Comfortable Experience Research Articles

Product Innovation using Rattan in the Production of Furniture Crafts

Producers must continuously adapt and innovate to develop products that address the evolving needs and preferences of their communities, with one crucial requirement being the creation of comfortable and aesthetically pleasing spaces for rest and relaxation. Furniture, as fundamental piece for comfort, play a central role in meeting this need, and their design must strike a balance between functionality and aesthetic appeal. Rattan, a sustainable and versatile material, offers a promising solution for Furniture construction due to its strength and environmental advantages. This study introduces an innovative rattan Furniture design that blends creativity and practicality, presenting a novel approach without compromising quality. The Furniture's structure, composed of rattan rods, is both lightweight and durable, while a marble finish enhances its visual appeal, imparting a dynamic and sophisticated look. The application of dowel construction facilitates easy assembly, obviating the need for complex tools or expertise. Ultimately, the design offers a comfortable and relaxing seating experience, contributing to sustainable and innovative solutions in the domain of leisure furniture design.

Halide perovskites, a game changer for future medical imaging technology.

The accurate detection of x-rays enables broad applications in various fields, including medical radiography, safety and security screening, and nondestructive inspection. Medical imaging procedures require the x-ray detection devices operating with low doses and high efficiency to reduce radiation health risks, as well as expect the flexible or wearable ones that offer more comfortable and accurate diagnosis experiences. Recently, halide perovskites have shown promising potential in high-performance, cost-effective x-ray detection owing to their attractive features, such as strong x-ray absorption, high-mobility-lifetime product, tunable bandgap, fast response, as well as low-cost raw materials, facile processing, and excellent flexibility. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the recent advances in halide perovskite x-ray detectors and imaging, focusing on their application potential in medical imaging technology. We highlight the recent demonstrations and optimizations of halide perovskite x-ray detectors and imaging and their application in medical radiography. Finally, we conclude by pointing out the challenges of perovskite x-ray detection devices for the clinical practical applications and by sharing our perspectives on the potential solutions for driving the field forward.

Adaptive Dynamic Activity Mapping: A Novel Approach To Real-time Heatmap with YOLOv8

The implementation of QR Code technology at Youth Cafe aims to increase ordering efficiency and provide a more comfortable experience for customers. Each table is equipped with a unique QR code that can be scanned to access the menu and place orders via the mobile web-based application. This application was designed using Native PHP with MySQL as the database, to ensure stability and optimal performance. The success of the system is measured by increasing order time efficiency by up to 50%, reducing manual errors by 90%, and the system's ability to handle up to 500 orders per day without interruption. Customer surveys show satisfaction levels increased by 35% after application implementation. These results show that the use of QR Code technology has succeeded in improving operations, efficiency and service quality at Youth Cafe, as well as making a significant contribution to innovation in the food and beverage industry.

Understanding residents’ experiences of home, health, and wellbeing in new and novel low carbon homes

As significant contributors to CO2, UK homes must be decarbonized. Active Homes represent a possible route to addressing both societal concerns and policy ambitions, while providing comfortable high quality living environments. However, changes to the material structure of homes have potential implications for people’s ability to live well within them. Our qualitative longitudinal (QL) research as part of the living well in low carbon homes project unpacks how changes brought about by living within an Active Home are experienced by residents, including to self-reported health and wellbeing. We explore how living in an Active Home may challenge expectations of home, including embodied experiences of comfort and intrinsic values of privacy and control. We suggest that it is important to recognize that these different but interwoven elements impact upon residents’ sense of home, and health and wellbeing, which has implications for future innovative low carbon homes.

Development of a Mobile Web-Based Food and Beverage Ordering Application in aYouth Cafe With QR Code Technology

The implementation of QR Code technology at Youth Cafe aims to increase ordering efficiency and provide a more comfortable experience for customers. Each table is equipped with a unique QR code that can be scanned to access the menu and place orders via the mobile web-based application. This application was designed using Native PHP with MySQL as the database, to ensure stability and optimal performance. The success of the system is measured by increasing order time efficiency by up to 50%, reducing manual errors by 90%, and the system's ability to handle up to 500 orders per day without interruption. Customer surveys show satisfaction levels increased by 35% after application implementation. These results show that the use of QR Code technology has succeeded in improving operations, efficiency and service quality at Youth Cafe, as well as making a significant contribution to innovation in the food and beverage industry.

