bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical, FDG-PET and molecular markers of immune checkpoint inhibitor response in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma
Authors: Weppler Alison M , Pattison Andrew , Bhave Prachi , De Ieso Paolo , Raleigh Jeanette , Hatzimihalis Athena , Gill Anthony J , Balachander Shiva , Callahan Jason , Chua Margaret , Au-Yeung George , McArthur Grant A , Hicks Rodney J , Tothill Richard W , Sandhu Shahneen
Published: October 2020

Background

Metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine malignancy of the skin with a poor prognosis. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown substantial efficacy and favorable safety in clinical trials.

Methods

Medical records of patients (pts) with mMCC treated with ICIs from August 2015 to December 2018 at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Australia were analyzed. Response was assessed with serial imaging, the majority with FDG-PET/CT scans. RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry for PD-L1, CD3 and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) on tumor samples was performed.

Results

23 pts with mMCC were treated with ICIs. A median of 8 cycles (range 1 to 47) were administered, with treatment ongoing in 6 pts. Objective responses (OR) were observed in 14 pts (61%): 10 (44%) complete responses (CR) and 4 (17%) partial responses (PR). Median time to response was 8 weeks (range 6 to 12) and 12-month progression-free survival rate was 39%. Increased OR were seen in pts aged less than 75 (OR 80% vs 46%), no prior history of chemotherapy (OR 64% vs 50%), patients with an immune-related adverse event (OR 100% vs 43%) and in MCPyV-negative tumors (OR 69% vs 43%). Pts with a CR had lower mean metabolic tumor volume on baseline FDG-PET/CT scan (CR: 35.7 mL, no CR: 187.8 mL, p=0.05). There was no correlation between PD-L1 positivity and MCPyV status (p=0.764) or OR (p=0.245). 10 pts received radiation therapy (RT) during ICI: 4 pts started RT concurrently (OR 75%, CR 50%), 3 pts had isolated ICI-resistant lesions successfully treated with RT and 3 pts with multisite progression continued to progress despite RT. Overall, 6 pts (26%) had grade 1–2 immune-related adverse events.

Conclusion

ICIs showed efficacy and safety in mMCC consistent with trial data. Clinical and imaging predictors of response were identified.
In situimmunization of a TLR9 agonist virus-like particle enhances anti-PD1 therapy
Authors: Cheng Yinwen , Lemke-Miltner Caitlin D , Wongpattaraworakul Wattawan , Wang Zhaoming , Chan Carlos H F , Salem Aliasger K , Weiner George J , Simons Andrean L
Published: October 2020

Background

CMP-001 is a novel Toll-like receptor-9 agonist that consists of an unmethylated CpG-A motif-rich G10 oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) encapsulated in virus-like particles.In situvaccination of CMP-001 is believed to activate local tumor-associated plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) leading to type I interferon secretion and tumor antigen presentation to T cells and systemic antitumor T cell responses. This study is designed to investigate if CMP-001 would enhance head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumor response to anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (anti-PD-1) therapy in a human papilloma virus-positive (HPV+) tumor mouse model.

Methods

Immune cell activation in response to CMP-001±anti-Qβ was performed using co-cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and HPV+/HPV- HNSCC cells and then analyzed by flow cytometry.In situvaccination with CMP-001 alone and in combination with anti-PD-1 was investigated in C57BL/6 mice-bearing mEERL HNSCC tumors and analyzed for anti-Qβ development, antitumor response, survival and immune cell recruitment. The role of antitumor immune response due to CMP-001+anti-PD-1 treatment was investigated by the depletion of natural killer (NK), CD4+T, and CD8+T cells.

Results

Results showed that the activity of CMP-001 on immune cell (pDCs, monocytes, CD4+/CD8+ T cells and NK cells) activation depends on the presence of anti-Qβ. A 2-week ‘priming’ period after subcutaneous administration of CMP-001 was required for robust anti-Qβ development in mice.In situvaccination of CMP-001 was superior to unencapsulated G10 CpG-A ODN at suppressing both injected and uninjected (distant) tumors.In situvaccination of CMP-001 in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy induced durable tumor regression at injected and distant tumors and significantly prolonged mouse survival compared with anti-PD-1 therapy alone. The antitumor effect of CMP-001+anti-PD-1 was accompanied by increased interferon gamma (IFNγ)+CD4+/CD8+T cells compared with control-treated mice. The therapeutic and abscopal effect of CMP-001+ anti-PD-1 therapy was completely abrogated by CD8+T cell depletion.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate thatin situvaccination with CMP-001 can induce both local and abscopal antitumor immune responses. Additionally, the antitumor efficacy of CMP-001 combined with α-PD-1 therapy warrants further study as a novel immunotherapeutic strategy for the treatment of HNSCC.
CRISPR–Cas9/long-read sequencing approach to identify cryptic mutations in BRCA1 and other tumour suppressor genes
Authors: Walsh Tom , Casadei Silvia , Munson Katherine M , Eng Mary , Mandell Jessica B , Gulsuner Suleyman , King Mary-Claire
Published: October 2020

