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Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, videoconferencing technology has been widely adopted as a convenient, powerful, and fundamental tool that has simplified many day-to-day tasks. However, video communication is dependent on audible conversation and can be strenuous for those who are Hard of Hearing. Communication methods used by the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community differ significantly from those used by the hearing community, and a distinct language gap is evident in workspaces that accommodate workers from both groups. Therefore, we integrated users in both groups to explore ways to alleviate obstacles in mixed-group videoconferencing by implementing user-generated icons. A participatory design methodology was employed to investigate how the users overcome language differences. We observed that individuals utilized icons within video-mediated meetings as a universal language to reinforce comprehension. Herein, we present design implications from these findings, along with recommendations for future icon systems to enhance and support mixed-group conversations. © 2023 ACM.
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In this study, we investigated COVID-19 ' s (coronavirus disease 2019's) effect on job insecurity, presenteeism, and turnover intention in hotel environments by measuring hotel staffs' generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7) levels. We surveyed 351 hotel employees from the office, facilities, food and beverage, and cooking departments. Convenience sampling was performed from December 2021 to March 2022. Job insecurity was measured with seven items (easily annoyed, tension, anxiety, nervousness, a lot of worry, fear, uncontrollable worry, restlessness, and discomfort) and demonstrated a significantly positive effect on presenteeism and turnover intention in the high GAD-7 group compared with the low GAD-7 group. Our study contributes academic value to research on GAD-7 in the hotel industry. In addition, it provides a theoretical basis for the relationship between job insecurity and hotel employees' psychological response to the pandemic. Based on the findings, we recommend periodically implementing the GAD-7 scale for employee assessments. Consequently, hotel companies can create guidelines for human resource management post-COVID-19.
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Background and objective: With rapid urbanization, the introduction of plants in interior environments has become an essential factor owing to insufficient green areas and increased indoor living hours. In commercial spaces, the "planterior" can play an important role in spatial branding and marketing. With recent changes in lifestyle, including those induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the introduction of plants into indoor spaces has increased. This study aimed to analyze the current status and design characteristics of domestic commercial spaces and propose a future interior design direction for development. Methods: Eighty-eight case sites of domestic commercial spaces were selected nationwide to analyze the design characteristics and current status of planteriors. The basic status of the case sites was investigated, and the bestcase site was selected based on an assessment of the landscape's excellence and topicality. Results: Most commercial spaces selected as planterior case sites were located in the metropolitan area and were large cafés. Most places were built within the last year, with natural styles that use more plants than that required by the space, and accounted for the highest percentage by utilizing the direct method of fresh flowers. In most cases, excellent planterior landscapes were created, and more than 85% of the cases were found to have high online exposure, indicating that the planterior of a commercial space was effectively used as a marketing element. The design characteristics of the commercial space planterior analyzed as the bestcase site were topicality, simplicity, leadership, and unexpectedness, which was required for the space design due to the branding. These design characteristics were found to have a synergistic effect with the maintenance of plants. Conclusion: Overall, this study confirmed that the creation of planteriors in various types of commercial spaces plays an important role in spatial branding and marketing functions, and enables potential continuous development for the space design using plants. To continuously expand and develop planteriors in the future, a multilateral plant interior design study from the perspective of design, plants, and users is needed. © 2022 by the Society for People, Plants, and Environment.
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Background. There are few data on immune correlation of protection from breakthrough Omicron (B.1.1.529) infection in individuals who received booster vaccines. We thus compared a neutralizing antibody titers against Omicron within the first month after the mRNA booster at the time before omicron wave between healthcare works (HCWs) who experienced Omicron breakthrough infections and HCWs without Omicron infections. Methods. We enrolled HCWs without the history of SARS-CoV-2 infection who agreed with blood sampling 2 weeks after booster vaccination at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea, between November 2021 and December 2022 (Delta dominant era). We identified breakthrough infections by performing SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR though nasopharyngeal swab specimen in HCWs who had COVID-19-related symptoms or had known exposure to confirmed SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, between 1 February and 25 April 2022 (Omicron dominant era). SARS-CoV-2 S1-specific IgG antibody titers were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Plasma levels of live-virus neutralizing antibodies were measured using a microneutralization assay with SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants. Results. Among 134 HCWs, 69 (52%) received two-dose ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 followed by BNT162b2, 50 (37%) three-dose BNT162b2, and 15 (11%) 3-dose mRNA-1273. Of them, 57 (43%) experienced breakthrough Omicron infection at median 121 days (IQR 99-147) after booster vaccination (breakthrough group), and the remaining 77 (57%) did not experience Omicron infection (non-breakthrough group). There was no significant different in 'peak' SARS-CoV-2 S1-specific IgG level between breakthrough group (median 4484.4 IU/mL) and non-breakthrough group (median 4194.9 IU/mL, p value=0.39). In addition, there was no significant difference in 'peak' neutralizing antibody titer (ID50) against Omicron between breakthrough group (median 2597.9) and non-breakthrough group (median 2597.9, p value=0.86). (Table Presented) Serum samples were obtained from 134 healthcare workers 2 weeks after booster vaccination. Samples were analysed for SARS-CoV-2 S1-specific IgG antibody titers using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and plasma levels of live-virus neutralizing antibodies using a microneutralization assay with SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants. There was no significant difference in 'peak' SARS-CoV-2 S1-specific IgG level (A) and 'peak' neutralizing antibody titer (ID50) against Omicron (B) between breakthrough group and non-breakthrough group. Conclusion. We did not find the correlation of neutralizing antibody titers about several months before infection with breakthrough Omicron infections. These data suggest rapidlywaning neutralizing titers to protect mild illnesses or asymptomaticOmicron infections several months after current booster COVID-19 vaccination in HCWs.
