Participatory Budgeting in Hrubieszów, Poland, as an Example of Residents’ Sustainable Participation in Shaping Public Expenditure

The article contains a case study of residents' participation in the process of shaping the city's public expenditure through participatory budgeting. The analyzed data were collected as part of the National Science Center [anonymyzed]. The research methods and tools used in the study included desk research, CAWI, a survey and scenario interviews. The case of Hrubieszów is only a part of our research that deserves a closer look due to the pro-participatory attitude of the significant number of the city officials, social activists, and residents. There is also a certain level of enthusiasm, despite the fact that participatory budgeting arrived in this city relatively late - in 2017. Another interesting fact is that it is the smallest participatory budget among the twelve Polish cities thoroughly examined in our project. In this article we will present the functioning of this process both from the perspective of the local authorities and officials, as well as the project applicants and residents involved in the participatory budgeting process. In our analysis we are looking for local signs of readiness for cooperation which, in favorable conditions, focus on deliberative moments and are followed by a deliberative stance, constituting a basis for pro-participation activities.The article contains a case study of residents’ participation in the process of shaping the city’s public expenditure through participatory budgeting. The case of Hrubieszów deserves a closer look due to the pro-participatory attitude of a significant number of the city’s officials, social activists, and residents. There is also a certain level of enthusiasm, despite the fact that participatory budgeting arrived in the city relatively late – in 2017. This article presents the functioning of this process both from the perspective of the local authorities and officials, as well as the project applicants and residents involved in the process. The focus of analysis is on local signs of readiness to cooperate which, in favorable conditions, focus on “deliberative moments” and are followed by a “deliberative stance,” constituting a basis for pro-participation activities

Participatory Budgeting in Hrubieszów, Poland, as an Example of Residents’ Sustainable Participation in Shaping Public Expenditure

The article contains a case study of residents' participation in the process of shaping the city's public expenditure through participatory budgeting. The analyzed data were collected as part of the National Science Center [anonymyzed]. The research methods and tools used in the study included desk research, CAWI, a survey and scenario interviews. The case of Hrubieszów is only a part of our research that deserves a closer look due to the pro-participatory attitude of the significant number of the city officials, social activists, and residents. There is also a certain level of enthusiasm, despite the fact that participatory budgeting arrived in this city relatively late - in 2017. Another interesting fact is that it is the smallest participatory budget among the twelve Polish cities thoroughly examined in our project. In this article we will present the functioning of this process both from the perspective of the local authorities and officials, as well as the project applicants and residents involved in the participatory budgeting process. In our analysis we are looking for local signs of readiness for cooperation which, in favorable conditions, focus on deliberative moments and are followed by a deliberative stance, constituting a basis for pro-participation activities.The article contains a case study of residents’ participation in the process of shaping the city’s public expenditure through participatory budgeting. The case of Hrubieszów deserves a closer look due to the pro-participatory attitude of a significant number of the city’s officials, social activists, and residents. There is also a certain level of enthusiasm, despite the fact that participatory budgeting arrived in the city relatively late – in 2017. This article presents the functioning of this process both from the perspective of the local authorities and officials, as well as the project applicants and residents involved in the process. The focus of analysis is on local signs of readiness to cooperate which, in favorable conditions, focus on “deliberative moments” and are followed by a “deliberative stance,” constituting a basis for pro-participation activities

HBK-14 and HBK-15 with antidepressant-like and/or memory-enhancing properties increase serotonin levels in the hippocampus after chronic treatment in mice

