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BACKGROUND: People living with HIV experience HIV stigma alongside a spectrum of aging-related health conditions that accelerate their vulnerability to the ill effects of loneliness and social isolation. Group-singing interventions are efficacious in improving psychosocial well-being among older people in the general population; however, the social curative effects of group singing have not been explored in relation to HIV stigma. By promoting group identification, bonding, and pride, group singing may reduce loneliness, social isolation, and other negative impacts of HIV stigma among older people living with HIV. Access to group-singing programs may be enhanced by technology. OBJECTIVE: While group singing has been extensively studied in older adults, group-singing interventions have not been adapted for older people living with HIV to target loneliness and social isolation in the context of HIV stigma. The objective of this study was to describe the systematic development of a group-singing intervention to reduce loneliness and social isolation among older people living with HIV. METHODS: In the San Francisco Bay Area between February 2019 and October 2019, we engaged older people living with HIV in a rigorous, 8-stage, community-engaged intervention adaptation process using the Assessment, Decision, Adaptation, Production, Topical Experts, Integration, Training, and Testing (ADAPT-ITT) framework. On the basis of a formative assessment of the needs and preferences of older people living with HIV, we selected an evidence-based group-singing intervention for older adults and systematically adapted the intervention components by administering them to a community advisory council (n=13). RESULTS: The result was United Voices, a 12-week hybrid (web-based and in-person) group-singing intervention for older people living with HIV. United Voices comprises 12 web-based (ie, via Zoom [Zoom Video Communications]) rehearsals, web-based and in-person drop-in helpdesk sessions, and a professionally produced final concert recording. CONCLUSIONS: Through an iterative process and in consultation with stakeholders and topic experts, we refined and manualized United Voices and finalized the design of a pilot randomized controlled trial to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention protocol and procedures. The findings provide insights into the barriers and facilitators involved in culturally tailoring interventions for older people living with HIV, implementing intervention adaptations within web-based environments, and the promise of developing hybrid music-based interventions for older adults with HIV.

BACKGROUND: A third of adults in Western countries have impaired sleep quality. A possible solution involves distributing sleep aids through smartphone apps, but most empirical studies are limited to small pilot trials in distinct populations (eg, soldiers) or individuals with clinical sleep disorders; therefore, general population data are required. Furthermore, recent research shows that sleep app users desire a personalized approach, offering an individually tailored choice of techniques. One such aid is Peak Sleep, a smartphone app based on scientifically validated principles for improving sleep quality, such as mindfulness meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to test the impact of the smartphone app Peak Sleep on sleep quality and collect user experience data to allow for future app development. METHODS: This was a 2-arm pilot randomized controlled trial. Participants were general population adults in the United Kingdom (aged ≥18 years) who were interested in improving their sleep quality and were not undergoing clinical treatment for sleep disorder or using sleep medication ≥1 per week. Participants were individually randomized to receive the intervention (3 months of app use) versus a no-treatment control. The intervention involved free access to Peak Sleep, an app that offered a choice of behavioral techniques to support better sleep (mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, and acceptance commitment therapy). The primary outcome was sleep quality assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index at baseline and 1-, 2-, and 3-month follow-ups. Assessments were remote using web-based questionnaires. Objective sleep data collection using the Oura Ring (Ōura Health Oy) was planned; however, because the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns began just after recruitment started, this plan could not be realized. Participant engagement with the app was assessed using the Digital Behavior Change Intervention Engagement Scale and qualitative telephone interviews with a subsample. RESULTS: A total of 101 participants were enrolled in the trial, and 21 (21%) were qualitatively interviewed. Sleep quality improved in both groups over time, with Insomnia Severity Index scores of the intervention group improving by a mean of 2.5 and the control group by a mean of 1.6 (between-group mean difference 0.9, 95% CI -2.0 to 3.8), with was no significant effect of group (P=.91). App users engagement was mixed, with qualitative interviews supporting the view of a polarized sample who either strongly liked or disliked the app. CONCLUSIONS: In this trial, self-reported sleep improved over time in both intervention and control arms, with no impact by group, suggesting no effect of the sleep app. Qualitative data suggested polarized views on liking or not liking the app, features that people engaged with, and areas for improvement. Future work could involve developing the app features and then testing the app using objective measures of sleep in a larger sample. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04487483; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04487483.

Mobile technology growth in Nepal offers promising opportunities for using mobile health (mHealth) interventions to facilitate HIV prevention efforts. However, little is known about access and utilization of communication technology and their willingness to use mHealth for HIV prevention services in Nepal. We conducted a cross-sectional respondent-driven sampling survey of 250 MSM in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal from October to December 2022. We collected information on participant characteristics, HIV risk-related behaviors, ownership, or access to and frequency of use of communication technology (phones, tablets, laptops, and computers), and willingness to use mHealth to access HIV prevention services. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed. Almost all participants had smartphones with the internet (231/250, 92.4%) and accessed the internet daily (219/250, 87.6%) on the smartphone (236/250, 94.4%). The median score for willingness to use mHealth for HIV prevention was 10 (IQR: 3 to 17). Willingness to use mHealth was higher among those participants with a high school or above education (β = 0.223, p = < 0.001), had experienced violence (β = 0.231, p = 0.006), and had moderate to severe depressive symptoms (β = 0.223, p = < 0.001). However, monthly income above NPR 20,000 (USD 150) (β= -0.153, p = 0.008), disclosure of their sexual orientation to anyone (β= -0.159, p = < 0.007), and worry about being negatively judged by health care workers (β= -0.136, p = 0.023) were less willing to use mHealth strategies. The findings from this study suggest that there is a high willingness for utilizing mHealth interventions for HIV prevention in MSM population who are at higher risk of HIV acquisition.

BACKGROUND: More people who smoke and are living with HIV now die from tobacco-related diseases than HIV itself. Most people are ambivalent about quitting smoking and want to quit someday but not yet. Scalable, effective interventions are needed to motivate and support smoking cessation among people ambivalent about quitting smoking (PAQS) who are living with HIV. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to develop an app-based intervention for PAQS who are living with HIV and assess its feasibility, acceptability, and potential impact. Results of this study will inform plans for future research and development. METHODS: In phase 1, PAQS living with HIV (n=8) participated in user-centered design interviews to inform the final intervention app design and recruitment plan for a subsequent randomized pilot study. In phase 2, PAQS living with HIV were randomized to either a standard care control app or a similar experimental app with additional content tailored for PAQS and those with HIV. Participants were followed for 3 months. Feasibility focused on recruitment, retention, and participants willingness to install the app. The study was not powered for statistical significance. Indices of acceptability (satisfaction and use) and impact (smoking behavior change and treatment uptake) were assessed via automated data and self-report among those who installed and used the app (n=19). RESULTS: Recruitment for both study phases was a challenge, particularly via web-based and social media platforms. Enrollment success was greater among people living with HIV recruited from a health care provider and research registry. Once enrolled, retention for the phase 2 randomized study was good; 74% (14/19) of the participants completed the 3-month follow-up. Phase 1 findings suggested that PAQS living with HIV were receptive to using an app-based intervention to help them decide whether, when, and how to stop smoking, despite not being ready to quit smoking. Phase 2 findings further supported this conclusion based on feedback from people who agreed to use an app, but group differences were observed. Indices of acceptability favored the experimental arm, including a descriptively higher mean number of sessions and utilization badges. Similarly, indices of potential impact were descriptively higher in the experimental arm (proportion reducing smoking, making a quit attempt, or calling free tobacco quitline). No participants in either arm quit smoking at the 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of this formative work, PAQS living with HIV may be receptive to using a mobile health-based app intervention to help them decide whether, when, or how to stop using tobacco. Indices of acceptability and impact indicate that additional research and development are warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05339659; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05339659.