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Background. Pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection are known to have a poor prognosis. In addition, the previous meta-analysis revealed that SARS-CoV-2 infection in neonates born from pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection is about 2%. However, there are limited data on the clinical characteristics of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection and their neonates and the vertical transmission rate in South Korea. Methods. Pregnant women confirmed as SARS-CoV-2 infection were retrospectively reviewed in Asan Medical Center from September 1 2020 to April 26 2022. All neonates from SARS-CoV-2-infected women underwent SARS-CoV-2 PCR within 24 hours after the birth and 48-hour interval if he or she stayed in the hospital. Results. A total of 60 pregnant women gave birth by cesarean section (n=40, 67%) or vaginal delivery (n=20, 33%). Among them, three women gave birth to twins (63 neonates). Delivery was carried out at the average gestational age of 268 days (+/- 14.0), and 9 patients (15%) had underlying diseases. Of these 60 patients, 11 (18%) received COVID-19 vaccination. Pneumonia was confirmed by chest radiograph in 7 patients (12%), and 2 patient (3%) required supplemental oxygen therapy who eventually recovered. The mean weight of 63 newborns was 3137 g (+/- 558), and 8 neonate (13%) was a low-birth weight (< 2500 g), and 12 neonate (19%) was premature (< gestational age 37 weeks). Apgar score was 8.1 points (+/- 1.2) at 1 minute and 9.1 points (+/- 0.8) at 5 minutes. Five neonates (8%) required mechanical ventilation, who eventually recovered. All 63 neonates revealed negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR results with 24 hours after the birth. After 48 hours, 45 newborns exhibited negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR results. So, there was no vertical transmission among 63 neonates (0%, 95% CI 0-6). Conclusion. Our experiences about pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection revealed that obstetric outcomes were favorable and the vertical transmission risk was low. Balancing risks about the infection control of pregnant women and their neonates during the COVID-19 pandemic are needed.
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Background. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 5 to 20 days of isolation for COVID-19 patients depending on symptom duration and severity regardless of genomic PCR results or vaccination history. However, in real clinical practice, more individualized approach is required. We thus developed clinical scoring system to predict viable viral shedding in a given patient by using various factors affecting viable viral shedding. Methods. We prospectively enrolled adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to tertiary hospital and day care center between February 2020 and January 2022. The daily dense respiratory sampling (i.e. saliva, sputum, or nasopharyngeal swabs) during the hospital and day care center stay were obtained. Genomic RNA viral load and viral culture were performed for these samples. Clinical predictors of negative viral culture results were identified using survival analysis and multivariable analysis. Results. A total of 612 samples from 121 patients of varying degrees of severity were obtained. Of these, 494 (81%) samples were saliva, 63 (10%) were nasopharyngeal swab, and the remaining 55 (9%) were sputum. Of these 612 specimens, 154 (25%) samples revealed positive viral culture results. Univariate and multivariable Cox's time varying proportional hazard model revealed that symptom onset day, viral copy number, disease severity, organ transplant recipient, gender, and vaccination status were independently associated with viral culture results. We thus developed the 5-factor model from -3 to 3 points: viral copy number (-3 to 3 points depending on copy number), disease severity (1 point to moderate to critical diseases), organ transplant recipient (2 points), gender (-1 points to male), and vaccination status (-2 points to fully vaccinated status). The predictive culture-negative rates were calculated through the symptom onset day and the score of the day the sample was collected. Conclusion. Our clinical scoring system can provide objective probability of negative culture results in a given COVID-19 patient with genomic viral load, and appears to be useful to decide de-isolation policy depending on individualized factors associated with viable viral shedding beyond simple symptom-based isolation strategy by CDC.
