In a list of the 17 best small towns in Europe from Travel magazine Travel+Leisure
one Czech town has made a surprise appearance
one of the country's more popular tourist attractions
but a lesser-seen UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Czech town of Telč is known for its enchanting historical center and striking Renaissance architecture
It joins an impressive lineup of towns in the Travel+Leisure list
including Zell am See in Austria and Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany
which emphasizes towns that embody the unique character and charm of their respective nations
describes Telč’s historic center as a "fanciful creation.”
Despite its relatively low profile compared to more popular Czech locations like Prague and Český Krumlov
Telč’s beauty and cultural significance continue to capture the attention of international publications and travelers alike
Telč’s standout feature is its well-preserved historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992
Located in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic
it is often referred to as a "fairytale town," with its triangular main square lined by charming arcades and colorful buildings
At the heart of this picturesque setting is Telč Chateau
a Renaissance-era castle that further enhances the town's historic allure
The town’s design reflects a blend of Italian Renaissance influences and local architectural styles
The historical importance of Telč is rooted in its position as a strategic crossroads between Bohemia
which played a vital role in the region’s development throughout the centuries
visitors to Telč can admire its medieval town hall
which have remained largely untouched by modern development
"The Czech Republic has many tiny towns that look like they've sprung from a folk tale. One that is not to be missed is Telč, a UNESCO World Heritage-recognized town near the border of Moravia and Bohemia," writes Anne Olivia Bauso for Travel+Leisure
"Telč's exquisite historic center seems like the fanciful creation of a Hollywood set designer
the town's triangular main square stuns with candy-colored stone houses connected by a nonstop line of delicate arches."
Telč’s recent recognition by Travel+Leisure signals a growing awareness of smaller Czech towns that offer rich cultural experiences
The mention of Telč alongside other renowned towns like Bled in Slovenia and Otranto in Italy is testament to its distinctive charm and importance
These are Travel+Leisure's 17 best small towns in Europe:
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surrounded by walls and further strengthened by a network of artificial ponds
The town's Gothic castle was reconstructed in High Gothic style in the late 15th century
La ville est située sur une colline et ses maisons étaient à l'origine construites en bois
entourée de murailles et renforcée par un réseau de bassins
Le château gothique de la ville a été reconstruit dans le style du premier art gothique à la fin du XVe siècle
تقبع هذه المدينة على هضبة، وكانت منازلها مصنوعة أساساً من الخشب قبل أن تُستعمل الحجارة في اعادة بنائها إثر اندلاع حريق التهمها في نهاية القرن الرابع عشر
وقد أعيد تشييد قصرها القوطي حسب الفن القوطي الأول في نهاية القرن الخامس عشر
泰尔奇的建筑坐落于小山顶上,房屋最初为木结构。自14世纪末的一场大火之后,小镇以石头为材料进行了重建。整座城池有城墙环绕,另外还有人工河网增加了其防卫功能。城镇的哥特式城堡重建于15世纪晚期,采用了新哥特式风格。
окружен стенами и в дальнейшем защищен цепью прудов
Готический замок города был реконструирован в стиле высокой готики в конце XV в
fueron construidos en madera en un principio
Después de un incendio sobrevenido a finales del siglo XIV
fue reconstruida en piedra y rodeada de murallas
reforzándose sus defensas con una red de lagunas artificiales
El castillo se reedificó a finales del siglo XV en el estilo del Alto Gótico
The town of Telč is located near the southwestern border between Moravia and Bohemia
in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic
It is situated in a region which was thickly forested until the 13th century
The property consists of the historic town centre
The origins of the settlement are unclear: there was an early medieval settlement at Staré Město to the south-east of the present town
but there is no mention of Telč in documentary records before 1333-1335
when reference is made to the existence there of an important castle (and presumably also a church and settlement)
was probably founded in the mid 14th century
The town itself is of special importance since it was founded on purpose to gain political and economic control over an area where there were deep forests in the 13th and 14th centuries
in terms of the quality and authenticity of its cultural elements
the tangible evidence of its origins and evolution represented by its original layout and architecture
and its picturesque setting is unquestionable
The Renaissance castle forms the centre of the city
It is a major component of the urban townscape and it retains obvious traces of its Gothic precursor
The castle represents a unique authentic complex with its original material substance and decorations
Its original interior is imbued with Italian art
The Historic Centre of Telč features a triangular market square surrounded by Renaissance and Baroque burgher houses (but whose origins are medieval)
These houses are linked by a continuous arcade
Their facades are characterized by a great diversity as regards the choice of decorative elements
the evidence of the origins and historical development of the city is provided by the city walls built of stone whose functioning was enhanced by a system of fishponds
originally built for its strategic security
Criterion (i): Telč is an architectural and artistic ensemble of outstanding quality
Its triangular market place possesses great beauty and harmony as well as great cultural importance surrounded as it is by intact and well preserved Renaissance buildings with a dazzling variety of facades
Criterion (iv): The later Middle Ages in Central Europe saw the “plantation” of planned settlements in areas of virgin forest for reasons of political control and economic expansion
All the key elements necessary to convey the Outstanding Universal Value of the property are situated inside the inscribed area
The buffer zone of the Historic Centre of Telč is delimited too; its boundaries are identical to the boundaries of the protective zone of the urban heritage reservation
The urban fabric of the property and its buffer zone is dense
and its spatial organization is stabilised
No change is expected in the spatial development of the territory
minor improvements of the buildings that have been carried out had no important negative impact either on their character or on the overall layout of the town
the increasing development pressure on the roofscape might have a negative impact on the visual integrity of the town
these risks are kept under proper control by heritage preservation authorities and by the fact that the seat of the Regional Department of the National Heritage Institute is situated specifically in Telč
The Historic Centre of Telč is of high authenticity because it escaped the mania for over-restoration of the 19th century
both the individual buildings and the townscape have been preserved; the same applies to the authenticity of materials and designs in their historical evolution
Restoration work is carried out in compliance with the international standards for heritage preservation and historical materials and techniques are used
on State Heritage Preservation as amended and is designated as urban heritage reservation
The castle has been designated a national cultural heritage site
hence it enjoys the highest degree of legal protection with regard to heritage preservation
A number of other buildings situated within the boundaries of the property are designated cultural heritage sites
The buffer zone of the property is identical to the protective zone of the urban heritage reservation
risks related to the development will have to be taken into account and building regulations will need to be strengthened
There is increased pressure for transforming attic spaces (loft) into living spaces
Therefore it is necessary to correct any loft
Loft conversions are not permitted in the event that the truss structure is historically valuable and worthwhile to be preserved
a concerned authority has control over the number
The property Management Plan is currently in the process of finalisation
The responsibility for the property management is shared by the National Heritage Institute
a state-funded institution which is responsible for maintenance
functioning and development of the Renaissance castle
and of the Municipality of Telč which is in charge of the maintenance
functioning and development of the remaining part of the property
Due to the extent of the property and its complicated ownership structure
maintenance and restoration of the various properties are subject to individual programmes that are coherent with the Programme for the Regeneration of Urban Heritage Reservations and Zones
Financial instruments for the conservation of the property mainly include grant schemes
funding through the programme of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic allocated to the maintenance and conservation regeneration of the immovable cultural heritage and of areas under heritage preservation
as well as financial resources allocated from other public budgets
The property is in good condition and is subject to regular maintenance
annual monitoring reports have been prepared at the national level to serve the World Heritage property manager
the National Heritage Institute and other agencies involved
Photo by Jim.henderson via Wikimedia Commons
The English Language Center at LaGuardia Community College in Queens is a lifeline for immigrants and foreign students who wish to attend college for the first time or seek a higher degree
staffed mostly by long-time adjunct instructors like the two of us
has taught 275,000 students from over 80 countries since its founding in 1971
TELC serves more than two thousand students in courses ranging from basic English to college-level writing.
management choices and the COVID crisis have put TELC at great risk — and put both of us out of work
more than half the adjunct instructors at TELC were laid off last summer and hours have been cut for those that remain employed
Last year 35 adjuncts taught a total of 70 classes in our program
we have only 14 adjuncts teaching a total of 14 classes
After our many decades of teaching in CUNY and especially in TELC
we find ourselves with a complete loss of income. We can no longer build for retirement
and have lost health insurance in the midst of a pandemic
All of our adjunct colleagues — even the ones still working reduced course hours — have lost their health care coverage.
we have always known that we lacked codified job security
because of the quality of our teaching and commitment
we have been reappointed and served continuously for decades. Having been in the program since its early years
we have volunteered countless hours to its development
professional development workshops and mentoring new faculty.
despite having received our letters of reappointment
when those classes that did run were assigned to new teachers in another category who are paid less
along with the over 20 other TELC adjuncts
the crisis has meant we have had to quickly learn to teach remotely
and then to quickly find alternative sources of income and health care
We have found that despite our decades of creativity and hard work
The TELC program has been a beacon to immigrants and foreign students
It is a model of the best there is in Teaching English as a Second Language
in teaching college composition to non-native speakers
The crisis should not be used to permanently shrink the TELC program or replace adjunct faculty.
CUNY will be critical to the City’s recovery from COVID, and TELC will be particularly important in Queens. The immigrant students we have devoted our careers to live in communities hit hard by the pandemic. Some 40% of CUNY students have lost their jobs since March
Those who are still working are likely to be low-wage essential workers
English proficiency developed by working with committed
experienced instructors will mean better employment opportunities for TELC students
greater access to college and a chance at a better life.
The State has withheld hundreds of millions in critically needed funding for CUNY
Enrollment has declined with the temporary shift to online classes
But lawmakers and administrators have choices in how they address the crisis
They do not have to force austerity on working people or discard long-time employees.
Albany can tax the rich — who have grown richer these last awful months — and fund our University. City Hall can make CUNY funding a priority. CUNY Central can use some of the federal stimulus money they’ve been hoarding or new stimulus that may arrive from Washington
It is the decades-long dedication and contribution of adjunct lecturers like us that has built the reputation of TELC and furthered the education and careers of so many
CUNY cannot leave us and our students hanging like this
a program that has been a revenue raiser for the college
We urge him to demonstrate his commitment to quality English language instruction and the working-class immigrant communities served by TELC and Laguardia Community College.
He can do so by rehiring the more than 20 adjuncts who have been laid off from TELC or by offering signed assurance that TELC adjunct faculty will be reinstated with the necessary hours to restore our health coverage
Linda Pelc and Rebecca Vaughn are former adjunct professors in The English Language Center at LaGuardia Community College (TELC)
TELC has been a key pathway for immigrant students and community members to build their English language skills
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a professor emeritus of agricultural economics in the Charles H
Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management whose research supported fruit growers and winemakers in New York state and around the world
White’s work emphasized helping growers adapt to new technologies and enhance productivity while maintaining environmental quality.
