A framework for branched storytelling and matchmaking in multiplayer games

Video games often either have good single player campaign modes or good multi-player campaign-less modes. This paper presents a framework aimed at the full game development pipeline, from designers to programmers, to aid in creating multiplayer campaigns by providing components that help singleplayer story modes to be used in multiplayer interaction settings. We also propose a custom matchmaking system capable of matching players so as to intertwine their individual stories. The proposed framework has been validated in a case study. A set of experimental results show that the framework is capable of producing valuable story crossings and proper matchmaking.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

The State of Knowledge of Qualified First Aid Among Firefighters of the National and Volunteer Fire Service

Cel: Głównym celem artykułu jest sprawdzenie stanu wiedzy strażaków Państwowej Straży Pożarnej (PSP) oraz Ochotniczej Straży Pożarnej (OSP) na temat kwalifikowanej pierwszej pomocy (KPP). Celem dodatkowym jest zweryfikowanie jej poziomu w zależności od okresu, jaki upłynął od ostatniej recertyfikacji, oraz analiza tej wiedzy pod kątem wieku strażaków. Wprowadzenie: Głównym celem kształcenia z zakresu kwalifikowanej pierwszej pomocy jest przygotowanie strażaków objętych systemem Państwowego Ratownictwa Medycznego (PRM) do udzielania pomocy osobom poszkodowanym na miejscu prowadzenia akcji ratunkowej do czasu przekazania ich zespołom ratownictwa medycznego (ZRM). Po odbyciu kursu kwalifikowanej pierwszej pomocy trwającego ponad 60 h i zdaniu egzaminu z wynikiem pozytywnym strażak uzyskuje tytuł ratownika, ważny 3 lata. Metody: Badaniu poddano grupę strażaków PSP oraz OSP z województwa zachodniopomorskiego. Ankietę autorską wypełniło 150 strażaków: 65 z PSP, 65 z OSP oraz 20 pełniących służbę w Zakładowej Straży Pożarnej (ZSP). Wyniki: Badani najlepiej opanowali zagadnienia dotyczące: konieczności użycia kołnierza do stabilizacji odcinka szyjnego, prawidłowego ułożenia nieprzytomnej kobiety ciężarnej bez podejrzenia urazów oraz zastosowania rurki ustno-gardłowej i postępowania w krwotoku (odpowiednio w 86%, 74%, 70%, 70%). W badanej grupie najwięcej błędnych odpowiedzi dotyczyło zagadnień związanych z: ranami drążącymi klatki piersiowej, zasadami prowadzenia resuscytacji krążeniowo-oddechowej (RKO) u pacjenta w hipotermii oraz postępowaniem po amputacji kończyny w zakresie zabezpieczenia amputowanej części ciała (odpowiednio 65%, 59% i 55%). Wiedza strażaków zawodowych jest większa niż wiedza strażaków OSP: 62% do 52% (p < 0,05). Wnioski: 1. Wiedzę strażaków PSP i OSP na temat kwalifikowanej pierwszej pomocy należy uznać za zadowalającą, jednak niezbyt dużą. Strażacy PSP mają istotnie większą wiedzę z zakresu KPP niż strażacy OSP. 2. Czas pomiędzy recertyfikacjami wydaje się zbyt długi. 3. Do zagadnień, na które trzeba zwrócić największą uwagę podczas kursów i szkoleń należy zaliczyć: postępowanie po amputacji, resuscytację krążeniowo-oddechową w hipotermii oraz urazy klatki piersiowej. 4. Należy rozważyć wprowadzenie dodatkowych kursów doszkalających między kolejnymi recertyfikacjami.Aim: The main aim of training in the field of qualified first aid (QFA) is to prepare firefighters-rescuers under the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system to assist victims at the site of the rescue operation until the transfer of the injured to the EMS. After more than 60 hours of training and obtaining a positive result in the examination, the firefighter is granted the diploma of a paramedic of qualified first aid which is valid for 3 years. Introduction: The main aim of the study was to verify the state of knowledge of qualified first aid among the firefighters of the National Fire Service (NFS) and the Volunteer Fire Service (VFS) on the basis of the author’s survey. Methods: A group of firefighters of the NFS and the VFS from the Westpomeranian Region was subjected to the study. The author’s questionnaire was filled in by 150 firefighters – 65 from the National Fire Service and 65 from the Volunteer Fire Service, as well as 20 from the Plant Fire Department. Results: Issues concerning the need for a cervical collar to stabilise the cervical spine, the correct positioning of a pregnant woman without suspected injuries, the use of an oropharyngeal tube, and the management of haemorrhage, turned out to be best mastered (respectively 86%, 74%, 70% and 70%). In the study group, the most common wrong answers concerned the issue of wounds penetrating the chest, the principles of resuscitation in a patient in hypothermia, and the procedure after limb amputation – i.e. securing the amputated body parts (respectively 65%, 59% and 55%). Professional firefighters showed a significantly better state of knowledge in comparison with firefighters from the VFS 62% vs 52% (p <0.05). Conclusions: 1. The state of knowledge among the firefighters of the NFS and the VFS should be regarded as satisfactory, but not excellent. The firefighers of the NFS showed a significantly better state of knowledge of QFA than the firefighters of the VFS. 2. The time between recertifications appears to be too long. 3. The matters requiring the greatest commitment should apply to procedures after amputation, resuscitation in hypothermia, and chest injuries. 4. Additional training courses between successive recertifications should be considered

