Indoor feeding combined with restricted grazing time improves body health, slaughter performance, and meat quality in Huang-huai sheep

Huang Yafeng,Zhao Mengyu,Zhang Xiaoan,Wei Huiqing,Liu Lumeng,Zhang Zi Jun,Cheng Xiao,Wang Guanjun,Ren Chunhuan 아세아·태평양축산학회 2023 Animal Bioscience Vol.36 No.11

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of three feeding systems, i.e., indoor feeding (CON), indoor feeding with 4-h daily access to grazing artificial pasture (ITGP), and indoor feeding with 8-h daily access to grazing artificial pasture (IEGP), on the plasma antioxidant and immunological capacity, slaughter characteristics, meat quality and economic efficiency of Huang-huai lambs. Methods: Thirty-three healthy Huang-huai rams with similar body weight (approximately 5 mo of age, 28.96±1.01 kg) were assigned equally to three experimental groups. When finished fattening, six lambs from each group were collect blood samples for plasma analyses and then slaughtered to determine slaughter characteristics and obtain biceps brachii muscle for further analysis of meat quality and fatty acid profile. Results: Compared to CON group, animals submitted to ITGP and IEGP groups resulted in greater contents of serum glutathione peroxidase, immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, and IgM), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), n-6 PUFA, and PUFA/saturated fatty acid (FA) ratio and lower palmitic /oleic acid ratio (p<0.05). Moreover, animals in ITGP group exhibited a higher (p<0.05) loin eye area, content of meat crude protein (CP), and eicosetrienoic acid compared to CON group, while slaughter performance was superior (p<0.05) to that of the IEGP group. The economic efficiency of ITGP group was 70.12% higher than that of CON group, while the IEGP group exhibited a decrease of 92.54% in economic efficiency compared to the CON group. Conclusion: Restricted grazing time combined with indoor feeding was more effective in conferring superior body health, carcass traits and economic efficiency in Huang-huai lambs, as well as higher CP content and healthier FA composition in the resulting meat.

Effects of Neodymium and Calcium on the Thermal Stability of AZ71 Magnesium Alloys

Cheng‑Feng Yue,Shi‑Jei Huang,Jhewn‑Kuang Chen,Hsien‑Tsung Li,Kam‑Shau Chan 대한금속·재료학회 2018 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.24 No.2

The effects of an addition of 0–2 wt% Nd on thermal stability of 0–3 wt% Ca-containing modified AZ71 magnesium alloyswas investigated. The ignition temperature was found to increase from that of AZ71, 574, to 825 °C with the addition of0.5 wt% Ca and 1 wt% Nd. The ignition temperature was further increased to 1114 °C when 3 wt% Ca was added. The CaandNd-added AZ71 was isothermally maintained at a temperature of 500 °C in air for 12 h. The MgO–CaO–Nd2O3 formedon the surface to improve the thermal stability of the AZ71–xCa–yNd alloys. While both the tensile strength and ductilitydecreased with the Ca concentration in the alloy, an addition of 1 wt% Nd was found able to alleviate the degradation effectsof Ca on the tensile strength and ductility at 170 °C. Both solid solution formation and precipitation strengthening contributedto the increase in toughness. AZ71 containing 0.5–2 wt% Ca and 1 wt% Nd provides the optimum combination of ignitionresistance and mechanical properties.

Thermal Stability, Adhesion and Electrical Studies on (Ti,Zr)Nx Thin Films as Low Resistive Diffusion Barriers between Cu and Si

Cheng-Lin Huang,Chih-Huang Lai,Po-Hao Tsai,Yu-Lin Kuo,Jing-Cheng Lin,Chiapyng Lee 대한금속·재료학회 2014 ELECTRONIC MATERIALS LETTERS Vol.10 No.3