Breastfeeding benefits both the mother and infant and is a topic of attention in public health. After childbirth, untreated medical conditions or lack of support lead many mothers to discontinue breastfeeding. For instance, nipple damage and mastitis affect 80% and 20% of US mothers, respectively. Lactation consultants (LCs) help mothers with breastfeeding, providing in-person, remote, and hybrid lactation support. LCs guide, encourage, and find ways for mothers to have a better experience breastfeeding. Current telehealth services help mothers seek LCs for breastfeeding support, where images help them identify and address many issues. Due to the disproportional ratio of LCs and mothers in need, these professionals are often overloaded and burned out.This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of 5 distinct convolutional neural networks in detecting healthy lactating breasts and 6 breastfeeding-related issues by only using red, green, and blue images. Our goal was to assess the applicability of this algorithm as an auxiliary resource for LCs to identify painful breast conditions quickly, better manage their patients through triage, respond promptly to patient needs, and enhance the overall experience and care for breastfeeding mothers.We evaluated the potential for 5 classification models to detect breastfeeding-related conditions using 1078 breast and nipple images gathered from web-based and physical educational resources. We used the convolutional neural networks Resnet50, Visual Geometry Group model with 16 layers (VGG16), InceptionV3, EfficientNetV2, and DenseNet169 to classify the images across 7 classes: healthy, abscess, mastitis, nipple blebs, dermatosis, engorgement, and nipple damage by improper feeding or misuse of breast pumps. We also evaluated the models' ability to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy images. We present an analysis of the classification challenges, identifying image traits that may confound the detection model.The best model achieves an average area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.93 for all conditions after data augmentation for multiclass classification. For binary classification, we achieved, with the best model, an average area under the curve of 0.96 for all conditions after data augmentation. Several factors contributed to the misclassification of images, including similar visual features in the conditions that precede other conditions (such as the mastitis spectrum disorder), partially covered breasts or nipples, and images depicting multiple conditions in the same breast.This vision-based automated detection technique offers an opportunity to enhance postpartum care for mothers and can potentially help alleviate the workload of LCs by expediting decision-making processes.

BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity is associated with adverse health outcomes among Asian Americans, who exhibit the least adherence to physical activity guidelines compared with other racial and ethnic groups. Mobile app-based interventions are a promising approach to promote healthy behaviors. However, there is a lack of app-based interventions focused on improving physical activity among Asian Americans whose primary language is not English. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a 5-week intervention using a culturally and linguistically adapted, evidence-based mobile phone app with an accelerometer program, to promote physical activity among Chinese-, Tagalog-, or Vietnamese-speaking Americans. METHODS: Participants were recruited through collaborations with community-based organizations. The intervention was adapted from a 12-month physical activity randomized controlled trial involving the app and accelerometer for English-speaking adults. Sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and physical measurements were collected at the baseline visit. A 7-day run-in period was conducted to screen for the participants who could wear a Fitbit One (Fitbit LLC) accelerometer and complete the apps daily step diary. During the 4-week intervention period, participants wore the accelerometer and reported their daily steps in the app. Participants also received daily messages to reinforce key contents taught during an in-person educational session, remind them to input steps, and provide tailored feedback. Feasibility measures were the percentage of eligible participants completing the run-in period and the percentage of participants who used the app diary for at least 5 out of 7 days during the intervention period. We conducted poststudy participant interviews to explore overall intervention acceptability. RESULTS: A total of 19 participants were enrolled at the beginning of the study with a mean age of 47 (SD 13.3; range 29-70) years, and 58% (n=11) of them were female. Of the participants, 26% (n=5) were Chinese, 32% (n=6) were Vietnamese, and 42% (n=8) were Filipino. All participants met the run-in criteria to proceed with the intervention. Adherence to the app diary ranged from 74% (n=14) in week 2 to 95% (n=18) in week 4. The daily average steps per week from accelerometers increased each week from 8451 (SD 3378) steps during the run-in period to 10,930 (SD 4213) steps in week 4. Participants reported positive experiences including an increased motivation to walk and the enjoyment of being able to monitor their physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first pilot study of a multicomponent intervention and evidence-based mobile phone app to promote physical activity among Asian Americans who use apps in traditional Chinese, Tagalog, or Vietnamese, which demonstrated high feasibility and acceptability. Future work focused on multilingual mobile apps to address disparities in physical inactivity among Asian Americans should be considered.

BackgroundSmartphone apps may provide an opportunity to deliver mental health resources and interventions in a scalable and cost-effective manner. However, young people from marginalized and underserved groups face numerous and unique challenges to accessing, engaging with, and benefiting from these apps.ObjectiveThis study aims to better understand the acceptability (ie, perceived usefulness and satisfaction with an app) and feasibility (ie, the extent to which an app was successfully used) of mental health apps for underserved young people. A secondary aim was to establish whether adaptations can be made to increase the accessibility and inclusivity of apps for these groups.MethodsWe conducted 2 sequential studies, consisting of a systematic literature review of mental health apps for underserved populations followed by a qualitative study with underserved young male participants (n=20; age: mean 19). Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, an electronic search of 5 databases was conducted in 2021. The search yielded 18,687 results, of which 14 articles met the eligibility criteria.ResultsThe included studies comprised a range of groups, including those affected by homelessness, having physical health conditions, living in low- and middle-income countries, and those with sexual and gender minority identities. Establishing and maintaining user engagement was a pervasive challenge across mental health apps and populations, and dropout was a reported problem among nearly all the included studies. Positive subjective reports of usability, satisfaction, and acceptability were insufficient to determine users' objective engagement.ConclusionsDespite the significant amount of funding directed to the development of mental health apps, juxtaposed with only limited empirical evidence to support their effectiveness, few apps have been deliberately developed or adapted to meet the heterogeneous needs of marginalized and underserved young people. Before mental health apps are scaled up, a greater understanding is needed of the types of services that more at-risk young people and those in limited-resource settings prefer (eg, standard vs digital) followed by more rigorous and consistent demonstrations of acceptability, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness. Adopting an iterative participatory approach by involving young people in the development and evaluation process is an essential step in enhancing the adoption of any intervention, including apps, in "real-world" settings and will support future implementation and sustainability efforts to ensure that marginalized and underserved groups are reached.Trial registrationPROSPERO CRD42021254241; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=254241.

BackgroundFrontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a leading cause of dementia in individuals aged

