bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Status of Corporate Social Responsibility Practices in Nepal
Authors: Chapagain Bal Ram 
Published: June 2020

Background: Although there has been a significant interest in corporate social responsibility (CSR) in recent years, there is lack of adequate studies regarding the status of CSR practices in Nepal. The existing studies generally suffer from the narrow conceptualization of CSR, focus on selected companies or industry sector only and from the relatively small sample size.
Objectives: This paper aims to identify the status of CSR practices in the Nepalese context.
Methods: This study uses questionnaire survey method by taking a sample of 168 listed companies of Nepal representing diverse industry sectors. Descriptive statistics, one-way ANNOVA and t-test have been used to analyze the collected data.
Results: The overall status of CSR practices in Nepal is above the moderate level. The most common CSR practices in Nepal relate to corporate governance as well as customers whereas the least common CSR practices include environment and community related activities. Likewise, level of CSR practices is significantly higher among large firms compared to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). However, there is no significant difference on the status of CSR practices between banking sector and non-banking sector firms.
Conclusions: While the overall status of CSR practices in Nepal is above the moderate level, Nepalese companies are not paying adequate attention on community and environment related issues. The results also indicate that size of the firm tend to affect the level of CSR practices in the Nepalese context though the difference on CSR practices between small and medium sized firms is not statistically significant.
Implications: The government and policy makers may consider giving tax exemption or any other clearly spelled out incentives particularly to the environment and community related CSR activities. Likewise, managers and other stakeholders including the government may focus on identifying and overcoming the barriers for CSR practices among SMEs in Nepal.
The Impact of Remittance on Consumption and Investment: A Case of Province Five of Nepal
Authors: Dhakal Sunita , Oli Sudan Kumar 
Published: June 2020

Background: Remittance remains a key source of external resource flows for developing countries. Remittance inflows are the addition of migrant remittance inflow and compensation of employees which include current transfers by migrant workers, with wages and salaries earned by non-resident workers. Remittance is an essential aspect of leveraging remittance to promote economic development. In the context of Nepal, remittance recipient households tend to spend more on consumption, health and education as compared to remittance non-receiving households.
Objective: This study examines the impact of remittances on the consumption and investment in the context of province five of Nepal.
Methods: This study is based on primary sources of data with 570 observations. The primary survey was used to extract the information from the respondents regarding the remittance amount, consumption and investment of individual household from the families of Rupandehi, Dang and Rolpa districts of Nepal whose family member has been working out of country. The regression models are estimated to test the significance and impact of remittances on the investment and consumption. Consumption and investment are the dependent variables. The independent variables are remittance, annual domestic income, household size, family residential area and level of education.
Results: The results show that there is a positive relationship between remittances and consumption. This indicates that higher the amount of money inflow as a remittance, higher would be the consumption. Similarly, there is positive relationship domestic income and consumption which indicates that higher the level of domestic income, higher would be the consumption. Likewise, there is a positive relationship between household size and consumption. It indicates that larger the members in a family, higher would be the consumption. The result also reveals that there is a positive relationship between level of education and consumption. It indicates that higher the level of education, higher would be the consumption.
Conclusion: Remittance has been leading to the consumption and investment behavior of rural household in province five. Remittance followed by family size is the most influencing factors that explain the changes in consumption and investment of families in province five of Nepal.
Implication: This study can be useful to concerned authorities for further planning of proper investment of remittance.
Informal Economy and Poverty Dynamics: A Review
Authors: Sharma Bishnu Prasad , Adhikari Dipak Bahadur 
Published: June 2020

Background: The informal economy is an important phenomenon in developing countries. In recent years there has been an increasing policy interest in the informal economy and its poverty dynamics.
Objective: This paper explores the relationship between the informal economy and poverty through literature review of internet based open access resources published from 2000 to 2019.
Method: Many empirical studies in our review have shown that informal employment has a causal impact on household poverty. This paper seeks to evaluate how informal economy through the theoretical lens applied to real world problems and explore the potential value of empirical evidences in progressing new understandings of the linkage between informal economy and poverty.
Findings: Informal economy is the main source of livelihood for marginalized and poor and earnings from this sector have had a strong impact on the household livelihood. It is important that policymakers recognize the informal economy as a positive contribution to poverty, especially in countries where formal economic activities are less in operation.
Conclusions: This study identifies the role of informal economy in poverty dynamics and important policy debates which provide directions to improve the quality and consistency for future research.
Down Eros, Up Mars! Postmęskość w filmach Williama Wylera
Authors: Szczerbakiewicz Rafał 
Published: June 2020

