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Philosophical Transactions. Series A,... Jul 2023General mathematical reasoning is computationally undecidable, but humans routinely solve new problems. Moreover, discoveries developed over centuries are taught to...
General mathematical reasoning is computationally undecidable, but humans routinely solve new problems. Moreover, discoveries developed over centuries are taught to subsequent generations quickly. What structure enables this, and how might that inform automated mathematical reasoning? We posit that central to both puzzles is the structure of procedural abstractions underlying mathematics. We explore this idea in a case study on five sections of beginning algebra on the Khan Academy platform. To define a computational foundation, we introduce Peano, a theorem-proving environment where the set of valid actions at any point is finite. We use Peano to formalize introductory algebra problems and axioms, obtaining well-defined search problems. We observe existing reinforcement learning methods for symbolic reasoning to be insufficient to solve harder problems. Adding the ability to induce reusable abstractions ('tactics') from its own solutions allows an agent to make steady progress, solving all problems. Furthermore, these abstractions induce an order to the problems, seen at random during training. The recovered order has significant agreement with the expert-designed Khan Academy curriculum, and second-generation agents trained on the recovered curriculum learn significantly faster. These results illustrate the synergistic role of abstractions and curricula in the cultural transmission of mathematics. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Cognitive artificial intelligence'.
PubMed: 37271179
DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2022.0044 -
American Journal of Health Promotion :... Nov 2023The aim of this study is to scope the literature on what is currently known between physical activity and presenteeism. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to scope the literature on what is currently known between physical activity and presenteeism.
DATA SOURCE
A search strategy was conducting in six scientific databases.
STUDY INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA
Studies written in English about the relation between physical activity and presenteeism were considered for inclusion.
DATA EXTRACTION
Data on definitions and measurement of presenteeism and physical activity were extracted.
DATA SYNTHESIS
The data is categorized according to the understanding of presenteeism of the studies to give a better idea of how this phenomenon is studied in relation to physical activity.
RESULTS
After screening 9773 titles and abstracts and 269 full-text articles, 57 unique articles fulfilled our eligibility criteria. The majority of the articles were published since 2010 and originated predominantly in the United States. Most studies (70%) define presenteeism as lost productivity due to health problems, according to the American line of research, whereas 19% of the studies define it as "working while ill" which refers to the European line of research. The studies that reflected the American school of thought tends to report more results that supported their hypothesis (i.e., that more physical activity is associated with less presenteeism).
CONCLUSION
This review has highlighted the homogeneity in how presenteeism is conceptualized and measured in studies included in our sample. Research on physical activity and presenteeism should be expanded across various disciplines in social sciences to respond to the needs that many researchers have expressed to promote healthier organizations.
Topics: Humans; Efficiency; Presenteeism; United States; Exercise
PubMed: 37542375
DOI: 10.1177/08901171231193781 -
Bioinspiration & Biomimetics Jul 2023In bio-inspired design, the concept of 'function' allows engineers and designers to move between biological models and human applications. Abstracting a problem to... (Review)
Review
In bio-inspired design, the concept of 'function' allows engineers and designers to move between biological models and human applications. Abstracting a problem to general functions allows designers to look to traits that perform analogous functions in biological organisms. However, the idea of function can mean different things across fields, presenting challenges for interdisciplinary research. Here we review core ideas in biology that relate to the concept of 'function,' including adaptation, tradeoffs, and fitness, as a companion to bio-inspired design approaches. We align these ideas with a top-down approach in biomimetics, where engineers or designers start with a problem of interest and look to biology for ideas. We review how one can explore a range of biological analogies for a given function by considering function across different parts of an organism's life, such as acquiring nutrients or avoiding disease. Engineers may also draw inspiration from biological traits or systems that exhibit a particular function, but did not necessarily evolve to do so. Such an evolutionary perspective is important to how biodesigners search biological space for ideas. A consideration of the evolution of trait function can also clarify potential trade-offs and biological models that may be more promising for an application. This core set of concepts from evolutionary and organismal biology can aid engineers and designers in their search for biological inspiration.
Topics: Humans; Biomimetics; Models, Biological; Engineering; Biology
PubMed: 37429293
DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/ace5fb -
Sante Publique (Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy,... Dec 2023Dental anxiety is the second most common reason for patients to forgo treatment in France. Based on this observation, the odontology and psychiatry departments of Henri...
