Measuring attitude towards personal data for adaptive cybersecurity

Purpose: This paper presents an initial development of a Personal Data Attitude (PDA) measurement instrument based on established psychometric principles. The aim of the research was to develop a reliable measurement scale for quantifying and comparing attitudes towards personal data that can be incorporated into cybersecurity behavioral research models. Such a scale has become necessary for understanding individuals’ attitudes towards specific sets of data as more technologies are being designed to harvest, collate, share and analyze personal data. Design/methodology/approach: An initial set of 34 five-point Likert style items were developed with 8 sub-scales and administered to participants online. The data collected were subjected to Exploratory and Confirmatory factor analysis and some MANOVA. The results are consistent with multi-dimensionality of attitude theories and suggest the adopted methodology for the study is appropriate for future research with a more representative sample. Findings: Factor analysis of 247 responses identified 6 constructs of individuals’ attitude towards personal data: Protective Behavior, Privacy Concerns, Cost-Benefit, Awareness, Responsibility and Security. This paper illustrates how the PDA scale can be a useful guide for information security research and design by briefly discussing the factor structure of the PDA and related results. Originality/value: This study addresses a genuine gap in the research by taking the first step towards establishing empirical evidence for dimensions underlying personal data attitudes. It also adds a significant benchmark to a growing body of literature on understanding and modelling computer users’ security behaviors

Mechanical Decoupling of Quantum Emitters in Hexagonal Boron Nitride from Low-Energy Phonon Modes

Quantum emitters in hexagonal Boron Nitride (hBN) were recently reported to hol a homogeneous linewidth according to the Fourier-Transform limit up to room temperature. This unusual observation was traced back to decoupling from in-plane phonon modes which can arise if the emitter is located between two planes of the hBN host material. In this work, we investigate the origins for the mechanical decoupling. Improved sample preparation enabled a reduced background and a 70-fold decrease of spectral diffusion which was so far the major drawback of defect center in hBN and allowed us to reveal a gap in the electron-phonon spectral density for low phonon frequencies. This decoupling from phonons persists at room temperature and explains the observed Fourier Transform limited lines up to 300K. Furthermore, we investigate the dipole emission directionality and show a preferred photon emission through the side of the hBN flakes supporting the claim for an out-of-plane distortion of the defect center. Our work lays the foundation to a deeper understanding of the underlying physics for the persistence of Fourier-Transform limit lines up to room temperature. It furthermore provides a description on how to identify the mechanically isolated emitter within the large number of defect centers in hBN. Therefore, it paves the way for quantum optics applications with defect centers in hBN at room temperature.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

On-chip single-photon subtraction by individual silicon vacancy centers in a laser-written diamond waveguide

Modifying light fields at single-photon level is a key challenge for upcoming quantum technologies and can be realized in a scalable manner through integrated quantum photonics. Laser-written diamond photonics offers three-dimensional fabrication capabilities and large mode-field diameters matched to fiber optic technology, though limiting the cooperativity at the single-emitter level. To realize large cooperativities, we combine excitation of single shallow-implanted silicon vacancy centers via large numerical aperture optics with detection assisted by laser-written type-II waveguides. We demonstrate single-emitter extinction measurements with a cooperativity of 0.153 and a beta factor of 13% yielding 15.3% as lower bound for the quantum efficiency of a single emitter. The transmission of resonant photons reveals single-photon subtraction from a quasi-coherent field resulting in super-Poissonian light statistics. Our architecture enables single quantum level light field engineering in an integrated design which can be fabricated in three dimensions and with a natural connectivity to optical fiber arrays.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Super-poissonian light statistics from individual silicon vacancy centers coupled to a laser-written diamond waveguide

Modifying light fields at the single-photon level is a key challenge for upcoming quantum technologies and can be realized in a scalable manner through integrated quantum photonics. Laser-written diamond photonics offers 3D fabrication capabilities and large mode-field diameters matched to fiber optic technology, though limiting the cooperativity at the single-emitter level. To realize large coupling efficiencies, we combine excitation of single shallow-implanted silicon vacancy centers via high numerical aperture optics with detection assisted by laser-written type-II waveguides. We demonstrate single-emitter extinction measurements with a cooperativity of 0.0050 and a relative beta factor of 13%. The transmission of resonant photons reveals single-photon subtraction from a quasi-coherent field resulting in super-Poissonian light statistics. Our architecture enables light field engineering in an integrated design on the single quantum level although the intrinsic cooperativity is low. Laser-written structures can be fabricated in three dimensions and with a natural connectivity to optical fiber arrays

Integrated magnetometry platform with stackable waveguide-assisted detection channels for sensing arrays

