bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Arts and Branches of Science Significantly Contributing to Cyber and Cyber Security
Authors: Jaitner Margarita Levin , MacDermott Áine
Published: March 2018

Academia plays an important role in shaping a country's cyber readiness. In the past years, nations have started investing in new cyber-related programs at colleges and universities. This also includes promoting academic exchange with partner countries, as well as putting effort into improved cooperation between industries and scholars in the area of cyber. In many cases the efforts focus largely on computer science and closely related branches of science. However, the very nature of the cyberspace as both a continuation and a reflection of the physical world require a broader perspective on academic assets required to create and sustain sound cyber defines capabilities. Acknowledging this premise, this paper sets out to map branches of science that significantly contribute to the domain known as ‘cyber' and searches for new aspects for further development.
Identifying and Analyzing the Latent Cyber Threats in Developing Economies
Authors: Bamrara Atul
Published: March 2018

Internet usage has increased significantly across developing economies in last decade and most of the enterprises are extensively reliable on computer networks for electronic mails to payment gateways. But, the scenario we live in today has become more and more connected, sophisticated and risk-prone to our network-delivered society. Nevertheless, it remains critical for enterprises to exploit the full potential of available technologies such as mobile computing, smart computing and cloud computing. A cyber security related gaffe in any of these rapidly emerging domains may lead to lost productivity and grave concerns to the enterprise. The chapter highlights the various concerns associated to cyber security, viz., how an attack may be operated and offered measures to secure the network and information technology resources within and outside the enterprise. In most of the developing economies no synchronized activities in this regard are taking place which opens the opportunity to cyber criminals intrude into the system and compromise the resources.
A Comparative Study on DNA-Based Cryptosystem
Authors: M. Thangavel , P Varalakshmi , R Sindhuja
Published: March 2018

Information security plays a vital role in almost every application that we handle in our day-to-day life since the communication needs to be protected in terms of the messages that we send and receive. Thus, cryptography the science of encoding the secret information provides security from being known by the unintended receivers. It ensured confidentiality, integrity, and authentication of messages. To simplify the methodology of traditional cryptography with the usage of genetic concepts lead to the field of DNA cryptography. This chapter gives an insight on various methods so far proposed related to DNA cryptography that involves the characteristics of DNA incorporating the traditional cryptographic techniques and a detailed comparison of these techniques thereby proposing the requirements for an efficient DNA-based cryptographic system. These techniques also include the area of steganography that conceals the message within a cover or a career media to eschew the attacks from the intruders.
Does Social Media Marketing Improve Business Performance?
Authors: Gülsoy Tanses Yasemin
Published: March 2018

The recent growth of social media, or consumer-generated media, has given rise to bidirectional communication between consumers and marketers. There is some evidence that the dialogue appears to help the business performance of companies by influencing, for example, product sales, consumer attitudes, and consumer decision-making. This chapter examines the evidence, with a particular focus on on-line consumer product reviews. Also investigated is the role trust plays in how marketing works in the social media. Managerial implications and research directions are indicated.
The Role of Individual Behavior and Social Influence in Customer Relation Management
Authors: Surma Jerzy
Published: March 2018

One of the crucial trends in business is to offer one-to-one personalized services. In this context, companies try to build customer relationship management systems based on the customer social relations and behavioral patterns. The key issue is predicting to which products or services a particular customer is likely to respond. Additionally, identifying peer-to-peer influence on social network sites is critical to a social media marketing strategies. That is why companies have to learn to understand their customer in the broader social context in order to build successful Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, which are described in this chapter. In those systems, the individual customer behavior patterns can be used to build an analytical customer profile. Based on the profile, a company might target a customer with a personalized message. In this chapter, the authors use four research studies in order to extensively present this issue.
The Primer of Social Media Analytics
Authors: Wamba Samuel Fosso , Akter Shahriar , Kang Hyunjin , Bhattacharya Mithu , Upal Mohammed
Published: March 2018

This article is intended to serve as a primer of social media analytics. The paper explores different dimensions of social media analytics by drawing on a review of the literature. Specifically, the paper sheds light on the definitional aspects, types of social media data and types of analytics to improve firm performance. The findings of the paper will help the reader to grasp the fundamentals of social media analytics.
Irritating Factors While Navigating on Websites and Facebook and Its Reactions Using Different Devices
Authors: El Mouldi Sana , Mouelhi Norchene Ben Dahmane
Published: March 2018

The research presented in this chapter identifies sources of the irritation felt by internet users while browsing websites and Facebook. A qualitative approach was taken, including 40 individual interviews, enabled the authors to determine the irritating factors and user reactions when using different devices such as smartphones, computers and tablets to navigate websites and Facebook. The implications of this research will help marketers and web developers to reduce internet user irritation and better understand their behavior to better meet their expectations.
The Role of Social Media in Shaping Marketing Strategies in the Airline Industry
Authors: Akçay Deniz
Published: March 2018

