bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cultural Heritage Protection Issues In Leśnica, The Settlement Of Wrocław
Authors: Kononowicz Alena
Published: January 2016

Leśnica, today the settlement on the western edge of Wrocław, formerly was an independent town, located on a previously wooded area, with a linear street system. It developed in the Middle Ages around the castle and church playing a service role for the Silesian Piast court on their way to Legnica and during hunting. In the thirteenth century it received city rights, and lost them in the eighteenth century. After the Piast dynasty had died out, it was sold by John of Luxembourg, and repeatedly changed its owners. In the nineteenth century it developed thanks to the industry, tourism and a convenient railway connection to Wrocław as well as hotel and restaurant facilities. In 1928, Leśnica was incorporated into Wrocław. After the Second World War, it lost its cultural continuity. In the 1970's, middle-heigh and high prefabricated buildings were built in the vicinity of a residential district. At the end of the twentieth and early twenty-first century, local industries were liquidated, and intensive land development started, causing the systematic blurring of its small-town character and its urban space started to acquire a character of a big city. In 2004, the old part of Leśnica was entered in the Register of Monuments. Also a ring road was planned, moving the cumbersome and dangerous transit traffic away from historic Średzka Street beyond the southern border of the settlement.
Trusses Of Tensegrity Type In A Concept Of Train Station Renovation In Żary
Authors: Lechocka Paulina
Published: January 2016

The first railway station in Żary was built in 1843 in Germany. After the Second World War and years of socialism in Poland the meaning of railway decreased and its technical condition deteriorated. Now the building needs renovation and change of function. Tensegrity structures may be useful in renovation of platforms shelter. They are strut and tie construction, in which there is self-stabilization between compressed and tensioned elements. Conception of new platform shelter is based on exemplary tensegrity module consist of three struts and nine cables (called „Simplex”). Tensegrity would make railway station more modern, but not cover its original elevation.
Algorithm Of Revitalization Programme Design For Housing Estates
Authors: Ostańska Anna
Published: January 2016

Demographic problems, obsolescence of existing buildings, unstable economy, as well as misunderstanding of the mechanism that turn city quarters into areas in need for intervention result in the implementation of improvement measures that prove inadequate. The paper puts forward an algorithm of revitalization program for housing developments and presents its implementation. It also showed the effects of periodically run (10 years) three-way diagnostic tests in correlation with the concept of settlement management.
Examples Of Unusual Construction Scaffoldings Used For Renovation Works Of Historic Buildings
Authors: Robak Aleksander , Pieńko Michał , Błazik-Borowa Ewa
Published: January 2016

A few examples of scaffoldings designed, built and used in recent years in Poland have been presented here in this paper. There have been described facilities of various forms, which are surrounded by scaffoldings. This makes the design and assembly processes demand large labour input. The main focus has been set to the problems in the operation of scaffoldings used during the renovation of historic monuments. The scaffoldings used at such buildings are usually of complex and alternating geometry. In extreme cases, it is impossible to anchor the scaffolding due to the mechanical sensitivity of building facades. Other problem often affecting the operation of scaffoldings near such buildings is large inclination of roof surfaces, at which the scaffoldings are based on.
Monitoring And Strengthening Of Existing Facilities In The Neighbourhood Of In-Fill Building
Authors: Runkiewicz Leonard , Sieczkowski Jan
Published: January 2016

This paper focuses on the following issues:
- technical issues regarding the construction of infill buildings and their influence on the old neighbouring buildings,- analysis of the dangers, damages and catastrophes of old traditional buildings,- rules regarding monitoring of the technical conditions of existing old buildings,- settlements of the ground and their influence on the neighbouring buildings,- examples of the ground settlements observed during construction of infill buildings in Warsaw,- examples of strengthenings realized near brick buildings and listed buildings.
Design And Construction Problems Connected With Ensuring Even Thermal Insulation Of Single-Layer Walls
Authors: Stawiski Bohdan
Published: January 2016

The design of single-layer walls appears to be extremely simple. In the opinion of many designers, the additional insulation of tie beams and balconies continues to solve all problems. However, tests on single-layer walls show that the expressed opinion is not valid. The study quotes the results of tests on single-layer walls with strong signs of freezing. The conducted analysis of the design solution and calculation of the fRsi temperature factor on the internal surface and its comparison with fRsi determined empirically enabled reasons behind failure in the construction of the tested walls to be identified. The study presents problems connected with ensuring uniformity of the temperature field in walls, possibilities for detecting areas susceptible to the development of mold, and protection of partitions from the occurrence of this phenomenon by performing appropriate repair works preceding necessary renovations of the building which takes place after the occurrence of mold on walls and ceilings.
Long-Term Transformations Of The Karkonosze Towns - On The Example Of Karpacz
Authors: Trocka-Leszczyńska Elżbieta , Bocheński Stanisław , Piskozub Jerzy
Published: January 2016

