Handheld Devices Research Articles

Raman Handheld Versus Microscopic Spectroscopy for Estimating the Post-Mortem Interval of Human Bones: A Comparative Pilot Study

The post-mortem interval estimation for human skeletal remains is critical in forensic medicine. This study used Raman spectroscopy, specifically comparing a handheld device to a Raman microscope for PMI estimations. Analyzing 99 autopsy bone samples and 5 archeological samples, the research categorized them into five PMI classes using conventional methods. Key parameters—like ν1PO43− intensity and crystallinity—were measured and analyzed. A principal component analysis effectively distinguished between PMI classes, indicating high classification accuracy for both devices. While both methods proved reliable, the fluorescence interference presented challenges in accurately determining the age of archeological samples. Ultimately, the study highlighted how Raman spectroscopy could enhance PMI estimation accuracy, especially in non-specialized labs, suggesting the potential for improved device optimization in the field.

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.

Normative Values for Thyroid Volume and Tracheal Index in Healthy Turkish Newborns in an Iodine Sufficient Region.

The study aims to determine the normal values of thyroid volume and tracheal index in healthy term newborns born in an iodine-sufficient population. Additionally, we investigated the usability of a handheld device for assessing the tracheal index. Thyroid imaging was performed at 0-2 days and 15-30 days using handheld and portable ultrasound devices. Thyroid volume and tracheal index were calculated using standard formulas. A total of 144 healthy term newborns with a mean birth weight 3230 g were enrolled. The normal thyroid volume for the entire population was 0.66 ± 0.25 ml at 0-2 days, which significantly increased to 1.12 ± 0.33 ml at 15-30 days (p<0.01). There were no significant differences in thyroid volume between genders in either age group (p=0.246 and p=0.879). Thyroid volume correlated with birth weight, length, and head circumference, with the strongest correlation being with birth weight (r=0.404, p<0.001; r=0.252, p=0.002; r=0.223, p=0.007, respectively). The tracheal index at 0-2 days was 1.84±0.30 in girls, 1.82±0.27 in boys, and 1.83±0.29 overall. At 15-30 days, it was 1.99±0.23 in girls, 2.00±0.28 in boys, and 1.99±0.25 overall. Similar to thyroid volume, the tracheal index increased with age (p<0.01), with no significant gender differences in either age group (p=0.593 and p=0.886). Thyroid volume and tracheal index were moderately correlated in both measurements (rho=0.538, p<0.01). Measurements of the trachea, and thyroid lobe widths using portable and handheld ultrasound devices were correlated (r=0.449, p<0.01; r=0.638, p<0.01; r=0.497, p<0.01). There was also a correlation between tracheal index measurements using both devices in both the first and second measurements. This study provides normative data on thyroid volumes and tracheal index in newborns from an iodine-sufficient population. The tracheal index can estimate thyroid size when volume calculation is not feasible and handheld ultrasound devices are effective for this assessment.

Comparison of the effects of laser systems and cold atmospheric plasma on the surface roughness and shear bond strength of flexible hybrid ceramics.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of laser systems and cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on the surface roughness (Ra) and shear bond strength (SBS) of flexible hybrid ceramics (FHCs). Eighty FHC samples were divided into 5 groups to be subjected to surface treatments (hydrofluoric acid (HFA), HFA + 5W Er: YAG laser (HFA + 5WE), HFA + 3W Er: YAG laser (HFA + 3WE), HFA + ultrafast fiber laser (HFA + FL), and CAP). The Er: YAG laser (AT Fidelis Plus III, Fotona, Slovenia) was operated with a 0.9mm diameter tip, delivering 250mJ and 150mJ per pulse, with output powers of 5W and 3W, and fluences of 23,623J/cm² and 14,157J/cm², respectively, at a frequency of 20Hz and a pulse duration of 600 µs for 30s. The FL (FiberLAST Inc., Turkey) was applied with a 7mm spot size, 1mJ pulse energy, 20W output power, 100kHz repetition rate, ultrashort pulse length (100 ns), and the fluence of 1,820J/cm² for 7s. The CAP (PiezoBrush PZ3, Relyon Plasma, Germany) applied to the surfaces for 80s at a treatment speed of 5 cm2/s and 100% plasma power. After the Ra values were measured, each group was divided into 2 subgroups to be cemented with total-etch (TE) and self-adhesive (SA) resin cements. The SBS of all the samples was measured. One sample was randomly selected from each group, and the fractured surfaces were examined by SEM analysis. The significance level was at P < 0.05. HFA + FL had the highest Ra values, and there was no significant difference between HFA + FL and HFA + 5WE (P > 0.05). There was no difference in Ra between CAP and HFA (P > 0.05). The highest SBS values were observed for the samples cemented with TE after HFA + FL. The difference between the SBS values of the groups cemented with TE after CAP, HFA + 5WE, HFA + 3WE, and HFA + FL was not significant (P < 0.05). The use of FL may be a promising method to improve SBS without causing thermal damage when using TE or SA cements. CAP can be recommended as a practical and safe treatment with SA cement because it is suitable for chairside use with a handheld device and does not change the physical properties of the material.

