• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.727-739
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• 2021

Over the past decades, the Jordanian government has made great efforts to help poor women start small businesses by providing microcredit and facilitating financial services. Although in Jordan almost hundreds of thousands of women have the ability to contribute more fully to their economy, they are reluctant to do so. Women's participation in economic activities in 2016 was only 13.2%, while the unemployment rate for Jordanian women was 24.1%. The decline in women's participation in small business management has gradually become an important issue following the trial of more than 13,000 Jordanian women for non-payment of their micro-loans. This study aims to identify the factors that hinder Jordanian women from achieving job stability. In this qualitative study, a semi-structured interview method with sixteen open-ended questions was used to collect relevant data. A purposeful sampling method is also used to select participants. To analyze the data, this study used NVivo 11 software as a method. Using System Theory, this study showed that women's failure depends on three factors: women entrepreneurs, the environment around women entrepreneurs, and micro-financial institutions. Findings of this study suggest that strengthen women's entrepreneurship sustainability and minimize the risk of failure should be done through integrated strategies include these three domains.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.72-80
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and investigate the relevant factors for middle aged women using the 2014 Korea Health Panel data. Methods: The Korea Health Panel data 2014 were collected from February to August 2014 by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs and the National Health Insurance Corporation and included 2,075 people who responded to the questionnaire. Using SPSS WIN program, the data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis. Results: Limited activity was the most influential factor for the health-related quality of life of middle-aged women. For health behavior, the factors affecting HRQoL were drinking, sleeping time, and physical activity. For physical health, factors affecting HRQoL were vision problems, eating problems, and hearing problems. For mental health, the factors affecting HRQoL were suicidal impulse, stress, and frustration. Conclusion: These results indicated that to improve HRQoL for middle-aged women, limited activity and suicidal impulses should be addressed.

• East Asian Journal of Business Economics (EAJBE)
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2021

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to propose strategies of improving efficiency of 20 listed port companies in China based on analysis of their input-output indexes from 2014 to 2018. Research design, data, and methodology - In this paper, the relevant input-output indicators of 20 listed port companies in China from 2014 to 2018 were adopted. Data derived from the company annual reports announced by Shanghai stock exchange and Shenzhen stock exchange. Comprehensive efficiency and pure technical efficiency were measured from output perspective by DEA and Malmquist index, and efficiency changes and regional efficiency were analyzed. Result - The results showed that the efficiency value of 20 listed port companies in China fluctuated and increased during 2014-2018, regional efficiency was unbalanced, and change of MPI was influenced by internal factors and external factors. Listed port companies affected by internal and external factors needed to make appropriate response to internal and external factors. Conclusion - The research conclusion can provide important reference information about management and planning for port companies in China and related areas. However, this paper is limited to the availability of data. So the improvement scheme for listed companies in inefficient regional ports needs further study, such as using AHP method.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.475-491
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• 2022

Purpose - This study analyzed the correlation and effect of FTA environmental factors (company internal environmental factors, corporate external environmental factors) between FTA utilization and performance of Shandong companies in China. Design/methodology/approach - To test the hypothesis, SPSS 24.0 statistical packages were used based on the collected data. Findings - First, it was confirmed that internal environmental factors (international marketing orientation, corporate competitiveness, and corporate awareness of FTA) of companies had a positive(+) effect on FTA utilization. Second, The government's support for FTA utilization will have a significant positive (+) effect on companies' FTA utilization.Non-tariff barriers will have a negative (-) effect on companies' use of FTA. Third, A company's FTA utilization will have a significant positive effect on FTA performance. Research implications or Originality - If Shandong companies want to increase the utilization of FTAs, they should strengthen international marketing, such as collecting information on competitors and improving product quality and price competitiveness, and increase corporate competitiveness through active export activities to the global market.In order to increase the awareness of FTA among enterprises in Shandong Province, the government should strengthen the relevant education of enterprises about FTA.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.747-753
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• 2009

