ABSTRACT
The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of supply chain integration (SCI), demand for halal products (DHP), halal marketing (HM), process quality improvement (PQI), food safety concerns (FSCs), and health consciousness (HC) on sustainable product performance (SPP) in the halal food industry in Malaysia. A survey was conducted with 212 respondents from Malaysian halal-certified companies, and the partial least squares (PLS-SEM) method was used for the data analysis. The findings indicate a positive and significant link between SCPI, HC, PQI, and SPP. In contrast, the findings show no significant link between HM, FSC, and SPP. DHP was found to have a negative, non-significant association with SPP. This paper concludes by discussing the implications of the findings and opportunities for future research.
ABSTRACT
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, wearing a mask and ensuring normal body temperature in overcrowded areas such as workplaces have become obligatory. In this paper, a deep learning-based tool for automatic mask detection and temperature measurement at the entrance of workplaces was developed to save costs of manual supervision and reduce human contact for safety concerns. Using Python, image/video processing techniques related to face and object detection are used to process image input from a webcam. A deep learning algorithm called MobileNetV2 was used to build the face mask detector model. Moreover, a non-contact thermal sensor, the MLX90614, along with Arduino, was employed to measure body temperature. The mask detection and temperature measurements are displayed correctly on a Graphical User Interface (GUI). Besides, an additional function related to the Internet of Things (IoT) was implemented, which sends high-temperature alerts to smartphones. It has been verified that the model can achieve an accuracy of about 98%. The developed system experiences a limitation when other objects are used to cover the mouth and nose in that they may still be classified as masks. However, compared to the mask detection systems available commercially, it can provide correct detection results when using the hand to pretend to be wearing a mask. © 2022 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
The tourism is a trending industry in the current era of the economic growth of the country. Tourism can be explained as travelling to a place which is different from your home city or country for numerous reasons. But the tourism industry has been facing problems like Identity theft, Intermediaries, Payment failures, fake reviews, transparency, settlement, overbooking, policy and most importantly safety concerns due to COVID-19 pandemic. To overcome the above drawbacks after referring to some of the research work come up with a solution called Blockchain. Blockchain is a chain of Blocks where each block contains a set of transactions and the blocks are connected using cryptography. Mainly Blockchain and tourism have the potential to show into a really advantageous combination as this technology will offer additional security, Safety, eradication of middleman, data integrity, decentralized business models, immutability, transparency and accurate contact tracing app for Tourism Industry in Future Smart Society. This research gives the clear idea of how blockchain technology helps to overcome difficulties/Challenges in tourism industries. Our future proposed architecture BLOBIM (Blockchain Based Integrated Model) removes the third party intervention, security, safety, trust, transparency etc. © 2022 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
At the start of 2020, safety concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic caused educational institutions around the world to rapidly transition to emergency remote learning (ERL). This has caused educators to rethink their course delivery strategies and re-examine their assumptions about what constitutes a good education. Although the research community has widely reported on remote learning-including its benefits, its challenges, and suggestions for the future-institutions have recently begun resuming in-person activities, which begs the question, what has changed? While previous work has compared remote learning during the pandemic to pre-ERL in-person learning, we expand on the findings of the community by examining student feedback obtained during post-ERL in-person learning. We begin by discussing the main challenges we faced during the year of online teaching, then present an analysis of survey data gathered for both remote and (post-ERL) in-person learning during the pandemic. Insights on synchronous and asynchronous learning are presented, including the benefits and drawbacks that are unique to each. We show that while students generally preferred synchronous learning over asynchronous, many of the key benefits of synchronous learning are only attainable in a physical setting. We discuss the reasons for this, as well as the reasons why students overwhelmingly desired an asynchronous learning option to augment their synchronous learning activities. Unlike many previous studies which solely rely on quantitative survey data, we draw our conclusions using a combination of quantitative data and written feedback from students, the latter of which allows us to better understand students' reasons for adopting certain learning strategies and preferences. Alongside these insights, we identify opportunities for improving student satisfaction and share actions we took to better support our students. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2022.
