Showing papers by "Bowling Green State University published in 2018"

Amandroid: A Precise and General Inter-component Data Flow Analysis Framework for Security Vetting of Android Apps

Abstract: We present a new approach to static analysis for security vetting of Android apps and a general framework called Amandroid. Amandroid determines points-to information for all objects in an Android app component in a flow and context-sensitive (user-configurable) way and performs data flow and data dependence analysis for the component. Amandroid also tracks inter-component communication activities. It can stitch the component-level information into the app-level information to perform intra-app or inter-app analysis. In this article, (a) we show that the aforementioned type of comprehensive app analysis is completely feasible in terms of computing resources with modern hardware, (b) we demonstrate that one can easily leverage the results from this general analysis to build various types of specialized security analyses—in many cases the amount of additional coding needed is around 100 lines of code, and (c) the result of those specialized analyses leveraging Amandroid is at least on par and often exceeds prior works designed for the specific problems, which we demonstrate by comparing Amandroid’s results with those of prior works whenever we can obtain the executable of those tools. Since Amandroid’s analysis directly handles inter-component control and data flows, it can be used to address security problems that result from interactions among multiple components from either the same or different apps. Amandroid’s analysis is sound in that it can provide assurance of the absence of the specified security problems in an app with well-specified and reasonable assumptions on Android runtime system and its library.

Corporate social responsibility and firm financial performance: the mediating role of productivity

Abstract: This study treats firm productivity as an accumulation of productive intangibles and posits that stakeholder engagement associated with better corporate social performance helps develop such intangibles. We hypothesize that because shareholders factor improved productive efficiency into stock price, productivity mediates the relationship between corporate social and financial performance. Furthermore, we argue that key stakeholders’ social considerations are more valuable for firms with higher levels of discretionary cash and income stream uncertainty. Therefore, we hypothesize that those two contingencies moderate the mediated process of corporate social performance with financial performance. Our analysis, based on a comprehensive longitudinal dataset of the U.S. manufacturing firms from 1992 to 2009, lends strong support for these hypotheses. In short, this paper uncovers a productivity-based, context-dependent mechanism underlying the relationship between corporate social performance and financial performance.

Thermally activated delayed photoluminescence from pyrenyl-functionalized CdSe quantum dots.

Abstract: The generation and transfer of triplet excitons across semiconductor nanomaterial-molecular interfaces will play an important role in emerging photonic and optoelectronic technologies, and understanding the rules that govern such phenomena is essential. The ability to cooperatively merge the photophysical properties of semiconductor quantum dots with those of well-understood and inexpensive molecular chromophores is therefore paramount. Here we show that 1-pyrenecarboxylic acid-functionalized CdSe quantum dots undergo thermally activated delayed photoluminescence. This phenomenon results from a near quantitative triplet-triplet energy transfer from the nanocrystals to 1-pyrenecarboxylic acid, producing a molecular triplet-state 'reservoir' that thermally repopulates the photoluminescent state of CdSe through endothermic reverse triplet-triplet energy transfer. The photoluminescence properties are systematically and predictably tuned through variation of the quantum dot-molecule energy gap, temperature and the triplet-excited-state lifetime of the molecular adsorbate. The concepts developed are likely to be applicable to semiconductor nanocrystals interfaced with molecular chromophores, enabling potential applications of their combined excited states.

Students’ perceptions of STEM learning after participating in a summer informal learning experience

Abstract: Informal learning environments increase students’ interest in STEM (eg, Mohr‐Schroeder et al School Sci Math 114: 291–301, 2014) and increase the chances a student will pursue a STEM career (Kitchen et al Sci Educ 102: 529–547, 2018) The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of an informal STEM summer learning experience on student participants, to gain in-depth perspectives about how they felt this experience prepared them for their in-school mathematics and science classes as well as how it influenced their perception of STEM learning Students’ attitudes and perceptions toward STEM are affected by their motivation, experience, and self-efficacy (Brown et al J STEM Educ Innov Res 17: 27, 2016) The academic and social experiences students’ have are also important Traditionally, formal learning is taught in a solitary form (Martin Science Education 88: S71–S82, 2004), while, informal learning is brimming with chances to connect and intermingle with peers (Denson et al J STEM Educ: Innovations and Research 16: 11, 2015) We used a naturalistic inquiry, phenomenological approach to examine students’ perceptions of STEM while participating in a summer informal learning experience Data came from students at the summer informal STEM learning experiences at three diverse institutions across the USA Data were collected from reflection forms and interviews which were designed to explore students’ “lived experiences” (Van Manen 1990, p 9) and how those experiences influenced their STEM learning As we used a situative lens to examine the research question of how participation in an informal learning environment influences students’ perceptions of STEM learning, three prominent themes emerged from the data The informal learning environment (a) provided context and purpose to formal learning, (b) provided students opportunity and access, and (c) extended STEM content learning and student engagement By using authentic STEM workplaces, the STEM summer learning experience fostered a learning environment that extended and deepened STEM content learning while providing opportunity and access to content, settings, and materials that most middle level students otherwise would not have access to Students also acknowledged the access they received to hands-on activities in authentic STEM settings and the opportunities they received to interact with STEM professionals were important components of the summer informal learning experience

