• Title/Summary/Keyword: Direct Effect

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Local Autonomy, National Economy and Local Public Finance (지방자치(地方自治)와 국민경제(國民經濟) 및 지방재정(地方財政))

  • Lee, Kye-sik
    • KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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    • v.13 no.2
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    • pp.41-67
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    • 1991
  • Local autonomy of Korea's lower-level local council has been reinstated following elections last March for the first time in thirty years. Last June, we had elections for the upper-level local council. Mayors, governors, and administrative chiefs of cities, provinces and other local government bodies are slated for elections in the first half of next year. The impacts of local autonomy are taking effect in not only the political sphere, but also the administrative and economic spheres. In fact, it seems that some modification of all economic policy making and administration is inevitable. Since the initiation of local autonomy, in order to make the economy work more efficiently, it has become quite important to examine the impact of local autonomy on the national economy. The areas of local autonomy include independent legislative power, administrative power, organizational power, and most important of all, the independent public financial power of the local governments. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of local autonomy on the national economy and ways of enhancing the role of local public finance to facilitate settlement and development of the local autonomy system. Local autonomy will contribute to the continuous growth of our economy, allow balanced development, and generate greater efficiency. However, local autonomy can also incur economic costs causing at times short-term price instability, inefficient resource allocation, through tax competition and tax exporting, and insolvency of local government due to abusive fiscal operation. To reduce these side effects, different alternatives must be considered. Local autonomy systems generally provide more efficient resource allocation than centralization. But in the model used in Chapter 3 of this paper, the relative efficiencies of both local autonomy and centralization are determined by comparing the elasticity of substitution between national public goods and local public goods. If the elasticity of substitution is bigger than one, centralization provides a more efficient resource allocation. The development of local autonomy could be attained through democratization of the local public finance system including the following three propositions. I) The independence of public financial power of local governments should be established over central government. Furthermore, a democratically operated scheme of intergovernmental fiscal coordination is especially necessary. 2) In the operation of local finance, direct democracy is needed to induce the voluntary participation of local residents. The residents can take part in planning both the local budget and the development of the community. To attain this goal, all the results of local finance operations should be made public. 3) Among economic ill-effects of the local autonomy system, the most serious one is the possibility of insolvency of local governments. Therefore, measures to limit abusive spending by the local governments should be introduced, such as the fiscal restraints system adopted in the United States.

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A Study on the Double-Wall Greenhouse Filled with Styrene Pellets (입자충전형 이중벽 온실에 관한 연구)

  • 이석건;이종원;이현우
    • Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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    • v.4 no.1
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    • pp.59-67
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    • 1995
  • This study was conducted to develope the automatic insulation system which control inside temperature of the greenhouse. For this purpose, the double- wall greenhouse and system which could automatically supply and discharge styrene pellets were constructed and abrasion of the pellets, blower ability, insulating property, transmittance and shading effect were analyzed by the experiments. The results obtained from this study can be summarized as follows : 1. It took an hour and fifteen minutes to supply and discharge about 2㎥ pellets in the experimental greenhouse. However, it is possible to reduce the operation time by proper selection of the blower and exhaust port, and by proper control of the supply and return pipe. 2. It was founded that the indirect delivery way was more profitable than the direct one in the supply and return of pellets. 3. When the transmittance was measured between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., the average light transmissivity rate was 67%. 4. In winter nighttime, the inside temperature of the double- wall greenhouse with out the pellets was higher than the outside temperature by 3.4$^{\circ}C$ on an average. However, the inside temperature of the double - wall greenhouse with insulated area 73% was higher than the outside by one 6.6$^{\circ}C$ on an average, and the inside temperature of the greenhouse with insulated area 100% was higher than outside one by 13.5$^{\circ}C$ on an average. Therefore, it was proved that the insulating ability of the double - wall greenhouse in nighttime was excellent. 5. When the outside temperature was 36.9$^{\circ}C$ on an average, the inside temperature of the double- wail greenhouse with insulated area 100% was 3$0^{\circ}C$ on an average. As the inside temperature was lower than the outside one by 7$^{\circ}C$ on an average, we could know that the shading effects of the double- wall greenhouse were excellent in summer daytime.

