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1. Spherical bias on the 3D reconstruction of the ICM density profile in galaxy clusters

Author

Veronesi, I., Bartalucci, I., Rasia, E., Molendi, S., Balboni, M., De Grandi, S., Gastaldello, F., Grillo, C., Ghizzardi, S., Lovisari, L., Riva, G., and Rossetti, M.

Subjects
Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
Abstract

X-ray observations of galaxy clusters are routinely used to derive radial distributions of ICM thermdynamical properties such as density and temperature. However, observations allow us to access quantities projected on the celestial sphere only, so that an assumption on the 3D distribution of the ICM is necessary. Usually, spherical geometry is assumed. The aim of this paper is to determine the bias due to this approximation on the reconstruction of ICM density radial profile of a clusters sample and on the intrinsic scatter of the density profiles distribution, when clusters substructures are not masked. We used 98 simulated clusters for which we know the 3D ICM distribution drawn from The Three Hundred project. For each cluster we simulated 40 different observations by projecting the cluster along 40 different lines of sight. We extracted the ICM density profile from each observation assuming the ICM to be spherical distributed. For each line of sight we then considered the mean density profile over the sample and compared it with the 3D density profile given by the simulations. The spherical bias on the density profile is derived by considering the ratio between the observed and the input quantities. We also study the bias on the intrinsic scatter of the density profile distribution performing the same procedure. We find a bias on the density profile, $b_n$, smaller than $10\%$ for $R\lesssim R_{500}$ while it increases up to $\sim 50\%$ for larger radii. The bias on the intrinsic scatter profile, $b_s$, reaches a value of $\approx 100\%$ for $R\approx R_{500}$. The bias on both the analysed quantities strongly depends on the morphology of the objects: for clusters that do not show large scale substructures, both $b_n$ and $b_s$ are reduced by a factor 2, conversely for systems that do show large scale substructures both $b_n$ and $b_s$ increase significantly. [abridged], Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A

Published
2024

2. CHEX-MATE: the intracluster medium entropy distribution in the gravity-dominated regime

Author

Riva, G., Pratt, G. W., Rossetti, M., Bartalucci, I., Kay, S. T., Rasia, E., Gavazzi, R., Umetsu, K., Arnaud, M., Balboni, M., Bonafede, A., Bourdin, H., De Grandi, S., De Luca, F., Eckert, D., Ettori, S., Gaspari, M., Gastaldello, F., Ghirardini, V., Ghizzardi, S., Gitti, M., Lovisari, L., Maughan, B. J., Mazzotta, P., Molendi, S., Pointecouteau, E., Sayers, J., Sereno, M., and Towler, I.

Subjects
Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
Abstract

We characterise the entropy profiles of 32 very high mass ($M_{500}>7.75\times10^{14}~M_{\odot}$) galaxy clusters (HIGHMz), selected from the CHEX-MATE sample, to study the intracluster medium (ICM) entropy distribution in a regime where non-gravitational effects are minimised. Using XMM-Newton measurements, we measure the entropy profiles up to ~$R_{500}$ for all objects. The scaled profiles exhibit large dispersion in the central regions, but converge rapidly to the expectation from pure gravitational collapse beyond the core. We quantify the correlation between the ICM morphological parameters and scaled entropy as a function of radius, showing that morphologically relaxed (disturbed) objects have low (high) central entropy. We compare our data to other observational samples, finding differences in normalisation which are linked to the average mass of the samples in question. We find that a weaker mass dependence than self-similar in the scaling (Am ~ -0.25) allows us to minimise the dispersion in the radial range [0.3-0.8]$R_{500}$ for clusters spanning over a decade in mass. The deviation from self-similarity is radially dependent and is more pronounced at small and intermediate radii than at $R_{500}$. We also investigate the distribution of central entropy $K_0$, finding no evidence for bimodality, and outer slopes $\alpha$, which peaks at ~1.1. Using weak lensing masses, we find indication for a small suppression of the scatter (~30%) beyond the core when using masses derived from Yx in the rescaling. Finally, we compare to recent cosmological numerical simulations from THE THREE HUNDRED and MACSIS, finding good agreement with our observational data. These results provide a robust observational benchmark in the gravity-dominated regime and will serve as a future reference for samples at lower mass, higher redshifts, and for ongoing work using cosmological numerical simulations., Comment: 26 pages, 18 figures, 6 tables. Accepted for publication in A&A

Published
2024
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3. PSZ2 G282.28+49.94, a recently discovered analogue of the famous Bullet Cluster

Author

Bartalucci, I., Rossetti, M., Boschin, W., Girardi, M., Nonino, M., Baraldi, E., Balboni, M., Coe, D., De Grandi, S., Gastaldello, F., Ghizzardi, S., Giacintucci, S., Grillo, C., Harvey, D., Lovisari, L., Molendi, S., Resseguier, T., Riva, G., Venturi, T., and Zitrin, A.

Subjects
Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
Abstract

We present a detailed study of the gas and galaxy properties of the cluster PSZ2 G282.28+49.94 detected in the Planck all-sky survey. The intracluster medium (ICM) of this object at z=0.56 exhibits a cometary-like shape. Combining Chandra and TNG observations, we characterised the spatially resolved thermodynamical properties of the gas and the spatial and velocity distribution of 73 galaxy members. The cluster structure is quite complex with an elongated core region containing the two brightest cluster galaxies and one dense group to the south-east. Since there is no velocity difference between the core and the south-east group, we suggest the presence of a merger along the plane of the sky. This structure is related to complex X-ray and radio features, and thus the merger has likely been caught during the post-merger phase. Comparing the distribution of the ICM and of member galaxies, we find a large offset of $\sim 350$ kpc between the position of the X-ray peak and the centre of a concentration of galaxies, preceding it in the likely direction of motion. This configuration is similar to the famous Bullet Cluster, leading us to dub PSZ2 G282.28+49.94 the "Planck bullet", and represents an ideal situation to provide astrophysical constraints to the self-interaction cross-section ($\sigma/m$) of dark matter particles. These results illustrate the power of a multi-wavelength approach to probe the merging scenario of such complex and distant systems., Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A

Published
2024

4. Metal enrichment: the apex accretor perspective

Author

Molendi, S., Ghizzardi, S., De Grandi, S., Balboni, M., Bartalucci, I., Eckert, D., Gastaldello, F., Lovisari, L., Riva, G., and Rossetti, M.

Subjects
Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies, Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics, Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Abstract

Aims. The goal of this work is to devise a description of the enrichment process in large-scale structure that explains the available observations and makes predictions for future measurements. Methods. We took a spartan approach to this study, employing observational results and algebra to connect stellar assembly in star-forming halos with metal enrichment of the intra-cluster and group medium. Results. On one hand, our construct is the first to provide an explanation for much of the phenomenology of metal enrichment in clusters and groups. It sheds light on the lack of redshift evolution in metal abundance, as well as the small scatter of metal abundance profiles, the entropy versus abundance anti-correlation found in cool core clusters, and the so-called Fe conundrum, along with several other aspects of cluster enrichment. On the other hand, it also allows us to infer the properties of other constituents of large-scale structure. We find that gas that is not bound to halos must have a metal abundance similar to that of the ICM and only about one-seventh to one-third of the Fe in the Universe is locked in stars. A comparable amount is found in gas in groups and clusters and, lastly and most importantly, about three-fifths of the total Fe is contained in a tenuous warm or hot gaseous medium in or between galaxies. We point out that several of our results follow from two critical but well motivated assumptions: 1) the stellar mass in massive halos is currently underestimated and 2) the adopted Fe yield is only marginally consistent with predictions from synthesis models and SN rates. Conclusions. One of the most appealing features of the work presented here is that it provides an observationally grounded construct where vital questions on chemical enrichment in the large-scale structure can be addressed. We hope that it may serve as a useful baseline for future works., Comment: To appear in Astronomy & Astrophysics. Short video presentation at \href{https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL2Re9MZjgE}{ }

Published
2024

5. CHEX-MATE: A LOFAR pilot X-ray$-$radio study on five radio halo clusters

Author

Balboni, M., Gastaldello, F., Bonafede, A., Botteon, A., Bartalucci, I., Bourdin, H., Brunetti, G., Cassano, R., De Grandi, S., De Luca, F., Ettori, S., Ghizzardi, S., Gitti, M., Iqbal, A., Johnston-Hollitt, M., Lovisari, L., Mazzotta, P., Molendi, S., Pointecouteau, E., Pratt, G. W., Riva, G., Rossetti, M., Rottgering, H., Sereno, M., van Weeren, R. J., Venturi, T., and Veronesi, I.

