bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Large Artery Subclinical Damage: Targeting Thoracic Aortic Dilatation
Authors: Gherbesi Elisa , Tadic Marijana , Faggiano Andrea , Sala Carla , Carugo Stefano , Cuspidi Cesare 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAIMWhether obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) actually represents an independent risk factor for aortic dilation in the general population is unclear. We investigated this issue through a review and a meta-analysis of cardiac imaging studies that provided data on this vascular phenotype measured at the root or ascending tract level.DESIGNA computerized search was performed using Pub-Med, OVID, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases from inception up to 30 November 2021. Studies were identified by using the following search terms: “aortic root,” “ascending aorta,” “vascular damage,” “echocardiography,” “computed tomography,” “magnetic resonance imaging,” “obstructive sleep apnea,” “sleep disordered breathing.”RESULTSEleven studies including a total of 1,860 patients with OSA (without aortic aneurysms and connective tissue diseases) and 233 non-OSA controls were considered. Aortic diameter was significantly higher in patients with OSA than in non-OSA controls (standard means difference [SMD] = 0.73 ± 0.08, confidence interval [CI]: 0.57–0.88, P &lt; 0.0001). This was also the case for patients with severe OSA as compared with their counterparts with mild OSA (SMD = 0.42 ± 0.07, CI: 0.28–0.56, P &lt; 0.0001).CONCLUSIONSOur findings suggest an association between OSA and aortic enlargement and particularly in the severe OSA setting. However, this conclusion must be taken with caution in relation to 2 types of factors: (i) the paucity of available data, and (ii) the limits deriving from the methodological differences of the various studies. Larger prospective and carefully designed studies are needed to shed light on this relevant public health topic.
Control over sampling boosts numerical evidence processing in human decisions from experience
Authors: Appelhoff Stefan , Hertwig Ralph , Spitzer Bernhard 
Published: February 2022

AbstractWhen acquiring information about choice alternatives, decision makers may have varying levels of control over which and how much information they sample before making a choice. How does control over information acquisition affect the quality of sample-based decisions? Here, combining variants of a numerical sampling task with neural recordings, we show that control over when to stop sampling can enhance (i) behavioral choice accuracy, (ii) the build-up of parietal decision signals, and (iii) the encoding of numerical sample information in multivariate electroencephalogram patterns. None of these effects were observed when participants could only control which alternatives to sample, but not when to stop sampling. Furthermore, levels of control had no effect on early sensory signals or on the extent to which sample information leaked from memory. The results indicate that freedom to stop sampling can amplify decisional evidence processing from the outset of information acquisition and lead to more accurate choices.
A dynamic model for the mutual constitution of individuals and events
Authors: Lerner Jürgen , Lomi Alessandro 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
We argue and show that a recently derived class of relational hyperevent models (RHEM) may be adopted to extend the sociological concept of duality by linking it to empirical data containing information on the temporal order of events. We show how RHEMs may be specified to predict the likelihood that combinations of individuals of any size will jointly participate in future events, conditional on their history of participation in past events. We show, further, how RHEMs may support hypothesis testing about competing mechanisms driving participation in events. Finally, we show how RHEMs may be used to establish the location of the events that actually happened in the much larger space of all the possible events that could have happened, but did not. We illustrate the empirical value of RHEMs using a canonical dataset containing information on the participation of 18 women in 14 time-ordered events. We provide dynamic network visualizations to link empirical estimates of the model parameters to qualitative insight on the dynamics of the mutual constitution of individuals and events. While RHEMs are also applicable to large networks (e.g. coauthorship networks), using a small canonical dataset allows us to examine in greater detail the model’s implications for each and every observed event and to identify the location of each event participant in the network of previous events. Scaling down our model to examine a small dataset affords a more detailed understanding of the link between quantitative model results expressed as parameter estimates, and the qualitative features of the original observations.
Predictors and severity of intestinal ischaemia following on-pump cardiac surgery: a retrospective, propensity-matched analysis
Authors: Wiesmueller Felix , Bryan Darren S , Krautz Christian , Grützmann Robert , Weyand Michael , Strecker Thomas 
Published: February 2022