Current clinical approaches for mutation discovery are based on short sequence reads (100–300 bp) of exons and flanking splice sites targeted by multigene panels or whole exomes. Short-read sequencing is highly accurate for detection of single nucleotide variants, small indels and simple copy number differences but is of limited use for identifying complex insertions and deletions and other structural rearrangements. We used CRISPR-Cas9 to excise complete BRCA1 and BRCA2 genomic regions from lymphoblast cells of patients with breast cancer, then sequenced these regions with long reads (>10 000 bp) to fully characterise all non-coding regions for structural variation. In a family severely affected with early-onset bilateral breast cancer and with negative (normal) results by gene panel and exome sequencing, we identified an intronic SINE-VNTR-Alu retrotransposon insertion that led to the creation of a pseudoexon in the BRCA1 message and introduced a premature truncation. This combination of CRISPR–Cas9 excision and long-read sequencing reveals a class of complex, damaging and otherwise cryptic mutations that may be particularly frequent in tumour suppressor genes replete with intronic repeats.
Family members, ambulance clinicians and attempting CPR in the community: the ethical and legal imperative to reach collaborative consensus at speed
Authors: Cole Robert , Stone Mike , Ruck Keene Alexander , Fritz Zoe
Published: October 2020

Here we present the personal perspectives of two authors on the important and unfortunately frequent scenario of ambulance clinicians facing a deceased individual and family members who do not wish them to attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We examine the professional guidance and the protection provided to clinicians, which is not matched by guidance to protect family members. We look at the legal framework in which these scenarios are taking place, and the ethical issues which are presented. We consider the interaction between ethics, clinical practice and the law, and offer suggested changes to policy and guidance which we believe will protect ambulance clinicians, relatives and the patient.
Determining factors related to impaired spinal and hip mobility in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: longitudinal results from the DESIR cohort
Authors: Carvalho Pedro D , Ruyssen-Witrand Adeline , Fonseca Joao , Marreiros Ana , Machado Pedro M
Published: October 2020

Objective

To investigate the determinants of impaired spinal and hip mobility in patients with early axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods

Five-year longitudinal data from the DEvenir des Spondyloarthrites Indifférenciées Récentes (DESIR) cohort were analysed. Associations were investigated using generalised estimating equations, using Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) linear or each of the five components of BASMI as dependent variables, and clinical and demographic variables as independent variables in univariable models. Multivariable analyses were performed, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

Data from 644 patients and 5152 visits were analysed. Higher BASMI values were independently and positively associated with Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score C reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP) (adjusted B (adjB)=0.21; 95% CI=0.15 to 0.28), MRI spinal inflammation score (adjB=0.11; 95% CI=0.04 to 0.19), enthesitis score (adjB=0.02; 95% CI=0.01 to 0.04) and age (adjB=0.02; 95% CI=0.01 to 0.03). All BASMI components were independently associated with ASDAS-CRP and MRI spinal inflammation, except for maximal intermalleolar distance (reflecting hip mobility), which was not associated with MRI spinal inflammation.

Conclusion

In early axSpA, spinal mobility impairment is independently determined by clinical disease activity, MRI spinal inflammation, enthesitis and age. The influence of spinal inflammation prevails in early axSpA, as opposed to spinal structural damage, which may become more relevant in later disease stages.
Adenocarcinoma as a novel complication following incisional colopexy in a dog
Authors: Taylor Oliver , Knight Rebekah , Owen Laura
Published: October 2020

This report describes the development of an adenocarcinoma at a pexy site in an eight‐year‐old, male neutered Old English sheepdog 12 months post colopexy. Laparoscopic‐assisted incisional colopexy was performed as an adjunctive surgical treatment alongside unilateral perineal herniorrhaphy for management of a right‐sided perineal hernia. The adenocarcinoma initially developed as a subcutaneous mass at the colopexy site, with the colon and transversus abdominis muscle appearing macroscopically normal. Surgical resection of the mass was incomplete based on histopathological examination. Recurrence of the tumour was noted within the rectum and caudal colon 12 months postoperatively, although not at the flank site, and due to the severity of the associated clinical signs the decision was made to euthanase the dog. It is recommended that neoplastic transformation at organ pexy sites should be considered as a rare but possible complication which can carry a grave prognosis.
State of watermain infrastructure: a Canadian case study using historic pipe break datasets
Authors: Snider Brett , McBean Edward A.
Published: October 2020

