bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes in the rate of preterm infants during the COVID-19 pandemic Lockdown Period—data from a large tertiary German University Center
Authors: Delius Maria , Kolben Thomas , Nußbaum Claudia , Bogner-Flatz Viktoria , Delius Antonia , Hahn Laura , Buechel Johanna , Hasbargen Uwe , Flemmer Andreas W. , Mahner Sven , Hertlein Linda 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Purpose
After living with the COVID-19 pandemic for more than 2 years, the impact of lockdown measures on preterm birth rates is inconsistent according to data from different countries. In this study, rates of preterm-born infants during the time of COVID-19-related lockdowns were analyzed in a tertiary perinatal center at Munich University, Germany.

Methods
We analyzed the number of preterm births, infants, and stillbirths before 37 weeks of gestation during the German COVID-19 lockdown period compared to the same time periods in the years 2018 and 2019 combined. Additionally, we expanded the analysis to Pre- and Post-Lockdown Periods in 2020 compared to the respective control periods in the years 2018 and 2019.

Results
Our database shows a reduction in the rate of preterm infants during the COVID-19 lockdown period (18.6%) compared to the combined control periods in 2018 and 2019 (23.2%, p = 0.027). This was mainly based on a reduced rate of preterm multiples during the lockdown period (12.8% vs. 28.9%, p = 0.003) followed by a reversed effect showing a threefold rise in multiple births after the lockdown. In singletons, the rate of preterm births was not reduced during the lockdown. The rate of stillbirths was not affected by the lockdown measures as compared to the control period (0.9% vs. 0.7%, p = 0.750).

Conclusion
During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period, we found a reduced rate of preterm-born infants compared to a combined control period in the years 2018 and 2019 in our large tertiary University Center in Germany. Due to the predominant reduction in preterm multiples, we postulate that less physical activity might have led to the protective effect by lockdown measures.
Unbounded Regions of High-Order Voronoi Diagrams of Lines and Line Segments in Higher Dimensions
Authors: Barequet Gill , Papadopoulou Evanthia , Suderland Martin 
Published: May 2023

AbstractWe study the behavior at infinity of the farthest and the higher-order Voronoi diagram of n line segments or lines in a d-dimensional Euclidean space. The unbounded parts of these diagrams can be encoded by a Gaussian map on the sphere of directions $$\mathbb {S}^{d-1}$$

S

d
-
1

. We show that the combinatorial complexity of the Gaussian map for the order-k Voronoi diagram of n line segments and lines is $$O(\min \{k,n-k\}n^{d-1})$$

O
(
min

{
k
,
n
-
k
}

n

d
-
1

)

, which is tight for $$n-k=O(1)$$

n
-
k
=
O
(
1
)

. This exactly reflects the combinatorial complexity of the unbounded features of these diagrams. All the d-dimensional cells of the farthest Voronoi diagram are unbounded, its $$(d-1)$$

(
d
-
1
)

-skeleton is connected, and it does not have tunnels. A d-cell of the Voronoi diagram is called a tunnel if the set of its unbounded directions, represented as points on its Gaussian map, is not connected. In a three-dimensional space, the farthest Voronoi diagram of $$n \ge 2$$

n
≥
2

lines in general position has exactly $$n(n-1)$$

n
(
n
-
1
)

three-dimensional cells. The Gaussian map of the farthest Voronoi diagram of line segments and lines can be constructed in $$O(n^{d-1} \alpha (n))$$

O
(

n

d
-
1

α

(
n
)

)

time, for $$d\ge 4$$

d
≥
4

, while if $$d=3$$

d
=
3

, the time drops to worst-case optimal $$\Theta (n^2)$$

Θ
(

n
2

)

. We extend the obtained results to bounded polyhedra and clusters of points as sites.
Survival and cause-specific mortality in adult females of a northern migratory ungulate
Authors: Pöllänen Antti T. , Pakanen Veli-Matti , Paasivaara Antti 
Published: May 2023

