User Benefits Research Articles

Validation of High School Experiments Using a Round Robin Test: Determination of the Explosiveness of Dusts

Experiments serve different purposes in chemistry education ranging from illustrating a certain subject matter to providing data for school-based research projects. When students use these experiments to collect data and draw conclusions, it is important that these experiments are valid. In this study, a new experiment for the determination of the explosiveness of dusts using a Low-cost-Hartmann apparatus (LC-HA) was developed for high school students. Which similarities and differences can be found between the data of developers and prospective users of the experiment? What is the added value of designing and applying a round robin test to a high school experiment? A round robin test including developers (n = 5) and prospective users (n = 54) is carried out. Data are collected from experiments with two different flour dust concentrations. Accuracy, precision, and variance are calculated for each group and compared between groups. There are similarities and differences between the data of both groups. For the lower concentration of flour dust, there are significant differences between the results of the two groups. For the higher concentration, there are no significant differences. Thus, carrying out a round robin test including both developers and prospective users benefits both groups. The developers gain insights into the application of their method. The prospective users receive information about their performance and the validity of their data. In the future, participation in round robin procedures should also be used as an opportunity to promote students’ knowledge about and skills for validation.

On the Uplink SINR Meta Distribution of UAV-Assisted Wireless Networks

This letter studies the signal-to-interference-plus-noise (SINR) meta distribution of uplink transmission of UAV-enabled wireless networks with inversion power control. Within a framework of stochastic geometry, the Matern cluster process (MCP) is used to model the locations of users and UAVs. Conditional success probability and moments are derived to compute the exact expression and moment matching approximation of SINR meta distribution (beta approximation). Specifically, the effect of the power control compensation factor and UAV altitude are studied. Our numerical results show that UAV altitude has a higher impact on the system reliability than transmit power at low values of SINR threshold since users benefit more from establishing line-of-sight (LoS) links with UAVs.

Integrated Real-Time Interchange Control System for Freeway Ramps and the Connecting Arterial

Contending with various recurrent congestion patterns on major freeway corridors has long been a prioritized task of the transportation community. Most of these patterns take place on a freeway interchange’s on-ramp and off-ramp segments where both exiting and merging flows often trigger a series of lane changes, resulting in significant freeway speed reduction and propagation of traffic queues to neighboring surface streets. To concurrently mitigate freeway traffic congestion and minimize any negative impacts on the nearby local arterials, this study has developed an Integrated Real-time Interchange Control (IRIC) system, which maximizes the benefits of both freeway and arterial users by fusing an integrated off-ramp signal control (IOSC) module, an off-ramp queue impact (OQI) model, a lane group-based (LGB) traffic model, and a ramp metering control strategy as well as arterial signal optimization modules. The proposed system with both ramp metering functions and local arterial signal design capabilities can determine whether to implement system-wide optimization or merely the ramp metering based on real-time detected traffic conditions. The evaluation results from experiments have confirmed the effectiveness of the developed real-time interchange control system, especially with respect to its ability of preventing ramp queue overflows to the neighboring arterials and minimizing the off-ramp spillback onto the freeway mainline.

HPLC, MS, and CDS: The New Products to Watch—from Pittcon and Beyond

This article describes newly introduced high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry (MS), chromatography data systems (CDS), and related products in 2022–2023. It summarizes their unique features and significant user benefits, including relevant technical specifications.

Implementation of Massive MIMO in 5G Networks: Strategy and Technical Studies in Indonesia

This study aims to examine the implementation of Massive MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) in the 5G network and its implementation strategy in Indonesia. The methodology used includes literature study, field data analysis, and simulation. This study found that Massive MIMO can increase the capacity, speed, and spectrum efficiency of 5G networks. Implementation of this technology in Indonesia requires a strategy that includes optimizing infrastructure, regulation, and cooperation between stakeholders. The research results show that the implementation of Massive MIMO in the 5G network in Indonesia will provide significant benefits for users and the telecommunication industry. The conclusion drawn is that Massive MIMO is a key technology in developing 5G networks in Indonesia and needs full support from the government, operators, and related industries.

