bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nutritional Strategies for Muscle Atrophy: Current Evidence and Underlying Mechanisms
Authors: Shen Yuntian , Zhang Chen , Dai Chaolun , Zhang Yijie , Wang Kexin , Gao Zihui , Chen Xin , Yang Xiaoming , Sun Hualin , Yao Xinlei , Xu Lingchi , Liu Hua 
Published: May 2024

AbstractSkeletal muscle can undergo detrimental changes in various diseases, leading to muscle dysfunction and atrophy, thus severely affecting people's lives. Along with exercise, there is a growing interest in the potential of nutritional support against muscle atrophy. This review provides a brief overview of the molecular mechanisms driving skeletal muscle atrophy and summarizes recent advances in nutritional interventions for preventing and treating muscle atrophy. The nutritional supplements include amino acids and their derivatives (such as leucine, β‐hydroxy, β‐methylbutyrate, and creatine), various antioxidant supplements (like Coenzyme Q10 and mitoquinone, resveratrol, curcumin, quercetin, Omega 3 fatty acids), minerals (such as magnesium and selenium), and vitamins (such as vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E), as well as probiotics and prebiotics (like Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and 1‐kestose). Furthermore, the study discusses the impact of a combined approach involving nutritional support and physical therapy to prevent muscle atrophy, suggests appropriate multi‐nutritional and multi‐modal interventions based on individual conditions to optimize treatment outcomes, and enhances the recovery of muscle function for patients. By understanding the molecular mechanisms behind skeletal muscle atrophy and implementing appropriate interventions, it is possible to enhance the recovery of muscle function and improve patients' quality of life.
Comparative assessment of established and deep learning‐based segmentation methods for hippocampal volume estimation in brain magnetic resonance imaging analysis
Authors: Wang Hsi‐Chun , Chen Chia‐Sho , Kuo Chung‐Chin , Huang Teng‐Yi , Kuo Kuei‐Hong , Chuang Tzu‐Chao , Lin Yi‐Ru , Chung Hsiao‐Wen ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: May 2024

AbstractIn this study, our objective was to assess the performance of two deep learning‐based hippocampal segmentation methods, SynthSeg and TigerBx, which are readily available to the public. We contrasted their performance with that of two established techniques, FreeSurfer‐Aseg and FSL‐FIRST, using three‐dimensional T1‐weighted MRI scans (n = 1447) procured from public databases. Our evaluation focused on the accuracy and reproducibility of these tools in estimating hippocampal volume. The findings suggest that both SynthSeg and TigerBx are on a par with Aseg and FIRST in terms of segmentation accuracy and reproducibility, but offer a significant advantage in processing speed, generating results in less than 1 min compared with several minutes to hours for the latter tools. In terms of Alzheimer's disease classification based on the hippocampal atrophy rate, SynthSeg and TigerBx exhibited superior performance. In conclusion, we evaluated the capabilities of two deep learning‐based segmentation techniques. The results underscore their potential value in clinical and research environments, particularly when investigating neurological conditions associated with hippocampal structures.
Prospective validation of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria for identifying malnutrition in hospitals: A protocol and feasibility pilot study
Authors: Roberts Shelley , Nucera Romina , Dowd Tobias , Turner Kyleigh , Langston Keanne , Keller Heather , Bell Jack , Angus Rebecca L. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study was to pilot a protocol for prospective validation of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria in hospital patients and evaluate its feasibility and patient acceptability.MethodsThe validation protocol follows the GLIM consortium's rigorous methodological guidance. Protocol feasibility was assessed against criteria on recruitment (≥50%) and data collection completion (≥80%); protocol acceptability was assessed via patient satisfaction surveys and interviews. Adult inpatients in a tertiary hospital underwent four nutrition assessments (each by a different assessor); two Subjective Global Assessments (SGAs) and two GLIM assessments. All five GLIM criteria were assessed with bioelectrical impedance analysis used for muscle mass. Interrater reliability, criterion validity, and predictive validity were reported to detect trends.ResultsAll primary feasibility criteria were met (consent rate 76%; data for GLIM criterion validity collected on 83% participants). Of predictive outcome data, 100% of hospital‐related data, 82% of 6‐month mortality data, and 39% of 6‐month health‐related quality of life data were collected. The mean (SD) age of participants was 61.0 ± 16.2 years, and 51.5% were male. The median (interquartile range) length of stay and body mass index were 7 (4–15) days and 25.6 (24.2–33.0) kg/m2, respectively. GLIM criteria diagnosed 70% of the patients as malnourished vs 55% with SGA. Most patients found the data collection acceptable with minimal burden.ConclusionThe methods outlined in this rigorous GLIM validation protocol are feasible to undertake in hospitals and acceptable to patients. This paper provides practical methodological guidance for future prospective GLIM validation studies.
