• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.475-484
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• 2008

In this study, we analyzed national mining investment security and country risk, and suggested a new index for exploration and development investment for mining projects in abroad by an analysis of relationship between these grades and mineral resource development investment. For this, potential risks for mining in mineral-rich countries are assessed, and the risk of the exploration and development investment for mining projects is relatively evaluated by OECD country risk. It is noted that countries of the lower ranks in OECD are consistently good agreement with the high grade in Behre Dolbear Group Inc. for favorable mineral exploitation, whereas the higher ranks have shown diverse and high risks for the mining investigation and development. Consequently, it is necessary that assessment of the relationship between mineral resource index and country risk for mining projects to be investigated and developed in future should be applied before business decision of mineral investigation projects in abroad.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.59-74
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• 2003

Prospecting for energy and mineral resources is essential kind of public fundamentals that manage the nation's economy. Most explorations in the past were concentrated in the simple structural traps in relatively shallow depth. Due to their vast exploitation, recent history has shown that the emphasis in explorations has steadily shifted toward the subtle stratigraphic traps in deeper level. Increasing exploration for the subtle stratigraphic traps in deeper level requires precise correlation and assessment of deeply buried strata in the basin. However, the descriptive strati-graphic principles used for evaluation of the simple structural traps are limited to delineate the subtle stratigraphic traps in deeper depth. As this occurs. it is imperative to establish a new stratigraphic paradigm that allows a more sophisticated understanding on the basin stratigraphy. This study provides an exemplary application of integrated stratigraphic approach to defining basin history of the Middle Ordovician Taebacksan Basin, Korea. The integrated stratigraphic approach gives much better insight to unravel the stratigraphic response to tectonic evolution of the basins, which can be utilized fer enhancing the efficiency of resources exploration and development in the basins. Thus, the integrated stratigraphic approach should be emphasized as a new stratigraphic norm that can improve the probability of success in any type of resources exploration and development project.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.411-422
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• 2021

Technological adaption and innovative activities foster small and medium enterprises (SMEs) growth, especially women-owned SMEs in Pakistan, However, the impact of technological adaption and innovative activities on SMEs growth in the context of Pakistan has been examined by very researchers. This study aims to identify the effect of technology and open innovation policies on the growth of women-owned SMEs and the present trends and management challenges for successful full implementation of open innovation. The study considered a sample of 693 women enterprises located in different cities in Pakistan. Open innovation is measured through eight innovative practices, reflecting the exploration and exploitation of technology in SMEs. Study findings revealed that women enterprises were involved in several open innovation policies during the last five years. Moreover, the study indicated no significant differences between manufacturing and service SMEs regarding open innovation practices; however, women enterprises are more impressively engaged in open innovation practices. Findings also reveal that women-owned SMEs follow open innovation, mainly for market-related intentions, to compete with competitors and meet customers' demands. Thus, it is suggested that government policy relating to thriving SMEs owned by women should be innovation-oriented. The study contributes to the theoretical and practical implications. Further, the study is helpful for SMEs, researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.38-57
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• 2024

This study utilizes social big data to investigate the factors influencing the awareness, attitude, and behavior toward vegan fashion consumption among global and Korean consumers. Social media posts containing the keyword "vegan fashion" were gathered, and meaningful discourse patterns were identified using semantic network analysis and sentiment analysis. The study revealed that diverse factors guide the purchase of vegan fashion products within global consumer groups, while among Korean consumers, the predominant discourse involved the concepts of veganism and ethics, indicating a heightened awareness of vegan fashion. The research then delved into the factors underpinning awareness (comprehension of animal exploitation, environmental concerns, and alternative materials), attitudes (both positive and negative), and behaviors (exploration, rejection, advocacy, purchase decisions, recommendations, utilization, and disposal). Global consumers placed great significance on product-related information, whereas Korean consumers prioritized ethical integrity and reasonable pricing. In addition, environmental issues stemming from synthetic fibers emerged as a significant factor influencing the awareness, attitude, and behavior regarding vegan fashion consumption. Further, this study confirmed the potential presence of cultural disparities influencing overall awareness, attitude, and behavior concerning the acceptance of vegan fashion, and offers insights into vegan fashion marketing strategies tailored to specific cultures, aiming to provide vegan fashion companies and brands with a deeper understanding of their consumer base.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.95-115
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• 2015

This paper attempts to delineate and analyze the relationship between organizational search activities and organizational ambidexterity. A growing number of studies confirm that organizational ambidexterity is important for firm survival and long-term prosperity. However, research on how to achieve ambidexterity is still limited. To date, structural separation, contextul ambidexterity, and top management team attributes are proposed and examined as major antecedents of organizational ambidexterity. In this paper, I argue that orgnizational search may influence ambidexterity through its effect on exxploratory innovation and exploitative innovation. Since little study has been paid to uncover the relationship between knowledge search and ambidexterity, I develop theoretical arguments and propose some propositions rather than examine hypotheses. The propositions developed in the study are as follows; P1: The breadth of internal search is positively associated with exploratory innovation; P2: The breadth of external search has a reverse U-shaped relationship with exploratory innovation; P3: The depth of internal search is positively associated with exploitative innovation; P4: The depth of external search has a reverse U-shaped relationship with exploitative innovation; P5: The interaction between internal search breadth and internal search depth is positively associated with organizational ambidexterity; P6: The interaction between external search breadth and external search depth is positively associated with organizational ambidexterity. Based on the above propositions, I suggest some considerations for empirical research and propose avenues for future research.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.541-569
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• 2013