Optimal Configuration of User-Side Energy Storage for Multi-Transformer Integrated Industrial Park Microgrid

Under a two-part tariff, the user-side installation of photovoltaic and energy storage systems can simultaneously lower the electricity charge and demand charge. How to plan the energy storage capacity and location against the backdrop of a fully installed photovoltaic system is a critical element in determining the economic benefits of users. In view of this, we propose an optimal configuration of user-side energy storage for a multi-transformer-integrated industrial park microgrid. First, the objective function of user-side energy storage planning is built with the income and cost of energy storage in the whole life cycle as the core elements. This is conducted by taking into consideration the time-of-use electricity price, demand price, on-grid electricity price, and energy storage operation and maintenance costs. Then, considering the load characteristics and bidirectional energy interaction of different nodes, a user-side decentralized energy storage configuration model is developed for a multi-transformer-integrated industrial park microgrid. Finally, combined with the engineering practice constraints, the configuration model is solved by mixed integer linear programming. The simulation test demonstrates how the proposed model can successfully increase the economic benefits of an industrial park. Electricity and demand costs are reduced by 11.90% and 19.35%, respectively, and the photovoltaic accommodation level is increased by 4.2%, compared to those without the installation of energy storage system.

Stunting Risk Prediction Application in Pendeglang Regency, Banten Province, Indonesia

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) states that Indonesia is among the third countries with the highest prevalence of stunting toddlers in the Southeast Asian region. There is short-term stunting causing growth failure, motor and cognitive barriers, metabolic disorders, and non-optimal physical size of the body. In the long term, stunting affects brain development, thereby reducing intellectual capacity, impaired structure and function of nerves and brain cells that are permanent. Purpose: To determine stunting risk prediction model Methods: Used in stages 1 and 2 is a mixed method to determine the determinants associated with stunting events and is used as a basis for building a stunting risk prediction model, with a sample of 170 mothers who have children aged 24-59 months. In stages 3 and 4 there isala h stage of building the system and conducting trials to test the effectiveness of the application carried out on mothers who have children aged 6-24 months and analyzed using the Spearmank Rank test. Result: This study shows that 60% of mothers who have children aged 6-24 months state that stunting risk prediction applications are effective. The average value of all variables is in the excellent category, namely system quality (23.53), information quality (21.97), service quality (22.30). User satisfaction (13.50) and net profit (13.33). The Spearman Rank test showed that there was a correlation between system quality (0.808), information quality (0.866), service quality (0.929), user satisfaction (0.890) and net profit (0.850) with application effectiveness. The strength of correlation across all variables is very strong with a positive direction. Conclusion: The application has proven to be effective for stunting risk prediction. If it is good for the quality of the system, information, application services, the more effective the application is to use because it provides satisfaction and benefits for users.

The overlooked transport project planning process — What happens before selecting the Locally Preferred Alternative?

This study investigates the transport investment decision process of judging the robustness and viability of the selected option compared with the rejected alternatives.This paper adopted the Ridership to Cost Ratio (RCR), that is analogous to the Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) and contrasts the unit cost at which the proposed transit alternative can serve one additional transit patron, as the primary measure of assessing the relative advantage of alternatives.We found that on average the ‘do-minimum’ option generates a Ridership to Cost Ratio (RCR) nine times higher than the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA), and the average RCR produced by the second-best alternative is 86% higher than that of the LPA, indicating substantial opportunity costs of rejecting more economical course of action which could have likely managed prospective demand at much lower costs and delivered more services for more people at the same budgetary outlay. Second, we observed that the primary factor differentiating build alternatives is route alignment. However, ridership estimates for alternatives with different routes show narrow differences, raising concerns about whether the existing user benefit assessment framework can fully exploit potential values credited to each alternative option. Third, the number of alternatives considered in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement has gradually declined across the past three decades, informing that the identified transport problems are prone to be approached from confined terms of reference. Last, most projects only compared the preferred light rail mode against the traditional bus mode in the Transportation Systems Management (TSM) base option, attesting to concerns about selection bias and discrimination in early-stage appraisal and decision-making.