5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(7) receptor ligands might have antidepressant-like properties and improve cognitive function. We previously reported significant antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects of two dual 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(7) receptor antagonists in various behavioral tests in rodents. As a continuation of our previous experiments, in this study we aimed to investigate whether chronic administration of 1-[(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)ethoxyethyl]-4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine hydrochloride (HBK-14) and 1-[(2-chloro-6-methylphenoxy)ethoxyethyl]-4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine hydrochloride (HBK-15) caused antidepressant-like effects and elevated serotonin levels in the murine hippocampus. We also evaluated cholinolytic properties and the influence of acute administration of both compounds on cognitive function in mice. To assess antidepressant-like properties and the influence on learning and memory we used forced swim test and step-through passive avoidance task in mice, respectively. Both compounds showed antidepressant-like properties and significantly elevated serotonin levels in the hippocampus after chronic treatment (HBK-14 – 2.5 mg/kg; HBK-15 – 0.625 and 1.25 mg/kg). HBK-15 administered chronically antidepressant-like activity at lower dose (0.625 mg/kg) than the dose active after acute treatment (1.25 mg/kg). None of the compounds affected locomotor activity of mice. HBK-15 possessed very weak cholinolytic properties, whereas HBK-14 did not show any effect on muscarinic receptors. Only HBK-15 (0.625 mg/kg) presented memory-enhancing properties and ameliorated cognitive impairments caused by scopolamine (1 mg/kg). Our results indicate that 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(7) antagonists might have potential in the treatment of depression and possess positive influence on cognitive function

Bariery formuł deliberacyjnych w świetle badania praktyk budżetowania obywatelskiego w Polsce prowadzonych w okresie pandemii COVID-19

The issues discussed in this article are clearly related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its negative impact on civic participation. In 2020, the pandemic and combined lockdown temporarily interrupted deliberation of budget processes in over a hundred Polish cities. However, not much has changed in the general landscape and in the shape of the topography of civic budgeting in Poland. It is still a difficult area for deliberation, although it is possible. The authors of the article have attempted to present the effects of those elements of the statutory regulation of civic budgets that are not conducive to the development of deliberation. The results of the analyzes were compared to the typology of participation in civic budgeting known in the literature, taking into account the cases of three Polish cities.Problematyka artykułu ma wyraźny związek z pandemią COVID-19 i jej negatywnym wpływem na partycypację. W 2020 r. pandemia i związany z nią lockdown czasowo przerwały deliberację w procesach budżetowych w ponad stu polskich miastach. Jednak zarazem w ogólnym pejzażu oraz w kształcie topografii budżetowania obywatelskiego w Polsce wiele się nie zmieniło. Nadal jest to teren dla deliberacji niełatwy, choć jest ona możliwa. Autorzy artykułu podjęli próbę przybliżenia skutków oddziaływania tych elementów ustawowej regulacji budżetów obywatelskich, które nie sprzyjają rozwojowi deliberacji. Wyniki analiz odniesiono do znanej w literaturze modelowej typologii partycypacji w budżetowaniu obywatelskim, z uwzględnieniem przypadków trzech polskich miast

The use of selected neutrophil protein plasma concentrations in the diagnosis of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis : a preliminary report

Background: Difficulties in diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) motivate the search for new diagnostic tools, including laboratory tests. The aim of this study was to evaluate concentrations of the neutrophil (NEU) proteins leukocyte elastase (HLE-α1AT), lactoferrin and calprotectin as potential biomarkers used in the diagnosis and assessment of clinical activity of Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).Material/Methods: The study included 27 patients with CD, 33 patients with UC and 20 healthy controls. Plasma concentrations of calprotectin, lactoferrin and HLE-α1AT were measured using ELISA.Results: In patients with CD higher concentrations of HLE-α1AT (64.3±43.1 vs. 30.1±7.7 ng/l, P<0.001), calprotectin (151.6±97.8 vs. 69.9±22.1 ng/l, P<0.001) and lactoferrin (243.2±102.0 vs. 129.7±32.7 ng/l, P<0.001) than in the control group were found. In patients with UC higher plasma concentrations of HLE-α1AT (62.0±30.9 vs. 30.1±7.7 ng/l, P<0.001), calprotectin (149.6±72.3 vs. 69.9±22.1 ng/l, P<0.001) and lactoferrin (242.6±107.5 vs 129.7±32.7 ng/l, P<0.001) than in the control group were found. HLE-α1AT/NEU and lactoferrin/NEU ratios in patients with UC were significantly higher compared with patients with CD. Calprotectin (P=0.010) and lactoferrin (P=0.023) levels were higher in patients with the active compared with inactive phase of CD.Conclusions: The diagnostic characteristics of plasma granulocyte protein concentrations indicate the usefulness of these tests in the diagnosis of IBD. Higher HLE-α1AT and lactoferrin/NEU ratios in patients with UC than with CD may suggest the usefulness of these ratios in differential diagnostics. Plasma calprotectin and lactoferrin levels may be useful in CD activity assessment

