bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adaptation of the Russian Food Market to the Contemporary Geopolitical Challenges
Authors: Ivolga Ivan
Published: January 2019

Domestic markets of agricultural commodities are increasingly influenced by trade integration and liberalization. Current uncertain political and economic relations in the macro-region of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Eastern and Western Europe, international tensions around Russia-Ukraine problem, bilateral economic and trade sanctions between Russia and such global economic powers as the USA and the EU transform market patterns and affect agricultural production, rural development and food security in both the CIS and worldwide. The chapter aims to discover the expected influences of such trade restrictions on trade in agricultural commodities, to assess the degree of distortion and return effects on domestic food markets. Chapter specifically addresses possible effects of trade restrictions between the EU, the USA, and other countries from one side, and Russia from the other, particularly imposed ban on agricultural trade. It is concluded with the overview of the expected influences of trade tensions on Russia's domestic food market.
Food Porn and the Invitation to Gaze
Authors: Ibrahim Yasmin
Published: January 2019

In the digital world, notions of intimacy, communion and sharing are increasingly enacted through new media technologies and social practices which emerge around them. These technologies with the ability to upload, download and disseminate content to select audiences or to a wider public provide opportunities for the creation of new forms of rituals which authenticate and diarise everyday experiences. Consumption cultures in many ways celebrate the notion of the exhibit and the spectacle inviting gaze through everyday objects and rituals. Food as a vital part of culture, identity, belonging, and meaning making celebrates both the everyday and the invitation to renew connections through food as a universal subject of appeal. Food imagery as a form of transacted materiality online offers familiarity, comfort, co-presence but above all a common elemental literacy where food transcends cultural barriers, offering a universal pull towards a commodity which is ephemeral yet preserved through the click economy. Food is symbolic of human solidarity, sociality and sharing and equally of difference creating a spectacle and platform for conversations, conventions, connections, and vicarious consumption. Food images symbolise connection at a distance through everyday material culture and practices.
Food Consumption Expenditure and Standard of Living in Romania
Authors: Zaharia Marian , Gogonea Rodica-Manuela
Published: January 2019

Food consumption and its structure is significantly influenced by standard of living. But in addition, there are differences in the level and structure of food consumption, determined by characteristics and local habits. Given these considerations, in this chapter, starting from the mean consumption expenditure by detailed level, and the overall structure of consumption expenditure by detailed COICOP level (01-12 - Individual consumption expenditure of households), are analyzed the mean consumption expenditure per inhabitant, types of household, degrees of urbanization, and macro regions of Romania. Also are analyzed the correlations between the evolution of living standards and evolutions structure of consumption expenditure by type of household.
Indigenous Food Preservation and Management of Postharvest Losses Among the Akan of Ghana
Authors: Quan-Baffour Kofi
Published: January 2019

The rapid population increase has consequences on food security in Africa. The policies of the colonialists protected European markets and discouraged the growth of indigenous agro- industries in Africa. In Ghana much food is produced during the harvest seasons but greater part of it gets rotten due to lack of preservation or storage facilities. Despite the negative attitude of the colonialists towards local products indigenous food preservation continued unabated although limited to the aging population in the rural areas. The purpose of this chapter is to share the Akan heritage of indigenous food preservation as a strategy to manage postharvest losses and ensure food security and sustainable livelihoods. The chapter which emanated from an ethnographic study used interviews and observations for data collection. The study found that the Akan communities without agro-industries use their indigenous knowledge and skills to preserve food and create jobs. The chapter concluded that in this era of Africa's rebirth its people should utilize indigenous food processing skills to reduce postharvest losses and ensure food security. It was recommended that the government of Ghana should provide financial support to make indigenous agro-industries sustainable.
Green Consumption
Authors: Kaya Ozan , Duman Feridun
Published: January 2019

The main purpose of this chapter is to reveal the profile of organic food consumers and the factors that affect consumers' motivation for organic food consumption as being one of the most important aspects of green marketing and green consumption. Therefore, this study first dealt with green consumers and green consumption and then, organic food consumption and the state of organic food market were evaluated and finally, an empirical research was conducted with 393 respondents in order to better determine the consumers of organic food consumption in Turkey. According to the findings, four motivations were found in influencing the behavior of organic food consumption. These are: health, ecological and social welfare, sensory appeal and natural contents. More specifically, this research reveals that those that have children participated in this research frequently consume organic food.
Urban Farming Movement
Authors: Nicolin Pierluigi
Published: January 2019

The expression “urban agriculture” refers to the emergence in many cities of areas cultivated by farmers who distribute the fruits of the land they work in the environs of the zone of production. The movement, born in response to a range of real needs, has become a global phenomenon, and has taken on an organized form in a large number of cities: from Mumbai to Beijing, London, New York, Detroit, São Paulo, Rosario, Vancouver, Tokyo, San Francisco, etc. The urban farming movement, with its production of food, its educational aims and the idea of creating sustainable situations, has been able to take root in many cities and metropolises as it is closely integrated with the urban ecosystem. For the most part it is the poor and women who, working on small farms located both inside and outside the city, are nurturing this politico-cultural movement. Their agricultural settings are creating new and interesting landscapes that need to be analyzed from an aesthetic perspective as well for the influence that they might have on contemporary landscape architecture. The phenomenon could have repercussions on the visual conventions of the urban and suburban environment and even affect the behavior and lifestyles of city dwellers should it develop on a larger scale.
Geospatial Evaluation for Urban Agriculture Land Inventory
Authors: Parece Tammy E. , Campbell James B.
Published: January 2019

Urban agriculture is recently being recognized as a distinctive urban land use contributing to greenspaces and food security. The land inventory forms the critical first step in identifying sites for urban agriculture. The authors' analysis greatly expands on prior land inventory strategies, first analyzing land cover to identify all open areas available for siting urban agriculture. Then in GIS, the authors completed a land use suitability analysis, and finally a demographic analysis to assess potential sites for contribution to food security of lower income populations. Results show that Roanoke includes 2,312 hectares suitable for schoolyard gardens, urban farms, community gardens, orchards, and home gardens, of which 189.4 hectares are found in neighborhoods with extremely high rates of poverty. The authors' inventory strategy can be implemented elsewhere without special data or software. A detailed inventory offers opportunities for long-range planning, and broadening participation of stakeholders.
Intercultural Language Teaching in an Era of Internationalization
Authors: Byram Michael
Published: January 2019

Internationalization is on the lips of educationists, especially those in higher education. It is a phenomenon throughout the world, and though there are variations in the practice, there is much similarity in the rhetoric. In practice, internationalization has largely, until recently, been a matter of structural changes rather than having an effect on curriculum. One structural feature often presented as part of internationalization is to impose or strongly recommend language learning for all. In this chapter, the author's intention is to examine more carefully what internationalization might mean when educational values are taken into consideration—the values of internationalism rather than internationalization—and then to discuss and illustrate the kind of language teaching which addresses not just “communication” but a values education that is based on internationalism.
Beyond the Script
Authors: Corbett John
Published: January 2019

This chapter begins by reviewing the basic principles of teaching English for specific purposes (ESP) and argues that ESP has been characterized by an instrumental focus on equipping language learners to function in largely predictable and generalizable situations that involve learners mastering predictable genres or “scripts.” However, at more advanced levels of instruction, learners need also to develop the expertise and attitudes that enable them to function in less predictable situations, drawing creatively on their language resources to do so. This chapter argues that aspects of intercultural communicative competence (ICC) align closely with the expectations and curricular goals of reflective practice across a range of professions. Drawing on discussions of ICC, as well as on the model of “narrative medicine” in healthcare, this chapter offers a framework and suggests practical techniques for teaching language and critically reflective practices in one professional domain, that of tourism and hospitality.
Building Sensorium
Authors: Anstey Josephine , Roussel Roy
Published: January 2019

Gilles Deleuze assumes that the source of creativity/the new (as opposed to just the development of what already is implicit in existing things) lies outside conscious thinking. Deleuze argues that film mimics our automatic processing of visual input and therefore is able to intervene in this processing in ways that conscious thought cannot, at the level of the most basic sensory experience. Since computers can and already offer input to multiple senses, can they do similar work? The authors discuss Deleuze's approach to finding the difference between development and creativity via the analysis of film technology and ask whether anyone is using computers the way Deleuze conceives of those film-makers who are philosophic using film? The focus of this article is on creativity in the domain of art making.
Observations of Chaotic Behaviour in Nonlinear Inventory Models
Authors: White Anthony S. , Censlive Michael
Published: January 2019

This article describes the use of simulation to investigate incipient chaotic behaviour in inventory models. Model structures investigated were either capacity limited or of variable delay time, implemented in discrete and continuous transform algebras. Results indicate the absence of chaos for a continuous time model but gave limited evidence for chaos in both unrestricted discrete models and those with a positive orders only limit. The responses where interaction with the capacity limit occurred did not confirm chaotic behaviour at odds with published results. Using the Liapunov exponent as a measure of chaotic behaviour, the results indicated, where the delay varies in proportion to order rate, a larger fixed delay reduced the Liapunov exponent as did increasing the dependence of delay on order rate. The effect of the model structures showed that the IOBPCS model, produced the largest Liapunov exponent. Reducing the discrete model update time reduced the Liapunov exponent.
Trust in Cognitive Assistants
Authors: Siddike Md. Abul Kalam , Kohda Yoji
Published: January 2019

