Early pigment spot segmentation and classification from iris cellular image analysis with explainable deep learning and multiclass support vector machine.

Globally, retinal disorders impact thousands of individuals. Early diagnosis and treatment of these anomalies might halt their development and prevent many people from developing preventable blindness. Iris spot segmentation is critical due to acquiring iris cellular images that suffer from the off-angle iris, noise, and specular reflection.

A mixed method analysis of the Botswana schistosomiasis control policy and plans using the policy triangle framework.

Background: The present goal of the World Health Organization (WHO) 2021-2030 roadmap for Neglected Tropical Diseases is to eliminate schistosomiasis as a public health problem, and reduce its prevalence of heavy infections to less than 1%. Given the evolution and impact of schistosomiasis in the Ngamiland district of Botswana, the aim of this study was to analyze the control policies for the district using the Policy Triangle Framework.

Methods: The study used a mixed method approaches of an analysis of policy documents and interviews with 12 informants who were purposively selected.

Exploring Digital Twin-Based Fault Monitoring: Challenges and Opportunities.

High efficiency and safety are critical factors in ensuring the optimal performance and reliability of systems and equipment across various industries. Fault monitoring (FM) techniques play a pivotal role in this regard by continuously monitoring system performance and identifying the presence of faults or abnormalities. However, traditional FM methods face limitations in fully capturing the complex interactions within a system and providing real-time monitoring capabilities.

A Survey of Image-Based Fault Monitoring in Additive Manufacturing: Recent Developments and Future Directions.

Additive manufacturing (AM) has emerged as a transformative technology for various industries, enabling the production of complex and customized parts. However, ensuring the quality and reliability of AM parts remains a critical challenge. Thus, image-based fault monitoring has gained significant attention as an efficient approach for detecting and classifying faults in AM processes.

Efficient Feature-Selection-Based Stacking Model for Stress Detection Based on Chest Electrodermal Activity.

Contemporary advancements in wearable equipment have generated interest in continuously observing stress utilizing various physiological indicators. Early stress detection can improve healthcare by lessening the negative effects of chronic stress. Machine learning (ML) methodologies have been modified for healthcare equipment to monitor user health situations utilizing sufficient user information.

Adaptation of health systems to climate change-related infectious disease outbreaks in the ASEAN: Protocol for a scoping review of national and regional policies.

Background: The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states (AMS) are among the countries most at risk to the impacts of climate change on health and outbreaks being a major hotspot of emerging infectious diseases.

Objective: To map the current policies and programs on the climate change adaptation in the ASEAN health systems, with particular focus on policies related to infectious diseases control.

Methods: This is a scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology.

Wrist-Based Electrodermal Activity Monitoring for Stress Detection Using Federated Learning.

With the most recent developments in wearable technology, the possibility of continually monitoring stress using various physiological factors has attracted much attention. By reducing the detrimental effects of chronic stress, early diagnosis of stress can enhance healthcare. Machine Learning (ML) models are trained for healthcare systems to track health status using adequate user data.

Social connectedness and health-related quality of life among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy: A mixed method approach using structural equation modelling and photo-elicitation.

Objective: To develop and test the model of association of social connectedness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and to describe their social connectedness through photo-elicitation.

Background: Social connectedness has been empirically associated with several well-being outcomes. However, little is known on the association of social connectedness among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

Implementation of unassisted and community-based HIV Self-Testing (HIVST) during the COVID-19 pandemic among Men-who-have-sex-with-Men (MSM) and Transgender Women (TGW): A demonstration study in Metro Manila, Philippines.

Objective: The study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of an unassisted and community-based HIV self-testing (HIVST) distribution model and to evaluate its acceptability among men-having-sex-with-men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW).

Methods: Our demonstration study focused on implementing the HIVST distribution model in Metro Manila, Philippines. Convenience sampling was done with the following inclusion criteria: MSM or TGW, at least 18 years old, and had no previous HIV diagnosis.

An evaluation of the impact of anti-rabies programs in Nigeria.

Unlabelled: Rabies remains a significant public health problem in Africa with outbreaks reported in most countries. In Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, rabies causes a significant public health burden partly due to uncoordinated efforts and the ineffectiveness of available anti-rabies programs. We aim to address the current efforts, and challenges associated with the available anti-rabies programs in Nigeria and provide recommendations to tackle these challenges.

