User Education Research Articles

Juice Jacking Defender

In an increasingly digital world, the proliferation of mobile devices has led to a growing dependence on public charging stations. However, these ubiquitous amenities also present a hidden danger: the threat of juice jacking. Juice jacking occurs when unsuspecting users connect their devices to compromised charging ports, inadvertently exposing their sensitive data to malicious actors. The “Juice Jacking Defender” project emerges as a proactive response to this pressing security concern. Through meticulous research, design, and development, this initiative seeks to create a robust defense mechanism against juice jacking attacks. By leveraging innovative technology, including portable devices or software solutions, the project aims to empower users with the means to detect and prevent potential security breaches while charging their devices in public spaces. Key components of the project include comprehensive analysis of existing juice jacking vulnerabilities and attack vectors, the creation of user-friendly interfaces for seamless interaction, and the implementation of sophisticated security measures to safeguard user data and device integrity. Rigorous testing ensures the effectiveness of the solution across diverse charging environments and device configurations. Moreover, the “Juice Jacking Defender” project extends beyond mere technical implementation. It places a strong emphasis on user education and awareness, striving to inform individuals about the risks associated with public charging stations and promote best practices for secure charging habits. Additionally, the project fosters collaboration with industry stakeholders, device manufacturers, and cybersecurity experts to advocate for improved security standards and regulations governing public charging infrastructure. Through continuous evaluation, feedback integration, and future enhancements, the “Juice Jacking Defender” project aims to evolve alongside emerging threats and technological advancements. By championing innovation, education, and collaboration, it seeks to establish a safer charging environment, thereby ensuring user confidence and privacy in an increasingly interconnected world.

An Analytical Study of use of UPI Payment Gateways among Post Graduate students in PCMC

— This analytical study investigates the usage patterns, preferences, and perceptions surrounding the adoption of UPI (Unified Payments Interface) payment gateways among postgraduate students. With the rapid proliferation of digital payment solutions in India, understanding the dynamics of UPI adoption among this demographic group is crucial for promoting financial inclusion and driving the transition towards a cashless economy. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to gather comprehensive insights into postgraduate students' experiences with UPI payment gateways. Key findings reveal a high level of awareness and adoption of UPI among postgraduate students, driven by factors such as convenience, security, and accessibility. Certain UPI platforms emerge as preferred choices, influenced by transaction speed, user interface design, and additional features. However, challenges such as security concerns and technical issues persist, warranting targeted interventions to enhance user education and address usability issues. The study underscores the importance of tailored strategies to promote UPI adoption among diverse student populations and highlights the potential of digital payment solutions to drive financial literacy and empower the youth. Recommendations for UPI service providers, educational institutions, and policymakers are provided to optimize the adoption and usage of UPI payment gateways among postgraduate students, contributing to the advancement of India's digital payment ecosystem. Keywords— UPI Payments, Students, Online Payment

Designing Android-Based Smart Apps Creator Learning Media to Improve Critical Thinking Skills

The rapid evolution of technology in education necessitates innovative approaches to enhance critical thinking skills, a vital competency in the 21st century. This study aims to design and evaluate Android-based learning media using the Smart Apps Creator (SAC) platform, targeting the improvement of critical thinking skills among students in the educational technology course in the information technology education study program of the faculty of teacher training and education at Bina Bangsa University, Banten, Indonesia. The research adopts the ADDIE model, encompassing Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation phases. The developed learning media consists of interactive components, including a main page, learning objectives, usage instructions, educational materials, and evaluation exercises. The media was evaluated by four expert validators for content and media validity, yielding scores of 93% and 91%, respectively, categorized as "very valid." Practicality was assessed through student feedback, with an average score of 89.5%, indicating "very practical" usability. Effectiveness was measured through pre-test and post-test evaluations, showing a significant improvement in critical thinking skills with an average effectiveness score of 90.5%. These results highlight the learning media's capability to enhance engagement and foster critical thinking skills effectively. The study underscores the potential of SAC-based applications as a scalable solution for integrating interactive and student-centered learning tools into higher education. Future research could explore the application of such media across various educational contexts and its impact on other 21st-century competencies.

