Time Usage Research Articles

Workout at a virtual gym: Surrounding avatar's motion speed and exercise intensity effect on the user's time perception.

This study explored the relationship between surrounding avatars and time perception in a virtual reality (VR) gymnasium. Previous research has highlighted that motion speed and exercise intensity significantly influence time perception. In VR, time perception is shaped by various factors, such as an avatar's embodiment at different levels. However, the specific effects of the surrounding avatar on time perception in a VR gymnasium context remain unclear. Thus, this study focuses on two key attributes of the surrounding avatar: (1) motion speeds and (2) exercise intensity. Participants in a VR gymnasium either rode a stationary bike or sat on one while observing avatars performing exercises in the virtual environment(VE). They were then asked to estimate the duration judgment and the feeling of the passage of time for each task. The results revealed that when the surrounding avatars exercised at a faster motion speed, participants perceived the duration of time as longer and felt that time passed more quickly. Additionally, high-intensity exercise led participants to perceive the passage of time as faster.

Efficient File Security Scanning: Combining Hash Histories and Bloom Filters to Minimize Redundancy

As file repositories expand in size, traditional full-file security scanning becomes computationally expensive and redundant. This paper introduces a novel hybrid framework that leverages hash histories embedded in file metadata and Bloom filters for efficient security scanning. The approach ensures that only modified or newly added files are scanned, reducing overhead while maintaining robust security coverage. By augmenting file metadata with hash histories, the system provides decentralized tracking of file state changes. Bloom filters further optimize the process by efficiently determining whether a file requires scanning. The tradeoff between increased file sizes due to metadata augmentation and the improved scanning performance is thoroughly analyzed. Evaluations demonstrate significant reductions in scan time and resource usage, making the framework highly suitable for large-scale file repositories. Keywords File security, Hash histories, Bloom filters, Metadata augmentation, Incremental scanning, Security optimization

Compressed computational imaging based on optical differentiation

In computational imaging, getting better imaging quality with shorter time usage is always a challenging problem. The powerful compressed sensing functions as a backend algorithm, which leaves room for us to develop a methodology of compression in imaging systems. Optical differentiation was widely utilized in direct imaging to highlight the features of an image. We apply optical differentiation to compress information in the correlated imaging system. The experimental results indicate a significant improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio and imaging speed. In addition, this scheme enables phase imaging from the second-order correlation. Our work can spark potential applications in biological microscopic and scattering media imaging.

Cyberbullying, psychosocial problems and affecting factors among adolescents

PurposeThe aim of the study is to examine cyberbullying, psychosocial problems and the factors affecting them among adolescents. Design and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Türkiye. The population of the study consisted of 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students from a public middle school. Data were collected through a descriptive characteristics questionnaire, Cyberbullying Scale, and Pediatric Symptom Checklist. ResultsBoth psychosocial problems and cyberbullying levels were found to be significantly higher in students who were male, in the 7th and 8th grades, and who used the internet for 3 h or more per day (p < .05). It was found that the level of psychosocial problems was significantly higher in students who had chronic diseases, who used medication regularly, and whose parents had a high school education or lower (p < .05). A weak positive correlation was found between the Pediatric Symptom Checklist and Cyberbullying Scale (r = 0.169, p < .001). Daily internet usage time and cyberbullying explained 7.6 % of psychosocial problems. ConclusionsThe study found that adolescents' psychosocial problems were associated with the level of cyberbullying, and that gender, grade level, and daily internet use duration affected psychosocial problems and cyberbullying, while the presence of a chronic disease and the level of parental education affected psychosocial problems. Daily internet usage time and cyberbullying were predictors of psychosocial problems. It is recommended that educational programs on safe internet use be provided, especially for male adolescents in grades 7–8 who spend more than 3 h a day on the internet.

