• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.619-627
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• 2011

The poisoning effect of Zr in aluminum alloys was investigated by analyzing the filtered cakes of aluminum alloy melt taken with the $Prefil^{(R)}$ footprinter through a variety of analytic instruments, SEM/EDX, Auger, and TEM. Experimental results indicated that the morphology and chemical composition of the aluminum alloys were not modified with the addition of Zr, which is to previous belief that Zr poisoning is caused by modification of $(Ti_{1-x}Zr_x)Al_3$. On the other hand, $TiAl_3$ surroundig $TiB_2$ particles was modified and its lattice parameter was more mismatched by increasing Zr content, leading to less nucleation rate. This is also supported by the observation that the poisoning effect is reduced when Ti is added, resulting in a lower content ratio of Zr to Ti. These results suggest that extra Ti should be added to eliminate the poisoning effect of Zr in aluminum alloys containing Zr.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.8
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• pp.625-635
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• 2021

The performance appraisal system is defined as general satisfaction with the performance appraisal system. It is used to assess employees' attitudes towards the fairness of the appraisal system, as well as their satisfaction with their knowledge of the appraisal system. This study aims to investigate the relationship between performance appraisal satisfaction and employee performance with equity as a mediator of this relation. There is limited research that studied the mediating effect of performance appraisal on the relationship between organizational justice and work performance. The research implemented the quantitative methodology throughout distributing questionnaires using google forms for data collection. Only 181 respondents out of 221 respondents answered the questionnaires. The data had been analyzed using the AMOS tool for performing structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis to validate the mediating relationship of equity and justice on the relationship between performance appraisals satisfaction and employees' performance. The results indicated that achieving organizational fairness and equity in the workplace can be done by the implementation of performance appraisal satisfaction, which can lead to higher productivity in the workplace, whichin turn will enhance the organization's image among its competitors.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.87-95
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the effects of Brand Coolness, Brand Love, and Self-brand Connections on Word-of-mouth positively. The retail format of Starbuck in Vietnam is successful in distribution applied when it becomes the place for customers to express themselves. Consumers are now aware about Brand Coolness of the Starbucks developed in Vietnam then turn to love the brand of store and connect themselves to the brand. In this study, the closest relationship to form the basis for consumer Word-of-mouth about a brand is the relationship between Brand Coolness and Brand Love. Results: The findings show that Brand Coolness and Brand Love are important value factors in customers' minds toward their behavior, form there, it will contribute to the brand store in distribution. Research design, data and methodology: This article used the quantitative technique utilizing PLS-SEM software to test the hypothesis with 600 samples. The data obtained shows that people have Word-of-mouth about the retail format of Starbucks in Ho Chi Minh City. Conclusion: The study has demonstrated the conclusions and proposed solutions to help beverage brands build Brand Love, thereby achieving coolness, connecting brands with themselves, leading to customer Word-of-mouth in a positive way towards retail format.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.7
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• pp.173-183
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• 2022

With over 15,000 Thai restaurants worldwide and 5,342 in the USA alone, Thai cuisine has been repeatedly internationally acclaimed for its taste, flavors, smell, and nutritional values. The Thai Ministry of Commerce has also established a global objective to find and award the best Thai food restaurants using Thai Select Premium (TSP), Thai Select Unique (TSU), and Thai Select brand labels. Therefore, using systematic random sampling, 620 diners were selected from certified Thai Select restaurants (TSR) in either Los Angeles, New York, Miami, or Chicago to ask for their opinions concerning factors important to each restaurant's service loyalty (SL). The four constructs, 18 observed variables, and six hypotheses were analyzed using LISREL 9.1. Results revealed a significant positive effect (88% R²) on the causal factor interrelationships on TSRs' SL. Additionally, the three factors affecting SL the most were service tangibility, taste perceptions, and brand image, with total effect values of 0.94, 0.43, and 0.31, respectively. Finally, when each US diner was asked why they chose to eat Thai food, respondents overwhelmingly indicated that taste (49.50%) and healthiness (32.90%) were most important. The study also adds to the literature by highlighting the importance of Thai cuisine contributing to healthier lifestyles.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.7-20
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• 2023

