Does Personality Moderate the Relationship Between Video Gaming and Quality of Life?

Video game research has expanded greatly in recent decades, fueled partly by concerns that video game content affects real-word behaviors and experiences. Despite the preponderance of research on the effects of video game content on various outcomes, there are still areas left to be explored. For example, while the American Psychological Association has concluded that violent video game content serves as a risk factor for real-life aggression, the association has also recommended the pursuit of additional research on alternative variables that may influence the relationship between video game content and outcomes (APA Task Force on Violent Media, 2015). The present study was designed to explore whether personality dimensions have a moderating effect on the relationship between video game content and quality of life (QoL). Video game content was measured using content descriptors (i.e., content warnings) assigned to a participant-reported game by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). QoL was measured using the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life-Brief measure, and personality was assessed using the International Personality Item Pool Representation of the Revised Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Personality Inventory. Based on existing research support for four personality dimensions as potential moderator variables, it was hypothesized that conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism would moderate the relationship between video game content and QoL. Moderated multiple regression analyses were conducted to test this hypothesis. Results found significant main effects between personality dimensions and QoL but failed to find significant effects of video game content, including violent content, on QoL scores. In addition, the study’s hypothesis, that personality dimensions moderate the relationship between video game content and QoL, was not supported. Study limitations, implications for clinicians, and directions for future research are discussed

Critical Digital Infrastructure Protection: An Investigatoin Into The Intergovernmental Activities Of Information Technology Directors In Florida Counties

As cyber attacks become more sophisticated, the risk to all networked computer systems increases. Whether public or private, whether federal, state, or local, the threat is equally real. Consequently, local governments must respond accordingly to understand the threats, take measures to protect themselves, and determine how to respond in the event of a system breach. Additionally, since cyber criminals do not respect geographic or administrative boundaries, local leaders must be prepared to instantly interact with other governments, agencies, and departments to suppress an attack. Guided by the theory of intergovernmental management (IGM), this exploratory research investigated how Information Technology (IT) Directors in Florida county constitutional offices use intergovernmental relations and management activities as part of their information security efforts. Specifically, this research sought to determine: 1) which IGM activities do county IT Directors most often perform; 2) do county IT Directors make more use of vertical or horizontal IGM relationships; 3) is there a relationship between office/county demographics and the IGM activities its IT Directors most often perform? To answer these questions, an electronic survey was distributed to 209 directors, of which 125 responded. Overwhelmingly, the findings indicate that these Directors rarely engage in IGM activities regardless of the purpose or type of government/department contacted. However, when seeking intergovernmental assistance, it is most often horizontally with other Departments within their own government and least often vertically with Federal offices. The most frequently performed intergovernmental activity is seeking technical assistance, however seeking program/project information is also perform more frequently than the other activities explored in this research. The least frequently performed activities involved seeking to modify established IT partnerships. Further, there was evidence of relationships between certain office/county demographics and IGM activity. The discovery of these patterns and relationships can be used to aid policy and program development, as well as to stimulate deeper inquiry into the intergovernmental dimensions involved in protecting local elements of the U.S. Critical Digital Infrastructure

Increasing the Effectiveness of Impossible Spaces in Virtual Environments Using Moving Textures

This study looks to examine a method of overcoming the limitations caused by the size of a physical tracking area in virtual reality environments known as impossible spaces and attempt to improve its efficiency by altering the texture flow of the virtual environment. The experiment involves running participants through a series of small buildings consisting of two rooms in which the percentage of overlap between the two rooms and the ratio of texture movement to user movement (corresponding to textural ow conditions) differs from trial to trial and asking participants to make a judgement of whether or not the environment is possible in the real world or impossible. The study found that a 50% slower condition increased the point of subjective equality by an overlap percentage of 2.88%, a 150% slower condition increased the point of subjective equality by 4.51%, a 50% faster condition decreased the point of subjective equality by 0.92%, and a 150% condition decreased the point of subjective equality by 1.82%. The results found in this study have led to the conclusion that increased textural flow increases sensitivity to overlap by making the distance between the rooms feel smaller, while decreased flow decreases sensitivity by making the distance between the rooms feel larger

