bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Evaluation Method of Musical Instrument Digital Interface Data based on Random Masking and Seq2Seq Model
Authors: Jiang Zhe , Li Shuyu , Sung Yunsick
Published: August 2022

With developments in artificial intelligence (AI), it is possible for novel applications to utilize deep learning to compose music by the format of musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) even without any knowledge of musical theory. The composed music is generally evaluated by human-based Turing test, which is a subjective approach and does not provide any quantitative criteria. Therefore, objective evaluation approaches with many general descriptive parameters are applied to the evaluation of MIDI data while considering MIDI features such as pitch distances, chord rates, tone spans, drum patterns, etc. However, setting several general descriptive parameters manually on large datasets is difficult and has considerable generalization limitations. In this paper, an enhanced evaluation method based on random masking and sequence-to-sequence (Seq2Seq) model is proposed to evaluate MIDI data. An experiment was conducted on real MIDI data, generated MIDI data, and random MIDI data. The bilingual evaluation understudy (BLEU) is a common MIDI data evaluation approach and is used here to evaluate the performance of the proposed method in a comparative study. In the proposed method, the ratio of the average evaluation score of the generated MIDI data to that of the real MIDI data was 31%, while that of BLEU was 79%. The lesser the ratio, the greater the difference between the real MIDI data and generated MIDI data. This implies that the proposed method quantified the gap while accurately identifying real and generated MIDI data.
MSDA-NMF: A Multilayer Complex System Model Integrating Deep Autoencoder and NMF
Authors: Li Xiaoming , Yu Wei , Xu Guangquan , Liu Fangyuan
Published: August 2022

In essence, the network is a way of encoding the information of the underlying social management system. Ubiquitous social management systems rarely exist alone and have dynamic complexity. For complex social management systems, it is difficult to extract and represent multi-angle features of data only by using non-negative matrix factorization. Existing deep NMF models integrating multi-layer information struggle to explain the results obtained after mid-layer NMF. In this paper, NMF is introduced into the multi-layer NMF structure, and the feature representation of the input data is realized by using the complex hierarchical structure. By adding regularization constraints for each layer, the essential features of the data are obtained by characterizing the feature transformation layer-by-layer. Furthermore, the deep autoencoder and NMF are fused to construct the multi-layer NMF model MSDA-NMF that integrates the deep autoencoder. Through multiple data sets such as HEP-TH, OAG and HEP-TH, Pol blog, Orkut and Livejournal, compared with 8 popular NMF models, the Micro index of the better model increased by 1.83, NMI value increased by 12%, and link prediction performance improved by 13%. Furthermore, the robustness of the proposed model is verified.
Mathematical Modelling of Qualitative System Development
Authors: Lánský Jan , Mihola Jiří , Wawrosz Petr
Published: August 2022

Many scientific fields need to know how human systems develop. From an economic point of view, the main factors of system output change are changes in the quantity of inputs (extensive factors) and changes in efficiency (input quality and productivity, intensive factors). The growth accounting (GA) method is used for the calculation of the impact of both factors on GDP change. However, its interpretation is sometimes difficult, and GA does not cover all of the possible situations of system (country economy) development. This article uses mathematical tools to derive new indicators (dynamic intensity indicator and dynamic extensity indicator) that clearly count and express how the changes in intensive or extensive factors contribute to the output change in any system. The indicators come from the complex system development typology analyzed in the text. The typology covers all of the relationships among the inputs, their efficiency, and their output. The article shows the use of these indicators in macroeconomics when examining the intensity of GDP development in the World’s major economies during the period of 1961–2021 and in microeconomics while investigating the intensity of the development Apple in the period of 1999–2021. We further discuss how indicators reduce managerial risk and uncertainty and their pros and cons.
Blockchain: Consensus Algorithm Key Performance Indicators, Trade-Offs, Current Trends, Common Drawbacks, and Novel Solution Proposals
Authors: Merrad Yaçine , Habaebi Mohamed Hadi , Elsheikh Elfatih A. A. , Suliman Fakher Eldin. M. , Islam Md Rafiqul , Gunawan Teddy Surya , Mesri Mokhtaria
Published: August 2022

Consensus protocols stand behind the success of blockchain technology. This is because parties that distrust each other can make secure transactions without the oversight of a central authority. The first consensus protocol emerged with Bitcoin. Since then, many others have appeared. Some of them have been implemented by official blockchain platforms, whereas others, for the time being, remain as proposals. A blockchain consensus is a trade-off. The new solutions promise to overcome the known drawbacks of blockchain, but they may also bring new vulnerabilities. Moreover, blockchain performance metrics are not clearly defined, as some metrics, such as delay and throughput, which are key factors for the efficiency of standard networks, are purposely constrained by most mainstream blockchain platforms. The main body of this paper consolidates knowledge of blockchains, focusing on the seminal consensus protocols in large-scale market capitalization platforms, and how consensus is achieved for large-scale, decentralized, blockchain architectures. The benefits, limitations, and tradeoffs, as well as the subsequent trend in current consensus development, and its limitations as a general paradigm, are highlighted. The paper also sheds light on overlooked potential performance metrics, and it proposes some novel solutions to some of the identified problems.
SIP-UNet: Sequential Inputs Parallel UNet Architecture for Segmentation of Brain Tissues from Magnetic Resonance Images
Authors: Prajapati Rukesh , Kwon Goo-Rak
Published: August 2022

