Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Boosting engagement with healthy food on social media

Purpose Recent research has demonstrated that people are more likely to engage with fatty food content online. One way health advocates might facilitate engagement with healthier, calorie-light foods is to alter how people process food media. This research paper aims to investigate the moderating role of viewer mindset on consumer responses to digital food media. Design/methodology/approach Two experiments were conducted by manipulating the caloric density of food media content and/or one’s mindset before viewing. Findings Results show that the relationship between nutrition and engagement is moderated by consumer mindset, where activating a more calculative mindset before exposure can elevate social media engagement for calorie-light food media content. Research limitations/implications These findings contribute to the domain of obesogenic digital environments and the role of nutrition in consuming food media. By examining how mindsets interact with affective evaluations, this work demonstrates that a default mindset based on instinct can be shifted and thus alter subsequent behavioral intentions. Practical implications This work provides insight into what can boost the visibility and engagement of healthy food content on social media. Marketers can help promote healthier food media by cueing consumers to think more deliberately before exposure. Originality/value This research builds on recent work by demonstrating how to boost engagement with healthy foods on social media by cueing a more thoughtful mindset.
A Novel Social Spider Optimization Algorithm for Large-Scale Economic Load Dispatch Problem

The paper develops an improved social spider optimization algorithm (ISSO) for finding optimal solutions of economic load dispatch (ELD) problems. Different ELD problem study cases can bring huge challenges for testing the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed ISSO method since discontinuous objective functions as well as complicated constraints are taken into account. The improved method is different from original social spider optimization algorithm (SSSO) by performing several modifications directly related to three processes of new solution generation. Namely, the proposed method keeps one formula for the first and the second generations and modify them effectively while SSSO has two different formulas for each generation. In the third generation, the proposed method applies a new formula for determining the mating radius of dominant males and females with the intent to expand search space and avoid falling into local zones. The modifications can support the proposed ISSO method find better solutions with faster manner than SSSO while the number of control parameters and the number of computational processes can be reduced. As a result, the proposed method can find much less generation cost and achieve faster search speeds than SSSO for all considered systems. On the other hand, the search ability evaluation of the proposed method is also given by comparing results with other existing methods available in previous studies. The proposed method can obtain approximate or better results and faster convergence than nearly all compared methods excluding for the last system. Consequently, the proposed ISSO method can be recommended to be a strong method for ELD problem and it can be tried for other mathematical problems in engineering.
Prediction of Synaptically Localized RNAs in Human Neurons Using Developmental Brain Gene Expression Data

In the nervous system, synapses are special and pervasive structures between axonal and dendritic terminals, which facilitate electrical and chemical communications among neurons. Extensive studies have been conducted in mice and rats to explore the RNA pool at synapses and investigate RNA transport, local protein synthesis, and synaptic plasticity. However, owing to the experimental difficulties of studying human synaptic transcriptomes, the full pool of human synaptic RNAs remains largely unclear. We developed a new machine learning method, called PredSynRNA, to predict the synaptic localization of human RNAs. Training instances of dendritically localized RNAs were compiled from previous rodent studies, overcoming the shortage of empirical instances of human synaptic RNAs. Using RNA sequence and gene expression data as features, various models with different learning algorithms were constructed and evaluated. Strikingly, the models using the developmental brain gene expression features achieved superior performance for predicting synaptically localized RNAs. We examined the relevant expression features learned by PredSynRNA and used an independent test dataset to further validate the model performance. PredSynRNA models were then applied to the prediction and prioritization of candidate RNAs localized to human synapses, providing valuable targets for experimental investigations into neuronal mechanisms and brain disorders.
Hexavalent Chromium in Drinking Water

The risk assessment of chromium in drinking water is complex. To better understand this complexity, the essential information on exposure, analytical and treatment methods, toxicology, and mode of action (MOA) on which agencies based their risk assessments are provided. Humans are exposed to an average of 0.2–2 μg hexavalent chromium per liter in drinking water through natural erosion of soil and rocks or by contamination from industrial sources. Internationally, drinking water limits for total chromium range from 50 to 100 μg/L. These values are based on intestinal toxicity data from experimental animals, since human toxicity data via the oral route are lacking. MOA analysis supports a progression from noncancer to cancer effects via a nonmutagenic MOA and therefore a threshold approach is appropriate for the risk assessment of chromium in drinking water. Drinking water limits derived from this approach are measureable by available analytical methods and achievable by available treatment technologies, and are protective of both cancer and noncancer effects.
Toxic and Phenotypic Effects of AAV_Cre Used to Transduce Mesencephalic Dopaminergic Neurons

