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Japan is rich in cultural properties of great historical and artistic value, of which the most important are protected as nationally designated cultural properties. Intangible cultural properties are techniques that have been handed down from generation to generation, such as theater, music, and craft techniques. In Japan, where the population is aging rapidly, digital archiving is essential for the transmission of intangible cultural assets. In this study, we focused on the musical accompaniment of the Kanuma Imamiya Shrine Festival (Kanuma Autumn Festival), which is designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and a nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. Although the Kanuma Autumn Festival had to be canceled last year due to the emergency declaration requested by the spread of coronavirus infection, the festival is still being carried on. In this study, we have developed multi-viewpoint viewing system for ohayashi content with the cooperation of the Kamifukatsu Music Preservation Society and evaluated the system through experiments with participants. As a result, we obtained positive feedback from the participants, while those who had experience with musical performances pointed out points that needed to be improved. The controller was used as a method of interaction with the contents, but other methods have not yet been compared. Therefore, we aim to support the inheritance of tradition and examine the most user-friendly interaction method in terms of operability. © 2023 SPIE.
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At the end of December of 2019, the world stopped because of a new virus outbreak originally reported in Wuhan, China. This virus was rapidly disseminated to the four continents situating as one of the worst pandemics the world faced in its history. Governments desperately urged for the adoption of radical measures that finely affected not only global commerce but the tourism industry. The WHO (World Health Organization) strongly recommended some restrictive measures such as quarantines or lockdowns to ban the public circulation, as well as social distancing and the closure of borders and the airspaces. All these measures led countries to the brink of an economic collapse. Economies that are dependent on tourism were more affected than others that keep alternative forms of production. The global world, as we know it, set the pace to a feudalized (if not fractured) world where each country closed their borders to "Other.” The present chapter interrogates what we dubbed as the "decline of hospitality, " a trend that originated just after 9/11. To some extent, the COVID-19 pandemic is not news, while it affirms the effects of the War on Terror. Far from being a foundational event, COVID-19 engages with the previous backdrop initiated just after 9/11. Now the War on Terror sets the pace of a war against a virus. This chapter describes the radical political shifts that happened in Argentina along with the pandemic while laying the foundations towards a new understanding of travel behavior. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.
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Work stress impacts people's daily lives. Their well-being can be improved if the stress is monitored and addressed in time. Attaching physiological sensors are used for such stress monitoring and analysis. Such approach is feasible only when the person is physically presented. Due to the transfer of the life from offline to online, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, remote stress measurement is of high importance. This study investigated the feasibility of estimating participants' stress levels based on remote physiological signal features (rPPG) and behavioral features (facial expression and motion) obtained from facial videos recorded during online video meetings. Remote physiological signal features provided higher accuracy of stress estimation (78.75%) as compared to those based on motion (70.00%) and facial expression (73.75%) features. Moreover, the fusion of behavioral and remote physiological signal features increased the accuracy of stress estimation up to 82.50%. © 2022 Owner/Author.
