The Expression of Genes Related to Egg Production in the Liver of Taiwan Country Chickens

Ding, S.T.,Ko, Y.H.,Ou, B.R.,Wang, P.H.,Chen, C.L.,Huang, M.C.,Lee, Y.P.,Lin, E.C.,Chen, C.F.,Lin, H.W.,Cheng, Winston Teng Kuei Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2008 Animal Bioscience Vol.21 No.1

The purpose of this study was to detect expression of genes related to egg production in Taiwan Country chickens by suppression subtractive hybridization. Liver samples of mRNA extraction from two Taiwan Country chicken strains (L2 and B), originated from the same population but with very distinct egg production rates after long-term selection for egg and meat production respectively. Two-way subtraction was performed. The hepatic cDNA from the low egg production chickens (B) was subtracted from the hepatic cDNA from the high egg production strain (L2). The reversed subtraction (L2 from B) was also performed. The resulting differentially expressed gene fragments were cloned and sequenced. We sequenced 288 clones from the forward subtraction and 96 clones from the reverse subtraction. These genes were subjected to further screening to confirm the differential expression between the two genetic breeds of chickens. The apolipoprotein B (apoB) was expressed to a greater extent in the liver of the L2 than in the B line chickens. The 5-aminoimidazole- 4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase/IMP cyclohydrolase (PURH) was expressed to a greater extent in the liver of the B than in the L2 strain chickens. We demonstrated that both apoB and PURH were more highly expressed in the liver than that in other tissues (muscle, ovary, and oviduct) in laying Taiwan Country chickens. Taken together, these data suggest that after the selection for egg production, expression of apoB and PURH genes were also changed. Whether the changed expression of these genes is directly related to egg production is not known, but these two genes may be useful markers for egg laying performance in Taiwan Country chickens.

Effect of Microbial Phytase on Performance, Nutrient Absorption and Excretion in Weaned Pigs and Apparent Ileal Nutrient Digestibility in Growing Pigs

Zeng, Z.K.,Piao, X.S.,Wang, D.,Li, P.F.,Xue, L.F.,Salmon, Lorraine,Zhang, H.Y.,Han, X.,Liu, L. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2011 Animal Bioscience Vol.24 No.8

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Trichoderma reesei derived phytase for pigs fed diets with fixed calcium to total phosphorus ratios (1.5:1). In Exp. 1, 280 weaned pigs (initial BW of $10.32{\pm}1.94$ kg) were allocated to one of five dietary treatments on the basis of weight and gender in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were the low phosphorus (0.6% Ca, 0.4% total P and 0.23% available P) diets supplemented with 0, 250, 1,000, or 2,000 FTU phytase/kg of diet and a positive control diet (PC; 0.85% Ca, 0.58% total P and 0.37% available P). The treatments were applied to seven pens with eight pigs per pen, half male and half female. In Exp. 2, six barrows fitted with ileal T-cannula (initial BW = $35.1{\pm}1.6$ kg) were assigned to three dietary treatments with a double $3{\times}3$ Latin square design. The dietary treatments were the low-phosphorus diet (0.53% Ca, 0.34% total P and 0.14% available P), the low phosphorus diet plus 1,000 FTU phytase/kg and a positive control diet (0.77% Ca, 0.50% total P and 0.30% available P). In Exp. 1, there were linear increases (p<0.01) in weight gain, phosphorus absorption, bone strength, calcium and phosphorus content of fat-free dried bone and plasma phosphorus concentrations with increasing dose rate of phytase. The performance of pigs fed the diets with 250, 1,000, or 2,000 FTU of phytase/kg did not differ from pigs fed the PC diet. Pigs fed diets with 1,000 or 2,000 FTU of phytase/kg did not differ from pigs fed the PC diet in bone characteristics. The apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, ash and energy was not affected by dietary treatment. However, pigs fed the PC diet excreted more fecal phosphorus (g/d, p<0.01) and fecal phosphorus per BW gain (g/kg) than pigs fed the diets with phytase. Phytase linearly decreased (p<0.01) fecal phosphorus excreted per BW gain (g/kg), plasma calcium concentration as well as plasma and bone alkaline phosphatase activity. In Exp. 2, phytase supplementation in the low-P diet increased (p<0.05) the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of Ca, P, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, alanine and cysteine, tended to AID of crude protein, isoleucine, threonine, asparagine and serine. In conclusion, the novel phytase originated from Trichoderma reesei is effective in releasing Ca, P, and amino acids from corn soy based diet for pigs.

