An Evaluation of Container Development Strategies in the Port of Taichung

AbstractThe objective of this study is to examine the container development strategies in the port of Taichung from the viewpoints of carriers, port authorities and shipping academics. The six most important strategic attributes from the all respondents perceptions are Enhancing the services of direct shipping with Mainland China, simplified customs procedures, simplified administrative procedures, developing service routes with Hong Kong and Mainland China, improving port information systems, and flexible rate to response market change. Based on a factor analysis, the findings reflect that price and incentive strategic dimension was the most import strategic dimension, followed by marketing and direct shipping with Mainland China as well as reorganization and information service strategic dimensions. In addition, the perceived implemented period for container development strategic attributes for the Taichung Port was also investigated in this study. Results indicated that four development strategies stood out as being short-term need to perform to all respondents were providing one-stop shopping services for carriers, flexible rate to response market change, enhancing employee training and knowledge, and strengthening port marketing and promotion. Theoretical and managerial implications of the research findings are discussed

Diaqua­(5-carb­oxy­benzene-1,3-dicarboxyl­ato-κ2 O 1,O 1′)(6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine-κ2 N,N′)nickel(II) hepta­hydrate

In the title compound, [Ni(C9H4O6)(C12H12N2)(H2O)2]·7H2O, the NiII atom is six-coordinated by two O atoms from a chelating carboxyl­ate group of a 5-carb­oxy­benzene-1,3-dicarboxyl­ate ligand, two O atoms of two water mol­ecules and two N atoms from a 6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine ligand in a distorted octa­hedral geometry. The compound exhibits a three-dimensional supra­molecular structure composed of the complex mol­ecules and lattice water mol­ecules, which are linked together by inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and partly overlapping π–π inter­actions between the pyridine and benzene rings [centroid–centroid distances = 3.922 (2) and 3.921 (2) Å]. One of the lattice water mol­ecules is disordered over two positions in an occupancy ratio of 0.521 (6):0.479 (6)

Poly[[hexa­aqua­bis­(μ3-benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxyl­ato-κ3 O 1:O 3:O 5)bis­(5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine-κ2 N,N′)trizinc] hexa­hydrate]

In the title compound, {[Zn3(C9H3O6)2(C12H12N2)2(H2O)6]·6H2O}n, one ZnII atom, lying on an inversion center, is six-coordinated by two O atoms from two benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxyl­ate (btc) ligands and four water mol­ecules in a distorted octa­hedral geometry. The other ZnII atom is five-coordinated by two N atoms from a 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (dmbpy) ligand, two O atoms from two btc ligands and one water mol­ecule in a distorted trigonal–bipyramidal geometry. The compound features a one-dimensional ladder structure, with windows of ca 10.245 (1) × 15.446 (2) Å. The ladders are linked together by inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and π–π inter­actions between the benzene rings and between the pyridine rings [centroid-to-centroid distances 3.858 (2) and 3.911 (3) Å, respectively] to form a three-dimensional supra­molecular structure. One of the lattice water molecules is disordered over two positions in a 0.592:0.408 ratio

Cloning of HBsAg-encoded genes in different vectors and their expression in eukaryotic cells

AIM: To compare the efficiency of different plasmids as DNA vectors by cloning three HBsAg-encoded genes into two eukaryotic expression vectors, pRc/CMV and pSG5UTPL/Flag, and to express HBsAg S, MS, and LS proteins in SP2/0 cells, and to establish monoclone SP2/0 cell strains that are capable of expressing S or S2S proteins stably. METHODS: Segments of S, preS2-S, preS1-preS2-S genes of Hepatitis B virus were amplified by routine PCR and preS1-S fragment was amplified by Over-Lap Extension PCR. The amplified segments were cleaved with restricted endonuclease Hind III/Not I followed by ligation with pRc/CMV, or BamHI/EcoR I followed by ligation with pSG5UTPL/Flag. After the plasmid vectors were cleaved with the correspond enzymes, the amplified segments were inserted into pRc/CMV or pSG5UTPL/Flag plasmid vectors with T4 DNA ligase. KOZAK sequence was added before the initial ATG code of each fragment using specific primer. The inserted segments in the recombinant plasmids were sequenced after subcloning. BALB/c mice myeloma cells (SP2/0 cell line) were transfected with the recombinant plasmids. The expressions of the different recombinants were compared by Western-blot, using a monoclonal anti-HBs antibody as the primary antibody and peroxidase-labeled multi-linker as the secondary. Stable SP2/0-pRc/CMV-S or SP2/0-pRc/CMV-MS clones were established through clone screening with G418. RESULTS: Fragments with anticipated size were harvested after PCR. After recombination and screening, the sequences of the inserted segments in the recombinants were confirmed to be S, preS2S, preS1-preS2S and preS1S encoding genes, determined by sequencing. The results of Western-blot hybridization were positive for the anticipated proteins. Among them, pRc/CMV-S or pRc/CMV-MS demonstrated the highest expressing their respective antigen. CONCLUSION: Eight recombinant plasmids expressing S, M, L or preS1S proteins are obtained. For hepatitis surface antigen expression in eukaryotic cells, the vector pRc/CMV is superior to pSG5UTPL/Flag, and pRc/CMV-S and pRc/CMV-MS are the most efficient in the pRc/CMV clones. SP2/0 cells stably expressing HBsAg are established, and may be used as target cells for evaluating the CTL activity of a DNA vaccine in vitro

