ZzzGPT: An Interactive GPT Approach to Enhance Sleep Quality

In today's world, sleep quality is pivotal for overall well-being. While wearable sensors offer real-time monitoring, they often lack actionable insights, leading to user abandonment. This paper delves into the role of technology in understanding sleep patterns. We introduce a two-stage framework, utilizing Large Language Models (LLMs), aiming to provide accurate sleep predictions with actionable feedback. Leveraging the GLOBEM dataset and synthetic data from LLMs, we highlight enhanced results with models like XGBoost. Our approach merges advanced machine learning with user-centric design, blending scientific accuracy with practicality

Examining the Impact of Uncontrolled Variables on Physiological Signals in User Studies for Information Processing Activities

Physiological signals can potentially be applied as objective measures to understand the behavior and engagement of users interacting with information access systems. However, the signals are highly sensitive, and many controls are required in laboratory user studies. To investigate the extent to which controlled or uncontrolled (i.e., confounding) variables such as task sequence or duration influence the observed signals, we conducted a pilot study where each participant completed four types of information-processing activities (READ, LISTEN, SPEAK, and WRITE). Meanwhile, we collected data on blood volume pulse, electrodermal activity, and pupil responses. We then used machine learning approaches as a mechanism to examine the influence of controlled and uncontrolled variables that commonly arise in user studies. Task duration was found to have a substantial effect on the model performance, suggesting it represents individual differences rather than giving insight into the target variables. This work contributes to our understanding of such variables in using physiological signals in information retrieval user studies.Comment: Accepted to the 46th International ACM SIGIR Conference on Research and Development in Information Retrieval (SIGIR '23

Designing and Evaluating Presentation Strategies for Fact-Checked Content

With the rapid growth of online misinformation, it is crucial to have reliable fact-checking methods. Recent research on finding check-worthy claims and automated fact-checking have made significant advancements. However, limited guidance exists regarding the presentation of fact-checked content to effectively convey verified information to users. We address this research gap by exploring the critical design elements in fact-checking reports and investigating whether credibility and presentation-based design improvements can enhance users' ability to interpret the report accurately. We co-developed potential content presentation strategies through a workshop involving fact-checking professionals, communication experts, and researchers. The workshop examined the significance and utility of elements such as veracity indicators and explored the feasibility of incorporating interactive components for enhanced information disclosure. Building on the workshop outcomes, we conducted an online experiment involving 76 crowd workers to assess the efficacy of different design strategies. The results indicate that proposed strategies significantly improve users' ability to accurately interpret the verdict of fact-checking articles. Our findings underscore the critical role of effective presentation of fact reports in addressing the spread of misinformation. By adopting appropriate design enhancements, the effectiveness of fact-checking reports can be maximized, enabling users to make informed judgments.Comment: Accepted to the 32nd ACM International Conference on Information and Knowledge Management (CIKM '23

Effect of Dextrose Equivalent on Maltodextrin/Whey Protein Spray-Dried Powder Microcapsules and Dynamic Release of Loaded Flavor during Storage and Powder Rehydration

peer reviewedThe preparation of powdered microcapsules of flavor substances should not only protect these substances from volatilization during storage but also improve their di usion during use. This study aimed to investigate the e ects of maltodextrin (MD) with di erent dextrose equivalent (DE) values on retention of flavor substances during storage, and the dynamic release of flavor substances during dissolution. MDs with three di erent DE values and whey protein isolate were mixed in a ratio of 4:1 as wall materials to encapsulate ethyl acetate, and powdered microcapsules were prepared by spray drying. It was proved that MD could reduce the di usion of flavor substances under di erent relative humidity conditions through the interaction between core material and wall material. During dissolution, MD released flavor substances quickly owing to its superior solubility. The reconstituted emulsion formed after the powder dissolved in water recaptured flavor substances and made the system reach equilibrium. This study explored the mechanism of flavor release during the storage and dissolution of powder microcapsules and should help us understand the application of powder microcapsules in food systems

