bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Endovenous laser treatment vs conventional surgery for great saphenous vein varicosities: A propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Li Qiang , Zhang Chen , Yuan Zhao , Shao Zi-Qi , Wang Jian 
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND
Varicosis is a common venous condition, which is typically treated surgically. However, selection of the optimal surgical approach can be challenging. Previous studies comparing endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) and conventional surgery were retrospective and observational in nature and the results may therefore have been influenced by selection bias and the presence of other confounding factors. In this study, we used propensity score matching to reduce selection bias when comparing EVLT and conventional surgery for the treatment of varicose great saphenous veins.
AIM
To compare the perioperative and postoperative outcomes of EVLT and conventional surgery in patients with great saphenous vein varicosis.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the records of 1063 patients treated for primary varicosis of the great saphenous vein at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University between January 2009 and December 2019. Among them, 56 patients were excluded owing to additional small saphenous varicose vein involvement, 81 owing to recurring varicose veins, 83 owing to complicated varicose veins (CEAP clinical classification C5-C6), and 6 owing to perioperative phlebitis. Finally, 772 patients were enrolled in this study. Standard demographic and clinicopathological data were collected from the medical records of the patients. For propensity score matching, 522 patients (261 who underwent EVLT and 261 who underwent conventional surgery) were randomly matched 1:1 by age, sex, onset time, smoking status, presence of diabetes, family history, stress therapy, C class, and the affected leg.
RESULTS
Of the 772 patients included in the study, 467 underwent EVLT and 305 underwent conventional surgery. There were significant differences in age, onset time, smoking and diabetes status, and family history between the two groups. Following propensity score matching, no significant differences in patients’ characteristics remained between the two groups. ELVT was associated with a shorter operation time and hospital stay than conventional surgery, both before and after propensity score matching. There were no differences in complications between the two groups after propensity score matching. Patients who underwent EVLT had a higher recurrence rate during the two-year follow-up period than those who underwent conventional surgery (33.33% vs 21.46%, χ 2 = 11.506, P = 0.001), and a greater percentage of patients who underwent EVLT experienced pain one week after the procedure (39.85% vs 19.54%, P = 0.000).
CONCLUSION
EVLT may not always be the best option for the treatment of great saphenous vein varicosis.
Atypical case of bow hunter’s syndrome linked to aberrantly coursing vertebral artery: A case report
Authors: Ahn Jun Hyong , Jun Hyo Sub , Kim In Kyeong , Kim Choong Hyo , Lee Seung Jin 
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND
In bow hunter’s syndrome (BHS), also known as rotational vertebral artery (VA) syndrome, there is dynamic/rotational compression of the VA producing vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Most occurrences involve atlantoaxial rather than mid-cervical VA compromise, the latter being rarely reported. Herein, we detail successful VA decompression at mid-cervical spine, given a departure from its usual course.
CASE SUMMARY
The patient, a 45-year-old man, presented to our hospital with occipital headache and vertigo. Computed tomography angiography showed anomalous C4 entry of right VA, with compression upon head rotation to that side. Thyroid cartilage and anterior tubercle of C5 transverse process were visibly at fault. We opted for surgery, using an anterior cervical approach to remove the anterior tubercle. Patient recovery was uneventful and brought resolution of all preoperative symptoms.
CONCLUSION
BHS is an important consideration where aberrant coursing of VA and neurologic symptoms coexist.
Metastatic pancreatic solitary fibrous tumor: A case report
Authors: Yi Kiyoun , Lee Jonghyun , Kim Dong Uk 
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND
Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare mesenchymal tumor that is most commonly found in the pleura but can also originate from non-pleural sites. Among the non-pleural localizations, the pancreas is extremely rare. In particular, metastasis to the pancreas from the central nervous system (CNS) is extremely rare, with only two cases reported so far. We report a case of recurrence in the pancreas 14 years after the initial complete surgical removal of a tumor in the CNS.
