Cultural Preconditions Research Articles

Combinatorial Preconditioning of Rat Brain Cultures with Subprotective Ethanol and Resveratrol Concentrations Promotes Synergistic Neuroprotection.

Preconditioning brain cultures with moderate concentrations of ethanol (EtOH) or trans-resveratrol (RES), key red wine constituents, can prevent amyloid-β (Aβ) neurotoxicity. Past studies have indicated that moderate EtOH activates synaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) that, in part, signal via protein kinase C (PKC) to increase protective antioxidant proteins such as peroxiredoxin-2 (Prx2). RES preconditioning also is reported to involve NMDAR and PKC. However, although moderate, the EtOH and RES concentrations used have been noticeably above circulating levels from two glasses of wine, a daily intake linked to reduced risk of cognitive decline among older social drinkers. Given their mechanistic parallels, we speculated that subprotective EtOH and RES concentrations in a combinatorial preconditioning paradigm might elicit synergistic neuroprotection. To examine this notion, rat cerebellar cultures were pretreated with 10mM EtOH (circulating concentration after ~ 2 drinks), 5μM RES, EtOH + RES combinatorially, or media alone (controls). After 3days, media were removed, and fresh media aliquots containing Aβ25-35 (25μM) were added. Assessing apoptosis 24h later with Hoescht 33342, neurodegeneration did not differ from controls in cultures separately preconditioned with 10mM EtOH or 5μM RES. However, apoptosis was prevented in combinatorially preconditioned cultures. Also, immunoblotting revealed elevated Prx2 levels due to combinatorial pretreatment that correlated with subsequent neuroprotection, whereas Prx2 was unchanged in separately pretreated cultures. Although the protective mechanisms require clarification, synergistically upregulated NMDAR-PKC-Prx2 (and other antioxidant proteins) is a reasonable component. These findings imply that EtOH + RES antioxidant synergy could be involved in neurobenefits attributed to low-moderate wine consumption.

Этносоциальная ситуация в арктических регионах России и государственная национальная политика

The article presents the results of the sociological studies of the interethnic relations in the Arkhangelsk region and the Nenets Autonomous District, that are a part of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. We held an opinion poll and identified a statistically significant group of respondents that negatively evaluated the state of international relations, as well as the prevalence of a stable negative attitude towards the certain ethnic minorities in the population. The mass survey was supplemented by the materials of the series of expert interviews and statistical data. Comparison and interpretation of empirical values have led to the conclusion about the absence of socio-economic, demographic and cultural preconditions for the growth of ethnic tensions in the study area and about the negative assessments among the part of the population in respect of certain ethnic groups that have been based on the discursive reproduced ethnic hetero-stereotypes. The academic community should promote a rethinking of the idea of ethnic and cultural diversity among the political establishment and the related mass media by offering a conceptual alternative to the idea of the rigid differentiation of the population on the basis of the culturally distinctive features, when every citizen should clearly and permanently identify their ethnicity.

The Modern International Imaginary

This article aims to bridge the literature of modern social imaginaries with the growing study of modernity in International Relations. Employing a Taylorian conceptual framework and account, the case is made for understanding modern international relations as enabled and constrained by a “modern international imaginary”, which forms a significant part of the modern social imaginary more generally. It is argued that a modern social imaginaries approach offers a means to deepen and enlarge the growing studies of the international implications of modernity, by illuminating overlooked cultural preconditions and forms of modern international relations. First, a social imaginaries approach reveals the international to be coeval with the emergence of modern social imaginaries in general, and that it has come to form their “highest” and most consistently and severely problematic realm. Second, its insight into the enabling and constraining effects of social imaginaries offers a basis for studying the horizons of the international towards a “global imaginary”. Third, unpacking the modern international imaginary offers qualitative benefits for international theory as practice.