Over the last two decades, a variety of reports have suggested that watermains in Canada are deteriorating, and break rates are increasing. However, these reports are often limited as the years of break records being utilized are brief; this paper revisits those assessments using over 45 years of break records and shows that three of the five utilities investigated are experiencing significant decreases in break rates over the past 10 years while the two other utilities are maintaining consistent break rates. These results indicate that these utilities are effectively managing their watermain infrastructure, and suggest watermain infrastructure throughout Canada may be performing better than suggested by cross-sectional survey results. Analyses indicate that on average, 22% of the watermains analyzed have exceeded the 0.125 breaks per km per year break rate threshold and may be considered for pipe replacement or rehabilitation. In particular, 50% of cast iron pipes installed post-WWII have exceeded a break rate threshold of 0.125 brks/km/year, suggesting large pipe replacement or rehabilitation of this pipe cohort is required.
Identification of enhancers that drive the spatially restricted expression ofVsx1andRxin the outer proliferation center of the developingDrosophilaoptic lobe
Authors: Islam Ishrat Maliha , Ng June , Valentino Priscilla , Erclik Ted
Published: October 2020

Combinatorial spatial and temporal patterning of stem cells is a powerful mechanism for the generation of neural diversity in insect and vertebrate nervous systems. In the developing Drosophila medulla, the neural stem cells of the outer proliferation center (OPC) are spatially patterned by the mutually exclusive expression of three homeobox transcription factors: Vsx1 in the center of the OPC crescent (cOPC), Optix in the main arms (mOPC), and Rx in the posterior tips (pOPC). These spatial factors act together with a temporal cascade of transcription factors in OPC neuroblasts to specify the greater than 80 medulla cell types. Here, we identify the enhancers that are sufficient to drive the spatially restricted expression of the Vsx1 and Rx genes in the OPC. We show that removal of the cOPC enhancer in the Muddled inversion mutant leads to the loss of Vsx1 expression in the cOPC. Analysis of the evolutionarily conserved sequences within these enhancers suggests that direct repression by Optix may restrict the expression of Vsx1 and Rx to the cOPC and pOPC, respectively.
Bayesian estimation for stochastic dynamic equations via Fokker–Planck equation
Authors: Yu Bin , Zhong Guang-Yan , Li Jiang-Cheng , Tang Nian-Sheng
Published: October 2020

A Bayesian approach is proposed to estimate unknown parameters in stochastic dynamic equations (SDEs). The Fokker–Planck equation from statistical physics method is adopted to calculate the quasi-stationary probability density function. A hybrid algorithm combining the Gibbs sampler and the Metropolis–Hastings (MH) algorithm is proposed to obtain Bayesian estimates of unknown parameters in SDEs. Three simulation studies of SDEs are conducted to investigate the performance of the proposed methodologies. Empirical results evidence that the proposed method performs well in the sense that Bayesian estimates of unknown parameters are quite close to their corresponding true values and their corresponding standard divinations are quite small, and the computational accuracy of normalization parameters strongly affects the accuracy of the proposed Bayesian estimates.
Certain Investigations on Energy-Efficient Fault Detection and Recovery Management in Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Prasanth A.
Published: October 2020

In recent years, underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSNs) have been widely applied to aquatic and military applications. Network survivability is an essential attribute to be considered in UWSN circumstance and various stratifications like node survivability, connectivity and rapid fault node detection and recovery. However, efficient and accurate fault tolerance mechanisms are required to prolong the network survivability in UWSN. In this research work, the energy-efficient fault detection and recovery management (EFRM) approach is proposed for the UWSN with relatively better network survivability. The hidden Poisson Markov model has been incorporated in EFRM to achieve efficient fault detection throughout the whole network. Thereafter, the recovered node can be selected by using the analytical network process model which facilitates to recover the larger number of nodes in the damaged region. The simulation results manifest that when the fault probability is 40%, the detection accuracy of the proposed EFRM is over 99%, and the false positive rate is below 2%. The detection accuracy is improved by up to 12% when compared with the existing state-of-the-art schemes.
A New Semantic-based Multi-Level Classification Approach for Activity Recognition Using Smartphones
Authors: Brahim Ghassen Ben , El-Hajj Wassim , El-Hayek Cynthia , Hajj Hazem
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we address the problem of recognizing the semantic human activities through the analysis of large dataset collected from users’ sensor-based smartphones. Our approach is unique in terms of covering a large number of activities that users could possibly engage in, and considering the multi-level-based classification model. Our model has three properties that never seemed to be addressed by existing approaches dealing with the same problem. These are: (1) comprehensiveness — in terms of the activity set, (2) accuracy — in terms of the activity classification, and (3) applicability — in terms of flexibility in being applied in real-life settings. Current approaches do not tackle all these properties. When tested on realistic dataset, our multi-level-based model achieved promising results despite the large number of activities being considered. When compared to similar approaches, our approach achieved comparable results in terms of accuracy and outperformed them in terms of the activity types, environment and settings covered, comprehensiveness, and applicability.
Investigating the Relationship Between Mutants and Real Faults with Respect to Mutated Code
Authors: Kim Mingwan , Kim Neunghoe , In Hoh Peter
Published: October 2020

