• Title/Summary/Keyword: Causal structure

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Functional Analysis of MCNA, a Gene Encoding a Catalytic Subunit of Calcineurin, in the Rice Blast Fungus Magnaporthe oryzae

  • Choi, Jin-Hee;Kim, Yang-Seon;Lee, Yong-Hwan
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.19 no.1
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    • pp.11-16
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    • 2009
  • Magnaporthe oryzae, the causal agent of rice blast, forms a specialized infection structure, called an appressorium, which is crucial for penetration and infection of the host plant. Pharmacological data suggest that calcium/calmodulindependent signaling is involved in appressorium formation in this fungus. To understand the role of the calcium/calmodulin-activated protein phosphatase on appressorium formation at the molecular level, MCNA, a gene encoding the catalytic subunit of calcineurin, was functionally characterized in M. oryzae. Transformants expressing sense/antisense RNA of MCNA exhibited significant reductions in mycelial growth, conidiation, appressorium formation, and pathogenicity. cDNA of MCNA functionally complemented a calcineurin disruptant strain (cmp1::LEU2 cmp2::HIS3) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These data suggest that calcineurin A plays important roles in signal transduction pathways involved in the infection-related morphogenesis and pathogenicity of M. oryzae.

Phytotoxin Production of Nigrospora sphaerica Pathogenic on Turfgrasses

  • Park, Gyung-Ja;Kim, Jin-Cheol;Shon, Mi-Jeong;Kim, Heung-Tae;Cho, Kwang-Yun
    • The Plant Pathology Journal
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    • v.16 no.3
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    • pp.137-141
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    • 2000
  • A causal fungus of turfgrass blight was isolated from the infected leaves of zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) and identified as Nigrospora sphaerica (Sacc.) Mason by using a light misroscope. Its conidia are large (14-20 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ diameter), shiny, black, aseptate, and smooth-walled spheres. The fungus caused typical blighting symptoms on the two turfgrass plants of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) and bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.). The fungus was found to produce a phytotoxic subtance to be associated with the pathogenic mechanism. A phytotoxin was isolated from the liquid cultures of N. sphaerica by repeated silica gel column chromatography and its structure was determined to be 5, 6-dihydro-5-hydroxy-6-propenyl-2H-pyr-2-one (T-3 compound). It was not a host-specific toxin showing phytotoxic effects to various plants inclusing turfgrasses in the leaf-wounding assay, the whole plant test, and the cellular leakage test. The compound caused leaf tip dieback symptoms in turfgrass plants similar to those caused by the pathogen. Thus, T-3 compound is thought to be involved in the development of Nigrospora blight.

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Screening of an antagonist of Pythium ultimum : Purification and characterization of an antibiotic effective to the oomycetes fungi

  • Yang, Jin-Ok;Park, Sang-Ho;Park, Dong-Jin;Kim, Chang-Jin
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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    • 1998.11a
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    • pp.135-135
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    • 1998
  • To find an antagonist of Pythium ultimum, the causal agent of damping-off, numerous actinomycete strains were screened for in vitro inhibiting mycelial growth of the target fungus and producing bioactive metabolites. A strain identified as Streptomyces sp. G60655 was isolated and used for further antagonistic efficacy. The degree of antagonism between the fungus and G60655 was affected by the medium used. Furthermore, the preinoculation of the antagonist was found to be necessary to exhibit the maximum efficacy of antagonsim against the fungus. From the culture broth, a bioactive metabolite was detected and purified by solvent extraction, silica gel chromatography and preparative HPLC. The FAB-MS spectrum of the active compound showed a molecular ion peak at m/z 1101 (M + H)$\^$+/, suggesting the molecular weight of 1100. The UV absorptions at 242 and 323 nm indicated the presence of aromatic functions. The structure of this compound was identified as echinomycin, a depsipeptide antibiotic by spectroscopic studies including various NMR measurements. Echinomycin was inactive against several soil born fungi, but inhibited the mycelial growth of P. ultimum and its related oomycetous fungi.

