A Comparison of Natural (D-α-tocopherol) and Synthetic (DL-α-tocopherol Acetate) Vitamin E Supplementation on the Growth Performance, Meat Quality and Oxidative Status of Broilers

Cheng, K.,Niu, Y.,Zheng, X.C.,Zhang, H.,Chen, Y.P.,Zhang, M.,Huang, X.X.,Zhang, L.L.,Zhou, Y.M.,Wang, T. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2016 Animal Bioscience Vol.29 No.5

The present study was conducted to compare the supplementation of natural (D-${\alpha}$-tocopherol) and synthetic (DL-${\alpha}$-tocopherol acetate) vitamin E on the growth performance, meat quality, muscular antioxidant capacity and genes expression related to oxidative status of broilers. A total of 144 1 day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly allocated into 3 groups with 6 replicates of 8 birds each. Birds were given a basal diet (control group), and basal diet supplemented with either 20 IU D-${\alpha}$-tocopherol or DL-${\alpha}$-tocopherol acetate for 42 days, respectively. The results indicated that treatments did not alter growth performance of broilers (p>0.05). Compared with the control group, concentration of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol in the breast muscle was increased by the supplementation of vitamin E (p<0.05). In the thigh, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol content was also enhanced by vitamin E inclusion, and this effect was more pronounced in the natural vitamin E group (p<0.05). Vitamin E supplementation increased the redness of breast (p<0.05). In the contrast, the inclusion of synthetic vitamin E decreased lightness of thigh (p<0.05). Dietary vitamin E inclusion reduced drip loss at 24 h of thigh muscle (p<0.05), and this effect was maintained for drip loss at 48 h in the natural vitamin E group (p<0.05). Broilers given diet supplemented with vitamin E showed decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the breast (p<0.05). Additionally, natural rather than synthetic vitamin E reduced MDA accumulation in the thigh (p<0.05). Neither natural nor synthetic vitamin E supplementation altered muscular mRNA abundance of genes related to oxidative stress (p>0.05). It was concluded that vitamin E supplementation, especially the natural vitamin E, can enhance the retention of muscular ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, improve meat quality and muscular antioxidant capacity of broilers.

Variable number of tandem repeats of 9 Plasmodium vivax genes among Southeast Asian isolates

Wang, B.,Nyunt, M.H.,Yun, S.G.,Lu, F.,Cheng, Y.,Han, J.H.,Ha, K.S.,Park, W.S.,Hong, S.H.,Lim, C.S.,Cao, J.,Sattabongkot, J.,Kyaw, M.P.,Cui, L.,Han, E.T. Verlag fur Recht und Gesellschaft 2017 Acta tropica Vol.170 No.-

<P>The variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) provides valuable information about both the functional and evolutionary aspects of genetic diversity. Comparative analysis of 3 Plasmodium falciparum genomes has shown that more than 9% of its open reading frames (ORFs) harbor VNTRs. Although microsatellites and VNTR genes of P. vivax were reported, the VNTR polymorphism of genes has not been examined widely. In this study, 230 P. vivax genes were analyzed for VNTRs by SERV, and 33 kinds of TR deletions or insertions from 29P. vivax genes (12.6%) were found. Of these, 9 VNTR fragments from 8 P. vivax genes were used for PCR amplification and sequence analysis to examine the genetic diversity among 134 isolates from four Southeast Asian countries (China, Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Myanmar) with different malaria endemicity. We confirmed the existence of extensive polymorphism of VNTR fragments in field isolates. This detection provides several suitable markers for analysis of the molecular epidemiology of P. vivax field isolates. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</P>

An inhibitor of the proteasomal deubiquitinating enzyme USP14 induces tau elimination in cultured neurons

Boselli, Monica,Lee, Byung-Hoon,Robert, Jessica,Prado, Miguel A.,Min, Sang-Won,Cheng, Chialin,Silva, M. Catarina,Seong, Changhyun,Elsasser, Suzanne,Hatle, Ketki M.,Gahman, Timothy C.,Gygi, Steven P.,H American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Bi 2017 The Journal of biological chemistry Vol.292 No.47

