From Community Governance to Customer Service and Back Again: Re-Examining Pre-Web Models of Online Governance to Address Platforms’ Crisis of Legitimacy

As online platforms grow, they find themselves increasingly trying to balance two competing priorities: individual rights and public health. This has coincided with the professionalization of platforms’ trust and safety operations—what we call the “customer service” model of online governance. As professional trust and safety teams attempt to balance individual rights and public health, platforms face a crisis of legitimacy, with decisions in the name of individual rights or public health scrutinized and criticized as corrupt, arbitrary, and irresponsible by stakeholders of all stripes. We review early accounts of online governance to consider whether the customer service model has obscured a promising earlier model where members of the affected community were significant, if not always primary, decision-makers. This community governance approach has deep roots in the academic computing community and has re-emerged in spaces like Reddit and special purpose social networks and in novel platform initiatives such as the Oversight Board and Community Notes. We argue that community governance could address persistent challenges of online governance, particularly online platforms’ crisis of legitimacy. In addition, we think community governance may offer valuable training in democratic participation for users

Le nuove norme sull’identificazione personale

[Abstract non disponibile

Archives, libraries and museums: containers often sick, sometimes seriously sick

As far as the feeling of quietness and peace that they often convey, archives, museums and libraries also hide dangers that you may not imagine, either for visitors or especially for the members of the staff. Indeed the poor microclimatic conditions – often the consequences of materials and construction or building technologies that appear definitely obsolete – often arouse suspicion and worry among the staff. Wrong Thermo hygrometric parameters, the presence of volatile organic elements, mineral fibers, biocides, radon gas, aerial dispersive molecules, are among others some of the chemical physical polluters of major influence that may contribute to giving life to the so-called Sick Building Syndrome. But such spaces also bear biological polluters that can provoke pathologies of various types and importance, among which the feared Illness of Legionnaire. The presence of electromagnetic fields, but above all wrong lighting and wrong ergonomic working positions represent some risk factors for members of staff and visitors

Correlates of calcaneal quantitative ultrasound parameters in patients with diabetes: the study on the assessment of determinants of muscle and bone strength abnormalities in diabetes

OBJECTIVE: Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) provides an estimate of bone mineral density (BMD) and also evaluates bone quality, which has been related to increased fracture risk in people with diabetes. This study aimed at assessing the correlates of calcaneal QUS parameters in diabetic subjects encompassing various degrees of micro and macrovascular complications and a wide-range of peripheral nerve function. METHODS: Four hundred consecutive diabetic patients were examined by QUS to obtain values of broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), the speed of sound (SOS), quantitative ultrasound index (QUI), and BMD. RESULTS: Among surrogate measures of complications, sensory and motor nerve amplitude and heart rate response to cough test and standing correlated with QUS parameters at univariate analysis, together with age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, lipid profile, and renal function. Multivariate analysis revealed that BUA, SOS, QUI, and BMD were independently associated with age, male gender, hemoglobin A1c, BMI (or fat, but not fat-free mass), and somatic and autonomic nerve function parameters. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that peripheral nerve dysfunction is associated with worse QUS parameters, possibly contributing to increased fracture risk in diabetes. The positive relation of QUS measures with adiposity needs further investigation. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01600924)

Reconstrução espectral de feixes de fótons de kilovoltagem através do recozimento simulado generalizado