CASE SUMMARY
A 68-year-old man with a past medical history of recurrent meningeal hemangiopericytoma, currently referred to as SFT, presented to the hospital with jaundice. The patient was first diagnosed with an 8cm-sized meningeal hemangiopericytoma fourteen years ago and underwent osteoplastic craniotomy. After 16 mo, imaging showed recurrence and he underwent gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS). 2 years later, imaging showed recurrence again leading to a second GKRS. 5 years later, recurrence was again suspected leading to a second craniotomy. Since then 3 years had passed, and imaging showed a 3.5cm-sized mass lesion on the pancreatic head with obstruction of the pancreatic and bile ducts. Endosonography with fine-needle aspiration biopsy was done preoperatively and aided in the diagnosis of SFT. The patient underwent pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy. Pathologic findings of the resected pancreatic specimen, consistent with the previously resected brain specimen, confirmed the diagnosis of SFT.
CONCLUSION
The rarity and lack of knowledge about SFTs make suspecting and diagnosing this disease challenging. We believe that a report of metastatic pancreatic SFT from the CNS will contribute to a better understanding of this rare disease.
Deep optics preconditioner for modulation-free pyramid wavefront sensing
Authors: Guzmán Felipe , Tapia Jorge , Weinberger Camilo , Hernández Nicolás , Bacca Jorge , Neichel Benoit , Vera Esteban 
Published: December 2023

The pyramid wavefront sensor (PWFS) can provide the sensitivity needed for demanding adaptive optics applications, such as imaging exoplanets using the future extremely large telescopes of over 30 m of diameter (D). However, its exquisite sensitivity has a limited linear range of operation, or dynamic range, although it can be extended through the use of beam modulation—despite sacrificing sensitivity and requiring additional optical hardware. Inspired by artificial intelligence techniques, this work proposes to train an optical layer—comprising a passive diffractive element placed at a conjugated Fourier plane of the pyramid prism—to boost the linear response of the pyramid sensor without the need for cumbersome modulation. We develop an end-2-end simulation to train the diffractive element, which acts as an optical preconditioner to the traditional least-square modal phase estimation process. Simulation results with a large range of turbulence conditions show a noticeable improvement in the aberration estimation performance equivalent to over 3λ/D of modulation when using the optically preconditioned deep PWFS (DPWFS). Experimental results validate the advantages of using the designed optical layer, where the DPWFS can pair the performance of a traditional PWFS with 2λ/D of modulation. Designing and adding an optical preconditioner to the PWFS is just the tip of the iceberg, since the proposed deep optics methodology can be used for the design of a completely new generation of wavefront sensors that can better fit the demands of sophisticated adaptive optics applications such as ground-to-space and underwater optical communications and imaging through scattering media.
Multidimensional analysis of losses in the number of passengers transported by air in Poland and Germany caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of the maintenance of economic security
Authors: Kozicki Bartosz , Skrabacz Aleksandra , Gałek Beata , Lorek Marlena 
Published: December 2023

In the study, the authors conducted a multidimensional data analysis on the decrease in the number of passengers transported by air in Poland and Germany caused by the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020-2022. Forecasts of the number of passengers transported by air in Poland and Germany obtained after applying the Holt-Winters exponential smoothing method from January 2020 to December 2022 were compared with actual data. The research showed that in the case of Germany, in 2020 there was a decrease of 174 628 873 people, and in 2022, it was 90 620 354 people. In Poland, the decrease in 2020 amounted to 40 257 520 people; in 2022, it was already 21 083 066 passengers.
