Digital Circuits Research Articles

Active and Passive Screen Time for Children Aged 5–6

The social situation of development largely determines the cognitive and emotional development of a child. The use of digital devices is an important part of the social situation in development of modern preschool children. By the age of 5–6, children start using digital devices independently and in various modes highlighting importance of understanding their usage patterns. A questionnaire was administered to mothers of 663 5–6-year-old children to investigate this topic. It is shown that passive screen time (time spent watching video content) is almost twice as long as active screen (time spent interactively using digital devices, for example, for videogames, communication, learning, creating). It is also shown that screen time on weekends is twice as much as on weekdays. Weekend screen time reaches three hours exceeds age norms by one hour, indicating insufficient engagement in physical activities, non-digital games, and interpersonal communication. There was no difference in screen time between boys and girls. Screen time is shown to be inversely correlated with maternal education level. It is found that less than 30% of children engage in screen time with their parents.

What Makes Me Happy and what Worries Me? A Cross-national Comparison of Stressors and Resources for Stress Relief Among Youth

AbstractNumerous evidence-based programs aim to promote youth mental health. Unfortunately, however, they often fail to engage the target group and lack cultural sensitivity. The present study addresses these issues by using a participatory approach to look at variations of stressors and resources for stress relief among students (12-15 years) in three European countries. Two participatory workshops were conducted in three schools in Austria, Poland and Slovenia, with a total of 81 students participating in the first workshop, and 83 in the second. This study presents the findings derived from two distinct participatory activities wherein participants reported their stressors (Relevant Topics activity) and resources (Photovoice activity). Overall, the study revealed remarkable similarities in stressors and resources across the three countries, but differences were also identified. Stressors relating to interpersonal relationships, school, and self-concept were common themes. While concerns regarding health, future, and global issues were less frequently mentioned, they remained persistent across all countries, an indication of their growing relevance amid today’s multiple crises. Animals, sports, and relationships emerged as the most frequently reported resources. Creative arts and expression, music, and calm activities like reading, and spending time in nature were also frequently cited. Notably, engagement with digital devices or social media emerged neither as a common stressor nor as a notable personal resource. The findings will be used to inform the content development of a culturally sensitive digital mental health promotion program, covering salient topics comprehensively while ensuring diversity awareness.

Fiber-integrated hybrid achromatic microlenses by combined femtosecond laser 3D printing

Compact achromats for visible wavelengths are crucial for miniaturized and lightweight full-color endoscopes. Emerging femtosecond laser 3D printing technology offers new possibilities for enhancing the optical performance of miniature imaging lenses on fibers. In this work, we combine refractive and diffractive elements with complementary dispersive properties to create thin, high-performance hybrid achromatic lenses within the visible spectrum, avoiding the use of different optical materials. Using a fiber-integrated hybrid achromatic lens array, clear images are captured across different wavelengths. The fabrication process is carried out using femtosecond laser direct writing (DLW) assisted by femtosecond projection lithography based on a digital micromirror device (DMD). Our work is expected to significantly contribute to the advancement of integrated and miniaturized biomedical imaging devices.

Physician Preferences in Using Novel Digital Devices for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation-A DAS-CAM III Survey.

A recent European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) practical guide provides guidance on the use of novel digital devices for heart rhythm analysis using either electrocardiogram (ECG) or photoplethysmography (PPG) technology for the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). This survey assesses physicians' preferences to use digital devices in patients with possible AF and their impact on clinical decision-making. Participants of the DAS-CAM III initiated and distributed an online survey assessing physician preferences in using digital devices for the management of AF in different clinical scenarios. A total of 505 physicians (median age: 38 [IQR 33-46] years) from 30 countries completed the survey. A third of respondents were electrophysiologists, the others were cardiologists, cardiology residents, or general practitioners. Electrophysiologists were more likely to have experience with both ECG-based (92% vs. 68%, p < 0.001) and PPG-based (60% vs. 34%, p < 0.001) digital devices. The initial diagnostic approach to each scenario (symptomatic low-risk, symptomatic high-risk, or asymptomatic high-risk patient) was heterogeneous. Electrophysiologists preferred intermittent single-lead ECG monitoring to traditional Holter ECGs to screen for AF. Both electrophysiologists and non-electrophysiologists would rarely use PPG-based devices to diagnose and screen for AF (8.2%-9.8%). Electrophysiologists and non-electrophysiologists use ECG-based technology to confirm PPG-documented tracings suggestive of AF. While PPG-based digital devices are rarely used for diagnosis and screening for AF, intermittent ECG-based digital devices are beginning to be implemented in clinical practice. More education on the potential of novel digital devices is required to achieve diagnostic pathways as suggested by the EHRA practical guide.