Let's go to the Alien Zoo: Introducing an experimental framework to study usability of counterfactual explanations for machine learning

IntroductionTo foster usefulness and accountability of machine learning (ML), it is essential to explain a model's decisions in addition to evaluating its performance. Accordingly, the field of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) has resurfaced as a topic of active research, offering approaches to address the “how” and “why” of automated decision-making. Within this domain, counterfactual explanations (CFEs) have gained considerable traction as a psychologically grounded approach to generate post-hoc explanations. To do so, CFEs highlight what changes to a model's input would have changed its prediction in a particular way. However, despite the introduction of numerous CFE approaches, their usability has yet to be thoroughly validated at the human level.MethodsTo advance the field of XAI, we introduce the Alien Zoo, an engaging, web-based and game-inspired experimental framework. The Alien Zoo provides the means to evaluate usability of CFEs for gaining new knowledge from an automated system, targeting novice users in a domain-general context. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate the practical efficacy and feasibility of this approach in a user study.ResultsOur results suggest the efficacy of the Alien Zoo framework for empirically investigating aspects of counterfactual explanations in a game-type scenario and a low-knowledge domain. The proof of concept study reveals that users benefit from receiving CFEs compared to no explanation, both in terms of objective performance in the proposed iterative learning task, and subjective usability.DiscussionWith this work, we aim to equip research groups and practitioners with the means to easily run controlled and well-powered user studies to complement their otherwise often more technology-oriented work. Thus, in the interest of reproducible research, we provide the entire code, together with the underlying models and user data: https://github.com/ukuhl/IntroAlienZoo.

DeLone and McLean Model Testing upon The Information System Implementation of New Student Enrolment at Junior High school Level in Pekalongan City

The information technology based Information System in education has been used in responding the change and as a tool in maintaining efficiency and effectiveness, especially for the online system of new student admission (<em>PPDB</em>). The Pekalongan City Education, since 2014, has developed an online junior high school New Student Admission application. This system was built to handle the process of admitting new students, from registration, selection to announcement of selection result. Even though it has been implemented for 6 years, the measurement of the success of implementing PPDB online has not been carried out. The purpose of researching is to determine the success of implementing the PPDB online information system for junior high school level. The modified DeLone and McLean model was used to measure the success of online <em>PPDB. </em>Research respondents were all admin and operators of the online PPDB system as many as 92 respondents. The data analysis method for processing variables used linear regression statistical analysis. The test results show that system quality, information quality, service quality, and user satisfaction have a significant and significant effect on net benefits, so that users benefit from the online PPDB information system.

Analysis and Design of Web-based Information System for Coffeeshop Management using Design Thinking Methodology: Case of Kopi KurangLebih

The traditional approach to Coffeeshop business requires business owners to manually record orders and purchase transactions, which poses serious challenges to service management in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. To optimize Kopi KurangLebih Coffeeshop needs and increase its appeal to consumers, a relevant management information system is required. Solving business problems requires web-based information systems that facilitate the ordering and purchasing process. In this study, we use design thinking methodology to design a system that meets user needs. Kopi KurangLebih users are buyers, stakeholders, customers, baristas and cashiers. The Kopi KurangLebih website has several advantages, including viewing menus and ratings, food and drink selections, promotions of the day, points redeemable for various user benefits, and other facilities within the cafe. Therefore, Kopi KurangLebih can make information readily available to purchasers and potential purchasers to increase its attractiveness and marketability. The results of this study show that the Coffeeshop management system design supports Coffeeshop management processes more efficiently and effectively compared to traditional business processes. Nonetheless, the role of each actor in performing their respective tasks optimally becomes a determinant of business losses and gains.