Variation of Helicoverpa armigera symbionts across developmental stages and geographic locations

Cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) poses a global problem, causing substantial economic and ecological losses. Endosymbionts in insects play crucial roles in multiple insect biological processes. However, the interactions between H. armigera and its symbionts have not been well characterized to date. We investigated the symbionts of H. armigera in the whole life cycle from different geographical locations. In the whole life cycle of H. armigera, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria were the dominant bacteria at the phylum level, while Enterococcus, Enterobacter, Glutamicibacter, and Bacillus were the four dominant bacteria at the genus level. Furthermore, high similarity in symbiotic bacterial community was observed in different stages of H. armigera, which were dominated by Enterococcus and Enterobacter. In fields, the dominant bacteria were Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, whereas, in the laboratory, the dominant bacteria were Proteobacteria. At the genus level, the dominant bacteria in cotton bollworm eggs of wild populations were Enterobacter, Morganella, Lactococcus, Asaia, Apibacter, and Enterococcus, and the subdominant bacteria were Bartonella, Pseudomonas, and Orbus. Moreover, the symbionts varied with geographical locations, and the closer the geographical distance, the more similar the microbial composition. Taken together, our study identifies and compares the symbiont variation along with geographical gradients and host development dynamic and reveals the high flexibility of microbiome communities in H. armigera, which probably benefits for the successful survival in a complicated changing environment

Effects of Different High Hydrostatic Pressure Treatments on Gel Formation of Pea 7S and 11S Globulins

In this study, the rheological and textural properties and water-holding capacity of pea 7S and 11S globulin gels induced by high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) at 100–500 MPa for 10 min were measured. The major interaction forces maintaining gel morphology were determined by dissolving the gels in different solvents. The microscopic structure of the gels was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that after HHP treatment at 300 MPa, pea 7S and 11S globulin solutions gradually turned into gels. When the pressure continued to increase to 500 MPa, the formed gels exhibited higher strength, harder texture and higher water-holding capacity. The 11S globulin had weaker gel-forming ability, but higher water-holding capacity (100%) compared with 7S. Furthermore, the overall water-holding capacity and gel strength of 7S–11S mixed gels (in mass ratios of 1:2, 1:1 and 2:1) were significantly improved compared with those of the neat gels. The major forces that maintain the gel structure were hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interaction, followed by disulfide bonds and electrostatic interaction. Therefore, by changing HHP conditions, the strength and texture of pea globulin gels could be controlled

Amino acid Formula induces Microbiota Dysbiosis and Depressive-Like Behavior in Mice

Amino acid formula (AAF) is increasingly consumed in infants with cow\u27s milk protein allergy; however, the long-term influences on health are less described. In this study, we established a mouse model by subjecting neonatal mice to an amino acid diet (AAD) to mimic the feeding regimen of infants on AAF. Surprisingly, AAD-fed mice exhibited dysbiotic microbiota and increased neuronal activity in both the intestine and brain, as well as gastrointestinal peristalsis disorders and depressive-like behavior. Furthermore, fecal microbiota transplantation from AAD-fed mice or AAF-fed infants to recipient mice led to elevated neuronal activations and exacerbated depressive-like behaviors compared to that from normal chow-fed mice or cow\u27s-milk-formula-fed infants, respectively. Our findings highlight the necessity to avoid the excessive use of AAF, which may influence the neuronal development and mental health of children

Buchnera breaks the specialization of the cotton-specialized aphid (Aphis gossypii) by providing nutrition through zucchini