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Background/Aims Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an antibody-mediated autoimmune disease targeting proteins at the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction. MG is thought to occur in genetically susceptible individuals following an environmental trigger. SARS-CoV-2 infection has been associated with new-onset autoimmune disease, new-onset MG, and exacerbations of pre-existing MG, with molecular mimicry between SARS-CoV-2 epitopes and autoantigen-induced autoreactivity thought to be part of the underlying mechanism. We report a case of newonset ocular MG following first dose Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 SARS-COV2 vaccination which was referred to rheumatology as suspected mononeuritis multiplex. Methods A 53-year-old man of East Asian ethnicity presented to the emergency department (ED) with sudden onset diplopia and left lateral gaze restriction 7 days after receiving his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 SARS-COV2 vaccination. He had longstanding myopia and dry eyes but no other medical history, no regular medications or significant family history. He was a current smoker, with a 50-pack year history. He did not drink alcohol or use any recreational drugs. He was found to have an isolated left VI cranial nerve (CN) palsy with an otherwise normal ocular and physical examination. Blood tests were unremarkable apart from raised cholesterol, and he was discharged with a suspected self-limiting microvascular CN lesion. Three weeks later he presented to ED with worsening diplopia, increasingly restricted eye movements, headache, nausea, vomiting and blurred vision. Ophthalmology assessment noted new right sided CN III and VI palsy, persistent left CN VI palsy, and vertical diplopia in all fields of gaze. Neurological and physical examination were normal. Bloods including an autoimmune screen were unremarkable. SARS-CoV-2 Spike antibodies were positive consistent with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination but not infection. Intracranial and thoracic imaging were unremarkable. He was referred to and seen by both rheumatology and neurology as a case of suspected mononeuritis multiplex. Results A diagnosis of ocular MG was confirmed with positive serum acetylcholine receptor antibodies, and he was started on prednisolone, and pyridostigmine to good effect. Daily forced vital capacity (FVC) showed no respiratory muscle involvement, and nerve conduction studies and electromyography were normal, excluding secondary generalisation. Conclusion A review of the literature found 14 reported cases of new-onset MG all within 4 weeks following SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Whilst these cases provide interesting insights into the pathogenesis of autoimmune conditions such as MG, they are not epidemiological studies to inform vaccine safety. Ultimately, current evidence suggests that the risks of SARS-COV-2 infection outweigh the risk of vaccine-related adverse events, therefore we suggest clinicians should be aware of potential new-onset autoimmune conditions, but support the safety of SARSCOV2 vaccination. Further, research into possible immunological mechanisms behind this phenomenon, including identifying potential epitopes inducing molecular mimicry, could help establish the likelihood of a causative link.
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Communication has been a struggle for everyone since the covid outbreak and in the aftermath, people have had to get accustomed to video conferencing applications. However people with physical or mental limitations are still unable to use video conferencing apps and their interfaces. This necessitates the development of web-based video chat applications. These applications can aid those who are unable to communicate verbally and/or operate using standard mouse and keyboard inputs, but yet need to feel close to others when they are apart. The proposed application incorporates various accessibility features such as speech-to-text and text-to-speech, gaze tracking and pictorial speech interfaces. It enables individuals with disabilities to participate in virtual meetings on an equal footing with their peers. The goal is to remove barriers and promote inclusiveness in remote work and collaboration for all users, regardless of their abilities using this application.
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Background: Various neurological disorders have been reported after vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019, one of which is Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). Case Presentation: We report a case of a 73-year-old woman who developed GBS and extra-GBS manifestations 19 days after the second dose of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. She presented lower limb predominant muscle weakness and loss of tendon reflexes. Nerve conduction study showed acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy. In addition, she developed notable deep sensory ataxia, and showed positive pathological reflex, gaze-evoked nystagmus and altered consciousness, which suggested brainstem involvement. Conclusion(s): This is the first coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine-related GBS complicated with such central nervous system manifestations.Copyright © 2023 Japanese Society for Neuroimmunology.
