Reader Device Research Articles

Evaluating the Implementation of Automated Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test Readers in Health Facilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Process, Challenges, and Lessons Learned.

The WHO's Global Technical Strategy for malaria emphasizes the importance of reliable malaria surveillance systems to track disease burden and measure progress. A key indicator, the test positivity rate (TPR), largely depends on healthcare providers' adherence to rapid diagnostic test (RDT) results and their accurate reporting. To minimize healthcare providers' bias, this study explored the feasibility of using artificial intelligence (AI)-driven Deki Reader devices in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The devices were deployed in 144 health facilities across Haut Katanga, Kasai Central, and Sud Kivu provinces from January to December 2022. Healthcare providers performed malaria diagnostic tests using RDTs and reported the results through the routine system. In addition, they used the Deki Reader device, which automatically read, recorded, and transmitted the AI interpretation into a cloud database. The study compared TPRs from both sources to identify discrepancies. The study revealed the feasibility of using these devices but also identified several logistic and technical challenges. These included delays in device procurement due to COVID-19 pandemic and customs issues, emphasizing the need for better planning and coordination in future rollouts. Device malfunctions and the reliance on stable internet connectivity highlighted the importance of robust support systems and contingency plans. This study demonstrated both the benefits and challenges of implementing such digital health technologies in primary health facilities. Key considerations for successful deployment include careful planning, adequate training and supervision, and taking into account local infrastructure, especially internet connectivity.

The effects of microwave and microwave + infrared drying treatments of Pinus brutia and Picea orientalis on water absorption and physical properties

The goal of this study was to find a way to shorten wood drying time by using microwave and combined infrared + microwave drying methods and to analyze color and gloss changes. Wood samples prepared in three groups with dimensions of 20×20×30 mm were used in moisture tests and 75×5×150 mm were used in color change and gloss measurements, obtained from Red pine (Pinus brutia) and Eastern spruce (Picea orientalis) woods. The samples were oven dried, dried by microwave, or dried by infrared + microwave drying method. The wood samples all reached the target moisture. Their weight and volume were calculated in accordance with the principles of TS ISO 13061-1. Color change values were determined before and after drying with a portable color reader (Konica Minolta CR-10) device, and gloss measurements were taken with the Gardner brand gloss meter. By microwave drying for 15 min, 4% moisture content was reached in the wood samples, so both time and energy were saved. The moisture content values decreased compared to the whole drying methods. Most color change was observed in the drying methods using infrared for both red pine and eastern spruce.

Cardiovascular risks and endothelial dysfunction in reproductive-age women with endometriosis

Endometriosis is a prevalent gynecological condition, affecting around 10% of reproductive-age women. Inflammatory processes associated with endometriosis may contribute to endothelial dysfunction. Increased skin accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), reflecting arterial stiffness, potentially links endometriosis with elevated risk of cardiovascular events. We hypothesized that patients with endometriosis have impaired endothelial function as well as increased arterial stiffness and AGE skin accumulation, compared to healthy controls. We compared endothelial function, arterial stiffness, and levels of AGEs in patients suffering from endometriosis and in healthy controls. The study included 45 women aged 20 to 40: 21 patients with endometriosis and 24 healthy controls, matched in terms of age, BMI, and blood pressure values. Endo-PAT 2000 device was used for non-invasive assessment of (i) endothelial function, expressed as Reactive Hyperemia Index (RHI), and (ii) arterial stiffness, expressed as Augmentation Index (AI) and Augmentation Index at 75 heart beats/min (AI@75). Endothelial dysfunction was defined as an RHI value ≤ 1.67. AGE Reader device was used for non-invasive evaluation of skin AGE level accumulation. Patients with endometriosis had lower mean RHI values (1.69 ± 0.54 vs. 2.02 ± 0.48, p = 0.037) and a higher prevalence of endothelial dysfunction, (52.4% vs. 20.8%, p = 0.027) compared to healthy controls. Skin AGE level was higher in patients with endometriosis, compared to controls (2.00 ± 0.57 vs. 1.70 ± 0.24, p = 0.013). There were no significant differences in AI and AI@75 between the two groups. Patients with endometriosis have impaired endothelial function and higher AGE skin accumulation, which are well-established preclinical manifestations of increased cardiovascular risk. There is a great need for comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessments in women with endometriosis to prevent the development of potential atherosclerotic-based complications.

