Chatbots put to the test in math and logic problems: A preliminary comparison and assessment of ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4, and Google Bard

A comparison between three chatbots which are based on large language models, namely ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4 and Google Bard is presented, focusing on their ability to give correct answers to mathematics and logic problems. In particular, we check their ability to Understand the problem at hand; Apply appropriate algorithms or methods for its solution; and Generate a coherent response and a correct answer. We use 30 questions that are clear, without any ambiguities, fully described with plain text only, and have a unique, well defined correct answer. The questions are divided into two sets of 15 each. The questions of Set A are 15 "Original" problems that cannot be found online, while Set B contains 15 "Published" problems that one can find online, usually with their solution. Each question is posed three times to each chatbot. The answers are recorded and discussed, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. It has been found that for straightforward arithmetic, algebraic expressions, or basic logic puzzles, chatbots may provide accurate solutions, although not in every attempt. However, for more complex mathematical problems or advanced logic tasks, their answers, although written in a usually "convincing" way, may not be reliable. Consistency is also an issue, as many times a chatbot will provide conflicting answers when given the same question more than once. A comparative quantitative evaluation of the three chatbots is made through scoring their final answers based on correctness. It was found that ChatGPT-4 outperforms ChatGPT-3.5 in both sets of questions. Bard comes third in the original questions of Set A, behind the other two chatbots, while it has the best performance (first place) in the published questions of Set B. This is probably because Bard has direct access to the internet, in contrast to ChatGPT chatbots which do not have any communication with the outside world

Human role in existing bridge digital twin frameworks, towards Industry 5.0

Regardless of the current challenges and limitations of Digital Twins, there seems to be only one school of thought and a consensus toward their future adoption for design, construction, management, operation, and decommissioning of bridges. This novel paradigm surged within the Industry 4.0 context and was fostered by evolving technologies such as artificial intelligence, internet of things, big data, among others. Digital twins have now been recognized as an enabling technology towards the development and adoption of Industry 5.0 principles. Such principles are human-centrism, resilience, and sustainability. In this paper we explore the increasingly important role that humans will have within existing bridge digital twin frameworks and how the human-centrism principle could be better implemented within such context. Moreover, we also discuss how a successful implementation of human centrism could uphold and maximize the resilience and sustainability of existing bridges, especially those with cultural heritage value

Advanced framework for degradation modeling of operating structures

The safe operation of steel structures, such as bridges, is of paramount importance to mitigate potential issues. Consequently, the continuous and thorough monitoring of their operational conditions is imperative to uphold their safety and reliability. However, the inexorable process of corrosion, catalyzed by environmental conditions, leads to the inevitable deterioration of structural integrity over time. This research endeavors to predict the extent of corrosion in the primary cables of bridges through the application of advanced methodologies based on machine learning techniques. The execution of the proposed model necessitates the utilization of an extensive database encompassing diverse characteristics pertaining to the environmental properties of the surrounding region. The performance of the proposed models is rigorously assessed using a comprehensive suite of statistical and graphical metrics. The findings of this investigation underscore the effectiveness of the recommended solutions, surpassing previously established methodologies in addressing this pressing issue. The demonstrated success of the proposed model augurs favorably for its potential utility in furthering research into the dependability assessment of suspension bridge main cables.</p

Bridge management through digital twin-based anomaly detection systems: A systematic review

Bridge infrastructure has great economic, social, and cultural value. Nevertheless, many of the infrastructural assets are in poor conservation condition as has been recently evidenced by the collapse of several bridges worldwide. The objective of this systematic review is to collect and synthesize state-of-the-art knowledge and information about how bridge information modeling, finite element modeling, and bridge health monitoring are combined and used in the creation of digital twins (DT) of bridges, and how these models could generate damage scenarios to be used by anomaly detection algorithms for damage detection on bridges, especially in bridges with cultural heritage value. A total of 76 relevant studies from 2017 up to 2022 have been taken into account in this review. The synthesis results show a consensus toward the future adoption of DT for bridge design, management, and operation among the scientific community and bridge practitioners. The main gaps identified are related to the lack of software interoperability, the required improvement of the performance of anomaly-detection algorithms, and the approach definition to be adopted for the integration of DT at the macro scale. Other potential developments are related to the implementation of Industry 5.0 concepts and ideas within DT frameworks

