bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Czytanie jako działanie, dzieło jako zdarzenie. Czy możliwa jest poetyka literatury interaktywnej?
Authors: Winiecka Elżbieta
Published: October 2017

The article describes new phenomena in the field of literature that have developed under the influence of digital technology. It points out to the conversion of the ontology of works and modification of the nature of perception that are associated with digital media. Literature created in digital technology becomes an audiovisual and multimedia experience. Its audience is given a new kind of experience based on participation. Participation is related to interactivity, which is one of the basic features of digital objects. They need action rather than contemplation to reveal. The authoress points out that, in new literary phenomena, digital medium becomes an important part of the work. It influences its structure, functions, manner of existence, and strategies for impact on the recipient. Every act of interactive reading is transformed into a performance – a oneoff and a unique event. Reading is transformed from contemplation into action engaging the reader’s physicality. Description of this modification of literary communication and the poetics of reception can be the key to understanding the essence of e-literature.
Statistics and Analysis of Aircraft Collisions with Birds (Bird Strikes) in Military Aviation
Authors: Krutkow Antonina , Pigłas Mieczysław , Smoliński Henryk , Szymczak Janusz
Published: October 2017

The article describes statistical data regarding bird strikes with military aircraft (A/C) and analyses them applying the method of probabilistic criteria. The presented analytical materials can be used by planning undertakings aimed at ensuring flight safety in aviation organisations and at the airports.
The Research of Modern Radar Equipment Conducted in the Air Force Institute of Technology by the Application of Military Aircrafts
Authors: Brzozowski Marek , Pakowski Mariusz , Myszka Mirosław , Michalczewski Mirosław , Winiarska Urszula
Published: October 2017

The publication described selected issues from the research area of modern radar equipment produced by the Polish industrial plants, using military aircrafts of various types. A technical development caused a substantial improvement of detection parameters of flying objects by radar sensors what forces changes in research methods used to verify tactical and technical parameters of these devices. The article covers research methods of radar equipment, pilots’ assistive devices as well as methods of logging and processing the measurement data applied in the Research Laboratory for Radar Equipment and Aeronautical Engineering of the AFIT (pol. Laboratorium Badań Urządzeń Radarowych i Techniki Lotniczej ITWL).
The Analysis of the Available Technology of Exploiting and Applying Biohydrocarbons for Fuel Production Part I
Authors: Gielo-Klepacz Halina , Karp Grażyna , Dzięgielewski Wojciech
Published: October 2017

The article shows the current state of knowledge in the area of applying biohydrocarbons for fuel production, especially in aeronautical applications and to power compression-ignition engines. The technologies based on biochemical and thermal/chemical conversion of biomass are described. Technological potential of these technologies is evaluated. The article is based on the literature review.
Approximation of Measurement Results of “Emergency” Signal Reception Probability
Authors: Gajda Stanisław , Gajda Jerzy
Published: October 2017

The intended aim of this article is to present approximation results of the exemplary measurements of EMERGENCY signal reception probability. The probability is under-stood as a distance function between the aircraft and a ground-based system under established conditions. The measurements were approximated using the properties of logistic functions. This probability, as a distance function, enables to determine the range of the EMERGENCY signal for a pre-set confidence level.
Test Method for Rheological Behavior of Mortar for Building Work
Authors: Korobko Bogdan , Vasyliev Ievgen
Published: October 2017

This paper offers a test method for rheological behavior of mortars with different mobility and different composition, which are used for execution of construction work. This method is based on investigation of the interaction between the valve ball and the mortar under study and allows quick defining of experimental variables for any composition of building mortars. Certain rheological behavior will permit to calculate the design parameters of machines for specific conditions of work performance – mixing (pre-operation), pressure generation, pumping to the work site, workpiece surfacing.
Flexible Structure Control Scheme of a UAVs Formation to Improve the Formation Stability During Maneuvers
Authors: Kownacki Cezary , Ambroziak Leszek
Published: October 2017

One of the issues related to formation flights, which requires to be still discussed, is the stability of formation flight in turns, where the aerodynamic conditions can be substantially different for outer vehicles due to varying bank angles. Therefore, this paper proposes a decentralized control algorithm based on a leader as the reference point for followers, i.e. other UAVs and two flocking behaviors responsible for local position control, i.e. cohesion and repulsion. But opposite to other research in this area, the structure of the formation becomes flexible (structure is being reshaped and bent according to actual turn radius of the leader. During turns the structure is bent basing on concentred circles with different radiuses corresponding to relative locations of vehicles in the structure. Simultaneously, UAVs' air-speeds must be modified according to the length of turn radius to achieve the stability of the structure. The effectiveness of the algorithm is verified by the results of simulated flights of five UAVs.
Laboratory Testing of Velocity Sensing in a Magnetorheological Damper with Power Generation
Authors: Sapiński Bogdan
Published: October 2017

