Multi-dimensional Conversation Analysis across Online Social Networks

With the advance of the Internet, ordinary users have created multiple personal accounts on online social networks, and interactions among these social network users have recently been tagged with location information. In this work, we observe user interactions across two popular online social networks, Facebook and Twitter, and analyze which factors lead to retweet/like interactions for tweets/posts. In addition to the named entities, lexical errors and expressed sentiments in these data items, we also consider the impact of shared user locations on user interactions. In particular, we show that geolocations of users can greatly affect which social network post/tweet will be liked/ retweeted. We believe that the results of our analysis can help researchers to understand which social network content will have better visibility.Comment: Datasets will be anonymized and published at: http://akcora.wordpress.com/2013/12/24/pointer-for-datasets

Multiparameter ergodic Cesàro-α averages

Let (X,F,ν) be a σ-finite measure space. Associated with k Lamperti operators on Lp(ν), T1,…,Tk, nˉ=(n1,…,nk)∈Nk and αˉ=(α1,…,αk) with 0<αj≤1, we define the ergodic Cesàro-αˉ averages Rnˉ,αˉf=1∏kj=1Aαjnj∑ik=0nk⋯∑i1=0n1∏j=1kAαj−1nj−ijTikk⋯Ti11f. For these averages we prove the almost everywhere convergence on X and the convergence in the Lp(ν) norm, when n1,…,nk→∞ independently, for all f∈Lp(dν) with p>1/α∗ where α∗=min1≤j≤kαj. In the limit case p=1/α∗, we prove that the averages Rnˉ,αˉf converge almost everywhere on X for all f in the Orlicz–Lorentz space Λ(1/α∗,φm−1) with φm(t)=t(1+log+t)m. To obtain the result in the limit case we need to study inequalities for the composition of operators Ti that are of restricted weak type (pi,pi). As another application of these inequalities we also study the strong Cesàro-αˉ continuity of functions.Fil: Bernardis, Ana Lucia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Crescimbeni, Raquel Liliana. Universidad Nacional del Comahue; ArgentinaFil: Ferrari Freire, Cecilia. Universidad Nacional del Comahue; Argentin

Effects of field inoculation with VAM and bacteria consortia on root growth and nutrients uptake in common wheat

This study investigated the effects of a commercial biofertilizer containing the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and the diazotrophic N-fixing bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii on root and shoot growth, yield, and nutrient uptake in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in order to improve the sustainable cultivation of this widespread crop. The trials were carried out in controlled conditions (rhizoboxes) and in open fields over two years to investigate the interaction between inoculation and three doses of nitrogen fertilization (160, 120 and 80 kg ha1) in a silty-loam soil of the Po Plain (NE Italy). In rhizoboxes, efficient root colonization by R. irregularis was observed at 50 days after sowing with seed inoculation, together with improved root tip density and branching (+~30% vs. controls), while the effects of post-emergence inoculation by soil and foliar spraying were not observable at plant sampling. In the open, field spraying at end tillering significantly increased the volumetric root length density (RLD, +22% vs. controls) and root area density (+18%) after about two months (flowering stage) in both years under medium and high N fertilization doses, but not at the lowest N dose. In absence of inoculation, RLD progressively decreased with increased N doses. Inoculation had a negligible effect on grain yield and N uptake, which followed a typical N dose-response model, while straw Zn, P, and K concentrations were seldom improved. It is concluded that medium-high N fertilization doses are required to achieve the target yield and standards of quality (protein contents) in wheat cultivation, while the use of this mixed VAM-PGPR biofertilizer appears to be a sustainable mean for minimizing the adverse effects of chemical N fertilizers on root expansion and for improving the uptake of low-mobility nutrients, which has potentially relevant environmental benefits

Riduzione dei sistemi di forze ai sistemi semplici con applicazione alle forze parallele e costruzione del poligono funicolare