AbstractSurvival of ungulates can vary seasonally due to changing environmental conditions, e.g. weather or predation pressure. The wild forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus, “WFR”) migrate between calving and wintering grounds. The annual cycle of female WFR includes four main seasons (wintering, calving, rutting and autumn migration) during which they are subject to different conditions, but almost nothing is known about their survival or mortality patterns. We measured survival in 305 GPS-tagged female WFR in two subpopulations in Finland (2010–2022). Data were analysed for inter-annual and seasonal patterns in survival and cause-specific mortality (predation, traffic, accidents and unknown causes) with known-fate models. Inter-annual survival in Suomenselkä (mean 0.90) showed an increasing trend during the study and was higher than in Kainuu (mean 0.84) which showed a declining trend. Seasonal variation in survival was population dependent. Survival was lowest in Kainuu during the winter while in Suomenselkä, it was lowest during autumn migration. Concerning cause-specific mortality, seasonal variation mirrored variation in predation that was the primary cause of mortality (55% of cases). Wolves (Canis lupus) killed the majority of predated individuals (58%). Predation rates were two times higher in Kainuu where the wolf density was higher. We provide the first adult survival estimates for WFR and show that the seasonal variation in survival is clearly different between these two northern ungulate populations. This indicates that seasonal variation in survival is determined by site-dependent factors and cannot be generalised across populations.
A review of MRI (CT)/US fusion imaging in treatment of breast cancer
Authors: Sakakibara Junta , Nagashima Takeshi , Fujimoto Hiroshi , Takada Mamoru , Ohtsuka Masayuki 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe ultrasound fusion imaging system is a diagnostic device developed in Japan that utilizes ultrasound and magnetic positioning/navigation. A position sensor with a probe reads spatial location information from a magnetic field generator and by synchronously displaying ultrasound images and magnetic resonance (MR)/computed tomography (CT) images in real time. Lesions that are difficult to observe via ultrasonography alone, such as non-mass enhancement, can be identified. Furthermore, lesions that are difficult to identify with ultrasound alone indicated for MRI-guided biopsy under the National Health Insurance Scheme can be identified using ultrasound fusion technology, thereby enabling tissue biopsy to be performed under ultrasound guidance. Using this ultrasound fusion technology, not only non-mass enhancement but also small lesions that are difficult to identify using ultrasound alone can be detected, thus ensuring that a more accurate preoperative imaging diagnosis is established, and leading to safer, more reassuring examinations and surgical procedures. In this paper, we outline the use of this ultrasound fusion technology and fusion techniques in the treatment of breast cancer.
Seismic performance and SSI effects of a two-storey RC school building during the 2014 Cephalonia, Greece, earthquake sequence
Authors: Giarlelis Christos , Repapis Constantinos , Lamprinou Evlalia , Mylonakis George , Manolis George , Sextos Anastasios 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe response of a two-storey RC school building in the town of Argostoli, Cephalonia Island, Greece, during the seismic sequence of January and February 2014, is examined. The structure was built following an older generation of seismic codes dating from the 1950s, which provide limited strength and ductility against lateral loads. Despite the severity of ground shaking and the two successive events, the building suffered relatively minor damage, like most of the RC buildings in the town. Following a short presentation of some basic seismological, structural and geotechnical aspects of the seismic sequence, the paper focuses on the seismic performance of the structure at hand. To this end, a series of detailed non-linear static and time-history dynamic analyses are reported, which highlight the interplay of soil, foundation and superstructure in modifying the seismic demand. It is demonstrated that SSI had an unexpectedly important (detrimental) role in the behaviour of the structure, increasing its natural period by about 25% and aggravating ductility demand in almost all columns, despite the moderately soft soil conditions (average VS = 180 m/s). The results shed light on the seismic performance of the building and help drawing conclusions on the engineering effects of the 2014 Cephalonia earthquake sequence.
Rivaroxaban in Valvular Atrial Fibrillation — a Critical Appraisal of the INVICTUS Trial
Authors: Hammer Andreas , Niessner Alexander , Sulzgruber Patrick 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Purpose
The efficacy of factor Xa
inhibitors in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and rheumatic heart
disease (RHD) is unknown.

