Measuring User Comprehension of Inference Rules in Euler Diagrams

Proofs created by diagrammatic theorem provers are not designed with human readers in mind. We say that one proof, P1, is more “readable” than another, P2, if users make fewer errors in understanding which inference rules were applied in P1 than in P2, and do so in a shorter time. We analysed the readability of individual rules in an empirical study which required users to identify the rules used in inferences. We found that increased clutter (redundant syntax) in the premiss diagrams affects readability, and that rule applications which require the user to combine information from several diagrams are sometimes less readable than those which focus on a single diagram. We provide an explanation based on mental models

In Vivo Thermal Ablation Monitoring Using Ultrasound Echo Decorrelation Imaging

Previous work has shown ultrasound echo decorrelation imaging can track and quantify changes in echo signals to predict thermal damage during in vitro radiofrequency ablation (RFA). In the in vivo studies reported here, the feasibility of using echo decorrelation imaging as a treatment monitoring tool is assessed. RFA was performed on a normal swine liver (N = 5) and ultrasound ablation using image-ablate arrays was performed on a rabbit liver implanted with VX2 tumors (N = 2). Echo decorrelation and integrated backscatter were computed from Hilbert transformed pulse-echo data acquired during RFA and ultrasound ablation treatments. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to assess the ability of echo decorrelation imaging and integrated backscatter to predict ablation. Area under the ROC curves (AUROC) was determined for RFA and ultrasound ablation using echo decorrelation imaging. Ablation was predicted more accurately using echo decorrelation imaging (AUROC 0.832 and 0.776 for RFA and ultrasound ablation respectively) than using integrated backscatter (AUROC 0.734 and 0.494)

Well-matchedness in Euler and Linear Diagrams

A key feature of diagrams is well-matchedness, referred to as iconicity in philosophy. A well-matched diagram has a structural resemblance to its semantics and is believed to be an effective representation. In this paper, we view well-matchedness as a feature of diagrams' meaning carriers -- syntactic relationships that convey meaning. Each meaning carrier may or may not structurally resemble, i.e. be well-matched to, its semantics. This paper provides the first empirical study that evaluates the impact of well-matched meaning carriers on effectiveness in Euler diagrams and linear diagrams. There are two key take-away messages: using only well-matched meaning carriers led to the best task performance and using both well-matched and non-well-matched meaning carriers in a single diagram should be approached with caution

<i>slo-1</i> and <i>slo-2</i> act cell autonomously in promoting the AWC^ON fate.

<p>(<b>A</b>, <b>C</b>) AWC phenotypes in wild type, <i>slo-1(eg142lf); slo-2(ok2214lf)</i>, and <i>slo-1(eg142lf); slo-2(ok2214lf)</i> expressing extrachromosomal transgenes <i>odr-3p</i>::<i>slo-1(OE); odr-1p</i>::<i>DsRed</i> (<b>A</b>) or <i>odr-3p</i>::<i>slo-2(OE); odr-1p</i>::<i>DsRed</i> (<b>C</b>). (<b>B</b>) AWC phenotypes of <i>slo-1(eg142lf); slo-2(ok2214lf)</i> mosaic animals containing the extrachromosomal transgene <i>odr-3p</i>::<i>slo-1(OE)</i> in only one AWC cell, inferred by the presence of the coinjection marker <i>odr-1p</i>::<i>DsRed</i> (normally expressed in both AWC). The data was derived from a subset of data in (<b>A</b>). (<b>D</b>) AWC phenotypes of <i>slo-1(eg142lf); slo-2(ok2214lf)</i> mosaic animals containing the extrachromosomal transgene <i>odr-3p</i>::<i>slo-2(OE); odr-1p</i>::<i>DsRed</i> in only one AWC cell. The data was derived from a subset of data in (<b>C</b>). (<b>E</b>) AWC phenotypes in wild-type animals expressing the extrachromosomal transgene <i>nsy-5p</i>::<i>slo-1(T1001Igf); odr-1p</i>::<i>DsRed</i>. <i>slo-1(T1001Igf)</i> contains the <i>ky389gf</i> mutation. (<b>F</b>) AWC phenotypes of mosaic animals containing the extrachromosomal transgene <i>nsy-5p</i>::<i>slo-1(T1001Igf); odr-1p</i>::<i>DsRed</i> in only one AWC cell. The data was derived from a subset of data in (<b>E</b>). AWC^ON was scored as <i>str-2</i>-expressing cell; AWC^OFF was scored as non-<i>str-2</i>-expressing cell. Statistical analysis was performed with a <i>Z</i>-test. Error bars represent the standard error of proportion.</p