Exploring Content Moderation in the Decentralised Web: The Pleroma Case

Decentralising the Web is a desirable but challenging goal. One particular challenge is achieving decentralised content moderation in the face of various adversaries (e.g. trolls). To overcome this challenge, many Decentralised Web (DW) implementations rely on federation policies. Administrators use these policies to create rules that ban or modify content that matches specific rules. This, however, can have unintended consequences for many users. In this paper, we present the first study of federation policies on the DW, their in-the-wild usage, and their impact on users. We identify how these policies may negatively impact "innocent" users and outline possible solutions to avoid this problem in the future

Impaired Functions of Peripheral Blood Monocyte Subpopulations in Aged Humans

Aging is associated with increased susceptibility to microbial infections, and monocytes play an important role in microbial defense. In this study, we have identified and compared four subpopulations of monocytes (CD14++(high)CD16−, CD14+(low)CD16−, CD14++(high)CD16+, and CD14+(low)CD16+) in the peripheral blood of young and aged subjects with regard to their numbers, cytokine production, TLR expression, and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in response to pam3Cys a TLR-1/2 ligand. Proportions and numbers of CD14++(high)CD16+ and CD14+(low)CD16+ monocytes were significantly increased, whereas proportions of CD14+(low)CD16− monocytes were decreased in aged subjects as compared to young subjects. In aged subjects, IL-6 production by all four subsets of monocytes was significantly decreased, whereas TNF-α production was decreased in monocyte subsets, except the CD14+(low)CD16− subset. A significantly reduced expression of TLR1 was observed in CD14++(high)CD16+ and CD14+(low)CD16+ monocyte subsets in aged subjects. Furthermore, following pam3Cys stimulation, ERK1/2 phosphorylation was significantly lower in CD14+(low)CD16+, CD14++(high)CD16+, and CD14+(low)CD16− subsets of monocytes from aged subjects. This is the first study of four subpopulations of monocytes in aging, which demonstrates that their functions are differentially impaired with regard to the production of cytokines, expression of TLR, and signaling via the ERK–MAPK pathway. Finally, changes in the number of monocyte subsets, and impairment of TLR1 expression, TNF-α production, and EK1/2 phosphorylation was more consistent in CD16+ monocyte subsets regardless of expression of CD14high or CD14+low, therefore highlighting the significance of further subdivision of monocytes into four subpopulations

Cancer stem cell metabolism: A potential target for cancer therapy

© 2016 The Author(s). Cancer Stem cells (CSCs) are a unipotent cell population present within the tumour cell mass. CSCs are known to be highly chemo-resistant, and in recent years, they have gained intense interest as key tumour initiating cells that may also play an integral role in tumour recurrence following chemotherapy. Cancer cells have the ability to alter their metabolism in order to fulfil bio-energetic and biosynthetic requirements. They are largely dependent on aerobic glycolysis for their energy production and also are associated with increased fatty acid synthesis and increased rates of glutamine utilisation. Emerging evidence has shown that therapeutic resistance to cancer treatment may arise due to dysregulation in glucose metabolism, fatty acid synthesis, and glutaminolysis. To propagate their lethal effects and maintain survival, tumour cells alter their metabolic requirements to ensure optimal nutrient use for their survival, evasion from host immune attack, and proliferation. It is now evident that cancer cells metabolise glutamine to grow rapidly because it provides the metabolic stimulus for required energy and precursors for synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. It can also regulate the activities of some of the signalling pathways that control the proliferation of cancer cells. This review describes the key metabolic pathways required by CSCs to maintain a survival advantage and highlights how a combined approach of targeting cellular metabolism in conjunction with the use of chemotherapeutic drugs may provide a promising strategy to overcome therapeutic resistance and therefore aid in cancer therapy

Nonlinear model standardization for the analysis and design of nonlinear systems with multiple equilibria

In engineering practice, a nonlinear system stable about several equilibria is often studied by linearizing the system over a small range of operation around each of these equilibria, and allowing the study of the system using linear system methods. Theoretically, for operations beyond a small range but still within the stable regime of an equilibrium, the system behaves nonlinearly, and can be described and investigated using the Volterra series approach. However, there is still no available approach that can systematically transform the model of a nonlinear system into a form that can be studied over the whole stable regime about an equilibrium so as to facilitate the system study using the Volterra series approach. This transformation is, in the present study, referred to as nonlinear model standardization, which is the extension of the well-known concept of linearization to the nonlinear case. In this paper, a novel approach to nonlinear model standardization is proposed for nonlinear systems that can be described by a Nonlinear AutoRegressive model with eXogeneous input (NARX) or a nonlinear differential equation (NDE) model. The proposed approach is then used in three case studies covering the applications in nonlinear system analysis, nonlinear system design, and nonlinearity compensation, respectively, demonstrating the significance of the proposed nonlinear model standardization in a wide range of engineering practices

