"We Care About the Internet; We Care About Everything" Understanding Social Media Content Moderators' Mental Models and Support Needs

Despite the growing prevalence of ML algorithms, NLP, algorithmically-driven content recommender systems and other computational mechanisms on social media platforms, some of their core and mission-critical gatekeeping functions are nonetheless deeply reliant on the persistence of humans-in-the-loop to both validate computational models in use, and to intervene when those models fail. Perhaps nowhere is this human interaction with/on behalf of computation more key than in social media content moderation, where human capacities for discretion, discernment and the holding of complex mental models of decision-trees and changing policy are called upon hundreds, if not thousands, of times per day. This paper presents the results of a qualitative, interview-based study of an in-house content moderation team (Trust & Safety, or T&S) at a mid-size, erstwhile niche social platform we call FanClique. Findings indicate that while the FanClique T&S team is treated well in terms of support from managers, respect and support from the wider company, and mental health services provided (particularly in comparison to other social media companies), the work of content moderation remains an extremely taxing form of labor that is not adequately compensated or supported

Indolent systemic mastocytosis: a case and review of the current available treatment options

Mastocytosis denotes a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by abnormal growth and accumulation of mast cells. Cutaneous mastocytosis is characterized by skin-limited disease and is the most common subtype. Systemic mastocytosis has extracutaneous organ involvement with variable symptomatology and prognosis. Clinical manifestations are secondary to mediator release or direct organ infiltration of mast cells. Current available treatment for systemic mastocytosis is non-curative with conventional symptom-directed therapy for all subtypes. Cytoreductive agents are available for those with refractory symptoms or extensive extracutaneous disease. To date, clinical responses remain mixed and systemic mastocytosis is still an incurable condition

The acute inflammatory response to intranigral α-synuclein differs significantly from intranigral lipopolysaccharide and is exacerbated by peripheral inflammation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Activated microglia are a feature of the host response to neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD) and are thought to contribute to disease progression. Recent evidence suggests that extracellular α-synuclein (eSNCA) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PD and that this may be mediated by a microglial response.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We wished to discover whether the host response to eSNCA would be sufficient to induce significant cytokine production. <it>In vitro </it>cultured BV-2 microglia were used to determine the basic inflammatory response to eSNCA. <it>In vivo</it>, 8-week old Biozzi mice were subjected to a single intranigral injection of either 3 μg SNCA, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or serum protein (BSA) and allowed to recover for 24 hours. A second cohort of animals were peripherally challenged with LPS (0.5 mg/kg) 6 hours prior to tissue collection. Inflammation was studied by quantitative real-time PCR for a number of pro-inflammatory genes and immunohistochemistry for microglial activation, endothelial activation and cell death.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>In vitro </it>data showed a robust microglial response to SNCA, including a positive NFĸB response and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Direct injection of SNCA into the substantia nigra resulted in the upregulation of mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines, the expression of endothelial markers of inflammation and microglial activation. However, these results were significantly different to those obtained after direct injection of LPS. By contrast, when the animals were injected intracerebrally with SNCA and subsequently challenged with systemic LPS, the level of production of IL-1β in the substantia nigra became comparable to that induced by the direct injection of LPS into the brain. The injection of albumin into the nigra with a peripheral LPS challenge did not provoke the production of a significant inflammatory response. Direct injection of LPS into the substantia nigra also induces cell death in a more robust manner than direct injection of either SNCA or BSA.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest that the presence of eSNCA protein 'primes' microglia, making them susceptible to environmental proinflammatory challenge. For this reason, we hypothesise that where 'inflammation' contributes to the disease progression in PD, it does so in a punctuate manner (on-off) as a result of systemic events.</p

Advancing the Next Generation of Higher Education Scholars: An Examination of One Doctoral Classroom

Course content in graduate school is especially important in terms of helping students make progress toward a doctorate. However, content is merely one aspect of developing successful students. This article highlights the value of creating an affirming learning environment by discussing one graduate class on Qualitative Policy Research. The majority of student participants were graduate students of color. The authors discuss the pedagogical approaches guiding this course and outline ways in which the instructor served to create safe spaces that invited as well as validated diverse perspectives and made the research process transparent. These efforts resulted in the production of high quality research used as pilot studies for successful dissertation defenses, accepted presentations at scholarly conferences, and published articles in peer-reviewed journals. Throughout this article, suggestions for replicating a similar course environment are discussed

