Development of pyramided lines carrying brown planthopper resistance genes in the genetic background of Indica Group rice (Oryza sativa L.) variety 'IR64'

The development of resistant rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties is a key strategy for the eco-friendly control of brown planthopper (BPH: Nilaparvata lugens Stål). However, BPH outbreaks occur frequently owing to the evolution of virulent strains in the field and the rapid breakdown of monogenic resistance to BPH. Therefore, to enhance BPH resistance and gauge the effectiveness of gene pyramiding against strongly virulent BPH, we developed pyramided lines (PYLs) in the genetic background of 'IR64' carrying BPH resistance genes. We developed six IR64-PYLs (BPH3 + BPH17, BPH32 + BPH17, BPH32 + BPH20, BPH3 + BPH17-ptb, BPH20 + BPH3, and BPH17-ptb + BPH32) through marker-assisted selection. To assess the resistance of the IR64-PYLs, we conducted antibiosis test, honeydew test, and modified seedbox screening test (MSST) using strongly virulent BPH populations. The level of BPH resistance increased in all six IR64-PYLs compared to both 'IR64' and the corresponding NILs in MSST. Among them, IR64-BPH3 + BPH17 and IR64-BPH32 + BPH17 exhibited the highest resistance to BPH. However, the resistance level of most IR64-PYLs was not significantly higher than that of the corresponding NILs in antibiosis test. Thus, these PYLs could serve as a valuable resource for breeding programs aimed at improving resistance to virulent strains of BPH and enhancing their durability.

Identification and characterization of stable QTLs for vascular bundle number at the panicle neck in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A large vascular bundle number (VBN) in the panicle neck in rice (Oryza sativa L.) is related to the ability to transport assimilates from stem and leaf to reproductive organs during seed maturation. Several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for VBN have been identified by using segregating populations derived from a cross between indica and japonica rice cultivars. However, the detailed location, effect, and interaction of QTLs for VBN were not understood well. Here, to elucidate the genetic basis of VBN, we identified three stable QTLs for VBN-qVBN5, qVBN6 and qVBN11-by using 71 recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between indica 'IR24' and japonica 'Asominori'. We confirmed their positions and characterized their effects by using chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) with an 'IR24' genetic background. qVBN6 had the most substantial effect on VBN, followed by qVBN11 and qVBN5. We developed pyramided lines carrying two QTLs for VBN to estimate their interaction. The combination of qVBN6 and qVBN11 accumulated VBN negatively in the pyramided lines owing to the independent actions of each QTL. The QTLs detected for VBN will enhance our understanding of genetic mechanisms of VBN and can be used in rice breeding.

Development and characterization of near-isogenic lines for brown planthopper resistance genes in the genetic background of japonica rice 'Sagabiyori'

The brown planthopper (BPH: Nilaparvata lugens Stål) is one of the most destructive insects in rice production. The use of host plant resistance has potential to reduce damage caused by BPH. The heat tolerance japonica rice 'Sagabiyori', with superior grain quality and high soluble starch in the stem, is highly susceptible to damage by BPH. Here, to enhance its BPH resistance, we developed seven near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying BPH2, BPH17-ptb, BPH32, BPH3, BPH17, BPH20, and BPH21 through marker-assisted selection and evaluated resistance to two BPH populations. Most lines were more resistant to the Hadano-1966 BPH population than Sagabiyori but were less effective against the highly virulent Koshi-2013 population. Nevertheless, in antixenosis tests, Koshi-2013 settled less on all NILs than on Sagabiyori. In addition, adult mortality and the percentage of fresh weight loss of lines carrying BPH17 and BPH3 indicated that these lines have higher resistance to Koshi-2013 than Sagabiyori. Current study revealed that BPH resistance of Sagabiyori became stronger by transferring BPH3 and BPH17 genes. Thus, BPH3 and BPH17 might be valuable for breeding programs to enhance BPH resistance of high grain quality rice varieties with heat tolerance.

