Cognitive Robots and the Conscious Mind: A Review of the Global Workspace Theory

Abstract Purpose of Review The theory of consciousness is a subject that has kept scholars and researchers challenged for centuries. Even today it is not possible to define what consciousness is. This has led to the theorization of different models of consciousness. Starting from Baars' Global Workspace Theory, this paper examines the models of cognitive architectures that are inspired by it and that can represent a reference point in the field of robot consciousness. Recent Findings Global Workspace Theory has recently been ranked as the most promising theory in its field. However, this is not reflected in the mathematical models of cognitive architectures inspired by it: they are few, and most of them are a decade old, which is too long compared to the speed at which artificial intelligence techniques are improving. Indeed, recent publications propose simple mathematical models that are well designed for computer implementation. Summary In this paper, we introduce an overview of consciousness and robot consciousness, with some interesting insights from the literature. Then we focus on Baars' Global Workspace Theory, presenting it briefly. Finally, we report on the most interesting and promising models of cognitive architectures that implement it, describing their peculiarities

Neck Pain in Fibromyalgia: Treatment with Exercise and Mesotherapy

Background and Objectives: Fibromyalgia is a very common musculoskeletal disease. The purpose of this study is to assess, on a population of fibromyalgic patients, the clinical efficacy of antalgic mesotherapy with diclofenac and thiocolchicoside in the treatment of cervical pain reduction for improvement of the functional capacity and quality of life of these patients. Materials and Methods: We conducted an observational study of 78 fibromyalgia patients recruited using our hospital database. Based on the different types of treatment received, the patients were divided into two groups: the treatment group (TG), who received antalgic mesotherapy with diclofenac, thiococolchicoside, and mepivacaina; and the placebo group (PG), who received mesotherapy with sodium chloride solution. Patients in both groups also received the same rehabilitation protocol of 20 sessions. The primary outcome evaluated was the extent of pain. The secondary outcomes were the functional capacity and quality of life. Results: Pain improved both in the treatment group (7.4 ± 1.2 vs. 5.1 ± 1.1; p < 0.05) and placebo group (7.5 ± 1.4 vs. 6.1 ± 1.6; p < 0.05). The treatment group, compared to the placebo group, also showed significant statistical improvements in functional capacity (NDI: 35.6 ± 5.23 vs. 19.3 ± 3.41; p < 0.05) and quality of life (SF-12: 18.3 ± 4.11 vs. 33.1 ± 2.41; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Mesotherapy treatment with diclofenac and thiocolchicoside is a safe and effective procedure in the management of neck pain in fibromyalgia patients in the short term in terms of pain reduction, functional recovery and quality of life

The role of disposition to critical thinking in digital game-based learning

The relationship between the development of 21st-century skills and game-based learning is a field to explore. Among the 21-st century skills, critical thinking is one of the most analyzed skills. This study aims to deepen the relationship between learning and disposition to critical thinking (DCT) in the context of Serious Games (SGs). In particular, starting from the evidence of previous work, that highlighted a positive effect of the DCT on game performance, this study analyzes how the DCT also affects the explicit learning gained by the players. This work highlights that the DCT has a crucial role in explicit knowledge acquisition and how the improvement of game performance is a direct consequence of DCT through a path analysis methodology

An Operational Supporting System for Oil Spill Emergencies Addressed to the the Italian Coast Guard

Oil spill models are used to simulate the evolution of an oil slick that occurs after an accidental ship collision, malfunctioning of oil extraction platforms, or illegal discharges intentionally released by ships into the marine environment. We present an integrated operational oil spill prediction system that improves capacities in preventing and mitigating maritime risks from oil spills. The objective is to provide forecast information about the transport and the fate of a hypothetical oil spill under Nearly-Real Time hydrodynamic conditions in the western and central Mediterranean Sea. This complex forecast system is developed in the framework of the project SOS-Piattaforme & Impatti Off-Shore to the needs of Italian Coast Guard and other institutions, such as the Ministry of the Environment. This service has been operational since July 2020. The innovative aspect of this work is a graphical user interface (the GUI), which allows to select properties, time, and location of a potential oil spill and show the evolution of oil slick concentration and oil fate parameters. This platform represents the first component of a future Decision Support System aimed to identify the risk assessment of oil spills in order to better manage emergencies and minimize economic damages

3D-Reconstruction of a Giant Posidonia oceanica Beach Wrack (Banquette): Sizing Biomass, Carbon and Nutrient Stocks by Combining Field Data With High-Resolution UAV Photogrammetry

Beach wracks are temporary accumulations of vegetal detritus that can be found along coastlines all over the world. Although beach wracks are often perceived as a nuisance for beach users, they play a crucial ecological role in carbon and nutrient connectivity across ecosystem boundaries, especially when they reach a relevant size, as in the case of the wedge-shaped seagrass accumulations called banquette. In this study, threedimensional mapping of a giant Posidonia oceanica banquette was carried out for the first time using high-resolution UAV photogrammetry combined with field sampling and compositional and chemical analysis. The combined approach allowed a reliable estimation of the amount and spatial distribution of both vegetal biomass and sedimentary mass, as well as of total carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus content, revealing that i) banquette act as a sediment trap and represent hot spots of seagrass biomass and carbon accumulation; ii) banquette thickness, rather than the distance from the sea, influences the spatial distribution of all variables. Moreover, high-resolution digital elevation models (DEM) revealed discontinuous patterns in detritus accumulation resulting in an unknown banquette type here termed “Multiple Mega-Ridge banquette” (MMR banquette). On the one hand, this study highlighted the high potential of the UAV approach in very accurately 3D mapping and monitoring of these structures, with relevant implications for ecosystem service estimation and coastal zone management. On the other hand, it opened new questions about the role played by temporary beach wracks and, in particular, by P. oceanica banquette in the blue carbon exchange across land-ocean boundaries

Proceedings Of The 23Rd Paediatric Rheumatology European Society Congress: Part Two

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