Consistent Layout for Thematic Software Maps

Software visualizations can provide a concise overview of a complex software system. Unfortunately, since software has no physical shape, there is no “natural“ mapping of software to a two-dimensional space. As a consequence most visualizations tend to use a layout in which position and distance have no meaning, and consequently layout typical diverges from one visualization to another. We propose a consistent layout for software maps in which the position of a software artifact reflects its \emph{vocabulary}, and distance corresponds to similarity of vocabulary. We use Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) to map software artifacts to a vector space, and then use Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) to map this vector space down to two dimensions. The resulting consistent layout allows us to develop a variety of thematic software maps that express very different aspects of software while making it easy to compare them. The approach is especially suitable for comparing views of evolving software, since the vocabulary of software artifacts tends to be stable over time.

Subnational Patterns of Democracy in Austria, Germany and Switzerland

This article investigates the main political institutions in the sub-national democracies of Austria, Germany and Switzerland. It applies Lijphart’s approach to these German-speaking countries in Western Europe and expands it – following recent advances – by direct democracy. The main finding of the sub-national analysis is that, similar to Lijphart, two dimensions of democracy can be distinguished. While the first can be considered as the ‘consensual dimension’ of democracy, the second represents the ‘rules of the game’. Moreover, and in contrast to analyses at the national level, direct democracy does not constitute a dimension on its own, but forms an important element of consensus decision-making in the sub-national units at hand. Finally, based on cluster analysis three homogenous national clusters were found, but also one cluster with sub-national democracies from Germany and Austria that are more similar to one another than to other Länder within their respective federal states.

How are climate change adaptation strategies put into practice? A case study comparison of natural hazard prevention

Climate change affects increasingly the management of natural resources and has diverse impacts of environmental, social and economic nature. To take this complexity into account, climate change adaptation policies consider the principle of sustainable development. Sustainability is an integrative concept which should insure a long-term and multi-sectoral response to climate change. But the question appears if sustainable development is only retained at the conceptual level or effectively implemented in practice. This paper pursues this question by comparing three projects addressing natural hazard in Swiss mountains. The aim is to investigate how sustainable development is perceived by involved stakeholders and implemented in practice. Two dimensions are thus taken into account: the type of actors participating in these projects and their preferences and interests. The first dimension thus analyzes if diverse actors representing the environmental, economic and social arenas are integrated; the second dimension investigates if different interests and preferences in the sense of sustainability were incorporated in the design and implementation of climate change adaptation. Data were gathered through a standardized survey among all actors involved in the three projects. Preliminary results show that sustainability receives diverse weight and interest in the different cases.

A review on continuous wave functional near-infrared spectroscopy and imaging instrumentation and methodology

This year marks the 20th anniversary of functional near-infrared spectroscopy and imaging (fNIRS/fNIRI). As the vast majority of commercial instruments developed until now are based on continuous wave technology, the aim of this publication is to review the current state of instrumentation and methodology of continuous wave fNIRI. For this purpose we provide an overview of the commercially available instruments and address instrumental aspects such as light sources, detectors and sensor arrangements. Methodological aspects, algorithms to calculate the concentrations of oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin and approaches for data analysis are also reviewed. From the single-location measurements of the early years, instrumentation has progressed to imaging initially in two dimensions (topography) and then three (tomography). The methods of analysis have also changed tremendously, from the simple modified Beer-Lambert law to sophisticated image reconstruction and data analysis methods used today. Due to these advances, fNIRI has become a modality that is widely used in neuroscience research and several manufacturers provide commercial instrumentation. It seems likely that fNIRI will become a clinical tool in the foreseeable future, which will enable diagnosis in single subjects.

Dealing with bad guys: actor- and process-level determinants of the “devil shift” in policy making

Policy actors tend to misinterpret and distrust opponents in policy processes. This phenomenon, known as the “devil shift”, consists of the following two dimensions: actors perceive opponents as more powerful and as more evil than they really are. Analysing nine policy processes in Switzerland, this article highlights the drivers of the devil shift at two levels. On the actor level, interest groups, political parties and powerful actors suffer more from the devil shift than state actors and powerless actors. On the process level, the devil shift is stronger in policy processes dealing with socio-economic issues as compared with other issues. Finally, and in line with previous studies, there is less empirical evidence of the power dimension of the devil shift phenomenon than of its evilness dimension.

