Digital Mobile Devices Research Articles

Eco-Apps for Change? Evaluating Mobile Apps to Promote and Support Sustainable Lifestyle Changes

Introduction: Mobile digital devices have developed mainly from voice communications to always-on internet-accessing, mini-computers used universally across the generations. As the consumption and use of smartphones and digital devices and services grow exponentially, their pervasive acceptance has coincided with an increasing demand for mobile software applications. Faced with the evidence of the deepening climate crisis, can mobile digital apps be better deployed in support of critical lifestyle and behavioral changes required to tackle the impacts of climate change? Applying a review of the existing literature on mobile apps and combining this with original data from new eco-app users affords us deeper insights into the effectiveness (or otherwise) and utility of apps in promoting lifestyle changes allowing us to better design, develop, and deploy these digital tools for environmental good. Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature on behavioural change and its links to digital ICTs is undertaken. This is followed by an analysis of quantitative data collected from just under 100 novel eco-app users to explore what they found useful, what they found troublesome, and what forced them to reject and uninstall such apps. Results: Findings identified an overcrowded marketplace as a barrier to success. Attrition is also an issue of concern in encouraging digital intervention lifestyle change, with some revealing they would uninstall apps if they affected the operation and running of their device, or if the services on offer were irrelevant to their needs at a particular time. Conclusion: The study concludes by outlining recommendations and guidelines for best practices in future digital interventions for promoting sustainable behavioural change specifically using mobile digital apps.

Features of Bioluminescence Dynamics of Photobacterium phosphoreum IMV B-7071

The problem of the prolonged and stable intensity of bioluminescent signals is relevant in the development of any test systems that use biological objects. The aim of this work was to study the features of bioluminescence dynamics of Photobacterium phosphoreum IMV B-7071 in a liquid and on different stationary media. Methods. Bioluminescence studies were performed in liquid, agarose, and cellulose-cotton media. Bacterial suspensions were cultivated at 21°C in the mediums with standard composition. We studied both the background glow and its dynamics under conditions of mixing a liquid medium. Bioluminescence was recorded using digital photography with subsequent image processing of the samples. The measurements of luminescence were made by digital photo or video recording using Olympus digital camera SP560UZ, CANON 700D, and mobile device camera Samsung Galaxy 9 Note with specialized applications for mobile devices "Colorimeter (Lab Tools Apps)" and Camera Color Counter (Keuwsoft) at maximum light sensitivity in the automatic white balance mode at a fixed distance from the sample. Image processing was carried out using ImageJ and Origin Pro. Spectra of bacterial luminescence and its dynamics over time were measured using an LOMO MDR-23 spectrometer in the range of 200–750 nm. Results. The results of the study prove that in aqueous or solid agar and also on cellulose cotton medium, the intensity of bioluminescence of P. phosphoreum gradually increases, reaching a maximum within approximately 2 days, after which it slowly fades. It was established that the bioluminescence of photobacterium P. phosphoreum is a non-stationary process and has characteristic features of temporal dynamics associated with both the dynamics of the oxygen concentration in the environment of bacterial suspensions and the dynamics of the bacterial population density. Analysis of the luminescence spectra of bacteria shows that luminescence occurs mainly in the blue and green regions of the spectrum with luminescence maxima in the range of 460–520 nm, but the ultra-weak glow is also registered in the UV and red spectral ranges. The variability of photobacterial luminescence spectra over time in the spectral ranges of the main luminophores causes color fluctuations between the blue and green ranges. Conclusions. The key parameters of multi-day background and short-term induced bioluminescence dynamics of photobacteria in different environments were clarified, and the certain variability of the spectral characteristics of luminescent radiation over time was shown. The revealed features of the dynamics of the bioluminescence of P. phosphoreum must be taken into account in practical application to assess the toxicity of substances of various nature, as well as in environmental monitoring.