Proper analysis of changes in brain structure can lead to a more accurate diagnosis of specific brain disorders. The accuracy of segmentation is crucial for quantifying changes in brain structure. In recent studies, UNet-based architectures have outperformed other deep learning architectures in biomedical image segmentation. However, improving segmentation accuracy is challenging due to the low resolution of medical images and insufficient data. In this study, we present a novel architecture that combines three parallel UNets using a residual network. This architecture improves upon the baseline methods in three ways. First, instead of using a single image as input, we use three consecutive images. This gives our model the freedom to learn from neighboring images as well. Additionally, the images are individually compressed and decompressed using three different UNets, which prevents the model from merging the features of the images. Finally, following the residual network architecture, the outputs of the UNets are combined in such a way that the features of the image corresponding to the output are enhanced by a skip connection. The proposed architecture performed better than using a single conventional UNet and other UNet variants.
Sufficient Conditions of 6-Cycles Make Planar Graphs DP-4-Colorable
Authors: Nakprasit Kittikorn , Ruksasakchai Watcharintorn , Sittitrai Pongpat
Published: August 2022

In simple graphs, DP-coloring is a generalization of list coloring and thus many results of DP-coloring generalize those of list coloring. Xu and Wu proved that every planar graph without 5-cycles adjacent simultaneously to 3-cycles and 4-cycles is 4-choosable. Later, Sittitrai and Nakprasit showed that if a planar graph has no pairwise adjacent 3-, 4-, and 5-cycles, then it is DP-4-colorable, which is a generalization of the result of Xu and Wu. In this paper, we extend the results on 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-cycles by showing that every planar graph without 6-cycles simultaneously adjacent to 3-cycles, 4-cycles, and 5-cycles is DP-4-colorable, which is also a generalization of previous studies as follows: every planar graph G is DP-4-colorable if G has no 6-cycles adjacent to i-cycles where i∈{3,4,5}.
Isolated and Combined Effect of Age and Gender on Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio in the Hyperglycemic Saudi Population
Authors: Alfhili Mohammad A. , Alsughayyir Jawaher , Basudan Ahmed , Ghneim Hazem K. , Aboul-Soud Mourad A. M. , Marie Mohammed , Dera Ayed , Alfaifi Mohammed , Alkhathami Ali G. , Awan Zuhier A. , Algethami Mohammed R. , Al-Sheikh Yazeed A.
Published: August 2022

Inflammation is pivotal to the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM), but pathological alterations of the neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), an emerging inflammatory index in DM management, remains understudied. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between NLR and glycemic control in the Saudi population. Gender, age, WBC count, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were obtained from Al-Borg Medical Laboratories for 14,205 subjects. Means, prevalence, risk measures, and the diagnostic accuracy of elevated NLR and hyperglycemia (HG) were evaluated. Subjects with elevated NLR (>3) had significantly higher FBG (105.10 ± 0.33 vs. 114.0 ± 2.81) and NLR was significantly elevated in impaired fasting glycemia (IFG; 1.21 ± 0.01 vs. 1.25 ± 0.01) and HG (1.21 ± 0.01 vs. 1.39 ± 0.02). Elevations of NLR in HG but not in IFG persisted across all age groups except young males and elderly females. The prevalence of elevated NLR in hyperglycemic subjects was 4.12% compared to 2.16% in subjects with normal FBG. HG was more prevalent in subjects with elevated NLR (17.33% vs. 12.46%) who had a relative risk (RR) of 1.68 (95% CI = 1.38–2.06, p < 0.0001) and an odds ratio (OR) of 1.94 (95% CI = 1.48–2.56, p < 0.0001) to be hyperglycemic. Nevertheless, NLR failed to discriminate individuals with normal FBG from those with HG based on ROC curve analysis. Pathological fluctuations in NLR may serve as supportive evidence in DM management.
Substantial Improvements in Facial Morphology through Surgical-Orthodontic Treatment: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Vaida Luminița , Negruțiu Bianca , Zetu Irina , Moca Abel , Bran Simion
Published: August 2022

Background and Objectives: The long face type is associated with excessive vertical facial growth and most often with anterior open bite. In many cases of anterior open bite of high severity associated with bimaxillary dento-alveolar protrusion, lips are unable to form an adequate seal at rest. This leads to many issues, including facial dysmorphism. The aim of this study was to describe the case of a 15 year old girl who addressed the orthodontist in November 2015, having complaints related to the skeletal and dental open bite. Case Description: A 15.7 year old patient required a consultation with the orthodontic service for impaired dento-facial aesthetics at rest, smile and speech due to an exaggerated superior protrusion of the upper frontal teeth, labial incompetence with excessive gingival exposure at rest and smile associated with upper and lower anterior teeth crowding. The orthodontic diagnostic consisted of skeletal open bite with a hyperleptoprosop morphological facial type, high degree of hyperdivergence, bimaxillary dento-alveolar protrusion, 7 mm skeletal open-bite, 3 mm vertical inocclusion of the anterior teeth, skeletal class II relationships, bilateral half cusp class II molar and canine relationships, labial incompetence, highly increased interlabial gap, facial asymmetry, excessive gingival exposure of 7 mm at smiling and bimaxillary anterior crowding. Because the patient initially refused orthognathic surgery, prior to starting the orthodontic treatment, the patient was recommended to receive a bilateral extraction of the first upper premolars. Key objectives of pre-surgical orthodontic treatment were to achieve a retroclined position of the upper incisors under their normal inclination for the planned upward maxillary rotation, to maintain slightly lower incisor proclination. The orthognathic surgery consisted of Le Fort I impaction osteotomy with 8 mm anterior impactation, bilateral sagittal split osteotomy, and mandibular repositioning using occlusal splint. Conclusions: At the end of the orthodontic-surgical treatment, the patient presented significant improvement in dento-facial aesthetics, and optimal skeletal, muscular and dental balance.
Comparison of Anatomical Conformity between TomoFix Anatomical Plate and TomoFix Conventional Plate in Open-Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy
Authors: Lee Sung-Sahn , Park Jaesung , Lee Dae-Hee
Published: August 2022