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The Effects of Cognitive Bias on Entrepreneurial Opportunity Evaluations through Perceived Risks in Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy (창업가의 인지편향이 지각된 위험과 조절된 창업효능감에 따라 창업기회평가에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Daeyop;Park, Jaehwan
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.95-112
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    • 2020
  • This paper is to investigate how cognitive bias of college students and entrepreneurs relates to perceived risks and entrepreneurial opportunities that represent uncertainty, and how various cognitive bias and entrepreneurial efficacy In the same way. The purpose of this study is to find improvement points of entrepreneurship education for college students and to suggest problems and improvement possibilities in the decision making process of current entrepreneurs. This empirical study is a necessary to improve the decision-making of individuals who want to start a business at the time when various attempts are made to activate the start-up business and increase the sustainability of the existing SME management. And understanding of the difference in opportunity evaluation, and suggests that it is necessary to provide good opportunities together with the upbringing of entrepreneurs. In order to achieve the purpose of the study, questionnaires were conducted for college students and entrepreneurs. A total of 363 questionnaire data were obtained and demonstrated through structural equation modeling. This study confirms that there is some relationship between perceived risk and cognitive bias. Overconfidence and control illusions among cognitive bias have a significant relationship between perceived risk and wealth. Especially, it is confirmed that control illusion of college students has a significant relationship with perceived risk. Second, cognitive bias demonstrated some significant relationship with opportunity evaluation. Although we did not find evidence that excess self-confidence is related to opportunity evaluation, we have verified that control illusions and current status bias are related to opportunity evaluation. Control illusions were significant in both college students and entrepreneurs. Third, perceived risk has a negative relationship with opportunity evaluation. All students, regardless of whether they are college students or entrepreneurs, judge opportunities positively if they perceive low risk. Fourth, it can be seen from the college students 'group that entrepreneurial efficacy has a moderating effect between perceived risk and opportunity evaluation, but no significant results were found in the entrepreneurs' group. Fifth, the college students and entrepreneurs have different cognitive bias, and they have proved that there is a different relationship between entrepreneurial opportunity evaluation and perceived risk. On the whole, there are various cognitive biases that are caused by time pressure or stress on college students and entrepreneurs who have to make judgments in uncertain opportunities, and in this respect, they can improve their judgment in the future. At the same time, university students can have a positive view of new opportunities based on high entrepreneurial efficacy, but if they fully understand the intrinsic risks of entrepreneurship through entrepreneurial education and fully understand the cognitive bias present in direct entrepreneurial experience, You will get a better opportunity assessment. This study has limitations in that it is based on the fact that university students and entrepreneurs are integrated, and that the survey respondents are selected by the limited random sampling method. It is necessary to conduct more systematic research based on more faithful data in the absence of the accumulation of entrepreneurial research data. Second, the translation tools used in the previous studies were translated and the meaning of the measurement tools might not be conveyed due to language differences. Therefore, it is necessary to construct a more precise scale for the accuracy of the study. Finally, complementary research should be done to identify what competitive opportunities are and what opportunities are appropriate for entrepreneurs.

Structural Relationships Among Factors to Adoption of Telehealth Service (원격의료서비스 수용요인의 구조적 관계 실증연구)