Eye posture and screen alignment with simulated see-through head-mounted displays.

When rendering the visual scene for near-eye head-mounted displays, accurate knowledge of the geometry of the displays, scene objects, and eyes is required for the correct generation of the binocular images. Despite possible design and calibration efforts, these quantities are subject to positional and measurement errors, resulting in some misalignment of the images projected to each eye. Previous research investigated the effects in virtual reality (VR) setups that triggered such symptoms as eye strain and nausea. This work aimed at investigating the effects of binocular vertical misalignment (BVM) in see-through augmented reality (AR). In such devices, two conflicting environments coexist. One environment corresponds to the real world, which lies in the background and forms geometrically aligned images on the retinas. The other environment corresponds to the augmented content, which stands out as foreground and might be subject to misalignment. We simulated a see-through AR environment using a standard three-dimensional (3D) stereoscopic display to have full control and high accuracy of the real and augmented contents. Participants were involved in a visual search task that forced them to alternatively interact with the real and the augmented contents while being exposed to different amounts of BVM. The measured eye posture indicated that the compensation for vertical misalignment is equally shared by the sensory (binocular fusion) and the motor (vertical vergence) components of binocular vision. The sensitivity of each participant varied, both in terms of perceived discomfort and misalignment tolerance, suggesting that a per-user calibration might be useful for a comfortable visual experience.

Effects of Elizabethan Collar and Wound Protection Corset on Pain and Discomfort Levels in Cats Undergoing Ovariohysterectomy.

To compare the impacts of Elizabethan collar (EC) and wound protection corset (WPC) on pain and discomfort levels in cats following ovariohysterectomy. Prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial. Twenty-six healthy female cats. Animals were randomly assigned to two groups after midline celiotomy: One group wore an EC (n=13), and the other wore a WPC (n=13). Pain was evaluated using the Composite Measure Pain Scale-Feline (CMPS-F) and the Multidimensional Pain Scale (MCPS) at intervals of 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96h, with the requirement for rescue analgesia recorded. Discomfort was assessed through cortisol levels, behavioural observations and the frequency of misbehaviours. No significant differences were observed between groups at all time intervals for CMPS-F and MCPS (p<0.05). Rescue analgesic administration was similar between the groups, with 16 administrations in the WPC group and 17 in the EC group (p=0.88). Cortisol levels also showed no significant difference between groups (WPC: 0.05 [0.05-0.3] vs. EC: 0.05 [0.05-0.8]; p=0.09). Behavioural observations revealed significant differences in misbehaviours, with 10 out of 13 cats in the EC group attempting to remove their collars or exhibiting head shaking (p<0.01), whereas no misbehaviours were noted in the WPC group. Both EC and WPC provided comparable pain management; however, the significant misbehaviours associated with EC use suggest increased discomfort level. The WPC may offer a more comfortable recovery experience for cats following ovariohysterectomy, warranting further investigation.

3D-printed ultra-sensitive strain sensors using biogels prepared from fish gelatin and gellan gum.

The long-term sustainable development of flexible electronic devices is limited by a reliance on synthetic polymers that pose dangers for humans and potentially severe ecological problems, as well as a reliance on conventional processing methods. This work aims to exploit 3D printing to develop natural biogels composed of fish gelatin and high acyl gellan gum for use as flexible sensors. The electrical conductivity and mechanical strength were remarkably enhanced through the environmentally friendly enzyme (transglutaminase) cross-linking and non-toxic ethanol modification treatment, which allows the development of 3D printed sensors for temperature, strain, and stress sensors. The hydrogel exhibits excellent mechanical and electrical properties as strain sensors, with Young's modulus and tensile strength of 20.7±1.38kPa and 0.14±0.01MPa, respectively, and an ultimate strain of 270.54±16.23%, which is conducive to a comfortable wearing experience. Moreover, the obtained sensors exhibited ultra-low latency (6.1±1.47ms), good durability (withstanding 1000 cyclic stretching) and high monitor sensitivity (GF=2.37±0.14) to human body movements; furthermore, the biogel fabricated using this method exhibits complete biodegradation within approximately 20days, offering innovative prospects for the advancement of eco-friendly materials.

