Effects of ChatGPT's AI capabilities and human-like traits on spreading information in work environments.

The rapid proliferation and integration of AI chatbots in office environments, specifically the advanced AI model ChatGPT, prompts an examination of how its features and updates impact knowledge processes, satisfaction, and word-of-mouth (WOM) among office workers. This study investigates the determinants of WOM among office workers who are users of ChatGPT. We adopted a quantitative approach, utilizing a stratified random sampling technique to collect data from a diverse group of office workers experienced in using ChatGPT. The hypotheses were rigorously tested through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using the SmartPLS 4. The results revealed that system updates, memorability, and non-language barrier attributes of ChatGPT significantly enhanced knowledge acquisition and application. Additionally, the human-like personality traits of ChatGPT significantly increased both utilitarian value and satisfaction. Furthermore, the study showed that knowledge acquisition and application led to a significant increase in utilitarian value and satisfaction, which subsequently increased WOM. Age had a positive influence on WOM, while gender had no significant impact. The findings provide theoretical contributions by expanding our understanding of AI chatbots' role in knowledge processes, satisfaction, and WOM, particularly among office workers.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibody positivity 3 years after COVID-19.

The accurate identification of individuals without prior infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is pivotal for seroepidemiological research and vaccine trials. Because of widespread COVID-19 vaccination, the anti-nucleocapsid antibody continues to serve as a valuable marker for individuals without a history of COVID-19. This study aimed to comprehensively assess anti-nucleocapsid antibody positivity using diverse commercial and in-house immunoassays among individuals who contracted COVID-19 more than 3 years ago. We enrolled 44 participants with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 between January and May 2020 from Seoul National University Hospital and its community treatment centers. The results showed anti-nucleocapsid antibody positivities ranged from 45.5% to 87.9% depending upon the immunoassay used. The study highlights the importance of considering the limited anti-nucleocapsid antibody positivity in participants with a distant COVID-19 history in seroepidemiological or vaccine research.

Clinical Features of Mpox Patients in Korea: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Mpox is a viral illness with a characteristic skin rash caused by the monkeypox virus. In 2022, Mpox spread throughout the world, and an epidemic through domestic transmission started in South Korea in early 2023. This study aimed to summarize the clinical features of Mpox patients in South Korea. METHODS: This is a multicenter retrospective study conducted at four hospitals in South Korea. All adult patients diagnosed with Mpox who were admitted to the study hospitals between June 1, 2022 and May 26, 2023 and were discharged by June 30, 2023 were reviewed. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included, accounting for 65.9% of Mpox cases reported in South Korea during the study period. Median age was 32 years and 97% (58/60) of patients were male. In total, 85% (51/60) of patients reported their sexual orientation as homosexual or bisexual. The most common route of transmission was sexual or close contact (55/60). Every patient had a skin rash and 88% (53/60) had constitutional symptoms. In total, 42% (25/60) of patients had human immunodeficiency virus and 25% (15/60) had concomitant sexually transmitted infections. Severe manifestations of Mpox were identified in only two patients. CONCLUSION: Mpox patients in South Korea were mainly young adult males and were infected through sexual contact. The clinical outcomes were favorable.

The sound of safety: exploring the determinants of prevention intention in noisy industrial workplaces.

Occupational noise exposure is a pervasive issue in many industries, leading to a range of health issues and sleep disturbances among workers. Additionally, there is a strong desire among these workers to prevent industrial accidents. This study, aimed at enhancing worker health and well-being, utilized a survey distributed by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions to field workers. Data from 1285 workers were collected and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to identify and understand the factors affecting prevention intention in noisy work environments. Our findings indicate that health problems resulting from occupational noise exposure significantly influence insomnia, perceived severity of potential accidents, perceived benefits of preventive measures, and perceived barriers. Perceived severity was significantly correlated with prevention intention, emphasizing the role of risk perception in motivating preventive behaviors. Perceived benefits were also significantly associated with prevention intention, highlighting the importance of positive outcomes in influencing workers' behaviors. Additionally, perceived barriers showed a significant relationship with prevention intention, suggesting that overcoming these barriers is crucial in promoting preventive behaviors. Demographic factors such as gender displayed a significant association with prevention intention, while age did not. This study provides valuable insights into the multifaceted factors influencing workers' intention to prevent industrial accidents in noisy environments, underlining the importance of comprehensive data collection tools in understanding these dynamics.