In this study, we investigated the thermal stability, wettability, adhesion and reliability of (Ti,Zr)Nx films used as the diffusion barrier between Cu and Si. (Ti,Zr)Nx films were prepared by DC reactive magnetron sputtering from a Ti-5 at. % Zr alloy target in N2/Ar gas mixtures. A minimum film resistivity of 59.3 μΩ cm was obtained at an N2/Ar flow ratio of 2.75, which corresponds to the near stoichiometric composition (N/(Ti,Zr) ratio ~0.95). The sheet resistance of Cu/(Ti,Zr)N0.95/Si was not significantly increased until annealing above 750°C, indicating good thermal stability. On the other hand, the adhesion energy between Cu and the (Ti,Zr)Nx film was reduced as the N/Ti ratio was increased. To obtain reliable performance on stress-induced-voiding (SIV) and electromigration (EM) tests, we proposed to use (Ti,Zr)/(Ti,Zr)Nx/(Ti,Zr) tri-layers. We suggest that the interfacial adhesion between barrier and Cu plays an important role in reliability. The proposed tri-layer structure may be a promising candidate for a barrier, as it exhibits excellent reliability without increasing resistance.

Characteristics of Reactively Sputtered Niobium Nitride Thin Films as Diffusion Barriers for Cu Metallization

Cheng-Lin Huang,Chih-Huang Lai,Po-Hao Tsai,Hsing-An Huang,Jing-Cheng Lin,Chiapyng Lee 대한금속·재료학회 2013 ELECTRONIC MATERIALS LETTERS Vol.9 No.5

NbN films were prepared by radio frequency reactive magnetron sputtering and then employed as diffusion barriers between Cu and Si. The microstructure of the NbN films was an assembly of very small columnar crystallites with a cubic structure. To investigate the properties as diffusion barriers, we performed metallurgical reactions of Cu/NbN0.8/Si, Cu/Nb/Si and Cu/TaN0.7/Si for comparisons. The sheet resistance increased dramatically after annealing above 750°C for Cu/NbN0.80/Si, and above 500°C for both Cu/Nb/Si and Cu/TaN0.7/Si. The interfaces were deteriorated seriously and formation of Cu3Si was observed when the sheet resistance was significantly increased. The diffusion coefficient of Cu in NbN barrier films was estimated by using the change of resistance (ΔRs/Rs %). Compared with TaN0.7, NbN0.8 films possess larger grain size and lower Cu diffusion coefficient. Our results suggest that the NbN film can be used as a diffusion barrier for Cu metallization as compared to the well-known TaN film.

Localized surface plasmon resonance enhanced by the light-scattering property of silver nanoparticles for improved luminescence of polymer light-emitting diodes

Cheng-Liang Huang,Hung Ji Huang,Sy-Hann Chen,Yu-Siang Huang,Po-Ching Kao,Yuan-Fong Chou Chau,Hai-Pang Chiang 한국공업화학회 2021 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.103 No.-

This study used photochemical reduction to successfully synthesize triangular silver nanoplates (TAgNPs)and silver nanodecahedrons (AgNDs) with higher light-absorption and higher light-scattering properties,respectively, for the same wavelength. To analyze the contribution of light-absorption and lightscatteringof silver nanoparticles to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate was doped with TAgNPs or AgNDs at the same concentration(1.17 lg/cm2) and made into polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs). According to the current densityvoltageluminancecharacteristics and electroluminescence (EL) spectra, the enhancement factors for currentefficiency and EL intensity for AgND-containing PLEDs were found to be higher than those for PLEDwith TAgNPs by 24.9% and 138%, respectively. This shows that the metal nanoparticles with higher lightscatteringproperty can induce a relatively strong LSPR effect, which possibly gives a hint to design plasmonicphotovoltaic in future.

Improved trajectory similarity-based approach for turbofan engine prognostics

Cheng-Geng Huang,Hong-Zhong Huang,Weiwen Peng,Tudi Huang 대한기계학회 2019 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.33 No.10

Trajectory similarity-based prediction (TSBP) is an emerging real-time remaining useful life (RUL) prediction method that has drawn considerable attention in the field of data-driven prognostics. TSBP is fast, and the corresponding model is easy to train. However, TBSP only provides a point estimation of RUL, which is insufficient for some specific prognostic applications. Hence, this study introduces an improved TSBP method to handle the issue of prognostic uncertainty. On the basis of an adaptive kernel density estimation technique and β-criterion, the improved TSBP method not only provides an accurate and precise point prediction of RUL but also specifies the confidence interval of RUL prediction. The capability of obtaining the confidence interval of RUL can enhance the TSBP method for uncertainty management. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated through two cases studies, which are related to turbofan engine prognostics.