Methods/Results
The objective of this article was to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the INVICTUS trial, an open-label randomized controlled study that compared vitamin K antagonists (VKA) to rivaroxaban in patients with AF and RHD while also considering the existing evidence from literature in this particular area of research.

Conclusion
The findings of the INVICTUS trial indicated that rivaroxaban was found to be inferior in efficacy to VKA. However, it is important to note that the primary outcome of the trial was driven by sudden death and death caused by mechanical pump failure. As a result, it is necessary to approach the data from this study with caution, and it would be inappropriate to draw parallel conclusions for other causes of valvular AF. Particularly, the perplexing issue of how rivaroxaban could have contributed to both pump failure and sudden cardiac death requires further explanation. Additional data regarding changes in heart failure medication and ventricular function would be essential for proper interpretation.
GANBISS: a new GPU accelerated N-body code for binary star systems
Authors: Zimmermann Maximilian , Pilat-Lohinger Elke 
Published: May 2023

AbstractWe present a GPU accelerated N-body integrator using the Bulirsch–Stoer method, called GANBISS (GPU accelerated n-body code for binary star systems). It is designed to simulate the dynamical evolution of planetesimal disks in binary star systems which contain some thousand disk objects. However, it can also be used for studies of non-interacting massless bodies where up to 50 million objects can be studied in a simulation. GANBISS shows the energy and angular momentum conservation behavior of non-symplectic integration methods. The code is written in CUDA C and can be run on NVIDIA GPUs of compute capability of at least 3.5. A comparison of GPU and CPU computations indicates a speed-up of the GPU performance of up to 100 times—depending on the number of disk objects.
Overgeneralization as a Predictor of the Course of Depression Over Time: The Role of Negative Overgeneralization to the Self, Negative Overgeneralization Across Situations, and Overgeneral Autobiographical Memory
Authors: Raes Filip , Griffith James W. , Craeynest Miet , Williams J. Mark G. , Hermans Dirk , Barry Tom J. , Takano Keisuke , Hallford David J. 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Depression is characterized by different forms of overgeneralization that are all assumed to play a causal role in the development and course of depression.

Methods
We examined, in a community sample of over 625 individuals, whether these different forms of overgeneralization are correlated and whether they are prospective predictors of depression at 6-month follow-up.

Results
Negative overgeneralization to the self and across situations—two types of overgeneralized thinking processes—were significantly but weakly related, but neither of them was related to overgeneral memory—a memory-based form of overgeneralization. Overgeneralization to the self and overgeneral memory both predicted depression symptoms at follow-up. Further, two and three-way interactions indicated that higher levels of overgeneralization processes interact to predict depressive symptoms. Overgeneralization to the self and overgeneral memory both independently predicted probable recurrence of a major depressive episode during the follow-up period in individuals that formerly experienced depression.

Conclusions
Findings suggest that overgeneralization in depression is not a unitary construct and that different overgeneralization processes play independent and interacting roles in the course of depression.
The social perception of environmental victimization. A visual and sensory methodological proposal
Authors: Natali Lorenzo 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThis article proposes a visual and sensory methodology useful to the study of environmental victimization from the perspective of people exposed to environmental harm and crime. Given the scarcity of tools with which to approach these dynamic and elusive phenomena, I focus first on the methodological and theoretical positioning that sees the encounter between green, cultural, visual, narrative and critical criminologies. Second, I discuss photo elicitation, a technique for a green criminology “with” images, where visual images are used as a heuristic tool in order to explore more thoroughly the social perception of environmental victimization. Third, I discuss the importance of sensory techniques for a green criminology open to the complex and situational dimension of environmental harm, with some examples involving a special form of mobile methodology called itinerant soliloquy. The conclusion notes the potential of a visual and sensory mode of research to social and environmental harms in sensitizing scholars, practitioners and policy-makers to the need to change some taken-for-granted views that inform our relationship with the environment.
(Compact) Adaptively secure FE for attribute-weighted sums from k-Lin
Authors: Datta Pratish , Pal Tapas 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThis paper presents the first adaptively simulation secure functional encryption () schemes for attribute-weighted sums. In the proposed schemes, attributes are viewed as vectors and weight functions are arithmetic branching programs (). We present two schemes with varying parameters and levels of adaptive simulation security.

