bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘Culture of Dialogue’ as a Decolonial Peace-Building Tool: The Case of Colombia
Authors: Mesa-Vélez Lucía
Published: August 2022

This article is based on a four-month placement with the Colombian peace-building organisation Rodeemos el Diálogo (Embrace Dialogue, ReD) in London, as well as three years of working with the organisation in Bogotá, Colombia. It discusses the causes of violence in Colombia, the conceptualisation of dialogue, and ReD’s notion of a ‘culture of dialogue’. First, by explaining the coloniality of knowledge, power, and being in the Colombian context, I argue that the contemporary armed conflict is a legacy of colonial logics that are still being reproduced. Then, through a literature review on the concept of dialogue, I describe its origins, its potential to be a useful method to peacebuilding and the danger of it reproducing coloniality and control. Finally, I explain how ReD understands the ‘culture of dialogue’ and why it has the potential to resolve conflict in a non-violent way and take action against colonial-inherited inequalities and oppressions. I argue that to resolve Colombia’s violence it is necessary to address the coloniality of power, knowledge and being taking place. However, to address these it is of utmost importance to be able to acknowledge the existence of violence and to recognise the multiplicity of epistemologies that coexist in today’s world. Within these processes of recognition, culture of dialogue plays an important role.
Dialogue and the Cultural Other in Conflict Situations: An Augmented Understanding
Authors: Atkinson Michael
Published: August 2022

In edition 1 volume 1 of the Dialogue Journal I outlined the case for a three-tiered framework to theoretically position intergroup dialogue. The framework was based on a) the concept of difference between groups, b) the bridging of difference through an inclusive vision, and c) transformation framed through the understanding of predominant dialogue scholars, chief amongst which was Paulo Freire. Although useful, I found the framework inadequate, particularly when applied to conflict situations. In short it fails to appreciate and interrogate difference and its role in the dialogue process. In particular, it does not take account of the competing narratives upon which difference and conflicting identities can interact. A framework of moral psychology based on the workings of behavioural psychologist Johnathon Haidt was utilised to go deeper into the manner in which people construct their sense of cultural identity. Haidt argues that we position the cultural other according to broad conceptions of moral reality to identify with either the certainty of a cultural in-group or the flexibility of broad notions of humanity. This paper explores this augmented framework of dialogue in the case of negotiations to treaty between Aboriginal Victorians and the Victorian government in Australia. Data analysis on interviews of key figures in the treaty process, as well as the analysis of an online interactive campaign involving members of both groups, revealed a hidden complexity to the dialogue process and the discourses from which cultural threat is framed. The paper argues the case that well thought out theories around identity can augment our understanding of dialogue.
Designated Spaces for Designated Imaginaries: The Cruel Optimism of Citizen Participation in Post-disaster State-citizen Dialogues
Authors: Vainio Anna
Published: August 2022

Environmental disturbances, pandemics, or social crises often lead to the emergence of ‘heterotopian’ spaces (Foucault 1998; Boano 2011), that give rise to emergent debates on alternative imaginations of the future, even utopianism (Solnit 2010). At the same time, modern governance increasingly emphasises the active participation of citizens in processes where these alternative imaginations are turned into actionable plans (Bherer et al. 2016). In particular, the intensity of development needs in post-crisis contexts (Olshansky et al. 2012) can see the prolific spread of participatory spaces designated to facilitate dialogue between authorities and citizens. From creative workshops to citizen committees, however, the results and experiences of citizen participation in these ‘designated spaces’ have remained consistently inconsistent (Davidson et al. 2007; Curato 2018; Cleaver 2001). Drawing on ethnographic research carried out in 2015 and 2016 among individuals who took part in spaces of state-citizen dialogue after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, this paper contributes to critical debates on participatory governance by examining the non-critical acceptance of citizen participation as a universal social ‘good’. The paper focuses on the paradoxically high degrees of optimism and voicelessness reported by disaster victims in Tōhoku, arguing that this paradox reflects the wider patterning of dialogue and governance as a form of ‘cruel optimism’ (Berlant 2011), where the optimism represents just another form of voicelessness. The paper concludes that to overcome the ‘cruelty’, more focus needs to be paid on improving the process through which the content of dialogues is determined and shaped together with the citizens in the participatory spaces, rather than used as venues for promising a better future.
TỐI ƯU ĐIỀU KIỆN TÁCH CHIẾT TINH DẦU TỪ LÁ XÁ XỊ (Cinnamomum parthenoxylon (Jack) Meisn) VỚI SỰ HỖ TRỢ CỦA CELLULASE
Authors: Dung Vũ Kim , Dũng Lê Sỹ , Sâm Hoàng Văn
Published: August 2022