The article speaks to the deconstruction of men’s images in William Wyler’s films. One may observe a different paradigm of what is male in the said director’s pacifist trilogy. The alternative masculinity utopias constructed therein are quite awe-inducing due to their emancipatory scope. Friendly Persuasion (1956), The Big Country, and Ben-Hur (1959) are films depicting not only the fight against patriarchal stereotype, but also reaching beyond the restrictions of heteronormativity. The libidal coordinates of the narratives are in sync with biopolitical status of modernity. Surprisingly enough, at the heart of Hollywood some brave cinematic post-masculine projects were developed.
Der Digitale Zwilling entlang des Produktlebenszyklus
Authors: Lutz Marvin , Münch Maximilian , Turgut Ali , Lucke Dominik , Palm Daniel , Braun Anja , Ohlhausen Peter 
Published: June 2020

Kurzfassung
Der Digitale Zwilling ist ein Technologie-Trendthema mit großen Potenzialen in einer Vielzahl von Anwendungsbereichen – insbesondere für produzierende Unternehmen. Eine Studie des Reutlinger Zentrums Industrie 4.0 beschäftigt sich mit heutigen und zukünftigen Anwendungsmöglichkeiten von Digitalen Zwillingen und gibt Impulse für eine schrittweise Implementierung im Unternehmen.
Rahmenwerk zur Einordnung Digitaler Zwillinge in Produktionssystemen
Authors: Glatt Moritz , Kölsch Patrick , Krenkel Nicole , Langlotz Pascal , Siedler Carina , Yi Li , Aurich Jan C. 
Published: June 2020

KurzfassungDigitale Zwillinge bieten vielfältige Potenziale in Produktionssystemen. Die zielgerichtete Planung und Implementierung basieren auf dem jeweiligen Anwendungsfall und den dabei einzubeziehenden Informationen, Modellen und Systemen. Zur Vereinfachung dieser Prozesse wird in diesem Beitrag ein Rahmenwerk aufgezeigt, welches die eindeutige Zuordnung und Abgrenzung verschiedener Digitaler Zwillinge ermöglicht. Die Anwendung wird anhand beispielhafter Szenarien verdeutlicht.
Wie werden wir digital?
Authors: Eber Rainer , Urban Sven , Hermann Niclas , Berner Frank 
Published: June 2020

Kurzfassung
Der digitale Wandel ist in aller Munde – auch und gerade im Produk-tionsbereich, welcher als einer der frühen Treiber des Themas (Stichwort Industrie 4.0) gilt. Parallel dazu hat sich im Bereich Projektmanagement in den letzten Jahren ein ursprünglich aus der Softwareentwicklung stammender, neuartiger Ansatz unter den Schlagwörtern „agil“ und „Scrum“ manifestiert. Wie können nun neuartige Digitalisierungsprojekte im traditionell konservativen Produktionsbereich des Maschinen- und Anlagenbaus in der Praxis effizient ein- und umgesetzt werden? Hierzu wird ein Konzept mit einem auf den Produk-tionsbereich angepassten Vorgehen auf Basis des klassischen Projektmanagements unter Zuhilfenahme agiler Methoden aufgezeigt. Dieser hybride Ansatz beinhaltet klare Spielregeln zur Initiierung und Durchführung von entsprechenden Projekten und erhöht somit deren Akzeptanz und Effizienz.
Agile Planung und Entwicklung von Produkt-Service Systemen
Authors: Kölsch Patrick , Heimicke Jonas , Albers Albert , Aurich Jan C. 
Published: June 2020

Kurzfassung
Die integrierte Planung und Entwicklung von Produkt-Service Systemen (PSS) und damit verknüpften Geschäftsmodellen (GM) verlangt von produzierenden Unternehmen den Aufbau einer weitreichenden Methodenkompetenz. Durch eine sich schnell verändernde Geschäftswelt sind insbesondere die PSS-Planung und -Entwicklung von Änderungen geprägt. Um auf Änderungen jeglicher Art reagieren zu können, birgt die Integration agiler Methoden in traditionelle Planungs- und Entwicklungsvorgehen weitreichende Potenziale. Die Integration erfordert hierbei vielseitige Anpassungen des Methodenwissens, der zur Verfügung stehenden Ressourcen, der Unternehmenskultur und des Kundenverständnisses hinsichtlich agiler Arbeitsweisen. In diesem Beitrag wird eine Methode entwickelt, die bei der Einführung eines solchen integrierten und agilen Vorgehens zur Planung und Entwicklung von PSS unterstützt und dabei die Entwicklung assoziierter GM mitbetrachtet.
Digitale Informationsbereitstellung in der Produktion
Authors: Rönick Katharina , Röhm Benjamin , Bausch Phillip , Anderl Reiner , Metternich Joachim 
Published: June 2020

