Perceiving Destination Through Animated GIFs: A Mixed Method Design for Multifaceted Image Assessment

The notion of multifaceted image, composed of cognitive, affective, and sensory dimensions, has attracted growing scholarly interest in recent years. However, general understanding of the roles of the senses (i.e., sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch) in image processing remains scarce. Little attention has also been paid to the effects of visual stimuli related to design features on the construction of multifaceted image. This study investigated viewers’ perceived multifaceted destination image upon exposure to different photo formats (i.e., animated vs. static). A mixed method approach was employed to collect data using a between-subjects experimental design. Findings revealed that moving visual presentation exert stronger impacts on three image dimensions in several aspects and associations were also observed between photo contents and sensory arousal. Results enrich the body of knowledge on destination image in terms of image structure and the features of visual stimuli. Practical implications are discussed as well.

Body image assessment instruments in Hispanic Latin American population (Silhouettes) / Instrumentos de evaluación de la imagen corporal en población Hispano Latino Americana (Siluetas)

Desde mediados del siglo XX, la investigación focalizada en la imagen corporal ha adquirido particular relevancia, no sólo desde el punto de vista del cuerpo subjetivo, vivido o fenoménico, a partir de la visión del propio individuo, sino que también desde la repercusión profunda y holística que implica en su salud, pues se trata de una construcción que recibe aportes de lo fisiológico, lo psicológico, lo espiritual, lo social, lo cultural, lo político, lo religioso y lo histórico. Al escoger un instrumento de evaluación de variables abstractas, como es la imagen corporal, es menester considerar las limitaciones en el intento de operacionalizar dicho constructo. Por ende, en el presente capítulo se reseña el desarrollo del concepto, que aún en la actualidad carece de consenso teórico, clínico y empírico, representando ello una dificultad al momento de analizar sus diferentes alternativas de medición, tales como las medidas de siluetas corporales. Sin embargo, existe cierta coincidencia entre los modelos comprensivos de la imagen corporal, al identificar tres componentes de ella: el perceptual, el cognitivo y el actitudinal/afectivo. Entre los procedimientos empleados para la ponderación de la afectividad orientada hacia el cuerpo y sus segmentos, vale decir, la satisfacción/insatisfacción corporal, se dispone actualmente de numerosos cuestionarios que se analizan a detalle en secciones posteriores de este trabajo. El presente capítulo se centra en la descripción de los instrumentos dirigidos a estimar la distorsión en la percepción de la forma corporal, particularmente ante la exposición de siluetas estandarizadas que varían en su corpulencia y características físicas, con el objetivo de mensurar la auto-percepción y, mediante ésta, la factible discrepancia (o inexactitud) que puede existir entre la dimensión corporal real y su apreciación. Por último, se analizará el rol de este tipo de medidas en estudios clínicos, poblacionales y transculturales.

Does stereoscopic imaging improve the memorization of medical imaging by neurosurgeons? Experience of a single institution

Stereoscopic imaging has increasingly been used in anatomical teaching and neurosurgery. The aim of our study was to analyze the potential utility of stereoscopic imaging as a tool for memorizing neurosurgical patient cases compared to conventional monoscopic visualization. A total of 16 residents and 6 consultants from the Department of Neurosurgery at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin were recruited for the study. They were divided into two equally experienced groups. A comparative analysis of both imaging modalities was conducted in which four different cases were assessed by the participants. Following the image assessment, two questionnaires, one analyzing the subjective judgment using the 5-point Likert Scale and the other assessing the memorization and anatomical accuracy, were completed by all participants. Both groups had the same median year of experience (5) and stereoacuity (≤ 75 s of arc). The analysis of the first questionnaire demonstrated significant subjective superiority of the monoscopic imaging in evaluation of the pathology (median: monoscopic: 4; stereoscopic: 3; p = 0.020) and in handling of the system (median: monoscopic: 5; stereoscopic: 2; p < 0.001). The second questionnaire showed that the anatomical characterization of the pathologies was comparable between both visualization methods. Most participants rated the stereoscopic visualization as worse compared to the monoscopic visualization, probably due to a lack of familiarity with the newer technique. Stereoscopic imaging, however, was not objectively inferior to traditional monoscopic imaging for anatomical comprehension. Further methodological developments and incorporation in routine clinical workflows will most likely enhance the usability and acceptance of stereoscopic visualization.

Canadian Association of Radiologists Mammography Accreditation Program—Clinical Image Assessment

The Canadian Association of Radiologists Mammography Accreditation Program (CAR-MAP) has advocated for quality mammography since its inception in 1991. Evidence based standards have been employed to address image quality, education of personnel, radiologists experience and reading volume. This article reviews the objectives and components of the accreditation program. Education requirements for the technologist, physicist and radiologist are described. A guide to the evaluation criteria for the clinical images is provided. Positioning requirements and technical considerations are detailed to assist facilities and their personnel in improving and maintaining image quality and choosing appropriate images for submission for accreditation.

How Feature Context alters Attentional Template Switching

In real-world tasks visual attention is rarely aimed at a single object. Humans rather“forage” the visual scene for information, dynamically switching attentional templates. Several visual search studies have found that observers often use suboptimal attentional control strategies, possibly to avoid effort. Here, we investigated with a foraging paradigm if observers’ reluctance to switch between attentional templates increases with template specificity. To that end, we manipulated the feature context of displays in which participants “foraged” moving stimuli on a tablet-PC. Experiment 1 (N = 35) revealed a decline in switching tendency and foraging efficiency with increasing feature-space distance between target alternatives. Experiment 2 (N = 36) found even lower flexibility with distractor color close to, and strongest impairments with distractor color in between target colors. Our results demonstrate that visualinformation sampling is most flexible when broad (instead of very specific) templates and relational search strategies are possible (e.g., attending “redder” objects), with implications for both attention research and applications, especially in visual-foraging-like tasks, such as baggage screening or medical image assessment.

Perception of Aesthetic Impairment in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis: A Case Control Study Using a Semi-Quantitative Scale for Body Image Assessment.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a fibrotic disease. Assessment of body image could be central in optimizing care. Yet, data are scarce. The main objective was to assess perception of aesthetic impairment using a visual aesthetic scale (AES) in patients with SSc compared to healthy subjects. Secondary objectives were to assess associations between perception of aesthetic impairment and standardized questionnaires for aesthetic impairment as well as clinical, psychological/quality of life, and functional parameters of SSc. Methods: This study evaluated and compared perception of aesthetic impairment in two populations: patients with SSc, in a referral center at Lille Hospital, France, and healthy controls. Results: This study included 88 patients (69 [78.4%] women) with a median age of 52 years and 88 controls (49 [55.7%] women) with a median age of 45 years. Perception of aesthetic impairment assessed using the AES was poorer in patients than in controls (3.7 ± 0.3 vs 2.8 ± 0.3, p=0.028), with statistical correlation with ASWAP. Patients with anxiety or depressive symptoms had significantly higher AES scores. Conclusion: The AES appears to be an ease of use tool to evaluate body image. Correlations found with psychological and quality of life parameters reflect the importance of these parameters for body image evaluation and its complex assessment.Trials registration: NCT03271320