Background and Objectives: The TomoFix anatomical plate was developed to improve plate position, proximal screw direction, and post-correction tibial contouring. The purpose of this study was to compare postoperative configurations between the TomoFix anatomical plate and the TomoFix conventional plate. It was hypothesized that the new modified plate provides a better fixative coaptation than the conventional plate. Materials and Methods: A total of 116 cases (112 patients) were enrolled in this study from March 2015 to February 2021. Among them, 63 patients underwent surgery using the TomoFix conventional plate, and 53 underwent surgery using the TomoFix anatomical plate. The radiographic outcomes, including the hip–knee–ankle (HKA) angle, medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), tibial slope, plate angle, proximal screw angles, and plate-to-cortex distance at #1 hole (just below the osteotomy site) were compared between the two groups. Results: Patients with the TomoFix anatomical plate showed similar results in terms of the pre- and postoperative HKA angle, MPTA, and tibial slope. The TomoFix anatomical group showed a significantly greater plate angle (39.2° ± 8.1° vs. 31.7° ± 7.0°, p < 0.001) and less screw angles, indicating that the TomoFix anatomical plates allowed a more posterior plate position than the conventional plate. The plate-to-cortex distance was significantly less in the TomoFix anatomical group than in the TomoFix conventional group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The TomoFix anatomical plate showed a more posteromedial plating position, better proximal screw direction to the lateral hinge, and improved post-correction tibial contour compared to the TomoFix conventional plate.
Free Space Optics Transmission Performance Enhancement for Sustaining 5G High Capacity Data Services
Authors: Kamal Mustafa , Khan Jahanzeb , Khan Yousaf , Ali Farman , Armghan Ammar , Muhammad Fazal , Ullah Nasim , Alotaibi Sattam
Published: August 2022

Enhanced bandwidth issues for 5G system are fruitfully resolved by organizing free space optics (FSO) communication frameworks. The high bandwidth, the maximum number of channel transmission requirements, and high data rate have been boosted during the last years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The online services and digital applications have increased pressure on installed optical network models. In addition, the optical networks with high capacity transmission produce nonlinear distortions, which degrade system efficiency. This paper presents a mixed FSO and fiber network to tackle the factors of nonlinearities and enrich the system capacity and range. Furthermore, the issues related to radio frequency, FSO pointing, and co-channel interference are considered in this work. The theoretical and simulation structures are validated using advanced measuring parameters, such as bit error rate (BER), peak to average power ratio (PAPR), cumulative distribution function (CDF), and outage probability. The nonlinear factors are addressed successfully, and the capacity is developed from current models. Finally, the proposed model’s limitations and future direction are discussed in this paper.
Numerical Analysis of a CZTS Solar Cell with MoS2 as a Buffer Layer and Graphene as a Transparent Conducting Oxide Layer for Enhanced Cell Performance
Authors: Ghosh Sampad , Yasmin Samira , Ferdous Jannatul , Saha Bidyut Baran
Published: August 2022

Copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) can be considered an important absorber layer material for utilization in thin film solar cell devices because of its non-toxic, earth abundance, and cost-effective properties. In this study, the effect of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) as a buffer layer on the different parameters of CZTS-based solar cell devices was explored to design a highly efficient solar cell. While graphene is considered a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) layer for the superior quantum efficiency of CZTS thin film solar cells, MoS2 acts as a hole transport layer to offer electron–hole pair separation and an electron blocking layer to prevent recombination at the graphene/CZTS interface. This study proposed and analyzed a competent and economic CZTS solar cell structure (graphene/MoS2/CZTS/Ni) with MoS2 and graphene as the buffer and TCO layers, respectively, using the Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS)-1D. The proposed structure exhibited the following enhanced solar cell performance parameters: open-circuit voltage—0.8521 V, short-circuit current—25.3 mA cm−2, fill factor—84.76%, and efficiency—18.27%.
Upright and Crawling Locomotion and Its Transition for a Wheel-Legged Robot
Authors: Qiu Xuejian , Yu Zhangguo , Meng Libo , Chen Xuechao , Zhao Lingxuan , Huang Gao , Meng Fei
Published: August 2022

