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Telerehabilitation is emerging as a promising digital method for delivering rehabilitation to Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients, especially in the early stages to promote brain resilience. This study explores how cognitive reserve (CR), the brain's ability to withstand aging and disease, impacts the effectiveness of telerehabilitation. It specifically examines the influence of lifelong cognitive activities on the relationship between neural reserve and improved functional abilities following rehabilitation. In the study, 42 PD patients underwent a 4-month neuromotor telerehabilitation program. CR proxies were assessed using the Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (CRIq), brain changes via 3T-MRI, and functional response through changes in the 6-Minute Walk Distance (6MWD). Participants were divided into responders (n = 23) and non-responders (n = 19) based on their 6MWD improvement. A multiple regression model was run to test significant predictors of 6MWD after treatment in each group. The results revealed a significant correlation between 6MWD and CRIq scores, but only among responders. Notably, the CRIq Leisure-Time sub-index, along with baseline 6MWD, were predictors of post-treatment 6MWD. These findings highlight CR's role in enhancing the benefits of telerehabilitation on PD patients' neuromotor functions. Clinically, these results suggest that neurologists and clinicians should consider patients' lifestyles and cognitive engagement as important factors in predicting and enhancing the outcomes of telerehabilitation. The study underscores the potential of CR as both a predictor and booster of telerehabilitation's effects, advocating for a personalized approach to PD treatment that takes into account individual CR levels.

Because of the spatial nature of groundwater-related data and their time component, effective groundwater management requires the application of methods pertaining to the Information and Communication Technologies sector, such as spatial data management and distributed numerical modelling. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the QGIS-integrated FREEWAT platform and an approach combining spatial data management and numerical models to target groundwater management issues. FREEWAT is a free and open source platform integrated in a Geographic Information System environment and embedding tools for pre- and post-processing of spatial data and integrating numerical codes for the simulation of the hydrological cycle, with a main focus on groundwater. To this aim, this paper briefly presents the FREEWAT platform, introduces the FREEWAT approach, and showcases 13 case studies in European and non-European countries where the FREEWAT platform was applied. Application of the FREEWAT platform to real-world case studies is presented for targeting management of coastal aquifers, ground- and surface-water interaction, climate change impacts, management of transboundary aquifers, rural water management and protection of groundwater-dependent ecosystems. In this sense, compared to other existing software suites, FREEWAT allows data analysis and visualization to accomplish each step of the modelling workflow, i.e., from data analytics, to conceptual model definition, to numerical modelling and reporting of results. The presented experiences demonstrate that improved access to data and the portability of models and models’ results can help to promote water sustainability from the local- to the basin-scale. Furthermore, FREEWAT may represent a valuable tool to target the objective of increasing the capabilities of public authorities and private companies to manage groundwater resources by means of up-to-date, robust, well-documented and reliable software

Mobile devices are increasingly being used not only to take photos but also to display and present them to their users in an easily accessible and attractive way. Especially for spatially referenced objects, Augmented Reality (AR) offers new and innovative ways to show them in their actual, real-world context. In this demo, we present the AR-Explorer system, and particularly its use ‘in-the-field’ with local visual material.

Virtual reality (VR) interfaces are becoming more commonplace as the number of capable and affordable devices increases. However, VR user interfaces for common computing tasks often fail to take full advantage of the affordances provided by this immersive interface modality. New interfaces designed for VR must be developed in order to fully explore the possibilities for user interaction. In this paper, we present vitrivr-VR and the improvements made for its participation in the Video Browser Showdown (VBS) 2024. We describe the current state of vitrivr-VR, with a focus on a novel point cloud browsing interface and improvements made to its text input methods.

While the vitrivr stack has seen many changes in components over the years, its feature extraction and query processing engine traces its history back almost a decade. Some aspects of its architecture and operation are no longer current, limiting the entire stack’s applicability in various use cases. In this paper, we present the first glimpse into vitrivr’s next-generation retrieval engine and our plan to overcome previously identified limitations.

Because of the spatial nature of groundwater-related data and their time component, effective groundwater management requires the application of methods pertaining to the Information and Communication Technologies sector, such as spatial data management and distributed numerical modelling. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the QGIS-integrated FREEWAT platform and an approach combining spatial data management and numerical models to target groundwater management issues. FREEWAT is a free and open source platform integrated in a Geographic Information System environment and embedding tools for pre- and post-processing of spatial data and integrating numerical codes for the simulation of the hydrological cycle, with a main focus on groundwater. To this aim, this paper briefly presents the FREEWAT platform, introduces the FREEWAT approach, and showcases 13 case studies in European and non-European countries where the FREEWAT platform was applied. Application of the FREEWAT platform to real-world case studies is presented for targeting management of coastal aquifers, ground- and surface-water interaction, climate change impacts, management of transboundary aquifers, rural water management and protection of groundwater-dependent ecosystems. In this sense, compared to other existing software suites, FREEWAT allows data analysis and visualization to accomplish each step of the modelling workflow, i.e., from data analytics, to conceptual model definition, to numerical modelling and reporting of results. The presented experiences demonstrate that improved access to data and the portability of models and models’ results can help to promote water sustainability from the local- to the basin-scale. Furthermore, FREEWAT may represent a valuable tool to target the objective of increasing the capabilities of public authorities and private companies to manage groundwater resources by means of up-to-date, robust, well-documented and reliable software