Planning the construction for a system of bored piles in building foundation engineering is (1) to predict the time duration required to complete all the bored piles with due consideration of relevant engineering factors and site constraints; then (2) to predict the total project time generally by aggregating the predicted working duration for construction of each bored pile. The duration for construction of an individual bored pile results from analyzing various working sequences and different activity duration (such as predrilling, excavation, steelfixing, air-lifting, and concreting, etc.), which is informed by experiences and site records of previous projects. However, determining the project duration for constructing many bored piles on one site is much more complicated than adding up the time duration for individual piles. In practice, project schedules are often found to be unrealistic and incorrect during the construction stage. This is because construction planning is not based on a exhaustive and comprehensive evaluation of site factors, such as site layout plan, site constraints, quality control, environmental control, safety control and logical relationships between different trades. In this paper, we identify those factors based on a foundation engineering site in Hong Kong with ninety-seven bored piles and address their effects on uncertainties in activity time and project time.

• Journal of Investigative Cosmetology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.386-404
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• 2018

Here, we aimed to determine, using meta-analyses, the relative importance of factors influencing cosmetic purchasing behaviors. Specifically, effect sizes were compared for studies that included and excluded consumers aged in their fifties to identify and rank factors that have a major impact on the purchasing behavior of new seniors-individuals who have recently emerged as an important consumer group in the cosmetics market. To this end, 77 Korean journal articles, and masters and doctoral theses with cosmetic purchasing behavior as a dependent variable published between 2008 and 2017 were selected, and effect sizes of correlation coefficients were calculated for relevant variables. The study findings are as follows. First, the total effect size for factors influencing purchase behavior of cosmetics was slightly larger than medium and was statistically significant. Second, mediators, age, gender, item, price, and source were found to have statistically significant effect sizes. Third, for studies that included consumers aged in their fifties, user attributes and brand attributes were identified as important variables that were more influential at the purchase intention stage than the purchase stage, suggesting an age-group effect on cosmetic purchasing behavior. By identifying factors influencing cosmetic purchasing behaviors using a comparison of studies with and without consumers aged in their fifties, there appears to be significant implications for cosmetic marketing strategies aimed at new seniors.

• Journal of the Korean Operations Research and Management Science Society
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.17-40
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• 2007

Most research on web site design has focused on technological factors, while visual aesthetic factors have been considered less important. In contrast, this study focuses on visual aesthetic factors in web site design. Findings of this study can be summarized as follows : (1) The result of SPSS-factor analysis shows that there are 3 distinct factors, 'classical aesthetics', 'expressive aesthetics', and 'usability' 'Classical aesthetics' and 'expressive aesthetics' can be described by visual aesthetic design, 'Visual aesthetic design' can be distinguished from 'usability'. This conceptual confusion relating to 'usability' and 'visual aesthetic design' can be clarified by these findings. (2) As a result of multiple regression analyses, 'classical aesthetics', 'expressive aesthetics', and 'usability' have a positive influence on 'interactivity' and 'web site evaluation'. This research clarifies the concepts of 'expectations' of Grier [18] and 'engagement' of Rosen and Purinton [33] as the 'interactivity' between users and web sites. Furthermore, this research suggests a valid model with high $R^2$(interactivity, 48% : web site evaluation, 68%). (3) Empirical tests show that the differences among users in 'entry point' are related to the characteristics of web sites and the personal characteristics of users. The differences among users in terms of 'scanning time' are closely related to the attitudes and evaluation tendencies of users with respect to web sites. These findings could contribute to the 'search phase' of the Faraday model [16], enabling it to be more precise and extensible. The managerial implication of this study is that customers' preferences regarding web site designs are differences, as their preferences are based on their individual characteristics. Therefore, marketing managers should consider promotional tools on web sites that are relevant to the target market. An optimal strategy for web design could be a carefully-selected combination of factors that are relevant to the 'interactivity' and 'evaluation' of web sites. Additionally, if marketing managers want to attract more favorable attitudes and more affirmative evaluations from users, web sites should be designed so that they are understood more quickly by users. finally, this study suggests that 'good design' for web sites depends on understanding how to attain the appropriate balance between 'classical aesthetics' and 'expressive aesthetics', based on the target customer.

