Developing a Sustainable Food Security Program for an Urban Coastal City

Local urban coastal cities are most vulnerable to the impacts brought about by climate change. Very little attention, however, had been given to the role of coastal cities, including Navotas City, to the achievement of food security in urban centers like Metro Manila. A unified plan of action and a sustainable food security program are imperative given the unpredictability of climate change and the growing urban populations, which result in an increasing demand for a sustainable source of nutritious and affordable food. This study looked into developing a sustainable food security program designed to mitigate the impacts brought about by climate change on food availability, access, utilization, and stability; and how these affect Navotas City’s food security. Data from literature reviews and agency reports were validated by key informant interviews and focus group discussions to achieve the aforementioned objective

Climate Risk Analysis on the Food Security in Saguday, Quirino Province

Saguday is a 5th-class municipality of Quirino Province. The nine barangays of Saguday namely – La Paz, Cardenas, Salvacion, Santo Tomas, Rizal, Tres Reyes, Dibul, Cardenas and Gamis – are all vulnerable to climate change and calamities, not only because of the scarce resources of the municipality, but also due to the geographical and climatological condition of the area. Rainfall rates are projected to increase due to climate change and there will also be some likely increase in mean maximum tropical cyclone wind speed due to the projected 21st century warming (Knutson et al., 2010). Its location in Quirino Province places Saguday within the biggest watershed area in the region. Both observational data and modelling projections show that with climate change, wet regions will generally (but not universally) become wetter. Crop production in Saguday may also be affected biophysically by meteorological variables including rising temperatures, changing precipitation regimes, and increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. As socio-economic factors influence responses to changes in crop productivity with price changes and shifts in comparative advantage, a 5th class municipality with scarce resources can be very vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This present study identifi es the climatological problems and difficulties confronting the municipality

Smart Wheelchair with Dual Control using Touchpad and Android Mobile Device

The general objective of the design was to develop a touchpad controlled Android-based electronic wheelchair. It aimed to construct the Android-based circuitry and program for the path finding mechanism of the drive system and interface the Arduino-based circuit to the electronic wheelchair setup. It was designed to evaluate the system in terms of the speed of the electronic wheelchair, reliability of the sensors to avoid obstacle, and ease of use of the wheelchair. C Programming Language was used by the system to control and manipulate the microcontroller, Gizduino AtMega644. The Android application was programmed using the Java Language and Eclipse as the IDE. Its ports were used to interface input and output devices such as the ultrasonic sensors, infrared proximity sensor, touchpad, Bluetooth module, motor and motor driver. There was a satisfactory rating for the evaluation of the system while the Android software was rated excellent as a navigational controller

BRAIN TOPiC Study: Assessing Variability in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Outcome Prognostication – Do Self-Fulfilling Prophecies Exist in TBI, Too?

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we surveyed clinicians caring for patients with moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (msTBI) to assess (1) possible variability in outcome prognostication in TBI, varying by clinicians level of training and medical specialty, (2) possible biases and self-fulfilling prophecies, and (3) whether specific ICU medical complications may influence clinicians in their outcome prognostication. BACKGROUND: Patients with msTBI commonly die from withdrawal of support, likely as a consequence of an unfavorable outcome prognosis provided to the family by the treating physician. It is unknown whether prognostication may lead to self-fulfilling prophecies, and whether the presence of intensive care unit (ICU) complications may accentuate possible provider bias. DESIGN/METHODS: We conducted an anonymous electronic survey of clinicians, including faculty members (Neurology, Neurosurgery, Trauma, Anesthesia/Critical Care), neurology house staff, ICU affiliate practitioners and neuroICU nurses at a single Level I trauma center. The survey included three TBI case vignettes and their respective ICU courses. Questions were designed to assess the utilization of known TBI prognostic models, relative importance of ICU complications for outcome prognostication and aggressiveness of care recommended by the survey participant. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 72% (106 surveys returned). In all 3 cases, the majority of participants did not recommend withdrawal of care, but did predict unfavorable 6-month outcomes. 51% of participants consider medical ICU complications as very important in TBI prognostication. Age, ICU course and head CT findings are the prognostic variables considered most important to outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: We have discovered great variability in outcome predictions made by clinicians with different levels of experience in treating msTBI. Self-fulfilling prophecies may exist in msTBI outcomes. Outcome estimates should focus not only on admission variables, but also on ICU complications in order to guide clinicians in providing prognostication