“Jerry did many studies on the costs and returns and marketing of apples, grapes and horticultural specialty crops during his tenure at Cornell,” said Wayne Knoblauch
professor of applied economics and management in the Dyson School
“Most notable was his work with the fledgling New York state wine industry
That work multiplied over the years and took on a national and international dimension.
“Jerry will be remembered for his steadiness and commitment,” Knoblauch said
his eagerness to help and his Sunday country breakfasts.”
For years, White’s research aided the state’s wine industry by tracking statewide grape production, wine trail visitors, input costs and marketing strategies. He also analyzed costs related to establishing a new winery in the state and managing pests in vineyards
and he explored the feasibility of grape grower cooperatives.
White also developed relationships and shared economic analyses with numerous growers, winery operators and vintners in Western and Eastern Europe, said Nelson Bills, professor emeritus of applied economics and management. In recognition of his work, White was named an International Professor by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)
a prestigious title given to faculty members whose research and service demonstrate commitment to international development.
White presented regularly to growers in New York state and across in the U.S.
and had strong collaborative relationships with Cornell Cooperative Extension educators
These contacts helped inform his contributions to numerous extension and research bulletins
including the annual Finger Lakes Grape Growers’ Conference and Cornell’s annual Agribusiness Economic Outlook Conference.
White also worked extensively with the U.S
Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency to develop and revise crop insurance programs
With the New York State Department of Equalization
White was part of the team that analyzed how best to determine a fair value for agricultural lands – work that was critically important for growers’ property taxes and borrowing potential.
White was recognized for his work with a Distinguished Extension/Outreach Program Award from the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
White grew up working on his family’s dairy farm
He earned a bachelor’s degree in dairy husbandry from North Carolina State University.
Army from 1962-66 during the height of the Cold War
including a two-year NATO assignment in Greece as a missile control officer
He then worked four years as an agricultural extension agent in Virginia before earning his master’s degree in agricultural economics from Virginia Tech and his Ph.D
he was hired as an assistant professor at Cornell
where he stayed until his retirement in 2007.
He is survived by stepsons Robert Telc and Peter Telc ’85
Krisy Gashler is a writer for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
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Medical Design and Outsourcing
January 31, 2019 By Chris Newmarker
Gerresheimer AG’s Gx TELC tamper-evident luer lock safety seal combines the adapter and closure into a single component
the adapter for screwing in the needle and the syringe cap plays a key role when it comes to ensuring ease of use and reliable dosage
simplifying the manufacturing process and boosting cost-effectiveness
It also improves ease of use because the person using the syringe only has to mount one connected part on the syringes
There are also safety benefits because turning the cap to open the syringes releases tabs
and they prevent the cap from closing again
The result is that the syringe cannot be opened and closed unnoticed – providing evidence of tampering
Covestro’s transparent high-heat polycarbonate helped Gerresheimer AG (Düsseldorf
Germany) create the new design because the polycarbonate has high heat resistance
It’s possible to sterilize it using conventional methods such as gamma rays or ethylene oxide
it is dimensionally stable and dimensionally accurate at high temperatures
so that the entire component does not warp after hot steam sterilization at 143 °C
the closure for opening the syringe remains defined in every situation and enables an easy screwing in of the tube,” Wenzel Novak
global senior director business development at Gerresheimer
protecting the adapter from damage during impacts
The Gx TELC system includes an adapter and a closure produced in a two-component injection molding process as a hard-soft combination
the manufacturer molds the adapter from copolycarbonate
Then it injection molds the cap from a thermoplastic elastomer
“The hard thermoplastic and the soft elastomer parts bind strongly to each other
so there are no chemical reactions that could cause increased torque,” said Martin Doebler
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To determine the requirement for parvalbumin (PV) expressing GABAergic interneurons of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in the behavioral adaptations induced by amphetamine (AMPH)
we blocked synaptic vesicle release from these neurons using Cre-inducible viral expression of the tetanus toxin light chain in male and female PV-Cre mice
Silencing PV+ interneurons of the NAc selectively inhibited the expression of locomotor sensitization following repeated injections of AMPH and blocked AMPH-induced conditioned place preference (CPP)
AMPH induced significantly more expression of the activity-dependent gene Fos in both D1 and D2 dopamine receptor-expressing medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the NAc of PV+ interneuron silenced mice
suggesting a function for PV+ interneuron-mediated MSN inhibition in the expression of AMPH-induced locomotor sensitization and CPP
These data show a requirement for PV+ interneurons of the NAc in behavioral responses to AMPH
and they raise the possibility that modulation of PV+ interneuron function may alter the development or expression of psychostimulant-induced behavioral adaptations
Thus PV+ interneurons are poised to have a major impact on the functional output of the NAc
However the functional requirement for NAc PV+ GABAergic interneurons in psychostimulant-induced addictive-like behaviors has remained unknown
We hypothesized that the activity of PV+ interneurons in the NAc
are required for the development and/or expression of behavioral adaptations
including locomotor sensitization and conditioned place preference (CPP)
that are induced by repeated exposure to AMPH
To test this hypothesis we used an intersectional genetic strategy to express tetanus toxin light chain (TeLC) selectively in PV+ interneurons of the NAc to determine the behavioral consequences of silencing output from these neurons within the local NAc circuit
Our data reveal a previously unknown requirement for PV+ interneurons of the NAc in the expression of both locomotor sensitization and CPP induced by repeated AMPH exposure
The results from these studies increase our understanding of the cellular mechanisms that underlie psychostimulant-induced addictive behaviors
(b) Quantification of the immunostaining from (a)
n=9 mice/virus for AMPH and challenge groups
*p<0.05 GFP vs TeLC within a treatment group
(c) Triple color fluorescence in situ hybridization for Fos
and Drd2 in the NAc of mice 1 h following administration of the challenge dose of 3 mg/kg AMPH i.p
Nuclei (Nuc) are labeled in blue by Hoeschst
Colabeling of cells is indicated in the Fos panel as follows: 1
Colocalization can be seen in the overlay panels to the right of Fos
(d) Quantification of the percent of Fos+ cells in the NAc that overlap Drd1 or Drd2 in mice expressing GFP or TeLC in PV+ GABAergic interneurons of the NAc
Percent was calculated as the number of Fos+ cells colabeled for Drd1 or Drd2 divided by the total number of Fos+ cells in the same section
(e) Colocalization of Fos in the NAc after repeated AMPH with Ppp1r1b
Three cells highlighted by asterisks in the yellow box are shown in the enlargement of the merge at right
in which one (upper left) does not colocalize with Ppp1r1b
We used goat anti-PV 1:1000 (PVG214; Swant
rabbit anti-VAMP2 1:1000 (104-202; Synaptic Systems
guinea pig anti-VGAT 1:500 (131-004 Synaptic Systems)
rabbit anti-Fos 1:5000 (PC38; EMD Millipore
MA); chicken anti-GFP (AB16901; EMD Millipore); secondary antibodies 1:500 conjugated to Cy2
We conducted behavioral experiments 3 weeks later
Recordings were carried out in the presence of NMDA and AMPA/kainate receptor blockers AP5 (50 μM) and CNQX (10 μM)
To assess PV+ neuron-mediated GABAergic transmission onto MSNs
GFP- and mCherry-negative cells were patched in NAc where expression of PV-GFP and PV-mCherry were both prominent as determined by epifluorescence
a ~0.5 mm radius spot surrounding the recorded cell was illuminated by a 473 nm LED (Thorlabs) at increasing light intensities to drive action potential firing in ChR2-expressing PV+ neurons
Paired 3 ms light pulses were delivered 50 ms apart to obtain comparative measures of GABAergic release probability from PV+ neurons onto MSNs between GFP and TeLC groups (paired pulse ratio; PPR)
Series resistance was below 25 MΩ for whole-cell recordings and did not fluctuate by more than 2 MΩ
To assess whether 473 nm light drove action potentials in PV+ neurons expressing ChR2 and either TeLC (n=1 cell) or GFP (n=2 cells)
NAc neurons positive for both GFP and mCherry were recorded in cell-attached mode (Vhold =0 mV)
Single 3 ms light pulses were delivered at the same set of intensities used for iPSC recordings in MSNs in the same region of GFP and mCherry expression
mice were sensitized before they were stereotaxically injected with the GFP and TeLC-GFP viruses
and 6 all mice received 3 mg/kg AMPH (i.p.) in the open field; 4 days later mice were stereotaxically injected with the GFP or TeLC-GFP viruses; 3 weeks later mice received a single challenge injection of 3 mg/kg AMPH in the open field; one day later all mice received saline (i.p.) in the open field as control
Seven days after surgery we collected three baseline samples
delivered 3 mg/kg of AMPH (i.p.) and seven additional samples were collected
we confirmed cannula placement within the virus-infected area
Two mice were excluded because of probe misplacement
Samples were stored at −80 °C and analyzed with HPLC with electrochemical detection using the Alexys monoamine analyzer (Antec
The chromatograms were analyzed by the Clarity software package (DataApex
A signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 3 was considered the limit of detection
We performed immunofluorescence on either a Leica DMI4000 wide-field microscope or a Leica SP8 confocal microscope
Immunofluorescence intensity was quantified using the Count Nuclei module in Metamorph (Molecular Devices
CA) for Fos and the Analyze Particles module in Fiji for VAMP2
We performed RNAScope fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) for Fos
One hour following the challenge dose of 3 mg/kg AMPH (i.p.) in the open field
brains were harvested and flash-frozen in an isopentane/dry ice bath (Thermo Fisher Scientific
Twenty micrometer coronal sections were cut on a cryostat and the slices were mounted on Super Frost Plus slides (Fisher Scientific)
We used the following probes (Advanced Cell Diagnostics
CA): Mm Fos-C3 probe (Cat# 316921-C3; GenBank accession number NM_010234.2; target region
407–1427); Mm Drd1-C1 probe (Cat # 406491-C1; GenBank accession number NM_010076.3; target region
Mm Drd2-C2 probe (Cat# 406501-C2; GenBank accession number NM_010077.2; target region
69-1175); and Mm Ppp1r1b-C2 probe (Cat# 405901; GenBank accession number NM_144828.1; target region
We incubated sections for 30s with DAPI to label nuclei of all cells
Two sections were imaged for each brain and three nonoverlapping fields were captured to tile the full medial extent of the NAc
Z-stack images were taken at × 20 on a Leica SP8 confocal microscope and analyzed in FIJI/ImageJ
For each Fos-positive cell we determined by focusing through the z-stack whether it was co-localized with Drd1
or neither and the numbers of each category were summed across the three fields for each section then reported as a percent of total Fos+ cells
In separate experiments we did the same for each Fos+ cell asking it was co-localized with Ppp1r1b
All mice received stereotaxic NAc injections with GFP or TeLC-GFP viruses 3 weeks prior to testing
we acclimated mice to the CPP apparatus by placing them into the center chamber and allowing them free access to the entire apparatus for 30 min
Conditioning began on day 2 and consisted of three two-day pairing cycles
The chamber paired with AMPH was randomly assigned regardless of initial chamber preference on day 1
On the first day (day 2) of conditioning and every other day afterwards (days 4 and 6)