Subjects
Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
Abstract

The connection between the thermal and non-thermal properties in galaxy clusters hosting radio halos seems fairly well established. However, a comprehensive analysis of such a connection has been made only for integrated quantities (e.g. $L_X - P_{radio}$ relation). In recent years new-generation radio telescopes have enabled the unprecedented possibility to study the non-thermal properties of galaxy clusters on a spatially resolved basis. Here, we perform a pilot study to investigate the mentioned properties on five targets, by combining X-ray data from the CHEX-MATE project with the second data release from the LOFAR Two meter Sky survey. We find a strong correlation ($r_s \sim 0.7$) with a slope less than unity between the radio and X-ray surface brightness. We also report differences in the spatially resolved properties of the radio emission in clusters which show different levels of dynamical disturbance. In particular, less perturbed clusters (according to X-ray parameters) show peaked radio profiles in the centre, with a flattening in the outer regions, while the three dynamically disturbed clusters have steeper profiles in the outer regions. We fit a model to the radio emission in the context of turbulent re-acceleration with a constant ratio between thermal and non-thermal particles energy density and a magnetic field profile linked to the thermal gas density as $B(r) \propto n_{th}^{0.5}$. We found that this simple model cannot reproduce the behaviour of the observed radio emission., Comment: 23 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in A&A

Published
2024

6. CHEX-MATE: Robust reconstruction of temperature profiles in galaxy clusters with XMM-Newton

Author

Rossetti, M., Eckert, D., Gastaldello, F., Rasia, E., Pratt, G. W., Ettori, S., Molendi, S., Arnaud, M., Balboni, M., Bartalucci, I., Batalha, R. M., Borgani, S., Bourdin, H., De Grandi, S., De Luca, F., De Petris, M., Forman, W., Gaspari, M., Ghizzardi, S., Iqbal, A., Kay, S., Lovisari, L., Maughan, B. J., Mazzotta, P., Pointecouteau, E., Riva, G., Sayers, J., and Sereno, M.

Subjects
Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics, Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Abstract

The "Cluster HEritage project with \xmm: Mass Assembly and Thermodynamics at the Endpoint of structure formation" (CHEX-MATE) is a multi-year Heritage program, to obtain homogeneous XMM-Newton observations of a representative sample of 118 galaxy clusters. The observations are tuned to reconstruct the distribution of the main thermodynamic quantities of the ICM up to $R_{500}$ and to obtain individual mass measurements, via the hydrostatic-equilibrium equation, with a precision of 15-20%. Temperature profiles are a necessary ingredient for the scientific goals of the project and it is thus crucial to derive the best possible temperature measurements from our data. This is why we have built a new pipeline for spectral extraction and analysis of XMM-Newton data, based on a new physically motivated background model and on a Bayesian approach with Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods, that we present in this paper for the first time. We applied this new method to a subset of 30 galaxy clusters representative of the CHEX-MATE sample and show that we can obtain reliable temperature measurements up to regions where the source intensity is as low as 20% of the background, keeping systematic errors below 10%. We compare the median profile of our sample and the best fit slope at large radii with literature results and we find a good agreement with other measurements based on XMM-Newton data. Conversely, when we exclude from our analysis the most contaminated regions, where the source intensity is below 20 of the background, we find significantly flatter profiles, in agreement with predictions from numerical simulations and independent measurements with a combination of Sunyaev-Zeldovich and X-ray imaging data., Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. Table C.1. available in electronic format at http://xmm-heritage.oas.inaf.it/data/Rossetti24_table_cds.dat

Published
2024
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10. Bodily and Visual-Cognitive Navigation Aids to Enhance Spatial Recall in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Author

Tuena, C, Serino, S, Goulene, K, Pedroli, E, Stramba-Badiale, M, Riva, G, Tuena C., Serino S., Goulene K. M., Pedroli E., Stramba-Badiale M., Riva G., Tuena, C, Serino, S, Goulene, K, Pedroli, E, Stramba-Badiale, M, Riva, G, Tuena C., Serino S., Goulene K. M., Pedroli E., Stramba-Badiale M., and Riva G.

Abstract

Background: Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) syndrome often report navigation difficulties, accompanied by impairments in egocentric and allocentric spatial memory. However, studies have shown that both bodily (e.g., motor commands, proprioception, vestibular information) and visual-cognitive (e.g., maps, directional arrows, attentional markers) cues can support spatial memory in MCI. Objective: We aimed to assess navigation cues for innovative spatial training in aging. Methods: Fifteen MCI patients were recruited for this study. Their egocentric and allocentric memory recall performances were tested through a navigation task with five different virtual reality (VR) assistive encoding navigation procedures (bodily, vision only, interactive allocentric map, reduced executive load, free navigation without cues). Bodily condition consisted of an immersive VR setup to engage self-motion cues, vision only condition consisted of passive navigation without interaction, in the interactive allocentric map condition patients could use a bird-view map, in the reduced executive load condition directional cues and attentional markers were employed, and during free navigation no aid was implemented. Results: Bodily condition improved spatial memory compared to vision only and free navigation without cues. In addition, the interactive allocentric map was superior to the free navigation without cues. Surprisingly, the reduced executive load was comparable to vison only condition. Moreover, a detrimental impact of free navigation was observed on allocentric memory across testing trials. Conclusions: These findings challenge the notion of an amodal representation of space in aging, suggesting that spatial maps can be influenced by the modality in which the environment was originally encoded.

Published
2024

11. Egocentric and Allocentric Spatial Memory for Body Parts: A Virtual Reality Study

Author

Serino, S, Di Lernia, D, Magni, G, Manenti, P, de Gaspari, S, Riva, G, Repetto, C, Serino S., Di Lernia D., Magni G., Manenti P., de Gaspari S., Riva G., Repetto C., Serino, S, Di Lernia, D, Magni, G, Manenti, P, de Gaspari, S, Riva, G, Repetto, C, Serino S., Di Lernia D., Magni G., Manenti P., de Gaspari S., Riva G., and Repetto C.

Abstract

Extensive literature elucidated the mechanisms underlying the ability to memorize the positions of objects in space. However, less is known about the impact that objects' features have on spatial memory. The present study aims to investigate differences in egocentric and allocentric object-location memory between hand stimuli depicted in a first-person perspective (1PP) or in a third-person one (3PP). Fifty-two adults encoded spatial positions within a virtual museum environment featuring four square buildings. Each of these buildings featured eight paintings positioned along the walls, with two pictures displayed on each of the four walls. Thirty-two stimuli were employed, which represented pictures of the right hand performing various types of gestures. Half of the stimuli depicted the hand in the 1PP, while the other half depicted the hand in the 3PP. Both free and guided explorations served as encoding conditions. Immediately after that, participants underwent a two-step object-location memory task. Participants were provided with a map of the museum and asked to identify the correct building where the image was located (allocentric memory). Then, they were presented with a schematic representation of the exhibition room divided into four sections and instructed to select the section where they thought the picture was located (egocentric memory). Our findings indicate a memory performance boost associated with egocentric recall, regardless of the perspective of the bodily stimuli. The results are discussed considering the emerging literature on the mnemonic properties of body-related stimuli for spatial memory.

Published
2024

12. Embodied Spatial Navigation Training in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Proof-of-Concept Trial

Author

Tuena, C, Serino, S, Pedroli, E, Stramba-Badiale, C, Goulene, K, Stramba-Badiale, M, Riva, G, Tuena C., Serino S., Pedroli E., Stramba-Badiale C., Goulene K. M., Stramba-Badiale M., Riva G., Tuena, C, Serino, S, Pedroli, E, Stramba-Badiale, C, Goulene, K, Stramba-Badiale, M, Riva, G, Tuena C., Serino S., Pedroli E., Stramba-Badiale C., Goulene K. M., Stramba-Badiale M., and Riva G.