The study summarises the results of experimental examination of velocity sensing capability in a prototype of a magnetorheological damper with power generation (MRD). The device has two main components: an electromagnetic power generator and an MR damper. The study outlines the structure of the device with the main focus on the generator part, and provides results of tests performed under the idle run. The discussion of demonstrates the potentials of MRD action as a velocity-sign sensor and presents key issues which need to be addressed to enable its real life applications.
Dynamic Stress Concentration at the Boundary of an Incision at the Plate Under the Action of Weak Shock Waves
Authors: Mikulich Olena , Shvabyuk Vasyl’ , Sulym Heorhiy
Published: October 2017

This paper proposes the novel technique for analysis of dynamic stress state of multi-connected infinite plates under the action of weak shock waves. For solution of the problem it uses the integral and discrete Fourier transforms. Calculation of transformed dynamic stresses at the incisions of plates is held using the boundary-integral equation method and the theory of complex variable functions. The numerical implementation of the developed algorithm is based on the method of mechanical quadratures and collocation technique. For calculation of originals of the dynamic stresses it uses modified discrete Fourier transform. The algorithm is effective in the analysis of the dynamic stress state of defective plates.
Sky-Hook Control and Kalman Filtering in Nonlinear Model of Tracked Vehicle Suspension System
Authors: Jurkiewicz Andrzej , Kowal Janusz , Zając Kamil
Published: October 2017

The essence of the undertaken topic is application of the continuous sky-hook control strategy and the Extended Kalman Filter as the state observer in the 2S1 tracked vehicle suspension system. The half-car model of this suspension system consists of seven logarithmic spiral springs and two magnetorheological dampers which has been described by the Bingham model. The applied continuous sky-hook control strategy considers nonlinear stiffness characteristic of the logarithmic spiral springs. The control is determined on estimates generated by the Extended Kalman Filter. Improve of ride comfort is verified by comparing simulation results, under the same driving conditions, of controlled and passive vehicle suspension systems.
Application of Environmental Information Systems in Environmental Impact Assessment (in Hungary)
Authors: Elekné Fodor Veronika , Pájer József
Published: October 2017

The primary research aim was to explore the possibilities of transferring relevant data from information systems and databases required for practical environmental impact assessment. The necessary and adequate data content of environmental impact studies were defined according to legal regulations, expert recommendations as well as available impact studies. Furthermore, the data content of information systems pertinent to environmental impact analysis were investigated in view of data transmission. Disposing of the primary data required for impact studies, the classification of environmental objects (object class, object group, object type) was performed. Based on the latter, a pattern system design was completed; in the course of developing this, we defined the individual system overlays in the theoretical model, then assigned properties of the individual object types in the database model.
Review of Various Delay Causing Factors and Their Resolution by Application of Lean Principles in India
Authors: Deep Shumank , Asim Mohd , Khan Mohd Kashif
Published: October 2017

Practically speaking, not all real estate construction projects are accomplished in the defined span and within budget. Various factors responsible for occurrence of delays are one of the long-standing issues in the field of real estate. Delays make contractors endure productivity loss, cause high disturbance expenses, and prolongation costs. The aim of the research is to summarize several delay causing factors, which are observed in the execution of previous real estate construction projects. It then proposes implementation of standard prevention procedures to minimize delays. Time effect examination is the approach to evaluating and allotting the upshots of delays or changing a venture schedule. This review sets execution framework of the two sub-principles of the Toyota Way attributes known as philosophy sub-principles and process subprinciples to guide real estate construction businesses in their lean change to delay free real estate construction work. These are implemented after investigating the critical factors responsible for delays in the delayed projects by comparing their as-planned schedules with the adjusted schedules. Methods used in the research include structured surveys and content analysis, which is performed after collection of quantitative data from the respondents. The lean construction principles will be designed and provided to clients to be productive in performing work packages on their scheduled time with minimum possibility of time overrun.
Informal Planning in Depopulating Rural Areas
Authors: Syssner Josefina , Meijer Marlies
Published: October 2017

Planning research has increasingly recognised that planning in depopulating areas differs from planning in growth areas. Several studies have sought to identify planning theories and strategies that are capable of meeting the challenges presented by depopulating areas. However, most of these studies and strategies are based on dense urban environments. This paper seeks to add to planning theory and practice by focusing on informal planning practices in rural depopulating areas. Starting from a resource-based view, the paper introduces an analytical framework that allows a systematic examination of the resources that are generated through informal planning practices in such areas.
Rural Architectural and Planning Forms as a Source of Diversity for Urban Environment (Case Study of Moscow)
Authors: Savchenko Alexander , Borodina Tatiana
Published: October 2017

