Large Group Of Users Research Articles

Coordinated human-exoskeleton locomotion emerges from regulating virtual energy.

Lower-limb exoskeletons have demonstrated great potential for gait rehabilitation in individuals with motor impairments; however, maintaining human-exoskeleton coordination remains a challenge. The coordination problem, referred to as any mismatch or asynchrony between the user's intended trajectories and exoskeleton desired trajectories, leads to sub-optimal gait performance, particularly for individuals with residual motor ability. Here, we investigate the virtual energy regulator (VER)'s ability to generate coordinated locomotion in lower limb exoskeleton. Contribution: (1) In this paper, we experimented VER on a group of nine healthy individuals at different speeds (0.6m/s - 0.85m/s) to study the resultant gait coordination and naturalness on a large group of users. (2) The resultant assisted gait is compared to the natural and passive (zero-torque exoskeleton) walking conditions in terms of muscle activities, kinematic, spatiotemporal and kinetic measures, and questionnaires. (3) Moreover, we presented the VER's convergence proof considering the user contribution to the gait and introduced a metric to measure the user's contribution to gait. (4) We also compared VER performance with the phase-based path controller in terms of muscle effort reduction and joint kinematics using three able-bodied individuals. Results: (1) The results from the VER demonstrate the emergence of natural, coordinated locomotion, resulting in an average muscle effort reduction ranging from 13.1% to 17.7% at different speeds compared to passive walking. (2) The results from VER revealed improvements in all indicators towards natural gait when compared to walking with a zero-torque exoskeleton, for instance, an enhancement in average knee extension ranging from 3.9 to 4.1 degrees. All indicators suggest that the VER preserves natural gait variability and user engagement in locomotion control. (3) Using VER also yields in 13.9%, 15.1%, and 7.0% average muscle effort reduction when compared to the phase-based path controller. (4) Finally, using our proposed metric, we demonstrated that the resultant locomotion limit cycle is a linear combination of human-intended limit cycle and the VER's limit cycle. These findings may have implications for understanding how the central nervous system controls our locomotion.

Pseudo‐Random Code Generator Design for Satellite Transponder of 5G Wireless Networks

AbstractIn satellite communication systems, a data stream for a direct sequence spread spectrum transmitter is multiplied by a pseudo‐random code. It can then be transmitted over the same microwave channel as multiple users. Correlating the received composite signal with the provided pseudo‐random code at the receiver end will extract the original data stream without interference. The proposed transponder models here are to achieve the objective of minimizing the satellite onboard components, increasing the speed of operations for higher bandwidth, and transmitting more information to a large group of users. However, taking advantage of this technology and overcoming the challenges of implementing it in a real‐time environment, a satellite transponder was designed at a speed of 128 bps. The satellite transponder here is to accommodate satellites interconnecting 5G wireless networking systems. This paper describes the useful roles of pseudo‐random code generations and the methods of applications to track the desired binary data bit sequences according to the preferred carrier frequency channels. The designed transponder schematic circuit was tested for the received uplink signal at the carrier frequency 13 GHz and transmit downlink signal at 11 GHz. To evaluate the designed onboard transmitter system performance, initially, the system was analyzed in terms of energy per bit‐to‐noise power spectral density ratio, bit error rate, and finally signal‐to‐noise power ratio. The design system was measured for the operations with minimum bandwidth of 100 MHz upto 1.28 GHz for the input bit rates of 200 Mbps upto 2.56 Gbps respectively.

Music Perception and Music-Related Quality of Life in Adult Cochlear Implant Users: Exploring the Need for Music Rehabilitation.

