Fuzzy Union to Assess Climate Suitability of Annual Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor).

The Law of the Minimum is often implemented using t-norm or fuzzy intersection. We propose the use of t-conorm or fuzzy union for climate suitability assessment of a grass species using annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) as an example and evaluate the performance for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.

Dietary sericin enhances epidermal levels of glucosylceramides and ceramides with up-regulating protein expressions of glucosylceramide synthase, β-glucocerebrosidase and acidic sphingomyelinase in NC/Nga mice.

We have previously reported that dietary sericin improves epidermal dryness with the increased total Ceramide (Cer) in NC/Nga mice, an animal model of atopic dermatitis (AD). In this study, we hypothesized that the increased level of total Cer induced by dietary sericin would be related to the altered metabolism of glucosylceramide (GlcCer) and sphingomyelin (SM), major precursors of Cer generation. NC/Nga mice were fed a control diet (group CA: atopic control) or diets with 1% silk protein, either sericin (group S) or fibroin (group F) for 10 weeks.

High temperature- and high pressure-processed garlic improves lipid profiles in rats fed high cholesterol diets.

Garlic protects against degenerative diseases such as hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. However, raw garlic has a strong pungency, which is unpleasant. In this study, we examined the effect of high temperature/high pressure-processed garlic on plasma lipid profiles in rats.

Dietary silk protein, sericin, improves epidermal hydration with increased levels of filaggrins and free amino acids in NC/Nga mice.

Epidermal hydration is maintained primarily by natural moisturising factors (NMF), of which free amino acids (AA) are major constituents that are generated by filaggrin degradation. To identify dietary sources that may improve skin dryness of atopic dermatitis (AD), we investigated dietary effects of silk proteins, sericin and fibroin, on epidermal levels of hydration, filaggrins and free AA, as well as PPARγ, peptidylarginine deiminase-3 (PAD3) and caspase-14 proteins involved in filaggrin expression and degradation processes. NC/Nga mice, an animal model of AD, were fed a control diet (group CA: atopic control) or diets with 1 % sericin (group S) or fibroin (group F) for 10 weeks.

Oxidative stress increases phosphorylation of IkappaB kinase-alpha by enhancing NF-kappaB-inducing kinase after transient focal cerebral ischemia.

The IkappaB kinase (IKK) complex is a central component in the classic activation of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) pathway. It has been reported to function in physiologic responses, including cell death and inflammation. We have shown that IKK is regulated by oxidative status after transient focal cerebral ischemia (tFCI) in mice.

Stimulatory effect of dietary red ginseng on epidermal hydration and ceramide levels in ultraviolet-irradiated hairless mice.

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation induces skin dryness, largely by disruption of the epidermal barrier. In a search for dietary and plant compounds that would protect against skin dryness, we investigated the dietary effect of red ginseng (the steamed root of Panax ginseng C.A.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester, a component of beehive propolis, is a novel selective estrogen receptor modulator.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is an active ingredient of beehive propolis with a structure similar to phenolic acid. The estrogenic effects of propolis were previously demonstrated through the activation of an estrogen receptor. To identify the estrogenic properties of propolis, CAPE was evaluated using in vitro and in vivo methods.

Effects of red ginseng extract on UVB irradiation-induced skin aging in hairless mice.

Unlabelled: Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Korean herb medicine, has been widely used in China and Japan for fatigue and enhancement of resistance to many diseases.

Comparative effect of gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon) extract and borage oil on reversing epidermal hyperproliferation in guinea pigs.

To compare the systemic efficacy of borage oil (Borago officinalis: BO) and gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon), two plant species of the Boraginaceae family, epidermal hyperproliferation was induced in guinea pigs by a hydrogenated coconut oil diet for 8 weeks. Subsequently, guinea pigs were fed diets of BO (group HBO), organic extract (group HGO), or water extract (group HGW) of gromwell for 2 weeks. In groups HGO and HGW, proliferation scores and the level of ceramides, the major lipid maintaining epidermal barrier, were similar with those in normal control group BO fed BO diet for 10 weeks.