The main purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that have an impact on public policy, green products and technology in Kuala Lumpur, given government initiatives to boost the environment awareness. The data used in this study was collected by distribution questionnaires randomly in six areas of Kuala Lumpur and 400 respondents were interviewed. Based on a literature review, three hypotheses were stated and tested using structural equation modeling (SEM). SEM is a statistical analysis method that involved two or more variables in analyzing structural relationships among the variables. The SEM model shows that green products and government policies have a direct influence on environmental awareness. However, green technology does not have a direct influence on environmental awareness. Since, knowledge on green technology does not have a significant impact on raising environmental awareness among the public, a much more pragmatic awareness campaign needs to be put in place to use green technology as a part of modern living. The study suggests that the urban population needs to be more aware of the environmental issue as cities tend to have better infrastructure to raise public awareness on green issues. Moreover, the government should increase the environmental awareness among younger generation through workshops, seminars, campaigns, and pamphlets.

Subsidies are an instrumental policy making tool for many governments, but their importance depends on the market situation of the national economy. Efficient subsidy implementation would allow the government to correct market failure thereby aligning social and private costs and benefit. The general objective of this study is to justify the need to rationalise subsidies for food items such as flour. This study assessed the structure and conducts of the general purpose flour market in Malaysia; and analysed the impact of subsidies on market performance to recommend policies to increase market efficiency under the subsidy rationalisation program. To accomplish these objectives, the study adopted a microeconomics market analysis as well as the standard structure and performance analysis method. These two approaches showed the characteristics of an industry’s consumer behaviour, competition, as well as the efficiency associated with government regulatory policies on the flour industry. One of the biggest influences on the domestic market is related to the food consumption behaviour of the general population. Food consumption behaviour reflects global trends. As income rises, food trends tend to be consumed in processed form or in such a way that adds value in another manner such as the preparation of food products.

It is undisputable that crude oil and its price fluctuations are major components that affect most of the countries’ economies. Recent studies have demonstrated that beside the impact that crude oil price fluctuations have on common macroeconomic indicators like gross domestic product (GDP), inflation rates, exchange rates, unemployment rate, etc., it also has a strong influence on stock markets and their performance. This relationship has been examined in a number of settings, but it is yet to be unraveled in the Omani context. Accordingly, the main purpose of this study is to examine the possible effect of the oil price fluctuations on stock price movements. The study applies Toda and Yamamoto’s (1995) Granger non-causality test on the daily Oman stock index (Muscat Securities Market Index) and oil prices between the period of 2 January 2003 and 13 March 2016. The results indicated that the oil price fluctuations have a significant impact on stock index movements. However, the stock price movements do not have a significant impact on oil prices. These findings have significant implications not only for the Omani economy but also for the economy of similar countries, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The latter should carefully consider their policies and strategies regarding crude oil production and the generated income allocation as it might potentially affect the financial markets performance in these countries.

Background : Recently, hair loss, which has been regarded as a mere means of middle-aged men due to stress and environmental pollution. The market for hair loss in Korea is about four trillion won and it is growing continuously. It is mainly made by mixing natural extracts such as medicinal plant. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ethanol extracts of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. whole plant and Calendula officinalis L. flower extracts on the growth of fibroblasts, dermal papilla cells and lipid precursors, I want to try to make a materialization. Methods and Results : The cytotoxicity of each sample extracts treated with 50%, 100%, and 500 μg to fibroblasts, cell-viability were 107.3%, 109.6%, and 128.2%, respectively. The cytotoxicity of each sample to the dermal papilla cells was not observed. And the lipid differentiation of the lipogenic precursor cells which regulates the hairegeneration by secretion of the platelet derived growth factor. The 70% ethanol extracts of H. cordata whole plant and C. officinalis flower were showed promotes the hair growth activity. The lipolysis rate was significantly increased with increasing treatment concentration Conclusion : As a result of this study, in-vitro hair growth activity of herbal medicines for hair treatment material development was not shown to be toxic to each cell. And 70% ethanol extract of H. cordata whole plant stimulated lipid precursor cells inducing differentiation. As a result, the 70% ethanol extracts of H. cordata whole plant and C. officinalis flower have potential to developing hair-related product.

