A bibliometric study of the research area of videogames using Dimensions.ai database

Videogames are a very interesting area of research for fields as diverse as computer science, health, psychology or even social sciences. Every year a growing number of articles are published in different topics inside this field, so it is very convenient to study the different bibliometric data in order to consolidate the research efforts. Thus, the aim of this work is to conduct a study on the distribution of articles related to videogames in the different fields of research, as well as to measure their interest over time, to identify the sources, countries and authors with the highest scientific production. In order to carry out this analysis, the information system Dimensions.ai has been considered, since it covers a large number of documents and allows for easy downloading and analysis of datasets. According to the study, three countries are the most prolific in this area: USA, Canada and UK. The obtained results also indicate that the fields with the highest number of publications are Information and Computer Sciences, Medical and Health Sciences, and Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, in this order. With regard to the impact of the publications, differences between the number of citations, and the number of Altmetric Attention Score, have been found

Relación entre funcionalidad motriz y el ejercicio al derecho a la salud en personas de la tercera edad de un barrio de Quito en el periodo de enero a mayo del 2012

El envejecimiento es un proceso progresivo, intrínseco y universal que ocurre con el tiempo en todo ser vivo a consecuencia de la interacción genética del individuo y su medio ambiente, y desde el punto funcional se define como el conjunto de alteraciones y perdidas funcionales que se producen en el ser humano a través del tiempo y que tienen relación directa con la calidad de vida

Adaptive Guidance: Training-free Acceleration of Conditional Diffusion Models

This paper presents a comprehensive study on the role of Classifier-Free Guidance (CFG) in text-conditioned diffusion models from the perspective of inference efficiency. In particular, we relax the default choice of applying CFG in all diffusion steps and instead search for efficient guidance policies. We formulate the discovery of such policies in the differentiable Neural Architecture Search framework. Our findings suggest that the denoising steps proposed by CFG become increasingly aligned with simple conditional steps, which renders the extra neural network evaluation of CFG redundant, especially in the second half of the denoising process. Building upon this insight, we propose "Adaptive Guidance" (AG), an efficient variant of CFG, that adaptively omits network evaluations when the denoising process displays convergence. Our experiments demonstrate that AG preserves CFG's image quality while reducing computation by 25%. Thus, AG constitutes a plug-and-play alternative to Guidance Distillation, achieving 50% of the speed-ups of the latter while being training-free and retaining the capacity to handle negative prompts. Finally, we uncover further redundancies of CFG in the first half of the diffusion process, showing that entire neural function evaluations can be replaced by simple affine transformations of past score estimates. This method, termed LinearAG, offers even cheaper inference at the cost of deviating from the baseline model. Our findings provide insights into the efficiency of the conditional denoising process that contribute to more practical and swift deployment of text-conditioned diffusion models

