bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Outcome of posterior decompression for spinal epidural lipomatosis
Authors: Schmutzer-Sondergeld Michael , Zimmermann Hanna , Trabold Raimund , Liebig Thomas , Schichor Christian , Siller Sebastian 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
In contrast to osteoligamentous lumbar stenosis (LSS), outcome of surgical treatment for spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) is still not well defined. We present risk factors for SEL and clinical long-term outcome data after surgical treatment for patients with pure SEL and a mixed-type pathology with combined SEL and LSS (SEL+LSS) compared to patients with pure LSS.

Methods
From our prospective institutional database, we identified all consecutive patients who were surgically treated for newly diagnosed SEL (n = 31) and SEL+LSS (n = 26) between 2018 and 2022. In addition, a matched control group of patients with pure LSS (n = 30) was compared. Microsurgical treatment aimed for posterior decompression of the spinal canal. Study endpoints were outcome data including clinical symptoms at presentation, MR-morphological analysis, evaluation of pain-free walking distance, pain perception by VAS-N/-R scales, and patient’s satisfaction by determination of the Odom score.

Results
Patients with osteoligamentous SEL were significantly more likely to suffer from obesity (body mass index (BMI) of 30.2 ± 5.5 kg/m2, p = 0.03), lumbar pain (p = 0.006), and to have received long-term steroid therapy (p = 0.01) compared to patients with SEL+LSS and LSS. In all three groups, posterior decompression of the spinal canal resulted in significant improvement of these symptoms. Patients with SEL had a significant increase in pain-free walking distance during the postoperative course, at discharge, and last follow-up (FU) (p < 0.0001), similar to patients with SEL+LSS and pure LSS. In addition, patients with pure SEL and SEL+LSS had a significant reduction in pain perception, represented by smaller values of VAS-N and -R postoperatively and at FU, similar to patients with pure LSS. In uni- and multivariate analysis, domination of lumbar pain and steroid long-term therapy were significant characteristic risk factors for SEL.

Conclusions
Surgical treatment of pure SEL and SEL+LSS allows significant improvement in pain-free walking distance and pain perception immediately postoperatively and in long-term FU, similar to patients with pure LSS.
Thin layer chromatography‒spectrodensitometric determination of a three-component mixture of propyphenazone, caffeine, ergotamine tartrate, and two of their impurities with application to tablets, spiked human plasma, and green profile assessment
Authors: Ragab Mona T. , Ramadan Nesrin K. , El-Ragehy Nariman A. , El-Zeany Badr A. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractA novel, green, and cost-effective thin-layer chromatography (TLC)‒spectrodensitometric method was designed and validated for the simultaneous determination of a five-component mixture. The analyzed mixture is composed of three active ingredients: propyphenazone (PRO), caffeine (CAF), and ergotamine tartrate (ERG), along with two official impurities which are PRO impurity: phenazone (PHN) and CAF impurity: theophylline (THEO). The suggested method was used for the quantitation of the three coformulated active ingredients in their marketed tablet and in human plasma. The studied compounds were separated on TLC silica gel 60F254 plates using a mobile phase consisting of methanol–ethyl acetate–glacial acetic acid (1:9:0.1, V/V) with diprophylline (DPP) as internal standard. Densitometric scanning was carried out at 210.0 nm. Method validation was assessed according to the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines. The greenness profile for the proposed method was evaluated using the National Environmental Method Index (NEMI), analytical eco-scale, and Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI) tools. The proposed method offers the advantages of being simple, rapid, economic, and ecofriendly. It is a successful choice for the routine analysis of the studied drugs in pharmaceutical and biological samples.
Development of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, m-xylene, p-xylene and o-xylene (BTEX) gas reference standards for air pollution monitoring in South Africa
Authors: Ntsasa Napo , Tshilongo James , Leshabane Nompumelelo , Jozela Mudalo , Lekoto Goitsemang , Forbes Patricia 
Published: September 2023

