Amplification-free detection of SARS-CoV-2 with CRISPR-Cas13a and mobile phone microscopy.

The December 2019 outbreak of a novel respiratory virus, SARS-CoV-2, has become an ongoing global pandemic due in part to the challenge of identifying symptomatic, asymptomatic, and pre-symptomatic carriers of the virus. CRISPR diagnostics can augment gold-standard PCR-based testing if they can be made rapid, portable, and accurate. Here, we report the development of an amplification-free CRISPR-Cas13a assay for direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 from nasal swab RNA that can be read with a mobile phone microscope. The assay achieved ∼100 copies/µL sensitivity in under 30 min of measurement time and accurately detected pre-extracted RNA from a set of positive clinical samples in under 5 min. We combined crRNAs targeting SARS-CoV-2 RNA to improve sensitivity and specificity and directly quantified viral load using enzyme kinetics. Integrated with a reader device based on a mobile phone, this assay has the potential to enable rapid, low-cost, point-of-care screening for SARS-CoV-2.

Towards a World Wide Web without digital inequality.

The World Wide Web (WWW) empowers people in developing regions by eradicating illiteracy, supporting women, and generating economic opportunities. However, their reliance on limited bandwidth and low-end phones leaves them with a poorer browsing experience compared to privileged users across the digital divide. To evaluate the extent of this phenomenon, we sent participants to 56 cities to measure the cost of mobile data and the average page load time. We found the cost to be orders of magnitude greater, and the average page load time to be four times slower, in some locations compared to others. Analyzing how popular webpages have changed over the past years suggests that they are increasingly designed with high processing power in mind, effectively leaving the less fortunate users behind. Addressing this digital inequality through new infrastructure takes years to complete and billions of dollars to finance. A more practical solution is to make the webpages more accessible by reducing their size and optimizing their load time. To this end, we developed a solution called Lite-Web and evaluated it in the Gilgit-Baltistan province of Pakistan, demonstrating that it transforms the browsing experience of a Pakistani villager using a low-end phone to almost that of a Dubai resident using a flagship phone. A user study in two high schools in Pakistan confirms that the performance gains come at no expense to the pages' look and functionality. These findings suggest that deploying Lite-Web at scale would constitute a major step toward a WWW without digital inequality.

Socioeconomic reorganization of communication and mobility networks in response to external shocks.

Socioeconomic segregation patterns in networks usually evolve gradually, yet they can change abruptly in response to external shocks. The recent COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent government policies induced several interruptions in societies, potentially disadvantaging the socioeconomically most vulnerable groups. Using large-scale digital behavioral observations as a natural laboratory, here we analyze how lockdown interventions lead to the reorganization of socioeconomic segregation patterns simultaneously in communication and mobility networks in Sierra Leone. We find that while segregation in mobility clearly increased during lockdown, the social communication network reorganized into a less segregated configuration as compared to reference periods. Moreover, due to differences in adaption capacities, the effects of lockdown policies varied across socioeconomic groups, leading to different or even opposite segregation patterns between the lower and higher socioeconomic classes. Such secondary effects of interventions need to be considered for better and more equitable policies.

Regression calibration of self-reported mobile phone use to optimize quantitative risk estimation in the COSMOS study.

The Cohort Study of Mobile Phone Use and Health (COSMOS) has repeatedly collected self-reported and operator-recorded data on mobile phone use. Assessing health effects using self-reported information is prone to measurement error, but operator data were available prospectively for only part of the study population and did not cover past mobile phone use. To optimize the available data and reduce bias, we evaluated different statistical approaches for constructing mobile phone exposure histories within COSMOS. We evaluated and compared the performance of four regression calibration (RC) methods (simple, direct, inverse, and generalized additive model for location, shape, and scale), complete-case (CC) analysis and multiple imputation (MI) in a simulation study with a binary health outcome. We used self-reported and operator-recorded mobile phone call data collected at baseline (2007-2012) from participants in Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK. Parameter estimates obtained using simple, direct, and inverse RC methods were associated with less bias and lower mean squared error than those obtained with CC analysis or MI. We showed that RC methods resulted in more accurate estimation of the relation between mobile phone use and health outcomes, by combining self-reported data with objective operator-recorded data available for a subset of participants.

