Handheld Devices Research Articles

A phase 2 study of amplitude-modulated radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (AM RF EMF) in metastatic pancreatic cancer.

TPS790 Background: Patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDC) that progresses after first-line therapy face limited treatment options. Despite advances in systemic therapy, the prognosis for PDC is dismal, with a five-year overall survival (OS) of about 5% . Due to the high morbidity of this disease, there is a critical need for innovative treatments to improve patient outcomes. TheraBionic P1, a hand-held device, delivers tumor specific radio frequencies via a spoon-shaped antenna placed on the patient's tongue. The FDA and EMA have confirmed the safety of the device for amplitude-modulated electromagnetic field (AM-EMF) therapy. Improved efficacy outcomes were reported with AM RF EMF in other solid organ tumors including pancreatic cancer in preliminary studies. Preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that AM-EMF can inhibit tumor growth and was recently approved for use in hepatocellular cancer. The safety and clinical activity observed with AM RF EMF, paired with the unmet medical need for additional effective therapies in pancreatic cancer, provided a strong rationale for further clinical investigation. This protocol evaluates the efficacy and tolerability of AM RF EMF in combination with standard of care frontline therapy, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel for metastatic PDC. Methods: This is an ongoing, single-center, Phase II, non-randomized study using a Simon two-stage minimax design to assess the efficacy of AM-EMF in combination with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel as a first-line treatment in metastatic pancreatic cancer. Gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel are administered per standard care. AM RF EMF are delivered to patients with a spoon-shaped applicator placed on the tongue three daily 60-minute treatments. Patients will be assessed for response every 8 weeks. Treatment is continued until progression or toxicity. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the combination of nab-paclitaxel, gemcitabine, and AM RF EMF in improving 6-month overall survival rates in patients with metastatic PDC. Secondary objectives evaluate the safety, tolerability, profession free survival, objective response rate and disease control rate. Exploratory objectives evaluate change in CA19-9 and quality of life using FACT-General (FACT-G) and determine any possible correlation with clinical outcomes. Key eligibility includes treatment-naïve, histologically confirmed metastatic PC, age eighteen years old or greater, ECOG 0-1, and optimal organ function. Clinical trial information: NCT05776524 .

Sustainable Teaching and Learning E-learning Model towards Redesigning Transformative Learning Model for Knowledge Sharing & Infrastructure Enhancements Post COVID-19

Background: Recently, e-learning has become a very basic, integral part of technologybased learning. Wide trends are increasing day by day because of the demands and its usage based on working remotely due to highly penetrated mobile handheld devices and digital media. The smart campus infrastructure has played a vital role to its full extent towards Z millennium students in the 20th century. The teaching and learning accessibility depends on terms of various cost-based affordable platforms, either with synchronous learning or asynchronous mode of learning. Methods: The current research explores the changeling leading to infrastructural reforms as per the need for digital media for e-learning during and after COVID-19 spreads. The perspectives in 2 forms of research study are: 1st working on infrastructural needs and demands for the smart campuses and online learning challenges and 2nd is working on platforms technology utilization for better accessible resources for all learners. This work studied different aspects during and after COVID-19, leading to the importance of uninterrupted internet access, phone, hardware and reliability, etc. In this work, the importance of gamification study and flipped classrooms for enhancing learner performance to highly engage them in learning environments focused research model on learner engagement on Gamified perceiving study with Smart PLS-SEM was investigated. Promoting sustainability in its entirety through knowledge transfer and contributions to address various challenges in the redesign of learners' syllabi to meet educational needs, emphasizing online learning to integrate various modes of learner platforms, personalized teaching and learning, peer-to-peer communication for learner enhancement, and student engagement through gamification are studied. Results: Learners who are enrolled at the school, college, and university levels of education increased exponentially post-COVID-19. More than 90% responded to school closures with different learning abilities. Nearly 50% of countries in the world are merging guidance with faculty training. The enrolment in online courses has surged to more than 80%, and the success rates for online courses have increased to more than 70%. The eventual outcome is to emphasize the two aspects of the online platform of teaching and learning by giving students higher outcomes and intelligent aspects of a smart campus. The learners progress in terms of less network connectivity loss, efficient chat system, knowledge sharing, online assessments, micro-learning, increasing engagement, and gamification rewards in online learning. PLS-SEM results indicate the fitness values for a fit model with x2/df as 1.50 and RMSEA as 0.059. Conclusion: From the learning prospective, the research focuses on inferring the importance of gamified learning applications for student learning satisfaction levels. This enhances and improves their fun learning competence.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Nephrology: Beyond Kidney Ultrasound