Exploring the relationship between online discourse and commitment in Twitter professional learning communities

Abstract: Educators show great interest in participating in social-media communities, such as Twitter, to support their professional development and learning. The majority of the research into Twitter-based professional learning communities has investigated why educators choose to use Twitter for professional development and learning and what they actually do in these communities. However, few studies have examined why certain community members remain committed and others gradually drop out. To fill this gap in the research, this study investigated how some key features of online discourse influenced the continued participation of the members of a Twitter-based professional learning community. More than 600,000 tweets generated over six years under the hashtag #edchat were gathered. Online discourse was deconstructed to the cognitive dimension, the interactive dimension, and the social dimension. Text-mining methods were then used to automatically identify these dimensions in the tweets. Finally, survival analysis was used to quantify the influences of these dimensions on users' commitment time to the Twitter community. The implications of the results and findings are then discussed. Wanli Xing is an Assistant Professor in Instructional Technology at Texas Tech University, USA with background in learning sciences, statistics, computer science and mathematical modeling. His research interests are educational data mining, learning analytics, and CSCL. Gao Fei is an Associate Professor at Bowling Green State University. Her current research involves examining the types of interaction and learning enabled by online social technologies, designing technology-mediated environments that encourage meaningful social interaction, and exploring pedagogical methods that promote deep learning in such environments.

Age Differences in Stress and Coping: Problem-Focused Strategies Mediate the Relationship Between Age and Positive Affect.

Abstract: The present study examined the different types of stressors experienced by adults of different ages, their coping strategies, and positive/negative affect. A mediation hypothesis of coping strategies was tested on the relationships between age and positive/negative affect. One-hundred and ninety-six community-dwelling adults (age range 18-89 years) reported the most stressful situation they experienced in the past month and coping strategies. Levels of positive and negative affect in the past month were also measured. Content analysis revealed age differences in different types of stressors adults reported. Three types of coping strategies were found: problem-focused, positive emotion-focused, and negative emotion-focused coping. Older adults were less likely than younger adults to use problem-focused coping and reported lower levels of positive affect. Path analysis supported the mediation hypothesis, showing that problem-focused coping mediated the relationship between age and positive affect. Implications are discussed on the importance of promoting problem-focused coping among older adults.

Nitrogen limitation, toxin synthesis potential, and toxicity of cyanobacterial populations in Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie River Estuary, Florida, during the 2016 state of emergency event

Abstract: Lake Okeechobee, FL, USA, has been subjected to intensifying cyanobacterial blooms that can spread to the adjacent St. Lucie River and Estuary via natural and anthropogenically-induced flooding events. In July 2016, a large, toxic cyanobacterial bloom occurred in Lake Okeechobee and throughout the St. Lucie River and Estuary, leading Florida to declare a state of emergency. This study reports on measurements and nutrient amendment experiments performed in this freshwater-estuarine ecosystem (salinity 0-25 PSU) during and after the bloom. In July, all sites along the bloom exhibited dissolved inorganic nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratios 95%) phytoplankton inventories from the lake to the central part of the estuary. Chlorophyll a and microcystin concentrations peaked (100 and 34 μg L-1, respectively) within Lake Okeechobee and decreased eastwards. Metagenomic analyses indicated that genes associated with the production of microcystin (mcyE) and the algal neurotoxin saxitoxin (sxtA) originated from Microcystis and multiple diazotrophic genera, respectively. There were highly significant correlations between levels of total nitrogen, microcystin, and microcystin synthesis gene abundance across all surveyed sites (p < 0.001), suggesting high levels of nitrogen supported the production of microcystin during this event. Consistent with this, experiments performed with low salinity water from the St. Lucie River during the event indicated that algal biomass was nitrogen-limited. In the fall, densities of Microcystis and concentrations of microcystin were significantly lower, green algae co-dominated with cyanobacteria, and multiple algal groups displayed nitrogen-limitation. These results indicate that monitoring and regulatory strategies in Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie River and Estuary should consider managing loads of nitrogen to control future algal and microcystin-producing cyanobacterial blooms.