Mutation testing aims to evaluate the fault detection capability of a test suite. This evaluation substitutes faults with mutants by transforming program code to be defective. Evidences of the relationship between the detection rates of mutants and real faults have supported the use of mutants. It has also been known that the test suite size was a significant factor affecting the relationship. Our study revealed that the selection of the mutated code was another factor affecting the relationship. We generated mutants by transforming the code modified to fix defects, while the modified code was located at three granularity levels. The experiments conducted on the defects4j dataset demonstrated that the granularity level caused a significant difference in the relationship; the detection rate of mutants was more strongly correlated with and more indicative of the fault detection capability at a fine level than at a coarse level. Moreover, the influence of the test suite size was different at each granularity level. These findings implied a strong correlation between the detection rates of mutants and real faults, independently of test suite size, when the error-prone code was located precisely.
Dark matter, dark energy and fundamental acceleration
Authors: Edmonds Douglas , Minic Djordje , Takeuchi Tatsu
Published: October 2020

We discuss the existence of an acceleration scale in galaxies and galaxy clusters and its relevance for the nature of dark matter. The presence of the same acceleration scale found at very different length scales, and in very different astrophysical objects, strongly supports the existence of a fundamental acceleration scale governing the observed gravitational physics. We comment on the implications of such a fundamental acceleration scale for constraining cold dark matter models as well as its relevance for structure formation to be explored in future numerical simulations.
BIFURCATIONS EMERGING FROM DIFFERENT DELAYS IN A FRACTIONAL-ORDER PREDATOR–PREY MODEL
Authors: HUANG CHENGDAI , LI HUAN , CHEN XIAOPING , CAO JINDE
Published: October 2020

This paper characterizes the stability and bifurcation of fractional-order ratio-dependent Holling–Tanner type model with fractional domain [Formula: see text]. The stability intervals and bifurcation conditions of the developed model are attained by viewing different delays as bifurcation parameters. Then, two numerical examples are employed to corroborate the correctness of the theoretical analysis consisting of figuring out the bifurcation point and checking the veracity of the acquired bifurcation results via the plotted bifurcation diagrams. It revamps the deficiency of fractional-order model with unique delay. The procured results are instrumental in exploring the intrinsic convolution of predator–prey models.
A THERMODYNAMIC CONSISTENT ELASTOPLASTIC FRACTIONAL TIME-DEPENDENT DAMAGE MODEL FOR ROCK-LIKE MATERIALS
Authors: QU PENGFEI , ZHAO LUNYANG , SUMELKA WOJCIECH , ZHU QIZHI
Published: October 2020

This paper aims at presenting a thermodynamically consistent elastoplastic fractional time-dependent damage model for describing short- and long-term behaviors of rock-like materials. The model utilizes generalized potential theory with a yield criterion, a non-associated flow rule and an isotropic plastic hardening function for describing the evolution of plasticity. A time-dependent Lemaitre-type damage is introduced through fractional derivative considering the short- and long-term evolution of microstructure, which leads to progressive degradation of elastic modulus and failure strength of material. In this context, both instantaneous and delayed deformations shall be well described within the unique constitutive model. For practical application, an efficient and convergent semi-implicit return mapping (SRM) algorithm involving a plasticity-damage decoupling corrector is developed. The proposed model is finally adopted to predict the mechanical and deformation behavior of several types of rocks under different loading conditions in conventional or quasi-static (different loading strain rate) triaxial compression tests, creep tests and relaxation tests. Comparisons between model predictions and experimental data demonstrate that the proposed model has the capability to reproduce main features of short and long-term behaviors of rock-like materials.
FRACTAL INTERPOLATION FUNCTIONS ON AFFINE FRACTAL INTERPOLATION CURVES
Authors: RI SONGIL , NAM SONGMIN , KIM HYONCHOL
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we give fractal interpolation functions generated on some special affine fractal interpolation curve by harmonic functions of fractal analysis. In the case of Koch Curve, same statement is regarded as a corollary, that is, we show that it is possible to ensure that graphs of fractal interpolation functions on the Koch Curve are attractors of iterated function systems.

In the case of fractal interpolation functions generated on general affine fractal interpolation curves by harmonic functions of fractal analysis, all the discussions are similar to those performed in some special affine fractal interpolation curve if their harmonic structures are given.
Nash Equilibria in Certain Two-Choice Multi-Player Games Played on the Ladder Graph
Authors: Muñoz Victoria Sánchez , Mc Gettrick Michael
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we compute analytically the number of Nash Equilibria (NE) for a two-choice game played on a (circular) ladder graph with [Formula: see text] players. We consider a set of games with generic payoff parameters, with the only requirement that a NE occurs if the players choose opposite strategies (anti-coordination game). The results show that for both, the ladder and circular ladder, the number of NE grows exponentially with (half) the number of players [Formula: see text], as [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the golden ratio and [Formula: see text]. In addition, the value of the scaling factor [Formula: see text] depends on the value of the payoff parameters. However, that is no longer true for the circular ladder (3-degree graph), that is, [Formula: see text] is constant, which might suggest that the topology of the graph indeed plays an important role for setting the number of NE.
On Robe’s restricted problem with a modified Newtonian potential
Authors: Abouelmagd Elbaz I. , Ansari Abdullah A. , Shehata M. H.
Published: October 2020