A retrospective analysis of longitudinal changes in bone mineral content in cystic fibrosis

Background: We aimed to describe the longitudinal changes in bone mineral content and influencing factors, in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Methods: One hundred children (50 females) had dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) performed. Of these, 48 and 24 children had two to three scans, respectively over 10 years of follow-up. DXA data were expressed as lumbar spine bone mineral content standard deviation score (LSBMCSDS) adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity and bone area. Markers of disease, anthropometry and bone biochemistry were collected retrospectively. Results: Baseline LSBMCSDS was >0.5 SDS in 13% children, between −0.5; 0.5 SDS, in 50% and ≤−0.5 in the remainder. Seventy-eight percent of the children who had baseline LSBMCSDS >−0.5, and 35% of the children with poor baseline (LSBMCSDS<−0.5), showed decreasing values in subsequent assessments. However, mean LS BMC SDS did not show a significant decline in subsequent assessments (−0.51; −0.64; −0.56; p=0.178). Lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s percent (FEV1%) low body mass index standard deviation scores (BMI SDS) and vitamin D were associated with reduction in BMC. Conclusions: Bone mineral content as assessed by DXA is sub-optimal and decreases with time in most children with CF and this study has highlighted parameters that can be addressed to improve bone health

AMERICA FROM THE GROUND UP: ESTUDIO INTERDISCIPLINAR, RODAJE E INTERACCIÓN SOCIAL

The fields of public history and public archaeology both deal with questions related to interactions between academics and the wider public. Over the last four decades, debate among researchers and practitioners has focused on just what is meant by “public history” and “public archaeology” The authors present a case for active engagement with the public by scholars and argue that film, and important mass communication media, can be effectively leveraged by academics to speak directly to a general audience. Moreover, using the example of their public television series America from the Ground Up, which over three seasons presents a comparative analysis of colonialism in America, we argue that film is a tool for public engagement that is also appropriate for the presentation of scholarly research, and that the use of one approach does not preclude the use of the other.Los campos de la historia y la arqueología pública tratan cuestiones relacionadas con la interacción entre academia y público. Durante las pasadas cuatro décadas, el debate entre investigadores y profesionales se ha centrado en el significado de los términos. Los autores presentan un caso para la intervención activa a través del cine, siendo los medios de comunicación una herramienta potencialmente útil para el trato directo con el público. Más allá, usando el ejemplo de su programa de televisión America from the Ground Up, que a lo largo de sus tres temporadas presentará un análisis del colonialismo en América, plantean que el uso de medios audiovisuales es una herramienta potente de interacción pública y además no excluyente con otras

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in children with Cystic Fibrosis : one centre’s experience

Exercise testing is increasingly being used as a prognostic indicator in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) but it is reported to be underutilised in UK CF centres, particularly in children. Here, we evaluated the CPET results of our children with CF at the CF annual review and its possible clinical value

Las tasas para la obtención de documentos de control previo en Ecuador como medidas para restringir las importaciones

Import rates affect Ecuadorian consumers. The present study seeks to analyze the tariffs that importers pay to the institutions that issue permits for imports. The information obtained was derived from the analysis and description of the information of the control agencies and interviews with importers from Ecuador. The results show that the rates to be canceled to obtain the prior control documents have variable values ​​according to the type of requirement and the institution that issues it. The study also makes visible the values ​​of the rates of the control institutions and details the amount to cancel the Ecuadorian Institute of Standardization INEN for Certificate of Recognition, which stands at an average of $247.00. The rates that are paid to the ARCSA Health Regulation, Control and Surveillance Agency for foreign products vary from$ 542.12 to $2,258.41; AGROCALIDAD Operating Permits and the Register of Fertilizer Products are$ 1048.58 and $560.95 respectively. It is concluded that the rates limit new and small importers in their commercial activities and increase the prices of imported productsLas tasas a las importaciones afectan al consumidor ecuatoriano. El presente estudio busca analizar las tarifas que los importadores cancelan a las instituciones que emiten los permisos para las importaciones. La información obtenida derivó del análisis y descripción de la información de las agencias de control y entrevistas a importadores del Ecuador. Los resultados permiten ver que las tarifas a cancelar para obtener los documentos de control previo, tienen valores variables conforme el tipo de requisito y la institución que lo emite. El estudio también visibiliza los valores de las tasas de las instituciones de control y detalla la cuantía a cancelar al Instituto Ecuatoriano de Normalización INEN por Certificado de Reconocimiento, que se sitúa en un promedio de$247,00. Las tarifas que se cancelan a la Agencia de Regulación, Control y Vigilancia Sanitaria ARCSA para productos extranjeros varían de $542,12 a$2.258,41; los Permisos de Funcionamiento de AGROCALIDAD y el Registro de Productos fertilizantes son de $1048,58 y$560,95 respectivamente. Se concluye que las tasas limitan a los nuevos y pequeños importadores en sus actividades comerciales y encarecen los precios de los productos importados