The main purpose of this research is to develop a framework of trust determinants in the interactions between people and cognitive assistants (CAs). CAs are defined as new decision tools that can provide people with high quality recommendations and help them make data-driven decisions to understand the environment around them. Trust is defined as the belief of people that CAs will help them reach a desired decision. An extensive review on trust in psychology, sociology, economics and policy making, organizational science, automation, and robotics was conducted to determine the factors that influence people's trust in CAs. On the basis of this review, a framework of trust determinants in people's interactions with CAs was developed where reliability, attractiveness, and emotional attachments positively influence people's trust in CAs. The framework also shows that relative advantages of innovativeness positively affect the intention to use CAs. Future research directions are suggested for developing and validating more concrete scales in measuring trust determinants in the interactions between people and CAs.
Bector-Chandra Type Duality in Linear Programming Under Fuzzy Environment Using Hyperbolic Tangent Membership Functions
Authors: Saxena Pratiksha , Jain Ravi
Published: January 2019

Multi-objective optimization has been applied in many fields of science, including engineering, economics and logistics where optimal decisions need to be taken in the presence of trade-offs between two or more conflicting objectives. One approach to optimize a multi-objective mathematical model is to employ utility functions for the objectives. Recent studies on utility-based multi-objective optimization concentrates on considering just one utility function for each objective. But, in reality, it is not reasonable to have a unique utility function corresponding to each objective function. Here, a constrained multi-objective mathematical model is considered in which several utility functions are associated for each objective. All of these utility functions are uncertain and in fuzzy form, so a fuzzy probabilistic approach is incorporated to investigate the uncertainty of the utility functions for each objective. Meanwhile, the total utility function of the problem will be a fuzzy nonlinear mathematical model. Since there are not any conventional approaches to solve such a model, a defuzzification method to change the total utility function to a crisp nonlinear model is employed. Also, a maximum technique is applied to defuzzify the conditional utility functions. This action results in changing the total utility function to a crisp single objective nonlinear model and will simplify the optimization process of the total utility function. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is shown by solving a test problem.
Incorporating Vertical Acceleration for Defining Driving Behaviour
Authors: Eboli Laura , Mazzulla Gabriella , Pungillo Giuseppe
Published: January 2019

Acceleration of a vehicle is composed of three components: longitudinal, lateral, and vertical acceleration. Longitudinal and lateral accelerations have been frequently considered as components for investigating driving behaviour, with the aim of improving road safety. But in particular situations during the motion of the vehicle, also vertical acceleration is relevant. In this paper, the authors want to demonstrate that vertical acceleration is also a relevant parameter to be considered in terms of road safety. The authors focus on the difference registered by considering only lateral and longitudinal acceleration and by considering also vertical acceleration in the analysis of driving behaviour through real tests on the road. All the parameters were registered through a global positioning system (GPS) device and a tri-axial accelerometer, which allow the geo-referenced kinematic parameters of the vehicle to be detected. For this purpose, over 110 tests covering about 600 kilometers were completed. All the experimental surveys were conducted in a good weather condition, under dry road pavement conditions, on weekdays, during day time and out-of-peak hours, in order to have no influence from the traffic flow. Each path was repeatedly run by the driver in order to collect the instantaneous speed and acceleration along the pattern. During the tests, about 40,000 instantaneous values of vehicle position have been registered. The survey interested a segment of the Italian National road n.107 (S.S. 107), in Southern Italy. The authors found that by considering vertical together with longitudinal and lateral accelerations, a higher number of unsafe driving conditions can be identified. More specifically, the proposed methodology allows 20% extra of dangerous driving conditions to be registered. For this reason, the authors retain that also vertical acceleration should be considered in the definition of the safety domain, because it determines the intensity of the exchange forces between the tires and road pavement, and in some cases, it leads to a loss of friction. Definitively, the authors retain that vertical acceleration is not only useful as indicator of comfort on board, but it has an important role also in terms of road safety.
Cyber Security Vulnerability Management in CBRN Industrial Control Systems (ICS)
Authors: Mugavero Roberto , Abaimov Stanislav , Benolli Federico , Sabato Valentina
Published: January 2019

As cyberattacks are becoming the prevalent types of attacks on critical infrastructures, due protection and effective response are crucial in CBRN facilities. This article explores comprehensive cyber security vulnerability management related to CBRN Control Systems and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and provides recommendations that will increase CBRN operational cyber security and ensure further platform for the research in the field of operational vulnerability detection and remediation. The article reviews several key issues related to ICS vulnerability management cycle, vulnerability sharing with security developers, patch and network management, cyber offensive threats and threat actors and related cyber security challenges. It covers such specific issues as ICS connectivity to private/public networks, critical ICS accessibility via Web Access, Wi-Fi and/or unauthorised software inside corporate networks. The proposed solutions refer to some areas of vulnerability management for the awareness and development of countermeasures.
Higher Education Students Perspective on Education Management Information Systems
Authors: Martins José , Branco Frederico , Au-Yong-Oliveira Manuel , Gonçalves Ramiro , Moreira Fernando
Published: January 2019