We analyze the existence of equilibrium points for a particle or dust grain in the framework of unperturbed and perturbed Robe’s motion. This particle is moving in a spherical nebula consisting of a homogeneous incompressible fluid, which is considered as the primary body. The second primary body creates the modified Newtonian potential. The perturbed mean motion and equations of motion are found. The equilibrium points (i.e. collinear, noncollinear and out–of–plane points), along with the required conditions of their existence are also analyzed. We emphasize that this analysis can be used to study the oscillations of the Earth’s core under the attraction of the Moon and it is also applicable to study the motion of underwater vehicles.
Multifunctional Encapsulating Gold Nanoparticles into Cu-Hemin/Metal-Organic Frameworks for Catechol Electrochemical Detection on Graphene-Based Electrode
Authors: Wang Beibei , Kang Kai , Ji Xueping , Liu Yuheng , Li Xianrui , Wang Lin , Ren Jujie
Published: October 2020

A new type of multifunctional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) was synthesized by encapsulating gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) into the Cu-hemin MOFs, and first applied to an electrochemical sensor to detect catechol (CT) with the aid of electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) for signal amplification. First, ERGO was electrochemically deposited on a bare glass carbon electrode (GCE), followed by casting Cu-hemin MOFs on an ERGO-modified electrode, and then growing AuNPs in situ on Cu-hemin MOFs/ERGO/GCE by electrochemical deposition. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and current–time ([Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] were utilized to characterize the electrochemical performance and surface characteristics of the as-prepared sensor. The results demonstrated that Cu-hemin MOFs have not only been a matrix to avoid the aggregation of AuNPs but also an ideal loading platform for the adsorption of CT due to its large surface area and porosity. In addition, the ERGO also has the advantage of fast electron transfer, which can make synergy with AuNPs@Cu-hemin MOFs nanocomposites to amplify the electrical signal. The AuNPs/Cu-hemin MOFs/ERGO/GCE exhibited an excellent electrocatalytic activity with increased electrochemical signals towards the oxidation of CT. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the sensor shows a wide linear relationship over the range of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]M to [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]M with a detection limit of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]M. Moreover, the sensor presented the good reproducibility and the excellent anti-interference performance. This work would broaden the application of MOFs material in constructing more novel electrochemical sensing platform.
Formation of wide-blocky calcite veins by extreme growth competition
Authors: Spruženiece Liene , Späth Michael , Urai Janos L. , Ukar Estibalitz , Selzer Michael , Nestler Britta , Schwedt Alexander
Published: October 2020

Liassic limestones on the coast of Somerset in the UK contain dense arrays of calcite microveins with a common, but poorly understood microstructure, characterized by laterally wide crystals that form bridges across the vein. We investigated the mechanisms of formation and evolution of these ‘wide-blocky’ vein microstructures using a combination of high-resolution analytical methods, including virtual petrography, optical cathodoluminescence and scanning electron microscopy techniques (e.g. energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, back-scattered electron imaging, cathodoluminescence and electron back-scattered diffraction), laboratory experiments and multiphase field modelling. Our results indicate that the studied veins formed in open, fluid-filled fractures, each in a single opening and sealing episode. As shown by the optical and electron back-scattered diffraction images, the vein crystals grew epitaxially on grains of the wall rock and we hypothesize that their growth rates differed depending on whether the crystals were on a wall rock grain substrate that fractured intergranularly (slow growth rates) or transgranularly (rapid growth rates). Our multiphase field models support this hypothesis, showing that wide, blocky crystals only form where there are significant differences in the growth rate and are dependent on the type of seed grain. These results provide strong evidence for extreme growth competition, a process that we propose controls vein-filling in many micritic carbonate reservoirs, as well as demonstrate that the characteristics of the fracture wall can affect the filling processes in syntaxial veins.