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Not AvailableThis annual report presents the achievements of NAARM during 2013-14.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe agriculture sector is facing numerous challenges so is the National Agricultural Research System. Issues such as climate change, diversion of food crops for biofuel, transboundary diseases and entry of multi-nationals, besides growing demand-supply gap of key food commodities, are of serious concern. The greatest challenge is accelerating innovations for higher, sustainable and inclusive agricultural growth. This calls for a paradigm shift in prioritizing research portfolio, improving efficiency of research system and promoting innovative institutions for effectively linking research organizations with all stakeholders, including farmers, agri-industry and remunerative domestic and global markets. The Academy is responding to the emerging challenges by undertaking need based research, reorienting capacity building programmes, imparting education for next generation professionals, providing consultancies, and promoting public-private partnership. To meet the challenge and strengthen National Agricultural Research System, the Academy has a well trained and strong faculty and best infrastructure facilities. The Academy, during the year, took a great leap in transforming its role from capacitybuilding of different stakeholders in the National Agricultural Research System to an institution of global repute through its effective and responsive key roles in capacity building, research, academic programmes and public-private partnership. As many as 53 capacity-building programmes were organized for 1581 participants of different levels of hierarchy in the National Agricultural Research System. Research was undertaken on several key areas of concern to agricultural research and education policy, planning and management. Important ones include learning and capacity building, manpower planning in agriculture, assessment of frontier technologies for agricultural research, geospatial data and knowledge management and leadership in change management. Scientists of the Academy were successful in leaving a mark in the scientific arena with their contributions through publications in national and international journals. The year was a landmark for the Academy on education front. Two post-graduate diploma programmes on 'Information Technology Management in Agriculture' and 'Intellectual Property and Technology Management in Agriculture' were successfully completed and all the students were placed in reputed national and multinational organizations. This year, the Academy also launched a two-year post-graduate programme in Management (Agriculture). To promote public-private partnership and link all the stakeholders in agrisupply chain, the Academy conceptualized and put into operation an Agribusiness Knowledge Centre (AKC). It is envisioned that AKC would improve the efficiency of agrisupply chain and accelerate innovations by effectively linking relevant stakeholders. Besides these programmes, the Academy provided support to National Agricultural Innovation Project through help desk, and extended consultancy to several institutions for intellectual property protection and commercialization. The Academy also successfully conducted the examination of senior research fellow for post-graduate studies of Indian Council of Agricultural Research.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe landscape of Indian agriculture is changing. Entry of multi-nationals and organized sector in agriculture and agribusiness is opening new avenues in the entire value chain of agri-commodities. The paradigm shift calls for 'business unusual' in agri-research and education, human resource development, and policy communication. The challenge is to (i) change the mind-set of those involved in value chain of agri-commodities, and (ii) enhance the management skills of professionals to improve the production and marketing efficiency. This requires an integrated approach to harness the unlimited opportunities in changing agriculture scenario. The Academy accepted the challenge and with limited and outstanding faculty, it strived to contribute in transformation process. The Academy adopted a multi-pronged strategy, which relied on four pillars: (i) strong and need based research, (ii) capacity development; (iii) higher education in agricultural management; and (iv) effective policy communication. This year once again the Academy undertook large number of research projects in matrix-mode management, and organized as many as 50 capacity development programmes, which were attended by 1728 participants from National Agricultural Research System, corporate sector and organizations represented by civil societies. On education front, the first batch of post-graduate programme in agriculture (management) was completed successfully with excellent placement opportunities for the students. The post-graduate programme on technology management in agriculture was launched in a distance mode in partnership with the University of Hyderabad. The most significant accomplishment was starting Joint Entrance Test for Agribusiness management (JET-ABM) in partnership with MANAGE and NIAM. The Academy took key role in finalizing the process to reduce cost, ease pressure on students and project agribusiness in a partnership mode. The Academy also organized several policy communication workshops to participate in policy formulation.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe ever-emerging challenges for agriculture and their consequent implications for National Agricultural Research System (NARS) necessitate NAARM to continuously innovate in effectively and efficiently serving its clientele, which is one of the largest in the world. In this endeavour, the Academy strives to be a premier institute for agricultural management that enables NARS adapt to changes by innovating in terms of structural and functional approaches. Having the mission to enhance leadership, governance and innovation capacities through capacity strengthening, education, research, consultancy and policy support, the Academy supports smooth transition of NARS into National Agricultural Innovation System (NAIS). With a view to fulfill its new vision, mission and the expanded mandate, NAARM has been restructured into six divisions that focus on research systems management, human resources management, information and communication management, extension systems management, education systems management and agri-business management. Realizing the significant role of NAARM in NARS, ICAR revised its cadre strength from 43 to 62. The Vision document was reframed and a new Vision 2030 to satisfy the contemporary as well as emerging issues in agriculture was brought out as a guide to march ahead. The XII plan approach was also designed in line with the Vision 2030 framework. The Academy, in 2011-12, planned and executed its capacity strengthening, research, policy support and educational programmes in tune with the diverse demands from the system and also from its clientele. The tailor-made capacity strengthening programmes of NAARM benefitted nearly 1500 agricultural professionals of NARS, which also include about 250 new entrants to the ICAR system. The Foundation Course for Agricultural Research Service (FOCARS) has been restructured in order to train the agricultural scientists to own a profile as stipulated by the NARS and its stakeholders. The highlights of the capacity building programmes include the new initiatives of the Academy to train the senior-level personnel in the RMP and pre-RMP positions of NARS on leadership development, refresher course for scientists who are lateral entrants through selection into ICAR system, and foundation course for newly recruited Administrative and Finance and Accounts Officers. NAARM organized several research and policy workshops that laid the platform for its customers to have meaningful dialogues resulting in recommendations on pragmatic policy strategies. The Academy expanded its research focus and the research accomplishments brought out management and policy issues related to current and prospective agricultural research outlook. The educational programmes of NAARM continued to receive overwhelming response and participation. Initiation and successful organization of Postgraduate Diploma in Technology Management in distance mode, through public-public collaboration with University of Hyderabad, is an added dimension in this educational venture. The Academy took innovative measures to have strong linkages and collaboration with national and global partners. Such measures, accomplished through individual as well as institutional feats, paid off well.Not Availabl