Modelling and correcting for the impact of the gait cycle on touch screen typing accuracy

Walking and typing on a smartphone is an extremely common interaction. Previous research has shown that error rates are higher when walking than when stationary. In this paper we analyse the acceleration data logged in an experiment in which users typed whilst walking, and extract the gait phase angle. We find statistically significant relationships between tapping time, error rate and gait phase angle. We then use the gait phase as an additional input to an offset model, and show that this allows more accurate touch interaction for walking users than a model which considers only the recorded tap position

Does Voting Technology Affect Election Outcomes? Touch-screen Voting and the 2004 Presidential Election

Supporters of touch-screen voting claim it is a highly reliable voting technology, while a growing number of critics argue that paperless electronic voting systems are vulnerable to fraud. In this paper we use county-level data on voting technologies in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections to test whether voting technology affects electoral outcomes. We first show that there is a positive correlation between use of touch-screen voting and the level of electoral support for George Bush. This is true in models that compare the 2000-2004 changes in vote shares between adopting and non-adopting counties within a state, after controlling for income, demographic composition, and other factors. Although small, the effect could have been large enough to influence the final results in some closely contested states. While on the surface this pattern would appear to be consistent with allegations of voting irregularities, a closer examination suggests this interpretation is incorrect. If irregularities did take place, they would be most likely in counties that could potentially affect statewide election totals, or in counties where election officials had incentives to affect the results. Contrary to this prediction, we find no evidence that touch-screen voting had a larger effect in swing states, or in states with a Republican Secretary of State. Touch-screen voting could also indirectly affect vote shares by influencing the relative turnout of different groups. We find that the adoption of touch-screen voting has a negative effect on estimated turnout rates, controlling for state effects and a variety of county-level controls. This effect is larger in counties with a higher fraction of Hispanic residents (who tend to favor Democrats) but not in counties with more African Americans (who are overwhelmingly Democrat voters). Models for the adoption of touch-screen voting suggest it was more likely to be used in counties with a higher fraction of Hispanic and Black residents, especially in swing states. Nevertheless, the impact of non-random adoption patterns on vote shares is small.

Dynamic avalanche breakdown of a p-n junction: deterministic triggering of a plane streamer front

We discuss the dynamic impact ionization breakdown of high voltage p-n junction which occurs when the electric field is increased above the threshold of avalanche impact ionization on a time scale smaller than the inverse thermogeneration rate. The avalanche-to-streamer transition characterized by generation of dense electron-hole plasma capable to screen the applied external electric field occurs in such regimes. We argue that the experimentally observed deterministic triggering of the plane streamer front at the electric field strength above the threshold of avalanche impact ionization but yet below the threshold of band-to-band tunneling is generally caused by field-enhanced ionization of deep-level centers. We suggest that the process-induced sulfur centers and native defects such as EL2, HB2, HB5 centers initiate the front in Si and GaAs structures, respectively. In deep-level free structures the plane streamer front is triggered by Zener band-to-band tunneling.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Mitochondria as a Potential Antifungal Target for Isocyanide Compounds

The discovery of antibiotics and antifungals greatly impacted medicine and human health, allowing the effective treatment of infections that were previously deadly. However, due to routine and sometimes excessive usage of these compounds, the development of antimicrobial resistance has created a need for new antibiotic and antifungal compounds. Isocyanide compounds have been shown to have antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-cancer properties, but very little is known about their biochemical effects. Our research aims to understand the mechanism of action of isocyanide compounds. We have conducted a genetic screen of a Saccharomyces gene-deletion (“knockout”) collection on media containing an easily synthesized model isocyanide compound, para-nitrophenyl isocyanide (p-NPIC). This allowed us to identify genes which, when deleted, render the mutant strains resistant or hypersensitive to the compound. Based on our genetic screen for hypersensitive mutants, we hypothesize that the isocyanides impact mitochondrial function, specifically altering the function of the Cu++-containing respiratory complex, Cytochrome C Oxidase (Complex IV). Our findings provide new information on the mechanism(s) of action of this class of antimicrobials and will help guide the development of new molecules based on lead-compounds such as p-NPIC