Tourism is one of the leading sectors based on other people's views and comments found on the Internet. Prior to deciding where they would like to go, individuals obtain information about the travel agencies they will use, the hotels they will stay at and the regions they would like to visit, plus the views and experiences of others in terms of these issues, which are largely shared via social media environments. Accordingly, it has become a necessity for establishments to follow the main social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and so on, and develop their goods and services in line with the comments shared on these platforms. In this study, how national and international airline companies implement the 4Ps of marketing (product, price, place, promotion) in social media environments is investigated through examples and analysed through data obtained via interviews.
Role of Social Media in Tourism
Authors: Nadda Vipin K. , Dadwal Sumesh Singh , Mulindwa Dirisa , Vieira Rubina
Published: March 2018

Revolutionary development in field of communication and information technology have globally opened new avenue of marketing tourism and hospitality products. Major shift in web usage happened when Napster in 1999 released peer-to-peer share media and then with pioneer social networking websites named ‘Six Degrees'. This kind of interactive social web was named as ‘Web 2.0'. It would create openness, community and interaction. Web2. is also known as Social media base. Social media is incudes “all the different kinds of content that form social networks: posts on blogs or forums, photos, audio, videos, links, profiles on social networking web sites, status updates and more”. It allows people to create; upload post and share content easily and share globally. Social media allows the creation and exchange of user-generated content and experiences online. Thus, social media is any kind of information we share with our social network, using social networking web sites and services.
Amplification and Virtual Back-Patting
Authors: Svensson Jakob
Published: March 2018

This chapter explores the rationalities of politicians' social media uses in Web-campaigning in a party-based democracy. This is done from an in-depth case study of a Swedish politician, Nina Larsson, who with the help of a PR agency utilized several social media platforms in her campaign to become re-elected to the parliament in 2010. By analyzing how and for what purposes Larsson used social media in her Web-campaign, this chapter concludes that even though discourses of instrumental rationality and of communicative rationality were common to make her practices relevant, Nina primarily used social media to amplify certain offline news media texts as well as to commend and support other liberal party members. Hence, from this case, the authors conclude that Web-campaigning on social media is used for expressive purposes, to negotiate and maintain an attractive political image within the party hierarchy.
Improvement of Food Security Through Reforming of Domestic Veterinary Service
Authors: Ivolga Anna , Trukhachev Vladimir , Bannikova Natalia , Baicherova Anzhelika
Published: March 2018

The chapter gives an overview of current issues of achievement of food security through reforming of veterinary service in the light of the social, ecological, and economic development of the society. The authors analyze certain challenges of food security existing in emerging countries, including expansion of market relations within veterinary service. The results of organizational and economic reforms of veterinary service are assessed on the case of Russia in a form of the survey of the heads of regional veterinary centers. Such issues as governmental and public regulations of quarantine operations and the most dangerous animal diseases are also discussed. In order to improve food security, the authors justify the measures for competition and demand stimulation, smoothing consequences of market imperfections, encouraging veterinarians' efforts on reducing the negative impact of livestock breeding on the environment.
Design Methods for Decision Support Systems
Authors: Khatun Madhury , Miah Shah J.
Published: March 2018

This article reviews methods to the development of a decision support system (DSS) solution for small business owners/managers. The main objective of designing the DSS artefact is to support the strategic decision-making for achieving competitive advantages in the business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce environment. Many researchers in the DSS domain utilised various methods to design of information systems (IS) artefact, mostly intended for large businesses. Researchers have paid much attention to the business environment as a knowledge source for DSS design and development for the small business strategic decision support needs. User-centred design (UCD) principles were adopted for DSS development. Prior a novel DSS development, multiple case studies were carried out for understanding the user needs and system requirements. Also, knowledge was sourced from the external business environment via the analysis of small business website features against their overseas competitors. The findings suggested developing a DSS solution for small business needs.
A Generic Functional Architecture for Operational BI System
Authors: Sarma A.D.N.
Published: March 2018

In recent years, Operational Business Intelligence has emerged as an important trend in the Business Intelligence (BI) market. Majority of BI application architectures are bespoke in nature which have several architectural limitations like tightly coupled, static, historic, subjective, no performance measurement of business processes, limited user access, limited analytical processing, querying and reporting features. In this article, a generic functional architecture for Operational BI systems based on software architecture principles is presented. All functional modules of the system are derived from the key features of the system and by using top down approach of software design principles. The similar functional modules are grouped into sub-systems and a set of these sub-systems constitutes overall functional architecture. The proposed architecture overcomes the limitations of traditional BI architectures.
Functional Connectivity Assessment for Episodic Memory by Decoding Theta Wave
Authors: Kapardi Mallampalli , Anandan Kavitha
Published: March 2018