Background : Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. is a herbaceous perennial belonging to the Polygonaceae family. And is an herbal medicine which can be used as a raw material for food, which is excellent in immunity enhancement, vocalization and blood transfusion. The purpose of this study was to expand the utility of the P. multiflorum. Also, we fermented P. multiflorum by mushroom mycelial, and analyzed for general components and amino acids before and after fermentation Methods and Results : The moisture content of P. multiflorum and fermented P. multiflorum by mushroom mycelial (FPM) were 7.35% and 59%, respectively. The crude protein content did not show a significant difference between the two samples, crude fat, ash and crude fiber content of FPM were lower than P. multiflorum. The content of soluble nitrogen free extract of P. multiflorum (79.78%) was significantly higher than FPM (31.05%). Sixteen kinds of amino acids were detected in P. multiflorum, and the major amino acid was determined the arginine. The content of arginine and glutamic acid were 586.67 ㎎%, and 283.78 ㎎%, respectively. Sixteen kinds of amino acids were detected in FPM, and the major amino acids were determined the arginine (654.68 ㎎%) and threonine (591.18 ㎎%). The total amino acid contents of P. multiflorum and FPM were 3,469.03 ㎎%, and 3,630 ㎎%, respectively. Conclusion : The content of crude fat, ash, crude fiber, and soluble nitrogen free extract of FPM were lower than the P. multiflorum, and the major amino acids were different in two samples. Total amino acid content of FPM was higher than the P. multiflorum. As the mushroom fermentation progresses, it is confirmed that the amino acid content is increased, and it is expected to develop the product using the P. multiflorum fermented with mushroom mycelial.

Background : Pachyrhizus erosus (Leguminosae), locally called as “Yam bean” is a traditional medical plant that grows in the tropical and subtropical region. The root of P. erosus is used by the local people to treat insomania, treatment of osteoporosis and extracts of this plant have shown antioxidant activity, immunomodulatory activity, tyrosinase inhibitionby, antitumour properties and cardiovascular benefit. Methods and Results : Free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using α-tocopherol and butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT) as standard antioxidants. The radical scavenging activity was measured using the stable radical 1,1-diphenyl–2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ABTS assay. Total phenolic content was determined by following Folin-Ciocalteau colorimetric method and Total flavonoids were determined using aluminium chloride calorimetric methods. Phenolic compound concentration and compositions were determined by HPLC-MS/MS system. Seedlings grown under the flourescent light (Fl) exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity when compared to the plants treated with light emitting diodes (LEDs) and light emitting plasma (LEP). LED-Blue showed the higher DPPH radical scavenging activity and ABTS concentration of PE compared to other LEDs. The accumulation of phenolic compounds increased under different white-LEDs conditions as compared to LEP and FL light conditions. Conclusion : In this study, antioxidant activity and phenolic compound composition of P. erosus was improved by the application of LED and LEP.

Background : The effects of heat treatments on the phycochemical charateristics and antioxidant activities of ginkgo nuts were investigated by roasting at various temperatures (150, 180, and 210℃) for 60 min. Methods and Results : For each roasting temperatures, pH, total acidity, chromaticity, total cyanide content, reducing power, total polyphenol content, 2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities were compared and analyzed. As the roasting temperature and time increased, the pH and total cyanide content decreased from 7.32 to 6.31 and from 697 to 282 ㎍/㎎, respectively, while total acidity increased from 0.40 to 0.84%. There was an 11 or more color difference (ΔE) between the non-heated ginkgo nut and heated ginkgo nuts, indicating a remarkable color difference. The antioxidant activities, including reducing power, total polyphenol content, and DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities increased rapidly at 210℃ according to increasing in roasting temperature and time. Conclusion : These results suggest that the ginkgo nut with heat treatment could be used in food materials and medicines for decreasing cyanide content as well as for increasing antioxidant compound content.

