The Influence of Whiteness on Social and Professional Integration: The Case of Highly Skilled Europeans in Japan

Miladinovic, Adrijana World Association for Triple Helix and Future Stra 2020 Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia Vol.19 No.2

Spurred by the ongoing globalization, an increase in mobility has diversified migrant categories and strengthened intercultural rapport. Alongside the "traditional" migrants, "White" (Caucasian) individuals are coming into greater focus of migration studies as "lifestyle migrants". Although White migrations are not a new phenomenon, the deep-seated idea of White supremacy continues to play an important role in contemporary intercultural communication, awarding Whites across communities a "cosmopolitan" status of highly educated cultural elites. As such, the focus of this research is on highly skilled White European migrants, on their subjective experiences of integration in Japan, and whether they perceive Whiteness as an obstacle or an advantage in this process, if integration is desired at all. To discern the connection between race and integration, this research investigates the non-White majority society of Japan as it has established racial hierarchies according to the Western models, consequently influencing the status of its contemporary White immigrants. Privileged, yet singled out as racial and cultural role models, White Europeans' integration seemingly becomes nearly impossible. The data obtained in fifteen semi-structured interviews confirms that Whiteness grants advantages when entering the Japanese job market, but remains an obstacle in everyday community integration. European professionals do not feel accepted and abandon efforts to integrate, if such were made, retreating into "cosmopolitan islets" wherein they renegotiate their White European identities.

SINGULAR CASE OF GENERALIZED FIBONACCI AND LUCAS MATRICES

Miladinovic, Marko,Stanimirovic, Predrag Korean Mathematical Society 2011 대한수학회지 Vol.48 No.1

The notion of the generalized Fibonacci matrix $\mathcal{F}_n^{(a,b,s)}$ of type s, whose nonzero elements are generalized Fibonacci numbers, is introduced in the paper [23]. Regular case s = 0 is investigated in [23]. In the present article we consider singular case s = -1. Pseudoinverse of the generalized Fibonacci matrix $\mathcal{F}_n^{(a,b,-1)}$ is derived. Correlations between the matrix $\mathcal{F}_n^{(a,b,-1)}$ and the Pascal matrices are considered. Some combinatorial identities involving generalized Fibonacci numbers are derived. A class of test matrices for computing the Moore-Penrose inverse is presented in the last section.

SINGULAR CASE OF GENERALIZED FIBONACCI AND LUCAS MATRICES

Marko Miladinovic,Predrag Stanimirovi 대한수학회 2011 대한수학회지 Vol.48 No.1

The notion of the generalized Fibonacci matrix <수식> of type s, whose nonzero elements are generalized Fibonacci numbers, is introduced in the paper [23]. Regular case s = 0 is investigated in [23]. In the present article we consider singular case s = -1. Pseudoinverse of the generalized Fibonacci matrix <수식> is derived. Correlations between the matrix <수식> and the Pascal matrices are considered. Some combinatorial identities involving generalized Fibonacci numbers are derived. A class of test matrices for computing the Moore-Penrose inverse is presented in the last section. The notion of the generalized Fibonacci matrix <수식> of type s, whose nonzero elements are generalized Fibonacci numbers, is introduced in the paper [23]. Regular case s = 0 is investigated in [23]. In the present article we consider singular case s = -1. Pseudoinverse of the generalized Fibonacci matrix <수식> is derived. Correlations between the matrix <수식> and the Pascal matrices are considered. Some combinatorial identities involving generalized Fibonacci numbers are derived. A class of test matrices for computing the Moore-Penrose inverse is presented in the last section.

Antibacterial Investigation of Thyme Essential Oil and Its Main Constituents in Combination with Tetracycline

Dragoljub L. Miladinovic,Budimir S. Ilic,Branislava D. Kocic,Vojislav M. C ´ iric,Dejan M. Nikolic 한국식품영양과학회 2015 Journal of medicinal food Vol.18 No.8

The chemical composition and antibacterial activity of Thymus glabrescens Willd. (thyme) essential oil were examined, as well as its association with tetracycline. The antibacterial activities of geraniol and thymol, the main constituents of T. glabrescens oil, were also determined. Gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry were used to analyze the chemical composition of the oil. The antibacterial activities of the oil, geraniol, and thymol were investigated by the broth microdilution method. The interactions of the essential oil, geraniol, and thymol with tetracycline, toward five selected strains, were evaluated using the microdilution checkerboard assay. Oxygenated monoterpenes were the most abundant compound class in the oil (57.14%), with geraniol (22.33%) as the major compound. The essential oil exhibited in vitro antibacterial activity against all tested bacterial strains. The combinations, essential oil–tetracycline and thymol–tetracycline, produced synergistic interaction to a greater extent compared with geraniol–tetracycline association. All synergistic combinations reduced the minimum effective dose of the antibiotic and, consequently, minimized its adverse side effects.

Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Properties of Colored Soybean Seeds from Central Europe

Djordje Malencic,Jelena Cvejic,Jegor Miladinovic 한국식품영양과학회 2012 Journal of medicinal food Vol.15 No.1

The antioxidant activity and contents of various polyphenol classes in the seeds of seven soybean varieties of different seed color and one yellow seed cultivar, representing a reference genotype, were evaluated. Total polyphenols and tannins were determined after extraction of plant material with 70% aqueous acetone, and total flavonoids were extracted with methanol and acetic acid, whereas anthocyanins were extracted with 20% aqueous ethanol. In addition, isoflavone content and composition were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Antioxidant activity of seed extracts was evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity assay. A positive linear correlation between antioxidant activity and contents of total polyphenols and anthocyanins was established. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in the extracts of black and brown varieties, which also showed high levels of all polyphenol classes examined. Yellow seed had the highest total isoflavone content (3.62 mg/g of dry material). The highest concentration of total daidzein was determined in black seeds ( > 2.0 mg/g of dry material), and the highest total glycitein and genistein contents occurred in the yellow cultivar (0.53 and 1.49 mg/g of dry material, respectively). According to our results,varieties of black and brown seeds could be of special interest not only for their large content of total polyphenols, ranging from 4.94 to 6.22mg of gallic acid equivalents/g of dry material, but also for their high content of natural antioxidants such as anthocyanins.

Isoflavone Composition, Total Polyphenolic Content, and Antioxidant Activity in Soybeans of Different Origin

Vesna Tepavčević,Milica Atanackovic,Jegor Miladinovic,Djordje Malencˇic,Jovan Popovic,Jelena Cvejic 한국식품영양과학회 2010 Journal of medicinal food Vol.13 No.3

Twenty soybean cultivars, originating from the United States, Russia, Serbia, and China, were analyzed for their isoflavone composition, total polyphenolic content, and antioxidant activity. Isoflavones were extracted by aqueous methanol (80%) and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography/diode array detection. Precision and linearity of the applied method were within the standard limits of validation. The highest and the lowest total isoflavone contents were 4.59 and 1.45mg/g of dried soybean weight, respectively. A significant difference (P<.05) was found in isoflavone concentration among the different cultivars, but it was observed that origin is not a significant factor that could influence isoflavone content in soybeans. Total polyphenolic content varied between 2.13 and 3.45mg of gallic acid equivalents/g of dried soybean weight. The free radical scavenging activity of soybean extracts assayed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl in terms of 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranged from 1.40 to 3.35mg/mL. Negative correlation between total polyphenolic content and IC50 was observed, but there was no correlation between total isoflavone content and IC50. On the basis of this study, soybean cultivars with larger potency for biological activity could be recognized.

Botox combined with myofascial release physical therapy as a treatment for myofascial pelvic pain

Gabriela E. Halder,Lauren Scott,Allison Wyman,Nelsi Mora,Branko Miladinovic,Renee Bassaly,Lennox Hoyte 대한비뇨의학회 2017 Investigative and Clinical Urology Vol.58 No.2

Purpose: To report the effects of combined onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injections and myofascial release physical therapy on myofascial pelvic pain (MFPP) by comparing pre- and posttreatment average pelvic pain scores, trigger points, and patient self-reported pelvic pain. Secondary outcomes were to examine posttreatment complications and determine demographic differences between patients with/without an improvement in pain. Materials and Methods: This was an Institutional Review Board approved retrospective case series on women over 18 years with MFPP who received Botox and physical therapy between July 2006 and November 2014. Presence of trigger points and pelvic pain scores were determined by digital palpation of the iliococcygeus, puborectalis, obturator internus, and rectus muscles. Average pelvic pain scores (0–10) reflected an average of the scores obtained from palpation of each muscle. Self-reported improvement in pain was recorded as yes/no. Results: Fifty women met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Posttreatment, patients had lower average pelvic pain scores (3.7±4.0 vs. 6.4±1.8, p=0.005), and fewer trigger points (44% vs. 100%, p<0.001). Fifty-eight percent of patients (95% confidence interval, 44–72) noted an improvement in self-reported pain. Patients most likely to report no improvement in pain had chronic bowel disorders, while those most likely to report an improvement in pain had a history of past incontinence sling (p=0.03). Posttreatment complications included: constipation (8%), worsening urinary retention (2%), and urinary tract infection (4%). Conclusions: Botox combined with soft tissue myofascial release physical therapy under anesthesia can be effective in treating women with chronic pelvic pain secondary to MFPP.