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has increasingly become an integral part of clinical practice, particularly in nephrology, where its use extends beyond renal assessment to include multi-organ evaluations. Despite challenges such as limited ultrasound training and equipment access, especially in low- and middle-income countries, the adoption of POCUS is steadily rising. This narrative review explores the growing role of multi-organ POCUS in nephrology, with applications ranging from the assessment of congestion phenotypes, cardiorenal syndrome, and hemodynamic acute kidney injury (AKI) to the evaluation of arteriovenous fistulas and electrolyte disorders. In nephrology, POCUS enhances clinical decision making by enabling rapid, bedside evaluations of fluid status, cardiac function, and arteriovenous access. Studies have demonstrated its utility in diagnosing and managing complications such as heart failure, cirrhosis, and volume overload in end-stage renal disease. Additionally, POCUS has proven valuable in assessing hemodynamic alterations that contribute to AKI, particularly in patients with heart failure, cirrhosis, and systemic congestion. This review highlights how integrating ultrasound techniques, including lung ultrasound, venous Doppler, and focused cardiac ultrasound, can guide fluid management and improve patient outcomes. With advancements in ultrasound technology, particularly affordable handheld devices, and the expansion of targeted training programs, the potential for POCUS to become a global standard tool in nephrology continues to grow, enabling improved care in diverse clinical settings.

Medical student training with next-generation handheld ultrasound devices – hands on examination of fetal biometry in obstetrics

IntroductionThe technical development of ultrasound devices based on silicon chips has revolutionized ultrasound examinations, leading to the implementation of these portable handheld devices (PUD) in different medical fields. However, training on these devices is necessary to assure appropriate use and ensure valid results. While training programs for the use of conventional standard ultrasound devices (SUD) have been described, no training program for these handheld devices has been developed thus far.MethodsA training program for obstetric ultrasound examination was modified through the addition of an extra module focusing on the use of these PUDs. After the module the students had to attend an OSCE in which their skills of using the PUD and the SUD were tested and analyzed by applying the agreement rate, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland–Altman plots. Furthermore, the students’ ultrasound results were compared with those of trained physicians by employing the one-sample Student's t-test. After the OSCE, the students answered a survey regarding their experience and their expected use of these devices.ResultAn agreement of one hundred percent was reached for basic parameters such as fetal position, placental position, fetal heartbeat and for the classification of the amniotic fluid. The ICC showed a good to moderate agreement between the results of fetal biometry achieved by SUD and PUD. The T-test results confirmed a high reliability between the physicians’ results and the students’ results, independent of the used device. The students remarked a good handling of the ultrasound devices and supported the use in their future specialties.DiscussionThe reliability between the examinations using the SUD and PUD were high but lower than the results observed for trained physicians. Therefore, the implementation of an additional module for portable ultrasound teaches the students to reliably examine basic obstetric parameters and provides a solid basis for further training and improvement of ultrasound skills in use of PUD.

