• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.31-51
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• 2012

This paper presents a computational study that explores the design of rigid steel frames by considering construction related costs. More specifically, two different aspects are investigated in this study focusing on the effects of (a) reducing the number of labor intensive rigid connections within a frame of given geometric layout, and (b) reducing the number of different member section types used in the frame. A genetic algorithm based optimization framework searches design space for these objectives. Unlike some studies that express connection cost as a factor of the entire frame weight, here connections and their associated cost factors are explicitly represented at the member level to evaluate the cost of connections associated with each beam. In addition, because variety in member section types can drive up construction related costs, its effects are evaluated implicitly by generating curves that show the trade off between cost and different numbers of section types used within the frame. Our results show that designs in which all connections are considered to be rigid can be excessively conservative: rigid connections can often be eliminated without any appreciable increase in frame weight, resulting in a reduction in overall cost. Eliminating additional rigid connections leads to further reductions in cost, even as frame weight increases, up to a certain point. These complex relationships between overall cost, rigid connections, and member section types are presented for a representative five-story steel frame.

• International Journal of Railway
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2009

The development of structural solutions for high-speed or very high-speed tracks that minimize total life cycle costs of the system is a key issue to improve the operational profitability of new investments. In opposition to conventional ballasted tracks, slab track solutions can be a cost-effective solution, but only in the cases where the benefits due to the increase in track availability and the reduction of track maintenance offsets its much higher construction costs. In the cases where such investment is not feasible, it is worth to evaluate possible structural improvements to ballasted track that allow reducing its maintenance needs without increasing too much its construction costs. This paper evaluates the design requirements and the impact of improving conventional high-speed ballasted tracks by using a bituminous subballast layer. It is divided into two main parts: first the design requirements of the structural solutions with bituminous subballast and its possible benefits on high-speed track deterioration, and secondly the evaluation of the economic impact, in terms of construction costs, of using this structural solution material in future Spanish high-speed lines.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.27-67
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• 2012

This paper analyzed the effect of transaction costs on the prices and trading volumes at the initial stage of emission markets and also examined how the size of the effect differs depending on the characteristics of the transactions. We built trading protocols modeling a recursive process to search the trading partner and make transactions with several behavioral assumptions considering the situations of early markets. The simulations results show that adding transaction costs resulted in reduction of trading volumes. Furthermore, the speed of reduction in trading volume to the increase of transaction costs is higher when there is scale economy. With a certain level of scale economy, the trading volumes abruptly fall down to almost zero as the transaction cost gets over a certain level. This suggests the possibility of a failed market. Since the scale economy is thought to be significant in the early stage of emission trading market, it is desirable to design a trading system that maximizes trading volumes and minimizes unit transaction costs at the outset. One of the alternatives to meet these conditions is to establish a centralized exchange and take measures to increase trading volumes.

• Korean small business review
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.145-172
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• 2020

This study shows that it is favorable for Korean companies to maintain fairness and authenticity trading relationship with trading companies. It suggests that a positive reputation can be secured, trust relationships can be built, and transaction costs can be reduced. For this purpose, research hypothesis was established, questionnaires were collected for domestic companies, and a hypothesis test was conducted. As a result of the research hypothesis test, the perception of transaction fairness and the perception of transaction authenticity have a positive effect on reputation, and the reputation has a positive effect on trust. Trust has a positive effect on the reduction of transaction costs, and reputation and trust play a role in the perception of transaction fairness and transaction authenticity and the reduction of transaction cost, and trust is a parameter between reputation and reduction in transaction cost. Do it. In order for sustainable management activities to be carried out for Korean companies, it is necessary to improve fairness and authenticity in business relations. It is important to have a positive reputation. It has been demonstrated that securing a positive reputation can develop into a trust relationship and ultimately lead to a decrease in transaction costs.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.8
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• pp.375-402
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• 2001

While the national economy has rapidly grown, both insufficience in indirect capital facilities of society and attempt to avoid having a logistical job as one of the so-called dirty, difficult and dangerous jobs have resulted in the leak of labor in the logistical industry. First of all, it was shown that the functional utilization level of the logistical information system had a partial effect on the logistical performance, that the reduction of logistical costs was influenced by the information system of connecting and supporting functions, and that the improvement of customer service was significantly influenced by only the supporting-function system. Second, the logistical performance was partially influenced by the linkage between logistical activities, only the customer linkage had a significant effect on the reduction of logistical costs, and the improvement of customer service was influenced by the intra-company linkage. Third, in verifying a hypothesis that the logistical information system's functional utilization level and organizational structure would interact with each other and have an effect on the logistical performance, it was shown that based on their mutual interaction at a normalized level this center's functional information system had a significant effect on the reduction of logistical costs. Fourth, in testing a hypothesis that both the linkage between logistical activities and logistical organization structure would interact with each other and would have an effect on the logistical performance, it was shown that their interaction at a normalized level was significant concerning only the reduction of logistical costs, while there was I10 its significance in the customer service. In proving a hypothesis that the linkage between logistical activities and logistical strategy patterns would interact with each other and would have an effect on the logistical performance, it was shown in a differentiated, aggressive investment one among variously patterned logistical strategies that the customer linkage had a significant effect on the reduction of logistical costs, and in the improvement of customer service that the supplier linkage had a remarkable impact. It also was shown that in case of the cost reduction and offensive control strategy, the customer linkage had a remarkable effect, and th at in the improvement of customer service the intra-company and customer linkage had a significant effect. In the marketing and customer service strategy, finally, there was no any significant influence while the customer linkage had a significant impact in the improvement of customer service. Accordingly, whether or not individual companies utilize the logistical information system's functional utilization levels well will have an effect on their logistical performance, and how their supply chain management is well-linked will affect their logistical performance.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.857-865
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• 2016