we administered 2 mg/kg AMPH (i.p.) and confined the mice to the drug-paired chamber for 30 min
we administered saline (i.p.) and confined mice to opposite chamber
Control mice were injected with saline on all paring days (days 2–7)
The designated ‘drug’ paired chamber was the chamber used on day 2
Forty-eight hours after the final day of conditioning (day 9)
allowed free access to the entire apparatus for 30 min
and the time spent in each chamber was recorded
we calculated a CPP Difference Score as the amount of time in seconds the mouse spent in the designated ‘drug’-paired chamber on the challenge day minus the amount of time in seconds the mouse spent in the same chamber on the acclimation day
all mice that received only saline (control groups) were subsequently tested for sucrose preference as described below
Sucrose preference was assessed using a two-bottle choice test
Mice were housed individually in the home cage and were given two bottles of water for at least 8 days until stable and non-biased water drinking from both bottles was achieved
Liquid intake was measured for 24 h by recording the bottle weights
water in one bottle was paired with another bottle containing sucrose at concentrations of 0.5
animals were re-trained for water drinking from both bottles
A second choice test was repeated by pairing water with 0.3 μM quinine to test gustatory responses to quinine
Preference for sucrose (positive values) or avoidance to quinine (negative values) was calculated by subtracting the volume of water in bottle A consumed from the volume of sucrose or quinine solution in bottle B consumed on the same day
and then dividing that quantity by the total liquid consumption on each testing day
Data are presented as means±SEM and analyzed using SPSS (IBM SPSS Statistics
Comparisons between two independent samples were analyzed with a Student’s unpaired t-test
and electrophysiology data were analyzed by two-way repeated measures ANOVA (rmANOVA) with treatment or time (days) as a within-subject and virus as the between-subject factors followed by Bonferroni post hoc tests where applicable
Fos protein induction data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA with virus and treatment as the between-subjects factors and CPP data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA with drug pairing and virus as the between-subjects factors
Quantification of overlap showed viral expression in 60.9±5.9% of identified PV+ neurons within the NAc (n=5 mice/virus)
These results show that TeLC significantly and dramatically reduces neurotransmission from PV+ neurons onto MSNs in the NAc
Thus these data show that expressing TeLC in PV+ interneurons of the NAc selectively inhibits the locomotor sensitization induced by repeated AMPH
Comparing the locomotor response at the AMPH challenge on d31 to the saline test on d32
rmANOVA revealed a significant main effect of treatment (F1,14=70.19
a significant effect of the virus (F1,14=13.43
p=0.003) and a significant virus × days interaction (F1,14=8.3
Post hoc Bonferroni tests showed significantly reduced locomotor activity on the challenge day 31 when TeLC mice were compared with the GFP mice (p=0.005)
However both the GFP mice and the TeLC mice still showed significantly greater locomotor activity after injection of AMPH on d31 compared with that to the saline injection on d32 (for GFP p<0.001
inhibiting neurotransmission from PV+ GABAergic neurons of the NAc selectively impairs expression only of the sensitized component of the locomotor response to AMPH
Thus these data indicate that the reduced locomotor sensitization to AMPH in the mice with silenced PV+ interneurons in the NAc is not due to an impairment of AMPH-induced DA release in the NAc
suggesting that these were likely to be MSNs
which are the most populous neurons in the NAc
Regardless of the identity of our Drd1/2-lacking MSNs
again the percentage of Fos induced in this population also did not differ between the GFP and TeLC-expressing mice (p=0.88
Thus these findings suggest that silencing of synaptic transmission from PV+ interneurons globally disinhibits all populations of MSNs in the NAc
consistent with the reported broad synaptic connectivity of single PV+ interneurons to multiple striatal projection neurons
Silencing transmission from PV+ GABAergic interneurons of the NAc impairs AMPH-induced conditioned place preference but not sucrose reward
(a) Diagram showing the CPP procedure used in this study
P designates delivery of Sal or AMPH in the assigned ‘drug-paired’ chamber
and NP designates delivery of Sal or AMPH in the opposite
(b) Difference in time spent in the assigned ‘drug-paired’ chamber (sec) after repeated pairing with either saline or AMPH (2 mg/kg
i.p.) compared with time spent in the same chamber during acclimation
TeLC) and 10 mice/treatment-condition (Sal
GFP mice treated with AMPH vs Sal; #p<0.05
(c) Two bottle choice test showing preference for drinking sucrose or quinine at the concentrations noted compared with water
no significant differences in sucrose preferences were noted between the viral groups (main effect of virus: F1,15=2.76
p=0.12) or in the concentration × virus interaction (F1
Taken together these data show synaptic transmission from PV+ neurons of the NAc is required for AMPH-induced CPP
To determine if PV+ interneurons play a functionally important role in the development of addictive-like behaviors induced by repeated AMPH administration
we used stereotactic delivery of a TeLC-expressing AAV to silence transmission from these neurons in adult male and female mice
We found that silencing transmission from PV+ interneurons of the NAc selectively blocked the expression of AMPH-induced locomotor sensitization and CPP without inhibiting either basal locomotor activity or the psychomotor activation induced by acute AMPH administration
These data provide evidence that PV+ GABAergic interneurons of the NAc are required for behavioral adaptations induced by psychostimulant drugs of abuse
their function in locomotor sensitization remains to be determined
Although these neurons use ACh as a neurotransmitter
optogenetic stimulation of ChAT+ neurons has been found to enhance GABAergic IPSCs recorded from MSNs
suggesting that the net effect of ChAT+ interneuron firing in striatal circuits is MSN inhibition
In vivo optogenetic inhibition of ChAT+ interneurons was associated with increased MSN firing
and when ChAT+ neurons were silenced during the conditioning phase of a cocaine CPP procedure
mice failed to show cocaine-conditioned chamber preference
both of these studies suggest that the suppression of NAc output may be required for reward-induced conditioning
Notably our data also show that impaired inhibition in the NAc is not associated with a general hedonic deficit as determined by sucrose preference
suggesting that the inhibition of MSN firing is more important for pairing the reward with a location or an action rather than encoding the reward itself
These data suggest a model in which stimulus-induced molecular adaptations of local striatal PV+ interneurons could impact striatally guided behaviors by broadly modulating the extent and/or timing of MSN population responses
Future studies that identify AMPH-induced programs of gene regulation in PV+ interneurons will expand our understanding of this plasticity mechanism
This work was supported by NIH grant R01DA033610 (to AEW)
The authors declare no conflict of interest
Environmental modulation of amphetamine-induced c-fos expression in D1 versus D2 striatal neurons
Dopamine excites fast-spiking interneurons in the striatum
MeCP2 in the nucleus accumbens contributes to neural and behavioral responses to psychostimulants
MeCP2 phosphorylation limits psychostimulant-induced behavioral and neuronal plasticity
Parvalbumin-expressing basket-cell network plasticity induced by experience regulates adult learning
CREB modulates excitability of nucleus accumbens neurons
Paxinos G (2007) The Mouse Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates
Distribution and compartmental organization of GABAergic medium-sized spiny neurons in the mouse nucleus accumbens
Modulation of striatal projection systems by dopamine
Rapid target-specific remodeling of fast-spiking inhibitory circuits after loss of dopamine
Distinct roles of GABAergic interneurons in the regulation of striatal output pathways
Amphetamine and cocaine induce drug-specific activation of the c-fos gene in striosome-matrix compartments and limbic subdivisions of the striatum
Dopaminergic modulation of axon collaterals interconnecting spiny neurons of the rat striatum
The effect of naltrexone on amphetamine-induced conditioned place preference and locomotor behaviour in the rat
Repeated cocaine administration suppresses HVA-Ca2+ potentials and enhances activity of K+ channels in rat nucleus accumbens neurons
physiological and morphological characterization
Parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons in the rat neostriatum: a light and electron microscopic study
Inhibitory control of neostriatal projection neurons by GABAergic interneurons
Dynamic interaction between Sigma-1 receptor and Kv1.2 shapes neuronal and behavioral responses to cocaine
opposite adaptations: psychostimulant experience differentially alters firing properties in accumbens core versus shell
Physiology and pharmacology of striatal neurons
A robust and high-throughput Cre reporting and characterization system for the whole mouse brain
Feedforward inhibition of projection neurons by fast-spiking GABA interneurons in the rat striatum in vivo
Individual differences in activity predict locomotor activity and conditioned place preference to amphetamine in both adolescent and adult rats
Voltage drives diverse endocannabinoid signals to mediate striatal microcircuit-specific plasticity
Sex differences in (+)-amphetamine- and (+)-methamphetamine-induced behavioral response in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats
Parvalbumin-positive CA1 interneurons are required for spatial working but not for reference memory
Parvalbumin tunes spike-timing and efferent short-term plasticity in striatal fast spiking interneurons
Estradiol enhances behavioral sensitization to cocaine and amphetamine-stimulated striatal [3H]dopamine release
A circuitry model of the expression of behavioral sensitization to amphetamine-like psychostimulants
Novelty seeking and stereotypic activation of behavior in mice with disruption of the Dat1 gene
Transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms of addiction
Tetanus and botulinum-B neurotoxins block neurotransmitter release by proteolytic cleavage of synaptobrevin
Functional diversity and specificity of neostriatal interneurons
Heterogeneity and diversity of striatal GABAergic interneurons
Acute brain slice methods for adult and aging animals: application of targeted patch clamp analysis and optogenetics
Differential distribution of parvalbumin immunoreactive neurons in the striatum of cocaine sensitized rats
Sapap3 deletion causes mGluR5-dependent silencing of AMPAR synapses
Opposite effects of stimulant and antipsychotic drugs on striatal fast-spiking interneurons
Cannabinoid receptor 1-expressing neurons in the nucleus accumbens
Cholinergic interneurons control local circuit activity and cocaine conditioning
The Bermuda Triangle of cocaine-induced neuroadaptations
Reversible suppression of glutamatergic neurotransmission of cerebellar granule cells in vivo by genetically manipulated expression of tetanus neurotoxin light chain
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Ramona Rodriguiz of the Duke University Mouse Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Analysis Core Facility for assistance with the behavioral studies and the statistical analyses
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Vladimir M Pogorelov & William C Wetsel
Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Neuropsychopharmacology website
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The Joseph Eye Hospital is a Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church Lutheran mission hospital
(LWI) - The sight of the dilapidated hospital never left Dr Arunkumar Akilan’s memory. The son of a Lutheran pastor and a member of The Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC) Akilan vowed to help the sick by making hospitals healthy.
and remembering the rundown hospital from his youth
Akilan changed the course of his profession and is now the administrator and quality coordinator of Joseph Eye Hospital (JEH) in India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu
Akilan talks about TELC’s mission to revitalize Lutheran mission hospitals in India
the specialized work of the Lutheran eye hospital and its mission to “make people see.”