Tinh dầu xá xị là nguồn dược liệu quý, nhiều tác dụng: chống đái tháo đường, chống viêm, hạ huyết áp, kháng khuẩn, chống oxy hóa, tan máu, hoạt hóa glycosidase… Tinh dầu từ lá xá xị được thu nhận bằng phương pháp chưng cất lôi cuối hơi nước sử dụng cellulase hỗ trợ xử lý nguyên liệu trước khi chưng cất. Với việc sử dụng phần mềm Design-Expert 12 và quy hoạch thực nghiệm bậc 2 Box-Benken với 3 nhân tố nghiên cứu pH (4 - 6), nhiệt độ (30 – 60oC), tốc độ lắc (0 – 200 vòng/phút), đã xác định được điều kiện tối ưu thu nhận tinh dầu xá xị cao nhất đạt 1,75% với điều kiện pH 5,0; tỷ lệ enzym 1,5%; nhiệt độ 37oC với tốc độ lắc 193 vòng/phút, trong 3 giờ. Hàm lượng tinh dầu tăng 25% so với trước khi tối ưu và tăng 44,6% so với khi không sử dụng enzyme. Kết quả phân tích GC-MS cho thấy tinh dầu từ lá xá xị khi xử lý nguyên liệu với enzyme đã giúp tách được nhiều chất hơn (29 chất) so với đối chứng (27 chất) và làm thay đổi rõ rệt tỷ lệ % của một số chất quan trọng: hàm lượng Cineole đạt 34,60%, Camphor đạt 23,28%. Các thành phần chính trong tinh dầu lá xá xị bao gồm: Cineole, Camphor, Terpineol, Sabinene, Terpinen-4-ol. Tinh dầu xá xị có khả năng kháng 7 chủng vi khuẩn (E. coli, S. typhimurium, Shigella sp, B. cereus, B. subtilis, B. licheniformis, B. megaterium) và 02 chủng nấm (A. niger, Trichoderma spp) thử nghiệm với đường kính vòng kháng khuẩn 40-67 mm. Nghiên cứu này cho phép chiết xuất tinh dầu xá xị có tiềm năng ứng dụng lớn trong lĩnh vực y dược, mỹ phẩm và thực phẩm.
ĐIỀU TRA, MÔ TẢ CÁC GIỐNG LÚA BẢN ĐỊA CỦA CỘNG ĐỒNG NGƯỜI THÁI TẠI XÃ SI PA PHÌN, HUYỆN NẬM PỒ, TỈNH ĐIỆN BIÊN
Authors: Huỳnh Lò Văn , Cúc Bùi Thị
Published: August 2022

Si Pa Phìn là một xã miền núi, đặc biệt khó khăn với hơn 40% là hộ nghèo của huyện Nậm Pồ, tỉnh Điện Biên, hoạt động sản xuất chính của người dân nơi đây là sản xuất nông nghiệp. Cộng đồng người Thái là cộng đồng có nhiều kinh nghiệm trong canh tác nên hiện nay còn lưu giữ được nhiều giống lúa bản địa gồm Khẩu Đenh, Ma Cha, Sen Păn Hây, Ón Lơng Mít Hy, Ón Lơng Mít Tỉn và Pe Lạnh. Nghiên cứu này đã tiến hành phỏng vấn, điều tra, mô tả và đánh giá đặc điểm nông sinh học của các giống lúa bản địa trong điều kiện canh tác thực tế trên nương rẫy của cộng đồng người Thái. Kết quả đã lựa được 4 giống lúa bản địa là Khẩu Đenh, Sen Păn Hây, Ón Lơng Mít Hy, Pe Lạnh là các giống có năng suất cao từ 18,0 – 22,0 tạ/ha, gạo thơm, cơm dẻo và ngon, có khả năng chống chịu tốt, cứng cây trung bình ở điểm 3 - 5, độ tàn lá trung bình điểm 5 và trỗ thoát từ điểm 3 - 5, độ rụng hạt ở điểm 3 và được sự ưa thích cũng như chấp nhận cao của cộng đồng. Các giống lúa này cần tiếp tục đánh giá và tiến hành phục tráng để phát triển trong cộng đồng người Thái và cộng đồng các dân tộc khác tại điểm nghiên cứu trong thời gian tiếp theo.
NGHIÊN CỨU TẠO α-CELLULOSE HÀM LƯỢNG CAO TỪ GỖ KEO LAI (Acacia hybrid)
Authors: Thắng Nguyễn Tất , An Cao Quốc , Lâm Phạm Tường , Thắng Hoàng Nhân , Quyền Lê Văn
Published: August 2022

Trong nghiên cứu này, α-cellulose hàm lượng cao được chế tạo ra từ gỗ Keo lai rừng trồng làm nguyên liệu đầu vào tạo nanocellulose có độ tinh khiết cao. Để tạo ra α-cellulose chất lượng cao, nghiên cứu đã tiến hành nấu bột gỗ bằng phương pháp nấu sunfat với tổng mức dùng kiềm là 20%, bột gỗ sau khi nấu được tách loại lignin bằng phương pháp oxy kiềm, sau đó bột gỗ được tiến hành tẩy trắng theo quy trình ECF (D0 - Eop - D1), cuối cùng bột gỗ được làm giàu α-cellulose theo phương pháp kiềm lạnh (CCE - Cold Caustic Extraction). Nghiên cứu đã thử nghiệm để xác định tính chất của bột gỗ thông qua các chỉ tiêu: hiệu suất bột, hệ số Kappa và hàm lượng α-cellulose. Kết quả cho thấy, sau các công đoạn xử lý gỗ Keo lai, hiệu suất bột thu được 90%, hệ số kappa 0,4, hàm lượng α-cellulose đạt 95,5%. Với hàm lượng α-cellulose lớn hơn 90% là yếu tố chất lượng quan trọng để làm nguyên liệu đầu vào cho công đoạn tạo nanocellulose có độ tinh khiết cao ứng dụng chế tạo sơn nanocellulose.
ĐÁNH GIÁ HOẠT ĐỘNG CỦA VĂN PHÒNG ĐĂNG KÝ ĐẤT ĐAI TỈNH THÁI BÌNH GIAI ĐOẠN 2017-2020
Authors: Tám Đỗ Thị , Diệp Tô Duy , Long Nguyễn Bá , Tuấn Phạm Anh
Published: August 2022

