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Game Software Engineering: A Controlled Experiment Comparing Automated Content Generation Techniques
No full textBackground Video games are complex projects that involve a seamless integration of art and software during the development process to compose the final product. In the creation of a video game, software is fundamental as it governs the behavior and attributes that shape the player’s experience within the game. When assessing the quality of a video game, one needs to consider specific quality aspects, namely ‘design’, ‘difficulty’, ‘fun’, and ‘immersiveness’, which are not considered for traditional software. On the other hand, there are not well-established best practices for the empirical assessment of video games as there are for the empirical evaluation of more traditional software. Aims Our goal is to carry out a rigorous empirical evaluation of the latest proposals to automatically generate content for video games following best practices established in software engineering research. Specifically, we compare Procedural Content Generation (PCG) and Reuse-based Content Generation (RCG). Our study also considers the perception of players and professional developers on the generated content. Method We conducted a controlled experiment where human subjects had to play with content that was automatically generated for a commercial video game by the two techniques (PCG and RCG), and evaluate it according to specific quality aspects of video games. A total of 44 subjects including professional developers and players participated in our experiment. Results The results suggest that participants perceive that RCG generates content is of higher quality than PCG. Conclusions The results can turn the tide for content generation. So far, RCG has been neglected as a viable option: typically, reuse is frowned upon by the developers, who aim to avoid repetition in their video games as much as possible. However, our study uncovered that RCG unlocks latent content that is actually favoured by players and developers alike. This revelation poses an opportunity towards opening new horizons for content generation research.The study has obtained ethics approval by Universidad San Jorge (Nº 85/1/23-24) and University College London (UCLCSREC-207-R). This work has been partially supported by MINECO under the Project
VARIATIVA (PID2021-128695OB-100), by the Gobierno de Aragón (Spain) (Research Group T61_23R), by the Excellence Network AI4Software (Red2022-134647-T), by the ERC grant no. 741278 (EPIC) and by the UCL-CS Strategic Research Fund
Educación terapéutica en el manejo de la kinesiofobia en sujetos con inestabilidad crónica de tobillo: protocolo de investigación para un ensayo clínico aleatorio
No full textJustificación del trabajo:
Los esguinces de tobillo son lesiones frecuentes con importante carga para el sistema sanitario. En realidad, 40% de estos pacientes sufren de inestabilidad crónica de tobillo. Se puede manifestar por miedo al movimiento lo que se llama la kinesofobia. Dada la eficacia de la educación terapéutica en estudios recientes en patologías crónicas y la falta de investigación sobre el manejo de la kinesofobia en pacientes que sufren inestabilidad crónica de tobillo, podría plantearse una solución.
Objetivo:
Evaluar la efectividad de la educación terapéutica en la kinesofobia en pacientes con inestabilidad crónica de tobillo.
Metodología:
Es un protocolo de ensayo clínico controlado y aleatorizado en dos grupos que recluta paciente con inestabilidad crónica de tobillo. Un grupo control quien recibe el tratamiento convencional de fisioterapia solo y un grupo experimental quien recibe el tratamiento convencional de fisioterapia con educación terapéutica. Será supervisado por fisioterapeutas y se realizará en clínica durante 5 semanas. Se valora como variable primaria la kinesiofobia (TSK-11) y como variables secundarias el dolor (NPRS), las creencias sobre el miedo y evitación del dolor (FABQ), el impacto sobre la calidad de vida (SF-36) y la función física (FAAM).
Resultados esperados:
Se espera una mejoría de las variables en los dos grupos al final del tratamiento. Una diferencia significativa a favor del grupo experimental que se mantiene hasta la evaluación final es esperada que sea a corto plazo (5 semanas) o largo plazo (6 meses) debida a que el grupo control no sigue el protocolo educativo.
Conclusión:
Se pretende demostrar la eficacia de la educación en el manejo de la kinesofobia en pacientes con inestabilidad crónica de tobillo, a través una rehabilitación completa combinando fisioterapia convencional y enfoque biopsicosocial del paciente sobre su patología.Background:
Ankle sprains are frequent injuries with significant burden on the healthcare system. In addition, 40% of these patients suffer from chronic ankle instability. It can be manifested by fear of movement which is called kinesophobia. Given the efficacy of therapeutic education in recent studies in chronic pathologies and the lack of research on the management of kinesophobia in patients suffering from chronic ankle instability, a solution could be considered.
Objective:
To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic education on kinesophobia in patients with chronic ankle instability.
Methodology:
Randomized controlled clinical trial protocol in two groups recruiting patients with chronic ankle instability. A control group receiving conventional physical therapy treatment only and an experimental group receiving conventional physical therapy treatment with therapeutic education. It will be supervised by physiotherapists and will be performed in the clinic for 5 weeks. Kinesiophobia (TSK-11) will be assessed as primary variable and pain (NPRS), beliefs about fear and avoidance of pain (FABQ), impact on quality of life (SF-36) and physical function (FAAM) as secondary variables.
