Network polarization, filter bubbles, and echo chambers: An annotated review of measures and reduction methods

Polarization arises when the underlying network connecting the members of a community or society becomes characterized by highly connected groups with weak inter-group connectivity. The increasing polarization, the strengthening of echo chambers, and the isolation caused by information filters in social networks are increasingly attracting the attention of researchers from different areas of knowledge such as computer science, economics, social and political sciences. This work presents an annotated review of network polarization measures and models used to handle the polarization. Several approaches for measuring polarization in graphs and networks were identified, including those based on homophily, modularity, random walks, and balance theory. The strategies used for reducing polarization include methods that propose edge or node editions (including insertions or deletions, as well as edge weight modifications), changes in social network design, or changes in the recommendation systems embedded in these networks.Comment: Corrected a typo in Section 3.2; the rest remains unchange

Restart strategies for GRASP with path-relinking heuristics

Abstract. GRASP with path-relinking is a hybrid metaheuristic, or stochastic local search (Monte Carlo) method, for combinatorial optimization. A restart strategy in GRASP with path-relinking heuristics is a set of iterations {i1, i2, . . .} on which the heuristic is restarted from scratch using a new seed for the random number generator. Restart strategies have been shown to speed up stochastic local search algorithms. In this paper, we propose a new restart strategy for GRASP with path-relinking heuristics. We illustrate the speedup obtained with our restart strategy on GRASP with path-relinking heuristics for the maximum cut problem, the maximum weighted satisfiability problem, and the private virtual circuit routing problem

A fair comparison between bismuth catalysts for application in photodegradation under visible and solar light

Three different bismuth catalysts (Bi2WO6, BiOI and BiVO4) were synthesized using solvo- and hydrothermal methods. Different reaction times, calcination and the addition of poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) during synthesis were tested to investigate the effect of these variables on the catalysts’ morphology and photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated using the degradation of rhodamine B dye under both visible light and natural solar radiation. The Bi2WO6 samples presented good crystallinity and morphological similarities, despite having undergone different treatments. The BiOI and Bi2WO6 catalysts presented a spherical shape, and no morphological difference was observed as a result of the addition of PVP. The BiVO4 sample presented a parallelepiped shape. BiOI containing PVP and ethylene glycol was the catalyst that presented the highest activity, while BiVO4 presented the lowest. In experiments using scavengers, photogenerated holes demonstrated a key role in dye degradation

A single bout of exercise with a flexible pole induces significant cardiac autonomic responses in healthy men

OBJECTIVES: Flexible poles can provide rapid eccentric and concentric muscle contractions. Muscle vibration is associated with a "tonic vibration reflex” that is stimulated by a sequence of rapid muscle stretching, activation of the muscle spindles and stimulation of a response that is similar to the myotatic reflex. Literature studies analyzing the acute cardiovascular responses to different exercises performed with this instrument are lacking. We investigated the acute effects of exercise with flexible poles on the heart period in healthy men. METHOD: The study was performed on ten young adult males between 18 and 25 years old. We evaluated the heart rate variability in the time and frequency domains. The subjects remained at rest for 10 min. After the rest period, the volunteers performed the exercises with the flexible poles. Immediately after the exercise protocol, the volunteers remained seated at rest for 30 min and their heart rate variability was analyzed. RESULTS: The pNN50 was reduced at 5-10 and 15-20 min after exercise compared to 25-30 min after exercise (p = 0.0019), the SDNN was increased at 25-30 min after exercise compared to at rest and 0-10 min after exercise (p = 0.0073) and the RMSSD was increased at 25-30 min after exercise compared to 5-15 min after exercise (p = 0.0043). The LF in absolute units was increased at 25-30 min after exercise compared to 5-20 min after exercise (p = 0.0184). CONCLUSION: A single bout of exercise with a flexible pole reduced the heart rate variability and parasympathetic recovery was observed approximately 30 min after exercise

