Labour market reforms and polarization in Korea

From the early 1990s the South Korean government launched a series of structural reforms to liberalize and deregulate the economy and labour market, in line with its globalization strategy. Particularly after the financial crisis, flexible labour market reform was one of the major initiatives to keep the Korean economy competitive in the global market. This paper describes the rationale for flexible labour market reforms in Korea from the early 1990s, evaluates their impacts on labour market polarization, and assesses the policy responses adopted by Kim Dae-jung and the current Roh Moo-hyun governments. It is argued that the flexible labour market reform is rather limited in its scale, due to strong opposition from unions and employees for different reasons, and the burden is disproportionately shouldered by the non-standard workers. As a result, a dual and segmented dual labour market has been formed. Greater protection to the non-standard workers is required to remedy the situation, considering that such reforms are necessary for Korea’s economy in the future

A sub-analysis of multi-center planning radiosurgery for intracranial metastases through automation (MC-PRIMA) comparing UK and international centers

Objectives: A sub-analysis of the MC-PRIMA study was performed to compare the plan quality of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to multiple brain metastases (MBM) between UK and other international centres.Methods and materials: Six centres from the UK and nineteen from other international centres autoplanned using Multiple Brain Mets™ (AutoMBM; Brainlab, Munich, Germany) software for a five MBM study case from a prior planning competition that was originally organized by the Trans-Tasmania Radiation Oncology Group (TROG). Twenty-three dosimetric metrics and the resulting composite plan score per the TROG planning competition were compared between the UK and other international centres. Planning experience and planning time from each planner were recorded and statistically compared.Results: Planning experiences between two groups are equal. Except for mean dose to the hippocampus, all other 22 dosimetric metrics were comparable between two groups. The inter-planner variations in these 23 dosimetric metrics and the composite plan score were also statistically equivalent. Planning time is slightly longer in the UK group (mean = 86.8 min) with a mean difference of 50.3 min.Conclusions: AutoMBM effectively achieves standardization of the plan quality of SRS to MBM within UK and further against the other international centres. Significant planning efficiency gain by AutoMBM both among the UK and other international centres may help to increase the capacity of SRS service by alleviating the clinical and technical loadings

A three-dimensional multilayered spherical dynamic interface dynamo using the Malkus-Proctor formulation

Copyright © 2008 IOP PublishingWe investigate a fully three-dimensional and multilayered spherical dynamic interface dynamo using a finite-element method based on the three-dimensional tetrahedralization of the whole spherical system. The dynamic interface dynamo model consists of four magnetically coupled zones: an electrically conducting and uniformly rotating core, a thin differentially rotating tachocline, a turbulent convection envelope, and a nearly insulating exterior. In the thin tachocline at the base of the convection zone, a differential rotation, similar to that of the observed solar differential rotation, is imposed. In the convection zone, the Malkus-Proctor formulation with a prescribed α-effect is employed while the fully three-dimensional dynamic feedback of Lorentz forces is taken into account. Our numerical simulations of the dynamic interface dynamo are focused on the Taylor number Ta = 105 with a unity magnetic Prandtl number. It is shown that the dynamic interface dynamo, depending on the size of the magnetic Reynolds number Rem based on the differential rotation, can be either nonaxisymmetric or axisymmetric. When Rem is small or moderate, the dynamic dynamo is characterized by quasi-periodic and nonaxisymmetric azimuthally traveling waves. When Rem is sufficiently large, the dynamo is characterized by a strong toroidal magnetic field, axisymmetric or nearly axisymmetric, that selects dipolar symmetry and propagates equatorward. Implications of our dynamic interface dynamo for the solar dynamo are also discussed

Teaching evaluation: a complicated issue

To justify/quantify/qualify on teaching evaluation may be difficult and not objective as there are so much variables. Comparing teaching evaluations obtained by individual lecturer may not be meaningful, as each staff facing independent course with different students, course and other variables (or statistically, each is an independent event and a single mean value must not be compared directly with another)

On fluid motion in librating ellipsoids with moderate equatorial eccentricity

Copyright © 2011 Cambridge University Pres

Blockchain Technology and Trust Relationships in Trade Finance

Blockchain technology has been advocated as a possible solution to enduring trust issues among trading partners in trade finance. We conducted in-depth interviews with industry experts to examine how blockchain technology influences the trust relationships among trading partners. Our results show that the technology enhances trust relationships by (1) improving the security of transactions and data exchanges, (2) facilitating the expression of benevolence, (3) enhancing the efficiency and the quality of communication, and (4) increasing the predictability of trading partners. The paper concludes with implications for both research and practice

Does Self-Disclosure on Social Networking Sites Enhance Well-Being? The Role of Social Anxiety, Online Disinhibition, and Psychological Stress

The proliferation of social networking sites (SNSs) has drawn attention to different parties in realizing their goals. Advertisers utilize SNSs to promote new products and services; politics optimize SNSs to gather support from the public, while ordinary users use SNSs as a unique platform to practice self-disclosure, develop networks, and sustain relationships. This study explores how social anxiety affects self-disclosure on SNSs and well-being. It also examines the moderating effects of two contextual factors, namely, online disinhibition and psychological stress. Two hundred and thirty-four valid responses were collected via an online survey. A positive relationship between social anxiety and self-disclosure, and self-disclosure and well-being was found. Furthermore, a positive moderation effect among social anxiety, online disinhibition, and self-disclosure was revealed. This research contributes to the development of social networking literature. It also enhances the understanding of disclosure patterns on SNSs among socially anxious individuals, thereby providing important insights for practitioners, educators, and clinicians

Understanding massively multiplayer online role-playing game addiction : a hedonic management perspective.

Massively multiplayer online role‐playing game (MMORPG) addiction presents a serious issue worldwide and has attracted increasing attention from academic and other public communities. This article addresses this critical issue and fills research gaps by proposing and testing a research model of MMORPG addiction. Building on the conceptual foundation of the hedonic management model of addiction and the technology affordance perspective, we develop a research model explaining how MMORPG affordances (ie, achievement, social and immersion affordances) are associated with the duality of hedonic effects (ie, perceived positive mood enhancement and perceived negative mood reduction) and the extent of MMORPG addiction. Using structural equation modelling, we empirically test our research model with 406 MMORPG players. The results show that both perceived positive mood enhancement and perceived negative mood reduction positively correlate with the extent of MMORPG addiction. Furthermore, achievement and immersion affordances are positively associated with the duality of hedonic effects, whereas social affordance is not. Our study contributes to the growing body of technology addiction literature by revealing the relationships between the two hedonic effects and the extent of MMORPG addiction, and by offering a contextualised explanation of the role of MMORPG affordances in these relationships. We offer an alternative perspective on the far‐reaching, unintended relationships between technological affordances and addictive technology use. Our study provides game developers and policymakers with insights into preventing MMORPG addiction to create an entertaining, healthy virtual playground