Mitigating the effects of omission errors on area and area change estimates

Information on Earth's land surface and change over time has never been easier to obtain, but making informed decisions to manage land well necessitates that this information is accurate and precise. In recent years, due largely to the inevitability of classification errors in remote sensing-based maps and the marked effects of these errors on subsequent area estimates, sample-based area estimates of land cover and land change have increased in importance and use. Area estimation of land cover and change by sampling is often made more efficient by a priori knowledge of the study area to be analyzed (e.g., stratification). Satellite data, obtained free of cost for virtually all of Earth's land surface, provide an excellent source for constructing landscape stratifications in the form of maps. Errors of omission, defined as sample units observed as land change but mapped as a stable class, may introduce considerable uncertainty in parameter estimates obtained from the sample data (e.g., area estimates of land change). The effects of omission errors are exacerbated in situations where the area of intact forest is large relative to the area of forest change, a common situation in countries that seek results-based payments for reductions in deforestation and associated carbon emissions. The presence of omission errors in such situations can preclude the acquisition of statistically valid evidence of a reduction in deforestation, and thus prevent payments. International donors and countries concerned with mitigating the effects of climate change are looking for guidance on how to reduce the effects of omission errors on area estimates of land change. This article presents the underlying reasons for the effects of omission errors on area estimates, case studies highlighting real-world examples of these effects, and proposes potential solutions. Practicable approaches to efficiently splitting large stable strata are presented that may reduce the effects of omission errors and immediately improve the quality of estimates. However, more research is needed before further recommendations can be provided on how to contain, mitigate and potentially eliminate the effects of omissions errors. © 2019 Elsevier Inc.This research was funded by support from the NASA Carbon Monitoring System ( NNX16AP26G ) and USGS/SilvaCarbon to Boston University (PI Pontus Olofsson). M.J. Sanz was supported by the Spanish Government through María de Maeztu excellence accreditation MDM-2017-0714

Ground calcium carbonate as a low cost and biosafety excipient for solubility and dissolution improvement of praziquantel

Calcium carbonate is an abundant mineral with several advantages to be a successful carrier to improve oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs, such as praziquantel. Praziquantel is an antiparasitic drug classified in group II of the Biopharmaceutical Classification System hence characterized by high-permeability and low-solubility. Therefore, the dissolution rate is the limiting factor for the gastrointestinal absorption that contributes to the low bioavailability. Consequently, the therapeutic dose of the praziquantel must be high and big tablets and capsules are required, which are difficult to swallow, especially for pediatric and elderly patients. Mixtures of praziquantel and calcium carbonate using solid-solid physical mixtures and solid dispersions were prepared and characterized using several techniques (X-ray diffraction differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, laser diffraction, Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopies). Solubility of these formulations evidenced that the solubility of praziquantel-calcium carbonate interaction product increased in physiological media. In vitro dissolution tests showed that the interaction product increased the dissolution rate of the drug in acidic medium. Theoretical models were studied to understand this experimental behavior. Cytotoxicity and cell cycle studies were performed, showing that praziquantel-calcium carbonate physical mixture and interaction product were biocompatible with the HTC116 cells, because it did not produce a decrease in cell viability or alterations in the cell cycle

MoS₂ tribofilm distribution from low viscosity lubricants and its effect on friction

The current study analyses the friction performance of low viscosity fully-formulated oils containing the Molybdenum Dialkyl Dithiocarbamate (MoDTC) friction modifier at different concentrations. The MoDTC friction modifier is known to produce MoS2 sheets in the tribocontact providing a low coefficient of friction under boundary lubrication conditions. However, there is a little knowledge around the quantitative relationship between the concentration of MoDTC in the oil and MoS2 amount and distribution in the contact. The study uses Raman spectroscopy mapping capability to characterise the tribofilm formed from different chemistry lubricants and under different tribological conditions as defined by the lambda ratio. After qualitative and quantitative chemical surface characterisation a discussion is presented to highlight some important aspects to relate the formed MoS2 sheets, their spatial distribution in tribofilms and the subsequent tribological performance