(a)

We first present a one-slot scheme supporting a bounded number of ciphertext queries and an arbitrary polynomial number of secret key queries both before and after the ciphertext queries. This is the best possible level of security one can achieve in the adaptive simulation-based framework. The scheme also achieves indistinguishability-based adaptive security against an unbounded number of ciphertext and secret key queries.

(b)

Next, bootstrapping from the one-slot scheme, we present an unbounded-slot scheme that can support a bounded number of ciphertext and pre-ciphertext secret key queries while supporting an a-priori unbounded number of post-ciphertext secret key queries.

Both schemes enjoy ciphertexts that do not grow with the number of appearances of the attributes within the weight functions. The schemes are built upon prime-order asymmetric bilinear groups and the security is derived under the standard (bilateral) k-Linear (k-) assumption. Our work resolves an open problem posed by Abdalla et al (In: CRYPTO, Springer, New York, 2020), where they presented an unbounded-slot scheme for attribute-weighted sum achieving only semi-adaptive simulation security. Technically, we extend the recent adaptive security framework of Lin and Luo (In: EUROCRYPT, Springer, New York, 2020), devised to achieve compact ciphertexts in the context of indistinguishability-based payload-hiding security, to the setting of simulation-based adaptive attribute-hiding security.
Comparing Mental Effort, Difficulty, and Confidence Appraisals in Problem-Solving: A Metacognitive Perspective
Authors: Hoch Emely , Sidi Yael , Ackerman Rakefet , Hoogerheide Vincent , Scheiter Katharina 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIt is well established in educational research that metacognitive monitoring of performance assessed by self-reports, for instance, asking students to report their confidence in provided answers, is based on heuristic cues rather than on actual success in the task. Subjective self-reports are also used in educational research on cognitive load, where they refer to the perceived amount of mental effort invested in or difficulty of each task item. In the present study, we examined the potential underlying bases and the predictive value of mental effort and difficulty appraisals compared to confidence appraisals by applying metacognitive concepts and paradigms. In three experiments, participants faced verbal logic problems or one of two non-verbal reasoning tasks. In a between-participants design, each task item was followed by either mental effort, difficulty, or confidence appraisals. We examined the associations between the various appraisals, response time, and success rates. Consistently across all experiments, we found that mental effort and difficulty appraisals were associated more strongly than confidence with response time. Further, while all appraisals were highly predictive of solving success, the strength of this association was stronger for difficulty and confidence appraisals (which were similar) than for mental effort appraisals. We conclude that mental effort and difficulty appraisals are prone to misleading cues like other metacognitive judgments and are based on unique underlying processes. These findings challenge the accepted notion that mental effort appraisals can serve as reliable reflections of cognitive load.
Tris(2,3-dibromopropyl)Isocyanurate has an Effect on Inflammation Markers in Mouse Primary Astrocytes In vitro
Authors: Szychowski Konrad A. , Skóra Bartosz 
Published: May 2023