Healthcare Professionals' Views on the Use of Passive Sensing and Machine Learning Approaches in Secondary Mental Healthcare: A Qualitative Study.

Globally, many people experience mental health difficulties, and the current workforce capacity is insufficient to meet this demand, with growth not keeping pace with need. Digital devices that passively collect data and utilise machine learning to generate insights could enhance current mental health practices and help service users manage their mental health. However, little is known about mental healthcare professionals' perspectives on these approaches. This study aims to explore mental health professionals' views on using digital devices to passively collect data and apply machine learning in mental healthcare, as well as the potential barriers and facilitators to their implementation in practice. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 multidisciplinary staff who work in secondary mental health settings. Interview topics included the use of digital devices for passive sensing, developing machine learning algorithms from this data, the clinician's role, and the barriers and facilitators to their use in practice. Interview data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Participants noted that digital devices for healthcare can motivate and empower users, but caution is needed to prevent feelings of abandonment and widening inequalities. Passive sensing can enhance assessment objectivity, but it raises concerns about privacy, data storage, consent and data accuracy. Machine learning algorithms may increase awareness of support needs, yet lack context, risking misdiagnosis. Barriers for service users include access, accessibility and the impact of receiving insights from passively collected data. For staff, barriers involve infrastructure and increased workload. Staff support facilitated service users' adoption of digital systems, while for staff, training, ease of use and feeling supported were key enablers. Several recommendations have arisen from this study, including ensuring devices are user-friendly and equitably applied in clinical practice. Being with a blended approach to prevent service users from feeling abandoned and provide staff with training and access to technology to enhance uptake. The study design, protocol and topic guide were informed by a lived experience community group that advises on research projects at the authors' affiliation.

I would rather be a cyborg than a Barbie: hyperfeminine nostalgia and patriarchal futurity in Barbie

I examine portrayals of digital media and technology in Barbie, analysing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) symbolism in conjunction with the film's thematic commentaries on gender and contemporary affects. I draw my theoretical framework from Tracey Mollet's conceptualisation of twenty-first-century American nostalgia and Donna Haraway's iconic discussion of the cyborg, tracing all appearances of digital screens and devices, media franchises, computer software and virtual platforms in the film. I demonstrate that Barbie consistently associates ICT with toxic masculinity and corruptive futures, while disassociating desirable feminine spaces and interactions from technological artifacts and their use. This gendered representation of technology is contextualised within two competing nostalgias portrayed in the film: a hyperfeminine, commercialised girlhood and a masculine, nationalist and patriotic past. Analysing the strategic placement of digital ICT across the film's settings – Barbie Land, the Real World and Kendom – I illuminate the paradoxical relationship between the film's selectively feminist message and its dichotomous portrayal of technology. This case highlights the challenges of portraying feminism without stakes in popular culture, evoking Sarah Banet-Weiser's observations of neoliberal girl-power narratives in the guise of feminism. Ultimately, I argue that the portrayal of technology in Barbie reinforces biological essentialism, revitalising archaic logics which fixate on the physical gendered body as the motivator for feminist solidarity; moreover, it overlooks the importance of digital spaces in feminist praxis and theory, complicating its status as a pop feminist film.