AbstractDirect monitoring of volatile organic compounds emitted from industrial sources as well as the monitoring of ambient levels thereof in the atmosphere play an important role in providing data for various legislative requirements. There are many volatile organic compounds emitted to the atmosphere, from biomass burning, power stations, and many other sources. Primary reference gas mixtures of volatile organic compounds containing six components, namely benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, m-xylene, and p-xylene (BTEX) were prepared by gravimetric methods at nominal amount of substance fractions of 10 µmol/mol. The preparation was performed using the stainless steel (loop) method and direct liquid injection method using gas tight syringe connected to a dedicated syringe heater for comparison purposes. The results of the gravimetric values for both methods were within 1 % of the nominal amount of substance fraction. After the preparation, comparison was achieved by analysis of the BTEX gas mixtures using gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) and showed comparability to within 2 % of the gravimetric values. The contributions to the uncertainty of measurement were from weighing stainless steel tubes, syringes, and gas cylinders, as well as purity data. The contribution to the uncertainty of measurement from the analysis by GC-FID were repeatability and reproducibility. The combined expanded uncertainty of measurement was between 1.09 % and 3.51 %. The larger deviation from the gravimetric values and associated uncertainty was observed for benzene due to its higher volatility compared to the other components. The BTEX reference gas mixtures prepared in this study are currently being used as a source of traceability in South Africa for air pollution monitoring purposes.
Teaching electrochemistry and student participation in the development of sustainable electricity generation/storage devices at the Institute of Chemistry of the University of Tartu
Authors: Ers H. , Pikma P. , Palm R. , Paalo M. , Jänes A. , Thomberg T. , Härmas M. , Härmas R. , Kalder L. , Salvan L.-K. , Teppor P. , Jäger R. , Kasuk H. , Nerut J. , Sepp S. , Nurk G. , Lust K. , Lust E. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractResearch-based education is a long-standing tradition at the University of Tartu (UT). Basic knowledge of electrochemistry and the principles of developing electrochemical devices have been taught and implemented at UT since 1960. For instance, during then, self-made alkaline electrolysers were used to generate hydrogen. The hydrogen was further purified and used to saturate aqueous and non-aqueous electrolytes. The fundamental electrochemical research has formed a solid background on which the development of supercapacitors and Na+-ion or Li+-ion batteries is based today. Since 1991, the Ph.D., MSc and undergraduate students have investigated the properties of high surface–area carbon materials in non-aqueous electrolytes to develop energy conversion and storage devices with high energy and power density. Moreover, porous thin-film complex metal hydride–based hydrogen storage devices are also under study. The research of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) began at the UT in 2001 and 2010, respectively. Based on the collected knowledge, a sustainable green electricity and hydrogen generation-storage complex (GEHGSC) was constructed, consisting of solar cells and fuel cells for electricity generation, batteries for storage and electrolysers for hydrogen generation. The main aim of GEHGSC is to educate students, young scientists and local authorities specialized in sustainable energy technologies and applied electrochemistry. Electrolyzed hydrogen has been used for experimental testing of SOFC and PEMFC, produced at the Institute of Chemistry. The 300 bar hydrogen compressor has been installed, and thereafter, the PEMFC-powered self-driving car Iseauto, completed by contract for Auve Tech OÜ, has been fuelled with hydrogen produced by GEHGSC.
Approximate variational inequalities and equilibria
Authors: Bigi Giancarlo , Lampariello Lorenzo , Sagratella Simone , Sasso Valerio Giuseppe 
Published: September 2023

AbstractWe study relations between the solution sets of Variational Inequalities, Minty Variational Inequalities, Natural Map problems and Nash Equilibrium Problems. Moreover, motivated by the inherent relevance of inexactness both in modeling non-cooperative games and in algorithms for variational inequalities, we consider inexact versions of such problems and we establish relations to quantify how inexactness propagates from one problem to the other.
Multi-language transfer learning for low-resource legal case summarization
Authors: Moro Gianluca , Piscaglia Nicola , Ragazzi Luca , Italiani Paolo 
Published: September 2023

