Testing of a novel web browser interface for the Chinese market

This paper compares the perspicacity, appropriateness and preference of web browser icons from leading software providers with those of a culture-specific design. This online study was conducted in Taiwan and involved 103 participants, who were given three sets of web browser icons to review, namely Microsoft Internet Explorer, Macintosh Safari, and culturally specific icons created using the Culture-Centred Design methodology. The findings of the study show that all three sets have generally high recognition rates, but that some icon functions (e.g. Go/Visit and Favourite) in all three sets have poor recognition rates and are considered inappropriate

Activation of PPARa ameliorates hepatic insulin resistance and steatosis in high fructose-fed mice despite increased ER stress

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is suggested to cause hepatic insulin resistance by increasing de novo lipogenesis (DNL) and/or directly interfering with insulin signaling via activation of the JNK and IKK pathway. The present study interrogated these two proposed mechanisms in a mouse model of hepatic insulin resistance induced by a high fructose (HFru) diet with the treatment of fenofibrate (FB, 100 mg/kg/day), a PPARa agonist known to reduce lipid accumulation while maintaining elevated DNL in the liver. FB administration completely corrected HFru-induced glucose intolerance, hepatic steatosis and the impaired hepatic insulin signaling (pAkt and pGSK3ß). Intriguingly, both IRE1/XBP1 and PERK/eIF2a arms of the UPR signaling were activated. While retaining the elevated DNL (indicated by the upregulation of SREBP1c, ACC, FAS and SCD1 and 3H2O incorporation into lipids), FB treatment markedly increased FA oxidation (indicated by induction of ACOX1, pACC, ß-HAD activity and 14C-palmitate oxidation) and eliminated the accumulation of diacylglycerols (DAGs) which is known to impact on insulin signaling. Despite the marked activation of UPR signaling, neither JNK nor IKK appeared to be activated. These findings suggest that lipid accumulation (mainly DAGs), rather than the activation of JNK or IKK is pivotal for ER stress to cause hepatic insulin resistance. Therefore, by reducing the accumulation of deleterious lipids, activation of PPARa is able to ameliorate hepatic insulin resistance against increased ER stress

Swin Transformer-Based Dynamic Semantic Communication for Multi-User with Different Computing Capacity

Semantic communication has gained significant attention from researchers as a promising technique to replace conventional communication in the next generation of communication systems, primarily due to its ability to reduce communication costs. However, little literature has studied its effectiveness in multi-user scenarios, particularly when there are variations in the model architectures used by users and their computing capacities. To address this issue, we explore a semantic communication system that caters to multiple users with different model architectures by using a multi-purpose transmitter at the base station (BS). Specifically, the BS in the proposed framework employs semantic and channel encoders to encode the image for transmission, while the receiver utilizes its local channel and semantic decoder to reconstruct the original image. Our joint source-channel encoder at the BS can effectively extract and compress semantic features for specific users by considering the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and computing capacity of the user. Based on the network status, the joint source-channel encoder at the BS can adaptively adjust the length of the transmitted signal. A longer signal ensures more information for high-quality image reconstruction for the user, while a shorter signal helps avoid network congestion. In addition, we propose a hybrid loss function for training, which enhances the perceptual details of reconstructed images. Finally, we conduct a series of extensive evaluations and ablation studies to validate the effectiveness of the proposed system.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figure

An Efficient Federated Learning Framework for Training Semantic Communication System

Semantic communication has emerged as a pillar forthe next generation of communication systems due to its capabilities in alleviating data redundancy. Most semantic communication systems are built upon advanced deep learning models whosetraining performance heavily relies on data availability. Existingstudies often make unrealistic assumptions of a readily accessibledata source, where in practice, data is mainly created on the clientside. Due to privacy and security concerns, the transmission ofdata is restricted, which is necessary for conventional centralizedtraining schemes. To address this challenge, we explore semanticcommunication in a federated learning (FL) setting that utilizesclient data without leaking privacy. Additionally, we designour system to tackle the communication overhead by reducingthe quantity of information delivered in each global round.In this way, we can save significant bandwidth for resourcelimited devices and reduce overall network traffic. Finally, weintroduce a mechanism to aggregate the global model fromclients, called FedLol. Extensive simulation results demonstratethe effectiveness of our proposed technique compared to baselinemethods

Conjugated Oligo- and Polymers for Bacterial Sensing

Fast and accurate detection of bacteria and differentiation between pathogenic and commensal colonization are important keys in preventing the emergence and spread of bacterial resistance toward antibiotics. As bacteria undergo major lifestyle changes during colonization, bacterial sensing needs to be achieved on different levels. In this review, we describe how conjugated oligo- and polymers are used to detect bacterial colonization. We summarize how oligothiophene derivatives have been tailor-made for detection of biopolymers produced by a wide range of bacteria upon entering the biofilm lifestyle. We further describe how these findings are translated into diagnostic approaches for biofilm-related infections. Collectively, this provides an overview on how synthetic biorecognition elements can be used to produce fast and easy diagnostic tools and new methods for infection control

