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Basal diet containing 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g kg−1 mixture of inosine monophosphate (IMP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP), guanosine monophosphate (GMP), uridine monophosphate (UMP) and cytidine monophosphate (CMP) (1 : 1 : 1 : 1 : 1) (mixed-NT; Experiment 1) and 1.5 g kg−1 from each nucleotides and mixed-nucleotides (NT; Experiment 2) were fed to triplicate groups of grouper for 8 weeks. Basal diet without NT was used as control in both Experiments. In Experiment 1, fish fed the diet with 1.5 g mixed-NT kg−1 had higher ( P < 0.05) weight gain (WG) than the control group. The superoxide anion (O2−) production ratio was higher in fish fed diets with 1.0–1.5 g mixed-NT kg−1 than the fish fed diets with ≤0.5 g mixed-NT kg−1. In Experiment 2, fish fed diets with nucleotides had higher WG than the control group. The O2− production ratio was higher in fish fed the diet with 1.5 g AMP kg−1, followed by fish fed diets with 1.5 g UMP and mixed-NT kg−1, and lowest in the control group. These results suggest that growth and immune responses were enhanced in grouper fed diet with 1.5 g mixed-NT kg−1 diet. Diet with 1.5 g kg−1 of AMP seems to be more beneficial on the immune responses in fish than other nucleotides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A feeding experiment was conducted to determine the dietary calcium (Ca) requirement for juvenile hybrid tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus reared in nature water. Purified diet supplemented with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 10 g Ca kg−1 diet providing of 0.6, 1.6, 2.6, 3.7, 4.7, 5.5, 7.5 and 10.7 g Ca kg−1 diet, respectively, were fed to tilapia (mean initial weight: 0.52 ± 0.01 g, n = 3) for 8 weeks. Each diet was fed to three replicate groups of fish in a closed, recirculating fresh water rearing system. The rearing water contained 27.1–33.3 mg L−1 Ca. The tilapia fed the diets supplemented with ≥3.7 g Ca kg−1 had significantly ( P < 0.05) higher weight gain, when compared with fish fed the diet with ≤1.6 g Ca kg−1. Fish fed the unsupplemented control showed significantly lower weight gain when compared with the other groups ( P < 0.05). Bone Ca concentration was highest in fish fed the diets with ≥4.7 g Ca kg−1, intermediate in fish fed the diet with 2.6 g Ca kg−1 and lowest in fish fed the control diet. Scale Ca concentration was higher in fish fed the diets with ≥3.7 g Ca kg−1 than in fish fed the diets with ≤2.6 g Ca kg−1. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity was 36% increased in fish fed the diets with ≥2.6 g Ca kg−1 than fish fed the diets with <1.6 g Ca kg−1. Analysis by broken-line regression of weight gain, bone and scale Ca concentrations indicated that the adequate dietary Ca concentration for tilapia in water containing 27.1–33.3 mg Ca L−1 was 3.5, 4.3 and 4.2 g Ca kg−1 diet, respectively, supplied as Ca-lactate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents lateral growth of carbon nanotube (CNT) between two electrodes and its use as nano temperature sensor. Fabrication of electrodes is made by MEMS techniques. The CNT is grown selectively by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition between two electrodes. After wire bonding, the grown CNT is tested and calibrated. The growth conditions of CNT, such as the flow rate of CH4 or N2 gas, are varied to obtain a high-quality CNT sensor. SEM is used to observe the shape and structure of CNT, while Raman spectrum analysis is used to indicate the degree of graphitization or amorphous structure in the CNT. The I-V curve of CNT is measured at different temperature, and a linear relationship between the electric resistance of CNT and the temperature is obtained. This result indicates that CNT can be used as a temperature sensor [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to determine two vitamin C derivatives,l-ascorbyl-2-sulphate (C2S) andl-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (C2PP), to satisfy vitamin C requirement and to test their effects on the non-specific humoral immune responses of juvenile grouper,Epinephelus malabaricus. C2S and C2PP were each supplemented at 20, 50, 80, 150, 250 and 400 mg kg−1 diet in the semi-purified basal diet providing of 7, 16, 28, 55, 86, 142 mg ascorbic acid (AA) equivalent of C2S kg−1 diet and 4, 9, 15, 31, 49, 75 mg AA equivalent of C2PP kg−1 diet, respectively. Basal diet without AA supplemented was included as a control. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of grouper (mean initial weight: 6.69 ± 0.07 g). Fish fed diets with≥28 mg AA equivalent of C2S or≥4 mg AA equivalent of C2PP kg−1 had significantly (P < 0.05) greater weight gain (WG) than fish fed the unsupplemented control diet. Liver AA concentrations were higher in fish fed diets with≥16 mg AA equivalent of C2S or≥9 mg AA equivalent of C2PP kg−1 than fish fed the control diet. Alternative pathway of complement activation (ACP) was higher in fish fed diets with≥55 mg AA equivalent of C2S or≥15 mg AA equivalent of C2PP kg−1 than fish fed the control diet. Lysozyme activity was higher in fish fed≥86 mg AA equivalent of C2S or≥15 mg AA equivalent of C2PP kg−1 than fish fed the control diet. Analysis by broken-line regression of WG indicated that the adequate dietary vitamin C concentration from each vitamin C derivative in growing grouper is 46.2 mg AA equivalent of C2S kg−1 diet and 17.8 mg AA equivalent of C2PP kg−1 diet, and it also indicated that C2S is approximately 39% as effective as C2PP in meeting the vitamin C requirement for grouper. The data suggest that both C2S and C2PP supplementation support non-specific immune responses of grouper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: The aim of this paper is to report a study to: (a) explore Taiwanese male nurses' motivations for becoming a nurse; (b) reveal their professional developmental process in nursing; (c) understand the difficulties hindering their professional development from both professional and gender aspects; and (d) identify the strategies they use to cope with these difficulties. BACKGROUND: Hindered by historical, cultural, economic and warfare factors, the proportion of male nurses in Taiwan remains low. Taiwanese male nurses' career development process has not been well investigated yet. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative research design was used, with a convenience sample of 15 male nurses (mean age 30.8 years) with a Bachelor's degree in Nursing Science. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews and analysed by content analysis. RESULTS: Taiwanese male nurses' entrance into the nursing profession involved three phases: pre-study, study and employment. The difficulties encountered during career development were related to the gender expectations of patients and the general public. The nurses received support more from superiors than from colleagues. The strategies they used included (a) improving their professional knowledge and skills to obtain higher levels of satisfaction and better opportunities for promotion; (b) thinking aggressively about job promotion; (c) choosing specialist departments as appropriate environments for graduate study and personal growth; and (d) changing their professional track for personal growth. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the nature of nursing work and clinical experiences, Taiwanese male nurses believed that nursing was a profession suitable for both men and women. Their preparation for career development started at the pre-study phase. The major strategies they used were related to a strong desire for personal growth and professional promotion. Finally, a conceptual framework was developed to depict this complex phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate two vitamin C derivatives, L-ascorbyl-2-monophosphate-Mg (C2MP-Mg) and L-ascorbyl-2-monophosphate-Na (C2MP-Na), to satisfy the vitamin C requirement and to test their effects on the immune responses of juvenile grouper,Epinephelus malabaricus. C2MP-Mg and C2MP-Na were each supplemented at 20, 50, 80, 150, 250, and 400 mg kg−1 diet in the basal diet providing of 7, 18, 31, 51, 93, 145 mg ascorbic acid (AA) equivalent of C2MP-Mg kg−1 diet and 4, 10, 17, 31, 47, 77 mg ascorbic acid (AA) equivalent of C2MP-Na kg−1 diet, respectively. Basal diet without AA supplementation was included as control. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of grouper (mean initial weight 3.20 ± 0.05 g). Fish fed diets supplemented with either C2MP-Mg or C2MP-Na had significantly (P < 0.05) greater weight gain (WG), feed efficiency and survival than those fed the unsupplemented control diet. Liver ascorbate concentrations in fish generally increased as dietary C2MP-Mg or C2MP-Na supplementation level increased. Haemolytic complement activity was higher in fish fed diets supplemented with 92 mg AA equivalent of C2MP-Mg kg−1 or 10–17 mg AA equivalent of C2MP-Na kg−1 than fish fed the unsupplemented control diet. Lysozyme activity was higher in fish fed≥51 mg AA equivalent of C2MP-Mg kg−1 or≥47 mg AA equivalent of C2MP-Na kg−1 than fish fed the unsupplemented control diet. Analysis by broken-line regression of WG indicated that the adequate dietary vitamin C concentration from each vitamin C derivative in growing grouper is 17.9 mg AA equivalent of 2MP-Mg kg−1 and 8.3 mg AA equivalent of C2MP-Na kg−1, and it also indicated that C2MP-Mg is about 46% as effective as C2MP-Na in meeting the vitamin C requirement of grouper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the dietary copper (Cu) requirement of juvenile hybrid tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus X O. aureus. Purified diets with eight levels (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12 or 20 mg Cu per kg diet) of supplemental Cu were given to tilapia (mean initial weight 0.79 ± 0.03 g). Each diet was given to three replicate groups of fish. The rearing water contained 0.98 μg Cu per l. Weight gain was highest in fish given diets supplemented with 2 mg Cu per kg diet, followed by the group given 1 mg Cu per kg diet, then