bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of autologous platelet - rich plasma (PRP) in chronic wound treatment
Authors: Nguyen Tien Dung ,   Nguyen Ngoc Tuan
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Introduction: Chronic woundsare a global economic burden that have increased the morbidity and mortalityin patients. Chronic wounds present for an extended period of time are more difficult to heal. Nowadays, the application of biotechnology in treatment of chronic wound is a popular trend. We conducted this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of autologous Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) in chronic wound treatment
Patients and methods: A pilot descriptive longitudinal study was conducted at the Wound Healing Center of the National Burn Hospital from November, 2021 to December, 2022. Thirty patients with 30 chronic wounds were enrolled in the study and injected the autologous PRP into the peri-wound area and wound bed every 5÷7 days. We observed and assessed progress of wound bed and wound size at the time of autologous PRP injection and at the first, second and third week of follow-up.
Results: All the patients showed healing of the wound where 40-50% of reduction in wound size was observed in 17 (56.67%) patients, followed by 50-60% reduction in wound size in 2 (6.66%) patients over the 4 weeks follow-up post-PRP application. The proportion of wounds with epithelialization at the wound edge and granulation tissue increased significantly compared to before autologous PRP application (63.33% of wounds at week 2 and 76.67% at week 3 had epithelialization, 60% of wounds at week 2 and 76.67% at week 3 had granulation tissue). The wound sizes were significantly reduced in the second and third weeks compared to before treatment (week 2: 38.4 ± 25.7 cm2 , p<0.05; week 3: 27.1 ± 13.6cm2 p<0.001). Conclusion: The local autologous PRP therapy had a beneficial effect on wound healing of the chronic wound.
Keywords: Chronic wound, Autologous platelet rich plasma, Granulation, Epithelialization
The effect of preoperative oral carbohydrate-containing clear fluid on gastric emptying in patients undergoing abdominal surgery
Authors: Nguyen Thi Thuy Ngan ,   Nguyen Thi Thu Ha2, Ta Minh Hien2, Bui Thi Hanh1, Vu Van Trinh1
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Drinking carbohydrate-containing clear liquids until 2 hours before elective procedures improves patient satisfaction and reduces insulin resistance, but the likelihood of delayed gastric emptying, a risk factor of pulmonary aspiration in anesthesia, is unclear. Therefore, we designed a study to assess the effects of drinking carbohydrate-containing clear liquid until 2 hours before the elective gastrointestinal surgery on gastric emptying and gastric residual volume measured by ultrasonography.
Patients and Methods: Randomized controlled trial designs including 64 patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery in Viet Duc University Hospital. The intervention group received 400 ml maltodextrin 12.5% in 2 hours prior to surgery, and the control group fasted overnight as usual.
Results: The residual fluid estimated by ultrasound in the intervention group and the intervention group were 25.70 ± 21.13 and 31.01 ± 26.74 in the controlled group (p>0.05). The gastric fluid collected by the nasogastric tube is not significantly different between the two groups (intervention group: 15.00 ± 23.34 ml; controlled group: 12.72 ± 22.43 ml). There was no aspiration case in both groups.
Conclusion: Taking carbohydrates- containing clear liquids until 2 hours before general anesthesia influences neither gastric emptying nor perioperative complications.
Keywords: Carbohydrate-containing clear liquids, gastric residual volume, gastric ultrasound.
Initial results of arthroscopic surgery for osteochondral lesions of the talus using a hyaluronic acid-based scaffold with microfracture
Authors: Nguyen Manh Khanh ,   Do Vu Anh
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus (OLT) is a rare disease in Vietnam, often overlooked in medical facilities. There are many methods of treatment, including ankle arthroscopy.
Patients and Methods: The first six patients with OLT underwent arthroscopic hyaluronic acid-based scaffold implantation with microfracture surgery in Viet Duc University Hospital in Vietnam. Three patients have been followed in 6 months using the AOFAS score and MRI.
Results: 5/6 patients were men aged between 30 and 40 years old and they play sports regularly. All the patients have passed the other hospital for pain in the ankle with no exact diagnosis. Examination for other symptoms, such as abnormal gait, ankle range of motion, ankle stability, or axial ankle deformity, were all negative. Six months after surgery, the AOFAS score in 3 patients improved from 57 and 61 to 91 and 100 points. MRI evaluation six months after surgery showed almost complete coverage of the artificial cartilage on the lesion surface.
Conclusion and recommendation: Arthroscopy using hyaluronic acid-based scaffold implantation with microfracture to treat the OLT initially brought positive results, helping patients improve pain symptoms and return to daily life. However, in the future, more studies with longer follow-up times are needed to evaluate the results of this method.
