• Title/Summary/Keyword: Mixed Structure

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The Benefits of Sales Force Automation Explored: An Empirical Examination of SFA Usage on Relationship Quality and Performance

  • Park, Jeong Eun;Holloway, Betsy Bugg;Lee, Sungho
    • Asia Marketing Journal
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    • v.14 no.4
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    • pp.143-165
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    • 2013
  • Sales force automation (SFA) technologies are increasingly used to support customer relationship management (CRM) strategies. However, the popular press reports mixed results among companies incorporating SFA technologies and the previous studies have less interested in relationship quality between sales person and customer as an outcome of SFA. Actually the improved quality of the salesperson-customer relationship may be the most important outcome of SFA usage. This outcome is especially meaningful in today's marketplace given the increasing focus placed on customer retention and other customer related performance such as customer lifetime value. Therefore, this study seeks to further examine the impact of SFA usage within two different firms using SFA technologies to examine the impact of SFA usage on both customer relationship quality and sales performance. Additionally, the moderating roles of perceived managerial support and salesperson experience on the outcomes of SFA usage are examined. The results shows that direct effect of SFA usage on performance was not significant but highlight the mediating role of customer relationship quality in the SFA usage - sales performance relationship. Also, this research examines a number of moderating effects of both management supports for SFA and salesperson's sales work experience. The results indicate that management support has a significant direct influence on relationship quality and salesperson performance, but not a significant moderating effect on the relationship between SFA usage and the outcomes (relationship quality and performance). Thus moderating effects were not supported but find significant main effects. First of all, finding of this study suggest that a formula for successful SFA implementation must be one that highlights a SFA usage → relationship quality → sales performance sequence. This means when sales person use SFA they must build relationship with customer first then will return some long term performance. Second, the implications of not considering the introduction of big technology initiatives in terms of fit within the company's culture, strategy, structure, and environment may in many cases be quite noteworthy. Therefore, the launching of a new technology in the firm, such as SFA, may have a nonlinear impact upon overall firm performance, depending on the presence of other complimentary resources and capabilities. Finally the authors offer a number of implications for research and practice, and suggest directions for future SFA research that may further improve our understanding of this increasingly relevant topic.

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Investigation of thermal hydraulic behavior of the High Temperature Test Facility's lower plenum via large eddy simulation

  • Hyeongi Moon ;Sujong Yoon;Mauricio Tano-Retamale ;Aaron Epiney ;Minseop Song;Jae-Ho Jeong
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.55 no.10
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    • pp.3874-3897
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    • 2023
  • A high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was performed using the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) model for the lower plenum of the High-Temperature Test Facility (HTTF), a ¼ scale test facility of the modular high temperature gas-cooled reactor (MHTGR) managed by Oregon State University. In most next-generation nuclear reactors, thermal stress due to thermal striping is one of the risks to be curiously considered. This is also true for HTGRs, especially since the exhaust helium gas temperature is high. In order to evaluate these risks and performance, organizations in the United States led by the OECD NEA are conducting a thermal hydraulic code benchmark for HTGR, and the test facility used for this benchmark is HTTF. HTTF can perform experiments in both normal and accident situations and provide high-quality experimental data. However, it is difficult to provide sufficient data for benchmarking through experiments, and there is a problem with the reliability of CFD analysis results based on Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes to analyze thermal hydraulic behavior without verification. To solve this problem, high-fidelity 3-D CFD analysis was performed using the LES model for HTTF. It was also verified that the LES model can properly simulate this jet mixing phenomenon via a unit cell test that provides experimental information. As a result of CFD analysis, the lower the dependency of the sub-grid scale model, the closer to the actual analysis result. In the case of unit cell test CFD analysis and HTTF CFD analysis, the volume-averaged sub-grid scale model dependency was calculated to be 13.0% and 9.16%, respectively. As a result of HTTF analysis, quantitative data of the fluid inside the HTTF lower plenum was provided in this paper. As a result of qualitative analysis, the temperature was highest at the center of the lower plenum, while the temperature fluctuation was highest near the edge of the lower plenum wall. The power spectral density of temperature was analyzed via fast Fourier transform (FFT) for specific points on the center and side of the lower plenum. FFT results did not reveal specific frequency-dominant temperature fluctuations in the center part. It was confirmed that the temperature power spectral density (PSD) at the top increased from the center to the wake. The vortex was visualized using the well-known scalar Q-criterion, and as a result, the closer to the outlet duct, the greater the influence of the mainstream, so that the inflow jet vortex was dissipated and mixed at the top of the lower plenum. Additionally, FFT analysis was performed on the support structure near the corner of the lower plenum with large temperature fluctuations, and as a result, it was confirmed that the temperature fluctuation of the flow did not have a significant effect near the corner wall. In addition, the vortices generated from the lower plenum to the outlet duct were identified in this paper. It is considered that the quantitative and qualitative results presented in this paper will serve as reference data for the benchmark.

