Effects of graded levels of cupric citrate on growth performance, antioxidant status, serum lipid metabolites and immunity, and tissue residues of trace elements in weaned pigs

Chu Cai Peng,Jia You Yan,Bin Dong,Lin Zhu,Yao Yao Tian,Li Min Gong 아세아·태평양축산학회 2017 Animal Bioscience Vol.30 No.4

Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of cupric citrate (CuCit) on growth performance, antioxidant indices, serum lipid metabolites, serum immune indices, and tissue residues of copper (Cu), zinc, and iron in weaned pigs. Methods: A total of 180 weaned pigs (Duroc×Landrace×Large White) with an average body weight of 8.98±1.21 kg were randomly assigned to a corn-soybean meal control ration, or 4 similar rations with 30, 60, 120, or 240 mg/kg Cu as CuCit. All diets contained 10 mg/kg Cu as cupric sulfate from the vitamin-mineral premix. The experiment was divided into two phases: 0 to 14 d (phase 1) and 15 to 28 d (phase 2). Results: Average daily gain (ADG; linearly, p<0.01) and average daily feed intake (ADFI; linearly and quadratically, p<0.05) were affected by an increase in CuCit during phase 2. Overall period, ADG (p<0.05) and ADFI (p<0.01) were linearly increased with increasing dietary levels of CuCit. Serum malondialdehyde concentrations (p<0.05) and glutathione peroxidase activity (p<0.01) linearly decreased and increased respectively with an increase in CuCit. Serum levels of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase were linearly affected with an increase in CuCit (p<0.01). Hepatic malondialdehyde levels decreased with an increase in CuCit (linearly and quadratically, p<0.01). Serum total cholesterol concentrations were quadratically affected (p<0.05) and decreased in pigs fed Cu as CuCit at 60 and 120 mg/kg and increased in pigs fed 240 mg/kg Cu as CuCit. Serum high-density lipoprotein concentrations were linearly affected with an increase in CuCit (p<0.01). Serum IL-1β levels were quadratically affected (p<0.05) by dietary treatment. Compared with other treatments, 240 mg/kg Cu from CuCit quadratically increased hepatic (p<0.01) and renal (p<0.05) Cu concentrations, and quadratically decreased hepatic and renal iron concentrations (p<0.05). Conclusion: Cu administered in the form of CuCit at a dosage range of 30 to 60 mg/kg, effectively enhanced the growth performance and antioxidant status of weaned pigs.

Toxoplasma gondii induces autophagy and apoptosis in human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells via downregulation of Mcl−1

Chu, Jia-Qi,Jing, Kai-Peng,Gao, Xiang,Li, Peng,Huang, Rui,Niu, Yan-Ru,Yan, Shou-Quan,Kong, Jun-Chao,Yu, Cai-Yuan,Shi, Ge,Fan, Yi-Ming,Lee, Young-Ha,Zhou, Yu,Quan, Juan-Hua Landes Bioscience 2017 Cell Cycle Vol.16 No.5

<P>Autophagy and apoptosis are critical for controlling Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection. T. gondii infection during pregnancy can damage the fetus and cause birth defects; however, the molecular mechanisms of this process are poorly understood. This study aims to determine the activities of autophagy and apoptosis as well as their regulatory mechanisms during T. gondii infection by using human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) as a model of congenital diseases. LC3B, a hallmark protein of autophagy was incrementally upregulated with the infection duration, whereas p62 was downregulated in T. gondii-infected hUC-MSCs. Concurrent to this result, the invasion of T. gondii into hUC-MSCs increased in a time-dependent manner. The expression levels of Bcl-2 family proteins including Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bim, Bax, Bid and Bak were not altered; however, Mcl-1 levels in hUC-MSCs were dramatically decreased upon T. gondii infection. In addition, at 24h post-infection, cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels were elevated in hUC-MSCs. Importantly, Mcl-1 overexpression reduced the levels of autophagy- and apoptosis-related proteins in T. gondii-infected hUC-MSCs. Mcl-1 proteins were primarily expressed in the fraction containing mitochondria and strongly interacted with Beclin-1 under normal conditions; however, these interactions were remarkably attenuated by T. gondii infection. These results suggest that mitochondrial Mcl-1 is an essential signaling mediator regulating the activation of autophagy and apoptosis during T. gondii infection.</P>