Supplementary material:
The description and images of the studied thin sections are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5172371
. High-resolution optical microscopy mosaics (under plane-polarized- and crossed polarized light) of the thin section collection in PetroScan file format are available on request from the authors.
Human-AI Collaboration in a Cooperative Game Setting
Authors: Ashktorab Zahra , Liao Q. Vera , Dugan Casey , Johnson James , Pan Qian , Zhang Wei , Kumaravel Sadhana , Campbell Murray
Published: October 2020

Human-AI interaction is pervasive across many areas of our day to day lives. In this paper, we investigate human-AI collaboration in the context of a collaborative AI-driven word association game with partially observable information. In our experiments, we test various dimensions of subjective social perceptions (rapport, intelligence, creativity and likeability) of participants towards their partners when participants believe they are playing with an AI or with a human. We also test subjective social perceptions of participants towards their partners when participants are presented with a variety of confidence levels. We ran a large scale study on Mechanical Turk (n=164) of this collaborative game. Our results show that when participants believe their partners were human, they found their partners to be more likeable, intelligent, creative and having more rapport and use more positive words to describe their partner's attributes than when they believed they were interacting with an AI partner. We also found no differences in game outcome including win rate and turns to completion. Drawing on both quantitative and qualitative findings, we discuss AI agent transparency, include design implications for tools incorporating or supporting human-AI collaboration, and lay out directions for future research. Our findings lead to implications for other forms of human-AI interaction and communication.
Using the Crowd to Prevent Harmful AI Behavior
Authors: Mandel Travis , Best Jahnu , Tanaka Randall H. , Temple Hiram , Haili Chansen , Carter Sebastian J. , Schlechtinger Kayla , Szeto Roy
Published: October 2020

To prevent harmful AI behavior, people need to specify constraints that forbid undesirable actions. Unfortunately, this is a complex task, since writing rules that distinguish harmful from non-harmful actions tends to be quite difficult in real-world situations. Therefore, such decisions have historically been made by a small group of powerful AI companies and developers, with limited community input. In this paper, we study how to enable a crowd of non-AI experts to work together to communicate high-quality, reliable constraints to AI systems. We first focus on understanding how humans reason about temporal dynamics in the context of AI behavior, finding through experiments on a novel game-based testbed that participants tend to adopt a long-term notion of harm, even in uncertain situations that do not affect them directly. Building off of this insight, we explore task design for long-term constraint specification, developing new filtering approaches and new methods of promoting user reflection. Next, we develop a novel rule-based interface which allows people to craft rules in an accessible fashion without programming knowledge. We test our approaches on a real-world AI problem in the domain of education, and find that our new filtering mechanisms and interfaces significantly improve constraint quality and human efficiency. We also demonstrate how these systems can be applied to other real-world AI problems (e.g. in social networks).
Life Review Using a Life Metaphoric Game to Promote Intergenerational Communication
Authors: Lee Seyeon , Oh Hyunyoung , Shi Chung-Kon , Doh Young Yim
Published: October 2020

This study explores whether a life metaphoric game can effectively facilitate communication between senior participants and young adult partners during a life review activity. Life review provides older adults with opportunities to organize their past experiences, rediscover the meaning of life, and prepare for their future life and eventual death. We held workshops in which 33 senior participants (ages 51-85) co-played a commercial game, titled "Long Journey of Life," paired with young adult partners (ages 19-23). The young partners asked senior participants about their associated memories during the life review activity. Through inductive thematic analysis, we found seven communication themes during the life review activity: reminiscence, future and death preparation, life advice, appreciation and evaluation, small talks involving self-disclosure, interpretation of metaphors, and explanation of game control methods. We investigated the relationships between communication themes and game design elements that promote conversation. In addition, we identified how participants' responses to the game differ depending on the player's characteristics and generation. Game design suggestions for an effective intergenerational life review using digital games were offered.
Understanding the Homepreneurship Opportunities Afforded by Social Networking and Personal Fabrication Technologies
Authors: Annett Michelle
Published: October 2020

The decreased cost and increased usability of personal fabrication technologies has enabled a new generation of crafters to integrate digital designs and computationally created artifacts into physically-based practices. With the simultaneous ubiquity of e-commerce and social networking channels, these technologies have enabled many crafters to transform their hobbies into home-based businesses. To understand the opportunities and challenges that fusing social networking platforms, personal fabrication equipment, and e-commerce have afforded these homepreneurs, an online survey and follow-up interviews were conducted with crafters who use hobbyist cutting plotters to personalize and sell goods online. The findings uncovered an emerging group of homepreneurs, i.e., mompreneurs, who use these technologies for supplemental income for their families and highlighted the emotional and opportunistic benefits that such personalized, at-home manufacturing affords. They also highlighted the workflows and lifestyle implications of using these technologies to run home-based businesses, the multi-faceted usage and dependence these homepreneurs have on online social platforms such as Facebook, the complex software toolchains that are used, and the commonplace practice of appropriating designs from others that occurs in this community.
"I Hope This Is Helpful"
Authors: Simons Rachel N. , Gurari Danna , Fleischmann Kenneth R.
Published: October 2020

