Evaluation of user response by using visual cues designed to direct the viewer's attention to the main scene in an immersive environment

Today the visualization of 360-degree videos has become a means to live immersive experiences.. However, an important challenge to overcome is how to guide the viewers attention to the video main scene, without interrupting the immersion experience and the narrative thread. To meet this challenge, we have developed a software prototype to assess three approaches: Arrows, Radar and Auto Focus. These are based on visual guidance cues used in first person shooter games such as: Radar-Sonar, Radar-Compass and Arrows. In the study a questionnaire was made to evaluate the comprehension of the narrative, the user's perspective with respect to the design of the visual cues and the usability of the system. In addition, data was collected on the movement of the user's head, in order to analyze the focus of attention. The study used statistical methods to perform the analysis, the results show that the participants who used some visual cue (any of these) showed significant improvements compared to the control group (without using visual cues) in finding the main scene. With respect to narrative compression, significant improvements were obtained in the user group that used Radar and Auto Focus compared to the control group

Second order convex maximum entropy approximants with applications to high order PDE

We present a new approach for second order maximum entropy (max-ent) meshfree approximants that produces positive and smooth basis functions of uniform aspect ratio even for non-uniform node sets, and prescribes robustly feasible constraints for the entropy maximization program defining the approximants. We examine the performance of the proposed approximation scheme in the numerical solution by a direct Galerkin method of a number of partial differential equations (PDEs), including structural vibrations, elliptic second order PDEs, and fourth order PDEs for Kirchhoff-Love thin shells and for a phase field model describing the mechanics of biomembranes. The examples highlight the ability of the method to deal with non-uniform node distributions, and the high accuracy of the solutions. Surprisingly, the first order meshfree max-ent approximants with large supports are competitive when compared to the proposed second order approach in all the tested examples, even in the higher order PDEs.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

EL SOFTWARE LIBRE EN EL APRENDIZAJE AUTÓNOMO DE LA CONTABILIDAD DE LOS ESTUDIANTES DE LA UNIDAD EDUCATIVA FISCOMISIONAL SANTA MAGDALENA

La elaboración de este trabajo de investigación está basada en la implementación de un software libre o código abierto que facilite el aprendizaje autónomo de la asignatura de Contabilidad en estudiantes de la Unidad Fiscomisional Santa Magdalena de la ciudad de Portoviejo, que es una institución donde la enseñanza de la contabilidad es fundamental y parte de su identidad académica.  En este contexto, el uso de la tecnología como herramienta de desarrollo autónomo de los estudiantes es aplicado a la implementación de un Software Libre, que se convierta en parte del desarrollo cognitivo del estudiante que facilitará el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje además de coadyuvar a la práctica de valores y actitudes positivas en los alumnos. El software libre es considerado como una herramienta técnica de fácil manejo tanto para el alumnado como para los docentes, tiene su influencia principalmente en la enseñanza de Contabilidad, aunque se puede utilizar en otras asignaturas, haciendo de la transversalidad una constante, en las prácticas educativas de la institución.  En el constructivismo donde el aprendizaje significativo y autorregulado tiene su enfoque, el Software Libre facilitará que los estudiantes tengan en sus manos herramientas contables útiles, de vanguardia y con un sinnúmero de posibilidades que permitan trabajar correctamente, a tiempo, de manera práctica y fácil en pro del desarrollo cognitivo y el aprendizaje autónomo. PALABRAS CLAVE: software; aprendizaje; Contabilidad. THE FREE SOFTWARE IN THE AUTONOMOUS LEARNING OF THE ACCOUNTING OF STUDENTS OF THE SANTA MAGDALENA FISCOMISIONAL EDUCATIONAL UNIT ABSTRACT The elaboration of this research work is based on the implementation of a free software or open source software that facilitates the autonomous learning of the accounting subject in students of the Santa Magdalena Educational Unit of the city of Portoviejo, which is an institution where the teaching of accounting is fundamental and part of its identity. In this context, the use of technology as a tool for students' autonomous development is applied to the implementation of a Free Software, which becomes part of the student's cognitive development that will facilitate the teaching and learning process as well as contributing to the practice of values ​​and positive attitudes in students. This technical tool is easy to use for both students and teachers, it has its influence mainly in the teaching of Accounting, although it can be used in other subjects, making transversality a constant in the educational practices of the institution. In constructivism where meaningful and self-regulated learning has its focus, Free Software will facilitate that students have in their hands useful accounting tools, avant-garde and with countless possibilities that allow them to work correctly, on time, in a practical and easy way in pro cognitive development and autonomous learning. KEYWORDS: software; learning; Accounting

Mesoamerican urbanism revisited: Environmental change, adaptation, resilience, persistence, and collapse

