AHCI RESEARCH GROUP
Publications
Papers published in international journals,
proceedings of conferences, workshops and books.
OUR RESEARCH
Scientific Publications
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You can use the tag cloud to select only the papers dealing with specific research topics.
You can expand the Abstract, Links and BibTex record for each paper.
2025
Augello, Agnese; Caggianese, Giuseppe; Gaglio, Giuseppe Fulvio; Gallo, Luigi; Malizia, Velia; Grutta, Stefania La; Tancredi, Giancarlo; Turchetta, Attilio; Vacca, Rosa Anna; Scala, Iris
Serious Games as Emerging E-Health Interventions: Design of an Exergame for the SMILER Project Proceedings Article
In: Schönbohm, Avo; Bellotti, Francesco; Bucchiarone, Antonio; Rosa, Francesca De; Ninaus, Manuel; Wang, Alf; Wanick, Vanissa; Dondio, Pierpaolo (Ed.): Games and Learning Alliance, pp. 307–316, Springer Nature Switzerland, Cham, 2025, ISBN: 978-3-031-78268-8 978-3-031-78269-5, (Series Title: Lecture Notes in Computer Science).
@inproceedings{schonbohm_serious_2025,
title = {Serious Games as Emerging E-Health Interventions: Design of an Exergame for the SMILER Project},
author = {Agnese Augello and Giuseppe Caggianese and Giuseppe Fulvio Gaglio and Luigi Gallo and Velia Malizia and Stefania La Grutta and Giancarlo Tancredi and Attilio Turchetta and Rosa Anna Vacca and Iris Scala},
editor = {Avo Schönbohm and Francesco Bellotti and Antonio Bucchiarone and Francesca De Rosa and Manuel Ninaus and Alf Wang and Vanissa Wanick and Pierpaolo Dondio},
url = {https://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-031-78269-5_29},
doi = {10.1007/978-3-031-78269-5_29},
isbn = {978-3-031-78268-8 978-3-031-78269-5},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
urldate = {2025-01-07},
booktitle = {Games and Learning Alliance},
volume = {15348},
pages = {307–316},
publisher = {Springer Nature Switzerland},
address = {Cham},
note = {Series Title: Lecture Notes in Computer Science},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
2024
Melillo, Antonio; Rachedi, Sarah; Caggianese, Giuseppe; Gallo, Luigi; Maiorano, Patrizia; Gimigliano, Francesca; Lucidi, Fabio; Pietro, Giuseppe De; Guida, Maurizio; Giordano, Antonio; Chirico, Andrea
In: Games for Health Journal, 2024, ISSN: 2161-783X.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Pain, User study, Virtual Reality
@article{melilloSynchronizationVirtualReality2024,
title = {Synchronization of a Virtual Reality Scenario to Uterine Contractions for Labor Pain Management: Development Study and Randomized Controlled Trial},
author = {Antonio Melillo and Sarah Rachedi and Giuseppe Caggianese and Luigi Gallo and Patrizia Maiorano and Francesca Gimigliano and Fabio Lucidi and Giuseppe De Pietro and Maurizio Guida and Antonio Giordano and Andrea Chirico},
url = {https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/g4h.2023.0202},
doi = {10.1089/g4h.2023.0202},
issn = {2161-783X},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-06-11},
urldate = {2024-06-11},
journal = {Games for Health Journal},
publisher = {Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers},
abstract = {Background: Labor is described as one of the most painful events women can experience through their lives, and labor pain shows unique features and rhythmic fluctuations.Purpose: The present study aims to evaluate virtual reality (VR) analgesic interventions for active labor with biofeedback-based VR technologies synchronized to uterine activity.Materials and Methods: We developed a VR system modeled on uterine contractions by connecting it to cardiotocographic equipment. We conducted a randomized controlled trial on a sample of 74 cases and 80 controls during active labor.Results: Results of the study showed a significant reduction of pain scores compared with both preintervention scores and to control group scores; a significant reduction of anxiety levels both compared with preintervention assessment and to control group and significant reduction in fear of labor experience compared with controls.Conclusion: VR may be considered as an effective nonpharmacological analgesic technique for the treatment of pain and anxiety and fear of childbirth experience during labor. The developed system could improve personalization of care, modulating the multisensory stimulation tailored to labor progression. Further studies are needed to compare the synchronized VR system to uterine activity and unsynchronized VR interventions.},
keywords = {Pain, User study, Virtual Reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Background: Labor is described as one of the most painful events women can experience through their lives, and labor pain shows unique features and rhythmic fluctuations.Purpose: The present study aims to evaluate virtual reality (VR) analgesic interventions for active labor with biofeedback-based VR technologies synchronized to uterine activity.Materials and Methods: We developed a VR system modeled on uterine contractions by connecting it to cardiotocographic equipment. We conducted a randomized controlled trial on a sample of 74 cases and 80 controls during active labor.Results: Results of the study showed a significant reduction of pain scores compared with both preintervention scores and to control group scores; a significant reduction of anxiety levels both compared with preintervention assessment and to control group and significant reduction in fear of labor experience compared with controls.Conclusion: VR may be considered as an effective nonpharmacological analgesic technique for the treatment of pain and anxiety and fear of childbirth experience during labor. The developed system could improve personalization of care, modulating the multisensory stimulation tailored to labor progression. Further studies are needed to compare the synchronized VR system to uterine activity and unsynchronized VR interventions.
Melillo, Antonio; Rachedi, Sarah; Caggianese, Giuseppe; Gallo, Luigi; Maiorano, Patrizia; Gimigliano, Francesca; Lucidi, Fabio; Pietro, Giuseppe De; Guida, Maurizio; Giordano, Antonio; Chirico, Andrea
In: Games for Health Journal, 2024, ISSN: 2161-783X, (Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Pain, User study, Virtual Reality
@article{melillo_synchronization_2024,
title = {Synchronization of a Virtual Reality Scenario to Uterine Contractions for Labor Pain Management: Development Study and Randomized Controlled Trial},
author = {Antonio Melillo and Sarah Rachedi and Giuseppe Caggianese and Luigi Gallo and Patrizia Maiorano and Francesca Gimigliano and Fabio Lucidi and Giuseppe De Pietro and Maurizio Guida and Antonio Giordano and Andrea Chirico},
url = {https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/g4h.2023.0202},
doi = {10.1089/g4h.2023.0202},
issn = {2161-783X},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-06-01},
urldate = {2024-06-19},
journal = {Games for Health Journal},
abstract = {Background: Labor is described as one of the most painful events women can experience through their lives, and labor pain shows unique features and rhythmic fluctuations.Purpose: The present study aims to evaluate virtual reality (VR) analgesic interventions for active labor with biofeedback-based VR technologies synchronized to uterine activity.Materials and Methods: We developed a VR system modeled on uterine contractions by connecting it to cardiotocographic equipment. We conducted a randomized controlled trial on a sample of 74 cases and 80 controls during active labor.Results: Results of the study showed a significant reduction of pain scores compared with both preintervention scores and to control group scores; a significant reduction of anxiety levels both compared with preintervention assessment and to control group and significant reduction in fear of labor experience compared with controls.Conclusion: VR may be considered as an effective nonpharmacological analgesic technique for the treatment of pain and anxiety and fear of childbirth experience during labor. The developed system could improve personalization of care, modulating the multisensory stimulation tailored to labor progression. Further studies are needed to compare the synchronized VR system to uterine activity and unsynchronized VR interventions.},
note = {Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers},
keywords = {Pain, User study, Virtual Reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Background: Labor is described as one of the most painful events women can experience through their lives, and labor pain shows unique features and rhythmic fluctuations.Purpose: The present study aims to evaluate virtual reality (VR) analgesic interventions for active labor with biofeedback-based VR technologies synchronized to uterine activity.Materials and Methods: We developed a VR system modeled on uterine contractions by connecting it to cardiotocographic equipment. We conducted a randomized controlled trial on a sample of 74 cases and 80 controls during active labor.Results: Results of the study showed a significant reduction of pain scores compared with both preintervention scores and to control group scores; a significant reduction of anxiety levels both compared with preintervention assessment and to control group and significant reduction in fear of labor experience compared with controls.Conclusion: VR may be considered as an effective nonpharmacological analgesic technique for the treatment of pain and anxiety and fear of childbirth experience during labor. The developed system could improve personalization of care, modulating the multisensory stimulation tailored to labor progression. Further studies are needed to compare the synchronized VR system to uterine activity and unsynchronized VR interventions.
