• Title/Summary/Keyword: multi-agent control

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The Causes of Conflict and the Effect of Control Mechanisms on Conflict Resolution between Manufacturer and Supplier (제조-공급자간 갈등 원인과 거래조정 방식의 갈등관리 효과)

  • Rhee, Jin Hwa
    • Journal of Distribution Research
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    • v.17 no.4
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    • pp.55-80
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    • 2012
  • I. Introduction Developing the relationships between companies is very important issue to ensure a competitive advantage in today's business environment (Bleeke & Ernst 1991; Mohr & Spekman 1994; Powell 1990). Partnerships between companies are based on having same goals, pursuing mutual understanding, and having a professional level of interdependence. By having such a partnerships and cooperative efforts between companies, they will achieve efficiency and effectiveness of their business (Mohr and Spekman, 1994). However, it is difficult to expect these ideal results only in the B2B corporate transaction. According to agency theory which is the well-accepted theory in various fields of business strategy, organization, and marketing, the two independent companies have fundamentally different corporate purposes. Also there is a higher chance of developing opportunism and conflict due to natures of human(organization), such as self-interest, bounded rationality, risk aversion, and environment factor as imbalance of information (Eisenhardt 1989). That is, especially partnerships between principal(or buyer) and agent(or supplier) of companies within supply chain, the business contract itself will not provide competitive advantage. But managing partnership between companies is the key to success. Therefore, managing partnership between manufacturer and supplier, and finding causes of conflict are essential to improve B2B performance. In conclusion, based on prior researches and Agency theory, this study will clarify how business hazards cause conflicts on supply chain and then identify how developed conflicts have been managed by two control mechanisms. II. Research model III. Method In order to validate our research model, this study gathered questionnaires from small and medium sized enterprises(SMEs). In Korea, SMEs mean the firms whose employee is under 300 and capital is under 8 billion won(about 7.2 million dollar). We asked the manufacturer's perception about the relationship with the biggest supplier, and our key informants are denied to a person responsible for buying(ex)CEO, executives, managers of purchasing department, and so on). In detail, we contact by telephone to our initial sample(about 1,200 firms) and introduce our research motivation and send our questionnaires by e-mail, mail, and direct survey. Finally we received 361 data and eliminate 32 inappropriate questionnaires. We use 329 manufactures' data on analysis. The purpose of this study is to identify the anticipant role of business hazard (environmental dynamism, asset specificity) and investigate the moderating effect of control mechanism(formal control, social control) on conflict-performance relationship. To find out moderating effect of control methods, we need to compare the regression weight between low versus. high group(about level of exercised control methods). Therefore we choose the structural equation modeling method that is proper to do multi-group analysis. The data analysis is performed by AMOS 17.0 software, and model fits are good statically (CMIN/DF=1.982, p<.000, CFI=.936, IFI=.937, RMSEA=.056). IV. Result V. Discussion Results show that the higher environmental dynamism and asset specificity(on particular supplier) buyer(manufacturer) has, the more B2B conflict exists. And this conflict affect relationship quality and financial outcomes negatively. In addition, social control and formal control could weaken the negative effect of conflict on relationship quality significantly. However, unlikely to assure conflict resolution effect of control mechanisms on relationship quality, financial outcomes are changed by neither social control nor formal control. We could explain this results with the characteristics of our sample, SMEs(Small and Medium sized Enterprises). Financial outcomes of these SMEs(manufacturer or principal) are affected by their customer(usually major company) more easily than their supplier(or agent). And, in recent few years, most of companies have suffered from financial problems because of global economic recession. It means that it is hard to evaluate the contribution of supplier(agent). Therefore we also support the suggestion of Gladstein(1984), Poppo & Zenger(2002) that relational performance variable can capture the focal outcomes of relationship(exchange) better than financial performance variable. This study has some implications that it tests the sources of conflict and investigates the effect of resolution methods of B2B conflict empirically. And, especially, it finds out the significant moderating effect of formal control which past B2B management studies have ignored in Korea.