Three-dimensional volumetric CT image fusion and trans-abdominal US: Adjunct guidance to portal vein cannulation for TIPS

PurposeTo describe portal vein cannulation under adjunct guidance for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS). MethodsMedical records of 86 patients who underwent TIPS, including conventional TIPS, 3D volumetric CT image fusion (CT-fluoroscopy image fusion)-guided TIPS, and transabdominal ultrasound (US)-guided TIPS at our institute from March 2016 to June 2024 were reviewed. Baseline characteristics, clinical outcomes, and procedural data were analyzed. ResultsTechnical success was achieved in 35 conventional TIPS patients (92.11 %), 20 CT-fluoroscopy image fusion-guided TIPS patients (95.24 %), and 26 transabdominal US-guided TIPS patients (96.30 %). Among patients who underwent a successful procedure, the procedural time and contrast usage were lower in the CT-fluoroscopy image fusion-guided and trans-abdominal US-guided TIPS groups than in the conventional group. There was a statistical significance in the cumulative fluoroscopic time between CT-fluoroscopy image fusion-guided TIPS and conventional TIPS groups (43.19 ± 14.92 vs 63.05 ± 30.33 min, p = 0.012). No immediate experienced complications were observed. Furthermore, the incidence of post-procedural complications among the three groups was not statistically different during follow-up. ConclusionsCT-fluoroscopy image fusion and trans-abdominal US-guided portal vein cannulation are feasible, safe, and effective adjunct methods for patients undergoing TIPS. These methods provide shorter procedural time and lower contrast usage for TIPS placement.

Alienation Issues and Artificial Intelligence in the Era of Society 5.0

The phenomenon of alienation, which is widely examined in both specialized and general studies, has seen a decline in its conceptual clarity and usage in recent times. Meanwhile, a new paradigm known as Society 5.0 has emerged, which coincides with the technological surge in artificial intelligence within developing regions. This shift prompts a re-evaluation of alienation within the context of rapidly evolving time and space dynamics. This article aims to illuminate the relevance of Hegel's theory of alienation, particularly his dialectic concerning the master-slave relationship, and explore its implications within an advanced intelligent society. This research critically engages with the theory through comprehensive philosophical analysis with the aim to uphold the autonomy of the spirit in the virtual realm, which represents a pressing issue in contemporary society.

Assessment of Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaics: A financial and environmental perspective

Integrating photovoltaic (PV) technology into electric vehicles (EVs) promises an environmentally friendly transportation solution by increasing the energy efficiency of vehicles. On the other hand, the limited integration area of the vehicle causes PVs to have relatively lower power output. This situation creates a discussion about how reasonable a solution for PV-EV integration is from various perspectives. This study aims to provide a realistic assessment of PV-EV integration using manufacturer-provided data on solar-assisted EVs in the market. Assessments are examined in three categories: financial assessment based on payback period, environmental assessment based on carbon emissions, and usage-based assessment based on charging dependency. The findings indicate that the PV systems integrated into contemporary solar-assisted market vehicles demonstrate a return on investment within 8.7 years. From an environmental perspective, hybrid vehicles can provide up to a 12 % reduction in carbon emissions, while fully EVs can achieve reductions of up to 32.5 %. Usage-based assessments showed that PV-EV integration is especially advantageous for countries with low daily travel distances. According to the assessment, the use of PV panels in vehicles can potentially extend the usage time without recharging by up to 170 %.

Cloud-based Internet of Things Approach for Smart Irrigation System

The agriculture sector is facing numerous challenges such as water scarcity, climate change, and low productivity due to outdated farming practices. In most of the countries, 75% of their GDP depends on the agricultural products. Hence at most care has to be taken to introduce modern technology in the agriculture sector to enhance its productivity and efficiency. This paper presents an IOT Based Smart Agriculture Monitoring System aimed to increase the agricultural productivity through automating and optimizing crop management. The first objective of the proposed system is to supply the water to the crops based on soil moisture and the surrounding temperature. It can be achieved through soil moisture sensor, DHT11 sensor, light sensitive module and Node MCU. All sensors are interfaced with Node MCU. The data collected through sensor will be processed by the processor. Whenever the soil moisture is less and temperature is more, the pump will be automatically switched on for irrigation. Apart from this the collected data from sensor is also transmitted to the cloud through Thingspeak. The same information can be accessed by the farmers to monitor the crops remotely and improve the productivity. By providing farmers with real time data on their crops, the system can help them make informed decisions regarding water and fertilizer usage, pest control, and harvesting times. This, in turn, can lead to increased crop yields, reduced costs, and improved profitability. With the increasing demand for food production and the need to address the challenges of climate change and food security, this project serves as a promising solution for sustainable agriculture.