Impact of T-Cell Engagers on COVID-19-Related Mortality in B-Cell Lymphoma Patients Receiving B-Cell Depleting Therapy.

PURPOSE: B-cell depleting therapies, including T-cell engager (TCE), are increasingly used for patients with hematologic malignancies, including during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between TCE therapy and COVID-19-related outcomes among patients with COVID-19 and B-cell lymphomas receiving B-cell depleting therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients with B-cell lymphoma, who were admitted to Seoul Natio-nal University Hospital with COVID-19 between September 2021 and February 2023, and received B-cell depleting therapy before COVID-19 diagnosis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with severe to critical COVID-19 and COVID-19-related mortality. RESULTS: Of 54 patients with B-cell lymphomas and COVID-19 who received B-cell depleting therapy, 14 were treated with TCE (TCE group) and 40 with rituximab (RTX group). COVID-19-related mortality was higher in the TCE group than in the RTX group (57.1% vs. 12.5%, p=0.002). In multivariable analyses, TCE therapy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 7.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29 to 38.76; p=0.024) and older age (aOR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.13; p=0.035) were associated with severe to critical COVID-19. TCE therapy (aOR, 8.98; 95% CI, 1.48 to 54.40; p=0.017), older age (aOR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.26; p=0.022), and prior bendamustine therapy (aOR, 7.78; 95% CI, 1.17 to 51.65; p=0.034) were independent risk factors for COVID-19-related mortality. CONCLUSION: B-cell lymphoma patients treated with TCE had significantly worse outcomes from COVID-19 than those treated with RTX. TCE therapy should be used with caution in B-cell lymphoma patients during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Clinical outcomes and immunological features of COVID-19 patients receiving B-cell depletion therapy during the Omicron era.

Background: The clinical outcomes and immunological features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients receiving B-cell depletion therapy (BCDT), especially in Omicron variant era, have not been fully elucidated. We aimed to investigate the outcomes and immune responses of COVID-19 patients receiving BCDT during the Omicron period.Methods: We retrospectively compared clinical outcomes between COVID-19 patients treated with BCDT (the BCDT group) and those with the same underlying diseases not treated with BCDT (the non-BCDT group). For immunological analyses, we prospectively enrolled COVID-19 patients receiving BCDT and immunocompetent COVID-19 patients as controls. We measured humoral and cellular immune responses using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry.Results: Severe to critical COVID-19 was more frequent in the BCDT group than in the non-BCDT group (41.9% vs. 28.3%, p = .030). BCDT was an independent risk factor for severe to critical COVID-19 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21-4.04, p = .010) as well as for COVID-19-related mortality (aOR 4.03, 95% CI 1.17-13.86, p = .027). Immunological analyses revealed that patients receiving BCDT had lower anti-S1 IgG titres and a tendency to higher proportions of activated CD4+ T-cells than the controls.Conclusions: BCDT was associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes in the Omicron period. Humoral immune response impairment and T-cell hyperactivation were the main immunological features of COVID-19 patients treated with BCDT, which may have contributed to the worse outcomes of COVID-19 in this population.

Analyzing ChatGPT adoption drivers with the TOEK framework.

With the rapid advancements in AI technology and its growing impact on various aspects of daily life, understanding the factors that influence users' adoption intention becomes essential. This study focuses on the determinants affecting the adoption intention of ChatGPT, an AI-driven language model, among university students. The research extends the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework by integrating the concept of knowledge application. A cross-sectional research design was employed, gathering data through a survey conducted to university students. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data, aimed at examining the relationships between key determinants influencing adoption intention. The findings of this research indicate that factors such as network quality, accessibility, and system responsiveness contribute to satisfaction. Furthermore, satisfaction, organizational culture, social influence, and knowledge application significantly affect adoption intention. These findings offer both theoretical and practical implications.

A study of user switching intention for ERP systems based on push-pull-mooring model: Focusing on the important role of information quality for users.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have become indispensable within companies due to their substantial functions and benefits. With a plethora of ERP systems available in the market, management is offered a broad array of options. This paper endeavours to identify the determinants influencing the switching intention of ERP users. Utilizing a conceptual model that adapts the push-pull-mooring paradigm, we seek to construct a formation mechanism of switching intention. Through structural equation modeling conducted on data collected from 236 users, our study uncovers several key findings. The study indicates that system quality, information quality, and top management support exert considerable influence on switching intention via satisfaction. Notably, we found that user satisfaction has a negative impact on switching intention. Our analysis also reveals that alternative attractiveness significantly determines switching intention. These findings provide valuable insights for organizations and ERP vendors to better understand user behaviour and to strategically manage user retention and switching decisions.