Because of the spatial nature of groundwater-related data and their time component, effective groundwater management requires the application of methods pertaining to the Information and Communication Technologies sector, such as spatial data management and distributed numerical modelling. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the QGIS-integrated FREEWAT platform and an approach combining spatial data management and numerical models to target groundwater management issues. FREEWAT is a free and open source platform integrated in a Geographic Information System environment and embedding tools for pre- and post-processing of spatial data and integrating numerical codes for the simulation of the hydrological cycle, with a main focus on groundwater. To this aim, this paper briefly presents the FREEWAT platform, introduces the FREEWAT approach, and showcases 13 case studies in European and non-European countries where the FREEWAT platform was applied. Application of the FREEWAT platform to real-world case studies is presented for targeting management of coastal aquifers, ground- and surface-water interaction, climate change impacts, management of transboundary aquifers, rural water management and protection of groundwater-dependent ecosystems. In this sense, compared to other existing software suites, FREEWAT allows data analysis and visualization to accomplish each step of the modelling workflow, i.e., from data analytics, to conceptual model definition, to numerical modelling and reporting of results. The presented experiences demonstrate that improved access to data and the portability of models and models’ results can help to promote water sustainability from the local- to the basin-scale. Furthermore, FREEWAT may represent a valuable tool to target the objective of increasing the capabilities of public authorities and private companies to manage groundwater resources by means of up-to-date, robust, well-documented and reliable software

Because of the spatial nature of groundwater-related data and their time component, effective groundwater management requires the application of methods pertaining to the Information and Communication Technologies sector, such as spatial data management and distributed numerical modelling. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the QGIS-integrated FREEWAT platform and an approach combining spatial data management and numerical models to target groundwater management issues. FREEWAT is a free and open source platform integrated in a Geographic Information System environment and embedding tools for pre- and post-processing of spatial data and integrating numerical codes for the simulation of the hydrological cycle, with a main focus on groundwater. To this aim, this paper briefly presents the FREEWAT platform, introduces the FREEWAT approach, and showcases 13 case studies in European and non-European countries where the FREEWAT platform was applied. Application of the FREEWAT platform to real-world case studies is presented for targeting management of coastal aquifers, ground- and surface-water interaction, climate change impacts, management of transboundary aquifers, rural water management and protection of groundwater-dependent ecosystems. In this sense, compared to other existing software suites, FREEWAT allows data analysis and visualization to accomplish each step of the modelling workflow, i.e., from data analytics, to conceptual model definition, to numerical modelling and reporting of results. The presented experiences demonstrate that improved access to data and the portability of models and models’ results can help to promote water sustainability from the local- to the basin-scale. Furthermore, FREEWAT may represent a valuable tool to target the objective of increasing the capabilities of public authorities and private companies to manage groundwater resources by means of up-to-date, robust, well-documented and reliable software

Background: Symptoms of mental distress increased sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among older adolescents and young adults. Mental health distress may make it more challenging for young people to seek other needed health care, including contraception. This study explored the association of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress with delays in getting a contraceptive method or prescription. Materials and Methods: Data from a supplementary study (May 15, 2020-March 20, 2023) to a cluster randomized trial in 29 sites in Texas and California were used. The diverse study sample included community college students assigned female at birth of ages 18-29 years (n = 1,665 with 7,023 observations over time). We measured the association of depression (CES-D [Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale]) or anxiety and stress (DASS-21 [Depression Anxiety Stress Scales]) symptoms with delayed contraceptive care-seeking with mixed-effects multivariable regression with random effects for individual and site. We controlled for age and sociodemographic factors important for access to care. Results: Over one-third of participants (35%) reported they delayed getting the contraceptive method they needed. Multivariable regression results showed increased odds of delayed contraceptive care among participants with symptoms of depression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27-1.96). Likewise, delays were associated with anxiety and stress symptoms (aOR 1.46, 95% CI 1.17-1.82). Adolescents were more likely to delay seeking contraception than young adults (aOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.07-1.63). Conclusions: Results showed a strong association between mental distress and delayed contraception. Interventions are needed to increase contraceptive access for young people delaying care, along with supportive mental health care services, including for adolescents who face elevated odds of delay. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03519685.

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to describe the use of telemedicine for contraception in a sample of young adults and examine differences by health insurance coverage.Study designWe analyzed survey data collected from May 2020 to July 2022 from individuals at risk of pregnancy aged 18 to 29 recruited at 29 community colleges in California and Texas. We used multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression models with random effects for site and individual to compare the use of telemedicine to obtain contraception by insurance status, sociodemographic characteristics, and state.ResultsOur analytic sample included 6465 observations from 1630 individuals. Participants reported using a contraceptive method obtained through telemedicine in just 6% of observations. Uninsured participants were significantly less likely than those privately insured to use contraception obtained through telemedicine (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.31-0.97), as were participants who did not know their insurance status (aOR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.29-0.99). Texas participants were less likely to use contraception obtained via telemedicine than those in California (aOR, 0.42; CI: 0.25-0.69).ConclusionsFew young people in this study obtained contraception through telemedicine, and insurance was crucial for access in both states.ImplicationsAlthough telemedicine holds promise for increasing contraceptive access, we found that few young adults were using it, particularly among the uninsured. Efforts are needed to improve young adults' access to telemedicine for contraception and address insurance disparities.

General relativistic corrections are calculated for the quadrupole moment of a magnetically confined mountain on an accreting neutron star. The hydromagnetic structure of the mountain satisfies the general relativistic Grad-Shafranov equation supplemented by the flux-freezing condition of ideal magnetohydrodynamics, as in previous calculations of the magnetic dipole moment. It is found that the ellipticity and hence the gravitational wave strain is $4\%$ to $12\%$ smaller than in the analogous Newtonian system. The direct contribution of the magnetic field to the nonaxisymmetric component of the stress-energy tensor is also considered, and it is shown that it is negligible in systems such as low-mass X-ray binaries.

