Information Content Research Articles

The effect of gamma ray re-irradiation on genetic variations in black rice based on RAPD and Bph gene resistance location based on SSR markers

Abstract The black rice variety Cempo Ireng M8 generation already has morphologically uniform characteristics and good productivity values. However, the black rice M8 generation is still susceptible to planthopper pests. Therefore, a re-irradiation process was carried out on M8 using 200 Gy gamma rays to obtain a black rice variety resistant to planthopper pests. This re-radiation treatment has produced the M2 generation. To determine the genetic variations between M8 black rice plants and the M2 generation that are formed, this research conducted molecular methods using six RAPD markers and three SSR markers to determine genes in the sample related to the Bph resistance gene. The sequenced SSR amplicons were analyzed using BLAST in NCBI. The results of the RAPD marker showed genetic variation in the seven black rice samples with an average polymorphism percentage of 92.85% and the Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) value for the six primers was between 0.25-0.5, which means the RAPD primers is informative. The analysis and sequence results of the RM5953 primer show that the primer is located in the Bph resistance gene (chromosome 4) and produces an amplicon at a band size of 129 bp.

Prediction of individual differences in non-iridescent structural plumage colour from nanostructural periodicity and regularity.

Non-iridescent structural plumage reflectance is a sexually selected indicator of individual quality in several bird species. However, the structural basis of individual differences remains unclear. In particular, the dominant periodicity of the quasi-ordered feather barb nanostructure is of key importance in colour generation, but no study has successfully traced back reflectance parameters, and particularly hue, to nanostructural periodicity, although this would be key to deciphering the information content of individual variation. We used matrix small-angle X-ray scattering measurements of intact, stacked feather samples from the blue tit crown to estimate the sex-dependence and individual variation of nanostructure and its effects on light reflectance. Measures of nanostructural periodicity successfully predicted brightness, ultraviolet chroma and also hue, with statistically similar effects in the two sexes. However, we also observed a lack of overall effect of the nanostructural inhomogeneity estimate on reflectance chromaticity, sex-dependent accuracy in hue prediction and strong sex-dependence in position estimation error. We suggest that reflectance attributes are modified by other feather structures in a sex-specific manner, and that within-individual variation in nanostructural parameters exists within or among feathers and this confounds the interpretation of structure-reflectance relationships at the plumage area level.

Genetic assessment of eight zoo populations of golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) implication to the conservation management of captive populations.

Captive breeding programs play an important role in preserving the genetic diversity of endangered species. It is of utmost importance to conduct genetic assessment for captive populations in order to develop scientific breeding plans and conservation management strategies. Here, we genotyped 10 microsatellite loci and sequenced 368 bp of mitochondrial DNA control region for the golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) from eight captive populations in China, and compared the genetic indices of captive populations with a wild population. Meanwhile, we performed paternity tests to verify the genealogical records and established genetic lineages. A total of 157 individuals were identified from 161 fecal samples, including 135 captive individuals (approximately 25% of captive individuals in China). Microsatellite analysis showed that the nine populations had moderate levels of genetic diversity, with polymorphism information content (PIC) ranging from 0.43 to 0.542; the genetic diversity of captive populations (average PIC: 0.503) was slightly higher than that of the wild population (PIC: 0.438). The Structure analysis indicated that individuals of the eight captive populations contained two different genetic components. We conducted either single-blind or double-blind paternity testing on 40 offspring of captive individuals and found that five offspring from two zoos (Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo and Shanghai Wild Animal Park) showed discrepant kinships from their pedigree records, probably due to the inaccuracies in pedigree records. By constructing genetic pedigrees, inbred offspring were found in Beijing Zoo, Shanghai Zoo, Hangzhou Zoo, and Chengdu Zoo. Analysis based on mitochondrial DNA showed a high level of genetic diversity in the eight captive populations (mean nucleotide diversity: 0.047). However, no nucleotide diversity was found in the wild population. This study conducted a genetic survey for captive golden snub-nosed monkeys and will significantly benefit the genetic conservation management for captive populations in the future.

Neural markers of reduced arousal and consciousness in mild cognitive impairment.

