Internet Browser Research Articles

What is in your cookie box? Explaining ingredients of web cookies with knowledge graphs

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has imposed strict requirements for data sharing, one of which is informed consent. A common way to request consent online is via cookies. However, commonly, users accept online cookies being unaware of the meaning of the given consent and the following implications. Once consent is given, the cookie “disappears”, and one forgets that consent was given in the first place. Retrieving cookies and consent logs becomes challenging, as most information is stored in the specific Internet browser’s logs. To make users aware of the data sharing implied by cookie consent and to support transparency and traceability within systems, we present a knowledge graph (KG) based tool for personalised cookie consent information visualisation. The KG is based on the OntoCookie ontology, which models cookies in a machine-readable format and supports data interpretability across domains. Evaluation results confirm that the users’ comprehension of the data shared through cookies is vague and insufficient. Furthermore, our work has resulted in an increase of 47.5% in the users’ willingness to be cautious when viewing cookie banners before giving consent. These and other evaluation results confirm that our cookie data visualisation approach and tool help to increase users’ awareness of cookies and data sharing.

The influence of sleep education supported and unsupported with social media reminders on the sleep quality in adolescents aged 14-18: a three-center, parallel-arm, randomized controlled study.

Poor sleep quality is a global health problem for adolescent. The aim of this study was to examine how sleep education, with or without social media reminders, affects sleep quality in adolescents aged 14 to 18. The study was a three-center, parallel-arm, randomized controlled study, recruiting participants from September 9, 2019, to January 6, 2020. Adolescents with poor sleep quality and sleepiness, using smartphones apps and internet browser, without chronic diseases, and obesity, and without mental problems were included in the study. Primary outcomes were sleep quality, sleepiness, sleep hygiene, and sleep parameters at week 5 as measured by subjective report scales and actigraphy. Sleep quality was measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (Poor sleep quality = PSQI > 5), sleepiness by the Cleveland Adolescent Sleepiness Questionnaire (CASQ > 16), and sleep hygiene developed by the researchers in the literature of Adolescent Sleep Habits Form. A total of 55 participants (mean [SD] age, 15.64 [1.22] years) participated. PSQI and CASQ scores of adolescents in sleep education that were not supported by social media reminders decreased compared to the baseline (p = 0.01, p = 0.02). Adolescent PSQI score in sleep education supported by social media reminders decreased from baseline, their sleep hygiene score increased (p = 0.02). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of sleep parameters (total sleep duration, deep and light sleep levels, nighttime sleeping, and morning wake-up times) (p > 0.05). This study suggests that sleep education, supported by reminders via social media, can be used to improve the quality of sleep of adolescents. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05071989.

Public Libraries Encouraged to Meet the Health Information Needs of Tribal Women in Bangladesh

A Review of: Yesmin, S., Abdul Karim, M., & Atikuzzaman, M. (2023). Community engagement of public libraries for ensuring tribal women’s health literacy in Bangladesh. IFLA Journal, 49(4), 678–693. https://doi.org/10.1177/03400352231198260 Objective – To investigate public libraries’ existing community engagement practices, explore their willingness to provide health information services to tribal communities in Bangladesh, and examine tribal women’s health information-seeking behavior and interest in obtaining health information from public libraries. Design – A cross-sectional study using online interviews and structured questionnaires. Setting – Public libraries and tribal communities in tribal regions of Bangladesh. Subjects – Public librarians (n=11) and tribal women (n=276) from three tribal districts in Bangladesh (Bandarban, Khagrachari, and Mymensingh). Methods – Interviews were conducted with librarians via Zoom in January 2023. Survey questionnaires were distributed to a convenience sample of 300 tribal women from February to March 2023. Data was analyzed in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), using univariate and bi-variate measures. Main Results – All of the libraries provided print materials (books, newspapers, and periodicals) for reading and lending and offered photocopying and Internet browsing services. Other forms of resources such as microfiches and digital materials, inter-library loan services, and facilities for people with disabilities were not widely available. Most libraries (72.8%) did not provide any specific program (e.g., health-related outreach program) for tribal community engagement, although they all recognized the urgency and value of such programs. Lack of funding and bureaucratic complexities were identified as the top two barriers. Out of the 276 tribal women responding to the survey, close to two-thirds of the respondents indicated they were either moderately or very interested in receiving health information. The top three health topics the respondents sought information on were vaccinations, symptoms of disease, and nutrition. The primary health information sources for the respondents were doctors at nearby community clinics or government hospitals, and none of the respondents sought health information from public libraries. Most respondents acknowledged the importance of being informed about health issues and found it difficult to locate health information on the Internet. High costs and lack of awareness regarding health issues represented the main challenges the respondents encountered when seeking health information. Among the demographic variables, respondents’ religion and age were negatively correlated with their interest in health information, while their education status was positively correlated with it. Conclusion – Public libraries in tribal areas in Bangladesh lacked health information services but recognized the importance of providing them. Tribal women expressed interest in receiving health information, encouraging public libraries to develop and implement related services and programs. Public libraries may consider adding new job titles such as consumer health librarians and partner with other stakeholders for better community engagement. The government of Bangladesh should substantially invest in public libraries as community hubs and minimize bureaucratic hurdles that prevent public libraries from initiating new services. Professional library organizations in Bangladesh may also draw ideas from the study in establishing professional guidelines for health information services and community outreach programs.