Keywords: arthroscopy, chondral lesions of the talus, hyaluronic acid-based scaffold, mesenchymal stem cells, microfracture.
Naso-orbito-ethmoid fractures at Viet Duc University Hospital period 2021 – 2022
Authors: Vu Trung Truc ,   Nguyen Huy Kien2, Le Van Nam1
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Trauma to the nose, ethmoid, and orbit is a common clinical condition that makes challenges in treating. Management of these lesions remains a challenge, and there are few studies on this issue in Vietnam.
Subjects and methods: Retrospective study. The 100 patients with naso- orbito-ethmoid (NOE) fractures were hospitalized and treated at the Department of Maxillofacial - Plastic – Aesthetic Surgery of Viet Duc University Hospital from January 2021 to December 2022.
Results: The male/female ratio was 4/1, the common age group was 20- 40 years old (65%); the mean age was 30.1±11.46, the main cause was traffic accident (93%), 15% had blood alcohol concentration exceeding the legal limit. Regarding clinical symptoms: 94% had soft tissue contusion, 74% had skin laceration, 87% had a hematoma in the eye area, 60% had nosebleeds, and 63% had combined traumatic brain injury. First aid: 17% needed endotracheal intubation, 72% had nasal wicks to stop bleeding. Grades based on Markowitz classification: grade 1 (60%), grade 2 (30%), grade 3 (10%). 82% had a fracture of the maxilla. About the treatment: 98% of cases were repaired the nasal bone, 54% of NOE were fixed with plates and screws, 13% needed grafting materials for the orbital cavity and 7% were reconstructed medial orbital ligaments. Follow-up during hospital stay, no complications were noted.
Conclusions: NOE trauma mainly occurred in men of working age and the main cause of injury was traffic accidents. The rate of combined lesions was high, and treatment requires coordination of multi-disciplinary specialties.
Keywords: facial trauma, nasal bone fractures, naso-orbito-ethmoid fractures
Laparoscopic lumbar hernia: A case report and literature review
Authors: Le Tu Hoang ,   Hoang Minh Duc, Le Van Lap, Tran Van Vinh
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Introduction: Lumbar hernia, also known as lumbar triangle hernia, is a rare type of abdominal wall hernia in clinical practice, so it is difficult to diagnose because it is rarely thought of. The treatment is mainly based on surgery. Open surgery to close the abdominal wall cleft was a classical treatment in the past. Laparoscopic surgery has the potential to substitute open surgery. Case presentation: In this article, we reported a 71-year-old man with a hernia of the upper lumbar triangle undergoing laparoscopic surgery at
Viet Duc University Hospital in April 2023. After the surgery, the patient recovered well. There were no postoperative complications as well as recurrence recorded.
Conclusion: Lumbar hernia is a rare condition often challenging to diagnose clinically because it is not considered. Surgical treatment is preferred and gives good results. Laparoscopic surgery with mesh repair to reduce the disadvantages of open surgery.
Keywords: Lumbar Hernia, lumbar triangle hernia, laparoscopy
Anatomical variations of sylvian fissure and characteristics of middle cerebral artery
Authors: Tran Ba Tuan , Ngo Manh Hung
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Introduction: Based on Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) of the brain to determine the distribution of the defined anatomical variations of the Sylvian fissure (SF) in the patient without brain lesions and characteristics of the sphenoidal segment (M1) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA).
Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study of 31 patients without intracranial pathologies has conducted from January 2023 – March 2023 in Viet Duc University Hospital. The 5 types-Maslehatys classification was used to evaluate the SF anatomy on CTA as well as M1 of MCA details such as the length, diameter and termination.
Results: The patients mean age was 48.68 ± 21.07; male/female ratio was 1.8, symmetric and mirror-imaged coherence of the SF was observed in 17 patients accounting for 54.8%. The highest frequent rate was type 2 accounted for 38.7%, the lowest frequent rate was type 5 in 3.2%, the frequency of type 1, type 3, and type 4 were 19.4%; 22.6%, and 16.1%, respectively.
In the MCA study, a bifurcation was observed in 54.8%, a Trifurcation was observed in 9.7% and a false Bifurcation in 35.5%.
The mean length of M1 segment of MCA was 17.57 ± 3.16mm, the mean diameter of the M1 segment was 3.12 ± 0.53mm.
The distribution of SF types showed significant differences in patients younger than 63 years old.
Conclusion: CTA of thecerebral arteries was an effective and useful tool for evaluation of SF and MCA anatomy.
Key words: Sylvian fissure, middle cerebral artery, imaged study.
Development of An Enhanced Load Balancing Algorithm for Heterogeneous Distributed System Environment
Authors: Ajibola Esther B. , Ayeni Joshua A. , Falohun Adeleye S.
Published: January 2024