People with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) experience changes in their level and content of consciousness, but there is little research on biomarkers of consciousness in pre-clinical AD and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). This study investigated whether levels of consciousness are decreased in people with MCI. A multi-site site magnetoencephalography (MEG) dataset, BIOFIND, comprising 83 people with MCI and 83 age matched controls, was analysed. Arousal (and drowsiness) was assessed by computing the theta-alpha ratio (TAR). The Lempel-Ziv algorithm (LZ) was used to quantify the information content of brain activity, with higher LZ values indicating greater complexity and potentially a higher level of consciousness. LZ was lower in the MCI group versus controls, indicating a reduced level of consciousness in MCI. TAR was higher in the MCI group versus controls, indicating a reduced level of arousal (i.e. increased drowsiness) in MCI. LZ was also found to be correlated with mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores, suggesting an association between cognitive impairment and level of consciousness in people with MCI. A decline in consciousness and arousal can be seen in MCI. As cognitive impairment worsens, measured by MMSE scores, levels of consciousness and arousal decrease. These findings highlight how monitoring consciousness using biomarkers could help understand and manage impairments found at the preclinical stages of AD. Further research is needed to explore markers of consciousness between people who progress from MCI to dementia and those who do not, and in people with moderate and severe AD, to promote person-centred care.

Unveiling the genetic structure of pig population in a Himalayan state Uttarakhand through microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA analyses.

This study traced the maternal lineage of the domestic swine populations using mitochondrial DNA control region markers and genetic diversity using microsatellite markers in Uttarakhand, an Indian state situated at the foothills of the world's youngest (geo-dynamically sensitive) mountain system, "the Himalayas". Analysis of 68 maternally unrelated individuals revealed 20 haplotypes. The maternal signature of the Pacific, Southeast Asian, European, and ubiquitously distributed Chinese haplotypes was present in Uttarakhand's domestic pig population. The D3 haplotype reported in wild pigs from North India was also identified in 47 domestic samples. A unique gene pool, UKD (Uttarakhand Domestic), as another lineage specific to this region has been proposed. Genotypes were analyzed, using 13 sets of microsatellite markers. The observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosities were 0.83 ± 0.02 and 0.84 ± 0.01, respectively. The average polymorphic information content value of 0.83 ± 0.01 indicated the high informativeness of the marker. The overall mean FIS value for all the microsatellite markers was low (F = 0.04, P < 0.01). Seven loci deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) at a significant level (p < 0.05). Two clusters were identified, indicating overlapping populations. These results suggested that though belonging to different maternal lineages, the traditional management practices in Uttarakhand have allowed for genetic mixing and the sharing of genetic material among pig populations. It could contribute to increased genetic diversity but might also result in the loss of distinct genetic characteristics or breed purity of the local breeds if not carefully managed.

A review of unsupervised learning in astronomy

This review summarises popular unsupervised learning methods, and gives an overview of their past, current, and future uses in astronomy. Unsupervised learning aims to organise the information content of a dataset, in such a way that knowledge can be extracted. Traditionally this has been achieved through dimensionality reduction techniques that aid the ranking of a dataset, for example through principal component analysis or by using auto-encoders, or simpler visualisation of a high dimensional space, for example through the use of a self organising map. Other desirable properties of unsupervised learning include the identification of clusters, i.e. groups of similar objects, which has traditionally been achieved by the k-means algorithm and more recently through density-based clustering such as HDBSCAN. More recently, complex frameworks have emerged, that chain together dimensionality reduction and clustering methods. However, no dataset is fully unknown. Thus, nowadays a lot of research has been directed towards self-supervised and semi-supervised methods that stand to gain from both supervised and unsupervised learning.

Information content and optimization of self-organized developmental systems

A key feature of many developmental systems is their ability to self-organize spatial patterns of functionally distinct cell fates. To ensure proper biological function, such patterns must be established reproducibly, by controlling and even harnessing intrinsic and extrinsic fluctuations. While the relevant molecular processes are increasingly well understood, we lack a principled framework to quantify the performance of such stochastic self-organizing systems. To that end, we introduce an information-theoretic measure for self-organized fate specification during embryonic development. We show that the proposed measure assesses the total information content of fate patterns and decomposes it into interpretable contributions corresponding to the positional and correlational information. By optimizing the proposed measure, our framework provides a normative theory for developmental circuits, which we demonstrate on lateral inhibition, cell type proportioning, and reaction-diffusion models of self-organization. This paves a way toward a classification of developmental systems based on a common information-theoretic language, thereby organizing the zoo of implicated chemical and mechanical signaling processes.

Universality Classes of Relativistic Fluid Dynamics: Foundations.

A general organizing principle is proposed that can be used to derive the equations of motion describing the near-equilibrium dynamics of causal and thermodynamically stable relativistic systems. The latter are found to display some new type of universal behavior near equilibrium that allows them to be grouped into universality classes defined by their degrees of freedom, information content, and conservation laws. The universality classes expose a number of surprising equivalences between different theories, shedding new light on the near-equilibrium behavior of relativistic systems.