Photogrammetry is a technique for studying and defining objects' shape, dimension, and position in a three-dimensional space using measurements obtained from two-dimensional photographs. It has gained popularity following the development of computer graphics technologies and has been applied to various branches of medicine. In this study, the authors present a method for low-cost photorealistic documentation of corpses during autopsy using single-camera photogrammetry with a mobile phone. Besides representing the body by demonstrating the injured and non-injured body parts as control, evidencing the body parts on a 3D reconstruction allows easy explanation to nonmedical experts such as lawyers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Burkina Faso, malaria remains a major issue despite the use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), especially in underserved communities. A study assessed a mobile phone-based Interactive Voice Response (IVR) service in local languages to improve malaria health literacy. A randomized trial compared users of the local language version with those using a French version. The results showed a 30.33% increase in knowledge, 21.77% in attitude, and 35.38% in practice among the local language group, while the French group had lower improvements. Key factors for adoption included usability, privacy, trust, and compatibility. Participants preferred local language and voice interfaces, with younger users favoring games and older ones preferring text-based interfaces. This study highlights the potential of local language IVR to effectively boost malaria health literacy and combat misinformation in underserved areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methods Results Conclusion Paediatricians using instant messaging phone apps for informal medical discussions poses ethical and legal risks. We filled a gap in the research, by assessing the use of apps and the possible risks.A national, cross‐sectional, questionnaire study was conducted in Israel from 11 August to 20 November 2019. The frequency of informal discussions, clinical details and recommendations were compared to the paediatricians' expertise and work settings. The discussions included work and private phones, consultation with the parents of patients and advice to the paediatricians' friends and families.The 305 paediatricians who responded had a median age of 37 (range 27–74) years: 42% were residents and 58% were specialists. The majority (99%) had carried out informal discussions using a messaging app in the last week and 65% had used them for 1–5 discussions. Specialists were more likely to use apps for more than 10 discussions per week than residents (24% vs. 5%, p < 0.001) and recommend treatment via apps (35% vs. 22%, p < 0.001). A third failed to provide disclaimers about the risks of app‐based discussions.Using instant messaging apps for informal medical discussions was common, but ethical and legal aspects were not always fully considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The advancement of telecommunication technology and devices promptly transformed mobile phones into indispensable objects in our day-to-day lives, but their biological effects remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the potential histopathological changes induced by mobile phone radiation in the parotid gland and the nearby tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty female Rattus Norvegicus rats were divided into three groups: group 1 (exposed for 30 days), group 2 (exposed for 60 days), and control group (non-exposed). Each subject was exposed to mobile phone radiation in the form of a phone call for two hours every day for their subsequent exposure time. The exposure was always directed towards the same side of the face throughout the whole exposure period. At the end of the exposure period, a comprehensive examination was conducted, including inspection of the orofacial structures, tissue sections of the parotid glands, overlying skin, oral mucosa, and cervical lymph nodes, as well as obtaining smears from the oral cavity. To highlight the presence of micronuclei within the exfoliated squamous cells of the oral epithelium, Feulgen stain was performed. RESULTS: The results showed a significant activation of the fibroblasts in the parotid gland septa, in both exposed experimental groups, compared to the control group. We also detected significant cervical lymph node reactive changes, hyperkeratosis of the oral epithelium, and activated fibroblasts in the dermis and oral mucosa lamina propria in both experimental groups. Dermal fibrosis and lamina propria fibrosis were significantly increased in the second experimental group, compared to the control group. Moreover, vascular congestion in the parotid gland, dermal, and lamina propria fibrosis were significantly increased in the second study group compared to the first one. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that exposure to mobile phone radiation may lead to pathological changes in the parotid gland and nearby tissues of experimental rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The authors conducted meta-analyses regarding the association between cellular and mobile phone use and brain tumor development by applying various radiofrequency-electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) exposure subcategories. With changing patterns of mobile phone use and rapidly developing Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) technology (such as Bluetooth), this study will provide insight into the importance of more precise exposure subcategories for RF-EMR. Methods: The medical librarian searched MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library until 16 December 2020. Results: In these meta-analyses, 19 case-control studies and five cohort studies were included. Ipsilateral users reported a pooled odds ratio (OR) of 1.40 (95% CI 1.21–1.62) compared to non-regular users. Users with years of use over 10 years reported a pooled OR of 1.27 (95% CI 1.08–1.48). When stratified by each type of brain tumor, only meningioma (OR 1.20 (95% CI 1.04–1.39)), glioma (OR 1.45 (95% CI 1.16–1.82)), and malignant brain tumors (OR 1.93 (95% CI 1.55–2.39)) showed an increased OR with statistical significance for ipsilateral users. For users with years of use over 10 years, only glioma (OR 1.32 (95% CI 1.01–1.71)) showed an increased OR with statistical significance. When 11 studies with an OR with cumulative hours of use over 896 h were synthesized, the pooled OR was 1.59 (95% CI 1.25–2.02). When stratified by each type of brain tumor, glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma reported the pooled OR of 1.66 (95% CI 1.13–2.44), 1.29 (95% CI 1.08–1.54), and 1.84 (95% CI 0.78–4.37), respectively. For each individual study that considered cumulative hours of use, the highest OR for glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma was 2.89 (1.41–5.93) (both side use, > 896 h), 2.57 (1.02–6.44) (both side use, > 896 h), and 3.53 (1.59–7.82) (ipsilateral use, > 1640 h), respectively. For five cohort studies, the pooled risk ratios (RRs) for all CNS tumors, glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma, were statistically equivocal, respectively. However, the point estimates for acoustic neuroma showed a rather increased pooled RR for ever-use (1.26) and over 10 years of use (1.61) compared to never-use, respectively. Discussion: In this meta-analysis, as the exposure subcategory used became more concrete, the pooled ORs demonstrated higher values with statistical significance. Although the meta-analysis of cohort studies yielded statistically inconclusive pooled effect estimates, (i) as the number of studies included grows and (ii) as the applied exposure subcategories become more concrete, the pooled RRs could show a different aspect in future research. Additionally, future studies should thoroughly account for changing patterns in mobile phone use and the growing use of earphones or headphones with WPAN technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions We developed MARVIN, an artificial intelligence (AI)‐based chatbot that provides 24/7 expert‐validated information on self‐management‐related topics for people with HIV. This study assessed (1) the feasibility of using MARVIN, (2) its usability and acceptability, and (3) four usability subconstructs (perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude towards use, and behavioural intention to use).In a mixed‐methods study conducted at the McGill University Health Centre, enrolled participants were asked to have 20 conversations within 3 weeks with MARVIN on predetermined topics and to complete a usability questionnaire. Feasibility, usability, acceptability, and usability subconstructs were examined against predetermined success thresholds. Qualitatively, randomly selected participants were invited to semi‐structured focus groups/interviews to discuss their experiences with MARVIN. Barriers and facilitators were identified according to the four usability subconstructs.From March 2021 to April 2022, 28 participants were surveyed after a 3‐week testing period, and nine were interviewed. Study retention was 70% (28/40). Mean usability exceeded the threshold (69.9/68), whereas mean acceptability was very close to target (23.8/24). Ratings of attitude towards MARVIN's use were positive (+14%), with the remaining subconstructs exceeding the target (5/7). Facilitators included MARVIN's reliable and useful real‐time information support, its easy accessibility, provision of convivial conversations, confidentiality, and perception as being emotionally safe. However, MARVIN's limited comprehension and the use of Facebook as an implementation platform were identified as barriers, along with the need for more conversation topics and new features (e.g., memorization).The study demonstrated MARVIN's global usability. Our findings show its potential for HIV self‐management and provide direction for further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Concerns over male infertility have grown, with over fifty percent of infertility cases linked to male causes. The impact of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) of cellphones on the fragmentation of sperm has been investigated. This mini-review evaluates previous investigations on the relation between RF-EMR and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF). Methods: A systematic review was carried out using Google Scholar and PubMed databases up to July 2020. MeSH terms related to DNA fragmentation, sperm, mobile phones, radiofrequency, and related synonyms identified relevant studies. Nine studies were selected, and their methodologies examined. Results: The studies reviewed presented diverse findings on the correlation between RF-EMR from cellphones and SDF. Out of nine investigations--five in vitro and four in vivo--all in vivo research works found significant DNA fragmentation in men who used their phones extensively, especially when carried in pants pockets. Three of the five in vitro tests showed a substantial effect, while the other two found no significant change between exposed and unexposed samples. Conclusion: Although more studies reported decreased sperm quality with prolonged and intense RF-EMR exposure, the evidence regarding DNA fragmentation remains inconclusive. Given how often cellphones are used, it is critical to further investigate their potential impact on male fertility and reproductive health. Existing evidence emphasizes the necessity of more studies in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The exponential growth in mobile phone usage has raised concerns about electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure and its health risks. Blood pressure and BMI, which impair heart function due to decreased adrenoreceptor responsiveness, parasympathetic tone withdrawal, and increased sympathetic activity, may further exacerbate these risks. However, the effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic (RF‐EM) exposure from mobile phones on electrocardiograms (ECGs) and heart rate variability (HRV) in individuals remain unclear. Purpose: Building upon our previous findings on HRV changes due to mobile phone proximity, this study is aimed at significantly enhancing the analytical approach used to assess the effects of mobile phones on cardiac parameters. This study exploits data from a previous study but with a different purpose. The aim of this study is twofold: (a) to examine whether exposure to mobile phones changes the five variables (P‐R, QRS, QT, ST, and HR) in a multivariate manner and (b) to examine whether the blood pressure and/or the body mass index (BMI), which acts as a proxy for obesity, have an effect on the change of these five variables. For both aspects of the study, four cycles are performed. Method: We conducted multivariate analysis on previously collected electrical cardiac measurement data from 20 healthy male subjects exposed to mobile phone EMF, with the mobile phones placed at four different body locations. The one‐sample Hotelling T2 test on the mean vector of differences was utilised instead of multiple paired t‐tests. This multivariate method comprehensively analyzes data features and accounts for variable correlations, unlike multiple univariate analyses. Given our small sample size, we employed the MMPC variable selection algorithm to identify predictor variables significantly related to mean changes. Results: Significant alterations in ECG intervals and heart rate were noted in the subjects before and after the first EMF exposure cycle, independent of their BMI. Notably, heart rate, P‐R, and QRS intervals fell postexposure while QT and ST intervals increased. These changes were influenced by variations in systolic blood pressure, with BMI showing no significant effect. Conclusion: The observed modifications in cardiac electrical measurements due to mobile phone EMF exposure are attributed to the effects of EMF itself, with no impact from BMI on the extent of these changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The frequency of smartphone usage is increasing day by day in Turkey. This study was planned to reveal the level of smartphone addiction and the factors affecting smartphone addiction in young adults in Turkey. Design: In the study, how long the young people had been using the smartphone and their daily usage times were recorded. The Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), Body Awareness Scale (BAS), and Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ) scales were employed as data collection tools. Results: The study was conducted with 1000 participants aged 18-45, and 807 were female. 85.6% of the participants have been using smartphones for at least 3 years and 77.3% of all participants use smartphones for more than 4 hours a day. According to the SAS scale, 34.8% of the participants had smartphone addiction. Smartphone addiction is higher especially in those who have a sedentary life or individuals with neck disabilities (p = 0.005; p < 0.001 respectively). No significant difference was found between body awareness and smartphone addiction (p = 0.380). However, body awareness scores were higher in the group without smartphone addiction. There was a significant difference between the groups in terms of the SAS, BAS, NDI, and SBQ scores in the participants classified by smartphone usage time. Conclusion: Female gender, daily usage of a smartphone for more than 4 hours a day, having a smartphone for at least 3 years, presence of sedentary behavior, and neck disability were the factors affecting smartphone addiction in young people. No relationship was found between body awareness and smartphone addiction. Further studies on the awareness of the effects of intensive smartphone usage on the body should be conducted among young people in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine prospective associations between bedtime screen use behaviors and sleep outcomes one year later in a national study of early adolescents in the United States. We analyzed prospective cohort data from 9,398 early adolescents aged 11–12 years (48.4% female, 45% racial/ethnic minority) in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (Years 2–3, 2018–2021). Regression analyses examined the associations between self-reported bedtime screen use (Year 2) and sleep variables (Year 3; self-reported sleep duration; caregiver-reported sleep disturbance), adjusting for sociodemographic covariates and sleep variables (Year 2). Having a television or Internet-connected electronic device in the bedroom was prospectively associated with shorter sleep duration one year later. Adolescents who left their phone ringer activated overnight had greater odds of experiencing sleep disturbance and experienced shorter sleep duration one year later, compared to those who turned off their phones at bedtime. Talking/texting on the phone, listening to music, and using social media were all prospectively associated with shorter sleep duration, greater overall sleep disturbance, and a higher factor score for disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep one year later. In early adolescents, several bedtime screen use behaviors are associated with adverse sleep outcomes one year later, including sleep disturbance and shorter weekly sleep duration. Screening for and providing anticipatory guidance on specific bedtime screen behaviors in early adolescents may be warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greater connectivity and greater usage of mobile and other media devices by children have led to concerns about the potential health effects of these devices on children. International research indicates that while there are several positives of connectivity like accessibility to information, affordability, and convenience; there are also several negatives like increased screen time affecting academic performance, and mental and physical health and leading to device dependence. To undertake research in the mentioned sphere in India, a systematic review of the literature was carried out. The search was initiated for India-specific research through the database of Google Scholar via many keywords like -children/health/ well-being/media/ digital/ devices/ mobile/phone. For temporal relevance, only articles from the last 10 years were considered. The template method was used to undertake the qualitative analysis. Most of the studies included were cross-sectional studies. Sampling was mostly convenient sampling from a single or two to three institutes. Thus, establishing causality and the ability to extrapolate to the general population was limited. Still, some conclusions could be drawn. Across age groups in Indian children, screen time was mostly correlated with negative academic performance, dependency on mobile phones, negative behavioural attributes, and physical and mental health effects. Most authors reported increased screen time to have adverse effects, irrespective of the type of device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As sleep problems can impair quality of work, an online questionnaire was used to examine relationships between sleepiness and decision making while obtaining unobtrusive indices of performance. Participants (N = 344) completed the Insomnia Severity Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and the Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire in a Qualtrics survey while reporting mobile phone use. Qualtrics recorded the time and the number of clicks required to complete each page of the survey. Multiple regression indicated that insomnia was associated with daytime sleepiness and Hypervigilance, and mobile phone use before bed. Participants with moderate sleepiness required a greater number of clicks to complete the questionnaire. Greater sleepiness was associated with longer times to complete these self-assessment tasks. Clinically significant sleepiness produces changes in performance that can be detected from online responsivity. As sleepy individuals can be appreciably and quantitatively slower in performing subjective self-assessment tasks, this argues for objective measures of sleepiness and automated interventions and the design of systems that allow better quality sleep. Practitioner summary: Work can require processing of electronic messages, but 24/7 accessibility increases workload, causes fatigue and potentially creates security risks. Although most studies use people's self-reports, this study monitors time and clicks required to complete self-assessment rating scales. Sleepiness affected online responsivity, decreasing online accuracy and increasing response times and hypervigilance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of prolonged and consistent use of these devices may lead to detrimental health implications due to the emission of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) by mobile phones. This research was performed to examine the impact of extended exposure to 1800 MHz mobile phone EMR on alterations in the parameters related to oxidative stress in brain tissue, focusing on malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, the thickness of zona fasciculata of the adrenal gland, and spatial memory functions. The part exposed to EMR radiation was the entire body of the rat with the exposure source placed under the cage. An 1800 MHz frequency mobile phone with a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of 0.897 W/kg in the GSM spectrum was used. Thirty-two eight-weekold male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: K (control), P1 (1 hour/day EMR exposure), P2 (2 hours/day EMR exposure), and P3 (3 hours/day EMR exposure) over 30 days. MDA levels were measured using a spectrophotometer, while histological analysis assessed the zona fasciculata thickness of the adrenal gland. Spatial memory was evaluated using an eight-arm radial maze. A p-value < 0.05 indicates statistical significance. The results showed that the group exposed to EMR for 3 hours/day showed high MDA levels and increased thickness in the zona fasciculata, yet no significant difference is found in spatial memory scores. These findings revealed that longer exposure to mobile phone EMR triggered oxidative stress in the brain and structural changes in the adrenal gland, but was not able to change the function of spatial memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Stress and anxiety during pregnancy are extremely prevalent and are associated with numerous poor outcomes, among the most serious of which are increased rates of preterm birth and low birth weight infants. Research supports that while in-person mindfulness training is effective in reducing pregnancy stress and anxiety, there are barriers limiting accessibility. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to determine if mindfulness meditation training with the Headspace app is effective for stress and anxiety reduction during pregnancy. METHODS: A longitudinal, single-arm trial was implemented with 20 pregnant women who were instructed to practice meditation via the Headspace app twice per day during the month-long trial. Validated scales were used to measure participants levels of stress and anxiety pre- and postintervention. Physiological measures reflective of stress (heart rate variability and sleep) were collected via the Oura Ring. RESULTS: Statistically significant reductions were found in self-reported levels of stress (P=.005), anxiety (P=.01), and pregnancy anxiety (P