Exploring the dynamics of mobile app addiction: the interplay of communication, affective factors, flow, perceived enjoyment, and habit.

The rapid proliferation of mobile apps and their increasing usage have led to growing concerns about potential addiction among users. Previous research has identified several factors that contribute to addiction, including flow, perceived enjoyment, and habit. However, the underlying mechanisms and the role of affective factors remain unclear. This study aims to elucidate the key factors that affect mobile app addiction by proposing a theoretical framework incorporating communication, affective factors, flow, perceived enjoyment, and habit. Data were collected from 320 mobile app users through a questionnaire survey. The research employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the data and test the proposed relationships. The analysis indicates that communication is significantly associated with perceived enjoyment but does not directly affect flow and habit. The research unveils that positive affect significantly influences both flow and perceived enjoyment, but does not influence habit. Negative affect was found to have no significant effect on flow, perceived enjoyment, and habit. The results demonstrate that flow, perceived enjoyment, and habit are significantly related to addiction. The findings reveal that perceived enjoyment has a substantial impact on both flow and habit. These findings offer valuable guidelines for future research and practical implications for developers and policymakers in addressing the challenges associated with mobile app addiction.

Understanding continuance intention of enterprise resource planning (ERP): TOE, TAM, and IS success model.

This paper aims to identify the key factors influencing the intention to continue using enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Extending the Technology-Organization-Environment framework, the model integrates variables from both the Technology Acceptance Model and the Information Systems Success Model. We employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling to analyze empirical data collected from 237 participants who use ERP systems in their workplaces. Our findings suggest that perceived usefulness has a positive impact on the intention to continue using ERP. Both system quality and information quality are pivotal in shaping perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Additionally, we found that top management support is a crucial determinant of continuance intention. The integrated model combines technological factors, organizational context, and environmental components to explain the ongoing use of ERP systems. This research enriches the existing literature on information systems, offering academics and managers deeper insights into the mechanisms driving continued ERP usage.

Predictors of social networking service addiction.

The surge in social network services (SNS) usage has ignited concerns about potential addictive behaviors stemming from excessive engagement. This research focuses on pinpointing the primary determinants of SNS addiction by introducing a theoretical framework centered on flow, perceived enjoyment, and habit. A sample of 282 SNS users from South Korea was surveyed, and the gathered data was assessed through partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The evaluation revealed that positive affect closely relates to flow and perceived enjoyment, whereas negative affect amplifies flow but diminishes perceived enjoyment. Additionally, the research underscored that social influence significantly shapes habits and affects perceived enjoyment. Notably, flow demonstrated a strong connection to addiction, and perceived enjoyment influenced both flow and habit significantly. Habit was directly linked to addiction. These insights pave the way for more in-depth studies on SNS addiction patterns and offer a foundation for devising effective strategies to mitigate its adverse effects.

Affordance, usefulness, enjoyment, and aesthetics in sustaining virtual reality engagement.

As virtual reality (VR) continues to develop, it's attracting an increasing number of consumers who are seeking more diverse functions and experiences. This study presents a theoretical model designed to identify predictors of VR users' continuance intentions. Data was collected from VR users who had firsthand experiences with the technology, and partial least squares structural equation modeling was employed to analyze this data. The results showed a significant correlation between functional affordance and perceived usefulness. Cognitive affordance was found to have a significant association with perceived usefulness, but it also influenced perceived enjoyment. Moreover, physical affordance significantly related to both perceived usefulness and enjoyment. Perceived usefulness was found to directly affect both attitude and continuance intention, while empirical results validated the impact of perceived enjoyment on attitude. The element of shape showed a significant correlation with attitude. Finally, attitude was found to have a significant association with continuance intention. The findings from this study will provide valuable insights for VR companies, developers, and consumers.

