A comprehensive study on unraveling the advances of immersive technologies (VR/AR/MR/XR) in the healthcare sector during the COVID-19: Challenges and solutions

Innovations Driving the Future of Maxillofacial Prosthetics, Part I: The Technological Leap in Maxillofacial Rehabilitation

Maxillofacial prosthetics is a specialized field focused on replacing part or all of the facial and cranial structures. In recent years, digital technology has gained popularity over traditional methods for fabricating maxillofacial prostheses. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive review of recent innovations in maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation, with an emphasis on emerging technologies and their impact on patient outcomes, treatment efficiency, and overall quality of life.A comprehensive literature search was conducted across the Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE, and CENTRAL databases for studies published in English within the last decade. The keywords utilized included "Maxillofacial Prosthesis Implantation," "Maxillofacial Prosthesis," and "rehabilitation," as well as "Virtual Rehabilitation," "Artificial intelligence," and "digital technology." The initial search yielded 178 articles. After resolving 51 duplicates, 127 articles were screened based on titles and abstracts. Following full-text assessment, 81 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review.The results indicated that advancements in digital technologies, digital imaging, data acquisition, and the integration of digital workflows have significantly transformed the rehabilitation of maxillofacial prosthetics. These innovations enabled customization and personalization, provided an improved fit, enhanced precision, reduced number of visits and chair time, and facilitated seamless rehabilitation of complex maxillofacial defects. Four-dimensional printing involves materials that can change shape or properties over time, enabled printed objects to adapt dynamically to external stimuli, enhancing both comfort and functionality of prosthetics. Further advancements, such as five-dimensional and six-dimensional printing, improved the sensory capabilities of prostheses. Virtual and augmented reality enhance real-world experiences by overlaying digital data, improving accuracy and fit, enabling virtual surgical planning, and developing patient-specific implants. Artificial intelligence (AI) assists automated decision-making and supports the design of AI-driven prostheses. AI algorithms have shown the potential to automate digital planning, replicate intricate anatomical features, and attain high diagnostic accuracy in maxillofacial prosthodontic scenarios.

Defining the Criteria for Selecting the Right Extended Reality Systems in Healthcare Using Fuzzy Analytic Network Process

In the past decade, extended reality (XR) has been introduced into healthcare due to several potential benefits, such as scalability and cost savings. As there is no comprehensive study covering all the factors influencing the selection of an XR system in the healthcare and medical domain, a Decision Support System is proposed in this paper to identify and rank factors impacting the performance of XR in this domain from an engineering design perspective. The proposed system is built upon the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model supported by a literature survey and experts' knowledge to extract and identify important factors. Subsequently, the factors are categorized into distinct categories, and their relative importance is specified by Analytic Network Process (ANP) models under a fuzzy environment. Two fuzzy approaches for the ANP models are compared, and the results are analyzed using statistical testing. The computational results show that the ranking agreement between the two fuzzy approaches is strong and corresponds to the fact that both approaches yield the same ranking of primary factors, highlighting the significance of reliability as the topmost factor, followed by responsiveness, cost, and agility. It is shown that while the top three important sub-factors are identical between the two approaches, their relative order is slightly varied. Safety is considered to be the most critical aspect within the reliability category in both approaches, but there are discrepancies in the rankings of accuracy and user control and freedom. Both approaches also consider warranty and depreciation costs as the least significant criteria.

Confronting the Mental Health Challenges of Large-Scale Combat Operations

The Department of Defense predicts that future conflicts will involve large-scale combat operations (LSCOs) characterized by high-intensity warfare between technologically advanced nations. These conflicts may result in prolonged exposure to violence, increasing the risk of severe mental health consequences for military personnel, veterans, and civilians. Research on past wars and ongoing conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, demonstrates the heightened risks of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, moral injury, and compassion fatigue in LSCOs. Unlike previous conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, LSCOs may involve prolonged deployments, limited medical evacuations, and greater use of cyber and psychological warfare, exacerbating psychological distress. Given these anticipated threats, we urge mental health professionals to proactively address the anticipated mental health challenges associated with LSCOs. Preemptive strategies may include predeployment resilience training, increased access to deployable and telehealth mental health resources, and targeted interventions for preventing and mitigating moral injury. Additionally, civilian populations in conflict zones may experience displacement and exposure to violence. Given the long-term psychological impact of large-scale warfare, ongoing mental health program development and evaluation is needed to support affected populations. By anticipating these challenges posed by LSCOs, mental health professionals can implement strategic interventions to mitigate their psychological burden on service members, veterans, and civilians.

Revolutionizing healthcare leadership the critical role of digital citizenship in knowledge sharing

This study explores the relationship between digital leadership (DLR), visionary leadership (VSL), and knowledge sharing (KNS) among healthcare professionals in Pakistan, focusing on the mediating role of digital citizenship behavior (DCZ). As leadership becomes increasingly crucial for promoting knowledge sharing in healthcare, understanding how DLR and VSL facilitate this behavior particularly through digital citizenship is essential. A quantitative approach was employed, gathering data from 202 healthcare professionals via a structured questionnaire assessing DLR, VSL, DCZ, and KNS. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the relationships and test the mediating effect of DCZ. Findings reveal significant positive relationships between both DLR and VSL with KNS. Notably, DCZ partially mediates the relationship between DLR and KNS, with a stronger mediation effect observed in this context. In the VSL-KNS relationship, DCZ's mediation was confirmed and indicating partial mediation. These results underscore the importance of fostering digital citizenship behaviors to enhance knowledge sharing, providing valuable insights for leadership development programs aimed at improving organizational performance in healthcare settings.

Virtual environments as a novel and promising approach in (neuro)diagnosis and (neuro)therapy: a perspective on the example of autism spectrum disorder

Over the last three decades, dynamically evolving research using novel technologies, including virtual environments (VEs), has presented promising solutions for neuroscience and neuropsychology. This article explores the known and potential benefits and drawbacks of employing modern technologies for diagnosing and treating developmental disorders, exemplified by autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD's complex nature is ideal for illustrating the advantages and disadvantages of the digital world. While VEs' possibilities remain under-explored, they offer enhanced diagnostics and treatment options for ASD, augmenting traditional approaches. Unlike real-world obstacles primarily rooted in social challenges and overwhelming environments, these novel technologies provide unique compensatory opportunities for ASD-related deficits. From our perspective in addition to other recent work, digital technologies should be adapted to suit the specific needs of individuals with ASD.