Cochlear implant (CI) users face difficulties in accurately perceiving basic musical elements such as pitch, melody, and timbre. Music significantly affects the quality of life (QoL) of CI users. Individually and culturally influenced music perception exceeds psychophysical measures in capturing the subjective music enjoyment of CI users. Understanding the music perception, enjoyment, and habits of CI users is crucial for approaches to improve music-related QoL (MuRQoL). Therefore, this study aims to investigate music perception skills, experiences, and participation in music activities in a large group of adult CI users, and to understand the importance of these factors and their impact on QoL of CI users. This study included 214 CI recipients with diverse auditory experiences who were aged between 18 and 65 years and were unilateral, bimodal, or bilateral users for at least 1 year and 193 normal hearing (NH) controls. All participants completed the information forms and the MuRQoL questionnaire. To assess the impact of music on QoL and identify personalized rehabilitation needs, the scores for each question in both parts of the questionnaire were intersected on a matrix. Data were presented in detail for the CI group and compared between CI and NH groups. A statistically significant difference was found between the matched CI and NH groups in favor of the NH group in terms of music perception and music engagement. Participants who received music education at any point in their lives had significantly higher MuRQoL questionnaire scores. There was no significant relationship found between the duration of auditory rehabilitation, pre-CI hearing aid usage, music listening modality, and MuRQoL questionnaire scores. Unilateral CI users had significantly lower scores in music perception and music engagement subsections compared with bimodal and bilateral CI users. Also, it was found that music had a strong negative impact on QoL in 67/214 of the CI users. Although CI users scored significantly lower than NH individuals on the first part of the questionnaire, which asked about musical skills, enjoyment, and participation in musical activities, findings suggest that CI users value music and music enjoyment just as much. The study reveals the influence of factors such as education level, age, music education, type of hearing loss and auditory rehabilitation on music perception, music enjoyment, and participation in music activities through self-report. The results indicate that for many CI users, music has a strong negative impact on QoL, highlighting the need for personalized music interventions, the inclusion of self-report questionnaires, and music perception tests in clinical evaluations.

Satellite Onboard Transmitter Design With Spread Spectrum MIMO Antenna for 5G Wireless Networks

AbstractThe 5G new era implements standalone satellite communications that support wireless networking systems for future mobile communications by locating multiple satellites in low Earth orbit to provide global coverage of the entire Earth's surface. In this research, a newly found model of a satellite onboard transmitter using a uniform circular array multiple‐input multiple‐output antenna was designed to operate at a carrier frequency of 12 GHz and derived theoretical equations compared to the real‐time scenario. The integration of spread spectrum with multiple‐input multiple‐output antenna provides an advantage for higher capacity. It has a higher percentage of gain amplification on improving the transmission of electromagnetic power to meet the bandwidth requirement of center operating frequency, and this can transmit over a bandwidth of 1.28 GHz. The proposed satellite onboard transmitter model design aims to minimize the components, increase the speed of operations for higher bandwidth, and transmit large amounts of information to a large group of users. The transmitter can operate for the speed of 1.28 Gbps using pseudo‐random code, direct‐sequence spread spectrum, quadrature phase shift keying modulation, bandwidth separated in bands for 64 symbols using 128 Chebyshev‐type bandpass filter for transmission using 128‐element uniform circular array multiple‐input multiple‐output antenna. The satellite transmitter antenna produces a maximum gain of 14.526 dBi, and a maximum directivity of 17.986 dBi, and the efficiency at 12 GHz is 45.1% for the radiated power at 0.93 mW. This satellite transmitter will interconnect 5G wireless networks for the application of mobile communications complement terrestrial‐dependent networks.

Comparing experts’ and users’ perspectives on the use of password workarounds and the risk of data breaches

