A hybrid approach for detecting spammers in online social networks

Evolving behaviours by spammers on online social networks continue to be a big challenge; this phenomenon has consistently received attention from researchers in terms of how it can be combated. On micro-blogging communities, such as Twitter, spammers intentionally change their behavioral patterns and message contents to avoid detection. Many existing approaches have been proposed but are limited due to the characterization of spammers' behaviour with unified features, without considering the fact that spammers behave differently, and this results in distinct patterns and features. In this study, we approach the challenge of spammer detection by utilizing the level of focused interest patterns of users. We propose quantity methods to measure the change in user's interest and determine whether the user has a focused-interest or a diverse-interest. Then we represent users by features based on the level of focused interest. We develop a framework by combining unsupervised and supervised learning to differentiate between spammers and legitimate users. The results of this experiment show that our proposed approach can effectively differentiate between spammers and legitimate users regarding the level of focused interest. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to provide a generic and efficient framework to represent user-focused interest level that can handle the problem of the evolving behaviour of spammers

Malicious behavior analysis on Twitter through the lens of user interest

Evolving behaviours by spammers on online social networks continue to be a big challenge; this phenomenon has consistently received attention from researchers in terms of how they can be combated. On micro-blogging communities, such as Twitter, spammers intentionally change their behavioural patterns and message contents to avoid detection. Understanding the behavior of spammers is important for developing effective approaches to differentiate spammers from legitimate users. Due to the dynamic and inconsistent behaviour of spammers, the problem should be considered from two different levels to properly understand this type of behaviour and differentiate it from that of legitimate users. The first level pertains to the content, and the second, to the users’ demographics. In this paper, we first examine Twitter content relating to a particular topic, extracted from one hashtag, for a dataset comprising both spammers and legitimate users in order to characterise user behaviour with respect to that topic. We then investigate the users’ demographic data with a focus on the users’ profile description and how it relates to their tweets. The result of this experiment confirms that, in addition to the content level, users’ demographic data can present an alternative approach to identify the different behaviours of both spammers and legitimate users; moreover, it can be used to detect spammers

Prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection in Asian nations: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract Background Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious public health concern around the world including Asia. TB burden is high in Asian countries and significant population harbor latent tuberculosis infection(LTBI). Aim This systematic review and meta‐analysis aims to evaluate the prevalence of LTBI in Asian countries. Method We performed a systematic literature search on PubMed, Embase, and ScienceDirect to identify relevant articles published between January 1, 2005, and January 1, 2023 investigating the overall prevalence of latent TB among people of Asia. Subgroup analysis was done for Asian subregions during the study period of 2011 to 2016 and 2017 to 2023, for tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon gamma release assay (IGRA), respectively, as well as for QuantiFERON‐TB (QFT) and TSPOT TB tests. Der Simonian and Laird's random‐effects model was used to pool the prevalence of LTBI found using TST and IGRA. Result A total of 15 studies were included after a systematic search from standard electronic databases. The analysis showed that the prevalence of latent TB in Asia was 21% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 19%–23%) and 36% (95% CI: 12%–59%) according to IGRAs and TSTs (cut off 10 mm) results, respectively. Based on IGRA, the prevalence of latent TB was 20% (95% CI: 13%–25%) in 2011 to 2016 and 21% (95% CI: 18%–24%) in 2017 to 2023. Using QFT, the prevalence was 19% (95% CI: 17%–22%) and using TSPOT, the prevalence was 26% (95% CI: 21%–31%). According to the United Nations division of Asia, the prevalence was higher for the Southern region and least for the Western region using TST and higher in the South‐Eastern region and least in the Western region using the IGRA test. Conclusion Almost a quarter of the Asian population has LTBI. Its diagnosis often poses a diagnostic challenge due to the unavailability of standard test in certain areas. Given this prevalence, a mass screening program is suggested with the available standard test and public awareness along with anti‐TB regimen should be considered for individuals who test positive. However, for it to be implemented effectively, we need to take the affordability, availability, and cost‐effectiveness of such interventions into account

Differences in treatment and outcomes among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with and without standard modifiable risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