Near-isogenic lines for resistance to brown planthopper with the genetic background of Indica Group elite rice (Oryza sativa L.) variety 'IR64'

The brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens Stål, is an insect pest that severely damages rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Asia, causing huge yield loss. Use of resistant variety is a cost-effective and eco-friendly strategy for maintaining BPH populations below the economic injury level. However, current BPH populations have been changed to virulence against resistant varieties. In this study, to estimate effective combinations among eight BPH resistance genes (BPH32, BPH17-ptb, BPH20, BPH17, BPH3, BPH25, BPH26 and qBPH6), eight near-isogenic lines with the genetic background of an Indica Group rice variety 'IR64' (IR64-NIL) were developed using marker-assisted selection. The genome recoveries of these NILs ranged from 89.3% to 98.8% and agronomic traits of them were similar to those of 'IR64'. In modified seed box screening test, resistance level of IR64-NILs was higher than that of 'IR64'. In antibiosis test, high adult mortalities of BPH (from 56.0% to 97.0%) were observed among NILs, in comparison with that of 'IR64'. Among IR64-NILs, the line carrying BPH17 showed the highest resistance level at all tests. Thus, these IR64-NILs with multiple BPH resistance genes could be valuable breeding lines for enhancing resistance levels by gene pyramiding and multiline variety.

Substitution mapping and characterization of brown planthopper resistance genes from indica rice variety, 'PTB33' (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield is severely reduced by the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens Stål, in Asian countries. Increasing resistance in rice against BPH can mitigate yield loss. Previous reports indicated the presence of three BPH resistance genes, BPH2, BPH17-ptb, and BPH32, in durable resistant indica rice cultivar 'PTB33'. However, several important questions remain unclear; the genetic locations of BPH resistance genes on rice chromosomes and how these genes confer resistance, especially with relationship to three major categories of resistance mechanisms; antibiosis, antixenosis or tolerance. In this study, locations of BPH2, BPH17-ptb, and BPH32 were delimited using chromosome segment substitution lines derived from crosses between 'Taichung 65' and near-isogenic lines for BPH2 (BPH2-NIL), BPH17-ptb (BPH17-ptb-NIL), and BPH32 (BPH32-NIL). BPH2 was delimited as approximately 247.5 kbp between RM28449 and ID-161-2 on chromosome 12. BPH17-ptb and BPH32 were located between RM1305 and RM6156 on chromosome 4 and RM508 and RM19341 on chromosome 6, respectively. The antibiosis, antixenosis, and tolerance were estimated by several tests using BPH2-NIL, BPH17-ptb-NIL, and BPH32-NIL. BPH2 and BPH17-ptb showed resistance to antibiosis and antixenosis, while BPH17-ptb and BPH32 showed tolerance. These results contribute to the development of durable BPH resistance lines using three resistance genes from 'PTB33'.

Adaptation of the polarimetric multi-spectral Aerosol Limb Imager for high altitude aircraft and satellite observations

An elegant breadboard prototype of the Aerosol Limb Imager (ALI) has been developed to meet key performance parameters that will meet requirements for the retrieval of aerosol from the upper troposphere and stratosphere from limb scattered sunlight radiance measurements. Similar in concept to previous high altitude balloon-based generations, this instrument pairs a liquid crystal polarization rotator with an acousto-optic tunable filter to capture polarimetric multi-spectral images of the atmospheric limb. This design improves the vertical resolution, signal-to-noise ratio, and athermalization, all of which will facilitate observation from a moving high altitude aircraft platform, which provides a platform analogous to the spatially varying measurements that would be made from a satellite. Finally, a preliminary design is presented for a satellite-based generation of ALI.

Substitution Mapping of a Locus Responsible for Hybrid Breakdown in Populations Derived From Interspecific Introgression Line