P0660 Comparative Accuracy and Reliability of Handheld versus Cart-Based Ultrasound in assessing Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity

Abstract Background Bowel wall thickness (BWT) and vascularity are key parameters for assessing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) activity. Handheld ultrasound devices (HHUS) provide a portable and affordable alternative for incorporating intestinal ultrasound (IUS) into IBD management. However, their diagnostic accuracy and reliability compared to cart-based ultrasound (CBUS) remain uncertain. This study assesses the diagnostic accuracy, reproducibility, and practitioner confidence with HHUS in comparison to CBUS for assessing BWT and vascularity. Methods In this prospective, comparative study, 12 patients with IBD, with body mass index (BMI) <23 kg/m², were assessed. Each patient underwent ultrasound scanning of 2–3 pre-specified bowel segments using five devices: one CBUS device (Samsung™) and four HHUS devices (Clarius™ L15 HD3, GE™ Vscan Air CL, Mindray™ TE Air, and Philips™ Lumify L12-4). Linear probes were used for all devices except Mindray™, which employs a phased array probe optimised for cardiac imaging. Scans were conducted by two to three gastroenterologists accredited by the Gastroenterology Network of Intestinal Ultrasound (GENIUS), who were blinded to each other’s findings to reduce bias. BWT and Doppler vascularity, as well as other standard IUS parameters, were assessed for each segment. Diagnostic accuracy and inter-/intra-expert agreement were analysed using statistical models. Results Among the 12 patients (42% male; median age: 26 years, IQR: 23–36) with CD (n=6) and UC (n=6), a total of 29 bowel segments were assessed with all devices (Table 1). BWT measurements showed high concordance across devices for active segments (mean BWT: 4.3–4.6 mm, p=0.73). However, significant discrepancies were noted in inactive segments (p<0.001), particularly with the Mindray™ device showing larger deviations from the CBUS measurements. Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) for intra-expert BWT measurements were good to excellent across devices (ICC 0.79–0.97), while inter-expert agreement was good for all devices (ICC 0.70–0.77) except for Mindray™ (ICC 0.36) (Figure 1B). Significant confidence was noted for BWT, vascularity, stratification, mesenteric fat, and inflamed bowel length across devices, highlighting consistent measurement reliability for these parameters (Table 1). Conclusion The majority of HHUS devices used in this study demonstrate high diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility in assessing IBD activity and are comparable to CBUS for identifying and assessing active disease. This study supports the integration of HHUS into IBD management as a portable and accessible tool while highlighting the importance of recognising device-specific limitations when selecting devices for clinical practice.

MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDER ASSOCIATED WITH DEVICE USAGE AT THE TEACHER PROFESSION

. One of the most common diseases in workers is musculoskeletal disorders. where the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in teachers is around 39% to 95%. Most teachers experience chronic musculoskeletal disorders and subjective complaints, one of which is pain in the upper limbs. Some studies show the relationship between gadgets and user posture can cause discomfort and fatigue in the hands, elbows, and shoulders. This article discuss about the use of gadgets in an unergonomic position often results in musculoskeletal complaints. Static loading by holding handheld devices or gadgets for long periods, often with unergonomic postures and excessive use of muscles in the upper limbs, is likely to contribute to myofascial pain syndrome in the muscles of the hands and arms, resulting in pain in the upper limbs.

Gender-specific antibiotic-resistance patterns and characterization of bacterial flora of undergraduate students’ mobile phones and associated factors at a Nigerian university

