources of drinking water, especially in
arid and sub-arid regions, resulted in the increased number of international
disputes. In some cases, they were settled by imposing special conditions
that were dictated by economically developed and powerful states that were
parties to the dispute. The paper points to the situation with sources of
drinking water in the world, the development of international water law in
settling international disputes presenting the most striking examples of the
use of hegemony in settling the disputes.
Radiological hazards of 137Cs in cultivated and undisturbed areas
Authors: Nenadovic Snezana , Nenadovic Milos , Vukanac Ivana , Omerasevic Mia , Kljajevic Ljiljana
Published: October 2011

The exposure of human beings to ionizing radiation from 137Cs is a continuing
and inescapable feature of life on Earth. Artificial radio nuclides are
widely distributed in various geological formations and ecosystems such as
rock, soil, groundwater, and foodstuffs. In the presents study, the
distribution of 137Cs was measured in soil samples collected from different
lithological units of the Rudovci, Lazarevac, Serbia. Analysis of the
vertical soil profiles indicated that the activity of 137Cs was not extremely
changed with depth. The activity concentrations of the 137Cs in measured soil
samples ranged from below minimal detectable concentrations up to 38.1 Bq/kg.
In order to evaluate the radiological hazards due to 137Cs in the samples,
the absorbed dose rate and the annual effective dose were calculated in
accordance with recommendations given in the UNSCEAR 2000 report. The
distribution of radionuclides depends upon the rock composition, chemical and
physical properties of the soil. The external absorbed gamma dose rates due
137Cs were found to vary from 0 to 1.16 nGy/h.
Body condition and indicators of energy status of cows in advanced gravidity and early stage of lactation
Authors: Prodanovic Radisa , Kirovski Danijela , Jakic-Dimic Dobrila , Vujanac Ivan , Kureljusic Branislav
Published: October 2011

The objective of the investigations was to establish the validity of certain metabolic and endocrine indicators of energy metabolism in comparison with the body condition of cows during the final stage of pregnancy and the early stage of lactation. For the investigations, three groups of eight cows each were chosen during the dry period (15 days before the expected date of calving), in early puerperium (15 days after calving) and on the 100th day of lactation. All the animals included in the experiment were primipara or at their second delivery. The body condition of the cows in advanced pregnancy and lactation was evaluated according to the Elanco Animal Health Bulletin AI 8478 system. Concentrations of glucose and beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB) were determined in samples of fresh blood, and concentrations of total bilirubin, urea, triiodothyronine and thyroxine in samples of blood serum. The blood samples were taken during the dry period, in early puerperium, and on the 100th day of lactation. On the grounds of the obtained results, a high degree of correlation was determined between the body condition of cows in early puerperium and BHB concentrations in blood established 15 days prior to calving (r = 0.898; p < 0.01). Contrary to this, a significant correlation was established between the body condition of cows in the dry period and the concentration of total bilirubin in cow blood 15 days after calving (r = 0.603; p < 0.05). Furthermore, a high degree of correlation was established between the difference in the body condition of cows in the dry period and in early puerperium (X = 0.49 ? 0.21 pints) and BHB concentration in the blood of cows prior to calving (r = 0.800; p < 0.02). It can be concluded on the grounds of the obtained results that changes in the body condition of cows that occur in the peripartal period are in significant correlation with BHB concentration in the blood of cows in the dry period and the concentration of total bilirubin in early puerperium. .
Effect of heat stress on vital signs in high-yield dairy cows
Authors: Vujanac Ivan , Kirovski Danijela , Bojkovski Jovan , Prodanovic Radisa , Savic Bozidar , Samanc Horea
Published: October 2011

