Search results for "PASS"
showing 10 items of 1629 documents
Instagram Inspiration: How Upward Comparison on Social Network Sites Can Contribute to Well-Being
2020
Abstract Passive exposure to others’ positive self-presentations on social network sites (SNS) such as Instagram has been repeatedly associated with reduced well-being, particularly by triggering upward social comparison and envy. However, prior research has largely neglected that upward comparisons on SNS may also facilitate positive outcomes, specifically media-induced inspiration, a motivational state highly conducive to well-being. We conducted two experiments that tested whether and how cognitive-affective processing of visual SNS postings results in inspiration. Study 1 (N = 270) provides first evidence that users react to more positive, optimized Instagram nature and travel posts wit…
Too many passwords? How understanding our memory can increase password memorability
2018
Abstract Passwords are the most common authentication mechanism, that are only increasing with time. Previous research suggests that users cannot remember multiple passwords. Therefore, users adopt insecure password practices, such as password reuse in response to their perceived memory limitations. The critical question not currently examined is whether users’ memory capabilities for password recall are actually related to having a poor memory. This issue is imperative: if insecure password practices result from having a poor memory, then future password research and practice should focus on increasing the memorability of passwords. If, on the other hand, the problem is not solely related …
Improving Password Memorability, While Not Inconveniencing the User
2019
Abstract Passwords are the most frequently used authentication mechanism. However, due to increased password numbers, there has been an increase in insecure password behaviors (e.g., password reuse). Therefore, new and innovative ways are needed to increase password memorability and security. Typically, users are asked to input their passwords once in order to access the system, and twice to verify the password, when they create a new account. But what if users were asked to input their passwords three or four times when they create new accounts? In this study, three groups of participants were asked to verify their passwords once (control group), twice, and three times (two experimental gr…
Improving the security of multiple passwords through a greater understanding of the human memory
2016
Multiple passwords are an increasing security issue that will only get worse with time. One of the major factors that compromise multiple passwords is users’ memory, and the behaviors they adopt to compensate for its failures. Through studying memory elements that influence users’ password memorability, we may increase our understanding of the user and therefore make proposals to increase the security of the password authentication mechanism. This dissertation examines the human memory to understand password security behaviors; and moreover, develops new theories and revises prominent memory theories for the password context. This research employs memory theories to not only increase the me…
The effect of alternating different water qualities on accumulation and leaching of solutes in a Mediterranean cracking soil
2002
The relevance of bypass flow on water flow, solute or pesticide transport is becoming increasingly recognized. Recent investigations proved that soil salinization may be influenced by bypass flow, i.e. the rapid transport of water and solutes via macropores and/or shrinkage cracks to subsoil and groundwater. This paper explores the role of bypass flow in the process of accumulation and leaching of solutes, as well as of sodium, in a Mediterranean cracking soil irrigated with saline/sodic waters. The results of bypass flow experiments performed on undisturbed soil cores showed that leaching of solutes occurred in concomitance with bypass fluxes when a low salinity solution was alternated wit…
The origin of slow electron recombination processes in dye-sensitized solar cells with alumina barrier coatings
2004
We investigate the effect of a thin alumina coating of nanocrystalline TiO2 films on recombination dynamics of dye-sensitized solar cells. Both coated and uncoated cells were measured by a combination of techniques: transient absorption spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and open-circuit voltage decay. It is found that the alumina barrier reduces the recombination of photoinjected electrons to both dye cations and the oxidized redox couple. It is proposed that this observed retardation can be attributed primarily to two effects: almost complete passivation of surface trap states in TiO2 that are able to inject electrons to acceptor species, and slowing down by a factor of…
Improving Perovskite Solar Cells: Insights From a Validated Device Model
2017
To improve the efficiency of existing perovskite solar cells (PSCs), a detailed understanding of the underlying device physics during their operation is essential. Here, a device model has been developed and validated that describes the operation of PSCs and quantitatively explains the role of contacts, the electron and hole transport layers, charge generation, drift and diffusion of charge carriers and recombination. The simulation to the experimental data of vacuum-deposited CH3NH3PbI3 solar cells over multiple thicknesses has been fit and the device behavior under different operating conditions has been studied to delineate the influence of the external bias, charge-carrier mobilities, e…
Effects of prolonged walking on neural and mechanical components of stretch responses in the human soleus muscle
2009
After repeated passive stretching, tendinous tissue compliance increases in the human soleus (SOL) muscle–tendon unit. During movement, such changes would have important consequences for neural and mechanical stretch responses. This study examined the existence of such effects in response to a 75 min walking intervention. Eleven healthy subjects walked on a treadmill at 4 km h−1 with a robotic stretch device attached to the left leg. Ultrasonography was used to measure SOL fascicle lengths, and surface EMG activity was recorded in the SOL and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles. Perturbations of 6 deg were imposed at three different measurement intervals: Pre (immediately before the walking inte…
Mapping of BLASTP Algorithm onto GPU Clusters
2011
Searching protein sequence database is a fundamental and often repeated task in computational biology and bioinformatics. However, the high computational cost and long runtime of many database scanning algorithms on sequential architectures heavily restrict their applications for large-scale protein databases, such as GenBank. The continuing exponential growth of sequence databases and the high rate of newly generated queries further deteriorate the situation and establish a strong requirement for time-efficient scalable database searching algorithms. In this paper, we demonstrate how GPU clusters, powered by the Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA), OpenMP, and MPI parallel programmi…
Lower probability of FEV1 improvement in asthmatic children exposed to passive smoke
2015
Background: Guidelines advocate the use of spirometry to assess lung function in asthmatic. Inhaled corticosteroid(ICS) therapy is a mainstay of treatment for asthma, but the clinical response is variable. Aim: To assess the time variation of FEV1% in treated children with Persistent Asthma (PA). Methods: 110 children with PA, with two visits between September 2011 and December 2014 at the IBIM pediatric clinic were studied. Spirometry was performed using Pony FX, Cosmed, Italy; values were expressed as %pred using GLI-2012equation. The time trend of FEV1% for each subject was estimated through separate regressions. A linear regression model for the individual slopes (FEV1% average month va…