Older adults and prepared meals: The influence of comfort, nostalgia, and texture preferences on acceptance.

This study's objective was to develop desirable, safe, and nutritious dairy-rich breakfasts and desserts for older adults while identifying the influence of comfort, nostalgia, and texture preferences. Participants (n=81, mean age=71±7.3years) evaluated two breakfast meals (meat-containing, vegetarian) and two desserts (chocolate, vanilla puddings) for acceptance; they also answered inquiries concerning texture preferences and reported their feelings of comfort and nostalgia experienced during evaluation. Mean participant liking was 6.2 for the meat breakfast, 5.7 for the vegetarian breakfast, 5.8 for the chocolate pudding, and 4.3 for the vanilla dessert (along a 9-point scale). Meal liking was mediated by flavor intensity, sweetness intensity, and texture preference. Texture preference results indicated that older adults both like and are comfortable with orally handling textures typically deemed concerning for this population. Liking of the meals also increased if a higher experience of comfort was elicited during meal consumption (p<0.05); perceived comfort decreased if there was insufficient flavor. Increased nostalgia experienced during meal consumption also increased overall liking. This study provided guidance on acceptable textures for potential product development while highlighting the importance of understanding the perception of nostalgia and comfort for older adults' meal acceptance. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Focusing on older adults, this study showed that nostalgia, comfort, and texture variety are all important elements of an older adult's diet. This research is useful for product developers who can use these elements in designing and testing the acceptance and healthfulness of prepared meals by older adults.

Development of a Method to Enhance the Efficiency of Establishing VR Educational Laboratories

This study investigates the development of an efficient method for establishing virtual reality (VR) educational laboratories, focusing on enhancing teaching outcomes in technical fields exemplified through English classes. The integration of VR in technical education has been proven to improve learning efficiency, with studies showing a learning rate increase of 75-90% and a knowledge acquisition speed of up to four times faster. Despite these benefits, prolonged VR exposure can result in discomforts such as dizziness, eye strain, and cognitive fatigue. This study proposes a Fibonacci-based approach to structure VR learning sessions to address these challenges. By organizing session intervals according to the Fibonacci sequence and incorporating structured breaks, this method supports optimal cognitive processing, minimizes physical discomfort, and allows for smoother transitions between the virtual and real environments. A practical experiment involving 24 students was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of this approach. The results revealed statistically significant improvements in learning outcomes and adaptation compared to traditional continuous VR sessions, with a p-value of less than 0.05. These findings suggest that the Fibonacci-based method offers a promising solution to the challenges associated with extended VR exposure in educational settings, enabling more effective and comfortable learning experiences. This approach holds potential for broader application in various technical fields, where VR serves as a tool for enhancing educational outcomes.

Musical Comfort Evaluation of The Natural Acoustics and Architectural Design of Three Performance Spaces in Kocaeli-Izmit

This study was conducted to evaluate the auditory comfort level of Western art music performances performed in natural acoustic conditions in multi-purpose performance halls, which are widely preferred today, on the listener. In this context, first the reverberation time, one of the acoustic comfort parameters, is expressed and the Sabine formula, which is the empirical method used in the study, is explained. Subsequently, the table "absorptivity coefficients of various materials at different frequencies" is presented, as it will be used in the calculation of reverberation time, and the graph "recommended optimum reverberation time for volume-dependent speech and music" is presented to make comparisons at the end of the calculation. Then, information was given about the geometry of performance spaces and acoustic defects that may occur due to structural errors in closed volumes were explained. After explaining why this study was conducted in Izmit district of Kocaeli province, the selection criteria of the three selected performance halls were explained. After giving brief information about the historical background of each place, the reverberation time of the halls was calculated. As a result of the calculations, the acoustic comfort conditions of the halls in natural acoustics and when used for musical purposes are presented comparatively in the table, and it has been revealed that all three halls will not provide a suitable acoustic comfort experience to the audience. The improvement suggestions that can be made to ensure acoustic comfort during the Western classical music performance without the use of an electro-acoustic system are presented in tables for each hall.