Nghiên cứu nhằm đánh giá thực trạng và đề xuất giải pháp nâng cao hiệu quả hoạt động của Văn phòng Đăng ký đất đai (VPĐKĐĐ) tỉnh Thái Bình. Dùng phương pháp lấy mẫu ngẫu nhiên để chọn 90 người sử dụng đất (NSDĐ) đến làm việc tại VPĐKĐĐ tỉnh và 2 chi nhánh. Sử dụng thang đo 5 mức của Likert để đánh giá hoạt động của VPĐKĐĐ. Sử dụng ANOVA và Post-hoc để so sánh sự khác biệt về giá trị trung bình của một số chỉ tiêu. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy VPĐKĐĐ còn thiếu trang thiết bị, máy móc; trụ sở VPĐKĐĐ còn chật; chưa cập nhật hồ sơ thường xuyên. NSDĐ đánh giá hoạt của VPĐKĐĐ ở mức khá cao với 5/9 tiêu chí được đánh giá ở mức rất cao, 4/9 tiêu chí được đánh giá ở mức cao. Cán bộ công chức, viên chức đánh giá mức độ công khai thủ tục hành chính, sự phối hợp giữa các cơ quan liên quan, hiểu biết pháp luật của người dân và số lượng cán bộ ở mức rất cao. Điều kiện làm việc, phương tiện kỹ thuật của VPĐKĐĐ, các văn bản hướng dẫn thực hiện và hệ thống hồ sơ địa chính được đánh giá ở mức cao. Để nâng cao hiệu quả hoạt động của VPĐKĐĐ cần hoàn thiện hệ thống hồ sơ địa chính, trụ sở, trang thiết bị kỹ thuật, công nghệ thông tin; nâng cao chất lượng nguồn nhân lực; hoàn thiện quy chế phối hợp.
Utilization of Silica Fume, Fly Ash, Rice Husk Ash as SCMs (A Tertiary Mix) in Plastic Aggregate Concrete
Authors: Shakil Seerah , Chalotra Shakshi
Published: August 2022

For sustainable development and protection of environment, plastic reuse is the best alternative for plastic waste management. Over the years extensive research has been carried out on the use of plastic in civil constructions. Also, the main challenges in the construction sector are caused by the Portland cement production. The obvious, basic and suitable solution is the less consumption of the same and by partial replacement of cement by SCMs (supplementary cementitious materials). Though utilization of plastic waste, fly ash, rice husk ash, silica fume and reduction in cement usage is advantageous from environmental point of view but their properties and behavior together as a construction material requires extensive investigation. In this study, keeping in view the environmental effects caused by the plastic wastes, cement production, various industrial and agricultural wastes; an investigation has been carried out to study the effect of partial replacement of cement by three different wastes i.e., Silica Fume, Fly Ash and Rice Husk Ash in combined proportions along with partial coarse aggregate replacement with plastic waste and to obtain optimum proportions of waste replacement. The research is carried out in two stages. In the first stage only the binder/cement is focused upon and replaced by different percentages in combined proportions of SF, FA and RHA. It was found out that the optimum percentage of cement replacement is 40% in which combined proportion is (10%SF, 10%RHA, 20%FA). In the second stage, the (10%SF, 10%RHA, 20%FA) replacement of cement is kept constant and the natural coarse aggregate is replaced by PP Plastic in proportions 20%, 30% and 40% respectively. Consequently, the optimum proportion of plastic was found to be 20% for the cement replaced plastic induced concrete (CRPIC). Physical characteristics of this cement replaced plasticinduced concrete (CRPIC) were determined by compressive strength tests, flexural tests, slump test. The chemical and water absorption properties along with weight of hardened concrete was assessed and the latter was compared with traditional concrete. This research, in general, will decrease the amount of natural coarse aggregate and cement quantity that are used in the construction industry and will consequently reduce the waste that is disposed into the surroundings.
"A Machine Intelligent Cloud Based Framework to Monitor Driving Behavior of Vehicles Using Internet of Things"
Authors: Bhoi Sourav Kumar , Prasad K Krishna
Published: August 2022

Monitoring driving behavior of vehicles is a very important area of research in the field of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSs). As vehicles are rising tremendously on the roads of cities, it is very much essential to track the driving behavior of a vehicle to reduce the accidents in the cities. The drivers who are not driving properly, for example if a driver is continuously performing sudden acceleration, sudden deceleration, sudden left turn, sudden right turn, etc. then these types of vehicles need to be monitored and detected. In this work, a machine intelligent cloud-based framework is proposed to monitor the driving behavior of vehicles in the city using internet of things (IoTs). The vehicles are installed with an on-board unit which is responsible for collecting all readings from the sensors and sending these readings to cloud using IoT for detection of driving patterns. Here, the cloud is deployed with a supervised machine intelligent model that is responsible for identifying the driving pattern after receiving the readings from a vehicle. The model is selected by conducting training and testing over a standard dataset. The performance of the framework is tested using Python tool. From the results, it is found that Random Forest (RF) model performs better in identifying the accurate vehicle behavior with highest classification accuracy (CA).
De procederende executeur
Authors: van Dijken R.
Published: August 2022