BackgroundTechnological development has led to the wide use of mobile phones. However, the role of the hand-held device in the possible spread of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens considering gender variation, especially among Nigerian undergraduates is poorly understood. This study aimed to assess bacterial isolates recovered from male and female mobile phones for antibiotic resistance and determine possible factors that could facilitate their spread.MethodsForty (40) undergraduates were included in the study with gender parity. Swabs of the undergraduates’ mobile phones were cultured and bacterial isolates were identified using standard microbiology methods. Antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) of the isolates was done using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion assay and the results were interpreted by the Clinical Standards and Laboratory Institute (CLSI) guideline. Bacterial isolates (n = 6/21) that resisted antibiotics belonging to ≥ 3 different classes regarded as multidrug resistant (MDR) were subjected to 16 S rRNA sequencing and identified using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) algorithm.ResultsThe total bacterial count of male (11.1 × 106 ± 4.0) CFU/mL and female (11.7 × 106 ± 6.4) CFU/mL were high though comparable. Of the 25 isolates recovered, 10 and 15 were respectively from male and female mobile phones. Staphylococcus aureus (n = 11) was the most occurring isolate followed by Escherichia coli (n = 5), and Salmonella sp. (n = 3); the rest occurred less frequently. Staphylococcus aureus obtained from male phones (n = 7) is higher than in females (n = 4) but the species diversity is greater in females (n = 7) than in males (n = 3) phones. Isolates were resistant to ampiclox and zinnacef (85.71%), erythromycin (78.57%), amoxil and augmentin (72.73%), septrim (72%), rifampicin (71.43%) while > 80% were MDR. Low levels of handwashing and non-use of hand sanitizer could be linked with phone bacterial contamination.ConclusionFrequent handwashing and the use of hand sanitizers should be prioritized among undergraduates to curtail the spread of difficult-to-treat bacterial infections.

Radical formation in skin and preclinical characterization of a novel medical plasma device for dermatology after single application.

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) enables painless tissue treatment by producing reactive species including excited molecules and charged particles and is of great interest for medical applications. Medical CAP sources work in contact with air at ambient pressure, resulting in the generation of substantial amounts of reactive oxygen and nitrogen radicals. These radicals have a significant influence on cellular biochemistry, are crucial components of the immune system, and play a central role in wound therapy. CAP has a variety of applications, with a particular emphasis on tissue treatment in dermatology. It eradicates microorganisms by preventing biofilm formation so that wounds can be effectively disinfected and treated antiseptically. Using both in vitro and ex vivo methods, a comprehensive preclinical assessment of a novel battery-operated cold plasma handheld device with a reusable, and autoclavable glass cylinder was performed. The objectives were to evaluate the potential impact of single CAP application on radical formation with and without wound dressing, by directly measuring radicals in skin, to investigate the influence of CAP application on antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity in vitro, and to assess skin tolerance ex vivo. The direct effect of CAP on the formation of radicals in the skin after plasma application at different levels with and without wound dressing was demonstrated quantitatively for the first time using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Free radicals were measured in the skin as a function of the duration of CAP treatment. Furthermore, it was found that an alginate or wound plaster dressing does not significantly inhibit radical formation in skin compared to application without a dressing. In vitro and ex vivo data showed no cytotoxic potential with simultaneous efficacy against bacteria strains and no risk of temperature rise, pH change, skin barrier or DNA damage. These results show a high potential for wound healing applications in vivo.

Comparison of Multiple NIR Instruments for the Quantitative Evaluation of Grape Seed and Other Polyphenolic Extracts with High Chemical Similarities.

Grape seed extract (GSE), one of the world's bestselling dietary supplements, is prone to frequent adulteration with chemically similar compounds. These frauds can go unnoticed within the supply chain due to the use of unspecific standard analytical methods for quality control. This research aims to develop a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) method for the rapid and non-destructive quantitative evaluation of GSE powder in the presence of multiple additives. Samples were prepared by mixing GSE with pine bark extract (PBE) and green tea extract (GTE) on different levels between 0.5 and 13% in singular and dual combinations. Measurements were performed with a desktop and three different handheld devices for performance comparison. Following spectral pretreatment, partial least squares regression (PLSR) and support vector regression (SVR)-based quantitative models were built to predict extract concentrations and various chemical parameters. Cross- and external-validated models could reach a minimum R2p value of 0.99 and maximum RMSEP of 0.27% for the prediction of extract concentrations using benchtop data, while models based on handheld data could reach comparably good results, especially for GTE, caffeic acid and procyanidin content prediction. This research shows the potential applicability of NIRS coupled with chemometrics as an alternate, rapid and accurate quality evaluation tool for GSE-based supplement mixtures.