Deepfake Detection System

Abstract: Because deep fake technology allows for the creation of incredibly realistically modified material that has the potential to mislead viewers and possibly cause instability across a range of businesses, it poses a severe threat to modern society. These days, detecting such modified content is crucial to maintaining the trustworthiness and integrity of digital media. In response, this research proposes a robust deep learning-based technique for detecting deep fakes in videos. Our method uses the Deep fake Detection Challenge dataset, which contains both real and deep fake films, to train and assess our deep learning model. We want to provide a dependable solution that can differentiate between artificially generated information and actual content using stateof-the-art neural networks. Artificial intelligence-generated phony videos are more likely to spread thanks to deep learning algorithms, which raises serious concerns about official blackmail, terrorist propaganda, revenge pornography, and political manipulation. To alleviate these concerns, our approach is designed to automatically identify several forms of deep forgery, including replacement and re-enactment techniques. By means of extensive testing and analysis, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our deep fake detection system in precisely distinguishing bogus films from authentic ones. Our system, which combines cutting-edge deep learning methods with a large dataset, offers a promising way to lessen the hazards related to the spread of deep fake technologies

ALVoyage – An AI Travel Planner

Abstract: The document discusses the ALVoyage AI travel planner, which integrates with Gemini and Weather APIs and utilizes Firebase authentication. ALVoyage offers personalized travel planning by leveraging AI technology to curate itineraries based on user preferences. It seamlessly integrates with the Gemini API to generate informative content and incorporates real-time weather data from the OpenWeatherMap API. Firebase authentication ensures user security and privacy. The document also highlights the benefits and key features of Gemini and OpenWeatherMap APIs. The methodology section outlines the system architecture and components of ALVoyage, including user authentication, UI/UX design, Gemini API integration, Weather API integration, and user reviews. The results and discussion section emphasizes the system's performance, user feedback, and the future scope of the project. The conclusion highlights the potential of AI-powered travel planning apps and the need for further research and development in the field.

Volatility risk premium, good volatility and bad volatility: Evidence from SSE 50 ETF options

This paper studies the impact of volatility risk premium of SSE 50 ETF options on the price volatility of the underlying securities. After dividing options into different attributes including different types, market conditions and moneyness, we find that options contain implicit volatility information for the underlying securities and volatility risk premium has a significantly positive impact on the realized volatility. We further discuss the effect of options with different attributes on good and bad volatilities. The empirical results show that volatility risk premium has significant influence on both of them. In particular, the impact of volatility risk premium on good volatility is significantly stronger than that of bad volatility. In addition, we investigate the out-of-sample forecast performance of the volatility risk premium on realized volatility. The results show that the implied information content of deep out-of-the-money options has the highest prediction accuracy for weekly good realized volatility.

Genetic diversity in Pima (Gossypium barbadense L.) and advanced interspecific hybrids (Gossypium hirsutum x Gossypium barbadense) of cotton germplasm in Ethiopia

This study was conducted to assess the genetic diversity in Pima (Gossypium barbadense L.) and advanced interspecific hybrids (G. hirsutum L. x G. barbadense L.) of cotton germplasm in Ethiopia. A total of 26 germplasm were genotyped using 26 polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. A total of 165 polymorphic loci, with a range of 3 to 13 alleles and a mean of 6.35 per marker were detected. About 11% of total alleles were unique alleles in 11 germplasm. The gene diversity varied from 0.39 to 0. 89, while the heterozygosity was in the range of 0 to 1.00. Furthermore, the polymorphic information content of the markers varied from 0.37 (BNL1417) to 0.88 (BNL1672) with an average of 0.68. Among the complete panel of cotton germplasm used in this study, the pairwise genetic distance ranged from 0.08 to 0.94, with an overall mean of 0.61. The UPGMA cluster analysis grouped the Pima cotton germplasm into two cluster groups and the advanced interspecific hybrid cotton germplasm makes one cluster. Principal coordinate analysis indicates that the first three most informative principal coordinates explained 68.4% of the genetic variation. The result evidenced very low to high genetic dissimilarity and overall, a considerable genetic diversity among and within germplasm which could be used to further broaden the genetic base and to enlarge the number of available cotton germplasm.