Purpose: With the unique feature of O2O, consumers are now able to check the profile of the services and products online and then consume them in offline venues or vice versa. This study provides motivation and practical implications about online-to-offline (O2O) distribution channels and investigates the relationship between economic values, service consistency and brand identity attractiveness in the O2O distribution channel. Then identify the impact of brand identity attractiveness on the performance (reputation and reuse intention). Research design, data, and methodology: Structural equation modeling (SEM) has been used to investigate the relationship between economic value and brand identity attractiveness, which affects the reputation and reuse intention of services in O2O. Results: Empirical results show the positive and significant impact of economic value and service consistency on brand identity attractiveness which results the positive and significant impact on performance (reputation and reuse intention) in O2O. Conclusion: In the O2O distribution channel, economic value is an important aspect for the attractive image and brand identity. On the other side, brand identity attractiveness is important for the bright future of O2O services, continuous growth, achieving the distinct goal, keeping good promises with customers, and a better reputation of O2O services in distribution channels.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.83-92
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• 2023

Purpose: An omnichannel strategy creates a consistent brand image and customer experience across all channels, making it easier for customers to interact with a business and share information. This research aimed to investigated the relationship between consumers' information-sharing intention and their omnichannel experiences. Research design, data, and methodology: Through an online survey conducted in Vietnam, the study obtained 915 responses. The study used Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze research data and confirm proposed research hypotheses. Results: Research results indicated that information-sharing intention is affected by both online and offline customer experience, and at the same time, the study also confirmed that omnichannel's three characteristics (integration, individualization, interaction) positively impact on customer experience. Conclusions: From the research result, businesses may boost consumer trust and loyalty with the help of an omnichannel approach, which in turn increases customers' propensity to provide personally identifying information to the firm. One way to do this is to facilitate information exchange by delivering customized and relevant offers. Furthermore, companies show consumers the benefit of providing their data by utilizing it to enhance the customer experience.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.143-152
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• 2022

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of several factors on students' decisions to attend a public institution in Vietnam's North Central area. The enrollment issue toward regional institutions is particularly critical in the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training reforming the university enrollment process and the complicated scenario of the Covid-19 pandemic. A total of 500 students were surveyed for research samples. Data is synthesized, validated, cleaned, and analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software using methods including reliability, EFA, CFA, and SEM. The findings suggest that the proposed independent components (individual factors, study fees, advertisement, infrastructure and facilities, local features, and lastly, training activities) have a beneficial impact on students' decision to attend a public university in the North Central region. The study also found that the graduation exam outcome had a moderating effect on the relationship between registration and students' decisions. These imply targeted solutions for regional public universities to diversify training majors, improve training quality, capitalize on local advantages, increase interaction, and promote training programs and image to be more effective in attracting students and maintaining competition in the current enrollment environment.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.13-28
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• 2022

Purpose: Natural products are becoming gradually popular because of their health - related benefits and consumers' environmental awareness. However, research in this field remains limited, the present study attempts to address this research gap by measuring the influencing levels of the antecedents on natural product brand love. Research design, data and methodology: The study employs S-O-R (Stimulus - Organism - Response) framework together with Innovation Resistance Theory and Dual-Factor Theory to propose the research model, in which health and environmental stimuli influence both of facilitators and inhibitors of internal states or organism, and then shape purchase intention and brand love as consumers' responses. The mixed research method is designed with the application of structural equation model (SEM) to analyze 530 consumers collected by convenience sampling. Results: The results revealed that two chosen stimuli, including health awareness and environmental concern were positively related to both facilitators (natural content and regional products) and inhibitors (image barrier and usage barrier) and these four factors were significantly associated to purchase intention and brand love. Furthermore, purchase intention played the mediating role on the relationship between the four organisms and brand love. Conclusions: The originality of this paper is extend S-O-R theory into natural product context with mediating effects in an emerging economy. The findings make theoretical contribution on consumer behavior and managerial implication.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2024

