Macrophages secrete various cytokines and inflammatory mediators, resulting in playing critical roles in inflammation and immunity. In this study, we investigated anti-inflammatory and immune enhancing properties of PB203, which is a water-soluble extract powder from the fruit of Actinidia polygama, in macrophages. A. polygama is a medicinal plant traditionally known to treat abdominal pain, stroke and rheumatoid arthritis. However, the molecular mechanism for the immune modulation of PB203 is still unclear. Therefore, we assessed the effects of PB203 on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and immune activation, and elucidated its action mechanism in mouse macrophage, RAW264.7 cells. PB203 significantly suppressed not only the levels of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), but also the mRNA expression of inducible NO synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, TNF-α and IL-1β in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. We also found that these anti-inflammatory activities of PB203 were mediated through the inhibition of toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) induced by LPS. On the other hand, in normal macrophages, PB203 dose-dependently elevated the gene expression of immunomodulators including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and TNF-α in a statistically significant manner. The expression of IL-10, IL-1β, IL-6, and interferon-γ were also remarkably upregulated by the treatment of 500 μg/mL PB203. In addition, PB203-mediated production of NO and TNF-α was attenuated by NF-κB inhibition in RAW264.7 cells. Interestingly, PB203 promoted the production of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2, resulting in the increased level of heme oxygenase-1, which is a representative antioxidant enzyme, in both LPS-stimulated and normal RAW264.7 cells. Taken all together, these results suggest that PB203 may have great potential as the candidate of anti-inflammatory agent for improving inflammatory diseases or immune enhancing agent for preventing infectious diseases. Keywords: Actinidia polygama extract (PB203); macrophages; immunomodulator; nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB); heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)

Repetitive or excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes oxidative stress-mediated skin photoaging through the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. Actinidia polygama is known as a medical plant used in oriental medicine for treating several diseases such as abdominal pain, stroke and rheumatoid arthritis. Recently, it was reported that A. polygama extract had anti-wrinkle and skin hydrating properties in ultraviolet B (UVB)-exposed hairless mice. However, the molecular biological mechanism of this extract on alleviating skin photoaging is still unknown. Therefore, we investigated the anti-photoaging effects of PB203, which is the powder of A. polygama extract, in the in vivo and in vitro photoaging models. First, PB203 showed 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activities due to the presence of anti-oxidant components including flavonoids and polyphenols. In UVB-irradiated hairless mice, oral administration of PB203 (100 mg/ kg) significantly improved wrinkle formation, skin dehydration, elasticity and skin barrier function by decreasing the levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and increasing those of collagen I, filaggrin, involucrin and loricrin. Especially, the reduced production of p-p38, p-c-Jun and p-c-Fos by PB203 reversed the elevated levels of MMPs mediated by UVB exposure, resulting in the upregulation of collagen I expression. Consistent with these animal data, PB203 remarkably enhanced the mRNA expression of collagen I, filaggrin, involucrin and loricrin, while suppressed that of MMPs in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. And PB203 increased the wound recovery rate of cells by promoting their proliferation and migration. Moreover, PB203 significantly recovered the activity of superoxide dismutase inhibited by UVB in both mice and cells. In conclusion, PB203, which protects skin from UVB-induced photodamage by exerting antioxidant properties, can be considered to have sufficient potential as a functional ingredient or therapeutic agent improving skin photoaging and related skin symptoms.

Artemisia annua (AA) is a well-known as a source of antimalarial drug (artemisinin), which also has been traditionally used as an antipyretic and hemostatic agent in Korea and China. In preclinical effective study, a water extract of Artemisia annua (WEAA) ameliorated weight gain and hepatic lipid accumulation in high-fat diet-fed mice. The plasma levels of triglyceride, AST, and ALT were reduced in the WEAA-treated group. Based on these results, the safety of WEAA as a functional ingredient for liver health was evaluated in this repeated dose oral toxicity study before the clinical trial. Sprague- Dawley (SD) rats were treated by gavage with 20 times (1,000 mg/kg) more than the effective dose for 13 weeks. All rats had survived at the end of the study, and there were no changes indicating obviously abnormal clinical sign and behavior. The treatment of WEAA were also observed no obvious toxicities in the body weights, urine, hematological, serum biochemical, ophthalmic and histopathological examinations. Based on the results of this study, the NOAEL (no-observed-adverse-effect level) of WEAA in SD rats was estimated to be 1,000 mg/kg. In conclusion, WEAA could be used as a safe functional ingredient for the improvement of liver health in individuals with hepatic diseases including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

The established supply chain format has been radically changing from a three-month production to a shortened lead-time in the fashion industry. The faster pace of fashion trends, changing consumer lifestyle, and consequent demands for newness have been mainly attributed to the rapid development of high-tech information systems and mass communication. In particular, global fast-fashion leaders have become more successful by producing not as was initially planned and forecasted, but with an agility subject to customer responses. Latest customer trends are captured quickly, and production and distribution is steered to meet the response. In order to further maximize benefits and efficiency in a sustainable manner, the fast-fashion industry is seeking a production optimization model under which product attributes are defined in a short period of time, and an optimal quantity of products by style is produced. This paper aims to provide an optimal production quantity which subsequently requires an optimal parts procurement from the perspective of the supplier. This is obtained in order to minimize the cost function by identifying cost factors through an economic analysis technique. In this study, we propose a model for optimal production and its parts procurement to maximize target sales and profits by taking inventory and pricing into account.

The flight behavior of Pieris rapae were compared to understand how temperature affects flight behavior. The effects of temperature on insect thermal performance curves are generally poorly understood but significant for understanding responses to insect gardening. Temperature is a physical factor as well as a stimulus for insects behavior. In Pieris rapae, we examine the physiological effects of temperature-dependence of flight behavior. At test temperature increased, flight speed typically increased. The maximum flight speed of P. rapae at given temperatures show a straight line relationship between 20, 25 and 30℃. Therefore, the effects of test temperature were significant for flight behavior.

In order to establish an indoor-rearing system for Copper butterflies; Large Copper butterfly, Lycaena dispar, the effect of temperature, photoperiod on larval development was investigated. As temperature increased, the developmental period was gradually reduced. The developmental periods of Large Copper larvae was 11.0 days and 28.5 days at 30℃ and 17.5℃, respectively. We investigated the sensitivity of stages to diapause induction. The experiment involved transfer of individuals from diapause averting (LD 16:8 h, 25℃) to diapause inducing condition (LD 8:16 h, 20℃) at various stages. Daipause was induced in 95.2% insect transferred at hatching larvae, in 15.6% of insects transferred at 2nd stadium molt, in 0% of insects transferred at after 3rd stadium molt. Percentage of diapause induction increased with the length of short days and low temperature. The main sensitive stage to photoperiodic and temperature induction of diapause determination was the early first larval instar. The diapause sensitivity began 14 days and ended 20 days after hatching larvae. The main stage sensitive to photoperiodic induction of diapause determination was the early first larval instar under low temperature and short day length. In relation to diapause termination, pupation was accelerated with cold treatment after diapausing 15 to 20 days and suitable chilling temperature was 8℃.