Showing papers by "University of Maryland, College Park published in 2007"
25 Jun 2007
TL;DR: An open-source toolkit for statistical machine translation whose novel contributions are support for linguistically motivated factors, confusion network decoding, and efficient data formats for translation models and language models.
Abstract: We describe an open-source toolkit for statistical machine translation whose novel contributions are (a) support for linguistically motivated factors, (b) confusion network decoding, and (c) efficient data formats for translation models and language models. In addition to the SMT decoder, the toolkit also includes a wide variety of tools for training, tuning and applying the system to many translation tasks.
6,008 citations
TL;DR: A dual-stream model of speech processing is outlined that assumes that the ventral stream is largely bilaterally organized — although there are important computational differences between the left- and right-hemisphere systems — and that the dorsal stream is strongly left- Hemisphere dominant.
Abstract: Despite decades of research, the functional neuroanatomy of speech processing has been difficult to characterize. A major impediment to progress may have been the failure to consider task effects when mapping speech-related processing systems. We outline a dual-stream model of speech processing that remedies this situation. In this model, a ventral stream processes speech signals for comprehension, and a dorsal stream maps acoustic speech signals to frontal lobe articulatory networks. The model assumes that the ventral stream is largely bilaterally organized--although there are important computational differences between the left- and right-hemisphere systems--and that the dorsal stream is strongly left-hemisphere dominant.
4,234 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, two new high-resolution sea surface temperature (SST) analysis products have been developed using optimum interpolation (OI), which have a spatial grid resolution of 0.25° and a temporal resolution of 1 day.
Abstract: Two new high-resolution sea surface temperature (SST) analysis products have been developed using optimum interpolation (OI). The analyses have a spatial grid resolution of 0.25° and a temporal resolution of 1 day. One product uses the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) infrared satellite SST data. The other uses AVHRR and Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR) on the NASA Earth Observing System satellite SST data. Both products also use in situ data from ships and buoys and include a large-scale adjustment of satellite biases with respect to the in situ data. Because of AMSR’s near-all-weather coverage, there is an increase in OI signal variance when AMSR is added to AVHRR. Thus, two products are needed to avoid an analysis variance jump when AMSR became available in June 2002. For both products, the results show improved spatial and temporal resolution compared to previous weekly 1° OI analyses. The AVHRR-only product uses Pathfinder AVHRR data (currently available from January 1985 to December 2005) and operational AVHRR data for 2006 onward. Pathfinder AVHRR was chosen over operational AVHRR, when available, because Pathfinder agrees better with the in situ data. The AMSR– AVHRR product begins with the start of AMSR data in June 2002. In this product, the primary AVHRR contribution is in regions near land where AMSR is not available. However, in cloud-free regions, use of both infrared and microwave instruments can reduce systematic biases because their error characteristics are independent.
3,422 citations
24 Oct 2007
TL;DR: This paper examines data gathered from four popular online social networks: Flickr, YouTube, LiveJournal, and Orkut, and reports that the indegree of user nodes tends to match the outdegree; the networks contain a densely connected core of high-degree nodes; and that this core links small groups of strongly clustered, low-degree node at the fringes of the network.
Abstract: Online social networking sites like Orkut, YouTube, and Flickr are among the most popular sites on the Internet. Users of these sites form a social network, which provides a powerful means of sharing, organizing, and finding content and contacts. The popularity of these sites provides an opportunity to study the characteristics of online social network graphs at large scale. Understanding these graphs is important, both to improve current systems and to design new applications of online social networks.This paper presents a large-scale measurement study and analysis of the structure of multiple online social networks. We examine data gathered from four popular online social networks: Flickr, YouTube, LiveJournal, and Orkut. We crawled the publicly accessible user links on each site, obtaining a large portion of each social network's graph. Our data set contains over 11.3 million users and 328 million links. We believe that this is the first study to examine multiple online social networks at scale.Our results confirm the power-law, small-world, and scale-free properties of online social networks. We observe that the indegree of user nodes tends to match the outdegree; that the networks contain a densely connected core of high-degree nodes; and that this core links small groups of strongly clustered, low-degree nodes at the fringes of the network. Finally, we discuss the implications of these structural properties for the design of social network based systems.