Factors that influence secure behaviour while using mobile digital devices

PurposeThe use of mobile digital devices requires secure behaviour while using these devices. To influence this behaviour, one should be able to adequately measure the behaviour. The purpose of this study is to establish a model for measuring secure behaviour, and to use this model to measure the secure behaviour of individuals while using mobile digital devices such as smartphones and laptops.Design/methodology/approachBased on a wide-ranging questionnaire (N = 1000), this study investigates the degree of influence that a relatively large number of factors have on secure behaviour while using mobile digital devices. These factors include knowledge and cognitive attitude, but also affective attitude, as well as several types of bias.FindingsThis study has provided a model for measuring secure behaviour. The results of the measurements show that knowledge, bias, cognitive attitude and affective attitude all have impact on secure behaviour while using mobile digital devices. Moreover, none of these factors is of minor importance.Practical implicationsThis study shows that it is important to also consider previously undervalued factors, such as affective attitude and various types of bias, when designing interventions to improve secure behaviour while using mobile digital devices.Originality/valueMost research on secure behaviour has only looked at a small number of influencing factors, usually limited to knowledge and cognitive attitude. This study shows that one needs a more elaborate model for measuring secure behaviour, and that previously undervalued factors have a clear influence on secure behaviour.

Image super‐resolution via dynamic network

AbstractConvolutional neural networks depend on deep network architectures to extract accurate information for image super‐resolution. However, obtained information of these convolutional neural networks cannot completely express predicted high‐quality images for complex scenes. A dynamic network for image super‐resolution (DSRNet) is presented, which contains a residual enhancement block, wide enhancement block, feature refinement block and construction block. The residual enhancement block is composed of a residual enhanced architecture to facilitate hierarchical features for image super‐resolution. To enhance robustness of obtained super‐resolution model for complex scenes, a wide enhancement block achieves a dynamic architecture to learn more robust information to enhance applicability of an obtained super‐resolution model for varying scenes. To prevent interference of components in a wide enhancement block, a refinement block utilises a stacked architecture to accurately learn obtained features. Also, a residual learning operation is embedded in the refinement block to prevent long‐term dependency problem. Finally, a construction block is responsible for reconstructing high‐quality images. Designed heterogeneous architecture can not only facilitate richer structural information, but also be lightweight, which is suitable for mobile digital devices. Experimental results show that our method is more competitive in terms of performance, recovering time of image super‐resolution and complexity. The code of DSRNet can be obtained at https://github.com/hellloxiaotian/DSRNet.

Algorithmic Innovation and Visual Communication Strategies in Digital Visual Effects

Abstract With the popularization of digital mobile devices, the development of new media technology and the Internet, visual media presentation becomes more and more diversified and gradually transforms to digitalization. The article optimizes the digital halftone algorithm using visual model and printer model, and proposes an adaptive digital halftone algorithm for enhancing digital images. The enhanced digital image is input into the dual-tree complex wavelet transform for feature dimensionality reduction and noise processing, and then combined with the HSV color model to establish the optimization algorithm for visual communication effect. The average PSNR of the adaptive digital halftone algorithm is 2.31% higher than that of the Floyd-Steinberg error diffusion method, and the information entropy of the visual communication optimization can be up to 9.29 bits, and when the number of digital images is 100, the optimization time of the proposed method for the visual communication optimization is only 30.71 s. The visual communication design works can be attracted to the audience through the optimization of the visual communication effect. The visual communication design works obtained through digital visual effect optimization can attract more attention from the audience and can also effectively trigger positive emotions from the audience. From the optimization of digital visual effect, it is necessary to further introduce the integration of digital technology and visual communication design, combine cross-border resource sharing and improve the dynamic effect of visual communication design, and then improve the effect of visual communication design works.

Digital Transformation of Health Professionals: Using the Context Optimisation Model for Person-Centred Analysis and Systematic Solutions (COMPASS) Implementation Model Use Case

In today’s demanding healthcare landscape, the use of theoretical frameworks is paramount for navigating the complexities of digital health challenges. The Context Optimisation Model for Person-centred Analysis and Systematic Solutions (COMPASS) theoretical framework and implementation model serves as an invaluable direction tool in planning, implementing, and evaluating digital healthcare initiatives. This paper showcases the tangible value of the COMPASS implementation model through a use case scenario involving an accredited exercise physiologist and a healthcare user with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus who seeks credible information via a mobile digital device. Within this example, the COMPASS model demonstrates the ability to enhance systematic processes, streamline the workflow of health professionals and develop their capabilities to actively contribute to the transformative realm of digital health. Through exploration of the use case and the significance of the systematic processes as a research direction, the empowerment of health professionals to play pivotal roles in ongoing digital health transformation is emphasised. The COMPASS model emerges as a powerful tool, guiding health professionals and organisations towards innovative and sustainable solutions in the dynamic landscape of digital healthcare.