"A good socket fit can make you or break you": A multimethod study to explore the perceptions and experiences of socket fitting among people with lower-limb loss in Australia.

Iterative design and modification are used to manufacture lower limb prosthetic sockets that meet users' needs while also fulfilling safety and mobility criteria. Greater understanding of the expectations of prosthesis users regarding prosthetic fit as well as their experiences at the time of socket fitting is needed. Describe lower limb prosthesis user perceptions and experiences of socket comfort and discomfort during their last fitting and compare this to their expectations for a perfectly fitting socket and their satisfaction with the socket they had fitted. Mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative). A questionnaire was designed and administered in consultation with Amputees NSW (an amputee advocacy group) and distributed through their membership database. Qualitative responses were analyzed to explore prosthesis user experiences of socket fitting, general wear, as well as socket comfort, discomfort, and satisfaction. Quantitative responses were analyzed using descriptive, nonparametric methods. Thirty participants with a range of lived experiences completed the questionnaire. Reported comfort and discomfort varied across participants and indicated that expectations and experiences of fit varied and changed over time, with some participants anticipating adjustment over time would be necessary. Qualitative analysis found experiences of prosthesis socket comfort/discomfort on the day of fitting and general experiences of socket comfort related to 2 key factors-the prosthesis itself and the individual prosthesis user. Understanding the experiences and expectations of prosthesis users for comfort and intended activities is central to ensure success of the socket fitting approach. Investigation into fit changes over time could provide insights into follow-up requirements, user education, and funding mechanisms.

A Rewiew on the Importance of Logo Design on Brand Identity in the Sports Industry: Examples of 10 Preferred Sports Brands Around the World

Due to changing technology and developing social standards, people have had the opportunity to produce more than they need and to make profit by selling what they produce. Increases in the income levels of societies that can produce and turn what they produce into a commercial gain have led to an increase in the welfare levels of societies and this has led to an increase in the free time of individuals. This multifaceted developmental structure has revealed the importance of the sports phenomenon, which has become the centre of attention of societies both at the recreational and professional level. In parallel with the relevant situations, societies now want to obtain comfort experience in terms of sportive products as in all areas of life, and all these factors have paved the way for the birth of the concept of sports marketing, which is a sub-discipline of marketing. In the phenomenon of sports marketing, which is based on the principle of positively influencing the consumer's tendency to prefer a product or service with a general definition and whose importance value is increasing day by day in today's industry, it has been observed that one of the elements that attract attention with its importance and necessity is the logo designs of brands producing sports products. In this study, the logos of 10 different sports product brands preferred worldwide, including Adidas, Asics, Hummel, Kappa, Lacoste, New Balance, Nike, Puma, U.S. POLO ASSN, Slazenger, were examined by comparing their similar and different aspects, and as a result, it can be said that logos aim to permanence in the human mind with associations that visually express a phenomenon, event or historical approach. In addition, it contributes to the literature as a source in the stage of determining the logos of sports brands to be established in the future. The aim of the study is to address the importance of logo design in creating brand identity in the sports sector and to be a guide for entrepreneurs who want to take their place in sports product marketing.

Human-in-the-Loop Modeling and Bilateral Skill Transfer Control of Soft Exoskeleton.

Soft exoskeletons (exosuits) are expected to provide a comfortable wearing experience and compliant assistance compared with traditional rigid exoskeleton robots. In this paper, an exosuit with twisted string actuators (TSAs) is developed to provide high-strength and variable-stiffness actuation for hemiplegic patients. By formulating the analytic model of the TSA and decoding the human impedance characteristic, the human-exosuit coupled dynamic model is constructed. An adaptive impedance controller is designed to transfer the skills of the patient's healthy limb (HL) to the bilateral impaired limb (IL) with a mirror training strategy, including the movement trajectory and stiffness profiles. A reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm is proposed to optimize the robotic assistance by adapting the impedance model parameters to the subject's performance. Experiments are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.

