Resident's quality of life through community-based tourism

The impact of community-based tourism (CBT) on residents' quality of life (QOL) has been realized in many aspects, concerning attitude, physical, environmental, and relationships in society. However, several positive and negative factors influence QOL, and few studies have explored these factors. Focusing on measuring the significant CBT factors that have not been previously explored and examined, this study explored factors that influence QOL in CBT using factor analysis. The results show that CBT factors measuring residents' QOL, such as economic, public administration, technology, external actors, and social inequalities in several community-based attributes, can measure the effect on residents' QOL. This study emphasizes that CBT factors are suitably performed and managed can dynamically reduce and alleviate the impacts on residents' QOL. © 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

CO2-mediated thermal treatment of disposable plastic food containers

In accordance with global economic prosperity, the frequencies of food delivery and takeout orders have been increasing. The pandemic life, specifically arising from COVID-19, rapidly expanded the food delivery service. Thus, the massive generation of disposable plastic food containers has become significant environmental problems. Establishing a sustainable disposal platform for plastic packaging waste (PPW) of food delivery containers has intrigued particular interest. To comprise this grand challenge, a reliable thermal disposable platform has been suggested in this study. From the pyrolysis process, a heterogeneous plastic mixture of PPW was converted into syngas and value-added hydrocarbons (HCs). PPW collected from five different restaurants consisted of polypropylene (36.9 wt%), polyethylene (10.5 wt%), polyethylene terephthalate (18.1 wt%), polystyrene (13.5 wt%), polyvinyl chloride (4.2 wt%), and other composites (16.8 wt%). Due to these compositional complexities, pyrolysis of PPW led to formations of a variety of benzene derivatives and aliphatic HCs. Adapting multi-stage pyrolysis, the different chemicals were converted into industrial chemicals (benzene, toluene, styrene, etc.). To selectively convert HCs into syngas (H2 and CO), catalytic pyrolysis was adapted using supported Ni catalyst (5 wt% Ni/SiO2). Over Ni catalyst, H2 was produced as a main product due to C[sbnd]H bond scission of HCs. When CO2 was used as a co-reactant, HCs were further transformed to H2 and CO through the chemical reactions of CO2 with gas phase HCs. CO2-assisted catalytic pyrolysis also retarded catalyst deactivation inhibiting coke deposition on Ni catalyst. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.

Two Case Reports of Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis after ChAdOxl nCoV-19 Vaccine

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis after the BNT162b2 vaccine and ChAdOxl nCoV-19 Corona Virus vaccine [recombinant] has been observed. Herein, we report two cases of leukocytoclastic vasculitis that developed after the ChAdOxl-S [recombinant] vaccination. A 61-year-old and a 52-year-old woman presented with pruritic purpuric macules and papules on both lower legs. The patients had been vaccinated with the ChAdOxl-S [recombinant] vaccine. The histopathological analyses were consistent with a diagnosis of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. They were treated with oral prednisolone and improved within 1 month of treatment. We assume that the rash had arisen from the deposition of spike protein at the skin tissue induced by the viral vector of the COVID-19 vaccine or hyperimmune responses by excipients present in vaccine preparations. To our knowledge, our cases would be the first Korean cases of leukocytoclastic vasculitis after the ChAdOxl-S [recombinant] vaccination. © 2022 Korean Dermatological Association. All rights reserved.

Bipolar Junction Transistor Exhibiting Excellent Output Characteristics with a Prompt Response against the Selective Protein

Bipolar junction transistors (BJTs), the basic building blocks of integrated circuits, are deployed to control switching applications and logic operations. However, as the thickness of a conventional BJT device approaches a few atoms, its performance decreases substantially. The stacking of atomically thin 2D semiconductor materials is advantageous for manufacturing atomically thin BJT devices owing to the high carrier density of electrons and holes. Here, an atomically thin n-p-n BJT device composed of heavily doped molybdenum ditelluride (n-MoTe2) and germanium selenide (p-GeSe) sheets stacked over each other by van der Waals interactions is reported. In a common-emitter configuration, MoTe2/GeSe/MoTe2 BJT devices exhibit a considerably high current gain (beta = I-c /I-b = 29.3) at V-be = 2.5 V. The MoTe2/GeSe/MoTe2 BJT device is employed to detect streptavidin biomolecules as analytes within m. Such vdW BJT devices can trigger the development of state-of-the-art electronic devices that can be used as biosensors to detect the various kinds of target DNA and proteins like spike protein of Covid-19.

Short-term reduction of regional enhancement of atmospheric CO2 in China during the first COVID-19 pandemic period

Recent studies have reported a 9% decrease in global carbon emissions during the COVID-19 lockdown period;however, its impact on the variation of atmospheric CO2 level remains under question. Using atmospheric CO2 observed at Anmyeondo station (AMY) in South Korea, downstream of China, this study examines whether the decrease in China's emissions due to COVID-19 can be detected from the enhancement of CO2 mole fraction (Delta CO2) relative to the background value. The Weather Research and Forecasting-Stochastic Time-Inverted Lagrangian Transport model was applied to determine when the observed mole fractions at AMY were affected by air parcels from China. Atmospheric observations at AMY showed up to a -20% (-1.92 ppm) decrease in Delta CO2 between February and March 2020 compared to the same period in 2018 and 2019, particularly with a -34% (-3.61 ppm) decrease in March. Delta CO, which was analyzed to explore the short-term effect of emission reductions, had a decrease of -43% (-80.66 ppb) during the lockdown in China. Particularly in East China, where emissions are more concentrated than in Northeast China, Delta CO2 and Delta CO decreased by -44% and -65%, respectively. The Delta CO/Delta CO2 ratio (24.8 ppb ppm(-1)), which is the indicator of emission characteristics, did not show a significant difference before and after the COVID-19 lockdown period (alpha = 0.05), suggesting that this decrease in Delta CO2 and Delta CO was associated with emission reductions rather than changes in emission sources or combustion efficiency in China. Reduced carbon emissions due to limited human activity resulted in a decrease in the short-term regional enhancement to the observed atmospheric CO2.

