Can disordered mobile phone use be considered a behavioral addiction? An update on current evidence and a comprehensive model for future research

Despite the many positive outcomes, excessive mobile phone use is now often associated with potentially harmful and/or disturbing behaviors (e.g., symptoms of deregulated use, negative impact on various aspects of daily life such as relationship problems, and work intrusion). Problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) has generally been considered as a behavioral addiction that shares many features with more established drug addictions. In light of the most recent data, the current paper reviews the validity of the behavioral addiction model when applied to PMPU. On the whole, it is argued that the evidence supporting PMPU as an addictive behavior is scarce. In particular, it lacks studies that definitively show behavioral and neurobiological similarities between mobile phone addiction and other types of legitimate addictive behaviors. Given this context, an integrative pathway model is proposed that aims to provide a theoretical framework to guide future research in the field of PMPU. This model highlights that PMPU is a heterogeneous and multi-faceted condition

Decoupling sensor morphology and material: atomic layer deposition onto nanocolumn scaffolds

We have demonstrated direct surface modification of nanocolumn relative humidity sensors with conformal coatings deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD). TiO2 and Si nanocolumn films were fabricated using glancing-angle deposition (GLAD). Both film types were subsequently coated with 480.3\u20134 nm thick ALD TiO2. The impact of the addition of subnanometer TiO2 layers on water contact angle, sensor responsivity, and the utility of an ultraviolet regeneration procedure has been tested. We have found that TiO2 coatings as thin as 0.5 nm provide much of the humidity sensing and regeneration functionality of a photocatalytic TiO2 film. In principle, any GLAD film architecture may be used as a scaffold for an active sensing layer, decoupling surface functionality and nanoscale morphology. Such capability offers an additional degree of freedom for designers of nanostructured gas sensors.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye