Time In Bulgaria Research Articles

Hybrid Classroom – The Experience оf the 107th Khan Krum Primary School in Sofia, Bulgaria

The COVID-19 pandemic imposed a quick introduction of distance learning for many students. In Bulgaria, the Ministry of Education and Science obliged schools to work synchronously with their pupils using video conference rooms. After the easing of the containment measures, regular classroom education was restored. However, the problems with quarantined students persisted. School principals had to solve new organizational challenges. The hardest and most frequent issue was the split of a given class into students present in school, and students learning online. The article introduces an organizational model of a hybrid classroom where teaching is carried out in a physical and an online classroom at the same time. The authors describe their experience with specific hardware and software used for the first time in Bulgaria for educational purposes. They also show their experience with the organization of traineeships for university students as primary school IT teachers using a hybrid classroom.

New data on the distribution and host plants of subfamily Buprestinae (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in Bulgaria

Data about the distribution and host plants of 47 species group taxa from subfamily Buprestinae are presented. In this study, three localities of Anthaxia (Anthaxia) suzannae were reported for the first time in Bulgaria. In addition, Paliurus spina-christi was established as a new host plant for Chrysobothris leonhardi.

A new technique for remote location of unknown caves and deep-seated faults by unmanned aerial systems (UAS)

Here, for the first time in Bulgaria, we demonstrate that aerial survey of the terrain with a coaxial thermal and visible camera mounted on an UAS can detect much larger number of entrances to underground cavities and deep seated faults than a detailed systematic ground survey by experienced personnel. Thus geophysical problems are solved with these remote sensing methods. It is extremely promising and reveals great opportunities for improving techniques for location of unknown caves and deep seated faults to a much higher level. Obtained results are a significant step forward in the state-of-the art.

Risk assessment of geological disaster in the region of Primorsko Municipality

Risk assessment methodology is described in detail and applied for assessing the geological hazard for potential landslides and earthquakes. This methodology follows the guidelines of ISO 31010 and the JRC recommendations, and is applied for the first time in Bulgaria. The obtained results have high practical applicability. The flexibility of the methodology allows the final result to be presented as either a risk matrix or risk profiles. It depends on the specific tasks, issues and scientific problems that need to be solved.

Trimodal bladder-preserving treatment including high-tech radiotherapy in invasive bladder carcinoma-dissertation project with literature review

Over the last two decades, there has been a significant evolution of the complex treatment of the invasive bladder carcinoma (BC), including both surgery methods and high-tech radiotherapy (RT), often combined with chemotherapy (Ch). Different protocols supporting multimodal treatment and the concept of the bladder preservation are currently developed. New high-tech radiation methods were presented combined with Ch to preserve the bladder as a healing alternative to radical cystectomy. The purpose of this overview is to present the place and healing effect of high-tech RT in the contemporary treatment approach to invasive BC. The expected contributions from this research project are: 1) For the first time in Bulgaria, modern bladder-sparing strategies combine maximal transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) followed by an induction course of concurrent radiation therapy (RT) and sensitizing chemotherapy will be held. 2) Disease-free survival, overall survival, local control and early radical toxicity in two patient groups after self intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CChRT) with VMAT will be analyzed. It is important to improve the quality of life by preserving the bladder in the invasive bladder carcinoma.

Long-legged flies (Diptera: Empidoidea: Dolichopodidae) from the Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria, with first records for the Balkan Peninsula

The paper presents information about 35 dolichopodid flies collected from 12 localities in the Balkan Mountains at the territory of Bulgaria. Two species, Campsicnemus pusillus and Sciapus maritimus, are recorded for the first time in Bulgaria and on the Balkan Peninsula. Another nine ones are listed for the first time to the Balkan Mountains range.