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The Effects of a Mineral Supplement (Aquamin $F^{(R)}$) and Its Combination with Multi-Species Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) on Bone Accretion in an Ovariectomized Rat Model

  • Lee, Hyun-Gi;Lee, Tae-Hee;Kim, Jung-Ha;Seok, Ju-Won;Lee, Seung-Hoon;Kim, Yong-Hwan;Kim, Jin-Eung;Chung, Myung-Jun;Yeo, Moon-Hwan
    • Biomedical Science Letters
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    • v.16 no.4
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    • pp.213-220
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    • 2010
  • Although an adequete intake of calcium (Ca) is recommended for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, the intake of Ca should be restricted because of its low rate of intestinal absorption. The purpose of this experiment was to identity the effect of the combined administration of Aquamin F (AQF) (a calcium agent) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on osteoporosis. Thirty ovariectomized (OVX) rats and six control rats were assigned to the following six groups, with six animals per group: sham Ca-deficient diet (Ca-D), OVX, LAB, AQF, and LAB-AQF. During the experiment, the body weight was measured; and after the experiment was completed, the serum biochemical analysis, the alkaline phosphatase, calcium, and inorganic phosphorus leves were measured. The tissue of the femur was stained and then scanned via CT. The body weight of the OVX group increased more significantly than that of the control group. The results of the bone mineral content (BMC), Bone mineral density (BMD), serum biochemical analysis and histological test on the femur epiphysis showed no difference between the OVX group and the LAB group, whereas the results of the AQF group were more significant than those of the OVX group. In particular, the LAB+AQF group showed more significant increases in the aforementioned results than the AQF group. This experiment showed that the combined administration of AQF and LAB in ovariectomized rats more significantly increased bone density than did a single administration of either AQF or LAB.

Optimization of an Ozone-based Advanced Oxidation Process for the Simultaneous Removal of Particulate Matters and Nitrogen Oxides in a Semiconductor Fabrication Process (반도체 제조공정 미세먼지-질소산화물 동시 저감을 위한 오존 고속산화공정 최적화 연구)

  • Uhm, Sunghyun;Lee, Seung Jun;Ko, Eun Ha;Hong, Gi Hoon;Hwang, Sangyeon
    • Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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    • v.32 no.6
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    • pp.659-663
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    • 2021
  • 10 m3/min (CMM) multi-pollutants abatement system was successfully developed by effectively integrating ozone oxidation, wet scrubbing, and wet electrostatic precipitation for the simultaneous removal of particulate matters (PMs) and NOx in a semiconductor fabrication process. The sophisticated control and optimization of operating parameters were conducted to maximize the destruction and removal efficiency of NOx. In particular, the stability test of a wet electrostatic precipitator was carried out in parallel for 30 days to validate the reliability of core parts including a power supply. An O3/NO ratio, which is the most important operating parameter, was optimized to be about 1.5 and the optimization of wet scrubbing with a reducing agent made it possible to analyze the contribution of neutralization reaction.

THE HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE RESPONSE OF THE REMAINING PULP TISSUES TO THE ADHESIVE RESIN AFTER PULPOTOMY (치수절단 후 접착레진 도포에 대한 잔존치수조직 반응에 관한 연구)

  • Lim, Sung-Sam;Park, Dong-Sung;Son, Ho-Hyun
    • Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.720-730
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    • 1997
  • This study was performed to observe the histopathological response to the bonding resin directly applied on the remaining pulp tissues. 40 teeth from 3 adult dogs were pulpotomized with a sterile round bur and sharp excarvater. In the control group, $Ca(OH)_2$ powder was applied on the pulp tissue and the cavities were sealed with IRM cement. In the experimental group 1, Superbond C&B was applied on the remaining pulp and the cavities conditioned with 10-3 solution were filled with the mixture of the MMA liquid, PMMA powder and Catalyst. Multi-purpose adhesive was used on the remaining pulp tissue in the experimental group 2 and Z-100 was filled in the cavities. In the experimental group 3, Clearfil photobond applied and directly photo-cured on the pulp tissue, then the cavities were treated with CA agent (10% citric acid and 20% $CaCl_2$ aqueous solution) for 20 seconds, washed and applied with Clearfil photobond then filled with Protect liner. The experimental animals were sacrified at the 1st, 2nd, and 4th week. The specimens were routinely processed and stained with H-E for light microscopic observation. The results were as followed : 1. In the experimental group 1, the number and characteristics of the dentin bridge formation case was similar to those in the control group and less cases were observed in the experimental group 2 and 3 than experimental group 3. The inflammatory response in experimental group 1 was less than that in the control group at 1st week but there had been little difference at between 2nd and 4th week. 2. The number of the dentin bridge in experimental group 2 was less than that in control group and experimental group 1. The inflammatory response of the experimental group 1 was similar to that of experimental group 1 but less than that of the control group. A number of bleeding and vascular congestion were observed. The least inflammatory response was seen in the experimental group 2 among all groups. 3. In the experimental group 3, one case of the dentin bridge formation was observed and that was the same as that in the experimental group 2 but smaller than that of the control and experimental group 1. The inflammatory response of the experimental group 3 was least at the 1st week and most at the 4th week in the all group.

