• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.343-359
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• 2014

This study investigates how cultural differences between countries affect bilateral trade volumes, using Hofstede's cultural index that reflects nations' cultural characteristics. Empirical analyses of the impacts of Hofstede's five cultural characteristics on bilateral trade volumes are conducted either in each separate equation or simultaneously. Bilateral trade data of OECD countries plus China as of year 2010 is used for regression analysis on gravity model. Regression results from individual equation for each cultural index variable show tthe smaller the index gaps of power distances and uncertainty avoidance among countries, the larger bilateral trade volumes. On the contrary, the larger the index gaps of long-term orientation among countries, the larger bilateral trade volumes. If five Hofstede cultural indexes are regressed in a single equation, however, only variables of power distance and long-term orientation are significant. The analysis largely confirms that bilateral trade among countries with similar culture have much potrential to grow. It implies that policy actions for cultural proximity are very important for furthering bilateral trade.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.187-198
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• 2008

There are usually plenty of material inventories in a construction site. More inventories can meet unexpected demands, and also they may have an economical advantage by avoiding a probable escalation of raw material costs. On the other hand, these inventories also cause negative aspects to increase costs for storing redundant inventory as well as decreasing construction productivity. Therefore, a proper method of deciding an optimal level of material inventories while considering dynamic variations of resources under uncertainty is very crucial for the economical efficiency of construction projects. This research presents a stochastic modelling method for construction operations, particularly targeting a work process involving on-site fabrication of raw materials like iron-rebar process (delivery, cut and assembly, and placement). To develop the model, we apply the concept of factory physics to depict the overall components of a system. Then, an optimal inventory management model is devised to support purchase decisions where users can make timely actions on how much to order and when to buy raw materials. Also, optimal time lag, which minimizes the storage time for pre-assembled materials, is obtained. To verify this method, a real case is applied to elicit an optimal amount of inventory and time lag. It is found that average values as well as variability of inventory level decreased significantly so as to minimize economic costs related to inventory management under uncertain project condition.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.183-207
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• 2009

In general, the introduction of information technology to domestic small and middle size firms is depending on the governmental supporting policy. However, even under this situation there is also a case that the building up of information technology is initiated by the management of small and middle size firms. An accumulated know-how for information technology and powerful leadership in such firms are considered as success factors. This study attempts to analyze a case for 'THEFACESHOP', in which MIS is successfully built. To achieve corporate goals, the CEO of THEFACESHOP based on the extensive knowledge of information technology drove to build up information system. Also, the board of directors supported him, and employees committed to their organization. Through the strong leadership of the CEO, the information system of THEFACESHOP became sufficient and efficient. And it led the organization and the information system to be competitive. In particular, the systematic approach of THEF ACESHOP reinforcing its competitiveness can be summarized as follows: First, it tried to construct basic information systems as like ERP etc. to increase work-efficiency. Second, it completed CRM related systems for analysis to maximize its customer orientation and marketing effect. Third, the last step can be stated as the building up of operation related CRM systems to improve the responsiveness of target marketing activities and the profitability of its agencies. Such endeavors of THEFACESHOP contributed to increase productivity and performance of the organization. As a result, THEFACESHOP has had its own 'Natural Story' and price competitiveness. For that reason THEFACESHOP became the best of brand-shop cosmetic firms. This success based on the strong leadership and the systematic investment on the information system.

• The Korean Journal of Financial Management
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.249-280
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• 1993

Recent financial theory views insurance policies as financial instruments that are traded in markets and whose prices reflect the forces of supply and demand. This article analyzes individual's insurance purchasing behavior along with capital market investment activities, which will provide a more realistic look at the tradeoff between insurance and investment in the individual's budget constraint. It is shown that the financial economic concept of insurance cost should reflect the opportunity cost of insurance premium. The author demonstrates the importance of riskless and risky financial assets in reaching an equilibrium insurance premium. In addition, the paper also investigates how the investment income could affect the four established theorems on traditional insurance literature. At the present time in Korea, the price deregulation is being debated as the most important current issue in insurance industry. In view of the results of this paper, insurance companies should recognize investment income in pricing their coverage if insurance prices are deregulated. Otherwise. price competition may force insurance companies to restrict coverage or to leave the market.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.976-982
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• 1998

