Response Time and Puzzle Solving Skills in Gamers vs. Non- gamers

Video gaming requires rapid response times, problem solving skills, adaptive learning and attention to detail by continuously engaging cognitive and physical reactions to cues provided via visual stimuli. Gaming more than nine hours a week has been said to positively affect individuals’ reaction times and problem solving skills. Given the advancements of technology and video gaming, an increase in research on the effects gaming has on motor and cognitive skills has yet to come. PURPOSE: To compare the response times and problem solving skills between gamers and non-gamers. METHODS : Subject (N=68) were required to complete a survey, the tower of Hanoi puzzle, and a set of ten trials on a MOART board designed to measure response time. Gamers 9+ hrs/wk (N=24), sometimes gamers 1-8 hrs/wk (N=18), non-gamers 0 hrs/wk (N=26). On day 1 participants completed a series of 10 trials on the Moart Board which measured their reaction and movement times. On day two, individuals completed three trials on the Tower of Hanoi which was used to measure problem solving skills. Their objective was to move the stack of blocks from peg one to peg three while following two rules; only move one block at a time, and do not stack a bigger block on top of a smaller block. A one-way ANOVA (α =.05) was used to compare the aggregated mean scores in the Tower of Hanoi puzzle and the Response time of the MOART board. RESULTS: There was no statistical significance when comparing the groups for puzzle completion and error time when solving the Tower of Hanoi until the third trial. During the third trial of completion the significance between gamers and non-gamers was (p=0.016). Response time was only noted as statistically significant when comparing gamers and non-gamers (p=0.007). CONCLUSION: There was not statistical significance between gamers and non-gamers in many of the trials. However, there was a notable trend in the percent of subjects completing the trial. By trial 3, 80% of gamers completed the tower compared to only 38% of non-gamers. Not only were gamers solving the puzzle faster than the partial and non-gamers but there were more gamers solving the puzzle than any other group. There was no significance between gamers and sometime gamers (0.130) or sometime gamers and non-gamers (0.620). However, significance was present between gamers vs. non-gamers (0.014)

Are people with schizophrenia adherent to diabetes medication? A comparative meta-analysis

Individuals living with schizophrenia are 2–3 times more likely to experience type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes medication adherence is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality in this population. We conducted a meta-analysis of diabetes medication adherence among people with schizophrenia, and compared this to those without schizophrenia. A systematic search strategy was used to identify all articles reporting adherence to diabetes medications among patients with schizophrenia. In total, 10 unique studies reporting data from 33,910 people with schizophrenia were included. Random effects meta-analysis showed people with schizophrenia adhered to medication on 77.3% of days prescribed (n=32080, 95%CI=73.6–81%, I2=99.2%,), and adhered on 4.6% more days per year than those without schizophrenia (p<0.01, 95%CI=2.4–6.7%, I2=92.5%, schizophrenia n=19367, controls=170,853). Furthermore, 56% of individuals with schizophrenia (n=33680) were considered “adherent” (i.e. >80% adherence over 12–24 month) to diabetes medication, which was significantly more than those without schizophrenia (OR=1.34, 95%CI: 1.18–1.52, p<0.01). Factors which were positively associated with diabetes medication adherence were age, number of outpatient visits, along with multiple medication administration variables. Future prospective research should examine diabetes monitoring, medication prescription, and subsequent adherence in fully representative samples. Novel interventions for maximizing compliance to diabetes medication in this vulnerable population should also be explored

Portable Catapult Launcher For Small Aircraft

An apparatus for launching an aircraft having a multiplicity of interconnected elongated tracks of rigid material forming a track system and wherein each elongated track has a predetermined elongated track cross-sectional design, a winch system connected to the track system wherein the winch system has a variable mechanical advantage, one or more elongated elastic members wherein one end of each of the one or more elongated elastic members is adjustably connected to the track system, and a carrier slidably mounted to the track system wherein the canier is connected to the winch system and to the other end of each of the one or more elongated elastic members

R-Estimates vs. GMM: A Theoretical Case Study of Validity and Efficiency

What role should assumptions play in inference? We present a small theoretical case study of a simple, clean case, namely the nonparametric comparison of two continuous distributions using (essentially) information about quartiles, that is, the central information displayed in a pair of boxplots. In particular, we contrast a suggestion of John Tukey—that the validity of inferences should not depend on assumptions, but assumptions have a role in efficiency—with a competing suggestion that is an aspect of Hansen’s generalized method of moments—that methods should achieve maximum asymptotic efficiency with fewer assumptions. In our case study, the practical performance of these two suggestions is strikingly different. An aspect of this comparison concerns the unification or separation of the tasks of estimation assuming a model and testing the fit of that model. We also look at a method (MERT) that aims not at best performance, but rather at achieving reasonable performance across a set of plausible models

Prospectus, December 2, 2004

https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2004/1029/thumbnail.jp

From SCHIP Benefit Design to Individual Coverage Decisions

The majority of states have implemented separate SCHIP (S-SCHIP) programs that significantly depart from Medicaid and resemble less comprehensive commercial products. This difference in program design may result in S-SCHIP potentially being less responsive to children with special needs (CSHCNs). This study explores how responsive insurers are to these higher than average needs. We found that, with one exception, insurers did not agree on the coverage of any specific service, but overall they provided coverage beyond state limits and exclusions. Second, the less acute the childhood condition, the more frequently insurers imposed exclusions. Finally, in the majority of states, some insurers excluded services that arguably should have been covered according to the plan/contract language. We conclude that SCHIP coverage at current levels may not be sufficient to care for CSHCNs, making external reviews of insurers\u27 coverage decisions and coordination with other sources of care important components of SCHIP program design

Prospectus, August 31, 2005

https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2005/1016/thumbnail.jp

Prospectus, September 2, 2004

https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2004/1017/thumbnail.jp