Bird assemble associated to two landscape units in a tropical dry forest

La transformación de los ecosistemas por la actividad humana puede llegar a afectar los procesos biológicos y ecológicos de las especies de aves, incluso puede conllevar a que grupos de especies queden aisladas por matrices de desforestación, causando disminución en la diversidad genética y extirpaciones. Con el propósito de evaluar la composición y estructura de la comunidad de aves asociadas al ecosistema de bosque seco tropical en la vereda Guarinocito (La Victoria, Caldas), se identificaron dos unidades de paisaje: zona boscosa (matriz de bosque seco) y zona intervenida (matriz de terrenos), que presentan intervención humana, como carretera y sistemas de pastizales. En cada unidad se establecieron puntos de conteo de 10 minutos de duración en donde se realizaron censos de aves entre las 06:00 - 09:00 horas y entre las 16:00 - 18:00 horas, y se dispusieron redes de niebla para complementar el registro de especies. Se realizaron tres jornadas de muestreo con una duración de cuatro días durante abril de 2013, noviembre de 2013 y octubre de 2014 para incorporar la variación climática estacional que afecta las condiciones ambientales de la zona de estudio. Se evaluó la representatividad del muestreo mediante el uso de estimadores no paramétricos. Todos los individuos observados o capturados fueron asignados a un gremio trófico con el objetivo de evaluar la estructura de la comunidad entre las unidades de paisaje establecidas. Se registraron 1005 individuos de 36 familias y 127 especies, siendo Thraupis episcopus (7,36%), Sicalis flaveola (6,77%) las especies más abundantes. La representatividad del muestreo estuvo entre el 68,18% (Jack 2) y el 86,03% (Bootstrap). No se detectaron diferencias significativas en la diversidad entre las dos unidades de paisaje (THutchinson=1,59; p = 0,81), sin embargo la diversidad de especie fue mayor en la zona boscosa que en la zona intervenida. El gremio trófico dominante en ambas unidades de paisaje fue el de las aves insectívoras. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en la estructura trófica de la comunidad de aves entre las dos unidades de paisaje (X 2 =14,60; p=0,33). El tamaño, forma o historia de intervención de los fragmentos puede estar generando que no exista diferencia en estructura y composición en la avifauna en las diferentes unidades del paisaje.The transformation of ecosystems through human activities can affect the biological and ecological processes of bird species, and can even lead to groups of species becoming isolated due to deforestation, causing a decrease in genetic diversity and the extirpation of species. To evaluate the composition and structure of bird communities associated with the tropical dry forest ecosystem in the Guarinocito jurisdiction (La Victoria, Caldas) we identified two landscape units: a forest area (dry forest matrix) and an interfered area (matrix of lands), presenting human intervention such as roads and grassland systems. Point counts of 10 min long were carried out in each unit to survey birds between 06:00 and 09:00 hours and between 16:00 and 18:00 hours. Mist nets were set up to complete the species record. Three four-day long sampling trips were carried out in April 2013, November 2013, and October 2014 to consider the seasonal variability that affects the environmental conditions in the study area. The sampling representativeness was evaluated using non-parametric estimates. All observed or captured individuals were assigned to a trophic guild in order to evaluate the community structure in the two established landscape units. A total of 1,005 individuals from 36 families and 127 species were recorded. The most abundant species were Thraupis episcopus (7.36%) and Sicalis flaveola (6.77%). Sample representativeness ranged from 68.18% (Jack 2) to 86.03% (Bootstrap). Although no significant differences between the two landscape units were detected (THutchinson=1.59, p=0.81), species diversity was higher in the forested area than in the intervened area. The dominant trophic guild in both landscape units was that of insectivorous birds. No significant differences in bird community trophic structure were found between the two landscape units (X 2 =14.60, p=0.33). The size, shape, or intervention history of the fragments could have resulted in a lack of differences in the structure and composition of the avifauna in the two landscape units

Nematicidal activity of essential oils and organic amendments from Asteraceae against root-knot nematodes

The essential oil of Chrysanthemum coronarium flowerheads showed strong nematicidal activity in vitro and in growthchamber experiments. Essential oil concentrations of 2, 4, 8 and 16 μL mL−1, significantly reduced hatch, J2 survival (determined by final value and area under curves of cumulative percentage hatch or mortality) and reproduction rate of Meloidogyne artiellia in vitro, with the lowest values occurring at 16 μL mL−1. In pot trials with chickpea cv. PV 61, essential oil concentrations of 10–40 μL per 500 cm3 soil, applied on sterile cotton pellets, also significantly reduced the nematode’s reproduction rate. The biological processes of mortality and hatching/reproduction were adequately described by the monomolecular and expanded negative exponential models, respectively. Effectiveness of soil amendment with either flowers, leaves, roots or seeds of C. coronarium, and flowers from several species of Asteraceae (Chrysanthemum segetum, Calendula maritima, Calendula officinalis and Calendula suffruticosa) at 5 g per 500 cm3 soil was tested for suppression of M. artiellia and growth of chickpea cv. PV 61 under growth-chamber conditions. In these tests, flowers of all five Asteraceae species and various parts of C. coronarium significantly reduced reproduction rates of M. artiellia, by 83·0–95·9%, with the minimum rates occurring in infected chickpea plants amended with flowers of C. officinalis and C. suffruticosa. The in vitro and in planta results suggest that the essential oil of C. coronarium and organic amendments from Asteraceae species may serve as nematicides.This research, part of a PhD study by P.P., was supported by grant SC98-022 and a fellowship from the Instituto Nacional de Tecnologías Agroalimentarias (INIA).Peer reviewe

Determining Factors of Youth Entrepreneurship in European Countries Using Porter's Diamond Model.