Sistema de caliicación para juegos motores en función de la edad

Introduction: Starting from the need to qualify motor games to guide children and adolescents in its use. Aim: Propose the bases for a motor games rating system starting from the videogame rating system. Methodology: Analysis of videogame rating systems. Results and Discussion: We have found different age rating systems for video games based on the descriptors: violence, sex and addictions that modify their impact depending on different modulators. They have many similarities and are widespread throughout the world. Conclusions: The bases for a proposal of a motor games rating system can be established starting from the systems of qualification of videogames, modifying qualification of age, descriptors and modulators in relation to the motor activity.Introducción: Partiendo de la necesidad de calificación de los juegos motores para orientar a los menores y adolescentes en su uso. Objetivo: Proponer las bases para un sistema de calificación, evaluación y clasificación de juegos motores partiendo de los sistemas de calificación de videojuegos. Metodología: Análisis de los sistemas de calificación de videojuegos. Resultados y Discusión: Se han encontrado diferentes sistemas de calificación por edades de videojuegos basadas en los descriptores: violencia, sexo y adicciones que modifican su impacto en función de diferentes moduladores. Tienen bastantes similitudes y están extendidos por todo el mundo. Conclusiones: Se pueden establecer las bases para una propuesta de un sistema de calificación de juegos motores partiendo de los sistemas de calificación de videojuegos, modificando calificación de edad, descriptores y moduladores en relación con la actividad motora

Generalised Player Modelling : Why Artificial Intelligence in Games Should Incorporate Meaning, with a Formalism for so Doing

General game-playing artificial intelligence (AI) has recently seen important advances due to the various techniques known as ‘deep learning’. However, in terms of human-computer interaction, the advances conceal a major limitation: these algorithms do not incorporate any sense of what human players find meaningful in games. I argue that adaptive game AI will be enhanced by a generalised player model, because games are inherently human artefacts which require some encoding of the human perspective in order to respond naturally to individual players. The player model provides constraints on the adaptive AI, which allow it to encode aspects of what human players find meaningful. I propose that a general player model requires parameters for the subjective experience of play, including: player psychology, game structure, and actions of play. I argue that such a player model would enhance efficiency of per-game solutions, and also support study of game-playing by allowing (within-player) comparison between games, or (within-game) comparison between players (human and AI). Here we detail requirements for functional adaptive AI, arguing from first-principles drawn from games research literature, and propose a formal specification for a generalised player model based on our ‘Behavlets’ method for psychologically-derived player modelling.Peer reviewe

Unraveling the Complexity of Tourist Experience with NFC Technology and Mobile Wallets

By considering the tourist experience as a complex dynamic system, in this paper we depict the traveler as a kybernetes (\u3ba\u3c5\u3b2\u3b5\u3c1\u3bd\u3ae\u3c4\u3b7\u3c2 is the ancient Greek word for \u2018sea captain\u2019, \u2018steersman\u2019, or \u2018governor\u2019) in search of powerful tools to help him or her to obtain directions in the mare magnum of complexity, overcoming the fear of action and taking decisions. We focus our attention on the key role of Near Field Communication technology and mobile wallet as \u2018attenuators of complexity\u2019 in the travel and tourism industr

Individual Actions as Community Informative Resources. A Collective Informative Systems Approach

This paper conceives communities (in this case, partnerships) as being able to become collective informative repositories of individual and collective actions that may better-inform their members. This paper presents one approach for studying if a community has become such an informative repository. The approach used here consists of introducing a formal language (Viable Systems Modelling, VSM) into one of the community nodes (a participant) and tracing if its use is seen in another node (another participant) - indicating the presence of a process of diffusion. This research design has been tested in a crime-reduction partnership in the UK. One of its members was asked to engage in the design and testing of this approach as a co-researcher. As a result, a questionnaire to map communication and control devices inside an organization was jointly developed. In keeping with VSM principles, the questionnaire encouraged participants to reflect on attenuation and amplification processes within their communications channels. To test the quality of the outcomes of this approach, members from another crime-reduction partnership were also invited to answer the survey; this was to confirm that VSM notions were not evident for those outside the development and testing of the questionnaire. The questionnaire indicated also its capability to make visible communication and organizational processes within collectives and its potential to stimulate self-organization, for those individuals who became familiar with VSM. Furthermore, this approach provided the authors with the capability to study information flows inside the two collectives, and contributed to an understanding of these flows as a model for building and maintaining a Community Informative System

Clima organizacional y engagement laboral en docentes de nivel secundaria en la región Junín