Convergence of the block Lanczos method for the trust‐region subproblem in the hard case
Authors: Feng Bo , Wu Gang 
Published: May 2024

SummaryThe trust‐region subproblem (TRS) plays a vital role in numerical optimization, numerical linear algebra, and many other applications. It is known that the TRS may have multiple optimal solutions in the hard case. In [Carmon and Duchi, SIAM Rev., 62 (2020), pp. 395–436], a block Lanczos method was proposed to solve the TRS in the hard case, and the convergence of the optimal objective value was established. However, the convergence of the KKT error as well as that of the approximate solution are still unknown for this method. In this paper, we give a more detailed convergence analysis on the block Lanczos method for the TRS in the hard case. First, we improve the convergence speed of the approximate objective value. Second, we derive the speed of the KKT error tends to zero. Third, we establish the convergence of the approximation solution, and show theoretically that the projected TRS obtained from the block Lanczos method will be close to the hard case more and more as the block Lanczos process proceeds. Numerical experiments illustrate the effectiveness of our theoretical results.
Fabrication of in situ polymerized polyaniline‐based functional nanofibrous structures for flexible electromechanical devices
Authors: Khedewy Amira T. , Abd El‐Baky Marwa A. , Hassan Mohamed A. , Shaker A. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractRecently, flexible electromechanical devices (EMDs) emerged as alternatives to rigid electronics, promoting polymeric materials over traditional semiconductors. This study develops EMDs using conductive nanofibrous membranes of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyaniline (PANI), and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in various structures. The fabrication technique included the combination of electrospinning and in situ polymerization to create random and aligned conductive membranes. Morphological, mechanical, thermomechanical, and electrical characterizations were conducted to assess their potential in EMDs applications. Mechanical testing revealed that, in comparison to aligned pure TPU mats, aligned TPU/PANI and TPU/MWCNTs/PANI membranes exhibited maximum strains of 26% and 19%, respectively. Meanwhile, randomly oriented mats, TPU/PANI and TPU/MWCNTs/PANI demonstrated maximum strains of 18% and 27%, respectively. Moreover, incorporating PANI and/or MWCNTs increased the Young's modulus. Thermogravimetric analysis showed thermal stability up to 250°C for all mats, with TPU/PANI mats demonstrating superior stability. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that PANI incorporation increased the storage modulus from 119 and 180 MPa to 2012 and 1367 MPa for aligned and random mats, respectively, compared with pure TPU mats. The combination of MWCNTs and PANI yielded moduli of 1501 and 1096 MPa, respectively. All conductive mats exhibited symmetric ohmic behavior, with conductivities varying based on orientation and composition. Specifically, TPU/PANI and TPU/MWCNTs/PANI mats exhibited conductivities of 0.83 and 1.78 S/cm for aligned mats, and 0.35 and 0.67 S/cm for random mats, respectively. Pure TPU, on the other hand, displayed a conductivity of 1.8 × 10−10 S/cm, indicating a significantly lower conductivity compared with the other mats.
