• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
• /
• v.25 no.11
• /
• pp.606-611
• /
• 2013

In responding to the recent framework convention on climate change, and the rise of the need for energy efficient buildings, such as Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB), domestic insulation standards and energy conservation regulations are being reinforced, to prevent heat loss. Accordingly, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport have made amendments in Chapter 21 "Enforcement regulations for building facilities standards etc.", and Chapter 22 "Energy conservation standard", to reflect these changes. To effectively implement these regulations, it is required to propose air-tightness test methods, and establish air-tightness standards, based on the air leakage characteristics of domestic apartment housings. This research has been done primarily to collect basic technical data, to provide guidance for the establishment of domestic air-tightness standards for new apartment housing, through studying air-tightness test methods, field measurement on air-tightness of new apartment housings, and air leakage characteristics of major developed countries.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.151-157
• /
• 2012

This paper describes the effects of thermally oxidized tallow on the serum lipids profile and radical scavenging activity (RSA) of the lipids extracted from the different tissues of the rabbits. Tallow was thermally oxidized at $130^{\circ}C$ for 9, 18, 27, 36 and 45 h respectively. Thermally oxidized tallow was fed to the local strain of Himalayan rabbits for one week. Results show that oxidation increases the formation of hydroperoxides and decrease the level of radical scavenging activity of the tallow. The rabbit serum lipids profile showed a dose dependent increase in triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. However, no statistically significant increase was observed in the HDL-cholesterol with an increase of oxidation time. Serum glucose and rabbits body weight decrease significantly (p < 0.05) and was highly correlated with the serum lipids profile. The percent RSA of the lipids extracted from the liver, brain and muscles tissues showed a significant decrease with respect to 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g/body weight as well as oxidation time. Data suggests that thermal oxidation and use of thermally oxidized beef tallow is harmful and therefore an alternative way of cooking should be used.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.161-171
• /
• 2019

Personality factors and ethical values are considered as vital element in social and professional life. This present research aims to explore the relationship between Personality and Job Satisfaction. Further, we tried to test the moderating effect of Islamic work ethics (IWE) in the relationship of Personality traits with Job satisfaction. Convenience sampling was used in defining sample as in Pakistan there is no data base which provides information regarding number of employees. Due to moderating variable the data has been collected from respondents who identify themselves as Muslim. To collect data from respondents Self-administered, close-ended questionnaires and e-questionnaire were used in this study and respondents were targeted in the normal working environment. Correlation and regression analysis was used to analyze the data statistically. The results of study indicated that neuroticism exhibits significant negative effect on job s atisfaction. Also, openness to experience, agreeableness and conscientiousness showed positive effect on job satisfaction. Whereas, extraversion exhibits no effect on job satisfaction and IWE has a negative effect on job satisfaction. However, the output indicates that IWE do not act as moderator in the relation of agreeableness and conscientiousness with job satisfaction moderation effect of IWE is observed between the relationship of neuroticism, extraversion and openness to experience with job satisfaction.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• v.8 no.5
• /
• pp.117-126
• /
• 2021

Microfinance focuses on economic development at a minute level. Microfinance is adopted to reduce the poverty level in the economic system. This study is conducted to investigate the microfinance institutions' outreach, its growth, and challenges faced by the Microfinance Banks (MFBs) and Microfinance Institutions (MFIs). Data is collected from MFBs and MFIs working in Muzaffarabad as well as from interviews and focus group discussions. Findings are based upon lending, headcount ratio, offers, the value of their offer, and the possible growth chances of microfinance in Muzaffarabad. In addition to this, the challenges associated with microfinance outreach have been highlighted during analysis and guidelines have been provided to the MFBs and MFIs to increase their outreach. The sector is financially unstable which is attributable to its reliance on conventional sources of funding. The industry faces several endogenous as well as exogenous challenges from its environment which obstructs its growth. Further, it helps the policymakers to work on the development of the region and provide the base for further future research work.

• East Asian Economic Review
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.33-60
• /
• 2023

This paper analyzes the entire distribution of stock market returns/volatility in five emerging markets (ASEAN5) and figures out the conditional distribution of the CHI_EPU index. The aim is to examine the impact of CHI_EPU on the stock returns/volatility density of ASEAN5 markets. It also examined whether changes in CHI_EPU explain returns at higher or lower points (abnormal returns). This paper models the behaviour of stock returns from March 2011 to June 2018 using a non-parametric conditional density estimation approach. The results indicate that CHI_EPU diminishes stock returns and augments volatility in ASEAN5 markets, except for Malaysia, where it affects stock returns positively. The possible reason for this positive impact is that EPU is not the leading factor reducing Malaysian stock returns; but, other forces, such as dependency on other countries' stock markets and global factors, may have a positive impact on stock returns (Bachmann and Bayer, 2013). Thus, the risk of simultaneous investment in Chinese and ASEAN5 stock markets, except Malaysia, is high. Further, the degree of this influence intensifies at extreme high/low intervals (positive/negative tails). The findings of this study have significant implications for investors, policymakers, market agents, and analysts of ASEAN5.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.2407-2410
• /
• 2016

