Perceptions of the Ethics of Persuasive Technology

This thesis explores the perceptions of the ethics of persuasive technology as applied to the design of user interfaces. The intentions are to learn whether consumers of software see persuasion through technology as ethical, whether producers of software view the development of persuasive technology as ethical, and whether these opinions can be reconciled. This research consists of a review of relevant literature on the topic, a survey of software consumers, interviews with software producers, and an analysis of the data, resulting in conclusions intended to influence the responsible design of user interfaces in the future. The results suggest a number of findings, including that persuasive technology is effective, that software consumers do not necessarily recognize persuasion when it is applied to them, and that they do not generally wish to be persuaded, unless they view the motivation of the persuader as being morally admirable. Software producers, on the other hand, do not intentionally behave unethically, but they are open to the development of persuasive technology, and even deceptive technology under some conditions. Persuasive technology has been described and analyzed to some extent in the academic literature, but often the ethical considerations have been given only secondary importance, although in a few cases, authors have expressed strong opinions that ethics can and should be considered when designing and developing software. Recent discussions among software design professionals online have demonstrated that there are growing concerns about the use of persuasive technology, even if these concerns have not yet been extensively explored in academic study

SPATIAL COMPARISONS OF POPULATIONS OF AN INDIGENOUS LIMPET SCUTELLASTRA ARGENVILLEI AND AN ALIEN MUSSEL MYTILUS GALLOPROVINCIALIS ALONG A GRADIENT OF WAVE ENERGY

In the 1970s, the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis invaded the South African coast and spread rapidly to dominate much of the West Coast, indicating either the opportunity to occupy a vacant niche or its superior competitive capability over indigenous species. In Namaqualand on the West Coast it appears to compete with a large indigenous limpet, Scutellastra argenvillei, which is capable of forming dense, almost monospecific stands low on the shore. A survey on the Namaqualand coast indicated that the abundance of M. galloprovincialis changes with wave exposure. At wave-exposed locations, the mussel covered up to 90&#37 of the primary substratum, whereas in semi-exposed situations it was never abundant. As the cover of M. galloprovincialis increased, the abundance and size of S. argenvillei on rock declined and it became confined to patches within a matrix of mussel bed. Both species were absent from sheltered shores and diminished where wave action was extreme. Comparisons with previous surveys indicated that exposed sites now largely covered by the alien mussel were once dominated by dense populations of the limpet. Therefore, the results of this survey provide circumstantial correlative evidence of a competitive interaction between M. galloprovincialis and S. argenvillei, and suggest that wave action mediates the strength of this interaction. The presence of mussel beds provides a novel settlement and living substratum for recruits and juveniles of S. argenvillei, albeit at much lower densities than in limpet patches. Adult limpets were virtually excluded from the mussel beds owing to their large size, which indicates the unsuitability of this habitat as a replacement substratum after competitive exclusion from primary rock space.Afr. J. mar. Sci. 25: 195–21

Instructional Transformation: How do Teaching and Learning Change with a One-to-one Laptop Implementation?

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the College of Education at Morehead State University by John C. Branch IV on April 29, 2014

Spectral Consequences of Deviation from Spherical Composition Symmetry in Type Ia Supernovae

We investigate the prospects for constraining the maximum scale of clumping in composition that is consistent with observed Type Ia supernova flux spectra. Synthetic spectra generated without purely spherical composition symmetry indicate that gross asymmetries make prominent changes to absorption features. Motivated by this, we consider the case of a single unblended line forming in an atmosphere with perturbations of different scales and spatial distributions. Perturbations of about 1% of the area of the photodisk simply weaken the absorption feature by the same amount independent of the line of sight. Conversely, perturbations of about 10% of the area of the photodisk introduce variation in the absorption depth which does depend on the line of sight. Thus, 1% photodisk area perturbations may be consistent with observed profile homogeneity but 10% photodisk area perturbations can not. Based on this, we suggest that the absence of significant variation in the depths of Si II 6355 absorption features in normal Type Ia spectra near maximum light indicates that any composition perturbations in these events are quite small. This also constrains future three-dimensional explosion models to produce ejecta profiles with only small scale inhomogeneities.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure

Social Marketing as a Catalyst for Building New Relationships between Sport Practitioners and Academicians

Social marketing, conceptualized by Kotler and Zaltman (1971) as a means to promote social objectives and causes more effectively, has the potential to be the catalyst for addressing the disparity and creating positive perceptions. Social marketing is a significant means to address communication, conceptualization, and intellectual gaps between groups, which often results in clarifying differences in product and value outcomes; and the need for change and shifts in paradigms associated with practitioner-academician interaction (Hanna, 2001). Primary and secondary research conducted showed that there is fragmentation within the sport industry between academicians and practitioners, resulting in a large intellectual gap. It was evident that a majority of practitioners understood the concepts of research and consumer behavior, but do not understand how to utilize these concepts in the application of promotions, advertising, and sponsorship. There also seemed to be differences based on the divergence of beliefs between sociological theorists who look at the big picture and marketers who only look at the application aspect. These findings led to the determination that there is a need for further analysis of theoretical research and application methods related to this interaction between academicians and practitioners. Through the analysis of documented research and current best practices, the goal is to help understand the disparities between academia and practitioners and provide a conduit that would serve as a catalyst to create real change in the sport industry