Designing and Implementing an ECG Reader and Heart Disease Classification Device Using Deep Learning (Comprehensive Review)

Designing and Implementing an ECG Reader and Heart Disease Classification Device Using Deep Learning (Comprehensive Review)

Building of Barcode and QR Code Reader Device

This study focuses on building a QR and barcode reader device to scan the barcode or QR code (1D/2D) and display the read information on the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). With this device we can scan and read all the barcode and QR codes through an OLED display. The proposed device can work in the dark, have a stable performance as well as fast decoding speed. It can easily capture barcodes 1D, 2D on labels, paper, and mobile phone or computer displays sensitively and accurately.

Bilayer piezoionic sensors for enhanced detection of dynamic, static, and directional forces with self-healing capabilities

Electronic skin (e-skin) aims to replicate the tactile feedback mechanism of natural skin, offering great potential across robotics, healthcare monitoring, and human-machine interfaces. Traditional e-skin systems utilize electron-based sensing through capacitance and piezoresistivity for static forces, and piezoelectricity and triboelectricity for dynamic forces. However, the former group struggles with dynamic stimuli and external power dependencies, while the latter excels in self-powering but fails in static detection. Addressing these gaps, iontronics emerges as a versatile solution, providing innovative avenues for energy harvesting, sensing, and actuation through ion redistribution in response to varied stimuli, but shows limitations in output signals and response times. We report herein the development of bilayerstructured piezoionic materials with significantly enhanced output signal and response time. The piezoionic bilayer structure not only harnesses an ion accumulation interface, leading to amplified output signals and fast response times, but also exhibits an ion-dipole interactive self-healing property. Our sensor generates a signal output of 95 mV and features a quick response time of 30 ms, with an impressive self-healing capability of ∼100%. It demonstrates the ability to accurately detect both static and dynamic forces, including specific movements like bending and vibrations, maintaining its robustness through 8000 cycles of repetitive deformation. Its utility is further proven in a practical setting with a braille reader device, highlighting its potential for incorporation into a wide array of soft, autonomous iontronic systems that require enhanced sensitivity, rapid detection capabilities, and self-sustainability.

The Moderating Role of Reader Characteristics on E-Book Reading Intention in Thailand: A Multigroup Analysis

Purpose: This investigation explores the moderating role of reader characteristics in shaping individuals' intentions to engage in e-book reading in Thailand. Theoretical Framework: Drawing upon a diverse sample of readers in Thailand, this analysis employs advanced statistical techniques to assess the moderating effects of reader characteristics, including sex, age, education level, income, and devices used to read e-books. Design/methodology/approach: Utilizing a quantitative approach, the study analyzes responses from 701 Thai people who have engaged with a minimum of five e-books to understand the moderating role of reader characteristics on e-book reading intention in Thailand. Findings: The results from the structural equation model analysis showed that several factors in the proposed model had a significant influence on intention to read e-books. These factors include trust, diversity of e-book options, social norms, and resource usage. Practical implications: The results that come from this investigation contribute to the growing body of literature on digital reading behavior and offer practical implications for stakeholders in the publishing sector and government organizations that promote reading. By comprehending how reader characteristics moderate the factors influencing e-book reading intentions, tailored strategies can be developed to promote digital literacy and enhance the adoption of e-books in the Thai market. As the global landscape of reading continues to evolve, this research offers a precious viewpoint to explore the intricate interplay between individual characteristics and the digital reading experience in Thailand. Originality/value: Limited research has examined the moderating influence of reader characteristics on the intention to read e-books. Therefore, this study seeks to address this gap in the existing literature by conducting a multigroup analysis in the context of Thailand.

