scholarly journals Countering Negative Effects of Hate Speech in a Multi-Agent Society

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Müller ◽  
Maite Lopez-Sanchez

Hate speech expresses prejudice and discrimination based on personal characteristics such as race or gender. Research has proven that the amount of hateful messages increases on online social media. If not countered properly, the spread of hatred can overwhelm entire societies. This paper proposes a multi-agent model of the spread of hatred. We reuse insights from previous research to construct and validate a baseline model. From this, three countermeasures are modelled and simulated to investigate their effectiveness in containing the spread of hatred: (1) The long-term measure of education is very successful, but it still cannot eliminate hatred completely; (2) Deferring hateful content has a similar positive effect with the advantage of being a short-term countermeasure; (3) Extreme cyber activism against hatred can worsen the situation and even increase the likelihood of high polarisation within societies.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 12003
Author(s):  
Maite Lopez-Sanchez ◽  
Arthur Müller

Hate speech expresses prejudice and discrimination based on actual or perceived innate characteristics such as gender, race, religion, ethnicity, colour, national origin, disability or sexual orientation. Research has proven that the amount of hateful messages increases inevitably on online social media. Although hate propagators constitute a tiny minority—with less than 1% participants—they create an unproportionally high amount of hate motivated content. Thus, if not countered properly, hate speech can propagate through the whole society. In this paper we apply agent-based modelling to reproduce how the hate speech phenomenon spreads within social networks. We reuse insights from the research literature to construct and validate a baseline model for the propagation of hate speech. From this, three countermeasures are modelled and simulated to investigate their effectiveness in containing the spread of hatred: Education, deferring hateful content, and cyber activism. Our simulations suggest that: (1) Education consititutes a very successful countermeasure, but it is long term and still cannot eliminate hatred completely; (2) Deferring hateful content has a similar—although lower—positive effect than education, and it has the advantage of being a short-term countermeasure; (3) In our simulations, extreme cyber activism against hatred shows the poorest performance as a countermeasure, since it seems to increase the likelihood of resulting in highly polarised societies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Dušan Aničić ◽  
Olgica Nestorović ◽  
Danijela Anđelković

Despite significant growth rates of over 4% in 2018 and 2019, the Serbian economy still lags far behind developed countries in terms of productivity, competitiveness and other business performance indicators. In the future, the main drivers of economic growth must be investments and exports, and consumption must grow more slowly relative to GDP. Opportunities for increasing GDP exist, and one of them is the increase of public investments that have a positive effect on the growth of the rest of the economy. Empirical research has shown that countries that have higher domestic savings have higher investments and faster economic growth. Also, the development of the country must not be based only on the growth of FDI, because, in addition to the positive ones, they also have great negative effects on the growth and long-term sustainable development of the domestic economy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 78 (07) ◽  
pp. 684-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgit Leimer ◽  
Fabienne Pradella ◽  
Anja Fruth ◽  
Annette Queißer ◽  
Reyn van Ewijk

Abstract Introduction Fasting during Ramadan while pregnant has been shown to have long-term negative effects on the offspringʼs physical and cognitive health. Even though most Muslims do not believe pregnant women are obligated to fast during Ramadan, fasting rates of up to 87% have been reported for pregnant women. No data exists to date about Ramadan adherence and behavior in Germany. Methods The Mainz Study of Ramadan and Pregnancy surveyed pregnant Muslims and new Muslim mothers in Mainz between October 2016 and January 2017 and collected information on Ramadan adherence and behavior. We also collected data on personal characteristics and opinions, to identify determinants of fasting using statistical analysis. Results We found that 43% of pregnant Muslim women fasted at least one day during Ramadan 2016. Women who fasted were significantly younger and less educated. There was no significant difference in terms of country of origin between those women who fasted and those who did not. Only 49% of women who fasted and 38% of women who did not fast discussed their Ramadan behavior with their doctor. Less than 2% of women reported being proactively approached by their doctor. Conclusion To ensure that pregnant Muslim women living in Germany can make their fasting decision based on objective information, it is necessary to raise awareness about Ramadan fasting during pregnancy among medical professionals in Germany.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wan Nurulasiah binti Wan Mustapa ◽  
Abdullah Al Mamun ◽  
Nur Izzati binti Mohamad Anuar ◽  
Naeem Hayat

This study examined the effects of microcredit provided by Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) on the performance of microenterprises by the participants in Malaysia. This study adopted a cross-sectional design and the quantitative data were collected from a total of 387 borrowers of AIM. The findings revealed significantly positive correlations between microenterprises performances and economic loan, number of training programs, as well as hours of training programs. The multiple regression analysis further confirmed the positive and statistically significant effects of economic loan and number of training programs on the performance of microenterprises by the participants of AIM in Malaysia. However, the length of participation shows a negative effect on microenterprise performance. These findings highlighted the positive effect of microcredit on microenterprises performance such as access to credit, microenterprises' development training programs, and negative effects on the psychological aspect of the entrepreneurs by the microcredit availability and long-term credit. The government and development organisations in Malaysia should focus on designing fixable and diversified credit schemes with a watchful eye on the duration of the loan and training programs for the microenterprises in Malaysia.


