The situation of children in the spaces of selected metropolitan courtyards in the context of Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of reproducing cultural capital

The article addresses the subject of social and cultural inequalities in relation to the situation of children in degraded spaces of selected courtyards in one of the smallest housing estates in Wrocław, Poland, Przedmieście Oławskie. The aim of the research was to diagnose and describe the specific situation of these children and to analyse it in the context of Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of reproducing cultural capital. The first part presents theoretical threads relevant for further interpretations and covers the concepts of marginalisation and reproduction of cultural capital as perceived in P. Bourdieu`s theories. The second part discusses the methodology of qualitative research, embedded in an interpretive paradigm and based on: ethnographicresearch strategy, the approach to research with children and the mosaic approach. The third part presents the results of research showing the specificity of the physical and socio-cultural environment of the studied courtyards. On the one hand, the dimensions of its marginalisation and the processes proving the reproduction of poor cultural capital were indicated; on the other hand, examples of artistic interventions in this type of marginalised environment were presented as exemplifications of breaking the mechanisms of cultural reproduction.The article addresses the subject of social and cultural inequalities in relation to the situation of children in degraded spaces of selected courtyards in one of the smallest housing estates in Wrocław, Poland, Przedmieście Oławskie. The aim of the research was to diagnose and describe the specific situation of these children and to analyse it in the context of Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of reproducing cultural capital. The first part presents theoretical threads relevant for further interpretations and covers the concepts of marginalisation and reproduction of cultural capital as perceived in P. Bourdieu`s theories. The second part discusses the methodology of qualitative research, embedded in an interpretive paradigm and based on: ethnographicresearch strategy, the approach to research with children and the mosaic approach. The third part presents the results of research showing the specificity of the physical and socio-cultural environment of the studied courtyards. On the one hand, the dimensions of its marginalisation and the processes proving the reproduction of poor cultural capital were indicated; on the other hand, examples of artistic interventions in this type of marginalised environment were presented as exemplifications of breaking the mechanisms of cultural reproduction

Synaesthesia: mechanisms and broader traits

Synaesthesia is a condition in which perceptual or conceptual stimulation in one modality leads to additional experiences within the same or different modality. In grapheme-colour synaesthesia achromatic letters or numbers elicit secondary synaesthetic colour experiences while in mirror-touch synaesthesia observing touch to another person results in tactile sensations on a synaesthete’s own body. This thesis examines broader differences in personality and social perception associated with synaesthesia and investigates neural mechanisms underlying social perception in typical adults. Firstly, an association between grapheme-colour synaesthesia and personality traits was examined which revealed an altered personality profile in this group. Additionally grapheme-colour synaesthesia showed typical and (in some cases) superior social perception abilities relative to typical adults which most likely reflects wider perceptual differences related to sensitivity to high spatial frequency information previously found in this group. Secondly, an investigation into the wider consequences of mirror-touch synaesthesia revealed that the presence of this form of synaesthesia is linked with lower levels of alexithymia relative to typical adults and lower interoceptive sensitivity relative to grapheme-colour synaesthetes and controls. This thesis also explored the neural mechanisms underlying social perception in typical adults using non-invasive transcranial alternating current stimulation. This revealed that enhancing occipital gamma oscillations facilitates facial anger perception offering a new avenue to examine the neural mechanisms underlying social perception advantage in synaesthesia. Current findings are discussed in the context of existing literature on synaesthesia and social perception

Relationship between parenting style, alexithymia and aggression in emerging adults

Alexithymia has been linked to reduced emotional awareness and increased aggression. One line of evidence suggests that authoritarian parenting contributes to the development of alexithymia. To elucidate the relationship between experienced parenting style, alexithymia and aggression the Parental Authority Questionnaire, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire were administered to a group of emerging adults. Current findings show a positive relationship between: (i) authoritarian parenting style and alexithymia, (ii) alexithymia and aggression, iii) authoritarian parenting style and aggression. This study also found that paternal authoritarian parenting predicted alexithymia and aggression when controlling for maternal authoritarian style, but not the other way round. In addition, alexithymia mediated the relationship between paternal authoritarian parenting and aggression when controlling for maternal authoritarian style suggesting that elevated alexithymia which is likely to be a consequence of authoritarian parenting, especially when it is practiced by a father, contributes to increased aggression in adulthood

Increase in the incidence of parotid gland tumors in the years 2005-2014

Introduction: Salivary gland tumours account for 3-6% of tumours of the head and neck. About 80% of salivary gland tumors occur in parotid glands, 10-17% of which are malignant The aim of the study was to assess whether there is an upward trend in cancer incidence within the parotid glands, with particular emphasis on cancers. Materials and methods: 322 patients underwent surgery and 328 parotid gland tumours were removed in the years 2005-2014 at the Department of Laryngology and Laryngological Oncology of the Upper Silesian Medical Centre in Katowice-Ochojec. Clinical, histopathological and statistical analyses of the removed parotid gland tumours were performed. Results and discussion: A significant increase in the incidence of benign tumours, especially mixed and Warthin tumours, was demonstrated. There was no significant increase in the number of malignant tumours over the analysed period of time