Autobiographical events help us to analyse our own thoughts and behaviour over a period of time. Analysing the retrieval of memory helps in better understanding of the disorders. This article aims at analysing the functional connectivity of young adults during a multiphase memory retrieval process. Subjects have been made to recall events in different phases of their life. EEG signals have been recorded while the subjects are performing their tasks. Inter-hemispherical coherence has been estimated from the processed EEG signals As theta band posed higher power compared to all other bands, it was considered for further analysis. A mathematical function was formed for the processed theta wave, to determine the coherence between various electrodes. The function generated a theta wave for every task and each wave was significant in its own way. The connectivity matrix was found to identify the active electrodes during retrieval of events. The results were validated by computing coherence separately for the same electrodes and for the same events.
Research on Landing Risk Assessment for Carrier-Based Aircrafts by M-V Multiattribute Decision-Making
Authors: Zhang Yu-Ru , Yang Weiwei , Li Hui , Su Xiaodong
Published: March 2018

For increasing accuracy rate of landing risk assessment of carrier-based aircraft, this article is committed to research on landing risk assessment of carrier-based aircraft based on mean-variance dynamic multi-attribute decision making. Attribute values are provided in the form of triangle fuzzy number. Mean sort values is acquired by formula of possibility degree and order. For solving a problem of the same or similar orders, the improved method combines mean and variance, analyzing and judging, getting alternatives rank. Finally, the feasibility and availability of the improved method is proved by simulation results.
Internet Marketing Adoption by Iranian Distribution Industry
Authors: Zahiri Sepideh , El-Gohary Hatem , Hussain Javed
Published: March 2018

This article describes how although the internet has become a significant platform for the advancement of marketing strategies and developments, there have been inadequate empirical research efforts concerning its adoption for conducting internet marketing in developing countries, specifically in the Middle East area, and more particularly in Iran. Previous studies investigated internet marketing adoption and acceptance extensively, by employing different theories of new technology adoption in developed countries, while there have been inadequate empirical research efforts concerning its adoption in developing countries. It is widely recognised that the adoption of internet marketing can offer substantial opportunities for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). In developing countries, internet marketing opportunities can be a meaningful approach for SMEs to be able to compete with large businesses and to access, with lowest possible costs, targeted customers.
“The Leaver” and “The Left”
Authors: Rodriguez Nathan John
Published: March 2018

The study of parasocial relationships has surged in recent years, as fans use new media to access even more information about various media personae. Most work involving sports fans has examined behavior at a particular time rather than over time. This article investigates how Kansas basketball fans reacted to the departure of former head coach Roy Williams over a period of nine years. Opinions were culled from reader responses to articles mentioning Williams on KUsports.com. Each comment was analyzed thematically and then coded by an expressed grief state using the Kubler-Ross (1969) model. The notion of parasocial divorce is introduced to describe the depth of parasocial relationships for highly motivated fans. The findings reveal an ebb and flow of affection and antipathy toward Williams over time. Results demonstrate how quickly fans may grow to loathe a former group member, but also how rapidly and under what conditions that parasocial relationship may be repaired.
Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction in Online Banking
Authors: Dharmavaram Vijayalakshmi , Nittala Rajyalakshmi
Published: March 2018

The main objective of this article is to examine online banking service quality factors that influence customer satisfaction in Visakhapatnam city, Andhra Pradesh, India. Data was collected through structured questionnaire from a sample of 513 respondents. Factor analysis was done to find out the contribution of each variable and multiple regression was used to test the hypothesis. This study found six factors, responsiveness, reliability, privacy and security, ease of use, website design and information quality that have positive influence on customer satisfaction. The findings help the banker to identify the critical areas to pay attention to increase customer satisfaction in online banking.
Software Defect Prediction Using Genetic Programming and Neural Networks
Authors: Akour Mohammed , Melhem Wasen Yahya
Published: March 2018

This article describes how classification methods on software defect prediction is widely researched due to the need to increase the software quality and decrease testing efforts. However, findings of past researches done on this issue has not shown any classifier which proves to be superior to the other. Additionally, there is a lack of research that studies the effects and accuracy of genetic programming on software defect prediction. To find solutions for this problem, a comparative software defect prediction experiment between genetic programming and neural networks are performed on four datasets from the NASA Metrics Data repository. Generally, an interesting degree of accuracy is detected, which shows how the metric-based classification is useful. Nevertheless, this article specifies that the application and usage of genetic programming is highly recommended due to the detailed analysis it provides, as well as an important feature in this classification method which allows the viewing of each attributes impact in the dataset.
Transmission Line Routing Using Open Source Software Q-GIS
Authors: Uddin Shabbir , Sherpa Karma Sonam , Chakravorty Sandeep , Ray Amitava
Published: March 2018