Abstract

Background: Egocentric and allocentric spatial memory impairments affect the navigation abilities of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Embodied cognition research hints that specific aids can be implemented into virtual reality (VR) training to enhance spatial memory.Objective: In this study, we preliminarily tested 'ANTaging', an embodied-based immersive VR training for egocentric and allocentric memory, compared to treatment as usual (TAU) spatial training in MCI.Methods: MCI patients were recruited for this controlled trial. A cognitive battery was administered at pre-test, after ten sessions of ANTaging or TAU intervention, and at 3-month follow-up (FU). The primary outcomes were spatial cognition tests (Corsi supra-span, CSS; Manikin test, MT). VR egocentric and allocentric performance was also collected.Results: We found that ANTaging significantly improved MT scores at FU compared to TAU. CSS slightly improved in both groups. Concerning secondary outcomes, auditory-verbal forgetting significantly improved at post-test in the ANTaging but not TAU group and significantly declined at FU in the TAU but not in the ANTaging group. Global cognition significantly improved at FU for TAU and remained stable for ANTaging. Other tests showed no improvement or deterioration. Clinical significance showed that ANTaging is effective for CSS. Virtual egocentric and allocentric memory performance improved across ANTaging sessions.Conclusions: ANTaging holds the potential to be superior for improving spatial cognition in MCI compared to TAU. Embodied cognition research provides insights for designing effective spatial navigation rehabilitation in aging.

Published
2024

13. Metaverse: Modes of Virtual Being

Author

Riva, G, Villani, D, De Florio, Ciro, Frigerio, Aldo, Ciro De Florio (ORCID:0000-0002-5503-7463), Aldo Frigerio (ORCID:0000-0003-4698-2110), Riva, G, Villani, D, De Florio, Ciro, Frigerio, Aldo, Ciro De Florio (ORCID:0000-0002-5503-7463), and Aldo Frigerio (ORCID:0000-0003-4698-2110)

Abstract

In this chapter, we will analyze several philosophical issues related to the concept of the Metaverse. After having argued that the technological and conceptual propellant of the Metaverse is virtual reality, the fundamental properties characterizing virtual reality are illustrated, and the degree of reality possessed by virtual reality is questioned. In this regard, two different views exist: virtual realist and virtual irrealist. The former argues that virtual entities are real, while the latter argues that virtual entities are not real but are akin to characters in fiction. Virtual realists do not affirm, of course, that virtual entities are composed of atoms and molecules in the same manner as physical entities, but rather that they are made of bits, that is, ultimately, of information. However, this does not diminish their reality compared to the entities encountered in everyday life. No direct argument will be given here in favor of one position over the other, but an ethical dilemma regarding virtual reality will be proposed: are actions that are evil within the real world also evil within virtual reality? Since our responses to this question vary from case to case, depending on the level of realism of virtual reality, our conclusion will be that the reality of the virtual is a matter of degree.

Published
2024

14. Learning in the Metaverse: Are University Students Willing to Learn in Immersive Virtual Reality?

Author

Di Natale, A, Repetto, C, Costantini, G, Riva, G, Bricolo, E, Villani, D, Di Natale, Anna Flavia, Repetto, Claudia, Costantini, Giulio, Riva, Giuseppe, Bricolo, Emanuela, Villani, Daniela, Di Natale, A, Repetto, C, Costantini, G, Riva, G, Bricolo, E, Villani, D, Di Natale, Anna Flavia, Repetto, Claudia, Costantini, Giulio, Riva, Giuseppe, Bricolo, Emanuela, and Villani, Daniela

Abstract

Immersive virtual reality (IVR) technology provides several educational affordances that make it a valuable tool for learning, especially from a constructivist learning perspective. Combined with the increasing availability of Metaverse social platforms, such as ENGAGE and AltSpace VR, where students and teachers can meet and work together, IVR may transform how students learn and interact with educational content. However, little is known about students’ attitudes toward IVR in education. To address this gap, we surveyed 329 undergraduate students from different universities in Italy. We used the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to predict students’ intention to adopt IVR for learning. We further explored the role that different individual factors, including students’ learning styles, affordances perceptions, and personal innovativeness, have on their attitudes toward IVR. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that the four constructs of the UTAUT, namely performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions were the strongest predictors of students’ intention to use IVR in education and that individual factors only had little impact on it. Based on these results, this study provides helpful indications for researchers and educators who wish to introduce IVR effectively in educational contexts. Given the new possibilities provided by Metaverse applications based on IVR technology for learning, it is indeed crucial to fully understand the attitudes different stakeholders in education have toward adopting this technology in educational contexts.

Published
2024

15. Searching for the Metaverse: Neuroscience of Physical and Digital Communities

Author

Riva, G, Wiederhold, B, Mantovani, F, Wiederhold, BK, Riva, G, Wiederhold, B, Mantovani, F, and Wiederhold, BK

Abstract

What distinguishes real-world communities from their online counterparts? Social and cognitive neuroscience research on social networks and collective intentionality will be used in the article to answer this question. Physical communities are born in places. And places engage ‘‘we-mode’’ neurobiological and cognitive processes as behavioral synchrony, shared attention, deliberate attunement, interbrain synchronization, and so on, which create coherent social networks of very different individuals who are supported by a ‘‘wisdom of crowd.’’ Digital technologies remove physical boundaries, giving people more freedom to choose their activities and groups. At the same time, however, the lack of physical co-presence of community members significantly reduces their possibility of activating ‘‘we-mode’’ cognitive processes and social motivation. Because of this, unlike physical communities that allow interaction between people from varied origins and stories, digital communities are always made up of people who have the same interests and knowledge (communities of practice). This new situation disrupts the ‘‘wisdom of crowd,’’ making the community more radical and less accurate (polarization effect), allowing influential users to wield disproportionate influence over the group’s beliefs, and producing inequalities in the distribution of social capital. However, a new emergent technology—the Metaverse—has the potential to reverse this trend. Several studies have revealed that virtual and augmented reality—the major technologies underlying the Metaverse—can engage the same neurobiological and cognitive ‘‘we-mode’’ processes as real-world environments. If the many flaws in this technology are fixed, it might encourage people to engage in more meaningful and constructive interactions in online communities.

Published
2024

16. The Body Image Virtual Reality Assessment (BIVRA): Measuring the body representation through virtual reality

Author

Brizzi, G, Riva, G, Romano, D, Brizzi, G, Riva, G, and Romano, D

Abstract

Our physical and psychological well-being is significantly influenced by how we perceive our body, in addition to our thoughts and emotions associated with it. Dysfunctional body perceptions and attitudes play a key role in the development and maintenance of severe conditions such as eating disorders in both males and females. Given its relevance, some attempts have been made to improve body image assessment methods in terms of perceptual accuracy and body satisfaction taking advantage of technological advances such as virtual reality. However, existing applications have mainly focused on women and clinical conditions. In this study, we presented the Body Image Virtual Reality Assessment (BIVRA), a virtual reality figure rating scale to assess body image in both male and female subjects. We tested BIVRA's ability to measure perceptual accuracy and compared its results with a standardized body satisfaction questionnaire. Additionally, we investigated gender differences. BIVRA was found to be effective in assessing body image. We observed that a perceptually based task successfully captured both low and high levels of body representations, shedding light on the significant gender differences. The association between BIVRA and the body satisfaction questionnaires was moderated by gender, with a stronger association for women. While further validation of BIVRA is needed to fully exploit its potential, our results suggest that the integration of virtual reality into the assessment of body image and related disorders may significantly enhance our understanding of individuals struggling with body image issues and has the potential to advance current methods and techniques.

Published
2024

17. Toward a Humane Metaverse: Challenges and Opportunities

Author

Riva, Giuseppe, Wiederhold, B. K., Villani, Daniela, Riva G. (ORCID:0000-0003-3657-106X), Villani D. (ORCID:0000-0002-2435-4036), Riva, Giuseppe, Wiederhold, B. K., Villani, Daniela, Riva G. (ORCID:0000-0003-3657-106X), and Villani D. (ORCID:0000-0002-2435-4036)

Abstract

The metaverse, an emerging digital universe blurring the lines between reality and virtuality, offers a view into a future where human interaction transcends physical boundaries. In this article, we analyze the multidimensional facets of the metaverse, scrutinizing the landscape of challenges and opportunities it offers. The article delves into the challenges faced by human society in adapting to the metaverse, including the digital divide, ethical dilemmas, the level of trust, and the potential erosion of social and physical reality. Amid the allure of boundless creativity, questions arise about the very essence of human experience—identity, empathy, social relationships, life satisfaction, and the nature of reality itself. The metaverse, with all its complexities, challenges us to redefine the boundaries of human interaction, urging us to tread cautiously while embracing the limitless possibilities it presents. As we venture ‘‘toward a humane metaverse,’’ we must navigate the intricate interplay of technology and humanity, shaping a future where the virtual realm enhances, rather than diminishes, the richness of the human experience.

