The Conflict Between People’s Urge to Punish AI and Legal Systems

Regulating artificial intelligence (AI) has become necessary in light of its deployment in high-risk scenarios. This paper explores the proposal to extend legal personhood to AI and robots, which had not yet been examined through the lens of the general public. We present two studies (N = 3,559) to obtain people’s views of electronic legal personhood vis-à-vis existing liability models. Our study reveals people’s desire to punish automated agents even though these entities are not recognized any mental state. Furthermore, people did not believe automated agents’ punishment would fulfill deterrence nor retribution and were unwilling to grant them legal punishment preconditions, namely physical independence and assets. Collectively, these findings suggest a conflict between the desire to punish automated agents and its perceived impracticability. We conclude by discussing how future design and legal decisions may influence how the public reacts to automated agents’ wrongdoings.

Comparison of the functional and cardiovascular effects of home-based versus supervised hospital circuit training exercises in male wheelchair users with chronic paraplegia

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of home-based upper extremity circuit training exercises (CTEs) with supervised hospital program in male patients with traumatic complete paraplegia. Patients and methods: Twenty men with paraplegia (mean age: 38±10.1 years; range, 30 to 43 years) between January 2007 and November 2007 were randomized into two groups. The first group had supervised hospital CTE program, whereas the second group had home-based CTE. The effects of the upper extremity CTE by using elastic bands 60 min per day, five days a week, for a total of eight weeks (70% maximal oxygen consumption [VO2max]) were examined. The Cybex was used for the isokinetic testing of the upper extremities. The VO2max and maximum heart rate (HR) were assessed using an arm ergometer. The Craig Handicap Report Technique Short Form (CHART-SF) was used for the evaluation of functional independence and mobility. Serum lipid profiles were measured. Results: The mean injury duration was 7.9±2 years. The peak torque values of the upper extremities, VO2max, maximum HR, CHART-SF physical independence and mobility scores, and serum lipid profile were all improved in both groups (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in terms of the increase in the muscle strength and serum lipid levels between the groups (p>0.05). The improvement in the VO2max, physical independence, and mobility scores were greater in the supervised exercise group. Conclusion: Upper extremity strength, cardiovascular endurance, and lipid profile were improved after supervised and home-based CTE in the men with paraplegia. Home-based exercise programs may be good alternatives to the hospital rehabilitation for this patient population.

The risk factors of recurrent falls among inpatients: A retrospective study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Recurrent falls are more likely to cause injuries and disabilities than single falls. OBJECTIVE This study investigated the incidence and risk factors of recurrent falls among inpatients. METHODS Adopting a retrospective research design, we collected and analyzed inpatient fall data from the anomaly event notification database of a teaching hospital in Taiwan in coordination with electronic medical records in the four years from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2019. RESULTS We collected data from 1,059 inpatients. Among these inpatients were 390 recurrent-fall inpatients (36.83%) who had a fallen more than once. After controlling the other variables, we found that inpatients in the orthopedics and neurology wards were at higher risk of recurrent falls within a year than those in surgical wards (OR=2.44, p< .001; OR=1.93, p= .002); inpatients who were completely physically dependent on others or required assistance before their falls were at higher risk of recurrent falls within a year than those who were physically independent (OR = 2.10, p= .014; OR=1.57, p= .015); inpatients with self-perceived poor vision were at lower risk of recurrent falls within a year than those without this issue (OR=0.61, p< .001), and inpatients who were using antidepressants were at higher risk of recurrent falls within a year than those who were not using antidepressants (OR=1.44, p= .042). CONCLUSIONS There are multiple aspects to the factors of recurrent falls among inpatients within a year and that the risk of recurrent falls is highly correlated with ward type (orthopedics and neurology), physical independence (completely dependent or requiring assistance), no poor vision, and use of antidepressants. CLINICALTRIAL NA

Inhalational versus intravenous maintenance of anesthesia for quality of recovery in patients undergoing corrective lower limb osteotomy: A randomized controlled trial

Background Inhalational anesthesia and propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) are the two most popular methods of general anesthesia with distinct characteristics that may affect quality of recovery (QOR) differently. This study compared QOR after corrective lower limb osteotomy between desflurane-based inhalational anesthesia and propofol-based TIVA. Methods Sixty-eight patients, ASA class I or II who underwent corrective lower limb osteotomy were randomized to receive either desflurane anesthesia or propofol TIVA. The primary outcome was quality of recovery 40 (QoR-40) questionnaire scores on postoperative day (POD) 1 and 2. Postoperative nausea scores, antiemetic requirements, and amount of opioid consumption via intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) were assessed as secondary outcomes. Results Global QoR-40 scores on POD 1 (153.5 (140.3, 171.3) vs. 140.0 (120.0, 173.0), P = 0.056, 95% CI; -22.5, 0.2) and POD 2 (155.5 (146.8, 175.5) vs. 152.0 (134.0, 179.0), P = 0.209, 95% CI; -17.5, 3.9) were comparable between the two groups. Among the five dimensions of QoR-40, physical independence scores were significantly higher in the TIVA group compared to the Desflurane group on POD both 1 and 2. Nausea scores (0.0 (0.0, 0.0) vs. 1.0 (0.0, 3.5), P < 0.001) and number of patients requiring rescue antiemetics (0% vs. 15.2%, P = 0.017) were significantly lower in the TIVA group at the post anesthesia care unit (PACU). Although the number of bolus attempts between 0–24 h and the morphine equivalent dose of analgesics administered via IV PCA between 12–24 h were significantly less in the TIVA group compared to the Desflurane group, there was no significant difference between groups for the overall 48 h postoperative period. Conclusions Propofol-based TIVA did not improve global QoR-40 scores compared with desflurane-based inhalational anesthesia. However, considering the better QoR-40 scores in the domain of physical independence and less nausea in the early postoperative period, propofol TIVA should be considered as a useful option in patients undergoing corrective lower limb osteotomy.

