Fabrication and characterization of fluorohydroxyapatite nanocrystals/poly(d,l-lactide) composite scaffolds

L. Cheng,S.M. Zhang,P.P. Chen,S.L. Huang,L. Liu,W. Zhou,J. Liu,H. Gong,Q.M. Luo 한국물리학회 2007 Current Applied Physics Vol.7 No.s1

Poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA)/uorohydroxyapatite nanocrystals (nano-F-HA) porous scaolds were successfully fabricated through asolvent-casting and particulate-leaching technique. Nano-HA/PDLLA scaold and PDLLA scaold were prepared by using the sameprocess for comparison. The structure, phase and morphology of the nanocomposite scaolds were observed by SEM. The results indi-cated that F-HA nanocrystals were homogeneously dispersed in the PDLLA matrix. The porosity of the scaolds was up to 90%, andmacropores and micropores coexisted and interconnected throughout the scaolds. Cell culture experiments demonstrated that the nano-F-HA/PDLLA scaffold had the best adhesion tendency to chondrocytes among the scaffolds investigated.

Oriental herbs as a source of novel anti-androgen and prostate cancer chemopreventive agents

LÜ,, Junxuan,KIM, Sung- Hoon,JIANG, Cheng,LEE, HyoJeong,GUO, Junming Nature Publishing Group 2007 Acta Pharmacologica Sinica Vol.28 No.9

<P>Androgen and androgen receptor (AR) signaling are crucial for the genesis of prostate cancer (PCa), which can often develop into androgen-ligand-independent diseases that are lethal to the patients. Recent studies show that even these hormone-refractory PCa require ligand-independent AR signaling for survival. As current chemotherapy is largely ineffective for PCa and has serious toxic sideeffects, we have initiated a collaborative effort to identify and develop novel, safe and naturally occurring agents that target AR signaling from Oriental medicinal herbs for the chemoprevention and treatment of PCa. We highlight our discovery of decursin from an Oriental formula containing Korean Angelica gigas Nakai (Dang Gui) root as a novel anti-androgen/AR agent. We have identified the following mechanisms to account for the specific anti-AR actions: rapid block of AR nuclear translocation, inhibition of binding of 5alpha-dihydrotestesterone to AR and increased proteasomal degradation of AR protein. Furthermore, decursin lacks the agonist activity of the 'pure' anti-androgen bicalutamide and is more potent than bicalutamide in inducing PCa apoptosis. Structure-activity analyses reveal a critical requirement of the side-chain on decursin or its structural isomer decursinol angelate for anti-AR, cell cycle arrest and proapoptotic activities. This work demonstrates the feasibility of using activity-guided fractionation in cell culture assays combined with mechanistic studies to identify novel anti-androgen/ AR agents from complex herbal mixtures.</P>

Effects of Free-range Farming on Carcass and Meat Qualities of Black-feathered Taiwan Native Chicken

Cheng, F.Y.,Huang, C.W.,Wan, T.C.,Liu, Y.T.,Lin, L.C.,Lou Chyr, Chu-Ying Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2008 Animal Bioscience Vol.21 No.8

The effects of free-range farming, compared to a conventional production system, on carcass and meat qualities were studied using black-feathered Taiwan native chickens. Twenty 16-week old females were purchased separately from a free-range farm and a conventional production farm and used for this study. The results showed similarities in the live weight (roughly 2.1 kg), dressing percentage (69%) and meat percentage (19%) of deboned leg quarter. Significant differences (p<0.05) found for the free-range chickens included: a higher percentage of meat for the breast, an increased crude protein content and chewiness value for the breast, but decreased crude fat content and lower hardness and fracturablility values for the leg quarter. Significantly higher L* values were found for the breast and leg meat of conventionally produced chickens, whereas no significant differences were found for WHC and purge loss between the breast and the leg, and between the two production systems as well. Results of sensory evaluation showed a significant preference for leg over breast meat (p<0.05). The scores of all the attributes including aroma, flavor, firmness, tenderness, juiciness and overall acceptability of leg meat from free-range chickens were slightly higher than for conventional chickens, while the reverse was true for breast meat, though no significant difference could be found. Free-range Taiwan native chicken appeared to yield the best of the results, with flavorful yet tender leg meat for higher sensory satisfaction, and high-protein but low-fat breast meat for healthier diet choice.

Magnetic Properties and Microstructure of Nano-grain L1₀ FePt(200) Films

An-Cheng Sun,F.T. Yuan,H.W. Chang,P.C. Kuo,S.C. Chen,C.T. Lee,Jen-Hwa Hsu,H. L. Huang 한국자기학회 2007 한국자기학회 학술연구발표회 논문개요집 Vol.- No.-

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.