Data-Driven Insights in Higher Education: Exploring the Synergy of Big Data Analytics and Mobile Applications

This study explores the potential for transformation that may be achieved via the use of big data analytics and mobile apps in the context of higher education, specifically emphasizing the role of data-driven decision-making. Within the contemporary educational landscape, characterized by the increasing impact of digital technology and mobile devices, institutions of higher education are actively investigating innovative strategies. That enhances effectiveness, customizes learning experiences to suit individual students, and develops overall student accomplishments. The main objective of this research is to examine the effects of incorporating big data analytics and mobile applications into the decision-making capacities of higher education establishments. The PRISMA Statement was used to guide the selection and exclusion of records using the RStudio Biblioshiny approach for data analysis. A comprehensive review of the existing scholarly works, identification of groupings, and study of citation trends within the field. The results and findings illustrate the inherent importance of “big data,” “cloud computing,” “mobile computing,” and “higher education” in the field of research, underscoring their crucial role in data-driven decision-making. Furthermore, the study underscores the significant impact of contemporary technology on administrative processes, personalized learning, and scholastic attainment. This research provides a great addition to the academic field by presenting insightful findings on the substantial influence of big data analytics and mobile applications on the evolution of higher education. This study emphasizes the need to adopt data-driven insights to successfully navigate the ever-changing landscape of higher education.

Social Network Platforms and Digital Games for Refugee Students in Transit

The article is based on ethnographic research carried out in Eleonas refugee camps in Athens, Greece, from February 2019 to March 2020. Based on in-depth interviews with fifteen male and female Syrian refugee parents, the article studies the use of smartphone devices, network applications, and the digital games “Feed the Monster” and “Antura and the Letters” as essential tools of an informal educational process. Digital mobile devices dominate the everyday life of Syrian students in the camp, redefining the way they keep and reform family ties at a distance. They share experiences, comments, and photos. At the same time, digital games on smartphones are a powerful educational tool by providing children with multiple opportunities to have access to knowledge and acquire skills from different learning areas, such as language, mathematics, and science. Additionally, they encourage children to determine issues of the world around them as they share and negotiate different social and cultural experiences through their play. The interaction between play and learning is of primary importance for preschool and early school students since it contributes to the highest level of learning with the greatest degree of assimilative capacity. In this complex and ever-changing context, the article attempts to raise further questions regarding the use of digital games as part of a daily ritual play, an informal educational process, and a linguistic interaction within the family context.

EHealth for chronic diseases management: challenges and opportunities

Abstract Digital health technology, also known as eHealth, could help improve the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes by facilitating data exchange between patients and health professionals. Further, the use of digital health technology and mobile devices could improve disease monitoring and strengthen patient empowerment. However, not all healthcare professionals are comfortable with digital health technology, and several barriers limit their use, including patients’ socio-demographic factors. Based on the results of a study assessing the eHealth profile of patients with diabetes, we will discuss challenges and opportunities in the use of digital health technology for chronic disease management.

Communication consistency, completeness, and complexity of digital ideography in trustworthy mobile extended reality.

Communication barriers long-associated with ideographs, including combinatorial grapholinguistic complexity, computational encoding-decoding complexity, and technological rendering and deployment, become trivialized through advancements in interoperable smart mobile digital devices. Such technologies impart unprecedented extended-reality user hazards only mitigated by unprecedented colloquial and bureaucratic societal norms. Digital age norms thus influence natural ideographic language origins and evolution in ways novel to human history.

Using the community-based breeding program (CBBP) model as a collaborative platform to develop the African Goat Improvement Network-Image collection protocol (AGIN-ICP) with mobile technology for data collection and management of livestock phenotypes.