  • Kim, Sung-Soo;Ryu, See-Won
    • Asia pacific journal of information systems
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    • v.21 no.3
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    • pp.71-96
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    • 2011
  • Within the traditional medical delivery system, patients residing in medically vulnerable areas, those with body movement difficulties, and nursing facility residents have had limited access to good healthcare services. However, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) provides us with a convenient and useful means of overcoming distance and time constraints. ICT is integrated with biomedical science and technology in a way that offers a new high-quality medical service. As a result, rapid technological advancement is expected to play a pivotal role bringing about innovation in a wide range of medical service areas, such as medical management, testing, diagnosis, and treatment; offering new and improved healthcare services; and effecting dramatic changes in current medical services. The increase in aging population and chronic diseases has caused an increase in medical expenses. In response to the increasing demand for efficient healthcare services, a telehealth service based on ICT is being emphasized on a global level. Telehealth services have been implemented especially in pilot projects and system development and technological research. With the service about to be implemented in earnest, it is necessary to study its overall acceptance by consumers, which is expected to contribute to the development and activation of a variety of services. In this sense, the study aims at positively examining the structural relationship among the acceptance factors for telehealth services based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Data were collected by showing audiovisual material on telehealth services to online panels and requesting them to respond to a structured questionnaire sheet, which is known as the information acceleration method. Among the 1,165 adult respondents, 608 valid samples were finally chosen, while the remaining were excluded because of incomplete answers or allotted time overrun. In order to test the reliability and validity of the assessment scale items, we carried out reliability and factor analyses, and in order to explore the causal relation among potential variables, we conducted a structural equation modeling analysis using AMOS 7.0 and SPSS 17.0. The research outcomes are as follows. First, service quality, innovativeness of medical technology, and social influence were shown to affect perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of the telehealth service, which was statistically significant, and the two factors had a positive impact on willingness to accept the telehealth service. In addition, social influence had a direct, significant effect on intention to use, which is paralleled by the TAM used in previous research on technology acceptance. This shows that the research model proposed in the study effectively explains the acceptance of the telehealth service. Second, the research model reveals that information privacy concerns had a insignificant impact on perceived ease of use of the telehealth service. From this, it can be gathered that the concerns over information protection and security are reduced further due to advancements in information technology compared to the initial period in the information technology industry, and thus the improvement in quality of medical services appeared to ensure that information privacy concerns did not act as a prohibiting factor in the acceptance of the telehealth service. Thus, if other factors have an enormous impact on ease of use and usefulness, concerns over these results in the initial period of technology acceptance may become irrelevant. However, it is clear that users' information privacy concerns, as other studies have revealed, is a major factor affecting technology acceptance. Thus, caution must be exercised while interpreting the result, and further study is required on the issue. Numerous information technologies with outstanding performance and innovativeness often attract few consumers. A revised bill for those urgently in need of telehealth services is about to be approved in the national assembly. As telemedicine is implemented between doctors and patients, a wide range of systems that will improve the quality of healthcare services will be designed. In this sense, the study on the consumer acceptance of telehealth services is meaningful and offers strong academic evidence. Based on the implications, it can be expected to contribute to the activation of telehealth services. Further study is needed to assess the acceptance factors for telehealth services, such as motivation to remain healthy, health care involvement, knowledge on health, and control of health-related behavior, in order to develop unique services according to the categorization of customers based on health factors. In addition, further study may focus on various theoretical cognitive behavior models other than the TAM, such as the health belief model.

Analysis of Factors Influencing Entrepreneurial Performance at the University Level for Becoming Entrepreneurial Universities (기업가형 대학(Entrepreneurial University)을 위한 대학의 창업 성과 영향요인 분석)

  • Lim, Hanryeo;Hon, Sungpyo
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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    • v.15 no.2
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    • pp.19-32
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    • 2020
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence factors of the university level centering on the entrepreneurial performance of the university students and full-time faculties in the situation of increasing interest in entrepreneurial university. In order to achieve the purpose of the study, a panel data was established from 2015 to 2018 on the basis of the university notification data. The panel data included universities with data on the number of university students and full-time faculty founders for at least two years. Through this, four year data from 154 universities were used for analysis. As an analysis method, frequency analysis and descriptive statistics were conducted to understand the characteristics of the university. Since then, panel negative binomial regression analysis has been conducted in consideration of the longitudinal features and distribution of the data. Also, based on the Hausman test results, the results were interpreted based on random effect model. The results of this study are as follows. First, as a result of the analysis of the entrepreneurial performance and the change trend of the domestic university from 2015 to 2018, the entrepreneurial performance of the university has been steadily increasing in the last four years, and the increase in the number of university student entrepreneurs was relatively higher than the full-time faculties. Second, economic and educational approaches need to be combined to promote university students' start-ups. The university factors that promote the start-up of university students were found to be scholarships, start-up grants, startup lectures, and startup clubs. Third, the openness and regional characteristics of the univeristy can promote the establishment of university students. Fourth, the establishment of a research environment and support for start-ups for full-time faculty members can enhance their start-up performance. The university factors that promote the start-up of full-time faculty were research funds and staffes who support start-up. The conclusions drawn from these findings are as follows. First, overall efforts are needed to develop into an entrepreneurial university. Second, in order to change into an entrepreneurial university, direct support for entrepreneurship is needed. Third, as an entrepreneurial university, it is necessary to find a way to bridge the gap by university according to region and size. Fourth, it is necessary to reinforce the support for linking the research results of universities to start-ups. Fifth, it is necessary to improve the atmosphere for full-time faculty members to be entrepreneur.