Barriers and Benefits: Understanding Riders’ Views on Pooled Rideshare in the U.S

This manuscript provides actionable recommendations to enhance user satisfaction and address existing barriers regarding pooled rideshare (PR) in the United States. Despite PR’s intended benefits, such as reduced traffic congestion and cost savings, its adoption remains limited. To identify these actionable items, a U.S. nationwide survey with 5385 participants explored transportation preferences, barriers, and motivators for PR use in the summer of 2021. First, two factor analyses were conducted. The first factor analysis identified the five factors associated with one’s willingness to consider PR (time/cost, traffic/environment, safety, privacy, and service experience). The second factor analysis revealed the four factors related to ways to optimize one’s PR experience (comfort/ease of use, convenience, vehicle technology/accessibility, and passenger safety). Privacy concerns, for instance, were found to reduce the likelihood of PR adoption by 77%, and convenience had the potential to increase it by 156%. A structural equation model evaluated the relationships among these nine key factors influencing PR usage to develop the Pooled Rideshare Acceptance Model (PRAM). The privacy, safety, trust service, and convenience factors each had a significant large effect (Cohen’s f2 > 0.35) on the model. PRAM was extended using multigroup analyses to reveal the nuanced impact of 16 demographics, including gender, generation, rideshare experience, etc., highlighting the need for tailored strategies to improve PR acceptance through the Pooled Rideshare Acceptance Model Multigroup Analyses (PRAMMAs). Multiple workshops were held with diverse audiences to translate the team’s findings to date into 84 actionable recommendations, categorized across topical areas like safety, routing, driver and passenger selection, user education, etc. These findings are a foundation for a future study to determine which items resonate with different user groups. In the meantime, the actional items serve as a user-driven resource for policymakers, transportation network companies, and researchers, offering a roadmap to potential improvements to PR services to address existing concerns with the goal of increasing the usage of PR.

The Development of User-Centric Design Guidelines for Web3 Applications: An Empirical Study

The design of Web3 applications presents unique challenges due to their complex technical requirements. Despite the increasing spread of this technology, there is a notable lack of comprehensive, empirically grounded design guidelines for developing user-friendly Web3 interfaces. This study addresses this gap through a systematic three-phase approach: (1) developing initial guidelines from a literature review and industry sources (n = 31), (2) conducting evaluations using a 14-point framework based on the initial guidelines to test its effectiveness across diverse Web3 applications (n = 25), and (3) validating refined guidelines through expert evaluation sessions (n = 7). Expert evaluations highlighted the need for task-oriented rather than category-based organization of design principles. Based on these findings, we developed a structured framework organizing guidelines into four key task flows, each with three implementation levels. The framework emphasizes progressive disclosure of blockchain concepts, integrated user education, and clear state visualization. Our findings contribute to academic discussion and industry practice by providing empirically validated patterns for Web3 interface design. This study lays a foundation for creating more accessible and user-friendly decentralized applications, though future work should focus on longitudinal validation and adaptation to emerging technologies.

Avatars at Risk: Exploring Public Response to Sexual Violence in Immersive Digital Spaces

As the metaverse emerges as a new frontier of human interaction, understanding public perceptions of crime in virtual spaces becomes crucial. This study delves into public perceptions of such crimes, focusing on reported incidents of sexual assault in virtual reality environments. We uncover complex dynamics, shaping threat perception in immersive digital realms by analysing YouTube comments through an innovative mixed-methods approach combining machine learning and empirical analysis. Our findings reveal that social norms and expectations are pivotal in influencing perceptions of threats, while technology-mediated interactions correlate with reduced perceived risks. Surprisingly, the oft-discussed blurring of virtual and physical realities shows no significant impact on threat perception. This research contributes to the expanding literature on the social construction of reality and public perception of emerging technologies. The results have implications for the development and governance of metaverse platforms, highlighting the necessity for comprehensive user education initiatives and culturally sensitive approaches to community guidelines and safety features.

European ILD registry algorithm for self-assessment in interstitial lung diseases (eurILDreg ASA-ILD).