As higher education evolves into a multifaceted and complex activity, the incorporation of education management information systems (EMIS) that allows for the production of relevant, organized and structured information, becomes a necessity for both institutions and students. Despite the recognition of this requirement, existing literature does not focus on how EMIS might trigger students' success. With this in mind, an initial proposal of a multi-perspective EMIS success model is presented and a validation on the possible existence of linear correlations between the model contexts is described. Moderate correlations have been detected between the majority of the model contexts and a very strong correlation has been detected between students' satisfaction and the arise of net benefits associated with the use of EMIS.
Tele-Media-Art:Feasibility Tests of Web-Based Dance Education for the Blind Using Kinect and Sound Synthesis of Motion
Authors: Dias José Rodrigues , Penha Rui , Morgado Leonel , Alves da Veiga Pedro , Carvalho Elizabeth Simão , Fernandes-Marcos Adérito
Published: January 2019

Tele-media-art is a web-based asynchronous e-learning platform, enabling blind students to have dance and theatre classes remotely, using low-cost motion tracking technology feasible for home use. Teachers and students submit dance recordings augmented with sound synthesis of their motions. Sound synthesis is generated by processing Kinect motion capture data, enabling blind students to compare the audio feedback of their motions with the audio generated by the teacher's motions. To study the feasibility of this approach, the authors present data on early testing of the prototype, performed with blindfolded users.
Statistical Grouping Methods for Identifying User Profiles
Authors: Kelsen de Oliveira Francisco , Brandão de Oliveira Max , Gomes Alex Sandro , Queiros Leandro Marques
Published: January 2019

This article contains data from a group of users, divided into subgroups according to their levels of knowledge about technology. Statistical hierarchical and non-hierarchical clustering methods were studied, compared and used in the creations of the subgroups from the similarities of the skill levels with these users' technology. The research sample consists of teachers who answered online questionnaires about their skills in the use of software and hardware with an educational bias. The statistical methods of the grouping were performed and showed the possibilities of groupings of the users. The analysis of these groups allowed the identification of the common characteristics among the individuals of each subgroup. Therefore, it was possible to define two subgroups of users, one with skills in technology and another without skills in technology. The partial results of the research showed two main algorithms for grouping with 92% similarity from groups of users with skills in technology and the other with little skill, confirming the accuracy of the techniques discriminating against individuals.
Linking Mathematical Praxeologies With an Epidemic Model
Authors: Lucas Catarina , Cota Manuel Pérez , Bon Cecilio Fonseca , Mirás José Manuel Casas
Published: January 2019

The purpose of this article is to show the power of modelling activities to analyze multidisciplinary phenomena and to bridge the gap between different educational levels in the scope of mathematics. In particular, it parts of an open and generating question relating with an epidemic. The multidisciplinary scope of this question, and the correspondent answers, will contribute to several new questions of a social, economic and health concern. The linked set of successive question-answers will constitute a representation of a device sustained by the paradigm of questioning the world, called the study and research path. This methodological tool emerged from the anthropological theory of the didactic. The design of this specific teaching device uses ICT exhaustively as a facilitator (GeoGebra/wxMaxima) and an interactive learning environment (Moodle), because some ICT methods make students to feel more comfortable and allow a different dynamic to the classroom.
New Teaching and Learning Methodologies in the Smart Higher Education Era, A Study Case, Wikipedia
Authors: Bordel Borja , Mareca Pilar
Published: January 2019

Smart education systems and methodologies are based on the deep integration of information technologies in the educational process. Among all the tools belonging to the environment of teaching technologies, wikis have been reported as ideally suited for collaborative learning. Several Universities around the world are running Projects and events about the use of wikis in higher education. Therefore, in this paper the authors explore the use of wikis in the higher educational institutions, being focused on a special case: Wikipedia. Wikipedia presents special characteristics which make it perfect to not only reach the specific learning objectives of a certain particular subject, but also the transversal abilities so demanded today (such as teamwork or social responsibility). Finally, the authors analyze more deeply the experiences about the use of Wikipedia conducted in the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and the obtained results are presented.
Identification of Variable and Joining Germline Genes and Alleles for Rhesus Macaque from B Cell Receptor Repertoires
Authors: Zhang Wei , Li Xinyue , Wang Longlong , Deng Jianxiang , Lin Liya , Tian Lei , Wu Jinghua , Tang Chenling , Yang Huanming , Wang Jian , Qiu Ping , Fu Tong-Ming , Saksena Nitin K. , Wang I-Ming , Liu Xiao
Published: January 2019