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Controlled Release of Doxazosin in Multi-layered Pellet Using Polymer Blending (고분자 블렌딩을 이용하여 제조된 독사조신 다중층 펠렛의 약물방출제어)

  • Youn, Ju-Yong;Park, Sang-Wook;Lee, Soo-Young;Kim, Moon-Suk;Lee, Bong;Khang, Gil-Son;Lee, Hai-Bang
    • Polymer(Korea)
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    • v.32 no.4
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    • pp.322-327
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    • 2008
  • In this study, a multi-layered pellet was composed of a seed layer including a water-swellable agent and a drug layer containing doxazosin as a model drug, a porous membrane and a castor oil layer to control drug release. The pellet is prepared by a fluidized bed coating method. To confirm drug release from polymer blending in multi-layered pellet system, it is prepared by containing different ratio such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) : ethyl cellulose (EC) in drug layer and cellulose acetate(CA) : Eudragit RS in membrane. Also, to confirm the effect of oil in drug release, castor oil is coated. As a result, we observed regularly spherical pellet with diameter of $1500{\mu}m$. Release pattern of drug is confirmed by dissolution tester in aqueous media. The more the ratio of EC in drug layer, CA in membrane, and castor oil layer in pellet, the less the drug release is observed. Formation and the amount of pores in membrane is observed by SEM.

A Multi-microbial Biofungicide for the Biological Control against Several Important Plant Pathogenic Fungi (진균성 식물병해 방제를 위한 항생물질 생산 길항미생물의 복합제제화)

  • Jung, Hee-Kyoung;Ryoo, Jae-Cheon;Kim, Sang-Dal
    • Applied Biological Chemistry
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    • v.48 no.1
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    • pp.40-47
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    • 2005
  • In order to develop a multi-microbial biofungicide against several important plant pathogenic fungi, strains were isolated from the phtophthora blight suppressive red-pepper field soil of Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. Strains AY1, AY6, AB1, BB2 and F4, which had strong antagonistic ability against Phytophthota capsici and Fusarium oxysporum, were selected for their involvement with strains of biocontrol fungicide. There were no antagonism among the selected strains and were compatible for making the biofungicide. Their antagonistic mechanisms, except for strain BB2, were an antibiosis by the production of antibiotic, while BB2 produced not only an antibiotic but also cellulase as an antagonistic mechanism against blight causing P. capsici. They were identified as Halobacterium sp. AB1, Xenorhadus sp. AY1, Bacillus sp. AY6, Bacillus sp. BB2, Zymomonas sp. F4 by various cultural, biochemical test and $Biolog^{TM}$ System 4.0. The highest levels of antifungal antibiotic could be produced after 48 hrs of incubation under the optimal medium which were 0.1% galactose, 0.1% $NaNO_2$, 5 mM $Na_2{\cdot}HPO_4$ (pH 5.5). The cultured multi-microbial biofungicide showed strong biocontrol activity against bacterial wilt disease and fusarium wilt disease in cucumber and tomato fields.

Microstructure Control and Mechanical Properties of Continuously Porous SiC-Si3N4 Composites (연속다공질 SiC-Si3N4 복합체의 미세구조 및 기계적 특성)

  • Paul Rajat Kanti;Gain Asit Kumar;Lee Hee-Jung;Jang Hee-Dong;Lee Byong-Taek
    • Korean Journal of Materials Research
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    • v.16 no.3
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    • pp.188-192
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    • 2006
  • The microstructures and mechanical properties of continuously porous $SiC-Si_3N_4$composites fabricated by multi-pass extrusion were investigated at different Si levels added. Si-powder with different weight percentages (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%) was added to the SiC powder to make the raw mixture powders, with $6wt%Y_2O_3-2wt%Al_2O_3$ as sintering additives, carbon ($10-15{\mu}m$) as a pore-forming agent, ethylene vinyl acetate as a binder and stearic acid ($CH_3(CH_2)_{16}COOH$) as a lubricant. In the continuously porous $SiC-Si_3N_4$ composites, $Si_3N_4$ whiskers like the hairs of nostrils were frequently observed on the wall of the pores. In this study, the morphology of the $Si_3N_4$ whiskers was investigated with the silicon addition content. In the composites containing of 10 wt% Si, a large number of $Si_3N_4$ whiskers was found at the continuous pore regions. In the sample to which 15 wt% Si powder was added, maximum values of about 101 MPa bending strength and 57.5% relative density were obtained.