Predicting progression and prognosis in Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD), especially Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis (PPF), remains a challenge. Integrating patient-centered measurements is essential for earlier and safer detection of disease progression. Home monitoring through e-health technologies, such as spirometry and oximetry connected to smartphone applications, holds promise for early detection of ILD progression or acute exacerbations, enabling timely therapeutic interventions. The European ILD Registry Algorithm for Self-Assessment in ILD (eurILDreg ASA-ILD), developed by all eurILDreg principal investigators, includes questionnaires on symptom burden, respiratory infections, and quality of life (EQ5D VAS, K-BILD, LCQ). The algorithm also incorporates spirometry and oxygen saturation measurements, both at rest and during exercise (one-minute sit-to-stand test, 1STST). This ASA-ILD algorithm is integrated into the patientMpower Ltd. smartphone application, used for patient-led monitoring, research, and clinical care since 2016, and available on both Apple and Android platforms. For patient-centered measurements, participants in the multicenter eurILDreg study will receive a patientMpower account, a handheld clinical-grade spirometer (Spirobank Smart, MIR, Italy), and a pulse oximeter (Nonin Medical, Inc. Plymouth, MN, USA), along with usage instructions. Artificial intelligence software (ArtiQ) will analyze spirometry maneuvers in real-time, ensuring compliance with recentERS/ATS criteria and providing automated feedback. Pulse oximetry is integrated into the exercise testing within the application, following an automated in-app protocol developed with clinician involvement for safety and accuracy. The application will send reminders to participants to complete patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) according to the study protocol. This study is designed to explore the potential of e-Health technologies, such as home monitoring via spirometry and oximetry, integrated with the eurILDreg ASA-ILD algorithm and patientMpower app, to improve early detection and management of ILD. A pilot trial showed promising adherence to spirometry, indicating that digital health interventions could enhance patient care and outcomes in ILD. The ethics committee of the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen has approved the eurILDreg and this substudy with the protocol reference number 111/08. The research was conducted strictly according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Patients were included into the registry upon having signed the informed consent. The eurIPFreg and eurIPFbank are listed in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02951416). EurILDreg is registered in German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS 00028968.

Abstract IA04: Evaluating and mitigating medical misinformation risk in large language models

Abstract Background: Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used to generate medical content, yet their inherent design to follow user instructions may leave them vulnerable to producing misinformation. This risk becomes especially pronounced when LLMs generate incorrect medical information that could adversely affect human health. A propensity to comply with prompts, even when these lead to illogical or false information, highlights a critical gap in their safety, especially in high-stakes fields like healthcare. Methods: We evaluated the behavior of five LLMs—Llama3-8B, Llama3-70B, GPT4o-mini, GPT4o, and GPT-4-0613—by observing their compliance with prompts to generate misleading medical information. Specifically, the LLMs were prompted to suggest that a brand name drug was safer than its generic counterpart, a request with no basis in factual medical reasoning. We tested whether using prompt-based methods and instruction-tuning could enhance the models' ability to detect and resist generating content based on illogical premises. These safety approaches were evaluated in both medical and non-medical contexts to assess generalizability. Results: All five LLMs, despite accurately identifying the equivalence between brand and generic drugs, generated misleading medical content in response to overtly false prompts in over 50% of cases. Instruction-tuning and prompt-based techniques showed promise in reducing misinformation: models became better at detecting logical inconsistencies and were more likely to refuse requests that would result in misinformation, often providing explanations for their refusals. Furthermore, instruction-tuned LLMs showed improved safety behavior not only in medical contexts but also in non-medical domains without compromising performance on standard benchmarks. Conclusions: This study highlights a key vulnerability in LLMs: their tendency to comply with user requests even when it leads to medical misinformation. This compliance, particularly in generating content with flawed or incorrect logic, poses a significant safety issue for both individual and public health. The current safety and performance benchmarks for LLMs fail to account for this harmful behavior, underscoring an urgent need for new development approaches that prioritize logic and factual accuracy. Addressing this issue is essential to creating LLMs that are both useful and safe in medical and other high-stakes applications. Citation Format: Shan Chen, Mingye Gao, Kuleen Sasse, Thomas Hartvigsen, Brian Anthony, Lizhou Fan, Jack Gallifant, Danielle D. Bitterman. Evaluating and mitigating medical misinformation risk in large language models. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Translating Targeted Therapies in Combination with Radiotherapy; 2025 Jan 26-29; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2025;31(2_Suppl):Abstract nr IA04

EstiMAge: development of a DNA methylation clock to estimate the methylation age of single cells.

