Issues facing the application of telemedicine in developing countries : Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Syrian Arab Republic

Telemedicine delivers healthcare between geographically separated locations using medical expertise supported by communication technology. Physicians and specialists from one site can provide diagnosis, treatment and consultation to patients at a remote site. This makes the use of telemedicine particularly affective in rural and remote areas that have limited access to healthcare services. This study identifies the factors that affect the use and adoption of telemedicine in developing countries and rural areas in general, taking the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic as cases studies. We have developed two guideline frameworks to be applied to telemedicine projects at the pre- implementation phase. The main purpose of the guideline frameworks is to assess the readiness of the Jordanian and Syrian health care system to use telemedicine and to assist any healthcare provider who is considering implementing a telemedicine project in either of these two countries. The guideline framework can be transferred and applied to any other country for which similar circumstances apply. Our guideline frameworks are based on interviews with key stakeholders including doctors, technicians, engineers, and decision makers, and administering questionnaires to further key stakeholders including patients, ensuring that we gain opinion from people from different backgrounds and with different roles in the healthcare system. Our research has identified specific key issues which inhibit the use of telemedicine: poor technology infrastructure; lack of funding; lack of IT education; insufficient training for clinicians; doctors’ resistance; patients’ resistance; and lack of knowledge about healthcare and technology. This work provides a clear idea of the current readiness in both countries and proposes two guideline frameworks that will aid the use of telemedicine. Their dissemination will create awareness and spread knowledge, which will help the decision makers to appreciate the potential role of telemedicine and help them to facilitate the process of introduction and so spread telemedicine in both Jordan and Syria.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

An overview of the features of chatbots in mental health: A scoping review

Background: Chatbots are systems that are able to converse and interact with human users using spoken, written, and visual languages. Chatbots have the potential to be useful tools for individuals with mental disorders, especially those who are reluctant to seek mental health advice due to stigmatization. While numerous studies have been conducted about using chatbots for mental health, there is a need to systematically bring this evidence together in order to inform mental health providers and potential users about the main features of chatbots and their potential uses, and to inform future research about the main gaps of the previous literature. Objective: We aimed to provide an overview of the features of chatbots used by individuals for their mental health as reported in the empirical literature. Methods: Seven bibliographic databases (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and Google Scholar) were used in our search. In addition, backward and forward reference list checking of the included studies and relevant reviews was conducted. Study selection and data extraction were carried out by two reviewers independently. Extracted data were synthesised using a narrative approach. Chatbots were classified according to their purposes, platforms, response generation, dialogue initiative, input and output modalities, embodiment, and targeted disorders. Results: Of 1039 citations retrieved, 53 unique studies were included in this review. Those studies assessed 41 different chatbots. Common uses of chatbots were: therapy (n = 17), training (n = 12), and screening (n = 10). Chatbots in most studies were rule-based (n = 49) and implemented in stand-alone software (n = 37). In 46 studies, chatbots controlled and led the conversations. While the most frequently used input modality was writing language only (n = 26), the most frequently used output modality was a combination of written, spoken and visual languages (n = 28). In the majority of studies, chatbots included virtual representations (n = 44). The most common focus of chatbots was depression (n = 16) or autism (n = 10). Conclusion: Research regarding chatbots in mental health is nascent. There are numerous chatbots that are used for various mental disorders and purposes. Healthcare providers should compare chatbots found in this review to help guide potential users to the most appropriate chatbot to support their mental health needs. More reviews are needed to summarise the evidence regarding the effectiveness and acceptability of chatbots in mental health

Unexpected ring‑opening of 2,3‑dihydropyridines

The reaction of 2,3-dihydropyridines with sulfonyl halides surprisingly yielded open chain dienes with sulfonylimine structure. The products were specific out of several possible isomers and, therefore, a separation of isomers was not necessary. All new compounds were characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy, HRMS, and NMR spectroscopy. A bicyclic by-product from the reaction of a 2,3-dihydropyridine with mesyl chloride was isolated and its structure elucidated using a single X-ray crystal analysis. Some biological activities, like antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties were investigated

Effectiveness and safety of using chatbots to improve mental health : systematic review and meta-analysis

The global shortage of mental health workers has prompted the utilization of technological advancements, such as chatbots, to meet the needs of people with mental health conditions. Chatbots are systems that are able to converse and interact with human users using spoken, written, and visual language. While numerous studies have assessed the effectiveness and safety of using chatbots in mental health, no reviews have pooled the results of those studies. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of using chatbots to improve mental health through summarizing and pooling the results of previous studies. A systematic review was carried out to achieve this objective. The search sources were 7 bibliographic databases (eg, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO), the search engine "Google Scholar," and backward and forward reference list checking of the included studies and relevant reviews. Two reviewers independently selected the studies, extracted data from the included studies, and assessed the risk of bias. Data extracted from studies were synthesized using narrative and statistical methods, as appropriate. Of 1048 citations retrieved, we identified 12 studies examining the effect of using chatbots on 8 outcomes. Weak evidence demonstrated that chatbots were effective in improving depression, distress, stress, and acrophobia. In contrast, according to similar evidence, there was no statistically significant effect of using chatbots on subjective psychological wellbeing. Results were conflicting regarding the effect of chatbots on the severity of anxiety and positive and negative affect. Only two studies assessed the safety of chatbots and concluded that they are safe in mental health, as no adverse events or harms were reported. Chatbots have the potential to improve mental health. However, the evidence in this review was not sufficient to definitely conclude this due to lack of evidence that their effect is clinically important, a lack of studies assessing each outcome, high risk of bias in those studies, and conflicting results for some outcomes. Further studies are required to draw solid conclusions about the effectiveness and safety of chatbots. PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42019141219; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42019141219. [Abstract copyright: ©Alaa Ali Abd-Alrazaq, Asma Rababeh, Mohannad Alajlani, Bridgette M Bewick, Mowafa Househ. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 13.07.2020.