ABSTRACT
Many engineering codes of ethics state that engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public. As engineering educators should we extend this responsibility to our students? And if so, how? Each of these three elements are distinct in some ways. Faculty are responsible for student safety in experimental laboratory and hands-on design/build settings, for example. Unique safety concerns may arise during study abroad and community engagement activities. During the COVID pandemic faculty may have experienced dilemmas regarding student health (and the health of the surrounding community) as campus administrators made decisions about in-person versus online instruction. Universities and faculty are also increasingly attending to student mental health. Finally, it is argued that considerations of welfare are the most challenging. Faculty perhaps think of student welfare long-term, as they help students build knowledge and skills that may yield post-graduation benefits in terms of employment. But does this long-term perspective cause us to undervalue in-the-moment student welfare? Our policies and practices may cause stress, and stress has been shown to inhibit learning. But other research and theories of learning indicate a positive role of dissonance and stress to the learning process. Thus, overemphasis on short-term avoidance of discomfort in the pursuit of student welfare may impede learning. Exploring these ideas is congruent with faculty who see their role as teaching people (their students) versus teaching subjects/topics/content. Examining our teaching practices through this lens of our foundational ethical obligation as engineers may cause us to change our approaches. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2022
ABSTRACT
Risk is fundamental in the choice, evaluation, and behaviour of tourists, consequently understanding tourists’ shifting preferences toward a destination is imperative in the post-COVID era. Thus, this study aims to examine the impact of push motivations on the intention to travel to a European and domestic destination, analyse the interrelated effects between components of risk perception, test the moderating effect of risk perception and investigate the influence of gender and educational level. Based on 1315 tourists and using structural equation modelling, it was possible to find that (1) the motivation to relax and acquire knowledge, and the perception of the destination as safe are predictors of domestic travel;(2) the motivation to acquire knowledge and the risk perception as similar between European and domestic trips positively influence the intention to travel to European destination;(3) travel risk and, indirectly, safety concerns and social risk are deterrent factors of travel intentions;(4) risk perception doesn’t affect the reason why people travel;and (5) gender doesn’t affect travel motivation, intentions or risk perception, but education level enhances the negative effect of social risk. Mostly, this study adds to the literature by detailing how different motivations and risk perceptions affect travel intentions. © 2022 The Author(s).
ABSTRACT
Purpose>This study aims to examine the influence of destination awareness, cognitive and affective image, risk perception and past visitation on the intention to visit a tourist destination (a medium-sized city) in the next 12 months.Design/methodology/approach>Partial least squares structural equation modeling was adopted to examine the data collected from 714 domestic holidaymakers.Findings>Results demonstrate that awareness, cognitive and affective image, past visitation, perceived risk of traveling and perceived risk in international versus domestic travel are key factors;safety concerns enhance the cognitive image and perceived safety of the destination, but increase the perceived risk of traveling;and perceived social risk increases the perceived risk of traveling.Research limitations/implications>Data collection from only one country limits the generalizability of the conclusions.Practical implications>Conclusions allow gaining new insights regarding communication strategies in general, during and post-pandemic times.Originality/value>Using a consolidated and empirical approach, this study provides a better understanding of the role of perceived risk and its effects on cognitive and affective image and travel intention. For instance, to the best of the author’s knowledge, it is the first study to consider the effects of social risk in the pandemic context. It also offers insights into the mediating effect of destination image and the moderating effects of perceived risk and past visitation.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus. It is characterized by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It has quickly influenced all over the world since it spreads easily. Common symptoms are fever, cough, difficulty in breathing and muscle aches. Despite the urgent need to find an effective antiviral treatment, already available agents are being used alone or in combination all over the world. At the beginning of the pandemic, death rates of infection caused by COVID-19 are high but "is COVID-19 responsible for all deaths?", or "are there any contributions of the frequently used drugs in this period to these deaths?" Surely herd immunity plays a major role and has contributed to the decline in mortality rates. Meanwhile, it is kept in mind that due to safety concerns, changes have also been made in the dosage and combined use of frequently used drugs. OBJECTIVE: In this review, answers to two questions above and the safety of treatments, toxicities of agents involving chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, favipiravir, lopiravir/ritonavir, sarilumab, tocilizumab, siltuximab, corticosteroids and bromhexine which are the most frequently used in Turkey and all over the world will be summarized. CONCLUSION: Among these drugs, favipiravir seems the most promising drug due to more tolerable adverse effects. More clinical trials with large sample sizes are needed to find the most effective and safe drug for COVID-19 treatment.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 Drug Treatment , Humans , Hydroxychloroquine/adverse effects , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To report the vaccine hesitancy (VH) for a vaccine against COVID-19 in registered nurses in Barcelona, with measurements taken at two stages, prior to the vaccination campaign and once 75% vaccination coverage had been reached. METHODS: A self-completed online survey was administered in December 2020 and again in July 2021 through the College of Nurses of Barcelona. It measured the prevalence of VH against a government-approved vaccine recommended by their employer, their intention to be vaccinated, perceptions of disease risk and vaccine protection, attitudes and beliefs to vaccination and social norm. Bivariate analysis according to VH and application time are presented. RESULTS: 2430 valid responses were obtained in the first measurement and 2027 in the second. At both times, 86% were women and 69% worked mainly in the public sector. Prior to the vaccine availability, VH was 34.2%, decreasing to 17.9%. Risk perceptions were significantly lower in those with VH compared to non-VH, in all groups studied and at both times, while safety and efficacy perceptions increased in all groups, significantly less in VH. The greatest benefit of the COVID-19 vaccine is perceived by pharmaceutical companies. VH nurses perceived a more hesitant social environment. CONCLUSION: As the vaccination was rolled out, VH in nurses declined, with time improving the confidence in the safety and efficacy of the vaccines. Risk perceptions also decreased over time, except for the perception of severity in HCW where it increased. Trust in institutions impacts trust in vaccines.