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

Liu, H.C.,Huang, J.F.,Lee, S.R.,Liu, H.L.,Hsieh, C.H.,Huang, C.W.,Huang, M.C.,Tai, C.,Poivey, J.P.,Rouvier, R.,Cheng, Y.S. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 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 ($h^2=0.07{\pm}0.03$) and M ($h^2=0.07{\pm}0.01$), moderately low for Dm ($h^2=0.13{\pm}0.02$), of medium values for H ($h^2=0.20{\pm}0.03$) and F ($h^2=0.23{\pm}0.03$). High and favourable genetic correlations existed between F and Dm ($r_g=0.93$), between F and H ($r_g=0.97$) and between Dm and H ($r_g=0.90$). 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.

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.

Effects of Tween 80 on In Vitro Fermentation of Silages and Interactive Effects of Tween 80, Monensin and Exogenous Fibrolytic Enzymes on Growth Performance by Feedlot Cattle

Wang, Y.,McAllister, T.A.,Baah, J.,Wilde, R.,Beauchemin, K.A.,Rode, L.M.,Shelford, J.A.,Kamande, G.M.,Cheng, K.J. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2003 Animal Bioscience Vol.16 No.7

The effects of monensin, Tween 80 and exogenous fibrolytic enzymes on ruminal fermentation and animal performance were studied in vitro and in vivo. In Expt 1, the effects of the surfactant Tween 80 (0.2% wt/wt, DM basis) on ruminal fermentation of alfalfa, corn and orchardgrass silages were investigated using in vitro gas production techniques. Tween 80 did not affect (p>0.05) cumulative gas production at 24 h, but it reduced (p<0.05) the lag in fermentation of all three silages. With corn silage and orchardgrass silage, gas production rates and concentrations of total volatile fatty acids (VFA) were increased (p<0.05) by Tween 80; with alfalfa silage, they were reduced (p<0.05). Tween 80 increased (p<0.05) the proportion of propionate in total VFA, and reduced (p<0.05) acetate to propionate ratios (A:P) with all three silages. In Expt 2, exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (E; at 0, 37.5 or 75 g/tonne DM), monensin (M; at 0 or 25 ppm and Tween 80 (T; at 0 or 2 L/tonne DM) were added alone or in combination to backgrounding and finishing diets fed to 320 crossbred steers in a feeding trial with a $3{\times}2{\times}$2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The backgrounding and finishing diets contained barley grain and barley silage in ratios of 57.8:42.2 and 93.5:6.5 (DM basis), respectively. Added alone, none of the additives affected DM intake (p>0.1) in the backgrounding or in the finishing period, but interactive $M{\times}T$ effects were observed in the finishing period (p=0.02) and overall (p=0.04). In the finishing period, T without M tended to reduce DM intake (p=0.11), but T with M increased (p=0.05) DM intake. Monensin increased average daily gain (ADG) during backgrounding (p=0.07) and finishing (p=0.01), and this ionophore also improved overall feed efficiency (p=0.02). Warm carcass weight was increased (p<0.001) by M, but dressing percentage was reduced (p=0.07). In the backgrounding period, T increased ADG by 7% (p=0.06). Enzymes increased (p=0.07) ADG by 5 and 6% (low and high application rates, respectively) during backgrounding, but did not affect (p>0.10) ADG during finishing, or overall feed efficiency. Whereas T enhanced the positive effects of M on ADG during backgrounding (p=0.04) and overall (p=0.05), it had no impact (p>0.1) on the effects of E. Interactions between M and T suggest that the surfactant may have potential for enhancing the positive effects of monensin on beef production, but this requires further research.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of binary Mg-Sn alloys subjected to indirect extrusion

Cheng, W.L.,Park, S.S.,You, B.S.,Koo, B.H. Elsevier Sequoia 2010 Materials science & engineering. properties, micro Vol.527 No.18

The microstructure and mechanical properties of extruded Mg-Sn alloys with 6-10%Sn were investigated. Tensile and compressive strengths increased and yield asymmetry reduced with Sn addition. These changes are attributed to grain refinement and fine Mg<SUB>2</SUB>Sn precipitates. However, Mg-10%Sn alloy showed relatively poor tensile ductility due to the presence of coarse particles.

POD analysis of crosswind forces on a tall building with square and H-shaped cross sections

Cheng, L.,Lam, K.M.,Wong, S.Y. Techno-Press 2015 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.21 No.1

The shape of a tall building has significant impact on wind force generation and wind-induced dynamic response. To study the effect of recessed cavities, wind excitations on a wind-tunnel model of an H-section tall building were compared with those on a square-section building model. Characteristics of the fluctuating wind pressures on the side faces of the two tall buildings and their role in the generation of crosswind forces on the buildings were investigated with the space-time statistical tool of proper orthogonal decomposition (POD). This paper also compares the use of different pressure data sets for POD analysis in situations where pressures on two different surfaces are responsible for the generation of a wind force. The first POD mode is found to dominate the generation of crosswind excitation on the buildings.