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, is a species of polyphagous aphid with many biotypes, and its host transfer has always been the focus of research on the control of cotton aphid. An important factor affecting aphid specialization is the nutritional association with microbial symbionts that provide the host with nutrients lacking in the diet. We analyzed the microbial composition and biodiversity of reared on zucchini for 10 generations (T1–T10) and cotton as a control (CK), by high-throughput Illumina sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA genes. The findings showed that the change in plant hosts decreased the richness and variety of microbial species. Regardless of whether the plant host is altered or not, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes are the predominate phyla in cotton-specialized aphid. Additionally, cotton-specialized aphids that live in zucchini had considerably lower relative abundances of non-dominant phyla (Bacteroidetes) than cotton hosts. At the genus level the dominant communities were Buchnera, Acinetobacter, and Arsenophonus. The relative abundance of Buchnera was significantly higher in aphids reared on zucchini than those on cotton, whereas the opposite was observed for Acinetobacter, as well as for some non-dominant communities (Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomons, Flavobacterium, Novosphingobium). Collectively, this study clarifies the dynamic changes of symbiotic bacteria in cotton-specialized aphids reared on zucchini for multiple generations. Among them, Buchnera is crucial for the cotton-specialized aphid to get nutrients during the transfer of the host and has a favorable impact on the colonization of cotton-specialized aphid populations on zucchini hosts. It not only enriches our understanding of the relationship between the bacterial microbiota of aphids and their adaptability to new hosts, zucchini, but also expands the current body of research on the mechanisms underlying the host shifting ability of cotton-specialized aphids

Sublethal and intergenerational effects of fipronil on Binodoxys communis larvae based on transcriptome sequencing

Fipronil is widely used in the agricultural world as an efficient phenylpyrazole insecticide to control pests. Binodoxys communis is a key parasitic natural enemy of major homopteran pests and can successfully control the population of pests such as cotton aphids. It has not yet been studied what effects would sublethal doses of fipronil have on Binodoxys communis larvae. Here, this study evaluated the effect of fipronil on Binodoxys communis larvae and analyze the transcriptome results. The results showed that LC10 (1.19 mg/L) and LC25 (1.73 mg/L) had significant negative effects on the survival rate and parasitism rate of F0 generation. Moreover, exposure to high concentrations (LC25) of fipronil still had obvious passive effect on the F1 generation of Binodoxys communis. These results indicated that sublethal doses of fipronil have malignant effects on the biological functions of parasitoids and their offspring. The results of transcriptome analysis showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of Binodoxys communis after LC10 treatment are mainly related to immunity and detoxification. LC25 treatment instead resulted in changes in the expression of genes related to nutrition, energy and metabolism reactions. Seven of the identified DEGs were selected for real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to evaluate the sublethal, intergenerational, and transcriptomic side effects of fipronil on larvae of parasitic natural pest enemies. Our findings provide data to accurately assess the risk of fipronil usage on Binodoxys communis larvae, and provide important theoretical support for the comprehensive prevention and control of natural enemies and pesticides

NGOs in Gujarat Model: Development as an Interaction

The development model a region adopts creates a certain development environment, which is co- shaped by the pillars of growth (such as government policy and priority industries) and the public perception of and action on development. In such development model, NGOs have been recognized as an important player. For NGOs, the success of development programs occurs in the benign interaction between the development model and the NGOs. This article probes into the development environment created by the development model, the impact of the development environment on NGOs, and NGOs’ exploration of adapting to and challenging the development environment. “Gujarat development model” was created when Narendra Modi was the head of Gujarat and later taken national with him elected as Prime Minister of India. This model is renowned for its miracle growth rate, meanwhile suffers from ill repute in human development. I argue that the development environment created by the Gujarat model for NGOs is rich in opportunities but sometimes unwelcome due to authoritarian bureaucracy and ultra-Hindu nationalism. This is due to Gujarat and India’s contradictory picture of neoliberal development: on the one hand, neoliberalism has been promoted with a renovated set of initiatives, as demonstrated by NGOs’ community-based projects; on the other hand, Gujarat and India government seem not to push the neoliberal reform “too far.” NGOs in the Gujarat model, as represented by the Ford Foundation, quickly learn to survive in the policy settings and grasp the opportunities. In terms of the unwelcoming aspects, three kinds of reactions have been observed: exit, accommodation, and challenge