Development And Testing of Arduino Based Autonomous Environmental Monitoring System

This paper presents the development of an Autonomous Environmental Monitoring System (AEMS) designed to track various environmental parameters. With the growing demand for autonomous monitoring systems in today’s modern era, we propose an Arduino-based real-time hardware solution to measure parameters such as flame, temperature, humidity, and distance. The system leverages advanced and cost-effective electronic sensors and hardware to monitor these environmental factors. We developed individual sensor modules for each parameter and integrated them into a unified multi-sensor system through sensor fusion. The collected data is then displayed on a 16 × 2 LCD module. The result is a fully functional autonomous monitoring system, tested under laboratory environmental conditions using a compact, handheld device.

Abstract 4135754: Prediction of Incident Atrial Fibrillation Using Handheld Single-Lead Electrocardiograms from the VITAL-AF Trial

Background: Deep learning of 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) can estimate future atrial fibrillation (AF) risk. Whether these models can be applied to single-lead ECGs (1L ECGs) from wearable or handheld devices is unknown. Aim: To apply a previously published deep learning model to estimate 2-year incident AF risk using handheld 1L ECGs obtained prospectively in a large AF screening trial. Methods: In the VITAL-AF trial (NCT03515057), over 16,000 primary care patients aged ≥65 years underwent AF screening with handheld 1L ECG. We applied our published deep learning model (ECG-AI) derived using single leads of over 450,000 standard 12-lead ECGs external to the VITAL-AF study (1L ECG-AI). We compared the performance of 1L ECG-AI to the validated CHARGE-AF clinical risk score and calculated net reclassification indices. Results: Among 15,694 individuals enrolled in VITAL-AF and without prevalent AF (age 74±7 years, 9,104 [58%] women), 1L ECG-AI discriminated 2-year incident AF (area under receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC] 0.666 [95% CI 0.603-0.721]). With addition of age and sex (1L ECG-AI AS), 2-year AF discrimination (0.695 [0.637-0.742]) was comparable to the 11-component CHARGE-AF clinical risk score (0.679 [0.625-0.729]). Two-year AF incidence was markedly higher with 1L ECG-AI AS in the top 5% (8.0% [5.7-10.2]) vs bottom 5% (0.89% [0.23-0.55]). At a threshold of ≥3% estimated 2-year AF risk, AF incidence was progressively higher among patients at high risk according to neither model (1.5% [1.2-1.8]), one model (1L ECG-AI: 3.3% [2.3-4.2]; CHARGE-AF 3.4% [2.2-4.6]), and both models (5.8% [5.0-6.5]), implying that clinical risk and ECG-AI signals are complementary ( Figure ). Compared to screening all individuals at the guideline-based threshold of ≥65 years, 1L ECG-AI AS resulted in favorable net reclassification improvement (0.27 [0.22-0.32]). Conclusion: An ECG-AI algorithm developed using single leads of a 12-lead ECG combined with age and sex can discriminate AF risk using real-world handheld 1L ECGs with comparable performance to the CHARGE-AF score. 1L ECG-AI signals complement clinical risk factors. ECG-AI applied to 1L ECG may increase the reach and efficiency of AF screening.

Investigating Object Translation in Room-scale, Handheld Virtual Reality.

