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Background While studies of ex-orphanage care show adverse effects on development, the longer-term impact on mid-life psychosocial functioning and physical health has not been established. Methods Orphanage records provided baseline data on a sample of 100 Hong Kong Chinese girls who were subsequently adopted into the UK. A mid-life follow-up using standardised questionnaires and face-to-face interviews assessed current circumstances, life satisfaction and mental and physical health outcomes. Comparisons were made with age-matched UK-born adopted and nonadopted women. Results Half the group spent between 1 and 2 years in orphanages, average age at adoptive placement was 23 months and 72% participated in the follow-up. Despite this poor early start, mid-life outcomes were commensurate with the comparison groups in terms of mental and physical health measures. Serious psychiatric and social difficulties were largely absent. Although the timing and extent of exposure to orphanage care did not influence outcome, participants' reports of poorer quality adoptive family experience and a negative view of their adoption were significantly associated with poorer mental health outcomes (difference in means = 0.76, 95% CI 1.33-0.19, p = .01; difference in means = 1.2, 95% CI 0.68-1.73, p = .01, respectively). Conclusions Moderately depriving orphanage care did not predict enduring adverse consequences in mid-life but subsequent poor adoption experience was associated with outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly efficient method of regenerating fertile, phenotypically normal plants from shoot apex cultures of T. aestivum was developed. The hypodermal layer (L2) of the vegetative apex containing germ line precursor cells could be located with bright field microscopy and targeted for microinjection. Fluorescently labelled dextrans were used as markers to develop a microinjection procedure which did not disrupt nuclear or cytoplasmic structure. This procedure was used to inject plasmid DNA into L2 cells. Capillary microinjection did not shear the plasmid DNA and delivery of DNA was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction analysis of DNA isolated from injected apices. The significance of these findings in relation to the development of cereal transformation systems will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vitro responses can be influenced by the developmental status of the donor plant tissue. The effects of the donor plant photoperiod and the developmental stage of the plant on organogenesis of petiole explants of Begonia × hiemalis cv. Schwabenland Pink are reported. Long day plants had progressively more branches, total stem length, leaf area, and branch and shoot mass. In short days, flowering was earlier and a greater proportion of dry weight accumulation was allocated to reproductive structures. Similar explant responses were obtained from all developmental stages until flowering was well advanced in short days and then the regenerative capacity diminished. Primary measurements of donor leaves (length, area and weight) at the time of explant removal were not well correlated with adventitious bud production. Loss of regeneration was not determined by tissue or plant age but was associated with the progressive development of flowers. Thus the donor plant photoperiod only indirectly affected bud production. Organogenesis decreased with duration of short days but increased in long days and thus both the duration of the multiplication phase and the intensity of the in vitro response was enhanced by maintaining donor plants in long days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]