QT
Queer theory is an academic framework originating in the early 1990s within literary criticism, cultural studies, and post-structuralist philosophy, which posits that categories of sex, gender, and sexuality lack inherent biological or essential foundations and instead arise from discursive, performative, and socially contingent constructions that reinforce norms like heteronormativity.[1] The term was coined by scholar Teresa de Lauretis in 1990 to describe a conference challenging rigid gay and lesbian identity politics, drawing heavily from Michel Foucault's analyses of power and sexuality while extending postmodern skepticism toward fixed identities.[2] Foundational texts include Judith Butler's Gender Trouble (1990), which argues gender is a repeated stylization rather than an innate trait, and Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick's Epistemology of the Closet (1990), which critiques binary oppositions in knowledge production around sexuality.[1][3] Queer theory gained prominence in humanities departments, influencing interdisciplinary fields like queer studies by promoting deconstruction of norms and intersectional analyses of power, though its antinormative stance has shaped activism more than policy in its initial phases.[4] Its emphasis on fluidity and subversion has been credited with expanding discourses on marginal sexualities, yet it largely eschews empirical methodologies in favor of interpretive critique, leading to tensions with biologically oriented research on sex differences and sexual orientation.[5][6] Critics, including some within sociology and philosophy, argue it prioritizes theoretical abstraction over testable claims, potentially sidelining causal mechanisms rooted in evolutionary biology or neurodevelopment.[7][8] Notable controversies stem from its extension into public spheres, where applications have fueled debates over education, identity politics, and institutional norms, often amplifying academic biases toward relativism amid empirical counter-evidence from fields like genetics and endocrinology.[9] While achieving canonical status in left-leaning academia—despite systemic ideological skews in such institutions—queer theory's defining characteristic remains its rejection of stable binaries, which has both liberated interpretive frameworks and invited scrutiny for undermining causal realism in human behavior.[10][11]Computing and software
Qt framework
Qt is a cross-platform application framework primarily written in C++ for developing graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and other software components that operate consistently across desktop, mobile, embedded, and web platforms.[12] It includes libraries for widgets, multimedia, networking, database connectivity, and declarative UI design via QML, enabling applications to achieve native performance and appearance without platform-specific code.[13] The framework supports long-term evolution through modular architecture, with tools for design, testing, and deployment integrated into development workflows.[14] Originally conceived in 1990 by Norwegian developers Haavard Nord and Eirik Chambe-Eng, Qt's first public release (version 0.90) occurred on May 20, 1995, by Trolltech ASA, focusing initially on X11 systems.[13] [15] Trolltech expanded Qt to Windows and other platforms, introducing GPL licensing in 2000 to broaden open-source adoption.[16] Nokia acquired Trolltech in June 2008 for 153 million USD, rebranding it as Qt Software and emphasizing mobile development, before donating core technology to the open-source Qt Project in 2011.[17] Governance shifted to Digia in 2012, forming The Qt Company in 2014, which now maintains dual licensing: community editions under LGPLv3/GPLv2/GPLv3 for open-source use, and commercial licenses offering royalty-free deployment without source disclosure requirements.[18] [19] Qt supports primary development in C++17/20 standards, with official bindings for Python via PySide (LGPL) and community options like PyQt (GPL/commercial), alongside experimental bridges for languages such as Rust and Go to leverage Qt's UI capabilities without full C++ dependency.[20] [21] Cross-platform compatibility spans Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, embedded Linux, and real-time systems, with hardware acceleration for graphics via OpenGL/Vulkan and WebAssembly for browser deployment.[22] Key modules include Qt Widgets for traditional controls, Qt Quick for fluid animations, and Qt Network for secure communications, facilitating scalable applications from kiosks to automotive interfaces.[23] Version history marks Qt 4 (2005) for improved modularity, Qt 5 (2013) for enhanced multimedia and web integration with three-year support cycles, and Qt 6 (2020) introducing stricter C++ requirements, scene graph rendering, and LTS releases like 6.5 (April 2023) and 6.8 (October 2024) for extended stability in industrial use.[24] [25] As of April 2025, Qt 6.9 provides refinements in spatial computing and 3D visualization, reflecting ongoing adaptation to trends like XR and ARM architectures.[26] The framework's maturity stems from nearly 30 years of refinement, with over 1 million developers contributing to its ecosystem.[26]QuickTime