This article contends that planning for power systems is essentially a projection of how the system should grow over a specific period of time, given certain assumptions and judgments about the future load and the size of investment in generating capacity additions, transmission facilities expansion and reinforcements. Transmission line routing is one of the most important strategic decision-making problems for both private and public sectors. The major objective of a utility is to supply demand for power with a good quality of service, through proper planning of the system. This has led to development of methods which can be used to aid the decision-making process for selecting the best alternative. Geographical Information System (GIS)-based electricity transmission system planning strategies are proposed in this article to determine an optimum routing of feeders. Existing and proposed layouts have been drawn using a GIS-based software, Quantum Geographic Information System (Q-GIS). The developed system is based on the routing of transmission lines from Barh thermal power plant situated in Bihar, India.
Understanding Actors in Complex Security Problems
Authors: Gonçalves Duarte
Published: March 2018

This article arose while working on the rhino poaching problem in South Africa and having to deal with the large number of stakeholders and complexity. The purpose of actor modelling is to develop a deeper understanding of how stakeholders and threats contribute to the complex security problems. This article is the author's reflection on two different attempts at modelling actors in the rhino problem. A framework is developed and a number of issues are raised with respect to actor modelling: First, values and perspectives are driven by actor needs. The knowledge acquired by actors is determined by perspectives. With a diversity of actors, there is a “fragmentation of perspective” that hampers addressing the problem. Thus, dealing with fragmentation of perspective, requires an approach that is inclusive of actors and different ways of knowing. The validity of actor modelling is limited by what can be determined about the values and interests of actors and this varies across actors. Second, actors have multiple identifications with multiple levels of relationality. For high levels of identification combined with low levels of relationality, there is a challenge for a researcher to understand actor behaviour. Third, actors operate in an autonomy-heteronomy space. This is not a continuum, but both autonomy and heteronomy experienced at the same time. When actors are autonomous they live out their values and interests and are most creative. When creativity is applied, there are many ways (what) of satisfying interests and living out values (why), but actors do not behave randomly. Under autonomy, understanding motivation (why) is more important than what because why is more stable and what cannot be predicted. Actors are dynamic, non-deterministic and non-linear. Fourth, the model represents not only structure but also motivation or purpose and resources; thus, addressing certain aspects of subjective and objective fragmentation. Based on the argument advanced in the paper, the sources of actor complexity leading to novel emerging behaviour in social systems are actor needs and the corresponding values and perspectives, high levels of identification with low levels of relationality and autonomy.
Online Store Attribute Preferences
Authors: Srivastava Praveen Ranjan , Sharma Anand , Yadav Rama Shankar , Sharma Satyendra Kumar , Kaur Inderjeet
Published: March 2018

This article describes how purchasing from an online store depends on various attributes of the online store. The relative importance given to a particular factor may vary across gender. Thus, it generates a scope of inquiry for understanding the consumer behavior while making an online purchase. Hence, this article tries to understand the relative importance of the factors affecting consumers buying behaviors while shopping online. This article utilizes Fuzzy AHP and TOPSIS for finding relative weights of criteria and ranking of the alternatives available respectively. The results were analyzed for finding the relative importance of factors across gender. The article finds that security of transactions is the topmost priority for both males and females, but they put a different level of importance on rest of the factors. The results provide valuable insights which can help the online stores in prioritizing the important factors for future improvements.
An Innovative Information Technology Educational Framework Based on Embodied Cognition and Sensory Marketing
Authors: Rappaport Jack M. , Richter Stephen B. , Kennedy Dennis T.
Published: March 2018

This article describes and implements an innovative framework for information technology (IT) education. The proposed framework creates metaphors for various IT topics using music. The theory of embodied cognition or grounded cognition argues that all aspects of cognition, including decision making, are shaped by aspects of the body. Various theories of neuroscience, the interdisciplinary study of the nervous system, are used to explain how the brain processes the information and multi-modal stimuli generated by the authors' model. The framework proposed in this article can also be considered a form of sensory marketing, which is also based upon embodied cognition, theories of neuroscience and the cognitive significance of metaphors. The model was implemented at the secondary and university levels using both a formative and summative evaluation process. The survey results support the theoretical arguments supplied by many theories of embodied cognition and neuroscience.
Effects of Corporate Social Responsibility and Creating Shared Value on Sustainability
Authors: Sinthupundaja Janthorn , Kohda Youji
Published: March 2018

This article describes how recently, there has been a shift in corporate social responsibility (CSR) to creating shared value (CSV), filling the gap between the strategies underlying competitive advantage and sustainability. Although the principles of CSR and CSV have been broadly studied and investigated, there is still little academic research focusing on the transitions regarding on economic, social, and environmental sustainability. In this article, literature and a case study were reviewed and analyzed to identify differences and contributing factors towards sustainability, based on value co-creation and collaboration approaches. The authors' findings present that the CSV emphasizing on co-created value with the cross-sector collaboration leads to the sustainability. Working together with local people or social organizations enables deep understanding of local context and understand the real social and environmental issues. The study contributes to sustainability and business literature by investigating insights into the sustainability of CSR and CSV, and strengthening the importance of social involvement.
Using the Linked Data Approach in European e-Government Systems
Authors: Janev Valentina , Mijović Vuk , Vraneš Sanja
Published: March 2018

