Visual working memory in immersive visualization: a change detection experiment and an image-computable model

Visual working memory (VWM) is a cognitive mechanism essential for interacting with the environment and accomplishing ongoing tasks, as it allows fast processing of visual inputs at the expense of the amount of information that can be stored. A better understanding of its functioning would be beneficial to research fields such as simulation and training in immersive Virtual Reality or information visualization and computer graphics. The current work focuses on the design and implementation of a paradigm for evaluating VWM in immersive visualization and of a novel image-based computational model for mimicking the human behavioral data of VWM. We evaluated the VWM at the variation of four conditions: set size, spatial layout, visual angle (VA) subtending stimuli presentation space, and observation time. We adopted a full factorial design and analysed participants' performances in the change detection experiment. The analysis of hit rates and false alarm rates confirms the existence of a limit of VWM capacity of around 7 & PLUSMN; 2 items, as found in the literature based on the use of 2D videos and images. Only VA and observation time influence performances (p<0.0001). Indeed, with VA enlargement, participants need more time to have a complete overview of the presented stimuli. Moreover, we show that our model has a high level of agreement with the human data, r>0.88 (p<0.05)

A VSA-SS Approach to Healthcare Service Systems. The Triple Target of Efficiency, Effectiveness and Sustainability

The main purpose of this paper is to highlight the new opportunities that the Viable Systems Approach (VSA) can provide for observing complex service systems and explaining social phenomena through general schemes of interpretation. At the same time, it explores methodological links with the Service Science (SS) approach in order to propose (VSA)’s contribution to moulding a unified vision of complex objects of analysis, and to evidence the many converging elements that emerge from the two perspectives as well as the benefits that derive from different interpretation schemes. In particular, in our paper we analyze healthcare service complexity in a relational perspective, using a VSA-SS conceptual framework to interpret the emergent systems instability in the Italian Health Service. The application of principles and concepts proper to the (VSA) and the SS approaches to articulated service structures, such as healthcare, identifies critical features and interesting new “therapeutic” prospects for healthcare service systems in order to guarantee their viability. The paper proposes an innovative methodological basis for evaluating the level of appropriateness of the healthcare service and, at the same time, evidences the need for achieving a balanced triple target of efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability (EES) in healthcare service systems governance. As a result, a new area of cross fertilization for collaborative research emerges

Artificial Intelligence Algorithms in Precision Medicine: A New Approach in Clinical Decision-Making

US National Institutes of Health described the precision medicine as ‘an emerging approach for disease treatment and prevention that takes into account individual variability in genes, environment and lifestyle for each person.’ In other words, on the basis of the definition, the precision medicine allows to treat patients based on their genetic, lifestyle, and environmental data. Nevertheless, the complexity and rise of data in healthcare arising from cheap genome sequencing, advanced biotechnology, health sensors patients use at home, and the collection of information about patients’ journey in healthcare with hand-held devices unquestionably require a suitable toolkit and advanced analytics for processing the huge information. The artificial intelligence algorithms (AI) can remarkably improve the ability to use big data to make predictions by reducing the cost of making predictions. The advantages of artificial intelligence algorithms have been extensively discussed in the medical literature. In this paper based on the collection of the data relevant for the health of a given individual and the inference obtained by AI, we provide a simulation environment for understanding and suggesting the best actions that need to be performed to improve the individual’s health. Such simulation modelling can help improve clinical decision-maing and the fundamental understanding of the healthcare system and clinical process

Visualization and Interaction Technologies in Serious and Exergames for Cognitive Assessment and Training: A Survey on Available Solutions and Their Validation

Exergames and serious games, based on standard personal computers, mobile devices and gaming consoles or on novel immersive Virtual and Augmented Reality techniques, have become popular in the last few years and are now applied in various research fields, among which cognitive assessment and training of heterogeneous target populations. Moreover, the adoption of Web based solutions together with the integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms could bring countless advantages, both for the patients and the clinical personnel, as allowing the early detection of some pathological conditions, improving the efficacy and adherence to rehabilitation processes, through the personalisation of training sessions, and optimizing the allocation of resources by the healthcare system. The current work proposes a systematic survey of existing solutions in the field of cognitive assessment and training. We evaluate the visualization and interaction technologies commonly adopted and the measures taken to fulfil the need of the pathological target populations. Moreover, we analyze how implemented solutions are validated, i.e. The chosen experimental designs, data collection and analysis. Finally, we consider the availability of the applications and raw data to the large community of researchers and medical professionals and the actual application of proposed solutions in the standard clinical practice. Despite the potential of these technologies, research is still at an early stage. Although the recent release of accessible immersive virtual reality headsets and the increasing interest on vision-based techniques for tracking body and hands movements, many studies still rely on non-immersive virtual reality (67.2%), mainly mobile and personal computers, and standard gaming tools for interactions (41.5%). Finally, we highlight that although the interest of research community in this field is increasingly higher, the sharing of dataset (10.6%) and implemented applications (3.8%) should be promoted and the number of healthcare structures which have successfully introduced the new technological approaches in the treatment of their host patients is limited (10.2%)