3,266 citations
12 Jun 2007
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the mathematical underpinnings of topological quantum computation and the physics of the subject using the nu=5/2 fractional quantum Hall state as the archetype of a non-Abelian topological state enabling fault-tolerant quantum computation.
Abstract: Topological quantum computation has recently emerged as one of the most exciting approaches to constructing a fault-tolerant quantum computer. The proposal relies on the existence of topological states of matter whose quasiparticle excitations are neither bosons nor fermions, but are particles known as {it Non-Abelian anyons}, meaning that they obey {it non-Abelian braiding statistics}. Quantum information is stored in states with multiple quasiparticles, which have a topological degeneracy. The unitary gate operations which are necessary for quantum computation are carried out by braiding quasiparticles, and then measuring the multi-quasiparticle states. The fault-tolerance of a topological quantum computer arises from the non-local encoding of the states of the quasiparticles, which makes them immune to errors caused by local perturbations. To date, the only such topological states thought to have been found in nature are fractional quantum Hall states, most prominently the nu=5/2 state, although several other prospective candidates have been proposed in systems as disparate as ultra-cold atoms in optical lattices and thin film superconductors. In this review article, we describe current research in this field, focusing on the general theoretical concepts of non-Abelian statistics as it relates to topological quantum computation, on understanding non-Abelian quantum Hall states, on proposed experiments to detect non-Abelian anyons, and on proposed architectures for a topological quantum computer. We address both the mathematical underpinnings of topological quantum computation and the physics of the subject using the nu=5/2 fractional quantum Hall state as the archetype of a non-Abelian topological state enabling fault-tolerant quantum computation.
3,132 citations
TL;DR: Pellet is the first sound and complete OWL-DL reasoner with extensive support for reasoning with individuals, user-defined datatypes, and debugging support for ontologies.
2,790 citations
TL;DR: The interpolated Markov model (IMM) DNA discriminator correctly separated 99% of the sequences in a recent genome project that produced a mixture of sequences from the bacterium Prochloron didemni and its sea squirt host, Lissoclinum patella.
Abstract: Motivation: The Glimmer gene-finding software has been successfully used for finding genes in bacteria, archaea and viruses representing hundreds of species. We describe several major changes to the Glimmer system, including improved methods for identifying both coding regions and start codons. We also describe a new module of Glimmer that can distinguish host and endosymbiont DNA. This module was developed in response to the discovery that eukaryotic genome sequencing projects sometimes inadvertently capture the DNA of intracellular bacteria living in the host.
Results: The new methods dramatically reduce the rate of false-positive predictions, while maintaining Glimmer's 99% sensitivity rate at detecting genes in most species, and they find substantially more correct start sites, as measured by comparisons to known and well-curated genes. We show that our interpolated Markov model (IMM) DNA discriminator correctly separated 99% of the sequences in a recent genome project that produced a mixture of sequences from the bacterium Prochloron didemni and its sea squirt host, Lissoclinum patella.
Availability: Glimmer is OSI Certified Open Source and available at http://cbcb.umd.edu/software/glimmer
Contact: adelcher@umiacs.umd.edu
2,738 citations
01 Jun 2007
TL;DR: In this paper, a developmental perspective of peer interactions, relationships, and groups is presented covering the periods of infancy, toddlerhood, early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence, and methods and measures pertaining to the study of children's peer experiences are described.
Abstract: The chapter begins with a distinction made between the interactions children have with peers, the relationships they form with peers, and the groups and networks within which peer interactions and relationships occur. From this conceptual overview, a review of relevant theories is presented. Thereafter, a developmental perspective of peer interactions, relationships, and groups is presented covering the periods of infancy, toddlerhood, early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence. Subsequently, methods and measures pertaining to the study of children's peer experiences are described. Next, we examine factors that may account for peer acceptance and rejection as well as qualitatively rich and poor friendships. Among the factors discussed are included temperament (biological factors), sex of child, parenting, parent-child relationships, and culture. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the extent to which individual differences in peer acceptance, rejection and friendship (prevalence and quality) predict adaptive and maladaptive developmental outcomes and a suggested agenda for future research.
Keywords:
friendship;
peer interactions;
peer relationships;
peer rejection;
social acceptance;
social competence
2,664 citations
TL;DR: The article reviews the research done by survey methodologists on reporting errors in surveys on sensitive topics, noting parallels and differences from the psychological literature on social desirability.