The negatively charged nitrogen vacancy (N-V−) center in diamond has shown great success in nanoscale, high-sensitivity magnetometry. Efficient fluorescence detection is crucial for improving the sensitivity. Furthermore, integrated devices enable practicable sensors. Here, we present an integrated architecture which allows us to create N-V− centers a few nanometers below the diamond surface, and at the same time covering the entire mode field of femtosecond-laser-written type-II waveguides. We experimentally verify the coupling efficiency, showcase the detection of magnetic resonance signals through the waveguides and perform proof-of-principle experiments in magnetic field and temperature sensing. The sensing task can be operated via the waveguide without direct light illumination through the sample, which is important for magnetometry in biological systems that are sensitive to light. In the future, our approach will enable the development of two-dimensional sensing arrays facilitating spatially and temporally correlated magnetometry

IN53D-04: Results from Evaluations of Gridded CrIS/ATMS Visualization for Operational Forecasting

No abstract availabl

Ecological character displacement in the face of gene flow: Evidence from two species of nightingales

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ecological character displacement is a process of phenotypic differentiation of sympatric populations caused by interspecific competition. Such differentiation could facilitate speciation by enhancing reproductive isolation between incipient species, although empirical evidence for it at early stages of divergence when gene flow still occurs between the species is relatively scarce. Here we studied patterns of morphological variation in sympatric and allopatric populations of two hybridizing species of birds, the Common Nightingale (<it>Luscinia megarhynchos</it>) and the Thrush Nightingale (<it>L. luscinia</it>).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We conducted principal component (PC) analysis of morphological traits and found that nightingale species converged in overall body size (PC1) and diverged in relative bill size (PC3) in sympatry. Closer analysis of morphological variation along geographical gradients revealed that the convergence in body size can be attributed largely to increasing body size with increasing latitude, a phenomenon known as Bergmann's rule. In contrast, interspecific interactions contributed significantly to the observed divergence in relative bill size, even after controlling for the effects of geographical gradients. We suggest that the divergence in bill size most likely reflects segregation of feeding niches between the species in sympatry.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest that interspecific competition for food resources can drive species divergence even in the face of ongoing hybridization. Such divergence may enhance reproductive isolation between the species and thus contribute to speciation.</p

2011 Belize Biospeleology Expedition Report

We report on preliminary findings from the first biospeleological expedition undertaken between 6 and 19 April 2011 in caves of the Toledo District, southern Belize. Also included is a review of the present state of knowledge of subterranean invertebrates in Belize, with no prior data being available for the Toledo District. During the April 2011 expedition, we sampled more than 1,150 invertebrates, representing more than 80 unique taxa, recorded from 7 caves in the Toledo District of Belize. This material includes a number of species already determined to be new to science, including various arachnids, crustaceans, and insects. The findings of this study form the beginnings of a foundation for future work, which can help inform decision-making regarding cave resources. Caves in Belize are an important socioeconomic resource – they support ecotourism, harbor unique archeological resources. In serving as conduits for water, organic materials, and contaminants, these caves also play important roles within the landscape. The data from the present study, and future biospeleological work will provide land managers and agency personnel with better knowledge of important cave resources in Belize.Subterranean Ecology Institute; NSS International Exploration Grantunpublishednot peer reviewe

Psammogobius Smith 1936

Psammogobius Smith, 1936 Although often treated as a synonym of Glossogobius, Hoese et al. (2015) provided detailed morphological reasons for recognising the genus. Gobius sublitus Cantor, 1849. The species was described from Malaysia. The holotype is a varnished skin and clearly has a lappet over the eye and a broad gill opening indicating Psammogobius. Two species are being confused under the name Psammogobius biocellatus: P. biocellatus with opercular scales and fully scaled predorsal and a second species without opercular scales and reduced predorsal scales. The second species probably has a name, but we have not examined sufficient type material to be sure of the appropriate name. Psammogobius biocellatus is known from the Indian Ocean and western Pacific, but the second species is only known from the western and central Pacific.Published as part of Hoese, Douglass F. & Hammer, Michael P., 2021, A review of the Glossogobius giuris complex in Australia, with wider discussion on nomenclature and possible synonymies, pp. 79-115 in Zootaxa 4974 (1) on page 110, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4974.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/477213

Rhinogobius Gill 1859

&lt;i&gt;Rhinogobius&lt;/i&gt; Gill, 1859 &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Gobius brunneus&lt;/i&gt; Temminck &amp; Schlegel, 1845. The species was considered a junior synonym of &lt;i&gt;Glossogobius giuris&lt;/i&gt; by Koumans (1953). The species is now recognised as a valid species of &lt;i&gt;Rhinogobius&lt;/i&gt; (see for example Suzuki &lt;i&gt;et al&lt;/i&gt;. 2017).&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Hoese, Douglass F. &amp; Hammer, Michael P., 2021, A review of the Glossogobius giuris complex in Australia, with wider discussion on nomenclature and possible synonymies, pp. 79-115 in Zootaxa 4974 (1)&lt;/i&gt; on page 110, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4974.1.3, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/4772138"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/4772138&lt;/a&gt