MQTT Broker Optimization

Optimizing MQTT broker performance is crucial for maintaining efficient message routing in IoT systems, especially under varying workloads and QoS levels. This study compares the Round Robin (RR) and Least Response Time (LRT) algorithms to evaluate their performance across QoS levels 0, 1, and 2 and client loads ranging from 500 to 2,500 clients. Using Apache JMeter, key metrics such as CPU usage, throughput, delay, jitter, and response time were assessed. LRT was found to excel in enhancing response time and reducing delay, particularly under high client loads and in applications requiring minimal latency. However, this comes at the cost of higher CPU usage under heavy loads. In contrast, RR demonstrated optimal performance in maintaining balanced CPU utilization and predictable performance, though with slightly higher response times. Both algorithms demonstrated linear scalability in throughput, confirming their ability to handle increasing workloads without bottlenecks. These findings offer practical guidance for IoT developers: in latency-sensitive environments such as industrial automation, LRT is preferable due to its low-latency benefits, while RR is better suited for resource-constrained IoT systems like environmental monitoring, where stability and even load distribution are prioritized. The trade-offs identified provide valuable insights for selecting appropriate algorithms based on specific application requirements.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA SCREEN TIME AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS DURING PANDEMIC COVID19 IN KUALA LUMPUR

Social media can be used as a channel for communication with family members. A strong dependence on the Internet may result from excessive screen time, which can then affect people's mental health and well-being. It has been suggested that adolescent social media use is associated with decreased mental health. One of the key components that affects a person's quality of life is their mental health in the aspects of anxiety and depression levels. This cross-sectional study aimed to measure and analyse the relationship between social media screen time and quality of life among undergraduate biomedical sciences students. In Kuala Lumpur, this study's online survey was carried out. A validated questionnaire about social media use and quality of life was used to conduct this online survey. The study involved 182 respondents. WhatsApp was the most popular communication platform, with 62.6%, followed by Twitter with 12.6%. 52.7% use social media for social and entertainment purposes. There was no significant mean difference in social media usage and screen time between gender, year of study, income, and residency (p&gt;0.05). There was no significant interaction between gender and year of study for social media usage duration(F=1.465, p&gt;0.05). There was no significant correlation between the level of social media with quality of life(p&gt;0.05). Meanwhile, using binary logistic regression analysis, there was no significant relationship between level of screen time with all domains of quality of life. Meanwhile, there is a significant relationship between the level of screen time and the year of study OR=3.67(2nd year) and OR=3.14 (4th year) when compared to the first year (p&lt;0.05). In conclusion, the results suggested there was a significant relationship between social media usage and with year of study. The results suggest that higher education should consider promoting the effective usage of social media using the social media platform as most students nowadays find information on social media. Keywords: Anxiety; depression; social media; screen time; quality of life; undergraduates.

Designing secure data pipelines for medical billing fraud detection using homomorphic encryption and federated learning

Medical billing fraud imposes significant financial and operational challenges on healthcare systems, highlighting the need for robust, privacy-preserving fraud detection solutions. This study presents a secure data pipeline that integrates homomorphic encryption (HE) and federated learning (FL) to enable decentralized fraud detection while maintaining patient confidentiality. Homomorphic encryption ensures data remains protected throughout the analytical process, while federated learning facilitates collaborative model training across healthcare institutions without requiring data centralization. Key findings reveal that increasing privacy levels via differential privacy effectively reduces data leakage risks, though it introduces minor computational overhead and a slight reduction in model accuracy. Scalability tests show that larger datasets considerably increase encryption time and memory usage, underscoring the need for optimized encryption algorithms. Additionally, secure communication protocols, while essential for data integrity, result in increased latency, which may impact real-time detection capabilities. The proposed pipeline achieves a balance between security and fraud detection accuracy, demonstrating its potential for real-world applications. However, further optimization of encryption methods and secure communication protocols is essential for broader scalability. This work advances privacy-centric approaches in healthcare fraud detection, setting a foundation for developing secure, scalable fraud detection systems.