Investigation of bi-directional relations between pre-sleep electronic media use and sleep: A seven-day dairy study

The current study aimed to examine the bi-directional relationships between pre-sleep electronic media use and sleep, and to assess the relative predictive strength of different types of electronic media use in the evening on subsequent sleep. Eighty-eight young adults (20.57 ± 0.99, 27 males) completed an online intake survey and received notifications to complete daily diaries for seven consecutive days. Results of dynamic structural equation models (DSEM) revealed that the total screen time, sleep onset time, sleep latency, sleep duration, and sleep quality showed significant positive autoregressive parameters. In contrast, the results revealed no statistically significant cross-lagged associations between the total screen time in the evening and sleep outcomes. Inspection of the predictive strength of various types of screen activities at the within-person level revealed that increased active social media use is linked to delayed sleep onset, while internet browsing is associated with shorter sleep latency. At the between-person level, screen time of T.V. watching, video streaming, social media use, and shopping correlated with delayed sleep onset. Shopping was also connected to longer sleep latency. Additionally, more time spent on T.V., video streaming, non-work internet browsing, and shopping was linked to reduced total sleep duration. These findings indicated a screen activity-dependent association between pre-sleep screen time and subsequent sleep. More objective assessments of electronic media use (e.g., app recording screen time) and sleep (e.g., actigraphy) and longitudinal monitoring over a relatively long period (i.e., several weeks or months) are warred to further elucidate (cross-lagged) relationships between electronic media use and sleep.

A New Toolbox for Managing Sites Impacted by Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (LNAPLs)

The Concawe LNAPL Toolbox is one of the first completely web-based tools for managing and remediating light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPL) impacted sites. An off-line downloadable version is also available for users who do not want to access it via the internet. LNAPLs are typically historic hydrocarbons released into soils and groundwater, such as liquid fuels, crude oil, and condensates. The toolbox was developed by Concawe, the Scientific Division of European Fuel Manufacturers Association, with the support of the engineering and environmental science-consulting agency GSI Environmental. The toolbox, written on the R-Shiny platform, was released in 2022 and includes over 20 different tools, such as, for example, infographics, nomographs, calculators, mobility models, videos, and checklists. These tools are organized into three tiers, with Tier 1 offering basic graphics and essential information, Tier 2 providing simple quantitative models and calculators, and Tier 3 featuring access and explanations of more complex tools. The toolbox is designed to address six key questions that are important for environmental consultants and regulators managing LNAPL sites, including determining the amount of LNAPL, estimating LNAPL migration and persistence, assessing LNAPL risk over time, determining the effectiveness of LNAPL recovery, and estimating Natural Source Zone Depletion (NSZD). The Concawe LNAPL Toolbox is accessible free of charge via a webpage on an internet browser or by downloading the toolbox for use on a personal computer.

