Relative Genetic Effects of Duroc and Taoyuan Breeds on the Economic Traits of Their Hybrids

Yen, N.T.,Tai, C.,Cheng, Y.S.,Huang, M.C. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2001 Animal Bioscience Vol.14 No.4

For determining the relative genetic effects of Duroc (D) and Taoyuan (T) breeds on the economic traits of their hybrids, 72 litters of pigs, from four mating types, namely TT (T♂$\times$T♀), DD (D♂$\times$D♀) and D-T hybrids (TD, T♂$\times$D♀ and DT, D♂$\times$T♀) were used in this study. The various crossbreeding parameters were estimated by comparisons among mating types using linear contrasts of least-square analysis. The results of reproductive traits analysis showed that T breed had contributed superior genetic effects on the total number of piglets at birth (TBN) (p<0.10) and number of live piglets at 21 days (LP21) (p<0.05) to the D-T hybrids. Estimates of maternal genetic effects showed that the T females were superior in TBN (p<0.05), but inferior in average birth weight (ABW) and average litter birth weight (LBW) (p<0.01) to the D females. Direct heterosis effects were significant for LBW, LP21 and LWT21 (p<0.01). Least-squares analysis of other economic traits showed that T breed had relative negative effects on all growth traits, withers height (WH), body type index (BTI), average backfat thickness (ABF), carcass length (LENG), loin eye area (longissimus) (LEARA), and lean percentage (LEAN) of D-T hybrids (p<0.05). Estimates of direct genetic effects showed that the D breed was superior to the T breed in all growth and carcass traits except the average backfat (BF). Estimates of maternal genetic effects showed that average body weight at 180 days (WT180) of progenies from T sows were lighter than from D sows. Progenies from D females had larger and leaner carcass than those from T females. Direct heterosis effects were significant for average daily weight gains from 150 to 180 days ($ADG_{150-180}$) (p<0.05) and for average body weights at 150 (WT150), and 180 days (WT180), average daily weight gains from birth to 150 and 180 days ($ADG_{150}$ and $ADG_{180}$, respectively), WH, body length (BL), ABF, BTI, and LENG (p<0.01). The results showed that D-T hybrids tended to have superior TBN and LP21 than D breed, and to be superior in all growth and most conformation and carcass traits to the T breed.

Graphene/M_xWO₃ (M=Na, K) nanohybrids with excellent electrical properties

Liu, B.,Yin, S.,Wu, X.,Wang, Y.,Huang, Y.,Wu, J.,Sekino, T.,Matsushita, J.,Lee, S.W.,Kobayashi, M.,Kakihana, M.,Sato, T. Pergamon Press ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2015 Carbon Vol.94 No.-

Graphene/M<SUB>x</SUB>WO<SUB>3</SUB> (M=Na, K) nanocomposites with different weight ratios were successfully synthesized using MBH<SUB>4</SUB> as a reducing agent in aqueous solution, followed by crystallization of amorphous precursors under calcination in H<SUB>2</SUB> (5vol.%)/N<SUB>2</SUB> atmosphere at 600<SUP>o</SUP>C. The coupled samples showed good shielding properties in NIR wavelength range together with certain visible lights transparency. The as-prepared tungsten bronze nanoparticles are homogeneously anchored on graphene sheets, and the graphene/tungsten bronze nanocomposite showed an enhanced electrical conductivity with good shielding properties in the NIR range together with certain visible lights transparency. With the increment of graphene amount in the composites, the contact between the graphene sheets was enhanced, and the M<SUB>x</SUB>WO<SUB>3</SUB> might enhance the charge transport properties of graphene by generating the short conductive path for electrons over the remained oxygenated functional groups. The synergistic effects could be observed in the composites. When 5wt.% or more graphene were composed into M<SUB>x</SUB>WO<SUB>3</SUB>, the hybrid composite showed the higher electrical conductivity than those of uncoupled graphene and tungsten bronze alone.

c-Cbl-Mediated Neddylation Antagonizes Ubiquitination and Degradation of the TGF-β Type II Receptor