AbstractAnalyzing and evaluating legal case reports are labor-intensive tasks for judges and lawyers, who usually base their decisions on report abstracts, legal principles, and commonsense reasoning. Thus, summarizing legal documents is time-consuming and requires excellent human expertise. Moreover, public legal corpora of specific languages are almost unavailable. This paper proposes a transfer learning approach with extractive and abstractive techniques to cope with the lack of labeled legal summarization datasets, namely a low-resource scenario. In particular, we conducted extensive multi- and cross-language experiments. The proposed work outperforms the state-of-the-art results of extractive summarization on the Australian Legal Case Reports dataset and sets a new baseline for abstractive summarization. Finally, syntactic and semantic metrics assessments have been carried out to evaluate the accuracy and the factual consistency of the machine-generated legal summaries.
An argument for global realism about the units of selection
Authors: Boucher Sandy C. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThis paper defends global realism about the units of selection, the view that there is always (or nearly always) an objective fact of the matter concerning the level at which natural selection acts. The argument proceeds in two stages. First, it is argued that global conventionalist-pluralism is false. This is established by identifying plausible sufficient conditions for irreducible selection at a particular level, and showing that these conditions are sometimes satisfied in nature. Second, it is argued that local pluralism – the view that while realism is true of some selection regimes, pluralist conventionalism holds for others – should also be rejected. I show that the main arguments for local pluralism are consistent with global realism. I also suggest that local pluralism offers an unacceptably disunified view of the metaphysics of selection. It follows that we should accept global realism. But this leaves open the question of how to classify so called ‘multi-level selection type 1’ (MLS1) processes, such as Wilson’s classic trait-group model for the evolution of altruism: should they be interpreted as particle selection or collective selection? On the assumption of global realism, at most one of these is correct. I argue, against global realists such as Sober, that MLS1 processes should be understood as particle, not collective, selection, due to three features of MLS1: the reducibility of collective fitness, the absence of collective reproduction, and the dispensable role of collectives.
Family Firms and Employee Pension Underfunding: Good Corporate Citizens or Unethical Opportunists?
Authors: Davila Jessenia , Gomez-Mejia Luis , Martin Geoff 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThis study draws upon the behavioral agency model and the concept of socioemotional wealth to investigate how family firms’ employee pension underfunding decisions differ from those of non-family firms. We explore how these differences are influenced by financial distress, generational stage, and whether the firm is eponymous. We test our hypotheses using data from 452 US firms over an eleven-year period. Our results suggest that family firms are less likely to underfund pensions, but this effect is attenuated in later generational ownership stages and in non-eponymous firms.
The Distributions of the Mean of Random Vectors with Fixed Marginal Distribution
Authors: Komisarski Andrzej , Labuschagne Jacques 
Published: September 2023

AbstractUsing recent results concerning non-uniqueness of the center of the mix for completely mixable probability distributions, we obtain the following result: For each$$d\in {\mathbb {N}}$$

d
∈
N

and each non-empty bounded Borel set $$B\subset {\mathbb {R}}^d$$

B
⊂

R

d

, there exists a d-dimensional probability distribution $$\varvec{\mu }$$

μ

satisfying the following: For each $$n\ge 3$$

n
≥
3

and each probability distribution $$\varvec{\nu }$$

ν

on B, there exist d-dimensional random vectors $${\textbf{X}}_{\varvec{\nu },1},{\textbf{X}}_{\varvec{\nu },2},\dots ,{\textbf{X}}_{\varvec{\nu },n}$$

X

ν

,
1

,

X

ν

,
2

,
⋯
,

X

ν

,
n

such that $$\frac{1}{n}({\textbf{X}}_{\varvec{\nu },1}+{\textbf{X}}_{\varvec{\nu },2}+\dots +{\textbf{X}}_{\varvec{\nu },n})\sim \varvec{\nu }$$

1
n

(

X

ν

,
1

+

X

ν

,
2

+
⋯
+

X

ν

,
n

)

∼

ν

and $${\textbf{X}}_{\varvec{\nu },i}\sim \varvec{\mu }$$

X

ν

,
i

∼

μ

for $$i=1,2,\dots ,n$$

i
=
1
,
2
,
⋯
,
n

. We also show that the assumption regarding the boundedness of the set B cannot be completely omitted, but it can be substantially weakened.
The challenge of digital marketing in health tourism: the case of Spanish health resorts
Authors: Cristobal-Fransi Eduard , Daries Natalia , del Río-Rama María de la Cruz , Fuentes-Tierno María Guadalupe 
Published: September 2023

