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

Constraining a Historical Black Carbon Emission Inventory of the United States for 1960–2000

We present an observationally constrained United States black carbon emission inventory with explicit representation of activity and technology between 1960 and 2000. We compare measured coefficient of haze data in California and New Jersey between 1965 and 2000 with predicted concentration trends and attribute discrepancies between observations and predicted concentrations among several sources based on seasonal and weekly patterns in observations. Emission factors for sources with distinct fuel trends are then estimated by comparing fuel and concentration trends and further substantiated by in‐depth examination of emission measurements. We recommend (1) increasing emission factors for preregulation vehicles by 80–250%; (2) increasing emission factors for residential heating stoves and boilers by 70% to 200% for 1980s and before; (3) explicitly representing naturally aspired off‐road engines for 1980s and before; and (4) explicitly representing certified wood stoves after 1985. We also evaluate other possible sources for discrepancy between model and measurement, including bias in modeled meteorology, subgrid spatial heterogeneity of concentrations, and inconsistencies in reported fuel consumption. The updated U.S. emissions are higher than the a priori estimate by 80% between 1960 and 1980, totaling 690 Gg/year in 1960 and 620 Gg/year in 1970 (excluding open burning). The revised inventory shows a strongly decreasing trend that was present in the observations but missing in the a priori inventory.Key PointsSystematic evaluation of long‐term U.S. black carbon observations identifies a small number of poorly estimated emission sourcesUpdated black carbon emission is higher than the previous estimate by 80% for 1960–1980, showing a decreasing trend as found in observationEmission factors for preregulation vehicles, off‐road engines, and residential heating stoves in 1980 and before should be increasedPeer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149266/1/jgrd55339_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149266/2/jgrd55339.pd

Comparison of Two Core Biopsy Techniques Before and After Laparoscopic Cryoablation of Small Renal Cortical Neoplasms

A pre-ablation standard biopsy technique resulted in the most accurate pathologic diagnosis for patients undergoing cryoablation for renal cortical neoplasms

Impact of overweight and obesity on hospitalization: race and gender differences

To examine associations between weight status and number of all-cause and cause-specific hospitalizations overall, and by race and gender

Deconstructing Weight Management Interventions for Young Adults: Looking Inside the Black Box of the EARLY Consortium Trials.

ObjectiveThe goal of the present study was to deconstruct the 17 treatment arms used in the Early Adult Reduction of weight through LifestYle (EARLY) weight management trials.MethodsIntervention materials were coded to reflect behavioral domains and behavior change techniques (BCTs) within those domains planned for each treatment arm. The analytical hierarchy process was employed to determine an emphasis profile of domains in each intervention.ResultsThe intervention arms used BCTs from all of the 16 domains, with an average of 29.3 BCTs per intervention arm. All 12 of the interventions included BCTs from the six domains of Goals and Planning, Feedback and Monitoring, Social Support, Shaping Knowledge, Natural Consequences, and Comparison of Outcomes; 11 of the 12 interventions shared 15 BCTs in common across those six domains.ConclusionsWeight management interventions are complex. The shared set of BCTs used in the EARLY trials may represent a core intervention that could be studied to determine the required emphases of BCTs and whether additional BCTs add to or detract from efficacy. Deconstructing interventions will aid in reproducibility and understanding of active ingredients

Global sea-surface iodide observations, 1967-2018

The marine iodine cycle has significant impacts on air quality and atmospheric chemistry. Specifically, the reaction of iodide with ozone in the top few micrometres of the surface ocean is an important sink for tropospheric ozone (a pollutant gas) and the dominant source of reactive iodine to the atmosphere. Sea surface iodide parameterisations are now being implemented in air quality models, but these are currently a major source of uncertainty. Relatively little observational data is available to estimate the global surface iodide concentrations, and this data has not hitherto been openly available in a collated, digital form. Here we present all available sea surface (<20 m depth) iodide observations. The dataset includes values digitised from published manuscripts, published and unpublished data supplied directly by the originators, and data obtained from repositories. It contains 1342 data points, and spans latitudes from 70°S to 68°N, representing all major basins. The data may be used to model sea surface iodide concentrations or as a reference for future observations

Health promotion and screening for people with an intellectual disability

People with intellectual disability have significantly worse health than those without, and have a higher level of complex health needs. The life expectancy for men and women is 13 and 20 years shorter, respectively, than the general population. The increasing role of general practice in delivering and coordinating care across health and social care settings requires expert generalist skills to implement an integrated approach to care. This article explores how general practice can improve the health of people with intellectual disability, by making reasonable adjustments within health promotion, disease prevention, screening and detection

Population-based cancer incidence and mortality rates and ratios among adults with intellectual disabilities in Scotland : a retrospective cohort study with record linkage

Funding: Funding for the study includes the UK Medical Research council (grant MC_PC_17217), the Scottish Government via the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory (SLDO), and the Baily Thomas Charitable Fund.Objective  To provide contemporary data on cancer mortality rates within the context of incidence in the population with intellectual disabilities. Methods  Scotland’s 2011 Census was used to identify adults with intellectual disabilities and controls with records linked to the Scottish Cancer Registry and death certificate data (March 2011–December 2019). The control cohort without intellectual disabilities and/or autism were used for indirect standardisation and calculation of crude incident rates/crude mortality rates, and age–sex standardised incident rate ratios/standardised mortality ratios (SIR/SMR), with 95% CIs. Results  Adults with intellectual disabilities were most likely diagnosed cancers of digestive, specifically colorectal (14.2%), lung (9.3%), breast (female 22.9%), body of the uterus (female 9.3%) and male genital organs (male 17.6%). Higher incident cancers included metastatic cancer of unknown primary origin (female SIR=1.70, male SIR=2.08), body of uterus (female SIR=1.63), ovarian (female SIR=1.59), kidney (female SIR=1.85) and testicular (male SIR=2.49). SMRs were higher, regardless of a higher, similar or lower incidence (female SMR=1.34, male SMR=1.07). Excess mortality risk was found for colorectal (total SMR=1.54, male SMR=1.59), kidney (total SMR=2.01 u, female SMR=2.85 u), female genital organs (SMR=2.34 (ovarian SMR=2.86 u, body of uterus SMR=2.11), breast (female SMR=1.58) and metastatic cancer of unknown primary origin (female SMR=2.50 u, male SMR=2.84). Conclusions  Adults with intellectual disabilities were more likely to die of cancer than the general population. Reasons for this may include later presentation/diagnosis (so poorer outcomes), poorer treatment/compliance or both. Accessible public health approaches are important for people with intellectual disabilities, and healthcare professionals need to be aware of the different cancer experiences faced by this population.Peer reviewe