The rhesus macaque is a valuable preclinical animal model to estimate vaccine effectiveness and is also important for understanding Ab maturation and B cell repertoire evolution responding to vaccination. However, incomplete mapping of rhesus Ig germline genes hinders the research efforts. To address this deficiency, we sequenced the BCR repertoires of 75 Indian rhesus macaques. Using a bioinformatic method that has been validated with BCR repertoire analysis of three human donors, we were able to infer rhesus variable (V) and joint (J) germline alleles. We identified a total of 122 V and 20 J germline alleles, of which 91 V and 13 J alleles were novel, with 40 V novel genes, of which 8 were located at a novel genomic region not, to our knowledge, previously recorded. The novelty of these newly identified alleles was supported by two observations. First, the 50 V and 5 J novel alleles were observed in the whole genome sequencing data of 10 rhesus macaques. Second, using alignment reference including the novel alleles, the mutation rate of the rearranged repertoires significantly declined in nine other irrelevant samples, and all our identified novel V and J alleles were 100%-identity mapped by rearranged repertoire data. These identified novel alleles, along with the previously reported alleles, provide an important reference for future investigations of rhesus immune repertoire evolution in response to vaccination or infection. In addition, the method outlined in our study offers a powerful foundation for the identification of novel Ig alleles in the future.
Characterization of Glucose Transporter 6 in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Bone Marrow–Derived Macrophage Function
Authors: Caruana Beth T. , Byrne Frances L. , Knights Alexander J. , Quinlan Kate G. R. , Hoehn Kyle L.
Published: January 2019

The polarization processes for M1 versus M2 macrophages are quite distinct in the context of changes in cellular metabolism. M1 macrophages are highly glycolytic, whereas M2 macrophages require a more oxidative nutrient metabolism. An important part of M1 polarization involves upregulation of the glucose transporter (GLUT) GLUT1 to facilitate increased glucose uptake and glycolytic metabolism; however, the role of other glucose transporters in this process is largely unknown. In surveying the Functional Annotation of the Mammalian Genome and Gene Expression Omnibus Profiles databases, we discovered that the glucose transporter GLUT6 is highly upregulated in LPS-activated macrophages. In our previous work, we have not detected mouse GLUT6 protein expression in any noncancerous tissue; therefore, in this study, we investigated the expression and significance of GLUT6 in bone marrow–derived macrophages from wild-type and GLUT6 knockout C57BL/6 mice. We show that LPS-induced M1 polarization markedly upregulated GLUT6 protein, whereas naive macrophages and IL-4–induced M2 macrophages do not express GLUT6 protein. However, despite strong upregulation of GLUT6 in M1 macrophages, the absence of GLUT6 did not alter M1 polarization in the context of glucose uptake, glycolytic metabolism, or cytokine production. Collectively, these data show that GLUT6 is dispensable for LPS-induced M1 polarization and function. These findings are important because GLUT6 is an anticancer drug target, and this study suggests that inhibition of GLUT6 may not impart detrimental side effects on macrophage function to interfere with their antitumor properties.
Relationship between ciliates and environmental parameters in a restored carbonate fen
Authors: Mieczan Tomasz , Adamczuk Małgorzata , Świątecki Aleksander , Rudyk-Leuska Natalia
Published: January 2019

Wetlands restoration has been implemented on sites exploited for agricultural for over a decade in Eastern Europe. However, little is known about microbial diversity in this region. Microbial processes and patterns can be used as sensitive indicators of changes in environmental conditions. The responses of ciliates wetlands restoration are largely unexplored. Based on the results of a long-term study in fen of the Poleski National Park (Poland), we assumed that restoration causes changes in the physicochemical properties of fen water and sought to answer the question of how ciliate communities react to these changes and whether these microorganisms can play a significant role as bioindicators in evaluating the restoration process. Twenty taxa were recorded in the ciliate community, with 16 taxa found prior to restoration and 12 after restoration. Restoration clearly modified the taxonomic composition and abundance of ciliates. This was reflected in a decrease in the abundance and in the density of these protozoa and in a significant increase in the proportion of euplanktonic species. Before restoration, the most common ciliates were Cinetochilum margaritaceum and Strombidium viride, while the proportion of Paramecium bursaria increased after restoration. We also observed that the improvement in hydrological conditions, and hence the transformation of the vegetation structure in the peat bog, causes changes in the trophic structure of ciliates. The RDA analysis showed that all variables together accounted for 86.9% of the total variance. However, variables that significantly explained the variance in ciliate communities were water level, temperature, pH, and nutrients. Our results suggest that an indicator species approach based on functional groups may be appropriate for biomonitoring fens restoration.
Evaluation of microbial quality of street food in Karachi City, Pakistan: An epidemiological study
Authors: Mehboob Aneela , Abbas Tanveer
Published: January 2019

