El Advergaming en el digital signage: actores que determinan la obtención del "flow experience" de acuerdo a la ubicación de un dispositivo de emisión de contenido digital, dinámico e interactivo con videojuegos de marca

En la recerca d’eines que suposen la interactivitat com a punt clau en el model de comunicació, la present investi- gació aborda l’ús de videojocs amb contingut publicitari o “advergaming” com a punt central d’estudi i pretén es- tablir els factors que determinen una experiència de joc òptima a través de l’ús de pantalles digitals com a mitjà difusor d’aquest tipus de contingut. Parlarem de “flow experience” o teoria de la psicologia po- sitiva segons el seu creador i precursor Mihály Csíkszent- mihályi, i serà la perspectiva des de la qual pretenem desenvolupar aquest estudi, entenent el “flow experience” com l’estat òptim o nivell més alt d’experiència d’usuari que es pot assolir durant una activitat

The so-called "Spanish model" - Tobacco industry strategies and its impact in Europe and Latin America

Background To demonstrate the tobacco industry rationale behind the "Spanish model" on non-smokers' protection in hospitality venues and the impact it had on some European and Latin American countries between 2006 and 2011. Methods Tobacco industry documents research triangulated against news and media reports. Results As an alternative to the successful implementation of 100% smoke-free policies, several European and Latin American countries introduced partial smoking bans based on the so-called "Spanish model", a legal framework widely advocated by parts of the hospitality industry with striking similarities to "accommodation programmes" promoted by the tobacco industry in the late 1990s. These developments started with the implementation of the Spanish tobacco control law (Ley 28/2005) in 2006 and have increased since then. Conclusion The Spanish experience demonstrates that partial smoking bans often resemble tobacco industry strategies and are used to spread a failed approach on international level. Researchers, advocates and policy makers should be aware of this ineffective policy.

Applicability of a distributed watershed pollution model in a data-poor environment in Santa Catarina State, Brazil

Intensification of agricultural production without a sound management and regulations can lead to severe environmental problems, as in Western Santa Catarina State, Brazil, where intensive swine production has caused large accumulations of manure and consequently water pollution. Natural resource scientists are asked by decision-makers for advice on management and regulatory decisions. Distributed environmental models are useful tools, since they can be used to explore consequences of various management practices. However, in many areas of the world, quantitative data for model calibration and validation are lacking. The data-intensive distributed environmental model AgNPS was applied in a data-poor environment, the upper catchment (2,520 ha) of the Ariranhazinho River, near the city of Seara, in Santa Catarina State. Steps included data preparation, cell size selection, sensitivity analysis, model calibration and application to different management scenarios. The model was calibrated based on a best guess for model parameters and on a pragmatic sensitivity analysis. The parameters were adjusted to match model outputs (runoff volume, peak runoff rate and sediment concentration) closely with the sparse observed data. A modelling grid cell resolution of 150 m adduced appropriate and computer-fit results. The rainfall runoff response of the AgNPS model was calibrated using three separate rainfall ranges (< 25, 25-60, > 60 mm). Predicted sediment concentrations were consistently six to ten times higher than observed, probably due to sediment trapping along vegetated channel banks. Predicted N and P concentrations in stream water ranged from just below to well above regulatory norms. Expert knowledge of the area, in addition to experience reported in the literature, was able to compensate in part for limited calibration data. Several scenarios (actual, recommended and excessive manure applications, and point source pollution from swine operations) could be compared by the model, using a relative ranking rather than quantitative predictions.

On the industry experience premium and labor mobility

[cat] Hi ha evidència que l'experiència es remunera diferentment segons la indústria. Proposem un model teòric que explica aquestes diferències. Suposem que la mobilitat de treballadors aporta coneixement extern a l'empresa i això augmenta la seva productivitat. Els resultats mostren que l'experiència és millor remunerada en les indústries amb costos de mobilitat baixos, amb molt aprenentatge (learning-by-doing) i alt nivell tecnològic. A més, trobem una relació en forma de U entre la remuneració de l'experiència i el nivell d'absorció de coneixement extern, la substitutibilitat entre diferents tipus de treballadors i la varietat de coneixement dins la indústria. Els resultats són consistents amb l'evidència que les indústries intensives en I and D remuneren millor l'experiència.

