• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.66-74
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• 2022

Purpose: This study investigates the characteristics and prognosis of acute poisoning patients visiting nationwide emergency departments before and after the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Data were obtained from the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS). Methods: This nationwide retrospective observational study included acute poisoning patients who visited the emergency departments between February 1 to December 31, 2020, which has been determined as the pandemic period. The same periods in 2018 and 2019 were designated as the control periods. The primary outcome assessed was the length of stay in emergency departments (EDLOS). The secondary outcomes examined were intensive care unit admission rate and in-hospital mortality rate before and after the pandemic. A subgroup analysis was performed for inpatients and intentional poisoning patients. Results: A total of 163,560 patients were included in the study. During the pandemic, the proportion of women increased from 50.0% in 2018 and 50.3% in 2019 to 52.5% in 2020. Patients aged 20-29 years increased from 13.4% in 2018 and 13.9% in 2019 to 16.6% in 2020. A rise in cases of intentional poisoning was also noted - from 33.9% in 2018 and 34.0% in 2019 to 38.4% in 2020. Evaluating the hospitalized poisoned patients revealed that the EDLOS increased from 3.8 hours in 2018 and 3.7 hours in 2019 to 4.2 hours in 2020. ICU admissions were also markedly increased (2018, 48.2%; 2019, 51.8%; 2020, 53.2%) among hospitalized patients. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and prognosis of acute poisoning patients visiting nationwide emergency departments in Korea. The proportion of young adults, women, and intentional poisoning patients has increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. Prolonged length of stay at the emergency department and an increased rate of intensive care unit admissions were determined in hospitalized acute poisoning patients.

• The Journal of Information Systems
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.211-227
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• 2023

Purpose In the contemporary landscape, marked by the enduring impact of COVID-19 and the recent disruptions stemming from the conflict in Ukraine, the purpose of this study is to navigate the era characterized by pervasive risk and uncertainty. Specifically, the study aims to dissect the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on digital transformation, exploring the factors influencing this process and considering the multifaceted dynamics at play. The focus extends to the post-COVID-19 landscape, scrutinizing the implications and meanings of digital transformation both before and after the pandemic. Additionally, the study delves into future digital trends, with particular attention to climate and environmental issues, emphasizing corporate responsibilities in averting crises similar to COVID-19. The overarching goal is to provide a holistic perspective, shedding light on both positive and negative facets of digital transformation, and advocating for regulatory enhancements and legal frameworks conducive to a balanced and resilient digital future. Design/methodology/approach This study employs a comprehensive approach to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on digital transformation. It considers various facets, such as smart devices reshaping daily routines, transformative changes in corporate ecosystems, and the adaptation of government institutions to the digital era within the broader context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The analysis extends to the post-COVID-19 landscape, examining the implications and meanings of digital transformation. Future digital trends, especially those related to climate and environmental issues, are prognosticated. The methodology involves a proactive exploration of challenges associated with digital transformation, aiming to advocate for regulatory enhancements and legal frameworks that contribute to a balanced and resilient digital future. Findings The findings of this study reveal that the digital economy has gained momentum, accelerated by the proliferation of non-face-to-face industries in response to social distancing imperatives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital transformation, both preceding and succeeding the onset of the pandemic, has precipitated noteworthy shifts in various aspects of daily life. However, challenges persist, and the study highlights factors that either bolster or hinder the transformative process. In the post-COVID-19 era, corporate responsibilities in averting crises, particularly those resembling the pandemic, take center stage. The study emphasizes the need for a holistic perspective, acknowledging both positive and negative facets of digital transformation. Additionally, it calls for proactive measures, including regulatory enhancements and legal frameworks, to ensure a balanced and resilient digital future.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.285-298
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• 2020