Published
2024

18. Metaverse in Mental Health: The Beginning of a Long History

Author

Cerasa, A., Gaggioli, Andrea, Pioggia, G., Riva, Giuseppe, Gaggioli A. (ORCID:0000-0001-7818-7598), Riva G. (ORCID:0000-0003-3657-106X), Cerasa, A., Gaggioli, Andrea, Pioggia, G., Riva, Giuseppe, Gaggioli A. (ORCID:0000-0001-7818-7598), and Riva G. (ORCID:0000-0003-3657-106X)

Abstract

Purpose of Review: We review the first pilot studies applying metaverse-related technologies in psychiatric patients and discuss the rationale for using this complex federation of technologies to treat mental diseases. Concerning previous virtual-reality applications in medical care, metaverse technologies provide the unique opportunity to define, control, and shape virtual scenarios shared by multi-users to exploit the “synchronized brains” potential exacerbated by social interactions. Recent Findings: The application of an avatar-based sexual therapy program conducted on a metaverse platform has been demonstrated to be more effective concerning traditional sexual coaching for treating female orgasm disorders. Again, a metaverse-based social skills training program has been tested on children with autism spectrum disorders, demonstrating a significant impact on social interaction abilities. Summary: Metaverse-related technologies could enable us to develop new reliable approaches for treating diseases where behavioral symptoms can be addressed using socio-attentive tasks and social-interaction strategies.

Published
2024

19. Learning in the Metaverse: Are University Students Willing to Learn in Immersive Virtual Reality?

Author

Di Natale, Anna Flavia, Repetto, Claudia, Costantini, G., Riva, Giuseppe, Bricolo, E., Villani, Daniela, Di Natale A. F. (ORCID:0000-0003-2225-3159), Repetto C. (ORCID:0000-0001-8365-7697), Riva G. (ORCID:0000-0003-3657-106X), Villani D. (ORCID:0000-0002-2435-4036), Di Natale, Anna Flavia, Repetto, Claudia, Costantini, G., Riva, Giuseppe, Bricolo, E., Villani, Daniela, Di Natale A. F. (ORCID:0000-0003-2225-3159), Repetto C. (ORCID:0000-0001-8365-7697), Riva G. (ORCID:0000-0003-3657-106X), and Villani D. (ORCID:0000-0002-2435-4036)

Abstract

Immersive virtual reality (IVR) technology provides several educational affordances that make it a valuable tool for learning, especially from a constructivist learning perspective. Combined with the increasing availability of Metaverse social platforms, such as ENGAGE and AltSpace VR, where students and teachers can meet and work together, IVR may transform how students learn and interact with educational content. However, little is known about students' attitudes toward IVR in education. To address this gap, we surveyed 329 undergraduate students from different universities in Italy. We used the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to predict students' intention to adopt IVR for learning. We further explored the role that different individual factors, including students' learning styles, affordances perceptions, and personal innovativeness, have on their attitudes toward IVR. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that the four constructs of the UTAUT, namely performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions were the strongest predictors of students' intention to use IVR in education and that individual factors only had little impact on it. Based on these results, this study provides helpful indications for researchers and educators who wish to introduce IVR effectively in educational contexts. Given the new possibilities provided by Metaverse applications based on IVR technology for learning, it is indeed crucial to fully understand the attitudes different stakeholders in education have toward adopting this technology in educational contexts.

Published
2024

20. Comparing the effects of immersive and non-immersive real estate experience on behavioral intentions

Author

Mauri, Maurizio, Rancati, G., Riva, Giuseppe, Gaggioli, Andrea, Mauri M. (ORCID:0000-0003-2229-9384), Riva G. (ORCID:0000-0003-3657-106X), Gaggioli A. (ORCID:0000-0001-7818-7598), Mauri, Maurizio, Rancati, G., Riva, Giuseppe, Gaggioli, Andrea, Mauri M. (ORCID:0000-0003-2229-9384), Riva G. (ORCID:0000-0003-3657-106X), and Gaggioli A. (ORCID:0000-0001-7818-7598)

Abstract

Nowadays, the web presents real estate sites providing the possibility to use low-cost virtual reality (VR) solutions without sacrificing the high quality of graphic visualization of their contents to attract customers through enhanced digital experiences and increase the probability of selling their products. However, whether immersive VR technologies improve the chances of selling real estate is unclear. This study examines the effects induced by a real estate website that offers the opportunity to evaluate the potential purchase of a property in two ways: by viewing photos of the house (non-immersive conditions) and by taking a virtual tour of the same house using a VR head-mounted display (immersive conditions). Forty participants interested in evaluating the purchase of a new house, randomly assigned to one of the experimental conditions, participated in the experiment. During the real estate experience, electroencephalography (EEG) and skin conductance (SC) were recorded to collect biological data about the emotional effects raised by each condition. After the study, psychological self-reported questionnaires were collected measuring: emotions, presence, user experience (UX), and a three-item ad hoc scale exploring behavioral intentions (e.g., the perceived pleasantness of the house, the willingness to visit the house, and the purchase intention). Results show that immersive navigation is associated with more positive emotions (EEG), more intense physiological arousal (SC), higher scores on the presence questionnaire, and higher scores on the UX questionnaire compared to the non-immersive one. The psychological scales measuring emotions did not yield significant results. No significant difference in the three-item ad-hoc self-questionnaire was found, except for the item examining willingness to visit the real house building. Implications are also discussed.

Published
2024

21. Principles of belief acquisition. How we read other minds

Author

Pascarelli, M. T., Quarona, D., Barchiesi, G., Riva, Giuseppe, Butterfill, S. A., Sinigaglia, C., Riva, G. (ORCID:0000-0003-3657-106X), Pascarelli, M. T., Quarona, D., Barchiesi, G., Riva, Giuseppe, Butterfill, S. A., Sinigaglia, C., and Riva, G. (ORCID:0000-0003-3657-106X)

Abstract

Reading other minds is a pervasive feature of human social life. A decade of research indicates that people can automatically track an agent's beliefs regardless of whether this is required. But little is known about the principles t guide automatic belief tracking. In six experiments adapting a false belief task introduced by Kov ' acs et al. (2010), we tested whether belief tracking is interrupted by either an agent's lack of perceptual access or else by an agent's constrained action possibilities. We also tested whether such manipulations create interruptions when participants were instructed to track beliefs. Our main finding: the agent's lack of perceptual access did not interrupt belief tracking when participants were not instructed to track beliefs. Overall, our findings raise a challenge: some of the phenomena that have been labelled mindreading are perhaps not mindreading at all, or-more likely-they are mindreading but not as we know it.

Published
2024

22. CHEX-MATE: A LOFAR pilot X-ray -radio study on five radio halo clusters

Author

Balboni, M., primary, Gastaldello, F., additional, Bonafede, A., additional, Botteon, A., additional, Bartalucci, I., additional, Bourdin, H., additional, Brunetti, G., additional, Cassano, R., additional, De Grandi, S., additional, De Luca, F., additional, Ettori, S., additional, Ghizzardi, S., additional, Gitti, M., additional, Iqbal, A., additional, Johnston-Hollitt, M., additional, Lovisari, L., additional, Mazzotta, P., additional, Molendi, S., additional, Pointecouteau, E., additional, Pratt, G.W., additional, Riva, G., additional, Rossetti, M., additional, Rottgering, H., additional, Sereno, M., additional, van Weeren, R.J., additional, Venturi, T., additional, and Veronesi, I., additional

Published
2024
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23. Metal enrichment: the apex accretor perspective

Author

Molendi, S., primary, Ghizzardi, S., additional, De Grandi, S., additional, Balboni, M., additional, Bartalucci, I., additional, Eckert, D., additional, Gastaldello, F., additional, Lovisari, L., additional, Riva, G., additional, and Rossetti, M., additional

Published
2024
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24. Reporting Guidelines for the Early-Phase Clinical Evaluation of Applications Using Extended Reality: RATE-XR Qualitative Study Guideline.