Construction of smartphone-integrated nanozyme sensor based on amino acid-modulated gold nanoparticles.

Amino acids are not only the building blocks of proteins but also lead to the development of novel nanomaterials with unique properties. Herein, we proposed a simple strategy to produce gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) with peroxidase-like (POD-like) activities by using a series of amino acids as reducing agents, named Au NPs@M (M represents different amino acids). The Au NPs@His was identified as the nanozyme with the most potent catalytic performance, which was used in combination with smartphones to achieve rapid detection of hydrogen peroxide with a detection limit of 0.966 µM. It also enables rapid detection of glucose with a detection limit of 2.904 µM, highlighting the significant contribution of Au NPs@His in expediting the detection of critical biomolecules. This work not only provides a convenient and highly efficient method to identify glucose but also shows the potential of histidine as a reducing agent in constructing Au nanomaterials exerting enzyme-like catalysis.

Single-camera photogrammetry using a mobile phone for low-cost documentation of corpses.

Photogrammetry is a technique for studying and defining objects' shape, dimension, and position in a three-dimensional space using measurements obtained from two-dimensional photographs. It has gained popularity following the development of computer graphics technologies and has been applied to various branches of medicine. In this study, the authors present a method for low-cost photorealistic documentation of corpses during autopsy using single-camera photogrammetry with a mobile phone. Besides representing the body by demonstrating the injured and non-injured body parts as control, evidencing the body parts on a 3D reconstruction allows easy explanation to nonmedical experts such as lawyers.

Informing Urban Flood Risk Adaptation by Integrating Human Mobility Big Data During Heavy Precipitation.

Understanding the impact of heavy precipitation on human mobility is critical for finer-scale urban flood risk assessment and achieving sustainable development goals #11 to build resilient and safe cities. Using ∼2.6 million mobile phone signal data collected during the summer of 2018 in Jiangsu, China, this study proposes a novel framework to assess human mobility changes during rainfall events at a high spatial granularity (500 m grid cell). The fine-scale mobility map identifies spatial hotspots with abnormal clustering or reduced human activities. When aggregating to the prefecture-city level, results show that human mobility changes range between -3.6 and 8.9%, revealing varied intracity movement across cities. Piecewise structural equation modeling analysis further suggests that city size, transport system, and crowding level directly affect mobility responses, whereas economic conditions influence mobility through multiple indirect pathways. When overlaying a historical urban flood map, we find such human mobility changes help 23 cities reduce 2.6% flood risks covering 0.45 million people but increase a mean of 1.64% flood risks in 12 cities covering 0.21 million people. The findings help deepen our understanding of the mobility pattern of urban dwellers after heavy precipitation events and foster urban adaptation by supporting more efficient small-scale hazard management.

Headache in the international cohort study of mobile phone use and health (COSMOS) in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Headache is a common condition with a substantial burden of disease worldwide. Concerns have been raised over the potential impact of long-term mobile phone use on headache due to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs). We explored prospectively the association between mobile phone use at baseline (2009-2012) and headache at follow-up (2015-2018) by analysing pooled data consisting of the Dutch and UK cohorts of the Cohort Study of Mobile Phone Use and Health (COSMOS) (N = 78,437). Frequency of headache, migraine, and information on mobile phone use, including use of hands-free devices and frequency of texting, were self-reported. We collected objective operator data to obtain regression calibrated estimates of voice call duration. In the model mutually adjusted for call-time and text messaging, participants in the high category of call-time showed an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.04 (95 % CI: 0.94-1.15), with no clear trend of reporting headache with increasing call-time. However, we found an increased risk of weekly headache (OR = 1.40, 95 % CI: 1.25-1.56) in the high category of text messaging, with a clear increase in reporting headache with increasing texting. Due to the negligible exposure to RF-EMFs from texting, our results suggest that mechanisms other than RF-EMFs are responsible for the increased risk of headache that we found among mobile phone users.

