Enhancing Social-Media Regulation through Transparency? Examining the New Transparency Regime in the EU

Social-media platforms have taken on an important role in public communication, yet the precise nature of their influence remains largely opaque. Specifically, their content recommendation and moderation systems have drawn criticism for lack of transparency and insufficient control over potential adverse effects, including over-blocking, bias, discrimination, and amplification. This dissatisfaction has led to calls for stronger regulation to enhance transparency and enable data access to regulators, researchers and the public to support and promote evidence-based policymaking. Notably, recent developments in Europe, including the Digital Services Act and the Strengthened Code of Practice on Disinformation, have introduced comprehensive regulations addressing these concerns. While these regulations seem promising on paper, it remains to be seen whether they will effectively facilitate control and provide a solid foundation for social-media regulation

Algorithmische Selektion im Internet: Risiken und Governance automatisierter Auswahlprozesse

Algorithmen im Internet prägen zunehmend unseren Alltag und unsere Wahrnehmung der Welt. Sie wählen Informationen aus, weisen ihnen Relevanz zu und helfen, die Informationsflut im Internet zu bewältigen. Gleichzeitig wird die Verbreitung von algorithmischer Selektion von Risiken und regulatorischen Herausforderungen begleitet. Der Beitrag beleuchtet Anwendungszwecke und den Einfluss von algorithmischer Selektion und bietet einen Überblick zu den damit verbundenen Risiken. Die Risiken bilden Ausgangspunkte für etwaige Markteingriffe und die Suche nach adäquaten Steuerungs- und Regelungsarrangements (Governance). Vor diesem Hintergrund analysiert der Beitrag die Möglichkeiten und Grenzen von unterschiedlichen Governance-Ansätzen auf dem Kontinuum zwischen Markt und Staat und liefert Grundlagen für die Auswahl von passenden Governance-Optionen. Die Untersuchung zeigt, dass sich keine Einheitslösung für die Governance von algorithmischer Selektion anbietet. Die Aufmerksamkeit muss auf mehrdimensionale Lösungsansätze gerichtet werden, in denen Governance-Maßnahmen kombiniert werden, die sich gegenseitig ermöglichen und ergänzen

Genomic prediction of manganese efficiency in winter barley

Manganese efficiency is a quantitative abiotic stress trait controlled by several genes each with a small effect. Manganese deficiency leads to yield reduction in winter barley ( L.). Breeding new cultivars for this trait remains difficult because of the lack of visual symptoms and the polygenic features of the trait. Hence, Mn efficiency is a potential suitable trait for a genomic selection (GS) approach. A collection of 248 winter barley varieties was screened for Mn efficiency using Chlorophyll (Chl ) fluorescence in six environments prone to induce Mn deficiency. Two models for genomic prediction were implemented to predict future performance and breeding value of untested varieties. Predictions were obtained using multivariate mixed models: best linear unbiased predictor (BLUP) and genomic best linear unbiased predictor (G-BLUP). In the first model, predictions were based on the phenotypic evaluation, whereas both phenotypic and genomic marker data were included in the second model. Accuracy of predicting future phenotype, , and accuracy of predicting true breeding values, , were calculated and compared for both models using six cross-validation (CV) schemes; these were designed to mimic plant breeding programs. Overall, the CVs showed that prediction accuracies increased when using the G-BLUP model compared with the prediction accuracies using the BLUP model. Furthermore, the accuracies [] of predicting breeding values were more accurate than accuracy of predicting future phenotypes []. The study confirms that genomic data may enhance the prediction accuracy. Moreover it indicates that GS is a suitable breeding approach for quantitative abiotic stress traits

Effect of a sonic toothbrush on the abrasive dentine wear using toothpastes with different abrasivity values

OBJECTIVE This in vitro study aimed to investigate the effect of a sonic toothbrush on the resulting abrasive dentine wear using toothpastes with different abrasivities compared to the use of a manual toothbrush. METHODS Ninety-six bovine dentine samples were divided into six groups and subjected to a brushing sequence (sonic: 20 min, 0.9 N, 10 strokes/min; manual: 20 min, 1.6 N, 60 strokes/min) as follows: group 1: Elmex Sensitive Plus (RDA = 28) + manual toothbrush; group 2: Elmex Sensitive + sonic toothbrush; group 3: Elmex Kariesschutz (RDA = 65) + manual toothbrush; group 4: Elmex Kariesschutz +sonic toothbrush; group 5: Colgate Total Original (RDA = 121) + manual toothbrush; and group 6: Colgate Total Original +sonic toothbrush. The abrasive dentine wear was measured profilometrically. RESULTS The median (IQR) abrasive dentine wear was as follows: Elmex Sensitive Plus (manual toothbrush: 2.7 µm (0.8), sonic toothbrush: 3.1 µm (1.9)); Elmex Kariesschutz (manual toothbrush: 4.9 µm (1.4), sonic toothbrush: 6.4 µm (2.1)); and Colgate Total Original (manual toothbrush: 5.2 µm (1.1), sonic toothbrush: 9.0 µm (3.1)). Differences in dentine wear between sonic and manual toothbrushes were statistically significant only in the groups brushed with Elmex Kariesschutz and Colgate Total Original (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION Brushing with a sonic toothbrush could result in a higher abrasive dentine wear compared to manual toothbrush when combined with toothpastes with high abrasivity values

The Repetitive Oligopeptide Sequences Modulate Cytopathic Potency but Are Not Crucial for Cellular Uptake of Clostridium difficile Toxin A

