bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of bifrontal transcranial direct current stimulation on brain glutamate levels and resting state connectivity: multimodal MRI data for the cathodal stimulation site
Authors: Mezger Eva , Rauchmann Boris-Stephan , Brunoni Andre R. , Bulubas Lucia , Thielscher Axel , Werle Jana , Mortazavi Matin , Karali Temmuz , Stöcklein Sophia , Ertl-Wagner Birgit , Goerigk Stephan , Padberg Frank , Keeser Daniel 
Published: August 2020

AbstractTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over prefrontal cortex (PFC) regions is currently proposed as therapeutic intervention for major depression and other psychiatric disorders. The in-depth mechanistic understanding of this bipolar and non-focal stimulation technique is still incomplete. In a pilot study, we investigated the effects of bifrontal stimulation on brain metabolite levels and resting state connectivity under the cathode using multiparametric MRI techniques and computational tDCS modeling. Within a double-blind cross-over design, 20 subjects (12 women, 23.7 ± 2 years) were randomized to active tDCS with standard bifrontal montage with the anode over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the cathode over the right DLPFC. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was acquired before, during, and after prefrontal tDCS to quantify glutamate (Glu), Glu + glutamine (Glx) and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration in these areas. Resting-state functional connectivity MRI (rsfcMRI) was acquired before and after the stimulation. The individual distribution of tDCS induced electric fields (efields) within the MRS voxel was computationally modelled using SimNIBS 2.0. There were no significant changes of Glu, Glx and GABA levels across conditions but marked differences in the course of Glu levels between female and male participants were observed. Further investigation yielded a significantly stronger Glu reduction after active compared to sham stimulation in female participants, but not in male participants. For rsfcMRI neither significant changes nor correlations with MRS data were observed. Exploratory analyses of the effect of efield intensity distribution on Glu changes showed distinct effects in different efield groups. Our findings are limited by the small sample size, but correspond to previously published results of cathodal tDCS. Future studies should address gender and efield intensity as moderators of tDCS induced effects.
Smell and taste function in childhood cancer patients: a feasibility study
Authors: van den Brink Mirjam , IJpma Irene , van Belkom Britt , Fiocco Marta , Havermans Remco C. , Tissing Wim J. E. 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Chemotherapy can affect smell and taste function. This has never been investigated in childhood cancer patients during chemotherapy. The objective of this study was to determine whether psychophysical smell and taste tests are suitable for children with cancer. Taste and smell function, fungiform papillae density, and eating behavior were measured before (T1) and after (T2) a cycle of chemotherapy and compared with healthy controls.

Methods
Thirty-one childhood cancer patients treated for a hematological, solid, or brain malignancy (median age 12 years, 16 girls), and 24 healthy controls (median age: 11 years, 10 girls) participated. Smell function was measured using Sniffin’ Sticks, including a threshold, discrimination, and identification test. Taste Strips were used to determine recognition thresholds for sweet, sour, salty, and bitter taste. Papillae density was investigated by counting the fungiform papillae of the anterior tongue. Eating behavior was assessed using the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS).

Results
Smell and taste function could be investigated in more than 90% of the patients, while fungiform papillae density could be determined in 61% of the patients. A significant difference in smell threshold was found between patients and controls (p = 0.001), showing lower thresholds in patients. In patients, sweet taste (p < 0.001), bitter taste (p = 0.028), and total taste function (p = 0.004) were significantly different after a cycle of chemotherapy, with higher scores at T2.