Introduction: Mobile health diagnostics have demonstrated effectiveness in detecting and managing chronic diseases. This method comparison study aims to assess the accuracy and precision of the previously evaluated OptiBP™ technology over a four-week study period. This device uses optical signals recorded by placing a patients fingertip on a smartphones camera to estimate blood pressure (BP). Methods: In adult participants without cardiac arrhythmias and minimal interarm blood pressure difference (systolic arterial pressure (SAP) < 15 mmHg or diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) < 10 mmHg), three pairs of 30 s BP measurements with the OptiBP™ (test method) were simultaneously compared using three pairs of measurements with the non-invasive oscillometric brachial cuff (reference method) on the opposite arm over a period of four consecutive weeks at a rate of two measurements per week (one in the morning and one in the afternoon). The agreement of BP values between the two technologies was analyzed using Bland-Altman and error grid analyses. The performance of the smartphone application was investigated using the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) definitions, which require the bias ± standard deviation (SD) between two technologies to be lower than 5 ± 8 mmHg. Results: Among the 65 eligible volunteers, 53 participants had adequate OptiBP™ BP values. In 12 patients, no OptiBP™ BP could be measured due to inadequate signals. Only nine participants had known chronic arterial hypertension and 76% of those patients were treated. The mean bias ± SD between both technologies was -1.4 mmHg ± 10.1 mmHg for systolic arterial pressure (SAP), 0.2 mmHg ± 6.5 mmHg for diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) and -0.5 mmHg ± 6.9 mmHg for mean arterial pressure (MAP). Error grid analyses indicated that 100% of the pairs of BP measurements were located in zones A (no risk) and B (low risk). Conclusions: In a cohort of volunteers, we observed an acceptable agreement between BP values obtained with the OptiBPTM and those obtained with the reference method over a four-week period. The OptiBPTM fulfills the ISO standards for MAP and DAP (but not SAP). The error grid analyses showed that 100% measurements were located in risk zones A and B. Despite the need for some technological improvements, this application may become an important tool to measure BP in the future.

