When personalization is not an option: An in-the-wild study on persuasive news recommendation

Aiming at granting wide access to their contents, online information providers often choose not to have registered users, and therefore must give up personalization. In this paper, we focus on the case of non-personalized news recommender systems, and explore persuasive techniques that can, nonetheless, be used to enhance recommendation presentation, with the aim of capturing the user’s interest on suggested items leveraging the way news is perceived. We present the results of two evaluations “in the wild”, carried out in the context of a real online magazine and based on data from 16,134 and 20,933 user sessions, respectively, where we empirically assessed the effectiveness of persuasion strategies which exploit logical fallacies and other techniques. Logical fallacies are inferential schemes known since antiquity that, even if formally invalid, appear as plausible and are therefore psychologically persuasive. In particular, our evaluations allowed us to compare three persuasive scenarios based on the Argumentum Ad Populum fallacy, on a modified version of the Argumentum ad Populum fallacy (Group-Ad Populum), and on no fallacy (neutral condition), respectively. Moreover, we studied the effects of the Accent Fallacy (in its visual variant), and of positive vs. negative Framing

Sensitivity of the human circadian system to short wavelength (420 nm) light

The circadian and neurobehavioral effects of light are primarily mediated by a retinal ganglion cell photoreceptor in the mammalian eye containing the photopigment, melanopsin. Nine action spectrum studies using rodents, monkeys, and human for these responses indicate peak sensitivities in the blue region of the visible spectrum ranging from 459 nm to 484 nm, with some disagreement in short wavelength sensitivity of the spectrum. The aim of this work was to quantify the sensitivity of human volunteers to monochromatic 420 nm light for plasma melatonin suppression. Adult female (N=14) and male (N=12) subjects participated in two studies, each employing a within-subjects design. In a fluence-response study, subjects (N=8) were tested with eight light irradiances at 420 nm ranging over a four log unit photon density range of 1010 to 1014 photons/cm2/sec and one dark exposure control night. In the other study, subjects (N=18) completed an experiment comparing melatonin suppression with equal photon doses (1.21 x 1013 photons/cm2/sec) of 420 nm and 460 nm monochromatic light and a dark exposure control night. The first study demonstrated a clear fluence-response relationship between 420 nm light and melatonin suppression (p\u3c0.001) with a half-saturation constant of 2.74 x 1011 photons/cm2/sec. The second study showed that 460 nm light is significantly stronger than 420 nm light for suppressing melatonin (p\u3c0.04). Together, the results clarify the visible short wavelength sensitivity of the human melatonin suppression action spectrum. This basic physiological finding may be useful for optimizing lighting for therapeutic and other applications

CSRP3 mediates polyphenols-induced cardioprotection in hypertension

Berries contain bioactive polyphenols, whose capacity to prevent cardiovascular diseases has been established recently in animal models as well in human clinical trials. However, cellular processes and molecular targets of berries polyphenols remain to be identified. The capacity of a polyphenol-enriched diet (i.e., blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberry tree fruits and Portuguese crowberries berries mixture) to promote animal survival and protect cardiovascular function from salt-induced hypertension was evaluated in a chronic salt-sensitive Dahl rat model. The daily consumption of berries improved survival of Dahl/salt-sensitive rats submitted to high-salt diet and normalized their body weight, renal function and blood pressure. In addition, a prophylactic effect was observed at the level of cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction, tissue cohesion and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Berries also protected the aorta from fibrosis and modulated the expression of aquaporin-1, a channel involved in endothelial water and nitric oxide permeability. Left ventricle proteomics analysis led to the identification of berries and salt metabolites targets, including cystein and glycin-rich protein 3 (CSRP3), a protein involved in myocyte cytoarchitecture. In neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes, CSRP3 was validated as a target of a berries-derived polyphenol metabolite, 4-methylcatechol sulfate, at micromolar concentrations, mimicking physiological conditions of human plasma circulation. Accordingly, siRNA silencing of CSRP3 and 4-methylcatechol sulfate pretreatment reversed cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and CSRP3 overexpression induced by phenylephrine. Our systemic study clearly supports the modulation of CSRP3 by a polyphenol-rich berries diet as an efficient cardioprotective strategy in hypertension-induced heart failure

The Influence of Sonographer Experience on Skeletal Muscle Image Acquisition and Analysis

