Access Challenges Research Articles

Machine-Learning-Assisted Blood Parameter Sensing Platform for Rapid Next Generation Biomedical and Healthcare Applications

The pursuit of rapid diagnosis has resulted in considerable advances in blood parameter sensing technologies. As advances in technology, there may be challenges in equitable access for all individuals due to economic constraints, advanced expertise, limited accessibility in particular places, or insufficient infrastructure. Hence, simple, cost efficient, benchtop biochemical blood-sensing platform was developed for detecting crucial blood parameters for multiple disease diagnosis. Colorimetric and image processing techniques is used to evaluate color intensity. CMOS image sensor is utilized to capture images to calculate optical density for sensing. The platform is assessed with blood serum samples, including Albumin, Gamma Glutamyl Transferase, Alpha Amylase, Alkaline Phosphatase, Bilirubin, and Total Protein within clinically relevant limits. The platform had excellent Limits of Detection (LOD) for these parameters, which are critical for diagnosing liver and kidney-related diseases (0.27 g dl−1, 0.86 IU l−1, 1.24 IU l−1, 0.97 IU l−1, 0.24 mg dl−1, 0.35 g dl−1, respectively). Machine learning (ML) algorithms were used to estimate targeted blood parameter concentrations from optical density readings, with 98.48% accuracy and reduced incubation time by nearly 80%. The proposed platform is compared to commercial analyzers, which demonstrate excellent accuracy and reproducibility with remarkable precision (0.03 to 0.71%CV). The platform’s robust stability of 99.84% was shown via stability analysis, indicating its practical applicability.

Considerations for Clinician-Educators Developing Online Educational Content: A Narrative Review.

In modern medical education, clinician-educators are increasingly called upon to develop online education to complement or replace in-person instruction. Despite a growing need for online curricula, many medical professionals lack training and experience in digital content development, deployment, assessment, and maintenance. Previous studies offer guidance on some aspects of online education development but often overlook key components, such as accessibility, legal considerations, financial implications, and sustainability challenges. This review offers medical professionals a broad overview of these important issues. We discuss various pedagogical considerations, including aligning educational goals and objectives with the digital content, choosing the appropriate online interface, and employing strategies to mitigate cognitive load while maximizing accessibility to create an inclusive online learning environment. We offer practical tips for creating effective, high-quality, and enduring audio-visual content and reflect on initial content deployment, testing, assessment, and revision. We discuss the intricacies of obtaining continuing medical education credits when the target audience includes faculty members. We address several legal issues online educators must consider, such as copyright laws, intellectual property rights, and medical liability. The review concludes with a discussion of sustainability mechanisms and financial considerations to ensure the long-term success of the educational program. Our recommendations aim to equip medical professionals embarking on a digital education journey with practical tools to produce effective, inclusive, and sustainable online content while considering legal implications.

Voice-guided Mobile Assistance for the Visually Impaired

In today's digital age, mobile apps have transformed our daily lives, but for people with visual impairments, these apps often present accessibility challenges. This research addresses the need for improved solutions by focusing on "voice-guided assistance" for Android smartphones. The existing options for visually impaired users are fragmented, and this study aims to create an integrated mobile application, "Voice Companion," designed to enhance their digital experience. "Voice-Companion" is a specialized Android application designed for visually impaired individuals, developed in Java within the Android Studio environment. It leverages the Android OS to provide comprehensive non-visual access. With features like voice commands, object detection, messaging, a voice-activated calculator, location and time announcements, text-to-speech capabilities, and battery status updates, the user-friendly app bridges accessibility gaps, empowering visually impaired users for equal participation in the digital realm. Its modular, user-centric design emphasizes accessibility through seamless integration of voice commands and gesture recognition, facilitating efficient interactions with mobile devices. This research aims to create "Voice-Companion," enhancing smartphone accessibility through seamless voice command integration and gesture recognition. Anticipated results include improved digital engagement and quality of life for users with visual impairments.