Исследование способа измерения артериального давления ёмкостным интегрированным датчиком

A method of wireless measurement of blood flow parameters is investigated using an implantable passive capacitive sensor and an external reader. This device is designed to measure the parameters of blood flow in the human body, through the installation of a passive capacitive sensor and inductive coupling with an external reader device. The method of wireless measurement is based on the connection of resonant circuits at an operating frequency of 10 MHz. The mathematical calculation of the device circuit is presented. The result of the calculation was the dependence of the output voltage of the external reader on the change of capacitance in the implanted passive sensor. The values of the potential sensitivity of the device are obtained. The manufactured layout of the device and its parameters are presented. The mock-up allowed to investigate the dependences of the coupling factor of the circuits when using coils of an external reader of different sizes. Also the measurement of the output voltage of the external reader from the value of the passive sensor capacitance was made. The value of real sensitivity of the device layout was measured.

Dose Rate Calibration of β Radiation Source in Risø TL/OSL-DA-20 Reader Device

This research is focused on determining the dose rate calibration of beta irradiation source in the Risø brand TL/OSL-DA-20 model thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) reader device manufactured by DTU Physics which is an integral component of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). The beta radiation source of this device comprises a pellet-shaped Strontium ceramic made from the 90Sr/90Y radionuclide, with a half-life of approximately 29.1 years. This investigation provides a thorough examination of reproducing equivalent dose levels by comparing reproduced OSL signals with the OSL signals of calibration quartz crystals which were previously exposed to a 5 Gy beta radiation emission. Throughout this process, dose durations and equivalent dose levels were analysed on optically stimulated luminescence signals. The collected OSL data aims to ensure the precise calibration of the radioactive source, contributing to reliable results in dosimetric measurements. This calibrated device is utilized in the Luminescence Laboratory co-run by the Physics Department and Nuclear Materials Research and Application Center of Selçuk University. The determined dose rate of the beta radiation source is found as 0.065 Gy/second.

RFID car using arduino mega 2560 by dijkstras algorithm

This paper introduces a module which is used to transport goods or people from one place to another without any driver assistant. It is mainly used in big industries to save the time and energy. This module is built around an RFID sensor. RFID technology uses fields of electromagnetic waves to track and monitor tags attached to objects. When triggered with a field of electromagnetic waves investigate pulse from an adjacent RFID reader device, this tag delivers digital information back to the reader, which is often an inventory number. This number can be used to keep track of inventories. The sensors collect the data and sends to the main algorithm and then it takes the decision which way to go, we implemented our car to be completely automated and does not required any instructions from human. To achieve this we have chosen the shortest path algorithm know as Dijkstra's algorithm.

Students’ Experience in Using Natural Reader Application to Ensure the Accuracy of Their English Pronunciation

Since 1960, speech synthesis technology has existed and its applications are now widely available, one of which is the Natural Reader application. Natural Reader is an application that can be used in knowing how to pronounce words in English. This study aims to describe students' experiences with using the Natural Reader application and examine the effect of utilizing the use of the Natural Reader application as a tool to test the accuracy of pronunciation of Mahmud Yunus Batusangkar State Islamic University students, by using the Natural Reader application students can more easily test their English accuracy. The method used by researchers is quantitative method, quantitative research can show data containing numbers that can be obtained by utilizing google form as a means of making a questionnaire. This research shows that the Natural Reader application has the potential to ensure the accuracy of pronunciation in English. So it can be concluded that the Natural Reader device can ensure the accuracy of student pronunciation in English.

RANCANG BANGUN SISTEM PRESENSI KULIAH MENGGUNAKAN QRCODE BERBASIS ESP32CAM

Rapid Response Codes are a kind of digital bar code that are becoming more and more popular since they can store a lot of data fast and in big quantities. This research aims to design a device for collecting attendance data using QR codes. This QR code contains information about the user's identity and location when used. We may determine the user's distance from the designated area using this location data. This location information is used to find out how far the user is from the area we have set.The presence method used the ESP Cam device to scan a QR code from the user which contains information on student identification number, date and location (latitude and longitude).Before scanning the QR code, users must confirm via the Telegram application which has been prepared in advance to carry out the attendance process at each class session.Ifthe information matches that is stored in the database and the user's location is still within the radius of the reader device, the user's identity data is then uploaded to the online presence system.After the hardware and software have been prepared, it continues with testing on Electrical Engineering students at Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta as attendance at the Electrical Engineering Laboratory.Scanning this QR code takes an average reading time of 3.5 seconds with the fastest estimated time being 3 seconds and the longest 5 seconds.