Initial Pose Estimation Method for Robust LiDAR-Inertial Calibration and Mapping.

Handheld LiDAR scanners, which typically consist of a LiDAR sensor, Inertial Measurement Unit, and processor, enable data capture while moving, offering flexibility for various applications, including indoor and outdoor 3D mapping in fields such as architecture and civil engineering. Unlike fixed LiDAR systems, handheld devices allow data collection from different angles, but this mobility introduces challenges in data quality, particularly when initial calibration between sensors is not precise. Accurate LiDAR-IMU calibration, essential for mapping accuracy in Simultaneous Localization and Mapping applications, involves precise alignment of the sensors' extrinsic parameters. This research presents a robust initial pose calibration method for LiDAR-IMU systems in handheld devices, specifically designed for indoor environments. The research contributions are twofold. Firstly, we present a robust plane detection method for LiDAR data. This plane detection method removes the noise caused by mobility of scanning device and provides accurate planes for precise LiDAR initial pose estimation. Secondly, we present a robust planes-aided LiDAR calibration method that estimates the initial pose. By employing this LiDAR calibration method, an efficient LiDAR-IMU calibration is achieved for accurate mapping. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves lower calibration errors and improved computational efficiency compared to existing methods.

Freshness in Salmon by Hand-Held Devices: Methods in Feature Selection and Data Fusion for Spectroscopy.

Salmon fillet was analyzed via hand-held optical devices: fluorescence (@340 nm) and absorption spectroscopy across the visible and near-infrared (NIR) range (400-1900 nm). Spectroscopic measurements were benchmarked with nucleotide assays and potentiometry in an exploratory set of experiments over 11 days, with changes to spectral profiles noted. A second enlarged spectroscopic data set, over a 17 day period, was then acquired, and fillet freshness was classified ±1 day via four machine learning (ML) algorithms: linear discriminant analysis, Gaussian naïve, weighted K-nearest neighbors, and an ensemble bagged tree method. Dual-mode data fusion returned almost perfect accuracies (mean = 99.5 ± 0.51%), while single-mode ML analyses (fluorescence, visible absorbance, and NIR absorbance) returned lower mean accuracies at greater spread (77.1 ± 10.1%). Single-mode fluorescence accuracy was especially poor; however, via principal component analysis, we found that a truncated fluorescence data set of four variables (wavelengths) could predict "fresh" and "spoilt" salmon fillet based on a subtle peak redshift as the fillet aged, albeit marginally short of statistical significance (95% confidence ellipse). Thus, whether by feature selection of one spectral data set, or the combination of multiple data sets through different modes, this study lays the foundation for better determination of fish freshness within the context of rapid spectroscopic analyses.

The October 7, 2023, Attack on Israel Indicates a Change in Trauma Patterns of Terror Victims, due to the Use of Thermobaric Weapons.

The terror attack on October 7, 2023, in southern Israel resulted in approximately 1,200 civilians and security personnel killed. Of the civilians murdered, approximately 200 men, women, and children were murdered inside their homes, while the remaining casualties were murdered in an open field at a music festival, in their cars, or in the streets of local cities. Currently, official data have not yet been published regarding the types of injuries suffered by Israeli civilians during the terror attack. However, the massive damage found in buildings infiltrated by the terrorists, weapons found on neutralized terrorists, and the findings of the pathologists tasked with examining and identifying the casualties, as well as preliminary clinical evidence, suggested that many died from hand-held explosive devices or rocket-propelled grenades containing a "thermobaric"-type warhead. The use of thermobaric weapons has also been reported from the Russia-Ukraine war, suggesting that these weapons are becoming more common in their use. Thermobaric injuries differ from typical battlefield injuries due to their specific blast characteristics. Considering that thermobaric weapons are relatively cheap to manufacture and highly efficient, it can be assumed that their unique injury patterns will become more common in future battlefields. This paper reports on a possible change in the nature of terror and battlefield injuries and alerts emergency organizations and military forces worldwide to prepare for the need of treating more blast injuries, burns, smoke inhalation, and asphyxiation.