Dental anxiety is the second most common reason for patients to forgo treatment in France. Based on this observation, the odontology and psychiatry departments of Henri Mondor hospital proposed a collaborative approach to help these patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of this pilot project over one year. The patients appreciated the consultation, considering it a tool to help them be able to receive care. This consultation also resulted in 17 percent of patients being offered psychological care in order to treat other problems related to dental anxiety. The idea of a network of practitioners specialized in the treatment of these anxious patients is therefore proposed, the patients having emphasized that not having to re-explain their anxieties would be a relief.
Topics: Humans; Feedback; Pilot Projects; Dental Anxiety; Hospital Departments; Referral and Consultation
PubMed: 38040643
DOI: 10.3917/spub.hs1.2023.0029 -
Ground Water 2023Conceptual change is the process of developing a new understanding of an idea or related set of ideas and has been researched and theorized extensively in the last few...
Conceptual change is the process of developing a new understanding of an idea or related set of ideas and has been researched and theorized extensively in the last few decades. Although there is ongoing debate about how and why conceptual change occurs, all agree that individuals' prior knowledge plays a role, everyone engages differently in the process, and the context of the learning environment is influential. In this paper we build upon the work explored by Jimenez-Martinez (this issue) on conceptual change in hydrogeology, and explore how the conceptual change theory of Vosniadou may facilitate understanding the learning process in hydrogeology. Vosniadou's theory is particularly applicable because it addresses the learning of ideas that combine abstract (GW flow) and visible (water flow) concepts. A pathway for exploring hydrogeology students' mental models (from naïve framework theory, to synthetic models, to scientific mental models) and identifying misconceptions specifically within hydrogeology using methods established by Vosniadou and colleagues is proposed as a means to address some of the challenges identified by Jimenez-Martinez.
Topics: Humans; Concept Formation; Groundwater; Students
PubMed: 37773587
DOI: 10.1111/gwat.13360 -
Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao.... Aug 2023Immune-mediated dermatoses are the skin diseases caused by the breakdown of immune tolerance,including lupus erythematosus and dermatomyositis.The imbalance between... (Review)
Review
Immune-mediated dermatoses are the skin diseases caused by the breakdown of immune tolerance,including lupus erythematosus and dermatomyositis.The imbalance between regulatory T cells (Tregs) and effector T cells (Teffs) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of these diseases.Low-dose interleukin-2 can preferentially activate Tregs and reverse the imbalance between Tregs and Teffs to recover the immune tolerance,which has attracted attention in the treatment of immune-mediated dermatoses.This review summarizes the research progress in the immunomodulatory mechanism and clinical application of low-dose interleukin-2 in immune-mediated dermatoses,providing a new idea for the clinical treatment of these diseases.
Topics: Humans; Interleukin-2; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Skin Diseases
PubMed: 37654150
DOI: 10.3881/j.issn.1000-503X.15198 -
Annals of Surgery Dec 2023A scoping review of the literature was conducted to identify intraoperative artificial intelligence (AI) applications for robotic surgery under development and... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
A scoping review of the literature was conducted to identify intraoperative artificial intelligence (AI) applications for robotic surgery under development and categorize them by (1) purpose of the applications, (2) level of autonomy, (3) stage of development, and (4) type of measured outcome.
BACKGROUND
In robotic surgery, AI-based applications have the potential to disrupt a field so far based on a master-slave paradigm. However, there is no available overview about this technology's current stage of development and level of autonomy.
METHODS
MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched between January 1, 2010 and May 21, 2022. Abstract screening, full-text review, and data extraction were performed independently by 2 reviewers. The level of autonomy was defined according to the Yang and colleagues' classification and stage of development according to the Idea, Development, Evaluation, Assessment, and Long-term follow-up framework.
RESULTS
One hundred twenty-nine studies were included in the review. Ninety-seven studies (75%) described applications providing Robot Assistance (autonomy level 1), 30 studies (23%) application enabling Task Autonomy (autonomy level 2), and 2 studies (2%) application achieving Conditional autonomy (autonomy level 3). All studies were at Idea, Development, Evaluation, Assessment, and Long-term follow-up stage 0 and no clinical investigations on humans were found. One hundred sixteen (90%) conducted in silico or ex vivo experiments on inorganic material, 9 (7%) ex vivo experiments on organic material, and 4 (3%) performed in vivo experiments in porcine models.