Purpose The increased use of Information Systems (IS) as a working tool for employees increases the number of accounts and passwords required. Despite being more aware of password entropy, users still often participate in deviant password behaviors, known as “password workarounds” or “shadow security.” These deviant password behaviors can put individuals and organizations at risk, resulting in a data breach. This paper aims to engage IS users and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), focused on designing, developing and empirically validating the Password Workaround Cybersecurity Risk Taxonomy (PaWoCyRiT) – a 2x2 taxonomy constructed by aggregated scores of perceived cybersecurity risks from Password Workarounds (PWWAs) techniques and their usage frequency. Design/methodology/approach This research study was a developmental design conducted in three phases using qualitative and quantitative methods: (1) A set of 10 PWWAs that were identified from the literature were validated by SMEs along with their perspectives on the PWWAs usage and risk for data breach; (2) A pilot study was conducted to ensure reliability and validity and identify if any measurement issues would have hindered the results and (3) The main study data collection was conducted with a large group of IS users, where also they reported on coworkers' engagement frequencies related to the PWWAs. Findings The results indicate that statistically significant differences were found between SMEs and IS users in their aggregated perceptions of risks of the PWWAs in causing a data breach, with IS users perceiving higher risks. Engagement patterns varied between the two groups, as well as factors like years of IS experience, gender and job level had statistically significant differences among groups. Practical implications The PaWoCyRiT taxonomy that the we have developed and empirically validated is a handy tool for organizational cyber risk officers. The taxonomy provides organizations with a quantifiable means to assess and ultimately mitigate cybersecurity risks. Social implications Passwords have been used for a long time to grant controlled access to classified spaces, electronics, networks and more. However, the dramatic increase in user accounts over the past few decades has exposed the realization that technological measures alone cannot ensure a high level of IS security; this leaves the end-users holding a critical role in protecting their organization and personal information. Thus, the taxonomy that the authors have developed and empirically validated provides broader implications for society, as it assists organizations in all industries with the ability to mitigate the risks of data breaches that can result from PWWAs. Originality/value The taxonomy the we have developed and validated, the PaWoCyRiT, provides organizations with insights into password-related risks and behaviors that may lead to data breaches.

Does assistive technology contribute to safety among home-dwelling older adults?

BackgroundAssistive technology carries the promise of alleviating public expenditure on long-term care, while at the same time enabling older adults to live more safely at home for as long as possible. Home-dwelling older people receiving reablement and dementia care at their homes are two important target groups for assistive technology. However, the need for help, the type of help and the progression of their needs differ. These two groups are seldom compared even though they are two large groups of service users in Norway and their care needs constitute considerable costs to Norwegian municipalities. The study explores how assistive technology impacts the feeling of safety among these two groups and their family caregivers.MethodsFace-to-face, semi-structured interviews lasting between 17 and 61 min were conducted between November 2018 and August 2019 with home-dwelling older adults receiving reablement (N = 15) and dementia care (N = 10) and the family caregivers (N = 9) of these users in seven municipalities in Norway. All interviews were audio-recorded, fully transcribed, thematically coded and inductively analyzed following Clarke and Braun’s principles for thematic analysis.ResultsService users in both groups felt safe when knowing how to use assistive technology. However, the knowledge of how to use assistive technology was not enough to create a feeling of safety. In fact, for some users, this knowledge was a source of anxiety or frustration, especially when the user had experienced the limitations of the technology. For the service users with dementia, assistive technology was experienced as disturbing when they were unable to understand how to handle it, but at the same time, it also enabled some of them to continue living at home. For reablement users, overreliance on technology could undermine the progress of their functional improvement and thus their independence.ConclusionFor users in both service groups, assistive technology may promote a sense of safety but has also disadvantages. However, technology alone does not seem to create a sense of safety. Rather, it is the appropriate use of assistive technology within the context of interactions between service users, their family caregivers and the healthcare staff that contributes to the feeling of safety.

The longitudinal dispositions of people diagnosed with adjustment or severe stress disorders