Prediction Model of Exercise Behaviors in Patients with Arthritis (by Pender's revised Health Promotion Model) (관절염 환자의 운동행위 예측모형 (Pender의 재개정된 건강증진 모형에 의한))

  • Lim, Nan-Young;Suh, Gil-Hee
    • Journal of muscle and joint health
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.122-140
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    • 2001
  • The aims of this study were to understand and to predict the determinent factors affecting the exercise behaviors and physical fitness by testing the Pender's revised health promotion model, and to help the patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis perform the continous exercise program, and to help them maximize the physical effect such as muscle strength, endurance, and functional status and mental effects including self efficacy and quality of life, and improve the physical and mental well being, and to provide a basis for the nursing intervention strategies. Of the selected variables in this study, the endogenous variables included the physical fitness, exercise score, exercise participation, perceived benefits of action, perceived barriers of action to exercise, activity-related affect(depression) and perceived self-efficacy, interpersonal influences(family support), situational factors(duration of arthritis, fatigue) and the exogenous variables included personal sociocultural factor(education level), personal biologic factor(body mass index), personal psychologic factor(perceived health status) and prior related behavior factors(previous participation in exercise, life-style). We analyzed the clinical records of 208 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative arthritis who visited the outpatient clinics at H university hospital in Seoul. Data were composed of self reported qustionnaire and good of fitness score which were obtained by padalling the ergometer of bicycle for 9 minutes. SPSS Win 8.0 and Window LISREL 8.12a were used for statistical analysis. Of 75 hypothetical paths that influence on physical fitness, exercise participation, exercise score, perceived benefits of action, perceived barriers of action to exercise, activity-related affect(depression) and perceived self-efficacy, interpersonal influences(family support), situational factors(duration of arthritis, fatigue), 40 were supported. The physical fitness was directly influenced by life-style, perceived health status, education level, family support, fatigue, which explained 12% of physical fitness. The exercise participation were directly influenced by life-style, education level, past exercise behavior, perceived benefits of action, perceived barriers of action, depression and duration of arthritis, which explained 47% of exercise participation. Exercise score were directly affected by perceived self efficacy. BMI, life-style, past exercise behavior, perceived benefits of action, family support, perceived health status. perceived barriers of action, and fatigue, which explained 70%. Perceived benefits of action was directly influenced by BMI, life-style, which explained 39%. Perceived barriers of action were directly influeced by past exercise behavior, perceived health status, which explained 7%. Perceived self efficacy were directly influeced by level of education, perceived health status, life-style, which explained 57%. Depression were directly influeced by past exercise behavior, BMI, life-style, which explained 27%. Family support were directly influeced by life-style, perceived health status, which explained 29%. Fatigue were directly influeced by BMI, life-style, perceived health status. which explained 41%. Duration of arthritis were directly influeced by life-style, past exercise behavior, BMI, which explained 6%. In conclusion, important variables for physical fitness were life-style, and variable affecting exercise participation were life-style. Perceived self-efficacy of exercise was a significant predictor of exercise score. BMI, Life-style, perceived benefits of action, family support, past exercise behavior showed direct effects on perceived self-efficacy. Therefore, disease related factor should be minimized for physical performance and well being in nursing intervention for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and plans to promote and continue exercise should be seeked to reduce disability. In addition, Exercise program should be planned and performed by the exact evaluation of exercise according to the ability of the patients and the contents to improve the importance of exercise and self efficacy in self control program, dedicated educational program should be involved. This study suggest that the methods to reduce the disease related factors, the importance of daily life-style, recognition of benefit of exercise, and educational program to promote self efficacy should be considered in the exercise behavior promotion and nursing intervention for continous performance. The significance of this study is also thought to provide patients with chronic arthritis the specific data for maximal physical and mental well being through exercise, chronic therapeutic procedure, daily adaptation and confrontation in nursing intervention.

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Characteristics of Water Budget on Throughfall and Stemflow in Pinus densiflora and Quercus acutissima (소나무와 상수리나무림의 임내우 물수지 특성)

  • 이헌호;박재철
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.259-270
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    • 1998
  • This study, as an essential research to develope a mountainous runoff model, was conducted to clarify the hydrologic character and water budget equation of Pinus densiflora and Quercus acutissima. Net rainfall quantity division for two species was investigated at Youngsung experiment forest and Yeungnam University for 30 months(Sep. 1995-Jun. 1998). The results were summarized as follows; 1. The percentages of throughfall and stemflow to gross precipitation are 73.8% and 0.8% in the Pinus densiflora, and 76.9% and 3.8% in the Quercus acutissima, respectively 2. In the Pinus densiflora, regression fomula of stemflow, throughfall, and net rainfall to gross precipitation are S$_{f}$ = 0.01GP-2.05 ($r^2$=0.54) T$_{f}$ = 0.79Gp - 26.04 ($r^2$=0.92), N$_{r}$ = 0.81Gp - 28.09 ($r^2$=0.92). Stemflow and throughfall increased in direct proportion to gross precipitation. 3. In the Quercus acutissima, regression fomula of stemflow, throughfall, and net rainfall to gross precipitation are S$_{f}$ = 0.03Gp + 12.25 ($r^2$=0.74), T$_{f}$ = 0.78Gp + 19.75 ($r^2$=0.96), N$_{r}$ = 0.81Gp + 3199 ($r^2$=0.96), respectively. Comparing with two species, gross precipitation has a much larger effect on the stemflow and throughfall of Quercus acutissima than those of Pinus densiflora. 4. In the analysis of intercorrelation between stemflow and throughfall of each species and crown area(CA), diameter at breast height(DBH), and gross precipitation(Gp), correlation coefficient was higher by following order at each species; Gp>CA>DBH on stemflow of Pinus densinora, Gp>DBH>CA on stemflow of Quercus acutissima, and Gp>CA>DBH on throughfall of Pinus densiflora and Quercus acutissima.ssima.