Franchini, Silvia; Hildenbrand, Dietmar; Saribatir, Ed; Vitabile, Salvatore
A FPGA Coprocessor for Accelerating Geometric Algebra Algorithms based on the GAPPCO Design Proceedings Article
In: Proceedings of 9th International Conference on Applied Geometric Algebras in Computer Science and Engineering (AGACSE 2024), Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2024.
BibTeX | Tags:
@inproceedings{franchini_fpga_2024,
title = {A FPGA Coprocessor for Accelerating Geometric Algebra Algorithms based on the GAPPCO Design},
author = {Silvia Franchini and Dietmar Hildenbrand and Ed Saribatir and Salvatore Vitabile},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-01},
booktitle = {Proceedings of 9th International Conference on Applied Geometric Algebras in Computer Science and Engineering (AGACSE 2024)},
address = {Amsterdam, The Netherlands},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Rausa, Maria; Gaglio, Salvatore; Augello, Agnese; Caggianese, Giuseppe; Franchini, Silvia; Gallo, Luigi; Sabatucci, Luca
Enriching Metaverse with Memories Through Generative AI: A Case Study Proceedings Article
In: 2024 IEEE International Conference on Metrology for eXtended Reality, Artificial Intelligence and Neural Engineering (MetroXRAINE), pp. 371–376, IEEE, St Albans, United Kingdom, 2024, ISBN: 979-8-3503-7800-9.
@inproceedings{rausa_enriching_2024,
title = {Enriching Metaverse with Memories Through Generative AI: A Case Study},
author = {Maria Rausa and Salvatore Gaglio and Agnese Augello and Giuseppe Caggianese and Silvia Franchini and Luigi Gallo and Luca Sabatucci},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10796338/},
doi = {10.1109/MetroXRAINE62247.2024.10796338},
isbn = {979-8-3503-7800-9},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-01},
urldate = {2025-01-07},
booktitle = {2024 IEEE International Conference on Metrology for eXtended Reality, Artificial Intelligence and Neural Engineering (MetroXRAINE)},
pages = {371–376},
publisher = {IEEE},
address = {St Albans, United Kingdom},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
2023
Sabatucci, Luca; Augello, Agnese; Caggianese, Giuseppe; Gallo, Luigi
Envisioning Digital Practices in the Metaverse: A Methodological Perspective Journal Article
In: Future Internet, vol. 15, no. 12, pp. 1–19, 2023, ISSN: 1999-5903, (Number: 394 Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Digital Practices, Digital Twins, Metaverse, NPC, Social Practices
@article{sabatucci_envisioning_2023,
title = {Envisioning Digital Practices in the Metaverse: A Methodological Perspective},
author = {Luca Sabatucci and Agnese Augello and Giuseppe Caggianese and Luigi Gallo},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/15/12/394},
doi = {10.3390/fi15120394},
issn = {1999-5903},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-12-01},
urldate = {2023-12-07},
journal = {Future Internet},
volume = {15},
number = {12},
pages = {1–19},
abstract = {Researchers are exploring methods that exploit digital twins as all-purpose abstractions for sophisticated modelling and simulation, bringing elements of the real world into the virtual realm. Digital twins are essential elements of the digital transformation of society, which mostly benefit manufacturing, smart cities, healthcare contexts, and in general systems that include humans in the loop. As the metaverse concept continues to evolve, the line separating the virtual and the real will progressively fade away. Considering the metaverse’s goal to emulate our social reality, it becomes essential to examine the aspects that characterise real-world interaction practices and explicitly model both physical and social contexts. While the unfolding metaverse may reshape these practices in distinct ways from their real-world counterparts, our position is that it is essential to incorporate social theories into the modelling processes of digital twins within the metaverse. In this work, we discuss our perspective by introducing a digital practice model inspired by the theory of social practice. We illustrate this model by exploiting the scenario of a virtual grocery shop designed to help older adults reduce their social isolation.},
note = {Number: 394
Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute},
keywords = {Digital Practices, Digital Twins, Metaverse, NPC, Social Practices},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Researchers are exploring methods that exploit digital twins as all-purpose abstractions for sophisticated modelling and simulation, bringing elements of the real world into the virtual realm. Digital twins are essential elements of the digital transformation of society, which mostly benefit manufacturing, smart cities, healthcare contexts, and in general systems that include humans in the loop. As the metaverse concept continues to evolve, the line separating the virtual and the real will progressively fade away. Considering the metaverse’s goal to emulate our social reality, it becomes essential to examine the aspects that characterise real-world interaction practices and explicitly model both physical and social contexts. While the unfolding metaverse may reshape these practices in distinct ways from their real-world counterparts, our position is that it is essential to incorporate social theories into the modelling processes of digital twins within the metaverse. In this work, we discuss our perspective by introducing a digital practice model inspired by the theory of social practice. We illustrate this model by exploiting the scenario of a virtual grocery shop designed to help older adults reduce their social isolation.
Dipanda, Albert; Gallo, Luigi; Yetongnon, Kokou (Ed.)
2023 17th International Conference on Signal-Image Technology & Internet-Based Systems (SITIS) Proceedings
IEEE Computer Society, 2023, ISBN: 979-8-3503-7091-1.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Computer graphics, Image processing
@proceedings{dipanda202317thInternational2023,
title = {2023 17th International Conference on Signal-Image Technology & Internet-Based Systems (SITIS)},
editor = { Albert Dipanda and Luigi Gallo and Kokou Yetongnon},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/servlet/opac?punumber=10472709},
doi = {10.1109/SITIS61268.2023},
isbn = {979-8-3503-7091-1},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-11-10},
urldate = {2024-03-21},
publisher = {IEEE Computer Society},
abstract = {We are pleased to welcome you to SITIS 2023, the seventeenth edition of the IEEE International Conference on Signal-Image Technology & Internet-Based Systems. We thank the authors for their valuable contributions to the conference. SITIS 2023 aims to bring together researchers from the major communities of signal/image processing and information modeling and analysis, and to foster crossdisciplinary collaborations. The conference consists of two tracks: SIVT (Signal & Image and Vision Technology), which focuses on recent developments and evolutions in signal processing, image analysis, vision, coding & authentication, and retrieval techniques; and ISSA (Intelligent Systems Services and Applications), which covers emerging concepts, architectures, protocols, and methodologies for data management on the Web and the Internet of Things technologies that connect unlimited numbers of smart objects. In addition to these tracks, SITIS 2023 also features some workshops that address a wide range of related but more specific topics.},
keywords = {Computer graphics, Image processing},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {proceedings}
}
We are pleased to welcome you to SITIS 2023, the seventeenth edition of the IEEE International Conference on Signal-Image Technology & Internet-Based Systems. We thank the authors for their valuable contributions to the conference. SITIS 2023 aims to bring together researchers from the major communities of signal/image processing and information modeling and analysis, and to foster crossdisciplinary collaborations. The conference consists of two tracks: SIVT (Signal & Image and Vision Technology), which focuses on recent developments and evolutions in signal processing, image analysis, vision, coding & authentication, and retrieval techniques; and ISSA (Intelligent Systems Services and Applications), which covers emerging concepts, architectures, protocols, and methodologies for data management on the Web and the Internet of Things technologies that connect unlimited numbers of smart objects. In addition to these tracks, SITIS 2023 also features some workshops that address a wide range of related but more specific topics.
Gaglio, Giuseppe Fulvio; Augello, Agnese; Pipitone, Arianna; Gallo, Luigi; Sorbello, Rosario; Chella, Antonio
Moral Mediators in the Metaverse: Exploring Artificial Morality through a Talking Cricket Paradigm (regular paper) Proceedings Article
In: Bruno, Alessandro; Pipitone, Arianna; Manzotti, Riccardo; Augello, Agnese; Mazzeo, Pier Luigi; Vella, Filippo; Chella, Antonio (Ed.): Proceedings of the 1st Workshop on Artificial Intelligence for Perception and Artificial Consciousness (AIxPAC 2023), pp. 30–43, CEUR, Roma, Italy, 2023, (ISSN: 1613-0073).