Characteristics and Healthcare Utilization of Canadians Living With Participation and Activity Limitations (2001-2010): A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Individuals with participation and activity limitations face important healthcare challenges. We investigated healthcare utilization and characteristics of Canadians living with participation and activity limitations between 2001 and 2010. We pooled data from 5 cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey (2001-2010 CCHS). The multistage stratified cluster-sampling method used covered approximately 98% of Canadians, aged 12 years and older residing in private dwellings. We described sociodemographic, behavioral, and health-related characteristics of participants with participation and activity limitations and reported their annual utilization (prevalence; 95% CI) of 7 healthcare providers. Multivariable modified Poisson regression identified individual characteristics associated with healthcare utilization and examined the trends over time. Annually, 8.1 million Canadians aged 12 years and older (29.8%) reported participation and activity limitations. Most common health conditions were back problems (37%) and arthritis (34%). Predominant healthcare providers were medical doctors (88.8%; 95% CI = 88.6-89.0), nurses (16.3%; 95% CI = 16.1-16.6), physiotherapists (15.0%; 95% CI = 14.7-15.2), and chiropractors (14.4%; 95% CI = 14.2-14.7). Overall, males, older adults, immigrants, those with lower education, lower income, recent employment, and better general health were less likely to consult providers. Over time, utilization of most non-medical providers increased. Participation and activity limitations are prevalent in Canada, and most consulted medical doctors. Disadvantaged groups reported lower utilization of most providers, emphasizing access challenges and the need for equitable and integrated healthcare policies. Improving access to rehabilitation services and their inclusion within universal healthcare coverage should be a priority.

Pain management for post-treatment survivors of complex cancers: a qualitative study of opioids and cannabis.

Aim: We aimed to understand experiences with opioids and cannabis for post-treatment cancer survivors. Patients & methods: We conducted seven focus groups among head and neck and lung cancer survivors, using standard qualitative methodology to explore themes around 1) post-treatment pain and 2) utilization, perceived benefitsand perceived harms of cannabis and opioids. Results & conclusion: Survivors (N=25) experienced addiction fears, stigmaand access challenges for both products. Opioids were often perceived as critical for severe pain. Cannabis reduced pain and anxiety for many survivors, suggesting that anxiety screening, as recommended in guidelines, would improve traditional pain assessment. Opioids and cannabis present complex harms and benefits for post-treatment survivors who must balance pain management and minimizing side effects.

Case Study: Role of Technology in Protecting Women against Harassment

Abstract: The role of technology in safeguarding women against harassment is pivotal in addressing the pervasive challenges faced globally. This paper explores the multifaceted ways in which technological advancements serve as a catalyst in enhancing women's safety, empowerment, and access to resources. From mobile applications equipped with emergency features to wearable devices providing discreet distress signals, technology offers immediate assistance and a sense of security in vulnerable situations. Location-based services and crowdsourced data aid in mapping safe routes, identifying high-risk areas, and documenting incidents to inform preventive measures. Moreover, social media platforms and online support networks create spaces for awareness, resource-sharing, and community building. Artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, and educational platforms play vital roles in predicting, preventing, and educating individuals about harassment. However, challenges of accessibility, digital literacy, privacy, and inclusivity must be addressed to ensure equitable access to these technological solutions. This abstract emphasizes the imperative need to harness technology ethically and inclusively, leveraging its potential to empower women and combat harassment effectively.

Addressing Educational Inequality Through Sustainable Policies: an Evaluation from the Education Policy and Sdgs Perspective in Indonesia

Objective: This study aims to assess the impact of sustainable educational policies in tackling educational inequality in Indonesia, guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and legal perspectives.
 
 Theoretical Framework: The research is grounded in the SDGs and legal contexts, focusing on the role of educational policies in reducing disparities. The study employs a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the effectiveness of current policies and pinpoint obstacles that hinder equitable education.
 
 Method: A mixed-methods approach is employed to gather and analyze data. This includes reviewing and evaluating existing educational policies, conducting interviews and surveys, and examining legal and systemic issues related to educational inequality.
 
