Two Species Evolutionary Game Model of User and Moderator Dynamics

We construct a two species evolutionary game model of an online society consisting of ordinary users and behavior enforcers (moderators). Among themselves, moderators play a coordination game choosing between being "positive" or "negative" (or harsh) while ordinary users play prisoner's dilemma. When interacting, moderators motivate good behavior (cooperation) among the users through punitive actions while the moderators themselves are encouraged or discouraged in their strategic choice by these interactions. We show the following results: (i) We show that the $\omega$-limit set of the proposed system is sensitive both to the degree of punishment and the proportion of moderators in closed form. (ii) We demonstrate that the basin of attraction for the Pareto optimal strategy $(\text{Cooperate},\text{Positive})$ can be computed exactly. (iii) We demonstrate that for certain initial conditions the system is self-regulating. These results partially explain the stability of many online users communities such as Reddit. We illustrate our results with examples from this online system.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, submitted to 2012 ASE Conference on Social Informatic

Education and Entertainment: Developing New Pathways to Student Engagement through Library Services and Student Life Partnerships

“How do you measure?” is from which Broadway musical? This type of question might be asked in the virtual trivia nights hosted by Pittsburg State University’s Library Services and Student Life areas. 2020-2021 was a season of collaboration between PSU Student Life professionals and a PSU Librarian. This presentation will cover the misconceptions about Student Life and Library, how to overcome those misconceptions, and maximize partnerships through the lens of 2020-2021 virtual trivia nights. At the end of this session, attendees will leave with the tools on how to approach Student Life professionals at their campus for partnership and series programming and how to maximize everyone’s strengths in a partnership

Does mobile phone ownership predict better utilization of maternal and newborn health services? a cross-sectional study in Timor-Leste.

BackgroundIncreasingly popular mobile health (mHealth) programs have been proposed to promote better utilization of maternal, newborn and child health services. However, women who lack access to a mobile phone are often left out of both mHealth programs and research. In this study, we determine whether household mobile phone ownership is an independent predictor of utilization of maternal and newborn health services in Timor-Leste.MethodsThe study included 581 women aged 15-49 years with a child under the age of two years from the districts of Manufahi and Ainaro in Timor-Leste. Participants were interviewed via a structured survey of knowledge, practices, and coverage of maternal and child health services, with additional questions related to ownership and utilization of mobile phones. Mobile phone ownership was the exposure variable, and the dependent variables included having at least four antenatal care visits, skilled birth attendance, health facility delivery, a postnatal checkup within 24 h, and a neonatal checkup within 24 h for their youngest child. Logistic regression models were applied to assess for associations.ResultsSixty-seven percent of women reported having at least one mobile phone in the family. Women who had a mobile phone were significantly more likely to be of higher socioeconomic status and to utilize maternal and newborn health services. However, after adjusting socioeconomic factors, household mobile phone ownership was not independently associated with any of the dependent variables.ConclusionEvaluations of the effects of mHealth programs on health in a population need to consider the likelihood of socioeconomic differentials indicated by mobile phone ownership

A new letter by Sara Coleridge

This article provides a discussion of a previously unpublished letter in the Keats House Collections written by Sara Coleridge, the poet and editor, and the only daughter of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Presented here is the first transcription of the letter to be printed – addressed to the artist Samuel Laurence (sometimes Lawrence) – and an analysis of its contents in relation to Sara’s creative writing and life. The essay considers what the letter might be able to tell us about the author, her writing, her engagement with the arts, her position as a woman of letters in the late Romantic/early Victorian period in London, and her health, both physical and mental

Comparison of Gilt Behavior when Fed Ad Libitum or Twice Daily

The objective of this study was to compare two divergent feeding patterns and evaluate their impact on gilt behavior. Eleven gilts were provided ad libitum access to feed (ad lib) and 12 gilts were allowed to eat twice daily (2x). Video of gilt behavior was analyzed 51 days after the start of feed treatments. Gilts fed 2x tended to stand more, spent longer interacting with environmental enrichment, and spend less time eating than ad lib gilts. These results suggest that feeding regimen slightly altered the behavior of individually housed gilts

Genetic Regulation of Myofiber Hypertrophy?

