bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigating the sex-dependent effects of prefrontal cortex stimulation on response execution and inhibition
Authors: Fehring Daniel J. , Samandra Ranshikha , Haque Zakia Z. , Jaberzadeh Shapour , Rosa Marcello , Mansouri Farshad A. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractContext-dependent execution or inhibition of a response is an important aspect of executive control, which is impaired in neuropsychological and addiction disorders. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been considered a remedial approach to address deficits in response control; however, considerable variability has been observed in tDCS effects. These variabilities might be related to contextual differences such as background visual-auditory stimuli or subjects' sex. In this study, we examined the interaction of two contextual factors, participants' sex and background acoustic stimuli, in modulating the effects of tDCS on response inhibition and execution. In a sham-controlled and cross-over (repeated-measure) design, 73 participants (37 females) performed a Stop-Signal Task in different background acoustic conditions before and after tDCS (anodal or sham) was applied over the DLPFC. Participants had to execute a speeded response in Go trials but inhibit their response in Stop trials. Participants' sex was fully counterbalanced across all experimental conditions (acoustic and tDCS). We found significant practice-related learning that appeared as changes in indices of response inhibition (stop-signal reaction time and percentage of successful inhibition) and action execution (response time and percentage correct). The tDCS and acoustic stimuli interactively influenced practice-related changes in response inhibition and these effects were uniformly seen in both males and females. However, the effects of tDCS on response execution (percentage of correct responses) were sex-dependent in that practice-related changes diminished in females but heightened in males. Our findings indicate that participants' sex influenced the effects of tDCS on the execution, but not inhibition, of responses.
A detailed analysis of innate and adaptive immune responsiveness upon infection with Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis in young broiler chickens
Authors: Meijerink Nathalie , van den Biggelaar Robin H. G. A. , van Haarlem Daphne A. , Stegeman J. Arjan , Rutten Victor P. M. G. , Jansen Christine A. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSalmonella entericaserotype Enteritidis (SE) is a zoonotic pathogen which causes foodborne diseases in humans as well as severe disease symptoms in young chickens. More insight in innate and adaptive immune responses of chickens to SE infection is needed to understand elimination of SE. Seven-day-old broiler chickens were experimentally challenged with SE and numbers and responsiveness of innate and adaptive immune cells as well as antibody titers were assessed. SE was observed in the ileum and spleen of SE-infected chickens at 7 days post-infection (dpi). At 1 dpi numbers of intraepithelial cytotoxic CD8+T cells were significantly increased alongside numerically increased intraepithelial IL-2Rα+ and 20E5+ natural killer (NK) cells at 1 and 3 dpi. At both time points, activation of intraepithelial and splenic NK cells was significantly enhanced. At 7 dpi in the spleen, presence of macrophages and expression of activation markers on dendritic cells were significantly increased. At 21 dpi, SE-induced proliferation of splenic CD4+and CD8+T cells was observed and SE-specific antibodies were detected in sera of all SE-infected chickens. In conclusion, SE results in enhanced numbers and activation of innate cells and we hypothesized that in concert with subsequent specific T cell and antibody responses, reduction of SE is achieved. A better understanding of innate and adaptive immune responses important in the elimination of SE will aid in developing immune-modulation strategies, which may increase resistance to SE in young broiler chickens.
Distributed energy-efficient and secure offloading in air-to-ground MEC networks
Authors: Liu Wanning , Xu Yitao , Wu Ducheng , Wang Haichao , Zheng Xueqiang , Chen Xueqiang 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThis paper mainly investigates the energy-efficient and secure offloading problem in air-to-ground Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) networks. The proposed efficient offloading mechanism is as per the requirements of the heterogeneous tasks of ground users. Further, the optimizing offloading rate, offloading object, and channel access jointly formulate system energy consumption and eavesdropping rate minimization. A distributed two-stage offloading scheme is proposed for achieving the sub-optimal solution for the Mixed-integer Nonlinear Programming (MINLP) problem. Finally, simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme is superior to several benchmark schemes.
The boundedness of variation associated with the commutators of approximate identities
Authors: Wen Yongming , Hou Xianming 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIn this paper, we establish$L^{p}$Lp-boundedness and endpoint estimates for variation associated with the commutators of approximate identities, which are new for variation operators. As corollaries, we obtain the corresponding boundedness results for variation associated with the commutators of heat semigroups and Poisson semigroups.
Characterization and stability analysis of advanced multi-quadratic functional equations
Authors: Bodaghi Abasalt , Moshtagh Hossein , Dutta Hemen 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIn this paper, we introduce a new quadratic functional equation and, motivated by this equation, we investigaten-variables mappings which are quadratic in each variable. We show that such mappings can be unified as an equation, namely, multi-quadratic functional equation. We also apply a fixed point technique to study the stability for the multi-quadratic functional equations. Furthermore, we present an example and a few corollaries corresponding to the stability and hyperstability outcomes.
Organic and conventional sweetpotato production in the Southeastern of United States: a comparative analysis
Authors: Nwosisi Sochinwechi , Illukpitiya Prabodh , Nandwani Dilip , Arebi Ismail Tubosun , Nwosisi Obinna 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
There has been a piqued interest in alternative agricultural production systems that are environmentally friendly due to concerns on how sustainable it is to grow conventionally. However, in the producer’s point of view, economic returns are an important issue in decision-making in adaptation. The purpose of this study is to assess the economic risk of conventional and organic sweetpotato production in the Southeastern US. The primary and secondary data were used for the analysis. We identified risk variables in stochastic profit function and performed Monte Carlo simulation in analyzing profitability and economic risk of conventional and organic production systems.

