Polymorphism of Ghrelin Gene in Twelve Chinese Indigenous Chicken Breeds and Its Relationship with Chicken Growth Traits

C. C. Li,K. Li,J. Li,D. L. Mo,R. F. Xu,G. H. Chen,Y. Z. Qiangba,S. L. Ji,X. H. Tang,B. Fan,M. J. Zhu,T. A. Xiong,X. Guan,B. Liu 아세아·태평양축산학회 2006 Animal Bioscience Vol.19 No.2

A 2,656 bp fragment of chicken ghrelin gene was cloned and SNPs were detected by PCR-RFLP and Allele Specific PCR (ASP) in 12 Chinese indigenous chicken breeds and a commercial chicken population. The results showed that there were 23 base variations and an amino acid change (Gln->Arg) in cloned chicken ghrelin gene. Three SNPs were confirmed in 13 populations and associations between this gene and growth traits of Tibetan chicken (TC) and Recessive White chicken (RW) were investigated. The results of haplotype analysis revealed that 26 haplotype genotypes were composed of eight haplotypes. The results of x2 tests indicated that there were significant differences between genotypes or haplotype genotype frequencies in some of the breeds or sexes at 0.05 or 0.01 levels. The results of ANOVA revealed that there were significant differences between genotypes or haplotype genotypes on some growth traits of TC and RW chicken breeds at 0.05 or 0.01 levels. Multiple comparisons showed that there were significant associations between genotype CT at site 71 and some growth traits of two chicken breeds and between genotype AG at site 1,215 and body weight at 16 wk of two chicken breeds, and there was a significant association between haplotype genotype CAA/CAG and body weight and shank girth at 16 wk of two chicken breeds.

Preparation and Characterization of Magnetic Cobalt Ferrites/SBA-15 Nanocomposite Adsorbents and the Removal of Methylene Blue

X. J. Chen,J. C. Xu,H. X. Jin,D. F. Jin,B. Hong,H. L. Ge,X. Q. Wang 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2017 NANO Vol.12 No.5

In this paper, ordered mesoporous SBA-15 silica was synthesized by the hydrothermal method, and then a series of CoFe2O4/SBA-15 nanocomposites were synthesized by a facile impregnation method. X-ray diffraction and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms were used to characterize the microstructure and morphology of SBA-15 and CoFe2O4/SBA-15 nanocomposites. CoFe2O4 nanoparticles presented spinel phase structure and existed in the mesopores of SBA-15. The magnetic response of CoFe2O4/SBA-15 nanocomposites was characterized with vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The adsorption efficiency of CoFe2O4/SBA-15 nanocomposites for methylene blue increased firstly with the increasing CoFe2O4 content, and then decreased. Sample-2 (SBA-15: CoFe2O4 = 1: 0.1 in the precursor) not only presented the best adsorptive performance, but also could be separated and retrieved effectively by magnetic separation technique.

Association Analyses with Carcass Traits in the Porcine KIAA1717 and HUMMLC2B Genes

Xu, D.Q.,Xiong, Y.Z.,Liu, M.,Lan, J.,Ling, X.F.,Deng, C.Y.,Jiang, S.W. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2005 Animal Bioscience Vol.18 No.11

By screening a subtracted cDNA library constructed with mRNA obtained from the longissimus dorsi muscles of F1 hybrids Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire and their Yorkshire female parents, we isolated two partial sequences coding for the H3-K4-specific methyltransferase (KIAA1717) and skeletal muscle myosin regulatory light chain (HUMMLC2B) genes. In the present work we investigated two SNPs, one (C1354T) at the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of KIAA1717 and one (A345G) at the SINE (PRE-1) element of HUMMLC2B, in a resource population derived from crossing Chinese Meishan and Large White pig. The selected pigs were genotyped by means of a PCR-RFLP protocol. Significant associations were observed for the KIAA1717 C1354T polymorphic site with thorax-waist backfat thickness (p<0.05), buttock backfat thickness (p<0.05), average backfat thickness (p<0.05), loin eye height (p<0.05), loin eye area (p<0.05), carcass length to 1$^{st}$ spondyle (p<0.01) and carcass length to 1st rib (p<0.01). HUMMLC2B A345G were significantly associated with loin eye width (p<0.05), loin eye area (p<0.05). Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.