Since their introduction about 10 years ago, methylation clocks have provided broad insights into the biological age of different species, tissues, and in the context of several diseases or aging. However, their application to single-cell methylation data remains a major challenge, because of the inherent sparsity of such data, as many CpG sites are not covered. A methylation clock applicable on single-cell level could help to further disentangle the processes that drive the ticking of epigenetic clocks. We have developed estiMAge ("estimation of Methylation Age"), a framework that exploits redundancy in methylation data to substitute missing CpGs of trained methylation clocks in single cells. Using Euclidean distance as a measure of similarity, we determine which CpGs covary with the required CpG sites of an epigenetic clock and can be used as surrogates for clock CpGs not covered in single-cell experiments. estiMAge is thus a tool that can be applied to standard epigenetic clocks built on elastic net regression, to achieve bulk and single-cell resolution. We show that estiMAge can accurately predict the ages of young and old hepatocytes and can be used to generate single-cell versions of publicly available epigenetic clocks. The source code and instructions for usage of estiMAge are available at https://github.com/DivEpigenetics/estiMAge.

Perceived Influence of Innovation Management on Library Service Delivery in Selected Academic Libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria

The growing need for innovation management in every component and operations of academic libraries cannot be overemphasized. This study the perceived influence of innovation management on library service delivery in selected academic libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria. The study adopts cross-sectional research design, and questionnaire was adopted for data collection. Out of one hundred and thirty (130) copies of questionnaire administered, only ninety-five (95) were returned completely and valid for the study. The findings indicated that the most adopted innovation management practices include e-learning, innovative human resource management, knowledge management, technology innovation, and leadership competence. The findings showed that the library services provided include circulation/reader services, user education, internet and email services, and research and training services. The findings revealed that innovation management positively influences library service delivery by enhancing knowledge sharing, supporting adaptability, boosting user engagement, fostering staff development, improving access to information, and expanding service delivery. The findings revealed that challenges associated with managing innovation include limited budgets, inadequate staff skills, difficulties in resource management, infrastructure deficiencies, and resistance to change. Results showed that the perceived benefits of innovation management include efficient service delivery, enhanced library image, improved user retention, effective resource use, increased user satisfaction, reduced theft/mutilation, and better organization of resources. The study concludes that with the benefits of innovation management in enhancing efficiency, improved user experiences, and better resource management, libraries still face challenges in implementing innovations. Academic libraries should prioritize fostering an innovation culture and enhancing financial literacy skills among staff.

Optimizing Policy for Online Seaman Book Services at the Class III Gorontalo Port Authority and Harbor Master's Office

This study aims to evaluate and analyze the development of online Seafarer Book services at the Port Authority and Syahbandar Class III Gorontalo Office, focusing on various aspects of public service theory indicators such as tangibles, empathy, reliability, responsiveness, and assurance. This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study design, focusing on implementing the online Seafarer Book service. Data is collected through interviews, observations, and document reviews from various stakeholders involved in providing services. The findings show that the online Sailor Book service has improved service efficiency but faces challenges regarding system reliability, user education, and infrastructure support. The study identifies key areas for improvement, including improving the reliability of online systems, better training for users in using the system and improving the physical and technical infrastructure to support services. The study concluded that while online Seafarer’s Book services have the potential to significantly improve seafarers’ documentation processes, ongoing improvements and adjustments are needed to address the challenges identified. Improving system reliability and user support is critical to the success of the online service model.

Spatial distribution and determinants of improved shared sanitation facilities among households in Ethiopia: Using 2019 mini-Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey.

