• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.75-82
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• 2023

Purpose: This research aims to test the measurement invariance of the consumer-based brand equity scale on Turkish and Syrian university students who live together but are from different cultural groups. Research design, data, and methodology: The consumer-based brand equity scale developed by Buil et al. (2008) is applied to the participants. In testing the consumer-based brand equity scale, the Netflix brand, which is considered well-known by both cultural groups, is preferred. It is thought that choosing an internationally recognized brand would facilitate the conduct of this research. Structural invariance and measurement invariance are tested using structural equation modeling. Results: The consumer-based brand equity scale has measurement invariance on Turkish and Syrian university students. Therefore, it has been revealed that the responses of participants from both cultures regarding the Netflix brand are comparable. Conclusion: The findings of the study provide clues for practitioners to review their distribution strategies. As a matter of fact, cultural studies conducted in different countries are common. Still, the originality of this study is ensured by the profile of participants who live in the same country but come from different countries.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.267-276
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• 2023

R&D strategies of companies with low and high technological levels are discussed based on the concept of technology convergence and divergence. However, empirically detecting enterprise technology convergence in the distribution of enterprise technology (total productivity increase) over time and identifying key change factors are challenging. This study used a novel statistical indicator that captures the internal technology distribution change with a single number to clearly measure the technology distribution peak as a change in critical bandwidth for enterprise technology convergence and presented it as evidence of each technology convergence or divergence. Furthermore, this study applied the quantitative technology convergence identification method. Technology convergence appeared from the separation of total corporate productivity distribution of 69 IT companies in Korea in 2019-2020 rather than in 2015-2016. Results indicated that when the total technological level was separated from the technology leading and technology catch-up, IT companies were found to be pursuing R&D strategies for technology catch-up.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.95-106
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aims to verify the effects of omnichannel characteristics on pleasure, resistance and repurchase intention in the omnichannel situation in order to provide the innovative commercial business. Research design, data and methodology: The study examined relations between research concepts centered on previous studies, set hypotheses, developed a research model, and verified the model through a questionnaire survey. A total of 297 questionnaires were used for the final analysis, excluding the questionnaires showing insincere or outliers. Results: First, Omnichannel showed multi-dimensional characteristics consisting of consistency, innovation, economy, and integration. Second, innovation and economic feasibility had a positive effect on pleasure. Third, only economic feasibility had a negative effect on user resistance. Fourth, consumers' shopping pleasure had a negative effect on user resistance. Fifth, repurchase intention of consumers was positively affected by innovation. Conclusions: This research contributed to extend academic framework of distribution research by examining causal relationship through adoption of economic and innovation factors as new characteristics from the integrated perspective beyond the research frame of the existing omnichannel distribution environment. Companies should provide meaningful experiences by resolving concerns about side effects caused by human-computer interaction and providing smart information that matches the products most suitable for consumer needs.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.1821-1829
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• 2023

The temperature distribution of the reactor pool under natural circulation induced by the RVACS operation was experimentally studied. According to the Bo' based similarity law, which could reproduce the temperature distribution of the working fluid under natural circulation, SINCRO-2D facility was designed based on the PGSFR. It was reduced to 1 : 25 in length scale, having water as a simulant of the sodium, which is the original working fluid. In general, temperature was stratified, however, effect of the natural circulation flow could be observed by the entrainment of the stratified temperature. Relative cooling contribution of the upper plenum (narrow gap) and lower plenum was approximately 0.2 and 0.8, respectively. In the range of decay heat from 0.2% to 1.0%, only the magnitude of the temperature was changed, while the normalized temperature maintained. Boundary temperature distribution change made a global temperature offset of the pool, without a significant local change. Therefore, the decay heat and cooling boundary condition had no significant effect on temperature distribution characteristics of the pool within the given range of the decay heat and boundary temperature distribution.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.55-63
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• 2024

Purpose: This study focuses on the golden banana (Kluai Hom Thong) from the Ban Khok Banana Community Enterprise Group in Sang Khom District, Udon Thani Province, Thailand. Despite its potential as an export crop and minimal disease or insect management issues, the group's products struggled to reach international markets due to lack of marketing opportunities, distribution channels, and proper packaging. The research aims to analyze and develop packaging and logos to test market potential for the group's products. Research design, data and methodology: Data was collected through questionnaires developed in conjunction with three printing and packaging design experts. Market testing involved 100 randomly sampled consumers of the group's products. Results: The new packaging design was perceived as more international, modern, and suitable as a souvenir for adults. Conclusions: Integrating ethnic elements and local materials into packaging design can enhance product appeal. For example, creating cloth bags from fabric scraps for carrying local woven products can impress consumers. This approach could help overcome market barriers and improve prospects for golden banana products in international markets while maintaining the intact ecosystem and environment of the production area. The study highlights the importance of effective packaging and branding in addressing market access challenges for local agricultural enterprises, potentially opening new opportunities for community-based businesses.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.99-107
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• 2024

Purpose: The aim of this study is to explore the psychological characteristics of users in mobile distribution channels (MDC) during mobile shopping. Research design, data and methodology: A conceptual framework based on shopping satisfaction theory was developed, leading to the proposal of a research model to examine the relationships between emotional control (EC), emotional practice (EP), prudential buying tendency (PBT), prudential buying urge (PBU), prudential buying behavior (PBB), and mobile shopping satisfaction (MSS) in MDC. To validate the research model, 125 survey responses were collected from mobile shoppers, and the relationships among EC, EP, PBT, PBU, PBB, and MSS were analyzed using the PLS structural equation model. Results: The empirical analysis revealed that EC did not have a significant impact on PBT, while EP had a significant effect on PBT. Moreover, PBT was found to influence both PBU and PBB, with PBU significantly affecting PBB. Finally, the study found that PBB significantly influences MSS. Conclusions: This study elucidates the relationships among EC, EP, PBT, PBU, PBB, and MSS, providing valuable insights for enhancing consumer shopping satisfaction in MDC. Practically, the study suggests various strategies for personalized and differentiated mobile customer management. Theoretically, it contributes to the field by stimulating further research on prudent purchasing behavior in mobile commerce.