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The Dynamic Modeling of Conflicting Issues in Public Organization : The System Simulation of Dynamic Interaction Between Environmental System and Regional Development System. (조직의 상충적 이슈에 관한 동태적 모델링 : 환경 시스템과 경제 시스템 간의 동태적 상호작용 분석과 시스템 시뮬레이션)

  • 홍민기
    • Korean System Dynamics Review
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    • v.1 no.1
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    • pp.159-183
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    • 2000
  • How to protect the environment without sacrificing the human environment and economy at the level of region is on of the most difficult issues of recent times. The dynamic Interactions between economic activities and environmental pollution control activities determine whether social welfare is increased of decreased by such activities and provides a basis for saying whether they help or hurt the economy. Bureaucratic Approach of Local government has failed, and an Impetus has arisen to develop new tools of analysis, useful for finding policy leverages focused on sustainability. This paper focus on understanding dynamic relationships between regional economic system and environmental system, and presenting possible framework for finding policy leverages in dynamic interaction behaviors. The case, selected in this study, is Nacdong river regions case, which is related many meaningful issues about sustainable development: two big metropolitan government and dwellers have different opinion with regard to construction of large scale Industrial pack, drinking water supply, and environment model consisting of three sectors: regional economy sector, river pollution and drinking water sector, environmental protection and investment policy sector Finally, this paper deal with how to link policy leverage to causal loop structure for the sustainable development of two regions.

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Causal Loop Analysis and Policy Simulation on the fluctuation of Korean Cattle Price (한우 가격 파동의 인과순환적 구조분석과 정책 시뮬레이션)

  • Choi, Nam-Hee
    • Korean System Dynamics Review
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    • v.14 no.3
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    • pp.135-163
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    • 2013
  • This study aims to analyze the feedback loops and policy simulation of price fluctuation of Korean Cattle. The Korean Cattle market shows the 'Cycle of Beef' since 1970. In general, the market for agricultural commodities exhibit repeated cycles of prices and production. Why Beef products market in Korea shows the fluctuation of cattle and beef price repeatedly for forty years? To find an answer, this paper explores the feedback structure of the dynamics of the beef market by the systems thinking and build a stock-flow diagram model for the simulation of future behavior of the market sector of the Cattle. The dynamic simulation model was developed to identify and analyze the cyclical behavior among many variables, which is the number of cattle (calves, cow, etc.), the price of cattle, the demand for beef, the desirable number of cattle, slaughter, etc. The results of this study demonstrate that dominant feedback loops between the number of cattle and livestock prices. The demand for Beef and slaughter with time delay, also the results of the simulation to explain the persistence of future price fluctuations and actions meat market until 2025.

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An Empirical Analysis on the Relationship Between Income Inequality and Economic Growth (소득불평등과 경제성장의 상호영향력 분석)

  • Yoon, Jai-Hyung
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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    • v.8 no.2
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    • pp.15-30
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    • 2017
  • This study analyzes the relationship between income inequality and economic growth. Gini coefficient (market income), the deciles income inequality index and per capita real GDP were analyzed. Furthermore, various cointegration tests were tried to improve the reliability of the test results. From the weak exogeniety test of between per capita real GDP and the Gini coefficient (market income), per capita real GDP has a weak exogeneity while the Gini coefficient is endogenous. From the various cointegration tests, we found out that there is a cointegration between Gini coefficient and per capita real GDP. Moreover, it is estimated that per capita real GDP has a positive effect on the Gini coefficient (market income). In the VAR Granger causal analysis, per capita real GDP affects the Gini coefficient (market income), but it is difficult to say that the Gini coefficient (market income) always has an effect on per capita real GDP. Also, the impulse-response function of the VAR model shows that per capita real GDP temporarily reduces the Gini coefficient (market income), and then increases it over time. Accordingly, it is necessary for the policies to improve not only the distribution structure but also income distribution through economic growth.

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Construction of New Administrative Capital and Urban Dynamics Analyses (신행정수도의 건설과 도시동태성 분석)

  • 이만형;최남희
    • Korean System Dynamics Review
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    • v.4 no.1
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    • pp.69-91
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    • 2003
  • Using qualitative methods hinged on urban dynamics models, the paper addresses major issues concerned with new administrative capital construction. It tries to summarize the existing debates on new administrative capital construction and reinterpret diverse interacting factors in terms of reinforcing or balancing feedback structure. The paper suggests that understanding up on the dynamic mechanism imbedded in circular causal loop diagrams is the key to set up appropriate proposals and action plans for the new administrative capital, as they would reveal complicated linkages between the Capital Region and the rest, in addition to the urban dynamic of new administrative capital. In the same context, the paper can confirm similar features reflected in the relocation of capital functions at Canberra, Australia and Berlin, Germany. It has paid special attention to the fact that both Australian and German governments altogether stress the positive feedback loops as they have overcome unprecedented political confrontation among rival cities: Basically, they have encouraged gives-and-takes among major stake-holders. These research findings indicate that the future of new administrative capital construction depends on consensus buildings that can accommodate socio-economic and territorial changes between pros and cons. Although further researches and validations are needed, the system approach presented in this paper could assist Korean decision-makers in developing robust and responsive policy initiatives under uncertainties.