Strengthening Entrepreneurship and Building Leadership Capacity in Rural Communities

This article describes a potential model for other Extension programs across the United States that are looking for effective strategies to support and enhance community-based entrepreneurship. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension, in collaboration with other business-assist organizations, business owners, and municipal officials, organized the annual Washington County Business Conference and Marketplace. The overall goal of the conference was to improve the chances of success for existing and aspiring small business owners. A post-conference survey revealed that conference participants improved their business management skills; started, expanded, or improved a business; increased sales and profits; and made better business decisions

Non-Markovianity by undersampling in quantum optical simulators

We unveil a novel source of non-Markovianity for the dynamics of quantum systems, which appears when the system does not explore the full set of dynamical trajectories in the interaction with its environment. We term this effect non-Markovianity by undersampling and demonstrate its appearance in the operation of an all-optical quantum simulator involving a polarization qubit interacting with a dephasing fluctuating environment.Comment: Accepted versio

Algorithm and Human Creativity: Threats or Opportunity? A Literature Review

We explore the move from a mechanical vision of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to a systemic vision of Intelligence Augmentation (IA) (Barile et al., 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021; Navarrini, 2020; Chiriatti, 2019). AI assumes the role of empowered intelligence (IA) as it is capable of expressing a capacity for modeling integration of experiences, knowledge and emotions in conditions of strong uncertainty (Barile et al., 2021; Hagel, 2021). But in a world where the nature of machine learning is changing so rapidly, does technology empower or annihilate creativity? The aim of the paper is to draw attention to the impact that disruptive technology has on human creative processes. How might progress in AI affect Human Creativity (HC)?We propose a literature review to better understand both trends and gaps

Surgical "elephant trunk" arch replacement with a branched arch prosthesis: two alternative operative techniques

Introduction: Elephant trunk repair of the aortic arch cannot be performed with a branched prosthesis. Aim: We conceived two different modifications of the original technique to perform an arch replacement with a branched graft, while arranging an adequate landing zone for a subsequent thoracic endovascular aortic repair, without the need of dedicated material. Material and methods: Eight consecutive patients underwent arch replacement with one of our techniques. Five were emergency patients with acute aortic dissection, and 3 suffered chronic expansive disease. The "modified elephant trunk" includes a separate anastomosis of an endo-luminal prosthetic segment in the descending aorta. Subsequently, the branched arch prosthesis is anastomosed to the distal aortic stump with the attached trunk. In the "prophylactic debranching", a tail is left on the distal end of the arch prosthesis, so that the branches for the supra-aortic vessels will remain displaced proximally, allowing a "zone 1" available for landing. Results: Three patients experienced transient cerebral deficits (1 transient ischemic attack and post-operative delirium in 2 cases), 1 required re-operation for bleeding and 2 needed prolonged intubation. One died of multi-organ failure. Conclusions: Both techniques proved to be easily reproducible, and allow an adequate landing zone for a subsequent endovascular procedure, while retaining the advantages of using a tetra-furcated prosthesis. They are a viable alternative when a hybrid prosthesis cannot be implanted

Long-term follow-up of device-assisted clampless off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting compared with conventional on-pump technique

Study objective: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of clampless off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (C-OPCAB) compared with conventional on-pump double clamping coronary artery bypass grafting (C-CABG). Methods: From October 2006 to December 2011, 366 patients underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting. After propensity score matching of preoperative variables, 143 pairs were selected who received C-OPCAB with the use of device-assisted PAS-Port proximal venous graft anastomoses or C-CABG, performed by the same surgeon experienced in both techniques. Data of the two groups of patients were retrospectively analyzed up to 14 years of follow-up. Results: As compared with C-OPCAB, in the C-CABG patients, the performed number of grafts per patient was higher (2.9 +/- 0.5 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.6, p-value 0.0001). At 14 years, overall survival, including in-hospital death, was 64 +/- 4.7% for the C-OPCAB vs. 55 +/- 5.5% for the C-CABG, freedom from overall MACCEs 51 +/- 6.2% vs. 41 +/- 7.7%, and from late cardiac death 94 +/- 2.4% vs. 96 +/- 2.2% (p-value not significant, for all comparisons). No significant statistical differences were observed in the actual rates of adverse events during follow-up. Independent predictors of survival were advanced age at operation (p-value 0.001) and a lower mean value of preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (p-value 0.015). Conclusions: Our single-center study analysis suggests that clampless OPCAB using device-assisted proximal anastomoses proved to be not inferior to double-clamping CABG in the long-term follow-up, provided that involved surgeons are familiar with both techniques. These conclusions are supported by a large and long-term follow-up period, eliminating potential bias, i.e., by means of the propensity score matching and analyzing single-surgeon experience