In questa tesi si studia il problema della riduzione dei sistemi di forze ai cosiddetti sistemi semplici nell’ambito della meccanica classica, con l’obiettivo di illustrare il risultato centrale in questo contesto, per il quale un qualunque sistema di forze (anche in numero infinito) risulta equivalente a un sistema costituito da una singola forza e da una coppia, con vettore della forza parallelo al momento della coppia. Questo risultato è molto importante, in quanto sistemi di forze equivalenti, aventi cioè lo stesso vettore risultante e lo stesso momento risultante, generano la stessa dinamica per i corpi a cui sono applicati. Pertanto nella determinazione dell’evoluzione temporale di un corpo, così come nella ricerca delle condizioni di equilibrio, è possibile sostituire al sistema di forze effettivamente agenti su di esso quello elementare equivalente. In questo contesto risulta di particolare interesse il caso delle forze parallele, per il quale è possibile determinare un’espressione esplicita per il centro di riduzione. Fra le applicazioni viene illustrato il metodo grafico per la costruzione del poligono funicolare, che consente di determinare graficamente la forza risultante di un sistema di forze complanari. Si conclude poi osservando un'analogia tra i sistemi di forze e gli stati cinetici di un corpo rigido; entrambi infatti si possono considerare come applicazioni della teoria generale dei vettori applicati

Management style in internal audit: influence between personal factors and role conflict

Este artigo analisa o efeito do estilo de gestão do líder na relação entre os fatores pessoais e o conflito de papéis na função da auditoria interna. Lança-se luz sobre os fatores per se da presença de conflito de papéis na auditoria interna, abordando os efeitos que diferentes estilos de gestão do líder da auditoria podem ocasionar na relação precedentemente já investigada na literatura entre características pessoais e o conflito de papéis. As evidências demonstram que as habilidades e expertise de executivos líderes da auditoria interna impacta o papel exercido pelos auditores internos, tornando-se insights importantes de serem analisados e compreendidos ao delimitar a função da auditoria interna. Este artigo contribui com a compreensão do impacto que aspectos a nível pessoal, profissional e de interação na hierarquia de gestão nas empresas podem ocasionar na função da auditoria interna. Foi usada pesquisa survey envolvendo 218 auditores internos certificados pelo Instituto dos Auditores Internos do Brasil (IIA Brasil), atuantes na área de auditoria interna e com perfis ativos na plataforma de contatos profissionais LinkedIn. Utilização de regressão linear múltipla para a análise dos dados. Os fatores pessoais englobam a independência e expertise dos auditores internos. O conflito de papéis contempla três dimensões: demanda da organização vs. profissão de auditor; auditoria vs. consultoria; e valores pessoais vs. expectativas profissionais. O estilo de gestão mensura o comportamento dos superiores imediatos nas dimensões de tarefa, relacionamento e contexto situacional. Como resultados e contribuições, evidenciou-se que o compromisso com a independência e a expertise dos auditores internos têm influência negativa no conflito de papéis. Um estilo de gestão com comportamentos direcionados ao relacionamento entre os indivíduos, à realização das tarefas ou adaptativo às situações, por parte dos superiores imediatos, contribui para reduzir o nível de conflito de papéis na função da auditoria interna.This article analyzes the leader’s management style effect on the relationship between personal factors and role conflict in the internal audit function. It sheds light on the factors per se regarding the presence of role conflict in internal audit, addressing the effects that various management styles of the audit leader can cause in the relationship previously addressed in the literature between personal characteristics and role conflict. Evidence shows that the skills and expertise of leading internal audit executives impact the role played by internal auditors, becoming major insights to be analyzed and understood when delimiting the internal audit function. This article contributes to grasping the impact that aspects at a personal, professional, and interaction level in the management hierarchy in companies can have on the internal audit function. A survey was used involving 218 internal auditors certified by the Institute of Internal Auditors of Brazil (Instituto dos Auditores Internos do Brasil [IIA Brasil]), working in the internal audit area and with active profiles on the professional networking platform LinkedIn. Use of multiple linear regression for data analysis. Personal factors encompass the independence and expertise of internal auditors. Role conflict comprises three dimensions: demand from the organization vs. the auditor profession; auditing vs. consulting; and personal values vs. professional expectations. Management style measures the behavior of immediate superiors in the dimensions of task, relationship, and situational context. As results and contributions, it was evidenced that internal auditor’s commitment to independence and expertise have a negative influence on role conflict. A management style with behaviors aimed at relationships between individuals, carrying out tasks, or adapting to situations, on the part of immediate superiors, contributes to reducing the level of role conflict in the internal audit function

Efficacy, safety, and patient acceptability of thecombined chlormadinone acetate-ethinylestradioloral contraceptive