Abstract: Psychologists have worried about the distortions introduced into standardized personality measures by social desirability bias. Survey researchers have had similar concerns about the accuracy of survey reports about such topics as illicit drug use, abortion, and sexual behavior. The article reviews the research done by survey methodologists on reporting errors in surveys on sensitive topics, noting parallels and differences from the psychological literature on social desirability. The findings from the survey studies suggest that misreporting about sensitive topics is quite common and that it is largely situational. The extent of misreporting depends on whether the respondent has anything embarrassing to report and on design features of the survey. The survey evidence also indicates that misreporting on sensitive topics is a more or less motivated process in which respondents edit the information they report to avoid embarrassing themselves in the presence of an interviewer or to avoid repercussions from third parties.
2,318 citations
TL;DR: These genome sequences augment the formidable genetic tools that have made Drosophila melanogaster a pre-eminent model for animal genetics, and will further catalyse fundamental research on mechanisms of development, cell biology, genetics, disease, neurobiology, behaviour, physiology and evolution.
Abstract: Comparative analysis of multiple genomes in a phylogenetic framework dramatically improves the precision and sensitivity of evolutionary inference, producing more robust results than single-genome analyses can provide. The genomes of 12 Drosophila species, ten of which are presented here for the first time (sechellia, simulans, yakuba, erecta, ananassae, persimilis, willistoni, mojavensis, virilis and grimshawi), illustrate how rates and patterns of sequence divergence across taxa can illuminate evolutionary processes on a genomic scale. These genome sequences augment the formidable genetic tools that have made Drosophila melanogaster a pre-eminent model for animal genetics, and will further catalyse fundamental research on mechanisms of development, cell biology, genetics, disease, neurobiology, behaviour, physiology and evolution. Despite remarkable similarities among these Drosophila species, we identified many putatively non-neutral changes in protein-coding genes, non-coding RNA genes, and cis-regulatory regions. These may prove to underlie differences in the ecology and behaviour of these diverse species.
2,057 citations
TL;DR: Atomic structures and nanoscale morphology of graphene-based electronic devices are revealed for the first time and a strong spatially dependent perturbation is revealed which breaks the hexagonal lattice symmetry of the graphitic lattice.
Abstract: We employ scanning probe microscopy to reveal atomic structures and nanoscale morphology of graphene-based electronic devices (i.e., a graphene sheet supported by an insulating silicon dioxide substrate) for the first time. Atomic resolution scanning tunneling microscopy images reveal the presence of a strong spatially dependent perturbation, which breaks the hexagonal lattice symmetry of the graphitic lattice. Structural corrugations of the graphene sheet partially conform to the underlying silicon oxide substrate. These effects are obscured or modified on graphene devices processed with normal lithographic methods, as they are covered with a layer of photoresist residue. We enable our experiments by a novel cleaning process to produce atomically clean graphene sheets.
01 Jun 2007
TL;DR: In this article, the development of self-determination in Middle Childhood and Adolescence is discussed. But, the authors focus on the need-based approach and do not address the need for instruction.
Abstract: Contributors. Preface. A. Wigfield and J.S. Eccles, Introduction. Part 1: Can I Do This Activity?. D.H. Schunk and F. Pajares, The Development of Academic Self-Efficacy. M.V. Covington and E. Dray, The Developmental Course of Achievement Motivation: A Need-Based Approach. C.S. Dweck, The Development of Ability Conceptions. Part 2: Do I Want to Do this Activity, and Why?. A. Wigfield and J.S. Eccles, The Development of Competence Beliefs, Expectancies for Success, and Achievement Values from Childhood Through Adolescence. S. Graham and A.Z. Taylor, Ethnicity, Gender, and the Development of Achievement Values. W.S. Grolnick, S.T. Gurland, K.F. Jacob, and W. Decourcey, The Development of Self-Determination in Middle Childhood and Adolescence. K.A. Renninger and S. Hidi, Student Interest and Achievement: Developmental Issues Raised by a Case Study. E.M. Anderman, C.C. Austin, and D.M. Johnson, The Development of Goal Orientation. K.R. Wentzel, The Contribution of Social Goal Setting to Children's School Adjustment. Part 3: What Do I Need to Do to Succeed?. P.R. Pintrich and A. Zusho, The Development of Academic Self-Regulation: The Role of Cognitive and Motivational Factors. R.S. Newman, What Do I Need to Do to Succeed...When I Don't Understand What I'm Doing!?: Developmental Influences on Students' Adaptive Help Seeking. Part 4: Motivation and Instruction. D. Stipek, Good Instruction in Motivating. D.J. Mac Iver, E.M. Young, and B. Washburn, Instructional Practices and Motivation During Middle School (with Special Attention to Science). Index.
TL;DR: This study shows that the addition of online product review metrics to a benchmark model that includes prerelease marketing, theater availability and professional critic reviews substantially increases its forecasting accuracy; the forecasting accuracy of the best model outperforms that of several previously published models.
TL;DR: In this paper, the dispersion of the plasmon mode and the electrostatic screening of the Coulomb interaction in two-dimensional (2D) graphene layer within the random-phase approximation is calculated in the selfconsistent field approximation.
Abstract: The dynamical dielectric function of two-dimensional graphene at arbitrary wave vector $q$ and frequency $\ensuremath{\omega}$, $ϵ(q,\ensuremath{\omega})$, is calculated in the self-consistent-field approximation. The results are used to find the dispersion of the plasmon mode and the electrostatic screening of the Coulomb interaction in two-dimensional (2D) graphene layer within the random-phase approximation. At long wavelengths $(q\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0)$, the plasmon dispersion shows the local classical behavior ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{\mathit{cl}}={\ensuremath{\omega}}_{0}\sqrt{q}$, but the density dependence of the plasma frequency $({\ensuremath{\omega}}_{0}\ensuremath{\propto}{n}^{1∕4})$ is different from the usual 2D electron system $({\ensuremath{\omega}}_{0}\ensuremath{\propto}{n}^{1∕2})$. The wave-vector-dependent plasmon dispersion and the static screening function show very different behavior than the usual 2D case. We show that the intrinsic interband contributions to static graphene screening can be effectively absorbed in a background dielectric constant.
TL;DR: A genotype-phenotype association study in Tanzanians, Kenyans and Sudanese and identified three SNPs that are associated with lactase persistence and that have derived alleles that significantly enhance transcription from the LCT promoter in vitro, providing a marked example of convergent evolution due to strong selective pressure resulting from shared cultural traits.
Abstract: A SNP in the gene encoding lactase (LCT) (C/T-13910) is associated with the ability to digest milk as adults (lactase persistence) in Europeans, but the genetic basis of lactase persistence in Africans was previously unknown. We conducted a genotype-phenotype association study in 470
TL;DR: A statistical machine translation model that uses hierarchical phrasesphrases that contain subphrasing that is formally a synchronous context-free grammar but is learned from a parallel text without any syntactic annotations is presented.
Abstract: We present a statistical machine translation model that uses hierarchical phrases---phrases that contain subphrases. The model is formally a synchronous context-free grammar but is learned from a parallel text without any syntactic annotations. Thus it can be seen as combining fundamental ideas from both syntax-based translation and phrase-based translation. We describe our system's training and decoding methods in detail, and evaluate it for translation speed and translation accuracy. Using BLEU as a metric of translation accuracy, we find that our system performs significantly better than the Alignment Template System, a state-of-the-art phrase-based system.
TL;DR: Shared leadership refers to a team property whereby leadership is distributed among team members rather than focused on a single designated leader as mentioned in this paper, and is defined as "a team property that allows team members to focus on their individual goals rather than a single leader".
Abstract: Shared leadership refers to a team property whereby leadership is distributed among team members rather than focused on a single designated leader. We examined antecedent conditions that lead to th...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors define value creation in terms of use value and exchange value and discuss some of the key issues related to its study, including the topic of value capture, and use the concepts of competition and isolating mechanisms to explain how value can be captured at different levels of analysis.
Abstract: As an introduction to the special issue topic of value creation, we define value creation in terms of use value and exchange value and discuss some of the key issues related to its study, including the topic of value capture. Although the definition of value creation is common across levels of analysis, the process of value creation will differ based on whether value is created by an individual, an organization, or society. We use the concepts of competition and isolating mechanisms to explain how value can be captured at different levels of analysis.
TL;DR: A practical method for data assimilation in large, spatiotemporally chaotic systems, a type of “ensemble Kalman filter”, in which the state estimate and its approximate uncertainty are represented at any given time by an ensemble of system states.