Unemployment is a problem in most European countries and entrepreneurship becomes a key aspect to solve it. However, youth entrepreneurship is uneven by country. The objective of this research is to know the factors that influence youth entrepreneurship in different European countries. The data used make up the different dimensions of the Porter Diamond model. The methodology includes a GLS regression analysis with AR(1) disturbances, very useful for this type of study. Among the main findings, policymakers should promote English as a foreign language in secondary education as well as ICT training. A low perception of corruption will be key to stimulating entrepreneurship among young people.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Determining static elastic modulus of weak sandstone in Andalusian historical constructions from non-destructive tests: San Cristóbal's stone

This work presents a relationship between static and dynamic elastic moduli for San Cristóbal’s stone, which was used to build some of the most representative historical constructions in Andalusia (Spain) during 15th-18th centuries, including religious, military and civil buildings. Numerical models are able to provide useful information in structural health assessment of historical constructions, but static elastic modulus is necessary to perform them. This is why it is particularly interesting to count on an equation to predict this parameter from others, such as dynamic elastic modulus, which can be obtained in situ and through tests based on wave propagation. A new relationship is proposed after having shown that equations previously defined by other authors are not valid for San Crist´obal’s stone. The prposed relationship in this work is based on a set of physical and mechanical experimental tests carried out in lab on 17 specimens directly extracted from support elements of Santiago’s (Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz-Spain). Linear, polynomial and nonlinear multiple regressions were considered, as well as the inclusion of other parameters, such as bulk density and porosity. However, an equation with a coefficient of determination of 0.95 was achieved with a simple regression where only dynamic elastic modulus was involved. This simple equation allows to predict static modulus of San Cristóbal’s Stone with a high level of confidence and only from one parameter, that can be obtained in situ through non-destructive techniques and respectfully to built heritage. Finally, a first approximation to the application on an ancient construction is provided. Six columns of the Monastery of San Jerónimo de Buenavista, in Seville (Spain) underwent tests based on the propagation of wave to determine in situ their dynamic elastic modulus. The In situ results for the dynamic elastic modulus are consistent with those obtained in lab

Estudio de un nuevo tratamiento de la leishmaniosis canina. Valoración del efecto inmunomodulador de la domperidona.

La leishmaniasis canina es una enfermedad parasitaria causada por un protozoo y transmitida por un mosquito (Phlebotomus perniciosus). Esta enfermedad está reconocida por la OMS como emergente y además es una zoonosis (se transmite a las personas). El protozoo (Leishmania infantum) tiene dos formas, una en el mosquito denominada promastigote (alargada, con flagelo y que se encuentra fuera de las células) y otra llamada amastigote que se encuentra en el perro (redonda, sin flagelo y dentro de las células). El ciclo del parásito es el siguiente: el promastigote se encuentra en el mosquito infectado y al picar a un perro se lo inocula. Estos promastigotes entran en contacto con las primeras células de defensa de la piel (las células dendríticas). Al encontrarse estas células en reposo no son capaces de destruir al parásito que se transforma en su interior en amastigote, comenzando a partir de este punto una diseminación. Se infectan los macrófagos y se dispersa el parásito a ganglios linfáticos y al resto del organismo. Cuando este perro sea picado el mosquito ingiere la sangre con los macrófagos infectados de amastigotes que en el interior de mosquito se transforman en promastigotes, cerrándose el ciclo. La tesis describe el uso de un fármaco, la domperidona, para la estimulación de las células dendríticas y los macrófagos que en estado de activación son capaces de destruir la forma infectiva del parásito, el promastigote. Este fármaco está comercializado y tiene varias indicaciones (inhibición del vómito, aumento de la motilidad intestinal…) pero no para lel tratamiento de la leishmaniasis canina. El mecanismo por el que consigue activar las células dendríticas es a través del bloqueo de los receptores D2 de la dopamina, se produce entonces serotonina y prolactina que estimulan dichas células usando a los linfocitos Th1 como efectores.En esta tesis se realizan varias pruebas de cinética y estimulación, la secuenciación de la prolactina canina y una prueba de campo con animales enfermos