Evidence for a vibrational phase-dependent isotope effect on the photochemistry of vision

Abstract: Vibronic coupling is key to efficient energy flow in molecular systems and a critical component of most mechanisms invoking quantum effects in biological processes. Despite increasing evidence for coherent coupling of electronic states being mediated by vibrational motion, it is not clear how and to what degree properties associated with vibrational coherence such as phase and coupling of atomic motion can impact the efficiency of light-induced processes under natural, incoherent illumination. Here, we show that deuteration of the H11–C11=C12–H12 double-bond of the 11-cis retinal chromophore in the visual pigment rhodopsin significantly and unexpectedly alters the photoisomerization yield while inducing smaller changes in the ultrafast isomerization dynamics assignable to known isotope effects. Combination of these results with non-adiabatic molecular dynamics simulations reveals a vibrational phase-dependent isotope effect that we suggest is an intrinsic attribute of vibronically coherent photochemical processes.

Decision to Return to Sport After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, Part I: A Qualitative Investigation of Psychosocial Factors

Abstract: Context: Return-to-sport criteria after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury are often based on “satisfactory” functional and patient-reported outcomes. However, an individual's decision to ret...

Symbiont selection via alcohol benefits fungus farming by ambrosia beetles.

Abstract: Animal-microbe mutualisms are typically maintained by vertical symbiont transmission or partner choice. A third mechanism, screening of high-quality symbionts, has been predicted in theory, but empirical examples are rare. Here we demonstrate that ambrosia beetles rely on ethanol within host trees for promoting gardens of their fungal symbiont and producing offspring. Ethanol has long been known as the main attractant for many of these fungus-farming beetles as they select host trees in which they excavate tunnels and cultivate fungal gardens. More than 300 attacks by Xylosandrus germanus and other species were triggered by baiting trees with ethanol lures, but none of the foundresses established fungal gardens or produced broods unless tree tissues contained in vivo ethanol resulting from irrigation with ethanol solutions. More X. germanus brood were also produced in a rearing substrate containing ethanol. These benefits are a result of increased food supply via the positive effects of ethanol on food-fungus biomass. Selected Ambrosiella and Raffaelea fungal isolates from ethanol-responsive ambrosia beetles profited directly and indirectly by (i) a higher biomass on medium containing ethanol, (ii) strong alcohol dehydrogenase enzymatic activity, and (iii) a competitive advantage over weedy fungal garden competitors (Aspergillus, Penicillium) that are inhibited by ethanol. As ambrosia fungi both detoxify and produce ethanol, they may maintain the selectivity of their alcohol-rich habitat for their own purpose and that of other ethanol-resistant/producing microbes. This resembles biological screening of beneficial symbionts and a potentially widespread, unstudied benefit of alcohol-producing symbionts (e.g., yeasts) in other microbial symbioses.

Machine translation and the L2 classroom: Pedagogical solutions for making peace with Google translate

Abstract: This article addresses a key pedagogical issue of our time: the widespread yet generally unwelcome presence of machine translation (MT) in the language classroom. Studies have repeatedly shown that L2 students consult the most widely used translation tool, Google Translate (GT), in spite of the fact that its use is frowned upon by second language (L2) instructors. Even so, academic honesty violations are not always reported, nor is there a consensus on whether the use of MT constitutes a form of cheating. Recognizing the omnipresence of GT in L2 student work, this article examines current research on the use of MT, highlights the strengths and limitations of this technology, explores 21st‐century pedagogical solutions designed to harness the capabilities of both MT and alternative technologies, and suggests venues for future research with the goal of ensuring learners’ academic growth in line with ACTFL's Can‐Do Statements for Intercultural Communication

Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling Reactions Between P(O)–H and X–H (X = S, N, O, P) Bonds

Abstract: P(O)–X (X = S, N, O, P) bond-containing compounds have extensive application in medicinal chemistry, agrochemistry, and material chemistry. These useful organophosphorus compounds also have many applications in organic synthesis. In light of the importance of titled compounds, there is continuing interest in the development of synthetic methods for P(O)–X bonds construction. In the last 4 years, the direct coupling reaction of P(O)–H compounds with thiols, alcohols, and amines/amides has received much attention because of the atom-economic character. This review aims to give an overview of new developments in cross-dehydrogenative coupling reactions between P(O)–H and X–H (X = S, N, O, P) bonds, with special emphasis on the mechanistic aspects of the reactions.

