Protective Effects of Fucoxanthin on Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Calcification of Heart Valve Interstitial Cells

Cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and aortic valve sclerosis involve inflammatory reactions triggered by various stimuli, causing increased oxidative stress. This increased oxidative stress causes damage to the heart cells, with subsequent cell apoptosis or calcification. Currently, heart valve damage or heart valve diseases are treated by drugs or surgery. Natural antioxidant products are being investigated in related research, such as fucoxanthin (Fx), which is a marine carotenoid extracted from seaweed, with strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties. This study aimed to explore the protective effect of Fx on heart valves under high oxidative stress, as well as the underlying mechanism of action. Rat heart valve interstitial cells under H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress were treated with Fx. Fx improved cell survival and reduced oxidative stress-induced DNA damage, which was assessed by cell viability analysis and staining with propidium iodide. Alizarin Red-S analysis indicated that Fx has a protective effect against calcification. Furthermore, Western blotting revealed that Fx abrogates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis via reducing the expression of apoptosis-related proteins as well as modulate Akt/ERK-related protein expression. Notably, in vivo experiments using 26 dogs treated with 60 mg/kg of Fx in combination with medical treatment for 0.5 to 2 years showed significant recovery in their echocardiographic parameters. Collectively, these in vitro and in vivo results highlight the potential of Fx to protect heart valve cells from high oxidative stress-induced damage.     

Multifunctionality of paddy fields in Taiwan

Paddy rice is the staple food in Taiwan, where rice farming always plays an important role in agricultural activities. The paddy fields and irrigation activities hold diversified functions, such as production, eco-environmental and living-associated functions. This paper is to provide information regarding the potential magnitude and monetary value of seven functions of paddy fields in Taiwan, including flood mitigation, fostering water resources, preventing soil erosion, purifying water, cooling air temperature, refreshing atmosphere and recreation. For quantification of the above values, replacement cost method (RCM), contingent valuation method (CVM), and the travel cost method (TCM) are adopted. In addition, the ratio of monetary value and their rice production commodity value (R) was also estimated. The results indicated that the flood mitigation function had a monetary value of US$ 389 million each year, and the ratio to the rice production value R was estimated at 37%. Water resource fostering function was US$ 501 million and R at 47%; soil erosion reduction function was US$ 433 million and R at 41%; water quality purification function was US$ 3 million and R at 0.3%; cooling air temperature function was US$ 961 million and R at 91%; refreshing air function was US$ 196 million and R at 19%, health and recreation function was US$ 987 million and R at 93%, respectively. Due to the significant importance of these externalities, it is recommended that the government should properly take into account the multifunctionalities in policy making to ensure sustainable development of agriculture.     

Carriage speed control of a cross-lapper system for nonwoven web quality

In a cross-lapper system, the carriage unit is used to make uniform web in appropriate width and thickness. Traditionally, this is a stable, sluggish system with large attenuation of the input in the steady state. In this paper, the modeling, stability, order reduction, dynamic analysis and controller design of a cross-lapper system for good nonwoven web quality will be presented to deal with this issue. A realizable controller is designed which can not only make the closed-loop system efficient for good tracking property but also can achieve the meaningful design objectives. The performance can be effectively shown from the computer simulation.     

From the drawing board to the field: an example for establishing an MPA in Penghu,Taiwan

• 1. In order to promote the establishment of the first marine protected area (MPA) in Taiwan, the conservation values of 12 reef sites in the Penghu Islands were evaluated. The results together with a 6‐year surveillance programme revealed that the Chinwan Inner Bay (CIB) possesses the best coral community in the Penghu Islands with the highest coral cover, high species diversity and habitat types, as well as a high conservation value.
• 2. Utilization of biological resources and socio‐economic factors of CIB were investigated by intensive field surveys and a complete visit‐and‐poll survey respectively. Most of the fishing at CIB is for recreational purposes and is characterized by low investment, low harvest rates, high dependence on weather conditions, and self‐consumption.
• 3. The socio‐economic data showed that there was basically no direct conflict of interests with local communities at two neighbouring villages, and most local residents indicated that they would support the MPA proposal.
• 4. A blueprint for a CIB MPA based on the results of these biological and socio‐economic investigations is proposed. Environmental threats including anchor damage and the predation of Drupella snails need to be ameliorated and monitored through the implementation of appropriate management. The involvement of local communities is key to the success of this MPA and environmental education is recommended to promote public awareness.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of dot immunobinding assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunodiffusion for serodiagnosis of paratuberculosis.

