Abstract
Dopamine D
2
receptors (D
2
‐Rs) in the central nervous system are involved in the control of locomotion, cognition, emotion and neuroendocrine secretion. The intensity of cellular responses ...to specific stimuli is dependent on the concentration of dopamine or its agonist, and the availability, as well as the concentration, of all the other components of the signalling pathway in the cell, including the receptors. Many factors can influence the level of mRNA encoding the receptors. In order to study the changes in the level of expression of the D
2
‐R mRNA in the brain of female rats at different stages of the oestrous cycle, we used a quantitative
in situ
hybridization technique. Four groups of animals were analysed: rats in prooestrus (POE), oestrus (OE), dioestrus 1 (DOE1) and dioestrus 2 (DOE2). A
35
S‐labelled riboprobe was transcribed
in vitro
from the 1.5‐kb D
2
‐R cDNA. The caudate putamen of the rats, which shows the highest level of expression of D
2
‐R mRNA in the brain, was examined. The number of silver grains per cell, representing hybridization of riboprobe, and the number of cells expressing the D
2
‐R mRNA, were counted with the computer‐assisted image analysis system Lucia‐M. Our results show that the expression of the D
2
‐R mRNA in the lateral striatum varies during the oestrous cycle, with the highest expression measured during DOE2. The number of cells expressing the D
2
‐R mRNA also changes during the different phases, with the highest number being detected in OE. This indicates that during OE more cells transcribe the D
2
‐R mRNA. The results suggest that the variations in the concentration of the D
2
‐R mRNA in the caudate putamen of the rat brain at different stages of the reproductive cycle are caused by the combination of variable expression of the mRNA per cell and different number of the cells that express the mRNA.
The paper discusses the degree of normative sustainability achieved by selected regimes according to their sustainable development strategies. Focussing on Agenda 21, the Mediterranean Strategy of ...Sustainable Development, the European Union’s renewed Sustainable Development Strategy and Slovenia’s Development Strategy, the paper draws on Becker et al.’s cross-disciplinary concept of sustainability and the operationalisation of normative sustainability. On the basis of the analysis of objectives and rationales behind the investigated strategies as well as examination of the general context, the paper puts forward the differences between the examined regimes and explores the possible factors inducing them. The paper concludes with a general observation that the analyzed regimes reflect a fair degree of normative sustainability.
Dopamine D2 receptors (D2‐Rs) in the central nervous system are involved in the control of locomotion, cognition, emotion and neuroendocrine secretion. The intensity of cellular responses to specific ...stimuli is dependent on the concentration of dopamine or its agonist, and the availability, as well as the concentration, of all the other components of the signalling pathway in the cell, including the receptors. Many factors can influence the level of mRNA encoding the receptors. In order to study the changes in the level of expression of the D2‐R mRNA in the brain of female rats at different stages of the oestrous cycle, we used a quantitative in situ hybridization technique. Four groups of animals were analysed: rats in prooestrus (POE), oestrus (OE), dioestrus 1 (DOE1) and dioestrus 2 (DOE2). A 35S‐labelled riboprobe was transcribed in vitro from the 1.5‐kb D2‐R cDNA. The caudate putamen of the rats, which shows the highest level of expression of D2‐R mRNA in the brain, was examined. The number of silver grains per cell, representing hybridization of riboprobe, and the number of cells expressing the D2‐R mRNA, were counted with the computer‐assisted image analysis system Lucia‐M. Our results show that the expression of the D2‐R mRNA in the lateral striatum varies during the oestrous cycle, with the highest expression measured during DOE2. The number of cells expressing the D2‐R mRNA also changes during the different phases, with the highest number being detected in OE. This indicates that during OE more cells transcribe the D2‐R mRNA. The results suggest that the variations in the concentration of the D2‐R mRNA in the caudate putamen of the rat brain at different stages of the reproductive cycle are caused by the combination of variable expression of the mRNA per cell and different number of the cells that express the mRNA.
Formal spatial planning procedures tend to neglect the importance of socio-cultural elements that are inherently present as part of 'soft infrastructure' and are constituted from traditions, ...lifestyles, wishes, and the routines of individuals that form a local community. In contrast, the concept of cultural sustainability is closely linked with the socio-cultural heterogeneity of a local community. The inability of the formal spatial planning system in Slovenia to adequately engage with the social wishes and resistances of residents is highlighted in situations involving problematic confrontations between the members of the dominant 'common culture' and marginal groups. Two cases from Ljubljana are presented: the stigmatization of the Fužine neighbourhood and the problematic of mosque construction. The cases illustrate that the 'majority' of residents tend to perceive many subcultural representations in space as foreign, non-indigenous elements that could disrupt the everyday routine in a local community. They show how the deficiencies of the current spatial planning system in Slovenia are unable to address challenges posed by contemporary society's cultural, social, and economic transformations and can work quite the opposite way – by increasing the complexity (and level of difficulty) for possible implementation of measures supporting cultural heterogeneity in planning practice.
