• Title/Summary/Keyword: COVID-Pandemic

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A Study on a Method for Detecting Leak Holes in Respirators Using IoT Sensors

  • Woochang Shin
    • International journal of advanced smart convergence
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    • v.12 no.4
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    • pp.378-385
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    • 2023
  • The importance of wearing respiratory protective equipment has been highlighted even more during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even if the suitability of respiratory protection has been confirmed through testing in a laboratory environment, there remains the potential for leakage points in the respirators due to improper application by the wearer, damage to the equipment, or sudden movements in real working conditions. In this paper, we propose a method to detect the occurrence of leak holes by measuring the pressure changes inside the mask according to the wearer's breathing activity by attaching an IoT sensor to a full-face respirator. We designed 9 experimental scenarios by adjusting the degree of leak holes of the respirator and the breathing cycle time, and acquired respiratory data for the wearer of the respirator accordingly. Additionally, we analyzed the respiratory data to identify the duration and pressure change range for each breath, utilizing this data to train a neural network model for detecting leak holes in the respirator. The experimental results applying the developed neural network model showed a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 94.29%, and accuracy of 97.53%. We conclude that the effective detection of leak holes can be achieved by incorporating affordable, small-sized IoT sensors into respiratory protective equipment.

A Case Study on Business Continuity following the Establishment of a Soho Fashion Shopping Mall: Longitudinal Research (소호패션쇼핑몰 창업 후 사업지속에 대한 사례연구: 종단적 연구를 중심으로)

  • Mi Young Son
    • Human Ecology Research
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    • v.62 no.1
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    • pp.1-13
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    • 2024
  • This study analyzed the current operational status, business continuity, and business continuity strategies of 11 Soho fashion shopping malls through a longitudinal case study (2019/2020 and 2022/2023). The aim was to determine how Soho fashion shopping malls are continuing their business having been successfully established in the fiercely competitive current online fashion market. Regarding changes in shopping mall operation status, all cases displayed changes in items, distribution channels, marketing channels, core values, and profit structures. After establishing the businesses, a crisis arose due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to difficulties in creating new customers. Moreover, there was excessive business expansion, resulting in saturation of the online platform store market. This meant companies were experiencing reduced sales (5) or difficulties in maintaining their business (3). However, there were differences in the direction of overcoming the crisis and continuing or converting the business. These revealed that to continue the business after successful establishment of an online fashion shopping mall, it is essential to have the expertise of entrepreneurs, work performance, and marketing ability, as well as differentiation capabilities such as product power and management strategy and core competitiveness that provides a relative advantage over other shopping malls. Customized government support at the level of the start-up ecosystem is also essential for the survival and business continuity of a SOHO online fashion shopping mall with poor human and material resources.

How Does Social Media's Labeling Affect Users' Believability and Engagement? The Moderating Role of Regulatory Focus

  • Hui-Ying Han;Youngsok Bang
    • Asia pacific journal of information systems
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    • v.34 no.1
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    • pp.91-113
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    • 2024
  • In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, unsubstantiated information concerning vaccines and the coronavirus has proliferated on various social media platforms. Consequently, we have considered viable actions to mitigate the impact of such unverified content, enabling individuals to use social media platforms more effectively and minimize any ensuing confusion. Recent measures in this area have included YouTube's practice of labeling vaccine or corona videos as authoritative when emanating from reputable organizations and Twitter's practice of flagging vaccine-related content as potentially misleading or taken out of context. This study seeks to explore how such contrasting labeling practices influence users' believability and engagement differentially, while also examining the moderating impact of regulatory focus. The results indicate that authoritative labeling positively influenced users' believability and engagement, whereas misleading labeling adversely affected users' believability and engagement. Additionally, our findings revealed that authoritative labeling has a stronger impact on promotion-focused individuals, while misleading labeling has a more pronounced effect on prevention-focused individuals. Our findings offer insights into how social media platforms can design and present information to their users, taking into account their regulatory focus.

