300 research outputs found
An Empirical Study on Media Characteristics and Knowledge Sharing in Web 2.0 Environment
The success of the Enterprise 2.0 KMS (knowledge management systems) depends on the userās continuous participation in the process of knowledge sharing. This study attempts to identify the determinants of the userās intention to continuous knowledge sharing based on Expectation Confirmation Theory and Channel Expansion Theory. We also consider communication process modes (i.e., blog and wiki) as a moderator for perceived channel richness. The results of our analysis show the positive effects of all the predictors. With regard to the moderating effects of communication process modes, the effect of experiences shared with group members is greater in the channel to support conveyance, and the effects of experiences about the channel and the group task are greater in the channel to support convergence
An Algorithm for Exchanging Target Asset Pairs using the Kidney Exchange Model
Since chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosive (CBRNE) attacks can cause catastrophic damage, it is important to detect and eliminate the means of attack at the origin. In surveillance operations, efficient allocation of friendly intelligence assets and enemy targets is critical for continuous and reliablemonitoring. In this research, we investigate a mathematical model for exchanging targetāasset pairs when there are sudden changes in various operational environments. For this task, we refer to the kidney exchange model as a benchmark. In particular, the methods for constructing and solving the targetāasset exchange problem in near realtime are presented. Additionally, we introduce the methodology and results for obtaining a feasible solution of the weapon target assignment problem using the exchange model. Our method can facilitate decisions in reconnaissance operations, especially when countless targets and assets are intricately intertwined in future battlefield scenarios
Learning Experiences and Practices of Elementary Teacher Candidates on the Use of Emerging Technology: A Grounded Theory Approach
The purpose of this study is to understand the phenomenon of the āprofessional journeyā of elementary teacher candidates (ETC) both as learners and as teachers by exploring their learning experiences and practices regarding the virtual reality (VR) platfor m called Second Life (SL). Using the grounded theory approach, we designed an insider-led work-based study, synthesizing an outsider perspective. We collected data from 229 ETCs enrolled in science methods course over three academic years including semi-open ended reflective questionnaire, science journal notebooks, 5E science lesson plans, peer teaching classroom observations, and instructorās semester notebooks. Results indicate that as a VR platform, SL provided unique learning experiences that encourage discovering, problem solving, or accidental learning for these mostly first-time user ETCs. Three themes emerged in terms of perceptions of integrating VR into science teaching: (1) skeptical integrators (29%), (2) observant integrators (59%), and (3) innovative integrators (12%). However, none of the ETC collaborative groups integrated a VR platform during their 5E science lesson planning activities, demonstrating the gap between learning experiences and practices. Finally, we converged analysis results with related literature to develop a theory. This study contributes to the discussions on preparing teachers for the 21stcentury in which all will live in a technology-accelerated society
Development and Assessment of the Korean Author Recognition Test
This research reports the development and evaluation of a Korean Author Recognition Test (KART), designed as a measure of print exposure among young adults. Based on the original, English-language version of the Author Recognition Test (ART), the KART demonstrates significant relationships with offline measures of language ability, as well as online measures of word recognition. In particular, KART scores were related to participants\u27 responses on the Comparative Reading Habits (CRH) checklist, suggesting that KART is a valid measure of print exposure. In addition, KART scores showed reliable correlations with offline measures of vocabulary knowledge and language comprehension. Finally, results from a lexical decision task showed that KART scores modulated the magnitude of the word familiarity effect, such that the effect was smaller for participants with higher KART scores The results suggest that the ART is a language-universal task that measures print exposure, which is useful for explaining individual differences in language comprehension abilities and word recognition processes
Higher consumption of ultra-processed food is associated with cardiovascular risk in Korean adults: KNHANES 2016ā2018