In a Heterogeneous Distributed System Environment (HDSE), a load balancing algorithm ensures even distribution of tasks between the various systems and the appropriate server for each of the different client request, based on server capacity, current connection time and IP address. This is to avoid uneven distribution of tasks and thereby overloading some servers to the detriment of others. An enhanced heterogeneous load balancing algorithm was developed to address the shortcomings observed in the conventional load balancers to improve on the performance of the job response time, throughput, and turnaround time. The developed load balancing algorithm was executed using scheduling techniques: the Weighted Round Robin (WRR) and Least Connection algorithms. The load balancing algorithm was coded in C-Language with in-built functions of the C-Library and the Performance Evaluation Test (PET) was carried out using Average Turnaround Time (ATAT}, Average Waiting Time (AWT) and Throughput (ThP) The results of the test demonstrated an improved performance on conventional load balancing algorithm in a HDSE.
Improving English Speaking Fluency in Rwandan TTC’s: A case study of TTC Kirambo, Burera District, Rwanda.
Authors: Cleopatra Ngwenya
Published: January 2024

This paper reports on the findings of an inquiry into the nature of communication skills weaknesses inherent among TTC students in Rwanda, using TTC Kirambo, as a case study. One hundred and twenty-one students and four lecturers constituted the sample. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used as data collecting instruments. Results were presented and discussed qualitatively. The paper will present some effective ways to help learners either build the better ability in English speaking or lead themselves toward better communication skills in English language. Additionally, the paper will demonstrate some interesting speaking activities related to daily life communication as well as classroom activities. These will be helpful to both non-native learners and teachers of English as Foreign Language. Most learners of English as a Foreign Language find it difficult to deal with English Productive Skills–Speaking and Writing in effective ways. Because of the poor level ability in speaking and writing, students are failed to make an effective communication in English language. Some learners feel shy, even shameful, to speak in English as they are afraid of making mistakes. Instead, they usually use their own language while working in pair or group. It is noticed that many learners lack the confidence to speak in English, so we need to find ways of developing their communicative competence and motivate them through fun, stimulating, non-threatening activities. English Speaking is not too easy, not really difficult though.
A Study on Cyber security: Analyzing Current Threats, Navigating Complexities, and Implementing Prevention Strategies
Authors: Goni Ashraful , Jahangir Md. Umor Faruk , Chowdhury Rajarshi Roy
Published: January 2024

In the intricate landscape of modern cyber threats, encompassing everything from sophisticated malware to targeted phishing tactics, this scholarly discussion emerges as a guiding light, illuminating the paramount significance of vulnerability analysis in contemporary cybersecurity. It meticulously details the systematic process—encompassing identification, scanning, penetration testing, risk assessment, prioritization, remediation, and continuous monitoring—that forms the core of proactive cybersecurity measures. Highlighting the symbiotic relationship between vulnerability analysis and incident response, the discussion underscores their collective effectiveness in mitigating potential damage and thwarting attacks. Furthermore, it underscores the dynamic nature of cyber threats, underscoring the necessity for ongoing vulnerability assessments to stay ahead of adversaries. Beyond technical aspects, the discussion explores the broader domains of awareness, education, and collaboration, emphasizing their pivotal roles in fortifying cybersecurity defenses. Ultimately, it advocates for the comprehensive adoption of vulnerability analysis, positioning it as the bedrock of cyber defense and empowering stakeholders to navigate the intricate digital landscape with vigilance and fortified defense mechanisms.
Methanol Fraction of Ethanol Extract of Dialium guineense Stem Bark May Alter the Activity of Glucose 6-phosphatase/Aminotransferases and Levels of Lipids in Tissues of Diabetic Wistar Rats
Authors: Abu O.D. , Okuo A.V. , Egili S. , Idehen I.O. , Esedebe M. , Etoroma O.M.
Published: January 2024

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential of methanol fraction of ethanol extract of Dialium guineense (MEDG) stem bark to alter the activity of glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase)/aminotransferases and levels of lipids in tissues of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Adult male Wistar rats (n = 25, mean weight = 215 ± 15 g) were randomly assigned to five groups (5 rats/group): normal control, diabetic, metformin, extract (200 mg/kg body weight, bwt) and extract (300 mg/kg bwt) groups. A single intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg bwt STZ was used to induce diabetes mellitus (DM) in the experimental rats. The diabetic rats were subsequently treated for 21 days with 50 mg/kg bwt metformin (standard antidiabetic agent) or MEDG stem bark. Activities of G6Pase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and levels of total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured in plasma or hepatic/cardiac/renal tissues. The results showed that the G6Pase activity that was significantly increased in the plasma and hepatic/renal tissues of rats were markedly reduced after treatment with MEDG stem bark (p < 0.05). Similarly, STZ markedly elevated the activities of ALT and ALP in rat hepatic tissue (p < 0.05), but it did not alter the activity of AST in hepatic and cardiac tissues (p > 0.05). However, treatment of the diabetic Wistar rats with MEDG stem bark significantly reduced the hepatic activities of ALT and ALP (p < 0.05). Moreover, STZ-induced DM significantly elevated the levels of hepatic lipids (TC, TG and VLDL-C) and plasma NO, while MEDG administration significantly reversed the effect of the diabetogenic agent STZ by markedly reducing hepatic lipids and plasma NO levels (p < 0.05). These results suggest that the medicinal plant extract may alter the activity of G6Pase/aminotransferases and levels of lipids in tissues of STZ-induced diabetic rats.
Digital Health Technologies in Chronic Disease Management: A Global Perspective
Authors: Farai Oluwatoyin Ayo , Ogundairo Oluwatosin , Maduka Chinedu Paschal , Okongwu Chiamaka Chinaemelum , Babarinde Abdulraheem Olaide , Sodamade Olamide Tolulope
Published: January 2024

