Specific Issues of Urban Sprawl in Bulgaria

The first conclusion is, no doubt, that processes of urban sprawl have emerged in Bulgaria during the last couple of decades and already have changed the suburban patterns in the outskirts of Sofia. This is a simple, but critically important conclusion, because so far Bulgarian planners have underestimated this threat and, even, have failed to identify it. The main reasons for this omission were due to lack of experience with similar problems and, mainly, to specific traditions relating to comparatively high, though typical European densities and compact urban forms. Yet, due to its unplanned nature and scattered forms, sprawl always generates un- sustainable urban processes. All facts and findings of previous studies and the present one confirm the second main conclusion that, undoubtedly, Sofia suburbanisation pattern is of Western type, so it is characterized by a number of associated problems and issues like overconsumption of land, inefficient use of infrastructure and other resources. At the same time, Bulgarian sprawl in many aspects is shaped by local traditions established in the course of centuries and (especially, the 20th century) by the specific historical development – both socio-economic and urban. Sofia’s new suburbs are more compact than typical Western suburbs and they are characterized by higher densities and higher levels of social mix and mix of uses. Eventually, the third main conclusion is that suburbanisation around Sofia and around other big cities in the country is speeding up and, thus, Bulgarian sprawl turns closer to the Western patterns. This means that policy measures are already needed to avoid associated problems, especially in view of the insufficient land resources of Bulgaria. Apparently, all these issues should be subject to thorough and in depth studies as next steps of research in this area in order to elaborate efficient instruments of relevant policies

Liquid-based cytology and its practicability in Bulgaria

PURPOSE: Our aim was to summarize the foreign and our own experience in screening the cervical cancer by using conventional Papanicolaou (PAP) smear and liquid-based cytology (LBC).MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Varna, we examined 100 patients and compared the results from LBC with those from conventional PAP smear concerning different criteria as well as to test LBC practicability in Bulgaria.RESULTS: There were significant advantages of LBC mainly due to the lower number of unsatisfactory results and higher specificity of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL). The comparison with the results from foreign studies demonstrated the same tendencies and diagnostic values.CONCLUSION: Our investigation proved the benefits of LBC in screening the cervical cancer. A much broader application of this method in Bulgaria was recommended taking into consideration that it was rarely used at presence.Scripta Scientifica Medica 2013; 45(2): 66-69

Use of wood in modern residential architecture. Applicability in the Bulgarian conditions

Wood as an ancient and traditional building material is experiencing its new rethinking and revival in the context of the development of new technologies, as well as the new requirements for increased comfort and sustainable development of the urban environment. Residential architecture is a traditional and primary use of wood as a building material. The modern development of the residential environment, both in low-rise buildings and in multi-story apartment buildings, poses new tasks and creates new opportunities for the expanded use of wood and wooden structures. The article examines the problems and opportunities for energy-efficient and sustainable renovation of multi-story residential buildings by examining examples from global practice. The applicability of the approaches in Bulgarian conditions is evaluated

Ectopic pregnancies after assisted reproductive technologies

Introduction: One of the complications of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) is development of pregnancy beyond the endometrium of the uterine cavity - ectopic pregnancy (EP). There are different factors that influence the frequency of EPs after ART-. On the one hand, the characteristics of ovarian hyperstimulation, and on the other - women's age, hormonal status, history of previous pregnancy, etc.Aim: This is a retrospective study, whose purpose is to examine and evaluate different  risk factors in women with EP after ART.Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted between 01.2013 and 12.2017 at the Dr. Shterev Medical Complex, Sofia. We have analyzed 5229 cycles - 3773 IVF/ICSI cycles, 875 FrET cycles, and 581 cycles with egg donation. A total of 1712 clinical, intrauterine, ectopic and heterotopic pregnancies after ART were included in our study.Results and Discussion: The rate of EPs after ART in our group was 2.4%, which corresponds to previous data, published in the scientific literature. We have also identified some rare forms of EP - cornual and cervical pregnancy. The analysis we conducted showed that probable risk factors for EP are tubal infertility and associated chronic inflammatory processes of the fallopian tubes, increased number of transferred embryos, use of additional techniques - assisted hatching, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and previous surgery in the pelvis.Conclusion: EP is a global medical emergency and its incidence increases following treatment of infertility. Early diagnosis and prompt intervention are crucial in order to diminish the morbidity and mortality, and to avoid complications thereafter

