Hate Speech Spikes on Twitter After Elon Musk Acquires the Platform

Unmoderated social media platforms frequently become a haven for misinformation, extremism, and hate. There are challenges unique to unmoderated social media platforms that make the removal of such content and the users who spread it particularly difficult (Artime et al., 2020). When a platform’s focus is unrestricted expression from users, those looking to share and spread antisocial content will presumably use such spaces to share perspectives that would likely be restricted on other platforms. Historically, examples of such “free speech absolutist” spaces suggest that this threat is very real. Specifically, 4chan serves as a space where online anonymity coupled with limited restrictions on speech has allowed virulent hate content to be shared without fear of platform response (Tuters & Hagen, 2020). 4chan has hosted a range of antisocial content including the call for the abuse of women (Milanović, 2021), hostility towards the trans community (Sparby, 2017), aggressive antisemitism (Tuters & Hagen 2020), and white nationalism (Thorleifsson, 2022). Other less moderated online spaces emphasizing open exchange have produced similar results (Urman & Katz, 2022)

#PumpkinSpice Report: On the 20th Anniversary of its Pumpkin Spice Latte, Starbucks Still Dominates the Social Media Conversation Around the Polarizing Fall Cultural Phenomenon

The mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves has produced a magical combination that changed the world. Like Einstein or Col. Sanders, a powerful formula was found in the right combination of elements- in this case pumpkin spice. It might be assumed that pumpkin spice has a history and tradition dating back well into previous centuries, but pumpkin spice is a relatively new construct. Nosowitz (2022) contends the pumpkin spice trend was largely created by Starbucks’ introduction of the famous pumpkin spice latte in 2003. To explore how social media users have discussed topics related to pumpkin spice, researchers employed artificial intelligence (AI)-driven social media analytics tool, Brandwatch, to collect data in the forms of social conversations. Brandwatch is a leading analytics tool to derive social intelligence regarding consumer insights, influencer marketing, competitor analysis, reputation monitoring, and benchmark studies. Essentially, Brandwatch was utilized as a social listening tool to understand the sentiment, perceptions, trends, and reactions of social media users’ conversations pertaining to pumpkin spice on X

Halloween 2023: It\u27s A Barbie World!

Move over, black and orange, and step aside for the color that is going to dominate Halloween this year, “Barbie Pink.” And yes, Ken, “it won’t matter what you do, you will always be number two,” at least when it comes to Halloween costumes in 2023. And those wildly popular Star Wars and Marvel character costumes traditionally seen during the “spookiest” time of the year? It seems they won’t match the popularity of the fictional character, Barbie, who reemerged this year on the pop culture scene after the incredible success of the Warner Bros. film “Barbie” released in July. Based on the Google Trends analysis and social media analytics from Brandwatch, our study on Halloween costumes reveals the following key findings. First, Barbie is the most popular costume of the year for Americans. Second, an exponential surge in online search related to Barbie costumes was observed from October 1 to October 24, 2023. Third, more than 46K conversations on social media focused on Barbie and Ken costumes in October. Fourth, social media users enthusiastically shared their intention to dress as Barbie, gushing about the excitement of creating a pink utopia for this Halloween

A Preview of Post Amnesty Twitter: Analysis of “Groomer” on Twitter After the Colorado Springs Shooting

On November 24, 2022 Elon Musk stated that “general amnesty” would be given to Twitter accounts previously suspended for violent threats, harassment and misinformation. This appears to reflect Musk’s previously stated intent to run the platform as a “free speech absolutist.” The question in many people’s minds is what such an incarnation of Twitter will look like. The tragic shooting at an LGBTQIA+ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Nov. 19-20 and the reaction the event generated on the platform provide a case that demonstrates the tensions that will come with reduced platform moderation. “Groomer,” a previously Twitter restricted slur against the LGBTQIA+ community, was widely utilized in tweets in the period after the attack showing both the virality of hate speech and the community’s response. This study evaluates the extent of visibility of the term “groomer” on Twitter and provides context for platform divisions when content controls are eased

