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This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of extracellular CLA on proliferation and differentiation of cultured adipocytes and its dietary supplementation on backfat and intramuscular fat deposition in finishing pigs. Seven-day-old Duroc x Landrace x Large White pigs were killed to obtain adipocytes for culture. Adding 3 forms of CLA (cis-9, trans-11 CLA, trans-10, cis-12 CLA, or CLA mixture) at concentrations of 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, and 400 [micro]M to culture medium for 10 d increased cell differentiation (P < 0.05). In addition, 3 forms of CLA enhanced cell proliferation (P < 0.05) at 50 to 350 [micro]M and inhibited cell proliferation (P < 0.05) at a concentration of 400 [micro]M. Seventy-two Duroc x Landrace x Large White crossbred gilts weighing 60.7 [+ or -] 2.8 kg were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 dietary treatments (control, 1.25% CLA, and 2.5% CLA). The pigs were slaughtered at 100.0 [+ or -] 5.7 kg. Dietary CLA increased lean percentage (3.5 to 4.7%; P = 0.07), intramuscular fat content (P < 0.05), and shear force (P < 0.05), but reduced 10th- and first-rib backfat depth (P [less than or equal to] 0.05) and lipid oxidation (P < 0.05). The adipocyte diameter in baekfat or LM was not affected by CLA. Supplemented CLA reduced [[DELTA].sup.9]-saturase activity (P < 0.05) in backfat and LM, as well as fatty acid synthetase activity and lipoprotein lipase activity in backfat, but enhanced (P < 0.05) adipocyte fatty acid binding protein mRNA content in LM. These data indicate that dietary CLA regulates fat deposition by affecting adipoeyte proliferation, adipocyte differentiation, gene expression, and key metabolic enzymes of lipid metabolism. Key words: adipocyte, conjugated linoleic acid, differentation, fat deposition, finishing pig, proliferation doi: 10.2527/jas.2008-1551

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of dietary glycyl-glutamine (Gly-Gln) on postweaning growth, small intestinal morphology, and immune response of stressed or nonstressed piglets. Pigs (n = 144; initially 4.49 kg and 14 d of age) were randomly allocated to 24 pens (6 pigs/pen) in an environmentally controlled nursery and assigned to Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge (PBS vs. LPS) and Gly-Gln supplementation (0 vs. 0.15%) in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with 6 pens/treatment. The LPS was the stress-inducing agent, and it was injected on d 7 and 14 of the 21-d experiment. Inflammatory challenge with LPS reduced ADG (P < 0.05) and tended to reduce ADFI (P = 0.06) of piglets from d 7 to 21 of the experiment. Supplementation of Gly-Gln increased ADG and G:F from d 0 to 21 (P < 0.05). On d 21 (1 wk after the second LPS injection), there was an LPS challenge x diet GlyGln interaction for ADFI (P < 0.05), but it was difficult to ascertain whether Gly-Gln increased ADFI. A trend for an LPS challenge x diet Gly-Gln interaction was observed for ADG (P = 0.07). There were no differences in lymphocyte proliferation among treatments. The LPS challenge increased crypt depth (CD) of the duodenum and decreased the ratio of villus height (VH) to CD of the ileum (P < 0.05) on d 14 (1 wk after the first LPS injection), whereas dietary supplementation of Gly-Gln increased VH of the ileum and VH:CD of the duodenum (P < 0.05). The concentration of peripheral blood IL-1[beta] was increased by injection of LPS (P < 0.05) and was decreased by dietary Gly-Gln supplementation during the experimental period (P < 0.05); however, there was no interaction of LPS challenge x Gly-Gln addition for IL-1[beta] concentration. Concentrations of peripheral blood IL-2 tended to increase at d 14 (P = 0.09) and soluble IL-2 receptor tended to decrease at d 7 (P = 0.06) in piglets supplemented with Gly-Gln; therefore, the peripheral blood IL-2/soluble IL-2 receptor system tended to favor the secretion of IL-2 during the first 2 wk of the experiment. In conclusion, considerable suppression of growth and immune function occurred in early weaning piglets challenged with LPS, and such depression could be alleviated by dietary Gly-Gln supplementation independent of the LPS challenge. Key words: glycyl-glutamine, growth, immunity, lipopolysaccharide, weaning piglet doi: 10.2527/jas.2008-1120

During Typhoon Mindulle in early July 2004, the Choshui River (central-western Taiwan) discharged ~72 Mt of sediment to the eastern Taiwan Strait; peak concentrations were [greater than or equal to] 200 g/L, ~35%-40% of which was sand. Box-core samples and CHIRP (compressed high-intensity radar pulse) sonar records taken just before and after the typhoon indicate that the hyperpycnal sediment was first deposited adjacent to the mouth of the Choshui, subsequently resuspended and transported northward (via the Taiwan Warm Current), and redeposited as a patchy coastal band of mud-dominated sediment that reached thicknesses of 1-2 m within megaripples. Within a month most of the mud was gone, probably continuing its northward transit, but more mud appeared in late August in response to Typhoon Aere. Following autumn and winter storms, the entire nearshore area was again sand dominated by early spring. Keywords: hyperpycnal, Taiwan, typhoon, seafloor.

Fabrication of nitride-based green light-emitting diodes is described and discussed.

Research is described involving fabrication of nitride-based blue light emitting diodes (LED).