Background : F. fomentarius extracts have been recently reported to process immune-stimulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we evaluated the anti-mutagenic effect of F. fomentarius ethanol extracts and the effective chemical components from the extract were analyzed by LC-Q-TOF. Methods and Results : F. fomentarius was extracted with 70% ethanol yielding a crude extract 6.8%. The crude extract was fractionated sequentially to diethyl ether, chloroform, dichloromethane, butanol and water with a yield of 43.9%, 2.958%, 6.8%, 21.6% and 25.5.%, respectively. The anti-mutagenic effect of F. fomentarius extract and its fractions was tested in Ames test by two type of Salmonella typhimurium (TA98 and TA100). Among the five fractions, diethyl ether has shown the highest and significant anti-mutagenic effect (98.3%, at 3,000 ㎍/plate concentration). Moreover, we investigated the chemical constituents of the extract using UPLC-Q-TOF. A total of 10 compounds such as flavonoids (velutin, 3, 4′,5-Trihydroxy-3′,7-dimethoxyflavanone) and fatty acids (γ-linoleic acid, stearic acid) and deterpenoid (kirenol) were tentatively identified with an accurate mass within 10 ppm mass error. Also, flavonoids and fatty acids were detected with higher rate than other compounds based on obtained chromatograms. Conclusion : We demonstrated that F. fomentarius extract and fractions have anti-mutagenic activity through Ames test. Furthermore, we will carry out isolation of each components from its fraction and use them to conduct additional anti-mutagenic test.

This study describes development of high performance environmental barrier coating for steel in oxidizing and humidity environments at elevated temperature. Parameters like pre-treatment of the steel substrates, filler systems, particle size of the fillers or coating thickness were varied to optimize the coatings. The resulting coating investigated by TGA, SEM/EDS, and XRD to clarify the possible protective mechanism. Oxidation tests, adhesion tests, thermal shock resistance tests and humidity resistance tests were performed to evaluation the high performance of developed coatings.

Seed storage proteins are used as carbon and nitrogen sources for the nutritional improvement of seeds. Since the composition of proteins from the Korean cultivars of proso millet is unknown, this study was conducted to obtain a reference map of millet seed proteins and identify the functional characteristics of the identified proteins. Proteins extracted from proso millet seeds of various cultivars were investigated using proteomic techniques such as 2-D electrophoresis coupled with mass fingerprinting; 1152 (differentially expressed) protein spots were detected on the 2-D gels. Among them, 26 reproducible protein spots were analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Out of the 26 proteins, 2 proteins were upregulated in all the millet cultivars, while 13 proteins were upregulated and 11 proteins were downregulated in 2 cultivars. Abundance of most of the identified protein species associated with polysaccharide and starch metabolism, transcription, and pathogenesis was significantly enhanced, while that of other protein species involved in glycolysis, stress response, and transduction was severely reduced. Taken together, the results suggest that the differential expression of the proteins from the four millet cultivars may be cultivar-specific. By conducting a proteomic investigation of millet seeds from different cultivars, we sought to better understand the functional categorization of individual proteins on the basis of their molecular functions. We believe that the identified proteins may help in investigating genetic variations in millet cultivars.