The relationship between the use of screen-based devices and self-reported sleep quality in adolescents aged 13–19 years in Brunei

BackgroundThe widespread use of digital devices among adolescents has raised concerns about the potential impact of screen time on sleep quality. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between screen time and self-reported sleep quality in adolescents.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on adolescents (13- to 19-year-olds) using multi-stage cluster sampling with probability proportional to the size of public schools. Data were collected in November 2022 through self-administered questionnaires. The questionnaire collected sociodemographic characteristics, sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and screen time on weekdays and weekends using the Screen Time Questionnaire (STQ). A scoring system was used in the PSQI and a global score of more than 5 indicates poor sleep quality. The relationship between screen time and sleep quality was analysed using simple and multiple linear regression.ResultsA total of 547 adolescents participated in the study, with a mean (SD) age of 16.66 (1.54) years. The mean (SD) PSQI score was 5.98 (2.70), and 52% of participants had poor sleep quality. The sleep disturbance component had the highest mean (SD) score at 1.35 (0.5) out of a total score of 3.0. The mean (SD) screen time for a weekday was 537.6 (301.5) minutes, and a weekend day was 725.5 (339.2) minutes. The highest median screen time was spent on smartphones during the whole week. A significant linear relationship was observed between age and PSQI global score (p = 0.008), with a 0.2 increase in PSQI global score for each year increase in age (95% CI: 0.05, 0.35). Being female was also significantly associated with a high PSQI global score (p < 0.001). Additionally, a significant linear relationship was observed between screen time on a weekend and PSQI score (p = 0.032).ConclusionsThe study found that half of the adolescents had poor sleep quality, which was associated with being female, increased screen time on weekends, and older age. Future research endeavours should focus on conducting longitudinal studies to assess the temporal relationship between screen time and sleep quality.

Fault classification in Digital to Analog Converter using machine learning

ABSTRACT The cost of manufacturing Integrated Circuit (IC) is affected strongly by the test time, cost of test equipment and test procedure development. Mixed Signal Integration in an IC has analog circuits and digital circuits both combined in a single die. Combining both analog circuits and digital circuits leads to sophisticated high functionality design. The cost for testing those analog circuit parts are mostly dominated in total cost of testing a Mixed Signal IC. Considerable efforts are invested by IC manufacturers to minimise production costs in the design and testing of mixed signal IC. Classification and distinguishing catastrophic faults of analog integrated circuits are gaining importance in recent days in order to reduce IC test cost. In this work, Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) and Random Forest are used to classify the faults in Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs). Performance comparison of BPNN and Random Forest is made based on their fault classification efficiency in which BPNN classifies the fault with 98.1% accuracy, Random Forest classifies the fault with 98.8% accuracy.

Fog Computing for Artificial Intelligence Digital Textbooks: Educational Scaffolding and Security and Privacy Challenges

ABSTRACTDigital textbooks (DTs) have evolved from DT 1.0, which simply converted paper textbooks to PDF format, to DT 2.0, which provides various multimedia content, for example, video and audio content. DTs have now advanced to DT 3.0, which enhances learner engagement through gamification and simulations. Recently, with the advancement of cloud computing technology and digital devices, for example, tablets, DT 4.0, which supports personalised learning through artificial intelligence (AI) tutors and chatbots, has been realised. South Korea is actively implementing a policy to distribute artificial intelligence–based DTs, equivalent to DT 4.0, to all schools under national leadership. For artificial intelligence–based DTs (AIDTs) in South Korea to develop into a sustainable education system, reliance on cloud computing alone is insufficient. It is also necessary to build layers of fog computing and edge computing from the initial stage. There are concerns that AIDTs may exacerbate the learning gap because they are more likely to be utilised actively by high‐performing students with established self‐directed learning habits rather than struggling students. Thus, it is essential to enhance usage monitoring and explore strategies that provide educational scaffolding to prevent differences in the level of AIDT utilisation from leading to a widening learning gap.