TL;DR: It is argued that the experimentally observed saturation of conductivity at low density arises from the charged impurity induced inhomogeneity in the graphene carrier density which becomes severe for n less, similarn(i) approximately 10(12) cm(-2).
Abstract: Carrier transport in gated 2D graphene monolayers is considered in the presence of scattering by random charged impurity centers with density n(i). Excellent quantitative agreement is obtained (for carrier density n>10(12) cm(-2)) with existing experimental data. The conductivity scales linearly with n/n(i) in the theory. We explain the experimentally observed asymmetry between electron and hole conductivities, and the high-density saturation of conductivity for the highest mobility samples. We argue that the experimentally observed saturation of conductivity at low density arises from the charged impurity induced inhomogeneity in the graphene carrier density which becomes severe for n less, similarn(i) approximately 10(12) cm(-2).
TL;DR: Although content analysis has been applied to research topics across the subdomains of management research, research in strategy and managerial cognition have yielded particularly interesting results.
Abstract: We use content analysis to examine the content analysis literature in organization studies. Given the benefits of content analysis, it is no surprise that its use in organization studies has been growing in the course of the past 25 years (Erdener & Dunn, 1990; Jauch, Osborn, & Martin 1980). First, we review the principles and the advantages associated with the method. Then, we assess how the methodology has been applied in the literature in terms of research themes, data sources, and methodological refinements. Although content analysis has been applied to research topics across the subdomains of management research, research in strategy and managerial cognition have yielded particularly interesting results. We conclude with suggestions for enhancing the utility of content analytic methods in organization studies.
TL;DR: An identity-based view is described to understand how the use of IT-based features in online communities is associated with online knowledge contribution, and it yields important implications for the design of the supporting IT infrastructure.
Abstract: A variety of information technology (IT) artifacts, such as those supporting reputation management and digital archives of past interactions, are commonly deployed to support online communities. Despite their ubiquity, theoretical and empirical research investigating the impact of such IT-based features on online community communication and interaction is limited. Drawing on the social psychology literature, we describe an identity-based view to understand how the use of IT-based features in online communities is associated with online knowledge contribution. Specifically, the use of four categories of IT artifacts---those supporting virtual co-presence, persistent labeling, self-presentation, and deep profiling---is proposed to enhance perceived identity verification, which thereafter promotes satisfaction and knowledge contribution. To test the theoretical model, we surveyed more than 650 members of two online communities. In addition to the positive effects of community IT artifacts on perceived identity verification, we also find that perceived identity verification is strongly linked to member satisfaction and knowledge contribution. This paper offers a new perspective on the mechanisms through which IT features facilitate computer-mediated knowledge sharing, and it yields important implications for the design of the supporting IT infrastructure.
TL;DR: It is demonstrated theoretically that most of the observed transport properties of graphene sheets at zero magnetic field can be explained by scattering from charged impurities, and it is found that, contrary to common perception, these properties are not universal but depend on the concentration of charged impurity nimp.
Abstract: We demonstrate theoretically that most of the observed transport properties of graphene sheets at zero magnetic field can be explained by scattering from charged impurities. We find that, contrary to common perception, these properties are not universal but depend on the concentration of charged impurities nimp. For dirty samples (250 × 1010 cm−2 < nimp < 400 × 1010 cm−2), the value of the minimum conductivity at low carrier density is indeed 4e2/h in agreement with early experiments, with weak dependence on impurity concentration. For cleaner samples, we predict that the minimum conductivity depends strongly on nimp, increasing to 8e2/h for nimp ≈ 20 × 1010 cm−2. A clear strategy to improve graphene mobility is to eliminate charged impurities or use a substrate with a larger dielectric constant.
TL;DR: It is suggested that the inner-distance can be used as a replacement for the Euclidean distance to build more accurate descriptors for complex shapes, especially for those with articulated parts.