Does the Reserve Options Mechanism really decrease exchange rate volatility? The Synthetic Control Method Approach

After the invention of the Reserve Option Mechanism (ROM) by the Central Bank of Turkey, it has been debated whether it can help decrease the volatility of foreign exchange rate. In this study, I apply a new micro-econometric technique, the synthetic control method, in order to construct a counterfactual foreign exchange rate volatility in the absence of the ROM. I find that, USD/TRY rate is less volatile under the ROM. However, the ROM has not worked efficiently after the announcement of FED's tapering in May 2013. Furthermore, the ROM could have decreased the volatility of foreign exchange rate if FED had not started tapering

Tailoring force sensitivity and selectivity by microstructure engineering of multidirectional electronic skins

Electronic skins (e-skins) with high sensitivity to multidirectional mechanical stimuli are crucial for healthcare monitoring devices, robotics, and wearable sensors. In this study, we present piezoresistive e-skins with tunable force sensitivity and selectivity to multidirectional forces through the engineered microstructure geometries (i.e., dome, pyramid, and pillar). Depending on the microstructure geometry, distinct variations in contact area and localized stress distribution are observed under different mechanical forces (i.e., normal, shear, stretching, and bending), which critically affect the force sensitivity, selectivity, response/relaxation time, and mechanical stability of e-skins. Microdome structures present the best force sensitivities for normal, tensile, and bending stresses. In particular, microdome structures exhibit extremely high pressure sensitivities over broad pressure ranges (47,062 kPa(-1) in the range of < 1 kPa, 90,657 kPa(-1) in the range of 1-10 kPa, and 30,214 kPa(-1) in the range of 10-26 kPa). On the other hand, for shear stress, micropillar structures exhibit the highest sensitivity. As proof-of-concept applications in healthcare monitoring devices, we show that our e-skins can precisely monitor acoustic waves, breathing, and human artery/carotid pulse pressures. Unveiling the relationship between the microstructure geometry of e-skins and their sensing capability would provide a platform for future development of high-performance microstructured e-skins

Constraints on the Mass and Mixing of the 4th Generation Quark From Direct CP Violationϵ′/ϵ\epsilon^{\prime}/\epsilon and Rare K Decays

We investigate the $\epsilon^{\prime} /\epsilon$ for $K\to \pi\pi$ in a sequential fourth generation model. By giving the basic formulae for $\epsilon^{\prime}/\epsilon$ in this model, we analyze the numerical results which are dependent of $m_{t^{\prime}}$ and imaginary part of the fourth CKM factor, ${Im}V^{*}_{t^{'}s}V_{t^{'}d}$ (or $V^{*}_{t^{'}s}V_{t^{'}d}$ and the fourth generation CKM matrix phase $\theta$). We find that, unlike the SM, when taking the central values of all parameters for $\epsilon^{\prime}/\epsilon$, the values of $\epsilon^{\prime}/ \epsilon$ can easily fit to the current experimental data for all values of hadronic matrix elements estimated from various approaches. Also, we show that the experimental values of $\epsilon^{\prime}/\epsilon$ and rare K decays can provide a strong constraint on both mass and mixing of the fourth generation quark. When taking the values of hadronic matrix elements from the lattice or 1/N expansion calculations, a large region of the up-type quark mass $m_{t^{\prime}}$ is excluded.Comment: 18 pages, 4 eps figure

Trisomy of human chromosome 21 enhances amyloid-β deposition independently of an extra copy of APP

Down syndrome, caused by trisomy of chromosome 21, is the single most common risk factor for early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Worldwide approximately 6 million people have Down syndrome, and all these individuals will develop the hallmark amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of Alzheimer's disease by the age of 40 and the vast majority will go on to develop dementia. Triplication of APP, a gene on chromosome 21, is sufficient to cause early-onset Alzheimer's disease in the absence of Down syndrome. However, whether triplication of other chromosome 21 genes influences disease pathogenesis in the context of Down syndrome is unclear. Here we show, in a mouse model, that triplication of chromosome 21 genes other than APP increases amyloid-β aggregation, deposition of amyloid-β plaques and worsens associated cognitive deficits. This indicates that triplication of chromosome 21 genes other than APP is likely to have an important role to play in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis in individuals who have Down syndrome. We go on to show that the effect of trisomy of chromosome 21 on amyloid-β aggregation correlates with an unexpected shift in soluble amyloid-β 40/42 ratio. This alteration in amyloid-β isoform ratio occurs independently of a change in the carboxypeptidase activity of the γ-secretase complex, which cleaves the peptide from APP, or the rate of extracellular clearance of amyloid-β. These new mechanistic insights into the role of triplication of genes on chromosome 21, other than APP, in the development of Alzheimer's disease in individuals who have Down syndrome may have implications for the treatment of this common cause of neurodegeneration