Mushrooms have been widely cultivated and consumed as foods and herbal medicines owing to their various biological properties. However, few studies have evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of mushrooms. Here, we investigated the effects of mushroom extracts (MEs) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in macrophages (RAW264.7 cells). First, we extracted MEs with either water or ethanol. Using LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells, we measured cell proliferation and NO production. Gene expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β was assessed by RT-PCR, and protein abundance of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and phosphorylation of p65 were determined by immunoblotting. MEs prepared using both water and ethanol inhibited LPS-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells. Nitric oxide (NO) levels induced by LPS were reduced by treatment with MEs. Isaria japonica Yasuda water extracts and Umbilicaria esculenta (Miyoshi) Minks ethanol extracts significantly decreased the mRNA expression of inflammation-related cytokine genes including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. Similarly, the protein abundance of iNOS and COX-2 was also decreased. The phosphorylation of p65, a subunit of nuclear factor-κB was at least partly suppressed by MEs. This study suggests that mushrooms could be included in the diet to prevent and treat macrophage-related chronic immune diseases.

The presence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is omniscient, led by full force emergence of technologies that make biological, physical, and digital worlds borderless. All industries which jump on the bandwagon, can observe convergence and merging of bushiness happening within, between and across industries. As the shipping and port logistics industry is said to be in eye of this storm, the purpose of this study is to investigate the shipping and port logistics industry’s awareness regarding 4th IR, as well to identify necessary countermeasures in responding to progression of this trend. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology was then used to compare the importance of four phases of countermeasures, reviewed by experts in the field. Results showed that countermeasures should be first orchestrated to the ‘Merging and Integration of Inter-industry', then followed by ‘Preemptive Introduction of Advanced Technology', ‘Expansion of Intra-industry Businesses’, and eventually 'Automation, Unmanned Technology'. Last but not least, four phases of countermeasures which should be introduced and executed one phase after another, are outlined for the shipping and port logistics industry to boost its competitiveness in addressing this progressive trend.