Karkonosze Mountains localities have a long and rich history. Earlier the building development was unique atmosphere and character. We are most interested in contemporary design at the present time. Intensive construction activity is conducted hastily and ill-conceived in the last two decades. The results of this action are visible both in the perception of space and the shaping of technical infrastructure. This article asserts the validity and utility of a return to the application of the principles of the “The Charter of Sudetes” in designing the landscape by decision-makers and designers. In addition, we present guidelines for development planners for the evaluation of the potential areas of investment. The paper ends with a presentation of practical methods to improve the aesthetic reception building existing and newly designed.
Renormalized volume and the evolution of APEs
Authors: Bahuaud Eric , Mazzeo Rafe , Woolgar Eric
Published: January 2016

We study the evolution of the renormalized volume functional for even-dimensional asymptotically Poincaré-Einstein metrics (M, g) under normalized Ricci flow. In particular, we prove that

where S(g(t)) is the scalar curvature for the evolving metric g(t). This implies that if S +n(n − 1) ≥ 0 at t = 0, then RenV(Mn , g(t)) decreases monotonically. For odd-dimensional asymptotically Poincaré-Einstein metrics with vanishing obstruction tensor,we find that the conformal anomaly for these metrics is constant along the flow. We apply our results to the Hawking-Page phase transition in black hole thermodynamics.We compute renormalized volumes for the Einstein 4-metrics sharing the conformal infinity of an AdS-Schwarzschild black hole. We compare these to the free energies relative to thermal hyperbolic space, as originally computed by Hawking and Page using a different regularization technique, and find that they are equal.
Genetic Disorders Affecting Tubulin Cytoskeleton
Authors: Markova Maya D. , Chakarova Irina V. , Zhivkova Ralitsa S. , Nikolova Venera P. , Hadzhinesheva Valentina P. , Delimitreva Stefka M.
Published: January 2016

The tubulin cytoskeleton is vital for maintenance and dynamics of eukaryotic cells and molecular defects in its components can lead to serious conditions. So far, mutations in genes for alpha-, beta- and gamma-tubulin, motor proteins of the kinesin and dynein family, microtubule-associated and centrosomal proteins have been found to cause disorders in humans. Most phenotypic effects are on the nervous system, leading to abnormal brain development (e.g. lissencephaly and microcephaly) or to neurodegeneration in later life (e.g. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia). Another group of disorders include the ciliopathies, caused by defects in the axoneme. They include primary ciliary dyskinesia (immotile cilia syndrome), which is characterized by chronic respiratory infections, male infertility and randomly established left-right asymmetry. In most cases, the underlying defects are in axonemal dynein. Mutations in genes for centrosomal components have been shown to cause cortical dysplasia and dwarfism by disrupting the mitotic spindle, and some cases of infertility with maturation arrest are likely to be caused by unidentified mutations damaging the meiotic spindle. In view of these diverse phenotypes, knowledge about mutations affecting tubulin cytoskeleton becomes increasingly useful for clinical practice.
Alcohol Septal Ablation
Authors: Petrova Desislava P. , Marchev Sotir T. , Kuzmanov Boyko D.
Published: January 2016

Since 1994, alcohol septal ablation (ASA) has been used as a minimally invasive treatment of patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, resistant to conservative medical therapy. This catheter-based intervention consists of injecting absolute alcohol in a septal perforator to induce infarction of the hypertrophied septum and thus diminish the left ventricle outflow tract obstruction. This reduction of the gradient is associated with reduction of symptoms and left ventricle remodeling. The procedure was improved after the introduction of myocardial contrast echocardiography for visualization of the area at risk of infarction and reduction of the alcohol amount. Major complications of ASA are rare but centers with experience have reported conduction disorders - about 10% of patients needed permanent pacing because of complete AV block. Large randomized prospective studies have not yet compared alcohol septal ablation to the gold standard for treatment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy - surgical myomectomy.
Antihypertensive Effect Of Magnesium Sulfate (Cormagnesin®) And Its Combination With Furosemide On Conscious Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Simeonova Katerina D. , Dimitrov Krassimir D. , Danchev Nikolay D.
Published: January 2016

The present study demonstrates the antihypertensive effect of magnesium sulfate (Cormagnesin®) and its combination with Furosemide on conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) after intravenous infusion. Experiments were carried out on six groups of conscious male SHR (n=6). Under short anesthesia the rats were chronically instrumented for intravenous (i.v.) drug administration. The arterial blood pressure (AP) was measured by indirect tale method. Cormagnesin® was applied by i.v. infusion in doses of 5, 20 and 40 mg/kg; and furosemide (10 mg/kg) was applied intraperitoneally. Experimental results showed significant decrease of AP after i.v. infusion of 20 mg/kg Cormagnesin® as well as after application of the Cormagnesin® and furosemide combination. The hypotensive effects of 40 mg/kg Cormagnesin® and of furosemide were not significant. There was no significant difference between the antihypertensive effects of Cormagnesin® and its combination with furosemide but the combination showed much better hypotensive effect than Furosemide (p<0.05). Our study demonstrated the antihypertensive effect of magnesium sulfate on conscious SHR after i.v. application. Our results suggest that the antihypertensive effect of magnesium sulfate in the doses applied is not dose-dependent. Magnesium sulfate potentiates the antihypertensive effect of furosemide in SHR.
Comparative Study Of The Protective Effect Of Aronia Melanocarpa Fruit Juice And Quercetin In A Model Of Paracetamol-Induced Hepatotoxicity In Rats
Authors: Valcheva-Kuzmanova Stefka
Published: January 2016

Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice (AMFJ) is very rich in polyphenolic compounds. Quercetin is a naturally occurring flavonoid, one of AMFJ polyphenols. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of AMFJ in comparison with quercetin in a model of paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. AMFJ at doses of 2.5 and 5.0 ml/kg and quercetin at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg were administered daily orally from day 1 to day 7 to different animal groups. Paracetamol was applied intraperitoneally (1.0 g/kg) on day 5. Blood and liver ware taken for biochemical investigations on day 7. Liver toxicity was estimated by the serum activities of the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Oxidative stress was estimated by the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in liver homogenate and serum. Paracetamol caused a significant elevation of serum AST and ALT, and induced lipid peroxidation as measured by the significant increase of TBARS in serum and liver. In animals pretreated either with AMFJ or quercetin, liver enzyme activities did not differ significantly from the control levels. Both AMFJ and quercetin prevented the elevation of TBARS in the liver at the two applied doses and in the serum only at the higher of the tested doses. In the present model of paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity, the protective effect of AMFJ was comparable to that of quercetin.
SND Rs1799889(-) In The Promotor Of The Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Gene Contributes To The Risk Of DVT In Women
Authors: Komsa-Penkova Regina S. , Golemanov Georgi M. , Cankov Boris D. , Beshev Lubomir C. , Ivanov Petar D. , Tonchev Pencho T. , Andreeva Tonja D. , Todinova Svetla J.
Published: January 2016

The incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) depends on the specific genotype, inheritance of prothrombotic polymorphisms and the influence of environmental risk factors. Rs1799889(-) polymorphism in the promotor of PAI-1 gene has been described as a risk factor for hypercoagulable state. Objective: To evaluate the contribution of thrombophilic rs1799889 (-) in the promotor of PAI-1 gene on the incidence of DVT in women and men in groups below and above 45 years of age. Тhere was significantly higher rs1799889 (-) polymorphism carriage among female patients with DVT vs controls (Chi squared =5.506, OR=2.170, p=0.021) but not in male patients (Chi squared =0.090 OR=1.147, p=0.825). A significant contribution of rs1799889 (-) polymorphism to early onset of the disease was found in female patients aged 45+ and carriers of the polymorphism (Chi squared =7.476, p=0.006), but not in young women.
Penetrating Keratoplasty For Treatment Of Bullous Keratopathy
Authors: Murgova Snezhana V. , Balabanov Chavdar B.
Published: January 2016

The aim of the retrospective study was to analyze results after penetrating keratoplasties in patients with bullous keratopathy. The study included 60 patients with bullous keratopathy who underwent penetrating keratoplasty for the period 1990-2011, at the Eye Clinic of Pleven University Hospital. The average age of patients was 67 years (range 29-84 years). Additional risk factors were registered in 22.67% of the patients. Early postoperative complications occurred in 56.79%. In the early postoperative period, 81.31% of the patients had clear graft and improvement of visual acuity was achieved in 83.77%. In the late postoperative period, the graft failed in 28.95% of the patients. These results suggest that bullous keratopathy is an important complication after cataract surgery, and improvement of vision is possible only with keratoplasty.
Municipalities And Health – Citizens' Expectations About Local Health Policies
Authors: Velkova Angelika S. , Kirova Paulina H.
Published: January 2016

The aim of this study was to explore citizens' expectations about local health policies in order to create an adequate strategy. Local authorities in many countries place health in the core of their strategic planning aiming to create and improve a health-supporting social and physical environment, as they usually have primary responsibility for planning and/or delivering many of the services that are crucial to addressing the social determinants of health. Local health policies are created in consultation with local health services, NGOs and citizens. The survey was conducted among 400 citizens of Pleven Municipality. Of these, 335 (83.75%) responded to the invitation. Information on health problems and determinants of health was collected through a direct inquiry survey. The majority of citizens considered the impact of environmental, educational, cultural and economic factors as well as public security on their health. They expected that more purposeful efforts of the local authorities be directed for improving living conditions and inequalities in health. The citizens are willing to work together with municipalities to create health policies, which reduce negative factors and increase positive ones. They are aware that local policies and decisions have a very significant impact on the economic, social and environmental factors affecting health and well-being and therefore municipalities play a key role in improving and protecting the health of their citizens.
Significant Others And Social Alcohol Use In Adolescents
Authors: Chamova Galya D. , Sarov Georgi M.
Published: January 2016