Urban adaptation to climate change is a global challenge requiring a broad response that can be informed by how urban societies in the past responded to environmental shocks. Yet, interdisciplinary efforts to leverage insights from the urban past have been stymied by disciplinary silos and entrenched misconceptions regarding the nature and diversity of premodern human settlements and institutions, especially in the case of prehispanic Mesoamerica. Long recognized as a distinct cultural region, prehispanic Mesoamerica was the setting for one of the world’s original urbanization episodes despite the impediments to communication and resource extraction due to the lack of beasts of burden and wheeled transport, and the limited and relatively late use of metal implements. Our knowledge of prehispanic urbanism in Mesoamerica has been significantly enhanced over the past two decades due to significant advances in excavating, analyzing, and contextualizing archaeological materials. We now understand that Mesoamerican urbanism was as much a story about resilience and adaptation to environmental change as it was about collapse. Here we call for a dialogue among Mesoamerican urban archaeologists, sustainability scientists, and researchers interested in urban adaptation to climate change through a synthetic perspective on the organizational diversity of urbanism. Such a dialogue, seeking insights into what facilitates and hinders urban adaptation to environmental change, can be animated by shifting the long-held emphasis on failure and collapse to a more empirically grounded account of resilience and the factors that fostered adaptation and sustainability

First GIS analysis of modern stone tools used by wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Bossou, Guinea, West Africa

Stone tool use by wild chimpanzees of West Africa offers a unique opportunity to explore the evolutionary roots of technology during human evolution. However, detailed analyses of chimpanzee stone artifacts are still lacking, thus precluding a comparison with the earliest archaeological record. This paper presents the first systematic study of stone tools used by wild chimpanzees to crack open nuts in Bossou (Guinea-Conakry), and applies pioneering analytical techniques to such artifacts. Automatic morphometric GIS classification enabled to create maps of use wear over the stone tools (anvils, hammers, and hammers/anvils), which were blind tested with GIS spatial analysis of damage patterns identified visually. Our analysis shows that chimpanzee stone tool use wear can be systematized and specific damage patterns discerned, allowing to discriminate between active and passive pounders in lithic assemblages. In summary, our results demonstrate the heuristic potential of combined suites of GIS techniques for the analysis of battered artifacts, and have enabled creating a referential framework of analysis in which wild chimpanzee battered tools can for the first time be directly compared to the early archaeological record.Leverhulme Trust [IN-052]; MEXT [20002001, 24000001]; JSPS-U04-PWS; FCT-Portugal [SFRH/BD/36169/2007]; Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Researc

Factores de riesgo para el consumo de alcohol en adolescentes estudiantes

As legislações dos países não aceitam o consumo de álcool em adolescentes, mas se observa seu aumento. Objetivo: Identificar o efeito dos fatores pessoais no consumo de álcool em adolescentes que estudam. Métodos: Estudo correlacional em adolescentes que estudam, com amostragem aleatória realizando a seleção de uma n= 894, a aplicação de três instrumentos. Resultados: O consumo de álcool alguma vez na vida foi de 65%. Encontram-se efeitos dos fatores de risco; sexo e idade sobre o consumo de álcool (c2=31.23; p=.001; R2= 27%). Conclusões: Os fatores de risco aumentam o consumo de álcool em adolescentesCountries’ regulations do not accept alcohol consumption in adolescents, but it has been increasing. Objective: To identify the effect of personal factors in alcohol consumption in studying adolescents Methods: this is a correlational design in studying adolescents with random sampling, if there is n= 894 three instruments is apply. Results: At least once in life alcohol consumption was 65%. Effects of risk factors: gender and age on alcohol consumption are (c2=31.23; p=.001; R2= 27%). Final remarks: Risk factors step up alcohol consumption in adolescentsLas legislaciones de los países no aceptan el consumo de alcohol en adolescentes, pero se observa incremento en ellos. Objetivo: Identificar el efecto de los factores personales en el consumo de alcohol en adolescentes que estudian. Metodos: diseño correlacional en adolescentes que estudian, con muestreo aleatorio se selecciona una n= 894, se aplican tres instrumentos. Resultados: El consumo de alcohol alguna vez en la vida fue del 65%. Se encuentran efectos de los factores de riesgo; sexo y edad sobre el consumo de alcohol (c2=31.23; p=.001; R2= 27%). Conclusiones: Los factores de riesgo incrementan el consumo de alcohol en adolescente

The globalizability of temporal discounting

Economic inequality is associated with preferences for smaller, immediate gains over larger, delayed ones. Such temporal discounting may feed into rising global inequality, yet it is unclear whether it is a function of choice preferences or norms, or rather the absence of sufficient resources for immediate needs. It is also not clear whether these reflect true differences in choice patterns between income groups. We tested temporal discounting and five intertemporal choice anomalies using local currencies and value standards in 61 countries (N = 13,629). Across a diverse sample, we found consistent, robust rates of choice anomalies. Lower-income groups were not significantly different, but economic inequality and broader financial circumstances were clearly correlated with population choice patterns