Author

Vlake JH, Drop DL, Van Bommel J, Riva G, Wiederhold BK, Cipresso P, Rizzo AS, Rothbaum BO, Botella C, Hooft L, Bienvenu OJ, Jung C, Geerts B, Wils EJ, Gommers D, and van Genderen ME

Subjects
Humans, Qualitative Research, Guidelines as Topic, Augmented Reality, Delphi Technique
Abstract

Background: Extended reality (XR), encompassing technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality, has rapidly gained prominence in health care. However, existing XR research often lacks rigor, proper controls, and standardization., Objective: To address this and to enhance the transparency and quality of reporting in early-phase clinical evaluations of XR applications, we present the "Reporting for the early-phase clinical evaluation of applications using extended reality" (RATE-XR) guideline., Methods: We conducted a 2-round modified Delphi process involving experts from diverse stakeholder categories, and the RATE-XR is therefore the result of a consensus-based, multistakeholder effort., Results: The guideline comprises 17 XR-specific (composed of 18 subitems) and 14 generic reporting items, each with a complementary Explanation & Elaboration section., Conclusions: The items encompass critical aspects of XR research, from clinical utility and safety to human factors and ethics. By offering a comprehensive checklist for reporting, the RATE-XR guideline facilitates robust assessment and replication of early-stage clinical XR studies. It underscores the need for transparency, patient-centeredness, and balanced evaluation of the applications of XR in health care. By providing an actionable checklist of minimal reporting items, this guideline will facilitate the responsible development and integration of XR technologies into health care and related fields., (©Johan H Vlake, Denzel LQ Drop, Jasper Van Bommel, Giuseppe Riva, Brenda K Wiederhold, Pietro Cipresso, Albert S Rizzo, Barbara O Rothbaum, Cristina Botella, Lotty Hooft, Oscar J Bienvenu, Christian Jung, Bart Geerts, Evert-Jan Wils, Diederik Gommers, Michel E van Genderen, RATE-XR Expert Group. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 29.11.2024.)

Published
2024
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25. Empathy Through Immersion: The Impact of 360-Degree Virtual Reality on Fostering Perspective-Taking and Sense of Oneness in the Embodiment of a Sexual Harassment Victim.

Author

Ventura S, Cardenas G, Riva G, and Baños R

Abstract

Sexual harassment (SH) against women is one of the most worldwide problems. To mitigate its incidence, various programs, including virtual reality (VR), have been developed for both prevention and treatment. 360-degree video has emerged as a subfield of VR capable of inducing the body swap illusion and facilitating perspective-taking (PT), as well as eliciting related emotions. The present study represents a progression from a previously published work, featuring a within-subjects design approach that showed the superiority of the immersive video to elicit empathy compared to a control condition. The aim is to investigate and validate the feasibility of using 360-degree video to foster empathy, PT, and a sense of oneness, potentially reducing violent attitudes toward a female victim of SH compared with a traditional PT task (control condition) in a between-subjects design. Forty Mexican men were randomly assigned to one of the conditions. Results confirmed the feasibility of the 360-degree video in significantly enhancing PT and a sense of oneness compared with the control condition. However, no significant changes were observed for the variables of empathy and violent attitude. Moreover, the findings supported the potential of the 360-degree video in eliciting a sense of ownership and presence with the virtual character and the immersive environment, with ownership showing a positive correlation with empathy and PT. Lastly, participant body awareness was found to be a positive predictor of ownership. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

Published
2024
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26. Endoscopic endonasal odontoidectomy with C1 anterior arch preservation for spinal-cord compression in the elderly.

Author

De Marco R, Penner F, Canitano MC, Riva G, Garbossa D, and Zenga F

Abstract

The endoscopic endonasal corridor for odontoidectomy (EEO) is a valuable route in expert's hand to manage craniovertebral junction (CVJ) pathologies of the midline. The possibility to preserve part of the C1 anterior arch along to an adequate preoperative planning, makes this option a viable choice especially in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities who cannot sustain a second procedure closed in time. Indeed, the current case shows the results of EEO in the presence of ventral compression due to degenerative non-rheumatoid retro-odontoid pannus in an 80-year-old male. Due to the absence of instability preoperatively and the C1 anterior arch preservation, no posterior instrumentation was planned nor was necessary at follow-up. A step-by-step description of the technique is showed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Published
2024
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27. Serologic screening and molecular surveillance of Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV)/human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) infections for early recognition and effective treatment of KSHV-associated inflammatory cytokine syndrome (KICS) in solid organ transplant recipients.

Author

Mularoni A, Cona A, Bulati M, Busà R, Miele M, Timoneri F, Di Bella M, Castelbuono S, Barbera F, Di Carlo D, Volpe L, Gallo A, Maria de Luca A, Coniglione G, Todaro F, Barozzi P, Riva G, Pietrosi G, Gruttadauria S, Bertani A, Vitulo P, Fontana A, Cipriani M, Rizzo S, Arcadipane A, Luca A, Mikulska M, Conaldi PG, Grossi PA, and Luppi M

Abstract

Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus/human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) neoplastic and non-neoplastic disease in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients can be life-threatening. We evaluated the seroprevalence of HHV-8 infection among donors (D) and recipients (R), the incidence of HHV-8 transmission/reactivation, and the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of HHV-8-related diseases, including Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus-associated inflammatory cytokine syndrome (KICS), in consecutive SOT patients from 2011 to 2023. HHV-8 seroprevalence was 3.3% in 1349 donors and 8.4% in 1856 recipients screened (p<0.0001). Among the D+/R- group (n=49), 13 patients developed HHV-8-related diseases: 7 liver recipients had KICS, and 1 lung recipient had Kaposi sarcoma (KS) with subsequent KICS. Four KICS patients treated with rituximab survived, while the 3 patients not treated with rituximab died. Within the D-/R- group, out of 5 (0.3%) patients with non-donor-derived primary HHV-8 infection, 3 liver recipients developed KICS. In the R+ patients (n=155), 3 developed KS. In our cohort, 25/944 (2.6%) liver transplant recipients had a primary HHV-8 infection, and 10 of them (40%) developed KICS; 40% (4/10) of HHV-8 seropositive heart transplant recipients developed reactivation and 2 of them (50%) had fatal KS. Serologic screening and molecular surveillance of D+/R- patient groups facilitate early recognition and effective therapy of KICS., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Published
2024
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28. Survival in relation to number of defibrillation attempts in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Author

Harrysson L, Blick E, Awad A, Jonsson M, Claesson A, Magnusson C, Abazi L, Israelsson J, Hofmann R, Nordberg P, and Riva G

Abstract

Introduction/aim: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with shockable pulseless ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation not responding to defibrillation is a medical challenge. Novel treatment strategies have emerged for so-called refractory ventricular fibrillation not responding to three or more defibrillations but the evidence for optimal timing for these strategies is sparse. The primary aim of this observational study was to assess survival in relation to total numbers of defibrillations in OHCA., Methods: This is a registry-based retrospective cohort study based on data reported by the emergency medical services to the Swedish Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and the National Patient Registry. All OHCA patients aged 18 years or older with an initial shockable rhythm in Sweden from January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2020 were included. Exposure was total number of defibrillations, and primary outcome was survival to 30 days. Logistic regression was used to adjust for patient and resuscitation characteristics., Results: Over the study period a total of 10,549 patients were included. Among them, 3,006 (28.5%) received only one shock, 1,665 (15.8%) two shocks, 1,336 (12.9%) three shocks, 1,064 (10.1%) four shocks and 3,478 (33.0%) five or more shocks. In the adjusted analysis an exponential decrease in the 30-day survival was found for each additional defibrillation. For patients receiving one, two, three and four defibrillations, the adjusted probability of survival was 42%, 36%, 30% and 25% respectively., Conclusions: In this registry-based retrospective cohort study, additional defibrillations were associated with a lower survival. This association persisted after adjustments for patient and resuscitation characteristics., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: RH received lecture and consulting fees to institutions from Pfizer/BMS and AstraZeneca., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Published
2024
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30. Sleep Quality in Head and Neck Cancer.

Author

Pecorari G, Moglio S, Gamba D, Briguglio M, Cravero E, Sportoletti Baduel E, and Riva G

Subjects
Humans, Male, Female, Middle Aged, Aged, Sleep Wake Disorders etiology, Surveys and Questionnaires, Adult, Head and Neck Neoplasms complications, Head and Neck Neoplasms psychology, Sleep Quality, Quality of Life
Abstract

Background: Patients with head and neck cancer often experience impaired sleep. Moreover, the treatment may negatively affect sleep quality. The aim of this observational study was to evaluate the sleep quality after treatment for head and neck cancer, and its relationship with quality of life and psychological distress., Methods: A total of 151 patients who underwent treatment for head and neck cancer at our department were included in the study. Quality of life, sleep quality, risk of sleep apnea, sleepiness, pain, and psychological distress were assessed by means of specific questionnaires., Results: The median follow-up was 30 months. Poor sleep quality was observed in 55.6% of the cases. An association between PSQI global sleep quality and EORTC global health status was found. The DT, HADS anxiety, and HADS depression scores were associated to PSQI global score, sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep disturbances, and daytime dysfunction., Conclusions: Sleep disturbances, particularly OSA and insomnia, are frequent in HNC patients, and significantly impact their quality of life and psychological well-being. Given the effect of sleep on overall well-being, addressing sleep disorders should be a priority in the care of HNC patients.