@inproceedings{gaglio_moral_2023-1,
title = {Moral Mediators in the Metaverse: Exploring Artificial Morality through a Talking Cricket Paradigm (regular paper)},
author = {Giuseppe Fulvio Gaglio and Agnese Augello and Arianna Pipitone and Luigi Gallo and Rosario Sorbello and Antonio Chella},
editor = {Alessandro Bruno and Arianna Pipitone and Riccardo Manzotti and Agnese Augello and Pier Luigi Mazzeo and Filippo Vella and Antonio Chella},
url = {https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-3563/#paper_9},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-11-01},
urldate = {2023-11-27},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 1st Workshop on Artificial Intelligence for Perception and Artificial Consciousness (AIxPAC 2023)},
volume = {3563},
pages = {30–43},
publisher = {CEUR},
address = {Roma, Italy},
series = {CEUR Workshop Proceedings},
note = {ISSN: 1613-0073},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Gaglio, Giuseppe Fulvio; Augello, Agnese; Pipitone, Arianna; Gallo, Luigi; Sorbello, Rosario; Chella, Antonio
Moral Mediators in the Metaverse: Exploring Artificial Morality through a Talking Cricket Paradigm Proceedings Article
In: Bruno, Alessandro; Pipitone, Arianna; Manzotti, Riccardo; Augello, Agnese; Mazzeo, Pier Luigi; Vella, Filippo; Chella, Antonio (Ed.): Proceedings of the 1st Workshop on Artificial Intelligence for Perception and Artificial Consciousness (AIxPAC 2023), pp. 30–43, CEUR, Roma, Italy, 2023, (ISSN: 1613-0073).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Artificial intelligence, Virtual Reality
@inproceedings{gaglio_moral_2023,
title = {Moral Mediators in the Metaverse: Exploring Artificial Morality through a Talking Cricket Paradigm},
author = {Giuseppe Fulvio Gaglio and Agnese Augello and Arianna Pipitone and Luigi Gallo and Rosario Sorbello and Antonio Chella},
editor = {Alessandro Bruno and Arianna Pipitone and Riccardo Manzotti and Agnese Augello and Pier Luigi Mazzeo and Filippo Vella and Antonio Chella},
url = {https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-3563/#paper_9},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-11-01},
urldate = {2023-11-27},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 1st Workshop on Artificial Intelligence for Perception and Artificial Consciousness (AIxPAC 2023)},
volume = {3563},
pages = {30–43},
publisher = {CEUR},
address = {Roma, Italy},
series = {CEUR Workshop Proceedings},
abstract = {As technological innovations continue to shape our social interactions, the Metaverse introduces im mersive experiences that reflect real-life practices, accessible by users through their avatars. However, these interactions also bring forth potential negative aspects, including discrimination and cyberbullying. While current automatic detection systems exist, educating users on appropriate behaviour remains crucial. Leveraging recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence, the paper focuses on creating virtual AI-controlled moral agents within the Metaverse to guide users in dealing with moral dilemmas. The research aims to understand how such agents impact users’ perceptions and behaviours in ethically challenging virtual environments.},
note = {ISSN: 1613-0073},
keywords = {Artificial intelligence, Virtual Reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
As technological innovations continue to shape our social interactions, the Metaverse introduces im mersive experiences that reflect real-life practices, accessible by users through their avatars. However, these interactions also bring forth potential negative aspects, including discrimination and cyberbullying. While current automatic detection systems exist, educating users on appropriate behaviour remains crucial. Leveraging recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence, the paper focuses on creating virtual AI-controlled moral agents within the Metaverse to guide users in dealing with moral dilemmas. The research aims to understand how such agents impact users’ perceptions and behaviours in ethically challenging virtual environments.
Dipanda, Albert; Gallo, Luigi; Yetongnon, Kokou (Ed.)
2023 17th International Conference on Signal-Image Technology & Internet-Based Systems (SITIS) Book
IEEE Computer Society, 2023, ISBN: 979-8-3503-7091-1, (tex.referencetype: proceedings).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Computer graphics, Image processing
@book{dipanda_2023_2023,
title = {2023 17th International Conference on Signal-Image Technology & Internet-Based Systems (SITIS)},
editor = {Albert Dipanda and Luigi Gallo and Kokou Yetongnon},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/servlet/opac?punumber=10472709},
isbn = {979-8-3503-7091-1},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-11-01},
publisher = {IEEE Computer Society},
abstract = {We are pleased to welcome you to SITIS 2023, the seventeenth edition of the IEEE International
Conference on Signal-Image Technology & Internet-Based Systems. We thank the authors for their
valuable contributions to the conference. SITIS 2023 aims to bring together researchers from the major
communities of signal/image processing and information modeling and analysis, and to foster crossdisciplinary
collaborations. The conference consists of two tracks: SIVT (Signal & Image and Vision
Technology), which focuses on recent developments and evolutions in signal processing, image
analysis, vision, coding & authentication, and retrieval techniques; and ISSA (Intelligent Systems
Services and Applications), which covers emerging concepts, architectures, protocols, and
methodologies for data management on the Web and the Internet of Things technologies that connect
unlimited numbers of smart objects. In addition to these tracks, SITIS 2023 also features some
workshops that address a wide range of related but more specific topics.},
note = {tex.referencetype: proceedings},
keywords = {Computer graphics, Image processing},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {book}
}
We are pleased to welcome you to SITIS 2023, the seventeenth edition of the IEEE International
Conference on Signal-Image Technology & Internet-Based Systems. We thank the authors for their
valuable contributions to the conference. SITIS 2023 aims to bring together researchers from the major
communities of signal/image processing and information modeling and analysis, and to foster crossdisciplinary
collaborations. The conference consists of two tracks: SIVT (Signal & Image and Vision
Technology), which focuses on recent developments and evolutions in signal processing, image
analysis, vision, coding & authentication, and retrieval techniques; and ISSA (Intelligent Systems
Services and Applications), which covers emerging concepts, architectures, protocols, and
methodologies for data management on the Web and the Internet of Things technologies that connect
unlimited numbers of smart objects. In addition to these tracks, SITIS 2023 also features some
workshops that address a wide range of related but more specific topics.
Conference on Signal-Image Technology & Internet-Based Systems. We thank the authors for their
valuable contributions to the conference. SITIS 2023 aims to bring together researchers from the major
communities of signal/image processing and information modeling and analysis, and to foster crossdisciplinary
collaborations. The conference consists of two tracks: SIVT (Signal & Image and Vision
Technology), which focuses on recent developments and evolutions in signal processing, image
analysis, vision, coding & authentication, and retrieval techniques; and ISSA (Intelligent Systems
Services and Applications), which covers emerging concepts, architectures, protocols, and
methodologies for data management on the Web and the Internet of Things technologies that connect
unlimited numbers of smart objects. In addition to these tracks, SITIS 2023 also features some
workshops that address a wide range of related but more specific topics.
Gaglio, Giuseppe Fulvio; Augello, Agnese; Pipitone, Arianna; Gallo, Luigi; Sorbello, Rosario; Chella, Antonio
Moral Mediators in the Metaverse: Exploring Artificial Morality through a Talking Cricket Paradigm Best Paper Proceedings Article
In: Bruno, Alessandro; Pipitone, Arianna; Manzotti, Riccardo; Augello, Agnese; Mazzeo, Pier Luigi; Vella, Filippo; Chella, Antonio (Ed.): Proceedings of the 1st Workshop on Artificial Intelligence for Perception and Artificial Consciousness (AIxPAC 2023), pp. 30–43, CEUR, Roma, Italy, 2023, ISSN: 1613-0073.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Artificial intelligence, Virtual Reality
@inproceedings{gaglioMoralMediatorsMetaverse2023a,
title = {Moral Mediators in the Metaverse: Exploring Artificial Morality through a Talking Cricket Paradigm},
author = { Giuseppe Fulvio Gaglio and Agnese Augello and Arianna Pipitone and Luigi Gallo and Rosario Sorbello and Antonio Chella},
editor = { Alessandro Bruno and Arianna Pipitone and Riccardo Manzotti and Agnese Augello and Pier Luigi Mazzeo and Filippo Vella and Antonio Chella},
issn = {1613-0073},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-11-01},
urldate = {2023-11-01},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 1st Workshop on Artificial Intelligence for Perception and Artificial Consciousness (AIxPAC 2023)},
volume = {3563},
pages = {30–43},
publisher = {CEUR},
address = {Roma, Italy},
series = {CEUR Workshop Proceedings},
abstract = {As technological innovations continue to shape our social interactions, the Metaverse introduces immersive experiences that reflect real-life practices, accessible by users through their avatars. However, these interactions also bring forth potential negative aspects, including discrimination and cyberbullying. While current automatic detection systems exist, educating users on appropriate behaviour remains crucial. Leveraging recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence, the paper focuses on creating virtual AI-controlled moral agents within the Metaverse to guide users in dealing with moral dilemmas. The research aims to understand how such agents impact users’ perceptions and behaviours in ethically challenging virtual environments.},
keywords = {Artificial intelligence, Virtual Reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
As technological innovations continue to shape our social interactions, the Metaverse introduces immersive experiences that reflect real-life practices, accessible by users through their avatars. However, these interactions also bring forth potential negative aspects, including discrimination and cyberbullying. While current automatic detection systems exist, educating users on appropriate behaviour remains crucial. Leveraging recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence, the paper focuses on creating virtual AI-controlled moral agents within the Metaverse to guide users in dealing with moral dilemmas. The research aims to understand how such agents impact users’ perceptions and behaviours in ethically challenging virtual environments.