the unsupplemented control group, and was lowest in the 20 mg Cu per kg diet group. The differences between each of these four groups were significant (P < 0.05). Food efficiency (FE) offish showed a similar trend to that of weight gain. Blood haemoglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (Hct) concentrations were lowest in fish given ≥ 12 mg Cu per kg diet, followed by fish given the unsupplemented control diet and highest in fish given 2 mg Cu per kg diet (Hb) and 2 and 3 mg Cu per kg diet (Hct). Plasma ceruloplasmin activity was higher in fish given 1 and 2 mg Cu per kg diet, followed by 3 to 12 mg Cu per kg diet and the control group, and lowest in fish given 20 mg Cu per kg diet. The body Cu content in fish generally increased as the dietary Cu supplementation level increased. Analysis by broken-line regression of weight gain percent and by linear regression of the whole-body Cu retention offish indicated that the adequate dietary Cu concentration in growing tilapia is about 4 mg Cu per kg diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic bleeding due to consumption coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia due to activation of procoagulants is the leading manifestation and cause of death in Russell's viper systemic envenoming. Thrombotic occlusion of the blood vessels is rare in cases of snakebite. In this report, two adult patients with Russell's viper systemic envenoming presented multiple cerebral infarctions, digital gangrenes and isehaemic organs in addition to typical clinical manifestations of bleeding diathesis and renal involvement. Our findings in these two special cases suggest that the venom-induced coaguloparry and endothelium damage, predisposed by toxin-induced vasoconstriction, might be the possible mechanism of multiple thrombotic vascular occlusions in systemic envenoming of Formosan Russell's viper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 8-wk feeding trial was conducted to determine the dietary choline requirement for juvenile hybrid tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus x O. aureus. Purified basal diets were formulated using vitamin-free casein (contained 370 mg choline/kg) as the protein source. Graded levels (0, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1,000 and 2,000 mg choline/kg diet) of choline chloride were added to the basal diet, resulting in eight dietary treatments in the experiment. Each diet was fed to three replicate groups of tilapia initially averaging 0.62 +/- 0.01 g/fish in a closed, recirculating rearing system. Feed efficiency, survival and blood triglyceride, cholesterol and phospholipid concentrations were generally high in fish fed choline-supplemented diets compared to fish fed the control diet. Analysis by broken-line regression of weight gain and body choline concentration and by polynomial regression of liver lipid concentration of the fish indicated that the dietary choline concentration for tilapia is about 900 mg/kg. Taking into account the choline concentration of the unsupplemented basal diet, the optimal dietary choline requirement for growing tilapia is about 1,000 mg/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two growth experiments were conducted to estimate the minimal dietary vitamin A requirement for juvenile grass shrimp, Penaeus monodon. In expt. 1, purified diets containing 0, 1,500, 3,000, 15, 000, 30,000, 45,000 and 60,000 retinol equivalent (RE)/kg (i.e., 0, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000, 150,000, 200,000 IU/kg) of supplemental vitamin A (retinyl acetate) were fed to P. monodon (mean initial weight 0.97 +/- 0.01 g) for 8 wk. In expt. 2, diets with 0, 600, 1,200, 1,800, 2,400, 3,000, 3,600, and 4,500 RE/kg (i.e. , 0, 2,000, 4,000, 6,000, 8,000, 10,000, 12,000, 15,000 IU/kg) of supplemental vitamin A were fed to the shrimp (mean weight 0.68 +/- 0.01 g) for 6 wk. The basal unsupplemented diet contained 54 RE vitamin A/kg, and supplemental levels were confirmed by analysis. Each diet was fed to three replicate groups of shrimp. In expt. 1, shrimp fed diets supplemented with 300 RE vitamin A/kg had significantly greater weight gain (P < 0.05) than those fed the unsupplemented control diet and diets supplemented with >===" BORDER="0">30,000 RE vitamin A/kg. Survival rate was higher in shrimp fed diets supplemented with 1,500-30,000 RE vitamin A/kg than shrimp fed the control diet. Highest blood triglyceride concentration and body lipid concentration were in shrimp fed diets supplemented with 45,000 and 60,000 RE vitamin A/kg, respectively. Eye vitamin A concentration and hepatopancreatic total lipid concentration in shrimp generally increased as dietary vitamin A supplementation increased. In expt. 2, feed efficiency was highest in shrimp fed diets supplemented with 2,400, 3,000, 3,600 and 4,500 RE vitamin A/kg, followed by shrimp fed diets with 600 and 1,200 RE vitamin A/kg and finally the unsupplemented control group. Shrimp fed diets supplemented with vitamin A had significantly higher survival percentages than those fed the unsupplemented control diet. Weight gain percentage of the shrimp analyzed by broken-line regression indicated that the minimal dietary vitamin A concentration in growing P. monodon is 2,511 RE/kg ( approximately 8, 400 IU/kg). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that the major green tea polyphenol, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), suppressed autophosphorylation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor induced by EGF in human A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells. In this study, we examined the inhibitory effects of black tea polyphenols, including theaflavin (TF-1), a mixture (TF-2) of theaflavin-3-gallate (TF-2a) and theaflavin-3′-gallate )TF-2b), theaflavin-3,3′-digallate (TF-3) and the theraubigin fraction on the autophosphorylation of the EGF and PDGF receptors in A431 cells and mouse NIH3T3 fibroblast cells, respectively. First, we examined the effects of these polyphenols on the proliferation of A431 and NIH3T3 cells. Both EGCG and TF-3 strongly inhibited the proliferation of A431 and NIH3T3 cells more than the other theaflavins did. In cultured cells with pre-treatment of tea polyphenol, TF-3 was stronger than EGCG on the reduction of EGF receptor and PDGF receptor autophosphorylation induced by EGF and PDGF, respectively. Other theaflavins slightly reduced the autophosphorylation of the EGF and PDGF receptors; furthermore, TF-3 could reduce autophosphorylation of the EGF receptor (or PDGF receptor) even with co-treatment with EGF (or PDGF) and TF-3, but EGCG was inactive under these conditions. In addition, TF-3 was stronger than EGCG in blocking EGF binding to its receptor. These results suggest that not only the green tea polyphenol, EGCG, but also the black tea polyphenol, TF-3, have an antiproliferative activity on tumor cells, and the molecular mechanisms of antiproliferation may block the growth factor binding to its receptor and thus suppress mitogenic signal transduction. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The effect of chitin, poly-beta-(1 --> 4)-N-acetyl-glucosamine, and chitosan, a polymer of glucosamine obtained by the deacetylation of chitin, on growth and nutrient digestibility was studied in grass shrimp, Penaeus monodon. Shrimp were fed for 8 wk diets containing no supplement (control) or 2, 5 or 10 g/100 g chitin or chitosan. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of shrimp with a mean initial body weight of 0.45 +/- 0.05 g. Significantly higher body weight gains were observed in shrimp fed the 5% chitin diet than in those fed the 10% chitin or the control diet. The weight gain of shrimp decreased as dietary chitosan supplementation level increased (r = 0. 87, P < 0.05). Feed efficiencies (FE) and protein efficiency ratios (PER) followed the same pattern. Lower protein and lipid digestibilities and lower body protein and lipid contents were observed in shrimp fed all chitosan-containing diets than in controls (P < 0.05). Carbohydrate digestibility was lower in shrimp fed the 10% chitosan diet than in those fed the control diet. Lower protein and lipid digestibilities, body lipid content and blood cholesterol concentration were observed in shrimp fed the 10% chitin diet compared with controls (P < 0.05). Higher weight gains, body lipid contents and blood cholesterol concentrations were observed in shrimp fed the 2 and 5% chitin diets than in those fed the chitosan diets. Shrimp fed the 5% chitin diet had higher protein and lipid digestibilities and higher body protein content than those fed the 5% chitosan diet (P < 0.05). These data suggest that dietary chitin, supplemented at 5%, enhances P. monodon growth, whereas chitosan depresses shrimp growth, regardless of the supplementation level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A feeding trial was conducted to estimate the minimal dietary pantothenic acid (PA) requirement for juvenile grass shrimp, Penaeus monodon. Purified diets with seven levels (0, 20, 40, 60, 120, 240, and 480 mg/kg) of supplemental PA were fed to P. monodon (mean weight 0.88 +/- 0.01 g) for 8 wk. The level of PA detected in the unsupplemented diet was 0.02 mg/kg. Each diet was fed to three replicate groups of shrimp. Feed efficiencies (FE) and protein efficiency ratios were highest in shrimp fed the diets supplemented with 120, 240, and 480 mg PA/kg diet, followed by the groups fed 60 mg/kg, then 40 mg/kg, and finally the unsupplemented control group (P < 0.05). Shrimp fed diets supplemented with PA had significantly higher survival percentages and lower hepatopancreatic lipid concentration than those fed the unsupplemented, control diets. Broken-line regression analyses of weight gain percentage and hepatopancreatic CoA and PA concentrations of the shrimp indicated that the adequate dietary PA concentration in growing P. monodon is 101-139 mg/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A feeding trial was conducted to estimate the minimal dietary biotin requirement for juvenile grass shrimp, Penaeus monodon. Purified diets with eight levels (0, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0, 6.0, 10.0 and 20.0 mg/kg) of supplemental biotin were fed to P. monodon (mean weight 0. 26 +/- 0.01 g) for 8 wk. Each diet was fed to three replicate groups of shrimp. Shrimp fed diets supplemented with biotin (0.2-20.0 mg/kg) had significantly (P < 0.05) higher weight gain, feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio than those fed the unsupplemented control diet. Weight gain was high in shrimp fed 3. 0-10.0 mg biotin/kg diet and lowest in shrimp fed