This article describes the Linked Data approach, based on principles defined back in 2006, which can play an important role in the domain of semantic interoperabiity of government services. Therefore, this article explores the technical aspects and challenges of implementation of the revised European Directive on the Public Sector Information (2013/37/EU) that provides a common legal framework for a European market for government-held data (public sector information). It examines how the Linked Data approach facilitates the PSI Directive implementation, and in particular, the maturity of standards and tools for statistical Linked Data processing. The statistical domain has been selected due to its relevance for policy prediction, planning and adjustments, and well as its significant impact on the society, from citizens to businesses to governments. The main contributions are related to the delivered state-of-the-art open-source tools for the managing statistical Linked Data and metadata—quality assessment, exploration—and the recommendations that have been integrated in the EU SHARE-PSI Best Practices collection.
A Trust Based Secure and Privacy Aware Framework for Efficient Taxi and Car Sharing System
Authors: Olakanmi Oladayo , Oluwaseun Sekoni
Published: March 2018

This article describes how taxi service is an essential means of mobility in many cities. Recent findings show that average automobile owners utilize their vehicles for only 5% of its time in a day. Therefore, the advent of autonomous vehicles and car sharing will make it possible for owners to engage their vehicles as taxis when not in use by utilizing its 95% free time for income generation. Sensitive private information is required to be released during a taxi service delivery, which may bring certain security and privacy issues and challenges. This may hinder the prospect of using autonomous vehicles as a form of taxi. As a result of these, the authors propose a secure and privacy-preserving taxi service framework for car sharing, which ensures protection of car owner and passengers personal details, e.g. identity, location, destination, etc. The authors developed a decay-based trust model for a framework in order to monitor and improve the quality of service rendered to passengers by vehicles. The decay-based trust model was simulated on the framework. The simulation of the decay-based trust model shows that it is a perfect model for rewarding vehicles which render good quality of service and blacklisting vehicles with frequent poor service delivery.
Extraosseous primary intracranial ewing sarcoma/peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor: Series of seven cases and review of literature
Authors: Singh Amit , Srivastava Arun , Pal Lily , Sardhara Jayesh , Yadav Rajan , Singh Shalini , Bhaisora Kamlesh , Das Kuntal , Mehrotra Anant , Sahu Rabi , Jaiswal Awadhesh , Behari Sanjay
Published: March 2018

Background: The Ewing sarcoma peripheral PNET (ES-pPNET) is very rare small round cell tumour that involves the CNS as either a primary dural neoplasm or by direct extension from contiguous bone or soft tissue. Materials and Methods: Biopsy proven cases of intracranial ES/pPNET with orbital involvement operated during Jan 2010-Jan 2014 were retrospectively included and their clinical data, operative and histological findings were reviewed from institutional oncology register. Results: seven patients (4 males; 3 female) were studied with mean age at presentation of 13 years. Six patients had orbital involvement in one or other form. Surgical excision was gross total in five, near total in one, and subtotal in one patient. All patients received adjuvant therapy, only chemotherapy in 2, only Radiotherapy in four, both in one. MRI characteristics were studied in six patients. Four patients died with average survival of 33.2 months and three patients are having Progression free survival of average 23.3 months. Conclusions: The EWS-pPNET is very rare tumour and very poorly described in literature. These tumours are showing special predilection for the frontotemporal dura and erode through the flat bone of cranium like orbital roof and lateral wall of the orbit. These tumours are aggressive, multi compartmental, vascular and very rapidly growing, so missing or overlooking the primary symptoms of dural stretching/bony involvement leads to delay in management and poor outcome.
Dural ectasia and cauda equina syndrome: A rare complication of long-standing fusion
Authors: Bachhav Vrushali , Dua Sumeet , Jhaveri Miral
Published: March 2018

The clinicoradiological combination of cauda equina syndrome (CES) and dural ectasia is rare and has been described in a few of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Simultaneous occurrence of these entities in the absence of AS and in patients with long-standing spinal fusion is extremely rare. We present a case of dural ectasia and CES occurring as a long-term complication of instrumented spinal fusion and discuss the pathogenesis, imaging findings, and management options of this elusive disease process.
Awake craniotomy with noninvasive brain mapping by 3-Tesla functional magnetic resonance imaging for excision of low-grade glioma: A case of a young patient from Pakistan
Authors: Aleem Bhatti Atta , Jakhrani Nasir , Parekh Maria
Published: March 2018