<P>The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is responsible for most selective protein degradation in eukaryotes and regulates numerous cellular processes, including cell cycle control and protein quality control. A component of this system, the deubiquitinating enzyme USP14, associates with the proteasome where it can rescue substrates from degradation by removal of the ubiquitin tag. We previously found that a small-molecule inhibitor of USP14, known as IU1, can increase the rate of degradation of a subset of proteasome substrates. We report here the synthesis and characterization of 87 variants of IU1, which resulted in the identification of a 10-fold more potent USP14 inhibitor that retains specificity for USP14. The capacity of this compound, IU1-47, to enhance protein degradation in cells was tested using as a reporter the microtubule-associated protein tau, which has been implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases. Using primary neuronal cultures, IU1-47 was found to accelerate the rate of degradation of wild-type tau, the pathological tau mutants P301L and P301S, and the A152T tau variant. We also report that a specific residue in tau, lysine 174, is critical for the IU1-47–mediated tau degradation by the proteasome. Finally, we show that IU1-47 stimulates autophagic flux in primary neurons. In summary, these findings provide a powerful research tool for investigating the complex biology of USP14.</P>

<i>FERMI</i> -LAT DETECTION OF PULSED GAMMA-RAYS ABOVE 50 GeV FROM THE VELA PULSAR

Leung, Gene C. K.,Takata, J.,Ng, C. W.,Kong, A. K. H.,Tam, P. H. T.,Hui, C. Y.,Cheng, K. S. IOP Publishing 2014 ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS - Vol.797 No.2

<P>The first Fermi-Large Area Telescope (LAT) catalog of sources above 10 GeV reported evidence of pulsed emission above 25 GeV from 12 pulsars, including the Vela pulsar, which showed evidence of pulsation at > 37 GeV energy bands. Using 62 months of Fermi-LAT data, we analyzed the gamma-ray emission from the Vela pulsar and searched for pulsed emission above 50 GeV. Having confirmed the significance of the pulsation in 30-50 GeV with the H test (p-value similar to 10(-77)), we extracted its pulse profile using the Bayesian block algorithm and compared it with the distribution of the five observed photons above 50 GeV using the likelihood ratio test. Pulsation was significantly detected for photons above 50 GeV with a p-value of = 3 x 10(-5) (4.2 sigma). The detection of pulsation is significant above 4 sigma at > 79 GeV and above 3 sigma at > 90 GeV energy bands, making this the highest energy pulsation significantly detected by the LAT. We explore the non-stationary outer gap scenario of the very high-energy emissions from the Vela pulsar.</P>

Effect of Threonine Addition to a Low Protein Diet on IgG Levels in Body Fluid of First-Litter Sows and Their Piglets

Hsu, C.B.,Cheng, S.P.,Hsu, J.C.,Yen, H.T. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2001 Animal Bioscience Vol.14 No.8

First-litter gilts were used to determine how different dietary treatments during gestation affect the reproductive performance of gilts and immunity development of their piglets. Twenty-two crossbred $Landrace{\times}Yorkshire$ gilts were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments, Following conception, the gilts were fed experimental diets until farrowing occurred. The diet for treatment I was low protein diet (8% CP), treatment 2 had an additional supplement of 0.14% threonine that was added to the low protein diet, and treatment 3 was a control diet containing 12% CP. During gestation, net body weight gain of sows in treatment group 2 was higher than in treatment group 1 (p=0,075), However, during lactation there was no difference between all treatments groups on body weight loss and their live piglets at birth. Although milk IgG between treatments did not differ, treatment groups 2 and 3 were slightly higher than treatment group I was, Plasma IgG concentrations in piglets were however equal within all treatment groups at birth and at 7 days of age, at 21 days of age, it was higher in treatment group I than it was in the other two groups (p<0.01), Threonine supplementation to a low protein diet during gestation slightly increases milk IgG of sows, It is beneficial for piglets to acquire more passive immunity, but a suppressive effect was also noted on the endogenous IgG synthesis in piglets. A gestation diet of 8% CP for gilts can stimulate immuno-system of her piglets.

Superovulation and Transplantation of Demi- and Aggregated Embryos in Rabbits

Ju, J.C.,Chang, Y.C.,Huang, W.T.,Tang, P.C.,Cheng, S.P. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2001 Animal Bioscience Vol.14 No.4