Estimated potential death and disability averted with vehicle safety interventions, Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

To evaluate road safety in member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and estimate the benefits that vehicle safety interventions would have in this group of countries. We used a counterfactual analysis to assess the reduction in traffic deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost if eight proven vehicle safety technologies and motorcycle helmets were entirely in use in countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. We modelled each technology using country-level incidence estimations of traffic injuries, and the prevalence and effectiveness of the technology to calculate the reduction in deaths and DALYs if the technology was fitted in the entire vehicle fleet. The availability of electronic stability control, including the antilock braking systems, would provide the most benefits for all road users with estimates of 23.2% (sensitivity analysis range: 9.7-27.8) fewer deaths and 21.1% (9.5-28.1) fewer DALYs. Increased use of seatbelts was estimated to prevent 11.3% (8.11-4.9) of deaths and 10.3% (8.2-14.4) of DALYs. Appropriate and correct use of motorcycle helmets could result in 8.0% (3.3-12.9) fewer deaths and 8.9% (4.2-12.5) fewer DALYs. Our findings show the potential of improved vehicle safety design and personal protective devices (seatbelts and helmets) to reduce traffic deaths and disabilities in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. These improvements can be achieved by vehicle design regulations and creating consumer demand for safer vehicles and motorcycle helmets through mechanisms such as new car assessment programmes and other initiatives.

MEASURING USER SATISFACTION AND NET BENEFIT OF SAKTI SYSTEM: LESSONS FROM STAKEHOLDERS OF REGIONAL TREASURY OFFICE IN RIAU PROVINCE

"User satisfaction" is always an important measure of a stakeholder's opinion of e-government and must cover the entire stakeholder experience. "Net benefits" are the most important success factor of implementation system information and can measure the balance of positive and negative impacts of the e-government like the SAKTI system. This study aims to analyze the influence of service quality, information quality, system quality, organizational support, and regulatory environment on user satisfaction and net benefits of SAKTI users. This quantitative study uses primary data in questionnaires distributed to respondents through google forms and interviews. The questionnaire used simple random sampling. The sample size in this study was 482. The data were analyzed by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using Partial Least Square (PLS), namely SmartPLS version 3.2.9. The hypothesis test results show that system quality significantly and strongly impacts user satisfaction. Information quality has a large and strong impact on user satisfaction. Service quality has a large and strong impact on user satisfaction. Organizational support has a small and weak impact on user satisfaction. The regulatory environment has a large and strong impetus for user satisfaction. User satisfaction, influenced by service quality, information quality, system quality, organizational support, and the regulatory environment, strongly impacts the net On Stakeholders of the Regional Treasury Office in Riau Province. The research model can use to conduct surveys of user satisfaction on SAKTI or other e-government and evaluate the results.

InterConnect: A European project that is changing the way energy is consumed.

Project InterConnect is a major European project focusing on energy consumption. With 25 sites in Europe and more than 3,500 users, the InterConnect project has a dual economic and educational benefit for users, which should lead to responsible and sustainable behaviour. Fully meeting the needs of the moment and the choices of the future in terms of energy consumption and management is in line with the ambitious objectives of the European Union set out in the Paris Agreement of December 2015. The originality of this project lies mainly in the choice not to create innovation for its own sake but rather to create innovations that make the existing equipment (heaters, hot water tanks, etc.) more modern and more economical. In a context of economic and social crisis, this approach is bound to be met with a favorable response from low-income households or consumers who are also the most frequent users of energy-consuming equipment. This article is an opportunity, at the beginning of the analysis phase of the data collected during the InterConnect project, to highlight the pedagogical virtues and the capacity of such a project to influence behaviour.

Nash Equilibrium and Stackelberg Approach for Traffic Flow Optimization in Road Transportation Networks—A Case Study of Warsaw

The article discusses the issue of modelling traffic flows and the transport network. Faced with an increase in the number of vehicles in road networks, the problem of congestion and the need to optimise traffic and adapt the transport infrastructure to changing demand are growing, especially in large cities. With this in mind, the authors of this publication developed a model of the road network in the north-eastern part of the Warsaw agglomeration based on the proposed algorithm. Two methods were used to optimise the distribution of traffic flows: the Nash equilibrium and the Stackelberg approach. The Nash equilibrium assumes the aim of achieving equal average times on all roads for each origin–destination (O-D) pair. This describes the state pursued by a decentralised system guided by the individual benefits of the traffic users. On the contrary, the Stackelberg approach aims to achieve optimal travel times for the entire system. The study was carried out for three scenarios that differed in the assumed traffic demand on the road network. The basic scenario assumed the average hourly traffic demand during the morning peak hour based on traffic measurements. On the other hand, the two alternative scenarios were developed as a 10% variation in traffic volumes from the baseline scenario. On the basis of the results, it was concluded that an increase in traffic volumes for all O-D pairs could result in a decrease in traffic volumes on some links of the road network. This means that the transport network is a complex system and any change in parameters can cause significant and difficult to predict changes. Therefore, the proposed approach is useful in terms of traffic forecasting for road networks under conditions of changing traffic flow volumes. Additionally, the total travel time for the entire system differed for each scenario by a percentage difference of 0.67–1.07% between the optimal solution according to the Nash equilibrium and the Stackelberg approach.