A comprehensive review of 5G NR RF-EMF exposure assessment technologies: fundamentals, advancements, challenges, niches, and implications.

This review offers a detailed examination of the current landscape of radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic field (EMF) assessment tools, ranging from spectrum analyzers and broadband field meters to area monitors and custom-built devices. The discussion encompasses both standardized and non-standardized measurement protocols, shedding light on the various methods employed in this domain. Furthermore, the review highlights the prevalent use of mobile apps for characterizing 5G-NR radio network data. A growing need for low-cost measurement devices is observed, commonly referred to as "sensors" or "sensor nodes," that are capable of enduring diverse environmental conditions. These sensors play a crucial role in both microenvironmental surveys and individual exposures, enabling stationary, mobile, and personal exposure assessments based on body-worn sensors, across wider geographical areas. This review revealed a notable need for cost-effective and long-lasting sensors, whether for individual exposure assessments, mobile (vehicle-integrated) measurements, or incorporation into distributed sensor networks. However, there is a lack of comprehensive information on existing custom-developed RF-EMF measurement tools, especially in terms of measuring uncertainty. Additionally, there is a need for real-time, fast-sampling solutions to understand the highly irregular temporal variations EMF distribution in next-generation networks. Given the diversity of tools and methods, a comprehensive comparison is crucial to determine the necessary statistical tools for aggregating the available measurement data.

The relationship between family cohesion and bedtime procrastination among Chinese college students: the chain mediating effect of coping styles and mobile phone addiction.

BACKGROUND: Bedtime procrastination refers to an individual's inability to go to bed at a predetermined time without external obstacles. Previous researchers have found that the bedtime procrastination is harmful to human physical and mental health, but these research on bedtime procrastination have mostly focused on exploring individual factors, while ignoring the external environmental factors. Therefore, this is the first study to investigate bedtime procrastination from the perspective of family environments. METHODS: The study was conducted using a convenient sampling method and online questionnaires. Family Cohesion Scale, Coping Styles Questionnaire, Mobile Phone Addiction Tendency Scale and Bedtime Procrastination Scale were used to measure sleep and psychological condition of 1,048 college students. RESULTS: Family cohesion negatively predicted bedtime procrastination. Additionally, positive coping style and mobile phone addiction had significant independent mediating effects. Furthermore, positive coping style and mobile phone addiction had chain mediating effects between family cohesion and bedtime procrastination. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the effect of coping styles and mobile phone addiction on the relationship between family cohesion and bedtime procrastination among Chinese college students. These findings explained the mechanisms of bedtime procrastination from the perspective of environment, so as to effectively intervene the bedtime procrastination of college students from the perspective of external environment.

Peer victimization and non-suicidal self-injury among high school students: the mediating role of social anxiety, mobile phone addiction, and sex differences.

BACKGROUND: Peer victimization (PV) is one of the major causes of non-suicidal self-injury. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), peer victimization, social anxiety, and mobile phone addiction are significantly related; however, the interaction mechanism and effect of sex differences remain to be determined. OBJECTIVE: Herein, we investigated the relationship between peer victimization and NSSI among Chinese high school students. We also explored the chain mediating roles of social anxiety and mobile phone addiction and the regulatory role of sex. The findings of this study provide insights for theoretical interventions based on internal mechanisms. METHOD: A self-reported survey of 14,666 high school students from Sichuan County was conducted using a peer victimization scale, NSSI scale, social anxiety scale, and mobile phone addiction scale. A self-administered questionnaire was used to capture sociodemographic information. RESULTS: Peer victimization, social anxiety, and mobile phone addiction were positively correlated with NSSI. Peer victimization had significant direct predictive effects on NSSI (95% CI: 0.341, 0.385) and significant indirect predictive effects on NSSI through social anxiety (95% CI: 0.008, 0.019) or mobile phone addiction (95% CI: 0.036, 0.053). Peer victimization had significant indirect predictive effects on NSSI through social anxiety as well as mobile phone addiction (95% CI: 0.009, 0.014). The first stage (predicting the effect of peer victimization on NSSI) and the third stage (predicting the effect of mobile phone addiction on NSSI) were both moderated by sex. CONCLUSIONS: Peer victimization could directly predict NSSI and indirectly predict NSSI through social anxiety and mobile phone addiction. Thus, social anxiety and mobile phone addiction exhibited chain mediating effects between peer victimization and NSSI in high school students; moreover, sex might be involved in the regulation of the mediation process.