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Background. Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant strain B.1.1.529 (omicron) has been less virulent than SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 variant (delta), but there are limited data on the comparison of the cause of death between delta variant and omicron variant infections. We thus compared the causes of death in COVID-19 patients with the delta variant and omicron variant. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of adult patients with COVID-19 who were admitted at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea, between July 2021 and March 2022. We divided into delta-variant dominant period (from July 2021 to December 2021) and omicron-dominant period (from February 2022 to March 2022) with the exclusion of January 2022 because this period was overlapping of delta and omicron variant. The causes of death were classified into COVID-19-associated pneumonia, other causes, and indeterminate cause. Results. A total of 654 patients with COVID-19 were admitted and 42 (6.4%) died during the omicron dominant period (between February and March 2022), while a total of 366 patients with COVID-19 were hospitalized and 42 (11.5%) died during the delta dominant period (between July and December 2021). The primary cause of death was COVID-19-associated pneumonia in 64% (27/42) during the omicron era whereas that was COVID-19-associated pneumonia in 88% (37/42) during the delta era (p value=0.01) (Table 1). Conclusion. We found that about two thirds of patients with omicron variant infection died due to COVID-19, while the majority of patients with delta variant infection died due to COVID-19.
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Background. Understanding the rate and composition of bacterial co-infection is important to determine antibiotic therapy in SARS-CoV-2 infection, but those vary according to healthcare settings and regional differences. We evaluated the rate of bacterial co-infection in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in a single tertiary hospital in South Korea. Methods. In this retrospective study, all the adult patients with COVID-19 hospitalized between Feb 2020 and Dec 2021 were included. Bacterial co-infection rate was assessed by results of sputum cultures, blood cultures, pneumococcal urinary antigen, Legionella urinary antigen, sputum Legionella pneumophilia PCR, and sputum multiplex PCR for Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae. Characteristics and outcomes of patients were evaluated according to antibiotics exposure prior to hospitalization. Results. Of 367 adult patients, 300 (81.7%) patients having sputum culture results were included in the analysis. Of these, 127 (42.3%) had a history of antibiotic exposure within 1 month before hospitalization. The coinfection rate within 48 hours of hospitalization was confirmed in 8.3% (25/300): 6.4% (11/163) of patients without prior antibiotic exposure and 11% (14/127) of patients with prior antibiotic exposure. In the group without prior antibiotic exposure, pathogens responsible for community-onset infections were isolated, whereas nosocomial pathogens were predominantly isolated in the antibiotic-exposed group. Empirical antibiotics were used in 144 (66%) of 275 patients without positive results for microbiological tests. Empirical antibiotic use in patients without positive results for microbiological tests was not significantly associated with 30-day mortality or in-hospital mortality after adjusting covariates including age, sex, comorbidity, anti-inflammatory treatment, and COVID-19 severity. Conclusion. In this study with a high rate of microbiological testing, bacterial coinfection was not frequent, and the results varied depended on previous exposure to antibiotics. Given the rarity of bacterial co-infection and the lack of potential benefits of empirical antibiotic therapy, the antibiotic use in patients with COVID-19 should be restricted as an important target of antibiotic stewardship. (Table Presented).
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The breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic shifted people's daily activities from in-person to video-mediated ones. Many people with hearing loss encounter cognitive overload due to ineffective visuals of the videoconferencing interface and therefore find meeting contents difficult to comprehend. This research incorporates a participatory design methodology to investigate the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) users' tacit needs. DHH users demonstrated ways of mitigating their hardships in the workshop, such as emphasizing the visual hierarchy or assigning visual cues to fixed positions. These findings are used in developing design directions for creating a more inclusive online environment. © 2022 Owner/Author.