Abstract—Tris(2,3-dibromopropyl)isocyanurate (TBC or TDBP-TAZTO) is a new brominated flame retardant (BFR) used as a replacement of classic BFR, such as tetrabromobisphenol A. TBC is supposed to be safer than classic BFRs, but reports show that it may induce a similar toxic effect. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the impact of TBC on the inflammation and activation of the apoptosis process in mouse cortical astrocytes in vitro. Our results have shown that TBC increases caspase-1 and caspase-3 activity in mouse astrocytes in vitro, which suggests inflammation-induced apoptosis. Further analyses have revealed that TBC indeed increases the level of inflammation markers, e.g. Cat, IL-1β and IL-1βR1 proteins, but decreases the level of proliferation marker protein Ki67. However, our study has demonstrated that TBC does not change the morphology of astrocytes and does not increase the number of apoptotic bodies - a well-established marker of late apoptosis. Moreover, the concentration of 50 µM TBC also increases caspase-3 activity with no formation of apoptotic bodies. However, since 10 and 50 µM TBC have never been detected in living organisms, we can assume that the compound is safe at the low concentrations that are detected.
Binocular metamorphopsia in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion: a multi-center study
Authors: Osaka Rie , Muraoka Yuki , Nagasato Daisuke , Mitamura Yoshinori , Nishigori Naomi , Murakami Tomoaki , Suzuma Kiyoshi , Tabuchi Hitoshi , Tsujikawa Akitaka 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Purpose
The pathology of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), a retinal circulatory disease, is related to monocular metamorphopsia-related vision impairment of the affected eyes, but the association of binocular metamorphopsia in such patients is unclear. This study aimed to examine the frequency of binocular metamorphopsia and its association with the clinical characteristics of patients with BRVO.

Methods
A total of 87 patients who were treated for BRVO-associated macular edema (ME) were included in this study. At baseline and 1 and 3 months after the initiation of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment, we quantified metamorphopsia in the affected eyes and binocular metamorphopsia using the M-CHARTS® diagnostic tool.

Results
At baseline, 53 and 7 patients had metamorphopsia in the affected eyes and binocular metamorphopsia, respectively. Although the visual acuity improved significantly after the initiation of anti-VEGF treatment, the mean M-CHARTS score in the affected eyes did not change from the baseline score. At 3 months, 9 patients showed binocular metamorphopsia; it was significantly associated with metamorphopsia in the affected eyes with a 95% confidence interval of 0.021–0.122 (β = 0.306, p = 0.006).

Conclusion
Metamorphopsia in the affected eyes can cause binocular metamorphopsia in patients with BRVO-ME.
Effect of peroxiredoxin 1 on the regulation of trophoblast function by affecting autophagy and oxidative stress in preeclampsia
Authors: Zhou Meijuan , Guo Junjun , Li Shuxian , Li Anna , Fang Zhenya , Zhao Man , Zhang Meihua , Wang Xietong 
Published: May 2023

AbstractPurposePE is a pregnancy-specific syndrome and one of the main causes of maternal, fetal, and neonatal mortality. PRDX1 is an antioxidant that regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of PRDX1 on the regulation of trophoblast function by affecting autophagy and oxidative stress in preeclampsia.MethodsWestern blotting, RT-qPCR, and immunofluorescence were used to examine the expression of PRDX1 in placentas. PRDX1-siRNA was transfected to knockdown PRDX1 in HTR-8/SVneo cells. The biological function of HTR-8/SVneo cells was detected by wound healing, invasion, tube formation, CCK-8, EdU, flow cytometry, and TUNEL assays. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of cleaved-Caspase3, Bax, LC3II, Beclin1, PTEN, and p-AKT. DCFH-DA staining was used to detect ROS levels by flow cytometry.ResultsPRDX1 was significantly decreased in placental trophoblasts in PE patients. Following the exposure of HTR-8/SVneo cells to H2O2, PRDX1 expression was significantly decreased, LC3II and Beclin1 expression was notably increased, and ROS level was also markedly increased. PRDX1 knockdown impaired migration, invasion, and tube-formation abilities and promoted apoptosis, which was accompanied by an increased expression of cleaved-Caspase3 and Bax. PRDX1 knockdown induced a significant decrease in LC3II and Beclin1 expression, along with an elevated p-AKT expression and a decreased PTEN expression. PRDX1 knockdown increased intracellular ROS levels, and NAC attenuated PRDX1 knockdown-induced apoptosis.ConclusionPRDX1 regulated trophoblast function through the PTEN/AKT signaling pathway to affect cell autophagy and ROS level, which provided a potential target for the treatment of PE.