To face the challenge of adapting to complex terrains and environments, we develop a novel wheel-legged robot that can switch motion modes to adapt to different environments. The robot can perform efficient and stable upright balanced locomotion on flat roads and flexible crawling in low and narrow passages. For passing through low and narrow passages, we propose a crawling motion control strategy and methods for transitioning between locomotion modes of wheel-legged robots. In practical applications, the smooth transition between the two motion modes is challenging. By optimizing the gravity work of the body, the optimal trajectory of the center of mass (CoM) for the transition from standing to crawling is obtained. By constructing and solving an optimization problem regarding the posture and motion trajectories of the underactuated model, the robot achieves a smooth transition from crawling to standing. In experiments, the wheel-legged robot successfully transitioned between the crawling mode and the upright balanced moving mode and flexibly passed a low and narrow passage. Consequently, the effectiveness of the control strategies and algorithms proposed in this paper are verified by experiments.
Analysis of the Specific Immune Response after the Third Dose of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines in Organ Transplant Recipients: Possible Spike-S1 Reactive IgA Signature in Protection from SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Miele Monica , Busà Rosalia , Russelli Giovanna , Sorrentino Maria Concetta , Di Bella Mariangela , Timoneri Francesca , Vitale Giampiero , Calzolari Elisa , Vitulo Patrizio , Mularoni Alessandra , Conaldi Pier Giulio , Bulati Matteo
Published: August 2022

Background: Several studies have indicated that anti-SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccinations are less effective in inducing robust immune responses among solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) compared with the immunocompetent. The third dose of vaccine in SOTRs showed promising results of immunogenicity, even though clinical studies have suggested that immunocompromised subjects are less likely to build a protective immune response against SARS-CoV-2 resulting in lower vaccine efficacy for the prevention of severe COVID-19. Methods: Serological IgG and IgA were analyzed through CLIA or ELISA, respectively, while Spike-specific T cells were detected by ELISpot assay after the second and third dose of vaccine in 43 SOTRs. Results: The third dose induced an improvement in antibody response against SARS-CoV-2. We also reported a strong correlation between specific humoral and cellular responses after the third dose, even though we did not see significant changes in the magnitude of the SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell response. SOTRs who contracted the SARS-CoV-2 infection after the third dose, despite eliciting a positive IgG response, failed to mount an anti-Spike-S1 IgA response, both after the third dose and after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusions: We can conclude that serum IgA detection can be helpful, along with IgG detection, for the evaluation of vaccine efficacy, principally in fragile subjects at high risk of infection.
Nationwide Seroprevalence Survey of Angiostrongylus vasorum-Derived Antigens and Specific Antibodies in Dogs from Colombia
Authors: Uribe Manuel , Segeritz Lisa , Schnyder Manuela , Taubert Anja , Hermosilla Carlos , López-Osorio Sara , Góngora-Orjuela Agustín , Chaparro-Gutiérrez Jenny J.
Published: August 2022

Angiostrongylus vasorum is a cardiopulmonary nematode, causing several clinical manifestations in dogs, e.g., severe respiratory signs, coagulopathy, and gastrointestinal or neurological signs. In the last decades, this parasite has been described to spread and emerge in Europe and North America. Scant studies on A. vasorum occurrence in South America exist. Recently, A. vasorum was detected in gastropod intermediate hosts in Colombia, where data on definitive host prevalence, e.g., dogs and wild canids, are still limited. Therefore, the sera of 955 dogs, varying in age and breed from seven different departments all over Colombia, were collected and analysed for A. vasorum antigens and parasite-specific antibodies by ELISA. In total, 1.05 % (n = 10; 95 % CI 0.40–1.69) of the samples were antigen-positive and 2.62 % (n = 25; 95 % CI 1.61–3.63) were antibody-positive. These results confirm the presence of A. vasorum in Colombia, although positive results in antigen and antibody reactions in the same dog were not detected. This study is the first large-scale survey on A. vasorum seroprevalences in dogs from Colombia.
Ability-Based Methods for Personalized Keyboard Generation
Authors: Mitchell Claire L. , Cler Gabriel J. , Fager Susan K. , Contessa Paola , Roy Serge H. , De Luca Gianluca , Kline Joshua C. , Vojtech Jennifer M.
Published: August 2022

This study introduces an ability-based method for personalized keyboard generation, wherein an individual’s own movement and human–computer interaction data are used to automatically compute a personalized virtual keyboard layout. Our approach integrates a multidirectional point-select task to characterize cursor control over time, distance, and direction. The characterization is automatically employed to develop a computationally efficient keyboard layout that prioritizes each user’s movement abilities through capturing directional constraints and preferences. We evaluated our approach in a study involving 16 participants using inertial sensing and facial electromyography as an access method, resulting in significantly increased communication rates using the personalized keyboard (52.0 bits/min) when compared to a generically optimized keyboard (47.9 bits/min). Our results demonstrate the ability to effectively characterize an individual’s movement abilities to design a personalized keyboard for improved communication. This work underscores the importance of integrating a user’s motor abilities when designing virtual interfaces.
Downregulation of Androgen Receptors upon Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids: A Cause or a Flawed Hypothesis of the Muscle-Building Plateau?
Authors: Santos Heitor O. , Haluch Carlos E. F.
Published: August 2022