Modelling guanxi with a games network approach

Rapid economic growth in East Asia has often been attributed to cultural preconditions. In the case of China, high economic growth has been attributed to Confucian emphases on loyalty, reciprocal social obligations, and the pre-eminence of the group over the individual. These cultural attributes are said to be manifested especially in the practice of guanxi, a distinctive style of inter-firm networking based on trust and mutual obligations. We suggest that cultural explanations of guanxi networking behaviour appear to conflict with standard economic assumptions of rationality and utility maximisation. We argue that guanxi networks can be better understood if modelled on these standard economic assumptions. For this purpose we use a network games approach. We find that guanxi-type behaviour can be generated by the model, such that culture-based explanations appear unnecessary. Thus, we argue, guanxi behaviour can be explained in a way more consistent with rational agents and maximising behaviour.

What are the Cultural Preconditions of Universities’ Regional Engagement? Towards a Disciplinary Sensitive Model of the University–Region Interface

This paper explores the relationship between disciplinary and organisational cultures and regional engagement. Disciplinary and organisational dimensions are key factors of academic identity and have a crucial impact on the ability of higher education institutions to actively engage within regional actors. The analysis builds on empirical data from selected Czech and Norwegian case higher education institutions. We call into question the conjecture that only specific organisational settings and incentive mechanisms — the formal structural side of higher education institutions — lead to better interactions between HEIs and regions. We conclude by arguing that informal tacit dimensions (that we conceptualise as epistemological orientations and disciplinary values and postures) are also important in understanding the dynamics of university regional engagement.

The Evangelical and a Baptist movement in Western Ukraine in 1920s

The article examines the history of the Evangelical and Baptist movements in Western Ukraine (Galicia and Volyn’) in early 1920s. First of all, the author pays attention to social and cultural preconditions of the origin and spreading of different Protestant denominations in general and Evangelical (Mennonites, Baptists) in particular, in the region. Then, the author concentrates on the origins of the Baptism in Galicia and Evangelical Christianity in Volyn’. Finally, the author analyses the first phase of spreading of the Evangelical and a Baptist movement among Ukrainians in the Western Ukraine.

Cоциокультурные предпосылки формирования и развития коучинговых технологий

Cоциокультурные предпосылки формирования и развития коучинговых технологий

Critical Examination of the Impact of Trade Liberalization on the Economies of Developing Countries

Various studies on how trade liberalization (a term which describes removal of or reduction in the trade practices that thwart free flow of goods and services from one nation to another) can affect economic growth and poverty have found that trade liberalization in general can be a positive development strategy to foster economic growth and help reduce overall poverty (McCulloch and A. Harrison 2005). However, there is a caveat that the impact of trade liberalization is much greater and more effective if there are effective governmental institutions and key investments in place – including strong legal, education and healthcare systems as well as basic infrastructure requirements such as roads and sanitation systems, among others. More so, trade also carries a risk for specific countries; it often involves losers as well as winners. In this simple study, Least Developing Countries (LDCs) were found to be ultimate losers given the fact that they have not yet been able to put in place special social, institutional, legal and cultural preconditions that are critical for them to reap the benefits of trade liberalization.

Ethanol preconditioning of rat cerebellar cultures targets NMDA receptors to the synapse and enhances peroxiredoxin 2 expression

Epidemiological studies indicate that light-moderate alcohol (ethanol) consumers tend to have reduced risks of cognitive impairment and progression to dementia during aging. Exploring possible mechanisms, we previously found that moderate ethanol preconditioning (MEP, 20–30mM) of rat brain cultures for several days instigated neuroprotection against β-amyloid peptides. Our biochemical evidence implicated the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) as a potential neuroprotective “sensor”, specifically via synaptic NMDAR signaling. It remains unclear how ethanol modulates the receptor and its downstream targets to engender neuroprotection. Here we confirm with deconvolution microscopy that MEP of rat mixed cerebellar cultures robustly increases synaptic NMDAR localization. Phospho-activation of the non-receptor tyrosine kinases Src and Pyk2, known to be linked to synaptic NMDAR, is also demonstrated. Additionally, the preconditioning enhances levels of an antioxidant protein, peroxiredoxin 2 (Prx2), reported to be downstream of synaptic NMDAR signaling, and NMDAR antagonism with memantine (earlier found to abrogate MEP neuroprotection) blocks the Prx2 elevations. To further link Prx2 with antioxidant-based neuroprotection, we circumvented the ethanol preconditioning-NMDAR pathway by pharmacologically increasing Prx2 with the naturally-occurring cruciferous compound, 3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (D3T). Thus, D3T pretreatment elevated Prx2 expression to a similar extent as MEP, while concomitantly preventing β-amyloid neurotoxicity; D3T also protected the cultures from hydrogen peroxide toxicity. The findings support a mechanism that couples synaptic NMDAR signaling, Prx2 expression and augmented antioxidant defenses in ethanol preconditioning-induced neuroprotection. That this mechanism can be emulated by a cruciferous vegetable constituent suggests that such naturally-occurring “neutraceuticals” may be useful in therapy for oxidative stress-related dementias.

