• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.19-34
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• 2022

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to examine whether a psychological concept enhances healthcare users' service experience. Specifically, the study proposes and empirically examines a model of perceived control in which the user's sense of control is postulated as exerting positive influences upon his/her motivation, self-efficacy associated with his/her role as a patient, and satisfaction with his/her medical service experience. Methodology - Data were collected by a professional research company, using an online survey method. Participants of the study included adults nineteen years or older who had visited a medical service institute at least once during the previous one-year period. For the test of the research hypotheses, structural equation modeling using AMOS was used. Findings - Findings of this study denote a unique insight into the users' comprehension of medical service experiences and their behaviors. First, the concept of perceived control is identified as a factor that enhances the quality of individuals' medical service experiences. A sense of control directly influences medical users' self-efficacy to comply with doctor's recommendations, their motivation to comply with doctor's recommendations, and their satisfaction with the medical service experience. Second, one's perceived self-efficacy is found to exert positive influences upon both motivation and satisfaction. Third, one's motivation to comply with the doctor's recommendation is found to exert a positive influence upon one's satisfaction. Additionally, perceived control is found to exert an indirect influence upon medical service users' satisfaction through the mediation of both self-efficacy and motivation. Research Implications - The findings of the study support the notion that perception of control among medial service users enhances their service experience as patients. The main thrust of this study suggests that it is necessary for healthcare practitioners to consider implementing service encounter strategies that purposefully enhance the sense of control among their patients. The identification of significant inter-relationships among perceived control, motivation, self-efficacy, and satisfaction among medical service customers should also serve as a meaningful seed for further research pursuits.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.189-206
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• 2020

Purpose - This paper attempted to verify the process by which a multinational corporation (MNC)'s subsidiary practices entrepreneurship to create effective knowledge (KC) in the local market. We have looked at whether subsidiary entrepreneurship (SENT) has a moderation effect in creating knowledge for the local market when a subsidiary has been given autonomy (AUT) from the headquarters (HQ). We also argue that when a subsidiary creates meaningful knowledge, the effect of the increased status by the HQ within the MNC network position (NP) has an indirect effect on whether knowledge is transferred to other overseas subsidiaries (KTO). Design/methodology - This paper used a structural equation model (SEM) of 282 effective foreign companies invested in Korea. To test the hypothesis about the process of SENT on KTO, descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability, convergent and discriminant validities, and common method bias were analyzed using STATA. In addition, the moderation effect was verified along with SEM. The moderation effect of AUT on SENT and KC was presented graphically by confirming \mathrm{\pm1} standard deviation of AUT for the main effect. Findings - Our findings are as follows. First, while the hypothesis about the direct effect of SENT and KC on KTO was not supported, all other hypotheses were supported. Second, both the AUT and moderating effect and the indirect effect of NP were significant. In the conclusion, these findings are discussed in relation to its various theoretical and practical implications. Originality/value - This study attempted to contribute to the knowledge creation theory of MNC by contemplating how subsidiaries can move away from HQ and grow in the local market. Although there is still a shortage of foreign investment in the Korean market, our practical implications offer guidance for how current subsidiaries can develop more than other overseas subsidiaries.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.6
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• pp.715-728
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• 2022

A new type of buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) with a longitudinally profiled steel plate working as the core (LPBRB) is proposed and experimentally investigated. Different from conventional BRBs with a constant thickness core, both stiffness and strength of the longitudinally profiled steel core along its longitudinal direction can change through itself variable thickness, thus the construction of LPBRB saves material and reduces the processing cost. Four full-scale component tests were conducted under quasi-static cyclic loading to evaluate the seismic performance of LPBRB. Three stiffening methods were used to improve the fatigue performance of LPBRBs, which were bolt-assembled T-shaped stiffening ribs, partly-welded stiffening ribs and stiffening segment without rib. The experimental results showed LPBRB specimens displayed stable hysteretic behavior and satisfactory seismic property. There was no instability or rupture until the axial ductility ratio achieved 11.0. Failure modes included the out-of-plane buckling of the stiffening part outside the restraining member and core plate fatigue fracture around the longitudinally profiled segment. The effect of the stiffening methods on the fatigue performance is discussed. The critical buckling load of longitudinally profiled segment is derived using Euler theory. The local bulging behavior of the outer steel tube is analyzed with an equivalent beam model. The design recommendations for LPBRB are presented finally.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.82 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2022