Learning by Talking: Using Multimedia to Enhance Science Explanation Development of Neurodivergent Students

Becoming proficient in scientific discourse such as argumentation or developing explanations can be challenging for students, including neurodivergent students (e.g., autistic students, students with learning disabilities, students with ADHD). Students need to practice developing arguments and explanations as well as sharing their conclusions with others; however, these opportunities do not regularly occur. The use of multimedia technology shows promise in being an engaging and effective way to support student learning and discussion of science topics and phenomena. This study investigated the use of a multimedia presentation called Dialogic Instruction for Argumentative Learning in Science (DIALS) in supporting upper-elementary neurodivergent students to provide complete responses to science questions. DIALS provides a structured inquiry investigation to the student in which they learn about a phenomenon through completing scaffolded animated experiments, explicitly learning how to develop an argument and respond to others conclusions, and learning relevant content information to support their argument and explanation development. An adapted alternating treatments design approach was used in this study. The phenomena explored were counterbalanced between three options: DIALS, PowerPoint comparison lessons, or control probe slides. Results from this study show promise in the use of DIALS in enhancing student complete responding to questions and providing quality claims for why they think phenomena occur. Implications for the findings are discussed.

Enhanced quality of documentation for biologic therapy of chronic rhinosinusitis through structured digital reporting and indication?

With targeted inhibition of type2 inflammation, biologics represent the standard add-on therapy for inadequately controlled severe forms of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Despite standardization with paper-based checklists, the documentation of medical history and current findings pertinent to indication criteria are asignificant challenge for physicians. Through development of an application based on structured reporting, the current study aimed to improve documentation quality and simplify the decision-making process. Previously available paper checklists served as a comparison. For this study, adigital incremental tool was programmed to record current findings and check for fulfilment of indication criteria. The tool was compared with other checklists in terms of completeness, time required, and readability. Atotal of 20findings were collected for each of the three documentation options and included in the analysis. Documentation with the two paper-based checklists had comparable information content: 17.5 ± 5.1/21.7 ± 7.6points out of amaximum of 43points; p > 0.05. Documentation using the digital application led to asignificant increase in information content compared to all paper-based documentation. The average score was 38.25 ± 3.7 (88.9% of maximum; p < 0.001). On average, user satisfaction was high (9.6/10). Use of the digital application was initially more time consuming, but as more cases were documented, the time taken improved significantly. In the future, structured reporting using apps could replace paper-based reporting for the indication of biologic therapy in CRSwNP patients and offer additional benefits in terms of data quality and traceability of results. The increasing volume of documentation in the future, the progress of digitalization, and the possibility of networking between individual centers make introduction of the app in the near future both likely and economical.

Impact of AI on Communication Relationship and Social Dynamics: A qualitative Approach

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into social media platforms has ushered in a new era of digital communication, offering unprecedented opportunities for content curation, relationship-building, and information exchange. Through this qualitative study, we have explored the multifaceted impact of AI-driven algorithms and natural language processing (NLP) technologies on user experiences and societal dynamics, addressing key research objectives and questions. Our findings underscore the transformative potential of AI in enhancing content curation and user interaction on social media platforms. Participants highlighted the benefits of personalized content recommendations and AI-enabled features such as chatbots, which streamline user interactions and provide instant support. Furthermore, AI algorithms play a crucial role in facilitating relationship-building through friend suggestions and group recommendations, fostering community engagement and social connections among users. However, alongside these benefits, our study also revealed significant challenges and ethical concerns associated with AI integration in social media. Participants expressed concerns about the proliferation of echo chambers and misinformation, fueled by algorithmic biases and the spread of false information through social bots. Privacy considerations emerged as a prominent issue, with participants emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in AI implementation to safeguard user data and mitigate risks of algorithmic surveillance. In light of these findings, it is evident that the responsible deployment of AI technologies is paramount in ensuring positive user experiences and preserving the integrity of digital information ecosystems. Ethical considerations must guide the design and implementation of AI-driven algorithms, prioritizing transparency, fairness, and user empowerment. Platform operators, policymakers, and civil society stakeholders must collaborate to develop robust regulatory frameworks and governance mechanisms that uphold ethical standards and protect user rights in the digital age.

DEVELOPMENT OF A WEB-BASED SYSTEM FOR CONTENT EXCHANGE

The research paper presents a comprehensive study and development of a web-based content sharing system, the main purpose of which is to stimulate and distribute photo and media content, textual information about video game characters in the Ukrainian segment of the Internet through a convenient and efficient platform for users. This study formulated the requirements for the content sharing system and the stages of its development. Based on the requirements for the implementation of the system, a web-based content exchange system was developed, consisting of a client application (frontend) and a web server (backend) using third-party SaaS solutions to store media content and user information for the content exchange system. The system is designed to provide users with a convenient and efficient tool for sharing information about video games. The development process consists of the following stages: researching the context of formulating functional and non-functional requirements, selecting technologies to implement the system in accordance with the requirements for the frontend and backend. Also, unit and end-to-end tests are written for the developed applications to ensure that the system has the expected behavior. Completion of all stages and implementation of front-end and back-end applications in accordance with the requirements is the result of this work, namely a web-based content exchange system that meets all the requirements and provides an effective exchange of information about video games in the Ukrainian Internet segment.