The association between adolescent drinking and drinking of significant others is well known but underlying mechanisms are still not well understood. The purpose of the study was to investigate the association between social drinking in adolescents and drinking patterns of their significant others. We conducted a survey using a self-completed questionnaire on alcohol drinking habits. Of 903 students (aged 15-19), 279 (30.9%) were found to be abstainers (NDA) and 455 (50.39%) – social drinkers (SDA). These two groups were compared statistically about drinking patterns of their significant others. It was found that SDA were more likely to have fathers (OR=0.26; 95%CI=0.19-0.37), mothers (OR=0.26; 95%CI=0.19-0.37), friends (OR=0.26; 95%CI=0.19-0.37) and lovers (OR=0.26; 95%CI=0.19-0.37) that drank socially than NDA, but there were no significant differences in regular drinking of their fathers, friends and lovers. Only SDA mothers were more likely to drink regularly (OR=0.26; 95%CI=0.19-0.37). SDA were also more likely to receive alcohol offers from all their significant others, except from lovers. Social drinking in adolescence seems to be strongly socially motivated by drinking modeling and social pressure. The SDA mothers’ regular drinking is hard to explain in terms of social learning and social control theory and needs an alternative explanation.
Assessment Of Medical, Nurse And Midwife Students Of Their Training In Communication Skills
Authors: Valentinova Tsvetelina , Balashkova Magdalena I. , Nedkova-Milanova Vania M. , Gadjelova Lyubomira D.
Published: January 2016

This study aimed to investigate the opinion of students of medicine, nursing and midwifery on their training in communication skills as an optional course. The participants included in the study were 126 students altogether. Information was gathered using a self-administered questionnaire. The results showed the level of motivation to participate in the training process, the results desired and achieved by the students and their evaluation of the quality of the training. The respondents were convinced that such training would be an asset for their future work as medical professionals and they were satisfied with the quality of training.
Comparative Sociometric Profile Of Regular Alcohol Drinking Adolescents
Authors: Sarov Georgi M.
Published: January 2016

Jacob Moreno defined sociometry as “the inquiry into the evolution and organization of groups and the position of individuals within them”. Every person composes their own group of significant others and the social relations in this dominated by the person group of the most important people in their life is called sociometric profile. The sociometric profile provides an opportunity to reveal social bonds, dependences and influences that impact one's behavior. The aim of the study was to describe the sociometric profile of regularly drinking adolescents as a result from comparison with the sociometric profile of non-drinking adolescents. We conducted a survey among 903 students (aged 15-19), by means of a self-administered questionnaire about relations with father, mother, friends and lovers. Of these, 169 identified themselves as regular drinkers (RDAs) and 279 ‒ as abstainers (NDAs). We compared these groups to reveal the comparative sociometric profile of drinking adolescents. It was found that RDAs were significantly more likely to be: 1) highly dependent on their lovers (OR=1.6); 2) detached from their mothers (OR=4.55); 3) in ambivalent relations with their friends; 4) without significant differences in relations with their fathers. It seems that the Stars of RDAs are their lovers, the Isolates are their mothers and friends are their ambivalent Mutual Choice. This comparative sociogram suggests that lovers are likely to be the most influencing person among RDAs' significant others and intimate relations might be the main target in alcohol prevention programs.
Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation Of The Lung: A Case Report And Review Of The Literature
Authors: Malinova Doroteya V. , Kolova Penka L. , Radev Radoslav S.
Published: January 2016

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) is a rare abnormality of lung development. It was classified into 5 types by Stocker in 2002 and is also known under the name of congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM). Cases are typically identified prenatally by routine ultrasonography screening. CCAM may present in the older child and adult as an incidental finding. The case presented is of a 21-year-old male patient who suffered from pulmonary infections with a recurrent productive cough 3-4 times the last 4 years. CT scanning of the thorax showed multiple cystic lesions in the right middle and lower lobes. The areas with the lesions were resected. The macroscopic and histological findings were typical for congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation type 2, which was the final diagnosis. Clinical presentations and prognosis depend on the type of lesion and its sequelae. The diagnosis is confirmed histologically.
A Variation In The Origin And Course Of The Posterior Circumflex Humeral Artery And The Deep Brachial Artery: Clinical Importance Of The Variation
Authors: Iliev Alexandar A. , Mitrov Lazar G. , Georgiev Georgi P.
Published: January 2016

A case of an unusual variation of the blood supply of an upper limb is presented. During a routine anatomical dissection, it was found that the posterior circumflex humeral artery had an unusual course and branching. It arose as a branch of the brachial artery, not the axillary one, and it did not accompany the axillary nerve. It ran under the lower border of the teres major muscle instead of passing through the lateral axillary foramen, then followed its usual course around the surgical neck of the humerus, supplying the deltoid muscle. It was also found that instead of arising from the brachial artery, the deep brachial artery arose from the posterior circumflex humeral artery. Variations are reported and their clinical relevance is discussed.
Epidermoid Cyst Of Posterior Cranial Fossa Associated With Congenital Dermal Sinus Tract – A Case Report And Review Of The Literature Drinking
Authors: Malinova Doroteya V. , Kolova Penka L. , Georgiev Radoslav I.
Published: January 2016

