• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.81-100
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• 2020

Purpose - Based on complexity theory, this study develops a configurational model to predict the profitability of Halal cosmetics firms in the Indonesian and Malaysian markets. The proposed research model involves two level configurations-industry context and selling strategies-to predict high and low scores of a firm's profitability. The industry context configuration model comprises industry stability, product homogeneity, price sensitivity, and switching cost. Selling strategies include customer-focused, competitor-focused, and margin-focused approaches. Design/methodology - This is the first empirical study that calculates causal models using a combination of industry context and selling strategy factors to predict profitability. Data obtained from the marketing managers of cosmetics firms are used to test the proposed configurational model using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). It contributes to the current knowledge of business marketing by identifying the factors necessary to achieve profitability using analysis of condition (ANC). Findings - The results revealed that unique and distinct models explain the conditions for high and low profitability in the Indonesian and Malaysian halal cosmetic markets. While customer-focused selling strategy is necessary to attain a higher profit in both the markets, margin-focused selling strategy appears to be an essential factor only in Malaysia. Complexity of the interactions of selling strategies with industry factors and differences between across two study markets confirmed that complexity theory can support the research configurational model. The theoretical and practical implications are also illustrated. Originality/value - Despite the rapid growth of the global halal industry, there is little knowledge about the halal cosmetic market. This study contributes to the current literature of the halal market by performing a set of asymmetric analytical approaches using a complex theoretical model. It also deepens our understating of how the Korean firms can approach the Muslim consumer's needs to generate more beneficial turnover/revenue.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.487-498
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• 2018

Buckling-restrained braces are passive control devices with high level of energy dissipation ability. However, they suffer from low post-yield stiffness which makes them vulnerable to severe ground motions, especially near-field earthquakes. Among the several methods proposed to improve resistance of BRB frames, mega-brace configuration can be a solution to increase frame lateral strength and stiffness and improve distribution of forces to prevent large displacement in braces. Due to the limited number of research regarding the performance of such systems, the current paper aims to assess seismic performance of BRB frames with mega-bracing arrangement under near-field earthquakes via a detailed probabilistic framework. For this purpose, a group of multi-story mega-BRB frames were modelled by OpenSEES software platform. In the first part of the paper, simplified procedures including nonlinear pushover and Incremental Dynamic Analysis were conducted for performance evaluation. Two groups of near-fault seismic ground motions (Non-pulse and Pulse-like records) were considered for analyses to take into account the effects of record-to-record uncertainties, as well as forward directivity on the results. In the second part, seismic reliability analyses are conducted in the context of performance based earthquake engineering. Two widely-known EDP-based and IM-based probabilistic frameworks are employed to estimate collapse potential of the structures. Results show that all the structures can successfully tolerate near-field earthquakes with a high level of confidence level. Therefore, mega-bracing configuration can be an effective alternative to conventional BRB bracing to withstand near-field earthquakes.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.32-46
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to analyse the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of paper-pencil tests for exploring its appropriateness as a selection tool of the gifted in science. For this purpose, we developed two (internal and external) item analysis frameworks, and applied these frameworks to analyse qualitative characteristics. Also, we analysed the relationship between two characteristics. The results of analysing qualitative characteristics revealed that the portion of items with acceleration context exceeding middle school curriculum level was relatively large, which caused low content validity. Furthermore, there was considerable deviation in content and context by subject matter and year, which caused test unstability. Items measuring knowledge domain was the most prevalent, and too much weight on data interpretation & analysis domain in inquiry process skills. In case of creativity test, the portion of items measuring convergent thinking was much larger than that of divergent or associative thinking. Most of these items were represented by using pictures and tables rather than using graphs. Item types of multiple-choice and short answers were superior to essay types. Discrimination index, on the whole, was appropriate (above 0.3), but item difficulty showed a vast deviation ($0.01{\sim}0.90$). Correlation coefficients among subject matters and test tools were very low, and test reliabilities were also low. Low item difficulty & high discrimination index item types were distinguishable. Items with acceleration context were more discriminating than enrichment context. Implications of developing quality paper-pencil test items in the selection of gifted students are discussed.