Trace amounts of copper induce neurotoxicity in the cholesterol-fed mice through apoptosis

AbstractEvidence has been gathered to suggest that trace amounts of copper induce neurotoxicity by interaction with elevated cholesterol in diet. Copper treatment alone showed no significant learning and memory impairments in behavioral tasks. However, copper-induced neurotoxicity was significantly increased in mice given elevated-cholesterol diet. Trace amounts of copper decreased the activity of SOD and increased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain of cholesterol-fed mouse. Copper also caused an increase in amyloid precursor protein (APP) mRNA level and the activation of caspase-3 in the brain of cholesterol-fed mice. The apoptosis-induced nuclear DNA fragmentation was detected in the brain of those mice by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end-labeling staining. These findings suggest that trace amounts of copper induce neurotoxicity in cholesterol-fed mice through apoptosis caused by oxidative stress

Susceptibility of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Neural Cells to Japanese Encephalitis Virus Infection

Pluripotent human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can be efficiently directed to become immature neuroepithelial precursor cells (NPCs) and functional mature neural cells, including neurotransmitter-secreting neurons and glial cells. Investigating the susceptibility of these hESCs-derived neural cells to neurotrophic viruses, such as Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), provides insight into the viral cell tropism in the infected human brain. We demonstrate that hESC-derived NPCs are highly vulnerable to JEV infection at a low multiplicity of infection (MOI). In addition, glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP)-expressing glial cells are also susceptible to JEV infection. In contrast, only a few mature neurons were infected at MOI 10 or higher on the third day post-infection. In addition, functional neurotransmitter-secreting neurons are also resistant to JEV infection at high MOI. Moreover, we discover that vimentin intermediate filament, reported as a putative neurovirulent JEV receptor, is highly expressed in NPCs and glial cells, but not mature neurons. These results indicate that the expression of vimentin in neural cells correlates to the cell tropism of JEV. Finally, we further demonstrate that membranous vimentin is necessary for the susceptibility of hESC-derived NPCs to JEV infection

Directed formation of tri-connected Cu(I) coordination polymers

Natural Science Foundation of China [21125102, 21021061]Two new tri-connected copper(I) coordination polymers have been synthesized, featuring a 1D staircase-like structure and an interpenetrating 2D polycyclohexane framework. The geometries are controlled by steric factors that are generated from the terminal blocking ligand 2-diphenylphosphino-n-methyl pyridine (n = 3, 6) with the methyl group at different substituted positions

Incidence Rates of Enterovirus 71 Infections in Young Children during a Nationwide Epidemic in Taiwan, 2008–09

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) was first isolated in California, USA, in 1969. Since then, EV71 has been identified globally. Recently, EV71 caused several life-threatening outbreaks in young children in tropical Asia. Development of EV71 vaccines becomes national priority in several Asia countries including Taiwan. To design clinical trials of EV71 vaccines, age-specific incidence rates of EV71 infections are required to identify target populations, estimate disease burdens, select endpoints of clinical efficacy, and estimate sample size. In Taiwan, nationwide EV71 epidemics occurred every 3–4 years but age-specific incidences of EV71 infection are not available. In 2006, we initiated a prospective cohort study in northern Taiwan to recruit neonates and follow up them. In 2008–09, a nationwide EV71 epidemic occurred and we found that age-specific incidence rates of EV71 infection increased from 1.71 per 100 person-years at 0–6 months of age to 4.09, 5.74, and 4.97 per 100 person-years at 7–12, 13–24, and 25–36 months of age, respectively. The cumulative incidence rate was 15% by 36 months of age, and 29% of EV71 infections were asymptomatic in young children. These findings would be helpful to development of EV71 vaccines in Taiwan and other Asian tropical countries