Ongoing debates about ethical guidelines for autonomous vehicles mostly focus on variations of the ‘Trolley Problem’. Using variations of this ethical dilemma in preference surveys, possible implications for autonomous vehicles policy are discussed. In this work, we argue that the lack of realism in such scenarios leads to limited practical insights. We run an ethical preference survey for autonomous vehicles by including more realistic features, such as time pressure and a non-binary decision option. Our results indicate that such changes lead to different outcomes, calling into question how the current outcomes can be generalized. Additionally, we investigate the framing effects of the capabilities of autonomous vehicles and indicate that ongoing debates need to set realistic expectations on autonomous vehicle challenges. Based on our results, we call upon the field to re-frame the current debate towards more realistic discussions beyond the Trolley Problem and focus on which autonomous vehicle behavior is considered not to be acceptable, since a consensus on what the right solution is, is not reachable.

Severe pomegranate yield losses due to fruit diseases have recently been observed in several orchards in Veneto (north-eastern Italy). Given the economic relevance of these emerging diseases, an in-depth study was conducted in ten orchards distributed in the main producing areas in order to investigate the aetiology. From autumn 2020 to autumn 2023, eighty-two symptomatic fruits were sampled to isolate the causal agents. Based on morphology, colony appearance and DNA sequence data, seventy-seven isolates were obtained and identified. These included Coniella granati (Fam. Schizoparmaceae, 39 isolates), Neofusicoccum parvum (Fam. Botryosphaeriaceae, 29) and Phytophthora palmivora (Fam. Peronosporaceae, 9). Pathogenicity trials conducted on ripe pomegranate fruits confirmed the aggressiveness of the three species. Results obtained have allowed us to expand knowledge on emerging pomegranate pathogens. Neofusicoccum parvum and P. palmivora are reported here for the first time as fruit rot agents on pomegranate in Italy.

In recent years, the DBLP computer science bibliography has been prominently used for searching scholarly information, such as publications, scholars, and venues. However, its current search service lacks the capability to handle complex queries, which limits the usability of DBLP. In this paper, we present NLQxform-UI, a web-based natural language interface that enables users to query DBLP directly with complex natural language questions. NLQxform-UI automatically translates given questions into SPARQL queries and executes the queries over the DBLP knowledge graph to retrieve answers. The querying process is presented to users in an interactive manner, which improves the transparency of the system and helps examine the returned answers. Also, intermediate results in the querying process can be previewed and manually altered to improve the accuracy of the system. NLQxform-UI has been completely open-sourced: https://github.com/ruijie-wang-uzh/NLQxform-UI.

We present the second version of the Open Assistant Toolkit (OAT-v2), an open-source task-oriented conversational system for composing generative neural models. OAT-v2 is a scalable and flexible assistant platform supporting multiple domains and modalities of user interaction. It splits processing a user utterance into modular system components, including submodules such as action code generation, multimodal content retrieval, and knowledge-augmented response generation. Developed over multiple years of the Alexa TaskBot challenge, OAT-v2 is a proven system that enables scalable and robust experimentation in experimental and real-world deployment. OAT-v2 provides open models and software for research and commercial applications to enable the future of multimodal virtual assistants across diverse applications and types of rich interaction.

We tackle the challenge of building real-world multimodal assistants for complex real-world tasks. We describe the practicalities and challenges of developing and deploying GRILLBot, a leading (first and second prize winning in 2022 and 2023) system deployed in the Alexa Prize TaskBot Challenge. Building on our Open Assistant Toolkit (OAT) framework, we propose a hybrid architecture that leverages Large Language Models (LLMs) and specialised models tuned for specific subtasks requiring very low latency. OAT allows us to define when, how and which LLMs should be used in a structured and deployable manner. For knowledge-grounded question answering and live task adaptations, we show that LLM reasoning abilities over task context and world knowledge outweigh latency concerns. For dialogue state management, we implement a code generation approach and show that specialised smaller models have 84% effectiveness with 100x lower latency. Overall, we provide insights and discuss tradeoffs for deploying both traditional models and LLMs to users in complex real-world multimodal environments in the Alexa TaskBot challenge. These experiences will continue to evolve as LLMs become more capable and efficient -- fundamentally reshaping OAT and future assistant architectures., Comment: 14 pages, KDD Preprint

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is hallmarked by dysfunctional circuitry between the basal ganglia and dorsolateral-prefrontal cortex. Recently progress has been made in understanding factors contributing to differential susceptibility to pathology mitigating disease-related cognitive decline. Cognitive reserve, the brain processing resources accumulated throughout life while engaged in mentally stimulating activities, can play an important protective role in cognitive performance. We tested the hypothesis that Cognitive Reserve proxies may exert an impact on the basal ganglia and dorsolateral-prefrontal atrophy in early PD. Forty-five early patients with PD and 20 age-gender-matched healthy controls (HC) completed the Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire to quantify Cognitive Reserve proxies by three indexes (CRI-Education, CRI-Working Activity, CRI-Leisure Time) and a structural MRI examination (3T). Morphometrical indexes for basal ganglia (bilateral putamen, caudate, pallidum volume) and dorsolateral-prefrontal cortex (cortical thickness) were computed. Significant differences between HC and PD were tested by direct comparisons in demographics, cognitive level, and cognitive reserve proxies indexes. Then two multiple regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of the basal ganglia and dorsolateral-prefrontal cortex structural integrity. Regression analysis revealed that basal ganglia volume was significantly predicted by CRI-Education (p(FDR) = 0.029), sex (p(FDR) = 0.029), and Total Intracranial Volume (p(FDR) < 0.001). Instead, the dorsolateral-prefrontal thickness was predicted by CRI-Leisure Time (p(FDR) = 0.030) and age (p(FDR) = 0.010). Cognitive Reserve proxies, especially education and leisure-time activities, can play a protective role on the structural integrity of the basal ganglia and dorsolateral-prefrontal cortex, respectively, critical regions hallmarking brain status of early phases of PD.