A study on crystalline control of zinc crystal glaze for ceramics (도자기용 아연결정 유약의 결정 제어를 위한 연구)

  • Hyun-Soo Lee;Chi Youn Lee
    • Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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    • v.33 no.6
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    • pp.234-243
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    • 2023
  • Zinc crystals of ZnO and SiO2 in glaze raw materials, developed according to composition and firing requirements, are preferred because of their high decorative properties. However, most zinc crystal glazes have a high firing temperature and a narrow firing temperature range, making it difficult to use them as commercial glazes in ceramics. Therefore, in this study, it was expected that the firing temperature of a typical zinc crystal glaze could be lowered to below 1270℃ by using the eutectic effect through mixing frit, the main raw material used in manufacturing zinc crystal glaze. As a result, not only was the formation temperature of zinc crystals lower in the mixed frit glaze, but also the firing temperature range was widened to 1230~1270℃, making it possible to develop a glaze that produces crystals stably. The firing temperature was lowered to 1230~1250℃ and the holding temperature during cooling was lowered to about 950℃, resulting in the development of an economically effective glaze. When using a combination of frit, it has been shown that the holding temperature during cooling affects the recrystallization of zinc crystals depending on the composition of the glaze, and the crystal structure can be adjusted at this time. Additionally, the amount and shape of crystals can be controlled by using a nucleating agent.

Experimental study on ultra-high strength concrete(130 MPa) (초고강도 콘크리트(130MPa)에 대한 실험적 연구)

  • Cho Choonhwan;Yang Dong-il
    • Journal of the Korea Institute of Construction Safety
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.12-18
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    • 2024
  • High-rise, large-scale, and diversification of buildings are possible, and the reduction of concrete cross-sections reduces the weight of the structure, thereby increasing or decreasing the height of the floor, securing a large number of floors at the same height, securing a large effective space, and reducing the amount of materials, rebar, and concrete used for designating the foundation floor. In terms of site construction and quality, a low water binder ratio can reduce the occurrence of dry shrinkage and minimize bleeding on the concrete surface. It has the advantage of securing self-fulfilling properties by improving fluidity by using high-performance sensitizers, making it easier to construct the site, and shortening the mold removal period by expressing early strength of concrete. In particular, with the rapid development of concrete-related construction technology in recent years, the application of ultra-high-strength concrete with a design standard strength of 100 MPa or higher is expanding in high-rise buildings. However, although high-rise buildings with more than 120 stories have recently been ordered or scheduled in Korea, the research results of developing ultra-high-strength concrete with more than 130 MPa class considering field applicability and testing and evaluating the actual applicability in the field are insufficient. In this study, in order to confirm the applicability of ultra-high-strength concrete in the field, a preliminary experiment for the member of a reduced simulation was conducted to find the optimal mixing ratio studied through various indoor basic experiments. After that, 130 MPa-class ultra-high-strength concrete was produced in a ready-mixed concrete factory in a mock member similar to the life size, and the flow characteristics, strength characteristics, and hydration heat of concrete were experimentally studied through on-site pump pressing.

Effect of Ethanol Fractionation of Lignin on the Physicochemical Properties of Lignin-Based Polyurethane Film