Initial Adaptation of the General Cognitive Assessment Battery by Cognifit™ for Bulgarian Older Adults

ABSTRACT Background Online neuropsychological assessment batteries may facilitate the screening of cognitive functions in older adults and could be useful for early diagnosis and detection of cognitive impairments. Objective The primary aim of this study was to assess the psychometric qualities of an online multi-domain cognitive assessment battery (General Cognitive Assessment Battery (GCAB) by Cognifit™) applied for the first time in Bulgaria. Methods A total of 20 healthy older adults (6 male and 14 female, aged 60–82) completed the GCAB as well as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD) neuropsychological battery. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographic characteristics of the sample and the scores on the GCAB and the CERAD battery. The internal consistency of the GCAB was evaluated using item analysis and measured with Cronbach’s alpha. The concurrent validity of the GCAB was assessed with respect to the CERAD using Spearman’s r after verifying the linear relationship between the GCAB and CERAD scores. Results The GCAB showed good concurrent validity when compared with the corresponding CERAD tests. The correlation coefficients ranged from 0.67 for working memory to 0.47 for short-term auditory memory. We found very good reliability of the GCAB, with the inter-class correlation coefficient higher than 0.8 for all cognitive domains. There were no significant correlations between MMSE and GCAB scores. Conclusion The GCAB was found to be valid for the cognitive screening of Bulgarian healthy older adults and may provide an adequate assessment of their cognitive status. The GCAB showed good concurrent validity when compared with the CERAD battery, measuring similar cognitive constructs. Further work is necessary to explore its validity and reliability.

Some Bivalvia of the Topola Formation (middle Sarmatian), Northeastern Bulgaria

The fossil bivalvian fauna established in the Topola Formation, the Zelenka section, Northeastern Bulgaria was studied. Six taxa from the species group are described: Obsoletiforma cf. pseudosemisulcata (Andrussov, 1902), Obsoletiforma cf. balcicense (Gillet, 1938), Obsoletiforma cf. centopleura (Andrussov, 1902), Obsoletiforma sp. (aff. obsoleta Eichwald, 1830), Obsoletiforma sp. (aff. lucinoidea Paramonova, 1977), and Inaequicostata sp. (aff. barboti R. Hoernes, 1874). Two of them – O. сentopleura, and O. lucinoidea are announced for the first time in Bulgaria. One taxon is determined at generic level – Obsoletiforma sp. The stratigraphic position of the section in the upper part of the middle (Bessarabian) substage of the Sarmatian (s.l.) stage was determined as the upper part of the interval zone Cryptomactra pseudotellina-Cryptomactra pesanseris and/or lowerest part of the local taxon-range zone Obsoletiforma balcicense. The factors of the abiotic environments and their influence on the presence of the bivalvian fauna in the section are clarified.

Some Bivalvia of the Topola Formation (middle Sarmatian), Northeastern Bulgaria

The fossil bivalvian fauna established in the Topola Formation, the Zelenka section, Northeastern Bulgaria was studied. Six taxa from the species group are described: Obsoletiforma cf. pseudosemisulcata (Andrussov, 1902), Obsoletiforma cf. balcicense (Gillet, 1938), Obsoletiforma cf. centopleura (Andrussov, 1902), Obsoletiforma sp. (aff. obsoleta Eichwald, 1830), Obsoletiforma sp. (aff. lucinoidea Paramonova, 1977), and Inaequicostata sp. (aff. barboti R. Hoernes, 1874). Two of them – O. сentopleura, and O. lucinoidea are announced for the first time in Bulgaria. One taxon is determined at generic level – Obsoletiforma sp. The stratigraphic position of the section in the upper part of the middle (Bessarabian) substage of the Sarmatian (s.l.) stage was determined as the upper part of the interval zone Cryptomactra pseudotellina-Cryptomactra pesanseris and/or lowerest part of the local taxon-range zone Obsoletiforma balcicense. The factors of the abiotic environments and their influence on the presence of the bivalvian fauna in the section are clarified.

Applications of acoustic pharyngometry in screening of the sleep-disordered breathing