The effect of exogenous gonadotrophins on superovulation in rabbits was examined. One hundred and sixteen sexually mature California, Chinchilla and New Zealand White rabbits were randomly allocated to control (100 IU hCG), PMSG-treated (100 IU HCG following 150 IU PMSG) and FSH-treated groups (0.3 mg/head /12 h for 3 days followed by 100 IU hCG). All does were mated after hCG injection and were sacrificed or laparotomized within 1 to 4 days postcoitus for counting the number of ovulation points. The number of ovulations was higher in FSH-treated animals than in the control and PMSG-treated groups (37.2 vs. 10.4 and 14.5, p<0.05). Follicle haemorrhagicum was observed in many cases in the PMSG-treated group. No significant difference in ovulation number was observed between left and right ovaries regardless of gonadotropin treatment. In another experiment, 2-cell stage embryos were collected at 26 h postmating and blastomeres were separated by mechanical pipetting or gentle pressure with a fine glass needle. Aggregated or chimeric embryos were produced from two single blastomeres from two breeds, New Zealand White and Chinchlla, with different coat colors. All the embryos were cultured in Ham's F-10 medium supplemented with 1.5% BSA (bovine serum albumin fraction V) and 10% PRS (pregnant rabbit serum), and incubated in a humidified atmosphere with 5% $CO_2$ at $38^{\circ}C$. After development to morula or early blastocyst, the embryos were transferred into the oviducts of recipient does. Results showed that 7 out of 10 does (70%) receiving intact embryos (control) became pregnant and 41 kits were delivered. However, no pregnancy was obtained from the recipient of either denuded demi- or aggregated embryos. It is suggested that embryos without zona pellucida could not develop to term in rabbits.

Effects of Levels and Sources of Follicular Fluid on the In Vitro Maturation and Development of Porcine Oocytes

Huang, W.T.,Tang, P.C.,Wu, S.C.,Cheng, S.P.,Ju, J.C. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2001 Animal Bioscience Vol.14 No.10

The aims of this study were first to evaluate the effects of different levels (20, 40 and 100%) and sources (follicular size: large, >7 mm; medium, >5-7 mm; small, 3-5 mm) of porcine follicular fluid (pFF) on the in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes, and the effects of fertilization treatments and different culture conditions on development of fertilized oocytes were also investigated. No differences in the maturation (63.6-76.6%) and cleavage (24.8-34.3%) rates were observed among the 20,40 and 100% pFF groups (p>0.05). The cleavage rates of oocytes cultured and fertilized in 40% and 100% pFF maturation media were significantly higher than those fertilized in m199-NBCS (51.0-61.2% vs. 12.8-31.8%. p<0.05), regardless of sources of the pFF. When oocytes were fertilized in m199-NBCS followed by culture in rabbit oviducts for 4 days, the cleavage rate in 40% pFF group was better than that in 100% pFF group (46.9% vs. 32.5%, p<0.05). Two oocytes recovered from the oviducts in the 40% pFF group developed to blastocysts after IVC. However, none developed to blastocysts when fertilized in the IVM medium after being transferred to rabbit oviducts. In conclusion, addition of pFF accompanied with gonadotropins (FSH, LH) in IVM medium enhanced maturation and cleavage rates of porcine oocytes. Direct addition of sperm suspension to IVM medium may be an alternative to simplify the fertilization procedures and to reduce the mechanical lesion during manipulation. Furthermore, rabbit oviducts provide a better environment for the in vitro fertilized oocyte developing to the morula and blastocyst stages.

The Effects of Endurance Training on the Hemogram of the Horse

Fan, Y.K.,Hsu, J.C.,Peh, H.C.,Tsang, C.L.,Cheng, S.P.,Chiu, S.C.,Ju, J.C. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2002 Animal Bioscience Vol.15 No.9

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes and readjustment capacity in the hematological characteristics of the horse during and after a prolonged training program. One pony and two hot-blooded horses were used in this study. Resting or basal blood parameters were assessed by collecting blood samples of the animals for 1 to 2 months prior to start of the training program. Each animal was subjected to arbitrary exercise for 30 min by an automatic hot trotter and was bled at 0, 15, 30, 45 (15 min of recovery), 60 (30 min of recovery), and 75 min (45 min of recovery) after onset of exercise. All animals were exercised 3 times a week over a fivemonth period. Hematological parameters including average white blood cell counts (WBC, ${\times}$$10^3$/$\mu$l), erythrocyte concentrations (RBC, ${\times}$$10^6$/$\mu$l), hematocrit (HCT, %), mean corpuscular volume (MCV, fl), number of platelets (PLT, ${\times}$$10^4$/$\mu$l), hemoglobin concentration (Hb, g/dl), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH, pg), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC, g/dl) were analyzed using an automatic cell counter. All animals showed that RBC, WBC, and HCT were significantly (p<0.05) increasing from 7.09, 8.55, and 43.5 to 8.11, 9.67, and 49.5, respectively, during the 30 min of exercise and were back to or lower than the initial basis (resting and 0 min) 30 min after exercise. However, no significant differences were detected in MCV (50.3-51.3 fl), MCH (17.2-17.4 pg), and MCHC (33.7-34.4 g/dl) values (p>0.05) regardless of the training periods. Similar trends were observed after 1, 3, 4, and 5 months of training when compared to the resting state. When these parameters were analyzed by the effect of training periods (month), mean WBC concentrations significantly reduced in the fourth and fifth month after onset of training compared to that in resting condition or the first month of training program (p<0.05). The RBC values elevated at the second month (9.40) and reaching a significantly low level (p<0.001) at the fifth month (8.62) after training compared to the first month of training (7.89). In conclusion, a mild training program enhances blood parameters gradually in both the horse and the pony. Therefore, an optimized training program is beneficial in promoting the endurance performance of the horse.