 Result and Conclusion: While several policies have improved educational access, legal and systemic challenges persist, obstructing the achievement of educational equality in Indonesia. Addressing these challenges is imperative for creating a more equitable educational landscape in the country.
 
 Originality/Value: This research adds to the ongoing discourse on educational reform and offers policy recommendations aligned with the SDGs to advance educational equality in Indonesia.
 Keywords: Educational Inequality, Sustainable Development Goals, Educational Policy.

가상박물관 플랫폼을 활용한 DMZ의 문화적 확장성 방안 연구

The purpose of this study is to use a virtual museum platform to expand the cultural and artistic experiences related to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone). The DMZ, with its historical, political, military, ecological, and geographical significance, has gained global attention, vividly illustrating the unique geopolitical characteristics of the Korean Peninsula involving peace, confrontation, and coexistence. It is noteworthy that existing cultural and artistic activities in the DMZ often rely on direct participation. However, due to the challenges of accessibility, limited information, and cultural differences over time associated with the DMZ, there are difficulties in expanding cultural and artistic content.Therefore, in this study, we assume that digital platforms such as virtual museums utilizing 3D laser projection mapping or 3D scanning will play a crucial role in addressing these limitations. We aim to analyze the current situation and potential solutions by examining existing cultural and artistic activities within the DMZ, considering the role of these digital platforms in overcoming the identified challenges.

Integrating BIM-LCA to Enhance Sustainability Assessments of Constructions

The need for sustainable practices in the construction sector has never been more pressing, as the sector seeks to mitigate its carbon footprint, water consumption, and waste generation. The integration of building information modeling (BIM) and life-cycle assessment (LCA) emerges as a promising solution for rapidly and accurately evaluating the environmental impact of construction. This integration has the potential to empower stakeholders to make informed decisions, paving the way for a more environmentally conscious future in the construction sector. However, there are still challenges to overcome before this is a standard procedure. Data interoperability and standardized classifications necessitate ongoing research. To understand the potential of BIM–LCA integration in minimizing carbon emissions in constructions, this study focuses on a hypothetical renovation project, unraveling the mechanics of BIM–LCA integration and exploring its challenges and opportunities. While the existing literature acknowledges the potential benefits of BIM–LCA integration, few research efforts delve into the specific issues that practitioners may face. Our approach seeks to fill this gap by presenting a holistic view of the integration process, highlighting the practical steps and addressing the intricacies involved. The results show that the most relevant information when performing a BIM–LCA integration using Revit® (v 2022) and OneClick LCA (OCL) is the name-property given to the materials within Revit®. Despite the advances made by this semi-automated approach, interoperability and data accessibility challenges remain. The results show that automated material identification relies on Revit® classifications and necessitates careful modeling practices to prevent impact-calculation redundancy.

Advancements in energy storage technologies: A review across Canada, USA, and Africa

This research explores recent advancements in energy storage technologies across Canada, the United States, and Africa, assessing their economic and environmental impacts. In Canada, the focus is on optimizing renewable integration and grid resilience. The United States witnesses growth in utility-scale projects, influencing grid reliability and fostering economic development. In Africa, off-grid and decentralized solutions address energy access challenges. The financial implications include job creation, industry growth, and cost savings, while environmental benefits range from reduced emissions to improved air quality. Future trends highlight technological advancements, integration with electric vehicles, and regulatory support. Collaborative efforts are essential for navigating these trends and unlocking the potential of energy storage in shaping a sustainable energy future.

Internet usage and learning opportunities: A case study with secondary school students in La Araucanía, Chile

This study seeks to contribute to the understanding of learning shaped by the Internet, considering the affordances for secondary students. A case study was conducted with eight 15- and 16-year-old students from the Region of Araucanía, south of Chile, using a digital log and individual semi-structured interviews, before and during the pandemic. Through a thematic analysis of students’ narratives, it was found that in formal learning contexts, students utilized the Internet to complete homework assignments and projects, understand academic content through multimedia resources, and communicate synchronously and asynchronously with peers and teachers, overcoming challenges in Internet access, particularly in rural areas. In informal learning contexts, students acquired new content and developed skills aligned with personal interests, benefiting those from low socio-economic backgrounds or rural settings. While these affordances existed before the pandemic, they became more evident and frequent during it, showcasing opportunities to leverage the Internet for learning and teaching. Future research should also explore how teachers are adapting their pedagogical approaches in response to the integration of the Internet into students’ learning environments.