Hybrid breakdown, a form of postzygotic reproductive barrier, has been reported to hinder gene flow in many crosses between wild and cultivated rice. Here, the phenomenon of hybrid breakdown was observed as low-tillering (i.e., low tiller number) in some progeny of an interspecific cross produced in an attempt to introduce Oryza meridionalis Ng (W1625) chromosomal segments into Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica "Taichung 65" (T65). Low-tillering lines were obtained in BC4-derived progeny from a cross between W1625 and "Taichung 65," but the locus for low-tillering could not be mapped in segregating populations. As a second approach to map the locus for low-tillering, we analyzed an F2 population derived from a cross between the low-tillering lines and a high-yielding indica cultivar, "Takanari." A major QTL for low-tillering, qLTN4, was detected between PCR-based markers MS10 and RM307 on the long arm of chromosome 4, with a LOD score of 15.6. The low-tillering phenotype was associated with weak growth and pale yellow phenotype; however, low-tillering plant had less reduction of grain fertility. In an F4 population (4896 plants), 563 recombinant plants were identified and the low-tillering locus was delimited to a 4.6-Mbp region between markers W1 and C5-indel3729. This region could not be further delimited because recombination is restricted in this region of qLTN4, which is near the centromere. Understanding the genetic basis of hybrid breakdown, including the low-tillering habit, will be important for improving varieties in rice breeding.

[Tetracycline and metronidazole based quadruple regimen as first line treatment for penicillin allergic patients with Helicobacter pylori infection]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tetracycline and metronidazole based quadruple regimen as first line treatment for penicillin allergic patients with Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection. Methods: The clinical data of 120 patients who had infected with H. pylori and were allergic to penicillin in out-patient clinic of Peking University First Hospital was retrospectively collected from January 2014 to June 2016. The regimen included: lansoprazole 30 mg twice a day+ Bismuth 150 mg three times a day+ tetracycline 500 mg three times a day+ metronidazole 400 mg three times a day, for 14 days. All patients were followed up 7 days, 14 days, at least 4 weeks after the treatment. Symptoms and side effects were recorded. The H.pylori status was evaluated by (13)C urease breath test at least 4 weeks after the end of the treatment. Results: All patients included 86 female and 34 male, and the average age is 59 years. There are 104 of the 120 cases who got success in eradication treatment. Mild to moderate adverse effects occurred in 56 cases (46.7%). 10 female patients dropped out because of headache, rash, vomiting and fatigue. The eradication rates were 86.7% (104/120, ITT) and 94.5% (104/110, PP). Conclusions: Tetracycline and metronidazole based 14-day quadruple regimen is effective as first line treatment for penicillin allergic patients with H. pylori infection because of its relatively high eradication rate. Patients should be watched closely during the treatment since the adverse effects of this regimen happen frequently,especially for female patients.

Metabolomic study of two rice lines infected by Rhizoctonia solani in negative ion mode by CE/TOF-MS

Rhizoctonia solani is a fungal pathogen that causes sheath blight disease in rice plants. In this study, metabolomic analysis using CE/TOF-MS in negative ion mode was used to investigate the resistance response of resistant and susceptible rice lines (32R and 29S, respectively) due to R. solani infection. Two rice lines showed different responses to the infection of R. solani. In 32R, R. solani infection induced significant increases in adenosine diphosphate (ADP), glyceric acid, mucic acid and jasmonic acid. In 29S, inosine monophosphate (IMP) was involved in the plant response to R. solani infection. Phenol compounds showed an increase as a response of the rice lines to R. solani infection. The study suggests that R. solani infection effects in 32R are associated with the induction of plant metabolic processes such as respiration, photorespiration, pectin synthesis, and lignin accumulation. In 29S, the R. solani infection is suggested to correlate with nitrogen metabolism.

[A prediction model for severe postoperative hypoxemia after surgery for Standford type A aortic dissection]

OBJECTIVE

To study the risk factors of severe postoperative hypoxemia after surgery for Standford type A aortic dissection and establish a prediction model.

METHODS

Data of 411 consecutive patients from January 2014 to April 2015, who underwent surgery for Standford type A aortic dissection in the department of cardiovascular surgery of Beijing Anzhen Hospital, were retrospectively analyzed. All the cases were divided into two groups according to the appearance of severe postoperative hypoxemia. All the data about potential risk factors was put into the database and analyzed by logistic regression. The prediction model was then established upon acquired independent risk factors. Discrimination and calibration of the prediction model were assessed with ROC curve and Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness of fit test.

RESULTS

The perioperative in-hospital mortality was 6.57%(27/411). Severe postoperative hypoxemia (PaO2/FiO2≤100 mmHg) happened in 69 cases within 48 hours after procedures, with an incidence rate of 17.1%. The logistic regression demonstrated that body mass index (BMI), age, preoperative serum myoglobin, preoperative serum creatinine, preoperative serumalanine aminotransferase, the time of cardiopulmonary bypass, re-exploration within 48 hours after procedures were the independent risk factors for severe postoperative hypoxemia. The prediction model was then established based on these independent risk factors. The area under ROC curve of the model was 0.785, and the P value in Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness of fit test was 0.625.