BackgroundAdjustment and stress-related disorders are prevalent among psychiatric service users. Despite their prevalence, little is known about their prognosis. To reduce that gap, the present article documents the service use and diagnostic outcomes of people with adjustment or stress-related disorders presenting at Singapore’s largest psychiatric emergency department.MethodsAdministrative data from 2014 to 2021 was retrieved to follow a group of 683 service users whose first-ever psychiatric presentation in 2014 warranted a diagnosis of adjustment or stress-related disorder. People were grouped a priori depending on whether different diagnoses were recorded within 7 days, 9 months, after 9 months or not at all. Survival curves characterized conversion to other diagnoses and engagement with healthcare services. Service use outcomes include the number of hospitalizations, outpatient appointments, emergency department visits, and prescriptions.ResultsSixty-one percent (n = 417) never received another diagnosis over the 8-year period. This group used emergency services most and received the most pharmacotherapy shortly after their first visit. Of those who received another diagnosis, depression, personality disorders, and psychotic disorders were the most common. Those who received another diagnosis within 7 days (n = 70, 10%) received it on their first day of hospitalization (IQR 1–1), making the most use of inpatient services. The group who received another diagnosis within 9 months (n = 105, 15%) did so after 42 days (IQR 26–84) and had the highest relative number of deaths. Those who received another diagnosis after 9 months (n = 91, 13%) did so after 1,134 days (IQR 613–1,823) and had the longest period of engagement but made the least use of any psychiatric service, potentially suggesting a group whose early index diagnosis heralded vulnerability to future disorders.ConclusionsA large group of service users with acute stress or adjustment disorders will likely never be given another psychiatric diagnosis and appear to disengage following an initial period of high-intensity service use. The group that received a different diagnosis after the 9-month mark had prolonged contact with services but low intensity of service use and may represent a target for preventative intervention to help them improve their stress-managing skills and avoid developing other disorders.

3D printing for the reinterpretation of architectural heritage: Proposal of a model

3D printing for the reinterpretation of architectural heritage stands out as one of the most efficient ways of using contemporary printing technologies in terms of architecture. The aim of the study is to present a comprehensive methodology on how to use 3D printing techniques for reinterpretation of architectural heritage. In this context, the scope of the study consists of pioneering information obtained from literature studies focusing on the details of the use of three-dimensional printing techniques in the promotion, preservation and remodeling of cultural heritage and architectural heritage components. The method of the study was determined as identifying leading themes through literature research and presenting a method proposal by grouping conceptually related themes. The unique value of the study is important in that the model to be created offers a potential to affect mass production tools, offices and local governments by incorporating contemporary architectural heritage products into a modeling process that can produce more innovative and faster solutions. The findings of the study show that the different techniques used can respond to different detail scales and different contextual challenges. Each modeling method and strategy creates different feedback mechanisms, mediating the recognition of the architectural heritage element by larger user groups or the more effective protection of the architectural heritage element. In the model presented as a result of the study, which mediates the gathering of the techniques used in different sample projects on a common working ground with a series of successive strategies, a comprehensive basis for which 3D printing solution will be used for which problem is presented and solution suggestions are offered for a case-oriented 3D printing strategy.

Understanding Multi-user, Handheld Mixed Reality for Group-based MR Games

Research has identified applications of handheld-based VR, which utilizes handheld displays or mobile devices, for developing systems that involve users in mixed reality (MR) without the need for head-worn displays (HWDs). Such systems can potentially accommodate large groups of users participating in MR. However, we lack an understanding of how group sizes and interaction methods affect the user experience. In this paper, we aim to advance our understanding of handheld-based MR in the context of multiplayer, co-located games. We conducted a study (N = 38) to understand how user experiences vary by group size (2, 4, and 8) and interaction method (proximity-based or pointing-based). For our experiment, we implemented a multiuser experience for up to ten users. We found that proximity-based interaction that encouraged dynamic movement positively affected social presence and physical/temporal workload. In bigger group settings, participants felt less challenged and less positive. Individuals had varying preferences for group size and interaction type. The findings of the study will advance our understanding of the design space for handheld-based MR in terms of group sizes and interaction schemes. To make our contributions explicit, we conclude our paper with design implications that can inform user experience design in handheld-based mixed reality contexts.