To unfold the energy spectrum of two kilovoltage (kV) X-ray beams from transmission curves through a mathematical methodology based on Laplace transform and the generalized simulated annealing algorithm. Energy spectra of photon beams and transmission data were associated by means of a mathematical expression derived from the analytical solution of Laplace transform. Transmission data was calculated by relating the air kerma of the attenuated beams, passing through aluminium plates of different thickness, to that of the non-attenuated beam. Generalized simulated annealing function, developed in an early work, was employed to find the parameters of the expression and so determine the spectra. Validation of the methodology was done by the comparison of the half-value layers obtained from transmission curves and the spectra. The mean square percentage error between transmission data and fitting curve of each spectrum defined from the parameters found was lower than 1% indicating a good adjustment. The same error was observed when the first half-value layer (HVL) from the transmission curves and those of each reconstructed spectrum were compared. Calculation time of parameters was 5 sec for 80 kV and 14 sec for 120 kV. In no case, non-realistic solution of energy spectra was obtained. These results were better than an early work where least-squares were used. The reconstruction methodology based on generalized simulated annealing employed in this manuscript can efficiently derive the spectra of two X-ray beams with comparable accuracy to previous work. A limitation is that validation was not done by comparing data with the equipment’s spectra.Determinar el espectro de energía de dos haces de rayos X de kilovoltaje (kV), a partir de sus curvas de transmisión, mediante una metodología matemática basada en la transformada de Laplace y el algoritmo de recocido simulado generalizado. Los espectros de energía de los haces y los datos de transmisión se asociaron, por medio de una expresión matemática derivada de la solución analítica de la transformada de Laplace. Los datos de transmisión se calcularon relacionando el kerma de aire de los haces atenuados, al pasar por placas de aluminio de diferente espesor, con el de los no atenuados. La función de recocido simulado generalizada, desarrollada en un trabajo anterior, se empleó para descifrar los parámetros de la expresión y así obtener los espectros. La validación se realizó comparando las capas semirreductoras de las curvas de transmisión y las extraídas de los espectros. El error porcentual cuadrático medio entre los datos de transmisión y la curva de ajuste para cada espectro, definido a partir de los parámetros encontrados, fue inferior al 1 %, lo que indica un buen ajuste. Se observó el mismo error cuando se cotejó la primera capa semirreductora de las curvas de transmisión y las de cada espectro reconstruido. El tiempo de cálculo de los parámetros fue de 5 s para 80 kV y 14 s para 120 kV. En ningún caso se obtuvo una solución no realista de los espectros. Estos resultados fueron mejores que los de un trabajo anterior en el que se utilizaron mínimos cuadrados. La metodología de reconstrucción basada en recocido simulado generalizado, empleada en este manuscrito, pudo derivar de manera eficiente los espectros de dos haces de kilovoltaje con una precisión comparable a la de trabajos anteriores. Una limitación es que la validación no se realizó comparando con los espectros del equipo.Encontrar o espectro de energia de dois feixes de raios-X de quilovoltagem a partir das curvas de transmissão por meio de uma metodologia matemática baseada na transformada de Laplace e no algoritmo de recozimento simulado generalizado. Os espectros de energia e os dados de transmissão foram associados por meio de uma expressão matemática derivada da solução analítica da transformada de Laplace. Os dados de transmissão foram calculados relacionando o kerma no ar dos feixes atenuados, ao passar por placas de alumínio de diferentes espessuras, com o dos feixes não atenuados. A função de recozimento simulado generalizado, desenvolvida em um trabalho anterior, foi empregada para encontrar os parâmetros da expressão para assim determinar os espectros. A validação da metodologia foi feita pela comparação das camadas semirredutoras obtidas das curvas de transmissão e dos espectros. O erro percentual médio quadrático entre os dados de transmissão e a curva de ajuste, para cada espectro definido a partir dos parâmetros encontrados, foi menor do que 1%, indicando um bom ajuste. O mesmo erro foi observado quando comparada a primeira camada semirredutora das curvas de transmissão e aquelas de cada espectro reconstruído. O tempo de cálculo dos parâmetros foi de 5 s para 80 kV e 14 s para 120 kV. Em nenhum caso, solução não realista dos espectros foi obtida. Os resultados foram melhores do que um trabalho anterior onde mínimos quadrados foram usados. A metodologia de reconstrução fundamentada no recozimento simulado generalizado, empregada neste trabalho, pôde derivar eficientemente os espectros de dois feixes de raios-X com precisão comparável a trabalhos anteriores. Uma limitação é que a validação não foi feita por comparação com os espectros do equipamento