Mobile phone problem use and depressive symptoms: the mediating role of social support and attitude to aging among Chinese older adults.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about mobile phone problem use (MPPU) among older adults. This study investigated critical factors affecting MPPU and filled the gap between MPPU and depressive symptoms in older people. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in community (n = 376) with questionnaires of Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire (AAQ) and Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale (MPPUS). RESULTS: 80.9% of older people used smartphones and spend less than three hours on mobile phone per day. The average MPPU score of Chinese elderly is greater than the cut off to 41. Female (ß = -0.11, P = 0.037), living with spouse (ß = -0.17, P = 0.03), and late marriage age (ß = -0.16, P = 0.007) are less likely to develop MPPU. The relationship between MPPU and depressive symptoms was partially mediated by social support and attitude to aging. CONCLUSION: Elderly people generally have higher MPPU scores. MPPU was associated with depressive symptoms, through social support and attitude to aging.

Validation of mobile phone use recall in the multinational MOBI-kids study.

Potential differential and non-differential recall error in mobile phone use (MPU) in the multinational MOBI-Kids case-control study were evaluated. We compared self-reported MPU with network operator billing record data up to 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years before the interview date from 702 subjects aged between 10 and 24 years in eight countries. Spearman rank correlations, Kappa coefficients and geometric mean ratios (GMRs) were used. No material differences in MPU recall estimates between cases and controls were observed. The Spearman rank correlation coefficients between self-reported and recorded MPU in the most recent 3 months were 0.57 and 0.59 for call number and for call duration, respectively. The number of calls was on average underestimated by the participants (GMR = 0.69), while the duration of calls was overestimated (GMR = 1.59). Country, years since start of using a mobile phone, age at time of interview, and sex did not appear to influence recall accuracy for either call number or call duration. A trend in recall error was seen with level of self-reported MPU, with underestimation of use at lower levels and overestimation of use at higher levels for both number and duration of calls. Although both systematic and random errors in self-reported MPU among participants were observed, there was no evidence of differential recall error between cases and controls. Nonetheless, these sources of exposure measurement error warrant consideration in interpretation of the MOBI-Kids case-control study results on the association between children's use of mobile phones and potential brain cancer risk.

Electromagnetic field exposure monitoring of commercial 28-GHz band 5G base stations in Tokyo, Japan.

Fifth generation (5G) wireless communication is being rolled out around the world. In this work, the latest radio frequency electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure measurement results on commercial 28-GHz band 5G base stations (BSs) deployed in the urban area of Tokyo, Japan, are presented. The measurements were conducted under realistic traffic conditions with a 5G smartphone and using both omnidirectional and horn antennas. First and foremost, in all cases, the electric-field (E-field) intensity is much lower (<-38 dB) than the exposure limits. The E-field intensities for traffic-off cases do not show any significant difference between the two antennas with the maximum being 3.6 dB. For traffic-on cases, the omnidirectional antenna can undesirably capture the radio wave from the smartphone in some cases, resulting in a 7-13 dB higher E-field intensity than that using the horn antenna. We also present comparative results between 4G long term evolution BSs and sub-6-GHz band and 28-GHz band 5G BSs and provide recommendations on acquiring meaningful EMF exposure data. This work is a further step toward the standardization of the measurement method regarding quasi-millimeter/millimeter wave 5G BSs.

