Surgical Oocyte Retrieval and the Developmental Potential of the Oocytes Derived from Prepubertal Calves

Yeh, S.P.,Ju, J.C.,Tseng, J.K.,Chou, P.C.,Chen, C.H.,Chih, T.,Fan, Y.K. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2004 Animal Bioscience Vol.17 No.2

The objectives of this study were to investigate the ovarian responsiveness of juvenile calves to exogenous gonadotropin treatments and to establish the oocyte retrieval technique for prepubertal heifers. Three 78-day-old calves were treated with 4 doses (40, 30, 30 and 30 mg) of FSH (Folltropin V) at 12 h interval up to 229 day-old. Surgical oocyte retrieval was performed 24 h after the last injection of FSH. Calves with good ovarian responses to FSH treatment had an average ovarian size of $5{\times}3$ cm compared to $3{\times}2$ cm in the less-responsive animals. Large variations were observed in the number of total follicles ($51{\pm}45$), aspirated follicles ($39{\pm}36$), oocytes recovered ($23{\pm}25$) and usable oocytes recovered ($11{\pm}19$) during 78 to 229 day-old. Oocytes derived from prepubertal calves had significantly lower maturation rate than those from cows (34 vs. 100%, p<0.05). Mean diameters of calf oocytes ($144{\pm}1{\mu}m$) and ooplasm ($110{\pm}1 {\mu}m$) were significantly lower than those of cows ($149{\pm}1$ and $25{\pm}1{\mu}m$, respectively). The diameter of the ooplasm also increased significantly after in vitro maturation (IVM) ($108{\pm}1$ vs. $112{\pm}1{\mu}m$). However, further studies are required to optimize the IVP system for the oocytes derived from prepubertal heifers.

Cytoskeletal Patterns, In Vitro Maturation and Parthenogenetic Development of Rabbit GV Oocytes

Ju, J.C.,Chen, T.H.,Tseng, J.K.,Tsay, C.,Yeh, S.P.,Chou, P.C.,Chen, C.H.,Liu, C.T. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2002 Animal Bioscience Vol.15 No.12

The purposes of this study were to optimize the in vitro maturation (IVM) and culture (IVC) systems of rabbit oocytes. Cytoskeletal structures in the germinal vesicle stage (GV) and during IVM are also investigated. Ovaries were transported from local slaughterhouses and the cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from ovarian follicles (${\geq}1mm$). COCs were randomly allocated to TCM199-based medium ($T_1$, TCM-199) supplemented with $NaHCO_3$, glucose, sodium pyruvate and FSH ($T_2$), $T_2+E_2+LH$ ($T_3$), $T_3+FBS$ ($T_4$), or $T_1+E_2+LH+FSH+FBS$ ($T_5$), for IVM. In Experiment 1, COCs were retrieved from the follicles and 51 GV oocytes were fixed in the fixative (MTSB-XF) for nuclear and cytoplasmic examinations. In Experiment 2, progressive changes of both the nucleus and the cytoskeleton were examined at 0, 6, 16, and 20 h after IVM. Maturation (MR) and developmental rates were assessed in Experiment 3. Cytoplasmic microtubules (MT) were clearly observed in rabbit GV oocytes. To our knowledge, this is the first report that describes the appearance of MT structures in the GV stage ooplasm. Tremendous variations in cytoskeletal alterations were observed among treatments with the exception of the vitelline ring (VR), which is constantly visible and unchanged during maturation. Germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) does not occur at 6 h after onset of maturation culture. When the oocytes for IVM were collected within 2 h, results from Experiment 3 showed that rates of nuclear maturation were 42, 8, 42, 37 and 65% at 16 h of IVM for $T_1$ through $T_5$, respectively, in which $T_1$, $T_4$ and $T_5$ had significantly greater MR than those in other groups (p<0.05). Morula/blastocyst development after parthenogenetic activation ranged from 20 to 63% with significantly greater rates in $T_3$, $T_4$ and $T_5$ (p<0.05). These results suggested that oocytes recovered from slaughterhouse ovaries can be matured and parthenogenetically activated in vitro, but the MR remained low in this study. Addition of $E_2$ and LH in the medium may be beneficial for cytoplasmic maturation, but FBS exerts a nega- tive role in the subsequent development of parthenogenetic embryos when energy substrates are provided in the IVC media. More studies are required for improving the MR and further development of the GV stage rabbit oocytes.