Level and correlates of physical activity and sedentary behavior in patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional analysis of the italian diabetes and exercise study-2

OBJECTIVE: Patients with type 2 diabetes usually show reduced physical activity (PA) and increased sedentary (SED)-time, though to a varying extent, especially for low-intensity PA (LPA), a major determinant of daily energy expenditure that is not accurately captured by questionnaires. This study assessed the level and correlates of PA and SED-time in patients from the Italian Diabetes and Exercise Study_2 (IDES_2). METHODS: Three-hundred physically inactive and sedentary patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled in the IDES_2 to be randomized to an intervention group, receiving theoretical and practical exercise counseling, and a control group, receiving standard care. At baseline, LPA, moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA), and SED-time were measured by accelerometer. Physical fitness and cardiovascular risk factors and scores were also assessed. RESULTS: LPA was 3.93±1.35 hours∙day-1, MVPA was 12.4±4.6 min∙day-1, and SED-time was 11.6±1.2 hours∙day-1, with a large range of values (0.89-7.11 hours∙day-1, 0.6-21.0 min∙day-1, and 9.14-15.28 hours∙day-1, respectively). At bivariate analysis, LPA and MVPA correlated with better cardiovascular risk profile and fitness parameters, whereas the opposite was observed for SED-time. Likewise, values of LPA, MVPA, and SED-time falling in the best tertile were associated with optimal or acceptable levels of cardiovascular risk factors and scores. At multivariate analysis, age, female gender, HbA1c, BMI or waist circumference, and high-sensitivity C reactive protein (for LPA and SED-time only) were negatively associated with LPA and MPA and positively associated with SED-time in an independent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Physically inactive and sedentary patients with type 2 diabetes from the IDES_2 show a low level of PA, though values of LPA, MVPA, and SED-time vary largely. Furthermore, there is a strong correlation of these measures with glycemic control, adiposity and inflammation, thus suggesting that even small improvements in LPA, MVPA, and SED-time might be associated with significant improvement in cardiovascular risk profile

Baseline Quality-of-Care Data From a Quality-Improvement Program Implemented by a Network of Diabetes Outpatient Clinics

OBJECTIVE—To describe patterns of diabetes care and implement benchmarking activities at the national level

Disability-adjusted life years lost due to diabetes in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom: a burden of illness study

To compare the burden of disease (BoD) attributable to diabetes expressed in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for five European countries in 2010

A novel experimental approach for liver analysis in rats exposed to Bisphenol A by means of LC-mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy

An innovative complementary approach using a liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometer method and infrared spectroscopy is proposed for measuring internal biological exposure to dangerous chemical contaminants and for monitoring biochemical changes in target organs. The proposed methodologies were validated and applied in the case of rats exposed to low-doses of Bisphenol A (BPA). A liquid chromatographic method coupled to a tandem mass spectrometer was used in order to measure BPA concentration in rat livers. BPA was detected at different levels in all liver samples from BPA-treated rats, although the exposure dose was the same in all treated animals, and also from control rats, highlighting the difficulties in eliminating external uncontrolled exposure and the need for internal biological monitoring. Fourier Transform Infrared analysis was applied to detect structural changes occurring in several molecules (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates and nucleic acids) as well as the presence of specific metabolic processes. The spectroscopic analyses clearly demonstrated a different lipid composition more than an evident lipid accumulation and a glycogen accumulation decrease, revealing a metabolic disturbance in livers with a normal histological aspect. These results demonstrated the potential of an integrated approach based on mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy to evaluate at an early stage the hepatotoxic effect of BPA exposure in an animal model. This approach can be usefully exploited in all the investigations aimed to provide better information concerning the interrelationships between contaminant exposure, dose, and health effects

Aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular events in people with diabetes: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Objective To evaluate the benefits and harms of low dose aspirin in people with diabetes and no cardiovascular disease