Handheld devices have become an inclusive alternative to head-mounted displays in virtual reality (VR) environments, enhancing accessibility and allowing cross-device collaboration. Object manipulation techniques in 3D space with handheld devices, such as those in handheld augmented reality (AR), have been typically evaluated in table-top scale and we currently lack an understanding of how these techniques perform in larger scale environments. We conducted two studies, each with 30 participants, to investigate how different techniques impact usability and performance for room-scale handheld VR object translations. We compared three translation techniques that are similar to commonly studied techniques in handheld AR: 3DSlide, VirtualGrasp, and Joystick. We also examined the effects of target size, target distance, and user mobility conditions (stationary vs. moving). Results indicated that the Joystick technique, which allowed translation in relation to the user's perspective, was the fastest and most preferred, without difference in precision. Our findings provide insights for designing room-scale handheld VR systems, with potential implications for mixed reality systems involving handheld devices.

Influence of High-Impact Physical Activity on Pelvic Floor and Lumbar Muscle Mechanical Properties in Asymptomatic Nulliparous Women.

High-impact physical activity is a known risk factor for the development of pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) in women, affecting the pelvic floor muscles (PFMs). However, there is insufficient information to determine whether alterations in PFMs, or even in the lumbar muscles, can be detected before the onset of symptoms. The aim of the study was to identify whether high-impact physical activity influences the muscle mechanical properties (MMPs) of the lumbopelvic region in continent nulliparous women. An observational cross-sectional study with a nonprobabilistic sampling of consecutive cases was designed. Fifty women who had practiced high-impact physical activity at least three times per week for more than 2 years were included in the high-impact group, and 50 women who did not practice high-impact activity were included in the control group. Data collection for both groups included sociodemographic data and MMPs (frequency, characterizing muscle tone; stiffness; logarithmic decrement, characterizing the inverse of the elasticity; relaxation time of stress; creep, characterizing fluidity) of PFMs and lumbar muscles, externally assessed using a hand-held tonometer device. Between-group comparison of the MMPs were calculated, together with intragroup correlations between the outcomes. The MMPs of PFMs showed statistically significant lower tone (0.76Hz, 95% CI 0.04, 1.48) and stiffness (23.76 N/m, 95% CI 1.10, 46.42) and were more viscoelastic (relaxation: -1.04ms, 95% CI -1.98, -0.11; creep: -0.04 De, 95% CI -0.07, -0.02) in women who practiced high-impact physical activity. No lumbar MMPs showed statistically significant between-group differences. High-impact physical activity alters the MMPs of PFMs in nulliparous women, although not lumbar spinal MMPs, even before the appearance of signs.

Does preprocedural ultrasound prior to lumbar neuraxial anesthesia or analgesia increase first-pass success in adults with obesity? A systematic review.

Preprocedural ultrasound (PPU) reduces the risk of technical failure in non-obese patients and when technical difficulty is predicted. We conducted this review to determine if PPU improves first-pass needle insertion success for neuraxial anesthesia in patients with obesity. We conducted a systematic review without meta-analysis, due to the small number of included studies. The study protocol was registered (PROSPERO: CRD42022368271). We conducted searches in MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library from January 1, 1980 to October 1, 2022 for peer-reviewed randomized controlled or observational studies comparing PPU versus landmark techniques in patients with body mass index >30 kg/m2. The quality of evidence was assessed using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. There were nine randomized controlled studies, comprising 866 patients having lumbo-sacral neuraxial techniques. Three studies utilized a small handheld ultrasound device called Accuro™ and six utilized non-handheld ultrasound devices. Certainty of evidence was low for improving the first-pass success rate. There was evidence (moderate certainty) that PPU decreased number of passes, increased first insertion attempt success, and reduced number of insertion attempts. There was no evidence that PPU affected identifying time, needling time, or overall procedural time. There was no evidence that PPU influenced procedural failure rate (very low certainty evidence) and insufficient evidence to suggest that artificial intelligence-supported handheld devices were superior to conventional ultrasound devices. In patients with obesity, there is evidence of very-low to moderate certainty that PPU improves markers of insertion success, with no indication of increased adverse effects. PPU should be used to reduce attempts. Further studies adhering to standardized outcome definitions are required for definitive recommendations. The study protocol was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO: CRD42022368271).

Factors affecting outcome of acquired comitant esotropia with restricted use of digital devices: ACEDD Study 3.