AI image captioning challenges encourage broad participation in designing algorithms that automatically create captions for a variety of images and users. To create large datasets necessary for these challenges, researchers typically employ a shared crowdsourcing task design for image captioning. This paper discusses findings from our thematic analysis of 1,064 comments left by Amazon Mechanical Turk workers using this task design to create captions for images taken by people who are blind. Workers discussed difficulties in understanding how to complete this task, provided suggestions of how to improve the task, gave explanations or clarifications about their work, and described why they found this particular task rewarding or interesting. Our analysis provides insights both into this particular genre of task as well as broader considerations for how to employ crowdsourcing to generate large datasets for developing AI algorithms.
Reconsidering Self-Moderation
Authors: Seering Joseph
Published: October 2020

Research in online content moderation has a long history of exploring different forms that moderation can take, including both user-driven moderation models on community-based platforms like Wikipedia, Facebook Groups, and Reddit, and centralized corporate moderation models on platforms like Twitter and Instagram. In this work I review different approaches to moderation research with the goal of providing a roadmap for researchers studying community self-moderation. I contrast community-based moderation research with platforms and policies-focused moderation research, and argue that the former has an important role to play in shaping discussions about the future of online moderation. I provide six guiding questions for future research that, if answered, can support the development of a form of user-driven moderation that is widely implementable across a variety of social spaces online, offering an alternative to the corporate moderation models that dominate public debate and discussion.
Supporting Youth Activists? Strategic Use of Social Media
Authors: Irannejad Bisafar Farnaz , Foucault Welles Brooke , D'Ignazio Catherine , Parker Andrea G.
Published: October 2020

Social Networking Sites (SNS) provide a platform for engaging youth in activism (e.g., by helping mobilize civic action). While youth typically employ casual approaches to online activism (i.e., quick actions, such as broadcast posts to advertise social justice events), more strategic practices (i.e., those that are more creative and informed) can increase the likelihood of successful online campaigns. However, little work has examined how youth activists can be supported to use SNS more strategically. To address this research gap, we conducted interviews with youth activists, exploring how youth made sense of social network visualizations and their perspectives on how such tools could support their activism efforts. Our findings characterize how participants made inferences about followers? identities based on their hashtag use, and how they used those inferences in outreach decisions. We conclude with design implications for future research in this area.
Between Subjectivity and Imposition
Authors: Miceli Milagros , Schuessler Martin , Yang Tianling
Published: October 2020

The interpretation of data is fundamental to machine learning. This paper investigates practices of image data annotation as performed in industrial contexts. We define data annotation as a sense-making practice, where annotators assign meaning to data through the use of labels. Previous human-centered investigations have largely focused on annotators? subjectivity as a major cause of biased labels. We propose a wider view on this issue: guided by constructivist grounded theory, we conducted several weeks of fieldwork at two annotation companies. We analyzed which structures, power relations, and naturalized impositions shape the interpretation of data. Our results show that the work of annotators is profoundly informed by the interests, values, and priorities of other actors above their station. Arbitrary classifications are vertically imposed on annotators, and through them, on data. This imposition is largely naturalized. Assigning meaning to data is often presented as a technical matter. This paper shows it is, in fact, an exercise of power with multiple implications for individuals and society.
A Seat at the Table
Authors: Rankin Yolanda A. , Irish India
Published: October 2020

Game-based second language (L2) learning represents an ideal alternative to foreign language classroom instruction. However, despite a diverse player demographic, the design of L2 games is often not informed by players representative of marginalized populations, especially women of color (i.e., Black women). Such oversight in the design process contributes to games that perpetuate gendered and racist stereotypes, and therefore, are less appealing to women of color. In response this dilemma, we utilize Black Feminist Thought (BFT) as a critical framework to engage Black women, a marginalized and understudied population within the gaming subculture, and more broadly, the Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) community in game design. Twenty-five Black women take on multiple roles as game designers, foreign language instructor, and informants who represent both producers and consumers throughout the conceptualization phase of a L2 mobile game prototype. Applying BFT principles, we leverage Black women\textquotesingle s lived intersectional experiences to transform the traditional game design process into a more inclusive design experience for Black women. In the context of games that support L2 learning, our findings reveal that Black women appreciate games that: 1. provide authentic cultural experiences; 2. feature intersectional game characters that reflect real life experiences; 3. accurately portray the diversity of Black women's bodies; and 4. provide opportunities for players to customize game assets. As a disruptor to traditional game design, BFT makes salient oppressive design practices within the gaming culture that also extend to the larger CSCW community, signifying the need to embrace more inclusive design practices that benefit Black women and other marginalized populations.
A Dramaturgical Approach to Online Activism within Youth Empowerment Organizations
Authors: Irannejad Bisafar Farnaz , Foucault Welles Brooke , Parker Andrea G.
Published: October 2020