The Role of Modern Interactive Media in Making Travel Decisions

Interactive media play a significant role in making tourism travel decisions by providing information, opinions, and preferences to a large group of users of these media, which in turn crystallize the decision-making process at its various stages, whether before, during , or after the tourism trip . The research community identified the administrative leaders working in the tourism authority from the level of a responsible department upwards to the rank of general manager, who was selected as part of the study sample. The importance of the research lies in providing a philosophical basis for the nature of the researched variables based on the scarcity of studies linking the role of interactive media in making travel decisions. To achieve this, several main and sub-hypotheses were developed and tested using a set of non-parametric statistical measures, with a questionnaire used as a tool to collect data and information from the research community. In order to achieve the research goal, answer its questions, and test the validity of its hypotheses, the research relied on the questionnaire as the main tool for data collection and information, in addition to other methods such as personal interviews with managers and department heads at the tourism authority.

A decision-making approach for determining strategic priority of sustainable smart city services from citizens’ perspective: A case study of Hong Kong

The development of sustainable smart city (SC) services is often carried out with limited resources, but there is little discussion about the strategic priority of promoting SC development from the citizens’ perspective. This study developed a decision-making approach to determine the supply and demand priority of SC services using utility and need theories, with Hong Kong as a case study. The results show that smart environment services should be prioritized for all population groups, while the differences in priority among older adults, people with lower digital literacy, and people with lower income were relatively small. On the one hand, the supply of SC services should be prioritized for those that are closely linked to citizens’ daily lives, have a long-term impact on communities, and are targeted to large user groups. On the other hand, priority should be given to those services that meet citizens’ demands for physiological, safety, and self-actualization needs. This study enriches the theoretical framework of people-centric SC research through the innovative integration of Bradley-Terry and rank-ordered logit models for determining the development priority for SC services, which can serve as a practical decision-making tool for policy makers to effectively allocate resources for sustainable SC development.

Analysis of the Brand Marketing Strategies of Coca-Cola on TikTok

The impact of social media platforms on brand influence is one of the key research topics today. Researchers found that TokTik, as a short video based social media platform, has a large group of young users, and its entertaining and creative content has attracted users worldwide. However, there are still research gaps and lack of unified explanation on the impact of brand influence on the TokTik platform. Therefore, by analyzing Coca Cola's marketing strategies and activities on TokTik, this study reveals the positive impact of TokTik on brand awareness and recognition. Coca Cola encouraged users to participate in and share dancing videos by launching a challenge activity called "# CokeDance" on TokTik, which has achieved more than 100000 challenges and greatly increased brand exposure. In addition, the launch of TokTik short video ads and the cooperation between the brand and bloggers have further increased consumers' awareness and loyalty to the Coca Cola brand. This study provides a useful reference for other brands to develop brand marketing strategies and enhance brand influence on the TokTik platform.

Study of the Acceptance and Purchase Behavior of College Students' Audience by Bilibili Video Insertion Advertising

With the advent of the 5G network era, the use of smart phones has been popularized, and various short video software platforms have risen rapidly. The short video platform gathers a large user group and a large number of ACG original video creators. In the Internet era, traffic monetization capabilities are strong, and advertisers are setting their sights on short video platforms, bringing new business to advertisers and content creators. This study takes the short video insertion advertisement of the B-station APP as the research object, and studies the factors of content creation in the video insertion advertisement from the aspects of audience acceptance willingness and purchase behavior. This paper takes the UTAUT model as the theoretical basis for research, and simplifies and modifies it according to the UTAUT model, and becomes entertaining, creative, willing to accept and purchase behavior. The research method is a questionnaire method, which collects data and draws conclusions....

Design analysis and optimization of chaotic systems for duration and carrier parallel index modulation

