Workspace Layout for Resilient Performance using Social Network Analysis: A Case Study.

Purpose: To present the social network analysis-based approach used to create a new workspace layout for three hospital services as part of a campus expansion at a large tertiary care public hospital. Objective: To analyze the relationships among service members across four healthcare resilience abilities (monitor, anticipate, respond, and learn) and utilize network metrics to indicate the suitability of a shared workspace layout for the services. Background: The hospital expanded by 70%, providing space for relocating key services-the rapid response team, medical on-call team, and nursing supervision. Initial observations suggested a shared workspace layout based on anecdotal evidence. Method: Stakeholders have reached a consensus on a three-stage process to assess the suitability of a shared workspace layout for these services: first, collecting data on social interactions with a focus on resilience abilities; second, presenting layout alternatives based on sociograms; and third, evaluating these alternatives and devising a strategy for allocating personnel to shifts based on a resilience score derived from social network metrics. Case Study: The examination of social network metrics allowed identifying key individuals contributing to the overall resilience of the three services. Sociograms provided visual representations of how these individuals were spatially distributed within the shared layout. Discussion: The process was designed to shape a resilient layout and incorporated initial data, preferences, and constraints into layout proposals. Additionally, it utilized a resilience score from existing literature to formulate a strategy for staff allocation to shifts, ensuring consistent collective resilience ability across all shifts.

Prevalence of computer vision syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This review aimed to estimate the prevalence of computer vision syndrome (CVS) in the general population and subgroups. METHODS: A search was conducted in the following the databases: PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Web of Science until February 13, 2023. We included studies that assessed the prevalence of CVS in any population. The Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tool was used to evaluate the methodological quality. A meta-analysis of the prevalence of CVS was done using a random-effects model, assessing the sources of heterogeneity using subgroup and meta-regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 103 cross-sectional studies with 66 577 participants were included. The prevalence of CVS was 69.0% (95% CI: 62.3 to 75.3; I2: 99.7%), ranging from 12.1 to 97.3% across studies. Point prevalence was higher in women than in men (71.4 vs. 61.8%), university students (76.1%), Africa (71.2%), Asia (69.9%), contact lens wearers (73.1% vs. 63.8%) in studies conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic (72.8%), and in those that did not use the CVS-Q questionnaire (75.4%). In meta-regression, using the CVS-Q scale was associated with a lower prevalence of CVS. CONCLUSION: Seven out of ten people suffer from CVS. Preventive strategies and interventions are needed to decrease the prevalence of this condition which can affect productivity and quality of life. Future studies should standardize a definition of CVS.

The Conscious Nematode: Exploring Hallmarks of Minimal Phenomenal Consciousness in Caenorhabditis Elegans.

While subcellular components of cognition and affectivity that involve the interaction between experience, environment, and physiology -such as learning, trauma, or emotion- are being identified, the physical mechanisms of phenomenal consciousness remain more elusive. We are interested in exploring whether ancient, simpler organisms such as nematodes have minimal consciousness. Is there something that feels like to be a worm? Or are worms blind machines? 'Simpler' models allow us to simultaneously extract data from multiple levels such as slow and fast neural dynamics, structural connectivity, molecular dynamics, behavior, decision making, etc., and thus, to test predictions of the current frameworks in dispute. In the present critical review, we summarize the current models of consciousness in order to reassess in light of the new evidence whether Caenorhabditis elegans, a nematode with a nervous system composed of 302 neurons, has minimal consciousness. We also suggest empirical paths to further advance consciousness research using C. elegans.

Mientras que los componentes subcelulares de fenómenos cognitivos y afectivos que involucran la interacción entre experiencia, ambiente y fisiología -tales como aprendizaje, trauma, o emociones- son identificados con cada vez mayor detalle, los mecanismos biofísicos de la consciencia fenoménica permanecen elusivos. Nos interesa explorar si organismos sencillos como los nemátodos presentan consciencia mínima. ¿Hay algo que se sienta como ser un gusano? ¿O acaso los gusanos son máquinas carentes de toda experiencia? Los modelos "sencillos" nos permiten extraer datos de múltiples niveles en simultáneo: dinámica neuronal rápida y lenta, conectividad estructural, dinámica molecular, conducta, toma de decisiones, etc., y así testear predicciones de las propuestas teóricas actuales en disputa. En esta revisión compendiamos los modelos actuales de consciencia para evaluar, considerando la evidencia reciente, si Caenorhabditis elegans, un nemátodo con un sistema nervioso de 302 neuronas, tiene consciencia mínima. Sugerimos además vías empíricas para desarrollar investigaciones en consciencia utilizando C. elegans.

The global neuronal workspace as a broadcasting network.