VOXEL Video Streaming Over Wireless Networks

High-density point clouds expressing attractive 3D images are attracting attention. These gigantic media require large bandwidth allocations, making them problematic to stream to resource-constrained hand-held devices. This paper proposes a method for point cloud compression and streaming of large point clouds using a web server. Storing large point cloud videos on a web server allows users to publish data sets without using additional applications or sending large amounts of data ahead of time. HTTP/2 improves transfer efficiency by compressing headers into binary format and reduces latency by sending many multiplexed requests using a single TCP session. The large size of the point cloud data and the current limitations of wireless channels demand point cloud compression methods. MATLAB is used for the purpose of analysis, at results show an average compression ratio of 30:1. Our proposed system achieves lower average latency between successive frames resulting in an increased frame rate to 72.46 fps when streaming 4M points, and 82.51 fps in the case of streaming 800K points compared to much lower rates in conventional work.

Advancing forest inventory: a comparative study of low-cost MLS lidar device with professional laser scanners

Abstract. In the context of forest inventory, there is a growing need for 3D data to produce detailed geometric information. While terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) is traditionally used for this purpose , several factors have prompted the exploration of alternative solutions, such as handheld mobile laser scanners (MLS). One key limitation of TLS is its static data acquisition, which makes it less suited for the complex and heterogeneous nature of forest environments. A primary challenge with TLS in forestry is the occlusion effect, where parts of trees (such as stems, branches, or leaves) may not be captured due to obstacles between the scanner and the target. Additionally, TLS is known for long acquisition times, which, while yielding high-quality data, may exceed the requirements for standard forest inventory tasks. The cost associated with TLS is also significant; although feasible for small forest patches, scaling these methods to larger areas would demand substantial resources. Similarly, while handheld MLS devices offer more flexibility in data acquisition and the possibility to cover a wider area in the same acquisition time, professional versions are still relatively costly, adding to the need for more affordable alternatives. This underlines the demand for a low-cost, efficient method for 3D data acquisition in forest inventories. In this study, forest structural variables obtained with a low-cost MLS (LC-MLS; Mandeye) were compared with two professional MLS devices (GeoSlam Horizon and GreenValley LiGrip H120) and a professional TLS (Trimble X7). With the open-source software 3DFin, we processed the point cloud data from all the devices, enabling the extraction of diameters at breast height (DBH) and total tree heights (TH). The LC-MLS device shows a positive bias in DBH measurements (1.62 cm), indicating it tends to overestimate compared to the TLS reference. Despite this, it demonstrates competitive quality relative to the two other MLS systems. In terms of TH, the LC-MLS has a negative bias of −2.16 m, suggesting it underestimates tree height. When compared to other professional MLS devices, the LC-MLS exhibits a higher RMSE% in TH measurements (12.97%), indicating less accuracy in tree height estimation.

Randomized clinical trial: MGrx versus standard debridement and expression for meibomian gland dysfunction.