A popular approach to spatiotemporally target genes using the loxP/Cre recombination system is stereotaxic microinjection of adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing Cre recombinase (AAV_Cre) in specific neuronal structures. Here, we report that AAV_Cre microinjection in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of ErbB4 Cyt-1-floxed (ErbB4 Cyt-1fl/fl) mice at titers commonly used in the literature (~1012–1013 GC/mL) can have neurotoxic effects on dopaminergic neurons and elicit behavioral abnormalities. However, these effects of AAV_Cre microinjection are independent of ErbB4 Cyt-1 recombination because they are also observed in microinjected wild-type (WT) controls. Mice microinjected with AAV_Cre (1012–1013 GC/mL) exhibit reductions of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine transporter (DAT) expression, loss of dopaminergic neurons, and they behaviorally become hyperactive, fail to habituate in the open field and exhibit sensorimotor gating deficits compared to controls microinjected with AAV_GFP. Importantly, these AAV_Cre non-specific effects are: (1) independent of serotype, (2) occur with vectors expressing either Cre or Cre-GFP fusion protein and (3) preventable by reducing viral titers by 1000-fold (1010 GC/mL), which retains sufficient recombination activity to target floxed genes. Our studies emphasize the importance of including AAV_Cre-injected WT controls in experiments because recombination-independent effects on gene expression, neurotoxicity and behaviors could be erroneously attributed to consequences of gene ablation.
Appraisal of Low Vision Devices in South East Nigeria

With strategic interventions in vision rehabilitation, eye care professionals have a chance to reduce the implications of vision loss. This study appraised low vision devices in the low vision population of the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Clinical assessments including external examination, refraction, and ophthalmoscopy were carried out on 239 individuals with vision impairment seen in outreaches in 5 states of South-East Nigeria. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS (version 24.0). Statistical significance was based on p<0.05. Individuals with moderate and severe vision impairment were 53.1% and 23.0% respectively while blindness was 23.9% in the study population. More so, 64.4% of the population had never visited an eye care professional despite poor vision. Of the 32. 2% who had used a form of assistive device; magnifiers were most common. Ignorance (53.1%), distance (20.9%), cost (7.9%), and insufficient service (7.9%) were challenges faced by respondents. The relationship between the use of low vision devices and their helpfulness to daily living was significant (P=0.04); urban dwellers also had a statistically significant better access to eye care services than rural dwellers (P=0.04). A human capacity that gets drained by vision impairment will be recovered if there is a strategic low vision intervention as this leads to an upturn in the socio-economic fortunes of the region. Eye care professionals need to integrate the basic practice of low vision into their regular practice. There is also a need for public awareness of the possibilities of low vision rehabilitation to promote uptake.
Housing, Instability, and Discrimination amongst Takatāpui/LGBTIQ+ Youth in Aotearoa New Zealand

Takatāpui/LGBTIQ+ people’s housing experiences are poorly understood in Aotearoa, New Zealand, including those of young people. We use data from an online survey to investigate experiences of homelessness, involuntary mobility, and housing-related discrimination amongst Takatāpui/LGBTIQ+ youth (n = 334). Multiple linear regression analysis shows a significant relationship between homelessness scores and experience of state care, involuntary mobility, and housing discrimination. Furthermore, these young people had high rates of poverty (57% reporting an annual income below NZD 20,000), involuntary mobility (56%), housing-related discrimination (55%), and lifetime experiences of homelessness (31%). These findings highlight the difficulties that Takatāpui/LGBTIQ+ young people face in the housing market, emphasising the need for targeted programs and policies to meet their needs and prevent homelessness from occurring.
A Decomposable Causal View of Compositional Zero-Shot Learning