Finding the right fit: what contributes to the successful use of speech generating devices?

ABSTRACT Many conditions can lead to a result in communication difficulties in both children and adults. One intervention utilized by rehabilitation professionals to overcome the problem is the use of speech-generating devices. Although the majority of users benefit from these tools, it is reported that roughly one third eventually abandon them. Existing literature suggests a variety of factors that lead to abandonment, yet the phenomenon continues. This study seeks to understand what constitutes successful device use through a qualitative study that examines the experiences of self-reported speech generating device users to identify commonalities to offer practitioners guidance in prescribing these devices. The data from this study resulted in three preliminary themes: 1) match between user and device attributes, 2) presence of communication partner support, 3) value of occupational roles and routines and their motivational benefit for device use.

Analysis of Consumer Attitudes as an Important Tool for the Segmentation and Development of the Game Market in the Czech Republic

The demand for the multipurpose use of forestry accentuates the development of non-timber forest products and services and the search for other sources of financial benefits for forest owners and users. One of the essential market items of non-timber forest production is game production, a very high-quality local food source. Currently, in the Czech Republic, as well as in neighbouring countries, the amount of game being offered is increasing, while the purchase prices of game have stagnated at very low levels for a long time, despite the fact that consumer prices of meat have generally increased. A prerequisite for the development of the market for game products and the effective use of marketing tools is the analysis of important factors influencing the consumer demand for game. Therefore, the possible limiting factors on the customer side, the removal of which can change the demand for game meat and increase the consumption of game production, were investigated. Igor Ansoff’s approach is used to analyse growth opportunities in the game market from the point of view of marketing strategies. The preconditions for using Porter’s STP process to design a pull strategy on the consumer market are verified. Based on the Parfitt–Collins model, the research mainly focuses on a sample of active consumers who are a subgroup of a representative panel of 1000 respondents. The demographic characteristics and buying behaviour of the subgroup of 523 active consumers who regularly consume game meat were analysed. Significant factors and potential segmentation criteria were identified. On the basis of these research results, the article discusses, in detail, the marketing aspects related to the development of the game market, and marketing procedures are also proposed that can significantly support consumer demand in the game market using a mix of marketing tools. The increased demand for game meat will help to reduce the overpopulation of cloven-hoofed game in the forests of the Czech Republic, which will positively impact the reduction of animal damage to the forest environment, especially in areas newly forested after the bark beetle calamity.

A Participatory Inventory Project to Kick-Start the Creation of a Hospital Park: The Experience of the University of Verona (North-Eastern Italy)

The proximity and accessibility of a green space to places of care have recognized beneficial effects on healing processes. In this communication, we present the results of a pilot research action which has been focused on a neglected urban green area located near to a university hospital. The research action was conducted with a participatory approach, which mainly involved university students, to make the renovation project more inclusive and to create an opportunity for training on green and sustainability themes. The specific aims were: (i) to initiate the renovation of a green space of 18,000 square meters with potential benefits for users of both the hospital and the University of Verona (north-eastern Italy); (ii) to map and classify the greenery in the park; and (iii) to investigate the opinions and attitudes of the potential users of the green area. By performing digital identification and mapping, a detailed tree inventory of the green space was created. Results showed that five species accounted for more than 70% of the trees, with the majority being deciduous plants (59%) between 5 and 20 m tall (72.5%) and 20–200 cm in circumference (80.8%). Through interviews with the population, we highlighted a limited knowledge of the area but a consensus on the importance of the requalification. We highlight how the participatory methodology may represent a valuable tool for local policymakers to manage the city’s green spaces at various scales and implement greenery for the common well-being.