Sabatucci, Luca; Augello, Agnese; Caggianese, Giuseppe; Gallo, Luigi
Digital Practices: Introducing Social Dimension in Digital Twins Proceedings Article
In: 2023 IEEE International Conference on Metrology for eXtended Reality, Artificial Intelligence and Neural Engineering (MetroXRAINE), pp. 52–57, IEEE, Milano, Italy, 2023, ISBN: 9798350300802.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Cyber-Physical Systems, Digital Twins, Elderly
@inproceedings{sabatucciDigitalPracticesIntroducing2023,
title = {Digital Practices: Introducing Social Dimension in Digital Twins},
author = { Luca Sabatucci and Agnese Augello and Giuseppe Caggianese and Luigi Gallo},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10405710/},
doi = {10.1109/MetroXRAINE58569.2023.10405710},
isbn = {9798350300802},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-10-25},
urldate = {2024-02-19},
booktitle = {2023 IEEE International Conference on Metrology for eXtended Reality, Artificial Intelligence and Neural Engineering (MetroXRAINE)},
pages = {52–57},
publisher = {IEEE},
address = {Milano, Italy},
abstract = {Digital Twin is one of the key components of society's digital transformation and a promising paradigm to support the development of cyber-physical systems. Currently, researchers are investigating methodologies that exploit Digital Twins as general-purpose abstractions for complex modelling and simulation. This paper explores the idea of explicitly representing the physical and social context in cyber-physical systems through dynamic digital entities. To this aim, we introduce the concept of Digital Practice as a shared (social) digital concept, highlighting how reality is not merely described by the state of physical objects (digital twins) but also by connections among them. We illustrate this concept by exploiting an assistance scenario for the elderly.},
keywords = {Cyber-Physical Systems, Digital Twins, Elderly},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Digital Twin is one of the key components of society's digital transformation and a promising paradigm to support the development of cyber-physical systems. Currently, researchers are investigating methodologies that exploit Digital Twins as general-purpose abstractions for complex modelling and simulation. This paper explores the idea of explicitly representing the physical and social context in cyber-physical systems through dynamic digital entities. To this aim, we introduce the concept of Digital Practice as a shared (social) digital concept, highlighting how reality is not merely described by the state of physical objects (digital twins) but also by connections among them. We illustrate this concept by exploiting an assistance scenario for the elderly.
Sabatucci, Luca; Augello, Agnese; Caggianese, Giuseppe; Gallo, Luigi
Digital Practices: Introducing Social Dimension in Digital Twins Proceedings Article
In: 2023 IEEE International Conference on Metrology for eXtended Reality, Artificial Intelligence and Neural Engineering (MetroXRAINE), pp. 52–57, IEEE, Milano, Italy, 2023, ISBN: 9798350300802.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Cyber-Physical Systems, Digital Twins, Elderly
@inproceedings{sabatucci_digital_2023,
title = {Digital Practices: Introducing Social Dimension in Digital Twins},
author = {Luca Sabatucci and Agnese Augello and Giuseppe Caggianese and Luigi Gallo},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10405710/},
doi = {10.1109/MetroXRAINE58569.2023.10405710},
isbn = {9798350300802},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-10-01},
urldate = {2024-02-19},
booktitle = {2023 IEEE International Conference on Metrology for eXtended Reality, Artificial Intelligence and Neural Engineering (MetroXRAINE)},
pages = {52–57},
publisher = {IEEE},
address = {Milano, Italy},
abstract = {Digital Twin is one of the key components of society's digital transformation and a promising paradigm to support the development of cyber-physical systems. Currently, researchers are investigating methodologies that exploit Digital Twins as general-purpose abstractions for complex modelling and simulation. This paper explores the idea of explicitly representing the physical and social context in cyber-physical systems through dynamic digital entities. To this aim, we introduce the concept of Digital Practice as a shared (social) digital concept, highlighting how reality is not merely described by the state of physical objects (digital twins) but also by connections among them. We illustrate this concept by exploiting an assistance scenario for the elderly.},
keywords = {Cyber-Physical Systems, Digital Twins, Elderly},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Digital Twin is one of the key components of society's digital transformation and a promising paradigm to support the development of cyber-physical systems. Currently, researchers are investigating methodologies that exploit Digital Twins as general-purpose abstractions for complex modelling and simulation. This paper explores the idea of explicitly representing the physical and social context in cyber-physical systems through dynamic digital entities. To this aim, we introduce the concept of Digital Practice as a shared (social) digital concept, highlighting how reality is not merely described by the state of physical objects (digital twins) but also by connections among them. We illustrate this concept by exploiting an assistance scenario for the elderly.
Palombi, Tommaso; Galli, Federica; Giancamilli, Francesco; D’Amico, Monica; Alivernini, Fabio; Gallo, Luigi; Neroni, Pietro; Predazzi, Marco; Pietro, Giuseppe De; Lucidi, Fabio; Giordano, Antonio; Chirico, Andrea
The role of sense of presence in expressing cognitive abilities in a virtual reality task: an initial validation study Journal Article
In: Scientific Reports, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 13396, 2023, ISSN: 2045-2322, (Number: 1 Publisher: Nature Publishing Group).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Health care, Psychology, Virtual Reality
@article{palombi_role_2023,
title = {The role of sense of presence in expressing cognitive abilities in a virtual reality task: an initial validation study},
author = {Tommaso Palombi and Federica Galli and Francesco Giancamilli and Monica D’Amico and Fabio Alivernini and Luigi Gallo and Pietro Neroni and Marco Predazzi and Giuseppe De Pietro and Fabio Lucidi and Antonio Giordano and Andrea Chirico},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-40510-0},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-023-40510-0},
issn = {2045-2322},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-08-01},
urldate = {2023-08-24},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {13396},
abstract = {There is a raised interest in literature to use Virtual Reality (VR) technology as an assessment tool for cognitive domains. One of the essential advantages of transforming tests in an immersive virtual environment is the possibility of automatically calculating the test’s score, a time-consuming process under natural conditions. Although the characteristics of VR can deliver different degrees of immersion in a virtual environment, the sense of presence could jeopardize the evolution of these practices. The sense of presence results from a complex interaction between human, contextual factors, and the VR environment. The present study has two aims: firstly, it contributes to the validation of a virtual version of the naturalistic action test (i.e., virtual reality action test); second, it aims to evaluate the role of sense of presence as a critical booster of the expression of cognitive abilities during virtual reality tasks. The study relies on healthy adults tested in virtual and real conditions in a cross-over research design. The study’s results support the validity of the virtual reality action test. Furthermore, two structural equation models are tested to comprehend the role of sense of presence as a moderator in the relationship between cognitive abilities and virtual task performance.},
note = {Number: 1
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group},
keywords = {Health care, Psychology, Virtual Reality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
There is a raised interest in literature to use Virtual Reality (VR) technology as an assessment tool for cognitive domains. One of the essential advantages of transforming tests in an immersive virtual environment is the possibility of automatically calculating the test’s score, a time-consuming process under natural conditions. Although the characteristics of VR can deliver different degrees of immersion in a virtual environment, the sense of presence could jeopardize the evolution of these practices. The sense of presence results from a complex interaction between human, contextual factors, and the VR environment. The present study has two aims: firstly, it contributes to the validation of a virtual version of the naturalistic action test (i.e., virtual reality action test); second, it aims to evaluate the role of sense of presence as a critical booster of the expression of cognitive abilities during virtual reality tasks. The study relies on healthy adults tested in virtual and real conditions in a cross-over research design. The study’s results support the validity of the virtual reality action test. Furthermore, two structural equation models are tested to comprehend the role of sense of presence as a moderator in the relationship between cognitive abilities and virtual task performance.