Author(s):  
M. P. Semenenko ◽  
◽  
M. N. Sokolov ◽  
E. V. Kuzminova ◽  
P. V. Miroshnichenko ◽  
...  

The article presents materials on the use of a new complex preparation geprasan for the prevention of mycotoxicosis of broiler chickens and its influence on safety, results of biochemical parameters of the blood serum and data of necropsy of the poultry liver. According to the scheme of the experiment, three groups of chickens were formed with 50 goals in each. Bird of the 1st group (control) during the whole experimental period received only feed of the main diet, chickens of the 2nd and 3rd groups for 21 days in the feed were added geprasan in amount of 1 and 2%, respectively, of the dry matter of the feed. During the experiment the following parameters were taken into account: safety, biochemical parameters of blood serum and data of liver necrosis. We found out that a long-term introduction of geprasan to feed diets of broilers at various doses has a positive effect on the biochemical parameters of blood serum and the indicators, characterizing the functional activity of hepatocytes of liver and reduce the negative effects of mycotoxins on the poultry organism.


Author(s):  
Ol'ga Gladysheva ◽  
Oksana Artyuhova ◽  
Vera Svirina

The results of long-term research in experiments with crop rotations with different clover saturation are presented. It is shown that the cluster has a positive effect on the main indicators of vegetation of dark-gray forest soil. The introduction of two fields of perennial grasses into the six-field crop rotation significantly increases both the humus reserves and increases the productivity of arable land by 1.5–2 times compared to the crop rotation with a field of pure steam.


1985 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Schuiling ◽  
H. Moes ◽  
T. R. Koiter

Abstract. The effect of pretreatment in vivo with oestradiol benzoate on in vitro secretion of LH and FSH was studied in long-term ovariectomized (OVX) rats both at the end of a 5-day continuous in vivo pretreatment with LRH and 4-days after cessation of such LRH pretreatment. Rats were on day 0 sc implanted with osmotic minipumps which released LRH at the rate of 250 ng/h. Control rats were implanted with a piece of silicone elastomer with the dimensions of a minipump. On days 2 and 4 the rats were injected with either 3 μg EB or with oil. On day 5 part of the rats were decapitated and the in vitro autonomous (i.e. non-LRH-stimulated) and 'supra-maximally' LRHstimulated release of LH and FSH was studied using a perifusion system. From other rats the minipumps were removed on day 5 and perifusion was performed on day 9. On the 5th day of the in vivo LRH pretreatment the pituitary LH/FSH stores were partially depleted; the pituitaries of the EB-treated rats more so than those of the oil-injected rats. EB alone had no significant effect on the content of the pituitary LH- and FSH stores. On day 9, i.e. 4 days after removal of the minipumps, the pituitary LH and FSH contents had increased in both the oil- and the EB injected rats, but had not yet recovered to control values. In rats not subjected to the 5-days pretreatment with LRH EB had a positive effect on the supra-maximally LRH-stimulated secretion of LH and FSH as well as on the non-stimulated secretion of LH. EB had no effect on the non-stimulated secretion of FSH. After 5 days of in vivo pretreatment with LRH only, the in vitro non-stimulated and supra-maximally LRH-stimulated secretion of both LH and FSH were strongly impaired, the effect correlating well with the LRH-induced depletion of the pituitary LH/FSH stores. In such LRH-pretreated rats EB had on day 5 a negative effect on the (already depressed) LRH-stimulated secretion of LH (not on that of FSH). EB had no effect on the non-stimulated LH/FSH secretion. It could be demonstrated that the negative effect of the combined LRH/EB pretreatment was mainly due to the depressing effect of this treatment on the pituitary LH and FSH stores: the effect of oestradiol on the pituitary LRH-responsiveness (release as related to pituitary gonadotrophin content) remained positive. In LRH-pretreated rats, however, this positive effect of EB was smaller than in rats not pretreated with LRH. Four days after removal of the minipumps there was again a positive effect of EB on the LRH-stimulated secretion of LH and FSH as well as on the non-stimulated secretion of LH. The positive effect of EB on the pituitary LRH-responsiveness was as strong as in rats which had not been exposed to exogenous LRH. The non-stimulated secretion of FSH was again not affected by EB. The results demonstrate that the effect of EB on the oestrogen-sensitive components of gonadotrophin secretion consists of two components: an effect on the pituitary LRH-responsiveness proper, and an effect on the pituitary LH/FSH stores. The magnitude of the effect of EB on the LRH-responsiveness is LRH dependent: it is very weak (almost zero) in LRH-pretreated rats, but strong in rats not exposed to LRH as well as in rats of which the LRH-pretreatment was stopped 4 days previously. Similarly, the effect of EB on the pituitary LH and FSH stores is LRH-dependent: in the absence of LRH, EB has no influence on the contents of these stores, but EB can potentiate the depleting effect of LRH on the LH/FSH-stores. Also this effect disappear after cessation of the LRH-pretreatment.