In this systematic review, we delve into the transformative role of digital health technologies in chronic disease management worldwide. The methodology used in this review involves utilizing a comprehensive literature search from databases including PubMed, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar, we analyze and synthesize a broad spectrum of studies to assess the impact and evolution of these technologies. This review highlights how wearable devices, mobile applications, remote monitoring systems, and artificial intelligence are revolutionizing patient care, healthcare delivery, and public health strategies. We examine their influence on patient outcomes, with a particular focus on personalized medicine, real-time monitoring, and data-driven interventions. The review also explores the challenges of technology adoption, regulatory landscapes, and the potential to bridge healthcare disparities. Our methodical approach to collating and examining diverse literature provides a panoramic view of how digital health technologies are reshaping chronic disease management, offering tailored treatment options, and transforming healthcare systems for enhanced patient-centric care and improved health outcomes globally.
The Use of the Pronoun En in the Written Corpus of Allophone Learners
Authors: Tekešinović Lejla , Šišić Emir
Published: January 2024

The pronoun en is usually described in the literature as an adverbial pronoun, although the adverbial value is only one of several functions in which it can appear. It is a pronoun whose use is very diverse and complex, which is best seen based on numerous syntactic functions that we will present first in this paper. Then we will emphasize the analysis of examples of its use in the corpus, which includes student works divided into three stages (PI / INT / AH). Our goal is to determine to what extent this pronoun is represented in the mentioned corpus and in which syntactic functions it appears most often, i.e., to what extent students master its use. The analysis will also include those examples in which the use of this pronoun was absent as well as those in which its use is unacceptable.
On the Sources of Spoken (Italian) Language in a Historical Perspective
Authors: Lalić Ana
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we research the importance of corpora in historical pragmatics. From the origins of historical pragmatics as a science the question of choosing an appropriate corpus has been in the center of attention. The problematics of historical pragmatics demand a corpus that reflects faithfully the spoken language. However, such registered sources do not exist. Thus, researchers face problems when choosing corpora that have to be written but also reflect speech. That is why we synthesize a review of often-used corpora and we present their advantages and disadvantages. We apply the theory of Giovanni Nencioni (1976) that differs between the spoken language in the true meaning of the word (parlato parlato), written spoken language (parlato scritto), and recited spoken language (parlato recitato). Based on his research, we can claim that some of the privileged forms in historical pragmatics are literary works, theater pieces, religious scriptures, and speech transcripts. Thus, we examine the advantages and disadvantages of the aforementioned corpora and we aim to determine if they are suitable to be used in historical pragmatics. The research shows that it is impossible to find a completely adequate corpus because none of them reflect the spoken language in all of its characteristics and they approach it only partially.
Scientific and Academic Work of Muhamed Dželilović
Authors: Kujundžić Fahrudin
Published: January 2024

This paper presents the scientific and academic work of Muhamed Dželilović, professor at the Department of Comparative Literature and Information Sciences, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo. There is a special focus on two of Dželilović's books, Slaveni o Danteu and Kalhasovo proročanstvo, which claimed to establish the framework for all Dželilović's other scientific and academic work. Dželilović's approach to literature implies a complex dialogue with the greatest writers of the world's cultural tradition. At the same time, the most important domestic authors also find their place in that wider context.
Phraseological Units Containing Similes in Andrić's Devil’s Yard and Their Italian Equivalents
Authors: Čengić Nermina
Published: January 2024

A simile is a semantic-stylistic figure, very common in literary texts and authors tend to use it to give their text a new, broader, figurative meaning. In the category of simile, there exist simile phrases, that is, a special type of phraseological unit intended to create a more powerful artistic impression. Given the high frequency of use of these lexical elements in Ivo Andrić's literary works, to conclude their structure and use in Bosnian, we will analyze several phraseological units that contain similes, all taken from Andrić's novel Devil’s Yard. We consider it interesting to observe these lexical units contrastively, so in the Italian translation of Devil’s Yard (La Corte del Diavolo) done by Lionello Costantini, we will identify the Italian equivalents of original simile phrases and analyze their characteristics. With this contrastive analysis, we aim to offer an overview of the basic features of special lexical constructions which contain similes, and to make generalizations about the similarities and differences in their structure, meaning and use in the two language systems. The results of this study will also allow us to comment on the intensity of the author's creativity and the skill of the translator to recognize the semantic and stylistic value of these phraseological units and transfer them into the Italian language.
On Translating Some Culture-specific Elements of Oriental Origin in Italian Translations of the Novel Na Drini Ćuprija by Ivo Andrić
Authors: Kerla Nerma
Published: January 2024