Fluorescent nanocomposites of Ag nanoclusters grown in anionic polymer layers grafted to plastic substrate: Preparation, characterization and evaluation in Hg2+ sensing and white light generation
Authors: Gorbachev Alexander A. , Tretinnikov Oleg N. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractFluorescent noble metal nanoclusters (NCs) are emerging optical nanomaterials with properties similar to those of quantum dots. Their applications can be expanded by combining them with polymer matrices to obtain flexible and transparent light‐emitting nanocomposites. However, achieving highly fluorescent nanocomposites of this type remains challenging due to phase separation and aggregation of NCs in polymer hosts leading to a strong reduction in fluorescence efficiency. We address this key issue by covalently grafting a layer of a specifically selected matrix polymer onto a transparent plastic film and photochemically synthesizing the fluorescent metal NCs directly in the grafted layer. The surface‐grafted matrix polymer effectively captures the noble metal (Ag) ions, photo‐reduces them to atoms, acts as a capping ligand for the growing Ag NCs, and immobilizes them on the substrate surface. The Ag NCs were produced by both wet and dry synthesis, and effects of synthesis method, reaction time, and matrix polymer layer thickness on the fluorescence properties of the resulting nanocomposites were investigated and discussed. Importantly, the fluorescence intensity of these nanocomposite films is sensitive to submicromolar concentrations of aqueous Hg2+ that makes them useful as fluorescent sensing materials for selective and ultrasensitive detection of Hg2+ ions in water. Besides, the nanocomposite films obtained by the dry synthesis of NCs exhibit an intensive emission covering the whole green to red range of the visible spectrum and, hence, produce bright white light under illumination with a blue LED that makes them attractive as down‐conversion materials in one‐phosphor‐converted white LEDs.
Mechanical improvement of carbon fiber/epoxy composites by sizing functionalized carbon nanotubes on fibers
Authors: Liu Jiaan , Yang Tian , Wang Bo , Yu Zerun , Yang Yanchao , Sun Guixun 
Published: May 2024

AbstractA sizing agent mainly consisting of polyethersulfone and acidified multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) was developed for surface modification of carbon fibers (CF) to enhance the interfacial bond and to form carbon fiber‐carbon nanotube (CF‐MWCNT) multiscale reinforcements. To prepare the modified carbon fiber/epoxy resin composites (CFRP), a vacuum molding technique was used in this study. The effects of the MWCNT‐containing sizing agent on the morphology and chemical structure of the CF surface were observed by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The influence of MWCNT length and content on the mechanical properties of CFRP were also studied. The experimental results showed that the strength of the CFRP decreased with the increase of MWCNT length, and the MWCNT with a content of 0.05 wt% had a good reinforced effect on the CFRP. After the sizing treatment, the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of the CFRP is increased. These enhancements are attributed to the improved mechanical bonding and chemical bonding between CF and resin matrix. The MWCNT provides nanosized rough surface to CF and these acidified MWCNTs attached to the surface of CF with polar oxygen‐containing functional groups improve the compatibility with reinforcement and resin matrix.Highlights
Carbon fiber was modified by a sizing agent mainly consisting of polyethersulfone and acidified carbon nanotube (CNT).
CNTs enhance the interfacial chemical bonding and mechanical bonding.
The CNT length affects the mechanical properties of the carbon fiber/epoxy resin composites (CFRP).
The modified carbon fiber has enhanced the mechanical properties of the CFRP.
Study of frictional wear and desorption of nanoparticle‐rubber blend modified UHMWPE composites
Authors: Xiaobao Zheng , Gui Gao , Bugong Sun , Honggang Wang , Yuan Qi 
Published: May 2024

AbstractTo address the issues of abrasive wear, impact wear, and soil adhesion that can lead to wear failure and excessive operational resistance in agricultural soil touching parts during farming. This study focuses on UHMWPE composites, modified by filling Nano‐SiC as a hard phase filler and XNBR as an elastic filler. These fillers were dispersed into the UHMWPE matrix through melt blending technology to create a high‐performance composite material for the surface protective material of soil touching parts. The study discovered that by adding hard and elastic fillers to the UHMWPE matrix, the density, hardness, flexural modulus and thermal stability of the materials were all increased. Specifically, the density increased by 5.67% and the flexural modulus increased by 107%. In the block on ring wear test the volumetric wear rate decreased by 98%, while in the mortar wear test the mass wear rate decreased by 64.64%. Additionally, the contact angle on the surface of the specimen after mortar erosion and wear increased to 102.76°, 18% higher than that of pure UHMWPE. These results demonstrate that the modified fillers can improve the abrasion and plastic deformation resistance and hydrophobic desorption of UHMWPE. UHMWPE composite material, serving as the surface protection for soil touching parts, resolves the issues of abrasion of soil abrasive particles and excessive soil adhesion resistance on these parts. This significantly prolongs the service life of soil touching parts of agricultural machinery and improves the operational efficiency and economy.Highlights
Research on nanoparticles and elastomer‐modified composite materials.
Research has shown the enhancement of UHMWPE composite materials by Nano‐SiC.
XNBR improves the plastic deformation resistance of UHMWPE composites.
Effects of Nano‐SiC and XNBR on the desorption behavior of composite materials.
UHMWPE composites reduce soil contact wear and soil adhesion.
Oxygenated moiety enhanced thermal stabilization, mechanical, and thermomechanical performance of polyacrylonitrile/single wall carbon nanotubes films
Authors: Chandel Nishant , Kapurderiya Mahesh P. , Kanse Akash C. , Rohini Rani , Sreekumar Thaliyil Veedu 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThermo‐oxidative stabilization of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)‐copolymer and PAN/single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) composite films were studied in the presence of oxygenated entities which may act as an internal oxygen supplier. The oxygenated moiety exhibited dual behavior, enhancing the stabilization efficiency of PAN while also improving the dispersion of SWCNT. The addition of oxygenated moiety treated SWCNT to PAN resulted in a significant reduction in activation energy from 118 kJ/mol to 99 kJ/mol, owing to a more stable oxidation reaction. Thermogravimetric analysis showed weight loss due to stabilization, and polymer chain degradation was lower in treated SWCNT composite films, resulting in an approximate 6% increase in residual weight. Mechanical testing showed a significant increase in tensile strength to 54.15 MPa and tensile modulus to 2.53 GPa with elongation at break of 13.2%, which is attributed to the enhanced interfacial shear strength resulting from the improved dispersion of oxygenated moiety‐treated nanotubes. Furthermore, thermomechanical analysis studies showed improvement in dimension stability with oxygenated moiety treated SWCNT composite films, attributed to better dispersion and increased interfacial strength between the polymer and filler.Highlights
Oxygenated entities stabilize PAN and improve SWCNT dispersion.
Activation energy was reduced from 118 to 99 kJ/mol with Tween‐80.
Residual weight increased by 6% with treated SWCNT in TGA.
Improved tensile strength (54.14 MPa), modulus (2.53 GPa) with modified SWCNT.
Dimension stability is enhanced by interfacial strength with modified SWCNT.
Association between pathological narcissism and emotion regulation: The role of self‐mentalizing?
Authors: Blay Martin , Bouteloup Margaux , Duarte Miguel , Hasler Roland , Pham Eleonore , Nicastro Rosetta , Jan Marlène , Debbané Martin , Perroud Nader 
Published: May 2024

AbstractPathological narcissism (PN) is a common psychopathological issue leading to maladaptive strategies to cope with self‐esteem threats, including self‐enhancement and exploitation (grandiose strategies) or internalized shame, depression, and social withdrawal (vulnerable strategies). Mentalizing is a key process for regulating self and other representations and their associated emotions. Patients with PN further struggle with emotion dysregulation (ED), which during development is intertwined with the growing capacity to mentalize. We seek to contribute to emerging empirical data documenting the associations between PN and ED and between PN and mentalizing, and to provide information on the nature of their mutual relationships. In the present study, we assessed PN, ED, and three mentalizing dimensions (mentalizing self, other, and motivation to mentalize) in 183 patients consulting in our outpatient unit specialized in ED. We found that narcissistic vulnerability was negatively associated with self‐mentalizing and positively associated with overall ED, both even after adjustment for borderline and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. However, the association with ED was not maintained after further adjustment for self‐mentalizing or overall‐mentalizing, which suggests that mentalizing may play a mediating role in this relationship. On the other hand, narcissistic grandiosity was positively associated with other‐mentalizing and ED and negatively associated with self‐mentalizing in bivariate analyses, but these last two associations were not maintained after adjustment for comorbid borderline and/or ADHD symptomatology. This study provides new information on the link between PN and ED and on key mentalizing dimensions meaningfully relating to PN, notably through a potential role of self‐mentalizing processes between PN and ED.
