Search Results (113)

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder with immune imbalance, including elevated IgE levels and mast cell activation mediated by Th2 cytokines, leading to allergic inflammation and impaired skin barrier function. Current treatment limitations highlight the need for safer and more effective AD alternatives. We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of multi-strain probiotics, BCL-2 (comprising Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LRCC5264 and Bifidobacterium longum RAPO), in alleviating AD clinical signs and elucidate its underlying immunomodulatory mechanisms. In vitro, BCL-2 treatment significantly reduced IL-4 secretion in RBL-2H3 cells, with higher inhibitory effects than single-strain treatment. In vivo, BCL-2 (10⁶–10⁸ CFU/day) was orally administered for 28 days to AD-induced Nc/Nga mice. BCL-2 treatment improved the clinical signs and histopathological features of AD, including epidermal hypertrophy, hyperkeratosis, and mast cell infiltration (p < 0.05). It also reduced neutrophil and eosinophil counts and modulated cytokine and chemokine profiles, notably decreasing IL-17, IL-5, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, TARC, and eotaxin, while increasing IL-10, IFN-γ, and IL-12 (p < 0.05). Among the tested concentrations, 10⁷ CFU exhibited the most effective immune modulation with no adverse effects on body weight. These findings demonstrate the therapeutic potential of BCL-2 in AD; however, further studies are required to validate its clinical relevance. Full article

Conventional methods of studying houses’ Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) typically fail to investigate the impact of interrelated contextual elements instead fixating exclusively on the specific attributes of individual houses. This study presents a new method that combines network graph analytics (NGA) with interactive visual analytics to investigate hidden linkages at the individual house level. Our proposed platform collects and analyses data related to housing attributes, creates a network based on the links between these attributes, and employs sophisticated graph algorithms to provide visual representations. Users have the ability to dynamically choose postcodes, metrics, and attributes, which, in turn, generate layouts of networks that provide valuable insights. The visualisation utilises colour gradients and node metrics to improve the comprehensibility of energy performance areas. The platform enables homeowners and stakeholders to comprehend the interrelationships between aspects such as neighbouring housing features, and house infrastructure. The results prove the efficacy of the strategy by giving a collection of case studies that encompass various Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) ranging from A to G. Each case study demonstrates the evolution of network architectures and visual assessments, showcasing the energy performance linked to certain EPC ratings. The platform offers a user-friendly interface for stakeholders to investigate and understand attribute relationships. Full article

Sign language recognition (SLR) plays a crucial role in bridging the communication gap between deaf individuals and the hearing population. However, achieving subject-independent SLR remains a significant challenge due to variations in signing styles, hand shapes, and movement patterns among users. Traditional Markov Chain-based models struggle with generalizing across different signers, often leading to reduced recognition accuracy and increased uncertainty. These limitations arise from the inability of conventional models to effectively capture diverse gesture dynamics while maintaining robustness to inter-user variability. To address these challenges, this study proposes an adaptive SLR framework that integrates Markov Chains with a Niching Genetic Algorithm (NGA). The NGA optimizes the transition probabilities and structural parameters of the Markov Chain model, enabling it to learn diverse signing patterns while avoiding premature convergence to suboptimal solutions. In the proposed SLR framework, GA is employed to determine the optimal transition probabilities for the Markov Chain components operating across multiple signing contexts. To enhance the diversity of the initial population and improve the model’s adaptability to signer variations, a niche model is integrated using a Context-Based Clearing (CBC) technique. This approach mitigates premature convergence by promoting genetic diversity, ensuring that the population maintains a wide range of potential solutions. By minimizing gene association within chromosomes, the CBC technique enhances the model’s ability to learn diverse gesture transitions and movement dynamics across different users. This optimization process enables the Markov Chain to better generalize subject-independent sign language recognition, leading to improved classification accuracy, robustness against signer variability, and reduced misclassification rates. Experimental evaluations demonstrate a significant improvement in recognition performance, reduced error rates, and enhanced generalization across unseen signers, validating the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Full article