NAFLD (MASLD)/NASH (MASH): Does It Bother to Label at All? A Comprehensive Narrative Review.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is a liver condition that is linked to overweight, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), is a form of NAFLD/MASLD that progresses over time. While steatosis is a prominent histological characteristic and recognizable grossly and microscopically, liver biopsies of individuals with NASH/MASH may exhibit several other abnormalities, such as mononuclear inflammation in the portal and lobular regions, hepatocellular damage characterized by ballooning and programmed cell death (apoptosis), misfolded hepatocytic protein inclusions (Mallory-Denk bodies, MDBs), megamitochondria as hyaline inclusions, and fibrosis. Ballooning hepatocellular damage remains the defining feature of NASH/MASH. The fibrosis pattern is characterized by the initial expression of perisinusoidal fibrosis ("chicken wire") and fibrosis surrounding the central veins. Children may have an alternative form of progressive NAFLD/MASLD characterized by steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis, mainly in Rappaport zone 1 of the liver acinus. To identify, synthesize, and analyze the scientific knowledge produced regarding the implications of using a score for evaluating NAFLD/MASLD in a comprehensive narrative review. The search for articles was conducted between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2023, on the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. This search was complemented by a gray search, including internet browsers (e.g., Google) and textbooks. The following research question guided the study: "What are the basic data on using a score for evaluating NAFLD/MASLD?" All stages of the selection process were carried out by the single author. Of the 1783 articles found, 75 were included in the sample for analysis, which was implemented with an additional 25 articles from references and gray literature. The studies analyzed indicated the beneficial effects of scoring liver biopsies. Although similarity between alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH) and NASH/MASH occurs, some patterns of hepatocellular damage seen in alcoholic disease of the liver do not happen in NASH/MASH, including cholestatic featuring steatohepatitis, alcoholic foamy degeneration, and sclerosing predominant hyaline necrosis. Generally, neutrophilic-rich cellular infiltrates, prominent hyaline inclusions and MDBs, cholestasis, and obvious pericellular sinusoidal fibrosis should favor the diagnosis of alcohol-induced hepatocellular injury over NASH/MASH. Multiple grading and staging methods are available for implementation in investigations and clinical trials, each possessing merits and drawbacks. The systems primarily used are the Brunt, the NASH CRN (NASH Clinical Research Network), and the SAF (steatosis, activity, and fibrosis) systems. Clinical investigations have utilized several approaches to link laboratory and demographic observations with histology findings with optimal platforms for clinical trials of rapidly commercialized drugs. It is promising that machine learning procedures (artificial intelligence) may be critical for developing new platforms to evaluate the benefits of current and future drug formulations.

Contactless logging and disinfection solution with automated face mask detection

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) mitigation includes health screening procedures at entrances of public and private establishments. Conventional methods include manual operations on temperature and face mask checking, personal identification, and hand disinfection. In this paper, a gateway kiosk is designed by integrating and automating the primary screening procedures. It uses radio-frequency identification (RFID) for contactless access control and attendance, with an infrared thermometer for body temperature monitoring. Face mask detection is automated through artificial intelligence (AI), while proximity sensors activate the disinfection system. Internet-of-things (IoT) interfaces these subsystems, and local access is available via an Internet browser. RFID overcomes the slower response rate of the quick response (QR) code-based solution. The repeated-measure analyses showed that the system’s thermometer has only +0.28 °C error while its residual neural network-10 (ResNet-10) and MobileNetV2 models for detecting masked faces achieved a 98.2% accuracy. The system reduces the primary key performance indicators–service and queuing times by 56.86% and 79.95%, respectively. Its audio and visual notifications ensure the proper screening implementation, thus reducing unnecessary and risky interactions with entrance personnel. It improves the screening procedures by significantly reducing human interactions and enhancing queuing.

Evaluating online patient education materials for liver cirrhosis.