Value Priorities and Content of Religiosity - New Research Perspectives

In this study the relationship of religiosity and value priorities is differentiated, based on a multidimensional measurement of different contents of religiosity. The structure of values is conceptualized using Schwartz’ (1992) two orthogonal dimensions of Self-transcendence vs. Self-enhancement and Openness to change vs. Conservation. The relations between these two dimensions and eight religious contents, ranging from open-minded to more close-minded forms of religiosity, were tested in a sample of church attenders (N = 685), gathered in Germany. The results show, that depending on the content of religiosity, different values are preferred (self-direction, universalism, benevolence, tradition and security values). The results indicate the importance of the content of religiosity for predicting value-loaded behaviors.

Decision strategies for policy decisions under uncertainties: The case of mitigation measures addressing methane emissions from ruminants

Decision strategies aim at enabling reasonable decisions in cases of uncertain policy decision problems which do not meet the conditions for applying standard decision theory. This paper focuses on decision strategies that account for uncertainties by deciding whether a proposed list of policy options should be accepted or revised (scope strategies) and whether to decide now or later (timing strategies). They can be used in participatory approaches to structure the decision process. As a basis, we propose to classify the broad range of uncertainties affecting policy decision problems along two dimensions, source of uncertainty (incomplete information, inherent indeterminacy and unreliable information) and location of uncertainty (information about policy options, outcomes and values). Decision strategies encompass multiple and vague criteria to be deliberated in application. As an example, we discuss which decision strategies may account for the uncertainties related to nutritive technologies that aim at reducing methane (CH4) emissions from ruminants as a means of mitigating climate change, limiting our discussion to published scientific information. These considerations not only speak in favour of revising rather than accepting the discussed list of options, but also in favour of active postponement or semi-closure of decision-making rather than closure or passive postponement.

The Effects of Density, Spatial Pattern, and Competitive Symmetry on Size Variation in Simulated Plant Populations

Patterns of size inequality in crowded plant populations are often taken to be indicative of the degree of size asymmetry of competition, but recent research suggests that some of the patterns attributed to size‐asymmetric competition could be due to spatial structure. To investigate the theoretical relationships between plant density, spatial pattern, and competitive size asymmetry in determining size variation in crowded plant populations, we developed a spatially explicit, individual‐based plant competition model based on overlapping zones of influence. The zone of influence of each plant is modeled as a circle, growing in two dimensions, and is allometrically related to plant biomass. The area of the circle represents resources potentially available to the plant, and plants compete for resources in areas in which they overlap. The size asymmetry of competition is reflected in the rules for dividing up the overlapping areas. Theoretical plant populations were grown in random and in perfectly uniform spatial patterns at four densities under size‐asymmetric and size‐symmetric competition. Both spatial pattern and size asymmetry contributed to size variation, but their relative importance varied greatly over density and over time. Early in stand development, spatial pattern was more important than the symmetry of competition in determining the degree of size variation within the population, but after plants grew and competition intensified, the size asymmetry of competition became a much more important source of size variation. Size variability was slightly higher at higher densities when competition was symmetric and plants were distributed nonuniformly in space. In a uniform spatial pattern, size variation increased with density only when competition was size asymmetric. Our results suggest that when competition is size asymmetric and intense, it will be more important in generating size variation than is local variation in density. Our results and the available data are consistent with the hypothesis that high levels of size inequality commonly observed within crowded plant populations are largely due to size‐asymmetric competition, not to variation in local density.

