Watching television: a previously unrecognized powerful trigger of λ waves.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether lambda waves are elicited by watching television (TV) and their association with demographical and EEG features. METHODS: We retrospectively compared lambda wave occurrence in prolonged EEG monitorings of outpatients who were allowed to watch TV and in standard EEGs recorded in TV-free rooms. All EEGs were interpreted by the same two electroencephalographers. RESULTS: Of 2,072 standard EEG reports, 36 (1.7 %) mentioned lambda waves versus 46 (32.2%) of 143 prolonged EEG monitoring reports (P < 0.001). Multivariable comparison of prolonged EEG monitorings and standard EEGs disclosed that recordings performed in rooms with a TV (odds ratio, 20.6; 95% confidence interval, 4.8-88.0) and normal EEGs (odds ratio, 3.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-6.25) were independently associated with lambda waves. In the prolonged EEG monitoring group, all recordings with lambda waves also had positive occipital sharp transients of sleep. CONCLUSIONS: Watching TV likely represents a powerful and previously unrecognized stimulus for lambda waves. Furthermore, this study confirms the benign nature of this EEG variant and its strong association with positive occipital sharp transients of sleep.

The future of television : advertising, technology and the pursuit of audiences

La televisió està en crisi. Les noves tecnologies i els dispositius han fragmentat les audiències de televisió en segments més petits. En aquest informe, Marissa Gluck i Meritxell Roca Sales examinen l'explosió dels mitjans de comunicació que han impulsat aquesta fragmentació.

Video Gaming in Children Improves Performance on a Virtual Reality Trainer but Does Not yet Make a Laparoscopic Surgeon.

Background: In children, video game experience improves spatial performance, a predictor of surgical performance. This study aims at comparing laparoscopic virtual reality (VR) task performance of children with different levels of experience in video games and residents. Participants and methods: A total of 32 children (8.4 to 12.1 years), 20 residents, and 14 board-certified surgeons (total n = 66) performed several VR and 2 conventional tasks (cube/spatial and pegboard/fine motor). Performance between the groups was compared (primary outcome). VR performance was correlated with conventional task performance (secondary outcome). Results: Lowest VR performance was found in children with low video game experience, followed by those with high video game experience, residents, and board-certified surgeons. VR performance correlated well with the spatial test and moderately with the fine motor test. Conclusions: The use of computer games can be considered not only as pure entertainment but may also contribute to the development of skills relevant for adequate performance in VR laparoscopic tasks. Spatial skills are relevant for VR laparoscopic task performance.

Living with digestive stomas: strategies to cope with the new bodily reality.

OBJECTIVE the objective in this study was to describe the strategies developed by digestive stoma patients to cope with their situation. METHOD a qualitative and descriptive study was undertaken, involving 21 stoma patients living in the provinces of Málaga and Granada (Spain). The informants were selected in accordance with criteria of appropriateness and diversity, through intentional sampling. The data were collected by means of semistructured interviews. RESULTS the content analysis revealed three categories around which the distinct strategies were developed: Self-care, Adaptation to the bodily change and Self-help. CONCLUSION the strategies developed are focusing on achieving the effective management of the stoma and are closely linked with the achievement of autonomy. Discovering the strategies applied is fundamental for the nursing professionals to offer high-quality care, centered on people and their process.

Iowa Department of Education - Iowa Public Television, Agency Performance Plan

Annual Report, Agency Performance Plan

Iowa Public Television, June 30, 2003

State Agency Audit Report

Personality traits and virtual reality performance.