Limited or shared sanitation services are considered improved sanitation facilities, but they are shared between two or more households. Globally, 600 million people use shared toilet facilities. Although shared facilities are not classified as improved sanitation due to potential infection risks, inaccessibility, and safety concerns, this is a significant issue in developing countries like Ethiopia. Evidence on the distribution of shared sanitation services and their determinants in Ethiopia is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the extent of shared toilet facilities and their determinants among households in Ethiopia. The 2019 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) served as the basis for the cross-sectional secondary data analysis. The analysis included a total of 7,770 households from the weighted sample. STATA 14 software was used to clean, weigh, and analyze the data. To explore the distribution and determine the factors associated with shared toilet facilities in Ethiopia, both spatial and mixed-effect analyses were utilized. A p-value of less than 0.05 was used to display the relationships between the dependent and independent variables, employing adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. The magnitude of improved shared sanitation facilities among households in Ethiopia, according to the EDHS 2019, was 10.5% (95% CI: 9.88, 11.24). The prevalence was highest in Addis Ababa at 70.2% and lowest in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region at 2.4%. Individual-level variables significantly associated with the use of improved shared toilet facilities included being a household head aged 55 years or older [AOR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.33, 0.71], having secondary education or higher [AOR = 2.43; 95% CI: 1.80, 3.28], and belonging to middle or rich wealth status [middle: AOR = 2.32; 95% CI: 1.35, 3.96; rich: AOR = 6.23; 95% CI: 3.84, 10.11]. Community-level characteristics such as residing in urban areas [AOR = 7.60; 95% CI: 3.47, 16.67], the metropolitan region [AOR = 25.83; 95% CI: 10.1, 66.3], and periphery regions [AOR = 5.01; 95% CI: 2.40, 10.48] were also associated with the use of shared toilet facilities. The usage of improved shared toilet facilities among households in Ethiopia is relatively low. Significant factors related to the use of shared toilet facilities were being 55 years of age or older, possessing secondary or higher education, having a middle or rich wealth status, living in urban areas, and residing in metropolitan or peripheral regions. To improve access to and utilization of shared sanitation facilities, Ethiopian policy should emphasize user education and awareness.

The Impact of Health Literacy on Consumer Knowledge of Mask and Hand Sanitizer Use in Post-Pandemic Korea.

The COVID-19 pandemic increased people's reliance on masks and hand sanitizers, highlighting the critical role of health literacy (HL) in effectively using these preventive measures. This study aimed to assess how HL influences consumers' comprehension of product labels for masks and hand sanitizers in post-pandemic Korea. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in September 2023 among 500 Korean adults aged 20-69. The participants completed a questionnaire measuring HL and their knowledge of mask and hand sanitizer labels using the Korean Health Literacy Assessment Tool. The respondents were classified into high- and low-literacy groups, and statistical analyses (chi-squared tests, t-tests, and logistic regression analyses) were employed to compare label comprehension between the groups. High HL was observed in 31.6% of participants, demonstrating significantly better label-reading habits, including greater recognition of quasi-drug designations, usage instructions, and safety precautions (p < 0.001). The logistic regression analysis revealed that high-HL participants were more likely to correctly identify mask-related information (OR 2.56, 95% CI: 1.69-3.89) and demonstrate hand sanitizer-related knowledge (OR 5.39, 95% CI: 3.31-8.77) than their counterparts. Demographic factors such as age, gender, or education showed no significant associations with label comprehension. Higher HL is strongly associated with better comprehension of mask and hand sanitizer labels, underscoring its importance in public health communication. Enhancing HL is essential in promoting the safe use of preventive products during health emergencies. Public health initiatives should prioritize improving health literacy to ensure more effective communication and safer practices during future health crises.

Strategi Pencegahan Cybercrime pada Data Pribadi di Media Sosial

The development of information and communication technology in the digital era has a significant impact on the protection of personal data on social media. Rapid digitization not only facilitates data distribution and storage, but also increases the risk of cybercrime such as data theft, hacking, phishing and cyberbullying. This study aims to analyze effective prevention strategies in protecting personal information on social media. Using a qualitative approach through literature studies, questionnaires, as well as data analysis from trusted sources such as scientific journals and articles accessed through Google Scholar and Mendeley, this research found that users' awareness of personal data security is still low. The results show that many users have not implemented adequate preventive measures, such as changing passwords regularly or utilizing security features provided by social media platforms. Proposed prevention strategies include user education, strong password enforcement, account privacy settings, and increased awareness of cyber threats.

EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION IN MITIGATING CYBER THREATS IN DIGITAL BANKING PLATFORM IN GHANA

With the rapid growth of digital banking platforms in Ghana, cyber threats have become a major concern for financial institutions and consumers alike. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) has emerged as a critical security measure to protect sensitive financial data and prevent unauthorized access to digital banking systems. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of MFA in mitigating cyber threats within the Ghanaian digital banking ecosystem. The research investigates how various MFA methods, including SMS-based one-time passwords (OTPs), biometric verification, and hardware tokens, contribute to enhancing the security posture of banks operating in Ghana. Through a combination of quantitative data analysis and expert interviews, the study examines the extent to which MFA reduces risks such as phishing attacks, account takeovers, and unauthorized transactions. It also explores the user experience and adoption challenges associated with MFA, including its impact on customer convenience and trust. By analysing real-world cyber incidents in Ghanaian banks, the study identifies gaps in current MFA implementations and suggests areas for improvement. The findings reveal that while MFA significantly lowers the risk of cyberattacks, factors such as user education, infrastructure reliability, and the sophistication of cybercriminals impact its overall effectiveness. The study concludes with policy recommendations for financial institutions, suggesting a more layered approach to security, the integration of advanced authentication techniques, and the importance of fostering user awareness to combat evolving cyber threats in Ghana's digital banking sector.

Inverter technology and the role of the user behavior: Towards a more efficient use of energy

The article analyzes the energy efficiency of air conditioning (AC) systems with inverter technology compared to On/Off systems, highlighting the importance of user behavior in energy consumption. AC is essential for comfort and health, but it also contributes significantly to CO2 emissions due to high energy consumption. Inverter technology can reduce energy consumption by maintaining a more stable internal temperature and reducing operating costs and emissions in comparison with On/Off systems. However, incorrect use by users, such as turning the AC to maximum capacity and then reducing it, lead to energy inefficiencies. Thus, users play a crucial role in the control to improve energy efficiency. It has been studied that the participation of users in temperature management and the advanced technologies use optimize energy consumption and reduce environmental impact. i.e., the adoption of inverter systems and user education are essential to achieve a more sustainable and efficient use of energy in hot climate areas.

REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN MALE-CENTRIC ELECTRONIC MEDIA ADVERTISING (BASED ON TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENTS RELATED TO PERFUMES)

The process of introducing products and services to consumers is called advertising. Television advertisements have the ability to quickly and easily engage consumers with attractive content. The tendency to use women in advertising is a common feature. Women are used to sell products and services in all categories. Accordingly, whether women are used as merchandise for the sale of men's products in the advertising process was studied here. Ten television advertisements related to selected perfumes featuring female portrayals were chosen for the study. For what purpose has the woman been used in these advertisements, it was examined through six subjective criteria. Analyzing advertisements involves examining how they disclose product content, introduce usage instructions and highlight the target customer and social strata associated with the product, service, or ideology. Depicting the balance of space as well as vitality, depicting a characterization that lends fictional value to advertising work, a responsible declaration of faith is associated with individual identity in civil society. It was also possible to identify advertisements using women in a way that does not apply to these criteria. Nor do their depictions of women show any link to the practical functions of the production, marketing, or consumption process. These often include models, costumes and props, poses, constructions of events, and evocations that seek to transcend the function of consumption and highlight the masculinity of femininity. Television advertisements of this genre directly identify women as erotic commodities.

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

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

Tool Learning with Foundation Models

Humans possess an extraordinary ability to create and utilize tools. With the advent of foundation models, artificial intelligence systems have the potential to be equally adept in tool use as humans. This paradigm, which is dubbed as tool learning with foundation models , combines the strengths of tools and foundation models to achieve enhanced accuracy, efficiency, and automation in problem-solving. This article presents a systematic investigation and comprehensive review of tool learning. We first introduce the background of tool learning, including its cognitive origins, the paradigm shift of foundation models, and the complementary roles of tools and models. Then we recapitulate existing tool learning research and formulate a general framework: starting from understanding the user instruction, models should learn to decompose a complex task into several subtasks, dynamically adjust their plan through reasoning, and effectively conquer each sub-task by selecting appropriate tools. We also discuss how to train models for improved tool-use capabilities and facilitate generalization in tool learning. Finally, we discuss several open problems that require further investigation, such as ensuring trustworthy tool use, enabling tool creation with foundation models, and addressing personalization challenges. Overall, we hope this article could inspire future research in integrating tools with foundation models.

The role of TikTok in user well-being and education: a study on psychological effects on learning during COVID-19

The role of TikTok in user well-being and education: a study on psychological effects on learning during COVID-19