This paper presents the results from the application of a serious game called Stigma-Stop among a group of high school students with the aim of reducing the stigma toward mental illnesses. The video game features characters with various mental disorders (schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and panic disorder with agoraphobia) and provides information about these problems. Additionally, the game asks players about whether they have ever felt the same as the characters, if they believe the characters are psychologically well, and if they think they could help these individuals. Similarly, a variety of reactions are provided for players to choose from when they encounter the characters with these problems. A total of 552 students between the ages of 14 and 18 participated in the study, and they were randomly assigned to either the experimental group, which used Stigma-Stop, or the control group, which utilized a video game completely unrelated to mental health. Both video games were used for similar lengths of time. Following the application of Stigma-Stop, a statistically significant decrease was obtained in levels of stigma toward schizophrenia, both in terms of stereotypes and, to a greater extent, its potential dangerousness. However, this was not the case in the control group. Results thus demonstrate the video game’s usefulness toward eradicating erroneous notions about serious mental disorders like schizophrenia.

Abstract-The hand and eye coordination of the surgeon is one of the most important factor minimally invasive thoracic surgery. Virtual Simulation is a powerful training tool in surgery. At present, the main problems of the learning process are to reduce the learning time and to improve specific skills by the simulation. There are different options to perform tests: working with animals, with artificial tissues to simulate the pressure, and even simulators through joystick. The main disadvantage is the high cost of this systems and the complexity to replicate the situation during a real operations. In this paper, a virtual reality system is presented. This system allows to reduce the learning time and to improve the hand and eye coodination of the surgeon. Moreover, it is a low cost, portable and easy-to-use solution for future surgeons.

The present work describes the first serious game designed to reduce the stigma among students towards mental health problems. The game is called Stigma-Stop, and

Una de las principales barreras hoy en día para la recuperación de las personas con trastorno mental grave es el estigma social que sufren. El mismo repercute en múltiples facetas de sus vidas, como es la búsqueda de empleo, la salud, el aislamiento social, etc. Por estos motivos, desde diferentes instituciones se han puesto en marcha diferentes programas para atajar esta situación. En el caso de la Universidad de Almería, en colaboración con la Fundación Pública Andaluza para la Integración Social de Personas con Enfermedad Mental (FAISEM) y la plataforma “Almería, tierra sin estigma” se ha iniciado un programa socioeducativo denominado “Inclúyete”, donde la mitad de alumnado proviene de los dispositivos clínicos de Salud Mental y de las asociaciones y la otra mitad son estudiantes universitarios o público en general. El mismo consta de diferentes cursos de formación relacionados con el empleo, la salud o el bienestar personal. Se describe el desarrollo de este programa, así como la repercusión y los retos futuros.

This article has been withdrawn by the authors. Errors were identified in several figures. Evaluation by the Journal with image analysis software determined that images were reused to represent different experimental conditions in the GST immunoblots in Fig. 2, A and C, and the N-tail immunoblots in Fig. 3B. The raw data are no longer available to validate the information. The authors have expressed the opinion that none of these errors affect the final conclusions of this article that, according to them, have been validated.

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The processing of ocean satellite images has as goal the detection of phenomena related with ocean dynamics. In this context, Mesoscale Oceanic Structures (MOS) play an essential role. In this chapter we will present the tool developed in our group in order to extract knowledge rules for the retrieval of MOS in ocean satellite images. We will describe the implementation of the tool: the workflow associated with the tool, the user interface, the class structure, and the database of the tool. Additionally, the experimental results obtained with the tool in terms of fuzzy knowledge rules as well as labeled structures with these rules are shown. These results have been obtained with the tool analyzing chlorophyll and temperature images of the Canary Islands and North West African coast captured by the SeaWiFS and MODIS-Aqua sensors.