An expanded Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center Next Generation Attenuation Phase 2 (NGA-West2) ground motion database, compiled using shallow crustal earthquakes in active crustal regions (ACRs), was used to develop the closed-form GS24b backbone ground motion model (GMM) for the RotD50 horizontal components of peak ground acceleration (PGA), peak ground velocity (PGV), and 5% damped elastic pseudo-absolute response spectral accelerations (SA). The GS24b model is applicable to earthquakes with moment magnitudes of 4.0 ≤ M ≤ 8.5, at rupture distances of 0 ≤ $R_{rup}$ ≤ 400 km, with time-averaged S-wave velocity in the upper 30 m of the profile at 150 ≤ $V_{S30}$ ≤ 1500 m/s, and for periods of 0.01 ≤ T ≤ 10 s. The new backbone model includes $V_{S30}$ site correction developed based on multiple representative S-wave velocity profiles. For crustal wave attenuation, we used the apparent anelastic attenuation of SA—Q_SA (f, M). In contrast to the GK17, the GS24b backbone is a generic ACR model designed specifically to be adjusted to any ACRs. The GS24bc is an example of a partially non-ergodic model created by adjusting the backbone GS24b model for magnitude M, S-wave velocity $V_{S30}$, and fault rupture distance residuals. Full article

The Inula japonica flower is traditionally used to alleviate lung inflammatory symptoms. While the therapeutic effect of the I. japonica flower on lung diseases has been suggested, the efficacy of the I. japonica flower in treating atopic dermatitis (AD) remains unknown. We investigated the effects of a water extract of the I. japonica flower (WEIF) on Dermatophagoides farinae extract (DfE)-induced AD-like inflammation in NC/Nga mice. Histological analysis of the epidermal structure, mast cell infiltration, and barrier protein expression were examined. Serum inflammatory mediator levels were assessed. To elucidate the regulatory pathway of WEIF, the effects of 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (DCQA) and 1-O-acetylbritannilactone (ABL) in WEIF on the JAK/STAT pathway were evaluated in interferon-γ/tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-stimulated human adult epidermal keratinocytes. WEIF ameliorated DfE-induced skin inflammation by reducing dermatitis scores, mast cell infiltration, skin structural damage, and serum inflammatory mediator levels. Additionally, DCQA and ABL significantly inhibited JAK/STAT activation in interferon-γ/TNF-α-treated keratinocytes. Furthermore, ligand-binding analysis revealed high binding affinities of DCQA and ABL for JAK. These results suggest the pharmacological potential of WEIF to alleviate DfE-induced skin inflammation by inhibiting the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. In conclusion, these findings support the development of WEIF as a therapeutic treatment for AD-like skin inflammatory diseases. Full article

The study of antagonistic bacterial strains isolated from the soil around durian tree roots demonstrated their ability to inhibit the growth of Phytophthora palmivora. The pathogens were screened from 30 samples collected around durian trees (leaves, soil around the roots, and debris under the tree) showing symptoms of root and stem rot disease. A total of 17 pathogen strains were isolated and grouped into 3 groups, TNP05, MNP13, and KNP21, originating from Chanthaburi province, Thailand. When P. palmivora isolates were tested for pathogenicity on leaves and durian trees, it was found that the strain MNP13 had the highest capacity to cause root and stem rot disease. A total of 196 beneficial bacteria isolates were collected from several samples around durian trees. The samples included leaves, soil surrounding the roots, and organic debris beneath the trees. Based on their colony characteristics on nutrient glucose agar (NGA), these isolates were divided into 8 groups. The efficacy of the beneficial bacteria against root and stem rot disease was tested using the Dual culture method and arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 5 replications. The experiment showed that bacterial isolates NJTU05, NJTU10, and NJTU13 effectively inhibited the growth of P. palmivora isolate MNP13, with inhibition rates of 76.66, 67.59, and 69.07%, respectively, compared to chemical control using metalaxyl 80% WP. Among the tested strains, NJTU05 was identified as the most effective bacterial strain for controlling major durian diseases. Biochemical identification and 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that bacterial strain NJTU05 was closely related to Brevibacillus formosus with a 99.70% identity. Full article

Atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin condition, is a common allergic disorder. The human skin, the largest organ, serves as the first barrier in protecting the body against various external threats. Human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs) in the epidermal layer and human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) in the dermis of the skin are implicated in AD-associated skin inflammation through the secretion of diverse inflammatory mediators, including chemokines. Sigesbeckia pubescens Makino (SP), a traditional Korean and Chinese herbal remedy, is used for treating inflammatory conditions. While several pharmacological effects of SP extract (SPE) have been documented, its specific inhibitory effect on AD-related skin inflammation remains unexplored. Hence, oral administration of SPE to NC/Nga mice reduced the severity of house dust mite extract-induced dermatitis, accompanied by lowered levels of serum inflammatory mediators, decreased epidermal thickness, reduced mast cell infiltration, and restoration of skin barrier function within skin lesions. In conclusion, SPE has demonstrated the ability to alleviate skin inflammation and protect the skin barrier and shows potential as a therapeutic option for AD. SPE inhibited proinflammatory chemokine production by modulating the Janus kinase (JAK) 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins (STAT) 1/STAT3 signaling pathway in IFN-γ- and TNF-α-stimulated skin cells. Full article

In Thailand, mangrove forests form a major component of the Andaman coastal ecosystems in the southern provinces. However, studies on their microbial assemblage largely revolved around groups of bacteria, fungi, and eukaryotic microalgae, while the diversity of cyanobacteria in these regions remains almost unknown. This taxonomic study applied the polyphasic approach to examine seven cyanobacterial strains collected from different mangrove environments (including soil crust, tree bark, wood, and rock surface) across Ranong, Phang-Nga, and Phuket provinces. The comprehensive analysis combining morphology, ecology, 16S rRNA phylogenetic relationships, genetic identity, ITS secondary structure, and ITS dissimilarity resulted in the first records of the genera Picosynechococcus, Allocoleopsis, and Sirenicapillaria in Thailand, and led to the description of a new species, Picosynechococcus mangrovensis sp. nov. This new species was differentiated from the type species P. fontinalis based on the distinct 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic position, low 16S rRNA genetic similarity, its slightly halophilic nature, and ability to form pseudo-filaments with up to 160 cells. Our research significantly expands the documented cyanobacterial diversity of Southeast Asian mangrove ecosystems, establishing a critical foundation for future ecological and biotechnological investigations in these understudied yet vital tropical habitats. Full article

Background: Chronic pruritus and inflammatory skin lesions, characterized by high recurrence, are hallmarks of atopic dermatitis (AD). Despite its increasing prevalence, the development of therapeutic agents for AD remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of deep sea minerals (DSMs) in mist and cream formulations on the development of AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice exposed to either Dermatophagoides farinae body extract (Dfb) or 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). Methods: To induce AD, 100 mg of Biostir AD cream containing crude Dfb or 200 µL of DNCB (1%) was topically applied to the dorsal skin of NC/Nga mice. Additionally, 200 µL of deep sea mineral mist (DSMM) and 10 mg of deep sea mineral cream (DSMC) were applied daily to the dorsal skin for 4 weeks. AD was assessed through visual observations, clinical scoring of skin severity, serological tests, and histological analysis. Results: Visual and clinical evaluations revealed that DSMs inhibited the formation of AD-like skin lesions. DSMs also significantly affected trans-epidermal water loss and erythema. Treatment with DSMs resulted in reduced serum levels of IgE, IFN-γ, and IL-4. Histological analysis indicated that DSMs decreased skin thickness. Immunostaining for the CD4 antigen demonstrated a reduced infiltration of CD4⁺ T cells, which drive the Th2 response in AD, following DSM treatment. Conclusions: In conclusion, the cream formulation of DSMs showed better results than the mist formulation. These results suggest that DSMs may be an effective treatment for AD-like skin lesions, especially in cream formulation. Full article