The effects of the glycoprotein (PAG) isolated from Pteridium aquilinum on the immune function was examined in mice. PAG was intraperitoneally administered into BALB/C mice for 14 days and the antibody forming ability to hen egg lysozyme (HEL) and the blastogenic responses of splenocytes were measured. PAG treatment significantly increased antibody formation to HEL in a dose-dependent manner. Blatogenesis of splenocytes in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, B-cell specific mitogen) or phytohemagglutinin (PHA, T-cell specific mitogen) was also increased after treatment with PAG, indicating that the PAG increases both humoral and cellular immunities. To examine whether the immune function of PAG was via a direct effect on the lymphocytes, splenocytes were isolated from BALB/C mice, exposed to various concentrations of PAG in vitro and the blastogenic responses were measured. In vitro exposure to PAG significantly increased blastogenesis of splenocytes to LPS up to $500{\;}{\mu}g/kg$, whereas the blastogenic response to PHA was not altered by PAG treatment. To identify the fraction responsible for the increase in the immune function, the effect of periodate digest, pronase digest or purified polysaccharide on the antibody production to HEL was examined. Crude protein fraction of PAG significantly increased the antibody formation to HEL. On the other hand, both crude and purified polysaccharide fractions did not have any effects on the antibody production ability. These data indicated that 1) PAG increased both humoral and cellular immune functions, 2) the increase in humoral immunity was probably via a direct action of PAG on lymphocytes and 3) the protein portion of PAG was responsible for the increase in humoral immunity.

• Journal of the korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.53-68
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• 1996

마그네슘이 자동차 경량화에 관심이 되는 이유는 근본적으로 CAFE 규제와 같이 경량화를 통한 화석연료의 소모를 크게 억제해야 한다는 사회적인 규제이나, 지난 10여년간의 기술발전으로 내식성이 나쁘다거나 취급이 위험한 금속이라는 인식이 크게 개선된 데에도 있다. 다른 경량금속에 대한 Mg 지금 가격의 비교조건이 호전되었고 향후 원소 재공급의 다변화가 추진되고 있는 것도 환경을 변화시킨 중요한 요인이다. 그간 중요한 경량화 대체 재료로 연구투자가 많았던 유기고분자 재료 및 FRP 등과 같은 복합재료는 폐기부품의 재활용이 어려움 때문에 호나경친화적인 단점이 부각되어, 이 소재의 증가가 주춤해 있다. 마그네슘의 경우에는 재활용이 가능하고, 진동흡수효과가 매우 커서 소음발생을 크게 줄일 뿐만 아니라, 주행 및 내구성시험에서 치수안정성이 좋고 많은 종류의 전자기기 사용에 의한 전자파 차폐효과도 큰 장점을 가지고 있다. 본 고에서는 Mg 다이캐스팅으로 자동차부품의 경량화 현황과 선진국에서 보는 전망을 미국을 중심으로 정리하고, 이와 관련한 Mg 다이캐스팅으로 자동차부품의 경량화 현황과 선진국에서 보는 전망을 미국을 중심으로 정리하고, 이와 관련한 Mg 기술적인 이슈와 시장전망도 서술하였다. 그리고 현재 우리나라의 연구계와 부품업계에서 추진하고 있는 연구개발 동향을 자동차 업계에 소개하는 의미도 있다. 이처럼 우리나라의 현황을 정리해 보는 것은 국내 자동차 산업이 국제적인 경쟁을 하고 있고 Mg기술과 원료확보에서 일본의 견제를 받고 있는 우리의 현실에서도 필요한 작업으로 생각된다.값들로 구성되는 형상을 내구 성능, 성형성등을 고려하여 최종 형상으로 결정한다. 내구성능의 예측은 금속부품의 내구수명 예측에 널리 이용되고 있는 방법이 방진 고무부품의 경우에도 적용 가능한지를 검토하고, 방진 고무부품에도 일반적으로 적용될수 있는 내구수명 예측방안의 개발 가능성을 타진해 보았다. 본 연구의 목표는 시제품을 제작하기 이전에 설계된 부품에 대한 스프링 상수 및 내구특성을 체계적으로 규명하여 제품 시험의 횟수를 줄이고, 보다 정밀한 제품을 제작할 수 있도록 하기 위한 것이다.세포수는 초기 배반포기배에서 팽윤 배반포기배로 진행됨에 따라 두배에서 세배 정도 증가되었음을 알 수 있었다. 또한, differential labelling과 bisbenzimide기법에서 얻어진 각각의 총세포수를 비교하였을 때 총세포수는 발달의 진행 정도에 따라 증가되며 그와 동시에 동일한 군 간의 세포수도 거의 유사함을 알 수 있었다. 따라서, ICM과 TE를 differential labelling하는 기법은 수정란의 quality를 평가하는데 매우 유용한 기법으로서 착상전 embryo 발달을 연구하는데 효과적으로 이용될 수 있다는 것을 시사한다. 고도의 유의차를 나타낸 반면 비수구, 초생수로구 및 Bromegrass 목초구 간에는 아무런 유의차가 인정되지 않았다. 7. 농지보전 처리구인 배수구와 초생수로구는 비처리구에 비해 낮은 침두 유출량과 낮은 토양유실량을 나타내었다.구보다 14% 절감되는 것으로 나타났다.작용하는 것으로 사료된다.된다.정량 분석한 결과이다. 시편의 조성은 33.6 at%

