Conceptualizing Blockchain Technology in Utilization of Social Welfare Service for the Disabled

This study analyzed factors influencing acceptance intention for blockchain technology in social welfare services for the disabled. Security and economics were the leading variables related to blockchain technology acceptance. Willingness to pay, fairness, and regulation were the leading variables reflecting characteristics of public services. UTAUT (Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology) was used as a research model, and performance expectations, effort expectations, and social impact were considered. Based on the blockchain-based virtual disabled voucher process, this study utilized prior knowledge based on the use of rehabilitation center. The STATA / SE 12.0 statistical program was used to analyze demographic frequency, factor analysis, reliability, and structural equation modeling (SEM). Pay-out and fairness have the greatest influence on acceptance intention, and economic and regulatory factors are the next influential factors. Only economic performance has been identified as a leading variable influencing the expectations of effort, and security has been shown to affect only social impact. Economic performance influenced performance expectation, effort expectation, and social influence. Expectation of effort did not affect acceptance intention. This study provides useful information for establishing a practical strategy when introducing blockchain technology to the public service called disabled welfare

Adjunctive biomarkers for improving diagnosis of tuberculosis and monitoring therapeutic effects

SummaryObjectivesTo identify host biomarkers associated with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), active tuberculosis (TB), and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) diseases to improve diagnosis and effective anti-TB treatment.MethodsActive TB and NTM patients at diagnosis, recent TB contacts, and normal healthy subjects were recruited. Tuberculin skin tests, QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube tests, and multiplex bead arrays with 17 analytes were performed. TB patients were re-evaluated after 2 and 6 months of treatment.ResultsMycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) antigen-specific IFN-γ, IL-2, and CXCL10 responses were significantly higher in active TB and LTBI compared with controls (P < 0.01). Only serum VEGF levels varied between the active TB and LTBI groups (AUC = 0.7576, P < 0.001). Active TB and NTM diseases were differentiated by serum IL-2, IL-9, IL-13, IL-17, TNF-α and sCD40L levels (P < 0.05). Increased sCD40L and decreased M. tb antigen-specific IFN-γ levels correlated with sputum clearance of M. tb after 2 months of treatment (P < 0.001).ConclusionsSerum IL-2, IL-9, IL-13, IL-17, TNF-α, sCD40L and VEGF-A levels may be adjunctive biomarkers for differential diagnosis of active TB, LTBI, and NTM disease. Assessment of serum sCD40L and M. tb antigen-specific IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 levels could help predict successful anti-TB treatment in conjunction with M. tb clearance

Screening for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection Using Beijing/K Strain-Specific Peptides in a School Outbreak Cohort.

Background: The Beijing strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) has been most frequently isolated from TB patients in South Korea, and the hyper-virulent Beijing/K genotype is associated with TB outbreaks. To examine the diagnostic potential of Beijing/K-specific peptides, we performed IFN-γ release assays (IGRA) using a MTBK antigen tube containing Beijing/K MTBK_24800, ESAT-6, and CFP-10 peptides in a cohort studied during a school TB outbreak. Methods: A total of 758 contacts were investigated for M. tb infection, and 43 contacts with latent TB infection (LTBI) and 25 active TB patients were enrolled based on serial screening with QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube tests followed by clinical examinations. Blood collected in MTBK antigen tubes was utilized for IGRA and multiplex cytokine bead arrays. Immune responses were retested in 24 patients after TB treatment, and disease progression was investigated in subjects with LTBI. Results: Total proportions of active disease and LTBI during the outbreak were 3.7% (28/758) and 9.2% (70/758), respectively. All clinical isolates had a Beijing/K M. tb genotype. IFN-γ responses to the MTBK antigen identified M. tb infection and distinguished between active disease and LTBI. After anti-TB treatment, IFN-γ responses to the MTBK antigen were significantly reduced, and strong TNF-α responses at diagnosis were dramatically decreased. Conclusions: MTBK antigen-specific IFN-γ has diagnostic potential for differentiating M. tb infection from healthy controls, and between active TB and LTBI as well. In addition, TNF-α is a promising marker for monitoring therapeutic responses. These data provide informative readouts for TB diagnostics and vaccine studies in regions where the Beijing/K strain is endemic

Strong association between herpes simplex virus-1 and chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis in patients with hematologic malignancies