CONCLUSION

The logsitic model built in this study succeeded to predict the incidence of severe postoperative hypoxemia after surgery for Standford type A aortic dissection, and it could meet the doctors' requirement with its excellent discrimination and calibration.

Nitrogen redistribution and its relationship with the expression of GmATG8c during seed filling in soybean

It is well known that some nitrogen in the vegetative organs is redistributed to the seeds during seed filling in soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merrill). This redistribution is considered to affect the seed yield of soybean. However, it is still not clear when the nitrogen moves from the vegetative part to the seeds, and the relationship between nitrogen redistribution and leaf senescence has not been clarified. The soybean variety Fukuyutaka was grown in the experimental field of Saga University, Japan from 22 July to 31 October, 2014. After the first flower stage (R1), the plant samples were collected weekly and were separated into leaf, petiole, stem, podshell and seed. The nitrogen concentrations in each plant part were determined. Fresh leaf samples were provided for the determination of soluble protein and autophagy gene GmATG8c expression. The nitrogen that accumulated in the vegetative parts reached its highest level at 60days after sowing (DAS), then began to decrease at 73DAS (R6). This decrease is considered to be the consequence of nitrogen redistribution from the vegetative parts to the seeds. The movement of nitrogen from the vegetative parts to the seeds was estimated to occur at around 73DAS (R6). At this stage, leaf SPAD values, leaf nitrogen, and soluble protein concentrations began to decrease simultaneously, suggesting the onset of leaf senescence. Furthermore, the expression of the autophagy gene GmATG8c in the leaves increased dramatically from 73 to 85DAS, which is the duration of nitrogen redistribution. The results suggest that the nitrogen redistribution from the vegetative parts to the seeds could be one of the initiating factors of leaf senescence, and the autophagy gene GmATG8c was associated with this process.

Regulation of soybean seed germination through ethylene production in response to reactive oxygen species

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Despite their toxicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) play important roles in plant cell signalling pathways, such as mediating responses to stress or infection and in programmed cell death, at lower levels. Although studies have indicated that hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) promotes seed germination of several plants such as Arabidopsis, barley, wheat, rice and sunflower, the role of H(2)O(2) in soybean seed germination is not well known. The aim of this study therefore was to investigate the relationships between ROS, plant hormones and soybean seed germination.

METHODS

An examination was made of soybean seed germination, the expression of genes related to ethylene biosynthesis, endogenous ethylene contents, and the number and area of cells in the root tip, using N-acetylcysteine, an antioxidant, to counteract the effect of ROS.

KEY RESULTS

H(2)O(2) promoted germination, which N-acetylcysteine suppressed, suggesting that ROS are involved in the regulation of soybean germination. H(2)O(2) was produced in the embryonic axis after imbibition. N-Acetylcysteine suppressed the expression of genes related to ethylene biosynthesis and the production of endogenous ethylene. Interestingly, ethephon, which is converted to ethylene, and H(2)O(2) reversed the suppression of seed germination by N-acetylcysteine. Furthermore, morphological analysis revealed that N-acetylcysteine suppressed cell elongation at the root tip, and this suppression was also reversed by ethephon or H(2)O(2) treatments, as was the case in germination.

CONCLUSIONS

In soybean seeds, ROS produced in the embryonic axis after imbibition induce the production of endogenous ethylene, which promotes cell elongation in the root tip. This appears to be how ROS regulate soybean seed germination.