Exploring the healthcare access challenges faced by visually impaired young women in Nepal: Navigating sexual harassment and stigma within healthcare settings

IntroductionDespite global progress in gender equality, still not every woman has access to safe and the highest quality health care. Visually impaired young adult women represent one of the most vulnerable groups with a poorer ability to access necessary healthcare services. This study aims to explore and comprehend the experiences of visually impaired young adult women in accessing healthcare services in Nepal. MethodsA descriptive phenomenological study was conducted among 16 visually impaired women aged 20 to 35 years who had utilized healthcare services within the past 12 months. Face-to-face, in-depth interviews were conducted for data collection, and thematic analysis was conducted for data analysis. ResultsOur study revealed a range of challenges faced by visually impaired young women that impeded their healthcare-seeking. These challenges included sexual harassment by male healthcare providers, disability-related stigma, financial difficulties, limited autonomy in decision-making, and a lack of disability-friendly healthcare facilities and services. Particularly, experiencing sexual harassment from male healthcare providers, coupled with underlying disability-related stigma, profoundly influenced the avoidance of healthcare. To navigate these challenges, some women sought support by having family members or friends accompany them or by requesting to be seen by a female healthcare provider. Nevertheless, financial dependence on families and women lacking employment and income led to a feeling of burden on the family, contributing to a reluctance among women to seek expensive healthcare. Social organization-based, collaborative efforts and peer support networks played a significant role in breaking down barriers and improving overall healthcare experiences. ConclusionsWhile integrating disability-friendly healthcare services and infrastructure is essential, fostering attitudinal and behavioral change—particularly among male healthcare providers—is more important to ensure safety for young women in healthcare settings. The implementation of anti-sexual harassment policies is imperative to ensure a safe and respectful environment. Community mobilizing and peer group-based programs can be tested for increasing visually impaired women’s utilization of relevant healthcare services.

Access, equity and redress: Towards a sustainable funding framework for public universities in South Africa

AbstractThis article aims to understand how access, equity and redress challenges are addressed at South Africa's public universities based on their current funding frameworks. Relying on a pragmatic research approach combining desk‐research literature review and secondary data analysis, government funding and tuition fees were found to be the primary sources of funding in most universities, while third stream income from universities' own commercial activities lagged far behind. Secondary data from the public universities' audited annual financial statements for the period 2015 to 2020 further revealed that investment source income superseded third‐stream income in most universities. There is consensus in literature on the pivotal role of equity‐based funding mechanisms such as the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in providing tuition cover and living expenses for students from poor households. Based on the agency theory, government funding is used to influence public universities to pursue transformation goals. The general trends observed in various countries is the inclusion of equity‐based indicators in a funding model to ensure that students are not denied the opportunity for university education solely based on their poor backgrounds. It is argued in this paper that the NSFAS remains an appropriate vehicle to achieve South Africa's transformational goals in its public universities.Context and implicationsRationale for the study The rationale for this article is to provide exploratory evidence on the link between funding and transformation at public universities.Why the new findings matter The new findings matter because public universities cannot escape the imperative to address the challenges of transformation in developing countries with a history of unequal distribution of financial resources.Implications for policy makers, university management, funders and students Policy makers can use the findings from this article to inform how the National Student Financial Aid Scheme can be streamlined to ensure it continues to achieve its mandate. Based on the findings of this study, university management can develop more interventions to assist at‐risk students, particularly those from disadvantaged families succeed in their study. Funders can use the findings of this study to budget for and direct funding to academically deserving at‐risk students. Finally, students could benefit from these findings as the study identifies challenges to academic success as well as relevant interventions.

Climate Change Impacts and Mitigation Strategies in the Energy Sector of African Countries

Many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) require access to dependable, affordable, and sustainable energy, as it has a substantial impact on health, climate, and other sectors. This study focus on Creating an understanding of Climate Change Impacts, Identifying Mitigation Strategies as well as bringing the spot light on the Energy Sector in African Nations. Modern energy services are also required for agricultural transformation, the creation of productive firms, and the support of revenue-generating activities. As a result of energy consumption, combustion, and greenhouse impacts from emissions of environmental pollutants such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon compounds, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, methane, and particulates are examined. Among the many pollutants that contribute to climate change, CO2 emissions have received a lot of attention as the primary cause of climate change. Special attention should be given to investments and policies that promote all three goals or at the very least, those that improve one or both without worsening the other. This report provides a (non-exhaustive) synthesis and assessment of energy consumption rates, supply, and access challenges in Africa, focusing on the connections, synergies, and conflicts with climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. Additionally, the ladder of the utilization of energy and its variety switches as income levels of individuals rise has been considered. Access to energy and its impact on the well-being of the people including the use of biomass and electricity has been expanded. Africa's energy portfolios will need to be properly calibrated to suit adequate supply, access, mitigation, and adaptation goals.

Vascular access challenges in hemodialysis children.

Hemodialysis (HD) success is dependent mainly on vascular access (VA). The aim of this study is to share the experience of Pediatric Nephrology Unit (PNU), Cairo University Children's Hospital (CUCH), with VA-related obstacles in end stage kidney disease (ESKD) HD children. This is a retrospective analysis of VA related data of 187 ESKD children received regular HD over 3year duration (2019-2021). Kaplan-Meier curves were used to present arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and cuffed catheters survivals. Uncuffed central venous catheter (CVC) was the primary VA for HD in up to 97.3% with 2.7% of patients had AVF performed and attained maturation before initiation of regular HD. Fifty-six (29.9%) patients have inserted 120 tunneled CVCs. AVFs & AV grafts (AVF) were performed in 79 (42.2%) and 6 (3.2%) patients respectively. There were 112 uncuffed CVCs implanted beneath the screen in Rt internal jugular vein (IJV) (44%) Lt IJV (17%), right internal mammary vein (2.7%) while Trans hepatic (TH) technique was used to place 39 uncuffed CVCs (34%) in the inferior vena cava (IVC). Catheter-related bacteremia (CRB) was the most frequent complication in uncuffed and cuffed CVCs (2.58 / 100 catheters day and 10.1 /1000 catheter days respectively). AVFs achieved a high success rate (83%) after 757.71 ± 512.3 functioning days. Native AVF is the preferred VA for pediatric HD but its creation is limited by the small sized vessels where non-cuffed CVC could be a reasonable relatively long-term alternative. Challenging situations (occluded central veins) could benefit from TH technique of CVC insertion in IVC.

A comprehensive review of heart failure: Unraveling the etiology, decoding pathophysiological mechanisms, navigating diagnostic modalities, exploring pharmacological interventions, advocating lifestyle modifications, and charting the horizon of emerging therapies in the complex landscape of chronic cardiac dysfunction.