Abstract Introduction The authors conducted meta-analyses regarding the association between cellular and mobile phone use and brain tumor development by applying various radiofrequency-electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) exposure subcategories. With changing patterns of mobile phone use and rapidly developing Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) technology (such as Bluetooth), this study will provide insight into the importance of more precise exposure subcategories for RF-EMR. Methods The medical librarian searched MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library until 16 December 2020. Results In these meta-analyses, 19 case-control studies and five cohort studies were included. Ipsilateral users reported a pooled odds ratio (OR) of 1.40 (95% CI 1.21–1.62) compared to non-regular users. Users with years of use over 10 years reported a pooled OR of 1.27 (95% CI 1.08–1.48). When stratified by each type of brain tumor, only meningioma (OR 1.20 (95% CI 1.04–1.39)), glioma (OR 1.45 (95% CI 1.16–1.82)), and malignant brain tumors (OR 1.93 (95% CI 1.55–2.39)) showed an increased OR with statistical significance for ipsilateral users. For users with years of use over 10 years, only glioma (OR 1.32 (95% CI 1.01–1.71)) showed an increased OR with statistical significance. When 11 studies with an OR with cumulative hours of use over 896 h were synthesized, the pooled OR was 1.59 (95% CI 1.25–2.02). When stratified by each type of brain tumor, glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma reported the pooled OR of 1.66 (95% CI 1.13–2.44), 1.29 (95% CI 1.08–1.54), and 1.84 (95% CI 0.78–4.37), respectively. For each individual study that considered cumulative hours of use, the highest OR for glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma was 2.89 (1.41–5.93) (both side use, > 896 h), 2.57 (1.02–6.44) (both side use, > 896 h), and 3.53 (1.59–7.82) (ipsilateral use, > 1640 h), respectively. For five cohort studies, the pooled risk ratios (RRs) for all CNS tumors, glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma, were statistically equivocal, respectively. However, the point estimates for acoustic neuroma showed a rather increased pooled RR for ever-use (1.26) and over 10 years of use (1.61) compared to never-use, respectively. Discussion In this meta-analysis, as the exposure subcategory used became more concrete, the pooled ORs demonstrated higher values with statistical significance. Although the meta-analysis of cohort studies yielded statistically inconclusive pooled effect estimates, (i) as the number of studies included grows and (ii) as the applied exposure subcategories become more concrete, the pooled RRs could show a different aspect in future research. Additionally, future studies should thoroughly account for changing patterns in mobile phone use and the growing use of earphones or headphones with WPAN technology.

Background: Nomophobia or “No Mobile Phone” phobia is the fear of being detached from one’s own mobile phone. Smartphones have been proven to have numerous advantages in recent times. However, on their excessive use, it can have physical, psychological, behavioral, social, and affective effects. Since the younger generation are the latest buyers of the mobile phones, and the under-25-year age group in professional colleges like medical colleges use mobile phones quite frequently, this study was conducted to find out the prevalence of nomophobia and its association with the coping styles and the perceived stress in undergraduate medical students of a medical college in New Delhi. Methodology: The study was a cross-sectional study conducted for 3 months (November 2022–January 2023) on M. B. B. S students. A total of 200 students were selected by purposive sampling. The data was collected using questionnaires. Nomophobia was assessed through Nomophobia Questionnaire. Coping and stress were assessed using Brief Cope and Perceived stress scales, respectively. Data were collected and analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2010 and SPSS software Version 21 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, IBM Corp, USA). Results: The study was conducted on a total of 197 students undergraduate MBBS students. The prevalence of nomophobia was found to be 99.5% which was higher among females (56%) than males (44%). Among the students with mild (24%) and moderate nomophobia (60%), problem-focused coping mechanism was the most commonly used coping mechanism. Those with severe nomophobia (15%) were found to lean more toward emotion focused followed by problem-focused coping mechanism. A statistically significant association was found between nomophobia and perceived stress. Conclusions: Smartphones have many benefits when used for their intended purpose but when used in a problematic way and excessively, they can cause various problems. The higher prevalence of nomophobia among medical students is an issue of concern and has possibly affected their mental health. Strategies are to be devised on a priority basis for minimizing nomophobia among the medical students.

BACKGROUND: Demand for adolescent mental health services has surged in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and traditional models of care entailing in-person services with licensed mental health providers are inadequate to meet demand. However, research has shown that with proper training and supervision mentors can work with youth with mental health challenges like depression and anxiety and can even support the use of evidence-based strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In our increasingly connected world, youth mentors can meet with young people on a web-based platform at their convenience, reducing barriers to care. Moreover, the internet has made evidence-based CBT skills for addressing depression and anxiety more accessible than ever. As such, when trained and supervised by licensed clinicians, mentors are an untapped resource to support youth with mental health challenges. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to develop and assess the feasibility and acceptability of Appa Health (Appa), an evidence-based mental health mentoring program for youth experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety. This paper describes the development, pilot testing process, and preliminary quantitative and qualitative outcomes of Appas 12-week smartphone app program which combines web-based near-peer mentorship with short-form TikTok-style videos teaching CBT skills created by licensed mental health professionals who are also social media influencers. METHODS: The development and testing processes were executed through collaboration with key stakeholders, including young people and clinical and research advisory boards. In the pilot study, young people were assessed for symptoms of depression or anxiety using standard self-report clinical measures: the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scales. Teenagers endorsing symptoms of depression or anxiety (n=14) were paired with a mentor (n=10) based on preferred characteristics such as gender, race or ethnicity, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) status. Quantitative survey data about the teenagers characteristics, mental health, and feasibility and acceptability were combined with qualitative data assessing youth perspectives on the program, their mentors, and the CBT content. RESULTS: Participants reported finding Appa helpful, with 100% (n=14) of teenagers expressing that they felt better after the 12-week program. Over 85% (n=12) said they would strongly recommend the program to a friend. The teenagers were engaged, video chatting with mentors consistently over the 12 weeks. Metrics of anxiety and depressive symptoms reduced consistently from week 1 to week 12, supporting qualitative data suggesting that mentoring combined with CBT strategies has the potential to positively impact youth mental health and warrants further study. CONCLUSIONS: Appa Health is a novel smartphone app aiming to improve the well-being of youth and reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms through web-based mentoring and engaging CBT video content. This formative research sets the stage for a large-scale randomized controlled trial recently funded by the National Institutes of Health Small Business Innovation Research program.

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent childhood and adult behavioral disorder. Internet searches for ADHD information are rising, particularly for diagnosis and treatment. Despite effective ADHD treatments, research suggests that there are delays in seeking help for ADHD. Identifying ways to shorten delays is important for minimizing morbidity associated with ADHD. One way to shorten these delays is to improve internet health information resources. Research shows that parents of children with ADHD feel that much of the information available is technical and not tailored for their childs needs and verbal instructions given by health care providers were too pharmacologically focused with limited information about how to manage and support ADHD symptoms in daily living. A majority of parents search the internet for general and pharmacological information for ADHD and prefer web-based resources for learning about ADHD, but web-based resources may be inaccurate and of low quality. Ensuring accurate information through the internet is an important step in assisting parents and adults in making informed decisions about the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. OBJECTIVE: Although a great deal of information regarding ADHD is available on the internet, some information is not based on scientific evidence or is difficult for stakeholders to understand. Determining gaps in access to accurate ADHD information and stakeholder interest in the type of information desired is important in improving patient engagement with the health care system, but minimal research addresses these needs. This study aims to determine the information needs and formatting needs of web-based content for adults with ADHD and parents of children with ADHD in order to improve user experience and engagement. METHODS: This was a 3-phase study consisting of in-depth phone interviews about experiences with ADHD and barriers searching for ADHD-related information, focus groups where participants were instructed to consider the pathways by which they made decisions using web-based resources, and observing participants interacting with a newly developed website tailored for adults with potential ADHD and caregivers of children who had or might have ADHD. Phase 1 individual interviews and phase 2 focus groups identified the needs of the ADHD stakeholders related to website content and format. Interview and focus group findings were used to develop a website. Phase 3 used think-aloud interviews to evaluate website usability to inform the tailoring of the website based on user feedback. RESULTS: Interviews and focus group findings revealed preferences for ADHD website information and content, website layout, and information sources. Themes included a preference for destigmatizing information about ADHD, information specific to patient demographics, and evidence-based information tailored to lay audiences. CONCLUSIONS: ADHD stakeholders are specifically seeking positive information about ADHD presented in a user-friendly format.