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• Observers fixated longer on the mouth and torso of speakers when those were deceptive. • Observers fixated longer on the hands of the speakers when those were honest. • When assessing veracity, unexpectedly, observers fixated on the mouth the most compared to the eyes, torso, or hands of the speakers. • Longer fixations on the mouth and torso of the speakers were associated with less credible assessment of the speakers. • Longer gaze fixations on the torso and left hand of the speakers worsened deception detection accuracy. Throughout the early part of this century, and especially during the peak of the global pandemic of 2020, the world has come to rely increasingly on computer-mediated communication (CMC). The study of computer-based media and their role in mediating communication has long been a part of the academic study of information systems. Unfortunately, human communication, regardless of the medium over which it occurs, involves deception. Despite the growing reliance on CMC for communication, a limited amount of work has considered deception and its detection in mediated environments. The study reported here investigates the communication issues associated with cue restrictions in CMC, specifically videoconferencing, and with how these restrictions affect deception detection success. We employed eye tracking technology to analyze the visual behavior of veracity judges and how it influenced their assessments. We found that the visual foci of the judges varied as a result of the message veracity. Judges fixated longer on the mouth and torso of speakers when messages were deceptive and focused longer on the hands of the speakers when messages were truthful. We also found that fixating longer on the mouth and torso of the speakers was associated with less credible assessment of the speakers. Last, longer gaze fixations on the torso and left hand of the speakers resulted in less accurate deception detection performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of International Journal of Human-Computer Studies is the property of Academic Press Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically altered the ways in which people are able to communicate effectively. The addition of the face mask as a distracting stimulus interrupts the holistic process that people use to interpret facial expressions. The present study seeks to investigate the impact of face masking and gaze direction on emotion recognition in students with autism. We predicted that students with autism (n = 14), who characteristically experience difficulties when appraising emotions, would struggle to assess the emotions of people wearing face masks. We did not find a significant three-way interaction of emotion, mask, and gaze on classification accuracy. We did, however, find that face masks reduced participants' ability to emotionally appraise sad faces. Further, participants showed better accuracy appraising faces with a direct gaze. Exploring how face masks impact autistic individuals' emotion recognition will benefit special educators as they adapt to teaching during the pandemic, as well as the general population that seeks to improve communication with neurodiverse persons. Future studies should examine emotional appraisal ability and additional emotions as well as different kinds of emotional stimuli.Copyright © The British Society of Developmental Disabilities 2023.
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Background Left Ventricular Non-Compaction Cardiomyopathy (LVNC) is a rare genetic, developmental disorder when the left apical chamber of the heart contains bundles or pieces of muscle that extend into the chamber called trabeculations. These trabeculations are a sponge-like network of muscle fibers that typically become compacted to transform heart muscle to become smooth and solid during a normal development process. Those who have LVNC most commonly are asymptomatic. Those who are symptomatic present with syncope, palpitations, dizziness, dyspnea, fatigue and/or unexplained weight gain or swelling. LVNC has also been suggested as a rare cause of embolic stroke, in our patient's case, "due to sluggish blood flow in deep intertrabecular recesses." Case We present a 29 year old African American female, G2P0011, with a history of cleft palate repair, and recent pregnancy complicated by COVID-19 who reported to ED after having a fall the day before, leg weakness and numbness, unable to walk, headache and a left facial droop on day of admission. No family history of SCD or other cardiac disease was noted. On assessment, was found to have NIHSS of 7 with rate lateral gaze palsy, left facial palsy, and decreased strength and sensation of LUE and LLE. TPA was not given due to being outside the therapeutic window. CT head and MRI brain were consistent with acute right MCA stroke. Secondary stroke workup with TTE revealed reduced LVEF 15-20%, loosely arranged myocardium with suspected LVNC and RV apical thrombus. Cardiac MRI showed increased trabeculations consistent with LVNC. Decision-making Currently, there are no ACC/AHA guidelines on anticoagulation in the setting of LVNC. Cardiology and Neurology had an extensive multidisciplinary discussion on the need for anticoagulation specifically with Warfarin. The patient was educated extensively on the need for medical adherence with anticoagulation and guideline directed medical therapy. Conclusion The patient was started on guideline directed medical therapy for cardiomyopathy and was started on Warfarin after bridging from Lovenox. She continued with physical therapy and was noted to have improvement in residual deficits at her outpatient follow up.Copyright © 2023 American College of Cardiology Foundation
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Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, people have been forced to move to online spaces to attend classes or meetings and so on. The effectiveness of online classes depends on the engagement level of students. A straightforward way to monitor the engagement is to observe students' facial expressions, eye gazes, head gesticulations, hand movements, and body movements through their video feed. However, video-based engagement detection has limitations, such as being influenced by video backgrounds, lighting conditions, camera angles, unwillingness to open the camera, etc. In this work, we propose a non-intrusive mechanism of estimating engagement level by monitoring the head gesticulations through channel state information (CSI) of WiFi signals. First, we conduct an anonymous survey to investigate whether the head gesticulation pattern is correlated with engagement. We then develop models to recognize head gesticulations through CSI. Later, we plan to correlate the head gesticulation pattern with the instructor's intent to estimate the students' engagement. © 2023 IEEE.