There is a wide variety of existing Genetic Algorithms (GA) operators and parameters in the literature. However, there is no unique technique that shows the best performance for different classes of optimization problems. Hence, the evaluation of these operators and parameters, which influence the effectiveness of the search process, must be carried out on a problem basis. This paper presents a comparison for the influence of GA operators and parameters on the performance of the damage identification problem using the finite element model updating method (FEMU). The damage is defined as reduction in bending rigidity of the finite elements of a reinforced concrete beam. A certain damage scenario is adopted and identified using different GA operators by minimizing the differences between experimental and analytical modal parameters. In this study, different selection, crossover and mutation operators are compared with each other based on the reliability, accuracy and efficiency criteria. The exploration and exploitation capabilities of different operators are evaluated. Also a comparison is carried out for the parallel and sequential GAs with different population sizes and the effect of the multiple use of some crossover operators is investigated. The results show that the roulettewheel selection technique together with real valued encoding gives the best results. It is also apparent that the Non-uniform Mutation as well as Parent Centric Normal Crossover can be confidently used in the damage identification problem. Nevertheless the parallel GAs increases both computation speed and the efficiency of the method.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.371-384
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• 2017

Physical and mechanical properties of rocks are of interest in many fields, including materials science, petrophysics, geophysics and geotechnical engineering. Uniaxial compressive strength UCS is one of the key mechanical properties, while density and porosity are important physical parameters for the characterization of rocks. The economic interest of carbonate rocks is very important in chemical or biological procedures and in the field of construction. Carbonate rocks exploitation depends on their quality and their physical, chemical and geotechnical characteristics. A fast, economic and reliable technique would be an evolutionary advance in the exploration of carbonate rocks. This paper discusses the ability of ultrasonic wave velocity to evaluate some mechanical and physical parameters within carbonate rocks (collected from different regions within Tunisia). The ultrasonic technique was used to establish empirical correlations allowing the estimation of UCS values, the density and the porosity of carbonate rocks. The results illustrated the behavior of ultrasonic pulse velocity as a function of the applied stress. The main output of the work is the confirmation that ultrasonic velocity can be effectively used as a simple and economical non-destructive method for a preliminary prediction of mechanical behavior and physical properties of rocks.

• Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.226-249
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• 2016

The symbiotic organisms search (SOS) algorithm is an effective metaheuristic developed in 2014, which mimics the symbiotic relationship among the living beings, such as mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism, to survive in the ecosystem. In this study, three modified versions of the SOS algorithm are proposed by introducing adaptive benefit factors in the basic SOS algorithm to improve its efficiency. The basic SOS algorithm only considers benefit factors, whereas the proposed variants of the SOS algorithm, consider effective combinations of adaptive benefit factors and benefit factors to study their competence to lay down a good balance between exploration and exploitation of the search space. The proposed algorithms are tested to suit its applications to the engineering structures subjected to dynamic excitation, which may lead to undesirable vibrations. Structure optimization problems become more challenging if the shape and size variables are taken into account along with the frequency. To check the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithms, six different planar and space trusses are subjected to experimental analysis. The results obtained using the proposed methods are compared with those obtained using other optimization methods well established in the literature. The results reveal that the adaptive SOS algorithm is more reliable and efficient than the basic SOS algorithm and other state-of-the-art algorithms.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.249-278
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• 2015

Employees' knowledge integration capabilities and innovative behavior are still of crucial importance in the effective knowledge management. Recently researchers and practitioners are interested in both the potential benefits of unlearning and the negative aspects of learning inertia. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships among learning inertia, unlearning, knowledge integration capabilities(knowledge exploitation and knowledge exploration) and innovative behavior. The results of analysis show that learning inertia is employees' psychological obstacle factor affecting knowledge integration capabilities and unlearning, that unlearning of employees is a key factor affecting knowledge integration capabilities, and that knowledge integration capabilities are driving forces leading to innovative behaviors of employees. For theoretical and practical implications, the research presents the grounds for arguments that knowledge integration capabilities are employees' dynamic capabilities from the knowledge management perspective, that unlearning is a driving force of employees' positive behaviors, and that organizations trying to perform the dynamic knowledge management need to identify the causes of employees' psychological resistance to learning. Limitations arisen in the course of the research and suggestions for future research directions are also discussed.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.12-20
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• 2022

Pongamia (Pongamia pinnata L.) as a source of non-edible oil, is potential tree species for biodiesel production. For several reasons, both technical and economical, the potential of P. pinnata is far from being realized. The exploitation of genetic diversity for crop improvement has been the major driving force for the exploration and ex situ/in situ conservation of plant genetic resources. However, P. pinnata improvement for high oil and seed production is not achieved because of unsystematic way of tree improvement. Performance of P. pinnata planted by Karnataka Forest Department was assessed based on yield potential by collecting 157 clones out of 264 clones established by Karnataka Forest Department research wing under different research circles/ranges. It was evident that the all the seed and pod traits were significantly different. Further, selection of superior germplasm based on oil and pod/seed parameters was achieved by application of Mahalanobis statistics and Tocher's technique. On the basis of D² values for all possible 253 pairs of populations the 157 genotypes were grouped into 28 clusters. The clustering pattern showed that geographical diversity is not necessarily related to genetic diversity. Cluster means indicated a wide range of variation for all the pod and seed traits. The best cluster having total oil content of more than 34.9% with 100 seed weight of above 125 g viz. Cluster I, II, III, IX, XV, XIX, XXI, XXIII, XXVI and XXVII were selected for clonal propagation.