Introduction to Fucking Solidarity: Queering Concepts on/from a Post-Soviet Perspective

This article introduces some of the questions, activist and theoretical concepts featured in the special issue “Fucking solidarity: Queering Concepts on/from a post-Soviet Perspective”. It reflects on the usage and applicability of the term queer and queer concepts within post-Soviet and postsocialist spaces, by playfully using the “fucking” as critical term, to emphasize queer’s original potential to offend and disrupt within English language. It reflects on the possibilities of queer and feminist solidarities across the East/West divide that do not fall into the trap of (Western) hegemony or anti-Western sentiments. Framing queer solidarity as “working together,” it looks for the possibilities of egalitarian mutual support across national and cultural borders. Finally, it gives an overview of the texts collected in the special issue.

Invalidation of the Transcriptional Modulator of Lipid Metabolism PPARβ/δ in T Cells Prevents Age-Related Alteration of Body Composition and Loss of Endurance Capacity

Anti-inflammatory regulatory T cells (Tregs) are the most metabolically flexible CD4+ T cells by using both glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation (FAO) which allow them to migrate in tissues. With aging, Tregs accumulate in secondary lymphoid organs and are involved in impairment of skeletal muscle (SKM) regeneration and mass maintenance. In this study, we showed that a deletion of a FAO modulator, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor beta/delta (PPARβ/δ), specifically in T cells (KO-T PPARβ/δ), increased the number of CD4+ T cells at day 2 following a cardiotoxin-induced SKM regeneration. Older KO-T PPARβ/δ mice maintained a Tregs prevalence in lymph nodes similar to young mice. Surprisingly, KO-T PPARβ/δ mice were protected from the effects of age on lean and fat mass and endurance capacity. Our results lead us to propose an original potential role of T cell metabolism in the effects of aging on the maintenance of body composition and endurance capacity.

Good news for dematel users: the original potential of the method is still awaiting full exploitation

DEMATEL technique is almost 50 years old. A long history of its application to solve diverse problems from different fields has provided diverse improvements to the technique to make it even more powerful. It nevertheless seems that some original merits of the technique were accidentally lost, as well. The merits proved to be very useful for a complex and comprehensive research made by DEMATEL inventors. So, it seems that they could also prove useful for contemporary researchers. This why an effort is made in the paper to recall and describe these merits and assess their usefulness for supporting a comprehensive decision analysis today.

Analysis of the Potential for a Hillside Collapse for a Community in Changhua County, Taiwan

To create communities that are resistant to disasters, public disaster prevention and response must be reinforced by promoting disaster prevention and knowledge and technology to ensure an adequate response through public participation. Promoting disaster prevention measures reduces the number of factors in communities that pertain to disasters. Changhua County contains 589 villages, 81 of which are prone to hillsides (including protected forest). In addition to original potential debris flow torrent communities, disaster-resistant communities have been established under the guidance of Soil and Water Conservation Bureau (SWCB), Council of Agriculture in Taiwan; Changhua County Government also plans to establish disaster-resistant communities in other hillside communities. This study proposes an expert questionnaire to determine the potential for a hillside disaster and uses an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and an analytical network process (ANP) to determine the weights of factors that pertain to potential disasters in hillside communities so that these communities can become resistant to disasters.

INFLUENCE OF “NOVUMEDICAL” EQUIPMENT ON NON-SPECIFIC RESISTANCE OF THE ORGANISM TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ADAPTATION REACTIONS

Studies have shown the effectiveness and perspective of using «NovuMedical» devices for the purpose of primary and secondary prevention of diseases, increasing the personal interest of patients in extending the period of active longevity due to regular recovery at home. The preventive effect of the equipment is not directed against the symptoms of the disease, but to increase the body's resistance. Before treatment, the normal type of adaptive response was detected in 75 % of patients, the workout reaction was noted in 45.4 %, the calm activation reaction – 23.2 %, the reaction of increased activation in 6.2 % of cases, and the stress response was recorded in 25.2 %. After the treatment, the workout reaction was detected in 44.1 % of cases, the calm activation reaction – 22.2 %, the increased activation zone – 33.3 %. The preformed factors used in the apparatuses are a bioregulator in the broad sense of modulating the physiological functions of the body, which makes it possible to “rejuvenate” the sick organism, at least to equalize the biological and passport age, to restore the original potential of sanogenetic reactions. Apparatus for home use can be the basis for the primary population prevention and secondary individual prevention of a wide range of diseases and premature aging.