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Introduction: Online group psychotherapy has only recently been developed in Italy due to the health emergency. Due to the restrictions, group therapists have dealt the transition from face-to-face to online setting, learning from experience how to manage the clinical relationship mediated by the screen. In particular, the management of the setting, group interactions and the therapeutic style. Method(s):The present study is based on a survey that involved 26 group therapists who agreed to participate and answered the survey during the first three months after the shifting to online practice. The sample was mainly composed of women (67%), with an average age of 55 years and professional experience between 20 and 40 years;the work area was equally distributed between north, central and southern Italy;the participants' career orientation was almost exclusively psychodynamic / psychoanalytic (86%) and the groups were analytic in the private setting, with two exceptions in a public service. The survey was structured in two sections: the first relating to individual online therapy was organized through 4 main areas: (i) the changes in the use of online intervention due to Covid-19;(ii) the virtual set (tting);(iii) the perception of the therapeutic relationship mediated by the screen;(iv) corporeality in the online therapeutic relationship. The second section dealt specifically with online group psychotherapy and explored questions such as the comparison between face-toface and online groups in terms of efficacy, therapeutic factors, interplay and interactions among group participants and challenges in leading online group. Responses were provided on a likert scale, but in many questions the therapist were required to motivate and argue their thought. Data were analyzed through mixed method, occurrence and percentage of the responses were counted and calcu- lated, while through a qualitative analysis the contents were extrapolated from the answers provided by the therapists. Result(s): Results show that the therapists have experienced with difficulty the management of the online setting and finding their most challenging task in three areas: interpersonal relationship, the loss of feelings, and the therapeutic presence. More in general, results gave us an overall picture of how therapists perceived and represent themselves the online group psychotherapy. In their view group online are characterized by the absence of the body (or rather of the body communication), the modification of the perception of emotions, the loss of directionality and reciprocity of the gaze, the alteration of temporality in the online and the changes with respect to the therapeutic presence of the clinician during the session. Moreover, therapists reported the necessity to spend greater resources in online setting, resource in terms of attention, concentration, fatigue, and also to deal with one's own and others' sources of environmental distraction. In line with these perceptions, the majority of therapists reported the need to be more active and more directive in leading the group, as well as the need to maintain control and manage silence, the latter was in effect considered more difficult to manage in the online mode. Conclusion(s): Overall, the results of our survey suggest that there has been a good ability to adapt to the online setting. At the same time, the prevailing representation is that online therapy has quite different characteristics. It also seems that forcing the use of the online setting has diminished the distrust towards this type of therapy. Of course, the small number of therapists involved in the survey does not allow the responses to be considered as representative and limits the possibility of generalizing the Results: It is also important to consider the results in light of the particular situation caused by the pandemic, this leads to the recognition that many issues relating to online therapy are still "open questions" and must therefore be the subject of new research and reflections. Further research, already un ertaken in recent months, will also have to deepen the patients' experience, with respect to their experiences, the differences they found between the two settings, the functioning of the online group, their perception of the main processes and therapeutic factors.