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of high dietary cholesterol on the lipid composition, Na+−K+-ATPase activity and ouabain receptor property of the myocardial sarcolemma. Male New Zealand white rabbits were fed with standard chow or standard chow supplemented with 0.5% (w/w) cholesterol and 10% (w/w) coconut oil to induce hypercholesterolemia. After 8 weeks, the rabbits were sacrificed; a myocardial sarcolemma fraction was then prepared from the left ventricular myocardium and analyzed for lipid composition. Assay of Na+−K+-ATPase activity and3H-ouabain binding studies were performed in the myocardial sarcolemma from the control and cholesterol-fed rabbits. The cholesterol content, but not the phospholipid content, of the sarcolemma was significantly greater in the cholesterol-fed group, thus, resulting in an increased cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio in the cholesterol-fed group. In addition, a decrease in Na+−K+-ATPase activity was also found in this group. The decrease in Na+−K+-ATPase activity was selective, since the Mg++-ATPase and 5′-nucleotidase activities remained unchanged. In the3H-ouabain binding study, a decrease in the number of maximum binding sites, but not the binding affinity, for3H-ouabain was foundie the cholesterol-fed group. High dietary cholesterol induces higher levels of cholesterol not only in the plasma, but also in the myocardial sarcolemma. These changes result in decreased myocardial Na+−K+-ATPase activity mediated by a reduction in the maximum number of binding sites for ouabain but not a change in binding affinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on bone growth were investigated in rats. Daily injection of PGE2 (1, 10, and 100 pmol) was given via local intraosseous route into the metaphysis of the left tibia for 14 days. The contralateral right tibia injected with vehicle and saline was for the control. The rats receiving no injection provided as normal control. The results obtained indicated that PGE2 slightly but significantly decreased the body weight increment without effect on tibial length. The most prominent effect of PGE2 was the increase of metaphyseal bone trabeculae by 45-81% in a dose-dependent manner. The microscopic examination revealed that PGE2 unequivocally increased the new woven bone formation. The bone cell population study showed no difference between the number of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in primary spongiosa of the PGE2-injected limbs and those of contralateral limbs. However, the numbers of osteoblasts and osteoclasts were markedly increased in secondary spongiosa in the PGE2-injected limbs. This finding confirmed a stimulatory role of PGE2 in the bone formation. The local intraosseous injection of PGE2 was proven to be a good model for the study of local growth factors on bone metabolism with a lower effective dose which eliminates the systemic side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular epidemiological studies of populations at high risk for liver cancer have shown that hepatitis B virus (HBV) and aflatoxin B1 exposures are two major risk factors for this disease. Oltipraz is currently being considered for clinical trial to protect against aflatoxin B1-induced hepatocarcinogenesis based on its proven protective effect in many different animal models. In addition, oltipraz inhibits human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication. The inactivation of reverse transcriptase of HIV appears to be the antiviral mechanism. It has been demonstrated that a number of compounds that inhibit HIV replication also inhibit HBV replication in vitro. Therefore, we tested the possibility of oltipraz blocking HBV replication in 2.2.15 cells (clonal cells derived from hepG2 cells that were transfected with a plasmid containing HBV DNA) in vitro. Results of the experiments indicate that oltipraz has a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on HBV replication and specifically blocks HBV transcription in 2.2.15 cells. In addition, oltipraz induces endogenous wild-type p53 protein in a dose- and time-course-dependent manner. Taken together, we speculate that the effects of oltipraz against replication of HBV and specific blocking of HBV transcription may be through the induction of p53-mediated pathway in 2.2.15 cells. In addition to its known chemopreventive action on aflatoxin B1 hepatocarcinogenesis, oltipraz was shown here to inhibit HBV replication. These dual effects put oltipraz as the excellent candidate for the chemopreventive agent of human hepatocellular carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]