Na Drini ćuprija (The Bridge on the Drina) is one of the most recognized and most popular novels by Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić. It has been translated into Italian twice – by Bruno Meriggi (Il ponte sulla Drina) in 1960 and by Dunja Badnjević in 2001. This novel is deeply rooted in the cultural and social context of the early 16th to early 20th century Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since the novel describes historical events and figures who marked four centuries in Višegrad and its surroundings (from the bridge construction in 1516 until its partial destruction in 1914), first under the Ottoman, and then under the Austro-Hungarian rule, it is only natural that many words of Oriental origin are a frequent occurrence in the novel. These words permeated the language of the locals at the time, but also trade, economy, and state affairs, and therefore Andrić decided to incorporate them in his writing - to paint an authentic picture of life in Bosnia and Herzegovina during that time. The focus of this paper is to excerpt the cultural realia of Oriental origin that denote state, social, and religious titles and occupations in the novel. The next step is to analyze these instances contrastively and examine their frequency in the original as well as their frequency in both Italian translations. It has been concluded that, since there is a significant spatial and cultural distance present, the identified realia do not exist in the Italian language repertoire and therefore they pose a problem for translators. Additionally, they are often seen as archaisms, historicisms, and regionalisms even in the contemporary Bosnian language because they have been suppressed from the lexical inventory due to different cultural and social changes that occurred over time.
Profession-Oriented CLIL Teaching: Language Activities for Geologists
Authors: Beko Lidija
Published: January 2024

The paper deals with establishing a connection between the labor market and English language teaching for geologists using the CLIL method. This means that the traditional method of learning the language for specific purposes is improved by a more intensive linguistic approach through the 4Cs model (content, cognition, communication, and culture) where academic teaching tries to be intimately connected with real life and the corresponding profession. In achieving that goal, the work offers teaching activities that combine academic and practical knowledge, which are adapted to the current moment and created according to the needs and expectations of users. For the sake of clarity, the paper is divided into the following parts: introduction, the logic of the connection between teaching geology and the labor market, the first part addresses the combination of geology, language skills, and occupations, the second part offers concrete examples of activities and their application in teaching, and finally, the concluding considerations where the importance of autonomous learning as a prerequisite for quality lifelong growth and self-fulfillment is highlighted. Without the ambition to reach the full scope of the described intention in the first year of study, our goal is for students to notice the value and connection between knowledge and the profession so that learning from the first lecture can be meaningful, motivated, and personalized.
Metonymic Uses of Body Parts Hand in the English Language and Ruka and Šaka in the Bosnian Language
Authors: Mulahmetović Ibrišimović Anela
Published: January 2024

This paper explores metonymic uses of the body part “hand” in the English language and „ruka” and „šaka” in the Bosnian language. The paper aims to establish similarities and differences between the languages in terms of conceptual metonymies exploiting these body parts. The paper also tries to determine to what extent conceptual metonymy interacts with or exploits other processes of cognitive thinking, namely chained metonymies and metaphors. The methodological framework of corpus analysis is by the taxonomies of metonymy types developed by Radden and Kövecses (1999) and Kövecses (2002) and patterns of conceptual interaction (Diez Velasco 2000, 2002). The study will show that body-part metonymies can form chained metonymies and that they often serve as a basis for metaphorical mapping.
Spreading Like a Virus: Conceptual Integration and Discourse Viewpoint in Internet Memes about the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Maslo Adi , Kefalidou Sofia
Published: January 2024

This paper analyzes internet memes pertaining to Covid-19. We analyzed more than 200 memes over nine months. By utilizing Blending Theory and Discourse Viewpoint, we attempt to explain the creative inner workings of memes as well as how meaning is negotiated on the internet. We were clearly able to detect memes synchronously following the actual development of Covid-19. We show that meme makers use visuals metonymically to address the current state of Covid-19 while the overall message of memes is driven by simile. As much as memes draw on the concept of Covid-19, they also feed back to it in a loop of self-reference. Along with their underlying metaphoric nature, memes convey a feels-like attitude with two main phases emerging from their usage, i.e., the Observer Phase and the Experiencer Phase. The former showed memes at a stage where Covid-19 was not yet a pandemic (but perceived through media coverage from elsewhere) while the latter, the Experiencer Phase, clearly showed that meme creators had experienced the virus themselves. As for the timeframe covered, however, we conclude that memes do not show full conceptual integration as Covid-19 was not yet fully entrenched.
Metaphors of Love in the Novel Wuthering Heights and Its Translation
Authors: Ajduk Kurtović Milea
Published: January 2024

