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The purpose of this study was to investigate the components of consumer’ social capital which are social participation, social networking, and reciprocity and also analyzed how the social capitals possessed by consumers affect ethical consumption behaviors, and examine how ethical consumption behaviors affect consumer happiness. The samples were randomly extracted from a list of consumer panels registered with a multinational survey institute. Within the budget limit of this study, 2,000 persons were extracted considering the sample size. The main page of the questionnaire requested the subjects to answer to the question asking whether they had any experience in using ethical products or brands. Those who answered no were requested to quit answering the questionnaire. The total number of valid samples was 1,509. Social trust, social participation, and reciprocity, which are the components of social capitals, were found to have positive effects on eco-friendly ethical consumption behaviors, and social-economic-oriented ethical consumption behaviors. Eco-friendly and social-economic-oriented ethical consumption behaviors were found to affect consumer happiness. In additional analyses too, social capitals were found to affect the determination of consumer happiness to some extent. The findings of this study provide valuable information for the investigation of the causal relationships between the system of organization of the ethical consumption behaviors of consumers and the predisposing factors or outcomes of consumer happiness.

The purpose of the study attempts to assess consumer reactions by classifying anthropomorphized messages according to the authenticity of a human brand with which they are associated. And also the study to investigate the causal relationship between attributions of human brand and consumer–brand relationships, brand attitudes, and purchase intention. An experimental design was used to test the hypotheses. To examine factors that can help brands achieve marketing goals through the use of human brands, this study developed research hypotheses and a structural model by focusing on the consumer information-treating process based on the authenticity of a human brand and message type. The results indicate the existence of a between-group difference with respect to anthropomorphized messages as opposed to non-anthropomorphized messages as well as levels of brand authenticity. An interaction effect was observed for the consumer–brand relationship and attitudes toward a brand. In the main effect analysis, anthropomorphized messages induced a stronger consumer–brand relationship, more positive attitudes toward a brand, and stronger purchase intention for a brand. The results of a path analysis indicated that three dimensions of human brand attributions positively affect consumer–brand relationships. This study provides a new approach to the use of anthropomorphized messages by focusing on the relationship between advertising models and messages. As a result, positive effects can be expected as identification with an advertising model increases.

Purpose: Entrepreneurship can offer a competitive advantage to an enterprise through risky decisions that pay off in the development of innovative products, services and markets in a difficult managerial environment and by moving proactively to dominate a competitive market. This study aims to examine the relationship between entrepreneurship and managerial innovation capacity by considering subfactors, such as innovativeness, proactiveness and risk-taking, as well as to explore the relationship between managerial innovation capacity and management performance. The study determines the extent to which policy finance and management support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play the role of moderating variables. Design/methodology/approach: Data collection was carried out in 820 SMEs. To verify the hypotheses, Covariance Structure Analysis was conducted using EQS6b. Findings/results: The findings indicate that entrepreneurship has a significant influence on strategic planning, research and development, and technology commercialisation. This study found that managerial innovation capacities have positive effects on management performance. In addition, this study confirmed that when entrepreneurship affects managerial innovation activities, policy financial support and management support serve as moderators. Practical implications: Small and medium-sized enterprises should enhance their innovation capacity and expand innovative entrepreneurship and policy finance to achieve competitiveness, survive and show continuous development and growth in a changing environment. Originality/value: The study provides SMEs with information they can use to increase their awareness of internal managerial innovation activities, which are the original sources of competitive advantage, and help promote research and development (RD) and organizational management for continuous reinforcement of innovation capacity. the study provides SMEs with information they can use to increase their awareness of internal managerial innovation activities, which are the original sources of competitive advantage, and help promote RD and organizational management for continuous reinforcement of innovation capacity.

The Dendrobium species (Orchidaceae) has been cultivated as an ornamental plant as well as used in traditional medicines. In this study, the chemical profiles of Dendrobii Herba, used as herbal medicine, Dendrobium in two different species, their hybrid, and the gamma-irradiated mutant lines of the hybrid, were systematically investigated via ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QToF MS). Among the numerous peaks detected, 17 peaks were unambiguously identified. Gigantol (1), (1R,2R)-1,7-hydroxy-2,8-methoxy-2,3-dihydrophenanthrene-4(1H)-one (2), tristin (3), (−)-syringaresinol (4), lusianthridin (5), 2,7-dihydroxy-phenanthrene-1,4-dione (6), densiflorol B (7), denthyrsinin (8), moscatilin (9), lusianthridin dimer (10), batatasin III (11), ephemeranthol A (12), thunalbene (13), dehydroorchinol (14), dendrobine (15), shihunine (16), and 1,5,7-trimethoxy-2-phenanthrenol (17), were detected in Dendrobii Herba, while 1, 2, and 16 were detected in D. candidum, 1, 11, and 16 in D. nobile, and 1, 2, and 16 in the hybrid, D. nobile × candidum. The methanol extract taken of them was also examined for cytotoxicity against FaDu human hypopharynx squamous carcinoma cells, where Dendrobii Herba showed the greatest cytotoxicity. In the untargeted metabolite analysis of 436 mutant lines of the hybrid, using UPLC-QToF MS and cytotoxicity measurements combined with multivariate analysis, two tentative flavonoids (M1 and M2) were evaluated as key markers among the analyzed metabolites, contributing to the distinction between active and inactive mutant lines.