The amount of experience with ultrasonography may influence measurement outcomes while images are acquired or analyzed. The purpose of this study was to identify the interrater reliability of ultrasound image acquisition and image analysis between experienced and novice sonographers and image analysts, respectively. Following a brief hands-on training session (2 h), the experienced and novice sonographers and analysts independently performed image acquisition and analyses on the biceps brachii, vastus lateralis, and medial gastrocnemius in a sample of healthy participants (n = 17). Test–retest reliability statistics were computed for muscle thickness (transverse and sagittal planes), muscle cross-sectional area, echo intensity and subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness. The results show that image analysis experience generally has a greater impact on measurement outcomes than image acquisition experience. Interrater reliability for measurements of muscle size during image acquisition was generally good–excellent (ICC2,1: 0.82–0.98), but poor–moderate for echo intensity (ICC2,1: 0.43–0.77). For image analyses, interrater reliability for measurements of muscle size for the vastus lateralis and biceps brachii was poor–moderate (ICC2,1: 0.48–0.70), but excellent for echo intensity (ICC2,1: 0.90–0.98). Our findings have important implications for laboratories and clinics where members possess varying levels of ultrasound experience

Case report: Nonsimultaneous bilateral triceps tendon rupture and surgical repair in a healthy dog

A 7-year-old female spayed Australian shepherd dog was presented for an acute onset of inability to stand. On physical examination, the dog was unable to support weight on the thoracic limbs. On neurological examination, the thoracic limbs had absent hopping and paw placement and reduced withdrawal reflexes bilaterally. The remainder of the neurological examination was normal. The anatomic lesion localized to the C6-T2 spinal nerve roots, spinal nerves, or the named nerves of the thoracic limb, bilaterally. A lesion affecting the ventral gray column of the C6 through T2 spinal cord segments was considered less likely. In an effort to exclude an orthopedic disorder from consideration, radiographs of the shoulders, elbows, and manus were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical and cranial thoracic vertebral column was normal. Analysis of synovial fluid from the carpi, elbows, and shoulders were normal. Ultrasonography of the triceps muscle and tendon of insertion revealed bilateral, acute-subacute tears of the tendon at insertion of the triceps muscles, bilaterally. Magnetic resonance imaging of both elbows revealed complete avulsion of the triceps tendons bilaterally. Surgical repair of both tendons was performed using the Arthrex FiberLoop system combined with autologous conditioned plasma soaked in a collagen sponge. Postoperatively, external coaptation was provided using Spica splints for 6 weeks followed by the use of soft padded orthotic braces for an additional 6 weeks. Concurrently, a front support wheelchair was used for 10 weeks postoperative. By 10 weeks postoperative, the dog was able to ambulate without support. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of bilateral triceps tendon avulsion in a dog. Tendon avulsion occurred without a known history of trauma or predisposing metabolic abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging provided excellent anatomical detail that aided in surgical repair

In vitro and in vivo nutraceutical characterization of two chickpea accessions: Differential effects on hepatic lipid over-accumulation

Dietary habits are crucially important to prevent the development of lifestyle-associated diseases. Diets supplemented with chickpeas have numerous benefits and are known to improve body fat composition. The present study was undertaken to characterize two genetically and phenotypically distinct accessions, MG_13 and PI358934, selected from a global chickpea collection. Rat hepatoma FaO cells treated with a mixture of free fatty acids (FFAs) (O/P) were used as an in vitro model of hepatic steatosis. In parallel, a high-fat diet (HFD) animal model was also established. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed that both chickpea accessions showed a significant antioxidant ability. However, only MG_13 reduced the lipid over-accumulation in steatotic FaO cells and in the liver of HFD fed mice. Moreover, mice fed with HFD + MG_13 displayed a lower level of glycemia and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) than HFD mice. Interestingly, exposure to MG_13 prevented the phosphorylation of the inflammatory nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-kB) which is upregulated during HFD and known to be linked to obesity. To conclude, the comparison of the two distinct chickpea accessions revealed a beneficial effect only for the MG_13. These findings highlight the importance of studies addressing the functional characterization of chickpea biodiversity and nutraceutical properties

Fostering Awareness and Personalization of Learning Artificial Intelligence

This paper illustrates the activities of the projects SMAILE and AILEAP, which are devoted to foster the growth of awareness and readyness to learn artificial intelligence in the general population. The first project was mainly oriented to children and young adults, while the second is more oriented to the personalization of the learning experience also in professionals