Quantitative trait locus analysis of symbiotic nitrogen fixation activity in the model legume Lotus japonicus

Many legumes form nitrogen-fixing root nodules. An elevation of nitrogen fixation in such legumes would have significant implications for plant growth and biomass production in agriculture. To identify the genetic basis for the regulation of nitrogen fixation, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was conducted with recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross Miyakojima MG-20 × Gifu B-129 in the model legume Lotus japonicus. This population was inoculated with Mesorhizobium loti MAFF303099 and grown for 14 days in pods containing vermiculite. Phenotypic data were collected for acetylene reduction activity (ARA) per plant (ARA/P), ARA per nodule weight (ARA/NW), ARA per nodule number (ARA/NN), NN per plant, NW per plant, stem length (SL), SL without inoculation (SLbac-), shoot dry weight without inoculation (SWbac-), root length without inoculation (RLbac-), and root dry weight (RWbac-), and finally 34 QTLs were identified. ARA/P, ARA/NN, NW, and SL showed strong correlations and QTL co-localization, suggesting that several plant characteristics important for symbiotic nitrogen fixation are controlled by the same locus. QTLs for ARA/P, ARA/NN, NW, and SL, co-localized around marker TM0832 on chromosome 4, were also co-localized with previously reported QTLs for seed mass. This is the first report of QTL analysis for symbiotic nitrogen fixation activity traits.

Reactive oxygen species are involved in gibberellin/abscisic acid signaling in barley aleurone cells

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as signal molecules for a variety of processes in plants. However, many questions about the roles of ROS in plants remain to be clarified. Here, we report the role of ROS in gibberellin (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling in barley (Hordeum vulgare) aleurone cells. The production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a type of ROS, was induced by GA in aleurone cells but suppressed by ABA. Furthermore, exogenous H2O2 appeared to promote the induction of α-amylases by GA. In contrast, antioxidants suppressed the induction of α-amylases. Therefore, H2O2 seems to function in GA and ABA signaling, and in regulation of α-amylase production, in aleurone cells. To identify the target of H2O2 in GA and ABA signaling, we analyzed the interrelationships between H2O2 and DELLA proteins Slender1 (SLN1), GA-regulated Myb transcription factor (GAmyb), and ABA-responsive protein kinase (PKABA) and their roles in GA and ABA signaling in aleurone cells. In the presence of GA, exogenous H2O2 had little effect on the degradation of SLN1, the primary transcriptional repressor mediating GA signaling, but it promoted the production of the mRNA encoding GAMyb, which acts downstream of SLN1 and involves induction of α-amylase mRNA. Additionally, H2O2 suppressed the production of PKABA mRNA, which is induced by ABA:PKABA represses the production of GAMyb mRNA. From these observations, we concluded that H2O2 released the repression of GAMyb mRNA by PKABA and consequently promoted the production of α-amylase mRNA, thus suggesting that the H2O2 generated by GA in aleurone cells is a signal molecule that antagonizes ABA signaling.

Hydrogen peroxide spraying alleviates drought stress in soybean plants

To ascertain the effect of exogenously applied hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on drought stress, we examined whether the spraying of soybean leaves with H2O2 would alleviate the symptoms of drought stress. Pre-treatment by spraying leaves with H2O2 delayed foliar wilting caused by drought stress compared to leaves sprayed with distilled water (DW). Additionally, the relative water content of drought-stressed leaves pre-treated with H2O2 was higher than that of leaves pre-treated with DW. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of H2O2 spraying on photosynthetic parameters and on the biosynthesis of oligosaccharides related to water retention in leaves during drought stress. Under conditions of drought stress, the net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance of leaves pre-treated with H2O2 were higher than those of leaves pre-treated with DW. In contrast to DW spraying, H2O2 spraying immediately caused an increase in the mRNA levels of d-myo-inositol 3-phosphate synthase 2 (GmMIPS2) and galactinol synthase (GolS), which encode key enzymes for the biosynthesis of oligosaccharides known to help plants tolerate drought stress. In addition, the levels of myo-inositol and galactinol were higher in H2O2-treated leaves than in DW-treated leaves. These results indicated that H2O2 spraying enabled the soybean plant to avoid drought stress through the maintenance of leaf water content, and that this water retention was caused by the promotion of oligosaccharide biosynthesis rather than by rapid stomatal closure.

The ethylene signal mediates induction of GmATG8i in soybean plants under starvation stress

In higher plants, autophagy-related genes (ATGs) appear to play important roles in development, senescence, and starvation responses. Hormone signals underlying starvation-induced gene expression are involved in the expression of ATGs. An effect of starvation stress on the expression of ATGs and ethylene-related genes in young seedlings of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr. cv. Fukuyutaka) was analyzed. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showed that the expression levels of GmATG8i and GmATG4 increase in a starvation medium, but at a null or marginal level in a sucrose/nitrate-rich medium. The expression of GmACC synthase and GmERF are also upregulated in the starvation medium. In addition, immunoblot revealed that ethylene insensitive 3 (Ein3), an ethylene-induced transcription factor are accumulated in seedlings subjected to severe starvation stress. These results indicate that starvation stress stimulates the expression of GmATG8i and ethylene signal-related genes. Since the ethylene signal is involved in senescence and various environmental stresses, it is possible that starvation stress-induced autophagy is partly mediated by the ethylene signaling.

Jasmonate and ethylene signalling and their interaction are integral parts of the elicitor signalling pathway leading to beta-thujaplicin biosynthesis in Cupressus lusitanica cell cultures

Roles of jasmonate and ethylene signalling and their interaction in yeast elicitor-induced biosynthesis of a phytoalexin, beta-thujaplicin, were investigated in Cupressus lusitanica cell cultures. Yeast elicitor, methyl jasmonate, and ethylene all induce the production of beta-thujaplicin. Elicitor also stimulates the biosynthesis of jasmonate and ethylene before the induction of beta-thujaplicin accumulation. The elicitor-induced beta-thujaplicin accumulation can be partly blocked by inhibitors of jasmonate and ethylene biosynthesis or signal transduction. These results indicate that the jasmonate and ethylene signalling pathways are integral parts of the elicitor signal transduction leading to beta-thujaplicin accumulation. Methyl jasmonate treatment can induce ethylene production, whereas ethylene does not induce jasmonate biosynthesis; methyl jasmonate-induced beta-thujaplicin accumulation can be partly blocked by inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis and signalling, while blocking jasmonate biosynthesis inhibits almost all ethylene-induced beta-thujaplicin accumulation. These results indicate that the ethylene and jasmonate pathways interact in mediating beta-thujaplicin production, with the jasmonate pathway working as a main control and the ethylene pathway as a fine modulator for beta-thujaplicin accumulation. Both the ethylene and jasmonate signalling pathways can be regulated upstream by Ca(2+). Ca(2+) influx negatively regulates ethylene production, and differentially regulates elicitor- or methyl jasmonate-stimulated ethylene production.

[Study on the relationship between lung cancer at preclinic stage and psycho-social factor. A case-control study]

A case-control study of primary lung cancer patients including 309 case (male 193, female 116) and 1,231 controls (male 768, female 463) was carried out in the monitored population for SINO-MONICA Project (WHO) during 1990-1993. This was a population based case-control study involved 0.75 million population in order to detect the relationship between lung cancer at preclinic stage and 6 psychosocial factors. There were 3 factors positively associated with lung cancer. They were 1) burst of "emotion and could not be controlled" (OR 1.82 P < 0.01), 2) "poor working circumstances" including poor relationship with colleagues (OR 1.37 P < 0.05) and superiors (OR 1.55 P < 0.01) and 3) the "depressive feeling for a long time" (OR 4.14 P < 0.01), when we considered "long standing depressive feeling" as a risk factor for lung cancer and calculated by an exposure rate of 8.8%, the population attributable risk percent (PAR%) would be 21.6% (male 18.7%, female 26.4%). Our findings suggested that the relationship between lung cancer at preclinic stage and psycho-social factor did exist.

Design and fabrication of a diffractive phase element for wavelength demultiplexing and spatial focusing simultaneously

The design of a diffractive phase element (DPE) that simultaneously implements wavelength demultiplexing and focusing is carried out on the basis of the general theory of amplitude-phase retrieval. The designed DPE is fabricated with optical contact lithography. Three masks are needed to produce the surface-relief structure of the DPE with eight quantized levels in depths. Experiments demonstrate that the designed DPE can successfully implement both the functions of demultiplexing three different-wavelength beams and focusing each component at a predesignated position simultaneously. Experimental measurements are in good agreement with the results of numerical simulations.