Scaling up the in-hospital hepatitis C virus care cascade in Taiwan

( Chung-feng Huang ),( Pey-fang Wu ),( Ming-lun Yeh ),( Ching-i Huang ),( Po-cheng Liang ),( Cheng-ting Hsu ),( Po-yao Hsu ),( Hung-yin Liu ),( Ying-chou Huang ),( Zu-yau Lin ),( Shinn-cherng Chen ),( 대한간학회 2021 Clinical and Molecular Hepatology(대한간학회지) Vol.27 No.1

Background/Aims: Obstacles exist in facilitating hepatitis C virus (HCV) care cascade. To increase timely and accurate diagnosis, disease awareness and accessibility, in-hospital HCV reflex testing followed by automatic appointments and a late call-back strategy (R.N.A. model) was applied. We aimed to compare the HCV treatment rate of patients treated with this strategy compared to those without. Methods: One hundred and twenty-five anti-HCV seropositive patients who adopted the R.N.A. model in 2020 and another 1,396 controls treated in 2019 were enrolled to compare the gaps in accurate HCV RNA diagnosis to final treatment allocation. Results: The HCV RNA testing rate was significantly higher in patients who received reflex testing than in those without reflex testing (100% vs. 84.8%, P<0.001). When patients were stratified according to the referring outpatient department, a significant improvement in the HCV RNA testing rate was particularly noted in patients from non-hepatology departments (100% vs. 23.3%, P<0.001). The treatment rate in HCV RNA seropositive patients was 83% (83/100) after the adoption of the R.N.A. model, among whom 96.1% and 73.9% of patients were from the hepatology and non-hepatology departments, respectively. Compared to subjects without R.N.A. model application, a significant improvement in the treatment rate was observed for patients from non-hepatology departments (73.9% vs. 27.8%, P=0.001). The application of the R.N.A. model significantly increased the in-hospital HCV treatment uptake from 6.4% to 73.9% for patients from non-hepatology departments (P<0.001). Conclusions: The care cascade increased the treatment uptake and set up a model for enhancing in-hospital HCV elimination. (Clin Mol Hepatol 2021;27:136-143)

Effects of aflatoxin B1 combined with ochratoxin A and/or zearalenone on metabolism, immune function, and antioxidant status in lactating dairy goats

Huang, Shuai,Zheng, Nan,Fan, Caiyun,Cheng, Ming,Wang, Shang,Jabar, Adil,Wang, Jiaqi,Cheng, Jianbo Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2018 Animal Bioscience Vol.31 No.4

Objective: This experiment investigated the effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) alone or mixed with ochratoxin A (OTA) and/or zearalenone (ZEA) on the metabolism, immune function, and antioxidant status of dairy goats. Methods: Fifty lactating Laoshan dairy goats were randomly assigned to one of five treatment groups (n = 10) for 14 days. Goats were fed no additive (control) or administered with $50{\mu}g\;AFB1/kg$ dry matter (DM) (AFB1), $50{\mu}g\;AFB1/kg$ $DM+100{\mu}g\;OTA/kg$ DM (AFB1+OTA), $50{\mu}g\;AFB1/kg$ $DM+500{\mu}g\;ZEA/kg$ DM (AFB1+ZEA), or $50{\mu}g\;AFB1/kg$ $DM+100{\mu}g\;OTA/kg$ $DM+500{\mu}g\;ZEA/kg$ DM (AFB1+OTA+ZEA). Results: Dry matter intake and milk production were lower in goats fed AFB1+OTA+ZEA than in controls. Supplementation with AFB1, OTA, and ZEA significantly decreased red blood cell count, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean platelet volume, and significantly increased white blood cell count, when compared with the control group. Compared with control, the combination of AFB1, OTA, and ZEA significantly increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, total bilirubin (TBIL), interleukin-6, and malondialdehyde (MDA), but significantly reduced immunoglobulin A concentration, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxides (GSH-Px), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in serum. Administration of AFB1 combined with OTA led to higher ALP, ALT, TBIL, and MDA, as well as lower milk production, SOD and GSH-Px activities, and T-AOC, than administration of AFB1 combined with ZEA. Conclusion: The mixture of AFB1, OTA, and ZEA exerted the greatest adverse effects on dairy goats, meanwhile the deleterious damage of the other mycotoxin combinations were in varying degrees. The findings of this study could provide guidance for the prevention and treatment of the consequences of contamination of animal feeds with combinations of mycotoxin.