Conclusion
The assessment of smell, taste, and fungiform papillae density is feasible in children with cancer. Results of the current study suggest that smell and taste sensitivity increased in children with cancer.
The association between adverse childhood experiences and mental health problems in young offenders
Authors: Turner Daniel , Wolf Anne Jule , Barra Steffen , Müller Marcus , Gregório Hertz Priscilla , Huss Michael , Tüscher Oliver , Retz Wolfgang 
Published: August 2020

AbstractHigh rates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs, e.g., abuse and neglect) have been found in young offenders. Furthermore, ACEs seem to increase the risk of developing relevant mental health problems, in non-offending juveniles and adults. However, this association has only seldomly been addressed in offending juveniles and young adults. The present study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of ACEs and mental health problems as well as their association within a sample of male and female young offenders. Altogether, 161 adolescent and young adult offenders (16.8% females) from the youth detention center Worms (Germany) filled out questionnaires concerning ACEs and mental health problems with a focus on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and intermittent explosive disorder. Considerable rates of mental health problems were found, e.g., a prevalence of 35.9% was found for intermittent explosive disorder. Furthermore, a greater proportion of the female offenders fell into the clinically significant category for somatic complaints, anxiety/depression, and attention problems than the male offenders. Female young offenders also reported more frequently about all forms of ACEs compared to the male offenders. Latent class analysis defined three subtypes of young offenders depending on their individual ACE patterns: (1) low ACEs, (2) mainly neglectful ACEs, and (3) multiple ACEs. ACEs were significantly associated with the occurrence of both internalizing and externalizing mental health disturbances, with the multiple-ACE subtype being most likely to report about significant mental health problems. The results of the present study point towards the relevance to routinely assess ACEs in young offenders to identify possible precursors of mental health problems and of future criminal behaviors.
Mood, activity, and sleep measured via daily smartphone-based self-monitoring in young patients with newly diagnosed bipolar disorder, their unaffected relatives and healthy control individuals
Authors: Melbye Sigurd Arne , Stanislaus Sharleny , Vinberg Maj , Frost Mads , Bardram Jakob Eyvind , Sletved Kimie , Coello Klara , Kjærstad Hanne Lie , Christensen Ellen Margrethe , Faurholt-Jepsen Maria , Kessing Lars Vedel 
Published: August 2020

AbstractDiagnostic evaluations and early interventions of patients with bipolar disorder (BD) rely on clinical evaluations. Smartphones have been proposed to facilitate continuous and fine-grained self-monitoring of symptoms. The present study aimed to (1) validate daily smartphone-based self-monitored mood, activity, and sleep, against validated questionnaires and clinical ratings in young patients with newly diagnosed BD, unaffected relatives (UR), and healthy controls persons (HC); (2) investigate differences in daily smartphone-based self-monitored mood, activity, and sleep in young patients with newly diagnosed BD, UR, and HC; (3) investigate associations between self-monitored mood and self-monitored activity and sleep, respectively, in young patients with newly diagnosed BD. 105 young patients with newly diagnosed BD, 24 UR and 77 HC self-monitored 2 to 1077 days (median [IQR] = 65 [17.5–112.5]). There was a statistically significantly negative association between the mood item on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and smartphone-based self-monitored mood (B = − 0.76, 95% CI − 0.91; − 0.63, p < 0.001) and between psychomotor item on HAMD and self-monitored activity (B = − 0.44, 95% CI − 0.63; − 0.25, p < 0.001). Smartphone-based self-monitored mood differed between young patients with newly diagnosed BD and HC (p < 0.001), and between UR and HC (p = 0.008) and was positively associated with smartphone-based self-reported activity (p < 0.001) and sleep duration (p < 0.001). The findings support the potential of smartphone-based self-monitoring of mood and activity as part of a biomarker for young patients with BD and UR. Smartphone-based self-monitored mood is better to discriminate between young patients with newly diagnosed BD and HC, and between UR and HC, compared with smartphone-based activity and sleep.Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov NCT0288826
You get what you screen for: on the value of fermentation characterization in high-throughput strain improvements in industrial settings
Authors: Wehrs Maren , de Beaumont-Felt Alexander , Goranov Alexi , Harrigan Patrick , de Kok Stefan , Lieder Sarah , Vallandingham Jim , Tyner Kristina 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
While design and high-throughput build approaches in biotechnology have increasingly gained attention over the past decade, approaches to test strain performance in high-throughput have received less discussion in the literature. Here, we describe how fermentation characterization can be used to improve the overall efficiency of high-throughput DBTAL (design-build-test-analyze-learn) cycles in an industrial context. Fermentation characterization comprises an in-depth study of strain performance in a bioreactor setting and involves semi-frequent sampling and analytical measurement of substrates, cell densities and viabilities, and (by)products. We describe how fermentation characterization can be used to (1) improve (high-throughput) strain design approaches; (2) enable the development of bench-scale fermentation processes compatible with a wide diversity of strains; and (3) inform the development of high-throughput plate-based strain testing procedures for improved performance at larger scales.
Echocardiographic photorealistic imaging of leiomyomatosis intravascularis
Authors: Czub Paweł , Budnik Monika , Majstrak Franciszek , Kochanowski Janusz , Hendzel Piotr , Opolski Grzegorz 
Published: August 2020

