Acute noise is harmful on the anti-predator behaviour of commercially important juvenile coral reef fishes.

Fish stock enhancement has been utilised in Taiwan for more than 30 years, yet the impacts of anthropogenic noise on the enhancement programs remain unknown. Anthropogenic noise can induce physiological and behavioural changes in many marine fishes. Therefore, we investigated the effects of acute boat noise (from stock enhancement release sites) and chronic noise (from aquaculture processes) on the anti-predator behaviour in three juvenile reef fishes: Epinephelus coioides, Amphiprion ocellaris and Neoglyphidodon melas.

Protective Effect of Djulis () Extract against UV- and AGEs-Induced Skin Aging via Alleviating Oxidative Stress and Collagen Degradation.

Skin aging is a complex process involving photoaging and glycation stress, which share some fundamental pathways and have common mediators. They can cause skin damage and collagen degradation by inducing oxidative stress and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). (CF), also known as Djulis, is a traditional cereal in Taiwan.

The Anti-Melanogenesis Effect of 3,4-Dihydroxybenzalacetone through Downregulation of Melanosome Maturation and Transportation in B16F10 and Human Epidermal Melanocytes.

The biosynthesis pathway of melanin is a series of oxidative reactions that are catalyzed by melanin-related proteins, including tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2). Reagents or materials with antioxidative or free radical-scavenging activities may be candidates for anti-melanogenesis. 3,4-Dihydroxybenzalacetone (DBL) is a polyphenol isolated from fungi, such as (Persoon) Pilat and In this study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of DBL on antioxidation and melanogenesis in murine melanoma cells (B16F10) and human epidermal melanocytes (HEMs).

Sesamol Inhibited Ultraviolet Radiation-Induced Hyperpigmentation and Damage in C57BL/6 Mouse Skin.

Melanin is synthesized through a series of oxidative reactions initiated with tyrosine and catalyzed by melanogenesis-related proteins such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), dopachrome tautomerase (TRP-2), and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). Our previous study demonstrated that sesamol inhibited melanin synthesis through the inhibition of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R)/MITF/tyrosinase pathway in B16F10 cells. In this study, sesamol was applied to C57BL/6 mouse skin to understand its activity with respect to skin pigmentation.

Protective Effects and Mechanisms of -Phenethyl Caffeamide from UVA-Induced Skin Damage in Human Epidermal Keratinocytes through Nrf2/HO-1 Regulation.

The skin provides an effective barrier against physical, chemical, and microbial invasion; however, overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes excessive cellular oxidative stress, which leads to skin damage, DNA damage, mutations, and skin cancer. This study investigated the protective effects of -phenethyl caffeamide (K36) from UVA damage on human epidermal keratinocytes. We found that K36 reduced UVA-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and induced the expression of the intrinsic antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) by increasing the translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2⁻related factor 2 (Nrf2).

(-)-β-Homoarginine anhydride, a new antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitor, and further active components from .

One new amino acid derivative, (-)-β-homoarginine anhydride , as well as nine known compounds were isolated from . The structures of the isolates were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Among them, compounds and could notably dose-dependently inhibit ROS productions in HaCaT keratinocyte cells without cytotoxicity in the concentration range of 0.

New diterpenes leojaponins G-L from Leonurus japonicus.

Six new diterpenes, leojaponins G-L (1-6) along with 19 known compounds (7-25) were isolated from Leonurus japonicus. Their structures were elucidated by NMR, MS, IR, UV, and ECD spectroscopic data. Anti-melanogenesis assay indicated that 7 could safely and dose-dependently decrease melanin production in B16F10 melanoma cell with an IC value of 59.

Sesamol Inhibited Melanogenesis by Regulating Melanin-Related Signal Transduction in B16F10 Cells.

Melanin is synthesized through a series of interactions catalyzed by melanogenic enzymes such as tyrosinase, dopachrome tautomerase (tyrosinase-related protein-2; TRP-2), and tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1). Tyrosinase plays a key role in catalysing the initial and limiting steps of melanogenesis. The melanin that results from melanogenesis has the protective effect of absorbing ultraviolet radiation.

Fisetin Regulates Nrf2 Expression and the Inflammation-Related Signaling Pathway to Prevent UVB-Induced Skin Damage in Hairless Mice.

Chronic ultraviolet (UV) exposure may cause skin damage, disrupt skin barrier function, and promote wrinkle formation. UV induces oxidative stress and inflammation, which results in extracellular matrix degradation in the dermis and epidermal hyperplasia. Our previous study demonstrated that fisetin exerts photoprotective activity by inhibiting mitogen-activated protein kinase/activator protein-1/matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activation.

Comparison of E and NS1 antigens capture ELISA to detect dengue viral antigens from mosquitoes.

Background & Objectives: In the absence of an effective vaccine or specific antiviral therapy against dengue infection, the only available control measure remains focusing on the incrimination and reduction of vector (mosquito) populations to suppress virus transmission. Diagnosis of dengue in laboratory can be carried out using several approaches, however, their sensitivity and specificity vary from test-to-test. This study was conducted to evaluate the sensitivity and stability of viral envelope (E) and NS1 antigens detected by ELISA in dengue virus infected mosquitoes.

A proposal for a spiritual care assessment toolkit for religious volunteers and volunteer service users.

Based on the idea that volunteer services in healthcare settings should focus on the service users' best interests and providing holistic care for the body, mind, and spirit, the aim of this study was to propose an assessment toolkit for assessing the effectiveness of religious volunteers and improving their service. By analyzing and categorizing the results of previous studies, we incorporated effective care goals and methods in the proposed religious and spiritual care assessment toolkit. Two versions of the toolkit were created.

Religious coping methods of Taiwanese folk religion.

The purpose of this study was to explore religious coping methods employed by Taiwanese folk religious believers. This study applied qualitative research methods in data collection and data analysis by conducting semi-structured interviews with participants and analyzing the interview contents. We have identified fourteen coping methods that can be categorized into five different religious dimensions: belief, ritual, ethical, emotional and material.

Implementation of an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) direct-Ohmic contact structure on a GaN-based light emitting diode.

A GaN-based light-emitting diode (LED) with a direct-Ohmic contact structure, formed by an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) transparent film and Au thermal-diffused and removed layer, is studied. By depositing an Au metallic film on the Mg-doped GaN layer followed by thermal annealing and removed processes, an ITO direct-Ohmic contact at p-GaN/ITO interface is formed. An enhanced light output power of 18.

Long-term care residents' views about the contributions of Christian-based volunteers in Taiwan: a pilot study.

This pilot study explored the view from six long-term care residents on the contributions of religious volunteers. The findings suggest that religious volunteers may contribute to long-term care residents' religious or spiritual health more than non-religious volunteers. However, since religious volunteers lack professional training and competence to attend to patients' religious needs, they may not afford in-depth spiritual and religious services.

Performance investigation of GaN-based light-emitting diodes with tiny misorientation of sapphire substrates.

GaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) grown on c-plane vicinal sapphire substrates are fabricated and characterized. Based on the material quality and electrical properties, the LED with a 0.2 degrees tilt sapphire substrate (device A) exhibits the lowest defect density and high performance, while the LED with a 1.