Researchers and health practitioners seek to understand the upper limit of muscle hypertrophy under different conditions. Although there are models to estimate the muscle-building threshold in drug-free resistance training practitioners, little is known about the population using anabolic–androgenic steroids (AASs) in this regard. Because of a plateau effect of muscle hypertrophy upon AAS regimens, there is a hypothesis among clinicians and enthusiasts that AASs downregulate skeletal muscle androgen receptors (ARs). Conversely, in this narrative review, we show that seminal and recent evidence—primarily using testosterone and oxandrolone administration as human experimental models—support that AASs upregulate ARs, eliciting greater anabolic effects on skeletal muscle receptors through a dose-dependent relationship. Thus, to date, there is no scientific basis for claiming that myocyte AR downregulation is the cause of the AAS-induced plateau in muscle gains. This phenomenon is likely driven by the neutral nitrogen balance, but further research is imperative to clarify the intrinsic mechanisms related to this landscape.
Effectiveness of Silver Nanoparticles Deposited in Facemask Material for Neutralising Viruses
Authors: López-Martín Raúl , Rodrigo Imanol , Ballesta Carlos , Arias Armando , Mas Antonio , Santos Burgos Benito , Normile Peter S. , De Toro Jose A. , Binns Chris
Published: August 2022

Cloth used for facemask material has been coated with silver nanoparticles using an aerosol method that passes pure uncoated nanoparticles through the cloth and deposits them throughout the volume. The particles have been characterized by electron microscopy and have a typical diameter of 4 nm with the atomic structure of pure metallic silver presented as an assortment of single crystals and polycrystals. The particles adhere well to the cloth fibers, and the coating consists of individual nanoparticles at low deposition times, evolving to fully agglomerated assemblies in heavy coatings. The cloth was exposed to Usutu virus and murine norovirus particles in suspension and allowed to dry, following which, the infectious virus particles were rescued by soaking the cloth in culture media. It was found that up to 98% of the virus particles were neutralized by this contact with the silver nanoparticles for optimum deposition conditions. The best performance was obtained with agglomerated films and with polycrystalline nanoparticles. The work indicates that silver nanoparticles embedded in masks can neutralize the majority of virus particles that enter the mask and thus increase the opacity of masks to infectious viruses by up to a factor of 50. In addition, the majority of the virus particles released from the mask after use are non-infectious.
Natural and Engineered Nanomaterials for the Identification of Heavy Metal Ions—A Review
Authors: Vonnie Joseph Merillyn , Ting Bong Jing , Rovina Kobun , Aqilah Nasir Md Nur’ , Yin Koh Wee , Huda Nurul
Published: August 2022

In recent years, there has been much interest in developing advanced and innovative approaches for sensing applications in various fields, including agriculture and environmental remediation. The development of novel sensors for detecting heavy metals using nanomaterials has emerged as a rapidly developing research area due to its high availability and sustainability. This review emphasized the naturally derived and engineered nanomaterials that have the potential to be applied as sensing reagents to interact with metal ions or as reducing and stabilizing agents to synthesize metallic nanoparticles for the detection of heavy metal ions. This review also focused on the recent advancement of nanotechnology-based detection methods using naturally derived and engineered materials, with a summary of their sensitivity and selectivity towards heavy metals. This review paper covers the pros and cons of sensing applications with recent research published from 2015 to 2022.
Recent Advances in Nanoparticle-Based Co-Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Al Bostami Rouba D. , Abuwatfa Waad H. , Husseini Ghaleb A.
Published: August 2022

Cancer therapies have advanced tremendously throughout the last decade, yet multiple factors still hinder the success of the different cancer therapeutics. The traditional therapeutic approach has been proven insufficient and lacking in the suppression of tumor growth. The simultaneous delivery of multiple small-molecule chemotherapeutic drugs and genes improves the effectiveness of each treatment, thus optimizing efficacy and improving synergistic effects. Nanomedicines integrating inorganic, lipid, and polymeric-based nanoparticles have been designed to regulate the spatiotemporal release of the encapsulated drugs. Multidrug-loaded nanocarriers are a potential strategy to fight cancer and the incorporation of co-delivery systems as a feasible treatment method has projected synergistic benefits and limited undesirable effects. Moreover, the development of co-delivery systems for maximum therapeutic impact necessitates better knowledge of the appropriate therapeutic agent ratio as well as the inherent heterogeneity of the cancer cells. Co-delivery systems can simplify clinical processes and increase patient quality of life, even though such systems are more difficult to prepare than single drug delivery systems. This review highlights the progress attained in the development and design of nano carrier-based co-delivery systems and discusses the limitations, challenges, and future perspectives in the design and fabrication of co-delivery systems.
Anti-Aging Effect of Dietary Fiber Compound Mediated by Guangxi Longevity Dietary Pattern on Natural Aging Mice
Authors: Yu Xiaohan , Liang Xiaolin , Han Kunchen , Shi Fengcui , Meng Ning , Li Quanyang
Published: August 2022

A series of previous studies by our team has shown that the Guangxi longevity dietary pattern contributes to the improvement of human health, but the role of dietary fiber compounds (DFC) in the anti-aging of this dietary pattern has not been studied in depth. Thus, mice were fed with 5%, 15%, and 30% of the characteristic dietary fiber compound (CDFC) (compounded according to the longevity dietary pattern) for 8 weeks, and their learning memory capacity, antioxidant capacity, and inflammatory markers, as well as typical microorganisms in the intestinal tract were analyzed to investigate the anti-aging effects of the CDFC under the Guangxi longevity dietary pattern on naturally aging mice. The results showed that CDFC had a bidirectional effect on body weight regulation; increased brain, spleen, and cardiac indices, of which the medium dose was the best. Meanwhile, CDFC also had a maintenance and improvement effect on learning and memory ability in aging mice, as well as improved antioxidant capacity and reduced inflammation level. The neuronal cell necrosis in the hippocampus of mice was effectively alleviated. The expression of Escherichia coli and Bacteroides was significantly reduced, and the expression of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus increased. In addition, the optimal amount of CDFC added from the level of experimental animals was in a certain interval above and below 15%. The combined results indicated that CDFC mediated by the Guangxi longevity dietary pattern had significant anti-aging effects, thus theoretically proving that dietary fiber compound contributes to human longevity.
Gut Microbiota Patterns Predicting Long-Term Weight Loss Success in Individuals with Obesity Undergoing Nonsurgical Therapy
Authors: Bischoff Stephan C. , Nguyen Nguyen K. , Seethaler Benjamin , Beisner Julia , Kügler Philipp , Stefan Thorsten
Published: August 2022