The past few years have seen increasing support for gross total resection in the management of low-grade gliomas (LGGs), with a greater extent of resection correlated with better overall survival, progression-free survival, and time to malignant transformation. There is consistent evidence in literature supporting extent of safe resection as a good prognostic indicator as well as positively affecting seizure control, symptomatic relief in pressure symptoms, and longer progression-free and total survival. The operative goal in most LGG cases is to maximize the extent of resection for these benefits while avoiding postoperative neurologic deficits. Several advanced invasive and noninvasive surgical techniques such as intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluorescence-guided surgery, intraoperative functional pathway mapping, and neuronavigation have been developed in an attempt to better achieve maximal safe resection. We present a case of LGG in a young patient with a 5-year history of refractory seizures and gradual onset walking difficulty. Serial MRI brain scans revealed a progressive increase in right frontal tumor size with substantial edema and parafalcine herniation. Noninvasive brain mapping by functional MRI (fMRI) and sleep-awake-sleep type of anesthesia with endotracheal tube insertion was utilized during an awake craniotomy. Histopathology confirmed a Grade II oligodendroglioma, and genetic analysis revealed no codeletion at 1p/19q. Neurological improvement was remarkable in terms of immediate motor improvement, and the patient remained completely seizure free on a single antiepileptic drug. There is no radiologic or clinical evidence of recurrence 6 months postoperatively. This is the first published report of an awake craniotomy for LGG in Pakistan. The contemporary concept of supratotal resection in LGGs advocates generous functional resection even beyond MRI findings rather than mere excision of oncological boundaries. This relatively aggressive approach is only possible with an awake craniotomy, which ensures preservation of functional status and thus less postoperative morbidity and better outcomes. Noninvasive mapping for intracranial space-occupying lesions, including fMRI and blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) imaging modality, is an essential tool in a resource-limited setting such as Pakistan.
The organisms and factors affecting outcomes of external ventricular drainage catheter-related ventriculitis: A penang experience
Authors: Sam Jo , Lim Chee , Sharda Priya , Wahab Nasser
Published: March 2018

Introduction: Ventriculostomy-related infection (VRI) from external ventricular drain (EVD) insertion is a common complication and carries a high mortality rate. Choice of empiric antibiotics depends on the institutions common causative organisms and their susceptibility. We determined risk factors for mortality in patients with VRI, the common organisms causing VRI, and the rate of EVD-related VRI at our institution. Methods: Medical records and operative data of patients with cerebrospinal fluid positive cultures with an EVD inserted from 2012 to 2015 were traced. Forty-five patients with EVD-related VRI were included in the study. Results: The overall rate of VRI was 6.3%, and the overall mortality rate due to VRI was 48.9%. Acinetobacter baumannii was the most common organism causing VRI (14 patients, 29.2%) with a mortality rate of 64.3%. Only 14.3% of A. baumannii are sensitive to meropenem and imipenem. We found that patients that had a decompressive craniectomy (DC) had a lower mortality rate (P = 0.042) and patients with a longer duration of the EVD being in place before the diagnosis of VRI had poor outcome (P = 0.040). Multivariate logistic regression was performed and we found that the use of steroid (P = 0.014), Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection (P = 0.010), multiple organism infection (P = 0.017), lower Glasgow Coma Scale (P = 0.043), and a longer duration the EVD was in place before the diagnosis of VRI (P = 0.008) were related with higher mortality. Conclusion: VRI mortality rate is high with an alarming resistance pattern seen in Acinetobacter VRI. EVDs should be removed as soon as feasible, and DC may be offered to patients with severe ventriculitis or meningitis.
Endoscopic versus microscopic pituitary adenoma surgery: An institutional experience
Authors: Prajapati Hanuman , Jain Shashi , Sinha Virendra
Published: March 2018

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of endoscopic versus microscopic excision of pituitary adenoma, and to evaluate the merits and demerits of each approach. Materials and Methods: Prospective data were collected and patients were surgically treated for pituitary adenoma at SMS Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Patients consent was obtained. Age, sex, presenting symptoms, length of hospital stay, pre- and post-operative hormone status, extent of resections of tumors, and intra- and post-operative complication were noted. Results: A total of thirty patients with pituitary adenoma were operated transsphenoidally. Seventeen patients were operated by endonasal endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery and 13 patients were operated by microscopic transsphenoidal surgery. In an endoscopic group, complete tumor excision was achieved in 11 (64.71%) patients, and in microscopic group, it was achieved in 6 (46.15%) patients. In endoscopic group, mean operative time was 111.29 ± 21.95 min (ranged 80–135 min), and in microscopic group, it was 134.38 ± 8.33 min (ranged 120–145 min). In endoscopic group, mean blood loss was 124.41 ± 39.64 ml (60–190 ml), and in microscopic group, it was 174.62 ± 37.99 (100–220 ml). Postoperative sinusitis was present in 1 (5.88%) patient in endoscopic group and in 2 (15.38%) patients in microscopic group. Conclusion: Endoscopic approach provides a wide surgical field and broad lateral vision making easier distinction of tumor tissues. Thus, there is less blood loss, greater extent of tumor removal and it had less operative time, less postoperative complication, and early discharge from the hospital.
Venous malformation (Cavernous Hemangioma) of the supraorbital nerve
Authors: Kim Jung-hoon , Choi Jin-gyu , Son Byung-chul
Published: March 2018

