A Personalized Recommender System Based on Explanation Facilities Using Collaborative Filtering

Collaborative filtering (CF) is the most successful recommendation method, but its widespread use has exposed some limitations, such as sparsity, scalability, and black box. Many researchers have focused on sparsity and scalability problem but a little has tried to solve the black box problem. Most CF recommender systems are black boxes, providing no transparency into the working of the recommendation. This research suggests an improved CF recommender system with explanation facilities to overcome the black box problem. Explanation facilities make it possible to expose the reasoning and data behind a recommendation. Therefore, explanations provide us with a mechanism for handling errors that come with a recommendation. Furthermore, it is proposed to use web usage mining and product taxonomy to enhance the recommendation quality for e-commerce environment. For such purposes, it is developed a recommender system named WebCF-Exp, Web usage mining driven Collaborative Filtering with Explanation facilities. To test the performance of WebCF-Exp, EBIB research internet shopping mall and explanation interfaces are developed. Experiments are conducted with the data provided by EBIB Research Internet shopping mall

Multi-Channel Active Noise Control System Designs with Fuzzy Logic Stabilized Algorithms

Abstract. In active noise control filter, IIR filter structure which used for control filter assures the stability property. The stability characteristics of IIR filter structure is mainly determined by pole location of control filter within unit disc, so stable selection of the value of control filter coefficient is very important. In this paper, we proposed novel adaptive stabilized Filtered_U LMS algorithms with IIR filter structure which has better convergence speed and less computational burden than conventional FIR structures, for multi-channel active noise control with vehicle enclosure signal case. For better convergence speed in adaptive algorithms, fuzzy LMS algorithms where convergence coefficient computed by a fuzzy PI type controller was proposed. Multi-channel Active Noise control systems Unwanted acoustic noise problems become more and more evident as increased numbers of large industrial equipment such as engines, blowers, fans, transformers, and compressors are in use. Mechanical vibration is another related type of noise that commonly creates problems in all areas of transportation and manufacturing, as well as many household appliances. The traditional approach to acoustic noise control use passive techniques such as enclosures, barriers, and silencers to attenuate the undesired noise. These passive silencers are valued for their high attenuation over broad frequency range, but they are relatively large, costly, and ineffective at low frequencies. The attenuation of passive silencers is low when the acoustic wavelength is large compared to the silencer dimensions, such as body length or lining thickness. ANC systems utilizing a microphone and an electronically driven loud speaker to generate a canceling sound was first proposed in a 1936 patent by Lueg In active noise control filter, IIR filter structure which used for control filter assures the stability property. The stability characteristics of IIR filter structure is mainly determined by pole location of control filter within unit disc, so stable selection of value of control filter coefficient is very important. In this paper, we proposed novel adaptive stabilized fuzzy Filtered_U LMS algorithms with IIR filter structure which has better convergence speed and less computational burden than conventional FIR structures, for multi-channel active noise control with vehicle enclosure signal case

Impact of mental disorders on the risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with diabetes mellitus:a nationwide population-based study

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether mental disorders are an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with diabetes. We aimed to investigate whether patients with diabetes who have mental disorders have an increased risk for AF. METHODS: Using the Korea National Health Insurance Service database, we enrolled 2,512,690 patients diagnosed with diabetes without AF between 2009 and 2012. We assessed five mental disorders: depression, insomnia, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Newly diagnosed AF was identified during the follow-up period, and multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Among the 2,512,690 patients (mean age 57.2 ± 12.3 years; 60.1% men), 828,929 (33.0%) had mental disorders. Among the five mental disorders, anxiety (68.1%) was the most common, followed by insomnia (40.0%). During a median follow-up duration of 7.1 years, new-onset AF was diagnosed in 79,525 patients (4.66 per 1,000 person-years). Patients with diabetes who had mental disorders showed a higher risk for AF (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17–1.21; p-value < 0.001). Depression, insomnia, and anxiety were significantly associated with higher risk for AF (adjusted HR [95% CI]: 1.15 [1.12–1.17], 1.15 [1.13–1.18], and 1.19 [1.67–1.21], respectively; all p-values < 0.001), whereas bipolar disorder and schizophrenia were not. CONCLUSIONS: Mental disorders, especially depression, insomnia, and anxiety, were associated with an increased risk for AF in patients with diabetes. Greater awareness with a prompt diagnosis of AF should be considered for patients with both DM and mental disorders. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12933-022-01682-7

Carisbamate Blockade of T-Type Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels

Objectives Carisbamate (CRS) is a novel monocarbamate compound that possesses antiseizure and neuroprotective properties. However, the mechanisms underlying these actions remain unclear. Here, we tested both direct and indirect effects of CRS on several cellular systems that regulate intracellular calcium concentration [Ca2+]i. Methods We used a combination of cellular electrophysiologic techniques, as well as cell viability, Store Overload‐Induced Calcium Release (SOICR), and mitochondrial functional assays to determine whether CRS might affect [Ca2+]i levels through actions on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria, and/or T‐type voltage‐gated Ca2+ channels. Results In CA3 pyramidal neurons, kainic acid induced significant elevations in [Ca2+]i and long‐lasting neuronal hyperexcitability, both of which were reversed in a dose‐dependent manner by CRS. Similarly, CRS suppressed spontaneous rhythmic epileptiform activity in hippocampal slices exposed to zero‐Mg2+ or 4‐aminopyridine. Treatment with CRS also protected murine hippocampal HT‐22 cells against excitotoxic injury with glutamate, and this was accompanied by a reduction in [Ca2+]i. Neither kainic acid nor CRS alone altered the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ) in intact, acutely isolated mitochondria. In addition, CRS did not affect mitochondrial respiratory chain activity, Ca2+‐induced mitochondrial permeability transition, and Ca2+ release from the ER. However, CRS significantly decreased Ca2+ flux in human embryonic kidney tsA‐201 cells transfected with Cav3.1 (voltage‐dependent T‐type Ca2+) channels. Significance Our data indicate that the neuroprotective and antiseizure activity of CRS likely results in part from decreased [Ca2+]i accumulation through blockade of T‐type Ca2+ channels

Solution-processed near-infrared Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)(2) photodetectors with enhanced chalcopyrite crystallization and bandgap grading structure via potassium incorporation

Although solution-processed Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)(2) (CIGS) absorber layers can potentially enable the low-cost and large-area production of highly stable electronic devices, they have rarely been applied in photodetector applications. In this work, we present a near-infrared photodetector functioning at 980 nm based on solution-processed CIGS with a potassium-induced bandgap grading structure and chalcopyrite grain growth. The incorporation of potassium in the CIGS film promotes Se uptake in the bulk of the film during the chalcogenization process, resulting in a bandgap grading structure with a wide space charge region that allows improved light absorption in the near-infrared region and charge carrier separation. Also, increasing the Se penetration in the potassium-incorporated CIGS film leads to the enhancement of chalcopyrite crystalline grain growth, increasing charge carrier mobility. Under the reverse bias condition, associated with hole tunneling from the ZnO interlayer, the increasing carrier mobility of potassium-incorporated CIGS photodetector improved photosensitivity and particularly external quantum efficiency more than 100% at low light intensity. The responsivity and detectivity of the potassium-incorporated CIGS photodetector reach 1.87 A W-1 and 6.45 x 10(10) Jones, respectively, and the - 3 dB bandwidth of the device extends to 10.5 kHz under 980 nm near-infrared light

Nutritional and antioxidant status by skin types among female adults

This study was performed to analyze the relationship among sebum · hydration content of the skin and nutritional intake, serum antioxidant minerals and antioxidant enzymes, and lipid peroxide concentration in 50 female subjects in their 20s. The skin type was divided into Dry Skin, Mixed Skin, and Oily Skin, and the dry skin group was 14%, the mixed skin group was 56%, and the oily skin group was 30% of all subjects. The average age of the subjects was 20.54 ± 1.43 years and BMI was 20.66. The average sebum content in each group was in the order of T-zone>forehead>chin>cheek. In case of the T-zone, a significant difference between the dry skin group and the oily skin group was observed, suggesting that the area is most sensitive to sebum content by skin type. Significant differences were not observed in energy and nutrient intakes by skin type. Serum concentrations of antioxidant minerals such as copper, manganese, zinc and selenium were not significantly different among the groups, but the dry skin group tended to be higher than the oily skin group. Serum catalase was significantly higher in the oily skin group (P < 0.05), and MDA was significantly higher in the mixed skin group (P < 0.05). The hydration of the cheek and serum zinc showed a negative correlation, and the sebum content of the cheek and GPx showed a significant negative correlation. The hydration of the forehead and serum copper showed a significant negative correlation, and the hydration of the forehead and GPx showed a significant positive correlation. The hydration of the chin and serum SOD showed a significant positive correlation. With these results, it is considered that the basic condition of nutritional status can affect the skin health