What was your journey to hospital administration and reviving hospitals
the Danish Mission Hospital that belongs to the Arcot Lutheran Church (ALC)
The hospital was in such disrepair that I vowed
I should do something in my life toward this mission of revitalizing hospitals
I decided to study hospital administration which was an unknown career path at the time
I was thankful to receive a scholarship from The Lutheran World Federation through the ALC
I returned to the church and began a 20-year career at Joseph Eye Hospital
I have been used as an instrument in God’s hands in the revival and reopening of two mission hospitals and hope to see another three revived in my lifetime
As a physicist and a hospital administrator
I could have earned more from the private sector but what I have become as a person and in my work is because of my church
I feel that God has called me to work for Lutheran hospitals
Our mission is improving the quality of life for people through comprehensive
affordable and sustainable health programs
One of our philosophies is that we strive to revive Christian hospitals so that we can succeed in the mission of improving lives through these hospitals
The eye hospital plans to revive another Lutheran hospital
JEH is a 150-bed hospital with five satellite branches throughout India and functions as a teaching hospital
training medical and paramedical staff from around the world; this helps us fulfill our goal of sustainable health programs
While many mission hospitals in India succumb to the challenge of sustainability
JEH received national accreditation for its quality services
We proved that high-quality healthcare can be affordable
Dr Arunkumar Akilan administrator of the Joseph Eye Hospital says he
along with the UELCI are dedicated to opening closed Lutheran mission hospitals in India
What is the history between the eye hospital and LWF
JEH has a long relationship with LWF dating back to the 1970s when LWF supported the construction of a chapel in the hospital
the hospital coordinates with LWF and the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI) as a partner in programs such as community health work
I participated in the LWF’s international youth program
"Transformation Through Participation," which groomed me for leadership
Joseph Eye Hospital has a rehabilitation home for the blind
The Bishop Diehl Rehabilitation Home (BDRH) serves not only the blind
The home was established in 1967 by the founder of JEH in commemoration of the former bishop of TELC
The rehabilitation home offers people with disabilities comprehensive rehabilitation such as post-surgery support
and job skills and reintroduction into the job market
Does the eye hospital test for and treat COVID-19 patients
The symptoms of Coronavirus normally mentioned are fever
but rarely is red eye mentioned as a symptom of Coronavirus
If someone comes into the hospital with red eye
they usually test positive with Coronavirus
dedicates 25 beds for COVID-19 patients and
with the rise of positive COVID-19 cases in India
the Swedish Mission Hospital now operates as a screening and observation facility for COVID-19 patients
What happened to the dilapidated hospital that inspired you in your youth
That hospital is surviving but it needs repair
I’m happy to say that there are signs of hope and the hospital is on the UELCI health forum list of hospitals to revive
I also serve as a voluntary administrator for the health desk of UELCI
which has committed to reviving closed Lutheran mission hospitals including the Danish Mission Hospital from my youth
Why do you feel it is important for Lutheran churches in India to be a part of the LWF Communion
Most Indian Lutheran churches have rooted history in the witness of our Lutheran faith which is transferred to the next generation and we want to share our Indian understanding of Lutheranism with the world as we learn from other Lutherans
JEH is keen to build partnerships with Lutheran hospitals across the world where we can learn from the best and help the least
Areas of potential partnerships include academic learning
exchange programs and provision of surgical services where eye surgeons are scarce
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Dysfunction of parvalbumin (PV)-positive GABAergic interneurons (PVIs) within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been implicated in schizophrenia pathology
how impaired signaling of these neurons may contribute to PFC dysfunction
To identify how PVIs contribute to PFC-dependent behaviors we inactivated PVIs in the PFC in mice using region- and cell-type-selective expression of tetanus toxin light chain (TeLC) and compared the functional consequences of this manipulation with non-cell-type-selective perturbations of the same circuitry
By sampling for behavioral alterations that map onto distinct symptom categories in schizophrenia
we show that dysfunction of PVI signaling in the PFC specifically produces deficits in the cognitive domain
but does not give rise to PFC-dependent correlates of negative or positive symptoms
Our results suggest that distinct aspects of the complex symptomatology of PFC dysfunction in schizophrenia can be attributed to specific prefrontal circuit elements
Although these disturbances all appear to involve PFC dysfunction
it is unclear whether specific circuit elements within the PFC contribute differentially to symptom complexity
They are therefore well placed to exert rigorous control over PFC activity
little is known about the behavioral functions of these interneurons within the PFC circuitry
To directly test how chronic impairment of PVI signaling affects PFC-dependent behavior
we selectively blocked output from PVIs in the mouse PFC by cell-type- and region-selective expression of tetanus toxin light chain (TeLC)
To distinguish PFC-dependent behaviors which require intact PVI signaling from those that do not
we compared PVI-selective interference with non-cell-type-selective perturbations of the same circuitry in behavioral assays that were chosen to detect alterations that map onto symptom categories (positive
Cell-type-selective and general inactivation in the prefrontal cortex
(A) Injection of AAV-FLEX-TeLC into the PFC selectively blocks synaptic transmission in PVIs (grey shade in circuit cartoon) by cleaving VAMP2
Transmission in all other neurons remains intact
(B) Injection of ibotenic acid into the PFC causes general disruption of neuronal circuitry (grey shade)
(C) Schematic of AAV spread in the mPFC of AAV-FLEX-TeLC-injected PV-Cre animals showing minimum (all animals >50% infected PVIs) and maximum (>50% infected PVIs only in most affected animals) infection area
(D) Immunohistochemistry illustrating co-localization of TeLC-GFP and PV in the mPFC (E)
Schematic showing minimum (common to all animals) and maximum (in most affected animals) extent of ibotenic acid lesion in the mPFC
(F) Percentage of TeLC-GFP-expressing PVIs in subregions of the PFC
(G) Quantification of VAMP2 immunofluorescence intensity shows a substantial reduction in GFP-TeLC+/vGAT+ puncta in PFC-PV-TeLC animals compared with GFP+/vGAT+ puncta in PFC-PV-GFP animals
(H) Percentage of lesioned area in subfields of the PFC after ibotenic acid injection
PrL Prelimbic cortex; IL Infralimbic cortex; M2 Secondary motor cortex; CgL Cingulate; MO Medial orbital cortex
Neither PFC-PV-TeLC nor PFC-Lesion animals showed alterations during baseline behavioral assessment.
Analysis of path length in the open field for (A), PFC-PV-GFP (n = 8) and PFC-PV-TeLC (n = 10) and (B), PFC-Saline (n = 9) and PFC-Lesion (n = 13) animals suggests normal baseline motor activity. (C,D) Time spent in the centre of an open field arena indicates no alterations in anxiety-related thigmotaxis. (E,F) The number of nose pokes during exploration of a hole-board arena is similar in all groups of mice indicating normal exploratory activity. Data are mean ± s.e.m.
Working memory is impaired in PFC-Lesion and PFC-PV-TeLC animals
(A) PFC-PV-TeLC (n = 10) animals make significantly more repeat investigations in the hole-board test than PFC-PV-GFP (n = 8) and (B)
PFC-Lesion (n = 13) mice make significantly more repeat investigations than PFC-Saline (n = 9) animals
(C) In the same cohorts of mice spontaneous alternation in a Y-maze is reduced in PFC-PV-TeLC animals and in (D)
PFC-Lesion animals compared to respective controls
(E) The same PFC-PV-TeLC and PFC-PV-GFP mice were subjected to a match to place protocol in the water Y-maze
PFC-PV-GFP animals are able to retain the platform position during the 1 minute delay period
Thus various modalities of PFC-dependent working memory critically depend on PVI integrity
PFC-PV-TeLC and PFC-Lesion animals show impaired reversal learning.
