How analysis of mobile app reviews problematises linguistic approaches to internet troll detection

AbstractState-sponsored internet trolls repeat themselves in a unique way. They have a small number of messages to convey but they have to do it multiple times. Understandably, they are afraid of being repetitive because that will inevitably lead to their identification as trolls. Hence, their only possible strategy is to keep diluting their target message with ever-changing filler words. That is exactly what makes them so susceptible to automatic detection. One serious challenge to this promising approach is posed by the fact that the same troll-like effect may arise as a result of collaborative repatterning that is not indicative of any malevolent practices in online communication. The current study addresses this issue by analysing more than 180,000 app reviews written in English and Russian and verifying the obtained results in the experimental setting where participants were asked to describe the same picture in two experimental conditions. The main finding of the study is that both observational and experimental samples became less troll-like as the time distance between their elements increased. Their ‘troll coefficient’ calculated as the ratio of the proportion of repeated content words among all content words to the proportion of repeated content word pairs among all content word pairs was found to be a function of time distance between separate individual contributions. These findings definitely render the task of developing efficient linguistic algorithms for internet troll detection more complicated. However, the problem can be alleviated by our ability to predict what the value of the troll coefficient of a certain group of texts would be if it depended solely on these texts’ creation time.

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Application of YOLOv4 for Detection and Motion Monitoring of Red Foxes

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11061723 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1723

Author(s):

Anne K. Schütz ◽

Verena Schöler ◽

E. Tobias Krause ◽

Mareike Fischer ◽

Thomas Müller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Animal Welfare ◽

Early Recognition ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Automatic Detection ◽

Animal Husbandry ◽

Video Data ◽

Activity Level ◽

Red Foxes ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Animal Activity

Animal activity is an indicator for its welfare and manual observation is time and cost intensive. To this end, automatic detection and monitoring of live captive animals is of major importance for assessing animal activity, and, thereby, allowing for early recognition of changes indicative for diseases and animal welfare issues. We demonstrate that machine learning methods can provide a gap-less monitoring of red foxes in an experimental lab-setting, including a classification into activity patterns. Therefore, bounding boxes are used to measure fox movements, and, thus, the activity level of the animals. We use computer vision, being a non-invasive method for the automatic monitoring of foxes. More specifically, we train the existing algorithm ‘you only look once’ version 4 (YOLOv4) to detect foxes, and the trained classifier is applied to video data of an experiment involving foxes. As we show, computer evaluation outperforms other evaluation methods. Application of automatic detection of foxes can be used for detecting different movement patterns. These, in turn, can be used for animal behavioral analysis and, thus, animal welfare monitoring. Once established for a specific animal species, such systems could be used for animal monitoring in real-time under experimental conditions, or other areas of animal husbandry.

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Odor-taste interactions in food perception: Exposure protocol shows no effects of associative learning

Chemical Senses ◽

10.1093/chemse/bjab003 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Robin Fondberg ◽

Johan N Lundström ◽

Janina Seubert

Keyword(s):

Associative Learning ◽

Food Preferences ◽

Exposure Phase ◽

Experimental Setting ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Future Studies ◽

Food Perception ◽

Equivalence Tests ◽

Taste And Odor ◽

Chewing Gums

Abstract Repeated exposure can change the perceptual and hedonic features of flavor. Associative learning during which a flavor’s odor component is affected by co-exposure with taste is thought to be central in this process. However, changes can also arise due to exposure to the odor in itself. The aim of this study was to dissociate effects of associative learning from effects of exposure without taste by repeatedly presenting one odor together with sucrose and a second odor alone. Sixty individuals attended two testing sessions separated by a five-day exposure phase during which the stimuli were presented as flavorants in chewing gums that were chewed three times daily. Ratings of odor sweetness, odor pleasantness, odor intensity enhancement by taste, and odor referral to the mouth were collected at both sessions. Consistent with the notion that food preferences are modulated by exposure, odor pleasantness increased between the sessions independently of whether the odor (basil or orange flower) had been presented with or without sucrose. However, we found no evidence of associative learning in any of the tasks. In addition, exploratory equivalence tests suggested that these effects were either absent or insignificant in magnitude. Taken together, our results suggest that the hypothesized effects of associative learning are either smaller than previously thought or highly dependent on the experimental setting. Future studies are needed to evaluate the relative support for these explanations and, if experimental conditions can be identified that reliably produce such effects, to identify factors that regulate the formation of new odor-taste associations.