Star formation in the local Universe from the CALIFA sample. I. Calibrating the SFR using IFS data

Context. The star formation rate (SFR) is one of the main parameters used to analyze the evolution of galaxies through time. The need for recovering the light reprocessed by dust commonly requires the use of low spatial resolution far-infrared data. Recombination line luminosities provide an alternative, although uncertain dust-extinction corrections based on narrowband imaging or long-slit spectroscopy have traditionally posed a limit to their applicability. Integral field spectroscopy (IFS) is clearly the way to overcome this kind of limitation. Aims. We obtain integrated Hα, ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR)-based SFR measurements for 272 galaxies from the CALIFA survey at 0.005 <z< 0.03 using single-band and hybrid tracers. We aim to determine whether the extinction-corrected Hα luminosities provide a good measure of the SFR and to shed light on the origin of the discrepancies between tracers. Updated calibrations referred to Hα are provided. The well-defined selection criteria and large statistics allow us to carry out this analysis globally and split by properties, including stellar mass and morphological type. Methods. We derive integrated, extinction-corrected Hα fluxes from CALIFA, UV surface and asymptotic photometry from GALEX and integrated WISE 22 μm and IRAS fluxes. Results. We find that the extinction-corrected Hα luminosity agrees with the hybrid updated SFR estimators based on either UV or Hα plus IR luminosity over the full range of SFRs (0.03−20 M_⊙ yr^-1). The coefficient that weights the amount of energy produced by newly-born stars that is reprocessed by dust on the hybrid tracers, a_IR, shows a large dispersion. However, this coefficient does not became increasingly small at high attenuations, as expected if significant highly-obscured Hα emission were missed, i.e., after a Balmer decrement-based attenuation correction is applied. Lenticulars, early-type spirals, and type-2 AGN host galaxies show smaller coefficients because of the contribution of optical photons and AGN to dust heating. Conclusions. In the local Universe, the Hα luminosity derived from IFS observations can be used to measure SFR, at least in statistically-significant, optically-selected galaxy samples, once stellar continuum absorption and dust attenuation effects are accounted for. The analysis of the SFR calibrations by galaxies properties could potentially be used by other works to study the impact of different selection criteria in the SFR values derived, and to disentangle selection effects from other physically motivated differences, such as environmental or evolutionary effects

Diseño, construcción y evaluación de un analizador autónomo in situ para la monitorización de los niveles de fósforo y nitrógeno en aguas superficiales. Primeros resultados.

Se describe un prototipo de analizador automatizado de bajo costo capaz de operar in situ junto a un cuerpo de agua realizando la determinación analítica de los niveles de fósforo (ortofosfato) y nitrógeno (nitrato+nitrito), así como pH y temperatura, transmitiendo los resultados obtenidos a una estación remota mediante internet inalámbrica. Las determinaciones de fósforo y nitrógeno son realizadas mediante métodos de desarrollo de color con detección fotométrica implementados en un sistema de flujo pulsado. Para el control y adquisición de datos se recurrió a la plataforma de microcontroladores Arduino. El sistema opera con baterías recargables y habilita el uso de un panel solar para su recarga. La evaluación preliminar de los métodos analíticos realizada en el laboratorio arrojó cifras de mérito perfectamente adecuadas para los fines buscados. Está prevista una evaluación de campo donde se estudiará el desempeño del equipo en condiciones reales. Se entiende que el uso de este tipo de sistemas que no requieren personal para su operación puede resultar de utilidad en el análisis ambiental.A prototype of a low-cost automated analyser capable of in situ operation next to a water body is described. The analyser can determine levels of phosphorus (orthophosphate) and nitrogen (nitrate+nitrite), along with pH and temperature, transmitting the results to a remote station via wireless internet. Phosphorus and nitrogen determinations are carried out by means of photometric methods, implemented in a pulsed-flow system. For control and data acquisition the open-source Arduino platform of microcontrollers was used. The system runs on rechargeable batteries, with the possible support of a solar panel. Preliminary evaluation of the analytical methods carried out in the laboratory showed figures of merit fit for the purpose. A field evaluation is foreseen in the near future, where the analyser will be tested under real conditions. This type of instruments is considered to be potentially useful in environmental analysis