DISCOVERY OF X-RAY PULSATIONS FROM THE NEXT GEMINGA, PSR J1836+5925

Lin, L. C. C.,Hui, C. Y.,Li, K. T.,Takata, J.,Hu, C. P.,Kong, A. K. H.,Yen, D. C. C.,Chou, Y. IOP Publishing 2014 ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS - Vol.793 No.1

<P>We report recent XMM-Newton investigations of PSR J1836+5925, the 'next Geminga,' which determined an X-ray pulsation of similar to 173.3 ms. Its X-ray periodicity is consistent with the gamma-ray ephemeris at the same epoch. The X-ray folded light curve has a sinusoidal structure that is different from the double-peaked gamma-ray pulse profile. We have also analyzed the X-ray phase-averaged spectra which shows that the X-ray emission from PSR J1836+5925 is thermal dominant. This suggests that the X-ray pulsation mainly originates from the modulated hot spot on the stellar surface.</P>

DISCOVERY OF AN X-RAY-EMITTING CONTACT BINARY SYSTEM 2MASS J11201034−2201340

Hu, Chin-Ping,Yang, Ting-Chang,Chou, Yi,Liu, L.,Qian, S.-B.,Hui, C. Y.,Kong, Albert K. H.,Lin, L. C. C.,Tam, P. H. T.,Li, K. L.,Ngeow, Chow-Choong,Chen, W. P.,Ip, Wing-Huen American Astronomical Society 2016 The Astronomical journal Vol.151 No.6

<P>We report the detection of orbital modulation, a model solution, and the X-ray properties of a newly discovered contact binary, Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) J11201034-2201340. We serendipitously found this X-ray point source outside the error ellipse when searching for possible X-ray counterparts of 7-ray millisecond pulsars among the unidentified objects detected by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. The optical counterpart of the X-ray source (unrelated to the 7-ray source) was then identified using archival databases. The long-term Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey detected a precise signal with a period of P = 0.28876208 (56) days. A follow-up observation made by the Super Light Telescope of Lulin Observatory revealed the binary nature of the object. Utilizing archived photometric data of multi-band surveys, we construct the spectral energy distribution (SED), which is well fit by a K2V spectral template. The fitting result of the orbital profile using the Wilson Devinney code suggests that 2MASS J11201034-2201340 is a short-period A-type contact binary and the more massive component has a cool spot. The X-ray emission was first noted in observations made by Swift, and then further confirmed and characterized by an XMM-Newton observation. The X-ray spectrum can be described by a power law or thermal Bremsstrahlung. Unfortunately, we could not observe significant X-ray orbital modulation. Finally, according to the SED, this system is estimated to be 690 pc from Earth with a calculated X-ray intensity of (0.7 - 1.5) x 10(30) erg s(-1), which is in the expected range of an X-ray emitting contact binary.</P>

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Fluid Mixing via Alternating Injection in Radial Hele-Shaw Cell

C. C. Chou,A. Kumar,P. C. Lu,C. Y. Chen 한국전산유체공학회 2022 한국전산유체공학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2022 No.10

DISCOVERY OF X-RAY PULSATION FROM THE GEMINGA-LIKE PULSAR PSR J2021+4026

Lin, L. C. C.,Hui, C. Y.,Hu, C. P.,Wu, J. H. K.,Huang, R. H. H.,Trepl, L.,Takata, J.,Seo, K. A.,Wang, Y.,Chou, Y.,Cheng, K. S. IOP Publishing 2013 ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS - Vol.770 No.1

<P>We report the discovery of an X-ray periodicity of similar to 265.3 ms from a deep XMM-Newton observation of the radio-quiet gamma-ray pulsar, PSR J2021+4026, located at the edge of the supernova remnant G78.2+2.1 (gamma-Cygni). The detected frequency is consistent with the gamma-ray pulsation determined by the observation of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope at the same epoch. The X-ray pulse profile resembles the modulation of a hot spot on the surface of the neutron star. The phase-averaged spectral analysis also suggests that the majority of the observed X-rays have thermal origins. This is the third member in the class of radio-quiet pulsars with significant pulsations detected from both X-ray and gamma-ray regimes.</P>

