Coronavirus sickness (COVID-19) recently adversely disrupted the medical care system and the entire economy. Doctors, researchers, and specialists are working on new-fangled methods to detect COVID-19 relatively efficiently, such as constructing computerized COVID-19 detection systems. Medical imaging, such as Computed Tomography (CT), has a lot of opportunity as a solution to RT-PCR approaches for quantitative assessment and disease monitoring. COVID-19 diagnosis based on CT images can provide speedy and accurate results. A quantitative criterion for diagnosis is provided by an automated segmentation method of infection areas in the lungs. As an outcome, automatic image segmentation is in high demand as a clinical decision aid tool. To detect COVID-19, Computed Tomography images might be employed instead of the time-consuming RT-PCR assay. In this research, a unique technique is provided for segmenting infection areas in the lungs using CT scan images from COVID-19 patients. “Ground Glass Opacity (GGO)” regions were detected using Novel Adaptive Histogram Binning Based Lesion Segmentation (NAHBLS) method. Many metrics were also employed to evaluate the proposed method, including “Sorensen–Dice similarity”, “Sensitivity”, “Specificity”, “Precision”, and “Accuracy” measures. Experiments have shown that the proposed method can effectively separate the lung infections with good accuracy. The results show that the proposed Novel Adaptive Histogram Binning Based Lesion Segmentation based on automatic approach is effective at segmenting the lesion region of the image and calculated the Infection Rate (IR) over the lung region in Computed Tomography scan.
{"title":"Novel Adaptive Histogram Binning-Based Lesion Segmentation for Discerning Severity in COVID-19 Chest CT Scan Images","authors":"S. Nivetha, H. Inbarani","doi":"10.4018/ijskd.324164","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4018/ijskd.324164","url":null,"abstract":"Coronavirus sickness (COVID-19) recently adversely disrupted the medical care system and the entire economy. Doctors, researchers, and specialists are working on new-fangled methods to detect COVID-19 relatively efficiently, such as constructing computerized COVID-19 detection systems. Medical imaging, such as Computed Tomography (CT), has a lot of opportunity as a solution to RT-PCR approaches for quantitative assessment and disease monitoring. COVID-19 diagnosis based on CT images can provide speedy and accurate results. A quantitative criterion for diagnosis is provided by an automated segmentation method of infection areas in the lungs. As an outcome, automatic image segmentation is in high demand as a clinical decision aid tool. To detect COVID-19, Computed Tomography images might be employed instead of the time-consuming RT-PCR assay. In this research, a unique technique is provided for segmenting infection areas in the lungs using CT scan images from COVID-19 patients. “Ground Glass Opacity (GGO)” regions were detected using Novel Adaptive Histogram Binning Based Lesion Segmentation (NAHBLS) method. Many metrics were also employed to evaluate the proposed method, including “Sorensen–Dice similarity”, “Sensitivity”, “Specificity”, “Precision”, and “Accuracy” measures. Experiments have shown that the proposed method can effectively separate the lung infections with good accuracy. The results show that the proposed Novel Adaptive Histogram Binning Based Lesion Segmentation based on automatic approach is effective at segmenting the lesion region of the image and calculated the Infection Rate (IR) over the lung region in Computed Tomography scan.","PeriodicalId":13656,"journal":{"name":"Int. J. Sociotechnology Knowl. Dev.","volume":"49 1","pages":"1-35"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77057700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The provision of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure is not eminent in many societies due to a lack of digital access and poverty. Therefore, there should be ICT provision in underserved communities to bridge digital literacy and contribute to human and indigenous knowledge development. This paper aims to investigate how ICT access can impact youth employability in underserved townships. The quantitative method was used for the data collection process, using a structured questionnaire to draft both close-ended and open-ended questions. These were drafted into Google forms and distributed on social media platforms. While the sustainable livelihood theory was used to guide the study. Results derived from this study depict the inherent environmental factors that hinder youth access to ICTs. This study recommends policymakers can implement measures to provide sufficient ICT development initiatives to support youths living in underserved communities.