Heart failure (HF) poses a significant global health burden, necessitating a profound understanding of its multifaceted dimensions. This comprehensive review aims to unravel the etiology, decode pathophysiological mechanisms, navigate diagnostic modalities, explore pharmacological interventions, advocate lifestyle modifications, and chart the horizon of emerging therapies in the complex landscape of chronic cardiac dysfunction. The exploration of HF begins with an insightful journey into its diverse etiological factors, encompassing genetic predispositions, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. Delving into pathophysiological mechanisms, this review elucidates the intricate processes of cardiac remodeling, neurohormonal activation, and cellular dysfunction that underlie the progression of HF. Diagnostic modalities play a pivotal role in unraveling the mysteries of HF by examining advanced imaging techniques, biomarkers, and comprehensive clinical assessments. The pharmacological interventions section provides an in-depth analysis of traditional medications, such as diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, while highlighting the emergence of novel drug classes transforming HF management. Advocating lifestyle modifications emphasizes the crucial role of diet, exercise, smoking cessation, and alcohol moderation in enhancing patient outcomes. Lastly, the review delves into the promising horizon of emerging therapies, offering a glimpse into current research, innovative treatment approaches, and potential breakthroughs. As HF management faces challenges in patient compliance, healthcare access, and education, this comprehensive review aims to equip healthcare professionals and researchers with a holistic understanding of chronic cardiac dysfunction's intricacies. In conclusion, synthesizing key findings emphasizes the need for an integrated and multidimensional approach to effectively address the complex landscape of heart failure.

The conducted vascular response as a mediator of hypercapnic cerebrovascular reactivity: A modelling study

It is well established that the cerebral blood flow (CBF) shows exquisite sensitivity to changes in the arterial blood partial pressure of CO2 (Pa,CO2), which is reflected by an index termed cerebrovascular reactivity. In response to elevations in Pa,CO2 (hypercapnia), the vessels of the cerebral microvasculature dilate, thereby decreasing the vascular resistance and increasing CBF. Due to the challenges of access, scale and complexity encountered when studying the microvasculature, however, the mechanisms behind cerebrovascular reactivity are not fully understood. Experiments have previously established that the cholinergic release of the Acetylcholine (ACh) neurotransmitter in the cortex is a prerequisite for the hypercapnic response. It is also known that ACh functions as an endothelial-dependent agonist, in which the local administration of ACh elicits local hyperpolarization in the vascular wall; this hyperpolarization signal is then propagated upstream the vascular network through the endothelial layer and is coupled to a vasodilatory response in the vascular smooth muscle (VSM) layer in what is known as the conducted vascular response (CVR). Finally, experimental data indicate that the hypercapnic response is more strongly correlated with the CO2 levels in the tissue than in the arterioles. Accordingly, we hypothesize that the CVR, evoked by increases in local tissue CO2 levels and a subsequent local release of ACh, is responsible for the CBF increase observed in response to elevations in Pa,CO2. By constructing physiologically grounded dynamic models of CBF and control in the cerebral vasculature, ones that integrate the available knowledge and experimental data, we build a new model of the series of signalling events and pathways underpinning the hypercapnic response, and use the model to provide compelling evidence that corroborates the aforementioned hypothesis. If the CVR indeed acts as a mediator of the hypercapnic response, the proposed mechanism would provide an important addition to our understanding of the repertoire of metabolic feedback mechanisms possessed by the brain and would motivate further in-vivo investigation. We also model the interaction of the hypercapnic response with dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA), the collection of mechanisms that the brain possesses to maintain near constant CBF despite perturbations in pressure, and show how the dCA mechanisms, which otherwise tend to be overlooked when analysing experimental results of cerebrovascular reactivity, could play a significant role in shaping the CBF response to elevations in Pa,CO2. Such in-silico models can be used in tandem with in-vivo experiments to expand our understanding of cerebrovascular diseases, which continue to be among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in humans.

Exploring the landscape of health technology assessment in Iran: perspectives from stakeholders on needs, demand and supply