Disability Prevention Program Improves Life-Space and Falls Efficacy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Life-space and falls efficacy are essential to physical independence and consistently predict disabilities. However, it remains unknown whether the CAPABLE, a disability prevention program, improves life-space and falls efficacy in older adults. We evaluated the effects of a home-based disability prevention program on life-space (N=194) and falls efficacy (N=233) among low-income older adults with restricted daily activities. The CAPABLE intervention consists of up to 6 one-hour home visits with an Occupational Therapist (OT), up to 4 one-hour home visits with a Register Nurse (RN), and up to $1300 worth of home repairs, modifications, and assistive devices with a handyman, during four months. Life-space and falls efficacy were measured by the Telephone Assessment of Mobility for homebound older adults and the Tinetti Falls Efficacy Scale at baseline and five months, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression and generalized linear models were used for data analyses. Participants in both samples were, on average, 75 years, predominantly black (86%) and female (85%-86%). Compared to participants in the control group, participants receiving the intervention were more likely to have improved (Odds Ratio [OR]: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.06-4.20) or unchanged overall life-space (OR: 2.62, 95% CI: 1.10-6.27) vs. decreased overall life-space. Participants who received the intervention also had significantly higher falls efficacy in performing daily activities (exponentiated coefficient: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.04-1.19). Life-space and falls efficacy can be significantly improved by CAPABLE program. These findings provide more evidence for the reasons for the increased physical independence.

Predicting functional performance via classification of lower extremity strength in older adults with exergame-collected data

Objective The goal of this article is to present and to evaluate a sensor-based functional performance monitoring system. The system consists of an array of Wii Balance Boards (WBB) and an exergame that estimates whether the player can maintain physical independence, comparing the results with the 30 s Chair-Stand Test (30CST). Methods Sixteen participants recruited at a nursing home performed the 30CST and then played the exergame described here as often as desired during a period of 2 weeks. For each session, features related to walking and standing on the WBBs while playing the exergame were collected. Different classifier algorithms were used to predict the result of the 30CST on a binary basis as able or unable to maintain physical independence. Results By using a Logistic Model Tree, we achieved a maximum accuracy of 91% when estimating whether player’s 30CST scores were over or under a threshold of 12 points, our findings suggest that predicting age- and sex-adjusted cutoff scores is feasible. Conclusion An array of WBBs seems to be a viable solution to estimate lower extremity strength and thereby functional performance in a non-invasive and continuous manner. This study provides proof of concept supporting the use of exergames to identify and monitor elderly subjects at risk of losing physical independence.

Predicting Functional Performance via Classification of Lower Extremity Strength in Older Adults with Exergame-Collected Data

Objective: The goal of this article is to present and to evaluate a sensor-based functional performance monitoring system. The system consists of an array of Wii Balance Boards (WBB) and an exergame that estimates whether the player can maintain physical independence, comparing the results with the 30 Second Chair-Stand Test (30CST). Methods: Sixteen participants recruited at a nursing home performed the 30CST and then played the exergame described here as often as desired during a period of two weeks. For each session, features related to walking and standing on the WBBs while playing the exergame were collected. Different classifier algorithms were used to predict the result of the 30CST on a binary basis as able or unable to maintain physical independence. Results: By using a Logistic Model Tree, we achieved a maximum accuracy of 91% when estimating whether player’s 30CST scores were over or under a threshold of 12 points, Our findings suggest that predicting age- and sex-adjusted cutoff scores is feasible. Conclusion: An array of WBBs seems to be a viable solution to estimate lower extremity strength and thereby functional performance in a non-invasive and continuous manner. This study provides proof of concept supporting the use of exergames to identify and monitor elderly subjects at risk of losing physical independence.

Fall Risk Prediction via Classification of Lower Extremity Strength in Older Adults with Exergame-Collected Data

Objective: The goal of this article is to present and evaluate a sensor-based falling risk estimation system. The system consists of an array of Wii Balance Boards (WBB) and an exergame that estimates if the player is at an increased falling risk by predicting the result of the 30 Second Chair-Stand Test (30CST). Methods: 16 participants recruited at a nursing home performed the 30CST and then played the exergame as often as desired during a period of two weeks. For each session, features related to how they walk and stand on the WBBs while playing the exergame were collected. Different classifier algorithms were used to predict the result of the 30CST on a binary basis (able or unable to maintain physical independence). Results: We achieved a maximum accuracy of 91% when attempting to estimate if the player’s 30CST score will be over or under a threshold of 12 points using a Logistic Model Tree. We also believe it is feasible to predict age- and sex-adjusted cutoff scores. Conclusion: An array of WBBs seems to be a viable solution to estimate lower extremity strength and with it the falling risk. In addition, data extracted while playing may form a basis to perform a general screening to identify elderly at an increased falling risk.