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Executive dysfunction is most often caused by post-traumatic or post-stroke damage to the prefrontal regions of the brain. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of two computer-assisted therapy programs for executive dysfunctions in patients with acquired brain injury. Patients were trained using either a newly developed application ExeSystem (designed to help improve the ability to manage and control one's own behavior by performing tasks imitating natural, everyday situations) or a combination of two commercial applications RehaCom and CogniPlus. Data collected after a three-week period of therapy conducted in two 15-person groups of participants indicated comparable efficacy of both therapy programs in improving quality of daily functioning, executive attention, as well as planning and problem-solving but not memory. The improvement in social competence (p =.028) was the only advantage of therapy with the ExeSystem. Therapeutic interactions using computer programs were shown to be positively evaluated by patients (p <.01). This study confirmed at least equal efficacy of computer-based executive function therapy using ExeSystem compared to RehaCom and CogniPlus. However, despite the implementation of a more ecological and comprehensive approach to the content of a new application, the benefits of this approach were limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the use of the IMACTIS® CT-Navigation™-electromagnetic navigation system (EMNS) in cryoablation CT-guided procedures under local anesthesia for the treatment of upper kidney pole and adrenal lesions. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with upper kidney pole lesions and adrenal metastases who underwent cryoablation using the IMACTIS-CT®-EMNS between January 2019 and April 2023. The EMNS was used to guide the placement of the cryoprobes with CT guidance under local anesthesia. The primary outcome was technical success, defined as the successful placement of the cryoprobes in the target lesion. A total of 31 patients were studied, of whom, 25 patients were treated with cryoablation for upper pole kidney masses, and 6 patients underwent the cryoablation of adrenal metastases during the study period. The mean age was 60 years (range, 36–82 years), and 21 patients were male. All the upper kidney pole lesions were renal cell carcinomas, and regarding adrenal metastases, the primary cancer sites were the lungs (n = 3), breast (n = 2), and the colon (n = 1). The median size of the lesions was 3,8 cm (range, 1.5–5 cm). All procedures were technically successful, with the cryoprobes accurately placed in the target lesions under CT guidance using the EMNS, avoiding the penetration of any other organs using an oblique trajectory. No major complications were reported, and local tumor control was achieved in all cases. Our initial experience using the EMNS for cryoprobe placement during CT-guided interventional procedures under local anesthesia for the cryoablation treatment of upper pole kidney lesions and adrenal metastases showed that it is safe and effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing remote sensing image object detection algorithms have been frustrated by large parameter quantities, slow detection speed and inability to deploy on mobile devices. Here, we propose a lightweight remote sensing image object detection algorithm without anchor frames. First, a DWS-Sandglass lightweight module is designed to reduce the model volume, and the activation function of the model is improved to ensure detection accuracy. Then, a parameter free attention module SimAM is introduced to enable the network to focus on more important feature information. Finally, the redundant channels of the anchor frame free algorithm are pruned to reduce the number of model parameters, and the accuracy is improved by fine tuning. The experimental results on HRSC2016 dataset show that compared with current mainstream detection algorithms free of anchor frame, the proposed algorithm has faster detection speed and smaller model size, making it more suitable for deployment on mobile devices with comparable detection accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The digital competences of university students are developed using a digital learning ecosystem that integrates: 1) virtual learning environments; 2) digital learning tools; and 3) learning methodologies. This research followed the methodology of systematic literature mapping and review, searching the WoS and Scopus databases and obtaining a total of 5,652 articles between 2001 and 2023. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were then applied to reduce the number of selected articles and carry out a systematic literature mapping and review. Among the relevant results of the literature mapping and systematic review, the geographic distribution of scientific publications, the educational areas in which they have been worked on, and the universities were identified. Educational methodologies, technological tools, and virtual learning environments used to develop university students’ digital competences holistically were also determined. This study is useful as it provides a comprehensive, general, and detailed overview of scientific production and its main contributions regarding the methodologies, tools, and environments that contribute to developing students’ the digital competences in higher education.

In the dynamic landscape of global commerce, cross-border e-commerce has emerged as a critical avenue for businesses to expand their reach and capitalize on international markets. This study focuses on the intricate relationship between computer applications and the performance of cross-border e-commerce ventures. Through a comprehensive analysis of diverse computer applications utilized in cross-border e-commerce settings, this research aims to elucidate their impact on various performance metrics, including sales volume, customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and market penetration. Drawing upon both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, this investigation examines the deployment of computer applications across different stages of the cross-border e-commerce process, from market research and platform selection to payment processing and post-purchase support. By synthesizing insights from industry case studies, surveys, and statistical analyses, this study seeks to provide valuable insights for businesses aiming to optimize their cross-border e-commerce strategies. The findings of this research contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of computer applications in shaping the dynamics of cross-border e-commerce, offering practical recommendations for businesses to enhance their performance in the global marketplace. Ultimately, this study underscores the crucial importance of leveraging technology to navigate the complexities of cross-border trade and achieve sustainable growth in an increasingly interconnected world.