Kurzfassung
Assistenzsysteme zur digitalen Informationsbereitstellung in der Produktion versprechen ein großes Potenzial, Wertschöpfungsprozesse effizienter zu gestalten. Bei der Konzeptionierung solcher Systeme sind sowohl prozessbedingte und datentechnische als auch personalbezogene Aspekte zu berücksichtigen. In diesem Beitrag wird daher ein interdisziplinäres Vorgehensmodell zur Lösungsentwicklung anhand eines Industrieprojekts in einem Unternehmen der zerspanenden Auftragsfertigung aufgezeigt.
THE INFLUENCE OF ELECTRONIC EXPOSURE AND HEAT TREATMENT ON THE ELECTROCONDUCTIVITY OF EPOXYPOLYMER MATERIALS
Authors: Udovytska Yuliia , Luniov Sergiy , Kashytskyi Vitalii , Maslyuk Volodymyr , Megela Ivan 
Published: June 2020

The influence of electron irradiation fluxes with energy of 12 MeV and heat treatment on the electrical properties of epoxypolymers with PEPA content of 11, 12 and 13 wt.h. per 100 wt. including epoxy resin. It is show that the electrical conductivity of epoxypolymer increases with electron irradiation fluxes greater than 10 kGy. It found that extra heat treatment of irradiated samples with a hardener content of 12 wt. h. hours leads to an increase in their electrical conductivity. The nature of the obtained dependences of electrical conductivity is determine by the processes of cross-linking, radiation, thermal destruction and mass fraction of the hardener. Radiation-stimulated increase in the conductivity of epoxypolymers can be use to create conductive protective coatings and sensor electronics elements
Preoperative patient expectations and pain improvement after adult spinal deformity surgery
Authors: Raad Micheal , Harris Andrew B. , Puvanesarajah Varun , El Dafrawy Mostafa H. , Kebaish Floreana N. , Neuman Brian J. , Skolasky Richard L. , Cohen David B. , Kebaish Khaled M. 
Published: June 2020

OBJECTIVEPatients’ expectations for pain relief are associated with patient-reported outcomes after treatment, although this has not been examined in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD). The aim of this study was to identify associations between patients’ preoperative expectations for pain relief after ASD surgery and patient-reported pain at the 2-year follow-up.METHODSThe authors analyzed surgically treated ASD patients at a single institution who completed a survey question about expectations for back pain relief. Five ordinal answer choices to “I expect my back pain to improve” were used to categorize patients as having low or high expectations. Back pain was measured using the 10-point numeric rating scale (NRS) and Scoliosis Research Society–22r (SRS-22r) patient survey. Preoperative and postoperative pain were compared using analysis of covariance.RESULTSOf 140 ASD patients eligible for 2-year follow-up, 105 patients (77 women) had pre- and postoperative data on patient expectations, 85 of whom had high expectations. The mean patient age was 59 ± 12 years, and 46 patients (44%) had undergone previous spine surgery. The high-expectations and low-expectations groups had similar baseline demographic and clinical characteristics (p > 0.05), except for lower SRS-22r mental health scores in those with low expectations. After controlling for baseline characteristics and mental health, the mean postoperative NRS score was significantly better (lower) in the high-expectations group (3.5 ± 3.5) than in the low-expectations group (5.4 ± 3.7) (p = 0.049). The mean postoperative SRS-22r pain score was significantly better (higher) in the high-expectations group (3.3 ± 1.1) than in the low-expectations group (2.6 ± 0.94) (p = 0.019).CONCLUSIONSDespite similar baseline characteristics, patients with high preoperative expectations for back pain relief reported less pain 2 years after ASD surgery than patients with low preoperative expectations.
Complication profile associated with S1 pedicle subtraction osteotomy compared with 3-column osteotomies at other thoracolumbar levels for adult spinal deformity: series of 405 patients with 9 S1 osteotomies
Authors: Lau Darryl , Haddad Alexander F. , Deviren Vedat , Ames Christopher P. 
Published: June 2020