The article is based on the general principles of the theory of conceptual metaphor and the theory of metaphor translation, and will describe the conceptual metaphors of LOVE in the novel Wuthering Heights and its translation, based on earlier studies in the field of conceptual metaphor analysis and cognitive linguistics, emphasizing metaphor as one of the most important rhetorical figures in a literature. The cognitive-linguistic contrastive analysis of the conceptual metaphor best indicates the problems in the presentation of literary metaphors, social and cultural differences between different languages, using methodological procedures that include the study of the corpus and the classification of metaphors that are based on the conceptualization of the LOVE entity in the original text. The aim of this research is therefore to point out the importance of metaphoricity and the entity LOVE in the conceptual field, as well as communication between two typologically different languages and the way in which these metaphors are realized.
The Katabasis Trope and a Descent into Future in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale
Authors: Nešić Marija , Kaličanin Milena
Published: January 2024

Katabasis represents a narrative trope which refers to the hero’s journey into the underworld, a descent into the realm of the dead, and whose presence can be found across the world, from ancient mythologies to contemporary literature. The aim of this paper is to point to the possibility of reading Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale as a katabatic narrative, more precisely as a variation of the archetypal hero’s journey into the underworld, where, instead of the land of the past, the descent is directed towards a dystopian future and where, instead of a mythical superhero, the protagonist is a modern-day heroine. Having already tackled the subject of Western capitalism governed by patriarchal power relations, its obsession with controlling nature, especially the process of reproduction, and the ensuing feminist descent from it, in The Handmaid’s Tale Atwood adjusts and adapts the dynamic topos of the katabasis so as to suit the contemporary reality and modern traumas. She presents a female narrator, a superheroine, trapped within the boundaries of a claustrophobic world, where women live subjugated and segregated by the oppressive male regime. Following the generic features of the term katabasis, the paper analyses the katabatic experience of Offred in the Republic of Gilead, a topos of Hell in not such a distant future, where the past has been erased and the citizens, especially the female ones, have been denied any right to identity and individuality. As there are numerous instances of carnivalesque elements, it is possible to approach the community of Gilead from the perspective of the carnivalization of the katabasis, both in the way it was defined by Mikhail Bakhtin and in a modern rendition explained by Linda Hutcheon, i.e. both a positive and an ironizing version of the concept.
Multi-word Expressions in German Annual Reports: A Diachronic Approach
Authors: Marušić Borislav
Published: January 2024

Corporations and stock exchanges are considered the "heart of capitalism" because they are responsible for the creation of inventions, new technologies, and entire industries in the past two centuries, and thus, through their actions, have significantly supported technological and social progress. Since the second half of the 19th century, German corporations have played the role of a pillar of the German economy and Germany has become one of the most economically developed European countries. Despite its economic importance, the German corporate language, as a segment of Business German (German: Wirtschaftsdeutsch), has not been significantly researched. This corpus linguistics paper presents the results of diachronic research of multi-word expressions in the annual reports of corporations from the three most important DAX Prime Standard indices, created by the German Stock Exchange (German: Deutsche Börse) from Frankfurt am Main – DAX, MDAX, and S-DAX. The subject of the linguistic analysis is the annual reports of 11 German corporations for the fiscal years 1997 and 2022. The results of the analysis show changes in the lexicon in the German corporate language over the past 25 years and can be a stimulus for further corpus research in that area. The results of the research can also have pedagogical implications because they can be used to create various types of lexical exercises in Business German classes, which contain the latest vocabulary from that field.
Divergence and (a)Typicality of the Revolution in the novel The Republic of False Truths
Authors: Sarajkić Mirza
Published: January 2024

This paper focuses on the notions and images of the Arab Spring in the novel The Republic of False Truths by the contemporary Egyptian writer Ala'a al-Aswani. The paper primarily analyzes the main and secondary characters, as well as the heroes and anti-heroes of the revolution, who are grouped into narrative types, and then structured further into representatives of contemporary collectivities of power. The paper also considers the perspectives of the Arab Spring, the consequences of this uprising on Egyptian society, as well as the phenomena of the overemphasized openness of certain concepts, and the destabilizing significance of the absence in the novel.
The Shots at Sarajevo: Fresco of the Tragic History of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Novel June 28, 1914, by Zlatko Topcic
Authors: Žujo-Marić Lejla
Published: January 2024

Zlatko Topčić has built the identity of a novelist who openly tackles new techniques and literary procedures in the wake of postmodern ways of writing. This is supported by the novels created during and after the last war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the shadows and traumas of the war are deep in the elements of the text, and the characters are caught in its whirlwind in different ways, prisoners of traumatic conditions even in the time when the storm of events subsides, but remains a long sediment of painful experiences. This text aims to show how a great historical event - the Sarajevo assassination - is artistically transposed in the novel 6/28/1914 (novel, revision), and how the fate of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the war in the period 1992-1995 can be traced through its outlines. With a collection of characters, historical and fictional, narrative organization of space and time, intertextuality, and an ironic relationship with metanarratives, Topčić creates a text as a product of personal stories from which a novelistic mosaic of historical events is created.
Specification as a Translation Approach in the English Translation of the Sarajevo Marlboro Stories Collection by Miljenko Jergović
Authors: Špago-Ćumurija Edina
Published: January 2024