Severity of Pre-existing Cerebral Small Vessel Disease is Associated with Outcome after Traumatic Brain Injury

Background and purpose: It is now well accepted that traumatic white matter injury constitutes a critical determinant of post-traumatic functional impairment. However, the contribution of pre-existing white matter rarefaction on outcome following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is unknown. Hence, we sought to determine whether the burden of pre-existing cerebral small vessel disease related white matter rarefaction (leukoaraiosis) is independently associated with outcome after TBI. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive, prospectively enrolled patients of ≥50 years (n=136) that were admitted to a single neurological-trauma intensive care unit. Supratentorial white matter hypoattenuation on head CT was graded on a 5-point scale (range 0-4) reflecting increasing severity of leukoaraiosis. Outcome was ascertained according to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) via telephone interview at 3 and 12 months, respectively. Results: After adjustment for other factors, leukoaraiosis-severity was significantly associated with a poor outcome at 3 and 12 months as defined as mRS 3-6 and GOS 1-3, respectively. The independent association between leukoaraiosis and a poor outcome remained when the analysis was restricted to patients that survived to 3 months, had moderate-to-severe TBI (enrolment Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] ≤12; p=0.001), or had mild TBI (GCS 13-15; p=0.002), respectively. Conclusion: We provide first evidence that pre-existing cerebral small vessel disease independently predicts a poor functional outcome after closed head TBI. This association is independent of other established outcome predictors such as age, comorbid state as well as intensive care unit complications and interventions. This knowledge may help improve prognostic accuracy, clinical management, and resource utilization

Can a detailed neurological exam improve prediction of extubation success in neurocritically ill patients?

Predictors of extubation success in neurocritically ill patients differ from those in the medical or surgical ICU without acute neurological injury. Presence of a cough and a higher Glasgow Coma Scale has previously been associated with extubation success. A recent study in neurocritically ill patients at Harvard Medical School has suggested that a detailed neurological exam may identify important additional signs of extubation success. This cohort, however, included predominantly stroke patients. We aimed to validate these findings in our mixed patient cohort including neurotrauma, stroke and status epilepticus. In this ongoing prospective observational cohort study, we have enrolled 61 neurocritically ill patients who have required intubation and followed them through their hospital course. Routine care included daily evaluation for extubation readiness, including spontaneous breathing trials, arterial blood gases and weaning according to an institutional weaning protocol. Prior to a planned extubation, patients underwent a simple neurological exam by the bedside nurse according to study protocol. After extubation, patients were followed for extubation failure, defined as re-intubation within 72 hours of extubation. Additional data on possible confounders is collected, including chest X-ray appearance, infectious complications, and other comorbid conditions. Mean age of the sample was 59 years and 64% were male, Mean GCS was 12. Extubation failure was seen in 6.5 %, diagnosis of pneumonia 72 hours prior to extubation 24%, after an average number of 3 intubation days. Enrollment will continue until July 2012. A planned analysis includes the identification of predictors of extubation success, focusing on aspects of the neurological examination while controlling for key confounders. We also plan to combine our cohort with the Harvard cohort to improve the power of our analysis. We hope to identify important predictors of extubation success in a broad neurocritical care cohort in order to build a more generalizable model that may improve the prediction of extubation success in neurocritically ill patients

Urban Hydroponics for Diversified Agriculture: Part II

Achieving food security in urban communities proves to be a challenging task. The inability of cities to produce its food requirement means that food has to be imported from faraway places. Traffic congestion, rising fuel prices, and poor road infrastructure have caused problems in transporting food from farms to markets. The increase in rates of spoilage of perishable vegetables and in transportation costs is a food security issue that needs to be addressed

Genetic determinants of cerebral edema in severe traumatic brain injury: A pilot study of the role of CACNA1 and AQP4 gene mutations

