• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.389-397
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• 2023

This study compares domestic and foreign research on renewable energy-based water electrolysis clean hydrogen. Domestic studies from 2010 to 2023 focused on technological efficiency, energy efficiency, and system efficiency, with few analyzing infrastructure and technology trends. Overseas research initially focused on technological efficiency and stability, but has since shifted to economic and environmental impact, policy effectiveness, industry-university-research cooperation, and sustainability. To improve water electrolysis technology production, this study suggests prioritizing technology stability over efficiency, resolving government regulations and resident acceptance issues, promoting industry-university-institute cooperation for rapid commercialization of research results, and developing a strategy for sustainable development of renewable energy-based water electrolysis technology.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.293-323
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to suggest some policy recommendations on the development of agricultural research of public agricultural institution. Critics say public agricultural institution are not working fast enough. As for efficiency itself, it seems reasonable to conclude that privatization plan is the best plan. The change that is needed to improve the efficiency of public agricultural institution is not the point in question. I will concentrate on the extraordinary nature of agriculture. We must not forget the important of extraordinary nature of agriculture. What is important is to have a genuine debate on extraordinary nature of agriculture and agricultural research. My aim is to highlight some aspects of agricultural research of public institution. Most important thing is, agricultural research is a valuable resource for nation. As I mentioned before, the change that is needed to improve the efficiency of public agricultural institution is not the point in question But there is much room for consideration for proper method. Impatient privatization without serious consideration could have a negative impact on the agricultural research.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.105-108
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• 2017

The reactive ion etching (RIE) technology which enables nano-texturatization of surface is applied on monocrystalline silicon solar cell. The additional RIE process on alkalized textured surface further improves the blue response and short circuit current. Such parameter is characterized by surface reflectance and quantum efficiency measurement. By varying the RIE process time and matching the subsequent processes, the absolute efficiency gain of 0.13% is achieved. However, the result indicates potential efficiency gain could be higher due to process integration. The critical etch process time is discussed which minimizes both front surface reflectance and etching damage, considering the challenges of required system throughput in industry.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.57-69
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the job performance efficiency of nurses in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) by using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Additionally, the study aimed to provide a detailed method to improve the currently inefficient way in which nurses perform their jobs by differentiating the reference group of more efficient nurses, and to compare the characteristics of the more efficient group of nurses to those of the less efficient group of nurses. Methodology: This study evaluated the relative job performance efficiency of nurses by applying DEA to 43 nurses in the NICU. The input variables for the efficiency analysis were working career (years), time spent in direct nursing care (hours), overtime (hours), and job-related training (hours); the output variables were the job performance scores of professional practice, research, leadership, and education. Data were analyzed using SPSS IBM 23.0 and Open Source DEA (OSDEA). Findings: The relative job performance efficiency of the 43 nurses was 0.933, and 20 nurses were evaluated as more efficient. In addition, the study confirmed the possibility of improving the overall job performance efficiency by improving leadership, while controlling the current input variables. Lastly, the more efficient nurses had significantly higher job performance scores for research (t=2.028, p=0.049), leadership (t=2.036, p=0.048), and education (t=2995, p=0.005) than those who were less efficient. Practical Implications: It is suggested that job performance be evaluated using DEA to improve the overall job performance efficiency of NICU nurses. The analysis results from DEA for nurses becomes evidence in support of establishing individualized goals for each nurse, thus resulting in a foundation for systematic human resource management of nurses, and ultimately contributing to increase in the job performance efficiency of nurses.

• Journal of the Korean Operations Research and Management Science Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.75-89
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• 2015

In recent years, attention to the high debt ratio in public institutions has pushed the government to make efforts in reducing the debt ratio. However, in order to stimulate the economy, the government needs drastically innovative measures that reduce debt by improving efficiency rather than moderate approaches that focus solely on debt reduction. Despite this need, no study has yet systematically analyzed the overall efficiency of domestic public institutions and identified the source of inefficiencies in each public entity. Therefore, largely two research questions are examined. First, this study compares the efficiency levels by types of public institutions. Second, this study identifies the cause of inefficiencies in each public institution and proposes directions for improving efficiency. Based on a 5-year data of 302 public institutions published in public business information systems and organizational websites from 2009 to 2013, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was performed. The input variables include the number of employees and total costs while the output variables include sales and net income. Reflecting the characteristics of public institutions, the input-oriented CCR model and input-oriented BCC model were utilized. Analysis results are as follows. First, market-oriented public institutions showed the highest efficiency while fund management quasi-governmental agencies showed the highest inefficiency. Second, scale efficiency score was measured by applying the CCR model and the BCC model on the organizations with the lowest efficiency level, fund management quasi-governmental agencies. Based on these analysis results, the source of inefficiency and detailed directions for improvement were proposed for Decision Making Units (DMUs) with low CCR and BCC scores.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.23-44
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• 2022