• Journal of applied mathematics & informatics
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.1195-1210
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• 2024

This research aims to determine an optimal (best) solution for transporting the logistics at a minimum cost from various sources to various destinations. We proposed a new algorithm for the initial basic feasible solution (IBFS). Developing a new IBFS is the first step towards finding the optimal solution. A new approach for the initial basic feasible solution that reduces iterations and produces the best answer in the initial process of the transportation issue. Different IBFS approaches have been generated in the literature review. Some statistical fundamentals, such as normal distribution and the root mean square technique, are employed to find new IBFS. A TP is transformed into a normal distribution, and penalties are determined using the root mean square method. Excel Solver is used to calculate normal distribution values. The second step involves using a stepping-stone approach to compute the optimum solution. The results of our study were calculated using numerical examples and contrasted with a few other methodologies, such as Vogel's approximation, the Continuous Allocation Method (CAM), the Supply Demand Repair Method (SDRM), and the Karagul-Sahin Approximation Method (KSAM). The conclusion of our proposed method gives more accurate results than the existing approach.

• Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2006

A need exists to monitor and control the localized high temperatures often experienced in solar grain dryers, which result in grain cracking, reduced germination and loss of cooking quality. A verified finite element model would be a useful to monitor and control the drying process. This study examined the feasibility of the finite element method (FEM) to predict temperature distribution in solar grain dryers. To achieve this, an indirect solar grain dryer system was developed. It consisted of a solar collector, plenum and drying chambers, and an electric fan. The system was used to acquire the necessary input and output data for the finite element model. The input data comprised ambient and plenum chamber temperatures, prevailing wind velocities, thermal conductivities of air, grain and dryer wall, and node locations in the xy-plane. The outputs were temperature at the different nodes, and these were compared with measured values. The ${\pm}5%$ residual error interval employed in the analysis yielded an overall prediction performance level of 83.3% for temperature distribution in the dryer. Satisfactory prediction levels were also attained for the lateral (61.5-96.2%) and vertical (73.1-92.3%) directions of grain drying. These results demonstrate that it is feasible to use a two-dimensional (2-D) finite element model to predict temperature distribution in a grain solar dryer. Consequently, the method offers considerable advantage over experimental approaches as it reduces time requirements and the need for expensive measuring equipment, and it also yields relatively accurate results.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.820-825
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• 1993

The ion exchange capacity of HDBPDA ion exchanger, {(4,5) : (13,14)-dibenzo-6,9,12-trioxa-3,15,21-triazabicyclo[15.3.l]heneicosa-(1,17,19)(18,20,21) triene ion exchanger: HDBPDA ion exchanger} was 3.8 meq/g. The distribution coefficients of alkali and alkaline earth metal ions in water and the various concentration of hydrochloric acid were determined. Concentration of hydrochloric acid have almost not influenced on the distribution coefficients of alkali and alkaline earth metal ions, but generally, the distribution coefficient was slightly increased with decrease of concentration of hydrochloric acid. The distribution coefficients of metal ions in water are larger than those of various hydrochloric acid concentrations. Also, alkali and alkaline earth metal ions are separated by column ion exchange chromatography using HDBPDA ion exchange with water as eluent. The distribution coefficents of alkali and alkaline earth metal ions were increased with increase of ionic radii of metal ions.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2012

In this study, we investigated carabid beetles residing in the wetlands to understand their ecological adaptation and strategy selection associated with restricted resources and habitat limitation. The species richness, abundance, seasonal activity, and spatial distribution of the carabid beetles between the Mujechi Wetlands (wetland sites) and Mt. Jeongjok (mountain sites) have been compared. A total of 1,733 individual beetles from 30 species were collected and classified at the studied sites. The wetland sites were identified as having lower species richness and abundance for carabid beetles when compared with the adjacent mountain sites, whereas these beetles were observed to be dominant in the wetland sites than in the adjacent mountain sites. Calosoma inquisitor cyanescens, Carabus sternbergi sternbergi, and Carabus jankowskii jankowskii species were dominant in both the wetland and mountain sites. These species showed significantly different seasonal activity patterns in the wetland sites relative to the mountain sites. Although the three listed carabid species were observed to be widely distributed throughout the wetland sites, they still showed preference for drier sites, which clearly shows a distinction in their habitats. The results of the spatial-temporal distribution of carabid beetles in the wetland sites reflect their special strategies regarding space and time partitioning for maintaining their population. The distribution patterns of carabid beetles in the wetland sites also showed the desiccation gradient and environmental changes prevalent in wetlands. Ecological surveys, which use carabid beetles in the wetlands, can then be performed when restoring wetlands and for establishing management practices for improving the habitat quality.