New Evidence of Alleles (V199I and G52S) at the PRKAG3 (RN) Locus Affecting Pork Meat Quality

Chen, J.F.,Dai, L.H.,Peng, J.,Li, J.L.,Zheng, R.,Zuo, B.,Li, F.E.,Liu, M.,Yue, K.,Lei, M.G.,Xiong, Y.Z.,Deng, C.Y.,Jiang, S.W. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2008 Animal Bioscience Vol.21 No.4

The porcine PRKAG3 (RN) gene encodes the regulatory gamma subunit of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is a good candidate gene affecting meat quality. In this study, the effects of two missense mutations A595G (Ile199Val) and G154A (Gly52Ser) in porcine PRKAG3 gene on meat quality traits were studied in M. Longissimus dorsi (LD), M. Semispinalis capitis (SC) and M. Biceps femoris (BF) from different populations of 326 pigs. The PRKAG3 alleles 199I, 199IV, 52S and 52G were identified with PCR-RFLPs and all genotypes - 199I/199I, 199I/199V, 199V/199V, 52S/52S, 52S/52G and 52G/52G - were found. The frequency of V allele was larger than that of I allele in all populations. I allele frequency was zero in Chinese Meishan pigs (population D) especially. G allele frequency was larger than that of S allele in all populations except Large White (population A). Both variations at the PRKAG3 locus significantly affected these meat quality traits. The pork meat quality has not previously been established in Meishan or crosses thereof. The results suggested that generally pH of LD, SC and BF was higher in Meishan pigs than that in other populations. Moreover, Meishan pigs showed higher water-holding capacity and intramuscular fat (IMF), lower water content and water loss percentage compared to other populations in terms of the two variations. The results present here supply new evidence that alleles V199I and G52S at the PRKAG3 locus affect pork meat quality and provide useful information on pork production.

R&D Status of High-current Accelerators at IFP

J. J. Deng,J. S. Shi,W. P. Xie,L. W. Zhang,K. Z. Zhang,S. P. Feng,J. Li,M. Wang,Y. He,L. S. Xia,Z. Y. Dai,H. T. Li,L. Wen,S. F. Chen,X. Li,Q. G. Lai,M. H. Xia,Y. C. Guan,S. Y. Song,L. Chen 한국물리학회 2011 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.59 No.61

High-current accelerators have many important applications in Z-pinches, high-power microwaves, and free electron lasers, imploding liners and radiography and so on. Research activities on Zpinches, imploding liners, radiography at the Institute of Fluid Physics (IFP) are introduced. Several main high-current accelerators developed and being developed at IFP are described, such as the Linear Induction Accelerator X-Ray Facility Upgrade (LIAXFU, 12 MeV, 2.5 kA, 90 ns), the Dragon-I linear induction accelerator (20 MeV, 2.5 kA, 60 ns), and the Primary Test Stand for Z-pinch (PTS, 10 MA, 120 ns). The design of Dragon-II linear induction accelerator (20 MeV, 2.5 kA, 3 × 60 ns) to be built will be presented briefly.

Studies on Cryopreservation of D-shaped and Umbo Larvae of Arkshel1(Scapharca broughtonii)

K.H. Kang,K. H. Kho,Z.T. Chen,Kim Y.H.,Kim J.M. 한국발생생물학회 2003 한국발생생물학회 학술발표대회 Vol.2003 No.1

The present study examined the possibility of cryopreservation of the D-shaped and umbo larvae of arkshell (Scapharca broughtonii), in terms of the survival rates after freezing and thawing. D-shaped and umbo larvae of arkshells were obtained from a shellfish farming on Yosu city. The average shell lengths were m and , respectively. Five cryoprotectants (CPAs), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), glycerol, ethylene glycol (EG), propylene glycol (PG), and methanol, were tested at the concentrations of 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 M. After larvae suspended in CPAs, cryoprotectants were loaded in 0.5 ml straws at a larval density of 50-100 larvae per straw, and epuilibrated for 10 and 20 minute at room temperature (), repectively. Straws were cooled at a rate of /min from to , held for 5 min at , and then cooled at /min to and equilibrated for 5 min followed by plunging in liquid nitrogen. After storage in liquid nitrogen for 1 day, straws were thawed in a water. As soon as straws were observed to melt, larvae were diluted with an equal volume of ASW and then washed twice with a large volume of ASW at an interval of 2 min to unload the CPAs. The results showed that after equilibration for 10 and 20 minute at room temperature, no larvae survived using methanol as CPAs, and it was observed that larval shells all open slightly, and larval flesh broke down and slopped over the shells. The highest survival rates (D-shaped larvae: 77.6%, umbo larvae: 59.3%) were obtained with 2M DMSO, and 1.5M glycerol yielded survival rates of 53.8% for D-shaped larvae and 37.5% for umbo larvae. The surviving D-shaped larvae showed active rotary motion and perfect membrane integrity and cytoplasmic normality, and the vigorous movement of veliger cilia was observed inside the closed shells. The breakdown of tissue occurred in the abnormal larvae, and the isolated cell often run out of shells.