Hydrogel-enzyme micropatch array format for chemical mapping: A proof of concept

Conventional sensing methods report on concentrations of analytes in a single point of sampled medium or provide an average value. However, distributions of substances on surfaces of sampled objects often exhibit intricate inhomogeneities. In order to obtain snapshots of the chemical distributions on surfaces, we have developed enzyme-loaded hydrogel arrays (5 × 5 and 10 × 10). The acrylic 10 × 10 array base contains 100 holes, which are filled with agarose hydrogel containing assay enzymes and substrates. Such arrays can be exposed to the analyzed surfaces to collect minute amounts of analytes. Following a brief incubation, they are subsequently visualized in a custom-built array reader device. The reader incorporates a light-emitting diode-based light source, miniature camera, and Raspberry Pi single-board computer. Two Python programs capture and analyze the images of the array to extract pixel saturation values corresponding to individual hydrogel micropatches. The method has been thoroughly optimized for mapping of glucose and lactic acid. The optimized parameters were: contact time, agarose concentration, substrate concentration, enzyme concentration ratio, and enzyme concentration. The array biosensor was further tested by mapping glucose distribution in fruit/vegetable cross-sections (apple, guava, and cucumber) and lactic acid distribution in cheese. We think that this new hydrogel-based chemical mapping method can find applications in studies related to food science, plant physiology, clinical chemistry, and forensics; wherever the distributions of analytes on the tested surfaces need to be assessed.

Comparison of advanced glycation end products concentration in the skin among patients with rheumatic diseases, with and without comorbid depression: a case-control study.

Patients with rheumatic diseases suffer depression at a far greater rate than the general population. Aside from evident mental health degradation, in this group of patients depression can often lead to failures in the treatment of the basic disease. The aim of the study was to assess the concentration of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) in the skin autofluorescence (SAF) exam in patients with select rheumatic diseases depending on depression concomitance. 139 patients with rheumatic diseases were enrolled into the study-43 (39F/4M) patients with RA, 31 (24F/7M) patients with PsA, 27 (22F/5M) patients with SLE and 38 (33F/5M) patients with SSc. In all patients, the concentration of AGE was assessed using the AGE Reader device (DiagnOptics BV Groningen, The Netherlands). The Beck Depression Inventory II was used to assess depression in the patients. Patients who scored 14 points or more in the BDI-II were diagnosed with depression. In the studied group, depression was identified in 73 (53%) patients-25 with RA, 21 with PsA, 11 with SLE and 16 with SSc. Mean SAF in patients with depression was 2.8 ± 0.4, and in the group with no depression-2.2 ± 0.5 (p < 0.001). The study results indicate that in the course of rheumatic diseases, the presence of depression may influence the increase in AGE concentration in the skin. Therefore, evaluating AGE levels in the skin may be clinically relevant as it can help identify patients who may be at risk of developing depression.

Comparison of Single and Multiple Treatment Plans Made in CyberKnife® Radiosurgery System on Phantom

While the use of CyberKnife® radiosurgery systems is increasing, the choice of treatment plan is also important. In this study, it was aimed to determine the more advantageous application by comparing the irradiation of all metastases at once and the protocols of irradiation of metastases separately in multiple brain metastases. For this, on an entirely new head phantom; 6 brain metastases and 3 critical organs, including the spinal cord, brain stem, and chiasm, were determined over the spaces where the dosimeters were placed. Computed tomography (CT) images of the head phantom were taken and these 6 tumors and 3 critical organs were drawn (contouring) on the image. In the treatment planning system, the dose we wanted to give was written and irradiation plans were created to be done separately with a single irradiation. Luminescence (OSL) dosimeters with BeO optical excitation were removed from the phantom after each irradiation and the count value obtained from the dosimeter reader device was recorded. Homogeneity index (HI), conformity index (CI), new conformity index (nCI), duration of treatment, and gradient index (GI) values of irradiation at one time and separately were compared. While it was found that irradiation of tumors with a separate treatment plan was more advantageous in terms of conformity index (CI), new conformity index (nCI), homogeneity index (HI), and coverage values, it was seen that a single plan was more suitable in terms of gradient index and duration.