ABSTRACT
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT : About 35 mine vehicles were equipped with Hexagon's Operator Alertness System Heavy Vehicle (OAS-HV) at the Damang Mine in Ghana's Western Region. "Hexagon shares Gold Fields' vision of a safer, more connected mine," said Andrew Crose, VP-Autonomous, Hexagon's Mining division. "We're proud to be part of Damang's push for zero harm and appreciate their collaboration in such a successful deployment," Crose added. After a successful pilot project completed in late 2020-early 2021, full deployment of OAS-HV proceeded smoothly despite ongoing COVID-19 travel restrictions. The recent opening of Hexagon's Accra office and its staff of engineers and project managers ensured full collaboration with Gold Fields' teams, resulting in a high-quality project delivered on time and within budget. "The opening of our Accra office embodies Hexagon's strategy of being closer to the customer, ensuring expert staff are in-country to professionally perform onsite services," Crose explained
ABSTRACT
Touchscreens are a widely used medium for interacting with digital applications in public and they are found in various contexts including entertainment, culture, travel, marketing, etc. However, in the current times of COVID-19 pandemic there are safety concerns about the use of these devices, as touching a common surface may increase the risk of transmission. Thus, there is a need for alternative means for interacting with public interactive kiosks in a usable and effective way. In this paper we propose and evaluate a universal solution to safer interactions with public touchscreens using the smartphone as a touchpad controller. Users have to scan a QR code, and then use their device as a controller to interact with the public system though touch and multi-touch interactions (tap, drag and two-finger gestures). We have setup a user study, where we compare the usability and user experience of smartphone control to the traditional touchscreen input and we examine the users' intention and opinion about the proposed approach. Our study indicates that the use of the mobile device as a controller has the potential to be a safe and practical alternative to direct touch input for public interactive kiosks, and reveals some usability issues that need further consideration. © 2021 ACM.
ABSTRACT
The outbreak of COVID-19 in China has caused Chinese consumers to question the hidden danger of food safety after their experience with previous epidemics like SARS, H1N1, and swine flu. It is feared that the virus could spread from animal to human, similar to avian and swine influenza. They are also concerned that food purchased from supermarkets and farmer's markets could be infected due to improper control measures. This study reviews the potential impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic on Chinese consumers' growing health, ethical, and food safety concerns, which could influence their purchasing attitudes and intention to buy food. The implications of this research are to suggest to marketers the long- term behavioral and attitude shifts we could witness from the COVID- 19 pandemic is a primary concern that needs to be given attention. In order to study the effects of COVID-19 on consumers' attitudes, an online questionnaire was administered in this study. Participants are Chinese consumers from different areas who have different ages and educational backgrounds. This study applies regression analysis to figure out the relationships between the independent variables and dependent variables. The results show that, during the pandemic of COVID- 19, food safety concerns and health consciousness changed the purchasing behaviors of Chinese consumers. © Peter Lang GmbH Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften Berlin 2021. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
E-commerce volumes and home deliveries have experienced steady growth in the last two decades. Strict COVID-19 lockdowns made home delivery an essential service and a lifeline for many households that, for travel restrictions or health concerns, were not able to utilize traditional shopping methods. This research studies the impact of socio-demographic variables and e-commerce attitudes on household deliveries for seven product categories (groceries, meals, electronics, household and office goods, recreational items, and fashion, beauty and personal care products, and medicine/health-related products) during the lockdown period in the greater Portland metropolitan region. To understand these impacts, exploratory factor analysis and choice models with latent variables are estimated utilizing data collected from an online survey representing the population in the greater Portland metropolitan region. The results indicate that each factor has a unique profile in terms of significant socio-demographic variables. A novel contribution of this research is to study the impact on home deliveries of non-traditional variables like health and safety concerns and the presence of household members with disabilities during a pandemic. The results show that health concerns are very influential and that there are substantial differences across factors on delivery rate and expenditure levels. Key findings and perspectives regarding future delivery rates and implications for transportation agencies and logistics companies are discussed.