A versatile platform for surface modification of microfluidic droplets

Li, M.,Jiang, W.,Chen, Z.,Suryaprakash, S.,Lv, S.,Tang, Z.,Chen, X.,Leong, K. Royal Society of Chemistry 2017 Lab on a chip Vol.17 No.4

Hysteresis Loops, Critical Fields and Energy Products for Exchange-spring Hard/soft/hard Trilayers

B. Z. Chen,S. Yan,Y. Z. Ju,G. P. Zhao,X. C. Zhang,M. Yue,J. Xia 한국자기학회 2015 Journal of Magnetics Vol.20 No.1

Macroscopic hysteresis loops and microscopic magnetic moment distributions have been determined by a three-dimensional (3D) model for exchange-coupled Sm-Co/α-Fe/Sm-Co trilayers with in-plane collinear easy axes. These results are carefully compared with the popular one-dimensional (1D) micromagnetic models and recent experimental data. It is found that the results obtained from the two methods match very well, especially for the remanence and coercivity, justifying the calculations. Both nucleation and coercive fields decrease monotonically as the soft layer thickness L<SUP>s</SUP> increases while the largest maximum energy product (roughly 50 MGOe) occurs when the thicknesses of hard and soft layers are 5 ㎚ and 15 ㎚, respectively. Moreover, the calculated angular distributions in the thickness direction for the magnetic moments are similar. Nevertheless, the calculated nucleation and pinning fields as well as the energy products by 3D OOMMF are systematically smaller than those given by the 1D model, due mainly to the stray fields at the corners of the films. These demagnetization fields help the magnetic moments at the corners to deviate from the previous saturation state and facilitate the nucleation. Such an effect enhances as Ls increases. When the thicknesses of hard and soft layers are 10 ㎚ and 20 ㎚, respectively, the pinning field difference is as large as 30%, while the nucleation fields have opposite signs.

Improvement of lower hybrid current drive systems for high-power and long-pulse operation on EAST

Wang M.,Liu L.,Zhao L.M.,Li M.H.,Ma W.D.,Hu H.C.,Wu Z.G.,Feng J.Q.,Yang Y.,Zhu L.,Chen M.,Zhou T.A.,Jia H.,Zhang J.,Cao L.,Zhang L.,Liang R.R.,Ding B.J.,Zhang X.J.,Shan J.F.,Liu F.K.,Ekedahl A.,Gonich 한국원자력학회 2022 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.54 No.11

Aiming at high-power and long-pulse operation up to 1000 s, some improvements have been made for both 2.45 GHz and 4.6 GHz lower hybrid (LH) systems during the recent 5 years. At first, the guard limiters of the LH antennas with graphite tiles were upgraded to tungsten, the most promising material for plasma facing components in nuclear fusion devices. These new guard limiters can operate at a peak power density of 12.9 MW/m2 . Strong hot spots were usually observed on the old graphite limiters when 4.6 GHz system operated with power >2.0 MW [B. N. Wan et al., Nucl. Fusion 57 (2017) 102019], leading to a reduction of the maximum power capability. With the new limiters, 4.6 GHz LH system, the main current drive (CD) and electron heating tool for EAST, can be operated with power >2.5 MW routinely. Long-pulse operation up to 100 s with 4.6 GHz LH power of 2.4 MW was achieved in 2021 and the maximal temperature on the guard limiters measured by an infrared (IR) camera was about 540 C, much below the permissible value of tungsten material (~1200 C). A discharge with a duration of 1056 s was achieved and the 4.6 GHz LH energy injected into the plasma was up to 1.05 GJ. Secondly, the fully-activemultijunction (FAM) launcher of 2.45 GHz system was upgraded to a passive-active-multijunction (PAM), for which the density of optimum coupling was relatively low (below the cut-off value). Good coupling with reflection coefficient ~3% has been achieved with plasma-antenna distance up to 11 cm for the new PAM. Finally, in order to eliminate the effect of ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) wave on 4.6 GHz LH wave coupling, the location of the ICRF launcher was changed to a port that is located 157.5 toroidally from the 4.6 GHz LH system and is not magnetically connected

New teleomorph combinations in the entomopathogenic genus <i>Metacordyceps</i>

Kepler, R.M.,Sung, G.-H.,Ban, S.,Nakagiri, A.,Chen, M.-J.,Huang, B.,Li, Z.,Spatafora, J.W. Informa UK (TaylorFrancis) 2012 Mycologia Vol.104 No.1