Achieving herd immunity in South America.

South America, once an epicenter of COVID-19, has stayed on the road of continued management of the pandemic. The region initially struggled to cope with the pandemic as it experienced spiraling numbers of infections and overwhelmed public health systems. South America has risen in its pandemic response to be the region with the highest global vaccination rate.

Tobacco harm reduction in Afghanistan: a recipe for improving smokers' health.

Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) offers a promising approach to addressing the significant burden of smoking in Afghanistan. Over three million Afghans smoke daily, making it a leading cause of preventable deaths in the country. While the previous Afghan government implemented various tobacco cessation policies and strategies, these measures were only partially effective in reducing the number of smokers or smoking-related deaths.

The challenges of addressing the cholera outbreak in Cameroon.

Cholera is an enteric disease caused by the ingestion of food or water contaminated by the toxins of the bacteria - Its transmission is exacerbated by poor sanitary conditions and poor hygiene practices. Affected individuals may present with severe symptoms such as watery diarrhoea and vomiting that can lead to death within few hours. Cameroon is experiencing its worst cholera outbreak in decades.

Factors associated with anxiety in males and females in the Lebanese population during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Image, graphical abstract.

Exploring Machine Learning-Based Fault Monitoring for Polymer-Based Additive Manufacturing: Challenges and Opportunities.

Three-dimensional printing, often known as additive manufacturing (AM), is a groundbreaking technique that enables rapid prototyping. Monitoring AM delivers benefits, as monitoring print quality can prevent waste and excess material costs. Machine learning is often applied to automating fault detection processes, especially in AM.

Strengthening rural surgery in the Philippines: Essential in achieving universal health care.

The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery (LCoGS) launched Global Surgery 2030 to address the surgical services inequities with a bias toward low-income and middle-income countries like the Philippines. The same inequity is observed particularly when it comes to the urban-rural divide. With more than half of the population living in rural areas, access to surgery becomes a major challenge that further impedes the much-needed health of an economically productive workforce.

Conflict, community, and COVID-19: response and implications in Ethiopia.

Community transmission of COVID-19 is currently on the rise in Ethiopia, while availability of diagnostic and treatment services remains limited. Impaired access to essential services is affected by the pandemic's strain on the health system, and as a consequence of the country's public health response. The ongoing conflict in the Tigray Region provides another obstacle to accessing and providing care for the local population; and has displaced large numbers of people both within and outside the country.

Situation of physical activity in the prevention of non-communicable diseases in Bhutan: challenges and the way forward.

Bhutan is a lower-income-middle-income country in the Himalayas, between India and China. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death and premature mortality in Bhutan, accounting for 69% and 71% of all deaths in 2014 and 2019, respectively. Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) identified physical activity as a key strategy to reduce the burden of NCDs, with rapid urbanisation, motorised transportation, and rural-urban migration, people are adapting to sedentary lifestyles, inflating the incidence of NCDs in the country.

Assessment of awareness and knowledge of schistosomiasis among school-aged children (6-13 years) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a global health problem affecting 250 million people, with 90% in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Botswana, the burden is high in the Okavango delta because of the water channels. WHO recommends integrated measures, including access to clean water, sanitation, health education, and drugs to control and eliminate schistosomiasis.

Non-uptake of HIV testing among trans men and trans women: cross-sectional study of client records from 2017 to 2019 in a community-based transgender health center in Metro Manila, Philippines.

Background: Transgender individuals are considered at high risk of contracting HIV infection. Integrating HIV testing and counseling (HTC) services into current transgender health programs is necessary to increase its uptake. Our study aimed to describe the characteristics of trans men (TM) and trans women (TW) who accessed HTC services in a community-based transgender health center in Metro Manila, Philippines, and to examine the relationship between gender identity and their non-uptake of HIV testing.

Prospects for financial technology for health in Africa.

Over the years, technology has revolutionized the operations of many industries, ranging from manufacturing and agriculture to financial institutions which are usually the first users of innovations. Owing to the recent technological trends in the financial sector, such as mobile money, artificial intelligence, and medical robotics, as well as the rapidly increasing human population and the emergence of new patterns of disease, it is necessary for the healthcare sector to adopt new strategies to deliver efficient and effective healthcare services. Financial technology (FinTech), a combination of financial services and technology, entails the incorporation of modern, innovative technologies by industries into their financial services.