BackgroundThe evaluation of health technologies plays a crucial role in the allocation of resources and the promotion of equitable healthcare access, known as health technology assessment (HTA). This study focuses on Iran’s efforts to integrate HTA and aims to gain insights into stakeholder perspectives regarding capacity needs, demand and implementation.MethodsIn this study, we employed the HTA introduction status analysis questionnaire developed by the International Decision Support Initiative (iDSI), which has been utilized in various countries. The questionnaire consisted of 12 questions divided into three sections: HTA need, demand and supply. To identify key informants, we conducted a literature review and consulted with the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME), as well we experts in policy-making, health service provision and HTA. We selected stakeholders who held decision-making positions in the healthcare domain. A modified Persian version of the questionnaire was administered online from September 2022 to January 2023 and was pretested for clarity. The analysis of the collected data involved quantitative methods for descriptive analysis and qualitative methods for thematic analysis.ResultsIn this study, a total of 103 questionnaires were distributed, resulting in a favourable response rate of 61% from 63 participants, of whom 68% identified as male. The participants, when assessing the needs of HTA, rated allocative efficiency as the highest priority, with a mean rating of 8.53, thereby highlighting its crucial role in optimizing resource allocation. Furthermore, healthcare quality, with a mean rating of 8.17, and transparent decision-making, with a mean rating of 7.92, were highly valued for their impact on treatment outcomes and accountability. The importance of budget control (mean rating 7.58) and equity (mean rating 7.25) were also acknowledged, as they contribute to maintaining sustainability and promoting social justice. In terms of HTA demand, safety concerns were identified as the top priority, closely followed by effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, with an expanded perspective on the economy. However, limited access to local data was reported, which arose from various factors including data collection practices, system fragmentation and privacy concerns. The priorities of HTA users encompassed coverage, payment reform, benefits design, guidelines, service delivery and technology registration. Evidence generation involved the participation of medical universities, research centres and government bodies, albeit with ongoing challenges in research quality, data access and funding. The study highlights government support and medical education as notable strengths in this context.ConclusionsThis study provides a comprehensive evaluation of Iran’s HTA landscape, considering its capacity, demand and implementation aspects. It underlines the vital role of HTA in optimizing resources, improving healthcare quality and promoting equity. The study also sheds light on the strengths of evidence generation in the country, while simultaneously identifying challenges related to data access and system fragmentation. In terms of policy priorities, evidence-based decision-making emerges as crucial for enhancing healthcare access and integrating technology. The study stresses the need for evidence-based practices, a robust HTA infrastructure and collaboration among stakeholders to achieve better healthcare outcomes in Iran.

AI Mock Interviewer: Preparing You Towards Smarter Interview Practice

In today's fiercely competitive job market, interview performance plays a pivotal role in securing employment. However, candidates often face the challenge of limited access to personalized and realistic interview practice opportunities, hindering their confidence-building efforts. To address this gap, we propose an AI-powered mock interviewer web application that creates an interview environment for candidates and elevates their interview preparation. The web app extracts vital information from user-uploaded resumes using Google's Palm model and Textract, crafting interview questions customized to the user's role and skills. It offers HR and Technical interview rounds. The HR segment assesses soft skills, while the Technical round presents role-specific technical questions, resulting in comprehensive performance reports and personalized feedback for targeted preparation. Notably, the web app employs voice analysis to detect fillers, pauses, and repetitive language, offering practical insights for improved communication. This analysis provides practical insights into communication challenges and offers actionable feedback to improve interview articulation and bolster user confidence. Key Words: Interview Preparation, AI-Powered Mock Interview Simulation, Personalized Feedback, Confidence Building

‘It's like a compass which I use to find direction’: Findings and learning from an evaluation of an App designed to support the teaching of reading comprehension in rural and township schools in South Africa

AbstractSouth Africa has low literacy levels and teachers face multiple challenges in their endeavours to elevate levels of literacy. This is especially prevalent in rural and township schools where teachers face the additional challenges of isolation, limited resources and access to professional development. This article reports on the findings and learning from a preliminary research study which piloted a handheld mobile phone App. This collaborative project, between a university in KwaZulu‐Natal and one in England, aimed to support in‐service and preservice teachers in rural and township settings to use the App to assess and match books to learners' (aged 9–12) stage of reading development in order to facilitate their independent reading and provide teachers with a range of strategies for teaching comprehension that could supplement other professional development available. In‐service teachers (n = 120) and preservice teachers (n = 93) took part in this mixed‐methods study. The main finding from the study was that whilst participants were positive about the App, many did not access the App independently. This article discusses the broader issues, including participants' foundational knowledge and literacy research participation considerations, that may have underpinned this finding in this collaborative Global North and South research.