Revision of 22-year Records of Atmospheric Baseline CO2 in South Korea: Application of the WMO X2019 CO2 Scale and a New Baseline Selection Method (NIMS Filter)

The Korea Meteorological Administration/National Institute of Meteorological Sciences (KMA/NIMS) has monitored atmospheric CO2 at Anmyeondo (AMY) World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Global Atmosphere Watch Programme (GAW) regional station since 1999, and expanded its observations at Jeju Gosan Suwolbong station (JGS) in the South and at Ulleungdo-Dokdo stations in the East (ULD and DOK) since 2012. Due to a recent WMO CO2 scale update and a new filter (NIMS) to select baseline levels at each station, the 22 years of CO2 data are recalculated. After correction for the new CO2 scale, we confirmed that those corrected records are reasonable within the compatibility goal (+/- 0.1 ppm of CO2) between KMA/NIMS and National Oceanic and Atmosphereic Administration (NOAA) flask-air measurements with the new scale. With the new NIMS filter, CO2 baseline levels are now more representative of the large-scale background compared to previous values, which contained large CO2 enhancements. Atmospheric CO2 observed in South Korea is 4 to 8 ppm greater than the global average while the amplitude of seasonal variation is similar (10 similar to 13 ppm) to the amplitude averaged over a comparable latitude zone (30 degrees N-60 degrees N). Variations in CO2 growth rate are also similar, increasing and decreasing similar to global values, as it reflects the net balance between terrestrial respiration and photosynthesis. In 2020, atmospheric CO2 continued increasing despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though fossil emission was reduced (around -7% globally), we still emitted large amounts of anthropogenic CO2. Overall, since CO2 has large natural variations and its source was derived from not only fossil fuel but also biomass burning, the small fossil emission reduction could not affect the atmospheric level directly.

Older workers' career adaptability and career success

Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to analyze career adaptability among older workers by using a multidimensional model that considered perceived organizational support (POS), career satisfaction (CS) and motivation to continue working in South Korea. Design/methodology/approach: Four hypotheses were developed based on a review of the literature, and the hypotheses were tested by a t-test, linear regression tests and hierarchical moderated regressions. Findings: The major findings are as follows: First, older workers showed a higher level of career adaptability (CA) than young workers. Second, POS was positively related to CA. Third, CA was also related to CS. Lastly, motivation to continue working played a moderating role in the relationship between CA and CS. Originality/value: The significance of this study lies in its enrichment of knowledge related to CA with older workers. In addition, the result of this study underscores the importance of CA and older workers in these very insecure working circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Factors Affecting the Intention to Use Artificial Intelligence-Based Recruitment System: A Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) Approach

The controversy over fairness and objectivity in the job market, due to hiring irregularities, has led to calls for transparent and fair recruitment procedures. Advances in IT technology have led to the emergence of a non-face-to-face “AI recruitment system” in which artificial intelligence (AI) conducts interviews, instead of human interviews. As the introduction of the non-face-to-face method is encouraged in the hiring process due to the COVID-19 virus pandemics, the number of companies introducing AI recruitment systems is steadily increasing. In this study, the factors affecting the intention of use of AI-based recruitment system were analyzed by utilizing TOE and TAM. As a result, it was shown that the reliability, security, suitability, new technology, partiality, readiness, and legal and policy environment of the TOE affected the intention of using the system. It was also identified to have the moderating effect of the number of employees in the firm. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

External validations of multimodal existing Termination of Resuscitation (TOR) rules for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in COVID-19 era

Aim: Futile resuscitation can lead to transmission risk of infection and unnecessary transports for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in COVID-19 era. The various existing termination of resuscitation (TOR) rules have been derivate and validated in North America and Asian countries. This study aimed to evaluate the external validation of these rules in predicting survival outcomes for OHCA patients in COVID era. Methods: A multicenter observational study was carried out using WinCOVID-19 Daegu registry data, collected between February 18 and March 31, 2020. The outcomes of each rule were compared to actual patient survival outcomes. The sensitivity, specificity, false positive ratio (FPR) and positive predictive value (PPV) of each TOR rule was evaluated. Results: Of total 184 OHCAs, overall 170 patients were enrolled and had cardiac arrest of presumed cardiac etiology. TOR was recommended for 122 patients with the international BLS-TOR rule, with a specificity of 85% for predicting unfavorable survival outcomes, sensitivity 74%, FPR 0.8%, and PPV 99%. When the traditional BLS-TOR and KoCARC TOR rule II were applied to our registry, one patient met TOR criteria but survived at hospital discharge. With regard to criteria of FPR (upper limit of 95% CI < 5%) and PPV (>99%), only KoCARC BLS-TOR rule I, combining the factors of not being witnessed by EMT, an asystole at the scene, and no prehospital shock delivery or ROSC, was found to be the most superior of all the other TOR rules. Conclusion: Among the previous nine BLS and ALS TOR rules, KoCARC BLS-TOR rule I was most suitable for predicting poor survival outcomes and showed improvement of diagnostic performances. Further research into variations in resources and treatment protocols (e.g., CPR quality, and post-cardiac arrest care) between facilities, regions and cultures will be useful for determining the feasibility of BLS-TOR rules for COVID-19 patients worldwide.