Evaporative dry eye disease, due to meibomian gland dysfunction, causes significant suffering for millions of people globally, yet satisfactory long-term treatment remains elusive for many. Investigation of potential therapies for meibomian gland dysfunction is therefore of high importance to clinicians and their patients. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of a new device for meibomian gland debridement and expression to that of the conventional way of providing this treatment. Thirty participants (mean age, 36.4 ± 15.4 years; 77% female) fulfilling current Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society diagnostic criteria for dry eye disease and meibomian gland dysfunction were recruited (Research Registry, 10340). Fifteen participants each were randomized to receive a single treatment with either traditional debridement (using a golf-club spud), heating (10 minutes of Blepha EyeBag, Théa Laboratories, Clermont-Ferrand, France) and expression (with forceps), or the multimodal MGrx, which comprises a handheld device with heated debridement, massage, and expression attachments. Symptomatology, tear film, and ocular surface measures were assessed at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks post-treatment. Ocular Surface Disease Index, 5-Item Dry Eye Questionnaire, and Symptom Assessment in Dry Eye symptom questionnaire scores all improved significantly with both treatments (all p<0.001), with no subsequent deterioration for at least 8 weeks. The improvement was similar between treatment groups (all p>0.05). Clinical signs, of blink rate, tear film quality and quantity, ocular surface characteristics, and meibomian gland expressibility, were all unchanged with both treatments (all p>0.05) except for noninvasive tear breakup time, which deteriorated in the conventional treatment group (p=0.006) between 4 and 8 weeks post-treatment. No adverse reactions were reported, and all participants were able to tolerate treatment. A single application of meibomian gland debridement and expression resulted in sustained improvements in the symptoms of dry eye disease, in both treatment groups. The MGrx device provides a safe and effective in-office treatment for evaporative dry eye disease, and has time and space advantages compared with conventional treatment.

Identifying enablers and barriers to teleultrasound use for remote settings: A scoping review.

Teleultrasound connects expert point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) users with remote community and rural sites. Evolving technologies including handheld devices, upgraded image quality, and the ability to transmit over low bandwidth connections increase POCUS education, accessibility, and clinical integration. Potential teleultrasound venues include low-resource settings, prehospital care, and austere environments (high altitudes, microgravity, conflict zones, etc.). This scoping review assesses current teleultrasound uses and identifies implementation enablers and barriers. Using the PRISMA-ScR checklist, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were searched on 16 August 2024 for teleultrasound studies. Two reviewers independently screened results and abstracted data using a data collection table. 165 articles met the following inclusion criteria: research studies describing teleultrasound, involving humans, including healthcare workers, with remote point-of-care or medical ultrasound use, in any setting, and in English. Teleultrasound studies were reported in most specialties and across all continents. Most were prospective (100 studies), review articles (27), or case studies (14). Study quality was variable, with 28 high quality, 77 moderate, 54 low, and 6 very low (GRADE assessment tool). Common themes that emerged include (1) type of image transmission method utilised, (2) remote provider training and curriculum development, (3) feedback methods between expert and novice users, (4) technologies and devices used, and (5) enablers and barriers to guide future teleultrasound implementation and training strategies. Overall, the teleultrasound literature is heterogeneous in setting, design, and quality outcomes. As teleultrasound technology evolves and the use expands, future studies should standardise protocols and ensure image quality fidelity to optimise remote patient care.

Smartphone Apps -based Teaching Method to Develop Oral English Communication Skills at the Tertiary Level in an EFL Context

Smartphones are the most used hand-held devices by people globally, whereas large class size is a common scenario in many EFL (English as a Foreign Language) contexts like Bangladesh. Besides, EFL learners get scarce opportunities to practice oral skills inside and outside the class to develop oral English communication skills (OECSs). Thus, this study investigates learners' experiences after the intervention of 9 weeks with a smartphone apps-based teaching method (SBTM) employing WhatsApp, call, and voice recorders in an EFL classroom at the tertiary level for managing large-size class for developing learners' OECSs in Bangladesh. For this purpose, a qualitative research design using interviews, reflective journals, and classroom observation was used to elicit learners' experiences and practices for soliciting a model of a smartphone apps-based teaching method (SBTM). The findings showed that learners had positive experiences, e.g., ubiquitous and flexible processes, opportunities for individual and partner practice, recordings facilitated oral practice, and inside and outside classroom oral practice for managing large-size classes for developing OECSs in an EFL context. On the other hand, the negative experiences that learners reported were that this method was challenging for teachers, e.g., for assessment, and the classroom became noisy. The findings of this study will leave implications for teachers, learners, app developers, policymakers, and researchers for practising, developing a new app, and adopting a policy for implementing technology inside the classroom.

Competing technologies: determining the geographical origin of strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) using laboratory based near-infrared spectroscopy compared to a simple portable device.