Engineered Collaborative Size Regulation and Shape Engineering of Tremella-Like Au-MnOx for Highly Sensitive Bimodal-Type Lateral Flow Immunoassays.

Engineered collaborative size regulation and shape engineering of multi-functional nanomaterials (NPs) offer extraordinary opportunities for improving the analysis performance. It is anticipated to address the difficulty in distinguishing color changes caused by subtle variations in target concentrations, thereby facilitating the highly sensitive analysis of lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs). Herein, tremella-like gold-manganese oxide (Au-MnOx ) nanoparticles with precise MnCl2 regulation are synthesized as immuno signal tracers via a facile one-step redox reaction in alkaline condition at ambient temperature. Avail of the tunable elemental composition and anisotropy in morphology, black-colored tremella-like Au-MnOx exhibits superb colorimetric signal brightness, enhanced antibody coupling efficiency, marvelous photothermal performance, and unrestricted immunological recognition affinity, all of which facilitate highly sensitive multi-signal transduction patterns. In conjunction with the handheld thermal reader device, a bimodal-type LFIA that combines size-regulation- and shape-engineering-mediated colorimetric-photothermal dual-response assay (coined as the SSCPD assay) with a limit of detection of 0.012ngmL-1 for ractopamine (RAC) monitoring is achieved by integrating Au-MnOx with the competitive-type immunoreaction. This work illustrates the effectiveness of this strategy for establishing high-performance sensing, and the SSCPD assay may be extended to a wide spectrum of future point-of-care (POC) diagnostic applications.

DEVELOPMENT OF PROTECTION PROFILE FOR SECOND-LEVEL E-KTP CARD READER BASED ON ISO/IEC 15408:2022 AND ISO/IEC TS 19608:2018

The second level e-KTP reader device is an electronic data reader device stored in the e-KTP chip by applying a verification device in the form of a fingerprint/face scan. The data stored in the e-KTP chip is personal data that is general and specific, as stated in Law Number 27 of 2022. Therefore, users of e-KTP readers as controllers and processors of personal data are obliged to prevent unauthorised access lawfully by using a security system reliably, safely and responsibly. Permendagri Number 76 of 2020 requires compliance with product standards by involving relevant K/L agencies in the security sector as a form of supervision. Based on BSSN Regulation 15 of 2019, implementing the evaluation process in Indonesia's common criteria scheme requires a Protection Profile document to support the evaluation of IT device security. However, there is no Protection Profile document for e-KTP reader devices that have been certified so that it can be used as a reference in developing IT devices to support the evaluation of IT device security. Therefore, in this study, developing Protection Profiles for e-KTP readers based on ISO/IEC 15408 and ISO/IEC TS 19608: 2018 was carried out to prepare functional security requirements and security guarantees by considering the protection of personal data. While the developing method used is based on ISO/IEC TR 15446:2017. The results of this study are preparing a Protection Profile document consisting of 25 functional security requirements to fulfil 8 device security objectives with a level of security assurance at Evaluation Assurance Level (EAL) 4. Then the design results are tested based on the Assurance Protection Profile Evaluation class (APE) ISO/IEC 18045:2022 and declared to meet the criteria based on the ISO/IEC 15408 series.

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with increased accumulation of advanced glycation end products in the skin in patients with type 1 diabetes: A preliminary study.