What might explain deprivation-specific differences in the excess hazard of breast cancer death amongst screen-detected women? Analysis of patients diagnosed in the West Midlands region of England from 1989 to 2011.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer survival is higher in less deprived women, even amongst women whose tumor was screen-detected, but reasons behind this have not been comprehensively investigated. METHODS: The excess hazard of breast cancer death in 20,265 women diagnosed with breast cancer, followed up to 2012, was estimated for screen-detected and non-screen-detected women, comparing more deprived to less deprived women using flexible parametric models. Models were adjusted for individual and tumor factors, treatment received and comorbidity. For screen-detected women, estimates were also corrected for lead-time and overdiagnosis. RESULTS: The excess hazard ratio (EHR) of breast cancer death in the most deprived group, adjusted only for age and year of diagnosis, was twice that of the least deprived among screen-detected women (EHR=2.12, 95%CI 1.48-2.76) and 64% higher among non-screen-detected women (EHR=1.64, 95%CI 1.41-1.87). Adjustment for stage at diagnosis lowered these estimates by 25%. Further adjustment had little extra impact. In the final models, the excess hazard for the most deprived women was 54% higher (EHR=1.54, 95%CI 1.10-1.98) among screen-detected women and 39% higher (EHR=1.39, 95%CI 1.20-1.59) among non-screen-detected women. CONCLUSION: A persistent socio-economic gradient in breast cancer-related death exists in this cohort, even for screen-detected women. The impact of differential lifestyles, management and treatment warrant further investigation

The Impact of Ethical Ratings on Canadian Security Performance: Portfolio Management and Corporate Governance Implications

One approach that is gaining in popularity among portfolio managers uses ethical ratings, published by specialized research organizations, to screen securities for portfolio selection. Portfolio managers can thus gain a better understanding of the phenomenon and adopt a better and more consistent approach to ethical investment. By the same token, board of directors can measure the impact of their ethical policies on the market performance of the stock of their company. This paper provides new evidence about the impact of ethical ratings published in Canada on the risk-adjusted returns of the securities concerned, within the framework of a multi-factor Capital Asset Pricing Model, and gives an interpretation of the results from the perspective of portfolio composition and of corporate governance.Ethical Ratings and Security Performance

Irish Script on Screen: the Growth and Development of a Manuscript Digitisation Project

Irish Script on Screen (ISOS), a project of the School of Celtic Studies at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, was initiated in 1998, with the stated aim of the high-resolution digitisation of entire Gaelic manuscripts and of making the digital images freely available on the World Wide Web (www.isos.dias.ie). The growth and development of ISOS has therefore paralleled, and in some cases informed, the evolution of awareness of digital matters in Ireland over the last ten years. This paper describes the history and structure of ISOS, its public reception, its impact on research, and the varying uses that are made of the site. The questions of further potential and future direction are also addressed

Total Body Skin Exam and Number Needed to Screen

Introduction/Background: Skin cancer screening could impact mortality and morbidity in US adults; however, the effectiveness of widespread screening remains unclear. Further research is necessary to determine what age groups, with what risk factors, might benefit from routine total body skin exams (TBSE) in the US. Objective: This study sought to determine, on average, the number of patients, per decade, needed to screen via TBSE to identify one person with skin cancer. Methods: A retrospective review of Jefferson Dermatology outpatient data in Epic was conducted. All patient charts from 1/1/2017 - 1/1/2018 were reviewed if they received a TBSE. The type of skin cancer diagnosed after each visual skin exam was documented and data on the results of the patient interview and biopsy were collected in RedCap and analyzed in SPSS. Results: 3153 patients received a TBSE. Skin cancer was identified in 180 people; 8 people were found to have melanoma. By decade, the number needed to screen to identify 1 person with skin cancer was as follows: 20s: 331, 30s: 64, 40s: 60, 50s: 22, 60s: 12, 70s: 10, 80s: 6, 90s: 5. By decade, the number needed to screen to identify 1 person with melanoma was as follows: 20s: 331, 30s: Undefined, 40s: Undefined, 50s: 559, 60s: 153, 70s: 452, 80s: undefined, 90s: undefined. Conclusion: As patient age increases, less people need to be screened to detect skin cancer. It may be beneficial for Americans over 50 to obtain routine TBSEs. This data can contribute to the growing body of evidence needed for the USPSTF to provide skin cancer screening guidelines

Prioritising the care of critically ill children: a pilot study using SCREEN reduces clinic waiting times

Objective In low-resource settings, childhood mortality secondary to delays in triage and treatment remains high. This paper seeks to evaluate the impact of the novel Sick Children Require Emergency Evaluation Now (SCREEN) tool on the waiting times of critically ill children who present for care to primary healthcare clinics in Cape Town, South Africa. Methods We used a pre/postevaluation study design to calculate the median waiting times of all children who presented to four randomly chosen clinics for 5 days before, and 5 days after, the implementation of SCREEN. Findings The SCREEN programme resulted in statistical and clinically significant reductions in waiting times for children with critical illness to see a professional nurse (2 hours 45 min to 1 hour 12 min; p<0.001). There was also a statistically significant reduction in the proportion of children who left without being seen by a professional nurse (25.8% to 18.48%; p<0.001). Conclusions SCREEN is a novel programme that uses readily available laypersons, trained to make a subjective assessment of children arriving at primary healthcare centres, and provides a low cost, simple methodology to prioritise children and reduce waiting times in low-resource healthcare clinics