Optimization of disposable paper-based test strips for hypochlorous acid detection

  • Rita E. Ampiaw;Muhammad Yaqub;Changyeon Woo;Wontae Lee
    • Membrane and Water Treatment
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    • v.14 no.4
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    • pp.181-189
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    • 2023
  • The Covid-19 pandemic has increased demand for chlorine-based sanitizing solutions, most of which contain hypochlorous acid (HOCl) as an active agent. Free chlorine (HOCl) in these sanitizers is crucial for their efficacy. Disposable test strips are affordable and convenient tools for determining various qualitative and quantitative parameters. In this study, disposable opto-chemical test strips were developed by physically immobilizing 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and o-dianisidine (o-D) reagents on chromatography and filter paper-based test strips for the visualization and detection of free chlorine in the form of HOCl. The reagents undergo a rapid color change upon reaction with chlorine through a redox reaction. The paper-based test strips showed rapid color change within a minute and a low sample volume requirement (1 ml). This portable, disposable paper-based test strip is a simple and cost-effective way to rapidly detect the presence of HOCl sanitizers for home and field applications. Both TMB and o-D successfully detected chlorine. Chromatography paper proved to be the more efficient option among the two papers used as substrates for the reagents (TMB and o-D). It exhibited high retention capacity and high performance in terms of color transformation when reacting with HOCl, even after two months of storage.

Touchless Buttons for Elevators using a Capacitance Sensor and Analog Multiplexers (정전용량 센서와 아날로그 멀티플렉서를 이용한 엘리베이터용 비접촉 버튼)

  • Ji-Young Lee;Gwanghyeon Jeong;Jusung Kim;Dong-Ho Lee
    • Journal of IKEEE
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    • v.28 no.2
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    • pp.228-233
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    • 2024
  • Due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, various methods have been devised to prevent infections caused by physical contact. Among them, a non-contact button was developed to prevent infections in elevators, where many contacts occur in daily life. In this study, an active shield type capacitance sensor is used to detect changes in capacitance when a finger approaches. There is no static power consumption, and the relatively expensive ADC and MCU are reduced to one by sensing buttons every time using analog switches. In addition to the elevator buttons, this technology is expected to replace push-type buttons that many people contact in everyday life.

Korean Multinational Corporations' Global Expansion Strategies in Manufacturing Sector: Mother Factory Approach

  • Yong Ho Shin
    • International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.269-279
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    • 2024
  • The study explores the evolving landscape of overseas expansion strategies by Korean corporations, focusing on recent geopolitical tensions, the COVID-19 pandemic, and disruptions in global supply chains. It emphasizes the challenges faced by industries producing high-value products and delves into the concept of "Friend-Shoring" policies in the United States, leading major Korean companies to invest in local semiconductor, battery, and automotive factories. Recognizing the potential fragmentation of Korea's manufacturing sector, the paper introduces the "Mother Factory" strategy as a policy initiative, inspired by Japan's model, to establish core production facilities domestically. The discussion unfolds by examining the cases of major companies in Japan and the United States, highlighting the need for Korea to adopt a mother factory strategy to mitigate risks associated with friend-shoring policies. Inspired by Intel's "Copy Exactly" approach, the paper proposes a Korean mother factory model integrating smart factory technology and digital twin systems. This strategic shift aims to enhance responsiveness to geopolitical challenges and fortify the competitiveness of Korean high-tech industries. Finally, the paper proposes a Korean Mother Factory based on smart factory concepts. The suggested model integrates smart factory technology and digital twin frameworks to enhance responsiveness and fortify competitiveness. In conclusion, the paper advocates for the adoption of a comprehensive Korean Mother Factory model to address contemporary challenges, foster advanced manufacturing, and ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of Korean high-tech industries in the global landscape. The proposed strategy aligns with the evolving dynamics of the manufacturing sector and emphasizes technological advancements, collaboration, and strategic realignment.

Emerging Trends in Cloud-Based E-Learning: A Systematic Review of Predictors, Security and Themes

  • Noorah Abdullah Al manyi;Ahmad Fadhil Yusof;Ali Safaa Sadiq
    • KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.89-104
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    • 2024
  • Cloud-based e-learning (CBEL) represents a promising technological frontier. Existing literature has presented a diverse array of findings regarding the determinants that influence the adoption of CBEL. The primary objective of this study is to conduct an exhaustive examination of the available literature, aiming to determine the key predictors of CBEL utilization by employing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology. A comprehensive review of 35 articles was undertaken, shedding light on the status of CBEL as an evolving field. Notably, there has been a discernible downturn in related research output during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the temporal dynamics of this subject. It is noteworthy that a significant portion of this research has emanated from the Asian continent. Furthermore, the dominance of the technology acceptance model (TAM) in research frameworks is affirmed by our findings. Through a rigorous thematic analysis, our study identified five overarching themes, each encompassing a diverse range of sub-themes. These themes encompass 1) technological factors, 2) individual factors, 3) organizational factors, 4) environmental factors, and 5) security factors. This categorization provides a structured framework for understanding the multifaceted nature of CBEL adoption determinants. Our study serves as a compass, guiding future research endeavours in this domain. It underscores the imperative for further investigations utilizing diverse theoretical frameworks, contextual settings, research methodologies, and variables. This call for diversity and expansion in research efforts reflects the dynamic nature of CBEL and the evolving landscape of e-learning technologies.