AbstractInternet presence is essential for tourism companies. Health resorts are a tourism resource of prime importance for the image of a wellness tourism destination. This paper analyses the content of the official websites of Spanish spas, as well as their level of maturity in the development of e-commerce. For this purpose, a model for the analysis of websites based on the content analysis technique is proposed, as well as on the extended model of internet commerce adoption (eMICA) methodology. The model was applied to 106 spas with online presence. The results indicate that although spas seem to be prepared to carry out online transactions, a significant share have basic Internet presence, with a mainly informative function.
The Important Role Played by High-Temperature Tensile Testing in the Representation of Minimum Creep Rates Using S-Shaped Curve Models
Authors: Evans M. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractIt is important to characterize the creep life of materials used in power plants and aeroengines. This paper illustrates the important role played by a material’s tensile strength in enabling accurate creep property representations to be made. It also shows that published high-temperature tensile strength values are not always suitable for use in certain creep models due to its strain rate dependency. To deal with the absence of such suitable date on tensile strength, this paper estimates such values directly from minimum creep rate data. When this technique is applied to models that represent the relationship between minimum creep rates and normalized (with respect to tensile strength) stress using S-shaped curves, an improvement in the fit to data on 2.25Cr–1Mo steel was observed. The findings suggest an important need for future research into the most appropriate strain rates to be used in high-temperature tensile testing when the purpose is to use the resulting tensile strength values for use in creep modeling.
Distributed leadership, leader-member exchange and innovative work behavior: the mediating role of basic psychological needs satisfaction
Authors: Evers Arnoud T. , Messmann Gerhard , Kreijns Karel 
Published: September 2023

AbstractDistributed leadership (DL) and leader-member exchange (LMX) are highly relevant for fostering teachers’ innovative work behavior (IWB). Based on self-determination theory, we hypothesized that the satisfaction of the basic psychological needs (BPNS) for autonomy, competence, and relatedness plays a major role in mediating these relationships. To investigate this assumption, we executed a quantitative survey study among secondary education teachers involving a time-lag design with two points of measurement (N(T1) = 654 and N(T2) = 293). For hypothesis testing we employed structural equation modelling (SEM) and found support for most of our assumptions: DL (at T1) enhanced teachers’ IWB (at T2) by fueling BPNS (at T1 and T2) (indirect effects: autonomy (T1/T2): β = .10/.09, p < .10/.01; competence (T1/T2): β = .09/.10, p < .01/.01; relatedness (T1/T2): β = .00/.08, ns/p < .01). Conversely, LMX (at T1) hardly exerted its effect through BPNS (at T1 and T2) but was directly connected to teachers’ IWB (at T2) (indirect effects: autonomy (T1/T2): β = .06/.07, p < .10/.01; competence (T1/T2): β = .01/.04, ns/ns; relatedness (T1/T2): β = .00/.03, ns/p < .10; direct effects (T1/T2): β = .15/.09, p < .05/ns). Therefore, to promote teachers’ IWB, school leaders should not only focus on the relationship quality with teachers, but also on the informal distribution of leadership practice and, more generally, to the creation of an environment that bolsters teachers’ BPNS. Moreover, future research may explore these relationships in other educational sectors as well as in non-profit organizations.
The Biodistribution and Utility of 99mTc-Ethylenedicysteine-Deoxyglucose (99mTc-Glucosamine) in the Identification of Active Disease in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis—a Single Center Prospective Study
Authors: Evbuomwan Osayande , Van Rensburg Barend Jansen , Engelbrecht Gerrit , Driver Cathryn H. S. , Labuschagne Mathys , Sempa Joseph , Horn-Lodewyk Je’nine 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Our objectives were to investigate the utility of 99mTc-ethylenedicysteine-deoxyglucose (ECDG) in identifying active disease in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as to evaluate the biodistribution of this radiopharmaceutical.

Methods
A prospective study was conducted at the Department of Nuclear Medicine of the University of the Free State/Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Twenty-two participants from the rheumatology department diagnosed with RA according to the ACR/EULAR classification criteria were enrolled. Participants were injected with 20–25 mCi of 99mTc-ECDG. Flow, blood pool, whole body, delayed static, and SPECT/CT images were acquired. Known sites of disease were qualitatively assessed for intensity of uptake, and disease severity was graded (Grade 0–3).