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Introduction: Since the declaration of COVID-19 pandemic, several cases of demyelination of both peripheral and central nervous systems have been reported. The association of viral infection and the development of CNS demyelination has long been studied, and this link has recently been reported following SARS-CoV-2 infection as well. Case report: We report a case of a 36-year-old male who developed CNS demyelinating disease, that fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of multiple sclerosis (MS), 2 months after laboratory-confirmed infection with SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion(s): To our knowledge, this is the second published case report of MS in association with COVID-19 infection, and the first case from Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, adding to the growing literature of a probable causal relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of MS.Copyright © 2021 The Author(s)
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Humans are social animals that rely on different ways to interact with each other. The COVID-19 pandemic strongly changed our communication strategies. Because of the importance of direct contact for our species, we predict that immediately after the forced social isolation, people were more prone to engage in direct rather than in virtual interactions, thus showing a lower mimicry response in the use of smartphones. In a non-longitudinal study, we collected behavioral data under naturalistic contexts and directly compared the data of the mimicry response gathered immediately following the Italian lockdown (May-September 2020) with those gathered one year later (May-October 2021). Contrary to our expectations, the mimicry response in the use of smartphones was higher immediately after the lockdown than a year later. Probably the large use of these devices during the lockdown translated into a greater sensitivity to be affected by others' smartphone manipulation. Indeed, social isolation modified, at least in the short term, the ways we interact with others by making us more prone to engage in "virtual" social interactions. The bright side of the coin unveiled by our findings is that the effect seems to diminish over time. The large behavioral dataset analyzed here (1,608 events; 248 people) also revealed that the mimicry response in the use of smartphones was higher between familiar subjects than between strangers. In this view, mimicry in manipulating smartphones can be considered an example of joint action that fosters behavioral synchrony between individuals that, in the long-term, can translate into the formation of social bonding.
Subject(s)
Imitative Behavior , Quarantine , Smartphone , Social Isolation , Social Isolation/psychology , Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Young Adult , Adult , Middle Aged , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , Linear Models , Quarantine/psychology , Italy/epidemiology , Communication , Internet Use/statistics & numerical data , Time FactorsABSTRACT
In referential communication, gaze is often interpreted as a social cue that facilitates comprehension and enables word learning. Here we investigated the degree to which head turning facilitates gaze following. We presented participants with static pictures of a man looking at a target object in a first and third block of trials (pre- and post-intervention), while they saw short videos of the same man turning towards the target in the second block of trials (intervention). In Experiment 1, newly sighted individuals (treated for congenital cataracts; N = 8) benefited from the motion cues, both when comparing their initial performance with static gaze cues to their performance with dynamic head turning, and their performance with static cues before and after the videos. In Experiment 2, neurotypical school children (ages 5-10 years; N = 90) and adults (N = 30) also revealed improved performance with motion cues, although most participants had started to follow the static gaze cues before they saw the videos. Our results confirm that head turning is an effective social cue when interpreting new words, offering new insights for a pathways approach to development.
Subject(s)
Cues , Fixation, Ocular , Adult , Attention , Child , Child, Preschool , Comprehension , Humans , Male , Verbal LearningABSTRACT
International tourism will continuously face challenges to fully recover after COVID-19 unless destinations implement universally agreed upon public health protocols that make travellers feel safe. This challenge is even more daunting for least developed countries like Nepal, which relies on rural, nature and adventure tourism. These rural regions, already under stress prior to COVID-19, must now address the pandemic's consequences before availing themselves of opportunities for more sustainable tourism development that experts believe the pandemic confer. We use "mutual gaze” to examine how exchange relationships between rural and urban stakeholders shape collaborative decisions on tourism development. We conceptualise tourism development interactions through the innovative development of unique offerings to attract domestic tourists during the pandemic. Data on Nepal's rural tourism sector reveal that representative local associations enable innovation through the integration of dynamic capabilities and resources in the development of sustainable tourism products. While the study confirms the significant role government plays in facilitating cooperation among stakeholders to legitimise relationships and ascertain sustainability goals, it reveals organic collaboration is essential for inclusive planning and decision making at grassroots' level. © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