With the rapid development of highways and railways, series of traffic safety issues emerged because of mudstone disintegration. To research on the mechanism and further guarantee the stability and safety of transportation infrastructure built on or near mudstone formations, the mudstone disintegration test of mudstone was carried out based on mudstone and sandy mudstone. The element types, cementation characteristics and pore characteristics of the tested specimens were studied by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Image Pro Plus (IPP). The disintegration index of mudstone was approximately 1%, and even some specimens were difficult to be calculated, while the disintegration index of sandy mudstone is approximately 8.7%. According to the results, the two mudstones belong to grade II and III disintegration respectively, of which the sandy stone presents more extensive disintegration than mudstone. This phenomenon was distinguished that, the clay minerals of mudstone are approximately 25% more abundant than those of sandy mudstone, and the unit pore area is 20 ㎛² larger, which result in different microstructure and water absorption capacities. In the liquid phase, the ions in the mudstone specimens were exchanged and combined with water molecules in the environment during the whole disintegration process. This results in continuous spalling and fragmentation of clay minerals, the emergence of secondary fractures, and the deepening of primary fractures.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.357-362
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• 2011

Purpose: The narrow-band pass color-filters with a 500 nm central wavelength and 12 nm FWHM using $Ti_3O_5/SiO_2$ mutilayer were fabricated, and their characteristics and structures were studied. Methods: the optical constants, n and k, of the $Ti_3O_5$ and $SiO_2$ thin films were obtained from the transmittances of their thin film. The narrow-band pass color-filters were designed with these optical constants and the AR coating of the filter was also designed. $Ti_3O_5/SiO_2$ multilayer filters were made by electron beam evaporation apparatus and the transmittaces of the filters were measured by spectrophotometer. the number of layers and the thicknesses of filters were calculated from the cross section of filters by SEM image and the composition of filters was analysed by XPS analysis. Results: The optimization of AR coating for the narrow-band pass color-filter was [air$|SiO_2(90)|Ti_3O_5(36)|SiO_2(5)|Ti_3O_5(73)|SiO_2(30)|Ti_3O_5(15)|$ glass], and the optimization of filter layer for the color filter was [air$|SiO_2(192)|Ti_3O_5(64)|SiO_2(102)|Ti_3O_5(66)|SiO_2(112)|Ti_3O_5(74)|SiO_2(120)|Ti_3O_5(68)|SiO_2(123)|Ti_3O_5(80)|SiO_2(109)|Ti_3O_5(70)|SiO_2(105)|Ti_3O_5(62)|SiO_2(99)|Ti_3O_5(63)|SiO_2(98)|Ti_3O_5(51)|SiO_2(60)|Ti_3O_5(42)|SiO_2(113)|Ti_3O_5(88)|SiO_2(116)|Ti_3O_5(68)|SiO_2(89)|Ti_3O_5(49)|SiO_2(77)|Ti_3O_5(48)|SiO_2(84)|Ti_3O_5(51)|SiO_2(85)|Ti_3O_5(48)|SiO_2(59)|Ti_3O_5(34)|SiO_2(71)|Ti_3O_5(44)|SiO_2(65)|Ti_3O_5(45)|SiO_2(81)|Ti_3O_5(52)|SiO_2(88)|$ glass]. It was known that the color-filters fabricated by the simulation data were composed of 41 layers by SEM image and the top layer of filters was $SiO_2$ layer and the filters were composed of $SiO_2$/$Ti_3O_5$ multilayer by XPS analysis. It was also known that the mixed thin film of TiO2 and $Ti_3O_5$ was made during the deposition of the $Ti_3O_5$ material. Conclusions: The narrow-band pass color-filters with a 500 nm central wavelength and 12 nm FWHM using $Ti_3O_5/SiO_2$ mutilayer of 41 layer were fabricated, and it was known that the mixed form of TiO2 and $Ti_3O_5$ thin film was made during the deposition of the $Ti_3O_5$ material.