Epidermoid cysts are benign lesions composed of ectodermal structures. They account for less than 2% of primary intracerebral tumors. They can be present at birth (congenital cysts), or can be acquired cysts (after surgery or trauma). Some cysts are asymptomatic but depending on their location, they may cause symptoms such as headache, vertigo, seizures, focal deficits, increased intracranial pressure. The major differential diagnosis of epidermoid cysts are dermoid cyst, any cystic neoplasm, craniopharyngioma, arachnoid cyst. A 39-year-old female patient with complaints of headache, vertigo, nausea and vomiting was admitted to the hospital. Radiological data suggested intracranial tumor in fossa posterior. Craniotomy was performed and the biopsy specimen demonstrated the mass lesion to be an epidermoid cyst of the intracranial dermal sinus tract. Intracranial cystic-appearing masses can be problematic for both radiologists and physicians. Important characteristics demonstrated by computed tomography scans and classical magnetic resonance imaging sequences are significant for the accurate diagnosis, but the imaging appearances of intracranial cystic lesions are sometimes nonspecific, and the diagnosis is usually established by histological examination.
Conceptual Interview: Peculiarities of the Genre and The Journalist’s Work Methods
Authors: Matskevich Tetiana
Published: January 2016

Peculiarities of conceptual interview as a genre of universal publicism, the journalist’s work methods and conditions that enable a complete realization of the genre are analyzed in the article
NEOCOLONIAL SUBTEXT IN WESTERN MEDIA COVERAGE OF UKRAINIAN CRISIS
Authors: Lazurkevych Iryna
Published: January 2016

The article examines one of the key factors of modern European philosophy and outlook - neocolonialistic and orientalistic mentality of nowadays Europe and its impact on the informatioanal sphere and the character of inernational relations. Neocolonialism and orientalism are, thus, studied in the context of the analysis of western media coverage of Ukrainian crisis which occasionaly appears to be stereotyped and deeply engaged.
THE PHILOSOPHER IN THE NEWSPAPER: SERHIY KRYMSKY AS A PUBLIC INTELLECTUAL
Authors: Melnyk Andriy
Published: January 2016

Interactions of philosophical and journalistic spheres, mediatization of philosophy are main problems of this article. Author considers public philosophy of contemporary Ukrainian philosopher Serhiy Krymsky and determines a role of philosophical journalism in modern media discourse.
THE WORD THAT ENSLAVES OR THE WORD THAT LIBERATES?
Authors: Los Josyp
Published: January 2016

Onthebasisofsummarizingtheexperienceofglobaljournalismauthorraisestheproblemof using of the Word to determine meanings of life, improvement of human, ensuring productive relations between nations and civilizations.
EVENTS AT MAIDAN NEZALEZHNOSTI OF UKRAINE IN AUTUMN 2013 – WINTER 2014 (IN VIEW OF DIFFERENT UKRAINIAN AND RUSSIAN PRINTED MEDIA)
Authors: Vakulych Volodymyr , Sharov Igor
Published: January 2016

The article deals with some peculiarities of highlighting sociopolitical events in Ukraine in autumn 2013 and in winter 2014 by some leading Ukrainian and Russian printed mass media and their personal attitude concerning the course of these events. Sociopolitical situation that was created in Ukraine at the end of 2013 proved that sizable gap between the public and power holders’ conscience, progress and regression. The discrepancies in the future vision of geopolitical location of Ukraine led to the mass protests that started in November 2013. The events that took place in the night from 29th to 30th of November and during January - February 2014 made the front page of all mass media, both Ukrainian and foreign, and those of the Russian Federation in particular. Great attention to highlighting the Ukrainian events during autumn 2013 and winter 2014 was paid by the journalists of the leading media, such as P. Beba, K. Matsehora, Y. Medunitsia, V. Protsyshyn – reporters of the central Executive body newspaper “Uriadovyi Kurier” (translated as “the governmental messenger”); O. Kucheriava, S. Lavreniuk – the newspaper of Verkhovna Rada “Holos Ukrainy” (translated as “the voice of Ukraine”); E. tor ofHaladzhyi, D. Deriy, O. Dubovyk – the Ukrainian Russian-language newspaper “Komsomolskaya Pravda v Ukraini” (translated as “the komsomol truth in Ukraine”); P. Dulman, E. Hrushyn – the Russian language newspaper “Rossiyskaya Gazeta” (translated as “the Russian gazette”); A. Zakharova – the Ukrainian Russianlanguage newspaper “Segodnia” (translated as “today”). At the same time the events related to the sociopolitical protests that were covered in all mass media had some tonal marking: positive to the authority, negative to the authority, negative to the opposition, reserved to the opposition, negative to MIA (Ministry of Internal Affairs), positive to MIA, negative and positive to the participants of the mass protests, neutral, etc.
Recurrent Processing in the Formation of Shape Percepts
Authors: Drewes Jan , Goren Galina , Zhu Weina , Elder James H.
Published: January 2016