A new strategy for moving forward in the characterization of the global neuronal workspace (GNW) is proposed. According to Dehaene, Changeux, and colleagues (Dehaene, 2014, pp. 304, 312; Dehaene & Changeux, 2004, 2005), broadcasting is the main function of the GNW. However, the dynamic network properties described by recent graph theoretic GNW models are consistent with many large-scale communication processes that are different from broadcasting. We propose to apply a different graph theoretic approach, originally developed for optimizing information dissemination in communication networks, which can be used to identify the pattern of frequency and phase-specific directed functional connections that the GNW would exhibit only if it were a broadcasting network.

Towards a conscious model of consciousness.

Several thousand years ago, our human ancestors realized that the brain was the organ of the mind and movement. But, how does the brain generate a voluntary movement and adds consciousness to it? Here, we assume that these two processes can be explained by neuroscience, but a large proportion of our society -including some scientists- considers consciousness as some immaterial substance that dwells in our body. As consequence of these divided opinions, several theories have recently emerged with the aim of explaining consciousness. These theories in no order of importance, but definitely in the order of complexity, are the global workspace (GWT), attention schema (AST), higher order-thought (HOT) and illusionist (IT) theories. All these theories originate from different backgrounds, and each tries to explain different components of consciousness: from a pure neurobiological (GWT) interpretation to a pure psychological-folk interpretation (IT).

The state of consciousness in patients in the vegetative and minimally conscious states / O estado de consciência em pacientes em estado vegetativo e em estado de consciência minima

Brain-injured patients may, with the assistance of life support, continue to perform basic bodily functions, but yet be deficient in wakefulness, awareness, decision making or other overt manifestations of consciousness. Here, we review two neurological states observed in brain injured patients with different degrees of brain impairment, the vegetative state (VS)and the minimally conscious state (MCS), and we discuss how these states are diagnosed through assessing patient behavioral responses during clinical examination. We consider howfunctional neuroimaging has revealed preserved cognitive capacities in patients that were supposed to be in the VS and has introduced a new diagnosis, cognitive motor dissociation.We review the GW Theory proposal that consciousness arises from functional connectivity (FC) of widely separated brain regions. We discuss how such high FC underlies the DefaultMode Network (DMN), a group of neural circuits that are active when an individual is not involved with external tasks and engages in introspective thinking. Finally, we discuss thefinding that the level of FC of the DMN is diminished in brain injured patients and the proposal that the level of residual DMN FC in brain injured patients is an index of their consciousness

Pacientes com lesão cerebral, quando assistidos, podem continuar a desempenhar funções fisiológicas básicas, mesmo estando com a vigília, a atenção, a capacidade de decisão e outras funções de consciência prejudicadas. Revisamos aqui dois níveis de distúrbio de consciência o estado vegetativo (VS) e o nível de consciência mínima (MCS), e discutimos como são diagnosticados através das respostas comportamentais durante o exame clínico. Abordamos como a neuroimagem funcional revelou capacidades cognitivas preservadas em pacientes supostamente em estado vegetativo, introduzindo um novo diagnóstico: a dissociação cognitivo-motora. Revisamos a proposta da Global Workspace (GW) teoria de que a consciência surge a partir de um alto grau de conectividade funcional (FC) entre áreas cerebrais distantes. Discutimos como esta alta conectividade é a base do Default Mode Network (DMN), uma rede neural ativada quando o indivíduo não está envolvido com tarefas externas e se volta para atividade mental introspectiva. Finalmente, discutimos os achados de redução do nível de FC no DMN em pacientes com lesão cerebral e a proposta de que o mesmo poderia ser um índice do nível de consciência nesses pacientes.

The State of Consciousness in Patients in the Vegetative and Minimally Conscious States / O estado de consciência em pacientes em estado vegetativo e em estado de consciência minima

Brain-injured patients may, with the assistance of life support, continue to perform basic bodily functions, but yet be deficient in wakefulness, awareness, decision making or other overt manifestations of consciousness. Here, we review two neurological states observed in brain injured patients with different degrees of brain impairment, the vegetative state (VS)and the minimally conscious state (MCS), and we discuss how these states are diagnosed through assessing patient behavioral responses during clinical examination. We consider howfunctional neuroimaging has revealed preserved cognitive capacities in patients that were supposed to be in the VS and has introduced a new diagnosis, cognitive motor dissociation.We review the GW Theory proposal that consciousness arises from functional connectivity (FC) of widely separated brain regions. We discuss how such high FC underlies the DefaultMode Network (DMN), a group of neural circuits that are active when an individual is not involved with external tasks and engages in introspective thinking. Finally, we discuss thefinding that the level of FC of the DMN is diminished in brain injured patients and the proposal that the level of residual DMN FC in brain injured patients is an index of their consciousness.(AU)