Background: Cyberbullying and nighttime phone use are independently detrimental to sleep and psychological wellbeing, but whether in combination they might be more disruptive remains unknown. Methods: Students aged 7–19 years (N = 53,734) completed a survey measuring sleep duration, nighttime phone use, cyberbullying, and psychological distress. Results: Across stratification variables of gender (F/M) and age group (primary/secondary-school-aged children), bivariate ordered probit regression revealed that being cyberbullied and nighttime phone use were independent predictors of both increased psychological distress and obtaining

Abstract The mobile phone is essential in daily life, especially during the pandemic. Prolonged use can cause postural issues, leading to common neck pain. This study aims to determine the correlation between mobile phone use duration, addiction, neck muscle endurance, and neck pain in university students. The study included 62 participants (30 female, 32 male) aged 18–35 years. Inclusion criteria required participants to have experienced neck pain at least twice in the past year and to have no other concomitant issues, as well as to volunteer for the study. Demographic information and daily mobile phone usage time were collected. Neck pain was assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale, smartphone addiction with the Smartphone Addiction Scale, and cervical muscle endurance was evaluated. Correlation analysis reveals a moderate relationship between neck pain severity (NPS) and cervical extensor muscle endurance (CEME), a strong relationship between NPS and cervical flexor muscle endurance (CFME), as well as a strong relationship among daily phone usage time (DPUT), CFME, and NPS, with a moderate relationship between DPUT and CEME. Participants were divided into two groups based on their DPUT, revealing that those who used their phone for four hours or more showed significantly higher levels of pain (p

Abstract Recent years, the rapid advancement of technology has raised concerns. We studied the effects of prenatal exposure to 900 MHz radiofrequency (RF) from mobile phones and the protective effects of linalool on learning and memory, and anxiety in adolescent male and female offspring rats. Pregnant rats were divided into four groups: control, wave, wave + linalool, and linalool. Rats received linalool (25mg/kg) by gavage for 21 days. Irradiation was conducted from day 0 to day 21 of pregnancy. Offsprings underwent behavioral and electrophysiological tests on days 50 and 60 after birth. Exposure to RF during pregnancy caused anxiety-like behavior in the EPM test and impairment of learning and memory in the Morris water maze and shuttle box tests. Electrophysiological properties and synaptic plasticity of the dorsal hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapse showed a decrease in fEPSP amplitude and slope. The trace element levels in both male and female offspring were consistent across all groups compared to their respective controls. In the hippocampus tissue, the levels of Fe, Cu, and Mn, as well as the Cu/Zn ratio, were significantly higher in the exposed groups (wave groups) compared to their controls. Moreover, Zn levels were significantly lower in the hippocampus tissue of the exposed groups. Linalool administration mitigated the excessive increase in Fe, Cu, Mn, and Cu/Zn ratio and normalized the disrupted levels of trace elements, except for Zn levels in both male and female offspring. Sex differences were observed in the EPM and shuttle box tests, females were more sensitive than males. In summary, our study demonstrates that prenatal exposure to mobile phone radiation induces stress-like behaviors, disrupts learning and memory, alters hippocampal electrophysiological properties and trace element balance in offspring. Treatment with linalool mitigates these deleterious effects, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic intervention. These findings contribute to our understanding of the impact of prenatal environmental exposures on neurodevelopment and offer insights into potential strategies for neuroprotection.

Introduction: The mobile phone has evolved into an indispensable accessory carried by everyone. With its increasing usage, there is a parallel rise in mobile phone addictions. Nomophobia, short for no mobile phone phobia, is characterized as a fear specific to the absence of mobile phones. Objectives: (1) To assess the prevalence of nomophobia among adolescents and adults residing in semi-urban Chennai. (2) To understand the patterns of mobile phone usage and explore the health-related consequences of nomophobia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents and adults (15–50 years) in semi-urban Chennai from July to September 2022. The sample size was 220, and the study utilized the Test of Mobile Phone Dependence Brief as an assessment tool. Participants scoring >30 were identified as nomophobic, indicating mobile phone dependence. Results: Among the 220 study participants, there was an almost equal distribution between males and females, with a majority falling within the 21–25 age group. Approximately 26.1% belonged to the upper middle class and 89.1% were married. The prevalence of nomophobia was notably high at 68.6% (151 out of 220). A significant association was found between social class and mobile phone addiction, with the middle class exhibiting higher levels of addiction. Conclusion: The study highlights that a substantial majority of adults exhibit mobile phone addiction, almost two-thirds of the participants. There is a pressing need for health awareness programmes targeting adults to educate them about the adverse effects of mobile phone addiction. Additionally, reinforcing strategies for effective and time-restricted mobile phone usage is essential.