The article questions the ways in which the body and everyday needs of individuals become integrated into different models of socio-spatial aesthetical practices. The problematic is analyzed through ...various cases drawn from architecture and urban planning where the aesthetic structure, i.e., artistic expression predominates over the needs of individuals. In such cases the designer follows the idea: 'If the body does not correspond to the needs of architectural design, so much worse for the body'. The problem of so-called body unfitted architecture can be recognized in inappropriate residential conditions where the enforcement of specific aesthetic requirements in space can represent a huge physical and emotional stress on the residents. Such spaces often give rise to extreme and unusual life situations that require special adaptation procedures from the individuals and may provoke psychophysical changes that are reflected in experiences of pain. The article also presents the possible resistance strategies of individuals against attempts to decontextualize or standardize their residential experiences. One of the many characteristic examples of individual resistance against one-dimensional spatio-aesthetic practices is represented in individualization, i.e., the personalization of body unfitted architecture. The personalization of body unfitted architecture requires the transformation and alteration of the residential environment according to individual needs, even though this leads to the partial destruction of aesthetically unique architectural structures. Adapted from the source document.
ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH: Modern society is occupied with the problem of decreasing civic engagement-an important civic virtue. In this context, higher educational institutions are important settings ...where participation can be learned and fostered. This article seeks to emphasize the importance of spatial organisation in higher education institutions in influencing youth participation. Namely, spatial organisation can foster or hinder civic virtues, such as civic participation and interpersonal trust. In an explorative case study of two universities, the University of Ljubljana and Tokyo Metropolitan University, we wish to illustrate the importance of place in stimulating participation. In our analysis of examples of spatial organisation from the two universities, we pay special attention to the following elements: physical organisation (e.g., building design, design of public spaces) and social/functional organisation (e.g., commercial facilities, recreational facilities). The result is a set of spatial maps indicating the frequency and nature of the use of (public) spaces. To conclude, we discuss spatial characteristics in the context of the increasing consumerism and privatisation of (public) spaces within universities. // ABSTRACT IN ITALIAN: Una delle domande cruciali nella società moderna riguarda il problema della diminuzione della partecipazione civica e della partecipazione degli individui, soprattutto dei giovani. Le università sono istituzioni sociali importanti, nell'ambito delle quali gli individui possono studiare e vivere i valori civici, tra i quali c'è anche la partecipazione. Nell'articolo ci occupiamo della questione legata all'organizzazione dello spazio delle università come fattore importante che può influire sulla partecipazione dei giovani. L'organizzazione dello spazio, infatti, può aumentare o ostacolare i valori civici, quali la partecipazione e la fiducia tra le persone. Nell'articolo presentiamo la ricerca esplorativa di due studi di fattispecie, ovvero l'Università di Lubiana e l'Università di Tokio, con i quali vogliamo presentate l'importanza dello spazio per la partecipazione dei giovani. Abbiamo analizzato l'organizzazione dello spazio di ambedue le università, focalizzandoci soprattutto sull'organizzazione fisica e funzionale/sociale dello spazio. Il risultato sono mappe che mostrano la natura e la frequenza dell'utilizzo di spazi pubblici. Nel dibattito tocchiamo anche la presenza dei trend di consumo e della privatizzazione degli spazi pubblici nell'ambito delle università e riflettiamo sulle loro conseguenze per la partecipazione dei giovani.
Artistic and cultural resources are inside urban competitive schemes often regarded or exploited as a tool that could help increase the distinctiveness, uniqueness and attractiveness of global cities ...and consequently provide work for the local economic base. The article analyses whether this culture and art 'consumptive oriented approach' tends to diminish the importance of specific types of (sub)cultural resources which are on the short-term more difficult to manage or translate into economic capital. The article tries to analyse and expose the value of neglected types of artistic and (sub)cultural resources, which can on the long-term significantly influence the city development. The problematic of subcultural capital is discussed on the basis of theoretical cross-cultural comparison of artistic interventions and case study analysis of subcultural art spaces in Ljubljana. KCI Citation Count: 0
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