La capacidad del videojuego para la representación dramática del cáncer. Un estudio comparativo con la literatura y el cine

La democratización que vive el desarrollo de videojuegos ha posibilitado la apropiación por parte de este sector de una serie de temáticas reservadas a otros medios expresivos. Este trabajo analiza la capacidad de la expresión videolúdica para emocionar y transmitir la gravedad de la enfermedad del cáncer a través de un estudio comparativo con la literatura y el cine. Para cumplir este objetivo se han seleccionado tres obras, una por cada medio, que todos los participantes de la investigación (n=90) han leído, visto y jugado. La metodología empleada se ha configurado desde una doble vertiente. En primer lugar se han articulado, desde disciplinas afines a los tres medios, una noción de emoción y un esquema narrativo que se han compartido con los sujetos participantes. En segundo lugar, una vez controladas las dos variables primordiales del estudio, es decir, los conceptos de emoción y narración, se ha elaborado un cuestionario destinado a conocer qué obra del corpus se ha estimado con mayor capacitación para transmitir la experiencia del cáncer. Los resultados han desvelado que el videojuego, a pesar de sus deficiencias en la construcción de personajes, se ha considerado la obra más emocionante en la narración del proceso de la enfermedad. Por tanto, es posible señalar una inadecuación entre las creencias sobre la naturaleza del medio como dispositivo frívolo urdido exclusivamente al entretenimiento y su capacidad expresiva real para narrar experiencias dramáticas.Given that the democratisation of video games has allowed this industry to appropriate a series of themes traditionally the exclusive preserve of other expressive media, this work analyses the capacity of videoludic expression to elicit emotions and convey the seriousness of cancer by performing a comparative study with literature and cinema. To this end, three works (one per medium) were selected to be respectively read, viewed or played by all the study subjects (n=90). A two-step methodology was employed. Firstly, the concepts of emotion and narrative scheme were defined in the context of disciplines relating to the three media and then shared with the subjects. Secondly, once both variables, i.e. the concepts of emotion and narration, had been controlled, a questionnaire was designed to determine which of the three works comprising the corpus best conveyed the experience of cancer. The results reveal that the sample game, in spite of its shortcomings in character design, was judged to be the one that most poignantly described the development of the disease. Therefore, it is possible to claim that the common belief that video games are trivial devices, solely designed to entertain, contrasts with their true expressive ability to convey dramatic experiences