Inclusion of specific rural architectural and planning forms in the urban structure of Moscow is analysed. As a theoretical background, theories of Garden-Cities (Howard, 1902), Rural-urban continuum (Sorokin, Zimmerman, 1929), Slow city (Mayer, Knox, 2009) are considered. Inclusion of rural architectural and planning forms is analysed for different structural elements of Moscow’s urban environment – public spaces, industrial areas, residential areas, street and road network. Authors argue that once included into the structure of the city, rural planning and architectural forms do not disappear, but after the termination of the implementation of their parent species and ways of life, which are really related to agriculture and other “non-urban” activities, they are transformed for integration into urban life and the environment, contributing to an increase in their diversity. This pattern can be traced consistently, at least, from the XVIII century.
The state of crowns of black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) in Kampinos National Park (Central Poland) in years 2015–2016 – preliminary studies
Authors: Tyburski Łukasz , Przybylski Paweł
Published: October 2017

During 2015 and 2016, in the Kampinos National Park (KNP), monitoring was conducted for the population of black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.), which occupies 12.5% of the tree stands in the park and, after the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), is the second most important species there. The aim of the observation was to obtain data about the current condition of alder in the National Park. Monitoring was carried out on eight plots designated throughout the park. Stands where alder was not the dominant species were omitted. On each plot, 20 trees were evaluated with a total of 160 plants assessed. The age of the tree stands analysed was 55–120 years. Monitoring was conducted by assessing the tree’s crowns, based on the methodology of forest monitoring implemented by the National Environmental Monitoring. Based on the analyses, it was found that the average defoliation of alder in 2015 reached 28.1%, and 34.4% in 2016, with the differences being statistically significant. Among 70% of the specimens, there was no discoloration of the assimilation apparatus. There were significant differences in defoliation between research plots located inside the park and near its borders, which can be associated with the influence of anthropogenic factors. Based on the monitoring, it was found that the state of alder crowns in KNP is a warning or average, depending on the year of observation. Therefore, it is necessary to continue monitoring the state of alder crowns in KNP. On the basis of the study results, it was also found that the biosocial structure of the researched tree stands is formed correctly. The dendrometric measurements conducted show that the average diameter of the trees analysed, at breast height was 30.5 cm with an average height of 25.5 m. To analyse the changes in height and breast height, dendrometric measurements must be repeated in 2020. Monitoring will be continued in the following years to observe the changes.
Changes in the Textural Parameters of Fly Ash-Derived Na-P1 Zeolite During Compaction Processes
Authors: Panek Rafał , Wdowin Magdalena , Bandura Lidia , Wisła-Walsh Ewa , Gara Paweł , Franus Wojciech
Published: October 2017

This paper presents the possibility of receiving the granular forms of a zeolitic material of the Na-P1 type obtained from high-calcium fly ash in a semi-technical scale by means of three compacting techniques. The compaction process was carried out using cement, molasses and water glass as binders. Each of the proposed compacting methods affected the textural parameters of the obtained granular zeolite forms, as well as the binders used. In comparison to the other binders it was found that the cement binder had the smaller impact on the values of the textural parameters of the obtained compacted zeolite forms. The surface area for the zeolite Na-P1 was 98.49 m2·g-1, for the cement as a binder was 69.23 m2·g-1, for the molasses was 52.70 m2·g-1and for the water glass was 40.87 m2·g-1. For this reason, the briquetting and extruding tests were carried out using cement as a binder.
Current Stage of Knowledge Relating to the Use Ferruginous Sludge From Water Treatment Plants – a Preliminary Review of the Literature
Authors: Wołowiec Magdalena , Bajda Tomasz
Published: October 2017

In water treatment plants, a large amount of wastewater and sludge is generated during the processing of drinking water. The composition of the sludge is determined by the type and raw water chemistry, as well as the methods and materials used for purification. The major components of the sludge are iron and manganese oxyhydroxides. In the past, the sludge was landfilled, but for environmental reasons it became necessary to find uses for the sludge. The aim of this study was to identify examples of using this sludge. Nowadays, the sludge is applied in the treatment of municipal wastewater, agriculture, and the production of cement and bricks, among others. Attention was also paid to the possibility of using the water processing sludge in different sorption applications.
Optimization of Novel Sorbents for CO2Removal Based on FTIR and TG Analysis
Authors: Majchrzak Anna , Nowak Wojciech
Published: October 2017

Adsorption is considered as one of the most promising technologies for CCS. Gas adsorption involves the separation of gaseous components from flue gas using solid adsorbents. The gaseous component, adsorbate, is adsorbed from the gas phase on a solid material. Regarding CO2adsorption, it is important to consider the parameters, that is the high sorption capacity, CO2selectivity, regeneration and stability in multiple cycles. New directions for the development of adsorbents are focused on increasing their capacity - for this purpose, amine impregnation is carried out. This paper presents a new approach to obtaining mesoporous material from fly ash and, based on this, a new physico-chemical adsorbent obtained by impregnation. The effectiveness of the process was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis and FTIR infrared spectroscopy.
Management of Carboniferous Rock and Waste Mineral Wool in the Context of Current Polish Legislation
Authors: Tomaszewska-Krojańska Dorota , Pranagal Jacek
Published: October 2017

