Profiling vandalism in Wikipedia: A Schauerian approach to justification

In order to fight massive vandalism the English-language Wikipedia has developed a system of surveillance which is carried out by humans and bots, supported by various tools. Central to the selection of edits for inspection is the process of using filters or profiles. Can this profiling be justified? On the basis of a careful reading of Frederick Schauer’s books about rules in general (1991) and profiling in particular (2003) I arrive at several conclusions. The effectiveness, efficiency, and risk-aversion of edit selection all greatly increase as a result. The argument for increasing predictability suggests making all details of profiling manifestly public. Also, a wider distribution of the more sophisticated anti-vandalism tools seems indicated. As to the specific dimensions used in profiling, several critical remarks are developed. When patrollers use ‘assisted editing’ tools, severe ‘overuse’ of several features (anonymity, warned before) is a definite possibility, undermining profile efficacy. The easy remedy suggested is to render all of them invisible on the interfaces as displayed to patrollers. Finally, concerning not only assisted editing tools but tools against vandalism generally, it is argued that the anonymity feature is a sensitive category: anons have been in dispute for a long time (while being more prone to vandalism). Targeting them as a special category violates the social contract upon which Wikipedia is based. The feature is therefore a candidate for mandatory ‘underuse’: it should be banned from all anti-vandalism filters and profiling algorithms, and no longer be visible as a special edit trait.     

Exploring knowledge sharing: moves,problem solving and justification

The importance of knowledge sharing for modern organizations is widely acknowledged. However, we know little about the micro-processes of knowledge sharing and its contribution to the work practices of organization members. In order to open the black box of knowledge sharing, two field studies were undertaken within industrial research organizations. Informed by speech act theory and the interpretation of research work as problem solving, the empirical studies yielded taxonomies of knowledge sharing moves and the effects of knowledge sharing. Taken together, these taxonomies show the heterogeneity of the process and value of knowledge sharing. Furthermore, the paper contributes to the nascent study of the justification of organizational knowledge by showing the different roles of moves in the development of justified solutions. Finally, the paper discusses the facilitation of the different types of knowledge sharing.     

A comparison of callus induction in 4 Garcinia species

BackgroundThis research is intended to determine suitable types and concentrations of plant growth regulators (PGRs) to induce callus on stem and leaf sections of 4 species of the genus Garcinia, namely, Garcinia mangostana, Garcinia schomburgkiana, Garcinia cowa, and Garcinia celebica. The base medium was MS medium containing 30 g l^-1 sucrose, 0.5 g l^-1 polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and 7 g l^-1 agar, and for the different treatments, PGRs were added to the medium as follows: thidiazuron (TDZ) at concentrations of 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg l^-1; 6-(3-hydroxybenzylamino) purine (meta-topolin) at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 2.5, and 5 mg l^-1; 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid (picloram) at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 2.5, and 5 mg l^-1; and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg l^-1. The occurrence of callus was observed after 4 weeks.ResultsA maximum of 100% and 93% of G. mangostana leaf explants formed callus in the 0.5 mg l^-1 and 1 mg l^-1 TDZ treatments, respectively, while 100% of G. schomburgkiana stem explants formed callus in the 1 mg l^-1 TDZ treatment and 89% of G. schomburgkiana leaf explants formed callus in the 0.5 mg l^-1 picloram treatment. The highest callus induction rate for G. cowa was 62% in the 1 mg l^-1 TDZ treatment and for G. celebica was 56% in the 0.5 mg l^-1·mT^-1 treatment.ConclusionsFor all 4 species, the greatest amount of large nodular callus was observed in the TDZ treatments. White, friable callus was observed on most of the 2,4-D and picloram treatment groups. Most meta-topolin treatments resulted in minimal callus formation.How to cite: Suwanseree V, Phansiri S, Yapwattanaphun C. A comparison of callus induction in 4 Garcinia species. Electron J Biotechnol 2019;40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2019.04.006