Introduction. Progressive, resistance exercise training (RT) induces skeletal muscle hypertrophy, increases strength, power, and quality of muscle, and is potentially the most promising method to regenerate and re-grow muscle in populations suffering from involuntary atrophy. However, we have previously shown that there is a large degree of intersubject variability for myofiber hypertrophy in response to RT with adults having no response [-16μm2 (mean myofiber growth), Non], a modest response (1111μm2, Mod), or an extreme hypertrophic response (2475μm2, Xtr). Underlying mechanisms for this differential growth response are largely unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether differences in the skeletal muscle transcriptome exist among the three response clusters, prior to 16 weeks of RT. Methods. mRNA was isolated from muscle biopsies taken from the vastus lateralis of 44 previously clustered men and women (aged 19-75y). Agilent 4X44K single color genechips were used to determine differences in skeletal muscle gene expression among the three response clusters. Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA) and available Gene Ontology were used for functional annotation of differentially expressed genes and identification of informative genes that may instigate the observed myofiber growth phenotypes. Results. After removing genes with low signal intensities and normalizing the data, we identified substantial differences in the transcript profile among the response clusters with the most notable differences between the Xtr- and Non-responders. 8026 differentially expressed genes were identified between Xtr vs. Non, 2463 between Xtr vs. Mod, and 1294 between Mod vs. Non. There were 1632 genes with expression specific to the Xtr (i.e. differences existed between Xtr vs. Non and Mod, but not between the Non vs. Mod) and 617 genes with expression specific to the Non. Functional classification, with IPA, identified Skeletal Muscle System Development and Function (SMSDF) as a top functional category containing a significant number of differentially expressed genes (p\u3c0.05) in all three comparisons. SMSDF was also a top five functional category for the genes specific to both Xtr and Non (p\u3c0.05). Within the broad SMSDF category, IPA defined sub-categories of functional annotation, which allowed us to further interpret the differentially expressed genes. We have highlighted several genes that primarily had expression specific to the Xtr or had increased expression from Non to Mod to Xtr. Highlighted genes are involved with satellite cell activation and function (SOX8, HGF, PAX7), differentiation (MYOD1, MYOG, APOE, TRIO, MSTN), skeletal muscle growth (DGKZ, ESR1, OXT, OXTR, UCN2, GREB1), modulation of inflammation and fuel utilization (PYY), and improved function (TFAM, UCN2, CRHR1, CRHR2). Additionally, there was a decrease in expression (Xtr vs. Non) for several genes involved with modulation of inflammation and fuel utilization (AEBP1, NFKB1, CD36, AIF1). Discussion. These results indicate that differences in gene expression do exist among the response clusters prior to mechanically induced hypertrophy and that the Xtr-responders were “primed” to respond. We identified several genes and signaling pathways that may promote or inhibit muscle growth and thus, initiate the three observed hypertrophic response phenotypes. Results from this study enabled us to identify distinctive molecular pathways, particularly between the Xtr- and Non-responders, for development of targeted interventions. Further research is necessary to determine which of these genes or networks of genes truly distinguish load mediated hypertrophy potential

The Rapid Rise of Generative AI: Assessing risks to safety and security

This CETaS Research Report presents the findings from a major project exploring the implications of generative AI for national security. It is based on extensive engagement with more than 50 experts across government, academia, industry, and civil society, and represents the most comprehensive UK-based study to date on the national security implications of generative AI. The research found that generative AI could significantly amplify a range of digital, physical and political security risks. With the rapid proliferation of generative AI tools across the economy, the national security community needs to shift its mindset to account for all the unintentional or incidental ways in which generative AI can pose security risks, in addition to intentionally malicious uses. The report provides recommendations to effectively mitigate the security risks posed by generative AI, calling for a new multi-layered, socio-technical approach to system evaluation

Where do women and men in Britain obtain contraception? Findings from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3).