Pacientes com lesão cerebral, quando assistidos, podem continuar a desempenhar funções fisiológicas básicas, mesmo estando com a vigília, a atenção, a capacidade de decisão eoutras funções de consciência prejudicadas. Revisamos aqui dois níveis de distúrbio de consciência o estado vegetativo (VS) e o nível de consciência mínima (MCS), e discutimoscomo são diagnosticados através das respostas comportamentais durante o exame clínico. Abordamos como a neuroimagem funcional revelou capacidades cognitivas preservadas empacientes supostamente em estado vegetativo, introduzindo um novo diagnóstico: a dissociação cognitivo-motora. Revisamos a proposta da Global Workspace (GW) teoria de que a consciência surge a partir de um alto grau de conectividade funcional (FC) entre áreas cerebrais distantes. Discutimos como esta alta conectividade é a base do Default Mode Network (DMN), uma rede neural ativada quando o indivíduo não está envolvido com tarefas externas e se volta para atividade mental introspectiva. Finalmente, discutimos os achadosde redução do nível de FC no DMN em pacientes com lesão cerebral e a proposta de que o mesmo poderia ser um índice do nível de consciência nesses pacientes.(AU)

Mentes, Metas e Máquinas: um desafio para a consciência artificial / Minds, Goals and Machines: a challenge for artificial consciousness

A Teoria do Espaço de Trabalho Global pretende descrever funcionalmente as tarefas da consciência. Atualmente existem tentativas de aplicação desta teoria cognitiva da consciência em máquinas, entretanto, esta teoria depende, essencialmente, da noção de metas para determinação de hierarquia do conteúdo na consciência. Este trabalho analisa características de metas e a diferença entre metas genuínas e metas parciais. Propõe-se que para que hajam metas genuínas em um sistema é preciso que este seja líquido (capaz de se adaptar a mudanças) sendo composto de microagentes com interesse em conjunto de sobrevivência e replicação. Sugere-se que duas correntes da Inteligência Artificial atual podem vira criar agentes com metas genuínas: a nanorrobótica e a vertente das máquinas híbridas. Por essa análise, acredita-se que uma aplicação fidedgnada Teoria do Espaço de Trabalho Global depende primeiramente da existência de sistemas artificiais com metas genuínas(AU)

The Global Workspace Theory att empts to describe conscious tasks functionally. Also, there are att empts of applying such cognitive theory to machine consciousness. However,the theory depends essentially on the notion of goals for determining the hierarchy of content in consciousness. This work analyzes characteristics of goals, differentiating “genuine goals” from “partial goals”. This work proposes that in order for a system to have genuine goals it must be liquid, capable of adapting to changes, being composed of micro-agents with the common interest of survival and replication. We propose that two branches of Artificial Intelligence could be capable of creating agents with genuine goals in the future: nanorobotics and hybrid machinery.Because of such analysis we believe a trustworthy applicati on of Global Workspace Theory depends first on the existence of artificial systems with genuine goals(AU)

Mentes, Metas e Máquinas: um desafio para a consciência artificial / Minds, Goals and Machines: a challenge for artificial consciousness

A Teoria do Espaço de Trabalho Global pretende descrever funcionalmente as tarefas da consciência. Atualmente existem tentativas de aplicação desta teoria cognitiva da consciência em máquinas, entretanto, esta teoria depende, essencialmente, da noção de metas para determinação de hierarquia do conteúdo na consciência. Este trabalho analisa características de metas e a diferença entre metas genuínas e metas parciais. Propõe-se que para que hajam metas genuínas em um sistema é preciso que este seja líquido (capaz de se adaptar a mudanças) sendo composto de microagentes com interesse em conjunto de sobrevivência e replicação. Sugere-se que duas correntes da Inteligência Artificial atual podem vira criar agentes com metas genuínas: a nanorrobótica e a vertente das máquinas híbridas. Por essa análise, acredita-se que uma aplicação fidedgnada Teoria do Espaço de Trabalho Global depende primeiramente da existência de sistemas artificiais com metas genuínas

The Global Workspace Theory att empts to describe conscious tasks functionally. Also, there are att empts of applying such cognitive theory to machine consciousness. However,the theory depends essentially on the notion of goals for determining the hierarchy of content in consciousness. This work analyzes characteristics of goals, differentiating "genuine goals" from "partial goals". This work proposes that in order for a system to have genuine goals it must be liquid, capable of adapting to changes, being composed of micro-agents with the common interest of survival and replication. We propose that two branches of Artificial Intelligence could be capable of creating agents with genuine goals in the future: nanorobotics and hybrid machinery.Because of such analysis we believe a trustworthy applicati on of Global Workspace Theory depends first on the existence of artificial systems with genuine goals