Gamification of sports media coverage: an infotainment approach to Olympics and Football World Cups

Sports media coverage of mega-events is partly oriented to gamification, the use of game elements and game design techniques in non-gaming contexts. This infotainment approach to events has been developed by media outlets as an original and effective way to capture wider audience attention and to place events in context before a competition starts. This article examines 28 gamified sports pieces developed by media outlets from seven countries during the last two Olympics (2016 Summer Olympics in Rio and 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang) and Football World Cups (2014 in Brazil and 2018 in Russia). This sample comprises two categories following Ferrer-Conill (2015): “gamified pieces” (game like elements that are part of a bigger interactive feature) and “newsgames” (more sophisticated pieces often included in complex graphics or multimedia content). The results show that, despite its entertaining formula, gamification serves mainly informational purposes and adds value to sports coverage. Especially in the Summer and Winter Olympics, gamified sports pieces tend to be explanatory and data-driven in order to inform the audience about nonmainstream sports

Force and torque reactions on a pitching flexible aerofoil

Experimental measurements in a wind tunnel of the unsteady force and moment that a fluid exerts on flexible flapping aerofoils are not trivial because the forces and moments caused by the aerofoil's inertia and others structural tensions at the pivot axis have to be obtained separately and subtracted from the direct measurements with a force/torque sensor. Here we derive from the nonlinear beam equation general relations for the force and torque reactions at the leading edge of a pitching aerofoil in terms of the fluid force and moment on the aerofoil and its kinematics, involving geometric and structural parameters of the flexible aerofoil. These relations are validated by comparing high-resolution numerical simulations of the flow–structure interaction of a two-dimensional flexible aerofoil pitching about its leading edge with direct force and torque measurements in a wind tunnel.This research has been supported by the Junta de Andalucía, Spain (UMA18-FEDER-JA-047 and P18-FR-1532). Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga

Embedding quasi-static time series within a genetic algorithm for stochastic optimization: the case of reactive power compensation on distribution systems

This paper presents a methodology for the optimal placement and sizing of reactive power compensation devices in a distribution system (DS) with distributed generation. Quasi-static time series is embedded in an optimization method based on a genetic algorithm to adequately represent the uncertainty introduced by solar photovoltaic generation and electricity demand and its effect on DS operation. From the analysis of a typical DS, the reactive power compensation rating power results in an increment of 24.9% when compared to the classical genetic algorithm model. However, the incorporation of quasi-static time series analysis entails an increase of 26.8% on the computational time required

Novel probabilistic optimization model for lead-acid and vanadium redox flow batteries under real-time pricing programs

The integration of storage systems into smart grids is being widely analysed in order to increase the flexibility of the power system and its ability to accommodate a higher share of wind and solar power. The success of this process requires a comprehensive techno-economic study of the storage technology in contrast with electricity market behaviour. The focus of this work is on lead-acid and vanadium redox flow batteries. This paper presents a novel probabilistic optimization model for managing energy storage systems. The model is able to incorporate the forecasting error of electricity prices, offering with this a near-optimal control option. Using real data from the Spanish electricity market from the year 2016, the probability distribution of forecasting error is determined. The model determines electricity price uncertainty by means of Monte Carlo Simulation and includes it in the energy arbitrage problem, which is eventually solved by using an integer-coded genetic algorithm. In this way, the probability distribution of the revenue is determined with consideration of the complex behaviours of lead-acid and vanadium redox flow batteries as well as their associated operating devices such as power converters

Chronic Stress Triggers Expression of Immediate Early Genes and Differentially Affects the Expression of AMPA and NMDA Subunits in Dorsal and Ventral Hippocampus of Rats

Indexación: Web of Science; Scopus.Previous studies in rats have demonstrated that chronic restraint stress triggers anhedonia, depressive-like behaviors, anxiety and a reduction in dendritic spine density in hippocampal neurons. In this study, we compared the effect of repeated stress on the expression of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits in dorsal and ventral hippocampus (VH). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control and stressed groups, and were daily restrained in their motion (2.5 h/day) during 14 days. We found that chronic stress promotes an increase in c-Fos mRNA levels in both hippocampal areas, although it was observed a reduction in the immunoreactivity at pyramidal cell layer. Furthermore, Arc mRNAs levels were increased in both dorsal and VH, accompanied by an increase in Arc immunoreactivity in dendritic hippocampal layers. Furthermore, stress triggered a reduction in PSD-95 and NR1 protein levels in whole extract of dorsal and VH. Moreover, a reduction in NR2A/NR2B ratio was observed only in dorsal pole. In synaptosomal fractions, we detected a rise in NR1 in dorsal hippocampus (DH). By indirect immunofluorescence we found that NR1 subunits rise, especially in neuropil areas of dorsal, but not VH. In relation to AMPA receptor (AMPAR) subunits, chronic stress did not trigger any change, either in dorsal or ventral hippocampal areas. These data suggest that DH is more sensitive than VH to chronic stress exposure, mainly altering the expression of NMDA receptor (NMDAR) subunits, and probably favors changes in the configuration of this receptor that may influence the function of this area.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2017.00244/ful

The ROCK inhibitor Fasudil prevents chronic restraint stress-induced depressive-like behaviors and dendritic spine loss in rat hippocampus

Indexación: Web of Science; Scopus.Background: Dendritic arbor simplification and dendritic spine loss in the hippocampus, a limbic structure implicated in mood disorders, are assumed to contribute to symptoms of depression. These morphological changes imply modifications in dendritic cytoskeleton. Rho GTPases are regulators of actin dynamics through their effector Rho kinase. We have reported that chronic stress promotes depressive-like behaviors in rats along with dendritic spine loss in apical dendrites of hippocampal pyramidal neurons, changes associated with Rho kinase activation. The present study proposes that the Rho kinase inhibitor Fasudil may prevent the stress-induced behavior and dendritic spine loss. Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with saline or Fasudil (i.p., 10 mg/kg) starting 4 days prior to and maintained during the restraint stress procedure (2.5 h/d for 14 days). Nonstressed control animals were injected with saline or Fasudil for 18 days. At 24 hours after treatment, forced swimming test, Golgi-staining, and immuno-western blot were performed. Results: Fasudil prevented stress-induced immobility observed in the forced swimming test. On the other hand, Fasudiltreated control animals showed behavioral patterns similar to those of saline-treated controls. Furthermore, we observed that stress induced an increase in the phosphorylation of MYPT1 in the hippocampus, an exclusive target of Rho kinase. This change was accompanied by dendritic spine loss of apical dendrites of pyramidal hippocampal neurons. Interestingly, increased pMYPT1 levels and spine loss were both prevented by Fasudil administration. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Fasudil may prevent the development of abnormal behavior and spine loss induced by chronic stress by blocking Rho kinase activity.https://academic.oup.com/ijnp/article/20/4/336/263217

Modeling of a stand-alone solar photovoltaic water pumping system for irrigation

Solar photovoltaic water pumping systems have been research topics in recent decades. The purpose was to develop much more profitable and efficient systems to meet the needs of pumping water for livestock and irrigation. This paper describes the design of a stand-alone photovoltaic water pumping system. A Boost converter is used to apply the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm. Similarly, a three-phase voltage source converter (VSC) is used to supply the asynchronous motor. The installation must provide a continuous water flow during the irrigation interval. It has been verified that in adverse weather conditions (cloud transits or partly cloudy) it is necessary to incorporate a decentralized-hybrid energy storage system (based on batteries or ultracapacitors), or excessively oversize the standalone photovoltaic system, to supply the water pump. The model has been simulated in Matlab-Simulink. In this way, different simulations have been developed to verify the basic characteristics of the proposed system. The results of the simulated model and the conclusions obtained are also presented in this paper

Contract design of direct-load control programs and their optimal management by genetic algorithm

A computational model for designing direct-load control (DLC) demand response (DR) contracts is presented in this paper. The critical and controllable loads are identified in each node of the distribution system (DS). Critical loads have to be supplied as demanded by users, while the controllable loads can be connected during a determined time interval. The time interval at which each controllable load can be supplied is determined by means of a contract or compromise established between the utility operator and the corresponding consumers of each node of the DS. This approach allows us to reduce the negative impact of the DLC program on consumers’ lifestyles. Using daily forecasting of wind speed and power, solar radiation and temperature, the optimal allocation of DR resources is determined by solving an optimization problem through a genetic algorithm where the energy content of conventional power generation and battery discharging energy are minimized. The proposed approach was illustrated by analyzing a system located in the Virgin Islands. Capabilities and characteristics of the proposed method in daily and annual terms are fully discussed, as well as the influence of forecasting errors

Domestication of payments for ecosystem services: new evidence from the Andes.

The current project has sought to assess i) the potential of agricultural biodiversity-focused PES to serve as a cost-effective and socially equitable domesticated diversity conservation incentive scheme, as well as ii) how economic incentive mechanisms such as PES can be designed to build on and complement local institutions of collective action. Results are presented from pilot Payment for Agrobiodiversity Conservation (PACS) schemes and framed field experiments implemented in the Bolivian and Peruvian Andes aimed at sustaining diversity within quinoa, a traditional Andean grain. Findings indicate that opportunity costs of conservation vary widely not only between the two study sites, but also between community-based groups within each site. This creates opportunities to minimize intervention costs by selecting least-cost conserving farmers. However, as shown with respect to the role of wealth and cooperation in determining opportunity costs, this also has implications for the type of farmer to be included in the conservation programme. Promisingly, depending on the fairness principle deemed most important in the local context, there does not necessarily have to be a significant trade-off between the schemes’ potential cost-effectiveness and equity outcomes. The observed behavior in the farmer experimental games further supports such findings and suggests that understanding farmer perceptions of fairness can have important implications for the design of conservation incentive mechanisms, particularly given the important influence of such perceptions on the pro-social behavior that underlies much de facto conservation. Incentive mechanisms, such as PACS, that can support socially valued ends not only by harnessing selfish preferences to public ends but also by evoking public-spirited motives are also more likely to be sustainable over the long-term. The use of PACS incentives for the maintenance of traditional crop varieties and the improvement of smallholder farmer livelihoods thus appears promising for further development and up-scaling