Results
Findings from the meta-analysis suggest lower sweetpotato yields and higher selling prices, are to be expected in the organic sweetpotato production systems compared with the conventional. A higher probability of having positive net return from organically grown sweetpotato compared to conventional production systems was observed.

Conclusions
Increase in unit cost leads to a decrease in net profit in both conventional and organic production systems. Sweetpotato price has more effect on net return compared to its yield in conventional production systems. The higher selling price, lower yield and lower unit costs provide a higher net profit return for the organic sweetpotato production systems. Unit cost in conventional production was noted to be higher in general, inferring conventional sweetpotato production could potentially experience a higher variability in net farm income. Despite the high production cost, however, farmers are encouraged to go into sweetpotato production as it appears to be profitable. Further studies should be conducted on conventional treatments without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers as these systems perhaps, may display lower external input costs that might make them more profitable similar to organic systems.
Mental health and quality of life burden in Buruli ulcer disease patients in Ghana
Authors: Amoako Yaw Ampem , Ackam Nancy , Omuojine John-Paul , Oppong Michael Ntiamoah , Owusu-Ansah Abena Gyawu , Boateng Harriet , Abass Mohammed Kabiru , Amofa George , Ofori Elizabeth , Okyere Portia Boakye , Frimpong Michael , Bailey Freddie , Molyneux David Hurst , Phillips Richard Odame 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Buruli ulcer disease (BUD) is a necrotic skin neglected tropical disease (NTD) that has both a mental and physical health impact on affected individuals. Although there is increasing evidence suggesting a strong association between neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and mental illness, there is a relative lack of information on BUD’s impact on the mental health and quality of life (QoL) of affected individuals in Ghana. This study is to assess the impact of BUD on mental health and quality of life of patients with active and past BUD infection, and their caregivers.

Methods
We conducted a case control study in 3 BUD endemic districts in Ghana between August and November 2019. Face-to-face structured questionnaire-based interviews were conducted on BUD patients with active and past infection, as well as caregivers of BUD patients using WHO Quality of Life scale, WHO Disability Assessment Schedule, Self-Reporting Questionnaire, Buruli Ulcer Functional Limitation Score and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale data tools. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the characteristics of the study participants. Participant groups were compared using student t test and chi-square (χ2) or Fisher’s exact tests. Mean quality of life scores are reported with their respective 95% confidence intervals. Data was analysed using STATA statistical software.

Results
Our results show that BUD patients with active and past infection, along with their caregivers, face significant levels of distress and mental health sequelae compared to controls. Depression (P = 0.003) was more common in participants with active (27%) and past BU infection (17%), compared to controls (0%). Anxiety was found in 42% (11/26) and 20% (6/29) of participants with active and past BUD infection compared to 14% (5/36) of controls. Quality of life was also significantly diminished in active BUD infection, compared to controls. In the physical health domain, mean QoL scores were 54 ± 11.1 and 56 ± 11.0 (95% CI: 49.5‒58.5 and 52.2‒59.7) respectively for participants with active infection and controls. Similarly in the psychological domain, scores were lower for active infection than controls [57.1 ± 15.2 (95% CI: 50.9‒63.2) vs 64.7 ± 11.6 (95% CI: 60.8‒68.6)]. Participants with past infection had high QoL scores in both physical [61.3 ± 13.5 (95% CI: 56.1‒66.5)] and psychological health domains [68.4 ± 14.6 (95% CI: 62.7‒74.0)].

Conclusions
BUD is associated with significant mental health distress and reduced quality of life in affected persons and their caregivers in Ghana. There is a need for integration of psychosocial interventions in the management of the disease.