Zuo, W.,Huang, F.,Chiang, Y.,Li, M.,Du, J.,Ding, Y.,Zhang, T.,Lee, H.,Jeong, L.,Chen, Y.,Deng, H.,Feng, X.H.,Luo, S.,Gao, C.,Chen, Y.G. Cell Press 2013 Molecular cell Vol.49 No.3

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a potent antiproliferative factor in multiple types of cells. Deregulation of TGF-β signaling is associated with the development of many cancers, including leukemia, though the molecular mechanisms are largely unclear. Here, we show that Casitas B-lineage lymphoma (c-Cbl), a known proto-oncogene encoding an ubiquitin E3 ligase, promotes TGF-β signaling by neddylating and stabilizing the type II receptor (TβRII). Knockout of c-Cbl decreases the TβRII protein level and desensitizes hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells to TGF-β stimulation, while c-Cbl overexpression stabilizes TβRII and sensitizes leukemia cells to TGF-β. c-Cbl conjugates neural precursor cell-expressed, developmentally downregulated 8 (NEDD8), a ubiquitin-like protein, to TβRII at Lys556 and Lys567. Neddylation of TβRII promotes its endocytosis to EEA1-positive early endosomes while preventing its endocytosis to caveolin-positive compartments, therefore inhibiting TβRII ubiquitination and degradation. We have also identified a neddylation-activity-defective c-Cbl mutation from leukemia patients, implying a link between aberrant TβRII neddylation and leukemia development.

SEARCH FOR PULSED γ-RAY EMISSION FROM GLOBULAR CLUSTER M28

Wu, J. H. K.,Hui, C. Y.,Wu, E. M. H.,Kong, A. K. H.,Huang, R. H. H.,Tam, P. H. T.,Takata, J.,Cheng, K. S. IOP Publishing 2013 ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS - Vol.765 No.2

<P>Using the data from the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, we have searched for gamma-ray pulsations from the direction of the globular cluster M28 (NGC 6626). We report the discovery of a signal with a frequency consistent with that of the energetic millisecond pulsar (MSP) PSR B1821-24 in M28. A weighted H-test test statistic of 28.8 is attained, which corresponds to a chance probability of similar to 10(-5) (4.3 sigma detection). With a phase-resolved analysis, the pulsed component is found to contribute similar to 25% of the total observed gamma-ray emission from the cluster. However, the unpulsed level provides a constraint for the underlying MSP population and the fundamental plane relations for the scenario of inverse Compton scattering. Follow-up timing observations in radio/X-ray are encouraged to further investigate this periodic signal candidate.</P>

Probe on hard carbon electrode derived from orange peel for energy storage application

Meenatchi T.,Priyanka V.,Subadevi R.,Liu Wei-Ren,Huang Chia-Hung,Sivakumar M. 한국탄소학회 2021 Carbon Letters Vol.31 No.5

Activated non-graphitizable hard carbon using orange peel with mesoporous structure has been prepared by pyrolyzation at 700, 800, 900 °C using chemical activation method. The activated orange peel-derived hard carbon has been characterized for its mesoporous and disordered structure. TG-DSC gives the information for the changes about sample composition and thermal stability of the materials. Increasing the carbonization temperature for orange peel precursor using NaOH as activating agent, elevates the pore diameter, which thereby facilitating the insertion of Na+. Raman and X-ray difraction confrms the presence of disordered carbon. The surface morphology of the material was analyzed by scanning eletron microsope and nitrogen (N2) adsorption and desorption analysis give the morphology, mesopore size (3.374, 3.39 and 4 nm) and surace area (60.164, 58.99 and 54.327 m2 /g) of the orange peel-derived hard carbon. Hence, this work strongly evidences that the biomass-derived hard carbon with good porosity and paves way of superior electrochemical performance for emerging sodium ion batteries.