Myiasis as an entity of interest in occupational medicine

Artículos originales[ES] En escasas ocasiones se ha hecho referencia a las miasis en el ámbito de la Medicina del Trabajo. Es un error bastante generalizado pensar que este tipo de parasitación es exclusiva de países subdesarrollados o de estratos sociales carentes de las mínimas medidas de higiene. Sin embargo, es importante conocer los agentes etiológicos y advertir del riesgo que afecta a ciertos sectores laborales expuestos a materia orgánica en descomposición o a ciertos alimentos que por sus características químicas actúan de atrayentes para los dípteros. Para ello, estudiamos los casos de miasis que se diagnosticaron en varios centros sanitarios ubicados en Granada, Málaga, Almería y Jaén durante el periodo comprendido entre septiembre de 2010 y junio de 2011 y consideramos con especial interés los que se iniciaron por una infestación durante el periodo laboral. Se observa en las miasis laborales un predominio de las especies Piophila casei (Linnaeus, 1758) y Sarcophaga (Bercaea) africa (Wiedemann, 1824). Asimismo, exponemos las principales características del ciclo vital de los dípteros de interés sanitario y las medidas de seguridad que deben adoptarse para evitar este tipo de accidente laboral.[En] In few occasions, reference to myiasis in the scope of Occupational Medicine has been done. It is a generalized mistake to think that this type of parasitation is exclusive of underdeveloped countries or social layers without the minimal hygiene measures. Nevertheless, it is important to know the etiological agents and to notice the risk that affects certain occupational sectors exposed to organic matter in decay proccess or to certain foods that by their chemical characteristics act of appealing to the Diptera. We studied the cases of myiasis diagnosed in some medical centers located in Granada, Málaga, Almería and Jaén during the period between September 2010 and June 2011 and we considered with special interest those that began by an infestation during the working period. A predominance of Piophila casei (Linnaeus, 1758) and Sarcophaga (Bercaea) africa (Wiedemann, 1824) was observed in laboral myiasis. Also we exhibit the main characteristics of the vital cycle of Diptera of sanitary interest and the safety measures that must be adopted to avoid this type of occupational accident.N

Body mass index trajectories and associations with cognitive decline in people with Lewy body dementia and Alzheimer's disease

Background and Aims In older adults with dementia, low body mass index (BMI) is associated with higher mortality and other adverse health outcomes. BMI or nutritional status trajectories from diagnosis have not yet been well described in dementia, especially in people with Lewy body dementia (LBD); a group that has a poorer prognosis. With this study, we aimed to evaluate the BMI trajectory in people diagnosed with mild LBD and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods The Dementia Study of Western Norway is a cohort study with annual assessments. Five-year measurements of BMI from 196 patients (LBD = 85 and AD = 111) diagnosed with mild dementia were analyzed using adjusted linear mixed-effects models. Results There were no differences between LBD and AD in baseline BMI, age, or mini-mental status examination (MMSE). During the follow-up, we observed a significant decrease in BMI in the LBD group across the study period (estimation [Est.]: −0.63, SE: 0.14; p < 0.001). By contrast, there was no significant change in BMI trajectory associated with AD diagnosis (Est.: 0.05, SE: 0.15; p = 0.730). Further, the introduction of an interaction term between diagnosis and time in the study showed that this difference (BMI trajectories) was significant (Est.: −0.63, SE: 0.14; p < 0.001). In addition, there was a significant interaction between MMSE total score and the follow-up time; the lower the MMSE, the lower the BMI (Est.: 0.01, SE: 0.01; p = 0.044). Conclusion In LBD, BMI significantly decreased with disease progression. In addition, low cognitive performance was associated with a reduction in BMI. These results highlight the importance of BMI evaluation in people with dementia, particularly patients diagnosed with LBD, and suggest that patients with LBD could be targeted for dietary intervention to maintain body weight.publishedVersio

Exchange-Rate Policy in a Dollarized Economy: Implications for Growth and Employment in Bolivia