Forest Sharing® as an Innovative Facility for Sustainable Forest Management of Fragmented Forest Properties: First Results of Its Implementation

The forestry sector in Italy and throughout Europe is going through a critical period due to ongoing natural and anthropological processes, such as climate change and the abandonment of rural areas. These processes lead to a constant fragmentation of properties in small forest parcels, with direct impacts on management capacity. In this framework, new sustainable forest management methods are being tested and are shown to be good practices to oppose the decline of forest ecosystems. Their innovative aspects concern the introduction of a form of shared and circular economy, where management is built on the process, rather than on the product. Their technical activities are based on precision forestry systems and digitalization. The new approach takes into consideration the fact that the woods are an asset available to the whole community, in terms of benefits and protection. Forest Sharing® is an example of the application of shared forest management systems, due to which the owner user benefits from several services and opportunities, such as the advanced monitoring platform and the access to investment funds. After eighteen months of activity, the first results of the application of the new management systems can already be seen. Many aspects need further development, such as case studies concerning the enhancement due to forest certification and new recreational activities. Shared forest management systems have the potential to increase the level of knowledge and awareness of citizens about environmental and territorial issues.

Sustainable Benefits of High Variability Phonetic Training in Mandarin-speaking Kindergarteners With Cochlear Implants: Evidence From Categorical Perception of Lexical Tones.

Although pitch reception poses a great challenge for individuals with cochlear implants (CIs), formal auditory training (e.g., high variability phonetic training [HVPT]) has been shown to provide direct benefits in pitch-related perceptual performances such as lexical tone recognition for CI users. As lexical tones in spoken language are expressed with a multitude of distinct spectral, temporal, and intensity cues, it is important to determine the sources of training benefits for CI users. The purpose of the present study was to conduct a rigorous fine-scale evaluation with the categorical perception (CP) paradigm to control the acoustic parameters and test the efficacy and sustainability of HVPT for Mandarin-speaking pediatric CI recipients. The main hypothesis was that HVPT-induced perceptual learning would greatly enhance CI users' ability to extract the primary pitch contours from spoken words for lexical tone identification and discrimination. Furthermore, individual differences in immediate and long-term gains from training would likely be attributable to baseline performance and duration of CI use. Twenty-eight prelingually deaf Mandarin-speaking kindergarteners with CIs were tested. Half of them received five sessions of HVPT within a period of 3 weeks. The other half served as control who did not receive the formal training. Two classical CP tasks on a tonal continuum from Mandarin tone 1 (high-flat in pitch) to tone 2 (mid-rising in pitch) with fixed acoustic features of duration and intensity were administered before (pretest), immediately after (posttest), and 10 weeks posttraining termination (follow-up test). Participants were instructed to either label a speech stimulus along the continuum (i.e., identification task) or determine whether a pair of stimuli separated by zero or two steps from the continuum was the same or different (i.e., discrimination task). Identification function measures (i.e., boundary position and boundary width) and discrimination function scores (i.e., between-category score, within-category score, and peakedness score) were assessed for each child participant across the three test sessions. Linear mixed-effects (LME) models showed significant training-induced enhancement in lexical tone categorization with significantly narrower boundary width and better between-category discrimination in the immediate posttest over pretest for the trainees. Furthermore, training-induced gains were reliably retained in the follow-up test 10 weeks after training. By contrast, no significant changes were found in the control group across sessions. Regression analysis confirmed that baseline performance (i.e., boundary width in the pretest session) and duration of CI use were significant predictors for the magnitude of training-induced benefits. The stringent CP tests with synthesized stimuli that excluded acoustic cues other than the pitch contour and were never used in training showed strong evidence for the efficacy of HVPT in yielding immediate and sustained improvement in lexical tone categorization for Mandarin-speaking children with CIs. The training results and individual differences have remarkable implications for developing personalized computer-based short-term HVPT protocols that may have sustainable long-term benefits for aural rehabilitation in this clinical population.