ROC and PRC: Natures of Their Economies and Implications for Their Relationship in the Future

Chu, Yun-Peng 숭실대학교부설 사회과학연구소 1987 社會科學硏究 Vol.5 No.-

Direct displacement-based seismic assessment of concrete frames

Chu Peng,Serhan Guner 사단법인 한국계산역학회 2018 Computers and Concrete, An International Journal Vol.21 No.4

Five previously-tested reinforced concrete frames were modelled using a nonlinear finite element analysis procedure to demonstrate the accurate response simulations for seismically-deficient frames through pushover analyses. The load capacities, story drifts, and failure modes were simulated. This procedure accounts for the effects of shear failures and the shearaxial force interaction, and thus is suitable for modeling seismically-deficient frames. It is demonstrated that a comprehensive analysis method with a capability of simulating material constitutive response and significant second-order mechanisms is essential in achieving a satisfactory response simulation. It is further shown that such analysis methods are invaluable in determining the expected seismic response, safety, and failure mode of the frame structures for a performance-based seismic evaluation. In addition, a new computer program was developed to aid researchers and engineers in the direct displacementbased seismic design process by assessing whether a frame structure meets the code-based performance requirements by analyzing the analysis results. As such, the proposed procedure facilitates the performance-based design of new buildings as well as the numerical assessment and retrofit design of existing buildings. A sample frame analysis was presented to demonstrate the application and verification of the approach.

Effect of Trichokonins on the Growth Characteristics of Paeonia ostii ``Fengdan Seedling Roots

( Peng-fei Chu ),( Xing Cao ),( Zhen-jing Yang ),( Xiu-sheng Zhang ),( Yong-ji Piao ),( Hyun-ju Jo ) 한국환경과학회 2016 한국환경과학회지 Vol.25 No.8

The growth characteristics of Paeonia ostii ``Fengdan`` seedlings roots in response to trichokonins-spray treatment were investigated in this study. One-year-old seedlings of P. ostii ``Fengdan`` were potted in plastic cups containing garden mold and grown under field conditions. The results showed that application of trichokonins significantly promoted root growth in P. ostii ``Fengdan`` seedlings. The total root projection area, total root surface area, total root volume, total root length, root number and root diameter of seedlings treated with 0.25 mg/L trichokonins were higher by 141.70, 116.59, 119.44, 55.97, 348.88 and 127.78%, respectively, than that of the control. Thus, the results supported the hypothesis that good growth condition for roots could directly improve their nutrient absorption and utilization efficiency, promoting plant growth and development.

Better Regulation through Governance in the European Union

( Chin Peng Chu ),( Dieter Eibel ) 한국EU학회 2013 Asia-Pacific Journal of EU Studies Vol.11 No.1

Responding to contentious challenges and raising new tasks in many fields, the EU needs to make policy decisions in a range of complex ways. In this context of rising complexity of challenges and because of new tasks, hierarchical management is outdated and needs new forms of regulation. Firstly, the decision-making is more complicated with 28 different national governments, which must be involved. Furthermore, a wide range of non-state actors such as trade unions, interest groups, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) try to shape EU policy decisions. For better regulation and acceptance of the designing of laws, regulations and policies, it is necessary to consult a range of stakeholders. All these changes and developments have urged the EU to significantly change decision rules over time, moving away from the orthodox Community method of law making to a variety of different mechanisms and revisions to the method itself, summarized under the key word governance. To better regulate and make Europe work better, the European laws and regulations must be well targeted, correctly implemented at the right level and proportionate to the need. That is why finally by amendments to the EU treaty, the Commission``s proposals for regulation have to follow the two principles of proportionality and subsidiarity. In this context, the EU Commission speaks of "better regulation" and currently "smart regulation" to indicate the wanted characteristics of new modes of governance.