Identification of EIMD Level Differences Between Long- and Short Head of Biceps Brachii Using Echo Intensity and GLCM Texture Features.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the time-course changes of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) levels in the long head of biceps brachii (LHB) and short head of the biceps brachii (SHB) using echo intensity (EI) and to determine the efficiency of the gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) texture parameters. Methods: The participants performed 30 maximal eccentric contractions of the elbow flexor. Along with muscle damage indicators, including circumference, range of motion, muscle soreness, and maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), the EI and GLCM texture features of the LHB and SHB was also assessed using B-mode ultrasonography. All measurements were assessed pre- and immediately post-exercise and after 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Results: The muscle damage indicators indicated significant changes after the eccentric contractions (p < 0.01 for circumference, range of motion, muscle soreness, and MVIC). The EI of LHB significantly increased following the contractions (p < 0.01), but that of SHB did not (p > 0.05). In contrast, for the GLCM texture parameters, there were significant changes in the SHB (p < 0.01 for homogeneity, energy, and entropy). Conclusion: Thus, this study demonstrated that EIMD severity is different between LHB and SHB even within the same muscle. In the GLCM features, the time course of SHB after eccentric contraction revealed different patterns compared with those of LHB. Therefore, even if there are no changes in EI within a target muscle following muscle contractions, new information on muscle quality can be obtained through GLCM analysis.

Mechanisms for successful management of enterprise resource planning from user information processing and system quality perspective.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are now ubiquitous in modern organizations. A number of previous studies have focused only on system factors and perceptions, there is a noticeable shortfall in research that concurrently addresses technological factors and human roles in explaining user satisfaction. This study aimed to identify these variables from the perspectives of information systems, technology, and human participation, thereby addressing this knowledge gap. The focus of the study was a large shipbuilding and marine company utilizing an ERP system. The participants, a sample of 234 ERP users, were carefully selected by the company's executives and practitioners, and data was collected through online questionnaires. They were selected through purposive sampling from among employees who use ERP systems in large-scale shipbuilding and marine engineering companies. The study aimed to clarify the relationships between user satisfaction and perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, system quality, service quality, participation, and information quality. A partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the collected data. The results indicated that perceived ease of use, system quality, service quality, and participation positively influenced user satisfaction, whereas perceived usefulness did not have a significant impact. Interestingly, participation was found to lessen the effects of perceived usefulness on satisfaction. The findings of this study suggest that to enhance ERP user satisfaction, managers should strive to make the ERP system easy-to-use and stable, encourage employee participation in the decision-making process, and bolster the role of the support team. It should be noted, however, that the study has limitations as it did not consider all possible factors, such as training and support. Future research should take a broader view of the variables involved in the operation of an enterprise-wide information system.

Social isolation in COVID-19: a comparative study between Korea and Vietnam.

Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation has become a pressing issue worldwide, deeply affecting individuals' mental and physical well-being. This study introduces a theoretical model to understand the factors influencing social isolation in the context of this global health crisis. We employed a survey methodology, collecting data from Korean and Vietnamese university students through a Google survey form. The theoretical model was evaluated using structural equation modeling (SEM), and multi-group analysis (MGA) was used to assess differences between the Korean and Vietnamese student groups. The investigation centered on affective risk perception, cognitive risk perception, social distancing attitude, social distancing intention, and demographic factors like age and gender. Our findings revealed that affective and cognitive risk perceptions have significant positive impacts on attitudes toward social distancing. Furthermore, attitudes towards social distancing were found to significantly influence social distancing intentions. Interestingly, social distancing intention was found to have a significant positive correlation with social isolation. Lastly, demographic factors such as gender and age were found to be significant factors influencing social isolation. Specifically, gender had a positive association, while age showed a negative correlation with social isolation. Moreover, our MGA results showed that the relationship between social distancing intention and social isolation significantly differed between the Korean and Vietnamese student groups, indicating potential cultural or societal influences on this relationship. Such understanding could inform policies and strategies aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of social isolation in the wake of global health crises.

Impacts of social isolation and risk perception on social networking intensity among university students during covid-19.

This paper aims to examine the impacts of social isolation and risk perception on social networking intensity during COVID-19. Data was gathered from 345 university students. The present study empirically analyzed the data through a partial least squares methodology. The analysis showed that perceived behavioral control positively impacts social networking intensity. Affective risk perception positively affects subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. Cognitive risk perception has a significant association with both subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. Moreover, cabin fever syndrome serves as the key determinant of both sub-scales of risk perception. This study is novel in that it organically examines the effects of risk perception, social action, and closure on social networking. The current research and findings will offer useful implications for service providers in the social network industry.