The application and development of fast and simple screening methods for the authentication of foods has increased continuously in recent years. A widely used analytical technique is Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR). Despite the simple application of FT-NIR analysis, the analyses are usually carried out on benchtop devices in the laboratory. However small, inexpensive and mobile NIR devices could be used on-site. Despite the simple use of FT-NIR analysis, the examinations are usually carried out on a stationary benchtop device in a laboratory. However, in order to be able to perform the application directly on site, the application of small, cost-effective and mobile NIR devices for food analysis is crucial. In this study, both, a benchtop NIR instrument and a handheld NIR device with a lower resolution and analyzed wavenumber range were applied for the differentiation of strawberries from different geographical origins. Distinguishing German and non-German strawberries using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) yielded an accuracy of 91.9% and 84.0% using the benchtop and the handheld devices, respectively. Relevant variables could be assigned to lipids, carbohydrates and proteins. Overall, our study demonstrated for the first time that analyzing the geographical origin of strawberries using NIR spectroscopy is also possible by means of a handheld device.

Validation and optimization of smart eye camera as teleophthalmology device for the reduction of preventable and treatable blindness in Nigeria.

Limited resources and staffing hinders efforts to reduce preventable blindness, especially in low- to middle-income countries. The slit-lamp examination (SLE), which is essential for ophthalmology practices, is often unavailable in primary and secondary eye care facilities due to the high costs and lengthy training required for operation. We conducted a cross-sectional, multicentre study exploring the potential for a smart eye camera (SEC; a tele-ophthalmology handheld device developed by OUI Inc., Japan) to address the limitations of the SLE. Ocular diagnoses, visual acuity assessments and examinations of the eyes were performed independently using both a conventional SLE and a SEC. Four independent assessors (blind to the study) reviewed the images captured by the SEC and the SLE as administered by separate investigators. All analyses were performed using R version 4.2.2 for macOS at a 5% level of statistical significance. The results of the image quality analysis demonstrated that the number of higher-quality images was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for the images captured using the SEC device compared to the SLE machine. Remarkably, up to 96% accuracy of diagnosis was recorded with SEC. Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy rates derived from images obtained from both machines revealed a degree of divergence in assessments among evaluators, yielding a Fleiss's Kappa value of 0.092. The sensitivity analysis for the SEC device revealed a reasonably strong capacity to correctly identify true positive cases, with an average sensitivity score of 90%. The results of this study indicate that SEC can effectively evaluate anterior segment lesions in ophthalmology.

Certified Unlearning for Federated Recommendation

Recommendation systems play a crucial role in providing web-based suggestion utilities by leveraging user behavior, preferences, and interests. In the context of privacy concerns and the proliferation of handheld devices, federated recommender systems have emerged as a promising solution. These systems allow each client to train a local model and exchange only the model updates with a central server, thus preserving data privacy. However, certain use cases necessitate the deduction of contributions from specific clients, a process known as “unlearning”. Existing machine unlearning methods are designed for centralized settings and do not cater to the collaborative nature of recommendation systems, thereby overlooking their unique characteristics. This paper proposes CFRU, a novel federated recommendation unlearning model that enables efficient and certified removal of target clients from the global model. Instead of retraining the model, our approach rolls back and eliminates the historical updates associated with the target client. To efficiently store the learning process's historical updates, we propose sampling strategies that reduce the number of historical updates, retaining only the most significant ones. Furthermore, we analyze the potential bias introduced by the removal of target clients’ updates at each training round and establish an estimation using the Lipschitz condition. Leveraging this estimation, we propose an efficient iterative scheme to accumulate the bias across all rounds, compensating for the removed updates from the global model and recovering its utility without requiring post-training steps. Extensive experiments conducted on two real-world datasets, incorporating two poison attack scenarios, have shown that our unlearning technique can achieve a model quality that is 99.3% equivalent to retraining the model from scratch while performing up to 1000 times faster.