Liver cirrhosis affects 4.5 million adults in the United States (US). As more patients educate themselves online, we evaluated the accessibility, quality, understandability, accuracy, readability, and comprehensiveness (AQUA-RC) of online patient education materials for cirrhosis. Cross-sectional analysis using Google® and YouTube® on a cleared internet browser from 12 cities across the US. The authors independently reviewed the top 25 search results from each platform using search terms "liver cirrhosis" and "cirrhosis". Accessibility was evaluated from twelve cities in six regions across the US. We evaluated resource quality using the DISCERN score, understandability using the PEMAT score, readability using the Flesch-Kinkaid score, and accuracy/comprehensiveness using a list of author-generated criteria. AQUA-RC was compared between 1) academic websites (AW) vs. non-academic websites (NAW), and 2) websites vs. YouTube® videos. 28 websites and 25 videos were included. Accessibility was equal across all regions. Websites had higher average quality scores than videos, although this was not statistically significant (p = 0.84). Websites were more understandable than videos (p < 0.00001). Both websites and videos were 100% accurate. Readability for websites was higher than recommended standards. Websites were more comprehensive than videos (p = 0.02). Online patient education materials for cirrhosis in the US are equally accessible, but readability and understandability are too complex. Websites are of greater quality, accuracy, and comprehensiveness than YouTube videos, which are often narrowly focused and targeted at the medical community rather than patients. Further efforts should be made to improve online patient education and expand content across platforms.

Female Engagement in Asian Workforce: Exploring the Impact of ICT

The labor market in Asian countries has both challenges and opportunities for women to participate in the work force. The aim of this article is to investigate the association of ICT, female education, and fertility with the female labor force participation in 48 Asian countries from 2014 to 2021 in fixed effect model. The results reveal that there is positive and significant association of internet use with female labor force participation, whereas there is a negative relationship between mobile phone usage and female labor force participation which is only significant at ten percent. Similarly, the control variables, GDP and female secondary school enrollment have also positive relationship with female labor force participation. The fertility rate has negative association with female labor force participation. Furthermore, it is found that ICT has significantly affected to female labor participation in Central Asia and South-Eastern Asia. The findings of this article explain that the ICT has increased female labor force participation, their empowerments and returns in the Asian countries. However, it is applicable for the appropriate policies of ICT usage in such a way that it not only increases female labor force participation but also increases the productivity of female workforce. The policy makers should increase the skill-oriented applications in both mobile applications and internet browsers. There should be restrictions on certain applications in the devices which reduce work productivity thereby assuring increase in female labor force participation.

“Oh my phone, I can't live without you”: a phenomenological study of nomophobia among college students

PurposePrevious studies have identified concerns and anxiety in individuals who are without their mobile phones, which is known as nomophobia, an acronym for “no mobile phone phobia.” However, there is currently limited evidence of qualitative research that explores nomophobia. The purpose of this study is to explore personal experiences and individual meanings associated with mobile phone use and nomophobia.Design/methodology/approachTo address this gap, the present study employed a Heideggerian phenomenological approach to investigate the issue. Ten college students, who have medium to high nomophobia were selected as respondents. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data, which were then transcribed verbatim and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.FindingsA deep understanding of the psychological dynamics, experiences, meanings, perceptions and beliefs of individuals regarding smartphone use can only be explored through a qualitative approach that presents personal statements of individuals through in-depth semi-structured interviews. This study contributes to a deep understanding of the psychological dynamic of nomophobia.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has limitations that must be carefully considered. First, the respondents came from a university with a sample size of 10 people, which may not fully represent the phenomenon of nomophobia among students due to differences in cultural and academic backgrounds. However, we addressed this limitation by selecting only students who scored moderate to high levels of nomophobia. Second, the researchers acknowledge that the sample used in the study may not be fully representative of the broader target population or a larger group, as previously mentioned. Therefore, generalizing the findings of this research must be done carefully, being cautious and thoughtful to avoid hasty conclusions.Practical implicationsIn the functional context, it is recommended for individuals to be more mindful of their smartphone usage and strive to strike a balance between utilizing their device's capabilities for productive purposes and avoiding excessive dependency that may lead to distractions or information overload. This includes limiting excessive smartphone usage for entertainment purposes, restricting aimless and irrelevant Internet browsing and implementing effective time management when using smartphones. For smartphone users from the ontological context, the advice is to critically evaluate their digital presence and ensure that their online activities align with their true values and self-perception, promoting responsible and ethical smartphone use. Engaging in fasting or break sessions by completely turning off the smartphone at specific times and utilizing that time for activities such as reading books, writing and engaging in spiritual practices, or exercising is also advisable. In the anthropomorphic context, individuals are advised to reflect on the potential emotional dependence on their smartphones and consider establishing healthy boundaries to avoid excessive reliance on these devices to fulfill emotional needs. One practical recommendation is to engage in self-reflection, where individuals take some time to ponder their smartphone usage patterns and emotional attachment to the device. They should ask themselves why they feel the need to constantly check their phone and how it impacts their emotions and overall well-being.Originality/valueThis study contributes to a deep understanding of the psychological dynamics of nomophobia by exploring the experiences, meanings, perceptions, and beliefs of individuals regarding smartphone use.