Expected results:
An improvement of the variables is expected in the two groups at the end of the treatment. A significant difference in favor of the experimental group that is maintained until the final evaluation is expected to be short term (5 weeks) or long term (6 months) due to the control group not following the educational protocol.
Conclusion:
It is intended to demonstrate the efficacy of education in the management of kinesophobia in patients with chronic ankle instability, through a complete rehabilitation combining conventional physiotherapy and biopsychosocial approach of the patient on his pathology
El discurso político sobre los objetivos de desarrollo sostenible en relación con las migraciones en la prensa española
Get PDFThis article analyzes, using the methodology of quantitative content analysis, more than 400 pieces from eight Spanish newspapers that deal with the issue of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and migrations. Its main objective is to determine what the political parties’ discourses are around these
issues, looking at variables such as thematic categories, the most frequently cited SDGs and the frames that both Spanish newspapers and political parties use to refer to these two interrelated global phenomena. The general conclusion is that there is a certain superficiality in the link between both phenomena, with the migration issue often being accessory to that of the SDGs. Furthermore, political parties, which represent a third of the main sources of the media, have different interests than those of social actors, with few nuances between them.Este artículo analiza, desde la metodología del análisis de contenido cuantitativo, más de 400 piezas de ocho diarios españoles que tratan el asunto de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) y las migraciones. El objetivo principal es determinar cuáles son los discursos de los partidos políticos en torno
a estas cuestiones, fijándonos en variables como las categorías temáticas, los ODS más frecuentemente citados y los encuadres, que tanto los diarios como los partidos políticos españoles emplean para referirse a estos dos fenómenos globales interrelacionados. La conclusión general es que hay cierta superficialidad en la vinculación de ambos fenómenos, siendo con frecuencia el asunto migratorio accesorio al de los ODS. Además, los partidos políticos, que suponen un tercio de las fuentes principales de los medios en su conjunto, tienen intereses diferentes que los del conjunto de los actores sociales, con escasos matices entre ellos
La vandelviriana “capilla desigual por lados cuadrados” a través del análisis gráfico y geométrico
Get PDFLa relevancia de esta investigación se centra en la explicación gráfica del versátil y flexible método de cálculo empleado por los Vandelvira para dar solución a los innovadores sistemas de abovedado esférico que nos han sido legados gracias a sus contribuciones. En el estudio presentado abordamos las diferencias en la formalización del método de cálculo en función de que el trazo final que queramos obtener ya sea un segmento, o por el contrario, un arco de circunferencia. Ello irremediablemente nos obliga a resolver el cálculo gráfico de dos formas distintas, por un lado desde la intrusión en la proyección vertical de un cono de revolución con su eje de giro perpendicular al plano horizontal, lo que engendraría un trazo circular en la proyección de la planta, o por otro lado, si en la planta buscamos una proyección de despiece en tramos rectos, la intrusión del cono en la proyección vertical la haremos de forma que el eje de giro del cono sea paralelo al plano horizontal.The relevance of this research focuses on the graphic explanation of the versatile and flexible calculation method employed by the Vandelviras to solve innovative systems of spherical vaulting bequeathed to us through their contributions. In this work, we address the differences in the formalization of the calculation method depending on whether the f inal trace we want to obtain is a segment or, conversely, an are of a circumference. This inevitab ly requires us to solve the graphic calculation in two different ways. On the one hand, by intruding into the vertical project ion of a cone of revol ution with its axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane, which would generate a circular trace in the projection of the plan. On the other hand, if we seek a projection of cutting in st raight sections in the plan, the intrusion of the cone into the vertical projection will be done so that the axis of rotation of the cone is parallel to the horizontal plane
Early removal of the etonogestrel contraceptive implant in Spanish women: a prospective cohort study
Get PDFPurpose: To know the discontinuation rate and characterize predictors and reasons of contraceptive implant removal within 12 months of insertion in our community setting.
Methods: This prospective cohort study included women receiving the etonogestrel contraceptive implant at sexual and reproductive health centers between September 2019 and September 2020. The variables collected were implanted insertion timing, reproductive and demographic characteristics, medical conditions, sexual activity and counseling. Our primary outcome was implant discontinuation. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were used to show the cumulative discontinuation rate of implants contraceptive within the first year of insertion. We also identified factors that increased the risk of implant removal using the log-rank test and the Cox regression model. Reasons for discontinuation were documented.