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Evaluating efficiency of automatic surface irrigation for soybean production

  • Jung, Ki-yuol;Lee, Sang-hun;Chun, Hyen-chung;Choi, Young-dae;Kang, Hang-won
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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    • 2017.06a
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    • pp.252-252
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    • 2017
  • Nowadays water shortage is becoming one of the biggest problems in the Korea. Many different methods are developed for conservation of water. Soil water management has become the most indispensable factor for augmenting the crop productivity especially on soybean (Glycine max L.) because of their high susceptibility to both water stress and water logging at various growth stages. The farmers have been using irrigation techniques through manual control which farmers irrigate lands at regular intervals. Automatic irrigation systems are convenient, especially for those who need to travel. If automatic irrigation systems are installed and programmed properly, they can even save you money and help in water conservation. Automatic irrigation systems can be programmed to provide automatic irrigation to the plants which helps in saving money and water and to discharge more precise amounts of water in a targeted area, which promotes water conservation. The objective of this study was to determine the possible effect of automatic irrigation systems based on soil moisture on soybean growth. This experiment was conducted on an upland field with sandy loam soils in Department of Southern Area Crop, NICS, RDA. The study had three different irrigation methods; sprinkle irrigation (SI), surface drip irrigation (SDI) and fountain irrigation (FI). SI was installed at spacing of $7{\times}7m$ and $1.8m^3/hr$ as square for per irrigation plot, a lateral pipe of SDI was laid down to 1.2 m row spacing with $2.3L\;h^{-1}$ discharge rate, the distance between laterals was 20 cm spacing between drippers and FI was laid down in 3m interval as square for per irrigation plot. Soybean (Daewon) cultivar was sown in the June $20^{th}$, 2016, planted in 2 rows of apart in 1.2 m wide rows and distance between hills was 20 cm. All agronomic practices were done as the recommended cultivation. This automatic irrigation system had valves to turn irrigation on/off easily by automated controller, solenoids and moisture sensor which were set the reference level as available soil moisture levels of 30% at 10cm depth. The efficiency of applied irrigation was obtained by dividing the total water stored in the effective root zone to the applied irrigation water. Results showed that seasonal applied irrigation water amounts were $60.4ton\;10a^{-1}$ (SI), $47.3ton\;10a^{-1}$ (SDI) and $92.6 ton\;10a^{-1}$ (FI), respectively. The most significant advantage of SDI system was that water was supplied near the root zone of plants drip by drip. This system saved a large quantity of water by 27.5% and 95.6% compared to SI, FI system. The average soybean yield was significantly affected by different irrigation methods. The soybean yield by different irrigation methods were $309.7kg\;10a^{-1}$ from SDI $282.2kg\;10a^{-1}$ from SI, $289.4kg\;10a^{-1}$ from FI, and $206.3kg\;10a^{-1}$ from control, respectively. SDI resulted in increase of soybean yield by 50.1%, 7.0% 9.8% compared to non-irrigation (control), FI and SI, respectively. Therefore, the automatic irrigation system supplied water only when the soil moisture in the soil went below the reference. Due to the direct transfer of water to the roots water conservation took place and also helped to maintain the moisture to soil ratio at the root zone constant. Thus the system is efficient and compatible to changing environment. The automatic irrigation system provides with several benefits and can operate with less manpower. In conclusion, improving automatic irrigation system can contribute greatly to reducing production costs of crops and making the industry more competitive and sustainable.

