Landslides near Enguri dam (Caucasus, Georgia) and possible seismotectonic effects

The Enguri dam and water reservoir, nested in the southwestern Caucasus (Republic of Georgia), are surrounded by steep mountain slopes. At a distance of 2.5 km from the dam, a mountain ridge along the reservoir is affected by active deformations with a double vergence. The western slope, directly facing the reservoir, has deformations that affect a subaerial area of 1.2 km2. The head scarp affects the Jvari–Khaishi–Mestia main road with offsets of man-made features that indicate slip rates of 2–9 cm yr−1. Static, pseudostatic and Newmark analyses, based on field and seismological data, suggest different unstable rock volumes based on the environmental conditions. An important effect of variation of the water table is shown, as well as the possible destabilization of the slope following seismic shaking, compatible with the expected local peak ground acceleration. This worst-case scenario corresponds to an unstable volume on the order of up to 48±12×106 m3. The opposite, eastern slope of the same mountain ridge is also affected by wide deformation affecting an area of 0.37 km2. Here, field data indicate 2–5 cm yr−1 of slip rates. All this evidence is interpreted as resulting from two similar landslides, whose possible causes are discussed, comprising seismic triggering, mountain rapid uplift, river erosion and lake variations

Landsliding near Enguri dam (Caucasus, Georgia) and possible seismoectonic effects

The Enguri dam and water reservoir, nested in southwestern Caucasus (Republic of Georgia), are surrounded by steep mountain slopes. At a distance of 2.5 km from the dam, a mountain ridge along the reservoir is affected by active deformations with a double vergence. The western slope, directly facing the reservoir, has deformations that involve a subaerial area of 1.2 km2. The head scarp interests the main Jvari-Khaishi-Mestia road with offset of man-made features that indicate slip rates of 2-9 cm/y. Static, pseudostatic and Newmark numerical analyses, based on field and seismological data, suggest different unstable rock volumes basing on the environment conditions. An important effect of variation of water table is showed, as well as the possible destabilization of the landslide following seismic shaking compatible with the expected local Peak Ground Acceleration. This worst scenario corresponds to an unstable volume in the order of up to 48 ± 12*106 m3. The opposite, eastern slope of the same mountain ridge is also affected by wide deformation involving an area of 0.37 km2. Here, field data indicate 2-5 cm/y of short-term and long-term slip rates. Ground Penetrating Radar surveys of the head scarps confirm that these slip planes are steep and extend downward. All these evidences are interpreted as resulting from two similar landslides, whose possible causes are discussed, comprising seismic triggering, mountain rapid uplift, river erosion and lake variations

Epidemiology of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Georgia

This study investigated the transmission and prevalence of Leishmania parasite infection of humans in two foci of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) in Georgia, the well known focus in Tbilisi in the East, and in Kutaisi, a new focus in the West of the country. The seroprevalence of canine leishmaniasis was investigated in order to understand the zoonotic transmission. Blood samples of 1575 dogs (stray and pet) and 77 wild canids were tested for VL by Kalazar Detect rK39 rapid diagnostic tests. Three districts were investigated in Tbilisi and one in Kutaisi. The highest proportions of seropositive pet dogs were present in District #2 (28.1%, 82/292) and District #1 (26.9%, 24/89) in Tbilisi, compared to 17.3% (26/150) of pet dogs in Kutaisi. The percentage of seropositive stray dogs was also twice as high in Tbilisi (16.1%, n = 670) than in Kutaisi (8%, n = 50); only 2/58 wild animals screened were seropositive (2. 6%). A total of 873 Phlebotomine sand flies were collected, with 5 different species identified in Tbilisi and 3 species in Kutaisi; 2.3% of the females were positive for Leishmania parasites. The Leishmanin Skin Test (LST) was performed on 981 human subjects in VL foci in urban areas in Tbilisi and Kutaisi. A particularly high prevalence of LST positives was observed in Tbilisi District #1 (22.2%, 37.5% and 19.5% for ages 5–9, 15–24 and 25–59, respectively); lower prevalence was observed in Kutaisi (0%, 3.2% and 5.2%, respectively; P<0.05). This study shows that Tbilisi is an active focus for leishmaniasis and that the infection prevalence is very high in dogs and in humans. Although exposure is as yet not as high in Kutaisi, this is a new VL focus. The overall situation in the country is alarming and new control measures are urgently needed