{"title":"Information and Communication Technology Management for Sustainable Youth Employability in Underserved Society: Technology Use for Skills Development of Youths","authors":"Abiodun Alao, Roelien Brink","doi":"10.4018/ijskd.322100","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4018/ijskd.322100","url":null,"abstract":"The provision of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure is not eminent in many societies due to a lack of digital access and poverty. Therefore, there should be ICT provision in underserved communities to bridge digital literacy and contribute to human and indigenous knowledge development. This paper aims to investigate how ICT access can impact youth employability in underserved townships. The quantitative method was used for the data collection process, using a structured questionnaire to draft both close-ended and open-ended questions. These were drafted into Google forms and distributed on social media platforms. While the sustainable livelihood theory was used to guide the study. Results derived from this study depict the inherent environmental factors that hinder youth access to ICTs. This study recommends policymakers can implement measures to provide sufficient ICT development initiatives to support youths living in underserved communities.","PeriodicalId":13656,"journal":{"name":"Int. J. Sociotechnology Knowl. Dev.","volume":"33 1","pages":"1-19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80419147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This paper reports on a case study where the Namibian environment is used to gain deeper understanding of the factors that influence e-governance and how those factors manifest themselves. This study is motivated by the continuous challenges that are encountered by many African countries, either in the development or implementation or both, of the e-governance solution. The interpretivist approach was employed, and qualitative data were gathered using the semi-structured interview technique. Activity theory was used as a lens to guide the analysis of the data, from which six factors were found to influence the implementation of e-governance in the country. The factors are know-how; requirements of both technical and non-technical components; political-will, which draws on power to make decisions; heterogeneity; a repertoire of actors-power relationship; and governance, which includes standards, policies, and principles. The empiricism nature of the study boosts knowledgeability of the challenges that hinder implementation of the solution, which in-turn affect service delivery.
{"title":"The stimulus of factors in implementing the e-governance concept in Namibia","authors":"L. Mutasa, T. Iyamu","doi":"10.4018/ijskd.320478","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4018/ijskd.320478","url":null,"abstract":"This paper reports on a case study where the Namibian environment is used to gain deeper understanding of the factors that influence e-governance and how those factors manifest themselves. This study is motivated by the continuous challenges that are encountered by many African countries, either in the development or implementation or both, of the e-governance solution. The interpretivist approach was employed, and qualitative data were gathered using the semi-structured interview technique. Activity theory was used as a lens to guide the analysis of the data, from which six factors were found to influence the implementation of e-governance in the country. The factors are know-how; requirements of both technical and non-technical components; political-will, which draws on power to make decisions; heterogeneity; a repertoire of actors-power relationship; and governance, which includes standards, policies, and principles. The empiricism nature of the study boosts knowledgeability of the challenges that hinder implementation of the solution, which in-turn affect service delivery.","PeriodicalId":13656,"journal":{"name":"Int. J. Sociotechnology Knowl. Dev.","volume":"62 1","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73060873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Climate change heightens global warming and brings about impending risks for both human society and natural systems. Climate change is the greatest threat modern humans have ever faced. Pollutant discharges involve the global atmosphere and result in the challenge of global warming that must be solved before it results in irreversible damage. Current common threats of crises need common actions among all of us: every continent, every country, every community, and every common citizen. The earlier an action, the larger its impact. This review article scrutinizes the newest developments in this paramount important research area and provides directions for future research.