  • Sungwook WON;Junsik BANG;Sang-Woo PARK;Jungkyu KIM;Minjung JUNG;Seungoh JUNG;Heecheol YUN;Hwanmyeong YEO;In-Gyu CHOI;Hyo Won KWAK
    • Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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    • v.52 no.3
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    • pp.221-233
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    • 2024
  • Lignin, a prominent constituent of woody biomass, is abundant in nature, cost-effective, and contains various functional groups, including hydroxyl groups. Owing to these characteristics, they have the potential to replace petroleum-based polyols in the polyurethane industry, offering a solution to environmental problems linked to resource depletion and CO2 emissions. However, the structural complexity and low reactivity of lignin present challenges for its direct application in polyurethane materials. In this study, Kraft lignin (KL), a representative technical lignin, was fractionated with ethanol, an eco-friendly solvent, and mixed with conventional polyols in varying proportions to produce polyurethane films. The results of ethanol fractionation showed that the polydispersity of ethanol-soluble lignin (ESL) decreased from 3.71 to 2.72 and the hydroxyl content of ESL increased from 4.20 mmol/g to 5.49 mmol/g. Consequently, the polyurethane prepared by adding ESL was superior to the KL-based film, exhibiting improved miscibility with petrochemical-based polyols and reactivity with isocyanate groups. Consequently, the films using ESL as the polyol exhibited reduced shrinkage and a more uniform structure. Optical microscope and scanning electron microscope observations confirmed that lignin aggregation was lower in polyurethane with ESL than in that with KL. When the hydrophobicity of the samples was measured using the water contact angle, the addition of ESL resulted in higher hydrophobicity. In addition, as the amount of ESL added increased, an increase of 7.4% in the residual char was observed, and a 4.04% increase in Tmax the thermal stability of the produced polyurethane was effectively improved.

Experimental Study on the Adhesion and Performance Evaluation of Joints for Modified Polyethylene Coated Steel Pipes (개질 폴리에틸렌 코팅 강관의 부착 및 체결부 성능 평가 연구)

  • Myung Kue Lee;Sanghwan Cho;Min Ook Kim
    • Composites Research
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    • v.37 no.3
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    • pp.238-245
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    • 2024
  • In this study, as part of the development of a monitoring system for the efficient maintenance of steel pipes, an experimental study was conducted to evaluate the performance of steel pipes treated with modified polyethylene coating. In the case of the conventional mechanical pre-coating method, there was a deterioration in polyethylene adhesion during expansion testing, which led to the application of a chemical pre-treatment process using a calcium-mixed phosphate zinc film to resolve this issue. SEM and EDX analyses showed that the densest structure was observed at a Zn/Ca ratio of 1.0, and improved heat resistance compared to the conventional method was confirmed. Additionally, to prevent coating detachment during expansion, an evaluation of adhesion and elongation was conducted on steel pipes with modified polyethylene coating, incorporating materials such as elastomers based on maleic anhydride grafting, metal oxides, blocking agents, and slip agents. Experimental results showed that the specimen (S4) containing all modified materials exhibited more than a 25% performance improvement compared to the specimen (S2) containing only metal oxides. Lastly, the development and performance evaluation of wedge-shaped socketing and pressing wheels, which are part of the pipe fixing accessories, were conducted to prevent surface coating damage on the completed pipes.

Effects of feeding different levels of dietary corn silage on growth performance, rumen fermentation and bacterial community of post-weaning dairy calves

  • Lingyan Li;Jiachen Qu;Huan Zhu;Yuqin Liu;Jianhao Wu;Guang Shao;Xianchao Guan;Yongli Qu
    • Animal Bioscience
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    • v.37 no.2
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    • pp.261-273
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    • 2024
  • Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth performance, rumen fermentation parameters and bacterial community of post-weaning dairy calves in response to five diets varying in corn silage (CS) inclusion. Methods: A total of forty Holstein weaned bull calves (80±3 days of age;128.2±5.03 kg at study initiation) were randomized into five groups (8 calves/group) with each receiving one of five dietary treatments offered as total mixed ration in a 123-d feeding study. Dietary treatments were control diet (CON; 0% CS dry matter [DM]); Treatment 1 (T1; 27.2% CS DM); Treatment 2 (T2; 46.5% CS DM); Treatment 3 (T3; 54.8% CS DM); and Treatment 4 (T4; 67.2% CS DM) with all diets balanced for similar protein and energy concentration. Results: Results showed that calves offered CS had greater average daily gain, body length and chest depth growth, meanwhile altered rumen fermentation indicated by decreased rumen acetate concentrations. Principal coordinate analysis showed the rumen bacterial community structure was affected by varying CS inclusion diets. Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the predominant bacterial phyla in the calf rumens across all treatments. At the genus level, the abundance of Bacteroidales_RF16_group was increased, whereas Unclassified_Lachnospiraceae was decreased for calves fed CS. Furthermore, Spearman's correlation test between the rumen bacteria and rumen fermentation parameters indicated that Bacteroidales_RF16_group and Unclassified Lachnospiraceae were positively correlated with propionate and acetate, respectively. Conclusion: The results of the current study suggested that diet CS inclusion was beneficial for post-weaning dairy calf growth, with 27.2% to 46.5% CS of diet DM recommended to achieve improved growth performance. Bacteroidales_RF16_group and Unclassified Lachnospiraceae play an important role in the rumen fermentation pattern for post-weaning calves fed CS.