Neuroimaging diagnosis in neurodegenerative diseases

Dementia affects about 8% of people age 65 years and older. Identification of dementia is particularly difficult in its early phases when family members and physicians often incorrectly attribute the patient’s symptoms to normal aging. The most frequently occurring ailments that are connected with neurodegeneration are: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis. A variety of powerful techniques that have allowed visualization of organ structure and function with exact detail have been introduced in the last twenty-five years. One such neuroimaging technique is positron emission tomography (PET), which measures in detail the functioning of distinct areas of the human brain and as a result plays a critical role in clinical and research applications. Radiotracer-based functional imaging provides a sensitive means of recognizing and characterizing the regional changes in brain metabolism and receptor binding associated with cognitive disorders. The next functional imaging technique widely used in the diagnosis of cognitive disorders is single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). New radiotracers are being developed and promise to expand further the list of indications for PET. Prospects for developing new tracers for imaging other organ diseases also appear to be very promising. In this review, we present current opportunities of neuroimaging techniques in the diagnosis and differentiation of neurodegenerative disorders. Nuclear Med Rev 2010; 13, 1: 23–3

Mapping the field of smart specialisation and regional innovation strategy literature – a bibliometric analysis

Purpose: The purpose of the article was to determine and map the field of smart specialisation (SS) and regional innovation strategy (RIS) literature. Design/Methodology/Approach: The longitudinal bibliometric analysis of the SS and RIS literature based on extensive examination of publications indexed in the Scopus database was conducted. The timespan of the analysis covered the years 1991-2020. The quantity, quality and structural bibliometric indicators were applied. Using the VOSviewer software tool the network analyses were performed and major clusters of the SS and RIS research were determined. Findings: The conducted analysis made it possible to indicate the most productive authors, sources, organisations and countries in the analysed scientific field. The most popular research topics and subject areas, the most influential research channels and impact from authors, sources, countries in the SS and RIS literature were indicated. Moreover, it was recognised how the SS and RIS publications are clustered. Practical Implications: Determination of sources with the highest productivity and citations can be used by potential authors of publications to adopt an appropriate publication strategy. The information about the most active countries and organisations and the most influential authors may constitute the valuable basis for establishing future collaboration. The analysis results can also be useful for decision-makers in regions by indicating the most influential publications in terms of the SS and RIS development and implementation. Originality/Value: There is a paucity of research presenting the bibliometric analysis of the SS and RIS literature. This article comprises an up-to-date comprehensive analysis of this domain and enriches the understanding of its existing patterns and trends.peer-reviewe

Infant microbiome and factors determining colonization of the gastrointestinal tract and subsequent health consequences

Microbiome is a key element in maintaining health, forming all saprophytic, commensal and parasitic microorganisms that invade the human body. The development of microbiota begins already in the prenatal period, providing the way for further studies on the influence of the course and duration of pregnancy, delivery mode, feeding, exposure to environmental factors and gestational age. Colonization of the gastrointestinal tract of infants is an important aspect of later health. Probiotics and prebiotics can regulate the composition of bacterial flora of the gastrointestinal tract and thus influence the homeostasis of human body

Examining the Relationship Between Schizotypy and Self-Reported Visual Imagery Vividness in Grapheme-Color Synaesthesia.

Synaesthesia is a condition in which one property of a stimulus triggers a secondary experience not typically associated with the first (e.g., seeing achromatic graphemes can evoke the perception of color). Recent work has explored a variety of cognitive and perceptual traits associated with synaesthesia. One example is in the domain of personality, where higher rates of positive schizotypy and openness to experience and lower agreeableness have been reported in synaesthetes who experience color as their evoked sensation relative to typical adult controls. Additionally, grapheme-color synaesthetes have previously been reported to show elevated mental imagery compared to typical adults. Here, we aimed to further elucidate the relationship between personality, synaesthesia, and other cognitive traits. In Study 1, we examined self-reported schizotypy and self-reported visual imagery vividness in grapheme-color synaesthetes and typical adults. Our results partially replicated previous findings by showing that synaesthesia was associated with greater positive schizotypy and enhanced self-reported imagery vividness. The results also extend previous reports by demonstrating that differences in positive schizotypy and mental imagery vividness are not related in grapheme-color synaesthesia. In Study 2, we sought to build on prior work showing lower agreeableness and increased openness to experience in synaesthetes by examining whether grapheme-color synaesthesia is associated with other conceptually related traits; namely lower self-monitoring and increased sensation seeking. We did not find any differences between synaesthetes and controls on either of these traits. These findings are discussed in relation to potential factors that may contribute to the observed personality profile in grapheme-color synaesthesia

State of knowledge about autism spectrum disorders among residents of Szczecin - preliminary report

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorders are more often diagnosed. Like any disorder, autism can cause discomfort, even distress to families. Thanks to educational campaigns, more people know what this disorder is related to. Therefore, it is worth checking what the society's knowledge of autism is. Research goal: Describing the state of knowledge about autism spectrum disorders among residents of Szczecin. Conclusion: The subjects showed great knowledge about the autism spectrum. The fact of an earlier contact with a person with an autism spectrum disorder or a member of her family does not in any way relate to the knowledge of the subjects on this disorder. Women received higher results in the questionnaire

Dysbiosis and depressive disorders. Survey review

A significant increase in the incidence of depression, change of lifestyle and nutrition, forces researchers to seek understanding of the various mechanisms of the formation of such a disorder. Numerous studies draw attention to dysbiosis - a disorder of the composition and function of the intestinal microflora. In current studies, strong correlations can be observed between microbiota disorders and the occurrence of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases