Automatic melody transcription to music notation: pedagogical applications

This PhD Dissertation achieves 3 purposes: a) The creation of a mathematical and PC software algorithm which is capable of transcribing a monophonic music melody to music notation, b) the creation of a new music notation system, capable of presenting the microtonal distances which are detected by the algorithm and c) the study of the applications of the above, mainly to software engineering and education and, secondary, to other scientific fields which involve similar sinusoid signals. The Dissertation combines knowledge, experiments and results from Music, Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science. The first purpose is achieved by a) the extensive analysis of existing pitch recognition algorithms, their features, their advantages, their disadvantages and their applications, b) the implementation of a new algorithm, which combines other algorithms with our new methods, in order to detect the pitch in a human - perception mode. The second purpose is achieved by a) the studying of existing notation proposals (which may contain data about microtonal symbols) and b) the implementation of a new notation, capable of presenting the results of our algorithms and also appropriate for pedagogical applications. The third purpose is achieved by implementing the above two aims, from theory to practice, in PC Software. A variety of advanced tools were used to accomplish this, including C++, Flash, DSP tools, Assembly, etc. The results are quite satisfying. This PhD Dissertation also contains demonstration videos, used to present the capabilities of the algorithms.Η παρούσα Διδακτορική Διατριβή έχει 3 στόχους: α) Την υλοποίηση αλγορίθμου ο οποίος να επιτρέπει την αυτόματη καταγραφή μονοφωνικής μελωδίας σε σημειογραφία, δηλαδή την δυνατότητα ενός υπολογιστή να ηχογραφεί μία μελωδία και στη συνέχεια να την μετατρέπει σε νότες, β) την υλοποίηση σημειογραφίας ικανής να αποδώσει τα μικροδιαστήματα που προκύπτουν από την αναγνώριση και γ) την μελέτη των εφαρμογών των αλγορίθμων, πρωτίστως στην πληροφορική και στην εκπαίδευση και στη συνέχεια, σε άλλες επιστήμες που χρησιμοποιούν παρόμοια ηχητικά ή μη σήματα. Η Διατριβή συνδυάζει γνώσεις, πειράματα, μελέτες και συμπεράσματα από τέσσερις διαφορετικές επιστήμες: Μουσική, Μαθηματικά, Φυσική και Πληροφορική. Ο πρώτος στόχος επιτυγχάνεται α) με τη μελέτη των υπαρχόντων αλγορίθμων ανάλυσης συχνότητας, τα χαρακτηριστικά τους, τις αδυναμίες τους και γενικά, τις εφαρμογές τους, β) με την υλοποίηση αλγορίθμου που προκύπτει από συνδυασμούς των υπαρχόντων αλγορίθμων με νέες τεχνικές, τις οποίες αναπτύσσουμε. Η μελέτη έγινε με την βοήθεια της μαθηματικής ανάλυσης (τριγωνομετρία, στατιστική, πιθανότητες κλπ) . Η υλοποίηση των αλγορίθμων έγινε με προγραμματισμό στην γλώσσα C++ και Assembly. Ο δεύτερος στόχος επιτυγχάνεται α) με τη μελέτη των υπαρχουσών προτάσεων σημειογραφίας και β) την υλοποίηση μίας νέας μορφής σημειογραφίας, ικανής να παρουσιάσει τα αποτελέσματα των αλγορίθμων μας και να συμβάλλει στην παιδαγωγική εφαρμογή τους. Ο τρίτος στόχος επιτυγχάνεται με την μεταφορά των ανωτέρω 2 στόχων, από την θεωρία στην πράξη, μέσω της επιστήμης της Πληροφορικής. Για να επιτευχθεί αυτό χρησιμοποιήθηκε μία σειρά από εργαλεία της Πληροφορικής όπως η C++, το Flash. Τα συμπεράσματα που προκύπτουν από την μελέτη κρίνονται πολύ ικανοποιητικά. Την Διδακτορική Διατριβή συνοδεύουν videos που περιέχουν πειραματική επίδειξη των δυνατοτήτων των αλγορίθμων

Special Issue “Mediterranean Diet and Metabolic Diseases”

The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been considered among the healthiest dietary patterns since a little over 50 years ago, Ancel Keys—as the key figure—provided evidence for the beneficial effects of the MD [...

Is the proportion of per capita fat supply associated with the prevalence of overweight and obesity? an ecological analysis

Background: Although it is reported in numerous interventional and observational studies, that a low-fat diet is an effective method to combat overweight and obesity, the relationship at the global population level is not well established. This study aimed to quantify the associations between worldwide per capita fat supply and prevalence of overweight and obesity and further classify this association based on per capita Gross National Income (GNI). Methods: A total of 93 countries from four GNI groups were selected. Country-specific overweight and obesity prevalence data were retrieved from the most recent WHO Global Health Observatory database. Per capita supply of fat and calories were obtained from the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization database; FAOSTAT, Food Balance Sheet for years 2014–2016. The categorizations of countries were done based on GNI based classification by the World Bank. Results: Among the selected countries, the overweight prevalence ranged from 3.9% (India) to 78.8% (Kiribati), while obesity prevalence ranged from 3.6% (Bangladesh) to 46.0% (Kiribati). The highest and the lowest per capita fat supply from total calorie supply were documented in Australia (41.2%) and Madagascar (10.5%) respectively. A significant strong positive correlation was observed between the prevalence of overweight (r = 0.64, p < 0.001) and obesity (r = 0.59, p < 0.001) with per capita fat supply. The lower ends of both trend lines were densely populated by the low- and lower-middle-income countries and the upper ends of both lines were greatly populated by the high-income countries. Conclusions: Per capita fat supply per country is significantly associated with both prevalence of overweight and obesity.</p

Enhancing immunity in viral infections, with special emphasis on COVID-19: A review

Background and aims Balanced nutrition which can help in maintaining immunity is essential for prevention and management of viral infections. While data regarding nutrition in coronavirus infection (COVID-19) are not available, in this review, we aimed to evaluate evidence from previous clinical trials that studied nutrition-based interventions for viral diseases (with special emphasis on respiratory infections), and summarise our observations.Methods A systematic search strategy was employed using keywords to search the literature in 3 key medical databases: PubMed®, Web of Science® and SciVerse Scopus®. Studies were considered eligible if they were controlled trials in humans, measuring immunological parameters, on viral and respiratory infections. Clinical trials on vitamins, minerals, nutraceuticals and probiotics were included.Results A total of 640 records were identified initially and 22 studies were included from other sources. After excluding duplicates and articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria, 43 studies were obtained (vitamins: 13; minerals: 8; nutraceuticals: 18 and probiotics: 4). Among vitamins, A and D showed a potential benefit, especially in deficient populations. Among trace elements, selenium and zinc have also shown favourable immune-modulatory effects in viral respiratory infections. Several nutraceuticals and probiotics may also have some role in enhancing immune functions. Micronutrients may be beneficial in nutritionally depleted elderly population.Conclusions We summaries possible benefits of some vitamins, trace elements, nutraceuticals and probiotics in viral infections. Nutrition principles based on these data could be useful in possible prevention and management of COVID-1

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on snacking habits, fast-food and alcohol consumption : A systematic review of the evidence

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and lockdown measures, that were implemented in many countries in order to control the virus transmission, had negatively influenced the lifestyle of millions of people worldwide. In this study we aimed to investigate the impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown period (March–May 2020) on snacking behavior, fast-food and alcohol consumption. A systematic search in PubMed®, Scopus® and Web of Science® databases was conducted and 32 studies were included. Changes in snacking, in fast-food and ordered food consumption and in alcohol intake were examined. Snacking was found to be increased for a significant portion of the population examined (18.9–45.1%), whereas fast food (15.0–41.3%) and ordered food (33.9%) showed a tendency towards decrease. As per alcohol consumption, an upward trend was observed in a significant part (10.4–51.0%) of the participants examined. The increased snacking and alcohol consumption observed for almost a third of the examined population could be alarming because long-term health problems could arise in cases of repeated lockdowns in the future. The observed downward trend in fast-food consumption and in frequency of ordered food could be an encouraging sign of turning to home-prepared foods, but further research is needed in this field.</p

The Effectiveness of a Low Glycemic Index/Load Diet on Cardiometabolic, Glucometabolic, and Anthropometric Indices in Children with Overweight or Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

(1) Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the impact of a low glycemic index (LGI) and low glycemic load (LGL) diet on children with overweight and obesity, analyzing any changes in anthropometric, cardiometabolic, and glucometabolic parameters. (2) Methods: Three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, CENTRAL), as well as clinical trial registries and reference lists of the included studies, were searched for eligible randomized control trials (RCTs). Two independent reviewers performed the screening of the studies, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. Mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a random effects model were calculated for each outcome. (3) Results: Eleven RCTs (n = 634) examining the effect of LGI diet versus control were identified. The synthesized data provided from the RCTs indicate no difference between intervention and control groups regarding primary outcomes (body weight (MD: −0.14; 95% CI −1.93 to 1.64, 5 trials), body mass index (BMI) (MD: −0.31; 95% CI −0.85 to 0.23, 6 trials), BMI z-score (MD: −0.03; 95% CI −0.09 to 0.02, 5 trials), and waist circumference (MD: −0.52; 95% CI −2.35 to 1.31, 5 trials)) and other measures of cardiometabolic and glucometabolic parameters. The majority of trials were classified as “some concerns”. (4) Conclusions: LGI and LGL diets do not seem to be associated with changes in adiposity, cardiometabolic or glucometabolic markers in children with overweight or obesity. Further research comparing the LGI diet to a high glycemic index diet, with proper methodological standards, is required to clarify the benefits of a LGI diet in this population

Continuous versus Intermittent Enteral Feeding in Critically Ill Children: A Systematic Review

Administration of enteral nutrition (EN) in critically ill pediatric patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) constitutes a major challenge due to the increased risk of complications, as well as the lack of well-trained healthcare professionals. EN is usually delivered via cyclic, continuous, or intermittent feeding; however, a number of potential barriers have been reported in the literature regarding different feeding regimens. The purpose of this review was to assess the effectiveness of continuous and intermittent bolus feeding on critically ill children. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and a clinical trial registry up to September 2022, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in the English language. Four studies met the inclusion criteria with a total population of 288 patients admitted to the PICU. Three studies were rated with a high risk of bias and one with some concerns. There was high heterogeneity between the studies in regard to the reporting of outcomes. Three studies measured the total time needed to reach prescribed caloric intake with conflicting results, while two studies evaluated the length of stay (LOS) in PICU with no difference between the two arms. One study assessed the time weaning from mechanical ventilation, favoring the bolus group. No data were provided for gastric residual volume (GRV), anthropometric measurements, and biochemical markers. Additional randomized trials with better methodology are needed to assess the efficacy of the two enteral feeding regimens in critically ill PICU patients

Impact of the Level of Adherence to Mediterranean Diet on the Parameters of Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

High adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) has been associated with a lower prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). The present study aimed to investigate the impact of MD adherence on parameters of MetS. A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Cochrane Central Registry of Clinical Trials (CENTRAL), Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases. Observational studies that recorded adherence to MD and components/measures of the MetS, such as waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides (TG), were included in this study. A total of 58 studies were included in our study. WC and TG were significantly lower in the high adherence MD group (SMD: −0.20, (95%CI: −0.40, −0.01), SMD: −0.27 (95%CI: −0.27, −0.11), respectively), while HDL cholesterol was significantly higher in the same group (SMD: −0.28 (95%CI: 0.07, 0.50). There was no difference in FBG and SBP among the two groups (SMD: −0.21 (95%CI: −0.54, 0.12) &amp; SMD: −0.15 (95%CI: −0.38, 0.07), respectively). MD may have a positive impact on all parameters of MetS. However, further research is needed in this field

The Effect of Exercise on Nutritional Status and Body Composition in Hemodialysis: A Systematic Review

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with aggravating factors which can affect both body composition and nutritional status. The purpose of the present systematic review was to investigate the potential effects of any physical activity on body composition or nutritional status among patients with stage 5 CKD undergoing hemodialysis (HD). A literature search on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Cochrane was conducted and 14 randomized clinical trials were included. Skeletal muscle index and mid-arm muscular circumference increased after resistance exercise, and the results on body mass index, % body fat, and lean body mass varied. Serum albumin and C-reactive protein, in most cases, showed a slight increase and decrease, respectively. An improvement was also observed in body strength and overall performance status. The results suggest that physical activity can be beneficial for both the body composition and nutritional status of patients undergoing HD and can help in the prevention of sarcopenia. However, further research is needed mainly in the field of nutritional status

AGREEing on Nutritional Management of Patients with CKD—A Quality Appraisal of the Available Guidelines

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important public health issue with increasing prevalence worldwide. Several clinical practice guidelines have been recently published regarding the nutritional management of CKD patients. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the quality of the published guidelines and provide recommendation for future updates. PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar were searched for relevant guidelines and 11 clinical practice guidelines were finally included. Guidelines developed by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral nutrition (ASPEN), the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA), the German Society for Nutritional Medicine (DGEM), the European Best Practice Guidelines (EBPG), the European Dialysis and Transplantation Nurses Association-European Renal Care Association (EDTNA-ERCA), the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN), the Andalusian Group for Nutrition Reflection and Investigation (GARIN) group, the National Kidney foundation-Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI), the Italian Society of Nephrology-Association of Dieticians-Italian Association of Hemodialysis, Dialysis and Transplant (SIN-ANDID-ANED), and the Renal Association were assessed using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II tool. Guidelines by KDOQI, ESPEN, and DAA were of moderate quality and the rest of them were low-quality guidelines. Our study demonstrates gaps related to the development of guidelines and therefore greater emphasis on methodological approaches is recommended. AGREE II tool can be useful to improve quality of guidelines