Results: 199 women were followed up. Implant discontinuation was documented in 17.1% of implant users prior to 12 months. Factors that increase the risk of implant removal are living with a partner, being aged 25–34 years and not receiving comprehensive and structured counseling from the midwife. The main reason for removal was unsatisfactory bleeding (97.1%), but this was combined with other reasons such as cessation of sexual intercourse (58.8%), worsening mood (58.8%), weight gain (55.9%) or decreased libido (50.0%).
Conclusion: The rate of discontinuous implant uses in the first year is relevant in relation to cost-effectiveness, there is room for improvement that should not be overlooked. Comprehensive and structured midwife-led counseling can reduce early implant abandonment removal. The development in different countries of the role of midwives in the management of contraceptives can contribute to the economic benefit of health services and the satisfaction of women
Sobrepasando las fronteras tecnológicas de la captación de vídeo nocturno en el documental naturaleza. El caso: "Night on earth" (Netflix, 2020)
Get PDFEste capítulo analiza las innovaciones tecnológicas aplicadas a la captación de vídeo nocturno en documentales de naturaleza, tomando como referencia el caso Night on Earth. Se examinan los avances en sensores de alta sensibilidad, cámaras térmicas y técnicas de iluminación mínima que permiten registrar imágenes en condiciones de baja luminosidad sin alterar el comportamiento animal. Asimismo, se reflexiona sobre el impacto de estas tecnologías en la narrativa audiovisual y en la percepción del espectador, destacando su papel en la evolución del género documental y en la divulgación científica.This chapter explores the technological innovations applied to nighttime video capture in nature documentaries, focusing on the case of Night on Earth. It examines advances in high-sensitivity sensors, thermal cameras, and low-light filming techniques that enable recording in minimal illumination without disturbing animal behavior. Furthermore, it reflects on the impact of these technologies on audiovisual storytelling and audience perception, highlighting their role in the evolution of the documentary genre and scientific dissemination
Enhancing Performance and Promoting Sustainability in Female Handball: The Impact of Olympic Movement Training on Jumping, Throwing, Sprinting, and Change of Direction
Get PDFImproving women’s handball through increased performance and sustainability is crucial.
Strength training, especially with Olympic movements, develops strength, power, and speed, key factors for success in team sports. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the impact of Olympic movements on performance variables such as jumps, throws, sprints, and changes of direction, and additionally, to promote a more sustainable and holistic approach to overall health and wellbeing. Twenty-one women handball players were divided into two groups (the experimental group (EG) [n = 11; age: 15.91 } 0.70 years; BMI: 21.37] and the control group (CG) [n = 10; age: 15.60 } 0.52; BMI: 22.31]). All participants performed four assessment tests to determine jump height (Abalakov test), throwing speed (throw test), running speed (20 m sprint) and change of direction ability (V-cut test). Measurements were carried out before and after the intervention.
For six weeks, the control group performed the strength work established by the club twice a week while the intervention group additionally performed training with Olympic movements. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between the pre and post measurement of the control group and the intervention group in jump height, throwing speed, and running speed, being higher in the intervention group. For change of direction, no significant differences were found. Between groups, significant differences were observed at the end of the intervention for jump height and running speed. The conclusion of this study is that the experimental group achieved greater improvements in jumping performance, throwing speed, and running speed in women handball players.This work was supported by the Government of Aragon, Research Group ValorA, under Grant No. S08_20R
Assessment of the Relationship Between Physical Performance and Percentage Change-of-Direction Deficit in Highly Trained Female Football Players
Get PDFPurpose: Different studies indicate that female players in team sports such as soccer tend to have a lower change-of-direction (COD) deficit (CODD) than their male counterparts and that players who performed better in linear and curved sprints tended to have a worse CODD, suggesting that maximum speed does not equate to a faster COD. This study assessed how performance variables related to speed and jumping influence the variability of %CODD among adult highly trained female soccer players. Methods: Fifty-two highly trained female soccer players (age 23.1 [3.25] y; height 163.6 [5.49] cm; weight 59.7 [5.71] kg) participated in this study and performed 180COD, 40-m sprint, countermovement jump, and standing broad jump tests. Results: Significant correlations were found between 180CODL, %CODDR, %CODDL, and between-limbs standing broad jump asymmetry (r = .28–.74). A very large correlation existed between %CODDR and %CODDL (r = .91). Regression analyses indicated a strong inverse relationship between the 10-m sprint time and %CODDR and %CODDL. No predictive models were found for 180COD in either limb. Differences