Purpose – Market orientation is a key factor for business performance in today’s fluctuating conditions. This study investigates whether the employment of innovation can improve the innovative capability and increase the performance by gaining competitive advantages or not. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of market orientation on the performance of small and medium size distributer enterprises (SMDEs) in Iran. Research design, data, and methodology – Customer orientation, Competitor orientation, and Inter-functional coordination have been regarded as market orientation indices to determine the effects of these indices on marketing innovation, gaining competitive advantages, and companies’ performance as well. Data were collected from managers and experts in SMDEs in Iran. The structural equations modeling are used for analysis. Results – The results indicated that marketing innovation has been improved in competitive companies that enjoyed a high level of Inter-functional coordination among the various units. Besides, marketing innovation resulted in gaining competitive advantages regarding cost management, concentration, and differentiation in these companies. In addition, it was observed that SMDEs that obtain competitive advantages are equipped to reap superior performance. Conclusions – With cost management, differentiation and concentration are more likely to enhance the enterprise efficiency and effectiveness than other companies. Additionally, competitiveness, inter-functional coordination, and marketing innovation in SMDEs have a positive impact on marketing innovation.

Potassium channels, the largest group of pore proteins, selectively regulate the flow of potassium (K+) ions across cell membranes. The activity and expression of K+ channels are critical for the maintenance of normal functions in vessels and neurons, and for the regulation of cell differentiation and maturation. However, their role and expression in stem cells have been poorly understood. In this study, we isolated perivascular stem cells (PVCs) from human umbilical cords and investigated the expression patterns of big-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) and voltage-dependent K+ (Kv) channels using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. We also examined the effect of high glucose (HG, 25 mM) on expression levels of BKCa and Kv channels in PVCs. KCa1.1, KCaβ3, Kv1.3, Kv3.2, and Kv6.1 were detected in undifferentiated PVCs. In addition, HG treatment increased the amounts of BKCaβ3a, BKCaβ4, Kv1.3, Kv1.6, and Kv6.1 transcripts. These results suggested that ion channels may have important functions in the growth and differentiation of PVCs, which could be influenced by HG exposure.

This paper proposes combination of a cognitive agent architecture named Soar (State, operator, and result) and ROS (Robot Operating System), which can be a basic framework for a robot agent to interact and cope with its environment more intelligently and appropriately. The proposed Soar-ROS human-robot interaction (HRI) agent understands a set of human’s commands by voice recognition and chooses to properly react to the command according to the symbol detected by image recognition, implemented on a humanoid robot. The robotic agent is allowed to refuse to follow an inappropriate command like “go” after it has seen the symbol ‘X’ which represents that an abnormal or immoral situation has occurred. This simple but meaningful HRI task is successfully experimented on the proposed Soar-ROS platform with a small humanoid robot, which implies that extending the present hybrid platform to artificial moral agent is possible.

Purpose - In this paper, we categorize and segment the 28 national universities in South Korea and measure the degree of dissimilarity (or similarity) between pairs of ones by using dissimilarity distance matrix and cluster analysis, respectively, based on the seven quantitative evaluation of educational conditions (percentage of small-scale courses, percentage of lecture by the faculty, collection of books per student, material purchase per student, percentage of building capacity, percentage of real estate capacity and rate of accommodation) in 2015. In addition, multidimensional scaling (MDS) techniques can obtain visual representation for exploring patterns of proximities among 28 national universities based on seven attributes of educational conditions. Research design, data, and methodology - This work is carried out by the 2015 Announcement of University Information, which is provided by Ministry of Education in South Korea and utilized by multivariate analyses with CLUSTER, PROXIMITIES and ALSCAL modules in IBM SPSS 23.0. Results - We make certain that 28 national universities can be categorized into five clusters which have similar traits by applying two-stage cluster analysis. MDS is utilized to perform positioning of grouped places of cluster and 28 national universities joining every cluster. Conclusions - Both types and traits of each national university can be relatively assessed and practically utilized for each university competitiveness based on underlying results.