BACKGROUND: Surgeons' personalities have been described as different from those of the general population, but this was based on small descriptive studies limited by the choice of evaluation instrument. Furthermore, although the importance of the human factor in team performance has been recognized, the effect of personality traits on technical performance is unknown. This study aimed to compare surgical residents' personality traits with those of the general population and to evaluate whether an association exists between their personality traits and technical performance using a virtual reality (VR) laparoscopy simulator. METHODS: In this study, 95 participants (54 residents with basic, 29 with intermediate laparoscopic experience, and 12 students) underwent personality assessment using the NEO-Five Factor Inventory and performed five VR tasks of the Lap Mentor? basic tasks module. The residents' personality traits were compared with those of the general population, and the association between VR performance and personality traits was investigated. RESULTS: Surgical residents showed personality traits different from those of the general population, demonstrating lower neuroticism, higher extraversion and conscientiousness, and male residents showed greater openness. In the multivariable analysis, adjusted for gender and surgical experience, none of the personality traits was found to be an independent predictor of technical performance. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical residents present distinct personality traits that differ from those of the general population. These traits were not found to be associated with technical performance in a virtual environment. The traits may, however, play an important role in team performance, which in turn is highly relevant for optimal surgical performance.

Iowa Public Television, Independent Auditor's Reports, Financial Statements and Supplementary Information, June 30, 2004

State Agency Audit Report

The migration towards Digital Terrestrial Television: challenges for public policy and public broadcasters

This paper initially identifies the main transformations of the television system that are caused by digitalization. Its development in several broadcasting platforms is analyzed as well as the particular obstacles and requirements that are detected for each of them. Due to its technical characteristics and its historical link to the public services, the terrestrial network requires migration strategies different from those strictly commercial, and public intervention might be needed. The paper focuses on such migration strategies towards DTT and identifies the main issues for public intervention in the areas of the digital scenario: technology, business and market transformation and the reception field. Moreover, it describes and classifies the challenges that public broadcasters should confront due to digitalization. This paper finally concludes that the leadership of the public broadcasters during the migration towards DTT is an interesting tool for public policy. The need for foster the digitalization of the terrestrial platform and to achieve certain social and public goal besides the market interest brings an opportunity for public institutions and public broadcasters to work together. That leading role could also be positive for the public service to face its necessary redefinition and reallocation within the digital context.

Iowa Public Television, Independent Auditor's Reports, Financial Statements and Supplementary Information, June 30, 2005

State Audit Reports

Assessment of construct validity of a virtual reality laparoscopy simulator.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess whether virtual reality (VR) can discriminate between the skills of novices and intermediate-level laparoscopic surgical trainees (construct validity), and whether the simulator assessment correlates with an expert's evaluation of performance. METHODS: Three hundred and seven (307) participants of the 19th-22nd Davos International Gastrointestinal Surgery Workshops performed the clip-and-cut task on the Xitact LS 500 VR simulator (Xitact S.A., Morges, Switzerland). According to their previous experience in laparoscopic surgery, participants were assigned to the basic course (BC) or the intermediate course (IC). Objective performance parameters recorded by the simulator were compared to the standardized assessment by the course instructors during laparoscopic pelvitrainer and conventional surgery exercises. RESULTS: IC participants performed significantly better on the VR simulator than BC participants for the task completion time as well as the economy of movement of the right instrument, not the left instrument. Participants with maximum scores in the pelvitrainer cholecystectomy task performed the VR trial significantly faster, compared to those who scored less. In the conventional surgery task, a significant difference between those who scored the maximum and those who scored less was found not only for task completion time, but also for economy of movement of the right instrument. CONCLUSIONS: VR simulation provides a valid assessment of psychomotor skills and some basic aspects of spatial skills in laparoscopic surgery. Furthermore, VR allows discrimination between trainees with different levels of experience in laparoscopic surgery establishing construct validity for the Xitact LS 500 clip-and-cut task. Virtual reality may become the gold standard to assess and monitor surgical skills in laparoscopic surgery.