The pathogenicity of Clostridium difficile is primarily linked to secretion of the intracellular acting toxins A (TcdA) and B (TcdB) which monoglucosylate and thereby inactivate Rho GTPases of host cells. Although the molecular mode of action of TcdA and TcdB is well understood, far less is known about toxin binding and uptake. It is acknowledged that the C-terminally combined repetitive oligopeptides (CROPs) of the toxins function as receptor binding domain. The current study evaluates the role of the CROP domain with respect to functionality of TcdA and TcdB. Therefore, we generated truncated TcdA devoid of the CROPs (TcdA1–1874) and found that this mutant was still cytopathic. However, TcdA1–1874 possesses about 5 to 10-fold less potency towards 3T3 and HT29 cells compared to the full length toxin. Interestingly, CHO-C6 cells even showed almost identical susceptibility towards truncated and full length TcdA concerning Rac1 glucosylation or cell rounding, respectively. FACS and Western blot analyses elucidated these differences and revealed a correlation between CROP-binding to the cell surface and toxin potency. These findings refute the accepted opinion of solely CROP- mediated toxin internalization. Competition experiments demonstrated that presence neither of TcdA CROPs nor of full length TcdA reduced binding of truncated TcdA1–1874 to HT29 cells. We assume that toxin uptake might additionally occur through alternative receptor structures and/or other associated endocytotic pathways. The second assumption was substantiated by TER measurements showing that basolaterally applied TcdA1–1874 exhibits considerably higher cytotoxic potency than apically applied mutant or even full length TcdA, the latter being almost independent of the side of application. Thus, different routes for cellular uptake might enable the toxins to enter a broader repertoire of cell types leading to the observed multifarious pathogenesis of C. difficile

Algorithmische Selektion im Internet: Risiken und Governance automatisierter Auswahlprozesse

Algorithmen im Internet prägen zunehmend unseren Alltag und unsere Wahrnehmung der Welt. Sie wählen Informationen aus, weisen ihnen Relevanz zu und helfen, die Informationsflut im Internet zu bewältigen. Gleichzeitig wird die Verbreitung von algorithmischer Selektion von Risiken und regulatorischen Herausforderungen begleitet. Der Beitrag beleuchtet Anwendungszwecke und den Einfluss von algorithmischer Selektion und bietet einen Überblick zu den damit verbundenen Risiken. Die Risiken bilden Ausgangspunkte für etwaige Markteingriffe und die Suche nach adäquaten Steuerungs- und Regelungsarrangements (Governance). Vor diesem Hintergrund analysiert der Beitrag die Möglichkeiten und Grenzen von unterschiedlichen Governance-Ansätzen auf dem Kontinuum zwischen Markt und Staat und liefert Grundlagen für die Auswahl von passenden Governance-Optionen. Die Untersuchung zeigt, dass sich keine Einheitslösung für die Governance von algorithmischer Selektion anbietet. Die Aufmerksamkeit muss auf mehrdimensionale Lösungsansätze gerichtet werden, in denen Governance-Maßnahmen kombiniert werden, die sich gegenseitig ermöglichen und ergänzen

Effect of brushing force on the abrasive dentin wear using slurries with different abrasivity values

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the resulting abrasive dentin wear using abrasive slurries with different RDA values and applying increasing brushing forces. METHODS Forty-five bovine incisors were randomly allocated in three groups (A, B, C, n = 15). One hundred and eighty dentin samples were prepared from these incisors and allocated to twelve groups (A1-A4, B1-B4, C1-C4; n = 15). The groups were subjected to a brushing cycle (120 strokes/min, 25 min) as follows: groups A1 to A4 with an abrasive slurry (RDA = 71) applying increasing brushing forces (1, 2, 3 and 4 N). Groups B1 to B4 were brushed using an abrasive slurry (RDA = 85) and C1 to C4 (RDA = 133) applying the same above-mentioned brushing forces. Abrasive dentin wear was recorded using a stylus profilometer and compared amongst the groups using robust models. Pairwise comparisons in each model were tested and corrected after Tukey's method (α = 0.05). RESULTS Applying 1-N brushing force resulted in the same amount of abrasive dentin wear in all groups regardless of the abrasivity of the used slurry. Increasing the brushing force to 2 N resulted in statistically significantly higher abrasive wear in all groups. This increase in abrasive wear was much higher when the slurry with high abrasivity was used (RDA = 133) compared with the lower abrasive slurry (RDA = 71). CONCLUSION The abrasivity of the used slurry does not add to the resulting abrasive wear when the brushing force is kept at 1 N. It seems better to advise and help the patients (showing signs of non-carious cervical lesions) calibrating their brushing force to 1 N, than only to advise them to use toothpastes with lower abrasivities

Individualized versus Standardized Risk Assessment in Patients at High Risk for Adverse Drug Reactions (The IDrug Randomized Controlled Trial)–Never Change a Running System?

The aim of this study was to compare effects of an individualized with a standardized risk assessment for adverse drug reactions to improve drug treatment with antithrombotic drugs in older adults. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in general practitioner (GP) offices. Patients aged 60 years and older, multi-morbid, taking antithrombotic drugs and at least one additional drug continuously were randomized to individualized and standardized risk assessment groups. Patients were followed up for nine months. A composite endpoint defined as at least one bleeding, thromboembolic event or death reported via a trigger list was used. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. In total, N = 340 patients were enrolled from 43 GP offices. Patients in the individualized risk assessment group met the composite endpoint more often than in the standardized group (OR 1.63 [95%CI 1.02–2.63]) with multiple adjustments. The OR was higher in patients on phenprocoumon treatment (OR 1.99 [95%CI 1.05–3.76]), and not significant on DOAC treatment (OR 1.52 [95%CI 0.63–3.69]). Pharmacogenenetic variants of CYP2C9, 2C19 and VKORC1 were not observed to be associated with the composite endpoint. The results of this study may indicate that the time point for implementing individualized risk assessments is of importance