Background: The long-term success of nonsurgical weight reduction programs is variable; thus, predictors of outcome are of major interest. We hypothesized that the intestinal microbiota known to be linked with diet and obesity contain such predictive elements. Methods: Metagenome analysis by shotgun sequencing of stool DNA was performed in a cohort of 15 adults with obesity (mean body mass index 43.1 kg/m2) who underwent a one-year multidisciplinary weight loss program and another year of follow-up. Eight individuals were persistently successful (mean relative weight loss 18.2%), and seven individuals were not successful (0.2%). The relationship between relative abundancies of bacterial genera/species and changes in relative weight loss or body mass index was studied using three different statistical modeling methods. Results: When combining the predictor variables selected by the applied statistical modeling, we identified seven bacterial genera and eight bacterial species as candidates for predicting success of weight loss. By classification of relative weight-loss predictions for each patient using 2–5 term models, 13 or 14 out of 15 individuals were predicted correctly. Conclusions: Our data strongly suggest that gut microbiota patterns allow individual prediction of long-term weight loss success. Prediction accuracy seems to be high but needs confirmation by larger prospective trials.
Vitamin A Nutritional Status of Urban Lactating Chinese Women and Its Associated Factors
Authors: Yang Chenlu , Zhao Ai , Ren Zhongxia , Zhang Jian , Wang Peiyu , Zhang Yumei
Published: August 2022

We aimed to investigate dietary vitamin A (DVA) intake, serum vitamin A (SVA) concentrations, and breast milk vitamin A (BMVA) concentrations of urban lactating Chinese women and explore the associated factors. We recruited 326 lactating women from ten cities in China and collected their dietary information, blood samples, and breast milk samples. SVA and BMVA were assessed with high-performance liquid chromatography. Mann–Whitney U tests, Kruskal–Wallis H tests, Chi-square tests, Spearman correlation tests, and multiple regression analyses were conducted. The median (25th, 75th) of DVA, SVA and BMVA were 372.36 (209.12, 619.78) μg RAE/day, 1.99 (1.71, 2.35) μmol/L, and 1.67 (1.13, 2.15) μmol/L, respectively. Only 3.1% of lactating women met the recommended nutrient intake of Vitamin A (VA), and 20.6% had a BMVA level below 1.05 μmol/L. Compared to underweight or normal weight women, overweight or obese lactating women had lower DVA and BMVA but higher SVA (p = 0.022; p = 0.030; p = 0.003). Multiparous women had a higher risk of inadequate BMVA (p = 0.023) than primiparous women. SVA and BMVA were positively associated with DVA, especially for lactating women not using VA supplements (β = 0.174, 95%CI = 0.025, 0.324, p = 0.022; β = 0.501, 95%CI = 0.208, 0.795, p = 0.001). There was no association between SVA and BMVA (β = 0.165, 95%CI = −0.037, 0.366, p = 0.109). In conclusion, VA nutritional status among Chinese urban lactating women needs more attention, especially for those who are obese, overweight, or higher parity. Increased DVA may contribute to increased BMVA.
No Association between Vitamin D and Weight Gain: A Prospective, Population-Based Study
Authors: Patriota Pollyanna , Rezzi Serge , Guessous Idris , Marques-Vidal Pedro
Published: August 2022

Background: The association between vitamin D and weight gain remains controversial due to important limitations in the studies. We investigated the relationship between vitamin D levels and 5 and 10 years of weight and waist circumference change in a population-based prospective cohort study. Methods: Prospective study including participants aged between 35 and 75 years living in the city of Lausanne, Switzerland. Weight and waist change at 5- and 10-year follow-up were assessed according to baseline vitamin D status (normal, insufficiency and deficiency). Results: A total of 3638 participants (47.9 % women, mean age 51.6 ± 10.4 years) were included for the 5-year follow-up. No association was found between vitamin D categories and weight change, multivariate-adjusted average ± standard error: 1.6 ± 0.3, 1.5 ± 0.2 and 1.2 ± 0.1 kg for normal, insufficiency and deficiency, respectively, p = 0.159. For waist change, the corresponding values were 3.3 ± 0.4, 3.3 ± 0.2 and 3.4 ± 0.2 cm, p = 0.792. For the 10-year follow-up, data from 2999 participants (45.8% women, mean age 50.8 ± 10.3 years) were used. No association was found for weight 2.3 ± 0.4, 2.3 ± 0.2 and 2.0 ± 0.2 kg, p = 0.588, or for waist 3.7 ± 0.4, 3.6 ± 0.3 and 4.2 ± 0.2 cm for normal, insufficiency and deficiency, respectively, p = 0.259. Conclusion: No association between vitamin D status and weight or waist gain at 5- and 10-year follow-up was found.
Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and NAFLD in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: The FLIPAN Study
Authors: Montemayor Sofía , Mascaró Catalina M. , Ugarriza Lucía , Casares Miguel , Llompart Isabel , Abete Itziar , Zulet María Ángeles , Martínez J. Alfredo , Tur Josep A. , Bouzas Cristina
Published: August 2022