COMMUNITY-FOCUSED FUNCTIONS IN PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING: A COMPARISON OF PERCEPTIONS

This descriptive cross-sectional survey compared the perceptions of public health nursing practitioners, educators and administrators along two dimensions: the importance of community-focused functions in public health nursing and which occupational categories in public health are responsible for those functions. More than 50 percent of the mailed questionnaires that were sent to a systematic stratified nationwide sample of public health nurses were returned. In general, respondents: were female, were in their 40s, received their basic nursing education in baccalaureate programs, had either a baccalaureate or a master's degree, worked in official agencies or schools, and had approximately 14 years of experience in public health with six in their present position.^ Significant differences between practitioners, educators and administrators were found in their perceptions of both the importance of community-focused functions in public health nursing and in which occupational category they indicated as having the major responsibility to perform those functions. Educators and administrators perceived community-focused functions as more important than did practitioners. Overall the occupational category of administrator was indicated as having the major responsibility for performing community-focused functions.^

Latino patients' desire to participate in informed decisions regarding colorectal cancer screening

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has become a public health concern due to the underutilization of the various screening methods. There is a need to understand a patient's decision making process in regards to their health and obtaining the appropriate screening. Previous research has defined patient autonomy in two dimensions: The patient's involvement in the decision making process and their desire to be informed (Ende, Kazis, Ash, & Moskowitz, 1989). Past research shows that patients have a high desire to be informed, but a low desire to be involved in the medical decision process. Deber, Kraetschmer, and Irvine (1996) developed a measure which consisted of two subscales that measures patients' involvement: Patient's desire to be involved in the problem solving (PS) and decision making (DM) process. Little research has examined the desire for involvement and decision making of Latino populations. The present study sought to investigate the psychometric properties of the Deber et al. (1996) measure. In general, Latino patients in the present sample had low desire for autonomy in health decisions or to be involved in the decision making processes of their health related issues. ^

A comparative analysis of CHIP Perinatal policy in twelve states

The purpose of this comparative analysis of CHIP Perinatal policy (42 CFR § 457) was to provide a basis for understanding the variation in policy outputs across the twelve states that, as of June 2007, implemented the Unborn Child rule. This Department of Health and Human Services regulation expanded in 2002 the definition of “child” to include the period from conception to birth, allowing states to consider an unborn child a “targeted low-income child” and therefore eligible for SCHIP coverage. ^ Specific study aims were to (1) describe typologically the structural and contextual features of the twelve states that adopted a CHIP Perinatal policy; (2) describe and differentiate among the various designs of CHIP Perinatal policy implemented in the states; and (3) develop a conceptual model that links the structural and contextual features of the adopting states to differences in the forms the policy assumed, once it was implemented. ^ Secondary data were collected from publicly available information sources to describe characteristics of states’ political system, health system, economic system, sociodemographic context and implemented policy attributes. I posited that socio-demographic differences, political system differences and health system differences would directly account for the observed differences in policy output among the states. ^ Exploratory data analysis techniques, which included median polishing and multidimensional scaling, were employed to identify compelling patterns in the data. Scaled results across model components showed that economic system was most closely related to policy output, followed by health system. Political system and socio-demographic characteristics were shown to be weakly associated with policy output. Goodness-of-fit measures for MDS solutions implemented across states and model components, in one- and two-dimensions, were very good. ^ This comparative policy analysis of twelve states that adopted and implemented HHS Regulation 42 C.F.R. § 457 contributes to existing knowledge in three areas: CHIP Perinatal policy, public health policy and policy sciences. First, the framework allows for the identification of CHIP Perinatal program design possibilities and provides a basis for future studies that evaluate policy impact or performance. Second, studies of policy determinants are not well represented in the health policy literature. Thus, this study contributes to the development of the literature in public health policy. Finally, the conceptual framework for policy determinants developed in this study suggests new ways for policy makers and practitioners to frame policy arguments, encouraging policy change or reform. ^

El trabajo de derribar antinomias : los intentos de Helmut Plessner y Talcott Parsons

La relación entre comunidad y sociedad puede rastrearse de los orígenes de la sociología hasta la actualidad. Fue un punto central en el pensamiento de la segunda generación de padres fundadores -Durkheim, Tönnies, Weber-, lo fue luego en la sociología de Talcott Parsons, y es aún un fuerte centro de debate entre las diversas corrientes contemporáneas, tanto dentro de la sociología como en las ciencias políticas y la filosofía. En este sentido, la relación comunidad-sociedad continúa hasta el día de hoy suscitando polémicas e inspirando numerosos y sugerentes trabajos. No obstante, si bien en sus diferentes tratamientos presenta incontables diferencias, un elemento común es analizar la relación como dos polos excluyentes y antitéticos. Este trabajo se propone describir cómo dos pensadores provenientes de corrientes diferentes como Talcott Parsons y Helmut Plessner buscaron pensar ambos conceptos -comunidad y sociedad- no cómo elementos excluyentes, sino como dimensiones necesarias y presentes en todo nivel de la vida humana. Así, la intención es demostrar cómo dichos autores lograron integrar ambas dimensiones, a la vez que advertir sobre las consecuencias y dificultades de los intentos de superación o eliminación de esta relación.