INTRODUCTION: To estimate the prevalence of use of different sources of contraceptive supplies in Britain and its variation by key demographic and behavioural characteristics. METHODS: Cross-sectional probability sample survey of women and men aged 16-74 years, resident in Britain, interviewed between 2010 and 2012. Analyses reported here were of 4571 women and 3142 men aged 16-44 years who reported having vaginal sex in the past year. Those relying exclusively on sterilisation (including hysterectomy) were excluded. Sources of contraceptive supplies were categorised as: general practice, community clinic, retail and other. Prevalence of use of these sources was estimated, and associated factors examined. RESULTS: Some 87.0% of women and 73.8% of men accessed at least one source of contraceptive supplies in the previous year. Most women (59.1%) used general practice and most men (54.6%) used retail outlets. Community clinics were less commonly used, by 23.0% of women and 21.3% of men, but these users were younger and at greater sexual health risk. These associations were also observed among the 27.3% of women and 30.6% of men who used more than one source category (general practice, community clinic or retail) for contraceptive supplies. CONCLUSIONS: People in Britain use a variety of sources to obtain contraceptive supplies and some sources are more commonly used by those more vulnerable to poorer sexual health. Our findings suggest that national policy changes to increase access to contraceptive methods have had an effect on the diversity of services used

Where do women and men in Britain obtain contraception? Findings from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3).

INTRODUCTION: To estimate the prevalence of use of different sources of contraceptive supplies in Britain and its variation by key demographic and behavioural characteristics. METHODS: Cross-sectional probability sample survey of women and men aged 16-74 years, resident in Britain, interviewed between 2010 and 2012. Analyses reported here were of 4571 women and 3142 men aged 16-44 years who reported having vaginal sex in the past year. Those relying exclusively on sterilisation (including hysterectomy) were excluded. Sources of contraceptive supplies were categorised as: general practice, community clinic, retail and other. Prevalence of use of these sources was estimated, and associated factors examined. RESULTS: Some 87.0% of women and 73.8% of men accessed at least one source of contraceptive supplies in the previous year. Most women (59.1%) used general practice and most men (54.6%) used retail outlets. Community clinics were less commonly used, by 23.0% of women and 21.3% of men, but these users were younger and at greater sexual health risk. These associations were also observed among the 27.3% of women and 30.6% of men who used more than one source category (general practice, community clinic or retail) for contraceptive supplies. CONCLUSIONS: People in Britain use a variety of sources to obtain contraceptive supplies and some sources are more commonly used by those more vulnerable to poorer sexual health. Our findings suggest that national policy changes to increase access to contraceptive methods have had an effect on the diversity of services used

Factoring-in agglomeration of carbon nanotubes and nanofibers for better prediction of their toxicity versus asbestos

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Carbon nanotubes (CNT) and carbon nanofibers (CNF) are allotropes of carbon featuring fibrous morphology. The dimensions and high aspect ratio of CNT and CNF have prompted the comparison with naturally occurring asbestos fibers which are known to be extremely pathogenic. While the toxicity and hazardous outcomes elicited by airborne exposure to single-walled CNT or asbestos have been widely reported, very limited data are currently available describing adverse effects of respirable CNF.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we assessed pulmonary inflammation, fibrosis, oxidative stress markers and systemic immune responses to respirable CNF in comparison to single-walled CNT (SWCNT) and asbestos. Pulmonary inflammatory and fibrogenic responses to CNF, SWCNT and asbestos varied depending upon the agglomeration state of the particles/fibers. Foci of granulomatous lesions and collagen deposition were associated with dense particle-like SWCNT agglomerates, while no granuloma formation was found following exposure to fiber-like CNF or asbestos. The average thickness of the alveolar connective tissue - a marker of interstitial fibrosis - was increased 28 days post SWCNT, CNF or asbestos exposure. Exposure to SWCNT, CNF or asbestos resulted in oxidative stress evidenced by accumulations of 4-HNE and carbonylated proteins in the lung tissues. Additionally, local inflammatory and fibrogenic responses were accompanied by modified systemic immunity, as documented by decreased proliferation of splenic T cells <it>ex vivo </it>on day 28 post exposure. The accuracies of assessments of effective surface area for asbestos, SWCNT and CNF (based on geometrical analysis of their agglomeration) versus estimates of mass dose and number of particles were compared as predictors of toxicological outcomes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We provide evidence that effective surface area along with mass dose rather than specific surface area or particle number are significantly correlated with toxicological responses to carbonaceous fibrous nanoparticles. Therefore, they could be useful dose metrics for risk assessment and management.</p