This work elaborately investigates the influences of the guideway geometry parameters and track irregularity on the dynamic performances of the suspended monorail vehicle-guideway system (SMVGS). Firstly, a spatial dynamic analysis model of the SMVGS is established by adopting ANSYS parameter design language. Then, the dynamic interaction between a vehicle with maximum design load and guideway is investigated by numerical simulation and field tests, revealing the vehicle-guideway dynamic features. Subsequently, the influences of the guideway geometry parameters and track irregularity on the dynamic performances of the SMVGS are analyzed and discussed in detail, and the reasonable ranges of several key geometry parameters of the guideway are also obtained. Results show that the vehicle-guideway dynamic responses change nonlinearly with an increase of the guideway span, and especially the guideway dynamic performances can be effectively improved by reducing the guideway span; based on a comprehensive consideration of all performance indices of the SMVGS, the deflection-span ratio of the suspended monorail guideway is finally recommended to be 1/1054~1/868. The train load could cause a large bending deformation of the pier, which would intensify the car-body lateral displacement and decrease the vehicle riding comfort; to well limit the bending deformation of the pier, its cross-section dimension is suggested to be more than 0.8 m×0.8 m. The addition of the track irregularity amplitude has small influences on the displacements and stress of the guideway; however, it would significantly increase the vehicle-guideway vibrations and rate of load reduction of the driving tyre.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.9
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• pp.299-307
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• 2022

The goal of the study is to examine and assess how the factors of logistics service quality provided by logistics service providers influence customer loyalty and satisfaction in Vietnam. This study employs samples of the Kansei technique. The article's data was gathered through an online survey of 388 distinct Vietnamese customers who used logistics services before and during the Covid-19 outbreak. After the data was obtained, it was evaluated using SmartPLS 3.0's Cronbach's Alpha test and structural equation model (SEM). Staff service quality, operational service quality, and technical service quality are the three factors that determine the quality of logistics services in the study. Out of the 10 proposed hypotheses, research findings show that five are acceptable. The Covid-19 Pandemic in Vietnam had a significant impact on all dimensions, but it had no effect on how satisfied customers were with the logistics service providers. Nevertheless, loyalty is considerably influenced by only one factor, which is customer satisfaction, and customer trust moderates the relationship between these two factors. As a consequence of that, several managerial implications have been proposed to help logistics service providers improve their services to attract and keep Vietnamese customers using their service in the long term.

• Design & Manufacturing
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.24-33
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• 2022

Fiber-reinforced plastics(FRPs) have excellent specific stiffness and strength, so they are usually used as automotive parts that require high rigidity and lightweight instead of metal. However, it is difficult to predict the mechanical properties of injection molded parts due to the fiber orientation and breakage of FRPs. In this paper, the fiber orientation characteristics and mechanical properties of injection molded specimens were evaluated in order to fabricate automotive transmission side covers with FRPs and design a rib structure for improvement of their rigidity. The test molds were designed and manufactured to confirm the fiber orientation characteristics of each position of the injection molded standard plate-shaped specimens, and the tensile properties of the specimens were evaluated according to the injection molding conditions and directions of specimens. A gusset-rib structure was designed to improve the additional structural rigidity of the target products, and a proper rib structure was selected through the flexural tests of the rib-structured specimens. Based on the evaluation of fiber orientation and mechanical characteristics, the optimization analyses of gate location were performed to minimize the warpage of target products. Also, the deformation analyses against the internal pressure of target product were performed to confirm the rigidity improvement by gusset-rib structure. As a result, it could be confirmed that the deformation was reduced by 27~37% compared to the previous model, when the gusset-rib structure was applied to the joining part of the target products.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.223-243
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• 2023