Design and usability evaluation of a mobile application for self-care among Iranian adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Mobile phones can be an ideal platform to engage adolescents to maintain, improve, and promote self-care. Therefore, the current study aims to design and evaluate the usability of a mobile application for self-care in adolescents with a user-centered approach. METHODS: The current applied developmental study was done in four steps. The first step, polling and examining opinions was conducted through in-depth semi-structured interviews, with the aim of user-centered mobile application design with the involvement of 30 participants. The second step, extracting and compiling the educational content related to the main themes of the self-care app, was obtained from national and international guidelines and instructions, including the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, etc. In the third step, the initial version of the mobile application was developed. In the fourth step, app usability was evaluated by 30 participants from the target group, 2 weeks after using the app, using the MAUQ questionnaire. RESULTS: In the first step, 789 codes, 12 sub-categories, and 3 categories were extracted. These codes were used in the design of the mobile application. In the second step, educational information was prepared and arranged in 5 sections (physical activity, nutrition, personal hygiene, risky behaviors and safety and events) in the form of text, images and short videos. In the third step, the mobile application was designed based on step 1 and 2. This application operates in online mode and under the Android operating system. the initial version of the mobile application was developed using JavaScript and Typescript programming languages in a Visual Studio Code environment. In the fourth step, the participants the overall level of usability of the application as very good with an average of 6.28 ± 0.55. The highest average score was given to the user interface and satisfaction with an average score of 6.43 ± 0.58. CONCLUSIONS: The "My-Care" app is a collaboratively designed smartphone app for adolescents that targets 5 dimensions of physical self-care. This app has the potential to teach, assess, and promote self-care among adolescents.

Effects of a medication adherence app among medically underserved adults with chronic illness: a randomized controlled trial.

For individuals living with a chronic illness who require use of long-term medications, adherence is a vital aspect of successful symptom management and outcomes. This study investigated the effect of a smartphone app on adherence, self-efficacy, knowledge, and medication social support in a medically underserved adult population with various chronic illnesses. Participants were randomized to a group who used the app for one month or a control group provided with a printed medication list. Compared to the control group, participants receiving the intervention had significantly greater medication adherence (Cohen's d = -0.52, p = .014) and medication self-efficacy (Cohen's d = 0.43, p = .035). No significant effects were observed related to knowledge or social support. The findings suggest use of the app could positively impact chronic disease management in a medically underserved population in the United States.

Early diagnosis of melanoma: a randomized trial assessing the impact of the transmission of photographs taken with a smartphone from the general practitioner to the dermatologist on the time to dermatological consultation.

BACKGROUND: Difficulty obtaining a dermatological consultation is an obstacle to the early diagnosis of melanoma. On the one hand, patients survival depends on the lesion thickness at the time of diagnosis. On the other hand, dermatologists treat many patients with benign lesions. Optimizing patient care pathways is a major concern. The aim of the present study was to assess whether the e-mail transmission of photographs of suspected melanoma lesions between general practitioners (GPs) and dermatologists reduces the time to dermatological consultation for patients whose suspicious skin lesions ultimately require resection. METHODS: We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled study in primary care involving 51 French GPs between April 2017 and August 2019. A total of 250 patients referred to a dermatologist for a suspected melanoma lesion were included GPs were randomized to either the smartphone arm or the usual care arm. In the smartphone arm, the GPs referred patients to the dermatologist by sending 2 photographs of the suspicious lesion using their smartphone. The dermatologist then had to set up an appointment at an appropriate time. In the usual care arm, GPs referred patients to a dermatologist according to their usual practice. The primary outcome was the time to dermatological consultation for patients whose lesion ultimately required resection. RESULTS: 57 GPs volunteered were randomized (27 to the smartphone arm, and 30 to the usual care arm). A total of 125 patients were included in each arm (mean age: 49.8 years; 53% women) and followed 8 months. Twenty-three dermatologists participated in the study. The time to dermatological consultation for patients whose suspicious skin lesion required resection was 56.5 days in the smartphone arm and 63.7 days in the usual care arm (mean adjusted time reduction: -18.5 days, 95% CI [-74.1;23.5], p = .53). CONCLUSIONS: The e-mail transmission of photographs from GPs to dermatologists did not improve the dermatological management of patients whose suspicious skin lesions ultimately required resection. Further research is needed to validate quality criteria that might be useful for tele-expertise in dermatology. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov under reference number NCT03137511 (May 2, 2017).