Epigenomic promoter alterations predict for benefit from immune checkpoint inhibition in metastatic gastric cancer

Sundar, R,Huang, K K,Qamra, A,Kim, K -M,Kim, S T,Kang, W K,Tan, A L K,Lee, J,Tan, P Oxford University Press 2019 Annals of oncology Vol.30 No.3

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P><B>Background</B></P><P>Utilization of alternative transcription start sites through alterations in epigenetic promoter regions causes reduced expression of immunogenic N-terminal peptides, which may facilitate immune evasion in early gastric cancer. We hypothesized that tumors with high alternate promoter utilization would be resistant to immune checkpoint inhibition in metastatic gastric cancer.</P><P><B>Patients and methods</B></P><P>Two cohorts of patients with metastatic gastric cancer treated with immunotherapy were analyzed. The first cohort (<I>N </I>=<I> </I>24) included patients treated with either nivolumab or pembrolizumab. Alternate promoter utilization was measured using the NanoString<SUP>®</SUP> (NanoString Technologies, Seattle, WA, USA) platform on archival tissue samples. The second cohort was a phase II clinical trial of patients uniformly treated with pembrolizumab (<I>N </I>=<I> </I>37). Fresh tumor biopsies were obtained, and transcriptomic analysis was carried out on RNAseq data. Alternate promoter utilization was correlated to T-cell cytolytic activity, objective response rate and survival.</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>In the first cohort 8 of 24 (33%) tumors were identified to have high alternate promoter utilization (AP<SUB>high</SUB>), and this was used to define the AP<SUB>high</SUB> tertile of the second cohort (13 AP<SUB>high</SUB> of 37). AP<SUB>high</SUB> tumors exhibited decreased markers of T-cell cytolytic activity and lower response rates (8% versus 42%, <I>P </I>=<I> </I>0.03). Median progression-free survival was lower in the AP<SUB>high</SUB> group (55 versus 180 days, <I>P </I>=<I> </I>0.0076). In multivariate analysis, alternative promoter utilization was an independent predictor of immunotherapy survival [hazard ratio 0.29, 95% confidence interval 0.099–0.85, <I>P </I>=<I> </I>0.024). Analyzing tumoral evolution through paired pre-treatment and post-treatment biopsies, we observed consistent shifts in alternative promoter utilization rate associated with clinical response.</P><P><B>Conclusion</B></P><P>A substantial proportion of metastatic gastric cancers utilize alternate promoters as a mechanism of immune evasion, and these tumors may be resistant to anti-PD1 immune checkpoint inhibition. Alternate promoter utilization is thus a potential mechanism of resistance to immune checkpoint inhibition, and a novel predictive biomarker for immunotherapy.</P><P><B>Trial Registration</B></P><P>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT#02589496</P>

An AzTEC 1.1-mm survey for ULIRGs in the field of the Galaxy Cluster MS 0451.6−0305

Wardlow, J. L.,Smail, Ian,Wilson, G. W.,Yun, M. S.,Coppin, K. E. K.,Cybulski, R.,Geach, J. E.,Ivison, R. J.,Aretxaga, I.,Austermann, J. E.,Edge, A. C.,Fazio, G. G.,Huang, J.,Hughes, D. H.,Kodama, T.,K Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2010 MONTHLY NOTICES- ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY Vol.401 No.4