The human visual system must extract reliable object information from cluttered visual scenes several times per second, and this temporal constraint has been taken as evidence that the underlying cortical processing must be strictly feedforward. Here we use a novel rapid reinforcement paradigm to probe the temporal dynamics of the neural circuit underlying rapid object shape perception and thus test this feedforward assumption. Our results show that two shape stimuli are optimally reinforcing when separated in time by ∼60 ms, suggesting an underlying recurrent circuit with a time constant (feedforward + feedback) of 60 ms. A control experiment demonstrates that this is not an attentional cueing effect. Instead, it appears to reflect the time course of feedback processing underlying the rapid perceptual organization of shape.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTHuman and nonhuman primates can spot an animal shape in complex natural scenes with striking speed, and this has been taken as evidence that the underlying cortical mechanisms are strictly feedforward. Using a novel paradigm to probe the dynamics of shape perception, we find that two shape stimuli are optimally reinforcing when separated in time by 60 ms, suggesting a fast but recurrent neural circuit. This work (1) introduces a novel method for probing the temporal dynamics of cortical circuits underlying perception, (2) provides direct evidence against the feedforward assumption for rapid shape perception, and (3) yields insight into the role of feedback connections in the object pathway.
Optogenetic Activation of Dorsal Raphe Serotonin Neurons Rapidly Inhibits Spontaneous But Not Odor-Evoked Activity in Olfactory Cortex
Authors: Lottem Eran , Lörincz Magor L. , Mainen Zachary F.
Published: January 2016

Serotonin (5-hydroxytriptamine; 5-HT) is implicated in a variety of brain functions including not only the regulation of mood and control of behavior but also the modulation of perception. 5-HT neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) often fire locked to sensory stimuli, but little is known about how 5-HT affects sensory processing, especially on this timescale. Here, we used an optogenetic approach to study the effect of 5-HT on single-unit activity in the mouse primary olfactory (anterior piriform) cortex. We show that activation of DRN 5-HT neurons rapidly inhibits the spontaneous firing of olfactory cortical neurons, acting in a divisive manner, but entirely spares sensory-driven firing. These results identify a new role for serotonergic modulation in dynamically regulating the balance between different sources of neural activity in sensory systems, suggesting a possible role for 5-HT in perceptual inference.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTSerotonin is implicated in a wide variety of (pato)physiological functions including perception, but its precise role has remained elusive. Here, using optogenetic toolsin vivo, we show that serotonergic neuromodulation prominently inhibits the spontaneous electrical activity of neurons in the primary olfactory cortex on a rapid (<1 s) timescale but leaves sensory responses unaffected. These results identify a new role for serotonergic modulation in rapidly changing the balance between different sources of neural activity in sensory systems.
Behavioral Evidence for More than One Taste Signaling Pathway for Sugars in Rats
Authors: Schier Lindsey A. , Spector Alan C.
Published: January 2016

By conventional behavioral measures, rodents respond to natural sugars, such as glucose and fructose, as though they elicit an identical perceptual taste quality. Beyond that, the metabolic and sensory effects of these two sugars are quite different. Considering the capacity to immediately respond to the more metabolically expedient sugar, glucose, would seem advantageous for energy intake, the present experiment assessed whether experience consuming these two sugars would modify taste-guided ingestive responses to their yet unknown distinguishing orosensory properties. One group (GvF) had randomized access to three concentrations of glucose and fructose (0.316, 0.56, 1.1m) in separate 30-min single access training sessions, whereas control groups received equivalent exposure to the three glucose or fructose concentrations only, or remained sugar naive. Comparison of the microstructural licking patterns for the two sugars revealed that GvF responded more positively to glucose (increased total intake, increased burst size, decreased number of pauses), relative to fructose, across training. As training progressed, GvF rats began to respond more positively to glucose in the first minute of the session when intake is principally taste-driven. During post-training brief-access taste tests, GvF rats licked more for glucose than for fructose, whereas the other training groups did not respond differentially to the two sugars. Additional brief access testing showed that this did not generalize to Na-saccharin or galactose. Thus, in addition to eliciting a common taste signal, glucose and fructose produce distinct signals that are apparently rendered behaviorally relevant and hedonically distinct through experience. The taste pathway(s) underlying this remain to be identified.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe T1R2+T1R3 heterodimer is thought by many to be the only taste receptor for sugars. Although most sugars have been conventionally shown to correspondingly produce a unitary taste percept (sweet), there is reason to question this model. Here, we demonstrate that rats that repeatedly consumed two metabolically distinct sugars (glucose and fructose), and thus have had the opportunity to associate the tastes of these sugars with their differential postoral consequences, initially respond identically to the orosensory properties of the two sugars but eventually respond more positively to glucose. Thus, in addition to the previously identified common taste pathway, glucose and fructose must engage distinct orosensory pathways, the underlying molecular and neural mechanisms of which now await discovery.
Cocaine Self-Administration Experience Induces Pathological Phasic Accumbens Dopamine Signals and Abnormal Incentive Behaviors in Drug-Abstinent Rats
Authors: Saddoris Michael P. , Wang Xuefei , Sugam Jonathan A. , Carelli Regina M.
Published: January 2016