It has been four years after outsouring to private outsourced institute about calculating the costs on defense industry was commenced. Although the objectivity and reliablity has been improved somewhat, there were also a negative view of spending more time and money such as a costing official re-calculates the costs on the results by out-sourced institute. Therefore I want to study on countermeasure about the risks according to the importance by analysing a priority with deriving susceptible risk factors from the outsourced institute's conduct of calculating the costs in defense industry through this study. The purpose of this study contributes to the reduction of defense budget, a guarantee of the reasonable profit for defense suppliers and the improvement the effective strength of an army with a smooth supply procurement by managing the risks in advance about the conduct regarding to the outsourcing for calculating costs on defense materials in the future.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.259-266
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• 2020

This study analyzes the effects of the obsolescence assets on the asymmetry of costs. Cost asymmetry refers to a lower percentage of costs when sales fall than increases in costs when sales increase. the obsolescence asset induces various decisions, including high maintenance costs and management improvements and replacement of facilities. This study is to analyze the cost behavior according to those decisions. The analysis showed that the higher the obsolescence of assets rate, we found cost elasticity, with a greater reduction in costs when sales decrease than the increase in costs when sales increase. Second, the lower the cost will not appear as the obsolescence of assets rate increases in case that the concentration of an item of property, plant and equipment is high, and when sales decrease. The above result means that the obsolescence of assets rate acts as operating risk and thus operates resources flexibly according to changes in sales, but when the concentration of property, plant and equipment is high, the decision-making constraint make it difficult for the flexible operation.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.392-398
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• 2020

Producing solar grade silicon using an inexpensive method is a key factor in lowering silicon solar cell costs; the direct electrochemical reduction of SiO₂ in molten salt is one of the more promising candidates for manufacturing this silicon. In this study, SiO₂ granules were electrochemically reduced in molten CaCl₂ (850℃) using Ag-Si eutectic droplets that catalyze electrochemical reduction and purify the Si product. When Ag is used as the working electrode, the Ag-Si eutectic mixture is formed naturally during SiO₂ reduction. However, since the Ag-Si eutectic droplets are liquid at 850℃, they are easily lost during the reduction process. To minimize the loss of liquid Ag-Si eutectic droplets, a cylindrical graphite container working electrode was introduced and Ag was added separately to the working electrode along with the SiO₂ granules. The graphite container working electrode successfully prevented the loss of the Ag-Si eutectic droplets during reduction. As a result, the Ag-Si eutectic droplets acted as stable catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of SiO₂, thereby producing one-dimensional Si rods through a mechanism similar to that of vapor-liquid-solid growth.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.41-51
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• 2022

Carbon neutrality is emerging as a new paradigm for the international society by transiting from climate change to climate risk. This study proposes evaluation methods for the carbon reduction contribution of climate-related national R&D projects in order to introduce a green budget system in the agricultural sector. We considered the domestic and foreign green budget systems and classified national R&D projects into positive, negative, and neutral from the perspective of carbon reduction. The results of this study propose three methods to estimate the monetary costs and carbon benefits by adopting the framework for the economic evaluation of national R&D projects conducted by the Rural Development Administration. These methods support to evaluate the potential contribution to carbon reduction of national R&D projects in the agricultural sector. Finally, the proposed methods were tested and verified for the efficiency and validity of evaluating carbon reduction contribution. These evaluation methods of the carbon reduction contribution can be used as a basic methodology for the pre-budget calculations of national R&D projects and the contribution for the greenhouse gas reduction budget.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.96 no.4
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• pp.401-407
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• 2007

This study analyzed an economic efficiency of oak mushroom cultivation in order to provide data needed for formulating related policies. 88 farmhouses in major producing areas were interviewed with. The average production cost per 100 bed-logs was 151,699 won. Among production costs, material costs accounted for 56.0% and labor costs 41.8%. Oak mushroom cultivation was labor-intensive and labor input was a significant factor determining the production costs. There was 3 7.2% gap in production costs between Chungbuk, the highest cost area and Gyeonggi, the lowest cost area of oak mushroom due to difference in labor input. Average revenue per 100 bed-logs was 178,627 won. Average income per 100 bed-logs, which is variable production costs of 116,613 won subtracted from the revenue, was 62,014 won and thus income rate was 34.7%. Income rate in Jeonbuk, the highest area, was higher than that in Gyeonggi, the lowest area, by 15.8% points due to difference in quantities produced, grade, and variable production costs, in particular, labor costs. The result of the economic analysis indicates that reduction in establishment and labor costs, accounting for the highest portion in production costs is priority issue for the enhancement of the competitiveness of the oak mushroom industry.