Interactive video retrieval is a cooperative process between humans and retrieval systems. Large-scale evaluation campaigns, however, often overlook human factors, such as the effects of perception, attention, and memory, when assessing media retrieval systems. Consequently, their setups fall short of emulating realistic retrieval scenarios. In this paper, we design novel task presentation modes based on concepts in media memorability, implement the pipelines necessary for processing target video segments, and build a custom experimental platform for the final evaluation. In order to study the effects of different task representation schemes, we conduct a large crowdsourced experiment. Our findings demonstrate that the way in which the target of a video retrieval task is presented has a substantial influence on the difficulty of the retrieval task and that individuals can successfully retrieve a target video segment despite reducing or even altering the provided hints, opening up a discussion around future evaluation protocols in the domain of interactive media retrieval.

Introduction: Telerehabilitation systems represent a promising way for the management of chronic disability, delivering technology-enabled rehabilitation outside the hospital setting. However, usability and acceptability assessment with users represents a critical starting point when using digital healthcare solutions. This study aims at evaluating the user experience with a Telerehabilitation system (SIDERA∧B) from the end-user side. Methods: SIDERA∧B consists of an asynchronous delivery of rehabilitation activities through multimedia digital contents and tele-monitoring of vital parameters with technological devices for individualized, home-based management of chronic conditions. Usability (with the System Usability Scale, SUS) and acceptability (using the Technology Acceptance Model, TAM - and The Service User Technology Acceptance Questionnaire, SUTAQ) data were analyzed from the dataset of the SIDERA∧B project (N = 112 patients with Chronic Heart Failure, Parkinson's Disease and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). The possible influence of five external factors (i.e., technological expertise, education, sex, age, and level of disability) on TAM domains was tested using Spearman's Correlation analysis. Results: Results showed a satisfactory level of technological usability (SUS Median = 77.5) and good scores in usability and learnability SUS subdomains (mean scores > 2.5). Regarding technological acceptability, participants showed high scores (Median > 4) in “Behavioral Intention”, “Perceived Usefulness”, and “Perceived Ease of Use” TAM domains. Finally, results from the SUTAQ scale highlighted that the SIDERA∧B system obtained optimal scores in all domains, especially in “Increased accessibility,” “Care personnel concerns,” and “Satisfaction.” Age (rho = −0.291, p = 0.002) and disability level (WHODAS Total score: rho = −0.218, p = 0.021) were the two external factors inversely associated with the Perceived Ease of Use. Discussion: The age of digital

IntroductionThe Yoni task is a computerized tool assessing first-and second-order affective and cognitive Theory of Mind (ToM), accounting for the multidimensional and multi-level mentalizing features. The Italian Yoni task has been validated and standardized in its 98-item version, and a 48-item short version has been proposed for a quick digital evaluation of ToM in clinical contexts. MethodsThe present study aimed to test the Yoni-48's convergent validity, correlating the tool score with the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test (ET) and Gender Test (GT), its items discrimination ability through the Classical Test Theory, and Rash model, its reliability by evaluating the internal consistency (McDonald's omega, Cronbach's alpha, Guttman's lambda(2), and Guttman's lambda(6)) and Spearman-Brown rho(SP) split-half analysis, and to provide standardization and normative data in the Italian population. ResultsResults suggested a good convergent validity with a statistically significant association with ET (p < 0.001), while a null correlation was observed with GT (p = 0.947). The Classical Test Theory and Rash model confirmed a good discrimination ability of the Yoni-48's second-order affective and cognitive ToM items, while weaker discrimination capacity was registered for the first-order ToM items. The inter-item reliability was optimal for clinical purposes (omega, alpha, lambda(2), lambda(6) >= 0.90). Also, the split-half reliability was high (Spearman-Brown rho(SP) = 0.90). For standardization, age and education were revealed as significant predictors of Yoni accuracy scores, except for the first-order ToM score. Instead, age was the only predictor of Yoni's response speed score. The Italian normative data showed a high Yoni accuracy in healthy adults (mean accuracy = 0.85) and speed (mean response time = 0.92). Finally, both accuracy and response time level was balanced between the affective and cognitive components of ToM. DiscussionThis study supports the psyc

Introduction: Over the last decades, interactive technologies appeared a promising solution in the ecological evaluation of executive functioning. We have developed the EXecutive-functions Innovative Tool 360° (EXIT 360°), a new instrument that exploits 360° technologies to provide an ecologically valid assessment of executive functioning. Aim: This work wanted to evaluate the convergent validity of the EXIT 360°, comparing it with traditional neuropsychological tests (NPS) for executive functioning. Methods: Seventy-seven healthy subjects underwent an evaluation that involved: (1) a paper-and-pencil neuropsychological assessment, (2) an EXIT 360° session, involving seven subtasks delivered by VR headset, and (3) a usability assessment. To evaluate convergent validity, statistical correlation analyses were performed between NPS and EXIT 360° scores. Results: The data showed that participants had completed the whole task in about 8 min, with 88.3% obtaining a high total score (≥12). Regarding convergent validity, the data revealed a significant correlation between the EXIT 360° total score and all NPS. Furthermore, data showed a correlation between the EXIT 360° total reaction time and timed neuropsychological tests. Finally, the usability assessment showed a good score. Conclusion: This work appears as a first validation step towards considering the EXIT 360° as a standardized instrument that uses 360° technologies to conduct an ecologically valid assessment of executive functioning. Further studies will be necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the EXIT 360° in discriminating between healthy control subjects and patients with executive dysfunctions.