Plant biostimulants have been the subject of intense interest in recent years. The aim of this study was to assess, during the years 2021–2022, the effect of mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizer, experimental (PGPB) and commercial (G) microbial biostimulants, and humic substance product (A) on the soil microbial communities, and yield of strawberries, under field conditions. Dehydrogenase activity was significantly affected by nitrogen fertilization, but an increase occurred in the treatment N+G. The treatments N+G, N+G+A, and N+PGPB+A increased FDA hydrolysis, and phosphatase activity. All plant biostimulants increased basal as well as substrate-induced respiration. Culturable bacteria (total counts, dormant forms, actinomycetes) were not clearly affected by treatment. Based on 16S rRNA analysis, bacterial community composition was different in N+PGPB+A and N+G+A treatments. The number of cultivable fungi was significantly lower in N+PGPB and N+PGPB+A treatments. The genus of fungi Pilidium, a potential phytopathogen of strawberries, was present in the second year, but in these treatments, it was absent. In the second year, strawberry yield was shown to be 95% higher in the N+PGPB+A treatment than in the control. Microbial biostimulants in combination with humic substances represent a potential solution in increasing strawberry production. Full article

In the next decade, the amount of network traffic is estimated to reach Zettabytes. The future International Mobile Telecommunications-2030 (IMT-2030) standard of mobile networks, known as 6G, introduces an important paradigm shift in the context of wireless communication systems thanks to capabilities such as low latency and high data rates. Official documents on 6G standardization have been released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). However, other visions and use cases of 6G have been proposed by industrial stakeholders and research institutions, thus generating a multitude of use cases and usage scenarios that are only apparently different from each other. This paper would contribute to providing a holistic vision of the 6G-enabled use cases and potentially impacted vertical market sectors. The differences and similarities between what has been proposed by ITU and other initiatives are identified through a comparison based on the technological characterization of use cases and of the considered vertical market sectors. The main findings presented in this paper demonstrate that many of the use cases proposed by ITU and by the other initiatives are almost identical in many cases. Full article

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder associated with significant morbidity, including pruritus, recurrent skin lesions, and immune dysregulation. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidative and anti-AD effects of peptides derived from hydrolyzed Sebastes schlegelii (Korea rockfish) tail by-products. Hydrolysates were prepared using various enzymes, including Alcalase, Flavourzyme, Neutrase, and Protamex. Among them, Protamex hydrolysates demonstrated the highest ABTS radical scavenging activity with an RC₅₀ value of 69.69 ± 0.41 µg/mL. Peptides were further isolated from the Protamex hydrolysate using dialysis, fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The most active peptide, STPO-B-II, exhibited a single peak and was identified as a sequence of Glu-Leu-Ala-Lys-Thr-Trp-His-Asp-Met-Lys, designated as MP003. In vivo experiments were conducted using a 2,4-dinitrochlorbenzene (DNCB)-induced AD model in NC/Nga mice. The isolated peptide, MP003, showed significantly reduced AD symptoms, including erythema, lichenification, and collagen deposition. Additionally, MP003 decreased epidermal and dermal thickness, eosinophil, and mast cell infiltration and downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and IgE in serum and skin tissues. These findings suggest that peptides derived from Sebastes schlegelii tail by-products may serve as potential therapeutic agents for AD. Full article