Efficient and Accurate Calibration of Discrete Element Method Parameters for Black Beans

Discrete element parameters of the black bean (BLB) are key to developing high-performance BLB machineries (e.g., seeders and shellers), which are still lacking in previous literature. In this study, the effects of the radius and lifting speed of cylinder-in-cylinder lifting method (CLM) simulations were investigated to efficiently and accurately obtain the repose angle. Discrete element method (DEM) parameters of the BLB were determined by combining the Plackett–Burman Design test, the steepest ascent design test, and the central composite design test. The results show that the measurement moment (i.e., 12 s) of repose angles should be determined when kinetic energy reaches the minimal threshold (1 × 10−6 J) to efficiently and accurately obtain repose angles; too early or too late a measurement can result in inaccurate repose angles or excessive computation time of the computer, respectively. The lifting speed and cylinder radius affected the lateral displacements of BLBs and came at the cost of higher computation time and memory usage. A lifting speed of 0.015 m s−1 and a radius of 40 mm of the cylinder were determined in CLM simulations. The static friction coefficient and rolling friction coefficient between BLBs significantly affected the repose angles. A static friction coefficient of 0.202 and rolling friction coefficient of 0.0104 between BLBs were obtained based on the optimization results. A low relative error (0.74%) and insignificant difference (p &gt; 0.05) between the simulated and measured repose angles were found. The suggested method can be potentially used to calibrate the DEM parameters of BLBs with good accuracy. The results from this study can provide implications for investigating interactions of BLBs and various BLB processing machines and for the efficient and accurate determination of DEM parameters of crop grains.

Shortest-path tree-based method for calculating visible area with time- and memory-saving preprocessing

Visibility has extensive application in areas such as architecture, urban planning, and security. This study proposes a novel approximation method, called the shortest-path tree-based method (SPT-based method), for calculating the visible area using a random Delaunay network on a 2D plane. Various methods are available for calculating the visible area, including exact and approximation methods. However, it is difficult to calculate the visible area repeatedly in a space that has a vast number of obstacles while achieving efficient time and memory usage. The SPT-based method focuses on time- and memory-saving preprocessing. To achieve an efficient calculation of the visible area, we discretised a plane using a random Delaunay network and approximated the visible area using Dijkstra’s method. To evaluate the efficiency of the proposed method, we compared the calculation time, accuracy, and memory usage of the plane-sweep, ray-trace, brute-force, and SPT-based methods while considering the influence of the number of obstacles. This study provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners for choosing the most suitable approach for their specific needs. Overall, the proposed method offers a time- and memory-efficient solution for calculating the visible area, making it suitable for a detailed analysis of the visual environment and providing a heuristic solution to the art gallery problem requiring repetitive calculations.

A Comparative Analysis of AES, RSA, and 3DES Encryption Standards based on Speed and Performance

Information security is important in the digital era, with encryption emerging as a fixed solution to safeguard sensitive data from unauthorized access. This paper provides an overview of encryption by categorizing cryptographic algorithms into symmetric and asymmetric, along with hashing. Symmetric cryptography uses a single key for encryption and decryption, and asymmetric cryptography utilizes distinct public and private keys. Hashing maps input messages into compact bit strings. The literature survey explores the performance analysis of encryption algorithms, focusing on Rivest Shamir Adleman (RSA), Data Encryption Standard (DES), and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), considering parameters like computation time and memory usage. Furthermore, the comparative analysis of encryption algorithms, including AES, RSA, and 3DES, is discussed. The paper delves into the motivation for cryptography in secure document transfer systems, emphasizing the need for confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Finally, the study presents detailed insights into AES, RSA, and 3DES encryption standards, highlighting their principles and applications.