This study aimed at examining fashion consumers' awareness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Big data analysis methods, such as text mining, social network analysis, and regression analysis, were applied to user posts about fashion on Korean portal websites and social media during COVID-19. R 3.4.4, UCINET 6, and SPSS 25.0 software were used to analyze the data. The results were as follows. In researching the popular fashion-related topics during COVID-19, the prevention of infection and prophylaxis were significant concerns in the early stage (Jan 1 to Jan 31, 2020), and changed to online channels and online fashion platforms. Then, various topics and fashion keywords appeared with COVID-19-related keywords afterwards. Fashion-related subjects concerned prophylaxis, home life, digital and beauty products, online channels, and fashion consumption. In comparing fashion consumers' awareness during COVID-19 with SARS and MERS, "face masks" was the common keyword for all three illnesses; yet, the prevention of infection was a major consumer concern in fashion-related subjects during COVD-19 only. As COVD-19 cases increased, the search volume for face masks, shoes, and home clothes also increased. Consumer awareness about face masks shifted from blocking yellow dust and micro-dust to the sociocultural significance and short supply. Keywords related to performance turned out to be the major awareness as to shoes, and home clothes were repurposed with an expanded range of use.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.19-31
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• 2021

This study is aming at analysing the current trend of container shipping industry before and after COVID-19 Pandemic circumstances. Also, this study offers the political implications for 'the Korean Shipping Nation Rebuilding'. As a result of this study, the several global shipping lines have decreased their ship capacity in response to International Maritime Organization(IMO)'s environmental regulation. This finding is differ from the media reports, that is many shipping companies increased idling vessel to match the lower demand induced COVID-19 pandemic. This study also provides the two implications of the direction about Korean shipping policy. The first one is that the casual relationship of over-vessels' supply and Korea shipping policy is needed to be thoroughly analyzed. The importance of Koreans shipping industry is generally devaluated by most citizens so as to the Korean government should develop the mass media contents to enlighten the less wellknown people regarding shipping industry.

• CELLMED
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.20.1-20.23
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• 2021

Background: The pandemic COVID-19 caused by a novel coronavirus SARS-COV-2 has spread like a forest fire. This disease may have serious consequences for pregnant women. Presently, no specific drugs or vaccines exist to battle this disease and researches are underway. Unani medicine has a unique role in prevention and management during epidemics. Here, we reviewed the overview of COVID-19 infection and pregnancy, concept and practices in Unani medicine for flu-like epidemics in general and pregnancy, and safety of Unani drugs for the prevention and treatment of mild symptomatic cases of COVID-19 during pregnancy. Methodology: Unani classical texts and pharmacopoeia were meticulously explored for concepts and practices for flu-like epidemic diseases. Further, we browsed scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus and others for an overview, epidemics and Unani medicine, effectiveness and safety of Unani drugs in COVID-19 and pregnancy. Results: Unani medicine includes prevention and management of flu-like epidemic include quarantine and isolation, aromatic herbal drugs fumigation and spraying for environmental disinfection, ilaj bid tadbir for health promotion and use of health-protecting drugs and symptom-specific drugs in general and related to pregnancy. Lahsun, asalussus, behidana, banafsha, zanjabeel, unnab, etc are in use since antiquity for the prevention and treatment of asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic pregnant women during infectious and epidemic diseases. Conclusion: Currently, the aforementioned plants are proven for antiviral, antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities, probably useful in the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, scientific studies have provided new insight into the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of Unani medicines that are safe in pregnancy.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.211-218
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• 2020

Since World Health Organization (WHO) declared Pandemic about COVID-19 at 11 March, 2020, 214 countries now have more than 5.8 million confirmed cases and 360 thousand deaths (29 March 2020). The pandemic of COVID-19 caused lockdown in numerous countries and cities. Strict social distancing also affects most of fields such as health, education, politics, religion, and economy. South Korea actively uses various digital technologies to fight against COVID-19, which is introduced internationally as a successful example. This article introduces the development background and functionalities of COVID-19 Epidemic Investigation Support System (EISS) as well as Smart City Datahub, the core technology that enables the rapid development and application of EISS. Moreover, based on this example, the role and importance of horizontal common platform, such as Datahub, are discussed in the view of future city.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.119-141
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• 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the landscape of knowledge and information services that public libraries around the world have been providing since modern times. In particular, as social distancing has become routine, the contraction of cultural activities and the shift to online platforms have negatively impacted library visitation and use services, greatly reducing borrowing and reading, use of spaces and facilities, interlibrary loan services, program operations, and outreach services. Therefore, this study investigated and analyzed the current status of services provided by public libraries in Korea and abroad in response to COVID-19, and proposed practical ways to improve and expand services in response to COVID-19 based on the results of a survey of librarians' perceptions. Specifically, these include improving the online reservation system for reading and borrowing services and developing and providing various outreach services, acquiring and expanding electronic resources, expanding online program services (reading, culture, lifelong learning, etc.), strengthening library services for vulnerable populations, providing information portal services related to new infectious diseases, strengthening facilities and space provision services, preparing infectious disease response guidelines, and providing education and training to strengthen librarians' capabilities.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.37-41
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• 2023