Unhealthy diet is an important factor in the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Previous studies showed the benefits of a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on Metabolic syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and cardiovascular diseases, which usually have a pathophysiological relationship with NAFLD. To assess the effect of adherence to a MedDiet on NAFLD in MetS patients after lifestyle intervention, this multicentre (Mallorca and Navarra, Spain) prospective randomized trial, with personalized nutritional intervention based on a customized MedDiet, coupled with physical activity promotion was performed to prevent, and reverse NAFLD among patients with MetS. The current analysis included 138 patients aged 40 to 60 years old, Body Mass Index (BMI) 27–40 kg/m2, diagnosed with NAFLD using MRI, and MetS according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake. Adherence to Mediterranean diet by means of a 17-item validated questionnaire, anthropometrics, physical activity, blood pressure, blood biochemical parameters, and intrahepatic fat contents (IFC) were measured. The independent variable used was changes in MedDiet adherence, categorized in tertiles after 6 months follow-up. Subjects with high adherence to the MedDiet showed higher decreases in BMI, body weight, WC, SBP, DBP, and IFC. An association between improvement in adherence to the MedDiet and amelioration of IFC after 6-month follow-up was observed. High adherence to the MedDiet is associated with better status of MetS features, and better values of IFC.
Interrelationship between Vitamin D and Calcium in Obesity and Its Comorbid Conditions
Authors: Harahap Iskandar Azmy , Landrier Jean-François , Suliburska Joanna
Published: August 2022

Obesity has been linked to vitamin D (VD) deficiency and low calcium (CAL) status. In the last decade, dietary supplementation of vitamin D and calcium (VD–CAL) have been extensively studied in animal experiments and human studies. However, the physiological mechanisms remain unknown as to whether the VD–CAL axis improves homeostasis and reduces biomarkers in regulating obesity and other metabolic diseases directly or indirectly. This review sought to investigate their connections. This topic was examined in scientific databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed from 2011 to 2021, and 87 articles were generated for interpretation. Mechanistically, VD–CAL regulates from the organs to the blood, influencing insulin, lipids, hormone, cell, and inflammatory functions in obesity and its comorbidities, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and type-2 diabetes mellitus. Nevertheless, previous research has not consistently shown that simultaneous VD–CAL supplementation affects weight loss or reduces fat content. This discrepancy may be influenced by population age and diversity, ethnicity, and geographical location, and also by degree of obesity and applied doses. Therefore, a larger prospective cohort and randomised trials are needed to determine the exact role of VD–CAL and their interrelationship.
Fluid Balance and Carbohydrate Intake of Elite Female Soccer Players during Training and Competition
Authors: Tarnowski Caroline A. , Rollo Ian , Carter James M. , Lizarraga-Dallo Maria Antonia , Oliva Mireia Porta , Clifford Tom , James Lewis J. , Randell Rebecca K.
Published: August 2022

This study examined sweat rate, sweat sodium concentration [Na+], and ad-libitum carbohydrate and fluid intakes in elite female soccer players during training (n = 19) and a match (n = 8); eight completed both for comparisons. Body mass (kg) was obtained before and after exercise to calculate sweat rate. The sweat [Na+] was determined from absorbent patches on the thigh or back. Sweat rate, percentage body mass change, and sweat [Na+] for 19 players during training were 0.47 ± 0.19 L·h−1, +0.19 ± 0.65%, and 28 ± 10 mmol·L−1, respectively. Sweat rate was higher during a match (0.98 ± 0.34 L·h−1) versus training (0.49 ± 0.26 L·h−1, p = 0.007). Body mass losses were greater post-match (−1.12 ± 0.86%) than training (+0.29 ± 0.34%, p = 0.003). Sweat [Na+] was similar for training (29 ± 9 mmol·L−1) and a match (35 ± 9 mmol·L−1) (p = 0.215). There were no differences in match versus training carbohydrate intakes (2.0 ± 2.3 g·h−1, 0.9 ± 1.5 g·h−1, respectively, p = 0.219) or fluid intakes (0.71 ± 0.30 L·h−1, 0.53 ± 0.21 L·h−1, respectively, p = 0.114). In conclusion, female soccer players’ sweat rates were higher during a match than during training, and carbohydrate intakes were below recommendations for matches and training.
Factors Associated with Food Insecurity in Latin America and the Caribbean Countries: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of 13 Countries
Authors: Hernández-Vásquez Akram , Visconti-Lopez Fabriccio J. , Vargas-Fernández Rodrigo
Published: August 2022