Endothelin in the ovine uterus during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy

Endothelin, which has potent vasoconstrictor and mitogenic actions, was measured by radioimmunoassay in tissue extracts of sheep endometrium and myometrium and was found to be present in similar amounts in both tissues during the oestrous cycle and in increasing amounts during the first 20 days of pregnancy (250-630 pg g-1 wet weight). Immunoreactive endothelin extracted from endometrium eluted at the same position as standard endothelin-1 on reverse-phase HPLC. Immunohistochemical techniques demonstrated that during the oestrous cycle endothelin immunoreactivity was very low in caruncular and intercaruncular stroma, luminal epithelium, outer and inner glandular epithelium, myometrium and blood vessels until after day 12 (oestrus: day 0). Staining increased in all but the inner glands to day 16 and the most intense staining was found in intercaruncular luminal epithelium and outer glands and in myometrium, although endothelin in tissue extracts did not change over this period. During early pregnancy (days 4-20), staining in intercaruncular areas and in myometrium increased slightly from day 4 to day 12 to a maximum which was maintained from day 15 to day 20. Intensity of staining in caruncles increased only from day 15, particularly in the epithelium. Immunoreactive endothelin was also present in the trophoblast cells of the embryo on day 20 of pregnancy. Strong endothelin immunostaining was observed in uteri from ovariectomized ewes, particularly in epithelial cells and in blood vessels. The intensity of immunostaining in epithelium and epithelial cells and in blood vessels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effective hybrid processor to compute image moments for pattern recognition

A hybrid optical-digital processor is presented for computing the invariant moments of images in real time, which consists of a holographic mask, two lenses, a charge-coupled-device detector, and a microcomputer. The processor is tested by inputting some roman letters, and the produced results show that the invariant moments of a letter are approximately independent of shift and rotation and that the moments are distinct with different letters.

Large format density coding system with photoresist plates

By combining a large holographic optical lens or a Fresnel lens with a photoresist plate, a density color coding system for a large format picture is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Based on partial coherence theory, a rigorous theoretical analysis is given and confirmed by the experimental results.

Optical Walsh-Hadamard transform for orders 32 and 64

A coherent optical system composed of a holographic mask and two Fourier lenses is described for performing an arbitrary linear transform. A set of equations for determining the amplitude-phase distribution of the mask is given. As a specific transform, the Walsh-Hadamard transform for orders 32 and 64 is optically made in 1-D space.

Pharmacokinetic study of levonorgestrel used as a postcoital agent

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of levonorgestrel (LNG) were studied in six women given 0.75 mg LNG orally for seven days during the periovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle. Steady-state concentrations of LNG were reached within three days and serum LNG concentrations at various times on day 7 were generally lower than on day 1, presumably due to a reduced serum level of SHBG. On day 7 the volume of distribution was significantly increased and Co significantly decreased and both the clearance and elimination half-life were higher on day 7 than on day 1. Half-lives varied from 5.6 to 25.1 hours. The day-to-day intra-subject variations in serum LNG concentrations ranged from 23% to 80%. Serum concentrations of pituitary and ovarian hormones suggested that ovulation was not inhibited in four of the six subjects and was delayed in the remaining two. No significant changes in serum prolactin levels were observed.

Isolation and characterization of a novel nucleic acid binding protein from calf lenses

The transitional process of lens cellular differentiation is accompanied by several unique morphological and biochemical changes. Pyknosis or apoptosis of the nucleus involves extensive degradation of genetic materials. In an attempt to search for a gene product responsible for such a regulatory process, we have adopted DNA-cellulose affinity chromatography to enrich the specific binding protein. A binding protein was isolated by high salt (0.8M KCl) wash of the lens polysomal fraction and purified to apparent homogeneity by DNA-cellulose affinity column and chromatofocusing. The nucleic acid binding protein has an apparent molecular weight of 36,000, designated as regulatory factor 36 (RF-36), as determined by SDS/PAGE. Amino acid composition analysis indicated that RF-36 contains high proportions of glycine, alanine, characteristic of the core heteronucleus RNP proteins. Comparative immunological studies with other DNA binding protein antigen (e.g. helix destabilizing protein) suggest the existence of some common overlapping determinant. However, when monoclonal anti-RF-36 was used as immunoprobe, no cross immunoactivity was detected between these homologous binding proteins, suggesting some antigenic diversity among these two nucleic acid binding proteins from different organisms.