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Aerosolized droplets are produced en masse in dental practices;these aerosols disperse in the surrounding space, posing a health threat if the patient is infected with a transmittable disease, particularly COVID-19. Here, a viscoelastic polyacrylic acid (PAA) solution was used to minimize liquid aerosolization and limit the travel distance of aerosols. The PAA concentration was varied to evaluate its effect on aerosolization and droplet size resulting from procedures using dental handpieces, which include tooth cutting, grinding, and polishing. In addition, a thermocouple was inserted at the center of the model tooth to measure its temperature during a handpiece operation. The temperature data suggest that the cooling performance of the PAA solution is comparable to that of pure water in operations in the occlusal and facial directions. The PAA solution droplets splattered on the patient's facial area during the handpiece operation are markedly larger than those of pure water, which is evidence of the settling of the PAA droplets, preventing further transmission. Accordingly, the travel distance of the aerosolized PAA droplets was limited by viscoelastic resistance to droplet detachment. This comparison of the aerosol suppression capability between water and PAA solutions confirms the benefit of using viscoelastic solutions for various dental operations. Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.
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Daphne kiusiana is an evergreen shrub with dense head-like umbels of white flowers distributed in southern Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan. Plants in China and Taiwan are recognized as var. atrocaulis by having a dark purple stem, elliptic leaves, and persistent bracts. Recently, plants on Jejudo Island were segregated as a separate species, D. jejudoensis, given their elliptic leaves with an acuminate apex, a long hypanthium and sepals, and a glabrous hypanthium. Morphological variations of three closely related taxa, the D. kiusiana complex, were investigated across the distributional range to clarify the taxonomic delimitation of members of the complex. Twelve characters of the leaf and flower were measured from digitized herbarium specimens using the image analysis program ImageJ and were included in a morphometric analysis, the results of which indicate that the level of variation in the characters is very high. The results of a principal component analysis weakly separated D. jejudoensis from D. kiusiana according to their floral characteristics, such as a longer, glabrous hypanthium, and larger sepals. However, some individuals of D. kiusiana, particularly those from Bigeumdo Island, were included in D. jejudoensis. Recognition of D. kiusiana var. atrocaulis based on the leaf shape was not supported in the analysis, and D. jejudoensis may be recognized as a variety of D. kiusiana. Our morphometric analysis shows that digitized images of herbarium specimens could be useful and an additional method by which to investigate more diverse specimens. © 2022 the Korean Society of Plant Taxonomists.
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Objectives: Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in lifestyle disruptions, with lockdowns and curtailed activities. This was acutely felt in Asia from February 2020 onwards. Such drastic changes in lifestyle habits may impact negatively on metabolic related diseases. We explored these changes and their effects in patients with metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Materials and Methods: The data of MAFLD patients who were prospectively enrolled from eleven Asian centres in a longitudinal cohort study were analyzed. The data from 1st January 2019 (pre- COVID-19), were compared with the data from 1st February 2020 onwards (during COVID-19). Patients were stratified by physical activity level and whether they met target recommendation of[ 150 min of moderate/vigorous exercise per week. Results: A total of 229 patients were evaluated. Mean age was 59 ± 9.6 years with 136 (59.4%) males. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 50 (21.8%) patients maintained moderate/vigorous exercise, while 28 (12.2%) and 33 (14.4%) patients started and stopped moderate/vigorous exercising respectively. 118 patients (51.5%) did not participate in moderate/vigorous exercise either before or during the pandemic. Seventy-eight (34.1%) patients achieved[150 min moderate/vigorous exercise per week at the last visit. With the onset of COVID-19, reduction of physical activity of any kind was demonstrated in the majority (65.9%) of patients. There was a reduction of any physical activity including walking amongst those who stopped moderate/vigorous exercise and those without moderate/ vigorous exercise throughout. No significant changes in BMI, waist or hip circumference were observed in any activity level group. In patients who stopped moderate/vigorous exercise, alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase significantly increased by 18.5% and 14.8% respectively. Conclusion: Stoppage of moderate/vigorous exercise leads to worsening of liver enzymes in patients with MAFLD and may have deleterious effects long term. As we adapt to live with COVID endemicity, novel modified healthy lifestyle habits would be needed to manage MAFLD.
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Unprecedented retardation of spring water temperature rising during the 2020 pandemic year was identified in the Socheongcho Ocean Research Station within the northeastern basin of the Yellow Sea: an exceptionally high water temperature anomaly in March and a contrasted low-temperature anomaly in May. The slowest temperature evolution was principally caused by the significant increase in latent heat releases in April (117% higher than the climatology of 1982-2019). Strong northwesterly winds generated these exceptional heat fluxes associated with the dipole-like atmospheric circulation pattern over Siberia and the East Sea (Japan Sea). Besides, warm winter water facilitated the enhanced release of latent heat fluxes as a precondition. The oceanic heat redistribution partially supported the cold anomaly in the surface layer up to the middle of May through positive feedback between the low surface temperature and the active entrainment associated with tidal turbulent mixing. The resultant low temperature at the surface weakened the vertical stratification, both impeding the activation of phytoplankton's photosynthesis albeit under the eutrophic surface layer, consequently resulting in the delayed and suppressed spring bloom during 2020. Since such extreme events are anticipated to occur more frequently under global warming, our results highlight the importance of continuously monitoring multi-disciplinary environmental conditions, climate extremes, and their impact on the Yellow Sea marine ecosystem.