Digital Transformation in Tourism: The Role of E-Booking Systems

Abstract The tourism industry has undergone significant transformation with the rise of digital technologies, particularly online booking systems. E-booking platforms have revolutionised how customers plan and book their travel, offering convenience, cost-efficiency, and the ability to access real-time information through smartphones and other digital devices. These systems not only streamline administrative and operational tasks for businesses but also provide valuable insights by analysing customer data to tailor services and predict trends. This study explores the critical role of e-booking in the digital era of tourism, employing cluster analysis to group countries by their adoption and performance of e-booking services. The findings highlight the growing global reliance on e-booking platforms and their potential to enhance the customer experience and optimise business operations.

Cultural exchange and technical artistry: Gold ornaments found in pre-imperial Qin Tomb at Ta’erpo, Shaanxi

The current study investigates the use of precious metals, aesthetic taste, manufacturing techniques, and craftworking practices in the pre-imperial Qin period before the unification of China, focusing on an interdisciplinary study of gold ornaments discovered at the Ta’erpo cemetery in Xianyang, dating to the 4th-3rd centuries BCE. Employing multi-spectral analytical methods, including 3D Digital Microscopy (OM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), we conducted non-invasive analyses and technological study of a selection of gold artefacts. The results reveal the mastery of sophisticated techniques, including granulation and filigree, which were rarely seen in central China prior to the 2nd century BCE. These delicate decorative techniques required precision, skill and deep understanding of gold metalworking, which demonstrated a high level of technological competence among Qin craftsmen. The investigated ornaments were crafted from very pure gold with content reaching up to 99.62 wt% gold, a rarity among early Chinese gold artefacts. Examining pre-imperial Qin goldwork within a broader Eurasian context reveals that these innovative artistic styles and decorative techniques were originally intertwined with wider influences from the Hellenistic world and the central Asian steppes. This research enriches the understanding of ancient civilization's interconnectedness and the ability of local goldsmith to adapt and integrate foreign influences into their own artistic traditions.

Assessing Retinal Function Alterations Due to Digital Device Use: A Study of Computer Vision Syndrome in Medical Students

Assessing Retinal Function Alterations Due to Digital Device Use: A Study of Computer Vision Syndrome in Medical Students

Self-Control or Crime Control: Teachers’ Insights on Good Practices in 1:1 Classrooms and Implications for Professional Development

Norway ranks high in digitalization in schools, with over 90% of students in grades 1–10 having their own digital device supplied by their school districts and reporting the highest use of digital tools globally in the latest PISA report. However, research shows that implementation processes and competence measures for teachers’ professional use of digital devices vary considerably between schools. This study aims to inform the development of research-practice partnership (RPP) measures focused on professional digital competence development in digitalizing schools internationally by exploring what teachers consider important for good teaching practices in 1:1 computing classrooms. We draw on both closed and open survey responses from 1505 Norwegian teachers in highly digitalized schools where the most experienced teachers have had 1:1 computing since 2014. The findings show that classroom management is seen as gradually more important with higher digital teaching competence and more experience, but that the teachers’ understandings of what digital competence entails and their use of classroom management strategies are rather limited. The study concludes that professional competence development measures that provide broader understandings of digital competence and classroom management are needed, dependent on competence levels and experience, as well as systematic training of students’ digital self-regulation.

High-Throughput Multiplexed Plasmonic Color Encryption of Microgel Architectures via Programmable Dithering-Mask Flow Microlithography.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are known for their unique plasmonic colors and interaction with light, making them ideal for color printing and data encoding. Traditional methods like electron beam lithography (EBL) and focused ion beam (FIB) milling, however, suffer from low throughput and high costs. In this paper, a scalable and cost-efficient method is introduced for producing multiplexed plasmonic colors by in situ photoreducing AgNPs within microgel architectures with controlled porosity. Utilizing a digital micro-mirror device (DMD)-based flow microlithography system combined with a programmable dithering-mask technique, the high-throughput synthesis of shape or barcoded microparticles is facilitated, along with large-scale, high-resolution images embedded with hidden multiplexed plasmonic colors. This approach allows for a hidden multiplexed plasmonic color code library, significant enhancing the encoding capacity of barcode microparticles from 33 to 303 (a 1000-fold increase). Additionally, quantitative agreement is achieved between chemically encrypted and optically decrypted plasmonic colors using a deep learning classifier. Moreover, the method also supports the production of large scale (>5.6 × 5.6cm2), high-resolution (>300 dpi) microgel arrays encrypted with multiple plasmonic colors in under 30min. The multiplexed plasmonic coloration strategy in microgel architectures paves a new way for hidden data storage, secure optical labeling, and anti-counterfeiting technologies.

