Selection for Duration of Fertility and Mule Duck White Plumage Colour in a Synthetic Strain of Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

H.C. Liu,J.F. Huang,S.R. Lee,H.L. Liu,C.H. Hsieh,C.W. Huang,M.C. Huang,C. Tai,J.P. Poivey,R. Rouvier,Y.S. Cheng 아세아·태평양축산학회 2015 Animal Bioscience Vol.28 No.5

A synthetic strain of ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) was developed by introducing genes for long duration of fertility to be used as mother of mule ducklings and a seven-generation selection experiment was conducted to increase the number of fertile eggs after a single artificial insemination (AI) with pooled Muscovy semen. Reciprocal crossbreeding between Brown Tsaiya LRI-2 (with long duration of fertility) and Pekin L-201 (with white plumage mule ducklings) ducks produced the G0. Then G1 were intercrossed to produce G2 and so on for the following generations. Each female duck was inseminated 3 times, at 26, 29, and 32 weeks of age. The eggs were collected for 14 days from day 2 after AI. Individual data regarding the number of incubated eggs (Ie), the number of fertile eggs at candling at day 7 of incubation (F), the total number of dead embryos (M), the maximum duration of fertility (Dm) and the number of hatched mule ducklings (H) with plumage colour were recorded. The selection criterion was the breeding values of the best linear unbiased prediction animal model for F. The results show high percentage of exhibited heterosis in G2 for traits to improve (19.1% for F and 12.9% for H); F with a value of 5.92 (vs 3.74 in the Pekin L-201) was improved in the G2. Heritabilities were found to be low for Ie (h2 = 0.07±0.03) and M (h2 = 0.07±0.01), moderately low for Dm (h2 = 0.13±0.02), of medium values for H (h2 = 0.20±0.03) and F (h2 = 0.23±0.03). High and favourable genetic correlations existed between F and Dm (rg = 0.93), between F and H (rg = 0.97) and between Dm and H (rg = 0.90). The selection experiment showed a positive trend for phenotypic values of F (6.38 fertile eggs in G10 of synthetic strain vs 5.59 eggs in G4, and 3.74 eggs in Pekin L-201), with correlated response for increasing H (5.73 ducklings in G10 vs 4.86 in G4, and 3.09 ducklings in Pekin L-201) and maximum duration of the fertile period without increasing the embryo mortality rate. The average predicted genetic response for F was 40% of genetic standard deviation per generation of selection. The mule ducklings’ feather colour also was improved. It was concluded that this study provided results for a better understanding of the genetics of the duration of fertility traits in the common female duck bred for mule and that the selection of a synthetic strain was effective method of improvement.

H ₂ CS IN OUTFLOWS OF THE MASSIVE STAR-FORMING CORE DR21(OH)

Minh, Y. C.,Liu, S.-Y.,Chen, H.-R.,Su, Y.-N. IOP Publishing 2011 ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS - Vol.737 No.1

<P>For the first time, using the Submillimeter Array, H2CS emission was observed to show a typical bipolar outflow morphology toward DR21(OH). The emission consisted of a strong concentration toward a hot molecular core (MM1a) and a symmetrically extended feature aligned roughly in the north-south direction. H2CS is one of the hot core species, and its extended emission is expected to result from the interaction between the outflow of MM1a and the dense ambient gas. We derive H2CS column densities of similar to 3 x 10(15) cm(-2) and similar to 1 x 10(15) cm(-2) toward MM1a and the centers of the extended emission, respectively. Its fractional abundance, f(H2CS) similar to 10(-9) relative to the total H-2 abundance, is comparable to those in other star-forming regions, suggesting that H2CS may be present in a region closer to the center than previously thought. Our results suggest that the observed H2CS emission arises via direct evaporation or sputtering of the solid H2CS on the grain surface, and H2CS may be one of the major sulfur-bearing species residing in the ice grain mantles in a solid form, at least in the case of DR21(OH).</P>

Bioconversion of ginsenosides Rb₁, Rb₂, Rc and Rd by novel β-glucosidase hydrolyzing outer 3-O glycoside from Sphingomonas sp. 2F2: Cloning, expression, and enzyme characterization

Wang, L.,Liu, Q.M.,Sung, B.H.,An, D.S.,Lee, H.G.,Kim, S.G.,Kim, S.C.,Lee, S.T.,Im, W.T. Elsevier Science Publishers 2011 Journal of biotechnology Vol.156 No.2