Abstract: Part structure and articulation are of fundamental importance in computer and human vision. We propose using the inner-distance to build shape descriptors that are robust to articulation and capture part structure. The inner-distance is defined as the length of the shortest path between landmark points within the shape silhouette. We show that it is articulation insensitive and more effective at capturing part structures than the Euclidean distance. This suggests that the inner-distance can be used as a replacement for the Euclidean distance to build more accurate descriptors for complex shapes, especially for those with articulated parts. In addition, texture information along the shortest path can be used to further improve shape classification. With this idea, we propose three approaches to using the inner-distance. The first method combines the inner-distance and multidimensional scaling (MDS) to build articulation invariant signatures for articulated shapes. The second method uses the inner-distance to build a new shape descriptor based on shape contexts. The third one extends the second one by considering the texture information along shortest paths. The proposed approaches have been tested on a variety of shape databases, including an articulated shape data set, MPEG7 CE-Shape-1, Kimia silhouettes, the ETH-80 data set, two leaf data sets, and a human motion silhouette data set. In all the experiments, our methods demonstrate effective performance compared with other algorithms
TL;DR: In this paper, a second-generation operational algorithm performs a simultaneous inversion of two visible (0.47 and 0.66 μm) and one shortwave-IR (2.12 μm), making use of the coarse aerosol information content contained in the 2.12 µm channel.
Abstract: [1] Since first light in early 2000, operational global quantitative retrievals of aerosol properties over land have been made from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) observed spectral reflectance. These products have been continuously evaluated and validated, and opportunities for improvements have been noted. We have replaced the surface reflectance assumptions, the set of aerosol model optical properties, and the aerosol lookup table (LUT). This second-generation operational algorithm performs a simultaneous inversion of two visible (0.47 and 0.66 μm) and one shortwave-IR (2.12 μm) channel, making use of the coarse aerosol information content contained in the 2.12 μm channel. Inversion of the three channels yields three nearly independent parameters, the aerosol optical depth (τ) at 0.55 μm, the nondust or fine weighting (η), and the surface reflectance at 2.12 μm. Retrievals of small-magnitude negative τ values (down to −0.05) are considered valid, thus balancing the statistics of τ in near zero τ conditions. Preliminary validation of this algorithm shows much improved retrievals of τ, where the MODIS/Aerosol Robotic Network τ (at 0.55 μm) regression has an equation of: y = 1.01x + 0.03, R = 0.90. Global mean τ for the test bed is reduced from ∼0.28 to ∼0.21.
TL;DR: Research on work motivation, or the factors that energize, direct, and sustain effort across cultures, is reviewed, showing that developmentally, cross-cultural research in OB is coming of age and critical challenges for future research are highlighted.
Abstract: This article reviews research on cross-cultural organizational behavior (OB). After a brief review of the history of cross-cultural OB, we review research on work motivation, or the factors that energize, direct, and sustain effort across cultures. We next consider the relationship between the individual and the organization, and review research on culture and organizational commitment, psychological contracts, justice, citizenship behavior, and person-environment fit. Thereafter, we consider how individuals manage their interdependence in organizations, and review research on culture and negotiation and disputing, teams, and leadership, followed by research on managing across borders and expatriation. The review shows that developmentally, cross-cultural research in OB is coming of age. Yet we also highlight critical challenges for future research, including moving beyond values to explain cultural differences, attending to levels of analysis issues, incorporating social and organizational contex...
TL;DR: Given the importance of the physical and social contexts of individual behavior and the limited success of individual-based interventions in long-term obesity prevention, more research on the impact of the built environment on obesity is needed.
Abstract: Obesity results from a complex interaction between diet, physical activity, and the environment. The built environment encompasses a range of physical and social elements that make up the structure of a community and may influence obesity. This review summarizes existing empirical research relating the built environment to obesity. The Medline, PsychInfo, and Web of Science databases were searched using the keywords ‘‘obesity’’ or ‘‘overweight’’ and ‘‘neighborhood’’ or ‘‘built environment’’ or ‘‘environment.’’ The search was restricted to Englishlanguage articles conducted in human populations between 1966 and 2007. To meet inclusion criteria, articles had to 1) have a direct measure of body weight and 2) have an objective measure of the built environment. A total of 1,506 abstracts were obtained, and 20 articles met the inclusion criteria. Most articles (84%) reported a statistically significant positive association between some aspect of the built environment and obesity. Several methodological issues were of concern, including the inconsistency of measurements of the built environment across studies, the cross-sectional design of most investigations, and the focus on aspects of either diet or physical activity but not both. Given the importance of the physical and social contexts of individual behavior and the limited success of individual-based interventions in long-term obesity prevention, more research on the impact of the built environment on obesity is needed.