AbstractWe present a case of patient with leiomyomatosis intravascularis. To diagnose, we used 3D photorealistic imaging which allowed us better visualisation of pathological structures as well as planning the surgical procedure in greater detail. The main advantage of this technique is the possibility to move the virtual light source and thus visualize the specific part of the heart.
A specialised delivery system for stratospheric sulphate aerosols: design and operation
Authors: Janssens M. , de Vries I. E. , Hulshoff S. J. ,   DSE 16-02
Published: August 2020

AbstractTemporary stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) using sulphate compounds could help to mitigate some of the adverse and irreversible impacts of global warming. Among the risks and uncertainties of SAI, the development of a delivery system presents an appreciable technical challenge. Early studies indicate that specialised aircraft appear the most feasible (McClelan et al., Aurora Flight Sciences, 2010; Smith and Wagner, Environ Res Lett 13(12), 2018). Yet, their technical design characteristics, financial cost of deployment, and emissions have yet to be studied in detail. Therefore, these topics are examined in this two- part study. This first part outlines a set of injection scenarios and proposes a detailed, feasible aircraft design. Part 2 considers the resulting financial cost and equivalent CO2 emissions spanned by the scenarios and aircraft. Our injection scenarios comprise the direct injection of H2SO4 vapour over a range of possible dispersion rates and an SO2 injection scenario for comparison. To accommodate the extreme demands of delivering large payloads to high altitudes, a coupled optimisation procedure is used to design the system. This results in an unmanned aircraft configuration featuring a large, slender, strut-braced wing and four custom turbofan engines. The aircraft is designed to carry high-temperature H2SO4, which is evaporated prior to injection into a single outboard engine plume. Optimised flight profiles are produced for each injection scenario, all involving an initial climb to an outgoing dispersion leg at 20 km altitude, followed by a return dispersion leg at a higher altitude of 20.5 km. All the scenarios considered are found to be technologically and logistically attainable. However, the results demonstrate that achieving high engine plume dispersion rates is of principal importance for containing the scale of SAI delivery systems based on direct H2SO4 injection, and to keep these competitive with systems based on SO2 injection.
The Benefit-Cost Ratio as a Decision Criteria When Managing Catastrophes
Authors: Aurland-Bredesen Kine Josefine 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPrevious work has shown that when projects are non-marginal, it creates an interdependence among projects. This implies that policies to manage catastrophes should not be evaluated in isolation but in conjunction with each other. As long as relative risk aversion is sufficiently high, the benefits of averting one catastrophe depend positively on the background risk created by other catastrophes. This specific bias makes it possible to create upper and lower boundaries on the willingness to pay to manage catastrophes and the optimal policy. These boundaries can be used to make inferences on which catastrophes should be averted and not, and in which order. The upper and lower boundaries depend only on the individual catastrophe’s benefit-cost ratio and the coefficient of risk aversion, which both are easy to identify using standard economic frameworks.
Cylindrocladiella peruviana and Pleiocarpon algeriense causing stem and crown rot on avocado (Persea americana)
Authors: Aiello Dalia , Gusella Giorgio , Vitale Alessandro , Guarnaccia Vladimiro , Polizzi Giancarlo 
Published: August 2020