Cerebral edema is the one of the most significant predictors of poor outcome after traumatic brain injury. It is still unclear what the pathophysiological and cellular mechanisms and predictors of post-traumatic edema are. The exponential growth in genetic information has opened an avenue for investigation in traumatic brain injury and implicated specific genes in the pathophysiology of post-traumatic injury edema. Two examples are the Aquaporin-4 and CACNA1 genes, which respectively encode water and calcium channels. The Aquaporin-4 gene on chromosome 18q11.2-12.1 encodes the Aquaporin-4 protein (AQP4) water channel. AQP4 is one of the bidirectional high capacity water channels that is primarily expressed in astrocytic foot processes in the central nervous system at the blood-brain barrier and is thought to be critical for brain water homeostasis. Experimental studies showed that AQP4 deficient mice had significantly reduced cerebral edema and better survival in a water intoxication model. The CACNA1 gene on chromosome 19p13 encodes the a1A subunit of a neuronal calcium channel. Patients with Familial Hemiplegic Migraine and delayed fatal cerebral edema and seizuresfrom minor trauma have been found to have mutations in CACNA1, which are hypothesized to enhance development of cytotoxic edema. A missense mutation is reported to enhance risk of delayed fatal cerebral edema. Hypothesis: The CACNA1 gene missense mutation S218L and AQP4 polymorphisms will be over-represented in patients with post-traumatic cerebral edema. Our Specific Aim is to perform full exon sequence analysis of these two genes in 20 well-defined cases of excessive cerebral edema. Our long term goal is to systematically investigate genetic variants as determinants of risk of excessive cerebral edema. It is hoped that this will further elucidate secondary mechanisms of injury specifically in the formation of post-traumatic edema and lead to targeted therapies in the future

Frequency and Impact of Intensive Care Unit Complications on Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury – Early Results of the Outcome Prognostication in Traumatic Brain Injury (OPTIMISM) Study

Background: Known predictors of adverse outcomes in patients with moderate-severe TBI (msTBI) explain only a relatively small proportion of patient-related outcomes. The frequency and impact of intensive care unit complications (ICU-COMPL) on msTBI-associated outcomes is poorly understood. Methods: In 213 consecutive msTBI patients admitted to a Level-I-Trauma-Center neuro-trauma-ICU, twenty-eight ICU-COMPL (21 medical and 7 neurological) were prospectively collected and adjudicated by group consensus, using pre-defined criteria. We determined frequencies, and explored associations of ICU-COMPL and functional neurological outcomes measured by Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at hospital discharge using multivariable logistic regression. Results: The average age of the study sample was 53 years, and the median presenting Glasgow Coma Scale and Injury Severity Scores were 5 and 27, respectively. Hyperglycemia (79%), fever (62%), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (60%), and hypotension requiring vasopressors (42%) were the four most common medical ICU-COMPL. Herniation (39%), intracranial rebleed (39%), and brain edema requiring osmotherapy (37%) were the three most common neurological ICU-COMPL. After adjusting for admission variables, duration of ventilation, and ICU length-of-stay, patients with brain edema (OR 5.8; 95% CI 2,16.7) had a significantly increased odds for dying during hospitalization whereas patients with hospital-acquired urinary tract infection (UTI) had a decreased odds (OR 0.05; 95% CI 0.005,0.6). Sensitivity-analysis revealed that UTI occurred later, suggesting a non-causal association with survival. Brain herniation (OR 15.7; 95% CI 2.6,95.4) was associated with an unfavorable functional status (GOS 1-3). Conclusion: ICU-COMPL are very common after msTBI, have a considerable impact on short-term outcomes, and should be considered in the prognostication of these high-risk patients. Survival associations of time-dependent complications warrant cautious interpretation

Urban Organic Farming for Diversified Agriculture

Urban organic farming had been shown in previous projects as well as the present one to have the potential of addressing the fundamental requirements of food security by addressing issues of availability since production is just in the vicinity, which also addresses the carbon footprint of food production because food need not be transported to far distances. The use of organic methods also contributed to increased food safety. More importantly, the practice of urban agriculture empowers local residents in the stewardship, specifically of their barangay’s green spaces and more broadly the whole urban environment (see Mogk, Kwiatkowski, &Weindorf, 2010). However, to make full use of the potentials of urban agriculture, the local government should integrate these initiatives in urban planning and framing of policies and regulations (see Mougeot, 2006 and Mukherji& Morales 2010)