Chronic exposure to drugs of abuse is linked to long-lasting alterations in the function of limbic system structures, including the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Although cocaine acts via dopaminergic mechanisms within the NAc, less is known about whether phasic dopamine (DA) signaling in the NAc is altered in animals with cocaine self-administration experience or if these animals learn and interact normally with stimuli in their environment. Here, separate groups of rats self-administered either intravenous cocaine or water to a receptacle (controls), followed by 30 d of enforced abstinence. Next, all rats learned an appetitive Pavlovian discrimination and voltammetric recordings of real-time DA release were taken in either the NAc core or shell of cocaine and control subjects. Cocaine experience differentially impaired DA signaling in the core and shell relative to controls. Although phasic DA signals in the shell were essentially abolished for all stimuli, in the core, DA did not distinguish between cues and was abnormally biased toward reward delivery. Further, cocaine rats were unable to learn higher-order associations and even altered simple conditioned approach behaviors, displaying enhanced preoccupation with cue-associated stimuli (sign-tracking; ST) but diminished time at the food cup awaiting reward delivery (goal-tracking). Critically, whereas control DA signaling correlated with ST behaviors, cocaine experience abolished this relationship. These findings show that cocaine has persistent, differential, and pathological effects on both DA signaling and DA-dependent behaviors and suggest that psychostimulant experience may remodel the very circuits that bias organisms toward repeated relapse.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTRelapsing to drug abuse despite periods of abstinence and sincere attempts to quit is one of the most pernicious facets of addiction. Unfortunately, little is known about how the dopamine (DA) system functions after periods of drug abstinence, particularly its role in behavior in nondrug situations. Here, rats learned about food-paired stimuli after prolonged abstinence from cocaine self-administration. Using voltammetry, we found that real-time DA signals in cocaine-experienced rats were strikingly altered relative to controls. Further, cocaine-experienced animals found reward-predictive stimuli abnormally salient and spent more time interacting with cues. Therefore, cocaine induces neuroplastic changes in the DA system that biases animals toward salient stimuli (including reward-associated cues), putting addicts at increasing risk to relapse as addiction increases in severity.
Medicine: the Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Bolick Maria L.
Published: January 2016

Medicine had its beginnings when one savage a little more intelligent than his fellows discovered that a certain condition or a certain manipulation reduced a fracture or dislocation. The past of medicine is the incubus that weighs down and blocks the wheels of progress in the present. The medical profession is ever looking back; is ever seeking for precedent and authority; and is ever measuring the present by the rules of departed centuries. The older practice of medicine was wholly empirical, though theories were formed to suit the apparent results. The present is emphatically the age of progress, and in no department of thought or industry is it more marked than in medicine. The future of medicine will be all that its most People have ever dreamed, "when medicine will be administered with results quite as certain as are ever attained by man." There is a huge difference between past present and future medicines. Traditional is a term used for all different types of unscientific knowledge systems used within various societies ever since the dawning of mankind. The most important difference between the modern and the traditional medicine and the future medicine is the way they observe both the health and the diseases. Technologies are evolved so fast and it is a true fact that the future medicine will revolutionized the modern medicine and will be more efficient than traditional and the present medicine practices.
La Salmonelosis como Factor de Riesgo de Mortinatalidad en Cuyes
Authors: Ortega O. Gabriela , Jiménez A. Ronald , Ara G. Miguel , Morales C. Siever
Published: January 2016

Se evaluó la asociación entre casos positivos a aislamiento de Salmonella sp a partir de hisopados vaginales dentro de las 24 horas del parto y la mortinatalidad en una granja de cuyes en Huancayo, Perú. Se trabajó con 258 cuyes siguiendo un diseño de Caso-Control, pareando el tamaño de camada y utilizando como covariables al número de parto y el galpón de procedencia de la reproductora. En el grupo de ‘Caso’, se incluyeron hembras en cuyo parto hubo por lo menos un mortinato y en el ‘Control’ hembras con toda la camada viva. El 8.5% de las reproductoras en el grupo de ‘Caso’ resultaron positivas a Salmonella sp, y mediante el análisis de regresión logística se estimó una Odds Ratio de 4.32 (95% de intervalo de confianza, p<0.05) de los casos positivos respecto a los controles. Por otro lado, la causa de muerte en el 91.5% (118/129) de hembras con mortinatos se debería a otras causas infeccionas o a causas no infecciosas. Los resultados indican que la salmonelosis debe ser considerada como una de las causas de mortinatalidad en cuyes.
Parásitos y Lesiones Histopatológicas en Branquias de Gamitana (Colossoma macropomum) Juveniles bajo Crianza Semiintensiva
Authors: Vargas L Mario , Sandoval C. Nieves , Casas A. Eva , Pizango P. Gloria , Manchego S. Alberto
Published: January 2016

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar el tipo y frecuencia de parásitos en branquias de gamitana (Colossoma macropomum) y describir las lesiones histopatológicas asociadas a su presencia. Se trabajó con 30 gamitanas juveniles, tomadas al azar de una piscigranja en Iquitos, Perú. Los arcos branquiales del lado izquierdo fueron colocados en placas Petri con agua destilada para la observación de la presencia de parásitos y los del lado derecho se fijaron en formol al 5% para el estudio histopatológico. Asimismo, se determinó la calidad del agua del estanque. Se identificaron tres tipos de ectoparásitos: monogeneos, pertenecientes a la familia Dactylogyridae, Subfamilias Anacanthorinae y Ancyrocephalinae (100%, 30/30), una especie de protozoo de la Familia Oodinidae, género Piscinoodinium (36.7%, 11/30) y un artrópodo de la Clase Maxillopoda, Subclase Copepoda (20%, 6/30). Dentro de las lesiones histopatológicas se observaron trastornos inflamatorios como presencia de células granulares eosinofílicas (100%) y trastornos de adaptación como hiperplasia del epitelio (96.7%), fusión lamelar (80%) y atrofia lamelar (60%). Asimismo, el oxígeno disuelto estaba en niveles cercanos a los letales, el pH correspondía a un medio ácido y los valores de CO2 se encontraban fuera de los rangos esperados.
‘The Fools Argue about Flesh and Meat’
Authors: Nesbitt Eleanor
Published: January 2016