De procederende executeur

Deze bijdrage over de procederende executeur gaat – met name aan de hand van gepubliceerde jurisprudentie – in op perikelen die dit fenomeen met zich kan brengen en die in de praktijk soms tot problemen of discussies leiden. Aan de orde komen: van wanneer tot wanneer sprake is van executele, procespartijperikelen, de privatieve vertegenwoordigingsbevoegdheid en de advocaatkosten van de executeur.
A review of climate change effects on the regeneration dynamics of balsam fir
Authors: Collier Joe , MacLean David A. , D’Orangeville Loïc , Taylor Anthony R.
Published: August 2022

Balsam fir (Abies balsamea) is one of the most abundant softwood species in eastern Canada but is projected to be adversely affected by climate change. Balsam fir decline could occur due to a combination of reduced germination and regeneration, lower growth and competitive ability, and higher rates of mortality. However, tree regeneration represents one of the most vulnerable stages to climate-induced stress. In this paper, we synthesize potential and observed effects of climate change on balsam fir regeneration. Recent studies have shown no detrimental effects of increased temperatures on either germination or seedling growth of balsam fir, but clear deleterious effects of decreased water availability. Balsam fir seeds require 28–60 days of cold stratification to become germinable, and such conditions should still be met under climate change across most of the species’ range. Sampling along a north-south climatic gradient throughout the Acadian Forest Region of eastern Canada indicated effects are complex and do not suggest a clear decline under warmer, drier conditions for the species. Thus, effects of global warming on balsam fir may be more gradual than projected in modeling studies and occur primarily via reduced competitive ability and/or higher mortality in overstory trees, rather than regeneration failure.
Cidade Inteligente: diagnóstico dos aspectos econômicos e da força produtiva do Distrito Federal
Authors: Freire Fátima De Souza , Oliveira Luiz Guilherme De , Nascimento Junior Antônio , Silva Nilton Oliveira da , Crispim Fernanda Pimentel
Published: August 2022

Objetivo: O objetivo do trabalho foi diagnosticar os aspectos econômicos e da força produtiva das Regiões Administrativas do Distrito Federal, sob a luz das características que compõem o conceito de cidades inteligentes.Metodologia: Dados secundários da economia, foram extraídos do sítio governamental do Distrito Federal referente às informações do planejamento de atividades do governo, o Plano Plurianual, e Balanço Orçamentário, período de 2016-2019. Enquanto da força produtiva, as informações foram obtidas do sítio da Receita Federal, denominado Cnpj.info, de mais de 263 mil entidades empresariais, ano de 2018.  A partir de técnicas de análise de conteúdo e de uma análise espacial, as entidades foram agrupadas em cinco categorias de intensidade tecnológica, classificadas pela Organização para Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Econômico (OCDE) em alta, médio-alta, média, médio-baixa e baixa intensidade tecnológica.Originalidade/Relevância: As informações sobre características de desenvolvimento das regiões contribuem para o aprimoramento de políticas públicas na construção de cidades modernas, além de identificar falhas e oportunidades, reproduzindo bons exemplos para a compreensão e programa de pesquisas sobre essa atual matéria.Resultados: O mapeamento permitiu conhecer os tipos de empresas e suas potencialidades, bem como, as competências econômicas e inovadoras no Distrito Federal. Em 2018, havia 112 entidades empresariais classificadas com alto nível de intensidade tecnológica. As microempresas concentravam a maior parte de empresas em todos os níveis tecnológicos, perfazendo um total de 178.289. O Distrito Federal ainda apresenta uma força produtiva incipiente no que tange ao processo de construção de uma cidade inteligente.Contribuições sociais / para a gestão: Pretende-se contribuir com a tomada de decisão no campo de políticas públicas que vise ações econômicas e sociais no Distrito Federal, especialmente com a visão do campo de produção e inovação que viabilizem a estruturação de uma cidade inteligente alinhando-se às novas perspectivas globais de desenvolvimento.
Using the aggregate production function to determine the sources of economic convergence of voivodships in Poland
Authors: Kosmalski Roman
Published: August 2022

The article deals with economic convergence, which has long been one of the most important issues in the field of economics. The aim of the study is to identify the factors which determine the economic convergence of voivodships, i.e. provinces (and more specifically, factors responsible for the regional differentiation of GDP per working person) and to assess the strength of their impact. The study was conducted for the years 2014–2019 on the basis of data provided by the Local Data Bank of Statistics Poland. The aggregate production function of the Cobb-Douglas type was used. It allows the influence of the accumulation of production factors to be separated from the influence of the changes occurring in the applied technology on economic growth in voivodships and, consequently, on the process of economic convergence. The achievement of the aim of the research necessitated the decomposition of the aggregated production function. The results of the study did not confirm the occurrence of economic convergence in voivodships. A tendency was observed for the regional differentiation of the GDP per working person to deepen during the examined period, which resulted from the differences in the spatial accumulation of physical capital and technological progress.
Role of surgery in high-grade neuroendocrine tumors of the lung
Authors: Ali Bedirhan Mehmet , Ürer Nur , Seyrek Yunus , Arda Naciye , Fener Neslihan , Cansever Levent , Kıyık Murat , Altın Sedat
Published: August 2022

Background: This study aims to evaluate the surgical results for high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas and to identify factors that influence prognosis.