This paper presents the legal aspects of the management of wastes that can be used as sorbents in environmental protection. The legal status of wastes with mineral characteristics - Carboniferous rock and mineral wool from horticulture - is discussed, where it is found that the number of legal acts cause difficulties in the utilisation of such wastes.
Halloysite Composites with Fe3O4Particles: The Effect of Impregnation on the Removal of Aqueous Cd(II) And Pb(II)
Authors: Maziarz Paulina , Matusik Jakub
Published: October 2017

In this study, halloysite-Fe3O4composites were synthesized by a chemical-precipitation method to facilitate magnetic separation of the sorbents from aqueous solution. The research focused on the effect of Fe3O4phase on the halloysite sorption properties. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed successful deposition of Fe3O4particles on a halloysite surface. They showed that the coating with Fe3O4particles enhanced the halloysite adsorption affinity toward Cd(II) and Pb(II). The highest adsorption capacity was determined for the composites having 10% of the surface deposited with Fe3O4. In this case, the adsorption capacity for Cd(II) and Pb(II) was 33 and 112 mmol·kg-1, respectively. The point of zero charge (pHPZC) and desorption results indicated that the removal mechanism of metals is mainly related to chemisorption involving reaction with hydroxyls of either halloysite or Fe3O4phase. The ion exchange is of limited importance due to the low cation exchange capacity (CEC) of halloysite - Fe3O4composites.
Characteristics of Sorbent Products Obtained by the Alkaline Activation of Waste from Waste Incineration Plants
Authors: Grela Agnieszka , Łach Michał , Bajda Tomasz , Mikuła Janusz
Published: October 2017

In Poland, by 2020 430,000 Mg of hazardous waste will be formed annually by the combustion of waste. This waste must be properly managed so as not to endanger the environment. One promising way to manage selected waste is to process it in the synthesis of materials characterised by sorption properties. The results presented in this paper concern the possibility of producing sorbents from waste materials marked with codes 190112 and 190114, which came from two waste incineration plants in Poland. Alkaline activation was performed using two methods: a) hydrothermal, in a solution of 8 M NaOH at 75°C for 24 h; and b) in an autoclave, using a solution of 2 M NaOH at 140°C for 6 h. XRD analyses led to the identification of materials after synthesis of the following zeolite phases: analcime, chabazite and thomsonite. chabazite and analcime can be valuable absorbent materials.
The Removal of Organic Compounds by Natural and Synthetic Surface-Functionalized Zeolites: A Mini-Review
Authors: Muir Barbara , Wołowiec Magdalena , Bajda Tomasz , Nowak Paulina , Czupryński Piotr
Published: October 2017

The use of zeolites as sorbents has been investigated as a replacement for existing costly methods of removing organic contaminants from water solutions. Zeolites can be modified by inorganic salts, organic surfactants, metals or metal oxides in order to increase their adsorption capacity. The unique ion exchange and adsorption properties of zeolites make them very suitable for application in the removal of organic compounds such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenols and other complex petrochemicals. Many different studies have demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing the concentrations of organic contaminants as well as petroleum derivatives in water, which has been summarized in this paper.
Data Preprocessing and Its Influence on the Adsorption Capacity of Calculated Shale. Comparison of Selected Methods: A Case Study
Authors: Waszczuk Patrycja
Published: October 2017

This article discusses the impact of choosing a data preprocessing method for the calculated gas density necessary to determine the sorption capacity of a material. The sample of gas-bearing shale was subjected to a volumetric sorption test. The obtained data, pressure and temperature were preprocessed by three methods: moving average, polynomial regression and locally weighted scatterplot smoothing. The results include the excess and absolute sorption calculated from data that were filtered, and data without pre-treatment and Langmuir isotherms’ coefficients for every case.
Applying the Repertory Grid Method for Technology Forecasting: Civil Unmanned Aviation Systems for Germany
Authors: Eimecke Jörgen , Baumert Katrin , Baier Daniel
Published: October 2017