Vacca, Rosa Anna; Gallo, Luigi; Grutta, Stefania La; Scala, Iris
I Serious game nella gestione delle alterazioni neuro-comportamentali Journal Article
In: PHARMASTAR Digital Medicine, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 63–66, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Healthcare, Serious games
@article{vacca_i_2023,
title = {I Serious game nella gestione delle alterazioni neuro-comportamentali},
author = {Rosa Anna Vacca and Luigi Gallo and Stefania La Grutta and Iris Scala},
url = {https://www.pharmastar.it/downloads/downloadclickcounter.inc.html?from=6021782O&field=downloads&id=39285246O},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-08-01},
journal = {PHARMASTAR Digital Medicine},
volume = {3},
number = {2},
pages = {63–66},
abstract = {Lo sviluppo tecnologico in tema di videogiochi interattivi didattici digitali, Serious Games (SG), è cresciuto esponenzialmente negli ultimi anni dopo il rilascio nel 2010 del primo dispositivo in grado di tracciare con precisione i movimenti umani nello spazio 3D. Moltissimi ricercatori interessati allo sviluppo di nuovi interventi terapeutici digitali hanno rivolto il loro interesse scientifico alla progettazione di sempre più sofisticati SG e nella ricerca della dimostrazione della loro efficacia in ambito medico. L’articolo di cui forniamo una breve sintesi e di recente pubblicato nella prestigiosa rivista Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, è stato concepito nell’ambito del progetto SMILER (Serious gaMes as emerging e-health Interventions for young people with neurologicaL or rEspiratory disoRders) finanziato dal Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (bando progetti@cnr 1/2020) in corso di svolgimento dal nostro team multidisciplinare composto da ricercatori di vari Istituti del CNR con la collaborazioni di colleghi dell’Università Federico II di Napoli e la Sapienza di Roma. In questa nostra recente pubblicazione, abbiamo cercato di fornire una panoramica delle attuali conoscenze sul funzionamento dei Serious Game come terapie digitali, offrendo un’interpretazione critica e soffermandoci sugli studi che hanno suggerito i Serious Games come interventi innovativi e promettenti nella gestione dei disturbi neurocomportamentali e cognitivi nei bambini e negli adolescenti con malattie nel neurosviluppo. I disturbi del neurosviluppo sono determinati da una compromissione dello sviluppo e del funzionamento del cervello che si verifica durante la finestra di sviluppo fetale/neonatale. Le cause possono essere varie come aberrazioni genetiche, monogenetiche o cromosomiche, che determinano anche alterazioni sistemiche, come accade nelle sindromi dell’X-Fragile e di Rett, oppure nella sindrome di Down. Ma anche bambini e gli adolescenti con disturbi dello spettro autistico e con disturbo da deficit di attenzione e iperattività (ADHD), in cui un profilo eziologico è complesso e non ancora ben identificato, presentano disturbi del neurosviluppo. In queste malattie si osservano precocemente compromissioni nella sfera delle capacità adattive, cognitive e motorie associate a problemi comportamentali, ovvero alterazioni dell'attenzione, della regolazione dell'ansia e dello stress. Queste alterazioni riguardano sia la sfera delle emozioni personali che delle relazioni sociali, e limitano fortemente la qualità di vita dei pazienti e delle loro famiglie. In un’ottica olistica e in assenza di terapie specifiche, la progettazione di interventi terapeutici digitali mirati ai sintomi cognitivo-comportamentali, a sostituzione o a supporto delle terapie psico-farmacologiche, è una sfida che lo sviluppo tecnologico sta affrontando.},
keywords = {Healthcare, Serious games},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Lo sviluppo tecnologico in tema di videogiochi interattivi didattici digitali, Serious Games (SG), è cresciuto esponenzialmente negli ultimi anni dopo il rilascio nel 2010 del primo dispositivo in grado di tracciare con precisione i movimenti umani nello spazio 3D. Moltissimi ricercatori interessati allo sviluppo di nuovi interventi terapeutici digitali hanno rivolto il loro interesse scientifico alla progettazione di sempre più sofisticati SG e nella ricerca della dimostrazione della loro efficacia in ambito medico. L’articolo di cui forniamo una breve sintesi e di recente pubblicato nella prestigiosa rivista Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, è stato concepito nell’ambito del progetto SMILER (Serious gaMes as emerging e-health Interventions for young people with neurologicaL or rEspiratory disoRders) finanziato dal Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (bando progetti@cnr 1/2020) in corso di svolgimento dal nostro team multidisciplinare composto da ricercatori di vari Istituti del CNR con la collaborazioni di colleghi dell’Università Federico II di Napoli e la Sapienza di Roma. In questa nostra recente pubblicazione, abbiamo cercato di fornire una panoramica delle attuali conoscenze sul funzionamento dei Serious Game come terapie digitali, offrendo un’interpretazione critica e soffermandoci sugli studi che hanno suggerito i Serious Games come interventi innovativi e promettenti nella gestione dei disturbi neurocomportamentali e cognitivi nei bambini e negli adolescenti con malattie nel neurosviluppo. I disturbi del neurosviluppo sono determinati da una compromissione dello sviluppo e del funzionamento del cervello che si verifica durante la finestra di sviluppo fetale/neonatale. Le cause possono essere varie come aberrazioni genetiche, monogenetiche o cromosomiche, che determinano anche alterazioni sistemiche, come accade nelle sindromi dell’X-Fragile e di Rett, oppure nella sindrome di Down. Ma anche bambini e gli adolescenti con disturbi dello spettro autistico e con disturbo da deficit di attenzione e iperattività (ADHD), in cui un profilo eziologico è complesso e non ancora ben identificato, presentano disturbi del neurosviluppo. In queste malattie si osservano precocemente compromissioni nella sfera delle capacità adattive, cognitive e motorie associate a problemi comportamentali, ovvero alterazioni dell'attenzione, della regolazione dell'ansia e dello stress. Queste alterazioni riguardano sia la sfera delle emozioni personali che delle relazioni sociali, e limitano fortemente la qualità di vita dei pazienti e delle loro famiglie. In un’ottica olistica e in assenza di terapie specifiche, la progettazione di interventi terapeutici digitali mirati ai sintomi cognitivo-comportamentali, a sostituzione o a supporto delle terapie psico-farmacologiche, è una sfida che lo sviluppo tecnologico sta affrontando.
Su, Qiqi; Peretokin, Vadim; Basdekis, Ioannis; Kouris, Ioannis; Maggesi, Jonatan; Sicuranza, Mario; Acebes, Alberto; Bucur, Anca; Mukkala, Vinod Jaswanth Roy; Pozdniakov, Konstantin; Kloukinas, Christos; Koutsouris, Dimitrios D.; Iliadou, Elefteria; Leontsinis, Ioannis; Gallo, Luigi; Pietro, Giuseppe De; Spanoudakis, George
The SMART BEAR Project: An Overview of Its Infrastructure Proceedings Article
In: Maciaszek, Leszek A.; Mulvenna, Maurice D.; Ziefle, Martina (Ed.): Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and E-Health, pp. 408–425, Springer Nature Switzerland, Cham, 2023, ISBN: 978-3-031-37496-8.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Ageing, AI, Balance Disorder, Cardiovascular Disease, Cloud, Evidence-based, GDPR, Healthcare, Hearing Loss, HL7 FHIR, Semantic interoperability
@inproceedings{suSMARTBEARProject2023,
title = {The SMART BEAR Project: An Overview of Its Infrastructure},
author = {Qiqi Su and Vadim Peretokin and Ioannis Basdekis and Ioannis Kouris and Jonatan Maggesi and Mario Sicuranza and Alberto Acebes and Anca Bucur and Vinod Jaswanth Roy Mukkala and Konstantin Pozdniakov and Christos Kloukinas and Dimitrios D. Koutsouris and Elefteria Iliadou and Ioannis Leontsinis and Luigi Gallo and Giuseppe De Pietro and George Spanoudakis},
editor = { Leszek A. Maciaszek and Maurice D. Mulvenna and Martina Ziefle},
url = {https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-37496-8_21},
doi = {10.1007/978-3-031-37496-8_21},
isbn = {978-3-031-37496-8},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-07-14},
urldate = {2023-01-01},
booktitle = {Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and E-Health},
pages = {408–425},
publisher = {Springer Nature Switzerland},
address = {Cham},
series = {Communications in Computer and Information Science},
abstract = {The paper describes a cloud-based platform that utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Explainable AI techniques to deliver evidence-based, personalized interventions to individuals over 65 suffering or at risk of hearing loss, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairments, balance disorders, or mental health issues, while supporting efficient remote monitoring and clinician-driven guidance. As part of the SMART BEAR integrated project, this platform has been developed to support its large-scale clinical trials. The platform consists of a standards-based data harmonization and management layer, as well as a security component, a Big Data Analytics system, a Clinical Decision Support system, and a dashboard component to facilitate efficient data collection across pilot sites.},
keywords = {Ageing, AI, Balance Disorder, Cardiovascular Disease, Cloud, Evidence-based, GDPR, Healthcare, Hearing Loss, HL7 FHIR, Semantic interoperability},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
The paper describes a cloud-based platform that utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Explainable AI techniques to deliver evidence-based, personalized interventions to individuals over 65 suffering or at risk of hearing loss, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairments, balance disorders, or mental health issues, while supporting efficient remote monitoring and clinician-driven guidance. As part of the SMART BEAR integrated project, this platform has been developed to support its large-scale clinical trials. The platform consists of a standards-based data harmonization and management layer, as well as a security component, a Big Data Analytics system, a Clinical Decision Support system, and a dashboard component to facilitate efficient data collection across pilot sites.