A study of ignition phenomena of bulk metals by radiant heating

Early research on combustion of metals was motivated by the knowledge of the large heat release and corresponding high temperatures associated with metal-oxygen reactions. The advent of space flight brought about an increased interest in the ignition and combustion of metallic particles as additives in solid rocket propellants. More recently, attention has been given to the flammability properties of bulk, structural metals due to the number of accidental explosions of metal components in high-pressure oxygen systems. The following work represents a preliminary study that is part of a broader research effort aimed at providing further insight into the phenomena of bulk metal combustion by looking at the effects of gravity on the ignition behavior of metals. The scope of this preliminary experimental study includes the use of a non-coherent, continuous radiation ignition source, the measurement of temperature profiles of a variety of metals and a qualitative observation of the ignition phenomena at normal gravity. The specific objectives of the investigation include: (1) a feasibility study of the use of a continuous radiation source for metal ignition; (2) testing and characterization of the ignition behavior of a variety of metals; and (3) building a preliminary experimental database on ignition of metals under normal gravity conditions

Supernova Resonance--scattering Line Profiles in the Absence of a Photosphere

In supernova spectroscopy relatively little attention has been given to the properties of optically thick spectral lines in epochs following the photosphere's recession. Most treatments and analyses of post-photospheric optical spectra of supernovae assume that forbidden-line emission comprises most if not all spectral features. However, evidence exists which suggests that some spectra exhibit line profiles formed via optically thick resonance-scattering even months or years after the supernova explosion. To explore this possibility we present a geometrical approach to supernova spectrum formation based on the "Elementary Supernova" model, wherein we investigate the characteristics of resonance-scattering in optically thick lines while replacing the photosphere with a transparent central core emitting non-blackbody continuum radiation, akin to the optical continuum provided by decaying 56Co formed during the explosion. We develop the mathematical framework necessary for solving the radiative transfer equation under these conditions, and calculate spectra for both isolated and blended lines. Our comparisons with analogous results from the Elementary Supernova code SYNOW reveal several marked differences in line formation. Most notably, resonance lines in these conditions form P Cygni-like profiles, but the emission peaks and absorption troughs shift redward and blueward, respectively, from the line's rest wavelength by a significant amount, despite the spherically symmetric distribution of the line optical depth in the ejecta. These properties and others that we find in this work could lead to misidentification of lines or misattribution of properties of line-forming material at post-photospheric times in supernova optical spectra.Comment: 37 pages, 24 figures; accepted for publication in ApJ Supplement Serie

Circumpolar Diversity and Geographic Differentiation of mtDNA in the Critically Endangered Antarctic Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia)

To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work.\ud This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the Public Library of Science and can be found at: http://www.plosone.org/home.action.The Antarctic blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia) was hunted to near extinction between 1904 and 1972, declining from an estimated initial abundance of more than 250,000 to fewer than 400. Here, we describe mtDNA control region diversity and geographic differentiation in the surviving population of the Antarctic blue whale, using 218 biopsy samples collected under the auspices of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) during research cruises from 1990-2009. Microsatellite genotypes and mtDNA sequences identified 166 individuals among the 218 samples and documented movement of a small number of individuals, including a female that traveled at least 6,650 km or 131 degrees longitude over four years. mtDNA sequences from the 166 individuals were aligned with published sequences from 17 additional individuals, resolving 52 unique haplotypes from a consensus length of 410 bp. From this minimum census, a rarefaction analysis predicted that only 72 haplotypes (95% CL, 64, 86) have survived in the contemporary population of Antarctic blue whales. However, haplotype diversity was relatively high (0.968 +/- 0.004), perhaps as a result of the longevity of blue whales and the relatively recent timing of the bottleneck. Despite the potential for circumpolar dispersal, we found significant differentiation in mtDNA diversity (F-ST = 0.032, p<0.005) and microsatellite alleles (F-ST = 0.005, p<0.05) among the six Antarctic Areas historically used by the IWC for management of blue whales

TEMPORAL CHANGES IN AN INTERACTION BETWEEN AN INDIGENOUS LIMPET SCUTELLASTRA ARGENVILLEI AND AN ALIEN MUSSEL MYTILUS GALLOPROVINCIALIS: EFFECTS OF WAVE EXPOSURE

A previous survey of 15 sites off the Namaqualand coast on the west coast of South Africa provided evidence of a competitive interaction between an alien mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and an indigenous limpet Scutellastra argenvillei, and indicated that wave action mediates the strength of this interaction. In this study, the temporal persistence of these patterns was tested by selecting six sites, ranging from sheltered to very exposed, and monitoring them over a two-year period. The patterns remained consistent over time. Both S. argenvillei and M. galloprovincialis were perpetually absent from the most sheltered site. The limpet consistently dominated rock space at the semi-exposed site where mussel cover was always low. At exposed sites, M. galloprovincialis was dominant but its percentage cover varied temporally as a result of wave action, creating free space and allowing temporary expansion of limpet patches. However, with time the mussel recolonized the cleared rock space and repeatedly displaced the limpet from it. This provides additional observational evidence of competition for space between the alien invader and the indigenous limpet. It is concluded that S. argenvillei has a spatial refuge from M. galloprovincialis in areas with moderate wave action. However, the limpet is likely to become locally extinct on exposed shores because mussels outcompete it there and rapidly recolonize patches from which they have been temporarily eliminated by wave action.Afr. J. mar. Sci. 25: 213–22