Signifiers as a First-class Abstraction in Hypermedia Multi-Agent Systems

Hypermedia APIs enable the design of reusable hypermedia clients that discover and exploit affordances on the Web. However, the reusability of such clients remains limited since they cannot plan and reason about interaction. This paper provides a conceptual bridge between hypermedia-driven affordance exploitation on the Web and methods for representing and reasoning about actions that have been extensively explored for Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) and, more broadly, Artificial Intelligence. We build on concepts and methods from Affordance Theory and Human-Computer Interaction that support interaction efficiency in open and evolvable environments to introduce signifiers as a first-class abstraction in Web-based MAS: Signifiers are designed with respect to the agent-environment context of their usage and enable agents with heterogeneous abilities to act and to reason about action. We define a formal model for the contextual exposure of signifiers in hypermedia environments that aims to drive affordance exploitation. We demonstrate our approach with a prototypical Web-based MAS where two agents with different reasoning abilities proactively discover how to interact with their environment by perceiving only the signifiers that fit their abilities. We show that signifier exposure can be inherently managed based on the dynamic agent-environment context towards facilitating effective and efficient interactions on the Web

Virtual Reality-Assisted Awake Craniotomy: A Retrospective Study

Background: Awake craniotomy (AC) with brain mapping for language and motor functions is often performed for tumors within or adjacent to eloquent brain regions. However, other important functions, such as vision and visuospatial and social cognition, are less frequently mapped, at least partly due to the difficulty of defining tasks suitable for the constrained AC environment. Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to demonstrate, through illustrative cases, how a virtual reality headset (VRH) equipped with eye tracking can open up new possibilities for the mapping of language, the visual field and complex cognitive functions in the operating room. Methods: Virtual reality (VR) tasks performed during 69 ACs were evaluated retrospectively. Three types of VR tasks were used: VR-DO80 for language evaluation, VR-Esterman for visual field assessment and VR-TANGO for the evaluation of visuospatial and social functions. Results: Surgery was performed on the right hemisphere for 29 of the 69 ACs performed (42.0%). One AC (1.5%) was performed with all three VR tasks, 14 ACs (20.3%) were performed with two VR tasks and 54 ACs (78.3%) were performed with one VR task. The median duration of VRH use per patient was 15.5 min. None of the patients had “VR sickness”. Only transitory focal seizures of no consequence and unrelated to VRH use were observed during AC. Patients were able to perform all VR tasks. Eye tracking was functional, enabling the medical team to analyze the patients’ attention and exploration of the visual field of the VRH directly. Conclusions: This preliminary experiment shows that VR approaches can provide neurosurgeons with a way of investigating various functions, including social cognition during AC. Given the rapid advances in VR technology and the unbelievable sense of immersion provided by the most recent devices, there is a need for ongoing reflection and discussions of the ethical and methodological considerations associated with the use of these advanced technologies in AC and brain mapping procedures

Virtual Reality-Assisted Awake Craniotomy: A Retrospective Study

International audienceBACKGROUND: Awake craniotomy (AC) with brain mapping for language and motor functions is often performed for tumors within or adjacent to eloquent brain regions. However, other important functions, such as vision and visuospatial and social cognition, are less frequently mapped, at least partly due to the difficulty of defining tasks suitable for the constrained AC environment. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study was to demonstrate, through illustrative cases, how a virtual reality headset (VRH) equipped with eye tracking can open up new possibilities for the mapping of language, the visual field and complex cognitive functions in the operating room. METHODS: Virtual reality (VR) tasks performed during 69 ACs were evaluated retrospectively. Three types of VR tasks were used: VR-DO80 for language evaluation, VR-Esterman for visual field assessment and VR-TANGO for the evaluation of visuospatial and social functions. RESULTS: Surgery was performed on the right hemisphere for 29 of the 69 ACs performed (42.0%). One AC (1.5%) was performed with all three VR tasks, 14 ACs (20.3%) were performed with two VR tasks and 54 ACs (78.3%) were performed with one VR task. The median duration of VRH use per patient was 15.5 min. None of the patients had "VR sickness". Only transitory focal seizures of no consequence and unrelated to VRH use were observed during AC. Patients were able to perform all VR tasks. Eye tracking was functional, enabling the medical team to analyze the patients’ attention and exploration of the visual field of the VRH directly. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary experiment shows that VR approaches can provide neurosurgeons with a way of investigating various functions, including social cognition during AC. Given the rapid advances in VR technology and the unbelievable sense of immersion provided by the most recent devices, there is a need for ongoing reflection and discussions of the ethical and methodological considerations associated with the use of these advanced technologies in AC and brain mapping procedures

Environmental, human health and socioeconomic impacts of Ostreopsis spp. Blooms in the NW Mediterranean