Purpose: This study tested the efficacy of digital-health home intervention for people within the Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-continuum. Methods: Thirty people within the AD continuum were randomly assigned to a telerehabilitation (ABILITY; 6 males, Mage=78.2 ± 3.95) or treatment as usual (TAU; 8 males, Mage=77.13 ± 6.38), performing cognitive and physical activities at home for six weeks. The ABILITY intervention additionally included a digital platform enabling communication between the hospital and the patient’s home. Efficiency, such as adherence, perceived fit of demands and skills, usability, and effectiveness measures, including neuropsychological level, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and autonomy in daily living, were collected before (T0), after the treatment (T1), and at the 1-year-follow-up (T2). Results: The ABILITY program was efficient, with a higher adherence (81% vs. 62%), a higher perceived fit of demands and skills than TAU (p[removed] TAU) emerged on the global cognitive level, especially in language, executive functions, and memory domains. Moreover, a treatment carry-over effect (1-year follow-up) was observed in global cognitive functions (especially language) (ABILITY > TAU), behavioral symptoms, and caregiver distress (TAU > ABILITY). Conclusions: Our preliminary findings suggest that ABILITY is a promising eHealth intervention to improve at-home treatment adherence and to preserve cognitive and behavioral abilities.

As part of the 6th Lifelog Search Challenge, this paper presents an approach to arrange Lifelog data in a multi-modal knowledge graph based on cluster hierarchies. We use multiple sequence clustering approaches to address the multi-modal nature of Lifelogs in relation to temporal, spatial, and visual factors. The resulting clusters, along with semantic metadata captions and augmentations based on OpenCLIP, provide for the semantic structure of a graph including all Lifelogs as entries. Textual queries on this hierarchical graph can be expressed to retrieve individual Lifelogs, as well as clusters of Lifelogs.

EXecutive-functions Innovative Tool 360° (EXIT 360°) is an original 360° instrument for an ecologically valid and multicomponent evaluation of executive functioning. This work aimed to test the diagnostic efficacy of EXIT 360° in distinguishing executive functioning between healthy controls (HC) and patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PwPD), a neurodegenerative disease in which executive dysfunction is the best-defined cognitive impairment in the early stage. 36 PwPD and 44 HC underwent a one-session evaluation that involved (1) neuropsychological evaluation of executive functionality using traditional paper-and-pencil tests, (2) EXIT 360° session and (3) usability assessment. Our findings revealed that PwPD made significantly more errors in completing EXIT 360° and took longer to conclude the test. A significant correlation appeared between neuropsychological tests and EXIT 360° scores, supporting a good convergent validity. Classification analysis indicated the potential of the EXIT 360° for distinguishing between PwPD and HC in terms of executive functioning. Moreover, indices from EXIT 360° showed higher diagnostic accuracy in predicting PD group membership compared to traditional neuropsychological tests. Interestingly, EXIT 360° performance was not affected by technological usability issues. Overall, this study offers evidence that EXIT 360° can be considered an ecological tool highly sensitive to detect subtle executive deficits in PwPD since the initial phases of the disease.

In recent years, the traditional neuropsychological assessment of executive functioning has been enriched by introducing VR-based tools and identifying non-verbal physiological measures obtained with different devices such as the Eye Tracker (ET) and electroencephalogram (EEG). We propose an innovative protocol for a multidimensional and multicomponent assessment of Executive Functions (EFs). Through the use of the EXecutive-functions Innovative Tool (EXIT 360°), an original task for EFs is delivered via this innovative technological device: a comfortable, mobile-powered VR headset, combined with ET and EEG sensors. EXIT 360° can be considered an innovative solution for evaluating executive dysfunctions, through which participants are involved in a “game for health”, where they must perform everyday subtasks in 360° domestic environments. Integrating this VR-based tool with physiological devices will allow us to quickly obtain more information about executive dysfunctions. Overall, this innovative assessment wants to go beyond the effectiveness of VR-based tools or ET and EEG studies by combining different data for a multidimensional and multicomponent evaluation of executive functioning with high clinical usability and ecological validity.

Theory of Mind (ToM), a high-order human social cognition skill, is relevant for mental health and wellbeing and frequently impaired in many clinical conditions. To detect ToM difficulties, validated and standardized measures need to be adopted in clinical practice. The Yoni task provides a comprehensive evaluation of first-order, second-order, affective and cognitive mentalistic inferences. However, the Yoni task remains a time-demanding tool without normative data. To fill this gap, we explored the convergent and discriminant validity, the inter-item reliability and provided normative data of the Italian version of the Yoni task (98 items), and developed two short versions (48 and 36 items). For the validation, internal consistency and convergent/discriminant validity have been considered. Then, the effects of demographical variables on 98 item Yoni were explored, and normative data were provided. Our data demonstrated high reliability and a good convergent validity in all the Yoni versions. Then, two composite scores were proposed to obtain: 1) a global ToM level and 2) the balance between affective and cognitive ToM components, whose alteration represents a signature of several clinical conditions. The future standardization of the short versions of Yoni will allow a comprehensive and quick examination of ToM abilities, suitable for both research and clinical settings.