BackgroundExcessive consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to investigate the association between the percentage of energy intake from UPFs and the American Heart Associationās cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics in Korean adults.MethodsThis study analyzed adults aged 40āyears and older using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016ā2018 (nā=ā9,351). All foods or beverages reported in a 24-h dietary recall were categorized using the NOVA system, and the percentage of energy from UPFs was calculated. Each CVH metric was scored 0ā2 (poor, intermediate, ideal). The sum of six component scores was classified as inadequate, average, or optimum. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate the covariate-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for inadequate and average CVH versus optimum CVH.ResultsThe mean percentage of energy from UPFs was 24.2%. After adjusting for covariates, participants in the highest UPF quartile had 26% higher odds of having inadequate CVH than those in the lowest quartile (OR 1.26, 95% CI 0.94ā1.69, P-trendā=ā0.03). The percentage of energy from UPFs was positively associated with current smoking, physical inactivity, body mass index, and total cholesterol and was inversely associated with blood pressure and fasting glucose.ConclusionThe percentage of energy from UPFs accounted for one-fourth of total calorie intake in Korean adults aged 40āyears and older. Higher UPF consumption was associated with poorer CVH, underscoring the potential of limiting UPF consumption as a preventative measure for cardiovascular diseases
Clinical and laboratory profiles of hospitalized children with acute respiratory virus infection
PurposeDespite the availability of molecular methods, identification of the causative virus in children with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) has proven difficult as the same viruses are often detected in asymptomatic children.MethodsMultiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays were performed to detect 15 common respiratory viruses in children under 15 years of age who were hospitalized with ARI between January 2013 and December 2015. Viral epidemiology and clinical profiles of single virus infections were evaluated.ResultsOf 3,505 patients, viruses were identified in 2,424 (69.1%), with the assay revealing a single virus in 1,747 cases (49.8%). While major pathogens in single virus-positive cases differed according to age, human rhinovirus (hRV) was common in patients of all ages. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus (IF), and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) were found to be seasonal pathogens, appearing from fall through winter and spring, whereas hRV and adenovirus (AdV) were detected in every season. Patients with ARIs caused by RSV and hRV were frequently afebrile and more commonly had wheezing compared with patients with other viral ARIs. Neutrophil-dominant inflammation was observed in ARIs caused by IF, AdV, and hRV, whereas lymphocyte-dominant inflammation was observed with RSV A, parainfluenza virus, and hMPV. Monocytosis was common with RSV and AdV, whereas eosinophilia was observed with hRV.ConclusionIn combination with viral identification, recognition of virus-specific clinical and laboratory patterns will expand our understanding of the epidemiology of viral ARIs and help us to establish more efficient therapeutic and preventive strategies
Evaluating a theory-based intervention for improving eHealth literacy in older adults: a single group, pretestāposttest design
All authors wish to express their gratitude to our participants for their enthusiastic participation in the intervention over a long five-week period. Also, all authors are deeply grateful to The National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning for their support (Grant No. NRF-2017R1C1B5017768).Background
The Internet is considered an important channel for providing health information to older adults. We developed an intervention to improve eHealth literacy in older adults according to the information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) theory and Intervention Mapping. This study aimed to analyze the effect of a developed intervention on information, motivation, behavioral skills, and behaviors related to eHealth information in older adults.
Methods
Forty-six older adults over the age of 65 were recruited from two senior welfare centers in a city in South Korea. We divided the participants into four groups and conducted one intervention per group from March to December 2019. One intervention consisted of 5 sessions and was performed once a week (2Ā h/1 time) for 5 weeks, culminating in a total lecture time of 10Ā h. One lecture instructor and two assistant instructors supported the participants in the computer practices.
Results
Participantsā computer/web knowledge, perceived ease of use, perceived enjoyment, and attitude toward eHealth information showed statistically significant increases. The eHealth literacy efficacy score, searching performance score, and understanding score were also significantly increased. However, there was no significant difference in perceived usefulness.
Conclusion
The application of the current theory-based methodology can improve the quality of research in eHealth literacy. Additionally, various interventions should be developed and continuously applied to improve eHealth literacy among older adults.This work was supported by The National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning for their support (Grant No. NRF-2017R1C1B5017768)
Incorporating a real-time automatic alerting system based on electronic medical records could improve rapid response systems: a retrospective cohort study
Background
Rapid response systems (RRSs) are essential components of patient safety systems; however, limited evidence exists regarding their effectiveness and optimal structures. We aimed to assess the activation patterns and outcomes of RRS implementation with/without a real-time automatic alerting system (AAS) based on electronic medical records (EMRs).