CONCLUSIONS
Clinical evaluation of intraoperative AI applications for robotic surgery is still in its infancy and most applications have a low level of autonomy. With increasing levels of autonomy, the evaluation focus seems to shift from AI-specific metrics to process outcomes, although common standards are needed to allow comparison between systems.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Swine; Robotic Surgical Procedures; Artificial Intelligence; Benchmarking
PubMed: 36177855
DOI: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000005700 -
Pathologie (Heidelberg, Germany) Dec 2023The diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), originally based on morphological assessment alone, has to bring together more and more... (Review)
Review
The diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), originally based on morphological assessment alone, has to bring together more and more disciplines. Today, modern AML/MDS diagnostics rely on cytomorphology, cytochemistry, immunophenotyping, cytogenetics, and molecular genetics. Only the integration of all these methods allows a comprehensive and complementary characterization of each case, which is a prerequisite for optimal AML/MDS diagnosis and treatment. In the following, we present why multidisciplinary and local diagnosis is essential today and will become even more important in the future, especially in the context of precision medicine. We present our idea and strategy implemented at Augsburg University Hospital, which has realized multidisciplinary diagnostics in AML/MDS in an interdisciplinary and decentralized approach. In particular, this includes the recent technical advances that molecular genetics provides with modern methods. The enormous amount of data generated by these techniques represents a major challenge, but also a unique opportunity. We will reflect on how this increase in knowledge can be integrated into routine practice to lead the way for personalized medicine in AML/MDS to improve patient care.
Topics: Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Forecasting; Precision Medicine; Molecular Biology
PubMed: 37975919
DOI: 10.1007/s00292-023-01268-4 -
Cyclodextrin inclusion complexes improving antibacterial drug profiles: an update systematic review.Future Microbiology Dec 2023The study aimed to review experimental models using cyclodextrins to improve antibacterial drugs' physicochemical characteristics and biological activities. The...
The study aimed to review experimental models using cyclodextrins to improve antibacterial drugs' physicochemical characteristics and biological activities. The following terms and their combinations were used: cyclodextrins and antibacterial agents in title or abstract, and the total study search was conducted over a period up to October 2022. The review was carried out using PubMed, Scopus and Embase databases. A total of 1580 studies were identified, of which 27 articles were selected for discussion in this review. The biological results revealed that the antibacterial effect of the inclusion complexes was extensively improved. Cyclodextrins can enhance the therapeutic effects of antibiotics already existing on the market, natural products and synthetic molecules. Overall, CDs as drug-delivery vehicles have been shown to improve antibiotics solubility, stability, and bioavailability, leading to enhanced antibacterial activity.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cyclodextrins; Solubility
PubMed: 37910070
DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2023-0124 -
Recenti Progressi in Medicina Apr 2024Dissecting bodies is a common practice in many cultures. But in "big data medicine", the art of dissecting the human body has become an obsession. Indeed, modern...
Dissecting bodies is a common practice in many cultures. But in "big data medicine", the art of dissecting the human body has become an obsession. Indeed, modern biotechnology allows us to see and measure the molecular components of every single cell. But how can we put this immense number of bits and pieces back together again and see the patient as a whole? The first turning point is that proposed by René Descartes, who, inspired by dreams and visions, conceived the idea of unifying all scientific disciplines through the pervasive application of mathematics. Descartes formulates four basic rules, the second (top-down method) and third (bottom-up method) of which become crucial in modern data analysis. An instructive case study considered here is that of pulmonary tuberculosis, where the Cartesian approach of decomposing problems into smaller and smaller "pieces" - from organism to organ and from cellular lesion to the microscopic level - has led to the cure of the disease through antibiotics. This success story inspired Paul Ehrlich who, with the concept of the "magic bullet", defined modern pharmacology. However, this paradigm is being challenged today by multifactorial diseases and big data medicine, where the enormous availability of clinical and molecular data must be integrated to arrive at a therapeutic decision. The Cartesian approach shows its limitations today, as witnessed by the similar difficulty in fields other than medicine, illustrated here by the case of choosing to produce a successful television series based on user profiling. The take-home message is that the amount of data collected does not automatically guarantee success but that, instead of being data-driven, a collective "human" overview and assessment is inevitable. That is, close collaboration between clinicians and data analysts, integrating expertise, is needed to address challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of complex diseases through imagination and not mere extrapolation.
Topics: Humans; Patients; Medicine; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Big Data; Biotechnology
PubMed: 38526380
DOI: 10.1701/4246.42228