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.15-38
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to look into the consumers who show the consumption patterns of brand switching and repeated purchasing, find the decision factors of their brand switching and repeated purchasing, analyze the difference in marketing response variables being represented as corporate promotion activities in the brand switching and repeated purchasing process, and provide a suggestion to apply the result to marketing Therefore, it tries to help the firms, which develop push marketing as the result of excessive competition between distributors and sales competition focusing on external appearance, recognize consumers as individual substances; to propose proper efficient promotion activities; to let consumers increase loyalty to their trademark and continue to purchase their products repeatedly; and to induce competitor brand consumers to do brand switching. The results of this study are presented as follows: First, consumers who prefer events, price discount, samples, and product premium which means the products with brand or logo on them had the feature of repeated purchasing. Secondly, service benefit, point-type promotion, cost-saving satisfaction didn't affect brand switching, and only the consumers who prefer coupon-type promotion did brand switching. Thirdly, a distribution type produced the moderating effect between the repeated purchasing and coupon and coupon-type promotion, and between brand switching and service benefit.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.91-108
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• 2020

Korea's famous soccer players are steadily performing well in international leagues, which led to higher interests of Korean fans in the international leagues. Reflecting the growing social phenomenon of rising interests on international leagues by Korean fans, the study examined the overall consumer perception in the consumption of uniform by domestic soccer fans and compared the changes in perception following the transfers of the players. Among others, the paper examined the consumer perception and purchase factors of soccer fans shown in social media, focusing on periods before and after the recruitment of Heung-Min Son to English Premier League's Tottenham Football Club. To this end, the EPL uniform is the collection keyword the paper utilized and collected consumer postings from domestic website and social media via Python 3.7, and analyzed them using Ucinet 6, NodeXL 1.0.1, and SPSS 25.0 programs. The results of this study can be summarized as follows. First, the uniform of the club that consistently topped the league, has been gaining attention as a popular uniform, and the players' performance, and the players' position have been identified as key factors in the purchase and search of professional football uniforms. In the case of the club, the actual ranking and whether the league won are shown to be important factors in the purchase and search of professional soccer uniforms. The club's emblem and the sponsor logo that will be attached to the uniform are also factors of interest to consumers. In addition, in the decision making process of purchase of a uniform by professional soccer fan, uniform's form, marking, authenticity, and sponsors are found to be more important than price, design, size, and logo. The official online store has emerged as a major purchasing channel, followed by gifts for friends or requests from acquaintances when someone travels to the United Kingdom. Second, a classification of key control categories through the convergence of iteration correlation analysis and Clauset-Newman-Moore clustering algorithm shows differences in the classification of individual groups, but groups that include the EPL's club and player keywords are identified as the key topics in relation to professional football uniforms. Third, between 2002 and 2006, the central theme for professional football uniforms was World Cup and English Premier League, but from 2012 to 2015, the focus has shifted to more interest of domestic and international players in the English Premier League. The subject has changed to the uniform itself from this time on. In this context, the paper can confirm that the major issues regarding the uniforms of professional soccer players have changed since Ji-Sung Park's transfer to Manchester United, and Sung-Yong Ki, Chung-Yong Lee, and Heung-Min Son's good performances in these leagues. The paper also identified that the uniforms of the clubs to which the players have transferred to are of interest. Fourth, both male and female consumers are showing increasing interest in Son's league, the English Premier League, which Tottenham FC belongs to. In particular, the increasing interest in Son has shown a tendency to increase interest in football uniforms for female consumers. This study presents a variety of researches on sports consumption and has value as a consumer study by identifying unique consumption patterns. It is meaningful in that the accuracy of the interpretation has been enhanced by using a cluster analysis via convergence of iteration correlation analysis and Clauset-Newman-Moore clustering algorithm to identify the main topics. Based on the results of this study, the clubs will be able to maximize its profits and maintain good relationships with fans by identifying key drivers of consumer awareness and purchasing for professional soccer fans and establishing an effective marketing strategy.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.37-45
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• 2012