A rapid, simple and inexpensive dot immunobinding assay (DIA) was evaluated for the serodiagnosis of paratuberculosis in cattle. The assay was performed on nitrocellulose strips which were dotted with purified protoplasmic antigen of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. After incubation with test serum samples, the bound antibodies were detected using an enzyme-amplified immunostaining procedure. The efficacy of DIA as a screening test for paratuberculosis was compared to that of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a modified agar gel immunodiffusion (mAGID) test, and an AGID test using 329 serum samples from cattle which were examined for M. paratuberculosis infection by a sensitive fecal culture technique. The DIA and ELISA had comparable results and both of the enzyme immunoassays had higher sensitivity than tests based on AGID. The sensitivity of all four tests was influenced by the intensity of fecal bacterial shedding. Preabsorption of sera with Mycobacterium phlei increased the sensitivity of both enzyme immunoassays. the specificity but reduced the sensitivity of both enzyme immunoassays.     

Antibiotic susceptibility and prevalence of erythromycin ribosomal methylase gene, erm(B) in Streptococcus spp

The aim of this study was to investigate drug resistance and the genetic relatedness of erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus spp. from different animals and humans in Taiwan. Cumulatively, 248 isolates were collected from 15 animal species and human patients and the susceptibilities of the isolates to six antimicrobial agents including azithromycin (AZI), clarithromycin (CLAR), erythromycin (ERY), spiramycin (SPIR), amoxicillin (AMO), and enrofloxacin (ENRO) were determined by the agar dilution method. The results indicated that resistance among the 248 strains was highest for SPIR, followed by ENRO, CLAR, ERY, AZI, and AMO. The most common resistotypes of the isolates from mammals and aquatic animals were AZI-CLAR-ERY-SPIR (27.5%) and SPIR (55.1%), respectively. The presence of ERY-resistant genes was confirmed by PCR. The erm gene was amplified from 28 isolates (20.6%) by PCR for further investigation. The predominant erm gene in the ERY-resistant isolates was the erm(B) gene. The phylogenetic analysis of the erm(B) gene results indicated that there was a close genetic relationship among all the strains but the genotypic clusters did not show clear segregation of the isolates according to the source or region.     

Vegetation recovery monitoring and assessment at landslides caused by earthquake in Central Taiwan

Massive landslides, caused by the catastrophic Chi-Chi earthquake in 1999, occurred at the Jou-Jou Mountain area in the Wu-Chi basin, Taiwan. Multi-temporal satellite images and digital elevation models coupled with GIS were used to process the vegetation index analysis for identifying landslide sites and calculating the vegetation recovery rate (VRR). Topographic information for these areas was extracted. Eight hundred twenty-nine hectares of landslide area was extracted from multi-date NDVI images by combining the image differencing method with the change detection threshold. Over 2 years of monitoring and assessing, the vegetation recovery rate reached 58.93% original vegetation regeneration in the landslide areas. Soil moisture is one of the most important environmental factors for vegetation recovery in the landslide sites. The analyzed results provide very useful information for decision making and policy planning in the landslide area.     

Compressive strength of young Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioides) trees grown with different thinning and pruning treatments

Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioides Hay) is an important timber species in Taiwan. Growth in generally improved trees under intense silvicultural practice is so rapid that rotations or the practice of thinning trees may be as short as 20–30 years. Thus, the wood properties of young plantation trees need to be characterized to effectively use this resource. The effects of different thinning and pruning methods on the compressive strength parallel to grain of young Taiwania trees were explored. Average compressive strengths with various thinning treatments revealed the trend of no thinning > medium thinning > heavy thinning and in the pruning treatments showed the trend of medium pruning > no pruning > heavy pruning. However, most results showed no statistically significant differences among thinning and pruning treatments.     

Nondestructive evaluation techniques for assessing dynamic modulus of elasticity of moso bamboo (Phyllosachys edulis) lamina

Bamboo, an extensively used material in Asia, is becoming an increasingly available structural (e.g., flooring and furniture) material in Taiwan. The bending strength and dynamic modulus of elasticity of moso bamboo (Phyllosachys edulis) laminae were investigated using ultrasonic-wave and drilling resistance techniques. The strength quality of bamboo was reduced after steaming treatment and was significantly affected by node characteristics. The transverse variations of the mean drilling resistance value (R) gradually increased outward from the bamboo cavity layer. There were very significant positive relationships among density (ju), the drilling resistance value (R), the dynamic modulus of elasticity (Eb), the modulus of elasticity (MOE), and the modulus of rupture (MOR), although the coefficients of determination were small. Combining ultrasonic-wave and drilling resistance techniques is efficient in estimating and establishing the dynamic modulus of elasticity (REb). Values of REb for moso bamboo increased with increasing ju, R, Eb, MOE, and MOR, and the relationships could each be represented by positive linear regression formulas.