Identification of Asparagopsis armata‐associated bacteria and characterization of their bioactive potential

Macroalgae‐associated bacteria have already proved to be an interesting source of compounds with therapeutic potential. Accordingly, the main aim of this study was to characterize Asparagopsis armata‐associated bacteria community and evaluate their capacity to produce substances with antitumor and antimicrobial potential. Bacteria were selected according to their phenotype and isolated by the streak plate technique. The identification was carried out by the RNA ribosomal 16s gene amplification through PCR techniques. The antimicrobial activities were evaluated against seven microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans) by following their growth through spectrophotometric readings. Antitumor activities were evaluated in vitro on human cell lines derived from hepatocellular (HepG‐2) and breast carcinoma (MCF‐7) using the MTT method. The present work identified a total of 21 bacteria belonging to the genus Vibrio, Staphylococcus, Shewanella, Alteromonadaceae, Bacillus, Cobetia, and Photobacterium, with Vibrio being the most abundant (42.86%). The extract of Shewanella sp. ASP 26 bacterial strain induced the highest antimicrobial activity, namely against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus with an IC50 of 151.1 and 346.8 μg/mL, respectively. These bacteria (Shewanella sp.) were also the ones with highest antitumor potential, demonstrating antiproliferative activity on HepG‐2 cells. Asparagopsis armata‐associated bacteria revealed to be a potential source of compounds with antitumor and antibacterial activity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A single bout of exercise with a flexible pole induces significant cardiac autonomic responses in healthy men

OBJECTIVES: Flexible poles can provide rapid eccentric and concentric muscle contractions. Muscle vibration is associated with a "tonic vibration reflex” that is stimulated by a sequence of rapid muscle stretching, activation of the muscle spindles and stimulation of a response that is similar to the myotatic reflex. Literature studies analyzing the acute cardiovascular responses to different exercises performed with this instrument are lacking. We investigated the acute effects of exercise with flexible poles on the heart period in healthy men. METHOD: The study was performed on ten young adult males between 18 and 25 years old. We evaluated the heart rate variability in the time and frequency domains. The subjects remained at rest for 10 min. After the rest period, the volunteers performed the exercises with the flexible poles. Immediately after the exercise protocol, the volunteers remained seated at rest for 30 min and their heart rate variability was analyzed. RESULTS: The pNN50 was reduced at 5-10 and 15-20 min after exercise compared to 25-30 min after exercise (p = 0.0019), the SDNN was increased at 25-30 min after exercise compared to at rest and 0-10 min after exercise (p = 0.0073) and the RMSSD was increased at 25-30 min after exercise compared to 5-15 min after exercise (p = 0.0043). The LF in absolute units was increased at 25-30 min after exercise compared to 5-20 min after exercise (p = 0.0184). CONCLUSION: A single bout of exercise with a flexible pole reduced the heart rate variability and parasympathetic recovery was observed approximately 30 min after exercise

Boosting antimicrobial activity of ciprofloxacin by functionalization of mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are very promising nanomaterials for treating bacterial infections when combined with pharmaceutical drugs. Herein, we report the preparation of two nanomaterials based on the immobilization of ciprofloxacin in mesoporous silica nanoparticles, either as the counter-ion of the choline derivative cation (MSN-[Ch][Cip]) or via anchoring on the surface of amino-group modified MSNs via an amide bond (MSN-Cip). Both nanomaterials were characterized by TEM, FTIR and solution 1H NMR spectroscopies, elemental analysis, XRD and N2 adsorption at 77 K in order to provide the desired structures. No cytotoxicity from the prepared mesoporous nanoparticles on 3T3 murine fibroblasts was observed. The antimicrobial activity of the nanomaterials was determined against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacteria and the results were promising against S. aureus. In the case of B. subtilis, both nanom aterials exhibited higher antimicrobial activity than the precursor [Ch][Cip], and in the case of K. pneumoniae they exhibited higher activity than neutral ciprofloxacin.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio