Measuring Actual Behaviors in HCI Research – A call to Action and an Example

There have been repeated calls for studies in behavioral science and human-computer interaction (HCI) research to measure participants’ actual behaviors. HCI research studies often use multiple constructs as perceived measures of behavior, which are captured using participants’ self-reports on surveys. Response biases, however, are a widespread threat to the validity of self-report measures. To mitigate this threat to validity, we propose that studies in HCI measure actual behaviors in appropriate contexts rather than solely perceptions. We report an example of using movements that reflect both actual behavior and behavioral changes measured within a health care IS usage context, specifically the detection and alleviation of neuromuscular degenerative disease. We propose and test a method of monitoring mouse-cursor movements to detect hand tremors in real time when individuals are using websites. Our work suggests that analyzing hand movements as an actual (rather than perceptual) measure of usage could enrich other areas of IS research (e.g., technology acceptance, efficacy, fear, etc.), in which perceptions of states and behavior are measured post hoc to the interaction and subject to the threats of various forms of response bias

Progress on the J-2X Upper Stage Engine for the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle and the Ares V Cargo Launch Vehicle

NASA's Vision for Exploration requires a safe, reliable, affordable upper stage engine to power the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV) and the Ares V Cargo Launch Vehicle. The J-2X engine is being developed for that purpose, epitomizing NASA's philosophy of employing legacy knowledge, heritage hardware, and commonality to carry the next generation of explorers into low-Earth orbit and out into the solar system This presentation gives top-level details on accomplishments to date and discusses forward work necessary to bring the J-2X engine to the launch pad

Creating a Realistic Experimental Scenario for HCI-Based Deception Detection Research with Ground Truth and Unsanctioned Malicious Acts

This research-in-progress note reports on the design and execution of a study in HCI-based deception detection. The objective of the study is to examine the impact of knowledge of tracking and countermeasures on the neuro- motor changes detected when subjects commit a malfeasant act. To examine this, an experimental context and design was required that would afford the subjects an opportunity to commit an un-sanctioned malicious act while tracking ground truth in an unobtrusive manner. The experimental design, study execution, and preliminary results are presented

Colour superconductivity in finite systems

In this paper we study the effect of finite size on the two-flavour colour superconducting state. As well as restricting the quarks to a box, we project onto states of good baryon number and onto colour singlets, these being necessary restrictions on any observable ``quark nuggets''. We find that whereas finite size alone has a significant effect for very small boxes, with the superconducting state often being destroyed, the effect of projection is to restore it again. The infinite-volume limit is a good approximation even for quite small systems.Comment: 14 pages RevTeX4, 12 eps figure

Differences in signal contrast and camouflage among different colour variations of a stomatopod crustacean, Neogonodactylus oerstedii

Animal colouration is often a trade-off between background matching for camouflage from predators, and conspicuousness for communication with con- or heterospecifics. Stomatopods are marine crustaceans known to use colour signals during courtship and contests, while their overall body colouration may provide camouflage. However, we have little understanding of how stomatopods perceive these signals in their environment or whether overall body coloration does provide camouflage from predators. Neogonodactylus oerstedii assess meral spot colour during contests, and meral spot colour varies depending on local habitat. By calculating quantum catch for N. oerstedii’s 12 photoreceptors associated with chromatic vision, we found that variation in meral spot total reflectance does not function to increase signal contrast in the local habitat. Neogonodactylus oerstedii also show between-habitat variation in dorsal body colouration. We used visual models to predict a trichromatic fish predator’s perception of these colour variations. Our results suggest that sandy and green stomatopods are camouflaged from a typical fish predator in rubble fields and seagrass beds, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate signal contrast and camouflage in a stomatopod. These results provide new insight into the function and evolution of colouration in a species with a complex visual system

Understanding Unauthorized Access using Fine-Grained Human-Computer Interaction Data

Unauthorized Data Access (UDA) by an internal employee is a major threat to an organization. Regardless of whether the individuals engaged in UDA with malicious intent or not, real-time identification of UDA events and anomalous behaviors is extremely difficult. For example, various artificial intelligence methods for detecting insider threat UDA have become readily available; while useful, such methods rely on post hoc analysis of the past (e.g., unsupervised learning algorithms on access logs). This research-in-progress note reports on if the analysis of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) behaviors, which have been empirically validated in various studies to reveal hidden cognitive state, can be utilized as a method to detect UDAs. To examine this, an experimental design was required that would grant the subjects an opportunity to engage in UDA events while tracking the HCI behaviors in an unobtrusive manner. Background, experimental design, study execution, preliminary results, and future research plans are presented

Src kinase participates in LPS-induced activation of NADPH oxidase

The production of superoxide from NADPH oxidase by macrophages in response to endotoxin (LPS) is an important innate immune response, yet it is not clear how LPS signals the activation of NADPH oxidase. The hypothesis is that LPS-induced src kinase and PI3 kinase (PI3K) facilitates the activation of p47phox, the regulatory subunit of NADPH oxidase. In mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells, inhibition of src tyrosine family kinases inhibited LPS-induced activation of NADPH oxidase, phosphorylation of p47phox, activation of PI3K and phosphorylation of the TLR4. Moreover, inhibition of LPS-induced increases in intracellular calcium blunted src kinase activation, PI3K association with TLR4, as well as PI3 kinase activation. These data suggest that both src kinase and PI3 kinase are involved in LPS-induced NADPH oxidase activation. Importantly, these data suggest that LPS-induced src kinase activation is critical for PI3 kinase activation as well as TLR4 phosphorylation and is dependent upon LPS-induced increase in intracellular calcium. These signaling events fill critical gaps in our understanding of LPS-induced free radical production as well as may potentially responsible for the mechanism of innate immune tolerance or desensitization caused by steroids or ethanol