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Changes in Dormant Phase and Bud Development of 'Fuji' Apple Trees in the Chungju Area of Korea (충주지역에서 '후지' 사과나무의 휴면단계 변화 및 눈 발달)

  • Lee, ByulHaNa;Park, YoSup;Park, Hee-Seung
    • Horticultural Science & Technology
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    • v.33 no.4
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    • pp.501-510
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    • 2015
  • In this study, we investigated the onset and release of endo-dormancy under natural conditions by observing bud break characteristics in 'Fuji' apple trees using water cuttings. Through examinations of bud break rate and days to bud break, we found that the endo-dormancy of 'Fuji' apple tree continues for 70 d from 165 to 255 d after full bloom (DAFB), from late October to early January of the following year. In addition, within 20 d of first bud break, based on a final bud break rate of 60% or more, we able to identify the timing of the changeover from para-dormancy to endo-dormancy, and endo-dormancy to eco-dormancy. Analysis of the chilling requirement during the endo-dormancy period revealed that chilling accumulation up to 255 DAFB to release endo-dormancy amounted to 666 and 517 h based on the CH and Utah models, respectively. Observation of internal changes in the bud during endo-dormancy showed that flower bud differentiation begins from mid-July, and t ime of inflorescence o f the disk f lower is a vailable to f ind. The f lower buds subsequently developed slowly but steadily during endo-dormancy and in the following year in February, the developmental stage of each organ had progressed. Moreover, the flower buds of 'Fuji' apples were mostly healthy during the dormancy period, but some exhibited necrosis of flower primordium, due partial cell damage from the formation of ice crystals rather than a direct effect of the low temperature. Flower buds were formed in both the axillary buds of bourse shoots and terminal buds of spurs, but lower bud differentiation was observed for the terminal buds of spurs at rate of about 65% of total buds, which was directly related to the bud size and shoot diameter.

The Role of Oxygen Free Radicals from Endothelial Cells in Endotoxin-induced Endothelial Cell Cytotoxity (내독소에 의한 혈관 내피세포 손상에서 혈관 내피세포로부터 유리된 산소기의 역할에 관한 연구)

  • Choi, Hyung-Seok;Jeong, Ki-Ho;Yoo, Chul-Gyu;Kim, Young-Whan;Han, Sung-Koo;Shim, Young-Soo;Kim, Keun-Youl;Han, Yong-Chol;Jung, Ki-Suck
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.41 no.4
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    • pp.319-327
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    • 1994
  • Background: The pathogenetic mechanism of adult respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) is not clearly defined yet, but it is well known that increased pulmonary capillary permeabilty is characteristic feature of ARDS. The increased alveolar-capillary permeability is usually preceded by damage of pulmonary artery endothelial cells. The released enzymes and oxygen free radicals from the activated neutrophils seem to play a predominant role in endothelial cell cytotoxicity. The activated neutrophils, however, probably are not the sole contributing factor in this type of damage because many cases of ARDS have been reported in severe neutropenia. Bacterial endotoxin perse and/or oxygen free radicals released from endothelial cells are suggested to be possible factors that contribute to the development of ARDS. The purpose of this study is to investigate the direct cytotoxicity of endotoxin and the role of oxygen free radicals released from the endothelial cells in endotoxin-induced endothelial cell cytotoxicity. Methods: First, to investigate whether endotoxin is cytotoxic to HUVE by itself, various doses of endotoxin were added to culture medium and cytotoxicity was measured. Second, to evaluate the possible role of oxygen free radical in endotoxin-induced HUVE cytotoxicity, various antioxidants were added on the endotoxin-induced HUVE cytotoxicity and cytotoxicity was measured. Third, to verify the release of oxygen free radicals from HUVE, the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in the endotoxin-treated culture supernatant were measured. Finally, to observe the cytotoxic effect of hydrogen peroxide, HUVE cytotoxicity in the presence of various doses of hydrogen peroxide was measured. The fourth generations of subcultured HUVE from primary culture were used. The cell cytotoxicity was quantified by the chromium-51 release assay. Results: 1) Endotoxin alone showed HUVE cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent fashion. 2) Endotoxin-induced HUVE cytotoxicity was significantly attenuated by the pretreatment of catalase and DMTU. 3) Hydrogen peroxide was released from HUVE after endotoxin treatment in a dose-dependent fashion. 4) Exogenous hydrogen peroxide also showed HUVE cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent fashion. Conclusion: These results suggest that endotoxin alone can directly injure HUVE, and, oxygen-free radicals released from HUVE in response to endotoxin may also participate in the endotoxin-induced HUVE cytotoxicity.

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