Criterion analysis confirms deficits in PFC-PV-TeLC and PFC-Lesion animals during reversal learning
The average number of trials to criterion for PFC-PV-TeLC (blue) (A) and for PFC-Lesion (red) animals (B) was similar to respective controls (green and grey) during acquisition (left) but significantly different during reversal (right) learning
(C,D) During initial water maze training PFC-PV-TeLC (C; n = 17) and PFC-Lesion (D); n = 13) animals show small differences when compared to their respective controls (n = 15 and 9)
but all animals acquire the task to the same standard
(E,F) After re-location of the platform both PFC-PV-TeLC (E) and PFC-Lesion (F) animals are significantly impaired at learning the new platform location
PFC-Lesion but not PFC-PV-TeLC mice show impaired social behavior and amphetamine hypersensitivity
(A,B) Quantification of time spent interacting with a conspecific stranger (S1) and an empty chamber (E) in a 3-chamber social preference test
(A) PFC-PV-GFP (n = 8) and PFC-PV-TeLC (n = 10) animals spent significantly more time interacting with a conspecific mouse than with an empty chamber
(B) PFC-Lesion animals (n = 13) do not show a significant preference for social interaction
Example traces in (A,B) illustrate the travelled path
Increased density in the stranger compartment of PFC-PV-GFP
PFC-PV-TeLC and PFC-Saline (n = 9) but not Lesion animals indicates preference for social interaction
(C,D) Discrimination between a novel (S2) and a familiar (S1) conspecific
PFC-PV-TeLC and PFC-Saline animals spent significantly more time with the novel mouse indicating social recognition
PFC-Lesion animals did not distinguish between novel and familiar animals
Dashed line indicates level where equal time is spent with familiar and stranger animals
(E) Path length in an open field of PFC-PV-GFP (n = 8) and PFC-PV-TeLC (n = 10) animals
Dashed line indicates amphetamine administration
Both groups show enhanced locomotor activity after amphetamine administration
Insets show cumulated path length during the amphetamine activity period
(F) PFC-Saline (n = 9) and PFC-Lesion (n = 13) animals before and after amphetamine administration
Both groups show enhanced locomotor activity after receiving amphetamine but PFC-Lesion animals show a hypersensitivity as indicated by increased peak locomotor activity (inset) and slower decay kinetics
*P < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001
Accordingly social approach/avoidance behavior as well as social recognition memory/novelty preference depends on the PFC circuitry
do not seem to be a crucial component of this circuit
PVIs do not seem to be required for this regulatory function of the PFC
Schizophrenia presents with a complex blend of positive
negative and cognitive symptoms and PFC dysfunction may be causally involved in the origin of all three symptom categories
which appear to preferentially involve PVIs
are among the most robust histological findings
To detect PFC functions that depend on intact signaling of PVIs we contrasted PV-cell-specific with general perturbations of the PFC circuitry
We found that PFC lesions produced behavioral alterations in all three symptom categories
whereas selective inactivation of PVIs caused deficits only in the cognitive domain
Here we show that PFC-dependent working memory indeed fully depends on intact transmission from PVIs
We have assessed behavioral flexibility in a water maze reversal task
Whereas both PFC-Lesion and PFC-PV-TeLC animals showed little difference in acquisition learning of a reference memory task
they needed more time to re-learn the platform position after its relocation
Analysis of reversal performance by subject revealed that this deficit was transient in PFC-PV-TeLC animals
where all mice eventually acquired the new location
more than 30% of PFC-Lesion mice did not reach floor level after platform relocation suggesting that complete inactivation of the PFC circuitry induced more persistent impairments in reversal learning
our results indicate that impaired signaling of PFC PVIs leads to a transient failure to adjust behavioral responses to altered cue-reward associations
In line with this theory we found an enhanced peak and decelerated decay of the locomotor response to amphetamine in PFC-Lesion animals
which is thought to form a core pathology in schizophrenia
may be causally involved in the development of cognitive symptoms
amphetamine-hypersensitivity and deficits in social-approach avoidance behavior as indicators of positive and negative symptoms
Based on these data we suggest that different aspects of the composite symptomatology of PFC dysfunction in schizophrenia can be allocated to specific neuronal elements
All procedures involving experimental mice were in accordance with the United Kingdom Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and were approved by the Ethical Review Committee of the University of Aberdeen
anesthesia was induced with 3% isoflurane in O2 by inhalation and maintained on 1.5–2% isoflurane throughout surgery
Heads of mice were fixed in a stereotaxic frame (Stoelting
an incision was made on the skin above the skull and the skull exposed
Small holes were drilled relative to Bregma
Lesions were made by injecting 1 μl of 1 mg/ml ibotenic acid
control animals received an injection of 1 μl vehicle (PBS)
PFC-PV-GFP and PFC-PV-TeLC animals were injected with AAV-FLEX-GFP and AAV-FLEX-TeLC respectively
Both AAVs had a titer of about 6 × 106 infectious particles per μl
2 μl of rAAV along with 1 μl of 20% mannitol solution (total 3 μl volume) were injected over a 20 minute period
Stereotaxic injections were made using a pulled glass pipette (VWR) with an 8 μm bore width
After removal of the glass pipette the burr hole was filled with bone wax
the skin replaced and fixed using Vetbond tissue adhesive (3M)
For LFP recordings double twisted insulated gold wire depth electrodes (ADVENT Research Materials
UK) were lowered bilaterally into prefrontal cortex (and an additional set into hippocampal CA1) at the same coordinates as viral deposition
Wires were externalized and a head-stage was formed of gold contact pins
Two gold plated watchmaker screws (TSE Systems GmbH
Germany) also connected to pins served as reference and ground respectively and were located above the posterior parietal cortex on either side of Lambda
Electrodes were anchored to the scull using dental cement and pins were covered with a low weight dummy connector
Post-operative analgesia was given as needed
Behavioural analysis began 10 days after stereotaxic injections
All animals were housed individually after surgery and during behavioural testing periods
Local field potentials (LFPs) from PFC were recorded while animals were freely moving in their holding cage
Low weight dummies were removed and replaced by a wireless data logger for continuous recording of 4 channels and on board memory (NeuroLogger
files were extracted from the Neurologgers using the customised CommSW application and further converted into .txt format using an in-house MatLAB script (MatLAB 8.3
Artefact free continuous recordings (120s) of LFPs were chosen and spectral power analysis conducted using Fast Fourier Transform in BrainVision Analyzer 2.0 software (BrainProducts GmbH
Germany) using ASCII (American standard code for information interchange) data format with multiplexed orientation
time domain and sampling interval of 5000 μs (200 Hz)
Mice were deeply anaesthetised by intraperitoneal injection of medetomidine/ketamine (1 and 6 mg per kg
respectively) and transcardially perfused with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) followed by 4% paraformaldehyde in PBS (PFA)
After removal brains were post-fixed in PFA overnight at 4 °C
50 μm coronal sections were taken on a VT1200S vibratome (Leica)
Sections were permeabilised in 0.4% Triton X-100 for 30 minutes at room temperature and incubated with primary antibody overnight at 4°C in PBS containing 2% normal goat serum and 0.1% Triton X-100
Sections were washed three times in PBS containing 1% NGS for 10 minutes at room temperature and incubated with secondary antibody for 2.5 hours at room temperature
Sections were washed twice in PBS containing 1% NGS and once in PBS only for 10 minutes at room temperature
mounted on Superfrost glass slides (VWR International) and cover-slipped in Mowiol
Primary antibodies used were rabbit polyclonal GFP (1:1000) (Invitrogen)
rabbit polyclonal VAMP2 (1:500) (Synaptic Systems)
guinea pig polyclonal vesicular GABA transporter (vGAT; 1:500) (Synaptic Systems)
mouse monoclonal GFP (1:1000) (Invitrogen)
Secondary antibodies used were Alexa Fluor goat anti mouse 488
Alexa Fluor goat anti mouse 647 (all Invitrogen; 1:1000) and goat anti rabbit Cy3 and goat anti guinea pig Cy5 (Jackson Immunoresearch; 1:500)
The total numbers of PV-positive and GFP-TeLC-positive neurons were counted in the following regions: prelimbic cortex
Water maze experiments were replicates of two cohorts
Only cohort 1 was quantitatively assessed (n = 10/17)
For cohort 2 and all PFC-PV-GFP animals correct viral expression was confirmed visually
brains were flash frozen in liquid nitrogen and 40 μm sections were cut on a cryostat (Leica) and mounted on superfrost plus slides
Sections were stained with cresyl violet and images captured with a Zeiss Axioimager M1 microscope
The mouse brain atlas was digitally overlayed and the lesion in each brain area calculated as a percentage of the total brain area in ImageJ
For analysis of VAMP2 expression three sections from four animals from both the PV-PFC-GFP and PV-PFC-TeLC groups were randomly selected and immunostained for VAMP2
Images were taken using a Zeiss LSM 510 confocal microscope at equal exposure times for each image
Analysis was carried out blind to the experimental group
GFP or GFP-TeLC and vGAT-positive bouton-like structures were randomly chosen and traced using Zeiss Zen 2009 image software
Fluorescence intensity for VAMP2 within the traced area was measured as a mean grey scale value in ImageJ
In total 87 GFP-positive and 65 TeLC-positive puncta were analysed
Behavioral testing of Experiment 1 was performed in PFC-PV-TeLC mice (n = 10) first to detail the phenotypes relative to PFC-PV-GFP (n = 8) mice
In a second follow-on experiment PFC-Lesion mice (n = 13) were tested against PFC-Saline mice (n = 9)
This experimental design precludes a direct 2 × 2 statistical comparison
The general sequence of testing was open field
Water maze experiments of PFC-PV-TeLC and PFC-PV-GFP mice were replicates of two cohorts with n = 7 for each group in the second cohort
A separate cohort of PFC-Sst-GFP (n = 8) and PFC-Sst-TeLC (n = 11) was tested in a spontaneous alternation paradigm
Motor activity was analysed in a square white Perspex arena (60 × 60 cm)
Animals were placed in the arena and tracked for 10 minutes with an overhead CCTV camera
data was recorded onto a PC and analysed using Ethovision XT software (Noldus)
The arena was cleaned thoroughly between animals to eliminate odour cues
We analysed path length travelled during the trial
time spent in periphery or centre (equi-area) and habituation
as measured by change in path length over time
The 40 cm by 40 cm hole board-arena was devoid of side walls and elevated 10 cm above the bench
It had 16 equi-distant holes containing infra-red sensors to record “nose-pokes” into the hole
The number of nose-pokes over a 5 minute period was recorded for each animal
Each trial was simultaneously recorded using an overhead CCTV camera for post-hoc analysis of reinvestigation
Reinvestigation was analyzed manually by an experimenter blind to the experimental group
The position of each nose-poke was noted and the number of repeat pokes into previously explored holes was divided by the number of initial pokes
An animal that did not reinvestigate any holes would receive a score of 0
The match to place Y-maze was carried out as detailed in26
trials were carried out in a circular white Perspex pool 150 cm in diameter and 50 cm deep filled with water to a depth of 35 cm with water at 21 ± 1 °C
The arena was equipped with 8 radiating arms (arm length 55 cm
The protocol was a delayed matching to place test with 3 trials per day (max trial time 60s) and inter-trial intervals of 60 s
The mice were released into the start arm facing the wall
The first trial was a free swim/extinction trial with both the start arm and one possible goal arm open but without an accessible platform
a second goal arm containing the submerged platform was open (sample trial) and the animal released again from the start arm and allowed to find the hidden platform
If it did not find the platform within 60s it was guided to it by the experimenter
where the animal was again released from the start arm and was monitored for performance with the platform remaining in the same position
A perfect trial was defined as the animal leaving the start arm and immediately entering the goal arm
Entering the wrong arm or re-entering the start arm was counted as errors
Training was continued on consecutive days until control animals reached a criterion of >70% correct match trials
Locations of arms and platform were varied pseudo-randomly each day to prevent spatial reference memory bias
Spontaneous alternation was analysed in a white Perspex arena consisting of three equally sized arms in a “Y” configuration
The animal was placed at the end of one of the arms facing the wall and allowed to freely explore the arena for 10 minutes
Each trial was recorded using an overhead CCTV camera for post-hoc analysis
Trials were analysed manually by an experimenter blind to the experimental group and the sequence of arm entries noted
A complete alternation was defined as an animal entering each of the three arms in sequence without re-entering a previously explored arm
Percentage alternation was calculated as the number of total complete alternations
divided by the total number of arm entries minus two and expressed as a percentage
Open field water maze and reversal learning was carried out in a white Perspex pool 150 cm in diameter and 50 cm deep filled with water to a depth of 35 cm with water at 21 ± 1 °C
The extra-maze environment contained numerous spatial cues
On days one to five animals were trained to locate a hidden platform with four trials per day and an inter-trial interval of 30 minutes