Biodrying of the Digestate from Agricultural Biogas Plants

Anaerobic digestion residue represents a nutrient rich resource which, if applied back on land, can reduce the use of mineral fertilizers and improve soil fertility. However, dewatering of digestate may be recommended in certain situation. Limited applicability of digestate as fertilizer may appear, especially in winter, during the vegetation period or in areas where advanced eutrophication of arable land and water bodies is developing. The use of digestate may be also governed by different laws depending on whether it is treated as fertilizer, sewage sludge or waste. The solution for thus problem may by application of biodrying process. The aim of this paper is to present the possibilities of digestate from agricultural biogas plant drying in biodrying process, and analysis of its kinetic and efficiency. Dewatered digestate from agricultural biogas plant, with initial moisture of 78%, was mixed with wood chips in proportion 45:55, respectively. The mixture was placed in container reactor, and aerated during 4 weeks. During the experiment the temperature in the reactor, weight of the digestate, and energy demand was measured. Due to biodrying process, with mean air flow rate 0.025 m3/kg.h, 502 kg mass loss was achieved, what consists 76% of the initial weight of the digestate. Mean temperature in the bioreactor during first 10 days, fluctuated between 55 to 60°C. After that, gradual decrease of the temperature to 40°C in the end of 3rd week was observed. During last week the intense cooling of the bioreactor to final temperature below 20°C was observed. It was determined, that digestate mass loss had I-order reaction character. The k constant rate value was estimated, which was on the level of 0.00068 [1/h]. Total energy demand was 14.792 kWh, what relates to 0.0295 kWh of used energy per kg of mass removed

Operational Studies of Prototype Biomass Gasification Reactor

Gasification reactors are devices for thermochemical biomass treatment. In such reactors, complex of mass, and heat exchange, interphase, and chemical processes occur. Designing a mathematical models of processes occurring in such devices requires expensive research, and leads not always to satisfying results. Moreover, some authors executed complex computational simulations of gasifying process aiming to approximate calculation of: composition of generated syngas, temperatures level in the reactor, and even simulations of two-phase flow of gas enriched in pollutants. In given article the initial research of prototype downward gasification reactor feed by model feedstock – wood pellets, has been presented. The construction of the reactor has been described. Particular parts of the reactor has been shown, and the concept of reactor controlling has been given. The gasification reactor tightness has been examined by testing the generated pressure in gasification chamber. Executed research aimed on testing the correctness of particular elements of the reactor work, and determination of motion characteristic for wide range of technological parameters. Static characteristics of bed temperature in the oxidation zone, and the converted biomass stream in function of gasifying agent have been determined. Additionally, the characteristics of removed carbonizate stream in function of grate rotation rate has been determined. In the further experiments the dynamic characteristics of gasification process in the prototype reactor will be tested. The composition of syngas generated from hardly treatable waste materials will be measured. Determined characteristics will be used for further experiments on designing of process control algorithms