Neurocognitive Mechanisms in Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder

Abstract: The current review summarizes the latest findings concerning neurobiological mechanisms of compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) and provides recommendations for future research specific to the diagnostic classification of the condition. To date, most neuroimaging research on compulsive sexual behavior has provided evidence of overlapping mechanisms underlying compulsive sexual behavior and non-sexual addictions. Compulsive sexual behavior is associated with altered functioning in brain regions and networks implicated in sensitization, habituation, impulse dyscontrol, and reward processing in patterns like substance, gambling, and gaming addictions. Key brain regions linked to compulsive sexual behavior features include the frontal and temporal cortices, amygdala, and striatum, including the nucleus accumbens. Despite much neuroscience research finding many similarities between CSBD and substance and behavioral addictions, the World Health Organization included CSBD in the ICD-11 as an impulse-control disorder. Although previous research has helped to highlight some underlying mechanisms of the condition, additional investigations are needed to fully understand this phenomenon and resolve classification issues surrounding CSBD.

Moral Disapproval and Perceived Addiction to Internet Pornography: A Longitudinal Examination

Abstract: Background and Aims Internet pornography use is an increasingly common, yet controversial, behavior. Whereas mental health communities are divided about potentially problematic use patterns, many lay people identify as feeling dysregulated or compulsive in their use. Prior work has labeled this tendency perceived addiction to internet pornography (PA). This study's aims were to (1) assess the association between PA at baseline and other factors, including actual levels of average daily pornography use and personality factors and (2) assess the associations between baseline variables and PA 1 year later. Design Two large-scale community samples were assessed using online survey methods, with subsets of each sample being recruited for follow-up surveys 1 year later. Setting United States. Participants Participants were adults who had used pornography within the past 6 months recruited in two samples. Sample 1 (n = 1507) involved undergraduate students from three US universities and sample 2 (n = 782) involved web-using adults. Subsets of each sample (sample 1, n = 146; sample 2, n = 211) were surveyed again 1 year later. Measurements At baseline, we assessed average daily pornography use, PA and relevant predictors (e.g. trait neuroticism, trait self-control, trait entitlement, religiousness, moral disapproval of pornography use). One year later, we assessed PA. Findings Cross-sectionally, PA was correlated strongly with moral disapproval of pornography use [sample 1, Pearson's correlation: r = 0.68 (0.65, 0.70); sample 2, r = 0.58 (0.53, 0.63)]. Baseline moral disapproval [sample 1, r = 0.46 (0.33, 0.56); sample 2, r = 0.61 (0.51, 0.69)] and perceived addiction demonstrated relationships with perceived addiction 1 year later. We found inconclusive evidence of a substantial or significant association between pornography use and perceived addiction over time [sample 1, r = 0.13 (−0.02, 0.28); sample 2, r = 0.11 (−0.04, 0.25)]. Conclusions Perceived addiction to internet pornography appears to be related strongly to moral scruples around pornography use, both concurrently and over time, rather than with the amount of daily pornography use itself.

Examining the effects of government intervention on the firm’s environmental and technological innovation capabilities and export performance

Abstract: Considering our living environments directly affect the quality of our daily lives, many believe that the environment should only be safeguarded by the mighty hands of the government instead of leaving the environmental stewardship in the hands of profit-making private enterprises. As such, the government often intervenes with the way private enterprises conduct business through many different forms of environmental regulations and business incentives. However, the efficiency and effectiveness of such government intervention are still unknown and unclear at best. Many sceptics still think that economic growth and environmental protection are in conflict with each other and subsequently the firm’s environmental performance and export performance cannot be achieved simultaneously even with active government intervention over the firm’s environmental management. To clarify this misconception, this paper aims to examine whether government intervention leads to the affected firm’s both environmental and export...

Feminism, Labour and Digital Media: The Digital Housewife

Abstract: On Twitter in 2018, the elite comedy club High Spirits in Mumbai, India was exposed for its owner Khodu Irani’s and others’ sexual harassment of some of the members of the club. It started with Twi...

