Towards a Theory of Analytical Behaviour: A Model of Decision-Making in Visual Analytics

This paper introduces a descriptive model of the human-computer processes that lead to decision-making in visual analytics. A survey of nine models from the visual analytics and HCI literature are presented to account for different perspectives such as sense-making, reasoning, and low-level human-computer interactions. The survey examines the people and computers (entities) presented in the models, the divisions of labour between entities (both physical and role-based), the behaviour of both people and machines as constrained by their roles and agency, and finally the elements and processes which define the flow of data both within and between entities. The survey informs the identification of four observations that characterise analytical behaviour - defined as decision-making facilitated by visual analytics: bilateral discourse, divisions of labour, mixed-synchronicity information flows, and bounded behaviour. Based on these principles, a descriptive model is presented as a contribution towards a theory of analytical behaviour. The future intention is to apply prospect theory, a economic model of decision-making under uncertainty, to the study of analytical behaviour. It is our assertion that to apply prospect theory first requires a descriptive model of the processes that facilitate decision-making in visual analytics. We conclude it necessary to measure the perception of risk in future work in order to apply prospect theory to the study of analytical behaviour using our proposed model

Representation Effects and Loss Aversion in Analytical Behaviour: An Experimental Study into Decision Making Facilitated by Visual Analytics

This paper presents the results of an experiment into the relationship between the representation of data and decision-making. Three hundred participants online, were asked to choose between a series of financial investment opportunities using data presented in line charts. A single dependent variable of investment choice was examined over four levels of varying display conditions and randomised data. Three variations to line chart visualisations provided a controlled factor between subjects divided into three groups; -˜standard’ line charts, -˜tall’ line charts, and one dual-series line chart. The final results revealed a consistent main effect and two other interactions between certain display conditions and decision-making. The findings of this paper are significant to the study visualisation and to the field of visual analytics. This experiment was devised as part of a study into Analytical Behaviour, defined as decision-making facilitated by visual analytics - a new topic that encompasses existing research and real-world applications

Design Spaces in Visual Analytics Based on Goals: Analytical Behaviour, Exploratory Investigation, Information Design & Perceptual Tasks

This paper considers a number of perspectives on design spaces in visual analytics and proposes a new set of four design spaces, based on user goals. Three of the user goals are derived from the literature and are categorised under the terms exploratory investigation, perceptual tasks, and information design. The fourth goal is categorised as analytical behaviour; a recently defined term referring to the study of decision-making facilitated by visual analytics. This paper contributes to the literature on decision-making in visual analytics with a survey of real-world applications within the analytical behaviour design space and by providing a new perspective on design spaces. Central to our analysis is the introduction of decision concepts and theories from economics into a visual analytics context. Given the recent interest in decision-making we wanted to understand the emerging topic of analytical behaviour as a design space and found it necessary to look at more than just decision-making to make a valuable contribution. The result is an initial framework suitable for use in the analysis or design of analytical behaviour applications

Dynamic Polynomial Combinants and Generalised Resultants

The theory of constant polynomial combinants has been well developed [2] and it is linked to the linear part of the constant Determinantal Assignment problem [1] that provides the unifying description of the pole and zero assignment problems in Linear Systems. Considering the case of dynamic pole, zero assignment problems leads to the emergence of dynamic polynomial combinants. This paper aims to demonstrate the origin of dynamic polynomial combinants from Linear Systems, and develop the fundamentals of the relevant theory by establishing their link to the theory of Generalised Resultants and examining issues of their parameterization according to the notions of order and degree. The paper provides a description of the key spectral assignment problems, derives the conditions for arbitrary assignability of spectrum and introduces a parameterization of combinants according to their order and degree

Long-lived Giant Number Fluctuations in a Swarming Granular Nematic

Coherently moving flocks of birds, beasts or bacteria are examples of living matter with spontaneous orientational order. How do these systems differ from thermal equilibrium systems with such liquid-crystalline order? Working with a fluidized monolayer of macroscopic rods in the nematic liquid crystalline phase, we find giant number fluctuations consistent with a standard deviation growing linearly with the mean, in contrast to any situation where the Central Limit Theorem applies. These fluctuations are long-lived, decaying only as a logarithmic function of time. This shows that flocking, coherent motion and large-scale inhomogeneity can appear in a system in which particles do not communicate except by contact.Comment: This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of the AAAS. The definitive version is to appear in SCIENC

Le nitrate de potasse ajouté au sel des salaisons possède-t-il une action bactériostatique ?

Drieux Henri, Labié Ch., Galanis N. Le nitrate de potasse ajouté au sel des salaisons possède-t-il une action bactériostatique ?. In: Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France tome 112 n°2, 1959. pp. 113-118

Recherche et dénombrement des Escherichia coli dans les produits carnés. Emploi de la Gélose au Désoxycholate de sodium à température d incubation de 44°

Pantaléon Jean, Galanis N., Guibert M. Recherche et dénombrement des Escherichia coli dans les produits carnés. Emploi de la Gélose au Désoxycholate de sodium à température d'incubation de 44°. In: Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France tome 112 n°8, 1959. pp. 467-471