AbstractOBJECTIVESRisk factors associated with intestinal ischaemia after heart surgery have been previously explored; however, a paucity of data exists with regard to extent of intestinal ischaemia in patients requiring surgical intervention. The purpose of this study is to assess predictors of abdominal exploration and extent of ischaemia following cardiac surgery.METHODSA retrospective single-centre study was performed at a university hospital. The patient sample included consecutive patients between 2009 and 2020 who first received cardiac and then abdominal exploration during the same hospital stay. Control group patients were identified by 1:1 propensity matching. Logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors for laparotomy. Patients of the laparotomy group were further analysed for intraoperative findings from required abdominal operations.RESULTSA total of 6832 patients were identified, of whom 70 (1%) underwent abdominal exploration. The median time to exploratory laparotomy was 6 days with no difference between intraoperatively confirmed ischaemia versus those who underwent negative exploration. Thirty-day mortality was 51%. Prior diagnosis of COPD or administration of 2 or more vaso-inotropes during the postoperative phase was independent risk factors for exploratory laparotomy. Vaso-inotrope use was a strong independent predictor of extent of intestinal ischaemia as well as for 30-day mortality. Degree of intestinal ischaemia was also an independent predictor of 30-day mortality.CONCLUSIONSIntestinal ischaemia is a feared complication after cardiac surgery with high mortality, often necessitating multiple abdominal procedures. Administration of 2 or more vaso-inotropes in the postoperative phase of cardiac procedure is a strong predictor for the degree of ischaemia and 30-day mortality.
COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Trajectories in Cardiometabolic Health, Physical Activity, and Functioning Among Adults from the 2006–2020 Health and Retirement Study
Authors: Beydoun Hind A , Beydoun May A , Gautam Rana S , Alemu Brook T , Weiss Jordan , Hossain Sharmin , Zonderman Alan B 
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Background
The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trajectories in cardiometabolic health, physical activity, and functioning among U.S. older adults, overall and according to selected baseline sociodemographic characteristics.

Methods
We performed secondary analyses using longitudinal data on 1,372 participants from the 2006–2020 Health and Retirement Study. Pre-post COVID-19 pandemic onset was examined in relation to body mass index (BMI), number of cardiometabolic risk factors and/or chronic conditions, physical activity, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) using mixed-effects regression models and group-based trajectory models.

Results
The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with significantly increased BMI (β = 1.39, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.74, 2.03). Furthermore, the odds of having at least one cardiometabolic risk factor and/or chronic disease increased pre-post COVID-19 onset (odds ratio 1.16, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.36), whereas physical functioning worsened pre-post COVID-19 onset (ADL: β = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.94, 1.28; IADL: β = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.46, 0.73). The pre-post COVID-19 period (2018–2020) showed a stable group of trajectories, with low, medium and high levels of the selected health indicators. Health disparities according to sex, race/ethnicity, educational level, work status, and total wealth are highlighted.

Conclusions
The COVID-19 pandemic onset appears to worsen cardiometabolic health and physical functioning among U.S. older adults, with clusters of individuals defined by selected sociodemographic characteristics experiencing distinct trajectories pre-post COVID-19 pandemic onset.
Can site effects be estimated with respect to a distant reference station? Performance of the spectral factorization of coda waves
Authors: Grendas I , Theodoulidis N , Bard P-Y , Perron V , Hatzidimitriou P , Hollender F 
Published: February 2022

SUMMARY
The reliability of the ground motion simulation is highly dependent on the quality of the site response (or site effects) evaluation. There are several methods to estimate the Site Amplification Factor (SAF) corresponding to Fourier Amplitude Spectra (FAS), either by using numerical simulation tools or empirical approaches. A widely used empirical method is the ‘Standard Spectral Ratio’ (SSR) technique based on the FAS ratio of the seismic record at a target site to the corresponding one at a nearby amplification-free ‘rock’ site (reference site). The main limitation of this method lies in the availability of a reference site relatively close to the target one. In this study a SAF estimation technique at a target site in relation to a distant reference site is presented and evaluated. This technique is based on the retrieval of the minimum phase Source Time Function (mpSTF) at a pair of examined sites (target-reference), with the Spectral Factorization analysis of Coda waves (SFC) proposed by Sèbe et al. The so derived mpSTF are considered as a convolution of the actual source function, and of the SAF, so that the FAS ratio of the mpSTF, derived at one site (target) and at a distant reference site, should be an estimate of the target SAF. The latter is confirmed in this study. Under the conditions of a common STF at the examined sites and of similar coda waves excitation factor, the ratio of the FAS of the mpSTFs (target over reference site) can safely approach the actual SAF, at least when target-reference distance is up to ∼60 km and provides encouraging results at longer distances. This technique was applied at 24 sites in western Greece in relation to 4 reference sites located at varying distances from the target ones (from 0.4 to 110 km). More than 700 STFs were calculated for 89 moderate magnitude earthquakes (3.9 ≤ M ≤ 5.1) located in this high seismicity area and SAFs were determined from each pair of target-reference stations using common seismic sources. Finally, the average SAFs were computed and compared to the ones computed by other methods (e.g. SSR, GIT and HVSR) demonstrating the reliability and robustness of the proposed technique in site effect estimation.
Active seismotectonics of the East Anatolian Fault
Authors: Güvercin Sezim Ezgi , Karabulut Hayrullah , Konca A Özgün , Doğan Uğur , Ergintav Semih 
Published: February 2022