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Purpose of Study: Assessment of an individual's postural stability serves as an indirect measure for both physiological and biomechanical stresses placed on an individual. More recently, some individuals after COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have been identified with neurological complaints (Post-Acute Sequelae of Covid - PASC). These individuals can also be predisposed to decreased postural stability and an increased risk for falls. The purpose of the project was to incorporate two different wearable technology (virtual reality (VR) based virtual immersive sensorimotor test - VIST and pressure senor-based smart sock) to assess postural stability among healthy and individuals with PASC to quantify the overall status of the postural control system. Methods Used: All methods were conducted based on the University's Institutional Review Board (IRB# 21-296) with informed consent. A total of 12 males and females (six healthy and six with self-reported complaints of PASC) have completed the study so far. All participants were tested using the VIST, while standing on a force platform and wearing the smart sock simultaneously. The (VIST uses a VR headset and proprietary software to test an individual's integrated sensory, motor, and cognitive processes through eight unique tests (smooth pursuits, saccades, convergence, peripheral vision, object discrimination, gaze stability, head-eye coordination, cervical neuromotor control). Center of pressure (COP) data from force platform and pressure sensor data from the smart socks were used to calculate anterior-posterior and medial-lateral postural sway variables. These postural sway variables were analyzed using an independent samples t-test between the healthy and PASC groups at an alpha set at 0.05. Summary of Results: Significant differences (p < 0.05) between healthy and individuals with PASC with anteriorposterior and medial-lateral postural sway variables derived from COP measures, with individuals with PASC exhibiting significantly greater postural sway compared to healthy individuals in all eight tests of the VIST. The measures from the smart sock, while not statistically significant, exhibited the same findings of increased postural sway in individuals with PASC compared to healthy individuals. Conclusion(s): Findings from the current analysis revealed that individuals with PASC demonstrated significantly worse postural control compared to the healthy, when challenged with various sensorimotor tests in VIST, suggesting that postural control is compromised due to PASC. While not statistically significant due to a lower sample size, the measures from smart sock also indicated the same findings of the COP measures, suggesting a promising use of wearable technology in postural control assessments. In addition to other neurological signs and symptoms of PASC, assessment of postural stability using the VIST can provide more detailed clinical measures for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis assessments. Copyright © 2023 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation.
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Case Report:We describe a case of a non-verbal 5-yearold patient with autism and global developmental delay who presented with headache, nausea, vomiting, and decreased oral intake and found to have acute cerebellar syndrome/cerebellitis secondary to COVID-19 infection. Method(s): Chart Review. Summary of Results: A 5-year-old male with autism spectrum disorder and global developmental delay presented with one week history of headache, nausea, and non-bilious, non-bloody emesis. Despite intravenous fluid resuscitation and anti-emetic treatment, the patient continued to have persistent emesis with decreased oral intake and urine output. Physical exam findings were notable for aniscoria with right pupil larger than left, fixed upward gaze deviation, horizontal nystagmus, and nuchal rigidity. Patient was able to move all extremities spontaneously with normal tone and without rigidity or hyperreflexia. A complete blood cell count was consistent with the following: WBC 17.29 K/uL, hemoglobin level 12.8 g/dL, hematocrit 38.9%, and platelet count 482 K/ uL. C-reactive protein <4.0 mg/L and procalcitonin 0.12 ng/mL. CT Head on hospital day one showed no acute intracranial abnormality. Due to the patient's acute neurological changes, MRI brain was obtained and revealed patchy areas of hyperintensity in both the cerebellar hemispheres with moderate swelling of the cerebellum causing narrowing of the posterior fossa extra-axial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces. In addition, there was obstruction of the cerebral aqueduct due to extrinsic mass effect by the swollen cerebellum. CSF studies were notable for the following: 148 total nucleated cells with 75% lymphocytes and 17% monocytes and 2 red blood cells, protein was elevated at 113 mg/dL, and glucose was normal at 52 mg/dL. Meningitis and encephalitis panel was without any acute findings. Other laboratory testing was negative for tuberculosis, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV, and EBV. The patient tested positive for COVID-19 virus about one month prior to the onset of symptoms. Imaging and laboratory results in the setting of obstructive hydrocephalus with associated symptoms of nausea, emesis, headache, and upward gaze deviation are consistent with acute cerebellar syndrome, or cerebellitis. Due to obstructive hydrocephalus and inflammation of the cerebellum, patient was started on high-dose steroids, and neurosurgery placed external ventricular drain (EVD). The patient worked closely with physical medicine and rehabilitation as well as speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy to make a full recovery following this illness. Conclusion(s): Headache, nausea, and vomiting are often seen as benign findings;however, it is important to obtain specific details regarding the timing of symptoms, especially in the setting of a non-verbal patient. Because inflammation of the cerebellum can lead to hydrocephalus and potential herniation, prompt diagnosis is crucial to prevent long term effects of cerebellitis. Copyright © 2023 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation.