Introduction: Executive dysfunctions constitute a significant public health problem: their high impact on everyday life makes it a priority to identify early strategies for evaluating and rehabilitating these disorders in a real-life context. The ecological limitation of traditional neuropsychological tests and several difficulties in administering tests or training in real-life scenarios have paved the way to use Virtual Reality-based tools to evaluate and rehabilitate Executive Functions (EFs) in real-life. Objective: This work aims to conduct a systematic review to provide a detailed description of the VR-based tools currently developed for the evaluation and rehabilitation of EFs. Methods: We systematically searched for original manuscripts regarding VR tools and EFs by looking for titles and abstracts in the PubMed, Scopus, PsycInfo, and Web of Science databases up to November 2021 that contained the following keywords “Virtual Reality” AND “Executive function*.” Results and Conclusion: We analyzed 301 articles, of which 100 were included. Our work shows that available VR-based tools appear promising solutions for an ecological assessment and treatment of EFs in healthy subjects and several clinical populations.

The high voltage Padova test facility (HVPTF) is an experimental device for the study of HV insulation in vacuum, in support of the realization of the prototype of a neutral beam injector for International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), named megavolt ITER injector and concept advancement (MITICA). The facility investigates the physical phenomena underlying voltage holding in vacuum, in particular the mechanisms causing breakdowns and the electrode conditioning process. At HVPTF, inside a high vacuum chamber, two stainless steel electrodes, separated by a few centimeters gap, can achieve HV values for a maximum potential difference of 800 kV. During the voltage conditioning of the electrodes, current MicroDischarges (MDs) and high-energy X-rays are observed and analyzed. In this work, we present a characterization of the MD dynamics occurring during the conditioning process, with the aim to gain information on the reason of the growing difference between the current contributions measured by the two electrodes. The analysis will be performed due to two new X-rays detectors recently installed: an lutetium yttrium orthosilicate (LYSO) and a LaBr3(Ce) scintillating crystal. The new diagnostics indeed provide the fine dynamics of a single MD, recording energy and time of each single detected X-ray. In particular, we compare the MD dynamics at the beginning and at the end of the conditioning process and try to give a preliminary interpretation of the observations.

The general relativistic formulation of the problem of magnetically confined mountains on neutron stars is presented, and the resulting equations are solved numerically, generalizing previous Newtonian calculations. The hydromagnetic structure of the accreted matter and the subsequent magnetic burial of the star’s magnetic dipole moment are computed. Overall, it is observed that relativistic corrections reduce the hydromagnetic deformation associated with the mountain. The magnetic field lines are curved more gently than in previous calculations, and the screening of the dipole moment is reduced. Quantitatively, it is found that the dimensionless dipole moment (md) depends on the accreted mass (Ma) as md = −3.2 × 103Ma/M⊙ + 1.0, implying approximately three times less screening compared to the Newtonian theory. Additionally, the characteristic scale height of the mountain, governing the gradients of quantities like pressure, density, and magnetic field strength, reduces by approximately 40 per cent for an isothermal equation of state.

Purpose of the study: To analyze the state of the art on the mental health and quality of life of health professionals who worked on the SARS-CoV-2 frontline. Method: This is an integrative literature review study. Results: Regarding the content of the works selected to compose the corpus of this study, it was possible to extract that the main reasons that affect well-being are correlated with levels of stress and anxiety. In addition, the articles linked depression and anguish as one of the determining factors tangent to the quality of life axis, despite the fact that, as explored, aspects such as physical activity were a determining factor for improving the quality of life. Conclusion: The work environment directly influences the worker's mental health, and thus reveals the high overload in which to carry out their work activities without resources and without support, consequently affecting the quality of life.

Purpose of the study: To analyze the state of the art on the mental health and quality of life of health professionals who worked on the SARS-CoV-2 frontline. Method: This is an integrative literature review study. Results: Regarding the content of the works selected to compose the corpus of this study, it was possible to extract that the main reasons that affect well-being are correlated with levels of stress and anxiety. In addition, the articles linked depression and anguish as one of the determining factors tangent to the quality of life axis, despite the fact that, as explored, aspects such as physical activity were a determining factor for improving the quality of life. Conclusion: The work environment directly influences the worker's mental health, and thus reveals the high overload in which to carry out their work activities without resources and without support, consequently affecting the quality of life.

Introduction: Medical training represents a stressful event that can impact the physical and psychological well-being and quality of life of medical students, predisposing to the emergence of various emotional disorders, stress and the Burnout syndrome, which compromises academic performance, labor and social. Objective: The objective of this study is to identify the stressors associated with medical training that led to problems in the physical and mental health of medical students, as well as the coping strategies adopted. Methodology: This research is a review of the narrative, qualitative literature, whose scientific articles were searched in the scientific databases: Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS) and PubMed. The Descriptors used were: mental health, emotional stress, burnout, psychiatric disorders, medical students, medical training. Results and Discussion: Most of the reviewed studies demonstrated that exposure to chronic and repeated stress among medical students, manifested by psychological and physical exhaustion, can culminate in the development of anxiety, depression, eating and sleeping disorders, stress, burnout syndrome, in addition to ideation, planning and suicide attempts. The damage to the mental health of medical students occurs due to a sum of several stressors associated with medical training, the intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics of medical students, among them, family pressure, extensive course load, concern with tests and constant evaluations, financial difficulties, little time available for leisure and sports. Conclusion: The damage to mental health of medical students occurs due to various factors, including family pressure, long course workload, concern with constant tests and evaluations, financial difficulties, little time available for leisure and sports practices.