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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating effect of self-leadership on the relationship between media literacy and learning agility in nursing students based on their experiences in online classes during the Coronavirus Disease-19 pandemic. Methods: A descriptive survey was conducted among 165 nursing students from four universities in Busan. Data were collected from June 2 to 13, 2021, and was analyzed using a t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 26.0. Results: Significant relationships were found between learning agility and media literacy (r=.62, p<.001), between learning agility and self-leadership (r=.58, p<.001), and between media literacy and self-leadership (r=.53, p<.001). Additionally, self-leadership had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between media literacy and learning agility (Z=4.30, p<.001);its explanatory power was 46.0%. Conclusion: These results indicate that interventions to increase the level of media literacy, along with self-leadership, are necessary to improve the level of learning agility of nursing students who will be essential human resources in a rapidly changing healthcare field. Copyright © 2021 Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education.
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Libraries are encountering certain challenges derived from changes on their business environment. With the advent of COVID-19 pandemic, digital and online functions of university libraries in Korea is suggested as an alternative for the future. Thus, it is significant to assess libraries’ business efficiency focusing on digital function while it is able to acquire valuable factors for future strategy. Therefore, the study adopts DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis), a widely accepted analysis model for measuring efficiency. Moreover, the study derived appropriate factors for efficiency assessment in digital service of university library by literature review. Through this, factors regarding efficiency in university libraries can be measured. We hope this study could contribute to identify inefficient factors in university libraries as well as gaining basic data for developing improvement strategy for future. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
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The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the job stress of employees due to changes in the employment environment of airlines under COVID-19 and job burnout and turnover intention. GAD-7 was applied to verify the influence relationship linking job stress, job burnout and turnover intention, using a structural equation model according to anxiety, namely, COVID blues. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for the relationship linking job stress, job burnout and turnover intention of employees due to changes in the employment environment resulting from the business crisis of airlines under the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been ongoing since 2020. In addition, it was possible to understand the degree of impact on stress, job burnout and turnover intention by measuring the anxiety disorder of employees, i.e., COVID-19 blues, due to the prolonged pandemic. This study provides basic data on human management measures in the aviation field. Furthermore, according to the results of this study, changes in the employment environment led to job stress in employees, which in turn increased employee job burnout and turnover intention. These results can provide practical implications and help human resource managers to better manage employees, as it was revealed that both changes in the organization of employees and changes in the employment environment of temporary employees increase job stress. Lastly, in the situation where COVID-19 and its associated blues continue, the GAD-7 scale, typically used for patients in hospitals, was applied to airline employees to determine their anxiety levels and psychological state, representing an effective method of lowering intention to leave, job stress and job burnout. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
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Rapid detection and identification of novel viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, is critical to treat, isolate, or hospitalize those infected, ultimately, to curb the spread of the virus. Diagnostic assays, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), are considered the gold standard for testing, but are labor-intensive and/or involve creating probe molecules specific to the virus. We propose Raman spectroscopy as an alternative method of detection because it can be label-free and can offer identifying information on many analytes within a sample. Specifically, we are developing a vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) Raman spectrometer using an incoherent excitation source that emits the hydrogen Lyman-α line radiation at 121.57 nm. The main benefit of using a VUV source is that the Raman scattering cross-section is inversely proportional to the fourth power of wavelength, which means that VUV photons would yield several orders of magnitude higher scattering cross-sections than excitation in the visible or near-infrared. In addition, the 121.57 nm wavelength transmits up to 2 cm in dry air, so the analyte can be oriented in standard testing formats. We have been successful in producing strong and consistent HLA emission using both a dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) plasma source and a commercial source. In the near future, we expect to produce consistent Raman signatures in solid and liquid media. HLAS will transform diagnostic medicine and several other industries through its powerful capabilities of detecting real-time infections and important health markers. © 2021 SPIE.
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Libraries are building a digital environment and preparing for the post-corona era. They attempt to increase operational efficiency and competitiveness by applying new technologies and strive to build a more intelligent and user-friendly environment using big data, the Internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), 3D printing, and automated robots. This study aims to present the direction for future university libraries by analyzing technology-based service innovation cases in line with the current era, centering on university libraries © 2021 IEEE.