Introduction: The African Goat Improvement Network Image Collection Protocol (AGIN-ICP) is an accessible, easy to use, low-cost procedure to collect phenotypic data via digital images. The AGIN-ICP collects images to extract several phenotype measures including health status indicators (anemia status, age, and weight), body measurements, shapes, and coat color and pattern, from digital images taken with standard digital cameras or mobile devices. This strategy is to quickly survey, record, assess, analyze, and store these data for use in a wide variety of production and sampling conditions. Methods: The work was accomplished as part of the multinational African Goat Improvement Network (AGIN) collaborative and is presented here as a case study in the AGIN collaboration model and working directly with community-based breeding programs (CBBP). It was iteratively developed and tested over 3years, in 12 countries with over 12,000 images taken. Results and discussion: The AGIN-ICP development is described, and field implementation and the quality of the resulting images for use in image analysis and phenotypic data extraction are iteratively assessed. Digital body measures were validated using the PreciseEdge Image Segmentation Algorithm (PE-ISA) and software showing strong manual to digital body measure Pearson correlation coefficients of height, length, and girth measures (0.931, 0.943, 0.893) respectively. It is critical to note that while none of the very detailed tasks in the AGIN-ICP described here is difficult, every single one of them is even easier to accidentally omit, and the impact of such a mistake could render a sample image, a sampling day's images, or even an entire sampling trip's images difficult or unusable for extracting digital phenotypes. Coupled with tissue sampling and genomic testing, it may be useful in the effort to identify and conserve important animal genetic resources and in CBBP genetic improvement programs by providing reliably measured phenotypes with modest cost. Potential users include farmers, animal husbandry officials, veterinarians, regional government or other public health officials, researchers, and others. Based on these results, a final AGIN-ICP is presented, optimizing the costs, ease, and speed of field implementation of the collection method without compromising the quality of the image data collection.

Современные цифровые средства коммуникации и их влияние на построение личных отношений

The article examines a new sociological problem related to the role and place of remote information and communication technologies (ICT), digital means of communication in interpersonal relations, their impact on the individual and changes in society as a whole. The object of the study is interpersonal relations implemented through the use of digital technologies and mobile devices. The analysis of the conceptual provisions of mod-ern theories of society on the prerequisites and causes of the transformation of interpersonal relationships and the phenomenon of intimacy in the transition and wide distribution of communication through mobile devices is presented. New digital forms of interpersonal communication such as online dating, ghosting are character-ized. The use of ICT, especially mobile devices (gadgets) and the transition of online dating to a mobile plane with the help of various digital applications in social networks, has led to disappearance of the boundary be-tween real and virtual space is becoming much more blurred, and the level of certainty in the environment is decreasing in social space and in personal relationships for both the initiator and the recipient of communica-tion. The easiness to contact with potential romantic partners breeds a lower commitment to maintaining the relationship. If in the real world there are always doubts, then the Internet space offers an infinite number of partners who are definitely open to acquaintances and communication. Therefore, the rupture of digital rela-tions occurs without explanation, simply interrupting communication, there is no need for efforts to end the rela-tionship. Conclusion dwells upon the fact that, despite the obvious advantages of using modern ICT in every-day life, the simplicity and lightning speed of establishing contact, the multiplicity of choices lead to psychologi-cal strain, to the problem of long-term preservation of close relations between partners. A sense of loneliness among people in the modern world arises and grows, posing a threat to the society’s well-being as a whole.

Digitalization in Trail Running: Digital Tools as Sustainable Outdoor Infrastructure

Studies focusing on the territorial impact of outdoor activities rarely take into account the use of digital tools, such as digital mobile devices and applications. However, these digital tools can serve as sustainable outdoor infrastructure. While digital technology is not universally embraced by trail runners today, consumer studies confirm a growing usage of digital equipment. To provide a concrete example of how digital tools are used and their potential, our study aimed to understand the patterns of digital use among trail runners in France. Through an online questionnaire study (n = 699), we found four main logics of digital use: (1) playful visit, (2) tourist discovery, (3) performance analysis, and (4) social use. Among all forms of use, the most commonly mentioned applications used by respondents during their trail runs were Strava, Garmin, and Suunto. Overall, trail runners demonstrated a high proficiency in digital use, with 95% reporting the use of these applications.

Comparing Use Patterns and Acceptability of Mobile Digital Devices Between Care Recipients and Caregivers.