Cavernous hemangiomas are not true vascular tumors, but rather are slow-flow venous malformations (VMs). They are present at birth as nonproliferating vascular birthmarks composed of anomalous ectatic venous channels. VMs have often been incorrectly called cavernous hemangiomas and cavernous angiomas. These terms have for a long time lead to confusion with the more common proliferating or true hemangioma of infancy. VM has been reported to arise at all sites including skin and subcutaneous layers of the head and neck, face, extremities, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and even the thymus. Although VMs are common intraocular tumors and are involved within intracranial, extraaxial cranial nerves within the cavernous sinus has been sporadically reported, and less often in the supraorbital nerve, an extraocular and extracranial division of the trigeminal nerve has not been reported. The authors present an extremely rare occurrence of VM involving the supraorbital nerve in an 80-year-old female.
Depressed fractures of skull: An institutional series of 453 patients and brief review of literature
Authors: Prakash Anand , Harsh Viraat , Gupta Utkarsh , Kumar Jayendra , Kumar Anil
Published: March 2018

Background: There has been a substantial increase in the number of cases with head injuries in the past two decades which has simultaneously led to increase in the annual incidence of depressed fractures of skull. Most of these skull fractures are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality of patients and an unavoidable financial burden on the family members. However, many changes have been undertaken directed toward improved management of patients with head injuries and skull fractures in the past 20 years. Objective: To study and compare the patterns of occurrence of the depressed fractures of skull and examine the factors which may influence the surgical outcome of patients with reference to similar case series from the past literature. Patients and Methods: We reviewed patient records of 453 patients admitted with depressed skull fractures in Department of Neurosurgery, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, India, during the period of March 2004 through July 2009. Results: The incidence of depressed skull fracture was highest (56%) in the age group of 16–45 years. There was a predominance of male cases over females with a ratio of 7:1. The most common mode of injury was noted to be alleged assault (36%) and the parietal region (34%) being the most common site. Most cases had mild injury (62%) with Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13–15. The percentage of pure depressed fractures was 57% and the rest 42% were associated with intracranial lesion, of which the most common was contusion (25%). Superficial wound infection was observed in 38% of the patients. Of all the 453 patients, 91% were operated and most of them were operated within 24 h with overall mortality rate of 17%. Conclusions: Our study revealed the increased incidence of mortality in the age group of 16–45 years, which can guide our focus of management on them with strategic planning at individual as well as community level. Primary surgical repair of depressed skull fractures is safe, feasible, and associated with good outcomes. There was no significant association between tear in dura and an increase in the complications and, also, no substantial data to support the use of prophylactic antibiotics in patients to reduce chances of infection with it.
Capsuloganglionic germinoma: A rare site for uncommon childhood tumor
Authors: Das Kuntal , Joseph Jeena , Singh Amit , Sharma Pradeep , Sardhara Jayesh , Bhaisora Kamlesh , Mehrotra Anant , Srivastava Arun , Jaiswal Sushila , Sahu Rabi , Jaiswal Awadhesh , Behari Sanjay
Published: March 2018

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are rare intracranial tumors with a strong predilection for children. Commonly, these tumors arise either in the suprasellar or the pineal region. The basal ganglia-thalamus complex represents a rare site of nonmidline intracranial GCTs. Such basal ganglionic GCTs have been reported to produce certain interesting clinico-radiological features, the knowledge of which may provide important diagnostic clues preoperatively. We present the case of a 9.5-year-old boy who presented with right hemiparesis and precocious puberty. Imaging revealed a heterogeneously enhancing mass involving the left capsuloganglionic region, sparing the thalamus. There was little perilesional edema and midline shift. Because of the deep location of the mass and a lack of mass effect, a neuronavigation-guided tumor biopsy was performed which unraveled a pure germinoma. The child was referred for adjuvant radiotherapy following an uneventful postoperative course. At the time of writing the report, the child was on radiotherapy and doing well.
A rare case of spinal extradural arachnoid cyst with cord compression
Authors: Lin Lee , Jason R
Published: March 2018