DataMoves:Entangling data and movement to support computer science education

In the domain of computing education for children, much work has been done to devise creative and engaging methods of teaching about programming. However, there are many other fundamental aspects of computing that have so far received relatively less attention. This work explores how the topics of number systems and data representation can be taught in a way that piques curiosity and captures learners’ imaginations. Specifically, we present the design of two interactive physical computing artefacts, which we collectively call DataMoves, that enable students, 12-14 years old, to explore number systems and data through embodied movement and dance. Our evaluation of DataMoves, used in tandem with other pedagogical methods, demonstrates that the form of embodied, exploration-based learning adopted has much potential for deepening students’ understandings of computing topics, as well as for shaping positive perceptions of topics that are traditionally considered boring and dull

The adverse consequences of quantitative easing (QE): international capital flows and corporate debt growth in China

The economic institutionalist literature often suggests that sub-optimal institutional arrangements impart unique distortions in China, and excessive corporate debt is a symptom of this condition. However, lax monetary policies after the global financial crisis, and specifically, quantitative easing have led to concerns about debt bubbles under a wide range of institutional regimes. This study draws on data from Chinese listed firms, supplemented by numerous macroeconomic control variables, to isolate the effect of international capital flows from other drivers of firm leverage. We conclude that the rise in, and distribution of, Chinese corporate debt can partly be ascribed to the effects of monetary policy outside of China and that Chinese institutional features amplify these effects. Whilst Chinese firms are affected by developments in the global financial ecosystem, domestic institutional realities and distortions may unevenly add their own particular effects, providing further support for and extending the variegated capitalism literature

Evaluasi Program Pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris

The aims of this research were to evaluate English learning in context, input, process, product. This research was an evaluation research. The sources of the research were students of English for Children class at English Smart Bandar Jaya. The data was collected through observation, test, and documentation which was analyzed descriptive quantitative. The conclusions in this research were : 1) the of context value of sub component at the pre-condition is fair, the input value of component sub component infrastructure,human resources and curriculum is poor, the result of process component sub component of planning and english learning implementation is fair, and the product component value in the learning result of the students is fair, and 2) the recommendation of this research,the general manager needs to observe and change the curriculum for a better future, then provide laboratory room for listening, the teachers should make a lesson plan based on the syllabus for each competency.Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris pada komponen context, input, process, product. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian evaluasi. Sumber penelitian adalah pembelajar kelas English for Children di English Smart Bandar Jaya. Data dikumpulkan dengan observasi, tes dan dokumentasi kemudian dianalisis secara deskriptif kuantitatif. Kesimpulan dalam penelitian ini : 1) nilai context sub komponen kondisi awal lembaga cukup, nilai input sub komponen fasilitas sarana prasarana, tenaga pendidik dan kurikulum cukup, nilai process sub komponen perencanaan dan pelaksanaan pembelajaran bahasa Inggris kurang, dan nilai komponen product pada hasil belajar pembelajar cukup, dan 2) rekomendasi penelitian ini, kepala lembaga perlu meninjau atau mengubah kurikulum lembaga untuk pembaruan ke arah yang lebih baik, disediakan ruang laboratorium untuk menunjang pembelajaran listening, tentor harus membuat lesson plan yang disusun berdasarkan silabus unit kompetensi

Structure and function of the bacterial heterodimeric ABC transporter CydDC: stimulation of ATPase activity by thiol and heme compounds.

In Escherichia coli, the biogenesis of both cytochrome bd-type quinol oxidases and periplasmic cytochromes requires the ATP-binding cassette-type cysteine/GSH transporter, CydDC. Recombinant CydDC was purified as a heterodimer and found to be an active ATPase both in soluble form with detergent and when reconstituted into a lipid environment. Two-dimensional crystals of CydDC were analyzed by electron cryomicroscopy, and the protein was shown to be made up of two non-identical domains corresponding to the putative CydD and CydC subunits, with dimensions characteristic of other ATP-binding cassette transporters. CydDC binds heme b. Detergent-solubilized CydDC appears to adopt at least two structural states, each associated with a characteristic level of bound heme. The purified protein in detergent showed a weak basal ATPase activity (approximately 100 nmol Pi/min/mg) that was stimulated ∼3-fold by various thiol compounds, suggesting that CydDC could act as a thiol transporter. The presence of heme (either intrinsic or added in the form of hemin) led to a further enhancement of thiol-stimulated ATPase activity, although a large excess of heme inhibited activity. Similar responses of the ATPase activity were observed with CydDC reconstituted into E. coli lipids. These results suggest that heme may have a regulatory role in CydDC-mediated transmembrane thiol transport