Filtering and Intrusion Detection Approach for Secured Reconfigurable Mobile Systems

  • Idriss, Rim;Loukil, Adlen;Khalgui, Mohamed;Li, Zhiwu;Al-Ahmari, Abdulrahman
    • Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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    • v.12 no.5
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    • pp.2051-2066
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    • 2017
  • This paper deals with reconfigurable secured mobile systems where the reconfigurability has the potential of providing a required adaptability to change the system requirements. The reconfiguration scenario is presented as a run-time automatic operation which allows security mechanisms and the addition-removal-update of software tasks. In particular, there is a definite requirement for filtering and intrusion detection mechanisms that will use fewer resources and also that will improve the security on the secured mobile devices. Filtering methods are used to control incoming traffic and messages, whereas, detection methods are used to detect malware events. Nevertheless, when different reconfiguration scenarios are applied at run-time, new security threats will be emerged against those systems which need to support multiple security objectives: Confidentiality, integrity and availability. We propose in this paper a new approach that efficiently detects threats after reconfigurable scenarios and which is based on filtering and intrusion detection methods. The paper's contribution is applied to Android where the evaluation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed middleware in order to detect the malicious events on reconfigurable secured mobile systems and the feasibility of running and executing such a system with the proposed solutions.

Therapeutic Potential of an Anti-diabetic Drug, Metformin: Alteration of miRNA expression in Prostate Cancer Cells

  • Avci, Cigir Biray;Harman, Ece;Dodurga, Yavuz;Susluer, Sunde Yilmaz;Gunduz, Cumhur
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.14 no.2
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    • pp.765-768
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    • 2013
  • Background and Aims: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in males in many populations. Metformin is the most widely used anti-diabetic drug in the world, and there is increasing evidence of a potential efficacy of this agent as an anti-cancer drug. Metformin inhibits the proliferation of a range of cancer cells including prostate, colon, breast, ovarian, and glioma lines. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, non-coding, single-stranded RNAs that downregulate gene expression. We aimed to evaluate the effects of metformin treatment on changes in miRNA expression in PC-3 cells, and possible associations with biological behaviour. Materials and Methods: Average cell viability and cytotoxic effects of metformin were investigated at 24 hour intervals for three days using the xCELLigence system. The $IC_{50}$ dose of metformin in the PC-3 cells was found to be 5 mM. RNA samples were used for analysis using custom multi-species microarrays containing 1209 probes covering 1221 human mature microRNAs present in miRBase 16.0 database. Results: Among the human miRNAs investigated by the arrays, 10 miRNAs were up-regulated and 12 miRNAs were down-regulated in the metformin-treated group as compared to the control group. In conclusion, expression changes in miRNAs of miR-146a, miR-100, miR-425, miR-193a-3p and, miR-106b in metformin-treated cells may be important. This study may emphasize a new role of metformin on the regulation of miRNAs in prostate cancer.

Characteristics of Yersinia enterocolitica isolates from beef and pork carcass (소와 돼지도체에서 Yersinia enterocolitica의 분리 및 특성)

  • Chae, Hee-Sun;Kim, Joo-Young;Kim, Jee-Eun;Yang, Yun-Mo;Jin, Kyung-Sun;Shin, Bang-Woo;Kim, Sun-Heung;Lee, Jung-Hark
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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    • v.31 no.2
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    • pp.195-205
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    • 2008
  • Yersinia enterocolitica is a zoonotic agent, and to cause food poisoning. This study was carried out to get some basic information for the control of Yersinia infection. A total of 1,680 samples were collected from beef and pork carcasses from January 2006 to December 2007 in Seoul. The isolation rate was higher in pork carcass than in beef carcass. Five (0.59%) Yersinia enterocolitica were isolated from the 840 of beef carcasses, and eighteen(2.14%) were isolated from the 840 of pork carcasses. Among 23 strains, 22 were classified into biotype 1A, and one was biotype 6. In serotyping of Y enterocolitica isolates, 21 strains were untypable (UT), and 2 were O5 and O8 respectively. In PCR, Ail gene was not detected in all of 23 strains that determined non-pathogenic. In antimicrobial susceptibility test, twelve strains (52.2%) of 23 isolates showed the multi -resistant patterns with over 3 drugs. PFGE was performed after the genomic DNA of twenty three isolates, which was digested with Xba I. the 23 isolates showed 12 ($A{\sim}L$) PFGE type.