Methods: Between January 2009 and December 2017, a total of 71 patients (58 males, 13 females; mean age: 62±9.6 years; range, 38 to 78 years) with a high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung were retrospectively analyzed. Overall survival and five-year overall survival rates were evaluated.

Results: The mean overall survival was 60.7±6.9 months with a five-year survival rate of 44.3%. The mean overall survival and five-year overall survival rates according to disease stage were as follows: Stage 1, 67±10.8 months (46%); Stage 2, 61.4±10.8 months (45%); and Stage 3, 33.2±8.6 months (32%) (p=0.02). The mean overall survival and five-year overall survival rate according to histological types were as follows: in large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, 59.4±9.2 months (45%); in small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, 68.6±12.2 months (43%); and in combined-type neuroendocrine carcinoma, 40.9±10.1 months (35%) (p=0.34).

Conclusion: Thoracic surgeons should be very selective in performing pulmonary resection in patients with Stage 3 high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas and combined cell subtype tumors.
Is thoracic esophagostomy an option in esophageal perforation in pediatric patients?
Authors: Eroğlu Atilla , Bilal Ulaş Ali , Aydın Yener
Published: August 2022

Esophagostomy and subsequent esophagectomy are extremely rare operations in the management of benign esophageal perforations in children. In this report, we present a 20-month-old female in whom we performed thoracic esophagostomy and subsequent intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis due to esophageal perforation caused by a chronic foreign body. The patient was discharged on the 10th postoperative day, and no complications were observed in the patient, who was followed for four years. The thoracic esophagostomy procedure helps preserve the esophageal length and easy execution of the esophagogastric anastomosis in the thorax. We believe it can be a safe and useful technique in carefully selected cases.
Air leaks in COVID-19 pneumonia
Authors: Kayhan Oğuzhan , Demirkıran Oktay , Ürkmez Seval , Dikmen Yalım
Published: August 2022

The novel coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19), which was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and caused a pandemic, is mostly survived with mild symptoms, while invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation support is required in some patients. Pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and subcutaneous emphysema may develop in COVID-19 patients. In this study, cases of pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and subcutaneous emphysema in patients who were followed in the intensive care unit with the diagnosis of COVID-19 were evaluated. In conclusion, although rare, these complications can be fatal and increase the severity of the disease, which already has a high mortality rate in the intensive care unit. Early detection and management of these complications can reduce morbidity and mortality.
Comparative evaluation of staging algorithms proven N2 non-small cell lung cancer treated by lung resection after neoadjuvant therapy
Authors: İşgörücü Özgür , Çıtak Necati , Açıkmeşe Barış , Akalın Fener Neslihan , Büyükkale Songül , Sayar Adnan
Published: August 2022

Background: In this study, we aimed to compare the performances of clinical methods, minimally invasive methods, mediastinoscopy, and re-mediastinoscopy used in the restaging of patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy for pathologically proven N2. Our secondary objective was to determine the most optimal algorithm for initial staging and restaging after neoadjuvant therapy.

Methods: Between April 2003 and August 2017, a total of 105 patients (99 males, 6 females; mean age: 54.5±8.2 years; range, 27 to 73 years) who were diagnosed with pathologically proven Stage 3A-B N2 non-small cell lung cancer and received neoadjuvant therapy and subsequently lung resection were retrospectively analyzed. Staging algorithm groups (Group 1=first mediastinoscopy-second clinic, Group 2=first mediastinoscopy-second minimally invasive, Group 3=first mediastinoscopy-second re-mediastinoscopy, and Group 4=first minimally invasive-second mediastinoscopy) were created and compared.

Results: In the first stage, N2 diagnosis was made in 90 patients by mediastinoscopy and in 15 patients by minimally invasive method. In the second stage, 44 patients were restaged by the clinical method, 23 by the minimally invasive method, 23 by re-mediastinoscopy, and 15 by mediastinoscopy. The false negativity rates of Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 27.2%, 26.1%, 21.8%, and 13.3%, respectively. The most reliable staging algorithm was found to be the minimally invasive method in the first step and mediastinoscopy in the second step. The mean overall five-year survival rate was 46.3±4.4%, and downstaging in lymph node involvement was found to have a favorable effect on survival (54.3% vs. 21.8%, respectively; p=0.003).

Conclusion: The staging method to be chosen before and after neoadjuvant therapy is critical in the treatment of Stage 3A-B N2 non-small cell lung cancer. In re-mediastinoscopy, the rate of false negativity increases due to technical difficulties and insufficient sampling. As the most optimal staging algorithm, the minimally invasive method is recommended in the first step and mediastinoscopy in the second step.
Is there any change in disease presentation and surgical outcomes in patients with pulmonary aspergilloma? An evaluation of the time trend
Authors: Pekçolaklar Atilla , Çıtak Necati , Aksoy Yunus , Erdoğu Volkan , Metin Muzaffer
Published: August 2022

Background: This study aims to investigate the changes in the clinical and radiological presentations of pulmonary aspergilloma in patients undergoing surgery and to evaluate changes in the surgical outcomes over time.

Methods: Between January 2000 and January 2020, a total of 88 patients (69 males, 19 females; mean age: 45.4±11.2 years; range, 17 to 70 years) who underwent surgery for pulmonary aspergilloma were retrospectively analyzed. Surgeries performed were divided into two groups based on their chronological order: first period (from 2000 to 2010, n=44) and second period (from 2010 to 2020, n=44).