Lobbying in the EU and the Fight Against Disinformation: An Analysis of the Institutional Framework in Practice

( Chin-peng Chu ),( Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy ) 한국EU학회 2023 Asia-Pacific Journal of EU Studies Vol.21 No.1

The European Union (EU) is an international organization with a complex international identity, seeking to play a geopolitical role while pursuing a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). The Lisbon Treaty proposed to increase the EU’s internal coherence in foreign policy, with the European Parliament (EP) seeing its role significantly strengthened. In a complex geopolitical environment, whereby the threat of information manipulation and disinformation have become major concerns to transparent governance, the relevance of lobbying activities has increased. This paper assesses the institutional framework for lobbying in the EU institutions, focusing on the post-Lisbon geopolitical context and the role of technology in shaping the new environment. The primary question it explores is to what extent the EU’s lobbying framework has shaped its CFSP and how it has impacted efforts to counter disinformation, including in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The paper maintains that as the line between information and disinformation is growing increasingly blurry, safeguarding openness and transparency in EU policy-making is vital. An EU-level understanding is emerging that ensuring access for external actors and cooperation with think tanks is important for the EU to ensure its global relevance while effectively combatting disinformation.

Regional Conflicts and Integration Policy

Chin-peng Chu 미래사회통합연구센터 2017 Journal of Conflict and Integration Vol.1 No.1

Several countries confront regional conflicts in divided and multi-ethnic societies, sometimes with the threat of secession. A more peaceful solution to this threat is to establish devolution or even federalism with adequate rights accorded to the regions in terms of their specific culture and diversity. This article demonstrates how in the case of specific European countries, especially Italy, Spain, and Belgium, the development toward autonomous regions or regions with special rights and federalist structures aimed at integrating regions with high conflict potential guaranteed the unity of the state.Nevertheless, the move toward special rights for conflicting regions can lead to rising regional inequality in a state; this is because, in most cases, it is the rich regions that claim more independence from the central state, at the same time rejecting a fair share with the poorer regions. This, in turn, could lead to new conflicts between poor and rich regions. Thus, as a second step, we provide a preferable solution of interregional finance equalization with the German example. Lastly, this study examines the role of the European Union (EU) in response to the claims of separatism at the sub-national level in theory and practice. The EU’s future for deeper integration or limited integration under the sub-national secession movements depends on the harmonization between the national constitution and EU law.

Mobile-Business ; The Forecasting of the Mobile Internet in Taiwan - the Perspective on the Diffusion Model

Chih Peng Chu,Jin Gu Pan,Fang Mei Liu,Yu Fan Lin,Long Fon Shieh 한국경영정보학회 2005 한국경영정보학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2005 No.-

Conflict and Integration of the Cross-Strait Relations

Chin-Peng Chu 미래사회통합연구센터 2018 Journal of Conflict and Integration Vol.2 No.2

The Taiwan question is not only a central problem in low politics, but forms from a balance of power perspective also the security policy of the Asia- Pacific region and the appropriate role of the USA in it. Changing governments and generations since the 1992 Consensus, led especially in Taiwan to changing perceptions on Taiwan-Strait relations. While there are diverse theoretical conceptions for the promotion of Cross-Strait relations, empirical developments demonstrate that the One China principle forms the political reality in which Taiwan´s domestic, regional and international independency is challenged. This article focuses first on historic continuity and discontinuity of Cross-Strait relations and compares then KMT and DPP policy of the Cross-Strait relation with mainland China, focusing especially on Ma Ying-jeou’s administration since 2008 and the DPP government since 2016. Finally, it explains the significance of the Cross-Strait relations from an empirical context, with concern to the possibilities and obstacles for building a new constructive interactive framework.