Introduction: Medical training represents a stressful event that can impact the physical and psychological well-being and quality of life of medical students, predisposing to the emergence of various emotional disorders, stress and the Burnout syndrome, which compromises academic performance, labor and social. Objective: The objective of this study is to identify the stressors associated with medical training that led to problems in the physical and mental health of medical students, as well as the coping strategies adopted. Methodology: This research is a review of the narrative, qualitative literature, whose scientific articles were searched in the scientific databases: Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS) and PubMed. The Descriptors used were: mental health, emotional stress, burnout, psychiatric disorders, medical students, medical training. Results and Discussion: Most of the reviewed studies demonstrated that exposure to chronic and repeated stress among medical students, manifested by psychological and physical exhaustion, can culminate in the development of anxiety, depression, eating and sleeping disorders, stress, burnout syndrome, in addition to ideation, planning and suicide attempts. The damage to the mental health of medical students occurs due to a sum of several stressors associated with medical training, the intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics of medical students, among them, family pressure, extensive course load, concern with tests and constant evaluations, financial difficulties, little time available for leisure and sports. Conclusion: The damage to mental health of medical students occurs due to various factors, including family pressure, long course workload, concern with constant tests and evaluations, financial difficulties, little time available for leisure and sports practices.

This article reflects on the perception of high school teachers regarding a Science, Technology and Society (STS) education and how it is applied in the classroom. Initially, considerations are made about the STS education movement and a brief survey of the educational method and teacher development in Brazil. Seeking to gather perceptions, a questionnaire was applied to 29 high school teachers from schools in Chapecó/SC and region. The analysis of the questions showed that the traditional teaching model may be ineffective for the integral formation of the individual. The results also showed great adherence of teachers in the use of integrative methodologies in the classroom; on the other hand, they showed weaknesses in teacher qualification. The study highlights that the STS approach can contribute to pedagogical practice, but requires changes, especially under the aspect of teacher development and working conditions of these professionals., Este artigo reflete sobre a percepção de docentes atuantes no Ensino Médio quanto aos pontos que tangem uma educação baseada em Ciência, Tecnologia e Sociedade (CTS) e como eles são aplicados em sala de aula. Inicialmente são realizadas considerações sobre o movimento de educação CTS e um breve levantamento do método educacional e formação docente no Brasil. Buscando colher as percepções, foi aplicado um questionário a 29 professores do Ensino Médio de escolas de Chapecó/SC e região. A análise das questões demonstrou que o modelo tradicional de ensino pode ser ineficaz para a formação integral do indivíduo. Os resultados também evidenciaram grande adesão dos professores na utilização de metodologias integrativas em sala de aula; em contrapartida demonstraram fragilidades na qualificação docente. O estudo destaca que a abordagem CTS pode contribuir na prática pedagógica, mas exige mudanças, especialmente sob o aspecto da formação docente e das condições de trabalho desses profissionais.

This dissertation investigates water management in arid regions like Jordan, focusing on groundwater. It introduces an improved monitoring system by utilizing stakeholder engagement and introducing digital solutions, provides a method to evaluate and improve linkages decision-makers and researchers in water sector, and emphasizes the need for digital transformation in water management., Diese Dissertation untersucht die Wasserbewirtschaftung in ariden Regionen wie Jordanien, wobei der Schwerpunkt auf Grundwasser liegt. Sie führt ein verbessertes Überwachungssystem ein, indem sie Stakeholder-Engagement und digitale Lösungen nutzt, bietet eine Methode zur Bewertung und Verbesserung der Verbindungen zwischen Entscheidungsträgern und Forschern im Wassersektor an und betont die Notwendigkeit der digitalen Transformation in der Wasserbewirtschaftung

For the sixth time since 2018, the Lifelog Search Challenge (LSC) was organized as a comparative benchmarking exercise for various interactive lifelog search systems. The goal of this international competition is to test system capabilities to access large multimodal lifelogs. LSC’23 attracted twelve participanting teams, each of whom had developed a competitive interactive lifelog retrieval system. The benchmark was organized in front of live audience at the LSC workshop at ACM ICMR’23. As in previous editions, this introductory paper presents the LSC workshop and introduces the participating lifelog search systems.

The general relativistic formulation of the problem of magnetically confined mountains on neutron stars is presented, and the resulting equations are solved numerically, generalising previous Newtonian calculations. The hydromagnetic structure of the accreted matter and the subsequent magnetic burial of the star's magnetic dipole moment are computed. Overall, it is observed that relativistic corrections reduce the hydromagnetic deformation associated with the mountain. The magnetic field lines are curved more gently than in previous calculations, and the screening of the dipole moment is reduced. Quantitatively, it is found that the dimensionless dipole moment ($m_{\rm d}$) depends on the accreted mass ($M_{\rm a}$) as $m_{\rm d} = -3.2\times10^{3}M_{\rm a}/M_\odot + 1.0$, implying approximately three times less screening compared to the Newtonian theory. Additionally, the characteristic scale height of the mountain, governing the gradients of quantities like pressure, density, and magnetic field strength, reduces by approximately $40\%$ for an isothermal equation of state., Comment: accepted for publication in MNRAS

vitrivr is a general purpose retrieval system that supports a wide range of query modalities. In this paper, we briefly introduce the system and describe the changes and adjustments made for the 2023 iteration of the video browser showdown. These focus primarily on text-based retrieval schemes and corresponding user-feedback mechanisms.