When Science Meets Digital Branding

The science media ecosystem continues to dramatically change with the proliferation of digital media channels and platforms. While there are many different types of digital media filling this void, the use of online videos, particularly on YouTube, has become one of the main sources for information, specifically for science and environmental issues. While most researchers examine the content of online science news and information, we show that digital trace data, including hyperlinks, “likes”, and comments that are unique to participatory online media, can reveal interesting patterns about how and why people communicate and engage with content as well as other community members. Using climate change as a case study, we demonstrate how researchers can harness hyperlinks to understand who produces controversial science news and information online, and the motivations underlying how content creators use of hyperlinks for science communication and public engagement. While many existing studies in science communication have focused on understanding the political dimension of online science news and information, our paper reveals that digital branding is a crucial part of science communication on video-based platforms such as YouTube and TikTok. We find that amateur content creators and new media outlets use hyperlinks to promote their channel and other social media presences to raise revenue. While self-promotion through citing links to one’s other social media platforms is associated with more views, linking to revenue raising websites is not associated with more views. We discuss the implications of these contexts for the online science news and information ecosystem.

Whose culture is it anyway? Perceptions of accessibility in museums by professionals working with people with intellectual disabilities in Greece

ABSTRACT This research examines perceptions of accessibility in museums by professionals who work with people with intellectual disabilities and live in housing/rehabilitation settings in Greece and highlights factors and conditions that hinder people with intellectual disabilities from experiencing culture when visiting museums. Out of the 46 officially registered social organisations by the Hellenic Ministry of Health and the Hellenic Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs, 35 participated in the study, a percentage that allows monitoring the situation on a national level. The results showcase deficiencies in the provision of accessibility to cultural heritage with regards to information content, exhibitions and visitor experience, and participation and co-creation opportunities for this particular audience. This paper also makes policy proposals targeted at museums, aiming at enhancing accessibility to culture for people with intellectual disabilities and comes to fill a gap in the respective literature.

Can varying activation energy be determined reliably from thermogravimetric experiments?

AbstractSolutions of the general isoconversional kinetic equation were generated and compared assuming activation energies, E, which vary with the advance of the reaction, α. Series belonging to 4–5 heating rates were compared. TG curves simulated with highly varying activation energies could approximate well the curves simulated with first-order kinetics and constant E. This observation indicates that the information content of a series of TG curves at constant heating rates is not sufficient for the determination of activation energies that vary with the advance of the studied reactions. The problem proved to be smaller when differential curves were compared in the same way; the uncertainties decreased by factors 0.2–0.5. There is a standard procedure of ASTM International (ASTM E2958-19, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1520/E2958-21) that describes the estimation of E from experiments carried out at a specific modulated temperature program. The reliability of this procedure was also tested and found to be low, though not as low as that of the evaluation of TG curves at linear temperature programs with usual heating rates. The work continues and complements a recent study of the author (Várhegyi in J Therm Anal Calorim 148:12835–12843, 2023).

The status quo of short video as sources of health information on gastroesophageal reflux disease in China: a cross-sectional study.

Positive lifestyle adjustments have become effective methods in treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Utilizing short video platforms to encourage GERD patients for effective self-disease management is a convenient and cost-effective approach. However, the quality of GERD-related videos on short video platforms is yet to be determined, and these videos may contain misinformation that patients cannot recognize. This study aims to assess the information quality of GERD-related short videos on TikTok and Bilibili in China. Search and filter the top 100 GERD-related videos on TikTok and Bilibili based on comprehensive rankings. Two independent gastroenterologists conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the video quality using the Global Quality Score and the modified DISCERN tool. Simultaneously, the content of the videos was analyzed across six aspects: definition, symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. A total of 164 GERD-related videos were collected in this study, and videos from non-gastrointestinal health professionals constitute the majority (56.71%), with only 28.66% originating from gastroenterology health professionals. The overall quality and reliability of the videos were relatively low, with DISCERN and GQS scores of 2 (IQR: 2-3) and 3 (IQR: 2-3), respectively. Relatively speaking, videos from gastrointestinal health professionals exhibit the highest reliability and quality, with DISCERN scores of 3 (IQR: 3-4) and GQS scores of 3 (IQR: 3-4), respectively. Overall, the information content and quality of GERD-related videos still need improvement. In the future, health professionals are required to provide high-quality videos to facilitate effective self-disease management for GERD patients.