ChatGPT, Bard, Bing Chat, and Claude generate feedback for Chinese as foreign language writing: A comparative case study

AbstractThis comparative case study analyzes and evaluates the performance of four prevalent artificial intelligence (AI) models―ChatGPT, Google Bard, Microsoft Bing, and Claude―in generating feedback on Chinese as a Foreign Language writing. The study assessed the models' effectiveness, accuracy, alignment with pedagogical principles, and cultural appropriateness through a multi‐faceted data collection process involving student article writing, chatbot feedback, and teacher evaluation. The quantitative analysis of teacher ratings indicates that Claude demonstrated the highest average alignment with human instructor scores across the four articles, followed by Google Bard. Qualitative examination reveals differences in the types of feedback provided, with models excelling at surface‐level vocabulary, grammar, and mechanics critiques but limited in providing rhetorical, pragmatic, and structural feedback compared to teachers. While showing potential benefits, judicious integration of AI writing feedback tools upholding academic integrity is advised. This paper utilizes non‐Pro subscription plans for its research, ensuring accessibility by teachers or students without any cost. The date of access for these chatbots was September 20, 2023. The AI models used include ChatGPT based on OpenAI's GPT‐3.5 architecture with a knowledge cut‐off in January 2022, without Internet browsing capabilities; Google Bard from the Gemini family, version 1.0, which integrates internet‐based search; Microsoft Copilot (Balanced mode), which evolved from Bing Chat, providing information and content generation; and Claude version 2. This approach ensures the study's findings are applicable and replicable for educators and students utilizing freely available resources.

The Analysis of Quizizz as Formative Assessment Media in the Front Office Subject for Class XII AP 2 of SMK Singamandawa

This study aimed to analyze Quizizz as a formative assessment media for the Front Office subject for Class XII AP 2 at SMK Singamandawa. Based on observations, interviews, questionnaire distribution, and documentation of formative assessment results, Quizizz emerged as a very positive and successful assessment media. It facilitated student progress tracking, provided a fun learning experience, and aligned with learning objectives. Feedback from students and teachers highlighted the benefits of Quizizz in question quality, ease of use, efficiency, and effectiveness as a formative assessment media. Additionally, documentation of student formative assessment using Quizizz showed a good and consistent level of student achievement, even though there were challenges such as internet instability and browser compatibility. This study emphasized the suitability of Quizizz as a formative assessment media, especially for Front Office learning, and provided valuable insights for teachers who aimed to optimize formative assessment practices.