Die Kontrolle nicht-beherrschter Räume: Widersprüche neoliberaler Globalisierung und die Rolle der Entwicklungspolitik

The Control of Non-Dominated Spaces: Contradictions of Neoliberal Globalization and the Role of Development Politics. Globalization implies the increasing transnational interconnectivity of individuals, civil society groups and firms, as well as government and intergovernmental representatives. This has led to the growing density of transnational social relations and to changes of spatial, temporal and cognitive relations. In this emerging global society, security, in all its dimensions, depends on collective rules and their implementation. There is, however, neither an overarching authority nor a system of cooperating isomorphic democratic regimes. Due to uneven and non-simultaneous development in different parts of the world, political regimes differ considerably concerning their adherence to global norms and in their degree of domination over their territories. Neoliberal globalization has increased social, economic and political exclusion. Growing material inequality has not only favoured an expansion of the informal sector, but also an increase in transnational criminal activities (e.g. the drug trade and smuggling goods, weapons and human beings) and the transnational organization of violent groups. Since the late 1990s it has been recognized in the field of development cooperation that „security“ cannot be reached through a combination of trade-led economic growth policies and the repression of illegal activities; rather, it depends on supporting social inclusion through poverty-reducing policies of empowerment. The dimensions of social security and „security“ through the use of force are seen as complimentary by many state actors in this field, but criticized by civil society organizations. This article concludes by pointing out that the goal of establishing a global order to strengthen the physical as well as the social security of humans has to be distinguished from imperialist interventions. It argues that violent interventions in other societies are bound to fail because they intervene into societal conflicts which are based on historical and cultural preconditions which cannot be easily linked to Western-based concepts and because they are still often linked to the geopolitical interests of the interveners.

Toll-like receptor-mediated immune response inhibits prion propagation.

Prion diseases are progressive neurodegenerative disorders affecting humans and various mammals. The prominent neuropathological change in prion diseases is neuroinflammation characterized by activation of neuroglia surrounding prion deposition. The cause and effect of this cellular response, however, is unclear. We investigated innate immune defenses against prion infection using primary mixed neuronal and glial cultures. Conditional prion propagation occurred in glial cultures depending on their immune status. Preconditioning of the cells with the toll-like receptor (TLR) ligand, lipopolysaccharide, resulted in a reduction in prion propagation, whereas suppression of the immune responses with the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, increased prion propagation. In response to recombinant prion fibrils, glial cells up-regulated TLRs (TLR1 and TLR2) expression and secreted cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and interferon-β). Preconditioning of neuronal and glial cultures with recombinant prion fibrils inhibited prion replication and altered microglial and astrocytic populations. Our results provide evidence that, in early stages of prion infection, glial cells respond to prion infection through TLR-mediated innate immunity.

The Sovietization of Lithuania after WWII: modernization, transculturation, and the lettered city

ABSTRACTThis article approaches the Sovietization of the Baltics in the light of two critical notions developed by the noted Latin American critic Angel Rama: “narrative transculturation” and “the lettered city.” By revisiting key moments in the development of Soviet Lithuanian culture and intellectual class against a backdrop of forced collectivization, urbanization, and modernization, the article aims at a novel interpretation of what Sovietization meant in the Lithuanian context, the significance of de-Stalinization and cultural modernism during the Thaw in the 1960s, and the cultural preconditions for the emergence of the popular movement against Soviet rule in the late 1980s.

The Causes of Perestroika in the USSR (dedicated to the 30th Anniversary of the Term “Perestroika”)

The article discusses the main causes of perestroika from the point of view of the theory of democratic transit. It is proved that the USSR by the mid 80-s had reached a level of income per capita at which democratic transition is possible. The author substantiates economic, social and cultural preconditions of perestroika.