Published
2024
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32. Aetiology and predictors of outcome in non-shockable in-hospital cardiac arrest: A retrospective cohort study from the Swedish Registry for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

Author

Bruchfeld S, Ullemark E, Riva G, Ohm J, Rawshani A, and Djärv T

Subjects
Humans, Male, Aged, Sweden epidemiology, Female, Retrospective Studies, Aged, 80 and over, Cohort Studies, Treatment Outcome, Middle Aged, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation statistics & numerical data, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation methods, Registries, Heart Arrest epidemiology, Heart Arrest mortality, Heart Arrest therapy
Abstract

Background: Non-shockable in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) is a condition with diverse aetiology, predictive factors, and outcome. This study aimed to compare IHCA with initial asystole or pulseless electrical activity (PEA), focusing specifically on their aetiologies and the significance of predictive factors., Methods: Using the Swedish Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, adult non-shockable IHCA cases from 2018 to 2022 (n = 5788) were analysed. Exposure was initial rhythm, while survival to hospital discharge was the primary outcome. A random forest model with 28 variables was used to generate permutation-based variable importance for outcome prediction., Results: Overall, 60% of patients (n = 3486) were male and the median age was 75 years (IQR 67-81). The most frequent arrest location (46%) was on general wards. Comorbidities were present in 79% of cases and the most prevalent comorbidity was heart failure (33%). Initial rhythm was PEA in 47% (n = 2702) of patients, and asystole in 53% (n = 3086). The most frequent aetiologies in both PEA and asystole were cardiac ischemia (24% vs. 19%, absolute difference [AD]: 5.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.0% to 7.7%), and respiratory failure (14% vs. 13%, no significant difference). Survival was higher in asystole (24%) than in PEA (17%) (AD: 7.3%; 95% CI 5.2% to 9.4%). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) durations were longer in PEA, 18 vs 15 min (AD 4.9 min, 95% CI 4.0-5.9 min). The duration of CPR was the single most important predictor of survival across all subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Aetiology ranked as the second most important predictor in most analyses, except in the asystole subgroup where responsiveness at cardiac arrest team arrival took precedence., Conclusions: In this nationwide registry study of non-shockable IHCA comparing asystole to PEA, cardiac ischemia and respiratory failure were the predominant aetiologies. Duration of CPR was the most important predictor of survival, followed by aetiology. Asystole was associated with higher survival compared to PEA, possibly due to shorter CPR durations and a larger proportion of reversible aetiologies., (© 2024 The Author(s). Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation.)

Published
2024
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33. Complementarity and sensitivity of benthic state indicators to bottom-trawl fishing disturbance.

Author

van Denderen PD, Plaza-Morlote M, Vaz S, Wijnhoven S, Borja A, Fernandez-Arcaya U, González-Irusta JM, Hansen JLS, Katsiaras N, Pierucci A, Serrano A, Reizopoulou S, Papadopoulou N, Sköld M, Smith CJ, Nygård H, Van Hoey G, Dinesen GE, Virtanen EA, Boyé A, García-Alegre A, Bellas J, Bolam S, Muñoz PD, Sacau M, Riva G, Kenchington E, Raicevich S, Reid D, Roux MJ, Hiddink JG, and Valanko S

Abstract

Many indicators have been developed to assess the state of benthic communities and identify seabed habitats most at risk from bottom trawling disturbance. However, the large variety of indicators and their development and application under specific geographic areas and management contexts has made it difficult to evaluate their wider utility. We compared the complementarity/uniqueness, sensitivity, and selectivity of 18 benthic indicators to pressure of bottom trawling. Seventeen common datasets with broad regional representation covering a range of pressure gradients from bottom trawling disturbance (n = 14), eutrophication (n = 1), marine pollution (n = 1), and oxygen depletion (n = 1) were used for the comparison. The outcomes of most indicators were correlated to a certain extent with response to bottom trawling disturbance, and two complementary groups of indicators were identified: diversity-based and biological trait-based indicators. Trait-based indicators that quantify the changes in relative abundance of sensitive taxa were most effective in identifying benthic community change in response to bottom trawling disturbance. None of the indicators responded to the trawling pressure gradient in all datasets, and some showed a response that were opposed to the theoretical expectation for some gradients. Indicators that showed clear responses to bottom trawling disturbance also showed clear responses in at least one other pressure gradient, suggesting those indicators are not pressure specific. These results emphasize the importance of selecting several indicators, at least one from each group (diversity and trait-based), to capture the broader signals of change in benthic communities due to bottom trawling activities. Our systematic approach offers the basis from which scientific advisors and/or managers can select suitable combinations of indicators to arrive at a sensitive and comprehensive benthic status assessment., (© 2024 The Author(s). Ecological Applications published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Ecological Society of America.)

Published
2024
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34. Autobiographical Memory in Feeding and Eating Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Author

Frisone F, Brizzi G, Sansoni M, Di Natale AF, Pizzoli SFM, Stanghellini G, and Riva G

Abstract

Introduction: Prominent eating disorders (EDs) theories identify a critical relationship between body and self. One of the ways to study this relationship is through autobiographical memories (AMs). The present review aimed to evaluate the studies that investigated AM in patients with EDs., Methods: A search of PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases was performed to identify relevant articles. Of the 57,113 studies found, 25,016 were not duplicated. After screening, 27 articles were included., Results: The studies had some methodological flaws: none of the articles was a randomized control trial and the sample sizes were small. Nevertheless, important evidence emerged because all studies showed that patients with EDs have impaired AM function. This is because the way patients with EDs remember and define themselves is through an allocentric perspective associated with the gazes of others whose role has an impact on AM, body shape, and self., Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review to examine AM in patients with EDs. Future research is needed in EDs to expand knowledge about the relationship between the body and the self., (© 2024 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Published
2024
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35. Deltopectoral Flap in Head and Neck Reconstruction.

Author

Pecorari G, Bissattini F, Gamba D, Pizzo C, Motatto GM, and Riva G

Subjects
Humans, Male, Female, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Adult, Aged, Treatment Outcome, Plastic Surgery Procedures methods, Plastic Surgery Procedures adverse effects, Surgical Flaps, Head and Neck Neoplasms surgery, Postoperative Complications etiology
Abstract

Background and Objectives : The deltopectoral (DP) flap represents a reconstructive option for the head and neck. It is a fasciocutaneous flap raised from the anterior chest wall below the clavicle. Its role partially declined with the arise of free flaps. However, it still remains a valid option in patients that could not undergo a reconstruction with free flaps. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the role of the DP flap in head and neck reconstruction, with a focus on surgical outcomes and complications. Materials and Methods : Thirty-one patients who underwent head and neck reconstruction with DP flap were included in the study. The delayed technique was not used in any procedure to harvest the flap beyond the deltopectoral groove. The patients' characteristics, the recipient site, the closure of the donor site, and the flap-related complications were recorded. Results : The median time to autonomization of DP flap was 23 days. Postoperative complications were observed in 10 subjects (32.3%). A partial necrosis was seen in five patients (16.1%), while a complete necrosis developed only in one case (3.2%). The diabetes mellitus was the only parameter associated with postoperative complications. In particular, the percentage of necrosis in subjects with or without diabetes was 66.7% and 8.0%, respectively. Conclusions : The DP has a wide range of applications in head and neck reconstruction, and a low complication rate can be observed. The delayed technique does not necessarily need to be applied, and the flap can be extended beyond the deltopectoral groove when necessary. However, patients with diabetes mellitus have a higher risk of postoperative necrosis of the distal portion of the flap.

Published
2024
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37. Remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) in the wild: Remote heart rate imaging via online webcams.

Author

Di Lernia D, Finotti G, Tsakiris M, Riva G, and Naber M

Subjects
Humans, Adult, Male, Female, Young Adult, Internet, Photoplethysmography methods, Heart Rate physiology, Algorithms, Video Recording methods
Abstract

Remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) is a low-cost technique to measure physiological parameters such as heart rate by analyzing videos of a person. There has been growing attention to this technique due to the increased possibilities and demand for running psychological experiments on online platforms. Technological advancements in commercially available cameras and video processing algorithms have led to significant progress in this field. However, despite these advancements, past research indicates that suboptimal video recording conditions can severely compromise the accuracy of rPPG. In this study, we aimed to develop an open-source rPPG methodology and test its performance on videos collected via an online platform, without control of the hardware of the participants and the contextual variables, such as illumination, distance, and motion. Across two experiments, we compared the results of the rPPG extraction methodology to a validated dataset used for rPPG testing. Furthermore, we then collected 231 online video recordings and compared the results of the rPPG extraction to finger pulse oximeter data acquired with a validated mobile heart rate application. Results indicated that the rPPG algorithm was highly accurate, showing a significant degree of convergence with both datasets thus providing an improved tool for recording and analyzing heart rate in online experiments., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Published
2024
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39. Vitamin B12 status in hospitalised cancer patients: Prevalence and clinical implications of depletion and hypervitaminosis.