Composing and recognizing novel concepts that are combinations of known concepts, i.e., compositional generalization, is one of the greatest power of human intelligence. With the development of artificial intelligence, it becomes increasingly appealing to build a vision system that can generalize to unknown compositions based on restricted known knowledge, which has so far remained a great challenge to our community. In fact, machines can be easily misled by superficial correlations in the data, disregarding the causal patterns that are crucial to generalization. In this paper, we rethink compositional generalization with a causal perspective, upon the context of Compositional Zero-Shot Learning (CZSL). We develop a simple yet strong approach based on our novel Decomposable Causal view (dubbed “DeCa”), by approximating the causal effect with the combination of three easy-to-learn components. Our proposed DeCa1 is evaluated on two challenging CZSL benchmarks by recognizing unknown compositions of known concepts. Despite being simple in the design, our approach achieves consistent improvements over state-of-the-art baselines, demonstrating its superiority towards the goal of compositional generalization.
Retinal and Choroidal Thinning—A Predictor of Coronary Artery Occlusion?

Introduction. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) allowed visualization of retina and choroid to nearly the capillary level; however, the relationship between systemic macrovascular status and retinal microvascular changes is not yet known well. Aim. Our purpose was to assess the impact of retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters on prediction of coronary heart disease (CHD) in acute myocardial infarction (MI) and chronic three vessel disease (3VD) groups. Methods. This observational study included 184 patients—26 in 3VD, 76 in MI and 82 in healthy participants groups. Radial scans of the macula and OCTA scans of the central macula (superficial (SCP) and deep (DCP) capillary plexuses) were performed on all participants. All participants underwent coronary angiography. Results. Patients in MI groups showed decreased parafoveal total retinal thickness as well as GCL+ retinal thickness. Outer circle total retinal thickness and GCL+ retinal thickness were lowest in the 3VD group. The MI group had thinner, while 3VD the thinnest, choroid. A decrease in choroidal thickness and vascular density could predict 3VD. Conclusions. A decrease in retinal and choroidal thickness as well as decreased vascular density in the central retinal region may predict coronary artery disease. OCT and OCTA could be a significant, safe, and noninvasive tool for the prediction of coronary artery disease.
Transcriptome Profiling Reveals Differential Expression of Circadian Behavior Genes in Peripheral Blood of Monozygotic Twins Discordant for Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. Investigating individuals with the most identical genetic background is optimal for minimizing the genetic contribution to gene expression. These individuals include monozygotic twins discordant for PD. Monozygotic twins have the same genetic background, age, sex, and often similar environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to carry out a transcriptome analysis of the peripheral blood of three pairs of monozygotic twins discordant for PD. We identified the metabolic process “circadian behavior” as a priority process for further study. Different expression of genes included in the term “circadian behavior” confirms that this process is involved in PD pathogenesis. We found increased expression of three genes associated with circadian behavior, i.e., PTGDS, ADORA2A, and MTA1, in twins with PD. These genes can be considered as potential candidate genes for this disease.
An Overview of Methods and Exemplars of the Use of Mendelian Randomisation in Nutritional Research

Objectives: It is crucial to elucidate the causal relevance of nutritional exposures (such as dietary patterns, food intake, macronutrients intake, circulating micronutrients), or biomarkers in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in order to find effective strategies for NCD prevention. Classical observational studies have found evidence of associations between nutritional exposures and NCD development, but such studies are prone to confounding and other biases. This has direct relevance for translation research, as using unreliable evidence can lead to the failure of trials of nutritional interventions. Facilitated by the availability of large-scale genetic data, Mendelian randomization studies are increasingly used to ascertain the causal relevance of nutritional exposures and biomarkers for many NCDs. Methods: A narrative overview was conducted in order to demonstrate and describe the utility of Mendelian randomization studies, for individuals with little prior knowledge engaged in nutritional epidemiological research. Results: We provide an overview, rationale and basic description of the methods, as well as strengths and limitations of Mendelian randomization studies. We give selected examples from the contemporary nutritional literature where Mendelian randomization has provided useful evidence on the potential causal relevance of nutritional exposures. Conclusions: The selected exemplars demonstrate the importance of well-conducted Mendelian randomization studies as a robust tool to prioritize nutritional exposures for further investigation.
Collisionless diffusion of particles and current across a magnetic field in beam/plasma interaction