INTRODUCTION: Acoustic pharyngometry is an inexpensive, quick, non-invasive, and easily repeatable method for localizing the upper airway obstruction in sleep-related breathing disorders. АIМ: The purpose of this study was to describe the general characteristics of the method of acoustic pharyngometry and to illustrate its differential-diagnostic role concerning the extent of the pharyngeal dysfunction for the first time in Bulgaria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019, a total of 400 adult subjects, 272 males and 128 females, at a mean age of 50.8±14.1 years from the city of Varna underwent screening examinations for OSA and snoring by using acoustic pharyngometry with Eccovision® acoustic pharyngometer. The acoustic pharyngometric findings of healthy subjects and patients with pharyngeal dysfunction were illustrated and discussed. RESULTS: There were considerable differences between the values of the pharyngeal volume, mean and minimal cross-sectional areas and minimal distance in healthy subjects and patients with slightly expressed and severe pharyngeal dysfunction causing sleep-related breathing disorders. CONCLUSION: The detection of these differences in terms of the main acoustic pharyngometric parameters between normal subjects and patients with pharyngeal dysfunction proves that a much broader acoustic pharyngometry application for the screening and early diagnosis of these socially significant disturbances in Bulgaria is undoubtedly beneficial.

First record of Nubensia nubens (Edwards, 1929) (Diptera: Chironomidae) for Bulgaria

Nubensia nubens (Edwards 1929) is reported for the first time in Bulgaria from two lowland rivers, tributaries of the Danube (eastern Europe). Larvae of the species were found incidentally in samples collected for an ichthyological study, in the gut contents of Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas 1814) (Actinopterygii: Gobiidae), and in a benthic sample. The habitat conditions at the corresponding sites differed from those of previous records. Our finding underlines the potential of non-standard supporting methods, such as analyzing fish gut contents for discovering rare species that are hard to record by standard hydrobiological methods.

New floristic and syntaxonomic data from rice fields in Bulgaria

The present work is a floristic and phytocoenological study of rice fields in the Thracian Lowland, South Central Bulgaria. Two species new to the Bulgarian alien flora were found as a result: Heteranthera reniformis (Pontederiaceae) and Rotala ramosior (Lythraceae). The class Oryzetea sativae is documented with phytocoenological relev?s for the first time in Bulgaria.

Anthropometric and acoustic pharyngometric parameters in sleep-disordered breathing due to structural pharyngeal alterations

INTRODUCTION : Sleep-disordered breathing is a medico-social problem of rising importance worldwide. There are various clinical forms of sleep apnea such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea as well as snoring. Recently, there have been considerable advances in the diagnosis of OSA and snoring. А IМ : This study aimed at applying the method of acoustic pharyngometry for the diagnosis of pharyngeal alterations in subjects with sleep-disordered breathing within a preventive otorhinolaryngological programme in the city of Varna for the first time in Bulgaria. MATERIALS AND METHODS : Between January 1, 2016 and August 31, 2019, screening for sleep-disordered breathing was performed among 100 subjects, 62 males at a mean age of 48.82±11.45 years and 38 females at a mean age of 52.42±16.54 years in the Division of Otorhinolaryngology, St. Anna Hospital of Varna. Clinical inspections, anterior rhinoscopy, pharyngoscopy, indirect laryngoscopy, acoustic rhinometry, as well as acoustic pharyngometry by means of Eccovision ® acoustic pharyngometer were used. The t -test for independent variables and the correlation analysis were applied for statistical data processing. RESULTS : The acoustic pharyngometry identified several pharyngeal alterations. There were statistically significant changes of the anthropometric parameters (body mass index, neck circumference and adjusted neck circumference) and pharyngometric ones (pharyngeal cavity and vocal tract lengths and volumes) between males and females. There were statistically significant positive and negative correlations between the values of these parameters. CONCLUSION : Within the complex otorhinolaryngological examination of the pharyngeal structure and function in the subjects suspected for sleep-disordered breathing, acoustic pharyngometry could play an irreplaceable role as a cost-effective tool.