Thailand is a prominent global producer of mangoes, providing a wide range of mango cultivars and dealing with the challenge of managing biomass. Thus, biorefining mango peel to extract valuable components has the potential to reduce organic waste and create a new revenue source for the mango processing sector. This study aims to examine the physiology, physiochemical, and chemical characteristics in peel of nine Thai mango cultivars, along with the relationship between their characteristics. The Thai mango cultivars Mahachanok, Chok anan, and Rad exhibited a yellow appearance, while the other six cultivars appeared yellow-green. However, the firmness of the fruit was directly correlated with the firmness of the pulp. A proximate composition study revealed that the predominant constituent of mango peel was carbohydrates, comprising up to 75% of its composition. This was followed by fibre, which accounted for up to 13%. The Nga mango had the highest levels of total phenolic content (220 mgGAE/g) and total flavonoid content (5.5 mgCE/g). The primary phenolic acids identified in Thai mango peel were epicatechin, caffeic acid, catechin, and gallic acid. The Mahachanok cultivar exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, as determined by the ABTS and DPPH assays, with values of 85.67% and 85.78%, respectively. This study demonstrated the connections between the physiochemical characteristics of mangoes and their chemical compositions in different cultivars, indicating the possibility of choosing particular cultivars for extracting targeted bioactive compounds. The multivariate analyses revealed that there was no correlation between the physiochemical and chemical profiles of mangoes. This study highlights the significance of mango peel as a valuable by-product that has significant environmental and economic ramifications for the mango processing industry. Full article

The object of the study was to assess the effect of different finishing and polishing systems on the roughness and gloss of a 3D-printed permanent restorative material. One 3D printable Permanent material was selected for the study. Squared-shaped specimens (14 mm²; 5 mm thickness) were obtained by designing and printing. Eighty specimens were produced and randomly assigned (n = 10) to 8 finishing and polishing methods: Sof-Lex™ Spiral Wheels (SW), Sof-Lex™ XT Pop-on Disc (SD), Identoflex Lucent no paste (Ln), Identoflex Lucent + paste (Lp), Resin Nitrogen polymerized (NG), Optiglaze (OG), Opti1Step (OS), and HiLusterPLUS (HL). Surface roughness and gloss were then measured by a roughness meter and a glossmeter, respectively. For roughness, statistically significant differences were found (p < 0.001), with NG(a) > SD(b) = OG(b) = Lp(b); Lp(b) = Ln(bc); Ln(bc) = OS(cd); OS(cd) = SW(de); and SW(de) = HL(e). For gloss, statistically significant differences were also identified (p < 0.001) with NG(a) > SD(b) > Lp(c) = OS(c) = OG(cd); OG(cd) = Ln(d) > HL(e) = SW(e). The nitrogen chamber polymerization showed better results for both roughness and gloss. Multi-step finishing/polishing systems were able to produce smoother surfaces than 1-step and 2-step systems. Full article

Defect single-photon emitters (SPE) in gallium nitride (GaN) have garnered great attentions in recent years due to the advantages they offer, including the ability to operate at room temperature, narrow emission linewidths, and high brightness. Nevertheless, the precise nature of the single-photon emission mechanism remains uncertain due to the multitude of potential defects that can form in GaN. In this work, our systematical investigation with the ab initio calculation indicates that carbon and silicon, as common dopants in gallium nitride, can interact with intrinsic defects in GaN and form new high-speed defect single-photon sources. Our findings identify a ternary defect N_GaV_NC_N that possesses a short lifetime of less than 1 ns and a small zero-photon line (ZPL) of 864 nm. In other words, this defect can serve as a high-speed single photon source in the short wavelength window for fiber communication. In sharp contrast, the Si-supported defect N_GaV_NSi_N has a higher unoccupied defect energy level which enters the conduction band and is therefore unsuitable for single photon emission. A systematic investigation has been conducted into the potential defects, thermal stability, and single-photon emission properties. The relaxation calculation and self-consistent calculations employed the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof exchange-correlation functional and Heyd–Scuseria–Ernzerhof exchange-correlation functional, respectively. These findings indicate the potential for high-performance single-photon sources through carbon or silicon doping of GaN. Full article