{"title":"Confronting Current Crises and Critical Challenges of Climate Change","authors":"John Wang, J. Hsu, Yang Li, V. Gu","doi":"10.4018/ijskd.318695","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4018/ijskd.318695","url":null,"abstract":"Climate change heightens global warming and brings about impending risks for both human society and natural systems. Climate change is the greatest threat modern humans have ever faced. Pollutant discharges involve the global atmosphere and result in the challenge of global warming that must be solved before it results in irreversible damage. Current common threats of crises need common actions among all of us: every continent, every country, every community, and every common citizen. The earlier an action, the larger its impact. This review article scrutinizes the newest developments in this paramount important research area and provides directions for future research.","PeriodicalId":13656,"journal":{"name":"Int. J. Sociotechnology Knowl. Dev.","volume":"17 1","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85346523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This research reviews the legal framework for protecting the security of cyberspace from terrorist acts, using the following approaches: the legal approach, the descriptive approach, and the analytical approach. This is achieved by gathering knowledge and data on the protection of cybersecurity and analyzing the different tools and methods that terrorist organizations use to implement their cybercrimes. The goal is to find ways to overcome the various challenges that terrorists pose to regional (Arab-wide) and international cybersecurity systems to find mechanisms and solutions to deal with this phenomenon effectively and to reduce its increasing risks to people and the security, stability, and economies of nations. The most significant conclusion that was reached is the need to continue international efforts to strengthen the fight against cyberterrorism and to establish a binding legal treaty in this regard so as to prevent further harm to the safety of the international community.
{"title":"International Perspective on Securing Cyberspace Against Terrorist Acts","authors":"Maya Khater","doi":"10.4018/ijskd.318706","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4018/ijskd.318706","url":null,"abstract":"This research reviews the legal framework for protecting the security of cyberspace from terrorist acts, using the following approaches: the legal approach, the descriptive approach, and the analytical approach. This is achieved by gathering knowledge and data on the protection of cybersecurity and analyzing the different tools and methods that terrorist organizations use to implement their cybercrimes. The goal is to find ways to overcome the various challenges that terrorists pose to regional (Arab-wide) and international cybersecurity systems to find mechanisms and solutions to deal with this phenomenon effectively and to reduce its increasing risks to people and the security, stability, and economies of nations. The most significant conclusion that was reached is the need to continue international efforts to strengthen the fight against cyberterrorism and to establish a binding legal treaty in this regard so as to prevent further harm to the safety of the international community.","PeriodicalId":13656,"journal":{"name":"Int. J. Sociotechnology Knowl. Dev.","volume":"6 1","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79908532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-01DOI: 10.4018/IJSKD.2022040105
Sudhi Sharma, M. Yadav, Babita Jha
The paper aims to analyse the impact of the COVID outbreak on the currency market. The study considers spot rates of seven major currencies (i.e., EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, AUD/USD, USD/CAD, USD/CHF, and CHF/JPY). To capture the impact of the outbreak on returns and the volatility of returns of seven currencies during pandemic, the study has segregated in two window periods (i.e., pre- [1st Jan 2019 to 31st Dec, 2019] and post-outbreak of COVID-19 [1st Jan, 2020 to 22nd Dec, 2020]). The study has applied various methods and models (i.e., econometric-based compounded annual growth rate [CAGR], dummy variable regression, and generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity [GARCH]). The result of the study captures the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on three currencies—USD/JPY, AUD/USD, and USD/CHF—and positive significant impact on EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/CAD, and CHF/JPY. Investors can take short position in these while having long position in other currencies. The inferences drawn from the analysis are providing insight to investors and hedgers.