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has had a major impact worldwide. Several countries have implemented restrictions on social interaction ("social distancing"). Several studies have reported that the epidemiology of trauma patients, such as those with facial bone fractures, has changed after COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to further explore these specific changes. Methods This was a retrospective study of patients who presented to a single institution with facial bone fractures between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2020. Baseline patient demographics, clinical information, type of fracture, etiology, and operative management were compared before and after COVID-19. Results Of all cases, 3,409 occurred before COVID-19, and 602 occurred after COVID-19. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the number of patients with facial fractures has not decreased significantly. A significant increase was noted in fractures that occurred outdoors (p < 0.001). However, a decrease was observed in operative management between the groups (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the proportion of assault, fall-down, industrial accident, or roll-down. In contrast, the proportion of traffic accidents and slip-down categories increased significantly (p < 0.05). Moreover, a significant decrease was found in the proportion of the sports category (p = 0.001) Conclusions It was confirmed through this study that COVID-19 pandemic also affected epidemiology of facial fractures. Focusing on these changes, it is necessary to develop safety measures to reduce facial fractures.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.179-187
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• 2023

The outbreak of COVID-19 had affected almost every part of the world and caused disastrous results, the number of reported COVID-19 cases in past few months have reached to more than 29 million patients in the world globally. This pandemic has adversely affected all the activities of life, ranging from personal life to overall economic development. Due to the current situation, routinely turned to online resources, and people have relied on technology more than they have been before. Since cybercriminals are an opportunist and they utilized this entirely, by targeting the online services for all sectors of life. This fortnight online dependency of the community over the internet opened several easy doors for the cybercriminals. This causes exponential attacks over internet traffic during this epidemic situation. The current Covid-19 pandemic situation appeared at once, and no one was ready to prevail this. However, there is an urgent need to address the current problem in all means. . KSA is among one of the countries most affected by these CA and is a key victim for most cyber-crimes. Therefore, this paper will review the effects of COVID-19 on the cyber-world of KSA in various sectors. We will also shed light on the Saudi efforts to confront these attacks during COVID -19. As a contribution, we have provided a comprehensive framework for mitigating cybersecurity challenges.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.365-373
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• 2023

Purpose: In the context of COVID-19, studies evaluating the adherence of dentists and dental students to infection control are relevant due to their high occupational exposure and risk, as well as their responsibility for disseminating information and good practices. This study evaluated the adherence of dentists and dental students to infection control in the oral radiology field in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic on different continents. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study involved individuals who performed intraoral radiographic examinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Questionnaire on Infection Control in Oral Radiology was administered virtually using a Google Form. Participants from different continents(the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Oceania) were recruited. Data were subjected to descriptive analysis and simple and multiple binary regression (5%). Results: There were 582 valid answers, and 68.73% of the participants were from the Americas, 18.90% from Europe, and 12.37% from Asia. The median score for infection control protocols was 94 points for dental students and 104 points for dentists, and participants below the median were considered to have low adherence to infection control in oral radiology. Low access to infection control was found for 53.0% of dentists in the Americas, 34.0% from Europe, and 26.9% from Asia. Conclusion: The adherence to infection control protocols in oral radiology was low even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results may help improve the awareness of students and professionals, since oral radiology routines have the potential for transmitting COVID-19.