Multipurpose advanced split T7 promoter-based transcription amplification for ultrasensitive molecular diagnostics

An accurate, convenient, and rapid diagnostic platform, which can be applied in facility-limited or point-of-care (POC) settings, is essential to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases and enable the most effective treatment to be selected. In this study, we describe the development of a new isothermal molecular diagnostic system named multipurpose advanced split T7 promoter-based transcription amplification (MASTER) for the rapid and ultrasensitive detection of various pathogens containing single-stranded RNA and double-stranded DNA. MASTER produces a large number of RNA amplicons in the presence of target pathogens, which generate fluorescence or colorimetric signals based on light-up RNA aptamers or lateral flow assays. Implementing MASTER at 37 °C for<1 h achieved the detection of a single copy per reaction without cross-reactivity. Moreover, the testing of 40 clinical samples revealed that MASTER exhibited excellent accuracy with 100% sensitivity and specificity for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis. Furthermore, a one-pot MASTER system capable of accelerating practical applications was demonstrated, indicating that the MASTER system is a promising platform for the effective surveillance of various pathogens. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.

Undocumented migrants’ citizenship in pandemic times: the South Korean case

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the citizenship of both nationals and non-nationals. We define citizenship as a contested membership among all populations within the territory of a state, encompassing the status, rights, and performativity of the people. We look at changes in the citizenship of non-nationals, particularly the most vulnerable: undocumented migrants. Despite long-standing discrimination against undocumented migrants, the COVID-19 pandemic compelled the South Korean government to reconsider its policies on their citizenship rights. The government provided free tests and treatments, and free vaccinations to the undocumented migrants who had long been ignored in South Korea. It also suspended immigration crackdowns and deportations. While these COVID-19 preventive measures were intended to address community safety, they also affected the multifaceted nature of citizenship by making everybody within the territory both the subject and object of quarantine. Do these measures indicate an expansion of South Korean citizenship to include undocumented migrants? We discuss what implications the South Korean government’s pandemic-response policies may have for citizenship. With the increasing elasticity of citizenship boundaries in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we claim that territorial aspects have been given greater emphasis in the politics of South Korean citizenship. © 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

The COVID-19 Pandemic Response System at University Level: The Case of Safe Campus Model at Ewha Womans University

In response to the changes in the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic situation, Ewha Womans University established Ewha Safe Campus (ESC), an on-campus infection outbreak management system, to allow students and faculty members to safely resume face-to face classes in 2022. The COVID-19 testing station, Ewha Safe Station, is the core element of ESC. Symptomatic students and faculty members perform a combo swab self-PCR test or receive a nasopharyngeal swab PCR test from experts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through early detection and management. ESC is significant in that it detects infection risks and proactively implements preemptive measures in a university. The COVID-19 health response system model at the university level was applied for the first time in South Korea, reaching a milestone in the history of university health in South Korea. In particular, it is highly valuable that the test was free of charge, as it enabled all of the examinees to have easy access to the test through joint cooperation with the Seegene Medical Foundation. This is a successful example of cooperation between schools and private institutions for public health improvement. In the future, the direct and indirect effects of the establishment and implementation of ESC need to be evaluated and confirmed, and areas requiring improvements need to be identified in preparation for another infectious disease outbreak in the future.

The Relationship among Four Lifestyles of Workers amid the COVID-19 Pandemic (Work-Life Balance, YOLO, Minimal Life, and Staycation) and Organizational Effectiveness: With a Focus on Four Countries

This study empirically analyzes the effects of four lifestyles of office workers (work and life balance, you only live once (YOLO), minimal life, and staycation), which have been changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, on organizational effectiveness (measured by job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and organizational citizenship behavior). A questionnaire survey was conducted over four months through a global research firm. In total, 649 valid questionnaires were collected. A structural equation model analysis was performed on valid samples using SmartPLS statistics. The results were as follows: (1) Work and life balance, YOLO, and minimal life had a statistically significant positive effect on job satisfaction. (2) Minimal life had a statistically significant positive effect on organizational commitment. (3) Work and life balance, and staycation had statistically significant positive effects on organizational citizenship behavior. (4) Job satisfaction had a statistically significant positive effect on organizational commitment. (5) Job satisfaction and organizational commitment had a statistically significant positive effect on organizational citizenship behavior. This is the first empirical study to focus on four lifestyles (work-life balance, YOLO, minimal life, and staycation). The results show that job satisfaction was affected the most by YOLO,' that organizational commitment was affected the most by minimal life, and that organizational citizenship behavior was affected the most by work-life balance.

Engineering of Materials for Respiratory Protection: Salt-Coated Antimicrobial Fabrics for Their Application in Respiratory Devices

CONSPECTUS: The development of a highly effective, low-cost method for protection against direct transmission through infectious media associated with respiratory diseases has been considered to be a major challenge in the management of the pandemic outbreak. Currently, filtration in respirators and masks depends on the mesh size, raising safety concerns about direct contact with the virus-laden layers of masks and respirators during use and disposal. Also, conventional medical face masks and respirators are recommended for single use only because long-term use and reuse of masks increase the risk of contact transmission of pathogens. As a result, mask reusability has gained much attention in addressing the global problem of respirator and mask shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, coinfection by influenza, SARSCoV-2, and bacteria has been an ongoing issue in the current COVID-19 pandemic. In our response to the increasing demand for more convenient forms of disease control, our group has investigated antimicrobial technologies for respiratory devices against pandemic/epidemic diseases and developed two universal antimicrobial coating technologies: (1) nonwashable, reusable salt-coated fabrics and (2) washable, photopolymerizable polymer-coated fabrics which efficiently inactivate infectious viruses by contact with the filter. This is an opportune time to assess research efforts toward antimicrobial face mask technology for its expected impact on society and the economy. In this Account, we introduce the importance of respiratory devices for protection against respiratory diseases, decontamination methods, technical challenges for reuse and extended use, antimicrobial substances used in masks, antimicrobial functionalization strategies for mask fibers, and the characterization of antimicrobial performance and the limitations of the current procedure. Then, the major focus will be directed to discussing the continued efforts of our group to develop antimicrobial fabrics for face mask covers and face masks/respirators based on salt-coated polypropylene (PP) fibers. In the following sections of this Account, we will first discuss salt coating methods and pathogen inactivation mechanisms in salt-coated filters. Then, an overview of our recent progress in evaluating the antimicrobial performance of salt-coated PP fabrics against five different bacterial species, influenza viruses, and human coronaviruses will be presented. The technical challenges in the implementation of the technology will be highlighted in the last section. We believe that easy-to-implement antimicrobial respiratory devices would guarantee improved protection without decontamination processes and enable rapid responses to future pandemic/epidemic outbreaks.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological needs of tourists: implications for the travel and tourism industry

This study aims to explore the psychological needs and satisfaction of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean tourists across three phases (i.e. before, during and perceived aftermath) of the COVID-19 pandemic. It fulfilled the theoretical extension of the Existence, Relatedness and Growth (ERG) theory to identify the basic psychological needs of the tourists in a pandemic situation. In-depth interviews, findings confirmed ERG processes of Satisfaction-Progression, Frustration-Regression, and Simple-Frustration. Nevertheless, the predominant psychological needs of tourists were different in each phase. The study contributes to a better understanding of post-pandemic needs of the tourists and is useful in redesigning travel experiences.