16 pages, 4 figures, 6 tables, supplementary materials https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2022.102320This paper summarizes the research conducted by the partners of the EU co-funded CoCliME project to ascertain the ecological, human health and economic impacts of Ostreopsis (mainly O. cf. ovata) blooms in the NW Mediterranean coasts of France, Monaco and Spain. This knowledge is necessary to design strategies to prevent, mitigate and, if necessary, adapt to the impacts of these events in the future and in other regions. Ostreopsis proliferations in the Mediterranean have been related to massive mortalities of benthic organisms and to symptoms of respiratory and cutaneous irritation in humans. A six-year epidemiologic study in a Ostreopsis hot spot in Catalonia and the accumulated experience of the French Mediterranean National Ostreopsis Surveillance Network confirm the main effects of these blooms on human health in the NW Mediterranean. The impacts are associated to direct exposure to seawater with high Ostreopsis cell concentrations and to inhalation of aerosols containing unknown irritative chemicals produced under certain circumstances during the blooms. A series of mild acute symptoms, affecting the entire body as well as the ophthalmic, digestive, respiratory and dermatologic systems have been identified. A main remaining challenge is to ascertain the effects of the chronic exposure to toxic Ostreopsis blooms. Still, the mechanisms involved in the deletereous effects of Ostreopsis blooms are poorly understood. Characterizing the chemical nature of the harmful compounds synthesized by Ostreopsis as well as the role of the mucus by which cells attach to benthic surfaces, requires new technical approaches (e.g., metabolomics) and realistic and standardized ecotoxicology tests. It is also necessary to investigate how palytoxin analogues produced by O. cf. ovata could be transferred through the marine food webs, and to evaluate the real risk of seafood poisonings in the area. On the other hand, the implementation of beach monitoring and surveillance systems in the summer constitutes an effective strategy to prevent the impacts of Ostreopsis on human health. In spite of the confirmed noxious effects, a survey of tourists and residents in Nice and Monaco to ascertain the socioeconomic costs of Ostreopsis blooms indicated that the occurrence of these events and their impacts are poorly known by the general public. In relationship with a plausible near future increase of Ostreopsis blooms in the NW Mediterranean coast, this survey showed that a substantial part of the population might continue to go to the beaches during Ostreopsis proliferations and thus could be exposed to health risks. In contrast, some people would not visit the affected areas, with the potential subsequent negative impacts on coastal recreational and touristic activities. However, at this stage, it is too early to accurately assess all the economic impacts that a potentially increasing frequency and biogeographic expansion of the events might cause in the futureThis study was supported by the project CoCliME (a part of ERA4CS, an ERA-NET initiated by JPI Climate, and funded by EPA -Ireland-, ANR -France-, BMBF -Germany-, UEFISCDI -Romania-, RCN -Norway- and FORMAS -Sweden-, with co-funding by the European, Union; Grant 6904462), endorsed to the international programme of IOC UNESCO and SCOR GlobalHAB (www.globalhab.info). The epidemiology studies were also funded by the project OstreoRisk (CTM2014-53818-R) of the Spanish Government (MINECO). N.I. M.-P. was granted by the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (Government of Catalonia) and the University of Barcelona with a PhD FI-SDUR fellowship. [...] The ICM-CSIC is funded by the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation of the Spanish “Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades”, 2020-2023 (CEX2019-000928-S)Peer reviewe

Environmental, human health and socioeconomic impacts of Ostreopsis spp. blooms in the NW Mediterranean

19th International Conference on Harmful Algae (ICHA 2021), 10-15 october 2021, La Paz, Baja California Sur, MéxicoThis presentation summarizes the research conducted by the CoCliME project to ascertain the impacts of Ostreopsis (mainly O. cf. ovata) blooms in the NW Mediterranean beached and to design strategies to prevent, mitigate and, if necessary, adapt to the impacts of these events in the future. Noxious effects of Ostreopsis proliferations in the Mediterranean include massive mortalities of benthic organisms. Still, the involved deleterious mechanisms are poorly understood, requiring standardized ecotoxicology tests. Also, the chemical nature of the harmful compounds synthesized by Ostreopsis is unknown. There is a need to understand the toxin transfer through the marine food webs, and to evaluate the real risk of seafood poisonings in the area. The main effects on human health are, by now, associated to direct exposure to seawater with high Ostreopsis cell concentrations and to inhalation of aerosols containing unknown irritative chemicals produced under certain circumstances during the blooms. A six-year epidemiologic study confirmed the mild acute symptoms, affecting mainly the ophthalmologic, digestive, respiratory and dermatologic systems but the risk of chronic exposure as well. Beach monitoring and surveillance systems in summer (such as the surveillance Network on the French Mediterranean coast since 2006) constitutes an effective strategy to prevent Ostreopsis impacts on human health. Nowadays, the general public has a poor knowledge about the occurrence of Ostreopsis blooms. However, considering hypothetical future scenarios of increased Ostreopsis blooms, a large part of coastal rcreational and tourist activities could be negatively impacted. Tourist and residents might continue to go to the beaches during Ostreopsis proliferations, and this be exposed to associated health risk

CoCliME: Co-development of Climate services for adaptation to changing Marine Ecosystems

International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Annual Science Conference 2019, 9-12 September 2019 Gothenburg, Sweden.-- 1 page, figures.-- 1 pageMost climate service development has focused on land based or physical coastal climate impacts. Unfortunately, the effects of a changing climate on marine ecosystems are less well understood and require further scientific study to fully examine potential impacts. A marine ecosystem climate service, with coastal ecosystem indicators, useful to management and policy concerns, and directly relevant to human health, wellbeing and coastal economies is the focus of CoCliME. Our case studies, which cover all European regional seas, have selected a number of ecological indicators including harmful algal blooms, marine biotoxins, pathogens and marine microbial diversity. Change in environmental drivers, such as temperature or ocean circulation, can affect the dynamics, succession and occurrence of these ecological indicators with resulting impacts on marine ecosystem services. The foundation of the CoCliME services is co-development and engagement with our end users to ensure the usability and relevance of the services developed. CoCliME uses a transdisciplinary approach to develop regional climate change services and involves case study specific data analyses, ranging from genetic research, laboratory experiments, field studies, analysis of time series, marine climate modelling, and economic impact modelling. Here, we share our experiences in this novel area of marine ecosystem climate service development. What have we learned so far? What have the users taught us? We will share with you what’s next for the prototype services we aim to delive