Mental Types of the Kazakh and Mongolian Women

During research of gender issue raises in the philosophical and cultural theoretical approach. Image of women in Kazakh culture and world perception is studied thoroughly from archetype analysis approach. In Kazakh traditional culture a woman was highly evaluated in a society as a person who give a birth, preserver of family's harmony, the one who educate coming generation, and the one who wishes all the good to all universe. By coming back to historical cultural pre-conditions of contemporary condition of Kazakh women we wanted to revive traditional philosophical cultural sources in order to solve gender issue problems in current times. In order to find peculiar way, there should be made harmony between traditional world perception and contemporary spiritual directions.

INTERPRETATION OF SOCIALITY IN PHILOSOPHICAL TRADITION

The specificity and phase development of sociality as mirrored in philosophical studies have been examined in the article. Basic paradigms of sociality and their logical grounds of formation in context of their cultural, historical and spiritual preconditions of different epochs are substantiated. A systemic approach to the formation of sociality through the change of metaphysical, classical, non-classical and postclassical stages of its structuring is considered.

PREREQUISITES FOR CREATING THE IMAGE OF IRAQ IN THE NETWORK SPACE OF THE RUSSIAN METROPOLIS

One of the leading trends in modern mega-polis has become a strong preference of online media to the traditional format and the formation of the picture of the world with their help. The article focuses on the complex study of cultural, political and informational preconditions for the formation of the image of Iraq among the Internet audience in Russia. The author names the main publications that impact the formation of the image of Iraq in the Russian network space, notes special features of Russian Internet-audience and the impact of these features on the formation of the overall image of Iraq in the information space of Russian media. As an example, the author relies on the quotes from the leading Russian publications and online information resources and historical relationships of two countries. In addition, the author analyzes the key features of the formation of the image of a foreign country in the context of the Russian media and comes to the conclusion that the image of Iraq is formed mainly on network news resources, which often have political overtones, excluding the historical and cultural context. Results of the study suggest that the image of a foreign country is formed mainly in the network space.

Chasing the myth: A Harley-Davidson story(telling)

AbstractThis article demonstrates a socio-semiotic problem – whether one brand could replace, substitute or supplement identity. It describes the postmodern situation in which the traditional meta-narratives need to be reinforced or even replaced by more adequate and resonating stories and it points out the place of “legendary” brands in it. The latter are based on cultural preconditions and their power should be reinforced by advertising. The cultural background of Harley-Davidson and its communication gives us a chance to take a deeper look at its storytelling process which attracts so many consumers. A couple of analyses and illustrations clarify its “DNA structure.”

The impact of organic cotton cultivation on the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Meatu district, Tanzania

AbstractIn Tanzania, as in many developing countries, cotton is an important source of income for smallholder farmers but also causes various negative effects through high pesticide and intensive land use. To overcome these effects organic agriculture is promoted by different non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and companies. This study examines how organic cotton cultivation influences the livelihood of smallholder farmers in rural Tanzania and focuses on three areas: (1) the motivation to change from conventional to organic farming, (2) experiences and challenges of farmers in the conversion process as well as in the period following the conversion, and (3) the attitude and perceptions of farmers toward organic farming in general. Qualitative interviews with organic farmers in Meatu district in the north of Tanzania, as well as expert interviews, were conducted and observations were made. Results show that although the organic price premium is an important incentive for farmers to convert to organic agriculture, access to training and advisory service are even more important, as no other sufficient agriculture extension service is available in the region. Due to a high level of poverty in the region, environmental motivations for conversion are not in the foreground. Furthermore, the study shows that organic farming can contribute greatly to the improvement of livelihoods in the region (improved soil fertility, increased yields and income, higher standard of living) and increases farmers’ ability to cope with challenges, mainly through knowledge transfer, access to capital and capacity building on a local level. Although positive effects on female farmers were identified, cultural preconditions (e.g., polygamy) harm efforts to strengthen women to a higher degree and gender disparities are still challenging. Further social problems (i.e., high birth rates, a poor education system and a lack of health care), global trading schemes as well as environmental factors (i.e., water scarcity and extreme weather events) cannot be fully offset by the conversion to organic cotton cultivation. Farmers in the Meatu region profit to a high degree from organic agriculture, mainly due to access to knowledge and extension services, nevertheless important challenges remain for farmers and their families.