NEW LATIN LANGUAGE TEXTBOOK FOR MEDICAL SPECIALTIES

For a long time in Bulgaria, there has been a need for a suitable Latin textbook for medical specialties with a 30-hour course, such as nursing, obstetrics, dental assistance, etc. The authors Dimitar Mirchev, PhD and Assoc. prof. Rossen Milanov aim to fill this niche through the preparation of the presented textbook. The textbook is based on the existing Latin-language textbooks in Bulgaria, while at the same time the authors strive to improve the available methodical systems for the education of students with a schedule of 30 hours per term. The main feature of the textbook is the separation of the grammar into 15 topics, according to the number of study weeks for the specialties mentioned. The authors’ purpose is to offer a balanced amount of exercises corresponding to the limited amount of time for the students to acquire the desired knowledge. This is also one of the main differences between the existing textbooks for а 60-hour schedule and the current textbook. The selection and synthesis of these exercises and the achievement of the final goal, namely the acquisition of sufficient Latin terminology corresponding to the actual needs in the students’ practical field, proved to be a difficult task and a great challenge for the authors. In Bulgaria, before 1989, there are relatively few Latin-language textbooks for medical specialties. Then the nursing and obstetrics are outside the higher education system and study in special secondary schools or colleges, while in the higher schools they prepare specialties of medicine, dentistry and pharmacy. For this reason, Latin textbooks are divided respectively for higher education institutions and for secondary school specialties. Since 2007 the nursing and obstetrics enter the higher education system and receive a Bachelor's degree. These specialties are taught in Latin, usually with textbooks prepared for medicine and dentistry. Basically this is not a problem, but gradually textbooks that are appropriate for these specialties have been prepared, according to their academic workload. Nowadays , there are no more than 3-4 textbooks in Bulgaria for classes of 30 hours. In this article, the above-mentioned textbook will be presented, highlighting its advantages and benefits on the basis of existing ones. Nurses, obstetrics and other specialties with similar workload in latin language have chiefly difficulties in learning the grammar that is absolutely necessary for the proper use of anatomical and clinical terminology. At the same time, the practice shows that all medical specialists are hampered by the correct pronunciation of medical terms, which is also a major challenge for the teachers. The textbook is divided into a grammar part with exercises according to the teaching material, greek terminology and Latin-Bulgarian and Bulgarian-Latin dictionary.

INVESTIGATION OF MURINE RODENTS FOR THE PRESENCE OF LEPTOSPIRA DNA BY NESTED PCR

Leptospirosis is a zooanthroponosis with natural foci. People become infected with leptospires either directly from host animals or by means of certain elements of the external environment. Circulation of leptospires in nature is maintained by reservoirs and supporting hosts. For the first time in Bulgaria we applied nested PCR in examining organs of murine rodents for the presence of Leptospira spp. DNA. A total of 109 rodents were investigated after being collected from 4 districts in Southern Bulgaria: Plovdiv, Pazardzhik, Smolyan and Blagoevgrad. The genome of Leptospira spp. was found in 5 species of rodents. Results show that Microtus spp. is a potential carrier of leptospires, especially in urban areas. The high rate of leptospiral DNA-positive rodents captured in the region of Pazardzhik confirms the activity of the epizootic process in this natural focus, where epidemics of benign leptospirosis have been recorded in the past. The introduced method would help to clarify the epidemiological links more quickly in case of a leptospirosis outbreak in some regions. Stronger measures are needed to combat rats, murine rodents and their entry in warehouses, slaughterhouses and mass caterers, in order to maintain the cleanliness of open-air ponds, water sources and prevent contamination of food products. Future studies in this area would enrich the knowledge on the circulation of leptospires in their reservoirs in more areas of our country.

On Bulgarian sawflies, including a new species of Empria (Hymenoptera, Symphyta)

Thirty-nine species of sawfly (Symphyta) are recorded for the first time in Bulgaria. Most of these were collected during early spring of 2018, in the south-east of the country (Burgas and Varna Provinces).EmpriaaridicolaMacek & Prous,sp. nov.is described as new to science from specimens collected in several central, east and south European countries. Lectotypes are designated forPoecilosomaparvulaKonow, 1892,EmpriapraveiDovnar-Zapolskij, 1925 andE.pseudoklugiDovnar-Zapolskij, 1929.EmpriapraveiandSciapteryxbyzantinaBenson, 1968 are at present only known in Europe from the coastal zone of the Black Sea. The new Bulgarian records ofHoplocampacantotiChevin, 1986 andNeomessasteusloffi(Konow, 1892) represent large extensions in their recorded ranges, previously comprising respectively only northern France, and north-eastern Germany. Possible host plant associations are noted for several species, based on observations of adults.