Helicobacter pylori infection (HPI) is more frequently diagnosed in patients with diabetes. Insulin resistance in patients with type 1 diabetes (DMT1) is associated with the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the skin and progression of chronic complications. Assessment of the relationship between the incidence of HPI and skin AGEs in patients with DMT1. The study included 103 Caucasian patients with a DMT1 duration >5 years. A fast qualitative test was performed to detect the HP antigen in fecal samples (Hedrex). The content of AGEs in the skin was estimated using an AGE Reader device (DiagnOptics). The HP-positive (n = 31) and HP-negative (n = 72) groups did not differ in terms of age, gender, duration of diabetes, fat content, body mass index (BMI) and lipid profile, metabolic control, and inflammatory response markers. The studied groups differed in the amount of AGEs in the skin. The relationship between HPI and increased AGEs in the skin was confirmed in a multifactor regression model taking into account age, gender, DMT1 duration, glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), BMI, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and the presence of hypertension, and tobacco use. The studied groups also differed in serum levels of vitamin D. Increased accumulation of AGEs in the skin of patients with DMT1 with coexisting HPI suggests that eradication of HP may significantly improve DMT1 outcomes.

A novel, accurate, and non-invasive liquid biopsy test to measure cellular immune responses as a tool to diagnose early-stage lung cancer: a clinical trials study

IntroductionLung cancer remains the leading cause of death from cancer, worldwide. Developing early detection diagnostic methods, especially non-invasive methods, is a critical component to raising the overall survival rate and prognosis for lung cancer. The purpose of this study is to evaluate two protocols of a novel in vitro cellular immune response test to detect lung cancer. The test specifically quantifies the glycolysis metabolism pathway, which is a biomarker for the activation level of immune cells. It summarizes the results of two clinical trials, where each deploys a different protocol's version of this test for the detection of lung cancer. In the later clinical trial, an improved test protocol is applied.MethodThe test platform is based on changes in the metabolic pathways of the immune cells following their activation by antigenic stimuli associated with Lung cancer. Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells are loaded on a multiwell plate together with various lung tumor associated antigens and a fluorescent probe that exhibits a pH-dependent absorption shift. The acidification process in the extracellular fluid is monitored by a commercial fluorescence plate reader device in continuous reading for 3 h at 37 °C to document the fluorescent signal received from each well.ResultsIn the later clinical trial, an improved test protocol was applied and resulted in increased test accuracy. Specificity of the test increased to 94.0% and test sensitivity increased to 97.3% in lung cancer stage I, by using the improved protocol.ConclusionThe improved protocol of the novel cellular immune metabolic response based test detects stage I and stage II of lung cancer with high specificity and sensitivity, with low material costs and fast results.

A practical model for outsourcing bank services: The application of game theory

Objective: Banks tend to outsource their services to focus on their main task: collecting deposits and directing them toward investment. This research aims to identify a model that facilitates handing over services to the private sector and covering the interests of both parties in a win-win situation. Method: In this study, 16 semi-structured interviews with experts from banks and payment service provider (PSP) companies were conducted to understand outsourcing strategies for card reader devices. Employing Strauss and Corbin's thematic analysis and game theory, the study identified key strategies and preferences, which were then modeled to resolve conflicts and derive joint interaction strategies. Over 4 million scenarios were calculated using Min-Max strategy, and strategies for both parties were suggested based on Nash equilibrium results. Results: The qualitative data analysis resulted in identifying 22 strategies based on service marketing mix for parties and placing them in related groups (product, price, promotion, place, people, process, and physical evidence). The results of game theory and the balance point suggest the following strategies to the bank: diversity, quality, the latest device model, average account, number of agents, technical expertise, equipped workshop, and support equipment. The suggestion for the payment service provider (PSP) companies include brand, rent, transaction fee, discount, response hours, raffle, gifts, special privileges, appropriate treatment, type of cooperation, timely delivery, response speed, communication system, and location. Conclusion: The final outcome suggested specific strategies for banks and PSP companies to focus on, based on the Nash equilibrium and other game theory results. These strategies included diversification, quality, device up-to-datedness, technical expertise, equipped workshop, support equipment for banks, and brand, rent, transaction fees, response hours, lottery, gifts, special privileges, timely delivery, response speed, communication system, and location for PSP companies.