With the rapid advancement in communication technology, the demand for high speed and efficient transmission has increased significantly. Traditional communication systems are unable to meet these demands, and thus, this paper proposes a new correlated delay shift keying system for duration and carrier parallel index modulation (DCIM-CDSK) that employs duration and carrier parallel index modulation. The DCIM-CDSK system utilizes index mapping to transmit extra bits, while group mapping the timeslots on the carrier. By using spare timeslots in each group to transmit modulated information bits, the system achieves high-speed transmission with high efficiency. Additionally, the system introduces a noise reduction method to optimize the information-carrying signal to improve its noise immunity. The theoretical bit error rate (BER) equations is derived in the paper for the DCIM-CDSK system under Gaussian and Rayleigh fading channels, and compared them with practical simulations to validate the theoretical derivation. The paper also analyzes the BER of the system for a single longest timeslot length and mixed longest timeslot length, respectively. The simulation results show that the proposed DCIM-CDSK system has better noise immunity and higher transmission rates than other similar systems. In today's increasingly stringent requirements for communication systems, the DCIM-CDSK system, with its high spectral and energy efficiency, provides a feasible solution for the current communication system industry to realize large user group services and high bandwidth utilization efficiency. At the same time, because of the flexibility of the system between the transmission rate and BER performance, the communication system can get a better trade-off and balance between the two contradictions of effectiveness and reliability.

Interactive Content Diversity and User Exploration in Online Movie Recommenders: A Field Experiment

Recommender systems often struggle to strike a balance between matching users’ tastes and providing unexpected recommendations. When recommendations are too narrow and fail to cover the full range of users’ preferences, the system is perceived as useless. Conversely, when the system suggests too many items that users don’t like, it is considered impersonal or ineffective. To better understand user sentiment about the breadth of recommendations given by a movie recommender, we conducted interviews and surveys and found out that many users considered narrow recommendations to be useful, while a smaller number explicitly wanted greater breadth. Additionally, we designed and ran an online field experiment with a larger user group, evaluating two new interfaces designed to provide users with greater access to broader recommendations. We looked at user preferences and behavior for two groups of users: those with higher initial movie diversity and those with lower diversity. Among our findings, we discovered that different levels of exploration control and users’ subjective preferences on interfaces are more predictive of their satisfaction with the recommender.

Peripheral neural synchrony in pediatric cochlear implant users

We recently developed a noninvasive method to quantify neural synchrony in the electrically stimulated cochlear nerve (i.e., peripheral neural synchrony) using an index named the phase locking value (PLV). The PLV is a measurement of trial-to-trial phase coherence in the summated activity of cochlear nerve fibers. Larger PLVs indicate better/stronger peripheral neural synchrony. This tool allows for investigating this important phenomenon in cochlear implant (CI) users for the first time in the literature. The aim of this study was to characterize peripheral neural synchrony in a large group of pediatric CI users with various etiologies. To date, study participants included 17 children with cochlear nerve deficiency, 28 children with Gap Junction Beta-2 mutation, nine children with normal inner ear anatomy and idiopathic hearing loss, three children with enlarged vestibular aqueducts, three children with Mondini malformation and two children with Usher syndrome. All participants use Cochlear™ Nucleus® devices in their test ears. For each implanted ear tested in each participant, peripheral neural synchrony was assessed at the maximum comfortable level and multiple electrode locations across the electrode array. Our preliminary results demonstrated substantial variations in peripheral neural synchrony among pediatric CI users. These variations appear to depend on hearing loss etiologies.

Estimating fishing effort from highly resolved geospatial data: Focusing on passive gears

Increasing competition for marine space requires the appropriate development of indicators to best represent the use of marine areas and the value (whether economic, social and/or cultural) derived from such use. Fishers (the largest group of users) are often under-represented in marine spatial planning processes. Highly-resolved vessel tracking data provide opportunities to map the activities of fishing vessels at a level of detail never before available. Most effort mapping methods have focused on active gears such as trawls or dredges in large scale fisheries. For these fisheries, the time spent fishing at sea (hours) is usually a representative indicator of fishing effort, enabling a straightforward mapping of the most important fishing grounds. However, for passive gears generally used in small-scale fisheries, we show that spatial indicators of effort (here, length of vessel track) greatly outperform time-at-sea as an indicator of fishing effort. We further demonstrate and validate a method to estimate gear soak time from vessel tracking data and show how maps of effort that account for soak time can be different from those solely based on time spent fishing at sea. The development of adequate methods to quantify the spatial distribution of passive gear effort is particularly relevant to fisheries management because globally about a fifth of all catches (by weight) are landed by passive gears. Appropriate, fine scale effort maps will provide better tools for spatial planning to support sustainable fishing.

