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Seeks to promote an understanding of a multidisciplinary approach to artificial intelligence and the humanities.

This paper is based on an interview with Heinz von Foerster.

Describes von Foerster's personal and intellectual journey which made him a transdisciplinary scientist and the founder and director of the Biological Computer Laboratory.

Provides a better understanding in how the complexity of scientific practice should be reflected in an open and flexible attitude towards the objects of enquiry.

Nowadays, an analysis of the circumstances that have led to the development of specific industries within regional entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) is extremely relevant. The chapter carries out a twofold analysis, in order to fully explore the reasons that have led to the creation of a specific industrial district. On the one hand, the tissue paper industry in the Italian province of Lucca is analysed through a qualitative approach; on the other hand, the contextual traits of the Toscana EE influencing firm performance are investigated through using a quantitative research approach. This mixed research analysis provides some important hints. First, it helps to understand how systemic, framework and human conditions affect firm performance. Second, it examines how historical, social, and economic factors have shaped regional industries. Through an in-depth analysis, the chapter provides theoretical and empirical insights into the dynamics that affect industrial transformation in response to globalisation, technological innovation, and changing market demands. After completing the chapter, readers will understand how knowledge, collaboration, and shared resources drive regional competitiveness. Through the qualitative analysis, readers will be aware of the tissue paper industry evolution. The combination with the quantitative study allows us to capture the different drivers swaying firm performance, such as infrastructure, innovation capacity, and institutional support. Therefore, the use of empirical data enables for a more objective assessment of the earlier contextual elements, revealing trends and patterns that may not be immediately evident through qualitative analysis.

The purpose of this paper is to build a mobile visual search service system for the protection of Dunhuang cultural heritage in the smart library. A novel mobile visual search model for Dunhuang murals is proposed to help users acquire rich knowledge and services conveniently.

First, local and global features of images are extracted, and the visual dictionary is generated by the k-means clustering. Second, the mobile visual search model based on the bag-of-words (BOW) and multiple semantic associations is constructed. Third, the mobile visual search service system of the smart library is designed in the cloud environment. Furthermore, Dunhuang mural images are collected to verify this model.

The findings reveal that the BOW_SIFT_HSV_MSA model has better search performance for Dunhuang mural images when the scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) and the hue, saturation and value (HSV) are used to extract local and global features of the images. Compared with different methods, this model is the most effective way to search images with the semantic association in the topic, time and space dimensions.

Dunhuang mural image set is a part of the vast resources stored in the smart library, and the fine-grained semantic labels could be applied to meet diverse search needs.

The mobile visual search service system is constructed to provide users with Dunhuang cultural services in the smart library. A novel mobile visual search model based on BOW and multiple semantic associations is proposed. This study can also provide references for the protection and utilization of other cultural heritages.

This paper explores the history of Stafford Beer's work in management cybernetics, from his early conception and simulation of an adaptive automatic factory and associated experimentation in biological computing, through the development of the Viable System Model and the Team Syntegrity technique for discussion and planning. It also pursues Beer into the fields of micro‐ and macropolitics and spirituality. The aim is to show that all of Beer's projects can be understood as specific instantiations and workings out of a cybernetic ontology of unknowability and becoming: a stance that recognises that the world can always surprise us and that we can never dominate it through knowledge. The thrust of Beer's work was, thus, to construct systems that could adapt performatively to environments they could not fully control.

Building Information Modelling in building processes brings significant efficiency gains. However, its use in restoration projects is still experimental. On the other hand, more than traditional methods are needed for communication, collaboration, and shared understanding. Hence, the main research question is how to enhance these aspects in multinational projects with information transparency challenges and the need for shared understanding among stakeholders. This research aims to develop and propose a hybrid modelling approach that integrates traditional and BIM-based information process workflows through testing and evaluating to what extent BIM can be used in restoration projects without excessive efforts.

Considering this aim, the case study, the Mahmud Pasha Hammam as the heritage building, a 15th-century structure located in Serbia, was studied with the action research strategy to enable action-based learning by doing. Alongside the 2D documentation as the traditional method for the existing structure, restoration design proposals were also produced for the new additions to the heritage structure with BIM.