Iowa Iowa Public Television Performance Report, FY 2004

Agency Performance Report

Iowa Iowa Public Television Performance Report, FY 2005

Agency Performance Report

Mielikuvien luominen traileroinnilla : tutkimuskohteena Big Brother Suomi

The thesis studies the launch campaign of Big Brother Finland, especially from the viewpoint of on-air promotion. Interest to the subject arose when participating in the campaign as an on-air promotion planner together with Subtv's marketing director, on-air promotion editor and the channel's advertising agency. The launch of the campaign was a challenge due to the format, since not a lot of information can be revealed before the start of the program. When the planning started, all the material consisted of two logos. The first season of the Finnish version of Big Brother begun on Subtv August 2005. The goal of the program was to become a topic of discussion on TV on the fall 2005 and to raise the profile of the channel. The goal of the launch was to get good ratings for the first episode. The launch campaign was also supposed to open up the format to the viewers and to arouse interest in the show. Secrecy and the size of the program were set to be the marketing tones of the launch. Although partly different messages were told via on-air promotion and external media, the campaign was congruent in visual design. In the study, interviews of Subtv's staff, campaign plans and notes were used as research material. From the aspect of affecting images and emotions, the finished campaign promos and other on-air elements were analyzed. In on-air promotion, all choices in audio and visual design affect the outcome and therefore the images that the viewer constructs. The two promo series were made to affect emotions and to awaken curiosity. Other on-air elements were merely used to present program information. The campaign and the series were accepted with enthusiasm. The launch of the second season was even more massive than the first. Participation in the launch campaign of Big Brother Finland was an essential experience in the development of professional identity. When one has taken part in the creation of a massive campaign from scarce materials, tools are given to future assignments in the field of on-air promotion.

Tavallisia tarinoita : rivikansalaiset television uutisjutuissa

Tässä opinnäytetyössä käsittelen tavallisia ihmisiä televisiouutisten jutuissa käyttäen esimerkkeinä uutisjuttuja Nelosen ja MTV3:n kotimaan uutisista. Tavoitteeni on tutkia tavallisen ihmisen rooleja ja tehtäviä television uutisjutuissa, sekä tarkastella ”rivikansalaisten” käyttämistä uutisjutuissa toimittajantyön kannalta. Valotan sitä, mitä MTV3 ja Nelonen uutisillaan tavoittelevat, millaisista lähtökohdista kanavat toimivat ja miten kanavien arvot vaikuttavat tavallisten ihmisen esiintymiseen uutisjutuissa. Esittelen ja analysoin erilaisia juttutyyppejä, joissa tavallisia ihmisiä uutisissa esiintyy, pohdin millaisia tarinoita ja sisältöjä heidän kannaltaan kerrotaan ja millaisissa rooleissa he esiintyvät. Pohdin myös sitä, mitä lisäarvoa tavallisilla ihmisillä uutisjuttuihin haetaan ja sitä, voisiko arjen näkökulmaa laajentaa niistä juttutyypeistä, joissa se nyt jo esiintyy. Tarkastelen omien kokemuksieni pohjalta myös, millaisia käytännöllisiä, moraalisia ja journalistisia pulmia ja mahdollisuuksia tavallisten ihmisten käyttämiseen television uutisjutuissa liittyy. Käsittelen myös sitä, mihin tavalliset ihmiset asettuvat uutisten hierarkiassa, ja miten heidän esiintymisensä uutisjutuissa vaikuttaa uutisen objektiivisuuteen. Tavallinen ihminen on uutisjutussa elävöittävä kokija, toimija tai passiivinen toiminnan kohde. Hän voi esiintyä lähes minkä tahansa tyyppisessä uutisjutussa kuvittajana, kommentoijana, uutiskuorman keventäjänä tai jutulle rakenteen antavana tapauksena. Tavalliset ihmiset esiintyvät televisiouutisten gallupeissa tai avaamassa keskustelunaiheita elämäntilanteellaan. Usein he esiintyvät toimittajan tai toimituksen alter egoina, ottavat kantaa asioihin vapaina uutishuoneen objektiivisen totuuden oletusarvosta. Televisio on arkinen, perhekeskeinen ja tasa-arvoinen väline, joka joutuu taistelemaan huomiosta kodin muiden tapahtumien kanssa. Viihtymisen kannalta on olennaista kuvata ihmiskasvoja, tehdä uutisista tarinoita ja tarjota samaistuttavia elementtejä katsojalle. Vaikka monet tutkijat sijoittavat tavallisen ihmisen uutishierarkian alimmalle portaalle, heillä on uutisjutuissa viihdyttäjän osan ohella tärkeä tehtävä totuudenpuhujina.