Multistage expert surveys like the Delphi method are proven concepts for technology forecasting that enable the prediction of content-related and temporal development in fields of innovation (e.g., [1, 2]). Advantages of these qualitative multistage methods are a simple and easy to understand concept while still delivering valid results [3]. Nevertheless, the literature also points out certain disadvantages especially in large-scale technology forecasts in particularly abstract fields of innovation [4]. The proposed approach highlights the usefulness of the repertory grid method as an alternative for technology forecasting and as a first step for preference measurement. The basic approach from Baier and Kohler [5] is modified in-so-far that an online survey reduces the cognitive burden for the experts and simplifies the data collection process. Advantages over alternative approaches through its simple structure and through combining qualitative and quantitative methods are shown and an adaption on an actual field of innovation – civil drones in Germany – is done. The measurement of a common terminology for all experts minimizes misunderstandings during the interview and the achievement of an inter-individual comparable level of abstraction is forced by the laddering technique [6] during the interview.
Introduction: Shakespeare in Cross-Cultural Spaces
Authors: Sawyer Robert , Panjwani Varsha
Published: October 2017

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Import/Export: Trafficking in Cross-Cultural Shakespearean Spaces
Authors: Desmet Christy
Published: October 2017

This essay examines the phenomenon of cross-cultural Shakespearean “traffic” as an import/export “business” by analyzing the usefulness of the concept crosscultural through a series of theoretical binaries: Global vs. Local Shakespeares, Glocal and Intercultural Shakespeare; and the very definition of space and place within the Shakespearean lexicon. The essay argues that theoretically, the opposition of global and local Shakespeares has a tendency to collapse, and both glocal and intercultural Shakespeares are the object of serious critique. However, the project of cross-cultural Shakespeare is sustained by the dialectic between memorialization and forgetting that attends all attempts to record these cross-cultural experiences. The meaning of crosscultural Shakespeare lies in the interpreter’s agency.
Whose Castle is it Anyway?: Local/Global Negotiations of a Shakespearean Location
Authors: Refskou Anne Sophie
Published: October 2017

Kronborg Castle in the Danish town of Elsinore is a location strongly associated with Shakespeare thanks to the setting of Hamlet. It is a place where fiction currently eclipses history, at least in the context of a cultural tourist industry where Shakespeare’s name is worth a great deal more than Danish national heritage sites. Indeed, Kronborg is now widely marketed as ‘Hamlet’s Castle’ and the town of Elsinore has acquired the suffix ‘Home of Hamlet’. This article examines the signifiers implied in the naming and renaming of Kronborg as a Shakespearean location, while also looking at its unique international Shakespearean performance tradition, which spans two centuries. It describes how the identity of the castle has been shaped by its Shakespearean connection against the backdrop of changing ideologies in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and poses questions as to how this identity may continue to develop within the current contexts of renewed nationalism in Europe and the world.
The Merchant in Venice: Shylock’s „Unheimlich” Return
Authors: Henderson Diana E.
Published: October 2017

The first decades of the new millennium have seen an odd return to origins in Shakespeare studies. The Merchant in Venice, a site-specific theatrical production realized during the 500th anniversary year of the “original” Jewish Ghetto, was not only a highlight among the many special events commemorating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death in 2016, but also a more creative and complex response to historicism. With her nontraditional casting of five Shylocks (developed through collaborations with scholars and students as well as her international, multilingual company), director Karin Coonrod made visible the acts of cultural projection and fracturing that Shakespeare’s play both epitomizes and has subsequently prompted. This article, written by a participant-observer commissioned to capture on video the making and performance of Compagnia de’ Colombari’s six-night run in the Campo del Ghetto Nuovo, explores the way this place is—and indeed, the category of place itself is always - a dynamic temporal construct, defying more complacent attempts at simple return (to home, to the text, to the past). Such a recognition allows nuanced, hybrid forms of multicultural theater and Shakespeare scholarship to emerge, and to collaborate more fruitfully.
Book Reviews
Authors: Hansen Adam , Wicher Andrzej , Uotinen Timo
Published: October 2017

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Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety and Insomnia in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients and their Co-Relation with the Demographic Variables
Authors: Aggarwal H.K. , Jain Deepak , Dabas Geeta , Yadav R K
Published: October 2017

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an emerging health problem in both developed and developing countries. Depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in patients with chronic disease, but remain undertreated despite significant negative consequences on patients’ health. Assessment of key components of mental health early in disease course will help to identify high risk subjects in whom modifying these predictors will help in providing active and healthy life in CKD patients.

Methods: We did a cross sectional study in 200 patients of CKD stage III to V-D fulfilling the eligibility criteria who were on follow up in a single tertiary care center in the state of Haryana, India. We assessed the prevalence of anxiety, depression and insomnia and their correlation with demographic variables in these patients. The structured questionnaire used in this study gathered information on respondent demographic and disease characteristics, and information obtained from the HADS and PSQI questionnaire. Factors associated with anxiety, depression and insomnia were examined by a multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results: The prevalence of anxiety, depression and insomnia were found to be 71%, 69% and 86.5% respectively. As the CKD stage advanced, the prevalence as well as severity of these parameters increased. Anxiety, depression and sleep quality were found to be significantly correlated to unemployment, low income, low education, urban residence and presence of co-morbidities. The anxiety, depression and insomnia scores were found to have a strong negative correlation with eGFR, hemoglobin, serum calcium (p <0.01) and a positive correlation with TLC, blood urea, serum creatinine and serum phosphate (p <0.05).