Graphic abstract
How and why does the disease progress? A qualitative investigation of the transition into long-standing anorexia nervosa
Authors: Broomfield Catherine , Rhodes Paul , Touyz Stephen 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Objective
Despite an increased interest in understanding characteristics of long-standing anorexia nervosa (AN), there is a lack of knowledge into the processes that occur with the development and maintenance of the disease. This has impeded the development of novel treatment approaches that may prove more effective than traditional medical models of therapy. To improve the prognosis of these long-standing presentations, an understanding as to how and why the AN disease progresses is required. It was therefore the aim of the current study to investigate the transition of AN from earlier to later stages.

Method
The study adopted a narrative inquiry approach and a total of 11 women with long-standing AN participated in an interview. The newly developed photovoice method assisted in data collection with typologies of chronic illness facilitating the emergence of salient themes.

Results
The qualitative analysis resulted in the identification of five themes: (a) transition, (b) trauma, (c) functionality, (d) identity, and (e) failure of current models of treatment.

Conclusions
Together with identifying key themes, the study provides insight into some possible reasons why current treatment models are failing to promote recovery. Future research examining the effectiveness of treatment that targets underlying causes and maintaining factors of the illness are suggested. Additional education for health professionals is also recommended in order to reduce the trauma that is currently being experienced by some patients with a long-standing illness.
Attenuations of bacterial spot disease Xanthomonas euvesicatoria on tomato plants treated with biostimulants
Authors: da Silva Aminthia Pombo Sudré , Olivares Fábio Lopes , Sudré Cláudia Pombo , Peres Lázaro Eustáquio Pereira , Canellas Natália Aguiar , da Silva Rakiely Martins , Cozzolino Vicenza , Canellas Luciano Pasqualoto 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
The bacterial-spot disease caused by different Xanthomonas species is one of the major tomato diseases that reduce crop production and quality. Pesticides indiscriminate usage has resulted in an increase in resistant bacterial strains as well as contamination of farmers, consumers and the environment. Plant growth-promoting bacteria and humic acids can act as elicitors of plant defence mechanism causing extensive transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming which, in turn, produce a range of plant chemical defences. The purpose of this study was to study how humic acids and plant growth-promoting bacteria, when applied to the substrate, affected the severity of bacterial spot symptoms in tomato leaves.

Materials and methods
One-month-old Micro-Tom tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were transferred to 3 L pots filled with a sterile mixture of sand and vermiculite (2:1, v:v) and treated or not (control) with 250 mL of 4.5 mmol C. L−1 of humic acids, Herbaspirillum seropedicae (108 CFU. mL−1) and the combination of humic acids plus H. seropedicae. One day after substrate treatment, the leaves were inoculated (or not) with X. euvesicatoria (Xe). The area below the disease progression curve based on severity scores and the number of symptomatic leaflets was used to assess phytopathogen virulence. The concentration of oxalic, citric and succinic acids in leaf extracts were determined using HPLC analysis.

Results
Sole or combined H. seropedicae (BAC) and humic acids (HA) application promoted shoot and root growth related to control when plants were challenged with Xe pathogen. For plants inoculated with Xe, more significant plant-growth promotion results were obtained for HA + BAC treatment. The first visible symptoms were observed 16 days after inoculation with 2 × 104 CFU. g−1 of Xe cells in leaves of control plants. HA and BAC applied alone or combined reduced disease severity. Only plants treated with HA were able to reduce disease incidence (number of the leaflets with symptoms). Organic acids, such as oxalic, citric and succinic acids, rose in Xe-inoculated leaves. The reduced amount of organic acids in diseased leaves treated with HA + BAC may be linked to a decrease in disease progression.

Conclusion
Humic acids and H. seropedicae increased growth by modulating the content of organic acids in leaf tissue, attenuating the symptoms of the bacterial spot disease.

Graphic abstract
Management of superficial venous thrombosis based on individual risk profiles: protocol for the development and validation of three prognostic prediction models in large primary care cohorts
Authors: van Royen F. S. , van Smeden M. , Moons K. G. M. , Rutten F. H. , Geersing G. J. 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Superficial venous thrombosis (SVT) is considered a benign thrombotic condition in most patients. However, it also can cause serious complications, such as clot progression to deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Although most SVT patients are encountered in primary healthcare, studies on SVT nearly all were focused on patients seen in the hospital setting. This paper describes the protocol of the development and external validation of three prognostic prediction models for relevant clinical outcomes in SVT patients seen in primary care: (i) prolonged (painful) symptoms within 14 days since SVT diagnosis, (ii) for clot progression to DVT or PE within 45 days and (iii) for clot recurrence within 12 months.