Understanding culture in territorial management and its implications for spatial planning

Previous experiences have shown that the implementation of planning policy does not always lead to the originally intended territorial management outcomes. This issue is particularly crucial when policy ideas, institutions, models and programmes are transferred into places with different cultural settings without adaptations (Knieling and Othengrafen 2009b; Sanyal 2005). These unexpected consequences in planning practice and management outcomes have brought a significant amount of attention to the importance and roles of culture on shaping decision-making in territorial management process and determining transferability of a policy (Friedmann 2005a, 2005b; de Jong and Mamadouh 2002; Sanyal 2005; Ostrom 2005a; Knieling and Othengrafen 2009b). However, conceptual frameworks that seek to understand the roles of culture and its implications for spatial planning are still rather limited. This study presents and applies an integrative conceptual framework which is used to explain how culture, planning policy and territorial management outcomes are interrelated, and what the implications are for spatial planning. The framework integrates relevant theories and ideas from anthropology, organisational management and political sciences to understand influences of culture on spatial planning. The integrative framework suggests a way of characterising territorial management in the form of ideal types. This helps simplify cultures regarding territorial management to make them comparable. It enables an analysis of ‘cultures’ that includes a broader scope of culture than existing frameworks that focus primarily on ‘planning cultures’ expressed in forms of planning systems, organisations and instruments. This broader scope includes also the implicit expressions of culture in informal forms, such as ideas, customs and social behaviours shared by involved actors in the management of a given territory. The framework also offers two analytical perspectives to investigate whether culture is an important element (or context variable) explaining planning practices and territorial management outcomes in different settings. These perspectives are the analysis that assumes a stable state of culture (a synchronic perspective) and the analysis that considers culture as dynamic and interrelating with other context variables (a diachronic perspective). Findings derived from the analysis of the case studies based on these two perspectives help draw theoretical conclusions about how planners may deal with culture in order to improve planning practices. The study investigates territorial development processes in the context of floodplain management in urbanised delta regions. This specific context is selected because of its strong relations between physical attributes and spatial planning activities. The analysis is carried out based on a comparative approach at two levels. At the cross-national level, the Rhine-Meuse delta region in the Netherlands and the Chaophraya delta region in Thailand are used as case studies. The comparative approach is useful for this study because culture can be best understood in a relative form. The sub- national analysis emphasises comparison of floodplain management in three selected districts in the Chaophraya delta region. The two levels of analysis are carried out in order to understand whether the influences of cultures on planning practices and territorial management outcomes at different scales of development are affected by similar elements. Besides the theoretical contribution, this study also contributes methodologically through development of a common conceptual framework that can be applied to the analysis of various issues in territorial management, which is not limited only to the subject studied here. The framework is also expected to be applicable for the analysis of territorial management in a diverse range of cultural settings. The findings derived from a synchronic analytical approach validates arguments given by previous studies (such as de Jong and Mamadouh 2002 and Stead et al. 2008) regarding the importance of ‘conformity’ between policy content and local cultures for enhancing achievement of policy implementation and transfer. The findings from a diachronic perspective contribute to understanding of dynamic dimensions of culture as interrelating to other context variables. It reveals that cultures regarding floodplain management can be categorised into two parts – (i) the part that is significantly affected by core values and (ii) the experiential part of culture with close relationships with physical environments. Each dimension of culture regarding floodplain management is sensitive to each part of culture to different degrees. Furthermore, the analysis reveals two fundamental conditions required to promote effective management of collective tasks. They are (i) a unified perception towards shared problems and solutions; and (ii) management that acknowledges local institutions throughout planning process. In short, the conceptual framework proposed in this study proves to be helpful in gaining a better understanding of culture regarding territorial management and its implications for spatial planning. The findings imply that despite the significant influences of cultural preconditions in shaping planning practices and territorial management outcomes, planners may use spatial intervention mechanisms to ensure that outcomes match initial policy objectives. This could be done through the promotion of caution and cultural sensitivity in policy design, and in selecting appropriate implementation mechanisms to match the local preconditions.