in performance variables such as 180CODR, 180CODL, and asymmetry %CODD were significant between the high- and low-%CODD groups, with moderate to large effect sizes. Conclusion: The present study suggests that specific physical-performance variables, particularly acceleration and unilateral horizontal jumping, are vital to improving COD in highly trained female soccer players, highlighting the need for specific training interventions.Propósito: Diferentes estudios indican que las jugadoras de deportes de equipo como el fútbol tienden a tener un déficit de cambio de dirección (%CODD) menor que sus homólogos masculinos y que las jugadoras que rendían mejor en sprints lineales y curvos tendían a tener un %CODD peor, lo que sugiere que la velocidad máxima no equivale a un %CODD más rápido. Este estudio evaluó cómo las variables de rendimiento relacionadas con la velocidad y el salto influyen en la variabilidad del %CODD entre jugadoras de fútbol adultas altamente entrenadas. Métodos: Cincuenta y dos jugadoras de fútbol altamente entrenadas (edad 23,1 [3,25] años; altura 163,6 [5,49] cm; peso 59,7 [5,71] kg) participaron en este estudio y realizaron pruebas de 180COD, sprint de 40 m, salto en contramovimiento y salto de longitud de pie. Resultados: Se encontraron correlaciones significativas entre el 180CODL, el %CODDR, el %CODDL y la asimetría entre los miembros en el salto de pie (r = .28-.74). Existía una correlación muy grande entre %CODDR y %CODDL (r = 0,91). Los análisis de regresión indicaron una fuerte relación inversa entre el tiempo de sprint de 10 m y %CODDR y %CODDL. No se encontraron modelos predictivos para 180COD en ninguna de las extremidades. Las diferencias en variables de rendimiento como 180CODR, 180CODL y %CODD de asimetría fueron significativas entre los grupos con alto y bajo %CODD, con tamaños de efecto de moderados a grandes. Conclusiones: El presente estudio sugiere que variables específicas de rendimiento físico, particularmente la aceleración y el salto horizontal unilateral, son vitales para mejorar el COD en jugadoras de fútbol altamente entrenadas, destacando la necesidad de intervenciones específicas de entrenamiento
CYP3A4*1B but Not CYP3A5*3 as Determinant of Long-Term Tacrolimus Dose Requirements in Spanish Solid Organ Transplant Patients
Get PDFTacrolimus (TAC) is a commonly used immunosuppressive drug in solid organ transplantation. Pharmacogenetics has been demonstrated before to be decisive in TAC pharmacotherapy. The CYP3A5*3 variant has been reported to be the main determinant of TAC dose requirements; however, other polymorphisms have also proven to be influential, especially in CYP3A5 non-expressor patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of genetic polymorphisms in TAC therapy in a cohort of Spanish transplant recipients. Genetic analysis including ten polymorphic variants was performed, and demographic and clinical data and pharmacotherapy of 26 patients were analyzed. No significant differences were found in weight-adjusted dose between CYP3A5 expressors and non-expressors (0.047 mg/kg vs. 0.044 mg/kg), while they were found for carriers of the CYP3A4*1B allele (0.101 mg/kg; p < 0.05). The results showed that patients with at least one CYP3A4*1B allele had a higher TAC dose and lower blood concentration. Dose-adjusted TAC blood levels were also lower in CYP3A4*1B carriers compared to non-carriers (0.72 ng/mL/mg vs. 2.88 ng/mL/mg). These results support the independence of CYP3A5*3 and CYP3A4*1B variants as determinants of dose requirements despite the linkage disequilibrium present between the two. The variability in genotype frequency between ethnicities may be responsible for the discrepancy found between studies
Validity and stability of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short-Form for stroke survivors with preserved walking ability
Get PDFBackground: Stroke survivors usually present sedentary lifestyles and fail to comply with the World Health Organization physical activity recommendations. Reliable, low-cost, and fast
tools are needed to monitor physical activity levels in this population.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the content and face validity, construct validity, and test-retest stability of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short-Form (IPAQ-SF)
in stroke survivors.
Methods: 120 stroke survivors able to walk independently and preserved comprehension and communication abilities (61±12 years, 35% female) were involved in this psychometric study.
Participants completed the interview form of the IPAQ-SF via standardised videoconference twice, one week apart, under identical conditions, to evaluate test-retest stability. Correlations
between IPAQ-SF and the caloric expenditure during the minutes of activity registered with the Fitbit Inspire 2 activity tracker wristband and 6-Metre Timed Walk (6MTW) were explored to
assess construct validity.
Results: The IPAQ-SF showed good content and face validity. ‘Moderate’ to ‘strong’ correlations were found with the Fitbit Inspire 2 (rho: 0.40 to 0.63), while ‘weak’ to ‘moderate’
correlations were found with the 6MTW (rho: 0.35 to 0.50). Test-retest stability was ‘moderate’ to ‘excellent’ (κ: 0.844 to 0.881; ICC: 0.533 to 0.917).
Conclusions: The IPAQ-SF demonstrated satisfactory content and construct validity, and stability in stroke survivors, supporting its clinical and research utility when the data collection
is conducted by trained evaluators using a standardized interview protocol in large samples