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Myths and Methodologies: Considerations for evaluating the time course of thermoregulatory adaptation during heat acclimation
No full textA Machine Learning‐Based Framework for Accurate and Early Diagnosis of Liver Diseases: A Comprehensive Study on Feature Selection, Data Imbalance, and Algorithmic Performance
Get PDFThe liver is the largest organ of the human body with more than 500 vital functions. In recent decades, a large number of liver patients have been reported with diseases such as cirrhosis, fibrosis, or other liver disorders. There is a need for effective, early, and accurate identification of individuals suffering from such disease so that the person may recover before the disease spreads and becomes fatal. For this, applications of machine learning are playing a significant role. Despite the advancements, existing systems remain inconsistent in performance due to limited feature selection and data imbalance. In this article, we reviewed 58 articles extracted from 5 different electronic repositories published from January 2015 to 2023. After a systematic and protocol-based review, we answered 6 research questions about machine learning algorithms. The identification of effective feature selection techniques, data imbalance management techniques, accurate machine learning algorithms, a list of available data sets with their URLs and characteristics, and feature importance based on usage has been identified for diagnosing liver disease. The reason to select this research question is, in any machine learning framework, the role of dimensionality reduction, data imbalance management, machine learning algorithm with its accuracy, and data itself is very significant. Based on the conducted review, a framework, machine learning-based liver disease diagnosis (MaLLiDD), has been proposed and validated using three datasets. The proposed framework classified liver disorders with 99.56%, 76.56%, and 76.11% accuracy. In conclusion, this article addressed six research questions by identifying effective feature selection techniques, data imbalance management techniques, algorithms, datasets, and feature importance based on usage. It also demonstrated a high accuracy with the framework for early diagnosis, marking a significant advancement
Shifting youth environmental activism from the public imagination to community engagement:Implications for education for sustainability in the 21st century
No full textThere have been increasing concerns about the effects of human activities on environments, natural resources, social and economic development, ecology and biodiversity, and the longevity of both humanity and the planet. Funded by the Brian Simon fellowship grant, this research project on the topic ‘education and democracy’ aimed to explore and develop the opportunity to extend youth environmental activism from public imagination towards integration in community engagement and for stakeholders to work together to build a just, democratic, sustainable society in the changing and challenging 21st century
Optimizing operational and sustainable decisions for GASC: Integrating outward altruism and government subsidies
No full textThis study delves into the operational decision-making and sustainability dynamics within a two-tier green agricultural supply chain (GASC), comprising a manufacturer and a retailer. By developing decision models for the manufacturer, both with and without outward altruism, we explore the intricate interplay of government subsidies, consumer green preferences, and manufacturers' altruistic behavior influencing operational efficiency and sustainability within the GASC based on the Stackelberg Game. Our findings underscore the intricate relationship between these factors and the retail pricing of green agricultural products. Specifically, we demonstrate that while the manufacturer's outward altruism is significant, the combined effects of government subsidies and consumer preferences exert substantial influence on pricing strategies. Moreover, we reveal that government subsidies, consumer preferences for sustainability, and manufacturers' altruistic actions collectively bolster the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability within the GASC
A preliminary examination of gut microbiota and emotion regulation in 2-to 6-year-old children.
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Effects of resistance exercise and whey protein supplementation on cognitive function in older men:secondary analysis of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
No full textPURPOSE: Ageing is associated with cognitive decline. This study investigated the individual and combined effects of resistance exercise (RE) and whey protein supplementation (PRO) on cognitive function in older men.METHODS: In a pooled-groups analysis, 36 older men (age: 67 ± 4 years) were randomised to either RE (2 x/week; n = 18) or no exercise (NE; n = 18), and either PRO (2 × 25 g/d whey protein isolate; n = 18) or control (CON, 2 × 23.75 g maltodextrin/d; n = 18). A sub-analysis was also conducted between RE + CON (n = 9) and RE + PRO (n = 9). At baseline and 12 weeks, participants completed a battery of neuropsychological tests (CANTAB; Cambridge Cognition, UK) and neurobiological, inflammatory, salivary cortisol and insulin sensitivity biomarkers were quantified.RESULTS: PRO improved executive function z-score (+0.31 ± 0.08) greater than CON (+0.06 ± 0.08, P = 0.03) and there was a trend towards improved global cognitive function (P = 0.053). RE and RE + PRO did not improve any cognitive function domains (p ≥ 0.07). RE decreased tumor necrosis factor-alpha (P = 0.02) and interleukin-6 (P = 0.048) concentrations compared to NE, but changes in biomarkers did not correlate with changes in cognitive domains. Muscle strength (r = 0.34, P = 0.045) and physical function (ρ = 0.35-0.51, P < 0.05) outcomes positively correlated with cognitive function domains at baseline, but only Δskeletal muscle index correlated with Δepisodic memory (r = 0.34, P = 0.046) following the intervention.CONCLUSION: In older men, PRO improved cognitive function, most notably executive functioning. RE did not improve any cognitive function domains but did decrease biomarkers of systemic inflammation. No synergistic effects were observed.</p
Formulated Palmitoylethanolamide Supplementation Improves Parameters of Cognitive Function and BDNF Levels in Young, Healthy Adults:A Randomised Cross-Over Trial
No full textBACKGROUND: Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endocannabinoid-like lipid mediator which is naturally produced in the body and found in certain foods. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a bioavailable formulated form of PEA (Levagen+®) on serum BDNF levels and parameters of cognitive function in healthy adults.METHODS: A randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled cross-over trial was implemented to measure the effects of a 6-week 700 mg/day course of formulated PEA supplementation versus a placebo. Participants (n = 39) completed pre- and post-assessments of a lab-based cognitive test. Serum samples were collected to measure BDNF concentrations using an immunoassay.RESULTS: A significant increase in serum BDNF levels was found following PEA supplementation compared with the placebo (p = 0. 0057, d = 0.62). The cognition test battery demonstrated improved memory with PEA supplementation through better first success (p = 0.142, d = 0.54) and fewer errors (p = 0.0287; d = -0.47) on the Paired Associates Learning test.CONCLUSION: This was the first study to report a direct beneficial effect of Levagen+® PEA supplementation on memory improvement as well as corresponding increases in circulating neurotrophic marker levels. This suggests that formulated PEA holds promise as an innovative and practical intervention for cognitive health enhancement.</p
Driving Innovation to Support Pupils with SEND Through Co-Production in Education and Research: Participatory Action Research with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Families in England
No full textChildren and young people (CYP) with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) comprise over 1.6 million pupils in classrooms in England. However, evidence suggests pupils’ learning and wellbeing needs are often missed or unmet and legislation designed to increase families’ decision-making in education provision has not been translated into practice. The current participatory action research study investigated the perceptions and experiences of a specific population of SEND pupils in mainstream schooling—CYP with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q). Participants included existing and previous mainstream pupils and their parents (n = 8 parent−CYP dyads). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and a hybrid inductive-deductive thematic analysis was conducted. Five superordinate themes were generated: minding the gaps in school support; my mental wellbeing story; power and influence; getting it wrong: failing CYP and families; and getting it right: from surviving to thriving. Findings provided authentic insights into the lived experiences of support for CYP with 22q which resonate with the wider SEND population. These findings can help to inform more inclusive practice in mainstream settings. An affirmative model which places SEND pupils and parents at the heart of meaningful reform is urgently needed in schools. Collaborative work among all key stakeholders is paramount to ensure that strategies are genuinely co-produced, co-owned and robustly evidence-based