On the industry experience premium and labor mobility

[cat] Hi ha evidència que l'experiència es remunera diferentment segons la indústria. Proposem un model teòric que explica aquestes diferències. Suposem que la mobilitat de treballadors aporta coneixement extern a l'empresa i això augmenta la seva productivitat. Els resultats mostren que l'experiència és millor remunerada en les indústries amb costos de mobilitat baixos, amb molt aprenentatge (learning-by-doing) i alt nivell tecnològic. A més, trobem una relació en forma de U entre la remuneració de l'experiència i el nivell d'absorció de coneixement extern, la substitutibilitat entre diferents tipus de treballadors i la varietat de coneixement dins la indústria. Els resultats són consistents amb l'evidència que les indústries intensives en I and D remuneren millor l'experiència.

Measuring brain perfusion with intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM): Initial clinical experience.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) perfusion measurements in the brain with currently available imaging systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We acquired high in-plane resolution (1.2 × 1.2 mm(2) ) diffusion-weighted images with 16 different values of b ranging from 0 to 900 s/mm(2) , in three orthogonal directions, on 3T systems with a 32-multichannel receiver head coil. IVIM perfusion maps were extracted by fitting a double exponential model of signal amplitude decay. Regions of interest were drawn in pathological and control regions, where IVIM perfusion parameters were compared to the corresponding dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) parameters. RESULTS: Hyperperfusion was found in the nonnecrotic or cystic part of two histologically proven glioblastoma multiforme and in two histologically proven glioma WHO grade III, as well as in a brain metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma, in a large meningioma, and in a case of ictal hyperperfusion. A monoexponential decay was found in a territory of acute ischemia, as well as in the necrotic part of a glioblastoma. The IVIM perfusion fraction f correlated well with DSC CBV. CONCLUSION: Our initial report suggests that high-resolution brain perfusion imaging is feasible with IVIM in the current clinical setting. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;39:624-632. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Factor structure of early smoking experiences and associations with smoking behavior: valence or sensitivity model?

The Early Smoking Experience (ESE) questionnaire is the most widely used questionnaire to assess initial subjective experiences of cigarette smoking. However, its factor structure is not clearly defined and can be perceived from two main standpoints: valence, or positive and negative experiences, and sensitivity to nicotine. This article explores the ESE's factor structure and determines which standpoint was more relevant. It compares two groups of young Swiss men (German- and French-speaking). We examined baseline data on 3,368 tobacco users from a representative sample in the ongoing Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C-SURF). ESE, continued tobacco use, weekly smoking and nicotine dependence were assessed. Exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were performed. ESEM clearly distinguished positive experiences from negative experiences, but negative experiences were divided in experiences related to dizziness and experiences related to irritations. SEM underlined the reinforcing effects of positive experiences, but also of experiences related to dizziness on nicotine dependence and weekly smoking. The best ESE structure for predictive accuracy of experiences on smoking behavior was a compromise between the valence and sensitivity standpoints, which showed clinical relevance.

Helical tomotherapy in the treatment of anal canal cancer: 3-year clinical experience

Objective: To report a single-center experience treating patients with squamous- cell carcinoma of the anal canal using helical Tomotherapy (HT) and concurrent chemotherapy (CT).Materials/Methods: From October 2007 to February 2011, 55 patients were treated with HT and concurrent CT (5-fluorouracil/capecitabin and mitomycin) for anal squamous-cell carcinoma. All patients underwent computed- tomography-based treatment planning, with pelvic and inguinal nodes receiving 36 Gy in 1.8 Gy/fraction. Following a planned 1-week break, primary tumor site and involved nodes were boosted to a total dose 59.4 Gy in 1.8 Gy/fraction. Dose-volume histograms of several organs at risk (OAR; bladder, small intestine, rectum, femoral heads, penile bulb, external genitalia) were assessed in terms of conformal avoidance. All toxicity was scored according to the CTCAE, v.3.0. HT plans and treatment were implemented using the Tomotherapy, Inc. software and hardware. For dosimetric comparisons, 3D RT and/or IMRT plans were also computed for some of the patients using the CMS planning system, for treatment with 6-18 MV photons and/or electrons with suitable energies from a Siemens Primus linear accelerator equipped with a multileaf collimator.Locoregional control and survival curves were compared with the log-rank test, and multivariate analysis by the Cox model.Results: With 360-degree-of-freedom beam projection, HT has an advantage over other RT techniques (3D or 5-field step-and-shot IMRT). There is significant improvement over 3D or 5-field IMRT plans in terms of dose conformity around the PTV, and dose gradients are steeper outside the target volume, resulting in reduced doses to OARs. Using HT, acute toxicity was acceptable, and seemed to be better than historical standards.Conclusions: Our results suggest that HT combined with concurrent CT for anal cancer is effective and tolerable. Compared to 3D RT or 5-field step-andshot IMRT, there is better conformity around the PTV, and better OAR sparing.