The mobile phone is essential in daily life, especially during the pandemic. Prolonged use can cause postural issues, leading to common neck pain. This study aims to determine the correlation between mobile phone use duration, addiction, neck muscle endurance, and neck pain in university students. The study included 62 participants (30 female, 32 male) aged 18–35 years. Inclusion criteria required participants to have experienced neck pain at least twice in the past year and to have no other concomitant issues, as well as to volunteer for the study. Demographic information and daily mobile phone usage time were collected. Neck pain was assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale, smartphone addiction with the Smartphone Addiction Scale, and cervical muscle endurance was evaluated. Correlation analysis reveals a moderate relationship between neck pain severity (NPS) and cervical extensor muscle endurance (CEME), a strong relationship between NPS and cervical flexor muscle endurance (CFME), as well as a strong relationship among daily phone usage time (DPUT), CFME, and NPS, with a moderate relationship between DPUT and CEME. Participants were divided into two groups based on their DPUT, revealing that those who used their phone for four hours or more showed significantly higher levels of pain (p < 0.05) and reduced endurance in cervical flexor muscles. Our study found a strong correlation between neck pain, muscle endurance, and daily phone usage. Participants using their phones for more than four hours daily reported increased neck pain and decreased muscle endurance. We suggest integrating phone usage duration into neck pain assessments, promoting ergonomic practices, and offering detailed usage guidelines for users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Older adult women often do not engage in sufficient physical activity (PA) and can encounter biological changes that exacerbate the negative effects of inadequate activity. Wearable activity monitors can facilitate PA initiation, but evidence of sustained behavior change is lacking. Supplementing wearable technologies with intervention content that evokes enjoyment, interest, meaning, and personal values associated with PA may support long term adherence. In this paper, we present the protocol of an NIA-funded study designed to evaluate the efficacy of CHALLENGE for increasing step count and motivation for PA in insufficiently active older women (Challenges for Healthy Aging: Leveraging Limits for Engaging Networked Game-based Exercise). CHALLENGE uses social media to supplement wearable activity monitors with the autonomy-supportive frame of a game. We hypothesize that CHALLENGE will engender playful experiences that will improve motivation for exercise and lead to sustained increases in step count. Methods: We will recruit 300 healthy, community dwelling older adult women on a rolling basis and randomize them to receive either the CHALLENGE intervention (experimental arm) or an activity monitor-only intervention (comparison arm). Participants in both groups will receive a wearable activity monitor and personalized weekly feedback emails. In the experimental group, participants will also be added to a private Facebook group, where study staff will post weekly challenges that are designed to elicit playful experiences while walking. Assessments at baseline and 6, 12, and 18 months will measure PA and motivation-related constructs. We will fit linear mixed-effects models to evaluate differences in step count and motivational constructs, and longitudinal mediation models to evaluate if interventional effects are mediated by changes in motivation. We will also conduct thematic content analysis of text and photos posted to Facebook and transcripts from individual interviews. Discussion: By taking part in a year-long intervention centered on imbuing walking behaviors with playful and celebratory experiences, participating older adult women may internalize changes to their identity and relationship with PA that facilitate sustained behavior change. Study results will have implications for how we can harness powerful and increasingly ubiquitous technologies for health promotion to the vast and growing population of older adults in the U.S. and abroad. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04095923. Registered September 17th, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years the popularity of smartphones has been on the rise, the importance of user experience is being discussed more frequently, and interface design is determined as a crucial technique in the interactive design of mobile devices. As both supply and demand for smartphones have grown, the interactive interface designs are significant, and attention is paid to their effects. The traditional method is only applicable to computers, has a limited user base, and has poor efficiency and effectiveness. However, the operation and functionality of mobile phones are diminished due to the installation of unwanted applications. Hence it is particularly evident in the interactive art approach in which there has been limited innovation in core capabilities and few distinguishing features among more established programmes. Inorder to perform speedy progress, the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Deep Learning (DL) are widely determined. Furthermore, Style Transfer and Target Detection are emerging as popular because of their significance to the field of visual research. So this paper proposes the prevalent quasi- and flat-materialized style and analyzes the skills necessary for applications. The proposed method achieved superior performance when validated with MPI Sintel and Train2020 MSCOCO datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Internal regulation and external regulation contribute to reduced engagement in speeding and phone use while driving. • Internal regulation is influenced by perceived legitimacy, risk perception, and repeated engagement in speeding and phone use while driving. • Females and older drivers reported greater capacity for internal regulation. • Fewer hours spent driving was associated with greater internal regulation. • Higher certainty of apprehension was associated with greater external regulation. Risky and non-compliant driving behaviours contribute to road crash fatalities and serious injuries globally. Enforcement measures are essential but shown to be limited in reach and effectiveness. As such, it is critical to examine root causes of engagement in non-compliance to develop effective countermeasures. Self-regulation is an under-researched construct recently found to be important in reduced engagement in unintentional and deliberate risky driving behaviours. This study explored factors that are associated with regulatory processes for mobile phone use while driving and speeding, guided by self-determination theory. Licensed drivers aged 17 years and over (n = 1,146) were recruited to participate in an online survey. Hierarchical multiple linear regressions were conducted finding internal (self) and external regulation accounted for 28 % of the variance in mobile phone use while driving and 39 % of the variance in speeding. Across the behaviours, internal regulation was found to be similarly influenced by legitimacy, risk perception and repeated engagement in the behaviours, with greater perceived legitimacy of enforcement, a higher risk perception and less engagement in non-compliance predicting greater internal regulation. Females, who comprised 53 % of participants, and older participants (age range 17–82 years) reported greater capacity for internal regulation across the behaviours, and fewer hours spent driving was predictive of internal regulation. Greater external regulation was predicted by higher perceived certainty of apprehension for both behaviours, and a lack of regulation was predicted by habitual behaviours for mobile phone use while driving. While there were similarities between the regulation of speeding and mobile phone use while driving, nuances were recognised that are important for targeted interventions and identifying effective components of countermeasures. The findings are anticipated to enhance current systems of enforcement to have a greater impact on reducing engagement in risky behaviours and consequential road trauma with countermeasures informed by self-determination theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hedonic smartphone use has been associated with dependence and addiction studied under the umbrella term Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU). Research usually explores total screen time as an index of PSU. A few studies suggest that exercise is inversely related to smartphone use time. However, it is unknown which primary characteristics of exercise behavior are related to more moderate smarthone use. Furthermore, the purpose of smartphone use, such as hedonic use associated with PSU versus utilitarian use, was not tested in the sports and exercise contexts. Hedonic use generally means playing with the smartphone for joy, distraction, and satisfaction. Utilitarian use implies practical and valuable use. There is a conjecture that sports involvement may foster utilitarian use through increased involvement in sports‐related information‐seeking, goal‐setting, and self‐monitoring. Methods: Therefore, we examined whether weekly exercise frequency, workout duration, and perceived exercise intensity relate to total daily smarthone and hedonic use and whether this relationship is mediated by sports‐related utilitarian device use. We tested regularly exercising adults (n = 360, 132 males, Mage = 39.0 ± 9.8, Mweekly exercise = 5.8 ± 1.9) who volunteered for this study and provided demographic information about their exercise habits and smartphone use. Results: The results revealed that all exercise parameters mediated the total daily smartphone use, with perceived exercise intensity being a negative predictor. Further, exercise frequency and duration (but not intensity) positively predicted sports‐related smartphone use, which inversely predicted hedonic use. Conclusion: These results suggest that exercise parameters directly relate to daily smartphone use, which completely mediates hedonic use. These findings may partially account for the frequently reported inverse relationship between regular exercise and PSU by suggesting that the connection is mediated via sports‐related smartphone use. Key points: Exercise frequency and duration are positive predictors of daily smartphone use.Exercise intensity is a negative predictor of total daily smartphone use.Exercise frequency and duration are positively related to sports‐related smartphone use.Sports‐related smartphone use is a negative predictor of hedonic smartphone use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For artificial intelligence (AI) to support nutrition care, high quality and accuracy of its features within smartphone applications (apps) are essential. This study evaluated popular apps' features, quality, behaviour change potential, and comparative validity of dietary assessment via manual logging and AI. The top 200 free and paid nutrition-related apps from Australia's Apple App and Google Play stores were screened (n = 800). Apps were assessed using MARS (quality) and ABACUS (behaviour change potential). Nutritional outputs from manual food logging and AI-enabled food-image recognition apps were compared with food records for Western, Asian, and Recommended diets. Among 18 apps, Noom scored highest on MARS (mean = 4.44) and ABACUS (21/21). From 16 manual food-logging apps, energy was overestimated for Western (mean: 1040 kJ) but underestimated for Asian (mean: −1520 kJ) diets. MyFitnessPal and Fastic had the highest accuracy (97% and 92%, respectively) out of seven AI-enabled food image recognition apps. Apps with more AI integration demonstrated better functionality, but automatic energy estimations from AI-enabled food image recognition were inaccurate. To enhance the integration of apps into nutrition care, collaborating with dietitians is essential for improving their credibility and comparative validity by expanding food databases. Moreover, training AI models are needed to improve AI-enabled food recognition, especially for mixed dishes and culturally diverse foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the popularity of smartphones, a large number of "phubbers" have emerged who are engrossed in their phones regardless of the situation. In response to the potential dangers that phubbers face while traveling, this paper proposes a multimodal danger perception network model and early warning system for phubbers, designed for mobile devices. This proposed model consists of surrounding environment feature extraction, user behavior feature extraction, and multimodal feature fusion and recognition modules. The environmental feature module utilizes MobileNet as the backbone network to extract environmental description features from the rear-view image of the mobile phone. The behavior feature module uses acceleration time series as observation data, maps the acceleration observation data to a two-dimensional image space through GADFs (Gramian Angular Difference Fields), and extracts behavior description features through MobileNet, while utilizing statistical feature vectors to enhance the representation capability of behavioral features. Finally, in the recognition module, the environmental and behavioral characteristics are fused to output the type of hazardous state. Experiments indicate that the accuracy of the proposed model surpasses existing methods, and it possesses the advantages of compact model size (28.36 Mb) and fast execution speed (0.08 s), making it more suitable for deployment on mobile devices. Moreover, the developed image-acceleration multimodal phubber hazard recognition network combines the behavior of mobile phone users with surrounding environmental information, effectively identifying potential hazards for phubbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indian Telecommunication enterprise has grown into one thousand million-greenback industry. on this tremendously competitive enterprise, it isn't always simply doing some thing right that subjects, however it's also critical that a corporation is doing nothing wrong. Making profit no longer stays the sole reason of organizations, as focus now a day is on patron pride. therefore, it's far important for every business enterprise to research the existing level of satisfaction of their customers, as to bridge any gaps between