Factores de riesgo de criptorquidia

ResumenObjetivosIdentificar los principales factores de riesgo de criptorquidia en nuestro ámbito geográfico y la posible asociación de ésta con factores ambientales.MétodosSe realizó un estudio retrospectivo de casos y controles. La población diana estuvo constituida por los varones nacidos en el Hospital Universitario San Cecilio de Granada entre el 1 de enero de 1992 y el 31 de diciembre de 1999. Se seleccionaron todos los casos (n = 70) diagnosticados de criptorquidia a partir del primer año de vida en las historias clínicas de urología y endocrinología pediátrica del hospital, así como una muestra de 144 controles sin esta enfermedad, ni ninguna otra genitourinaria relacionada. A partir de la historia obstétrica materna se recogió información sobre los potenciales factores de riesgo considerados: factores previos al embarazo (p. ej., lugar de residencia, profesión de los padres); factores del embarazo (p.ej., enfermedades y tratamiento hormonal durante la gestación); y factores del parto y neonatales (p. ej., tipo de parto, edad gestacional y peso del neonato). Para cada uno de ellos se calculó su odds ratio cruda (ORc) y ajustada (ORa) mediante regresión logística no condicionada.ResultadosLa baja edad gestacional (igual o menor de 37 semanas) y el parto por cesárea se asociaron significativamente con la frecuencia de criptorquidia (respectivamente, ORc= 3,50 y ORc 2,47). También se apreció una asociación con la residencia materna en el Distrito Sanitario Costa-Alpujarra (ORc = 4,04), si bien ésta disminuyó al considerar la profesión del padre en tareas agrícolas. Esta última variable también pareció presentar una asociación, no significativa, con la frecuencia de criptorquidia (ORc = 2,26).ConclusionesNuestros resultados son consistentes con los obtenidos en otros estudios, a excepción de la ausencia de asociación para el bajo peso del recién nacido. La variabilidad geográfica detectada sugiere la existencia de factores ambientales, quizá relacionados con la ocupación en tareas agrícolas.Objetivos: Identificar los principales factores de riesgo de criptorquidia en nuestro ámbito geográfico y la posible asociación de ésta con factores ambientales.SummaryObjectivesTo identify the main risk factors for cryptorchidism in southeast Spain, and their possible association with environmental factors.MethodsIn this retrospective case-control study, the target population consisted of babies born in the University of Granada Hospital (UGH) in Granada, Spain, between 1 January 1992 and 31 December 1999, both inclusive. All boys from the target population aged 1 year or more diagnosed at the Pediatric Urology or Endocrinology Services of the UGH as having cryptorchidism (n = 70) were included, and a random sample of 144 baby boys born without cryptorchidism or any other related genitourinary abnormality or disease formed the control group. The mother's hospital record in the obstetrics clinic was checked to record information on potential risk factors, such as residence (specific health care district), parents' occupation, obstetric antecedents, diseases during pregnancy, gestational age at birth, birth weight and type of delivery. To search for associations between cryptorchidism and each of the variables we calculated crude and adjusted odds ratios with unconditional logistic regression analysis.ResultsLow gestational age at birth (≤ 37 weeks) and cesarian section were significantly associated with cryptorchidism. We also found an association with residence of the mother in the Costa-Alpujarra health care district, but its magnitude decreased when the association was adjusted for the father's occupation in agriculture. This last factor was also associated with cryptorchidism, although the association was not statistically significant.ConclusionsOur findings are consistent with those of other studies, except for the absence of association between low birth weight and cryptorchidism. Geographic variations in our study population suggested that environmental factors –possibly related with farm work– are involved in cryptorchidism

A High Dynamic Range ASIC for Time of Flight PET with monolithic crystals

The HRFlexToT is a 16-channel ASIC for SiPM anode readout designed for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) applications that features high dynamic range (>8 bits), low input impedance, common cathode connection, high speed and low power (~3.5 mW/ch). The ASIC has been manufactured using XFAB 0.18 mm CMOS technology. The main characteristics of the HRFlexToT, compared to its predecessor, are a new energy measurement readout providing a linear Time Over Threshold (ToT) with an extended dynamic range, lower power consumption and better timing response. Initial measurements show a linearity error below 3%. Single Photon Time Resolution (SPTR) measurements performed using a Hamamatsu MPPC S13360-3050CS (3x3 mm2 pixel, 50 umm cell) shows 30% improvement with respect to the previous version of the ASIC, setting this specification in the order of 141 ps FWHM and reducing 3 times power consumption. It is important to highlight that an SPTR of 141 ps FWHM is, according to the best of our knowledge, the best resolution achieved so far for this sensor. Coincidence Time Resolution (CTR) measurements are expected to be performed during 2018