Self-medication with antibiotics in Georgian population

Background: Self-medication with antibiotics is a global phenomenon and a potential contributor to human pathogen resistance to antibiotics. It involves obtaining medication without a prescription, taking medicines based on the advice of friends and relatives, or previous treatment experience. Self-medication is common in both developed and developing countries; however, the prevalence of self-medication is higher in developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of antimicrobial self-medication in Georgia and its potential to influence the overall situation regarding antimicrobial consumption in the country.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using a random sampling method and developed a self-administered questionnaire to collect the data. The survey was conducted via the Internet using the Google Forms platform.Results: The overall number of respondents was 742 adults living in Georgia. The results showed that 23.8% (n = 177) of adults had consumed antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription, and 12.7% (n = 94) confirmed the use of antibiotics by their own decision to treat minor family members. The total prevalence of self-medication was 32.6%. The data analysis revealed a correlation between factor F1 (“personal experience”) and gender (p = 0.042, F = 2.6), and between age and factor F2 (“lack of trust in medical practitioners”) (p = 0.047, F = 2.691). The correlation was stronger among young adults (aged 18–24) and senior adults (aged 60+). The correlation between the level of education and factor F2 was stronger (p = 0.00; F1 = 7.9) than with factor F1 (p = 0.04; F = 2.2).Conclusion: Self-medication is prevalent in Georgia; pharmacies are the main sources of antimicrobials. No correlation was found between factor F2, pertaining to “lack of trust in medical practitioners” and gender, between age and factor F1, linked to “personal experience.” The study uncovered a lack of knowledge about self-medication with antibiotics and emphasized the importance of public awareness campaigns and implementing effective interventions to regulate the sales of antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription

Home-based hepatitis C self-testing in people who inject drugs and men who have sex with men in Georgia: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Introduction Globally, it is estimated that more than three-quarters of people with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) are unaware of their HCV status. HCV self-testing (HCVST) may improve access and uptake of HCV testing particularly among key populations such as people who inject drugs (PWID) and men who have sex with men (MSM) where HCV prevalence and incidence are high and barriers to accessing health services due to stigma and discrimination are common. Methods and analysis This randomised controlled trial compares an online programme offering oral fluid-based HCVST delivered to the home with referral to standard-of-care HCV testing at HCV testing sites. Eligible participants are adults self-identifying as either MSM or PWID who live in Tbilisi or Batumi, Georgia, and whose current HCV status is unknown. Participants will be recruited through an online platform and randomised to one of three arms for MSM (courier delivery, peer delivery and standard-of-care HCV testing (control)) and two for PWID (peer delivery and standard-of-care HCV testing (control)). Participants in the postal delivery group will receive an HCVST kit delivered by an anonymised courier. Participants in the peer delivery groups will schedule delivery of the HCVST by a peer. Control groups will receive information on how to access standard-of-care testing at a testing site. The primary outcome is the number and proportion of participants who report completion of testing. Secondary outcomes include the number and proportion of participants who (a) receive a positive result and are made aware of their status, (b) are referred to and complete HCV RNA confirmatory testing, and (c) start treatment. Acceptability, feasibility, and attitudes around HCV testing and cost will also be evaluated. The target sample size is 1250 participants (250 per arm)

The 2014 Earthquake Model of the Middle East: seismogenic sources

The Earthquake Model of Middle East (EMME) project was carried out between 2010 and 2014 to provide a harmonized seismic hazard assessment without country border limitations. The result covers eleven countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria and Turkey, which span one of the seismically most active regions on Earth in response to complex interactions between four major tectonic plates i.e. Africa, Arabia, India and Eurasia. Destructive earthquakes with great loss of life and property are frequent within this region, as exemplified by the recent events of Izmit (Turkey, 1999), Bam (Iran, 2003), Kashmir (Pakistan, 2005), Van (Turkey, 2011), and Hindu Kush (Afghanistan, 2015). We summarize multidisciplinary data (seismicity, geology, and tectonics) compiled and used to characterize the spatial and temporal distribution of earthquakes over the investigated region. We describe the development process of the model including the delineation of seismogenic sources and the description of methods and parameters of earthquake recurrence models, all representing the current state of knowledge and practice in seismic hazard assessment. The resulting seismogenic source model includes seismic sources defined by geological evidence and active tectonic findings correlated with measured seismicity patterns. A total of 234 area sources fully cross-border-harmonized are combined with 778 seismically active faults along with background-smoothed seismicity. Recorded seismicity (both historical and instrumental) provides the input to estimate rates of earthquakes for area sources and background seismicity while geologic slip-rates are used to characterize fault-specific earthquake recurrences. Ultimately, alternative models of intrinsic uncertainties of data, procedures and models are considered when used for calculation of the seismic hazard. At variance to previous models of the EMME region, we provide a homogeneous seismic source model representing a consistent basis for the next generation of seismic hazard models within the region.Published3465-34966T. Studi di pericolosità sismica e da maremotoJCR Journa