Algorithmic Content Recommendations on a Video-Sharing Platform Used by Children

Free video-sharing platforms (VSPs) make up a high proportion of children's daily screen use. Many VSPs make algorithmic recommendations, appearing as thumbnail images from the video, which content creators use to advertise their video content. To explore how VSP thumbnails use attention-capture designs to encourage engagement with content and to test whether VSP algorithmic recommendations offer more problematic thumbnail features over time. In this cross-sectional study conducted in January 2022, researchers mimicked the search behavior of children on a popular VSP by randomly clicking on recommended videos in order to test whether thumbnail designs changed over 20 sequential video engagements. A digital, footprint-free data collection setting was created by using a new computer and wireless internet router. Data were collected from YouTube via an internet browser not logged into a user account. Data analysis occurred from April to December 2022. Manual searches using 12 top-searched terms popular with school-aged children were conducted. Researchers captured the video thumbnails recommended at the end of each video and randomly clicked subsequent videos for 20 sequential engagements. Thumbnail content codes were developed through iterative review of screenshots by a multidisciplinary research team and applied by trained coders (reliability, κ >.70). The prevalence of problematic thumbnail content and change in prevalence over 20 engagements was calculated using the Cochran-Armitage trend test. A total of 2880 video thumbnails were analyzed and 6 features were coded, including visual loudness; drama and intrigue; lavish excess and wish fulfillment; creepy, bizarre, and disturbing; violence, peril, and pranks; and gender stereotypes. A high proportion contained problematic features including the creepy, bizarre, and disturbing feature (1283 thumbnails [44.6%]), violence, peril, and pranks feature (1170 thumbnails [40.6%]), and gender stereotypes feature (525 thumbnails [18.2%]). Other features included attention-capture designs such as the visual loudness feature (2278 thumbnails [79.1%]), drama and intrigue feature (2636 thumbnails [91.5%]) and lavish excess and wish fulfillment feature (1286 thumbnails [44.7%]). Contrary to the hypotheses, problematic feature prevalence did not increase over time, but the gender stereotypes feature increased with more engagement in the recommendations feed (P for trend < .001). In this study of video recommendations for search terms popular with children, thumbnails contained problematic and attention-capturing designs including violent, stereotyped, and frightening themes. Research is needed to understand how children respond to thumbnail designs and whether such designs influence the quality of content children consume.

“COGNITIVE FRAGMENTATION” AS A CONSEQUENCE OF CLIP THINKING AND ITS IMPACT ON MODERN SOCIETY EVOLUTION

In today’s information-saturated world, individuals are inundated with verbal and visual messages, leading to the development of what is termed “clip thinking” as an adaptive response. This phenomenon, characterized by constant interaction with superficial and nonsensical texts, alongside continuous internet browsing, has profound implications beyond mere cognition. Clip thinking, a systemic issue, extends its influence beyond cognitive processes. Its roots lie in the transmission of information through modern gadgets, the ubiquity of the internet, and the prevalence of clip culture. Modern youth, constrained by the small screens of digital devices and the constant scrolling of text, are increasingly averse to engaging with complex material, resulting in decreased information retention and comprehension. This shift in information consumption habits has concerning implications for higher education. Many students rely heavily on electronic aids, neglecting memorization and overlooking the importance of understanding complex texts. Consequently, the prevalence of fragmented thinking among students leads to deficiencies in conceptual and critical thinking skills. Instead of engaging deeply with subject matter, students often resort to generalized concepts, overlooking causal connections. Carriers of clip thinking become vulnerable to any manipulations by the mass media, as the mosaic nature of their consciousness is capable perceive only what is happening right now and information provided through information and telecommunication gadgets without subjecting it to critical analysis. Hence, university lecturers face significant challenges as they endeavor to navigate the need for innovative teaching methodologies in light of the fragmented thinking prevalent among modern students. The searching for innovative teaching technologies should not solely aim at altering the thinking patterns of students with clip-like cognitive tendencies. Rather, the primary objective of modern educational technologies should be to foster the mental skills necessary for information analysis and synthesis, as well as the identification of similarities and differences, generalizations, and classifications within the information landscape. Hence, this topic retains its profound relevance in contemporary education.

Deciphering the enigma of itch sensation: insights and impact from a readability study.