Alignment of the CMS silicon tracker during commissioning with cosmic rays

This is the Pre-print version of the Article. The official published version of the Paper can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2010 IOPThe CMS silicon tracker, consisting of 1440 silicon pixel and 15 148 silicon strip detector modules, has been aligned using more than three million cosmic ray charged particles, with additional information from optical surveys. The positions of the modules were determined with respect to cosmic ray trajectories to an average precision of 3–4 microns RMS in the barrel and 3–14 microns RMS in the endcap in the most sensitive coordinate. The results have been validated by several studies, including laser beam cross-checks, track fit self-consistency, track residuals in overlapping module regions, and track parameter resolution, and are compared with predictions obtained from simulation. Correlated systematic effects have been investigated. The track parameter resolutions obtained with this alignment are close to the design performance.This work is supported by FMSR (Austria); FNRS and FWO (Belgium); CNPq, CAPES, FAPERJ, and FAPESP (Brazil); MES (Bulgaria); CERN; CAS, MoST, and NSFC (China); COLCIENCIAS (Colombia); MSES (Croatia); RPF (Cyprus); Academy of Sciences and NICPB (Estonia); Academy of Finland, ME, and HIP (Finland); CEA and CNRS/IN2P3 (France); BMBF, DFG, and HGF (Germany); GSRT (Greece); OTKA and NKTH (Hungary); DAE and DST (India); IPM (Iran); SFI (Ireland); INFN (Italy); NRF (Korea); LAS (Lithuania); CINVESTAV, CONACYT, SEP, and UASLP-FAI (Mexico); PAEC (Pakistan); SCSR (Poland); FCT (Portugal); JINR (Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan); MST and MAE (Russia); MSTDS (Serbia); MICINN and CPAN (Spain); Swiss Funding Agencies (Switzerland); NSC (Taipei); TUBITAK and TAEK (Turkey); STFC (United Kingdom); DOE and NSF (USA)

Commissioning and performance of the CMS pixel tracker with cosmic ray muons

This is the Pre-print version of the Article. The official published verion of the Paper can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2010 IOPThe pixel detector of the Compact Muon Solenoid experiment consists of three barrel layers and two disks for each endcap. The detector was installed in summer 2008, commissioned with charge injections, and operated in the 3.8 T magnetic field during cosmic ray data taking. This paper reports on the first running experience and presents results on the pixel tracker performance, which are found to be in line with the design specifications of this detector. The transverse impact parameter resolution measured in a sample of high momentum muons is 18 microns.This work is supported by FMSR (Austria); FNRS and FWO (Belgium); CNPq, CAPES, FAPERJ, and FAPESP (Brazil); MES (Bulgaria); CERN; CAS, MoST, and NSFC (China); COLCIENCIAS (Colombia); MSES (Croatia); RPF (Cyprus); Academy of Sciences and NICPB (Estonia); Academy of Finland, ME, and HIP (Finland); CEA and CNRS/IN2P3 (France); BMBF, DFG, and HGF (Germany); GSRT (Greece); OTKA and NKTH (Hungary); DAE and DST (India); IPM (Iran); SFI (Ireland); INFN (Italy); NRF (Korea); LAS (Lithuania); CINVESTAV, CONACYT, SEP, and UASLP-FAI (Mexico); PAEC (Pakistan); SCSR (Poland); FCT (Portugal); JINR (Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan); MST and MAE (Russia); MSTDS (Serbia); MICINN and CPAN (Spain); Swiss Funding Agencies (Switzerland); NSC (Taipei); TUBITAK and TAEK (Turkey); STFC (United Kingdom); DOE and NSF (USA)

Performance of the CMS drift-tube chamber local trigger with cosmic rays

The performance of the Local Trigger based on the drift-tube system of the CMS experiment has been studied using muons from cosmic ray events collected during the commissioning of the detector in 2008. The properties of the system are extensively tested and compared with the simulation. The effect of the random arrival time of the cosmic rays on the trigger performance is reported, and the results are compared with the design expectations for proton-proton collisions and with previous measurements obtained with muon beams

Recommendations for implementing lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography in Europe

Lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) was demonstrated in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) to reduce mortality from the disease. European mortality data has recently become available from the Nelson randomised controlled trial, which confirmed lung cancer mortality reductions by 26% in men and 39–61% in women. Recent studies in Europe and the USA also showed positive results in screening workers exposed to asbestos. All European experts attending the “Initiative for European Lung Screening (IELS)”—a large international group of physicians and other experts concerned with lung cancer—agreed that LDCT-LCS should be implemented in Europe. However, the economic impact of LDCT-LCS and guidelines for its effective and safe implementation still need to be formulated. To this purpose, the IELS was asked to prepare recommendations to implement LCS and examine outstanding issues. A subgroup carried out a comprehensive literature review on LDCT-LCS and presented findings at a meeting held in Milan in November 2018. The present recommendations reflect that consensus was reached