Animals were released from a position at one of the four cardinal compass points in a pseudorandom fashion with one release from each point per day
if an animal failed to locate the platform within the trial period it was guided to it by the experimenter
Following training on day 5 the animals received a probe trial
where they were released opposite the “platform” location and allowed to swim for 60 seconds
On day 8 the animals received a “refresher” day where they were again trained to the original platform location
On day 9 the platform location was switched to the quadrant opposite to the original location and training continued for three further days
Following training on day 12 the animals again underwent a probe trial
Throughout all trials animals were tracked via an overhead CCTV camera connected to the PC running Any-Maze (Ugo Basile) software
Primary parameters analysed were path length
As a secondary parameter we calculated the number of trials required to attain floor level performance (2 consecutive trials with ≤4 m path length in each trial)
It provides a best performance scenario and contingency plots reveal the percentage of mice that met floor level for each trial
The apparatus was cleaned thoroughly between animals to eliminate odor cues
Amphetamine challenge took place in the open field arena
Animals were placed in the centre of the arena and allowed to freely explore for 10 minutes
They were then given an intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg D-amphetamine sulphate salt (Sigma-Aldrich) dissolved in saline
Animals were returned to the arena and monitored for a further 40 minutes
the arena was cleaned thoroughly between trials to minimise odor cues
Movements were recorded by an overhead CCTV camera and movements tracked using Ethovision XT software (Noldus)
Statistical analyses were performed using Minitab version 15 (Minitab
Unless otherwise stated data were analysed with two-tailed paired or unpaired Student’s t-test as appropriate
We also used two-way ANOVA with treatment as between-subject and trial/day as within-subject factors
Contingency analysis applied Fisher’s exact or Chi-Square tests
The null hypothesis was rejected for alpha greater than 5%
Parvalbumin-positive interneurons of the prefrontal cortex support working memory and cognitive flexibility
Transition to psychosis associated with prefrontal and subcortical dysfunction in ultra high-risk individuals
Evidence of altered cortical and amygdala activation during social decision-making in schizophrenia
Reduced prefrontal activity predicts exaggerated striatal dopaminergic function in schizophrenia
Prefrontal function in schizophrenia: confounds and controversies
Negative symptoms and hypofrontality in chronic schizophrenia
Up-regulation of GABAA receptor binding on neurons of the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenic subjects
[3H]muscimol binding sites increased in autopsied brains of chronic schizophrenics
Cortical inhibitory neurons and schizophrenia
Decrease in reelin and glutamic acid decarboxylase67 (GAD67) expression in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: a postmortem brain study
GAD1 mRNA expression and DNA methylation in prefrontal cortex of subjects with schizophrenia
Cortical parvalbumin interneurons and cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia
Molecular characterization of schizophrenia viewed by microarray analysis of gene expression in prefrontal cortex
Decreased glutamic acid decarboxylase(67) mRNA expression in multiple brain areas of patients with schizophrenia and mood disorders
Parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons are reduced in the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenics
Gene expression deficits in a subclass of GABA neurons in the prefrontal cortex of subjects with schizophrenia
Animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders
Control of cortical GABA circuitry development by Nrg1 and ErbB4 signalling
Dominant-negative DISC1 transgenic mice display schizophrenia-associated phenotypes detected by measures translatable to humans
Interneuron dysfunction in psychiatric disorders
Schizophrenia-related neural and behavioral phenotypes in transgenic mice expressing truncated Disc1
Neuregulin 1 regulates pyramidal neuron activity via ErbB4 in parvalbumin-positive interneurons
Ketamine-induced loss of phenotype of fast-spiking interneurons is mediated by NADPH-oxidase
PCP: from pharmacology to modelling schizophrenia
Circuit-based framework for understanding neurotransmitter and risk gene interactions in schizophrenia
Interneurons of the neocortical inhibitory system
A developmental switch in the response of DRG neurons to ETS transcription factor signaling
epigenetic and environmental factors shaping emotionality in rodents
Orbital prefrontal cortex mediates reversal learning and not attentional set shifting in the rat
Reversable suppression of glutamatergic neurotransmission of cerebellar granule cells in vivo by genetically manipulated expression of tetanus neurotoxin light chain
On the use of ibotenic acid to lesion selectively different components of the hippocampal formation
Effect of ibotenic acid lesions of the medial prefrontal cortex on amphetamine-induced locomotion and regional brain catecholamine concentrations in the rat
Effects of medial prefrontal cortex cytotoxic lesions in mice
The prefrontal cortex—an update: time is of the essence
A behavioural analysis of rats with damage to the medial prefrontal cortex using the Morris water maze: evidence for behavioural flexibility
Effect of excitotoxic lesions of rat medial prefrontal cortex on spatial memory
Cognition in schizophrenia: core psychological and neural mechanisms
Modeling cognitive endophenotypes of schizophrenia in mice
Prefrontal cortex and working memory for spatial response
spatial location and visual object information in the rat
prefrontal cortical and ventral striatal circuits in radial-arm maze tasks with or without delay
Reexamination of functional subdivisions of the rodent prefrontal cortex
reversal and set-shifting in first-episode schizophrenia: stability over six years and specific associations with medication type and disorganization syndrome
Probabilistic reversal learning impairments in schizophrenia: further evidence of orbitofrontal dysfunction
Modeling madness in mice: one piece at a time
The role of the human prefrontal cortex in social cognition and moral judgment
Effects of 6-hydroxydopamine lesioning of the medial prefrontal cortex on social interactions in adolescent and adult rats
Anxiolysis followed by anxiogenesis relates to coping and corticosterone after medial prefrontal cortical damage in rats
Scopolamine-induced deficits in social memory in mice: reversal by donepezil
Increased dopamine transmission in schizophrenia: relationship to illness phases
Provocative tests with psychostimulant drugs in schizophrenia
The relationship between dorsolateral prefrontal neuronal N-acetylaspartate and evoked release of striatal dopamine in schizophrenia
Selective prefrontal cortex inputs to dopamine cells: implications for schizophrenia
The physiological approach: functional architecture of working memory and disordered cognition in schizophrenia
Gamma oscillations correlate with working memory load in humans
Theta rhythms coordinate hippocampal-prefrontal interactions in a spatial memory task
Recruitment of parvalbumin-positive interneurons determines hippocampal function and associated behavior
A loss of parvalbumin-containing interneurons is associated with diminished oscillatory activity in an animal model of schizophrenia
Parvalbumin neurons and gamma rhythms enhance cortical circuit performance
Hippocampal theta rhythm and its coupling with gamma oscillations require fast inhibition onto parvalbumin-positive interneurons
Learning and cognitive flexibility: frontostriatal function and monoaminergic modulation
Prefrontally driven downregulation of neural synchrony mediates goal-directed forgetting
Mutant mouse models: genotype-phenotype relationships to negative symptoms in schizophrenia
Antidepressant effect of optogenetic stimulation of the medial prefrontal cortex
Control of dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons by the medial prefrontal cortex: Involvement of serotonin-1A
Rapid regulation of depression-related behaviours by control of midbrain dopamine neurons
Reducing prefrontal gamma-aminobutyric acid activity induces cognitive
behavioral and dopaminergic abnormalities that resemble schizophrenia
Prefrontal cortical GABA modulation of spatial reference and working memory
Focal epileptiform activity in the prefrontal cortex is associated with long-term attention and sociability deficits
A resource of cre driver lines for genetic targeting of GABAergic neurons in cerebral cortex
Production and titering of recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors
The mouse brain in stereotaxic coordintaes
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We were supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council grant BB/H001123/1 (P.W.)
the Medical Research Council grants G0601498 and G1100546/2 (P.W.)
Tenovus Scotland Grant G09/17 (A.J.M.) and the University of Aberdeen (P.W.)
Teismann and the microscopy core facility at the University of Aberdeen for the use of microscopy equipment
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
The authors declare no competing financial interests
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(LWI) - The Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC) is marking two major milestones this year—its 100th anniversary as an independent church body in India
and the consecration of a newly elected leader Bishop Daniel Jayaraj
Its constitution as TELC on 14 January 1919 emerged from a joint venture by the Danish Halle Mission
the Leipzig Evangelical Lutheran Mission and the Swedish Mission
But it’s a church with a three-century mission history
dating back to 1707 when German Protestant missionaries dedicated the Jerusalem Church
the first chapel to be set up in the coastal town of Tranquebar
This was followed by the first Tamil translation of the New Testament in 1711 and its printing two years later
In an interview with Lutheran World Information (LWI) Jayaraj
who was consecrated as the 13th Bishop of Tranquebar on 14 January
witnessing to Christ among the people of Tamil Nadu through its educational and medical missions
The church largely consists of Dalits but includes people who belong to all castes worshipping together
“The church is involved in the village gospel ministry through which many churches are being planted in remote areas,” he says
The 200,000-member church was one of the founding member churches of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in 1947
Preaching the gospel and working for social justice remain key to TELC’s agenda
remote villages among Dalits and tribal people
It has 126 pastorates with up to 12 congregations each
also highlight that “it was the first church in India to have a printing press to print the gospel messages.”
But there are concerns related to the local context
“Social conflicts based on [affiliation to different groups]
poor maintenance of the church’s properties
lack of financial support for medical hospitals are the immediate challenges that we face in the church,” he says
undertaking mission work in the country’s political environment remains one of the greatest challenge
The TELC maintains gender justice as an important aspect of its ministry and it has more than 20 women pastors
“There is a long way to go to achieve gender justice
which we have started implementing slowly in all spheres of our church ministry.” This includes encouraging youth to participate in the church’s programs so that they can become aware of gender justice issues
which the bishop admits is common in Indian society
Talking about the current issues for the church at this important time in its history
Jayaraj says his election came after a difficult period of internal conflict that saw Indian courts take over the church’s administration in 2016
appointing a caretaker for its “spiritual” matters
His consecration therefore symbolizes reconciliation between the factions within the church
“More reconciliation work needs to be done among the members of the congregations for unity and peace.”
The TELC bishop talks about the value of its national and global Lutheran networks
the LWF and the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI)-- which brings together the 12 Lutheran churches in India
“The UELCI is united as a Lutheran family in India
Our church’s development and diaconal missions are guided by the UELCI
pastors and lay leaders to train in mission and social work,” Jayaraj says
the church receives assistance from the UELCI
there is also a need for some of the better off congregations to assist victims of natural disasters
He describes the relationship with the LWF as equally important especially in mutual sharing with the wider Lutheran communion
The LWF also assists needy candidates pursuing theological and other studies and supports the church’s development work
earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from the Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary and completed a post-graduate degree in religion at Madurai Kamarajar University
he worked as a missionary in Sweden from 1991 to 1995
and upon his return home continued serving in TELC parishes
Bishop Daniel Jayaraj is married with two adult children
Communion building
Voices from the Communion
[email protected]+41 (0)22 791 60 00
2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corporation (TELC) has been awarded with the top distinction in this year's iF DESIGN AWARD
only 75 were awarded the gold by the independent expert iF jury
The winning FLOORNAVI
won a gold award in the discipline Product
in the Public Sector / Government category
The jury released the following statement regarding its decision to issue FLOORNAVI the gold:
"Toshiba has designed an efficient elevator (destination) control system in line with universal design to cater to the needs of able and disabled people
AI allows for floor destinations to be bundled effectively
The simple and easy interface is readily adaptable to various architecture contexts."
