Pre-train, Adapt and Detect: Multi-Task Adapter Tuning for Camouflaged Object Detection

Camouflaged object detection (COD), aiming to segment camouflaged objects which exhibit similar patterns with the background, is a challenging task. Most existing works are dedicated to establishing specialized modules to identify camouflaged objects with complete and fine details, while the boundary can not be well located for the lack of object-related semantics. In this paper, we propose a novel ``pre-train, adapt and detect" paradigm to detect camouflaged objects. By introducing a large pre-trained model, abundant knowledge learned from massive multi-modal data can be directly transferred to COD. A lightweight parallel adapter is inserted to adjust the features suitable for the downstream COD task. Extensive experiments on four challenging benchmark datasets demonstrate that our method outperforms existing state-of-the-art COD models by large margins. Moreover, we design a multi-task learning scheme for tuning the adapter to exploit the shareable knowledge across different semantic classes. Comprehensive experimental results showed that the generalization ability of our model can be substantially improved with multi-task adapter initialization on source tasks and multi-task adaptation on target tasks

Drivers behind consumers' intent to purchase deodorized soy milk

Soy milk, rich in vitamin D and calcium, is a common alternative to dairy milk. However, its distinct 'beany off-flavor' has limited its acceptance, particularly in Western countries. A new technique employing preformed 'empty' V-type starch has been introduced to scavenge this off-flavor, aiming to promote soy milk consumption. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of consumers' purchase intention of 'empty' V-type starch deodorized soy milk, particularly among college students. In this cross-sectional study, 105 college students were surveyed by a validated survey instrument that measures their perceptions of sensory quality, healthiness, price, environmental friendliness, food safety, and purchase intention of a novel product – 'empty' V-type starch deodorized soy milk. Additionally, demographic data were gathered to understand any correlations between these factors and the students' willingness-to-purchase of the deodorized soy milk. From the results, more than 80% of the participants expressed a positive attitude toward the 'empty' V-type starch-deodorized soy milk. The two dominant drivers behind their purchasing decision were Sensory Quality and Environmental Concern. Accordingly, it is crucial to highlight the improved sensory profile and the environmental friendliness of this soy milk product in order to achieve marketing success

Sub-5 nm nanobowl gaps electrochemically templated by SiO2-coated Au nanoparticles as surface-enhanced Raman scattering hot spots

National Natural Science Foundation of China [20873037, 91027037, J1103312, J1210040, 21173171, 11074210]Large-area submonolayer and monolayer Au nanoparticle (NP) arrays with sub-5 nm nanobowl gaps for giant electromagnetic enhancement were created by partially embedding SiO2-coated Au NP arrays in an electrochemically deposited Au film, followed by the removal of the SiO2 shells

Encapsulation and retention profile of thymol in the preformed “empty” V‐type starch inclusion complex

Abstract Starch, especially its amylose component can form inclusion complex (IC) with various small molecules, such as flavor and aroma compounds. Complexation of flavor compounds using starch matrices is driven by the hydrophobic interaction and the successful complexation may increase the retention of flavor compounds. In the present study, thymol (2‐isopropyl‐5‐methylphenol) at two different concentrations was introduced into three types of V‐type crystalline starches that have different inner helical cavity size, namely V6h, V7, and V8, and the formed ICs were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The encapsulation efficiency (EE), loading efficiency (LE), and retention profile were determined by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). The results indicated that when preparing ICs using V6h high amylose maize starch (HAMS) at a starch/thymol mass ratio of 2:1, the helical cavity of V6h helices was expanded and resulted in the formation of V7 crystals. Such circumstance could be owing to the cyclic structure of thymol and caused the minor phase transition at T2 of around 110°C observed in DSC. While in other conditions, the complexation with thymol did not alter the structure of starch. The EE and LE results suggested that V6h‐type HAMS exhibits higher capability to encapsulate thymol compared to V7 and V8 HAMS. All ICs demonstrated potent flavor retention ability and retained more than 70% of thymol after 8 h treatment. This study suggested that preformed “empty” V‐type starch could act as a potential matrix to encapsulate thymol, and this encapsulation technology should enable targeted applications of thymol for food processing and formulation applications

Roles of macular carotenoids in brain function throughout the lifespan: A review of recent research

Lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin are carotenoids stored in the macular pigment of the retina, recognized for their essential role in maintaining optimal eye health. These carotenoids contribute to increased macular pigment density, providing protection against oxidative damage to the retina. Recent studies have unveiled potential cognitive health benefits of lutein and zeaxanthin, as they act as antioxidants in neural tissue. This review aims to comprehensively assess the current research investigating the effects of lutein and zeaxanthin on cognitive and macular function across various stages of life. During infancy and childhood, lutein and zeaxanthin are thought to facilitate the development of the eyes and brain, although the precise underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In adulthood and older age, lutein and zeaxanthin assume a protective role for both brain and macular tissues. Their antioxidant properties effectively shield these tissues from oxidative stress and consequent damage. Consequently, lutein and zeaxanthin play crucial supportive and protective roles throughout an individual's lifespan

Research on Distributed Feeder Automation Communication Based on XMPP and GOOSE

In the application process of distributed feeder automation (FA) that is based on peer-to-peer exchange of measurement and control data between smart terminal units (STUs), there is an urgent need for standardized communication interaction and necessary security protection. This paper proposes an IEC 61850 communication mapping scheme using built-in secure extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP) and the generic object oriented substation event based on the user datagram protocol (GOOSE over UDP) and a security protection scheme based on hash to obtain random subsets (HORS); one-time signature algorithm is used to ensure the communication safety of GOOSE messages. The agent-based distributed FA test system is developed with the STUs. The test results show the scheme can meet the requirements of the quick distributed feeder automation

Effect of resistant starch consumption on appetite and satiety: A review

Resistant starch (RS) refers to the portion of starch that escapes intestinal digestion and reaches the colon where it can be fermented. RS in the diet may provide beneficial effects on individuals trying to reduce caloric intake and lose weight. Yet, current evidence on the impact of RS on appetite and satiety regulation is controversial, and the beneficial effect of RS in relieving obesity epidemic has been highly debated. This review aims to collect data from multiple primary research studies, as an effort to inform if RS can affect appetite and satiety in healthy, prediabetic, and overweight/obese adults, respectively. Multiple randomized crossover studies, randomized intervention studies, and parallel arm trials were analyzed in this review. The research of 22 studies showed inconclusive evidence that RS has any statistically significant effects on appetite, hunger, food intake, and satiety biomarkers in either type of individual. It is concluded that further studies and meta-analyses must be done in order to further evaluate the effect of RS on food intake and possible weight loss. Additionally, in future research designs on depicting RS and prevention of obesity and weight gain, it is recommended to consider the effect of RS on appetite and satiety regulation

The role of information quality in designing effective nutrition education programs for pecans

Pecans have many health benefits and are known for being part of a heart-healthy diet. Nutrition education is a key component in increasing pecan consumption among young consumers. In an effort to improve the efficacy of nutrition education targeting a younger demographic, this study aims to investigate how the information quality of a nutrition education program affects consumers' nutrition knowledge, trust, and intentions to recommend and try pecans. A total of 271 usable questionnaires were collected from college students at a southeast university. Our findings indicate that information quality could directly influence consumer knowledge and trust in an information source and indirectly influences consumers' willingness to recommend or try a product. This study also showed that improved consumer knowledge and trust in an information source could strongly affect their willingness to recommend pecan products. The findings of this study can be used to increase the efficacy of educational marketing strategies in the pecan industry and drive an increase in consumption among younger populations