Conclusion: We observed a high prevalence of anxiety, depression and insomnia in CKD patients. There is a need to develop strategies to accurately identify “high risk” subjects who may benefit from preventive measures before complications occur. By identifying CKD patients with high risk of developing these mental health related issues, healthcare provider may be better able to ensure the provision of appropriate rehabilitation to this population.
Transition Towards Transradial Approach Improves Outcomes of Acute Myocardial Infarction PCI
Authors: Kalpak Oliver , Donev Donco , Pejkov Hristo , Antov Slobodan , Kalpak Gjorgji , Kedev Sasko
Published: October 2017

Introduction and aim: Transradial (TRA) instead of transfemoral (TFA) approach strategy has been presented in research literature as superior access strategy especially for acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). There is a paucity of registry-based data of outcomes from default TRA strategy compared to TFA.

Materials and methods: All-comers STEMI PCI institutional Registry identified 1808 consecutive patients in time-frame of 40 months from 2007 to 2010, without making any exclusions. Moreover, we applied Propensity Score Matching (PSM) to replace randomization, address the potential confounding and selection bias. PSM derived 565 congruent pairs of patients from the groups.

Results: After 30 days the primary composite endpoint of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was in favor of TRA 6.5% vs. 12.4% in TFA group, simultaneously secondary endpoints of death in TRA with rate of 4.8% and with rate of 10.1% in TFA. Moreover, the rate of major access related bleeding was 1.1% in TRA vs. 8.5% in TFA, in contrast the major non-access related bleeding was 1.8% and 2.4% respectively showed no significant difference. One year Kaplan Meier survival plots were in favor of TRA.

Conclusions: Default transradial access strategy is associated with improved STEMI PCI outcomes.
Hypoglycaemia in the Newborn
Authors: Stomnaroska Orhideja , Petkovska Elizabeta , Ivanovska Sanja , Jancevska Snezana , Danilovski Dragan
Published: October 2017

Aim:Severe neonatal hypoglycaemia (HG) leads to neurologic damage, mental retardation, epilepsy, impaired cardiac performance and muscle weakness. The aim was to assess the frequency and severity of HG in a population of newborns.

Patients and methods:We investigated 739 patients with neonatal hypoglycaemia (HG) (M:F=370:369) born at the University Clinic for Gynaecology and Obstetritics in Skopje in the period 2014-2016 and treated at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). 1416 babies were treated in the same period in NICU, and HG was observed in 52.18%. The birth weight was dominated by children with low birth weight: very low birth weight (VLBW)(<1500g) 253 children, (34,23%), low birth weight (1500-2500g) 402 (54.39%), appropriate for gestational age (AGA) 78(10.55%), and high birth weight (>4000g) 6 babies (0.81%). The gestational age was also dominated by children with low gestational age: gestational week (GW) 20-25 four children (0.54%), 26-30 GW 133 babies (17.99%), 31-35 GW472 (63.87%), and 36-40 GW130 neonates (17.59 %).

241 mothers (32.61%) have had an infection during pregnancy, 82 preeclampsia or eclampsia (11.09%), 20 diabetes mellitus (2.70%), 78 placental situations (placenta previa, abruption) (10.55%). In this study 47 babies (6.35%) with HG and co-morbidities died.

There was a significant positive correlation between HG birth weight (p<0.01), gestational age (p<0.05), and the lowest Apgar score (p<0.01). Neonatal deaths were significantly correlated with GA (р>0,01), co-morbidities of the mothers (р>0,05) but not with the birth weight (р>0,05). In contrast, a significant positive correlation was found between convulsions and body weight (р<0.05). The lowest Apgar score was positively correlated with the gestational age (0.01), but not with the birth weight (0.05).

Conclusion:Low birth weight, low gestational age, maternal risk factors, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and neonatal infections are associated with HG and are a significant factor in overall neonatal mortality. Those results indicate that diminishing the frequency of the neonatal HG and the rates of neonatal mortality requires complex interaction of prenatal and postnatal interventions.
Surgical Treatment of Pleural Empyema – Our Results
Authors: Kondov Goran , Spirovski Zoran , Kondova-Topuzovska Irena , Kokareva Anita , Colanceski Risto , Srceva M. , Kondov Borislav , Dzikovski I , Toleska-Dimitrovska N. , Petrusevska-Marinkovic Sanja
Published: October 2017

Pleural infection is a frequent clinical condition. Prompt treatment has been shown to reduce morbidity, mortality and duration of hospital stay. Unfortunately, advanced stages of empyema need to use extensive surgery - decortications or thoracoplasty. Early recognition of the parapneumonic effusion and the adequate treatment with thoracentesis or pleural drainage, which is minimally invasive, is possible not to prograde the process and not to become empyema.