The use of smartphones and other digital devices (such as tablets and smartwatches) is important for the aging population to enhance and optimize communications with caregivers, families, friends, and providers. It also provides a platform for app-based activities to promote mental, physical, spiritual, and social well-being and virtual social connectedness. We, therefore, examined types of digital devices and categories of smartphone functions used by caregivers and care recipients in comparison to those without any caregiving roles. The project team has developed a smartphone app based on Buddhist meditative practice principles for the enhancement of the physical, mental, cognitive, and emotional well-beingof older adults and their caregiversand tested it in Galveston, Houston, and Dallas, TX. The study comprised a convenient sample of older adults, including members or volunteers of the International Buddhist Progress Society-Dallas (IBPS Dallas) and the University of Texas Medical Branch Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (UTMB OLLI). The survey focused on people who were 55 years and older (n = 219), with 177 valid responses (~80.8%) meeting the study's inclusion criteria. The survey collected data on (1) caregiving role, (2) demographic characteristics and caregiving concerns, and (3) types of devices, functions, and utilization. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were used to describe and compare patterns of smartphone function/use by the different groups, i.e., caregivers, care recipients, and neither. All of our survey respondents were 55 years and older, and among them, 17.5% were caregivers, 9.1% were care recipients, and 73.4% did not have any role. The majority of the caregivers were females (80.6%), and the average age of their care recipients was 66 years. The care recipients in our sample reported that the average age of their caregiver is only 55 years. Around three-fourths of caregivers reported that they have an app related to health or they are willing to use a health-related app, 32% of them use smart home appliances, whereas only 16% of people who are neither caregivers nor care recipients use such apps. Approximately 42% of caregivers reported taking care of their parents or parents-in-law, and their major concerns are about maintaining their income, scheduling tasks, and updating their knowledge as needed to better care for their loved ones. People use texting or messaging the most. However, the second and third highest utilization are different. The "neither" group significantly spends more time checking email and watching TV; the care recipients spend more time reading and watching TV (sedentary activities); the caregiver group spends more time on phone calls and listening to music. Findings of different patterns of digital device use exist between caregivers, care recipients, and the "neither" group, with 75% of caregivers using a digital device app related to health or reporting willingness to use a health-related app developed from our study. Our findings of their caregiving experiences might alsoinform the design of different intervention programs aimed at promoting mental, physical, and social well-being, improving quality of life while reducing disease/disability burden for older adults, and preventing burnout among caregivers.

Screen-shooting resistant image watermarking based on lightweight neural network in frequency domain

Currently, digital mobile devices, especially smartphones, can be used to acquire information conveniently through photograph taking. To protect information security in this case, we propose an efficient screen-shooting resistant watermarking scheme via deep neural network (DNN) in the frequency domain to achieve additional information embedding and source tracing. Specifically, we enhance the imperceptibility of watermarked images and the robustness against various attacks in real scene by computing the residual watermark message and encoding it with the original image using a lightweight neural network in the DCT domain. In addition, a noise layer is designed to simulate the photometric and radiometric effects of screen-shooting transfer. During the training process, the enhancing network is used to highlight the coding features of distorted images and improve the accuracy of extracted watermark message. Experimental results demonstrate that our scheme not only effectively ensures the balance between the imperceptibility of watermark embedding and the robustness of watermark extraction, but also significantly improves computational efficiency compared with some state-of-the-art schemes.

Abstract 1061: Digital phenotyping in pediatric oncology: the development of a mobile application for outpatients follow up

Abstract Introduction and aim: Outpatients follow up usually depends on recall of data. This recall is subjective to patients' or gaurdians' memory. Smart phones can capture a lot of data either through inbuilt sensors and connected devices or through the engagement of users. These mobile digital devices brought forth innovative methods of acquiring personal healthcare data. In pediatric oncology, the need for accurate record of serious symptoms while patients are at home is a challenge in outpatients' care. In a step towards collecting real-time events that happened during the outpatient follow up, we develop a smart phone application that can record data actively by patients or their guardians in situ and on time of its occurrence, which can improve the follow up process and facilitate a decision making by the physician that based on objective data more than subjective ones. We aim in this research to generate an easy-to-use mobile application for home follow up of pediatric oncology patients. Methods: Predictive characteristics of digital features either extracted from studies or generated by field experts were reported to map the associations between digital feature and the disease. Identified digital features were aggregated into categories that represent interpretable serious signs. A smart phone application with the identified digital features is developed with the help of Valid Solutions, LLC (Health Technology Limited Liability Company, USA). Expected Results: Early and accurate detection of serious symptoms through in situ and on real-time can help to better delivery of required health care. Conclusion: This research will provide a high level vision on relationships between digital phenotyping and pediatric oncology illnesses and will help to identify gaps requiring further research. It will highlight the digital features with higher value of prediction of serious signs. Citation Format: Abeer Abd Elmoneim, Marwan Aly. Digital phenotyping in pediatric oncology: the development of a mobile application for outpatients follow up [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 1061.