SUSTENTABILIDADE DO SOLO POR MEIO DE SISTEMA AGROFLORESTAL NO NORDESTE PERNAMBUCANO
Authors: Crespo Cristiane Maria Gonçalves , Piscoya Victor Casimiro , Araujo Filho Renisson Neponuceno de , Oliveira Patrick Peres , Moraes Alex Souza , Cunha Filho Moacyr 
Published: December 2023

O Brasil é líder mundial na produção e exportação de café, cultivados em diferentes sistemas de manejo. Sabe-se pouco sobre os efeitos ambientais desses sistemas, assim, o objetivo desse estudo foi utilizar parâmetros físicos, químicos e biológicos do solo como indicadores nas mudanças no sistema agroflorestal em Taquaritinga do Norte, Pernambuco, Brasil. As amostras foram coletadas em três posições do relevo: terço superior - TS, terço médio - TM e terço inferior - TI da encosta. Foram avaliados os atributos físicos (granulometria, porosidade, densidade e textura), químicos (pH, acidez trocável, soma de base, saturação por bases, saturação por alumínio, capacidade de troca catiônica efetiva e potencial, macro e microelementos do solo, oriundos da matéria orgânica) e microbiológicos (respiração basal, carbono da biomassa microbiana, quociente metabólico e quociente microbiano). Comparado à MN, o SAF apresentou comportamentos satisfatórios, principalmente em TS, onde obteve os melhores índices de nitrogênio (N), potássio (K), cálcio (Ca), manganês (Mn) e magnésio (Mg), soma de bases, CTC efetiva e pH, o que proporciona considerável fertilidade do solo. O TI do SAF demonstrou bons resultados quanto à deposição de carbono e metabolização por microrganismos, demonstrando potencial na redução de impactos, em função da matéria orgânica (MO) e relevo.
What Do Judges Want? How to Model Judicial Preferences
Authors: Cameron Charles M. , Kornhauser Lewis A. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
We discuss a central question in the study of courts: What do judges want? We suggest three different domains that might serve as the basic preferences of a judge: case dispositions and rules, caseloads and case mixes, and social consequences. We emphasize preferences over dispositions on the grounds of plausibility and tractability. We then identify desireable properties of dispositional utility functions and the relationship between dispositional utility and expected utility for rules. We examine the impact on expected rule utility from case distributions that are sensitive to the enforced rule. We illustrate how to combine dipositional utility with efforts costs and time constraints. We provide examples of case spaces, dispositional utility functions, and expected utility functions for enforced rules. This essay is an early draft of a chapter of a book-in-progress on the positive political theory of courts.
The Lushanmao site and the formation of the Xitu type architectural tradition
Authors: Wang Tianyi 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Large courtyard complexes in the pre-Qin times can be divided into two systems: the Xitu (northwest China) type and the Central Plains type. The former is characterized by the rammed earth construction and prevailed in the Loess Plateau; by contrast, the latter was well-known for the wattle-and-daub technology and widespread in the Central Plains and surrounding regions. The archaeological discoveries at Lushanmao suggest that the Xitu-type courtyard complexes were in use no later than the late Longshan period and lasted for nearly two thousand years. Both the two systems may have their origin in the late Yangshao period. The Xitu type indicates the influence of South China while the Central Plains type was formed due to a combination of the changes in climate, environment, and resources. Courtyard complexes underwent two major shifts during the early and late Western Zhou, suggesting the major changes in political strategies employed by the Zhou people to maintain their cultural traditions.
Modified paddy husk carbon with linked fibrils of FeHO2 using aluminium as the surface regulator for enhanced As (III) removal in fixed bed system
Authors: Ahmad Samreen , Gautam Shashi Bala , Sawood Ghazi Mohd , Dixit Shobhit , Mishra Ashutosh 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The As (III) uptake capacity of Fe-impregnated AC greatly depends on the availability of active surface sites of iron oxide. In this context, utilizing aluminium as a surface regulator, we proposed a process to attach linked fibrils of FeHO2 to develop an adsorbent with enhanced As (III) adsorption capacity. The procedure was based on the hydrothermal process using paddy husk-based activated carbon, and both Iron and aluminium ions in the test hydrolysis solution. The exhaust time was observed to rise with increasing dose, falling flow rate, and influent concentration. The CCD optimization result showed that the FeAlPBC was an efficient and cost-effective adsorbent with a maximum response of 1681 min when the independent parameters were retained at 15.0 g FeAlPBC dose, 500 μg/L influent concentrations, 2.0 mL/min flow rate, and a desirability value of 0.986. The experimental results and Thomas and advection-diffusion models were in good agreement. The FeAlPBC samples can be recycled for four cycles with little to no reduction in adsorption capacity. Also, the TCLP test demonstrated that the used FeAlPBC were inert and could be put into landfills without risk. In conclusion, FeAlPBC is a strong contender for removing As (III) from potable water and has a wide range of potential future applications.