UNLABELLED: There are limited data available on outcomes and pathophysiology behind ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in populations without standard modifiable risk factors (SMuRFs). The authors carried out this meta-analysis to understand the differences in treatment and outcomes of STEMI patients with and without SMuRFs. METHODS: A systematic database search was performed for relevant studies. Studies reporting desired outcomes among STEMI patients with and without SMuRFs were selected based on predefined criteria in the study protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42022341389). Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts using Covidence. Full texts of the selected studies were independently reviewed to confirm eligibility. Data were extracted from all eligible studies via a full-text review of the primary article for qualitative and quantitative analysis. In-hospital mortality following the first episode of STEMI was the primary outcome, with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), repeat myocardial infarction (MI), cardiogenic shock, heart failure, and stroke as secondary outcomes of interest. Odds ratio (OR) with a 95% CI was used to estimate the effect. RESULTS: A total of 2135 studies were identified from database search, six studies with 521 150 patients with the first STEMI episode were included in the analysis. The authors found higher in-hospital mortality (OR: 1.43; CI: 1.40-1.47) and cardiogenic shock (OR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.55-1.63) in the SMuRF-less group with no differences in MACE, recurrent MI, major bleeding, heart failure, and stroke. There were lower prescriptions of statin (OR: 0.62; CI: 0.42-0.91) and Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor /Angiotensin II receptor blocker (OR: 0.49; CI: 0.28-0.87) at discharge in SMuRF-less patients. There was no difference in procedures like coronary artery bypass graft, percutaneous coronary intervention, and thrombolysis. CONCLUSION: In the SMuRF-less STEMI patients, higher in-hospital mortality and treatment discrepancies were noted at discharge

Differences in treatment and outcomes among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with and without standard modifiable risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

UNLABELLED: There are limited data available on outcomes and pathophysiology behind ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in populations without standard modifiable risk factors (SMuRFs). The authors carried out this meta-analysis to understand the differences in treatment and outcomes of STEMI patients with and without SMuRFs. METHODS: A systematic database search was performed for relevant studies. Studies reporting desired outcomes among STEMI patients with and without SMuRFs were selected based on predefined criteria in the study protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42022341389). Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts using Covidence. Full texts of the selected studies were independently reviewed to confirm eligibility. Data were extracted from all eligible studies via a full-text review of the primary article for qualitative and quantitative analysis. In-hospital mortality following the first episode of STEMI was the primary outcome, with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), repeat myocardial infarction (MI), cardiogenic shock, heart failure, and stroke as secondary outcomes of interest. Odds ratio (OR) with a 95% CI was used to estimate the effect. RESULTS: A total of 2135 studies were identified from database search, six studies with 521 150 patients with the first STEMI episode were included in the analysis. The authors found higher in-hospital mortality (OR: 1.43; CI: 1.40-1.47) and cardiogenic shock (OR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.55-1.63) in the SMuRF-less group with no differences in MACE, recurrent MI, major bleeding, heart failure, and stroke. There were lower prescriptions of statin (OR: 0.62; CI: 0.42-0.91) and Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor /Angiotensin II receptor blocker (OR: 0.49; CI: 0.28-0.87) at discharge in SMuRF-less patients. There was no difference in procedures like coronary artery bypass graft, percutaneous coronary intervention, and thrombolysis. CONCLUSION: In the SMuRF-less STEMI patients, higher in-hospital mortality and treatment discrepancies were noted at discharge

Preventing the Next Pandemic: Is Live Vaccine Efficacious against Monkeypox, or Is There a Need for Killed Virus and mRNA Vaccines?

(1) Background: The monkeypox virus (MPV) is a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Poxviridae family, Chordopoxvirinae subfamily, and Orthopoxvirus genus. It was called monkeypox because it was first discovered in monkeys, in a Danish laboratory, in 1958. However, the actual reservoir for MPV is still unknown. (2) Methods and Results: We have reviewed the existing literature on the options for Monkeypox virus. There are three available vaccines for orthopoxviruses—ACAM2000, JYNNEOS, and LC16—with the first being a replicating vaccine and the latter being non- or minimally replicating. (3) Conclusions: Smallpox vaccinations previously provided coincidental immunity to MPV. ACAM2000 (a live-attenuated replicating vaccine) and JYNNEOS (a live-attenuated, nonreplicating vaccine) are two US FDA-approved vaccines that can prevent monkeypox. However, ACAM2000 may cause serious side effects, including cardiac problems, whereas JYNNEOS is associated with fewer complications. The recent outbreaks across the globe have once again highlighted the need for constant monitoring and the development of novel prophylactic and therapeutic modalities. Based on available data, there is still a need to develop an effective and safe new generation of vaccines specific for monkeypox that are killed or developed into a mRNA vaccine before monkeypox is declared a pandemic