Von der Kunst, sich fremd werden zu können

"Von der Kunst, sich fremd werden zu können Der ästhetische Standpunkt als Korrektiv praktischer VernünftigkeitDer Beitrag folgt der These, dass die ästhetische Dimension des vernünftigenStandpunkts das zentrale Element einer angemessenen Perspektive darauf bildet,wie das Zusammenspiel von Rationalität und Irrationalität zur praktischen Selbstbestimmungals Person beitragen kann. Den Ausgangspunkt bildet eine Auseinandersetzungmit der Position, die normativen Implikationen praktischer Vernünftigkeitund Selbstbestimmung ließen sich aus einem abstrakten Moment derreflexiven Distanznahme ableiten. Der Blick auf Christine Korsgaards Version dieserIdee macht deutlich, dass die dabei aktualisierte Vorstellung des praktischenStandpunkts sowohl einer mangelnden methodologischen Reflexion anheimfälltals auch der Besonderheit irrationaler Handlungen und Erfahrungen nicht gerechtzu werden vermag. Der weitere Text zeigt auf, dass die Suche nach einer alternativenKonzeption, die beide Aspekte berücksichtigt, von einer Gegenüberstellungmit der Psychoanalyse profitiert, da diese in der Lage ist, die Philosophie auf dasoriginäre Potential zurückzuverweisen, das sie in ihren ästhetischen Perspektivenauf praktische Standpunkte zu entfalten vermag. The article follows the hypothesis that the aesthetic dimension of the standpoint of reason providesthe main element for an appropriate perspective on how the interplay between rationalityand irrationality is able to contribute to practical self-determination as a person. The startingpoint is formed by the critical discussion of the position considering that it is possible to derivethe normative implications of practical reasonableness and self-determination from an abstractmomentum of reflective distance. Whilst taking a look at Christine Korsgaard’s version ofthis idea it becomes clear that it rests on a conception of the practical standpoint that suffersboth from a lack of methodological self-reflection and from neglecting the special features andpotentials of irrational actions and experiences. The following text shows how the search foran alternative conception, which takes both aspects into account, benefits from a comparisonwith psychoanalysis, since this discipline is able to methodologically refer philosophy back tothe original potential it unfolds in its aesthetic perspectives on practical standpoints. "

Observational constraints on the generalized α attractor model

We study the generalized [Formula: see text] attractor model in the context of the late time cosmic acceleration. The model interpolates between the scaling freezing and thawing dark energy models. In the slow roll region, the original potential is modified whereas the modification ceases in the asymptotic region and the effective potential behaves as the quadratic one. In our setting, the field rolls slowly around the present epoch and mimics the scaling behavior in the future. We obtain observational constraints on the model parameters by using an integrated database (SN+Hubble+BAO+CMB).

Distribution, encounter rate and conservation status of Aquiloeurycea cafetalera (Caudata: Plethodontidae), a recently described Mexican salamander

The knowledge of the natural history of a species, its population traits and spatial distribution are essential to evaluate its risk of extinction and proposing strategies for its conservation. For poorly studied species inhabiting regions with a high degree of habitat conversion by anthropogenic activities, it is even more urgent to obtain this information. In this study, we carried out fieldwork and database analyses to obtain information on the ecology, natural history and spatial distribution of the plethodontid salamander Aquiloeurycea cafetalera, and we evaluated its conservation status according to the IUCN and the Mexican environmental agency (SEMARNAT). We found 109 individuals in 20 of the 43 localities visited (sampling effort = 1,174 person-hours). The salamander counts ranged from one to 21 individuals per locality and the average encounter rate was 21 salamanders per 100 person-hours of surveying, within a range from 2 to 117 salamanders. The current potential distribution calculated is about 2,000 km2 and fragmented, which means less than half of its original potential distribution. Our results suggest that it is necessary to include this species in biodiversity conservation programs because only a very small portion of its spatial distribution falls within natural protected areas.

EFFECTS OF 4-THIAZOLIDINONE DERIVATIVES LES-2658 AND LES-1205 ON SLEEP - WAKEFULNESS CYCLE IN KINDLED RATS

The research is dedicated to in-depth study of neurotrophic and antiepileptic properties of original potential anticonvulsant agents from 4-thiazolidinones – LES-2658 (5-(3-nitro-benzylidene)-2-(thiazol-2-ylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one) and LES-1205 ([2,4-dioxo-5-(thiazol-2-ylcarbamoylmethyl)-thiazolidin-3-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester), synthesized at the Department of Pharmaceutical, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry of Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Ukraine. Studying of sleep - wakefulness cycle characteristics in animals with chronic epileptic syndrome in conditions of 4-thiazolidinones derivatives LES-2658 and LES-1205 use was performed. The kindling syndrome was induced in Wistar rats via daily pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) (30 mg/kg, i.p.) administrations during three weeks and sleep - wakefulness cycle was studied under conditions of LES-2658 and LES-1205 administrations at doses 25.0and 100.0 mg/kg i.p.. Total wakefulness, non - rapid eye movement sleep, rapid eye movement sleep, falling asleep latency, REM - onset latency and also number of REM sleep episodes have been determined by behavioral characteristics of experimental animals. It was established that 4-thiazolidinone derivatives Les-1205 and Les-2658 reduce REM sleep fragmentation and increase its duration in PTZ-kindled rats. Les-1205 compound at dose 100.0 mg/kg show a clear correcting influence on kindling - induced sleep disturbances.

Decoupling of morphological disparity and taxic diversity during the adaptive radiation of anomodont therapsids

Adaptive radiations are central to macroevolutionary theory. Whether triggered by acquisition of new traits or ecological opportunities arising from mass extinctions, it is debated whether adaptive radiations are marked by initial expansion of taxic diversity or of morphological disparity (the range of anatomical form). If a group rediversifies following a mass extinction, it is said to have passed through a macroevolutionary bottleneck, and the loss of taxic or phylogenetic diversity may limit the amount of morphological novelty that it can subsequently generate. Anomodont therapsids, a diverse clade of Permian and Triassic herbivorous tetrapods, passed through a bottleneck during the end-Permian mass extinction. Their taxic diversity increased during the Permian, declined significantly at the Permo–Triassic boundary and rebounded during the Middle Triassic before the clade's final extinction at the end of the Triassic. By sharp contrast, disparity declined steadily during most of anomodont history. Our results highlight three main aspects of adaptive radiations: (i) diversity and disparity are generally decoupled; (ii) models of radiations following mass extinctions may differ from those triggered by other causes (e.g. trait acquisition); and (iii) the bottleneck caused by a mass extinction means that a clade can emerge lacking its original potential for generating morphological variety.