Students' Voices on Effective Teaching Methods for Grammar Learning in Peer Tutoring Program

This research investigated students’ perceptions of tutors’ teaching methods applied in one of grammar tutoring classes in an English Education study program at one of the universities in Yogyakarta. The students’ preferences on grammar teaching methods were also discovered. This research employed a quantitative approach. Fifty-seven students participated in this study and filled out the questionnaire. Their activities during tutoring program were observed. Then, the interview was used to gather further information. The result of the questionnaire revealed a mean score of four point twenty-nine. It showed that the participants of this study shared their positive perceptions of tutors’ teaching methods in grammar tutoring classes. They felt that the tutors were able to build a comfortable learning experience and motivate them to have a language exposure. Additionally, the students desired to learn grammar by using the audio-lingual method and communicative language teaching (CLT) method. This study implies the need for a well-prepared peer tutoring program to help students effectively. Additionally, the administrators can address individual learning differences and provide insights for improving grammar instructions.

Study on the Minimum Operation Width of Human-Powered Bicycles for Safe and Comfortable Cycling

Chinese cities are increasingly developing exclusive bicycle paths to improve the safety and efficiency of bicycle transit. The width of bikeways is a critical factor influencing cyclists’ safety and comfort, with insufficient width identified as a major contributor to bicycle accidents. Therefore, determining the minimum operational width for human-powered bicycles is essential for bikeway design. While some countries’ design manuals consider speed as a factor in determining width, there is a lack of field experiments to validate these specifications from the perspective of cyclists’ safety and comfort. This study addresses this gap by conducting a field experiment to measure cycling workload, which reflects safety and comfort under different widths and cycling speeds. The experiment involved 12 cyclists on a test road, where cycling workload was measured at various preset widths and cycling speeds for a single human-powered cyclist. The results were further validated using conventional lateral distance measurement techniques, which are used in the existing literature to determine the cycling width. The results show that wider bikeway widths lead to a lower cycling workload, enhancing comfort and safety. However, both very high (over 20 km/h) and very low (under 5 km/h) speeds significantly increase cyclists’ workload, which in turn requires a wider path to maintain a safe and comfortable cycling experience. The study found that a minimum width of 0.90 m may be adequate for cyclists traveling at speeds between 10 and 15 km/h, while a width of 1.0 m is sufficient for speeds ranging from 5 km/h to 25 km/h, provided the bicycle width does not exceed 0.62 m. Given that cyclists typically progress from slower to faster speeds, a minimum operational width of 1.0 m is recommended for most cases. This study highlights the importance of considering cyclists’ workload in determining appropriate bikeway widths. It provides valuable insights for designing safer, more comfortable bike paths and reducing bicycle accidents, contributing to the sustainable development of urban cycling infrastructure.

Multi-protection durable unidirectional water-transport fabric with personalized moisture and thermal management

Effective management of the microclimate interface of the human skin-fabric-external environment significantly contributes to enhancing the wearer’s comfort experience. In this paper, a fast sweat-absorbing anti-corrosion durable fabric was prepared based on fiber surface modification and textile structure design to improve the comfort and prolong the service life of fabrics. By the formation of self-assembled membranes (SAMS), silver-plated yarns with excellent oxidative resistance and hydrophobicity were obtained. A durable unidirectional water-transport fabric (DUWF) was received through a weft-double weave organization with hydrophobic silver-plated yarns as the inner weft and hydrophilic lyocell yarns as the outer weft. Spontaneous moisture conduction was achieved by the wettability gradient of two sets of weft threads and one set of warp threads in the thickness direction. DUWF had an electromagnetic shielding effect of over 65 dB, a unidirectional moisture transfer index of 863.33 %, an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 2000, a fast- cooling capacity of 3.3 °C, and good long-term stability and repeatability. The multifunctional smart fabrics proposed in this paper enhance the moisture and heat manageability of conventional garments and pave the way for further research on comfortable protective clothing.

