Unless the West strengthens its support for Bulgarian civil society, the country is in danger of drifting back into the arms of Russia.

Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007 and has been a member of NATO since 2004. Iveta Cherneva argues, however, that recent developments suggest the country may be turning toward Russia. The current government led by Plamen Oresharski has backed a number of Russian led energy projects in the country, such as the construction of a new nuclear power plant. A wave of anti-government protests has also swept over Bulgaria during the summer, calling for new elections and the eradication of corruption. Unless the United States and the European Union strengthen support for Bulgarian civil society and the anti-government protesters, there is a very real risk that the country could reorient itself toward the Kremlin

Human Trafficking for Begging

Beggars are a part of the street landscape of any major city. However, many of the children and elderly women begging on the streets are forced beggars: victims of trafficking in persons who are part of a beggars ring with an organizational complexity comparable to that of a medium-size business enterprise. The present work focuses on the phenomenon of trafficking in persons for the purpose of begging, arguing for its legal conceptualization under international law. Although it is occasionally mentioned in a limited number of international reports and legal documents as a form of trafficking-related exploitation, forced begging is a largely understudied topic and its conceptualization as trafficking in persons has thus far been unsystematic. The present research aims to address the gap in the literature on trafficking in persons and argue for the legal conceptualization of begging as trafficking. Furthermore, it examines the psychologically driven customer demand that fuels the illicit activity, and suggests new ways for crafting public messages in order to improve response strategies and outcomes

Distributed Wireless Algorithms for RFID Systems: Grouping Proofs and Cardinality Estimation

The breadth and depth of the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) are becoming more substantial. RFID is a technology useful for identifying unique items through radio waves. We design algorithms on RFID-based systems for the Grouping Proof and Cardinality Estimation problems. A grouping-proof protocol is evidence that a reader simultaneously scanned the RFID tags in a group. In many practical scenarios, grouping-proofs greatly expand the potential of RFID-based systems such as supply chain applications, simultaneous scanning of multiple forms of IDs in banks or airports, and government paperwork. The design of RFID grouping-proofs that provide optimal security, privacy, and efficiency is largely an open area, with challenging problems including robust privacy mechanisms, addressing completeness and incompleteness (missing tags), and allowing dynamic groups definitions. In this work we present three variations of grouping-proof protocols that implement our mechanisms to overcome these challenges. Cardinality estimation is for the reader to determine the number of tags in its communication range. Speed and accuracy are important goals. Many practical applications need an accurate and anonymous estimation of the number of tagged objects. Examples include intelligent transportation and stadium management. We provide an optimal estimation algorithm template for cardinality estimation that works for a {0,1,e} channel, which extends to most estimators and ,possibly, a high resolution {0,1,...,k-1,e} channel

Biodiversity and healing activities of medicinal plants in the area of Kamchia Nature Complex

Introduction:Kamchia Nature Complex is part of the wetlands of importance in Bulgaria and has a global significance for preserving Europe's unique freshwater swamp forests also known as flooded (floodplain) forests (Bulgarian, Turkish: longoz).Aim:The study aims to bring up to date the list of medicinal plants in the area of Kamchia Nature Complex and to create a present-day database of their ecological and biological characteristics, floral elements, conservation significance and status. In addition, this study is designed to collect data available on the healing properties, usable parts, and the groups of diseases these medicinal plants are applicable for.Materials and Methods:Field surveys were conducted during the 2013–2015 vegetation seasons applying enroute survey methods.Floristic analysis was performed by the Tolmachev's method (1974).Species were determined by “Flora of the Republic of Bulgaria” and “Identification. Guide to Higher Plants in Bulgaria”.Results and Discussion:We have identified 183 species of medicinal plants out of 435 species of higher plants. The established medicinal plants refer to 60 families and 150 genera. The prevailing biology type is the herbaceous perennial plants—102 species (56%). The mesophyte plants occupy dominant position in terms of moisture and humidity as a factor—91 species (50%).Floristic analysis reveals Eurasian geo-elements as being predominant—34 (19%), with 60 (33%) species of different types of Mediterranean distribution.Species of conservation significance represent 20% of medicinal plants.The established medicinal plants have more than 30 species of healing activities, one third of which is used primarily for treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases. Species in which the above ground portion of the plant is collected for its plant substance constitute half of the established medicinal plants.Conclusion:Survey results reveal a considerable variety of medicinal plants in Kamchia Natural Complex area. Тhey feature a variety of healing properties and are applicable for a wide range of diseases

Theoretical and probability analysis of frequency selective circuits

The deviations of the circuit characteristics from their nominal values are random quantities and appear as a result of different destabilizing factors. With designing frequency selective circuits, two mutually connected problems are solved. The one is a study on the possible variations of circuit characteristics with given probability indices for the instability of the characteristics of their elements. The other is to synthesize the circuit and to determine the nominal parameters of its elements considering the requirements for stability of its characteristics. Both problems are solved by the methods of the theory of circuit sensitivity. The paper presents a new approach to theoretical probability analysis of the characteristics of frequency selective circuits depending on the relative changes of their parameters

Biodiversity of Medicinal Plants from the Northern Black Sea Coastal Wetlands Part 2 - Durankulak Lake Protected Area