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High-Precision Noncontact Guided Wave Tomographic Imaging of Plate Structures Using a DHB Algorithm

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app10124360 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 4360

Author(s):

Junpil Park ◽

Jaesun Lee ◽

Zong Le ◽

Younho Cho

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Power ◽

Power Plants ◽

Detection Efficiency ◽

Detection System ◽

Automatic Detection ◽

Guided Wave ◽

Direct Access ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Plate Structures ◽

Wide Range

The safety diagnostic inspection of large plate structures, such as nuclear power plant containment liner plates and aircraft wings, is an important issue directly related to the safety of life. This research intends to present a more quantitative defect imaging in the structural health monitoring (SHM) technique by using a wide range of diagnostic techniques using guided ultrasound. A noncontact detection system was applied to compensate for such difficulties because direct access inspection is not possible for high-temperature and massive areas such as nuclear power plants and aircraft. Noncontact systems use unstable pulse laser and air-coupled transducers. Automatic detection systems were built to increase inspection speed and precision and the signal was measured. In addition, a new Difference Hilbert Back Projection (DHB) algorithm that can replace the reconstruction algorithm for the probabilistic inspection of damage (RAPID) algorithm used for imaging defects has been successfully applied to quantitative imaging of plate structure defects. Using an automatic detection system, the precision and detection efficiency of data collection has been greatly improved, and the same results can be obtained by reducing errors in experimental conditions that can occur in repeated experiments. Defects were made in two specimens, and comparative analysis was performed to see if each algorithm can quantitatively represent defects in multiple defects. The new DHB algorithm presented the possibility of observing and predicting the growth direction of defects through the continuous monitoring system.

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Automatic Detection of Security Weakness in Mobile-app Source Code

Journal of Security Engineering ◽

10.14257/jse.2017.04.04 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 91-102

Author(s):

Sung Moon Hong ◽

Tae-Hyoung Choi ◽

Kyung-Goo Doh

Keyword(s):

Source Code ◽

Automatic Detection ◽

Mobile App

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TicTimer Web: software for measuring tic suppression remotely

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.26347.2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. 1264

Author(s):

Jonathan K. Black ◽

Jonathan M. Koller ◽

Kevin J. Black

Keyword(s):

Tourette Syndrome ◽

Experimental Setting ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Web Based ◽

Plain Text ◽

Reward Delivery ◽

Tic Suppression ◽

Calling Program ◽

Video Calling ◽

The Web

Woods and Himle developed a standardized tic suppression paradigm (TSP) for the experimental setting, to quantify the effects of intentional tic suppression in Tourette syndrome. We previously provided a computer program to facilitate recording tic occurrence and to automate reward delivery during the several experimental conditions of the TSP. The present article describes a web-based program that performs the same functions. Implementing this program on the web allows research sessions to be performed remotely, in tandem with a video calling program. Relevant data for each session, such as the timing of tics and dispensed rewards, are stored in plain text files for later analysis. Expected applications include research on Tourette syndrome and related disorders.

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SURFACE TREATMENT AND EXAMINATION OF GRADE 2 AND GRADE 5 TITANIUM

Acta Polytechnica CTU Proceedings ◽

10.14311/app.2016.3.0043 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 43-46

Author(s):

Peter Nagy ◽

Miklos Weszl ◽

Krisztian Laszlo Toth ◽

Imre Kientzl ◽

Gyorgy Ring ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Surface Characteristics ◽

Orthopedic Implants ◽

Experimental Setting ◽

Mass Reduction ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Grade 5 ◽

Bone Integration ◽

Significant Mass Loss ◽

Significant Mass

Surface characteristics play an important role in the implant-bone integration that is required for the long-term reliability of dental and orthopedic implants. In this paper, we investigate the effect of acid etching on the mass reduction and roughness of grade 2 and grade 5 Ti under controlled experimental conditions. Three different etching compounds were investigated: 30% HCl, 85% H3PO4 and the compound of 30% (COOH)2 × 2H2O and 30% H2O2 in various treatment intervals under controlled temperature. Stereo microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, roughness and weight measurements were carried out on the samples. We found that neither 85% H3PO4 nor the compound of 30% (COOH)2 × 2H2O and 30% H2O2 were able to remove the machining marks from the surface of Ti discs in our experimental setting. On the other hand, etching in 30% HCl yielded even surfaces both on Ti grade 2 and 5 discs. We also found that etching at higher temperatures in 30% HCl resulted in significant mass loss.