Agromyces laixinhei sp. nov. isolated from bat feces in China

Cheng Yanpeng,Bai Yibo,Huang Yuyuan,Yang Jing,Lu Shan,Jin Dong,Pu Ji,Zheng Han,Li Junqin,Huang Ying,Wang Suping,Xu Jianguo 한국미생물학회 2021 The journal of microbiology Vol.59 No.5

Three rod-shaped, Gram-stain-positive, and catalase-positive, phenotypically closely related isolates (HY052T, HY050, and HY045) were obtained from fecal samples collected from bats in Guangxi province and Chongqing city of China. Circular, smooth, light-yellow colonies appeared on brain heart infusion plate after 24–48 h incubation at 28°C. The optimal pH for growth was between 6.0 and 7.5. Based on 16S rRNA, the three isolates were phylogenetically related to Agromyces terreus DS-10T, Agromyces aureus AR33T, Agromyces salentinus 20-5T, Agromyces allii UMS-62T, Agromyces lapidis CD55T, and Agromyces italicus CD1T. Moreover, based on 296 core genes, the phylogenomic tree indicated that the three isolates clustered together, closest to Agromyces cerinus VKM Ac- 1340T and Agromyces fucosus VKM Ac-1345T but separated distantly from other Agromyces species. The average nucleotide identity values between strain HY052T and other Agromyces species ranged from 79.3% to 87.9%, lower than the 95–96% threshold. Furthermore, the genome of strain HY052T contains a circular chromosome of 3,437,203 bp with G + C content of 69.0 mol%. Main fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 and anteiso-C17:0. The polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and unidentified glycolipids. Rhamnose, ribose, and glucose were the primary cell wall sugars. The major peptidoglycan amino acids included alanine, glutamic acid, glycine, and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid. An additional remarkable difference from other Agromyces species is that MK-12 was the sole menaquinone in strain HY052T. Based on results from the polyphasic characterizations performed in this study, our isolates are proposed to be members of a novel species in genus Agromyces, named Agromyces laixinhei. The type strain is HY052T (= CGMCC 1.17175T = JCM 33695T).

Visual Servoing of a Micro Quadrotor Landing on a Ground Platform

Cheng-Ming Huang,Ming-Li Chiang,Tzu-Shun Hung 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2017 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.15 No.6

This paper presents a visual servoing methodology for landing a quadrotor-type micro aerial vehicle(MAV) on a ground platform in an indoor environment. Since space in an indoor environment is usually limited, thesizes of the MAV and the landing platform employed here have to be small. Thus, visual servoing based on two pinholecameras mounted on the front and bottom of a MAV is suitable for such a scenario. A powerful computationalprocessing unit for image or control processing and a high capacity battery for charging the MAV are equipped onthe ground platform. The captured images and the flying control commands are transmitted between the groundplatform and the MAV through a wireless network. Visual feature extraction of the landing platform is proposedto detect a specific image pattern on the landing platform. Flying control strategies, with the cameras switching,are developed to search for and approach the landing platform. Alignment control during the landing procedure isdesigned using multi-level fuzzy logic control with the target position error on the image. The overall performanceof the landing algorithm is validated by several online experiments with a commercialized MAV.