Author

Sottotetti F, Malovini A, Maccarone S, Riva G, Tibollo V, Palumbo R, Tagliaferri B, Bellazzi R, Cena H, Di Sabatino A, Locati LD, and Lenti MV

Subjects
Humans, Female, Male, Retrospective Studies, Prevalence, Aged, Middle Aged, Risk Factors, Hospitalization, Aged, 80 and over, Vitamin B 12 blood, Neoplasms complications, Neoplasms epidemiology, Nutritional Status, Vitamin B 12 Deficiency epidemiology, Vitamin B 12 Deficiency blood
Abstract

Background & Aims: The prevalence and clinical significance of vitamin B12 alterations in patients with cancer are poorly understood. We aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of vitamin B12 depletion or hypervitaminosis in patients with cancer., Methods: We retrospectively included hospitalised patients with cancer in 2017-2022. Plasma B12 levels were stratified as very low (VL, <200 pg/ml), low (L, 200-299 pg/ml), normal (N, 300-812 pg/ml), or high (H, ≥813 pg/ml). We collected demographic and several clinical data (e.g., comorbidities, nutritional status, ECOG-PS, cancer site and stage). Univariate and multivariate analyses for factors associated to the vitamin B12 status were fitted., Results: 788 patients (F/M ratio 1.05, median age 72 years, [25th, 75th percentiles 62, 78 years]) were included. Vitamin B12 was VL in 14.1%, L in 19.4%, N in 49.4%, and H in 17.1% cases. Vitamin B12 distribution increased significantly as function of ECOG-PS levels. Patients with breast cancer were characterized by the highest median B12 value, while colorectal cancer patients by the lowest. Vitamin B12 was also significantly higher in advanced compared to early-stage patients as well as in those who had liver failure. Multivariate analysis showed that the probability of H vs. VL B12 levels was significantly increased in patients with hypoproteinemia, hypo-prealbuminemia, and ECOG-PS≥2, and decreased in those with colorectal and gastric cancer., Conclusion: Vitamin B12 impairment is common in cancer patients. Increased vitamin B12 is associated with an impaired clinical status, while vitamin B12 depletion is more common in early-stage cancer and in elderly patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Published
2024
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40. Pediatric flexible flatfoot: Does obesity influence the outcomes of arthroereisis?

Author

Monestier L, Riva G, Latiff M, Marciandi L, Bozzi E, Pelozzi A, Pautasso A, Pilato G, Surace MF, and D'Angelo F

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity has emerged in the last decades as an important public health problem worldwide. Although relationships between obesity and flatfoot have been shown, no studies have investigated the influence of obesity on arthroereisis outcomes., Aim: To evaluate correlations between childhood overweight/obesity and clinical and radiographic outcomes after subtalar arthroereisis with self-locking implants., Methods: This retrospective study included one hundred and sixty-nine pediatric patients (10-14 years old) who underwent subtalar arthroereisis (PEEK PitStop ® device) for severe flexible flatfoot. Exclusion criteria were additional procedures, revision of previous corrective surgeries, rigid flatfoot with severe deformity, and neurological or post-traumatic flatfoot. Preoperative/postoperative European Foot and Ankle Society (EFAS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were determined; radiographic assessment was conducted on weight-bearing foot X-rays: Kite angle, first metatarsal-talus angle, Meary angle, calcaneal pitch angle and lateral talo-calcaneal angle were analyzed., Results: EFAS and VAS scores improved post-operatively in the whole population. Only seven cases with complications were reported. Radiographic assessment revealed an improvement in all angles. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the impact of obesity was significant on arthroereisis outcomes: Relationships were reported between BMI and postoperative EFAS/VAS scores, postoperative calcaneal pitch angle, Kite angle, Meary angle and talo-first metatarsal angle., Conclusion: Although arthroereisis represents a very effective and valid treatment for flatfoot both in normal weight and obese children, obesity significantly influences clinical and radiographic outcomes of arthroereisis, and obese children tend to perceive more pain and discomfort., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Published
2024
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41. Life-Threatening Bleeding in Atypical Pleomorphic Adenoma of the Soft Palate.

Author

Piccinini F, Borgione M, Riva G, and Pecorari G

Abstract

Introduction: Atypical pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is an uncommon tumor, more frequent in submandibular and parotid glands. PA is classified as atypical when it presents hypercellularity, necrosis or hyalinization, dysplasia, capsular violation or distant metastases., Case Report: We described a case of a 39-year-old female presented with a slowly growing mass involving the soft palate. A life-threatening bleeding from PA with hemorrhagic shock occurred and required ligation of the external carotid artery with tracheotomy. A transoral en-bloc excision of the mass (70 x 50 x 40 mm) was performed. Pathological exam demonstrated an atypical PA, with hypercellular fields and myoepithelial and squamous differentiation., Conclusion: An appropriate diagnostic evaluation and a prompt intervention are essential to avoid dangerous complications, even for benign neoplasms., Competing Interests: The Authors do not have any conflict of interest to declare., (© 2024 Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.)

Published
2024
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43. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) in treatment of mucosal head and neck tumors. An international network for sharing practices on ECT (InspECT) study group report.

Author

Bertino G, Minuti M, Groselj A, Jamsek C, Silvestri B, Carpene S, Matteucci P, Riva G, Pecorari G, Mascherini M, Kjær Lønkvist C, Muir T, Kunte C, de Terlizzi F, and Sersa G

Subjects
Humans, Male, Female, Middle Aged, Aged, Adult, Laryngeal Neoplasms therapy, Laryngeal Neoplasms drug therapy, Laryngeal Neoplasms pathology, Treatment Outcome, Aged, 80 and over, Pharyngeal Neoplasms therapy, Pharyngeal Neoplasms drug therapy, Pharyngeal Neoplasms pathology, Mouth Neoplasms drug therapy, Mouth Neoplasms therapy, Mouth Neoplasms pathology, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local, Europe, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell therapy, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell drug therapy, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell pathology, Electrochemotherapy methods, Head and Neck Neoplasms therapy, Head and Neck Neoplasms drug therapy, Head and Neck Neoplasms pathology
Abstract

The aim of this multicenter study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of electrochemotherapy (ECT) for the treatment of mucosal tumors in the head and neck. A total of 71 patients with 84 nodules of different histologies in the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx treated by ECT were evaluated. The data were collected from the InspECT database from 10 participating centers throughout Europe. Primary and recurrent/secondary tumors of different histologies were treated. The overall response rate was 65 %, with a 33 % complete response rate with limited side effects. The response rates of the primary and secondary tumors were not different. However, smaller tumors responded better than tumors larger than 3 cm in diameter. Furthermore, the tumors that were treated with curative intent responded significantly better than those treated with palliative intent. This study demonstrated the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of ECT in a larger cohort of patients with mucosal lesions in the head and neck region. Based on the available data, ECT can be used for the treatment of recurrent and, in some cases, primary mucosal tumors located in the oral cavity, larynx, and pharynx. A better response was obtained in patients with smaller primary tumors treated with curative intent., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Francesca de Terlizzi is an IGEA employer. No other authors have conflicts of interest. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Published
2024
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44. Gender differences in bodily experience: Insights from virtual reality body illusion.