TL;DR: It is argued that there is no such thing as conscious willing: conscious will is, indeed, an illusion, and can be filled by a plausible a priori claim about the causal role of anything deserving to be called ‘a will.’
Abstract: Wegner (Wegner, D. (2002). The illusion of conscious will. MIT Press) argues that conscious will is an illusion, citing a wide range of empirical evidence. I shall begin by surveying some of his arguments. Many are unsuccessful. But one—an argument from the ubiquity of self-interpretation—is more promising. Yet is suffers from an obvious lacuna, offered by so-called ‘dual process’ theories of reasoning and decision making (Evans, J., & Over, D. (1996). Rationality and reasoning. Psychology Press; Stanovich, K. (1999). Who is rational? Studies of individual differences in reasoning. Lawrence Erlbaum; Frankish, K. (2004). Mind and supermind. Cambridge University Press). I shall argue that this lacuna can be filled by a plausible a priori claim about the causal role of anything deserving to be called ‘a will.’ The result is that there is no such thing as conscious willing: conscious will is, indeed, an illusion.
TL;DR: A roadmap is developed that describes theory development using simulation and position simulation in the “sweet spot” between theory-creating methods, such as multiple case inductive studies and formal modeling, and theory-testing methods.
Abstract: We describe when and how to use simulation methods in theory development. We develop a roadmap that describes theory development using simulation and position simulation in the “sweet spot” between theory-creating methods, such as multiple case inductive studies and formal modeling, and theory-testing methods. Simulation strengths include internal validity and facility with longitudinal, nonlinear, and process phenomena. Simulation's primary value occurs in creative experimentation to produce novel theory. We conclude with evaluation guidelines.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a detailed analysis of the performance of the Large Hadron Collider (CMS) at 14 TeV and compare it with the state-of-the-art analytical tools.
Abstract: CMS is a general purpose experiment, designed to study the physics of pp collisions at 14 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). It currently involves more than 2000 physicists from more than 150 institutes and 37 countries. The LHC will provide extraordinary opportunities for particle physics based on its unprecedented collision energy and luminosity when it begins operation in 2007. The principal aim of this report is to present the strategy of CMS to explore the rich physics programme offered by the LHC. This volume demonstrates the physics capability of the CMS experiment. The prime goals of CMS are to explore physics at the TeV scale and to study the mechanism of electroweak symmetry breaking--through the discovery of the Higgs particle or otherwise. To carry out this task, CMS must be prepared to search for new particles, such as the Higgs boson or supersymmetric partners of the Standard Model particles, from the start-up of the LHC since new physics at the TeV scale may manifest itself with modest data samples of the order of a few fb−1 or less. The analysis tools that have been developed are applied to study in great detail and with all the methodology of performing an analysis on CMS data specific benchmark processes upon which to gauge the performance of CMS. These processes cover several Higgs boson decay channels, the production and decay of new particles such as Z' and supersymmetric particles, Bs production and processes in heavy ion collisions. The simulation of these benchmark processes includes subtle effects such as possible detector miscalibration and misalignment. Besides these benchmark processes, the physics reach of CMS is studied for a large number of signatures arising in the Standard Model and also in theories beyond the Standard Model for integrated luminosities ranging from 1 fb−1 to 30 fb−1. The Standard Model processes include QCD, B-physics, diffraction, detailed studies of the top quark properties, and electroweak physics topics such as the W and Z0 boson properties. The production and decay of the Higgs particle is studied for many observable decays, and the precision with which the Higgs boson properties can be derived is determined. About ten different supersymmetry benchmark points are analysed using full simulation. The CMS discovery reach is evaluated in the SUSY parameter space covering a large variety of decay signatures. Furthermore, the discovery reach for a plethora of alternative models for new physics is explored, notably extra dimensions, new vector boson high mass states, little Higgs models, technicolour and others. Methods to discriminate between models have been investigated. This report is organized as follows. Chapter 1, the Introduction, describes the context of this document. Chapters 2-6 describe examples of full analyses, with photons, electrons, muons, jets, missing ET, B-mesons and τ's, and for quarkonia in heavy ion collisions. Chapters 7-15 describe the physics reach for Standard Model processes, Higgs discovery and searches for new physics beyond the Standard Model