Learning curves: analysing pace and challenge in four successful puzzle games

The pace at which challenges are introduced in a game has long been identified as a key determinant of both the enjoyment and difficulty experienced by game players, and their ability to learn from game play. In order to understand how to best pace challenges in games, there is great value in analysing games already demonstrated as highly engaging. Play-through videos of four puzzle games (Portal, Portal 2 Co-operative mode, Braid and Lemmings), were observed and analysed using metrics derived from a behavioural psychology understanding of how people solve problems. Findings suggest that; 1) the main skills learned in each game are introduced separately, 2) through simple puzzles that require only basic performance of that skill, 3) the player has the opportunity to practice and integrate that skill with previously learned skills, and 4) puzzles increase in complexity until the next new skill is introduced. These data provide practical guidance for designers, support contemporary thinking on the design of learning structures in games, and suggest future directions for empirical research

Xylella fastidiosa gene expression analysis by DNA microarrays

Xylella fastidiosa genome sequencing has generated valuable data by identifying genes acting either on metabolic pathways or in associated pathogenicity and virulence. Based on available information on these genes, new strategies for studying their expression patterns, such as microarray technology, were employed. A total of 2,600 primer pairs were synthesized and then used to generate fragments using the PCR technique. The arrays were hybridized against cDNAs labeled during reverse transcription reactions and which were obtained from bacteria grown under two different conditions (liquid XDM2 and liquid BCYE). All data were statistically analyzed to verify which genes were differentially expressed. In addition to exploring conditions for X. fastidiosa genome-wide transcriptome analysis, the present work observed the differential expression of several classes of genes (energy, protein, amino acid and nucleotide metabolism, transport, degradation of substances, toxins and hypothetical proteins, among others). The understanding of expressed genes in these two different media will be useful in comprehending the metabolic characteristics of X. fastidiosa, and in evaluating how important certain genes are for the functioning and survival of these bacteria in plants

Chapter 15 Magnetic Properties of Soils

Iron-containing minerals, i.e., magnetic minerals, constitute an intimate part of a soil. These can be derived from the parent rock from which the soil developed, or can be formed in situ, or can be deposited from the atmosphere, originating from natural or anthropogenic sources. Recently, measurement of the magnetic properties of soils have found an increased use in detecting pollution, as a substitute of more time-consuming chemical techniques. The current chapter provides a brief background of the basic concepts of magnetism in order to define the parameters that are used in studies of contamination of soils. A detailed discussion is provided about the various classes of magnetic materials together with the methods that are used to measure magnetic parameters. The effects of several factors such as the presence of iron oxides, mineralogy, and grain size on the magnetic parameters are discussed, as well as, the dependence of the soil magnetic susceptibility on parent lithology, climate, oxidation/reduction, organic matter, topography, sediment source, particle size, and time. The relation between soil contamination, by heavy metals and organic pollutants, and the magnetic properties of soils are detailed based on recent scientific findings. Finally, the function of magnetic bacteria in the presence of contaminants and their impact on natural soil remediation as well as the measurement of a soil\u27s magnetic properties is discussed

Laryngeal mask airway and tracheal tube cuff pressures in children : are clinical endpoints valuable for guiding inflation?

We prospectively assessed common clinical endpoints for their usefulness in avoiding hyperinflation of the cuffs of laryngeal mask airways (slight outward movement) and tracheal tubes (disappearance of an audible leak around the cuff during manual ventilation 120 cm H(2)O at induction and 105 to < 120 cm H(2)O before emergence. With tracheal tubes (sizes 3-7 mm), median cuff pressures were 40-60 cm H(2)O at induction and 45-70 cm H(2)O at emergence. With the use of nitrous oxide a consistent rise in cuff pressure was observed between the first and second readings whereas cuff pressures remained constant when nitrous oxide was not used. The use of clinical endpoints alone was associated with significant hyperinflation of cuffs with both devices in almost all patients, with an exacerbation when nitrous oxide was used. In order to avoid unnecessary cuff hyperinflation in laryngeal mask airways and tracheal tubes, the routine use of cuff manometers is mandatory in children