Automated Grayscale Modulation to Enhance Digital Light Processing Fabrication Accuracy by Correcting Non-uniform Illumination

Abstract In this study, we addressed the challenge of non-uniform illumination in custom Digital Light Processing (DLP) systems, often caused by imperfections in the Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) or misalignments in the optical assembly. These issues lead to dimensional inconsistencies across the fabrication area. To overcome this, we developed an automated system for generating a “grayscale” mask that compensates for non-uniform illumination. This system serves as a pre-printing calibration procedure, enhancing the precision of 3D printed features. Our approach involves dividing the fabrication area into a mesh grid where in-situ light intensities are measured. The system then calculates and acquires grayscale values that correspond to the minimum light intensity, thereby creating a grayscale mask that levels light distribution across the printing area. Additionally, we outline a method to generate grayscale masks for various LED Excitation Powers (LEPs) based on initial data from three predefined powers. We evaluated the effectiveness of this method by comparing features printed with standard “full white” images to those adjusted with our grayscale-modulated images. The results show significant enhancements in both uniformity and dimensional accuracy, confirming the efficacy of our approach. This study demonstrates the potential of grayscale modulation to resolve illumination issue in DLP manufacturing to ensure higher precision in printed features.

Promoting Cyber Ethics Compliance among Teachers in Tanzania: What should be done?

The invention of digital ICT devices is one of the most important developments in the history of humankind, and education can greatly benefit from it. However, cyber ethics violations by teachers have become prevalent and are expected to increase unless measures are taken. This study explored education stakeholders’ perspectives on ways to promote teachers’ compliance with cyber ethics in Tanzania. It employed a qualitative case study design involving three secondary schools and 27 participants selected purposively in Kinondoni Municipality in the Dar es Salaam region. Data were sought through semi-structured interviews and document reviews and subjected to thematic data analysis. The findings indicated that teachers’ compliance with cyber ethics requires training of teachers on the pedagogical uses of technology, the inception of a specific national policy for the responsible use of technology in schools, integration of the cyber ethics aspects of the Teachers’ Code of Conduct, improvement of teachers’ living and working conditions, and promotion of teachers’ awareness of the Cyber Crimes Act of 2015, among others. The study recommends that policymakers and education authorities implement the suggested initiatives to promote cyber ethics compliance among teachers for education excellence in Tanzania, and, possibly, elsewhere.

Design, analysis and application of Non-Hamiltonian conservative chaotic system based on memristor

A new four-dimensional memristor conservative chaotic system (MCCS) is constructed by introducing a sine magnetic memristor into the Sprott-A system in this paper. Through the analysis of the dynamic behavior of the MCCS, it is found that the system is a non-Hamiltonian chaotic system, exhibiting continuous chaotic intervals and high complexity. At the same time, a series of special phenomena have been observed in MCCS, such as multiple stability, parameter-controllable multi-scrolls, bursty oscillations, and distinctive spike oscillations. Additionally, the correctness of the mathematical model of the MCCS is confirmed through analog and FPGA digital circuit. Finally, a synchronous encryption system with strong attack resistance is designed by combining MCCS with RNA algorithm.

Brain-computer interfaces patient preferences: a systematic review.