Vacca, Rosa Anna; Augello, Agnese; Gallo, Luigi; Caggianese, Giuseppe; Malizia, Velia; Grutta, Stefania La; Murero, Monica; Valenti, Daniela; Tullo, Apollonia; Balech, Bachir; Marzano, Flaviana; Ghezzo, Alessandro; Tancredi, Giancarlo; Turchetta, Attilio; Riccio, Maria Pia; Bravaccio, Carmela; Scala, Iris
In: Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, vol. 149, pp. 105156, 2023, ISSN: 0149-7634.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism spectrum disorder, Behavioral symptomatology, Cognitive disorders, Digital therapeutics, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Human-Machine Communication, Neurodevelopmental disorders, Serious game, Serious games
@article{vacca_serious_2023,
title = {Serious Games in the new era of digital-health interventions: A narrative review of their therapeutic applications to manage neurobehavior in neurodevelopmental disorders},
author = {Rosa Anna Vacca and Agnese Augello and Luigi Gallo and Giuseppe Caggianese and Velia Malizia and Stefania La Grutta and Monica Murero and Daniela Valenti and Apollonia Tullo and Bachir Balech and Flaviana Marzano and Alessandro Ghezzo and Giancarlo Tancredi and Attilio Turchetta and Maria Pia Riccio and Carmela Bravaccio and Iris Scala},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763423001252},
doi = {10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105156},
issn = {0149-7634},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-06-01},
urldate = {2023-04-14},
journal = {Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews},
volume = {149},
pages = {105156},
abstract = {Children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders generally show adaptive, cognitive and motor skills impairments associated with behavioral problems, i.e., alterations in attention, anxiety and stress regulation, emotional and social relationships, which strongly limit their quality of life. This narrative review aims at providing a critical overview of the current knowledge in the field of serious games (SGs), known as digital instructional interactive videogames, applied to neurodevelopmental disorders. Indeed, a growing number of studies is drawing attention to SGs as innovative and promising interventions in managing neurobehavioral and cognitive disturbs in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Accordingly, we provide a literature overview of the current evidence regarding the actions and the effects of SGs. In addition, we describe neurobehavioral alterations occurring in some specific neurodevelopmental disorders for which a possible therapeutic use of SGs has been suggested. Finally, we discuss findings obtained in clinical trials using SGs as digital therapeutics in neurodevelopment disorders and suggest new directions and hypotheses for future studies to bridge the gaps between clinical research and clinical practice.},
keywords = {Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism spectrum disorder, Behavioral symptomatology, Cognitive disorders, Digital therapeutics, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Human-Machine Communication, Neurodevelopmental disorders, Serious game, Serious games},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders generally show adaptive, cognitive and motor skills impairments associated with behavioral problems, i.e., alterations in attention, anxiety and stress regulation, emotional and social relationships, which strongly limit their quality of life. This narrative review aims at providing a critical overview of the current knowledge in the field of serious games (SGs), known as digital instructional interactive videogames, applied to neurodevelopmental disorders. Indeed, a growing number of studies is drawing attention to SGs as innovative and promising interventions in managing neurobehavioral and cognitive disturbs in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Accordingly, we provide a literature overview of the current evidence regarding the actions and the effects of SGs. In addition, we describe neurobehavioral alterations occurring in some specific neurodevelopmental disorders for which a possible therapeutic use of SGs has been suggested. Finally, we discuss findings obtained in clinical trials using SGs as digital therapeutics in neurodevelopment disorders and suggest new directions and hypotheses for future studies to bridge the gaps between clinical research and clinical practice.
Zavadenko, N. N.
Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children: Neuroplasticity and the Possibilities of Nootropic Pharmacotherapy Journal Article
In: Neurochemical Journal, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 202–210, 2023, ISSN: 1819-7132.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags:
@article{zavadenko_neurodevelopmental_2023,
title = {Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children: Neuroplasticity and the Possibilities of Nootropic Pharmacotherapy},
author = {N. N. Zavadenko},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1134/S1819712423020228},
doi = {10.1134/S1819712423020228},
issn = {1819-7132},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-06-01},
journal = {Neurochemical Journal},
volume = {17},
number = {2},
pages = {202–210},
abstract = {Abstract—Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs) are characterized by disturbances in the formation of cognitive functions, communication skills, behavior characteristics and/or motor skills, which are caused by abnormalities in the course of neuroontogeny. Factors of the etiology and pathogenesis of NDDs include genetic mechanisms, early damage to the developing brain, and adverse external influences. Most forms of NDD manifest themselves in the early stages of development and before the child begins their school education. The most common NDD forms that doctors of various specialties constantly encounter include speech development disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Since disorders of neuroplasticity processes are considered among the mechanisms of the NDD pathogenesis, their therapy should be aimed at restoring and stimulating the neuroplastic potential. Manifestations of NDDs during age-related development significantly disrupt normal life and have an adverse effect on various functional areas not only in children, but also in adolescents and adults. The increase in symptoms in patients with NDDs at some age is not due to the progressive nature of cerebral changes, but to increased difficulties of adaptation with increasing loads, including educational, social, and professional loads. Therefore, in most cases, they require many years of complex management and the use of pharmacotherapy, whose prospects are primarily associated with nootropic drugs. The data of new studies on the effectiveness of nootropics in developmental dysphasia and ADHD are discussed and possible mechanisms of the nootropics influence on neuroplasticity processes are considered.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Abstract—Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs) are characterized by disturbances in the formation of cognitive functions, communication skills, behavior characteristics and/or motor skills, which are caused by abnormalities in the course of neuroontogeny. Factors of the etiology and pathogenesis of NDDs include genetic mechanisms, early damage to the developing brain, and adverse external influences. Most forms of NDD manifest themselves in the early stages of development and before the child begins their school education. The most common NDD forms that doctors of various specialties constantly encounter include speech development disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Since disorders of neuroplasticity processes are considered among the mechanisms of the NDD pathogenesis, their therapy should be aimed at restoring and stimulating the neuroplastic potential. Manifestations of NDDs during age-related development significantly disrupt normal life and have an adverse effect on various functional areas not only in children, but also in adolescents and adults. The increase in symptoms in patients with NDDs at some age is not due to the progressive nature of cerebral changes, but to increased difficulties of adaptation with increasing loads, including educational, social, and professional loads. Therefore, in most cases, they require many years of complex management and the use of pharmacotherapy, whose prospects are primarily associated with nootropic drugs. The data of new studies on the effectiveness of nootropics in developmental dysphasia and ADHD are discussed and possible mechanisms of the nootropics influence on neuroplasticity processes are considered.