• The Korean Fashion and Textile Research Journal
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.808-817
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to verify potential differences in group- specific external feature concerns and beauty care behaviors of Korean women in their 20's~40's depending on their narcissistic propensity. This study is to take psychological approaches to narcissistic propensity of our contemporary society, so that it can get better understanding about consumers and provide marketing data on beauty-related industry. To meet the above goals, total 400 sheets of questionnaire were distributed to subjects from March 30 to April 8, 2009. Out of 376 sheets of questionnaire collected, total 355 valid questionnaires except incomplete 21 ones were used for final data analysis. For data analysis, this study used SPSS 12.0 as statistic program to perform factor analysis, reliability test (Cronbac's ${\alpha}$ coefficient), cluster analysis, t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Duncan's multiple range test and multiple regression analysis. As a result, this study could come to the following findings: First, according to cluster analysis depending upon different factors such as self-directed narcissism, others-conscious narcissism and others-sensitive narcissism, it was found that our women in 20's to 40's could fall into 4 groups, i.e. complex narcissism group, mixed narcissism group, others-sensitive narcissism group and dispirited narcissism group. Second, according to analysis on potential differences in external feature concerns among four groups depending on their narcissistic propensity, it was found that there were significant differences in all relevant factors among groups. Third, according to analysis on differences in beauty care behaviors among four groups depending upon their narcissistic propensity, it was found that there were significant differences in all relevant factors among groups. Fourth, according to analysis on potential factors of external feature concerns that may influence beauty care behaviors of complex narcissism group, it was found that those factors had significant effects on fashion-orientedness, cosmetic surgery and personality pursuit of this group. And it was also found that there were significant differences in fashion-orientedness, cosmetic surgery, makeup and hair styling of mixed narcissism group, others-sensitive narcissism group and dispirited narcissism group respectively.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.257-264
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• 2018

Background: This paper presents the findings of a pilot research survey which assessed the degree of balance between safety and productivity, and its relationship with awareness and communication of human factors and safety rules in the aircraft manufacturing environment. Methods: The study was carried out at two Australian aircraft manufacturing facilities where a Likert-scale questionnaire was administered to a representative sample. The research instrument included topics relevant to the safety and human factors training provided to the target workforce. The answers were processed in overall, and against demographic characteristics of the sample population. Results: The workers were sufficiently aware of how human factors and safety rules influence their performance and acknowledged that supervisors had adequately communicated such topics. Safety and productivity seemed equally balanced across the sample. A preference for the former over the latter was associated with a higher awareness about human factors and safety rules, but not linked with safety communication. The size of the facility and the length and type of employment were occasionally correlated with responses to some communication and human factors topics and the equilibrium between productivity and safety. Conclusion: Although human factors training had been provided and sufficient bidirectional communication was present across the sample, it seems that quality and complexity factors might have influenced the effects of those safety related practices on the safety-productivity balance for specific parts of the population studied. Customization of safety training and communication to specific characteristics of employees may be necessary to achieve the desired outcomes.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.355-364
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• 2011

Objectives: Though sulfur dioxide (SO2) is used widely at workplaces, itseffects on humans are not known. Thresholds are reportedwithout reference to gender or age and occupational exposure limits are basedon effects on lung functioning, although localized effects in the upper airways can be expected. This study's aim is to determine thresholds with respect to age and gender and suggests a new approach to risk assessment using breathing reflexes presumably triggered by trigeminal receptors in the upper airways. Methods: Odor thresholds were determined by the ascending method of limits in groups stratified by age and gender. Subjects rated intensities of different olfactory and trigeminal perceptions at different concentrations of $SO_2$. During the presentation of the concentrations, breathing movements were measured by respiratory inductive plethysmography. Results: Neither age nor gender effects were observed for odor threshold. Only ratings of nasal irritation were influenced bygender. A benchmark dose analysis on relative respiratory depth revealed a 10%-deviation from baseline at about 25.27 mg/$m^3$. Conclusion: The proposed new approach to risk assessment appearsto be sustainable. We discuss whether a 10%-deviation of breathingdepth is relevant.