Translating work by authors who were forced to leave their original cultural context, which provided them with a unique position of viewing their own, but also other identities – now has a new, more interesting function. Translation thus does not only search for a common space for universal recognition and understanding based on common experiences but rather communicates differences and specific local qualities as opposed to the global context. In the English translation of the collection of stories by Miljenko Jergović, Sarajevo Marlboro, a book about the lives of common people from Sarajevo before and during the siege in the nineties, a translator is in a different relation toward the readers, due to the very need to use a translation for communication. In this process, the specification can be seen as not only a translation technique but a strategy for explicitation and explanation of Bosnian & Herzegovinian cultural elements, especially those which are invisible, under the surface of the text, coded in our cultural identities. This paper analyses the translation of cultural elements of Bosnian identity, and the techniques used in their translation.
On the Pitfalls of Cultural Provincialism on the Example of the Translation of Damir Ovčina’s Novel When I Was a Hodja
Authors: Spahić Edina , Demiragić Ajla
Published: January 2024

Any interlingual translation that transposes a literary text from the original to the target language almost always conveys particular knowledge and life experiences from the culture in which the text was originally created. In this paper, the translation of the novel When I Was a Hodja by Damir Ovčina into Spanish is analyzed, focusing on culturally marked elements. The manner in which the cultural themes of the original text were transferred to the target culture is observed. It is emphasized that, when it comes to translations of literary narratives in which depictions of wars are exhibited, the translator’s task becomes all the more important because he/she contributes to the production of new knowledge and new ideas about wars through his/her translation, and, therefore, special attention must be given to the translation of cultures in such texts.
Star, Diva, Amateur: The Actress’s Two Bodies on the Example of Crystal Pictures by Luchino Visconti
Authors: Erstić Marijana
Published: January 2024

The problem of the diva/the divo within Italian cinematography has – just like that of the star – already been examined several times. But the appearance of the minute stars within the media culture of the past 20 years throws a completely new light on the problem of the divine – not only in Italy. Does this phenomenon come close to that of the amateur actor in Italian neorealism, the innovation that should ensure authenticity within the films? This question will be explored in the essay. It was Luchino Visconti (1906–1976) who made the film La terra trema (1947/48) exclusively with amateur actors, and then questioned the neo-realist filmmakers’ approach with the film Bellissima (1951). Visconti settled with the star industry in 1967 in his film La strega brucciata viva. The question of amateur actors, divas, stars is discussed based on the two films and the theories of Gilles Deleuze (‘crystal imageʻ) and Ernst H. Kantorowicz (‘the king’s two bodysʻ).
Vachel Lindsay’s Visionary Theoretical Reflections on Film
Authors: Mačković Srebrenka
Published: January 2024

Although neglected for decades, American poet, journalist, and painter Nicholas Vachel Lindsay (1879-1931) made a significant contribution to the rising film theory with his book The Art of The Moving Picture, the first American study of a kind, published in 1915. Having noticed the widespread popularity of silent movies among the millions of film lovers in the USA, Lindsay proposed that this new visual art form, which, according to him, represented a combination of a traditional theatre play and diverse elements of painting, sculpture, architecture and other forms of visual expression that he called photoplay, could, in due time, become a truly American art brand. For that reason, he advocated the establishment of film schools, film libraries and archives, as well as the use of film for educational purposes in schools. This paper analyzes Lindsay’s key theoretical tenets of film as an important fine art as presented in his book The Art of The Moving Picture, as well as his visionary predictions regarding the later development of film (and later television) as not just lucrative, commercial products, but also an interesting field of academic study.
Encounter with Evil Through the Monograph Tracing Brcko’s Jews by Tamara Vijoglavin Mančić
Authors: Pašalić Enes
Published: January 2024

In 2022, the Department for the Public Register of the Government of Brčko District of BiH, Section for Archive, and the Jewish Community of BiH, published the monograph Tracing Brcko's Jews (Monograph), authored by Tamara Vijoglavin Mančić. It is, in Brcko's circumstances, a valuable and rare publication which, in a concise, graphic, well-documented, and methodical way, brings back from oblivion the tragic fate of the Jews, who made a significant contribution to the economic and cultural development of the city, and who were, at one historical moment, most brutally exterminated from the area of Brcko. Today, there are no traces of their habitation in Brčko, nor a "place of memory" of their tragic fate. As such, the Monograph Tracing Brcko's Jews is a historiographical miniature of snatching from oblivion the presence of Evil in these parts. And much more than that. Because in her "places of silence" we can read off the lack of our freedom to face the Evil in ourselves and around us. And you can't escape from Evil, because it is always potentially within us. We must confront Evil, both within us and around us. Therefore, these "places of silence" ask for a change one's existential positioning. Otherwise, a new Evil is at the door, with whose arrival we will again be either victims or criminals. Or both.
Islamic Civilization and Theological Causes of the Social Underdevelopment: A Traditionalist Reading of Modernist Theses
Authors: Delibašić Asim
Published: January 2024