The changing roles of planning and the market in the processes of urban growth in Belgrade and Sofia

This paper studies the changing roles of planning and the market in the context of urban growth and suburbanization in the capitals of Serbia and Bulgaria, specifically with regard to the socio-economic changes experienced in Southeast Europe over the past decades. With a focus on the post-socialist period, the work also examines specific features of the socialist period, so as to make important distinctions between the two. The research question in this paper is: Is planning or the market responsible for the form of growth that has occurred in Sofia and Belgrade? One methodological problem for the study is that in reality, most urban processes are to a degree both market driven and centrally planned. Thus, it can be difficult to distinguish between the distinct roles and outcomes of planning and the market. To solve this problem, the paper analyzes situations in which either planning or the market is dominant, so as to be able to clearly determine the impact of each mechanism on the resultant development. The paper concludes that urban growth and suburbanization are generally engendered by market forces, whereas the role of planning is to improve and refine the action of the market. When planning ignores the market, it results in failed or inefficient urban forms. However when planning is absent, urban development fails to meet reasonable standards

Regulating market-led urban expansion in the new master plans of Sofia and Belgrade

Like most European cities, cities in South-east Europe (SEE) have been growing throughout the 20th century, however, since the end of the 1980s, the mechanisms of urban growth and expansion have changed radically: from development fully determined by central planning to market-led urban development. This paper examines how planning in large SEE cities is coping with the challenge to balance the action of the market and achieve planning goals relating to the form of urban growth and expansion. As case studies we analyse the master plans of Sofia and Belgrade and their implementation. We have two research questions: first, whether planning in the two cities has considered the role of the market when defining its objectives, measures and solutions regarding the forms of urban growth and the development of in suburban areas, and, second, whether planning has been able to influence the market or cooperate with it in order to achieve its objectives in suburban development.Rad je rezultat i bilateralnog istraživačkog projekta "Support to Process of Urban Development in Serbia" (SPUDS), No. 160503 [http://p3.snf.ch/Project-160503], 2015-2018, u okviru SCOPES programa uz finansijsku podršku Swiss National Science Foundation

Urban Growth and Urbanization of Sofiа, Belgrade and Rome: the Interaction between Urban Planning and the Market

The paper explores the problems of sustainable and resilient development of the cities in Eastern and South-east Europe on the examples of Sofia, Belgrade and Rome and their urban regions. The research draws comparisons to the forms, patterns and mechanisms of their development.Editors: Atanas Kovachev, Aleksandar D Slaev, Diliana Daskalov

STATUS, PROBLEMS AND PROJECTS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF DISTRICT, URBAN PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE IN BULGARIA IN EARLY 21ST CENTURY (AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE MARKET ECONOMY AND THE UPCOMING FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC CRISIS). PART 1

The author provides an overview of the main urban planning trends in the present-day Bulgaria. The author also demonstrates principal approaches to area planning and provides examples of master plans of major cities of the country. The author emphasizes the need to resolve the environmental problems of urban territories, to develop their public transportation networks, resorts, landscape gardening, and a special role of historic and archeological monuments in the present-day cities. Today, multiple hierarchically arranged plans of districts and towns are being developed in accordance with the Law on area arrangement of 2001. There are three levels of area planning in Bulgaria: strategic, tactical and operative/applied. The level of strategic planning covers the territory of the whole country (or its major parts, including regions and clusters of communities). The second level of area planning represents a tactical level. It is applied to smaller sections of the territory (communities, towns) and it converts into more detailed planning of the territory if compared to the top level of area planning. The general structure of the territory is developed at this level of planning. This level includes master plans of cities and towns. The third level, the level of operative/ applied planning, is applied to separate parts of populated areas, even particular sites. This level is characterized by detailed elaboration and it serves as a link to architectural planning. This level incorporates detailed area plans