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This commentary reflects upon power-knowledge dynamics and matters of epistemic, procedural, and distributive justice that undergird epidemiological knowledge production related to racial health inequities in the U.S. Grounded in Foucault's power-knowledge concepts-"objects", "ritual", and "the privileged"-and guided by Black feminist philosopher Kristie Dotson's conceptualization of epistemic violence, it critiques the dominant positivist, reductionist, and extractivist paradigm of epidemiology, interrogating the settler-colonial and racial-capitalist nature of the knowledge production/curation enterprise. The commentary challenges epidemiology's affinity for epistemological, procedural, and methodological norms that effectively silence/erase community knowledge(s) and nuance in favor of reductionist empirical representations/re-presentations produced by researchers who, often, have never stepped foot inside the communities they aver to model. It also expressly names the structurally racist reality of a "colorblind" knowledge production/curation system controlled by White scholars working from/for an invisibilized White scientific gaze. In this spirit, this commentary engages the public health critical race praxis principle of "disciplinary self-critique", illuminating the inherent contradictions of a racial health equity discourse that fails to interrogate the racialized power dynamics underlying its knowledge production enterprise. In doing so, this commentary seeks to (re)frame and invite discourse regarding matters of epistemic violence and (re)colonization as manifest/legible within epidemiology research, suggesting that the structural racism embedded within-and perpetuated through-our collective work must be addressed to advance antiracist and decolonial public health futures. In this regard, I suggest the value of engaging poetry as praxis-as mode of knowledge production/expression to "center the margins" and offer counternarratives to epidemiology's epistemic violence. Copyright © 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
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Due to COVID-19, there's been a burst in online examinations. The main integrity safeguard so far is human proctoring, which requires trained supervisors to constantly monitor all test-Takers' videos and audios through webcams. To overcome such costliness and ineffectiveness, we have designed an automated online proctoring system that is effective, nonintrusive, and adaptable to different testing scenarios. Our approach presents a novel combination of (a) a gaze view tracking module using a mathematical 3D gaze motion formula and (b) a configurable cheating classification using a custom-Trained object detection model. Our gaze view tracking leverages two cameras (a webcam and a follower-cam) working in tandem, and facial landmark detection to follow the test-Taker's gaze in a real-Time and non-intrusive manner. It then feeds to our AI-based cheating classifier, which leverages TensorFlow object detection algorithm with a custom-Trained object detection model to identify preconfigured cheating targets. Our end-To-end prototype and trials show effectiveness in tracking the test-Taker's gaze and autodetecting cheating targets. Our system can serve as a great complement to the current online proctor suite and will influence online learning even after pandemics by reducing human toil. © 2022 IEEE.
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COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the newly discovered coronavirus which first originated in Wuhan. This contagious disease spread rapidly, due to which large gathering places were shut down which included schools and colleges. This led to the concept of online education system. In this system, the teachers could teach the students who are at home through various online platforms. This project discusses the advancements in technology that can be done to predict student engagement in an e-learning platform. An automatic face recognition attendance recording system where the student's login time is recorded on an excel sheet has been implemented. Through the student's eye gazes, it can be estimated if the student is attentive, distracted, drowsy, etc. Additionally, student's participation in discussion forums, the number of times hand was raised, resources visited and announcement views to determine the level of engagement can be analysed. © 2022 IEEE.