Automated hand-marked semantic text recognition from photographs.

Automated text recognition techniques have made significant advancements; however, certain tasks still present challenges. This study is motivated by the need to automatically recognize hand-marked text on construction defect tags among millions of photographs. To address this challenge, we investigated three methods for automating hand-marked semantic text recognition (HMSTR)-a modified scene text recognition-based (STR) approach, a two-step HMSTR approach, and a lumped approach. The STR approach involves locating marked text using an object detection model and recognizing it using a competition-winning STR model. Similarly, the two-step HMSTR approach first localizes the marked text and then recognizes the semantic text using an image classification model. By contrast, the lumped approach performs both localization and identification of marked semantic text in a single step using object detection. Among these approaches, the two-step HMSTR approach achieved the highest F1 score (0.92) for recognizing circled text, followed by the STR approach (0.87) and the lumped approach (0.78). To validate the generalizability of the two-step HMSTR approach, subsequent experiments were conducted using check-marked text, resulting in an F1 score of 0.88. Although the proposed methods have been tested specifically with tags, they can be extended to recognize marked text in reports or books.

Quantification of construction waste prevented by BIM-based design validation: Case studies in South Korea.

Waste generated in construction and demolition processes comprised around 50% of the solid waste in South Korea in 2013. Many cases show that design validation based on building information modeling (BIM) is an effective means to reduce the amount of construction waste since construction waste is mainly generated due to improper design and unexpected changes in the design and construction phases. However, the amount of construction waste that could be avoided by adopting BIM-based design validation has been unknown. This paper aims to estimate the amount of construction waste prevented by a BIM-based design validation process based on the amount of construction waste that might be generated due to design errors. Two project cases in South Korea were studied in this paper, with 381 and 136 design errors detected, respectively during the BIM-based design validation. Each design error was categorized according to its cause and the likelihood of detection before construction. The case studies show that BIM-based design validation could prevent 4.3-15.2% of construction waste that might have been generated without using BIM.

Analysis of changes in microRNA expression profiles in response to the troxerutin-mediated antioxidant effect in human dermal papilla cells.

Dermal papilla (DP) cells function as important regulators of the hair growth cycle. The loss of these cells is a primary cause of diseases characterized by hair loss, including alopecia, and evidence has revealed significantly increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in hair tissue and DP cells in the balding population. In the present study, troxerutin, a flavonoid derivative of rutin, was demonstrated to have a protective effect against H2O2-mediated cellular damage in human DP (HDP) cells. Biochemical assays revealed that pretreatment with troxerutin exerted a protective effect against H2O2-induced loss of cell viability and H2O2-induced cell death. Further experiments confirmed that troxerutin inhibited the H2O2-induced production of ROS and upregulation of senescence-associated ß-galactosidase activity. Using microRNA (miRNA) microarrays, the present study identified 24 miRNAs, which were differentially expressed in the troxerutin-pretreated, H2O2-treated HDP cells. Subsequent prediction using bioinformatics analysis revealed that the altered miRNAs were functionally involved in several cell signaling pathways, including the mitogen-activated protein kinase and WNT pathways. Overall, these results indicated that ROS-mediated cellular damage was inhibited by troxerutin and suggested that the use of troxerutin may be an effective approach in the treatment of alopecia.

EPA attenuates ultraviolet radiation-induced downregulation of aquaporin-3 in human keratinocytes.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) that protects against photodamage and photocarcinogenesis in mammals. Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) is a water/glycerol transport protein that is found in basal layer keratinocytes. In this study, we have investigated the protective effect of EPA against ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced AQP3 downregulation in human keratinocytes. EPA treatment was found to increase AQP3 gene and protein expression in human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT). Using a specific inhibitor, we observed that the effect of EPA on AQP3 expression was mediated by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation. UVB radiation induced AQP3 downregulation in HaCaT cells, and it was found that EPA treatment attenuated UVB-induced AQP3 reduction and the associated cell death. UVB-induced downregulation of AQP3 was blocked by EPA and p38 inhibitor SB203580. Collectively, the present results show that EPA increased AQP3 expression and that this led to a reduction UVB-induced photodamage.