Results: The most frequent underlying disorder was tuberculosis (72.7%), whereas 10 patients did not have any predisposing conditions for pulmonary aspergilloma. Regarding the aspects of radiological imaging and operative findings, 22 patients had simple aspergilloma and 66 patients had complex aspergilloma. Complications and mortality rates were 33.0% and 5.7%, respectively. A statistical downward was observed in the second period compared to that in the first period regarding the rate of patients with tuberculosis history (61.4% vs. 84.1%, p=0.01). There were more patients who did not have any predisposing conditions for pulmonary aspergilloma in the second period and in the simple aspergilloma group (p=0.04 and p<0.001, respectively). Simple aspergilloma was often observed in the second period than that in the first period (31.8% vs. 18.2%). There was no significant difference between the periods regarding the type of surgical resection (p=0.506), whereas in the simple aspergilloma group, more patients underwent wedge resection (p<0.001). There were no significant differences between the periods and radiological groups in terms of complications and mortality. Patients who underwent pneumonectomy had significantly higher rates of complications and mortality (p=0.01 and p=0.03, respectively).

Conclusion: Although pulmonary aspergilloma patients who underwent surgery in the last 10 years had a lower history of tuberculosis than those who were operated in the previous 10 years, there was no change in postoperative complications and mortality rates. An increase in simple aspergilloma prevalence may reduce the rate of surgical morbidity.
The effect of rutin on pulmonary contusion induced by blunt trauma in rats: Biochemical and histopathological evaluation
Authors: Elma Bekir , Mammadov Renad , Bilgin Yasin , Naz Yazıcı Gülce , Süleyman Halis , Abdulkadir Çoban Taha
Published: August 2022

Background: This study aims to investigate the possible protective effects of rutin, also called vitamin P1, against pulmonary contusion induced by blunt chest trauma in a rat model.

Methods: Thirty male albino Wistar rats were separated into three equal groups as healthy group, trauma group, and trauma+rutin group. After anesthesia provided by intraperitoneal administration of 60 mg/kg ketamine and xylazine by inhalation at appropriate intervals, 200 g weight was dropped from 1 m height to the anterior chest wall of the animals in the trauma group (n=10) and trauma+rutin group (n=10) and pulmonary contusion was created. Thirty min after the trauma, 50 mg/kg of rutin was administered into the stomach of trauma+rutin group animals orally with gavage. The rats received rutin once daily for two days and were sacrificed 48 h later. Their lung tissues were removed and examined biochemically and histopathologically.

Results: Nuclear factor-kappa B, cyclooxygenase-2, and malondialdehyde levels increased in the trauma group compared to the healthy group, and rutin administration prevented this increase. Total glutathione levels decreased in the trauma group, and rutin administration also prevented this decrease. The histopathological findings were compatible with the biochemical findings.

Conclusion: Our study results suggest that rutin has a protective effect on contused lung tissue in rats.
Shoelace technique for the management of deep sternal wound infection
Authors: Kumbasar Ulas , Bonde Pramod
Published: August 2022

In this article, we describe a practical technique of managing deep sternal wound infection by combining two dynamic wound closure methods, namely gradual approximation of the wound edges using vessel loops: the shoelace technique and the vacuumassisted closure system.
Multiple thrombi in a child diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 treated with cardiac surgery
Authors: Akaslan Kara Aybüke , Kıymet Elif , Zihni Cüneyt , Oymak Yeşim , Karaçelik Mustafa
Published: August 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized predominantly by respiratory symptoms but may affect all systems, and it has been associated with thrombosis in adults. Case series investigating the COVID-19-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children have reported high fibrinogen and D-dimer levels; however, it is not known whether this causes thrombophilia. Herein, we report a previously healthy 13-year-old male patient who had multiple thromboses associated with COVID-19, which occurred during long-term follow-up and was successfully treated with cardiac surgery. We want to emphasize that the long-term effects of COVID-19 are not yet known and that the follow-up of these cases should be continued.
Surgical treatment of massive pulmonary thromboembolism due to renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Emir Erol Mehmet , Ak Koray , Öztürk Fatih , Tinay İlker , Arsan Sinan
Published: August 2022

While renal cell carcinomas frequently invade the renal vein and inferior vena cava, the right atrial extension or formation of bilateral pulmonary massive embolism is quite unusual. A 65-year-old male patient underwent bilateral pulmonary tumor endarterectomy and total thrombectomy of the inferior vena cava combined with left nephrectomy under total circulatory arrest with antegrade cerebral perfusion. Both mediastinal and abdominal approaches facilitated the complete removal of the caval thrombus under the guidance of transesophageal echocardiography. The patient is still under follow-up for six months without metastasis. In conclusion, pulmonary thromboembolism due to renal cell carcinoma is rare, surgical treatment is possible.
Surgical treatment of lower extremity lymphedema with subcutaneous implantation of silicone tubing
Authors: Çevirme Deniz , Zengin Ahmet , Abamor Evrim , Sunar Hasan , Kaan Kırali Mehmet
Published: August 2022

A 65-year-male patient was admitted to our clinic with swollen, painful, and wound discharge of lower extremity. There was widespread edema, skin infection, and lymphangitis secondary Stage 3 lymphedema below the knee. In addition to conventional treatment methods, lymphatic artificial pathway creation was used with subcutaneous implantation of silicone tubing. In conclusion, subcutaneous implantation of silicone tubing is a new technique that can be applied in advanced stage lymphedema patients, which increases the effectiveness of compression therapy.
A novel technique of pulmonary artery banding by means of radiofrequency ablation: An experimental study in rabbits
Authors: Uysal Fahrettin , Akça Tuğberk , Genç Abdüsselam , Avcı Küpeli Zehra , Özfırat Erencan , Canatan Uygur , Uysal Berfin , Şenkaya Sığnak Işık
Published: August 2022

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a novel method of narrowing pulmonary arteries with catheter angiography using radiofrequency energy in rabbits.