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the microbial quality of famous street foods vended in Karachi city and find out the potential sources implicated in food contamination. To proceed with this study, dry and wet procedures were used via closed system questionnaire and gold standard techniques respectively. According to the questionnaire survey, majority of people have basic knowledge of food borne sickness i.e. 67% and health risks associated with poor eating habits i.e. 87%, nonetheless most individuals do not mind their cleanliness before eating on spot. A large number of people had come across different food borne infections subsequent to eating street foods. Total mean aerobic count was 7.18±1.26 CFU/ml that was not under the acceptable microbial limits. The highest total viable count 9.15±0.01 CFU/ml and the lowest total viable count 4.67±4.04 CFU/ml recorded were of grilled chicken and fried fish respectively. Poor post handling and personal cleanliness of food venders were ascribed to high bacterial count in completely cooked street foods.
Anaesthetic management of children with craniopharyngioma
Authors: Moningi Srilata
Published: January 2019

The perioperative management of craniopharyngioma in children is quite challenging not only to the neurosurgeons and anaesthesiologists but also to the oncologists, endocrinologists and intensivists. The various concerns include size of the tumour and its effects on intracranial pressure, vicinity of the tumour to nearby vessels and neural structures, endocrine disturbances, compressive symptoms, paediatric age, obesity-related problems, high recurrence rate of the tumour, undesired effects of radiotherapy, high morbidity and mortality. As anaesthesiologists, we deal with most of the challenges. The success of the outcome depends on the proper identification of the patient, pre-operative optimisation, surgical decision, awareness of the complications, timely intervention and optimal post-operative care.
Outcome and rehabilitation of patients following aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage
Authors: Shukla Dhaval
Published: January 2019

Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is a dreaded neurosurgical disorder. Although the mortality has been declining in the past three decades, the disability after SAH is still significant. The main determinants of outcome are age, clinical grade, amount of SAH and size of aneurysm. Both neurophysical deficits and neuropsychological impairments are determinants of functional outcome after SAH. Patients should be assessed using outcome measures for both traumatic brain injury and stroke. Early rehabilitation after SAH improves not only physical outcome but also cognitive and functional outcome.
Brain and heart connections: The trigeminocardiac reflex!
Authors: Singh Gyaninder , Chowdhury Tumul
Published: January 2019

Trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR) is a well-established neurogenic reflex although its exact mechanism and clinical significance remain unclear. This reflex may be incited by stimulation of the trigeminal nerve anywhere along its course starting from the peripheral distribution to the central nucleus. It usually manifests as bradycardia, asystole, hypotension, apnoea and gastric hypermotility; though other clinical manifestation such as tachycardia and hypertension may also occur. Diving reflex (DR) shares many similarities with TCR in both clinical manifestation and mechanism of action and is often considered as a modified or subtype of TCR. DR is an important physiological adaptation to withstand hypoxia during apnoea in many animal species including humans and thus belongs to a group of oxygen-conserving reflexes. Although TCR is a physiological reflex having protective function, an exaggerated response may have fatal consequences. Surgeries or stimulation involving head, neck and face region (area supplied by trigeminal nerve) are particularly prone to provoke this reflex. Vigilant and continuous monitoring for early identification of warning signs and communication with surgeon to interrupt the stimulus immediately is enough to cease the reflex in most of the cases. However, failure to identify and treat in time may have deleterious consequences and thus TCR has gained much attention and awareness in recent years. Over the last two decades, our knowledge on TCR has expanded but we still remain far from complete elucidation of pathophysiology, mechanism and clinical significance of this unique ‘brain and heart connection’ called TCR.
Assessment of the role of gabapentin in patients with supratentorial tumours undergoing craniotomy under general anaesthesia: A double-blind randomised study
Authors: Soliman Rabie , Zohry Gomaa
Published: January 2019

Background: Gabapentin attenuates the haemodynamics, decreases the catecholamine release and has a neuroprotective effect. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of gabapentin in patients with supratentorial brain tumours undergoing craniotomy under general anaesthesia. Methods: A radial arterial line, central venous line and ventriculostomy catheters were inserted before surgery. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopental, fentanyl and atracurium and maintained with sevoflurane, fentanyl and atracurium infusion. The study included 160 patients classified randomly into two groups: Group G: The patients received gabapentin capsules 1200 mg orally 2 h before surgery. Group C: The patients received placebo capsules. Results: The heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure and intracranial pressure decreased significantly with gabapentin as compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The dose of fentanyl and end-tidal sevoflurane was lower with gabapentin than the control group (P < 0.05). The urine output was higher in the gabapentin group than the control group (P < 0.05). The Glasgow coma scale score was better in the gabapentin group as compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of nausea and vomiting was lower in the gabapentin group as compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Pre-operative administration of gabapentin in patients undergoing craniotomy under general anaesthesia minimised the fluctuations in haemodynamics, reduced the requirements for sevoflurane and fentanyl, decreased intracranial pressure and improved the outcomes. There were some side effects associated with gabapentin such as hypotension and bradycardia.
Cervical spine movement during intubation
Authors: Swain Amlan , Sahu Seelora , Swain Bhanu
Published: January 2019