• KIPS Transactions on Software and Data Engineering
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 2015

In this paper, we present a method that can detect context-sensitive word errors and generate correction candidates. Spelling error detection is one of the most widespread research topics, however, the approach proposed in this paper is adjusted for an automated English scoring system. A common strategy in context-sensitive word error detection is using a pre-defined confusion set to generate correction candidates. We automatically generate a confusion set in order to consider the characteristics of sentences written by second-language learners. We define a word error that cannot be detected by a conventional grammar checker because of part-of-speech ambiguity, and propose how to detect the error and generate correction candidates for this kind of error. An experiment is performed on the English writings composed by junior-high school students whose mother tongue is Korean. The f1 value of the proposed method is 70.48%, which shows that our method is promising comparing to the current-state-of-the art.

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.19-26
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• 2020

Purpose: The old axion to put the customers first (e.g., customers are king, customers are always right) has been taken for granted in the service sector. In addition, many companies in South Korea are providing customer-first education for employees at their contact points to strengthen their competitiveness. However, excessive increase in the psychological power of the customer can lead to a problem of abuse of power, called 'Gap-jil.' Despite these concerns, most companies hardly discard policies to give high priority to customers because of the assumption that it enhances customer satisfaction leading to organizational performance. However, in recent years, some franchise catering companies have posted warnings about the abuse of power by customers, and a movement to pursue a power-balancing between service providers and their customers is spreading. Research design, data, and methodology: This research is conducted to reconsider the principle of the customer-first perspective and to create a basis for arguments that can solve the problem of abuse of power, which is recognized as a serious social problem. In this research, we test and analyze the effect of customers' psychological power in the context of a restaurant on expectation for service and response to service failure. Result: The result of an experimental study shows that the effect of psychological power on customer satisfaction can be somewhat negative. Also, customers with high psychological power are more likely to have high service expectations. Especially high psychological power of customers causes a difference in the expectation level of human factors such as employee attitude, while the difference in expectations of non-human factors such as restaurant atmosphere was not statistically significant. In addition, when customers with high psychological power encounter service failure situation, they are more likely to feel disappointment and regret with a service provider. Meanwhile, the effect of psychological power on complaining behaviors are not significant. Conclusions: The findings of this research provide meaningful implications that the service providers should reconsider their existing corporate culture and management policies that put customers first. In addition, the result of this research is provided meaningful opportunities to review the management philosophy for the company's customers and the education philosophy for the employee education.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.39-54
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• 2017

At present, various technologies are rapidly advancing, centering on the concept of virtuality. From the technology of virtual reality, which allows us to experience the senses as if they existed, to the technology of augmented reality, which provides new information or services based on reality, they are no longer strange things for ourselves because we experience them every day and night. Even though the concept of virtual is very familiar in terms of technology, it is not known how individuals accept the concept of virtuality, how they change our way of thinking, and how their behavior changes. This study aims to approach virtuality perceived by the individual from the viewpoint of individual's information processing. Virtuality is defined as the degree to which the situation facing an individual is far from actual reality. An individual can judge the degree of virtuality easily, which is considered to be a psychological distance which is an important factor in personal information processing. In this study, we have confirmed whether the argument is applied to the real world in the context of advertisement. According to the construal level theory, when an individual feels virtuality at a high level, the individual thinks that the situation they are facing is psychologically distant and accordingly has a high level construal. Therefore, it is more influenced by 'advertisement emphasizing symbolic appeal' which is matching with higher level. On the other hand, when an individual feels a low level of virtuality, the individual thinks that the situation they are facing is psychologically near and thus has a low level construal. Therefore, respondents are more sensitive to functional appeal, which is related to lower level. This study has the theoretical contribution in terms that the degree of virtuality affects the psychological distance of the individual. In addition, the results of this study have practical contribution in terms of being able to be actively used in the information delivery strategy centered on the advertisement.