The objective of this study is to investigate factors associated with outcomes after 3 months of instructed usage of hand-held digital devices (DD) in patients with acquired comitant esotropia (ACE). This prospective multicentre observational study included patients with ACE, aged 5-35 years, who used DD within 1 year of onset and were followed up for clinical findings and instructed use of DD. The outcomes were classified into four groups: cured, improved, unchanged and worsened. After the analysis of group differences in the clinical and DD use-related factors by univariate analysis, we used ordinal logistic regression models to identify factors associated with favourable outcomes. Of 156 patients (mean age (SD): 16.4 (7.4) years), 10 (6%), 58 (37%), 67 (43%) and 21 (14%) were classified into the cured, improved, unchanged, and worsened, respectively. In the univariate analysis, consultation within 3 months of onset, small-angle strabismus at distance and good stereoacuity were associated with good outcomes. Ordinal logistic regression analysis on adjusting for age with stereoacuity or successful DD-use time halving showed that small-angle strabismus at distance (OR: 1.02, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.03, p=0.023), good stereoacuity (OR: 1.31; 95% CI 1.10 to 1.56; p=0.003) and successful halving of DD-use time (OR: 0.63; 95% CI 0.43 to 0.92; p=0.016) influenced favourable outcomes. Patients with small-angle esotropia, good stereoacuity on consultation and success in halving DD-use time had a higher chance of recovery through instructional DD usage. Further studies using objectively measurable systems are needed to ensure the accuracy of DD-use time.

A multilabel deep learning model for the detection of conduction and rhythm disorders from PDF outputs of a widely available portable ECG Device

Abstract Background Wearable and portable devices with ECG capabilities can provide broad access to screening for cardiovascular disorders. However, most are approved for the detection of only atrial fibrillation. Most algorithms for detecting rhythm and conduction disorders are trained and tested on 12-lead ECGs or the lead I of clinical ECGs, with an unclear role for extending the diagnostic range of wearable and portable devices. Moreover, no current algorithms enable cardiovascular diagnosis on data available to end users, who largely have access to the PDF outputs of their data. Purpose To validate a novel artificial intelligence (AI) model trained to identify conduction disorders and arrhythmias on synthetic ECG outputs from lead I data of clinical ECGs, to detect the same disorders on cardiologist-annotated PDF outputs from the Alivecor KardiaMobile single-lead ECGs (Kardia ECGs). Methods We extracted lead I data from 3,076,352 clinical ECGs across 5 hospitals of a large U.S.-based hospital system from 2000-2024 and simulated wearable PDF outputs from commercial devices using a novel plotting approach that replicated the variations in plotted formats. Gold-standard cardiologist written diagnosis statements were processed to generate 8 clinical labels spanning conduction and rhythm disorders, and we developed a multilabel model to predict these labels using an EfficientNet-B3 convolutional neural network. We examined the performance of the model on 24,808 Kardia ECGs annotated by cardiologists. Results The model achieved a high performance on clinical ECGs in a held-out subset of the synthetic lead I ECG printouts resembling wearable outputs (AUC &amp;gt; 0.9 for all 8 labels). In the independent 24,808 Kardia ECGs, annotated by experts, the model achieved high performance across all labels. For the rhythm disorders atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, premature atrial contraction, and premature ventricular contraction, the model had AUROCs of 0.99, 0.91, and 0.95, respectively. For the conduction disorders 1st-degree AV block and 2nd or 3rd-degree AV blocks, the model had AUROCs of 0.94 and 0.99, respectively. Finally, for supraventricular tachycardias, wide QRS, and paced ECGs, the model had AUROCs of 0.998, 0.98, and 0.98, respectively. Conclusions We demonstrate that a deep learning model trained to identify rhythm and conduction disorders based on synthetic ECGs where lead I data from clinical 12 lead ECGs are used to replicate real-world PDF outputs of wearable ECGs, generalizes to real-world wearable and handheld single-lead devices.