There have been growing concerns following documented instances of neurological deterioration in patients with cervical spine injury as a result of intubation. A significant body of evidence has since evolved with the primary objective of ascertaining the safest way of securing the endotracheal tube in patients with suspected and proven cervical injury. The search for a mode of intubation producing the least movement at the cervical spine is an ongoing process and is limited by logistic and ethical issues. The ensuing review is an attempt to review available evidence on cervical movements during intubation and to comprehensively outline the movement at the cervical spine with a wide plethora of intubation aids. Literature search was sourced from digital libraries including PubMed, Medline and Google Scholar in addition to the standard textbooks of Anaesthesiology. The keywords used in literature search included ‘cervical spine motion,’ ‘neurological deterioration,’ ‘intubation biomechanics,’ ‘direct laryngoscopy,’ ‘flexible fibreoptic intubation,’ ‘video laryngoscopes’ and ‘craniocervical motion.’ The scientific information in this review is expected to assist neuroanaesthesiologists for planning airway management in patients with neurological injury as well as to direct further research into this topic which has significant clinical and patient safety implications.
Critical care of subarachnoid haemorrhage
Authors: Souter Michael
Published: January 2019

Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is a consistent presentation of haemorrhagic stroke of significance to clinicians in neurocritical care, inducing consequent effects on non-neurological systems, while at the same time, rendering the brain vulnerable to secondary physiological insult modifying neurological outcome, despite control of the original point of haemorrhage. Coordinated treatment depends on comprehensive evaluation of both cerebral and systemic physiology, identifying and treating impaired function. The presence of a dedicated neurocritical care team can benefit outcome. Protocols of care have evolved to meet evidence-based challenges, discarding potentially deleterious components of hypervolaemia and haemodilution, while maintaining pressure-guided perfusion. Treatment targets have also evolved with a shift in focus away from SAH-associated vasospasm, towards actual ischaemic outcome – illustrated by lack of effectiveness of pharmaceutical treatments of vasospasm. Clinicians must consequently review pathophysiological mechanisms of injury and devise new treatment opportunities.
Effect of intravenous midazolam on intracranial pressure during endotracheal suctioning in patients with severe head injury
Authors: Robin Metilda , Xavier Teenu , Anjusha T. , Kuriakose Merin , Agrawal Deepak
Published: January 2019

Background: Patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) require elective ventilation and sedation to decrease intracranial pressure (ICP) and any increase in ICP may be detrimental for the outcome in these patients. Methods: This prospective study was done in a neurotrauma intensive care unit ( ICU )of a level 1 trauma centre in India over a one month period. All adult male patients with severe TBI on mechanical ventilation and monitored for ICP were included in this study. Baseline ICP was measured before starting endotracheal (ET) suctioning and serial readings were taken during and after ET suctioning. Patients were divided into two groups (control and intervention) with intervention group receiving intravenous bolus dose of 2 mg of midazolam before ET suction. Results: A total of 20 patients were enrolled during the study period. Both groups were well matched with regards to age and admission Glasgow coma scale (GCS). There were 10 patients in the midazolam group and 10 patients in the control group. The mean rise of ICP following ET suctioning in control group was found to be 24.1mm Hg ±11.1 as compared to 18.25 mm Hg ±-9.29 in the midazolam group ( P< 0.05). Conclusions: Significant rise in ICP from baseline occurs following ET suctioning in ventilated, severe TBI patients. Our study suggests that additional intravenous bolus of midazolam prior to suctioning may significantly reduce the rise in ICP and should be practiced by ICU nurses.
Publius Ovidius Naso: Metamorphoses 7–9
Authors: Lovrenčič Joža
Published: January 2019

Minijci zdaj na ladji pagaški so rezali morje:videli vmes so Fineja, kako oslepljen je preživljalbridko starost, in tedaj Akvilonova mlada sinovaptice deviške nesrečnemu starcu od ust sta pregnala.Končno pod Jazonom slavnim, po vsem, kar vmes so prestali,slednjič dosegli so glenasti Fasid, deroče valove.Ko so pred kralja prišli, so zahtevali Friksovo runo,kralj pa je prej zahteval od njih neznanske pogoje.
Francesco Petrarca: Pismo »Sokratu«
Authors: Božič Anja
Published: January 2019

Pismo Sokratu je prvo in naslovno pismo Petrarkove prve zbirke proznih pisem v latinščini z izvirnim naslovom Rerum familiarium libri. Vanjo je vključenih 350 pisem, spisanih med letoma 1325 in 1366. Petrarka se jih je odločil povezati v enotno zbirko leta 1345, ko je v knjižnici veronske katedrale odkril korpus Ciceronovih Pisem Atiku. Ta in Senekova Pisma Luciliju so ga vzpodbudila k izdaji podobne zbirke, sprva osnovane kot nabor nasvetov za vsakdanje življenje, premišljeno razsejanih po pismih različnim naslovnikom. Njihova tematika je raznolika, skladno z vsebino pa so raznoliki tudi pisemski naslovniki.
Razmišljanja s popotovanja po Grčiji ali Kronika poletne šole klasičnih jezikov v Arkadiji
Authors: Kušar Gaj
Published: January 2019