The importance of leaf area index in mapping chlorophyll content of corn under different agricultural treatments using UAV images

Abstract: The impact of structural parameters of agricultural crops on the retrieval of chlorophyll content presents a real challenge for the remote-sensing community. Canopy reflectance can differ between c...

Thermodynamic Hydricities of Biomimetic Organic Hydride Donors

Abstract: Thermodynamic hydricities (ΔGH–) in acetonitrile and dimethyl sulfoxide have been calculated and experimentally measured for several metal-free hydride donors: NADH analogs (BNAH, CN-BNAH, Me-MNAH, HEH), methylene tetrahydromethanopterin analogs (BIMH, CAFH), acridine derivatives (Ph-AcrH, Me2N-AcrH, T-AcrH, 4OH, 2OH, 3NH), and a triarylmethane derivative (6OH). The calculated hydricity values, obtained using density functional theory, showed a reasonably good match (within 3 kcal/mol) with the experimental values, obtained using “potential pKa” and “hydride-transfer” methods. The hydride donor abilities of model compounds were in the 48.7–85.8 kcal/mol (acetonitrile) and 46.9–84.1 kcal/mol (DMSO) range, making them comparable to previously studied first-row transition metal hydride complexes. To evaluate the relevance of entropic contribution to the overall hydricity, Gibbs free energy differences (ΔGH–) obtained in this work were compared with the enthalpy (ΔHH–) values obtained by others. The results i...

Melt origin across a rifted continental margin: A case for subduction-related metasomatic agents in the lithospheric source of alkaline basalt, NW Ross Sea, Antarctica

Abstract: &NA; Alkaline magmatism associated with the West Antarctic rift system in the NW Ross Sea (NWRS) includes a north‐south chain of shield volcano complexes extending 260 km along the coast of Northern Victoria Land (NVL), numerous small volcanic seamounts located on the continental shelf and hundreds more within an ˜35 000 km2 area of the oceanic Adare Basin. New 40Ar/39Ar age dating and geochemistry confirm that the seamounts are of Pliocene‐Pleistocene age and petrogenetically akin to the mostly middle to late Miocene volcanism on the continent, as well as to a much broader region of diffuse alkaline volcanism that encompasses areas of West Antarctica, Zealandia and eastern Australia. All of these continental regions were contiguous prior to the late‐stage breakup of Gondwana at ˜100 Ma, suggesting that the magmatism is interrelated, yet the mantle source and cause of melting remain controversial. The NWRS provides a rare opportunity to study cogenetic volcanism across the transition from continent to ocean and consequently offers a unique perspective from which to evaluate mantle processes and the roles of lithospheric and sub‐lithospheric sources for mafic alkaline magmas. Mafic alkaline magmas with > 6 wt % MgO (alkali basalt, basanite, hawaiite, and tephrite) erupted across the transition from continent to ocean in the NWRS show a remarkable systematic increase in silica‐undersaturation, P2O5, Sr, Zr, Nb and light rare earth element (LREE) concentrations, as well as LREE/HREE (heavy REE) and Nb/Y ratios. Radiogenic isotopes also vary, with Nd and Pb isotopic compositions increasing and Sr isotopic compositions decreasing oceanward. These variations cannot be explained by shallow‐level crustal contamination or by changes in the degree of mantle partial melting, but are considered to be a function of the thickness and age of the mantle lithosphere. We propose that the isotopic signature of the most silica‐undersaturated and incompatible element enriched basalts best represent the composition of the sub‐lithospheric magma source with low 87Sr/86Sr (≤0·7030) and &dgr;18Oolivine (≤5·0‰), and high 143Nd/144Nd (˜0·5130) and 206Pb/204Pb (≥20). The isotopic ‘endmember’ signature of the sub‐lithospheric source is derived from recycled subducted materials and was transferred to the lithospheric mantle by small‐degree melts (carbonate‐rich silicate liquids) to form amphibole‐rich metasomes. Later melting of the metasomes produced silica‐undersaturated liquids that reacted with the surrounding peridotite. This reaction occurred to a greater extent as the melt traversed through thicker and older lithosphere continentward. Ancient and/or more recent (˜550–100 Ma) subduction along the Pan‐Pacific margin of Gondwana supplied the recycled subduction‐related material to the asthenosphere. Melting and carbonate metasomatism were triggered during major episodes of extension beginning in the Late Cretaceous, but alkaline magmatism was very limited in its extent. A significant delay of ˜30 to 20 Myr between extension and magmatism was probably controlled by conductive heating and the rate of thermal migration at the base of the lithosphere. Heating was facilitated by regional mantle upwelling, possibly driven by slab detachment and sinking into the lower mantle and/or by edge‐driven mantle flow established at the boundary between the thinned lithosphere of the West Antarctic rift and the thick East Antarctic craton.