Expression Analysis of the Mx Gene and Its Genome Structure in Chickens

Yin, C.G.,Du, L.X.,Li, S.G.,Zhao, G.P.,Zhang, J.,Wei, C.H.,Xu, L.Y.,Liu, T.,Li, H.B. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2010 Animal Bioscience Vol.23 No.7

Among the known interferon-induced antiviral mechanisms, the Mx pathway is one of the most powerful pathways. The Mx protein has direct antiviral activity and inhibits a wide range of viruses by blocking an early stage of the viral replication cycle. Cloning, characterization, and expression of Mx in vivo and in vitro have been conducted. The chicken Mx gene spans 21 kb and is made up of 14 exons and 13 introns, of which the promoter region was analyzed. The real-time PCR results showed that Mx expression was increased in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) after 12- and 24-h induction with polyI: C. Induction of Mx expression by poly I: C in vivo revealed tissue-specific patterns among the chicken tissues tested. A trace expression of Mx was detected in healthy chicken liver tissues from adult chickens without inducement; the expression levels in the liver, heart, and gizzard were higher than in the muscle and kidney. This is the first report to demonstrate the expression of a glutathione-S-transferase-tagged-Mx fusion protein of 75 KDa, as well as the biological activity tested by SDS-PAGE and western blotting.

Microwave Absorption and Magnetic Properties of Cobalt Ferrites/Carbon Nanotubes Nanocomposites

B. B. Zhang,P. F. Wang,J. C. Xu,Y. B. Han,H. X. Jin,D. F. Jin,X. L. Peng,B. Hong,J. Li,J. Gong,H. L. Ge,Z. W. Zhu,X. Q. Wang 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2015 NANO Vol.10 No.5

Owing to the unique microstructure and the excellent dielectric properties, carbon nanotubes(CNTs) were decorated with CoFe2O4 nanoparticles to synthesize the CoFe2O4/CNTs nanocomposites by the solvothermal method. The phase structure, morphology, magnetic properties and microwave absorption performance of the as-prepared CoFe2O4/CNTs were characterized and discussed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravity analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscope (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and vector network analyzer (VNA). All results indicated that the diameter of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles decorating on the surface of CNTs increased with the solvothermal temperature. CoFe2O4/CNTs prepared at 180℃, 200℃ and 220℃ exhibited superparamagnetism, while the other samples presented ferromagnetism at room temperature. And with the increasing solvothermal temperature, the saturation magnetization and coercivity increased up to 72 emu/g and 2000 Oe for the sample prepared at 260℃ (S-26). And the reflection loss of CoFe2O4/CNTs nanocomposites increased with the solvothermal temperature up to -15.7 dB for S-26 with the bandwidth of 2.5 GHz.

Highly stretchable polymer semiconductor films through the nanoconfinement effect

Xu, Jie,Wang, Sihong,Wang, Ging-Ji Nathan,Zhu, Chenxin,Luo, Shaochuan,Jin, Lihua,Gu, Xiaodan,Chen, Shucheng,Feig, Vivian R.,To, John W. F.,Rondeau-Gagne&#x301,, Simon,Park, Joonsuk,Schroeder, Bob C.,L American Association for the Advancement of Scienc 2017 Science Vol.355 No.6320

<P>Soft and conformable wearable electronics require stretchable semiconductors, but existing ones typically sacrifice charge transport mobility to achieve stretchability. We explore a concept based on the nanoconfinement of polymers to substantially improve the stretchability of polymer semiconductors, without affecting charge transport mobility. The increased polymer chain dynamics under nanoconfinement significantly reduces the modulus of the conjugated polymer and largely delays the onset of crack formation under strain. As a result, our fabricated semiconducting film can be stretched up to 100% strain without affecting mobility, retaining values comparable to that of amorphous silicon. The fully stretchable transistors exhibit high biaxial stretchability with minimal change in on current even when poked with a sharp object. We demonstrate a skinlike finger-wearable driver for a light-emitting diode.</P>

Effect of mineral components on sintering of ash particles at low temperature fouling conditions

Namkung, H.,Xu, L.H.,Kim, C.H.,Yuan, X.,Kang, T.J.,Kim, H.T. Elsevier Scientific Pub. Co 2016 Fuel processing technology Vol.141 No.1