A new β-glucosidase gene (bglSp) was cloned from the ginsenoside converting Sphingomonas sp. strain 2F2 isolated from the ginseng cultivating filed. The bglSp consisted of 1344bp (447 amino acid residues) with a predicted molecular mass of 49,399Da. A BLAST search using the bglSp sequence revealed significant homology to that of glycoside hydrolase superfamily 1. This enzyme was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) using a pET21-MBP (TEV) vector system. Overexpressed recombinant enzymes which could convert the ginsenosides Rb<SUB>1</SUB>, Rb<SUB>2</SUB>, Rc and Rd to the more pharmacological active rare ginsenosides gypenoside XVII, ginsenoside C-O, ginsenoside C-Mc<SUB>1</SUB> and ginsenoside F<SUB>2</SUB>, respectively, were purified by two steps with Amylose-affinity and DEAE-Cellulose chromatography and characterized. The kinetic parameters for β-glucosidase showed the apparent K<SUB>m</SUB> and V<SUB>max</SUB> values of 2.9+/-0.3mM and 515.4+/-38.3μmolmin<SUP>-1</SUP>mg of protein<SUP>-1</SUP> against p-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucopyranoside. The enzyme could hydrolyze the outer C3 glucose moieties of ginsenosides Rb<SUB>1</SUB>, Rb<SUB>2</SUB>, Rc and Rd into the rare ginsenosides Gyp XVII, C-O, C-Mc<SUB>1</SUB> and F<SUB>2</SUB> quickly at optimal conditions of pH 5.0 and 37<SUP>o</SUP>C. A little ginsenoside F<SUB>2</SUB> production from ginsenosides Gyp XVII, C-O, and C-Mc<SUB>1</SUB> was observed for the lengthy enzyme reaction caused by the side ability of the enzyme.

Studies on Filariasis in Kinmen (Quemoy) Islands, Republic of China

Fan,P.C.,Wang,Y.C.,Liu,J.C.,Lo,H.S.,Hsu,Y.P.,Yen,C.H.,Lin,C.C.,Hsu,S.T. INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL MEDICINE YONSEI UNIVERSITY 1974 YONSEI REPORTS ON TROPICAL MEDICINE Vol.5 No.1