V zgodnjih jutranjih urah 23. junija 2018 se je začelo potovanje v Grčijo. Tako smo se, kot nekoč lord Byron, podali v deželo, ki kot zibelka evropske kulture in misli še danes buri domišljijo ljudi. A preden se spustimo v pripoved o deželi Homerjevih junakov, naj povemo, da nas je pot tokrat vodila tudi skozi deželo »kjer mili ‘si’ nam na uho prihaja,« kot pravi Dante v Božanski komediji.
Attitudes of Slovenian Language Users Towards General Monolingual Dictionaries: an International Perspective
Authors: Kosem Iztok , Wolfer Sascha , Lew Robert , Müller-Spitzer Carolin
Published: January 2019

This paper presents the results of a survey on dictionary use in Europe, the largest survey of dictionary use to date with nearly 10,000 participants in nearly thirty countries. The paper focuses on the comparison of the results of the Slovenian participants with the results of the participants from other European countries. The comparisons are made both with the European averages, and with the results from individual countries, in order to determine in which aspects Slovenian participants share similarities with other dictionary users (and non-users) around Europe, and in which aspects they differ. The findings show that in many ways the Slovenian users are similar to their European counterparts, with some noticeable exceptions, including (much) stronger preference for digital dictionaries over print ones, above-average reliance on other people when dictionary does not contain the relevant information, and the largest difference between the price of a dictionary and the amount willing to spend on it.
Visões da queda: motivos edênicos em Minha formação, de Joaquim Nabuco
Authors: Jobim Martins André
Published: January 2019

Em sua autobiografia Minha formação, Joaquim Nabuco emprega metáforas como vetores de construção de sentido para a vida autobiografada, assim como para a realidade na qual ela se desenrola. Neste trabalho, analiso o conjunto das ocorrências de metáforas edênicas no livro. Parte-se do entendimento de Hans Blumenberg e Luiz Costa Lima de que o metafórico não é, conforme o entendimento mais convencional, um aspecto ornamental da linguagem, mas um eixo que complementa as carências do conceitual na comunicação humana. Procede-se, em seguida, à análise de passagens onde aparece a metáfora edênica na autobiografia de Nabuco, na tentativa de compreender como suas formas e mecanismos variam dentro de uma mesma obra literária, defendendo, ainda, o seu caráter propedêutico na produção de interpretações sociológicas sobre a história do Brasil.
Os problemas estruturais da vida cotidiana nos municípios brasileiros na Primeira República: o caso de Alfenas-MG
Authors: Eugênio Alisson
Published: January 2019

Este texto é resultado de um estudo sobre aspectos da vida cotidiana no município de Alfenas durante a Primeira República. No intuito de conhecer alguns dos maiores problemas que afetavam o dia a dia da sua população naquela época e como ela os enfrentava, a análise baseou-se em requerimentos enviados ao poder público municipal. Com isso, o objetivo da investigação é analisar como tais requerimentos podem ser interpretados como instrumentos de ação política, ou de cidadania, por meio dos quais os cidadãos que os assinavam procuravam acionar o poder municipal para solucionar problemas de interesse público.
Characterization of seismogenic crustal faults in the Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador
Authors: Chunga Kervin , Ochoa-Cornejo Felipe , Mulas Maurizio , Toulkeridis Theofilos , Menéndez Edgar
Published: January 2019

Few moderate-to-strong earthquakes associated with active and capable geological faults have been documented for the southern coastal region of Ecuador. The seismic record of Ecuador initiates with the Guayaquil earthquake in 1787 (Mw 6.5), followed by the 1943 (Mw 6.2), and the most recent one in 1980 (Mw 6.1). The available data is insufficient to evaluate the seismic hazards associated with faults capable of generating seismic events of magnitude Mw≥6.0 in the region. Also, earthquakes of minor magnitudes can be disregarded as they do not induce significant ground coseismic effects. In this context, this study presents a catalog of geological faults, delineating 40 segments of capable and active faults on the sea floor of the Gulf of Guayaquil and inland segments of Guayas, Santa Elena, and El Oro provinces. This methodological approach estimates a variety of seismicity levels ranging between Mw 6.2 and Mw 7.2, with rock peak ground accelerations between 0.24 g and 0.41 g. These values have been obtained from empirical regression equations applied to the length of capable geological faults. The F-40 seismogenic structure located in the accretionary prism, close to the subduction zone, is capable of generating Mw 8.2 earthquakes and potentially causing coseismic ground damage to the city of Guayaquil located ca. 177 km to the NE. Furthermore, local tsunami hazards may affect severely areas that are densely populated, with developing industrial areas, on the coast of the Gulf of Guayaquil. This structural geological analysis provides useful new data for seismic hazard assessment.