We analyzed the impact of currency devaluation on the Bolivian economy, employing a dynamic and extended version of the PEP 1-1 standard model to simulate effects impact on both the main macroeconomic aggregates and the financial stocks and flows of economic agents. We built a new Financial Social Accounting Matrix for the year 2014 and calibrated the model to it. Besides simulating a devaluation of the nominal exchange rate, we also analyzed a policy-response scenario, an external-shock scenario, and a gradual-devaluation scenario. In the policy-response scenario, devaluation was accompanied by a reduction in government expenses (fiscal adjustment); in the external-shock scenario, devaluation came with an increase in the export price of gas (main export commodity); and, in the gradual-devaluation scenario, the exchange-rate policy relaxed gradually. The external-shock scenario dominated the other scenarios in terms of higher average growth and less average unemployment. The fiscal-adjustment scenario, however, dominated in terms of inflation, though it implied an inflationary shock in 2020.Facultad de Ciencias EconómicasCentro de Estudios Distributivos, Laborales y Sociale

Benzodiazepines and antidepressants: Effects on cognitive and functional decline in Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia

Objectives We aim to study the effects of the prescription of benzodiazepines and antidepressants on cognitive and functional decline in older adults living with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Lewy body dementia (LBD) over a 5-year follow-up. Methods This is a longitudinal analysis of a Norwegian cohort study entitled “The Dementia Study of Western Norway” (DemVest). We included 196 patients newly diagnosed with AD (n = 111) and LBD (n = 85), followed annually for 5 years. Three prescription groups were defined: only benzodiazepines (BZD), only antidepressants (ADep), and the combination of benzodiazepines and antidepressants (BZD-ADep). Linear mixed-effects models were conducted to analyze the effect of the defined groups on the outcomes. The outcomes were functional decline, measured by the Rapid Disability Rating Scale—2, and cognition measured with the Mini-Mental State Examination. Results Prescription of the combination of benzodiazepines and antidepressants in LBD was associated with faster functional decline. In AD, the prescription of BZD and BZD-ADep was associated with greater functional deterioration. ADep alone did not show positive or negative significant associations with the studied outcomes. Conclusions BZD and especially the combination of BZD and ADep are associated with functional decline in AD and LBD and should be used cautiously.publishedVersio

Benzodiazepines and antidepressants: Effects on cognitive and functional decline in Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia

Objectives We aim to study the effects of the prescription of benzodiazepines and antidepressants on cognitive and functional decline in older adults living with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Lewy body dementia (LBD) over a 5-year follow-up. Methods This is a longitudinal analysis of a Norwegian cohort study entitled “The Dementia Study of Western Norway” (DemVest). We included 196 patients newly diagnosed with AD (n = 111) and LBD (n = 85), followed annually for 5 years. Three prescription groups were defined: only benzodiazepines (BZD), only antidepressants (ADep), and the combination of benzodiazepines and antidepressants (BZD-ADep). Linear mixed-effects models were conducted to analyze the effect of the defined groups on the outcomes. The outcomes were functional decline, measured by the Rapid Disability Rating Scale—2, and cognition measured with the Mini-Mental State Examination. Results Prescription of the combination of benzodiazepines and antidepressants in LBD was associated with faster functional decline. In AD, the prescription of BZD and BZD-ADep was associated with greater functional deterioration. ADep alone did not show positive or negative significant associations with the studied outcomes. Conclusions BZD and especially the combination of BZD and ADep are associated with functional decline in AD and LBD and should be used cautiously.publishedVersio

Body mass index, performance on activities of daily living and cognition: analysis in two different populations

Background With this study, we aim to determine the associations of the different categories of the body mass index (BMI) with activities of daily living (ADL) and cognitive performance in two different populations living in the community; Colombian and South Korean older adults. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of two surveys separately; The Survey on Health, Well-Being, and Aging in Colombia (SABE) (n = 23,343) and the Korean Longitudinal Study of aging (KLoSA) (n = 4556). Participants older than 50 years were selected from rural and urban areas achieving a representative sample. Here we investigated the association between BMI categories with function using zero-inflated negative binomial regressions, and with cognition using logistic regression models. Results After adjustment, in Colombia, underweight was associated with an impaired score on the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) and worse performance in the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Also, being overweight was associated with a better score on the MMSE and the IADL. For both outcomes education level significantly influenced the predictions. In South Korea, there were no significant associations for cognition, IADL, or basic activities of daily living (BADL). Conclusions In the Colombian population, underweight, was associated with reduced cognitive performance and daily functioning. Additionally, being overweight but not obese was associated with better cognition and daily functioning. In South Korea, there were no significant associations between BMI and cognition, IADL, or BADL.publishedVersio