OBJECTIVEThere is an increased recognition of disproportional lumbar lordosis (LL) and artificially high pelvic incidence (PI) as a cause for positive sagittal imbalance and spinal pelvic mismatch. For such cases, a sacral pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) may be indicated, although its morbidity is not well described. In this study, the authors evaluate the specific complication risks associated with S1 PSO.METHODSA retrospective review of all adult spinal deformity patients who underwent a 3-column osteotomy (3CO) for thoracolumbar deformity from 2006 to 2019 was performed. Demographic, clinical baseline, and radiographic parameters were recorded. The primary outcome of interest was perioperative complications (surgical, neurological, and medical). Secondary outcomes of interest included case length, blood loss, and length of stay. Multivariate analysis was used to assess the risk of S1 PSO compared with 3CO at other levels.RESULTSA total of 405 patients underwent 3CO in the following locations: thoracic (n = 55), L1 (n = 25), L2 (n = 29), L3 (n = 141), L4 (n = 129), L5 (n = 17), and S1 (n = 9). After S1 PSO, there were significant improvements in the sagittal vertical axis (14.8 cm vs 6.7 cm, p = 0.004) and PI-LL mismatch (31.7° vs 9.6°, p = 0.025) due to decreased PI (80.3° vs 65.9°, p = 0.006). LL remained unchanged (48.7° vs 57.8°, p = 0.360). The overall complication rate was 27.4%; the surgical, neurological, and medical complication rates were 7.7%, 6.2%, and 20.0%, respectively. S1 PSO was associated with significantly higher rates of overall complications: thoracic (29.1%), L1 (32.0%), L2 (31.0%), L3 (19.9%), L4 (32.6%), L5 (11.8%), and S1 (66.7%) (p = 0.018). Similarly, an S1 PSO was associated with significantly higher rates of surgical (thoracic [9.1%], L1 [4.0%], L2 [6.9%], L3 [5.7%], L4 [10.9%], L5 [5.9%], and S1 [44.4%], p = 0.006) and neurological (thoracic [9.1%], L1 [0.0%], L2 [6.9%], L3 [2.8%], L4 [7.0%], L5 [5.9%], and S1 [44.4%], p < 0.001) complications. On multivariate analysis, S1 PSO was independently associated with higher odds of overall (OR 7.93, p = 0.013), surgical (OR 20.66, p = 0.010), and neurological (OR 14.75, p = 0.007) complications.CONCLUSIONSS1 PSO is a powerful technique for correction of rigid sagittal imbalance due to an artificially elevated PI in patients with rigid high-grade spondylolisthesis and chronic sacral fractures. However, the technique and intraoperative corrective maneuvers are challenging and associated with high surgical and neurological complications. Additional investigations into the learning curve associated with S1 PSO and complication prevention are needed.
Growing rod technique with prior foundation surgery and sublaminar taping for early-onset scoliosis
Authors: Chiba Takafumi , Inami Satoshi , Moridaira Hiroshi , Takeuchi Daisaku , Sorimachi Tsuyoshi , Ueda Haruki , Ohe Makoto , Aoki Hiromichi , Iimura Takuya , Nohara Yutaka , Taneichi Hiroshi 
Published: June 2020

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to show the surgical results of growing rod (GR) surgery with prior foundation surgery (PFS) and sublaminar taping at an apex vertebra.METHODSTwenty-two early-onset scoliosis (EOS) patients underwent dual GR surgery with PFS and sublaminar taping. PFS was performed prior to rod placement, including exposure of distal and proximal anchor areas and anchor instrumentation filled with a local bone graft. After a period of 3–5 months for the anchors to become solid, dual rods were placed for distraction. The apex vertebra was exposed and fastened to the concave side of the rods using sublaminar tape. Preoperative, post–GR placement, and final follow-up radiographic parameters were measured. Complications during the treatment period were evaluated using the patients’ clinical records.RESULTSThe median age at the initial surgery was 55.5 months (range 28–99 months), and the median follow-up duration was 69.5 months (range 25–98 months). The median scoliotic curves were 81.5° (range 39°–126°) preoperatively, 30.5° (range 11°–71°) after GR placement, and 33.5° (range 12°–87°) at the final follow-up. The median thoracic kyphotic curves were 45.5° (range 7°–136°) preoperatively, 32.5° (range 15°–99°) after GR placement, and 42° (range 11°–93°) at the final follow-up. The median T1–S1 lengths were 240.5 mm (range 188–305 mm) preoperatively, 286.5 mm (range 232–340 mm) after GR placement, and 337.5 mm (range 206–423 mm) at the final follow-up. Complications occurred in 6 patients (27%). Three patients had implant-related complications, 2 patients had alignment-related complications, and 1 patient had a wound-related complication.CONCLUSIONSA dual GR technique with PFS and sublaminar taping showed effective correction of scoliotic curves and a lower complication rate than previous reports when a conventional dual GR technique was used.
The potential of utilizing mid-energy X-rays for in-line phase sensitive breast cancer imaging
Authors: Omoumi F.H. , Ghani M.U. , Wong M.D. , Li Y. , Zheng B. , Yan A. , Jenkins P.A. , Wu X. , Liu H. 
Published: June 2020

