In recent decades, three‐dimensional (3D) printing as an emerging technology, has been utilized for imparting human anatomy knowledge. However, most 3D printed models are rigid anatomical replicas ...that are unable to represent dynamic spatial relationships between different anatomical structures. In this study, the data obtained from a computed tomography (CT) scan of a normal knee joint were used to design and fabricate a functional knee joint simulator for anatomical education. Utility of the 3D printed simulator was evaluated in comparison with traditional didactic learning in first‐year medical students (n = 35), so as to understand how the functional 3D simulator could assist in their learning of human anatomy. The outcome measure was a quiz comprising 11 multiple choice questions based on locking and unlocking of the knee joint. Students in the simulation group (mean score = 85.03%, ±SD 10.13%) performed significantly better than those in the didactic learning group, P < 0.05 (mean score = 70.71%, ±SD 15.13%), which was substantiated by large effect size, as shown by a Cohen’s d value of 1.14. In terms of learning outcome, female students who used 3D printed simulators as learning aids achieved greater improvement in their quiz scores as compared to male students in the same group. However, after correcting for the modality of instruction, the sex of the students did not have a significant influence on the learning outcome. This randomized study has demonstrated that the 3D printed simulator is beneficial for anatomical education and can help in enriching students’ learning experience.
Taiwan’s forest resources are abundant, diverse, and of high quality. However, Taiwan’s self-sufficiency rate for timber is only 1.2%. How to build Taiwan’s local wooden furniture brand to improve ...quality of life and achieve sustainable development is worth considering. This study adopted a qualitative research method using Taiwan’s local carbon-negative furniture brand “Forest in Living” as a case study. We used communication theory to construct a conceptual model that was then used to analyze the design and promotion of furniture. Carbon-negative furniture makes people feel like they are living and breathing deep in the forest, which is one of the best ways to reduce one’s carbon footprint. The Forest in Living furniture is full of Taiwanese characteristics and firmly captures the country’s foundation and soul. The designers have great respect for wood and strong control over the characteristics of the material, and the furniture has unique characteristics and rich content. In the future, we will further study the findings of this paper by inviting consumers to express their views on the design concepts and finished products of this type of furniture, which will be used to examine whether the design concepts can be recognized by consumers.
The advent of new technologies in medical imaging and 3D printing in recent years has made customization of surgical tools and implants more accessible, revolutionizing many surgical fields. In many ...human diseases, these implants have led to superior surgical outcomes and greatly improved patients' quality of life. Thus, it is of great interest to apply these technologies to the treatment of animal diseases. In this study, we report the use of computed tomography (CT) and 3D printing for the treatment of a Great Hornbill at Jurong Bird Park that was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the casque. A 3D printed prosthesis that perfectly fitted the subject was implanted to replace its resected casque. The subject exhibited natural eating behaviour with no post-operative complications. Using this case as an example, the positive outcomes suggest a great potential in applying these technologies to the treatment of other wildlife diseases.
Bioelectricity has been a fundamental property of all living organisms. With electrical stimulation, living cells can interact with their microenvironments, which makes electrical stimulation highly ...beneficial for various biomedical applications. However, traditional electrical stimulation mainly relies on bulky and complex equipment, which may not be ideal due to the restriction of movement, limited battery lifetime, uncomfortable wearing, and potential unfriendly to the environment. The advent of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) has helped to resolve the existing limitations. TENGs are effective energy harvesting systems that use a mix of triboelectrification and electrostatic induction to create electrical energy from kinetic energy. TENGs deliver self‐powered electrical stimulation to bone cells for functional regulation or bone regeneration, serve as sensors to detect biological signals or movements, or act as a power source for other biomedical devices. TENGs can be employed in various applications, including enhancing bone regeneration, providing sensing function, slowing bone aging, and curing implant‐related infections. The recent applications of TENGs in bone tissue engineering are reviewed, and the drawbacks of the TENGs are discussed. Finally, the existing challenges and future roadmap for developing TENGs are presented.
Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are effective and cutting‐edge energy harvesting systems that can deliver self‐powered electrical stimulation to bone cells for functional regulation or bone regeneration, serve as sensors to detect biological signals or movements, and act as a power source for other biomedical devices. Besides bone tissue engineering, TENGs also have great potential in other biomedical applications.
Abstract Objective This paper is an exploratory study that investigates Singaporean women's acceptance of using mobile phones to seek health information. Method A mobile web containing health topics ...was developed to track Singaporean women's actual use of their mobile phones to seek health information. A survey questionnaire measured variables hypothesized to predict Behavioural Intention. The survey responses were then matched to the data collected on actual use. Correlation analysis and hierarchical regression were used to analyze the data collected. Results Findings revealed that Perceived Usefulness and Self-efficacy positively predicted the intention to use mobile phones to seek health information. The study also confirmed the presence of an intention–behaviour gap among participants. The conversion of intention to actual behaviour hinges on technical concerns and design factors. Prior experiences with health information seeking reinforced women's evaluations of the usefulness of the mobile web application and helped them to feel more self-efficacious about using their mobile phones to seek health information. Using mobile phones to seek health information was found to be complementary to online health information seeking and can be regarded as an alternative source to the internet for seeking health information. Conclusion This study contributes to the existing literature by applying the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in the context of mobile health information seeking, for which there has been a lack of studies, and demonstrated that the inclusion of additional variables can enhance TAM's predictive power. The empirical presence of an intention–behaviour gap calls for future research to investigate the reasons behind the gap. Finally, the findings from this study can serve as input to promote women's use of mobile phones for better self-management of health.
Weight is perceived through the combination of multiple sensory systems, and a wide range of factors - including touch, visual, and force senses - can influence the perception of heaviness. There ...have been remarkable advancements in the development of haptic interfaces throughout the years. However, a number of challenges limit the progression to enable humans to sense the weight in virtual reality (VR). This article presents an overview of the factors that influence how weight is perceived and the phenomenon that contributes to various types of weight illusions. A systematic review has been undertaken to assess the development of weight perception in VR, underlying haptic technology that renders the mass of a virtual object, and the creation of weight perception through pseudo-haptic. We summarize the approaches from the perspective of haptic and pseudo-haptic cues that exhibit the sense of weight such as force, skin deformation, vibration, inertia, control-display ratio, velocity, body gestures, and audio-visual representation. The design challenges are underlined, and research gaps are discussed, including accuracy and precision, weight discrimination, heavyweight rendering, and absolute weight simulation. This article is anticipated to aid in the development of more realistic weight perception in VR and stimulated new research interest in this topic.
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