Races of bacterial spot pathogen infecting genus Capsicum in Bulgaria

Abstract. The causative agents of bacterial spot disease infecting pepper are the species X. euvesicatoria and X. vesicatoria common in the typical pepper growing areas (Northern: Black Sea Costal and Central; Southwest; Southern – Upper Thracian valley) in Bulgaria. The pathogens refer to pepper P pathotype (22 strains) and pepper-tomato РТ pathotype (52 strains). The natural population of X. еuvesicatoria is heterogeneous of pathotype and physiological races. Widespread is race P6 in the P of the pathogen, followed by race P1. Single strains are assigned to P3, P9 and P10. In PT, races P0, P1, P4, P5 are differentiated, the dominant race in PT is the P4 race in combination with the tomato race T2. For the first time in Bulgaria in the natural population of X. vesicatoria, are detected strains which infect only pepper, differentiated are races Р0, Р2 and Р3. The population of X. vesicatoria PT prevails in private gardens and vegetable areas near tomatoes. Differentiated races are P1, P3 and P4 in combination with tomato races T1, T2 and T3. Race P3 occurs in P and PT pathotype.

Insect assemblages and their preference for Lupinus albus and L. luteus

AbstractWhile lupin has undergone extensive research to ascertain its suitability for growth as forage or grain legume crop, the present trend is for research to be centered on its applicability in the seed protein and oil industry. Study of the literature showed that no intensive study of the lupin insect fauna had been carried out in Bulgaria. The purpose of this study was to identify the insect assemblages associated with Lupinus albus and L. luteus, as well as the insect preference for them. Thrips sampling was made by the tapping-method, aphids were directly counted on the plants and the composition and population density of other species were recorded by sweepings. Insect fauna was studied for the first time in Bulgaria. The fauna was represented on L. albus by 64 species, belonging to eight orders, 28 families and 57 genera, including 23 beetles, 25 hemipteras, five thrips, three butterflies, three bees, one leaf aphid, two grasshoppers, one leafminer and one green lacewing. L. luteus had similar species composition but was less preferred by insects. The use of lupin cultivars with shorter and intense reproductive periods, with a lower content of crude protein and phosphorus, would give an environmentally friendly protection against insect pests, which would be suitable for an organic production system.

The Silurian stage boundaries in Bulgaria: the challenge of the Aeronian/Telychian (Llandovery) boundary

The upper Aeronian to lower Telychian (Llandovery Series, lower Silurian) strata in the parastratotype for the Saltar Formation (chert-shale succession) are documented in terms of their lithologies and graptolite biostratigraphy. The studied section Asaritsa сrops out in the western sector of the Stara Planina Mountains (Svoge Unit of the Srednogorie Zone). In section Asaritsa, the highest Aeronian graptolitic strata are separated from the lowest Telychian graptolitic strata by a graptolite-barren interval of pale-coloured shale. Based on the graptolites documented below and above this interval, as well as on its correlation to sections studied in detail from the Czech Republic and Spain, the immediate underlay of the pale-coloured shale is referred to the uppermost part of the sedgwickii Zone, the complete pale-coloured shale interval, or its greatest part, to the lower guerichi Zone, and the directly overlying it succession to the upper part of the guerichi Zone. The Aeronian/Telychian boundary is assumed to lie at the base of this pale-coloured shale package, or within its lower part. The study provides documentation of Metaclimacograptus undulatus, Parapetalolithus praecedens, Rastrites carnicus, Rivagraptus bellulus, and illustrations of Stimulograptus for the first time in Bulgaria.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus lineages Europe 1 and Europe 2 in Bulgarian ticks

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne human viral disease with fatality rate up to 30%. Two genetic lineages of CCHF virus (CCHFV) are present in Europe – lineage Europe 1 which contains pathogenic CCHFV strains, and lineage Europe 2 consisting of AP92 and AP92-like strains. In order to investigate CCHFV distribution and potential risk for humans, ticks were collected from livestock in the five districts where CCHF cases have been reported in the last five years in Bulgaria. CCHFV lineage Europe 1 was detected in 39 of 623 Hyalomma marginatum ticks (6.3%; range per village 2.7–15.2%), while CCHFV lineage Europe 2 was detected for the first time in Bulgaria in 49 of 415 Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks (11.8%; range 0–58.3%). The present study shows that both Europe 1 and Europe 2 CCHFV lineages are present in Bulgaria. The pathogenic role of the AP92-like strains remains to be elucidated.