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of patients for whom the RRS was activated in the surgical wards of a tertiary university hospital. We compared the code rate, in-hospital mortality, unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and other clinical outcomes before and after applying RRS and AAS as follows: pre-RRS (January 2013āJuly 2015), RRS without AAS (August 2015āNovember 2016), and RRS with AAS (December 2016āDecember 2017).
Results
In-hospital mortality per 1000 admissions decreased from 15.1 to 12.9 after RRS implementation (pā<ā0.001). RRS activation per 1000 admissions increased from 14.4 to 26.3 after AAS implementation. The severity of patients condition calculated using the modified early warning score increased from 2.5 (Ā±ā2.1) in the RRS without AAS to 3.6 (Ā±ā2.1) (pā<ā0.001) in the RRS with AAS. The total and preventable code rates and in-hospital mortality rates were comparable between the RRS implementation periods without/with AAS. ICU duration and mortality results improved in patients with RRS activation and unplanned ICU admission. The data of RRS non-activated group remained unaltered during the study.
Conclusions
Real-time AAS based on EMRs might help identify unstable patients. Early detection and intervention with RRS may improve patient outcomes.The author(s) received no fnancial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article
Water striders adjust leg movement speed to optimize takeoff velocity for their morphology
Water striders are water-walking insects that can jump upwards from the water surface. Quick jumps allow striders to avoid sudden dangers such as predators' attacks, and therefore their jumping is expected to be shaped by natural selection for optimal performance. Related species with different morphological constraints could require different jumping mechanics to successfully avoid predation. Here we show that jumping striders tune their leg rotation speed to reach the maximum jumping speed that water surface allows. We find that the leg stroke speeds of water strider species with different leg morphologies correspond to mathematically calculated morphology-specific optima that maximize vertical takeoff velocity by fully exploiting the capillary force of water. These results improve the understanding of correlated evolution between morphology and leg movements in small jumping insects, and provide a theoretical basis to develop biomimetic technology in semi-aquatic environments.1
Highly sensitive and selective visual detection of Cr(VI) ions based on etching of silver-coated gold nanorods
We report a visual detection of Cr(VI) ions using silver-coated gold nanorods (AuNR@Ag) as sensing probes. Au NRs were prepared by a seed-mediated growth process and AuNR@Ag nanostructures were synthesized by growing Ag nanoshells on Au NRs. Successful coating of Ag nanoshells on the surface of Au NRs was demonstrated with TEM, EDS, and UVāvis spectrometer. By increasing the overall amount of the deposited Ag on Au NRs, the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) band was significantly blue-shifted, which allowed tuning across the visible spectrum. The sensing mechanism relies on the redox reaction between Cr(VI) ions and Ag nanoshells on Au NRs. As the concentration of Cr(VI) ions increased, more significant red-shift of the longitudinal peak and intensity decrease of the transverse peak could be observed using UVāvis spectrometer. Several parameters such as concentration of CTAB, thickness of the Ag nanoshells and pH of the sample were carefully optimized to determine Cr(VI) ions. Under optimized condition, this method showed a low detection limit of 0.4 Ī¼M and high selectivity towards Cr(VI) over other metal ions, and the detection range of Cr(VI) was tuned by controlling thickness of the Ag nanoshells. From multiple evaluations in real sample, it is clear that this method is a promising Cr(VI) ion colorimetric sensor with rapid, sensitive, and selective sensing ability.This research was supported under the framework of Nano Material Technology Development Program (NRF-2015M3A7B6027970) and Basic Science Research Program (NRF-2018R1D1A1B07051249) by National Research Foundation, South Korea. Also, this work was supported by the Center of Integrated
Smart Sensors funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, South Korea, as Global Frontier Project (CISS-012M3A6A6054186
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