Companion characters are an important aspect of video games and appear in many different genres. Their role is typically to support the player as they progress through the game by helping to complete tasks or assisting in combat. However, oftentimes, these companion characters are limited in their ability to dynamically react to new situations and fail to properly assist the player. In this paper, we present a solution by improving upon the MimicA framework, which allows companion characters to emulate the human player. The framework takes a learn by observation approach by storing the game state when the player performs an action. This is then used by machine learning classifiers to determine what action to take and where it should be done. Because the framework makes little assumptions about the rules of the game and focuses on a single session experience, it is flexible enough to apply to a variety of different games and requires no prior training data. We have further improved the original MimicA framework by adding feature selection, n-gram analysis, an improved feedback system, random forest classifier, and a new system for picking a location for actions. In addition, we refactored and updated the original framework to make it easier to use for game developers and the game, Lord of Towers, which was used as a proof of concept. Further, we create another game, Lord of Caves, to demonstrate the flexibility of the new version of the framework. We validated our work using automated simulations and a user study. In our automated simulations, we found random forest was a consistently strong performer. Our user study found that the our implementation of n-grams was successful and 19 of 26 believed our framework would be useful to a game developer.

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Thesis (M.Sc.(Zoology and Entomology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references.

Five field experiments were conducted to evaluate the relative attractiveness of potential beneficial insectary plants to aphidophagous hover flies and parasitic Hymenoptera and the effectiveness of interplanting selected flowering plants in a broccoli field to enhance biocontrol of the cabbage aphid and green peach aphid. In 1996 we established a preliminary screening trial to begin development of our sampling methods and evaluations of the attractiveness of selected flowering plants to hover flies and parasitic Hymenoptera. In 1997, we conducted a field experiment at the Oregon State University Vegetable Research Farm near Corvallis, OR to assess the relative attractiveness of 11 selected flowering plants to hover flies and parasitic Hymenoptera. Six of these plants were also evaluated for attractiveness to aphidophagous hover flies in two on-farm trials. The experimental design was a complete randomized block design, with four replications at the OSU site, and three replications at the two on-farm sites. Attractiveness of flowering plants to hover flies was assessed by conducting weekly timed observations of feeding frequencies. Associations of parasitic Hymenoptera were assessed by weekly timed vacuum sampling from a fixed area in plots of flowering plants. Attractiveness differed by dates and sites. Among early-season flowering species, Coriandrum sativa (cilantro) was highly attractive to aphidophagous hover flies and Brassica juncea (mustard), Fagopyrum esculentum (buckwheat) and Agastache rugosa (Korean licorice mint) were most attractive to parasitic Hymenoptera. Among late-season flowers, Achillea millefolium (yarrow), Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) and Agastache rugosa (Korean licorice mint) were most attractive to hover flies, but attractiveness to parasitic Hymenoptera did not differ. An on-farm trial was conducted in 1997 at Stahlbush Island Farm near Corvallis, OR. The objective of this trial was to test the hypothesis that interplanting either alyssum (Lobularia maritima), or cilantro (Coriandrum sativa), with broccoli (Brassica oleracea) would attract aphidophagous hover fly adults and parasitic Hymenoptera, enhance oviposition in the adjacent crop, and increase larval predation and parasitism in the adjacent crop, resulting in suppressed cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae) and green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) populations in the broccoli crop. The predominate hover fly species present were Toxomerus occidentalis and T. marginatus. More adult female T. occidentalis were caught in pan traps in plots with alyssum than in cilantro or control plots. More hover fly eggs were found on broccoli leaves and a higher percent of the aphids present were parasitized by Hymenoptera in plots with alyssum than in cilantro or control plots. However, no differences in aphid intensities were found between treatment and control plots. A comparison between the mean number of hover fly eggs found per broccoli leaf and the mean number of aphid counted per broccoli leaf suggests there is an association between the two. There appears to be an aphid density threshold below which few hover fly eggs are laid. Gravid females were present in the crop from the first sampling date on, yet hover fly eggs were not found in the crop until the second to last sampling date. Our results indicate that the presence of alyssum enhanced hover fly activity, but did not result in increased larval predation on aphids in the crop. In 1997 a survey of hover flies was conducted at each of the four experimental sites. Hover flies were captured with sweep nets. Representative specimens were identified to species by Christian Kassebeer, University of Kiel, Germany and subsequent identifications were made from reference specimens and with taxonomic keys. Twenty species were identified, 16 of which are aphidophagous. At the OSU site and the two on-farm sites, where the relative attractiveness of flowering plants was assessed, the six most common aphidophagous species, collected at all three sites, were: Meliscaeva cinctella, Toxomerus marginatus, T. occidentalis, Sphaerophoria sulphuripes, S. pyrrhina, and Scaeva pyrastri. / Graduation date: 1998

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1957. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 226-230).

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A importância da presença do acompanhante no trabalho de parto e parto é amplamente reconhecida, porém sua aceitação como prática de rotina ainda vem sendo discutida. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar as relações estabelecidas pelos acompanhantes e parturientes entre o espaço institucional do parto e nascimento e a experiência de ser e ter um acompanhante. Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa, utilizando entrevistas semiestruturadas para coleta de dados. A população deste estudo compreendeu parturientes em início do trabalho de parto e seus respectivos acompanhantes/pai, totalizando 11 casais. A análise de conteúdo de Bardin, possibilitou a identificação de duas unidades temáticas: revelando os atributos da pessoa escolhida como acompanhante; e revelando o significado de ser acompanhante no processo de nascimento de seu filho. Com a hospitalização do nascimento emergem algumas necessidades como a inserção do acompanhante no processo de parturição, na tentativa de suprir a estranheza e solidão do ambiente hospitalar. A escolha da parturiente pelo acompanhante/pai está relacionada ao fortalecimento dos laços familiares e à afirmação da paternidade. O “novo pai" que está surgindo agora é um homem que procura se preparar emocionalmente para assumir, tanto quanto a mulher, um papel ativo neste momento. As expectativas da mulher em relação ao papel do acompanhante/pai neste estudo limitam-se ao apoio emocional e, na visão do casal, a participação do mesmo no trabalho de parto e parto está diretamente ligada ao sentimento de segurança e tranqüilidade. A experiência de ser e ter um acompanhante no contexto institucional poderá se dar de forma positiva, dependendo da aceitação e respeito aos direitos da mulher e seu parceiro no processo de nascimento. / The importance of having a companion present during labor and delivery has been widely recognized. Nevertheless, its acceptance as routine practice is still discussed and negotiated with women at many public and private hospitals. This study had as goal to analyse the relationships established between the companions and parturients between the institutional space of delivery and birth and the experience of being and having a companion. This qualitative research used semi-structured interviews for data collection. The study population included parturients in the initial stage of labor and their respective companions/fathers, totaling 11 couples. Bardin’s content analysis allowed us to identify two thematic units: Revealing the attributes of the person chosen as companion; revealing the meaning of being a companion in the delivery process of her child. Some needs come up as a result of the hospitalization for birth, such as inserting the companion in the delivery process, in an attempt to compensate for the strangeness and loneliness of the hospital environment. The parturient’s choice of her companion/father is related to strengthening family bonds and affirming paternity. The “new father" who is appearing now is a man who tries to become emotionally prepared to assume, to the same extent as the woman, an active role at this moment. The woman’s expectations about the role of the companion/father at this study are limited to emotional support and, from the couple’s perspective, his participation during labor and delivery is directly related to the feeling of safety and tranquility. The experience of being and having a companion in the institutional context can happen in a positive way, depending on the acceptance and respect to the woman’s and her partner’s rights in the delivery process.