User perception of information credibility of news on Twitter

In this paper, we examine user perception of credibility for news-related tweets. We conduct a user study on a crowd-sourcing platform to judge the credibility of such tweets. By analysing user judgments and comments, we find that eight features, including some that can not be automatically identified from tweets, are perceived by users as important for judging information credibility. Moreover, distinct features like link in tweet, display name and user belief consistently lead users to judge tweets as credible. We also find that users can not consistently judge or even misjudge the credibility for some tweets on politics news

A note on leapfrogging vortex rings

In this paper we provide examples, by numerical simulation using the Navier-Stokes equations for axisymmetric laminar flow, of the 'leapfrogging' motion of two, initially identical, vortex rings which share a common axis of symmetry. We show that the number of clear passes that each ring makes through the other increases with Reynolds number, and that as long as the configuration remains stable the two rings ultimately merge to form a single vortex ring

Correlation analysis of reader's demographics and tweet credibility perception

When searching on Twitter, readers have to determine the credibility level of tweets on their own. Previous work has mostly studied how the text content of tweets in uences credibility perception. In this paper, we study reader demographics and information credibility perception on Twitter. We nd reader's educational background and geolocation have signi cant correlation with credibility perception. Further investigation reveals that combinations of demographic attributes correlating with credibility perception are insigni cant. Despite di erences in demographics, readers nd features regarding topic keyword and the writing style of a tweet to be independently helpful in perceiving tweets' credibility. While previous studies reported the use of features independently, our result shows that readers use combination of features to help in making credibility perception of tweets

Growth and proximate composition of tropical marine Chaetoceros calcitrans and Nannochloropsis oculata cultured outdoors and under laboratory conditions

The growth and proximate composition of two marine microalgae, Chaetoceros calcitrans and Nannochloropsis oculata, cultured outdoors under shade (24 to 36°C, 140 μmol/m2/s) and laboratory conditions (environmental chamber, 23°C for C. calcitrans and 20°C for N. oculata, 150 μmol/m2/s) were compared. Outdoor cultures of both C. calcitrans and N. oculata had significantly higher (p < 0.05) biomass, cell count, optical density and specific growth rate compared to the cultures grown under laboratory conditions. Lipid content was significantly higher in C. calcitrans grown outdoors, whereas, protein and carbohydrate composition did not show any significant differences (p > 0.05) between the outdoor and laboratory cultures. In the case of N. oculata, no significant differences (p > 0.05) were found in protein and lipid composition, but carbohydrate was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the outdoor culture. In addition, the results showed that both C. calcitrans and N. oculata cultures grew faster outdoors, producing more biomass within a shorter period of time. This study illustrated that outdoor culture of microalgae was viable despite the fluctuating environmental conditions.Key words: Growth, proximate composition, Chaetoceros calcitrans, Nannochloropsis oculata, outdoor culture

Growth and nutritional value of a Tropical Green Alga, Ankistrodesmus convolutus corda, in Agro-industrialeffluents

Use of agro-industrial effluents for microalgal culture was investigated using a tropical freshwater green alga, Ankistrodesmus convolutus cultured in various dilutions of latex concentrate effluent (LCRE), standard Malaysian rubber effluent (SMRE) and digested palm oil mill effluent (POMED). Ankistrodesmus convolutus grown in 40%and 60%LCRE, 60%SMRE and 10% POMED showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) specific growth rate in terms of cell number and chlorophyll a than that grown in other effluent media and inorganic fertiliser (N:P:K = 1:1:0.5) as control. Total biomass of this microalgae grown in 60%LCRE, 60%SMRE and 10% POMED was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that cultured in other effluent media and the control. Ankistrodesmus convolutus cultured in 40% and 60% LCRE, 60% SMRE and 10% POMED showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher amount of crude protein and lipid than that grown in other effluent media and the control. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) amount of most of the essential amino acids (EAAs) except a few were found in A. convolutus cultured in 60% LCRE and 60% SMRE than that grown in other effluent media and control. Ankistrodesmus convolutus cultured in 10% POMED resulted in significantly higher (P < 0.05) amount of all the EAAs except threonine and tyrosine that were grown in other POMED media and control. Ankistrodesmus convolutus grown in 40% and 60% LCRE, contained significantly higher (P < 0.05) amounts of all the C18 and C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PDFAs) than that cultured in other SMRE media and control, except eicosadienoic acid (20: 2n-11). A similar trend of PUFAs was recorded in A. convolutus cultured in 60% SMRE except eicosatrienoic acid (20:3n-6) and arachidonic acid (20:4n-6). It was found that A. convolutus contained significantly (P < 0.05) higher amount of PUFAs such as linoleic acid (l8:2n-6), linolenic acid (18:3n-3) and arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) when grown in 10% POMED than that cultured in other POMED media and control. This study showed that A. convolutus grown in 40-60% rubber and 10% POMED has higher nutritional value that that cultured in other effluent media and inogranic fertilizer