This study examines the relationships between several sub-factors of gamification (i.e. fun, rewards, competition, and storytelling) and brand app experiences. The study also examines the moderating effects of the so-called 4Rs of brand apps (reflex, reality, real place, and real communication) on brand app experiences. The study was conducted in groups of approximately 450 subjects. The study finds that gamification is positively related to brand app experiences, with fun and storytelling serving as motivating factors and having stronger effects on brand app experiences than other factors. Brand app users are more likely to seek fun and storytelling when using brand apps than other potential gamification sub-factors. The results suggest that companies should develop technologies to interact with customers, attract customers, and provide them with memorable experiences and fun.

This study examines whether a company’s sports sponsorship plays a buffering role that mitigates negative consumer perceptions of the company or its brands. The study highlights the necessity of examining how congruence between a sports event and a sponsoring brand is related to brand image or brand attitude formation. An experimental design was used to test the hypotheses. To prevent leakage of information about the experimental stimulus, two experiments were implemented in different places at the same time. There was no exposure to either experimental stimulus in advance. A random sampling scheme was used for group allocation. The results indicated that attitude and image formation changed considerably when sports sponsorship was strongly related to a company’s corporate image. In general, consumers experience amicable and favorable reactions and evaluations of a company that sponsors sports events that are highly congruent with the company’s corporate image. Consumers evaluate a company or product more favorably when a sports event is congruent with the company or product image. As indicated in the experimental results, sports sponsorship affects corporate brand attitude and purchase intention.

The study aims to identify motivational factors that lead to collective intelligence and understand how these factors relate to each other and to innovation in enterprises. The study used the convenience sampling of corporate employees who use collective intelligence from corporate panel members (n = 1500). Collective intelligence was found to affect work process, operations, and service innovation. When corporate employees work in an environment where collective intelligence (CI) is highly developed, work procedures or efficiency may differ depending on the onset of CI. This raises the importance of CI within an organization and implies the importance of finding means to vitalize CI. This study provides significant implications for corporations utilizing collective intelligence services, such as online communities. Firstly, such corporations vitalize their services by raising the quality of information and knowledge shared in their workplaces; and secondly, contribution motivations that consider the characteristics of knowledge and information contributors require further development.

Silybin, which belongs to the flavonolignan group, is the major component of the fruit extract of Silybum marianum (common name: milk thistle). Silybin is a medicinal compound with hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. In this study, silybin derivatives were produced through γ-radiolysis, and their tyrosinase inhibitory activities were evaluated to explore the enhanced activities of silybin derivatives compared to silybin (1). Isosilandrin (2) and 2,3-dehydrosilybin (3) were obtained from a silybin sample irradiated at 300 kGy. The optimal dose showed significant changes in radiolysis product content. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited an IC50 of 274.6 and 109.5 μM, respectively, which are more potent than that of 1 (IC50 > 500 μM). In addition, a molecular docking simulation revealed the binding affinity of these compounds to tyrosinase and their mechanisms of inhibition. Thus, γ-irradiation is an effective method for structural modification of silybin. We also demonstrated that 2,3-dehydrosilybin is a potential tyrosinase inhibitor.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum Linn.; Poaceae) is the second most cultivated food crop among all global cereal crop production. The high carbohydrate content of its grains provides energy, multiple nutrients, and dietary fiber. After threshing, a substantial amount of wheat hull is produced, which serves as the non-food component of wheat. For the valorization of these by-products as a new resource from which functional components can be extracted, the hull from the seeds of cultivated wheat mutant lines bred after γ-irradiation were collected. Untargeted metabolite analysis of the hull of the original cultivar (a crossbreeding cultivar., Woori-mil × D-7) and its 983 mutant lines were conducted using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry technique. A total of 55 molecules were tentatively identified, including 21 compounds found in the Triticum species for the first time and 13 compounds not previously described. Among them, seven flavonolignans with a diastereomeric structure, isolated as a single compound from the hull of T. aestivum in our previous study, were used as the standards in the metabolite analysis. The differences in their collision cross-section values were shown to contribute to the clear distinction between tricine-lignan stereoisomers. To select functionally active agents with anti-inflammatory activity among the identified compounds, the wheat hull samples were evaluated for their inhibitory effect on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. As a result of multivariate analysis based on the results of chemical and biological profiles of the wheat hull samples, 10 metabolites were identified as key markers, contributing to the distinction between active and inactive mutant lines. Considering that one of the four key markers attributed to anti-inflammatory activity has been identified to be a flavonolignan, the wheat hull could be a valuable source of diverse tricin-lignan type compounds and used as a natural health-promoting product in food supplements.