Aim: To analyze the results of the surgical treatment in patients with empyema treated at Clinic for thoracic surgery.

Material and methods: In the retrospective study we analyzed 234 patients with empyema which were treated at the Clinic for Thoracic Surgery in 5 year period (2011-2015). The mean age of the patients was 51.94 years. They were treated with pleural drainage, decortications or thoracoplasty.

Results: With pleural drainage were treated 165/234 (70.51%) patients, of which successfully were finished 124/165 (75.15%), but 41/165 (24.85%) were indicated after the decortications. A total of 108/234 (46.15%) were treated with decortications from which, primary decortications were indicated in 67/234 (28.63%) patients. 5/234 (2.14%) patients were treated with thoracoplasty – 3 of the patients with decortications and 2 with primary indicated thoracoplasty according to the local findings, long term untreated empyema and bad general condition. The Mean hospitalization was 17.4 days, of which 13.4 days after surgery. In the group with primary drainage it was detected a lethal outcome in 7/124 (5.64%) patients, 5/105 (4.76%) in the group with decortications and 2/5 (40%) in the group with thoracoplasty.

Conclusion: Early detection of the parapneumonic effusion and the adequate treatment will prevent the appearance of empyema. If the empyema is detected it is necessary as early as possible to start the treatment with minimally invasive pleural drainage. In earlier stages it is possible to use less invasive decortications, using VATS than the open thoracotomy decortication which is more extensive surgical intervention.
Let’s Go Bananas! Green Bananas and their Health Benefits
Authors: Apostolopoulos Vasso , Antonipillai Juliana , Tangalakis Kathy , Ashton John F , Stojanovska Lily
Published: October 2017

Bananas have enormous health benefits as a food for both animals and humans. They have been used as a complimentary medicine to treat pathological conditions since ancient times. Recently, there has been increased interest in the scientific validity of the beneficial effects of bananas in alleviating and treating disease conditions including, ulcers, infections, diabetes, diarrhea, colitis and blood pressure. Herein, we write on the potential therapeutic and functional benefits of certain species of bananas when consumed green as well as considering the properties of extracts from the non-fruit parts of the plant. We conclude that green bananas appear to deliver an array of health and therapeutic benefits
Serum and alveolar procalcitonin had a weak diagnostic value for ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients with pulmonary infection score ≥ 6
Authors: Shokri Mehran , Ghasemian Roya , Bayani Masomeh , Maleh Parviz Amri , Kamrani Masoumeh , Sadeghi-Haddad-Zavareh Mahmoud , Ebrahimpour Soheil
Published: October 2017

Background. Measuring the serum and alveolar procalcitonin level as inflammatory marker in the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) has been taken into account. In this study, serum and alveolar procalcitonin levels in patients with suspected VAP and patients with confirmed VAP were compared.

Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted using 50 intubated intensive care unit (ICU) patients, connected to ventilator, from October 2014 to April 2015. 50 patients with clinical pulmonary infection score ≥6 were divided into two groups. Patients whose bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has shown the growth of more than 104 CFU/mL were included in confirmed VAP group and other patients were included in suspected VAP group. Serum and alveolar procalcitonin levels were measured and compared between both groups.

Results. Mean age of patients was 69.10 ± 42.13 with a range of 16-90 years, out of which 23 patients were male (46%) and 27 patients were female (54%). Moreover, patients’ mean clinical pulmonary infection score was reported to be 7.02 ± 1.07. There was a significant relationship between serum and alveolar procalcitonin in suspected patients and patients with an approved form of pneumonia (p = 0.001 and 0.027). Area under the curve for alveolar procalcitonin was 0.683 (sensitivity = 57%; specificity = 80%) and for serum procalcitonin 0.751 (sensitivity = 71%; specificity = 73%) for the diagnosis of VAP.

