Digital transformation significantly impacts airport operations and operational efficiency; in particular, the implementation of digital identity recognition technologies, including biometrics, has emerged as a core driver of innovation. Reflecting this trend, Incheon International Airport introduced the "Smart Pass" system in 2023, aiming to enhance operational efficiency and service satisfaction by improving passenger flow. Contrary to expectations, however, the current utilization rate of the Smart Pass remains low, and the adoption rate among foreign visitors is particularly critical. Accordingly, to vitalize the utilization of the Smart Pass, this study analyzes users' intentions to accept digital technology. Specifically, a comparative analysis was conducted using 762 valid samples from Chinese and Japanese passengers, the top two nationalities by visitor volume, to examine the effects of passenger characteristics and psychological factors (perceived time) on digital technology acceptance. The empirical results demonstrate that prior digital technology experience, passenger characteristics, and perceived time significantly influence technology acceptance. Furthermore, noticeable differences in technology acceptance were observed based on the passengers' nationalities. These findings suggest that for a successful vitalization of digital identity recognition technology, airport operators need to implement segmented digital transformation strategies tailored to specific passenger characteristics.

The objective of this study was to establish an in vitro culture system for ovarian preantral follicles of B6D2F1. First, we optimized the in vitro preantral-follicle culture by culture duration, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) type, and activin A concentration. Duration of in vitro culture for 9, 11, and 13 days was sufficient for the normal development of preantral follicles to antral follicles. Formation of cumulus cell–oocyte complex (COC) was induced by treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 2.5 IU/mL) and epidermal growth factor (EGF; 5 ng/mL). In addition, metaphase II (MII) oocytes formed during this in vitro culture of preantral follicles. In vitro preantral-follicle culture for 9 days showed higher rates of growth and maturation, thus yielding a greater number of antral follicles, and there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the number of MII oocytes (that formed from these preantral follicles via differentiation) between the 9-day culture and 11-day or 13-day culture. The follicles cultured for 9 days contained a tightly packed well-defined COC, whereas in follicles cultured for 11 days, the COC was not well defined (spreading was observed in the culture dish); the follicles cultured for 13 days disintegrated and released the oocyte. Second, we compared the growth of the preantral follicles in vitro in the presence of various FSH types. There were no significant differences in the growth and maturation rates and in differentiation into MII oocytes during in vitro culture between preantral follicles supplemented with FSH from Merck and those supplemented with FSH from Sigma. To increase the efficiency of MII oocyte formation, the preantral follicles were cultured at different activin A concentrations (0 to 200 ng/mL). The control follicles, which were not treated with activin A, showed the highest rate of differentiation into antral follicles and into MII oocytes among all the groups (0 to 200 ng/mL). Therefore, activin A (50 to 200 ng/mL) had a negative effect on oocyte maturation. Thus, in this study, we propose an in vitro system of preantral-follicle culture that can serve as a therapeutic strategy for fertility preservation of human oocytes for assisted reproductive medicine, for conservation of endangered species, and for creation of superior breeds.

Contemporary systems for in vitro culture of ovarian follicles do not recapitulate the mechanical heterogeneity in mammalian ovary. Here we report microfluidic generation of biomimetic ovarian microtissue for miniaturized three-dimensional (3D) culture of early secondary preantral follicles by using alginate (harder) and collagen (softer) to fabricate the ovarian cortical and medullary tissues, respectively. This biomimetic configuration greatly facilitates follicle development to antral stage. Moreover, it enables in vitro ovulation of cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) from the antral follicles in the absence of luteinizing hormone (LH) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) that are well accepted to be responsible for ovulation in contemporary literature. These data reveal the crucial role of mechanical heterogeneity in the mammalian ovary in regulating follicle development and ovulation. The biomimetic ovarian microtissue and the microfluidic technology developed in this study are valuable for improving in vitro culture of follicles to preserve fertility and for understanding the mechanism of follicle development and ovulation to facilitate the search of cures to infertility due to ovarian disorders.