Methods: A total of nine New Zealand white rabbits weighing 3.0 to 4.2 kg each were utilized in this experimental study. After the location of pulmonary artery was confirmed by echocardiography and angiography, radiofrequency energy was applied by starting with 5 W energy for the first time and increasing by 5 W, if there was no rupture to a maximum of 20 W. Multiple applications of radiofrequency energy with different durations were performed at different levels of the pulmonary artery. Eight weeks later, surviving rabbits were sacrificed. The pulmonary arteries were removed for histological investigation.

Results: Five rabbits remained alive after the experiment. There was a significant correlation between radiofrequency power and the degree of vessel thickness change in the pulmonary artery. The endothelial integrity of the tunica intima was impaired in all groups and the diameter of vessel was thickened by an average of 3.5 times.

Conclusion: The narrowing of the pulmonary artery using radiofrequency energy was successfully performed in a small sample size of experimental animals in this study.
Clinical, imaging and hemodynamic correlates and prognostic impact of syncope in acute pulmonary embolism: A single-center study
Authors: Keskin Berhan , Ceren Tokgöz Hacer , Yaşar Akbal Özgür , Hakgör Aykun , Karagöz Ali , Kültürsay Barkın , Tanyeri Seda , Külahçıoğlu Seyhmuş , Halil Tanboğa İbrahim , Özdemir Nihal , Kaymaz Cihangir
Published: August 2022

Background: We aimed to determine the clinical, echocardiographic and hemodynamic correlates of syncope as a presenting symptom in pulmonary embolism and its impact on in-hospital and long-term outcomes.

Methods: Between July 2012 and October 2019, a total of 641 patients with PE (277 males, 364 females; median age: 65 years; range, 51 to 74 years) in whom the diagnostic work-up and risk-based management were performed according to the current pulmonary embolism guidelines were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical, laboratory and imaging data of the patients were obtained from hospital database system.

Results: Syncope was noted in 193 (30.2%) of patients on admission, and was associated with a significantly higher-risk status manifested by elevated troponin and D-dimer levels, a higher Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index scores, deterioration of right-to-left ventricular diameter ratio, right ventricular longitudinal contraction measures, the higher Qanadli score, and higher rates of thrombolytic therapies (p<0.001) and rheolytic? thrombectomy (p=0.037) therapies. In-hospital mortality (p=0.007) and minor bleeding (p<0.001) were significantly higher in syncope subgroup. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index scores and right-to-left ventricular diameter ratio were independently associated with syncope, while aging and increased heart rate predicted in-hospital mortality. Malignancy and right-to-left ventricular diameter ratio at discharge, but not syncope, were independent predictors of cumulative mortality during follow-up.

Conclusion: Syncope as the presenting symptom is associated with a higher risk due to more severe obstructive pressure load and right ventricular dysfunction requiring more proactive strategies in patients with pulmonary embolism. However, with appropriate risk-based therapies, neither in-hospital mortality nor long-term mortality can be predicted by syncope.
Mitral valve replacement in a 3.9-kg infant with fungal endocarditis: A case report
Authors: Vassileva Zornitsa , Boshnakov Ventsislav , Kaneva Anna , Lazarov Stojan
Published: August 2022

A three-month-old female infant with a structurally normal heart was diagnosed with fungal endocarditis of the mitral valve with cerebral embolism. After antifungal therapy and a valve-sparing operation with complete removal of the fungal vegetations, a relapse with complete destruction of the valve leaflets and severe mitral regurgitation with decompensated heart failure occurred three months later. A second operation with successful mitral valve replacement was performed. Non-compliance with the anticoagulant treatment with vitamin K antagonist led to thrombosis of the mitral valve prosthesis one year later, and the child died from acute pulmonary edema.
An Analytical Method for the Assessment of Asset Price Changes in Capital Market
Authors:   Department of Mathematics/Statistics Captain Elechi Amadi polytechnic,Rumuola Port Harcourt, Amadi Innocent Uchenna , Charles Anthony ,   Department of Mathematics/Statistics, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rumuolumeni
Published: August 2022

The success of any investment depends mainly on the value of asset which propels the entire financial strength of the organization. Therefore, the impacts on the value of asset prices of investors in capital market were analyzed; using four investment equations which were solved analytical by adopting the separable variable and Ito’s lemma respectively. The computational and graphical results of stock variables and the effect of relevant parameters are well discussed
Detecting Financial Crisis in Nigerian Capital Markets Using Markov Switching Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity
Authors:   Captain Elechi Amadi ,Polytechnic ,Rumuola , Port Harcourt, Gideon Wobo Omeruruike , Zorle Dum Deebom ,   Rivers state Universal Basic Education Board,  Port Harcourt, Rivers state
Published: August 2022

