The effect of time manipulation on immersion in digital games

Many empirical studies look into identifying factors that influence the quality of experience in video games. In this paper, we present research into the effect of playing time and players’ perception of the time on their immersion in the game. We invited 20 participants to play a puzzle game Bejeweled 2 for 7 min. They played the game in two conditions, namely, correct time (timer was programmed to be exactly 7 min) and wrong time (the countdown was set to be for 6 min, but was presented as a 7 min timer to the player). Players’ immersion scores were measured after the game using the IEQ. The results show no significant difference in immersion scores between the two conditions and participants’ comments also revealed that they perceived no difference in playing time between the conditions. This suggests that there is a dissociation between gaming time and subjective experience of gaming. Further research is required to investigate the relationship between playing time and positive gaming experiences

Numerical modelling of thermo-hydromechanical (THM) in deforming porous media for subsurface systems

The study of multiphase flow and heat flow in partially saturated porous media is important in environmental geomechanics engineering because of its relevance to consolidation of porous media in unsaturated zone. A numerical model which describes the thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) coupled problems in deformable porous material with two-phase flow has been developed. The relationships between capillary pressure, saturation of water and relative permeabilities of water and gas, proposed by Brooks and Corey was used. An extended study of the numerical model, based on the COMES-GEO code was conducted recently to solve unsaturated problems in local condition of Kg. Puteh wellfield, Kota Bharu. This site is a potential shallow aquifer which contribute to the largest groundwater supply in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Some numerical investigation on the proposed formulation is discussed with illustrative example problems to demonstrate solution procedures and validating of the model

Effects of Organic Load on Basic Geotechnical Properties of Compacted Sand-kaolinite Mixture

In the laboratory, four PVC sand-kaolinite mixture columns, each of 150 cm depth and 15 cm diameter, were fed with solutions of sodium acetate equivalent to 20,000 p.p.m., 30,000 p.p.m., 40,000 p.p.m., and 50,000 p.p.m. BOD (biochemical oxygen demand). Soil physical and chemical properties, such as Atterberg limits, specific gravity, soil pH and soil organic content, altered markedly within 40 days of continuous feeding. The results showed that feed with higher BOD values increased the soil organic content as well as soil pH; and thereby the specific gravity and Atterberg limits were lowered

Pre service teachers’ development of pedagogic content knowledge: a multifaceted case study

One important aspect of research with regards to teacher’s knowledge is explaining in detail how student teachers develop their pedagogic content knowledge. Pedagogic content knowledge is multidimensional, such research needs to be able to represent a rich picture of how pre-service teachers develop this knowledge during a teacher education programme. Therefore, research into teachers’ pedagogic content knowledge requires not only multiple instruments for its exploration but also multi-method triangulation of data analysis. In this way not only are perspectives of pedagogic content knowledge explored but the practicality of focusing on and studying pedagogic content knowledge can also be estimated by corroborating the data to represent a rich picture of pedagogic content knowledge. Thus, this paper illustrates the so-called multifaceted case study that was conducted at a university Department of Educational Studies in England. Quantitative and qualitative data that resulted from the study were analysed and interpreted to measure whether the instruments and research design are adequate for constructing the judgment of the nature of pedagogic content knowledge among student teachers

Determinan Penggunaan Kontrasepsi Pada Ibu Di Puskesmas Managaisaki

Latar Belakang : Salah satu upaya yang dilakukan untuk menangani masalah kependudukan adalah dengan menggalakkan program keluarga berencana. Keluarga berencana merupakan upaya peningkatan kepedulian dan peran serta masyarakat melalui pendewasaan usia perkawinan, pengaturan kelahiran, pembinaan ketahanan keluarga, peningkatan kesejahteraan keluarga untuk mewujudkan keluarga kecil, bahagia dan sejahtera. Penggunaan alat kontrasepsi merupakan salah satu cara untuk mengatasi permasalahan yang berhubungan dengan fertilitas. Penggunaan kontrasepsi tidak hanya dipengaruhi oleh faktor individu, faktor sosial seperti pengaruh keluarga dan masyarakat juga mempengaruhi penggunaan kontrasepsi. (BKKBN, 2007) Tujuan penelitian : Diketahuinya determinan penggunaan kontrasepsi pada ibu di Puskesmas Managaisaki. Metode Penelitian : Jenis penelitian analitik dengan rancangan cross sectional study, sampel dalam penelitian ini sebanyak 98 responden dengan tekhnik pengambilan sampel secara accidental sampling. Hasil Penelitian : hasil penelitian menunjukkan sebagian besar ibu menggunakan kontrasepsi 62 (63,27%), sebagian besar ibu memiliki pengetahuan yang baik yaitu sebesar 65 (66,33%), sebagian besar responden berpendidikan rendah yaitu berjumlah 52 (53.06%), dan sebagian besar Ibu mempunyai status ekonomi kurang yaitu berjumlah 56 (57.14%). hasil uji statistik variabel pengetahuan, pendidikan dan status ekonomi berhubungan dengan penggunaan kontrasepsi. Kesimpulan : Terdapat hubungan bermakna antara pengetahuan, pendidikan dan status ekonomi berhubungan dengan penggunaan kontrasepsi. Saran : Bagi Puskesmas Managaisaki, sosialisasi tentang keluarga kecil perlu ditingkatkan, untuk menjadi motivasi dalam merencanakan keluarga dimasa yang akan datang, Perlu kerjasama lintas sektor (Puskesmas dan BKKBN) untuk menyediakan subsidi biaya pembelian alat kontrasepsi dan jasa pelayanan agar memudahkan akses masyarakat terhadap penggunaan kontrasepsi

Influence of certain carbon and nitrogen sources on antagonistic potentiality of Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus subtillus against Botrytis allii the incitant of onion neck rot

Gliotoxin Fermentation Agar (GFA) Medium and Nutrient Glucose Agar   (NGA) medium with different carbon and nitrogen sources were used to study the impact of carbon and nitrogen sources on Trichoderma harzianum Rifai and Bacillus subtillus Cohn antagonistic efficiency against growth of Botrytis allii Munn. Results indicated that Trichoderma harzianum gave the highest inhibition % in growth of Botrytis allii when Sucrose was used as a carbon source while the lowest values of inhibition% were appeared by application of Mannitol as a carbon source. Trichoderma harzianum gave the highest inhibition% in growth of B.allii when use Potassium nitrate  as a nitrogen source while the lowest values of inhibition% in growth of B.allii were obtained by application of Beef extract as a nitrogen source. Results showed also that Bacillus subtillus gave the highest inhibition% in growth of B.allii when Mannitol was used as a carbon source while the lowest values of inhibition% in growth of B.allii were appeared by application of Sucrose as a carbon source. Bacillus subtillus gave the highest inhibition% in growth of B.allii when use Glutamic acid as a nitrogen source while the lowest values of inhibition% in growth of B.allii were appeared by application of Tryptophan as a nitrogen source.