Nacionalismos y europeísmos en los libros de texto : Identificación e identidad nacional

Se analiza la evolución de los contenidos históricos en los libros de texto de secundaria en España, en relación con el objetivo de promover la identificación de los escolares con un determinado concepto de ciudadanía que, a partir de los años 70, incluye la pertenencia a Europa. Se analizan dos dimensiones: el concepto de nación y la idea de Europa. En cuanto a la primera, los resultados muestran la pervivencia, habitualmente no explícita, de ideas esencialistas y románticas sobre la nación. Ideas que coexisten con otras encaminadas a la construcción de una nueva identidad europea supuestamente "común". Se discute también la noción de Europa que se transmite actualmente en la educación española. La identificación europeísta presente en los textos es de carácter historicista, con elementos afectivos y simbólicos, en contraste con una identificación que podría ser de carácter más racional, asentada en un proyecto político de futuro compartido. En el marco de los nuevos condicionantes educativos en una sociedad crecientemente mestiza y pluricultural, se discute la contradicción que se plantea entre la necesidad de favorecer la convivencia cívica sobre valores compartidos por todos los ciudadanos europeos y el derecho a asumir diversas identidades culturales específicas

Nacionalismos y europeísmos en los libros de texto : Identificación e identidad nacional

Se analiza la evolución de los contenidos históricos en los libros de texto de secundaria en España, en relación con el objetivo de promover la identificación de los escolares con un determinado concepto de ciudadanía que, a partir de los años 70, incluye la pertenencia a Europa. Se analizan dos dimensiones: el concepto de nación y la idea de Europa. En cuanto a la primera, los resultados muestran la pervivencia, habitualmente no explícita, de ideas esencialistas y románticas sobre la nación. Ideas que coexisten con otras encaminadas a la construcción de una nueva identidad europea supuestamente "común". Se discute también la noción de Europa que se transmite actualmente en la educación española. La identificación europeísta presente en los textos es de carácter historicista, con elementos afectivos y simbólicos, en contraste con una identificación que podría ser de carácter más racional, asentada en un proyecto político de futuro compartido. En el marco de los nuevos condicionantes educativos en una sociedad crecientemente mestiza y pluricultural, se discute la contradicción que se plantea entre la necesidad de favorecer la convivencia cívica sobre valores compartidos por todos los ciudadanos europeos y el derecho a asumir diversas identidades culturales específicas

Nacionalismos y europeísmos en los libros de texto : Identificación e identidad nacional

Se analiza la evolución de los contenidos históricos en los libros de texto de secundaria en España, en relación con el objetivo de promover la identificación de los escolares con un determinado concepto de ciudadanía que, a partir de los años 70, incluye la pertenencia a Europa. Se analizan dos dimensiones: el concepto de nación y la idea de Europa. En cuanto a la primera, los resultados muestran la pervivencia, habitualmente no explícita, de ideas esencialistas y románticas sobre la nación. Ideas que coexisten con otras encaminadas a la construcción de una nueva identidad europea supuestamente "común". Se discute también la noción de Europa que se transmite actualmente en la educación española. La identificación europeísta presente en los textos es de carácter historicista, con elementos afectivos y simbólicos, en contraste con una identificación que podría ser de carácter más racional, asentada en un proyecto político de futuro compartido. En el marco de los nuevos condicionantes educativos en una sociedad crecientemente mestiza y pluricultural, se discute la contradicción que se plantea entre la necesidad de favorecer la convivencia cívica sobre valores compartidos por todos los ciudadanos europeos y el derecho a asumir diversas identidades culturales específicas