AbstractDuring the winter of 2018, 3-years-old trees of avocado (Persea americana) cv “Hass” from Trapani province (Sicily, Italy) showed symptoms of stem and crown rot. Two different fungi were consistently isolated from infected tissues. Morphological characterization and multi-locus phylogenies using five genomic loci (ITS, tef1, tub2, his3, and rpb2) identified these fungi as Cylindrocladiella peruviana and Pleiocarpon algeriense. Pathogenicity tests on healthy 5-months-old seedlings and 3-year-old trees of avocado reproduced similar symptoms as those observed in nature, and Koch’s postulates were fulfilled for both pathogens. Moreover, the tested fungal isolates revealed a different pathogenic behaviour among two species. Two isolates of Pleiocarpon algeriense resulted more aggressive than Cylindrocladiella peruviana isolates causing major lesions on young seedlings. This study is the first to report of stem and crown rot on avocado caused by Cylindrocladiella peruviana and Pleiocarpon algeriense.
The development of a multiplex PCR assay for the detection of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense lineage VI strains in East and Central Africa
Authors: Ndayihanzamaso P. , Karangwa P. , Mostert D. , Mahuku G. , Blomme G. , Beed F. , Swennen R. , Viljoen A. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBanana is a staple food and cash crop grown in East and Central Africa (ECA). The main banana varieties grown in ECA are the East African highland bananas (EAHB), although dessert/beer bananas such as Sukari Ndizi, Kayinja (Pisang Awak) and Gros Michel are also produced due to their high value at local markets. The Fusarium wilt fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) causes disease of susceptible dessert/beer bananas, which significantly reduces yields. Banana Fusarium wilt is managed by excluding the pathogen from disease-free areas and by planting disease-resistant varieties in infested fields. Six phylogenetically closely-related vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) of Foc, VCGs 0124, 0125, 0128, 01212, 01220 and 01222 are present in ECA, which all group together in Foc Lineage VI. Rapid and accurate detection of Foc Lineage VI strains is thus important to prevent its spread to disease-free areas. In this study, molecular markers specific to Foc Lineage VI were therefore developed. Primer sets were then combined in a multiplex PCR assay, and validated on a worldwide population of 623 known Foc isolates, other formae speciales and non-pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum isolates. The Foc Lineage VI multiplex PCR was used to identify Foc isolates collected in banana fields at five locations in Uganda and Tanzania. Foc Lineage VI DNA was detected at a concentration as low as 0.1 ng/μl, both in the absence and presence of banana DNA, and can therefore be used as an accurate diagnostic tool for Foc Lineage VI strains.
Seed bank has the potential for re-colonising urban stormwater ponds after reconstruction
Authors: Lenzewski Nikola , Jensen Kai , Ludewig Kristin 
Published: August 2020