Effect of Vitamin E on Lipid Parameters in Ovariectomized Rats

Bahram H. Arjmandi,Edralin A. Lucas,Tai-Yuan Chen,Sheau C. Chai,Latha Devareddy,Shanil Juma,Cheng-I Wei,Yamini B. Tripathi,Bruce P. Daggy,Deng-Fwu Hwang 한국식품영양과학회 2006 Journal of medicinal food Vol.9 No.1

The risk of cardiovascular disease drastically increases at the onset of menopause, in part, because of rise inblood cholesterol and unfavorable changes in lipid profile. This study was designed to investigate the dose-dependent effectsof vitamin E supplementation on lipid parameters in ovariectomized (ovx) rats. Sixty 12-month-old female Sprague-Dawleyrats were either sham-operated (sham; one group) or ovx (four groups). All rats were maintained on a semipurified casein-based diet (AIN-93M; 75 IU vitamin E/kg of diet) for a period of 120 days. Thereafter, ovx rats were placed on one of fourdoses of vitamin E treatment (75, 300, 525, or 750 IU vitamin E/kg of diet), while the sham group was continued on 75 IUvitamin E/kg of diet for 100 days. Ovariectomy tended to increase (by 24%, P. 0.1) serum nonhigh-density lipoprotein(HDL) cholesterol and decrease (by 14%, P. 0.1) HDL cholesterol. Vitamin E did not have any significant effects on serumlipid parameters. Liver total lipids were notably increased (P. .001) in ovx animals, and supplementation with vitamin E at525 IU/kg of diet was able to significantly reduce liver total lipids by 13%. Additionally, ovariectomy caused an increase inserum glucose and liver C18:1fatty acid concentrations along with decreases in C18:0, C20:4, and C22:6fatty acid concentra-tions. These alterations on liver fatty acid profiles were unaffected by vitamin E. The findings of this study suggest that vit-amin E supplementation moderately improves lipid parameters in ovarian hormone-deficient rats.

Mode Change of a Gamma-Ray Pulsar, PSR J2021+4026

Zhao, J.,Ng, C. W.,Lin, L. C. C.,Takata, J.,Cai, Y.,Hu, C.-P.,Yen, D. C. C.,Tam, P. H. T.,Hui, C. Y.,Kong, A. K. H.,Cheng, K. S. American Astronomical Society 2017 The Astrophysical journal Vol.842 No.1

<P>A glitch of a pulsar is known as a sudden increase in the spin frequency and spin-down rate (frequency time derivative), and it can be caused by a sudden release of the stress built up in the solid crust of the star or pinned vortices in the superfluid interior. PSR J2021+4026 is the first pulsar that shows a significant change in the gamma-ray flux and pulse profile at the glitch that occurred around 2011 October 16. We report the results of timing and spectral analysis of PSR J2021+4026 using similar to 8 yr Fermi. Large Area Telescope data. We find that the pulsar stayed at a high spin-down rate (similar to 4% higher than the pre-glitch value) and a low gamma-ray state (similar to 18% lower) for about 3 yr. after the glitch. Around 2014 December, the spin-down rate and gamma-ray flux gradually returned to pre-glitch values within a timescale of a. few months. The phase-resolved spectra and pulse profiles after the relaxation are also consistent with those before the glitch. The observed long-term evolution of the spin-down rate and the gamma-ray flux indicates that the glitch triggered a mode change in the global magnetosphere. We speculate that the glitch changed. the local magnetic field structure around the polar cap and/or the inclination angle of the. dipole axis, leading to. a change in the electric current circulating in the. magnetosphere.</P>