Social Networking Sites (SNS) offer youth activists and youth empowerment organizations (where adults help youth address community issues) opportunities for civic action. Impression management is critical to youth empowerment organizations' work online, as they attempt to influence the opinions of their audience. However, there is a dearth of research characterizing online impression management in the context of youth empowerment organizations. To address this research gap, we conducted a qualitative study investigating the use of SNS in a youth empowerment organization. Using Goffman's dramaturgical model, we characterized how youth tried to hack SNS algorithms, and their desire to better identify their audience. Our findings reveal how youth use SNS to create authentic images and connections with their audience. On the other hand, we discuss adults' desire to convey a curated organizational image and challenges that arose. We conclude with design implications for tools that support impression management online for youth activists.
Roles in the Discussion
Authors: Johnson Jazette , Black Rebecca W. , Hayes Gillian R.
Published: October 2020

Social computing provides a variety of challenges and opportunities for people who are experiencing cognitive decline. Following a recent diagnosis of dementia, older adults sometimes engage in online communities designated for people with dementia. In this work, we analyzed all original posts from a seven-year period on a forum for persons with dementia to understand 1) who posts in this forum and 2) what kinds of social support posters seek to gain from this engagement. Our analyses indicate that, in addition to people with dementia, a variety of dementia-related stakeholders create original posts in this forum. Our results suggest that seeking and offering social support are key activities for all forum users, not just those with dementia for whom the forum was designated. Given these findings, we offer design implications for online spaces for vulnerable communities, with a focus on design that allows for external stakeholder participation while still maintaining the privacy and safety of vulnerable members of the community.
CrowdCO-OP
Authors: Fan Shaoyang , Gadiraju Ujwal , Checco Alessandro , Demartini Gianluca
Published: October 2020

Paid micro-task crowdsourcing has gained in popularity partly due to the increasing need for large-scale manually labelled datasets which are often used to train and evaluate Artificial Intelligence systems. Modern paid crowdsourcing platforms use a piecework approach to rewards, meaning that workers are paid for each task they complete, given that their work quality is considered sufficient by the requester or the platform. Such an approach creates risks for workers; their work may be rejected without being rewarded, and they may be working on poorly rewarded tasks, in light of the disproportionate time required to complete them. As a result, recent research has shown that crowd workers may tend to choose specific, simple, and familiar tasks and avoid new requesters to manage these risks. In this paper, we propose a novel crowdsourcing reward mechanism that allows workers to share these risks and achieve a standardized hourly wage equal for all participating workers. Reward-focused workers can thereby take up challenging and complex HITs without bearing the financial risk of not being rewarded for completed work. We experimentally compare different crowd reward schemes and observe their impact on worker performance and satisfaction. Our results show that 1) workers clearly perceive the benefits of the proposed reward scheme, 2) work effectiveness and efficiency are not impacted as compared to those of the piecework scheme, and 3) the presence of slow workers is limited and does not disrupt the proposed cooperation-based approaches.
A Framework for Understanding the Relationship between Social Media Discourse and Mental Health
Authors: Mendu Sanjana , Baglione Anna , Baee Sonia , Wu Congyu , Ng Brandon , Shaked Adi , Clore Gerald , Boukhechba Mehdi , Barnes Laura
Published: October 2020

Over 35% of the world's population uses social media. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have radically influenced the way individuals interact and communicate. These platforms facilitate both public and private communication with strangers and friends alike, providing rich insight into an individual's personality, health, and wellbeing. To date, many researchers have employed a variety of methods for extracting mental health-centric features from digital text communication (DTC) data, including natural language processing, social network analysis, and extraction of temporal discourse patterns. However, none have explored a hierarchical framework for extracting features from private messages with the goal of unifying approaches across methodological domains. Furthermore, while analyses of large, public corpora abound in existing literature, limited work has been done to explore the relationship between of private textual communications, personality traits, and symptoms of mental illness. We present a framework for constructing rich feature spaces from digital text communications. We then demonstrate the efficacy of our framework by applying it to a dataset of private Facebook messages in a college student population (N=103). Our results reveal key individual differences in temporal and relational behaviors, as well as language usage in relation to validated measures of trait-level anxiety, loneliness, and personality. This work represents a critical step forward in linking features of private social media messages to validated measures of mental health, wellbeing, and personality.
Go&Grow
Authors: Lin Xin Yao , Saksono Herman , Stowell Elizabeth , Lachman Margie E. , Castaneda-Sceppa Carmen , Parker Andrea G.
Published: October 2020

Caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) experience higher rates of stress, social isolation, and poor mental and physical health compared to non-caregiving populations. There is a vital need for engaging, sustainable, and scalable resources to support social, physical, and emotional wellbeing amongst caregivers of PWD. To explore this open design space, we designed and conducted a 6-week mixed-method evaluation of Go&Grow, a pervasive social exergame in which flowers grow as users increase physical activity and interact with other caregivers of PWD. Our findings showed that using Go&Grow helped participants relieve stress, increase physical activity, and develop empathy for and patience towards the loved one with dementia that they cared for. At the same time, tension arose as some caregivers desired to learn about the life challenges that Go&Grow users faced, while others hesitated to share such content. We discuss our findings and recommendations for future technology that promotes caregivers? time for themselves, understanding of PWD, and connections with other caregivers.