Reliability evaluation for Weibull distribution with heavily Type II censored data
Authors: Liu Mengyu , Zheng Huiling , Yang Jun 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe lifetime data collected from the field are usually heavily censored, in which case, getting an accurate reliability evaluation based on heavily censored data is challenging. For heavily Type‐II censored data, the parameters estimation bias of traditional methods (i.e., maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) and least squares estimation (LSE)) are still large, and Bayesian methods are hard to specify the priors in practice. Therefore, considering the existing range of shape parameter for Weibull distribution, this study proposes two novel parameter estimation methods, the three‐step MLE method and the hybrid estimation method. For the three‐step MLE method, the initial estimates of shape and scale parameters are first respectively derived using MLE, then are updated by the single parameter MLE method with the range constraint of shape parameter. For the hybrid estimation method, the shape parameter is estimated by the LSE method with the existing range constraint of shape parameter, then the scale parameter estimate can be obtained by MLE. On this basis, two numerical examples are performed to demonstrate the consistency and effectiveness of the proposed methods. Finally, a case study on turbine engines is given to verify the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed methods.
Uncorrected and subcutaneous fat‐corrected echo intensities are similarly associated with magnetic resonance imaging per cent fat
Authors: Rush Benjamin , Garlapati Sujay , Lortie Jevin , Osterbauer Katie , Colgan Timothy J. , Tamada Daiki , Campbell Toby C. , Traynor Anne , Leal Ticiana , Lee Kenneth , Reeder Scott B. , Kuchnia Adam J. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundEstablishing interchangeable biomedical imaging‐based measures to assess myosteatosis clinically may lead to the prevention of muscle wasting, yet neither a consensus measure nor a conversion between measures exists. Ultrasound echo intensity (EI) potentially assesses myosteatosis, but subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) thickness and user force application have been shown to influence EI. Although correction factors exist to adjust EI for SAT thickness, they are modelled against poor or no reference measures. Modelling EI corrections against a robust reference measure of myosteatosis, like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐based proton density fat fraction (PDFF), is necessary for EI's clinical application.MethodsHealthy young adults, healthy older adults, and older adults undergoing treatment for lung cancer (n = 10 per group with 50% females) had PDFF and EI at 0, 5, 10, and 15 N measured on their right rectus femoris (RF). We compared EI, SAT thickness, and RF thickness between forces and groups and assessed the relationships between EI adjusted by four different correction factors and PDFF.ResultsThe mean age of our sample was 48.63 ± 19.68 years and had a body mass index of 25.21 ± 5.19 kg/m2. The correlation between PDFF and raw EI was r = 0.59 (P < 0.001) with negligible increases by previously published correction factors (Young: 0.62, P < 0.001; Neto Müller: 0.61, P < 0.001). EI, SAT thickness, and RF thickness did not significantly differ between forces (χ2 = 0.31, P = 0.957; χ2 = 2.39, P = 0.496; and χ2 = 7.75, P = 0.051, respectively). EI and PDFF were significantly lower among young healthy adults compared with older adult groups (χ2 = 12.88, P = 0.002, and χ2 = 9.13, P = 0.010, respectively).ConclusionsEI is correlated with PDFF regardless of force with no improvement from previously published correction factors. Our results suggest that EI is clinically useful and influenced by fat content, yet correction factors must account for more than SAT thickness alone and require further investigation.