Morphometric characteristics of common carotid arteries bifurcation in men with different shape of the neck

Introduction: In the last decade, the anatomical structure of the bifurcation of common carotid arteries has attracted particular attention of anatomists and clinicians. Objective: To identify the morphometric characteristics of the bifurcation of common carotid arteries in men with different forms of the neck. Techniques: 90 male cadavers (36-60 years) were studied. The lengths of the neck, its frontal and sagittal dimensions of its base were measured. Classification of forms of the neck by A. Sozonov-Yaroshevich: long and narrow neck, index < 67,2; neck of average length and average diameter, index = 67,3-79,5; short and wide neck, index > 79,6. Morphometry was performed at bifurcation of the common carotid artery (CCA) on the right and left (length, diameter, angle of bifurcation, the lateral angles with the external (ECA) and internal (ICA) carotid arteries). Results: Cadaveric material was distributed into 3 groups: men with long, narrow neck, n = 27, men with a neck of medium length and average diameter, n = 38; men with short and wide neck, n = 25. The length of the bifurcation of the OCA in men with long, narrow neck was the highest in comparison with the other groups studied, and was right on average 23,2 ± 5,4 mm, and left to 21,4 ± 5,1 mm, while the diameter was the smallest - 9,3 ± 2,2 mm on the right and 9,2 ± 2,3 mm on the left. The angle of bifurcation of men in this group was also lower and averaged 6,6 ± 0,6 ° to the right and 7,2 ± 0,8 ° to the left. The average value of the right side corner of the NSA was 178 ± 1,2 °, on the left, it was 176 ± 0,7 °. The value of the lateral angle of the ICA was equal to an average of 174 ± 0,9 ° right and 175 ± 0,5 ° to the left. A group of people with short and wide neck, the average length of the bifurcation of the CCA was minimal, with both its greatest diameter. Its length is right on average 14,9 ± 5,3 mm, and left to 14,6 ± 5,0 mm. The diameters were equal to the values of 22,2 ± 6,4 mm and 23,5 ± 6,9 mm on the right and left, respectively. The apical angle in this group of men studied was 27,0 ± 0,9 ° to the right and 29,3 ± 0,8 ° to the left. Angle with the NSA was on average 167 ± 1,5 °, and the left - 164 ± 2,6 °. Side angle with the right internal carotid artery was 158 ± 2,4 °, the left was equal to the value of 160 ± 1,4 °. On the neck of average length and average diameter values of the parameters studied the bifurcation of the OCA, both right and left were located between the similar values of the two above groups. Length of the bifurcation of the right CCA average was equal to 18,5 ± 5,2 mm, and left to 19,8 ± 5,3 mm. The average value of the diameter of the bifurcation of the right CCA was 16,3 ± 3,9 mm and the left - 16,9 ± 4,9 mm. The angle of the branch on the right CCA was equal to 17,2 ± 0,6 °, left it was 19,6 ± 1,1 °. Side right angle with the NSA was equal to 176 ± 1,7 °, the left is the value was 170 ± 1,5 ° Side angle with the internal carotid artery was equal to 161 ± 0,9 ° right and 161 ± 1,9 ° to the left. Conclusions: Our studies have revealed clear differences of morphometric characteristics of the bifurcation of the OCA in men with different forms of the neck

From ‘Unilateral’ to ‘Dialogical’: Determinants of EU–Azerbaijan Negotiations

The European Union (EU) and Azerbaijan have negotiated three different agreements for a new legal basis underpinning their relationship since 2010. Whereas the EU tries to adhere to a more unilateral approach, Azerbaijan wants cooperation to take place on a more inclusive, dialogical, basis. The essay will present a model of ‘bargaining power’ to analyse how the Azerbaijani government has tried to enforce this, and to what degree it has been successful. It finds that the bargaining power model can explain some of the changing power dynamics in EU–Azerbaijan relations, and that these might speak to the broader Eurasian region too

Increased Gray Matter Density In The Parietal Cortex Of Mathematicians: A Voxel-Based Morphometry Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The training to acquire or practicing to perform a skill, which may lead to structural changes in the brain, is called experience-dependent structural plasticity. The main purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the presence of experience-dependent structural plasticity in mathematicians' brains, which may develop after long-term practice of mathematic thinking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six volunteer mathematicians, who have been working as academicians, were enrolled in the study. We applied an optimized method of voxel-based morphometry in the mathematicians and the age- and sex-matched control subjects. We assessed the gray and white matter density differences in mathematicians and the control subjects. Moreover, the correlation between the cortical density and the time spent as an academician was investigated. RESULTS: We found that cortical gray matter density in the left inferior frontal and bilateral inferior parietal lobules of the mathematicians were significantly increased compared with the control subjects. Furthermore, increase in gray matter density in the right inferior parietal lobule of the mathematicians was strongly correlated with the time spent as an academician (r = 0.84; P < .01). Left-inferior frontal and bilateral parietal regions are involved in arithmetic processing. Inferior parietal regions are also involved in high-level mathematic thinking, which requires visuospatial imagery, such as mental creation and manipulation of 3D objects. CONCLUSION: The voxel-based morphometric analysis of mathematicians' brains revealed increased gray matter density in the cortical regions related to mathematic thinking. The correlation between cortical density increase and the time spent as an academician suggests experience-dependent structural plasticity in mathematicians' brains.WoSScopu