Methods
Data will be used from four primary care routine healthcare registries from both the Netherlands and the UK; one UK registry will be used for the development of the prediction models and the remaining three will be used as external validation cohorts. The study population will consist of patients ≥18 years with a diagnosis of SVT. Selection of SVT cases will be based on a combination of ICPC/READ/Snowmed coding and free text clinical symptoms. Predictors considered are sex, age, body mass index, clinical SVT characteristics, and co-morbidities including (history of any) cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune disease, malignancy, thrombophilia, pregnancy or puerperium and presence of varicose veins. The prediction models will be developed using multivariable logistic regression analysis techniques for models i and ii, and for model iii, a Cox proportional hazards model will be used. They will be validated by internal-external cross-validation as well as external validation.

Discussion
There are currently no prediction models available for predicting the risk of serious complications for SVT patients presenting in primary care settings. We aim to develop and validate new prediction models that should help identify patients at highest risk for complications and to support clinical decision making for this understudied thrombo-embolic disorder. Challenges that we anticipate to encounter are mostly related to performing research in large, routine healthcare databases, such as patient selection, endpoint classification, data harmonisation, missing data and avoiding (predictor) measurement heterogeneity.
Combined amino acid PET-MRI for identifying recurrence in post-treatment gliomas: together we grow
Authors: Jabeen Shumyla , Arbind Arpana , Kumar Dinesh , Singh Pardeep Kumar , Saini Jitender , Sadashiva Nishanth , Krishna Uday , Arimappamagan Arivazhagan , Santosh Vani , Nagaraj Chandana 
Published: August 2021

Abstract

Purpose
The aim of this study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy of amino acid PET, MR perfusion and diffusion as stand-alone modalities and in combination in identifying recurrence in post-treatment gliomas and to qualitatively assess spatial concordance between the three modalities using simultaneous PET-MR acquisition.

Methods
A retrospective review of 48 cases of post-treatment gliomas who underwent simultaneous PET-MRI using C11 methionine as radiotracer was performed. MR perfusion and diffusion sequences were acquired during the PET study. The following parameters were obtained: TBRmax, TBRmean, SUVmax, and SUVmean from the PET images; rCBV from perfusion; and ADCmean and ADCratio from the diffusion images. The final diagnosis was based on clinical/imaging follow-up and histopathology when available. ROC curve analysis in combination with logistic regression analysis was used to compare the diagnostic performance. Spatial concordance between modalities was graded as 0, 1, and 2 representing discordance, < 50% and > 50% concordance respectively.

Results
There were 35 cases of recurrence and 13 cases of post-treatment changes without recurrence. The highest area under curve (AUC) was obtained for TBRmax followed by rCBV and ADCratio. The AUC increased significantly with a combination of rCBV and TBRmax. Amino acid PET showed the highest diagnostic accuracy and maximum agreement with the final diagnosis. There was discordance between ADC and PET in 22.9%, between rCBV and PET in 16.7% and between PET and contrast enhancement in 14.6% cases.

Conclusion
Amino acid PET had the highest diagnostic accuracy in identifying recurrence in post-treatment gliomas. Combination of PET with MRI further increased the AUC thus improving the diagnostic performance.
The Malay’s traditional sweet, dodol: a review of the Malaysia’s heritage delicacy alongside with the rendition of neighbouring countries
Authors: Ismail Norsyahidah , Ab. Karim Muhammad Shahrim , Che Ishak Farah Adibah , Arsyad Mohd Mursyid , Karnjamapratum Supatra , Sirison Jiraporn 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe Malaysia’s cultural heritage is authentic, unique and colourful with various local cuisines of different races and cultures. It is mainly originated from the Malay culture being the largest ethnic group in the country. The Malays themselves have contributed to many local cuisines ranging from appetiser, soup, main course and dessert. However, some Malay heritage foods have almost been forgotten and jeopardized in quality. This is especially happening to the Malay sweets or desserts which have gradually become less appealing to the younger generations. They are not even familiar with Malay foods, let alone consuming them. Among the popular Malay heritage foods in Malaysia are lemang, ketupat, rendang, wajik and dodol. Dodol specifically has been listed as one of the endangered heritage foods in Malaysia. Preserving the Malay cuisines is part of sustaining the Malay culture and this should begin with a great amount of knowledge and understanding about any elements within the culture itself. This article highlights a nostalgic and evergreen Malay’s traditional sweet, known by the locals as dodol by discussing its history, different types and names of dodol, as well as the recipes, preparation, cooking methods and packaging. Furthermore, this article hopes to aid the readers, especially among the younger generations in the Malay community to have greater understanding and appreciation about their own beautiful culture.