Spinal extradural arachnoid cysts are rare lesions which typically involve the thoracic spine and are an asymptomatic condition of unknown origin. They may also produce symptoms by compressing the spinal cord or nerve roots. Surgery is the treatment of choice in such lesions, but asymptomatic patients can be managed conservatively. We present a case of symptomatic, probable traumatic origin, spinal arachnoid cyst at our center in Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Magnetic resonance imaging spine showed well-defined, nonenhancing extradural cystic lesion from T5 to T6 vertebrae level compressing spinal cord anteriorly. The patient underwent T5, T6 laminoplasty, T4 partial laminectomy and excision of the cyst. Histologically, the cyst wall comprised of collagen and meningothelial cells. This surgical intervention achieved neurological improvement in terms of motor power in our follow-up of this patient.
Intracerebral hemorrhage with multiple intracranial arterial stenoses in a synthetic cannabinoid “Spice” user
Authors: Aydin Seckin , Yuksel Odhan , Aydin Aysegul , Kizilkilic Osman , Celik Suat
Published: March 2018

Synthetic cannabinoids (spice), which are used frequently worldwide, are more potent than herbal compounds and also have more side effects in comparison. A 23-year-old male was admitted to the emergency unit with altered consciousness. There was no sign of trauma, and his medical history did not reveal any chronic illness. Computed tomography revealed a large frontal hematoma extending to the ventricular system. The outcomes of cerebral angiography were consistent with multiple intracranial arterial stenoses (MIAS) which can also be seen after cannabis usage. The patient made a good recovery with treatment, and during the follow-up, his medical condition was stable. In addition to the psychological symptoms, encephalopathy, ischemia, and seizures have also been described as side effects of synthetic cannabinoids. This paper reports an intracerebral hematoma due to synthetic cannabinoids and its association with MIAS.
Квантовые гравитационные эффекты на границе
Authors: James Frank , Park In Yong
Published: March 2018

Квантовые гравитационные эффекты могут содержать в себе ключ к некоторым нерешенным проблемам теоретической физики. Проанализированы пертурбативные квантовые эффекты на границе гравитационной системы и граничные условия Дирихле, наложенные на классическом уровне. Анализ показал, что для решения типа черной дыры существует противоречие между квантовыми эффектами и граничным условием Дирихле: решение типа черной дыры, полученное из одночастично-неприводимого действия, не удовлетворяет граничным условиям Дирихле, как это можно было бы ожидать, не вдаваясь в подробности. Результатом представленного анализа также является предположение о том, что противоречие между граничным условием Дирихле и петлевыми эффектами связано с некоторым механизмом накопления информации на границе.
Представление ренормгрупповых функций несингулярными интегралами в модели критической динамики ферромагнетиков: четвертый порядок $\varepsilon$-разложения
Authors: Adzhemyan Loran Tsolakovich , Vorobyeva Svetlana Evgen'evna , Ivanova Ella Valer'evna , Kompaniets Mikhail Vladimirovich
Published: March 2018

C использованием представления для ренормгрупповых функций через несингулярные интегралы произведен расчет динамического критического индекса в модели критической динамики ферромагнетиков в четвертом порядке $\varepsilon$-разложения. Вычисления диаграмм Фейнмана проводились с помощью техники Sector Decomposition, обобщенной на задачи критической динамики.
Polymorphisms in the K13 Gene in Plasmodium falciparum from Different Malaria Transmission Areas of Kenya
Authors: de Laurent Zaydah R. , Chebon Lorna J. , Ingasia Luicer A. , Akala Hoseah M. , Andagalu Ben , Ochola-Oyier Lynette Isabella , Kamau Edwin
Published: March 2018

The development of artemisinin (ART)-resistant parasites in Southeast Asia (SEA) threatens malaria control globally. Mutations in the Kelch 13 (K13)-propeller domain have been useful in identifying ART resistance in SEA. ART combination therapy (ACT) remains highly efficacious in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, it is crucial that the efficacy of ACT is closely monitored. Toward this effort, this study profiled the prevalence of K13 nonsynonymous mutations in different malaria ecological zones of Kenya and in different time periods, before (pre) and after (post) the introduction of ACT as the first-line treatment of malaria. Nineteen nonsynonymous mutations were present in the pre-ACT samples (N = 64) compared with 22 in the post-ACT samples (N = 251). Eight of these mutations were present in both pre- and post-ACT parasites. Interestingly, seven of the shared single-nucleotide polymorphisms were at higher frequencies in the pre-ACT than the post-ACT parasites. The A578S mutation reported in SSA and the V568G mutation reported in SEA were found in both pre- and post-ACT parasites, with their frequencies declining post-ACT. D584Y and R539K mutations were found only in post-ACT parasites; changes in these codons have also been reported in SEA with different amino acids. The N585K mutation described for the first time in this study was present only in post-ACT parasites, and it was the most prevalent mutation at a frequency of 5.2%. This study showed the type, prevalence, and frequency of K13 mutations that varied based on the malaria ecological zones and also between the pre- and post-ACT time periods.