1972年 7月 1日부터 1973年 6月 30日까지 1年間 中華民國 臺?省 金門鳥에서 絲狀 症에 關한 調査硏究를 實施한 바 다음과 같은 結果를 얻었다. 1. 金門鳥 55村落에 居住하는 20,018 住民을 對象으로 調査한 바 血中 microfilariae (mf.) 兩性率은 8.8%였고 血液 20立方mm當 mf농도는 16.2였으며 絲狀 感染으로 因 臨床例 는 19.2%였다. 金門鳥 駐屯 軍人 2,428名에서 mf.양성율은 0.1%, mf. 감염농도는 20立方mm當 26.3이었으며 臨床例는 없었다. mf.感染濃度 및 臨床例에 있어 확실히 女性보다는 男性에서 高率을 보였으나 mf.陽性率은 兩性間에 差異가 없었다. mf.陽性率과 臨床例는 年齡의 增加와 一致하였으나 mf. 감렴농도는 年齡의 증가와 無關하였다. 2. 金文鳥 駐屯 軍人에 있어 주둔 其間과 絲狀 感染과는 關係가 없었으며 駐屯基地와 村落과의 距離와도 無關하였다. 軍人들은 모기에 물리지 않도록 잘 保護되어 있었고 주둔지역은 完全히 住民들과 격리되어 있었다. 3. 51村落으로부터의 血液檢査를 받은 1,470名의 絲狀 感染陽性者 中에서 臨床病勢르 보인 例는 19.2%였으며 女性보다는 男性에서 約 5倍가 많았다. 男性에 있어서의 大部分의 臨床例는 生殖器에 症狀을 보였는데 其中 10%는 象皮症을 가진 例는 2名뿐이었다. 4. 43村落의 家屋內에서 잡힌 모기는 4屬 14種(Culex 10種, Aedes 2種, Anopheles 1種, Armigeres 1種)이었으며 이들中 Cules P. fatigans와 Armigeres subalbatus가 大部分이었으나 其他 12種은 매우 적었다. Culcx mimesticus, C. (L) vorax, C. fuscocephala 및 Acdes nocturnus등 의 4新種은 처음으로 發見되었다. Culex p.fatigans는 現存「반크롭트」 絲狀 만을 옮기는 媒介昆 으로 알려져 있다. 治療前 8個 村落으로부터 잡은 438마리의 Culex p. fatigans에서 幼 을 內包하고 있는 모기는 1마리 平均 5.9마리의 絲狀 幼 을 갖고 있는 셈이었으며 全體 感染率은 11.9%, 感染期 幼 을 가진 모기는 10.5%이었다. 上記 8個 村落 住民을 治癒한 後의 樣狀은 治療前과 아주 달라서 모기 1마리當 平均 2.1마리의 幼 을 갖고 있었고 全體感染率은 2.2%, 感染期幼 內包率은 0.09%였다. 平均 pH가 7.4(6.4∼8.0)인 8個處의 모기 産卵場所에서 잡힌 모기 幼 은 모두 11種이었다. 有機燐劑의 一種인 Sumithion을 1平方m當 0.2gm의 농도로 모기 産卵場所 水面에 撒布하였던바 모든 모기 幼 에 對한 殺 果가 좋았다. 5. 總 1.590名의 絲狀 感染者에게 成人當 總量 5gm의 diethylcarbamazine을 10∼12日 間 服用시켜 보았다. 治療率은 80.6%, mf. 減少率은 96.9%였고 反應率는 67.2%였다. 여러 가지 副作用은 있었으나 一般的으로 輕微하였으며 患者가 참을 수 있었으므로 最高用量으로 投藥했을 경우에도 大部分 거절 하지 않았다. 8個 部落에서 捕獲된 Culex P. fatigans의 絲狀 幼 全體感染率, 感染期幼 內包率 및 感染濃度는 患者治療前에 各各 11.9%, 10.5%, 5.9였는데 治療後에는 2.2%, 0.09%, 2.1로 떨어져서 diethylcarbamazine은 microfilariae에 對한 殺충효果가 높을 뿐 아니라 絲狀충 만延을 組止시키는데 좋은 藥劑라고 思料된다 The present investigation is a serial study on “Filariasis in Kinmen (Quemoy) Islands”, which was performed from July 1, 1972 to June 30, 1973. The results are summarized as follows; 1. Parasitological investigation: Of 20,018 Kinmen Chinese in 55 villages examined, the microfilariae (mf.) rate of 8.8%, mf. density of 16.2 per 20cmm blood and clinical rate 19.2% were found: the corresponding figures for a total of 2,428 military personnel were 0.1%, 29.3 and 0.0% respectively. The mf. density and clinical rate were obviously higher in the males than in the females, but no difference was found for the microfilarial rate. The mf. rate and clinical rate were correspondingly increased with age, but there was no difference in mf. density. 2. Transmission of filariasis: It seems no any relation to the length of stationing of the Chinese troops on Kinmen Islands, and also no relation to the distance between the villages and camps; because the servicemen are well protected from the mosquito bites and bites and the camps are completely isolated, to and off limit to the villagers, though they have common places of entertainment. 3. Clinical investigation: Of 1,470 filarial carriers in 51 villages examined physically, the clinical rate of 19.2% was detected. It was about 5 times higher in males than in females. In the males, most of the cases the trouble in their reproductive organs, and 10% had elephantiasis; but in the females, the lymph nodes enlargement and chyluria were more common, only 2 cases had elephantiasis. The clinical rates increased corresponding with age. 4. Entomological investigation: Fourteen(14) species of 4 genera (10 Culex, 2 Aedes, 1 Anopheles and 1 Armigeres) of household mosquitoes were collected from indoor resting sites of 43 villages on kinmen Islands, in which, Cules P. fatigans and Armigeres subalbatus were the most common species, but the remaining 12 species are faily rare. Four (4) new species: Culex mimeticus, C. (L) vorax, C, fucocephala and Aedes noturnvs were found for the first time. Culex p.fatigans is still the only vector. in transmission of bancroftian filariasis. The infection rate of 11.9%, infective rate of 10.5% and 5.9 filarial larvae per infected mosquito were detected in 438 Culex p. fatigans from 8 villages before treatment. The corresponding figures were much lower in the above same villages after treatment (2.2%, 0.09% and 2.1). Eleven (11) species of moswquito larvae were collected from 8 kinds of breeding sites; where, the pH value of 7.4(ranged 6.4∼8.0) was measured. “Sumithion”is one of the organophosphorous compounds, which was first used on the water surface with the dosage of 0.2gm per square meter.A high insecticidal effect against different species of mosquito larvae was observed. 5. Chemotherapy of filariasis: Of 1.590 filarial carriers scheme, with a total does of 5 gm of diethylcarbamazine per adult case for a period of 10∼12 days schedule was performed. The cure rate of 80.6%, mf. reduction tate of 96.9% and reaction rate of 67.2% were found. Although many kinds of side effects were encountered, they were usually mild or transient and could be tolerated by the patients, thus there was almost no refused to the administration of the drug even if the drug was increased to the maximum dosage. The natural infection rate, infective rate and filarial larval density of Culex P. fatigans in 8 villages were found much higher before control measure (11.9%, 10.5% and 5.9%) than after control (2.2%, 0.09% and 2.1). It showed that diethylcarbamazine is a powerful microfilaricidal drug in eliminating the filarial infection and reducing this transmission.