Vacca, Rosa Anna; Augello, Agnese; Gallo, Luigi; Caggianese, Giuseppe; Malizia, Velia; Grutta, Stefania La; Murero, Monica; Valenti, Daniela; Tullo, Apollonia; Balech, Bachir; Marzano, Flaviana; Ghezzo, Alessandro; Tancredi, Giancarlo; Turchetta, Attilio; Riccio, Maria Pia; Bravaccio, Carmela; Scala, Iris
In: Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, vol. 149, pp. 105156, 2023, ISSN: 0149-7634.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism spectrum disorder, Behavioral symptomatology, Digital therapeutics, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Human-Machine Communication, Neurodevelopmental disorders, Serious games
@article{vaccaSeriousGamesNew2023a,
title = {Serious Games in the New Era of Digital-Health Interventions: A Narrative Review of Their Therapeutic Applications to Manage Neurobehavior in Neurodevelopmental Disorders},
author = { Rosa Anna Vacca and Agnese Augello and Luigi Gallo and Giuseppe Caggianese and Velia Malizia and Stefania La Grutta and Monica Murero and Daniela Valenti and Apollonia Tullo and Bachir Balech and Flaviana Marzano and Alessandro Ghezzo and Giancarlo Tancredi and Attilio Turchetta and Maria Pia Riccio and Carmela Bravaccio and Iris Scala},
doi = {10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105156},
issn = {0149-7634},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-06-01},
urldate = {2023-04-14},
journal = {Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews},
volume = {149},
pages = {105156},
abstract = {Children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders generally show adaptive, cognitive and motor skills impairments associated with behavioral problems, i.e., alterations in attention, anxiety and stress regulation, emotional and social relationships, which strongly limit their quality of life. This narrative review aims at providing a critical overview of the current knowledge in the field of serious games (SGs), known as digital instructional interactive videogames, applied to neurodevelopmental disorders. Indeed, a growing number of studies is drawing attention to SGs as innovative and promising interventions in managing neurobehavioral and cognitive disturbs in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Accordingly, we provide a literature overview of the current evidence regarding the actions and the effects of SGs. In addition, we describe neurobehavioral alterations occurring in some specific neurodevelopmental disorders for which a possible therapeutic use of SGs has been suggested. Finally, we discuss findings obtained in clinical trials using SGs as digital therapeutics in neurodevelopment disorders and suggest new directions and hypotheses for future studies to bridge the gaps between clinical research and clinical practice.},
keywords = {Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism spectrum disorder, Behavioral symptomatology, Digital therapeutics, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Human-Machine Communication, Neurodevelopmental disorders, Serious games},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders generally show adaptive, cognitive and motor skills impairments associated with behavioral problems, i.e., alterations in attention, anxiety and stress regulation, emotional and social relationships, which strongly limit their quality of life. This narrative review aims at providing a critical overview of the current knowledge in the field of serious games (SGs), known as digital instructional interactive videogames, applied to neurodevelopmental disorders. Indeed, a growing number of studies is drawing attention to SGs as innovative and promising interventions in managing neurobehavioral and cognitive disturbs in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Accordingly, we provide a literature overview of the current evidence regarding the actions and the effects of SGs. In addition, we describe neurobehavioral alterations occurring in some specific neurodevelopmental disorders for which a possible therapeutic use of SGs has been suggested. Finally, we discuss findings obtained in clinical trials using SGs as digital therapeutics in neurodevelopment disorders and suggest new directions and hypotheses for future studies to bridge the gaps between clinical research and clinical practice.
Basdekis, Ioannis; Kloukinas, Christos; Agostinho, Carlos; Vezakis, Ioannis; Pimenta, Andreia; Gallo, Luigi; Spanoudakis, Georgios
Pseudonymisation in the context of GDPR-compliant medical research Proceedings Article
In: 2023 19th International Conference on the Design of Reliable Communication Networks (DRCN), pp. 1–6, IEEE, Vilanova i la Geltru, Spain, 2023, ISBN: 978-1-66547-598-3.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: GDPR, Healthcare, Security
@inproceedings{basdekis_pseudonymisation_2023,
title = {Pseudonymisation in the context of GDPR-compliant medical research},
author = {Ioannis Basdekis and Christos Kloukinas and Carlos Agostinho and Ioannis Vezakis and Andreia Pimenta and Luigi Gallo and Georgios Spanoudakis},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10108370/},
doi = {10.1109/DRCN57075.2023.10108370},
isbn = {978-1-66547-598-3},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-04-01},
urldate = {2023-05-09},
booktitle = {2023 19th International Conference on the Design of Reliable Communication Networks (DRCN)},
pages = {1–6},
publisher = {IEEE},
address = {Vilanova i la Geltru, Spain},
abstract = {Pseudonymisation is a data protection technique often used to protect the privacy of individuals when their personal data are being used for research purposes. Not only is it a key ingredient of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that requires organisations to ensure that the personal data they process is handled in a secure manner, but it is particularly important in assisting medical research given that often relies on sensitive personal data, since it reduces the risk that medical data could be misused or mishandled. For managing their medical data, it is important to ensure that such data are protected against unauthorised access, and can be reutilised in an anonymous fashion, while still authorised personnel is able to identify the study participant that some data belong to (e.g., for personalised interventions, technical alerts, technical support). In addition, the re-identification of a study participant is a pre-requisite for exercising their rights under the GDPR, since it assists organisations in meeting GDPR requirements (such as the right to access, rectify and portability of data). We argue that the application of pseudonymisation is particularly effective when considered during the early stages (Privacy by Design) of digital services implementation, as well as when defining the complementary to these organizational procedures. Aim of this paper is to present the way in which the pseudonymisation mechanism of the SMART BEAR H2020 project supports the triptych of research activities conducted within the context of an observational medical study, legal obligations arising from the regulatory framework for the protection of personal data, and reutilisation of data for research purposes. Evidence-based security and privacy assessments will be conducted on two different H2020 projects to evaluate such privacy practice.},
keywords = {GDPR, Healthcare, Security},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Pseudonymisation is a data protection technique often used to protect the privacy of individuals when their personal data are being used for research purposes. Not only is it a key ingredient of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that requires organisations to ensure that the personal data they process is handled in a secure manner, but it is particularly important in assisting medical research given that often relies on sensitive personal data, since it reduces the risk that medical data could be misused or mishandled. For managing their medical data, it is important to ensure that such data are protected against unauthorised access, and can be reutilised in an anonymous fashion, while still authorised personnel is able to identify the study participant that some data belong to (e.g., for personalised interventions, technical alerts, technical support). In addition, the re-identification of a study participant is a pre-requisite for exercising their rights under the GDPR, since it assists organisations in meeting GDPR requirements (such as the right to access, rectify and portability of data). We argue that the application of pseudonymisation is particularly effective when considered during the early stages (Privacy by Design) of digital services implementation, as well as when defining the complementary to these organizational procedures. Aim of this paper is to present the way in which the pseudonymisation mechanism of the SMART BEAR H2020 project supports the triptych of research activities conducted within the context of an observational medical study, legal obligations arising from the regulatory framework for the protection of personal data, and reutilisation of data for research purposes. Evidence-based security and privacy assessments will be conducted on two different H2020 projects to evaluate such privacy practice.
Basdekis, Ioannis; Kloukinas, Christos; Agostinho, Carlos; Vezakis, Ioannis; Pimenta, Andreia; Gallo, Luigi; Spanoudakis, Georgios
Pseudonymisation in the Context of GDPR-compliant Medical Research Proceedings Article
In: 2023 19th International Conference on the Design of Reliable Communication Networks (DRCN), pp. 1–6, IEEE, Vilanova i la Geltru, Spain, 2023, ISBN: 978-1-66547-598-3.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: GDPR, Healthcare, Security
@inproceedings{basdekisPseudonymisationContextGDPRcompliant2023,
title = {Pseudonymisation in the Context of GDPR-compliant Medical Research},
author = { Ioannis Basdekis and Christos Kloukinas and Carlos Agostinho and Ioannis Vezakis and Andreia Pimenta and Luigi Gallo and Georgios Spanoudakis},
doi = {10.1109/DRCN57075.2023.10108370},
isbn = {978-1-66547-598-3},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-04-01},
urldate = {2023-04-01},
booktitle = {2023 19th International Conference on the Design of Reliable Communication Networks (DRCN)},
pages = {1--6},
publisher = {IEEE},
address = {Vilanova i la Geltru, Spain},
abstract = {Pseudonymisation is a data protection technique often used to protect the privacy of individuals when their personal data are being used for research purposes. Not only is it a key ingredient of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that requires organisations to ensure that the personal data they process is handled in a secure manner, but it is particularly important in assisting medical research given that often relies on sensitive personal data, since it reduces the risk that medical data could be misused or mishandled. For managing their medical data, it is important to ensure that such data are protected against unauthorised access, and can be reutilised in an anonymous fashion, while still authorised personnel is able to identify the study participant that some data belong to (e.g., for personalised interventions, technical alerts, technical support). In addition, the re-identification of a study participant is a pre-requisite for exercising their rights under the GDPR, since it assists organisations in meeting GDPR requirements (such as the right to access, rectify and portability of data). We argue that the application of pseudonymisation is particularly effective when considered during the early stages (Privacy by Design) of digital services implementation, as well as when defining the complementary to these organizational procedures. Aim of this paper is to present the way in which the pseudonymisation mechanism of the SMART BEAR H2020 project supports the triptych of research activities conducted within the context of an observational medical study, legal obligations arising from the regulatory framework for the protection of personal data, and reutilisation of data for research purposes. Evidence-based security and privacy assessments will be conducted on two different H2020 projects to evaluate such privacy practice.},
keywords = {GDPR, Healthcare, Security},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Pseudonymisation is a data protection technique often used to protect the privacy of individuals when their personal data are being used for research purposes. Not only is it a key ingredient of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that requires organisations to ensure that the personal data they process is handled in a secure manner, but it is particularly important in assisting medical research given that often relies on sensitive personal data, since it reduces the risk that medical data could be misused or mishandled. For managing their medical data, it is important to ensure that such data are protected against unauthorised access, and can be reutilised in an anonymous fashion, while still authorised personnel is able to identify the study participant that some data belong to (e.g., for personalised interventions, technical alerts, technical support). In addition, the re-identification of a study participant is a pre-requisite for exercising their rights under the GDPR, since it assists organisations in meeting GDPR requirements (such as the right to access, rectify and portability of data). We argue that the application of pseudonymisation is particularly effective when considered during the early stages (Privacy by Design) of digital services implementation, as well as when defining the complementary to these organizational procedures. Aim of this paper is to present the way in which the pseudonymisation mechanism of the SMART BEAR H2020 project supports the triptych of research activities conducted within the context of an observational medical study, legal obligations arising from the regulatory framework for the protection of personal data, and reutilisation of data for research purposes. Evidence-based security and privacy assessments will be conducted on two different H2020 projects to evaluate such privacy practice.
