Are you in a Masquerade? Exploring the Behavior and Impact of Large Language Model Driven Social Bots in Online Social Networks

As the capabilities of Large Language Models (LLMs) emerge, they not only assist in accomplishing traditional tasks within more efficient paradigms but also stimulate the evolution of social bots. Researchers have begun exploring the implementation of LLMs as the driving core of social bots, enabling more efficient and user-friendly completion of tasks like profile completion, social behavior decision-making, and social content generation. However, there is currently a lack of systematic research on the behavioral characteristics of LLMs-driven social bots and their impact on social networks. We have curated data from Chirper, a Twitter-like social network populated by LLMs-driven social bots and embarked on an exploratory study. Our findings indicate that: (1) LLMs-driven social bots possess enhanced individual-level camouflage while exhibiting certain collective characteristics; (2) these bots have the ability to exert influence on online communities through toxic behaviors; (3) existing detection methods are applicable to the activity environment of LLMs-driven social bots but may be subject to certain limitations in effectiveness. Moreover, we have organized the data collected in our study into the Masquerade-23 dataset, which we have publicly released, thus addressing the data void in the subfield of LLMs-driven social bots behavior datasets. Our research outcomes provide primary insights for the research and governance of LLMs-driven social bots within the research community.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figure

Crises and opportunities in terms of energy and AI technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic [Editorial]

Editorial

2,4,6-Tris(2,4-dimethyl­phen­yl)-1,3,5-triazine

Two virtually superimposable mol­ecules comprise the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C27H27N3. The range of dihedral angles between the central 1,3,5-triazine ring and the attached benzene rings is 20.88 (14)–31.36 (14)°, and the shape of each mol­ecule is of a flattened bowl. The crystal packing features weak C—H⋯π bonds and π–π inter­actions between triazine and benzene rings [centroid–centroid separations = 3.7696 (17) and 3.7800 (18) Å] that result in the formation of supra­molecular layers in the ac plane. The crystal studied was a non-merohedral twin with a minor twin component of 20.7 (3)%

An Experimental Study on Lateral Acceleration of Cars in Different Environments in Sichuan, Southwest China

In view of the tremendous improvements in the dynamic performance of automobiles and changes in the composition of drivers over the past several decades, it is valuable to examine the distribution of automobile’s lateral acceleration in new environments. The lateral accelerations, speeds, and trajectory curvatures of a passenger car on twelve highways with different design speeds and topographies were obtained. By synchronizing, matching, and counting, the distribution of the lateral acceleration was obtained, and the level of driving comfort was estimated. The 10th, 15th, 50th, 85th, and 90th percentile values of the lateral acceleration on three road types (six-lane road, four-lane road, and two-lane road) were found. Combined with scatter diagrams of the lateral acceleration over the curvature, the negative correlation between the lateral acceleration and the curvature was analyzed and interpreted. In addition, regression models of the lateral acceleration with the curvature for the three kinds of roads were established. Based on scatter diagrams of the lateral acceleration over the speed, regression models of the average ay depending on the speed and the 85th percentile ay depending on the speed of passenger cars and buses were established. The research provides calculation parameters and a control basis for operating speed prediction, pavement material design, and maximum and minimum limit value determination for the superelevation ratios and curve radii

RNA-binding protein CUGBP1 regulates insulin secretion via activation of phosphodiesterase 3B in mice

International audienceAims/hypothesis: CUG-binding protein 1 (CUGBP1) is a multifunctional RNA-binding protein that regulates RNA processing at several stages including translation, deadenylation and alternative splicing, as well as RNA stability. Recent studies indicate that CUGBP1 may play a role in metabolic disorders. Our objective was to examine its role in endocrine pancreas function through gain- and loss-of-function experiments and to further decipher the underlying molecular mechanisms.Methods: A mouse model in which type 2 diabetes was induced by a high-fat diet (HFD; 60% energy from fat) and mice on a standard chow diet (10% energy from fat) were compared. Pancreas-specific CUGBP1 overexpression and knockdown mice were generated. Different lengths of the phosphodiesterase subtype 3B (PDE3B) 3′ untranslated region (UTR) were cloned for luciferase reporter analysis. Purified CUGBP1 protein was used for gel shift experiments.Results: CUGBP1 is present in rodent islets and in beta cell lines; it is overexpressed in the islets of diabetic mice. Compared with control mice, the plasma insulin level after a glucose load was significantly lower and glucose clearance was greatly delayed in mice with pancreas-specific CUGBP1 overexpression; the opposite results were obtained upon pancreas-specific CUGBP1 knockdown. Glucose- and glucagon-like peptide1 (GLP-1)-stimulated insulin secretion was significantly attenuated in mouse islets upon CUGBP1 overexpression. This was associated with a strong decrease in intracellular cAMP levels, pointing to a potential role for cAMP PDEs. CUGBP1 overexpression had no effect on the mRNA levels of PDE1A, 1C, 2A, 3A, 4A, 4B, 4D, 7A and 8B subtypes, but resulted in increased PDE3B expression. CUGBP1 was found to directly bind to a specific ATTTGTT sequence residing in the 3′ UTR of PDE3B and stabilised PDE3B mRNA. In the presence of the PDE3 inhibitor cilostamide, glucose- and GLP-1-stimulated insulin secretion was no longer reduced by CUGBP1 overexpression. Similar to CUGBP1, PDE3B was overexpressed in the islets of diabetic mice.Conclusions/interpretation: We conclude that CUGBP1 is a critical regulator of insulin secretion via activating PDE3B. Repressing this protein might provide a potential strategy for treating type 2 diabetes