Impacto de la Sobretasa Arancelaria Implementada en el 2015 sobre el Nivel de Importaciones y el Pleno Empleo en el Ecuador

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of the tariff surcharge imposed by the government through Resolution 11-2015, on imports and full employment in Ecuador. For its development, data were obtained on the level of imports and the percentage of full employment from 2007 to 2018, with an annual frequency. To determine the effect on full employment, an econometric model was proposed which included independent variables such as imports, trend and dummies variables that allow to estimate the effect of the analyzed regulation. The results show that each percentage reduction in imports negatively affects the percentage variation of full employment at 0.38%, so that the effect of the reduction in imports was an approximate loss of 304,742 full employment positions.Este estudio tiene por objeto determinar el impacto que tuvo la sobretasa arancelaria impuesta por el gobierno a través de la Resolución 11-2015, sobre las importaciones y el pleno empleo en el Ecuador. Para su desarrollo se obtuvieron datos del nivel de importaciones y el porcentaje de pleno empleo desde el 2007 hasta el 2018, con frecuencia anual. Para determinar el efecto en el pleno empleo se planteó un modelo econométrico que incluyó como variables explicativas a las importaciones, la tendencia y variables ficticias que permiten estimar el efecto de la regulación analizada. Los resultados indican que cada reducción porcentual de las importaciones afecta negativamente a la variación porcentual de pleno empleo en 0.38%, por lo que el efecto de la reducción de importaciones fue una pérdida aproximada de 304,742 puestos de empleo pleno

Assessing Specific Cognitive Deficits Associated with Dementia in Older Adults with Down Syndrome: Use and Validity of the Arizona Cognitive Test Battery (ACTB)

BACKGROUND: Down syndrome is associated with specific cognitive deficits. Alongside this, older adults with Down syndrome are a high risk group for dementia. The Arizona Cognitive Test Battery (ACTB), a cognitive assessment battery specifically developed for use with individuals with Down syndrome, has been proposed for use as outcome measures for clinical trials in this population. It has not been validated in older adults with Down syndrome. This study aims to assess the use and validity of the ACTB in older adults with Down syndrome. METHODS: Participants with Down syndrome aged 45 and over were assessed using the ACTB, standard tabletop tests and informant ratings. RESULTS: Assessment outcomes of 49 participants were analysed. Of these, 19 (39%) had a diagnosis of dementia or possible dementia. Most participants were able to attempt most of the tasks, although some tasks had high floor effects (including CANTAB Intra-Extra Dimensional shift stages completed and Modified Dots Task). Of the ACTB tasks, statistically significant differences were observed between the dementia and no dementia groups on CANTAB Simple Reaction Time median latency, NEPSY Visuomotor Precision-Car and Motorbike and CANTAB Paired Associates Learning stages completed. No significant differences were observed for CANTAB Intra-Extra Dimensional Shift, Modified Dots Task, Finger Sequencing, NEPSY Visuomotor precision-Train and Car and CANTAB Paired Associates Learning first trial memory score. Several of the tasks in the ACTB can be used in older adults with Down syndrome and have mild to moderate concurrent validity when compared to tabletop tests and informant ratings, although this varies on a test by test basis. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, scores for a number of tests in the ACTB were similar when comparing dementia and no dementia groups of older adults with Down syndrome, suggesting that it would not be an appropriate outcome measure of cognitive function for clinical trials of dementia treatments without further modification and validation