Tommaso, Palombi; Federica, Galli; Francesco, Giancamilli; Monica, D'Amico; Fabio, Alivernini; Luigi, Gallo; Pietro, Neroni; Marco, Predazzi; Giuseppe, De Pietro; Fabio, Lucidi; Antonio, Giordano; Andrea, Chirico
In: 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags:
@article{tommaso_how_2023,
title = {How individual factors intervene in the expression of cognitive abilities in a virtual immersive task: a validation study of the Virtual Reality Action Test},
author = {Palombi Tommaso and Galli Federica and Giancamilli Francesco and D'Amico Monica and Alivernini Fabio and Gallo Luigi and Neroni Pietro and Predazzi Marco and De Pietro Giuseppe and Lucidi Fabio and Giordano Antonio and Chirico Andrea},
url = {https://www.researchsquare.com},
doi = {10.21203/rs.3.rs-2598757/v1},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-03-01},
urldate = {2023-07-03},
abstract = {There is a raised interest in literature to use Virtual Reality (VR) technology as an assessment tool for cognitive domains. One of the essential advantages of transforming tests in an immersive virtual environment is the possibility of automatically calculating the test's score, a time-consum...},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
There is a raised interest in literature to use Virtual Reality (VR) technology as an assessment tool for cognitive domains. One of the essential advantages of transforming tests in an immersive virtual environment is the possibility of automatically calculating the test's score, a time-consum...
Zabala, Unai; Diez, Alexander; Rodriguez, Igor; A, Augello; Lazkano, Elena
Attainable Digital Embodied Storytelling Using State of the Art Tools, and a Little Touch Proceedings Article
In: International Conference on Social Robotics, pp. 68–79, Doha, Quatar, 3-7 December, pp. 13, 2023.
@inproceedings{unai_zabala_attainable_2023,
title = {Attainable Digital Embodied Storytelling Using State of the Art Tools, and a Little Touch},
author = {Unai Zabala and Alexander Diez and Igor Rodriguez and Augello A and Elena Lazkano},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-03-01},
booktitle = {International Conference on Social Robotics, pp. 68–79, Doha, Quatar, 3-7 December},
volume = {14453},
pages = {13},
abstract = {How closely can a robot capable of generating non-verbal behavior approximate a human narrator? What are the missing features that limit the naturalness and expressiveness of the robot as a storyteller? In this paper we explore this topic by identifying the key aspects to effectively convey the content of a story and therefore by analysing appropriate methodologies and tools that allow to automatically enrich the expressiveness of the generated behavior. Lastly, we will explore some modifications to weigh up the gap between robot and human-like behavior. Demonstration videos reveal that albeit the communicative capabilities of the robot are appropriate, there is still room for improvement.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
How closely can a robot capable of generating non-verbal behavior approximate a human narrator? What are the missing features that limit the naturalness and expressiveness of the robot as a storyteller? In this paper we explore this topic by identifying the key aspects to effectively convey the content of a story and therefore by analysing appropriate methodologies and tools that allow to automatically enrich the expressiveness of the generated behavior. Lastly, we will explore some modifications to weigh up the gap between robot and human-like behavior. Demonstration videos reveal that albeit the communicative capabilities of the robot are appropriate, there is still room for improvement.
Augello, Agnese; Gaglio, Salvatore; Infantino, Ignazio; Maniscalco, Umberto; Pilato, Giovanni; Vella, Filippo
Roboception and adaptation in a cognitive robot Journal Article
In: Robotics and autonomous systems (Print), pp. 104400, 2023, ISSN: 0921-8890.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Cognitive Architectures, Humanoid Robots, Reinforcement Learning, Roboceptions, Sensor systems, Social Robots
@article{augello_roboception_2023,
title = {Roboception and adaptation in a cognitive robot},
author = {Agnese Augello and Salvatore Gaglio and Ignazio Infantino and Umberto Maniscalco and Giovanni Pilato and Filippo Vella},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921889023000398},
doi = {10.1016/j.robot.2023.104400},
issn = {0921-8890},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
journal = {Robotics and autonomous systems (Print)},
pages = {104400},
abstract = {In robotics, perception is usually oriented at understanding what is happening in the external world, while few works pay attention to what is occurring in the robotś body. In this work, we propose an artificial somatosensory system, embedded in a cognitive architecture, that enables a robot to perceive the sensations from its embodiment while executing a task. We called these perceptions roboceptions, and they let the robot act according to its own physical needs in addition to the task demands. Physical information is processed by the robot to behave in a balanced way, determining the most appropriate trade-off between the achievement of the task and its well being. The experiments show the integration of information from the somatosensory system and the choices that lead to the accomplishment of the task.},
keywords = {Cognitive Architectures, Humanoid Robots, Reinforcement Learning, Roboceptions, Sensor systems, Social Robots},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
In robotics, perception is usually oriented at understanding what is happening in the external world, while few works pay attention to what is occurring in the robotś body. In this work, we propose an artificial somatosensory system, embedded in a cognitive architecture, that enables a robot to perceive the sensations from its embodiment while executing a task. We called these perceptions roboceptions, and they let the robot act according to its own physical needs in addition to the task demands. Physical information is processed by the robot to behave in a balanced way, determining the most appropriate trade-off between the achievement of the task and its well being. The experiments show the integration of information from the somatosensory system and the choices that lead to the accomplishment of the task.
Cossentino, Massimo; Sabatucci, Luca; Mylopoulos, John
Consciousness as a Trigger to Adaptation Journal Article
In: Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Consciousness, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 27–47, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Agents, Consciousness, Goal-Oriented Approach, Goals, Practical Reasoning, Self-Consciousness
@article{cossentino_consciousness_2023,
title = {Consciousness as a Trigger to Adaptation},
author = {Massimo Cossentino and Luca Sabatucci and John Mylopoulos},
doi = {10.1142/S270507852250014X},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Consciousness},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {27–47},
abstract = {Consciousness refers to mental states of a cognitive agent that make it aware of elements of its environment and its own state.Phenomena of consciousness have been studied in Philosophy, Psychology and Cognitive Science. With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) the study of consciousness has broadened to include questions such as textbackslashtextbackslashvirgWhen is an AI system conscious?, textbackslashtextbackslashvirgWhat role does consciousness play in the cognitive architecture of an AI system?. This paper proposes a cognitive architecture that attempts to answer such questions and is an extension of proposals for practical reasoning, founded on the notion of epistemic goals, goals where the desired state-of-affairs is knowledge of something in the environment or within the agent itself. The proposal is illustrated with an example involving an autonomous vehicle.},
keywords = {Agents, Consciousness, Goal-Oriented Approach, Goals, Practical Reasoning, Self-Consciousness},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Consciousness refers to mental states of a cognitive agent that make it aware of elements of its environment and its own state.Phenomena of consciousness have been studied in Philosophy, Psychology and Cognitive Science. With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) the study of consciousness has broadened to include questions such as textbackslashtextbackslashvirgWhen is an AI system conscious?, textbackslashtextbackslashvirgWhat role does consciousness play in the cognitive architecture of an AI system?. This paper proposes a cognitive architecture that attempts to answer such questions and is an extension of proposals for practical reasoning, founded on the notion of epistemic goals, goals where the desired state-of-affairs is knowledge of something in the environment or within the agent itself. The proposal is illustrated with an example involving an autonomous vehicle.