MgO assisted densification of highly transparent YAG ceramics and their microstructural evolution

Abstract: In current study, various amounts of MgO single dopant was adopted to fabricated high quality transparent YAG ceramics, by utilizing a simple one-step solid state reaction sintering method in vacuum. At a MgO doping amount of only 0.03 wt.%, YAG transparent ceramics with a transmittance of 84.5% at 1064 nm could be obtained, after sintering at 1820 °C for 8 h. The microstructure evolution and optical property of as-fabricated YAG ceramics as a function of MgO doping concentration were systematically investigated. MgO dopant could effectively promote densification of YAG ceramics when the sintering temperature was lower than 1660 °C, and dramatically accelerate its grain growth between 1540 °C and 1660 °C. Further increase the doping amount of MgO would not benefit to the optical quality of YAG ceramics, and the intragranular pores as well as the Mg-riched secondary phase were observed from the MgO heavily doped ceramics.

Tracking the weight of Hurricane Harvey’s stormwater using GPS data

Abstract: On 26 August 2017, Hurricane Harvey struck the Gulf Coast as a category four cyclone depositing ~95 km 3 of water, making it the wettest cyclone in US history Water left in Harvey’s wake should cause elastic loading and subsidence of Earth’s crust, and uplift as it drains into the ocean and evaporates To track daily changes of transient water storage, we use Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements, finding a clear migration of subsidence (up to 21 mm) and horizontal motion (up to 4 mm) across the Gulf Coast, followed by gradual uplift over a 5-week period Inversion of these data shows that a third of Harvey’s total stormwater was captured on land (257 ± 30 km 3 ), indicating that the rest drained rapidly into the ocean at a rate of 82 km 3 /day, with the remaining stored water gradually lost over the following 5 weeks at ~1 km 3 /day, primarily by evapotranspiration These results indicate that GPS networks can remotely track the spatial extent and daily evolution of terrestrial water storage following transient, extreme precipitation events, with implications for improving operational flood forecasts and understanding the response of drainage systems to large influxes of water

Dehydrative condensation of β-aminoalcohols with CO2: An environmentally benign access to 2-oxazolidinone derivatives

Abstract: In this review, we try to provide a comprehensive and updated overview of recent developments in the synthesis of various 2-oxazolidinones through dehydrative condensation of easily available β-amino alcohols with carbon dioxide with special emphasis on the mechanistic aspects of the reactions. Literature has been surveyed until the end of 2017.

An empirical investigation of how and why developers rename identifiers

Abstract: Renaming is vital to software maintenance and evolution. Developers rename entities when their original names no longer fit their behavioral role within the program. This may happen if the entity's original name was of poor quality or if the system has evolved such that the original name needs to be updated to reflect some of this evolution. In the end, the reason for the rename ultimately falls under increasing understandability and comprehension. Because comprehension is so important, and identifiers are the primary way developers comprehend code, it is critical to understand empirically how and why identifier names evolve. Armed with an understanding of these two facets of identifier evolution, researchers will be able to train algorithms to recognize, recommend, or even automatically generate high-quality identifier names. We present an empirical study of how method, class and package identifier names evolve to better understand the motives of their evolution. The empirical validation involves a set of 524,113 rename refactorings, performed on 3,795 Java systems. In a nutshell, our findings demonstrate that most rename refactorings narrow the meaning of the identifiers for which they are applied. Further, we analyze commit messages to contextualize these renames.

Efficacy of different biochars in removing odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from swine manure.

Abstract: The potential of various biochars to remove 15 odorous volatile organic compounds emitted from swine manure were investigated via laboratory sorption experiments. Nine biochars made from pyrolyzing...

Decline in news content engagement or news medium engagement? A longitudinal analysis of news engagement since the rise of social and mobile media 2009–2012

Abstract: Based on a 4-year longitudinal analysis of social media and mobile phone users in a Midwest US market, this study differentiates news content engagement from news medium engagement, proposes four l...