Validation of a hand-held ultrasound device in the evaluation of aortic stenosis

Abstract Introduction Hand-held Ultrasound devices (HHUD) are increasingly used in routine clinical practice, although until recently they did not have continuous Doppler. There is no evidence on the usefulness of an HHUD for the assessment of aortic stenosis (AS) in real life. Objective To validate the use of a new HHUD device in a real-life scenario. Material and methods Observational, single-center and prospective study, including patients diagnosed with AS with a previous standard echocardiography. Patients were randomly recruited from a tertiary cardiac imaging laboratory. Immediately after the reference echocardiography performed by an imaging expert, a Cardiology trainee with ASE level II repeated the study blindly with an HHUD. Agreement between the two tests was evaluated by measuring the mean aortic valve gradient (mAG). An intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) test, linear regression, and Bland-Altman test were performed to compare the two methods. Results 101 patients were recruited. The reference test calculated a mAG of 29 mmHg (19.8 - 42.2) versus a mAG of 27.2 mmHg (16.2 - 43.9) in HHUD. The statistical analysis showed a good correlation between both tests (ICC: 0.87 (95% CI: 0.79 -0.94) and r=0.89 (95% CI: 0.85-0.94) (Figure). The Bland-Altman test showed a non-significant underestimation (1.61 ± 0.9 mmHg; p= 0.09). The HHUD classified 29 cases as severe or major AS compared to 31 in the reference test (kappa= 0.81; 95% CI: 0.68 - 0.94). The HHUD showed an excellent agreement for classification of AS in at least severe AS grade. The kappa analysis had a value of 0.81 (95% CI 0.68 – 0.94) with a global agreement of 92.1%. The positive predictive value was 89.6%. The negative predictive value was 93.1%. Sensitivity and specificity were 83.8% and 95.7%. The rest of the variables evaluated showed poorer agreement. In those patients with obesity, worse acoustic window, atrial fibrillation and critical AS, the agreement was worse. Conclusions The new HHUD evaluated by an operator with limited experience showed good agreement with the reference echocardiographic device in determining the mean aortic gradient.Central picture

B-Lines in the Assessment of Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Scleroderma: The Role of Handheld Devices.

Background: Timely detection and aggressive management of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) are essential to improving outcomes and reducing risks of irreversible lung injury. Objective: to explore the usefulness of an ultraportable ultrasound device for the management of SSc-related ILD and to compare it with clinical and instrumental data. Methods: A total of 19 consecutive SSc patients underwent a comprehensive pulmonary evaluation: clinical, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) (spirometry, DLCO), lung CT (1.5 mm slice thickness reconstruction; HRCT), and lung ultrasound (LUS). A total score was calculated based on the number of color-coded B-lines recorded for each lung sliding. B-lines were analyzed against dyspnea, cough, Velcro, CT imaging (Warrick's score), and PFTs. Global and subgroup analysis were performed (diffuse versus limited cutaneous SSc, Warrick's < 7 versus >7). Results: Symptomatic lung involvement with varying degrees of dyspnea was reported in about 74% of cases (functional NYHA > 2 in more than half), chronic dry cough in one-third, Velcro rales in 42%. A total of 84.24% were classified as SSc with ILD on CT imaging. Statistically significant mild-to-moderate correlations between B-lines and clinical manifestations were demonstrated, as well as PFTs and Warrick's scores (more B-lines, lower pulmonary function, but higher extent and severity on CT) (p < 0.05); there were differences between SSc patients without and with ILD in terms of the number and distribution of B-lines (p < 0.05), as well as different B-lines patterns and numbers in diffuse versus limited SSc (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Ultraportable handheld LUS is a promising method suitable for the management (screening, early detection, and evaluation) of SSc patients.

Multi-Camera Lighting Estimation for Mobile Augmented Reality

Lighting estimation is an important and long-standing task in computer vision and graphics communities[1]. Over the past few years, we have observed a rising demand for creating immersive user experiences in mobile augmented reality (AR) applications. In particular, environment lighting estimation is essential to render visually coherent virtual objects that need to be overlaid on physical scenes in mobile AR. In this work, we explore the key research questions in lighting understanding for an emerging application domain, mobile AR on multi-camera handheld devices, particularly try-on applications where end users leverage handheld mobile devices, such as smartphones, to overlay products of interest on their faces. Mobile AR try-on apps promote online shopping and often require photorealism to provide user experiences on par with physical try-on.

Colostrum conductivity, pH and Brix index as predictors of passive immunity transfer in foals.