Starting from recent UK media reports relating to Sikhs and vegetarianism, this article examines practice in the langar (gurdwaras’ free food provision) before exploring earlier Sikh tradition (the scriptures, stories of the Gurus, and disciplinary codes) for religious guidance on meat-consumption. Contrary to some contemporary Sikh leaders’ emphasis on vegetarianism, these older sources do not provide a consistently clear prohibition of meat-eating. Committed (Khalsa) Sikhs today belong to, or are at least influenced by, groupings such as the Akhand Kirtani Jatha and Damdami Taksal, each with its own code of practice. This article on the one hand suggests that Indic values and norms provide a relevant context to Sikh emphases on vegetarianism; on the other, it describes Sikhs’ dismay that one of the UK’s responses to meat provision in a religiously plural society directly conflicts with their code of conduct. The need for further ethnographic study is highlighted.
Indian Soldiers on the Western Front
Authors: Robinson Catherine Anne
Published: January 2016

This article illustrates the role of religion in the Indian Army of the Great War. It demonstrates the importance of religion in the martial race ideology that set forth British views on eligibility for military recruitment. It explains how an interpretation of the origins of the Mutiny underwrote preference for those peoples regarded as being less religious but made it necessary to enable soldiers to practise their faiths, even informing the conception of these races in British thinking. It also discusses what this meant in practice for Indian soldiers fighting on the Western Front and then for casualties taken to the Pavilion Hospital. It focuses upon the special arrangements made by the military authorities to satisfy the soldiers’ religious requirements as the British understood them, ranging from places of worship to diet, caste and funeral rites. Finally, it argues that martial race ideology, not excluding religious issues, continues to exercise an influence in contemporary Britain.
The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, by Robert E. Buswell, Jr and Donald S. Lopez, Jr
Authors: Forsthoefel Thomas A.
Published: January 2016

The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, by Robert E. Buswell, Jr and Donald S. Lopez, Jr. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2014. xxxii + 1265 pp. $65.00. ISBN 978-0-69115-786-3 (hardback).
Pool of Life: The Autobiography of a Punjabi Agony Aunt, by Kailash Puri and Eleanor Nesbitt
Authors: Newcombe Suzanne
Published: January 2016

Pool of Life: The Autobiography of a Punjabi Agony Aunt, by Kailash Puri and Eleanor Nesbitt. Brighton: Sussex Academic Press, 2013. xix + 187 pp. £19.95. ISBN 978-1-84519-602-8 (paperback).
The Modern Spirit of Asia: The Spiritual and Secular in China and India, by Peter van der Veer
Authors: Theodor Ithamar
Published: January 2016

The Modern Spirit of Asia: The Spiritual and Secular in China and India, by Peter van der Veer. Princeton, NJ and Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2014. xi + 282 pp. £52.00. ISBN 978-0-691-12814-6 (hardback). £16.95. ISBN 978-0-691-12815-3 (paperback).
The Truth Within: A History of Inwardness in Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism, by Gavin Flood
Authors: Charet F.X.
Published: January 2016

The Truth Within: A History of Inwardness in Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism, by Gavin Flood. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. xviii + 310 pp. £65.00. ISBN 978-0-19968-456-4 (hardback).
Becoming Buddhist: Experiences of Socialization and Self-Transformation in Two Australian Buddhist Centres, by Glenys Eddy
Authors: Talbott Chris
Published: January 2016

Becoming Buddhist: Experiences of Socialization and Self-Transformation in Two Australian Buddhist Centres, by Glenys Eddy. London and New York: Continuum, 2012. xiii + 209 pp. $130. ISBN 978-1-44111-846-2 (hardback).
Vedic Sacrifice and the Pentadic Theory of Indo-European Ideology
Authors: Allen Nick
Published: January 2016

If the Sanskrit language derives from the unattested but reconstructable proto-Indo-European language, ideas expressed in Sanskrit might derive from a reconstructable proto-Indo-European ideology. In fact, a body of comparative work on material from various regions of the ancient Indo-European-speaking world suggests that such a proto-ideology once existed, and that it survived long enough to leave significant traces in the historical sources. Traces of a pentadic ideology, one based on five 'supercategories', have been recognized in many areas of Sanskritic culture, including the varna schema, Samkhya and Yoga philosophies, and the plot, heroes and gods of the Mahabharata. The present article extends the search for pentadic patterns into Vedic ritual (referring mainly to the Satapatha Brahmana). In doing so it explores the agents (both human and non-human) that participate in a sacrifice, the classification of offerings, and the layout of the sacrificial ground (both the smaller standard one and the larger uttaravedi). The aim is at the same time to contribute to understandings of the history of the Hindu tradition and to strengthen the hypothesis of an Indo-European pentadic ideology.