Distance-invoked difficulty as a trigger for errors in Chinese and Japanese EFL learners’ English writings
Authors: Jiang Qianqian , Jiang Jingyang , Liu Haitao 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This study investigates how distance-invoked difficulty, proficiency level and cross-linguistic similarity affect error occurrences by analysing 240 English compositions from Chinese and Japanese learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). Dependency distance was used as a metric to measure distance-invoked difficulty and four major types of dependency relations were investigated. The findings reveal that low- and middle-level Chinese and Japanese EFL learners have higher error rates with long-distance dependency relations, but high-level learners can overcome the distance-invoked difficulty and make fewer errors. Chinese and Japanese EFL learners make more errors in long-distance adverbial and relative clauses than in short-distance ones, which are L1-dissimilar dependency relations. They make fewer errors in L1-similar relations, i.e., long-distance subject-predicate dependency relations. Japanese EFL learners, however, showed no significant differences in error rates between long- and short-distance predicate-object dependency relations. The results indicate the complex interaction between the EFL learners’ cognition, proficiency and L1.
Instrumental Tort Law: Moral Technology or the Promise of a More Advanced Normative Underpinning?
Authors: Schwitters Rob 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
In recent decades, tort law, and the theory on which it is based, have been the subject of intense debate. These debates focus on the underlying rationale of tort law and reflect tensions between instrumental and non-instrumental perspectives. Instrumental perspectives cover a wide variety of approaches in which tort law is seen as a tool to realise social aims. It can be recognised in the theories of legal economists, such as Posner, who emphasise deterrence, but also in the theories of those who consider it to be an instrument to realise compensation or to contribute to distributive justice. The non-instrumental perspective reflects the concerns of those who consider tort law to be based on individual autonomy and liberty. Some advocates of this perspective adopt a straightforward anti-instrumental position. Weinrib and Beever for instance, object to tort law being used as an instrument to realise collective aims. An instrumental approach would make individuals – either the injurers or the victims – the servants of collective aims, whereas tort law should instead protect individual freedom in the face of community needs.These non-instrumental theories and their individualistic interpretation of liability are unrealistic in a society where people are embedded in wide networks of interdependency, in which risks are often anticipated and deliberately accepted as socially desirable, and in which insurance and its accompanying rationale of actuarial justice play a prominent role.Nevertheless, the issue I seek to address in this paper is whether the principle of corrective justice might not embody some important values that can be used to counter some problematic aspects of an instrumental approach. Based on an awareness that the concept of corrective justice as a whole is no longer realistic in today’s society and building on Habermas’ theory of communicative action, I will sketch the contours of an alternative underpinning for tort law that better reflects current social realities, while at the same time taking some normative reservations held by advocates of corrective justice against instrumentalism into account.
Turkish Product Liability Law from the Perspective of European Law
Authors: Karaşahin Yasin Alperen 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Product liability has been, and continues to be, a problematic area in Turkish law. Prior to legislative attempts to introduce strict product liability, producers could only be held liable based on their fault. Although liability based on fault cannot provide appropriate solutions to all product liability problems, the Turkish Court of Cassation was in the process of establishing case law that was suitable to most product liability issues. However, this development was interrupted by problematic legislative attempts to introduce strict product liability, which became the focus of academic literature on product liability. The final of these legislation attempts is the Product Safety and Technical Regulations Act of 2020. In this Act, product liability and product safety rules are intertwined with each other. This is problematic for product liability provisions, since concepts and rules that should remain in product safety law are transferred to product liability law. The Act claims to be in line with the Product Liability Directive of 1985. However, this is far from accurate. The Act fails to harmonise Turkish law with the Product Liability Directive of 1985, let alone offer solutions to problems that have become apparent since 1985. This article attempts to highlight the product liability issues caused by the Act and interpret its provisions in a manner that is as compatible with European law as possible.