Optimization of Printing Parameters of PLA and ABS Produced by FFF

In this study, the changes in tensile strength of PLA and ABS specimens, the most commonly used materials in additive manufacturing with FFF, were investigated as a function of fill rate and print speed. Tensile specimens were fabricated for different fill rates and speeds and tensile tests were performed. Increasing the fill rate increases the tensile strength. Increasing or decreasing the print speed too much has a negative effect on tensile strength. Filament usage and printing times were also calculated. With the data obtained, an optimization model was created using response surface methodology. The aim of this study is to optimize the strength/cost of ABS and PLA, the two preferred FFF materials. The novelty of the study is to investigate the strength/cost optimization for different material types in terms of UTS, filament consumption and printing speed. For each material type, high tensile strength, low printing time and low filament used conditions were determined for the optimization model. The optimum parameters for PLA are obtained at 66.77% fill level and 78.43% speed rate. For ABS, optimum values are obtained at 79.5% fill rate and 135% speed rate. Then, samples were produced for optimum conditions and experiments and calculations were repeated. The numerical results obtained with the model were compared with the experimental results. It is found that the model estimates the output parameters with high accuracy. This proves the accuracy of the proposed optimization model.

SCHOOL ADJUSTMENT IN THE DIGITALIZATION OF CHILDHOOD

Digital device usage among children is increasing every year (Scott, ). Preschoolers are regularly interacting with gadgets daily (Konca, ). This raises concerns about how digital experiences impact on the child school readiness and adaptation to school educational environment. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the gadget usage frequency among fi rst-grade students and their level of school adjustment. The fi nal sample consisted of  fi rst-grade students from Moscow (M = . months, SD = .). A semi-structured interview was conducted with each participant to determine their gadget usage time (in hours). Simultaneously, the study employed the school adjustment scale for teachers:  statements regarding child’s cognitive problem-solving, self-regulation, communication, and emotional comfort to diagnose the school adaptation level. Additionally, teachers provided information on each student’s academic profi ciency in mathematics, Russian language, and reading. Analyzing the obtained data using One-Way ANOVA, it was found that there are signifi cant differences in the school adjustment level among children who use gadgets with different frequencies (F = ., p = .). The study also revealed that the more hours a child spends using gadgets during the day, the lower their integral school adjustment score is (r = -., p = .). Signifi cant differences were mainly obtained for statements from the school adjustment scale related to cognitive and self-regulation components of adjustment, but not for the social-emotional component. No correlation was found with the academic profi ciency. Therefore, it can be inferred that self-regulation and cognitive components of a fi rst-grader’s school adjustment may be hindered in children who use gadgets for more than - hours per day, compared to their peers who use gadgets for about  hour per day. It is necessary to retest these fi ndings on a larger sample in a future research.

Multisegment Overlap–Save Method for Coherent Dedispersion

Dispersion occurs due to the interstellar medium, which functions as a prism and causes different time delays in radio waves of varying frequencies. The coherent dedispersion technique is often used in pulsar and fast radio burst observations to mitigate this phenomenon. The widely recognized Overlap–Save approach enables this dedispersion algorithm to efficiently perform long linear convolution. However, with the present implementation, the necessary filter length for dedispersion can reach 100 million points or more. The corresponding fast Fourier transform (FFT) points should be larger than this value and a GPU cluster can be used to tackle this demanding process. This study presents the Multisegment Overlap–Save Method (MS-OSM) to effectively address this problem. Our algorithm divides signal bands into separate short segments based on frequency component delays during dedispersion. By using the short segments shuffling technique with the Overlap-Save structure, MS-OSM can greatly reduce the FFT and inverse FFT points required down to fewer than 65,536 points. To evaluate the performance of MS-OSM, a synthetic pulsar signal is created and verified using standard software tools like DSPSR and PRESTO. The results show that MS-OSM maintains the same resolution while reducing execution time and resource usage. The validation of MS-OSM is taken by processing real pulsar observation data.