2014 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Éva Lehoczky ◽  
M. Kamuti ◽  
N. Mazsu ◽  
J. Tamás ◽  
D. Sáringer-Kenyeres ◽  
...  

Plant nutrition is one of the most important intensification factors of crop production. The utilization of nutrients, however, may be modified by a number of production factors, including weed presence. Thus, the knowledge of occurring weed species, their abundance, nutrient and water uptake is extremely important to establish an appropriate basis for the evaluation of their risks or negative effects on crops. That is why investigations were carried out in a long-term fertilization experiment on the influence of different nutrient supplies (Ø, PK, NK, NPK) on weed flora in maize field.The weed surveys recorded similar diversity on the experimental area: the species of A. artemisiifolia, S. halepense and D. stramonium were dominant, but C. album and C. hybridum were also common. These species and H. annuus were the most abundant weeds.Based on the totalized and average data of all treatments, density followed the same tendency in the experimental years. It was the highest in the PK treated and untreated plots, and significantly exceeded the values of NK fertilized areas. Presumably the better N availability promoted the development of nitrophilic weeds, while the mortality of other small species increased.Winter wheat and maize forecrops had no visible influence on the diversity and the intensity of weediness. On the contrary, there were consistent differences in the density of certain weed species in accordance to the applied nutrients. A. artemisiifolia was present in the largest number in the untreated control and PK fertilized plots. The density of S. halepense and H. annuus was also significantly higher in the control areas. The number of their individuals was smaller in those plots where N containing fertilizers were used. Contrary to them, the density of D. stramonium, C. album and C. hybridum was the highest in the NPK treatments.


Author(s):  
Omar Hashim Thanon

Since peaceful coexistence reflects in its various aspects the concept of harmony between the members of the same society with their different national, religious and sectarian affiliations, as well as their attitudes and ideas, what brings together these are the common bonds such as land, interests and common destiny. But this coexistence is exposing for crises and instability and the theft of rights and other that destroy the communities with their different religious, national, sectarian, ethnic aspects, especially if these led to a crisis of fighting or war, which produces only destruction and mass displacement, ttherefore, the process of bridging the gap between the different parts of society in the post-war phase through a set of requirements that serve as the basis for the promotion of peaceful coexistence within the same country to consolidate civil and community peace in order to create a general framework and a coherent basis to reconstruct the community again.      Hence the premise of the research by asking about the extent of the possibility and ability of the community of religious and ethnic diversity, which has been exposed to these crises, which aimed at this diversity, basically to be able to rise and re-integrate within the same country and thus achieve civil and community peace, and Mosul is an example for that, the negative effects of the war and the accomplices of many criminal acts have given rise to hatred and fear for all, leading to the loss of livelihoods, which in the long term may have devastating social and psychological consequences.        To clarify all of this, the title of the first topic was a review of the concept and origin of peaceful coexistence. While the second topic dealt with the requirements of peaceful coexistence and social integration in Mosul, the last topic has identified the most important challenges facing the processes of coexistence and integration in Mosul. All this in order to paint a better future for the conductor at all levels in the near term at the very least to achieve the values of this peaceful coexistence, especially in the post-war period.


Author(s):  
Т.А. Кuznetsova ◽  
N.А. Коlpakov

Показано, что длительное применение как минеральных, так и органических удобрений в различных дозах и сочетаниях положительно влияет на урожайность огурца. Установлено, что в условиях 14-й ротации урожайность на всех вариантах опыта была выше, чем на контрольном варианте и составила 16,4–22,3 т/га, против 16,0 т/га в контроле.The authors show that the long-term use of both mineral and organic fertilizers in different doses and combinations has a positive effect on the yield of cucumber. It was found that under 14 rotation conditions the yield on all variants of the experiment was higher than on the control variant and amounted to 16.4–22.3 t/ha, against 16.0 t/ha on the control.


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