This paper analyzes the theory of Islam as a religion that could have formed a rationalistic civilization, based on scientific progress, individualism and democracy. One of the representative studies on this topic is the work of Mustafa Akyol Reopening of Muslim Minds, in which the author uses the method of counterfactual analysis, posing the fundamental question: what would Islamic civilization look like if in the Sunni majority had not prevailed Ash’ari theology, but rationalistic, Mu’tazili theology? Although it could be said that the author of this study does not err when he concludes that Ash’ari occasionalism stopped the development of science in Islam, he nevertheless errs when he claims that the doctrines of voluntarism, predestination, and uncreatedness of the Qur’an, were generators of injustice in Islamic society. In this paper we tried to analyze the metaphysical foundations of these doctrines, re-examine the validity of the hypothesis about their harmfulness, and re-examine whether the observed harmful effects come from Islamic tradition or from the more recent attempts of modernization of Islam.
On the Causes of the Lack of Rule of Law in the Western Balkans
Authors: Muharemović Mahir
Published: January 2024

The Western Balkan region continues to face significant challenges in establishing the rule of law. This paper examines the socio-legal factors contributing to the weakness of the rule of law in the Western Balkans. It identifies three key factors: inefficient and unaccountable state institutions, the rule of informal institutions and corruption networks, and impotent formalistic judiciary. These are traced back to underlying historical, sociological, and legal prerequisites in the region. The analysis finds that state institutions in the Western Balkans are often extractive and controlled by political elites, undermining checks and balances. Additionally, informal institutions like clan networks continue to thrive, promoting corruption and impunity. Finally, the judiciary retains vestiges of socialist legal formalism, hampering impartial adjudication. Recommendations focus on the need for substantive domestic ownership of reforms by local actors. Sustainable rule of law requires capable and accountable state institutions along with strong civic engagement. The EU and international donors must re-examine their technocratic approach and insist on tangible improvements.
Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide Before the International Court of Justice (Bosnia and Herzegovina V. Serbia and Montenegro)
Authors: Hasanović Faris
Published: January 2024

The subject of this paper is the analysis of the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 1951 before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, in the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro, for violating the provisions of this Convention. This Court shall, by Article IX of the Convention, have jurisdiction in disputes between contracting states, concerning the interpretation, application and enforcement of the Convention, including those relating to the responsibility of a state for the crime of genocide or any other offense established in Article III of the Convention. Article I of the Convention stipulates that states are obliged to prevent genocide and punish the perpetrator. Furthermore, the responsibility of states under Article IX of the Convention relates only to the state’s failure to prevent the commission of genocide and other acts under Article III of the Convention and to punish the perpetrators. An analysis of the text of the Convention and the content of the claim of Bosnia and Herzegovina of 24 April 2006, shows that the claim of Bosnia and Herzegovina falls outside the scope of Article IX of the Convention, which is especially problematized in this paper by the author.
Active Listening Opera Performance: Šuma Striborova (The Stribor’s Forest) Opera
Authors: Gortan-Carlin Ivana Paula , Morović Žan
Published: January 2024

An opera is a complex, multidisciplinary, stage music genre that primary school pupils in the 8th grade aurally and visually recognize, differentiate, describe, and compare as part of the primary school subject Music Culture. The paper presents the contribution of the preparation and performance of an opera on the case study of Ivan Josip Skender's Šuma Striborova (The Stribor's Forest), an opera for adults and children (to the libretto by Ozren Prohić, based on the fairy tale of the same name written by Ivana Brlić Mažuranić) performed by the pupils of the Bartul Kašić Primary School in Zadar, in July 2023. It is an innovative and unique project in Croatia designed to bring opera closer to young people. The paper presents the Curriculum for the subject of Music for both primary and high schools in the Republic of Croatia, where the case study analysis methodology presents the outcomes within three domains: A – Listening and getting to know music, B – Expressing yourself through music and with music, and C – Music in context, which are realized by participating in the performance of an opera. Furthermore, there are also tasks (material, functional, and educational) that are realized through musical activities such as opera production. The contribution of this work is the possibility and presentation of the pupils’ performance of the ballet and puppet show the Šuma Striborova opera through active listening. During such a performance, the recipients are also active, while the audience reacts to the music and action. Through active listening, one is brought up aesthetically and grows both personally and culturally.