Background&#xD;Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have the potential to restore motor capabilities and functional independence in individuals with motor impairments. Despite accelerating advances in the performance of various implanted devices, few studies have identified patient preferences underlying device design, and moreover, each study has typically captured a single aetiology of motor impairment. We aimed to characterise BCI patient preferences in a large patient cohort across multiple aetiologies.&#xD;Methods&#xD;We performed a systematic review of all published studies reporting patient preferences for BCI devices. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL from inception to April 18th, 2023. We included any study reporting either qualitative or quantitative preferences concerning BCI devices. Article screening and data extraction were performed by two reviewers in duplicate. Extracted information included demographic information, current digital device use, device invasiveness preference, device design preferences, and device functional preferences.&#xD;Findings&#xD;Our search identified 1316 articles, of which 28 studies were eligible for inclusion. Preference information was captured from 1701 patients (mean age = 42.1-64.3 years). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was the most represented clinical condition (n = 15 studies, 53.6%), followed by spinal cord injury (n = 13 studies, 46.4%). We found that individuals with motor impairment prioritise device accuracy over other device design characteristics. We also found that the speed and accuracy of BCI systems in recent publications exceeds reported patient preferences, however this performance has been achieved with a level of training and setup burden that would not be tolerated by most patients. When comparing populations across studies, we found that patient preferences vary according to both disease aetiology and the severity of motor impairment.&#xD;Interpretation&#xD;Our findings support a greater research emphasis on minimising BCI setup and training burden, and they suggest future BCI devices may require bespoke configuration and training for specific patient groups.&#xD.

SOCIO-CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN AS A BASIS FOR PREVENTING RISKS OF DIGITAL ADDICTION

The issue of digital addiction among children of different ages is becoming increasingly relevant. Digitalization is realized in the emergence of a new human habitat: virtual space, networked personality and psyche, internet thinking, a new type of communication landscape, etc. The assessment of the consequences of rapid immersion into this new reality for human culture is highly ambiguous. On the one hand, digitalization indeed signifi cantly streamlines and optimizes routine processes in various spheres of life, but on the other hand, digitalization rapidly alters the very way of life, subsequently affecting the psyche and personality of individuals (deontologization of space and changing the meanings of human life). Digitalization is not just a fundamentally new technology for organizing human life, but it entails such civilizational processes that can result in profound socio-cultural changes in the ontology of humankind. The aim of this review was to substantiate the role of socio-cultural development of children as the foundation for preventing the negative consequences of digitalization. Research on the attitudes towards digital devices among children of different ages and their parents indicates that children, teenagers, and young adults actively engaged with these devices exhibit personality traits that can be viewed as socio-cultural (intellectualization of the emotional sphere, specifi city of values and communications, more pronounced egocentricity, learned helplessness, etc.). Applied studies of attitude towards digital devices by children at different ages and their parents indicate that children, adolescents and young people involved in active interaction with digital devices are distinguished by personal characteristics that can be considered as socio-cultural (intellectualization of the emotional sphere, the specifi city of values and types of communication, more pronounced egocentricity, learned helplessness, etc.). At the same time, our research aimed at identifying the signifi cance of socio-cultural upbringing indicates the possibility of mitigating undesirable changes in the development of «digital» children. Socio-cultural education should be organized with a view to updating spiritual and moral meanings and values and taking into account the specifi cs of children’s subculture. The review considers variants of organization of socio-cultural development of children at different ages, as well as tools for the development of resistance to digital pressure.

Studies on 1D Electronic Noise Filtering Using an Autoencoder

Autoencoders are neural networks that have applications in denoising processes. Their use is widely reported in imaging (2D), though 1D series can also benefit from this function. Here, three canonical waveforms are used to train a neural network and achieve a signal-to-noise reduction with curves whose noise energy is above that of the signals. A real-world test is carried out with the same autoencoder subjected to a set of time series corrupted by noise generated by a Zener diode, biased on the avalanche region. Results showed that, observing some guidelines, the autoencoder can indeed denoise 1D waveforms usually observed in electronics, particularly square waves found in digital circuits. Results showed an average of 2.8 dB in the signal-to-noise ratio for square and triangular waveforms.