Constructing the Pyramid of Influence: Informal Institutions as Building Blocks of Judicial Oligarchy in Georgia

This Article gives a cautionary account of the rise of judicial oligarchs in Georgia, highlighting how their rule distorts judicial governance and undermines judicial independence. The Georgian judiciary is portrayed as a pyramid-like structure where judges’ positions are determined by their influence on judicial governance and decision-making. Judicial oligarchs are a select few judges at the top that have acquired system-wide influence over the judiciary through their trusted affiliates, leaving other judges with minimal influence at the bottom of the pyramid. Research indicates that judicial self-governance bodies, such as judicial councils, can easily be manipulated by a handful of judges independently or through collusion with politicians. This can occur especially when most judges have little interest and the ability to participate meaningfully in governance. The Article explains how judicial oligarchs get judges to elect them and their affiliates as judicial council members. Informal networks and institutions contribute to their electoral success. There appears to be a shared expectation that judges will not challenge the oligarchs’ authority by publicly disagreeing with them or competing with them in elections, or else face sanctions. Research also cautions that de-politicization in the sense of excluding politicians from the bodies of judicial governance will not necessarily prevent politicians’ informal meddling with judicial decision-making. Collusion between judicial oligarchs and ruling party politicians forms part of the broader strategy of weakening the checks and balances and allowing the ruling party to operate without constraints. Thus, judicial oligarchs help to perpetuate oligarchization in the political sphere

Poezijos vertimai: XX amžiaus gruzinų poezija rusų kalba

Translators of literary texts play the role of a bridge between the two nations. Literary translation remains the process of creativity that totally depends on the translator’s talent and erudition. Literary translation has a worthy role as a bridge for transfering values between different cultures. A poem can express complex or deep feelings. Its shape does not limit the writer. Russian translators of Georgian poetry have different attitudes to the original. Some of them show only the poem’s mood and try to reproduce its musical or euphonic structure; some translations that attain maximum closeness to the original are interesting. The article pays special attention to the translations of Galaktion Tabidze’s poetry by the famous Russian poet Bella Akhmadulina and her attitude to the original. The article also focuses on the Russian poet and translator, Vladimir Poletaev, and his translations of Georgian literary works as well as the attitude of the young translator to the translation process. Translators of poetry meet too many contradictions, but their work helps to break cultural boundaries, expand relations and build cultural bridges with various countries, with people of different cultures and religions.Literatūros vertėjai yra tarsi dvi tautas priartinantys tiltai. Ir šiandien literatūrinis vertimas tebėra kūrybinis procesas, kurio kokybė priklauso nuo vertėjo talento ir erudicijos. Literatūrinis vertimas atlieka tilto, padedančio apsikeisti vertybėmis tarp skirtingų kultūrų, vaidmenį. Eilėraštis gali išreikšti sudėtingus arba gilius jausmus. Jo forma rašytojo neapriboja. Gruzinų poezijos vertėjai į rusų kalbą skirtingai žvelgia į originalą. Kai kurie iš jų, atkurdami eilėraščio muzikinę ar eufoninę struktūrą, linkę parodyti tik jo nuotaiką. Kiti vertimai yra įdomūs tuo, kaip jie išlieka arti originalo. Straipsnyje analizuojami žymios rusų poetės Bellos Akhmadulinos atlikti gruzinų poeto Galaktiono Tabidzės poezijos vertimai ir jos požiūris į originalą. Taip pat kalbama apie rusų poetą ir vertėją Vladimirą Poletaevą, jo gruzinų literatūros vertimus ir jo, kaip jauno vertėjo, požiūrį į vertimą kaip procesą. Poezijos vertėjai savo darbe susiduria su itin daug prieštaravimų; nepaisant to, jų darbas padeda įveikti kultūrines ribas, praplėsti ryšius ir statyti kultūrinius tiltus su įvairiomis šalimis bei su skirtingų kultūrų ir religijų žmonėmis