Financial crisis is often a thing of major concern in many countries. It has led so many experts to be interested in identifying the causes and the general statistical pattern associated with them. Based on the causes, pattern and characteristics exhibited by the financial crisis, it is expected that experts should be able to develop a model to detect the financial crisis. The financial crisis in Nigerian stock markets can be observed as a macro-economic indicator. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a model using a macro-economic indicator (All share index) that can explain the combined nature of volatility and switching characteristics associated with Nigerian capital markets. The data used for the study is the All Share Index (ASI) of Nigerian stock markets spanned from the month of January, 1985 – January 2021. The series is fitted to conditionally compound monthly return and the result obtained was used in fitting volatility and Markov switching GARCH models. Based on the AIC and SIC, the EGARCH model was found to be the appropriate model for modeling Nigerian stock markets. However, structural changes in the model were tested using the Chow breakpoint test. The results obtained based on the test of structural changes, found that there was a structural change in the real exchange rate in the period between February 1998 and July 2010. For MSGARCH (3,1.1), the results show that the conditional probability of surviving in the high volatility state in the next period is 0.984. Also, the conditional probability of surviving in a medium volatility state in the next period is 0.617 and the conditional probability of surviving in a low volatility state in the next period is 0.410. The results showed that the MSGARCH (3,1,1) model could explain that the period from February 1997 until July 2020 had probability values of more than 0.6. This reveals high volatility confirming the occurrence of a crisis
Financial Innovation and Performance of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria
Authors:   Department Of Banking and Finance School of Financial Studies Port Harcourt Polytechnic, Rumuola Port Harcourt Rivers State, Nigeria, Gbanador Monday A. , Makwe Emmanuel U. ,   Department of Finance & Banking Faculty of Management Sciences,University of Port Harcourt Port Harcourt, Rivers State  Nigeria, Olushola Oladele Akeeb ,   Department of Economics Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Graduate Studies  University of Port Harcourt Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Published: August 2022

The research investigated the impact of financial innovation on the performance of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. A time series data covering the periods, 2009 – 2021 was used. The assets of the Deposit Money Banks was used as the dependent variables while the Point of sales, Automated Teller Machine, Internet Banking and Mobile Banking served as the independent variables. The researcher used the ARDL model in the analysis. Further, post-test analysis using serial autocorrelation, heteroskesdasticity, CUSUM were conducted. It was discovered that POS had the highest performance while internet banking had the least. More so, the variables are statistically significant. The authors recommended that internet accessibility should be made cheaper for easy access and usage. Banks should reduce the ownership cost of POS machine and rural banks should conduct periodic seminars and knowledge dissemination programmes for their rural customers so as to increase their knowledge of mobile banking activities
Financial Sector Development and Capital Formation: A Comparative Analysis of Nigeria and South Africa
Authors:   Department of Financial Management Technology,  Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Elizabeth Nwabeke Chidinma , Nwezeaku Nathaniel Chinedum ,   Department of Financial Management Technology,  Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Mbadike Nzotta Samuel ,   Department of Financial Management Technology,  Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Chris-Ejiogu Uzoamaka ,   Department of Financial Management Technology,  Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Ogoke Sampson Ikenna ,   Department of Financial Management Technology,  Federal University of Technology, Owerri
Published: August 2022

This study examined the effect of financial sector development on capital formation of Nigeria and South Africa using time series data from 1987-2019.Time series data was sourced from Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical bulletin and World Bank data base. percentage of capital formation to gross domestic products was used as the function of credit to private sector, broad money supply, interest rate spread and market capitalization ratio. Ordinary least square methods of cointegration, granger causality test, unit root test and Vector error correction model. The study found that the financial sector development explained 64.1 percent variation in Nigeria capital formation as against 46.4 percent variation from South Africa; this implies that the variables have more explanatory powers in Nigeria than South Africa. From Nigeria, the study conclude that credit to private sector have positive and significant effect, interest rate spread have negative and no significant effect while money supply and market capitalization ratio have positive and significant effect on Nigeria capital formation. However, from south Africa, credit to private sector have negative and no significant effect, interest rate spread have positive and significant effect, money supply have positive and no significant effect while market capitalization ratio have positive and significant effect on south African capital formation. It recommends that the need to increase the size of the markets in both countries by increasing the number of financial instruments available to investors so as to increase trading as well as improve liquidity in the markets and government effort to increase the operational efficiency of the financial sector; the banking habit shall be increase and banking density reduced through effective branch banking policies to enhance effective savings mobilization and credit allocation that will bridge the wide savings-investment gap in the economy
REVISION: A System for Motion Detection in Real-Time Video Streams
Authors:   Department of Computer Science,  Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Sako D.J.S. , Bennett E.O. ,   Department of Computer Science,  Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Igiri C.G. ,   Department of Computer Science,  Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Deedam-Okuchaba F.B. ,   Department of Computer Science,  Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Obe P. ,   Department of Computer Science,  Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Published: August 2022

This paper discusses the implementation of REVISION, a GUI-enabled security and surveillance system that detects motion in video streams received from attached webcams in real time. REVISION has the ability to automatically analyze the video images, alert and archive the images when motion is detected from the view of the camera. This provides relief to the normal video surveillance system which continuously records the situations even when there is nothing happening in front of the camera; a situation that results in consumption of large amount of memory and a time-consuming reviewing process requiring more manpower and human resources. The system is designed and modelled using Object-Oriented analysis and design methodology, and implemented using Java programming language. The initial testing of the system shows that it worked as expected