A new BIM use scenario was experimented with and proposed, proving BIM implementation's potential impact on heritage restoration projects. A hybrid model was developed that meets the requirements of existing regulations and specifications, where restoration proposals were visualized quickly, quantity take-off was produced, and technical drawings were generated instantly.

This hybrid modelling workflow integrates HBIM with traditional methods in restoration projects to improve communication, efficiency, and collaboration in a real-time professional project.

This paper aims to propose a real-time augmented reality (AR)-based assembly assistance system using a coarse-to-fine marker-less tracking strategy. The system automatically adapts to tracking requirement when the topological structure of the assembly changes after each assembly step.

The prototype system’s process can be divided into two stages: the offline preparation stage and online execution stage. In the offline preparation stage, planning results (assembly sequence, parts position, rotation, etc.) and image features [gradient and oriented FAST and rotated BRIEF (ORB)features] are extracted automatically from the assembly planning process. In the online execution stage, too, image features are extracted and matched with those generated offline to compute the camera pose, and planning results stored in XML files are parsed to generate the assembly instructions for manipulators. In the prototype system, the working range of template matching algorithm, LINE-MOD, is first extended by using depth information; then, a fast and robust marker-less tracker that combines the modified LINE-MOD algorithm and ORB tracker is designed to update the camera pose continuously. Furthermore, to track the camera pose stably, a tracking strategy according to the characteristic of assembly is presented herein.

The tracking accuracy and time of the proposed marker-less tracking approach were evaluated, and the results showed that the tracking method could run at 30 fps and the position and pose tracking accuracy was slightly superior to ARToolKit.

The main contributions of this work are as follows: First, the authors present a coarse-to-fine marker-less tracking method that uses modified state-of-the-art template matching algorithm, LINE-MOD, to find the coarse camera pose. Then, a feature point tracker ORB is activated to calculate the accurate camera pose. The whole tracking pipeline needs, on average, 24.35 ms for each frame, which can satisfy the real-time requirement for AR assembly. On basis of this algorithm, the authors present a generic tracking strategy according to the characteristics of the assembly and develop a generic AR-based assembly assistance platform. Second, the authors present a feature point mismatch-eliminating rule based on the orientation vector. By obtaining stable matching feature points, the proposed system can achieve accurate tracking results. The evaluation of the camera position and pose tracking accuracy result show that the study’s method is slightly superior to ARToolKit markers.

This study aims to review the presentation of substance use disorders in older adults, how addiction intertwines with neurocognitive disorders and how to approach this vulnerable population.

Electronic data searches of PubMed, Medline and the Cochrane Library (years 2000–2021) were performed using the keywords “neurocognitive,” “dementia,” “substance use,” “addiction,” “older adults” and “elderly.” The authors, in consensus, selected pivotal studies and conducted a narrative synthesis of the findings.

Research about substance use disorders in older adults is limited, especially in those with superimposed neurocognitive disorders. Having dual diagnoses can make the identification and treatment of either condition challenging. Management should use a holistic multidisciplinary approach that involves medical professionals and caregivers.

This review highlights some of the intertwining aspects between substance use disorders and neurocognitive disorders in older adults. It provides a comprehensive summary of the available evidence on treatment in this population.

Fully-actuated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are a growing and promising field of research, which shows advantages for aerial physical interaction. The purpose of this paper is to construct a force sensor-denied control method for a fully-actuated hexarotor to conduct aerial interaction with accurate force exerted outward.

First, by extending single-dimension impedance model to the fully-actuated UAV model, an impedance controller is designed for compliant UAV pose/force control. Then, to estimate the interaction force between UAV end-effector and external environment accurately, combined with super-twisting theory, a nonlinear force observer is constructed. Finally, based on impedance controller and estimated force from observer, an interaction force regulation method is proposed.

The presented nonlinear observer-based impedance control approach is validated in both simulation and environments, in which the authors try to use a fully-actuated hexarotor to accomplish the task of aerial physical interaction finding that a specified force is able to be exerted to environment without any information from force sensors.

A solution of aerial physical interaction for UAV system enabling accurate force exerted outward without any force sensors is proposed in this paper.