The objective of this work was to examine the influence of outer temperature on values of the vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration) in high-yield dairy cows in early stages of lactation, as well as to establish, on the grounds of the degree of correlation between the values for the vital signs and the temperature humidity index (THI), possibilities for using the examined physiological parameters of the organism as an indicator of heat stress. The experiment covered 10 high-yield dairy cows in the first phase of lactation. The investigations were carried out in the course of July and the first half of August. During the course of the experiment, the average THI was determined daily. An average daily THI higher than 70 indicated that the animal had been exposed to heat stress on that day. Vital signs were measured on twelve occasions during the period of investigation (June 30, July 4, July 7, July 10, July 14, July 17, July 21, July 24, July 29, August 5, August 11, and August 14). It was established on the grounds of the THI values that the examined animals were exposed to heat stress on June 30, July 4, July 7, July 14, July 17, July 21, July 29, August 5, and August 14, while there was no heat stress on July 10, July 24, and August 11. The average body temperature during all the periods of examination, with the exception of July 24, was above the upper physiological limit. A high degree of correlation was established between body temperature and the heat index (r = +0. 509; p = 0.05). The number of respiratory movements per minute was above the physiological values during the entire period of investigation. There was a high degree of correlation between the number of respiratory movements and THI (r = + 0.625; p<0.05). The average pulse values and number of contractions of the rumen did not vary significantly during the period of investigation. No significant correlation was established between the pulse and THI values, or between motoric activities of the rumen and THI. The results obtained in this work demonstrate that, in high-yield dairy cows exposed to moderate heat stress, the body temperature and the number of respiratory movements are above physiologically permitted values. On these grounds, it can be concluded that these two parameters of the vital signs can be used as physiological indicators of heat stress. .
Epidemiology and diagnostics of human fasciolosis
Authors: Dakic Zorica , Indjic Nikola , Milosevic Branko , Poluga Jasmina , Kulisic Zoran , Korac Milos , Stajkovic Novica , Ofori-Belic Irena , Pavlovic Milos
Published: October 2011

Fasciolosis is a zoonotic infection caused by the trematoda Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. Human fasciolosis is endemic in some parts of South America, Africa, Eastern Asia and Europe. High prevalence of human fasciolosis does not necessarily occur in areas where fasciolosis is a major veterinary problem. Infection with Fasciola hepatica has not been reported in humans in Serbia and former Yugoslavia, although a large variety of animals, such as sheep and cattle show infection rates that may reach significant proportions in some areas. Humans can become accidental hosts of this parasite by ingesting contaminated drinking water or plants in an endemic area. Infection with Fasciola hepatica has a variable clinical presentation depending on the stage of the disease. Typical symptoms that may be associated with fascioliasis can be divided by the phases of the disease including the acute or liver phase, the chronic or biliary phase, the obstructive phase, and ectopic or pharyngeal fascioliasis. The diagnosis of human fasciolosis may be problematical and delayed, especially in non-endemic areas, because physicians rarely encounter this disease and a long list of other diseases must be included in the differential diagnosis. The diagnosis of fasciolosis is complex and requires the application of direct an indirect methods of diagnostics: clinical diagnosis, haematological and biochemical findings, parasitological diagnosis, immuno-diagnosis, imaging procedures, liver biopsy. At the Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases in 2005, we recorded the first case of human fasciolosis in a woman from Belgrade, a citizen of Serbia, who developed clinical symptoms of acute fasciolosis after several months of living in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This article reviews the epidemiology and diagnostics of human fasciolosis. .
Diagnosis and results of treatment of heart myxoma
Authors: Rafajlovski Saso , Ilic Radoje , Gligic Branko , Kanjuh Vladimir , Tatic Vujadin , Ristic Andjelka , Obradovic Slobodan , Matunovic Radomir , Prcovic Biljana
Published: October 2011