Effects of Digital Shadow Work on Foreign Users' Emotions and Behaviors during the Use of Korean Online Shopping Sites

  • Pooja Khandagale;Joon Koh
    • Asia pacific journal of information systems
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    • v.33 no.2
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    • pp.389-417
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    • 2023
  • Social distancing required the use of doorstep delivery for nearly all purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Foreign users in Korea are forced to participate in superfluous tasks, leading to an increase in their anxiety and fatigue while online shopping. This study examines how digital shadow work stemming from the language barrier can affect the emotions and behaviors of foreign shoppers that use Korean shopping sites. By interviewing 37 foreign users in Korea, this draft examined their experiences, behaviors, and emotional output, classifying them into 14 codes and seven categories. Using grounded theory, we found that online shoppers' emotions, feelings, experiences, and decision making may be changed in the stages of the pre-use, use, and post-use activities. User responses regarding shadow work and related obstacles can be seen with the continue, discontinue, and optional (occasional use) of Korean online shopping sites. Pleasure and satisfaction come from high efficiency and privileges, whereas anger and disappointment come from poor self-confidence and pessimism. Furthermore, buyer behavior and product orientation are identified as intervening conditions, while the online vs. offline shopping experiences are identified as contextual conditions. In conclusion, language barriers and other factors make online shopping difficult for foreign shoppers, which negatively affects their psychological mechanisms and buying behaviors. The implications from the study findings and future research are also discussed.

Slipchip Device Development in Molecular Diagnostics

  • Qingtian Yin;Huiwen Bai;Ruijie Li;Youngung Seok
    • Korean Journal of Materials Research
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    • v.34 no.2
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    • pp.63-71
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    • 2024
  • Slipchip offers advantages such as high-throughout, low cost, and simple operation, and therefore, it is one of the technologies with the greatest potential for high-throughput, single-cell, and single-molecule analyses. Slipchip devices have achieved remarkable advances over the past decades, with its simplified molecular diagnostics gaining particular attention, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and in various infectious diseases scenarios. Medical testing based on nucleic acid amplification in the Slipchip has become a promising alternative simple and rapid diagnostic tool in field situations. Herein, we present a comprehensive review of Slipchip device advances in molecular diagnostics, highlighting its use in digital recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Slipchip technology allows users to conduct reliable droplet transfers with high-throughput potential for single-cell and molecule analyses. This review explores the device's versatility in miniaturized and rapid molecular diagnostics. A complete Slipchip device can be operated without special equipment or skilled handling, and provides high-throughput results in minimum settings. This review focuses on recent developments and Slipchip device challenges that need to be addressed for further advancements in microfluidics technology.

Study on Automatic Human Body Temperature Measurement System Based on Internet of Things

  • Quoc Cuong Nguyen;Quoc Huy Nguyen;Jaesang Cha
    • International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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    • v.16 no.2
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    • pp.50-58
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    • 2024
  • Body temperature plays an important role in medicine, some diseases are characterized by changes in human body temperature. Monitoring body temperature also allows doctors to monitor the effectiveness of medical treatments. Accurate body temperature measurement is key to detecting fevers, especially fevers related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that caused the recent Covid-19 pandemic in the world. The solution of measuring body temperature using a thermal camera is fast but has a high cost and is not suitable for some organizations with difficult economic conditions today. Use a medical thermometer to measure body temperature directly for a slow rate, making it easier to spread disease from person to person. In this paper, we propose a completely automatic body temperature measurement system that can adjust the height according to the person taking the measurement, has a measurement logging system and is monitored via the internet. Experimental results show that the proposed method has successfully created a fully automatic human body measurement system. Furthermore, this research also helps the school's scientists and students gain more knowledge and experience to apply Internet of Things technology in real life.