Purpose - In order to achieve the organizational objectives, the behavior of the employees and their collaboration with management should be taken into account. It has been shown that strategic behavior depends on a number of different factors. The aim of this article was determining the relationship between factors related to the strategic behavior. Research design, data, and methodology - Accordingly, a conceptual model was developed and tested in the form of a survey. Participants of the study were the employees working in the social Insurance company of Tehran. Data was collected using a questionnaire conducted among managers and the staff. A correlation model was used for data analysis by employing the SPSS software. Results - The findings showed there was a relationship between employees’ engagement and the strategic behavior. Conclusions - Our research has demonstrated the effect of employees’ engagement on the strategic-driven behavior, emphasizing the role of employees’ engagement in health-care service firms. Although previous service research has focused on the factors that drive employees’ performance, it seems that most of this research has been inspired by the idea of the service profit chain, focusing on the effect of employees’ satisfaction on performance.

This study was conducted to investigate the antibacterial, antioxidant, and in vitro greenhouse gas mitigation activities of fermented Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract. Seven starter cultures were used, comprising four of lactic acid bacteria and three of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Ten grams of S. baicalensis Georgi powder was diluted in 90 mL autoclaved MRS broth. Each seed culture was inoculated with 3-10% (v/v) S. baicalensis Georgi MRS broth and incubated at 30℃ for 48 h. Among the starter cultures used, only Lactobacillus plantarum EJ43 could withstand the fermentation conditions. This fermentation broth was dried and extracted with ethanol to assess its antibacterial, antioxidant, and in vitro methane mitigation activities. The extract of S. baicalensis Georgi fermented by L. plantarum EJ43 (SBLp) showed higher antibacterial activity (bigger clear zone) compared to the unfermented S. baicalensis Georgi extract (SB0). SBLp also presented 1.2 folds higher antioxidant activity than SB0. During in vitro rumen fermentation, SBLp showed reduction in methane production compared to SB0 or the control. In conclusion, fermentation by L. plantarum EJ43 may enhance antibacterial and antioxidant activities of S. baicalensis Georgi and decrease enteric methane production.

Lettuce is an important annual leafy vegetable and bitterness is its potent flavor character. Lettuce germplasm differ their phenotypic characters and sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) contents which are important for consumer’s acceptance. This study was carried out to evaluate the phenotypic characters and SLs contents in one hundred lettuce germplasm in Jeonju, Korea. Twenty-three agro-morphological (16 qualitative and 7 quantitative) traits and two SLs (lactucin and lactucopicrin) contents were studied in these germplasm. Germplasm exhibited the variation in qualitative and quantitative characters. Average plant weight was 423.9 g with a range from 116.0 to 905.0 g. Lactucin content was varied from 19.7 (IT 294226) to 194.4 ㎍/g (IT 294298) with an average concentration of 84.7 ㎍/g. Lactucopicrin ranged from 82.5 (IT 300134) to 2228.6 ㎍/g (IT 294210) with an average concentration of 586.3 ㎍/g. Total SLs content was ranged from 120.1 (IT 300134) to 2286.6 (IT 294210) ㎍/g with the average concentration of 671.0 ㎍/g. Significant (p≤0.05) differences were found between crisp head and butter head germplasm for lactucin, lactucopicrin and total SLs content. Crisp head germplasm revealed the highest average lactucin (112.9 ㎍/g), lactucopicrin (734.8 ㎍/g) and total SLs content (847.7 ㎍/g). Crisp head and leafy type germplasm exhibited more total SLs content (847.7 and 744.7 ㎍/g, respectively) than cos (524.9 ㎍/g) and butter head type (519.4 ㎍/g). Principal component analyses of the quantitative traits indicated that the first principal component axis accounted more than 91% of the total variation. This study revealed the ample genetic variation in the agro-morphological traits and SLs contents to support the selection for improved lettuce varieties.

A 67-year-old man presented with painful whitish mucosal rashes on the left side of his palate at initial presentation, and subsequently, multiple, grouped erythematous vesicular eruptions developed on the left side of his face (V2-V3 distribution). In this case, the distribution pattern of oral lesions were atypical of herpes zoster infection. Attention should be paid to the possibility that such symptoms could be early signs of herpes zoster infection.