{"title":"Impact of the COVID-19 Outbreak on the Currency Exchanges of Selected Countries","authors":"Sudhi Sharma, M. Yadav, Babita Jha","doi":"10.4018/IJSKD.2022040105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4018/IJSKD.2022040105","url":null,"abstract":"The paper aims to analyse the impact of the COVID outbreak on the currency market. The study considers spot rates of seven major currencies (i.e., EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, AUD/USD, USD/CAD, USD/CHF, and CHF/JPY). To capture the impact of the outbreak on returns and the volatility of returns of seven currencies during pandemic, the study has segregated in two window periods (i.e., pre- [1st Jan 2019 to 31st Dec, 2019] and post-outbreak of COVID-19 [1st Jan, 2020 to 22nd Dec, 2020]). The study has applied various methods and models (i.e., econometric-based compounded annual growth rate [CAGR], dummy variable regression, and generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity [GARCH]). The result of the study captures the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on three currencies—USD/JPY, AUD/USD, and USD/CHF—and positive significant impact on EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/CAD, and CHF/JPY. Investors can take short position in these while having long position in other currencies. The inferences drawn from the analysis are providing insight to investors and hedgers.","PeriodicalId":13656,"journal":{"name":"Int. J. Sociotechnology Knowl. Dev.","volume":"68 1","pages":"73-91"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82354215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-01DOI: 10.4018/IJSKD.2022040103
Delores Springs, D. Burrell, A. Shufutinsky, K. Shipman, T. McCargo, K. Brown-Jackson
In March of 2020, the United States activated nationwide pandemic response protocols due to the swift spread of Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019, also known as COVID-19. Amidst the domestic response, urgency surrounded the need to build collective awareness of the signs, symptoms, and preventive measures of the virus. As the virus spread and historically marginalized communities were disproportionately impacted with rates of infection, the need to explore the presence of disparities in health communication, health education, and personal health literacy surfaced. The research contained within this study examines the root cause of the gap in health literacy for communities of color and presents actionable next steps to increase positive healthcare outcomes for all.
{"title":"Exploring the Need of Social Change Leadership Concerning Health Communication and Health Disparities During the COVID-19 Pandemic","authors":"Delores Springs, D. Burrell, A. Shufutinsky, K. Shipman, T. McCargo, K. Brown-Jackson","doi":"10.4018/IJSKD.2022040103","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4018/IJSKD.2022040103","url":null,"abstract":"In March of 2020, the United States activated nationwide pandemic response protocols due to the swift spread of Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019, also known as COVID-19. Amidst the domestic response, urgency surrounded the need to build collective awareness of the signs, symptoms, and preventive measures of the virus. As the virus spread and historically marginalized communities were disproportionately impacted with rates of infection, the need to explore the presence of disparities in health communication, health education, and personal health literacy surfaced. The research contained within this study examines the root cause of the gap in health literacy for communities of color and presents actionable next steps to increase positive healthcare outcomes for all.","PeriodicalId":13656,"journal":{"name":"Int. J. Sociotechnology Knowl. Dev.","volume":"62 1","pages":"41-54"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90225436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-01DOI: 10.4018/IJSKD.2022040102
A. Singh, An Jain
The study investigates the factors influencing business continuity during adversities like COVID-19. It further sheds light on priorities for preparedness measures that need to be taken to ensure continuity during these adversities. Exploratory research was conducted in the form of focussed interviews with 20 senior management industry professionals, and these were analyzed using N-Vivo, and four important determinants of business continuity were identified based on which a research model was conceptualized using business continuity as dependent variable and others as independent variables. The model was further tested using quantitative research. For this purpose, a questionnaire was prepared, and a total of 200 responses were collected representing 26 sectors. These responses were analyzed using factor and variance analysis, and a multiple regression analysis was performed to test the role of these variables on business continuity. It was further concluded that the factors that ensure business continuity differ according to the industry in which the business is operating.
{"title":"Business Continuity During Adversity and Strategies to Revive Certain Sectors","authors":"A. Singh, An Jain","doi":"10.4018/IJSKD.2022040102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4018/IJSKD.2022040102","url":null,"abstract":"The study investigates the factors influencing business continuity during adversities like COVID-19. It further sheds light on priorities for preparedness measures that need to be taken to ensure continuity during these adversities. Exploratory research was conducted in the form of focussed interviews with 20 senior management industry professionals, and these were analyzed using N-Vivo, and four important determinants of business continuity were identified based on which a research model was conceptualized using business continuity as dependent variable and others as independent variables. The model was further tested using quantitative research. For this purpose, a questionnaire was prepared, and a total of 200 responses were collected representing 26 sectors. These responses were analyzed using factor and variance analysis, and a multiple regression analysis was performed to test the role of these variables on business continuity. It was further concluded that the factors that ensure business continuity differ according to the industry in which the business is operating.","PeriodicalId":13656,"journal":{"name":"Int. J. Sociotechnology Knowl. Dev.","volume":"5 1","pages":"17-40"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88505542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-01DOI: 10.4018/IJSKD.2022040104
Chandranshu Sinha, N. Kamra, T. Duggal, Ruchi Sinha, R. Sujatha, Indranil Mutsuddi
Work from home (or remote working) has become the new normal ever since the pandemic hit the world. This new normal, which represents the unison of social and technical assemblage, has been used as a backdrop in the study to explore the nature of employee job behaviour and its impact on job satisfaction. The sample consisted of employees who are working remotely from their homes in the information technology sector. The Cronbach alpha of the questionnaire was found to be .862. The results indicate that dimensions of employee job behaviour like enhanced work association, need for interaction for information exchange, and increased work responsibility were found to be highly correlated in the backdrop of work from home. Further, employee job behaviour was found to be significantly impacting job satisfaction of employees in the backdrop of work from home.