Type of Oil and Effect of Required HLB on Nanoemulsion Formation (오일의 종류 및 required HLB가 나노에멀젼 형성에 미치는 영향)

  • Da-yeon Lee;Hye-yun Hwang;Su-min Lim;Hy-ein Jang
    • Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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    • v.40 no.6
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    • pp.1533-1546
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    • 2023
  • Nanoemulsion is an emulsion with a particle size of about 20 ~ 200 nm and has the advantage of having a transparent or translucent appearance and improving the skin permeability of an effective material with a small particle size, so it is applied in various fields. In this study, eight oils with different types of HLB and 16 oils with different types of required HLB were selected to investigate the effect of the required HLB and the type on the formation of nanoemulsion. The surfactants used at this time were Polysorbate 60 (HLB 14.9), Sorbitan state (HLB 4.7), PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil (HLB 14.0), which were mixed with Polysorbate 60 and Sorbitan state, fixed with HLB 14.0, and Polysorbate 60 and PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, respectively. The formation of nanoemulsion was different depending on the type of oil, and oil with an ester structure showed a relatively excellent nanoemulsion formation ability. In particular, it was confirmed that a stable nanoemulsion was formed without a significant change after Cetyl ethylhexanoin was produced in a small size of 40 nm or less on average. In addition, it was found that using a mixture of Polysorbate 60 and Sorbitan stearate has a superior nanoemulsion formation ability than using PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil or Polysorbate 60 alone.

Field Applicability Evaluation Experiment for Ultra-high Strength (130MPa) Concrete (초고강도(130MPa) 콘크리트의 현장적용성 평가에 관한 실험)

  • Choonhwan Cho
    • Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.20-31
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    • 2024
  • Purpose: Research and development of high-strength concrete enables high-rise buildings and reduces the self-weight of the structure by reducing the cross-section, thereby reducing the thickness of beams and slabs to build more floors. A large effective space can be secured and the amount of reinforcement and concrete used to designate the base surface can be reduced. Method: In terms of field construction and quality, the effect of reducing the occurrence of drying shrinkage can be confirmed by studying the combination of low water bonding ratio and minimizing bleeding on the concrete surface. Result: The ease of site construction was confirmed due to the high self-charging property due to the increased fluidity by using high-performance water reducing agents, and the advantage of shortening the time to remove the formwork by expressing the early strength of concrete was confirmed. These experimental results show that the field application of ultra-high-strength concrete with a design standard strength of 100 MPa or higher can be expanded in high-rise buildings. Through this study, we experimented and evaluated whether ultra-high-strength concrete with a strength of 130 MPa or higher, considering the applicability of high-rise buildings with more than 120 floors in Korea, could be applied in the field. Conclusion: This study found the optimal mixing ratio studied by various methods of indoor basic experiments to confirm the applicability of ultra-high strength, produced 130MPa ultra-high strength concrete at a ready-mixed concrete factory similar to the real size, and tested the applicability of concrete to the fluidity and strength expression and hydration heat.

Improving CO2/CH4 Gas Separation Capability of Pore Controlled Activated Carbon Pellets through Chemical Vapor Deposition (화학기상증착법에 의하여 기공이 제어된 활성탄소펠렛의 CO2/CH4 가스 분리능 향상)

  • Eunseon Chae;Naeun Ha;Chaehun Lim;Chung Gi Min;Seongmin Ha;Young-Seak Lee
    • Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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    • v.35 no.5
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    • pp.404-409
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    • 2024
  • Technologies that separate and capture CO2 from landfill gas are attracting attention as a way to reduce CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. In this study, we aimed to improve the gas separation ability of CO2/CH4 mixed gas by controlling the pores of activated carbon pellets (ACPs) through chemical vapor deposition of CH4 and also investigated the adsorption characteristics as a function of reaction time. Both the specific surface area and the micropore volume increased up to a maximum of 997.8 m2/g and 0.392 cm3/g, respectively, following the carbon deposition through CH4. In addition, the CO2 adsorption quantity increased up to a maximum of 97.4 cm3/g as the deposition time increased. As a result, the pore structure of the ACPs could be controlled via the chemical vapor deposition of CH4 and the ACPs' CO2/CH4 gas separation performance was improved. The improved CO2 adsorption capacity was ascribed to an increase in specific surface area by heat treatment and an increase in the volume of below 0.61 nm micropores due to carbon deposition.