Background/Aim. Myxoma is the most common benign primary cardiac neoplasm,
and usually originates from the left atrial septum. Early diagnosis of
cardiac myxomas depends on a high index of a clinical suspicion. Surgical
management must be done as soon as possible after diagnosis. The aim of this
retrospective study was to present diagnostics and treatment outcome data of
61 patients with cardiac myxoma treated in the Military Medical Academy,
Belgrade during a 49-years period. Methods. Intrahospital diagnosis was
established in all the patients by the cardiologist. Diagnostic methods were
various, in dependence on the examination period and suspected diagnosis.
Results. Within a 49-years period (1961-2009) heart myxoma was diagnozed and
treated in 61 patients in the Military Medical Academy, Belgrade. Most of the
operated patients were females (38 or 62.3%). The operated patients were
19-68 years old. Average age of all the patients was 47.9%. The great
majority of them (98.4%) had atrial, and only one operated patient had
ventricular myxoma. In 13 (21.3%) of the patients heart myxoma was found out
accidentally due to no previous cardiologic symptomatology. In most patients
(27.44%) symptomatology was presented as thromboembolic disease. Because of
the suspected ventricular myxoma in one patient, the patient was operated on,
but Hodgkin's lymphoma was found out which, according to the subsequent
course of the disease, could be justifiably recognized as primary heart
lymphoma. This study presented brief descriptions of the course of the
disease in 4 patients with myxomas in each of the cardiac cavities.
Conclusion. The only diagnostic difficulty in cardiac myxoma is due to its
asymptomatic and oligosymptomatic presence within the longer period of time,
namely, its growth period. Echocardiography should be the standard method of
cardiologic examination of these patients, which could considerably
contribute to early diagnosis and treatment of heart myxoma. Surgical
extirpation of myxoma is the only and very successful therapeutic method.
Le prix du temps
Authors: Berthoud Arnaud
Published: October 2011

Résumé Pour l’époque moderne et à la différence des époques antérieures, le taux d’intérêt est légitime parce qu’il est le prix naturel d’un temps considéré lui-même comme un bien rare. Cela constitue le cœur du capitalisme. Quelles sont les conditions théoriques principales de l’avènement d’une pareille conception économique du temps ? On examine successivement la conception du temps dans la pensée néoclassique ; la conception plus ancienne correspondant à l’interdit scolastique du taux d’intérêt ; le bouleversement apporté par la Réforme et la doctrine calviniste de la prédestination sous la perspective de Max Weber. On en vient alors à l’idée suivante : pour que le temps soit saisi par un agent économique comme un bien extérieur à lui-même et analogue à une marchandise, il faut qu’il puisse considérer son choix ou son arbitrage entre des biens à périodes de temps différentes comme un acte situé lui-même hors du temps et pour que cela soit à son tour possible, il faut qu’il puisse croire que cet acte s’inscrit dans l’horizon du choix atemporel de Dieu.
Lectures masculines de la théorie féministe : la psychologisation des rapports de genre dans la littérature sur la masculinit
Authors: Mac Mahon Anthony
Published: October 2011

Résumé Les critiques de la masculinité, formulées par des hommes, s’appuient le plus souvent sur des théories féministes qui développent, implicitement ou explicitement, des récits psychologisants de la subjectivité masculine, par exemple en termes de « manque relationnel » ou de « désir de dominer ». Le fait pour les hommes d’être élevés par une femme est central à de tels récits. L’auteur de cet article s’oppose à ce type de littérature en s’appuyant sur l’analyse, politiquement plus robuste, développée par le féminisme matérialiste. Il révèle ainsi les faiblesses empiriques et théoriques propres à ces analyses de la subjectivité masculine. Il montre également de quelle façon le concept de la masculinité peut fonctionner comme une réification idéaliste des pratiques masculines d’appropriation du travail domestique féminin, notamment le travail de soin effectué par les femmes. Privilégiant une compréhension thérapeutique des pratiques masculines, leur domination des femmes serait le fruit malencontreux d’une identité masculine endommagée — cette littérature obscurcit, en les présentant comme des pratiques « à l’insu de leur plein gré », les pratiques politiques intéressées de domination et d’exploitation des hommes vis-à-vis des femmes.
Les aventures d'une « alliance objective ». Quelques moments de la relation entre mouvements homosexuels et mouvements féministes au XXe siècle
Authors: Chauvin Sébastien
Published: October 2011

Résumé Les relations entre mouvements féministes et mouvements homosexuels se sont nourries des rhétoriques politiques dominantes de chaque période : l’individualisme libéral dans l’Allemagne de 1904, le gauchisme libérationniste dans la France des années 1970, puis, dans une certaine mesure, le discours des « droits » dans les années 1990, à la fois épaulé et concurrencé, dans les années 2000, par un nouveau radicalisme «  queer  » qui offre aux féministes et aux militants homosexuels au moins autant de nouveaux points de convergence que de nouvelles occasions de conflit. Mais ces relations ont surtout varié avec les manières dont on a problématisé l’homosexualité et la féminité, et défini les rapports entre « sexe », « genre » et « sexualité » — définitions mouvantes que les mouvements ont eux-mêmes contribué à façonner et à transformer.
L'irréconcilié : l'histoire critique aux marges de l'amnistie
Authors: Cuillerai Marie
Published: October 2011