{"title":"Exploring the Unison of Socio-Technical Assemblage: Impact of Employee Job Behavior on Job Satisfaction","authors":"Chandranshu Sinha, N. Kamra, T. Duggal, Ruchi Sinha, R. Sujatha, Indranil Mutsuddi","doi":"10.4018/IJSKD.2022040104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4018/IJSKD.2022040104","url":null,"abstract":"Work from home (or remote working) has become the new normal ever since the pandemic hit the world. This new normal, which represents the unison of social and technical assemblage, has been used as a backdrop in the study to explore the nature of employee job behaviour and its impact on job satisfaction. The sample consisted of employees who are working remotely from their homes in the information technology sector. The Cronbach alpha of the questionnaire was found to be .862. The results indicate that dimensions of employee job behaviour like enhanced work association, need for interaction for information exchange, and increased work responsibility were found to be highly correlated in the backdrop of work from home. Further, employee job behaviour was found to be significantly impacting job satisfaction of employees in the backdrop of work from home.","PeriodicalId":13656,"journal":{"name":"Int. J. Sociotechnology Knowl. Dev.","volume":"7 1","pages":"55-72"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89033715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-01DOI: 10.4018/ijskd.2022040106
Debesh Mishra, Hullash Chauhan, D. Mishra, S. Satapathy
COVID-19 has been primarily regarded as a respiratory disease, and until a safer and effective treatment or vaccine becomes available, the prevention of COVID-19 may continue through interventions based on non-pharmaceutical measures such as maintaining of physical distances and use of personal protective equipment like facemasks, etc. Therefore, an attempt was made in this study to explore the drawbacks with the presently available facemasks for protection from COVID-19 viruses in the state of Odisha in India, and also to explore the possible opportunities for further development of these facemasks. The associated discomforts; strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of existing facemasks in Odisha; possible opportunities for “Make in India” of these facemasks; along with safer use have been analyzed with the help of interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach followed by MICMAC analysis.
{"title":"Possible Opportunities in Face Mask Manufacturing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study From India","authors":"Debesh Mishra, Hullash Chauhan, D. Mishra, S. Satapathy","doi":"10.4018/ijskd.2022040106","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4018/ijskd.2022040106","url":null,"abstract":"COVID-19 has been primarily regarded as a respiratory disease, and until a safer and effective treatment or vaccine becomes available, the prevention of COVID-19 may continue through interventions based on non-pharmaceutical measures such as maintaining of physical distances and use of personal protective equipment like facemasks, etc. Therefore, an attempt was made in this study to explore the drawbacks with the presently available facemasks for protection from COVID-19 viruses in the state of Odisha in India, and also to explore the possible opportunities for further development of these facemasks. The associated discomforts; strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of existing facemasks in Odisha; possible opportunities for “Make in India” of these facemasks; along with safer use have been analyzed with the help of interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach followed by MICMAC analysis.","PeriodicalId":13656,"journal":{"name":"Int. J. Sociotechnology Knowl. Dev.","volume":"103 1","pages":"92-113"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80753361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}