SUMMARYThe East Anatolian Fault (EAF) is a 700-km-long left-lateral transform fault located between the Anatolian and Arabian plates. The proximity of the Euler Pole to the Arabia–Anatolia Plate boundary leads to rapid changes in plate velocity along the boundary, which is manifested by the decreasing slip rates from east (10 mm yr–1) to west (∼1–4 mm yr–1). The EAF displays heterogeneous seismicity patterns with seismic gaps, localized clusters and broad diffuse zones. In this study, in order to understand the origin of these complexities and quantify the seismic hazard along the EAF, we present an improved seismicity catalogue with more than 26 000 earthquakes and 160 focal mechanisms from regional moment tensor inversion between 2007 and 2020. The focal mechanisms and seismicity show that the EAF dips towards north and forms a well-defined plate boundary in the east between Palu and Çelikhan with almost pure left-lateral motion. Further west, the boundary becomes broader with activity along subparallel faults. Focal mechanisms show heterogeneous stress orientations in consistence with geodetically determined strain rate field. The stress orientations show a transition from strike-slip to extension towards the west of Çelikhan. Amongst all segments of EAF, the Pütürge segment, which holds the near-repeating earthquakes in the vicinity of the nucleation of the 2020 Mw 6.8 earthquake, is distinguished with its steady and high rate of seismicity. Further east, the neighbouring Palu segment is characterized by several distinct moderate earthquakes. We do not observe any change in the seismicity rate on these segments of the EAF following large earthquakes. In order to quantify the seismic hazard along the EAF, we calculate the recurrence time and maximum magnitude for each segment by using an extended seismicity catalogue of 150 yr including the large historical earthquakes and the geodetic strain rate. The results show ∼150 yr recurrence time with Mmax∼6.7–7.0 along the seismically active Palu and Pütürge segments on the east, while relatively silent western segments yield longer recurrence times; 237–772 for Pazarcık and 414–917 for Amanos segments with slightly larger magnitudes (Mmax ∼7–7.4). We infer that the seismicity patterns and strain-rate field along the EAF are shaped by several factors such as strong geometrical irregularities, heterogeneous coupling and complex plate motion leading to rapid change of fault slip rate.
Excess mortality caused by the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacts birth numbers in European countries
Authors: De Geyter Christian , Masciocchi Maddalena , Gobrecht-Keller Ursula 
Published: February 2022

Abstract

STUDY QUESTION
How did the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affect live birth numbers in Europe?

SUMMARY ANSWER
In 14 European countries with validated datasets on live birth numbers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, excess mortality was inversely correlated with live birth numbers.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
Since March 2020, in order to minimize spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and reducing strain on the health care systems, many national authorities have imposed containments and restricted both indoor and outdoor recreational activities. Historical events, such as electricity blackouts, have repeatedly been shown to exert incremental effects on birth numbers.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION
We evaluated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the containments on reproduction and birth numbers in 14 European countries with complete and validated datasets, until March 2021.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS
The national demographic offices of 20 European countries were requested to provide the monthly birth numbers from 2015 to March 2021. Among them, 14 countries provided those data. Taking into account seasonal variations, the live birth numbers were compared with excess mortality at two different time intervals during the pandemic.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE
At 9 months after the initiation of containments in many European countries, 11 of 14 European countries (78.5%) experienced a decline in live birth numbers, ranging between −0.5% and −11.4%. The decline in live birth numbers was most pronounced in eight European countries with the highest degree of excess mortality. From January to March 2021, live birth numbers continued to decline in 5 of 8 European countries with high excess mortality, whereas live births started to recover in 8 of 14 countries (57.1%).