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Snackomat - A Vending Machine To Create Positive Experiences By Bringing People In Contact And Initiating Small Talk In Waiting Situations

International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology ◽

10.1007/s41042-020-00033-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 189-216

Author(s):

Michael Burmester ◽

Magdalena Laib ◽

Ralph Tille

Keyword(s):

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Natural Setting ◽

Positive Experience ◽

Experimental Setting ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Small Talk ◽

Future Studies ◽

Promising Application ◽

Positive Experiences ◽

Coffee Machine

Abstract The “Snackomat” is a vending machine offering snacks for free, installed in waiting situations, and is designed to initiate small talk and therewith to create a positive experience. Here, we experimentally compare the effect on user experience of the Snackomat to the effect of a coffee machine as control condition with 58 participants. Participants’ behaviour was observed in waiting situations where observers were blind to the study’s objective. The two experimental conditions were compared with an analysis of covariance. The alpha levels were Bonferroni corrected. Significant results with strong effect size indicate that the Snackomat was more effective in creating positive experiences than a coffee machine in a control condition. However, the experimental setting most likely attenuated differences between the two conditions. Future studies should thus replicate the findings in a natural setting. Nevertheless the Snackomat is a promising application example of designing for positive experiences.

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Mobile app increases vegetable-based preparations by low-income household cooks: a randomized controlled trial

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980018003117 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 714-725 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Peter Clarke ◽

Susan H Evans ◽

Deborah Neffa-Creech

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Los Angeles ◽

Low Income ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Mobile App ◽

Grocery Shopping ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Preparation Methods ◽

Randomized Controlled

AbstractObjectiveWe built an app to help clients of food pantries. The app offers vegetable-based recipes, food tips and no-cost strategies for making mealtimes healthier and for bargain-conscious grocery shopping, among other themes. Users customize materials to meet their own preferences. The app, available in English and Spanish, has been tested in a randomized field trial.DesignA randomized controlled trial with repeated measures across 10 weeks.SettingClients of fifteen community food pantry distributions in Los Angeles County, USA.ParticipantsDistributions were randomized to control and experimental conditions, and 289 household cooks and one of their 9–14-year-old children were enrolled as participants. Experimental dyads were given a smartphone with our app and a phone use-plan, then trained to use the app. ‘Test vegetables’ were added to the foods that both control and experimental participants received at their pantries.ResultsAfter 3–4 weeks of additional ‘test vegetables’, cooks at experimental pantries had made 38 % more preparations with these items than control cooks (P = 0·03). Ten weeks following baseline, experimental pantries also scored greater gains in using a wider assortment of vegetables than control pantries (P = 0·003). Use of the app increased between mid-experiment and final measurement (P = 0·0001).ConclusionsThe app appears to encourage household cooks to try new preparation methods and widen their incorporation of vegetables into family diets. Further research is needed to identify specific app features that contributed most to outcomes and to test ways in which to disseminate the app widely.

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TicTimer Web: software for measuring tic suppression remotely

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.26347.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. 1264

Author(s):

Jonathan K. Black ◽

Jonathan M. Koller ◽

Kevin J. Black

Keyword(s):

Tourette Syndrome ◽

Experimental Setting ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Web Based ◽

Plain Text ◽

Reward Delivery ◽

Tic Suppression ◽

Calling Program ◽

Video Calling ◽

The Web

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TicTimer software for measuring tic suppression

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.12327.1 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 1560 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jonathan K. Black ◽

Jonathan M. Koller ◽

Kevin J. Black

Keyword(s):

Present Article ◽

Tourette Syndrome ◽

Experimental Setting ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Record Keeping ◽

Plain Text ◽

Reward Delivery ◽

Java Program ◽

Tic Suppression

Woods and Himle developed a standardized tic suppression paradigm (TSP) for the experimental setting, to quantify the effects of intentional tic suppression in Tourette syndrome. The present article describes a Java program that automates record keeping and reward dispensing during the several experimental conditions of the TSP. The software can optionally be connected to a commercial reward token dispenser to further automate reward delivery to the participant. The timing of all tics, 10-second tic-free intervals, and dispensed rewards is recorded in plain text files for later analysis. Expected applications include research on Tourette syndrome and related disorders.

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