Social dynamics in conferences: analyses of data from the Live Social Semantics application

Popularity and spread of online social networking in recent years has given a great momentum to the study of dynamics and patterns of social interactions. However, these studies have often been confined to the online world, neglecting its interdependencies with the offline world. This is mainly due to the lack of real data that spans across this divide. The Live Social Semantics application is a novel platform that dissolves this divide, by collecting and integrating data about people from (a) their online social networks and tagging activities from popular social networking sites, (b) their publications and co-authorship networks from semantic repositories, and (c) their real-world face-to-face contacts with other attendees collected via a network of wearable active sensors. This paper investigates the data collected by this application during its deployment at three major conferences, where it was used by more than 400 people. Our analyses show the robustness of the patterns of contacts at various conferences, and the influence of various personal properties (e.g. seniority, conference attendance) on social networking patterns

Fidelity and visibility reduction in Majorana qubits by entanglement with environmental modes

We study the dynamics and readout of topological qubits encoded by zero-energy Majorana bound states in a topological superconductor. We take into account bosonic modes due to the electromagnetic environment which couple the Majorana manifold to above-gap continuum quasi-particles. This coupling causes the degenerate ground state of the topological superconductor to be dressed in a polaron-like manner by quasi-particle states and bosons, and the system to become gapless. Topological protection and hence full coherence is only maintained if the qubit is operated and read out within the low-energy spectrum of the dressed states. We discuss reduction of fidelity and/or visibility if this condition is violated by a quantum-dot readout that couples to the bare (undressed) Majorana modes. For a projective measurement of the bare Majorana basis, we formulate a Bloch-Redfield approach that is valid for weak Majorana-environment coupling and takes into account constraints imposed by fermion-number-parity conservation. Within the Markovian approximation, our results essentially confirm earlier theories of finite-temperature decoherence based on Fermi's golden rule. However, the full non-Markovian dynamics reveals, in addition, the fidelity reduction by a projective measurement. Using a spinless nanowire model with $p$-wave pairing, we provide quantitative results characterizing these effects.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figure

Spins in few-electron quantum dots

This review describes the physics of spins in quantum dots containing one or two electrons, from an experimentalist's viewpoint. Various methods for extracting spin properties from experiment are presented, restricted exclusively to electrical measurements. Furthermore, experimental techniques are discussed that allow for: (1) the rotation of an electron spin into a superposition of up and down, (2) the measurement of the quantum state of an individual spin and (3) the control of the interaction between two neighbouring spins by the Heisenberg exchange interaction. Finally, the physics of the relevant relaxation and dephasing mechanisms is reviewed and experimental results are compared with theories for spin-orbit and hyperfine interactions. All these subjects are directly relevant for the fields of quantum information processing and spintronics with single spins (i.e. single-spintronics).Comment: final version (52 pages, 49 figures), Rev. Mod. Phy

Paranormal Investigators: Exploring a Positive Social Construct Through Paranormal Belief and Investigations

This thesis is a case study providing a more detailed look into how a local paranormal investigation team forms a community that cultivates social benefits beyond proving the supernatural’s existence. Folklore provides a path to understanding supernatural beliefs and fears, furthering the understanding of paranormal communities and any advantages of being a part of or receiving help from paranormal investigators and investigations. The paranormal or the supernatural defies standard explanation. For example, ghosts and UFOs, at times, are not explained away with traditional scientific theories and hypotheses. Paranormal investigators, also called paranormal researchers, choose to study the paranormal phenomena considered unexplainable, often forming paranormal groups who discuss, investigate, and explore possible explanations of hauntings and other supernatural events. Paranormal investigators help create and add positive benefits for the paranormal communities they serve and are worthy of further exploration and discussion as investigators provide support, knowledge, advice, resources, contacts, and connections for their clients. I have analyzed how the paranormal investigator group The Other Realm(TOR), located in Cache Valley, Utah, functions as a paranormal folk group that benefits their paranormal community. TORs paranormal community consists of clients and guests of their public ghost hunting events and other nearby paranormal investigation groups. TOR’s goal is to help those who feel they are experiencing a haunting by opening a safe space to share their paranormal beliefs and experiences without fear of ridicule and disbelief. Their focus is on the ghosts or spirits part of the paranormal phenomenon. The paranormal community serves a particular purpose for those who need help with their paranormal experiences and furthering each investigator’s esoteric knowledge

An aesthetics of touch: investigating the language of design relating to form

How well can designers communicate qualities of touch? This paper presents evidence that they have some capability to do so, much of which appears to have been learned, but at present make limited use of such language. Interviews with graduate designer-makers suggest that they are aware of and value the importance of touch and materiality in their work, but lack a vocabulary to fully relate to their detailed explanations of other aspects such as their intent or selection of materials. We believe that more attention should be paid to the verbal dialogue that happens in the design process, particularly as other researchers show that even making-based learning also has a strong verbal element to it. However, verbal language alone does not appear to be adequate for a comprehensive language of touch. Graduate designers-makers’ descriptive practices combined non-verbal manipulation within verbal accounts. We thus argue that haptic vocabularies do not simply describe material qualities, but rather are situated competences that physically demonstrate the presence of haptic qualities. Such competencies are more important than groups of verbal vocabularies in isolation. Design support for developing and extending haptic competences must take this wide range of considerations into account to comprehensively improve designers’ capabilities

Behavioural adaptation and acceptance

One purpose of Intelligent Vehicles is to improve road safety, throughput, and emissions. However, the predicted effects are not always as large as aimed for. Part of this is due to indirect behavioral changes of drivers, also called behavioral adaptation. Behavioral adaptation (BA) refers to unintended behavior that arises following a change to the road traffic system. Qualitative models of behavioral adaptation (formerly known as risk compensation) describe BA by the change in the subjectively perceived enhancement of the safety margins. If a driver thinks that the system is able to enhance safety and also perceives the change in behavior as advantageous, adaptation occurs. The amount of adaptation is (indirectly) influenced by the driver personality and trust in the system. This also means that the amount of adaptation differs between user groups and evenwithin one driver or changes over time. Examples of behavioral change are the generation of extra mobility (e.g., taking the car instead of the train), road use by ‘‘less qualified’’ drivers (e.g., novice drivers), driving under more difficult conditions (e.g., driving on slippery roads), or a change in distance to the vehicle ahead (e.g., driving closer to a lead vehicle with ABS). In effect predictions, behavioral adaptation should be taken into account. Even though it may reduce beneficial effects, BA (normally) does not eliminate the positive effects. How much the effects are reduced depends on the type of ADAS, the design of the ADAS, the driver, the current state of the driver, and the local traffic and weather conditions

The Critical Foundations of Visual Criminology: The State, Crisis, and the Sensory

This article considers the manner in which visual criminology has flourished in the current moment, while exploring its foundational relations and points of distinction as a form of critical criminology. In particular, we devote attention to the relationship of images to control, power and resistance at a time defined by the spectacular proliferation of media. We also discuss new and recent directions in visual criminology that enlarge our understandings of both critical and visual work, including forensic architecture and sensory criminology

Exploring Algorithmic Literacy for College Students: An Educator’s Roadmap

Research shows that college students are largely unaware of the impact of algorithms on their everyday lives. Also, most university students are not being taught about algorithms as part of the regular curriculum. This exploratory, qualitative study aimed to explore subject-matter experts’ insights and perceptions of the knowledge components, coping behaviors, and pedagogical considerations to aid faculty in teaching algorithmic literacy to college students. Eleven individual, semi-structured interviews and one focus group were conducted with scholars and teachers of critical algorithm studies and related fields. Findings suggested three sets of knowledge components that would contribute to students’ algorithmic literacy: general characteristics and distinguishing traits of algorithms, key domains in everyday life using algorithms (including the potential benefits and risks), and ethical considerations for the use and application of algorithms. Findings also suggested five behaviors that students could use to help them better cope with algorithmic systems and nine teaching strategies to help improve students’ algorithmic literacy. Suggestions also surfaced for alternative forms of assessment, potential placement in the curriculum, and how to distinguish between basic algorithmic awareness compared to algorithmic literacy. Recommendations for expanding on the current Association of College and Research Libraries’ Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education (2016) to more explicitly include algorithmic literacy were presented