A drift-kinetic Eulerian Vlasov code with fluid equations for the ions is used to study the collisionless diffusion of particles and current across a magnetic field for the case of an electron beam injected near the edge of a two-dimensional magnetized plasma slab. The case of a magnetic field tilted with respect to the beam direction at an angle of θ = 10 deg is considered. Test particles diagnostic techniques are used to study the evolution of the phase space at different locations across the plasma slab. We analyze the anomalous diffusion process triggered by the beam-plasma instability and induced in space across the magnetic field by the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability and the velocity space diffusion induced along the magnetic field due to the kinetic effects of the beam-plasma instability. In the present slab geometry it is found that the collisionless diffusion coefficients D y and D v ∥, describing respectively the anomalous diffusion in physical space and in velocity space, are related by the relation D y = D v ∥ tan 2 θ/ω ce 2 . This relation, which links the electron dynamics in the x-y real space and in the y-v∥ phase space, is verified accurately using the test particles diagnostic techniques. The Vlasov code associated with test particles techniques provides a powerful tool to study particle diffusion in space and in phase space, especially in the low-density regions of the distribution function.
A deep learning based oil spill detector using Sentinel-1 SAR imagery

ABSTRACT The Eastern Mediterranean Sea has been known as an oil pollution hotspot due to its heavy marine traffic and an increasing number of oil and gas exploration activities. To provide automatic detection of oil pollution from not only maritime accidents but also deliberate discharges in this region, a deep learning-based object detector was developed utilizing freely available Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery. A total of 9768 oil objects were collected from 5930 Sentinel-1 scenes from 2015 to 2018 and used for training and validating the object detector and evaluating its performance. The trained object detector has an average precision (AP) of 69.10% and 68.69% on the validation and test sets, respectively, and it could be applied for building an early-stage oil contamination surveillance system.
Do Sustainability Risks Affect Credit Ratings? Evidence from European Banks

Targets defined in accordance with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria confront the business world, particularly the banking industry, with new challenges. The aim of this paper is to study the effect of ESG controversies on the credit rating of the European banking sector, involving 65 European banks from 18 countries in the 2011-2020 period. This empirical study includes different approaches. Firstly, we apply an ordered logit model to ascertain the influence of ESG concerns on credit ratings. Secondly, we analyse the impact of ESG controversies on the probability of obtaining a better rating scale through the marginal effects. And finally, we use matching analysis to measure the real impact of ESG controversies on credit ratings. Our findings suggest that ESG controversies have a negative effect on credit rating. In addition, it is a relevant negative factor in the probability of obtaining a better rating in future reviews of credit assessments. Specifically, the lower the level of ESG controversies, the greater the probability of achieving the highest credit ratings. This research provides a comprehensive view of the impact of ESG controversies on credit ratings awarded to European financial institutions. European banks should take special care to avoid such controversies, as a source of reputational risk, when setting their policies so that their credit ratings would not be affected.
Prevention of Recurrent Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: The Role of Combined Supplementation with Vitamin D and Antioxidants

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) usually has a favorable course, although it is possible to observe BPPV with a high recurrence rate. Previous studies suggested that vitamin D deficiency might affect BPPV recurrences, and oxidative stress might play a complementary role in BPPV pathogenesis. This multicentric trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of oral nutritional supplementation with a compound of alpha-lipoic acid, Carnosine, and Zinc (LICA® (Difass International, Coriano (RN), Italy)), vitamins of group B and vitamin D in preventing BPPV recurrences. A total of 128 patients with high recurrence-BPPV were randomized in three arms: Arm 1 consisted of subjects with “insufficient” or “deficient” vitamin D blood levels, treated with daily oral supplementation of LICA®, vitamins of group B and vitamin D3 (800 UI), Arm 2 included BPPV subjects with “sufficient” vitamin D who did not receive any nutritional support, and Arm 3 included subjects with a “sufficient” serum concentration of vitamin D who received supplementation with a compound of LICA® and Curcumin. After six months of follow-up, a significant reduction of BPPV relapses compared to the baseline was found only in Arm 1 (−2.32, 95% CI: 3.41–1.62, p-value < 0.0001). Study results suggested that oral nutritional supplementation with vitamin D3 plus antioxidants can prevent relapses in patients suffering from high recurrence-BPPV.
On implementation of nested rectangular decision regions by multi-layer perceptrons III: applications using the similarity and dissimilarity

In this paper, we discuss the applications of the up-down algorithm. We focus on how to apply the algorithm to implement some special decision regions according to the similarity and dissimilarity. To generalize the algorithm to solve more complex decision regions, we modify the network structure by adding a logic layer into the original neural network and discuss the partitioning capability of the modified network structure.