Arctiin blocks hydrogen peroxide-induced senescence and cell death though microRNA expression changes in human dermal papilla cells.

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence indicates that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are an important etiological factor for the induction of dermal papilla cell senescence and hair loss, which is also known alopecia. Arctiin is an active lignin isolated from Arctium lappa and has anti-inflammation, anti-microbial, and anti-carcinogenic effects. In the present study, we found that arctiin exerts anti-oxidative effects on human hair dermal papilla cells (HHDPCs). RESULTS: To better understand the mechanism, we analyzed the level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cytotoxicity, cell death, ROS production and senescence after arctiin pretreatment of HHDPCs. The results showed that arctiin pretreatment significantly inhibited the H2O2-induced reduction in cell viability. Moreover, H2O2-induced sub-G1 phase accumulation and G2 cell cycle arrest were also downregulated by arctiin pretreatment. Interestingly, the increase in intracellular ROS mediated by H2O2 was drastically decreased in HHDPCs cultured in the presence of arctiin. This effect was confirmed by senescence associated-beta galactosidase (SA-ß-gal) assay results; we found that arctiin pretreatment impaired H2O2-induced senescence in HHDPCs. Using microRNA (miRNA) microarray and bioinformatic analysis, we showed that this anti-oxidative effect of arctiin in HHDPCs was related with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Wnt signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data suggest that arctiin has a protective effect on ROS-induced cell dysfunction in HHDPCs and may therefore be useful for alopecia prevention and treatment strategies.

Photoprotective effect of arctiin against ultraviolet B-induced damage in HaCaT keratinocytes is mediated by microRNA expression changes.

Human keratinocytes are located in the outermost skin layer and thus particularly vulnerable to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation exposure. Previous studies have focused on the cellular and molecular perspectives of UVB-induced keratinocyte damage. In the present study, it was demonstrated that pretreatment with the phytochemical arctiin, one of the lignin compounds, protects human HaCaT keratinocytes from UVB-mediated damage. Biochemical assays revealed that UVB-induced cytotoxicity and cell death were significantly reduced in arctiin-pretreated HaCaT cells. In addition, arctiin promoted the wound healing and DNA repair properties of keratinocytes. The photoprotective effects of arctiin were associated with changes in the expression levels of specific microRNAs (miRNAs) in HaCaT cells. A bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that the miRNAs were functionally involved in cancer, cell cycle, and Wnt and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. In the present study, the results from the cellular and molecular assays demonstrated a novel role for arctiin in UVB protection in keratinocytes, which is mediated by miRNA responses and the suppression of UVB-induced cell death. Furthermore, arctiin is implicated as a potential chemopreventive agent through UVB protection of keratinocytes.

Troxerutin induces protective effects against ultraviolet B radiation through the alteration of microRNA expression in human HaCaT keratinocyte cells.

Ultraviolet light B (UVB), contained in sunlight, induces damaging effects on skin by impairing cells in the epidermis and dermis. In particular, keratinocytes in the epidermis are those cells which are mainly affected by UVB light. UVB radiation induces cell death, growth arrest, DNA damage and restricts cell migration. Various phytochemicals have been shown to alleviate UVB-induced cellular damage. Troxerutin is a natural flavonoid rutin mainly found in extracts of Sophora japonica, and is a well-known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound used in experimental mouse models. In this study, we examined the effects of troxerutin on UVB-induced damage in HaCaT cells. HaCaT cells were pre-treated with troxerutin (0-10 µM) and then exposed to UVB radiation (50 mJ/cm2). Cell viability, cell cycle and migration assays were performed to determine the protective effects of troxerutin on the cells. DNA repair activity was also measured. Troxerutin protected the cells against UVB-induced damage, such as cell death, growth arrest, restriction of cell migration and decreased DNA repair activity in HaCaT cells. Analyses of microRNA (miRNA) expression demonstrated that the protective effects of troxerutin correlated with alterations in miRNA expression, as indicated by Gene Ontology analyses of putative target genes. Overall, our data demonstrate that troxerutin exerts protective effects against UVB-induced damage by regulating miRNA expression.