Performance analysis of 160 Gbps-60 GHz OFDM-MIMO RoFSO transmission with WDM-PDM dual multiplexing
Authors: Sood Ankur , Kaushik Rahul 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
An orthogonal frequency division multiplexed-radio over free space optics (OFDM-RoFSO) communication system with dual multiplexing is proposed. Eight input data streams are transmitted simultaneously by using wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) at level 1 and polarization division multiplexing (PDM) at level 2. Input data streams 1–4 and 5–8 are assigned with same set of carrier frequencies i.e. 193.1 THz, 193.3 THz, 193.5 THz and 193.7 THz and separate polarization levels (X and Y polarized) before transmitting through RoFSO link. A total data rate of 160 Gbps (4 × 2 × 20 Gbps) is achieved in this design. With proposed system, channel performance is evaluated under the influence of atmospheric attenuation and turbulence conditions while measuring system BER, Q-factor, SNR and received power etc. The effect of channel crosstalk is analysed for WDM-PDM dual multiplexed design while considering single input single output (SISO) and multiple input multiple output (MIMO) FSO configurations. The overall analysis predicts that a higher transmission rate and improved capacity levels can easily be achieved with dual multiplexed system.
An improved unbiased particle filter
Authors: Jasra Ajay , Maama Mohamed , Ombao Hernando 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
In this paper, we consider the filtering of partially observed multi-dimensional diffusion processes that are observed regularly at discrete times.
We assume that, for numerical reasons, one has to time-discretize the diffusion process, which typically leads to filtering that is subject to discretization bias.
The approach in [A. Jasra, K. J. H. Law and F. Yu,
Unbiased filtering of a class of partially observed diffusions,
Adv. Appl. Probab.
54 (2022), 3, 661–687] establishes that, when only having access to the time discretized diffusion, it is possible to remove the discretization bias with an estimator of finite variance.
We improve on this method by introducing a modified estimator based on the recent work [A. Jasra, M. Maama and H. Ombao,
Antithetic multilevel particle filters, preprint (2023), https://arxiv.org/abs/2301.12371].
We show that this new estimator is unbiased and has finite variance.
Moreover, we conjecture and verify in numerical simulations that substantial gains are obtained.
That is, for a given mean square error (MSE) and a particular class of multi-dimensional diffusion, the cost to achieve the said MSE falls.
Synthetic leathers as a possible source of chemicals and odorous substances in indoor environment
Authors: Čech Petr , Paschová Zuzana , Gaff Milan , Li Haitao , Kačík František 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This article deals with volatile organic substances (VOCs) and odours that can be released into the indoor environment from synthetic leathers that are part of upholstered furniture. The primary task of this study was to provide a detailed analysis of selected synthetic leathers and assess their emission characteristics, including odour substances. VOC emissions were determined using the test chamber method (ČSN EN ISO 16000-9) at a temperature of 23°C and a relative humidity of 50%. The emitted compounds were adsorbed by standard stainless steel tubes with Tenax TA sorbent. VOCs were analysed by thermal desorption and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry The properties of odours were tested using a Sniffer 9000 device, which was directly connected to a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector. The dominant substances (with the highest concentration) that were emitted by samples of tested synthetic leathers include toluene (118.2 µg·m−3), 1,2-propanediol (46.2 µg·m−3), and limonene (153.0 µg·m−3). Ohio synthetic leather produced the most unpleasantness hedonic tone (-4) from all evaluated materials.
Impact of trading networks on a small island at the end of Late Antiquity: Isla del Fraile
Authors: Quevedo Alejandro , Hernández García Juan de Dios , Gutiérrez-Rodríguez Mario , Moreno-Martín Francisco J. , Mukai Tomoo , Capelli Claudio 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis terrestrial and underwater archaeological research project around a Mediterranean islet identifies that it was a commercial centre during the fifth century AD. The results shed light on Late Roman island occupation dynamics.