Background: Response to antiviral therapy has been linked to different genotypes and this impacts on clinical management. Data on general responses to standard interferon (IFN) against HCV infection exists but little is known regarding HCV genotype specific responses. Purpose: Therefore, we attempted to determine genotype specific responses of chronic HCV patients, having different HCV genotypes, to standard IFN and ribavirin combination therapy administered for a period of six months in Kybher Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Materials and Methods: HCV genotype was determined for all serum samples. Each patient received standard IFN combination therapy with ribavirin administered at dose of 3 MIU three times a week and 800-1200 mg/day, respectively, for a period of six months. After completion of this therapy, PCR was performed for all course completed subjects. Results: Out of total 51 selected patients the most abundant genotypes were 3a (49.0%) and 1a (21.6%) followed by 3b (9.8%), 1b (7.84%), 2a (7.84%) and untypable (3.94%). Moast responsive genotypes were 2a followed by 3a, with end of treatment responses of 77.7%, and 72.2%. Responses for 3b, 1b and untypable were 66.7%, 33.3% and 0%, respectively. Conclusions: IFN response is efficient in case of 2a and 3a genotypes while in case of untypable genotypes, further categorization is required to know about genomic sequences and to adopt some new regimes against these genotypes.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.69-76
• /
• 2018

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of oral malignancy. Numerous therapies have been proposed for its cure. Research is continually being conducted to develop new forms of treatment as current therapies are associated with numerous side-effects. Luteolin, a common dietary flavonoid, has been demonstrated to possess strong anti-cancer activity against various human cancer cell lines. Nevertheless, research into luteolin-based anticancer activity against oral cancer remains scarce. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the effect of luteolin as an anti-cancer agent. After treatment with luteolin, Ca9-22 and CAL-27 oral cancer cells showed condensed nuclei and enhanced apoptotic rate with evidence of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) is closely related to tumor migration and invasion. Luteolin suppressed cancer cell invasion and migration in the current study. Elevated expression of E-cadherin, an adherens junction protein, was evident in both cell lines after luteolin treatment. Luteolin also significantly inhibited transcription factors (i.e., N-cadherin, Slug, Snail, Twist, and ZEB-1) that regulated expression of tumor suppressors such as E-cadherin based on Western blot analysis and quantitative PCR. Thus, luteolin could induce mitochondrial apoptosis and inhibit cancer cell invasion and migration by suppressing EMT-induced transcription factors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.513-523
• /
• 2018

The tumor microenvironment greatly influences cancer cell characteristics, and acidic extracellular pH has been implicated as an essential factor in tumor malignancy and the induction of drug resistance. Here, we examined the characteristics of gastric carcinoma (GC) cells under conditions of extracellular acidity and attempted to identify a means of enhancing treatment efficacy. Acidic conditions caused several changes in GC cells adversely affecting chemotherapeutic treatment. Extracellular acidity did inhibit GC cell growth by inducing cell cycle arrest, but did not induce cell death at pH values down to 6.2, which was consistent with down-regulated cyclin D1 and up-regulated p21 mRNA expression. Additionally, an acidic environment altered the expression of atg5, HSPA1B, collagen XIII, collagen XXAI, slug, snail, and zeb1 genes which are related to regulation of cell resistance to cytotoxicity and malignancy, and as expected, resulted in increased resistance of cells to multiple chemotherapeutic drugs including etoposide, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, cisplatin, oxaliplatin and 5-FU. Interestingly, however, acidic environment dramatically sensitized GC cells to apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Consistently, the acidity at pH 6.5 increased mRNA levels of DR4 and DR5 genes, and also elevated protein expression of both death receptors as detected by immunoblotting. Gene silencing analysis showed that of these two receptors, the major role in this effect was played by DR5. Therefore, these results suggest that extracellular acidity can sensitize TRAIL-mediated apoptosis at least partially via DR5 in GCs while it confers resistance to various type of chemotherapeutic drugs.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.79-84
• /
• 2020

In order to reduce greenhouse gas by 30% compared to BAU in 2020, research and development of zero-energy building construction technology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the construction industry is being conducted. With the recent implementation of the policy as mandatory through the establishment and commercialization of the zero energy building base, the government should devise measures to support and expand technology through the identification of the current status of the zero-energy building incentive system and the erasure of the erasure. In order to implement zero-energy buildings, excessive construction costs are presented as a major issue in revitalizing the supply of new and renewable energy to enhance Passive (energy efficiency grade of 1++) and achieve self sufficiency of energy (20% or higher). In this paper, the major problems and solutions for zero-energy building identification were presented in order to activate the dissemination of zero-energy buildings, and the recent policy changes resulting from the mandatory use of zero-energy buildings were analyzed.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.52 no.12
• /
• pp.706-711
• /
• 2019

Cisplatin (Cis-DDP) is one of the most widely used anti-cancer drugs. It is applicable to many types of cancer, including lung, bladder, and breast cancer. However, its use is now limited because of drug resistance. p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (p90RSK) is one of the downstream effectors in the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) pathway and high expression of p90RSK is observed in human breast cancer tissues. Therefore, we investigated the role of p90RSK in the Cis-DDP resistance-related signaling pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in breast cancer cells. First, we discovered that MDA-MB-231 cells exhibited more Cis-DDP resistance than other breast cancer cells, including MCF-7 and BT549 cells. Cis-DDP increased p90RSK activation, whereas the inactivation of p90RSK using a small interfering RNA (siRNA) or dominant-negative kinase mutant plasmid overexpression significantly reduced Cis-DDP-induced cell proliferation and migration via the inhibition of matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)2 and MMP9 in MDA-MB-231 cells. In addition, p90RSK activation was involved in EMT via the upregulation of mRNA expression, including that of Snail, Twist, ZEB1, N-cadherin, and vimentin. We also investigated NF-κB, the upstream regulator of EMT markers, and discovered that Cis-DDP treatment led to NF-κB translocation in the nucleus as well as its promoter activity. Our results suggest that targeting p90RSK would be a good strategy to increase Cis-DDP sensitivity in triple-negative breast cancers.