A transparent multifunctional integrated meta-window with excellent sound insulation and vibration reduction performance

As the speed of transportation vehicles such as high-speed train continues to increase, there has been a significant rise in both noise and vibration levels, substantially compromising passenger comfort and overall travel experience. In transportation vehicles, the necessity for transparency in windows poses a challenge in incorporating high sound-insulating or vibration-damping materials, rendering windows vulnerable in sound isolation and vibration attenuation. This study employs an integrated material-structural design concept to develop a multifunctional meta-window, which ensures optimal lighting transmission while achieving outstanding sound-insulating and vibration-damping capabilities. Two distinct structures, named ultra-lightweight thin plate-type metamaterial and high-stability thick plate-type metamaterial, are precisely designed to adapt to varied application scenarios. Utilizing a gradient parameter multi-cell parallel synergetic coupling design method broadens the working bandwidth for sound insulation. The meta-window incorporates localized resonance units, enabling acoustic and vibrational energy dissipation through low-frequency resonance, effectively enhancing the window’s sound-insulating and vibration-damping capabilities. Comprising a composite of various transparent materials, the design amalgamates sound insulation, vibration reduction, and light transmission, eliminating the need for opaque sound-insulating or damping materials. Consequently, it holds substantial potential for applications across sectors, including train, aircraft, and architectural domains.

Effectiveness of virtual reality glasses with integrated sign language in reducing dental anxiety during pulpotomy in children with hearing impairment: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundChildren with hearing impairment (HI) face communication challenges during dental procedures due to hearing loss. Studies suggest that distraction techniques, like virtual reality (VR), can effectively divert their focus from stressful stimuli, resulting in a more comfortable dental experience. The present study aims to assess the effectiveness of distracting children with moderate to severe (HI) with virtual reality glasses that show cartoons in sign language during pulpotomy treatment compared to conventional management techniques.MethodsForty children aged five to seven participated in a randomized controlled parallel two-arm clinical trial—the type of behavioral management employed determined which two groups children were randomly placed into. Group I (Study group) used virtual reality glasses as a diversion, while Group II (Control group) used the conventional behavior management approach. Local anesthesia was administrated, and a pulpotomy procedure was performed on the selected tooth, followed by stainless steel crown restoration (SSC). There were three methods used to assess dental anxiety before and after the procedure: the physiological method, which used heart rate (HR); the objective measure, which used the Venham Clinical Anxiety Scale (VCAS); and the subjective measure, which used the modified Facial Affective Scale (FAS). An independent t-test was employed for HR analysis of the difference between the groups as a continuous variable. The Pearson Chi-square test assessed differences between groups for categorical variables, such as (VCAS) (FAS).ResultsNo significant differences were found in mean (HR) or (VCAS) between the two groups throughout the procedures: during local anesthesia (p = 0.659, 0.282), pulpotomy (p = 0.482, 0.451), and stainless steel crown preparation (p = 0.090, 0.284). Anxiety levels by (FAS) remained statistically comparable between the two groups before and after the procedures (p = 0.507, 0.749), respectively.ConclusionsThe use of VR glasses revealed no significant advantages in managing children with HI during the dental visit compared to the conventional method of child behavior management.Trial registrationThe trial was prospectively enrolled on 11/11/2023 under the identification number NCT06153823 on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Performance evaluation of students’ hostel of the college of Agriculture and Environmental Science Kaduna State University, Nigeria

Global higher education aims to develop students' intellectual capacities, foster personal growth, and mold behaviors, thoughts, and creativity for a fulfilling life. Within this framework, university residential spaces play a vital role in advancing these objectives. A well-designed hostel, tailored to students' needs and comfort, promotes shared interests and positive educational outcomes. Therefore, the importance of satisfactory residential facilities in improving students' performance should not be underestimated. This research examined the satisfaction levels of current residents of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Science hostel at Kaduna State University (KASU) regarding their accommodation. It also explored variations in satisfaction among groups with different socio-demographic characteristics. The study focused on two performance requirements for the evaluation of students’ satisfaction, namely, the technical performance requirement (thermal comfort, acoustical comfort, visual comfort, indoor air quality, and fire safety) and the functional performance requirement (interior and exterior finish systems, room layout, support services, efficiency of circulation, and proximity to other facilities on campus). A total of forty-eight (48) performance indicators from the two performance requirement were evaluated through a survey questionnaire. The findings indicated that students generally expressed dissatisfaction across all performance elements, except thermal comfort and indoor air quality, room layout and size, efficiency of circulation, and proximity to facilities. The significance of this study lies in its potential to inform targeted improvements and interventions that enhance student satisfaction, comfort, and overall experience within university hostel accommodations. Findings from this study will contribute to creating a more supportive, enjoyable and conducive living environment for students, ultimately promoting their well-being and academic success.