• CELLMED
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.15.1-15.4
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• 2016

Evidence based practice (EBP) is a system of applying the most current and valid high quality evidence to support clinical decision making in a healthcare setting. In the twenty five years since its inception, EBP has become the accepted benchmark for excellence in healthcare. Although the system emerged within the biomedical sciences, in the years since EBP has become normative across all healthcare modalities from dentistry, allied health to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Practicing evidence based medicine within any modality potentially offers the patient the best available care based on high quality evidence. Yet it is the nature of the evidence that provokes some questions about the suitability of EBP across all modalities of healthcare. The meta analysis of randomized controlled trial (RCT) stands at the pinnacle of the hierarchy of evidence in EBP. This forms a challenge to CAM due to the difficulty in reducing the elementals of a holistic naturopathic assessment of a patient into an answerable question to be tested within a RCT. On one level this makes EBP paradigmatically incompatible with CAM, yet on another level it presents the opportunity to redefine the parameters of what is considered high level evidence. EBP has become a tool, and at times a weapon wielded by governments and health insurance companies to direct healthcare funding and policy. The implications of the nature of accepted evidence are becoming far reaching. The pursuit of the best available healthcare for each individual is the focus of EBP. However, the injudicious use of this system to direct health policy is fraught with biomedical bias and dominance. This issue raises the challenge to CAM to present high level evidence according to the rules of evidence, or face the annihilation of centuries of empirical knowledge.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2021

In this study, the model cognition level of high school science-gifted students about the two types of acid-base models taught in secondary schools was analyzed. In order to find out the model cognition level of students, 12 items were developed based on the acid-base reaction and the dissociation reaction of acids and bases. The subjects of the study were 95 students of two science-gifted schools. As a result of the questionnaire analysis, model cognition levels were analyzed 6 levels in the context of consistency, inconsistency, and unexplainable scope of the two models. In the acid-base reaction item, the largest percentage of students cognized only understanding of the two models. In the acid-base dissociation reaction item, they understood the two models and perceived the 'Known Ignorance' that cognizes the limitations of one model. However, there was only one student who perceived the limitations of both models and all of the 'Unknown Ignorance' that the model could not explain. Through this, we argued that there is a need for educational efforts to raise the model cognition level of science-gifted students.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.9
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• pp.321-331
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• 2021

This study examines the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the role of Malaysian local wisdom called "Ugahari" in managing Work-Life Balance (WLB) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. Data was obtained through online and offline surveys which were distributed to the agencies in the public and private sectors spread across Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Pura Jaya. Overall 466 respondents were found to have given valid and complete responses. This research utilized the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling. It was found that the use of the ICT during Work from Home (WFH) helped workers to have relatively high flexibility where they could easily expand or contract one domain to meet the demands of another domain. At the same time it also offered high permeability where aspects of one domain entered another domain. This encourages workers to integrate their roles and achieve broad work autonomy. Furthermore, this situation then gives rise to a high level of interference at the boundary between work and family domains. On the other hand Ugahari reduces the level of interference caused by ICT use and encourages workers to compartmentalize their respective roles. Thus, ICT and Ugahari's behavior can play a role and complement each other in the context of realizing worker well-being.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.220-220
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• 2012

The supercapacitors with extraordinarily high capability for energy storage are attracting growing attention for their potential applications in portable electronic equipments, hybrid vehicles, cellular devices, and so on. The nanostructuring of the electrode surface can provide large surface area and consequently easy diffusion of ions in the capacitors. In addition, compared to two-dimensional nanostructures, the three-dimensional (3D) nano-architecture is expected to lead to significant enhancement of mechanical and electrical properties such as capacitance per unit area of the electrode. Polyaniline (PANi) is known as promising electrode material for supercapacitors due to its desirable properties such as high electro activity, high doping level and environmental stability. In this context, we fabricated well-ordered 3D PANi nanostructures on 3D polystyrene (PS) nanospheres which was arrayed by layer-by-layer stacking method. The height of the PANi nanostructures could be controlled by the number of PS layers stacked. 3D PANi hollow nanospheres were also fabricated by dissolving inner PS nanospheres, which resulted in further enhancement of the surface area and capacitance of the electrode.