„Das Kind hat mehr Zeit als wir.“ Zeitwahrnehmung bei Kindern und Erwachsenen in Michael Endes Momo

The concepts of time and time perception are crucial in this article. Moreover, the fact that time is perceived differently from children to adults is exemplified through theory and practice. The main object of analysis is the cult classic fantasy novel Momo by Michael Ende. Published in 1973, the book emphasizes the fact that children and adults have different visions and different usage of time. While children seem to have time in abundance, focusing on play and fun ways to spend it, adults fear they don’t have enough time on their hands. Michael Ende proposes a possible worlds dystopic scenario in which relentless and cunning so-called time-thieves have power over human time. It is only little Momo with her unique, effortless approach to temporality that can save humankind from extinction. Counting on his readership being entertained by his book, Michael Ende’s novel also has the power to make us highly aware of the consequences of poor time management. For this reason, the following article also ponders over the moralizing aspects of this timeless novel.

Digital Screen Usage Amongst Doctors: Demographics, Patterns of Use and Effect of Health Parameters

Background: Advances in digital technology have led to widespread availability of digital devices and consequent increased usage amongst across the population including practising healthcare professionals. Increased ‘Digital Screen time’ and its effect on physical, psychological health, and sleep patterns has been predominantly evaluated in children, adolescents and adults from various walks of life. Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this survey was to evaluate the impact of Digital Screen usage (time and patterns) spent on portable and desktop digital devices amongst physicians, surgeons and radiologists. Material &amp; Methods: An online cross-sectional survey of an 11-part questionnaire (multiple choice questions and free text box) was circulated amongst orthopaedic surgeons, radiologists and physicians in India and the UK, to evaluate demographics, speciality and place of practice; Digital platform usage reasons and time; effect on mental health, physical health, sleep time amongst practising healthcare professionals. Results: There was an even spread amongst the various age groups. Smartphones were the commonest device utilised for digital screening in 90 (67.7%) doctors with 29 (38.5%) of doctors reporting more than five hours of daily screen time. Sixty-three (47%) of doctors used this for academic purposes, whereas 43 (32%) used it for entertainment more than for academic purposes. Thirty-nine doctors (29%) were unaware of whether screen usage affected mental health. Seventy-two (53%) were of the opinion that screen usage was having a negative effect on their physical health whilst 81 (60%) thought that it was having an adverse effect on their sleeping time respectively. Conclusion: A significant proportion of doctors appear to be using digital devices beyond the recommended ‘Digital Screen time’ by various national or international healthcare organisations. There is an emerging need to highlight the deleterious effect of excessive ‘Digital Screen time’ on various health parameters and be part of a global health narrative to mitigate ill-effects and a sustainable lifestyle.

Research on temperature control of smartwatch based on composite phase change material

The smartwatch is one of the most widely used wearable electronics, which combines networking, health monitoring, communication, and other multifunctional features. As it gets smaller, more integrated, and denser, its power consumption increases. Owing to its strong sealing and waterproof capabilities, the equipment has trouble dissipating the heat produced during operation, which raises the equipment's temperature. Since smartwatches come into direct contact with human skin, they can burn skin when temperatures rise beyond 45 °C. Phase change material (PCM) is suitable for thermal management of intermittent electronic devices because they absorb a large amount of heat and can maintain a constant temperature during the phase transition, which means that they absorb heat when the device is in use and release heat when it is out of use. In this study, paraffin wax (PA) is used as the phase change material, styrene ethylene butylene styrene (SEBS) is used as the flexible support material, and expanded graphite (EG) is used as the thermal conductivity enhancer to prepare PCM sheets for thermal management of smartwatches. The effects of SEBS and EG on the shape stability, enthalpy, and thermal conductivity of the composite phase change material (CPCM) with different ratios were investigated, in which PA:SEBS of 7:3 has better shape stability, so CPCM with a PA:SEBS ratio of 7:3 and different EG contents was used to make PCM sheet, which were placed in the smartwatch, and it was verified experimentally that this PCM sheet could delay the temperature rise of the case and chip of the smartwatch and prolong its usage time. This CPCM is promising for smartwatch thermal management applications.