Since their introduction in 1959, development of hormonal contraceptives has beenongoing, with the ultimate aim of creating not only an effective and safe contraceptive method,but also a drug able to meet the need for treatment of other conditions, such as acne, seborrhea,and hirsutism, with few or no side effects. With this objective, a new progestin, chlormadinoneacetate (CMA), has been developed as a derivative of progesterone for contraception.Thisnew molecule has been introduced in combination with ethinylestradiol (EE) 30 μg as a safecontraceptivewith antiandrogenic properties. Many clinical studies have investigated this neworal combination and found it to be safe, with a Pearl Index similar to that of other combinedhormonal contraceptives. CMA, because of its antiandrogenic properties, has been also consideredeffective for resolution of acne, seborrhea, and hirsutism. The data show it to be asafe molecule in terms of glucose and lipid metabolism. No major weight changes have beenlinked with its use, and it seems to be the only progestin able to reduce fat mass during use.The CMA-EE combination is well tolerated and acceptable to women. Adverse events relatedto its use are similar to those reported with other third-generation contraceptives.We canconclude that CMA-EE is an effective, safe, and well tolerated antiandrogenichormonalcontraceptive

Regulation of ob gene expression: evidence for epinephrine-induced suppression in human obesity

Leptin acts as satiety factor and increases energy expenditure. Studies conducted on animals and in vitro on adipocytes culture have shown that infusion of catecholamines leads to a significant reduction of ob gene expression; it appears of interest to evaluate the in vivo effects of adrenergic activation on the expression of the ob gene in humans. We studied ob gene expression in adipose tissue samples from 13 obese subjects before and after epinephrine (25 ng/min x kg ideal body weight for 3 h) and 6 obese patients during saline infusion. Hormonal infusion led to a significant increase in epinephrine plasma levels (from 27 +/- 4 to 339 +/- 75 pg/mL; P < 0.001), plasma free fatty acids (from 0.73 +/- 0.05 to 0.98 +/- 0.07; P < 0.05), heart rate (13.5 +/- 3.1 beats/min; F = 2.9; P < 0.03), and systolic blood pressure (F = 2.7; P < 0.05), whereas diastolic blood pressure did not show significant variation. Plasma leptin levels decreased by the end of the infusion (from 63 +/- 13 to 49 +/- 11 ng/mL; P < 0.05), and ob messenger ribonucleic acid levels were significantly reduced (decrease amounting to 47 +/- 5% of basal values). Our study shows that adrenergic activation contributes to regulate ob messenger ribonucleic acid levels in humans. The interaction between epinephrine and leptin may operate during metabolic and psychological stress to regulate energy expenditure and food intake

Expression of μ-protocadherin is negatively regulated by the activation of the β-catenin signaling pathway in normal and cancer colorectal enterocytes.

Mu-protocadherin (MUCDHL) is an adhesion molecule predominantly expressed by colorectal epithelial cells which is markedly downregulated upon malignant transformation. Notably, treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells with mesalazine lead to increased expression of MUCDHL, and is associated with sequestration of β-catenin on the plasma membrane and inhibition of its transcriptional activity. To better characterize the causal relationship between β-catenin and MUCDHL expression, we performed various experiments in which CRC cell lines and normal colonic organoids were subjected to culture conditions inhibiting (FH535 treatment, transcription factor 7-like 2 siRNA inactivation, Wnt withdrawal) or stimulating (LiCl treatment) β-catenin activity. We show here that expression of MUCDHL is negatively regulated by functional activation of the β-catenin signaling pathway. This finding was observed in cell culture systems representing conditions of physiological stimulation and upon constitutive activation of β-catenin in CRC. The ability of MUCDHL to sequester and inhibit β-catenin appears to provide a positive feedback enforcing the effect of β-catenin inhibitors rather than serving as the primary mechanism responsible for β-catenin inhibition. Moreover, MUCDHL might have a role as biomarker in the development of CRC chemoprevention drugs endowed with β-catenin inhibitory activity

Policy options to support the Agriculture Sector Growth and Transformation Strategy in Kenya: A CGE analysis

This report provides scientific evidences supporting the new Agriculture Sector Growth and Transformation Strategy in Kenya. A Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model specifically modified for the context of Kenya is used to address the impacts of six policy changes. For the purpose of the study, a desegregated version of a 2014 Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) has been developed for Kenya. Multi-sectoral analytical tools are used to describe the Kenyan economy and inform about which agri-food value chains have the greatest impact in terms of output, employment and value added. Then, results of simulated policy changes are presented in this report, considering that a more careful analysis at regional and household type levels is required in order to draw robust policy recommendations.JRC.D.4-Economics of Agricultur