Foal immunity relies heavily on the absorption of colostrum immunoglobulins; thus, colostrum evaluation is used to predict the transfer of passive immunity (TPI), and its conductivity is associated with TPI in cattle. Leading up to and at parturition, a reduction in colostrum pH and conductivity is thought to be necessary for TPI; however, this remains to be determined. To assess conductivity, pH, and Brix refractometer index of colostrum to predict the TPI in foals. Field study. The colostrum of 241 mares was assessed for conductivity, pH, and Brix index using handheld devices immediately after parturition. Twenty-hour postpartum foals had complete blood cell count and plasma IgG concentrations assessed. Foals were split in complete versus incomplete TPI (i.e., IgG ≥8 g/L vs. <8 g/L). Mare (breed, duration of pregnancy, parity, and age), foal (sex), and colostrum (conductivity, pH, and Brix index) data were computed to assess factors affecting TPI. Multivariate regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed for analysis. Complete TPI was achieved in 89.4% of foals. The ROC TPI values were conductivity ≤5 mS/cm (AUC = 0.68), Brix ≥23.4% (AUC = 0.70), and pH ≤6.4 units (AUC = 0.73). The odds ratio for TPI in 24 h post-partum was 6.1 (2.1-17.1, 95% CI) for conductivity, 3.2 (1.2-9.3, 95% CI) for pH, and 4.5 (1.5-12.7, 95% CI) for Brix index. Sensitivity and specificity of 93% (88-96 95% CI), 56% (44-7, 95% CI), 92% (87-96, 95% CI), 28% (14-47, 95% CI), 94% (88-97, 95% CI) and 18% (14-47, 95% CI) for conductivity, Brix and pH, respectively. Low incidence of incomplete TPI. Conductivity, pH and Brix are strong predictors of foals that succeed in the transfer of passive immunity; however, all three presented low to moderate specificity. The established cutoff values obtained herein can be used on-field by other foaling programs. All three handheld devices used in the study are inexpensive and ready to use on-farm.

Danger, Nuisance, Disregard: Analyzing User-Generated Videos for Augmented Reality Gameplay on Hand-held Devices

Augmented Reality (AR) has been largely deployed on smartphones in recent years. AR gaming, featured with geo-reference, is anchored to our real-world environments. Nevertheless, designing such AR user interaction in-the-wild is under-explored. Therefore, we examined 242 YouTube videos regarding AR gameplay, primarily Pokémon GO, (1) to reveal personal and social threats during gameplay, and (2) to identify how such threats connect to the user and spatial contexts. Our video analysis generalises the threats, including but not limited to hitting bystanders, falling off a cliff, car crashes, crowds and blockages, and stampedes. Through video analysis, we connect the threats with the user and spatial contexts. Subsequently, we propose several design tactics to deliver safe and nuisance-free AR usages in physical environments. Finally, we suggest strategies to consider large-scale deployment of AR at the levels of individuals and local communities, such as an auditable and accountable framework for user safety and social acceptability.

A Lab Prototype for Rapid Electrochemical Detection of Escherichia coli in Water Using Modified Screen-Printed Electrodes.

Recognizing the need for a hand-held device capable of quantitatively measuring the concentration of bacteria in water, this paper describes a label-free method for rapid detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in water via H2O2 decomposition using screen-printed electrodes (SPE) modified with nanostructured metal oxide layers. The study encompasses sensor preparation, bacteria culture, synthesis and characterization of nanostructures, and development of a readout circuitry for lab prototyping. During sensing measurements, the bacteria are first made to interact with H2O2 and subsequently, the H2O2 solution is exposed on the sensing surface. The electrochemical sensors are fabricated by modifying the working electrode of SPE with nanostructured metal oxide layers of MnO2 and TiO2 as these play a crucial role in the detection of E. coli in water. The sensing experiments of MnO2-modified SPE show a significant response to bacteria with a sensitivity of 0.82 mV.mL/log CFU and a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.8 CFU/mL, while the TiO2-modified SPE exhibits a linear response over a wide range of bacterial concentrations with a sensitivity of 1.12 mV·mL/log CFU and a limit of detection of 2.23 CFU/mL. Both sensors demonstrate a rapid response, stability, repeatability, and a recovery time of 70 ms. Additionally, selectivity with respect to other bacteria, wastewater components such as glucose, ammonium sulfate, and sodium carbonate, and testing with RO, DI, and tap water samples are conducted to evaluate the sensors' performance. A detailed sensing mechanism has been developed to comprehend the results, including chemical and biological reactions, metal oxide interfaces, morphology, and other surface studies of the sensing surface. A prototype comprising a sensor chip, an Arduino board, and other necessary circuit components is tested with various bacterial solutions. This enables its use for on-field rapid detection of bacteria in water using smaller volumes and a portable system.