It is estimated that Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is the region with the second highest figures for food insecurity (FI) globally, with a prevalence of 40.9% in the entire region. This cross-sectional study analyzes the household factors associated with FI across 13 LAC countries. We used data from the first round of high-frequency phone surveys, conducted by the World Bank. Approximately 4 out of 10 people in LAC experienced FI during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. FI was positively associated with the number of individuals aged from 5 to 18 years, the number of men, the illness, accident, or death of an income-earning household member, and health expenditure due to COVID-19 or other illnesses, as well as the increase in food prices, reduced family income, and job loss by a member of the household. On the other hand, households located in capital cities and those with more bedrooms were less likely to have experienced FI. The design of social policies must focus on the economic deficiencies experienced by the LAC population, with unemployment, reduced income, and high food costs being the main factors that must be addressed to ensure adequate nutrition.
Food Antioxidants and Aging: Theory, Current Evidence and Perspectives
Authors: Miyazawa Taiki , Abe Chizumi , Burdeos Gregor Carpentero , Matsumoto Akira , Toda Masako
Published: August 2022

The concept of food and aging is of great concern to humans. So far, more than 300 theories of aging have been suggested, and approaches based on these principles have been investigated. It has been reported that antioxidants in foods might play a role in human aging. To clarify the current recognition and positioning of the relationship between these food antioxidants and aging, this review is presented in the following order: (1) aging theories, (2) food and aging, and (3) individual food antioxidants and aging. Clarifying the significance of food antioxidants in the field of aging will lead to the development of strategies to achieve healthy human aging.
Specific Bifunctionalization on the Surface of Phosphorus Dendrimers Syntheses and Properties
Authors: Petriccone Massimo , Laurent Régis , Turrin Cédric-Olivier , Sebastián Rosa Maria , Caminade Anne-Marie
Published: August 2022

Dendrimers are highly branched macromolecules possessing, in most cases, identical terminal functions. However, it is sometimes desirable to have two types of surface functions in order to fulfil specific properties. The stochastic functionalization is frequently used for such purposes, but the presence of an uncontrolled number of each type of terminal function, albeit acceptable for research purposes, has no practical use. Thus, it is highly desirable to find strategies suitable for the precise grafting of two different functional groups on the surface of dendrimers. The easiest way, and the most widely used, consists in using a bifunctional monomer to be grafted to all of the surface functions of the dendrimers. Two other strategies are known but are rarely used: the modification of an existing function, to generate two functions, and the sequential grafting of one function then of a second function. The three methods are illustrated in this review with polyphosphorhydrazone (PPH) dendrimers, together with their properties as catalysts, for materials, and as biological tools.
Pharmacokinetic Interaction between Atorvastatin and Omega-3 Fatty Acid in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Kim Jae Hoon , Sunwoo Jung , Song Ji Hye , Seo Yu-Bin , Jung Won Tae , Nam Kyu-Yeol , Kim YeSeul , Lee Hye Jung , Moon JungHa , Jung Jin-Gyu , Hong Jang Hee
Published: August 2022

The interaction between statins and omega-3 fatty acids remains controversial. The aim of this phase 1 trial was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of drug-drug interaction between atorvastatin and omega-3 fatty acids. Treatments were once-daily oral administrations of omega-3 (4 g), atorvastatin (40 mg), and both for 14 days, 7 days, and 14 days, respectively, with washout periods. The concentrations of atorvastatin, 2-OH-atorvastatin, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were determined with LC-MS/MS. Parameters of DHA and EPA were analyzed after baseline correction. A total of 37 subjects completed the study without any major violations. The geometric mean ratios (GMRs) and 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of the co-administration of a single drug for the area under the concentration–time curve during the dosing interval at steady state of atorvastatin, 2-OH-atorvastatin, DHA, and EPA were 1.042 (0.971–1.118), 1.185 (1.113–1.262), 0.157 (0.091–0.271), and 0.557 (0.396–0.784), respectively. The GMRs (90% Cis) for the co-administration at steady state of atorvastatin, 2-OH-atorvastatin, DHA, and EPA were 1.150 (0.990–1.335), 1.301 (1.2707–1.1401), 0.320 (0.243–0.422), and 0.589 (0.487–0.712), respectively. The 90% CIs for most primary endpoints were outside the range of typical bioequivalence, indicating a pharmacokinetic interaction between atorvastatin and omega-3.
Biotransformation of (–)-Isopulegol by Rhodococcus rhodochrous
Authors: Ivshina Irina B. , Luchnikova Natalia A. , Maltseva Polina Yu. , Ilyina Irina V. , Volcho Konstantin P. , Gatilov Yurii V. , Korchagina Dina V. , Kostrikina Nadezhda A. , Sorokin Vladimir V. , Mulyukin Andrey L. , Salakhutdinov Nariman F.
Published: August 2022

The ability of actinobacteria of the genus Rhodococcus to biotransform the monoterpenoid (–)-isopulegol has been established for the first time. R. rhodochrous strain IEGM 1362 was selected as a bacterium capable of metabolizing (–)-isopulegol to form new, previously unknown, 10-hydroxy (2) and 10-carboxy (3) derivatives, which may presumably have antitumor activity and act as respiratory stimulants and cancer prevention agents. In the experiments, optimal conditions were selected to provide the maximum target catalytic activity of rhodococci. Using up-to-date (TEM, AFM-CLSM, and EDX) and traditional (cell size, roughness, and zeta potential measurements) biophysical and microbiological methods, it was shown that (–)-isopulegol and halloysite nanotubes did not negatively affect the bacterial cells. The data obtained expand our knowledge of the biocatalytic potential of rhodococci and their possible involvement in the synthesis of pharmacologically active compounds from plant derivatives.