Development and preliminary validation of socio-cultural influences on body image scale for Malaysian female adolescents

The present study aimed to develop and validate comprehensive multi-dimensional sociocultural (parental, peers, media) influence on body image scale for Malaysian female adolescents. A total of 328 female adolescents from a secondary school in Kuantan district, Pahang, Malaysiacompleted a self-administered questionnaire, which encompassed a multiple measure of sociocultural influence, Body Dissatisfaction and Body Importance subscales of Body Image Questionnaire (McCabe & Ricciardelli, 2001), and Body Change Inventory (Ricciardelli & McCabe, 2002). Through factor analysis, the three major components (parental, peers, media) of the sociocultural influence scale were found to consist of multi-dimensional constructs. Particularly, five dimensions were identified for the parental influence subscale: 1) parental teasing on weight, 2) parental encouragement on increasing muscle and weight, 3) parental social support, 4) parental preoccupation with thinness and dieting behaviour, and 5) parental feedback on body change behaviour; the peer influence subscale comprised four dimensions including 1) peer social support, 2) peer preoccupation with thinness and dieting behaviour, 3) peer teasing on weight, and 4) peer encouragement on increasing muscle and weight; and three dimensions were identified in the media influence subscale, which included 1) media encouragement on reducing weight, 2) media modeling on weight reducing behaviour, and 3) media encouragement on increasing muscle and weight. As for construct validity, there were positive correlations between the composite score of the subscales and body dissatisfaction, body importance, strategies to decrease body size and strategies to increase body size and muscle size. In short, the present study has developed a sociocultural (parental, peer, media) influences on body image scale with construct validity and good internal consistency for Malaysian female adolescents. The scale can be used to assess the various dimensions of socio-cultural influences and will be useful to determine the etiology, prevention and treatment of negative body image and its related problems for Malaysian female adolescents

The Role of the Fc Region in CD70-specific Antibody Effects on Cardiac Transplant Survival

Background: The role of the CD70-specific antibody and the mechanisms by which it extends transplant survival are not known. Methods: Fully major histocompatibility complex-mismatched heterotopic heart transplantation (BALB/c to C57BL/6) was performed. Treated mice received intraperitoneal injections of wild-type (WT) CD70-specific antibody (FR70) or IgG1 or IgG2a chimeric antibodies on days 0, 2, 4, and 6 posttransplantation. Results: WT FR70 antibody significantly extended heart transplant survival to 19 days compared with untreated mice (median survival time [MST]=10 days). Graft survival using the nondepleting IgG1 antibody was significantly shorter (MST=14 days), whereas the survival using depleting IgG2a antibody (MST=18) was similar to that using WT FR70. The FR70 and IgG2a antibodies demonstrated a greater efficiency of fixing mouse complement over the IgG1 variant in vitro. CD4 and CD8 T-cell graft infiltration was reduced with treatment; however, this was most pronounced with WT FR70 and IgG2a antibody therapy compared with the IgG1 chimeric variant. Circulating donor-specific IgG alloantibodies were initially reduced with WT FR70 treatment (day 8 posttransplantation) but increased at days 15 and 20 posttransplantation to the level detected in untreated controls. Conclusion: We conclude that WT (FR70) and the IgG2a depleting variant of CD70-specific antibody reduce graft infiltrating CD4 and CD8 T cells, transiently reduce serum alloantibody levels, and extend graft survival. In contrast, the nondepleting IgG1 variant of this antibody showed lower efficacy. These data suggest that a depleting mechanism of action and not merely costimulation blockade plays a substantial role in the therapeutic effects of CD70-specific antibody