Markers of antioxidant defense in patients with type 2 diabetes

Aims. Diabetes is considered a state of increased oxidative stress. This study evaluates blood concentrations of selected markers of antioxidant defense in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods. The study included 80 type 2 diabetes patients and 79 apparently healthy controls. Measured markers included ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and uric acid serum, and plasma and/or hemolysate levels. Results. FRAP, uric acid, CRP, and GGT levels were significantly higher in patients with diabetes. Plasma and hemolysate GR was significantly higher whereas GPx activity was significantly lower in patients with diabetes. There were no significant differences in antioxidant defense markers between patients with and without chronic diabetes complications. Fasting serum glucose correlated with plasma GPx, plasma and hemolysate GR, FRAP, and serum GGT, and HbA1c correlated with serum GGT. Only FRAP and serum uric acid were significantly higher in obese (BMI>30 kg/m2) patients with diabetes than in nonobese patients. Conclusions. Some components of antioxidant defense such as GR, uric acid, and GGT are increased in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, the whole system cannot compensate for an enhanced production of ROS as reflected by the trend toward decreased erythrocytes GSH

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering study of the binding modes of a dibenzotetraaza[14]annulene derivative with DNA/RNA polynucleotides

Binding modes of a dibenzotetraaza[14]annulene (DBTAA) derivative with synthetic nucleic acids were studied using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Changes in SERS intensity and appearance of new bands in spectra were attributed to different complexes formed between the DBTAA molecules and DNA/RNA polynucleotides. A decrease in intensity pointed to intercalation as the dominant binding mode of the annulene derivative with poly dGdC-poly dGdC and poly rA-poly rU, whereas new bands in the spectra at 735 cm−1 and 1345 cm−1 revealed binding within the minor groove of poly dAdT-poly dAdT. When all the dominant binding sites were occupied, SERS spectra implied that small molecules bind on the outside of the DNA analogues, while exist mainly as free molecules in equimolar ratio with the synthetic RNA polynucleotide, thereby indicating higher affinity for DNA than for RNA

Evaluation of antinociceptive and antioxidant properties of 3-[4-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-dihydrofuran-2-one in mice

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of 3-[4-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-dihydrofuran-2-one (LPP1) on nociceptive thresholds in mouse models of persistent pain. Influence of LPP1 on motor coordination and its antioxidant capacity in mouse brain tissue homogenates were also assessed. Pain sensitivity thresholds in animals treated with LPP1 were established using 5 % formalin solution in normoglycemic mice and in streptozotocin (STZ)-treated diabetic mice in the von Frey, hot plate, innocuous, and noxious cold water tests (water at 10 °C and 4 °C, respectively). Motor deficits were assessed in the rotarod test, whereas antioxidant capacities were evaluated using ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assay, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. LPP1was antinociceptive in both phases of the formalin test, in particular, in the late phase (at doses 0.9–30 mg/kg for 66–99 % vs. control normoglycemic mice) and in a statistically significant manner increased nociceptive thresholds in response to mechanical, heat, and noxious cold stimulation in neuropathic mice (at 30 mg/kg for 274, 192, and 316 %, respectively vs. diabetic control). LPP1 did not impair motor coordination of mice in the rotarod revolving at 6 or 18 rpm. In brain tissue homogenates, it demonstrated antioxidant capacity in FRAP assay and increased SOD activity for 63 % (acute administration) and 28 % (chronic administration) vs. control. No influence on CAT activity was observed. LPP1 has significant antinociceptive properties in the formalin model and elevates pain thresholds in neuropathic mice. It has antioxidant capacity and is devoid of negative influence on animals' motor coordination