3D Cell Printed Tissue Analogues: A New Platform for Theranostics

Stem cell theranostics has received much attention for noninvasively monitoring and tracing transplanted therapeutic stem cells through imaging agents and imaging modalities. Despite the excellent regenerative capability of stem cells, their efficacy has been limited due to low cellular retention, low survival rate, and low engraftment after implantation. Three-dimensional (3D) cell printing provides stem cells with the similar architecture and microenvironment of the native tissue and facilitates the generation of a 3D tissue-like construct that exhibits remarkable regenerative capacity and functionality as well as enhanced cell viability. Thus, 3D cell printing can overcome the current concerns of stem cell therapy by delivering the 3D construct to the damaged site. Despite the advantages of 3D cell printing, the in vivo and in vitro tracking and monitoring of the performance of 3D cell printed tissue in a noninvasive and real-time manner have not been thoroughly studied. In this review, we explore the recent progress in 3D cell technology and its applications. Finally, we investigate their potential limitations and suggest future perspectives on 3D cell printing and stem cell theranostics.116Nsciescopu

IDENTIFYING CRITICAL KINEMATIC PARAMETERS FOR BETTER GOLF PUTTING

In modern golf competition, putting is one of the crucial parts of the game. It has been reported that putting accounts for about 40% of all golf shot played in tournaments (Gwyn & Patch, 1993). Wiren (1992) also indicated that, on average, putting constitutes 38% of all golf strokes in competition and improving putting skills is th e fastest way to lower the score. However, it is also true that most recreational golfers neglect the putting and seldom practice it hard. Despite this revealing statistics and the obvious importance of competent putting, much of the pedagogical literature is based on the observations and anecdotal evidence provided by top players and coaches (Paradisis & Rees, 2004). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify critical kinematic parameters of a putt by comparing putts performed by elite and novice golifers, and nongolfers. The findings might provide valuable information for improving putting performance

Inhibitory effect of a tyrosine-fructose Maillard reaction product, 2,4-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butenal on amyloid-β generation and inflammatory reactions via inhibition of NF-κB and STAT3 activation in cultured astrocytes and microglial BV-2 cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Amyloidogenesis is linked to neuroinflammation. The tyrosine-fructose Maillard reaction product, 2,4-bis(<it>p</it>-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butenal, possesses anti-inflammatory properties in cultured macrophages, and in an arthritis animal model. Because astrocytes and microglia are responsible for amyloidogenesis and inflammatory reactions in the brain, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and anti-amyloidogenic effects of 2,4-bis(<it>p</it>-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butenal in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated astrocytes and microglial BV-2 cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cultured astrocytes and microglial BV-2 cells were treated with LPS (1 μg/ml) for 24 h, in the presence (1, 2, 5 μM) or absence of 2,4-bis(<it>p</it>-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butenal, and harvested. We performed molecular biological analyses to determine the levels of inflammatory and amyloid-related proteins and molecules, cytokines, Aβ, and secretases activity. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) DNA binding activity was determined using gel mobility shift assays.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that 2,4-bis(<it>p</it>-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butenal (1, 2, 5 μM) suppresses the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) as well as the production of nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in LPS (1 μg/ml)-stimulated astrocytes and microglial BV-2 cells. Further, 2,4-bis(<it>p</it>-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butenal inhibited the transcriptional and DNA binding activity of NF-κB--a transcription factor that regulates genes involved in neuroinflammation and amyloidogenesis via inhibition of IκB degradation as well as nuclear translocation of p50 and p65. Consistent with the inhibitory effect on inflammatory reactions, 2,4-bis(<it>p</it>-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butenal inhibited LPS-elevated Aβ₄₂levels through attenuation of β- and γ-secretase activities. Moreover, studies using signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) siRNA and a pharmacological inhibitor showed that 2,4-bis(<it>p</it>-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butenal inhibits LPS-induced activation of STAT3.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results indicate that 2,4-bis(<it>p</it>-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butenal inhibits neuroinflammatory reactions and amyloidogenesis through inhibition of NF-κB and STAT3 activation, and suggest that 2,4-bis(<it>p</it>-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butenal may be useful for the treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases like Alzheimer's disease.</p