Quantum computing emulators are widely used for testing quantum algorithms ideally before executing them on real quantum processors. Therefore, researchers are very active in developing emulators primarily on FPGAs. This project is complex and requires a long time and a specific expertise if carried out following the low-level design approach using a Hardware Description Language (HDL). This paper describes, step by step, the process of quick designing a quantum gate emulator using a much simpler high-level design approach. It begins with the development of a quantum gate simulator in the MATLAB® environment, and subsequently translates it into an HDL design for FPGA implementation by using the MATLAB’s HDL Coder toolbox. However, while code translation may seem straightforward using MATLAB toolboxes, it becomes a non-trivial task when transitioning from a quantum computing simulator to an HDL-based quantum computing emulator. Thus, it was necessary to conduct an in-depth study to implement a quantum computing simulator in MATLAB, enabling an error-free translation of HDL code. The developed method enables the designer to leverage the highly useful and straightforward model-based design approach offered by MATLAB, rather than directly the more complex HDL approach, returning a highly optimized HDL code for configuring the FPGA as a quantum computing emulator. This topic makes the design of quantum emulators on FPGA quick, reliable, optimized and without the need for specialized hardware design skills. Additionally, two implementation examples have been described using Altera/Intel FPGA on development boards DE1_SoC and DE5a-NET DDR4 provided by Terasic Inc.

In recent years, transformer language models have made a significant impact on automatic text generation. This study focuses on the task of distractor generation in Spanish using a fine-tuned multilingual text-to-text model, namely mT5. Our method outperformed established baselines based on LSTM networks, confirming the effectiveness of Transformer architectures in such NLP tasks. While comparisons with other Transformer-based solutions yielded diverse outcomes based on the metric of choice, our method notably achieved superior results on the ROUGE metric compared to the GPT-2 approach. Although traditional evaluation metrics such as BLEU and ROUGE are commonly used, this paper argues for more context-sensitive metrics given the inherent variability in acceptable distractor generation results. Among the contributions of this research is a comprehensive comparison with other methods, an examination of the potential drawbacks of multilingual models, and the introduction of alternative evaluation metrics. Future research directions, derived from our findings and a review of related works are also suggested, with a particular emphasis on leveraging other language models and Transformer architectures.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the use of the IMACTIS® CT-Navigation™-electromagnetic navigation system (EMNS) in cryoablation CT-guided procedures under local anesthesia for the treatment of upper kidney pole and adrenal lesions. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with upper kidney pole lesions and adrenal metastases who underwent cryoablation using the IMACTIS-CT®-EMNS between January 2019 and April 2023. The EMNS was used to guide the placement of the cryoprobes with CT guidance under local anesthesia. The primary outcome was technical success, defined as the successful placement of the cryoprobes in the target lesion. A total of 31 patients were studied, of whom, 25 patients were treated with cryoablation for upper pole kidney masses, and 6 patients underwent the cryoablation of adrenal metastases during the study period. The mean age was 60 years (range, 36–82 years), and 21 patients were male. All the upper kidney pole lesions were renal cell carcinomas, and regarding adrenal metastases, the primary cancer sites were the lungs (n = 3), breast (n = 2), and the colon (n = 1). The median size of the lesions was 3,8 cm (range, 1.5–5 cm). All procedures were technically successful, with the cryoprobes accurately placed in the target lesions under CT guidance using the EMNS, avoiding the penetration of any other organs using an oblique trajectory. No major complications were reported, and local tumor control was achieved in all cases. Our initial experience using the EMNS for cryoprobe placement during CT-guided interventional procedures under local anesthesia for the cryoablation treatment of upper pole kidney lesions and adrenal metastases showed that it is safe and effective.

The application of computer science in management and economics is a rapidly growing field that combines the analytical and technological capabilities of computer science with the strategic and operational needs of management and economics. The main aim of this research paper is to analyze the main academic contributors, sources, and international collaborations from 2014 to 2022 in computer science in the areas of management and economics, as well as to analyze the main subtopics developed over time. Bibliometric techniques were used to carry out the literature review, which allows an objective analysis of the academic literature through quantitative indicators. The results reveal a significant shift towards data-driven decision making in management, with artificial intelligence and machine learning improving predictive analytics, operational efficiency, and economic forecasting and modeling, highlighting the essential role of digital transformation in these disciplines, with significant implications for researchers, practitioners and decision-makers. It concludes that all stakeholders should work to develop a more informed and innovative approach to maximize the exploitation of the potential offered by computational sciences in different contexts. This includes the integration of advanced computational tools to improve decision making and operational efficiency, or the exploitation of computational models for more effective forecasting and policy decision making, as well as the continuous analysis of emerging areas in this field, being aware of the ethical, privacy and security challenges presented by these technologies, in order to ensure a responsible and equitable application.

Many technological interventions have leveraged physical activity (PA, i.e., activities that involve whole-body movements) to provide young people with active and productive learning experiences. However, there is a lack of systematic understanding of how PA can serve as a learning medium—for example, how PA can support learning and how to design technologies to support PA-based learning. This paper conducts a systematic literature review (N = 141) of PA-based, technology-mediated learning experiences for young people with a focus on how PA supports learning, what technologies are involved, and the associated challenges. Through content analysis, we identified four approaches of how PA and learning were combined (i.e., PA embodied learning content, served as a functional input method for learning tasks, guided learners through different learning sites, and generated data for learning activities) and supporting technologies like full-body interaction learning environments and mobile apps. However, many challenges might arise, such as balancing learning and PA, as well as the scalability and reliability of technologies. We conclude with a discussion and reflection on design implications for more PA-based learning experiences and technologies. Overall, this paper provides a systematic overview of the different ways to design physically active learning experiences for young people and can serve as a reference for future designs of physically active learning experiences and technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]