Objective. To establish the relationship between organizational climate and work engagement in secondary school teachers in the Junín region (Peru). Methods. The study had a quantitative approach, basic type for its purpose, correlational level and cross-sectional and correlational design. Two instruments were used: the organizational climate questionnaire which consisted of 23 items and whose dimensions were leadership, communication and motivation; and the work engagement questionnaire which consisted of 16 items and 3 dimensions: vigor, dedication and absorption. The sampling technique was non-probabilistic by convenience, and the sample consisted of 126 secondary school teachers. Results. 84.1 % perceived that the organizational climate was good and 69 % considered that work engagement was high. The hypothesis test confirms the significant relationship between both variables, since the p-value found was 0.001 and the Kendall's tau-b correlation strength was 0.363, which indicates that there is a medium-low correlation. Conclusion. There is sufficient evidence to affirm that the organizational climate has a lower level of incidence on work engagement, which, however, could be greater if educational institutions do not consider preventive measures.Objetivo. Establecer la relación entre clima organizacional y engagement laboral en docentes de educación secundaria en la región Junín (Perú). Métodos. El estudio tuvo un enfoque cuantitativo, tipo básico por su finalidad, nivel correlacional y diseño transversal y correlacional. Se emplearon dos instrumentos: el cuestionario de clima organizacional que constó de 23 ítems y cuyas dimensiones fueron liderazgo, comunicación y motivación; y el de engagement laboral que constó de 16 ítems y 3 dimensiones: vigor, dedicación y absorción. La técnica de muestreo fue no probabilística por conveniencia, y la muestra fue de 126 docentes de educación secundaria. Resultados. El 84,1 % percibió que el clima organizacional es bueno y el 69 % considera que el engagement laboral es alto. La prueba de hipótesis confirma la relación significativa entre ambas variables, puesto que el p-valor hallado fue de 0,001 y la fuerza de correlación tau-b de Kendall de 0,363, lo cual señala que existe correlación media-baja. Conclusión. Existen evidencias suficientes para afirmar que el clima organizacional tiene un nivel de incidencia menor en el engagement laboral, el cual, sin embargo, podría ser mayor si las instituciones educativas no consideran medidas preventivas

Primary skin fibroblasts as a model of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is the second most frequent neurodegenerative disorder. While most cases occur sporadic mutations in a growing number of genes including Parkin (PARK2) and PINK1 (PARK6) have been associated with the disease. Different animal models and cell models like patient skin fibroblasts and recombinant cell lines can be used as model systems for Parkinson's disease. Skin fibroblasts present a system with defined mutations and the cumulative cellular damage of the patients. PINK1 and Parkin genes show relevant expression levels in human fibroblasts and since both genes participate in stress response pathways, we believe fibroblasts advantageous in order to assess, e.g. the effect of stressors. Furthermore, since a bioenergetic deficit underlies early stage Parkinson's disease, while atrophy underlies later stages, the use of primary cells seems preferable over the use of tumor cell lines. The new option to use fibroblast-derived induced pluripotent stem cells redifferentiated into dopaminergic neurons is an additional benefit. However, the use of fibroblast has also some drawbacks. We have investigated PARK6 fibroblasts and they mirror closely the respiratory alterations, the expression profiles, the mitochondrial dynamics pathology and the vulnerability to proteasomal stress that has been documented in other model systems. Fibroblasts from patients with PARK2, PARK6, idiopathic Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 demonstrated a distinct and unique mRNA expression pattern of key genes in neurodegeneration. Thus, primary skin fibroblasts are a useful Parkinson's disease model, able to serve as a complement to animal mutants, transformed cell lines and patient tissues

The karst site of Las Palomas (Guadalteba County, Málaga, Spain): A preliminary study of its MiddleeLate Pleistocene archaeopaleontological record

Cleaning works in the cave of Las Palomas in Teba (Málaga, Spain), developed by the Guadalteba Consortium, have provided a number of lithic tools and knapping products that may be ascribed to the Mode III technotypological tradition as well as remains of a number of large mammal species typical of MiddleeLate Pleistocene times. Topographic measurements help to place this ancient cave within a karst landform. This discovery opens up new perspectives in the research on the Neanderthal groups that inhabited the valleys of Guadalteba and Turón rivers in the middle basin of the Guadalhorce River, and thus in the southern region of the Iberian Peninsula