Experiences of UK and Irish family carers of people with profound and multiple intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: People with profound and multiple intellectual disabilities (PMID) have high and intensive support needs that ordinarily place significant strain on family carers. This was further heightened by the removal of many external supports during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to explore the experiences of family carers of people with PMID during the COVID-19 pandemic and understand what the longer-term impact might be on their lives. Methods: Focus group interviews (n = 32) were conducted with family carers (n = 126) from the four countries of the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Participants were asked questions relating to their experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic, coping strategies, and challenges faced. All focus groups were conducted using the online platform, Zoom. These were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed employing inductive thematic analysis. Findings: Three main themes were generated from the data including (1.0) COVID-19 as a double-edged sword (2.0), The struggle for support (3.0), Constant nature of caring. These included 11 subthemes. (1.1) ‘COVID-19 as a catalyst for change’, (1.2) ‘Challenges during COVID-19: dealing with change’, (1.3) ‘Challenges during COVID-19: fear of COVID-19’, (1.4); ‘The online environment: the new normal’ (2.1) ‘Invisibility of male carers’, (2.2) ‘Carers supporting carers’, (2.3) ‘The only service you get is lip service: non-existent services’, (2.4); ‘Knowing your rights’ (3.1) ‘Emotional response to the caring role: Feeling devalued’, (3.2) ‘Emotional response to the caring role: Desperation of caring’, (3.3) ‘Multiple demands of the caring role.’ Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic presented immense challenges to family carers of people with PMID but also provided some opportunities. Families had already struggled to receive many of the supports and services to which they were entitled to only to have these removed at the onset of the pandemic. The experiences of male carers have been largely absent from the literature with this research showing they want to be included in decision making and require tailored support services. Service providers should see the end of the COVID-19 pandemic as providing opportunity to re-examine current provision and design services with family carers. As the direct threat from COVID-19 diminishes and the experiences of those who lived through this period come to the fore, there is a need to re-examine current models and provision of support to family carers to better meet their needs

Multidecadal Climate Variability and the Florescence of Fremont Societies in Eastern Utah

Fremont societies of the Uinta Basin incorporated domesticates into a foraging lifeway over a 1,000-year period from AD 300 to 1300. Fremont research provides a unique opportunity to critically examine the social and ecological processes behind the adoption and abandonment of domesticates by hunter-gatherers. We develop and integrate a 2,115-year precipitation reconstruction with a Bayesian chronological model for the growth of Fremont societies in the Cub Creek reach of Dinosaur National Monument. Comparison of the archaeological chronology with the precipitation record suggests that the florescence of Fremont societies was an adaptation to multidecadal precipitation variability with an approximately 30-plus-year periodicity over most, but not all, of the last 2,115 years. Fremont societies adopted domesticates to enhance their resilience to periodic droughts. We propose that reduced precipitation variability from AD 750 to AD 1050, superimposed over consistent mean precipitation availability, was the tipping point that increased maize production, initiated agricultural intensification, and resulted in increased population and development of pithouse communities. Our study develops a multidecadal/multigenerational model within which to evaluate the strategies underwriting the adoption of domesticates by foragers, the formation of Fremont communities, and the inherent vulnerabilities to resource intensification that implicate the eventual dissolution of those communities. Las sociedades de Fremont de la cuenca de Uinta incorporaron a los domesticados en una forma de vida de alimentación durante un período de 1.000 años desde 300–1300 dC. La investigación de Fremont brinda una oportunidad única para examinar críticamente los procesos sociales y ecológicos detrás de la adopción y el abandono de los domésticos por parte de los cazadores-recolectores. Desarrollamos e integramos una reconstrucción de precipitación de 2.115 años con un modelo cronológico Bayesiano para el crecimiento de las sociedades de Fremont en el alcance de Cub Creek del Dinosaur National Monument. La comparación de la cronología arqueológica con el registro de precipitación sugiere que la floración de las sociedades de Fremont fue una adaptación a la variabilidad de precipitación multidecadal con una periodicidad de aproximadamente 30 años en la mayoría, pero no en todos, de los últimos 2.115 años. Las sociedades de Fremont adoptaron domesticados para mejorar su resistencia a las sequías periódicas. Proponemos que la variabilidad reducida de la precipitación desde 750–1050 dC, superpuesta sobre la disponibilidad de precipitación media constante, fue el punto de inflexión que aumentó la producción de maíz, inició la intensificación agrícola y dio como resultado un aumento de la población y el desarrollo de las comunidades de médulas. Nuestro estudio desarrolla un modelo multidecadal/multigeneracional dentro del cual evaluar las estrategias que sustentan la adopción de domesticados por parte de los recolectores, la formación de comunidades de Fremont y las vulnerabilidades inherentes a la intensificación de recursos que implican la eventual disolución de esas comunidades