Virtual reality (VR) interfaces allow for entirely new modes of user interaction with systems and interfaces. Much like in physical workspaces, documents, tools, and interfaces can be used, put aside, and used again later. Such asynchronous workflows are a great advantage of virtual environments, as they enable users to perform multiple tasks in an interleaved manner. However, VR interfaces also face new challenges, such as text input without physical keyboards, and the analysis of such asynchronous workflows. In this paper we present the version of vitrivr-VR participating in the Video Browser Showdown (VBS) 2023. We describe the current state of our system, with a focus on improvements in text input methods and logging of asynchronous workflows.

The Web is increasingly used as a source for content of datasets of various types, especially multimedia content. These datasets are then often distributed as a collection of URLs, pointing to the original sources of the elements. As these sources go offline over time, the datasets experience decay in the form of link-rot. In this paper, we analyze 24 Web-sourced datasets with a combined total of over 270 million URLs and find that over 20% of the content is no longer available. We discuss the adverse effects of this decay on the reproducibility of work based on such data and make some recommendations on how they could be mediated in the future.

Portando ad esempio il caso di studio “Parco Sempione” si intende proporre una riflessione metodologica in forma audiovisiva sulle potenzialità della filmic geography (Jacobs, 2013) nello studio di uno spazio di riequilibrio ambientale e sociale nelle metropoli contemporanee: il parco urbano (Roditi, 1994). Il Parco Sempione, situato nel centro di Milano è un luogo di interesse per diversi viventi umani e non umani. Similmente ad altre aree verdi urbane, sebbene sia caratterizzato da un’ampia rete di spazi pianificati per agevolare attività ludico-ricreative, si tratta di un’area pubblica cintata e video-sorvegliata. Il contributo, proponendo un approccio ispirato al linguaggio del ‘cinema d’osservazione’ (Garrett, 2010), si è soffermato nello specifico sulle opportunità scaturite dalla combinazione di due principali dispositivi metodologici: il corpo della ricercatrice in movimento negli spazi del parco, sfruttando anche la verticalità della Torre Branca lì presente, e l’interazione dello stesso con la strumentazione, costituita da una fotocamera digitale a ottiche intercambiabili, un cavalletto, un microfono e un software di editing. Da questa sperimentazione è stato possibile portare alla luce tre livelli di rappresentazione geografica del Parco Sempione: in primis una prospettiva aerea che allude al controllo esercitato dalla sorveglianza, che agevola sì una mappatura d’insieme del parco, ma che di contro genera una rappresentazione appiattita, sfocata e povera di suono, intrinseca all’allargamento della scala; in secondo luogo una prospettiva che richiama gli approcci non-representational e more-than-human (Lorimer, 2010), che si dispiega attraverso uno sguardo frammentato e un ascolto ravvicinato, focalizzato sui movimenti umani e non umani, incarnati nel flusso della quotidianità, rappresentazione da cui emerge la vitalità e l’eterogeneità di processi socio-spaziali qui presenti; in ultimo una prospettiva veloce e distratta, sospesa tra reale e vi

Purpose of the study: To analyze the state of the art on the mental health and quality of life of health professionals who worked on the SARS-CoV-2 frontline. Method: This is an integrative literature review study. Results: Regarding the content of the works selected to compose the corpus of this study, it was possible to extract that the main reasons that affect well-being are correlated with levels of stress and anxiety. In addition, the articles linked depression and anguish as one of the determining factors tangent to the quality of life axis, despite the fact that, as explored, aspects such as physical activity were a determining factor for improving the quality of life. Conclusion: The work environment directly influences the worker's mental health, and thus reveals the high overload in which to carry out their work activities without resources and without support, consequently affecting the quality of life.

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) techniques are in demand to cope with water scarcity challenges posed by climate change and groundwater overexploitation. One of the long-lasting technical issues associated with MAR systems is physical clogging. The intrusion and deposition of external fines during water recharge reduce the infiltration capacity of the site over time. Operation and maintenance (O&M) costs are experienced directly at the site to restore the original efficiency of infiltration rates. Thus, investors need reliable estimations of the risk of clogging during the planning of the site. As a rule, in MAR design, the main parameter of concern for physical clogging is the total suspended solids (TSS), and most clogging models rely on experiment calibrations in 1D sand columns. However, secondary processes can control the development and spatial distribution of physical clogging in field conditions. The proposed work aims to detect key clogging factors directly in the field and to model these processes for reproducibility at other sites. The fieldwork is conducted at the two-stage infiltration basin in Suvereto (Tuscany, Italy). Spatial factors are included in the analysis (i.e. basin topography) to explain clogging patterns in the field altered by erosion processes. The observed clogging profiles at two sampled locations exhibiting clogging are replicated by a mathematical model. Based on the computation of annual erosion rates in the pond and fines’ redistribution, the exceeding fines’ contents over depth are validated with an RMSE of 2.53% and 12.53%. The infiltration capacity of the site is estimated to reach a stable value of 90% of the initial infiltration capacity over 20 years, given the Suvereto basin features. The model's parameterisation from field measurements represents a great advantage over existing clogging models due to its transferability to other MAR sites. The assessment of the risk of clogging supported by field characterization and

Purpose of the study: To analyze the state of the art on the mental health and quality of life of health professionals who worked on the SARS-CoV-2 frontline. Method: This is an integrative literature review study. Results: Regarding the content of the works selected to compose the corpus of this study, it was possible to extract that the main reasons that affect well-being are correlated with levels of stress and anxiety. In addition, the articles linked depression and anguish as one of the determining factors tangent to the quality of life axis, despite the fact that, as explored, aspects such as physical activity were a determining factor for improving the quality of life. Conclusion: The work environment directly influences the worker's mental health, and thus reveals the high overload in which to carry out their work activities without resources and without support, consequently affecting the quality of life.