<P>The genus Metacordyceps contains arthropod pathogens in Clavicipitaceae (Hypocreales) that formerly were classified in Cordyceps sensu Kobayasi et Mains. Of the current arthropod pathogenic genera of Hypocreales, the genus Metacordyceps remains one of the most poorly understood and contains a number of teleomorphic morphologies convergent with species of Cordyceps s.s. (Cordycipitaceae) and Ophiocordyceps (Ophiocordycipitaceae). Of note, the anamorph genera Metarhizium and Pochonia were found to be associated only with Metacordyceps and demonstrated to be phylogenetically informative for the clade. Several species of Cordyceps considered to have uncertain placements (incertae sedis) in the current taxonomic framework of clavicipitoid fungi were collected during field expeditions mostly in eastern Asia. Species reclassified here in Metacordyceps include Cordyceps atrovirens Kobayasi & Shimizu, Cordyceps indigotica Kobayasi & Shimizu, Cordyceps khaoyaiensis Hywel-Jones, Cordyceps kusanagiensis Kobayasi & Shimizu, Cordyceps martialis Speg., Ophiocordyceps owariensis Kobayasi, Cordyceps pseudoatrovirens Kobayasi & Shimizu and Ophicordyceps owariensis f. viridescens (Uchiy. & Udagawa) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora. Incorporation of these species in a multigene phylogenetic framework of the major clades of clavicipitoid fungi more than doubled the number of species in Metacordyceps and allowed for refinement of morphological concepts for the genus consistent with the phylogenetic structure. Based on these findings we then discuss evolution of this genus, subgeneric relationships, anamorph connections, and suggest additional species that should be confirmed for possible inclusion in Metacordyceps.</P>

FINITE ELEMENT BASED IMPROVEMENT OF A LIGHT TRUCK DESIGN TO OPTIMIZE CRASHWORTHINESS

D. Y. CHEN,L. M. WANG,C. Z. WANG,L. K. YUAN,T. Y. ZHANG,Z. Z. ZHANG 한국자동차공학회 2015 International journal of automotive technology Vol.16 No.1

Occupant protection of vehicle cab is required for all the commercial vehicles. According to ECE R29-03 amendments, the simulation methods of the front pillar impact test and the side 20o pendulum impact of the roof strength test for a light truck with a gross mass not exceeding 7.5t are proposed. In this study, a reliable finite element model of a light truck is built by using its CAD model. The finite element model is verified against cab modal test and frontal impact test. Then two crash tests are simulated to evaluate the survival space by examining the contact between the deformed cab and a prescribed manikin model. In the front pillar impact test, the deformed cab is predicted to contact with the manikin. In the roof strength test, the minimum distance between the deformed cab and the manikin is predicted to be 75.3 mm, which does not satisfy requirements either. To enhance the crashworthiness of the truck, some structural improvements are designed such as filling structural foam in the A-pillars and the side panels, adding a roof crossbeam, and reinforcing the rear wall of cab. The simulation results of the improved cab structure show that the cab stiffness is improved, the energy absorption is more homogeneous and there is no penetration into the survival space.

Response of plasma rotation to resonant magnetic perturbations in J-TEXT tokamak

Yan, W,Chen, Z Y,Huang, D W,Hu, Q M,Shi, Y J,Ding, Y H,Cheng, Z F,Yang, Z J,Pan, X M,Lee, S G,Tong, R H,Wei, Y N,Dong, Y B IOP 2018 Plasma physics and controlled fusion Vol.60 No.3

<P>The response of plasma toroidal rotation to the external resonant magnetic perturbations (RMP) has been investigated in Joint Texas Experimental Tokamak (J-TEXT) ohmic heating plasmas. For the J-TEXT’s plasmas without the application of RMP, the core toroidal rotation is in the counter-current direction while the edge rotation is near zero or slightly in the co-current direction. Both static RMP experiments and rotating RMP experiments have been applied to investigate the plasma toroidal rotation. The core toroidal rotation decreases to lower level with static RMP. At the same time, the edge rotation can spin to more than 20 km s<SUP>−1</SUP> in co-current direction. On the other hand, the core plasma rotation can be slowed down or be accelerated with the rotating RMP. When the rotating RMP frequency is higher than mode frequency, the plasma rotation can be accelerated to the rotating RMP frequency. The plasma confinement is improved with high frequency rotating RMP. The plasma rotation is decelerated to the rotating RMP frequency when the rotating RMP frequency is lower than the mode frequency. The plasma confinement also degrades with low frequency rotating RMP.</P>

Search forB0→pΛ¯π−γat Belle

Lai, Y.-T.,Wang, M.-Z.,Adachi, I.,Aihara, H.,Asner, D. M.,Aulchenko, V.,Aushev, T.,Bakich, A. M.,Bala, A.,Bhuyan, B.,Bobrov, A.,Bozek, A.,Brač,ko, M.,Browder, T. E.,Chang, P.,Chekelian, V.,Chen, American Physical Society 2014 PHYSICAL REVIEW D - Vol.89 No.5

<P>We search for the charmless B-o decay with final state particles p (Lambda) over bar pi(-)gamma using the full data sample that contains 772 x 10(6)B (B) over bar pairs collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. This decay is predicted to proceed predominantly via the b -> s gamma radiative penguin process with a high energy photon. No significant signal is found. We set an upper limit of 6.5 x 10(-7) for the branching fraction of B-o -> p (Lambda) over bar pi(-)gamma at the 90% confidence level.</P>