Altered miRNA expression profiles are involved in the protective effects of troxerutin against ultraviolet B radiation in normal human dermal fibroblasts.

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which troxerutin protects cells against ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. First, we demonstrate that pre-treatment with troxerutin protects normal human dermal fibroblasts (nHDFs) against UVB-induced cytotoxicity. As shown by migration assay and DNA repair analysis, troxerutin increased cell migration and DNA repair activity in the nHDFs. Subsequently, we analyzed microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in the nHDFs. miRNAs are 19- to 24-nucleotide (nt) non-coding RNA molecules that regulate the translation of target genes through RNA interference. In UVB-exposed cells, miRNAs act on crucial functions, such as apoptosis and cellular senescence. miRNA expression is significantly altered during the protective process induced by phytochemicals. Therefore, understanding changes that occur in miRNA expression profiles may help to elucidate the protective mechanisms of troxerutin. We identified 11 miRNAs that were significantly (>2-fold) upregulated and 12 that were significantly downregulated (>2-fold) following treatment of the nHDFs with troxerutin. In addition, we investigated the biological functions of these miRNAs through the prediction of miRNA targets and Gene Ontology analysis of the putative targets. Overall, our findings indicate that pre-treatment with troxerutin increases the viability of UVB-exposed nHDFs through the alteration of the miRNA expression profiles.

Arctiin induces an UVB protective effect in human dermal fibroblast cells through microRNA expression changes.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces severe alterations in the molecular and cellular components of normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells by disrupting many intracellular transduction cascades. Although UV responses have been well documented at the genome and proteome levels, UV protective effects have not been elucidated at these levels. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate that arctiin, a phytochemical isolated from the plant Arctium lappa, induced a protective effect against UVB radiation by changing microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles. Using flow cytometry, and water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-1)-based cell viability, wound healing, and DNA repair assays we showed that pretreatment with arctiin prior to UVB irradiation reduced UVB-induced apoptosis, cell migration defects, and DNA damage in NHDF cells. It was also found that arctiin­induced UVB protection is associated with altered miRNA expression profiles. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the deregulated miRNAs were functionally involved in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling and cancer signaling pathways. The results suggest that arctiin acts as a UVB protective agent by altering specific miRNA expression in NHDF cells.

Arctiin blocks hydrogen peroxide-induced senescence and cell death though microRNA expression changes in human dermal papilla cells

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence indicates that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are an important etiological factor for the induction of dermal papilla cell senescence and hair loss, which is also known alopecia. Arctiin is an active lignin isolated from Arctium lappa and has anti-inflammation, anti-microbial, and anti-carcinogenic effects. In the present study, we found that arctiin exerts anti-oxidative effects on human hair dermal papilla cells (HHDPCs). RESULTS: To better understand the mechanism, we analyzed the level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cytotoxicity, cell death, ROS production and senescence after arctiin pretreatment of HHDPCs. The results showed that arctiin pretreatment significantly inhibited the H2O2-induced reduction in cell viability. Moreover, H2O2-induced sub-G1 phase accumulation and G2 cell cycle arrest were also downregulated by arctiin pretreatment. Interestingly, the increase in intracellular ROS mediated by H2O2 was drastically decreased in HHDPCs cultured in the presence of arctiin. This effect was confirmed by senescence associated-beta galactosidase (SA-ß-gal) assay results; we found that arctiin pretreatment impaired H2O2-induced senescence in HHDPCs. Using microRNA (miRNA) microarray and bioinformatic analysis, we showed that this anti-oxidative effect of arctiin in HHDPCs was related with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Wnt signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data suggest that arctiin has a protective effect on ROS-induced cell dysfunction in HHDPCs and may therefore be useful for alopecia prevention and treatment strategies.