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북한산 국립공원의 식물상

  • 이영노
    • Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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    • 1985.08b
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    • pp.19-22
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    • 1985
  • Magnaporthe grisea (Hebert) Barr (anamorph: Pyricularia grisea) is a typical heterothallic Ascomycete and the causal agent of rice blast, one of the most destructive diseases on rice (Oryza sativa L.) worldwide. The interactions between cells of the pathogen and those of the host involve a complex of biological influences which can lead to blast disease. The early stages of infection process in particular may be viewed as a sequence of discrete and critical events. These include conidial attachment, gemination, and the formation of an appressorium, a dome-shaped and melanized infection structure. Disruption of this process at any point will result in failure of the pathogen to colonize host tissues. This may offer a new avenue for developing innovative crop protection strategies. To recognize and capture such opportunities, understanding the very bases of the pathogenesis at the cellular and molecular level is prerequisite. Much has been learned about environmental cues and endogenous signaling systems for the early infection-related morphogenesis in M. grisea during last several years. The study of signal transduction system in phytopathogenic filamentous fungi offers distinct advantages over traditional mammalian systems. Mammalian systems often contain multiple copies of important genes active in the same tissue under the same physiological processes. Functional redundancy, alternate gene splicing, and specilized isoforms make defining the role of any single gene difficult. Fungi and animals are closely related kingdoms [3], so inferences between these organisms are often justified. For many genes, fungi frequently possess only a single copy, thus phenotype can be attributed directly to the mutation or deletion of any particular gene of interest.

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Leverage Strategy to National R&D Investment in Korea: A System Dynamics Approach (국가 연구재발 투자시스템의 레버리지 전략: 시스템 다이내믹스 접근)

  • 박헌준;오세홍;김상준
    • Proceedings of the Korean System Dynamics Society
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    • 2004.02a
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    • pp.19-52
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    • 2004
  • This study aims to grasp invisible yet dynamic systemic structure that influences the general procedure of national R&D investment system in Korea using "system dynamic methods and to suggest policy lever. Various conflicting situations, 'R&D investment paradoxes' in myopia investment and principal-agent problems etc, arise when the government decides R&D investment area and makes indispensable choice. Difficulty in the decision can be amplified due to misalignments among decision on adequate amount of R&D investment ("strategic loop"), R&D system ("structural loop") and acceptance and realization by R&D laboratories and theirs researcher ("efficacy loop"). Results of modeling and simulation of korea national R&D investment system with consideration of three causal loops show the switching pattern dynamically, in which form of technologies shifts from one to another stage like paradigm shift, when the R&D investment reaches a certain stork. R&D investment increases are directly not liked to R&D productivities because of delays and side effects during transition periods between different stages of technology development. Thus, It is necessary to develope strategies in order to enhance efficiency of technological development process by perceiving the switching pattern.

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The Impact of Win-Win Growth Effort of Large Firms on Their Financial Performance (기업의 동반성장 노력이 재무성과에 미치는 영향)

  • Min, Jae H.;Kim, Bumseok
    • Korean Management Science Review
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.79-95
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    • 2013
  • In this study, we empirically examine the impact of win-win growth effort of domestic large firms on their financial performance. Specifically, we classify the financial performance into three aspects such as profitability, stability and efficiency, select corresponding financial ratios to each aspect, and analyze the causal relationship between the firms' win-win growth effort and each of the financial ratios. In addition, we figure out the impact of the firms' win-win growth effort on their stock rate of return. From the analysis, we show that the win-win growth effort has a positive impact on the firms' profitability, stability and stock prices; however, it does not give statistically significant impact on the firms' efficiency with even negative impact on it. These results imply that the firms' win-win growth effort could bring about inefficiency in their business operations, but the effort could increase the firms' profitability and make their financial structure more stable. Furthermore, the effort could enhance the firms' image of leading CSR (corporate social responsibility), which in turn increase their stock values.