Purpose - Recent issues such as vessel enlargement, strengthening of environmental regulations, and port smartization are expected to increase costs and intensify competition in the port industry. In the new normal era, when external growth has reached its limit, the efficient operation of ports is becoming indispensable for achieving sustainable growth. This study aims to identify the determinants of inefficiency by examining the cost structure and efficiency of container terminals in Korea and furthermore propose the political implications to derive the maximization of efficiency. Design/methodology - This study estimates the cost function of container terminal operators and identifies the efficiency of container terminals using stochastic cost frontier (SCF) in the first stage. In the second step, the SCF results are compared with the data envelopment analysis (DEA). Last, this paper proposes efficiency determinants on container terminal operation to establish appropriate strategies. Out of the 29 container terminal operators in South Korea, 13 operators participated in the survey. The translog cost function was estimated utilizing a total of 116 observations collected over the 2007-2017 period. Findings - Empirical analysis shows that economies of scale exist in Korea's container ports, which provides a rationale for the government's policy to establish the global terminal operator by integrating small terminal operators to enhance competitiveness. In addition, as a result of the determinants analysis, container throughput, weight of direct employment costs, and labour cost share have positive effects on improving cost efficiency, while inefficiency increases as the length of quay increases. More specifically, cost efficiency improves as the proportion of direct employment costs to outsourcing service costs increases. Originality/value - This study contributes to analyzing the inefficiency factors of container terminals through efficiency analysis with respect to a cost function. In addition, this study proposes the practical and political implications, such as establishing a long-term manpower pool, the application of the hybrid liner terminal system, and the construction of a statistical data system, to improve the cost inefficiency of terminal operators.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.1540-1554
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• 2023

To use nuclear energy sustainably, spent nuclear fuel, classified as high-level radioactive waste and inevitably discharged after electricity generation by nuclear power plants, must be managed safely and isolated from the human environment. In Korea, the land area is limited and the amount of high-level radioactive waste, including spent nuclear fuels to be disposed, is relatively large. Thus, it is particularly necessary to maximize disposal efficiency. In this study, a high-efficiency deep geological repository concept was developed to enhance disposal efficiency. To this end, design strategies and requirements for a high-efficiency deep geological repository system were established, and engineered barrier modules with a disposal canister for pressurized water reactor (PWR)-type and pressurized heavy water reactor type Canada deuterium uranium (CANDU) plants were developed. Thermal and structural stability assessments were conducted for the repository system; it was confirmed that the system was suitable for the established strategies and requirements. In addition, the results of the nuclear safety assessment showed that the radiological safety of the new system met the Korean safety standards for disposal of high-level radioactive waste in terms of radiological dose. To evaluate disposal efficiency in terms of the disposal area, the layout of the developed disposal areas was assessed in terms of thermal limits. The estimated disposal areas were 2.51 km² and 1.82 km² (existing repository system: 4.57 km²) and the excavated host rock volumes were 2.7 Mm³ and 2.0 Mm³ (existing repository system: 4.5 Mm³) for thermal limits of 100 ℃ and 130 ℃, respectively. These results indicated that the area and the excavated volume of the new repository system were reduced by 40-60% compared to the existing repository system. In addition, methods to further improve the efficiency were derived for the disposal area for deep geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel. The results of this study are expected to be useful in establishing a national high-level radioactive waste management policy, and for the design of a commercial deep geological repository system for spent nuclear fuels.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.165-177
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• 2024

Volatile compounds (VOCs) are an important factor affecting meat quality. However, the characteristic VOCs in different parts of donkey meat remain unknown. Accordingly, this study represents a preliminary investigation of VOCs to differentiate between different cuts of donkey meat by using headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) combined with chemometrics analysis. The results showed that the 31 VOCs identified in donkey meat, ketones, alcohols, aldehydes, and esters were the predominant categories. A total of 10 VOCs with relative odor activity values ≥1 were found to be characteristic of donkey meat, including pentanone, hexanal, nonanal, octanal, and 3-methylbutanal. The VOC profiles in different parts of donkey meat were well differentiated using three- and two-dimensional fingerprint maps. Nine differential VOCs that represent potential markers to discriminate different parts of donkey meat were identified by chemometrics analysis. These include 2-butanone, 2-pentanone, and 2-heptanone. Thus, the VOC profiles in donkey meat and specific VOCs in different parts of donkey meat were revealed by HS-GC-IMS combined with chemometrics, whcih provided a basis and method of investigating the characteristic VOCs and quality control of donkey meat.

• Journal of the Korean Operations Research and Management Science Society
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.79-98
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• 2004

Despite its contribution to the Korean medical service industry the question of how efficiently the Korean public hospitals have operated has been unresolved. This study gauges and analyzes the overall efficiency and the Malmquist productivity index in the industry over the period 1992 through 2001. In addition to cost efficiency. we also measure technical, allocative, pure technical and scale efficiencies. Furthermore. the Malmquist index is decomposed into efficiency and frontier changes. We identify several important factors which seem to have strong relationship with various inefficiency estimates. The results indicate that on average the public hospitals has wasted a significant amount of resources and costs over the period. Unlike many other industries, the low level of cost efficiency of the public hospital industry is mainly due to allocative inefficiency rather than technical inefficiency. The Maimquist productivity indices seem both due to the frontier change and efficiency change, but with more effect by the former. The results also indicate that the turnover of hospital beds has played an important role in determining efficiency and productivity of this important industry.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.53
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• pp.315-336
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• 2012

In year 2011 export volume of South Korea surpassed 500billion USD and overall trade volume has exceeded one trillion USD. South Korea is ranked at 7th in the world by its export volume. Such an expansion of the trade volume leads to growth in customs clearance service demand. However, there are only handfuls of studies on the efficiency of customs clearance service which customs broker provide. If the efficiency in this study is not absolute, it shows relative efficiency to decision making unit. In this research survey was conducted targeting members of Korea Customs Brokers Association. Based on the survey improvement plans to enhance efficiency of customs clearances are as follows. First, rationalize the customs broker fee. Second, setup batch processing system to improve efficiency of the work process. Third, develop new area of task such as FTA and AEO certification. Forth, raise service quality by improving professionalism of customs brokers. Fifth, work efficiency of the office in the capital area will increase. Sixth, when inspecting import export cargo, customs broker should attend at the scene by their choice. Meanwhile, difference analysis on competent customs, type of office, and duration of the business was done but all the aspects were rejected. Such aspects does not influence on its effectiveness.