AbstractUrban stormwater ponds are important for flood protection and provide habitat for plants and animals in heavily sealed cities. Little is known about the diversity of plants in urban stormwater ponds and the vegetation composition is often influenced by sowing and planting. We analysed the re-colonisation of the vegetation in an urban stormwater pond, which was reconstructed to improve water retention. Specifically, we studied if the soil seed bank has the potential for re-colonising the pond. We analysed the standing vegetation from the year before until 2 years after reconstruction of a stormwater pond in Hamburg, Germany. Further, we analysed the soil seed bank in the year before and in the second year after reconstruction of the stormwater pond. We found 74 species in the soil seed bank in 2015 and 2017 with Juncus spp. and Epilobium spp. being the most dominant taxa. Our results indicate that urban stormwater ponds have the potential for re-colonisation out of seed bank and, thus, sowing is not a necessary management action in the reconstruction process.
Agent-oriented Decision Support System for Business Processes Management with Genetic Algorithm Optimization: an Application in Healthcare
Authors: Sulis Emilio , Terna Pietro , Di Leva Antonio , Boella Guido , Boccuzzi Adriana 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAgent-based approaches have been known to be appropriate as systems and methods in medical administration in recent years. The increased attention to processes led to the recent growth of Business Process Management discipline, which quite exclusively adopt discrete-event modeling and simulation. This paper proposes a medical agent-oriented decision support system to integrate the achievements from management science, agent-based modeling, and artificial intelligence. In particular, we performed a practical application concerning a hospital emergency department medical system. We adopt the widely used multi-agent programmable modeling environment NetLogo. First, we demonstrated the ability to perform a clear representation of healthcare processes where agents (i.e., patients and hospital staff) operate in a 3D environment. This model allows performing a traditional what-if scenario analysis. Second, we explore how performing intelligent management of patients by applying genetic algorithms to find the criteria for the selection process of the subjects in the admission procedure. The results are encouraging towards a more extensive application of agent-oriented methodologies in healthcare management.
Agent-based Modeling for Ontology-driven Analysis of Patient Trajectories
Authors: Calvaresi Davide , Schumacher Michael , Calbimonte Jean-Paul 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPatients are often required to follow a medical treatment after discharge, e.g., for a chronic condition, rehabilitation after surgery, or for cancer survivor therapies. The need to adapt to new lifestyles, medication, and treatment routines, can produce an individual burden to the patient, who is often at home without the full support of healthcare professionals. Although technological solutions –in the form of mobile apps and wearables– have been proposed to mitigate these issues, it is essential to consider individual characteristics, preferences, and the context of a patient in order to offer personalized and effective support. The specific events and circumstances linked to an individual profile can be abstracted as a patient trajectory, which can contribute to a better understanding of the patient, her needs, and the most appropriate personalized support. Although patient trajectories have been studied for different illnesses and conditions, it remains challenging to effectively use them as the basis for data analytics methodologies in decentralized eHealth systems. In this work, we present a novel approach based on the multi-agent paradigm, considering patient trajectories as the cornerstone of a methodology for modelling eHealth support systems. In this design, semantic representations of individual treatment pathways are used in order to exchange patient-relevant information, potentially fed to AI systems for prediction and classification tasks. This paper describes the major challenges in this scope, as well as the design principles of the proposed agent-based architecture, including an example of its use through a case scenario for cancer survivors support.
Predicting rice phenotypes with meta and multi-target learning
Authors: Orhobor Oghenejokpeme I. , Alexandrov Nickolai N. , King Ross D. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe features in some machine learning datasets can naturally be divided into groups. This is the case with genomic data, where features can be grouped by chromosome. In many applications it is common for these groupings to be ignored, as interactions may exist between features belonging to different groups. However, including a group that does not influence a response introduces noise when fitting a model, leading to suboptimal predictive accuracy. Here we present two general frameworks for the generation and combination of meta-features when feature groupings are present. Furthermore, we make comparisons to multi-target learning, given that one is typically interested in predicting multiple phenotypes. We evaluated the frameworks and multi-target learning approaches on a genomic rice dataset where the regression task is to predict plant phenotype. Our results demonstrate that there are use cases for both the meta and multi-target approaches, given that overall, they significantly outperform the base case.
Improvement of a rivet geometry for the self-piercing riveting of high-strength steel and multi-material joints
Authors: Uhe Benedikt , Kuball Clara-Maria , Merklein Marion , Meschut Gerson 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAs a result of lightweight design, increased use is being made of high-strength steel and aluminium in car bodies. Self-piercing riveting is an established technique for joining these materials. The dissimilar properties of the two materials have led to a number of different rivet geometries in the past. Each rivet geometry fulfils the requirements of the materials within a limited range. In the present investigation, an improved rivet geometry is developed, which permits the reliable joining of two material combinations that could only be joined by two different rivet geometries up until now. Material combination 1 consists of high-strength steel on both sides, while material combination 2 comprises aluminium on the punch side and high-strength steel on the die side. The material flow and the stress and strain conditions prevailing during the joining process are analysed by means of numerical simulation. The rivet geometry is then improved step-by-step on the basis of this analysis. Finally, the improved rivet geometry is manufactured and the findings of the investigation are verified in experimental joining tests.