Genetic abnormalities and survival in multiple myeloma: the experience of the Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome.

Acquired genomic aberrations have been shown to significantly impact survival in several hematologic malignancies. We analyzed the prognostic value of the most frequent chromosomal changes in a large series of patients with newly diagnosed symptomatic myeloma prospectively enrolled in homogeneous therapeutic trials. All the 1064 patients enrolled in the IFM99 trials conducted by the Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome benefited from an interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis performed on purified bone marrow plasma cells. They were systematically screened for the following genomic aberrations: del(13), t(11;14), t(4;14), hyperdiploidy, MYC translocations, and del(17p). Chromosomal changes were observed in 90% of the patients. The del(13), t(11;14), t(4;14), hyperdiploidy, MYC translocations, and del(17p) were present in 48%, 21%, 14%, 39%, 13%, and 11% of the patients, respectively. After a median follow-up of 41 months, univariate statistical analyses revealed that del(13), t(4;14), nonhyperdiploidy, and del(17p) negatively impacted both the event-free survival and the overall survival, whereas t(11;14) and MYC translocations did not influence the prognosis. Multivariate analyses on 513 patients annotated for all the parameters showed that only t(4;14) and del(17p) retained prognostic value for both the event-free and overall survivals. When compared with the currently used International Staging System, this prognostic model compares favorably. In myeloma, the genomic aberrations t(4;14) and del(17p), together with beta2-microglobulin level, are important independent predictors of survival. These findings have implications for the design of risk-adapted treatment strategies.

Reinventar la metròpoli: Barcelona i el model de la Greater London Authority

La dècada de 1980 va significar un punt i a part per als governs metropolitans. Després de viure una època daurada durant els 60 i 70, la reestructuració del sistema politicoeconòmic va comportar que les estructures de govern metropolità fossin qüestionades i fins i tot suprimides. Quan tot semblava indicar que restarien només com a record, la lògica de competència entre grans ciutats i la necessitat de reinventar-se en base a un desenvolupament sostenible va suposar un inesperat renaixement de la política metropolitana. Si fins aleshores la seva necessitat s'havia justificat bàsicament des d'un punt de vista funcional, seguint pautes tecnòcrates i burocratitzades, la nova metropolítica se centra en la competitivitat i en la sostenibilitat, alhora que posa èmfasi en assajar mètodes de governança. Londres, ciutat que presenta certs paral·lelismes històrics amb Barcelona, ha estat una ciutat pionera i de la seva experiència es pot aprendre per la capital catalana

The definition of quality of life in solid organ transplantation: A psychological qualitative model

Quality of life has been extensively discussed in acute and chronic illnesses. However a dynamic model grounded in the experience of patients in the course of transplantation has not been to our knowledge developed. In a qualitative longitudinal study, patients awaiting solid organ transplantation participated in semi-structured interviews: Exploring topics pre-selected on previous research literature review. Creative interview was privileged, open to themes patients would like to discuss at the different steps of the transplantation process. A qualitative thematic and reflexive analysis was performed, and a model of the dimensions constitutive of quality of life from the perspective of the patients was elaborated. Quality of life is not a stable construct in a long lasting illness-course, but evolves with illness constraints, treatments and outcomes. Dimensions constitutive of quality of life are defined, each of them containing different sub-categories depending on the organ related illness co-morbidities and the stage of illness-course.

Combining digital elevation model analysis and run-out modeling to characterize hazard posed by a potentially unstable rock slope at Turtle Mountain, Alberta, Canada

Turtle Mountain in Alberta, Canada has become an important field laboratory for testing different techniques related to the characterization and monitoring of large slope mass movements as the stability of large portions of the eastern face of the mountain is still questionable. In order to better quantify the volumes potentially unstable and the most probable failure mechanisms and potential consequences, structural analysis and runout modeling were preformed. The structural features of the eastern face were investigated using a high resolution digital elevation model (HRDEM). According to displacement datasets and structural observations, potential failure mechanisms affecting different portions of the mountain have been assessed. The volumes of the different potentially unstable blocks have been calculated using the Sloping Local Base Level (SLBL) method. Based on the volume estimation, two and three dimensional dynamic runout analyses have been performed. Calibration of this analysis is based on the experience from the adjacent Frank Slide and other similar rock avalanches. The results will be used to improve the contingency plans within the hazard area.