Itch terminology is ambiguous. How itch was described in online materials and how terminology influenced the readability of these materials was previously unknown. Two groups of search terms, itch and prurigo, were translated into five of the most prevalent European Union (EU) languages. The itch group consisted of "itch" and "pruritus." The prurigo group consisted of "prurigo," "prurigo nodularis," and "chronic prurigo". Then, a search of the terms in each language was queried in the Google search engine in the private mode of the Internet browser. The first 50 results generated were assessed for suitability. Patient education was the primary objective of the materials provided, with no barriers or advertisements included. In cases where the terms yielded identical outcomes, any duplicated materials were omitted from the analysis. When translating search terms within a group led to just one shared transcription, the results were attributed to the search term with the most similar syntax. The Lix score was utilized to assess readability. 314 articles in English, German, Italian, French, and Spanish were evaluated. The term "pruritus" was the most commonly used description for the sensation of itching, with 142 (45%) articles included. Overall, the mean Lix score was 54 ± 9, classifying all articles as hard to comprehend. Articles in the itch group had significantly (P < 0.001) lower mean Lix score (52 ± 9) than materials in the prurigo group (56 ± 10). Despite being more accessible to conceptualize, skin conditions such as prurigo had lower readability compared to information about the itch itself. The distinction between "itch" and "pruritus" was unclear.

Challenges of Online Medical Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic Faced by 3rd and 4th Year Medical Students of Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka

Background: Online education is a form of education where students use their home computers through the internet staying away from academic institutions. Due to the emergence of the pandemic of COVID-19, the whole world is experiencing number of huge deaths along with widespread panic and uncertainty. Countries of the world are trying to fill the gap and minimize the losses of students caused by the ongoing pandemic. Objective: This study mainly explores the challenges of online medical education during COVID-19 pandemic faced by 3rd and 4th year medical students of Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methodology: This Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka from January 2021 to December 2021. A weblink of survey was shared with 439 3rd and 4th year medical students and 309 responses were obtained. Data were collected by using pretested semi structured questionnaire by face-to-face interview and by online google form due to COVID-19 pandemic situation and sample were collected by purposive sampling. Result: Among 309 respondents, 60.2% were female and 39.8% were male, 95.8% respondents were Bangladeshi, 46.3% respondents’ family income were around 30000 taka, 64.4% respondents lived in city, 22% respondents faced some challenges regarding internet connection, 8.41% respondents faced knowledge about internet browsing, 5.18% respondents faced problem regarding time management and 3.8% respondents faced problem about the adaptation of new method of learning. Despite these challenges 59.2% of the respondents reported positive response about beneficial effect of online classes and half (52.8%) of the respondents were satisfied with online classes. Conclusion: In medical education face-to-face education is essential. But due to lockdown there was no scope of practical and face to face education during COVID-19 pandemic situation. This study showed that there were some positive and negative impacts of online education. Eastern Med Coll J. July 2023; 8 (2): 7-12

3D modeling of the stratigraphic and structural architecture of the Crotone basin (southern Italy) using machine learning with Python

The 3D modeling and representation of geological data have experienced significant growth within last years, due to the use of new technologies derived from advancements in land representation methods. These technologies enable interactive, intuitive and clear geological visualizations. This paper shows how, by using the open-source Python software (operable with a simple internet browser) for machine learning (linear and KNN interpolations), together with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), it is possible to achieve interactive 3D visualizations of geological features in sedimentary basins. This study is performed in the onshore-offshore Crotone area (southern Italy) where a large amount of stratigraphic datasets are available from core perforation and seismic profiles due to the presence of a natural gas extraction field. Thanks to a database of 63 drilling lithologic records and 43 check points obtained from 9 interpreted seismic sections, several 3D HTML models were constructed defining three stratigraphic units (Pre-Messinian, Messinian, and Post-Messinian). An overlap of the Post-Messinian top surface and an erosional truncation of the Messinian top surface toward the N were observed, together with a rising of the Pre-Messinian top surface in the northwestern area. This stratigraphic architecture may indicate differential subsidence and/or uplifting due to syn-sedimentary fault kinematics in the whole studied area. The 3D models with the stratigraphic unit boundary surfaces obtained with KNN interpolation (showing stepped and abrupt edges) allowed the interpretation in terms of structural architecture and syn-sedimentary fault kinematics. Three main sets of faults were deduced: N–S; NNW-SSE, and ENE-WSW. A minorly represented E-W set was added to the main sets. These faults generated a horsts-grabens structure, and in many cases a determinate set of faults caused a progressive lowering or rising of some areas with an “en echelon” arrangement. According to previous works, these deduced sets of faults (most of them strike-slip faults) have a good agreement with the general structural architecture and defined faults in the area.