Results
Twenty-two participants were studied. The median (interquartile range) age was 59 (49–68) years, and the majority (n = 21; 95.5%) were females. There was abnormal increased uptake of 99mTc-ECDG noted in majority of the sites of known disease, including unknown sites. SPECT/CT imaging localized radiotracer uptake specifically to the synovial space. Similar biodistribution of radiotracer was noted in all patients, irrespective of disease severity or fasting status.

Conclusion
99mTc-ECDG can efficiently assess disease activity in the joints of patients with RA. It accumulates in sites of both clinical and subclinical disease and might be a very useful tool for the rheumatologist in the management of patients with RA.
Spatio-temporal variations of groundwater quality index using geostatistical methods and GIS
Authors: Ababakr Frsat Abdullah , Ahmed Kaywan Othman , Amini Ata , Karami Moghadam Mehdi , Gökçekuş Hüseyin 
Published: September 2023

AbstractA groundwater quality map serves as a deterrent mechanism that provides insight into likely environmental health predicaments. The objective of this study was to create map and evaluate the quality and changes in groundwater during the study period in Erbil, Iraq. Based on the 13 groundwater parameters, the water quality index (WQI) was calculated for 61 wells from 2015 to 2017 for wet and dry seasons. To generate WQI maps, two geostatistical analyst tools in Geographical Information Systems, including Kriging and Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) were used. For determining the most suitable method, statistical indices were applied to the obtained data. The results showed that the Kriging method increases the prediction accuracy compared to the IDW method. The water quality in 2017 was decreased compared to the previous years and the WQI was increased from 1.64% to 11.47%. Untreated domestic and industrial wastewater causes groundwater pollution which was the main reason for the decrease in the water quality of Erbil city.
Assessment of interfraction dose variation in pancreas SBRT using daily simulation MR images
Authors: Young Tony , Lee Mark , Johnston Meredith , Nguyen Theresa , Ko Rebecca , Arumugam Sankar 
Published: September 2023

AbstractPancreatic Cancer is associated with poor treatment outcomes compared to other cancers. High local control rates have been achieved by using hypofractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) to treat pancreatic cancer. Challenges in delivering SBRT include close proximity of several organs at risk (OARs) and target volume inter and intra fraction positional variations. Magnetic resonance image (MRI) guided radiotherapy has shown potential for online adaptive radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer, with superior soft tissue contrast compared to CT. The aim of this study was to investigate the variability of target and OAR volumes for different treatment approaches for pancreatic cancer, and to assess the suitability of utilizing a treatment-day MRI for treatment planning purposes. Ten healthy volunteers were scanned on a Siemens Skyra 3 T MRI scanner over two sessions (approximately 3 h apart), per day over 5 days to simulate an SBRT daily simulation scan for treatment planning. A pretreatment scan was also done to simulate patient setup and treatment. A 4D MRI scan was taken at each session for internal target volume (ITV) generation and assessment. For each volunteer a treatment plan was generated in the Raystation treatment planning system (TPS) following departmental protocols on the day one, first session dataset (D1S1), with bulk density overrides applied to enable dose calculation. This treatment plan was propagated through other imaging sessions, and the dose calculated. An additional treatment plan was generated on each first session of each day (S1) to simulate a daily replan process, with this plan propagated to the second session of the day. These accumulated mock treatment doses were assessed against the original treatment plan through DVH comparison of the PTV and OAR volumes. The generated ITV showed large variations when compared to both the first session ITV and daily ITV, with an average magnitude of 22.44% ± 13.28% and 25.83% ± 37.48% respectively. The PTV D95 was reduced by approximately 23.3% for both plan comparisons considered. Surrounding OARs had large variations in dose, with the small bowel V30 increasing by 128.87% when compared to the D1S1 plan, and 43.11% when compared to each daily S1 plan. Daily online adaptive radiotherapy is required for accurate dose delivery for pancreas cancer in the absence of additional motion management and tumour tracking techniques.