the expectations of the patron and the products or services provided via the company. customer pleasure with numerous services presented by using cellular smartphone provider providers is a essential aspect in the telecommunications industry. It without delay influences consumer loyalty and the general achievement of the vendors. customers. nowadays assume seamless and dependable connectivity, high-velocity statistics offerings, excellent customer service, and competitive pricing. cell cellphone provider providers are continuously striving to fulfill and exceed those expectations to enhance consumer satisfaction. The pleasant of community coverage and get in touch with reception is a fundamental determinant of user satisfaction. A dependable community ensures that customers could make and receive calls, send texts, and get right of entry to the net with out disruptions or dropped calls. speedy and regular data services, such as 4G and 5G connectivity, also are pivotal in meeting the demands of modern-day phone customers. When customers encounter a problem or have a question; they expect immediate and effective support from their mobile phone provider. This is a descriptive study carried out in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu. The study is mainly based on primary data collected from the mobile phones of customers in Krishnagiri district. The main objective of this study to investigate user satisfaction with mobile phone providers is a multifaceted concept that includes network quality, customer support, and price. To remain competitive in this industry, providers need to continuously improve their services to meet and exceed the evolving expectations of their customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientists have entered the era of the cell phone. Using these drugs is not "quite" safe unless the hazards, which might include cancer and other health issues, are known. Although data on malignancies caused by mobile phone radiation is readily available, further research on the detrimental psychological and physiological impacts is necessary, particularly for heavy users such as college students. "How does mobile phone use affect the mental health of college students enrolled in professional courses at urban institutions?" was the topic that this study set out to address. Procedures and components: A random sample of students (varying in age from 17 to23) from both urban and rural areas were asked to fill out a pre-test questionnaire about the effects of heavy mobile phone use on mental health. The results showed that of the people who reported symptoms, half of them had headaches and half felt irritated or furious. Insomnia, anxiety, and associated illnesses are among the most prevalent mental symptoms, along with trouble focusing and doing well in school. It is crucial to inform young people about the possible mental health hazards of excessive cell phone usage and urge them to take appropriate measures since they are the heaviest mobile phone users. The younger generation has the most mobile phone use, which is why this is the case. Reducing dependence on technology, increasing emphasis on message, and lowering amount of time spent chatting are some of the proposed remedies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Education and providing self‐care skills are essential for patients with chronic respiratory disease. Today, the use of information and communication technologies has provided many opportunities for facilitating self‐care in chronic patients. In this regard, the attention of researchers has been shifted toward the design and use of mobile phone‐based technologies for self‐care purposes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this study, a protocol is proposed for the design, implementation, and evaluation of a mobile‐based self‐care application for patients with COPD. Methods: The design science approach will be used in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the self‐care application. This solution‐oriented paradigm goes beyond the level of description and explanation and takes steps toward problem‐solving. One of the most common models of design science is the waterfall model of information technology development. The seven consecutive stages of the waterfall model include preliminary analysis, system analysis, design, programming, testing, implementation, and maintenance/modification. Conclusion: The present protocol is the first to design, implement, and evaluate a mobile‐based self‐care application for patients with COPD in Iran. The integration of new technologies for the self‐care education of COPD patients is considered an innovative strategy. This application is designed based on the self‐care needs of COPD patients, which will ultimately promote the self‐care activities of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background/Aims: Surgical site infections following cardiac surgery pose significant risks and financial burdens to both patients and healthcare systems. This study aimed to explore the implementation and outcomes of a novel surgical wound monitoring system using patient smartphones for post-discharge surveillance. Methods: The study was conducted at a London-based cardiothoracic tertiary referral centre, where 1358 patients undergoing cardiac surgery between January 2021 and March 2023 were enrolled onto the surgical wound monitoring system. Data were collected from the National Cardiac Audit Programme dataset, the monitoring syste and Hospital Episode Statistics data. Comparisons between patients who did or did not respond to surveillance requests were performed. A nested confirmatory analysis assessed antibiotics reported by patients through the digital route compared with antibiotics given by GPs or in outpatients. Results: The overall response rate for surgical wound monitoring using patient smartphones was 86.6%. Patients who were female, from areas of higher deprivation and lived closer to the hospital were less likely to engage with surgical wound monitoring. Although not statistically significant, the current study suggests that patients with surgical site infections who used smartphones for surgical wound monitoring were less likely to be re-admitted or have further surgery and had shorter readmission stays. The accuracy of antibiotic use for surgical site infections using the surgical wound monitoring system was 96.5%. Conclusions: This study underscores the potential of digital technologies, particularly smartphones, in efficient and accurate post-surgical monitoring. The findings suggest that the use of digital monitoring systems may improve patient outcomes, with potential for wider system-level benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the impact of mobile phones on human connections, shedding light on the complex relationship dynamics influenced by contemporary needs and highlighting the pivotal role these devices play in today's society. An extensive review of research from across the globe, including Europe, America, Asia, Australia, the Arab world, and Iraq, was undertaken. This comprehensive analysis revealed a wide range of gratifications users gain from mobile phone usage, which was thoughtfully categorized into two main groups: utilitarian gratifications, with 15 distinct types, and expressive gratifications, covering 17 unique types. The investigation also explored the psychological motivations behind mobile phone use, considering both expressive and utilitarian perspectives. The findings offer an in-depth understanding of the various pleasures Iraqi users derive from their mobile phones, as well as the psychological factors driving this engagement, thereby providing a thorough scientific explanation of mobile phone gratification. This research not only uncovers the extensive array of user gratifications but also deepens the understanding of the psychological motivations behind mobile phone usage in Iraq. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusion Visiting a patient's living environment is important for occupational therapists, albeit costly and time consuming. MapIt is a mobile app producing a 3D representation of a home with the possibility of taking measurements. The purpose of this study was to explore the utility of a 3D representation of a patient's home for the clinical practice of occupational therapists.Case study in which the unit of analysis was the utility of MapIt as defined by ISO 9241‐11:2018 and as perceived by occupational therapists in four different occupational therapy clinical settings (Canada). Onsite observations with 10 occupational therapists (and their patients) were triangulated with data from interviews, diaries, and logbooks. Inductive thematic condensation led to emerging conclusions for each clinical setting, fuelling the next case data collection and analysis. Inter‐case analysis was corroborated by additional occupational therapists, through crowdsourcing and expert review.Occupational therapists' clinical reasoning was supported by the MapIt app, enhancing and streamlining their work and inducing adjustments to treatment plans. Occupational therapists saw and measured the patient's environment remotely, to better match person‐environment‐occupation and promote occupational engagement. MapIt's 3D representations were judged useful to communicate between occupational therapists and stakeholders, to educate, allow continuity, optimise resources, minimise the patient's time on a waitlist for homecare, and save time for everyone.MapIt allowed occupational therapists who performed home visits to bring a little of the patients' home to their office, whereas occupational therapists without access to the home could see it and take measurements. MapIt's utility was confirmed for practice in clinical settings and for better continuity of care between settings.MapIt makes it possible for occupational therapists to ‘walk around’ the patient's home remotely, but the possibility of measuring environmental elements is a 3D model's true added value over currently used photos or short videos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite concerns having been voiced internationally about the validity and reliability of mobile phone evidence, there remain large gaps in our understanding of how police acquire and process mobile phone data, and the risks associated with this work. This paper fills some of these gaps by drawing upon qualitative data gathered during an ethnographic study of the role of forensic sciences and technologies in British homicide investigations. Specifically, we draw upon case papers, interviews, and observations to illuminate, from the perspective of police and prosecution actors, some of the opportunities, tensions, and risks encountered in accessing and processing mobile phone data during these inquiries. Our findings reveal several risks associated with current practice alongside broader complexities related to legislation, privatisation, and accreditation. We consider how these intertwined risks and challenges may undermine the reliability of mobile phone evidence and jeopardise criminal justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: In our times of smartphone ubiquity, mobile applications are an inescapable daily life tool, including in health care. Music therapy has already proven its worth, notably in mental health. Hence, we were interested in the mobile app format for this type of therapy, its level of evidence, how to use it in daily psychiatric care and the leads for future research and innovation. Method: This study carries out a systematic review of scientific literature of this topic on two search engines, PubMed and PubPsych, using these key-words: [(web-application) OR (web-app) OR (smartphone) OR (apps) OR (app)) AND ((music) OR (music therapy) OR (melody)]. Outcome: Out of a total of 282 studies found by keyword, 31 are included in this review. Several outcomes emerge. These studies relate to existing applications like Music Care, Calm or Unwind, on application prototypes or a potential use of music streaming applications on health care. They involve many different populations and clinical situations, including in hospital environments, for patients with chronic illnesses, different age ranges or for the general population. These musical interventions show a significant effect mainly for anxious symptoms, but also for depression, sleep disorders, pain and other psychiatric or psycho-somatic syndromes. These applications have no significant adverse effects. Conclusion: This review shows that music therapy apps have several potentials for improving mental health care. It could assist psychiatric usual care and could potentially lower medication intake. Nevertheless, the studies on the topic are limited and recent but they open prospects for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The mobile phone has evolved into an indispensable accessory carried by everyone. With its increasing usage, there is a parallel rise in mobile phone addictions. Nomophobia, short for no mobile phone phobia, is characterized as a fear specific to the absence of mobile phones. Objectives: (1) To assess the prevalence of nomophobia among adolescents and adults residing in semi‑urban Chennai. (2) To understand the patterns of mobile phone usage and explore the health‑related consequences of nomophobia. Methods: This cross‑sectional study was conducted among adolescents and adults (15–50 years) in semi‑urban Chennai from July to September 2022. The sample size was 220, and the study utilized the Test of Mobile Phone Dependence Brief as an assessment tool. Participants scoring >30 were identified as nomophobic, indicating mobile phone dependence. Results: Among the 220 study participants, there was an almost equal distribution between males and females, with a majority falling within the 21–25 age group. Approximately 26.1% belonged to the upper middle class and 89.1% were married. The prevalence of nomophobia was notably high at 68.6% (151 out of 220). A significant association was found between social class and mobile phone addiction, with the middle class exhibiting higher levels of addiction. Conclusion: The study highlights that a substantial majority of adults exhibit mobile phone addiction, almost two‑thirds of the participants. There is a pressing need for health awareness programmes targeting adults to educate them about the adverse effects of mobile phone addiction. Additionally, reinforcing strategies for effective and time‑restricted mobile phone usage is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]