The popularity of courier services in Korea has made it an essential part of the country's domestic logistics industry, bolstering the growth not only of the national economy, but also the quality of people's daily lives. An effective strategy for courier companies in Korea would be to provide high-quality services to their existing target markets with the goal of maximizing customer loyalty. This study investigates structural relationships between customer loyalty and service quality as a set of factors and between customer trust and customer satisfaction. These antecedent relationships will be used to understand the "performance formation model" through service quality. In this study, service quality, as a set of factors, is considered to be the independent variable, while customer satisfaction and customer trust are both treated as intervening variables. Finally, customer loyalty is the dependent variable. Following a review of the literature, this paper's proffered hypothesis will be investigated in terms of whether the independent and intervening variables significantly affect customer loyalty. A statistical analysis of the empirical research was carried out using both SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0 The results of this study's empirical analysis show three conclusions. First, among the intervening variables (customer satisfaction and customer trust), customer satisfaction is significantly correlated with customer loyalty. Customer trust, however, was shown to have little or no relationship to customer loyalty. Second, the quality of service variable seems to influence customer satisfaction, customer trust, and customer loyalty. Third, with respect to the relationship of intervening variables, customer trust affects customer satisfaction. Thus, the companies that have a competitive advantage in Korea have successfully maximized customer loyalty for their existing customers. Courier companies will need to research and study customer needs. Therefore, this research suggests that effective courier service management can be better understood through the application of the service quality performance formation model, which can enhance the quality of service provided by domestic courier services. This research is limited to investigating qualitative variables, such as the service quality factors, customer satisfaction, and customer trust. It would be helpful for future research on courier services to consider quantitative variables, such as price and weight.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.107-122
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• 2017

Volatility in the stock market returns is a measure of investment risk. It plays a central role in portfolio optimization, asset pricing and risk management as well as most theoretical financial models. Engle(1982) presented a pioneering paper on the stock market volatility that explains the time-variant characteristics embedded in the stock market return volatility. His model, Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (ARCH), was generalized by Bollerslev(1986) as GARCH models. Empirical studies have shown that GARCH models describes well the fat-tailed return distributions and volatility clustering phenomenon appearing in stock prices. The parameters of the GARCH models are generally estimated by the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) based on the standard normal density. But, since 1987 Black Monday, the stock market prices have become very complex and shown a lot of noisy terms. Recent studies start to apply artificial intelligent approach in estimating the GARCH parameters as a substitute for the MLE. The paper presents SVR-based GARCH process and compares with MLE-based GARCH process to estimate the parameters of GARCH models which are known to well forecast stock market volatility. Kernel functions used in SVR estimation process are linear, polynomial and radial. We analyzed the suggested models with KOSPI 200 Index. This index is constituted by 200 blue chip stocks listed in the Korea Exchange. We sampled KOSPI 200 daily closing values from 2010 to 2015. Sample observations are 1487 days. We used 1187 days to train the suggested GARCH models and the remaining 300 days were used as testing data. First, symmetric and asymmetric GARCH models are estimated by MLE. We forecasted KOSPI 200 Index return volatility and the statistical metric MSE shows better results for the asymmetric GARCH models such as E-GARCH or GJR-GARCH. This is consistent with the documented non-normal return distribution characteristics with fat-tail and leptokurtosis. Compared with MLE estimation process, SVR-based GARCH models outperform the MLE methodology in KOSPI 200 Index return volatility forecasting. Polynomial kernel function shows exceptionally lower forecasting accuracy. We suggested Intelligent Volatility Trading System (IVTS) that utilizes the forecasted volatility results. IVTS entry rules are as follows. If forecasted tomorrow volatility will increase then buy volatility today. If forecasted tomorrow volatility will decrease then sell volatility today. If forecasted volatility direction does not change we hold the existing buy or sell positions. IVTS is assumed to buy and sell historical volatility values. This is somewhat unreal because we cannot trade historical volatility values themselves. But our simulation results are meaningful since the Korea Exchange introduced volatility futures contract that traders can trade since November 2014. The trading systems with SVR-based GARCH models show higher returns than MLE-based GARCH in the testing period. And trading profitable percentages of MLE-based GARCH IVTS models range from 47.5% to 50.0%, trading profitable percentages of SVR-based GARCH IVTS models range from 51.8% to 59.7%. MLE-based symmetric S-GARCH shows +150.2% return and SVR-based symmetric S-GARCH shows +526.4% return. MLE-based asymmetric E-GARCH shows -72% return and SVR-based asymmetric E-GARCH shows +245.6% return. MLE-based asymmetric GJR-GARCH shows -98.7% return and SVR-based asymmetric GJR-GARCH shows +126.3% return. Linear kernel function shows higher trading returns than radial kernel function. Best performance of SVR-based IVTS is +526.4% and that of MLE-based IVTS is +150.2%. SVR-based GARCH IVTS shows higher trading frequency. This study has some limitations. Our models are solely based on SVR. Other artificial intelligence models are needed to search for better performance. We do not consider costs incurred in the trading process including brokerage commissions and slippage costs. IVTS trading performance is unreal since we use historical volatility values as trading objects. The exact forecasting of stock market volatility is essential in the real trading as well as asset pricing models. Further studies on other machine learning-based GARCH models can give better information for the stock market investors.