Conclusion. According to the results of the present study, we can diagnose ventilator-associated pneumonia earlier and more accurately by measuring procalcitonin level (particularly alveolar type) in intensive care unit patients.
VALSTYBĖS ATSPARUMAS IŠORINĖMS HIBRIDINIO POBŪDŽIO GRĖSMĖMS: HIPOTETINIS MODELIS
Authors: Žilinskas Remigijus
Published: October 2017

Having originated from material science and ecology, the concept of resilience has recently become a fashionable topic in security studies as well. In the realm of security studies, resilience could be defined as the capability of the system or its components to withstand and keep unchanged its essential parameters in the context of permanent and longstanding internal and external risks factors or threats. National resilience is essential in ensuring the prosperous development and welfare of any nation in case of the so-called “wicked problems.” The importance of resilience was stressed during NATO’s Summit in 2016 and further promulgated by numerous academic discussions in face of Russia’s hybrid threats to the Alliance. However, the arguments were mainly focused on the broad narrative of the politico-strategic debates and on how to build resilience rather than presenting a way on how to assess and compare resilience levels in different countries. The main aim of this paper is to develop a hypothetical model of national resilience against external threats with hybrid nature (unconventional aggression) for empirical purposes in further researches. In this article, national resilience is regarded as an adaptive capacity of the government and society to retain functionality to changing external security environment. The adaptive capacity of government and society could be operationalized by different capitals, such as political leadership, economic, military, social, human, psychological etc. The specific resilience doctrines, such as functional, societal and forward were used to form the national resilience model. The articles also argues that functional resilience is less commonly used in academic debates than societal resilience. In the first part of the article, an interdisciplinary literature analysis and critical security approach was employed to reveal the complexity of the resilience concept and its possible use on system level. The second part analyzed Russia’s power projection as the main source of hybrid threats in the context of national resilience. Finally, the dilemma of good and adaptive governance in the framework of functional resilience was discussed.
MAJOR THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO CONSTRUCTIVE CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS
Authors: Popov Maxim
Published: October 2017

This article explores the major approaches to the study of conflict resolution strategy from a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives. It argues that conflict resolution strategy, as a civil integration resource, is a necessary tool for overcoming deep-rooted ethnic conflicts in the unstable North Caucasus. This research pursues the goal of analyzing how the strength of civil integration can affect conflict resolution and peacebuilding. The author considers the essential factors of protracted ethnic conflicts and emphasizes the destabilizing role of the repoliticization of ethnicity in a crisis society. The concept of ethnic, “identity-based” conflicts is the heuristic theoretical model of exploring causes for increased ethnoreligious tensions in the North Caucasus. This article focuses on the ability of conflict resolution strategy to de-escalate growing tensions and transform protracted identity-based conflicts. The need to stimulate civil integration is caused by moral and structural causes: from the ethical point of view, the creation of an inclusive society is the fundamental societal goal; structural factors are related to the need to reduce inequalities and differences leading to social fragmentation and an escalation of ethnic conflicts. Among the structural conditions of regional conflicts, the author names ethnosocial inequalities, a civil identity crisis, ethnopolitical neo-authoritarianism, large-scale socioeconomic polarization and an “ideological combat” between secular modernization and religious fundamentalism. While discussing conflict resolution strategies, it is necessary to consider the following: 1) Peace and integration within the North Caucasus is a macropolitical project, the content of which is determined by issues of social cohesion and civil solidarity; 2) The development of the North Caucasus after the end of armed ethnic conflicts shows the inadmissibility of political demodernization, fundamentalism and isolationism. Today, the North Caucasus remains a crucially geopolitical macroregion, as it forms the southern volatile frontier of Russia. In this case, conflict resolution strategy must serve as an integrational and preventive tool on the conflict environment by way of providing structural solutions for deep-rooted cultural antagonisms, transforming and rationalizing ethnoregional contradictions.
Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Hispanic Children in Immigrant Families Versus US-Native Families
Authors: Caballero Tania Maria , Johnson Sara B. , Buchanan Cara R. Muñoz , DeCamp Lisa Ross
Published: October 2017

OBJECTIVES:

To examine the prevalence of child and family characteristics associated with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in Hispanic children in immigrant families compared with Hispanic children in US-native families.

METHODS:

Data were from the nationally representative 2011–2012 National Survey of Children’s Health. Parent-reported child ACE exposure was classified as no ACEs (0), low ACEs (1), or high ACEs (≥2). By using multinomial logistic regression, we evaluated the odds of low or high ACE exposure versus no ACE exposure by immigrant family status and child and family characteristics (eg, insurance status, child health status, or household-to-income ratio).

RESULTS:

The study sample included 12 162 Hispanic children. More children in immigrant families lived ≤200% of the federal poverty level compared with children in US-native families (80% vs 47%, respectively; P < .001). Thirty percent of children in US-native families reported high ACEs compared with only 16% of children in immigrant families (P < .001). The odds of high ACE exposure versus no ACE exposure for children in immigrant families compared with US-native children was 0.46 (95% confidence interval: 0.34–0.61). Child and family characteristics did not explain the difference in odds of ACE exposure by immigrant family status.

CONCLUSIONS:

Children in immigrant families had significantly lower odds of ACE exposure despite higher prevalence of poverty. This may not reflect a true health advantage in this population. There may be unmeasured factors that buffer children in immigrant families from ACE exposure, or ACE questions may not capture the adverse experiences specific to immigrant families.