Virtual clinical trials.

Virtual clinical trials refer to clinical trials that take advantage of digital technologies, including computer and mobile device apps, web-based tools, and remote monitoring devices, for one or more of the trial processes, such as participant recruitment, counseling, informed consent, measurement of endpoints, and/or adverse event monitoring, to obviate or reduce the need for participant visits to the trial site. The advantages of such trials may include higher recruitment rates, better compliance, lower dropout rates, reduction in time for trial completion, and lower costs. The use of such trials increased manifold during the COVID-19 pandemic and is likely to continue in the future.

Digital tools for agrobiological and phonological accounting of the Anapa ampelographic collection

Relevance. Digitalization in the monitoring system of vine plantations of agrobiological indicators is the most important resource for the development of viticulture. Digital tools for collecting, analyzing and visualizing data can improve the efficiency and accuracy of scientific research in the field of viticulture. The purpose of the work. Digitalization of methods for the rapid collection of scientific data on the state of grape plantations in real time based on mobile digital spatial positioning devices.Methods. Agrobiological and phenological accounting with recording data in the observation log on paper and entering data into spreadsheets from the keyboard and voice. Evaluation of errors and timing of transferring data from paper to a computer database when manually writing data to a log with recoding into a CSV-text format for the MySQL DBMS. AppSheet technology was used as a platform for collaborative work of mobile devices with Internet server databases.Results. The automated system for collecting, recording and processing data on agrobiological and phenological indicators of grape varieties is designed for route and field studies of the Anapa ampelographic collection during field data collection on grape bushes. It is used in agronomic and phenological accounting by specialists of research organizations. The main functions of the program are data registration using a mobile digital device in the field and their transfer to a cloud database on the Internet. The results of the calculation of agrobiological and phenological indicators of grapes are transmitted in real time to digital electronic devices connected to the Internet. The program records the date and time of the field observation, geographic coordinates, agrobiological and phenological indicators of the survey, and a photo of the bush.

Effectiveness of a facilitation programme using a mobile application for initiating advance care planning discussions between patients with advanced cancer and healthcare providers: protocol for a randomised controlled trial (J-SUPPORT 2104)

IntroductionTimely implementation of the discussion process of advance care planning (ACP) is recommended. The communication attitude of healthcare providers is critical in ACP facilitation; thus, improving their communication attitudes may...

COVID-19 in the Asia Pacific: Impact on climate change, allergic diseases and One Health.

Climate change and environmental factors such as air pollution and loss of biodiversity are known to have a major impact not only on allergic diseases but also on many noncommunicable diseases. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in many environmental changes during the different phases of the pandemic. The use of face masks, enhanced hand hygiene with hand rubs and sanitizers, use of personal protective equipment (gowns and gloves), and safe-distancing measures, reduced the overall incidence of respiratory infections and other communicable diseases. Lockdowns and border closures resulted in a significant reduction in vehicular traffic and hence environmental air pollution. Paradoxically, the use of personal protective equipment and disposables contributed to an increase in environmental waste disposal and new problems such as occupational dermatoses, especially among healthcare workers. Environmental changes and climate change over time may impact the exposome, genome, and microbiome, with the potential for short- and long-term effects on the incidence and prevalence of the allergic disease. The constant use and access to mobile digital devices and technology disrupt work-life harmony and mental well-being. The complex interactions between the environment, genetics, immune, and neuroendocrine systems may have short- and long-term impact on the risk and development of allergic and immunologic diseases in the future.