Endoluminal surgical triangulation: overcoming challenges of colonic endoscopic submucosal dissections using a novel flexible endoscopic surgical platform: feasibility study in a porcine model.

BACKGROUND: Colonic endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is challenging as a result of the limited ability of conventional endoscopic instruments to achieve traction and exposure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of colonic ESD in a porcine model using a novel endoscopic surgical platform, the Anubiscope (Karl Storz, Tüttlingen, Germany), equipped with two working channels for surgical instruments with four degrees of freedom offering surgical triangulation. METHODS: Nine ESDs were performed by a surgeon without any ESD experience in three swine, at 25, 15, and 10 cm above the anal verge with the Anubiscope. Sixteen ESDs were performed by an experienced endoscopist in five swine using conventional endoscopic instruments. Major ESD steps included the following for both groups: scoring the area, submucosal injection of glycerol, precut, and submucosal dissection. Outcomes measured were as follows: dissection time and speed, specimen size, en bloc dissection, and complications. RESULTS: No perforations occurred in the Anubis group, while there were eight perforations (50 %) in the conventional group (p = 0.02). Complete and en bloc dissections were achieved in all cases in the Anubis group. Mean dissection time for completed cases was statistically significantly shorter in the Anubis group (32.3 ± 16.1 vs. 55.87 ± 7.66 min; p = 0.0019). Mean specimen size was higher in the conventional group (1321 ± 230 vs. 927.77 ± 229.96 mm(2); p = 0.003), but mean dissection speed was similar (35.95 ± 18.93 vs. 23.98 ± 5.02 mm(2)/min in the Anubis and conventional groups, respectively; p = 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Colonic ESDs were feasible in pig models with the Anubiscope. This surgical endoscopic platform is promising for endoluminal surgical procedures such as ESD, as it is user-friendly, effective, and safe.

Faculty-librarians collaboration in an e-learning experience : resources management and training in Open University of Catalonia (UOC)

The traditional model of learning based on knowledge transfer doesn't promote the acquisition of information-related competencies and development of autonomous learning. More needs to be done to embrace learner-centred approaches, based on constructivism, collaboration and co-operation. This new learning paradigm is aligned with the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) requirements. In this sense, a learning experience based in faculty' librarian collaboration was seen as the best option for promoting student engagement and also a way to increase information-related competences in Open University of Catalonia (UOC) academic context. This case study outlines the benefits of teacher-librarian collaboration in terms of pedagogy innovation, resources management and introduction of open educational resources (OER) in virtual classrooms, Information literacy (IL) training and use of 2.0 tools in teaching. Our faculty-librarian's collaboration aims to provide an example of technology-enhanced learning and demonstrate how working together improves the quality and relevance of educational resources in UOC's virtual classrooms. Under this new approach, while teachers change their role from instructors to facilitators of the learning process and extend their reach to students, libraries acquire an important presence in the academic learning communities.

Three-dimensional model of bubbling fluidized bed combustion

 Diplomityön tarkoituksena on kehittää kolmiulotteinen malli kerrosleijupoltolle. Työn kirjallisuusosa sisältää seuraavat perusteet kerrosleijupolton tekniikasta: yleistiedot, leijutus- ja palamisilmiöt, kiinteän aineen ja kaasun sekoittuminen, päästöt ja lämmönsiirto. Lisäksi palamissysteemin mallinnuksen perusteet ja ratkaisumenetelmät ovat esitelty. Työn mallinnusosassa kehitetty koodi on ohjelmoitu Fortran-ohjelmointikielellä. Kehitetty malli perustuu olemassa olevaan malliin kiertoleijupoltosta. Yhtälö kiintoainekonsentraatioprofiilille on vaihdettu ja kiertovirta on poistettu koodista. Mallilla on tehty herkkyystarkasteluja polttoaineen ja kaasun sekoittumisen sekä reaktiokertoimen vaikutukselle. Visualisointi on tehty ohjelmassa Tecplot 360 ja mallinnustuloksia on vertailtu mitattuihin tuloksiin. Mallin laskemattulokset vastaavat hyvin mittaustuloksia ja kokemusperäisiä tietoja; monissa tapauksissa malli pystyy kvantitatiivisesti kuvaamaan parametrien variointia ja kaikissa tapauksissa malli antaa ainakin kvalitatiivisesti oikeita tuloksia. Työhön liittyvän kehityksen ja mallinnuskokemuksen perusteella on tehty ehdotukset mallin tulevaa kehitystä ja mittauksia varten.