Total Cross-Section Measurements of 169Tm below 100 eV

Wang, W. M.,Li, X.,Zhao, Z. X.,Zhou, Z. Y.,Wu, H. C.,Wang, T. F.,Kim, G. N.,Lee, M. W.,Kim, K. S.,Cho, M. H.,Ko, I. S.,Namkung, W. Korean Physical Society 2011 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.59 No.2

Synthesis of TiO₂ Nanotubes and Their Sensitivity for Toluene Gas

Yue, H.Y.,Huang, S.,Guo, E.J.,Wang, L.P.,Kang, F.W.,Yu, Z.M.,Guo, Y.K.,Sun, F.L. The Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute 2011 한국분말재료학회지 (KPMI) Vol.18 No.1

$TiO_2$ nanopowders with anatase structure were firstly prepared by controlling the pH value of a precursor solution without any heat-treatment at room temperature. The prepared $TiO_2$ nanopowders were hydrothermally treated in 10M NaOH solution at $170^{\circ}C$. Then, the samples were washed in DI water or 0.1M HCl. The $TiO_2$ nanotubes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The gas sensitivity of $TiO_2$ nanotubes for toluene gas was also investigated. The results show that $TiO_2$ nanotubes can be prepared by hydrothermal treatment. The morphology of $TiO_2$ nanotubes prepared by 0.1M HCl washing is destroyed to some extent. $TiO_2$ nanotubes with DI water washing show better sensitivity than that with 0.1M HCl washing.

One Alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol Improves Growth Performance, Tibia Quality, and Meat Color of Broilers Fed Calcium- and Phosphorus-Deficient Diets

Han, J.C.,Wang, Y.L.,Qu, H.X.,Liang, F.,Zhang, J.L.,Shi, C.X.,Zhang, X.L.,Li, L.,Xie, Q.,Wang, C.L.,Yan, Y.Y.,Dong, X.S.,Cheng, Y.H. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2012 Animal Bioscience Vol.25 No.2

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of one alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol ($1{\alpha}$-OH $D_3$) on growth performance, tibia quality, and skin and meat color in broilers fed calcium (Ca)- and phosphorus (P)-deficient corn-soybean meal diets. A total of 288 male Ross broilers, at 21 days of age, were randomly assigned to three treatments with eight cages per treatment. Three levels of $1{\alpha}$-OH $D_3$ (0, 5, and 10 ${\mu}g$/kg) were added to a basal diet (0.50% Ca, 0.13% non-phytate phosphorus (NPP), and 0.35% total phosphorus (tP)) without vitamin $D_3$. As a result of this study, the addition of $1{\alpha}$-OH $D_3$ increased body weight gain (p<0.001), feed intake (p = 0.007), feed efficiency (p<0.001), tibia weight (p = 0.002), length (p<0.001), breaking-strength (p = 0.012), ash (p<0.001), Ca (p<0.001), and P content (p = 0.004). Dietary $1{\alpha}$-OH $D_3$ enhanced breast meat yellowness (p = 0.015) and the length and weight of the small intestine of the broilers. Moreover, $1{\alpha}$-OH $D_3$ decreased serum Ca concentration (p = 0.074) and breast meat redness (p = 0.010). These results indicate that the $1{\alpha}$-OH $D_3$ improves growth, tibia quality, and meat color in broilers fed Ca- and P-deficient corn-soybean meal diets.

