Contextual Drama Facilitation for Digital Games

In this position article, we discuss the representation of narrative tra-jectories in digital games and investigate the possibility for Non-Player-Characters (NPCs) AI controllers to react contextually to narrative situations. We propose to define the foundations of a context-based model for NPCs and the remit of intervention of such an approach

Prediction of percent body fat measurements in Americans 8 years and older

Although numerous equations to predict percent body fat have been published, few have broad generalizability. The objective of this study was to develop sets of equations that are generalizable to the American population 8 years of age and older

Bacterial Source Tracking to Support the Development and Implementation of Watershed Protection Plans for the Lampasas and Leon Rivers: Lampasas River Watershed Final Report

The Bacterial Source Tracking to Support the Development and Implementation of Watershed Protection Plans for the Lampasas and Leon Rivers project was developed to provide supplemental information to stakeholders engaged in the development and implementation of watershed protection plans for each watershed. The Leon River is listed as an impaired water body for elevated levels of E. coli and does not support its designated contact recreation use. The Lampasas River was also considered impaired for elevated E. coli levels until 2010 when it was determined that the data listing the segment no longer met the state’s criteria for assessment. Through the watershed protection planning process, stakeholders in each watershed will use adaptive management to refine management strategies that will mitigate bacteria loading from potential sources of pollution within the watershed

Nationally representative equations that include resistance and reactance for the prediction of percent body fat in Americans

Resistance and reactance collected by bioelectrical impedance (BIA) can be used in equations to estimate percent body fat at relatively low cost and subject burden. To our knowledge no such equations have been developed in a nationally representative sample

CESAR: conventional ventilatory support vs extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe adult respiratory failure.

BACKGROUND: An estimated 350 adults develop severe, but potentially reversible respiratory failure in the UK annually. Current management uses intermittent positive pressure ventilation, but barotrauma, volutrauma and oxygen toxicity can prevent lung recovery. An alternative treatment, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, uses cardio-pulmonary bypass technology to temporarily provide gas exchange, allowing ventilator settings to be reduced. While extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is proven to result in improved outcome when compared to conventional ventilation in neonates with severe respiratory failure, there is currently no good evidence from randomised controlled trials to compare these managements for important clinical outcomes in adults, although evidence from case series is promising. METHODS/DESIGN: The aim of the randomised controlled trial of Conventional ventilatory support vs extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe adult respiratory failure (CESAR) is to assess whether, for patients with severe, but potentially reversible, respiratory failure, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation will increase the rate of survival without severe disability ('confined to bed' and 'unable to wash or dress') by six months post-randomisation, and be cost effective from the viewpoints of the NHS and society, compared to conventional ventilatory support. Following assent from a relative, adults (18-65 years) with severe, but potentially reversible, respiratory failure (Murray score >/= 3.0 or hypercapnea with pH < 7.2) will be randomised for consideration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester or continuing conventional care in a centre providing a high standard of conventional treatment. The central randomisation service will minimise by type of conventional treatment centre, age, duration of high pressure ventilation, hypoxia/hypercapnea, diagnosis and number of organs failed, to ensure balance in key prognostic variables. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation will not be available for patients meeting entry criteria outside the trial. 180 patients will be recruited to have 80% power to be able to detect a one third reduction in the primary outcome from 65% at 5% level of statistical significance (2-sided test). Secondary outcomes include patient morbidity and health status at 6 months. DISCUSSION: Analysis will be based on intention to treat. A concurrent economic evaluation will also be performed to compare the costs and outcomes of both treatments

Differences in cardiovascular disease risk factors by weight history: The aerobics center longitudinal study

The objective of this study was to compare cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor levels in adults with a history of weight loss to levels in adults who did not lose weight, after both groups subsequently experienced an approximate 1-year interval of weight maintenance. Extant data from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study (ACLS) were used to identify 5,151 adults who were weight maintainers (maintained weight within 3.0% over two consecutive periods of ∼1 year) or weight-loss maintainers (lost 3.0-5.0% or 5.0% of body weight in the first interval and maintained that loss in the second interval). Mixed models regression was used to accommodate repeated measures and adjust for gender, age, smoking, cardiorespiratory fitness, decade of clinic visit, interval length, and BMI at the time of risk factor measurement. Coefficients from the model were used to calculate the adjusted risk factor levels in the three groups. Differences in total cholesterol (3.8 mg/dl, 95% confidence interval: 5.5, 2.0), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (3.0 mg/dl, confidence interval: 4.8, 1.1), triglycerides (6.1 mg/dl, confidence interval: 10.6, 1.7) and diastolic blood pressure (0.8 mg/dl, confidence interval: 1.4, 0.3) indicated that levels were slightly more favorable in the ≤5.0% weight-loss maintenance group than weight maintenance group. Levels were similar for glucose, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and systolic blood pressure. This work indicates that, when adjusted for covariates including current BMI, adults with a history of weight loss may have CVD risk factors to levels as good, or perhaps even better than, those observed in adults who maintain their weight

Evaluating Summer Flounder Spatial Sex-Segregation in a Southern New England Estuary

Marine fish species can exhibit sex-specific differences in their biological traits. Not accounting for these characteristics in the stock assessment or management of a species can lead to misunderstanding its population dynamics and result in ineffective regulatory strategies. Summer Flounder Paralichthys dentatus, a flatfish that supports significant commercial and recreational fisheries along the northeastern U.S. shelf, expresses variation in several traits between the sexes, including growth and habitat preference. To further understand these patterns, 1,302 Summer Flounder were collected and sexed in 2016 and 2017 from fisheries-independent surveys conducted in Rhode Island state waters. Female flounder were more prevalent in shallow waters (15 m) from May through September. The probability of a collected flounder being female was evaluated with generalized linear models and covariates representing depth, temperature, month, year, and TL. Summer Flounder were more likely to be female at larger sizes, in shallower waters, and late in the season. When compared with landings data in the recreational fishery over the sampling period, the results suggest that nearly all flounder harvested in the sector were female. This work provides further evidence for and characterization of Summer Flounder sex-segregation and highlights, for management purposes, the importance of considering fine-scale spatial dynamics in addition to broader distribution patterns. The fitted model represents an effective first step toward understanding the implications of an aggregated fishing effort for disproportionate removals of male or female flounder and for exploring resulting consequences for regional spawning stock biomass and stock resiliency