Lung cancer, which has a high incidence and mortality rates, often metastasizes and exhibits resistance to radiation therapy. Seongsanamide B has conformational features that suggest it has therapeutic potential; however, its antitumor activity has not yet been reported. We evaluated the possibility of seongsanamide B as a radiation therapy efficiency enhancer to suppress γ-irradiation-induced metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer. Seongsanamide B suppressed non-small cell lung cancer cell migration and invasion caused by γ-irradiation. Furthermore, it suppressed γ-irradiation-induced upregulation of Bcl-XL and its downstream signaling molecules, such as superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and phosphorylated Src, by blocking the nuclear translocation of phosphorylated STAT3. Additionally, seongsanamide B markedly modulated the γ-irradiation-induced upregulation of E-cadherin and vimentin. Consistent with the results obtained in vitro, while seongsanamide B did not affect xenograft tumor growth, it significantly suppressed γ-irradiation-induced metastasis by inhibiting Bcl-XL/SOD2/phosphorylated-Src expression and modulating E-cadherin and vimentin expression in a mouse model. Thus, seongsanamide B may demonstrate potential applicability as a radiation therapy efficiency enhancer for lung cancer treatment.

Policosanols (PCs) are long-chain linear aliphatic alcohols that are present in the primary leaves of cereal crops, such as barley and wheat, sugar cane wax, and beeswax. PCs have been used as a nutraceutical for improving hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia. However, the PC content in mutant wheat lines has not been investigated. To select highly functional wheat sprouts with a high content of PCs in wheat mutant lines developed via gamma-irradiated mutation breeding, we cultivated the sprouts of wheat mutant lines in a growth chamber with white LED light (6000 K) and analyzed the PC content in these samples using GC-MS. We studied the PC content in 91 wheat sprout samples: the original variety (Woori-mil × D-7; WS01), commercially available cv. Geumgang (WS87) and cv. Cheongwoo (WS91), and mutant lines (WS02–WS86 and WS88–WS90) developed from WS01 and WS87. Compared to WS01, 18 mutant lines exhibited a high total PC content (506.08–873.24 mg/100 g dry weight). Among them, the top 10 mutant lines were evaluated for their PC production after cultivating under blue (440 nm), green (520 nm), and red (660 nm) LED light irradiation; however, these colored LED lights reduced the total PC production by 35.8–49.7%, suggesting that the cultivation with white LED lights was more efficient in promoting PCs’ yield, compared to different LED lights. Therefore, our findings show the potential of radiation-bred wheat varieties as functional foods against hyperlipidemia and obesity and the optimal light conditions for high PC production.

The flowers of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. have been used as an herbal tea and in traditional medicine, and the plant has been developed to produce horticultural cultivars of various colors and shapes. In this study, a new chrysanthemum cultivar with dark purple petals (C. morifolium cv. ARTI-Dark Chocolate; ADC) was developed by radiation-induced mutation breeding of its original cultivar with purple striped white petals (C. morifolium cv. Noble Wine, NW). The phenolic profile and antioxidant property of ADC were investigated and compared with NW and the commercially available medicinal herb, C. morifolium with yellow petals (CM), in order to find a scientific support to produce a new source of natural antioxidant. Flavonoid and phenolic acid profiles of the ethanol extracts of the three flowers were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESIMS), while antioxidant properties were evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging assay. Among the tested flowers, ADC possessed the strongest antioxidant capacity and the highest phenolic contents. Flavonoids (acacetin, apigenin, luteolin, acacetin-7-O-β-glucoside, apigenin-7-O-β-glucoside, luteolin-7-O-β-glucoside, and linarin) and phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid and mixture of 1,4-, 1,5-, and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acids) were identified and quantified.

In this study, we attempted to identify and assess effects of isoegomaketone (IK) isolated from Perilla frutescens var. crispa on the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA was induced in male Balb/c mice by collagen antibody injection. Experimental animals were randomly divided into five groups: normal, collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA), CAIA + IK (5 mg/kg/day), CAIA + IK (10 mg/kg/day), and CAIA + apigenin (16 mg/kg/day) and respective treatments were administered via oral gavage once per day for four days. Mice treated with IK (10 mg/kg/day) developed less severe arthritis than the control CAIA mice. Arthritic score, paw volume, and paw thickness were less significant compared to the control CAIA mice at day seven (73%, 15%, and 14% lower, respectively). Furthermore, histopathological examination of ankle for inflammation showed that infiltration of inflammatory cells and edema formation were reduced by IK treatment. Similarly, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in whole blood was lower in mice treated with IK (10 mg/kg/day) by 85% when compared to CAIA mice. Taken together, treatment with IK delays the onset of the arthritis and alleviates the manifestations of arthritis in CAIA mice.