QuickTime is a multimedia framework developed by Apple Inc. for handling various digital media formats, including video, audio, animation, and graphics, primarily on Macintosh systems but also cross-platform for Windows.[27] Released on December 2, 1991, it enabled the playback and basic manipulation of time-based media on personal computers, marking a significant advancement in accessible digital video technology.[27] [28] The framework originated as an extension to Apple's System 7 operating system, providing extensible codecs and APIs for developers to integrate multimedia into applications.[29] Initial versions supported formats like Cinepak for compressed video playback at reasonable frame rates on hardware of the era, such as 640x480 resolution at 15 frames per second.[30] QuickTime 2.0, released in June 1994, introduced improvements in video compression and was the only version sold commercially rather than offered freely.[31] Subsequent releases expanded capabilities: QuickTime 4.0 on June 8, 1999, added streaming video support alongside the debut of QuickTime Streaming Server; QuickTime 5 in 2001 became the first version compatible with Mac OS X; and later iterations like QuickTime 6 and 7 incorporated features such as advanced audio codecs (e.g., AAC), H.264 video encoding, and broader format interoperability.[29] [30] [32] QuickTime's architecture relied on a modular system of "movies" stored in a container format (.mov) that encapsulated tracks for different media types, allowing synchronization and editing via the framework's APIs.[30] It powered the QuickTime Player application, which evolved to include screen recording, basic trimming, and export functions, though the core framework extended to professional tools like Final Cut Pro.[33] By the mid-2000s, QuickTime 7 supported over 20 codecs natively and facilitated third-party extensions, contributing to its widespread adoption in web video and digital content creation before HTML5 alternatives emerged.[30] Apple began phasing out the legacy QuickTime framework with Mac OS X Snow Leopard in 2009, replacing it with QuickTime X, which shifted to the AVFoundation framework for modern media handling and dropped legacy codec support.[33] Full discontinuation on macOS occurred with macOS Catalina in October 2019, rendering QuickTime 7 incompatible and prompting users to migrate to native apps like QuickTime Player (now iMovie-integrated) or third-party solutions.[33] For Windows, Apple issued QuickTime 7.7.9 on January 7, 2016, as a final security patch before ending support entirely, amid advisories from entities like the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recommending uninstallation due to unpatched vulnerabilities.[29] [34] Security flaws in QuickTime, particularly versions for Windows, included buffer overflows and memory corruption in movie file parsing, exploitable via malicious .mov or .mp4 files to execute arbitrary code.[35] [36] Trend Micro identified zero-day vulnerabilities in 2016, such as improper handling of atom structures in media files, leading to remote code execution risks without user interaction beyond opening a file.[34] Apple addressed some issues in patches like QuickTime 7.6.9 and 7.7.2 for macOS, but ceased Windows updates, leaving installations vulnerable as no further mitigations were provided.[35] [36] Despite its innovations, QuickTime's decline reflected broader industry shifts toward open standards like WebM and platform-native frameworks, reducing reliance on proprietary extensions.[33]Units of measurement
Quart
The quart (symbol: qt or q) is a unit of volume equal to one-fourth of a gallon, originating from the Latin quartus (fourth) via Old French quarte, denoting a quarter part.[37] It is employed in both the US customary system and the British imperial system, though the two variants differ in size due to historical divergences in gallon definitions following American independence in 1776, when the US retained pre-imperial English measures while the UK standardized larger volumes in 1824.[38] The unit applies primarily to liquid measures but also exists for dry goods, with the liquid form predominant in everyday use such as packaging milk or other beverages. In the US customary system, the liquid quart is defined as exactly 57.75 cubic inches, equivalent to 0.946352946 liters or approximately 32 US fluid ounces.[39] This derives from the US gallon of 231 cubic inches, subdivided into four quarts.[39] The US dry quart, used for commodities like fruits or grains, measures 67.201 cubic inches or 1.101221 liters, reflecting a distinct historical basis for solid volumes.[39] Common US equivalents include:| US Unit | Relation to Quart |
|---|---|
| 1 US gallon | 4 liquid quarts |
| 1 US pint | ½ liquid quart |
| 1 US cup | ¼ liquid quart |
| 1 US fluid ounce | 1/32 liquid quart |