Radioactivity of biological samples of patients treated with 90Y-DOTATOC

Jeremic Marija Z.,Matovic Milovan D.,Mijatovic Nenad R.,Pantovic Suzana B.,Krstic Dragana Z.,Miladinovic Tatjana B.,Nikezic Dragoslav R. 한국원자력학회 2023 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.55 No.10

Dosimetric studies in Nuclear Medicine are very important, especially with new therapeutic methods, the number of which has increased significantly with the Theranostic approach (determining diagnostictherapeutic pairs where similar molecules are labelled with different isotopes in order to diagnose and treat malignant diseases). Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) has been used successfully for many years to treat neuroendocrine tumors (NET). 90Y-DOTATOC is one of the radiopharmaceuticals used frequently in this type of therapy. In this work, blood and urine samples from 13 patients treated with 90Y-DOTATOC were measured by a liquid scintillation beta counter (LSC). Calibration of the beta counter for this type of measurement was done and all results are presented in the paper. The presented paper also provides a methodology for determining the measurement uncertainty for this type of measurement. Immediately after the administration of radiopharmaceuticals, the activity in the blood was different from 6.31% to 88.9% of the applied radioactivity, while 3 h after the termination of the application, the average value of radiopharmaceuticals in the blood was only 3.84%. The activity in the excreted urine depended on the time when the patients urinated after the therapy. It was measured that as much as 58% of the applied radioactivity was excreted in the first urine after the therapy in a patient who urinated 4.5 h after the completed application of the therapy. In most patients, the highest urine activity was in the first 10 h after the application, while the activities after that time were negligibly low. The described methodology of measuring and evaluating activity in blood and excreted urine can be applied to other radiopharmaceuticals used in nuclear medicine. It could be useful for researchers for dosimetric assessments in clinical application of PRRT

Epidemiology of Pancreatic Cancer in Vojvodina Province in Serbia

Smiljana, Rajcevic,Mikov, Marica Miladinov,Petrovic, Vasa,Jasna, Trifunovic,Tihomir, Dugandzija,Milanka, Tatic Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.24

Purpose: Analysis of descriptive epidemiological characteristics of pancreatic cancer in Vojvodina, Serbia. Materials and Methods: The study covers population of Vojvodina in the period from 2000 to 2009. The method used for data processing was the descriptive. The data, referring to a specified period of time, were analyzed from chronological and demographic aspects and according to histological diagnosis. Results: In the period from 2000 to 2009, there were 2,108 registered cases of pancreatic cancer of which 1,886 had a fatal outcome. Standardized incidence rates varied between 5.7 and 9.1 per 100,000 population in males and between 4.2 and 5.3 in females. Linear incidence trends in males in the specified period of time, based on crude (r=0.7883, p<0.05) and standardized (r=0,6373, p<0,05) incidence rates, demonstrated increase. Annual percent increase in the crude incidence rate was 4.5% in males, and 2.8% in females. Age-standardized mortality rates varied between 5.2 and 7.5 per 100,000 population in males and 3.6 and 4.7 in females. Linear mortality trends in males in the specified period of time, based on crude (r=0.8795, p<0.05) and standardized (r=0.7669, p<0.05) mortality rates, also demonstrated annual percent increase. Conclusions: Data analysis shows unfavorable onco-epidemiological situation related to pancreatic cancer in Vojvodina, in aspects of both incidence and mortality. Absence of primary and secondary prevention does not allow medical institutions to successfully fight against this disease.

Information Sources for Serbian Women on Cervical Carcinoma Risk Factors

Dugandzija, Tihomir,Mikov, Marica Miladinov,Rajcevic, Smiljana,Kacavenda, Dragana,Malenkovic, Goran,Ristic, Mioljub Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.6

Background: The epidemiological situation regarding cervical carcinoma in Serbia is rather unfavorable and one of contributing factors is the insufficient interest of women concerning the risk factors responsible for occurrence of this disease. The aim of this study was to determine the sources of relevant information for women Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was used for questioning of patients, students and women undergoing systematic examinations. There were 600 women in total in 2006, 2009 and 2010, and the data were statistically processed by the ${\chi}^2$ test with Yates correction and the Fisher test. Results: When observed for certain groups of tested women, and summed up for all three periods, there was a statistically significant difference for the answer "without any knowledge" (p=0.0001). When observed for certain years and summed up for all three tested groups, there was a statistically significant difference in answers regarding the source of information, the "doctor" (p=0.0011), "media" (p=0.0349) and "encyclopedia-internet" (p=0.0136). Conclusion: The media are a dominant source of information for women on risk factors for cervical cancer. The significance of the Internet increased during the three observed periods, while the students considered themselves least informed of all concerning risk factors.