Intramuscular Administration of Zinc Metallothionein to Preslaughter Stressed Pigs Improves Anti-oxidative Status and Pork Quality

Li, L.L.,Hou, Z.P.,Yin, Y.L.,Liu, Y.H.,Hou, D.X.,Zhang, B.,Wu, G.Y.,Kim, S.W.,Fan, M.Z.,Yang, C.B.,Kong, X.F.,Tang, Z.R.,Peng, H.Z.,Deng, D.,Deng, Z.Y.,Xie, M.Y.,Xiong, H.,Kang, P.,Wang, S.X. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2007 Animal Bioscience Vol.20 No.5

This study was conducted to determine the effects of exogenous zinc-metallothionein (Zn-MT) on anti-oxidative function and pork quality. After feeding a corn-soybean meal-based diet for two weeks, 48 pigs ($Duroc{\times}Landrace{\times}Chinese\;Black Pig$) were assigned randomly to four groups. Pigs in Group 1 were maintained under non-stress conditions, whereas pigs in Groups 2, 3 and 4 were aggressively handled for 25 min to produce stress. Pigs in Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 received intramuscular administration of saline (control group; CON), 0 (negative control group; NCON), 0.8 (low dose group; LOW), and 1.6 (high dose group; HIGH) mg rabbit liver Zn-MT per kg body weight, respectively. Pigs were slaughtered at 3 and 6 h post-injection. Zn-MT treatment increased (p<0.05) the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-PX) while decreasing the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver. These responses were greater (p<0.05) at 6 h than at 3 h post Zn-MT injection. Zn-MT treatment increased (p<0.05) hepatic SOD mRNA levels in a time and dose-dependent manner and decreased (p<0.05) serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase activities (indicators of tissue integrity). Zn-MT administration decreased (p<0.05) lactate concentration and increased (p<0.05) pH and water-holding capacity in the longissimus thorasis meat. Collectively, our results indicate that intramuscular administration of Zn-MT to pre-slaughter stressed pigs improved tissue anti-oxidative ability and meat quality.

Effects of Increasing Level of Dietary Rice Straw on Chewing Activity, Ruminal Fermentation and Fibrolytic Enzyme Activity in Growing Goats

Wanga, M.,Zhaoa, X.G.,Tan, Z.L.,Tang, S.X.,Zhou, C.S.,Sun, Z.H.,Han, X.F.,Wang, C.W. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2010 Animal Bioscience Vol.23 No.8

Effects of increasing dietary rice straw on chewing activity, ruminal fermentation, and fibrolytic enzyme activity in growing goats were investigated in a $4{\times}4$ Latin Square experiment. The goats were offered four diets with an increasing proportion of rice straw (i.e. 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20, respectively, on dry matter basis). Increasing level of rice straw increased ($P_{linear\;effect}$ <0.05) the time spent on eating, ruminating, and chewing. The ruminal pH and acetate: propionate ratio were increased ($P_{linear\;effect}$ <0.05), while the $NH_3$-N concentration was decreased ($P_{linear\;effect}$ <0.01). Increasing level of rice straw in the diet increased ($P_{linear\;effect}{\leq}0.01$) molar proportion of acetate and isovalerate, and decreased ($P_{linear\;effect}$ <0.01) molar proportion of propionate. The CMCase, xylanase and cellobiase activities in the rumen were decreased ($P_{linear\;effect}$ <0.05) with increasing level of dietary rice straw, whereas the avicelase activity was increased ($P_{linear\;effect}$ <0.01). In summary, increased level of rice straw elevated the dietary neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content in the diet and had a great impact on chewing activity and ruminal fermentation.

Impact of structural disorder on the magnetic ordering and magnetocaloric response of amorphous Gd-based microwires

Biswas, Anis,Yu, Y. Y.,Bingham, N. S.,Wang, H.,Qin, F. X.,Sun, J. F.,Yu, S. C.,Franco, V.,Srikanth, H.,Phan, M. H. American Institute of Physics 2014 JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS - Vol.115 No.17

<P>We have studied the impact of structural disorder on the magnetic ordering and magnetocaloric response of amorphous Gd68Ni32 and Gd53Al24Co20Zr3 microwires. We find that the presence of structural disorder significantly broadens the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic (PM-FM) transition and the temperature-dependent magnetic entropy change, while the nature of the second-order magnetic transition and long-range ferromagnetic order are not essentially affected by this effect. The large magnetic moment of Gd and the presence of the long-range ferromagnetic order are believed to result in a large magnetic entropy change, which together with the broadening of the PM-FM transition due to structural disorder contribute to a large refrigerant capacity. The excellent magnetocaloric properties of the amorphous microwires make them very promising candidates for active magnetic refrigeration. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.</P>

Improving mechanical and magnetocaloric responses of amorphous melt-extracted Gd-based microwires via nanocrystallization