Eu3+ and Dy3+ doped La2MoO6 and La2Mo2O9 phosphors: Synthesis and luminescence properties

We report a detailed structural analysis and properties of the photoluminescence (PL) and thermoluminescence (TL) spectra of Eu3+ and Dy3+ incorporated into novel La2MoO6 and La2Mo2O9 phosphors synthesized successfully through gel combustion synthesis. The formation of a tetragonal phase and a cubic structure were verified for La2MoO6 and La2Mo2O9 phosphors via X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. Dy doped samples exhibited blue and green emissions at 480 nm (4F9/2 ›6H15/2) and 572 nm (4F9/2 › 6H13/2), and also Eu doped samples showed a sharp emission peaks at 612 and 619 nm (5D0 ›7F2) upon 349 nm pulse laser excitation. Peak shape (PS) technique was utilised to determine activation energy, frequency factor and order of kinetics associated with the main glow curves in undoped and Eu and Dy doped samples after X-ray irradiation. The present findings suggest that Eu and Dy incorporated La2MoO6 and La2Mo2O9 phosphors are highly auspicious candidates for applications in solid-state lighting. © 2019 Elsevier Lt

Novel Dy incorporated Ca3Y2B4O12 phosphor: Insights into the structure, broadband emission, photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence characteristics

This study reports cathodoluminescence (CL) and photoluminescence (PL) properties of undoped borate Ca3Y2B4O12 and Ca3Y2B4O12:x Dy3+ (x = 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7) synthesized by gel combustion method. Micro-X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), CL and PL under electron beam and 359 nm pulse laser excitation, respectively were used to investigate characterization and luminescence studies of synthesized samples in the visible wavelength. As-prepared samples match the standard Ca3Y2BO4 phase that belongs to the orthorhombic system with space group Pnma (62) based on XRD results. Under electron beam excitation, this borate host shows a broad band emission from about 250 to 450 nm, peaked at 370 nm which is attributed to NBHOC. All as-prepared phosphors exhibited the characteristic PL and CL emissions of Dy3+ ions corresponding to 4F9/2→6HJ transitions when excited with laser at 359 nm. The CL emission spectra of phosphors were identical to those of the PL spectra. Concentration quenching occurred when the doping concentration was 1 mol% in both the CL and PL spectra. The underlying reason for the concentration quenching phenomena observed in the discrete orange-yellow emission peaked at 574 nm of Dy3+ ion-doped Ca3Y2B4O12 phosphor is also discussed. According to these data, we can infer that this new borate can be used as a yellow emitting phosphor in solid-state illumination.This work was supported by İzmir Bakırçay University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit, under grant number GDM.2021.003 and the Spanish Project entitled Rock-Eaters, PID-2019-105469RB-C22.Peer reviewe

Thermoluminescence study and evaluation of trapping parameters of samarium doped barium silicate phosphor

We report the detailed analysis of thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves and the evaluation of kinetic parameters of Sm3+-incorporated BaSi(2)O(5.)The effect of various heating rates on TL kinetics and glow peak temperatures of Sm3+-doped BaSi2O5 phosphors exposed to beta particle irradiation at room temperature are investigated. The glow curve of the phosphor exposed to beta-irradiation consists of two main peaks with maxima at about 91 degrees C and 193 degrees C and exhibits good linearity between 1 and 10 Gy. The activation energies and frequency factors of trap centers involved in the TL emission were calculated from the TL glow curve of the sample by means of variable heating rate (VHR), repeated initial rise (RIR), and computerized glow-curve deconvolution (CGCD). Analysis of the main dosimetric peak techniques indicate that activation energies (E) and pre-exponential factor (s) vary between 0.93 and 1.72 eV, 10(10) and 10(13) s(-1). It is found that the temperature of the glow peaks shifts toward the higher temperatures and the TL intensity smoothly decreases as the heating rate increases. The behavior of the TL intensities and glow peak temperatures as a function of the heating rate are discussed with regards to thermal quenching.Jazan University [W41-032]This work was supported by the Jazan University [W41-032]

Eu3+ and Dy3+ doped La2MoO6 and La2Mo2O9 phosphors: Synthesis and luminescence properties

We report a detailed structural analysis and properties of the photoluminescence (PL) and thermoluminescence (TL) spectra of Eu3+ and Dy3+ incorporated into novel La2MoO6 and La2Mo2O9 phosphors synthesized successfully through gel combustion synthesis. The formation of a tetragonal phase and a cubic structure were verified for La2MoO6 and La2Mo2O9 phosphors via X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. Dy doped samples exhibited blue and green emissions at 480 nm (F-4(9/2) -> H-6(15/2)) and 572 nm (F-4(9/2) -> H-6(13/2)), and also Eu doped samples showed a sharp emission peaks at 612 and 619 nm (D-5(0) -> F-7(2)) upon 349 nm pulse laser excitation. Peak shape (PS) technique was utilised to determine activation energy, frequency factor and order of kinetics associated with the main glow curves in undoped and Eu and Dy doped samples after X-ray irradiation. The present findings suggest that Eu and Dy incorporated La2MoO6 and La2Mo2O9 phosphors are highly auspicious candidates for applications in solid-state lighting