Efstathios A. Sidiropoulos

Gains in cognition through combined cognitive and physical training: the role of training dosage and severity of neurocognitive disorder.

Physical as well as cognitive training interventions improve specific cognitive functions but effects barely generalize on global cognition. Combined physical and cognitive training may overcome this shortcoming as physical training may facilitate the neuroplastic potential which, in turn, may be guided by cognitive training. This study aimed at investigating the benefits of combined training on global cognition while assessing the effect of training dosage and exploring the role of several potential effect modifiers. In this multi-center study, 322 older adults with or without neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) were allocated to a computerized, game-based, combined physical and cognitive training group (n = 237) or a passive control group (n = 85). Training group participants were allocated to different training dosages ranging from 24 to 110 potential sessions. In a pre-post-test design, global cognition was assessed by averaging standardized performance in working memory, episodic memory and executive function tests. The intervention group increased in global cognition compared to the control group, p = 0.002, Cohen’s d = 0.31. Exploratory analysis revealed a trend for less benefits in participants with more severe NCD, p = 0.08 (cognitively healthy: d = 0.54; mild cognitive impairment: d = 0.19; dementia: d = 0.04). In participants without dementia, we found a dose-response effect of the potential number and of the completed number of training sessions on global cognition, p = 0.008 and p = 0.04, respectively. The results indicate that combined physical and cognitive training improves global cognition in a dose-responsive manner but these benefits may be less pronounced in older adults with more severe NCD. The long-lasting impact of combined training on the incidence and trajectory of NCDs in relation to its severity should be assessed in future long-term trials.

The Utilization of Web Analytics in Online Greek Journalism

The development of online journalism together with rapidly evolving internet technologies has affected basic journalistic work processes. As content is moving online, the interest in monitoring web traffic numbers is crucial for media companies and anyone who publishes online news content. This paper studies the use of Web Analytics in the context of media outlets and online journalism in general. Using as case studies Greek newsrooms and a sample of professional Greek journalists, the research focuses on how media organizations are using various quantitative measures and their impact on news work. The results of the survey indicate a significant impact on the way journalists create or address news stories, as well as differences among media outlets and a lack of a newsroom, editorial analytics culture.

DISCOVER-ing Beyond OpenSim; Immersive Learning for Carers of the Elderly in the VR/AR era.

Elderly carer training either formal or informal, imposes a long term healthcare and economical cost. Age, work patterns and overall demographic realities make ordinary approaches of teaching cumbersome and at times, even counterproductive. Scenario based learning has already been proven a reliable modality for self-directed education both in formal and informal context. Within this context, virtual environments have also been established as immersive experiential platforms for delivering such educational scenarios to learners. Additionally, with the advent of emerging technologies like Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) immersion and overlap between the real and the digital become ever increasing. This work describes the evolution of design and implementation innovations that originated in the EU funded DISCOVER project. Specifically, after a brief overview of design guidelines and previous implementation endeavors in virtual environments, the transition of this kind of educational content into the realm of mixed reality is described. Then, an evaluation strategy for such an approach is explored. Finally, the place of such a work in the roadmap of an educational living lab design and implementation is discussed.

Framework of a collaborative audio analysis and visualization tool for data journalists

This paper describes the design and development of RecApp, a mobile application for visualization and collaborative analysis of journalistic data from audio collections. We try to identify the challenges to support a team of journalists in understanding and analyzing mobile audio data constructing semantic networks from text by collaborative visualization approach.