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION
The live birth numbers of some key European countries were not available.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS
The demographic changes linked to the COVID-19 pandemic may add to the overall socio-economic consequences, most particularly in those countries with pre-existing reduced reproduction rates.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)
This study did not receive specific funding. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
N/A.
Firm innovation in Africa and Latin America: Heterogeneity and country context
Authors: Paus Eva , Robinson Michael , Tregenna Fiona 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIn this paper, we analyze the drivers of firm innovation in 35 African and Latin American countries. We investigate how firm-level capabilities and national country characteristics affect firm innovation activities and innovation outputs. Using data from the World Bank Enterprise Surveys, we analyze the factors driving firm-level innovation distinguishing two stages in the innovation process: firm engagement with innovation inputs and the translation of innovation inputs into innovation outputs. The paper provides empirical support for the importance of country-level macro and institutional characteristics, in addition to firm-level capabilities, across a large number of countries in determining firm-level innovation. We demonstrate that capital investment and training are just as important innovation activities as research and development spending in developing economies. We highlight the heterogeneity in firm innovation across firm size, country- and firm-level characteristics, and economic sectors.
Issue-Areas, Sovereignty Costs, and North Americans’ Attitudes Toward Regional Cooperation
Authors: Fairbrother Malcolm , Long Tom , Pérez-Armendáriz Clarisa 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Studies of public opinion toward regionalism tend to rely on questions regarding trade integration and specific regional organizations. This narrow focus overlooks dimensions of regionalism that sit at the heart of international relations research on regions today. Instead, we argue that research should explore public preferences with respect to regional cooperation in different issue-areas. We find that people's views of regional cooperation in North America diverge from their attitudes toward trade integration alone. Using data from Rethinking North America, an untapped public opinion survey conducted in Mexico, Canada, and the United States in 2013, we show that although country-level attitudes toward trade integration in North America were similar, preferences for regional cooperation varied by country depending on the issue at hand. We propose that attitudes are shaped by citizens’ perceptions of the asymmetric patterns of national-level benefits and vulnerabilities created by regional cooperation. Generally, respondents favor cooperation where their state stands to gain greater capacity benefits and oppose it where cooperation imposes greater costs on national autonomy. For policymakers, this multifaceted approach to regionalism sheds light on areas where public preferences for regional cooperation might converge. Future research that disaggregates various aspects of support for regional cooperation should help integrate the study of public opinion with “new” and comparative regional approaches that emphasize the aspects of regionalism beyond trade and formal institutions.
Current management of giant-cell tumor of bone in the denosumab era
Authors: Nagano Akihito , Urakawa Hiroshi , Tanaka Kazuhiro , Ozaki Toshifumi 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Giant-cell tumor of bone is a rare, locally aggressive and rarely metastasizing primary bone tumor. The mainstay of treatment remains controversial and is decided by the balance between adequate surgical margin and sufficient adjacent joint function. Although curettage with a high-speed burr and local adjuvants can maintain normal joint function, many reports have revealed a high local recurrence rate. Conversely, en bloc resection and reconstruction with prostheses for highly aggressive lesions have reportedly lower local recurrence rates and poorer functional outcomes. Denosumab—a full human monoclonal antibody that inhibits receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa β ligand—was approved by the Food and Drug Authority in 2013 for use in surgically unresectable or when resection is likely to result in severe morbidity for skeletally mature adolescents and adults with giant-cell tumor of bone. However, subsequent studies have suggested that the local recurrence rate would be increased by preoperative use of denosumab. In systematic reviews of the local recurrence rate after preoperative use of denosumab, conclusions vary due to the small sample sizes of the studies reviewed. Therefore, controversy regarding the treatment of giant-cell tumor of bone is ongoing. Here, this review elucidates the management of giant-cell tumor of bone, especially with the local adjuvant and neoadjuvant use of denosumab, and presents the current, evidence-based treatment for giant-cell tumor of bone.
Individual Opinions as an Agent of International Legal Development?
Authors: Song Ke , Ma Xuechan 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
This article analyses the role of individual opinions as an agent of international legal development, which has been little explored in academic literature. This article selects influential individual opinions primarily by looking at endorsements by subsequent judicial cases. The analysis concludes that individual opinions are likely to be influential under two circumstances: (i) where individual opinions address legal issues on which judges’ opinions are sharply divided, thereby proactively reconciling or bridging gaps between existing divided opinions and (ii) where individual opinions deal with legal norms that are either at an early stage of operation or have rarely been entertained before any international adjudicatory body, leaving judges with considerable discretion in clarifying and developing rules. This article also provides an efficient filter for selecting and compiling a living database of influential individual opinions for more comprehensive surveys on their jurisprudential role, especially in view of the ever-growing body of international jurisprudence.