EyeMo: A Solution for Individuals with Disabilities to Use a Computer Through Eye Movements

The maintenance of an upright posture and the execution of desired movements by individuals necessitate the seamless and harmonious functioning of the muscular and skeletal systems. Neuromuscular diseases, spinal cord injuries, and related conditions can adversely impact individuals' motor functions, leading to a loss of muscle strength and, in severe cases, paralysis. Such health challenges may result in social isolation and detachment from one's social life. This study is focused on the development of a computer control application utilizing eye movements to aid users in navigating and interacting with computers. The system utilizes a lightweight eyeglass frame and a mini-USB camera to accurately capture images of the user's pupil. Pupil detection is achieved through a combination of traditional image processing and deep learning techniques, ensuring high accuracy under diverse conditions. Users have the ability to interactively calibrate the application to accommodate varying screen sizes, thereby enhancing system responsiveness. The user interface incorporates functionalities such as left-click, right-click, double-click, and scrolling, empowering users to perform tasks ranging from internet browsing to video watching. &#x0D; After the development of the application, a request for research permission was submitted to the local institution to allow volunteers to test the application, adhering to ethical standards. Following the approval of ethical clearance, the application was made available for use by volunteers, and feedback was systematically collected. Volunteers generally reported that the application was beneficial, indicating its potential use by disadvantaged individuals. The upcoming versions of the application have the potential for integration with smart home systems. Additionally, the developed application can be used in games and for educational purposes.

Monitoring and Management of Phishing and Malicious Websites using Machine Learning

- Phishing internet sites are one of the internet protections issues that focus on human vulnerabilities rather than software program vulnerabilities. It can be defined because of the process of attracting online users to gain their touchy facts which include usernames and passwords. In this paper, we provide a sensible machine for detecting phishing websites. The gadget acts as a further functionality to an internet browser as an extension that routinely notifies the consumer whilst it detects a phishing internet site. The system is based on a device gaining knowledge of approach, particularly supervised mastering. We have decided on the XGBoost method because of its true overall performance in classification. Our focus is to pursue a better overall performance classifier by analyzing the features of phishing websites and choose the better aggregate of them to train the classifier. As a result, we finished our paper with accuracy of 99% accuracy with 48 features.

Smartphone Addiction and the Associated Factors of Adolescents and Purposes and Pattern of Smartphone Use

Background: Smartphone addiction is the failure to control excessive smartphone use, in spite of its negative impacts on social, psychological, physical, and economic aspects of life. The smartphones, as multifunctional device have become essential in daily life, particularly among adolescents, but excessive reliance on them can lead to behavioural addiction. Objectives The study aimed to examine the association between smartphone addiction and the characteristics of adolescents and purposes and patterns of smartphone use. Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive correlation design among 209 adolescents (105 boys and 104 girls) selected from high schools using multi-stage random sampling. Data was collected regarding the general characteristics of the adolescents as well as the pattern of usage and purposes for which they use smartphones. The level of smartphone addiction was assessed by using Smartphone Addiction Scale—Short Version (SAS-SV). The association between smartphone addiction and study variables was tested using the chi-square test. Results: Majority of adolescents (66.99%) were found at high risk for smart phone addiction, while 27.75% were addicted to smart phones. The study found a significant correlation between smartphone addiction and adolescents' gender, class/standard, purpose for use of smartphone viz educational activities, mobile games, social networking, internet browsing and pattern of smartphone usage including types of ownership of smartphone, duration of smartphone use, report of recent change in eye sight/vision, internet packages and self-perceived overuse of smartphone at the 0.05 level of significance. Conclusion: The study reveals a significant relation between socio-demographic characteristics and smartphone addiction among adolescents aged 13–16 years of both gender, class, purposes and patterns of smartphone use. Smartphone use was be influenced by the socio-cultural environments in which adolescents live as well as the reasons for which they use their smartphones. Smartphone addicts spend considerable time using their smartphones, which is significantly influenced by the daily duration and purposes and patterns of smartphone usage. Keywords: Smartphone addiction; associated factors of adolescents; purposes of smartphone use; patterns of smartphone use.