Gender and the Diversity of the Human Body as Challenges for the Inclusive Design of Wearable Technology

Particularly since the 1990s, there has been an active discussion on inclusive design and on the possibility of designing products that would be suitable for every kind of user. Wearable technology products that need to be in close contact with the user’s skin to function must be a good fit for the user’s body. As wearable technology has transitioned from a specialty of the “quantify-yourself” movement to a widespread, everyday item, the companies that create these products compete to appeal to ever-larger user groups. This study investigates how product designers in wearable technology companies interpret the idea of inclusive design when developing their products to fit large and diverse groups of users. Drawing on four case studies, this research shows how the diversity of the human body poses practical challenges for inclusive design. Yet, the findings also show that in addition to the biological differences between human bodies, inclusive design is also influenced by cultural understandings of gender.

Comparison of Optical and Stylus Methods for Surface Texture Characterisation in Industrial Quality Assurance of Post-Processed Laser Metal Additive Ti-6Al-4V.

Additive manufacturing technologies enable lightweight, functionally integrated designs and development of biomimetic structures. They contribute to the reduction in material waste and decrease in overall process duration. A major challenge for the qualification for aerospace applications is the surface quality. Considering Ti-64 laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) parts, particle agglomerations and resulting re-entrant features are characteristic of the upper surface layer. Wet-chemical post-processing of the components ensures reproducible surface quality for improved fatigue behaviour and application of functional coatings. The 3D SurFin® and chemical milling treatments result in smoother surface finishes with characteristic properties. In order to characterise these surfaces, three methods for surface texture measurement (contact and non-contact) were applied, namely confocal microscopy, fringe projection and stylus profilometry. The aim of this work was to show their suitability for measurement of laser powder bed fusion as-built and post-processed surfaces and compare results across the evaluated surface conditions. A user-oriented rating of the methods, summarising advantages and disadvantages of the used instruments specifically and the methods in general, is provided. Confocal microscopy reaches the highest resolution amongst the methods, but measurements take a long time. The raw data exhibit large measurement artefacts for as-built and chemically milled conditions, requiring proper data post-processing. The stylus method can only capture 2D profiles and the measurement was restricted by particle agglomerations and craters. However, the method (process and instrument) is entirely standardised and handheld devices are inexpensive, making it accessible for a large group of users. The fringe projection method was the quickest and easiest regarding measurement and data post-processing. Due to large areal coverage, reproduction of location when performing repeat measurements is possible. The spatial resolution is lower than for confocal microscopy but is still considered sufficiently high to characterise the investigated surface conditions.

Filament‐Based Melt Electrowriting Enables Dual‐Mode Additive Manufacturing for Multiscale Constructs

Melt electrowriting (MEW) is an electric‐field‐assisted fiber‐forming biofabrication strategy for the additive manufacturing (AM) of precisely defined 3D microarchitectures. MEW is based on pressure‐driven extrusion of a polymer melt pool, currently mainly implemented at laboratory scale with specialized machine technology and limited to only few materials. This precludes the accessibility of MEW to a broader user group and can become the bottleneck of MEW's technological advancement. In contrast to conventional MEW, a filament‐based approach (F‐MEW) is introduced that exploits the technological ecosystem of fused filament fabrication (FFF), a globally used transformative AM technique. In this work, a polymer filament serves as feedstock material and is melted just on demand. By upgrading existing FFF systems, MEW of polymer microfibers is enabled, as validated with polycaprolactone (PCL) and demonstrated with direct writing of thermosensitive polydioxanone (PDO). Finally, FFF and F‐MEW are hybridized in a dual‐mode AM process. This enables multiscale constructs featuring both FFF struts and one order of magnitude smaller F‐MEW microfibers. This work opens the accessibility of F‐MEW to the large FFF user group, potentially benefitting from the plethora of filaments available for FFF, while, at the same time, expanding the FFF fabrication window.