The lesbian,gay, bisexual and transgender community online: discussions of bullying and self-disclosure in YouTube videos

Computer-mediated communication has become a popular platform for identity construction and experimentation as well as social interaction for those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). The creation of user-generated videos has allowed content creators to share experiences on LGBT topics. With bullying becoming more common amongst LGBT youth, it is important to obtain a greater understanding of this phenomenon. In our study, we report on the analysis of 151 YouTube videos which were identified as having LGBT- and bullying-related content. The analysis reveals how content creators openly disclose personal information about themselves and their experiences in a non-anonymous rhetoric with an unknown public. These disclosures could indicate a desire to seek friendship, support and provide empathy.     

Color image segmentation using adaptive unsupervised clustering approach

This paper presents the Region Splitting and Merging-Fuzzy C-means Hybrid Algorithm (RFHA), an adaptive unsupervised clustering approach for color image segmentation, which is important in image analysis and in understanding pattern recognition and computer vision field. Histogram thresholding technique is applied in the formation of all possible cells, used to split the image into multiple homogeneous regions. The merging technique is applied to merge perceptually close homogeneous regions and obtain better initialization for the Fuzzy C-means clustering approach. Experimental results have demonstrated that the proposed scheme could obtain promising segmentation results, with 12% average improvement in clustering quality and 63% reduction in classification error compared with other existing segmentation approaches.     

面向软件供应链的异常分析方法综述

软件在国民经济的各个领域占据越来越重要的地位.万物互联的大背景下,信息之间的交互、分析、协同变得越来越普遍,程序/软件之间的依赖关系逐渐增多,这使得人们对系统可靠性和健壮性提出了更高的要求.由开源组件和第三方组件构成的软件供应链,其所面临的安全问题近年来成为了学术界和工业界共同关注的焦点.库函数作为开源软件的重要组成部分,与软件供应链安全有着密切的联系.为了提高软件开发效率,软件库或应用程序编程接口(API)在程序编写过程中会被频繁使用,但库函数中存在的错误或漏洞可能会被攻击者利用,从而损害软件供应链安全.这些错误或漏洞往往与库函数中存在的异常有关,因此本文对适用于库函数的异常分析方法从精度和效率两方面分别进行总结归纳,对于每种异常分析方法的基本思想和重要过程进行阐述,并针对库函数异常分析面临的挑战给出了初步解决思路.对软件供应链中的库函数进行异常分析有助于增强软件系统的健壮性,进而保障软件供应链的安全.     

An efficient microfluidic sorter: implementation of double meandering micro striplines for magnetic particles switching

The ability to trap, manipulate, and separate magnetic beads has become one of the key requirements in realizing an integrated magnetic lab-on-chip biosensing system. In this article, we present the design and fabrication of an integrated magneto-fluidic device for sorting magnetic particles with a sorting efficiency of up to 95%. The actuation and manipulation of magnetic beads are realized using microfabricated square meandering current-carrying micro striplines. The current is alternated between two neighboring micro striplines to switch the magnetic beads to either one of the two outlets. We performed a series of parametric study to investigate the effect of applied current, flow rate, and switching frequency on the sorting efficiency. Experimental results reveal that the sorting efficiency is proportional to the square of current applied to the stripline, and decreases with increasing buffer flow rate and switching frequency. Such phenomena agree well with our theoretical analysis and simulation result. The fastest switching rate, which is limited by the microchannel geometry and bead velocity, is 2 Hz.     

Characteristics and usage patterns of older people in a 3D online multi-user virtual environment

3D online multi-user virtual environments (MUVEs) have a lot of potential in supporting older people in their daily lives, yet little research has been conducted to explore how older people engage with this type of technology. This paper aims to investigate the characteristics, user groups and activity patterns (particularly social networks and gift giving behaviour) of older users within a 3D online multi-user virtual environment. Data from approximately 5000 online user profiles of older and younger users from a 3D MUVE, namely IMVU, was collected for analysis. Overall, we identified several distinct patterns of use (e.g. size of social ties, level of reciprocity, etc.) among older users when compared with younger users. We also found that despite the capabilities of 3D MUVEs to provide the users immersion in alternative realities, a feature well embraced by younger users in this study, older users seemed more interested in activities which serve as an extension to their physical life.     

In Vivo Studies of Nanostructure‐Based Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Cancer Therapy

Animal models, particularly rodents, are major translational models for evaluating novel anticancer therapeutics. In this review, different types of nanostructure‐based photosensitizers that have advanced into the in vivo evaluation stage for the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer are described. This article focuses on the in vivo efficacies of the nanostructures as delivery agents and as energy transducers for photosensitizers in animal models. These materials are useful in overcoming solubility issues, lack of tumor specificity, and access to tumors deep in healthy tissue. At the end of this article, the opportunities made possible by these multiplexed nanostructure‐based systems are summarized, as well as the considerable challenges associated with obtaining regulatory approval for such materials. The following questions are also addressed: (1) Is there a pressing demand for more nanoparticle materials? (2) What is the prognosis for regulatory approval of nanoparticles to be used in the clinic?     

Bio-hydrogen production enhancement by co-cultivating Rhodopseudomonas palustris WP3-5 and Anabaena sp. CH3

Photobiological H₂ production is a promising method for renewable energy development. An innovative system that co-cultivating Rhodopseudomonas palustris WP3-5 and Anabaena sp. CH3 was carried out to estimate the effect of co-cultivation on H₂ production enhancement. H₂ production prolongation and enhancement were observed due to the light and metabolic compatibility of these two strains. Co-culture system served by acetate and fructose as carbon source can accumulate H₂ in 140.8 mL, almost double than the sum of individuals. Moreover, the enhancement of H₂ production was significantly affected by the mixed ratio of two strains. The mixed ratio (WP3-5:CH3) of 1:2 showed a highest H₂ production rate in 44.8 mL-H₂/L-culture/h, and both 2:1 and 1:2 exhibited a relatively high substrate conversion efficiency during the latest period of cultivation, whereas the mixed ratio of 1:1 and 3:1 only revealed a prolongation in H₂ production due to metabolic compatibility of two strains.     

多通道SAR近岸水面区域模糊杂波抑制方法

在方位多通道合成孔径雷达(SAR)体制下,针对近岸水面区域出现的强模糊地杂波抑制问题,该文分析推导了模糊杂波的多通道导向矢量,建立了近岸水面区域的SAR图像域多通道信号模型。以推导的导向矢量和建立的模型为依据,提出了适合近岸水面区域的模糊杂波抑制方法,分析了方位多通道空域采样带来的空域模糊对模糊杂波的影响,在此基础上,对该类背景下的动目标检测性能进行了仿真分析。仿真实验验证了该算法的有效性。     

Temperature dependence of the electrical transport properties in few-layer graphene interconnects

We report a systematic investigation of the temperature dependence of electrical resistance behaviours in tri- and four-layer graphene interconnects. Nonlinear current–voltage characteristics were observed at different temperatures, which are attributed to the heating effect. With the resistance curve derivative analysis method, our experimental results suggest that Coulomb interactions play an essential role in our devices. The room temperature measurements further indicate that the graphene layers exhibit the characteristics of semiconductors mainly due to the Coulomb scattering effects. By combining the Coulomb and short-range scattering theory, we derive an analytical model to explain the temperature dependence of the resistance, which agrees well with the experimental results.