TaqMan real-time PCR assay for relative quantitation of white spot syndrome virus infection in Penaeus monodon Fabricius exposed to ammonia.

White spot disease is caused by a highly virulent pathogen, the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). The disease is usually triggered by changes in environmental parameters causing severe losses to the shrimp industry. This study was undertaken to quantify the relative WSSV load in shrimp exposed to ammonia, using a TaqMan-based real-time PCR, and their subsequent susceptibility to WSSV. Shrimp were exposed to different levels of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) (8.1, 3.8 and 1.1 mg L−1) for 10 days and challenged with WSSV by feeding WSSV-positive shrimp. WSSV was detected simultaneously in haemolymph, gills and pereopods at four hours post-infection. The TaqMan real-time PCR assay showed a highly dynamic detection limit that spanned over 6 log10 concentrations of DNA and high reproducibility (standard deviation 0.33–1.42) and small correlation of variability (CV) (1.89–3.85%). Shrimp exposed to ammonia had significantly higher (P < 0.01) WSSV load compared to the positive control, which was not exposed to ammonia. Shrimp exposed to 8.1 mg L−1 of TAN had the highest (P < 0.01) WSSV load in all three organs in comparison with those exposed to 3.8 and 1.1 mg L−1 of TAN. However, haemolymph had significantly higher (P < 0.01) viral load compared to the gills and pereopods. Results showed that shrimp exposed to ammonia levels as low as 1.1 mg L−1 (TAN) had increased susceptibility to WSSV

Effect of different pH and salinity levels on the viability of Penaeus monodon baculovirus (MBV) in Penaeus semisulcatus

The virucidal effect of pH and salinity on Penaeus monodon baculovirus (MBV) was investigated by water borne inoculated methods exposing PL12 Penaeus semisulcatus for 10 hours and observing for 10 days at temperature 28- 30°C. For this purpose, one thousand virus free PL12 of P. semisulcatus were divided into five groups and each group placed in a 10 L plastic basin containing chlorine-treated sea water at 35ppt. The salinity of basins water after 12 hours changed to 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40ppt using synthetic sea salt. To study the effect of pH, solution with various pH of 3, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 12 were prepared using IN NaOH and IN HCL to Na2HPO4 solution. For transmission of MBV, an aliquot of approximately 10 frozen infected larvae were used for each experiment by water born inoculated method. Ten hours after inoculation, the shrimp were removed from jar and introduced into another jar with the same salinity or pH. During 10 days experiment, the rate of infection (ROI), severity of infection (SOI) and accumulative mortality were varied among the MBV-infected. Penaeus mondon baculovirus was able to infect Penaeus semisulcatus at salinity ranging from 5-40ppt whereas at pH 3 and 12, MBV was completely inactivated MBV was not able to infect larvae at pH 5, 7, 8 and 9

Dominant Media of a Community-Based Organization for Disseminating Sustainable Agriculture Knowledge and Information

Abstract Co mmun ication is the key to transforming Malaysia&apos;s conventional agricu ltural systems to sustainable agriculture systems. The objective of this paper is to identify the dominant and most effective med iu m for co mmunication as it is implemented by the Qadhijah Natural Farm -a co mmun ity-based organization located in Parit Buntar, Perak, Malaysia. Rapid Appraisal Agricultural Knowledge Systems analysis indicated that the &quot;face-to-face&quot; communicat ion is the dominant and most effect ive mediu m fo r transfer of knowledge/information by the Qadhijah Natural Farm among all co mmunication med ia types studied