Background/Aims: A link between oral cavity infections and chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis (CIOM) in patients with hematological malignancies (HMs) undergoing intensive chemotherapy (IC) or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been suggested. However, conclusive data are lacking, and there are no current guidelines for the prophylactic use of antimicrobials to prevent CIOM in these populations. Methods: The relationships between herpes simplex virus (HSV) reactivation and Candida colonization in the oral cavity and CIOM in patients with HMs undergoing IC or HSCT were evaluated. Patients aged &gt;= 19 years with HMs undergoing IC or HSCT were enrolled. Each patient was evaluated for HSV and Candida in the oral cavity along with CIOM at baseline and during the and, 3rd, and 4th weeks. Results: Seventy presentations among 56 patients were analyzed. CIOM was observed in 23 presentations (32.9%), with a higher incidence associated with HSCT (17 of 35 presentations, 48.6%) than with IC (six of 35 presentations, 8.6%). The reactivation of HSV-1 was significantly associated with an increased incidence of CIOM after adjusting for age, sex, type of disease, and treatment stage. A higher HSV-1 viral load was associated with an increased incidence of CIOM. The presence of Candida was not associated with CIOM. Conclusions: HSV-1 reactivation in the oral cavity was highly associated with CIOM in patients with HMs undergoing high-dose chemotherapy.Y

A Feasibility Study for Diagnosis of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Using an IGRA Point-of-Care Platform in South Korea.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate ichroma™ IGRA-TB, a novel point-of-care platform for assaying IFN-γ release, and to compare it with QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) for identifying Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 60 healthy subjects, and blood samples were obtained in QFT-GIT blood collection tubes. The blood collection tubes were incubated at 37°C, and culture supernatant was harvested after 18-24 hours. IFN-γ responses were assessed by the ichroma™ IGRA-TB cartridge and the QFT-GIT IFN-γ enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Three active TB patients were recruited as a positive control for M. tb infection. RESULTS: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the ichroma™ IGRA-TB test for differentiating between infected and non-infected individuals was 0.9706 (p<0.001). Inconsistent positivity between the two tests was found in three participants who showed weak positive IFN-γ responses (<1.0 IU/mL) with QFT-GIT. However, the two tests had excellent agreement (95.2%, κ=0.91, p<0.001), and a very strong positive correlation was observed between the IFN-γ values of both tests (r=0.91, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The diagnostic accuracy demonstrated in this study indicates that the ichroma™ IGRA-TB test could be used as a rapid diagnostic method for detecting latent TB infection. It may be particularly beneficial in resource-limited places that require cost-effective laboratory diagnostics

A Holistic Analysis Approach to Social, Technical, and Socio-Technical Aspect of E-Government Development

Recently, a new trend has been emerging in understanding the differences in the implementation of ICT (Information Communication Technology) in the context of e-government between the developing and developed world. The two are broadly distinct in their characteristics of implementation due to differences in the diffusion and speed of technology patterns combined with efforts to bridge the digital divide. This leads to the objective of this paper, understanding the dynamic effects intertwining diverse aspects—social, technical, and socio-technical—on the development of e-government. However, current research still lacks a holistic perspective in comprehending how social, technical and socio-technical dimensions interact or promote the development of e-government system in a given state. This paper uses a panel dataset gathered from the World Bank, UN, and ITU databases. The research results highlight the need to look at the development of e-government through a more holistic approach rather than an atomistic single-cause approach. The results also indicate that there is no one-size-fits-all solution and a more effective e-government master plan should take into consideration the technical side of e-government development and also reflect social and, most importantly, socio-technical considerations and its holistic implication for the development of e-government systems in a given state

An Analysis of CSR on Firm Financial Performance in Stakeholder Perspectives

Sustainable growth can be a source of success for firms. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a key tool for sustainable growth. However, should firms invest in CSR without having confidence in the effects and methods of CSR? This study explored the R&amp;D, technology commercialization, and CSR motivation as core competencies that enhance corporate performance through CSR from a normative perspective—the stakeholder’s perspective. The purpose of this study was to investigate both strategic and traditional CSR’s relationships with financial performance based on the confidence in the effectiveness of CSR. Another important objective of this study was to explore management factors that influence strategic CSR. Firms consider R&amp;D and technology commercialization as strategic management factors. Therefore, this study analyzed the influence of these strategic management factors along with CSR motivations, which may influence strategic and traditional CSR