FLOORNAVI allows passengers to specify destination floors before embarking elevators and guides them to appropriate cars to reduce the number of floors at which they need to stop
Since passengers do not need to push floor buttons in the car
they can get in and out of the car smoothly even when it is congested
Iconic ring-shaped icons and the chest-high operation panel allow comfortable operations
A full-scale mock-up is used to verify the usability to make FLOORNAVI easy to use for diverse people
FLOORNAVI helps greatly reduce the elevator travel time during the peak time
TELC has been expanding its business operations outside of Japan with a strong focus in Southeast Asia
India and the Middle East to grow its global portfolio
This is in response to the rapid construction of high-rise buildings in tandem with the global economic growth
fuelling the demand for high quality product development
production and maintenance of elevators and escalators for increased social mobility
TELC established Toshiba Elevator (Vietnam) Limited Liability Company
TELC had earlier entered the market from 2014 through a partnership with a local company and this reaffirms the company's commitment to strengthen sales activity and offer high quality field services in the fast growing Vietnam market
TELC will continue to strengthen system development
enhancing sales channel and sales partnerships for expansion in the global market
Responding to customers' expectations and requirements for safe and pleasant elevators
TELC will continuously pursue further innovation and improvement and enhance its technology to provide customers with the highest quality products and services
For more information about FLOORNAVI, please contact us via our website
About Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corporation
Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corporation (TELC) was established in 1967 and started global operation in the early 1970's
TELC has built a framework that encompasses all aspects of Toshiba's elevators from product and system development to production
maintenance and services in order to provide customers with the highest quality products and services
Utilizing the comprehensive technological infrastructure developed by Toshiba Corporation over more than 140 years since its foundation
we aim to further enhance the world-leading technology and quality that enabled us to develop ultra-high speed elevator
harnessing the full range of Toshiba's technological innovations
the iF DESIGN AWARD has been recognized as an arbiter of quality for exceptional design
The iF label is renowned worldwide for outstanding design services
and the iF DESIGN AWARD is one of the most important design prizes in the world
Submissions are awarded in the following disciplines: Product
All awarded entries are featured on the iF WORLD DESIGN GUIDE
in the iF design app and are displayed at the iF design exhibition in Berlin
The invasive black catfish is increasingly threatening local ecosystems in the Czech Republic
causing both ecological and economic problems
Scientists from the Institute of Vertebrate Biology at the Czech Academy of Sciences are therefore monitoring the black catfish
and cooperating with experts from the Mendel University in Brno
local fishing companies and fishing associations on effective regulation methods
The aim is to protect the original biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems while minimising the economic losses caused by this invasive species
Native to North America and introduced to Europe in the 19th century
the black catfish (Ameiurus melas) is known for its rapid reproduction
aggressive feeding habits and ability to form large populations
lockable spines in its pectoral and dorsal fins
it was introduced into the Czech Republic through carp stocks from Croatia and is currently found in a few isolated areas such as Mělník
the species poses a serious threat to native fish by competing for resources and preying on their eggs and fry
resulting in a significant decline in these native species
“In areas such as the ponds around Telč
the black catfish causes significant economic damage
with losses estimated at more than CZK 20,000 per hectare
it can proliferate to such an extent that the given area is no longer important,” explains Pavel Jurajda from the Czech Academy of Sciences
750 kg of catfish were caught in four days in a recreational pond of 0.7 hectares
which is often higher than the biomass of carp in breeding ponds,” he explained
Students from the Faculty of Fisheries at MENDELU have participated in the catfish reduction project as part of their compulsory practical training
This year they will also participate in the reduction of catfish in Kroměříž
in which MENDELU students also participated
demonstrated the effectiveness of various fishing techniques
such as fishing under the outfall with a special net
catching juveniles with a cast net or with a modified landing net
The most effective method so far seems to be fishing with traps
when the experts caught 2.2 tonnes of adult black catfish from five ponds around Telč
Successful control of the black catfish will take time and effort
Experts are therefore trying to further reduce known populations of this invasive species
they are monitoring other areas to detect the possible arrival of new individuals
Black catfish can be confused by the public with the similar American catfish
“Our goal is to further reduce the population
and to reduce the risk of reckless release of this species into the wild,” Jurajda added
the Vysočina Regional Administrative Organisation and the Moravian Fishing Association
we are planning a regional project focused on further regulation of black catfish in order to protect the biodiversity of our waters.”
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National Geographic has just released its annual list of top travel destinations
and a Czech town has made something of a surprise appearance
the UNESCO-protected Czech town famed for its colorful central square and Italian Renaissance architecture
is often overlooked by foreign tourists in the Czech Republic in favor of Bohemian locations such as Český Krumlov and Karlovy Vary
as Telč has made National Geographic’s list of the top travel destinations for next year
And while the town is officially situated in the Moravian half of the Czech Republic
it’s just as close to Prague as popular day-or-weekend-trip destinations like Český Krumlov
“With resplendent Italian Renaissance architecture
it’s no wonder the southern Czechia (Czech Republic) town of Telč is sometimes called the Czech Florence,” writes Nat Geo Travel Czechia editor in chief Tomáš Tureček
“Positioned midway between Prague to the north and Vienna to the south
the storybook town got its official start in the 14th century as a crossroads on the well-trodden trading routes among Bohemia
A pair of Czech neighbors are also represented on the list
with Poland’s Białowieża Forest and Austria’s Grossglockner High Alpine Road also making the cut for top 2020 travel destinations
Other European locales on the list include the UK’s Wales Way
The historic center of Telč was one of the first three Czech locations – along with the centers of Český Krumlov and Prague – to be added to the UNESCO list World Heritage Sites in the Czech Republic when the country was first established in 1992
Nat Geo’s editor recommends the warmer months of May-September as prime Telč time
but you can get a jump on the 2020 travel crowds by visiting during this holiday season
A special Christmas market will debut in the city’s historic square on the weekend of December 14-15
For more tips on what to see and do in in the town, have a look at our Telč travel guide
Looking for some more travel inspiration outside the Czech Republic for next year
These are National Geographic’s top 25 travel destinations for 2020:
As a result of many years of efforts of the Foreign Language Centre of the University of Lodz
the TELC certificate "Polish language B1-B2" has received a state recommendation and was included in the Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of 31 May 2023 on the list of certificates of knowledge of the Polish language confirming the knowledge of this language required for granting a long-term resident's residence permit in the EU
recognizing the qualifications of knowledge of a foreign language
and in this case Polish as a foreign language
We are glad that once again TELC certificates have gained recognition at such a high level of assessment of certification competences
– we read in the announcement of the Foreign Language Centre of the University of Lodz
TELC certificates in five languages were included in the previous Civil Service Acts
including the latest Act of 21 November 2008 (Journal of Laws No
and subsequent Regulations of the Prime Minister on the manner of conducting qualification proceedings in the Civil Service
28 May 2008 and the currently applicable draft of this Regulation of 16 December 2009
in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of 26 September 2016 (Journal of Laws 2016
item 1586) TELC examinations are recognized in doctoral proceedings
in habilitation proceedings and in awarding the title of Professor
TELC certificates may also constitute confirmation of teachers' qualifications pursuant to the Regulation of the Minister of National Education on detailed qualifications required from teachers of 1 August 2017 (Journal of Laws 2017
Source: Foreign Language Centre of the University of Lodz
Edit: Communications and PR Centre, University of Lodz
fax: 00 48 42/665 57 71, 00 48 42/635 40 43
The UŁ Multiportal project co-financed by the European Union funds as part of the NCBR competition
Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the website to function properly.
Statistics cookies collect information anonymously. This information helps us to understand how our visitors use our website.
Moravia Back to topAttractionsMust-see attractionsVila Tugendhat
Brno had a reputation in the 1920s as a centre for modern architecture in the Bauhaus style
Arguably the finest example is this family villa
Lednice Chateau
owned by the Liechtenstein family from 1582 to 1945
is one of the country’s most popular weekend destinations
Labyrinth under the Cabbage Market
the city has opened several sections of extensive underground tunnels to the general public
This tour takes around 60 minutes to explore…
Špilberk Castle
Brno's spooky hilltop castle is considered the city's most important landmark
Its history stretches back to the 13th century
Telč Chateau
Telč's sumptuous Renaissance chateau guards the northern end of the Telč peninsula
The chateau was rebuilt from the original Gothic structure in the 16th…
Archbishop's Chateau
The Unesco-protected Archbishop's Chateau dates from the late 17th century and is Kroměříž’s big-ticket sight
Valtice Chateau
the seat of the wealthy Liechtenstein family
is one of the country's finest baroque structures
Kroměříž Museum
The biggest draw here is a permanent collection of the works of Czech painter and graphic artist Max Švabinský
View more attractionsArticlesLatest stories from MoraviaRead more articlesFilter by interest:
Adventure TravelArt & CultureBeaches, Coasts & IslandsFood & Drink All Interests Adventure Travel Art & Culture Beaches, Coasts & Islands Food & DrinkFood
Matched with a beauty queen like Prague – and without its own Charles Bridge to boast about – Brno is the Czech Republic’s perennial underdog. But spend…
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TORQUAY Early Learning Centre (TELC) celebrated a successful five years in business at the weekend with a good crowd turning out for the anniversary event that included a performance from the Mik Maks
The TELC’s Angela Anbeek said the centre was particularly pleased with the turnout given all the other commitments families have on weekends
“I’d say 150-plus people attended,” Ms Anbeek said
“It was just great to have so many families there celebrating
A lot of them have been with us since their kids were born and we’ve seen them progress right through to kinder
A lot of them have had siblings come through now too
It’s amazing how quickly those five years have gone.”
The Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic is pleased to present an official invitation for the 15th year of the European Summer School
The European Summer School will be held from 8th to 12th August 2016 in the historical city of Telč under the title "BORDERS
BOUNDARIES AND FRONTIERS: EUROPE AT CROSSROAD"
The European Summer School offers a range of lectures and seminars in English
This school is intended for junior diplomats from the countries cooperating with the Diplomatic Cademy of the MFA of the Czech Republic as well as for public administration officials from the Czech Republic
Accomodation in Prague and air ticket/other means of transport from your country to Prague and back will not be covered by the Diplomatic Academy in Prague
We would greatly appreciate if you could nominate one participant and one alternative participant from you institution and communicate their names by the 17th of June 2016
Should you wish to receive any further information on the practical aspects of the European Summer School, please contact the program manager of the Summer School, Mr. Luboš Nový: lubos_novy2@mzv.cz
Videos
Court noted that within the scope of Section 22-A of the Registration Act
only the properties endowed under Hindu and Islamic Laws are given protection and it does not include the church properties
The Madras High Court at Madurai Bench recently emphasized India's secular nature and said that the State should approach all religions alike
The bench of Justice GR Swaminathan highlighted that under Section 22-A of the Registration Act
1908 which provides for 'refusal to register certain documents'
Church properties do not receive the same protection as Wakf properties or properties belonging to religious institutions governed by the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act
"I have personally come across quite a few cases wherein church properties have been illegally and unlawfully alienated"
He said that when the Registration Act contains a provision to protect the properties endowed under Hindu and Islamic Laws
it is surprising that the church properties are not covered
"The logical reason that one can give is that in the case of Hindu religious endowments and Wakf properties
a similar law appears to be absent," he opined
asserted that "probably the time has come to include the church properties also within the scope of Section 22-A of the Act"
These observations were made in a writ petition filed by one Shalin
who contested the Sub Registrar of Tiruppathur
Sivagangai District's refusal to register the property he had purchased
The Sub Registrar submitted before the court that
properties endowed to the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC) cannot be registered without obtaining permission from the High Court
The Special Government Pleader urged the court that no interference was warranted and therefore
the single judge bench pointed out that the 2017 High Court decision was merely an interim order
The court remarked that "it is well settled that an interim order cannot extend beyond the conclusion of the main writ petition"
there is no standing restraint order from the High Court regarding TELC properties in general
The single judge bench said that in the case at hand
the issue to be considered was whether Section 22(A)(1) of the Registration Act
1908 could be invoked to sustain the challenged order
It observed that Section 22-A specifically applies only to immovable properties belonging to
any religious institution covered under the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act
and to Wakf properties under the supervision of the Wakf Board
court noted that the property in question was purchased by the petitioner from one Vijaya
who obtained it through a settlement deed dated March 17
who had purchased the property from TELC on June 19
Both the sale deed to Premkumar Prithviraj and the settlement deed to Vijaya were registered and the revenue record had been updated
and the patta in Vijaya's name was included in the typed documents
the impugned order has to be set aside," the bench held
It allowed the petitioner to re-present the document before the Sub Registra
"The second respondent shall entertain the same and register it and release it," court ordered
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skip to > City Tours
skip to > Attractions
skip to > Around Prague
TOURIST TRAIN
PRAGUE SIGHTSEEING TOUR (sightseeing by bus)
CRUISE-PRAGUE (sightseeing by boat)
Cruise + lunch + music (12:00-14:00): 690 CZK/adult
Cruise + dinner (19:00-22:00): 790 CZK/adult
Cruise + live jazz (20:30-23:00): 590 CZK/adult
Cruise + lunch + music: 15 March-October daily
Cruise + dinner and Cruise + live jazz: daily
CITYTOUR BY BIKE
RENT A BIKE IN PRAGUE
CITYTOURS BY WALK (and more here)
^ back to top
PRAZSKY HRAD
Opening hours: inside - April-October 9:00-18:00
outside - April-October 5:00-24:00, November-March 6:00-23:00
Prague Castle long tour - Old Royal Palace
Prague Castle short tour - Old Royal Palace
"The Story of Prague Castle": 140 CZK/adult
Prague Castle Picture Gallery: 150 CZK/adult 80 CZK/child
is the most significant Czech monument and one of the most important cultural institutions in the Czech Republic
According to the Guinness Book of World Records
the Prague Castle is the largest coherent castle complex in the world
with an area of almost 70,000 square metres
it consists of a large-scale composition of palaces and ecclesiastical buildings of various architectural styles
from Roman-style buildings from the 10th century through Gothic modifications in the 14th century
Tickets (lift in the tower): 60 CZK/adult
Getting there: Metro A - Staromestska /Namesti Republiky
The Prague Astronomical Clock is a medieval astronomical clock and mounted on the southern wall of Prague Old Town City Hall in the Old Town Square
The Orloj is composed of three main components: the astronomical dial
representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky and displaying various astronomical details; "The Walk of the Apostles"
a clockwork hourly show of figures of the Apostles and other moving sculptures; and a calendar dial with medallions representing the months
LORETA
Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9:00-12:15 and 13:00-16:30
The beautiful Loreta is an important pilgrimage site commissioned by Baroness Beligna Katherina von Lobkowicz in 1626
The remarkable place consisting of a cloister
a Holy Hut and clock tower with a world famous chime that has been situated in Prague HradÄany for more than 300 years
Not to be missed is the 'Prague Sun' and its 6000 plus diamonds in the Treasury
and the 27-bell carillon playing on the hour in the entrance
VYSEHRAD
Getting there: Metro C - Vysehrad
Vysehrad is a castle located in the Czech Republic
The two dominant spires seen from all around belong to the SS Peter and Paul Church
The impressive interior of the church has been restored and is open to visitors
musicians and politicians lie buried in the cemetery adjacent to the church
FRANZ KAFKA MUSEUM
Getting there: Metro A - Malostranska
The Kafka Museum exhibition covers the life and works of the famous Prague writer and presents the unique influence that Kafka had on this city
PETRINSKÁ ROZHLEDNA
23 - Újezd (than funicular Petrín)
The PetÅ™ínská rozhledna (PetÅ™ín lookout tower) is a 60 metre high steel framework tower in Prague
Although it is much shorter than the Eiffel Tower
so the top is actually at a higher altitude than that of the Eiffel Tower
The view is magnificent and well worth the 299 step climb to reach the viewing platform
On a clear day it is possible to see the highest peak in the Czech Republic
ZIZKOVSKÁ TV VEZ (93 m high view for Prague)
Getting there: Metro A - Jiriho z Podebrad or Tram Nr. 9 - Lipanska
Zizkov Tower is a TV transmitter (258 m above sea level) with a lookout terrace and a restaurant
From the height of 93 m it is possible to view the capital Prague and the major part of Bohemia
On a clear day you can see as far as 100 km
FOLKLORE GARDEN
Show + dinner + unlimited drinks + return transfer: 1050 CZK/person
Czech folklore show and dinner is an unforgettable experience
The wonderful ensemble of dancers and musicians dressed in traditional clothing will entertain
and amuse you during two and half hours of performance
You are more than welcome to take an active part in learning the Czech songs
A traditional dinner will be served with unlimited drinks
Getting there: Bus from Prague Florenc station to Karlovy Vary - 142 km
COLONNADES
Karlovy Vary prides itself in its colonnades
They were built in the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century and there are five of them
Probably the most beautiful is the Mill Colonnade in the Neo-Renaissance style
The Hot Spring Colonnade is where you can not only drink the curative waters of the VÅ™ídlo (literally "Hot Spring"
the best-known of the springs and symbol of Karlovy Vary
but also admire the 14-meter high fountain that constantly springs up from the VÅ™ídlo in the covered hallway of the colonnade
JAN BECHER MUSEUM
Karlovy Vary produces a popular herbal liquor called Becherovka (sometimes also referred to as "the 14th spring")
This bittersweet classic among Czech liquors is based on a secret recipe
which was first put together by Jan Becher in a Karlovy Vary pharmacy (now the Jan Becher Museum) in 1807 and which
Visit the Jan Becher Museum to take a tour of the Becherovka distillery and original cellars
to taste the centuries old liquor right where it's made
Getting there: Train Prague Hlavni Nadrazi station to Karlstejn - 35 km
HRAD KARLSTEJN
April-October Tuesday-Sunday 9:00-16:00
May-June and September, Tuesday-Sunday 9:00-17:00
July-August, Tuesday-Sunday 9:00-18:00
Monday closed (lunch break May-September 12:00-12:30
Getting there: 2 km walk from train station
Karlštejn Castle is a large Gothic castle founded 1348 AD by Charles IV
The castle served as a place for safekeeping the Imperial Regalia as well as the Bohemian coronation jewels
Located about 30 km southwest of Prague above the village named Karlštejn
it is one of the most famous and most frequently visited castles in the Czech Republic
Individual buildings of the castle are situated at different height levels expressing their importance
Dominating on the hilltop is the 60m high and separately fortified Great tower built upon massive walls that houses the Chapel of the Holy Cross
From there one can step down to the Marian tower
the five-storied Imperial palace and come to the Well tower and Burgrave's palace located at the lowest level
Getting there: Bus from Prague Florenc station to Telc - 150 km
ZÁMEK TELC
Getting there: 1 km walk from train station
The Telc Castle ranks among the gems of Moravian Renaissance architecture
Its attractiveness is enhanced by the very sensitive approach of the owners to its heritage
thus the original interiors have been preserved in very good condition
Many of them are representative examples of the influence of Italian art on our territory and of its variations in the area north of the Alps
Getting there: Train Prague Hlavni Nadrazi station to Tábor - 105 km
HUSITSKÉ MUZEUM
Opening hours: 8:30-17:00 (last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Hewn-Stone Cellars: 40 CZK/adult, 20 CZK/child
Getting there: 15 minutes walk from train station
The Hussite Museum in Tabor is amongst the larger museums in the country
and it is one of the most visited museums in the Czech Republic
The Museum has in its collections more than half a million items
many of which are of international significance covering the areas of humanities and natural science
and publishes periodicum Husitský Tábor
The "Hussites" exhibition in the Old Municipal House in Tábor is closed because of the reconstruction works on the new exhibition (opening in June 2010)
The Underground Cellars are still open and it will be available by the next entrance to the house (No
Getting there: Bus from Prague Opatov station to Velké Popovice - 25 km
VELKOPOPOVICKY KOZEL
Tickets (with beer tasting): 60 CZK/adult
Who knows whether František Ringhoffer was able to foresee the success Kozel beer would achieve and which it continues to confirm and enhance
when he founded the brewery more than 130 years ago
Velké Popovice brewery tour include visiting brewery courtyard (the brewery past and present)
original brewhouse of 1928 and tasting of VPK beer
Getting there: Train from Prague Hlavni Nadrazi station Plzen - 115 km
PLZENSKY PRAZDROJ
Opening hours: 10:00-18:00 (last admission 1 hour before closing)
Tickets (with beer tasting): 150 CZK/person
Getting there: walk from train station beside Radbuza River
In the mid-nineteenth century the Pilsen brewery instituted a revolution in brewing
For the first time in history beer was produced as we know it today - the bitterish beverage with a golden tinge and snow-white head
the brewery is a lively and dynamic place linking the traditional production process of Pilsner Urquell beer with the most modern brewing technologies
The brewery tour includes visiting the Visitor Centre
Getting there: Bus from Prague Florenc station to Terezin - 60 km
TEREZÍN MEMORIAL
Ghetto Museum and Magdeburg Barracks: November-March 9:00-17:30
Crematorium: November-March Sunday-Friday 10:00-16:00
Ceremonial Halls and Central Morgue: November-March 9:00-17:00
Prayer room from the time of the Terezín ghetto: November-March 9:00-17:30
the only institution of its kind in the Czech Republic
is to commemorate the victims of the Nazi political and racial persecution during the occupation of the Czech lands in World War II
and look after the memorial sites connected with the suffering and death of dozens of thousands of victims of violence
Getting there: Train Prague Hlavni Nadrazi station to Kutna Hora - 75 km
profits from the Kutná Hora silver mines brought fame to the lands of the Czech Crown
and Kutná Hora became the richest and most powerful town in the Czech lands
At the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries
Kutná Hora became the seat of King Václav IV
which was restored in line with the Baroque taste of the early 18th century
were to influence the architecture of central Europe
These masterpieces today form part of a well-preserved medieval urban fabric with some particularly fine private dwellings
Getting there: Bus from Prague Florenc station to Cesky Krumlov - 160 km
Cesky Krumlov is a beautiful town located in Southern Bohemia
the town is situated on the Vltava River and is full of Baroque buildings housing cafes and bars
features a spectacular castle (the second largest in the Czech Republic)
The town's appearance is little changed since the 18th century and the buildings have been well maintained and restored
In 1992 Cesky Krumlov was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List
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