RPA is implemented through management policy and enforced in mandatory environments to enhance performance and efficiency in various fields. However, the success of RPA implementation depends on the level of active engagement from organization members, even in a mandatory setting. This study identifies perceived ease of use, usefulness, accountability, perceived risk, and self-efficacy as variables that influence conative use behavior, which consists of reflective secondary factors such as immersion, reinvention, and learning. Data was collected from 207 office workers in various industries who have experience with RPA to test the proposed research model. The structural equation was verified using SPSS 20.0 and SmartPLS 4.0, and the analysis showed that all the proposed variables had a significant impact on conative use behavior. Our research findings provide theoretical and practical implications in knowledge management, enabling companies that implement RPA to recognize and address factors that encourage their members to actively use RPA.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.161-170
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• 2023

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is produced using high amount of cementitious materials, very low water/cementitious materials ratio, fine-sized fillers, and steel fibers. Due to the dense microstructure of UHPC, it possesses very high strength, elasticity, and durability. Besides that, the UHPC exhibits high ductility and fracture toughness due to presence of fibers in its matrix. While the high ductility of UHPC allows it to undergo high strain/deflection before failure, the high fracture toughness of UHPC greatly enhances its capacity to absorb impact energy without allowing the formation of severe cracking or penetration by the impactor. These advantages with UHPC make it a suitable material for construction of the structural members subjected to special loading conditions. In this research work, the UHPC mixtures having three different dosages of steel fibers (2%, 4% and 6% by weight corresponding to 0.67%, 1.33% and 2% by volume) were characterized in terms of their mechanical properties including facture toughness, before using these concrete mixtures for casting the slab specimens, which were tested under high-energy impact loading with the help of a drop-weight impact test setup. The effect of fiber content on the impact energy absorption capacity and central deflection of the slab specimens were investigated and the equations correlating fiber content with the energy absorption capacity and central deflection were obtained with high degrees of fit. Finite element modeling (FEM) was performed to simulate the behavior of the slabs under impact loading. The FEM results were found to be in good agreement with their corresponding experimentally generated results.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.77-96
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• 2017

This paper attempts to analyze the influences of Korean global retailer's service marketing mix on local customers' satisfaction and their loyalty behaviors. Based on a literature review, three hypotheses are putting forward. The data from 139 customers in Weihai, China were used to test these hypotheses. This paper used Structural Equation Modeling to identify the relationship among the service marketing mix, the customer satisfaction and the customer loyalty behaviors. According to the empirical analysis, this study showed satisfactory data-fit of the proposed model and supported two of the three hypotheses. The empirical results indicated that the service marketing mix factors except the promotion factor take significant effect on the local customer satisfaction, and this in turn have influence on the customer loyalty behaviors. The result shows that Korean global retailers will need to leverage service marketing mix strategically when entering China. Practical implications of these findings needs to be considered for the global retailer to establish an effective marketing strategy.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.265-275
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• 2009

Due to the limitation of construction efficiency and structural safety, the application of the high covering and wide width tunnels was limited prior to the introduction of precast rut and cover tunnels. Therefore, a cut and cover tunnel structure with rib reinforcement is proposed to mechanically improve the safety on condition of high covering and wide width tunnel. Therefore, a technical problem that can provide a response similar to the actual filling conditions is analyzed by the finite element analyses, moreover, the mechanical behaviour of developed rib-reinforced precast tunnel liner through a large-sized model test will be investigated. The ultimate load of the developed rib-reinforced precast tunnel liner shows a 3% reduction compared to existing rib-reinforced precast tunnel liner, especially, the section of rib-reinforcement decreased to 55% compared to it of existing. Therefore, the stability of tunnel structure can be significantly improved through the developed rib-reinforced precast segment.