The present study aims to supplement the available research data on medicinal plants of the Durankulak Lake area. Survey results established a significant variety of medicinal plants: 112 species of higher plants referring to 34 families and 87 genera. The prevailing biological type is the herbaceous perennial type (67 species or 60 percent). Considering moisture and humidity as a factor, the mesophyte plants (presented by 48 species or 43%) occupy dominant position among the medicinal plants. Eurasian geo-elements (20 species or 18%) are predominant, followed by the Euro-Mediterranean (18 species or 16%), sub-Mediterranean (17 species or 15%). Among the medicinal plants there is only one Balkan endemic species. Medicinal plants of conservation significance represent 11.4% or 13 species. The established medicinal plants have more than 30 types of healing action, one fifth of which is used primarily for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. The species in which the above ground part (herba) is collected for plant substance constitute half of the established medicinal plants

Healing properties of Leucojum Aestivum - Bulgarian pharmacological discovery of international significance

Блатното кокиче (Leucojum aestivum) е рядък вид многогодишно растение с ограничено разпространение. Включено е в приложение 4 на Закона за биологично разнообразие и е под специален режим на опазване и ползване. Разпространено е в Централна Европа и на Балканския полуостров. България е една от малкото страни по света с естествени находища на блатно кокиче и с подходящи условия за изкуственото му отглеждане. Расте в блатисти ливади, периодично заливани крайречни гори, по бреговете на реки.Лечебното растение е изключително ценно за фармацията и медицината заради съдържащия се в него галантамин - алкалоид, открит от професор Димитър Пасков през 1959 г. Изолираната съставка от листата и цветовете на растението получава търговското име нивалин - единственият признат медикамент за лечение на полиомиелит. Лекарството намира приложение и при прогресивна мускулна дистрофия, миастения, миопатии, родови парализи у новородени. Нивалинът е препарат с голям терапевтичен диапазон. Днес той се използва успешно по цял свят в различни области на медицината: в анестезиологията; в хирургията - за лечение на следоперативни парези на червата и пикочния мехур; в психиатрията - за лечение на дефицит на умственото развитие; във физиотерапията - за лечение на ангионеврози, неврити, невродермити.В българската народна медицина кокичето се прилага при старческо треперене, нарушение на зрението, настинка, базедова болест.The summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum) is a rare type of perennial of limited distribution. It has been included in Annex 4 of the Law on the Biological Diversity and is under a special regime of preservation and use. It can be found in Central Europe and the Balkans.Bulgaria is one of the few countries in the world with natural deposits of summer snowflake and with conditions appropriate for its artificial cultivation. It grows in marshy meadows, periodically flooded riparian forests and along river banks.This medical plant is extremely valuable for both pharmacy and medicine, because of the galantamine contents - an alkaloid discovered by Professor Dimitar Paskov in 1959. The ingredient isolated from the leaves and the flowers of this plant has received the commercial name Nivalin - the only recognized drug for treating poliomyelitis. The drug is also used for muscular dystrophy, myasthenia, myopathy, and paralysis in newborns.Nivalin is a preparation with a large therapeutic range. Today it is used successfully around the world in various fields of medicine: in anesthesiology; in surgery - to treat postoperative paresis of the bowel and the urinary bladder; in psychiatry to treat mental development deficits; in physiotherapy - to treat angioneurosis, neuritis, neurodermatitis.In Bulgarian folk medicine, the snowflake is applied in cases of senile tremor, visual disturbance, cold, and hyperthyroidism

Ethnobotanical study of the attitudes towards herbal remedies and conventional medicines among local population of the north Black Sea coast

The interest in phytotherapy in Bulgaria has a longstanding tradition.This ethnobotanical study aims to investigate the attitude of the local population of the North Black Sea coast area towards the use of plant-based products compared to conventional medications and to report the impact of various demographic indicators on it.The survey was conducted in the period April - June 2015 in various urban and rural areas, using face-to-face interviews technique with random demographic selection of respondents, men and women of different social status and age. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was used for assessment of the impact of demo­graphics on respondents` answers.Maximum positive attitude has been declared by the highest percentage of respondents - 33.51 percent. Neg­ative responses score a minimum of 0.54 percent. Demographics analysis presents moderate impact of age only. The percentage of respondents with a score of 10 is significantly higher for those aged over 41, com­pared to the ones under the age of 40.Results vary in terms of ‘0` evaluation. Highest values were observed in the age groups of 41-50 and over 70.The majority of interviewees - 75.68 percent, prefer combination therapy; 29.19 percent rely only on herbal remedies, and 12.97% indicate both answers.The population of the North Black Sea coast area demonstrates a positive attitude towards the use of medic­inal plants and herbal remedy treatment. A clear case position has been defined: 100 percent use of medici­nal plants for prophylactic purposes, treatment - use of herbal remedies in combination with medications

Ethnobotanical study of the impact of certain demographic indicators on the attitudes towards the use of medicinal plants among local population of the north Black Sea coast

This study aims to explore the attitude of the local population of the North Black Sea coast area towards the use of medicinal plants and to evaluate the impact of demographic indicators such as gender, age, education and residence. The survey was conducted in the period April - June 2015 in various towns and villages, using face-to-face interview technique with random demographic selection of respondents. Pearson`s coefficient (r) was used for assessment of the impact of demographic indicators on respondents` answers.Survey results show that 96.85% have a positive attitude, and only 4.32% exhibit indifference. From the de­mographic characteristics, only gender and age have a moderate impact. Cross-link analysis reveals that with the increase of the age of males their positive attitude towards the use of medicinal plants also increas­es, while female ratio is not significantly changed. The share of indifferent respondents and those who are positive but do not use medicinal plants, for both genders, is greatest among respondents aged between 20 and 30 years.The local population of the North Black Sea coast area demonstrates a steady positive attitude towards the use of medicinal plants without outlining regional and local differences. A tendency of decreasing interest in medicinal plants among the younger generation is observed, which on its behalf is weakening the tradi­tional knowledge on medicinal plants and its continuity