Clinical application of the Panbio™ COVID-19 Ag rapid test device and SSf-COVID19 kit for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the Panbio™ COVID-19 Ag rapid test device using nasal swabs and those of the SSf-COVID19 kit, one of RT-PCR tests, using saliva specimens. These tests were compared with RT-PCR tests using nasopharyngeal swabs for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The three diagnostic tests were simultaneously conducted for patients aged ≥ 18 years, who were about to be hospitalized or had been admitted for COVID-19 confirmed by RT-PCR in two research hospitals from August 20 to October 29, 2021. Nasal swabs were tested using the Panbio™ COVID-19 Ag rapid test device. More than 1 mL of saliva was self-collected and tested using the SSf-COVID19 kit. RESULTS: In total, 157 patients were investigated; 124 patients who were about to be hospitalized and 33 patients already admitted for COVID-19. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the Panbio™ COVID-19 Ag rapid test device with nasal swabs were 64.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 47.9-78.5%) and 100.0% (95% CI 97.0-100.0%), respectively. The median time to confirm a positive result was 180 s (interquartile range 60-255 s). The overall sensitivity and specificity of the SSf-COVID19 kit with saliva specimens were 94.1% (95% CI 80.9-98.4%) and 100.0% (95% CI 97.0-100.0%), respectively.

Continuance intention to use artificial intelligence personal assistant: type, gender, and use experience.

This study aims to identify the key predictors that affect the continuance intention of artificial intelligence personal assistant (AIPA). It proposes the theoretical framework which employs utilitarian value, hedonic value, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, novelty value, perceived enjoyment, and parasocial interaction. Data was collected from 257 users of artificial intelligence personal assistants. This study used partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the empirical data. The results show that utilitarian value and hedonic value are significantly correlated with continuance intention. The findings reveal that perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, novelty value have a significant effect on utilitarian value. The analysis results indicate that novelty value, perceived enjoyment, and parasocial interaction are significantly associated with hedonic value. The current study conducted multi-group analysis according to the AIPA type, gender, and use experience. The results of this study will be a useful guideline for research and business on AIPA.

Effects of Psychological Discomfort on Social Networking Site (SNS) Usage Intensity During COVID-19.

To cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries are implementing social measures. Social distancing, working from home, and non-face-to-face lectures have led to major changes in people's activities. Since face-to-face classes are restricted, students in higher education become to feel psychological and cognitive discomforts such as isolation and risk perception. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of psychological discomforts on the social network site (SNS) usage intensity of University students. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), this study applied SmartPLS 3.3.9 to analyze 271 valid samples. The results show that the affective risk perception significantly affects social distancing attitude. Cognitive risk perception is positively related to social distancing intention. In addition, cabin fever syndrome influences SNS usage intensity, affective risk perception, and cognitive risk perception. In conclusion, psychological discomfort partially affects the intensity of SNS use. Therefore, the government should set policies by reflecting citizens' mental difficulties and SNS activities together. Moreover, companies are needed to carefully consider the risk of the sense of isolation when marketing to SNS users.

Stability and Antibiofilm Efficiency of Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water Against Mixed-Species of Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus.

In the natural environment, most microorganisms live in mixed-species biofilms, in which the metabolism and growth of organisms are different from that in single-species biofilms. Adhesive bacteria and their biofilms on the surface of food processing equipment are the sources of cross-contamination, leading to the risk for humans. Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) has been proposed as a novel sanitizer in the food and agriculture industry. In this study, we investigated the changes in the physical properties of SAEW under different conditions and the disinfection abilities of SAEW against spore-forming and non-spore-forming pathogens. Furthermore, we examined the disinfection abilities of SAEW after 12 months of shelf life on a mixed-species biofilm of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A and Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that SAEW at 30 and 50 ppm achieved all-kill of the spore-forming pathogen Bacillus cereus within 30 s. Changes in the ACC and pH of the produced SAEW were generally affected by the storage conditions. Both spore-forming and non-spore-forming pathogens were not detected under treatment with 50 ppm SAEW for 5 min under HDPE-closed conditions throughout the whole storage period. Moreover, 25 mg/L SAEW can inactivate L. monocytogenes Scott A and S. aureus biofilm cells in ~2.45 and 2.57 log CFU/mL in biofilms within 5-min treatment. However, the decline of the two bacteria in the mixed-species biofilm was 1.95 and 1.43 log CFU/mL, respectively. The changes in the cell membrane permeability of the mixed-species biofilm under treatment with SAEW were observed by using atomic force microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. L. monocytogenes Scott A was more sensitive to SAEW in the mixed-species biofilm cells. These findings exhibited strong antibiofilm activities of SAEW in impairing biofilm cell membranes, decreasing cell density, and eliminating biofilm, which suggest that SAEW is an excellent antibacterial agent in the food processing industries.