Applications of Laser-Fabricated Plasma Structures in Laser-Wakefield Accelerators, X-ray Lasers and Plasma Nonlinear Optics

C.T. Hsieh,M.W. Lin,C.L. Chang,Y.C. Ho,S.Y. Chen,J. Wang,M.C. Chou,J.Y. Lin,C.H. Pai,P.H. Lin,L.C. Tai,S.H. Chen,G.Y. Tsaur,C.C. Kuo,T.Y. Chien 한국물리학회 2008 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.53 No.6

A general method for fabricating transient plasma structures with high-intensity laser pulses is developed to gain fine control over laser-plasma interactions. These structures have been used as programmable photonic devices in the development of laser-wakefield accelerators, soft X-ray lasers and plasma nonlinear optics driven by multi-terawatt laser pulses. Plasma ramps are used to control electron injection in laser-wakefield accelerators, plasma waveguides are used to enhance the efficiency of soft X-ray lasers by orders of magnitude and periodic plasma structures are used to achieve quasi-phase matching in relativistic harmonic generation. By scanning the interaction length with the same plasma-fabrication method, tomographic measurements are carried out to resolve the injection/acceleration process in laser-wakefield accelerators and amplification processes in X-ray lasers and relativistic harmonic generation. A theoretical analysis and a computer simulation are also carried out to provide insightful pictures of these processes. These research works show that by controlling plasma structures with optical fabrication methods, laser-plasma interaction can be engineered to expand and enrich the frontier of high-field physics.

Optical characteristics of silver film on the moth-eye structure

C. J. Ting,H. Y. Tsai,C. P. Chou,H. Y. Lin,T. C. Wu 대한기계학회 2007 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.21 No.10

DETECTION OF X-RAY PERIODICITY FROM A NEW ECLIPSING POLAR CANDIDATE XGPS-I J183251-100106

Hui, C. Y.,Seo, K. A.,Hu, C. P.,Lin, L. C. C.,Chou, Y. IOP Publishing 2012 The Astrophysical journal Vol.759 No.2

<P>We report the results from a detailed analysis of an archival XMM-Newton observation of the X-ray source XGPS-I J183251-100106, which has been suggested as a promising magnetic cataclysmic variable (CV) candidate based on its optical properties. A single periodic signal of similar to 1.5 is detected from all EPIC instruments on board XMM-Newton. The phase-averaged X-ray spectrum can be well modeled with a thermal bremsstrahlung temperature of kT similar to 50 keV. Both the X-ray spectral and temporal behavior of this system suggest that it is an eclipsing CV of the AM Herculis (or polar) type.</P>

Synchronized Bursting Induced by Network Connectivity in Cortical Neuronal Cultures

L.C. Jia,P.-Y. Lai,C. K. Chan,C.H. Chang,C.R. Han,M.T. Tsai,Y.S. Chou 한국물리학회 2007 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.50 No.1I

Synchronization of cortical neural cultures is studied as a function of the effective network connectivity in the phenomenon of synchronized firing (SF). The synchronized bursting frequency (during SF) of the network is found to be much slower than the characteristic time scale of a neuron and increases with the network connectivity. Using fluorescence imaging techniques, we found that SF occurs only when the incubation time is longer than some critical age tc and the synchronized bursting frequency f increases with time as f = fc + fo log( t tc ). Furthermore, tc is found to scale with the cell plating density as tc 1 p . Based on the result of photolysis of neurons, the synchronized bursting frequency is shown to be related to the network connectivity, hence, the growth behavior can be inferred from the measured SF frequencies. We further build a network growth model with the characteristics of an early stage active growth followed by a late-stage retarded growth, which can account for the experimental data quantitatively. Electrophysiological measurements using double-patch techniques reveal that even though the bursting frequencies are synchronized, the intra-burst spikes are not. We also present a mean-field model of the neural network that enables the neuron firing to be inhibited and generates inter-spike intervals with long time scales resulting in bursting.