Author

Brizzi G, Frisone F, Rossi C, and Riva G

Subjects
Humans, Male, Female, Adult, Young Adult, Sex Factors, Personal Satisfaction, Body Size physiology, Sex Characteristics, Body Dissatisfaction, Body Image psychology, Illusions physiology, Virtual Reality
Abstract

Virtual Reality has significantly improved the understanding of body experience, through techniques such as Body Illusion. Body Illusion allows individuals to perceive an artificial body as their own, changing body perceptual and affective components. Prior research has predominantly focused on female participants, leaving the impact of Body Illusion on males less understood. This study seeks to fill this gap by examining the nuanced bodily experiences of men in comparison to women. 40 participants (20 females and 20 males) were proposed with visuo-tactile synchronous and asynchronous Body Illusion to explore changes in body satisfaction and body size estimation across three critical areas: shoulders, hips, and waist. Results revealed significant initial disparities, with females displaying greater body dissatisfaction and a tendency to overestimate body size. After Body Illusion, females adjusted the hips perceived body size closer to that of the virtual body and reported increased body satisfaction independent of the condition. Conversely, males showed changes only in waist size estimation only after synchronous stimulation without significant shifts in body satisfaction. These results suggest a higher sensitivity of women to embodied experiences, potentially due to societal influences and a greater inclination towards self-objectification. These insights pave the way for creating more refined and effective interventions for body image issues, highlighting the importance of incorporating gender-specific considerations in VR-based prevention and therapeutical programs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Published
2024
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45. Association of postsystolic shortening on stress echocardiography and significant coronary artery stenosis: A single-centre retrospective cohort study.

Author

Toftgård J, Hedskog H, Rune L, Svedenhag J, and Riva G

Subjects
Humans, Male, Female, Retrospective Studies, Middle Aged, Aged, Coronary Angiography methods, Sweden epidemiology, Predictive Value of Tests, Ventricular Function, Left, Coronary Stenosis diagnostic imaging, Coronary Stenosis physiopathology, Echocardiography, Stress methods
Abstract

Background: Postsystolic shortening (PSS) is one of the proposed quantitative measures to predict myocardial ischaemia in the stress echocardiographic (SE) evaluation. It is previously known that hypo-/akinesia (HA) correlates well with coronary stenosis. However, some patients undergoing SE only present with PSS, and their risk of significant coronary stenosis is less clear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PSS and significant coronary stenosis compared with HA., Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study at the hospital of S:t Görans, Stockholm, Sweden. All patients who underwent SE to investigate inducible ischaemia between 1 January 2018 and 15 October 2021 were eligible for inclusion. Exclusion criteria were normal SE and inconclusive test. Pathological SE were divided into two groups, patients with HA and those with PSS. Outcome was significant coronary artery stenosis visualized by invasive coronary angiography., Results: The final study population consisted of 108 patients (73 PSS, 35 HA). The presence of HA was associated with a higher risk of significant stenosis compared to those with PSS (63% vs. 23%, p < 0.001). This relationship was observed among males (p < 0.001), but not among females (p = 0.133). Nonsignificant stenosis trended to be more common among patients with PSS (21% vs. 6%, p = 0.053) CONCLUSIONS: The finding of PSS without HA was associated with a lower risk of significant coronary stenosis than HA. However, patients with PSS still often had nonsignificant coronary stenosis and PSS in the evaluation for nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) should be further investigated., (© 2024 The Authors. Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Scandinavian Society of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine.)

Published
2024
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46. Proton therapy for intracranial meningioma: a single-institution retrospective analysis of efficacy, survival and toxicity outcomes.

Author

Iannalfi A, Riva G, Lillo S, Ciccone L, Fontana G, Molinelli S, Trombetta L, Ciocca M, Imparato S, Pecorilla M, and Orlandi E

Subjects
Humans, Retrospective Studies, Female, Male, Middle Aged, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Young Adult, Follow-Up Studies, Treatment Outcome, Survival Rate, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local radiotherapy, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local pathology, Prognosis, Meningioma radiotherapy, Meningioma mortality, Meningioma pathology, Proton Therapy adverse effects, Proton Therapy methods, Meningeal Neoplasms radiotherapy, Meningeal Neoplasms mortality
Abstract

Purpose: To report the outcomes of a large series of intracranial meningiomas (IMs) submitted to proton therapy (PT) with curative intent., Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis on all consecutive IM patients treated between 2014 and 2021. The median PT prescription dose was 55.8 Gy relative biological effectiveness (RBE) and 66 GyRBE for benign/radiologically diagnosed and atypical/anaplastic IMs, respectively. Local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), distant recurrence-free survival (DRFS), overall survival (OS), and radionecrosis-free survival (RNFS) were evaluated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariable analysis was performed to identify potential prognostic factors for clinical outcomes. Toxicity was reported according to the latest Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0., Results: Overall, 167 patients were included. With a median follow-up of 41 months (range, 6-99), twelve patients (7%) developed tumor local recurrence after a median time of 39 months. The 5-year LRFS was 88% for the entire cohort, with a significant difference between benign/radiologically diagnosed and atypical/anaplastic IMs (98% vs. 47%, p < 0.001); this significant difference was maintained also for the 5-year OS and the 5-year DRFS rates. Patients aged ≤ 56 years reported significantly better outcomes, whereas lower prescription doses and skull base location were associated with better RNFS rates. Two patients experienced G3 acute toxicities (1.2%), and three patients G3 late toxicities (1.8%). There were no G4-G5 adverse events., Conclusion: PT proved to be effective with an acceptable toxicity profile. To the best of our knowledge this is one of the largest series including IM patients submitted to PT., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Published
2024
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47. Harnessing Immersive Virtual Reality: A Comprehensive Scoping Review of its Applications in Assessing, Understanding, and Treating Eating Disorders.

Author

Di Natale AF, Pizzoli SFM, Brizzi G, Di Lernia D, Frisone F, Gaggioli A, Rabarbari E, Oasi O, Repetto C, Rossi C, Scerrati E, Villani D, and Riva G

Subjects
Humans, Virtual Reality, Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy methods, Bulimia Nervosa therapy, Feeding and Eating Disorders therapy
Abstract

Background: Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) has shown promise in the assessment, understanding, and treatment of eating disorders (EDs), providing a dynamic platform for clinical innovation. This scoping review aims to synthesize the recent advancements and applications of IVR in addressing these complex psychological disorders., Methods: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Protocols, focusing on studies published in the past five years. It included peer-reviewed papers that used IVR for ED assessment, examination, or treatment. A comprehensive database search provided a selection of relevant articles, which were then methodically screened and analyzed., Results: Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria, with a primary focus on Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN), and Binge Eating Disorder (BED). The application of IVR was categorized into three areas: assessment, understanding, and treatment. IVR was found to be an effective tool in assessing body image distortions and emotional responses to food, providing insights that are less accessible through traditional methods. Furthermore, IVR offers innovative treatment approaches by facilitating exposure therapy, modifying body-related biases, and enabling emotional regulation through embodied experiences. The studies demonstrate IVR's potential to improve body image accuracy, reduce food-related anxieties, and support behavioral changes in ED patients., Conclusion: IVR stands out as a transformative technology in the field of EDs, offering comprehensive benefits across diagnostic, therapeutic, and experiential domains. The IVR's ability to simulate the brain's predictive coding mechanisms provides a powerful avenue for delivering embodied, experiential interventions that can help recalibrate distorted body representations and dysfunctional affective predictive models implicated in EDs. Future research should continue to refine these applications, ensuring consistent methodologies and wider clinical trials to fully harness IVR's potential in clinical settings., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Published
2024
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48. Psychomatics-A Multidisciplinary Framework for Understanding Artificial Minds.

Author

Riva G, Mantovani F, Wiederhold BK, Marchetti A, and Gaggioli A

Abstract

Although large language models (LLMs) and other artificial intelligence systems demonstrate cognitive skills similar to humans, such as concept learning and language acquisition, the way they process information fundamentally differs from biological cognition. To better understand these differences, this article introduces Psychomatics, a multidisciplinary framework bridging cognitive science, linguistics, and computer science. It aims to delve deeper into the high-level functioning of LLMs, focusing specifically on how LLMs acquire, learn, remember, and use information to produce their outputs. To achieve this goal, Psychomatics will rely on a comparative methodology, starting from a theory-driven research question-is the process of language development and use different in humans and LLMs?-drawing parallels between LLMs and biological systems. Our analysis shows how LLMs can map and manipulate complex linguistic patterns in their training data. Moreover, LLMs can follow Grice's Cooperative principle to provide relevant and informative responses. However, human cognition draws from multiple sources of meaning, including experiential, emotional, and imaginative facets, which transcend mere language processing and are rooted in our social and developmental trajectories. Moreover, current LLMs lack physical embodiment, reducing their ability to make sense of the intricate interplay between perception, action, and cognition that shapes human understanding and expression. Ultimately, Psychomatics holds the potential to yield transformative insights into the nature of language, cognition, and intelligence, both artificial and biological. Moreover, by drawing parallels between LLMs and human cognitive processes, Psychomatics can inform the development of more robust and human-like artificial intelligence systems.

Published
2024
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