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this phantom study is to demonstrate the potential of utilizing mid-energy x-rays for in-line phase-sensitive breast cancer imaging by phantom studies. METHODS: The midenergy (50–80 kV) in-line phase sensitive imaging prototype was used to acquire images of the contrast-detail mammography (CDMAM) phantom, an ACR accreditation phantom, and an acrylic edge phantom. The low-dose mid-energy phase-sensitive images were acquired at 60 kV with a radiation dose of 0.9 mGy, while the high-energy phase-sensitive images were acquired at 90 kV with a radiation dose of 1.2 mGy. The Phase-Attenuation Duality (PAD) principle for soft tissue was used for the phase retrieval. A blind observer study was conducted and paired-sample T-test were performed to compare the mean differences in the two imaging systems. RESULTS: The correct detection ratio for the CDMAM phantom for phase-contrast images acquired by the low-dose mid-energy system was 56.91%, whereas images acquired by the high-energy system correctly revealed only 40.97% of discs. The correct detection ratios were 57.88% and 43.41% for phase-retrieved images acquired by the low-dose mid-energy and high-energy imaging systems, respectively. The reading scores for all three groups of objects in the ACR phantom were higher for the mid energy imaging system as compared to the high-energy system for both phase-contrast and phase-retrieved images. The calculated edge enhancement index (EEI) from the acrylic edge phantom image for the mid-energy system was higher than that calculated for the high-energy imaging system. The quantitative analyses showed a higher Contrast to Noise Ratio (CNR) as well as a higher Figure of Merit (FOM) in images acquired by the low-dose mid-energy imaging system. CONCLUSION: The PAD based retrieval method can be applied in mid-energy system without remarkably affecting the image quality, and in fact, it improves the lesion detectability with a patient dose saving of 25%.
Clinicopathological correlation of the expression of excision repair cross complementation group 1 (ERCC1) in oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas: an immunohistochemical study
Authors: Pankaj D. , Guddattu V. , Solomon M.C. 
Published: June 2020

Summary. Background: The nucleotide excision repair pathway is a sophisticated DNA repair mechanism that reduces DNA damage caused by exogenous factors. Excision repair cross complementation group 1 (ERCC1) is a prominent member of this pathway that maintains the genomic stability. The aim of this study is to determine the association between the immunohistochemical expression of ERCC1 and the clinical and pathological features of oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas. Materials and Methods: The sections of formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks of oral squamous cell carcinomas (n = 60) were immunohistochemically stained with anti-ERCC1 antibody. The association between the nuclear expression of ERCC1 and the clinicopathological parameters of the tumors and the patient outcomes was evaluated using the chi-square test. Results: ERCC1 expression was evident in all studied cases of the oral squamous cell carcinomas. A high ERCC1 expression was associated with smaller tumors, tumors without lymph node involvement and well-differentiated tumors (p < 0.001). Better outcomes were associated with higher expression of ERCC1 (p = 0.028). Conclusion: ERCC1 seems to be an efficient biomarker for prognostication of oral squamous cell carcinomas. High expression of ERCC1 indicates more favorable course of the disease.
Specialized care provided to patients with rectal cancer in Kyiv city
Authors: Kliusov O.M. 
Published: June 2020

Summary. The major trends in the rectal cancer incidence, detectability, morbidity, and mortality in Kyiv city as well as the state of medical care organization for cancer patients based on the statistical data of Kyiv City Clinical Oncology Center were analyzed. Despite the decrease in morbidity (‒6.3%) and mortality (‒8.1%), the cohort of rectal cancer patients in Kyiv city is increasing (+18.2%). At the same time, one-year mortality (27.0% in 2017), the detection rate at preventive check-ups, the detection rates at the early (I–II) stages are decreasing and at late-stage (IV) are rising (from 14.9% in 2011 to 17.6% in 2017). The above indicates the need for improving the organization of medical care of cancer patients and early diagnostics of rectal cancer.