Radiation damage in helium ion – irradiated reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel

L.D. Xia,W.B. Liu,H.P. Liu,J.H. Zhang,H. Chen,Z.G. Yang,C. Zhang 한국원자력학회 2018 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.50 No.1

Nanocrystalline reduced activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steel samples were prepared using surfacemechanical attrition treatment (SMAT). Un-SMATed and SMATed reduced activation ferritic/martensitic samples were irradiated by helium ions at 200 C and 350 C with 2 dpa and 8 dpa, respectively,to investigate the effects of grain boundaries (GBs) and temperature on the formation of Hebubbles during irradiation. Experimental results show that He bubbles are preferentially trapped at GBsin all the irradiated samples. Bubble denuded zones are clearly observed near the GBs at 350 C, whereasthe bubble denuded zones are not obvious in the samples irradiated at 200 C. The average bubble sizeincreases and the bubble density decreases with an increasing irradiation temperature from 200 C to350 C. Both the average size and density of the bubbles increase with an increasing irradiation dose from2 dpa to 8 dpa. Bubbles with smaller size and lower density were observed in the SMATed samples butnot in the un-SMATed samples irradiated in the same conditions, which indicate t

Study of broad bandwidth vibrational energy harvesting system with optimum thickness of PET substrate

C.T. Pan,Z.H. Liu,Y.C. Chen 한국물리학회 2012 Current Applied Physics Vol.12 No.3

In this paper, we present the development of a flexible PET-based (polyethylene terephthalate; PET)vibrational energy harvesting system with broad bandwidth. This broad bandwidth harvesting system comprises of four units of individual ZnO (zinc oxide) piezoelectric harvester in the form of a cantilever structure connected in parallel, and rectifying circuit with storage module. This system has ability to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy from the varying ambient vibration. The design and simulation of a piezoelectric cantilever plate was described by using commercial software ANSYS FEA (Finite Element Analysis) to determine the optimum thickness of PET substrate, internal stress distribution,operation frequency and electric potential. With the optimum thickness predicted by developed accurate analytical formula analysis, the one-way mechanical strain that is efficient to enhance the induced electric potential can be controlled within the piezoelectric ZnO layer. In addition, the relationship among the model solution of piezoelectric cantilever plate equation, vibration-induced electric potential and electric power was realized. An individual piezoelectric harvester consists of flexible PET substrate, piezoelectric ZnO thin film with (002) c-axis preferred orientation, and selectively deposited UV-curable resin lump structure which is used to change the resonant frequency of the harvester. In combination with multi-harvesters and rectifying with storage module together, an energy harvesting system with broad bandwidth can be fabricated. One individual harvester achieves a maximum OCV (open-circuit voltage) up to 4 V with power density of 1.247 mW/cm3. So far, we succeeded in accomplishing a broad bandwidth system with operating frequency range within 100 Hze450 Hz to enhance powering efficiency. When the DC voltage (direct current voltage) across a storage module is charged up to 1.55 V after rectification, a flash LED (light emitting diode) is driven.

INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM PROCESSING IN THE INNER 20 pc IN GALACTIC CENTER

Liu, Hauyu Baobab,Ho, Paul T. P.,Wright, Melvyn C. H.,Su, Yu-Nung,Hsieh, Pei-Ying,Sun, Ai-Lei,Kim, Sungsoo S.,Minh, Young Chol IOP Publishing 2013 The Astrophysical journal Vol.770 No.1

<P>We present the Submillimeter Array 157 pointing mosaic in 0.86 mm dust continuum emission with 5 ''.1 x 4 ''.2 angular resolution, and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory Green Bank 100 m Telescope (GBT) observations of the CS/(CS)-S-34/(CS)-C-13 1-0 and SiO 1-0 emission with <= 20 '' x 18 '' angular resolution. The dust continuum image marginally resolves at least several tens of 10-10(2) M-circle dot dense clumps in the 5' field including the circumnuclear disk (CND) and the exterior gas streamers. There is very good agreement between the high resolution dust continuum map of the CND and all previous molecular line observations. As the dust emission is the most reliable optically thin tracer of the mass, free from most chemical and excitation effects, we demonstrate the reality of the abundant localized structures within the CND, and their connection to external gas structures. From the spectral line data, the velocity dispersions of the dense clumps and their parent molecular clouds are similar to 10-20 times higher than their virial velocity dispersions. This supports the idea that the CND and its immediate environment may not be stationary or stable structures. Some of the dense gas clumps are associated with 22 GHz water masers and 36.2 GHz and 44.1 GHz CH3OH masers. However, we do not find clumps that are bound by the gravity of the enclosed molecular gas. Hence, the CH3OH or H2O maser emission may be due to strong (proto) stellar feedback, which may be dispersing some of the gas clumps.</P>

Fine mapping and identification of candidate genes for the sy-2 locus in a temperature-sensitive chili pepper (Capsicum chinense)

Liu, L.,Venkatesh, J.,Jo, Y. D.,Koeda, S.,Hosokawa, M.,Kang, J. H.,Goritschnig, S.,Kang, B. C. Springer Science + Business Media 2016 Theoretical and applied genetics Vol.129 No.8

<P>The sy - 2 temperature-sensitive gene from Capsicum chinense was fine mapped to a 138.8-kb region at the distal portion of pepper chromosome 1. Based on expression analyses, two putative F-box genes were identified as sy - 2 candidate genes. Seychelles-2 ('sy-2') is a temperature-sensitive natural mutant of Capsicum chinense, which exhibits an abnormal leaf phenotype when grown at temperatures below 24 A degrees C. We previously showed that the sy-2 phenotype is controlled by a single recessive gene, sy-2, located on pepper chromosome 1. In this study, a high-resolution genetic and physical map for the sy-2 locus was constructed using two individual F-2 mapping populations derived from a cross between C. chinense mutant 'sy-2' and wild-type 'No. 3341'. The sy-2 gene was fine mapped to a 138.8-kb region between markers SNP 5-5 and SNP 3-8 at the distal portion of chromosome 1, based on comparative genomic analysis and genomic information from pepper. The sy-2 target region was predicted to contain 27 genes. Expression analysis of these predicted genes showed a differential expression pattern for ORF10 and ORF20 between mutant and wild-type plants; with both having significantly lower expression in 'sy-2' than in wild-type plants. In addition, the coding sequences of both ORF10 and ORF20 contained single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) causing amino acid changes, which may have important functional consequences. ORF10 and ORF20 are predicted to encode F-box proteins, which are components of the SCF complex. Based on the differential expression pattern and the presence of nonsynonymous SNPs, we suggest that these two putative F-box genes are most likely responsible for the temperature-sensitive phenotypes in pepper. Further investigation of these genes may enable a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of low temperature sensitivity in plants.</P>

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.

Effects of chitosan coating and storage with dry ice on the freshness and quality of eggs.

Jo, C,Ahn, D U,Liu, X D,Kim, K H,Nam, K-C Poultry Science Association, etc 2011 Poultry science Vol.90 No.2

<P>To develop a method that can maintain egg freshness during practical storage conditions, eggs were coated with chitosan and stored with or without dry ice. The physicochemical and microbiological qualities of eggs were evaluated during 14 d of storage at 4 and 23°C without dry ice and at 23°C with dry ice. The combination of chitosan coating and dry ice significantly inhibited a Haugh unit decrease during storage at 23°C. No difference in functional properties, such as foaming ability, foam stability, and viscosity, among treatments was observed, but chitosan coating and storage with dry ice decreased the rate of pH increase and moisture loss in albumen at d 7 and 14. The eggs treated with chitosan coating and storage with dry ice had a significantly lower number of Salmonella Typhimurium inoculated on the egg surface than did control eggs during storage at 23°C. Results revealed that the combination of chitosan coating and storage with dry ice limited the moisture loss, CO(2) emission, and pH increase, which helped maintaining the freshness of eggs. Microbial growth was also inhibited during storage at 23°C.</P>