The ash deposition phenomenon in the coal gasification process is a severe problem for continuous operation. The ash deposition rate is influenced by the behavior of ash particles on the deposit target. Dropped coal ash particles, which exhibit different behaviors on the deposit surface such as attachment, rebounding, and removal, were observed through the view port of a drop tube furnace (DTF). The different behaviors may be influenced by the state of the ash particles such as the sintering phenomenon, which is a function of the mineral content. To verify the mineral components important in sintering among the ash particles, transformation of the particle shape of synthetic ash reacted at 900<SUP>o</SUP>C was analyzed through a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The Fe, Ca, and Mg components were the main factors for sintering and agglomeration. The Fe, Ca, and Mg components sintered with Si and Al were observed in the mineral mapping of deposited coal ash by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) analysis. Sintering characteristics of coal ash were analyzed by the dilatometer technique. Sintering temperature, shrinkage, and sintering activation energy (E<SUB>sin</SUB>) were all found to be related to the Fe, Ca, and Mg contents.

Spatial distribution of defect in ZnO nanodisks

C.X. Xu,G.P. Zhu,J. Kasim,S.T. Tan,Y. Yang,X. Li,Z.X. Shen,X.W. Sun 한국물리학회 2009 Current Applied Physics Vol.9 No.3

ZnO nanodisks were fabricated by vapor–vapor transport using zinc powder as source material. The photoluminescence (PL) and Raman scattering spectra were investigated. Based on the mapping technology, the Raman signals combined with PL were used to construct images, which revealed the spatial distribution of defect in ZnO nanodisks. It provides an intuitive method to understand the defect distribution and further helpful to growth control of crystal and design of functional materials and devices.

Thermodynamic Analysis of Intergranular Additives in Sintered Nd-Fe-B Magnet

X. G. Cui,X. H. Wang,C. Y. Cui,G. C. Yin,C. D. Xia,X. N. Cheng,X. J. Xu 한국자기학회 2017 Journal of Magnetics Vol.22 No.2

To get deeper insight into the effect of intergranular additives in sintered Nd-Fe-B magnet and consequently improve the properties better, the interaction between additives (oxide, nitride, and carbide) and Nd-rich phase in the temperature range of 298.15-1400 K was analyzed thermodynamically. It can be found that the oxide additives became less stable than nitrides and carbides. Except for calcium oxide, almost all oxides could react with Nd from Nd-rich phase. To be different from oxide additives, the mechanism of nitrides and carbides was defined with various elements, either reaction with Nd from Nd-rich phase or not. The two different mechanisms would show different effects on the microstructure and hence properties of magnet. The thermodynamic analysis had a better agreement with the experimental information.

Optimal Design for Marker-assisted Gene Pyramiding in Cross Population

Xu, L.Y.,Zhao, F.P.,Sheng, X.H.,Ren, H.X.,Zhang, L.,Wei, C.H.,Du, L.X. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2012 Animal Bioscience Vol.25 No.6

Marker-assisted gene pyramiding aims to produce individuals with superior economic traits according to the optimal breeding scheme which involves selecting a series of favorite target alleles after cross of base populations and pyramiding them into a single genotype. Inspired by the science of evolutionary computation, we used the metaphor of hill-climbing to model the dynamic behavior of gene pyramiding. In consideration of the traditional cross program of animals along with the features of animal segregating populations, four types of cross programs and two types of selection strategies for gene pyramiding are performed from a practical perspective. Two population cross for pyramiding two genes (denoted II), three population cascading cross for pyramiding three genes(denoted III), four population symmetry (denoted IIII-S) and cascading cross for pyramiding four genes (denoted IIII-C), and various schemes (denoted cross program-A-E) are designed for each cross program given different levels of initial favorite allele frequencies, base population sizes and trait heritabilities. The process of gene pyramiding breeding for various schemes are simulated and compared based on the population hamming distance, average superior genotype frequencies and average phenotypic values. By simulation, the results show that the larger base population size and the higher the initial favorite allele frequency the higher the efficiency of gene pyramiding. Parents cross order is shown to be the most important factor in a cascading cross, but has no significant influence on the symmetric cross. The results also show that genotypic selection strategy is superior to phenotypic selection in accelerating gene pyramiding. Moreover, the method and corresponding software was used to compare different cross schemes and selection strategies.