The effects of smartphone addiction on the body in young adults in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: The frequency of smartphone usage is increasing day by day in Turkey. This study was planned to reveal the level of smartphone addiction and the factors affecting smartphone addiction in young adults in Turkey. DESIGN: In the study, how long the young people had been using the smartphone and their daily usage times were recorded. The Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), Body Awareness Scale (BAS), and Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ) scales were employed as data collection tools. RESULTS: The study was conducted with 1000 participants aged 18-45, and 807 were female. 85.6% of the participants have been using smartphones for at least 3 years and 77.3% of all participants use smartphones for more than 4 hours a day. According to the SAS scale, 34.8% of the participants had smartphone addiction. Smartphone addiction is higher especially in those who have a sedentary life or individuals with neck disabilities (p = 0.005; p < 0.001 respectively). No significant difference was found between body awareness and smartphone addiction (p = 0.380). However, body awareness scores were higher in the group without smartphone addiction. There was a significant difference between the groups in terms of the SAS, BAS, NDI, and SBQ scores in the participants classified by smartphone usage time. CONCLUSION: Female gender, daily usage of a smartphone for more than 4 hours a day, having a smartphone for at least 3 years, presence of sedentary behavior, and neck disability were the factors affecting smartphone addiction in young people. No relationship was found between body awareness and smartphone addiction. Further studies on the awareness of the effects of intensive smartphone usage on the body should be conducted among young people in Turkey.

High Interest in the Use of mHealth Platform for HIV Prevention among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Nepal.

Mobile technology growth in Nepal offers promising opportunities for using mobile health (mHealth) interventions to facilitate HIV prevention efforts. However, little is known about access and utilization of communication technology and their willingness to use mHealth for HIV prevention services in Nepal. We conducted a cross-sectional respondent-driven sampling survey of 250 MSM in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal from October to December 2022. We collected information on participant characteristics, HIV risk-related behaviors, ownership, or access to and frequency of use of communication technology (phones, tablets, laptops, and computers), and willingness to use mHealth to access HIV prevention services. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed. Almost all participants had smartphones with the internet (231/250, 92.4%) and accessed the internet daily (219/250, 87.6%) on the smartphone (236/250, 94.4%). The median score for willingness to use mHealth for HIV prevention was 10 (IQR: 3 to 17). Willingness to use mHealth was higher among those participants with a high school or above education (ß = 0.223, p = < 0.001), had experienced violence (ß = 0.231, p = 0.006), and had moderate to severe depressive symptoms (ß = 0.223, p = < 0.001). However, monthly income above NPR 20,000 (USD 150) (ß= -0.153, p = 0.008), disclosure of their sexual orientation to anyone (ß= -0.159, p = < 0.007), and worry about being negatively judged by health care workers (ß= -0.136, p = 0.023) were less willing to use mHealth strategies. The findings from this study suggest that there is a high willingness for utilizing mHealth interventions for HIV prevention in MSM population who are at higher risk of HIV acquisition.

Association between smartphone addiction and myofascial trigger points.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between smartphone addiction and miyafascial trigger points in university students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of university students was conducted for the purpose of this study. The participants were assessed based on age, gender, dominant side, the amount of time they spent on their smartphones, the purpose of their use, and their posture. The Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Form (SAS-SF) was used to determine addictes and non-addicts. The cut-off value of SAS-SF is 31 and above for male and 33 and above for female. RESULTS: There were 136 participants in the study. The posture score for addicts and non-addicts ones was not significantly different (p > 0,05), but the number of trigger points, maximal bending posture and trigger points in the right levator scapula and right cervical erector muscles were significantly higher in the smartphone addict participants (p < 0,05). CONCLUSIONS: Smartphone addiction in university students is associated with postural changes and trigger points in the bilateral levator scapula and right cervical erector muscles. Public health programs should be developed to raise awareness about smartphone addiction, encourage screen breaks, and emphasize physical activity and exercise regularly.