Résumé L’amnistie pose au XXe siècle la question des liens entre mémoire, justice et réconciliation. Ce nexus est mis en jeu de manière exemplaire par la querelle des Historiens allemands telle qu’elle est traitée par Jürgen Habermas et Paul Ricœur. Les deux rhétoriques de la réconciliation de la Cité divisée par l’éradication de la haine et de la vengeance, grâce à la médiation de l’oubli ou grâce à la médiation de la mémoire posent l’une et l’autre la question des rap-ports entre justice et pardon. Jürgen Habermas tente de dépasser cette alternative en construisant une culture politique fondée sur un rapport critique à l’histoire. Aux marges des institutions de clémence se profile une rhétorique de l’excès. Une cité qui se réconcilie ne le fait pas sans reste. Mais cet irréconcilié n’a pas à se produire d’après une définition intangible et universelle de l’irréconciliable.
Entre l'urbain et le social, un espace politique ?
Authors: Piettre Alexandre
Published: October 2011

Entre l’urbain et le social, un espace politique En confrontant une enquête d’un laboratoire de sociologie en vue du renou-vellement urbain d’un quartier d’habitat social, au mouvement social et politique qui y est à l’œuvre à la suite d’« émeutes », cet article pose, à nouveaux frais, l’articulation de l’urbain et du social à propos des « grands ensembles ». En effet, il renvoie dos à dos les sociologies qui opposent le social à l’urbain et celles qui assujettissent le social à l’urbain. Car l’une et l’autre achoppent sur l’espace, celui-ci constituant le point aveugle des pratiques et des représentations politiques en termes de contrôle social ou de délibération libre de toute attache qu’elles sous-tendent. De sorte qu’elles évitent l’espace que les citadins-citoyens donnent à voir en deçà et par-delà toute « urbanité » ou communication rationnelles. Et, en l’espèce, qu’elles s’empêchent de penser comment le religieux repose ainsi la question de ce qu’est la politique.
Un nouveau paradigme en sociologie du travail ?
Authors: Rolle Pierre
Published: October 2011

Résumé Les changements auxquels nous assistons dans le domaine du travail obligent à situer différemment les institutions traditionnelles que l’on y rencontre. L’entreprise n’apparaît plus comme le cadre de la division du travail, mais comme un opérateur dans le mécanisme collectif de distribution réciproque des individus et des tâches. L’État démocratique et les « partenaires sociaux » sont les opérateurs d’une socialisation contradictoire, que la mondialisation soumet de surcroît aux alliances et aux concurrences universelles. Comme il est de règle, les méthodes par lesquelles on saisit la réalité sociale doivent aujourd’hui se modifier en même temps que leur objet. Cette exigence paradoxale justifie l’usage de la notion de paradigme, laquelle suppose une cohérence partielle, qui réunit spécifiquement quelques-uns des niveaux et des cycles qui composent le social, mais ne représente aucunement une étape dans une évolution historique.
Du « tout-acteur » à l'analyse des médiations de la contrainte
Authors: Flocco Gaëtan
Published: October 2011

Résumé La sociologie des organisations et de l’entreprise a montré que la contrainte salariale et l’autonomie des acteurs pouvaient coexister dans les situations de travail. Cette thèse demeure assurément une avancée au sein de la discipline sociologique. Cependant, certaines limites de cette approche sociologique, comme une focalisation excessive sur l’autonomie des salariés, invite à réorienter l’analyse du travail vers davantage de contextualisation et de prise en compte des médiations des contraintes. Les enjeux scientifiques et politiques d’un tel renouvellement de l’étude du monde du travail et des organisations ne sont pas des moindres : maintenir un pluralisme théorique ; se démarquer des philosophies individualistes et des sociologies exclusivement compréhensives ou encore identifier les déterminants politiques des contraintes du travail.