Belliveau, H.F.,Yu, Y.Y.,Luo, Y.,Qin, F.X.,Wang, H.,Shen, H.X.,Sun, J.F.,Yu, S.C.,Srikanth, H.,Phan, M.H. Elsevier 2017 JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS Vol.692 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>We report on the structural, mechanical, and magnetocaloric properties of annealed melt-extracted Gd<SUB>53</SUB>Al<SUB>24</SUB>Co<SUB>20</SUB>Zr<SUB>3</SUB> amorphous microwires of ∼70 μm diameter. During heat treatment small islands of nanocrystallities are generated and isolated in the amorphous region for the wires. The size of the nanocrystallities ranges from 5 nm to 10 nm. The observed lattice distortion from the nanocrystallities causes changes in the magnetic properties of the wires. The annealing temperature of 100 °C has the largest strength (1845 MPa) as compared to wires annealed at other temperatures. This is likely to trigger nanophase transformation in the amorphous region and these nanocrystals have been preserved through the increase of annealing temperature. The formulation of the nanocrystalline islands is also verified by the selected-area electron diffraction (SAED). The microwires exhibit a large and reversible magnetocaloric effect (MCE), with the maximum isothermal magnetic entropy change (−Δ<I>S</I> <SUB>M</SUB>) and refrigerant capacity (<I>RC</I>) values of 9.5 J/kg K and 689 J/kg respectively for the microwire annealed at 100 °C. This <I>RC</I> is about 35%, 67%, and 91% larger than those of bulk Gd<SUB>53</SUB>Al<SUB>24</SUB>Co<SUB>20</SUB>Zr<SUB>3</SUB> (∼509 J/kg), Gd (∼410 J/kg), and Gd<SUB>5</SUB>Si<SUB>2</SUB>Ge<SUB>1.9</SUB>Fe<SUB>0.1</SUB> (∼360 J/kg) regardless of their ordering temperatures. These results demonstrate the ability to tune the mechanical and magnetic properties of the microwires by thermal annealing.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> The impact of nanocrystallization in Gd<SUB>53</SUB>Al<SUB>24</SUB>Co<SUB>20</SUB>Zr<SUB>3</SUB> microwires. </LI> <LI> Enhanced mechanical strength. </LI> <LI> Enhanced magnetocaloric response. </LI> </UL> </P>

Effects of Coated Compound Proteases on Apparent Total Tract Digestibility of Nutrients and Apparent Ileal Digestibility of Amino Acids for Pigs

Pan, L.,Zhao, P.F.,Yang, Z.Y.,Long, S.F.,Wang, H.L.,Tian, Q.Y.,Xu, Y.T.,Xu, X.,Zhang, Z.H.,Piao, X.S. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2016 Animal Bioscience Vol.29 No.12

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate effects of coated compound proteases (CC protease) on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nitrogen (N) and energy, and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of amino acids (AA) and nutrients in diets for pigs. In Exp. 1, 12 crossbred barrows (initial body weight: $20.79{\pm}1.94kg$) were housed in individual metabolism crates and allotted into 2 treatments with 6 piglets per treatment according to weight in a randomized complete block design. The 2 diets were corn-soybean meal basal diets with (0.2 g/kg) or without CC protease supplementation. The CC protease supplementation increased (p<0.05) the digestible and metabolizable N and energy values and the digestibility and retention rate of N in the diet. The ATTD of energy and nutrients had been improved (p<0.05) in the diet supplemented with CC protease. In Exp. 2, 12 crossbred barrows (initial body weight: $20.79{\pm}1.94kg$), fitted with T-cannulas at the distal ileum, were blocked by body weight into 2 groups with 6 pigs each. The diets were the same as those in Exp. 1. The CC protease increased (p<0.05) the AID of crude protein and some essential AA including arginine, isoleucine and leucine. The AID and ATTD of energy and nutrients had been improved (p<0.05) by supplemental CC protease, but the hindgut digestibility of nutrients was unaffected. Overall, the CC protease improved the ATTD of N and energy and AID of some indispensible AA and nutrients in the corn-soybean meal diet for pigs. Therefore, the CC protease supplement could improve the utilization of protein in the corn-soybean meal diet and thus contribute to lower N excretion to the environment.