A Survey on Women Safety and Health Monitoring System

Women safety is a very big issue even in this modern world running with advanced technologies. After a history of times, women got a freedom of equality at the workplace, asset rights, family law, and education. Even Feminist Movement, claimed during 20th Century, Women are not safe anywhere and violence against women and girl child’s happening everywhere during the lonely travelling on roads, picnic spots, work and deserted places. Though we have many armies and super forces to protect everybody, the day to day crime rate against women has not been reduced. There are several safety devices available to protect the women during the violence, but need more human intervention such as entering the data, or shaking the device roughly. We propose a solution for a secure and peaceful environment for women with handbag safety hand-held devices with the aim to provide false proof women safety devices by overcoming the disadvantages in existing system. When we are talking more about Women empowerment, Women achievements it is also very important to think about women safety since a huge numbers (848) of women’s are Indian Women Are Harassed, Raped, Killed Every Day. The proposed work aims at IoT based women safety device by hardware controller attached to the handbag, android application and Bluetooth connectivity in Smartphone. By pressing the controller button, the device alerts the first holder, relatives stored in the database and police when a woman is not safe. The main advantage of the work is, the device works without internet connectivity. Additional features such as protecting the valuable things to be stolen by thieves in crowded places or buses by a separate alarming system, heartbeat sensor setup to monitor heart rate, fingerprint scanner for effecting accessing of the devices and also the mobile android application provide the victim’s location to reach the women and safeguard the women from any harassment at the right time. The main thought of this paper is that it will not only protect the women from physical harassment during odd hours but also safe the women health when it is found abnormal, as a single device comparatively.

Effects of Constraining Postural Sway During Upper-Limb Precision Aiming Task Practice in Individuals with Stroke

Individuals post-stroke commonly demonstrate alterations in motor behavior with regard to both task performance and the motor strategies used in pursuit of task goals. We evaluated whether constraining postural sway (motor strategy) during practice would affect upper-limb precision aiming performance (task performance) and postural control adaptations. Adults with stroke stood on a force plate while immersed in a virtual scene displaying an anterior target. Participants aimed to position a virtual laser pointer (via handheld device) in the target. Participants then completed practice trials involving aiming at a lateral target. For this practice session, participants were randomized to either (a) a “constraint” group wherein they received physical constraint to limit postural sway, or (b) a “no-constraint” group. Task performance and postural control were assessed before and after practice, and transfer to another upper-limb task was evaluated. After practice, both groups improved paretic upper-limb performance. For the target task, the no-constraint group showed task-sensitive changes in postural control. The constraint group showed no changes in postural control. At transfer, the constraint group increased postural sway. Constraining postural sway after stroke should be carefully considered with the recognition that postural sway arises from exploratory movements involved in the discovery of adaptable motor solutions.

Video-rate two-photon microendoscopy using second harmonic resonance fiber scanning

We present a 2.5-mm-diameter resonant fiber scanning two-photon microendoscope with a 30-mm long forward-viewing rigid probe tip that enables video-rate imaging (20 Hz frame rate) suitable for hand-held imaging of tissues without motion artifacts. Higher-order harmonic oscillation scanning techniques are developed to significantly increase the frame rate compared to prior published fiber scanning microendoscopy designs while maintaining the field-of-view (∼125 µm), the optical resolution (1.2 µm lateral and 10.9 µm axial resolution, full width at half maximum), and the spatial sampling (1250 circumferential pixels per spiral × 20 radial pixels over the diameter; 210 spirals per frame, ∼4 spiral samples per resolvable pixel) compared to a traditional scan using the fundamental resonance. 3D printed mounts were created to reduce the cost and simplify the fabrication for the fiber scanner without compromising performance or stability (&lt;0.3 µm drift over 84 hours). A custom long-wavelength (∼1.08 µm) femtosecond fiber laser is coupled into several meters of fiber to realize a flexible, hand-held device for long-wavelength multiphoton microendoscopy.