Understanding culture in territorial management and its implications for spatial planning. The case of floodplain management in urbanised delta regions in the Netherlands and Thailand

Previous experiences have shown that the implementation of planning policy does not always lead to the originally intended territorial management outcomes. This issue is particularly crucial when policy ideas, institutions, models and programmes are transferred into places with different cultural settings without adaptations (Knieling and Othengrafen 2009b; Sanyal 2005). These unexpected consequences in planning practice and management outcomes have brought a significant amount of attention to the importance and roles of culture on shaping decision-making in territorial management process and determining transferability of a policy (Friedmann 2005a, 2005b; de Jong and Mamadouh 2002; Sanyal 2005; Ostrom 2005a; Knieling and Othengrafen 2009b). However, conceptual frameworks that seek to understand the roles of culture and its implications for spatial planning are still rather limited. This study presents and applies an integrative conceptual framework which is used to explain how culture, planning policy and territorial management outcomes are interrelated, and what the implications are for spatial planning. The framework integrates relevant theories and ideas from anthropology, organisational management and political sciences to understand influences of culture on spatial planning. The integrative framework suggests a way of characterising territorial management in the form of ideal types. This helps simplify cultures regarding territorial management to make them comparable. It enables an analysis of ‘cultures’ that includes a broader scope of culture than existing frameworks that focus primarily on ‘planning cultures’ expressed in forms of planning systems, organisations and instruments. This broader scope includes also the implicit expressions of culture in informal forms, such as ideas, customs and social behaviours shared by involved actors in the management of a given territory. The framework also offers two analytical perspectives to investigate whether culture is an important element (or context variable) explaining planning practices and territorial management outcomes in different settings. These perspectives are the analysis that assumes a stable state of culture (a synchronic perspective) and the analysis that considers culture as dynamic and interrelating with other context variables (a diachronic perspective). Findings derived from the analysis of the case studies based on these two perspectives help draw theoretical conclusions about how planners may deal with culture in order to improve planning practices. The study investigates territorial development processes in the context of floodplain management in urbanised delta regions. This specific context is selected because of its strong relations between physical attributes and spatial planning activities. The analysis is carried out based on a comparative approach at two levels. At the cross-national level, the Rhine-Meuse delta region in the Netherlands and the Chaophraya delta region in Thailand are used as case studies. The comparative approach is useful for this study because culture can be best understood in a relative form. The sub- national analysis emphasises comparison of floodplain management in three selected districts in the Chaophraya delta region. The two levels of analysis are carried out in order to understand whether the influences of cultures on planning practices and territorial management outcomes at different scales of development are affected by similar elements. Besides the theoretical contribution, this study also contributes methodologically through development of a common conceptual framework that can be applied to the analysis of various issues in territorial management, which is not limited only to the subject studied here. The framework is also expected to be applicable for the analysis of territorial management in a diverse range of cultural settings. The findings derived from a synchronic analytical approach validates arguments given by previous studies (such as de Jong and Mamadouh 2002 and Stead et al. 2008) regarding the importance of ‘conformity’ between policy content and local cultures for enhancing achievement of policy implementation and transfer. The findings from a diachronic perspective contribute to understanding of dynamic dimensions of culture as interrelating to other context variables. It reveals that cultures regarding floodplain management can be categorised into two parts – (i) the part that is significantly affected by core values and (ii) the experiential part of culture with close relationships with physical environments. Each dimension of culture regarding floodplain management is sensitive to each part of culture to different degrees. Furthermore, the analysis reveals two fundamental conditions required to promote effective management of collective tasks. They are (i) a unified perception towards shared problems and solutions; and (ii) management that acknowledges local institutions throughout planning process. In short, the conceptual framework proposed in this study proves to be helpful in gaining a better understanding of culture regarding territorial management and its implications for spatial planning. The findings imply that despite the significant influences of cultural preconditions in shaping planning practices and territorial management outcomes, planners may use spatial intervention mechanisms to ensure that outcomes match initial policy objectives. This could be done through the promotion of caution and cultural sensitivity in policy design, and in selecting appropriate implementation mechanisms to match the local preconditions.