<P>ABSTRACT</P><P>We have undertaken a deep (σ∼ 1.1 mJy) 1.1-mm survey of the <I>z</I>= 0.54 cluster MS 0451.6−0305 using the AzTEC camera on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. We detect 36 sources with signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) ≥ 3.5 in the central 0.10 deg<SUP>2</SUP> and present the AzTEC map, catalogue and number counts. We identify counterparts to 18 sources (50 per cent) using radio, mid-infrared, <I>Spitzer</I> InfraRed Array Camera (IRAC) and Submillimetre Array data. Optical, near- and mid-infrared spectral energy distributions are compiled for the 14 of these galaxies with detectable counterparts, which are expected to contain all likely cluster members. We then use photometric redshifts and colour selection to separate background galaxies from potential cluster members and test the reliability of this technique using archival observations of submillimetre galaxies. We find two potential MS 0451−03 members, which, if they are both cluster galaxies, have a total star formation rate (SFR) of ∼100 M<SUB>⊙</SUB> yr<SUP>−1</SUP>– a significant fraction of the combined SFR of all the other galaxies in MS 0451−03. We also examine the stacked rest-frame mid-infrared, millimetre and radio emission of cluster members below our AzTEC detection limit, and find that the SFRs of mid-IR-selected galaxies in the cluster and redshift-matched field populations are comparable. In contrast, the average SFR of the morphologically classified late-type cluster population is nearly three times less than the corresponding redshift-matched field galaxies. This suggests that these galaxies may be in the process of being transformed on the red sequence by the cluster environment. Our survey demonstrates that although the environment of MS 0451−03 appears to suppress star formation in late-type galaxies, it can support active, dust-obscured mid-IR galaxies and potentially millimetre-detected LIRGs.</P>

Immunomodulatory effects of phytogenics in chickens and pigs - A review

Huang, C.M.,Lee, T.T. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2018 Animal Bioscience Vol.31 No.5

Environmental stressors like pathogens and toxins may depress the animal immune system through invasion of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) tract, where they may impair performance and production, as well as lead to increased mortality rates. Therefore, protection of the GIT tract and improving animal health are top priorities in animal production. Being natural-sourced materials, phytochemicals are potential feed additives possessing multiple functions, including: anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-viral and antioxidative properties. This paper focuses on immunity-related physiological parameters regulated by phytochemicals, such as carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, curcumin, and thymol; many studies have proven that these phytochemicals can improve animal performance and production. On the molecular level, the impact of inflammatory gene expression on underlying mechanisms was also examined, as were the effects of environmental stimuli and phytochemicals in initiating nuclear factor kappa B and mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathways and improving health conditions.

MEDICAL MYCOLOGY & OTHERS : CLINICAL USE OF ITRACONAZOLE ( SPORANOX , R51211 ) IN ONYCHOMYCOSES

( T . M . Jen,C . D . Tsai,Y . L . Chien,M . L . Tseng,E . M . Lee,M . T . Liu,Y . T . Chang,C . F . Chu,W . L . Jen,D . D . Lee,J . J . Shiue,Y . L . Huang ) 한국균학회 1992 MYCOLOGICAL SYMPOSIUM Vol.- No.-

Tabletop laser-driven gamma-ray source with nanostructured double-layer target

Huang, T W,Kim, C M,Zhou, C T,Ryu, C M,Nakajima, K,Ruan, S C,Nam, C H IOP 2018 Plasma physics and controlled fusion Vol.60 No.11

<P>Laser-driven gamma-ray source potentially offers a compact, cost-effective, ultra-short, and ultra-bright alternative to conventional gamma-ray sources based on large-scale particle accelerators. Based on the laser-driven approach, we use multidimensional particle-in-cell simulations to demonstrate that a nanostructured double-layer target, which consists of a nanostructured foam coated on top of a metal substrate, can absorb laser energy into high-energy electrons in the nanostructured foam, and then efficiently convert it into copious gamma photons via the nonlinear Compton scattering process enabled by the solid-density substrate, which acts as a plasma mirror to reflect the laser pulse. The effects of different nanostructures in the foam target and the oblique laser incidence are presented. It is shown that the conversion efficiency of gamma photons increases when the size of nanoparticles decreases or the filling factor of nanoparticles increases in nanostructured foam target, but decreases when the laser incidence angle increases. At realistic conditions with nanostructured foam and non-normal incidence, the double-layer target still exhibits an unprecedentedly high conversion efficiency in high-energy gamma-ray production due to the laser reflection by the plasma mirror, which can be two and even three orders of magnitude higher than that of the single-layer target without the substrate using currently available lasers with intensity of 10<SUP>21</SUP> <img ALIGN='MIDDLE' ALT='${\rm{W}}/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$' SRC='http://ej.iop.org/images/0741-3335/60/11/115006/ppcfaadbebieqn1.gif'/>.</P>